A Cartridge for a Vapour Generating System

Abstract

A cartridge for a vapour generating system, such as an e-cigarette, includes a vaporization chamber in which liquid is vaporized from a heater surface to mix with a flow of air through the vaporization chamber. Before reaching an air outlet, the airflow must pass through a restriction means such as a narrow neck, which helps to prevent droplets of re-condensed liquid leaking out of the air outlet. The restriction means also provides a convenient way to determine the distribution of air pressure along the airflow path and the overall resistance to draw of the vapour generating system.

1 . A cartridge for a vapour generating system, the cartridge comprising:
 a first end together defining a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end;   an air inlet;   an inlet channel;   a vaporization chamber;   an outlet channel; and   an air outlet;   wherein an airflow path extends from the air inlet through the inlet channel to the vaporization chamber, then through the outlet channel to the air outlet;   the cartridge further comprising restriction means for restricting airflow between the outlet channel and the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the restriction means is a neck in the airflow path, a cross-sectional area of the neck being smaller than a cross-sectional area of the outlet channel 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the neck is smaller than a cross-sectional area anywhere else along the airflow path. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the neck is oriented such that the airflow through the neck is in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is located in the second end of the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge according to  claim 5 , further comprising, between the restriction means and the air outlet, a lip that projects from the second end towards the first end. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir configured to store vapour generating liquid to be vaporized in the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the outlet channel does not intersect the reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet channel is adjacent to a longitudinal side wall of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airflow path through the inlet channel follows a first transverse direction then turns to enter the vaporization chamber in a second transverse direction.   
     
     
         11 . The cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the inlet channel is convoluted such that the inlet channel provides no straight path from the air inlet to the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the inlet channel comprises at least two right-angled bends between the air inlet and the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the first transverse direction is opposite to the second transverse direction. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge according to  claim 13 , further comprising an airflow diverter element, of which a first surface defines the first transverse direction and a second, opposite surface defines the second transverse direction. 
     
     
         15 . A vapour generating system comprising a vapour generating device and the cartridge according to  claim 1 , the cartridge being releasably connected to the vapour generating device.