Aerosol generating device and sensor

Abstract

The present invention provides an aerosol generating device and a sensor; wherein the aerosol generating device includes: a chamber for receiving a smokeable material; and a sensor extending at least partially along the axial direction of the chamber. During use, when the smokeable material is received in the chamber, the sensor is inserted into the smokeable material to heat it. The sensor includes a clearance portion and a heating portion arranged in sequence along a direction close to the proximal end. At least a portion of the clearance portion has a smaller dimension along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber than the heating portion, so that a certain gap is maintained between the smokeable materials when the sensor is inserted into the smokeable material. When the above aerosol generating device is in use, the front end of the smokeable material inserted into the chamber is less heated and does not form burnt or brittle residue, and has a better physical form. Therefore, when the smokeable material is removed from the chamber, the smoke residue falling out of the chamber can be retained and blocked, thereby reducing the falling of smoke residue and keeping the chamber and the sensor clean.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to the technical field of heat-not-burn smoking articles, and in particular to an aerosol generating device and a sensor. Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles (eg, cigarettes, cigars, etc.) burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to replace these tobacco-burning articles by creating products that release compounds without combustion.

[0003] An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating rather than burning a material. For example, the material may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine. In one example of a conventional heating device, tobacco products are heated using electromagnetic induction heating, wherein the induction heating element that is heated by the magnetic field is typically made of stainless steel or permalloy with excellent magnetic conductivity. The structure of the heating device is shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, when the tobacco product 1 is received in the heating device, the susceptor 2 is penetrated by the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil 3, thereby induction heating is generated, thereby heating the tobacco product 1. Figure 1 As shown, the susceptor 2 can be in the shape of a needle or a blade and can be inserted into the interior of a cigarette 1 received in the device for heating. During use, the entire portion of the susceptor 2 inserted into the cigarette 1 is in contact with the tobacco of the cigarette 1, heating the tobacco within the contact length of the susceptor 2 to form relatively brittle and hard debris. When the cigarette 1 is removed from the heating device, the debris falls into the device and contaminates it. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the problem in the prior art that a needle-shaped or blade-shaped sensor is inserted into a cigarette to heat the cigarette and causes debris to fall out, an embodiment of the present invention provides an aerosol generating device and a sensor that reduce the amount of debris falling out.

[0005] The aerosol generating device proposed in the present invention is used to heat a smokeable material to generate an aerosol, comprising:

[0006] a chamber for receiving the smokeable material and having a proximal end and a distal end opposed in an axial direction;

[0007] a magnetic field generator configured to generate a varying magnetic field;

[0008] a susceptor configured to be penetrated by the changing magnetic field and generate heat, and configured to extend at least partially along the axial direction of the chamber from the distal end to the proximal end, and then inserted into the smokeable material to heat it when the smokeable material is received in the chamber in use;

[0009] The sensor includes a space-avoiding portion and a heating portion arranged in sequence along a direction close to the proximal end; a dimension of at least a portion of the space-avoiding portion along the direction of the chamber cross-section is smaller than a dimension of the heating portion along the direction of the chamber cross-section, so that when the sensor is inserted into the smokeable material, a certain gap is maintained between the space-avoiding portion and the smokeable material.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the extension length of the clearance portion along the axial direction is 1 to 5 mm.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, a dimension of at least a portion of the air-avoiding portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is 1 to 3 mm smaller than a dimension of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the size of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is substantially constant.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the size of the clearance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is substantially constant.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the size of the air-avoiding portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber gradually increases in a direction approaching the heating portion.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, a receiving cavity extending in the axial direction is provided in the receptor, and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the receptor is accommodated or encapsulated in the receiving cavity.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the susceptor further comprises a base portion, and the heating portion and the air-avoiding portion are maintained in the chamber by the base portion.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the air avoidance portion and the heating portion are constructed as sheets extending axially along the chamber, and the dimension of the air avoidance portion along the width direction is smaller than the dimension of the heating portion along the width direction, so that when at least part of the receptor is inserted into the smokeable material, the gap is formed between the air avoidance portion and the smokeable material along the width direction of the receptor.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the clearance portion is flush with the surface of the distal end of the chamber at the distal end of the chamber.

[0019] The present invention also proposes a receptor for an aerosol generating device, which is used to be inserted into a smokeable material received in the aerosol generating device for heating. The receptor has a heating portion and a gap portion arranged in sequence along the length direction. The dimension of at least a portion of the gap portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is smaller than the dimension of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber, so that when the receptor is inserted into the smokeable material, a certain gap is maintained between the gap portion and the smokeable material.

[0020] When the above-mentioned aerosol generating device and sensor are in use, the front end of the smokeable material inserted into the chamber is heated less and does not form burnt or brittle residue and has a better physical form. Therefore, when the smokeable material is removed from the chamber, the smoke residue falling out from the inside can be retained and blocked, thereby reducing the falling of smoke residue and keeping the chamber and the sensor clean. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] One or more embodiments are exemplarily illustrated by pictures in the corresponding drawings. These exemplifications do not constitute limitations on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are represented as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute proportional limitations.

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an electromagnetic induction heating device in the prior art;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating device proposed in one embodiment;

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the mesoreceptor;

[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a sensor proposed in yet another embodiment;

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a sensor proposed in yet another embodiment;

[0027] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a sensor proposed in yet another embodiment;

[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a sensor proposed in yet another embodiment;

[0029] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the temperature sensor encapsulated in the receptor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0031] The aerosol generating device proposed in one embodiment of the present invention has a structure as shown in FIG. Figure 2 Shown, including:

[0032] a chamber in which smokable material A, such as a cigarette, is removably received;

[0033] The inductor coil L as a magnetic field generator is used to generate an alternating magnetic field under an alternating current;

[0034] The susceptor 30 extends at least partially within the chamber and is configured to be inductively coupled to the inductor coil L. When penetrated by the alternating magnetic field, it generates heat, thereby heating the smokable material A, causing at least one component of the smokable material A to volatilize, forming an aerosol for inhalation;

[0035] Battery cell 10 is a rechargeable DC battery cell that can provide DC voltage and DC current;

[0036] The circuit 20 is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery cell 10 and converts the DC output from the battery cell 10 into AC with a suitable frequency and then supplies it to the inductor L.

[0037] In practice, the smokeable material A may comprise one or more of the following tobacco flavoring materials: powder, granules, pellets, fragments, strands, strips or sheets wrapped by an outer wrapper such as wrapping paper, specifically comprising one or more of the following: grass leaves, tobacco leaves, tobacco main veins, expanded tobacco, homogenized tobacco, and glycerin as an aerosol former, thereby enabling the generation of an inhalable aerosol when heated.

[0038] According to the settings in the product use, the inductor coil L may include a cylindrical inductor coil wound into a spiral shape, such as Figure 2 As shown in . The helically wound cylindrical inductor coil L may have a radius r in the range of about 5 mm to about 10 mm, and in particular, the radius r may be about 7 mm. The length of the helically wound cylindrical inductor coil L may be in the range of about 8 mm to about 14 mm, and the number of turns of the inductor coil L may be in the range of about 8 turns to 15 turns. Accordingly, the inner volume may be about 0.15 cm 3 to approximately 1.10cm 3 within the range.

[0039] In a more preferred embodiment, the frequency of the alternating current supplied by the circuit 20 to the inductor L is between 80 KHz and 400 KHz; more specifically, the frequency may be in the range of approximately 200 KHz to 300 KHz.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the DC supply voltage provided by the battery cell 10 is in the range of about 2.5V to about 9.0V, and the amperage of the DC current provided by the battery cell 10 is in the range of about 2.5A to about 20A.

[0041] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the aerosol generating device further comprises a tubular support 40 for arranging the inductor coil L and the susceptor 30, as shown in FIG. Figure 2As shown, the tubular support 40 may be made of a high-temperature resistant non-metallic material such as PEEK or ceramic. In practice, at least a portion of the interior of the tubular support 40 forms a chamber for receiving the smokeable material A, and the inductor coil L is spirally wound around the outer wall of the tubular support 40.

[0042] Further based on Figure 2 In the preferred embodiment shown, the chamber formed by the tubular hollow of the tubular support 40 has a proximal end 41 and a distal end 42 opposite to each other in the axial direction; the proximal end 41 is configured to be open to facilitate the reception and removal of the smokeable material A; the distal end 42 is a closed end for the smokeable material A to abut against, thereby providing a stop for the smokeable material A, and the sensor 30 extends from the distal end 42 to the proximal end 41.

[0043] Further details on the structure of the sensor 30 can be found in Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the overall shape of the susceptor 30 is generally configured to be a needle or pin extending at least partially along the axial direction of the chamber. In practice, the overall length of the susceptor 30 can range from approximately 12 to 18 mm, and the outer diameter can range from approximately 2.5 to 5 mm. In detail, it includes the following components in the axial direction:

[0044] The heating portion 31 is located in the chamber after assembly and is used to be inserted into the smokeable material A for heating;

[0045] The clearance portion 32, after assembly, is located within the chamber and has a smaller outer diameter than the heating portion 31. During use, it can be inserted into the smokable material A along with the heating portion 31, maintaining a certain gap 50 between the two, thereby maintaining a non-contact state. This allows the portion of the smokable material A in contact with the heating portion 31 to be heated more through contact transfer, while the portion corresponding to the clearance portion 32 is heated less, preventing the leading edge of the smokable material A from being heated to the point of being burnt or becoming a brittle solid residue. Consequently, after puffing, the leading edge of the smokable material A is not in good shape and is essentially unattached to the susceptor 30. This reduces the amount of smoke residue or debris that falls when the smokable material A is removed from the chamber and separated from the susceptor 30.

[0046] Of course, further Figure 2 As shown, after installation, the distal end 42 of the chamber is used to abut against and provide a stop for the smokeable material A, and thus in practice, the clearance portion 32 is flush with the surface of the distal end 42 of the chamber.

[0047] In an optional implementation, the length of the clearance portion 32 is set to be about 1 to 5 mm, and the outer diameter is 1 to 3 mm smaller than the outer diameter of the heating portion 31.

[0048] See further Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in order to facilitate the installation and fixation of the sensor 30 in the tubular support 40, the sensor 30 also includes:

[0049] The first base portion 33 and the second base portion 34, which has a larger outer diameter than the first base portion 33, are provided within the tubular support 40. A corresponding holding cavity is provided within the tubular support 40, which abuts against the second base portion 34 to secure and retain the susceptor 30 during use, thereby stably mounting the susceptor 30 within the tubular support 40. For ease of use, the outer diameter of the second base portion 34 is relatively larger than that of the heating portion 31.

[0050] In terms of functional design, the outer diameter of the heating portion 31 is substantially constant to ensure that the heating portion 31 of the susceptor 30 is fully in contact with the smokable material A when inserted, thereby ensuring sufficient heat conduction. The outer diameter of the clearance portion 32, however, may be non-constant, provided that the gap 50 is formed.

[0051] For example, in yet another variant embodiment, the structure of the susceptor 30a is shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, the portion of the clearance portion 32a near the heating portion 31a is constructed with a gradually increasing outer diameter, resulting in an inclined arc surface. This reduces frictional resistance with the susceptor 30a when the smokable material A is removed, facilitating smoother separation of the susceptor 30a and minimizing the release of cigarette residue. The base portion 33a assists in the installation and securing of the susceptor 30a.

[0052] exist Figure 5 In yet another embodiment, the entire susceptor 30b and the heating portion 31b are configured to be roughly blade-shaped, thereby providing a larger surface area for contact and heat transfer to the smokable material A. Specifically, the relief portion 32b is formed by inwardly disposed notches on both sides of the susceptor 30b along its width. To facilitate installation, the susceptor also includes a first base portion 33b and a second base portion 34b with different outer diameters, thereby facilitating abutment and securement after installation.

[0053] Based on the convenience of production and replacement, in another optional implementation, the structure of the sensor 30c is as follows: Figure 6 As shown, it is composed of two parts; specifically, it includes:

[0054] The heating portion 31c and the air-avoiding portion 32c can be made of metal materials with appropriate magnetic permeability that can be penetrated by the magnetic field and generate heat, such as Permalloy, stainless steel, etc.

[0055] The first base portion 33c and the second base portion 34c can be made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as zirconia ceramic, alumina ceramic, or an organic polymer. This minimizes heat conduction after the susceptor 30 is assembled within the tubular support 40, thereby preventing thermal damage to the tubular support 40. A slot 331c is provided on the first base portion 33c. During assembly, at least a portion of the clearance portion 32c is inserted into the slot 331c and then tightly fitted or fixed together. The slot 311c extends shorter than the length of the clearance portion 32c. After assembly, a portion of the clearance portion 32c remains exposed, forming the aforementioned gap 50 during use.

[0056] In yet another alternative implementation, see Figures 7 and 8 As shown, the sensor 30d has an axially extending housing cavity. This cavity comprises a first portion 351d extending axially between the heating portion 31d and the airtight portion 32d, and a second portion 352d extending axially between the first base portion 33d and the second base portion 34d. During use, the housing cavity houses a temperature sensor 60d for sensing the temperature of the sensor 30d. The temperature sensor 60d is secured to the inner wall of the heating portion 31d by gluing or other means, thereby sensing the heating temperature. Of course, the conductive pins of the temperature sensor 60d can extend beyond the second base portion 34d, facilitating connection between the temperature sensor 60d and the circuit 20, providing power to the temperature sensor 60d and allowing it to receive sensing signals.

[0057] When the above-mentioned aerosol generating device is in use, the front end of the smokeable material A inserted into the chamber is non-contact with the receptor 30 for a few millimeters and there is a gap of about a few millimeters, so that the front end portion of the smokeable material A inserted into the chamber is less heated, so that this portion does not form burnt or brittle residue and has a better physical form; when the smokeable material A is removed from the chamber after being smoked, the smoke residue falling out from the inside can be retained and blocked, keeping the chamber and the receptor clean.

[0058] It should be noted that the specification of the present invention and its drawings provide preferred embodiments of the present invention, but are not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. Furthermore, it is clear to those skilled in the art that improvements or changes can be made based on the above description, and all such improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device for heating a smokeable material to generate an aerosol, comprising: a chamber for receiving the smokeable material and having a proximal end and a distal end opposed in an axial direction; a magnetic field generator configured to generate a varying magnetic field; a susceptor configured to be penetrated by the changing magnetic field and generate heat, and configured to extend at least partially along the axial direction of the chamber from the distal end to the proximal end, and then inserted into the smokeable material to heat it when the smokeable material is received in the chamber in use; It is characterized in that the sensor includes a gap portion and a heating portion which are sequentially arranged in a direction close to the proximal end; a dimension of at least a portion of the gap portion along the direction of the chamber cross section is smaller than a dimension of the heating portion along the direction of the chamber cross section, so that when the sensor is inserted into the smokeable material, a certain gap is maintained between the gap portion and the smokeable material, the heating portion and the gap portion can both be penetrated by the magnetic field to generate heat, and the gap portion transfers less heat to the corresponding portion of the smokeable material than the heating portion.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The extending length of the clearance portion along the axial direction is 1 to 5 mm.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein A dimension of at least a portion of the avoidance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is 1 to 3 mm smaller than a dimension of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber.

4. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The size of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is substantially constant.

5. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The size of the clearance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is substantially constant.

6. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The size of the air-avoiding portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber gradually increases in a direction approaching the heating portion.

7. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The receptor is provided with an accommodating cavity extending in the axial direction, and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the receptor is accommodated or encapsulated in the accommodating cavity.

8. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The susceptor further includes a base portion, and the heating portion and the air-avoiding portion are retained in the chamber by the base portion.

9. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The avoidance portion and the heating portion are configured as sheets extending axially along the chamber, and a dimension of the avoidance portion along the width direction is smaller than a dimension of the heating portion along the width direction, so that when at least a portion of the receptor is inserted into the smokeable material, the gap is formed between the avoidance portion and the smokeable material along the width direction of the receptor.

10. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The clearance portion is flush with a distal surface of the chamber at the distal end of the chamber.

11. A susceptor for an aerosol generating device, adapted to be inserted into a smokeable material received in the aerosol generating device for heating, characterized in that: The susceptor has a heating portion and a gap portion arranged in sequence along the length direction, and a dimension of at least a portion of the gap portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber is smaller than a dimension of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the chamber, so that when the susceptor is inserted into the smokeable material, a certain gap is maintained between the gap portion and the smokeable material, and both the heating portion and the gap portion can be penetrated by the magnetic field to generate heat, and the gap portion transfers less heat to the corresponding portion of the smokeable material than the heating portion.

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