Steam Spray Nozzle Layout for Condensed Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes treatment apparatuses face issues with condensed water being sprayed into the treatment chamber through nozzles, leading to potential damage and sanitary problems due to incomplete removal of water after drying cycles.
Innovation Solution
A clothes treatment apparatus with a steam spray device featuring a partition wall that redirects steam flow, separating the introduction and nozzle parts, and includes a condensed water discharge part to prevent water from reaching the nozzle, ensuring steam collides with the partition wall and directing condensed water away from the nozzle, thus preventing its entry into the treatment chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steam is sprayed directly through a nozzle into the treatment chamber, then wrinkle removal and freshening functions are improved, but condensed water is sprayed onto clothes causing damage and sanitary problems
Solution Approach 1:
The steam spray device is divided into multiple functional parts: a steam introduction part, a partition wall, a condensed water discharge part, and a nozzle part. The partition wall segments the internal space to separate steam flow paths from condensed water collection areas, preventing condensed water from reaching the nozzle and being sprayed onto clothes.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful condensed water is extracted from the steam flow path before it can reach the nozzle. The partition wall and condensed water discharge part create a separate collection system that removes condensed water from the system, preventing it from causing damage to clothes.
2Device complexity
If a simple nozzle structure is used for steam spraying, then device complexity is reduced, but condensed water cannot be effectively separated and discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The steam spray device is divided into multiple functional parts: a steam introduction part, a partition wall, a condensed water discharge part, and a nozzle part. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability for condensed water discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure between the steam introduction part and the condensed water discharge part. It mediates the separation of steam flow and condensed water, guiding condensed water to the discharge part while allowing steam to reach the nozzle for effective wrinkle removal.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the flow channel is not sufficiently heated, then energy consumption is reduced, but condensed water generation increases during initial spray stage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to prevent condensed water formation through excessive heating, the invention converts the harmful condensed water into a manageable byproduct. The partition wall and condensed water discharge part capture and remove condensed water, allowing the system to operate with lower energy consumption while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Condensed water is extracted from the steam flow path through the partition wall and condensed water discharge part. This extraction allows the system to tolerate condensed water formation without energy-intensive heating, as the condensed water is continuously removed before it can cause damage.
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
This design effectively prevents condensed water from being sprayed onto clothes, minimizing the risk of damage and maintaining hygiene by ensuring complete removal of water from the treatment chamber, thereby enhancing the apparatus's functionality and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
the partition wall being configured such that steam flowing from the introduction part and the nozzle part collides with the partition wall, wherein the partition wall is configured to change the flow direction of the colliding steam
Implementation Method 2
a steam unit disposed in the cabinet for generating steam
Implementation Method 3
condensed water is generated during the flow of steam from a steam unit to the nozzle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A clothes treatment apparatus is disclosed which includes a cabinet (10) having a treatment chamber (12) for allowing clothes to be hung therein; a steam unit (40) disposed in the cabinet (10) for generating steam; and a steam spray device (300) disposed in the cabinet (10) for spraying steam into the treatment chamber (12), wherein the steam spray device (300) comprises: a main body part (310) having a space (S) defined therein; an introduction part (110) disposed in the main body part (310), the introduction part (110) communicating with the space (S), the introduction part (110) being configured such that the steam generated by the steam unit (40) is introduced through the introduction part (110); a nozzle part (220) disposed in the main body part (310), the nozzle part (220) communicating with the space (S), the nozzle part (220) being configured to discharge steam in the space (S) into the treatment chamber (12); a condensed water discharge part (130) disposed in the main body part (310) for discharging condensed water in the space (S) out of the main body part (310); and a partition wall (211) disposed in the main body part (310) for partitioning at least a portion of the space (S) into a first space (Sl) and a second space (S2), the partition wall (211) defining a gap (P) through which steam flows from the first space (Sl) to the second space (S2), the partition wall (211) being configured such that steam flowing from the introduction part (110) and the nozzle part (220) collides with the partition wall (211).