Laundry Dryer Top Condensing Module for Space-Saving Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry dryer and washer/dryer designs face challenges in minimizing the encumbrance of components necessary for drying air circulation, particularly in terms of space constraints within the existing washer cabinet.
Innovation Solution
A top module is designed to fit over the cabinet of a laundry drying appliance, incorporating a moisture condensing system that includes an air-air heat exchanger or a heat pump, with fluid passageways and moisture condensing means to dehydrate drying air, and features such as defluff filters and condense water separators to manage air and water effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If moisture condensing means are integrated into the top of the cabinet, then the space requirements for drying air circulation components are reduced, but the complexity of the top module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the moisture condensing means directly into the top module of the drying appliance, combining multiple functions (condensation, air circulation, structural support) into a single integrated component. This merging of functions reduces the overall space requirements while consolidating complexity into one manageable module rather than distributing it across multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The top module serves multiple functions: it provides the structural top of the cabinet, houses the moisture condensing means, facilitates air circulation, and manages condensate drainage. By making the top module multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated spaces for each function, thereby reducing overall space requirements while incorporating diverse capabilities into a single component.
2Ease of manufacture
If a ready-to-mount top module is used, then the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but the adaptability to different cabinet designs may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The drying appliance is divided into modular components, with the top module being a distinct, pre-assembled unit containing the moisture condensing means. This segmentation allows the top module to be manufactured separately and then easily mounted to the cabinet, improving ease of manufacture and assembly while maintaining the ability to adapt to different cabinet configurations through standardized mounting interfaces.
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
This solution reduces the space requirements for drying air circulation components, allowing for the conversion of a washer into a washer/dryer with minimal design changes, while efficiently dehydrating and heating the drying air, and conserving water and energy.
Implementation Method 1
The air-air heat exchanger may comprise an ondulated thermally-conductive part having ondulations defining channels for the passage of the drying air on the underside, and channels for the passage of cooling air from the overside
Implementation Method 2
the moisture condensing means comprises an evaporator of a heat pump
Implementation Method 3
A heat pump condenser may also be accommodated inside the fluid passageways downstream said evaporator
Implementation Method 4
the dried air flow is heated up by means of a heating arrangement, like an electrical resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A top (119) adapted to match and close from above a cabinet (110) of a laundry drying appliance (100). The top is formed as a ready-to-mount part ready to be mounted to the cabinet and forms a moisture condensing module for dehydrating drying air used to dry laundry within a drying drum of the laundry drying appliance. The top has a drying air inlet (510), a drying air outlet (515), fluid passageways defined thereinside from said drying air inlet to said drying air outlet for the passage of the drying air to be dehydrated and moisture condensing means arranged inside said fluid passageways.