Humidifier Airflow Diversion Structure for Uniform Mist Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ultrasonic humidifiers have complex humidification flow paths, leading to difficulties in supplying mist evenly to indoor spaces, potential contamination due to unsterilized water, and challenging cleaning processes, which affects their efficiency and sanitary performance.

Innovation Solution

A humidifier design featuring a simplified structure with a blower fan creating an ascending air stream, a diversion guide to separate the air stream, and a cylindrical humidification reservoir with annular discharge paths, allowing mist to rise and be distributed uniformly, along with a heating reservoir for sterilizing water, facilitating easy cleaning and improved sanitary performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex humidification flow path is used to create a flow of humidified air, then the humidification function is achieved, but the structural design becomes complex and cleaning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidification functionVSAvoidstructural design
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The humidifier is divided into functionally independent modules: an ultrasonic atomization module for mist generation, a heating module for water sterilization, and a simple discharge structure. This segmentation allows each module to perform its function independently without requiring complex flow paths, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining humidification effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a complex humidification flow path is used, then humidified air flow is created, but the air stream forms eddy currents and mist supply becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidified air flowVSAvoidmist supply efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of humidification from the complex flow path by using ultrasonic vibration to directly atomize water into mist that rises naturally. The heating element sterilizes water before atomization, and the simplified discharge structure allows mist to be supplied uniformly without eddy currents, thereby improving mist supply efficiency while maintaining reliable humidified air flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If water is atomized immediately without sterilization, then humidification is achieved quickly, but contamination occurs and health risks arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidification speedVSAvoidcontamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary sterilization by heating the water before ultrasonic atomization. This preliminary action eliminates potential contaminants and pathogens in the water, ensuring that the mist generated is clean and safe for indoor use, while the subsequent rapid atomization maintains efficient humidification speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If a simplified structure is used, then ease of cleaning is improved, but mist distribution uniformity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidmist distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The simplified discharge structure allows mist to rise and distribute uniformly through natural convection and the inherent geometry of the discharge opening, without requiring complex flow control mechanisms. This self-service approach maintains mist distribution uniformity while maximizing ease of cleaning through the absence of complex internal passages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 enhances mist distribution, increases humidification capacity, simplifies the structure for easier maintenance, and ensures sterilized air is supplied uniformly across indoor spaces, improving both efficiency and user experience.

Implementation Method 1

ultrasonic humidifiers produce a mist by atomizing stored water via ultrasonic vibration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

evaporation by heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation by heating: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

a blower fan disposed below the humidification reservoir, that creates an ascending air stream within the case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 4

a heating reservoir for sterilizing water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4390244A1humidifier
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4390244A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4390244A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4390244A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a humidifier. A humidifier of the present disclosure includes: a case having an inlet and a outlet with an open top; a humidification reservoir disposed inside the case, that produces mist and has an open top so that the produced mist rises therethrough; a guide wall disposed above the humidification reservoir, that is spaced inward from the case and extends upward; a blower fan disposed below the humidification reservoir, that creates an ascending air stream within the case; and a diversion guide disposed on the top of the humidification reservoir, that divides the ascending air stream, wherein a blower flow path is formed between the humidification reservoir and the case, through which the ascending air stream flows, an inner discharge flow path is formed inside the guide wall, through which the mist produced in the humidification reservoir and part of the ascending air stream that has passed through the blower flow path flow, an outer discharge flow path is formed between the guide wall and the case, through which the rest of the ascending air stream that has passed through the blower flow path flows, and the diversion guide guides part of the ascending air stream that has passed through the blower flow path to the inner discharge flow path.