Clothes Dryer Bidirectional Motor Design for Uniform Drying

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dryers have low drying efficiency and uneven drying due to the unidirectional rotation of the drying drum and fan, which limits the shaking of clothes and results in suboptimal drying uniformity.

Innovation Solution

The dryer design allows both the drying drum and fan to rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise, driven by a single motor capable of forward and reverse rotation, with a volute and fan configuration that maintains consistent airflow in both directions, enhancing the shaking of clothes and air circulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the drying drum and fan rotate in one direction only, then the device structure is simple, but the drying efficiency and uniformity are low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by enabling the drying drum and fan to rotate in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. The motor can reverse rotation direction, allowing the system to dynamically adapt its operation mode. This bidirectional rotation capability improves drying efficiency and uniformity by effectively shaking clothes without requiring separate motors for each direction, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the drying drum rotates unidirectionally, then the motor structure is simple, but the clothes cannot be completely shaken and unfolded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaking effectivenessVSAvoidmotor structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor structure is designed to support bidirectional rotation through a single motor that can reverse direction. This dynamic capability allows the drying drum to rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise, effectively shaking and unfolding clothes during the drying process. The motor's ability to change rotation direction provides enhanced operational effectiveness without requiring multiple motors or complex mechanical reversal mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the fan rotates in one direction, then the airflow path is fixed, but the drying uniformity does not reach the ideal state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying uniformityVSAvoidfan rotation control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fan is designed with bidirectional rotation capability controlled by a single motor that can reverse direction. When the drying drum rotates clockwise, the fan rotates counter-clockwise to generate airflow in the corresponding direction, and vice versa. This dynamic coordination between drum and fan rotation directions ensures uniform airflow distribution and consistent drying uniformity across different operational phases, resolving the contradiction between drying uniformity and fan rotation control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 improves drying efficiency and uniformity by effectively shaking laundry and maintaining consistent airflow, leading to higher efficiency and more uniform drying.

Implementation Method 1

a motor drives a drying fan to rotate so that the air inside the dryer flows to form a wind in the duct

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAirflow generation:

Implementation Method 2

After the wind at the room temperature has been heated to dried hot wind

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

the clothes in the drum are intertwined with each other and cannot be completely shaken and unfold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3369858B1Clothes-drying machine
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3369858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3369858B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3369858B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dryer comprises a drying drum, a drum motor driving the drying drum to rotate, and a drying fan (3) for making dried hot air enter into the drying drum. The drying fan (3) comprises a volute (31), a fan (32) disposed in the volute (31), and a drying motor driving the fan (32) to rotate. The drum motor and the drying motor share one motor, and the motor is capable of forward and reverse rotation. and drives the drying drum and the fan to rotate forward and reversely. The amount of air flow passed by the fan(32) is same in both cases of forward and reverse rotation. The forward and reverse rotation of the drying drum can more effectively shake the clothes in the drying drum, so that the drying efficiency is higher and the drying is more uniform.