Laundry Dryer Air Filter Gasket Design to Prevent Fluff Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry dryer gaskets are inefficient in sealing and prone to fluff accumulation, leading to air bypass and contamination of the process air moisture removing device, requiring a reliable sealing configuration to prevent fluff from entering the air circuit.
Innovation Solution
A gasket with a transverse sectional shape that forms sealing contacts with multiple areas of the filter and seat, including a gap between the gasket outer edge and filter, and additional contact areas with the perimeter border and wall, ensuring improved sealing and preventing fluff accumulation during the drying process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional gasket with a closed polygonal outer edge is used, then the gasket can be compressed to seal the filter to the seat, but the gasket wears out progressively and allows fluff-containing air to bypass the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is divided into multiple sealing portions (first sealing portion, second sealing portion, third sealing portion) that contact different areas of the filter. This segmentation allows each portion to independently contribute to the sealing function, preventing fluff bypass while maintaining compression sealing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket's outer edge is designed to contact the filter in multiple dimensions/areas rather than a single plane. The gasket contacts the front surface, side surface, and rear surface of the filter, creating a three-dimensional sealing configuration that prevents fluff from bypassing the filter through wear.
2Ease of operation
If the filter is removed for cleaning, then lint can be removed from the filter, but fluff accumulated on the gasket falls into the process air circuit and contaminates the moisture removing device
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into multiple portions that contact different surfaces of the filter. This segmentation ensures that fluff accumulates on the filter surface rather than on the gasket, allowing users to clean only the filter without risking gasket fluff contamination to the air circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket acts as an intermediary sealing element that prevents direct contact between fluff and the process air circuit. By maintaining sealing contact with multiple filter surfaces, the gasket redirects fluff accumulation to the filter itself, which can be safely removed and cleaned.
3Reliability
If the gasket outer edge is in sealing contact with multiple distinct areas of the filter, then sealing is improved and fluff bypass is prevented, but the gasket configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into functional portions (first, second, third sealing portions) that contact different filter areas. While this creates multiple contact zones, each portion maintains a simple geometric form that is easy to manufacture, balancing sealing effectiveness with manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is designed as a single universal component that performs multiple sealing functions simultaneously. It seals between the filter and seat while also preventing fluff bypass, eliminating the need for multiple separate sealing elements and reducing overall system complexity.
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 improved sealing configuration effectively prevents fluff from entering the process air circuit, maintaining the cleanliness of the moisture removing device and reducing the need for frequent cleaning, thereby enhancing the dryer's operational efficiency and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
Gaskets of know type have a transverse sectional shape whose outer edge forms a closed polygonal line defining a convex polygon... Gaskets of the above described known type generally have a hollow cavity comprised within the closed polygonal line allowing the gasket to be compressed when the filter is placed on its seat. Such compression air-tightens the filter onto its seat.
Implementation Method 2
an air filter is positioned between the rotatable laundry drum and the process air moisture removing device, in such a way lint removed from laundry and dispersed in the process air exiting the drum is filtered out by the air filter
Implementation Method 3
the process air exhausted from the drum is cooled and dehumidified by an air moisture removing device
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a cabinet (2), a drum (3) for treating laundry which is arranged in a rotating manner inside the cabinet (2), the drum (3) being accessible by a user through a laundry loading/unloading opening closable by a door (4), and a process air circulating conduit (12) extending through the drum (4) having a process air outlet section (25). The laundry dryer of the present invention further comprises an air filter (5) which is removably received in a seat (6) formed on said process air outlet section (25) so as to be accessed by opening said door (4), and a gasket (7) positioned between said air filter (5) and said seat for sealing the air filter (5) to the seat (6). The laundry dryer of the present invention is characterized in that said gasket (7) has a transverse sectional shape comprising an outer edge (20) which is in sealing contact with at least two distinct areas (22,23) of the filter (5) when the latter rests on the seat (6).