CN110279148B - Liquid storage device, atomizer and electronic cigarette - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid storage device, comprising a shell, a pressure sensor and an automatic reset valve, wherein a cavity for accommodating smoke liquid is provided in the shell, and an inlet and an opening are provided on the shell, wherein the inlet is for a power fluid to enter the shell to drive the smoke liquid, the opening is connected to the cavity, the automatic reset valve is matched with the opening, the pressure sensor is arranged in the shell, and the pressure sensor is used to sense the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell, and when the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell reaches a preset first threshold value, the automatic reset valve is opened to allow the smoke liquid to flow out. The present invention also provides an atomizer having the liquid storage device and an electronic cigarette having the atomizer.

Description

Liquid storage device, atomizer and electronic cigarette

Technical Field

The present invention belongs to the technical field of electronic cigarettes, and in particular relates to a liquid storage device, an atomizer and an electronic cigarette.

Background technique

An electronic cigarette generally includes an atomizer and a battery device, and the atomizer includes a liquid storage device for storing smoke liquid and an atomizing element. The atomizing element heats the smoke liquid supplied by the liquid storage device under the electrical drive of the battery device, atomizing it to produce smoke for the user.

When the driving device is used to drive the smoke liquid in the liquid storage device, the smoke liquid can be pushed to flow to the atomizing element by the power fluid only after a certain amount of power fluid is accumulated. Since it takes a certain amount of time to accumulate the power fluid, it takes a certain amount of time from the start of the driving device to the smoke liquid flowing to the atomizing element. If the user cannot know whether the smoke liquid has started or has flowed to the atomizing element, then the user may start the atomizing element when there is no smoke liquid or less smoke liquid on the atomizing element, which may cause dry burning.

Summary of the invention

In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storage device, an atomizer and an electronic cigarette, which can remind the user when the liquid starts to flow out of the liquid storage device, so that the atomization element can be reasonably started to avoid dry burning of the electronic cigarette.

To solve the above problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

A liquid storage device comprises a shell, a pressure sensor and an automatic reset valve, wherein a cavity for accommodating smoke liquid is provided in the shell, and an inlet and an opening are provided on the shell, wherein the inlet is for a power fluid to enter the shell to drive the smoke liquid, the opening is communicated with the cavity, the automatic reset valve cooperates with the opening, the pressure sensor is arranged in the shell, and the pressure sensor is used to sense the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell, and when the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell reaches a preset first threshold value, the automatic reset valve opens to allow the smoke liquid to flow out.

Furthermore, the liquid storage device also includes a liquid storage bag arranged in the shell, the inner cavity of the liquid storage bag constitutes the cavity for containing the smoke liquid, and the liquid storage bag is made of soft material.

Furthermore, when the e-liquid in the liquid storage capsule is exhausted, the liquid storage capsule is deformed to block the opening under the pressure of the power fluid, and the pressure in the inner cavity of the shell reaches a preset second threshold value, which is greater than the first threshold value.

Furthermore, the liquid storage device also includes a seal, which includes a sealing plug, which is arranged in the opening, and a smoke-liquid channel communicating with the inner cavity of the liquid storage bag is provided on the sealing plug, and the automatic reset valve is arranged in the smoke-liquid channel.

Furthermore, the automatic reset valve comprises a conduit inserted in the smoke liquid channel and a valve body movably arranged in the conduit.

Furthermore, a main cavity and a secondary cavity are formed in the shell, the main cavity constitutes the cavity for containing the smoke liquid, the pressure sensor is arranged in the secondary cavity, a selective permeable membrane is arranged between the main cavity and the secondary cavity, and the inlet is connected to the secondary cavity.

Furthermore, the selectively permeable membrane is a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane.

The present invention also provides an atomizer, comprising any of the liquid storage devices described above, and further comprising an atomizing element, wherein the atomizing element cooperates with the automatic reset valve, and when the automatic reset valve is opened, the smoke liquid flows out to the atomizing element.

The present invention further provides an electronic cigarette, which includes the atomizer described above, and further includes a controller and a reminder device, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the pressure sensor, the reminder device and the atomization element respectively.

Furthermore, the electronic cigarette further includes an atomizer housing arranged outside the atomizer element, a transparent observation area is formed on the atomizer housing at a position corresponding to the atomizer element, or the electronic cigarette further includes a timer electrically connected to the controller.

Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the present invention is that the pressure sensor and the automatic reset valve in the liquid storage device cooperate to remind the user when the smoke liquid flows out of the liquid storage device, so that the user can start the atomizing element when the atomizing element has or is about to come into contact with the smoke liquid to avoid dry burning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid storage device according to Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid storage device according to Example 2 of the present invention;

FIG3 is a circuit control diagram of the electronic cigarette of the present invention;

FIG4 is another circuit control diagram of the electronic cigarette of the present invention;

In the accompanying drawings, 1 is a shell, 11 is a main cavity, 12 is a sub-cavity, 13 is a selective permeable membrane, 14 is an opening, 15 is an introduction port, 2 is a pressure sensor, 3 is an automatic reset valve, 31 is a catheter, 32 is a valve body, 4 is a liquid storage capsule, 51 is a sealing plug, 52 is a fastening cover, 6 is a timer, 7 is a power supply, 8 is a controller, 9 is a reminder device, 10 is an atomizing element, and 16 is a driving device.

Detailed ways

The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

Example 1

As shown in FIG1 , an electronic cigarette includes an atomizer, wherein the atomizer includes a liquid storage device and an atomizing element 10, and the electronic cigarette also includes a driving device 16 and a power supply device. The driving device 16 is used to provide a power fluid with a driving force. In this embodiment, the driving device 16 is an air pump, and the power fluid provided is gas. The liquid storage device supplies smoke liquid to the atomizing element 10 under the drive of the power fluid of the driving device 16, and the atomizing element 10 atomizes the supplied smoke liquid into smoke under the electrical drive of the power supply device for use by the user. The liquid storage device can be disposable or can be repeatedly filled with liquid. The driving device 16 can be manual or electric. The atomizing element 10 can be one or a combination of at least two of a resistance heating element, an ultrasonic atomizing device, and an electromagnetic induction heating device.

The liquid storage device includes a housing 1, the housing 1 is used to contain smoke liquid, and the housing 1 is provided with an inlet 15 and an opening 14 connected to the atomizing element 10. The inlet 15 cooperates with the driving device 16, and the driving device 16 is used to provide a gas with a driving force, so that the gas enters the housing 1 through the inlet 15 to compress the smoke liquid in the housing 1, so that the smoke liquid flows out from the opening 14 to the atomizing element 10. It can be understood that it takes a certain amount of time from the gas entering the housing 1 through the inlet 15 to the smoke liquid flowing out from the opening 14 under the pressure of the gas. If the user starts the atomizing element 10 when there is no smoke liquid or less smoke liquid on the atomizing element 10, it may cause the atomizing element 10 to burn dry. Therefore, the user needs to start the atomizing element 10 when the smoke liquid has flowed out from the opening 14, so as to reduce the possibility of dry burning.

In combination with FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 , in order to know the time when the smoke liquid starts to flow out from the opening 14, the liquid storage device further includes a pressure sensor 2 and an automatic reset valve 3, the power supply device includes a power supply 7 and a controller 8, and the electronic cigarette further includes a reminder device 9. The controller 8 is electrically connected to the power supply 7, the atomizing element 10, the pressure sensor 2 and the reminder device 9 respectively. The automatic reset valve 3 cooperates with the opening 14, and the automatic reset valve 3 can open the opening 14 under the action of an external force, and automatically close the opening 14 after the external force is removed. When the gas enters the housing 1, it generates pressure on the smoke liquid, and the smoke liquid generates pressure on the automatic reset valve 3. As the amount of gas entering the housing 1 increases, the pressure of the gas on the smoke liquid increases, and accordingly, the pressure of the smoke liquid on the automatic reset valve 3 also increases. When the pressure of the smoke liquid on the automatic reset valve 3 is so large that the automatic reset valve 3 is opened, the smoke liquid flows out from the opening 14. That is to say, after the self-driving device 16 is started, the gas enters the housing 1, causing the pressure in the housing 1 to increase continuously. When the pressure increases to a certain value, the pressure of the smoke liquid on the automatic reset valve 3 can just open the automatic reset valve 3. The time when the pressure reaches this value is the time when the smoke liquid starts to flow out from the opening 14. This value can be named as the first threshold value, which can be obtained by detection or calculation and stored in the memory in advance. The memory can be set in the electronic cigarette, or in an electronic device that can communicate with the electronic cigarette (for example, a smart phone). The pressure sensor 2 is arranged in the housing 1. The pressure sensor 2 is used to sense the pressure of the inner cavity of the housing 1 and feed it back to the controller 8. The automatic reset valve 3 is used to control the connection or disconnection of the cavity for storing the smoke liquid in the housing 1 with the outside world. The controller 8 compares the pressure of the inner cavity of the housing 1 fed back by the pressure sensor 2 with the first threshold value. When the pressure of the inner cavity of the housing 1 reaches the preset first threshold value, it indicates that the pressure of the smoke liquid on the automatic reset valve 3 just makes the automatic reset valve 3 open to allow the smoke liquid in the housing 1 to flow out. At this time, the controller 8 controls the reminder device 9 to send out the first information to remind the user that the smoke liquid begins to flow out of the liquid storage device. The reminder device 9 can be at least one of a vibration device, an indicator light, a display device, and a voice broadcast device.

Since the smoke liquid and the pressure sensor 2 are both contained in the housing 1, in order to prevent the smoke liquid from affecting the pressure sensor 2, a main chamber 11 and a sub-chamber 12 are formed in the housing 1. The main chamber 11 is used to contain the smoke liquid, and the pressure sensor 2 is arranged in the sub-chamber 12. The inlet 15 is connected to the sub-chamber 12. After the gas enters the sub-chamber 12 from the inlet 15, it enters the main chamber 11 from the sub-chamber 12 to compress the smoke liquid. In order to allow the gas to enter the main chamber 11 smoothly without the smoke liquid in the main chamber 11 flowing into the sub-chamber 12, a selective permeable membrane 13 is arranged between the main chamber 11 and the sub-chamber 12. The selective permeable membrane 13 is used for the gas of the air pump to pass through and for blocking the leakage of the smoke liquid. In this example, the selective permeable membrane 13 is a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane.

Example 2

As shown in FIG2 , another liquid storage device is provided in the present embodiment. A liquid storage bag 4 is provided in the housing 1. The liquid storage bag 4 is used to contain the smoke liquid. The automatic reset valve 3 is used to control the connection or disconnection of the smoke liquid in the liquid storage bag 4 with the external fluid. When the automatic reset valve 3 is opened, it is used to allow the smoke liquid in the liquid storage bag 4 to flow out.

The shell 1 is provided with an opening 14 connected to the inner cavity of the liquid storage capsule 4. The liquid storage device also includes a sealing member, which includes a sealing plug 51 and a fastening cover 52. The sealing plug 51 is arranged in the opening 14, and the fastening cover 52 is arranged on the outer side of the sealing plug 51 for fixing the sealing plug 51. The sealing plug 51 is provided with a smoke liquid channel connected to the opening 14, and the automatic reset valve 3 is arranged in the smoke liquid channel. The liquid storage capsule 4 is made of soft material. When the driving device delivers power fluid into the shell 1 through the inlet 15, the power fluid compresses the liquid storage capsule 4, and the liquid storage capsule 4 compresses the smoke liquid after being deformed. When the pressure of the smoke liquid on the automatic reset valve 3 is large enough, the automatic reset valve 3 opens, and the smoke liquid flows out of the liquid storage capsule 4.

Similar to Example 1, this embodiment can also know the time when the smoke liquid starts to flow out by cooperating with the pressure sensor 2 and the automatic reset valve 3. Specifically, the pressure sensor 2 detects the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell 1, and the time when the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell 1 reaches the first threshold is the time when the smoke liquid starts to flow out. Similarly, a controller 8 and a reminder device 9 can also be set in this embodiment. The pressure sensor 2 detects the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell 1 and feeds back to the controller 8. The controller 8 compares the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell 1 with the preset first threshold. When the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell 1 reaches the first threshold, the controller 8 controls the reminder device 9 to send a first message to remind the user that the smoke liquid starts to flow out of the liquid storage device.

In this embodiment, the driving device 16 also adopts an air pump, and the power fluid is gas. It can be understood that, since in this embodiment, the power fluid does not directly compress the smoke liquid, but indirectly compresses the smoke liquid through the liquid storage capsule 4, this embodiment can also adopt other forms of driving devices 16, such as a liquid pump, and the power fluid is liquid.

In this embodiment, the automatic reset valve 3 includes a conduit 31 inserted into the smoke liquid channel of the sealing plug 51 and a valve body 32 movably disposed in the conduit 31. The valve body 32 can be reset by gravity. Alternatively, the automatic reset valve 3 also includes an elastic member (not shown in the figure), which cooperates with the valve body 32 so that the valve body 32 is reset under the elastic force of the elastic member.

In Example 2, not only the time when the smoke liquid starts to flow out of the liquid storage device can be known, but also the time when the smoke liquid in the liquid storage device is exhausted can be known. Specifically, after the drive device 16 is started, gas enters the shell 1, causing the pressure in the inner cavity of the shell 1 to increase continuously. When the pressure increases to the first threshold, the pressure of the smoke liquid on the automatic reset valve 3 can just open the automatic reset valve 3, and the smoke liquid starts to flow out of the liquid storage device. Since it is necessary to maintain the open state of the automatic reset valve 3, the pressure in the inner cavity of the shell 1 is maintained at the first threshold during the outflow of the smoke liquid. When all the smoke liquid is discharged, the liquid storage capsule 4 is deformed and blocked to the opening 14 and the conduit 31. Under the obstruction of the sealing plug 51, the liquid storage capsule 4 cannot be further deformed outward, thereby making the inside of the shell 1 a closed space. At this time, when gas is input into the shell 1 again, the pressure in the shell 1 is further increased. Therefore, a second threshold value can be stored in advance, and the pressure sensor 2 detects the pressure in the inner cavity of the shell 1 and feeds it back to the controller 8. The controller 8 compares the pressure in the inner cavity of the shell 1 with the preset second threshold value. When the pressure in the inner cavity of the shell 1 reaches the preset second threshold value, the controller 8 controls the reminder device 9 to send a second message to remind the user to inject liquid or replace the liquid storage device. The second threshold value is greater than the first threshold value.

The electronic cigarettes in Examples 1 and 2 can both obtain the time when the smoke liquid starts to flow out and inform the user through the reminder device 9. After the user obtains the first information sent by the reminder device 9, the atomizing element 10 can be started. Of course, in order to further reduce the risk of dry burning, the user can make the driving device 16 continue to work for a period of time after obtaining the first information, so that the smoke liquid can fully infiltrate the atomizing element 10 before starting the atomizing element 10.

In one embodiment, the atomizer further includes an atomizer housing (not shown), the liquid storage device and the atomizer element 10 are both contained in the atomizer housing, and a transparent observation area is provided on the atomizer housing corresponding to the atomizer element 10. After the user obtains the first information, the user can observe the infiltration of the atomizer element 10 by the smoke liquid through the transparent observation area, and when the user believes that the smoke liquid has fully infiltrated the atomizer element 10, the atomizer element 10 can be automatically started. In addition, after starting the atomizer element 10, the drive device 16 can work intermittently or continuously.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , the electronic cigarette further includes a timer 6, and the drive device 16 is an electric type. The controller 8 is electrically connected to the power supply 7, the pressure sensor 20, the reminder device 9, the atomizing element 10, the timer 6, and the drive device 16, respectively. When the pressure in the inner cavity of the housing 1 reaches the preset first threshold, the controller 8 not only controls the reminder device 9 to send the first information, but also controls the drive device 16 to continue working and controls the timer 6 to start timing. When the cumulative duration recorded by the timer 6 reaches the preset duration (for example, 3s), the controller 8 controls the atomizing element 10 to start while controlling the reminder device 9 to send a third information to remind the user that the smoke liquid has fully infiltrated the atomizing element 10, and the atomizing element 10 has been started, and the user can start to inhale. Similarly, after starting the atomizing element 10, the drive device 16 can work intermittently or continuously. In addition, when the pressure in the inner cavity of the housing 1 reaches the preset first threshold, the controller 8 can only control the drive device 16 to continue working and control the timer 6 to start timing, omitting the step of the controller 8 controlling the reminder device 9 to send the first information.

For those skilled in the art, various other corresponding changes and deformations can be made according to the technical solutions and concepts described above, and all of these changes and deformations should fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A liquid storage device, characterized in that: including shell, pressure sensor and automatic re-setting valve, be equipped with the cavity that is used for acceping the tobacco juice in the shell, just set up leading-in port and opening on the shell, leading-in port power fluid gets into in the shell in order to drive the tobacco juice, the opening with the cavity intercommunication, automatic re-setting valve with the opening cooperatees, pressure sensor set up in the shell, pressure sensor is used for the sensing the pressure of shell inner chamber, works as when the pressure of shell inner chamber reaches preset first threshold value, automatic re-setting valve opens in order for the tobacco juice flows.

2. A reservoir according to claim 1, wherein: the smoke-absorbing device is characterized by further comprising a liquid storage bag arranged in the shell, wherein the cavity of the liquid storage bag forms a cavity for accommodating smoke liquid, and the liquid storage bag is made of soft materials.

3. A reservoir according to claim 2, wherein: when the smoke liquid in the liquid storage bag is exhausted, the liquid storage bag deforms to seal the opening under the compression of the power fluid, the pressure of the inner cavity of the shell reaches a preset second threshold value, and the second threshold value is larger than the first threshold value.

4. A reservoir according to claim 3, wherein: the automatic reset valve is arranged in the tobacco juice channel.

5. The fluid reservoir of claim 4, wherein: the automatic reset valve comprises a guide pipe inserted into the smoke liquid channel and a valve body movably arranged in the guide pipe.

6. A reservoir according to claim 1, wherein: the shell is internally provided with a main cavity and an auxiliary cavity, the main cavity forms a cavity for accommodating smoke liquid, the pressure sensor is arranged in the auxiliary cavity, a selective permeable membrane is arranged between the main cavity and the auxiliary cavity, and the inlet is communicated with the auxiliary cavity.

7. A reservoir according to claim 6, wherein: the selective permeable membrane is a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane.

8. An atomizer comprising a liquid storage device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, and an atomizing element, said atomizing element being associated with said automatic reset valve, said aerosol flow exiting onto said atomizing element when said automatic reset valve is opened.

9. An electronic cigarette comprising the atomizer of claim 8, a controller and a reminding device, wherein the controller is electrically connected with the pressure sensor, the reminding device and the atomizing element respectively.

10. The electronic cigarette of claim 9, wherein: the atomizer comprises an atomization element, and is characterized by further comprising an atomizer shell arranged outside the atomization element, wherein a transparent observation area is formed on the atomizer shell corresponding to the atomization element, or a timer electrically connected with the controller.