DUAL CONVECTION AND CONDUCTION VAPORIZER FOR HERBAL STICKS

Abstract

A heating vaporizer is disclosed, intended for use with a portable heating device to heat rather than burn, for the delivery of vaporized natural consumables, along with methods of vaporizer operation. The vaporizer heats a herbal stick filled with natural consumables in order to vaporize the volatile compounds for inhalation and enjoyment by the user. The vaporizer operates by both conduction and convection through interwoven wire filters that have a large surface area and high thermal mass to enable rapid heat transfer and temperature stabilization. The vaporizer operates according to one or more temperature profiles during a heating session.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The drawings referred to herein are for illustrative purposes of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not for limiting purposes. Figure 1A illustrates an embodiment of the portable heating device adapted for use with a herb cane 250 by insertion through a hole near the top of the device, shown in Figure 1B. Figure 1C is a section of the herb cane with the insertion end facing downward. The insertion end is filled with natural consumables 251, while the nozzle end is empty. The cane is disclosed in detail in U.S. Application No. 16 / 509,469 entitled “Flower Cartridge Crimping and Filling for Herb Delivery.” Figure 2A illustrates an embodiment of the heating vaporizer 200 with a herb stick 250. A stick guide 203 physically aligns the stick for proper positioning within the vaporizer, and a PCB strip 223 provides suitable electrical connections and helps create an airtight seal. An insulating layer 214 forms an outer casing to help retain heat and can be seen in this figure as the “outer wall of the vaporizer.” Figure 2B is a rotated view of the heating vaporizer showing additional elements, including a vaporizer top gasket 217, air tubes 218, and base assembly 219. Figure 2C is a cross-sectional view of the heating vaporizer without a wand, showing the positioning of the wand guide 203 and the ribs 221 located within the inner cavity of the guide. When a wand is present, the ribs create a gap between the wand and the wand guide, allowing for airflow. The upper vaporizer gasket 217 and the base assembly 219 are also illustrated. Additionally, one or more wand switches 202 are integrated into their respective switch holders 204. The switches are shown in their "disconnected" position, where the mechanical switches protrude into the cavity in the absence of a wand. Figure 2D is a cross-sectional view of the heating vaporizer with an inserted herb stick 250. The herbal consumables 251 are contained within the stick, filled approximately to the level of the vaporizer's upper gasket. The stick reaches its proper position when it rests against the second interlocking wire filter 213. The fill level is configured so that the portion of the stick that forms a tight fit with the vaporizer's main tube 210 is also the portion filled with herbal consumables, thus achieving optimal conduction heating of the consumables. The vaporizer's upper gasket 217 can be made of silicone and creates an interference fit against the stick above the vaporizer's main tube, preventing air from bypassing the gasket when the stick is inserted. The heating vaporizer can operate via electrical signaling and begins heating when current is applied to a heating coil 201. Electrical signaling occurs through the activation of one or more wand switches 202. When the user inserts a wand to begin the heating session, as illustrated in Figure 2D, the wand is mechanically guided by the wand guide 203 as it is inserted into the vaporizer. The wand switches, integrated into their respective switch holders 204, are activated as the wand pushes against them, signaling that the heating coil should be energized. The switches are shown in their retracted or “on” position. The signal is transferred to the control circuitry via the PCB strip, which is wrapped around the wand guide and soldered to the wand switches.The PCB strip also serves to reduce air leaks around the rod guide. The heating coil operates by transferring heat by convection to the air currents passing through it and also heats by conduction a main vaporizer tube 210, a secondary vaporizer tube 211, a first interlaced wire filter 212, and a second interlaced wire filter 213. The main vaporizer tube comprises two segments: one with a larger diameter, adapted to fit the herb stick, and another with a smaller diameter configured to be slightly larger than the diameter of the heating coil, positioned concentrically near the coil. Therefore, the main vaporizer tube is adapted to absorb significant portions of the thermal energy from the coil and conduct it to the rest of the vaporizer tube and the interlaced wire filters, which in turn heat the herb stick and natural consumables. Heat can also be transferred by convection of the warm air between any of these parts to help distribute thermal energy. The insulation layer 214 is positioned concentrically on the outside of the vaporizer tubes to help retain heat. A first temperature sensor 215 is placed in the preformed notch of the first interlaced wire filter and detects the temperature near the heating elements. A second temperature sensor 216 is attached to the main vaporizer tube and detects the temperature near the herb stem. The temperature sensors should be calibrated to at least 300°C. In other embodiments, the vaporizer can operate without a second temperature sensor and the heating coil can be replaced by any suitable heating element. Figures 2E and 2F show the heating vaporizer with the air tubes facing the observer and a cross-section showing the path of the outside air as it travels through the device. The cane acts as the mouthpiece from which the user inhales the vaporized consumables. As the user inhales from the cane, negative pressure is created, and outside air enters the vaporizer in the space between the cane and the cane guide 203. The air flows down from the cane guide into preformed channels 222 within the upper gasket of the vaporizer 217, which lead to the air tubes 218. From there, the air travels through the tubes to the bottom of the vaporizer until it enters a cavity 220 within a base assembly 219, directly below the heating coil. Returning to Figure 2D, the negative pressure draws the air accumulated in cavity 220 upwards towards the coil, where heat transfer occurs by convection. At this point in the session, the interlaced wire filters have been preheated by conduction, with heat passing directly along the bonded components. Additional heat transfer occurs as the warm air flows upwards through the first and second interlaced wire filters, reaching a suitable temperature as it flows into the cane and heats the natural consumables inside. The interwoven wire filters are shown in Figures 2G and 2H. These are made from metal wires compressed into a cylindrical shape and shaped to fit inside the vaporizer tubes. These characteristics allow the filters to have a large surface area, thermal mass, and conductivity. They are excellent heat conductors and also serve as heat sinks / thermal regulators to help smooth out temperature fluctuations caused by the user inhaling through the wand, which can intermittently displace large volumes of air. The selection of materials used in the construction of the components primarily involved in convective heating means that their temperature can be maintained at a higher level than that of the conductive components. In one embodiment, the first interlaced wire filter 212 may contain a slot, indentation, or notch suitable for facilitating the placement of the first temperature sensor 215. This filter, located closer to the heating coil, is made of aluminum, which has a higher thermal conductivity and a lower thermal mass than steel, meaning that it readily releases heat to the circulating air, heats up and cools down quickly, and reacts better to heat transfer. The second 213 interwoven wire filter, located closer to the stem, is made of stainless steel, which has a lower thermal conductivity and a higher thermal mass than aluminum, which helps to retain heat and regulate the temperature of the airflow and the vaporizer tube above it. In another embodiment, any other metal with suitable thermal properties, low toxicity, and non-corrosive properties, such as brass or copper, can be used. The first interlaced wire filter has an approximate density of 1.11 g / cm³. The second interlaced wire filter has an approximate density of 2.5 g / cm³. Example thicknesses range from 0.05 to 0.1 mm; the wire thickness determines the effective surface area of ​​metal available for heat exchange. The first interwoven wire filter can transfer large amounts of heat to efficiently raise the temperature of large volumes of air as it passes through it. Conversely, the second interwoven wire filter requires more energy to change its temperature and helps regulate fluctuations, as well as serving as a temperature barrier for the vaporizer tubes that house the cane. These filters are designed to condition the air to a suitable temperature as it enters the cane directly above the second interwoven wire filter. Figure 2J shows an exploded view of the key parts of the heating vaporizer as arranged. In particular, it best shows the vaporizer tube 210 with at least two separate diameters and the location of the temperature sensors 215 and 216. nccnzn / cznz / a / Yi Figure 3A is a diagram showing an ideal temperature profile for the herbal stick. The ideal temperature curve for the 300 stick varies depending on the time of the session. Because the different volatile compounds within the natural consumables vaporize at different temperatures, this variation allows for optimal release of different types of volatile compounds during the session. A first type of compound 310, or “Zone 1,” may comprise terpenes in the form of β-caryophyllene, β-sitosterol, α-pinene, β-myrcene, limonine, cannaflavin, or linalool; and cannabinoids in the form of CBG, delta-9-THC, CBD, delta-8-THC, or CBN, with vaporization temperatures ranging from 120 to 185°C. A second type of compound 320, or “Zone 2,” may comprise terpenes in the form of terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, or pulegone; and cannabinoids in the form of CBC or THCV, with vaporization temperatures ranging from 200 to 220°C. However, it is known that heating the stick above 200°C results in smoke formation and charring of both the stick and its contents. Heating the stick above 300°C would cause combustion. Therefore, ideally, the vaporizer would be configured to rapidly raise and maintain the temperature of the herbal stick from ambient temperature to between 185 and 200°C. This would be achieved with a rapid initial heating of the vaporizer from ambient temperature to between 200 and 300°C. This allows for the rapid release of Zone 1 compounds and the evaporation of water within the natural consumables without the unpleasant effects of smoke formation.This ideal heating profile also avoids the problem present in devices that heat rather than burn, as in the previous technique, where the vaporizer reaches the temperature gradually, resulting in a poor user experience in the form of slow heating and a cold sensation in the mouth. Towards the end of the session, the vaporizer rapidly raises the temperature of the cane to over 220°C. This shorter portion of the session releases the compounds from Zone 2, providing a "hot finish" experience, while the relatively shorter duration of intense heat results in limited charring and smoke. At the end of the session, power to the heating coil is cut off, and the vaporizer cools to ambient temperature. Figure 3B shows the temperature curve of vaporizer 302 as it relates to the temperature curve of stick 301. Initially, the vaporizer rapidly reaches a temperature between 200 and 300°C and quickly heats the stick. As the stick approaches its target temperature for vaporizing the Zone 1 compounds and the moisture evaporates, the vaporizer temperature is reduced to maintain the stick at the target temperature. Toward the end of the session, the vaporizer is reheated to bring the stick to its final temperature. The temperature measured by the sensor at any point during the heating session, represented by the vaporizer temperature curve 302, only approximately corresponds to the desired temperature curve of the 301 stick at any given point during the heating profile. This stick temperature was measured during test sessions, from which algorithms were derived that relate the vaporizer temperature to the stick temperature. However, the actual stick temperature cannot be accurately determined during real-world use outside of a laboratory setting. Many factors, such as moisture content, the content of active and volatile ingredients, and the packing density of natural consumables, affect this relationship.For example, more energy is required to raise the temperature by a fixed amount at the beginning of a heating session, when the contents are more humid and the most volatile and active ingredients are still present, than later in the session when the cane's contents are drier and more of the active ingredients and volatile compounds have evaporated. Heating must be increased considerably when the user inhales from the device and circulates a large amount of cool air through the vaporizer in a short period of time. The vaporizer's temperature sensor(s) detect(s) these fluctuations and can adjust the amount of power delivered to the device in response to the conditions, resulting in sudden increases in heating. Figure 3C illustrates two independent operating modes and the desired methods for achieving additional temperature variability of the cane and natural consumables. Different types of natural consumables may require a more suitable temperature profile to provide a satisfactory user experience. The diagram shows the cane temperatures resulting from the two operating modes, a first mode 303 operating at a lower temperature than a second mode 304. In this embodiment, when the active ingredients are extracted from the plant material through vaporization, it is desirable to ensure that the evaporation of the active and volatile ingredients is minimized when the user is not inhaling from the cane, so that as many ingredients as possible are vaporized only when the user is inhaling through the cane. This reduces the loss of the active ingredient, premature drying, and potential charring of the plant material. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the contents of the cane at a predetermined temperature below the vaporization temperature of the desired active ingredients and to rapidly raise the temperature to a second predetermined temperature above the vaporization temperature of the desired ingredients during the period when the user is inhaling from the device. Initially, both modes undergo a 305 temperature rise period where the cane's temperature increases rapidly from the ambient temperature to the initial target temperature solely through conduction, as the user should not yet have inhaled. Both modes will experience a slight pause in heating as the contents reach 100SC to account for the latent heat of vaporization of the moisture. The temperature rise period concludes when the first mode reaches a temperature of 167SC and the second mode reaches a resting temperature between 170 and 175SC. The cane is then ready for the user to inhale. As the user takes a 306 charge, the vaporizer must rapidly increase the temperature to approximately 190°C in the first mode and to 220°C in the second mode to release the full spectrum of desired compounds. This is achieved, during inhalation, through both convection and conduction. As the user finishes inhaling, the power is reduced, allowing the cane's temperature to return to the target resting temperature. This process continues throughout the session as multiple charges are taken, each with varying duration and inhalation rate, as indicated by the shape of the curves. The vaporizer attempts to minimize the time it spends in the "hot" zone when the user is not inhaling. These short periods in which the stick's temperature rises rapidly and then drops minimize the portion of the curve where the stick exceeds 200°C, preventing the unpleasant burning sensation and "smoke" in the form of particle emissions. It is also envisaged that both modes can gradually increase the target temperature depending on the time elapsed until the "hot finish" illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B. The advantages of a dual convection and conduction vaporizer are evident in the present invention. A vaporizer that uses only conduction draws cold air into the vaporizer when the user inhales, which cools the contents and results in reduced performance and a disappointing "cold" experience during large inhalations. On the other hand, a vaporizer that uses only convection needs to raise the temperature of each inhalation to such a significant degree that some parts of the cane may reach or exceed charring temperatures before the natural consumables furthest from the heat source become activated. The use of both convection and conduction allows the vaporizer to maintain the contents at an optimal temperature between inhalations and preserves flexibility when air is actively circulated. Additional features can be obtained, specifically the use of interlaced wire filters with the properties of a large surface area, high thermal mass, high thermal conductivity and particular construction aspects of the interlaced wire filters themselves, which control the heating of the herbal stick. The vaporizer's temperature regulation is activated by signals received from temperature sensors. Variable power is applied to the heating coil via frequency-modulated signals ranging from 0 to 44 watts. Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is applied at no less than 10,000 Hz to prevent hum caused by the coil's rapid expansion and contraction. Based on the capabilities of the control circuits, the temperature variation from the ideal temperature profile is estimated to be no more than 20°C at any given moment during the session. The coil has a resistance of approximately 0.4 ohms, and the battery supplies a nominal voltage of between 3.7 and 4.2 V, providing a potential current of 10.5 amps and a maximum power of 44 watts applied to the vaporizer. During actual use, the power to the coil is pulse-width modulated (PWM), so the power supplied to the coil is proportional to the difference between the actual temperature measured by the sensor and the desired optimum temperature at that moment during the heating session. All publications and patent applications cited in this descriptive memorandum are incorporated herein by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes can be made and that elements of these embodiments can be substituted with equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the principles without departing from their essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best contemplated way of carrying out this invention, but that the invention includes all embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dual conduction and convection heating vaporizer for use with a portable electronic heating device for supplying vaporized consumables within a herb cane, the vaporizer comprising: a heating coil that produces heat by means of electric current; a vaporizer tube adapted to transfer the heat produced by the coil to the herb cane by conduction; one or more interlaced wire filters adapted to absorb the heat produced by the coil.

2. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the vaporizer tube is configured to exchange heat with a herb stick by conduction.

3. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the interlaced wire filter(s) are configured to exchange heat with the air flowing through the filters.

4. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein a first interlaced wire filter comprises aluminum, brass, or copper wires.

5. The vaporizer of claim 4, wherein a second interlocking wire filter comprises stainless steel wires.

6. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the interlaced wire filter(s) are compressed into a cylindrical shape.

7. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the interlaced wire filter(s) are configured with a notch or indentation adapted to accommodate one or more sensors and signal wires.

8. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the interlaced wire filter(s) are adapted to exchange heat with the air flowing through the filters to a temperature higher than the temperature of the vaporizer tube in contact with a herb stick.

9. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising one or more cane switches activated by inserting the herb cane into the heating vaporizer or removing the herb cane from the heating vaporizer.

10. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising an upper vaporizer gasket configured to form an airtight seal with the herb stick in a location above an open end of the vaporizer tube.

11. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising one or more temperature sensors.

12. The vaporizer of claim 11, wherein a first temperature sensor is located inside an interwoven wire filter.

13. The vaporizer of claim 12, wherein a second temperature sensor is located between two intertwined wire filters.

14. A dual conduction and convection heating vaporizer for use with a portable electronic heating device for supplying vaporized consumables within a herb cane, the vaporizer comprising: a heating coil that produces heat by means of electric current; a vaporizer tube adapted to transfer the heat produced by the coil to the herb cane by conduction; one or more interlaced wire filters adapted to absorb the heat produced by the coil; a cane guide; one or more air tubes; a base assembly; wherein the airflow passes through the cane guide, one or more air tubes and the base assembly via preformed channels before entering the heating coil.

15. A method of vaporizing consumables within a herb cane by means of a dual conduction and convection heating vaporizer, wherein the heating of the vaporizer is controlled by one or more temperature profiles during the session.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a first temperature profile initially raises the temperature of the vaporizer to between 200 and 300 °C, gradually lowers said temperature to between 150 and 200 °C, and rapidly raises the temperature above 200 °C before the end of the session.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a second temperature profile raises the temperature of the vaporizer to a reference temperature at the end of the heating period and provides additional sudden heating increments that correspond with each inhalation by the user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the maximum vaporizer temperature reached during sudden heating increments is between 180 and 200 SC.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the maximum vaporizer temperature reached during sudden heating increments is between 200 and 230 SC.

20. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the vaporizer tube further comprises a smaller diameter segment adapted to absorb thermal energy from the heating coil, and a larger diameter segment adapted to receive the herb stick inserted into the vaporizer tube.

21. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the interlaced wire filters are thermal masses adapted to retain heat and regulate the temperature of the airflow.

22. The vaporizer of claim 14, wherein the interlaced wire filter(s) are configured to exchange heat with the air flowing through the filters.

23. The vaporizer of claim 14, wherein the interlaced wire filter(s) are adapted to exchange heat with the air flowing through the filters to a temperature higher than the temperature of the vaporizer tube in contact with a herb stick.

24. The vaporizer of claim 14, further comprising an upper vaporizer gasket configured to form an airtight seal with the herb stick in a location above an open end of the vaporizer tube.

25. The vaporizer of claim 14, wherein the vaporizer tube further comprises a smaller diameter segment adapted to absorb thermal energy from the heating coil, and a larger diameter segment adapted to receive the herb stick inserted into the vaporizer tube.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the vaporizer temperature is interrupted at 100 SC during the initial heating.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the temperature of the vaporizer is maintained below a carbonization temperature of the cane between user inhalations.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the temperature of the vaporizer is maintained below a vaporization temperature of the active ingredients of the cane between user inhalations.

Images