Rotating Multi-Chamber Cartridge for Selective Aerosol Media

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol-generating devices face challenges in maintaining optimal quality of the medium, allowing for medium replacement, extending the replacement period, preventing decomposition, and enabling user selection of different media while ensuring a passage structure that allows selective flow and sealing.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a cartridge with a first container, a rotatably coupled second container having isolated chambers, a wick, and a duct, along with a housing that includes a dial gear and battery for rotating the second container, allowing selective connection of chambers and medium passage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single container is used for medium storage, then the device structure is simple, but the medium cannot be replaced or selected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedium replacement capabilityVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage container is divided into multiple isolated chambers (first chamber, second chamber, etc.) that can be independently sealed. Each chamber can contain different media, allowing the device to offer medium replacement capability while maintaining a relatively compact structure. The segmentation enables selective activation of chambers without requiring complete container redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple chambers are arranged in a nested or compact configuration within the container, with each chamber containing another or positioned closely together. This nesting approach maximizes space utilization and reduces overall device complexity while still providing multiple medium storage options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the medium is continuously supplied, then the operation duration is extended, but the medium quality deteriorates due to decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement periodVSAvoidmedium quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple chambers are prepared in advance with different media or the same medium in separate compartments. The sealing mechanism ensures that only the active chamber is connected to the aerosol generation system, preventing premature exposure or degradation of media in inactive chambers. This preliminary preparation extends the overall replacement period while maintaining media quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The medium is extracted from a continuous supply system and divided into discrete, sealed chambers. Each chamber acts as an independent unit that can be sealed to prevent decomposition. This extraction approach allows the device to operate for extended periods by switching between pre-prepared chambers rather than continuously supplying medium that may degrade.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a passage structure is added for selective flow, then medium selection is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassage selection capabilityVSAvoidpassage structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The passage structure incorporates movable or adjustable components that can dynamically open or close connections between different chambers and the aerosol generation system. This dynamic capability enables medium selection without requiring a completely separate passage system for each chamber, reducing overall complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If multiple chambers are isolated, then medium decomposition is prevented, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedium stabilityVSAvoidchamber fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple isolated chambers are combined into a single integrated container structure with shared walls and common sealing mechanisms. This merging approach maintains the isolation benefits for preventing medium decomposition while simplifying manufacturing compared to assembling separate containers. The chambers can be formed as single-piece structures or pre-assembled modules that connect through standardized interfaces.

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 solution maintains medium quality, enables easy replacement, extends the replacement period, prevents decomposition, and allows user selection of media, while providing a passage structure for selective flow and sealing.

Implementation Method 1

a wick, which extends through the hollow shaft in the diametrical direction of the hollow shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

an atomizer, which comprises a liquid transport element. The liquid transport element is in fluid communication with the first reservoir and has a heating element, that is configured to vaporize the aerosol precursor composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

An aerosol-generating device is a device that extracts certain components from a medium or a substance by forming an aerosol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization: Aerosol

Data Source

PatentEP4250977B1Aerosol-generating device
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP4250977B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4250977B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4250977B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An aerosol-generating device is disclosed. The aerosol-generating device includes a cartridge including a first cylindrical container, the first container including a hollow shaft such that liquid is containable between an inner surface of the first container and an outer surface of the hollow shaft, a second container, which is rotatably coupled to the first container, and includes a plurality of chambers, the plurality of chambers being isolated from each other along a circumference of the second container, and each of the plurality of chambers having a plurality of holes formed at upper and lower ends thereof a wick, which extends through the hollow shaft in a diametrical direction of the hollow shaft, a duct positioned between the first container and the second container to allow the hollow shaft to communicate with the one of the plurality of chambers, a housing having a reception space into which the cartridge is inserted, a dial gear, which is disposed in the housing, includes a rotating shaft parallel to a rotating shaft of the second container, and engages the second container to rotate with the second container, and a battery disposed in the housing adjacent to the dial gear and the reception space in a longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft of the dial gear.