DEVICES AND METHODS FOR VAPORIZATION OF LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
The present invention discloses an atomizer. The atomizer includes a concentrate reservoir volume that is in fluid communication with a concentrate vaporization assembly. The concentrate vaporization assembly includes a frit adapted to absorb concentrate from the concentrate reservoir volume. The concentrate vaporization assembly further includes a heating element adapted to heat the frit and absorbed concentrate. The atomizer further includes a vapor collection and discharge assembly including a vapor accumulation chamber in fluid communication with the frit and a vapor evacuation channel in fluid communication with the vapor accumulation chamber and in fluid communication with an egress port. The heating element is activated by a user control of a switch on a battery, which causes the concentrate contained within the frit filter to vaporize, and the user inhales resulting vapor by inhaling at the egress port of the vapor evacuation channel.
1 . An atomizer ( 102 ) comprising:
a concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ) configured for holding concentrate;
a concentrate vaporization assembly comprising:
a frit filter ( 220 ) designed to absorb the concentrate from the concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ); and
a heating element ( 240 ) located proximal to the frit filter ( 220 ) to heat the frit filter ( 220 ) and the absorbed concentrate;
a vapor collection and discharge assembly comprising:
a vapor accumulation chamber ( 245 ) in fluid communication with the frit filter ( 220 ); and
a vapor evacuation channel ( 250 ) connecting the vapor accumulation chamber ( 245 ) to an egress port ( 290 ); and
a supply port ( 230 ) providing direct fluid communication between the frit filter ( 220 ) and the concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ), facilitating the free flow of the concentrate into a concentrate preheating chamber ( 270 ) formed by the frit filter ( 220 ) on its lower face and the heating element ( 240 ) on its upper face.
2 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , wherein the heating element ( 240 ) is an ohmic resistive heating element.
3 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , wherein the frit filter ( 220 ) is made of a porous ceramic material.
4 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to regulate the temperature of the heating element ( 240 ) based on user preferences.
5 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , wherein the frit filter ( 220 ) is sintered glass.
6 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 5 , wherein the frit filter ( 220 ) is sintered quartz glass.
7 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , wherein the heating element ( 240 ) is embedded within the frit filter ( 220 ).
8 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 7 , wherein the frit filter ( 220 ) is in a shape of a hollow cylinder.
9 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 8 , wherein the frit filter ( 220 ) has a minimum feature radius of 1 mm.
10 . The atomizer ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the concentrate preheating chamber ( 270 ) is in proximal to the frit filter ( 220 ) for receiving the concentrate from the concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ).
11 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , wherein the heating element ( 240 ) is helical in shape and positioned proximally and coaxially with the frit filter ( 220 ).
12 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , wherein the heating element ( 240 ) is configured as a coil, captured by a glass plate ( 260 ).
13 . The atomizer ( 102 ) of claim 1 , wherein the heating element ( 240 ) is potted and freely exposed or embedded within the concentrate preheating chamber ( 270 ) such that heat output from the heating element ( 240 ) is transferred to the frit filter ( 220 ).
14 . A vaporizer ( 100 ) comprising:
an atomizer ( 102 );
a battery ( 110 ) adapted to supply electrical current to the atomizer ( 100 );
wherein, the atomizer ( 100 ) comprising:
a concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ) configured for holding concentrate, wherein the concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ) is in fluid communication with a concentrate vaporization assembly, the concentrate vaporization assembly comprising:
a frit filter ( 220 ) adapted to absorb concentrate from the concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ), and
a heating element ( 240 ) proximal to the frit filter ( 220 ), and adapted to heat the frit filter ( 220 ) and absorbed concentrate; and
a vapor collection and discharge assembly comprising:
a vapor accumulation chamber ( 245 ) in fluid communication with the frit filter, and
a vapor evacuation channel ( 250 ) in fluid communication with the vapor accumulation chamber and in fluid communication with an egress port ( 290 ), wherein the heating element ( 240 ) is activated by a user control of a switch on the battery ( 110 ), which causes the concentrate contained within the frit filter ( 220 ) to vaporize, and the user inhales resulting vapor by inhaling at the egress port ( 290 ) of the vapor evacuation channel ( 250 ), and
a supply port ( 230 ),
wherein the supply port ( 230 ) is in direct fluid communication with the frit filter ( 220 ) positioned to allow free flow of the concentrate from the concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ) into a concentrate preheating chamber ( 270 ), and wherein the concentrate preheating chamber ( 270 ) is a cylindrical reservoir volume formed by the frit filter ( 220 ) on its lower face and the heating element ( 240 ) at its upper face.
15 . The vaporizer ( 100 ) of claim 14 , wherein the frit filter ( 220 ) is made of sintered glass or sintered quartz glass.
16 . The vaporizer ( 100 )) of claim 14 , wherein the heating element ( 240 ) is embedded within the frit filter ( 220 ).
17 . The vaporizer ( 100 ) of claim 14 , wherein the frit filter ( 220 ) is a hollow cylinder shape with a minimum feature radius of 1 mm.
18 . The vaporizer ( 100 ) of claim 14 , wherein the concentrate preheating chamber ( 270 ) is located proximal to the frit filter ( 220 ) to receive the concentrate from the concentrate reservoir volume ( 210 ).
19 . The vaporizer ( 100 ) of claim 14 , wherein the heating element ( 240 ) has a helical shape and is positioned proximally and coaxially with the frit filter ( 220 ), or is a coil captured by a glass plate ( 260 ), or is potted and freely exposed or embedded within the concentrate preheating chamber ( 270 ) to transfer heat to the frit filter ( 220 ).
20 . The vaporizer ( 100 ) of claim 14 , wherein the battery ( 110 ) is rechargeable and includes a charging port for recharging the battery's power supply.