Clothes Dryer Drum and Blower Layout for Larger Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes dryers have limited capacity due to the combined mounting of the drum drive and blower, which restricts the size of the drum and blower, and results in inefficient air flow and increased back pressure, making it difficult to dry larger loads such as comforters and rugs.
Innovation Solution
The clothes dryer design features a separate drive motor and blower with independent positioning, allowing for a larger drum size and improved air flow by orienting the blower's axis orthogonally to the drum axis, eliminating the need for a 90° bend in the exhaust path and maximizing cabinet space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-shaft dual-drive motor is used to drive both drum and blower, then device complexity is reduced, but drum diameter cannot be maximized and blower size is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drive system into two independent parts: a drum drive motor and a blower motor, each with separate shafts and mounting locations. This segmentation allows the drum to be positioned centrally with maximum diameter while the blower can be mounted in the available space at the rear of the cabinet, independent of the drum drive requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The blower is extracted from the combined single-shaft drive system and positioned separately at the rear of the cabinet. This extraction frees up space around the drum and allows the blower to be sized independently without constraining the drum diameter or requiring complex belt routing.
2Ease of manufacture
If blower is directly coupled to motor shaft, then ease of manufacture is improved, but air flow efficiency decreases due to additional bends and back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The blower shaft is oriented perpendicular to the motor shaft, changing the spatial dimension of the drive connection. This orthogonal arrangement allows the blower impeller to be positioned such that its discharge outlet aligns directly with the exhaust vent, eliminating the need for 90-degree elbows and reducing air flow resistance.
3Ease of manufacture
If preselected cabinet dimensions are used, then ease of manufacture and installation is improved, but interior space for drum and components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The blower is positioned in the depth dimension at the rear of the cabinet rather than occupying lateral space. This allows the drum to extend to the full width and height of the cabinet while the blower utilizes the available depth space, maximizing the drum capacity within standard cabinet dimensions.
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
This design enables a larger drum capacity, reduces back pressure, and improves air flow efficiency, allowing for the drying of bulkier items without the need for multiple loads, while also providing flexibility in blower and motor placement.
Implementation Method 1
fluidly coupled to the drying chamber for moving air through the drying chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic clothes dryer having separately driven drum and blower.