Bendable Heat Exchanger Assembly for Compact Laundry Machine Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger devices for laundry treatment machines require more space and are more complex and expensive to manufacture and transport due to their angled flow path, which complicates storage, logistics, and production.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger device design where the two heat exchangers are arranged in a straight extension in the pre-assembled state, with a connecting plate that stabilizes the device as a rigid unit, allowing for a more compact and cost-effective pre-assembled state, and can be easily converted to an angled arrangement for optimal airflow without the need for additional space or complex manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the two heat exchangers are arranged in an angled flow path configuration, then the airflow efficiency and installation space utilization are improved, but the storage space requirements and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting plate is designed to be bendable along a predetermined bending line, allowing the heat exchanger device to transition between a compact straight configuration for storage/transport and an angled operational configuration for airflow. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between storage efficiency and airflow performance.
2Productivity
If the two heat exchangers are arranged in an angled flow path configuration, then the airflow efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting plate is divided into segments by a predetermined bending line, allowing it to be bent into different configurations. This segmentation enables the device to achieve complex angled arrangements during operation while maintaining simple straight-line manufacturing and storage, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If the heat exchanger device is designed with an angled flow path, then the installation space utilization is improved, but the handling and transport difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting plate's bendability allows the entire heat exchanger device to be handled as a compact, rigid unit during transport and storage, then easily converted to the optimal angled configuration during installation. This dynamic transformation improves handling ease without compromising installation space utilization.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the connecting plate is made rigid to stabilize the heat exchanger device, then the handling as a rigid unit is improved, but the ability to convert to angled arrangement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting plate has different mechanical properties at different locations: it is rigid in most areas to provide structural stability for handling, but has a specific bending line where it is designed to be flexible. This local differentiation allows the plate to maintain overall rigidity while enabling configuration changes at the predetermined bending line.
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
This design simplifies handling, storage, and production by eliminating the need for an angled flow path, reducing storage and transportation space requirements, and lowering production costs while maintaining effective airflow and flow technology advantages.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger (4) and a second heat exchanger (6), wherein the two heat exchangers (4, 6) are arranged along a flow path (10) of a process air
Implementation Method 2
The first heat exchanger (4) has a first side plate (12) and the second heat exchanger (6) has a second side plate (14)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger device (2) for a laundry treatment machine, comprising a first heat exchanger (4) and a second heat exchanger (6), wherein the two heat exchangers (4, 6) are arranged sequentially along a flow path (10) of process air in an operating state of the heat exchanger device (2) and are connected to each other by means of a connecting plate (8), characterized in that the first heat exchanger (4) has a first side plate (12) and the second heat exchanger (6) has a second side plate (14), wherein the first and the second side plates (12, 14) are each arranged on a side of the heat exchanger device (2) opposite the connecting plate (8), and wherein the first and the second side plates (12, 14) are unconnected at least in a pre-assembly state of the heat exchanger device (2). The invention further relates to a base module for a laundry treatment machine.