Door assembly for a laundry treating appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating appliances face inefficiencies in drying cycles due to the recirculation of moisture-laden airflow, which can prolong drying times and reduce drying effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The door assembly for laundry treating appliances incorporates an inner and outer door wall configuration with a baffle and blower system that condenses moisture from the airflow within an internal volume before recirculating it back into the treating chamber, utilizing ambient air to enhance condensation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If moisture-laden airflow is recirculated back into the treating chamber, then energy is conserved by reusing heated air, but drying efficiency decreases due to prolonged moisture content in the chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the moisture content parameter of the recirculated airflow by introducing a condensation chamber that cools the air below its dew point, causing moisture to condense and be removed. This parameter transformation allows the air to be recirculated with reduced moisture content, resolving the contradiction between energy conservation and drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a condensation chamber as an intermediary component between the exhaust and recirculation paths. This intermediary device facilitates moisture removal through phase change, enabling the recirculated air to have improved drying capacity while maintaining energy efficiency
2Productivity
If a condensation system is added to remove moisture from recirculated airflow, then drying efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the access door for the treating chamber and houses the condensation chamber for moisture removal. By integrating the condensation function into the door structure, the patent avoids adding separate complex components while improving drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the door assembly with the condensation chamber into a single integrated structure. The door walls form the boundaries of the condensation chamber, and the door's air inlet/outlet pathways are utilized for the condensation process. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating separate components and simplifying the overall system architecture
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 reduces moisture content in the recirculated airflow, improving drying efficiency and potentially shortening drying times by leveraging the temperature difference between the appliance and ambient air.
Implementation Method 1
at least one blower is disposed adjacent one of the air inlet, the air outlet, or both and configured to move an airflow through the internal volume
Implementation Method 2
This configuration reduces moisture content in the recirculated airflow, improving drying efficiency and potentially shortening drying times by leveraging the temperature difference between the appliance and ambient air
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A door assembly (10, 110, 310, 410, 510) for selectively opening and closing an access opening (12) to a treating chamber (14) of a laundry treating appliance (16) includes an inner door wall (20, 120, 320, 420, 520) and an outer door wall (30, 130) adjacent to the inner door wall (20, 120, 320, 420, 520), wherein the outer door wall (30, 130) and the inner door wall (20, 120, 320, 420, 520) at least partially define an internal volume (32, 132, 332, 432, 532). The inner door wall (20, 120, 320, 420, 520) includes a portion (22, 122) that is configured to extend at least partially into the treating chamber (14) when the door assembly (10, 110, 310, 410, 510) is closed, and includes an air inlet (24, 124) and an air outlet (26, 126). The door assembly (10, 110, 310, 410, 510) is configured such that the internal volume (32, 132, 332, 432, 532) is in fluid communication with an airflow inside the treating chamber (14) when the door assembly (10, 110, 310, 410, 510) is closed.