Saddle-Shaped Dryer Drum Vane for Harmonic Tumbling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry dryer vanes are prone to harmonic tumbling, leading to rolling and balling of the load, and delicates often become stuck on the exhaust air grill, reducing airflow and drying effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A scooped or 'saddle' shaped mixing dryer vane with tall end portions and a reduced height central portion, featuring an arcuate upper surface and propeller-like twist, which directs clothes towards the center of the drum and aids in dislodging items from the air grill, reducing harmonic tumbling and improving mixing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional uniform vanes are used, then the dryer drum can rotate and tumble laundry, but harmonic tumbling occurs leading to rolling and balling of the load
Solution Approach 1:
The vane features varying heights along its length with taller end portions and a reduced height central portion, creating different local properties that disrupt harmonic tumbling patterns and improve load mixing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The vane employs an asymmetric configuration with unequal heights at different positions, breaking the symmetry that causes harmonic tumbling and promoting more effective random mixing of the laundry load
2Productivity
If conventional vanes are used, then the dryer can operate, but delicates become stuck on the exhaust air grill reducing airflow and drying effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The taller end portions of the vanes are positioned to contact and dislodge items from the air grill before they can become stuck, preventing the harmful effect of reduced airflow and maintaining drying effectiveness
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform height vanes are used, then the structure is simple, but mixing capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vane incorporates different heights at different locations (taller ends, shorter center) to enhance mixing capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing laundry dryer vane has a general profile which is scooped or “saddle” shaped. The mixing dryer vane has two relatively tall end portions and a reduced height central portion. The mixing dryer vane may have an upper surface that extends arcuately from one taller end portion to the other taller end portion. The arcuate shape may define along the length of the vane a relatively deep concavity which defines the reduced height central portion. The mixing dryer vane's taller end portions may be configured and positioned to cause “wiping” of clothes off and away from an exhaust duct grill within the dryer. The taller end portions of the vane may have a generally propeller-like twist that directs clothes towards the scooped central portion of the vane. The scooped mixing vane in combination with other non-scooped dryer vanes can reduce or eliminate the tendency of harmonic tumbling of a load.