US20250248448A1

US20250248448A1 - Atomizer and electronic atomization device

Info

Publication number: US20250248448A1
Application number: US18/856,089
Authority: US
Inventors: Linhai LU; Zhongli Xu; Yonghai Li
Original assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-04-26
Filing date: 2023-04-21
Publication date: 2025-08-07
Also published as: WO2023207791A1; EP4487704A1; CN116982734A; EP4487704A4

Abstract

An atomizer and an electronic atomization device are provided, The atomizer includes: a housing; a first sealing member, arranged inside the housing, and defining, with an inner wall of the housing, a liquid storage cavity used for storing a liquid substrate, a first opening used for guiding an airflow to pass through being defined on the first sealing member; a base configured to support the first sealing member; and an atomization element held on the first sealing member and configured to atomize the liquid substrate. The atomization element includes a porous body and a heating element integrated on the porous body. The porous body spans the first opening, and at least part of the porous body abuts against a surface of a side of the first sealing member facing the liquid storage cavity, to prevent the liquid substrate from entering the first opening through the liquid storage cavity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210451741.6, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on Apr. 26, 2022 and entitled “ATOMIZER AND ELECTRONIC ATOMIZATION DEVICE”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of atomization technologies, and in particular, to an atomizer and an electronic atomization device.

BACKGROUND

During use of smoking products (such as cigarettes or cigars), tobacco is burnt to produce smoke. Attempts are made to replace these tobacco-burning products by manufacturing products that release compounds without burning tobacco.
An example of such products is a heating device, which releases compounds by heating rather than burning materials. For example, the materials may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products, and the non-tobacco products may or may not include nicotine. In another example, there are aerosol-providing products, for example, e-cigarette devices. The devices usually include a liquid. The liquid is heated to be atomized, so as to generate an inhalable steam or aerosol. The liquid may include nicotine, and/or aromatics, and/or aerosol-generation substances. As prior art, in patent application CN201810150690.7, a block-shaped porous ceramic body having a groove on an upper surface is adopted as a medium to transfer a liquid substrate, and a heating element is arranged on a lower surface opposite to the groove to heat the liquid substrate absorbed by the porous ceramic body to generate an aerosol for inhalation. The porous ceramic body used in above e-cigarette device requires relatively complex rigid support elements and seal elements during assembly, which impedes assembly of an atomizer as a result of relatively many components.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of this application provide an atomizer and an electronic atomization device, which are intended to reduce a quantity of components of the atomizer and optimize assembly of the atomizer.
An atomizer is provided. The atomizer includes:

- a housing;
- a first sealing member, arranged inside the housing, and defining, with an inner wall of the housing, a liquid storage cavity used for storing a liquid substrate, where a first opening used for guiding an airflow to pass through is defined on the first sealing member;
- a base, configured to support the first sealing member; and
- an atomization element, held on the first sealing member, and configured to atomize the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol. The atomization element includes:
- a porous body and a heating element integrated on the porous body. The porous body spans the first opening, and at least part of the porous body abuts against a surface of a side of the first sealing member facing the liquid storage cavity, so as to prevent the liquid substrate from entering the first opening through the liquid storage cavity.

In an embodiment, the porous body includes an atomization surface facing the first opening, and the heating element is integrated on the atomization surface.
In an embodiment, the porous body includes a plug-in portion receivable in the first opening, and the atomization surface is located on the plug-in portion.
In an embodiment, the porous body does not completely cover the first opening, so that the airflow passing through the first opening is configured to bypass the porous body.
In an embodiment, the porous body spans two sides of a section of the first opening, and holds a first void and a second void with an inner wall of the first opening.
In an embodiment, a sectional size of the first void is substantially the same as that of the second void.
In an embodiment, the first sealing member includes a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion arranged opposite to the first abutting portion, and the porous body is transversely positioned between the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion.
In an embodiment, the atomizer further includes a support frame. The atomization element is clamped between the support frame and the base.
In an embodiment, the support frame has a holding space, and at least part of the porous body is received in the holding space.
In an embodiment, the porous body includes a transversely extending arc surface matching a shape of the support frame.
In an embodiment, a first snap portion is arranged on the base, a second snap portion is arranged on the support frame, and the first snap portion is snap-fitted to the second snap portion.
In an embodiment, the first sealing member includes a convex rib surrounding the first opening, the porous body squeezes part of the convex rib, and the support frame squeezes a remaining part of the convex rib.
In an embodiment, the atomizer further includes a second sealing member. The second sealing member is configured to seal an assembly clearance between the support frame and the porous body.
In an embodiment, the base includes a first support plate and a second support plate arranged spaced away along a spanning direction of the porous body, and the first support plate and the second support plate provide support for the first sealing member.
In an embodiment, the first support plate and the second support plate divide an inner cavity of the base into a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber. The second chamber is in communication with the first opening, and is constructed as an atomization chamber of the atomizer. The first chamber and the third chamber are distributed on two sides of the second chamber.
In an embodiment, a through hole is provided on at least one of the first support plate and the second support plate, and the second chamber is in fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber and the third chamber through the through hole.
In an embodiment, the base includes an air inlet tube extending toward the second chamber, and a spacing between the through hole and a bottom wall of the second chamber is less than an extending length of the air inlet tube.
In an embodiment, at least part of the porous body is immersed in the liquid storage cavity.
In an embodiment, the atomizer includes electrodes mounted to the base, and at least part of the electrodes extends into the first opening to abut against the heating element.
In an embodiment, each of the electrodes includes a transversely extending power supply mechanism connection end, and a heating element connection end extending obliquely toward the heating element, and a longitudinally extending connection portion connected between the power supply mechanism connection end and the heating element connection end. The base includes a first support plate and a second support plate arranged spaced away along a spanning direction of the porous body, and the first support plate and the second support plate provide support for the first sealing member. The electrodes include a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a connection portion of the positive electrode and a connection portion of the negative electrode are respectively embedded in the first support plate and the second support plate.
An embodiment of this application further provides an electronic atomization device. The electronic atomization device includes the above atomizer and a power supply mechanism configured to provide electric energy to the atomizer.
One of the above technical solutions of this application has the following technical effects:
In the atomizer provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the liquid storage cavity for storing the liquid substrate is defined by the first sealing member and the inner wall of the housing, the first opening for an aerosol to pass through is arranged on the first sealing member, and the porous body spans the first opening, and is supported on the first sealing member, so that an aerosol generated after atomization can flow to an air outlet hole of the atomizer through the first opening. In this way, the entire atomizer has relatively few components, a structure is simple, and assembly is convenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments are exemplarily described with reference to the corresponding drawings, and the exemplary descriptions do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements in the drawings that have same reference numerals are represented as similar elements. Unless otherwise particularly stated, the figures in the drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an atomizer in a direction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in a direction.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of the atomizer in FIG. 1 from a perspective.

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a base of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in a direction.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first sealing member of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in a direction.

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first sealing member in FIG. 6 in another direction.

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a support frame of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in a direction.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in a direction after a porous body is hidden.

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the porous body of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in a direction.

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in a direction after a housing, the support frame, and a second sealing member are hidden.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another implementation of the porous body in FIG. 9 assembled in an atomizer.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomizer in FIG. 1 in another direction.

FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the base in FIG. 4 in another direction.

FIG. 14 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first sealing member in a direction according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a base in a direction according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic enlarged view of a second opening of the first sealing member in FIG. 14 .

FIG. 17 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of electrodes of the base in FIG. 13 in a direction.

In the drawings:

- 100. Atomizer;
- 10. Housing; 11. Surface housing; 12. Base; 13. Liquid storage cavity; 111. Air outlet hole; 112. Air guide tube; 121. Air inlet tube; 122. Electrode; 123. Engagement groove; 124. First support plate; 125. Second support plate; 126. Through hole; 127. Bottom wall; 128. Side wall; 129. Accommodation chamber; 1221. Power supply mechanism connection end; 1222. Connection portion; 12221. Via; 1223. Heating element connection end; 1241. First chamber; 1242. Second chamber; 1243. Extension; 1251. Third chamber; 12431. Groove;
- 20. First sealing member; 21. End surface; 22. Extending wall; 23. Receiving chamber; 211. First abutting portion; 212. Second abutting portion; 223. First opening; 224. Convex rib; 225. Second opening;
- 30. Porous body; 31. Base body; 32. Liquid absorbing surface; 33. Arc surface; 34. Atomization surface; 35. Heating element; 36. Plug-in portion; 37. First void; 38. Second void;
- 40. Support frame; 41. Base portion; 411. Holding space; 412. Sleeving hole; 413. Snap portion;
- 50. Second sealing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For ease of understanding of the present invention, the present invention is described below in more detail with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, when an element is expressed as “being fixed to” /“being fixedly connected to” another element, the element may be directly on the another element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between the element and the another element. When an element is expressed as “being connected to” another element, the element may be directly connected to the another element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between the element and the another element. Terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “inner”, “outer”, and similar expressions used in the specification are merely used for illustration.
Unless otherwise defined, meanings of all technical and scientific terms used in the specification are the same as those usually understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms used in the specification of the present invention are merely intended to describe objectives of the specific embodiments, and are not used for limiting the present invention. A term “and/or” used in the specification includes any or all combinations of one or more related listed items.
In addition, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below may be combined with each other so long as they do not conflict with each other.
In embodiments of the present invention, the “mounting” includes fixing or limiting an element or a device to a specific position or place through welding, screwing, snapping, or bonding. The element or the device may keep still at the specific position or place or move within a limited range. The element or the device may or may not be disassembled after being fixed or limited to the specific position or place, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present invention.
In addition, terms “first” and “second” are merely for the purpose of description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating a quantity of the indicated technical features. Therefore, features limited by “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, “a plurality of” means at least two, for example, two or three, unless otherwise explicitly and specifically defined.
Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are respectively a three-dimensional schematic diagram and a schematic cross-sectional view of an atomizer 100 in a direction, and a schematic exploded view of the atomizer from a perspective according to an embodiment of the present invention. The atomizer 100 includes a housing 10, and a first sealing member 20, a porous body 30, a support frame 40, and a second sealing member 50 located inside the housing 10. An atomizable liquid substrate is stored in the housing 10. The first sealing member 20 and the second sealing member 50 are configured to seal the liquid substrate in the housing 10, to prevent a liquid leakage of the atomizer 100. The porous body 30 is configured to absorb the liquid substrate and heat and atomize the liquid substrate, to generate an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user.
The housing 10 includes a surface housing 11 and a base 12. The surface housing 11 and the base 12 are connected in a detachable connection manner. The detachable connection manner may be a common manner. In this embodiment, the connection is achieved through a snap. The surface housing 11 and the base 12 are connected to form the housing 10. The surface housing 11 has a proximal end and a distal end opposite to each other. The base 12 is detachably connected to the surface housing 11 on the distal end. An air outlet hole 111 is provided on the proximal end. The aerosol generated through the heating and the atomization by the porous body 30 may escape from the atomizer 100 through the air outlet hole 111, to facilitate user inhalation. An air inlet tube 121 for external air to enter the atomizer 100 is provided on the base 12 when the user inhales by using the atomizer 100, the external air may enter the atomizer 100 through the air inlet tube 121, and take way the aerosol generated through atomization to escape through the air outlet hole 111. Electrodes 122 connected to a power supply mechanism are further arranged on the base 12. The power supply mechanism may provide electric energy to the atomizer 100 through the electrodes 122, so that the atomizer 100 can heat the liquid substrate to atomize the liquid substrate.
An air guide tube 112 in communication with the air outlet hole 111 is formed inside the surface housing 11, and the aerosol generated through heating and atomization of liquid substrate by the porous body 30 may be transmitted to the air outlet hole 111 through the air guide tube 112. Still referring to FIG. 4 , FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a base 12 in a direction. An engagement groove 123 is provided on the base 12. The engagement groove 123 is used for being snap-fitted to a support frame 40, to fix a support frame 40 to an inner side of a housing 10.
Still referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , together with FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are respectively three-dimensional schematic diagrams of the first sealing member 20 in two different directions. The first sealing member 20 is a flexible material, for example, may be a material such as a silica gel, a rubber, or a latex. The first sealing member 20 surrounds an inner wall of the surface housing 11, and is in interference abutting against the inner wall of the surface housing 11, so that the first sealing member 20 and the inner wall of the surface housing 11 jointly define a liquid storage cavity 13 for storing the liquid substrate.
The first sealing member 20 includes an end surface 21 and an extending wall 22 extending from the end surface 21 toward the base 12. The end surface 21 and the extending wall 22 define a receiving chamber 23. At least part of the base 12 is received in the receiving chamber 23, and is in an interference fit with the first sealing member 20. A first abutting portion 211 and a second abutting portion 212 extend on the end surface 21 of the first sealing member 20 facing a direction of receiving the liquid storage cavity 13. The first abutting portion and the second abutting portion 212 are arranged opposite to each other, and an abutting space is defined between the first abutting portion 211 and the second abutting portion 212. The porous body 30 is located in the abutting space, and mutually abuts against the first abutting portion 211 and the second abutting portion 212, thereby fixing the porous body 30 in a horizontal direction.
Further, a first opening 223 for the atomized aerosol to pass is provided on the end surface 21 of the first sealing member 20. The first opening 223 is located in the abutting space between the first abutting portion 211 and the second abutting portion 212. At least part of the porous body 30 spans the first opening 223, and abuts against the first abutting portion 211 and the second abutting portion 212. A convex rib 224 surrounding the first opening 223 is further arranged on the end surface 21 of the first sealing member 20, and the part of the porous body 30 spanning the end surface 21 of the first sealing member 20 squeezes the convex rib 224.
Further, to hold the porous body 30 in fixation in a vertical direction, still referring to FIG. 7 , FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a support frame 40 in a direction. The support frame 40 includes a base portion 41, and a holding space 411 matching a surface shape of a porous body 30 is formed on the base portion 41. The holding space 411 is used for accommodating part of the porous body 30, so that the porous body 30 is held in the holding space 411, and therefore the porous body 30 is fixed in a vertical direction. A sleeving hole 412 extends in a direction from the base portion 41 toward an air outlet hole 111. The sleeving hole 412 is sleeved on an outer wall of an air guide tube 112, and is in fluid communication with the air guide tube 112, so that an aerosol generated through heating and atomizing of a liquid substrate can flow from the support frame 40 into the air guide tube 112. A snap portion 413 matching and engaged with a base 12 extends in a direction from the base portion 41 toward the base 12. The snap portion 413 matches and is engaged with an engagement groove 123, so that the support frame 40 is fixed to the housing 10.
In addition, when the support frame 40 is fixed to the housing 10, at least part of the support frame is supported on an end surface 21 of a first sealing member 20, and the part supported on the first sealing member 20 simultaneously squeezes a remaining part of a convex rib 224, as shown in FIG. 8 . Based on the above, the support frame 40 and the porous body 30 jointly complete the squeeze in a circumferential direction of the convex rib 224. Since the convex rib 224 is directly formed by the first sealing member 20, the convex rib 224 has specific elasticity. When the support frame 40 and the porous body 30 provide squeezes forces to the convex rib 224, the convex rib 224 deforms and generates a reverse squeezes force for the support frame 40 and the porous body 30 under a deformation recovery force, thereby forming an interference fit between the support frame 40 and the porous body 30. Through the interference fit, assembly clearances between the support frame 40 and the end surface 21 of the first sealing member 20 and between the porous body 30 and the end surface of the first sealing member can be sealed, to prevent the liquid substrate in the liquid storage cavity 13 from flowing to the first opening 223 through the assembly clearances between the support frame 40 and the first sealing member 20 and between the porous body 30 and the first sealing member, flowing to the air inlet tube 121 through the first opening 223, and then leaking out of the atomizer 100, thereby affecting usage experience of the user.
Further, to seal the liquid substrate in the liquid storage cavity 13 completely to prevent a situation in which the liquid substrate leaks out from an assembly clearance between the support frame 40 and the porous body 30, is retained in the air guide tube 112 through the sleeving hole 412 of the support frame 40, and thus flows to the air outlet hole 111 from the air guide tube 112 to be possibly inhaled by the user, resulting poor user experience, a second sealing member 50 is further arranged between the support frame 40 and the porous body 30. The second sealing member 50 is further configured to seal the assembly clearance between the support frame 40 and the porous body 30.
Further referring to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a porous body 30 in a direction. At least part of the porous body 30 is immersed in a liquid storage cavity 13, may be made of a rigid capillary structure such as a porous ceramic, a porous glass ceramic, or porous glass, and has a microporous structure therein. A liquid substrate may penetrate into the porous body 30 through the microporous structure the liquid substrate. The porous body 30 includes a base body 31. The base body 31 has end surfaces opposite to each other extending along a width direction of an atomizer 100. The opposite end surfaces are liquid absorbing surface 32 of the porous body 30. The liquid absorbing surfaces 32 are immersed in the liquid storage cavity 13. Therefore, the liquid substrate in the liquid storage cavity 13 may directly penetrate into the porous body 30 through the liquid absorbing surfaces 32. The liquid absorbing surfaces 32 respectively abut against a first abutting portion 211 and a second abutting portion 212 of a first sealing member 20, thereby fixing the porous body 30 in a horizontal direction.
The base body 31 further includes an arc surface 33 extending between the two oppositely arranged liquid absorbing surfaces 32. The arc surface 33 matches a shape of a holding space 411 of a support frame 40, so that the porous body 30 is held in the holding space 411 of the support frame 40. The porous body 30 includes an atomization surface 34 located on a side facing away from the above arc surface 33. A heating element 35 is arranged on the atomization surface 34. The heating element 35 is connected to electrodes 122 of a base 12, to obtain electric energy from a power supply mechanism for heating. After penetrating to the porous body 30 through the liquid absorbing surfaces 32, the liquid substrate may further penetrate to the atomization surface 34 through the microporous structure of the porous body 30, and be heated and atomized by the heating element 35 of the atomization surface 34, thereby generating an aerosol.
In some embodiments, the heating element 35 may be made of a material such as stainless steel, a nickel chromium alloy, an iron chromium aluminum alloy, or metal titanium. The heating element 35 is preferably formed by mixing a raw conductive powder and a printing aid into a slurry, applying, through printing, deposition, or spray coating, the slurry to the atomization surface 34 along a certain trajectory or in a certain shape, and sintering or curing the slurry, so that an entirety or a majority of the heating element is tightly attached to the atomization surface 34, which has effects such as high atomization efficiency, less heat loss, and dry-heating prevention or significant dry-heating reduction. Alternatively, in other implementations, a sheet- shaped material may be etched or cut to form a pattern, and then is bonded to the atomization surface 34.
Further, to facilitate holding of the porous body 30, the porous body 30 further includes a plug-in portion 36. The plug-in portion 36 extends from the base body 31 of the porous body 30 toward the base 12. The atomization surface 34 is located on the plug-in portion 36. When the porous body 30 spans a first opening 223, the plug-in portion 36 is plugged into the first opening 223, and two end surfaces of the plug-in portion 36 are in an interference fit with a hole wall of the first opening 223. The interference fit causes the porous body 30 to be further held in place.
To enable atomized aerosol to pass through the first opening 223, a specific void is held between a section of the porous body 30 spanning the first opening 223 and a hole edge of the first opening 223. Specifically, the section of porous body 30 spanning the first opening 223 is located at a middle part of the first opening 223, so that a first void 37 and a second void 38 are held between a front side and a rear side of the porous body 30 and the hole wall of the first opening 223, as shown in FIG. 10 . In this case, external air may carry the aerosol generated after the liquid substrate is heated and atomized into the support frame 40 through the first void 37 and the second void 38, then enter an air guide tube 112 through the support frame 40, and then be discharged from the atomizer 100 through an air outlet hole 111 for a user to inhale.
It should be noted that the first void 37 and the second void 38 are preferably arranged to have substantially the same section size, and the arrangement manner facilitates a velocity of the aerosol flowing to the air outlet hole 111. Certainly, in other embodiments of the present invention, the first void 37 may have a size different from that of the second void 38, as long as the aerosol can pass through the first opening 223.
It is easily understood that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the section of the porous body 30 spanning the first opening 223 and the hole wall of the first opening 223 may need to form only one void, as long as the porous body 30 does not completely shield the first opening 223 in a longitudinal direction. In this case, the aerosol can flow to the air outlet hole 111 through the void. In this embodiment of the present invention, through arrangement of the first void 37 and the second void 38, the atomized aerosol may be split by the first void 37 and the second void 38 before entering the air guide tube 112, which reduces retention of the aerosol and improves taste.
It should be understood that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the porous body 30 may not include the plug-in portion 36, as shown in FIG. 11 . The atomization surface 34 of the porous body 30 substantially horizontally spans the first opening 223. Part of the atomization surface 34 adjacent to two ends of the porous body 30 overlaps with the sealing element, and a middle part of the atomization surface 34 is suspended on an opening end of the first opening 223. However, regardless of whether the porous body 30 includes the plug-in portion 36, the heating element 35 arranged on the porous body 30 is located at the part of the atomization surface 34 spanning the first opening 223, so that an aerosol released by a liquid substrate heated by the heating element 35 can be fully carried away by the external air. Alternatively, the atomization surface 34 of the porous body 30 is recessed in the porous body 30. In this case, a specific clearance is held between the atomization surface 34 and the porous body 30. The atomization surface 34 faces the first opening 223.
Further, still referring to FIG. 4 together with FIG. 13 , the base 12 includes a bottom wall 127 and a side wall 128 extending longitudinally from the bottom wall 127. The bottom wall 127 and the side wall 128 define an accommodation chamber 129 of the base 12. A first support plate 124 and a second support plate 125 extending longitudinally to the accommodation chamber 129 are further arranged on the base 12. The first support plate 124 and the second support plate 125 provide support for the first sealing member 20, and then provide support for the porous body 30, so that the porous body 30 is stably supported on the first sealing member 20. The first support plate 124 and the second support plate 125 are connected to an inner wall of the accommodation chamber 129, and then divide the accommodation chamber 129 into a first chamber 1241, a second chamber 1242, and a third chamber 1251. The atomization surface 34 of the porous body 30 is located in the second chamber 1242, so that an aerosol generated through atomization on the atomization surface 34 can be released into the second chamber 1242. In other words, the second chamber 1242 is an atomization chamber of the atomizer 100. The first chamber 1241 and the third chamber 1251 are respectively located on two sides of the second atomization chamber 1242. The air inlet tube 121 extends into the atomization chamber 1242. Therefore, an airflow channel of atomizer 100 is shown as a path indicated by a dashed line R1 in FIG. 12 . FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomizer 100 in another direction. When the user uses the atomizer 100 for inhalation, inside of the atomizer 100 has negative pressure, and the external air enters the atomization chamber 1242 through the air inlet tube 121, in the atomization chamber 1242, mixes with a heated and atomized aerosol released to the atomization chamber 1242, carries the aerosol into the support frame 40 through the second void 38, enters the air guide tube 112 through the sleeving hole 412 of the support frame 40, and then flows through the air guide tube 112 to the air outlet hole 111 to be discharged from the atomizer 100.
Further, as shown in FIG. 13 , a through hole 126 is provided on at least one of the first support plate 124 and the second support plate 125, so that the first chamber 1241 and/or the third chamber 1251 are in fluid communication with the atomization chamber 1242 through the through hole 126. A high-temperature aerosol usually exists in the atomization chamber 1242. After the aerosol condense, condensate is generated and accumulated at a bottom of the atomization chamber 1242. Longer usage time of the atomizer 100 results in more generated and accumulated condensate, which may exceed an extending length of the air inlet tube 121. In this case, the condensate leaks out of the atomizer 100 through the air inlet tube 121. The through hole 126 is provided on at least one of the first support plate 124 and the second support plate 125, so that the condensate accumulated in the atomization chamber 1242 can flow to the first chamber 1241 and/or the third chamber 1251 through the through hole 126, thereby expanding a storage space for the condensate, and effectively preventing the condensate from leaking through the air inlet tube 121. It is easily understood that a spacing between the through hole 126 and a bottom wall of the atomization chamber 1242 is less than the longitudinal extending length of the air inlet tube 121, so that the condensate accumulated in the atomization chamber 1242 can flow to the first chamber 1241 and/or the third chamber 1251 in a timely manner instead of leaking from the air inlet tube 121.
Further, as the liquid in the liquid storage cavity 13 is consumed, a liquid level in the liquid storage cavity 13 decreases, air pressure decreases, and negative pressure is generated. The atomizer 100 is prone to a problem of poor liquid supply under the negative pressure. To alleviate the negative pressure generated in the liquid storage cavity 13, a vent channel in communication with the external air is provided in the atomizer 100, to supplement air into the liquid storage cavity 13, and alleviate the negative pressure in the liquid storage cavity 13.
Specifically, still referring to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 , FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are respectively three-dimensional schematic diagrams of a first sealing member 20 and a base 12 in a direction according to another embodiment of the present invention. Two second openings 225 opposite to each other are arranged near a first opening 223 of the first sealing member 20, and the two second openings 225 are respectively distributed on two sides of the first opening 223. A size of each of the second openings 225 is less than a size of the first opening 223. Extensions 1243 extend axially in a first chamber 1241 and a third chamber 1251 of the base 12, and each of the extensions 1243 is integrated on an inner wall of the first chamber 1241. The extensions 1243 extend axially toward the first sealing member 20, and respectively pass through the two second openings 225, thereby defining a vent channel between the extension 1243 and a hole wall of the second opening 225.
Further, to form an air channel between the extension 1243 and the hole wall of the second opening 225, a longitudinally extending groove 12431 may be arranged on a surface of the extension 1243, and the air channel can be defined between the groove 12431 and the hole wall of the second opening 225. Alternatively, instead of arranging the groove 12431 on the surface of the extension 1243, a longitudinally extending groove 2251 is arranged on the hole wall of the second opening 225. In this case, the groove 2251 and the surface of the extension 1243 define the air channel. Alternatively, a specific clearance may be reserved between the extension 1243 and the second opening 225, and the air channel may be defined through the clearance. It is worth noting that a size of the groove 12431 is very small, and a depth d1 and a width d2 of the groove 12431 extending along a radial direction do not exceed 0.2 mm. Preferably, in this embodiment, the depth d1 and the width d2 are both 0.15 mm. The depth d1 and the width d2 not exceeding 0.2 mm can effectively avoid an excessive leakage of a liquid substrate caused by an excessively large space. Refer to a schematic enlarged view of the second opening 225 in FIG. 16 .
During user inhalation, as the liquid substrate is consumed, external air enters the atomization chamber 1242 through the air inlet tube 121, and part of the air carries an aerosol generated through atomization to the air outlet hole 111 along an airflow path R1. Another part of the air enters the first chamber 1241 and the third chamber 1251 through a through hole 126, and enters a liquid storage cavity 13 through the air channel defined between the extension 1243 and the second opening 225, thereby supplementing air for the liquid storage cavity 13, and alleviating negative pressure in the liquid storage cavity 13. It is easily understood that the extension 1243 may be arranged in one of the first chamber 1241 or the third chamber 1251, and a corresponding second opening 225 also needs to be provided. Only the vent channel needs to be formed between the extension 1243 and the second opening 225.
Still referring to FIG. 17 , together with FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 , FIG. 17 shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of electrodes 122 in a direction. Each of the electrodes 122 includes a power supply mechanism connection end 1221, a heating element connection end 1223, and a connection portion 1222 connected to the power supply mechanism connection end 1221 and the heating element connection end 1223. The power supply mechanism connection end 1221 is constructed to extend along a transverse direction, the connection portion 1222 is constructed to extend along a longitudinal direction, and the heating element connection end 1223 is constructed to obliquely extend toward the heating element 35. Specifically, during actual production and assembly, the power supply mechanism connection end 1221 may be embedded into the bottom wall 127 of the base 12 along the traverse direction through insert molding, the connection portion 1222 is embedded in the first support plate 124 and the second support plate 125 along the longitudinal direction, and the heating element electrical connection end 1223 is obliquely extended into the atomization chamber 124, and abuts against the heating element 35. It is easily understood that the electrodes 122 usually include a positive electrode and a negative electrode. One electrode 122 is embedded in the first support plate 124, and the other electrode 122 is embedded in the second support plate 125.
It is easily understood that the power supply mechanism connection end 1221 needs to be exposed when being embedded in the bottom wall 127, to be electrically connected to the power supply mechanism. The heating element connection end 1223 is made of an elastic piece with a deformation capability, is easily deformed under a squeezing force when abutting against the heating element 35, and is in tight contact with the heating element 35 under a deformation recovery force, to effectively ensure desirable electrical contact.
It should be noted that a via 12221 transversely extending through the connection portion 1222 is provided on the connection portion 1222. In this embodiment, the arrangement of the via 12221 is mainly used for forming the through hole 126. Since the through hole 126 is arranged on the first support plate 124 or the second support plate 125, it is difficult to manufacture the through hole 126 on a mold. However, through the arrangement of the via 12221 on the electrode 122, the through hole 126 can be formed through insert molding.
In summary, in the atomizer 100 provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the liquid storage cavity 13 for storing the liquid substrate is defined by the first sealing member 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10, the first opening 223 for an aerosol to pass through is provided on the first sealing member 20, and the porous body 30 spans the first opening 223, and is supported on the first sealing member 20, so that the aerosol generated after the atomization can flow to the air outlet hole 111 of the atomizer through the first opening 223. In this way, the entire atomizer 100 has relatively few components, a structure is simple, and the assembly is convenient.
An embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic atomization device. The electronic atomization device includes a power supply mechanism and the atomizer 100 described in the above embodiment. The power supply mechanism includes a battery core (not shown in the figure), a controller (not shown in the figure), an airflow sensor (not shown in the figure), and a connection terminal (not shown in the figure). The connection terminal is configured to electrically connect to the electrodes 122 of the atomizer 100. The airflow sensor is configured to sense an inlet airflow of the atomizer 100, and send a sensing signal to the controller. The controller controls the battery core to supply electric energy to the atomizer 100 through the connection terminal. After obtaining the electric energy, the heating element 35 of the atomizer 100 starts heating and atomizing the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol.
Finally, it should be noted that, the above embodiments are merely intended to describing the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Under the idea of the present invention, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments may also be combined, the steps may be performed in any order, and many other variations in different aspects of the present invention as described above exist, which are not provided in detail for simplicity. Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that modifications may still be made to the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or equivalent replacements may be made to some of the technical features, and these modifications or replacements do not cause essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An atomizer comprising:

a housing;

a first sealing member, arranged inside the housing, and defining, with an inner wall of the housing, a liquid storage cavity used for storing a liquid substrate, wherein a first opening used for guiding an airflow to pass through is defined on the first sealing member;

a base configured to support the first sealing member; and

an atomization element, held on the first sealing member and configured to atomize the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol,

wherein the atomization element comprises:

a porous body and a heating element integrated on the porous body, wherein the porous body spans the first opening, and at least part of the porous body abuts against a surface of a side of the first sealing member facing the liquid storage cavity, so as to prevent the liquid substrate from entering the first opening through the liquid storage cavity.

2. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein:

the porous body comprises an atomization surface facing the first opening; and

the heating element is integrated on the atomization surface.

3. The atomizer according to claim 2, wherein:

the porous body comprises a plug-in portion receivable in the first opening; and

the atomization surface is located on the plug-in portion.

4. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the porous body does not completely cover the first opening, so that the airflow passing through the first opening is configured to bypass the porous body.

5. The atomizer according to claim 4, wherein the porous body spans two sides of a section of the first opening, and holds a first void and a second void with an inner wall of the first opening.

6. The atomizer according to claim 5, wherein a sectional size of the first void is substantially the same as that of the second void.

7. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein:

the first sealing member comprises a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion arranged opposite to the first abutting portion; and

the porous body is transversely positioned between the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion.

8. The atomizer according to claim 1, further comprising a support frame, wherein the atomization element is clamped between the support frame and the base.

9. The atomizer according to claim 8, wherein:

the support frame has a holding space; and

at least part of the porous body is received in the holding space.

10. (canceled)

11. The atomizer according to claim 8, wherein:

a first snap portion is arranged on the base;

a second snap portion is arranged on the support frame; and

the first snap portion is snap-fitted to the second snap portion.

12. The atomizer according to claim 8, wherein:

the first sealing member comprises a convex rib surrounding the first opening;

the porous body squeezes part of the convex rib; and

the support frame squeezes a remaining part of the convex rib.

13. The atomizer according to claim 8, wherein:

the atomizer further includes a second sealing member; and

the second sealing member is configured to seal an assembly clearance between the support frame and the porous body.

14. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein:

the base comprises a first support plate and a second support plate arranged spaced away along a spanning direction of the porous body; and

the first support plate and the second support plate provide support for the first sealing member.

15. The atomizer according to claim 14, wherein:

the first support plate and the second support plate divide an inner cavity of the base into a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber;

the second chamber is in communication with the first opening, and is constructed as an atomization chamber of the atomizer; and

the first chamber and the third chamber are distributed on two sides of the second chamber.

16. The atomizer according to claim 15, wherein:

a through hole is provided on at least one of the first support plate and the second support plate; and

the second chamber is in fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber and the third chamber through the through hole.

17. The atomizer according to claim 16, wherein:

the base comprises an air inlet tube extending toward the second chamber; and

a spacing between the through hole and a bottom wall of the second chamber is less than an extending length of the air inlet tube.

18. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the porous body is immersed in the liquid storage cavity.

19. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the atomizer comprises electrodes mounted to the base, and at least part of the electrodes extends into the first opening to abut against the heating element.

20. The atomizer according to claim 19, wherein:

each of the electrodes comprises a transversely extending power supply mechanism connection end, a heating element connection end extending obliquely toward the heating element, and a longitudinally extending connection portion connected between the power supply mechanism connection end and the heating element connection end;

the base comprises a first support plate and a second support plate arranged spaced away along a spanning direction of the porous body;

the first support plate and the second support plate provide support for the first sealing member;

the electrodes comprise a positive electrode and a negative electrode; and

a connection portion of the positive electrode and a connection portion of the negative electrode are respectively embedded in the first support plate and the second support plate.

21. An electronic atomization device comprising:

the atomizer according to claim 1; and

a power supply mechanism configured to provide electric energy to the atomizer.