Aerosol generator including multi-component wick

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9555198-B2
Application number	US-201113008563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2011
Priority date	Oct 9, 2009
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

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 configured to hold multiple liquids, wherein the multiple liquids are separated into discrete layers with lower density liquids forming over higher density liquids;
a heating element operable to volatilize the multiple liquids to form a volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol;
a composite conduit to transport the multiple liquids to the heating element, wherein the composite conduit includes a first capillary tube, which is concentrically surrounded by second and third capillary tubes, and wherein the first, second, and third capillary tubes have different lengths adapted to be in contact with a different liquid within the multiple liquids; and
a mouthpiece configured to receive the aerosol, from which the aerosol may be inhaled.

2. An aerosol generator comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold an emulsion of immiscible liquids;
a heating element operable to volatilize the emulsion of immiscible liquids to form a volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol;
a first wick operable to transport a first liquid, a second wick operable to transport a second liquid, and a third wick operable to transport a third liquid from the emulsion of immiscible liquids to the heating element; and
a mouthpiece configured to receive the aerosol, from which the aerosol can be inhaled.

3. The aerosol generator of claim 2 , wherein the first, second, and third capillary wicks are different lengths.

4. The aerosol generator of claim 2 , wherein the first, second, and third wicks are arranged in a concentric pattern or interwoven pattern.

5. The aerosol generator of claim 2 , wherein the emulsion of immiscible liquids comprise one or more hydrophobic liquids and one or more hydrophilic liquids.

6. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the liquids comprise first, second, and third liquids that are immiscible in each other and are located in a single liquid supply.

7. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the liquids comprise at least one hydrophobic liquid and at least one hydrophilic liquid.

8. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the liquids comprise a flavor system and an aerosol former.

9. The aerosol generator of claim 8 , wherein the flavor system comprises one or more essential oils.

10. The aerosol generator of claim 8 , wherein the aerosol former comprises a material selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerol, and mixtures thereof.

11. A method of generating an aerosol comprising:
transporting first, second, and third liquids through first, second, and third wicks from at least one liquid supply holding an emulsion of immiscible liquids to a heating element; and
volatilizing the liquids at the heating element to form volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first, second, and third wicks are different lengths.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the liquids comprise at least one hydrophobic liquid and at least one hydrophilic liquid.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the liquids comprise a flavor system and aerosol former.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the flavor system comprises one or more essential oils.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the aerosol former comprises a material selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerol, and mixtures thereof.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a third wick operable to transport a third liquid to the heating element.

18. The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the first capillary tube transports a hydrophilic liquid, the second capillary tube transports a hydrophilic or a hydrophobic liquid, and the third capillary tube transports a hydrophobic liquid, respectively, to the heating element.

19. The aerosol generator of claim 2 , wherein the first wick transports a hydrophilic liquid, the second wick transports a hydrophilic or a hydrophobic liquid, and the third wick transports a hydrophobic liquid, respectively, to the heating element.

20. A method of generating an aerosol comprising:
separating multiple liquids into discrete layers with lower density liquids forming over higher density liquids, wherein the multiple liquids comprises first, second, and third liquids that are immiscible in each other and are located in a single liquid supply;
transporting the multiple liquids from the single liquid supply through first, second, and third capillary tubes to a heating element; and
volatilizing the liquids at the heating element to form volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first, second, and third capillary tubes are different lengths.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the liquids comprise at least one hydrophobic liquid and at least one hydrophilic liquid.

23. An aerosol generator comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold two or more liquids, wherein the two or more liquids are separated into discrete layers with lower density liquids forming over higher density liquids;
a heating element operable to volatilize the multiple liquids to form a volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol;
a composite conduit to transport the two or more multiple liquids to the heating element, wherein the composite conduit includes an inner capillary tube, which is concentrically surrounded by one or more outer capillary tubes, and wherein the inner capillary tube and the one or more outer capillary tubes have different lengths adapted to be in contact with a different liquid within the multiple liquids; and
a mouthpiece configured to receive the aerosol, from which the aerosol may be inhaled.

Assignees

• Yang Zuyin
• Wrenn John
• Philip Morris Usa Inc

Inventors

• Yang Zuyin
• Wrenn Susan E

Classifications

• A61L9/035

  emanating multiple odours · CPC title

• A61M15/0003

  with means for dispensing more than one drug · CPC title

• A01M1/2077

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

• A61L9/037 Primary

  comprising a wick · CPC title

• A61M11/042 Primary

  electrical · CPC title