Temperature detection for heating or combustion torches

Abstract

A temperature sensing unit for a handheld heating and/or combustion torch includes a sleeve and a temperature sensor. The sleeve is configured to be removably installed around a handheld heating torch. The temperature sensor is positioned in alignment with a flame outlet of the handheld heating torch so that the temperature sensor can detect a temperature of a surface at which the flame outlet is oriented. The temperature sensing unit may also include a display and/or a battery. The battery can provide power to the display and/or the temperature sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vaporization device comprising:
 a main body;   a nail including a nail receptacle for an inhalable substance and defining a heatable portion;   a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the nail receptacle to allow vapor to pass from the nail receptacle to the mouthpiece;   a heating torch including a flame outlet aligned with the heatable portion; and   a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the heatable portion.   
     
     
         2 . The vaporization device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating torch and the temperature sensor are irremovably coupled to the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The vaporization device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to receive a liquid substance and defines pathways through or adjacent to the liquid substance that allow the vapor to pass from the nail receptacle to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         4 . The vaporization device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display configured to display the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and   a battery configured to power the temperature sensor and the display.   
     
     
         5 . A handheld heating torch comprising:
 a torch housing defining a flame outlet;   a fuel tank operably coupled to the torch housing, the fuel tank configured to store fuel for the handheld heating torch; and   a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a surface at which the flame outlet is oriented.   
     
     
         6 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a contactless temperature sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature sensor is irremovably coupled to the torch housing. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel for the handheld heating torch is butane fuel. 
     
     
         9 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 5 , wherein the torch housing comprises:
 a torch head; and   a flame guide that extends radially outward from the torch head, wherein the flame guide defines the flame outlet.   
     
     
         10 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel tank is a cylindrical fuel tank and the torch housing is disposed at a proximal end of the cylindrical fuel tank. 
     
     
         11 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a display configured to display the temperature of the surface detected by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 11 , wherein the torch housing defines a front and a back opposite the front, the flame outlet and the temperature are disposed on the front, and the display is disposed on the back. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an actuator configured to cause the handheld heating torch to generate a flame, the actuator being positioned atop the torch housing so that the display naturally faces a user when the user grips the torch housing with a grip position that allows actuation of the actuator.   
     
     
         14 . The handheld heating torch of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a battery configured to power the display and the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         15 . A temperature sensing unit for a handheld heating torch, comprising:
 a sleeve configured to be removably installed around the handheld heating torch; and   a temperature sensor positioned in alignment with a flame outlet of the handheld heating torch so that the temperature sensor can detect a temperature of a surface at which the flame outlet is oriented.   
     
     
         16 . The temperature sensing unit of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve has an annular interior surface that can be removably installed around a cylindrical fuel tank of the handheld heating torch. 
     
     
         17 . The temperature sensing unit of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a display configured to display the temperature of the surface detected by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The temperature sensing unit of  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve defines a front and a back opposite the front, the temperature sensor is disposed on the front, and the display is disposed on the back. 
     
     
         19 . The temperature sensing unit of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a battery configured to power the display and the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The temperature sensing unit of  claim 19 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a base and the battery is disposed in the base.