Abstract:
A portable vaporization implement, comprising: a tubular section having a hollow interior, an air intake, and an output orifice; a smoking material chamber that is within said hollow interior and that is in fluid contact with said air intake and said output orifice, and is positioned generally in between said air intake and said output orifice, wherein desired components of a smokable substance may be vaporized; and a purely mechanical means for automatically regulating the amount of heat entering said smoking material chamber, whereby the temperature within said smoking material chamber stays within the vaporization range of said smokable substance, wherein said mechanical means allows unimpeded inhalation by the user.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to smoking implements, such as pipes, and more specifically to a vaporization implement, pipe, or the like wherein a mechanical means is provided for maintaining the temperature of the smoking material within its vaporization range by regulating the amount of heat that enters a vaporization chamber that is positioned in between the air intake and the output orifice. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tobacco or other herbs are typically smoked by burning and inhaling the combustion fumes and smoke. Smoking implements are generally known. A common smoking implement is referred to as a pipe. In traditional pipes, tobacco or some other smoking substance is burned, producing smoke for human consumption. Benefits of traditional pipes include simplicity of construction and use, compactness for convenient transport, and low cost. 
     In recent years, interest has grown in the technique of “vaporization” in which the smoking material is carefully heated so that the desired flavor and psychoactive components are liberated, and combustion is minimized. Vaporization provides many benefits over smoking. When performed properly, vaporization does not produce nearly as much toxic and carcinogenic pyrolytic products as smoking. Also, vaporization is smoother and more flavorful, and lacks a burned taste that many find disagreeable. Further, vaporization allows more efficient use of smoking materials, since psychoactive compounds are not destroyed by combustion. Vaporization occurs at the temperature of the boiling point of the desired active component. Most plants and herbs of interest fall into the temperature range of 220-400 degrees Fahrenheit. A major technical challenge for vaporizers is maintaining the desired temperature range. 
     Most vaporizers in use today are electrically powered, either directly by electrical line power or indirectly by using a temperature-controlled heat gun. 
     Electrically/battery powered devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,978; U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,748; U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,369; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,083. The most advanced of these devices are capable of adjusting heat output to ensure that the smoking material stays within the desired temperature range. The length of time for heat output is easily controlled. Electrical vaporization devices are not portable and require electrical line power. Some electrical vaporizers are now powered by batteries. Current battery life is less than 30 minutes and the vaporizer is inoperable during recharge. Compared to traditional pipes, electrically powered vaporizers are less rugged, harder to manufacture, less compact and portable and require electrical line power supply or batteries. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,494 describes a vaporizer attachment for a pipe so that the pipe can be coupled to an electric heat gun. Carrying the vaporizer attachment with a pipe is only slightly less convenient than carrying a pipe alone, but the added requirement of using an electric heat gun makes this invention less convenient than a traditional pipe. The length of time for heat output is easily controlled. Using an electric heat gun also ensures that an adjustable, consistent temperature heat source is provided, however, no means is provided for adjusting for other variables such as the inhale rate of the smoker or improper placement of the heat source. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,032 describes a smoking device using a fuel element, and therefore does not require an electrical/battery powered heat source. The preferred embodiment of this patent requires a liquid reservoir and performance of this embodiment is sensitive to the apparatus&#39; orientation angle from the horizontal. Though an electrical heat source (with the attendant advantages and disadvantages) is within the scope of this invention, the heat source in the preferred embodiment comprises burning charcoal which makes it difficult to precisely control the heat source&#39;s start and stop. The preferred embodiment of this invention is not provided with means to automatically adjust the temperature of the smoking materials to ensure that the smoking materials are always hot enough to vaporize the desired components but not hot enough for combustion. No means are provided for adjusting for variables such as the temperature of the burning fuel and the inhale rate of the smoker. This invention requires a separate combustion chamber additional to the bowl which holds the smokable material. 
     PCT/US2002/041771 discloses a device that uses a flame for vaporizing flavor and psychoactive compounds from smoking materials such as tobacco. Because the preferred embodiment uses butane as a fuel source, it has some of the advantages of traditional pipes. Namely, it requires no electrical power line or batteries. It is relatively more complex and is not as compact and portable as a traditional pipe. The device has a filter unit with a porous flame filter. Flame is supplied to the flame filter, and inhalation causes ambient air to enter the flame filter as well. The flame has to be produced and sustained during each inhalation. The flame exhaust and ambient air are mixed within the flame filter and produce an air stream of intermediate temperature that hopefully is hot enough to vaporize desirable components from the smoking material but not hot enough to burn the smoking material. The temperature of the smoking material will vary with the smokers inhale rate and flame temperature and position. An airflow shutter comprising bimetallic strips is disclosed for making automatic adjustments to maintain the desired temperature of the smoking material by restricting the flow of hot air (making the user&#39;s inhalation more difficult) into the vaporization chamber. The disclosed airflow shutter configuration does not permit inhale rates that vary independently of hot air temperature. In other embodiments, maintaining the necessary temperature depends on the skill and experience of the smoker. A bimetallic strip to aid the smoker in determining the temperature near the smoking material is disclosed. The invention requires heat and oxidation resistant flame filters that have high thermal conductivity and are porous enough to breathe through. A flame filter must be designed and sized for the vaporizer. Because the flame filter becomes too hot to safely handle, means for safely attaching/mounting the flame filter must also be provided. Some flame filters require protective coatings. The flame filter ultimately adds complexity, expense, and safety issues not found in traditional pipes. 
     The present inventor is not aware of any prior art vaporization implement that provides a purely mechanical means for automatically regulating the temperature of a smoking material to vaporize the desired ingredients without burning the smoking material regardless of inhale rate, provides for an effortless inhale, requires no battery or electrical power source, is as conveniently portable, rugged, and easy to use as a traditional pipe, and requires no more additional apparatus than a traditional pipe. 
     The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vaporization implement comprising: a removable vaporization chamber that is within a hollow interior and is in fluid contact with and is positioned generally in between an output orifice and an air intake, wherein desired components of a smokable substance may be vaporized, a temperature sensitive means for mechanically regulating the amount of heat entering said vaporization chamber, an air intake and a hollow interior; when the first and second sections are connected together by joining the first and second connectors; a fueled combustion chamber that is in heat transfer contact with but not fluid contact with the air intake. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a vaporization implement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a vaporization implement shown in a collapsed, storage position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a vaporization implement showing the apparatus in an extended, operating position and with the bowl removed for enabling a user to add a tobacco product to the bowl in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a vaporization implement shown without the bracket and on/off control in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of a vaporization implement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a detail view taken from  9  of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a vaporization implement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a vaporization implement in two separate parts so that tobacco can be inserted into the bowl in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a vaporization implement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is an end view of a vaporization implement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a vaporization implement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the vaporization implement from  FIG. 15  disassembled into four component groups. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the vaporization implement from  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is an end view of the temperature controlling intake  5  from  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is an side cutaway view of the temperature controlling intake  5  from  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 20  is a sectional side view of the temperature controlling intake  5  from  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is a vaporizing implement designated generally by  1  in  FIGS. 1-9 . A fuel container  24  containing a fuel (e.g. butane, propane) is connected to a valve assembly  13  to regulate fuel output. Regulated fuel is combusted in the heat chamber  4  to produce heat. A temperature controlling intake  5  (TCI) is in heat exchange contact with but not fluid contact with the heat chamber  4 . An operator is provided with a telescoping mouthpiece  22  that allows air to be inhaled. Inhaled air is heated as it is drawing through the FHAIC  5 . Then the heated air is drawn through the smoking material chamber  10 . The heated air and vaporized ingredients travel through the telescoping mouthpiece  22  to the operator. 
     To effectively heat air passing through the TCI  5  internal air paths, the paths have a low cross sectional area to internal surface area ratio. The cross sectional area is preferably small enough to produce a high enough Reynolds number to indicate turbulent flow at the flow rate the operator is inhaling (i.e. typical human inhaling flow rate). Ratios between 0.01 and 0.2 are preferable in the preferred embodiment. The turbulent flow increases convection to ensure that incoming air has ample opportunity for heat transfer interaction with the TCI  5 . The heat provided by the combusted fuel transfers into the TCI  5  before being transferred to incoming air. The TCI  5  stores this heat according to its specific heat property and mass to maintain the desired temperature. One means for a low cross sectional area to internal surface area ratio is by providing a maze like air path through the TCI  5 . 
     With the present invention, the chamber  4  is used to heat the TCI  5  through conduction. The TCI  5  temperature is controlled with a manual feedback loop controlling the release of fuel into the heat chamber  4 . The TCI  5  has enough thermal capacity to heat the incoming air to the desired temperature with minimal temperature drop itself. This temperature drop causes the release of more fuel. The heat chamber  4  conductively returns the TCI  5  to the correct temperature. The combustion products are exhausted as to not mix with the incoming air. 
     In  FIGS. 1-9 , a fuel container  24  is provided, preferably in canister form. Fuel container  24  can contain butane, propane or other fuel source. The fuel container  24  has a valve assembly  13  that can be regulated, enabling a fuel outlet part of the fuel container  24  to be opened or closed. The valve assembly  13  thus enables the flow rate of fuel that escapes from fuel container  24  to be adjusted and the intensity of a flame in heating chamber  4  regulated as to temperature. On the opposite end the fuel container  24  is a fuel fill valve  25  to refill the fuel container  24  with a fuel source. 
     Heating chamber  4  is coupled to container  24  with bracket  12 . The heating chamber  4  provides an ignition window &amp; exhaust vent  3  that enables an operator to ignite the fuel, such as butane or propane that is emitted from container  24  via its valve assembly  13  into heat chamber  4 . 
     Once a flame is applied to ignition window &amp; exhaust vent  3 , the fuel is combusted in the heat chamber  4  providing heat. The combustion products are exhausted through the ignition window &amp; exhaust vent  3 . 
     TCI  5  is in close thermal communication with heat chamber  4  so that heat transfer takes place between the heat chamber  4  and the TCI  5 .  FIG. 8  shows the temperature controller  15  is located within the TCI  5 . The temperature controller  15  is shown in a simply supported beam configuration held in place with screws  16  and spacers  23 , but other configurations are possible to change deflection and/or force as a function of temperature. As the temperature of TCI  5  increases from the fuel burning in heat chamber  4 , the temperature of the temperature controller  15  increases. The temperature controller  15  changes position as a function of temperature. The bimetal material used in many thermostats would be a good example of a material to use for the temperature controller  15  and is shown in this embodiment. The control rod  17  is threaded through the temperature controller  15  as shown in  FIG. 9  and connects to the valve actuator  19 . The thermal deflection of the temperature controller  15  causes axial movement for the control rod  17  and valve actuator  19 . Axial motion of the valve actuator  19  causes a rotational motion in the helical slot wheel  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The helical slot wheel  20  is coupled to the valve assembly  13  such that this rotation will open or close the valve assembly  13 . The rotation of the valve assembly  13  causes the fuel path to open or close to allow more or less fuel to flow from the fuel container  1 . This control circuit will be configured such that an increase in temperature of the TCI  5  and correspondingly the temperature controller  15  will decrease the flow of fuel through the valve assembly  13  and flame intensity in heat chamber  4 . This decrease in fuel will stop the increasing temperature in TCI  5  and temperature controller  15 , which will cause the temperature controller  15  to stop deflecting. This is how the temperature controller  15  will control the temperature of the TCI  5 . This is a feedback device that controls temperature to keep it within a desired range, even under changing conditions (such as variations in inhale rate and ambient temperature), rather than just setting a fixed flame intensity. 
     The temperature feedback provided by the temperature controller  15  opposes the increasing temperatures and will cause the system to reach a steady state temperature. The steady state temperature is a function of the control rod  17  length measured from the temperature controller  15  to the valve actuator  19 . This length determines a relationship between the deflection of temperature controller  15 , which is proportional to the temperature of TCI  5  and temperature controller  15 , which is proportional to the temperature of TCI  5  and temperature controller  15 , and a valve opening position of the valve assembly  13 . This length actually determines the steady state temperature. An increase in this length would cause a smaller valve opening for the same temperature, causing the temperature to decrease. This change in temperature causes a change in deflection which causes the valve to open more, but the opening stays smaller with the length change. The net effect is a decrease in the steady state temperature. This length can be changed by the user to select different steady state temperatures by rotating the control rod  17 . The control rod  17  is threaded through the temperature controller  15 . Each rotation of the control rod  17  changes the temperature controller position by the thread pitch. The position of the valve actuator  19  to the control rod  17  is fixed by using ring clips  18 . This method of fixing the valve actuator  19  position axially to the control rod  17  allows for rotation to adjust the effective length of the control rod  17  by adjusting its relative position to the temperature controller  15 . 
       FIG. 5  shows how the on/off control  2  will work. Pulling up on the on/off control  2  will cause the valve assembly  13  to be shifted towards the heat chamber  4 . This will lift the valve assembly  13  off its seat and allow the flow of fuel. Butane lighters today work similarly—holding the button down allows the flow of fuel. The on/off mechanism  2  in the valve assembly  13  is independent from the fuel flow control. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate TCI  5  in more detail. It can be seen that the TCI  5  provides a circuitous path for air that enters at ambient air intake port  21 , and tracks the path shown by air flow path  11  (arrows) in  FIG. 7 . Vaporization temperature air travels from TCI  5  to smoking material chamber  10 . The smoking material chamber  10  comprises the removable bowl  7  and the screen/filter  14 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . This provides an easy way for consumed smoking material to be replaced with fresh. The removable bowl  7  is placed in the bowl receiver  6  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Heated air traveling through the smoking material chamber  10  vaporizes the desired ingredients in the smoking material and the combination of the two travels through the telescoping mouthpiece  22  to the operator. 
     The telescoping mouthpiece  22  includes inner tube  8  and outer tube  9 . An extended position of the telescoping mouthpiece  22  is shown in  FIG. 3 . A collapsed, storage position of telescoping mouthpiece  22  is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     By adjusting the effective length of the control rod  17 , the amount of heat generated within heat chamber  4  can be regulated to create a steady state temperature of the TCI  5 . At this steady state temperature, the TCI  5  heats the incoming air such that air traveling through smoking material chamber  10  is hot enough to vaporize the desired ingredients of a smoking material contained therein without burning same. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 10-14 , designated generally by the reference numeral  1 . Vaporization implement  1  provides a base/bowl  31  that connects to a temperature controlling intake (TCI)  5 . The TCI  5  is a slip fit over base/bowl  31 . Two o-rings  32  are provided to create an air tight seal and maintain axial alignment between the TCI  5  and the base/bowl  31 . The intake TCI  5  shown in  FIG. 12  provides flame intake port  29  and an ambient air intake port  21 . Flame intake port and ambient air intake port are in fluid communication with the control chamber  30 . Control chamber  30  communicates with smoking material chamber  10 . Smoking material chamber  10  communicates with vapor conduit  26  through filter/restriction  14 . 
     In the loading configuration  FIG. 11 , The TCI  5  is separated from the base/bowl  31 . This exposes the smoking material chamber  10  for removal of used smoking material and loading of fresh smoking material. The clip/bowl cleaner  27  designed to facilitate removal of used smoking material if necessary. 
     In the operating configuration  FIG. 12 , the TCI  5  is positioned on the base/bowl  31  and o-rings  32  form an air tight seal. As the operator inhales through the vapor conduit  26  contained within the base/bowl  31 , air is drawn into the ambient air port  21  and the flame combustion products are drawn into the flame intake port  29 . Initially the temperature controller  15  is positioned such that the ambient air intake port  21  is closed, 0% open, and the flame intake port  29  is 100% open. Only flame combustion products can enter the device through the flame intake port. The temperature of the combustion products is very high, for a butane lighter approximately 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in the control chamber  30  is determined by the combination of the combustion products and ambient air being mixed. The temperature of the mixed gases traveling through the control chamber  30  convectively heats the temperature controller  15 . The temperature controller  15  is made of a temperature sensitive material, possibly bimetal. As the temperature of the temperature controller  15  increases it deflects such that the ambient air intake port  21  opens and the flame intake port  39  closes. As this occurs the temperature of the mixed gases and subsequently the temperature controller  15  decreases. The temperature controller  15  and the control chamber  30  are designed to adjust the openings of these two ports such that the temperature of the mixed gases will quickly reach a steady state temperature. The value of this steady state temperature is controlled by the initial position of the temperature controller  15 . This position and consequent steady state temperature is controlled by the two adjustment screws  28 . The operator adjusts these adjustment screws  28  to set the desired vaporization temperature. 
     These temperature controlled mixed gases leave the control chamber  30  and directly enter the smoking material chamber  10 . These gases pass through the smoking material and vaporize (boil off) the desired active ingredients without burning the plant material. This vapor passes through the filter/restriction  14 , which restrains the smoking material. The vapor passes through the vapor conduit  26  and is inhaled by the operator. 
     The control chamber  30  is designed such that the operator&#39;s inhale rate produces a high enough Reynolds number to cause turbulent flow in the control chamber  30 . Turbulent flow increases the heat transfer between mixed gases and the temperature controller  15 . This increases the response time of the control system for temperature control. 
     The temperature controller  15  and the control chamber  30  are designed such that only a small deflection of the temperature controller  15  is necessary to control the steady state temperature. This decreases the control system&#39;s sensitivity to the ambient temperature and the combustion products temperature. Low sensitivity to the combustion products temperature means this device will produce a consistent vaporization temperature independent of the flame source. Flame source will need to exceed minimum power required to heat ambient air to the vaporization temperature at the flow rate the operator is inhaling. Excess power will be rejected by the flame intake port. This will allow for any heat source to produce consistent results. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 15-20 , designated generally by the reference numeral  1 . Vaporization implement  1  provides a mouthpiece/bowl  51  which has a slip fit into one end of the vapor conduit  26 . This slip fit is sealed air tight by the rear seal  36 . The other end of the vapor conduit  26  is joined and sealed air tight to a temperature controlling intake (TCI)  5  using the front seal  38 . The front seal  38  also positions the heat diffuser  39  in the flow stream between the TCI  5  and the vapor conduit  26 . 
     The intake TCI  5  provides flame intake port  29  and an ambient air intake port  21 , shown in  FIG. 20 . Flame intake port and ambient air intake port are in fluid communication with the control chamber  30 . Control chamber  30  communicates with vapor conduit  26 . Vapor conduit  26  communicates with mouthpiece/bowl  51  through smoking materials chamber  10  then filter/restriction  14 . 
     For the loading configuration, the mouthpiece/bowl  51  is separated from the vapor conduit  26  and rear seal  36  shown in  FIG. 16 . This exposes the smoking material chamber  10  for removal of used smoking material and loading of fresh smoking material. 
     In the operating configuration  FIG. 15 , the mouthpiece/bowl  51  is slipped into the vapor conduit  26  and rear seal  36  to form an air tight seal. Vaporization implement  1  provides an integral heat source  50 . The heat source shown is similar to butane lighter. Other fuel gases and different designs could be used. Heat source  50  is comprised of the fuel tank  24 , fuel supply valve  13 , piezo igniter  37 , electrode  40 , fuel valve actuator  41 , fuel hose  42 , button  43 , ignition wire  48 , fuel fill valve  25 , fuel adjustment  35 , and torch tip  45 . The heat source provides high temperature gases to the flame intake port  29 . 
     Just prior to inhalation the operator presses and holds button  43 . The button  43  opens fuel supply valve  13  and causes piezo igniter  37  to discharge high voltage to create a spark in torch tip  45 . Spark energy is carried on one side by the electrode  40 , fuel valve actuator  41 , fuel supply valve  13 , fuel hose  42 , and torch tip  45 , the other side by ignition wire  48 . The spark ignites the fuel flowing through the torch tip  45  which produces a steady flame adjacent to flame intake port  29 . 
     As the operator inhales through the mouthpiece/bowl  51 , air is drawn into the ambient air port  21  and the flame combustion products are drawn into the flame intake port  29 . Initially the temperature controller  15  is positioned such that the ambient air intake port  21  is closed, 0% open, and the flame intake port  29  is 100% open. Only flame combustion products can enter the device through the flame intake port. The temperature of the combustion products is very high, for a butane torch approximately 2100 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in the control chamber  30  is determined by the combination of the combustion products and ambient air being mixed. The temperature of the mixed gases traveling through the control chamber  30  convectively heats the temperature controller  15 . The temperature controller  15  is made of a temperature sensitive material, possibly bimetal. As the temperature of the temperature controller  15  increases it deflects such that the ambient air intake port  21  opens and the flame intake port  39  closes. As this occurs the temperature of the mixed gases and subsequently the temperature controller  15  decreases. The temperature controller  15  and the control chamber  30  are designed to adjust the openings of these two ports such that the temperature of the mixed gases will quickly reach a steady state temperature. The value of this steady state temperature is controlled by the initial position of the temperature controller  15 . This position and consequent steady state temperature is controlled by the temperature adjustment knob  46 . The operator adjusts the temperature adjustment knob  46  to set the desired vaporization temperature. 
     As these temperature-controlled mixed gases leave the control chamber  30  and enter the vapor conduit  26  and smoking material chamber  10 , they pass through the heat diffuser  39 . The gases may not have mixed enough to be a homogeneous temperature, resulting in some hot and/or cold areas in the flow stream. Hot spots can burn instead of vaporize the smoking materials. The heat diffuser  39  redistributes the heat evenly across the flow stream by using a material with high thermal conductivity in a configuration which thermally couples with the flowing gases, such as a mesh or screen. The gases now have a more uniform temperature profile across the flow stream. These gases pass through the smoking material and vaporize (boil off) the desired active ingredients without burning the plant material. This vapor passes through the filter/restriction  14 , which restrains the smoking material. The vapor passes through the mouthpiece/bowl  51  and is inhaled by the operator. 
     The control chamber  30  is designed such that the operator&#39;s inhale rate produces a high enough Reynolds number to cause turbulent flow in the control chamber  30 . Turbulent flow increases the heat transfer between mixed gases and the temperature controller  15 . This increases the response time of the control system for temperature control. 
     The temperature controller  15  and the control chamber  30  are designed such that only a small deflection of the temperature controller  15  is necessary to control the steady state temperature. This decreases the control system&#39;s sensitivity to the ambient temperature and the combustion products temperature. Low sensitivity to the combustion products temperature means this device will produce a consistent vaporization temperature independent of the flame source and ambient temperatures. Fuel adjustment  35  adjusts the fuel flow rate to the torch tip  45 . The fuel flow rate establishes the power available (energy/time). The fuel flow rate power needs to be set higher than the minimum power required to heat ambient air to the vaporization temperature at the inhale rate of the operator. Energy is what changes the temperature of air. Keeping up with the inhale rate of the operator, makes it a power requirement. Excess power will bypass the flame intake port  29  similar to operating the torch without inhaling. 
     Most excess power exhaust from the torch tip  45  in the form of heat which allows this embodiment to also function as a lighter. Some of the power gets absorbed into the TCI  5 . This causes an increase in temperature of the TCI  5  and parts of the case  44 . This embodiment provides inductive cooling for the back face of the torch tip  45 , largest heat source. The flame in the torch tip  45  gets to 2100 degrees F. To reduce the heat transmitted to the TCI  5  from the back face, the torch tip  45  has an opening opposite from the opening it has for the flame intake port  29 . This opening is connected to internal passages in the TCI  5  that circulate pass the back face of the torch tip  45  then connect to openings to the external environment. 
     During inhalation gases are inducted into the flame intake port  29  through the opening in the torch tip  45 . These gases are made from combusted fuel, air inducted from the torch tips external opening, and air inducted through the cooling passages. Cooling flow  50  is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . The air inducted through the cooling passages gets preheated before it is heated by the flame. 
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise in the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicator of what is the invention, and is intended by the applicants to be the invention, is the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. Any definitions expressly set forth herein for terms contained in such claims shall govern the meaning of such terms as used in the claims. Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage or attribute that is not expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of such claim in any way. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.