Electronic cigarette

• US 10,674,769 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Original Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Inventors: Chen, Shih-Chang, Mo, Li-Pang, Chen, Shou-Hung, Chen, Mei-Yen, Huang, Chi-Feng, Han, Yung-Lung
• Primary Examiner(s): Yaary, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sparks, Russell E
• Application Number:
  US15/943,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20180289064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 131329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 7/04 with smoke filters filters therefor A24D3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/046 with piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/00 Diaphragm valves or cut-off apparatus, e.g. with a member deformed, but not moved bodily, to close the passage container gates or closures operating by deformation of flexible walls B65D90/56; means for plugging pipes or hoses F16L55/10 ; Pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes a power supply device, a sensing unit, an atomizer, a liquid storage structure and a fluid transportation device. The atomizer includes an electric heater and a liquid conduit. The liquid conduit has an input port at one end and plural perforations at the other end, and the electric heater is disposed around the liquid conduit. The liquid storage structure includes a passageway and a liquid container. A cigarette liquid is stored in the liquid container. The fluid transportation device includes an input channel and an output channel. The input channel is in communication with the liquid container. The output channel is in communication with the liquid conduit of the atomizer. The cigarette liquid is transferred to the atomizer at a certain amount. Consequently, an atomized vapor is generated.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

a power supply device providing a driving power and a control signal;

a sensing unit switches on or off an electric circuit of the power supply device according to an airflow detected by the sensing unit;

an atomizer comprising an electric heater and a liquid conduit, wherein the liquid conduit has an input port at one end and plural perforations at the other end, and the electric heater is disposed around the liquid conduit;

a liquid storage structure comprising a passageway allowing the airflow to pass therethrough and a liquid container, wherein the electric heater is disposed on a first end of the passageway; and

a cigarette liquid is stored in the liquid container;

a fluid transportation device comprising an input channel and an output channel;

wherein the input channel in communication with the liquid container enables the cigarette liquid to be transferred to the liquid conduit and then the cigarette liquid is transferred to an outside of the liquid conduit through the plural perforations so that the cigarette liquid transferred to the electric heater of the atomizer for generating an atomized vapor is controlled at a certain amount;

a casing being provided with the power supply device, the sensing unit, the fluid transportation device, the atomizer, the liquid storage structure and an intake-and-electric-connection element disposed therewithin, wherein the casing has an inlet for the airflow to pass through, wherein after the airflow is fed into the inlet, the airflow passes through the sensing unit and the passageway of the liquid storage structure along an airflow path, and wherein the fluid transportation device and the electric heater of the atomizer are electrically connected with the power supply device and the sensing unit through the intake-and-electric-connection element for receiving an electric power and the control signal; and

a mouthpiece sealing an end of the casing and having a mouth in communication with the passageway of the liquid storage structure for inhaling the atomized vapor in the passageway of the liquid storage structure,

wherein the fluid transportation device further comprises;

a valve cover comprising a first via and a second via;

a valve body comprising an inlet passage, an outlet passage, a first surface and a second surface, wherein the inlet passage and the outlet passage penetrate the first surface and the second surface, an inlet via is formed in the second surface and in communication with the inlet passage, an outlet via is formed in the second surface and in communication with the outlet passage, wherein the inlet passage is connected with the input channel, and the outlet passage is connected with the output channel;

a valve membrane comprising two valve plates, plural extension parts and plural hollow parts, wherein the two valve plates have the same thickness, the plural extension parts are disposed around the valve plates for elastically supporting the valve plates, and the hollow parts are disposed between the extension parts;

a valve chamber seat comprising a third surface, a fourth surface, an inlet valve channel, an outlet valve channel and a pressure chamber, wherein the inlet valve channel and the outlet valve channel penetrate the third surface and the fourth surface, the two valve plates are supported on the inlet valve channel and the outlet valve channel, the pressure chamber is concavely formed in the fourth surface, and the pressure chamber is in communication with the inlet valve channel and the outlet valve channel;

an actuator, wherein the pressure chamber of the valve chamber seat is covered by the actuator; and

an outer sleeve, wherein an accommodation space is defined by an inner wall of the outer sleeve, and a ring-shaped protrusion structure is formed on the inner wall of the outer sleeve,

wherein the valve body, the valve membrane, the valve chamber seat and the actuator are sequentially stacked on each other, accommodated within the accommodation space of the outer sleeve, and supported on the ring-shaped protrusion structure, wherein the inlet passage and the outlet passage of the valve body are respectively inserted into the first via and the second via of the valve cover, wherein while the actuator is enabled, the cigarette liquid is fed into the inlet passage and outputted from the outlet passage.

2. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the casing is an assembly of a first casing and a second casing, wherein the power supply device and the sensing unit are disposed within the first casing, and the fluid transportation device, the atomizer and the liquid storage structure are disposed within the second casing.

3. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device comprises a power module, a control module, a heater module and a light emitting diode.

4. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the power module of the power supply device is a rechargeable battery for providing the driving power to the control module, the heater module, the sensing unit and the fluid transportation device.

5. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the power module of the power supply device is a disposable battery for providing the driving power to the control module, the heater module, the sensing unit and the fluid transportation device.

6. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the control module provides a first control signal to the heater module and provides a second control signal and the driving power to the fluid transportation device.

7. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the heater module of the power supply device provides electric energy to the electric heater of the atomizer.

8. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting diode of the power supply device is located at a front end of the casing, wherein under control of the control module, the light emitting diode is turned on or turned off to provide or not provide a prompt signal so as to indicate an operating condition of the electronic cigarette.

9. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting diode of the power supply device is located at a front end of the casing, wherein under control of the control module, the light emitting diode provides a prompt signal to indicate an intensity of the atomized vapor.

10. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the sensing unit includes an airflow sensor and an air pressure sensor, wherein the electric circuit of the power supply device is selectively enabled or disabled according to a result of detecting the airflow by the airflow sensor, and the air pressure sensor issues a detection signal to the control module according to a result of detecting a pressure of the airflow, wherein according to the detection signal, the control module adjusts a speed of atomizing the cigarette liquid and a speed of providing the cigarette liquid.

11. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the liquid conduit is a stainless steel tube.

12. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a filter located at an end of the passageway of the liquid storage structure such that the cigarette liquid is blocked by the filter when being initially heated and incompletely atomized such that a guard against inhalation as a protection measure is formed.

13. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein plural recesses are formed in the second surface of the valve body, and plural posts are formed on the third surface of the valve chamber seat, wherein the plural posts are inserted into the corresponding recesses, so that the valve chamber seat is fixed on the valve body.

14. The electronic cigarette according to claim 13, wherein the valve membrane is disposed between the valve body and the valve chamber seat, and the valve membrane comprises plural positioning holes corresponding to the plural posts, wherein the plural posts are inserted into the corresponding positioning holes, so that the valve membrane is positioned and supported on the valve chamber seat.

15. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein a first groove is formed in the second surface and disposed around the inlet via, a second groove is formed in the second surface and disposed around the outlet via, a third groove is formed in the third surface and disposed around the inlet valve channel, and a fourth groove is formed in the third surface and disposed around the outlet valve channel, wherein the fluid transportation device further comprises plural sealing rings, and the plural sealing rings are received in the first groove, the second groove, the third groove and the fourth groove, respectively.

16. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein a first protrusion block is formed on the second surface of the valve body and disposed on a periphery of the inlet via, and a second protrusion block is formed on the third surface and disposed on a periphery of the outlet valve channel, wherein the first protrusion block and the second protrusion block are cooperated with the two valve plates respectively to form pre-forces for sealing and preventing the cigarette liquid from returning back.

17. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a vibration plate and a piezoelectric element, wherein the piezoelectric element is attached on a surface of the vibration plate, the piezoelectric element is subjected to a deformation in response to an applied voltage, and the vibration plate of the actuator is assembled with the fourth surface of the valve chamber seat to cover the pressure chamber.