Spring-Loaded Rinse Container Sealing for Leak-Resistant Dryers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rinsing containers for laundry drying devices face issues with leakages and inefficient cleaning due to low liquid pressure, especially when the filling level is low, leading to incomplete sealing and potential leaks, which increases the complexity and cost of the arrangement.

Innovation Solution

A rinsing container with a closure part featuring a sealing head connected via a spring element that requires an opening force exceeding the spring's pressing force, ensuring secure sealing independent of the fill level, and an actuating unit that directly operates the sealing head for reliable and efficient rinsing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a closure plate is used to close the outlet opening, then the structure is simple, but the sealing is unreliable when liquid pressure is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure part uses a dynamic sealing mechanism where a sealing head with a sealing element can move relative to the outlet opening. The spring element provides continuous pressing force to maintain sealing contact, allowing the seal to adapt to varying liquid pressure conditions and ensure reliable sealing even when pressure is low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A sealing element acts as an intermediary between the closure part and the outlet opening. This sealing element (such as a sealing ring or gasket) mediates the contact between moving and stationary parts, ensuring reliable sealing while allowing for relative movement and pressure variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If liquid pressure is low, then the filling level is low, but the sealing becomes incomplete leading to leaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling levelVSAvoidsealing completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element acts as a counterweight to the low liquid pressure. It provides a pressing force that counteracts the reduced pressure force when the filling level is low, ensuring the sealing element maintains sufficient contact pressure with the outlet opening to prevent leaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element pre-presses the sealing element against the outlet opening before liquid pressure acts on it. This preliminary action ensures the seal is already in contact and properly positioned, so when liquid pressure (even low pressure) acts on the closure plate, the sealing is maintained without gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Force

If a guided through the floor poppet valve is used, then the opening force is reduced, but leakage security decreases and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening forceVSAvoidleakage security
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure part is segmented into distinct functional elements: a closure plate for blocking the opening, a sealing head with a sealing element for creating the seal, and a spring element for providing pressing force. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining simple assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element automatically provides the necessary pressing force to the sealing element without requiring external actuation or complex guiding mechanisms. The system is self-regulating, where the spring force adapts to maintain sealing contact, eliminating the need for guided through-floor mechanisms and their associated leakage risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 provides a cost-effective, leak-resistant, and efficient rinsing mechanism that effectively delivers a surge of rinsing liquid to clean components within the laundry drying device, such as evaporators, using a simpler arrangement that reduces the need for high-pressure pumps and minimizes leakage risks.

Implementation Method 1

The closure part has a sealing head for closing the outlet opening, which is connected via a spring element to the rinsing container and is pressed by the spring element onto the outlet opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the closure part having a sealing head for closing the outlet opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

delivered to the component in question as a surge of water as a result of its sudden opening on the outlet side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP2414578B1Rinse container, device for rinsing a component of a laundry drying machine, and laundry drying machine
Publication Date: 2015.05.13 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2414578B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2414578B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2414578B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for rinsing at least one component of a laundry drying machine to be cleaned, by means of a rinsing fluid, having: a rinse container (SBN1) for storing the rinsing fluid, wherein the rinse container (SNB1) has an outlet opening (AU) for draining the rinsing fluid to the component to be cleaned and a sealing part (VTN) for selectively opening and sealing the outlet opening (AU); and an activation unit (BE) for activating the sealing part (VTN), wherein the sealing part (VTN) has a sealing head (DK) for sealing the outlet opening (AU) that is connected to the rinse container (SBN 1) via a spring element and pressure is exerted by the spring element (BF) on the outlet opening (AU).