Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of atomization devices, specifically
to a heating assembly and an aerosol generation device.
Background
[0002] Heat-not-burn aerosol generation devices are gaining increasing attention and favor
due to their advantages of safety, convenience, health, and environmental friendliness.
These devices generate aerosol by heating and baking various forms of aerosol generation
substrates and deliver the aerosol to users for inhalation. This "heat-not-burn" method
ensures that the aerosol generation substrate is heated at a relatively low temperature
without combustion and without producing an open flame, effectively avoiding the generation
of harmful substances caused by the aerosol generation substrate.
[0003] In heat-not-burn devices, the heating element typically provides circumferential
heating to the aerosol generation substrate. However, this heating element tends to
concentrate heat around the circumference of the aerosol generation substrate, resulting
in excessively high heating temperatures, which can produce high-temperature aerosol
and negatively affect user experience.
Summary
[0004] The objective of the present application is to provide a heating assembly that forms
relatively independent heating zones to avoid excessively high heating temperatures
that produce high-temperature aerosol, thereby improving user experience.
[0005] Additionally, the present application aims to provide an aerosol generation device
using the aforementioned heating assembly.
[0006] According to the first aspect, an embodiment provides a heating assembly including
a heating element configured to heat an aerosol generation substrate, where the heating
element includes at least two heating zones. A thermal barrier structure is provided
between at least one pair of adjacent heating zones, the thermal barrier structure
being configured to reduce heat transfer between the adjacent heating zones.
[0007] In the heating assembly of the above embodiment, the heating element includes at
least two heating zones, and a thermal barrier structure is provided between at least
one pair of adjacent heating zones. The thermal barrier structure is used to prevent
heat conduction between adjacent heating zones, reducing the heat transfer speed between
different heating zones, improving the thermal insulation performance between adjacent
heating zones, and forming relatively independent heating zones between adjacent heating
zones. This allows for selective heating of the heating zones as needed, thereby helping
to reduce the overall temperature of the heating element and consequently lowering
the temperature of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generation substrate, improving
user experience.
[0008] Further, in one embodiment, the heating element includes a heat-insulating zone,
which is provided between two adjacent heating zones. The thermal barrier structure
includes an insulating body embedded in the heat-insulating zone of the heating element
to block heat transfer between the adjacent heating zones.
[0009] In the heating assembly of the above embodiment, the heating element uses an insulating
body embedded in the heat-insulating zone to separate different heating zones, employing
physical blocking to prevent heat transfer between the heating zones. Thus, when the
heating element heats a certain heating zone, the heat transfer from that heating
zone to other heating zones is reduced, achieving localized heating of the aerosol
generation substrate. During the first few puffs of the user, local heating can be
controlled, and the temperature of the aerosol will not be too high, allowing the
user to feel a lower temperature during the first few puffs, reducing the risk of
burning the mouth and improving user experience.
[0010] Further, in one embodiment, the heating element includes a heating pipe configured
to heat the aerosol generation substrate. The pipe wall of the heating pipe includes
at least two heating zones, each capable of heating the aerosol generation substrate.
A thermal insulation interval is provided between adjacent heating zones to prevent
heat transfer between the adjacent heating zones, with the thermal insulation interval
penetrating the pipe wall of the heating pipe in the radial direction. The heating
zones form the heating zones, and the thermal insulation interval forms the thermal
barrier structure. The heating assembly includes a thermoplastic sealing layer provided
on the heating pipe and covering the thermal insulation interval to prevent airflow
within the heating pipe from flowing out through the thermal insulation interval.
[0011] In the heating assembly of the above embodiment, the thermal insulation interval
is used to prevent heat conduction between adjacent heating zones, reducing the heat
transfer speed between different heating zones. Consequently, when the heating requirements
of adjacent heating zones differ, mutual influence is minimized, and heat loss is
reduced. Meanwhile, by covering the thermal insulation interval with a thermoplastic
sealing layer, airflow within the heating pipe is prevented from flowing out through
the thermal insulation interval, further reducing heat loss.
[0012] Further, in one embodiment, the heating element includes a thermally conductive pipe
and electric heating elements provided on the thermally conductive pipe. The thermally
conductive pipe has a heating chamber for inserting the aerosol generation substrate,
and the pipe wall of the thermally conductive pipe includes at least two heating zones.
The number of electric heating elements is at least two, with each heating zone corresponding
to at least one electric heating element, and the electric heating element is configured
to heat the corresponding heating zone. A pipe wall thinning portion is provided on
the pipe wall of the thermally conductive pipe between at least one pair of adjacent
heating zones, and the wall thickness of the pipe wall thinning portion is less than
the wall thickness of the heating zones. The heating zones form the heating zones,
and the pipe wall thinning portion forms the thermal barrier structure.
[0013] In the heating assembly of the above embodiment, the pipe wall thinning portion slows
down the heat transfer speed between adjacent heating zones. When one of the adjacent
heating zones is heating, the heat is more concentrated in the heated area of the
working heating zone, resulting in higher heat utilization efficiency, less heat loss,
and improved independent heating efficiency of the heating zones.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the aerosol generation device provided in the present
application;
FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged schematic view of area A in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the thermally conductive body and heating structure
in the first embodiment of the heating assembly provided in the present application;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the thermally conductive body and heating structure
in the first embodiment of the heating assembly provided in the present application;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the thermally conductive body and heating structure
in the second embodiment of the heating assembly provided in the present application;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the thermally conductive body and heating structure
in the second embodiment of the heating assembly provided in the present application;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the thermally conductive body and heating structure
in the third embodiment of the heating assembly provided in the present application;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the thermally conductive body and heating structure
in the third embodiment of the heating assembly provided in the present application;
FIG. 9 is a structural schematic view from one perspective of the heating assembly
provided in one embodiment of the present application;
FIG. 10 is a structural schematic view from another perspective of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an exploded schematic view of FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is an exploded schematic view of the heating assembly provided in another
embodiment of the present application;
FIG. 13 is a structural schematic view of the aerosol generation device provided in
one embodiment of the present application;
FIG. 14 is a front view of the aerosol generation device in one embodiment;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view along A-A in FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a structural schematic view of the aerosol generation substrate heating
assembly in one embodiment;
FIG. 17 is a structural schematic view of the thermoplastic sealing layer and heating
pipe in one embodiment;
FIG. 18 is a structural schematic view of the heating pipe and electric heating element
in one embodiment;
FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the thermoplastic sealing layer and heating pipe in
one embodiment;
FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the position of the heating pipe and electric heating
element after unfolding in one embodiment;
FIG. 21 is a structural schematic view of the thermally conductive pipe in one embodiment;
FIG. 22 is a sectional view of the thermally conductive pipe in one embodiment;
FIG. 23 is a structural schematic view of the thermally conductive pipe and electric
heating element in one embodiment;
FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the position of the thermally conductive pipe and electric
heating element after unfolding in one embodiment;
FIG. 25 is a structural schematic view of the flow guide seat in one embodiment; and
FIG. 26 is a structural schematic view of the heat exchanger in one embodiment.
Detailed Description
[0015] The present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction
with specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Similar elements in different
embodiments are denoted by similar reference numerals. In the following embodiments,
many details are described to enable a better understanding of the present application.
However, those skilled in the art can easily recognize that some features can be omitted
or replaced by other elements, materials, or methods in different situations. In some
cases, certain operations related to the present application are not shown or described
in the specification to avoid obscuring the core part of the present application with
excessive description. For those skilled in the art, it is not necessary to describe
these related operations in detail, as they can fully understand the related operations
based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the
field.
[0016] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification
can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments. Also, the steps
or actions in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner apparent
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various sequences in the specification
and drawings are merely for clearly describing a particular embodiment and do not
imply that the sequence is necessary unless otherwise specified.
[0017] The numbering of components in this document, such as "first," "second," etc., is
only used to distinguish the described objects and does not have any sequential or
technical meaning. The terms "connect" and "couple" in the present application, unless
otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (couplings).
[0018] In one embodiment, the heating assembly includes a heating element configured to
heat an aerosol generation substrate, and the heating element includes at least two
heating zones. A thermal barrier structure is provided between at least one pair of
adjacent heating zones, the thermal barrier structure being configured to prevent
heat transfer between the adjacent heating zones. The heating assembly is an aerosol
generation substrate heating assembly.
[0019] The aerosol generation device includes a power supply and the heating assembly, with
the power supply powering the heating assembly. The aerosol generation device is also
referred to as an aerosol generation device, an electronic atomizer, or an atomization
device.
[0020] The following mainly introduces the heating assembly and aerosol generation device
from four aspects.
First Aspect.
[0021] The present application provides a heating assembly and an aerosol generation device,
where the heating assembly is applied to the aerosol generation device. The aerosol
generation device can generate aerosol by heating the aerosol generation substrate,
which is a colloidal dispersion system where solid or liquid particles are dispersed
and suspended in a gaseous medium. In the present application, the aerosol generation
device generates aerosol by heating the aerosol generation substrate without combustion,
utilizing a special heat source to heat the aerosol generation substrate. During heating,
various substances in the aerosol generation substrate volatilize to produce aerosol,
without open flame generation, making it environmentally friendly and providing a
good user experience while reducing harmful substances produced by high-temperature
pyrolysis of conventional atomization substrates during combustion.
[0022] Referring to FIGs. 1-8, the heating assembly provided in this embodiment includes:
a thermally conductive body 1010, a heating structure 1020, and a heat exchange structure
1030.
[0023] The thermally conductive body 1010 forms an open-ended accommodating cavity 1011,
with axially distributed first thermal conductive zone 1012 and second thermal conductive
zone 1013. The portion of the accommodating cavity 1011 corresponding to the first
thermal conductive zone 1012 is for inserting the aerosol generation substrate 10100.
The heat exchange structure 1030 is mounted at the portion of the accommodating cavity
1011 corresponding to the second thermal conductive zone 1013. The heating structure
1020 is positioned at the first thermal conductive zone 1012, generating heat. The
first thermal conductive zone 1012 conducts heat generated by the heating structure
1020 to the second thermal conductive zone 1013, and the heat exchange structure 1030
is configured to perform heat exchange with the second thermal conductive zone 1013
to preheat incoming gas.
[0024] The aerosol generated by the aerosol generation substrate 10100 at high temperatures
should be suspended in the gaseous medium. Therefore, one port of the accommodating
cavity with open ends in the thermally conductive body 1010 is used for air intake,
with the heat exchange structure 1030 installed inside. The heat exchange structure
1030 can preheat the incoming gas, which then enters the aerosol generation substrate
10100. The heat exchange structure 1030 cooperates with the heating structure 1020
to reduce the energy of the heating structure 1020.
[0025] To ensure thermal conductivity, the thermally conductive body 1010 is usually made
of materials with high thermal conductivity. The heating structure 1020 can be a heating
wire, heating plate, or other structure capable of generating heat when electrified.
The heat generated by the heating structure 1020 positioned at the first thermal conductive
zone 1012 can be conducted through the thermally conductive body 1010 to the interior
of the accommodating cavity 1011, thereby heating the aerosol generation substrate
10100 to generate aerosol. Meanwhile, part of the heat can be conducted from the first
thermal conductive zone 1012 to the second thermal conductive zone 1013, which then
conducts the heat to the heat exchange structure 1030 inside the accommodating cavity
1011 corresponding to the second thermal conductive zone 1013, allowing the heat exchange
structure to preheat the incoming gas.
[0026] In this embodiment, the first thermal conductive zone 1012 includes at least two
heating zones 10121, and the heating structure 1020 includes at least two heating
elements 1021, with the heating elements 1021 positioned in the heating zones 10121.
The thermally conductive body 1010 further includes a heat-insulating hollow portion
10122 between two adjacent heating zones 10121.
[0027] Most of the heat generated by the heating zones 10121 is concentrated inside the
accommodating cavity 1011 corresponding to the first thermal conductive zone 1012,
with part of the heat conducted through the first thermal conductive zone 1012 to
the second thermal conductive zone 1013, providing heat to the heat exchange structure
1030 inside the accommodating cavity 1011 corresponding to the second thermal conductive
zone 1013, thereby heating the incoming gas.
[0028] In one embodiment, a heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 is provided between two
adjacent heating zones 10121, forming a gap between each pair of adjacent heating
zones 10121 through the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122. The remaining part,
excluding the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122, connects the adjacent heating
zones 10121 and has a smaller area relative to the heat-insulating hollow portion
10122, making it difficult for the heat generated by the heating elements 1021 positioned
in each heating zone 10121 to be conducted through the heat-insulating hollow portion
10122 to the adjacent heating zone 10121. Heat can only be conducted through the remaining
part with a smaller area between the adjacent heating zones 10121, thereby improving
the thermal insulation performance between the adjacent heating zones 10121, forming
relatively independent heating zones between the adjacent heating zones 10121, and
creating different heating spaces inside the accommodating cavity 1011 corresponding
to the first thermal conductive zone 1012, which helps reduce the overall temperature
inside the accommodating cavity 1011, thereby lowering the temperature of the aerosol
generated by the aerosol generation substrate 10100 and improving the user experience.
[0029] In this embodiment, two heating zones 10121 are provided in the first thermal conductive
zone 1012 of the thermally conductive body 1010. Correspondingly, the heating structure
1020 includes two heating elements 1021, both capable of independent heating, meaning
that when one heating element 1021 is heating, the other heating element 1021 can
either heat or not heat. The two heating elements 1021 can use independent control
circuits, without interfering with each other.
[0030] Of course, in other embodiments, the two heating elements 1021 can also heat synchronously,
as long as the heating temperature meets the actual needs.
[0031] In this embodiment, the thermally conductive body 1010 is of a hollow tubular structure,
with both ends of the inner cavity of the hollow tubular structure of the thermally
conductive body 1010 open, forming the accommodating cavity 1011, which is also tubular
in shape, facilitating the manufacture of the thermally conductive body 1010. Meanwhile,
using a tubular structure for the thermally conductive body 1010 allows the interior
of the accommodating cavity 1011 to be heated more evenly.
[0032] In one embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIGs. 3 and 4, the two
heating zones 10121 are uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction
of the thermally conductive body 1010, meaning that the two heating zones 10121 are
distributed along the circumferential direction of the hollow tubular structure of
the thermally conductive body 1010 in the first thermal conductive zone 10121, with
the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 extending along the axial direction of the
thermally conductive body 1010. As shown in FIGs. 5-8, the two heating zones 10121
are uniformly distributed along the axial direction of the heating elements 1021,
meaning that the two heating zones 10121 are uniformly distributed along the axial
direction of the hollow tubular structure of the heating elements 1021 in the first
thermal conductive zone 1012, with the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 extending
along the circumferential direction of the thermally conductive body 1010.
[0033] In this embodiment, the length of the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 is greater
than or equal to the length of the thermally conductive body 1010 along a direction
parallel to the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122, meaning that the extension length
of the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 can block most of the heat conduction,
thereby maintaining relatively independent temperature zones, and better controlling
the temperature of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generation substrate.
[0034] Continuing to refer to FIGs. 3 and 4, the distance between the heat-insulating hollow
portion 10122 extending along the axial direction of the thermally conductive body
1010 and the nearest port of the thermally conductive body 1010 is greater than 1
mm. This distance connects the two heating zones 10121, and the connecting part has
a smaller area, thereby reducing heat conduction between the two heating zones 10121.
[0035] Referring to FIGs. 3-8, the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 includes at least
one elongated hollow hole. As shown in FIGs. 5-8, the heat-insulating hollow portion
10122 is provided with two coaxial elongated hollow holes. Of course, in other embodiments,
the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 can also be provided with three, four, or
other numbers of elongated hollow holes, which can be set according to actual needs.
[0036] In this embodiment, the width of the elongated hollow hole is greater than 0.1 mm,
ensuring thermal insulation while reducing the impact on the strength of the thermally
conductive body 1010.
[0037] Referring to FIGs. 4, 6, and 8, the heat-insulating hollow portion 10122 is provided
along the boundary line L (as shown by the dashed line in the figure) between two
adjacent heating zones 10121. The boundary line L is the middle position between two
adjacent heating zones 10121.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, the heating assembly provided in this embodiment further includes
a flow guide 1040, which is mounted at the portion of the accommodating cavity 1011
corresponding to the second thermal conductive zone 1013 and located between the heat
exchange structure 1030 and the aerosol generation substrate 10100. The flow guide
1040 is provided with a flow guide hole 1041, which is used to guide the air preheated
by the heat exchange structure 1030 to the aerosol generation substrate 10100.
[0039] In one embodiment, the heat exchange structure 1030 is provided with multiple air
intake holes 1031, which communicate with the flow guide hole 1041, thereby guiding
the preheated air through the flow guide hole 1041 to the aerosol generation substrate
10100.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, this embodiment also provides an aerosol generation device,
including: the heating assembly in the above embodiment, and further including: an
inner shell 1050, a reflective film 1060, a circuit board 1070, a battery 1080, and
an outer shell 1090, where the heating assembly is disposed inside the inner shell
1050, which also adopts a hollow structure with openings at both ends. The reflective
film 1060 is laid on the inner surface of the inner shell 1050, capable of reflecting
the heat of the heating assembly. The inner shell 1050, circuit board 1070, and battery
1080 are all disposed inside the outer shell 1090. The battery 1080 is connected to
the heating assembly to provide power for the heating assembly. The heating assembly
is connected to the circuit board 1070, which can control the two heating elements
1021 to heat independently or synchronously, or adjust the temperature generated by
the heating elements 1021.
[0041] In summary, in the heating assembly and aerosol generation device provided in this
embodiment, a heat-insulating hollow portion is provided between two adjacent heating
zones, forming a gap between each pair of adjacent heating zones through the heat-insulating
hollow portion. The remaining part connecting the adjacent heating zones, excluding
the heat-insulating hollow portion, has a smaller area, making it difficult for the
heat generated by the heating elements positioned in each heating zone to be conducted
through the heat-insulating hollow portion to the adjacent heating zone. Heat can
only be conducted through the remaining part with a smaller area between the adjacent
heating zones, thereby improving the thermal insulation performance between the adjacent
heating zones, forming relatively independent heating zones between the adjacent heating
zones, and creating different heating spaces inside the accommodating cavity corresponding
to the first thermal conductive zone, which helps reduce the overall temperature inside
the accommodating cavity, thereby lowering the temperature of the aerosol generated
by the aerosol generation substrate and improving the user experience.
Second Aspect.
[0042] Current heating assemblies usually heat the aerosol generation substrate as a whole,
and the temperature of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generation substrate during
overall heating is prone to being too high, causing the user to feel a burning sensation
during the first few puffs, resulting in a poor user experience.
[0043] Please refer to FIGs. 9-13. The present application provides a heating assembly 2010,
which can be specifically used to accommodate the aerosol generation substrate 2020
and heat the aerosol generation substrate 2020 when electrified. The aerosol generation
substrate 2020 can specifically include plant leaf substrates, such as tobacco substrates.
The aerosol generation substrate 2020 can also include a protective sleeve, which
can wrap the plant leaf substrate, for example, the plant leaf substrate can be wrapped
inside aluminum foil or paper for use.
[0044] Specifically, in one embodiment, the heating assembly 2010 includes a heating element
2011 and a thermal insulation body 2012.
[0045] The heating element 2011 is used to accommodate the aerosol generation substrate
2020 and includes a heating material. The heating element 2011 can support the aerosol
generation substrate 2020 accommodated therein and can generate heat when electrified
to heat the aerosol generation substrate 2020 accommodated therein, thereby forming
an aerosol for user use.
[0046] The heating element 2011 can be entirely made of conductive material, such as conductive
ceramics, or it can include an insulating substrate and a conductive heating layer
provided on the surface of the insulating substrate. In the embodiment shown in FIGs.
9-11, the heating element 2011 includes a substrate 20111 and a heating layer 20112.
The heating layer 20112 is used to generate heat when electrified to heat the aerosol
generation substrate 2020. Both ends of the heating layer 20112 can be connected to
two electrodes 20113, which can be electrically connected to the power supply assembly
2040 and the controller 2050 through external wires. The electrodes 20113 can be conductive
coatings applied to the substrate 20111, such as metal coatings, conductive silver
paste, or conductive tape, etc., or they can be metal conductive sheets provided on
the substrate 20111 or metals deposited on the substrate 20111, such as gold film,
aluminum film, or copper film, etc.
[0047] The heating layer 20112 can be a metal layer, conductive ceramic layer, or conductive
carbon layer. The shape of the heating layer 20112 can be a continuous film structure,
porous mesh structure, or strip structure. The substrate 20111 is made of insulating
material, and the substrate 20111 can be quartz glass, ceramic, mica, or other high-temperature-resistant
insulating materials. The substrate 20111 has an accommodating cavity 201111, which
is used to accommodate the aerosol generation substrate 2020. The accommodating cavity
201111 has an opening to allow the aerosol generation substrate 2020 to be inserted
or withdrawn from the accommodating cavity 201111.
[0048] The heating element 2011 can be a tubular structure. In this embodiment, the substrate
20111 is a cylindrical tubular structure, and the accommodating cavity 201111 is also
cylindrical, with the wall thickness of the side wall of the substrate 20111 being
a fixed value, allowing the heating element 2011 to heat the aerosol generation substrate
2020 evenly.
[0049] In the present application, the heating element 2011 has a heat-insulating zone 20114
and at least two independent heating zones 20115. The independent heating zones 20115
refer to each heating zone 20115 being capable of heating independently. The heat-insulating
zone 20114 is provided between two adjacent heating zones 20115, and the thermal insulation
body 2012 is embedded in the heat-insulating zone 20114 to block heat transfer between
the adjacent heating zones 20115.
[0050] Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIGs. 9-11, the number of heating zones
20115 is the same as the number of heating layers 20112, and the heating zones 20115
correspond one-to-one with the heating layers 20112, meaning one heating layer 20112
corresponds to one heating zone 20115. At least part of the thermal insulation body
2012 is provided between two adjacent heating layers 20112 to block heat transfer
between the two adjacent heating layers 20112. It can be as shown in FIGs. 9-11, where
the entire thermal insulation body 2012 is provided between two adjacent heating layers
20112, or it can be a section of the thermal insulation body 2012 provided between
two adjacent heating layers 20112.
[0051] The material of the thermal insulation body 2012 needs to meet the conditions of
high-temperature resistance and low thermal conductivity. For example, in one embodiment,
the thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation body 2012 is less than 8W/(m•K),
and/or the material of the thermal insulation body 2012 includes at least one of microcrystalline
glass, zirconia ceramics, polyether ether ketone, and polyimide.
[0052] The heating element 2011 of the present application uses the thermal insulation body
2012 embedded in the heat-insulating zone 20114 to separate different heating zones
20115, using physical blocking to prevent heat transfer between the heating zones
20115. Therefore, when the heating element 2011 heats in a certain heating zone 20115,
the heat transfer from that heating zone 20115 to other heating zones 20115 is reduced,
thereby achieving local heating of the aerosol generation substrate 2020. During the
first few puffs of the user, local heating can be controlled, and the temperature
of the aerosol will not be too high, allowing the user to feel a lower temperature
during the first few puffs, reducing the risk of burning the mouth and improving the
user experience.
[0053] Additionally, some existing heating assemblies 2010 set two heating elements, meaning
the existing independent heating zones 20115 are respectively set on two heating elements,
and the two heating elements are respectively connected to the two ends of the thermal
insulation body to achieve thermal insulation. The existing structure has more parts,
the assembly steps are cumbersome, and the reliability of the connection strength
of the two heating elements fixedly connected by the thermal insulation body is poor.
In contrast, the independent heating zones 20115 and the heat-insulating zone 20114
in the present application are all set on the same heating element, and the heat-insulating
zone 20114 achieves thermal insulation by embedding the thermal insulation body 2012.
Compared with the above existing structure, there are fewer parts, eliminating the
assembly steps of connecting the heating element and the thermal insulation body.
The thermal insulation body 2012 is embedded in the heating element 2011, which does
not excessively affect the structural strength of the heating element 2011, and the
reliability of the structural strength of the heating element 2011 is strong.
[0054] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGs. 9-11, the heat-insulating zone 20114 has a hollow
structure 201141, and the thermal insulation body 2012 can be filled in the hollow
structure 201141. The hollow structure 201141 refers to a through groove or through
hole in the heat-insulating zone 20114 that penetrates the side wall of the heating
element 2011 along the thickness direction of the heating element 2011. The thermal
insulation body 2012 can be filled in the hollow structure 201141 through processes
such as coating, spraying, or dispensing. On the one hand, the hollow structure 201141
prevents energy diffusion between different heating zones 20115 through physical blocking,
improving the independence of each heating zone 20115. On the other hand, the thermal
insulation body 2012 filled in the hollow structure 201141 can maintain a certain
degree of sealing of the heating element 2011, making it difficult for the aerosol
generated by the heating element 2011 to escape from the hollow structure 201141,
improving energy utilization efficiency.
[0055] As shown in FIGs. 9-11, the hollow structure 201141 can be an insulating hole 201141a,
which is a linear hole structure. Of course, in other embodiments, the insulating
hole 201141a can also be a bent structure, a zigzag structure, or other regular or
irregular shapes.
[0056] In one embodiment, the hollow structure 201141 can be an intermittently spaced hollow
structure 201141. For example, referring to FIG. 12, in the embodiment of FIG. 12,
the hollow structure 201141 includes multiple intermittently spaced insulating holes
201141a. Setting the hollow structure 201141 as intermittently spaced can improve
the structural strength of the heat-insulating zone 20114 compared to a continuous
hollow structure 201141.
[0057] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGs. 9-12, each heating zone 20115 is arranged in
parallel along the circumferential direction of the heating element 2011, and the
insulating hole 201141a can extend along the axial direction to block adjacent heating
zones 20115. In other embodiments, each heating zone 20115 can also be arranged in
parallel along the axial direction of the heating element 2011, and the insulating
hole 201141a can extend along the circumferential direction to block adjacent heating
zones 20115. Of course, in one embodiment, there can also be both circumferential
and axial arrangements between the heating zones 20115, with some insulating holes
201141a arranged along the axial direction and some insulating holes 201141a arranged
along the circumferential direction, as long as each heating zone 20115 is physically
blocked.
[0058] In the embodiment shown in FIGs. 9-11, the heating element 2011 has a first heating
zone 201151 and a second heating zone 201152. The number of heat-insulating zones
20114 is two, and the number of insulating holes 201141a is two, namely the first
insulating hole 201142 and the second insulating hole 201143. Both the first insulating
hole 201142 and the second insulating hole 201143 extend along the axial direction.
The first heating zone 201151 has opposite first and second ends along the circumferential
direction, and the second heating zone 201152 has opposite first and second ends along
the circumferential direction. The first end of the first heating zone 201151 is close
to the second end of the second heating zone 201152. The first insulating hole 201142
is provided between the first end of the first heating zone 201151 and the second
end of the second heating zone 201152, and the second insulating hole 201143 is provided
between the second end of the first heating zone 201151 and the first end of the second
heating zone 201152.
[0059] In one embodiment, the heat-insulating zone 20114 may not have a hollow structure
201141, and the heat-insulating zone 20114 has a groove, which is a blind groove,
with the thermal insulation body 2012 provided in the groove. Compared to the heat-insulating
zone 20114 with a hollow structure 201141, the groove structure of the heat-insulating
zone 20114 can better prevent aerosol leakage, maintaining better sealing of the heating
element 2011. Of course, in other embodiments, the heat-insulating zone 20114 can
include both a hollow structure 201141 and a groove.
[0060] Please refer to FIG. 13. In one embodiment, the heating assembly 2010 further includes
a housing assembly 2013, a thermal insulation layer 2014, a flow guide 2015, and a
heat exchange core 2016.
[0061] The housing assembly 2013 includes an upper housing 20131 and a lower housing 20132.
The upper housing 20131 has an installation cavity 201311 and an insertion passage
201312. The insertion passage 201312 is provided at one end of the installation cavity
201311 and communicates with the installation cavity 201311. The lower housing 20132
is provided at the end of the installation cavity 201311 away from the insertion passage
201312 and blocks the end of the installation cavity 201311 away from the insertion
passage 201312. The heating element 2011 is provided in the installation cavity 201311,
and one end of the heating element 2011 close to the lower housing 20132 is detachably
connected to the lower housing 20132. The end of the heating element 2011 close to
the insertion passage 201312 is detachably connected to the side wall of the insertion
passage 201312.
[0062] The aerosol generation substrate 2020 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 201111
of the heating element 2011 through the insertion passage 201312. The lower housing
20132 has an air intake channel 201321, which communicates with the air intake port
of the heating assembly 2010. When the heating assembly 2010 is working, the airflow
enters the air intake channel 201321 of the lower housing 20132 from the air intake
port of the heating assembly 2010 and flows into the heating element 2011 from the
air intake channel 201321. The heating element 2011 heats the aerosol generation substrate
2020 to generate aerosol, which flows out from the air outlet of the heating assembly
2010 for user use.
[0063] The thermal insulation layer 2014 can be provided on the inner wall of the installation
cavity 201311. The provision of the thermal insulation layer 2014 can block the heat
generated by the heating element 2011 from being transferred outside the installation
cavity 201311, thereby improving the energy utilization efficiency of the heating
element 2011. The thermal insulation layer 2014 can be made of high-temperature-resistant
thermal insulation materials, such as zirconia, alumina, quartz, or glass.
[0064] The heat exchange core 2016 can be installed in the heating element 2011 and provided
at the end of the heating element 2011 close to the lower housing 20132. Usually,
the airflow flows directly from the air intake channel 201321 of the lower housing
20132 to the heating element 2011. This direct air intake heating method has a short
heat exchange distance for the airflow, resulting in a small heat exchange area for
the airflow, which can easily cause the temperature of the heated hot airflow to gradually
decrease during the ascent, and the temperature reaching the aerosol generation substrate
is insufficient, affecting the suction taste. Setting the heat exchange core 2016
between the heating element 2011 and the air intake channel 201321 can increase the
heat exchange area of the airflow.
[0065] The flow guide 2015 can be provided in the heating element 2011 and set between the
aerosol generation substrate 2020 and the heat exchange core 2016. The flow guide
2015 can guide the airflow in the heat exchange core 2016 to the middle of the aerosol
generation substrate 2020. In the direct air intake heating method, during use, after
the airflow temperature rises, nicotine is easily carried out directly, causing the
nicotine content to be too high in the first few puffs, and the subsequent nicotine
content is low, with poor uniformity. The present application adds a flow guide 2015,
which guides the hot airflow into the central area of the aerosol generation substrate
2020 through the flow guide 2015, allowing the hot airflow to carry out the nicotine
in the central area of the aerosol generation substrate 2020, thereby achieving a
gradual release process of nicotine, improving the uniformity of suction, and extending
the use time of the aerosol generation substrate 2020, enhancing the user experience.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 13, the present application also provides an aerosol generation
device 2030, which includes the heating assembly 2010, a power supply assembly 2040,
and a controller 2050. The controller 2050 is connected to the heating assembly 2010
and the power supply assembly 2040 to control the power supply assembly 2040 to power
the heating assembly 2010 and control the heating power and heating duration of the
heating assembly 2010 upon receiving a start signal. The power supply assembly 2040
is electrically connected to the heating assembly 2010 to power the heating assembly
2010. In one embodiment, the power supply assembly 2040 can specifically include a
rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The heating assembly 2010 of the aerosol generation
device 2030 can have the same or similar structure as the heating assembly 2010 in
any of the above embodiments and achieve the same or similar effects, which will not
be repeated here.
Third Aspect.
[0067] The aerosol generation device includes a heating pipe. To make the heating method
of the heating pipe more flexible, some current aerosol generation devices have independent
heating zones set on the heating pipe. By setting independent heating zones, the problem
of excessive temperature of the generated aerosol can be improved. However, the heat
transfer between adjacent heating zones is fast, with a lot of heat transferred through
the heating pipe to other heating zones, and this part of the heat cannot be utilized,
even negatively affecting the set heating program, causing serious heat loss. For
example, when one adjacent heating zone is working and the other is not, a lot of
heat is transferred from the working heating zone to the non-working heating zone,
and the heat transferred to the non-working heating zone cannot be utilized, resulting
in serious heat loss. To solve this problem, the present application sets a thermal
insulation interval between adjacent heating zones and then covers the thermal insulation
interval with a thermoplastic sealing layer to prevent airflow leakage. This can reduce
heat transfer between adjacent heating zones through the thermal insulation interval,
thereby reducing heat loss.
[0068] Please refer to FIGs. 14 to 20. Before introducing the heating assembly for the aerosol
generation substrate in detail, the heating object of the heating assembly, i.e.,
the aerosol generation substrate 301, is first explained. The aerosol generation substrate
301 is an aerosol generation stick, with one end of the aerosol generation substrate
301 being the suction end 3011 for inhaling aerosol, and the other end being the air
intake end 3012 for airflow to enter the aerosol generation substrate 301 during suction.
In one embodiment, the suction end 3011 of the aerosol generation substrate 301 has
a filter element (not shown in the figure). The material of the filter element (not
shown in the figure) can be various existing or future feasible methods, such as sponge,
cigarette paper, etc. The aerosol generation substrate 301 includes an aerosol generation
section 3013, which is used to be inserted into the heating assembly of the aerosol
generation device. The aerosol generation section 3013 contains an aerosol generation
substrate for generating aerosol, which can be aerosol filaments or aerosol sheets.
In one embodiment, the aerosol generation substrate 301 is a heat-not-burn stick.
Heating the aerosol generation substrate does not require burning the aerosol generation
substrate to generate aerosol.
[0069] In some embodiments, please refer to FIGs. 14 to 16. The aerosol generation substrate
heating assembly includes a heating pipe 302 and a thermoplastic sealing layer 304.
In one embodiment, the aerosol generation substrate heating assembly is used to heat
the aerosol generation substrate 301 and prevent the aerosol generation substrate
from burning, generating aerosol.
[0070] In some embodiments, the heating pipe itself can heat. In some other embodiments,
the aerosol generation substrate heating assembly further includes an electric heating
element 303 (please refer to FIG. 18), which is configured on the heating pipe 302
and in thermal contact with the heating pipe 302 to transfer the generated heat to
the heating pipe 302 to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301. The electric heating
element 303 can be in various feasible forms, such as a resistance coating or resistance
wire coil. For example, the electric heating element 303 can be a heating film printed
on the outer peripheral surface of the heating pipe 302, in which case the electric
heating element 303 and the heating pipe 302 together form a thick film pipe, with
an insulating layer outside the heating film, and the heating pipe 302 can use a metal
pipe with good thermal conductivity. For example, the electric heating element 303
can be embedded in the wall of the heating pipe 302. The electric heating element
303 can use resistance wire, in which case the heating pipe 302 is suitable for being
made of insulating thermal conductive material. Of course, an insulating layer can
also be applied to the outer periphery of the resistance wire, in which case the heating
pipe 302 can also be made of conductive material; for example, the electric heating
element 303 can also be resistance wire wound on the outer wall of the heating pipe
302; and for example, the electric heating element 303 is laid on the inner surface
of the heating pipe 302.
[0071] The thermal contact in the present application includes both direct contact and indirect
contact capable of transferring heat. There are various ways of indirect contact,
such as applying thermal grease between the electric heating element and the heating
pipe. For example, to ensure safety, an insulating layer is added between the heating
pipe and the electric heating element.
[0072] The heating pipe 302 has a heating chamber 3021 for inserting the aerosol generation
substrate 301 to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301 (please refer to FIG. 17).
Specifically, in one embodiment, both ends of the heating pipe 302 are open, with
one end of the heating pipe 302 being the insertion end 3022 for inserting the aerosol
generation substrate 301, and the other end being the ventilation end 3023 for airflow
to enter the heating pipe 302. In some other embodiments, the heating pipe 302 can
use any feasible method. For example, the heating pipe 302 can seal the ventilation
end 3023 of the above embodiment, in which case the gas enters the heating pipe 302
from the insertion end 3022 and enters the suction end of the aerosol generation substrate
301 through the gap between the heating pipe 302 and the aerosol generation substrate
301. For example, the aerosol generation substrate 301 passes through the heating
pipe 302, in which case the suction end of the aerosol generation substrate 301 extends
out of the heating pipe 302.
[0073] Please refer to FIGs. 17 to 20. The wall of the heating pipe 302 includes at least
two heating zones 3024, each heating zone 3024 being capable of heating the aerosol
generation substrate 301 inserted into the heating chamber 3021. A thermal insulation
interval 3025 is provided between adjacent heating zones 3024 to prevent heat transfer
between the adjacent heating zones 3024. The thermal insulation interval 3025 penetrates
the wall of the heating pipe 302 in the radial direction. The thermal insulation interval
3025 is transparent in the thickness direction of the wall of the heating pipe 302,
meaning that the thermal insulation interval is a hollow structure for blocking heat
transfer. The thermal insulation interval 3025 can reduce heat transfer between adjacent
heating zones 3024, reducing heat loss.
[0074] To prevent the heated hot airflow from leaking out from the thermal insulation interval
3025, the thermoplastic sealing layer 304 in the present application is provided on
the heating pipe 302 and covers the thermal insulation interval 3025 to prevent the
airflow inside the heating pipe 302 from leaking out through the thermal insulation
interval 3025. This can further improve the energy utilization efficiency of each
heating zone.
[0075] The thermal insulation interval 3025 in the aerosol generation substrate heating
assembly of the present application can reduce heat transfer between adjacent heating
zones 3024, while the thermoplastic sealing layer 304 can cover the thermal insulation
interval 3025 to prevent airflow from leaking out through the thermal insulation interval
3025, reducing heat loss.
[0076] In one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 17 and 20. Each heating zone 3024 corresponds
to at least one electric heating element 303, and the electric heating element 303
is used to independently heat the corresponding heating zone 3024, allowing each heating
zone 3024 to independently heat the aerosol generation substrate 301 inserted into
the heating chamber 3021. When each heating zone 3024 is independently heated, the
thermal insulation interval 3025 can reduce heat transfer to the non-working heating
zone, reducing heat loss while improving the heating efficiency of the independently
heated working heating zone 3024.
[0077] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the heating zones 3024 on the heating
pipe 302 can independently heat the aerosol generation substrate 301. In actual use,
it is not limited to only part of the heating zones 3024 being turned on for heating.
According to actual needs, all heating zones 3024 can be turned on for heating at
the same time, in which case the heating pipe 302 as a whole heats the aerosol generation
substrate 301. For example, a heating strategy for the aerosol generation substrate
301 is as follows.
[0078] When starting to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301, since there is a certain
amount of moisture in the aerosol generation substrate 301, the aerosol generated
after heating contains water vapor. If the temperature of the aerosol is too high
at this time, the water vapor can easily burn the mouth when inhaling the aerosol.
Therefore, when starting to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301, only part of
the heating zones 3024 is used to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301. After
the moisture in the aerosol generation substrate 301 is expelled, all heating zones
3024 work simultaneously, and the heating pipe 302 as a whole heats the aerosol generation
substrate 301.
[0079] For example, a heating strategy for the aerosol generation substrate 301 is as follows:
divide the heating zones 3024 into two groups, with one group of heating zones 3024
heating one section of the aerosol generation substrate 301, and then the other group
of heating zones 3024 heating another section of the aerosol generation substrate
301. The two groups of heating zones 3024 work in different time periods to heat the
aerosol generation substrate 301 in sections, which can extend the number of puffs
of the aerosol generation substrate 301.
[0080] In some other embodiments, all heating zones can always work simultaneously, with
at least one pair of heating zones having one heating zone (i.e., the low-temperature
heating zone) corresponding to an electric heating element with a lower heating power
than the other heating zone (i.e., the high-temperature heating zone).
[0081] In one specific embodiment, the number of electric heating elements 303 corresponds
one-to-one with the number of heating zones 3024. The number of heating zones 3024
is two, and the number of electric heating elements 303 is also two. In some other
embodiments, the number of heating zones 3024 and the number of electric heating elements
303 can be increased as needed, such as setting three or more heating zones 3024.
In some other embodiments, one heating zone 3024 can correspond to two or more electric
heating elements 303.
[0082] The arrangement of heating zones 3024 on the heating pipe 302 can use any feasible
form. For example, please refer to FIG. 18, where the heating zones 3024 are arranged
in the circumferential direction of the heating pipe 302; for example, the heating
zones 3024 can also be arranged in the axial direction of the heating pipe 302; and
for example, there are four or more heating zones 3024, with at least two arranged
in the circumferential direction of the heating pipe 302 and at least two arranged
in the axial direction of the heating pipe 302.
[0083] The thermal insulation interval 3025 can be arranged in any feasible manner. For
example, a straight-line thermal insulation interval 3025 can be used; multiple thermal
insulation intervals 3025 can be arranged in a continuous interval, in which case
the blocking interval can be in a strip shape, square shape, circular shape, or any
shape; and a curved thermal insulation interval 3025 can also be used.
[0084] Further, in one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 17 and 19. The thermoplastic sealing
layer 304 is a heat-shrinkable tube heat-shrunk on the heating pipe 302. The heat-shrinkable
tube is sleeved on the heating pipe 302 and heat-shrunk to be fixed with the heating
pipe 302. The heat-shrinkable tube heat-shrinking process is simple. In some other
embodiments, the thermoplastic sealing layer 304 can be a thermoplastic film heat-shrunk
on the heating pipe 302. The thermoplastic film can specifically use any feasible
heat-resistant and heat-shrinkable film in the related art, such as a PI film, peek
film, etc. In one embodiment, the material of the heat-shrinkable sealing layer is
required to be heat-resistant above 250°C. Of course, in some other embodiments, according
to the temperature change of the aerosol generation substrate 301 generating aerosol,
this heat resistance requirement can be reduced or increased.
[0085] Further, in one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 17 and 18. The electric heating
element 303 is located between the thermoplastic sealing layer 304 and the heating
pipe 302. This way, after the thermoplastic sealing layer 304 is heat-shrunk and fixed
with the heating pipe 302, it also has a certain fixing effect on the electric heating
element 303, improving the structural stability of the electric heating element 303,
making it less likely to separate from the heating pipe 302.
[0086] Further, in one embodiment, please refer to FIG. 18. The electric heating element
303 is fixed on the outer surface of the heating pipe 302, making it less likely to
separate from the heating pipe 302 and more convenient for the thermoplastic sealing
layer 304 to be heat-shrunk on the heating pipe 302. Specifically, the electric heating
element 303 is a heating film formed on the outer surface of the heating pipe 302,
in which case the electric heating element 303 and the heating pipe 302 together form
a thick film pipe, with an insulating layer outside the heating film, and the heating
pipe 302 uses a metal pipe with good thermal conductivity. In some other embodiments,
the electric heating element 303 can also be embedded in the heating pipe 302 or a
heating wire wound on the outer peripheral surface of the heating pipe 302.
[0087] In some other embodiments, the electric heating element 303 can be kept in thermal
contact with the heating pipe 302 through the heat-shrinking action of the thermoplastic
sealing layer 304. In this case, before the thermoplastic sealing layer 304 is formed,
there is no need to fixedly connect the electric heating element 303 with the heating
pipe 302. During the heat-shrinking process of the thermoplastic sealing layer 304,
the electric heating element 303 is fixed with the heating pipe 302. In some other
embodiments, the electric heating element 303 can be located on the outer side of
the thermoplastic sealing layer 304, i.e., on the side of the thermoplastic sealing
layer 304 away from the heating pipe 302. In this case, it can prevent the aerosol
inside the heating pipe 302 from contacting the electric heating element 303, eroding
the electric heating element 303, thereby extending the life of the electric heating
element 303.
[0088] In one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 15, 16, and 19. The heating pipe 302 includes
an airflow heating section 3026 and a generation stick heating section 3027. The airflow
heating section 3026 and the generation stick heating section 3027 are arranged in
the axial direction of the heating pipe 302. The airflow heating section 3026 is used
to heat the airflow entering the aerosol generation substrate 301. A generation stick
blocking structure is provided inside the airflow heating section 3026, which is used
to block the end face of the aerosol generation substrate 301 inserted into the heating
chamber 3021, limiting the insertion depth of the aerosol generation substrate 301
into the heating chamber 3021. The heating zones 3024 are all located on the generation
stick heating section 3027. By preheating the airflow entering the aerosol generation
substrate 301 through the airflow heating section 3026, the aerosol generation substrate
301 is heated both inside and outside, making the overall heating more uniform.
[0089] Further, in one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 15 and 16. A heat exchanger 305
is provided inside the airflow heating section 3026, and the airflow heating section
3026 is in thermal contact with the heat exchanger 305. The heat exchanger 305 has
multiple airflow channels 3051, which allow airflow to pass through to heat the passing
airflow. By uniformly heating the airflow through the heat exchanger 305, the airflow
heating efficiency is improved.
[0090] Specifically, in one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 15 and 16. The airflow channels
3051 of the heat exchanger 305 extend along the axial direction of the heating pipe
302, and multiple airflow channels 3051 are evenly spaced. In some other embodiments,
the heat exchanger 305 may not be provided, in which case the airflow is directly
heated after passing through the airflow heating section 3026.
[0091] To further improve the uniformity of heating the aerosol generation substrate 301,
please refer to FIGs. 15 and 16. The generation stick blocking structure is a flow
guide seat 306 located on one side of the heat exchanger 305. The flow guide seat
306 has a generation stick blocking surface 3061 for blocking cooperation with the
aerosol generation substrate 301. The generation stick blocking surface 3061 is located
on the side of the flow guide seat 306 facing away from the heat exchanger 305. The
center of the flow guide seat 306 has a flow guide hole 3062, which is used to guide
airflow into the aerosol generation substrate 301 from the center of the end face
of the aerosol generation substrate 301. In some other embodiments, an annular protrusion
can be provided in the heating pipe 302 to block the end face of the aerosol generation
substrate 301. The heat exchanger 305 can also form a generation stick blocking structure,
blocking the end face of the aerosol generation substrate 301.
[0092] Specifically, in one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 15 and 16. The flow guide
seat 306 and the heat exchanger 305 are both interference-fitted in the heating pipe
302.
[0093] To facilitate the installation of the heating pipe 302, in one embodiment, please
refer to FIGs. 15 and 16. The aerosol generation substrate heating assembly includes
a first heating pipe seat 307 and a second heating pipe seat 308. The heating pipe
302 is clamped between the first heating pipe seat 307 and the second heating pipe
seat 308. The first heating pipe seat 307 has a first pipe seat hole 3071 for the
aerosol generation substrate 301 to pass through and insert into the heating chamber
3021. The second heating pipe seat 308 has a second pipe seat hole 3081 for the airflow
entering the aerosol generation substrate 301 to pass through.
[0094] Specifically, in one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 15 and 16. The insertion end
3022 of the heating pipe 302 is inserted into the first pipe seat hole 3071 and interference-fitted
with the first pipe seat hole 3071. The ventilation end 3023 is inserted into the
second pipe seat hole 3081 and interference-fitted with the second pipe seat hole
3081. The first heating pipe seat 307 includes a first seat body 3072 and a sheath
3073, with the first seat body 3072 and the sheath 3073 being integrally formed. One
end of the sheath 3073 is connected to the first seat body 3072, and the other end
is interference-fitted with the second heating pipe seat 308. An annular gap 309 is
formed between the sheath 3073 and the heating pipe 302, which can block heat transfer
to the sheath 3073, thereby reducing heat spillage. To further reduce heat conduction
to the outside, the inner wall of the sheath 3073 is covered with a reflective film
3010, which can reflect infrared light to the heating pipe 302, reducing the absorption
of infrared light by the sheath 3073 and lowering the temperature of the sheath 3073.
[0095] In addition, the heating pipe 302 can be assembled in any feasible manner, such as
the heating pipe 302 being directly fixed to the outer shell of the aerosol generation
device; for example, the insertion end 3022 of the heating pipe 302 is fixed to the
outer shell of the aerosol generation device, and the ventilation end 3023 is fixed
to the second heating pipe seat 308, in which case the first heating pipe seat is
not needed.
[0096] In some embodiments of the aerosol generation device, please refer to FIGs. 14 to
16. The aerosol generation device includes an aerosol generation substrate heating
assembly, a power supply 30101, and an outer shell 30102. The aerosol generation substrate
heating assembly is the aerosol generation substrate heating assembly in any of the
above embodiments, and the power supply 30101 powers the aerosol generation substrate
heating assembly. The power supply 30101 and the aerosol generation substrate heating
assembly are both installed in the outer shell 30102. Specifically, the power supply
30101 is a battery.
Fourth Aspect.
[0097] Currently, when using the aerosol generation substrate to generate aerosol, the overall
heating temperature of the heating pipe in the aerosol generation device is relatively
high. At the beginning of suction, due to the high temperature of the aerosol and
the high moisture content in the aerosol, it is easy to burn the mouth. To facilitate
controlling the heating temperature of the heating pipe, independent heating zones
are usually set on the heating pipe to select the corresponding heating zones for
heating as needed, generating aerosol by heating part of the aerosol generation substrate.
Although this method can reduce the overall temperature of the aerosol, the current
heat transfer between the heating zones is fast, with a lot of heat diffusing to other
heating zones, causing the part of the aerosol generation substrate heated by the
heating zones to heat up slowly, with poor independent heating effect, and there is
a problem of large heat loss.
[0098] The present application provides a heating assembly and also provides an atomization
device for generating aerosol using the heating assembly. The atomization device for
generating aerosol can heat the solid aerosol generation substrate, allowing the aerosol
generation substrate to generate aerosol. In one embodiment, the atomization device
for generating aerosol heats the aerosol generation substrate and prevents the aerosol
generation substrate from burning. During heating, the aerosol generation substrate
generates aerosol, and no open flame is generated during the heating process, reducing
harmful substances produced by high-temperature pyrolysis of conventional aerosol
generation substrates during combustion.
[0099] The heating assembly and aerosol generation device in the fourth aspect have some
structures in common with those in the third aspect. The specific implementation can
refer to the embodiments in the third aspect, with the following focusing on the differences
from the third aspect.
[0100] In some embodiments, please refer to FIGs. 14 to 16. The heating assembly includes
an electric heating element 303 and a thermally conductive pipe, with the thermally
conductive pipe being the heating pipe 302. The electric heating element 303 is configured
on the heating pipe 302 and in thermal contact with the heating pipe 302 to transfer
the generated heat to the heating pipe 302 to heat the aerosol generation substrate
301.
[0101] Please refer to FIGs. 15, 21 to 23. The heating pipe 302 has a heating chamber 3021
for inserting the aerosol generation substrate 301. The electric heating element 303
is installed on the outer wall of the heating pipe 302 or embedded in the heating
pipe 302.
[0102] Specifically, in one embodiment, one end of the heating pipe 302 is the insertion
end 3022 for inserting the aerosol generation substrate 301, and the other end is
the ventilation end 3023 for airflow to enter the heating pipe 302. Both the insertion
end 3022 and the ventilation end 3023 are open. In some other embodiments, the heating
pipe 302 can use any feasible method, such as sealing the opening of the ventilation
end 3023 in the above embodiment, in which case the gas enters the heating pipe 302
from the insertion end 3022 and enters the air intake end 3012 of the aerosol generation
substrate 301 through the gap between the heating pipe 302 and the aerosol generation
substrate 301.
[0103] Please refer to FIGs. 23 and 24. The wall of the heating pipe 302 includes at least
two heating zones 3024, and the number of electric heating elements 303 is at least
two. Each heating zone 3024 corresponds to at least one electric heating element 303,
and the electric heating element 303 is used to independently heat the corresponding
heating zone 3024. In one specific embodiment, please refer to FIG. 23. The number
of electric heating elements 303 corresponds one-to-one with the number of heating
zones 3024. The number of heating zones 3024 is two, and the number of electric heating
elements 303 is also two. In some other embodiments, the number of heating zones 3024
and the number of electric heating elements 303 can be increased as needed, such as
setting three or more heating zones 3024. In some other embodiments, one heating zone
3024 can correspond to two or more electric heating elements 303.
[0104] At least one pair of adjacent heating zones 3024 has a pipe wall thinning portion
3028 provided on the wall of the heating pipe 302. The wall thickness of the pipe
wall thinning portion 3028 is less than the wall thickness of the heating zones 3024,
allowing the heat conduction speed between adjacent heating zones 3024 to be slowed
down.
[0105] The wall thickness of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 in the present application
is less than the wall thickness of the heating zones 3024, allowing the heat conduction
speed through the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 to decrease. When only one heating
zone 3024 is heating and the other heating zone 3024 is not heating, the heat transferred
to the non-working heating zone 3024 is reduced, reducing energy waste. The temperature
of the independently heating working heating zone rises faster, and the heating efficiency
is higher.
[0106] Specifically, in one embodiment, each heating zone 3024 can independently heat the
aerosol generation substrate 301 inserted into the heating chamber 3021.
[0107] In one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 23 and 24. The heating zones include a first
heating zone 30241 and a second heating zone 30242. The first heating zone 30241 and
the second heating zone 30242 are adjacent, with a pipe wall thinning portion 3028
provided between the first heating zone 30241 and the second heating zone 30242. The
wall thickness of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 is less than the wall thickness
of the first heating zone 30241 and less than the wall thickness of the second heating
zone 30242, allowing the heat conduction speed between the first heating zone 30241
and the second heating zone 30242 to be slowed down.
[0108] The wall thickness of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 in the present application
is less than the wall thickness of the first heating zone 30241 and less than the
wall thickness of the second heating zone 30242, allowing the heat conduction speed
through the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 to decrease. When only the first heating
zone 30241 is heating and the second heating zone 30242 is not heating, the heat transferred
to the second heating zone 30242 is reduced. When only the second heating zone 30242
is heating and the first heating zone 30241 is not heating, the heat transferred to
the first heating zone 30241 is reduced, reducing energy waste. The temperature of
the independently heating working heating zone rises faster, and the heating efficiency
is higher.
[0109] It should be noted that the heating zones 3024 on the heating pipe 302 in the present
application can independently heat the aerosol generation substrate 301. In actual
use, it is not limited to only the first heating zone 30241 or only the second heating
zone 30242 being turned on for heating. According to actual needs, the first heating
zone 30241 and the second heating zone 30242 can be turned on for heating at the same
time, in which case the heating pipe 302 as a whole heats the aerosol generation substrate
301. For example, a heating strategy for the aerosol generation substrate 301 is as
follows.
[0110] When starting to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301, since there is a certain
amount of moisture in the aerosol generation substrate 301, the aerosol generated
after heating contains water vapor. If the temperature of the aerosol is too high
at this time, the water vapor can easily burn the mouth when inhaling the aerosol.
Therefore, when starting to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301, only the first
heating zone 30241 is used to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301. After the
moisture in the aerosol generation substrate 301 is expelled, the first heating zone
30241 and the second heating zone 30242 work simultaneously, and the heating pipe
302 as a whole heats the aerosol generation substrate 301.
[0111] For example, a heating strategy for the aerosol generation substrate 301 is as follows:
arrange the first heating zone 30241 and the second heating zone 30242 vertically,
with the first heating zone 30241 heating one section of the aerosol generation substrate
301, and then the second heating zone 30242 heating another section of the aerosol
generation substrate 301. The first heating zone 30241 and the second heating zone
30242 work in different time periods to heat the aerosol generation substrate 301
in sections, which can extend the number of puffs of the aerosol generation substrate
301.
[0112] Further, in one embodiment, the outer side surface of the pipe wall thinning portion
3028 is recessed toward the inside of the heating pipe 302. In some other embodiments,
the inner side surface of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 is recessed toward the
outside of the heating pipe 302. In some other embodiments, the outer side surface
of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 is recessed toward the inside of the heating
pipe 302, and the inner side surface of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 is recessed
toward the outside of the heating pipe 302. Since the inner side surface of the wall
of the heating pipe 302 is inherently an outwardly concave arc surface, the description
of the inner side surface of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 being recessed toward
the outside of the heating pipe 302 in the present application means that the degree
of outward concavity of the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 is greater than that of
other areas, thereby achieving a wall thickness of the pipe wall thinning portion
3028 that is less than the wall thickness of other areas.
[0113] Further, in one embodiment, please refer to FIG. 23. The first heating zone 30241
and the second heating zone 30242 are arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction of the heating pipe 302, with the pipe wall thinning portion 3028 extending
along the axial direction of the heating pipe 302.
[0114] The arrangement of heating zones 3024 on the heating pipe 302 can use any feasible
form. For example, in addition to the above arrangement form, the first heating zone
30241 and the second heating zone 30242 can also be arranged adjacent to each other
in the axial direction of the heating pipe 302, with the pipe wall thinning portion
3028 extending along the circumferential direction of the heating pipe 302. For example,
there are four or more heating zones 3024, with at least two arranged adjacent to
each other in the circumferential direction of the heating pipe 302 and at least two
arranged adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the heating pipe 302.
[0115] The pipe wall thinning portion 3028 can use any feasible shape, such as a straight
line or curve; and it can also be multiple discontinuously arranged, or it can be
any shape such as square or circular.
[0116] Specifically, in one embodiment, please refer to FIGs. 25 and 26. The flow guide
seat 306 and the heat exchanger 305 are both interference-fitted in the heating pipe
302. The heat exchanger 305 includes a shell cylinder 3052 and a blocking edge 3053
located at one end of the shell cylinder 3052. The blocking edge 3053 blocks the ventilation
end of the heating pipe 302, limiting the insertion depth of the shell cylinder 3052.
To facilitate the positioning of the flow guide seat 306, the shell cylinder 3052
of the heat exchanger 305 is provided with a positioning protrusion 3054, and the
flow guide seat 306 is provided with a positioning groove 3063 that fits with the
positioning protrusion 3054 for positioning. The heat exchanger 305 and the flow guide
seat 306 are stacked together after positioning.
[0117] In one embodiment, the blocking edge 3053 is clamped between the heating pipe 302
and the second heating pipe seat 308.
[0118] The above uses specific examples to explain the present application, which is only
to help understand the present application and is not intended to limit the present
application. For those skilled in the art, based on the idea of the present application,
several simple deductions, deformations, or substitutions can be made.
1. A heating assembly, characterized in that the heating assembly comprises a heating element, wherein the heating element is
configured to heat an aerosol generation substrate, and the heating element comprises
at least two heating zones; and
wherein a thermal barrier structure is provided between at least one pair of adjacent
heating zones, the thermal barrier structure being configured to prevent heat transfer
between the adjacent heating zones.
2. The heating assembly according to claim 1,
characterized in that the heating element comprises a thermally conductive body and a heating structure,
and the heating assembly further comprises a heat exchange structure; and
wherein the thermally conductive body forms an open-ended accommodating cavity, the
thermally conductive body comprises axially distributed first thermal conductive zone
and second thermal conductive zone, a portion of the accommodating cavity corresponding
to the first thermal conductive zone is for inserting the aerosol generation substrate,
the heat exchange structure is mounted at a portion of the accommodating cavity corresponding
to the second thermal conductive zone, the heating structure is positioned at the
first thermal conductive zone, the heating structure generates heat, the first thermal
conductive zone conducts heat generated by the heating structure to the second thermal
conductive zone, and the heat exchange structure is configured to perform heat exchange
with the second thermal conductive zone to heat incoming gas;
wherein the first thermal conductive zone comprises at least two heating zones, the
heating structure comprises at least two heating elements, and the heating elements
correspond to the heating zones one by one; and
wherein the thermally conductive body further comprises a heat-insulating hollow portion
between two adjacent heating zones, the heat-insulating hollow portion forming the
thermal barrier structure.
3. The heating assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that a length of the heat-insulating hollow portion is greater than or equal to a length
of the heating element along a direction parallel to the heat-insulating hollow portion.
4. The heating assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat-insulating hollow portion comprises: at least one elongated hollow hole.
5. The heating assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that a width of the elongated hollow hole is greater than 0.1 mm.
6. The heating assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat-insulating hollow portion is provided along a boundary line between the
two adjacent heating zones.
7. The heating assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the thermally conductive body is of a hollow tubular structure, and the accommodating
cavity is an inner cavity of the thermally conductive body.
8. The heating assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that at least two heating zones are uniformly distributed along a circumference of the
thermally conductive body, and the heat-insulating hollow portion extends axially
along the thermally conductive body; or
wherein at least two heating zones are uniformly distributed along an axial direction
of the thermally conductive body, and the heat-insulating hollow portion extends circumferentially
along the thermally conductive body.
9. The heating assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that a distance between the heat-insulating hollow portion extending axially along the
thermally conductive body and a nearest port of the heating element is greater than
1 mm.
10. The heating assembly according to claim 2, characterized by further comprising a flow guide, wherein the flow guide is mounted at a portion of
the accommodating cavity corresponding to the second thermal conductive zone, and
is located between the heat exchange structure and the aerosol generation substrate,
the flow guide is provided with a flow guide hole, and the flow guide hole is configured
to guide preheated air to the aerosol generation substrate.
11. The heating assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element comprises a heat-insulating zone; and
wherein the heat-insulating zone is positioned between two adjacent heating zones,
and the thermal barrier structure comprises an insulating body, the insulating body
being embedded in the heat-insulating zone of the heating element to block heat transfer
between the adjacent heating zones.
12. The heating assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the heat-insulating zone comprises a hollow structure, the insulating body filling
the hollow structure.
13. The heating assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the heat-insulating zone has a groove, and the insulating body is arranged in the
groove.
14. The heating assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the hollow structure is a thermal insulation hole, and the thermal insulation hole
is of a linear hole structure.
15. The heat assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the heating element is of a tubular structure, the thermal insulation hole is provided
in an axial direction, and the heating element has a first heat generating zone and
a second heat generating zone; and two or more thermal insulation holes are provided,
the thermal insulation holes comprise a first thermal insulation hole and a second
thermal insulation hole, the first heat generating zone has a first end and a second
end opposite to each other in a circumferential direction, the second heat generating
zone has a first end and a second end opposite to each other in a circumferential
direction, the first end of the first heat generating zone is close to the second
end of the second heat generating zone, the first thermal insulation hole is provided
between the first end of the first heat generating zone and the second end of the
second heat generating zone, and the thermal insulation hole is provided between the
second end of the first heat generating zone and the first end of the second heat
generating zone.
16. The heat assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the hollow structure is of an intermittently spaced hollow structure.
17. The heat assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that a thermal conductivity of the insulating body is less than 8W/(m•K), and/or, a material
of the insulating body comprises at least one of microcrystalline glass, zirconia
ceramics, polyether ether ketone, and polyimide.
18. The heating assembly according to claim 11,
characterized in that the heating element comprises:
a substrate, wherein the substrate has an accommodating cavity, and the accommodating
cavity is configured to accommodate the aerosol generation substrate; and
at least two heat generating layers, wherein the heat generating layers are arranged
on the substrate, the heat generating layers are in one-to-one correspondence with
the heat generating zones, and the heat generating layers are configured to generate
heat when electrified to heat the aerosol generation substrate.
19. The heating assembly according to claim 11, characterized by further comprising a housing assembly and a thermal insulation layer, wherein the
housing assembly has an installation cavity, the heating element is arranged in the
installation cavity, and the thermal insulation layer is arranged on an inner wall
of the installation cavity.
20. The heating assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element comprises a heating pipe, the heating pipe being configured to
heat the aerosol generation substrate, a pipe wall of the heating pipe comprises at
least two heating zones, each heating zone being capable of heating the aerosol generation
substrate; a thermal insulation interval is provided between adjacent heating zones
to prevent heat transfer between the adjacent heating zones, the thermal insulation
interval penetrating the pipe wall of the heating pipe in a radial direction; the
heating zones form the heating zones, and the thermal insulation interval forms the
thermal barrier structure; and
wherein the heating assembly comprises a thermoplastic sealing layer, the thermoplastic
sealing layer being positioned on the heating pipe and covering the thermal insulation
interval to prevent airflow within the heating pipe from flowing out through the thermal
insulation interval.
21. The heating assembly according to claim 20, characterized in that the thermoplastic sealing layer is a heat-shrinkable tube or heat-shrinkable film
heat-shrunk on the heating pipe.
22. The heating assembly according to claim 20, characterized by further comprising an electric heating element, each heating zone corresponds to
at least one electric heating element, and the electric heating element is configured
to separately heat the corresponding heating zone to enable each heating zone to separately
heat the aerosol generation substrate inserted into the heating pipe.
23. The heating assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that the electric heating element is located between the thermoplastic sealing layer and
the heating pipe.
24. The heating assembly according to claim 23, characterized in that the electric heating element maintains thermal contact with the heating pipe under
an action of thermoplastic sealing layer.
25. The heating assembly according to claim 23, characterized in that the electric heating element is fixed to an outer surface of the heating pipe.
26. The heating assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that the electric heating element is located on one side of the thermoplastic sealing
layer away from the heating pipe.
27. The heating assembly according to claim 20, 21, or 22, characterized in that the heating pipe comprises an airflow heating section and a generation stick heating
section, the airflow heating section and the generation stick heating section are
arranged in an axial direction of the heating pipe, and the airflow heating section
is configured to heat airflow entering the aerosol generation substrate; the heating
pipe has a heating chamber for the aerosol generation substrate to insert to heat
the aerosol generation substrate; a generation stick blocking structure is arranged
in the airflow heating section; the generation stick blocking structure is configured
to block an end face of the aerosol generation substrate inserted into the heating
chamber to limit an insertion depth of the aerosol generation substrate into the heating
chamber; and the heating zones are all located on the generation stick heating section.
28. The heating assembly according to claim 27, characterized in that a heat exchanger is arranged in the airflow heating section, the airflow heating
section is in thermal contact with the heat exchanger, a plurality of airflow channels
are provided in the heat exchanger, and the airflow channels allow airflow to pass
to heat the passing airflow.
29. The heating assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element comprises a thermally conductive pipe and an electric heating
element provided on the thermally conductive pipe, the thermally conductive pipe comprises
a heating chamber for inserting the aerosol generation substrate, a pipe wall of the
thermally conductive pipe comprises at least two heating zones, a number of electric
heating elements is at least two, each heating zone corresponds to at least one electric
heating element, and the electric heating element is configured to heat the corresponding
heating zone; and
wherein a pipe wall thinning portion is provided on the pipe wall of the thermally
conductive pipe between at least one pair of adjacent heating zones, and a wall thickness
of the pipe wall thinning portion is less than a wall thickness of the heating zones,
the heating zones forming the heating zones, and the pipe wall thinning portion forming
the thermal barrier structure.
30. The heating assembly according to claim 29, characterized in that an outer side surface of the pipe wall thinning portion is recessed toward inside
of the thermally conductive pipe and/or an inner side surface of the pipe wall thinning
portion is recessed toward outside of the thermally conductive pipe.
31. The heating assembly according to claim 29, characterized in that the pipe wall thinning portion is provided between any one pair of adjacent heating
zones.
32. The heating assembly according to claim 29, characterized in that the heating zones comprise a first heating zone and a second heating zone, the first
heating zone and the second heating zone are adjacent in a circumferential direction
of the thermally conductive pipe, and the pipe wall thinning portion extends axially
along the thermally conductive pipe; or
wherein the first heating zone and the second heating zone are adjacent in an axial
direction of the thermally conductive pipe, and the pipe wall thinning portion extends
circumferentially along the thermally conductive pipe.
33. The heating assembly according to claim 29,
characterized in that the electric heating element is laid on an outer surface of the thermally conductive
pipe;
wherein the electric heating element is laid on an inner surface of the thermally
conductive pipe; or
wherein the electric heating element is embedded within the pipe wall of the thermally
conductive pipe.
34. The heating assembly according to any one of claims 29 to 33, characterized in that the thermally conductive pipe comprises an airflow heating section and a generation
stick heating section, the airflow heating section and the generation stick heating
section are arranged in an axial direction of the thermally conductive pipe, and the
airflow heating section is configured to heat airflow entering the aerosol generation
substrate; a generation stick blocking structure is arranged in the airflow heating
section, and the generation stick blocking structure is configured to block an end
face of the aerosol generation substrate inserted into the heating chamber to limit
an insertion depth of the aerosol generation substrate into the heating chamber; and
the heating zones are all located on the generation stick heating section.
35. The heating assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that a heat exchanger is arranged in the airflow heating section, the airflow heating
section is in thermal contact with the heat exchanger, a plurality of airflow channels
are provided in the heat exchanger, and the airflow channels allow airflow to pass
to heat the passing airflow.
36. The heating assembly according to claim 35, characterized in that the generation stick blocking structure is a flow guide seat located on one side
of the heat exchanger, the flow guide seat has a generation stick blocking surface
that is in stop fit with the aerosol generation substrate, and the generation stick
blocking surface is located on one side of the flow guide seat facing away from the
heat exchanger, a center of the flow guide seat has a flow guide hole, and the flow
guide hole is configured to guide airflow to enter the aerosol generation substrate
from the center of the end face of the aerosol generation substrate.
37. The heating assembly according to claim 29 or 30, characterized by comprising a first thermally conductive seat and a second thermally conductive seat,
wherein the thermally conductive pipe is clamped between the first thermally conductive
seat and the second thermally conductive seat, the first thermally conductive seat
has a first pipe seat hole for the aerosol generation substrate to pass to insert
into the heating chamber, and the second thermally conductive seat has a second pipe
seat hole for the airflow entering aerosol generation substrate to pass.
38. An aerosol generation device, characterized in that the aerosol generation device comprises a power supply and the heating assembly according
to any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein the power supply powers the heating assembly.