Aerosol and a method and apparatus for generating an aerosol
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsTony M. Howell, William R. Sweeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerosol is formed by supplying a material in liquid form to a tube and heating the tube such that the material volatizes and expands out of an open end of the tube. The volatized material combines with ambient air such that volatized material condenses to form the aerosol. An apparatus for generating such an aerosol, and a method for generating such an aerosol, are also disclosed.
Claims57
An aerosol generator, comprising:
- a tube having a first open end;
- means for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to volatilize material in a liquid form in the tube such that the volatilized material expands out of the open end of the tube and mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol;
- and
- a mouthpiece member disposed proximate the open end of the tube.
An aerosol generator, comprising:
- a tube having a first open end;
- and
- means for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to volatilize material in a liquid form in the tube such that the volatilized material expands out of the open end of the tube and mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol,
- wherein the tube is an aluminum silicate ceramic tube.
An aerosol generator, comprising:
- a tube having a first open end;
- and
- means for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to volatilize material in a liquid form in the tube such that the volatilized material expands out of the open end of the tube and mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol,
- wherein the heating means includes a nickel-chromium heating element.
An aerosol generator, comprising:
- a tube having a first open end,
- means for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to volatilize material in a liquid form in the tube such that the volatilized material expands out of the open end of the tube and mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol;
- and
- a mouthpiece member disposed proximate the open end of the tube,
- wherein the mouthpiece member permits air flow of at least 60 liters per minute with negligible resistance.
A method for generating an aerosol, comprising the steps of:
- supplying a material in liquid form to a tube having an open end;
- and
- heating the material supplied to the tube to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the supplied material such that the volatilized material expands out of the open end of the tube, the volatilized material condensing upon mixing with ambient atmospheric air to form an aerosol.
A method for generating an aerosol, comprising the steps of:
- supplying a material in liquid form to a tube having an open end;
- and
- heating the material supplied to the tube to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the supplied material such that the volatilized material expands out of the open end of the tube, the volatilized material condensing upon mixing with ambient atmospheric air to form an aerosol,
- wherein solid particles are suspended in solution in the material, the solid particles being forced out of the open end of the tube as the volatilized material expands such that the aerosol includes condensed particles of the material and the solid particles.
An aerosol formed by supplying a material in liquid form to a tube and heating the tube such that the material volatizes and expands out of an open end of the tube, the volatized material combining with ambient air such that volatized material condenses to form the aerosol.
An aerosol formed by supplying a first material in liquid form to a first tube and heating the first tube such that the first material volatizes and expands out of an open end of the first tube, supplying a second material in liquid form to a second tube and heating the second tube such that the second material volatizes and expands out of an open end of the second tube, and combining the volatized first and second material together with ambient air such that the volatized first and second materials form first and second aerosols, respectively, the first and second aerosols being mixed to form the aerosol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.