Laundry Dryer Pump Access and Lint Filtration Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry dryers face issues with clogged pumps due to lint accumulation, leading to incomplete water discharge and hygiene problems, which affect user satisfaction and require service personnel intervention.
Innovation Solution
The laundry dryer design positions the pump and receptacle at the front for easy user access, incorporates a grill with a stripper to prevent lint clogging, and an auxiliary cover to isolate the receptacle from drying air, allowing for efficient lint removal and extended pump lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pump is positioned in the traditional location within the dryer body, then the dryer structure is compact, but the user cannot easily access the pump for cleaning and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer structure is segmented by providing separate access paths: the door provides access to the drum and laundry, while the gap in the front wall provides access to the pump and receptacle. This segmentation allows independent access to different components without requiring full disassembly of the dryer body.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap in the front wall acts as an intermediary access point between the external environment and the pump/receptacle assembly. This intermediary structure allows users to reach the pump for cleaning without opening the main door or disassembling the entire dryer, thus maintaining structural integrity while improving accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the receptacle is positioned to be accessible from the front, then the user can easily clean the lint and water accumulation, but the drying air may interact with the water in the receptacle reducing drying efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary cover provides dynamic control over the interaction between drying air and receptacle contents. During normal operation, the auxiliary cover remains closed to prevent air-water interaction. During maintenance, it can be opened to allow access for cleaning, thus adapting the system's behavior to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary cover extracts and isolates the receptacle from the main drying chamber environment. By providing a separate covered access point, the receptacle is effectively separated from the drying air flow path, preventing moisture contamination while maintaining independent accessibility for maintenance purposes.
3Device complexity
If the pump processes water containing lint without filtration, then the system is simpler, but the lint clogs the pump leading to incomplete water discharge and hygiene problems
Solution Approach 1:
The grill performs preliminary filtration of lint from the water before the water reaches the pump. This preliminary action prevents lint accumulation in the pump, ensuring reliable operation and complete water discharge without requiring complex post-pump filtration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The grill acts as an intermediary filtration element between the water source and the pump. It intercepts and retains lint particles in the water flow, allowing only filtered water to reach the pump, thus protecting the pump from clogging while maintaining system simplicity.
4Device complexity
If the grill is not cleaned regularly, then the structure remains simple, but lint accumulation on the grill blocks water flow to the pump
Solution Approach 1:
The stripper enables the grill to clean itself by removing accumulated lint. This self-service mechanism maintains water flow to the pump without requiring manual intervention or complex automated cleaning systems, thus balancing structural simplicity with operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stripper operates periodically to remove lint accumulation from the grill surface. This periodic maintenance action prevents complete blockage of water flow while keeping the cleaning mechanism simple, allowing the system to maintain productivity with minimal 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
Facilitates easy user intervention for pump cleaning, prevents lint from mixing with the pump, increases user satisfaction, and maintains drying efficiency by ensuring uninterrupted water discharge and extended pump lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a pump (8) that enables the water accumulated in the receptacle (7) to be discharged
Implementation Method 2
at least one heat exchanger (6) that is disposed in the body (2) and that dehumidifies and heats up the drying air
Implementation Method 3
a grill that enables the lint to be held is disposed at the suction port of the pump (8)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a body (2); a drum (3) wherein the drying process is performed and that is disposed in the body (2); a door (4) that is disposed in the front wall of the body (2) and that provides access to the drum (3); a filter (5) whereon the lint that come off from the laundry is accumulated; at least one heat exchanger (6) that is disposed in the body (2) and that dehumidifies and heats up the drying air; a receptacle (7) wherein the water containing lint draining from the filter (5) and/or the heat exchanger (6) is transferred; a pump (8) that enables the water accumulated in the receptacle (7) to be discharged; a base unit (9) that is disposed under the drum (3) and that carries the heat exchanger (6) and the elements such as the motor, fan, etc. that realize the drying air cycle, and a cover (10) that is disposed at the front portion of the body (2) and that provides access to the heat exchanger (6).