Device for vaporizing liquid

Abstract

Device for vaporising liquid. The device (100) comprises a housing (102) and a pressure regulating member (206). The housing (102) defines a chamber (210) to store liquid (216), and the member (206) is engaged to the chamber (210). A first portion (206a) of the member (206) is exposed to the chamber (210), while a second portion (206b) is exposed to atmospheric pressure. The member (206) comprises of porous material, which absorbs the liquid (216), without any external energy input, when pressure inside the chamber (210) is sufficient to allow liquid to partially overcome air barrier, without allowing the liquid to leak into the atmosphere. Further, the material allows air from the atmosphere to enter the chamber (210) when pressure inside the chamber (210) drops to an extent that allows air to at least partially overcome liquid barrier formed by liquid (216) within some of the pores.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device ( 100 ) for vaporising liquid ( 216 ), the device ( 100 ) comprising:
 a housing ( 102 ) defining a chamber ( 210 ) to store the liquid ( 216 ); and   a pressure regulating member ( 206 ) engaged to the chamber ( 210 ), wherein:
 a first portion ( 206   a ) of the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) is exposed to the chamber ( 210 ); 
 a second portion ( 206   b ) of the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) is exposed to atmospheric pressure; 
 the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) comprises of porous material; 
 the porous material absorbs the liquid ( 216 ) into some of the pores, which are previously occupied by air, without any external energy input, when pressure inside the chamber ( 210 ) is sufficient to allow the liquid ( 216 ) to partially overcome air barrier formed by air within some of the pores, without allowing the liquid ( 216 ) to leak into the atmosphere; and 
 the porous material allows air from the atmosphere to enter the chamber ( 210 ) when pressure inside the chamber ( 210 ) drops to an extent that allows air to at least partially overcome liquid barrier formed by the liquid ( 216 ) within some of the pores. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) is stationary relative to the housing ( 102 ). 
     
     
         3 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface energy of the porous material is lesser than surface tension of the liquid ( 216 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the surface energy of the porous material is preferably less than 34 mJ/m 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the surface tension of the liquid ( 216 ) is preferably between 34 mN/m and 45 mN/m. 
     
     
         6 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the contact angle between the porous material and the liquid ( 216 ) is preferably between 25″ and 65°. 
     
     
         7 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the porous material is preferably between 1 percent and 8 percent of maximum volume of the liquid ( 216 ) stored in the chamber ( 210 ). 
     
     
         8 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) maintains sub atmospheric pressure within the non-liquid space ( 217 ) of the chamber ( 210 ). 
     
     
         9 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) maintains pressure of preferably 1 kPa to 3 kPa lower than atmospheric pressure at the non-liquid space ( 217 ) of the chamber ( 210 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , the Median Pore Diameter by volume, D median (V), of the porous material is preferably higher than 30 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , the rotational viscosity of the liquid ( 216 ) is preferably more than 290 mPa·s and less than 430 mPa·s 
     
     
         12 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) is positioned to have the first portion ( 206   a ) interface with the liquid ( 216 ), when the device ( 100 ) is held in a position recommended during vaporization. 
     
     
         13 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the housing ( 102 ) comprises a first end ( 102   a ) and a second end ( 102   b ), which is generally opposed to the first end ( 102   a ), wherein vapour exits from an opening provided towards the first end ( 102   a ) and a wick ( 202 ) is disposed towards the second end ( 202   b ), wherein the first portion ( 206   a ) of the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) is positioned towards the second end ( 202   b ). 
     
     
         14 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 102 ) defines a second opening ( 106 ), wherein the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) is disposed towards the second opening ( 106 ), wherein, in the absence of the pressure regulating member ( 206 ), the second opening ( 106 ) exposes the liquid ( 216 ) to atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a wick ( 202 ), wherein the surface energy of the wick ( 202 ) is greater than the surface tension of the liquid ( 216 ). 
     
     
         16 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 15 . wherein the surface energy of the wick ( 202 ) is greater than 45 mJ/m 2 . 
     
     
         17 . The device ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein,
 the housing ( 202 ) defines a fourth opening ( 110 ) exposed to atmosphere;   the pressure within the chamber ( 210 ) is sub atmospheric;   a second portion ( 202   b ) of the wick ( 202 ) is exposed to the fourth opening ( 110 );   a first portion ( 202   a ) of the wick ( 202 ) is exposed to the liquid ( 216 ) in the chamber ( 210 ); and   liquid ( 216 ) is drawn into the second portion ( 202   b ) of the wick ( 202 ) through the first portion ( 202   a ) of the wick ( 202 ) when air is sucked through the fourth opening ( 110 ).   
     
     
         18 . A method of filling liquid ( 216 ) into a device ( 100 ) for vaporising the liquid, the method comprising:
 providing a pressure regulating member ( 206 ) comprising of porous material;   orienting the device ( 100 ) in a first direction that allows the liquid ( 216 ) to interface with the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) towards completion of filling of the liquid ( 216 ) into a chamber ( 210 ) of the device ( 100 );   filling the chamber ( 210 ) with the liquid ( 216 ) with the device ( 100 ) oriented in the first direction;   reorienting the device ( 100 ) to allow the liquid ( 216 ) to apply pressure on the pressure regulating member ( 206 ); and   allow the pressure regulating member ( 206 ) to absorb at least a portion of the liquid ( 216 ) into some of its pores to create a non-liquid space ( 217 ) within the chamber ( 210 ), wherein sub atmospheric pressure is created in the chamber ( 210 ) as a result of the absorption of the liquid ( 216 ) by the pressure regulating member ( 206 ).