JP2001293069A - Photocatalyst unit and air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photocatalyst unit which can reduce the manufacturing cost of an air cleaner, etc., and is highly versatile. SOLUTION: An integral unit U is formed by arranging elements 11 carrying a photocatalyst in a plurality of stages and photocatalyst exciting lamps 12 among the elements 11 and attaching the elements 11 and lamp 12 to a frame 13. The unit U is attached to the air cleaner 1 by inserting the unit U into the main body casing 2 of the cleaner 1. Since the number of the units U attached to the cleaner 2 can be changed in accordance with required deodorizing capacities, the unit U has high versatility.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photocatalyst unit including a photocatalyst that performs a function of, for example, deodorizing when irradiated with light, and an air cleaner including the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been provided an air purifier or the like which exhibits a deodorizing function of a photocatalyst. Inside this type of air purifier, an element for supporting a photocatalyst and a lamp for irradiating light to the photocatalyst are housed. If the above elements become dirty or the lamp reaches the end of its life, maintenance is required to replace them with new ones.

[0003] When a relatively large floor-standing air purifier is assumed, a large number of elements and a large number of lamps are used. A great deal of work is required, and as a result, the manufacturing cost of the entire air purifier increases. In the air purifier, depending on the installation location,
Although there are various specifications for the air purifying ability (for example, deodorizing ability), the air purifier has to be designed individually corresponding to each specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photocatalytic unit which can be manufactured at low cost and has high versatility, and an air purifier including the same. is there.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems As means for solving the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 includes a photocatalyst which performs a predetermined function upon being irradiated with light,
An object of the present invention is to provide a photocatalyst unit comprising: elements arranged in a plurality of stages; at least one lamp for irradiating light to the photocatalyst; and a frame holding the elements and the lamp.

In this configuration, since a plurality of elements and a plurality of lamps are supported by a frame to form a unit, the unit is assembled beforehand outside the air cleaner body and then assembled into the air cleaner. Can be. Compared with the case where a large number of elements and lamps are individually incorporated in the air purifier main body, the assembling work can be greatly simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, if a unit is provided, a desired air cleaning capability (for example, a deodorizing capability) can be easily achieved by arbitrarily setting the number of units, thereby facilitating setting of the air purifier.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the frame includes left and right side plates and a rear plate for defining an air path. In this configuration,
Since the unit includes at least a part of the members that define the air path, the structure can be simplified as compared with a case where these are separately formed. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the element has a rectangular shape, and first and second position regulating portions for vertically positioning the edge of the element are provided on the left and right side plates and the rear plate. It is characterized by the following. With this configuration, the element can be slid from the front between the two position restricting portions and inserted and removed using the upper and lower position restricting portions of each side plate as a guide. Further, the edge of the element can be kept airtight by the position restricting portions of both the side plate and the rear plate.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, one or a plurality of groove-shaped members each having a U-shape in plan view including the first and second position regulating portions as flanges are provided. A left and right side plate and a rear plate are fixed to corresponding channel members. If it is a groove-shaped member, it can be formed easily and inexpensively, and the structural strength of the frame including the left and right side plates and the rear plate can be remarkably improved. The invention described in claim 5 is the first invention.
In 2, 3, or 4, the frame body includes a front plate for defining an air passage. In this configuration, since the unit includes at least a part of the members that define the air path, the structure can be simplified as compared with a case where these are separately formed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the front plate includes first and second position restricting portions for positioning the front edge of the element up and down. In this configuration, the edge of the element can be held in an airtight manner by the two position regulating portions of the front plate. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the front plate includes a front door that can be opened and closed. By opening the front door, maintenance such as replacement of each element and each lamp can be easily performed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the side plate, the rear plate and the front door are plates extending in the direction in which the elements are arranged. The side plates, the rear plate, and the front door can surround and stably hold a plurality of stages of elements. In addition, by opening the front door, an arbitrary element can be easily taken out forward. A ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the seventh or eighth aspect, when closing the front door, a guide means for guiding an element between the first and second position regulating portions of the front door is provided, respectively. Things. In this configuration, even when the front edge of the element is slightly deflected and displaced when the front door is closed, it can be reliably introduced between the two position restricting portions by the guide means.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 7 or 8.
3. The photocatalyst unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a flange that opens outward from each end edge of the first and second position regulating portions. With this configuration, when the front door is closed, the front edge of the element can be reliably introduced between the two position regulating portions by the flange that opens outward. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air purifier according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein an electrical component for supplying power to the lamp is attached to the frame. Is what you do. In this configuration, assembling work can be greatly simplified as compared with the case where the electric components are individually incorporated, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air purifier, wherein the photocatalyst unit according to any one of the second to eleventh aspects is laid out with the up-down direction of the frame body oriented in the direction of air flow. Machine. When laying out the photocatalyst unit in an air purifier, the vertical direction of the unit is laid out in the direction of air flow (for example, vertical direction, left / right direction, front / rear direction, obliquely upward, etc.) to design the air purifier. Degree of freedom can be increased.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, one or a plurality of photocatalyst units are mounted in a housing portion in a main body casing. By arbitrarily setting the number of units according to the place where the air purifier is used, for example, a necessary deodorizing ability can be freely achieved. According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, an insertion / extraction opening for a photocatalyst unit that can be formed on a predetermined surface of the main body casing is provided. The photocatalyst unit can be easily assembled by inserting the photocatalyst unit from an insertion opening formed on any surface of the main body casing of the air purifier.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect or the fourteenth aspect, the guide means is provided in the housing portion and guides the slide insertion / removal of the frame into the housing portion by engaging with the frame of the photocatalytic unit. It is characterized by having.
The photocatalyst unit can be slid and inserted into the housing portion through the insertion opening while being guided by the guide means, and can be easily assembled to the frame.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a photocatalyst unit according to an embodiment of the present invention and an air purifier to which the photocatalyst unit is mounted. FIGS. 2 and 3 are partially cutaway front views of the air purifier to which the photocatalyst unit is mounted. It is a partially broken schematic side view. With reference to these drawings, an air purifier 1 includes a vertically long box-shaped main body casing 2, and a rear surface 2 of the main body casing 2 is provided inside the main body casing 2.
a from the suction port 3 formed in the lower part of the main casing 2
An air passage 5 leading to the air outlet 4 formed on the upper surface 2b is partitioned. An air filter 3 a is arranged in the suction port 3.

A blower 6 for generating a ventilation flow flowing from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4 in the air passage 5 is disposed above the air passage 5. The blower 6 includes a fan casing 6a and a fan rotor 6b. Reference numeral 7 denotes a motor for driving the blower 6. In the main body casing 2, below the blower fan 6 and the motor 7, a housing portion 8 for housing the photocatalyst unit U detachably from the front is defined. The housing portion 8 is provided on the front surface 2 c of the main body casing 2.
The front panel 9 is opened forward through an insertion / extraction opening 10 formed by removing the front panel 9. When assembling the air purifier 1, the photocatalyst unit U is slid and inserted into the housing 8 through the insertion opening 10, and is mounted. Further, the lower half of the air passage 5 is partitioned by incorporating the photocatalyst unit U.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, photocatalytic unit U
Is a unit in which a large number of elements 11 including a photocatalyst and a large number of lamps 12 for exciting the photocatalyst are collectively supported by a common frame 13 to form a unit. The elements 11 have a substantially rectangular shape, are arranged in a plurality of rows on the left and right, and are arranged in multiple stages up and down.
The lamps 12 are arranged by a predetermined number. The lamp 12 is formed of a long straight tube lamp, and extends horizontally, for example, left and right, and a plurality of lamps are arranged at predetermined intervals in front and rear.

The element 11 is constituted by, for example, an element body itself made of a porous ceramic which can be ventilated, and an element body made of a porous ceramic which can be ventilated and a holding member arranged along the periphery of the element body. It may be composed of a frame. Here, the photocatalyst means a substance that absorbs light and gives the energy to a reactant to cause a scientific reaction. The predetermined functions exhibited by the photocatalyst include 1) a deodorizing function by removing odor components, 2) a function of decomposing contaminants that are not odor components,
3) a function of sterilizing microorganisms and inactivating viruses (so-called sterilization / antibacterial function); and 4) at least one hydrophilic property.

The functions 1) to 3) are considered to be caused by the oxidative decomposition function of the photocatalyst. Examples of the photocatalyst having the oxidative decomposition function include titanium oxide (for example, TiO ₂ ) having an anatase crystal structure. Titanium oxide having this anatase-type crystal structure is preferable in that it can exhibit high purification ability even with weak ultraviolet light. As the photocatalyst having hydrophilicity 4), titanium oxide having a rutile type crystal structure (for example, TiO ₂ )
Can be exemplified. Also, instead of titanium oxide,
Zinc oxide (ZnO) and tungsten oxide (eg, W
O ₃ ) may be used.

The lamp is preferably a lamp capable of irradiating light including ultraviolet rays, and examples thereof include a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a hot cathode fluorescent lamp. A black light lamp may be used in addition to a commercially available chemical lamp or sterilizing lamp. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, frame 13 is rotatable around left and right side plates 14, 15, rear plate 16, and rotation axis 17 at the front edge of either side plate 14 or 15. Has a front door 18 as a front plate supported by the front door. Side plate 1
4, 15, the rear plate 16 and the front door 18 are plates extending in the vertical direction, which is the direction of air flow. By opening the front door 18, any element 11 can be easily taken out forward.

The right and left edges 11 of each element 11 of each stage are arranged along the left and right side plates 14 and 15 and the rear body 16.
A first channel-shaped member 19 as a holding frame for holding a, 11b and the trailing edge 11c is fixed. The first channel-shaped member 19 has a U-shape in plan view. One or a plurality of stages are arranged side by side with the open side facing forward. The channel members 19, 19 arranged side by side are fixed to each other. Referring to FIG. 4, the left channel member 19 is fixed to the left side plate 14 and the rear plate 16, and the right channel member 19 is fixed to the right side plate 15 and the rear plate 16.

A second channel member 20 is fixed to the front door 18 as a holding frame for holding the front edge of the element 11 of each stage. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
The first channel-shaped member 19 is provided with each edge 11a of the element 11,
It has an upper position restricting portion 21 and a lower position restricting portion 22 that are arranged vertically above and below with 11b and 11c interposed therebetween. A connecting portion 35 serving as a web of the first channel-shaped member 19 for connecting the two position regulating portions 21 and 22 to each other, and a left edge 11 of the element 11
a (buffer member 36 containing, for example, ceramic fiber or the like is interposed between the right edge 11b and the end surface of the rear edge 11c).

The buffer member 36 is made of an inorganic material. As a result, deterioration due to ultraviolet rays can be prevented. The inorganic substance is a substance other than the organic compound, and examples thereof include silica. For example, the buffer member 36 is a nonwoven fabric of inorganic fibers,
Has buffering properties. The inorganic fiber is a fiber made of the above-mentioned inorganic substance, and examples thereof include a ceramic fiber, a metal fiber, and a glass fiber. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B,
The second groove-shaped member 20 has an upper position regulating part 23 and a lower position regulating part 24. When the front door 18 is closed, each of the position restricting portions 23 and 24 serves as a guide for guiding the front edge 11 d of the element 11 between the position restricting portions 23 and 24. Flange 25 that opens in the direction
26 are provided. A cushioning member 38 containing, for example, asbestos or the like is provided between a connecting portion 37 as a web of the second channel-shaped member 20 for connecting the two position regulating portions 23 and 24 to each other and an end surface of the front edge 11d of the element 11. Is interposed.

Referring to FIG. 4, the left and right side plates 14,
Each of the sockets 15 is provided with a socket 33 for holding both ends of the lamp 12. Each of the sockets 33 has a groove 3 for inserting an electrode pin 12 a at a corresponding end of the lamp 12.
Four. The lamp 12 is turned in the same manner as a straight fluorescent lamp of a general household so that the electrode pin 12a is formed in the groove 34.
It is designed so that you can put it in and out and put it on and off. FIG.
(A) and (b), as shown in FIG.
On the rear surface, mounting stays 27 are mounted in multiple stages,
A plurality of electrical components 28 for lighting and driving the lamps 12 corresponding to the respective mounting stays 27 are mounted side by side. The electrical component 28 includes a lighting circuit including a glow sphere, a power transformer, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 7, angled flanges 29, 3 are formed on the lower edges of left and right side plates 14, 15, respectively.
0 is extended. Each of the flanges 29, 30 has a first portion 31 protruding inward and a second portion 32 extending downward from the tip of the first portion 31, respectively. On the other hand, the left and right side plates 41 and 42 of the main body casing 2 have lower guide members 43 and 44 for guiding the lower part of the photocatalytic unit U inserted into and removed from the housing portion 8 and upper guide members 45 and 46 for guiding the upper part. Are provided respectively. Lower guide member 4
Each of the flanges 2 and 3 has an angle shape, and the lower flange 2 of each of the side plates 14 and 15 of the frame 13 of the photocatalytic unit U.
Receiving 9, 30 the insertion and removal of the photocatalyst unit U into and from the storage section 8 is guided. With the guidance by the guide members 43, 44, 45, and 46, the photocatalyst unit U can be slid into the housing portion 8 in the main body casing 2 of the air cleaner 1 and easily assembled.

Each lower guide member 43,44 has a first portion 4 for receiving the first portion 31 of the corresponding flange 29,30.
7 and a second part 48 for receiving the second part 32. The corresponding second portions 32 and 48 are fastened by the mounting screws 50 and fixed to each other. Similarly, each of the upper guide members 45 and 46 has an angle shape, and includes a guide portion 49 for guiding the left and right side plates 14 and 15 of the photocatalytic unit U at the time of insertion and removal. The corresponding side plates 14 and 15 of the frame 13 are fixed to the respective guide portions 49 by mounting screws 51.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of elements 11 and a plurality of lamps 12 are supported by a frame 13 to form a photocatalyst unit U. Can be assembled in the main casing 2 after assembling in advance outside. Compared with a case where a large number of elements and lamps are individually incorporated in the main body casing, the assembling operation can be greatly simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, by arbitrarily setting the number of the photocatalyst units U, a desired air cleaning capability (for example, a deodorizing capability) can be easily achieved, and the setting of the air purifier 1 is facilitated.

Further, since the frame 13 of the photocatalytic unit U includes a member for defining the air passage 5, the structure is simplified as compared with a case where a member for defining the air passage is provided separately from the unit. can do. Also, the photocatalytic unit U
By removing the front panel 9 of the main body casing 2 of the air purifier 1 to which is attached and opening the front door 18, the inside of the photocatalyst unit U is in a state where the element 11 can be inserted and removed. The lamp 12 is also ready to be put on and taken off. The element 11 can be inserted and removed by sliding the element 11 from the front of the photocatalyst unit U using the upper and lower position regulating portions 21 and 22 formed on the side plates 14 and 15 as guides. very good. Moreover, each side plate 14, 1
5. Each position regulating part 21 of the rear plate 16 and the front door 18
2; 23, 24, the corresponding edges 11a to 11d of the element 11 can be kept airtight.

In particular, the first groove-shaped member 19 having a U-shape in plan view including the position restricting portions 21 and 22 as flanges allows the frame 13 including the left and right side plates 14 and 15 and the rear plate 16 to be formed. The structural strength can be significantly improved. When the front door 18 is closed, the second channel member 2 is closed.
The leading edge 11d of the element 11 is guided by the flanges 25 and 26 that open outwardly, so that the two
The leading edge 11d of the element 11 can be introduced between 3 and 24.

Further, since the electrical component 28 for the lamp 12 is previously mounted on the photocatalyst unit U, the assembling work can be greatly simplified as compared with the case where the electrical component is individually incorporated in the main body casing, and the manufacturing process can be further simplified. Cost can be reduced. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a first groove-shaped member 19A as a holding frame is provided at the edges of both position regulating portions 21 and 22. A contact portion 39 having an L-shaped cross section may be provided. In this case, a remarkable effect is exhibited particularly when the element 11 is formed of a porous, air-permeable ceramic element body itself. That is, when inserting and removing the element 11 for maintenance,
Although the ceramic may be shaved by contact with the first channel member 19A and the fine particles may come out of the inside of the first channel member 19A, the fine particles may be ejected by the L-shaped contact portion 39. Can be prevented.

In each embodiment, the cushioning material 3
6, 38 may be abolished. When laying out the photocatalyst unit U in the air purifier, the photocatalyst unit U
May be laid out in an arbitrary direction such as the left-right direction in the vertical direction. Further, the layout may be arbitrarily made so that the front door 18 faces left, right, rear, upward, or diagonally upward. In addition, various changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a photocatalyst unit according to an embodiment of the present invention and an air purifier equipped with the photocatalyst unit.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic front view of an air purifier equipped with a photocatalyst unit.

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away schematic side view of an air purifier equipped with a photocatalyst unit.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of a main part of the photocatalytic unit.

5A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a first channel member and an element, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a second channel member and an element.

FIGS. 6 (a) and (b) are a schematic side view and a schematic rear view of a frame body.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the frame of the photocatalyst unit is attached to a main body casing of the air purifier.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of a first channel member and an element according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air cleaner 2 Main body casing 2c Front surface 3 Inlet 4 Outlet 8 Housing 9 Front panel 10 Insertion / extraction opening 11 Element 11a Left edge 11b Right edge 11c Rear edge 11d Front edge 12 Lamp 13 Frame body 14, 15 Side plate 16 Rear plate Reference Signs List 18 front door (front plate) 19 first channel-shaped member 20 second channel-shaped member 21 upper position restricting portion (first position restricting portion) 22 lower position restricting portion (second position restricting portion) 23 upper position Control part (first position control part) 24 Lower position control part (second position control part) 25, 26 Flange 27 Mounting stay 28 Electrical components 41, 42 Side plate 43, 44 Lower guide member 45, 46 Upper guide member

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhito Kidera 1304 Kanaokacho, Sakai-shi, Osaka Daikin Industries, Ltd. Sakai Seisakusho Kanaoka Factory F-term (reference) 4C080 AA07 AA10 BB02 BB05 CC01 QQ11 4D048 AA22 AB03 BB03 BB18 CA02 CA07 CC08 CC22 CC32 CC36 CC38 DA01 DA20 EA01

Claims (15)

[Claims] An element (11) including a photocatalyst that performs a predetermined function upon irradiation of light and arranged in a plurality of stages, at least one lamp (12) for irradiating the photocatalyst with light, and these elements (11) And a frame (13) for holding the lamp (12). 2. The frame according to claim 1, wherein said frame body is an air passage.
Left and right side plates (14) (15) and rear plate (16) for partitioning (5)
And a photocatalyst unit comprising: 3. An element according to claim 2, wherein said element (11) has a rectangular shape, and has left and right side plates (14) (15) and a rear plate (16) for positioning an edge of the element (11) up and down. A photocatalyst unit comprising first and second position regulating portions (21) and (22). 4. A groove-shaped member (19) including the first and second position restricting portions (21) and (22) as flanges and having a U-shape in plan view. A photocatalyst unit comprising a plurality of the left and right side plates (14) (15) and the rear plate (16) fixed to the corresponding groove-shaped members (19). 5. A photocatalyst unit according to claim 1, wherein said frame (13) includes a front plate (18) for defining an air passage (5). 6. The front plate (18) according to claim 5, wherein said front plate (18) includes first and second position regulating portions (23) (24) for vertically positioning a front edge of said element (11). Photocatalytic unit. 7. The photocatalytic unit according to claim 6, wherein said front plate includes a front door which can be opened and closed. 8. The photocatalyst according to claim 7, wherein the side plates (14) (15), the rear plate (16) and the front door (18) are plates extending in a direction in which the elements (11) are arranged. unit. 9. The first and second position regulating portions (2) of the front door (18) when closing the front door (18).
3) A photocatalytic unit comprising guide means (25) and (26) for guiding the element (11) between the elements (24). 10. The guide means according to claim 7, wherein
(25) (26) The photocatalyst unit comprising flanges (25) and (26) that open outward from respective edges of the first and second position regulating portions (23) and (24). 11. A photocatalyst according to claim 1, wherein an electric component (28) for lighting a lamp (12) is attached to said frame (13). unit. 12. The photocatalyst unit (U) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the frame (13) is laid out with the vertical direction of the frame body (13) oriented in the direction of air flow. Air cleaner. 13. The photocatalytic unit (U) according to claim 12,
An air purifier characterized in that one or a plurality of the air purifiers are mounted in a housing portion (8) in a main body casing (2). 14. The main body casing according to claim 13,
An air purifier characterized by comprising an insertion / extraction opening (10) for a photocatalyst unit (U) that can be formed on a predetermined surface (2c) of (2). 15. The housing portion (8) of the frame (13) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the housing portion (8) is provided in the housing portion (8) and engages with the frame (13) of the photocatalytic unit (U). An air purifier comprising guide means (43), (44), (45), and (46) for guiding slide insertion and extraction into and out of the air purifier.