Dryer Filter Cartridge Layout for Smooth Air Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes dryers with dual filter structures face challenges in air flow due to filters being sequentially arranged in the forward and rearward direction, narrowing the circulation channel and disrupting air flow, especially when the blowing fan is off-center due to limited space.
Innovation Solution
A clothes dryer design featuring a filter cartridge with an inside filter cartridge received in an outside filter cartridge, where filters are provided on the front, rear, and lateral surfaces of the outside filter cartridge, and a duct guiding air in the lateral direction to accommodate an off-center blowing fan, improving air flow and filtering performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filters are sequentially arranged in the forward and rearward direction in the dual filter structure, then the filtering coverage is improved, but the circulation channel is narrowed and air flow is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from sequential forward-rearward filter arrangement to a lateral dimension arrangement. The lateral filter is positioned on the side surface of the filter cartridge, allowing air to flow laterally through the filter media. This dimensional change enables multiple filters to be arranged without compromising the circulation channel width, thus maintaining both filtering performance and air flow productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested dual filter structure where an inner filter cartridge is placed within an outer filter cartridge. The lateral filter is integrated into this nested configuration, with air passing through the inner filter first, then laterally through the lateral filter, and finally through the outer filter. This nesting allows comprehensive filtering coverage while maintaining a compact structure that does not narrow the circulation channel.
2Device complexity
If the blowing fan is positioned off-center due to limited space, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air flow becomes turbulent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a dedicated guiding duct structure at the specific location where air flow needs correction. The duct includes smooth transition sections and appropriate cross-sectional area variations to guide air from the off-center fan position toward the circulation channel. This localized structural intervention corrects the turbulent flow without requiring repositioning of the fan or increasing overall device complexity.
3Productivity
If the circulation channel width is increased to accommodate smooth air flow, then the air flow is improved, but the device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the lateral dimension for filter arrangement and air flow guidance, allowing the circulation channel to maintain its original width. The lateral filter and guiding duct work together to ensure smooth air flow through the existing channel dimensions, avoiding the need to increase device volume while maintaining productivity.
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
Enhances air flow through the filters and improves filtering performance by allowing smooth air passage even in narrow spaces, ensuring efficient air discharge and filtration in a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a filter cartridge for filtering air in the circulation channel, wherein the filter cartridge includes an inside filter cartridge with at least one mesh and an inside filter frame for fixing the at least one mesh
Data Source
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AI summary
A clothes dryer including a rotatable drum (4), a drum supporter (5) for supporting the drum (4), the drum supporter (5) being provided with a discharge port (52h) for discharging air from the drum (4), a circulation channel (53, 81) for guiding air discharged through the discharge port (52h) into the drum (4), and a filter cartridge (7) for filtering air in the circulation channel (53, 81), wherein the filter cartridge (7) includes an inside filter cartridge (71) for filtering air discharged from the drum (4) and an outside filter cartridge (74) disposed in the circulation channel (53, 81) in a state of being supported by the drum supporter (5), the inside filter cartridge (71) being separably received in the outside filter cartridge (74) through an opening (74h) formed in the top surface (745) of the outside filter cartridge (74), the outside filter cartridge (74) including a front filter (75) for filtering air that passes through the inside filter cartridge (71) and flows forward, a rear filter (76) for filtering air that passes through the inside filter cartridge (71) and flows rearward, and a lateral filter (78) for filtering air that passes through the inside filter cartridge (71) and flows in the lateral direction.