Condensate collecting tank for a laundry drier with a device for the extraction of condensate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing condensate collection systems in tumble dryers face challenges in ensuring easy and safe removal of clean condensate, often leading to filter clogging and reduced efficiency due to debris accumulation and negative pressure issues.
Innovation Solution
A condensate collection tank design featuring a hat-shaped filter head with V-aligned filter screens at the end of the hose, which increases the filter area, prevents sticking, and directs debris away from the filter surface, combined with a hose extending to the deepest area of the collector for efficient condensate suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional filter is arranged at the coupling device, then condensate can be filtered, but the filter surface becomes stuck to the wall or bottom of the container due to negative pressure and stops condensate flow
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the filter at the coupling device where negative pressure causes adhesion to walls, the filter head is inverted and positioned at the end of the hose extending into the condensate. This reversal of position eliminates the adhesion problem while maintaining filtration function.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter head is designed with filter surfaces extending in multiple directions (upward, downward, sideways) rather than a single flat surface. This multi-dimensional arrangement increases filter area and ensures that negative pressure does not cause uniform adhesion across the entire filter surface.
2Productivity
If the hose is extended to the deepest area of the collector, then condensate suction efficiency is improved, but the filter head may pick up debris from the bottom and clog
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the filter head have different orientations and functions. The downward-facing filter surface at the bottom prevents debris pickup, while upward and sideways surfaces provide additional filtration area without contacting the container bottom directly.
3Area of moving object
If a large filter area is required, then a complex multi-component filter system is needed, but this increases device complexity and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filter surfaces are merged into a single integrated filter head component. The filter head combines upward, downward, and sideways filtering functions in one piece, eliminating the need for multiple separate filter components and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter head serves multiple functions simultaneously: it filters condensate through multiple surfaces, prevents debris pickup, and resists negative pressure adhesion. This multi-functionality is achieved in a single component rather than requiring multiple specialized parts.
4Ease of manufacture
If the filter head is made as a single-piece injection molded part, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the filter area may be limited by the molding process
Solution Approach 1:
The filter head utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently with filter surfaces extending in multiple directions (upward, downward, sideways) rather than just one plane. This allows a large total filter area to be achieved within the constraints of a single injection-molded component.
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 design allows for easy removal and cleaning of the filter head, reduces clogging, and maintains high condensate flow efficiency by preventing debris accumulation, while being cost-effective through a single-piece plastic injection molding.
Implementation Method 1
a filter head (33) is arranged at the end of the hose (32) opposite the coupling point (18)... two surfaces (37) which are aligned in a V-shape with one another. In each of these two surfaces (37), a recess (38) is arranged in which a filter screen (39) is inserted
Implementation Method 2
the negative pressure that occurs and then no longer lets condensate through... The condensate is removed from the condensate collector (10) by means of a coupling point (18)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a condensate collection container (10) for a clothes dryer (1) with a device for removing the condensate at a coupling point (18). To ensure simple and safe removal of clean condensate, a hose (32) extends from the coupling point (18) into the interior of the collection container (10), at the end of which opposite the coupling point (18) a filter head (33) is arranged.