CN-121985892-A - Heater assembly with micro-channel array

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device. The heater assembly comprises a heating element (10) for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate (12) and a liquid delivery structure (14) configured to deliver the liquid aerosol-forming substrate towards the heating element. The liquid delivery structure comprises a plurality of micro-channels (16, 18, 20) arranged in an ordered array. The invention also relates to an aerosol-generating device. The invention also relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-forming substrate. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device.

Inventors

• F. Kabaho Fuertes
• JIANG BO

Assignees

• 菲利普莫里斯生产公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240819

Priority Date

20230824

Claims (13)

1. 1. A heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device, the heater assembly comprising A heating element for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and A liquid delivery structure configured to deliver the liquid aerosol-forming substrate towards the heating element, Wherein the liquid transport structure comprises a plurality of micro-channels arranged in an ordered array, wherein the liquid transport structure comprising the plurality of micro-channels is a unitary structure, and wherein the heating element comprises a metal film embedded within the liquid transport structure.
2. 2. The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein at least two microchannels each extend along a straight line, and wherein the straight lines are arranged in parallel.
3. 3. The heater assembly of claim 2, wherein at least three micro-channels each extend along a straight line, and wherein the straight lines are arranged in parallel, preferably wherein the parallel arranged micro-channels are equally spaced.
4. 4. The heater assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two microchannels each extend along a straight line, and wherein the straight lines are arranged vertically.
5. 5. The heater assembly of claim 4, wherein a first microchannel extends along a first straight line and a second microchannel extends along a second straight line, wherein the first straight line is disposed perpendicular to the second straight line, and wherein an open end of the first microchannel is in direct fluid connection with an open end of the second microchannel.
6. 6. The heater assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the microchannels are arranged in a regular pattern.
7. 7. The heater assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two microchannels have the same length and the same diameter.
8. 8. The heater assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the metal film is a planar metal film.
9. 9. A heater assembly according to claim 8, wherein the liquid delivery structure comprises an evaporation channel spatially arranged between the metal film and at least one supply microchannel, preferably wherein the at least one supply microchannel is at least one micro-dispenser unit, more preferably wherein the at least one micro-dispenser unit comprises a valve control device.
10. 10. The heater assembly of claim 8, wherein the liquid delivery structure comprises an evaporation channel spatially arranged between the metal film and at least one inlet and supply microchannel extending from an outer surface of the liquid delivery structure to the evaporation channel, the at least one inlet and supply microchannel being configured to direct both air and liquid aerosol-forming substrate into the evaporation channel, preferably wherein the at least one inlet and supply microchannel extends substantially perpendicular to the evaporation channel.
11. 11. An aerosol-generating device comprising a heater assembly according to any preceding claim.
12. 12. An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device according to claim 13 and an aerosol-forming substrate.
13. 13. A method for manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device according to any of claims 1 to 10, the method comprising Providing a plurality of substrate layers for forming a liquid transport structure; producing cavities in the substrate layer, preferably by means of one or more of wet etching, dry etching, laser induced wet etching, laser machining and micro-embossing, and The substrate layers with cavities are stacked to form the liquid transport structure.

Description

Heater assembly with micro-channel array Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device. The present disclosure also relates to an aerosol-generating device. The present disclosure also relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-forming substrate. The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device. Background It is known to provide an aerosol-generating device for generating inhalable vapour. Such devices can heat an aerosol-forming substrate without burning the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element for heating the aerosol-forming substrate. Upon heating to the target temperature, the aerosol-forming substrate evaporates to form an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be present in solid form or in liquid form. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be included in the liquid storage portion and may be delivered to the heating element via the wicking component. The liquid storage portion may form part of a replaceable or refillable cartridge. Disclosure of Invention It is desirable to provide a durable aerosol-generating device. It is desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that can reliably generate an aerosol over a number of heating cycles. It is desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that can be used over many heating cycles without substantial material degradation. It is desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that may reduce or avoid carbonization of components of the heater assembly. It is desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that achieves a homogenized vaporization process. It is desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that achieves an optimized aerosolization process. It is desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that enables precise control of the throughput of an aerosol-forming substrate. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device is provided. The heater assembly may comprise a heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The heater assembly may include a liquid delivery structure. The liquid delivery structure may be configured to deliver the liquid aerosol-forming substrate towards the heating element. The liquid delivery structure may comprise a plurality of micro-channels arranged in an ordered array. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device is provided. The heater assembly comprises a heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The heater assembly includes a liquid delivery structure. The liquid delivery structure is configured to deliver the liquid aerosol-forming substrate towards the heating element. The liquid delivery structure includes a plurality of micro-channels arranged in an ordered array. By means of the heater assembly of the present invention, a durable aerosol-generating device may be provided. An aerosol-generating device may be provided that reliably generates an aerosol over a number of heating cycles. An aerosol-generating device may be provided that may be used over many heating cycles without substantial material degradation. An aerosol-generating device may be provided that reduces or avoids carbonization of components of the heater assembly. An aerosol-generating device may be provided that implements a homogenized vaporization process. An aerosol-generating device may be provided which enables an optimised aerosolization process. An aerosol-generating device may be provided which enables precise control of the throughput of the aerosol-forming substrate. A liquid delivery structure comprising an ordered array of micro-channels may allow a precisely predefined amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to be delivered to the heating element and thus volatilized. A liquid delivery structure comprising an ordered array of micro-channels may allow for an optimal design of the heater assembly in view of the particular device. The aerosolization process may be optimized for each particular application. Carbon deposition may be reduced or avoided. The service life of the product can be prolonged. An aerosol-generating device may be provided that may reliably generate an aerosol over a number of heating cycles. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be delivered through a microchannel disposed in the liquid delivery structure. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be transported via capillary forces through a microchannel disposed in the liquid transport structure. The liquid delivery structure may be configured to deliver the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the heating element. The liquid delivery structure may be configured to deliver the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid reservoir towards the heat