Dryer Dehumidifier Support Structure for Condensate Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drying apparatuses experience inefficiencies due to the inefficient drainage of condensation water, which affects the drying process by causing water to be blown up and evaporated, leading to reduced drying efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A drying apparatus with a circulation system that includes a dehumidifier, a blower, and a support element with tilted surfaces and partition walls to guide and discharge condensation water independently of the dry air circulation, preventing water from being blown up and maintaining a low water level in the dry air.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the circulation system uses a pump to discharge condensation water, then water drainage function is achieved, but the dry air circulation becomes sensitive to pump suction causing water to be blown up and carried downstream

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage reliabilityVSAvoiddrying efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support element is divided into multiple functional surfaces: a first tilted surface for receiving condensation water, a second tilted surface for guiding water away from the blower, and a third tilted surface for discharging water. This segmentation allows independent optimization of water drainage and air circulation paths, preventing water from being blown up into the dry air stream while maintaining reliable drainage through the drainage hole.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If condensation water is not effectively drained, then the structure remains simple, but water accumulates and gets blown up by dry air flow reducing drying efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the dehumidifier, collects condensation water through the drainage hole, guides water flow through tilted surfaces, and prevents water from entering the blower intake. By integrating these functions into a single multi-functional component rather than adding separate drainage systems, the invention improves drying efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.

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

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 maintains a relatively high drying efficiency by ensuring that condensation water is effectively drained without interfering with dry air circulation, thereby improving the overall drying performance.

Implementation Method 1

a dehumidifier configured to remove water contained in the dry air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

a main tilted surface tilted to guide the water toward the drainage port, a first tilted surface below the dehumidifier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2436832B1Drying apparatus
Publication Date: 2016.11.09 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2436832B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2436832B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2436832B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Drying apparatus (100) has drying tub (410) for storing laundry (C) and circulation system (600) of dry air. Circulation system (600) includes dehumidifier (635), blower (621) for sending dry air into drying tub (410), and support element (500) for supporting dehumidifier, (635). Support element (500) has drainage port (531) from which water is discharged, main tilted surface (511) for guiding water toward drainage port (531), first tilted surface (542) below dehumidifier (635), and first partition wall (546) protruding from first tilted surface (542) to partition first tilted surface (542) into first upstream tilted surface (544) and first downstream tilted surface (545) that is closer to blower (621) than first upstream tilted surface (544). First tilted surface (542) is tilted such that water flows toward main tilted surface (511), and first partition wall (546) extends in transverse direction with respect to dry air flow toward blower (621).