Cartridge for a vaporizer device
A vaporization device includes a cartridge for a vaporizer device. For example, the vaporizer cartridge and/or features thereof may improve management of leaks of vaporizable material from the vaporizer cartridge, control of airflow within and/or near the vaporizer cartridge, heating of vaporizable material in the vaporizer cartridge, management of condensate in the vaporizer cartridge, and/or other assembly features of the vaporizer cartridge. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
1. A vaporizer comprising:
a reservoir configured to contain a liquid vaporizable material, the reservoir at least partially defined by at least one wall, the reservoir comprising a storage chamber and an overflow volume;
an atomizer configured to convert the liquid vaporizable material to a gas-phase state;
a primary passageway comprising a first channel for conveying the liquid vaporizable material from the storage chamber to the atomizer; and
a collector disposed in the overflow volume, the collector comprising a capillary structure having a secondary passageway configured to retain a volume of the liquid vaporizable material in fluid contact with the storage chamber, the secondary passageway comprising a microfluidic feature configured to prevent air and liquid from bypassing each other during filling and emptying of the collector, the microfluidic feature allowing the liquid vaporizable material to move along a length of the secondary passageway only with a meniscus fully covering a cross-sectional area of the secondary passageway such that ambient air can enter the storage chamber through the secondary passageway and such that the liquid vaporizable material that enters the secondary passageway from the storage chamber is at least temporarily retained within the overflow volume thereby preventing the liquid vaporizable material from leaking from the vaporizer cartridge;
wherein the primary passageway and the secondary passageway are each separately and fluidly connected to the storage chamber and to the atomizer.
2. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the primary passageway is formed through a structure of the collector.
3. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the first channel has a cross-sectional shape with at least one irregularity configured to allow liquid vaporizable material in the first channel to bypass an air bubble blocking a remainder of the first channel.
4. The vaporizer of claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional shape resembles a cross.
5. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area is sufficiently small that, for a material from which walls of the secondary passageway are formed and a composition of the liquid vaporizable material, the liquid vaporizable material wets the secondary passageway around an entire perimeter of the secondary passageway.
6. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber and the collector are configured to maintain a continuous column of the liquid vaporizable material in the collector in contact with the liquid vaporizable material in the storage chamber such that a reduction in pressure in the storage chamber relative to ambient pressure causes the continuous column of the liquid vaporizable material in the collector to be at least partially drawn back into the storage chamber.
7. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the secondary passageway comprises a plurality of spaced-apart constriction points having a smaller cross-sectional area than parts of the secondary passageway between the constriction points.
8. The vaporizer of claim 7 , wherein the constriction points have a flatter surface directed along the secondary passageway toward the storage chamber and a rounder surface directed along the secondary passageway away from the storage chamber.
9. The vaporizer of claim 1 , further comprising a microfluidic gate between the collector and the storage chamber, the microfluidic gate comprising a rim of an aperture between the storage chamber and the collector that is flatter on a first side facing the storage chamber than a second, more rounded, side facing the collector.
10. The vaporizer of claim 9 , wherein the microfluidic gate comprises a plurality of openings connecting the storage chamber and the collector and a pinch-off point between the plurality of openings, the plurality of openings comprising a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel of the plurality of openings has a higher capillary drive than the second channel.
11. The vaporizer of claim 10 , wherein the meniscus, when reaching the pinch-off point, is routed to the second channel due to the higher capillary drive in the first channel of the plurality of openings such that an air bubble is formed to escape into the liquid vaporizable material in the storage chamber.
12. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises one or more of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin.
13. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the capillary structure is configured to contain at least some excess liquid vaporizable material that is pushed out of the storage chamber without allowing the liquid vaporizable material in the capillary structure to reach an outlet of the collector.
14. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the primary and secondary passageways are directly connected to the storage chamber.
15. A vaporizer comprising:
a reservoir configured to contain a liquid vaporizable material, the reservoir at least partially defined by at least one wall, the reservoir comprising a storage chamber and an overflow volume;
an atomizer configured to convert the liquid vaporizable material to a gas-phase state;
a primary passageway comprising a first channel for conveying the liquid vaporizable material from the storage chamber to the atomizer; and
a collector disposed in the overflow volume, the collector comprising a capillary structure having a secondary passageway configured to retain a volume of the liquid vaporizable material in fluid contact with the storage chamber, the secondary passageway comprising a microfluidic feature configured to prevent air and liquid from bypassing each other during filling and emptying of the collector, wherein the primary and secondary passageways are each separately and directly connected to the storage chamber and the atomizer;
wherein the atomizer is positioned below the collector.
16. The vaporizer of claim 15 , wherein the microfluidic feature is configured to allow the liquid vaporizable material to move along a length of the secondary passageway such that ambient air can enter the storage chamber through the secondary passageway.
17. The vaporizer of claim 15 , wherein the microfluidic feature is configured to allow the liquid vaporizable material to move along a length of the secondary passageway such that the liquid vaporizable material that enters the secondary passageway from the storage chamber is at least temporarily retained within the overflow volume thereby preventing the liquid vaporizable material from leaking from the vaporizer cartridge.