Clothing Dryer Sensor Reuse for Belt and Compressor Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothing dryers require separate components for belt breakage detection, increasing costs and complicating assembly, and lack effective methods for maintaining door surface temperature and detecting compressor wiring issues.
Innovation Solution
A clothing dryer control method using conventional dryness and temperature sensors to detect belt breakage, maintain door surface temperature, and identify compressor wiring issues without additional components, by monitoring sensor values and adjusting operations accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a micro switch is installed to detect belt breakage, then belt breakage detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the existing dryness sensor to perform dual functions: its original function of detecting fabric dryness and a new function of detecting belt breakage. The controller monitors the sensor output signal to determine if the drum is rotating normally, thereby eliminating the need for a separate micro switch and reducing device complexity while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing resources (the dryness sensor and controller) to detect belt breakage without requiring external detection components. The controller analyzes the sensor signal characteristics to self-diagnose belt status, making the system self-monitoring and reducing overall device complexity
2Reliability
If a micro switch is installed to detect belt breakage, then belt breakage detection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the existing dryness sensor to perform dual functions: its original function of detecting fabric dryness and a new function of detecting belt breakage. The controller monitors the sensor output signal to determine if the drum is rotating normally, thereby eliminating the need for a separate micro switch and reducing device complexity while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing resources (the dryness sensor and controller) to detect belt breakage without requiring external detection components. The controller analyzes the sensor signal characteristics to self-diagnose belt status, making the system self-monitoring and reducing overall device complexity
3Productivity
If hot air is supplied to dry clothes, then drying efficiency is improved, but door surface temperature increases causing potential user harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using the temperature sensor to continuously monitor the door surface temperature and adjusting the heating element operation accordingly. When the temperature exceeds the preset threshold, the controller reduces or stops heating, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains safety while preserving drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the heating parameter (power output) based on real-time temperature measurements. By adjusting the heating element's power consumption according to the door surface temperature, the system optimizes the balance between drying efficiency and user safety
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
Reduces costs by eliminating the need for separate detection components, prevents user harm and drying quality degradation by accurately detecting belt issues and maintaining proper temperatures, and protects the dryer from compressor malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor to compress a refrigerant to heat air flowing into the drum
Implementation Method 2
a compressor to compress a refrigerant to heat air flowing into the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A clothing dryer and control method thereof is provided. A conventional dryness sensor may be used, without installation of a separate component, to detect breakage of a belt. Upon detection of belt breakage, the motor is stopped together with report of abnormality of the to reduce cost. A conventional temperature sensor may be used to maintain a proper surface temperature of a door of the clothing dryer, without installation of a separate component. Thereby, harm to a user due to rise in the surface temperature of the door may be prevented, and degradation of drying quality may be prevented. Furthermore, the pipe temperature of a compressor may be used to detect incorrect or broken wiring of the compressor. When incorrect or broken wiring of the compressor is detected, the compress is stopped together with report of to protect the product.