Air-Driven Consumable Dispensing Nozzle for Body Drying Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drying methods, such as towel drying, are inefficient and resource-intensive, leading to inadequate drying, particularly in areas like gyms and hotels, and contribute to water consumption and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus that uses forced airflows to efficiently dry individuals, reducing reliance on towels by employing a body-mounted system with movable bars and air conditioning components to control temperature and humidity, ensuring thorough drying while minimizing water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If towel drying is used, then drying effectiveness is improved, but water consumption and laundry burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical towel-drying system with a pneumatic air drying system. A hair dryer generates a stream of air that flows over the person's body to evaporate moisture, eliminating the need for physical towels and subsequent washing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a hair dryer to generate a controlled stream of air (pneumatic flow) that passes over the person's body. This pneumatic system efficiently removes moisture through evaporation without requiring any liquid water for the drying process itself.
2Reliability
If towel drying is used, then drying effectiveness is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the time-intensive manual towel-drying process with an automated air flow system. The hair dryer continuously delivers a stream of air over the body, significantly reducing the time required to achieve effective drying compared to the multi-step towel process.
Solution Approach 2:
The air drying system operates continuously with a steady stream of air flowing over the person's body throughout the drying process. This continuous pneumatic action maintains constant evaporation rates, whereas towel drying requires repeated actions of wrapping, pressing, and repositioning.
3Loss of substance
If air drying system is implemented, then water consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hair dryer serves multiple functions: it generates the air stream for drying, provides airflow control, and can be directed to different body areas. This multi-functional device accomplishes the entire drying process without requiring separate water collection, filtration, or disposal systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The air drying system uses ambient air as its working fluid, drawing in air from the environment and using it for drying. The system does not require external water supplies, water treatment, or waste water management infrastructure, making it self-sufficient regarding water resources.
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 apparatus effectively dries individuals quickly and hygienically, reducing bacterial and fungal growth risks while significantly lowering water consumption and laundry burdens, thus promoting health and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
a flow generator to receive inlet air from the air inlet and to generate an airflow
Implementation Method 2
the consumable is drawn from the consumable dispensing unit, mixed with the airflow, and expelled from the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for dispensing a consumable to a user includes a body, a bar movable relative to the body, an air inlet, a flow generator to receive inlet air from the air inlet and to generate an airflow, a consumable dispensing unit to receive a quantity of a consumable, and a nozzle operatively connected to the consumable dispensing unit to receive the consumable from the consumable dispensing unit. The nozzle provided within a flow path of the airflow from the flow generator such that the consumable is drawn from the consumable dispensing unit, mixed with the airflow, and expelled from the nozzle.