Dual-Nozzle Hand Dryer Layout for Compact Splash-Back Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand dryers either require opposing nozzles for two-sided drying, limiting depth, or use low-speed air for single-sided drying, leading to splash-back and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mounted hand dryer with dedicated left-hand and right-hand nozzle sections directing air outwardly and downwardly or forwardly, eliminating the need for opposing nozzles and reducing splash-back, allowing for comfortable one-sided drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If opposing nozzles are used for two-sided drying, then both sides of hands can be dried simultaneously, but the depth of the machine is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The hand dryer is divided into separate left-hand and right-hand nozzle sections, each handling one hand independently. This segmentation allows the device to dry both hands simultaneously without requiring opposing nozzles, thereby reducing the overall machine depth while maintaining high drying efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using opposing nozzles arranged in a depth-wise configuration, the invention transitions to a side-by-side arrangement of nozzle sections along the width dimension. This dimensional change allows simultaneous drying of both hands without increasing machine depth.
2Length of stationary object
If low-speed air is used for single-sided drying, then machine depth is reduced, but splash-back and user discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each nozzle section is designed with specific local characteristics - the nozzles are positioned and angled to direct air flow in a controlled manner that prevents splash-back. The air is directed downward and forward at specific angles, creating effective drying without the harmful splash-back associated with low-speed single-sided dryers.
Solution Approach 2:
The successful high-speed drying configuration is copied and applied to both left and right nozzle sections. By replicating the effective nozzle design and air flow control in both sections, the device achieves simultaneous two-handed drying with reduced splash-back, eliminating the need for low-speed air flow.
3Ease of operation
If dedicated nozzle sections for each hand are provided, then hand-over-hand rubbing is eliminated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The left and right nozzle sections are designed as identical or similar modules, each capable of independently drying one hand. This universal design allows the device to handle both hands simultaneously with the same proven effective configuration, simplifying the overall design while improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for hand-over-hand rubbing.
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 provides a compact design with reduced splash-back and blow-back, enhancing user comfort by directing air outwardly and downwardly or forwardly, enabling effective drying of one side at a time without the need for hand-over-hand rubbing.
Implementation Method 1
a motor-driven fan to force air at high pressure through an opposing pair of narrow, slit-like nozzles
Implementation Method 2
This creates two opposing thin sheets, or 'blades', of high velocity (>100m/s) air
Implementation Method 3
The air is heated to promote evaporative drying of water moisture on the hands of the user
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A hand dryer having a left-hand nozzle section which, in normal use, is used to dry a user's left hand and a right-hand nozzle section which, in normal use, is used separately to dry the user's right hand, the left-hand nozzle section being arranged to emit drying air along a first direction—outwardly to the left of the dryer—and the right-hand nozzle section being arranged to emit drying air in a second direction—outwardly to the right of the dryer—said first and second directions having a downward and/or forward component.