Dryer Appliance Additive Dispenser with Spring-Loaded Pump
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryer appliances lack an efficient method to introduce additives, such as fabric softeners or fragrances, into the drying process without manual placement or re-washing, leading to inefficiencies in energy and water usage.
Innovation Solution
A dryer appliance with a reservoir for additives and a spring-loaded pump system that delivers a spray of additives into the drum during the drying cycle, utilizing a spray nozzle and one-way valves for controlled fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual placement of dryer sheets or additives is used, then additives can be provided to clothes, but the process is inconvenient and requires user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically dispenses additives during the drying cycle without requiring user intervention. The controller activates the pump and spray nozzle system based on detected drying cycle parameters, allowing the dryer to serve itself by automatically applying fabric softener or fragrance at the appropriate time.
Solution Approach 2:
The additive reservoir is pre-filled with fabric softener or fragrance before the drying cycle begins. The system prepares the additive delivery mechanism in advance, and the controller is programmed to activate the spray system at the optimal moment during the drying cycle, performing the additive application action beforehand rather than requiring manual user input during operation.
2Reliability
If clothes are washed and dried again to improve scent or softness, then fabric quality is enhanced, but excessive energy and water usage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fabric treatment function from the complete wash-dry cycle and implements it as a separate, standalone additive application system. By removing the need to re-wash and re-dry clothes for scent or softness enhancement, the system eliminates the excessive energy and water consumption associated with additional washing cycles while maintaining the desired fabric treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and application method of fabric treatment additives by spraying them directly onto clothes during the drying cycle. This parameter change from traditional liquid detergent application during washing to aerosol or liquid spray application during drying achieves effective fabric treatment with minimal energy and water consumption, avoiding the need for complete re-washing cycles.
3Extent of automation
If a pump system is added to deliver additives, then automated additive delivery is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is designed as a multi-functional component that can handle different types of additives (fabric softener, fragrance, or other liquid treatments) through a single integrated delivery mechanism. The spray nozzle system can be directed to different locations within the drum, and the controller can adjust spray timing and duration, allowing one complex component to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate systems for each additive type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that manages the complex interactions between the pump, spray nozzle, and drying cycle parameters. The controller acts as a mediator that receives input from sensors, processes drying cycle information, and coordinates the pump activation and spray timing, thereby managing the system's complexity through intelligent control rather than through mechanical complexity alone.
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
Enables the selective and efficient introduction of additives into the drying process, enhancing fabric softness and fragrance without the need for manual placement or additional washing cycles, reducing energy and water consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The spring-loaded pump includes a piston and a spring in operative communication with the piston. The spring urges the piston toward an outlet of the pump to push the additive from the pump to the spray nozzle.
Implementation Method 2
A spray nozzle is mounted proximate the chamber and configured to deliver a spray of the additive from the reservoir into the chamber.
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer appliance includes a cabinet. The cabinet defines an interior volume. A drum is rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for the receipt of clothes for drying. An additive reservoir is mounted in the cabinet. The dryer appliance also includes a spray nozzle for spraying additive from the reservoir into the chamber. The dryer appliance further includes a pump which pumps the additive from the reservoir to the spray nozzle. The pump may be spring-loaded and may include a piston and a spring. The pump may be connected to the reservoir by a first one-way valve and may be connected to the spray nozzle by a second one-way valve.