Multi-Chamber E-Vaping Cartridge with Hydrogel Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing e-vaping devices with single-chamber cartridges face issues with ingredient degradation and mixing due to reactions between pre-vapor formulation components.

Innovation Solution

A multi-chamber cartridge design where each chamber contains specific ingredients, such as flavorants, acids, or nicotine, in hydrogel form, separated by separators to prevent premature mixing and degradation, with wicks connecting each chamber to the chimney for controlled vaporization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If all ingredients are included in a single chamber, then device complexity is reduced, but ingredient stability deteriorates due to reactions between components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge structureVSAvoidpre-vapor formulation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge is divided into multiple chambers, each containing specific ingredients (nicotine, flavorants, acids) that would otherwise react with each other. This segmentation prevents premature mixing and degradation while maintaining device functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If ingredients are kept separate in multiple chambers, then ingredient stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional separators and chambers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveingredient stabilityVSAvoidmulti-chamber structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If ingredients are mixed in liquid form, then vaporization efficiency is improved, but ingredient degradation occurs due to premature mixing and reactions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevaporization efficiencyVSAvoidpre-vapor formulation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Ingredients are vaporized separately in their respective chambers and then mix in vapor phase, avoiding liquid-phase reactions. The phase transition from liquid to vapor occurs after separation, ensuring stability during storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

4Stability of the object's composition

If hydrogel formulation is used, then ingredient stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to hydrogel preparation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveingredient stabilityVSAvoidhydrogel formulation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The formulation is changed from liquid to hydrogel phase, altering the physical state and chemical reactivity of ingredients. This parameter change reduces premature evaporation and reactions, improving stability despite additional manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 multi-chamber design ensures that ingredients are only mixed in vapor form during device operation, reducing harshness and allowing for the inclusion of reactive components without degradation, thereby improving the stability and quality of the vapor produced.

Implementation Method 1

the hydrogels may be prepared with biopolymers or bio-derived polymers, and reduce or substantially prevent or inhibit premature evaporation of the ingredients, acids, or flavorants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogel: Hydrogel

Implementation Method 2

a wick may connect each one of the chambers to the chimney. Accordingly, during operation of the e-vaping device, the contents of each of the chambers are separately heated, and during evaporation are transferred from each chamber via the wick into the common chimney

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

The heater in the cartridge is in contact with the pre-vapor formulation via a wick, and is configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation to generate a vapor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

the contents of each of the chambers are separately heated, and during evaporation are transferred from each chamber via the wick into the common chimney

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS20250031758A1Design and application of a multi-chamber cartridge including a hydrogel formulation

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC

AI summary

An e-vaping device having a cartridge including an outer container extending in a longitudinal direction, a conduit within the outer container, a storage portion including pre-vapor formulation ingredients, the storage portion being between the outer container and the conduit and including a plurality of chambers, a plurality of wicks, each of the wicks being in communication with each of the chambers and the conduit and being configured to deliver one or more ingredients in each of the chambers to the conduit, and a coil heater located in the chimney and operatively coupled to each of the wicks. The e-vaping device also includes a power supply source coupled to the cartridge, the power supply source is configured to heat the wicks to vaporize ingredients located in respective chambers and generate a vapor corresponding to each of the vaporized ingredients.