Ion Emission Cover Grounding in Heating and Blowing Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and blowing apparatuses, such as hair dryers with negative ion generators, face a reduction in ion passage due to the electrification of insulating covers, which restricts ion discharge and poses safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A heating and blowing apparatus design featuring a main body housing with a rotating fan and heating unit, an ion generator with a discharge and opposing electrode in a bypass flow path, and a cover with protrusions that contact the opposing electrode for grounding, ensuring stable grounding without a separate grounding line and preventing cover electrification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover made of insulating material is provided at the ion emission port to block fingers from contacting the ion generator, then safety is improved, but the cover becomes electrified by ions and ion passage amount decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an opposing electrode as an intermediary component between the ion generator and the cover. This electrode serves as a mediator that receives ions and conducts them to ground, preventing direct electrification of the insulating cover while maintaining safety protection. The intermediary structure allows the cover to remain insulating for safety purposes without accumulating charge that would block ion passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameter of the cover from electrified state to grounded state by introducing the opposing electrode. By modifying the electrical conductivity parameter through the addition of a conductive element (opposing electrode) that contacts the cover, the system transforms the cover's electrical state, allowing ions to pass through without being blocked by charge accumulation.
2Reliability
If a cover is provided at the ion emission port to prevent finger contact with the high voltage portion, then safety is improved, but the cover restricts ion discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The opposing electrode acts as an intermediary that facilitates ion discharge while the cover provides safety protection. The electrode creates a dedicated ion reception and conduction path that works in conjunction with the cover's protective function, allowing both safety and efficient ion discharge to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ion discharge function from the safety protection function by introducing a separate opposing electrode component. The cover maintains its safety function while the electrode handles the ion conduction function, allowing both functions to perform optimally without interfering with each other.
3Reliability
If grounding is implemented through a separate grounding line, then cover electrification is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the grounding function with the existing opposing electrode structure of the ion generator. Instead of adding a separate grounding line, the grounding path is integrated into the electrode assembly that already exists for ion generation, eliminating the need for additional grounding components while maintaining effective grounding.
Solution Approach 2:
The opposing electrode serves multiple functions: it is both an essential component of the ion generation system and a grounding element. By making the electrode multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate grounding lines, reducing device complexity while maintaining grounding effectiveness.
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
This configuration allows for efficient ion discharge while ensuring safety, maintaining high ion passage amounts and eliminating the need for a separate grounding line, thereby enhancing the apparatus's ion discharge efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an ion generator arranged in an upper part of the main body, the ion generator including a discharge electrode and an opposing electrode arranged in a bypass flow path
Implementation Method 2
one or more protrusions provided on a rear surface of the cover, the protrusions making contact with the opposing electrode placed closer to the cover than the discharge electrode is, wherein the cover is grounded through the opposing electrode
Data Source
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AI summary
A heating and blowing apparatus includes a main body housing (3) having an inlet port (11) and a discharge port (12); a rotatingly driven fan (21) and a heating unit arranged on an air flow path, the air flow path extending from the inlet port (11) to the discharge port (12); and an ion generator (5) including a discharge electrode (51) and an opposing electrode (52) arranged in a bypass flow path, the bypass flow path branching off from the air flow path and leading to an ion emission port (13). Further, it includes a cover (6), arranged at the ion emission port (13), having an opening through which ions pass and one or more protrusions (60) provided on a rear surface of the cover (6), the protrusion (60) making contact with the opposing electrode (52) placed closer to the cover (6) than the discharge electrode (51) is, wherein the cover (6) is grounded through the opposing electrode (52).