Patent Publication Number: US-2023134641-A1

Title: Atomizer and electronic cigarette

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 2020102812822, filed on Apr. 10, 2020 and entitled “ATOMIZER AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of electronic cigarettes, and in particular relate to an atomizer and an electronic cigarette. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An electronic cigarette is a product for heating and atomizing a liquid substrate containing nicotine to generate an aerosol to be smoked by a user. The portion, achieving an atomization function, of the electronic cigarette is an atomizer, and the atomizer structurally includes a liquid storage cavity for storing the liquid substrate, a porous body for absorbing the liquid substrate from the liquid storage cavity, and a heating body for heating and atomizing the liquid substrate absorbed by the porous body. Furthermore, in order to transmit the aerosol in a smoking process, an air inlet for allowing air to enter and a smoke transmission pipe for outputting the aerosol are provided at the portion, corresponding to the heating body, of a housing of the atomizer. In the smoking process of the user, external air enters the atomizer from the air inlet and then carries the aerosol to be output through the smoke transmission pipe, to form a complete airflow circulation. 
     Due to the configuration of an airflow circulation structure, the liquid substrate seeped from the porous body in a use process of the atomizer and condensate formed after the aerosol formed by heating is cooled in a transmission process can flow out of the air inlet after being accumulated in the atomizer, thereby causing oil seepage and pollution. 
     Based on the above content, an improved Pat. No. 201820119392.7 in the prior art provides an atomizer with an air inlet shielding structure, which employs a blocking plate which can be projected onto an axial plane of the atomizer to cover the air inlet, thereby shielding the air inlet, and preventing the liquid substrate from flowing out. After the blocking plate structure is added, on one hand, smoking resistance is increased; and on the other hand, an external airflow entering from the air inlet becomes diffused. Thus, a part of the generated aerosol is diffused to edge corners to be retained, and the smoke output efficiency is reduced. 
     SUMMARY 
     In order to solve the problem of seepage of a liquid substrate of an electronic cigarette in the prior art, embodiments of the present application provide an atomizer that can avoid seepage of the liquid substrate and improve the aerosol output efficiency. 
     An embodiment of the present application provides an atomizer, including an outer housing, the outer housing being internally provided with a liquid storage cavity for storing a liquid substrate, and an atomization assembly for atomizing the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol, and the atomization assembly including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other, and an atomization surface extending from the first side wall to the second side wall; where a holder is provided within the outer housing, and the holder is provided with a first surface opposite to the atomization surface along the axial direction of the outer housing; and an atomization cavity is formed between the first surface and the atomization surface. 
     The first surface is configured to be inclined towards the atomization surface along the extension direction of the atomization surface, and is configured to receive the liquid substrate seeped from the atomization assembly and/or condensate formed by condensation of the aerosol within the atomization cavity. 
     In a preferred embodiment, an air inlet for allowing external air to enter and an airflow channel for outputting the aerosol are further provided within the outer housing. The outer housing is provided with a first communication port close to the first side wall, and the outer housing is provided with a second communication port in communication with the atomization cavity close to the second side wall, such that an airflow entering the atomization cavity from the air inlet at least partially flows to the airflow channel along the extension direction of the atomization surface under the guidance of the first surface, and the atomization cavity is in airflow communication with the air inlet through the first communication port, and is in airflow communication with the airflow channel through the second communication port. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first communication port is opposite to at least a part of the first surface along the extension direction of the atomization surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the holder further includes a second surface with the back facing the first surface along the axial direction of the outer housing, the second surface being configured to absorb or retain the liquid substrate and/or condensate received by the first surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the holder is configured to further include a drainage side wall, and guide the liquid substrate and/or condensate received by the first surface to the second surface through the drainage side wall. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the second surface is provided with grooves that absorb or retain the liquid substrate and/or condensate by capillary action. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the holder includes a housing, and a liquid absorption component accommodated in the housing and capable of absorbing the liquid substrate and/or condensate by capillary action; where, 
     the first surface is formed on the housing; and   at least a part of the liquid absorption component is exposed out of the housing and forms the second surface.   

     In a preferred embodiment, a projection of at least a part of the first surface on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the outer housing covers the atomization surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the outer housing is configured as a hollow cylinder having an open end; 
     an end cover is provided at the open end, and the air inlet is formed in the end cover; and   a sealing mechanism for sealing the liquid storage cavity and accommodating and retaining the atomization assembly is further provided within the outer housing; and at least a part of the airflow channel is provided on the sealing mechanism.   

     The present application further provides an electronic cigarette, including a power supply apparatus and the atomizer as described above, the power supply apparatus is configured to supply power to the atomizer, and the atomizer is an atomization apparatus configured to atomize the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol for smoking. 
     With the use of the above atomizer, the inclined first surface on the holder is used for receiving the seeped liquid substrate and condensate, and guiding the airflow within the atomization cavity, which reduces liquid seepage, and guides and improves output of the aerosol. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       One or more embodiments are illustrated by pictures in the corresponding accompanying drawings, which are not intended to limit the embodiments, in which elements having the same reference numerals represent similar elements, and the figures of the accompanying drawings are not intended to constitute a scale limitation unless specifically stated otherwise. 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an electronic cigarette according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic structural diagram of an atomizer in  FIG.  1    in another perspective; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded schematic diagram of components of the atomizer shown in  FIG.  2    before assembly; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the atomizer shown in  FIG.  2    along the width direction; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the atomizer shown in  FIG.  2    along the thickness direction; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic structural diagram of a holder in  FIG.  3    in another perspective; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic structural diagram after an end cover and the holder in  FIG.  3    are assembled; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic structural diagram of a holder according to another embodiment; and 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic diagram of a cross section of a holder according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. 
     Embodiments of the present application provides an electronic cigarette product for heating and atomizing a liquid substrate. In an embodiment, a common flat cigarette shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    is used as an example for illustration, including an atomizer  100  for atomizing a liquid substrate, and a power supply apparatus  200  for supplying power to the atomizer  100 . The power supply apparatus  200  is further provided with conductive elastic pins  210  which are configured to be correspondingly connected to the atomizer  100  for electric conduction; and a magnet  220  that is correspondingly magnetically attracted to a magnetic attraction element on the atomizer  100 . 
     The detailed structure of the atomizer  100  can refer to the exploded schematic diagram of  FIG.  3    and the cross-sectional schematic diagram of  FIG.  4   , including: 
     a hollow cylindrical outer housing  10 , the outer housing  10  having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to each other along the axial direction; where according to the requirements of common use, the proximal end is configured to be the end at which a user smokes an aerosol, and the distal end is configured to be the end to which the power supply apparatus  200  is assembled and connected; for ease of description, the outer housing  10  further has a first side wall  110  and a second side wall  120  opposite to each other along the thickness direction.   

     Based on the above differences of use, a smoking port A is provided at the proximal end of the outer housing  10 , for the user to conduct a smoking operation; the distal end of the outer housing  10  is designed to be open and a detachable end cover  20  is installed thereon, and the open structure of the distal end of the outer housing is configured to install all necessary functional parts into the outer housing  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the outer housing is provided with a first communication port (not labeled) close to the first side wall, and the first communication port is convenient for outside air to enter the interior of the atomizer. 
     In some embodiments, the outer housing is provided with a second communication port (not labeled) close to the second side wall, and the second communication port is convenient for air inside the atomizer to flow out of the atomizer. 
     Furthermore, the outer housing  10  is internally provided with a liquid storage cavity  30  for storing the liquid substrate and an atomization assembly  40  for absorbing the liquid substrate from the liquid storage cavity  30  and heating and atomizing the same. Specifically, in the cross-sectional schematic structural diagram shown in  FIG.  4   , a smoke transmission pipe  11  provided along the axial direction is provided within the outer housing  10 . A space between an outer wall of the smoke transmission pipe  11  and an inner wall of the outer housing  10  forms a liquid storage cavity  30  for storing the liquid substrate. A first end, opposite to the proximal end, of the smoke transmission pipe  11  is in communication with the smoking port A, and a second end, opposite to the distal end, of the smoke transmission pipe is connected to the atomization assembly  40 , such that the aerosol generated by the atomization assembly  40  atomizing the liquid substrate is transmitted to the smoking port A for smoking. 
     Referring to the structure of the atomization assembly  40  shown in  FIG.  3   , the atomization assembly may include a porous body  41  for absorbing the liquid substrate from the liquid storage cavity  30 , and a heating element  42  for heating and atomizing the liquid substrate absorbed from the porous body  41 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the porous body  41  may be substantially of, but not limited to, a block-shaped structure in the embodiments, including, depending on the situation of use, a liquid absorption surface  411  and an atomization surface  412  opposite to each other along the axial direction of the outer housing  10 , that is, an upper surface and a lower surface of the block-shaped porous body  41  in  FIG.  3   , where the atomization surface  412  is formed by extending from the first side wall  110  to the second side wall  120 . In addition, the liquid absorption surface  411  is opposite to the liquid storage cavity  30  and in direct or indirect contact with the liquid substrate within the liquid storage cavity  30  so as to absorb the liquid substrate. Then, a porous structure within the porous body  41  transfers the liquid substrate to the atomization surface  412  to be heated and atomized to form the aerosol, and the aerosol is released from the atomization surface  412 . According to the structure of the porous body  41   shown in  FIG.  3   , because the liquid absorption surface  411  and the atomization surface  412  are parallel to each other, the movement directions of the liquid substrate and the aerosol within the porous body  41  are perpendicular to the plane of the atomization surface  412 . The aerosol and liquid substrate will move more smoothly within the porous body  41  and be more convenient to manufacture. 
     In some embodiments, the porous body  41  may be made of a porous ceramic, porous glass ceramic, porous glass or another hard capillary structure. The heating element  42  is preferably formed on the atomization surface  412  by means of mixing conductive raw material powder with a printing aid to form paste and then sintering after printing, such that all or most of the surface of the heating element is tightly combined with the atomization surface  412 , and the effects of being high in atomization efficiency, less in heat loss, capable of preventing dry burning or greatly reducing dry burning and the like are achieved. The heating element  42  may be made of stainless steel, nickel-chromium alloy, iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, metallic titanium, or the like in some embodiments. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG.  2    to  FIG.  4   , in order to facilitate installation and fixation of the atomization assembly  40  and to seal the liquid storage cavity  30 , a sealing mechanism  50  is further provided within the outer housing  10 , and the sealing mechanism  50  includes a silica gel sleeve  51 , a rigid support sleeve  52 , and a silica gel seat  53 , which seal the port of the liquid storage cavity  30  and also retain and fix the atomization assembly  40  inside, 
     The structure and shape of the silica gel sleeve  51  are not limited. In some embodiments, the silica gel sleeve  51  is substantially annular, and an interior hollow  511  of the silica gel sleeve is configured to accommodate the atomization assembly  40  and be sleeved outside the atomization assembly  40  in a flexible fitting manner. 
     The support sleeve  52  supports and protects the atomization assembly  40  sleeved with the silica gel sleeve  51 . In some embodiments, the support sleeve  52  may include a substantially cylindrical main body portion  521  and a clamping wall  522  extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the main body portion  521 . The clamping wall  522  is C-shaped, thereby forming a retaining cavity  523  within the clamping wall  522  for accommodating and retaining the silica gel sleeve  51  and the atomization assembly  40 . The support sleeve  52  is provided with an airflow channel  524  on the side opposite to the first side wall  110  of the outer housing  10 , for outputting the aerosol generated by the atomization surface  412 . First liquid guide holes  525  are formed in the support sleeve  52  for transferring the liquid substrate to the liquid absorption surface  411 . 
     In some embodiments, at least a part of the airflow channel  524  is provided on the sealing mechanism. 
     The silica gel seat  53  is provided at the end, facing the distal end, of the liquid storage cavity  30 , and the shape of the silica gel seat is matched with a cross section of an inner contour of the outer housing  10 , so as to seal the liquid storage cavity  30 , and prevent the liquid substrate from being seeped out of the liquid storage cavity  30 . Furthermore, in order to prevent the tightness of sealing from being affected by shrinkage deformation of the silica gel seat  53  made of a flexible material, the above rigid support sleeve  52  is accommodated in the silica gel seat  53  to provide support. In a matched structure, the silica gel seat  53  is provided with two opposite second clamping walls  531  extending downwards from the bottom surface, and an accommodating cavity  532  for accommodating the main body portion  521  of the support sleeve  52  is formed between the two second clamping walls  531 . Meanwhile, two second liquid guide holes  533  and an air pipe insertion hole  534  are formed in the silica gel seat  53 ; where the two second liquid guide holes  533  correspond to the two first liquid guide holes  525  in the support sleeve  52 , such that the liquid substrate within the liquid storage cavity  30  can flow to the liquid absorption surface  411  of the porous body  41  to be absorbed after passing through the second liquid guide holes  533  and the first liquid guide holes  525 . The air pipe insertion hole  534  is configured to allow the lower end of the smoke transmission pipe  11  to be inserted in, and meanwhile, after installation, the smoke transmission pipe  11  is in airflow communication with the airflow channel  524 , to output the generated aerosol to the smoking port A. 
     Furthermore, in order to stabilize the sealing mechanism  50  within the atomizer  100 , the end cover  20  has two first support arms  21  standing on a top surface of a cover body  21  for supporting the sealing mechanism  50 . 
     Meanwhile, the end cover  20  is provided with a first mounting hole  22 , a second mounting hole  23  and an air inlet  24 . A magnetic element  25 , such as a magnet or a ferromagnetic element, which can be magnetically attracted to a magnet  220  of the power supply apparatus  200  is installed within the first mounting hole  22 , and an electrode post  26  is installed within the second mounting hole  23  and is configured to supply power to the heating element  42  as a power supply electrode after being connected to the conductive elastic pins  210  of the power supply apparatus  200 . The air inlet  24  is configured to allow the outside air to enter the atomizer  10  during a smoking process. 
     When in use, as shown by an arrow R 1  in  FIG.  4   , the liquid substrate enters an annular space of the silica gel sleeve  51  after passing through the second liquid guide holes  533  and the first liquid guide holes  525  from the liquid storage cavity  30 , and is absorbed by the liquid absorption surface  411  of the porous body  41 , and transferred to the atomization surface  412  to be heated and atomized by the heating element  42 , so as to form an aerosol for release. 
     Furthermore, in order to enable the aerosol to be released and transferred more smoothly, referring to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , a holder  60  is provided between the end cover  20  and the atomization surface  412 . The holder  60  keeps certain spacing from the atomization surface  412  for forming an atomization cavity  70  to release the aerosol. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  7   , the air inlet  24  is configured to be positioned close to the second side wall  120  of the outer housing  10  such that the air inlet and the airflow channel  524  are respectively positioned on two sides of the atomization cavity  70 . Furthermore, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  7   , in the direction of a smoking airflow, the air entering from the air inlet  24  enters the atomization cavity  70  from the position close to the second side wall  120 , and then is output to the smoke transmission pipe  11  through the airflow channel  524  close to the first side wall  110  after passing through the atomization cavity  70  along the thickness direction of the outer housing  10 . When the user smokes, an airflow can pass through the whole atomization cavity  70 , such that the aerosol within the atomization cavity  70  can be guided out along with the airflow to the maximum extent to reduce retention, thereby improving smoke output efficiency, and avoiding generation of the condensate within the atomization cavity  70 . 
     In some embodiments, the air inlet  24  is in communication with the first communication port, which is convenient for the outside air to enter the atomization cavity. 
     In some embodiments, the airflow channel  524  is in communication with the second communication port, which is convenient for the air within the atomization cavity  70  to flow out. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG.  5   ,  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7   , the holder  60  is substantially block-shaped and has a first surface  61  and a second surface  62  opposite to each other, where the first surface  61  is opposite to the atomization surface  412  and keeps certain spacing from the same to form the atomization cavity  70 . In design, this first surface  61  is inclined, particularly inclined upwards along the direction close to the first side wall  110 . On one hand, the function of the first surface is to guide the airflow by means of the inclined design, as shown by an arrow R 2  in  FIG.  6   , the airflow aslant flows out under the guidance of the first surface  61 ; and on the other hand, the condensate formed by condensation of the aerosol within the atomization cavity  70  after the aerosol encounters cold air and the liquid substrate seeped downwards from the atomization assembly  40  can be received by the first surface  61 , gradually flow along the direction of an arrow R 3  in  FIG.  6    under the guidance of the inclined first surface  61 , and fall off from the drainage side wall  64  of the holder  60 . 
     Furthermore, the holder  60  is further provided with a through hole  63  passing through the atomizer  100  along the length direction, and the power supply electrode post  26  passes through the through hole  63  and then abuts against two ends of the heating element  42  on the atomization surface  412  to conduct electricity. 
     In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   , the condensate flowing down from the holder  60  will gradually flow into a gap between the second surface  62  and the end cover  20 , and the port height of the air inlet  24  within the end cover  20  is between the uppermost and lowermost of the inclined first surface  61 . Therefore, the air flowing out of the port of the air inlet  24  is directed towards a certain middle portion of the first surface  61 , such that the first surface  61  is able to at least partially guide the airflow passing through the atomization cavity  70 . 
     Furthermore, in order to prevent the condensate dripping from the holder  60  to the end cover  20  from being seeped out of the first mounting hole  22  and the second mounting hole  23  of the end cover  20 ,  FIG.  8    shows a schematic diagram of a holder  60  according to another preferred embodiment. Several grooves  621   a  are provided on the second surface  62   a  opposite to the end cover  20 , and the condensate can be adsorbed and retained by the grooves  621   a  using a capillary principle, further avoiding seepage of the condensate or the received liquid substrate. It can also be seen from  FIG.  8    that the grooves  621   a  extend along the thickness direction of the atomizer  100 , that is, parallel to the direction in which the airflow passes through the atomization cavity  70 , such that a fluid force in the airflow promotes adsorption. In other variable embodiments, the grooves  621   a  may also be arranged in a bent, crossed, or the like manner. Alternatively, in other variable embodiments, the grooves  621   a  may be replaced with other capillary structures capable of adsorbing the condensate or liquid substrate by capillary action, such as structures having capillary pores or bumps. 
     Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment, referring to  FIG.  9   , a holder  60   b  is formed by combining two components, specifically including: 
     a housing  610   b  and a liquid absorption component  620   b , the housing  610   b  having a first surface  61   b  and a second surface  62   b  opposite to each other, where the first surface  61   b  is an inclined cambered surface and is configured to guide the airflow and receive the condensate; the housing  610   b  is internally provided with an open cavity located on the second surface  62   b , and the liquid absorption component  620   b  configured to adsorb and retain the condensate is provided within the cavity; the liquid absorption component  620   b  is made of sponge, porous ceramic or foam materials or materials capable of absorbing liquid by capillary action, such that when the received condensate flows from the drainage side wall  64   b  to a gap with the end cover  20 , the condensate can be absorbed by the surface, exposed out of the opening of the housing  610   b , of the liquid absorption component  620   b , thereby eliminating seepage of the condensate or liquid substrate.   

     In some embodiments, at least a part of the surface of the liquid absorption component  620   b  is exposed out of the housing  610   b  and forms the second surface  62   b . 
     In some embodiments, at least a part of the first surface is opposite to the first communication port along the extension direction of the atomization surface. 
     Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, a projection of the first surface  61  of the holder  60  on a plant perpendicular to the axial plane of the outer housing at least partially covers the atomization surface. Preferably, the projection along the axial direction of the atomizer  100  is greater than the atomization surface  412 , and completely covers the atomization surface  412 . Meanwhile, it can be seen from  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  7    that the structural portion, forming the air inlet  24 , of the end cover  20  is not in contact with the drainage side wall  64  of the holder  60  along the thickness direction of the atomizer  100  and kept certain spacing, about 5 mm, from the same, such that the condensate can be smoothly guided, through the drainage side wall  64  of the holder  60 , from the first surface  61  to the second surface  62  for absorption. 
     According to the above atomizer of the electronic cigarette, the atomization cavity is formed between the atomization surface and the holder, and the airflow passes through the whole atomization cavity in the smoking process, such that the aerosol within the atomization cavity can be guided out along with the airflow to the maximum extent to reduce retention; furthermore, the holder can receive and guide the condensate to the second surface, such that the condensate can be effectively prevented from being smoked along with the airflow or seeped. 
     It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of the present application are given in the description and the accompanying drawings of the present application, but are not limited to the embodiments described in the description, and furthermore, for those of ordinary skill in the art, improvements or transformations can be made according to the above description, and all these improvements and transformations should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present application.