Hinged Fluff Filter with Integral Filtering Surface to Prevent Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluff filters for laundry dryers are inefficient in manufacturing, costly, and prone to fluff leakage due to the lack of filtering elements at the junction between separate filtering portions, which can lead to structural weaknesses and increased risk of torsional stresses.
Innovation Solution
A fluff filter design featuring a single integral filtering surface supported by both frame structures, with hinge elements connecting them, allowing for a single molding step and eliminating the need for separate filtering surfaces and hinge structures, thus preventing fluff leakage and enhancing structural robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate filtering surfaces are used for each filtering portion, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate filtering surfaces into a single integral filtering surface that serves both filtering portions. This single surface is supported by both frame structures and extends across the hinge elements, eliminating the need to manufacture, handle, and assemble separate filtering surfaces while maintaining the flexibility to service each filtering portion independently.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate filtering surfaces are used without filtering elements at the junction, then manufacturing is simplified, but fluff leakage occurs at the junction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing filtering elements specifically at the junction area where the hinge elements connect the two frame structures. The single integral filtering surface extends continuously across this junction, ensuring that fluff is filtered at all locations including the previously vulnerable hinge area, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the unified surface design.
3Strength
If hinge elements are added to connect frame structures, then structural robustness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they connect the two frame structures to enable relative movement, provide structural support for the single integral filtering surface at the junction area, and act as reinforcing elements that prevent torsional stresses. By making the hinge elements multi-functional, the patent improves structural robustness without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If a single integral filtering surface is used, then manufacturing is simplified and cost reduced, but structural support at the junction becomes critical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides beforehand cushioning by incorporating hinge elements that act as reinforcing structures at the junction area before structural failures can occur. These hinge elements are designed in advance to support the single integral filtering surface and prevent torsional stresses, ensuring the junction has sufficient strength to handle operational loads without compromising the manufacturing simplicity of the unified filtering surface design.
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 simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacturing, prevents fluff leakage, and enhances structural robustness by providing a filtering element at the junction and acting as a reinforcing structure, reducing torsional stresses and maintaining filter functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a filtering surface supported by the first and second frame structures; the filtering surface joins the first frame structure with the second frame structure
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A laundry dryer machine (100) is disclosed. The laundry dryer machine (100) comprising a fluff filter (140) for filtering drying air from fluff lost by laundry during the laundry dryer machine operation. The fluff filter (140) comprises an input opening (145) for receiving the drying air and a first filtering portion (150) and a second filtering portion (155) for outputting drying air filtered from fluff. The first filtering portion (150) includes a first frame structure (170) and the second filtering portion (155) includes a second frame structure (160). The fluff filter further comprises hinge elements (178) for pivotally coupling the first frame structure (170) with the second frame structure (160). The fluff filter still further comprises a filtering surface (190) supported by the first and second frame structures (170, 160). Said filtering surface joins the first frame structure (170) with the second frame structure (160).