Umbrella Clothes Drier Lever Assist With Gas Spring Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Umbrella-type tumble dryers require significant user effort to open and close the spreader frame, as the actuating lever needs to be manually pivoted and lifted, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A pulling device with a gas spring and traction cable is integrated into the clothesline support arm, allowing the actuating lever to be easily pivoted upward and facilitating the opening and closing of the spreader frame by utilizing the stored energy in the gas spring, reducing manual effort and maintaining the unfolded state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuating lever is manually pivoted upward to open the spreader frame, then the spreader frame can be opened, but significant user effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring serves as a self-service mechanism that automatically provides the lifting force needed to pivot the actuating lever upward, eliminating the need for significant manual effort from the user. The stored elastic energy in the gas spring performs the work of opening the spreader frame autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas spring utilizes pneumatic principles by employing compressed gas to generate the lifting force. The gas spring expands under compression, providing the necessary mechanical force to pivot the actuating lever and open the spreader frame without manual intervention.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the actuating lever is held in upper position to maintain spreader frame open, then the frame remains unfolded, but manual holding effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring provides continuous self-service by automatically counterbalancing the weight of the actuating lever and spreader frame in the unfolded position. This eliminates the need for manual holding effort, as the gas spring continuously exerts the necessary force to maintain stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas spring acts as a counterweight mechanism by providing an upward lifting force that counterbalances the downward gravitational force on the actuating lever and spreader frame. This counterbalancing effect maintains the unfolded position stably without requiring manual effort to hold it there.
3Ease of operation
If the gas spring is used to pivot the actuating lever upward, then manual effort is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanism of manually coordinating lever pivoting and frame opening is extracted and replaced by the simpler gas spring mechanism. The gas spring directly provides the lifting action, removing the need for manual coordination and reducing operational complexity despite adding a mechanical component.
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 pulling device simplifies the operation of the umbrella-type tumble dryer by reducing the manual effort required to open and close the spreader frame, making it easier to use and maintain, while ensuring the spreader frame remains securely unfolded during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pulling device with a gas spring and traction cable is integrated into the clothesline support arm, allowing the actuating lever to be easily pivoted upward and facilitating the opening and closing of the spreader frame by utilizing the stored energy in the gas spring
Data Source
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AI summary
Umbrella-shaped clothes dryer with a central standpipe (1) in which a multi-armed spreading frame (2) supporting the clothesline is anchored at the upper end section (1a) and which can be opened by means of an operating device.The actuating device comprises an actuating lever (7) pivotally mounted on a clothesline support arm (4) of the spreader frame (2), a lifting cord (6) connected to the outer end section (7a) of the actuating lever (7), which is anchored to the upper end section (1a) of the standpipe (1), engages with the spreader frame (2) in the area of its lower end and is pulled laterally out of the spreader frame (2) when the actuating lever (7) is pivoted upwards to unfold the spreader frame (2), a pulling device assisting the pivoting of the actuating lever (7), which is arranged on the clothesline support arm (4) supporting the actuating lever (7), a pull rope (10) coupled to the actuating lever (7) and extending away from the top of the actuating lever (7), and a gas spring (11) anchored to the clothesline support arm (4) that actuates the pull rope (10). includes.