Detailed Description
The following description of the embodiments of the present application will be made clearly and fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is evident that the embodiments described are only some, but not all embodiments of the application. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the application without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the application.
The terms "first," "second," "third," and the like in the present application are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying any particular order or quantity of features in relation to importance or otherwise indicated. All directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back … …) in the embodiments of the present application are merely used to explain the relative positional relationship or movement between the components in a particular gesture (as shown in the drawings), and if the particular gesture changes, the directional indication changes accordingly. Furthermore, the terms "comprise" and "have," as well as any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not limited to only those listed steps or elements but may include other steps or elements not listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Those of skill in the art will explicitly and implicitly appreciate that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or one or more intervening elements may also be present therebetween. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and the like are used herein for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be the only embodiment.
Referring to fig. 1, an embodiment of the present application provides an aerosol-generating device 10, wherein the aerosol-generating device 10 is configured to heat an aerosol-generating article 1 to volatilize aerosol from the aerosol-generating article 1 for inhalation by a user.
The aerosol-generating article 1 refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate intended to be heated rather than combusted to release volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. An aerosol formed by heating an aerosol-forming substrate may contain fewer known hazardous components than an aerosol produced by combustion or pyrolysis degradation of the aerosol-forming substrate. In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 1 is removably coupled to an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating article 1 may be disposable or reusable.
The aerosol-generating device 10 is a device that interfaces or interacts with the aerosol-generating article 1 to form an inhalable aerosol. The power supply 4 in the aerosol-generating device 10 supplies energy to heat one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate.
Referring to fig. 1, an aerosol-generating device 10 includes a heating module 2; the heating module 2 comprises an susceptor 21, the susceptor 21 being for heating an aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 1 to generate an aerosol. The susceptor 21 has a receiving chamber 22 inside, the receiving chamber 22 being adapted to receive at least part of the aerosol-generating article 1, the susceptor 21 being inductively heated under an electromagnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil 25, electromagnetic energy being transferred from the electromagnetic coil 25 to the susceptor 21, the susceptor 21 being capable of circumferentially heating the aerosol-generating article 1 located in the receiving chamber 22 to cause the aerosol-generating article 1 to generate an aerosol. Wherein the diameter d of the susceptor 21 is typically between 5.9 and 7.6mm, depending on the size of the aerosol-generating article 1.
The aerosol-generating device 10 further comprises a power supply 4 for supplying power to the electromagnetic coil 25 and a circuit board 5, wherein electronic components such as a processor are arranged on the circuit board 5, and the processor can control the power output of the power supply 4 to the electromagnetic coil 25, for example, control the output current, the output voltage and the like of the battery cell 4. It is also possible to control the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device, for example, not only the operation of the power supply and heating module, but also the operation of other elements in the aerosol-generating device; for example, the controller may determine whether the aerosol-generating device is operable by checking the status of elements of the aerosol-generating device. The processor may comprise an array of logic gates, or may comprise a combination of a general purpose microprocessor and a memory storing programs executable in the microprocessor.
Referring to fig. 1-5, by reserving a certain distance between the susceptor 21 and the electromagnetic coil 25, a heat insulation component is disposed between the susceptor 21 and the electromagnetic coil 25, and the heat insulation component can effectively reduce the energy transmitted by the susceptor 21 outwards, and correspondingly can reduce the temperature of the electromagnetic coil 25. In some embodiments, the temperature of the electromagnetic coil 25 may be maintained below 60 ℃ throughout the heating process, thereby reducing the surface temperature of the housing 29 as well as the power consumption.
Referring to fig. 1-5, the heat insulation assembly includes a first tubular body 23, the first tubular body 23 is located at the periphery of the susceptor 21, at least a part of the first tubular body 23 and the susceptor 21 are disposed in a non-contact manner, and a sealed first gas medium layer is disposed therebetween. That is, the inner surface of the first tubular body 23 may define at least a partial boundary outside the first gaseous medium layer, and the outer surface of the susceptor 21 may define at least a boundary inside the first gaseous medium layer 31. As shown in fig. 1-5, first tubular body 23 may directly serve as the outer side and inner side of first gaseous medium layer 31 with susceptor 21, forming first gaseous medium layer 31.
The heat insulation assembly further comprises a second tubular body 24, the second tubular body 24 is located at the periphery of the first tubular body 23, at least partial non-contact is arranged between the second tubular body 24 and the first tubular body 23, and a sealed second gas medium layer is arranged between the second tubular body 24 and the first tubular body 23. In particular, the inner surface of the second tubular body 24 may define at least a partial boundary outside the second gaseous medium layer 25, and the outer surface of the first tubular body 23 may define at least a partial boundary inside the second gaseous medium layer 32. For example, first tubular body 24 may be formed directly inside and outside second gaseous medium layer 32 with second tubular body 26, forming second gaseous medium layer 32.
The second tubular body 24 serves as a fixing carrier for the electromagnetic coil 25 in addition to the heat insulating member, and specifically, the electromagnetic coil 25 is disposed around the periphery of the second tubular body.
In some embodiments, the outer surface of the second tubular body 24 is provided with grooves 242, the grooves 242 extending helically along the axial direction of the outer surface of the second tubular body 24, and the electromagnetic coil 25 is wound around the outer periphery of the second tubular body 24 along the grooves 242. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the second tubular body 24 is provided with ribs (not shown) extending helically along the axial direction of the outer surface of the second tubular body 24, and the electromagnetic coil 25 is spaced from the ribs. By providing the second tubular body 24 with grooves 242 or ribs on its outer surface, the electromagnetic coil 25 is wound more tightly around the surface of the second tubular body 24, resulting in a more stable structure of the aerosol-generating device 10. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the second tubular body 24 is provided with a longitudinal rib (not shown), and a plurality of notches are provided on the longitudinal rib, and the electromagnetic coil 25 is spaced from the notches, so that the electromagnetic coil 25 is wound and fixed between the plurality of notches, and in some cases, the spacing between the coil turns can be flexibly changed.
In one embodiment, the electromagnetic coils 25 extend helically at equal intervals in the axial direction of the second tubular body 24. In other embodiments, the electromagnetic coils 25 extend helically non-equally spaced in the axial direction of the second tubular body 24, for example: the electromagnetic coil 25 is spaced less apart in the portion adjacent the aerosol-generating article insertion opening and is spaced more apart in the other portion.
In some embodiments, the second tubular body 24 may have the same wall thickness as the first tubular body 23. In some embodiments, the second tubular body 24 may have a different wall thickness than the first tubular body 23. For example, the first tubular body 23 has a relatively thick wall thickness, which may be less than 10mm, for example, may be between 5mm and 10mm, or may be between 3mm and 5mm, or may be between 1mm and 3mm; of course thinner thicknesses may be possible, for example between 0.1mm and 1mm, or may be about 0.3mm. For example, the thickness of the second tubular body 24 may be between 0.1mm and 0.8mm, for example 0.5mm, based on the small volume of the device.
In some embodiments, first tubular body 23 and second tubular body 24 include an insulating material that facilitates impeding heat transfer out of first gaseous medium layer 31. By thermally insulating material is meant a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 100W/m.k, preferably less than 40W/m.k or less than 10W/m.k at 23 ℃ and 50% relative humidity. For example, the insulating material may comprise at least one of PAEK-like material, PI material, or PBI material, wherein the PAEK-like material comprises PEEK, PEKK, PEKEKK or PEK material; the insulating material may also comprise aerogel. In some embodiments, the first tubular body 23 comprises a heat storage material. The heat storage material refers to a material having a high heat capacity. The material of high heat capacity may be a material having a specific heat capacity of at least 0.5J/g.K, such as at least 0.7J/g.K, such as at least 0.8J/g.K, at 25 ℃ and constant pressure. For example, the heat storage material may include, but is not limited to, fiberglass, glass mat, ceramic, silica, alumina, carbon, and ore, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the second tubular body 24 is made of the same material as the first tubular body 23. In some embodiments, the second tubular body 24 is made of a different material than the first tubular body 23. In some embodiments, the first and second tubular bodies 23, 24 comprise a combination of insulating material and heat storage material, or the first and second tubular bodies 23, 24 comprise a combination of multiple insulating materials, or a combination of multiple heat storage materials.
In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 1-5, the thickness of first gaseous medium layer 31 is uniform in the axial direction along susceptor 21. In an embodiment, the thickness of the first gaseous medium layer 31 is non-uniform along the axial direction of the susceptor 21, wherein the area where the maximum thickness of the first gaseous medium layer 31 is located is arranged to coincide with the temperature concentration area of the susceptor 21 in the radial projection direction. The temperature concentration region of the susceptor 21 is understood to be the region of the susceptor 21 having the highest temperature or heat density, and is generally the middle region in the axial direction of the susceptor 21, or may be the intermediate region. In some embodiments, the thickness of second gaseous medium layer 32 may also be set uniformly, or non-uniformly as in first gaseous medium layer 31.
Wherein, a side of the first gaseous medium layer 31 relatively close to the susceptor 21 is defined as an inner side, the first gaseous medium layer 23 extends outwards along the inner side thereof, and a side far from the susceptor 21 is defined as an outer side. A certain thickness is provided between the inner side and the outer side of the first gas medium layer 31 in the radial direction of the susceptor 21; in some embodiments, the thickness of the interior of first gaseous medium layer 31 is not necessarily uniform along the axial direction of susceptor 21, so the maximum value of the thickness between the inside and outside of first gaseous medium layer 31 is defined herein by setting a "maximum thickness"; when the thickness of the first gaseous medium layer 31 is uniform in the axial direction of the susceptor 21, the maximum thickness can be understood as any thickness of the first gaseous medium layer 31 in the radial direction of the susceptor 21; when the thickness of the first gaseous medium layer 31 is non-uniform in the axial direction of the susceptor 21, the maximum thickness may be understood as the maximum thickness in the first gaseous medium layer 31 in the radial direction of the susceptor 21.
In some embodiments, to provide good thermal insulation, to reduce the amount of heat transferred from susceptor 21 to solenoid coil 25 and to slow the rate of heat transfer, the maximum thickness of first gaseous medium layer 31 is set to be greater than 1.0mm. In some embodiments, further avoiding impairing the coupling capability between susceptor 21 and electromagnetic coil 25 due to too large a distance between susceptor 21 and electromagnetic coil 25, and leaving suitable space for the placement of the second tubular body 24 and other insulating elements such as the second gaseous medium layer 32, the maximum thickness of the first gaseous medium layer 31 is set between 1.0mm-1.5mm, e.g. 1.0mm, 1.2mm, 1.3mm, 1.4mm or 1.5mm.
In some embodiments, the maximum thickness of second gaseous medium layer 32 may be between 0.3mm and 1mm, and if the maximum thickness of second gaseous medium layer 32 is set to be more than 1.0mm, although the time for second gaseous medium layer 32 to reach dynamic thermal equilibrium may be prolonged, resulting in an increase in power consumption, and also resulting in a weakening of the coupling capability between susceptor 21 and electromagnetic coil 25 due to too large a distance between susceptor 21 and electromagnetic coil 25. If the maximum thickness of the second gaseous medium layer 32 is set to less than 0.3mm, the heat insulation effect may not be achieved. Thus, the maximum thickness of the closed second gaseous medium layer 25 is set in a region of greater than or equal to 0.3mm and less than or equal to 1.0mm, for example, 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm or 1.0mm.
In some embodiments, the temperature difference between the inner side and the outer side of the first gas medium layer 23 is greater than the temperature difference between the inner side and the outer side of the second gas medium layer 25, so that the requirement of heat insulation effect can be met, and the effect of reducing the power consumption of the susceptor 21 is realized through two gas medium layers with gradually reduced heat exchange rates from inside to outside.
In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, a first partition 231 is further disposed between the first tubular body 23 and the susceptor 21, and the first partition 231 divides the first gaseous medium layer 31 into at least two mutually independent cavities, so that the airflow inside the first gaseous medium layer 31 can be reduced, the rapid loss of heat is avoided, and the first gaseous medium layer absorbs more heat from the susceptor 21 excessively, thereby reducing energy consumption.
In some embodiments, the first partition 231 and the first tubular body 23 are integrally formed, so that the structure is simpler, and the sealing effect of the cavity is better.
In some embodiments, first separator 231 includes a high temperature resistant insulating material that facilitates impeding heat dissipation from first gaseous medium layer 31, such as aerogel or the like.
In some embodiments, the first partition 231 and the first tubular body 23 are assembled, and the materials of the first partition 231 and the first tubular body 23 are different or the same, for example, the first partition 231 is silica gel or foam with better expansion performance, and the first partition 231 is assembled between the first tubular body 23 and the susceptor 21, so that the inside of the first gas medium layer 31 is divided into mutually independent cavities.
In some embodiments, the number of first baffles 231 is one or more, and the one or more first baffles 231 divide the first gaseous medium layer 31 into two or more mutually independent cavities, and the two or more gas-tight cavities are distributed along the axial direction of the susceptor 21.
In some embodiments, a second separator 241 may also be disposed in the second gaseous medium layer 32 to reduce airflow inside the second gaseous medium layer 32 and improve the heat insulation performance of the second gaseous medium layer 32. The material, arrangement and assembly of the second partition 241 may be referred to as the first partition 231.
The outer periphery of the electromagnetic coil 25 is further provided with a housing 29, the housing 29 being arranged at the outer periphery of the electromagnetic coil 25 to constitute an exterior part of the aerosol-generating device 10.
In one embodiment, a third gaseous medium layer is also provided between the housing 29 and the electromagnetic coil 25. The third gaseous medium layer may be sealed or unsealed. In an embodiment, housing 29 may comprise a thermally conductive material, for example housing 29 may be made of a metal or alloy, including but not limited to: stainless steel, copper, aluminum, etc. The housing 29, which is made of metal or an alloy, allows a smaller thickness of the housing 29, which is advantageous for reducing the overall size of the aerosol-generating device, as well as avoiding local high temperatures. The housing 29 may include a thermally insulating material that facilitates impeding heat dissipation from the third gaseous medium layer, thereby maintaining the housing 29 at a suitable temperature. The housing 29 may include a heat storage material to facilitate impeding heat dissipation from the third gaseous medium layer, thereby maintaining the housing 29 at a suitable temperature.
In one embodiment, referring to fig. 2, the first tubular body 23, the second tubular body 24 and the outer shell 29 are formed separately and independently from each other.
The heating module 2 comprises an upper connecting seat 26 which is connected with the first tubular body 23 and the second tubular body 24 in a nested manner; wherein the upper connecting seat 26 is provided with an insertion opening for inserting the aerosol-generating article 1 into the susceptor 21. In some embodiments, the inner wall of the upper connection seat 26 may have a protrusion thereon for gripping the aerosol-generating article 1 in the insertion opening. In some embodiments, upper connector 26 closes off the top of both first gaseous medium layer 31 and second gaseous medium layer 32. In some embodiments, the connection between the first tubular body 23 and the upper connection seat 26 and the connection between the second tubular body 24 and the upper connection seat 26 are provided with sealing silica gel 27, and the sealing silica gel 27 ensures that the connection between the first tubular body 23 and the second tubular body 24 and the upper connection seat 26 is airtight, thereby ensuring the first gas medium layer 31 and the second gas medium layer
The bulk dielectric layer 32 is airtight.
In one embodiment, the top securement and sealing of the first tubular body 23 and the second tubular body 24 are individually sealed by different upper connection seats 26, respectively.
The heating module 2 comprises a lower connecting seat 28, which is connected in a nested manner to the first tubular body 23 and the second tubular body 24. In one embodiment, referring to fig. 2, the lower connection seat 28 simultaneously closes the bottoms of the first gaseous medium layer 31 and the second gaseous medium layer 32. In some embodiments, the connection between the first tubular body 23 and the lower connection seat 28, and the connection between the second tubular body 24 and the lower connection seat 28 are provided with sealing silica gel 27, and the sealing silica gel 27 makes the connection between the first tubular body 23 and the second tubular body 24 and the upper connection seat 28 airtight, so as to ensure the tightness of the first gas medium layer 31 and the second gas medium layer 32.
In one embodiment, the bottom fixing and sealing of the first tubular body 23 and the second tubular body 24 are individually sealed by different lower connecting seats 28, respectively.
In some embodiments, the junction of the first tubular body 23 and the upper/lower connector blocks 26, 28, and the junction of the second tubular body 24 and the upper/lower connector blocks 26, 28 are provided with a thermally insulating material, further preventing heat from escaping from the bottom or top.
In some embodiments, the gaseous medium in first gaseous medium layer 31, second gaseous medium layer 32, or third gaseous medium layer 33 may be carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, helium, or a mixture of at least two of these gases, or air.
It should be noted that the description of the application and the accompanying drawings show preferred embodiments of the application, but are not limited to the embodiments described in the description, and further, that modifications or variations can be made by a person skilled in the art from the above description, and all such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.