JP2011019646A - Water-washing air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water-washing air cleaner, more compact than a filter-type air cleaner, having improved effects of deodorization and air cleaning. <P>SOLUTION: The water-washing air cleaner includes: a pot 21 in which water is stored; a body casing 15 including an intake duct 15u and an outlet duct 15d; an electric sprinkler mechanism 33 for sprinkling water within the pot; an electric blower fan 31 for sucking air from the intake duct and discharging the air from the outlet duct through the inside of the pot; and a drive unit 29 for driving the sprinkler mechanism and the blower fan. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air purifier, and more particularly to a flushing air purifier that cleans indoor air with water.

  In recent years, there are air cleaners as household appliances for removing dust and odors floating in the air. As this air purifier, a system in which air is forcibly sucked by a fan, filtered through a filter, and blown out clean air is blown out like a fan or an air conditioner (Patent Document 1 and the like). ).

  On the other hand, there is a type such as “Aroma Green” (product name) manufactured and sold by the present applicant as a principle different from this type of air purifier (related URL: http: // www.aromagreen.jp/aromagreen.html). In this type of air purifier, air is drawn into the pot, cleaned and deodorized with shower-like water, and the cleaned air is exhausted into the room to clean the air. In this case, since the air is washed with water, it is not necessary to replace the filter and the running cost is kept low.

  However, conventional aroma green type air purifiers (hereinafter referred to as water-washing air purifiers) have a lower air drawing capacity for structural reasons than filter type air purifiers using filters. The effect was questioned. Therefore, the present inventor conducted an experiment and measured the effects of deodorization and air cleaning by a water-washing type air purifier. As a result, although it did not exceed the filter type air purifier, clear effects on deodorization and air purification were confirmed.

  On the other hand, the flush air cleaner does not use a filter and has a simple structure, so it is a small eco-product that is easy to use. In addition, there are many other features not found in filter-type air purifiers. For example, in this flush air cleaner, water is swirling inside and mist-like water particles are agitated during operation, and this can be enjoyed from the outside. This is also a visual observation of the air washing process, and has the effect of providing a psychological feeling of cleanliness. In addition, the structure is visually interesting, and it is easy to enhance the design as an interior. Furthermore, if a fragrance is used, a mental and physical relaxation effect can be expected, so that it meets a certain demand different from the mainstream air purifier.

JP 2009-142737 A

  Generally, as a measure of the effect of air purification, there is a magnitude of air volume that draws indoor air. This is because when the air volume is small, dust or the like enters from outside before processing the whole indoor air.

  In the conventional water-washing type air purifier, the air volume for drawing air is considerably smaller than that of the filter type air purifier due to its structure. That is, both the stirring of the scattered water and the drawing of the indoor air are performed by the rotation of the stirring fan attached to the shaft of the motor.

  On the other hand, in the filter type air cleaner, there is no need for water scattering and stirring, and a fan that efficiently performs only air suction has been provided. Therefore, the water-washing air cleaner has a weaker air suction force than the filter-type air cleaner, and this appears as a difference in the effect of air cleaning.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier that improves the effects of deodorization and air cleaning by making the air volume larger while taking advantage of the features of the interior.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a flush air cleaner of the present invention is provided with a pot that has an opening at the top and can store water therein, an intake side duct, and a discharge side duct. A main body case engageable with the opening of the pot so that the duct and the discharge side duct communicate with the inside of the pot, and the main body case and the pot are engaged with an appropriate amount of water in the pot. An electric watering mechanism capable of watering the water in the pot in the pot;

  With the main body case and the pot engaged, an electric blower fan that sucks air from the intake side duct and discharges the air from the discharge side duct through the pot interior, and the sprinkling mechanism and blower fan. It consists of a drive device that drives.

  By setting it as such a structure, the air volume of the air which passes the inside of a pot increases, and it becomes possible to process the whole indoor air effectively.

  In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a dual-axis motor including an upper shaft to which the blower fan is attached and a lower shaft to which the watering mechanism is attached.

  By adopting such a configuration, as in the conventional case, both the scattering of water and agitation and the intake of air are performed by a single motor, so the cost is kept low and the overall shape is made relatively small. Is possible. In particular, the structure where water is scattered and stirred on the lower shaft and air is taken in on the upper shaft is suitable for natural reasons, and it allows a simple design.

  Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the biaxial motor is a scissor motor. By adopting such a configuration, since a complicated circuit is not required, the cost can be kept low and the overall shape can be made relatively small.

  In addition, a flush air cleaner according to another aspect of the present invention includes a pot that is transparent at least at the bottom and can store water therein, a body case that engages with the top of the pot, and external air. An air intake mechanism that draws into the pot, contacts the water inside the pot, and discharges it to the outside of the pot; an agitating mechanism that stirs the water inside the pot; and the bottom of the pot away from the floor, and the pot and It comprises a support structure that supports the main body case on the floor, and an illumination device that illuminates the water inside the pot and projects the movement of the water inside the pot on the floor.

  With such a configuration, the movement of water inside the pot accompanying the operation of the flush air cleaner is reflected on the floor as light from the bottom of the pot, and a unique aesthetic effect is exhibited. Therefore, compared with the conventional water-washing type air purifier in which the main body case is supported by the bottom of the pot, the illumination effect is excellent and the interior becomes more attractive.

  The flush air cleaner according to the present invention has the effect of improving the effects of deodorization and air purification by increasing the air volume while making use of the characteristics of the interior.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a flush air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing legs of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer shape of the pot of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a removable cover of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the removable cover of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sprinkler stirring unit attached to the lower shaft of the double-shaft motor of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another example of the water sprinkling part of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing still another example of the water sprinkling part of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of the support base leg portion of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical system of a flush air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a flush air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a flush air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of this flush air cleaner.

  Here, the flush air cleaner 1 includes a support base 11 having leg portions 13, a box-shaped main body case 15, and a hemispherical pot 17. A circular opening 19 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the pot 17 is provided in the center of the support base 11 so that the pot 17 can be accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the leg portion 13 of the support base 11 is formed by bending a steel pipe into a U shape in a side view. The height is designed so that the lower end of the pot 17 is separated from the installation surface by a certain distance, for example, 1 cm or more in a state where the pot 17 is accommodated in the support base 11.

  The pot 17 includes a hemispherical portion 21 for storing water therein, a cylindrical portion 23 having a smaller diameter than the hemispherical portion 21, a shoulder portion 25 for connecting them, and a flange portion 26, which are transparent or hemispherical. It is manufactured by molding transparent glass or resin into a ball (bowl) shape. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 23 is smaller than the diameter of the hemispherical portion 21 by the shoulder portion 25. As will be described later, this is also a configuration necessary for illuminating the inside of the pot 17 from the outside through the shoulder portion 25 by the LED ring 27 in which a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer shape of the pot of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the diameter of the outer periphery of the flange portion 26 of the pot 17 is slightly larger than the diameter of the opening 19 of the support base 11. This is to prevent the user from falling down when holding the flange 26 and storing the pot 17 in the opening 19 from above. The opening 19 of the support base 11 is provided with two notches 19f at positions facing each other. This notch 19 f is provided so as not to cause interference between the user's finger having the flange portion 26 and the support base 11.

  In one embodiment of the pot 17, the diameter of the hemispherical portion 21 is 180 mm, the outer diameter of the flange portion 26 is 195 mm, the diameter of the cylindrical portion 23 is 165 mm, and the diameter of the opening 19 of the support base 11 is 185 mm. . The height of the cylindrical portion 23 is 15 mm.

  Returning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the shape of the main body case 15 is a rectangular parallelepiped whose upper surface is a square of approximately 225 mm. And in the inside, the both-axis motor 29, the blower fan 31 attached to the upper shaft 29u of this both-axis motor 29, the sprinkling stirring unit 33 attached to the lower shaft 29d, and the electric power to the both-axis motor 29 Introduced from a circuit box 35 for controlling supply, a switch circuit board 37 having a switch for switching the operation of the flush air cleaner 1 by a user, and an intake port 15u provided at the upper part of the main body case 15 by rotation of the blower fan 31 The intake side duct 39 that guides the indoor air to the pot 19 and the air cleaned by contact with water inside the pot 19 are discharged into the room through the intake port 15d provided on the side surface of the main body case 15. The discharge side duct 41 is provided.

  The air inlet 15u is not provided with a dustproof device such as a filter. Accordingly, air can be efficiently sucked. On the other hand, dust and contaminants adhere directly to the blower fan 31, so it is important that maintenance can be performed easily. Therefore, in this flush air cleaner, the intake port 15u is mounted as a removable cover 16 as shown in FIG. When the blower fan 31 becomes dirty, the user can easily clean it by removing the cover 16 and washing it with water, and wiping the blower fan 31 and its surroundings with a cloth. The cover 16 can be attached and detached with a single touch by a hook 16h, but may be screwed by a screw 16s as shown in FIG.

  Moreover, after removing the cover 16, the blower fan 31 itself can also be pulled out and removed by removing the nut that holds the shaft of the blower fan 31. The removed blower fan 31 can be washed with water, and the inside of the main body in which the blower fan 31 is stored can be cleaned to the vicinity of the intake duct 39.

  The biaxial motor 29 is a take-up motor, and is driven by an AC commercial power source, that is, a power source supplied to a general home by an electric power company. Actually, in order to ensure safety, the power of AC 100 V is stepped down to AC 24 V via an adapter (not shown) and then supplied to the double-axis motor 29. As a result, the double-axis motor 29 rotates at a speed of 2000 to 2500 rpm under the resistance of water during use. Under no load, the double shaft motor 29 rotates at about 3000 rpm.

  The circuit box 35 also supplies power to the LED ring 27. The operation of the circuit box 35 is controlled by switches 37 a and 37 b provided on the switch circuit board 37 and exposed on the side surface of the main body case 15. That is, the rotation of the double-axis motor 29 is controlled by the switch 37a, and the lighting of the LED ring 27 is controlled by the switch 37b independently of this.

  Further, the outside and the side of the main body case 15 are plastic or steel housings 43, and the bottom is a resin partition plate 45. Both shaft motors 29 are firmly fixed to the partition plate 45 by support means whose details are omitted in the drawing. Further, the lower shaft 29d of the double shaft motor 29 to which the sprinkling stirring unit 33 is to be attached extends through the center of the partition plate 45 and extends to the pot 17 side. Further, openings 49 and 51 for connecting the intake side duct 39 and the discharge side duct 41 are provided at positions facing each other across the both-axis motor 29. The partition plate 45 is provided with a plurality of heat radiation slits 47 in the vicinity of the lower shaft 29 d of the double-axis motor 29. As will be described later, the slit 47 also functions as a vent for sending air from above to the sprinkler stirring unit 33.

  The partition plate 45 is further provided with an engaging portion 53 protruding upward, and a groove that opens downward is formed in the engaging portion 53. The main body case 15 and the pot 17 can be fixed integrally by inserting the cylindrical portion 23 of the pot 17 into the groove from the bottom about 15 mm without any gap. With the main body case 15 and the pot 17 fixed integrally, the lower end of the sprinkling stirring unit 33 of the main body case 15 reaches the vicinity of the bottom of the pot 17 containing a certain amount of water during use.

  When the water inside the pot 17 becomes dirty, the user needs to change the water in the pot 17. To do so, first, the main body case 15 is removed by lifting it upward. Next, a finger is inserted into the notch 19f of the opening 19, the flange 26 is held, the pot 17 containing water is lifted, removed from the support base 11, and the water inside is discarded. Wash the emptied pot 17 and add new tap water. Further, an appropriate amount of air washing liquid is added to the water in the pot 17 and then placed on the support base 11. Then, the main body case 15 is placed so that the engaging portion 53 is engaged with the cylindrical portion 23 of the pot 17. In addition, if the air washing | cleaning liquid containing a fragrance | flavor is used, in addition to the effect of air purification, it will become possible to enjoy a scent.

  FIG. 7 shows the watering and stirring unit 33 attached to the lower shaft 29 d of the double shaft motor 29. The watering stirring unit 33 is composed of an upper stirring part 33a and a lower watering part 33b connected to each other. These agitating component 33a and water sprinkling component 33b are separately manufactured by resin molding, and can be easily separated or integrated by fitting. Therefore, it is easy for the user to separate and clean.

  The lower water sprinkling part 33b has a substantially inverted conical shape with a hollow inside, and a water absorption hole 33d is provided at a rounded tip at the lower end. Moreover, the upper end of the water sprinkling part 33b has spread so that it may connect with the lower surface of the stirring component 33a gently, and the four outlet holes 33c are provided between the lower surface of the stirring component 33a. In a state where an appropriate amount of water has entered the pot 17, the water outlet 33 c is located a certain distance above the water surface.

  When the double-axis motor 29 rotates during use, the water inside the substantially inverted conical water sprinkling part 33b is discharged from the water outlet 33c by centrifugal force. Accordingly, water is newly supplied from the water absorption hole 33d, and continuous watering is performed. In this specification, watering means that water is sprayed in a shower shape.

  When the sound of watering is felt as noise, watering can be stopped even during operation by closing the water absorption hole 33d with a stopper (not shown) as a separate member. However, in this case, since the water does not form a shower, the effect of air purification is reduced.

  When watering is not performed, noise is reduced, but the effect of air purification is reduced. In order to compensate for this, the screw type fin shown in the figure may be used. In this screw type fin, the water outlet 33c and the water absorption hole 33d are eliminated from the water sprinkling part 33b of FIG. 8, and a spiral ridge 33r is provided on the outer periphery instead. When the screw type fin is rotated by the ridge 33r, the water in the pot 17 is agitated, a large swell is generated, the contact area with the air is increased, and as a result, the air cleaning effect is improved.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing still another example of the water sprinkling part of the flush air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. The water sprinkling part is provided with a water discharge hole 33c and a water absorption hole 33d, and further, a spiral ridge 33s is provided inside. Even if the rotational speed of the screw type fin is small, the ridge 33r can effectively suck up the water in the pot 17 and spray water. The same effect can be obtained by providing a cut (groove) instead of the ridge 33r.

  On the other hand, a plurality of fins 33 f are provided radially on the stirring component 33 a on the upper part of the sprinkling stirring unit 33. When the double-axis motor 29 rotates during use, the fins 33f generate a spiral airflow from the center to the outside. The rotation direction is the left direction when viewed from above, and the tips of the fins 33f are bent in this direction.

  The blower fan 31 attached to the upper shaft 29u of the biaxial motor 29 is a sirocco fan. When the biaxial motor 29 rotates in use, indoor air taken in from the upper intake port 15u is taken into the intake side duct 39. After that, it is led into the pot 17. And after mixing with mist-like water and washing | cleaning, it returns to the indoor through the discharge side duct 41. FIG.

  Further, an LED ring 27 is provided outside the engaging portion 53 of the partition plate 45, and four pairs of LEDs 27w and 27b are positioned at equal intervals 45 degrees apart from each other. The pair of LEDs includes a white LED 27w and a light bulb color LED 27b. The LEDs 27 w and 27 b are exposed from the lower surface of the partition plate 45, and are provided at positions and angles so as to illuminate the interior of the pot 17 through the shoulder portion 25.

  At the time of use, the water sprinkling part 33b rotates with the rotation of the double shaft motor 29, whereby the water inside the pot 17 also rotates. The movement of the fine particles of water stirred in a mist state along with the fluctuation of the water surface is projected onto the installation surface directly under the pot 17 by the light of the LEDs 27w and 27b. Therefore, it is important that the lower end of the pot 17 is higher than the installation surface to such an extent that the installation surface under the pot 17 is sufficiently visible.

  With such a configuration, the flushing air cleaner according to the present embodiment is superior in illumination effect and more attractive as an interior than the conventional flushing air cleaner in which the main body case is supported by the bottom surface of the pot. It has become a thing.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the leg portion 13 of the support base 11 is formed by bending a steel pipe into a U-shape when viewed from the side. However, if it is a structure that supports the bottom of the pot 17 so as to be in a position separated from the floor, it similarly has an attractive interior feature. For example, instead of the U-shaped legs, a structure that is supported by four legs such as many chairs and desks may be used (see FIG. 10).

  That is, such a flushing air purifier includes a light-transmitting pot having an opening in the upper portion and capable of storing water therein, a body case engageable with the opening of the pot, and the pot When the main body case and the pot are engaged with each other in a state where an appropriate amount of water has entered the pot, the support member that supports the pot so that the bottom of the pot is in a position separated from the floor. A watering mechanism capable of spraying water in the pot, and when the main body case and the pot are engaged in a state where an appropriate amount of water is contained in the pot, air is introduced from the outside into the pot, An intake / exhaust mechanism that discharges the air in contact with the water inside the pot to the outside, and an illumination device that illuminates the inside of the pot.

  FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical system of the flush air cleaner according to the present embodiment. Here, in addition to starting / stopping the air cleaning operation of the water-washing type air purifier, the LED 27w and 27b are turned on / off, and a timer function for turning off the power in a certain time (for example, 24 hours) is implemented. The water in the pot 17 becomes dirty as the indoor air is cleaned, and evaporates to reduce the amount of water. When operating constantly, if the water is turned off by the timer, the regular maintenance will not be forgotten if the water is replaced.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the circuit for controlling the flush air cleaner according to this embodiment includes a transformer 63 that converts the voltage of AC power from the AC commercial power supply 61 from 100V to 24V, and a 24V AC. A motor drive control circuit 65 that supplies power to the double-axis motor 29, a rectifier circuit 67 that rectifies this 24V AC power, and an LED power control that controls the supply of DC current from the rectifier circuit 67 to the LEDs 27w and 27b. And a timer / switch control circuit 71 that controls the operation of the motor drive control circuit 65 and the LED power control unit 69 in accordance with the operation of the switch 37a and the switch 37b. The transformer 63 may be provided as an external adapter or may be built in the main body.

  The timer switch control circuit 71 has a built-in timer circuit, and automatically controls the motor drive control circuit 65 to stop the power supply to the two-axis motor 29 when a predetermined time, for example, 24 hours elapses. . In the case of manual operation, the operation and the stop are switched every time the switch 37a is pressed. The motor drive control circuit 65 includes a relay circuit that operates in response to a control signal from the timer / switch control circuit 71.

  The LEDs 27w and 27b are composed of four white LEDs 27w and four light bulb colored LEDs 27b that are paired with each other. The LED power control unit 69 is a two-channel switch. In response to a control signal from the timer / switch control circuit 71, only the white LED 27w is turned on (Cool) → only the bulb color LED 27b is turned on (Warm) → both are turned off → only the white LED 27w is turned on. .., And the switching is performed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail by embodiment, it is clear for those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to embodiment described in this application. The present invention can be implemented as modified and changed modes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the scope of claims. Therefore, the description of the present application is for illustrative purposes and does not have any limiting meaning to the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the leg portion 13 of the support base 11 is made of a steel pipe formed so as to have a U shape in a side view. However, in order to prevent the light from the pot 17 as much as possible and further enhance the illumination effect on the installation surface under the pot 17, the legs may be formed of transparent reinforced plastic. In that case, it is more effective if the shape is flat along the radial direction.

  Moreover, it is good also considering the water sprinkling component 33b as a cross-sectional polygon, and making the surface into a mirror surface. Specifically, it is formed by applying a water-resistant coating to a mirror-finished metal or a mirror-coated resin. If such a sprinkling component is used, the light of the LED 27 is reflected by the surface of the sprinkling component 33b, so that the scattered light in the horizontal direction is obtained, resulting in a more varied illumination.

  Furthermore, it is conceivable that a holder for storing a bottle of the air cleaning liquid is provided inside the main body case 15. Attach the bottle of the air cleaning liquid from the outer lid upside down to the storage holder. Since the air cleaning liquid bottle has a small holed inner lid, the air cleaning liquid will not flow out just by turning it upside down. In this case, on the outside of the storage holder, a button is provided that can directly contact the air washing liquid and press the bottle. By pressing this button, the air cleaning liquid can be squeezed out as appropriate. The air cleaning liquid from the bottle passes through a pipe provided at the lower part of the storage holder and falls into the water inside the pot 17 from the cleaning liquid supply hole provided in the vicinity of the lower shaft 29d of the double-axis motor 29. In the vicinity of the lower shaft 29d, the pressure is reduced during the operation, so that it is easily guided into the pot 17.

  Further, an exchangeable transparent hemispherical jacket that fits outside the pot 17 may be used. This hemispherical jacket is a film on which line art or the like is printed, and can change the illumination. The fun also swells as a jacket that draws popular character marks and maps of the earth in lines.

  As described above, the flush air cleaner according to the present invention has a structure different from that of a filter-type air cleaner and a conventional flush air cleaner, thereby being compact and improving the effects of deodorization and air purification. Can meet new demands.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flush type air purifier 11 Support stand 13 Leg part 15 Main body case 15d Inlet 15u Inlet 16 Cover 16h Hook 16s Screw 17 Pot 19 Opening 19f Notch 21 Opening 23 Cylindrical part 25 Shoulder part 26 Flange part 27w White LED
27b Light bulb color LED
29 Double shaft motor 29d Lower shaft 29u Upper shaft 31 Blower fan 33 Sprinkling stirring unit 33a Stirring component 33b Sprinkling component 33c Water outlet 33d Water intake 33f Fin 33r Ridge 35 Circuit box 37 Switch circuit board 37a Motor control switch 37b LED control switch 39 Intake Side duct 41 Discharge side duct 43 Housing 45 Partition plate 47 Slit 49, 51 Opening 53 Engagement part 61 AC commercial power supply 63 Transformer 65 Motor drive control circuit 67 Rectifier circuit 69 LED power control part 71 Switch control circuit

Claims (3)

A pot that has an opening at the top and can store water inside;
A main body case that is provided with an intake side duct and a discharge side duct, and that can be engaged with an opening of the pot so that the intake side duct and the discharge side duct communicate with the interior of the pot;
An electric watering mechanism capable of watering the water in the pot in the pot when the main body case and the pot are engaged with an appropriate amount of water in the pot;
With the main body case and the pot engaged, an electric blower fan that sucks air from the intake side duct and discharges this air from the discharge side duct through the inside of the pot;
A flush air cleaner comprising the watering mechanism and a driving device for driving a blower fan.   The flush air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a double-shaft motor having an upper shaft to which the blower fan is attached and a lower shaft to which the watering mechanism is attached.   The flush air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the both shaft motors are scissor motors.

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