JP2013511692A - Equipment for humidifying the room - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for humidifying a room, comprising a water-containing region (35), a humidifying circuit (12) that passes through and / or surrounds the water-containing region (35), and the inside of the humidifying circuit (12) taking in ambient air At least a suction member (15) for introducing at least a part of the air into the water-containing region, and water-splitting means (30, 33) capable of forming fine dispersion of water droplets in the water-containing region. The humidification circuit (12) is associated with a water-containing region (35) to form a humidified and atomized fluid so that a portion of the air taken in by the suction member (15) In contact with the fine dispersion, the fine dispersion is configured to be conveyed into the humidification circuit (12) toward the outlet. At least downstream of the water-containing region for heating the humidified and atomized fluid so as to supply the desired energy input to the fluid, heat is associated with the humidification circuit (12). Means (17, 117) exist.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for humidifying a room, other space, volume or the like. In particular, the device according to the invention is used to increase the level of room humidity in such a way that the room temperature can be adjusted without substantially changing it to a perceivable level.

  Used in a substantially closed space, such as, for example, indoors, bedroom, office, or the like, to increase the level of humidity, for example, but not exclusively, to facilitate breathing of the child, A device called a humidifier is known.

  Two main types of humidifiers are known: the first is a so-called hot humidifier and the second is a so-called cold humidifier.

  Hot humidifiers have a function comparable to ordinary vaporizers, where a specified amount of water is heated to reach the boiling point and then dispersed in the environment in the form of steam.

  This type of humidifier produces a certain amount of condensation, especially on indoor surfaces where the formation of deposits and molds and the diffusion of bacteria can be promoted for many years due to the large temperature difference between the steam temperature and the room temperature. Has the problem of getting.

  Another problem is the extensive formation of lime residue on the thermal resistance, which leads to reduced efficiency and frequent maintenance work.

  Cold humidifiers have the advantage of humidifying air with less energy requirements. On the other hand, cold humidifiers have the disadvantage of causing a drop in room temperature, at least from a sensory and perceptual point of view. In fact, the effect obtained is an atomized water molecule using mechanical diffusion technology that gets energy from it by mixing with the surrounding air, thereby reducing the temperature. cause.

  U.S. Patent No. 6,057,056, which presents the technology closest to the present invention, describes a humidifier for an interior compartment of an automobile, which not only humidifies the space, but also cools the interior compartment. Determine effect and temperature drop.

US Pat. No. 5,645,769

  One of the objects of the present invention is to realize a device for humidifying the room, which humidifier prevents the formation of condensation and reduces the ambient temperature only from a sensory and perceptual point of view. It is possible to humidify the room air to a desired value that can be determined as desired while preventing changes.

  Another object is to perform humidification with low energy consumption.

  Another object is also, to a limited extent, to achieve air purification and / or heating.

  Applicants have devised, tested, and embodied the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to obtain these and other objects and advantages.

  The invention is proposed and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other features of the invention or variations on the main creative idea.

Regarding the above object, an apparatus for humidifying a room according to the present invention includes:
A water-containing region;
A humidification circuit that passes and / or surrounds the water-containing region;
Having variable speed and hence transport, adjustable according to at least two specific values, taking in ambient air and introducing at least part of said taken air inside the humidification circuit upstream of the water-containing region A suction member;
And a member for splitting and dispersing the water associated with the water-containing region, which determines the atomization of the water to form a fine dispersion of water droplets such as fine and fine mist.

  According to a characteristic part of the present invention, the humidifier is configured so that a part of the air taken in by the suction member is associated with the water-containing region in order to form a humidified and atomized fluid. For the purpose of heating the humidified and atomized fluid, in such a way that the fine dispersion is transported into the humidification circuit in the direction of the outlet in contact with the fine dispersion At least downstream of the water-containing region along the humidification circuit, near the outlet of the humidification circuit, or immediately downstream of the outlet, directly or with an intensity that can be adjusted according to at least two specific values in connection with the humidification circuit There is an indirect heating means, which is suitable for providing the desired energy input to the fluid so that the moist fluid can be at least partially converted into steam.

  In accordance with the present invention, the humidifier includes means for sensing the conditioned indoor humidity and means for setting a desired value of humidity by the user.

  Thus, when the user sets a desired value, the air suction means and the heating means are automatically adjusted in relation to the value detected by the means for detecting the ambient humidity. Therefore, the air transport and the heating intensity of the air fluid at the exit from the machine, both sensual and perceptual, do not cause any decrease in the room temperature, and the room humidity is brought to the desired value. Adjusted to be.

  In other words, the correct amount of air is heated to the correct heating value, thereby providing a balance that results in a change in humidity value without causing a change in room temperature.

  Advantageously, the heating temperature by the heating means is in any case much lower than the boiling point of water, thereby minimizing the formation of condensation caused by a re-change of steam to water when introduced into the room. It can be reduced to the limit.

  With the present invention, there is no decrease in room temperature, at least from a sensory and perceptual perspective. This is because the heating means provides the necessary energy input to the humidified and atomized fluid exiting the humidification circuit and therefore does not have energy from the room.

  According to another variation, the humidifier also includes a ventilation circuit operably associated with the humidification circuit to generate a main fluid of air, a portion of the fluid then forming the humidification fluid. Introduced into the humidification circuit.

  The fluid produced by the ventilation circuit is preferably introduced into the room after being exposed to heat.

  According to another variant, the suction member is in any case common to both the humidification circuit and the ventilation circuit.

  According to another variant, the humidification circuit branches off from the initial part of the ventilation circuit.

  According to the first means, the heating means for heating the humidified fluid constitutes the same means as the means for heating the ventilation fluid, in which case the humidification fluid is at the outlet from each circuit the humidification fluid and the ventilation fluid. Is heated indirectly by mixing.

  In another measure, at least the heating means is present along the humidification circuit. In this case, as for the 1st means, the heating means is arrange | positioned on the exterior of the pipe | tube which conveys the humidified fluid toward the exterior, and is transferring heat through the wall of this pipe | tube. Another means provides a heating means disposed within the tube to supply heat to the humidified fluid in a direct manner.

  According to yet another variant, the heating means are arranged downstream of the outlets of both the humidification circuit and the ventilation circuit, so that the entire outlet of the air fluid can be heated.

  According to another variant, two members are provided respectively in the associated humidifier and ventilation circuit, so that the humidifying fluid and the ventilation fluid are separated before the humidifying fluid and the ventilation fluid are mixed. And can be heated.

  According to another variant, the humidifier according to the invention comprises a filter element such as, for example, a HEPA type (High Efficiency Particulate Air filter), ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) or other so-called stand-alone filter, Each of the air taken from the room is filtered before the air taken from the room is introduced into the humidification circuit and / or the ventilation circuit. Thereby blocking any possible contaminating impurities and / or harmful that may be present in the room.

  According to another variant, the disassembling and dispersing member is an ultrasonic transducer.

  According to another variant, there is an anti-lime debris type water filter, for example using a resin, which is present at least upstream of the water-containing region, so that the water supplied to the region is low in impurities. Content.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the preferred embodiment described below, given as a non-limiting example using the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view, partially a cross-sectional view, of an apparatus for humidifying a room according to the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

  For ease of understanding, the same reference numerals have been used, where possible, to identify common elements in the drawings that are substantially identical. Elements and features of one form of embodiment may be readily incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further explanation.

  With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 means a device for humidifying a room, hereinafter simply referred to as a humidifier.

  In the present application, the humidifier 10 includes an external housing structure 11 capable of defining a technical section, a humidification circuit 12, a ventilation circuit 13, a suction member 15, an ultrasonic transducer 16 for atomizing cold water, 1 (main) heating element 17 and second heating element 117 are included.

  In particular, the external housing structure 11 includes an intake opening 19 for taking in air from the room, and an exhaust port 20 through which ventilation fluid that can be heated by the first heating element 17 is introduced into the room.

  Following the passage from the intake opening 19 to the exhaust port 20, the suction member 15 is mounted on the external housing structure 11 corresponding to the intake opening 19. It is captured.

  In particular, the suction member 15 includes a blade-type ventilator that is directly connected to the ventilation circuit 13 at the exhaust port 20 for filtering impurities in the air and thus introducing purified air into the room. A HEPA filter is provided at the intake port.

  The ventilation device 21 is of a type that takes in air from the room in the axial direction and introduces the air taken into the ventilation circuit 13 in a radial pattern.

  By this method, the volume of the humidifier 10 can be reduced while maintaining a high fluid yield.

  The ventilator 21 is of an adjustable type according to at least two, preferably three or more speeds, so that for the reasons mentioned above, the intake air is conveyed by the humidifier 10. Make it variable and re-introduce it indoors.

  The humidifier 10 also includes a humidity detector 40, which is mounted on the structure described above, and is suitable for detecting indoor humidity.

  The ventilation circuit 13 has a spiral or screw-type structure disposed around the ventilation device 21, thereby defining an air fluid using air introduced in a radial manner by the ventilation device 21. The ventilation circuit 13 has an exhaust port 25 having a gradually widened portion to reduce the outlet speed of the ventilation fluid, and an opening corresponding to the exhaust port 20 of the external housing structure 11. .

  The humidification circuit 12 branches off from the collecting unit 23 of the ventilation circuit 13, and therefore, a part of the fluid taken in from the room by the ventilation device 21 can be taken in.

  The humidification circuit 12 includes an intake port portion 26, a humidification portion 27, and an exhaust port portion 29.

  The intake port 26 is fluidly connected to the collection unit 23 for taking in air, the humidifying unit 27 can generate a humidified fluid together with the taken-in air, and the exhaust port 29 is , Corresponding to the exhaust port 20 of the external housing structure 11.

  The exhaust port portion 29 of the humidification circuit 12 is disposed substantially in parallel and is independent of the exhaust port portion 25 of the ventilation circuit 13. In this case, air is conveyed more than the exhaust port portion 25 described later. The amount is small.

  The exhaust port portion 29 of the humidification circuit 12 and the exhaust port portion 25 of the ventilation circuit 13 are opened corresponding to the exhaust port 20 of the external housing structure 11, whereby the fluid from both is at least partially mixed. As a result, the humidified fluid is given an energy input in the form of heat, thanks to the high temperature of the ventilation fluid.

  In particular, air exposed to heating by the first heating element 17 is present in the portion 20a of the exhaust port 20, while heating fluid exhausted from the portion 20a is added to the portion 20b, so There is a humidified fluid that determines the desired humidification of the air without causing a perceptible change in temperature.

  The ultrasonic transducer 16 is operatively associated with the humidification section 27 of the humidification circuit 12, in this case, an ultrasonic impulse generator 30, a piezoelectric crystal 33, a water tank 31 connected to the water-containing region 35, And a valve member 32.

  Between the water tank 31 and the water-containing region 35, an anti-lime scum filter 36 is provided. The filter 36 is made of, for example, a resin type, in particular on the parts 30 and 33 of the transducer 16, and It prevents or at least reduces the formation of lime residue along the humidification circuit 12.

  The impulse generator 30 is substantially of the traditional type and, when activated, excites a piezoelectric crystal 33 that generates ultrasonic waves inside the water contained in the water-containing region 35, thereby Then, water particles are atomized inside the humidifying unit 27, and the atomized water droplets are dispersed.

  Thus, atomized and cold atomized water is formed on the large amount of water present in the water-containing region 35 inside the humidifying unit 27. A part of the ambient air taken into the air inlet 26 is guided to surround the upper portion of the water-containing region 25 according to the adjustable conveyance, and at that time, the water droplets forming the mist are taken together. Thus, a humidified fluid of air is formed, which is subsequently discharged through the exhaust port 29.

  The tank 31 is arranged laterally with respect to the inlet segment 26 and supplies water to the water-containing region 35 to maintain a predetermined level, which is at least an impulse generator 30 and a piezoelectric for the purpose of atomization. It can be adjusted to completely coat the crystalline crystals 33.

  The valve member 32 optionally determines the amount of water in the water containing region 35.

  The first heating element 17 in this case is arranged along the exhaust port 25 of the ventilation circuit 13 so that the air fluid can be heated in an adjustable manner before mixing with the humidified fluid.

  The mixing of the two fluids gives energy to the humidified fluid containing the atomized particles in an amount to determine at least partial evaporation of the particles, so that the overall resulting fluid is On the other hand, it has a proper value of humidity without causing the problem of forming condensation and cooling the room on the other hand.

  The first heating element 17 is, for example, of the electrical resistance type, and includes one or more electrical coils disposed on the cross section of the exhaust port 25 to heat the ventilation fluid passing therethrough. It is out.

  Preferably, the first heating element 17 is a PTC resistor having a number of branches so that it can be activated selectively and independently, adjusting the heating intensity according to the desired surrounding conditions that can be obtained. be able to.

  In the variant illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. 3, a second heating element 117 is shown, which conveys energy in the form of heat to the humidified fluid containing the atomized particles, thereby providing the desired And at the expected humidity, humidified fluid can be supplied to the exhaust.

  In this variant, the means not shown here, the humidification fluid outlet may also not be adjacent to the main ventilation fluid outlet, but in another part of the external containment structure 11 Can be arranged.

  The second heating element 117 may be a resistor arranged around the tube constituting the humidification circuit 12, in which case the fluid is heated through the wall of the tube.

  Alternatively, the second heating element 117 may constitute an armored resistance disposed inside the tube so that the humidified fluid passes through the tube before leaving the humidification circuit 12. .

  In operation, the humidity detector 40 detects the ambient humidity value and compares it to a preferred humidity value in the room that is preset in the machine or can be set by the operator.

  Based on this detection, the conveyance of air consisting of the humidified fluid by the suction member 15 is conditioned, and the heating value determined by the first heating element 17 or the second heating element 117, and hence the two fluids of humidification and ventilation are determined. The heat exchange at the outlet determines, for example, a balance that leads to the desired humidity reached in the room without causing any change in temperature.

  Variations and / or additions of parts may be made to the humidifier 10 described above without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the field of the present invention, a single heating element 17 may be arranged downstream of the two circuits 12 and 13 and upstream of the exhaust port 20, so that the air fluid and the humidified fluid are separated. You may make it heat the air fluid of an exhaust port after mixing.

10 Humidifier 11 External housing structure 12 Humidification circuit 13 Ventilation circuit 15 Suction member 16 Ultrasonic transducer
17 First (Main) Heating Element 19 Intake Port 20 Exhaust Port 20a Exhaust Port Portion 20b Exhaust Port Portion 21 Blade Type Ventilator 22 HEPA Filter 23 Collection Portion 25 Inlet Port Portion 26 Inlet Port Portion 27 Humidification Portion 29 Intake Air Mouth part 30 Water decomposition member 31 Water tank 32 Valve member (water decomposition member)
33 Piezoelectric crystal 35 Water-containing region 36 Anti-lime residue filter 40 Humidity detector 117 Second heating element

Claims (8)

A device for humidifying a room,
A water-containing region (35);
A humidification circuit (12) that passes and / or surrounds the water-containing region (35);
Defines a ventilation circuit (13) having a variable and adjustable speed according to at least two specific values and hence a transport, and having an exhaust port (25) through which ventilation fluid is introduced into the room The suction member (15), wherein the suction member (15) also takes in ambient air and causes at least a portion of the air inside the humidification circuit (12) to flow into the water-containing region (35). It is introduced upstream,
A water splitting member (30, 33) capable of forming a fine dispersion of water droplets present in the water-containing region (35);
With ambient humidity detector (40)
The humidification circuit (12) is part of the air taken in by the suction member (15) in relation to the water-containing region (35) to form a humidified and atomized fluid. In contact with the fine dispersion of the water droplets, and the fine dispersion is conveyed to the inside of the humidification circuit (12) in the direction of the outlet, and
Associated with the humidification circuit (12) at least downstream of the water-containing region for the purpose of heating the humidified and atomized fluid so that a desired energy input can be supplied to the fluid. There is a thermal means (17, 117) having an intensity that can be adjusted according to at least two specific values,
The detection of the ambient humidity performed by the humidity detector (40) conditions the transport value of the air supplied by the suction member (15) and the intensity of heating performed by the heating means (17, 117). As a result of the conditioning, the heat exchange obtained between the humidified and atomized fluid and the ventilation fluid determines the desired humidity value that can be reached without appreciable change,
A device characterized by that. The apparatus of claim 1.
The heating means (17, 117) is arranged close to the outlet of the humidification circuit (12) or just downstream of the outlet,
A device characterized by that. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The heating means comprises at least a resistor (17) having a number of branches that can be driven selectively and independently.
A device characterized by that. In the apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3,
The heating means includes at least an external or internal resistance (117) directly associated with the humidification circuit (12),
A device characterized by that. The apparatus of claim 1.
The humidification circuit (12) is configured to propagate at least a portion of the air forming the ventilation fluid toward the water-containing region (35) so that a humidification system can be formed. Branching from the initial part (23) of
A device characterized by that. In the apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5,
In order to filter the air taken from the room before the air is reintroduced into the room, it further comprises a stand-alone filter element (22) disposed at least upstream of the suction member (15). ing,
A device characterized by that. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The anti-limestone type filter element (36) disposed at least upstream of the water-containing region (35);
A device characterized by that. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The disassembly and dispersion member (16) is of the ultrasonic type;
A device characterized by that.

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