Lint collection assembly for a dryer appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryer appliances require frequent manual cleaning of lint filters, leading to reduced airflow, increased energy consumption, and potential fire hazards due to lint buildup.
Innovation Solution
A dryer appliance with a lint collection assembly that includes a filter housing, filter frame, lint filter, and a filter cleaning mechanism to periodically knock off collected lint, reducing the need for frequent user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual lint filter cleaning is required frequently, then lint buildup is removed, but user convenience deteriorates and time loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an automated motor-driven brush mechanism that rotates to brush lint off the filter screen and into a collection chamber. This self-cleaning feature eliminates the need for users to manually remove and clean the filter, allowing the system to maintain itself during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cleaning action by collecting lint in a chamber during operation, preventing buildup before it becomes a hazard. The automated brush continuously or periodically removes lint during the drying cycle, addressing the cleaning need before user intervention would be required.
2Reliability
If manual lint filter cleaning is required frequently, then airflow is maintained, but energy consumption increases due to extended cycle times
Solution Approach 1:
The automated brush mechanism operates continuously or periodically during the drying cycle to maintain filter cleanliness. This continuous action ensures airflow is consistently maintained without requiring cycle extensions, as the filter is cleaned proactively rather than reactively after buildup occurs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual lint filter cleaning is required frequently, then fire hazard is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven brush system automatically maintains the filter, eliminating the need for user intervention and ensuring consistent cleaning without adding significant complexity. The system self-regulates during operation, providing reliable fire hazard mitigation through automated maintenance.
4Ease of operation
If automated filter cleaning is implemented, then user convenience improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven brush mechanism is integrated into the existing filter housing, allowing the system to clean itself without requiring separate external mechanisms. The brush rotates on a simple motor assembly that fits within the current structural framework, minimizing added complexity while achieving automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer appliance includes a drum defining a chamber for receipt of clothes for drying, an air handler for urging a flow of air through the chamber, an exhaust conduit fluidly coupled to the chamber for discharging the flow of air, and a lint collection assembly operably coupled with the exhaust conduit. The lint collection assembly includes a filter housing defining a filter plenum, a filter frame positioned within the filter plenum, a lint filter mounted to the filter frame, and a filter cleaning mechanism operably coupled to the filter frame for periodically knocking collected lint off the lint filter under the force of the flow of air.