Dehumidifier With Nested Water Tank For Extended Runtime

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dehumidifiers have a small water tank that frequently fills up during high humidity, requiring frequent water pouring, which is inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

A dehumidifier design that separates the machine body and water tank, allowing the machine body to be placed above the water tank during operation, increasing the water tank's volume and reducing the need for frequent water pouring by extending continuous working time and minimizing storage and transportation costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If the water tank volume is increased, then the continuous working time is extended and water pouring frequency is reduced, but the storage and transportation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous working timeVSAvoidwater tank volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The machine body is received inside the water tank when not in use, creating a nested configuration where the smaller machine body fits within the larger water tank structure. This nesting approach allows the water tank to serve dual purposes: as a water storage container during operation and as a protective housing for the machine body during storage and transportation, thereby increasing effective water tank volume without proportionally increasing overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The dehumidifier system transitions between two dynamic states: during operation, the machine body is positioned above the water tank for dehumidification; during storage/transportation, the machine body is received inside the water tank. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same components to serve different functions based on operational context, effectively increasing water storage capacity when needed while minimizing overall volume when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of stationary object

If the machine body is received in the water tank during idle state, then the overall device volume is reduced for storage and transportation, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall device volumeVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water tank is designed with multi-functionality: it serves as the water storage container during dehumidification operation and simultaneously as a receiving housing for the machine body during storage and transportation. This universal design eliminates the need for separate storage compartments or protective cases, reducing overall device volume without requiring significant structural modifications. The opening of the water tank allows easy access for receiving or removing the machine body, maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3859217B1dehumidifier
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 GD MIDEA AIR CONDITIONING EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3859217B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3859217B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3859217B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Disclosed is a dehumidifier, including: a machine body, having a dehumidification function; a water tank, defining a receiving cavity; the dehumidifier has a working state, in the working state, the machine body locates directly above the water tank, and the receiving cavity of the water tank is configured to receive water formed by dehumidification of the machine body. The technical solution of this application is beneficial to increasing a volume of the water tank.