An aerosol generating device and aerosol generating system for uniform smoke generation

Abstract

The present invention discloses an aerosol generating device that generates uniform smoke, comprising a shell, the top of which is provided with an insertion port for inserting a consumable containing a smokeable material, a heater for heating the smokeable material in the consumable provided in the shell, an insulating tube is sleeved on the outer side of the heater, the length of the insulating tube is greater than the length of the heater, and the axial centers of the heating tube and the insulating tube do not coincide; the present invention also discloses an aerosol generating system comprising the above-mentioned aerosol generating device and consumables. In the present invention, the axial centers of the heating tube and the insulating tube do not coincide, and this asymmetric arrangement can change the thermal field distribution inside the heating tube during use, so that the smoke generated by the smokeable material during use is more uniform.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of novel tobacco, and in particular to an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating system capable of generating uniform smoke. Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles (eg, cigarettes, cigars, etc.) burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. People have attempted 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 generates an aerosol by heating rather than burning a smokeable material. For example, the material may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine. There are aerosol generating devices, such as so-called electric heat-not-burn smoking devices, which can form an aerosol generating system together with a cigarette-like consumable inserted therein. The known electric heat-not-burn smoking devices only consider the temperature of a single point inside the heater during the heating process, and have not considered the precise design of the thermal field distribution inside the heating tube during use, resulting in uneven smoke generated after the smokeable material is heated, affecting the smoking experience and effect.

[0004] For example, the patent specification with the announcement number CN108185537B discloses an aerosol generating device, including an outer shell, a built-in power supply and a control circuit board electrically connected to the power supply, the outer shell is provided with a socket, a fixed cylinder for accommodating an aerosol generating product is provided below the socket, a vent is provided at the bottom of the fixed cylinder, an air inlet and a control switch connected to the power supply are provided on the outer shell, the air inlet and the vent are connected through an air path, a heating component is provided in the fixed cylinder, and a conductive component is also provided on the fixed cylinder, the conductive component includes at least two power supply electrodes arranged on the side wall of the fixed cylinder, the power supply electrodes are electrically connected to the control circuit board, and when the aerosol generating product is inserted in the fixed cylinder, the conductive component is electrically connected to the aerosol generating product.

[0005] Or as disclosed in the patent specification with publication number CN112822953A, an aerosol generating system is disclosed, which includes: an aerosol generating device, which includes a battery and a heater, and the heater is used to generate heat by power supplied by the battery; and an aerosol generating article, which is accommodated in the aerosol generating device to generate an aerosol when heated by the heater, wherein the aerosol generating article includes: a base part, which is configured to generate the aerosol when heated; a medium part, which is arranged at the downstream end of the base part; and a heat-conductive package, which surrounds at least a portion of each of the base part and the medium part, and the heat-conductive package is configured to transfer heat from the heater, wherein the heater is arranged to surround the aerosol generating article so that: the surface area of ​​the base part surrounded by the heater is larger than the surface area of ​​the medium part surrounded by the heater.

[0006] The above two solutions have the problem of uneven smoke generated after the smokeable material is heated, which affects the smoking experience and effect. Summary of the invention

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device that produces uniform smoke, and to achieve the effect of uniform smoke generation by accurately designing the thermal field distribution inside the heating tube.

[0008] An aerosol generating device that produces uniform smoke comprises a shell, wherein the top end of the shell is provided with an insertion port for inserting a consumable containing a smokeable material, a heater for heating the smokeable material in the consumable is provided in the shell, an insulation tube is sleeved on the outer side of the heater, the length of the insulation tube is greater than the length of the heater, and the axial centers of the heating tube and the insulation tube do not coincide.

[0009] In this solution, the axial centers of the heating tube and the insulation tube do not coincide. This asymmetric arrangement can change the thermal field distribution inside the heating tube during use, making the smoke generated by the smokeable material during use more uniform.

[0010] Preferably, it further comprises a fixing seat, wherein the fixing seat defines a first axial spacing length by which the top end of the thermal insulation tube is higher than the top end of the heater.

[0011] Further preferably, the ratio of the diameter of the consumable to the first axial spacing length is between 1:0.2 and 1:1.

[0012] Further preferably, a sealing structure is provided between the fixing seat and the heater and / or the insulation tube.

[0013] Preferably, it further comprises a sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring defines a second axial spacing length at which the bottom end of the thermal insulation tube is lower than the bottom end of the heater.

[0014] Further preferably, a sealing structure is provided between the sealing ring and the heater and / or the insulation tube.

[0015] Further preferably, the ratio of the diameter of the consumable to the second axial spacing length is between 1:0.5 and 1:1.5.

[0016] Preferably, the ratio of the length of the heater to the length of the smokeable material is between 1:0.98 and 1:0.70.

[0017] Preferably, the heater is resistance heating, electromagnetic induction heating or infrared heating.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating system, comprising the above-mentioned aerosol generating device and consumables.

[0019] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0020] Since the axial centers of the heating tube and the insulation tube in the aerosol generating device and system of the present application do not coincide, this asymmetric arrangement can change the thermal field distribution inside the heating tube during use, making the smoke generated by the smokeable material during use more uniform. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an aerosol generating device;

[0022] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device;

[0023] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of inserting a consumable into an aerosol generating device;

[0024] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of a fixed seat;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the fixing seat from another angle;

[0026] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the plugging ring;

[0027] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the heater, insulation tube, fixing seat and sealing ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] like Figure 1-3 As shown, an aerosol generating device is used to heat a smokeable material so that the smokeable material generates an aerosol. The consumable product 200 containing the smokeable material is usually in the form of a cigarette, including a smokeable material 201 at the front end, a cooling structure 202 in the middle, and a filter structure 203 at the mouth end. The aerosol generating device 100 and the consumable product 200 of the smokeable material inserted therein constitute an aerosol generating system.

[0030] The aerosol generating device 100 includes a shell 1, which is composed of a front shell, a rear shell, an upper top cover 11 and a lower bottom cover 12. A sliding cover 13 and an insertion port 14 are provided on the top cover 11. When in use, the sliding cover 13 can be moved to expose the insertion port 14 so that the consumable 200 can be inserted. When not in use, the sliding cover 13 can cover the insertion port 14 to prevent foreign objects from entering.

[0031] The clamping portion 2 , the fixing seat 3 , the heater 4 , the heat insulation tube 5 , the sleeve 6 and the stopper 7 are sequentially arranged below the insertion port 14 .

[0032] During use, the consumable product 200 can be removably inserted into the aerosol generating device 100 through the clamping portion 2 and clamped by the clamping portion 2. The clamping portion 2 does not make thermal contact with the fixing seat 3 and the heater 4, thereby preventing the clamping portion 2 from heating up during use and then heating the clamped portion of the consumable product 200. Generally, when the consumable product 200 is fully inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, the clamping portion 2 clamps the non-smokable material part, such as the cooling structure 202 and / or the filtering structure 203. Since the aerosol smoke generated by the smokeable material 201 part has a high temperature and needs to be cooled by the cooling structure 202 and / or the filtering structure 203, if these parts are also heated by the hot clamping portion 2, the smoke entering the consumer's mouth will be too hot, affecting the smoking experience and effect.

[0033] like Figure 4-7As shown, the fixing base 3 has a reserved position 31 corresponding to the clamping portion 2, a heater connection portion 32, a through hole 33 for the consumables 200 to extend into, and a shell connection portion 34. In one embodiment, the reserved position 31 on the fixing base 3 is a concave structure. When the shell 1, the top cover 11, the fixing base 3, the heater 4, etc. in the aerosol generating device 100 are successively installed in place, the fixing base 3 can use the reserved position 31 to maintain a certain gap with the clamping portion 2 so that no thermal contact occurs.

[0034] The heater 4 is disposed in the housing 1 and is used to heat the smokeable material 201 in the consumable 200. The heater 4 may be in the form of resistance heating, electromagnetic induction heating, infrared heating, etc.

[0035] The length L2 of the heater 4 needs to be designed according to the length L4 of the smokeable material 201. Usually, the length L2 of the heater 4 is greater than the length L4 of the smokeable material 201. The longer the length L2 of the heater 4 is, the more uniform the smokeable material 201 is heated, the better the sensory experience is, and the easier it is to fully heat all the smokeable material 201. However, if the length L2 of the heater 4 is too long, it will also lead to waste of electric energy, reduce the number of times the aerosol generating device is used after being fully charged, and at the same time, there are safety hazards due to the heating of the non-smokable material part of the consumable. The ratio of the length L2 of the heater 4 to the length L4 of the smokeable material 201 is between 1:0.98 and 1:0.70, preferably between 1:0.95 and 1:0.75, and more preferably between 1:0.90 and 1:0.80.

[0036] Examples 1-5

[0037] Referring to the method of Example 1 in the application with publication number CN110959901A, flue-cured tobacco functional aroma raw materials were prepared, and were rolled into cigarettes with the same total length but different smokable material lengths L4. Tobacco tasters used the same infrared heating device to heat and smoke them separately, and sensory evaluation was carried out in accordance with GB5606.4-2005 and the Chinese cigarette sensory evaluation method.

[0038] Table 1 Sensory test data of different heater lengths L2: smokeable material lengths L4:

[0039]

[0040] The outer side of the heater 4 is provided with an insulation tube 5 to prevent heat from leaking out, and the insulation tube 5 can be made of high temperature resistant insulation material or a vacuum insulation tube. For the infrared heating heater 4, an infrared reflecting surface can also be provided inside the insulation tube 5.

[0041] The top of the heater 4 can be inserted into the inner side of the heater connection part 32 of the fixed seat 3 to achieve a fixed connection. The heater 4 is aligned with the through hole 33 of the heater connection part 32. During use, the consumables 200 can extend into the heater 4 through the through hole 33. The fixed seat 3 needs to be able to withstand the high temperature generated by the heater 4, and a high-temperature resistant material such as PEEK can be used. At the same time, the top of the insulation tube 5 can be inserted into the outer side of the heater connection part 32 of the fixed seat 3 to achieve a fixed connection, and the heater 4 and the insulation tube 5 are kept concentrically spaced. A sealing structure is provided between the fixed seat 3, the heater 4 and the insulation tube 5 to prevent heat leakage.

[0042] The fixing seat 3 can be connected and fixed to the shell 1 by point contact methods such as joint of convex column and concave hole, screw fixing, snap-fit, welding or bonding, which can limit the rotation of the fixing seat 3 around the axis of the heater 4 or the movement of the fixing seat 3 along the axis of the heater 4.

[0043] The fixing seat 3 defines a first axial spacing length L1 at which the top of the heat insulation tube 5 is higher than the top of the heater 4. The first axial spacing length L1 needs to be designed according to the diameter D of the consumable 200. Generally, the longer the first axial spacing length L1, the better the thermal insulation performance of the top of the heater 4, the higher the temperature, the more uniform the heating of the smokeable material 201, the better the sensory experience, and the easier it is to fully heat all the smokeable materials 201. However, if the first axial spacing length L1 is too long, the aerosol generating device will be too large and the cost will be high. The ratio of the diameter D of the consumable 200 to the first axial spacing length L1 is between 1:0.2 and 1:1, preferably between 1:0.4 and 1:0.8, and more preferably between 1:0.5 and 1:0.75.

[0044] A sealing ring 8 is also provided in the housing 1. The bottom end of the heater 4 can be against the heater support platform 81 of the sealing ring 8. The sealing ring 8 needs to be able to withstand the high temperature generated by the heater 6, and can be made of high temperature resistant materials such as PEEK. At the same time, the bottom end of the insulation tube 5 can be inserted into the insulation tube connection part 82 of the sealing ring 8 to achieve a fixed connection, and the heater 4 and the insulation tube 5 are kept concentrically spaced. A sealing corrugation 83 is provided between the sealing ring 8 and the insulation tube 5 to prevent heat leakage.

[0045] The sealing ring 8 limits the second axial spacing length L3 of the bottom end of the insulation tube 5 to be lower than the bottom end of the heater 4. The second axial spacing length L3 needs to be designed according to the diameter D of the consumable 200. Generally, the longer the second axial spacing length L3 is, the better the thermal insulation performance of the bottom end of the heater 4 is, the higher the temperature is, the air entering the heating tube 4 can be fully heated, and the sensory experience of the smoke generated by the smokeable material 201 is better. However, if the second axial spacing length L3 is too long, the volume of the aerosol generating device will be too large and the cost will be high. The ratio of the diameter D of the consumable 200 to the second axial spacing length L3 is between 1:0.5 and 1:1.5, preferably between 1:0.75 and 1:1.25, and more preferably between 1:0.9 and 1:1.1.

[0046] In one embodiment, the first axial spacing length L1 is smaller than the second axial spacing length L3, so that the axial centers of the heating tube 4 and the insulation tube 5 do not coincide with each other. This asymmetric arrangement can change the internal thermal field distribution of the heating tube 4 during use, so that the smoke generated by the smokeable material 201 during use is more uniform.

[0047] In one embodiment, a consumable 200 with a package diameter D of 6.5 mm and a smokable material 201 length of 42 mm is inserted into an infrared heating device with a first axial spacing length L1 of 4 mm, a heater 4 length L2 of 49 mm, and a second axial spacing length L3 of 6.5 mm for heating and smoking. A sensory evaluation is performed in accordance with GB5606.4-2005 and the sensory evaluation method for Chinese cigarettes, and it is found that the sensory evaluation indicators such as aroma, coordination, miscellaneous smell, stimulation, aftertaste, and strength are comprehensively better than those using other infrared heating devices.

[0048] The stopper 7 is detachably arranged at the bottom of the heater 4, passes through the sealing ring 8 and enters the heater 4. During use, when the consumable 200 is inserted into the heater 4, the stopper 7 can resist the consumable 200, thereby positioning the consumable 200. During cleaning, the stopper 7 can be removed, and a cleaning tool can be inserted from the bottom of the heater 4 for cleaning.

[0049] A power supply 9 and a circuit board 10 are also provided inside the aerosol generating device 100 . The power supply 9 is used to provide electrical energy to the heater 4 , and the circuit board 10 can control the power supply 9 to provide electrical energy to the heater 4 as required.

[0050] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, it is still possible for those skilled in the art to modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or to make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features therein. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device for generating uniform smoke, comprising a housing, wherein the top of the housing is provided with an insertion port for inserting a consumable containing a smokeable material, and a heater for heating the smokeable material in the consumable is provided in the housing, wherein: The outer side of the heater is sleeved with an insulation tube, and also includes a fixing seat, the fixing seat defines a first axial spacing length at which the top end of the insulation tube is higher than the top end of the heater, and also includes a sealing ring, the sealing ring defines a second axial spacing length at which the bottom end of the insulation tube is lower than the bottom end of the heater, according to the first axial spacing length and the second axial spacing length, the length of the insulation tube is greater than the length of the heater, and the axial centers of the heater and the insulation tube do not coincide, the ratio of the diameter of the consumable to the first axial spacing length is between 1:0.2 and 1:1, and the ratio of the diameter of the consumable to the second axial spacing length is between 1:0.5 and 1:1.

5.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sealing structure is provided between the fixing seat and the heater and / or the heat insulation tube.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sealing structure is provided between the sealing ring and the heater and / or the thermal insulation tube.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ratio of the length of the heater to the length of the smokeable material is between 1:0.98 and 1:0.

70.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heater is resistance heating, electromagnetic induction heating or infrared heating.

6. An aerosol generating system, comprising the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and consumables.

Images