Removable Dry Cleaning Solvent Filter for Low-Maintenance Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Known dry cleaning machines face maintenance challenges due to costly sealing systems and frequent filter cleaning or replacement requirements, necessitating an efficient filtration solution to manage dry cleaning fluid reuse and vapor recapture.
Innovation Solution
A dry cleaning machine with a filter assembly comprising a handle, filter element, and connecting portion, positioned between the tub and outlet tube, which filters dry cleaning fluid without causing pressure drops and allows for easy filter cleaning or replacement, ensuring effective particle capture and fluid reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a filter assembly is installed to remove particulates from dry cleaning fluid, then the fluid reuse efficiency is improved, but the maintenance frequency and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is designed as a separate, removable module that can be easily detached from the main dry cleaning machine. The housing, filter element, and handle form an independent assembly that segments the filtration function from the core washing mechanism, allowing maintenance without disassembling the entire machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is extracted as a removable component within the filter assembly. Users can remove the filter element from the housing for cleaning or replacement without affecting the rest of the machine, enabling easy maintenance while maintaining continuous operation capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the dry cleaning machine is sealed to prevent vapor emission, then environmental safety is improved, but the cost of sealing system maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly with its removable filter element is extracted as a separate maintenanceable component. This allows the sealing systems to remain intact for vapor containment while the filter assembly can be independently accessed, cleaned, and maintained without compromising the seal integrity or requiring complex disassembly of sealed components.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter assembly acts as an intermediary component between the sealed washing chamber and the external environment. It provides a controlled interface for fluid removal and filtration while maintaining the overall seal integrity of the machine, preventing vapor escape without requiring the entire fluid handling path to be sealed.
3Reliability
If frequent filter cleaning is required to maintain operation, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but loss of time for maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is segmented into removable components (housing, filter element, handle) that can be quickly detached and cleaned separately. This segmentation allows rapid maintenance intervention without shutting down the entire machine, reducing the time loss associated with frequent filter cleaning while maintaining filtration effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element can be removed and cleaned in advance during low-usage periods without affecting machine operation. The removable design enables users to perform maintenance preliminarily when convenient, rather than being forced to stop operation for cleaning, thus reducing overall time loss while ensuring the filter is ready for effective operation.
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 filter assembly effectively captures particulates without impacting drain time or machine operation, facilitating efficient dry cleaning fluid reuse and reducing maintenance costs by allowing easy access and cleaning of the filter element.
Implementation Method 1
a filter element... filtering dry cleaning fluid channeled towards the outlet tube
Data Source
AI summary
A dry cleaning machine includes a tub for holding articles to be cleaned. A door is rotatably coupled to the dry cleaning machine. The door is movable from a closed position wherein access to the tub is substantially sealed, to an open position providing access to the tub. An outlet tube is coupled in flow communication to the tub. A filter assembly is positioned between the tub and the outlet tube filtering dry cleaning fluid channeled towards the outlet tube.