Vapor generation device

Abstract

A vapor generation device is configured to heat an aerosol-forming article to generate an aerosol for inhalation, the device including a housing, where the housing is internally provided with: a cavity; at least one heater, configured to heat the aerosol-forming article; and a support mechanism, constructed to surround at least a part of the cavity, where an inner surface of the support mechanism is provided with a plurality of first protrusions and a plurality of second protrusions spaced along a circumferential direction to clamp the aerosol-forming article received in the cavity; and the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions are arranged sequentially along an axial direction of the support mechanism. The vapor generation device simultaneously clamps the aerosol-forming article at different heights through double-layer protrusions inside, so that the aerosol-forming article can be stably received in the vapor generation device, and transfer heat with a heater.

1 : A vapor generation device, configured to heat an aerosol-forming article to generate an aerosol for inhalation, the device comprising a housing, wherein the housing is internally provided with:
 a cavity, configured to receive the aerosol-forming article;   at least one heater, configured to heat the aerosol-forming article; and   a support mechanism, constructed to surround at least a part of the cavity, wherein an inner surface of the support mechanism is provided with a plurality of first protrusions and a plurality of second protrusions spaced along a circumferential direction of the cavity, configured to provide support along a radial direction for inhalable materials received in the cavity to clamp the aerosol-forming article received in the cavity; and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are arranged in a spaced manner along an axial direction of the cavity.   
     
     
         2 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions are staggered from each other on the inner surface of the support mechanism along the axial direction of the cavity. 
     
     
         3 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions is rigid, and the other is flexible. 
     
     
         4 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided with a receiving hole at one end, and the aerosol-forming article is received detachably in the cavity through the receiving hole; and
 the plurality of first protrusions are closer to the receiving hole than the plurality of second protrusions.   
     
     
         5 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 4 , wherein a surface of the second protrusion is provided with a long and thin slit or groove extending along the axial direction of the support mechanism. 
     
     
         6 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the support mechanism comprises an annular rigid support member and an annular flexible support member arranged coaxially; and
 the plurality of first protrusions are formed on the inner surface of the rigid support member, and the plurality of second protrusions are formed on the inner surface of the flexible support member.   
     
     
         7 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 6 , wherein the flexible support member comprises an inner wall and an outer wall arranged sequentially from inside to outside along the radial direction, and a clamping cavity formed between the inner wall and the outer wall; and the rigid support member is at least partially retained in the clamping cavity. 
     
     
         8 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cavity comprises a near end and a far end facing away from each other along the axial direction;
 the support mechanism comprises a first support member with the first protrusion and a second support member with the second protrusion; and the first support member is adjacent to the near end of the cavity, and the second support member is adjacent to the far end of the cavity.   
     
     
         9 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first protrusions have a surface friction coefficient different from that of the plurality of second protrusions. 
     
     
         10 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first protrusions and/or the plurality of second protrusions are symmetrically arranged along a central axis of the cavity. 
     
     
         11 : A vapor generation device, configured to heat an aerosol-forming article to generate an aerosol for inhalation, the device comprising a housing, wherein the housing is internally provided with:
 a cavity, configured to receive the aerosol-forming article;   at least one heater, configured to heat the aerosol-forming article; and   a support mechanism, comprising a rigid support member and a flexible support member, at least a part of the rigid support member surrounding the cavity, wherein:   the flexible support member is provided with an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to each other along a radial direction, the inner surface is provided with a plurality of protrusions spaced along a circumferential direction of the cavity, and the protrusion protrudes from the inner surface toward the cavity to provide an elastically retractable support along the radial direction for inhalable materials received in the cavity, so as to clamp the aerosol-forming article.   
     
     
         12 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions is rigid, and the other is flexible. 
     
     
         13 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing is provided with a receiving hole at one end, and the aerosol-forming article is received detachably in the cavity through the receiving hole; and
 the plurality of first protrusions are closer to the receiving hole than the plurality of second protrusions.   
     
     
         14 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 13 , wherein a surface of the second protrusion is provided with a long and thin slit or groove extending along the axial direction of the support mechanism. 
     
     
         15 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein the support mechanism comprises an annular rigid support member and an annular flexible support member arranged coaxially; and
 the plurality of first protrusions are formed on the inner surface of the rigid support member, and the plurality of second protrusions are formed on the inner surface of the flexible support member.   
     
     
         16 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 15 , wherein the flexible support member comprises an inner wall and an outer wall arranged sequentially from inside to outside along the radial direction, and a clamping cavity formed between the inner wall and the outer wall; and the rigid support member is at least partially retained in the clamping cavity. 
     
     
         17 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein the cavity comprises a near end and a far end facing away from each other along the axial direction;
 the support mechanism comprises a first support member with the first protrusion and a second support member with the second protrusion; and the first support member is adjacent to the near end of the cavity, and the second support member is adjacent to the far end of the cavity.   
     
     
         18 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first protrusions have a surface friction coefficient different from that of the plurality of second protrusions. 
     
     
         19 : The vapor generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first protrusions and/or the plurality of second protrusions are symmetrically arranged along a central axis of the cavity.