CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of this application relate to the technical field of aerosol generating
devices, and specifically, to a heating assembly and an aerosol generating device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An aerosol generating device includes a heating assembly, and the heating assembly
is usually an electric heating assembly. The electric heating assembly releases heat
when being electrically conducted, to heat an aerosol generating article, so that
the aerosol generating article generates aerosols without being burnt.
[0004] In some existing aerosol generating devices, a temperature measurement element configured
to detect a temperature of the heating assembly is usually further included, and the
temperature measurement element is generally connected to the electric heating assembly
in a welding manner. However, an insulating layer on a surface of the electric heating
assembly may be damaged due to welding. In addition, when the electric heating assembly
is a film layer formed on a base, the temperature measurement element welded to the
electric heating assembly may pull the film layer. As a result, the film layer is
cracked or separated from the base.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of this application provide a heating assembly and an aerosol generating
device, ensuring that a temperature measurement element can be stably connected to
a heating tube and does not damage the heating tube.
[0006] An embodiment of this application provides a heating assembly, including:
a heating tube in which a heating cavity accommodating at least a part of an aerosol
generating article is provided;
a temperature measurement element, including a probe and a conductive pin connected
to the probe, where the probe is in contact with an outer surface of the heating tube;
and
a fixing tube, arranged on a periphery of at least a part of the heating tube, where
the probe is located between the heating tube and the fixing tube, and the probe is
elastic and elastically abuts against the heating tube or the fixing tube.
[0007] An embodiment of this application provides an aerosol generating device, including
the heating assembly and further including a power supply assembly providing electric
power to the heating assembly.
[0008] According to the heating assembly and the aerosol generating device, the probe of
the temperature measurement element is elastic, and the probe can elastically abut
against the heating tube or the fixing tube, so that the probe can be stably kept
between the heating tube and the fixing tube and the probe can be tightly attached
to the heating tube. In this way, compared with keeping a connection between the probe
and the heating tube in a welding manner, a surface layer of the heating tube can
be better protected from being damaged, and it can be easier to combine the temperature
measurement element with the heating tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described with reference to the corresponding
figures in the accompanying drawings, and the descriptions do not constitute a limitation
to the embodiments. Elements in the accompanying drawings that have same reference
numerals are represented as similar elements, and unless otherwise particularly stated,
the figures in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment
of this application;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a heating assembly according to an embodiment of
this application;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a heating assembly according to an embodiment of this
application;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first layered component according to an embodiment
of this application;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector according to an embodiment
of this application;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fixing tube according to an embodiment of this
application;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an electric heating element according to an embodiment
of this application;
FIG. 8 is another schematic diagram of an electric heating element according to an
embodiment of this application;
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a heating assembly with a fixing tube removed according
to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a heating assembly with an end cover according to
an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a temperature measurement element according to an
embodiment of this application;
FIG. 12 is another schematic diagram of a temperature measurement element according
to an embodiment of this application; and
FIG. 13 is still another schematic diagram of a temperature measurement element according
to an embodiment of this application.
Reference numerals in the drawings:
[0010]
1. Aerosol generating article;
2. Heating assembly; 21. Heating tube; 211. Heating cavity; 212. Base body; 213. Electric
heating element; 2131. Heat generating member; 2132. Electrode member;
22. Electrical connector; 221. Main body portion; 2211. Connecting portion; 2212.
Elastic piece; 222. Abutting portion; 2221. First abutting member; 2222. Second abutting
member; 223. Positioning portion;
23. Layered component; 231. First layered component; 2311. Second guiding groove;
2312. First guiding groove; 232. Fixing tube; 2321. Through hole; 24. Clamping space;
25. Wire;
26. Temperature measurement element; 261. Probe; 262. Conductive pin; 262a. Bending
portion; 262b. Anti-retraction portion; 2621. Second bending portion; 2622. Third
bending portion; 263. Thermal conductive element; 2631. Base body; 2632. Protrusion;
2633. Elastic arm; 2634. Window; 2635. Accommodating space;
A. First abutting surface; B. Second abutting surface;
27. End cover; 271. Second through hole;
3. Power supply assembly; 31. Control board; and 32. Battery.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Technical solutions in embodiments of this application are clearly and completely
described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of
this application. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some rather than
all of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by a person
of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of this application without
creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of this application.
[0012] In this application, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used merely for
the purpose of description, and shall not be construed as indicating or implying relative
importance or implying a quantity or a sequence of indicated technical features. All
directional indications (for example, upper, lower, left, right, front, and rear)
in the embodiments of this application are merely used for explaining relative position
relationships, movement situations, or the like between components in a specific posture
(as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional
indications accordingly change. In addition, the terms "comprise", "include", and
any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example,
a process, method, system, product, or device including a series of steps or units
is not limited to the listed steps or units, but instead, optionally includes steps
or units that are not listed, or optionally includes other steps or units inherent
to the process, method, product, or device.
[0013] "Embodiment" mentioned in this specification means that particular features, structures,
or characteristics described with reference to the embodiment may be included in at
least one embodiment of this application. A phrase appearing at various positions
in this specification may not necessarily indicate a same embodiment or an independent
or optional embodiment that is mutually exclusive with another embodiment. A person
skilled in the art explicitly or implicitly understands that the embodiments described
in this specification may be combined with other embodiments.
[0014] It should be noted that, when an element is expressed as "being fixed to" another
element, the element may be directly on the another element, or one or more intermediate
elements may exist between the element and the another element. When an element is
expressed as "being connected to" another element, the element may be directly connected
to the another element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between the
element and the another element.
[0015] Unless otherwise defined, meanings of all technical and scientific terms used in
this specification are the same as those usually understood by a person skilled in
the technical field to which this application belongs. The terms used in this specification
of this application are merely intended to describe objectives of specific embodiments,
and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and/or" used in this specification
includes any or all combinations of one or more related listed items.
[0016] In addition, the technical features that are described below and that are involved
in different embodiments of this application may be combined provided that no conflict
occurs.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of this application provides an aerosol generating
device, where the device may be configured to heat an aerosol generating article 1
to produce aerosols from the aerosol generating article 1.
[0018] In an embodiment, the aerosol generating article 1 may be an article including an
aerosol-forming substrate, and the aerosol-forming substrate is intended to release
volatile compounds for forming aerosols through heating rather than burning. Compared
with aerosols generated by burning or performing thermal degradation on the aerosol-forming
substrate, the aerosols formed by heating the aerosol-forming substrate may include
fewer known harmful components. In an example, the aerosol generating article is removably
connected to the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating article 1 may be
disposable or reusable. In an example, the aerosol-forming substrate may include tobaccos,
tobacco leaves, tobacco shreds, or tobacco pastes.
[0019] The aerosol generating device is a device connected to or interacting with the aerosol
generating article 1 to form inhalable aerosols. For example, the aerosol generating
device is an electric operating aerosol generating device and includes a power supply
assembly 3 and a heating assembly 2, and the power supply assembly 3 supplies power
to cause the heating assembly 2 to heat the aerosol generating article 1.
[0020] The heating assembly 2 includes an external heating assembly, an internal heating
assembly, or an air heating assembly. The term "external heating assembly" used in
this specification is a heating assembly located outside the aerosol generating article
when the aerosol generating article and the aerosol generating device are combined.
The term "internal heating assembly" used in this specification is a heating assembly
at least partially located inside the aerosol generating article when the aerosol
generating article and the aerosol generating device are combined. The term "air heating
assembly" used in this specification is a heating assembly configured to heat air
in an air inlet channel located upstream of the aerosol generating article to convert
at least some air in an airflow channel into hot air and cause the hot air to enter
the aerosol generating article to release heat so as to heat the aerosol generating
article.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the heating assembly 2 includes a heating tube 21,
the heating tube 21 includes a heating cavity 211 that can accommodate at least a
part of the aerosol generating article 1, and the aerosol-forming substrate in the
aerosol generating article 1 is heated in the heating cavity 211 to generate aerosols.
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an upper end of the heating cavity 211 is open, so
that the upper end of the heating cavity 211 includes an entrance for insertion of
the aerosol generating article 1 into the heating cavity 211, and the aerosol generating
article 1 can be inserted into the heating cavity 211 from the upper end of the heating
cavity 211.
[0022] When the heating assembly 2 is an internal heating assembly, the heating assembly
2 further includes an insertion member at least partially arranged in the heating
cavity 211, and when the aerosol generating article 1 is inserted into the heating
cavity 211, at least a part of the insertion member is inserted into the aerosol-forming
substrate. In this embodiment, the insertion member may include a susceptor. The term
"susceptor" used in this specification is a material that can convert electromagnetic
energy into heat. When the susceptor is located in a varying electromagnetic field,
an eddy current can be formed in the susceptor to cause the susceptor to generate
heat.
[0023] Based on this, the heating tube 21 may be provided with or connected to a magnetic
field generator. The magnetic field generator is configured to generate a varying
magnetic field, to cause the insertion member in the heating tube 21 to generate heat.
The magnetic field generator is electrically connected to the power supply assembly,
and the power supply assembly provides a current for the magnetic field generator
to generate the varying magnetic field. The magnetic field generator may include one
or more induction coils for generating the varying magnetic field, and the one or
more induction coils may be combined on the heating tube 21 to surround the susceptor.
In an embodiment, the one or more induction coils may be formed on an outer surface
of the heating tube 21 in a printing manner, or the one or more induction coils may
be combined on the outer surface of the heating tube 21 in the form of a film layer.
[0024] The susceptor may include metal or carbon. In an embodiment, the susceptor may include
a ferromagnetic material, for example, ferrite, ferromagnetic steel, or stainless
steel. In an embodiment, the susceptor includes nickel-iron alloy. In an embodiment,
the susceptor includes 400 series stainless steel, and the 400 series stainless steel
includes 410, 420, or 430 stainless steel. When the susceptor is located in electromagnetic
fields having similar frequencies and field strengths, different materials consume
different amounts of energy. Therefore, parameters of the susceptor, for example,
a material type, a length, a width, and a thickness may all be changed to provide
required power consumption in existing electromagnetic fields.
[0025] When the heating assembly 2 is an external heating assembly, referring to FIG. 7
and FIG. 8, the heating tube 21 may include a tubular base body 212 and an electric
heating element 213 combined on the base body 212.
[0026] The electric heating element 213 may include a resistive heating element, and a resistive
material in the resistive heating element includes but is not limited to: a semiconductor
like doped ceramic or conductive ceramic (for example, molybdenum disilicide), carbon,
graphite, metal, metal alloy, and a composite material made of a ceramic material
and a metal material. The composite material may include doped or non-doped ceramic.
A suitable example of the doped ceramic includes doped silicon carbide. A suitable
example of the metal includes titanium, zirconium, tantalum, and platinum group metal.
A suitable example of the metal alloy includes stainless steel, constantan, nickel-containing
alloy, cobalt-containing alloy, chromium-containing alloy, aluminum-containing alloy,
titanium-containing alloy, zirconium-containing alloy, hafnium-containing alloy, niobium-containing
alloy, molybdenum-containing alloy, tantalum-containing alloy, tungsten-containing
alloy, stannum-containing alloy, gallium-containing alloy, manganese-containing alloy,
and iron-containing alloy, nickel-based, iron-based, or cobalt-based superalloy, stainless
steel, iron-aluminum-based alloy, and iron-manganese-aluminum-based alloy. In the
composite material, to make the resistive material visible, the resistive material
needs to be buried in an insulating material and wrapped or coated by the insulating
material, or vice versa.
[0027] The resistive heating element may be a resistive material coating or a resistive
material printed layer formed on an outer surface of the base body 212; or the resistive
heating element may be a heating film wrapped on the outer surface of the base body
212; or the resistive heating element may be a resistance wire or a resistance mesh
arranged on the outer surface of the base body 212; or the resistive heating element
may be conductive ceramic. It should be noted that, in another embodiment, the base
body 212 of the heating tube may be made of conductive ceramic, so that there is no
need to additionally arrange the resistive heating element.
[0028] The electric heating element 213 may include an infrared heating element, the infrared
heating element may be an infrared electrothermal coating, the infrared heating element
is formed on the outer surface of the base body 212, and the base body 212 is formed
by a material like quartz that can transmit an infrared ray. The infrared heating
element can generate heat when being powered on, to further generate an infrared with
a specific wavelength, for example, an infrared ray whose wavelength ranges from 0.75
µm to 1000 µm. Optionally, the infrared electrothermal coating is obtained by fully
stirring far-infrared electrothermal inks, ceramic powders, and an inorganic binding
agent uniformly and printing the mixture on the outer surface of the base body, and
drying and curing the mixture for specific time, where a thickness of the infrared
electrothermal coating ranges from 30 µm to 50 µm. Certainly, the infrared electrothermal
coating may alternatively be obtained by mixing and stirring tin tetrachloride, tin
oxide, antimony trichloride, titanium tetrachloride, and anhydrous copper sulfate
according to a specific proportion and printing the mixture on the outer surface of
the base body; or may be one of a silicon carbide ceramic layer, a carbon fiber composite
layer, a zirconium-titanium-based oxide ceramic layer, a zirconium-titanium-based
nitride ceramic layer, a zirconium-titanium-based boride ceramic layer, a zirconium-titanium-based
carbide ceramic layer, an iron-based oxide ceramic layer, an iron-based nitride ceramic
layer, an iron-based boride ceramic layer, an iron-based carbide ceramic layer, a
rare earth-based oxide ceramic layer, a rare earth-based nitride ceramic layer, a
rare earth-based boride ceramic layer, a rare earth-based carbide ceramic layer, a
nickel-cobalt-based oxide ceramic layer, a nickel-cobalt-based nitride ceramic layer,
a nickel-cobalt-based boride ceramic layer, a nickel-cobalt-based carbide ceramic
layer, or a high-silicon molecular sieve ceramic layer. Alternatively, the infrared
electrothermal coating may be an existing coating made of another material.
[0029] In an embodiment, the electric heating element 213 includes a heat generating member
2131 generating heat or an infrared ray when being powered on and an electrode member
2132 electrically connected to the heat generating member 2131. A resistance of the
electrode member 2132 is lower than a resistance of the heat generating member 2131,
and the electrode member 2132 is configured to electrically connect the heat generating
member 2131 and an electrical connector 22. In an embodiment, the electric heating
element 213 includes a heat generating member 2131 generating heat or an infrared
ray when being powered on, and the heat generating member 2131 is directly electrically
connected to the electrical connector 22.
[0030] The outer surface of the heating tube 21 includes a preset temperature measurement
position, that is, a second position, the second position may be located in a heat
centralized region of the heating tube 21, and the heat centralized region of the
heating tube 21 has a higher temperature or a higher temperature rise speed than another
region of the heating tube 21.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 9, the heating assembly 2 includes a temperature
measurement element 26, and the temperature measurement element 26 is tightly attached
to the outer surface of the heating tube 21 to sense a temperature of the heating
tube 21. Specifically, the temperature measurement element 26 includes a probe 261
and a conductive pin 262 connected to the probe 261, and the probe 261 is arranged
in contact with or adjacent to the second position of the heating tube 21.
[0032] In an embodiment of this application, the temperature measurement element 26 is configured
as including a thermistor temperature detector. A thermistor includes a thermistor
chip and two conductive pins 262, the thermistor chip is arranged in the probe 261,
and the two conductive pins 262 are respectively connected to two electrodes of the
thermistor chip. At least a part of the thermistor chip and the two conductive pins
262 are encapsulated in an outer shell to form the thermistor temperature detector.
The two conductive pins 262 are electrically connected to a control board 31 of the
power supply assembly 3, to transmit temperature information to the control board
31 of the power supply assembly 3, and the control board 31 further controls, according
to the timely temperature information of the heating tube 21 measured by the thermistor
temperature detector, an amount of electric power provided by a battery 32 to the
heating tube 21.
[0033] An outer shell of the probe 261 of the thermistor temperature detector may include
a thermal conductive element 263. The thermal conductive element 263 is made of a
thermal conductive material and has a high thermal conductivity. The thermal conductive
material may be understood as a material whose thermal conductivity is at least 10
W/m·K, preferably at least 40 W/m·K, and more preferably at least 100 W/m·K at 23°C
and relative humidity of 50%. Specifically, the thermal conductive material is formed
by a material whose thermal conductivity is at least 40 W/m·K, preferably at least
100 W/m·K, more preferably 150 W/m·K, and most preferably 200 W/m·K at 23°C and relative
humidity of 50%. A suitable thermal conductive material includes but is not limited
to graphite, graphene, aluminum, copper, zinc, steel, silver, a thermal conductive
polymer, or any combination or alloy thereof. The thermal conductive element 263 is
tightly attached to the heating tube 21, and since the thermal conductive element
263 has a good thermal conductivity, a temperature consistent with a temperature on
the surface of the heating tube 21 can be quickly reached. To improve sensitivity
of the thermal conductive element 263 for a temperature change of the heating tube
21 and reduce heat absorbed by the thermal conductive element 263 from the heating
tube 21, a thickness of the thermal conductive material forming the thermal conductive
element 263 may be reduced. For example, the thickness of the thermal conductive material
may range from 0.03 mm to 1.5 mm, or the thickness of the thermal conductive material
may be 0.1 mm.
[0034] In an embodiment of this application, referring to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13, the temperature
measurement element 26 is configured as including a thermocouple, and the thermocouple
may be a K-type thermocouple, a J-type thermocouple, an S-type thermocouple, an R-type
thermocouple, a B-type thermocouple, a T-type thermocouple, an N-type thermocouple,
or an E-type thermocouple. The conductive pin 262 includes two thermocouple wires
made of different materials, which are respectively a first thermocouple wire and
a second thermocouple wire.
[0035] The probe 261 includes a thermal conductive element 263.
[0036] In an example, referring to FIG. 13, the first thermocouple wire and the second thermocouple
wire are electrically connected to form a thermocouple, and a hot junction of the
thermocouple is welded to the thermal conductive element 263. In an example, the thermal
conductive element 263 includes a conductor, a hot junction of the first thermocouple
wire and a hot junction of the second thermocouple wire are both connected to the
conductor, so that the first thermocouple wire and the second thermocouple wire are
electrically connected through the conductor to form the thermocouple.
[0037] A cold junction of the thermocouple is configured to be electrically connected to
the control board 31 of the power supply assembly 3, so that the control board 31
may obtain, according to a thermal electromotive force caused by a temperature difference
between the hot junction and the cold junction of the thermocouple, a temperature
at the hot junction of the thermocouple, that is, obtain a temperature of the thermal
conductive element 263, to further obtain a temperature at the second position on
the surface of the heating tube 21.
[0038] In an embodiment in which the temperature measurement element 26 includes the thermocouple,
an insulating layer may exist on a surface of at least one of the heating tube 21
and the thermal conductive element 263, to prevent the induction coil on the heating
tube 21, the electric heating element 213, or the base body 212 prepared by using
conductive ceramic from being electrically connected to the thermal conductive element
263, so that the thermal conductive element 263 can be prevented from causing electrical
disturbance to the induction coil, the electric heating element 213, or the base body
212 prepared by using conductive ceramic, thereby ensuring that heat generation of
the heating tube 21 is not affected by the thermal conductive element 263 and the
thermocouple. In an example, an insulating layer exists on a surface of the induction
coil, the electric heating element 213, or the base body 212 prepared by using conductive
ceramic, and the insulating layer may be formed through printing, spray coating, physical
deposition, chemical deposition, ion implantation, or particle sputtering, or the
insulating layer may be a high-temperature tape wound on the surface of the heating
tube 21 or adhered to the surface of the heating tube 21.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the heating assembly 2 includes a layered component
23, and the layered component 23 is arranged surrounding at least a part of the heating
tube 21. The layered component 23 includes a fixing tube 232, the probe 261 is located
between the heating tube 21 and the fixing tube 232, and the fixing tube 232 provides
an acting force causing the probe 261 to be tightly attached to the heating tube 21.
In an example, the fixing tube 232 is elastic, so that the elastic fixing tube 232
extrudes the probe 261 to cause the probe 261 to be tightly attached to the heating
tube 21. In an example, the probe 261 is elastic, and the probe 261 elastically abuts
against the heating tube 21 or the fixing tube 232, so that the probe 261 can be tightly
attached to the heating tube 21.
[0040] In an embodiment, the probe is elastic. In this embodiment, the probe includes a
thermal conductive element and an elastic member, where the elastic member includes
silicone, rubber, sponge, or spring, and the elastic member is elastic and elastically
abuts against the heating tube or the fixing tube.
[0041] In an embodiment, the probe 261 is elastic, or the probe 261 includes a thermal conductive
element 263, and the thermal conductive element 263 is elastic. In this embodiment,
the probe 261 includes a first abutting portion abutting against the heating tube
21 and a second abutting portion abutting against the fixing tube 232, and at least
one of the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion is elastic.
[0042] Specifically, referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the second abutting portion includes
an elastic arm 2633, the elastic arm 2633 may include a cantilever with a free end,
and the free end of the cantilever extends toward a direction in which the first abutting
portion is located, so that an arc-shaped second abutting surface B is formed on a
surface of the second abutting portion. A surface of the second abutting surface B
formed in this way is smooth, helping prevent the fixing tube 232 from being damaged
and prevent stress concentration on the fixing tube 232 when the second abutting surface
B abuts against the fixing tube 232. The elastic arm 2633 provides an acting force
causing the second abutting surface B to elastically abut against the fixing tube
232.
[0043] The elastic arm 2633 may include a first elastic arm and a second elastic arm that
are spaced apart from each other, and the first elastic arm and the second elastic
arm may be arranged opposite to each other, so that a length of each elastic arm 2633
can be shortened, helping improve an elastic coefficient of the elastic arm 2633.
Therefore, under an action of a same extrusion force, the elastic arm 2633 can have
smaller elastic deformation, which is beneficial to reducing a volume of the probe
261. Certainly, in other examples, the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm
may be arranged side by side.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 11, the first abutting portion may include a first abutting surface
A abutting against the heating tube 21. To improve sensitivity of the probe 261 for
a temperature change of the heating tube 21 and cause a temperature of the first abutting
portion to be consistent with a temperature of the surface of the heating tube 21
as much as possible, at least a partial region of the first abutting surface A may
be an arc-shaped surface attached to the outer surface of the heating tube 21, which
is not only beneficial to attachment between the first abutting surface A and the
heating tube 21, but also can increase a heat exchange area.
[0045] Specifically, at least a partial edge of the first abutting surface A extends toward
a direction in which the second abutting portion is located, so that the at least
a partial edge of the first abutting surface A has a rounded corner, to prevent a
surface layer of the heating tube 21 from being damaged by the edge of the first abutting
surface A during combination of the heating tube 21 and the probe 261.
[0046] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13, the first abutting portion includes
a base body 2631 and a protrusion 2632 formed on the base body 2631. The protrusion
2632 includes the foregoing first abutting surface A, the edge of the first abutting
surface A is bent and extends to form a side edge of the protrusion 2632, and a transition
from the first abutting surface A to the side edge is a smooth transition, so that
there is no apparent boundary line between the first abutting surface A and the side
edge. Therefore, no matter which direction the probe 261 moves along the surface of
the heating tube 21, the edge of the first abutting surface A does not scratch or
damage the surface layer of the heating tube 21. To ensure an area of the first abutting
surface A, the protrusion 2632 may occupy at least 70% of an area of the base body
2631, for example, occupy 80% or 90% of the area of the base body 2631. Stamping is
performed on an inner side of the base body 2631, so that the inner side of the base
body 2631 is recessed and an outer side protrudes, to form the foregoing protrusion
2632.
[0047] Since a material like the thermal conductive element 263 forming the probe 261 has
a small thickness, the thickness may range from 0.03 mm to 1.5 mm, it is more effective
to form a protrusion 2632 with a smooth corner at an edge through stamping compared
with polishing an edge of the material like the thermal conductive element 263 into
a rounded corner.
[0048] To ensure that an extension area of the first abutting portion is reduced while ensuring
that the first abutting surface A has a large area, that is, to miniaturize the probe
261, hollows on the first abutting portion may be reduced, so that the first abutting
portion has good integrity. When the first abutting portion has no hollow or has a
small quantity of hollows, it is beneficial to preventing the first abutting portion
from scratching or damaging the surface layer of the heating tube 21 when moving along
the surface of the heating tube 21.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the conductive pin 262 is connected to an inner
side of the first abutting portion. More specifically, the hot junction of the thermocouple
is connected to an inner side of the protrusion 2632, so that the hot junction of
the thermocouple is closer to the heating tube 21, and a temperature of the hot junction
of the thermocouple is closer to the temperature of the surface of the heating tube
21.
[0050] A window 2634 for welding laser or a welding head to pass through may be formed on
the second abutting portion, and the window 2634 is provided corresponding to an end
portion of the conductive pin 262 or the hot junction. The window 2634 can enable
the welding laser or the welding head to pass through to perform welding on the conductive
pin 262 and the temperature measurement element 26, and can also enable the welding
to be performed in a visually inspectable state (including visually inspectable by
naked eyes or visually inspectable by a machine). Therefore, welding quality can be
improved, and welding process difficulty can be reduced. Specifically, the window
2634 is provided corresponding to a welding point on the first abutting portion, and
the conductive pin 262 is welded to the welding point.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13, the probe 261 includes a first abutting portion
abutting against the heating tube 21 and a second abutting portion abutting against
the fixing tube 232, an accommodating space exists between the first abutting portion
and the second abutting portion, and the end portion of the conductive pin 262 is
accommodated in the accommodating space 2635, so that the end portion of the conductive
pin 262 or the hot junction can be prevented from being in contact with the heating
tube 21 and the fixing tube 232, helping prevent the heating tube 21 and/or the fixing
tube 232 from rubbing the end portion of the conductive pin 262 when the probe 261
moves along the heating tube 21, where the rubbing affects connection stability and
good contact between the end portion of the conductive pin 262 or the hot junction
and the probe 261.
[0052] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a lower end of the accommodating
space 2635 is open, for insertion of the end portion of the conductive pin 262 or
the hot junction into the accommodating space 2635. An upper end of the accommodating
space 2635 may also be open, which is not limited in this application.
[0053] In a process of arranging the probe 261 of the temperature measurement element 26
at the second position to cause the conductive pin 262 connected to the probe 261
to be electrically connected to the power supply assembly 3, the conductive pin 262
is generally pulled, and to prevent the probe 261 from deviating from the second position
under pulling of the conductive pin 262, the heating assembly 2 may be constructed
into a structure that can prevent the probe 261 from moving toward a pulling direction.
[0054] In an embodiment, the heating assembly 2 includes a fixing tube 232, the fixing tube
232 is wound on at least a part of a periphery of the heating tube 21, and at least
a part of the probe 261 is kept between the fixing tube 232 and the heating tube 21.
Specifically, the fixing tube 232 may extrude the probe 261, to cause the probe 261
to be tightly attached to the heating tube 21 and prevent the probe 261 from moving.
[0055] A first through hole 2321 for the conductive pin 262 to pass through is provided
on the fixing tube 232, and the first through hole 2321 is configured to change an
extending direction of the conductive pin 262, so that the conductive pin 262 is bent
when passing through the first through hole 2321. In an example, a central axis of
the first through hole 2321 inclines relative to an axial direction of the heating
tube 21, for example, the central axis of the first through hole 2321 is perpendicular
to the axial direction of the heating tube 21, so that the conductive pin 262 connected
to the probe 261 needs to change the extending direction to pass through the first
through hole 2321, or the conductive pin 262 located in the first through hole 2321
needs to have a different extending direction from that of the conductive pin 262
located between the probe 261 and the first through hole 2321, so that the conductive
pin 262 is bent to pass through the first through hole 2321.
[0056] For clear description, the conductive pin 262 between the probe 261 and the first
through hole 2321 is defined as a first part, the conductive pin 262 located in the
first through hole 2321 is defined as a second part, and the conductive pin 262 located
outside the first through hole 2321 is defined as a third part, where the first part
and the second part have different extending directions, that is, bending occurs between
the first part and the second part. When the third part is pulled, the first part
and the third part can bear different acting forces due to the bending of the conductive
pin 262, so that the acting force borne by the first part is less than the acting
force borne by the third part. It should be noted that, the first part may have a
specific length and can be located between the fixing tube 232 and the heating tube
21. However, this application is not limited thereto.
[0057] Specifically, when the third part is pulled, a hole wall of the first through hole
2321 may be in contact with and support the second part, or the hole wall of the first
through hole 2321 may be in contact with and support the conductive pin 262 due to
the bending formed by the first through hole 2321, a support force provided by the
hole wall of the first through hole 2321 to the conductive pin 262 can reduce the
acting force borne by the first part.
[0058] Alternatively, when the third part is pulled tinily, a bending degree of the bending
formed due to the first through hole 2321 may be changed, for example, an angle between
the first part and the second part may be increased, to cause the conductive pin 262
to extend by a suitable distance in a direction of a pulling force, thereby reducing
a pulling force that should be borne by the first part.
[0059] Therefore, the bending formed due to the first through hole 2321 can reduce an acting
force borne by the probe 261 along the conductive pin 262, helping prevent the probe
261 from moving.
[0060] In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the conductive pin 262 includes
a bending portion 262a formed through bending, where there may be one or more bending
portions 262a, and the heating assembly 2 further includes an anti-retraction portion
262b, where there may be one or more anti-retraction portions 262b. Each anti-retraction
portion 262b is at least arranged corresponding to one bending portion 262a, and the
anti-retraction portion 262b and the corresponding bending portion 262a may be close
to each other but are not in contact with each other in terms of positions, or the
anti-retraction portion 262b and the corresponding bending portion 262a may be in
contact with each other. Therefore, when the conductive pin 262 is pulled, the anti-retraction
portion 262b can stop the bending portion 262a that comes into contact with the anti-retraction
portion through deformation or stop the bending portion 262a that is in contact with
the anti-retraction portion, to provide a stop force to resist the acting force pulling
the conductive pin 262, and the stop force can reduce a pulling force of the conductive
pin 262 to the probe 261, so that the anti-retraction portion 262b can prevent the
probe 261 connected to the conductive pin 262 from deviating from the second position.
[0061] For example, in a process of arranging the probe 261 of the temperature measurement
element 26 at the second position to cause the conductive pin 262 connected to the
probe 261 to be electrically connected to the power supply assembly 3, the conductive
pin 262 is generally pulled. In this case, through coordination between the anti-retraction
portion 262b and the bending portion 262a, the pulling force of the conductive pin
262 to the probe 261 can be reduced when the conductive pin 262 is pulled, helping
keep the probe 261 at the second position and helping prevent the probe 261 from moving.
In addition, the anti-retraction portion 262b and the bending portion 262a can reduce
the acting force causing the conductive pin 262 to pull the probe 261, helping prevent
the pulling force from damaging the connection integrity between the probe 261 and
the conductive pin 262 and helping protect the temperature measurement element 26.
[0062] In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the outer surface of the heating
tube 21 further includes a first position, the heating assembly 2 includes a layered
component 23, and the layered component 23 is arranged surrounding at least a part
of the heating tube 21. The layered component 23 includes a first layered component
231, the first layered component 231 includes a first guiding groove 2312, the first
guiding groove 2312 communicates the first position with the second position, at least
the second position in the first position and the second position may be exposed in
the first guiding groove 2312, and the first guiding groove 2312 may provide a channel
for guiding the probe 261 from the first position to the second position. The probe
261 may move from the first position to the second position along the surface of the
heating tube 21. In an example, in the axial direction of the heating tube 21, a length
of the first guiding groove 2312 is consistent with a length of the probe 261. In
an example, in the axial direction of the heating tube 21, a length of the first guiding
groove 2312 is greater than a length of the probe 261.
[0063] The conductive pin 262 includes the bending portion 262a at the first position or
a position adjacent to the first position, and correspondingly, an anti-retraction
portion 262b exists at the first position or the position adjacent to the first position.
The anti-retraction portion 262b at this position stops the bending portion 262a at
the position, to prevent the probe 261 from exiting the second position when the conductive
pin 262 is pulled.
[0064] An extending direction of the first guiding groove 2312 may be approximately parallel
to the axial direction of the heating tube 21. The second position may be arranged
at an end of the first guiding groove 2312, that is, in a direction of the first guiding
groove 2312 guiding to the second position, the first layered component 231 includes
a first end wall defining an extension end point of the first guiding groove 2312,
and the probe 261 is stopped by the first end wall at the second position, to ensure
that the probe 261 can be accurately moved to the second position.
[0065] A width of the first guiding groove 2312 may be greater than a width of the probe
261, so that in a process of causing the probe 261 to move along the first guiding
groove 2312 to the second position, resistance of the first guiding groove 2312 to
the probe 261 can be reduced. A width of the first guiding groove 2312 may be equal
to a width of the probe 261, so that the first guiding groove 2312 is provided on
groove walls on two opposite sides of the temperature measurement element 26, thereby
preventing unexpected movement of the probe 261 in a circumferential direction of
the heating tube 21. Certainly, in another embodiment, the width of the first guiding
groove 2312 may be slightly less than the width of the probe 261, so that the first
guiding groove 2312 can clamp the probe 261, helping keep the probe 261 at the second
position.
[0066] In an example, the first position may also be exposed in the first guiding groove
2312, and the first guiding groove 2312 can provide a channel for moving the probe
261 from the first position to the second position. In addition, in the first guiding
groove 2312, the first position is different from the second position, and the first
position and the second position may be respectively located at two opposite ends
of the first guiding groove 2312. However, this application is not limited thereto.
[0067] More specifically, the first position may be adjacent to an extension start point
of the first guiding groove 2312, that is, in the direction of the first guiding groove
2312 guiding to the second position, the first layered component 231 includes a second
end wall defining the extension start point of the first guiding groove 2312, when
the probe 261 is at the second position, a part of the conductive pin 262 is accommodated
in the first guiding groove 2312, and a part of the conductive pin 262 at the first
position extends in a radial direction of the heating tube 21 and extends to the outside
of the first guiding groove 2312. Therefore, one bending portion 262a on the conductive
pin 262 may be formed in the first guiding groove 2312 and at a position corresponding
to the first position, where the bending portion 262a is referred to as a first bending
portion, the second end wall may become an anti-retraction portion 262b, where the
anti-retraction portion 262b is referred to as a first anti-retraction portion. The
first anti-retraction portion is in contact with or close to the first bending portion
formed in the first guiding groove 2312, so that when the conductive pin 262 is pulled,
the first anti-retraction portion can stop the first bending portion, thereby preventing
the probe 21 from moving.
[0068] In an example, the first position is located outside the first guiding groove, the
heating assembly further includes an end cover arranged at an upper end or a lower
end of the heating tube, the first position is adjacent to one end cover, the end
cover adjacent to the first position is referred to as a first end cover, and the
first position is located between the fixing tube and the first end cover. In addition,
a part of the conductive pin extends at the first position in the radial direction
of the heating tube, so that at least a part of the conductive pin located outside
the first guiding groove can be bent relative to the conductive pin located in the
first guiding groove, and the conductive pin is provided with the bending portion
at the position adjacent to the first position. The first end cover has an edge whose
outer diameter is greater than an outer diameter of the heating tube, and the edge
forms the anti-retraction portion that can support the bending portion described in
this example, thereby preventing the probe from moving when the conductive pin is
pulled.
[0069] In an embodiment, the heating assembly 2 includes a fixing tube 232 and a first layered
component 231, and the anti-retraction portion is arranged on the fixing tube 232,
where the anti-retraction portion arranged on the fixing tube 232 is referred to as
a second anti-retraction portion.
[0070] Based on this, in this embodiment, the second anti-retraction portion may include
a first through hole 2321 provided on the fixing tube 232, the first through hole
2321 is in communication with the first position, the first through hole 2321 may
allow the temperature measurement element 26 to pass through, the temperature measurement
element 26 passes through the first through hole 2321 and enters the first guiding
groove 2312, and the probe 261 may be moved along the first guiding groove 2312 to
the second position. The first through hole 2321 may be provided directly facing the
first position.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 10, one bending portion in the conductive pin 262 is
a second bending portion 2621, and at least a part of the second bending portion 2621
may be located in the first through hole 2321. In this embodiment, the second bending
portion 2621 may be formed since an orientation of the first through hole 2321 and
the extending direction of the first guiding groove 2312 are not located on the same
straight line in a process that the conductive pin 262 passes through the first through
hole 2321, or the second bending portion 2621 may be formed before the conductive
pin 262 passes through the first through hole 2321.
[0072] In an example, the second bending portion 2621 is suspended in the first through
hole 2321 in an initial state, so that the second bending portion 2621 is not in contact
with the hole wall of the first through hole 2321. When the conductive pin 262 is
pulled, the second bending portion 2621 is deformed. For example, when the conductive
pin 262 is pulled, the second bending portion 2621 is deformed with a reduced bending
degree, so that the second bending portion 2621 extends. In this case, a pulling force
of the conductive pin 262 to the probe 262 is less than a pulling force that the conductive
pin 262 encounters, when the conductive pin 262 continues to be pulled to cause the
second bending portion 2621 to extend to be in contact with the hole wall of the first
through hole 2321, the hole wall of the first through hole 2321 can provide an acting
force supporting the second bending portion 2621, and a component of the acting force
in a reverse direction of the pulling force that the conductive pin 262 encounters
and a component of the acting force in a direction perpendicular to the pulling force
that the conductive pin 262 encounters are both less than the pulling force that the
conductive pin 262 encounters, so that the pulling force of the conductive pin 262
to the probe 261 can be reduced, helping prevent the probe 261 from being removed
from the second position.
[0073] In an example, the second bending portion 2621 is in contact with at least a part
of the hole wall of the first through hole 2321 in an initial state, so that when
the conductive pin 262 is pulled, the hole wall of the first through hole 2321 can
provide an acting force supporting the second bending portion 2621, and the acting
force can reduce a pulling force of the conductive pin 262 to the probe 261. Specifically,
due to the second bending portion 2621, the conductive pin 262 includes a first step,
and the first through hole 2321 supports the first step, so that the first through
hole 2321 can prevent the second bending portion 2621 from exiting the first through
hole 2321, and further prevent the probe 261 from moving from the second position
to the first position.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in a process that the probe 261 of the temperature
measurement element 26 moves along a second guiding groove 2312 to the second position,
a part of the conductive pin 262 of the temperature measurement element 26 passes
through the first through hole 2321 to enter the second guiding groove 2312, and a
part of the conductive pin is located outside the fixing tube 232. The fixing tube
232 can block a periphery of the second position, so that the fixing tube 232 can
block the probe 261 of the temperature measurement element 26, and the probe 261 can
be hidden between the heating tube 21 and the fixing tube 232. Therefore, in a subsequent
assembly or processing process of the heating assembly 2, the fixing tube 232 can
insulate other components in addition to the heating assembly 2 from being in contact
with the probe 261, thereby protecting the probe 261 and preventing displacement of
the probe 261.
[0075] Therefore, after arrangement of the heating tube 21, the first layered component
231, and the fixing tube 232 is completed, the probe 261 may be caused to pass through
the fixing tube 232 through the first through hole 2321 and move from the first position
to the blocked second position through the first guiding groove 2312.
[0076] In an example, a thickness of the probe 261 in the radial direction of the heating
tube 21 is greater than a thickness D of the first layered component 231, so that
the probe 261 can protrude in the radial direction of the heating tube 21 out of the
second guiding groove 2312, and the probe 261 can be in direct contact with the fixing
tube 232 and be directly extruded inward by the fixing tube 232 in the radial direction
of the heating tube 21, where a radius of the fixing tube 232 (for example, an inner
radius of the fixing tube) may be greater than or equal to a sum of a radius of the
heating tube 21 (for example, an outer radius of the heating tube 21) and the thickness
of the probe 261 in the radial direction of the heating tube 21. For ease of moving
the probe 261 from the first position to the second position, preferably, the inner
radius of the fixing tube 232 is greater than the sum of the outer radius of the heating
tube 21 and the thickness of the probe in the radial direction of the heating tube
21.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5, the heating assembly 2 further includes
an electrical connector 22 electrically connected to the heating tube 21, and the
electrical connector 22 is electrically connected to the heating tube 21, so that
an induction coil arranged on the heating tube 21, the electric heating element 213,
or the base body 212 prepared by using conductive ceramic is electrically connected
to the electrical connector 22. The electrical connector 22 may be electrically connected
to the power supply assembly 3 through a wire 25 or another conductive element, or
the electrical connector 22 may be directly electrically connected to the power supply
assembly 3.
[0078] At least a part of the electrical connector 22 is arranged between the heating tube
21 and the fixing tube 232, the electrical connector 22 abuts against the fixing tube
232 to provide a tensioning force causing the fixing tube 232 to tension, and the
fixing tube 232 is configured to extrude the probe 261 inward in the radial direction
of the heating tube 21 under an action of the tensioning force, so that the probe
261 is tightly attached to the second position of the heating tube 21.
[0079] Based on this, for ease of moving the probe 261 along the first guiding groove 2312
to the second position, in a process of assembling the heating assembly 2, the temperature
measurement element 26 may be assembled first, and when the probe 261 is pushed to
the second position, at least a part of the electrical connector 22 is then inserted
between the heating tube 21 and the fixing tube 232, so that the electrical connector
24 abuts against the heating tube 21 and the fixing tube 232 respectively toward two
opposite sides. In this case, the fixing tube 232 tensions, and the tensioned fixing
tube 232 is tightened to extrude the probe 261 inward, so that the probe 261 is tightly
attached to the second position of the heating tube 21.
[0080] A thickness of the electrical connector 22 in the radial direction of the heating
tube 21 is greater than the thickness of the probe 261 in the radial direction of
the heating tube 21; or the electrical connector 22 includes a main body portion electrically
abutting against the heating tube 21 and an abutting portion 222 extending from the
main body portion 221 in the radial direction of the heating tube 21, where the abutting
portion 222 abuts against the fixing tube 232, and an extension length L of the abutting
portion 222 in the radial direction of the heating tube 21 is greater than the thickness
of the probe 261. In this way, the electrical connector 22 can provide the tensioning
force causing the fixing tube 232 to tension.
[0081] The abutting portion 222 may include a first abutting member 2221 and a second abutting
member 2222 arranged on two opposite sides of the main body portion 221, that is,
the first abutting member 2221 and the second abutting member 2222 are spaced apart
from each other, and a plurality of abutting portions 222 respectively abut against
different positions of the fixing tube 232, helping prevent stress concentration on
the fixing tube 232, and helping prevent the fixing tube 232 from being pierced, punctured,
or scratched by the abutting portion 222.
[0082] In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, to prevent the abutting portion
222 from scratching or piercing the fixing tube 232, the abutting portion 222 includes
a rounded abutting surface, and the abutting portion 222 abuts against an inner wall
of the fixing tube 232 through the rounded abutting surface. The rounded abutting
surface refers to that the abutting surface is a smooth planar surface or a smooth
arc surface, and the rounded abutting surface is not provided with a spiked or sharp
edge, where a connection angle between the abutting surface and an adjacent surface
may be a rounded angle.
[0083] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the main body portion 221 abuts against the heating
tube 21, and the abutting portion 222 and the main body portion 221 may be integrally
formed. Specifically, the abutting portion 222 may be formed through extension from
the main body portion 221 in the radial direction of the heating tube 21.
[0084] Referring to FIG. 4, the abutting portion 222 may be constructed to have a fold in
the radial direction of the heating tube 21, a smooth arc-shaped curve surface is
formed at the fold of the abutting portion, and the abutting surface is formed at
the fold of the abutting portion 222, that is, at least a part of the arc-shaped curve
surface forms the abutting surface of the abutting portion 222.
[0085] The abutting portion 222 may be folded to increase a strength of the abutting portion
222, to prevent the abutting portion 222 from being deformed when abutting against
the fixing tube 232. The abutting portion 222 may be folded to increase an abutting
area between the abutting portion 222 and the fixing tube 232, helping protect the
fixing tube 232. In addition, a thickness of a metal sheet forming the electrical
connector 22 does not exceed 5 mm. Therefore, the smooth abutting surface with a large
area formed by folding the abutting portion 222 has lowest costs and a simplest process.
[0086] To ensure that the fixing tube 232 can extrude the probe 261 inward, projections
of the electrical connector 22 and the probe 261 at the upper end or the lower end
of the heating tube 21 do not overlap with each other, to prevent the electrical connector
22 from affecting an acting force of the fixing tube 232 extruding the temperature
measurement element 26 or the probe.
[0087] Specifically, the heating assembly 2 further includes a clamping space 24 provided
between the heating tube 21 and the fixing tube 232, at least a part of the electrical
connector 22 is accommodated in the clamping space 24, and the electrical connector
22 abuts against the heating tube 21 in the clamping space 24 and is electrically
connected to the heating tube through abutment. The clamping space 24 includes an
entrance for the at least a part of the electrical connector 22 to enter. For example,
an upper end and/or a lower end of the clamping space 24 are open, and the open part
forms the entrance. Therefore, in a formation process of the heating assembly 2, the
heating tube 21 may be first combined with the fixing tube 232, the clamping space
24 is formed between the fixing tube 232 and the heating tube 21, the at least a part
of the electrical connector 22 is then inserted into the clamping space 24 from the
entrance of the clamping space 24, so that the at least a part of the electrical connector
22 is kept in the clamping space 24. In addition, the fixing tube 232 can extrude
the electrical connector 22, so that stable electrical abutment is kept between the
electrical connector 22 and the heating tube 21. Compared with using a manner such
as welding, this process is simpler, which is beneficial to improving production efficiency
and reducing production costs.
[0088] The first layered component 231 defines a part of a boundary of the clamping space
24, and the clamping space 24 may be formed in a region that is between the heating
tube 21 and the fixing tube 232 and that is not covered by the first layered component
231.
[0089] In an embodiment, the electrical connector is constructed into annular and wound
on the outer surface of the heating tube, or the electrical connector is constructed
into tubular and sleeved on the outer surface of the heating tube. Based on this,
an upper end edge and/or a lower end edge of the first layered component defines the
part of the boundary of the clamping space.
[0090] In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a second guiding groove 2311
in communication with the entrance from the first layered component 231 is provided
on the first layered component 231. An extending direction of the second guiding groove
2311 may be approximately parallel to the axial direction of the heating tube 21.
The second guiding groove 2311 may extend from an upper end of the first layered component
231 to a lower end of the first layered component 231, so that the upper end and the
lower end of the first layered component 231 are in communication with each other,
as shown in FIG. 3; or the second guiding groove 231 may extend from the upper end
or the lower end of the first layered component 231, and an extension length of the
second guiding groove in the axial direction of the heating tube 21 may be less than
an extension length of the first layered component 231 in the axial direction of the
heating tube 21, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0091] The second guiding groove 2311 includes a first guiding wall and a second guiding
wall arranged opposite to each other, the electrical connector 22 located in the clamping
space 24 is accommodated between the first guiding wall and the second guiding wall,
and after entering the clamping space 24 through the entrance of the clamping space
24, the electrical connector goes deeper into the clamping space 24 in a direction
defined by the first guiding wall and the second guiding wall.
[0092] In an example, the first guiding wall and the second guiding wall may clamp the electrical
connector 22, which is conducive to keeping the electrical connector 22 in the clamping
space 24.
[0093] In an example, referring to FIG. 5, the electrical connector 22 includes a main body
portion 221 and a first abutting member 2221 and a second abutting member 2222 extending
in the radial direction of the heating tube 21. The main body portion 221 is configured
to electrically abut against the heating tube 21, the first abutting member 2221 and
the second abutting member 2222 are located on two opposite sides of the main body
portion 221 and are arranged respectively toward the first guiding wall and the second
guiding wall. In a process that the electrical connector 22 goes deep into the clamping
space 24, the first abutting member 2221 and the second abutting member 2222 may be
respectively in sliding contact with the first guiding wall and the second guiding
wall, and the cooperation between the first abutting member 2221 and the second abutting
member 2222 with the first guiding wall and the second guiding wall helps more normalize
a trajectory of the electrical connector 22 going deep into the clamping space 24,
which helps prevent the electrical connector 22 from being partially embedded between
the first layered component 231 and the heating tube 21 due to an unexpected trajectory
deviation in the process that the electrical connector 22 goes deep into the clamping
space 24 and affecting a stable connection between the first layered component 231
and the heating tube 21, and also helps improve the efficiency of assembling the electrical
connector 22 into the clamping space 24.
[0094] In an example, the electrical connector 22 is in clearance fit with the first guiding
wall and/or the second guiding wall in the clamping space 24, to reduce resistance
that the electrical connector 22 encounters in a process of going deeper into the
clamping space 24 in the direction defined by the first guiding wall and the second
guiding wall.
[0095] Referring to FIG. 5, the electrical connector 22 may further include a hooking portion
223. The hooking portion 223 can prevent the electrical connector 22 from moving along
the clamping space 24 or limit an offset of the electrical connector 22 along the
clamping space 24. For example, when the electrical connector 22 is partially accommodated
in the clamping space 24, in a process of causing the electrical connector 22 to be
electrically connected to the power supply assembly 3, the electrical connector 22
is generally pulled or the wire 25 or another conductive element electrically connected
to the electrical connector 22 is generally pulled. In this case, the hooking portion
223 is blocked or hooked by another component or member in addition to the hooking
portion 223 on the heating assembly 2. In this way, the electrical connector 22 cannot
move along the clamping space 24 in a pulling direction, and the hooking portion 223
helps keep the electrical connector 22 at a preset position or limit an offset of
the electrical connector 22 along the clamping space 24, which is conducive to preventing
a short circuit of the heating assembly 2 or ensuring normal operation of the heating
assembly 2.
[0096] In an embodiment, the hooking portion 223 can help locate the electrical connector
22, which is conducive to combination of the electrical connector 22 on the heating
tube 21 according to the preset position or accommodation of the electrical connector
in the clamping space 24. Referring to FIG. 4, since at least a part of the clamping
space 24 is blocked by the fixing tube 232, for ease of locating the electrical connector
22, the hooking portion 223 is stopped outside the clamping space 24, so that through
the hooking portion 223, an inappropriate position of the electrical connector 22
in the clamping space 24 may be avoided or the electrical connector 22 may be prevented
from excessively entering the clamping space 24.
[0097] In an embodiment, the hooking portion 223 is hooked on the heating tube 21 or the
fixing tube 232, and the hooking portion 223 is hooked through the heating tube 21
or the fixing tube 232, to block the hooking portion 223 from moving along the clamping
space 24 in an unexpected case.
[0098] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the hooking portion 223 may be integrally formed
with the main body portion 221, and the hooking portion 223 may extend from the main
body portion 221. The hooking portion 223 may include a first component 2231 extending
in the radial direction of the heating tube 21, and the first component 2231 may be
perpendicular to the axial direction of the heating tube 21 to form a right-angle
hook or incline relative to the axial direction of the heating tube 21 to form an
acute-angle hook. The heating tube 21 or the fixing tube 232 abuts against the first
component 2231, the first component 2231 is hooked on the heating tube 21 or the fixing
tube 232, and the heating tube 21 or the fixing tube 232 can support the first component
2231 in a reverse direction of a direction in which the electrical connector 22 enters
the clamping space 24, to stop the electrical connector 22 from moving along the clamping
space 24, so that the electrical connector 22 cannot go deeper into the clamping space
24 after reaching a specific depth in the clamping space 24.
[0099] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the hooking portion 223 further includes
a second component 2232 that is bent relative to the first component 2231, the heating
tube 21 or the fixing tube 232 is located between the second component 2232 and the
main body portion 221, the second component 2232 extends in the axial direction of
the heating tube 21, and the second component 2232 can be buckled on the heating tube
21 or the fixing tube 232. The second component 2232 can prevent the first component
2231 from moving toward the heating tube 21 in the radial direction of the heating
tube 21, so that it can be ensured that the first component 2231 is abutted and stopped
by the heating tube 21 or the fixing tube 232. It should be noted that, the second
component 2232 is optional rather than mandatory.
[0100] Referring to FIG. 2, the hooking portion 223 may be arranged adjacent to the entrance
of the clamping space 24, or the hooking portion 223 may be stopped at the entrance
of the clamping space 24. That is, the first component 2231 may be stopped and supported
by at least a part of a boundary of the entrance of the clamping space 24.
[0101] In an embodiment, the entrance of the clamping space is completely defined by the
fixing tube, that is, a run-through hole may be provided on a tube wall of the fixing
tube, and a part of the electrical connector may pass through the run-through hole.
That is, the run-through hole may form the entrance of the clamping space.
[0102] In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 2, the entrance of the clamping space 24 is formed
at an end portion of the fixing tube 232, so that the end portion of the fixing tube
232 and the heating tube 21 respectively define a part of the entrance of the clamping
space 24. The heating assembly 2 may include one or more electrical connectors 22.
Based on this, the heating assembly 2 may include one or more clamping spaces 24,
and when the entrance of one of the clamping spaces 24 is provided at an upper end
of the fixing tube 232, the upper end of the fixing tube 232 or the upper end of the
heating tube 21 can support the hooking portion 223 upward, and the wire 25 electrically
connected to the electrical connector 22 may pass through a lower end of the clamping
space 24. Therefore, when the wire 25 is pulled downward, since the hooking portion
223 is blocked, the electrical connector 22 may be prevented from being pulled to
move downward, thereby ensuring that the electrical connector 22 can be stably kept
at an original position when the wire 25 is pulled downward.
[0103] Alternatively, in another embodiment, referring to FIG. 9, the heating assembly 2
further includes an end cover 27. The end cover 27 is connected to the heating tube
21, and may be connected to the upper end of the heating tube 21 or may be connected
to the lower end of the heating tube 21. There may be two end covers 27, and the two
end covers 27 are respectively connected to the upper end and the lower end of the
heating tube 21. The hooking portion 223 is hooked on the end cover 27, and the end
cover 27 blocks and supports the hooking portion 223 in the reverse direction of the
direction in which the electrical connector 22 enters the clamping space 24.
[0104] Alternatively, in another embodiment, a bracket different from the end cover and
the fixing tube may be arranged on the heating assembly, and the hooking portion is
hooked on the bracket to be stopped and supported, so as to prevent the electrical
connector from moving along the clamping space.
[0105] The first layered component 231 may be first arranged together with the fixing tube
232 at the periphery of the heating tube 21, to help expose the first position and
the second position on the outer surface of the heating tube 21 in the first guiding
groove 2312, and ensure that the first layered component 231 forms blocking at a position
adjacent to the second position, thereby ensuring that the probe 261 moving along
the first guiding groove 2312 can accurately reach the second position.
[0106] For ease of sleeving the fixing tube 232 on a periphery of the first layered component
231, an inner diameter of the fixing tube 232 may be greater than or equal to an outer
diameter of the first layered component 231, or the fixing tube 232 may be elastic.
[0107] When the fixing tube 232 tensions under abutment of the electrical connector 22,
at least a part of the first layered component 231 may be tightly attached to the
heating tube 21, and the fixing tube 232 can prevent the first layered component 231
from rotating relative to the heating tube 21.
[0108] The first layered component 231 may include a heat preservation layer made of a heat
preservation material. The heat preservation material may include a thermal insulating
material, and the thermal insulating material is a material whose thermal conductivity
is less than 100 W/m·K and preferably less than 40 W/m·K or 10 W/m·K at 23°C and relative
humidity of 50%. For example, the thermal insulating material may be made of at least
one of a PAEK-based material, a PI material, or a PBI material, where the PAEK-based
material includes a PEEK material, a PEKK material, a PEKEKK material, or a PEK material.
[0109] For ease of arrangement of the heat preservation material surrounding the surface
of the heating tube 21, the heat preservation material may include a flexible heat
preservation material. For example, the heat preservation material may include at
least one of thermal insulating silicone, ceramic fiber cloth, or aerogel. In an embodiment
of this application, a main component of the heat preservation material is SiO
2 aerogel particles. The SiO
2 aerogel particle is a type of silicon dioxide material of a three-dimensional mesh
nanostructure, a porosity of the material is up to 80% to 99.8%, a pore size ranges
from 10 nm to 50 nm, air can hardly perform heat conduction in pores of the material,
and a thermal conductivity coefficient at normal temperature is down to 0.01 W/(m·K).
Therefore, the material has an extremely low thermal conductivity, and a flexible
heat preservation layer prepared by using the SiO
2 aerogel particles has an excellent thermal insulating and heat preservation effect.
[0110] The heat preservation layer prepared by using the SiO
2 aerogel particles is combined with a polymer material through a special process to
form the flexible heat preservation layer, where mass percentage content of the SiO
2 aerogel particles is greater than mass percentage content of the polymer material.
The polymer material includes at least one of PU (polyurethane), PTEE (polytetrafluoroethylene),
melamine foam, or polymer resin. In an example of this application, the heat preservation
material includes PU and SiO
2 aerogel particles, where in terms of mass percentage, mass percentage content of
the PU is 10%, mass percentage content of the SiO
2 aerogel particles is 90%, and a thermal conductivity of a heat preservation layer
prepared by using the foregoing heat preservation material ranges from 0.01 W/m·K
to 0.02 W/m·K. In another example of this application, the heat preservation material
includes polymer resin and SiO
2 aerogel particles, where in terms of mass percentage, mass percentage content of
the polymer resin ranges from 1% to 30%, mass percentage content of the SiO
2 aerogel particles ranges from 1% to 99%, and a thermal conductivity of a heat preservation
layer prepared by using the foregoing heat preservation material ranges from 0.02
W/m·K to 0.026 W/m·K.
[0111] The foregoing heat preservation material is drawn into shape and die-cut into a sheet
body with a suitable size. In the embodiments of this application, the sheet body
is flexible, so that the sheet body can be wrapped and wound on the periphery of the
heating tube 21 to form a heat preservation layer with a heat preservation and thermal
insulating effect, which has simple and convenient operations. In another optional
implementation, the heat preservation material may be drawn into a curved or tubular
heat preservation layer, and the heat preservation layer has specific stretching performance,
so that the heat preservation layer can be directly sleeved on the periphery of the
heating tube 21.
[0112] One or more layers of heat preservation layers may be arranged according to a requirement
on a heat preservation effect. In an implementation, a single layer of heat preservation
layer is arranged, to prevent formation of a gap between layers and loss of heat.
A thickness of the heat preservation layer arranged on the outer surface of the heating
tube 21 approximately ranges from 0.5 mm to 2 mm. It may be understood that, a larger
thickness of the arranged heat preservation layer indicates a better heat preservation
effect formed by the heat preservation layer. The thickness of the heat preservation
layer arranged on the outer surface of the heating tube 21 may be any value selected
from 0.5 mm to 2 mm according to the requirement on the heat preservation effect.
[0113] The heat preservation layer surrounds in the circumferential direction of the heating
tube 21, and in an implementation, the heat preservation layer is wrapped and wound
on most of the outer surface of the heating tube 21. Since the heat preservation layer
is configured into a sheet body, after the single layer of heat preservation layer
is wound on the outer surface of the heating tube 21, the heat preservation layer
needs to be fixed, so that the heat preservation layer can be kept on the outer surface
of the heating tube 21. For ease of operations, a back adhesive may be arranged on
a surface of the heat preservation layer facing the heating tube 21, and the heat
preservation layer is adhered to the outer surface of the heating tube 21 through
the back adhesive. When a plurality of layers of heat preservation layers are configured,
the heat preservation layer and the outer surface of the heating tube 21 and heat
preservation layers on two adjacent sides may all be adhered by using the back adhesive.
It should be noted that, the heat preservation layer may alternatively be fixed to
the heating tube 21 in another manner, which is not listed one by one in this application.
[0114] The fixing tube 232 in any one of the foregoing embodiments may be prepared by using
a high-temperature-resistant PEEK (polyetheretherketone) material, and in a preferred
implementation of this application, the fixing tube 232 may be a PI (polyimide) tube,
which is a thin-wall tube formed by stretching a pyromellitic polyimide thin film,
has a thin thickness and a light weight, and is conducive to miniaturization and lightweighting
designs of the entire heating assembly.
[0115] In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 10, the heating assembly further includes an
end cover 27 connected to an end portion of the heating tube 21, an anti-retraction
portion is arranged on the end cover 27, and the anti-retraction portion herein is
referred to as a third anti-retraction portion.
[0116] Specifically, the anti-retraction portion may include a second through hole 271 provided
on the end cover 27, the conductive pin 262 passes through the second through hole
271, and the conductive pin 262 includes a bending at a position adjacent to the second
through hole 271, where the bending may be referred to as a third bending portion
2622. The third bending portion 2622 is located between the second through hole 271
and the probe 261, and the second through hole 271 is configured to prevent the third
bending portion 2622 from passing through, to prevent displacement of the probe 261
when the conductive pin 262 is pulled.
[0117] The third bending portion 2622 is arranged adjacent to the end cover 27, and the
"adjacent to" includes being in contact with or being close to but not in contact
with.
[0118] In an example, due to the third bending portion 2622, the conductive pin 262 includes
a second step, and the end cover 27 defining the second through hole 271 supports
the second step. Since the second step is in contact with and supported by the end
cover 27 defining the second through hole 271, when the conductive pin 262 is pulled
on one side of the second through hole 271, the conductive pin 262 located on another
side of the second through hole 271 may almost not move. That is, the second through
hole 271 can prevent the conductive pin 262 from retreating and prevent the probe
261 from being moved from the second position.
[0119] In an example, the third bending portion 2622 is arranged adjacent to the second
through hole 271 but a specific gap exists between the third bending portion and the
second through hole 271. When the conductive pin 262 is pulled, the third bending
portion 2622 may be deformed to reduce a bending degree of the third bending portion,
so that the conductive pin 262 can provide a retreat margin to enable a part of conductive
pin 262 away from the probe 261 to retreat, and a part of the conductive pin adjacent
to the probe 261 can basically remain static. Therefore, when the conductive pin 262
is pulled, a position of the probe 261 may remain unchanged.
[0120] Therefore, when the conductive pin 262 is pulled in a process of connecting the conductive
pin 262 to the control board 31, the third bending portion 2622 may prevent the probe
261 of the temperature measurement element 26 from deviating from the second position.
[0121] In an embodiment, the conductive pin 262 may include at least one of the first bending
portion, the second bending portion 2621, and the third bending portion 2622. In an
embodiment, the first bending portion and the second bending portion 2621 may be combined
into one bending portion. In an embodiment, the conductive pin 262 may further include
another bending portion different from the first bending portion, the second bending
portion 2621, and the third bending portion 2622, and the another bending portion
is also configured to prevent the temperature measurement element 26 from moving along
the second guiding groove 2311.
[0122] In an embodiment, the anti-retraction portion includes a first anti-retraction portion
and a second anti-retraction portion, the conductive pin 262 connects the first anti-retraction
portion to the second anti-retraction portion, and a geometric connection line between
the first anti-retraction portion and the second anti-retraction portion inclines
relative to the axial direction of the heating tube 21. For example, the first through
hole 2321 and the second through hole 271 are respectively the first anti-retraction
portion and the second anti-retraction portion, and a geometric connection line between
the first through hole 2321 and the second through hole 271 inclines relative to the
axial direction of the heating tube 21, to further prevent the probe 261 from deviating
from the second position when the conductive pin 262 is pulled.
[0123] In an embodiment, a part of the conductive pin 262 is wound into a helical structure
similar to a spring, so that when the conductive pin 262 is pulled, the helical structure
can provide an extension margin to reduce a pulling force to the probe 261.
[0124] In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the electrical connector 22 includes
a main body portion 221 and an abutting portion 222 extending from the main body portion
221 in the radial direction of the heating tube 21, and further includes a wire 25,
where the main body portion 221 electrically abuts against the heating tube 21, and
the abutting portion 222 abuts against the fixing tube 232. Under an action of the
abutting portion 222, a gap exists between the main body portion 221 and the fixing
tube 232, the wire 25 is electrically connected to the main body portion 221, at least
a part of the wire 25 is accommodated in the gap between the fixing tube 232 and the
main body portion 221, and the main body portion 221 is electrically connected to
the power supply assembly 3 through the wire 25.
[0125] More specifically, referring to FIG. 5, the main body portion 221 may include an
elastic piece 2212 and a connecting portion 2211 electrically connected to the wire
25. The wire 25 may be electrically connected to the connecting portion 2211 through
welding. The main body portion 221 elastically abuts against the heating tube 21 through
the elastic piece 2212, to ensure a stable electrical connection between the main
body portion 221 and the heating tube 21. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the elastic
piece 2212 includes an elastic arm A constructed into V-shaped and an electrical contact
B arranged at a V-shaped corner of the elastic arm A, where the electrical contact
B protrudes out toward the heating tube 21, so that the elastic arm A provides an
elastic force causing the electrical contact B to electrically abut against the heating
tube 21.
[0126] In an embodiment, there is only one induction coil or electric heating element 213
on the heating tube 21, so that there may be at least two electrical connectors 22,
where one is a positive electrical connector, and the other is a negative electrical
connector. The positive electrical connector and the negative electrical connector
are respectively electrically connected to two opposite ends of the induction coil
or the electric heating element 213. Based on this, in an example, there are two second
guiding grooves 2311 that are independent of each other and not in communication with
each other on the first layered component 231, and the positive electrical connector
and the negative electrical connector are respectively arranged in different second
guiding grooves 2311. In another example, there is a second guiding groove 2311 running
through the upper end and the lower end of the first layered component 231 on the
first layered component 231, and the positive electrical connector and the negative
electrical connector are respectively inserted into the second guiding groove 2311
from top to bottom and from bottom to top and are respectively located on an upper
side and a lower side of the second guiding groove 2311.
[0127] In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, there are a plurality
of induction coils or electric heating elements 213 on the heating tube 21, so that
there may be at least three electrical connectors 22, where one electrical connector
22 may be a public electrical connector and can be electrically connected to the plurality
of induction coils or electric heating elements 213 simultaneously, the rest electrical
connectors 22 are electrically connected to the plurality of induction coils or electric
heating elements 213 in a one-to-one correspondence manner, and a quantity of second
guiding grooves 2311 on the first layered component 231 is not greater than a quantity
of the electrical connectors 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7, and FIG.
8, there are two induction coils or electric heating elements 213 on the heating tube
21, there may be three electrical connectors 22, and there may be two second guiding
grooves 2311 on the first layered component 231, where one second guiding groove is
a long second guiding groove running through the upper end and the lower end of the
first layered component 231, and the other second guiding groove may be a short second
guiding groove. The short second guiding groove and the long second guiding groove
are independent of each other, the two electrical connectors 22 are respectively arranged
on an upper side and a lower side of the long second guiding groove, a public electrical
connector is arranged in the short second guiding groove, and an extension length
of the short second guiding groove in the axial direction of the heating tube 21 is
less than an extension length of the long second guiding groove in the axial direction
of the heating tube 21.
[0128] When a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector are arranged
in the same second guiding groove 2311 simultaneously and the first electrical connector
is arranged above the second electrical connector, arrangement of the fixing tube
232 on the first electrical connector can prevent, when the wire 25 connected to the
first electrical connector is pulled downward, the first electrical connector from
further going deep into the clamping space 24, leading to a short circuit caused by
contact between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.
[0129] When the electric heating element 213 includes a first electric heating element and
a second electric heating element arranged on upper and lower sides, the first electric
heating element is electrically connected to the first electrical connector, the second
electric heating element is electrically connected to the second electrical connector,
the first electric heating element is located above the second electric heating element,
and at least a part of the first electric heating element and at least a part of the
second electric heating element are exposed in the same second guiding groove 2311
simultaneously, arrangement of the fixing tube 232 on the first electrical connector
can prevent, when the wire 25 connected to the first electrical connector is pulled
downward, the first electrical connector from further going deep into the clamping
space 24, leading to abnormal operation of the heating assembly 2 since the first
electrical connector is electrically connected to the first electric heating element
and the second electric heating element simultaneously.
[0130] According to the heating assembly and the aerosol generating device, the probe 261
of the temperature measurement element 26 is elastic, and the probe 261 can elastically
abut against the heating tube 21 or the fixing tube 232, so that the probe 261 can
be stably kept between the heating tube 21 and the fixing tube 232 and the probe 261
can be tightly attached to the heating tube 21. In this way, compared with keeping
a connection between the probe 261 and the heating tube 21 in a welding manner, a
surface layer of the heating tube 21 can be better protected from being damaged, and
it can be easier to combine the temperature measurement element 26 with the heating
tube 21.
[0131] The foregoing descriptions are merely the embodiments of this application, and are
not intended to limit the patent scope of this application. All equivalent structure
or process changes made according to the content of the specification and the accompanying
drawings of this application or direct or indirect application in other related technical
fields shall fall within the patent protection scope of this application.