Airflow Chimney Capsule Structure for E-Cigarette Leak Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic cigarettes face issues with liquid leakage from the liquid store, which can lead to electrical short circuits and are complex in design, increasing manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A capsule design with an integrally formed airflow passageway as a chimney or tubular extension, reducing the number of components and eliminating joins to enhance sealing, combined with grooves and channels to capture and drain leaked fluid, and a secure connection for the heating element and electrodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional separate components are used for airflow passageway and holder, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases and sealing reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The airflow passageway is integrally formed with the holder as a single component, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these parts. This merging reduces the number of components and assembly steps while improving sealing reliability by eliminating potential leak paths at joints between separate parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If multiple separate components are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased leakage risk at joins

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holder and airflow passageway are formed as a single integral component, eliminating joints where liquid leakage could occur. This integration maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving sealing reliability by removing potential failure points at component interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If liquid leakage prevention measures are added, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integral formation of the holder and airflow passageway provides leakage prevention inherently through design simplification rather than adding separate prevention mechanisms. The unified structure eliminates joints that would require additional sealing components, achieving reliability improvement without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively reduces the risk of liquid leakage, simplifies manufacturing, and ensures safer operation by preventing electrical shorts, while maintaining efficient vapor generation.

Implementation Method 1

the heating element being configured to vaporize the received liquid and generate a vapor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a main gas flow channel extending between the vaporizer housing and the vapor outlet to allow the generated vapor to flow from the vaporizer housing to the vapor outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4110106B1Airflow chimney
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 JT INTERNATIONAL SA
  • EP4110106B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4110106B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4110106B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A capsule for an electronic cigarette is provided. In an embodiment, the capsule has a first end configured to engage with an electronic cigarette device and a second end having a vapor outlet, the capsule further comprises: a liquid store configured to contain a liquid to be vaporized; a vaporizer housing arranged to house at least a part of a heating element and a part of a fluid transfer element, where the fluid transfer element is arranged to deliver liquid from the liquid store to the heating element, the heating element being configured to vaporize the received liquid and generate a vapor; a seal arranged to hold the vaporizer housing; a holder arranged to attach to the seal; a main gas flow channel extending between the vaporizer housing and the vapor outlet to allow the generated vapor to flow from the vaporizer housing to the vapor outlet; a pair of electrodes, where the electrodes are arranged to provide an electrical connection between the first end of the capsule and an electronic cigarette device; where the holder comprises an airflow passageway.