Switchable Laundry Air Filter for Lower Resistance and Cleaning Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treatment devices, such as tumble dryers, require frequent filter maintenance and suffer from increased air resistance due to filter design, necessitating a solution to reduce cleaning effort and air resistance.
Innovation Solution
A switching mechanism controlled by a controller allows process air to be routed either through or past a first filter, which can be programmatically switched on or off, and a second permanent filter is used to catch lint not caught by the first filter, reducing air resistance and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is permanently installed in the air treatment system, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but air resistance increases and cleaning effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is made movable between an active position (in the air flow path) and an inactive position (removed from the air flow path). The switching mechanism allows the filter to dynamically change its position based on operational needs, reducing air resistance when filtration is not required while maintaining filtration effectiveness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration function is segmented into a switchable first filter and a permanent second filter. The first filter can be moved to or from the air flow path as needed, while the second filter remains permanently installed to provide continuous baseline filtration. This segmentation allows the system to balance filtration effectiveness with reduced air resistance during operation.
2Reliability
If a filter is permanently installed in the air treatment system, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but maintenance effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter's movable design allows it to be easily switched between active and inactive positions. When the filter becomes contaminated, it can be quickly moved to the inactive position or removed for cleaning, reducing the time and effort required for maintenance compared to permanently fixed filters that require more complex disassembly and reassembly procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the filter is switched off to reduce air resistance, then air resistance is reduced, but filtration effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is divided into two filters: a switchable first filter and a permanent second filter. When the first filter is moved to the inactive position to reduce air resistance, the second filter continues to provide baseline filtration. This segmentation ensures that filtration effectiveness is maintained at an acceptable level even when the first filter is switched off.
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 reduces the effort required for filter cleaning and minimizes air resistance by only activating the first filter when necessary, while ensuring continuous filtration with the second filter, enhancing the efficiency and usability of laundry treatment devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first filter (24) arranged in the air treatment system
Implementation Method 2
a second filter (21) which is arranged permanently in the air flow of the process air
Implementation Method 3
a fan (9) for conveying process air from the laundry receiving space into the air treatment system and back
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~10
AI summary
The apparatus has a laundry receiving chamber receiving laundry, and air conditioning system recycling processed air. A ventilator conveys the processed air from the chamber into the air conditioning system and vice versa. An active filter (24) is arranged in the air conditioning system, and a controller controls the apparatus. A switching mechanism (29) is controlled by the controller, and the processed air is selectively guided by or at the filter through the switching mechanism that moves a part of the filter. Two side edges (30, 31) of the filter lie opposite to each other.