V-Shaped Hand Dryer Chamber for Simultaneous Two-Sided Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand dryers often require users to manually move their hands to dry both sides effectively, leading to prolonged drying times and inefficient water removal, with some designs causing air pressure drops and necessitating frequent manual emptying of water collection trays.
Innovation Solution
A hand dryer with a vertically oriented, 'V'-shaped drying chamber and hollow air distribution chambers to ensure high-speed air projection on both hands' surfaces, assisted by gravity for water removal, and an optional evaporation device to manage water accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air outlets are arranged in side and upper walls of drying chamber, then air can be projected onto hands, but user must change hand positions to dry both sides completely
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet system is segmented into multiple groups arranged on opposite front and back walls of the drying chamber. Each group contains several outlets positioned to cover different areas of the hands, allowing simultaneous drying of both sides without requiring user movement.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple air outlet groups on opposite walls are combined to create a comprehensive drying coverage system. The outlets work together to project air simultaneously onto both sides of the hands, merging the drying function across the entire chamber width.
2Device complexity
If single ventilator supplies air to two opposite sides through single inner chamber, then device complexity is reduced, but airflow splits and changes direction causing significant pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into two independent ventilators, each serving one side of the drying chamber. This segmentation prevents airflow splitting and direction changes in a single chamber, maintaining high air pressure and velocity at both outlets without requiring a complex single-chamber design.
3Device complexity
If nozzles have small surface area, then device complexity is reduced, but user must move hands inside chamber to dry entire surface
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet system transitions from small point-like nozzles to extended linear outlets arranged in groups on opposite walls. This dimensional change allows the air to cover a broader surface area of the hands simultaneously, eliminating the need for users to move their hands while maintaining simple outlet structures.
4Device complexity
If air outlets are vertically oriented, then structure is simplified, but hands must be inserted horizontally preventing gravity from assisting water elimination
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlets are asymmetrically oriented with a downward inclination rather than vertical orientation. This asymmetric design allows hands to be inserted in a natural vertical position while the inclined outlets project air downward, combining simplified structure with gravity-assisted water elimination.
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
Enables efficient drying of both hands' surfaces simultaneously with reduced air pressure loss and automatic water management, enhancing user comfort and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
two turbine motors (4a, 4b) which simultaneously propel air at a high speed towards the inside of the drying chamber (2)
Implementation Method 2
high-speed air propulsion means arranged inside the casing (1) and opposite to each other
Implementation Method 3
assisted by gravity for water removal
Implementation Method 4
an optional evaporation device to manage water accumulation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hand dryer comprising inside the casing (1) two hollow chambers (3a, 3b) having: a mouth (36) for the inlet of high-speed air supplied by air propulsion means (4a, 4b) towards a drying chamber (2), inner channels (33) for the conduction and distribution of air through the inside of said hollow chambers with a low coefficient of friction, and a plurality of air outlet orifices (34) defined in the front plates (31) of the hollow chambers and simultaneously projecting air through orifices (21, 22) of the drying chamber onto the entire surface of the hands inserted and kept still inside said drying chamber (2). The dryer comprises an evaporation device (7) to evaporate the water from the drying chamber (2).