Aerosol-generating device with heating coating
By applying a resistive coating on the side wall of the heating chamber of the aerosol generation device, the problem of difficulty in achieving uniform heating of existing heating elements is solved, and a more efficient heating effect is achieved, and the complexity and cost of the device are reduced.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510487484.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2018-06-14
- Filing Date
- 2019-06-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-27
AI Technical Summary
The heating elements of existing aerosol generation devices are difficult to achieve uniform heating, and conventional heating elements may cause electromagnetic interference, increasing the complexity and cost of the device.
Using a resistive coating as a heating element, the coating can evenly cover the side walls of the heating chamber, and is composed of resistive particles and adhesive to provide a uniform heating effect and reduce electromagnetic interference.
A more uniform heat distribution is achieved, heating efficiency and energy saving effect are improved, while reducing the complexity and cost of the device and reducing electromagnetic interference.
Smart Images
Figure CN120203300A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of a Chinese patent application with international application number PCT / EP2019 / 065484, Chinese application number 201980034427.4, filing date June 13, 2019, and title "Aerosol Generating Device with a Heating Coating". Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol. Known aerosol generating devices heat but do not burn an aerosol generating substrate, such as tobacco. These devices heat the aerosol generating substrate to a high enough temperature to produce an aerosol for the user to inhale. Background Art
[0003] These aerosol generating devices typically include a heating chamber in which a relatively complex heating element is arranged inside or around the heating chamber. An aerosol generating article containing an aerosol generating substrate can be inserted into the heating chamber and heated by the heating element. The heating element is typically configured to heat a blade and penetrate into the aerosol generating substrate of the aerosol generating article when the article is inserted into the heating chamber. Conventional heating elements mainly heat the center of the aerosol generating substrate.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need to provide a low-cost heating element that can heat evenly. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To achieve this and other objects, the present invention provides an aerosol generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol. The device includes a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol generating article containing an aerosol generating substrate. The heating chamber includes a heating element. The heating element is a resistive coating.
[0006] Configuring the heating element as a resistive coating has many advantages. The coating can achieve a more uniform heat distribution because the coating can heat a relatively large area of the inserted aerosol generating article. Since the heater can operate at a slightly lower temperature, the more uniform heat distribution also has the effect that the heating can be more energy-efficient.
[0007] When the heating element is configured as a resistive coating, the possible shape of the heating element can be changed. Therefore, the shape of the heating element is not limited to a conventional heater shape, such as a unidirectionally curved shape, such as a cylinder or a cone. The resistive coating can form an irregular shape, such as a dome, a parabolic shape, or a surface with an irregular shape.
[0008] Conventional coil-shaped heaters may induce electromagnetic fields, which can cause electromagnetic interference. Electromagnetic interference may require an additional layer of metallic material to shield the electromagnetic field. In the present invention, since the resistive coating does not generate an electromagnetic field that causes electromagnetic interference, no other components are required.
[0009] The resistive coating (or film) can be formed by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD), vacuum evaporation, sputtering, conventional CVD, plasma CVD, or flame pyrolysis. Alternatively, other conventional coating methods (such as wet spraying, powder coating, or dip coating) can be used to apply the material. In some embodiments, the coating can be applied by powder sintering. Depending on the selected material composition and application method, the coating may require drying, curing, or fixing steps.
[0010] The resistive coating can be applied to the sidewalls of the heating chamber, particularly to the inner wall of the sidewalls facing the interior of the heating chamber.
[0011] The coating provided on the sidewalls of the heating chamber can directly heat the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the aerosol-generating article inserted into the heating chamber. The sidewalls of the heating chamber preferably include a base of the heating chamber and a wall surrounding the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber. The heating chamber includes an opening for inserting the aerosol-generating article, and the opening does not form a part of the sidewalls. The heating chamber can have a hollow tubular shape for inserting the aerosol-generating article, and the aerosol-generating article has a cylindrical shape similar to a conventional cigarette. The opening of the heating chamber for inserting the article can be circular.
[0012] In addition to additional heating elements, such as heating vanes provided at the center of the heating chamber, a resistive coating can be provided. Then, the aerosol-forming substrate can be heated uniformly from the inside and outside.
[0013] The resistive coating can include resistive particles and a binder.
[0014] The resistive particles provide resistive heating properties in the coating. Suitable resistive materials include, but are not limited to: semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically conductive ceramics (such as molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys, and composite materials made of ceramic materials and metal materials. Such composite materials can include doped or undoped ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbide. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum, and platinum group metals. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, alloys containing nickel, cobalt, chromium, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, and iron, and superalloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, Timetal, and iron-manganese-aluminum-based alloys. In the composite material, the resistive material can optionally be embedded in an insulating material, encapsulated by an insulating material, or coated by an insulating material, or vice versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the desired external physical and chemical properties.
[0015] In another embodiment, the resistive coating material consists of a thin film of a molecular binding material, which is tin oxide or doped tin oxide formed from independent precursors such as, but not limited to, tin chloride, methanol, H2O, and a dopant DFE such as difluoroethane (DFE) and antimony pentachloride.
[0016] An adhesive binds the resistive material particles and can be a polymer, a ceramic material, or an enamel frit. Suitable polymers include, but are not limited to, fluoropolymers, acrylic resins, and acrylates.
[0017] The binder can be configured to adhere to the sidewall of the heating chamber. The adhesive can be configured as a material resistant to mechanical damage so that the resistive coating is not damaged when inserting and removing the aerosol-generating article and when operating the aerosol-generating device.
[0018] A substrate can be disposed between the resistive coating and the heating chamber.
[0019] The substrate coated with the coating can be configured to withstand the operating temperature of the resistive coating, and preferably, the substrate is non-conductive. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, ceramic materials, beryllium oxide (BeO), glass-ceramics, glass family materials, aluminum nitride, quartz, and enameled metals. The substrate can optimize the bonding between the resistive coating and the sidewall of the heating chamber.
[0020] The substrate can be configured to be adiabatic. The substrate suppresses heat transfer through the sidewall of the heating chamber using an insulating material and directs the generated heat to the interior of the heating chamber, and thus, the heat is directed to the inserted aerosol-generating article. This improves the energy efficiency and performance of the device.
[0021] The device can further include a controller, a power source, and contacts, where the contacts are in electrical contact with the resistive coating, and the controller can be configured to control the power supply from the power source to the resistive coating via the contacts.
[0022] Preferably, the power source is configured as a battery. Preferably, the contacts are spaced apart from each other at opposite ends of the resistive coating such that the power supplied to the resistive coating flows uniformly through the coating, so that heat is evenly distributed on the surface of the coating. One contact can be disposed at the base of the sidewall of the heating chamber, while the second contact can be in the shape of a ring disposed at the radial circumference of the sidewall of the heating chamber. In other words, one contact can be disposed at the base of the heating chamber, while the other contact can be disposed near the opening of the heating chamber.
[0023] The resistive coating can be applied to the entire sidewall of the heating chamber. Applying the coating to the entire sidewall of the heating chamber facilitates uniform heating of the aerosol-generating article inserted into the heating chamber.
[0024] The resistive coating can be applied to the portion of the sidewall of the heating chamber adjacent to the opening of the heating chamber.
[0025] In this embodiment, the base of the heating chamber is not provided with a resistive coating. Thus, the aerosol-generating article is mainly heated near the opening of the heating chamber. This has the beneficial effect that less residue escapes from the aerosol-generating article near the base of the heating chamber. Accordingly, the contamination of the heating chamber can be reduced after the aerosol-generating article is removed. In this regard, a typical aerosol-generating article includes an outer wrapper disposed around the outer periphery of the aerosol-generating article, and when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber and after the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber, the portion of the aerosol-generating article facing the base of the heating chamber is not covered by the wrapper. Thus, the residue of the aerosol-forming substrate may mainly leave the aerosol-generating article through this portion of the article. Since the base of the heating chamber does not have a resistive coating, the heating of the substrate in this area is reduced, thereby reducing the outflow of the substrate in solid or gaseous form from the article adjacent to the base of the heating chamber. Thus, the contamination of the heating chamber can be effectively reduced.
[0026] The resistive coating can be applied to multiple separate portions of the heating chamber, where each portion of the resistive coating can be configured to be independently controllable and operable.
[0027] Providing multiple portions of the resistive coating has the effect of creating multiple heating elements. These multiple heating elements can be controlled separately to heat separate portions of the aerosol-forming substrate in the aerosol-generating article, with the aerosol-generating article inserted into the heating chamber. Preferably, during operation of the device, such as when the user blows on the device, a first portion of the resistive coating is operated to heat a first portion of the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. After the user blows or after the aerosol-forming substrate is depleted after a predetermined time, a second portion of the resistive coating can be activated and the first portion can be deactivated. In this way, subsequent portions of the resistive coating can be operated to heat multiple portions of the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. Accordingly, separate contacts are provided for different portions of the resistive coating. Additionally, the controller can include multiple controller portions for controlling the multiple portions of the resistive coating.
[0028] The thickness of the resistive coating can be configured to vary at different locations.
[0029] By varying the thickness of the resistive coating at different locations, different resistances are achieved at different locations of the resistive coating. Thus, different heating temperatures are achieved at the same voltage in these different portions or locations of the resistive coating. This can be used to volatilize different portions of the aerosol-forming substrate in different ways. The multiple independently controllable portions of the resistive coating described above can be combined with the different thicknesses of these different portions.
[0030] A resistive coating can be applied to the outside of the sidewall of the heating chamber, where the sidewall can be configured to be thermally conductive.
[0031] This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the resistive coating is fragile, difficult to clean, or vulnerable to organic contamination. Thus, the resistive coating can be applied to the outer surface of the sidewall of the heating chamber between the housing of the aerosol-generating device and the sidewall of the heating chamber. Thus, the housing of the aerosol-generating device and the sidewall of the heating chamber prevent the resistive coating from coming into contact with the aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating substrate, or other external elements, which could damage the resistive coating. In all embodiments described in the context of the present invention, the resistive coating can be applied directly to the sidewall of the heating chamber facing the interior of the heating chamber, or it can be applied to the outside of the sidewall of the heating chamber as described in the last embodiment. Preferably, the coating is applied to the inner side of the sidewall facing the interior of the heating chamber, rather than the outside of the heating chamber.
[0032] The base of the heating chamber can be hemispherical. In this embodiment, the thermal energy generated at the base of the heating chamber within the hemisphere is directed to the center point of the projected sphere. Thus, the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article located at this point is rapidly heated to rapidly generate aerosol. In this embodiment, the aerosol-generating coating provided on the hemispherical base of the heating chamber can be provided as part of the resistive coating, which can be controlled individually. Initially, this part can be operated to quickly generate aerosol, while other parts of the resistive coating can be operated for a longer time to generate aerosol over a longer period.
[0033] The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method comprising the following steps:
[0034] i) providing a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol-generating article containing an aerosol-generating substrate; and
[0035] ii) coating the heating chamber with a resistive coating serving as a heating element. Description of the Drawings
[0036] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, as follows:
[0037] Figure 1 : An aerosol-generating device according to the present invention;
[0038] Figure 2A and Figure 2B : Embodiments of the heating element of the aerosol-generating device, which are provided inside the sidewall of the heating chamber and outside the sidewall of the heating chamber;
[0039] Figure 3A 、 Figure 3B and Figure 3C: Embodiments of the heating element positioning and the heating element portion; and
[0040] Figure 4 : Embodiments of the base having a hemispherical heating chamber. Detailed Description
[0041] Figure 1 An aerosol generating device according to the present invention is shown. The device includes a heating chamber 10. An aerosol generating article 12 can be inserted into the heating chamber 10. The heating chamber 10 includes a side wall 14. A resistive coating 16 is provided on the side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10, which facilitates the heating element.
[0042] In addition to additional heating elements, such as a heating pin or a heating blade arranged centrally along the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 10, or a heating coil provided around the heating chamber 10, a resistive coating 16 can also be provided. However, preferably, the resistive coating 16 is the only heating element of the aerosol generating device, which is used to heat the aerosol generating substrate contained in the aerosol generating article 12.
[0043] In Figure 1 the resistive coating 16 is applied to the inner surface of the side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10. Thus, the resistive coating 16 directly radiates heat to the aerosol generating article 12 inserted into the heating chamber 10.
[0044] Figure 1 Contacts 18, 20 electrically connected to the resistive coating 16 are also shown, so that current can be supplied to the resistive coating 16 and flow through the resistive coating 16. As can be seen from Figure 1 the first contact 18 is arranged at the base of the heating chamber 10, while the second contact 20 is arranged near the opening of the heating chamber 10. In this way, the current flowing through the resistive coating 16 and supplied to the resistive coating 16 through the contacts 18, 20 flows uniformly through the resistive coating 16. Preferably, the second electrode 20 is provided as an annular electrode adjacent to the opening of the heating chamber 10.
[0045] To supply electrical energy to the resistive coating 16 and supply electrical energy through the resistive coating 16, a controller 22 is provided, which is in contact with a power source 24. The power source 24 is configured as a battery.
[0046] Figure 2A and Figure 2B show two embodiments of the resistive coating 16. In Figure 2A the resistive coating 16 is directly applied to the inner surface of the side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10. The resistive coating 16 includes resistive particles 26 and a binder 28. The resistive particles 26 are embedded in the binder 28. Thus, the binder 28 serves as a carrier.
[0047] In Figure 2BIn this case, the resistive coating 16 is applied to the outside of the side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10. In this and all other embodiments, the resistive coating 16 may be configured as the resistive coating 16 depicted in Figure 2A , that is, the resistive coating 16 consists of resistive particles 26 and a binder 28. In all embodiments, a layer of a single material as shown in Figure 2B may also be used for the resistive coating 16. As depicted in Figure 2B , the advantage of disposing the resistive coating 16 outside the side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10 is that the resistive coating 16 is protected by the side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10 from contamination or damage. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2B , the side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10 is preferably made of a heat-conductive material. By inserting the aerosol-generating article 12, the heat dissipated by the resistive coating 16 is transferred to the inside of the heating chamber 10 and into the aerosol-generating substrate disposed in the heating chamber 10.
[0048] Figures 3A to 3C shows a plurality of embodiments of the arrangement of the resistive coating 16. In Figure 3A , as shown in Figure 1 and Figures 2A to 2B , the resistive coating 16 is not provided on the entire side wall 14 of the heating chamber 10. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3A , the resistive coating 16 is provided only on the portion of the heating chamber 10 adjacent to the opening of the heating chamber 10. In this embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 12 inserted into the heating chamber 10 is not uniformly heated by the resistive coating 16, but is selectively heated according to the position of the resistive coating 16. As shown in Figure 3A , the resistive coating 16 preferably heats the portion of the aerosol-generating article 12 located near the opening of the heating chamber 10. In this way, the aerosol-generating substrate near the resistive coating 16 is mainly heated. Therefore, the contamination of the heating chamber 10 by the residue of the aerosol-generating substrate can be reduced, which avoids the portion of the aerosol-generating article 12 facing the base of the heating chamber 10.
[0049] In Figure 3B , a plurality of portions of the resistive coating 16 are provided, which can be controlled and operated separately and independently. These different portions of the resistive coating 16 can be used to heat different portions of the aerosol-generating substrate.
[0050] In Figure 3C , an embodiment is shown in which different portions of the resistive coating 16 are provided, each portion having a different thickness. These different thicknesses result in different resistances for the respective portions, and thus different heating temperatures. Figure 3C The portions depicted in
[0051] Figure 4 An embodiment of the heating chamber 10 is shown, in which the base of the heating chamber 10 is formed as a hemisphere. Accordingly, the resistive coating 16 applied in the hemispherical region has a hemispherical shape. Thus, the heat emitted from the coating in this region is concentrated on the central point of the aerosol-generating article 12, thereby rapidly heating and generating an aerosol in this portion of the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article 12.
Claims
1. A portable battery-powered aerosol generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol, wherein the aerosol generating device includes a heating element, wherein the heating element includes resistive particles and a polymeric binder, and wherein the resistive particles are embedded in the polymeric binder.
2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element has a cylindrical shape.
3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein the heating element has a hollow tubular shape.
4. The aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element is configured to be in electrical contact with a contact of the aerosol generating device.
5. The aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element includes a plurality of separate parts.
6. The aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the resistive particles include a metal or graphite.
7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 6, wherein the resistive particles consist of a metal or graphite.
8. The aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to receive an aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol generating substrate, wherein the aerosol generating device includes a controller, a power source, and a contact, and wherein the power source is configured as a battery.
9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 8, wherein the contact is in electrical contact with the heating element, and wherein the controller is configured to control the power supply from the power source via the contact to the heating element.
10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the contacts are arranged spaced apart from each other at opposite ends of the heating element.
11. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one contact is in the shape of a ring.
12. The aerosol generating device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one contact in the shape of a ring is arranged at the radial circumference of the heating element.
13. The aerosol generating device according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein a second contact is arranged at the base of the heating element.
14. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the aerosol generating substrate to a high enough temperature to produce an aerosol for inhalation by a user.
15. A heating element for a portable battery-powered aerosol generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol, wherein the heating element includes resistive particles and a polymeric binder, and wherein the resistive particles are embedded in the polymeric binder.
16. The heating element according to claim 15, wherein the resistive particles include a metal or graphite.
17. The heating element according to claim 15 or claim 16, further comprising two electrical contacts for making electrical contact with the material of the heating element, wherein at least one electrical contact is in the shape of a ring.