Laundry Dryer Reversible Blower for Steam Retention During Tumbling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry dryers fail to optimally retain steam for effective de-wrinkling and refreshing due to sub-optimal drum rotation and airflow during steam introduction, often requiring separate motors for drum and blower, which increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A laundry dryer with a reversible blower and rotatable drum that selectively adjusts airflow and moisture delivery, using a single motor to control both, allowing for bi-directional rotation and reduced airflow to retain moisture longer, enhancing de-wrinkling and fabric refreshment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steam is introduced into the drum during conventional drying operations, then de-wrinkling and refreshing benefits are provided, but the steam is not optimally retained in the drum due to continuous high airflow and drum rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically reverses the blower direction to create reduced airflow periods during which steam is introduced into the drum. This periodic reversal allows steam to be retained and effectively distributed to the laundry load during low airflow periods, while maintaining overall drying productivity during high airflow periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The blower operates dynamically by reversing direction between forward and reverse rotations, creating alternating high and low airflow conditions. This dynamic operation enables the system to adapt between drying mode (high airflow) and steam treatment mode (low airflow), resolving the contradiction between steam retention and drying efficiency.
2Reliability
If the drum rotation speed is reduced during steam exposure, then steam dispersion into clothes is improved, but tumbling action becomes sub-optimal
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is periodically adjusted between high speed (for tumbling) and low speed (for steam dispersion). During low airflow periods, the drum rotates at reduced speed to enhance steam distribution, while during high airflow periods, it rotates at high speed to maintain effective tumbling action.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate motors are used for drum rotation and blower operation, then independent speed control is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the drum drive and blower drive into a single motor that can rotate in both forward and reverse directions. The motor's rotational direction controls the blower direction, which in turn controls airflow rate. This unified drive system eliminates the need for separate motors while maintaining the ability to independently control airflow and drum rotation through motor direction reversal.
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 configuration effectively removes wrinkles and refreshes fabrics by maintaining rotation and tumbling during moisture exposure, reducing system stress and complexity while maintaining efficient drying.
Implementation Method 1
an air delivery system operable to selectively provide air into the rotating drum at a first flow rate and at a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate
Implementation Method 2
The moisture (H2O) can be provided in various forms, such as steam, sprayed droplets, a mist, drips, or combinations thereof
Implementation Method 3
The water can be ambient water that is not actively heated via a heater. That water can be, but is not necessarily, changed into steam when provided into the warm environment of the drum
Implementation Method 4
Moisture can be retained within the drum longer and, thus, can potentially more effectively remove wrinkles from, and refresh/deodorize, fabrics
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry dryer includes a rotatable drum, an air delivery system selectively operable to provide air into the drum at a first flow rate and a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate, and a moisture delivery system operable to provide moisture (e.g., water mist or steam) into the drum while air is being provided at the lower second flow rate, and during drum rotation (tumbling), to thus enhance dispersion of the moisture into the fabrics of the load, and the attendant dewrinkling/refresh benefits. The air delivery system can include a reversible blower that provides air at the first flow rate when operated in a first direction and provides air at the second flow rate when operated in an opposite second direction. The drum can be a reversibly rotatable drum that is rotatable in a first and an opposite second direction, and the dryer can include a drive motor that both rotates the drum and operates the blower. The moisture delivery system can include a nozzle to provide moisture directly into the drum.