Opposed Slit-Nozzle Hand Drying for Low-Noise Airflow Collision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand drying apparatuses using circular jet flows for one side suffer from reduced drying efficiency and noise due to turbulence, making them less usable for drying palms and backs of hands effectively.
Innovation Solution
A hand drying apparatus with slit-shaped ejecting holes in both the front and back nozzles, where the lengths and intervals of these holes differ between the two sides, to create regions of varying collision lengths that reduce noise and enhance drying performance without a complex construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If circular ejecting holes are used in one nozzle to reduce turbulence and noise, then noise is suppressed, but drying efficiency for palms and backs of hands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the ejecting holes in the front nozzle have a different shape (circular) from the ejecting holes in the back nozzle (slit-shaped). This asymmetric configuration allows each nozzle to perform its optimized function: the circular holes reduce turbulence and noise on one side, while the slit-shaped holes provide high drying efficiency on the other side, resolving the contradiction between noise suppression and drying performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different hole shapes to different locations (front and back nozzles) based on their specific functional requirements. The front nozzle uses circular holes where noise reduction is prioritized, while the back nozzle uses slit-shaped holes where drying efficiency is prioritized, allowing each local region to have the quality best suited for its purpose.
2Productivity
If slit-shaped ejecting holes are used in both nozzles to achieve high drying efficiency, then drying performance improves, but turbulence and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing asymmetry in the hole configuration: while slit-shaped holes are used in the back nozzle for high drying efficiency, circular holes are used in the front nozzle to reduce turbulence and noise. This asymmetric design allows the system to achieve both high drying performance and low noise levels simultaneously.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If different lengths and arranging intervals of slit-shaped ejecting holes are used between front and back nozzles, then noise is reduced by creating regions with different collision lengths, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the ejecting holes with different lengths and arranging intervals between the front and back nozzles. This asymmetric design creates regions with different collision lengths for the airflows, which reduces turbulence and noise. Despite the increased complexity in hole configuration, the overall device structure remains simple and easy to manufacture.
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 apparatus effectively prevents noise and improves drying efficiency, allowing for balanced drying of palms and backs of hands by optimizing airflow collision regions, thus enhancing usability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a high-pressure airflow generator that generates high-pressure airflows and is included in the main body box case
Implementation Method 2
These types of hand drying apparatuses use kinetic energy of the high-speed airflows to blow moisture adhering to hands off
Implementation Method 3
collisions between opposite jet flows cause turbulence and produce noise
Implementation Method 4
Therefore, collisions between opposite jet flows cause turbulence and produce noise
Data Source
AI summary
A hand drying apparatus includes a main body box case 1 that has a hand inserting portion 3 formed in a concave shape at an upper portion; a high-pressure airflow generator 2 that generates high-pressure airflows and is included in the main body box case; and a front side air nozzle 6a and a back side air nozzle 6b that eject the high-pressure airflows generated by the high-pressure airflow generator 2 into the hand inserting portion 3 and face each other. The front side air nozzle 6a and the back side air nozzle 6b are formed by a plurality of slit-shaped ejecting holes 7 arranged in a line, respectively, and both or any one of lengths and arranging intervals of the slit-shaped ejecting holes 7 is different between a front side and a back side. A hand drying apparatus that can prevent noise and realize high drying performance and excellent usability without employing a complicated construction is obtained.