JP2003056871A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifier the electrode installing space of which can be made compact in size while the cost of the humidifier is reduced by combinedly using one of paired sterilizing electrodes as the counter electrode of a water level detecting electrode. SOLUTION: This humidifier is provided with a case main body 1A having an air inlet and an air outlet and a water tank 16 in which the water supplied from a water supply tank 13 is stored to a prescribed water level in its bottom section, a humidifying means 17 which uses the water stored in the tank 16 for humidification, the pared sterilizing electrodes 31 and 32 which are provided at appropriate locations in the water tank 16 to sterilize the water stored in the tank 16. This humidifier is also provide with the water level detecting electrode 34 which detects the water level in the tank 16. The electrode 34 is arranged closely to one 31 of the electrodes 31 and 32 so that the electrode 31 may be used combinedly as a water-level detecting electrode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifier provided with a water tank for storing water for humidification, which is provided with a sterilizing electrode for sterilizing water in the water tank and a water level detecting electrode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as this type of humidifier, an outer case having an air inlet and an outlet, and a bottom provided with a water tank for collecting water supplied from a water tank to a predetermined water level, and a water tank Equipped with a humidification filter and a blower that blows air to the humidification filter to vaporize the water that has permeated the humidification filter, and a pair of sterilization electrodes that sterilize the water in the water tank at appropriate places in the water tank. With the configuration
The applicant has previously proposed it in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-28039.

By the way, as this type of humidifier, there is known a humidifier provided with a pair of water level detection electrodes at appropriate places in the water tank in order to detect the water level in the water tank.

[0004]

As described above, if the water tank is equipped with the sterilization electrodes and the water level detection electrodes, each water tank must be provided with a pair of electrodes, that is, four electrodes. In consideration of durability, this type of electrode uses an expensive titanium electrode piece, so not only does it cost more, but it also has four electrode pieces outside the space where the humidification filter can be installed. Installation space is required, and the tank size must be increased accordingly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and one of the pair of sterilization electrodes is also used as the counter electrode of the water level detection electrode to reduce the cost and to make the electrode installation space compact. The purpose is to be able to provide a humidifier that can be.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a case body having an air suction port and a discharge port, and a bottom provided with a water tank for collecting water supplied from a water supply tank up to a predetermined water level. A humidifying means for supplying the water in the water tank to the humidification, a pair of electrodes for disinfecting the water in the water tank, which are provided in appropriate places in the water tank, and a water level detecting electrode for detecting the water level in the water tank And the water level detecting electrode is arranged close to one of the pair of bacteria removing electrodes, and the one bacteria removing electrode is also used as a water level detecting electrode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the humidifier according to the first aspect, the humidifying means is a humidifying filter having air permeability and water absorption.

The invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the humidifier according to, the pair of bacteria-removing electrodes and water-level detecting electrodes are arranged in an auxiliary water tank formed deeper than the humidification filter in a state of being connected to the water tank,
A protective net is provided between these two electrodes and the humidification filter.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the humidifier according to the third aspect, the protective net is a resin molded product.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer case of the humidifier A, and the outer case 1 is formed of synthetic resin, and is formed into a case body 1.
A top plate 2, a bottom plate 3, a peripheral side plate 4 and a tank cover plate 5 which compose A, and a front panel 6 as a detachable panel which is detachable from the case body 1A. Is provided with an operation section 7 also serving as a display section, and a horizontally long discharge port 9 having a discharge guide grid 8 integrally formed with the top plate 2 is formed at the front end portion of the top plate 2. Around the operation portion 7, a U-shaped handle 10 is provided which is provided so as to be up and down freely and is portable.

At the upper part of the peripheral side plate 4, a lattice-shaped air suction port 11 is formed which is connected to the back surface of the circumferential side plate 4 and one side surface of the circumferential side plate 4. An air purification filter 12 is attached to the air suction port 11. The top plate 2 is fixed to the peripheral side plate 4 by screws (not shown), and the bottom plate 3 is also fixed by screws (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom plate 3 is formed with a water receiving portion 14 on the right side for receiving the humidifying water supplied from the cartridge type water supply tank 13, and is integrally molded with the bottom plate 3. A water tank 16 for accumulating water supplied to the water receiving portion 14 from the water supply tank 13 to a predetermined water level is formed on the other side of the partition wall 15, and the lower end portion of the water tank 16 is the water inside the water tank 16. A moisturizing filter 17 as a moisturizing means is installed in a state of being immersed in the air, and the moisturizing filter 17 has air permeability and water absorption.

A peripheral wall 18 is integrally formed with the bottom plate 3 on the entire outer periphery of the bottom plate 3, and as shown in FIG. 5, a front side wall portion 18A of the peripheral wall 18 is higher than the water receiving portion 14 side. The height of the part X farther from the water receiving portion 14 is about 1
It is set 0 to 30 mm higher.

The front panel 6 has a plurality of locking portions 19 formed at both left and right ends thereof, and the plurality of locking portions 19 are formed at both left and right ends of the peripheral side plate 4. By being attached to each case, the case body 1A
The front open surface Z is covered. Reference numeral 21 is a water amount confirmation window of the water supply tank 13 provided on the front panel 6 so as to face the water supply tank 13 housed in the outer case 1.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a blower horizontally installed in the upper portion of the case main body 1A. The blower 22 has a drive motor (not shown) and a cross flow of a sirocco fan or the like axially fixed to the motor shaft of the drive motor. It is composed of a fan 22A and a fan casing 22B that houses the cross flow fan 22A.

As shown in FIG. 2, the blower 22 uses the cross-flow fan 12A to suck the indoor air sucked into the suction-side air passage A in the outer case 1 through the air purifying filter 12 and the air suction port 11. By accelerating, the air is blown downward from the air outlet 23 of the fan casing 22B and is blown to the humidifying filter 17, so that the humidifying filter 17
Through which the water that has permeated the humidifying filter 17 is vaporized, and the humidified air is discharged to the humidified chamber through the outlet side air flow path a and the discharge port 9.

As shown in FIG. 5, the fan casing 22B is divided into left and right divided casings 24 and 2, respectively.
5, the left and right split casings 24 and 25 are molded of synthetic resin, respectively, and a partition plate 26 and a horizontal partition plate for partitioning the suction side air flow passage A and the blowout side air flow passage B. 27 is integrally molded, and the joint portions thereof are joined by screws 28.

The humidifying filter 17 is detachably installed in the water tank 16 with its lower part immersed in the water stored in the water tank 16, and the front panel 6 is removed from the case body 1A. It can be attached to and detached from the water tank 16 from the open surface Z on the front surface of the case body 1A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the water tank 16 has an auxiliary water tank portion 16A which is connected to the water receiving portion 14 through a communication path 30 at one back side in the longitudinal direction, The auxiliary water tank portion 16A has a water tank 16 as shown in FIG.
A pair of sterilization electrodes 31 and 32 for sterilizing the accumulated humidifying water (tap water) are held and installed in a holder 33, and the pair of sterilization electrodes 31 and 32 are provided.
One water level detection electrode 34 is installed in the state of being close to 32, and the pair of sterilization electrodes 31, 32 and one water level detection electrode 34 are each submerged in water. It is installed in.

Further, the water level detection electrode 34 usually requires a pair like the bacteria removal electrodes 31, 32, but one of the bacteria removal electrodes 31 on the side facing the water level detection electrode 34 is the other. Since only the water level detection electrode is used, only one is required.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a breathable protective net provided between the humidifying filter 17 and the sanitizing electrodes 31, 32 and the water level detecting electrode 34.
Is composed of a lattice-shaped porous member molded of synthetic resin, and when the humidifying filter 17 is cleaned, inspected or replaced, or when the humidifying filter 17 is taken out to clean the water tank 16, the germicidal electrode 31, 32 and water level detection electrode 34
It prevents the human fingers from touching.

Both ends of the protective net 35 are inserted into guide grooves 37, 37 provided so as to face each other in the case body 1A (inner surface of the peripheral side plate 4), and the case body 1 is inserted.
The protective net 35 fixed in A and inserted in the guide grooves 37, 37 is prevented from coming off by a horizontal partition plate 27 provided with a blower port 23 of the blower 22.

2, 38 is a controller for controlling the operation of the humidifier, 39 is a filter holder for holding the humidifying filter 17, and the filter holder 39 has a spring property.

In the present embodiment, when the water supply tank 13 containing the water for humidification such as tap water is set in the outer case 1, the water in the water supply tank 13 becomes the water receiving portion 1.
4 is supplied dropwise to the water receiving unit 14 and this water is supplied from the water receiving unit 14 to the connecting path 30.
The water is supplied to the auxiliary water tank 16A via the water, and water is stored in the water tank 16 at a predetermined water level. The water stored in the water tank 16 is sucked up by the humidification filter 17 by a capillary phenomenon.

In the above-mentioned state, when the operation switch on / off switch (not shown) provided on the operation portion 7 is turned on to start the operation of the humidifier A, the drive motor (not shown) of the blower 22 is operated. When activated, the air in the humidified chamber is sucked into the suction side air flow path A through the air purification filter 12 and the air suction port 11, and the air is accelerated in the fan casing 22 by the cross flow fan 22A such as a sirocco fan. The accelerated air is blown downward from the blower port 23, passes through the protective net 35, and then is humidified.
Through which the water impregnated in the humidifying filter 17 is vaporized, and thus the humidified air when passing through the humidifying filter 17 is humidified through the outlet side air flow path a and the discharge port 9. It is discharged to the chamber and humidifies the chamber to be humidified.

On the other hand, by energizing the pair of bacteria-removing electrodes 31 and 32 installed in the auxiliary water tank 16A, these bacteria-removing electrodes 3
When water is energized by 1, 32, HC with a large sterilizing power
As a result, 10 (hypochlorous acid) will be generated, and the water stored in the water tank 16 and the auxiliary water tank 16A will be sterilized. In order to generate HC10 (hypochlorous acid) having a sterilizing power without adversely affecting the human body, the pair of bacteria-removing electrodes 31 and 32 are intermittently energized.

Further, the water level detection electrode 34 installed in the auxiliary water tank is energized in the state of being close to one of the pair of sterilization electrodes 31, 32, and one of the pair of sterilization electrodes 31, 32 is The water level in the water tank 16 is detected by causing the sterilization electrode 31 to act as the counter electrode of the water level detection electrode 34, and the detection signal is sent to the controller 38 and the controller 38.
Stops the drive of the blower 22 or notifies the drought by a drought alarm (not shown).

When the humidifier A is operated for a long time, dust and the like sucked from the room are accumulated in the humidifying filter 17, and when the humidifying filter 17 becomes so-called clogging, it is necessary to clean the humidifying filter 17. There is. In this case, when the front panel 6 of the outer case 1 is removed, the front surface of the case body 1A is opened. Therefore, after removing the filter retainer 39 from the case body 1A, the humidifying filter is used by using the open surface Z described above. 17 can be taken out from the water tank 16. In this way, the humidification filter 1 taken out to the outside
7 is used by incorporating it into the water tank 16 again after cleaning.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary water tank portion 1
Humidification water (tap water) stored in the water tank 16 in 6A
A pair of sterilization electrodes 31 and 32 for sterilizing bacteria are installed and held by a holder 33, and are close to one of the pair of sterilization electrodes 31 and 32. Since one water level detection electrode 34 is installed in the state and one sterilization electrode 31 is also used as the counter electrode of one water level detection electrode 34, four pieces are conventionally required. The number of expensive electrodes to be used can be reduced to three and the cost can be reduced, and the auxiliary water tank 16A for installing these electrodes can be made small.

Further, the auxiliary water tank 16A in which the pair of bacteria-removing electrodes 31, 32 and the water level detecting electrode 34 are formed deeper than the humidifying filter 17 in a state of being connected to the water tank 16.
Of the electrodes 31, 32, 34
Since the protective net 35 is provided between the humidifying filter 17 and the humidifying filter 17, both electrodes 3 arranged in the auxiliary water tank 16A are provided.
Since 1, 32, 34 are protected by a protective net 35 installed in front of them, for example, when the customer cleans the humidification filter 17 or the water tank 16, the fingers accidentally touch both electrodes 31, 32 ,. It is possible to prevent the contact with 34, and when the humidifying filter 17 is installed in the water tank 16, the humidifying filter 17 is provided with both electrodes 31, 32,
It is possible to prevent a situation in which the touches 34 are deformed.

Further, since the protective net 35 is a resin molded product, both electrodes 31, 32, 34 can be reliably protected, and
It has excellent corrosion resistance and is easy to manufacture.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A case body that has an air intake port and an outlet port and has a water tank at the bottom that stores the water supplied from the water tank to a predetermined water level, a humidifying means for humidifying the water in the water tank, and an appropriate place for the water tank. A pair of sterilization electrodes that perform the sterilization action of water in the water tank provided, and a water level detection electrode for detecting the water level in the water tank, the water level detection electrode of the pair of sterilization electrodes Since it is arranged close to one side, this one sterilization electrode is also used as a water level detection electrode,
It is possible to provide a humidifier in which the electrode installation space can be made compact while achieving cost reduction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a humidifier showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the main part of the humidifier, likewise.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of the humidifier, similarly.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view explaining a water level detection electrode and a sterilization electrode in the same manner.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a state in which the front panel, the humidification filter, the water supply tank, and the tank housing chamber cover plate are removed from the case body.

[Explanation of symbols]

A humidifier 1 Exterior case 1A case body 2 Top plate 3 bottom plate 6 Front panel (detachable panel) 7 Operation part 9 outlets 11 Air inlet 13 cartridge type water tank 14 Water receiver 16 aquarium 16A Auxiliary water tank (water tank) 17 Humidification filter (humidification means) 22 blower 31 Electrode for disinfection (one side) 32 Electrode for disinfection (other side) 33 holder 34 Water level detection electrode 35 protection net

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masao Yamaguchi             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Hitoshi Umezu             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Kyoko Yoshida             1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning             Within the corporation F-term (reference) 2F014 AB02 AB03 DA01                 3L055 BA02 DA03 DA11                 4D061 DA03 DB01 DB10 EA02 EB14                       EB19 EB30 EB37 EB38 GA04                       GB07

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A case main body having an air inlet and an outlet, and a bottom provided with a water tank for collecting water supplied from a water tank to a predetermined water level, and humidifying means for humidifying the water in the water tank. , A pair of sterilization electrodes for sterilizing the water in the water tank provided in an appropriate position of the water tank, and a water level detection electrode for detecting the water level in the water tank, the water level detection electrodes of the pair of A humidifier, characterized in that it is arranged close to one of the disinfecting electrodes and that this one disinfecting electrode is also used as a water level detecting electrode. 2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the humidifying means is a humidifying filter having air permeability and water absorption. 3. The pair of bacteria removal electrodes and water level detection electrodes are arranged in an auxiliary water tank formed deeper than the humidification filter in a state of being connected to the water tank, and both electrodes and the humidification filter are provided. The humidifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a protective net is provided between the humidifiers. 4. The humidifier according to claim 3, wherein the protective net is a resin molded product.