Dryer Drum Grounding Structure for Spark-Free RF Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry drying machines using high-frequency waves face issues with maintaining a stable ground electrode during rotation, leading to irregular vibrations and potential sparking due to loss of contact between the drum and ground structure, which can damage the machine and the target object.
Innovation Solution
A laundry drying machine design that incorporates a ground electrode and a support roller system to maintain contact with the drum even during irregular vibrations, ensuring stable grounding and efficient RF electromagnetic wave application during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a copper pin is used to ground the drum, then grounding is achieved, but contact is lost during rotation causing sparks and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ground electrode is designed to move dynamically with the drum during rotation, maintaining continuous contact through elastic deformation and geometric adaptation. The electrode includes a bending portion that flexes to follow the drum's circular path, ensuring reliable grounding without sparks or contact loss.
Solution Approach 2:
An elastic member (spring) is introduced as an intermediary between the ground electrode and the fixed structure. This spring absorbs the mechanical stress of drum rotation and maintains constant contact pressure, preventing contact loss and sparking while ensuring stable grounding throughout the rotation cycle.
2Productivity
If the drum rotates to move the target object, then drying is achieved, but irregular vibrations cause loss of ground contact
Solution Approach 1:
The ground electrode system is designed to accommodate dynamic movements and vibrations during drum rotation. The elastic member and bending portion allow the electrode to follow the drum's motion轨迹, maintaining contact stability even during irregular vibrations caused by the moving target object.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member (spring) is pre-loaded to provide cushioning force that compensates for upcoming vibrations and contact losses. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even when irregular vibrations occur during drying, the ground contact is maintained without interruption or sparking.
3Reliability
If a fixed ground structure is used, then grounding is provided, but contact is lost due to drum vibration and rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The ground electrode transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure. The bending portion and elastic member allow the electrode to adapt its shape and position during drum rotation, maintaining contact through elastic deformation rather than requiring a complex multi-point fixed grounding system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground electrode incorporates a flexible bending portion that can deform elastically to maintain contact with the rotating drum. This flexible design replaces complex fixed grounding structures with a simple yet effective flexible element that adapts to the drum's motion and maintains reliable grounding.
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 solution effectively prevents sparking and maintains stable grounding, enhancing drying efficiency by ensuring continuous contact between the drum and ground electrode, even during rotational vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
dries the target object by using a dielectric heating method in which an electric field is applied to dielectric
Implementation Method 2
irradiating RF electromagnetic waves into the moisture contained in the target object to directly heat the moisture
Implementation Method 3
a support roller that is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the drum body and that is configured to, based on the drum body rotating, support the drum body in a direction of the ground electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry drying machine includes: a cabinet, a drum disposed inside the cabinet and configured to accommodate a target object, a driving unit configured to rotate the drum, and an electric field generator spaced apart from the drum and configured to generate an electric field inside the drum. The drum includes: a drum body having a cylindrical shape and accommodating the target object, a ground electrode that is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the drum body, and a support roller that is in contact with the outer circumferential surface and that is configured to, based on the drum body rotating, support the drum body in a direction of the ground electrode, and a shortest distance between a central axis of the support roller and the ground electrode is less than a sum of a diameter of the drum body and a radius of the support roller.