AEROSOL GENERATOR INCLUDING MULTI-COMPONENT WICK
An aerosol generator includes a composite conduit to transport multiple liquids to a heating element at flow rates such that the liquids arrive at the heating element in desirable concentrations. The heating element volatilizes the liquids to form volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol with desirable concentrations of the multiple liquids.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A device for generating aerosol comprising:
a reservoir containing a first liquid material and a second liquid material, the first liquid material having a first density, the second liquid material having a second density, and the first density being different from the second density such that the first liquid material and the second liquid material are in discrete, immiscible layers in the reservoir;
a first wick in fluid communication with the reservoir;
a second wick in fluid communication with the reservoir; and
at least one capillary tube surrounded by the second wick, the second wick surrounded by the first wick, the at least one capillary tube, the first wick, and the second wick having different lengths.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the first liquid material comprises an aerosol former and the second liquid material comprises a flavor system.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the aerosol former comprises propylene glycol, glycerol, or both propylene glycol and glycerol.
5 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the first wick and the second wick are formed of different wicking materials.
6 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the capillary tube has an internal diameter between 0.1 mm and 10 mm.
7 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the capillary tube has an inner diameter between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
8 . The device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first wick or the second wick includes a plastic or rubber material with —OH groups.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein an other of the at least one of the first wick or the second wick includes a non-polar plastic.
10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein an other of the at least one of the first wick or the second wick includes cotton.
11 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a third wick, the third wick surrounding the first wick, the third wick having a length different from the first wick and the second wick.
12 . A device for generating aerosol comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of immiscible liquids;
a first wick configured to transport a first liquid from the plurality of immiscible liquids;
a second wick configured to transport a second liquid from the plurality of immiscible liquids; and
a third wick configured to transport a third liquid from the plurality of immiscible liquids, at least one of the first wick, the second wick, or the third wick having an affinity for polar phase liquids, an other of the at least one of the first wick, the second wick, or the third wick having an affinity for non-polar phase liquids.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the first wick has an affinity for polar phase liquids, the second wick has an affinity for non-polar phase liquids, and the third wick has an affinity for neutral phase liquids.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the third wick includes cotton.
15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein
the reservoir is configured to hold an emulsion of the plurality of immiscible liquids, and
the first wick, the second wick, and the third wick are interwoven.
16 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a heating element configured to heat the first liquid in the first wick, the second liquid in the second wick, and the third liquid in the third wick to form an aerosol.
17 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a power supply configured to electrically connect to the heating element.
18 . The device of claim 17 , further comprising:
a control circuit configured to regulate a supply of power from the power supply to the heating element.
19 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a mouthpiece through which the aerosol passes.
20 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of immiscible liquids includes an aerosol former and a flavor system.
21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the aerosol former comprises propylene glycol, glycerol, or both propylene glycol and glycerol.