CN112534190B

CN112534190B - Humidifier

Info

Publication number: CN112534190B
Application number: CN201980051601.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石川朋弘; 山下光义; 山田庆太郎
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2018-08-10
Filing date: 2019-08-06
Publication date: 2022-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-06
Also published as: CN112534190A; JPWO2020032052A1; JP7379337B2; WO2020032052A1

Abstract

The invention provides a humidifier for restraining air bubbles from flowing into a water storage tank. The humidifier (10) includes: a pipe (15) for allowing water to flow downward; and a water storage tray (12) for supplying water from the lower end part of the pipeline, wherein at least one side surface of the side surfaces extending along the short side direction of the lower end part is provided with a supply hole for circulating water in the long side direction of the lower end part and supplying the water to the water storage tank.

Description

Humidifier

Technical Field

The invention relates to a humidifier.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a humidifier including: a water storage container for storing water; a humidifying filter arranged in the water storage container; and a blower fan for discharging the air humidified by the humidifying filter to the outside. In this humidifier, water is supplied to the water storage tank from a water passage provided above the water storage tank.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent publication "No. 6179948"

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In general, there is a humidifier that measures a water level in a water storage tank by a distance measuring sensor. However, in the humidifier disclosed in patent document 1, air bubbles are generated when water is supplied from the water path to the water storage tank. Therefore, in the humidifier disclosed in patent document 1, when the water level in the water storage tank is measured by the distance measuring sensor, the distance to the air bubbles is measured instead of the distance to the water surface, and therefore the measured water level may be higher than the actual water level.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention relates to a humidifier including: a pipe for allowing water to flow downward; and a water storage tank to which water is supplied from a lower end portion of the duct, wherein a supply hole through which water is supplied to the water storage tank is formed in at least one of side surfaces of the lower end portion extending in a short-side direction so as to flow in a longitudinal direction of the lower end portion.

Effects of the invention

According to the humidifier of one aspect of the present invention, a humidifier that suppresses the inflow of air bubbles into the water storage tank can be realized.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the lower end portion of the duct according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the humidifier according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the tray according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the duct according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the duct according to the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of a plate body in a duct according to a fourth embodiment.

Detailed Description

[ first embodiment ]

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a humidifier as an example. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the humidifier, and may be an air conditioner, an air cleaner, or the like provided with a humidifier.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view (a sectional view viewed from the longitudinal direction of the lower end portion of the duct 15) showing an example of the configuration of the humidifier 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 2, the humidifier 10 includes a housing 11, a water storage tray 12 (water storage tank), a fan 13, a distance measuring sensor 14, and a duct 15.

The housing 11 is a housing that accommodates a water storage tray 12, a fan 13, a distance measuring sensor 14, and a duct 15. The casing 11 is provided with an air inlet (not shown) for sucking in external air and an air outlet (not shown) for blowing out the humidified air to the outside.

The water storage tray 12 is a tray that stores water supplied to the humidifier 10. An evaporation filter 121 is disposed inside the water storage tray 12. The evaporation filter 121 contains at least a part of the water stored in the water storage tray 12.

The fan 13 generates air from the air inlet to the air outlet in the humidifier 10. The humidifier 10 is a vaporization type humidifier that vaporizes water contained in the evaporation filter 121 by applying wind generated by the fan 13 to the evaporation filter 121. However, the humidifier according to one aspect of the present disclosure may be a steam type humidifier that generates steam by heat, an ultrasonic type humidifier that generates water by ultrasonic vibration and discharges the water by atomizing the water, or the like.

The distance measuring sensor 14 is a sensor that detects the level of water stored in the water storage tray 12, and is disposed above the water storage tray 12. Specifically, the distance measuring sensor 14 detects the water level by detecting the distance to the water surface located vertically below.

When the distance detected by the distance measuring sensor 14 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the humidifier 10 determines that the water in the water storage tray 12 is less than or disappears by a predetermined amount, and notifies the user. When the distance detected by the distance measuring sensor 14 is less than the predetermined value, the humidifier 10 determines that the water in the water storage tray 12 is more than the predetermined amount, and notifies the user.

The notification to the user may be performed by, for example, light emission of an LED (not shown) or the like provided in the humidifier 10, or may be performed by sound output from a speaker (not shown) or the like. Note that the notification to the user may be performed by a device other than the humidifier 10 (for example, a portable information terminal owned by the user). In this case, the humidifier 10 may include a communication device for communicating with the device.

The duct 15 is a supply path through which water supplied to the water storage tray 12 flows downward (i.e., from the upper end to the lower end). A water supply port 151 is provided at an upper end portion of the pipe 15. A user of the humidifier 10 fills the pipe 15 with water from the water supply port 151 using a container such as a water bottle or a water bottle.

The lower end of the duct 15 is formed in a shape having a longitudinal direction and a short-side direction. In the following description and the drawings, the longitudinal direction and the short-side direction of the lower end portion of the duct 15 are sometimes referred to as the x direction and the y direction, respectively. The vertical direction may be referred to as a z direction.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view (a sectional view viewed from the z direction) showing a structure in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the water storage tray 12 of the humidifier 10. At the lower end of the duct 15, the width wx in the x direction is larger than the width wy in the y direction. Specifically, the width wx is preferably 5 times or more the width wy. More specifically, for example, the width wx is preferably 140mm and the width wy is preferably 25 mm.

In addition, as shown in fig. 3, the duct 15 is disposed so that a side surface extending in the longitudinal direction comes into contact with a side surface of the water storage tray 12. Since water is supplied from the duct 15 to the water storage tray 12 through the supply hole 152 described later, the width wx of the duct 15 is shorter than the width of the water storage tray 12 in the x direction.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view (a sectional view viewed from the y direction) showing an example of the configuration of the lower end portion of the duct 15. As shown in fig. 1, the lower end portion of the duct 15 is provided with supply holes 152 on both side surfaces extending in the y direction, and the supply holes 152 supply water to the water storage tray 12 by circulating the water in the x direction. The water injected into the duct 15 flows through the lower end portion of the duct 15 in the x direction, and is supplied to the water storage tray 12 through the supply hole 152. Further, an example in which the supply holes 152 are formed at two positions is shown in fig. 1, but the supply holes 152 need not be formed at two or more positions as long as at least one of the side surfaces extending in the short side direction formed at the lower end portion of the duct 15.

In fig. 1, the flow of water in the pipe 15 is indicated by arrows. Water supplied from water supply port 151 (see fig. 2) flows through duct 15 in the z direction to the vicinity of the lower end of duct 15. Then, the water flows in the x direction and is supplied from the supply hole 152 to the water storage tray 12. At this time, the water may contain bubbles B generated by the water injection.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the supply hole 152 is formed in at least one of the side surfaces of the duct 15 extending in the y direction. Therefore, most of the water supplied to the duct 15 needs to flow a distance corresponding to the width wx of the duct 15 in the x direction in order to be supplied to the water storage tray 12 through the supply hole 152.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the width wx of the duct 15 is larger than the width wy of the duct 15 (see fig. 3). Therefore, the distance that the water supplied to the pipe 15 flows inside the pipe 15 before reaching the supply hole 152 is longer than in the case where the supply hole 152 is formed in the side surface extending in the x direction of the pipe 15. Therefore, most of the air bubbles B contained in the water are likely to float up to the water surface in the duct 15 by buoyancy before the water supplied to the duct 15 reaches the supply hole 152, and therefore, the air bubbles B are prevented from flowing into the water storage tray 12 through the supply hole 152.

In the present embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 14 is located above the water storage tray 12 and is located on one side in the y direction with respect to the duct 15. That is, the distance measuring sensor 14 measures the water level in the area of the water storage tray 12 located on the short side direction side of the lower end portion of the duct 15 with respect to the duct 15. Therefore, the distance from the supply hole 152 to the water level measurement target region is longer than in the case where the supply hole 152 is formed in the side surface extending in the x direction of the duct 15. Therefore, even when the air bubbles B flow into the water storage tray 12 from the duct 15 through the supply hole 152, the air bubbles B float up on the water surface before reaching the distance measurement target area of the distance measurement sensor 14, and the possibility of being broken and disappearing increases.

Further, the width wx of the duct 15 is substantially fixed regardless of the position in the z direction. However, the width wx of the duct 15 does not necessarily have to be constant, and the width wx of the duct 15 may be smaller toward the upper side in the z direction, for example.

[ second embodiment ]

Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will not be repeated.

In the following description, the distance from the upper end of the supply hole 152 to the bottom surface of the water storage tray 12 is sometimes referred to as the height h of the supply hole 152.

In the humidifier 10 of the present embodiment, the height h of the supply hole 152 is 5% or less of the length of the lower end portion of the duct 15 in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, for example, the height h of the supply hole 152 is preferably set to 5mm or less. This makes it easy to prevent the air bubbles B from flowing into the water storage tray 12 without hindering the flow of water through the supply holes 152.

The lower end of the duct 15 is also formed to allow water to flow from the portion other than the supply hole 152 to the water storage tray 12, and the height h of the supply hole 152 may be higher than the height of the portion other than the supply hole 152. With this configuration, even in a configuration in which water flows from a portion other than the supply holes 152 to the water storage tray 12, the amount of water flowing from the supply holes 152 to the water storage tray 12 can be relatively increased.

[ third embodiment ]

Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, a duct 15A as another embodiment of the duct 15 will be described.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view viewed from the y direction) showing an example of the configuration of the duct 15A according to the present embodiment. The duct 15A differs from the duct 15 in that a plurality of plate-like plate bodies 153 arranged parallel to the vertical direction are formed in a portion through which water flows. The plate body 153 divides the flow path of water flowing through the inside of the pipe 15 into a plurality of regions. The flow of water in the vertical direction inside the pipe 15 is rectified by the plate body 153.

The interval between the plate members 153 is preferably 2cm or less, for example. However, the spacing of the plate bodies 153 may also be greater than 2 cm. The plate 153 preferably has a length of 50% or more of the vertical length of the duct 15. In addition, the plate body 153 is entirely disposed in the y direction of the duct 15A. By the plate body 153 having such a shape, the flow of water in the pipe 15A is appropriately rectified.

In the duct 15A, the flow of water is rectified by the plate 153, and therefore, generation of a swirl flow in the xz plane of fig. 4 is suppressed. Therefore, generation of bubbles due to the swirl flow is suppressed. Therefore, the possibility of air bubbles flowing into the water storage tray 12 is further reduced as compared with the duct 15 of the first and second embodiments.

[ fourth embodiment ]

Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, a duct 15B as still another embodiment of the duct 15 will be described.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view (a sectional view viewed from the y direction) showing the configuration of the duct 15B. The duct 15B differs from the duct 15A in that a plurality of plate bodies 154 are formed instead of the plurality of plate bodies 153. Each of the plate bodies 154 is disposed below the pipe 15B. More specifically, each of the plate bodies 154 is configured such that a distance between a lower end of the plate body 154 and a lower end of the duct 15 is shorter than a distance between an upper end of the plate body 154 and an upper end of the duct 15.

Therefore, the plate body 154 acts as resistance against the flow of water flowing toward the supply hole 152 at the lower end portion of the pipe 15B. In the duct 15B, water flows along the short side direction of the plate bodies 154, and many bubbles contained in the water are trapped between the plate bodies 154. Therefore, the possibility of air bubbles flowing into the water storage tray 12 from the supply holes 152 is reduced.

Fig. 6 (a) and (B) are views of the duct 15B from different angles, respectively. As shown in fig. 5 and 6 (a) and (b), the plate body 154 is preferably mounted in line on a vertically lower surface of a support plate 155 provided in the horizontal direction, for example.

In addition, in the beginning of the present embodiment, duct 15B is described as including plate 154 instead of plate 153. However, the duct 15B may also include both the

plates

153 and 154. In the case where the duct 15B includes both the

plate bodies

153 and 154, generation of bubbles is suppressed by the plate body 153, and further bubbles are trapped by the plate body 154. Therefore, compared to the case where only either one of the

plate bodies

153 and 154 is included, the flow of air bubbles from the pipe 15B into the water storage tray 12 is further suppressed.

In addition, in the case where duct 15B includes both of

plates

153 and 154, plate 154 is a plate located in the vicinity of both ends of duct 15B in the x direction, of plate 153, but may be a plate extending downward. In this case, the portion of plate 153 extending downward functions as plate 154.

In addition, in the humidifier according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the shape of the tube 15B (i.e., the width of the tube 15B and the height of the supply hole 152 in the x direction) does not necessarily need to be the same as those described in the first and second embodiments. Even if the shape of the duct 15B is different from that described in the first and second embodiments, by providing the

plate

153 or 154 inside the duct 15B, the inflow of air bubbles from the duct 15B into the water storage tray 12 can be reduced.

[ conclusion ]

The humidifier according to embodiment 1 of the present invention includes: a pipe for allowing water to flow downward; and a water storage tank to which water is supplied from a lower end portion of the duct, wherein a supply hole through which water is supplied to the water storage tank is formed in at least one of side surfaces of the lower end portion extending in a short-side direction so as to flow in a longitudinal direction of the lower end portion.

According to the above configuration, water is supplied to the water storage tank through the supply hole formed in the side surface of the lower end portion of the duct extending in the short side direction. Bubbles contained in the water float due to buoyancy while the water flows in the longitudinal direction toward the supply hole in the lower end portion of the pipe. Therefore, the inflow of the bubbles from the supply hole to the water storage tank is suppressed.

In the humidifier according to aspect 2 of the present invention according to aspect 1, a length of the lower end portion in the longitudinal direction may be 5 times or more a length of the lower end portion in the short side direction.

According to the above configuration, the distance in the longitudinal direction along which water flows toward the supply hole at the lower end portion of the pipe can be increased.

In the humidifier according to aspect 3 of the present invention according to aspect 1 or 2, the height of the supply hole may be 5% or less of the length of the lower end portion of the pipe in the longitudinal direction.

According to the above configuration, the inflow of air bubbles into the water storage tank can be further suppressed.

In the humidifier according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 3, the lower end portion may further allow water to flow from a portion other than the supply hole to the water storage tank, and the height of the supply hole may be higher than the height of the portion other than the supply hole.

According to the above configuration, even in a configuration in which water flows from a portion other than the supply hole to the reservoir tank, the amount of water flowing from the supply hole to the reservoir tank can be relatively increased.

In the humidifier according to aspect 5 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 4, a plurality of plate-shaped plate bodies arranged in parallel with the vertical direction may be formed in a portion of the pipe through which water flows.

According to the above configuration, by rectifying the water flowing from the upper end portion to the lower end portion of the pipe, it is possible to suppress the generation of bubbles and/or to trap bubbles contained in the water flowing in the longitudinal direction of the lower end portion toward the supply hole in the lower end portion of the pipe. Therefore, the inflow of the bubbles into the water storage tank can be further suppressed.

In the humidifier according to aspect 6 of the present invention according to aspect 5, the length of the plate body in the vertical direction may be 50% or more of the length of the pipe in the vertical direction.

According to the above configuration, the flow of water in the pipe is appropriately rectified by the plate body.

In the humidifier according to aspect 7 of the present invention according to aspect 5 or 6, a distance between the lower end and the lower end of the plate body may be shorter than a distance between the upper end of the plate body and the upper end of the duct.

According to the above configuration, the air bubbles contained in the water flowing in the longitudinal direction of the lower end portion toward the supply hole can be trapped by the plate body.

The humidifier according to aspect 8 of the present invention may further include a distance measuring sensor that measures a water level in the water storage tank, in any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the distance measuring sensor measures a water level in a region in the water storage tank that is located on a short side direction side of a lower end portion of the duct with respect to the duct.

According to the above configuration, the distance from the supply hole to the distance measurement target region of the distance measurement sensor becomes longer than that in the case where the distance measurement sensor is provided in the vicinity of the outlet of the supply hole. Therefore, even when the air bubbles flow into the water storage tray from the duct through the supply hole, the air bubbles float on the water surface before reaching the distance measurement target area of the distance measurement sensor, and the possibility of the air bubbles breaking and disappearing increases. Therefore, the water level of the water storage tray can be detected with higher accuracy.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Further, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical methods disclosed in the respective embodiments.

Description of the reference numerals

10 humidifier

12 Water storage tray (Water storage tank)

14 distance measuring sensor

15. 15A, 15B pipeline

152 supply hole

153. 154 plate body

Claims

1. A humidifier, comprising:

a pipe for allowing water to flow downward; and

a water storage tank to which water is supplied from a lower end portion of the duct, a supply hole through which water is supplied to the water storage tank while circulating water in a longitudinal direction of the lower end portion is formed in at least one of side surfaces of the lower end portion extending in a short-side direction,

the humidifier also comprises a distance measuring sensor which measures the water level in the water storage tank,

the distance measuring sensor is arranged above the water storage tank,

the pipeline extends to the bottom of the water storage tank.

2. The humidifier of claim 1,

the length of the lower end in the long side direction is 5 times or more the length in the short side direction.

3. Humidifier according to claim 1 or 2,

the height of the supply hole is 5% or less of the length of the lower end portion of the duct in the longitudinal direction.

4. Humidifier according to claim 1 or 2,

the lower end portion is formed to allow water to flow from a portion other than the supply hole to the water storage tank,

the height of the supply hole is higher than the height of the portion other than the supply hole.

5. The humidifier of claim 1,

a plurality of plate-shaped plate bodies arranged in parallel to the vertical direction are formed in a portion of the pipe through which water flows.

6. The humidifier of claim 5,

the length of the plate body in the vertical direction is more than 50% of the length of the pipeline in the vertical direction.

7. Humidifier according to claim 5 or 6,

the distance between the lower end of the plate body and the lower end is shorter than the distance between the upper end of the plate body and the upper end of the pipeline.

8. The humidifier according to any one of claims 1-2 and 5-6,

the distance measuring sensor measures a water level in a region of the water storage tank located on a short side direction side of a lower end portion of the duct with respect to the duct.