Clothes treating apparatus having drying function
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Solution Overview
Problem
In clothes treating apparatuses with a drying function, lint adheres to heat-exchangers, reducing heat exchange efficiency and increasing flow resistance, and is difficult to remove due to strong binding forces, especially when condensate water is reused.
Innovation Solution
A clothes treating apparatus with a lint filter on the upstream side of the heat-exchanger and a lint collecting part below it, using a sloped mesh design and spray tubes to separate and collect lint, reducing contact between lint and the heat-exchanger and facilitating easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If condensate water is sprayed to remove lint from the heat-exchanger surface, then lint removal is attempted, but the binding force between lint and heat-exchanger increases making removal more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts lint from the air stream before it reaches the heat-exchanger by installing a lint filter on the upstream side. This prevents lint from adhering to the heat-exchanger surface in the first place, eliminating the need for difficult removal operations and avoiding the problem of increased binding force when condensate water is applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The lint filter performs preliminary action by capturing lint particles from the air before they can contact the heat-exchanger. The lint collecting part then removes the captured lint, preventing accumulation and maintaining heat-exchanger efficiency without requiring post-adhesion removal that would involve spraying condensate water.
2Reliability
If lint is allowed to adhere to the heat-exchanger surface, then heat-exchange efficiency deteriorates and flow resistance increases, but removing lint becomes difficult due to strong binding forces
Solution Approach 1:
The lint filter extracts lint from the air stream upstream of the heat-exchanger, preventing lint from reaching and adhering to the heat-exchanger surface. This maintains heat-exchange efficiency and airflow characteristics while eliminating the need for difficult lint removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lint filter acts as an intermediary component between the air stream and the heat-exchanger. It intercepts lint particles that would otherwise adhere to the heat-exchanger, and the lint collecting part serves as a temporary storage intermediary before lint is removed, facilitating easy maintenance.
3Reliability
If a lint filter is installed on the upstream side of the heat-exchanger, then lint contact with heat-exchanger is suppressed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lint filter and lint collecting part are integrated into a unified assembly that combines filtration and collection functions. This merged structure reduces the number of separate components and simplifies installation and maintenance, offsetting the added complexity of introducing a new lint removal system.
Solution Approach 2:
The lint filter assembly serves multiple functions: filtering lint from the air stream, collecting captured lint in a dedicated chamber, and facilitating easy removal of accumulated lint. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and minimizes overall device complexity while maintaining heat-exchange efficiency.
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 suppresses adverse effects of lint on heat-exchange efficiency and noise, allowing for efficient lint collection and removal, even when condensate water is reused, thereby improving the drying process.
Implementation Method 1
a lint filter disposed on an upstream side of the heat-exchanger with respect to flow of air exhausted from the drum to collect lint in the air
Implementation Method 2
a spray tube spraying water to the lint filter such that lint collected in the lint filter is separated from the lint filter
Implementation Method 3
a heat-exchanger heat-exchanged with air exhausted from the drum
Implementation Method 4
high temperature air exhausted from a drum is heat-exchanged with an evaporator so as to be cooled and condensed to remove moisture
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes treating apparatus having a drying function includes: a cabinet; a drum provided within the cabinet; a heat-exchanger heat-exchanged with air exhausted from the drum; a lint filter disposed on an upstream side of the heat-exchanger with respect to flow of air exhausted from the drum to collect lint in the air; a spray tube spraying water to the lint filter to separate lint collected in the lint filter from the lint filter; and a lint collecting part at least partially provided below the lint filter or below the heat-exchanger to collect falling lint. Lint in condensate water may be collected, and thus, generation of a bad influence when condensate water is re-used may be suppressed. Also, contact between lint in drying air and the heat-exchanger may be restrained.