Botanic Solid Vapor Generation Apparatus

Abstract

A vapor generator for generating vapors from a solid fuel is described. The vapor generator may comprise a fuel chamber for containing the fuel, an electrical heating element, associated controls, and a battery. The fuel is heated by ambient air drawn past the heating element, and is subsequently conducted into the fuel chamber. A screen may interpose a barrier between the fuel and the heating element, so that fuel is heated only convectively by air and not by direct contact with the heating element. The fuel chamber is modularly detachable from the heating element. Modules including the heating element and the fuel chamber may be joined by a ball and socket arrangement, thereby enabling ready assembly into a unitized assembly, and disassembled to enable the heating elements and related components to be utilized with a pre-existing smoking pipe or cigarette.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A vapor generator for generating vapors from a solid fuel under controllable temperature conditions, the vapor generator comprising:
 a heating module comprising an enclosure, an electrical heating element, a battery, and an electrical circuit configured to conduct electrical power from the battery to the electrical heating element;   a vapor generating module manually detachable from the heating module, the vapor generating module including a fuel chamber for containing the fuel and subjecting the fuel to heat; and   a connector manually connecting the heating module to and manually disconnecting the heating module from the vapor generating module.   
     
     
         2 . The connector comprises a member having a tapered surface formed in and facing away from the heating module, whereby the connector may be placed over and sealingly engage a bowl of a smoking pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The vapor generator of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a partially spherical member in one of the heating module and the vapor generating module, and a socket dimensioned and configured to receive and retain the partially spherical member in the other one of the heating module and the vapor generating module. 
     
     
         4 . The vapor generator of  claim 3 , wherein the partially spherical member comprises an internal passage therethrough, and the internal passage is configured to conduct heated air from the heating module to the vapor generating module. 
     
     
         5 . The vapor generator of  claim 4 , wherein the partially spherical member comprises a stem projecting therefrom, the internal passage passes through the stem, and the electrical heating element occupies the internal passage. 
     
     
         6 . The vapor generator of  claim 5 , wherein the stem comprises an opening fluidly connecting the internal passage to ambient air. 
     
     
         7 . The vapor generator of  claim 3 , wherein the socket comprises a plurality of fingers configured to resiliently grip the partially spherical member. 
     
     
         8 . The vapor generator of  claim 3 , wherein the partially spherical member comprises a ceramic material impervious to temperatures high enough to induce vapor formation from fuel contained within the fuel chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The vapor generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier permeable to gases and vapors separating the fuel from the electrical heating element, whereby fuel is exposed to heat by air heated by the electrical heating element and is prevented from direct contact with the heating element. 
     
     
         10 . The vapor generator of  claim 9 , further comprising a fuel holder dimensioned and configured to be received within the fuel chamber, and wherein the fuel holder is separate and removable from the fuel body, the fuel holder comprising a lateral wall and an open end, and the barrier comprises a perforate end wall of the fuel holder opposite the open end. 
     
     
         11 . The vapor generator of  claim 10 , further comprising a screen closing the open end of the fuel chamber, wherein the screen is separate and removable from the fuel body. 
     
     
         12 . The vapor generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece attachable to and detachable from the vapor generating module, the mouthpiece having an internal passage in fluid communication with the fuel chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The vapor generator of  claim 12 , wherein the mouthpiece includes threads and the vapor generating module includes threads compatible with the threads of the mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece is removably attached to and detached from the vapor generating module by a threaded connection. 
     
     
         14 . The vapor generator of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit includes manual controls enabling increase and decrease in electrical power supplied to the heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The vapor generator of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit includes a first on-off control accessible from an exterior of the heating module. 
     
     
         16 . The vapor generator of  claim 15 , further comprising a second on-control accessible from the exterior of the heating module, wherein the second on-off control is spaced apart from the primary on-off control.