Banked Nozzle Hand Dryer Layout for Reduced Machine Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand dryers often require a significant depth to accommodate opposing nozzles for two-sided drying, limiting design flexibility and user comfort, and may necessitate 'hand-over-hand' drying methods that are inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mountable hand dryer with nozzle sections arranged in a V-configuration, banked at a Relative Bank Angle of 100-120 degrees, allowing for one-sided drying and reducing machine depth, while providing a comfortable and efficient drying experience without the need for opposing nozzles or 'hand-over-hand' action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If opposing nozzles are used for two-sided drying, then both sides of the hand can be dried simultaneously, but the machine depth increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The hand dryer is divided into two separate nozzle sections, each dedicated to drying one side of the hand. This segmentation allows the removal of opposing nozzles and the drying cavity, significantly reducing machine depth while maintaining effective drying functionality through dedicated one-sided drying zones
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle sections are banked at a Relative Bank Angle of 100-120 degrees, orienting them at an angle rather than opposing each other. This angular arrangement in a different spatial configuration eliminates the need for deep opposing nozzle placement while maintaining effective drying coverage
2Adaptability or versatility
If opposing nozzles are used for two-sided drying, then sufficient depth is required for nozzles and supply ducting, but this limits design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The opposing nozzle assembly and drying cavity are completely removed from the design. The invention extracts only the essential drying function and implements it through angled nozzle sections, eliminating the structural constraints that limited design flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle sections are arranged asymmetrically at a Relative Bank Angle of 100-120 degrees rather than in a symmetric opposing configuration. This asymmetric arrangement provides greater design freedom and reduces machine depth while maintaining effective drying performance
3Length of stationary object
If a single large nozzle is used for evaporative drying, then machine depth is reduced, but hand-over-hand action is required which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The single nozzle is segmented into two separate nozzle sections, each dedicated to one hand. This eliminates the need for hand-over-hand action as users can dry both hands simultaneously by passing each hand through its designated nozzle section, greatly improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
Each nozzle section is optimized locally for its specific function of drying one hand. The banked arrangement at 100-120 degrees provides optimal airflow direction for each hand position, enhancing user convenience without requiring manual manipulation
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 enables a compact hand dryer design that comfortably dries one side of the hand at a time, enhancing user experience and reducing machine depth by eliminating the need for opposing nozzles and promoting a shallow profile, while maintaining high-speed air momentum for effective moisture removal.
Implementation Method 1
directing drying air down onto the front or back of said hand as it is inserted lengthwise underneath the nozzle sections
Implementation Method 2
The air is heated to promote evaporative drying of water moisture on the hands of the user
Data Source
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AI summary
A wall-mountable hand dryer arranged for drying one side of a users hands at a time. The dryer has two nozzle sections one for each hand which nozzle sections are positioned towards the front of the dryer so that they are spaced away from the wall in use. The nozzle sections each extend to span the width of a users open hand and are arranged for directing drying air down onto the front or back of said hand as it is inserted lengthwise underneath the nozzle sections from the front of the dryer. The left-hand nozzle section is banked to the right and the right-hand nozzle section is banked to the left such that the user may bank his hands accordingly in use - this makes the drying action comfortable for the user.