Dryer Drum Rack and Hanger for Non-Tumble Specialty Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes dryers are inefficient when drying non-tumbleable items like sneakers or delicate articles, as tumbling increases noise and does not facilitate efficient drying, and existing solutions like removable shelves are inconvenient to store.
Innovation Solution
A clothes dryer with a rotatable drum featuring a movable flexible shelf and hanger mechanism that allows for non-rotational drying, enabling the drum to remain stationary while circulating heated air for efficient drying of specialty items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a removable shelf is provided in the dryer, then specialty items can be dried, but the shelf must be stored outside the dryer when not in use creating inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is stored within the dryer drum when not in use, nesting the storage function inside the drying chamber. The shelf can be inserted into and removed from the drum, eliminating the need for external storage space and keeping the shelf conveniently available within the appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf transitions between a static storage position and a dynamic extended drying position. The shelf is designed to be movable, allowing users to extend it when needed for drying specialty items and retract it when not in use, providing adaptability without compromising ease of operation.
2Productivity
If tumbling is used for all items, then the dryer operates continuously, but noise increases and drying efficiency decreases for items with internal cavities
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is segmented into different modes: tumbling mode for regular clothes and stationary air circulation mode for specialty items. The shelf provides a separate drying zone where items with internal cavities can be dried using gentle air flow without tumbling, improving drying efficiency while reducing noise for specific item types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drum rotates continuously, then drying proceeds without interruption, but items requiring non-tumble drying cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer drum serves multiple functions: it can rotate for conventional tumbling drying of regular clothes, or remain stationary to provide a stable platform for drying specialty items on the shelf using air circulation alone. This multi-functionality allows the same drum structure to accommodate different drying needs without sacrificing overall drying 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
Enables convenient and flexible drying of specialty items without the need for external storage of shelves, reducing noise and improving drying efficiency by allowing for both hanging and flat drying within the dryer compartment.
Implementation Method 1
A blower circulates heated air within the drum
Implementation Method 2
A heat source provides heated air to the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A drum for a clothes dryer includes a generally cylindrical sidewall rotatable about a horizontal axis. The sidewall has an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall defines an interior volume for receiving articles to be dried. A hanger mechanism is coupled to the inner wall. The hanger mechanism is configured to support items hanged therefrom for drying without rotation of the drum. A shelf is coupled to the inner wall. The shelf is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When extended, the shelf is configured to support articles to be dried. The drum is stationary during drying cycles wherein the hanger mechanism and the retractable shelf are in use. A heat source is operated at a reduced power level when the drum is not rotated.