Tumble Dryer Filter with Obstructing Region to Prevent Laundry Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tumble dryers often cause mechanical damage to laundry and risk overheating or reduced drying performance due to laundry getting jammed between the door and the filter system, obstructing air passage.
Innovation Solution
A tumble dryer design featuring a lint/fluff filter with an obstructing region that forms a barrier to prevent laundry from entering the gap between the door and the filter, ensuring the air passage remains unobstructed and improving ventilation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a filter system is provided adjacent to the door to enable easy access, then the filter accessibility is improved, but laundry can be dragged into the gap between the door and filter system causing mechanical damage
Solution Approach 1:
An obstructing region is introduced as an intermediary barrier between the door and the filter system. This obstructing region prevents laundry from being dragged into the gap while maintaining filter accessibility, as it specifically blocks the harmful path without interfering with the filter's removal and cleaning operations.
2Ease of operation
If the filter system is positioned close to the door for easy access, then the filter accessibility is improved, but laundry can obstruct the air passage causing overheating and reduced drying performance
Solution Approach 1:
The obstructing region serves as a protective intermediary that maintains the close positioning of the filter to the door for accessibility, while simultaneously preventing laundry from entering and obstructing the air passage, thus preserving drying performance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the obstructing region is positioned to prevent laundry entry, then laundry damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The obstructing region is merged with the filter system structure, forming an integrated component. This combination prevents laundry entry while avoiding the need for separate, additional parts, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The obstructing region can be implemented as a thin barrier or grid structure that is integrated into the filter assembly. This thin-film approach provides effective protection against laundry damage while adding minimal structural complexity to the overall system.
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 effectively prevents laundry damage and maintains optimal drying performance by keeping the air passage clear, reducing the risk of overheating and ensuring efficient air flow.
Implementation Method 1
An air flow is provided inside the tumble dryer that enters the filter system. Fluff or lint that is carried by the air flow from the laundry to be dried is filtered out by the filter system
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a tumble dryer (1) comprising a housing (2) provided with a charging opening for accessing a laundry treatment chamber (28) contained into this housing (2), wherein the laundry treatment chamber (28) comprises a drum (3) rotatably contained into the housing (2) and provided, at its front end, with an opening facing the charging opening, for loading/unloading laundry into the drum (3), said tumble dryer (1) further comprises a door (8) for closing/opening the charging opening, an exhaust duct, which inlet is arranged adjacent to the opening of the drum (3), in which air exiting the laundry treatment chamber (28) is conveyed, a filter (14) arranged at the inlet of the exhaust duct in such a way that an air flow (AF) streaming through the laundry treatment chamber (28) enters the exhaust duct passing through the filter (14), wherein the filter (14) has at least an obstructing region (18) arranged in such a way to prevent laundry from entering a region between the door (8) and the filter (14) when the door (8) is in the closed position.