Hand dryer having managed air flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-driven hand dryers in aircraft lavatories increase humidity reduction, elevate cabin temperature, and cause moisture to be blown onto surfaces, leading to discomfort and bacterial growth in small enclosed spaces.
Innovation Solution
A hand dryer system with managed air flow that includes a dryer cavity with an input port, exhaust port, and an air channel isolated from the lavatory interior, utilizing a blower to direct air through the cavity and exhaust it externally, along with optional features like automatic activation, antimicrobial sources, and moisture containment to prevent humidity and microbial spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional air-driven hand dryers are used in aircraft lavatories, then hands can be dried without paper towels, but humidity is reduced excessively and temperature is elevated in the enclosed space
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful hot air is extracted and removed from the lavatory environment through dedicated exhaust pathways. The system separates the drying function from the lavatory atmosphere, allowing hand drying without contaminating the enclosed space with excessive heat and humidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand dryer creates a localized drying zone around the user's hands rather than heating the entire lavatory. The air flow is concentrated where needed (at the hands) and quickly exhausted, preventing widespread temperature elevation in the enclosed space.
2Ease of operation
If conventional air-driven hand dryers are used in aircraft lavatories, then hands can be dried without paper towels, but humidity is reduced excessively in the enclosed space
Solution Approach 1:
Moisture-laden air is extracted from the drying zone and removed from the lavatory through exhaust pathways. This prevents humidity accumulation in the enclosed space while maintaining effective hand drying functionality.
3Ease of operation
If conventional air-driven hand dryers are used, then hands can be dried, but moisture is blown onto floor and surrounding surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Moisture is extracted from the air stream through condensation surfaces or absorption materials positioned within the dryer housing. This prevents water droplets from being blown onto the floor and surrounding surfaces while maintaining the hand drying function.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary component (such as a condensation surface or absorption material) is introduced to capture moisture from the air stream. This mediator prevents direct contact between the blown air/moisture and the floor or surrounding surfaces.
4Ease of operation
If air is drawn from and exhausted into the lavatory, then the hand dryer can operate, but it is ineffective in small enclosed volumes with recirculating ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts air for drying from sources outside the immediate lavatory volume (such as from the aircraft cabin or through dedicated intake pathways) and exhausts it away from the lavatory. This prevents the dryer from being ineffective in small enclosed volumes with recirculating ventilation.
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 system effectively reduces humidity impact, minimizes temperature changes, and prevents moisture from being blown onto surfaces, enhancing user comfort and hygiene by containing moisture and air flow within the system.
Implementation Method 1
a blower, communicatively coupled to the air channel, for moving air through the air channel and the dryer cavity
Implementation Method 2
the blown air removing at least some of the moisture from the hand accepted into the opening of the cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for drying objects in low-volume enclosed spaces is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a hand dryer that comprises a dryer cavity including an input port, an exhaust port, and an opening for insertion of a hand having moisture thereon, an air channel, pneumatically coupling the exhaust port of the dryer cavity to the input port of the dryer cavity, the air channel substantially isolated from an interior volume of the lavatory, and a blower, communicatively coupled to the air channel, for moving air through the air channel and the dryer cavity.