Vaporization device with liquid management

Abstract

A vaporization apparatus includes an atomizer to generate vapor from a vaporization substance and a channel, in fluid communication with the atomizer, to carry the vapor away from the atomizer. In an embodiment, the atomizer includes a ceramic core, and liquid is prevented from leaking through the channel One or more properties of the vaporization substance and/or one or more properties of the ceramic core may contribute to leakage prevention. In some embodiments, a liquid flow control structure in the channel controls flow of liquid within the channel.

1 . A vaporization apparatus comprising:
 an atomizer to generate vapor from a vaporization substance;   a channel, in fluid communication with the atomizer, to carry the vapor away from the atomizer;   a liquid flow control structure in the channel, to control flow of liquid within the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a perforated plate across the channel, and further wherein:
 the liquid flow control structure further comprises a wall extending from the perforated plate to block the liquid at a level below a height of the wall from entering a perforation in the perforated plate; or   the perforated plate comprises a pooling area, displaced from a perforation in the perforated plate, to provide for pooling of the liquid; or   the perforated plate comprises a liquid diversion feature to divert the liquid from a perforation in the perforated plate.   
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the perforated plate comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         6 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a plurality of perforated plates across the channel, with perforations in adjacent perforated plates being misaligned between the adjacent perforated plates. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises:
 a perforated plate across the channel;   a valve positioned to permit air flow through a perforation in the perforated plate in a direction to carry the vapor away from the atomizer and to restrict flow of the liquid through the perforation in the perforated plate; and   a wall to block the liquid at a level below a height of the wall from entering the perforation in the perforated plate.   
     
     
         14 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the wall comprises a wall extending from the perforated plate; or   the wall comprises a wall of the valve.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the perforated plate comprises:
 a pooling area, displaced from the perforation in the perforated plate, to provide for pooling of the liquid; or   a liquid diversion feature to divert the liquid from the perforation in the perforated plate; or   a heating element.   
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a valve to permit air flow in a direction to carry the vapor away from the atomizer and to restrict flow of the liquid, wherein the vaporization apparatus further comprises:
 a heating element to heat the valve or one or more parts of the valve.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The vaporization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a valve to permit air flow in a direction to carry the vapor away from the atomizer and to restrict flow of the liquid, wherein the valve comprises a perforated wall to permit air flow through the valve, the perforated wall being disposed in the valve to space a perforation in the perforated wall away from a liquid-contacting component of the vaporization apparatus. 
     
     
         22 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A method comprising:
 providing an atomizer to generate vapor from a vaporization substance;   providing a channel in fluid communication with the atomizer, to carry the vapor away from the atomizer;   providing a liquid flow control structure in the channel, to control flow of liquid within the channel.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein providing a liquid flow control structure in the channel comprises:
 providing the liquid flow control structure;   installing the liquid flow control structure in the channel.   
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A method comprising:
 providing one or more parts of a liquid flow control structure for installation in a channel of a vaporization apparatus, to prevent leakage of liquid through the channel.   
     
     
         59 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a perforated plate across the channel, and further wherein:
 the liquid flow control structure further comprises a wall extending from the perforated plate to block the liquid at a level below a height of the wall from entering a perforation in the perforated plate; or   the perforated plate comprises a pooling area, displaced from a perforation in the perforated plate, to provide for pooling of the liquid; or   the perforated plate comprises a liquid diversion feature to divert the liquid from a perforation in the perforated plate.   
     
     
         65 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the perforated plate comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         68 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a plurality of perforated plates across the channel, with perforations in adjacent perforated plates being misaligned between the adjacent perforated plates. 
     
     
         74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises:
 a perforated plate across the channel;   a valve positioned to permit air flow through a perforation in the perforated plate in a direction to carry the vapor away from the atomizer and to restrict flow of the liquid through the perforation in the perforated plate; and   a wall to block the liquid at a level below a height of the wall from entering the perforation in the perforated plate.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the wall comprises a wall extending from the perforated plate; and
 wherein the wall comprises a wall of the valve.   
     
     
         77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the perforated plate comprises:
 a pooling area, displaced from the perforation in the perforated plate, to provide for pooling of the liquid; or   a liquid diversion feature to divert the liquid from the perforation in the perforated plate; or   a heating element.   
     
     
         79 - 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a valve to permit air flow in a direction to carry the vapor away from the atomizer and to restrict flow of the liquid, wherein the valve comprises a heating element to heat the valve or one or more parts of the valve. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the liquid flow control structure comprises a valve to permit air flow in a direction to carry the vapor away from the atomizer and to restrict flow of the liquid, wherein the valve comprises a perforated wall to permit air flow through the valve, the perforated wall being disposed in the valve to space a perforation in the perforated wall away from a liquid-contacting component of the vaporization apparatus. 
     
     
         83 - 87 . (canceled)