Dryer Orifice Sound Blocker With Retractable Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry dryers generate excessive noise during operation, which is not effectively mitigated by existing noise reduction methods.
Innovation Solution
A heat-pump type clothes dryer incorporates a sound blocking sheet that unwinds and winds around a roller to obstruct or allow fluid communication through an orifice, using a perforated plate configuration to reduce noise emission by aligning or misaligning perforations, and is controlled by an actuator and auxiliary fan to manage noise and airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional dryer exhausts air continuously through an orifice, then drying efficiency is maintained, but noise emission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamically adjustable sound blocking sheet that can move between a retracted position (allowing airflow during drying) and an extended position (blocking noise during idle periods). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by adapting the noise blocking function to the operational state of the dryer, maintaining drying efficiency when needed while reducing noise emission during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound blocking sheet's position parameter is changed based on operational requirements. When the dryer is idle, the sheet extends to cover the orifice, reducing noise emission. When drying is needed, the sheet retracts to allow airflow. This parameter change enables the system to switch between noise reduction and drying efficiency modes.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a sound blocking sheet is placed over the orifice to reduce noise, then noise emission decreases, but airflow obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound blocking sheet is designed to be dynamically positionable rather than fixed. It can be retracted to allow full airflow during drying operations and extended to block noise during idle periods. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by ensuring that airflow obstruction only occurs when drying is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect whether drying is needed and automatically adjusts the sound blocking sheet position accordingly. The system serves itself by making autonomous decisions about when to prioritize noise reduction versus airflow, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a fixed sound barrier is installed at the orifice, then noise reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible sound blocking sheet instead of a rigid fixed barrier. This thin film can be easily positioned and retracted using simple mechanical actuators, reducing the overall structural complexity compared to a fixed rigid barrier system while still achieving effective noise reduction when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic positioning mechanism allows the sound blocking sheet to be controlled by simple actuators that move it between two positions. This dynamic approach actually reduces complexity compared to designing a complex fixed structure that would need to accommodate both noise blocking and airflow requirements simultaneously.
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 significantly reduces noise emission during drying cycles by dynamically controlling airflow and noise obstruction, enhancing user experience and appliance performance.
Implementation Method 1
The sound blocking sheet is configured to unwind from and wind about a roller between a first position and a second position, respectively. In the first position, the sound blocking sheet is unwound from the roller and is disposed over the orifice to obstruct fluid communication between the internal cavity and the exterior of the cabinet and to reduce noise emitted from the internal cavity to the exterior of the cabinet via the orifice.
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger is disposed within the internal cavity and is configured heat the internal cavity to dry the clothing articles.
Implementation Method 3
The fan is configured to exhaust air from the internal cavity to the exterior of the cabinet via the orifice.
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes dryer includes a housing, a fan, and a sound blocker. The housing defines an internal cavity and an orifice. The fan is configured to direct air through the internal cavity. The sound blocker is disposed within the cavity and is configured to unwind and wind between a first position and a second position, respectively. In the first position, the sound blocker is unwound and disposed over the orifice to obstruct fluid communication between the internal cavity and an exterior of the housing via the orifice and to reduce noise emitted through the orifice. In the second position the sound blocker is wound and retracted away from the orifice to allow fluid communication between the internal cavity and the exterior of the housing via the orifice.