Aerosol generating device with a flow guiding structure

Abstract

The present invention provides an aerosol generating device with a flow guiding structure, comprising: an aerosol generating element which has a distal end and a proximal end opposite to the distal end and having an opening in the axial direction, and includes a housing, an internal working component accommodated in the housing, and a receiving sleeve, wherein the aerosol generating element has a hollow receiving cavity in a portion near the proximal end to accommodate the receiving sleeve; and an aerosol generating article, one end of which is inserted into the receiving cavity through the opening, wherein the aerosol generating device has a flow guiding structure communicating with the outside for allowing air to sweep past the periphery of the aerosol generating matrix and enter the aerosol generating article through the flow guiding structure. Under the action of the flow guiding structure of the aerosol generating device, air does not directly flow through the aerosol generating matrix, but sweeps past the periphery of the aerosol generating matrix and enters the interior of the aerosol generating article.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aerosol generating devices, and more particularly, to an aerosol generating device with a flow guiding structure. Background Art

[0002] The working principle of a heat-not-burn tobacco product is that the tobacco matrix absorbs heat from a heat source through heat transfer to generate an aerosol. With air as a carrier, the aerosol generated after the tobacco matrix is heated is filtered through a filter tip and then delivered to the consumer's mouth. In order to ensure the delivery efficiency of the aerosol, fresh air needs to flow through the tobacco matrix in current heat-not-burn tobacco products, and the transfer of the aerosol generally occurs along the axial direction of the cigarette rod. Since the axial dimension of the cigarette rod is larger than the radial dimension, the resistance to aerosol transfer is relatively large, and insufficient smoke volume is a problem faced by most current heat-not-burn tobacco products.

[0003] On the other hand, in order to achieve the purpose of heating the tobacco matrix without burning, existing products generally adopt a method of controlling the heating temperature. The negative impact of a low heating temperature is that it is difficult for heat-not-burn tobacco products to directly use traditional tobacco matrix formulas, and the natural tobacco flavor components are difficult to be fully released. To ensure the smoke volume, the glycerol and moisture content of this type of tobacco product are often relatively high, which affects the actual experience of consumers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an aerosol generating device with a flow guiding structure. Under the action of the flow guiding structure, air does not directly flow through the aerosol generating matrix, but sweeps around the aerosol generating matrix and enters the aerosol generating product through a specific position.

[0005] The aerosol generating device with a flow guiding structure according to the present invention includes: an aerosol generating element, which has a distal end and a proximal end opposite to the distal end and having an opening in the axial direction, and includes a housing, an internal working component accommodated in the housing, and a receiving sleeve, wherein: the internal working element is arranged close to the distal end; and the aerosol generating element has a hollow receiving cavity in a portion close to the proximal end to accommodate the receiving sleeve, and the receiving cavity communicates with the outside through the opening; and an aerosol generating product, one end of which is inserted into the receiving cavity through the opening, and the aerosol generating product is coaxially placed with the aerosol generating element, wherein the aerosol generating device has a flow guiding structure communicating with the outside for allowing air to sweep around the aerosol generating matrix and enter the aerosol generating product through the flow guiding structure.

[0006] Further, the aerosol generating article may include a matrix segment, a hollow tube segment, and a functional segment that are sequentially adjacent to each other. The matrix segment, the hollow tube segment, and a part of the functional segment are received in the receiving cavity, and a part of the matrix segment and the hollow tube segment is located within the receiving sleeve. The hollow tube segment has a central cavity in the axial direction, and at least one sidewall through-hole is formed on the circumferential sidewall of the hollow tube segment.

[0007] In addition, the receiving sleeve may be a hollow tube and have a hollowed-out structure formed on the sidewall that covers a part or all of the matrix segment. The hollowed-out structure may include a plurality of sleeve through-holes evenly distributed so that the aerosol generated by the matrix segment enters the diversion structure through the sleeve through-holes, and the inner wall surface of the receiving sleeve is flush with the circumferential inner sidewall of the proximal end in the axial direction.

[0008] Preferably, the diversion structure may include: a plurality of air inlets formed on the outer shell; an air outlet formed within the outer shell between the receiving sleeve and the proximal end and communicating with the receiving cavity, and at least one sidewall through-hole is positionally opposite to the air outlet to communicate with each other; a first aerosol receiving area, which is an annular space located within the outer shell and communicating with the plurality of air inlets and the air outlet at both ends respectively; and a second aerosol receiving area, which is composed of the central cavity and at least one sidewall through-hole.

[0009] According to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of air inlets may be formed on the end face of the distal end portion, and the first aerosol receiving area extends from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion in the axial direction.

[0010] According to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of air inlets may be formed on the axial sidewall of the outer shell and located at a position adjacent to the inner end side of the receiving cavity, and the first aerosol receiving area is an annular space surrounding the receiving sleeve.

[0011] According to an alternative embodiment, the functional segment may include an aerosol optimization element adjacent to the hollow tube segment and a filter element.

[0012] Further, the aerosol optimization element may be made of a temperature-lowering material.

[0013] Optionally, the aerosol optimization element may be made of a soft material containing a humectant or a flavor enhancer.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the aerosol generating article may further include an outer wrapper wrapped around the matrix segment, the hollow tube segment, and the functional segment. The outer wrapper has an outer through-hole formed at a position corresponding to at least one sidewall through-hole.

[0015] Preferably, the outer wrapper may be made of a material capable of permeating fluid.

[0016] According to one example of the present invention, a sealing element may be provided on the circumferential inner side wall of the proximal portion so as to perform sealing when the aerosol generating article is inserted into the accommodating cavity.

[0017] Optionally, the receiving sleeve may be made of metal, alloy, or a heat-conducting material with a surface metal coating.

[0018] The aerosol generating device according to the present invention, thanks to its flow-guiding structure, more effectively diffuses and migrates aerosol, thereby effectively increasing the smoke yield of heat-not-burn tobacco products. Furthermore, the separate airflow channels facilitate the adjustment of aerosol composition, improving the sensory quality of the product. Furthermore, the aerosol generating device has a compact structure, facilitating the miniaturization of heated smoking devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The above and other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a partial cross section of an aerosol generating device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the aerosol generating device shown in ;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an aerosol generating product according to an example of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 is a perspective schematic diagram showing the structure of a receiving sleeve according to another example of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a partial cross-section of an aerosol generating device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein no aerosol generating article is inserted; and

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the aerosol generating device according to the second exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings to further illustrate the aerosol generating device according to the present invention.

[0027] The aerosol generating device according to the present invention includes an aerosol generating element and an aerosol generating article coaxially arranged. The aerosol generating element has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion opposite to the distal end portion and having an opening in the axial direction, and includes a housing, an internal working element accommodated in the housing, and a receiving sleeve. The internal working element is disposed near the distal end portion. For example, the internal working element may include a power source (e.g., a lithium-ion power source or a similar power source), a circuit board for controlling the operation of the aerosol generating article (especially for controlling the heating process), and wires (not shown in the figure). The aerosol generating element has a hollow receiving cavity in a portion near the proximal end portion to accommodate the receiving sleeve, and the receiving cavity communicates with the outside through the opening of the proximal end portion. One end of the aerosol generating article is inserted into the receiving cavity via the opening. The aerosol generating device according to the present invention has a diversion structure communicating with the outside for sweeping air from the periphery of the aerosol generating matrix and entering the aerosol generating article via the diversion structure. The diversion structure is conducive to the diffusion and migration of the aerosol, effectively increases the smoke generation amount of the heated tobacco product without combustion, and enables the air not to directly flow through the aerosol generating matrix, but to sweep through the periphery of the aerosol generating matrix and enter the interior of the aerosol generating article through a specific position, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the aerosol components and improving the sensory quality of the product.

[0028] Next, the structure of the aerosol generating device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic structural view showing a partial cross-section of the aerosol generating device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is Figure 1 a bottom view of the aerosol generating device shown in. According to the first exemplary embodiment, the aerosol generating device includes an aerosol generating element 1 and an aerosol generating article 2 coaxially arranged. The aerosol generating element 1 has a distal end portion 101 and a proximal end portion 102 opposite to the distal end portion and having an opening in the axial direction, where the distal end portion 101 is the end away from the consumer's mouth, and the proximal end portion 102 is the end close to the consumer's mouth. The aerosol generating element 1 further includes a housing 11, an internal working element (not shown in the figure) accommodated in the housing, and a receiving sleeve 12, where the internal working element is disposed near the distal end portion 101. For example, the receiving sleeve 12 may be made of metal, alloy, or a heat-conducting material with a surface metal coating. The aerosol generating element 1 has a hollow receiving cavity 13 in a portion near the proximal end portion 102 to accommodate the receiving sleeve 12, and the receiving cavity communicates with the outside through the opening of the proximal end portion 102 to facilitate the insertion of the aerosol generating article. One end of the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the receiving cavity 13 via the opening, as Figure 1As shown. The aerosol generating device has a diversion structure communicating with the outside for sweeping air from the periphery of the aerosol generating matrix and entering the aerosol generating article through the diversion structure.

[0030] Specifically, as Figure 3 shown, the aerosol generating article 2 may include a matrix section 21, a hollow tube section 22, and a functional section 23 that are adjacent to each other in sequence. A part of the matrix section 21, the hollow tube section 22, and a part of the functional section 23 are accommodated in the accommodation cavity 13, and a part of the matrix section 21 and the hollow tube section 22 is located within the receiving sleeve 12, as Figure 1 shown. The hollow tube section 22 has a central cavity 221 in the axial direction, and at least one side wall through hole 222 is formed on the circumferential side wall of the hollow tube section. The aerosol generating matrix section 21 may be composed of a mixture of one or more of, for example, cut tobacco, tobacco flakes, tobacco particles, tobacco formed bodies, or tobacco-containing gels.

[0031] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the receiving sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention. The receiving sleeve 12 may be a hollow tube and a hollowed-out structure 121 covering a part or all of the matrix section 21 is formed on the side wall. The hollowed-out structure 121 may include, for example, a plurality of sleeve through holes evenly distributed, so that the aerosol generated by the matrix section 21 enters the diversion structure through the sleeve through holes. In addition, the inner wall surface of the receiving sleeve 12 is flush with the circumferential inner side wall of the proximal end portion 102 in the axial direction (as Figure 1 shown) to facilitate the accommodation of the aerosol generating article 2.

[0032] Furthermore, the diversion structure may further include a plurality of air inlets 14, an air outlet 15, a first aerosol receiving area 16, and a second aerosol receiving area 17 formed on the outer shell 11, as Figure 1-3 shown. The air outlet 15 is formed between the receiving sleeve 12 and the proximal end portion 102 within the outer shell 11 and communicates with the accommodation cavity 13, and at least one side wall through hole 222 is opposite to the air outlet 15 in position to communicate with each other, so that the air and aerosol flowing through the first aerosol receiving area enter the hollow tube section 22 through the air outlet. The first aerosol receiving area 16 is an annular space located within the outer shell 11 and communicating with the plurality of air inlets 14 and the air outlet 15 at both ends, so as to sequentially communicate the air inlets 14, the outer side wall of the receiving sleeve 12, and the air outlet 15. The second aerosol receiving area 17 is composed of the central cavity 221 and at least one side wall through hole 222, so that the aerosol diffused out through the hollowed-out structure 121 carried by the first aerosol receiving area enters the second aerosol receiving area 17 through the air outlet 15, and then enters the consumer's mouth after being cooled, humidified, flavored, or filtered by the functional section 23.

[0033] According to the first exemplary embodiment, a plurality of air inlets 14 are formed on the end face of the distal end portion 101, as shown in Figure 2 As shown. In this embodiment, an annular space is formed inside the housing 11 extending from the distal end portion 101 to the proximal end portion 102, that is, the first aerosol receiving region 16 extends from the distal end portion 101 to the proximal end portion 102 in the axial direction.

[0034] The following will refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 to illustrate the structure of the aerosol generating device according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The similar parts in structure between the second exemplary embodiment and the first exemplary embodiment will be labeled with the same reference numerals and will not be described herein again, and only the differences will be described in detail. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5 As shown, a plurality of air inlets 14' of the flow guiding structure are formed on the axial side wall of the housing 11 and are located at positions adjacent to the inner end side of the accommodating cavity 13. In the second exemplary embodiment, the first aerosol receiving region 16' is an annular space surrounding the receiving sleeve 12.

[0035] Preferably, the functional section 23 of the aerosol generating article 2 may include an aerosol optimization element 231 adjacent to the empty tube section 21 and a filtering element. The aerosol optimization element 231 may be made of a heat dissipation material, or alternatively, may be made of a soft material containing a humectant or a flavor enhancer.

[0036] Next, the operation process of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. When using the aerosol generating device according to the present invention, the aerosol generating article 2 is coaxially placed with the aerosol generating element 1 and inserted into the accommodating cavity 13. Then, the aerosol generating element 1 is activated, and the receiving sleeve 12 heats the matrix section 21 of the aerosol generating element by transferring heat or by self-heating. After preheating for a certain time, the aerosol generating element 1 gives a prompt through the internal working element, and the consumer sucks at the proximal end portion 102 through the functional section 23 of the aerosol generating element. In this way, the aerosol generated by the matrix section 21 diffuses into the first aerosol receiving region through the hollow structure 121 of the receiving sleeve 12, and the air flows successively through the air inlet holes 14 (or 14') of the aerosol generating element 1, the first aerosol receiving region 16 (or 16'), the air outlet 15, and the side wall through holes 222 of the empty tube section 22, so that the first aerosol receiving region carries the aerosol generated by the matrix section 21 and enters the second aerosol receiving region 17, and then enters the consumer's mouth after being cooled, humidified, flavored or filtered by the functional section 23.

[0037] According to an example of the present invention, the aerosol generating article 2 may further include an outer wrapper 24 wrapped around the matrix section 21, the empty tube section 22, and the functional section 23, as shown in Figure 3As shown. The outer wrapper 24 is formed with an outer through-hole at a position corresponding to at least one sidewall through-hole 222 to facilitate the entry of the aerosol into the second aerosol receiving area. Preferably, the outer wrapper 24 can be made of a fluid-permeable material so that the aerosol generated by the substrate section 21 can be easily released from the substrate section and diffuse into the first aerosol area.

[0038] According to another example, a sealing element 18 can be provided on the circumferential inner sidewall of the proximal end portion 102 to achieve a seal between the inner sidewall of the receiving cavity and the outer surface of the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the receiving cavity.

[0039] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can understand that these embodiments can be changed without departing from the spirit and principles of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is defined in the claims and their equivalent forms.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device with a flow guiding structure, comprising: An aerosol generating element, which has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion opposite to the distal end portion and having an opening in the axial direction, and includes a housing, an internal working element accommodated in the housing, and a receiving sleeve, wherein: The internal working element is disposed near the distal end portion; and The aerosol generating element has a hollow receiving cavity in a portion near the proximal end portion to accommodate the receiving sleeve, and the receiving cavity communicates with the outside through the opening; and An aerosol generating article, one end of which is inserted into the receiving cavity through the opening, and the aerosol generating article is coaxially placed with the aerosol generating element, Wherein, the aerosol generating device has a flow guiding structure communicating with the outside for sweeping air from the periphery of the aerosol generating matrix and entering the aerosol generating article through the flow guiding structure; The aerosol generating article includes a matrix segment, a hollow tube segment, and a functional segment adjacent to each other in sequence, a part of the matrix segment, the hollow tube segment, and a part of the functional segment are accommodated in the receiving cavity, and a part of the matrix segment and the hollow tube segment are located in the receiving sleeve; and The hollow tube segment has a central cavity in the axial direction, and at least one side wall through hole is formed on the circumferential side wall of the hollow tube segment; Wherein, the flow guiding structure includes: A plurality of air inlets formed on the housing; An air outlet formed in the housing between the receiving sleeve and the proximal end portion and communicating with the receiving cavity, and the at least one side wall through hole is relatively positioned with the air outlet to communicate with each other; A first aerosol receiving area, which is an annular space located in the housing and communicating with the plurality of air inlets and the air outlet at both ends respectively; and A second aerosol receiving area, which is composed of the central cavity and the at least one side wall through hole.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving sleeve is a hollow tube and has a hollowed-out structure formed on the side wall covering a part or all of the matrix segment, and the hollowed-out structure includes a plurality of sleeve through holes evenly distributed to enable the aerosol generated by the matrix segment to enter the flow guiding structure through the sleeve through holes, and the inner wall surface of the receiving sleeve is flush with the circumferential inner side wall of the proximal end portion in the axial direction.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of air inlets are formed on the end surface of the distal end portion; and The first aerosol receiving area extends from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion in the axial direction.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of air inlets are formed on the axial side wall of the housing and are located at positions adjacent to the inner end side of the receiving cavity; and The first aerosol receiving area is an annular space surrounding the receiving sleeve.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein, The functional segment includes an aerosol optimization element adjacent to the hollow tube segment and a filtering element.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein, The aerosol optimization element is made of a temperature reducing material.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein, The aerosol optimization element is made of a soft material containing a humectant or a flavor enhancer.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein, The aerosol generating article further includes an outer wrapper wrapped around the matrix section, the hollow tube section, and the functional section, and the outer wrapper is formed with an outer through hole at a position corresponding to the at least one side wall through hole.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 8, wherein, The outer wrapper is made of a material capable of permeating fluid.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein, A sealing element is provided on the circumferential inner side wall of the proximal end for sealing when the aerosol generating article is inserted into the receiving cavity.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving sleeve is made of metal, alloy, or a heat-conductive material with a surface metal coating.

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