Air duct shell for use in clothes dryer and clothes dryer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing dryer designs suffer from water leakage and reduced heat preservation due to the hollow structure communication between the two-device installation cavity and the drainage channel, affecting drying efficiency and heat exchange efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An air duct shell with an integrally formed liquid drainage channel, utilizing a partition plate to seal the drainage groove and guide grooves to prevent water leakage and ensure effective drainage, while maintaining heat exchange efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a hollow structure is used to communicate the two-device installation cavity with the drainage channel, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but water leakage and air leakage occur affecting drying efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidwater leakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the drainage groove and the sealing structure into an integrated unit. The sealing ring is embedded directly within the drainage groove structure, creating a unified component that combines drainage functionality with leak prevention. This integration eliminates the need for separate sealing mechanisms while ensuring reliable water-tight communication between the installation cavity and drainage channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If a hollow structure is used to communicate the two-device installation cavity with the drainage channel, then the structure is simple, but heat preservation is reduced affecting drying efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidheat preservation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sealing ring as an intermediary element within the drainage groove. This sealing ring not only prevents water and air leakage but also serves as a thermal barrier that reduces heat loss through the drainage channel communication path. The intermediary structure thus addresses both leakage prevention and heat preservation requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the evaporator condenses humid air, then drying efficiency is improved, but condensed water accumulation occurs affecting heat exchange efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidheat exchange efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the condensed water removal function from the heat exchange system by providing a dedicated drainage groove that communicates the installation cavity with the drainage channel. This separate drainage pathway efficiently removes condensed water from the evaporator area, preventing water accumulation that would otherwise interfere with heat exchange efficiency while maintaining high drying efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 effectively prevents water and air leakage, enhancing drying efficiency and heat preservation, and simplifies the structure for easier processing and assembly, reducing the risk of blockages that could impede drainage.

Implementation Method 1

an evaporator (1) provided in the housing (4) that condenses humid air introduced into the housing (4) via evaporation of a refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a condenser (2) provided in the housing (4) that heats the air having passed through the evaporator (1) via condensation of the refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP4098793B1Air duct shell for use in clothes dryer and clothes dryer
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 WUXI LITTLE SWAN ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4098793B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4098793B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4098793B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air duct shell (100) for use in a clothes dryer and a clothes dryer, the air duct shell (100) having a first chamber (110) used for installing an evaporator (200) and a second chamber (120) used for installing a condenser (300), the air duct shell (100) comprising: a body (10), the inner surface of the bottom wall of the body (10) being provided with a liquid drainage groove (11) and a liquid guide groove (13); and a partition plate (20), the partition plate (20) covering the groove opening of the liquid drainage groove (11) to define a liquid drainage channel (12) with the body, and the liquid guide groove (13) being in communication with the first chamber (110) and the liquid drainage channel (12).