Domestic clothes dryer and method for driving such dryers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes dryers with concentric air plenum chambers and seals are complex, inefficient, and fail to distribute air effectively when lifters are not in contact with clothes, leading to reduced drying performance and fabric care issues.
Innovation Solution
A tumble dryer design featuring a distribution device in the air inlet plenum chamber that delivers air either indirectly through lifters or directly through a rear perforated wall, allowing air to flow through the lifter only when aligned, and through the wall when not aligned, optimizing air distribution and reducing wrinkles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air flows always entirely through the lifters during drum rotation, then the drying process is continuous, but the effectiveness is substantially reduced when lifters are not in contact with clothes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the air flow path dynamic by allowing it to switch between two modes: flowing through the lifter when the lifter is in the lower position (contacting clothes), and flowing through the rear perforated wall when the lifter is in the upper position (not contacting clothes). This dynamic adaptation ensures air always flows where it can be effective, eliminating energy waste while maintaining continuous drying productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching of air flow paths synchronized with the drum rotation cycle. During each rotation, air flow alternates between the lifter path (when lifter contacts clothes) and the rear wall path (when lifter is elevated), creating a periodic action that matches the operational needs of the drying process and prevents energy waste during ineffective phases.
2Reliability
If concentric air plenum chambers and seals are used to form circulation passage, then air circulation is achieved, but the structure becomes quite complex and not easy to be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex concentric air plenum chambers and seals from the system. Instead, it uses a simplified configuration where air enters through a rear perforated wall and can flow either through the lifter or directly through the wall, achieving reliable air circulation without the cumbersome multi-chamber structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using complex seals and plenum chambers to force air circulation, the patent inverts the approach by allowing air to naturally flow through the perforated rear wall and choosing its path based on lifter position. This inversion simplifies the structure while maintaining circulation reliability.
3Ease of operation
If air is delivered to the drum through the shaped air plenum chamber facing only the lower portion of the rear perforated wall, then air flows through the lifter when aligned, but air must also flow through the rear wall when the lifter is not aligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service air distribution system where the air flow path is automatically controlled by the lifter's own position during drum rotation. When the lifter is in the lower position, it naturally blocks the rear wall openings and directs air through itself; when in the upper position, air automatically flows through the rear wall. This self-regulating mechanism simplifies control while maintaining effective air distribution.
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 enhances drying efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and improves fabric care by ensuring air flows directly to clothes, maintaining performance across varying load sizes and reducing temperature gradients.
Implementation Method 1
air is delivered to the drum only though the lower portion of the rear perforated wall
Implementation Method 2
distribution device in the air inlet plenum chamber capable of delivering air to the drum either indirectly, i.e. through one or more lifters, or directly
Data Source
AI summary
A domestic clothes dryer comprises a rotating drum defining a drying chamber, an air inlet upstream the drum and at least a hollow lifter mounted in the drum, wherein said hollow lifter is in communication with the air inlet for distributing air inside the drum through a plurality of openings. The air inlet comprises a shaped air plenum chamber facing a lower portion of a rear perforated wall of the drum and capable of delivering air to said lifter and/or directly to the drum through said rear perforated wall.