JP2009232923A - Steam generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a structure and easily respond to various requirements. <P>SOLUTION: This steam generator 10 releases hot water vaporized by a heat exchanger to the interior of a bathroom as steam so as to create a mist sauna state. This steam generator 10 includes a nozzle 16 capable of atomizing hot water to the interior of the bathroom. The steam and the atomization from the nozzle 16 can create the sauna state where a bather simultaneously appreciates mist with different particle sizes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam generator, and more particularly to a steam generator that can be in a humid state while increasing the temperature in a bathroom such as a house.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been used a steam generating device that releases steam into a bathroom so that the humidity in the bathroom is extremely high while maintaining an appropriate temperature and makes the user feel comfortable. Such an apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. The apparatus of the same document can discharge hot water vaporized by a heat exchanger as a mist having a particle diameter of about 1 to 3 μm, and the inside of the bathroom can be in a so-called mist sauna state.

  By the way, as another device that makes the interior of the bathroom humid, a device that discharges mist-like hot water from a nozzle is known. The particle diameter of the mist emitted from the apparatus is about 100 to 300 μm, which is larger than the particle diameter of the mist emitted from the apparatus of Patent Document 1.

JP 2006-71143 A

  When the particle size of the mist is different as described above, the user who is taking a bath gets a different feeling of bathing and feeling of mist. However, since the two devices are separate and independent, it is impossible to obtain both of the different feelings as a single device. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that it is not possible to sufficiently cope with diversifying user needs recently. Here, when installing both of the two devices in one bathroom unit, one different device is required for each, so the structure becomes complicated due to the large scale, and the burden of installing the device is large. Inconvenience that it becomes.

[Object of invention]
The present invention has been devised on the basis of such inconveniences, and the object thereof is to generate steam that can simplify the structure and easily cope with various needs of users. To provide an apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a steam generator that vaporizes hot water with a heat exchanger and discharges the vaporized hot water into a bathroom.
It has the structure of having a nozzle provided so that hot water can be sprayed into the bathroom.

  In this invention, the hot water supply piping to a nozzle can take the structure that heating means other than the said heat exchanger are not provided.

  Moreover, you may employ | adopt the structure that the hot water supply piping to the said nozzle passes the vicinity of the said heat exchanger.

  Further, the hot water supply pipe to the nozzle may be configured to pass through the inside of a container for storing hot water that is sprayed on the heat exchanger to vaporize the hot water.

  According to the present invention, both a mist having a particle size of about 1 to 3 μm and a mist having a particle size of about 100 to 300 μm can be discharged. Thereby, it becomes possible to select and use a mist sauna state and a state in which a mist having a feel different from that of the mist sauna can be felt on the skin. In addition, both mists can be discharged at the same time, or the mists can be sprayed with their sensible temperature and body temperature being appropriately different. Thus, in this invention, it can be set as the sauna state which has various variations, and it becomes possible to respond flexibly to various needs of users. Furthermore, since both mists can be released by one steam generator, the overall structure can be simplified compared to the case of using two different devices as described above, and the installation work can be simplified. The burden can be reduced.

  Moreover, it can spray from the said nozzle, without heating the hot-water supply piping to a nozzle, and it can be set as the sauna state which made the temperature of both the said mists differ so that only the mist from a nozzle may feel cold.

  Furthermore, when the hot water supply pipe to the nozzle is passed through the vicinity of the heat exchanger that vaporizes hot water and / or the inside of the aforementioned container, the hot water is sprayed from the nozzle. The heating means only for the hot water supply pipe to the nozzle can be omitted, and this also makes it possible to simplify the structure.

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

  The schematic block diagram which shows the basic structure of the steam generator which concerns on FIG. 1 is shown by FIG. In this figure, the steam generator 10 is attached to the ceiling panel which comprises a bathroom unit in this embodiment, and discharge | releases steam in the downward bathroom. The steam generator 10 includes an exterior body 11 having a suction port 11A and a blower outlet 11B at a lower portion, a heat exchanger 12 provided in an air passage 11C between the suction port 11A and the blower outlet 11B, and this heat exchange. Hot water circulating means 13 provided in the vessel 12 so as to be able to discharge water, a fan 15 provided in the ventilation passage 11C, and a nozzle 16 capable of spraying hot water into the bathroom.

  The heat exchanger 12 includes a large number of fins 19 arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals via a connecting pipe 18. The connection pipe 18 communicates with a hot water supply pipe 21 and a hot water recovery pipe 22 connected to the water heater 20. The fin 19 is heated by supplying hot water to the connecting pipe 18 through the hot water supply pipe 21. The hot water that has passed through the connecting pipe 18 is returned to the water heater 20 through the hot water recovery pipe 22.

  The hot water circulating means 13 receives the discharge pipe 24 having a water discharge portion 24A for discharging water toward the upper part of the fin 19 at the tip and the hot water discharged to the fin 19 and flowing down, in other words, heat exchange. A drain pan 25 serving as a container for storing hot water sprayed on the vessel 12 to vaporize hot water and a pump 26 for supplying water in the drain pan 25 to the discharge pipe 24 are provided. Water is supplied into the drain pan 25 through a water supply pipe 29, and this water supply pipe 29 branches from a hot water supply pipe 31 described later and communicates with a water supply source 28. In addition, an electromagnetic valve 30 is provided in the water supply pipe 29 so that the amount of water supplied into the drain pan 25 can be adjusted by the valve opening time.

  The fan 15 is connected to a motor (not shown) and is operated so that the air in the bathroom sucked from the suction port 11A can be blown out from the blowout port 11B through the ventilation path 11C.

  The nozzle 16 is provided so as to be able to eject a mist having a particle size of about 100 to 300 μm toward a lower bathroom. The nozzle 16 is connected to a hot water supply pipe 31 that passes through the inside of the exterior body 11, and the hot water supply pipe 31 communicates with the water supply source 28. The hot water supply pipe 31 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 32 so that the spray amount from the nozzle 16 and the presence or absence of spray can be controlled. The nozzle 16 may be of a type that can vary the spray particle size.

  In the present embodiment, the steam generator 10 does not include any heating means other than the heat exchanger 12. The hot water supply pipe 31 is located outside the ventilation path 11 </ b> C so that water flowing in the hot water supply pipe 31 is not heated by the heat exchanger 12.

In the above configuration, when the inside of the bathroom is in a sauna state, the water is sprinkled from the water discharger 24A and sprinkled with water to heat the fins 19 into steam composed of mist having a particle diameter of about 1 to 3 μm. The steam flows through the ventilation path 11C by the operation of the fan 15 and is discharged from the outlet 11B into the bathroom. At the same time, water is supplied from the water supply source 28 to the nozzle 16 through the hot water supply pipe 31 and a mist having a particle size of about 100 to 300 μm is ejected toward the bathroom.
This makes it possible to discharge both mists having a particle size difference of about 100 times from one steam generator 10, and since the water to be sprayed from the nozzle 16 is not heated, the temperature of the mist from the nozzle 16 Can be set lower than the steam, and a sauna state having fog with different temperatures can be obtained.

  Therefore, according to such an embodiment, it is possible to experience both the above-mentioned fogs at the same time, and to expect a comfortable bathing feeling. Further, since the mist having different particle diameters is emitted, no device other than the steam generator 10 is required, and the structure can be simplified.

Although the best configuration, method and the like for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed in the above description, the present invention is not limited to this.
That is, the present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to particular embodiments, but is not limited to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In other detailed configurations, those skilled in the art can make various modifications.
Therefore, the description limited to the shape disclosed above is an example for easy understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. The description by the name of the member which remove | excluded one part or all part is included in this invention.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the hot water supply pipe 31 may be bypassed and passed through the vicinity of the heat exchanger 12. In the figure, the hot water supply pipe 31 is formed so as to be partially located in the ventilation path 11 </ b> C and to have a region adjacent to the fins 19. According to this, the hot water ejected from the nozzle 16 is heated, and it becomes possible to set the temperature difference between the two mists as described above smaller than that in the embodiment. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a part of the hot water supply pipe 31 may be provided so as to pass through the hot water in the drain pan 25.

  In addition, a temperature sensor is provided in the vicinity of the suction port 11A so that the temperature in the bathroom can be detected. When the temperature in the bathroom is within a predetermined range, the electromagnetic valve 32 is opened and spraying is performed from the nozzle 16. May be. Further, a plurality of patterns may be set at the timing when the spray from the nozzle 16 is turned on / off. Thereby, it can be set as the sauna state of various feelings, and can make it easy to respond to diversifying needs.

  Moreover, the attachment position of the steam generator 10 is not specifically limited, You may attach to the wall panel of a bathroom, or may be integrated in the apron lower part in a bathroom.

The schematic block diagram which shows the basic structure of the steam generator which concerns on embodiment. The schematic block diagram similar to FIG. 1 of the steam generator which concerns on a modification. The schematic block diagram similar to FIG. 1 of the steam generator which concerns on another modification.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steam generator, 12 ... Heat exchanger, 16 ... Nozzle, 25 ... Drain pan (container), 31 ... Hot water supply pipe

Claims (4)

In a steam generator that vaporizes hot water with a heat exchanger and releases the vaporized hot water into the bathroom,
A steam generator having a nozzle provided to spray hot water into the bathroom.   The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein the hot water supply pipe to the nozzle is not provided with any heating means other than the heat exchanger.   The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein a hot water supply pipe to the nozzle passes in the vicinity of the heat exchanger.   The steam generator according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the hot water supply pipe to the nozzle passes through the inside of a container for storing hot water sprayed on the heat exchanger to vaporize the hot water.

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