Rotating Disc Filter Structure for Compact Vaporizing Humidifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vaporizing type humidifiers with disc-shaped filters face challenges in efficiently switching between immersion and non-immersion states, leading to issues like scale adhesion, mold growth, and increased size due to complex rotation mechanisms and separate air ducts, which affect performance and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A humidifier design featuring a disc-shaped filter unit with adjacent absorptive and non-absorptive regions that rotate in a vertical orientation, using a single air duct and a detection system to control the rotation mechanism, preventing water absorption when not needed and minimizing the size and complexity of the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a disc-shaped filter is rotated to switch between immersion and non-immersion states, then water absorption efficiency is improved, but the device size and structural complexity increase due to separate air ducts and rotation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air duct and water tank into an integrated structure where the air duct serves dual purposes: guiding air flow and containing the water reservoir. This eliminates the need for separate rotation mechanisms and complex immersion control systems, reducing structural complexity while maintaining water absorption efficiency through the filter's rotational movement within the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the air passage for humidification and the water tank for reservoir storage. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated water tank structures and rotation mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving the filter's ability to rotate and absorb water efficiently.
2Reliability
If the filter rotates in a vertical orientation with absorptive and non-absorptive regions, then scale adhesion and mold growth are prevented, but the device size increases due to complex rotation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct and water tank are merged into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate rotation mechanisms and complex immersion control systems. The filter rotates within this integrated structure, allowing vertical orientation with absorptive and non-absorptive regions to prevent scale adhesion and mold growth without requiring additional space for separate mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex rotation mechanisms to achieve immersion and non-immersion states, the patent inverts the approach by integrating the water tank into the air duct structure itself. The filter rotates within this integrated structure, allowing the non-absorptive region to be positioned above the water level during rotation, preventing scale adhesion and mold growth through gravitational separation rather than complex mechanical control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate air ducts are used for immersion and non-immersion states, then water absorption control is improved, but the device size and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct and water tank are merged into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate air ducts for immersion and non-immersion states. The single integrated structure allows the filter to rotate and control water absorption by positioning different regions (absorptive and non-absorptive) relative to the water level, maintaining adaptability while reducing device size and noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct serves multiple functions: it guides air flow, contains the water reservoir, and enables water absorption control through the rotating filter's positioning. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated air ducts for different states, reducing device size and noise while preserving the ability to control water absorption efficiently.
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 solution allows for efficient water absorption and moisture transfer while preventing scale adhesion and mold growth, reducing the size and noise of the humidifier and simplifying maintenance by eliminating the need for separate air ducts and complex rotation mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a vaporizing type humidifier including a disc-shaped filter unit with an absorptive region and a non-absorptive region disposed adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the filter unit in a circumferential direction... the filter unit is disposed in a vertical orientation in such a manner that a part of a circumferential portion of the filter unit is immersible in the water reserved in the water tank
Implementation Method 2
a fan for causing air to pass through the filter unit in a direction crossing the filter unit... air of the outside of the humidifier (for example, a room where the humidifier is installed) is sent to the filter having absorbed water, so as to transpire the water having been absorbed by the filter and to send air including the transpired water
Implementation Method 3
a roller for rotating the rotating body... the outer circumferential face of the rotating body and the outer circumferential face of the roller are in contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A disc-shaped filter unit including a filter main body having a water absorbability and a holder having a non water absorbability is disposed in a vertical orientation, with a part of a circumferential portion thereof immersed in water reserved in a water tank, and is rotated by a rotation drive mechanism in a circumferential direction. The filter unit has an absorptive region and a non-absorptive region arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in accordance with rotation of the filter unit in the circumferential direction, a state where the absorptive region is immersed and the filter main body of the filter unit absorbs water through a water-conduction hole and a state where the non-absorptive region is immersed and water absorption of the filter main body is prevented by a watertight section having a non water absorbability are continuously alternated.