초록 ▼

A vaporizer apparatus and method for uniformly extracting active ingredients of a specimen of crude natural product or inert particulate matrix impregnated with volatile substances, without pyrolysis, which uses hot air or a heated inert gas stream to volatilize the specimen. The heated air or gas i

A vaporizer apparatus and method for uniformly extracting active ingredients of a specimen of crude natural product or inert particulate matrix impregnated with volatile substances, without pyrolysis, which uses hot air or a heated inert gas stream to volatilize the specimen. The heated air or gas is introduced from below (from either a hot air gun or a high pressure tank connected to a heat exchanger) and ascends through a permeable support structure (e.g., fritted glass disk, etc.), subsequently causing specimen particles disposed on the permeable support structure to be suspended within the confines of an isolation chamber. This allows a maximized gas extraction exposure for each suspended particle, and promotes a uniform extraction of the aggregate charge through its periodic mixing. A filter prevents the particles from being inhaled by the user. During device disuse, the heated airstream flows through an optional side-arm of the vaporizer apparatus, preventing wasteful loss of active ingredients. In another embodiment, the side-arm can also be used to divert mixed purge gases from the specimen required to be under inert gas during its extraction.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An apparatus for extracting active ingredients from a specimen of at least one of a crude natural product and an inert particulate matrix, comprising:means for providing an ascending heated gas stream such that said specimen is heated by said heated gas stream to a pred

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An apparatus for extracting active ingredients from a specimen of at least one of a crude natural product and an inert particulate matrix, comprising:means for providing an ascending heated gas stream such that said specimen is heated by said heated gas stream to a predetermined temperature wherein said active ingredients of said specimen are volatilized;means for isolating said specimen such that particles of said specimen are suspended within a predetermined area by said heated gas stream while said specimen is heated to said predetermined temperature during apparatus use, said isolation means being disposed downstream from said heating means;means for filtering said particles of said specimen provided downstream from said isolation means, such that during inhalation by a user of said active ingredients of said specimen, said particles of said specimen are not inhaled by said user after said active ingredients of said specimen have been volatilized within said isolation means by said heating means; andmeans for diverting said heated gas stream away from said specimen during intermittent periods of apparatus disuse by said user, said diverting means being provided downstream from said heating means.