Heating assembly and aerosol generating apparatus

Abstract

To provide an aerosol-generating apparatus capable of evenly heating a smoking material located in a storage cavity.SOLUTION: A heating assembly 100 includes a heating body. Side walls of the heating body are composed as several heating parts 110 where a starting end and a terminal are connected in order and divided at least partially. The divided several heating parts are used for guiding current so that it flows along a prescribed route, and the several heating parts surround and house smoking materials and form storage cavity 112 for circulating gases. In the current invention, a gap 111 between the heating parts is small, so that an exothermic area is large. Also, the heating parts can perform guidance so that current can flow on all over the side walls of the heating body by following the prescribed route along the heating part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of aerosol generating devices, and more specifically, to a heating assembly and an aerosol generating device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional aerosol generating devices include a suction nozzle, a heating assembly, and a base in order from top to bottom. There is a gas passage that penetrates vertically inside the suction nozzle, the heating assembly, and the base.

[0003] When using an aerosol generating device, usually, a smoking material is placed in the gas passage of the heating assembly. In this case, since the current conduction direction of the heating assembly is from the lead wire access end towards the surroundings, when the heating assembly heats the smoking material, there are differences in the temperature of each part of the heating assembly, resulting in different heating degrees of each part of the smoking material, which affects the atomization effect of the aerosol generating device and the user experience.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem solved by the embodiments of this application is that the conventional heating assembly cannot achieve uniform heating.

[0005] To solve the above technical problem, the embodiments of this application provide a heating assembly that can achieve uniform heating and adopt the following technical solutions.

[0006] There is provided a heating assembly applied to an aerosol generating device. The heating assembly includes a heating body, and the side wall of the heating body is configured as several heating parts whose start ends and end ends are connected in sequence and at least partially separated. The several separated heating parts are used to guide the current to flow along a predetermined path, and the several heating parts surround to form an accommodation cavity for accommodating a smoking material and allowing gas to flow through.

[0007] Furthermore, the heating body is tubular in shape, and several heating elements surround the heating body along its circumference to form a housing cavity, with the heating elements spaced apart from each other along its circumference.

[0008] Furthermore, the heating body has a first opening for inserting smoking material and a second opening located at the end opposite the first opening, with a gap formed between the two adjacent heating elements. One end of the gap penetrates either the first or second opening, and the other end of the gap extends to the vicinity of either the second or first opening.

[0009] Furthermore, the heating assembly is provided within the gap and further includes an insulating filler to increase the strength of the heating body.

[0010] Furthermore, the heating assembly further includes at least two lead wires, one of which is connected to the beginning of several heating elements and the other lead wire is connected to the end of several heating elements.

[0011] Furthermore, the heating assembly further includes an insulating housing, which is positioned to surround the outer surface of the heating body. An insulated cavity is provided inside the insulated housing, and this insulated cavity surrounds the heating unit.

[0012] Accordingly, the present invention further provides an aerosol generating apparatus including the heating assembly described above.

[0013] Furthermore, the aerosol generator further includes a base, the base of which is provided with a gas passage and an upper plate, one end of the gas passage communicating with a containment cavity and the other end communicating with the outside. The upper plate is located at one end of the base, close to the containment cavity, and has a number of uniformly distributed gas-filled holes, through which the gas passages communicate with the containment cavity.

[0014] Furthermore, the aerosol generator further includes an atomizing body and a flip cover, the flip cover being rotatably connected to one end of the atomizing body away from the housing cavity and used to rotate to control the opening and closing of the gas passage.

[0015] Furthermore, the aerosol generating device further includes a rotating shaft and a torsion spring, the rotating shaft passing through the flip cover and the torsion spring, one end of the torsion spring contacting the flip cover and the other end of the torsion spring contacting the atomizing body, and the rotating shaft and torsion spring are used to reset the flip cover.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present application have the following main advantages. In the solution provided by this application, each heating element is at least partially separated from the others and each heating element is connected at its start and end, so that the heating elements can guide the current to flow along a predetermined path, i.e., the current can be distributed across the entire side wall of the heating body, thereby achieving the effect of uniformly heating the smoking material located in the containment cavity. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the solutions in this application or the prior art, the drawings necessary for describing the embodiments of this application or the prior art are briefly described below. Clearly, the drawings described are some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings from these without any creative effort. [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a heating assembly according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional local cross-sectional view of the heating assembly. [Figure 3] This is a schematic exploded view of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of the aerosol generating apparatus (in use) according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5]It is a cross-sectional view from the side of the aerosol generating device (unused state) in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a schematic structural diagram of the lower cover and flip cover of the aerosol generating device in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] It is a schematic structural diagram of the flip cover in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a schematic structural diagram of the flip cover in FIG. 6 from another perspective.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, while referring to the drawings of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts belong to the protection scope of the present application. Furthermore, it should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used for explaining and interpreting the present application, and not for limiting the present application.

[0019] In the present application, unless otherwise stated, terms indicating positions such as "upper" and "lower" usually refer to up and down in the actual use or operating state of the device, specifically referring to the directions in the drawings. "Inside" and "outside" refer to the outline of the device. Also, in the description of the present application, "including" means "including but not limited to". Terms such as first, second, third, etc. are only used for identification and do not limit numerical requirements or sequences.

[0020] In the present application, "and / or" describes the relationship of related objects and indicates that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent that A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Here, A and B can be singular or plural.

[0021] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "At least one", "at least one of the following items (pieces)", or similar expressions thereof refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items (pieces) or multiple items (pieces). For example, "at least one of a, b, or c", or "at least one of a, b, and c" can each represent a, b, c, a - b (i.e., a and b), a - c, b - c, or a - b - c. a, b, and c may each be singular or plural.

[0022] Each embodiment of the present application can exist in a range form. As can be understood, the description in range form is for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as a strict limitation on the scope of the present application. Therefore, a description of a range should be regarded as specifically disclosing all possible sub - ranges and single numerical values within that range. For example, a description of the range from 1 to 6 should be regarded as specifically disclosing sub - ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., and single numerical values within that range such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This applies to any range. Also, a numerical range in the text means including any cited numerical value (fraction or integer) within the specified range.

[0023] Refer to Figures 1 to 5. In Figure 1, the Z direction is the vertical direction. Embodiments of the present application provide a heating assembly 100 including a heating body 120. The side wall of the heating body 120 is configured as several heating elements 110 that are connected at their starting and ending points in sequence and are at least partially separated. The separated heating elements 110 are used to guide the current to flow along a predetermined path, and the heating elements 110 surround each other to form a containment cavity 112 for containing the smoking material 30 and for circulating gas. In this case, in the solution according to the present application, since the heating elements 110 are at least partially separated and each heating element 110 is connected at its starting and ending points, the heating elements 110 can guide the current to flow meanderingly along the heating elements 110 along a predetermined path shown in Figure 2, that is, the current can be distributed across the entire side wall of the heating body 120 as shown by the arrows in Figures 2 and 5, thereby providing the effect of uniformly heating the smoking material 30 located in the containment cavity 112.

[0024] Furthermore, the heating body 120 of the present invention has a first opening 150 for inserting smoking material and a second opening 160 located at the end opposite the first opening 150. A gap 111 is formed between two adjacent heating elements 110. One end of the gap 111 penetrates either the first opening 150 or the second opening 160, and the other end of the gap 111 extends to the vicinity of either the second opening 160 or the first opening 150.

[0025] Referring to Figures 1-3, the gap 111 includes a first gap, a second gap, and a third gap. The first gap connects the upper and lower edges of the side wall. The second gap (not shown) extends from the upper edge to the lower edge of the side wall, but there is a gap between the second gap and the lower edge, meaning the second gap does not communicate with the lower edge. The third gap extends from the lower edge to the upper edge of the side wall, but there is a gap between the third gap and the upper edge, meaning the third gap does not communicate with the upper edge. The second and third gaps are spaced apart. In this case, since the gap 111 interrupts the current, the side wall of the heating body 120 is restricted by the gap 111 to form a current conduction channel, meaning the current flows in a meandering manner along the heating element 110 and spreads throughout the entire side wall of the heating body 120, thereby uniformly heating the smoking material 30 located in the containment cavity.

[0026] To make it clear, the shape, size, and distribution location of the gap 111 can be adjusted according to actual needs, as long as the gap 111 allows the side wall of the heating body 120 to form a heating element 110 that is connected at its starting and ending points and at least partially separated. For example, a spiral gap 111 can be designed in the side wall. The gap 111 extends spirally from the bottom to the top of the side wall of the heating body 120, limiting the side wall to a spirally ascending current conduction channel. In this case, the current can still flow throughout the entire side wall of the heating body 120, resulting in uniform heating. If a single current conduction channel is used, the heating rate of the heating assembly 100 may be slow, i.e., it takes a certain amount of time for the current to flow through the entire current conduction channel. Therefore, the gap 111 can also form multiple current conduction channels in the side wall, in which case, by providing multiple lead wires 140, current can be passed through each current conduction channel, thereby shortening the current path and improving the heating efficiency of the heating assembly 100. The material of the heating body 120 includes, but is not limited to, one of nickel-chromium alloy, iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, stainless steel alloy, palladium, graphene, or a combination thereof.

[0027] Continuing to refer to Figures 1 to 3, the heating body 120 is provided in a tubular shape, and several heating elements 110 surround the heating body 120 along its circumference to form a housing cavity, with the heating elements 110 spaced apart from each other along its circumference. The cross-section of the housing cavity defined inside is circular, but may be triangular, square, or other shapes to accommodate different smoking materials 30. The housing cavity may be divided into multiple sections, and the cross-sectional shapes of the multiple sections of the housing cavity may differ. In this case, the depth to which different shaped smoking materials 30 can enter the housing cavity will differ, thus allowing control of the heating range of the smoking material 30. If the cross-section of the housing cavity is circular and the circumference is equal, the area of ​​the circle is the largest, so the gas flow rate of the heating body 120 of this application is large, and at the same time the gas can be uniformly distributed on the inner wall of the heating body 120. Therefore, the heating body 120 can heat the gas uniformly, and the lifespan of the heating assembly 100 can be improved.

[0028] For example, the containment cavity is divided into two sections from top to bottom, with the upper section having a circular cross-section and the lower section having an equilateral triangle cross-section, where the radius of the circle is equal to the median of the triangle. In this case, the smoking material 30 includes a first smoking material and a second smoking material, the first smoking material having a circular cross-section, and the second smoking material having an equilateral triangle cross-section in one segment and a circular cross-section in the other segment. The first smoking material cannot penetrate deeply into the bottom of the containment cavity, thus preventing damage to parts that do not require heating due to heating. The second smoking material can penetrate deeply into the containment cavity, thus ensuring its heating effect. In summary, the design of the two-section containment cavity allows for control of the heating range of the smoking material 30 and also allows for adaptation to different smoking materials 30.

[0029] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 again, the heating assembly 100 further includes at least two lead wires 140, one lead wire 140 connected to the beginning of several heating elements 110 and the other lead wire 140 connected to the end of several heating elements 110. If there is only one current conduction channel, the distance over which the current can flow will differ depending on the positions of the two lead wires 140, i.e., the size of the area that the heating assembly 100 can heat may differ. In the embodiments of the present invention, the two lead wires 140 are positioned at the beginning and end of the heating elements 110, respectively, so that the current can flow completely through the entire side wall of the heating body 120 of the heating assembly 100, further improving the effect of uniform heating of the heating assembly 100.

[0030] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1-5, the heating assembly 100 further includes an insulating housing 130. The insulating housing 130 is positioned to surround the outer surface of the heating body 120 and is used to block heat. When the heating assembly 100 is operating, the temperature of the side walls of the heating body 120 continues to rise. In this case, the provision of the insulating housing 130 in the embodiment of the present invention prevents damage to other parts due to excessively high temperatures, prevents burns to the user, and further improves the heating efficiency of the heating assembly 100 by maintaining heat.

[0031] To make it clear, the insulated housing 130 can be made of an insulating material. The insulating material includes, but is not limited to, any one of the following or a combination thereof: aerogel, ceramic fiber, silicate material, foamed plastic, perlite, expanded graphite, silica aerogel, foamed glass, and mineral wool. An insulating structure can also be added to the outside of the heating assembly 100 to prevent the heating assembly 100 from overheating and damaging other parts. For example, an insulating layer can be provided inside the aerosol generator 50 to surround the heating assembly 100, providing insulation. However, this method complicates the manufacturing process of the aerosol generator 50, reduces the production efficiency of the aerosol generator 50, and makes maintenance inconvenient. The insulated housing 130 according to the embodiment of the present application surrounds the outer surface of the heating body 120 and can be formed integrally with the heating body 120. In this case, when assembling the aerosol generator 50, only the heating assembly 100 can be attached, and there is no need to attach an insulating structure, thus improving production efficiency. The insulated housing 130 may have multiple layers, and the insulation effect is improved by reducing the amount of heat through the multiple layers.

[0032] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1 to 5, the insulated housing 130 includes an insulated cavity 131, which is provided to surround the outer surface of the heating body 120 and is used to block the temperature. The insulated housing 130 may be made of an insulating material itself, and / or an insulated cavity 131 may be formed between the insulated housing 130 and the heating body 120, with the inside of the insulated cavity 131 being a vacuum or filled with an inert gas. If the insulated housing 130 is made of an insulating material, the manufacturing cost of the heating assembly 100 increases. If the insulated cavity 131 is filled with an inert gas such as helium or argon, gas convection may exist even within the inert gas, which leads to heat conduction. Also, molecules exist in the inert gas or air, and these molecules may scatter thermal radiation and affect the insulating effect. In the vacuum insulation method, since there are no molecules in a vacuum, there is no effect from gas convection, and the scattering of thermal radiation is almost negligible. In the embodiments of the present invention, by providing the insulated cavity 131 in a vacuum environment, the heat insulation effect of the heating assembly 100 can be further improved, manufacturing costs can be reduced, heat loss can be avoided, and the heating effect of the heating assembly 100 can be improved.

[0033] Furthermore, in prior art, the heating body is usually provided on the outer wall of the pipe, and the smoking material 30 is heated by transferring heat to the inner wall of the pipe. Therefore, energy consumption is high, and the heat insulation burden on the outside of the pipe is high. In the embodiment of this application, the heating body 120 is in direct contact with the inserted smoking material 30, and the smoking material 30 can be heated directly, thereby significantly improving the heat utilization rate, reducing heat loss, and thus achieving energy saving effects. Furthermore, a heat insulating housing 130 is provided on the outside of the heating body 120, which is fixed to it. The heat insulating housing 130 can prevent heat from escaping from the heating body 120, so that the heat from the heating body 120 can be fully utilized to heat the smoking material 30. This further improves heating efficiency and reduces the energy consumption of the aerosol generator 50. The smoking material 30 may be a cartridge, and the pipe may be a component having a gas passage.

[0034] The insulating cavity 131 may be provided with a plurality of recesses (not shown). Since the thermal conductivity of a vacuum is worse than that of solid materials, the larger the volume of the insulating cavity 131, the better the insulating effect of the insulating cavity 131. However, simply increasing the volume of the insulating cavity 131 may reduce the structural strength of the heating assembly 100. Instead, the area of ​​the insulating cavity 131 is increased by providing recesses in the insulating cavity 131. Since the recesses have small and uniform structural changes, in the embodiment of this application, after providing the recesses, the internal support points and stability of the heating body 120 or the insulating housing 130 do not change significantly, thereby not only improving the insulating effect of the insulating cavity 131 but also avoiding a significant reduction in the strength of the heating assembly 100.

[0035] Furthermore, the heating assembly 100 further includes an insulating filler 113. The insulating filler 113 is used to fill gaps 111 and increase the strength of the heating body 120. Gaps 111 are provided in the side walls of the heating body 120, and gaps 111 reduce the strength of the heating body 120. In the embodiments of this application, the gaps 111 are filled with insulating filler 113 to avoid deformation of the heating body 120 and affect the lifespan of the heating assembly 100. The material of the insulating filler 113 includes, but is not limited to, one or a combination thereof of rubber, plastic, mica, ceramics, epoxy resin, silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), asbestos, and glass fiber. If the insulating filler material 113 is a high-temperature resistant insulating material such as ceramics, porcelain insulators, epoxy resin, silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), asbestos, and glass fiber, it is possible to avoid the insulating material melting and becoming ineffective during the operation of the heating assembly 100. As can be understood, the insulating filler material 113 may extend beyond the gap 111, i.e., it may protrude from the inner wall of the heating body 120 toward the axis of the housing cavity. In this case, a recess matching the insulating filler material 113 can be provided in the device awaiting heating to serve a positioning and error-proofing function.

[0036] Accordingly, the present invention further provides an aerosol generator 50. Refer to Figures 2 to 4. The aerosol generator 50 includes the heating assembly 100 described above. To understand this, the aerosol generator 50 may also include a housing 20, a support 10, an upper cover 600, a lower cover 500, a heat dissipation sheet 700, a suction nozzle 800, and a PCB substrate 40. The suction nozzle 800 is provided with a third gas passage (not shown), one end of which communicates with the containment cavity and the other end of which communicates with the external environment. The third gas passage, the containment cavity, and the gas passage 210 can constitute a gas channel that penetrates the aerosol generator 50. The heat dissipation sheet 700 can wrap around the heating assembly 100 to further reduce the heat escaping from the heating assembly 100. The support 10 is installed inside the housing 20 and is constrained inside the housing 20 by the upper cover 600 and the lower cover 500. A heating assembly 100 is attached to one side of the support 10, and a battery 900 is attached to the other side of the support 10. Lead wires 140 of the heating assembly 100 can be connected to the PCB board 40 and the battery 900, and the PCB board 40 controls the startup, shutdown, and heating temperature of the heating assembly 100.

[0037] When using the aerosol generator 50, the smoking material 30 (including the aerosol) can enter the containment cavity through the third gas passage, the heating body 120 surrounds the smoking material 30, and by pressing a button, the PCB board 40 inside the aerosol generator 50 is controlled so that the battery 900 supplies electrical energy to the heating body 120 via the lead wires 140 through the PCB board 40, causing the temperature of the heating body 120 to continuously rise. The heating body 120 uniformly heats and starts to burn the smoking material 30 from the outside to the inside, and the heating body 120 can also generate light waves that pass through the smoking material 30 to heat the aerosol inside the smoking material 30. When the user inhales the aerosol, ambient temperature air enters the containment cavity from the gas passage 210 of the base 200, and a high-temperature aerosol substrate is formed inside the containment cavity for the user to inhale.

[0038] Referring further to Figures 3 and 4, the aerosol generator 50 further includes a base 200. The base 200 is provided with a gas passage 210 and an upper plate 220. One end of the gas passage 210 communicates with the containment cavity, and the other end communicates with the external environment. The upper plate 220 is located at one end of the base 200, which is close to the containment cavity, and the upper plate 220 has a plurality of uniformly distributed gas entry holes 221, and the gas passage 210 communicates with the containment cavity via the gas entry holes 221. In the conventional aerosol generator 50, the distribution of gas is uneven when the gas flows, which can easily lead to uneven heating of the smoking material 30 and a poor user experience. In the embodiment of the present application, a plurality of uniformly distributed gas entry holes 221 are provided in the base 200. In this case, the gas can flow from the outside through the gas passage 210 and enter the containment cavity through the gas entry holes 221 on the upper plate 220. As the gas passes through the gas-filled holes 221, the gas is uniformly separated because the gas-filled holes 221 are uniformly distributed, and consequently the smoking material 30 can be heated uniformly.

[0039] To understand this, if residue is generated after the smoking material 30 in the aerosol generator 50 is heated, the gas entry hole 221 can prevent the residue from slipping out of the gas passage 210, affecting the user experience and damaging the environment. Therefore, the aerosol generator 50 of this embodiment prevents the residue from slipping out of the gas passage 210, and the residue can be cleaned by removing and reattaching the base 200. Of course, the uniform distribution of the gas can also be controlled by adding a structure similar to the upper plate 220 inside the containment cavity. However, if this structure is provided inside the containment cavity, the residue will accumulate inside the containment cavity, making it inconvenient to remove. The heating assembly 100 is usually installed inside the aerosol generator 50 and cannot be removed, making it difficult to remove the residue.

[0040] Furthermore, the heating element 120 proposed in this application is made of a heat-sensitive material, meaning that the heating element 120 is a thermistor whose resistance changes with temperature, and its temperature can be measured using the temperature coefficient of resistance of the heat-sensitive material. Specifically, the heating element 120 can not only be used as a heat-generating component, but can also work in conjunction with the lead wire 140 and the PCB substrate 40 to measure the heating temperature. During operation, one end of the lead wire 140 is connected to the heating element 120, and the other end is connected to the PCB substrate 40, and the heating temperature of the heating element 120 is determined by measuring its resistance. Since the heating element 120 proposed in this application integrates heating and temperature measurement, it can be seen that the structure can be simplified and costs can be reduced.

[0041] Furthermore, referring to Figure 3, the gas-filled holes 221 are stacked along the radial direction of the gas passage 210 and distributed axially. That is, the multiple gas-filled holes 221 are stacked to form a nested, multilayer annular structure. Compared to matrix distributions, polygonal distributions, and other distribution patterns of gas-filled holes 221, the distribution pattern of gas-filled holes 221 in this embodiment can be adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the containment cavity, allowing the gas to flow into the containment cavity more uniformly and proportionally, thereby further improving the uniform heating effect of the aerosol generator 50.

[0042] Furthermore, referring to Figures 3-5, the aerosol generator 50 further includes an atomizing body and a flip cover 300. The flip cover 300 is rotatably connected to one end of the atomizing body away from the housing cavity and is used to rotate to control the opening and closing of the gas passage 210. During use of the aerosol generator 50, the housing cavity and gas passage 210 are not used for long periods, resulting in significant dust ingress. In this case, the heating effect of the aerosol generator 50 and the user's experience are severely affected. In this embodiment, a rotatable flip cover 300 is added, which can rotate to open and close the gas passage 210, and furthermore, allows the user to clean the gas passage 210 and prevent dust from entering. As can be understood, a flip cover 300 can also be provided on the suction nozzle 800. In this case, by controlling the flip cover 300 on the base 200 and the flip cover 300 on the suction nozzle 800, the containment cavity and gas passage 210 can be completely closed, further preventing contamination of the containment cavity and gas passage 210 by the external environment. As can be understood, the rotational connection method of the flip cover 300 includes, but is not limited to, connection methods such as bearings, sliding bearings, rotating shafts, and hinges.

[0043] Furthermore, please refer to Figures 3 and 4. The aerosol generator 50 further includes a rotating shaft 410 and a torsion spring 420. The rotating shaft 410 passes through the flip cover 300 and the torsion spring 420. One end of the torsion spring 420 abuts against the flip cover 300, and the other end of the torsion spring 420 abuts against the atomizing body. The rotating shaft 410 and the torsion spring 420 are used to reset the flip cover 300. After rotating the flip cover 300, the user needs to operate the flip cover 300 again to reset it, thus reducing the efficiency of the aerosol generator 50. In the embodiment of the present invention, a torsion spring 420 is added, and both ends of the torsion spring 420 contact the flip cover 300 and the atomizing body, respectively. When the flip cover 300 is operated, the flip cover 300 is reset by the recovery of the elastic deformation of the torsion spring 420, eliminating the need for manual resetting and improving the operating efficiency of the aerosol generator 50. To understand this, a normal spring, elastic member, etc., can also be used to reset the flip cover 300. For example, a spring can be provided at one end of the flip cover 300 away from the rotation axis 410, with one end of the spring contacting the flip cover 300 and the other end contacting the atomizing body. In this case, the flip cover 300 can also achieve a reset function, but the spring will affect the air circulation effect of the containment cavity. The atomizing body may be the housing 20 in Figure 3, the lower cover 500, or other devices.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flip cover 300 and the lower cover 500 together constitute the flip cover assembly 60. The flip cover assembly 60 is used to allow outside air to enter the gas passage 210. As a result, while the user is inhaling, the gas in the gas passage 210 is used to cause the aerosol generated in the heating assembly 100 by atomization to flow out through the suction nozzle 800, allowing the user to inhale it.

[0045] In some embodiments, the lower cover 500 is provided with a gas outlet 510. The inner diameter of the gas passage 210 gradually increases in the direction from the flip cover 300 towards the gas passage 210, that is, from one end of the gas passage 210 close to the flip cover 300 to the other end of the gas passage 210 away from the flip cover 300. As a result, the gas flowing into the gas passage 210 from the second groove 330 is diffused, improving the flow efficiency of the gas in the gas passage 210 and improving the gas discharge efficiency of the gas outlet 510.

[0046] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solution of the present invention, the technical solution of the flip cover assembly 60 in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings.

[0047] Referring to Figures 3 to 8, an embodiment of the present invention provides a flip cover assembly 60 applied to an aerosol generator 50. The flip cover assembly 60 includes a lower cover 500 and a flip cover 300. The flip cover 300 is provided on the lower cover 500.

[0048] A gas outlet 510 is provided in the lower cover 500, and the flip cover 300 is used to cover the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510. In the direction from the flip cover 300 toward the gas outlet 510, that is, from one end of the flip cover 300 away from the lower cover 500 toward the other end of the flip cover 300 closer to the lower cover 500, the flip cover 300 has a first groove 310, a flip cover gas inlet hole 320, and a second groove 330. The first groove 310, the flip cover gas inlet hole 320, the second groove 330, and the gas outlet 510 are in communication with each other.

[0049] To make it easier to understand, in this invention, the external gas can flow into the gas outlet 510 after passing through the first groove 310, the flip cover gas entry hole 320, and the second groove 330 in that order.

[0050] By creating a first groove 310 and a second groove 330 at one end of the flip cover 300 away from the lower cover 500 and at the other end closer to the lower cover 500, the flip cover 300 is made thinner, reducing the amount of raw materials required to manufacture it, which is advantageous for miniaturizing the aerosol generator 50 to which the flip cover assembly 60 of this embodiment is applied. In addition, the thinned portions of the flip cover 300 with the first groove 310 and the second groove 330 form a stepped structure with a height difference from the lip cover 300, so that external gas is more easily collected in the first groove 310 and gas in the flip cover gas entry hole 320 is more easily discharged from the second groove 330. This improves the gas entry efficiency and gas discharge efficiency of the flip cover assembly 60, and consequently improves the atomization effect of the aerosol generator 50 to which the flip cover assembly 60 of this embodiment is applied.

[0051] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 4 and 8, the first groove 310 is a gas compression groove used to compress external gas and introduce it into the flip cover gas inlet 320.

[0052] To make it easier to understand, the size of the flip cover gas inlet 320 is smaller than the size of the first groove 310 in order to reduce the entry of external dust, foreign matter, and other impurities into the flip cover gas inlet 320. In this application, during the process in which external gas enters the flip cover gas inlet 320, the external gas is compressed through the gas compression groove to reduce the volume of the external gas, thereby making it easier for the external gas to enter the flip cover gas inlet 320. Consequently, the efficiency of entry of external gas into the flip cover gas inlet 320 is improved, and the suction effect of the aerosol generator 50 to which the flip cover assembly 60 of the embodiment of this application is applied is improved.

[0053] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 6 to 8, the inner diameter of the gas compression groove gradually decreases in the direction from the flip cover 300 towards the gas outlet 510, that is, from one end of the first groove 310 away from the lower cover 500 to the other end of the first groove 310 closer to the lower cover 500.

[0054] In this embodiment, the gas compression groove has a gas inlet end that communicates with the outside atmosphere and a gas outlet end that communicates with the gas inlet end of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320, and the inner diameter of the gas inlet end of the gas compression groove is larger than the inner diameter of the gas outlet end. As can be seen, the gas inlet end of the gas compression groove with a larger inner diameter can ensure the entry of more external gas, thus ensuring a sufficient amount of external gas to enter. Furthermore, as the external gas flows from the gas inlet end to the gas outlet end of the gas compression groove, the external gas is gradually compressed, reducing its volume, and is guided to flow toward the gas inlet end of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320. These factors facilitate the entry of external gas into the flip cover gas inlet hole 320, effectively increasing the efficiency of external gas entry into the flip cover gas inlet hole 320.

[0055] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 6 and 8, the second groove 330 is a gas diffusion groove used to diffuse the gas in the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 and guide it into the gas outlet 510.

[0056] In this embodiment, by using a gas diffusion groove to diffuse the gas flowing out from the gas discharge end of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320, the flow efficiency of the gas flowing out from the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 is improved, diffusion and discharge of the gas within the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 is achieved, and the gas discharge efficiency of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 is improved. Furthermore, since the gas discharge efficiency at the gas discharge end of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 is improved, the pressure at the gas discharge end of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 is lower than the pressure at the gas inlet end, which promotes the flow of gas within the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 and improves the efficiency of external gas flowing into the flip cover gas inlet hole 320.

[0057] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 4 to 6, the inner diameter of the gas diffusion groove gradually increases in the direction from the flip cover 300 toward the gas outlet 510, that is, from one end of the second groove 330 away from the lower cover 500 toward the other end of the second groove 330 closer to the lower cover 500.

[0058] In this embodiment, the gas diffusion groove has a gas inlet end that communicates with the gas outlet end of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320 and a gas outlet end that communicates with the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510, and the inner diameter of the gas inlet end of the gas diffusion groove is smaller than the inner diameter of the gas outlet end. As can be understood, the inner diameter of the gas diffusion groove gradually increases from the gas inlet end to the gas outlet end, so that the gas flows from the gas inlet end to the gas outlet end of the gas diffusion groove, and the amount of gas discharged from the gas diffusion groove gradually increases, which can promote the discharge of gas into the flip cover gas inlet hole 320, thereby promoting the flow efficiency of gas into the flip cover gas inlet hole 320, and consequently improving the gas entry efficiency and gas discharge efficiency of the flip cover gas inlet hole 320.

[0059] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 4 to 8, the ratio of the depth of the first groove 310 to the depth of the second groove 330 is 0.3 to 1. Within this range, as the ratio of the depth of the first groove 310 to the depth of the second groove 330 gradually increases, the discharge efficiency of the gas in the flip cover gas-filled hole 320 entering the second groove 330 and the entry efficiency of the external gas passing through the first groove 310 and entering the flip cover gas-filled hole 320 gradually become balanced. This ensures the atomization effect of the aerosol generator 50 using the flip cover assembly 60 of the present invention.

[0060] Selectively, the ratio of the depth of the first groove 310 to the depth of the second groove 330 may be formed within a range of one or two of 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1.

[0061] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 4 to 8, there are at least three flip cover gas inlet holes 320, each of which is arranged around the center of the first groove 310. In this way, external gas can flow from the flip cover gas inlet holes 320 in different directions of the first groove 310 into the second groove 330, thereby effectively improving the gas inflow and outflow rates of the flip cover gas inlet holes 320.

[0062] Preferably, there are six flip cover gas entry holes 320, and the six flip cover gas entry holes 320 are arranged around the center of the first groove 310. In this way, by arranging the flip cover gas entry holes 320 in each direction of the first groove 310, external gas can enter the flip cover gas entry holes 320 from different directions on the first groove 310 after it has entered the first groove 310, thereby effectively improving the amount of gas entering the flip cover gas entry holes 320. In addition, the gas in the flip cover gas entry holes 320 can also enter the second groove 330 from different directions, thereby effectively improving the amount of gas discharged from the flip cover gas entry holes 320.

[0063] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 6-8, the second groove 330 has a first surface 331 and a second surface 332 connected to the first surface 331, the second surface 332 being provided to surround the first surface 331. The flip cover assembly 60 further includes a reinforcing portion 340, which is connected to and fixed to the first surface 331 and the second surface 332, respectively.

[0064] As can be understood, the flip cover 300 has a first groove 310 and a second groove 330, which reduces the structural strength of the flip cover 300. In this embodiment, the structural strength and impact resistance of the second groove 330 are improved by connecting the first surface 331 and the second surface 332 of the second groove 330 using the reinforcing part 340, thereby extending the service life of the flip cover 300.

[0065] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 6 to 8, the number of reinforcing parts 340 is at least one. As the number of reinforcing parts 340 increases, the structural strength of the flip cover 300 increases.

[0066] Preferably, there are two reinforcing parts 340, and the two reinforcing parts 340 are arranged facing each other within the second groove 330. In this way, the two reinforcing parts 340 not only further increase the structural strength of the flip cover 300, but also prevent the reinforcing parts 340 from occupying too much space in the second groove 330, thereby ensuring gas discharge from the second groove 330 and, consequently, ensuring the amount of gas entering the gas outlet 510.

[0067] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 6 to 8, the flip cover assembly 60 further includes a switch structure, which is located between the flip cover 300 and the lower cover 500. The flip cover 300 and the lower cover 500 are rotatably connected. The switch structure is used to open or close the flip cover 300 to cover the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510.

[0068] In this embodiment, the switch structure allows the flip cover 300 to cover and seal the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510, thereby reducing the entry of impurities such as dust and foreign matter from the gas outlet 510 into the gas passage 210. Furthermore, since the flip cover 300 can be opened to expose the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510, the gas outlet 510 can be cleaned, ensuring the suction effect of the aerosol generator 50 to which the flip cover assembly 60 of this embodiment is applied.

[0069] In some embodiments, the gas outlet 510 is a mounting port for connection to the base 200, thereby enabling communication between the gas passage 210 and the second groove 330.

[0070] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, position limiting projections 370 are provided on the surface of the flip cover 300 closest to the lower cover 500, or on the surface of the lower cover 500 closest to the flip cover 300, to limit the cover position of the flip cover 300, thereby ensuring accuracy of the cover position of the flip cover 300.

[0071] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 2 to 8, a first slide groove (not indicated) is provided in the lower cover 500, and the flip cover 300 is slidably mounted in the first slide groove. The switch structure includes a drive member (not indicated) and a first fixing part 350 and a second fixing part 360 used in cooperation. The output terminal of the drive member is connected to the flip cover 300. The first fixing part 350 and the second fixing part 360 are provided in the lower cover 500 and the flip cover 300, respectively.

[0072] In this embodiment, when the first fixing portion 350 and the second fixing portion 360 are fitted together, the flip cover 300 covers the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510. As the flip cover 300 slides in the first slide groove in a direction away from the first fixing portion 350, the second fixing portion 360 of the flip cover 300 separates from the first fixing portion 350 of the lower cover 500. At this time, the flip cover 300 is driven open by the drive member to expose the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510.

[0073] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 4 to 8, the first groove 310 on the flip cover 300 facilitates the operator to push the flip cover 300 and slide it along the first slide groove, thereby improving the convenience of operation.

[0074] In some embodiments, the mating connection method between the first fixing part 350 and the second fixing part 360 includes, but is not limited to, snap-fit ​​connections, plug connections, mortise connections, and the like.

[0075] Preferably, the first fixing portion 350 and the second fixing portion 360 are connected by a snap-fit ​​connection, where one of the first fixing portion 350 and the second fixing portion 360 is a snap and the other is a groove. The snap-fit ​​connection of the snap and groove allows the flip cover 300 to cover the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510.

[0076] In some embodiments, the second fixing portion 360 may be located at one end or on the side of the flip cover 300, but is not particularly limited.

[0077] For example, if the second fixing portion 360 is provided at one end of the flip cover 300, the other end of the flip cover 300 is rotatably connected to the lower cover 500. In practical applications, as the flip cover 300 slides in the first slide groove, the flip cover 300 can move along a direction facing or away from the first fixing portion 350, which is advantageous for connecting and separating the second fixing portion 360 on the flip cover 300 and the first fixing portion 350 on the lower cover 500. As another example, if the second fixing portion 360 is provided on the side of the flip cover 300, a larger first slide groove can be provided in the lower cover 500 to provide sufficient space for the flip cover 300 to slide.

[0078] Furthermore, if the second fixing portion 360 is provided on the side of the flip cover 300, the number of first fixing portions 350 and second fixing portions 360 may be multiple sets, and the multiple sets of first fixing portions 350 and second fixing portions 360 may be distributed on both sides of the multiple sets of flip covers 300.

[0079] In some embodiments, the flip cover 300 is rotatably connected to the lower cover 500 via a rotating shaft. A second sliding groove 520 is provided in the lower cover 500. The rotating shaft is slidably mounted in the second sliding groove 520, and the sliding direction of the rotating shaft is parallel to the sliding direction of the flip cover 300. In this way, the flip cover 300 can rotate and slide simultaneously.

[0080] In some embodiments, the drive member is a torsion spring sleeved on a rotating shaft, with the output end of the torsion spring connected to the end of the flip cover 300 closest to the gas outlet 510.

[0081] To understand this, when the first fixing part 350 and the second fixing part 360 are connected to restrict the position of the flip cover 300, and the flip cover 300 covers the gas inlet end of the gas outlet 510, the torsion spring is compressed by the flip cover 300 and stores energy. After the first fixing part 350 and the second fixing part 360 are separated and the position of the flip cover 300 is no longer restricted, the torsion spring uses the stored energy to rotate and open the flip cover 300, thereby enabling the flip cover 300 to open automatically.

[0082] Clearly, the embodiments described above are only a selection of the embodiments of the present application, not all embodiments. The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present application, but do not limit the scope of the patent. The present application can be realized in many different forms, but these embodiments are provided for a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of the present application. Although the present application is described in detail with reference to the embodiments described above, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the specific embodiments described above, or replace some of the technical features equally. Equivalent structures created using the contents of the specification and drawings of the present application, or used directly or indirectly in other related technical fields, are also included within the scope of the patent protection of the present application.

[0083] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, various changes, modifications, combinations, substitutions, and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of this application is limited by the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 10...Support, 20...Housing, 30...Smoking material, 40...PCB substrate, 50...Aerosol generator, 60...Flip cover assembly 100…Heating assembly, 110…Heating element, 111…Gap, 112…Housing cavity, 113…Insulating filler, 120…Heating body, 130…Insulated housing, 131…Insulated cavity, 140…Lead wire, 150…First opening, 160…Second opening, 200…Base, 210…Gas passage, 220…Top plate, 221…Gas entry hole, 300…Flip cover, 310…First groove, 320… Flip cover gas-filled hole, 330...Second groove, 331...First surface, 332...Second surface, 340...Reinforcement part, 350...First fixing part, 360...Second fixing part, 370...Position limiting projection, 410...Rotation axis, 420...Torsion spring, 500...Lower cover, 510...Gas outlet, 520...Second sliding groove, 600...Upper cover, 700...Heat dissipation sheet, 800...Suction nozzle, 900...Battery.

Claims

1. A heating assembly applied to an aerosol generating device, The heating assembly includes a heating body, the side wall of the heating body is configured as several heating elements, the starting and ending ends of which are connected and at least partially separated, the separated heating elements being used to guide the current to flow along a predetermined path, and the heating elements surrounding each other to form a containment cavity for containing smoking material and circulating gas. The heating assembly further includes an insulating housing, the insulating housing is arranged to surround the outer surface of the heating body, The aforementioned insulated housing includes an inner layer and an outer layer, an insulated cavity is provided between the inner layer and the outer layer, and the insulated cavity surrounds the heating body. A gap is formed between two adjacent heating elements, and the heating assembly is provided within the gap and further includes an insulating filler to increase the strength of the heating body. A heating assembly characterized by the following features.

2. The heating body is provided in a tubular shape, and several of the heating elements surround the heating body along the circumferential direction to form the housing cavity, and several of the heating elements are arranged at intervals from each other along the circumferential direction of the heating body. The heating assembly according to feature 1.

3. The heating body has a first opening for inserting smoking material and a second opening located at the end opposite the first opening, one end of the gap passing through the first or second opening, and the other end of the gap extending to the vicinity of the second or first opening. The heating assembly according to feature 2.

4. The heating assembly further includes at least two lead wires, one of which is connected to the beginning of several of the heating elements, and the other lead wire is connected to the end of several of the heating elements. The heating assembly according to feature 1.

5. The aforementioned heating body is made of a heat-sensitive material. The heating assembly according to feature 1.

6. A heating assembly comprising the one described in any one of claims 1 to 5, An aerosol generating apparatus characterized by the following features.

7. The aerosol generating apparatus further includes a base, the base being provided with a gas passage and an upper plate, one end of the gas passage communicating with the containment cavity and the other end communicating with the outside. The upper plate is located at one end of the base near the containment cavity, and the upper plate has a plurality of uniformly distributed gas-filled holes, and the gas passage communicates with the containment cavity through the gas-filled holes. The aerosol generating apparatus according to feature 6.

8. The aerosol generating apparatus further includes an atomizing body and a flip cover, the flip cover being rotatably connected to one end of the atomizing body away from the housing cavity and used to rotate to control the opening and closing of the gas passage. The aerosol generating apparatus according to feature 7.

9. The aerosol generating apparatus further includes a rotating shaft and a torsion spring, the rotating shaft passing through the flip cover and the torsion spring, one end of the torsion spring contacting the flip cover, the other end of the torsion spring contacting the atomizing body, and the rotating shaft and the torsion spring being used to reset the flip cover. The aerosol generating apparatus according to feature 8.

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