JP2003021369A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifier enabling an easy adjustment of humidifying quantity and capable of being easily maintained. SOLUTION: The humidifier 10 is provided with an endless filter member 20 wrapped around a driving roller 14 and a driven roller 16. Part of the member 20 is immersed in water 22. A blower 24 is installed inside of the filter member 20. Air is sucked into the inside of the member 20 by driving the blower 24. The air humidified by passing through the member 20 is supplied into a room through a ventilation duct 28. The humidifying quantity to the air to be humidified is controlled by regulating the rotations of the driving roller 14 to regulating the travelling speed of the member 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifier, and more particularly to a humidifier that allows air to pass through a filter member that has absorbed water to humidify the filter member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, steam fan type humidifiers and ultrasonic type humidifiers have been widely used as humidifiers. The steam fan type humidifier humidifies the indoor air by heating water with a heater to generate steam and blowing the steam up by a fan to send the steam into the room. Since this humidifier heats and vaporizes water, it can humidify without lowering the temperature in the room. On the other hand, the ultrasonic type humidifier vibrates water by an ultrasonic vibrator, atomizes it from the water surface by a resonance phenomenon, and blows up what is atomized and scattered by a fan and sends it out into the room. Since the surface area of water becomes extremely large when it is atomized, it vaporizes in the indoor air and humidifies the air.

[0003]

However, any of the conventional humidifiers has a slow humidification speed, and thus has a problem of poor responsiveness and a difficulty of adjusting the humidification amount.

Further, the conventional humidifier uses an air filter in order to prevent dust and the like from being mixed into the humidified air, but the air filter must be washed at regular intervals to prevent clogging. There was a problem of not becoming. Further, the conventional humidifier has a problem that inorganic substances are deposited. Therefore, improvement has been desired in terms of maintenance.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier in which the amount of humidification and the maintenance can be easily performed.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is wound between a pair of rollers and runs by rotating at least one roller of the pair of rollers to drive in water. An endless filter member that passes through, a speed adjusting unit that adjusts the speed at which the roller rotates, and an air flow forming unit that forms an air flow from the outer region to the inner region of the filter member so as to pass through the filter member. And a duct for communicating the inside region of the filter member with the humidified region and for feeding the humidified air in the inside region of the filter member to the humidified region.

According to the present invention, by rotating the roller, air is passed through the endless filter member passing through the water to humidify it, and the humidified air is sent to the humidified area. According to this humidifier, the humidification amount of the humidified air can be easily adjusted by adjusting the rotation speed of the roller.

Further, according to the present invention, since the filter member is made to pass through the water, the dust and the like collected in the filter member is washed off in the water, and the filter member is naturally washed. Therefore, the frequency of cleaning the filter member can be significantly reduced, and the maintainability is improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the air is allowed to pass from the outer region to the inner region of the filter member, the passage area (humidification area) is large. Therefore, since the humidification speed is fast, the response is good. Further, since the humidifying area is large, the loss pressure is small, and the humidifier can be arranged in the duct, for example.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a humidifier according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a humidifier according to the present invention, in which a casing is seen through to show an internal structure. Further, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic structure of the humidifier.

As shown in these figures, the humidifier 10 is
The driving roller 14 and the driven roller 1 are provided inside the casing 12.
6 is provided. The driving roller 14 and the driven roller 16 are
The upper and lower parts are arranged at a predetermined interval and are rotatably supported by the casing 12. Also, the drive roller 1
Reference numeral 4 is connected to the motor 18 and is rotated by driving the motor 18. A step motor or the like is used as the motor 18, and its rotation speed is controlled by a control device (not shown).

The filter member 20 is formed in an endless shape (ring shape) and is wound around the driving roller 14 and the driven roller 16. Therefore, by rotating the drive roller 14, the drive roller 14 and the driven roller 16 travel around. Further, the filter member 20 has a water absorbing property, and a part thereof is immersed in the water 22 stored in the lower portion of the casing 12. Therefore, when the filter member 20 is run, the filter member 20 passes through the water, absorbs water, and runs in this state.

A blower 24 is provided between the drive roller 14 and the driven roller 16, that is, in a region surrounded by the filter member 20 (hereinafter referred to as an inner region). Further, shield plates 26, 26 are provided to prevent air from flowing from the end surface side of the drive roller 14 and the driven roller 16 to the inner area. The air duct 2 is provided on one side of the shield plate 26.
8 is connected, and the blower 24 is connected to the blower duct 28.
The air outlet of is connected. The tip of the blower duct 28 communicates with a room (not shown) that is a humidified area. Accordingly, when the blower 24 is driven, the air in the outer region of the filter member 20 is sucked into the inner region through the filter member 20 and is blown into the room through the blower duct 28.

A heater 30 is provided at the bottom of the casing 12 so that the stored water 22 can be heated by the heater 30. The heater 30 is controlled by the controller 34 based on the detection value of the temperature sensor 32 (see FIG. 2) provided in the room. Thereby, the water temperature can be adjusted.

Next, the operation of the humidifier 10 configured as described above will be described.

First, the motor 18 is driven to drive the drive roller 1.
4 is rotated and the filter member 20 is run. The filter member 20 travels while absorbing water by passing through the water 22.

The blower 24 is driven in this state. As a result, the air in the outer region of the filter member 20 passes through the filter member 20 and is sucked into the inner region of the filter member 20. At this time, the air is humidified by passing through the filter member 20 that has absorbed water, and at the same time, dust and the like in the air is collected by the filter member 20.

The air thus humidified is sent to the room through the air duct 28, and the room is thereby humidified. The dust collected by the filter member 20 is automatically removed as the filter member 20 passes through the water 22.

By the way, it is necessary to adjust the humidification amount of the humidified air according to the humidity and temperature in the room. Therefore, the rotation speed of the drive roller 14 by the motor 18 and the heat generation amount of the heater 30 are controlled according to the detection value of the temperature sensor 32 provided in the room. As a result, the traveling speed of the filter member 20 and the temperature of the water 22 are adjusted, so that the amount and temperature of the water absorbed by the filter member 20 are adjusted.

The amount of humidification of the air passing through the filter member 20 changes depending on the amount of water absorbed by the filter member 20 and the temperature thereof. That is, the greater the amount of water absorbed by the filter member 20 and the higher the temperature of the absorbed water, the easier the water evaporates into the air, and the more the amount of humidification of air increases. Therefore, by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 18 and the heat generation amount of the heater 30, the humidification amount of air can be easily adjusted.

As described above, according to the humidifier 10 of the present embodiment, the humidification amount of the humidified air can be easily adjusted by controlling the rotation speed of the drive roller 14 and the temperature of the water 22. Particularly, in this embodiment, the drive roller 1
Since the rotation speed of No. 4 and the temperature of the water 22 are both controlled, the amount of humidification can be adjusted quickly.

Further, according to the humidifier 10, since the filter member 20 is made to pass through the water, the filter member 2
Dust and the like collected outside 0 can be automatically removed. Therefore, the blocking of the filter member 20 is suppressed, and the frequency of cleaning the filter member 20 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the humidifier 10 does not cause precipitation of inorganic substances, maintenance is easy.

Further, in the humidifier 10, since air is allowed to flow from the outer region to the inner region of the filter member 20,
Humidification can be performed on both the rising side and the falling side of the filter member 20. Therefore, since the humidifying area is large and the humidifying speed is fast, the response of adjusting the humidifying amount is good. Moreover, since the humidifying area is large, the pressure loss is small, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, in the humidifier 10, since the blower 24 is housed inside the filter member 20, the humidifier 10 can be downsized.

In the above-described embodiment, the blower 24
Was stored in the inner region of the filter member 20, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be provided outside the filter member 20. For example, the humidifier shown in FIG.
The blower 36 is attached to the side wall 12A of the. When this blower 36 is driven, outside air is transferred to the casing 12
Is sucked into the interior of the casing and the internal pressure of the casing 12 rises. Then, the air in the outer region of the filter member 20 flows into the inner region through the filter member 20, is humidified, and is blown out from the blower duct 28.

A brush 38 is provided in the humidifier shown in FIG. 4, and the filter member 2 is provided by the brush 38.
Dust and the like adhering to the outer surface of 0 can be removed. Therefore, the life of the filter member 20 can be extended and the maintainability can be further improved. The brush 38 may be arranged inside or outside the water 22. However, considering that the filter member 20 absorbs water, the brush 38 is preferably arranged inside the water 22.

The humidifier shown in FIG. 4 has a function of purifying the water 22. That is, the circulation pipe 40 is connected to the casing 12, and the circulation pipe 40 is connected to the casing 12.
A circulation pump 42 and a filter 44 are arranged in the.
Therefore, by driving the circulation pump 42,
The water 22 flows through the circulation pipe 40 and passes through the filter 44,
Purified. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the water 22 from being contaminated and the maintainability is improved. Further, since the water 22 is agitated by the water discharged from the circulation pipe 40, the temperature of the water 22 becomes uniform, and the water
2. Temperature control is easy.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the humidifier 46 of the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the humidifier 46 is attached to the duct 48. The inside of the duct 48 is blown with air by a blower (not shown) from left to right in the figure.

The humidifier 46 is installed inside the duct 48. Like the first embodiment, the humidifier 46 includes a driving roller 14, a driven roller 16 and a filter member 20. The driving roller 14 is arranged above the duct 48, and the driven roller 16 is arranged in the duct 48. It is placed at the bottom. The rotation axes of the drive roller 14 and the driven roller 16 are arranged parallel to the axial direction of the duct 48. The filter member 20 is formed in an endless shape, and is wound around the driven roller 16 and the drive roller 14. A tray 23 storing water 22 is provided below the humidifier 46, and the filter member 20 is partially immersed in the water 22. Therefore, when the motor 18 is driven to rotate the drive roller 14, the filter member 20 travels inside the duct 48 and passes through the water 22 to absorb water. When the motor 18 is installed outside the duct 48, an air leak seal 49 is installed in the mechanism that transmits the driving force to the driving roller 14.
Is provided to prevent air from leaking to the outside of the duct 48.

As shown in FIG. 6, the humidifier 46 is provided with an upstream side shield plate 50 and downstream side shield plates 52, 52. The upstream side shield plate 50 includes the filter member 20.
The inner region A of the duct and the upstream region C of the duct 48 are cut off,
The downstream shield plate 52 blocks the outer region B of the filter member 20 and the downstream region D of the duct 48. This allows
The upstream region C is blocked from the inner region A and communicates with the inner region B, and the downstream region D is blocked from the outer region B and communicates with the inner region A.

The upstream shield plate 50 and the downstream shield plate 5
It is preferable that 2 has a shape that does not block the air flow. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the downstream shield plate 52 may be inclined in the air flowing direction from the outside toward the center.
Further, the central portion of the upstream side shield plate 50 may be projected in a wedge shape to the upstream side (not shown). Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
By providing the straightening vanes 51 and providing the straightening portions 23a on the tray 23, the air flow in the duct 48 is smoothly guided to the inner region A of the filter member 20.

According to the humidifier 46 of the second embodiment configured as described above, the air flowing through the upstream region C of the duct 48 first flows into the outside region B of the humidifier 46.
Then, it passes through the filter member 20, is humidified, and flows into the inner region A. The humidified air flowing into the inner area A flows into the downstream area D and is supplied indoors.

As described above, the humidifier 46 according to the second embodiment.
According to the above, according to
Since all the air flowing through the filter passes through the filter member 20, the humidifying efficiency is good, and the sufficiently humidified air can be supplied to the room.

Further, since the humidifier 46 utilizes the flow of air flowing through the duct 48, the humidifier 46 can be humidified without providing a blower.

Further, since the humidifier 46 has a large humidification area as in the first embodiment, the pressure loss is small,
Humidification can be performed without significantly obstructing the flow of air. In particular, in the second embodiment, the flow regulating plate 51 and the flow regulating portion 23a of the tray 23 are provided, and the downstream side shielding plate 52 is inclined, so that the air flows smoothly and the pressure loss is very small.

Although the humidifier 46 is housed inside the duct 48 in the above-described second embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the duct 58 is vertically penetrated as shown in FIG. The humidifier 56 may be configured as described above.

The duct 58 shown in FIG. 7 is an upstream duct 58.
Air is flowing from the upstream duct 58A to the downstream duct 58B by a blower (not shown). The structure of the humidifier 56 is the same as that of the humidifier 46 shown in FIG.
The drive roller 14 is arranged above the duct 58, and the driven roller 16 is arranged below the duct 58. Therefore, the driving roller 14 and the driven roller 16
Is disposed outside the duct 58, the air flow is not obstructed by the drive roller 14 and the driven roller 16, and the pressure loss can be further reduced.

[0040]

As described above, according to the humidifier of the present invention, by rotating the roller, air is passed through the endless filter member that passes through water to humidify the roller. By adjusting the rotation speed of the, the amount of humidification of the humidified air can be easily adjusted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a humidifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the structure of the humidifier.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure of a humidifier different from that in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a structure of a humidifier according to another aspect.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the humidifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the humidifier according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a humidifier having a configuration different from that of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Humidifier of 1st Embodiment, 12 ... Casing,
14 ... drive roller, 16 ... driven roller, 18 ... motor,
20 ... Filter member, 22 ... Water, 24 ... Blower, 26 ...
Shielding plate, 28 ... Blower duct, 30 ... Heater, 32 ... Temperature sensor, 34 ... Controller, 36 ... Blower, 38 ... Brush,
46 ... Humidifier of 2nd Embodiment, 48 ... Duct, 50
... upstream side shield plate, 52 ... downstream side shield plate

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An endless filter member which is wound between a pair of rollers and runs by rotating at least one roller of the pair of rollers, and which passes through water, and a speed at which the rollers rotate. The air flow forming means for forming an air flow from the outer region to the inner region of the filter member so as to pass through the filter member, and the inner region of the filter member and the humidified region are communicated with each other. Then
A duct for supplying humidified air in an inner region of the filter member to the region to be humidified, the humidifier. 2. A humidifier provided in a duct through which air supplied to a humidified area flows, the humidifier being wound between a pair of rollers and rotating at least one roller of the pair of rollers. An endless filter member that travels and passes through the inside of the duct and underwater; speed adjusting means for adjusting the speed at which the roller rotates;
The duct on the upstream side of the humidifier is connected to the outer region by being blocked from the inner region of the filter member, and the duct on the downstream side of the humidifier is blocked from the outer region of the filter member by the inner region. A humidifier characterized by being communicated with the area. 3. Detection means for detecting the temperature and / or humidity of the humidified area, and the temperature of water passing through the filter member and / or the rotation of the roller based on the detection value of the detection means. The humidifier according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a control unit configured to control a humidification amount of the humidified air supplied to the humidified region by adjusting a speed at which the humidifier is operated.