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US 7,743,766 B2Granted
Aerosol generating devices and methods for generating aerosols having controlled particle sizes
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsRajiv Gupta, Douglas D. McRae, Kenneth A. Cox, Walter A. Nichols
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aerosol generating device includes a housing, a heater and an optional mouthpiece. The heater volatilizes liquid within a flow passage and forms an aerosol in the mouthpiece. An aerosol confinement sleeve is disposed to control the size distribution of the aerosol.
Claims18
A method for generating an aerosol, comprising:
- supplying liquid to a capillary sized flow passage having an outlet;
- heating the capillary sized flow passage so as to volatilize at least some of the liquid in the capillary sized flow passage;
- and
- directing the volatilized liquid into a confined air space enclosed within an aerosol confinement sleeve having a volume of about 0.05 in3 to about 0.4 in3.
1 more element
A method for generating an aerosol, comprising:
- supplying liquid to a capillary sized flow passage circumferentially surrounded by an insulating cylinder body having an outlet;
- heating the capillary sized flow passage liquid so as to volatilize at least some of the liquid in the capillary sized flow passage;
- and
- directing the volatilized liquid out of the outlet of the capillary sized flow passage into an aerosol confinement sleeve having an inner diameter of about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch located at the outlet of the insulating cylinder body,
- wherein the aerosol confinement sleeve is located in contact with the insulating cylinder body, and wherein the inner diameter of the aerosol confinement sleeve is the same as the outer diameter of the insulating cylinder body.
2 more elements
A method for generating an aerosol, comprising:
- supplying liquid to a capillary sized flow passage;
- heating the capillary sized flow passage so as to volatilize at least some of the liquid in the capillary sized flow passage;
- and
- directing the volatilized liquid into a confined air space enclosed within an aerosol confinement sleeve,
- wherein during the directing the volatilized liquid into the confined air space, air is prevented from flowing into the confined air space except at an outlet of the confinement sleeve.
2 more elements
A method for generating an aerosol, comprising:
- supplying liquid to a capillary sized flow passage;
- heating the capillary sized flow passage so as to volatilize at least some of the liquid in the capillary sized flow passage;
- and
- directing the volatilized liquid into a confined air space enclosed within an aerosol confinement sleeve, wherein the confined air space has a volume of about 0.05 in3 to about 0.4 in3,
- wherein during the directing the volatilized liquid into the confined air space, air is prevented from flowing into the confined air space except at an outlet of the confinement sleeve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.