Nested Dryer Filter Cartridges for Complete Lint Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clothes dryers with dual filter cartridges face issues where the outside filter cartridge often remains in the dryer due to user ignorance during cleaning, leading to reduced filter capacity, airflow problems, and potential overheating, as the dual filter structure is not intuitively recognizable, and the separate components are cumbersome to handle.

Innovation Solution

The clothes dryer design includes a dual filter cartridge system where the inside filter cartridge is received in the outside filter cartridge, with an interference protrusion on the inside cartridge and a restraint protrusion on the outside cartridge, ensuring both are removed simultaneously when the inside cartridge is pulled, preventing the outside cartridge from being left behind and reducing the risk of loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the inside filter cartridge and outside filter cartridge are separably mounted to allow easy insertion and separation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the user cannot intuitively recognize the dual filter structure and may leave the outside filter cartridge in the dryer, reducing filter capacity and causing airflow problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of filter cartridge insertion and separationVSAvoidreliability of complete filter cartridge removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inside filter cartridge is nested within the outside filter cartridge, forming a compact dual-filter assembly. This nesting structure ensures that both filters are removed together as a single unit when the user pulls the inside cartridge, preventing the outside cartridge from being left behind while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the inside filter cartridge is freely separable from the outside filter cartridge for easy maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the two separated members become cumbersome to handle and may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of filter cartridge maintenanceVSAvoidcomplexity of handling separate filter components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting the inside filter cartridge within the outside filter cartridge and providing simultaneous removal through the interference and restraint protrusions, the system reduces the number of separate components the user must handle during maintenance, thereby reducing the risk of loss while maintaining ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If the dual filter structure is designed with separate inside and outside cartridges for easy installation, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the user cannot intuitively recognize the dual filter structure, leading to incomplete removal during cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of dual filter cartridge assemblyVSAvoiduser awareness of dual filter structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The nested configuration of the inside and outside filter cartridges creates a visually unified structure that is easy to manufacture while ensuring that users recognize the dual-filter assembly as a single removable unit, preventing incomplete removal during cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The interference protrusion on the inside cartridge and the restraint protrusion on the outside cartridge work together to merge the removal action of both filters into a single user operation, ensuring that users understand and execute complete removal of the dual-filter structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Volume of stationary object

If the filter cartridge is disposed mostly in the circulation channel with only a portion exposed for holding, then the space utilization is improved, but it is not easy for the user to intuitively recognize the dual filter structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilization in circulation channelVSAvoiduser recognition of dual filter structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The nested structure allows the dual-filter assembly to be compactly disposed in the circulation channel while maintaining a unified external appearance that users can easily recognize and grasp for removal, preventing loss of information about the dual-filter configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10047475B2Clothes dryer

Publication Date: 2018.08.14 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A clothes dryer includes a rotatable drum, a drum supporter for supporting the drum, the drum supporter being provided with a discharge port for discharging air from the drum, a circulation channel for guiding the air discharged through the discharge port into the drum, and a filter cartridge disposed in the circulation channel for filtering air, wherein the filter cartridge includes an inside filter cartridge for filtering air discharged from the drum and an outside filter cartridge for filtering air that has passed through the inside filter cartridge, the outside filter cartridge being disposed in the circulation channel, the inside filter cartridge being separably received in the outside filter cartridge through an opening formed in the outside filter cartridge, and wherein the inside filter cartridge is provided with an interference protrusion, and the outside filter cartridge is provided with a restraint protrusion for restraining the interference protrusion.