Dryer Drum Lifter With Self-Powered Humidity Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryers face challenges in accurately measuring the drying degree of objects due to difficulties in installing and powering humidity sensors within rotating drums, leading to inaccurate readings and potential over- or under-drying.
Innovation Solution
A dryer design featuring a lifter with an energy harvester that generates power as the rotating drum rotates, supplying it to a humidity sensor and wireless communication part, allowing for accurate humidity measurement and data transmission without a separate power source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a humidity sensor is disposed inside the rotating drum to measure drying state, then measurement accuracy is improved, but it becomes difficult to supply electric power to the sensor due to continuous rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The energy harvester enables the humidity sensor to generate its own power through the rotational motion of the drum, eliminating the need for external power sources or batteries. The sensor system serves itself by converting the mechanical energy of drum rotation into electrical energy for its operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical power supply system (batteries, wires, external power sources) with an energy harvester that converts mechanical rotation into electrical power. This substitution eliminates the complexity of power supply infrastructure while enabling continuous operation.
2Device complexity
If an electrode sensor is disposed on a non-rotating part of the drum to simplify power supply, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to poor contact and mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static sensor position (non-rotating part) to a dynamic sensor position (inside the rotating drum). The humidity sensor moves with the drum rotation, ensuring continuous contact with the object being dried and accurate measurement of the actual drying environment.
3Measurement precision
If wireless power supply is used to provide power to the humidity sensor inside the rotating drum, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional power supply components
Solution Approach 1:
The energy harvester enables the humidity sensor to generate its own power through the rotational motion of the drum, eliminating the need for external power sources or batteries. The sensor system serves itself by converting the mechanical energy of drum rotation into electrical energy for its operation.
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
Enables accurate and convenient measurement of the drying degree with a simple structure, eliminating the need for batteries and ensuring reliable operation in high-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
an energy harvester positionable inside the lifter so that while the energy harvester is positioned inside the lifter, the energy harvester generates electric power as the rotating drum rotates
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer includes a rotating drum; a lifter positionable on an inner surface of the rotating drum; an energy harvester positionable inside the lifter so that while the energy harvester is positioned inside the lifter, the energy harvester generates electric power as the rotating drum rotates while the lifter is positioned on the inner surface of the rotating drum; a humidity sensor positionable inside the lifter so that while the humidity sensor is positioned inside the lifter, the humidity sensor receives the electric power generated by the energy harvester and senses humidity; a circuit board positionable inside the lifter and on which the humidity sensor is disposed; and an air passage formed through the lifter so as to allow air inside the rotating drum to pass through the lifter. The humidity sensor senses the humidity according to air passing through the air passage of the lifter.