JP2001232139A - Dehumidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dehumidifier capable of easily being mounted by changing an arranging method of the dehumidifier having a same shape in accordance with the form of a housing room in which the dehumidifier is installed. SOLUTION: In the dehumidifier constituted with at least a pair of discharge port/intake port 5, an adsorption material, a heater for heating the adsorption material and a control mechanism for controlling the opening/closing of the discharge port/intake port and the heating of the heater, the pair of discharge port/intake port 5 is constituted so that a mounting form of the dehumidifier may changed in accordance with a space in which the dehumidifier is arranged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes a property that an adsorbent adsorbs water vapor and, in some cases, generates heat when adsorbing, and a relative space of a specific closed or semi-closed system is used. Prevention of condensation by lowering the humidity, or can be used for maintaining the quality of the product by maintaining the relative humidity within a certain range, for example, large switchboards, distribution boards, and dew condensation prevention in industrial control panels, etc. In addition, depending on the space to be placed in humidity control in storage such as photographic and optical equipment, art antiques, and various precision instruments,
The present invention relates to a dehumidifier capable of changing a mounting direction of a dehumidifier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since these devices are originally limited in shape depending on their installation locations, for example, when the storage of these devices is viewed from the front, the width of the storage is extremely narrow, Has an extremely wide width, or has a wide horizontal width but an extremely narrow vertical width. Further, the equipment occupies a large volume, and internal installation conditions may be limited. For example, when arranging a dehumidifying / drying device for preventing dew condensation inside a large switchboard, distribution board, industrial control panel, or the like, or when arranging a dehumidifying / drying device in a storage such as various precision machines, FIG. ) And FIG.
As schematically shown in (b), it becomes necessary to arrange a dehumidifier according to the shape and internal arrangement conditions of the storage box.

That is, in order to dispose the dehumidifier in accordance with the shape of such a storage, at least to arrange it in the space schematically shown in FIG. In order to arrange a dehumidifier having a narrow width and a space as schematically shown in FIG. 1B, it is necessary to prepare a dehumidifier having a narrow width and a wide width. is there. In addition, the side surface of the panel is often used for installation of equipment, and it is required that the space for installing the dehumidifier be made as small as possible, or that the protrusion to the inside is small. Providing at least two types of dehumidifiers in this way poses a serious problem in inventory management not only for manufacturers but also for installers. In an extreme case, it is naturally anticipated that a situation may occur in which the dehumidifier must be returned to a replacement because the shape of the dehumidifier does not match the space of the storage box after the installation.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a dehumidifier that can be easily attached by changing a method of arranging dehumidifiers having the same shape according to the type of a storage to be installed.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have conducted various studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, at least one pair of the exhaust / intake port 5, the adsorbent, the heater for heating the adsorbent, the exhaust / intake In a dehumidifier comprising a control mechanism for controlling opening and closing of the mouth and heating of the heater, the at least one pair of exhaust / intake ports is provided so that a mounting style of the dehumidifier can be changed according to a space in which the dehumidifier is arranged. The present invention has been completed by finding that a dehumidifier characterized by being constituted can solve the above problems.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION That is, according to the present invention, the first
A dehumidifier 1 comprising at least a pair of an exhaust / intake port 5, an adsorbent 4, a heater 3 for heating the adsorbent 4, and a control mechanism 10 for controlling opening / closing of the exhaust / inlet port 5 and heating of the heater.
, The at least one pair of exhaust / intake ports 5 is provided so that the mounting style of the dehumidifier 1 can be changed according to the space in which the dehumidifier 1 is arranged. .

Further, according to the present invention, the control mechanism 10
According to the dehumidifier characterized by changing the opening and closing style according to the mounting style, the dehumidifier characterized by changing the opening and closing style by mechanical means, the mechanical means changes the arrangement direction of the actuator A dehumidifier characterized by being changed; a dehumidifier characterized by the mechanical means changing an arrangement of a fulcrum with respect to the axis of the rotating body; and the adsorbent 4 is zeolite. A dehumidifier is provided.

In the following description, a dehumidifier according to the present invention will be described. In the description, members having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, even if the names of the members are different in principle. And In addition, in the present specification, the space means a space inside the large power distribution panel, distribution panel, industrial control panel, and the like, in which dew condensation becomes a problem due to the decrease in the outside air temperature as described above. It also includes various spaces such as various storages required to maintain the relative humidity within the humidity range. In particular, it is suitably used for preventing dew condensation in an internal space containing various precision mechanical devices. Hereinafter, in the present specification, such a space is referred to as a room for convenience.

First, regarding the configuration of the dehumidifier 1 according to the present invention, the at least one pair of exhaust / inlet ports 5 is configured so that the mounting style of the dehumidifier can be changed according to the space in which the dehumidifier 1 is arranged. Will be described. To change the surface on which the dehumidifier 1 is mounted according to the space for mounting the dehumidifier 1, the housing container 6 of the dehumidifier 1 may be used.
A pair of exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b are installed at mutually opposing positions on two adjacent surfaces out of the six surfaces. For example, in FIG. 2, for example, the surface portion 6a side It is necessary that at least a pair of exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b provided at positions facing each other on the right side surface 6b side are present. Needless to say, the pair of exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b may be provided at opposing positions on two adjacent surfaces of the six surfaces of the housing container 6 of the dehumidifier 1. Is not particularly limited to the combination shown in FIG.

However, the pair of exhaust / intake ports 5 a and 5
When installing the pair of exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b, depending on the mounting position of the dehumidifier, the width can be increased or the width can be increased. Combinations need to be considered. Of course, the location of the pair of exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b must be determined in consideration of the shape of the housing 6 of the dehumidifier 1. Note that, depending on the mode,
Other exhaust / intake ports may be installed in addition to the pair of exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b. For example, at a specific position on each surface where a pair of exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b are provided, a further pair of exhaust / intake ports 5 are provided.
a ′ and 5b ′ may be provided. For example, although not shown, a pair of exhaust / intake ports may be installed at both ends of each of the two sets of surfaces.

When the dehumidifier 1 according to the present invention is arranged as shown in FIG. 1A, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, at least one pair of drains provided on the side surface 6b side is provided. The air inlet 5 may be arranged so that the side surface of the dehumidifier 1 is located on the side wall of the storage. When the dehumidifier 1 according to the present invention is arranged as shown in FIG.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust / inlet port 5 provided on the front surface 6a may be attached such that the side surface of the dehumidifier 1 is located on the side wall of the storage.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust / inlet port 5 provided on the surface 6a side of the dehumidifier and the side surface portion 6b side are provided. One of the exhaust / intake ports 5 is used as an intake port, and the other is used as an exhaust port. In addition,
In the illustrated embodiment, only a pair of exhaust / intake ports 5 are shown, but as described above, for example, the front surface 6a
Another pair of exhaust / intake ports 5 may be provided at appropriate intervals on the side and side surface 6b.

[0013] If the at least one pair of exhaust / inlet ports is attached in accordance with the space of the attachment location, the exhaust / inlet port opening / closing means 7 naturally responds to the dehumidification process and the dehydration process based on the mode of attachment. It needs to be changed so that it can be opened and closed. In that case, for example, the control unit 10
May be changed. For example, two kinds of programs may be prepared in advance, and either one of them may be selected according to the mounting condition. Further, the switching means for switching the opening / closing order of the exhaust / inlet opening / closing means 7 may be provided. It may be provided and placed, and the switching may be performed. Alternatively, as a method of switching the opening and closing of the opening and closing by a mechanical method, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the installation direction of an actuator, for example, a solenoid may be opposite to that of FIG. It may be performed by changing the rotation direction. When changing the rotation direction, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotation may be reversed from the initial setting by providing a fulcrum 14 on the opposite side to the rotation shaft 13.

As the opening / closing means 7, for example, the exhaust / inlet opening / closing plate 7, which is a plate-shaped member having a predetermined thickness, and the plate-shaped opening / closing plate 7 are communicated with a drive mechanism 8, which will be described later. A member configured to be able to open and close is included. More specifically, for example, as schematically shown in FIG.
One in which two plate-like opening / closing plates 7 are connected to rotating shafts 13 provided at two locations at a predetermined angle. Of course, as long as the pair of exhaust / inlet ports 5a and 5b can be opened and closed according to the mounting state, the operation process, and the like, any one can be used without any trouble.

The driving unit 8 for driving the opening / closing unit 7 includes a unit using a motor, a solenoid, or the like. For example, as an example in which a solenoid is used as the driving means 8, the solenoid 12 and the piston 1 shown in FIG.
An example in which 1 is combined is shown. In this embodiment, when the solenoid 12 is operating, the piston 11 is attracted to the solenoid 12 and the solenoid 12
Is not operating, the piston 11 is provided with means for returning to the original position from the restraint from the solenoid 12 and returning to the original position, for example, means for applying an appropriate load. It may be returned to the position. Of course, instead of the solenoid, a combination of a motor and a piston may be used as the driving means.

The driving state of the driving mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 3 will be described below. The piston 12 moves to the left and right by the solenoid 12, and this movement converts the movement into a rotational movement of a shaft 13 that supports a lid that opens and closes the opening and closing door, and opens and closes the pair of exhaust / inlet ports 5. In FIG. 3, the solenoid 12 is turned on, the piston 11 is attracted, and the piston moves rightward, so that the exhaust / inlet port 5a is closed and the exhaust / inlet port 5b is open. When the power supply to the solenoid 12 is turned off, the suction force disappears. At this time, by applying a bias load such that the piston 11 moves to the left by a spring or the like (not shown), the piston 11 moves to the left, the exhaust / intake port 5b closes, and the exhaust / intake port 5a opens. Become. At this time, the exhaust / intake port 5
FIG. 8 schematically shows the temporal flow of opening and closing of the exhaust port 5a and the exhaust / intake port 5b, together with the on / off state of the heater.

As described above, the dehumidifier according to the present invention includes:
At least one pair of exhaust and intake ports 5 in the dehumidification process and the dehydration process
A control mechanism 10 for controlling the opening and closing of the heater 3 and for controlling the heating and stopping of the heater 3 is provided. In FIG. 4, the control mechanism 10 is provided at a lower portion of the housing container 6, but is not particularly limited to this position. The size, shape, and other members of the housing container, for example, It is sufficient to select a convenient position for the connection and to arrange at that position.

As such a control mechanism 10, MP
A control means such as U is preferably used. In the dehumidifier according to the present invention, the control mechanism performs on / off of the heater 3 and operation of the opening / closing means 7 to open and close at least one pair of the exhaust / intake ports 5 according to the operating condition. In some cases, a timer mechanism set in advance based on the standard time required for each may be used.

The water vapor of the room air containing the water vapor is adsorbed by the adsorbent 4. In the vicinity of the adsorbent 4, a heater 3 is provided as a means for heating the adsorbent 4 in order to apply heat to the adsorbent 4 to desorb water once adsorbed by the adsorbent 4 from the adsorbent 4. Have been. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an adsorbent 4 and a heater 3 for heating the adsorbent 4 are provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the structure 2 in which the heater 3 and the adsorbent 4 are integrally formed is used, but they may be independently arranged.

As the adsorbent 4, A-type zeolite, X
Adsorbents such as zeolite such as type zeolite, calcium oxide, silica gel, activated carbon, and activated alumina are preferably used. In view of energy consumption, zeolite is preferable. In order to make the entire apparatus compact, a zeolite, which is an adsorbent, is added to a structure composed of a fine-meshed metal net, which can also be used as the heating means 3, for example, a copper net. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-5 which is an example of an adsorbent having good thermal conductivity and good conductivity manufactured by coating.
The structure 2 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 04360 may be used.
By compactly storing such a structure 2 in a predetermined storage container, a compact dehumidifier according to the present invention which can be arranged with a margin in a building such as a large switchboard having a relatively small space. Vessels can be provided.

As described above, the heater 3 applies the powder adsorbent 4 in a slurry state to a support having a mesh structure such as copper, which is a conductor having a specific structure, and causes the adsorbent 4 to adhere to the slurry. A body processed as the body 2 may be used, or a body processed as a conductive body by mixing with a conductive material in a form independent of the adsorbent may be used.

Naturally, the size and shape of the dehumidifier according to the present invention, and the materials and shapes of the above-mentioned various members, various mechanisms and various means are optimally determined in consideration of the storage to be mounted. Needless to say, it is only necessary to select an appropriate one. Other constituent members other than the above can be arbitrarily selected according to the space of the arrangement place. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, at least the main part of the drying means of the automatic drying apparatus except for the opening / closing means 7 of the exhaust / intake port 5 disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-201641, The drainage unit is provided at a position where the surface of the housing container 6 of the dehumidifier 1 on the front side of the table 6a and the surface of the side surface 6b of the dehumidifier 1 face each other.
In order to be able to be stored in a storage housing having an intake port 5,
It is also possible to use the arrangement.

However, from the viewpoint of economy and simplicity, for example, the dehumidifier 1 schematically shown in FIG. 4 is preferably used.

As shown schematically in FIG. 4, the dehumidifier 1 according to the present invention is provided, for example, so as to face the front surface 6a of the housing container 6 of the dehumidifier and the upper surface 6c. So that one of them communicates with the room,
The other is arranged so as to communicate with the outside air. The arrangement method may be selected according to the arrangement space as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Semi-hermetic container 6 having at least one pair of exhaust / inlet ports 5 arranged as described above
Usually includes an adsorbent 4 and a heater 3 for heating the adsorbent 4,
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the integrated members 2 are provided. Further, a control mechanism 10 for controlling the opening and closing shutters 7 and 9 and the heating of the heater is provided. As described above, the control mechanism 10 turns on / off and opens / closes the power of the heater 3 according to a predetermined program, for example. The opening and closing of the shutter 7 is controlled.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a main part of the dehumidifier opening and closing mechanism according to the present invention, except for the driving means 8 except for the driving means 8.
, The operation of the dehumidifier will be described. The semi-hermetic container according to the present invention is basically composed of two processes, a dehumidification process and a dehydration process, like other dehumidifiers. In the dehumidification process, based on a signal or a command from the control mechanism 10 for controlling the opening / closing of the exhaust / intake ports 5a and 5b and the heating of the heater 3, the exhaust / intake port 5a opened toward the inside of the storage is opened. The exhaust / intake port 5b which is opened and opened to the outside via the side wall of the storage is closed.

Therefore, in this state, the dehumidifier 1 is in communication with the indoor air. Thus, air containing indoor moisture is taken in from the exhaust / inlet port 5a provided toward the indoor side, the moisture is adsorbed by the adsorbent 4, and the air is dehumidified and dried. On the other hand, the dehumidified and dried air returns to the room through the exhaust / intake port 5 on the indoor side again.

That is, in the dehumidification process, the exhaust / intake port 5 provided on the indoor side is opened, and convection is applied to the adsorption tank 2 to adsorb water vapor to the adsorbent 4. The water vapor contained in the air is absorbed by the adsorbent 4 to reduce the relative humidity in the room, thereby preventing dew condensation. Further, a fan can be used as a means for sending indoor air.

Of course, when the dehumidified air passes through the dehumidifier main body 1, the dehumidified air is heated by the heat of adsorption generated when the water vapor is adsorbed by the adsorbent 4. Thus, warmed air is supplied to the room, and the relative humidity of the air in the room is reduced, so that dew condensation can be more reliably prevented.

Switching from the dehumidification process to the dehydration process
This may be performed according to a program or a timer mechanism incorporated in the control mechanism 10. At the time of switching, the exhaust / inlet port opened to the indoor side, for example, 5a is closed and the exhaust / inlet port 5 opened to the outside through the side wall of the storage box.
b is opened, the heater 3 is heated, and when the temperature reaches a certain temperature, the moisture absorbed by the adsorbent 4 is heated, and as a water vapor, the exhaust water is opened to the outside through the side wall of the storage. The air is discharged to the outside from the intake port 5b.

Until the temperature of the heater 3 reaches the temperature at which steam is generated, the exhaust / intake port 5a opened to the inside of the storage room is kept open until the temperature at which steam starts to be generated is reached. The opening / closing means 7 may be switched to close the exhaust / intake port 5 opened toward the inside of the storage, and the exhaust / intake port 5 opened to the outside may be opened through the side wall of the storage. Good. By doing so, the influence from the outside air can be suppressed as low as possible. That is, the length of the dehumidification process is set in advance in consideration of the volume of the room in which the dehumidifier 1 according to the present invention is disposed, the surrounding environment, and the like, and a predetermined signal is transmitted to a predetermined member according to the length. Alternatively, the switching may be performed by operating a switching timer. For example, when using a timer mechanism, the length of the dehydration process is set in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and the dehydration process is terminated according to the length, and the dehumidification process is performed again. The switching may be performed by activating the switching timer so as to be started.

The dehydration process includes a signal from the control mechanism 10,
Alternatively, the operation is performed based on a command, the exhaust / intake port 5 opened to the inside of the storage room is closed, the heater 3 is operated, the adsorbent 4 is heated, and the moisture adsorbed on the adsorbent is dehydrated. The water vapor that is heated by the heater 3 and released as water vapor is exhausted to the outside through an exhaust / intake port 5 provided on the side wall of the storage.

[0032]

According to the dehumidifier according to the present invention, as described above, the layout style can be changed according to the location of the dehumidifier, so that it can be used in a large power distribution panel, an outdoor distribution panel, an industrial control panel, or the like. A dehumidifier that can be arranged according to the space of a storage room such as a storage room for photo and optical equipment, art antiques, various precision machines, etc. will be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a state of attachment to a dehumidifier such as a storage box such as a large switchboard or a storage box of various precision machines. FIG. 1A is a layout space having a wide width and a narrow width. (B) is a diagram showing a state of attachment to an arrangement space having a narrow horizontal width and a wide vertical width.

FIG. 2 shows a dehumidifier according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows typically one aspect of the attachment position of an air inlet.

FIG. 3 shows at least a pair of drains of the dehumidifier according to the present invention.
It is a fragmentary sectional view showing typically one mode of an opening-and-closing mechanism of an air inlet.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a main part of one embodiment of a dehumidifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a dehumidifier according to the present invention.
It is a fragmentary sectional view showing typically another mode of the opening and closing mechanism of the air inlet.

FIG. 6 shows a dehumidifier according to the present invention.
It is a fragmentary sectional view showing typically another mode of the opening and closing mechanism of the air inlet.

FIG. 7 shows a dehumidifier according to the present invention.
It is a fragmentary sectional view showing typically another mode of an opening-and-closing mechanism of an air inlet.

FIG. 8 is a chart schematically showing a temporal flow of opening and closing of the exhaust / intake port 5a and the exhaust / intake port 5b, and the ON / OFF state of the heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dehumidifier, 2 ... Structure formed by treating the surface of a heater with an adsorbent, 3 ... Heater 4, ... Adsorbent, 5, 5a, 5
b: exhaust / intake port, 6: housing container, 6a: front surface of housing container, 6b: lateral surface of housing container, 7 ...
Opening / closing plate for exhaust / inlet port, 8: drive mechanism, 10: control mechanism,
11: piston, 12: solenoid (drive unit), 13:
Rotating shaft, 14: fulcrum, 21: storage, 21a: storage side wall for attaching dehumidifier.

Continuation of the front page F term (reference) 4D052 AA00 AA09 CE00 DA06 GA01 GA02 GB07 GB08 HA01 HA02 HA03 HA05 HA21 5E322 BA01 EA03 5G016 AA04 CG03 CG08 CG36

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A dehumidifier comprising at least a pair of an exhaust / intake port 5, an adsorbent 4, a heater 3 for heating the adsorbent 4, and a control mechanism 10 for controlling opening / closing of the exhaust / intake port 5 and heating of the heater. 1. The dehumidifier according to 1, wherein the at least one pair of exhaust / intake ports 5 is configured so that a mounting style of the dehumidifier can be changed according to a space in which the dehumidifier 1 is arranged. 2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing mode is changed by the control mechanism according to the mounting mode. 3. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing mode is changed by mechanical means. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mechanical means changes an arrangement direction of said actuator.
4. The dehumidifier according to claim 1. 5. The dehumidifier according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical means changes the arrangement of the fulcrum with respect to the axis of the rotating body. 6. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent 4 is zeolite.