Drying machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drying machines face challenges in efficiently preventing condensed water from flowing into the drum, drying fan housing, and heater, leading to increased production costs and reduced reliability due to the need for different components and structures for heat pump-type and heater-type machines, and the risk of condensed water reheating or flowing into the heater, which can cause noise and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

A drying machine design featuring a condensation duct, first and second drying ducts, and a condensed water-discharging structure with ribs and drain outlets to prevent condensed water from flowing into the drum and heater, utilizing a common base for both types of machines to reduce component complexity and enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If different components and structures are used for heat pump-type and heater-type drying machines to prevent condensed water issues, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidcomponent complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a common base structure that can be universally applied to both heat pump-type and heater-type drying machines. The base includes a condensed water discharge channel and rib structures that prevent condensed water from entering the heater or drum regardless of the heating system type, allowing one base design to serve multiple machine types without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The base is divided into functional regions: a condensed water discharge channel that directs condensed water away from critical components, and rib structures that create physical barriers. This segmentation allows the base to handle condensed water management independently from the heating system, enabling universal application across different drying machine types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If condensed water is allowed to flow into the drum or heater, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful effects increase due to noise and reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent managementVSAvoidnoise and reliability issues
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rib structures act as intermediary barriers between the condensed water flow path and the heater/drum. These ribs create physical obstructions that redirect condensed water into designated discharge channels, preventing direct contact with the heater or drum while maintaining a simple overall structure without requiring complex active control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If a common base is used for both heat pump-type and heater-type machines, then production costs are reduced, but the ability to prevent condensed water issues must be maintained across different machine types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costsVSAvoidadaptability to different machine types
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The base design incorporates condensed water discharge channels and rib structures that are effective for both heat pump-type and heater-type drying machines. The universal design allows the same base component to be manufactured for multiple machine types while maintaining the ability to prevent condensed water from entering critical components regardless of the heating system configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design effectively prevents condensed water from entering the drum and heater, reducing noise and improving reliability, while allowing for a common base and reduced component management, thus lowering production costs and simplifying maintenance across different drying machine types.

Implementation Method 1

The high-temperature and high-humidity air is changed into dried air by the condensation of moisture in the condenser 40. The high-temperature and high-humidity air exchanges heat with external air having a lower temperature in the condenser 40. In the course of the heat exchange, moisture contained in the high-temperature and high-humidity air is condensed and removed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

The low-temperature air, which is discharged from the condenser 40, is heated by the heater 60, and is thus converted into high-temperature dried air.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3045582B1Drying machine
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3045582B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3045582B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3045582B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drying machine is disclosed. The drying machine includes a condensation duct (200) for accommodating a condenser (300), a first drying duct (141) connected to a rear end of the condensation duct (200) and to a drying fan housing (146) accommodating a drying fan (50), a second drying duct (145) connected to the drying fan housing (146) and to a drum (10), a first drying duct drain outlet (710) formed in the lower portion of the first drying duct (141), and an outer rib (720), which is provided at the side edge of the first drying duct drain outlet (710) that is close to the drying fan housing (146) and which extends upward, so as to prevent condensed water, introduced through the condensation duct (200), from flowing over the first drying duct drain outlet (710).