Atomization unit and non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler

Abstract

To prevent droplets formed by agglomeration of aerosol in an aerosol flow path from reaching the inside of a user's mouth. An atomizing unit comprises an atomizing section, a tank, and a wall that defines at least part of the aerosol flow path. At least part of the wall constitutes part of a lateral wall of the tank. The aerosol flow path includes a first aerosol flow path and a second aerosol flow path. The atomizing unit includes a liquid evacuation section that is disposed in the second aerosol flow path and extends downstream of the second aerosol flow path from a boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path. The wall includes a planar portion parallel with a second direction orthogonal to a first direction at the boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path. The liquid evacuation section includes a space defined by the planar portion. A ratio of sectional area of the second aerosol flow path and the liquid evacuation section in the second direction to sectional area of the first aerosol flow path in the second direction is larger than 1 and equal to or smaller than 4.0.

1 . An atomizing unit comprising:
 an atomizing section configured to atomize an aerosol source;   a tank configured to hold the aerosol source, and   a wall configured to define at least part of an aerosol flow path, through which aerosol generated by atomization of the aerosol source passes, and which extends in a first direction,   the wall including at least part constituting part of a lateral wall of the tank,   the aerosol flow path including a first aerosol flow path and a second aerosol flow path in communication with a downstream side of the first aerosol flow path,   the atomizing unit further comprising a liquid evacuation section that is disposed in the second aerosol flow path and extends downstream of the second aerosol flow path from a boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path,   the wall including a planar portion parallel with a second direction orthogonal to the first direction at the boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path, the liquid evacuation section including a space defined by the planar portion,   wherein a ratio of sectional area of the second aerosol flow path and the liquid evacuation section in the second direction to sectional area of the first aerosol flow path in the second direction is larger than 1 and equal to or smaller than 4.0.   
     
     
         2 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wall includes a second aerosol flow path wall that defines at least part of the second aerosol flow path, and   wherein the second aerosol flow path wall constitutes part of the lateral wall of the tank.   
     
     
         3 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the wall further includes a first aerosol flow path wall that defines at least part of the first aerosol flow path, and   wherein the first aerosol flow path wall constitutes part of the lateral wall of the tank.   
     
     
         4 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wall includes a slit extending in the first direction, and   wherein the liquid evacuation section includes a space defined by the slit.   
     
     
         5 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second aerosol flow path has a circular section as viewed in the second direction, and   wherein the slit has height smaller than diameter of the second aerosol flow path in the second direction.   
     
     
         6 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second aerosol flow path and the liquid evacuation section have a rectangular sectional shape as a whole in the second direction.   
     
     
         7 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wall includes corners as viewed in the first direction, and   wherein the liquid evacuation section includes a space defined by the corners.   
     
     
         8 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a ratio of length of the liquid evacuation section in the first direction to length of the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path is not less than 1/3 and not more than 2/3.   
     
     
         9 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first aerosol flow path is identical to the second aerosol flow path in sectional shape in the second direction.   
     
     
         10 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path have a circular sectional shape in the second direction.   
     
     
         11 . The atomizing unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a sectional shape of the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path in the second direction is fixed in the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . A non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler comprising:
 the atomizing unit according to  claim 1 , and   a power source for supplying electric power to the atomizing section.