Aerosol generator including multi-component wick

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10828385-B2
Application number	US-201615333850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2016
Priority date	Oct 9, 2009
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

An aerosol generator includes a composite conduit to transport multiple liquids to a heating element at flow rates such that the liquids arrive at the heating element in desirable concentrations. The heating element volatilizes the liquids to form volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol with desirable concentrations of the multiple liquids.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol generator comprising:
a reservoir containing a first liquid material and a second liquid material, the first liquid material having a first density, the second liquid material having a second density, and the first density being different from the second density, such that the first liquid material and the second liquid material are in discrete, immiscible layers in the reservoir;
a first wick in fluid communication with the reservoir;
a second wick in fluid communication with the reservoir;
at least one capillary tube surrounded by the second wick the second wick surrounded by the first wick, the at least one capillary tube, the first wick, and the second wick having different lengths;
a heating element configured to heat the liquid material in the first wick and the second wick to form an aerosol;
a power supply electrically connectable to the heating element.

2. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is formed of stainless steel.

3. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the first wick and the second wick are formed of different wicking materials.

4. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the power supply includes a battery.

5. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mouthpiece through which the aerosol passes.

6. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control circuit configured to regulate a supply of power from the power supply to the heating element.

7. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid material comprises an aerosol former and the second liquid material comprises.

8. The aerosol generator of claim 7 , wherein the aerosol former comprises:
(a) propylene glycol, (b) glycerol, or both (a) and (b).

Assignees

• Philip Morris Usa Inc

Inventors

• Yang Zuyin
• Wrenn Susan E

Classifications

• B05B7/1606

  the spraying of the material involving the use of an atomising fluid, e.g. air (B05B7/168, B05B7/1686, B05B7/20, B05B7/22 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M11/042 Primary

  electrical · CPC title

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title

• A01M1/2077

  using an electrical resistance as heat source (A01M1/2083 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M11/041 Primary

  using heaters · CPC title