Laundry Dryer Reservoir Window for Liquid Level Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry dryers lack an efficient and user-friendly method for controlling and monitoring the liquid level in their liquid reservoirs, which can lead to inadequate laundry treatment and increased manufacturing and assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
A laundry dryer with a liquid reservoir integrated into the dryer body, featuring a transparent window for visual inspection of the liquid level and a floating element with a guiding device for level detection, connected to a control unit to stop the treatment process when the liquid level falls below a minimum threshold, ensuring efficient laundry treatment and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid reservoir is integrated behind the front wall for mechanical protection and space efficiency, then the reservoir is protected against external damage and manufacturing costs are reduced, but the liquid level becomes difficult to visually inspect
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall is segmented by incorporating a transparent window or transparent portion directly into it, allowing visual access to the liquid level indicator while maintaining the protective function of the front wall structure
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent window or transparent portion acts as an intermediary element between the user and the liquid reservoir, enabling visual inspection of the liquid level without compromising the mechanical protection provided by the front wall
2Ease of operation
If a transparent window is added to the front wall for liquid level inspection, then the user can easily monitor the liquid level, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent window is merged with the front wall structure, integrating the inspection function into the existing front wall rather than adding a separate, complex assembly component
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical protection for the reservoir and simultaneously serves as a structural element that incorporates the transparent window for liquid level inspection
3Volume of stationary object
If the liquid reservoir is positioned to utilize dead volume behind the front wall, then space efficiency is improved and manufacturing costs are reduced, but access to the reservoir for refilling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall is segmented with a transparent window that provides both visual access and a structural pathway for refilling the reservoir, allowing maintenance operations without compromising the compact integration
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 solution allows for convenient liquid level monitoring and control, preventing inadequate laundry treatment, reducing manufacturing and assembly costs, and ensuring efficient operation by automatically stopping the treatment process when the liquid level is low.
Implementation Method 1
the front wall is provided with at least one opening or a window at a position such that the area of the at least one front wall opening or window at least partially coincides with the area of the transparent element
Implementation Method 2
a floating element with a guiding device for level detection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry dryer (2) comprising: a laundry storing compartment (20) adapted to receive laundry to be treated, a front wall (8) of the dryer (2) having a loading opening (10) for loading laundry into the laundry storing compartment (20), a laundry treatment unit (140) for supplying additive to the laundry during at least one laundry treatment sequence of the dryer (2), and a liquid reservoir (60,62) mounted within the laundry dyer (2) at a position arranged behind the front wall (8) and adapted to provide liquid for the laundry treatment unit (140), wherein the liquid reservoir (60,62) has a transparent window or element (68) for visual user inspection of the liquid level in the reservoir (60),(62). According to the invention, the front wall (8) has an opening or a window (52) at a position such that the area of the front wall opening or window (52) at least partially coincides with the area of the transparent liquid reservoir window or element (68).