Hand Dryer Air Nozzle Layout to Reduce Noise and Water Splashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand dryers face issues such as noise due to airflow collisions, ineffective removal of water between fingers, and splashing of water droplets onto users due to improper airflow direction.
Innovation Solution
A hand dryer design featuring air nozzle sections on the rear wall that jet high-speed airflows obliquely downward, positioned to align with the hands at an angle, ensuring airflow passes between fingers and minimizes splashing by directing airflows away from the user, with a drain system to collect water droplets efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two air nozzle sections jet high-speed airflows from opposing sides, then water on hands can be blown away, but the airflows collide and cause noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning both air nozzles on the rear wall section rather than having them face each other from opposing sides. The nozzles are arranged at different horizontal positions and angles, creating asymmetric airflow patterns that prevent direct collision while maintaining effective water removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing both nozzles on the rear wall instead of having them face each other from front and back walls. This inversion of the spatial arrangement eliminates the collision problem while preserving the drying function.
2Productivity
If high-speed airflows are jetted obliquely upward from front wall towards rear wall, then hands can be dried, but water droplets splash onto user from opening section
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the airflow direction by jetting airflows obliquely downward from the rear wall toward the front wall, opposite to the conventional upward direction. This inversion prevents water droplets from reaching the user while maintaining effective hand drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful upward airflow that splashes water onto users into a beneficial downward airflow pattern. By redirecting the airflows downward, the system eliminates the splashing problem while preserving the water removal function.
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 results in a quieter operation, effective removal of water between fingers, and minimal splashing of water droplets onto the user, enhancing the hand drying process.
Implementation Method 1
air nozzle sections which respectively jet high-speed airflows obliquely downward towards a front side
Implementation Method 2
water on the left hand and the right hand is blown towards the front wall section
Data Source
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AI summary
A hand dryer includes a hand drying chamber that includes a hand insertion opening that is provided in an upper portion and from which a left hand and a right hand can be inserted in parallel; a rear wall section that faces the hands inserted from the hand insertion section; a front wall section that faces the hands and the rear wall section; a pair of air nozzle sections that is set of a side the rear wall section to extend in a vertical directions roughly along an overall length of the inserted hands, and that jets a high-speed airflow obliquely downward toward the hands; and a lateral opening section that allow the airflow jetted from the air sections to flow out after a hand drying process. The pair of air nozzle sections is arranged such that a space on a side of the hand insertion opening is wide and a space on a far side is marrow to be almost parallel with directions of the inserted hands.