HEATER AND ATOMIZING DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of atomization, and in particular to a heater and an atomization device having the same.BACKGROUND

[0002] Atomization device can heat a solid atomization medium such as a cigarette in a heating-without-burning manner to generate an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user. The atomization device typically includes a heater and a power supply. The power supply supplies power to the heater. The heater converts electrical energy into thermal energy. The atomization medium absorbs heat and is atomized to form aerosol.

[0003] The heater of the conventional atomization device pierces the atomization medium to form a central heating method from the inside to the outside. As the use time increases, a large amount of dirt is easily attached and accumulated on the surface of the heater. The dirt not only affects the appearance of the heater, but also can absorb the heat from the heater and generate peculiar smell or harmful gas, thus affecting the consistency of the inhalation taste of the aerosol.

[0004] WO 2022 / 151901 A1 discloses a heater according to the preamble of claim 1.SUMMARY

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present application is to provide a heater to reduce dirt and an atomization device having the same.

[0006] A heater includes a heating member having a mounting surface and a covering layer covering the mounting surface. The mounting surface is an uneven low surface energy structure, and the low surface energy structure is at least one of a micron structure and a nanostructure. The ratio of the thickness of the portion of the covering layer with the maximum thickness to the thickness of the portion of the covering layer with the minimum thickness is less than or equal to 3.

[0007] In an embodiment, the surface of the covering layer is continuous and smooth.

[0008] In an embodiment, the cross-section of the heating member intersects the mounting surface at an intersection line, and the intersection line is a polygonal line or a smooth curve.

[0009] In an embodiment, the surface roughness Ra of the heating member at the low surface energy structure satisfies: 10µm ≤ Ra ≤ 30 µm.

[0010] In an embodiment, the surface roughness Ra of the covering layer satisfies: Ra ≤ 0.1µm.

[0011] In an embodiment, the thickness H of the covering layer satisfies: 5µm ≤ H ≤ 15µm.

[0012] In an embodiment, the covering layer is a glaze layer.

[0013] In an embodiment, the heating member includes a base body and a heating body wrapped in the base body, the mounting surface is located on the base body, and the heating body and the covering layer are located on opposite sides of the base body in the thickness direction thereof, respectively.

[0014] In an embodiment, the base body and the heating body are made of different materials.

[0015] In an embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the base body is greater than the thermal conductivity of the covering layer.

[0016] In an embodiment, the heating member is in the shape of a column, a sheet, a barrel or a pot.

[0017] In an embodiment, the heating member is in the shape of a barrel or a pot, and the covering layer is provided on the inner surface of the heating member.

[0018] An atomization device includes a main body and any one of the above heaters. The heater is provided on the main body.

[0019] According to the heater and the atomization device, since the mounting surface is configured as a low surface energy structure, and the ratio of the thickness of the portion of the covering layer with the maximum thickness to the thickness of the portion of the covering layer with the minimum thickness is less than or equal to 3, the entire heater still has a low surface energy structure, thus ensuring that the surface of the heater has strong hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. When the liquid produced by the atomization medium during the atomization process comes into contact with the covering layer, the contact angle between the liquid and the covering layer is almost an obtuse angle, such that the liquid is difficult to adhere to the heater. Moreover, the surface of the covering layer is extremely smooth, which further increases the difficulty of adhesion of the liquid. Similarly, it is also difficult for solid atomization products generated during the atomization process of the atomization medium to adhere to the smooth covering layer. Therefore, it is difficult for dirt generated through a series of physical and chemical reactions between liquid and solid atomization products to adhere to the heater, which ultimately reduces the generation of dirt on the heater. In this way, on the one hand, irritating and harmful substances produced by dirt during the heating process of the heater are avoided, thereby improving the inhalation taste and safety, on the other hand, the frictional resistance of the heater when inserting into the atomization medium will be reduced, so that the risk of being bent and broken of the heater will also be effectively prevented, thereby increasing the service life of the heater. Furthermore, even if there is a small amount of dirt attached to the heating surface, since the surface of the covering layer is extremely smooth, the adhesion between the dirt and the covering layer can be reduced, thereby reducing the difficulty of cleaning the dirt. At the same time, the covering layer with uniform thickness can increase the heat transferring speed of the heater, such that the thermal field distribution of the heater can be more uniform, and the heating efficiency and atomization effect of the heater can be improved.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a heater according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the heater shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a base body of a heater according to a second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a base body of a heater according to a third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a base body of a heater according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a heater according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The technical solution in the embodiment of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiment of the application. Apparently, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art without making creative efforts shall all fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0022] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly fixed to another element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to another element or intervening elements may also be present. The terms "inner", "outer", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation manner.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an atomization device provided by an embodiment of the present application includes a main body and a heater 10 provided on the main body. The main body includes a battery configured to supply power to the heater 10. The heater 10 is configured to convert electrical energy into thermal energy. The main body is configured to accommodate a solid atomization medium. During the operation process, at least one heating surface of the heater 10 is in contact with the atomization medium, the atomization medium absorbs the heat from the heater 10 and is atomized in a heating-without-burning manner to form an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user. The solid atomization medium may be a cigarette, etc. The heater 10 includes a heating member 11 and a covering layer 12. The covering layer 12 covers the heating member 11.

[0024] In some embodiments, the heating member 11 may include a base body 100 and a heating body 200, which are made of different materials. The battery of the main body supplies power to the heating body 200, and the heating body 200 converts electrical energy into thermal energy. The structural strength of the base body 100 is greater than that of the heating body 200. The heating body 200 is provided on the base body 100, so that the base body 100 can serve as a carrier for the heating body 200 and prevent the entire heating member 11 from being bent, broken or deformed during the process of inserting or accommodating the atomization medium. The base body 100 forms a wrapping and supporting effect for the heating body 200, that is, the heating body 200 is wrapped in the base body 100. The base body 100 has excellent thermal conductivity, so that the heat generated by the heating body 200 can be quickly transferred to the atomization medium through the base body 100 from the inside to the outside, that is, the base body 100 mainly serves a bearing function and a heat conduction function, while the heating body 200 mainly serves a heating function.

[0025] In other embodiments, the base body 100 and the heating body 200 may be made of the same material. In other words, the heating member 11 is integrally formed and made of a single material, so that the entire heating member 11 has sufficient structural strength to prevent the heating member 11 from being bent, broken or deformed when being inserted into the atomization medium, and also serves a heating function.

[0026] In some embodiments, the heating member is in the shape of a column or a sheet. The base body 100 has two surfaces in the thickness direction. The two surfaces of the base body 100 are spaced apart and face opposite directions along the thickness direction of the base body 100. The heating body 200 is provided on one of the two surfaces in the thickness direction of the base body 100. The other surface of the two surfaces serves as a mounting surface 110. The mounting surface 110 is an uneven microstructure surface, therefore the mounting surface 110 is configured as a low surface energy structure, that is, the entire heating member 11 has a low surface energy structure. The mounting surface 110 with a low surface energy structure means that the surface tension of the mounting surface 110 is small and it is difficult for water molecules or oil molecules to adhere. On the contrary, if the mounting surface 110 has a high surface energy structure, the surface tension of the mounting surface 110 is large and it is easy for water molecules or oil molecules to adhere. The low surface energy structure is a micron structure and / or a nanostructure, that is, the low surface energy structure can be a micron structure, a nanostructure, or a combination of a micron structure and a nanostructure. Since the mounting surface 110 is configured as a low surface energy structure, the base body 100 has a certain surface roughness at the low surface energy structure. The surface roughness Ra of the base body 100 at the low surface energy structure satisfies: 10µm ≤ Ra ≤ 30µm. Specifically, the surface roughness Ra of the base body 100 at the low surface energy structure may be 10µm, 20µm, or 30µm, etc.

[0027] In some embodiments, the low surface energy structure may be formed using a laser ablation process. For example, in the case that the base body 100 and the heating member 11 are in the shape of sheet, an outer surface of the base body 100 that is a horizontal plane in the thickness direction can be processed through a laser ablation process, so that multiple recessed spaces are formed on the outer surface, and the recessed space may be a counterbore or a countersink, so that the outer surface with the recessed spaces is transformed into the uneven mounting surface 110. For another example, in the case that the base body 100 and the heating member 11 are in the shape of columnar, the columnar outer peripheral surface of the base body 100 can be processed through a laser ablation process, so that multiple recessed spaces are formed on the outer peripheral surface. This can also make the outer peripheral surface with the recessed space be transformed into the uneven mounting surface 110. In other embodiments, the low surface energy structure may also be formed using a chemical etching process or a mechanical sandblasting process.

[0028] In other embodiments, the heating member 11 may be in the shape of a pot, a barrel, etc. The configuration of the heating member 11 in a pot shape or a barrel shape can form an accommodating space in the heating unit 11, and the atomization medium can be accommodated in the accommodating space. The covering layer 12 can be provided at least on the inner surface of the barrel-shaped or pot-shaped heating member 11. The inner surface of the heating member 11 is in direct contact with the atomization medium, thus it can heat and atomize the atomization medium. Therefore, the interior portion of the heater 10 can be cleaned more easily.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the cross-section of the base body 100 intersects the mounting surface 110 at an intersection line 120. The cross-section of the base body 100 may be a transverse cross-section of the base body 100 or a longitudinal cross-section of the base body 100. The intersection line 120 includes a first segment 121 and a second segment 122, and a plurality of first segment 121 and a plurality of second segment 122 can be provided. The plurality of first segments 121 are spaced apart along the extension direction of the intersection line 120, and each second segment 122 is connected between adjacent two first segments 121, so that one end of the second segment 122 is connected to an end of one of the first segments 121, and the other end of the second segment 122 is connected to an end of the other first segment 121.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the intersection line 120 is a polygonal line. Specifically, the first segment 121 is a straight line, that is, the first segment 121 is a line segment, and the second segment 122 is a polygonal line. Taking the surface of the base body 100 adjacent to the heating body 200 in the thickness direction as a reference plane 130, the second segment 122 is more adjacent to the reference plane 130 than the first segment 121, that is, the second segment 122 is more adjacent to the heating body 200 than the first segment 121. In other embodiments, the second segment 122 may be further away from the reference plane 130 than the first segment 121. The second segment 122 may be formed into a rectangle with one side missing. In other words, the second segment 122 is formed into a flat-bottomed U-shape. The second segment 122 may also be formed in a V-shape, etc.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, in other embodiments, the intersection line 120 is a smooth curve, so that the intersection line 120 has no sharp corners. Specifically, both the first segment 121 and the second segment 122 are smooth curves. The first segment 121 may be an arc curve, a sinusoidal curve, an elliptic curve, etc. Taking the surface of the base body 100 adjacent to the heating body 200 in the thickness direction as a reference plane 130, and the opening formed by the bending of the first segment 121 is provided toward the reference plane 130 and the heating body 200. The second segment 122 may also be an arc curve, a sinusoidal curve, an elliptic curve, etc., and the opening formed by the bending of the second segment 122 is arranged away from the reference plane 130 and the heating body 200. The second segment 122 is more adjacent to the reference plane 130 than the first segment 121. In an embodiment, the opening formed by the bending of the first segment 121 may be arranged away from the reference plane 130, and the opening formed by the bending of the second segment 122 may be arranged facing the reference plane 130. In other embodiments, the intersection line 120 is a non-smooth curve. Referring to FIG. 4, the first segment 121 and the second segment 122 have the same structure, i.e., the openings formed by bending the first segment 121 and the second segment 122 are both arranged facing or away from the reference plane 130.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 5, in another embodiment, the intersection line 120 may be in a zigzag shape, which can be generally understood to mean that the intersection line 120 can be formed by connecting multiple V-shaped segments or W-shaped segments end to end.

[0033] In some embodiments, the covering layer 12 covers the mounting surface 110, such that the covering layer 12 and the heating body 200 are located on opposite sides of the base body 100 in the thickness direction thereof, respectively. The ratio of the thickness of the portion of the covering layer 12 with the maximum thickness to the thickness of the portion of the covering layer 12 with the minimum thickness is less than or equal to 3, so that the thickness of the covering layer 12 is relatively uniform. The covering layer 12 with uniform thickness can conduct the heat to the atomization medium more evenly and quickly, so that the heater has higher heating efficiency, the thermal field distribution is more uniform, and the atomization effect is better. Therefore, since the mounting surface 110 is configured as a low surface energy structure, after the mounting surface 110 is covered by the covering layer 12, the entire heater 10 will still have a low surface energy structure.

[0034] In some embodiments, the covering layer 12 is a glaze layer, that is, the covering layer 12 is made of glaze material, so that the covering layer 12 has high temperature resistance and an extremely smooth surface. The surface roughness Ra of the covering layer 12 satisfies: Ra ≤ 0.1µm, so that the surface of the covering layer 12 is extremely smooth, and the surface of the covering layer 12 can be a continuous and smooth surface, which can eliminate sharp corners or steps existing on the original surface of the mounting surface 110. It should be understood that the surface of the covering layer 12 is a continuous and smooth surface, which may specifically include the following characteristics: on the one hand, the continuous surface means that although the surface may be uneven, there is no sudden change on the surface, which can be further explained as the first order derivative of the function on which the surface is continuous; on the other hand, a smooth surface means that the roughness of the surface is small. The thickness H of the covering layer 12 satisfies: 5µm ≤ H ≤ 15µm. Specifically, the thickness H of the covering layer 12 may be 5µm, 10µm or 15µm, etc.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the covering layer 12 covers the mounting surface 110 of the columnar base body 100, the entire heater 10 becomes columnar. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, when the covering layer 12 covers the mounting surface 110 of the sheet-shaped base body 100, the entire heater 10 is in the shape of sheet. When the heater 10 is inserted in the atomization medium, the heat generated by the heating body 200 is first transferred to the base body 100, then transferred to the covering layer 12 through the base body 100, and finally transferred to the atomization medium through the covering layer 12. Since the thickness of the covering layer 12 is uniform, the thermal conductivity properties of the covering layer 12 are the same everywhere, which can make the temperature distribution everywhere on the covering layer 12 uniform, so that the entire heater 10 can evenly heat the atomization medium and improve the inhalation taste of aerosol. If the low surface energy structure is directly provided on the covering layer 12, the thickness of the covering layer 12 will be non-uniform, resulting in the heater 10 being unable to uniformly heat the atomization medium.

[0036] In the case that the heater 10 is not provided with a low surface energy structure, when the heater is inserted into the solid atomization medium, the atomization medium will produce a certain amount of liquid and solid atomization products during the atomization process. The liquid and solid atomization products will adhere to the surface of the heater and are difficult to fall off. When the heater generates heat, the liquid and solid atomization products will undergo a series of physical and chemical reactions in a high temperature environment, causing the liquid and solid atomization products to transform into dirt that adheres firmly to the heater. Due to the existence of this dirt, on the one hand, the dirt will produce irritating and harmful substances during the heating process of the heater, thereby affecting the inhalation taste and the health of consumers; on the other hand, the frictional resistance of the heater when the heater is inserted into the atomization medium is increased, which is not conducive to the atomization medium being accommodated in the main body, and also puts the heater at risk of being bent and broken, thus reducing the service life of the heater.

[0037] According to the above embodiments, since the heater 10 has the low surface energy structure, the surface of the heater 10 has strong hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. When the liquid produced by the atomization medium during the atomization process comes into contact with the covering layer 12, the contact angle between the liquid and the covering layer 12 is almost an obtuse angle, such that the liquid is difficult to adhere to the heater 10. Moreover, the surface of the covering layer 12 is extremely smooth, which further increases the difficulty of adhesion of the liquid. Similarly, it is also difficult for solid atomization products generated during the atomization process of the atomization medium to adhere to the smooth covering layer 12. Since it is difficult for liquid and solid atomization products to adhere to the heater 10, it will also be difficult for dirt generated by the reaction of liquid and solid atomization products to adhere to the heater 10. In this way, on the one hand, irritating and harmful substances produced by dirt during the heating process of the heater 10 are avoided, thereby improving the inhalation taste and safety, on the other hand, the frictional resistance of the heater 10 when inserting into the atomization medium will be reduced, so that the atomization medium can be accommodated in the main body smoothly, and the risk of being bent and broken of the heater 10 will also be effectively prevented, thereby increasing the service life of the heater 10. Moreover, even if there is a small amount of dirt attached to the heater 10, since the surface of the covering layer 12 is extremely smooth, the adhesion force between the dirt and the covering layer 12 can be reduced, thereby reducing the difficulty of cleaning the dirt.

[0038] In addition, the covering layer 12 being the glaze layer has a high temperature resistance. The maximum operating temperature of the heater 10 can reach about 350°C. The covering layer 12 has extremely stable physical and chemical properties in the high-temperature environment, which effectively prevents the covering layer 12 from being damaged or chemically reacting at the high temperature.

Claims

1. A heater (10), comprising: a heating member (11) having a mounting surface (110), wherein the mounting surface (110) is an uneven low surface energy structure, and the low surface energy structure is at least one of a micron structure and a nanostructure; and characterized by a covering layer (12) covering the mounting surface (110), wherein the ratio of the thickness of the portion of the covering layer (12) with the maximum thickness to the thickness of the portion of the covering layer (12) with the minimum thickness is less than or equal to 3.

2. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the covering layer (12) is a continuous and smooth surface.

3. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the heating member (11) intersects the mounting surface (110) at an intersection line (120), and the intersection line (120) is a polygonal line or a smooth curve.

4. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness Ra of the heating member (11) at the low surface energy structure satisfies: 10µm ≤ Ra ≤ 30µm.

5. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness Ra of the covering layer (12) satisfies: Ra ≤ 0.1µm.

6. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the thickness H of the covering layer (12) satisfies: 5µm ≤ H ≤ 15µm.

7. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer (12) is a glaze layer.

8. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the heating member (11) comprises a base body (100) and a heating body (200) wrapped in the base body (100), the mounting surface (110) is located on the base body (100), and the heating body (200) and the covering layer (12) are located on opposite sides of the base body (100) in the thickness direction thereof, respectively.

9. The heater (10) according to claim 8, wherein the base body (100) and the heating body (200) are made of different materials.

10. The heater (10) according to claim 8, wherein the thermal conductivity of the base body (100) is greater than the thermal conductivity of the covering layer (12).

11. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein multiple recessed spaces are formed on the mounting surface (110).

12. The heater (10) according to claim 1, wherein the heating member (11) is in the shape of a column, a sheet, a barrel or a pot.

13. The heater (10) according to claim 12, wherein the heating member (11) is in the shape of a barrel or a pot, and the covering layer (12) is provided on the inner surface of the heating member (11).

14. An atomization device, comprising a main body and the heater (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heater (10) is provided on the main body.