Wall-Mountable Hand Dryer with Banked Nozzles for Shallow Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand dryers often require a significant depth to accommodate opposing nozzles for two-sided drying, limiting their installation options and user comfort, and may necessitate 'hand-over-hand' drying methods that are not efficient.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mountable hand dryer design featuring two separate nozzle sections, each spanning the width of a hand, banked at an angle to allow single-sided drying, eliminating the need for opposing nozzles and enabling comfortable, efficient drying without the need for hand-over-hand action, with high-speed air jets directed vertically or forwardly to minimize spray-back.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If opposing nozzles are used for two-sided drying, then both sides of the hand can be dried simultaneously, but the machine depth increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the drying function into two separate nozzle sections positioned along the front edge, each dedicated to drying one side of the hand. This segmentation eliminates the need for deep opposing nozzle arrangements while maintaining effective drying of both hands simultaneously through separate airflow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle sections are positioned along the front edge of the dryer rather than opposing each other in depth, transitioning from a depth-oriented opposing nozzle configuration to a front-edge distributed configuration. This dimensional change reduces machine depth while preserving drying functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If opposing nozzles are used for two-sided drying, then sufficient depth is required for nozzles and supply ducting, but this limits installation options
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the nozzle arrangement into two separate front-edge sections rather than requiring a single deep opposing configuration, the invention enables installation in locations with limited depth availability, thereby increasing adaptability to various wall spaces and installation environments.
Solution Approach 2:
Relocating nozzles from a depth-critical opposing arrangement to a front-edge distributed arrangement frees up wall space depth, allowing installation in previously unsuitable locations and improving overall installation flexibility.
3Length of stationary object
If a single large nozzle is used for heating and evaporative drying, then machine depth can be reduced, but hand-over-hand drying is required which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the airflow into two separate nozzle sections that can simultaneously dry both hands without requiring hand-over-hand motion. Each nozzle section handles one hand independently, eliminating the inefficiency of sequential drying while maintaining a compact depth profile.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using a single large nozzle that requires sequential hand drying, the invention provides two separate nozzle sections that offer partial drying action for each hand simultaneously. This excessive action of providing dedicated nozzles for each hand eliminates the need for hand rubbing and improves overall drying efficiency.
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 design allows for a shallower machine depth, improved user comfort, and efficient drying of one side of the hand at a time, reducing the need for opposing nozzles and eliminating the requirement for hand-over-hand drying, while maintaining effective water removal.
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 air is heated to promote evaporative drying of water moisture on the hands of the user
Implementation Method 4
The air is heated to promote evaporative drying of water moisture on the hands of the user
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A wall-mountable hand dryer arranged for drying one side of a user's hands at a time. The dryer has two nozzle sections - one for each hand - which nozzle sections are positioned towards the front of the dryer so that they are spaced away from the wall in use. The nozzle sections each extend to span the width of a user's open hand and are arranged for directing drying air down onto the front or back of said hand as it is inserted lengthwise underneath the nozzle sections from the front of the dryer. The left-hand nozzle section is banked to the right and the right-hand nozzle section is banked to the left such that the user may bank his hands accordingly in use - this makes the drying action comfortable for the user.