US 4,871,115 A · Smoke generating apparatus

Abstract

A portable smoke-generating apparatus particularly useful for creating special effects in the film-making and entertainment industry has a vaporizing unit consisting of a solid metallic block having an elongate interior vaporizing chamber. A solid metallic vaporizing member having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the vaporizing chamber is loosely mounted in the chamber. The passageway between the interior walls of the vaporizing chamber and the exterior walls of the vaporizing element provides a very narrow conduit having a very very high surface area/volume ratio of at least 500, and preferably at least 1,000, to ensure rapid complete vaporization of the liquid and production of a white, dry smoke having a very small particle size. Heat is supplied to the vaporizing chamber by either electrical resistance heaters or a combustions torch mounted in one or more designated chambers in the block. Use of a nozzle having an orifice with a diameter of 0.35-0.80" provides flow of adequate volume while retaining sufficient back pressure in the vaporization chamber to provide a strong burst of smoke.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Portable smoke-generating apparatus comprises a housing,

a pressurized source of smoke-generating liquid,
vaporizing means comprising a solid base member having an elongate interior vaporizing chamber formed by chamber walls,
an elongate, solid vaporizing member mounted in the vaporizing chamber and having a cross-sectional geometric configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the vaporizing chamber, exterior walls of the vaporizing member and the chamber walls defining a fluid passageway in the vaporizing means, said exterior walls and said chamber walls consisting essentially of smooth surfaces,
said chamber having a length slightly greater than the length of the vaporizing member such that the vaporizing member is longitudinally movable within the chamber,
heating means to maintain the temperature of the vaporizing chamber at a level sufficient to vaporize the smoke-generating liquid,
inlet means to permit the passage of smoke-generating liquid under pressure into the vaporizing chamber,
smoke outlet means comprising a nozzle having an orifice through which smoke exits from the vaporizing chamber, and
conduit means for passing smoke-generating liquid from the pressurized source to the vaporizing chamber.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Smoke generating apparatus

Life of this patent

Smoke generating apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15