JP2005279330A - Electrostatic atomizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrostatic atomizer preventing evaporation from an outer peripheral part of a conveying part although the conveying part is constituted by a hardly clogging porous material, capable of reducing replenishing frequency of the liquid and not requiring large capacity of the liquid reservoir part. <P>SOLUTION: The electrostatic atomizer 6 has the conveying part 2 for conveying the liquid from the liquid reservoir part 1 and comprising a porous material; a counter electrode 3; a liquid voltage-application electrode 4 for applying a voltage to the liquid; and a high voltage generation part 5, and generates charged fine particle water of nano size by applying a high voltage between the liquid application electrode 4 and the counter electrode 3. At least upper outer periphery of the conveying part 2 is covered with a covering material 7 for preventing evaporation of the liquid conveyed in the conveying part 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer.

Conventionally, there are a cavity electrode that transports liquid from a liquid reservoir, a counter electrode that is arranged to face the tip of the cavity electrode, and a high voltage generator that applies a high voltage between the cavity electrode and the counter electrode. An electrostatic atomizer for generating a charging mist by applying a high voltage between a cavity electrode and a counter electrode is known. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
However, in the conventional example shown in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the liquid in the liquid reservoir is transported through the capillary to the upper end of the cavity electrode and atomized. Since it is a thin tube, there is a problem that it is easily clogged and cannot be stably atomized for a long time.

  Therefore, the present inventor considered using a porous material having a large number of small-diameter holes in place of the narrow tube as a transport unit that transports the liquid from the liquid reservoir. In this case, since an infinite number of transport paths are formed in the transport unit, even if a part of the transport paths is clogged, the liquid can be transported smoothly through the other transport paths.

However, when the transport part is formed of this porous material, it is difficult to clog, but the liquid filled in the transport part made of the porous material evaporates from the outer peripheral surface of the transport part, and in particular, the use environment. If the temperature of the liquid is high or the humidity is low, the liquid will evaporate from the outer peripheral surface of the transport unit, and the amount of liquid consumed in the liquid reservoir will increase. There is a problem that the liquid must be replenished frequently. For this reason, it is conceivable to increase the capacity of the liquid reservoir, but this causes a problem that the electrostatic atomizer becomes large.
JP 2003-79714 A

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and prevents the evaporation from the outer peripheral portion of the conveying portion even if the conveying portion is made of a porous material that is not easily clogged, and replenishes the liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic atomizer that can reduce the frequency and does not need to increase the capacity of the liquid reservoir.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention includes a transport unit 2 made of a porous material having a large number of small-diameter holes for transporting a liquid from the liquid storage unit 1, and liquid transport by the transport unit 2. A counter electrode 3 disposed so as to face the transport direction, a liquid application electrode 4 for applying a voltage to the liquid in a path from the liquid reservoir 1 to the tip of the transport unit 2 on the counter electrode 3 side, and a liquid application A high voltage generator 5 that applies a high voltage between the electrode 4 and the counter electrode 3 is applied, and a high voltage is applied between the liquid application electrode 4 and the counter electrode 3 to generate nano-sized charged fine particle water. An electrostatic atomizing device 6 for generating the electrostatic atomizer 6 is characterized in that at least an upper outer periphery of the transport unit 2 is covered with a covering material 7 for preventing evaporation of the liquid transported in the transport unit 2. Is.

  With this configuration, the liquid in the liquid reservoir 1 is transported to the tip of the transport unit 2 by the transport unit 2 made of a porous material, and nano-sized charged fine particle water is generated by applying a high voltage. Of course, since it is a porous material, it is difficult to clog and can stably transport liquids for a long period of time, and even if the transport part 2 is formed of a porous material, It is possible to prevent the liquid from evaporating from the outer periphery of the portion 2 by the covering material 7 and to reduce the replenishment frequency of the liquid, and it is not necessary to increase the capacity of the liquid reservoir.

  Further, the covering material 7 is composed of a heat-shrinkable tube, the rod-shaped transport unit 2 is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, and the heat-shrinkable tube is attached to the outer periphery of the bar-shaped transport unit 2 by heat shrinkage. It is preferable.

  By adopting such a configuration, the outer periphery of the transport unit 2 can be easily covered with the covering material 7 simply by covering the transport unit 2 in the form of a porous material with a heat-shrinkable tube and causing heat shrinkage. It is.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the conveyance part 2 is comprised with porous ceramic and the coating | covering material 7 is a glaze.

  By adopting such a configuration, when forming the transport part 2 with the porous ceramic, the transport part 2 can be easily formed when forming the transport part 2 with the porous ceramic by applying a glaze to the outer periphery of the transport part 2. The covering material 7 can be integrally formed on the outer periphery of the substrate.

  The present invention prevents the liquid from evaporating from the outer periphery of the transport part even though the transport part is formed of a porous material so that the transport part is not easily clogged and can stably transport the liquid for a long period of time. It can be prevented by the covering material, and the replenishment frequency of the liquid can be reduced, so that it is easy to use, and it is not necessary to increase the capacity of the liquid reservoir, and the electrostatic atomizer can be made compact.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  In the accompanying drawings, an electrostatic atomizer 6 is shown. The electrostatic atomizer 6 includes a main body case 11, a decorative cover 12 covering the main body case 11, and a discharge unit provided on the decorative cover 12, as shown in FIG. The discharge unit 14 is detachably fitted into the main body case 11 from the fitting opening 21.

  The main body case 11 has a discharge unit fitting portion 15 for fitting and holding the discharge unit 14 at the upper front portion, and a storage portion 16 having a high voltage generating portion 5 and a control portion for applying a high voltage at the lower front portion. The storage portion 16 has a sealed structure so that water does not enter from the outside to the inside. A power switch 17 for turning on / off the power of the electrostatic atomizer 6 by hand is provided on the front surface of the storage unit 16. Main body side terminal portions 19 and 20 connected to the high voltage generating portion 5 are provided on both sides of the inner portion of the discharge unit fitting portion 15. In addition, a reed switch 24 for supplying a high voltage from the high voltage generator 5 or stopping the supply is provided at a portion corresponding to the back of the discharge unit fitting portion 15 of the main body case 11. The reed switch 24 is watertightly housed in the main body case 11 so as to prevent water from entering from the outside.

  The decorative cover 12 is attached to the main body case 11 so as to cover the front surface portion of the main body case 11, and a discharge unit insertion opening 21 communicating with the discharge unit insertion portion 15 is provided at the upper front surface of the decorative cover 12. In addition, an opening 22 for exposing the power switch 17 is provided in the lower front portion of the decorative cover 12. In addition, a discharge port 23 is provided on the upper surface portion of the decorative cover 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the discharge unit 14 includes a container-like liquid reservoir 1 that stores a liquid such as water, and a transport unit 2 made of a porous material that transports the liquid from the liquid reservoir 1. A liquid for applying a voltage to the counter electrode 3 disposed so as to oppose the liquid transport direction by the transport unit 2 and the liquid in the path from the liquid reservoir 1 to the tip of the transport unit 2 on the counter electrode 3 side The application electrode 4, the counter electrode 3, the unit side terminal portions 28 and 29 connected to the liquid application electrode 4, and the front cover plate 30, respectively.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the discharge unit 14 provided with each component as described above includes a liquid reservoir portion 1 for storing a liquid such as water with a front cover plate 30 provided on the front surface. The container and the unit main body 18 are separated from each other.

  The front cover plate 30 is provided on the front surface of the container constituting the liquid reservoir 1, and the front cover plate 30 is provided with a liquid level confirmation window 31 for visually confirming the liquid level in the liquid reservoir 1. Furthermore, a front vent opening 32 is provided at the upper part of the front cover plate 30. Further, a magnet 25 is housed on the rear side surface of the container constituting the liquid reservoir 1.

  The main body of the unit body 18 is configured by joining an upper electrode cover 18a and a lower electrode cover 18b formed of an insulating member, and a synthetic material in which a conductive material such as carbon is mixed into the unit body 18 formed of the insulating member. A counter electrode 3 and a liquid application electrode 4 formed of resin or metal such as SUS are mounted, and the periphery of the counter electrode 3 and the liquid application electrode 4 is covered with an insulating material constituting the unit body 18, The unit side terminal portion 28 and the unit side terminal portion 29 are exposed at a part of the material. Moreover, the conveyance part 2 is formed in rod shape with porous materials, such as a porous ceramic and a porous metal, and the upper end of the rod-shaped conveyance part 2 becomes the needle-like atomization part 2a sharpened in the shape of a conical needle. . The rod-shaped transport unit 2 is attached to one or a plurality of liquid application electrodes 4. The upper part of the transport unit 2 protrudes upward from the liquid application electrode 4, and the lower part projects downward from the liquid application electrode 4. It comes in contact with the liquid put in the part 1. Here, in the present invention, at least the upper outer periphery of the conveying portion 2 made of the rod-shaped porous material is covered with a covering material 7 for preventing liquid evaporation. When the covering material 7 is formed of a material having electrical insulation, a contact portion between the rod-shaped transport portion 2 made of a porous material and the liquid application electrode 4 (specifically, a fitting provided on the liquid application electrode 4) In the case where the transport section 2 is fitted and fitted into the hole, the porous material portion of the transport section 2 is not covered with the coating material 7 and the porous material portion of the transport section 2 is the liquid application electrode 4 without being covered with the covering material 7. In contact. In other words, at least the upper outer periphery of the transport unit 2 is covered with the coating material 7 by the coating material 7 while avoiding the contact portion between the transport unit 2 and the liquid application electrode 4. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer periphery of the portion projecting upward from the liquid application electrode 4 at the top of the transport unit 2 is covered with the covering material 7, and at a position above the liquid application electrode 4. The liquid is prevented from evaporating from the outer periphery of the transport unit 2. The needle-like atomization part 2a pointed like a conical needle at the upper end of the rod-like conveyance part 2 is not covered with the covering material 7, and the liquid conveyed by the capillary phenomenon in the conveyance part 2 reaches the needle-like atomization part 2a. To be exposed to the outside.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the portion projecting downward from the liquid application electrode 4 of the transport unit 2 is not covered with the coating material 7, but only the outer surface of the portion projecting upward from the liquid application electrode 4 of the transport unit 2. Alternatively, the outer surface of the portion above the liquid level in the portion protruding downward may be covered with the covering material 7. Moreover, although the part below the liquid level of the outer peripheral surface of the transport unit 2 may be covered with the coating material 7, the outer surface of the part below the liquid level may not be covered with the coating material 7. . In the case where the outer surface of the portion below the liquid surface is not covered with the covering material 7, the contact area of the liquid into the transport unit 2 becomes wide, and not only from the lower surface of the transport unit 2, but also at the lower part of the outer peripheral surface. The liquid is also supplied into the transport unit 2 from the part.

  The covering material 7 is composed of a heat shrinkable tube or a glaze.

  When the covering material 7 is composed of a heat-shrinkable tube, the heat-shrinkable tube is fitted into the rod-shaped conveyance unit 2 (inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube), and then the heat-shrinkable tube is heated. Then, it adheres to the outer periphery of the conveying portion 2 which is rod-shaped by heat shrinkage.

  In addition, when the coating material 7 is made of glaze, when forming the transport section 2 with porous ceramic, the outer periphery of the transport section 2 is coated with glaze so that it is easy to form the transport section 2 with porous ceramic. The covering material 7 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the transport unit 2.

  The unit body 18 can be detachably attached to the liquid reservoir 1, and the discharge unit 14 is removed from the discharge unit fitting portion 15 as shown in FIG. By removing the unit main body 18 from the liquid reservoir 1 as described above, a liquid such as water can be put into the liquid reservoir 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the discharge unit 14 configured as described above is fitted into the discharge unit fitting portion 15 from the discharge unit fitting opening 21 of the decorative cover 12, and is fitted and attached. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the unit side terminal portions 28 and 29 provided on both sides of the discharge unit 14 are electrically connected to the main body side terminal portions 19 and 20 provided on both sides of the back portion of the discharge unit fitting portion 15, respectively. 7 and provided at a position corresponding to the inner part of the discharge unit fitting portion 15 of the main body case 11 by a magnet 25 provided on the rear side portion of the container constituting the liquid reservoir portion 1 as shown in FIG. The reed switch 24 is turned on so that a high voltage can be generated from the high voltage generator 5. On the other hand, when the discharge unit 14 is removed from the discharge unit fitting portion 15, the reed switch 24 is turned off and the generation of the high voltage from the high voltage generation portion 5 is stopped. In the removed state, do not pose a risk of electric shock even if you touch your fingers on the main body side terminal portions 19 and 20 in the inner part of the discharge unit insertion portion 15 or insert other objects. is there.

  When a high voltage is supplied from the high voltage generator 5 and a high voltage is applied to the counter electrode 3 and the liquid application electrode 4, the transport unit 2 formed of a porous material is put into the liquid reservoir 1 by capillary action. When the liquid is sucked up, the needle-like atomization section at the upper end of the transport section 2 functions as a substantial electrode on the liquid application electrode 4 side. The high voltage generator 5 boosts a low voltage current (for example, 5 to 30 v) to a high voltage current (for example, 3 to 7 kv).

  And by applying a high voltage between the upper end of the conveyance part 2 which functions as a substantial electrode by the high voltage generation part 5, and the counter electrode 3, the water which reached the needle-like part of the front-end | tip of the conveyance part 2 is carried out. Here, electrostatic atomization is performed to cause atomization that causes Rayleigh splitting to become a mist having a particle size of nanometer size (for example, 10 to 30 nanometers), and is discharged into the room from the discharge port 23 on the top surface of the decorative cover 12. The The charged fine particle water (nano-sized mist) generated and released into the room in this way has a long life when released into the air because it contains radicals and has a nanometer size. It is highly diffusible and can effectively and effectively deodorize the odors on the walls of the room. It also acts effectively against bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. It has the effects of bacteria, virus removal, mold removal and antifungal effect. Here, in the present invention in which the nano-sized mist generated by the electrostatic atomizer 6 is released into the room, the dwell time is as long as 15 to 30 minutes, and the nano-sized mist diffuses to every corner of the room. It is scattered so that indoor deodorization, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal can be effectively performed.

  As described above, the liquid in the liquid reservoir 1 is transported to the tip of the transport unit 2 by the transport unit 2 made of a porous material, and nano-sized charged fine particle water is generated by applying a high voltage. In the present invention, since the transport section 2 is formed of a porous material, clogging is difficult and liquid can be transported stably over a long period of time. Moreover, even though the transport unit 2 is formed of a porous material, at least the outer peripheral upper portion of the transport unit 2 is covered with the covering material 7, so that the liquid can be prevented from evaporating from the transport unit 2 and the liquid The replenishment frequency can be reduced, and it is not necessary to increase the capacity of the liquid reservoir, and the electrostatic atomizer 6 can be made compact.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, an example in which the electrostatic atomizer 6 is attached to the wall 40 is shown, but the electrostatic atomizer 6 may be a stationary type.

It is a perspective view of the electrostatic atomizer of this invention. (A) is a perspective view of the state which removed the same discharge unit, (b) is a perspective view of the state which removed the liquid reservoir further. It is a disassembled perspective view of an electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a perspective view in the state where the upper electrode cover was omitted in the drawing in the same discharge unit. It is sectional drawing of the state which abbreviate | omitted the upper electrode cover on drawing in the discharge unit same as the above. It is a horizontal sectional view of an electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an electrostatic atomizer same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid storage part 2 Conveying part 3 Counter electrode 4 Liquid application electrode 5 High voltage generation part 6 Electrostatic atomizer 7 Coating | covering material

Claims (3)

  A transport unit made of a porous material having a large number of small-diameter holes for transporting the liquid from the liquid reservoir, a counter electrode arranged to face the liquid transport direction by the transport unit, and the liquid reservoir to the transport unit A liquid application electrode having a liquid application electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid in the path leading to the tip on the counter electrode side, and a high voltage generator for applying a high voltage between the liquid application electrode and the counter electrode; An electrostatic atomization device for generating nano-sized charged fine particle water by applying a high voltage to a counter electrode, and evaporating liquid transported at least in the upper outer periphery of the transport unit. An electrostatic atomizer characterized by covering with a covering material for prevention.   The covering material is constituted by a heat shrinkable tube, and a stick-shaped transport part is inserted into the heat shrinkable tube, and the heat shrinkable tube is attached to the outer periphery of the stick-shaped transport part by heat shrinkage. The electrostatic atomizer of Claim 1. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit is made of porous ceramic and the covering material is a glaze.

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