EP2333441A1 - Appareil humidificateur - Google Patents

Appareil humidificateur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2333441A1
EP2333441A1 EP09809805A EP09809805A EP2333441A1 EP 2333441 A1 EP2333441 A1 EP 2333441A1 EP 09809805 A EP09809805 A EP 09809805A EP 09809805 A EP09809805 A EP 09809805A EP 2333441 A1 EP2333441 A1 EP 2333441A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
humidifying
water
rotation frame
rotation
filter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09809805A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2333441A4 (fr
Inventor
Mitsuhisa Nagao
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Daikin Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Daikin Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daikin Industries Ltd filed Critical Daikin Industries Ltd
Publication of EP2333441A1 publication Critical patent/EP2333441A1/fr
Publication of EP2333441A4 publication Critical patent/EP2333441A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F6/00—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification
    • F24F6/02—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air
    • F24F6/06—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air using moving unheated wet elements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/0008—Control or safety arrangements for air-humidification
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F6/00—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification
    • F24F6/02—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air
    • F24F6/06—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air using moving unheated wet elements
    • F24F2006/065—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air using moving unheated wet elements using slowly rotating discs for evaporation

Definitions

  • the water sprinkling device of the humidifying device is composed of a plurality of dippers that rotate along a vertical plane, the dippers provided with bucket parts on extremities of rods that rotate along the vertical plane.
  • the bucket parts of the dippers that are rotating continuously supply the humidifying filter with water drawn up from a water tank below.
  • the humidifying device has a problem in that waterdrops may adhere onto surfaces of the humidifying filter with the water repelled by the humidifying filter without permeation therethrough upon start of an humidifying operation on condition that scale has occurred on the surfaces of the humidifying filter in dry state, in particular, and in that the waterdrops may be flown by air flow from the fan and may result in downwind water escape.
  • the adherence of the waterdrops onto air passages, the blow-off opening and/or the like downwind of the humidifying filter may increase a possibility of water leakage.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a humidifying device that is capable of preventing water escape resulting from water repelled by a humidifying member upon start of an humidifying operation.
  • a humidifying device of the invention comprises:
  • water escape resulting from the water repelled by the humidifying member can be prevented by the performance of the humidification preparing operation in which the control unit controls the water supplying device and the driving device so that the water is infiltrated into the humidifying member by the supply of the water from the water reservoir part onto the humidifying member being rotated by the driving device, prior to the performance of the humidifying operation.
  • the term “humidifying operation” refers to an operation in which humidification from the humidifying member impregnated with the water for air flow from the fan is performed by the supply of the water from the water supplying device onto the humidifying member being rotated by the driving device, with the rotation velocity of the fan being not lower than the lower limit rotation velocity for fan and with the rotation velocity of the humidifying member being not lower than the lower limit rotation velocity for humidifying member.
  • the fan may be stopped so as to have the rotation velocity of zero or an average rotation velocity of the humidifying member may be made lower than the lower limit rotation velocity for humidifying member in the humidifying operation by combination of the rotation and stoppage of the humidifying member.
  • the water supplying device comprises a rotation frame on which the humidifying member is mounted and which is rotatably supported by the casing and bucket parts which are provided on the rotation frame in order to draw up the water from the water reservoir part and in order to sprinkle the water on the humidifying member
  • the driving device is a motor for rotating the rotation frame of the water supplying device
  • the control unit carries out the humidification preparing operation prior to the humidifying operation by controlling the motor so as to rotate the rotation frame of the water supplying device and so as to thereby infiltrate the water into the humidifying member.
  • water escape resulting from the water repelled by the humidifying member can be prevented by the performance of the humidification preparing operation in which the control unit controls the motor and the rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device so as to infiltrate the water into the humidifying member mounted on the rotation frame, prior to the performance of the humidifying operation.
  • the control unit controls the motor and the rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device so as to infiltrate the water into the humidifying member mounted on the rotation frame, prior to the performance of the humidifying operation.
  • the configuration thereof can be simplified and the control thereof can be facilitated.
  • control unit controls the motor so as to rotate the rotation frame of the water supplying device by a predetermined quantity of rotation and so as to thereafter stop the rotation frame for a predetermined period of time in the humidification preparing operation.
  • the water escape can more reliably be prevented because the control unit controls the motor so that the normal humidifying operation is performed after the water is sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying member in the humidification preparing operation by the rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device by the predetermined quantity of rotation and the subsequent stoppage thereof for the predetermined period of time in the humidification preparing operation.
  • control unit controls the motor so as to rotate the rotation frame of the water supplying device by at least one and a half revolutions and so as to thereafter stop the rotation frame for a predetermined period of time in the humidification preparing operation.
  • the water escape can more reliably be prevented because the control unit controls the motor so that all the bucket parts of the water supplying device draw up the water from the water reservoir part and sprinkle the water on the humidifying member in the humidification preparing operation with the rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device by at least one and a half revolutions and the subsequent stoppage thereof for the predetermined period of time in the humidification preparing operation and because the normal humidifying operation is performed after the water is thus sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying member.
  • control unit controls the motor so as to rotate the rotation frame of the water supplying device by a predetermined quantity of rotation and so as to thereafter stop the rotation frame for one minute in the humidification preparing operation.
  • the water escape can more reliably be prevented because the control unit controls the motor so that the normal humidifying operation is performed after the water is sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying member in the humidification preparing operation by the rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device by the predetermined quantity of rotation and the subsequent stoppage of the rotation frame of the water supplying device for one minute in the humidification preparing operation.
  • the humidifying member has a pleat structure in which directions of creases parallel one another, and wherein the control unit controls the motor so that the directions of the creases of the pleat structure of the humidifying member become horizontal in general when rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device is stopped in the humidification preparing operation.
  • start-up of the humidifying operation can be quickened by infiltration of more moisture into the humidifying member because the water is restrained from falling by being caught by the creases of the pleat structure of the humidifying member, when the rotation of the rotation frame is stopped, by the control over the motor by the control unit such that the direction of the creases of the pleat structure of the humidifying member becomes horizontal in general when the rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device is stopped in the humidification preparing operation.
  • the control unit controls the motor so as to stop the rotation frame of the water supplying device in the humidification preparing operation on basis of the rotational position of the humidifying member on the rotation frame of the water supplying device which position is detected by the rotational position detector unit.
  • the humidifying member is mounted on the rotation frame so that the direction of the creases of the pleat structure becomes horizontal in a position in which the rotation frame is stopped, and thus the direction of the creases of the pleat structure of the humidifying member can reliably be made horizontal in general when the rotation is stopped.
  • the humidifying member is positioned relative to and mounted on the rotation frame of the water supplying device.
  • the humidifying member is positioned relative to and mounted on the rotation frame so that the direction of the creases of the pleat structure becomes horizontal in the position in which the rotation frame is stopped, and thus the direction of the creases of the pleat structure of the humidifying member can reliably be made horizontal in general when the rotation is stopped.
  • control unit controls the fan and the motor and thereby controls the humidifying operation on basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the humidity detected by the humidity sensor so that the temperature satisfies the predetermined temperature condition and so that the humidity satisfies the predetermined humidity condition, and thus the humidifying operation providing satisfactory comfort can be performed with the control over the humidifying operation on basis of AND conditions of the temperature condition and the humidity condition.
  • control unit controls the motor so as to rotate the rotation frame of the water supplying device for a predetermined period of time at a velocity lower than that in a normal humidifying operation before the humidifying operation is performed.
  • the water escape can more reliably be prevented because the control unit controls the motor so that the normal humidifying operation is performed after the water is sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying member, mounted on the rotation frame that is rotating at the lower velocity, by the rotation of the rotation frame of the water supplying device for the predetermined period of time at the velocity lower than that in the normal humidifying operation before the humidifying operation is performed.
  • control unit controls the motor so as to alternately perform rotation and stoppage of the rotation frame of the water supplying device for predetermined periods of time before the humidifying operation is performed.
  • the water escape can more reliably be prevented because the control unit controls the motor so as to alternately perform the rotation and stoppage of the rotation frame of the water supplying device for the predetermined period of time before the humidifying operation is performed and thereby carries out the normal humidifying operation after the water is reliably and sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying member mounted on the rotation frame that is alternately rotated and stopped.
  • control unit stops the fan in the humidification preparing operation.
  • waterdrops that have not yet been infiltrated into the humidifying member can be prevented from being flown by air flow from the fan, by the stoppage of the fan by the control unit in the normal humidifying operation.
  • the humidifying device of the invention that is capable of preventing the water escape resulting from the water repelled by the humidifying member upon the start of the humidifying operation can be obtained.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a humidifying device of the invention.
  • this humidifying device has a casing 1, which is composed of a casing body 2 and a front panel 3 that is detachably attached to the casing body 2.
  • Suction openings 5, 5 are provided on both side faces of the casing 1 (see Fig. 3 ), and a blow-off opening 6 is provided on rear part of a top face of the casing 1.
  • suction openings and blow-off openings are omitted on a rear face 7 of the casing 1 with the suction openings 5, 5 provided on the side faces of the casing 1 and with the blow-off opening 6 provided on the top face of the casing 1, and thus the rear face 7 of the casing 1 of the humidifying device can be brought into close contact with a wall surface of a room not shown, so that a degree of freedom for installation of the humidifying device is increased.
  • Conventional humidifying devices cannot be brought into close contact with a wall surface of a room and have small degrees of freedom for installation thereof because suction openings provided on a rear face of a casing thereof increase suction resistance unless a clearance with a certain degree of size is provided between the casing and the wall surface of the room.
  • a water tank 10 is vertically placed on front side and a fan 20 that is driven by a fan motor 21 is placed on rear side.
  • a check valve not shown is provided on an outlet of bottom part, and is pressed and opened in a state in which the water tank 10 is vertically positioned.
  • an air cleaning filter unit 30 and a disc-shaped humidifying filter 40 as an example of a humidifying member are provided in order of mention from the front side.
  • reference numerals 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 denote a printed circuit board for power supply, a printed circuit board for operation control, a printed circuit board for display, a dust sensor, and a reserve filter, respectively; however, those components have slight relations with purport of the invention and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.
  • Numeral 200 denotes a control unit for controlling the humidifying device.
  • the water tank 10 and the air cleaning filter unit 30 are generally rectangular in front view and overlap each other in generally most part thereof as seen looking in a front-to-back direction.
  • Lower part of the air cleaning filter unit 30 and the humidifying filter 40 overlap each other as seen looking in the front-to-back direction.
  • the water tank 10, the air cleaning filter unit 30, and the humidifying filter 40 are placed so as to overlap with at least a portion of a bell mouth 23 of the fan 20, i.e., so as to cover at least the portion of the bell mouth 23, and noises from the fan 20 are thereby reduced.
  • bell mouth 23 refers to a concept including an opening surrounded by the bell mouth 23, as well as the bell mouth 23 itself.
  • the water tank 10 has to be replenished with water everyday in general, the air cleaning filter unit 30 requiring cleaning or replacement once about every two weeks to a year and a half, the humidifying filter 40 requiring replacement once about every two years.
  • the air cleaning filter unit 30, and the humidifying filter 40 namely, the frequency of the water replenishment for the water tank 10 is the highest, the frequency of the cleaning, replacement or the like of the air cleaning filter unit 30 is the second highest, and the frequency of the cleaning and replacement of the humidifying filter 40 is the lowest.
  • the order of frequency of maintenance operations is an order of nearness to the front side of the casing 1, i.e., nearness to the front panel 3.
  • the higher the frequency of maintenance of a member is, the nearer to the front side of the casing 1, i.e., the front panel 3, the member is placed, so that workability for the maintenance of the water tank 10, the air cleaning filter unit 30, and the humidifying filter 40 is improved.
  • the air cleaning filter unit 30 includes a prefilter 31 for collecting large-size dust, hairs of pets and the like, an ionization part 32 for charging dust, motes and the like, a dust collection filter 33 for collecting the charged dust, motes and the like, the dust collection filter composed of, e.g., a pleat filter, and a deodorizing filter 34 for collecting malodorous components such as odors of cigarette, pets and the like.
  • the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, and the deodorizing filter 34 are arranged generally on a straight line, in an order of mention from the front side of the casing 1.
  • the water tank 10 the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, the deodorizing filter 34, and the humidifying filter 40 are arranged in an order of mention from the front side of the casing 1.
  • An order of frequency of maintenance, from the highest to the lowest, is the water tank 10, the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, the deodorizing filter 34, and the humidifying filter 40, in general.
  • the water tank 10 has to be replenished with water everyday in general, a frequency of cleaning of the prefilter 31 is once about every two weeks, a frequency of maintenance of the ionization part 32 is once about a half year, a frequency of cleaning or replacement of the dust collection filter 33 is once about a year, a frequency of cleaning of the deodorizing filter 34 is once about a year and a half, and the humidifying filter 40 requires replacement once about every two years.
  • the order of frequency of maintenance is the water tank 10, the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, the deodorizing filter 34, and the humidifying filter 40, this order coinciding with an order of nearness to the front side of the casing 1, i.e., nearness to the front panel 3.
  • the higher the frequency of maintenance of a member is, the nearer to the front side of the casing 1, i.e., the front panel 3, the member is placed, so that workability for the maintenance of the water tank 10, the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, the deodorizing filter 34, and the humidifying filter 40 is improved because members having lower frequencies of maintenance works are prevented from interfering with members having higher frequencies of maintenance works.
  • the ionization part 32 is placed on upstream side of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to air flow, and thus dust and motes deposited on the ionization part 32 are prevented from containing moisture from the humidifying filter 40, so that failure of electric discharge can be prevented.
  • the deodorizing filter 34 is placed on upstream side of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to air flow, and thus moisture from the humidifying filter 40 is prevented from filling in absorption holes in the deodorizing filter 34, so that deterioration in deodorizing performance can be prevented.
  • the dust collection filter 33 is the pleat filter having a large surface area, and thus ventilation resistance therethrough can be decreased.
  • Rear surfaces of the water tank 10 are made to double as guide surfaces for guiding air sucked through the suction openings 5, 5, as shown in Fig. 3 , so as to make separate guide members unnecessary and so as to reduce a size of the humidifying device in the front-to-back direction.
  • the water tank 10 has a horizontal section generally shaped like a trapezoid as shown in Fig. 3 , and the rear surfaces 11 are composed of slant surfaces 12, 12 on both sides and a flat surface 13 at center so that thicknesses of the tank gradually increase from side parts toward a center part thereof.
  • the slant surfaces 12, 12 on the rear surfaces 11 of the water tank 10 gradually guide air, sucked through the suction openings 5, 5 of the casing 1, toward the prefilter 31 of the air cleaning filter unit 30 and thereby reduce the ventilation resistance.
  • curved surfaces In place of the slant surfaces 12, 12, there may be used curved surfaces, not shown, for gradually guiding air from the suction openings 5 toward the prefilter 31.
  • the center part of the water tank 10 having the flat surface 13 has a thickness larger than the thicknesses of the side parts and thus the part that might be a dead space at center is effectively used as the center part of the water tank 10 so as to increase a capacity of the tank.
  • the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, and the deodorizing filter 34 of the air cleaning filter unit 30, and the humidifying filter 40 are arranged generally on a straight line so as to partially overlap one another as seen looking in the front-to-back direction, and a number of turns of air flow sucked through the suction openings 5 is thereby decreased so that the ventilation resistance is reduced.
  • the deodorizing filter 34, the dust collection filter 33, and the like of the air cleaning filter unit 30 are made to overlap the whole bell mouth 23 of the fan 20, while the humidifying filter 40 is made to overlap lower part of the bell mouth 23 without overlap with upper part of the bell mouth 23. Therefore, air flowing through a non-humidifying passage 51 extending from upper part of the deodorizing filter 34 to the upper part of the bell mouth 23 does not pass through the humidifying filter 40, and thus a ventilation resistance against the air flowing through the non-humidifying passage 51 can be reduced, so that a sufficient quantity of air flow (quantity of air) can be ensured when only air cleaning operation is performed without performance of humidifying operation, in particular.
  • a partition plate 50 effects partition between a humidifying passage 52 extending from the lower part of the deodorizing filter 34 of the air cleaning filter unit 30 to the humidifying filter 40 and the non-humidifying passage 51 extending from the upper part of the deodorizing filter 34 to the upper part of the bell mouth 23 for the fan 20.
  • the partition plate 50 prevents air flow from the humidifying passage 52 to the non-humidifying passage 51, that is, prevents air flow from the humidifying passage 52 from bypassing the humidifying filter 40, and thus almost all of air flowing through the humidifying passage 52 is made to flow into the humidifying filter 40, so that a great quantity of humidification can be attained.
  • the partition plate 50 extends from the deodorizing filter 34 of the air cleaning filter unit 30 to vicinity of the fan 20. Though not shown, alternatively, the partition plate 50 may extend from the deodorizing filter 34 to vicinity of the bell mouth 23.
  • separation between the non-humidifying passage 51 and the humidifying passage 52 by the partition plate 50 extending to the vicinity of the fan 20 prevents collision between air flow A1 flowing through the non-humidifying passage 51 and air flow A2 flowing through the humidifying passage 52, thus prevents turbulence that might be caused by the collision, and reduces the ventilation resistance and noises.
  • a partition plate 58 may extend from the air cleaning filter unit 30 to the humidifying filter 40.
  • the partition plate 50 is composed of horizontal parts 53, 54 and a slant part 55 linking the horizontal parts 53, 54 and extends along the humidifying filter 40 and a water sprinkling device 60.
  • the humidifying filter 40 is a so-called evaporating filter or the like composed of nonwoven fabric or the like, for instance, allows passage of air therethrough, and humidifies the passing air with evaporated moisture. As shown in Figs. 2 through 4 , the humidifying filter 40 is shaped like a disc and is fixed to the water sprinkling device 60.
  • bucket parts 61 of the water sprinkling device 60 are inclined so as to sprinkle water toward upstream side of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the air flow, that is, so that upstream side, with respect to the air flow, of inner surfaces 62 of the bucket parts 61 in vicinity of openings 81 and on side of the humidifying filter 40 is in lower position when the humidifying filter 40 is sprinkled with the water.
  • the water sprinkling device 60 has a support leg part 63, a rotation frame 65, and the bucket parts 61, 61, ....
  • the rotation frame 65 is mounted on the support leg part 63 so as to be rotatable along a vertical plane. More specifically, a boss part 66 at center of the rotation frame 65 is rotatably mounted on upper part of the support leg part 63 through a bearing part 64.
  • the rotation frame 65 has the boss part 66, a ring-like disc part 67, and a plurality of radial arms 68, 68, ... linking the ring-like disc part 67 and the boss part.
  • the arms 68, 68, ... are connected to one another by a ring part 69 for reinforcement.
  • the plurality of bucket parts 61, 61, ... are circumferentially provided at uniform intervals on one end surface of the ring-like disc part 67 of the rotation frame 65.
  • the humidifying filter 40 is not shown in Figs. 10 and 11 , an outer circumferential surface of the humidifying filter 40 is exposed from the rotation frame 65 between the bucket parts 61.
  • water released from the bucket parts 61 can be made to permeate through the outer circumferential surface of the humidifying filter 40 exposed from the rotation frame 65 between the bucket parts 61, so that the quantity of humidification can be increased.
  • a gear 130 (see Fig. 16 ) is connected to an output shaft of a geared motor 74 as an example of a motor shown in Fig. 2 , and the gear 130 is made to mesh with a gear 79 formed on outer circumference of the ring-like disc part 67, so that the rotation frame 65 can be driven by the geared motor 74.
  • the geared motor 74 is placed so as not to overlap the humidifying filter 40 in the direction of the air flow, and thus the geared motor 74 is prevented from disturbing the air flow passing through the humidifying filter 40.
  • inner flange parts 71, 71, ... are intermittently provided and holder parts 75 are provided that extend radially inward from vicinity of first openings 81 of the bucket parts 61 which openings face forward in a direction of rotation and that are generally shaped like nails.
  • second openings 82 are provided on side walls 61a on windward side of the bucket parts 61 that extend from edges connected to the holder parts 75 while curving rearward in the direction of rotation so as to be shaped like angle brackets.
  • a linear rib 89 is provided on each of the arms 68, 68, ... of the rotation frame 65, and the humidifying filter 40 is rotated together with the rotation frame 65 with the ribs 89 ingrowing in the humidifying filter 40, though not shown.
  • the holder parts 75 not only hold the front surface of the humidifying filter 40 but also double as water guides for guiding water discharged from the first and second openings 81 and 82 of the bucket parts 61, radially inward on the front surface of the humidifying filter 40.
  • the water inside of the buckets 61 is discharged mainly through the second opening 82.
  • portions 78 of the ring-like disc part 67 that are forward of the first openings 81 of the bucket parts 61 with respect to the rotational direction of the rotation frame 65 function as wall parts that block the water from the openings 81 from going rearward with respect to the air flow without going onto the humidifying filter 40.
  • the wall parts 78 that are the portions of the ring-like disc part 67 prevent the water discharged from the first openings 81 of the bucket parts 61 from going rearward from the humidifying filter 40 together with the air flow without going onto the humidifying filter 40 and guide the water from the first openings 81 onto the humidifying filter 40.
  • the wall parts 78 prevent water escape rearward from the humidifying filter 40 so as to increase the quantity of humidification, and prevent water escape from the fan 20 and the blow-off opening 6.
  • the bucket parts 61 of the water sprinkling device 60 are inclined so that the upstream side (the right side in Fig. 2 and Fig.12 ), with respect to the air flow, of the inner surfaces 62 in vicinity of the first and second openings 81 and 82 and on the side of the humidifying filter 40 is in lower position when the humidifying filter 40 is sprinkled with water.
  • the water discharged from the first and second openings 81 and 82 has a velocity component directed toward the upstream side with respect to the air flow.
  • the upstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to a direction of a thickness thereof is sprinkled with the water, and the sprinkled water is spread together with the air flow over downstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the thickness direction and is consequently spread over the whole humidifying filter 40 with respect to the thickness direction, so that a great quantity of humidification can be attained.
  • Inner surfaces of each of the buckets 61 on side of the humidifying filter 40 are formed of two steps, i.e., the inner surface 62 in vicinity of the first and second openings 81 and 82 on side of the humidifying filter 40 and an inner surface 72 in a position deeper than the inner surface 62 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 , whereas the inner surfaces on the side of the humidifying filter 40 may be formed of one step composed of the inner surface 62 and an extension surface thereof. Curved depression surfaces 62a and 72a connected to a wall part 78 are formed on the inner surface 62 and the inner surfaces 72, respectively, of the buckets 61.
  • the water drawn up by the buckets 61 is smoothly discharged from inside of the buckets 61 through the first and second openings 81 and 82.
  • a width of the first openings 81 of the bucket parts 61 in the thickness direction of the humidifying filter 40 is smaller than the thickness of the humidifying filter 40, and the first openings 81 of the bucket parts 61 correspond to the upstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the thickness direction (though not shown in Fig. 11 , the humidifying filter 40 is interposed between the inner flange parts 71 and the holder parts 75).
  • the water discharged from the first and second openings 81 and 82 of the bucket parts 61 is sprinkled on the upstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the air flow in the thickness direction thereof, and is prevented from being directly sprinkled on the downstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the air flow in the thickness direction.
  • the water is not only spread over the upstream part of the humidifying filter 40 sprinkled with the water with respect to the thickness direction but also the sprinkled water is spread together with the air flow over the downstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the thickness direction, so that the water is consequently spread over the whole humidifying filter 40 with respect to the thickness direction, and so that a great quantity of humidification can be attained.
  • the water is prevented from being directly sprinkled on the downstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the thickness direction, so that the water escape from the humidifying filter 40 to the downstream side and thus the water escape from the fan 20 and the blow-off opening 6 can be prevented.
  • the water sprinkling device 60 is sized and positioned so that the humidifying filter 40 is not immersed in water in the water tray 90 as an example of a water reservoir part and so that the bucket parts 61 are capable of drawing up the water from a draw-up part 92 by being immersed in the water in the draw-up part 92.
  • the humidifying filter 40 is positioned so as not to be immersed in the water in the water tray 90, and thus a humidifying function is turned off, when the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 is stopped, so that the humidifying filter 40 is not sprinkled with water from the bucket parts 61 and is prevented from being immersed in the water in the water tray 90 and absorbing the water.
  • a partition wall 91 having a section in shape of an inverted letter "L" is provided for partition between the draw-up part 92 and a non-draw-up part 93.
  • the bucket parts 61 draw up water from the draw-up part 92.
  • the non-draw-up part 93 is subjected to an air pressure on upstream side of the air cleaning filter unit 30.
  • a float switch 94 is provided in the non-draw-up part 93, and a display or an alarm indicating lack of water in the water tank 10 is provided by a display unit or an alarm unit not shown once the water level in the non-draw-up part 93 is lowered from a steady state by a specified value.
  • the partition wall 91 (only a portion thereof is shown) is provided for the partition between the wide draw-up part 92 from which water is drawn up by the bucket parts 61 and the non-draw-up part 93 which is subjected to the air pressure on the upstream side of the air cleaning filter unit 30, and a horizontally long slot 95 as a water passage hole is provided on lower part of the partition wall 91.
  • a quantity of water sprinkled on the humidifying filter 40 can automatically be adjusted according to the rotation velocity of the fan 20 and thus the quantity of humidification can easily and automatically be adjusted.
  • the horizontally long slot 95 provided on the partition wall 91 of the water tray 90 resists being exposed to air when the water level is lowered, quickly supplies water from the non-draw-up part 93 to the draw-up part 92, and thus increases a speed of response for the automatic adjustment of the water level in the draw-up part 92.
  • a water tank installation part 98 in which the water tank 10 is installed is provided in the non-draw-up part 93, and a height of a bottom surface 98b of the water tank installation part 98 is greater than a height of a bottom surface 93b of the non-draw-up part 93 in vicinity of the partition wall 91.
  • On a peripheral wall of the water tank installation part 98 is provided a cutout 101 extending from an upper end thereof.
  • through holes may be provided on upper parts of peripheral walls of the water tank installation part 98.
  • Reference numerals 121, 122, 123, and 124 in Fig. 4 denote a printed circuit board for high voltage, an odor sensor, a streamer, and a light receiving part, respectively; numerals 96 and 97 in Fig. 13 denote a hole for attachment of a case for antibacterial agent and a float attachment hole, respectively; however, those components have slight relations with purport of the invention and detailed description thereof is therefore omitted.
  • the humidifying device having the above configuration operates as follows.
  • the sucked air has a direction of flow changed once by 90 degrees from between the rear surfaces 11 of the water tank 10 and the prefilter 31 of the air cleaning filter unit 30 toward the prefilter 31, thereafter flows straight in general in a horizontal direction through the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, and the deodorizing filter 34 of the air cleaning filter unit 30, the humidifying filter 40, and the fan 20 that are arranged generally on a straight line, thereby undergoes purification and humidification, thereafter has the direction of flow changed once by 90 degrees to a generally vertical upward direction when exiting from the fan 20, and is discharged through the blow-off opening 6 on the top face of the casing 1.
  • the humidifying device has a small ventilation resistance because a number of turns of air flow sucked through the suction openings 5, 5 of the casing 1, i.e., the number of turns of an air passage is as small as two, in general, of once from the suction openings 5, 5 on the side faces of the casing 1 to the prefilter 31 of the air cleaning filter unit 30 and once in the exit from the fan 20.
  • the air sucked through the suction openings 5, 5 of the casing 1 is gradually guided by the slant surfaces 12, 12 on both the sides of the rear surfaces 11 of the water tank 10 toward the prefilter 31 of the air cleaning filter unit 30, and thus undergoes little abrupt change in the direction thereof and the small ventilation resistance.
  • the purified air coming out of the upper part of the deodorizing filter 34 of the air cleaning filter unit 30 flows through the non-humidifying passage 51 separated from the humidifying passage 52 by the partition plate 50, passes through the upper part of the bell mouth 23 without passing through the humidifying filter 40, and is drawn into the fan 20, while the purified air coming out of the lower part of the deodorizing filter 34 flows through the humidifying passage 52, passes through the humidifying filter 40 so as to be humidified, passes through the lower part of the bell mouth 23, and is drawn into the fan 20.
  • the air flowing through the non-humidifying passage 51 extending from the upper part of the deodorizing filter 34 to the upper part of the bell mouth 23 does not pass through the humidifying filter 40, and thus the ventilation resistance against the air flowing through the non-humidifying passage 51 can be reduced.
  • a sufficient quantity of air flow (quantity of air) can be ensured by presence of the non-humidifying passage 51 when only the air cleaning operation is performed without performance of the humidifying operation, with operation of the water sprinkling device 60 suspended by suspension of the geared motor 74.
  • the purified air flowing through the humidifying passage 52 is prevented by the partition plate 50 from flowing from the humidifying passage 52 into the non-humidifying passage 51 while bypassing the humidifying filter 40, and thus almost all of air flowing from the lower part of the deodorizing filter 34 into the humidifying passage 52 is made to pass through the humidifying filter, i.e., humidifying rotor 40.
  • the partition plate 50 extending from the deodorizing filter 34 to vicinity of the fan 20 prevents air flow from the humidifying passage 52 from bypassing the humidifying filter 40, and thus a great quantity of humidification can be attained.
  • Figs. 14A and 14B are a table and a graph showing a result of a test for quantity of humidification in the first embodiment and a comparative example.
  • reference character P denotes the first embodiment and character N denotes the comparative example different from the first embodiment only in that the partition plate 50 is removed from the first embodiment.
  • the quantity of humidification increased by about a little over 7% in comparison with that in the comparative example N.
  • the partition plate 50 extending from the deodorizing filter 34 of the air cleaning filter unit 30 to vicinity of the fan 20 prevents the collision between humidified air coming out of the humidifying filter 40 and non-humidified air flowing through the non-humidifying passage 51 and thus prevents occurrence of turbulence. As a result, the ventilation resistance and noises can be decreased.
  • the humidifying filter 40 as shown in Figs. 2 , 10 , 11 and 12 , is sprinkled with water from the first and second openings 81 and 82 of the bucket parts 61 of the water sprinkling device 60.
  • the rotation frame 65 having the bucket parts 61, 61, ... is driven and rotated through the gear 79 by the geared motor 74, so that the bucket parts 61, 61, ... sequentially draw up water from the draw-up part 92 of the water tray 90 and sprinkle the water on the humidifying filter 40.
  • the water discharged from the first openings 81 of the bucket parts 61 is prevented from going rearward from the humidifying filter 40 together with the air flow, by the wall parts 78 that are the portions of the ring-like disc part 67 of the rotation frame 65 forward of the first openings 81, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 , and thereby falls toward the humidifying filter 40.
  • the wall parts 78 prevent the water escape rearward from the humidifying filter 40 so as to increase the quantity of humidification, and prevent the water escape from the fan 20 and the blow-off opening 6.
  • the partition wall 91 blocks air from bypassing the air cleaning filter unit 30.
  • the pressure difference between the upstream side and the downstream side of the air cleaning filter unit 30 is caused by the resistance loss of air passing through the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, and the deodorizing filter 34 of the air cleaning filter unit 30.
  • the pressure difference increases according to increase in the rotation velocity of the fan 20, that is, increase in the quantity of air flow.
  • the pressure on the upstream side of the air cleaning filter unit 30 and the partition wall 91 is generally equal to an atmospheric pressure, which acts on water in the non-draw-up part 93 of the water tray 90, while the pressure on the downstream side of the air cleaning filter unit 30 and the partition wall 91 is a low pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure by a value corresponding to the resistance loss, the low pressure acting on water in the draw-up part 92 of the water tray 90.
  • the non-draw-up part 93 and the draw-up part 92 of the water tray 90 communicate with each other through the slot 95 on the lower part of the partition wall 91, and the water level in the draw-up part 92 of the water tray 90 is thereby made higher than the water level in the non-draw-up part 93 by a height corresponding to the pressure difference.
  • the pressure difference increases according to increase in the rotation velocity of the fan 20, that is, increase in the quantity of air flow.
  • the water level in the draw-up part 92 increases according to increase in the rotation velocity of the fan 20, that is, increase in the quantity of air flow.
  • the bucket parts 61 of the water sprinkling device 60 are capable of drawing up water from the draw-up part 92 and sprinkling the water on the humidifying filter 40 so that the quantity of the water drawn up increases according to increase in the rotation velocity (quantity of air flow) of the fan 20.
  • the quantity of water sprinkled on the humidifying filter 40 can automatically be adjusted according to the quantity of air flow (quantity of air) without control over the rotation velocity of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60, and thus the quantity of humidification can easily and automatically be adjusted.
  • the automatic adjustment in the water level in the draw-up part 92 is performed by the supply of water to the draw-up part 92 through the slot 95 on the lower part of the partition wall 91 and thus can quickly be performed with a satisfactory response.
  • the horizontally long slot 95 that resists being exposed to air is used, so that the automatic adjustment in the water level in the draw-up part 92 can be performed with a satisfactory response by quick supply of water through the slot 95.
  • suspension of the rotation of the fan 20 eliminates the differential pressure between the upstream side and the downstream side of the air cleaning filter unit 30, causes the water to return from the draw-up part 92 having had the higher water level to the non-draw-up part 93 having had the lower water level, and may make the water level in the non-draw-up part 93 not less than a specified value.
  • Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the water sprinkling device 60 on which the humidifying filter 40 is mounted.
  • the humidifying filter 40 shaped like a disc is mounted on inner circumference of the ring-like disc part 67 of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60.
  • the boss part 66 at center of the rotation frame 65 penetrates a hole (not shown) provided at center of the humidifying filter 40, and a shaft part 110 provided with a flange part 110a for holding down the humidifying filter penetrates a hole provided in the boss part 66 of the rotation frame 65, so that the humidifying filter 40 is fixed to the rotation frame 65.
  • Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of the water sprinkling device 60 mounted in the water tray 90.
  • the support leg part 63 (the water sprinkling device 60) mounted on side of the draw-up part 92 of the water tray 90 has a bearing part 64 shaped like a letter U on upper part thereof.
  • the shaft part 110 that penetrates the boss part 66 of the rotation frame 65 is rotatably supported by the bearing part 64 of the support leg part 63.
  • a gear 130 meshes with the gear 79 on the outer circumference of the rotation frame 65, and an output shaft of the geared motor 74 is connected to the gear 130.
  • Fig. 17 shows a control block diagram of the humidifying device.
  • the control unit 200 is composed of a microcomputer, an input/output circuit, and the like, and controls the fan motor 21, the geared motor 74, the printed circuit board 113 for display, and the like on basis of detection signals from the dust sensor 114, an odor sensor 122, a temperature sensor 201, a humidity sensor 202, and a rotational position detector unit 203 and signals from the light receiving part 124 and the printed circuit board 112 for operation control.
  • the temperature sensor 201 and the humidity sensor 202 detect a temperature and a humidity, respectively, of air sucked through the suction openings 5, 5 (shown in Figs. 1 and 3 ).
  • the light receiving part 124 receives optical control signals from a remote controller (not shown).
  • Fig. 18 shows a diagram for description of control by the control unit 200 over the humidifying operation on basis of room temperature in which the humidifying operation is permitted at the room temperature not lower than 1°C and lower than 40°C when the room temperature is increasing and in which the humidifying operation is permitted at the room temperature not lower than 0°C and lower than 37.5°C when the room temperature is decreasing, as shown in Fig. 18 .
  • the humidifying operation is prohibited (see Figs. 19, 20 ).
  • Fig. 21 shows a diagram for description of control by the control unit 200 over the humidifying operation on basis of humidity
  • Fig. 22 shows humidity zones on occasions of increase in humidity and decrease in humidity.
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is lower than 20% is designated as a zone D
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is higher than 10% and not higher than 20% is designated as a zone C
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is higher than 0% and not higher than 10% is designated as a zone B
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is not higher than 0% is designated as a zone A.
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is lower than 23% is designated as a zone D
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is higher than 13% and not higher than 23% is designated as a zone C
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is higher than 3% and not higher than 13% is designated as a zone B
  • a condition that a difference between target percentage humidity and present percentage humidity is not higher than 3% is designated as a zone A.
  • the humidifying operation is turned off when the percentage humidity is in the zone A
  • the humidifying operation is turned on when the percentage humidity is in the zone B, C or D (see Fig. 23 ).
  • the fan motor 21 for the fan 20 and the geared motor 74 are controlled by the control unit 200 so that the humidifying operation is turned on when the temperature condition described with reference to Figs. 18 through 20 is satisfied and when the humidity condition described with reference to Figs. 21 through 23 is satisfied on basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 201 and the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 202, and thus the humidifying operation providing satisfactory comfort can be performed with the control over the humidifying operation on basis of AND conditions of the temperature condition and the humidity condition.
  • Fig. 24 shows control over the rotation of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 at the start of the humidifying operation.
  • Fig. 24 are shown ON/OFF of the operation of the fan, ON/OFF of a humidifying mode, ON/OFF of a humidifying request on basis of the AND conditions of the temperature condition and the humidity condition, and ON/OFF of the geared motor 74 for the humidifying filter, from top thereof.
  • the operation of the fan 20 is turned on, the humidifying mode is subsequently turned on by an instruction, e.g., from the remote controller, and then the control over the humidifying operation on basis of the AND conditions of the temperature condition and the humidity condition is started. Then the humidifying request is turned on according to a result of determination of the AND conditions of the temperature condition and the humidity condition.
  • the geared motor 74 for the humidifying filter is not immediately turned on and the humidification preparing operation is started five seconds later. This is intended for preventing hunting in which ON/OFF of the geared motor 74 is repeated with frequent change in the result of determination of the AND conditions of the temperature condition and the humidity condition.
  • the rotation velocity of the fan 20 is set to be not lower than a lower limit fan rotation velocity
  • the rotation velocity of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 is set to be not lower than a lower limit rotation frame rotation velocity
  • the geared motor 74 is turned on so as to rotate the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 by about one and a half revolutions, is then stopped for one minute, and the normal humidifying operation is thereafter performed.
  • a rotation velocity of the fan 20 is set to be lower than the lower limit fan rotation velocity for the humidifying operation
  • an average rotation velocity of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 is set to be lower than the lower limit rotation frame rotation velocity for the humidifying operation; however, the humidification preparing operation may be performed under only either one of the conditions.
  • the control unit 200 controls the geared motor 74 and thus controls the rotation of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60, when the humidifying operation is started, so that water escape resulting from the water repelled by the humidifying filter 40 can be prevented when the humidification preparing operation for infiltrating the water into the humidifying filter 40 is performed upon the start of the humidifying operation.
  • a quantity of the rotation and a time period of the stoppage of the rotation frame in the humidification preparing operation may appropriately be set according to configurations of the water sprinkling device, the humidifying filter and the like. In that case also, the water escape can more reliably be prevented because the normal humidifying operation is performed after the water is sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying filter 40 in the humidification preparing operation.
  • the geared motor 74 is controlled by the control unit 200 so that a direction of creases of a pleat structure of the humidifying filter 40 becomes horizontal in general when the rotation of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 is stopped in the humidification preparing operation, thus the water is restrained from falling by being caught by the creases of the pleat structure of the humidifying filter 40 when the rotation of the rotation frame 65 is stopped, so that start-up of the humidifying operation can be quickened by infiltration of more moisture into the humidifying filter 40.
  • a magnet 210 is fixed to a specified position on outer circumferential side of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60, and the rotational position detector unit 203 for detecting magnetism of the magnet 210 by a Hall element or the like is provided on side of the casing 1. Then the direction of the creases 40a of the pleat structure of the humidifying filter 40 is made to surely become horizontal in general when the rotation frame 65 is in a rotational position in which the magnet 210 and the rotational position detector unit 203 face each other.
  • the humidifying filter 40 is mounted on the rotation frame 65 so that the direction of the creases of the pleat structure becomes horizontal in a position in which the rotation frame 65 is stopped in the humidification preparing operation, and thus the direction of the creases 40a of the pleat structure of the humidifying filter 40 can reliably be made horizontal in general when the rotation is stopped.
  • Figs. 26A and 26B show examples of positioning of the humidifying filter relative to the rotation frame of the water sprinkling device; as shown in Fig. 26A , a humidifying filter 140 has a cutout 140b with a crescent shape including a chord parallel to a direction of creases 140a of pleat structure, and a positioning part 141 with the identical shape is provided on the side of a rotation frame 165.
  • the humidifying filter 140 is mounted on the rotation frame 165 with the cutout 140b of the humidifying filter 140 in agreement with the positioning part 141 of the rotation frame 165, and the direction of the creases 140a of the pleat structure of the humidifying filter 140 is thereby fixed relative to the rotation frame 165.
  • the magnet 210 is provided on a specified position (on a horizontal plane passing through a rotational center of the rotation frame 165 in Fig. 26A ) on outer circumferential side of the rotation frame 165.
  • a rectangular hole 240b is provided at center thereof so that a longitudinal direction of the rectangular hole 240b parallels a direction of creases 240a of pleat structure of the humidifying filter 240.
  • a boss part 266 provided at a rotational center of a rotation frame 265 has generally the same shape in section as the rectangular hole 240b has.
  • the humidifying filter 240 is mounted on the rotation frame 265 by agreement and penetration of the boss part 266 of the rotation frame 265 with and through the rectangular hole 240b of the humidifying filter 240, and the direction of the creases 240a of the pleat structure of the humidifying filter 240 is thereby fixed relative to the rotation frame 265.
  • the magnet 210 is provided on a specified position (on a horizontal plane passing through a rotational center of the rotation frame 265 in Fig. 26B ) on outer circumferential side of the rotation frame 265.
  • the humidifying filter 140, 240 is positioned relative to and mounted on the rotation frame 165, 265 so that the direction of the creases 140a, 240a of the pleat structure of the humidifying filter 140, 240 can reliably be made horizontal in general when the rotation is stopped in the humidification preparing operation.
  • the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 is rotated for a predetermined period of time at a velocity lower than that in the normal humidifying operation by the control over the geared motor 74 by the control unit 200 when the humidifying operation is started, and thus the normal humidifying operation is performed after the water is sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying filter 40 mounted on the rotation frame 65 that is rotating at the lower velocity, so that the water escape can more reliably be prevented.
  • the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 is stopped for one minute after one and a half revolutions as in the first embodiment, in this situation, only the low-speed rotation may be performed as the humidification preparing operation, for a specified period of time.
  • the rotation and stoppage of the rotation frame 65 of the water sprinkling device 60 are alternately performed for a predetermined period of time by the control over the geared motor 74 by the control unit 200 when the humidifying operation is started, and thus the normal humidifying operation is performed after the water is reliably and sufficiently infiltrated into the humidifying filter 40 mounted on the rotation frame 65 that is alternately rotated and stopped, so that the water escape can more reliably be prevented.
  • the fan 20 may be stopped by the control unit 200.
  • waterdrops that have not yet been infiltrated into the humidifying filter 40 can be prevented from being flown by air flow from the fan 20.
  • the quantity of air passing through the humidifying filter 40 and the quantity of humidification can be increased because the geared motor 74 for driving the gear 79 provided on the outer circumference of the rotation frame 65 is placed so as not to overlap the humidifying filter 40 in the direction of the air flow and because the geared motor 74 is thereby prevented from disturbing the air flow passing through the humidifying filter 40.
  • the on-off control over the humidifying function can be attained by the on-off control over the rotation of the rotation frame 65 by the geared motor 74 because the humidifying filter 40 is placed so as not to be immersed in water in the draw-up part 92 of the water tray 90.
  • blow-off opening 6 is provided on the top face of the casing 1 in the first embodiment, whereas blow-off openings may be provided on side faces of the casing or on the top and side faces of the casing.
  • the air cleaning filter unit 30 in the first embodiment includes the prefilter 31, the ionization part 32, the dust collection filter 33, and the deodorizing filter 34, whereas the air cleaning filter unit may include a bacteria removing filter in addition thereto, or the ionization part 32, the deodorizing filter 34 and/or the like may be omitted therefrom.
  • the air cleaning filter unit may include only the prefilter and the dust collection filter or may be composed of only a single filter.
  • the air cleaning filter unit 30 may be omitted.
  • the partition plate 50 is provided in the first embodiment, the partition plate may be omitted.
  • a stationary humidifying member separate from the water sprinkling device may be used instead and water may be sprinkled on upstream part of the stationary humidifying member from the bucket parts provided on the rotation frame of the water sprinkling device.
  • the first embodiment has both the configuration in which the inner surfaces 62 of the bucket parts 61 in vicinity of the first and second openings 81 and 82 on the side of the humidifying filter 40 are inclined so that the upstream side thereof with respect to the air flow is in lower position and the configuration in which the openings 81 of the bucket parts 61 correspond to the upstream part of the humidifying filter 40 with respect to the thickness direction, only either one of the configurations may be provided or both the configurations may be omitted.
  • the holder parts 75 and the wall parts 78 may be omitted.
  • the rotation frame may be driven by a belt with a pulley part for belt provided in place of the gear, or the rotation frame may directly be driven by a motor with a shaft of the motor connected to a center of the rotation frame.
  • the partition wall 91 is provided in the water tray 90 for the partition between the draw-up part 92 and the non-draw-up part 93, and the slot 95 as the water passage hole is provided on the lower part of the partition wall 91, whereas the water passage hole may be one slit or round hole or a plurality of slits or round holes.
  • the partition wall 91 for the partition between the draw-up part 92 and the non-draw-up part 93 is provided in the water tray 90, and the water passage hole is provided on the partition wall 91, so that the quantity of water drawn up from the draw-up part 92 can automatically be adjusted according to the quantity of air flow, whereas the function of the automatic adjustment of the water level may be omitted by removal of the partition wall 91.
  • the first embodiment is provided with the buffer water container part 99 into which water flows from the non-draw-up part 93 through the cutout 101 once the water level in the non-draw-up part 93 becomes the predetermined given value or larger values
  • the buffer water container part 99 and the cutout 101 may be omitted.
  • the humidifying device having the air cleaning filter unit 30 and the humidifying filter 40 has been described for the first embodiment, whereas the invention may be applied to the humidifying device having no air cleaning filter unit.
  • Fig. 27 shows a perspective view of an air conditioner using a humidifying device of a second embodiment of the invention.
  • a fan 302 a dehumidifying unit 303, a humidifying unit 304 as an example of the humidifying device, an air cleaning part 305, and a control unit 300 are housed in a casing 301.
  • the fan 302 is positioned opposite to the air cleaning part 305 with respect to the casing 301, and the air cleaning part 305, the dehumidifying unit 303, the humidifying unit 304, and the fan 302 are arranged in order of mention from side of the air cleaning part 305.
  • an air flow passage A is formed in which air is sucked through suction openings 305a, 305b, 305c on the side of the air cleaning part 305, passes through the dehumidifying unit 303, thereafter passes through the humidifying unit 304, and reaches the fan 302.
  • the air from the fan 302 blows out through the blow-off opening 301c provided on a top face of the casing 301.
  • the control unit 300 is provided on a top part of the casing 301, and controls the air cleaning part 305, the dehumidifying unit 303, the humidifying unit 304, and the fan 302.
  • a first door 301a of drawer type is opened and then a water container 390 as an example of the water reservoir part is taken out together with a water sprinkling device 360 as an example of the water supplying device through a drawer opening 312 of the casing 301.
  • a disc-shaped humidifying filter 340 as an example of the humidifying member can be taken out through a drawer opening 313 of the casing 301 after a second door 301b of pivot type is opened.
  • Fig. 28 shows a perspective view of the humidifying unit 304 of the air conditioner.
  • the humidifying unit 304 has the water container 390, the humidifying filter 340, the water sprinkling device 360, a geared motor 343 as an example of a motor for the water sprinkling device and a motor for the humidifying member, and a driving gear 431 meshing with a gear 343a connected to an output shaft of the geared motor 343.
  • the driving gear 431 meshes with a first gear 351 provided on outer circumferential part of a rotation frame 350.
  • the water container 390 is a water source for moisture supplied for air passing through the air flow passage A, and is detachably housed in the casing 301 (shown in Fig. 27 ).
  • the humidifying filter 340 is shaped like a disc with use of nonwoven fabric and is mounted on the rotation frame 350. Water supplied from the water container 390 evaporates while the humidifying filter 340 is rotated together with the rotation frame 350. The humidifying filter 340 is placed above a water level in the water container 390 filled with water and therefore is not in direct contact with the water in the water container 390.
  • Fig. 29 shows a perspective view of the humidifying unit as seen looking from downstream side of the air flow in Fig. 28 .
  • the water sprinkling device 360 is rotatably supported by the water container 390 so as to draw up the water in the water container 390 and so as to discharge the water toward the humidifying filter 340.
  • the humidifying filter 340 and the water sprinkling device 360 have rotational axes paralleling each other and face each other in positions adjacent to each other.
  • a plurality of bucket parts 421a each having a trapezoidal opening are provided on a side surface of the water sprinkling device 360 in vicinity of outer circumference thereof.
  • a second gear 423 fixed coaxially with the water sprinkling device 360 meshes with the first gear 351 provided on the outer circumferential part of the rotation frame 350.
  • a diving force of the geared motor 343 is transmitted through the gear 343a, the driving gear 431, and the first gear 351 to the rotation frame 350, so that the humidifying filter 340 rotates together with the rotation frame 350.
  • transmission of the rotation of the humidifying filter 340 to the second gear 423 of the water sprinkling device 360 causes rotation of the water sprinkling device 360 opposite the direction of the rotation of the humidifying filter 340.
  • the plurality of bucket parts 421a of the watering device 360 sequentially draw up the water in the water container 390 and sprinkle the water toward upstream side of the humidifying filter 340 with respect to the air flow.
  • the humidifying filter 340 mounted on the rotation frame 350 is formed in a shape such that a rotation shaft thereof does not protrude, in order that removal of the humidifying filter 340 from the casing 301 may be facilitated. For that reason, the humidifying filter 340 is supported by engagement of the first gear 351 with the driving gear 431 and the second gear 423. In order to maintain a stable posture of the rotation frame 350, the driving gear 431 and the second gear 423 are positioned below a rotation axis of the first gear 351 and opposite to each other with respect to a vertical center line of the humidifying filter 340. Accordingly, the humidifying filter 340 mounted on the rotation frame 350 stably rotates even though the filter is not supported through the shaft.
  • a heating operation mode and a heating and humidifying operation mode can be performed, with activation of a heat source part (not shown) of the dehumidifying unit 303 with dehumidifying capability suspended in the heating operation mode and with simultaneous activation of the heat source part of the dehumidifying unit 303 and the humidifying unit 304 in the heating and humidifying operation mode .
  • air flow produced by the fan 302 passes through a heat exchange part of the dehumidifying unit 303 with the dehumidifying capability suspended and flows into the humidifying unit 304.
  • the air is heated by the heat exchange part of the dehumidifying unit 303 and thus the air having a decreased relative humidity comes into the humidifying unit 304, so that humidification by a large quantity of moisture is attained.
  • the air passing through the dehumidifying unit 303 has been heated by the heat exchange part, thus has a small increase in temperature, and is suitable for heating on a small scale.
  • humidifying capability of the humidifying unit 304 is suspended and moisture in the air is absorbed by the dehumidifying unit 303.
  • the control unit 300 controls the geared motor 343 so that the water is supplied from the water sprinkling device 360 to the humidifying filter 340 being rotated by the geared motor 343, when the humidifying operation is started, and thus water escape resulting from the water repelled by the humidifying filter 340 can be prevented when the humidification preparing operation for infiltrating the water into the humidifying filter 340 is performed upon the start of the humidifying operation.
  • the air conditioner of the second embodiment has the same effects as the humidifying device of the first embodiment has, providing that the same configuration and control as those of the humidifying device of the first embodiment are applied thereto and performed therein, respectively.
  • the geared motor 343 doubles as a driving device for rotating the humidifying filter 340 that is the humidifying member and a driving part for the water sprinkling device 360 that is the water supplying device, whereas the water supplying device may be driven by driving means separate from the driving device for the humidifying member.
  • the rotation frame may be driven by a belt with a pulley part for the belt provided in place of the gear, or the rotation frame may directly be driven by a motor with a shaft of the motor connected to a center of the rotation frame.
  • the humidifying device using the water sprinkling device 60, 360 having the bucket parts 61, 421a as the water supplying device has been described for the first and second embodiments, whereas the water supplying device is not limited thereto but may be a device that supplies the water from the water reservoir part to the humidifying member with use of a pump or the like, for instance.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air Humidification (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
EP09809805.6A 2008-09-01 2009-08-18 Appareil humidificateur Withdrawn EP2333441A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008223528 2008-09-01
JP2009181644A JP4434308B1 (ja) 2008-09-01 2009-08-04 加湿装置
PCT/JP2009/064447 WO2010024152A1 (fr) 2008-09-01 2009-08-18 Appareil humidificateur

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2333441A1 true EP2333441A1 (fr) 2011-06-15
EP2333441A4 EP2333441A4 (fr) 2016-05-04

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09809805.6A Withdrawn EP2333441A4 (fr) 2008-09-01 2009-08-18 Appareil humidificateur

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Country Link
EP (1) EP2333441A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP4434308B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN102119302B (fr)
WO (1) WO2010024152A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102954560A (zh) * 2012-11-13 2013-03-06 高韵怡 一种加湿型空气净化器的叶轮控制方法
TWI476555B (fr) * 2012-10-08 2015-03-11
WO2018026891A1 (fr) * 2016-08-02 2018-02-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Humidificateur, purificateur d'air et appareil ménager.
US10364994B2 (en) 2015-09-30 2019-07-30 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Air humidification and/or purification
CN112303882A (zh) * 2020-11-14 2021-02-02 王焕发 一种建筑施工供暖用通风装置

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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JP5573338B2 (ja) * 2010-05-06 2014-08-20 パナソニック株式会社 加湿装置および加湿機能付空気清浄装置
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JP2010078310A (ja) 2010-04-08
CN102119302B (zh) 2013-12-04
JP4434308B1 (ja) 2010-03-17
WO2010024152A1 (fr) 2010-03-04
EP2333441A4 (fr) 2016-05-04

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