WO2013113612A1

WO2013113612A1 - Electric cigarette

Info

Publication number: WO2013113612A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/051327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen RUHLMANN
Original assignee: SNOKE GmbH & Co. KG
Priority date: 2012-02-01
Filing date: 2013-01-24
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Also published as: DE102012100831B3

Abstract

Electric cigarette with a vaporiser, a power supply for the vaporiser, a depot for liquid connected to the vaporiser, a mouthpiece and a switch controlling the power supply for the vaporiser, said elements being contained in a housing, wherein the vaporiser is designed as a largely enclosed combustion chamber having only small inlet openings for the liquid and an outlet opening for the vapour and comprising a heating coil consisting of a wire with electrical resistance, wherein the depot is constructed as a storage substance-free tank and only a liquid-permeable fabric laid around the small inlet openings is arranged between the tank and the combustion chamber.

Description

Electric cigarette

The invention relates to an electric cigarette with an evaporator, a

Power supply for the evaporator, connected to the evaporator depot for the liquid, a mouthpiece and a switch, the

Regulating power supply of the evaporator, which are contained in a housing, wherein the evaporator is designed as a largely completed combustion chamber having only small inlet openings for the liquid and a discharge opening for the steam and comprises a heating coil, which consists of a wire with electrical resistance.

Electric cigarettes have been known for some time. In principle, these electronic cigarettes consist of an evaporator, also called an atomizer, in which a nicotine-containing or nicotine-free, usually flavored liquid, called liquid, is converted into steam. For this purpose, the evaporator contains a heating coil, which is powered by a power supply, usually a battery, with energy. The liquid is held in a custody account. Furthermore, a mouthpiece is provided for inhalation and a switch that regulates the power supply of the evaporator. The switch can be actuated either manually or via negative pressure that occurs during inhalation (pulling). Most electronic cigarettes have an elongated cylindrical shape that is similar to that of a conventional cigarette.

The vapor produced in the evaporator by heating up the liquid is consumed during inhalation.

Central component of the electronic cigarettes is the evaporator, which usually comprises a heating coil, which consists of a wire with electrical resistance, which heats up as it flows. To protect the heating coil, this is usually covered with a wire mesh or metal mesh or contained in a largely completed combustion chamber, which has only small inlet openings for the liquid.

The liquid is kept in the depot and is gradually released from it to the evaporator. The depot consists of a shell and is usually with a Storage material made of cotton wool, glass fibers, fleece, etc. filled, in which the liquid

is stored spongy. If the atomizer is configured together with the depot, it is called a cartomizer (cartridge + atomizer). From US 201 1/0303231 is known e.g. an electric cigarette is known in which the evaporator consists of a glass fiber tube, a yarn of glass fibers, a heating coil, a cotton cloth layer and a synthetic fiber layer, the yarn is inserted into the heating spiral of glass fibers, which is within s glass fiber Tube is located. The ends of the fiberglass yarn and two wires used to electronically connect the heating coil to the terminals are led out through the glass fiber tube.

The cotton cloth layer envelops the outer wall of the glass fiber tube and presses the ends of the yarn tightly against the glass fiber tube. The synthetic fiber layer between the cotton cloth layer and the fastening sleeve stores the liquid and serves as the actual depot.

From EP 2 404 515 A1 is known e.g. an electric cigarette is known in which the shell has an additional auxiliary air inlet. The electric heater has a through hole and filled with fleece, etc. Depot has a channel between mouthpiece and evaporator or through hole. A negative pressure sensor is connected to the through-hole and the channel and forms an air flow pf ad with the auxiliary air inlet to be activated. The liquid stored in the fleece penetrates through a permeable component arranged between the depot and the heater and reaches the electric heater directly.

In addition, tank systems are known in which the liquid stored without cotton wool, etc. in the depot and discharged through a membrane, etc. to the evaporator. In most cases, a hollow needle is used, which pierces the membrane and communicates with the evaporator.

The problem with all known systems is the uniform supply or

Supply of the evaporator with liquid, at the same time a leakage or suction of non-evaporated liquid must be prevented because, for example, the unvaporised nicotine is extremely toxic. In addition, it is desired to maintain larger amounts of liquid in the depot. The object of the invention is therefore to provide an electronic cigarette, in which the liquid supply to the evaporator is uniform, no leakage takes place and a larger amount of liquid can be stored in the depot. This object is achieved by the reproduced in claim 1 electric cigarette method.

According to the invention it has been recognized that, when the depot is designed as a fuel-free tank and only between the tank and the combustion chamber, a liquid permeable fabric is arranged, which is placed around the small inlet openings, a very good and uniform liquid supply to the evaporator with a large supply of liquid can be paired.

Particularly uniform liquid delivery without leakage is achieved when the permeable fabric has a region of higher permeability and a region of lower permeability, with the region of lower permeability adjacent to the inlet openings.

In this case, the region of lower permeability may be arranged radially around the combustion chamber and may also be surrounded by the region of higher permeability. The area of lower permeability is thus approximately cylindrical

Combustion chamber is arranged circumferentially in front of the inlet openings and is

it is advisable to surround it by the region of higher permeability so that it is supplied with liquid by the tank, and the liquid thus temporarily stored is gradually released to the region of lower permeability, which in turn supplies the combustion chamber via the inlet openings.

Further, the region of higher permeability in the axial direction of the

Combustion chamber between the tank and the region of lower permeability be arranged. Then a good "separation" between the tank and the combustion chamber is achieved.

If there is arranged between the outlet opening of the combustion chamber for the steam and the mouthpiece, a conically extending to the mouthpiece inhalation tube, a homogenization of the Dampfansaugung and an increase of the reached sucked amount.

In a preferred embodiment, a mouthpiece closure is provided, which is designed as a prefabricated assembly. Thus, the entire assembly can be used in assembling the electronic cigarette as a whole. So far, the items had to be assembled one by one in the case individually.

Preferably, the mouthpiece closure consists of a sealing washer and a spaced-apart closing piece, between which at least one spacer is arranged. The closing piece is assigned to the mouth and the sealing disc closes off the tank towards the suction opening, so that no liquid is sucked in. Preferably, three evenly spaced spacers are provided.

It is also preferred if the spacer is surrounded by a vapor-permeable filter material.

Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the

subsequent description of the drawing. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a cartomizer of a first variant of an electric cigarette according to the invention;

2 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a cartomizer of a second variant of an electric cigarette according to the invention;

3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a cartomizer of a further variant of an electric cigarette according to the invention;

4 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a cartomizer of a further variant of an electric cigarette according to the invention and FIG

Fig. 5 is a schematic transparent view of a trained as an assembly mouthpiece closure of Figures 1 to 4. In Figures 1 to 4 are designated by a designated as a whole by 1 electrical Cigarette only the so-called Cartomizer, so the unit from Depot 2 and

Evaporator 3 shown, which are contained in a cylindrical shell 4, which serves gelichzeitig at one end as a mouthpiece 5 and at the other end on a non-shown part is screwed, which includes the power supply (battery) and other electronics, such as pressure switching ,

This basic structure is widely known.

The evaporator 3 is designed as a largely completed combustion chamber 6, which has only small inlet openings 7 for the liquid and an outlet opening 8 for the steam and comprises a heating coil 9, which consists of a wire with electrical resistance.

The inlet openings 7 extend over the entire height of the outer wall of the combustion chamber 6 and are circumferentially evenly distributed. The outlet opening 8 is arranged centrally above the heating coil 9.

The depot 2 is designed as a storage tank-free tank. It essentially fills the entire shell 4. Only between the tank and the combustion chamber 6, a liquid permeable nonwoven fabric 10 is disposed of glass fibers, which is placed around the small inlet openings 7.

The permeable fabric 10 has a higher permeability region 10A and a lower permeability region 10B, the lower permeability region 10B being adjacent to the inlet apertures 7. The region 10B of lower permeability is thus arranged radially around the combustion chamber 6 and surrounded by the region 10A of higher permeability.

A gradient for the supply of liquid in the tissue 10 is thus effected.

Between the outlet opening 8 of the combustion chamber 6 for the steam and the

Mouthpiece 5 is the mouthpiece extending inhalation tube 1 1

arranged. Between the mouthpiece facing the end of the inhalation tube 11 and the actual suction port 12 in the mouthpiece 5, a mouthpiece closure 13 is provided, that the depot or the tank to the suction port 12 seals out.

The gasket at the other end of the shell 4, i. in the region of the evaporator 3 assumes a collar 14. This can be configured integrally with the combustion chamber 6 and the inhalation tube 1 1, so that they are used as an assembly in the common shell 4, wherein the inhalation tube 11 against which also as an assembly (see. Bottom or Figure 5) formed mouthpiece closure 13 is pressed to complete the formed between the final collar 14 and mouthpiece closure 13 Depot 2.

Thus, the liquid flows from the depot 2 through the two layers 10A, B of the fabric 10 through the inlet openings 7 evenly into the combustion chamber and is evaporated there at the heating coil 9, as soon as the power supply from the battery is switched due to a negative pressure in the corresponding vacuum switch.

The vapor is then discharged via the outlet opening 8 through the inhalation tube 11 and the mouthpiece closure 13 via the suction opening 12 or inhaled (vaporized). The variant of the electric cigarette shown in FIG. 2 differs from the one described above essentially only by the configuration and arrangement of the permeable fabric 10 and the associated one

Arrangement of the inlet openings 7. Therefore, only these differences will be discussed.

Although the permeable fabric 10 also has a higher permeability region 10A and a lower permeability region 10B, the lower permeability region 10B adjoins the inlet apertures 7. The lower permeability region 10B is also disposed radially around the combustion chamber 6.

However, the higher permeability region 10A in the axial direction of the combustion chamber 6 is disposed between the tank 2 and the lower permeability region 10B, so it is more or less on the lower permeability region 10B (viewed from the bottom to the top). Accordingly, the inlet openings 7 in the combustion chamber 6 of the

Evaporator 3 now no longer distributed over its entire height as before, but distributed only over a height range, which corresponds to that of the region 10B lower permeability. The upper area surrounded by the tissue 10A higher permeability of the combustion chamber is thus closed.

Thus, an analogous liquid flow is effected, as already described above. The variant of the electric cigarette shown in FIG. 3, in turn, differs from the previously described embodiments essentially only by the design and arrangement of the permeable fabric 10 and the associated arrangement of the inlet openings 7. Therefore, only these differences will be discussed.

In this variant, the tissue 10 is formed as a toroidal shape, ie bead-shaped geometric structure that can be compared with the shape of a lifebuoy, teat or donut, the toms or donuts is cut in the longitudinal direction or along the vertical diameter, so that the shown section of a semicircle results.

In this case, the region 10A of higher permeability in the direction of the combustion chamber 6 is arranged on the outside and the region 10B of lower permeability on the inside, ie is completely surrounded by the region 10A of higher permeability toward the tank, but lies against the inlet openings 7 with the straight surface.

These are now only in the central region of the height of the combustion chamber 6, so that they are supplied with liquid only from the region 10B lower permeability. The variant of the electric cigarette shown in Figure 4 differs from the previously described variant of Figure 3 only by the configuration of the inhalation tube 1 1 and the outlet opening 8 of the combustion chamber 6 for the steam.

The inhalation tube 1 is now no longer cylindrical, but conically designed tapering towards the mouthpiece 5. Accordingly, the outlet opening 8 of the Combustion chamber 6 enlarged in diameter.

In FIG. 5, the mouthpiece closure 13 used in the electric cigarettes 1 described above is shown in a schematic enlargement.

The closure is prefabricated as a finished assembly for insertion into the shell 4 and consists of a sealing washer 15 made of silicone and a spaced-apart closing piece 16 made of plastic, between which two pin-like spacers 17 are arranged from the same plastic.

The spacers 17 are surrounded by a vapor-permeable filter material 18, which is thus arranged between the sealing disk 15 and the closing piece 16. Furthermore, the sealing disc 15 and the closing piece 16 each have a central and mutually corresponding opening 19, 20.

The diameter of the opening 19 of the sealing washer 15 is smaller than that

Outside diameter of the end of the inhalation tube 11 so that it can be inserted sealingly through the opening 19 in the filter material 18.

Claims

claims

1. An electric cigarette with an evaporator, a power supply for the evaporator, connected to the evaporator depot for the liquid, a mouthpiece and a switch that regulates the power supply of the evaporator, which are contained in a housing, wherein the evaporator as largely completed Combustion chamber is executed, which has only small inlet openings for the liquid and a discharge opening for the steam and comprises a heating coil, which consists of a wire with electrical resistance,

characterized in that

the depot is designed as a storage tank-free tank and only between the tank and the combustion chamber, a liquid-permeable fabric is arranged, which is placed around the small inlet openings.

The electric cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that the permeable fabric has a region of higher permeability and a region of lower permeability, the region of lower permeability being adjacent to the inlet openings.

3. An electric cigarette according to claim 2, characterized in that the region of lower permeability is arranged radially around the combustion chamber.

4. An electric cigarette according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the region of lower permeability is surrounded by the region of higher permeability.

5. An electric cigarette according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the region of higher permeability in the axial direction of the combustion chamber between the tank and the region of lower permeability is arranged.

6. An electric cigarette according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the outlet opening of the combustion chamber for the steam and the mouthpiece, a conically tapered to the mouthpiece inhalation tube is arranged.

7. Electric cigarette according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mouthpiece closure is provided, which is designed as a prefabricated assembly.

8. An electric cigarette according to claim 7, characterized in that the mouthpiece closure consists of a sealing disc and a spaced-apart closing piece, between which at least one spacer is arranged.

9. An electric cigarette according to claim 8, characterized in that the spacer is surrounded by a vapor-permeable filter material.

10. An electric cigarette according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the sealing disc and the closing piece each have a central and mutually corresponding opening.