Humidifier with waterproof arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional humidifiers pose a safety risk due to the risk of water entering electronic components during cleaning, potentially causing short circuits and electric fires, as water vapor can pass through air or vapor outlets and reach internal chambers.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof arrangement featuring a blocking member that automatically blocks the air outlet when the water tank is detached from the base housing, preventing water from entering the electronic components, and unblocks it when the tank is reattached, allowing airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air outlet remains open for normal operation, then air flow is enabled, but water can enter the electronic components during cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member is positioned in advance to automatically block the air outlet when the water tank is detached, preventing water from entering the electronic components before the harmful event (cleaning with water) occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member acts as an intermediary element between the air outlet and the electronic components, physically blocking the path of water while allowing air to pass through during normal operation
2Reliability
If a blocking member is added to prevent water entry, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member is merged with the water tank assembly, so that the safety function is integrated into the existing detachable component rather than being a separate system, thereby minimizing additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member is designed to automatically move between blocked and unblocked positions based on the presence or absence of the water tank, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms or additional actuators
Data Source
AI summary
A humidifier includes a base housing having a receiving cavity and an air outlet, a water tank having a vapor outlet, a vaporizing arrangement having a vaporizer and a fan, and a waterproof arrangement. The waterproof arrangement includes a blocking member movably mounted on the base housing to selectively move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein when the water tank is detached from the base housing, the blocking member is driven to block the air outlet so as to prevent water from passing through the air outlet, wherein when the water tank is attached on the base housing, the blocking member is driven to unblock the air outlet so as to allow air created by the fan to flow through the air outlet.