Book-Opening Dryer Filter for Easy Lint Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filters in clothes dryers are difficult to open and extract, making it challenging to remove collected impurities and limiting their ease of use within the dryer's housing.
Innovation Solution
A filter design featuring two interconnected frames that open like a book, with straps and coupling means allowing easy access and removal of impurities, and facilitating extraction from the dryer's housing by using holes and protuberances for user manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the filter is designed with a compact structure to limit space occupation in the dryer, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for removing impurities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into two separable frames (first frame and second frame) that can be opened relative to each other. This segmentation allows the filter to maintain a compact closed structure while enabling easy access to the filtering element for impurity removal by opening the frames like a book.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter transitions from a static compact structure to a dynamic openable structure. The two frames are designed to move relative to each other, allowing the filter to change from a closed compact state during operation to an open state for maintenance, resolving the contradiction between compactness and accessibility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the filter uses closing means to hold the filter in closed condition, then the reliability of the closed structure is improved, but the ease of operation for opening the filter deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling means are designed to be automatically engaged when the frames are closed, providing stable closure without requiring additional fastening operations. Conversely, the straps with holes allow easy manual disengagement by simply pulling the straps apart, enabling the filter to self-maintain its closed state while remaining easily openable.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing function is extracted into separate coupling means that can be independently engaged and disengaged. This separation allows the closing mechanism to provide reliable stabilization when closed, while the straps serve as easy-to-manipulate elements for opening, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of opening.
3Productivity
If the filter aperture is enlarged to facilitate air jet entry, then the productivity of impurity elimination is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the aperture area in two dimensions, the filter frames are extended in the third dimension (length) to provide multiple aperture openings along the perimeter. This dimensional approach allows increased total aperture area for improved airflow and productivity while maintaining a simple planar frame structure without adding complex three-dimensional elements.
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 filter design simplifies the removal of impurities and extraction from the dryer, enhancing user convenience and usability by allowing easy opening and disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
said air jet also flows through a heat exchanger, where it cools down through the effect of thermal exchange with colder environmental air, thus condensing and yielding water
Implementation Method 2
a filter for eliminating any impurities present in the air jet coming from the drum
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a filter (1) for eliminating impurities present in the air jet of a clothes dryer (100), said filter (1) comprising a first frame (10) and a second frame (20) which enclose a filtering element (F), said first (10) and second (20) frames being connected together along respective first edges (11, 21) adjacent to each other, so that the filter (1) can be opened like a book. The invention is characterized in that said first (10) and second (20) frames comprise respective second edges (12, 22) fitted with straps (13, 23), each one of said straps (13, 23) comprising: - a hole (14, 24); - coupling means (15, 25) that allow the filter (1) to be kept in the closed condition.