Sink Tap and Hand Dryer Layout for Faster, Quieter Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand drying solutions at sinks often require users to move between a water basin and a separate hand dryer, and they may not optimize nozzle separation for high-speed air drying performance, leading to inefficient drying times and potential noise issues.
Innovation Solution
A dual-purpose fixture for a sink that integrates a water tap with hand-dryer nozzles positioned on either side of a projecting spout, allowing for optimized nozzle separation and efficient high-speed air drying without the need for shaped nozzles, using a motor-driven fan to force airflow through elongate slits or circular nozzles arranged in rows, with axial airflow that progressively decreases velocity to ensure effective drying across the hand span.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hand dryers are located separately from the sink, then drying performance can be optimized, but users must move between the sink and hand dryer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hand dryer and sink into a single integrated unit, with the hand dryer positioned directly above the sink basin. This merging allows users to wash and dry hands at the same location without moving, while the sink basin captures dripping water efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated unit serves multiple functions: the sink basin acts as both a water collection area and a hand-drying chamber, the hand dryer provides both drying airflow and structural support, and the overall fixture combines washing and drying operations in one device
2Volume of moving object
If nozzles are positioned close together to maintain compact design, then device size is reduced, but drying performance and noise control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions nozzles at the lateral extremities of the fixture, utilizing the width dimension of the integrated unit to achieve optimal nozzle separation. This dimensional approach allows sufficient spacing for effective drying performance while maintaining a compact overall footprint through the vertical integration with the sink basin
3Productivity
If nozzles are positioned at extremities for optimal separation, then drying performance improves, but device width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the lateral width of the fixture to position nozzles at extremities, achieving optimal separation distance for drying performance. The compact vertical integration with the sink basin compensates for the increased width, maintaining an overall compact design
4Productivity
If high-speed airflow is used to reduce drying time, then productivity improves, but noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directs high-speed airflow into the sink basin, where the basin structure and water surface act to absorb and dampen noise generated by the high-velocity air. The sink basin thus converts the potentially harmful noise into a beneficial containment space that reduces sound propagation
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 configuration enables efficient, high-speed hand drying with reduced noise and optimized nozzle placement, allowing users to dry hands comfortably at the sink without moving, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
a motor-driven fan to force air at high pressure through an opposing pair of narrow, slit-like nozzles
Implementation Method 2
This creates two opposing thin sheets, or 'blades', of high velocity air which act to strip water from the front and backs of a user's hands
Implementation Method 3
The nozzle 2a is scalloped to follow the back of the user's hands: this deliberate physical shaping of the rear nozzle encourages 'turning' of the airflow as it passes through the nozzle 2a
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A dual-purpose fixture for a sink (1) or wash basin, incorporating both a water tap and a hand dryer. The water tap has a spout (10) arranged to project over the basin of the sink, and the hand dryer incorporates two or more hand- dryer nozzles (14, 16, 26, 28, 140, 160) - at least one for each of a user's hands. The left-hand nozzle (14) is located on the left-hand side of the spout and the right-hand nozzle (16) is located on the right-hand side of the spout, specifically so that the spout acts as a dividing partition between the two hand-dryer nozzles. This encourages correct usage of the hand-dryer. The fixture may be fitted to a sink or wall -mounted above the sink.