Walter A Nichols

US Patent:

6367481, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Feb 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/498343

Inventors:

Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA
John R. Hearn - Midlothian VA
Jay A Fournier - Richmond VA
Jerry F. Whidby - Urbanna VA

Assignee:

Philip Morris Incorporated - New York NY

International Classification:

A24D 102

US Classification:

131365, 131331, 131338, 131341, 131349, 131350, 162139

Abstract:

A cigarette includes an ignition element in contact with tobacco, surrounded by a composite outer wrapper. The outer wrapper is impervious to oxygen causing the tobacco to extinguish between puffs. The ignition element, however, has a longer static burn time than the tobacco and remains smoldering between puffs. Upon a subsequent puff, the smoldering ignition element re-ignites the tobacco. One or more initially-occluded perforations in the outer layer maintain the uniformity in combustion of the tobacco and the ignition element.

US Patent:

6491233, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/742395

Inventors:

Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA

Assignee:

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B05B 124

US Classification:

239128, 239134, 239135, 239569

Abstract:

An aerosol generator includes a fluid supply which supplies fluid to a fluid passage, a main heater which heats the fluid into a gaseous state and a preheater which delivers a volume of fluid to the main heater. The preheater can be located in or adjacent a metering chamber which receives a predetermined volume of fluid, the preheater heating a portion of the fluid so as to form a vapor bubble which ejects the remaining fluid from the chamber. An outlet of the aerosol generator is arranged to receive the volatilized fluid formed by the main heater and direct the volatilized fluid out of the fluid passage. The aerosol generator can be used to generate aerosols containing medicated materials.

US Patent:

6501052, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/742322

Inventors:

Kenneth A. Cox - Midlothian VA
Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA
Douglas D. McRae - Chesterfield VA
William R. Sweeney - Richmond VA

Assignee:

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

H05B 102

US Classification:

219486, 219483, 219497, 392480, 392492, 18220014

Abstract:

A temperature and flow rate controlled capillary aerosol generator includes two heating zones optionally separated by a region in which a pressure drop is induced. Power is metered or applied to the downstream, second zone to achieve a target resistance, and therefore a target temperature, while power is metered or applied to the upstream, first zone to achieve a target mass flow rate exiting the second zone. A target temperature is achieved in the second zone to generate an aerosol from the liquid flowing through the generator at the desired mass flow rate.

US Patent:

6516796, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Jan 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/479597

Inventors:

Kenneth A. Cox - Midlothian VA
Timothy Paul Beane - Richmond VA
William R. Sweeney - Richmond VA
Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA

Assignee:

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A61M 1100

US Classification:

12820023, 12820312, 12820317, 12820417

Abstract:

An aerosol generator includes a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a heater arranged relative to the flow passage for heating the flow passage, a source of material to be volatilized in communication with the inlet of the flow passage, a valve to open and close communication between the source of material and the inlet of the flow passage, and a pressurization arrangement for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the flow passage when the valve is in an open position. The aerosol generator further includes a source of power for operating the heater and the valve, and a control device for controlling supply of power from the source of power to the heater and the valve. A metering device in an inhaler includes a pressurized source of medicated fluid and a metering chamber configured to deliver a predetermined volume of fluid to a heated flow passage in the inhaler. The metering chamber can be part of a rotary valve having a bore and a displacement member moveable within the bore from a first position where the fluid is loaded into the bore to a second position where the predetermined volume is ejected out of the bore.

US Patent:

6568390, May 27, 2003

Filed:

Sep 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/956966

Inventors:

Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA
Kenneth A. Cox - Midlothian VA
Tung Tien Nguyen - Midlothian VA

Assignee:

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A61M 1500

US Classification:

12820316, 12820014, 219486, 219483, 219497

Abstract:

A fluid vaporizing device useful for vaporizing fluid into an aerosol and includes first and second capillary tubes connected electrically in series by providing separate electrodes at the inlet ends of each capillary tube, and connecting the outlet ends of the capillary tubes by an electrical connection that connects the outlet ends both electrically and thermally. The capillary tubes are heated by the flow of electricity therethrough, and liquid flowing through the tubes is vaporized. The outlet ends of the capillary tubes are easily maintained at a temperature for optimizing aerosol generation since there is minimal heat loss through the connection connecting the outlet ends.

US Patent:

6640050, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Sep 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/957026

Inventors:

Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA
Kenneth A. Cox - Midlothian VA
Douglas D. McRae - Chesterfield VA
Tung Tien Nguyen - Midlothian VA

Assignee:

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

F24F 600

US Classification:

392390, 392397

Abstract:

A fluid vaporizing device useful for vaporizing fluid into an aerosol includes a capillary tube made from an electrically conductive material, an upstream electrode connected to the tube, and a downstream electrode connected to the tube and provided with an electrical resistivity sufficient to cause heating of the downstream electrode during operation to approximately the same temperature as the tube at the point of connection. The upstream and downstream electrodes connected to the capillary tube divide the tube into an initial feed section, a heated section, and a tip. A source of material to be volatilized is provided to the tube at the feed section, passes downstream into the heated section, is vaporized, and then exits from the tube through the tip. The temperature profile of the tube along the heated section is controlled by varying parameters to substantially eliminate any effect of the downstream electrode as a heat sink. These parameters may include the electrical resistivity of the downstream electrode, its cross-sectional area, and its length.

US Patent:

6681769, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Dec 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/003438

Inventors:

Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA

Assignee:

Crysalis Technologies Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A61M 1600

US Classification:

12820326, 12820312, 12820317, 12820315, 12820417

Abstract:

An aerosol generator includes a heater arrangement having multiple heating sections and corresponding flow paths for volatilization of a fluid in liquid form. The flow paths can include first and second flow paths which are parallel to each other and sized such that the first flow path is smaller than the second flow path. During delivery of liquid to the flow paths, a smaller amount of vaporized liquid can be ejected from the first flow path, and the bulk of the vaporized liquid can be ejected from the second flow path.

US Patent:

6701921, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/742320

Inventors:

Walter A. Nichols - Chesterfield VA
Kenneth A. Cox - Midlothian VA
Timothy S. Sherwood - Midlothian VA
Scott A. Sowers - Richmond VA
Zelita R. Washington - Richmond VA
Sirisha Reddy - Petersburg VA

Assignee:

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A61M 1600

US Classification:

12820326, 12820317, 12820327, 12820417

Abstract:

An aerosol generator includes a fluid passage arranged between a first and a second layer wherein the first and second layers at least partially define the fluid passage. A liquid supply is arranged to provide a fluid in liquid phase to the fluid passage. The aerosol generator also includes a heater arranged to volatilize the fluid in the fluid passage. An outlet of the aerosol generator is arranged to receive the volatilized fluid and direct the volatilized fluid out of the fluid passage. The aerosol generator can be used to generate aerosols containing medicated materials.