Dryer Exhaust Filtration With Foreign-Substance Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes dryers face issues with solid foreign substances like buttons entering the lint filter, damaging it, and the difficulty in securing a sufficient volume for lint storage due to direct lint transfer from the filter to the storage portion.
Innovation Solution
A clothes dryer design featuring a foreign-substance separating plate between the exhaust duct and lint removing device, with an inclined surface and stepped shape to prevent foreign substances from entering the filter, and a lint compression portion to reduce storage volume by conveying lint to a dedicated box.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is provided to collect lint in drying air, then lint removal performance is improved, but solid foreign substances enter the filter and damage it
Solution Approach 1:
A foreign-substance separating plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the exhaust duct and the lint removing device. This plate separates solid foreign substances (buttons, hooks) from the drying air before the air reaches the filter, preventing damage to the filter while allowing lint-laden air to pass through for filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust duct is segmented into multiple regions by providing a plurality of foreign-substance separating plates at different positions. This segmentation allows different zones of the exhaust duct to be protected, with each plate handling separation for its specific region, thereby comprehensively protecting the filter from foreign substances.
2Productivity
If the exhaust duct opening area is increased to maintain drying performance, then drying efficiency is improved, but foreign substances smaller than the opening can enter the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The foreign-substance separating plate serves as a mediator that intercepts small foreign substances (smaller than the exhaust duct opening) before they can reach the filter. This allows the exhaust duct to maintain its larger opening area for efficient drying while the separating plate prevents small contaminants from passing through to damage the filter.
3Volume of stationary object
If lint is directly transferred from the filter to the storage portion, then the structure is simple, but sufficient storage volume cannot be secured
Solution Approach 1:
A rotating wing is introduced to dynamically convey lint from the filter to the storage portion. This dynamic mechanism allows efficient lint transfer while enabling the storage portion to be positioned optimally for maximum volume utilization, rather than being constrained by direct rigid connection requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lint conveying mechanism utilizes rotational motion in a different dimensional approach, where the wing rotates to sweep lint from the filter surface into the storage portion. This dimensional change in the transfer mechanism allows for more flexible space utilization and achieves sufficient storage volume without excessive structural complexity.
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
Prevents foreign substances from damaging the lint filter while reducing the volume of the lint storage portion by effectively separating and compressing lint for efficient accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a foreign-substance separating plate installed between the exhaust duct and the lint removing device to separate solid foreign substances in the air discharged to the exhaust duct
Implementation Method 2
The foreign-substance separating plate may include an inclined surface inclined toward the outside of the lint removing device
Implementation Method 3
a lint conveying member provided inside the filter and including a rotation shaft parallel to the longitudinal direction of the filter and a spiral wing formed such that a peripheral edge thereof is in contact with the inner surface of the filter
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes dryer comprises a drum to stir clothes accommodated therein, an exhaust duct configured to discharge air inside the drum, a lint removing device including a filter to remove lint in air discharged to the exhaust duct, and a foreign-substance separating plate installed between the exhaust duct and the lint removing device to separate solid foreign substances in the air discharged to the exhaust duct.