Laundry Dryer Pump Sequencing to Prevent Fiber and Lint Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry dryers face issues with clogging due to accumulated fiber and lint on filters and heat exchangers, which can lead to operational failures when water with these particles is pumped back into the system, affecting flow rate and drying performance.
Innovation Solution
A control unit coordinates the operation of washing and discharge pumps to prevent clogging by reversing the water flow in the discharge line, allowing gravity to clear accumulated fiber and lint from the suction port of the discharge pump, ensuring efficient cleaning and prevention of clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the discharge pump operates continuously to transfer washing water back to the tank, then the cleaning process is efficient, but fiber and lint accumulate at the suction port causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge pump operates intermittently with periodic on-off cycles rather than continuously. The control unit activates the discharge pump for specific time intervals (e.g., 1-5 seconds) followed by pause periods, creating a rhythmic operation pattern that prevents fiber and lint accumulation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reverses the normal pumping sequence by stopping the discharge pump before stopping the washing pump. This inversion creates a pressure differential that allows washing water to flow backward through the discharge line, flushing accumulated particles away from the suction port and preventing clogging.
2Manufacturing precision
If the washing pump operates continuously to clean the filter and heat exchanger, then cleaning coverage is complete, but flow rate decreases due to accumulated particles
Solution Approach 1:
The washing pump operates in periodic cycles with alternating on and off periods. During off periods, the system allows accumulated particles to settle and be flushed by backward flow, restoring flow rate. This periodic operation maintains cleaning effectiveness while preventing flow rate degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous cleaning action by coordinating the washing and discharge pumps to operate simultaneously during designated intervals. This coordinated continuous operation maximizes cleaning effectiveness while the periodic interruptions prevent particle accumulation that would reduce flow rate.
3Manufacturing precision
If fiber and lint are removed from the filter and heat exchanger, then cleaning performance improves, but clogging occurs at the discharge pump suction port
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the water flow direction by stopping the discharge pump while the washing pump continues operating. This creates reverse pressure that flushes particles away from the suction port through the discharge line back to the tank, preventing clogging while maintaining high particle removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge line serves as an intermediary pathway that redirects particles away from the suction port. By utilizing the existing discharge line infrastructure and reversing flow through it, the system creates a safe passage for particles to be transported away from critical components without requiring additional anti-clogging mechanisms.
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 method effectively cleans the heat exchanger and filter by intermittently operating the pumps, preventing clogging and maintaining the flow rate and drying performance of the laundry dryer.
Implementation Method 1
a discharge pump (10) that delivers the water accumulated in the sump (13) to the tank (7) to be emptied
Implementation Method 2
stops the discharge pump (10) after the same has been operated for a time, thus enables the water pumped into the discharge line to flow backwards with the effect of the gravity
Implementation Method 3
a washing pump (8) that enables the water to be taken from the tank (7) and to be delivered onto the heat exchanger (4) and/or the filter (6)
Implementation Method 4
the water, that is evaporated from over the laundry and condensed in the heat exchanger during the drying cycle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a body (2); a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be dried is placed; an air circulation duct (5) providing the delivery of the drying air onto the laundry in the drum (3); a heat exchanger (4) that is disposed on the air circulation duct (5) and that enables the temperature of the drying air to be changed; at least one filter (6) that holds the particles such as fiber, lint, dust, etc. in the drying air; a tank (7) wherein the condensed water is stored; a discharge pump (8) that enables the water to be taken from the tank (7) and to be delivered onto the heat exchanger (4) and/or the filter (6); a sump (13) wherein the water taken from the tank (7) and then draining from the heat exchanger (4) and/or the filter (6) and mixed with fiber and lints accumulates, and a discharge pump (10) that transfer the water and the particles such as fiber, lint, dust, etc. accumulated in the sump (13) to the tank (7).