JP2007285557A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifier capable of exerting a humidifying capacity in maximum with small driving power and driving noise. <P>SOLUTION: In this humidifier comprising a main body case 1, a fan 2, a vaporization type humidifying element 3 and a water tank 4, the vaporization type humidifying element 3 is composed of a water tank 22 for storing the water supplied from the water tank 4, and a rotary humidifying filter 23 positioned at a lower part of a discharge port 10 of the fan 2 and rotatably pivoted in the water tank 22. A part of the rotary humidifying filter 23 is dipped in the water stored in the water tank 22, a center of the fan airflow W1 supplied from the fan 2 passes an outer peripheral side of the rotary humidifying filter 23, and further a guide member is disposed in opposition to the rotary humidifying filter at an upstream side of the fan airflow with respect to the rotary humidifying filter to change the fan airflow to a rotary humidifying filter side, thus the power and the driving noise in driving the rotary humidifying filter 23 can be reduced, and the humidifying capacity can be exerted in maximum. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a humidifier, and more particularly to a humidifier equipped with a vaporizing humidifier element constituted by a rotary humidifier filter.

  In recent years, humidifiers have been used in order to maintain a room in a humid environment in which a heating device is being used in winter.

  As this type of humidifier, a device having a vaporizing humidifying element which is a horizontal rectangular shape obtained by pleating a sheet-like material having good water absorption and is composed of a rotary rotating humidifying filter has been known (Patent Document 1). reference).

  However, in the case of the humidifying device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the rotary humidifying filter is made of a material having good water absorption, the rotational center of the humidifying filter is used to absorb water in the entire area of the humidifying filter. It is necessary to immerse it in water up to the vicinity, and there is a risk that the power for rotating the humidifying filter must be increased. On the other hand, if the structure is such that only a part of the rotary humidifying filter is immersed in water, the water absorption area is limited, and the humidifying ability may be reduced.

  On the other hand, the present applicant has developed a humidifier intended to solve the above problems and has already filed a patent application as Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-154104.

  The humidifying device of this prior application is such that a rotating humidifying filter 23 composed of a large number of synthetic resin disk-like plates 25, 25... As shown in FIG. 6 is rotated in a water tank 22 as shown in FIG. The driving power is small and a large humidifying ability can be exhibited.

JP 2005-37011 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-154104

By the way, since the humidifier according to the above-mentioned prior application of the present applicant has a structure in which the air flow W ₁ from the fan 2 is simply blown into the water tank 22 from above, the air flow W ₁ is disturbed in the water tank 22. Ryuka and does not flow in the direction of the smooth rotation humidifying filter 23, as a result, did not able to pump enough humidified air W ₂ into the room.

  The present invention has an object of proposing a humidifier capable of improving the above-described problems in the humidifier according to the above-mentioned prior application and further reducing the driving power and / or improving the humidification capability. It is.

  As in the invention of the previous application (the invention of the previous application), the present invention includes a main body case having an air inlet for sucking indoor air and an air outlet for blowing humidified air, and a fan disposed in the main body case. And a vaporizing humidifying element disposed in a passage of air flow by the fan, and a water tank for supplying water to the vaporizing humidifying element. The vaporizing humidifying element includes a water tank that stores water supplied from the water tank and a rotary humidifying filter that is positioned below the discharge port of the fan and is rotatably supported in the water tank. In addition, a part of the rotary humidifying filter is immersed in the stored water in the water tank.

  In the humidifying device of the prior invention, by configuring as described above, a part of the rotating humidifying filter is immersed in the stored water in the water tank, but the portion exposed from the stored water by the rotation is also in the water. You will get wet. Humidification is performed in the process in which the indoor air blown from the fan passes through the outer peripheral side of the rotating humidifying filter in this state. Therefore, the power for driving the rotary humidification filter can be reduced and the humidification ability can be maximized.

  In addition to the configuration of the prior application, the humidifying device of the present invention further directs the fan air flow to the rotating humidifying filter side facing the rotating humidifying filter on the upstream side of the fan air flow with respect to the rotating humidifying filter. A guide member for changing the direction is provided.

  By configuring as described above, the air flow from the fan does not become turbulent in the water tank, and smoothly flows in the direction of the rotary humidifying filter, and a large amount of humidified air is generated while maintaining the wind speed. It can be sent out indoors. In addition, it is recommended that the guide member is provided in the water tank, and further, it is recommended that the guide member be integrally formed with the water tank.

  The humidifying device of the present invention first includes a main body case having an air inlet for sucking in indoor air and an air outlet for blowing out the humidified air, a fan disposed in the main body case, and an air flow passage by the fan. And a water tank for supplying water to the vaporizing humidifying element, and the vaporizing humidifying element includes a water tank for storing water supplied from the water tank, and a fan. A rotating humidifying filter is provided below the discharge port and rotatably supported in the water tank, and a part of the rotating humidifying filter is immersed in the stored water in the water tank. Therefore, the rotating humidifying filter is humidified in the process of passing the air flow blown from the fan on the outer peripheral side of the rotating humidifying filter by the rotation of the rotating humidifying filter. It is possible to reduce the power for driving the filter, there is an effect that it is possible to maximize the humidifying performance.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the humidifying device of the present invention further changes the direction of the fan air flow toward the rotary humidifying filter so as to face the rotary humidifying filter on the upstream side of the fan air flow with respect to the rotary humidifying filter. By providing a guide member, the air flow from the fan does not become turbulent in the water tank, but smoothly flows in the direction of the rotary humidifying filter, and a large amount of humidified air is kept indoors while maintaining the wind speed. There is an effect that it can be delivered (improvement of humidification efficiency and / or humidification ability and reduction of operation noise).

  In carrying out the present invention, when the guide member is provided in the water tank and the guide member is integrally formed with the water tank, the number of parts is reduced and the structure is simplified.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the humidifier includes a main body case 1 having an air inlet 5 for sucking indoor air W ₀ and an air outlet 6 for blowing humid air W _2. The fan 2 is provided, a vaporizing humidifying element 3 arranged in a passage of air flow by the fan 2, and a water tank 4 for supplying water to the vaporizing humidifying element 3.

  The air suction port 5 is formed in the upper part of the back surface 1 of the main body case 1, and the air outlet 6 is formed on one side of the upper surface of the main body case 1.

  The fan 2 is disposed on the front side of the air suction port 5, and includes a scroll-shaped fan cover 7 having a suction port 9 facing the air suction port 5 and a discharge port 10 facing downward. It is comprised by the impeller 8 of the advancing blade shape arrange | positioned in the fan cover 7. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 11 denotes a fan motor that rotationally drives the impeller 8. The fan motor 11 is defined by a humidified air passage 38 and a partition wall 13, which will be described later, between the air inlet 5 and the inlet 9 of the fan cover 7. It is in the formed intake passage 12 and is attached to the fan cover 7.

Below the discharge port 10 of the fan cover 7 in the fan 2, a heater unit 14 is disposed that acts as a heating source for heating the fan air flow W ₁ blown from the fan 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the heater unit 14 is wound around a rectangular box-shaped heater case 15 and an orthogonal beam 16 provided in the heater case 15 so that a plurality of layers are superposed in a rhombus shape. Are formed on the bottom surface of the heater case 15 (see FIG. 4). Reference numeral 19 denotes a rib for guiding the fan air flow W ₁ blown from the fan 2 into the heater case 15 and preventing the fan air flow W ₁ from bypassing the heater unit 14. In this way, improved contact efficiency between the fan air flow W ₁ and heating wire 17 blown out from the fan 2, it is possible to perform efficient heating.

On the back side of the heater unit 14, a bypass passage 20 is provided to bypass a part of the fan air flow W ₁ blown from the fan 2, and the bypass passage 2 has a room temperature detection and heater case 15. A temperature sensor 21 is provided for detecting the excessive temperature rise. In this way, room temperature detection and excessive temperature rise detection can be performed with one sensor, and the structure can be simplified.

  The vaporizing humidifying element 3 is disposed below the heater unit 14 and in the fan air flow passage, stores water supplied from the water tank 4 and stores the main body case. 1, a water tank 22 that can be drawn out from the opposite side of the air outlet 6 and a rotary humidifying filter 23 that is rotatably supported in the water tank 22 are provided.

  The rotary humidification filter 23 is made of a rotation shaft 24 connected to a filter motor 26 as a driving source via a speed reduction mechanism 27, and a number of synthetic resins (for example, made of a synthetic resin pivotally supported by the rotation shaft 24 so as to be disassembled). , Made of propylopyrene) (see FIG. 6). The plate 25 is not limited to the one made of synthetic resin, and may be made of metal or the like. The speed reduction mechanism 27 includes a main drive side gear (that is, a small diameter gear) 27a that is rotationally driven by the filter motor 26, and a driven side gear 27b that meshes with the main drive side gear 27a. If it does in this way, it will become possible to decompose | disassemble the rotary humidification filter 23 into the rotating shaft 24 and many plates 25, 25 ..., and can perform a maintenance easily.

  Four semicircular arc-shaped ribs 28, 28,... That are concave in the rotation direction M are provided on the front and back surfaces of the outer peripheral edge of each plate 25 (that is, the portion excluding the vicinity of the axis 25a). They are formed at intervals (ie, 90 ° intervals). The ribs 28, 28,... Pump up the water stored in the water tank 22 as the plate 25 rotates, and form an air passage between the plates 25, 25,. The present embodiment is not limited to this. The ribs 28, 28,... Are not formed on the plates 25A, 25B located at both ends of the plates 25, 25,.

  Further, on the axis 25a of each plate 25, four bearing pieces 29, 29,... Having the same height as the ribs 28, 28,. Are formed between the bearing pieces 29, 29,... (See FIG. 7). In this way, the plates 25, 25,... Are held in contact with each other by the ribs 28, 28,... Positioned at the outer peripheral edge and the bearing pieces 29, 29,. Thus, no rattling occurs during rotational driving.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the rotary shaft 24 has a drive shaft 24a for fixing (for example, screwing) a driven gear (that is, a large-diameter gear) 27b constituting the speed reduction mechanism 27 on one end side. Is formed. Further, on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 24, there are four axially extending shafts for fitting the recesses 30, 30,... Between the bearing pieces 29, 29,. The ridges 31, 31 are formed. In this way, the plates 25, 25... Do not idle around the rotary shaft 24 when the rotary humidifying filter 23 is driven to rotate. The plates 25, 25,... Can be extracted from the rotating shaft 24 along the ridges 31, 31,.

  And the drive shaft 24a in the rotating shaft 24 of the said rotary humidification filter 23 is provided in the part located in the said water tank 22 below the said air blower outlet 6 (namely, the other side regarding the drawing-out direction of the water tank 22). That is, one end of the rotating shaft 24 (that is, the end portion on the drive shaft 24a side) is a notch-shaped bearing portion 32 in which an upper portion formed on the side wall 22a on the drawing direction side in the water tank 22 is opened (see FIG. 2). The other end of the rotating shaft 24 (that is, the end on the side opposite to the driving shaft) is pivotally supported with respect to the water tank 22 and is formed on the inner surface of the side wall 22b on the front side in the pulling direction. It is pivotally supported with respect to the letter-shaped groove 33 (see FIG. 4). If it does in this way, while being able to isolate | separate the vaporization type humidification element 3 from the filter motor 26 which is a drive source, and can remove easily from the main body case 1, the rotary humidification filter 23 can also be easily detached from the water tank 22.

  On the side of the water tank 22 in the pulling direction, the water tank 4 is detachably set, and a water storage section 34 for temporarily storing water from the water tank 4 is integrally provided. The water tank 4 is set in an inverted state with respect to the water storage section 34, and the water supply port 4 a of the water tank 4 is opened only when the water tank 4 is set in the water storage section 34. An opening / closing valve 35 is provided. Reference numeral 36 is a float switch for detecting that the water tank 4 disposed in the water storage section 34 is empty. In this way, the vaporizing humidifying element 3 and the water tank 4 can be pulled out integrally with the main body case 1.

A communication hole 37 that allows the water storage section 34 and the water tank 22 to communicate with each other is formed in the side wall 22b on the front side in the pulling direction of the water tank 22. Therefore, the water storage section 34 and the water tank 22 are set to the same water level L. The water level L is such that the upper end of the rib 28 located at the lower end of the ribs 28, 28,... Provided on each plate 25 in the rotary humidifying filter 23 is immersed (see FIG. 4). That is, a part of the rotary humidifying filter 23 is immersed in the stored water in the water tank 22, and the center of the flow of the fan air flow W ₁ blown out from the fan 2 is the rotation of the rotary humidifying filter 23. It is configured to pass the outer peripheral side from the center. In this way, it becomes possible to largest possible flat portion 25b around the axial center 25a of each plate 25 is formed, the flow of the fan air flow W ₁ becomes smooth. Although the flat portion 25b is not immersed in water, the water pumped up to the ribs 28, 28,... Spills in the process of moving the ribs 28, 28,. Since the flat portion 25b is wetted, the entire surface of the plate 25 that is not immersed in the stored water in the water tank 22 is used for humidification, and the humidification efficiency is greatly improved.

Further, the rotation direction M of the rotary humidification filter 23 is a direction in which the air flow W ₁ blown out from the fan 2 is greeted. In this way, air flow W ₁ blown out from the fan 2, it becomes possible to contact the rotating humidifying filter 23 immediately after leaving the the stored water in the water tank 2, to improve the humidification efficiency to the air flow W ₁ The pressure loss in the rotary humidifying filter 23 can be reduced as much as possible (the fan air flow W ₁ blown out from the fan 2 is blown out to the air outlet 6 side). In addition, the ribs 28, 28,... Face downward at the portion where the humidified air W ₂ flows. Therefore, it is also possible to prevent water droplets from getting on the humidified air W ₂ and scattering to the air outlet 6 and other parts.

In the figure, reference numeral 38 denotes a humidified air passage that is formed between the fan cover 7 and the main body case 1 and communicates with the air outlet 6, and 39 is the discharge port 10 of the fan 2 and the outer side of the main body case 1. The sealing rib 40 seals the flow path between the fan air flow W ₁ blown from the fan ₂ and the humidified air W ₂ humidified through the rotary humidifying filter 23, 41 2 is an operation panel provided on the upper surface of the main body case 1.

In the humidifying device of this embodiment, a guide member (the upper surface has a smooth circular arc shape) 51 that smoothly turns the fan air flow W ₁ to the rotating humidifying filter 23 toward the rotating humidifying filter 23 side is provided. Yes. Further, in this embodiment, is smoothly deflected toward the humidified air W ₂ into the humidified air passage 38 (FIG. 3) side to the fan air flow downstream side of the rotating humidifying filter 23 (the outlet side of the humidified air W ₂₎ For this purpose, a guide member 52 (having a reverse parabolic shape on the upper surface) is provided. However, the guide member 52 on the downstream side may be omitted if not necessary.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the guide member 51 on the upstream side of the rotary humidifying filter 23 has the same height as the rotary shaft 24 of the rotary humidifying filter 23 and faces the rotary shaft 24. Correspondingly, the lower end of the guide member 52 on the downstream side of the rotary humidifying filter 23 (the outlet side of the humidified air W ₂ ) also has the same height as the rotary shaft 24 of the rotary humidifying filter 23. In addition, the guide members 51 and 52 (position, height, air flow guide direction, etc.) are appropriately set as shown in FIG. Can do. That is, the guide members denoted by reference numerals 51A and 52A in FIG. 9 are examples provided at higher positions than the guide members 51 and 52 in the embodiment of FIG. 4, and the guide members denoted by reference numerals 51B and 52B are This is an example in which the lower end is provided at the same height as the normal water surface level L, and the direction thereof is tangential to the water surface (that is, the horizontal direction). Further, guide members denoted by reference numerals 51C and 52C Shows an example in which a part of the lower end side is provided so as to be immersed in water.

  Various embodiments of the guide members 51 and 52 are conceivable as described above. According to experiments by the inventors of the present application, the guide members 51 and 52 are, as shown in FIG. The lower end of 52 has the same height as the rotary shaft 24 of the rotary humidifying filter 23, and the lower ends of the guide members 51 and 52 are oriented in the direction of the rotary shaft 24. (Although there was little pressure loss of the fan air flow). In one experimental example using the humidifier of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the humidification amount is increased by 10% and the air volume is improved by 80% (the wind speed at the air outlet 6 is increased from 4 m / s to 5 m / s). ) Was seen.

  Note that the guide members 52A, 52B, and 52C on the downstream side of the rotary humidification filter 23 shown in FIG. 9 can be omitted as necessary.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a method for mounting the guide member 51 in the water tank 22. That is, in the example of FIG. 10, the guide member 51 is formed separately from the water tank 22 and is incorporated in the water tank 22 (support in which the leg plate 53 formed on the guide member 51 is erected in the water tank 22. The guide member 51 is installed in the water tank 22 by being fitted to the member 54. On the other hand, the guide member 51 (and the wake-side guide member 52 as required) can be configured integrally with the water tank 22 from the beginning by plastic molding as illustrated in FIG. This has the advantage of reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps).

  Further, each guide member 51, 51... Is subjected to various water absorption / retention processes on its surface, and the guide members 51, 51... Themselves are heated from the heater unit 14 to generate steam. It can also be a generating means.

Next, the basic operation of the humidifying device of the above embodiment will be described. First, the humidifying device sets the water tank 4 in the water storage section 34, and then drives the fan motor 11 and the filter motor 26, thereby 2 is driven and the rotary humidifying filter 23 is rotated at a low speed, and the heating wire 17 is energized to operate the heater unit 14. Then, the indoor air W ₀ sucked from the air suction port 5 of the main body case 1 is blown out from the discharge port 10 of the fan 2. The fan air flow W ₁ is heated to an appropriate temperature in the process of passing through the heater unit 14 and then supplied to the rotary humidification filter 23.

  On the other hand, a part of each plate 25 of the rotating humidifying filter 23 rotated at a low speed is immersed in the stored water in the water tank 22, and the portion exposed from the stored water by the rotation also gets wet with the water as described above. Yes.

Humidification is performed in the process in which the fan airflow W ₁ blown from the fan 2 passes through the rotary humidifying filter 23 in this state. At that time, the fan air flow W ₁ is heated by the heater unit 14 and promotes vaporization of water to increase the amount of humidification.

At that time, the guide member 51 on the upstream side of the air flow of the rotary humidifying filter 23 causes the fan air flow W ₁ to smoothly flow in the direction of the rotary humidifying filter 23 (so that there is no stall due to turbulence). Further, the guide member 52 on the downstream side (outlet side) of the air flow facing the rotary humidifying filter 23 is the same air so that the humidified air W ₂ smoothly flows in the direction of the air outlet 6. to guide the flow W _2. By doing so, the air flows W ₁ and W ₂ generated by the fan 2 can send out a sufficiently high amount of humidified air into the room without reducing the flow velocity as compared with the conventional example (FIG. 16). . As a result, the humidification capacity is improved (a large amount of humidified air is sent out for the same motor power consumption) and / or the humidification efficiency is improved (the motor power consumption is low and the motor driving sound is low for the same humidification capacity). The effect is obtained.

  Subsequently, various modified embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described.

Modified embodiment for guide member 51, part 1
Guide member 51 on the upstream side of the fan air flow W ₁ relative to the rotating humidifying filter 23, in contact with to be able to reflect radiant heat from the heater unit 14 to the fan air flow W ₁ side and the rotating humidifying filter 23 increasing the temperature of the fan air flow W ₁ is to to vaporization of water is accelerated. For this purpose, the guide member 51 is formed of a metal (for example, stainless steel) that itself has a heat reflection effect, or the guide member 51 body is made of plastic, and the surface (upper surface) has a heat reflection effect. A plating process (for example, chromium plating) is performed. As a means for increasing the temperature of the guide member 51, there is a method in which the guide member 51 itself is a heating element (for example, a heater embedded).

Modified embodiment for guide member 51, part 2
12 and 13 are for guiding the fan air flow W ₁ to the surface (upper surface) of the guide member 51 toward the gaps 25S, 25S... Between the plates 25, 25. Of the ribs 61, 61... And grooves 62, 62. According to this embodiment, the fan air flow W ₁ is rectified by the many ribs 61 and the grooves 62, and the flow velocity of the fan air flow W ₁ can be maintained to contribute to the improvement of the humidification efficiency.

Modified embodiment for guide member 51, part 3
14 and 15, the guide member 51 is provided with a plurality of holes 63, 63... To cause a part W ₁ ′ of the fan air flow W ₁ to collide with the lower stored water 64, thereby The embodiment which made it vaporize a part directly is shown. If it does in this way, in addition to the humidification effect | action by the rotation humidification filter 23, the direct vaporization effect | action from the water surface will be obtained, and a humidification effect will be increased.

It is a perspective view of a humidification device concerning an embodiment of the invention of this application. It is a vertical front view of the humidification apparatus shown in FIG. It is the vertical rear view which abbreviate | omitted the water tank part of the humidification apparatus shown in FIG. It is a vertical side view of the humidifier shown in FIG. It is an expansion perspective view of the heater unit in the humidification apparatus shown in FIG. It is an expansion perspective view of the rotation humidification filter in the humidification apparatus shown in FIG. It is an expansion perspective view of the plate which comprises the rotation humidification filter in the humidification apparatus shown in FIG. It is an expansion perspective view of the rotating shaft which comprises the rotation humidification filter in the humidification apparatus shown in FIG. It is modification explanatory drawing of the fan airflow guide member in the humidification apparatus concerning other embodiment of this invention. It is assembly | attachment state explanatory drawing of the fan airflow guide member in the humidification apparatus shown in FIG. It is shape explanatory drawing of the fan airflow guide member in the humidification apparatus concerning other embodiment of this invention. It is shape explanatory drawing of the fan airflow guide member in the humidification apparatus concerning other embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the humidification apparatus which shows the installation state of the fan airflow guide member shown in FIG. It is shape explanatory drawing of the fan airflow guide member in the humidification apparatus concerning further another embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the humidification apparatus which shows the installation state of the fan airflow guide member shown in FIG. It is form explanatory drawing of the vaporization type humidification element in the humidification apparatus of prior application invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 is a main body case 2 is a fan 3 is a vaporizing humidifying element 4 is a water tank 5 is an air inlet 6 is an air outlet 7 is a fan cover 8 is an impeller 9 is an inlet 10 is an outlet 14 is a heating source (heater unit )
22 is a water tank 23 is a rotary humidification filter 24 is a rotary shaft 24a is a drive shaft 25 is a plate 26 is a drive source (filter motor)
38 is a humidified air passage 51 is an upstream fan air flow guide member 52 is a downstream fan air flow guide member M is a rotation direction W ₁ is room air W ₂ is humid air

Claims (3)

  A main body case having an air inlet for sucking indoor air and an air outlet for blowing humidified air; a fan disposed in the main body case; and a vaporizing humidifying element disposed in a passage of air flow by the fan; A water tank for supplying water to the vaporizing humidifying element, and the vaporizing humidifying element is located below a water tank for storing water supplied from the water tank and a discharge port of the fan. A humidifying device comprising a rotating humidifying filter pivotally supported in a water tank and a part of the rotating humidifying filter being immersed in the stored water in the water tank, A guide for turning the fan air flow toward the rotary humidifying filter so as to face the rotary humidifying filter on the upstream side of the fan air flow with respect to the rotary humidifying filter. Humidifying apparatus characterized in that a wood.   The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein a guide member for changing the direction of the fan air flow toward the rotary humidifying filter is provided in the water tank.   The humidifying device according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is formed integrally with the water tank.

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