Humidifier Inner Shell Layout for Cleanable Water Level Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional humidifiers have complex internal structures that make disassembly and cleaning difficult, leading to hygiene issues and inaccurate water level detection due to submerged weight measurement sensors, and the water tank is not easily removable for refilling.

Innovation Solution

A humidifier design with a detachable inner shell and water tank housing that allows for easy separation and cleaning, featuring a flow path unit with a discharge grill and a middle tray with a load sensor for accurate water level detection, and a water tank cover that prevents sensor submersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If weight measurement sensors are disposed on the lower surface of the housing to detect entire load, then water level detection is enabled, but measurement precision deteriorates due to bearing entire humidifier load and sensor submersion during cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater level detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor malfunction and damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into an upper housing and a lower housing that can be separated from each other. The weight measurement sensors are disposed on the lower surface of the lower housing, allowing the upper housing to be removed for cleaning without submerging the sensors. This segmentation enables independent access to the sensor area while maintaining water level detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensors are extracted from the housing interior and repositioned on the external lower surface of the housing. This extraction allows the sensors to remain outside the water-containing chamber, preventing submersion during cleaning operations while still enabling weight-based water level detection through the housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Volume of moving object

If multiple components are assembled in a complex structure inside a small volume case, then space utilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult disassembly and reassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecase volume utilizationVSAvoiddisassembly and reassembly convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into separable upper and lower portions, and the water tank is divided into an insertable inner water tank and an outer water tank housing. This segmentation allows components to be easily separated and reassembled by users while maintaining efficient space utilization through the nested arrangement of components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner water tank is designed to be insertable into the outer water tank housing, creating a nested structure that maximizes space utilization within the case. The nested design allows easy separation for refilling while maintaining compact arrangement during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If water tank and weight measurement sensors are integrated, then structure is simplified, but reliability deteriorates due to sensor submersion during cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidsensor damage during cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated water tank-sensor structure is segmented by separating the housing into upper and lower portions, with sensors located on the external lower surface. This segmentation allows the water tank to be accessed and cleaned independently without exposing the sensors to water, maintaining structural simplicity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances user convenience, improves hygiene, and provides accurate water level detection while simplifying the structure for easy assembly and disassembly, reducing the risk of sensor damage and improving durability.

Implementation Method 1

measures a level of water stored in the water tank based on a weight detected by the plurality of weight measurement sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWeight measurement:

Implementation Method 2

an ultrasonic vibrator disposed at a bottom of the water tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20240361015A1humidifier

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A humidifier may include a humidifying device that generates humidified air, and a flow path unit that is disposed at an upper side of the humidifying device and guides humidified air. The flow path unit may include an inner shell that opens upward and through which humidified air generated by the humidifying device flows, and a water tank that is disposed inside of the inner shell and supplies stored water to the humidifying device. A discharge flow path through which humidified air flows may be formed between the inner shell and the water tank, and the inner shell may be detachably coupled to an upper side of the humidifying device.