humidifier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional humidifiers face issues with large droplet size in mist discharge, leading to poor cleanliness and maintenance difficulties due to droplet formation near the discharge opening, and lack of ease in disassembly for cleaning.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an impactor with a stack of parts and a ring-shaped configuration between the humidification assembly and discharge opening to reduce droplet size and facilitate uniform mist discharge, while allowing for easy disassembly and cleaning by positioning the impactor in the humidification flow path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional humidifiers use a narrow discharge opening in cylindrical shape, then the structure is simple, but droplet formation occurs and cleanliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddroplet formation and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor is divided into multiple segments (first impactor section, second impactor section, third impactor section) that can be disassembled and reassembled. This segmentation allows for easy cleaning of droplets from each section while maintaining the overall functional integrity of the discharge opening structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The impactor acts as an intermediary component between the humidification assembly and the discharge opening. It intercepts and removes droplets from the mist before discharge, preventing contamination while allowing the simple cylindrical discharge opening structure to be maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the humidifier is designed as an integrated unit, then structural integrity is maintained, but disassembly for cleaning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of disassembly for cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor is segmented into multiple detachable sections that can be easily separated from each other and from the main humidifier body. This allows users to disassemble the cleaning-accessible portions for maintenance while the integrated humidifier structure remains intact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The impactor sections are designed with dynamic connectivity - they can be firmly attached during operation to maintain structural integrity, but easily detached when cleaning is required. This dynamic state change enables both structural stability and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If droplet size is reduced through multiple impactor sections, then mist quality improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedroplet size control and uniformityVSAvoidnumber of impactor components

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor is divided into three sequential sections, each with progressively smaller holes. This segmentation enables staged droplet reduction - each section further refines the droplet size from the previous section, achieving fine mist quality through progressive refinement rather than a single complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each impactor section has locally optimized hole characteristics - the first section has larger holes for initial droplet reduction, the second section has medium holes for intermediate refinement, and the third section has smallest holes for final fine mist production. This local quality variation achieves precise droplet control through simple geometric progression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively reduces droplet size, ensures uniform mist discharge, minimizes flow resistance, prevents dew formation, and simplifies maintenance by allowing easy disassembly and assembly of the humidifier components.

Implementation Method 1

an impactor disposed between the outlet and the discharge opening, into which the mist discharged through the outlet is admitted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

Ultrasonic humidifiers are equipped with a vibrator to create vibrations from ultrasonic waves, and convert water into mist using the vibrations from the vibrator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20240200792A1humidifier

Publication Date: 2024.06.20 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a humidifier. A humidifier according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a case with an intake opening; a fan disposed inside the case; a discharge opening positioned downstream of the fan; a humidification assembly including a humidification device disposed between the fan and the discharge opening, for spraying supplied water, and an outlet through which mist produced by the humidification device is discharged; and an impactor disposed between the outlet and the discharge opening, to which the mist discharged through the outlet is admitted. Thus, the droplet size of humidified air discharged through the discharge opening can be reduced.