Overview
Duration
Collaborators
Role
Tools
3 weeks
Ana Diaz-Young, Quinn Roberts, Sophie Heap
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Figma, Conair 1875 Cord-Keeper, Exposed DC motor, power tools/screwdrivers
User Manual - A mechanical and electrical breakdown of how the Conair 1875 Cord-Keeper works
In the mechanical and electrical design class "How Things Work," my team of three others and I undertook the task of fully disassembling a Conair 1875 Cord-Keeper hair dryer. Our objective was to gain a comprehensive understanding of its inner workings. Throughout the disassembly process, we meticulously documented each step and sketched the individual parts. This approach allowed us to grasp how the components interconnected, their placement within the dryer, the rationale behind their connections, and the overall functionality of the system.
Block Diagram and Exploded View
The manual commenced with a straightforward overview of the dryer and its functionalities. Subsequently, we delved into deconstructing the hair dryer's structure using a block diagram and exploded view. The initial section outlined the primary components: the power switch, temperature controls, and override button. Our exploded view was designed to highlight the interconnection of these parts. Combining hand-drawn illustrations with digital imaging, the diagrams provided a comprehensive visualization of the dryer's inner workings.
AC versus DC current, Motor Breakdown, and Switch Diagram
As we disassembled the motor, we delved into its conversion of AC current to DC current. This involved discussions with our teacher, as well as mechanical and electrical engineers/students, and hands-on experimentation with magnets on motors in our classroom. Once we grasped the mechanism, our task was to convey this newfound clarity to users who were starting from scratch. We needed to distill all our acquired knowledge into concise presentation, bridging the gap from zero to understanding within a few pages of information.
A similar challenge arose with the switches; determining how to diagram them after spending extensive time using current-measuring machines to comprehend their connections within the machine and to each other.
Wiring and Override Switch
After deciphering the overall wiring of the hair dryer, we observed that certain wires were positioned unexpectedly. It dawned on us that they were intentionally placed at specific points in the current flow to serve as an override for the cooling feature of the hair dryer. This realization provided us with a deeper insight into how this switch could manipulate the current and override other functions.
Electrical to Thermal Energy Conversion and Heat Safety
Our exploration concluded with an investigation into how devices like the dryer convert electrical energy into heat, along with the safety measures in place to prevent overheating, such as fuses and insulation. We delved into the specific materials chosen for these purposes and their underlying reasons. MICA sheets, derived from insulatory MICA rock, were highlighted for their dual functionality of insulating the dryer while facilitating heat conduction, making them the only solid material capable of performing both tasks over a wide temperature range. Kapton tape was identified as an ideal material for attaching these sheets due to its exceptional heat resistance.The two distinct types of fuses are also engineered to interrupt the flow of electricity either temporarily or permanently, contingent upon the extent of the dryer's overheating. Furthermore, we examined how the impeller collaborates with nichrome wire to propel airflow through the tube, with different types of nichrome coils generating varying air temperatures.
