JP2024017173A - dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a dryer that can save power consumption.SOLUTION: A dryer 1 includes a nozzle 30, and a housing 10 connected to the nozzle 30. The nozzle 30 includes multiple branch parts 32 (branched multiple gas passages). Further, there are a first space IR1 and a second space IR2 inside the multiple branch parts 32 (multiple gas passages) aligned in the circumferential direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a dryer.

Conventionally, various types of dryers are known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-264391

In a dryer, it is generally necessary to supply electric power for heating the air to a heater within the dryer, so power consumption tends to be large. Therefore, there is a growing need for dryers that can reduce power consumption.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a dryer that can suppress power consumption.

The dryer of the present invention includes a nozzle and a casing connected to the nozzle, and the nozzle includes a plurality of branched gas flow paths, and the plurality of gas flow paths arranged in a circumferential direction. It is characterized by having a space inside.

Note that the dryer may further include at least one of the following configurations.

The space may be connected to an external space surrounding the plurality of gas flow paths arranged in the circumferential direction. Further, in the circumferential direction, there may be a space between two adjacent channels among the plurality of gas channels. Further, the ratio of the area of the opening on the suction port side of the nozzle to the area of the openings of the plurality of gas channels may be between 0.8 and 1.2.

According to the present invention, a dryer capable of suppressing power consumption is provided.

It is a perspective view showing a dryer in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the internal structure of the casing of the dryer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a nozzle of the dryer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing the nozzle of the dryer shown in FIG. 1 at a different angle from that in FIG. 3; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing a nozzle of the dryer shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing the dryer according to the present invention will be illustrated along with the accompanying drawings. The embodiments illustrated below are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to be interpreted as limiting the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved from the following embodiments without departing from the spirit thereof. Further, in the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of each member may be exaggerated or reduced, or hatching may be omitted for ease of understanding.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a dryer according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the dryer 1 includes a housing 10 and a nozzle 30, and is used, for example, as a hair dryer. The housing 10 is connected to a nozzle 30.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the internal structure of the housing 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 includes a grip portion 11, a cylindrical portion 12, and a connecting portion 13. The grip part 11 is a part where a user grips the dryer 1 when using the dryer 1. In this embodiment, an operation switch 19 is provided on the surface of the grip 11 facing the nozzle 30 side. This operation switch 19 is connected to a circuit board (not shown) provided inside the housing 10. Further, this circuit board is connected to a motor 16 and a heater 17, which will be described later. Therefore, depending on the operation of the operation switch 19, the rotational speed of the motor 16 and the amount of heat generated from the heater 17 change.

The cylindrical portion 12 has a cylindrical shape in this embodiment. However, the shape of the cylindrical portion 12 does not have to be cylindrical. The cylindrical portion 12 extends generally perpendicularly to the grip portion 11 . In this embodiment, a cylindrical heater 17 is attached to the inner peripheral surface 12a of the cylindrical portion 12, and this heater 17 is connected to the above-mentioned circuit board. A current flows through the heater 17 via the circuit board according to the operation of the operation switch 19. That is, by switching the operation switch 19, the amount of heat generated by the heater 17 changes. The inside of the heater 17 is an air flow path 18 through which air can flow. Therefore, the air AR flowing through the air flow path 18 is heated according to the amount of heat generated by the heater 17.

The connecting portion 13 is connected to one end of the gripping portion 11 and one end of the cylindrical portion 12 . That is, the connecting part 13 connects the grip part 11 and the cylinder part 12. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 13 is viewed from a side when viewed along a third direction Z that is generally perpendicular to a first direction It has a generally circular shape. That is, in this embodiment, the connecting portion 13 is formed into a cylindrical shape that is generally flat in the third direction Z. However, the shape of the connecting portion 13 is not limited to this. In the third direction Z, each of the side surfaces 13f on one side and the other side of the connecting portion 13 has a circular inner circumferential surface 13fa, and a circular opening 14 is formed inside the inner circumferential surface 13fa. . Via this opening 14, an external space OR surrounding the dryer 1 and an internal space 13C of the connecting portion 13 communicate with each other. A circular plate portion 14P is provided at the center of the opening 14. A plurality of spokes 14S extend radially from the plate portion 14P to the inner peripheral surface 13fa. An annular ring 14R is provided between the plate portion 14P and the inner peripheral surface 13fa. The ring 14R crosses each of the plurality of spokes 14S and reinforces the plurality of spokes 14S. Note that the shape of the opening 14 is not limited to the above.

As shown in FIG. 2, a motor 16, a centrifugal fan 15, and the like are accommodated and held in the internal space 13C of the connecting portion 13. Note that in FIG. 2, only the rotating shaft of the motor 16 is shown. Therefore, for convenience, the reference numeral 16 is attached to this rotating shaft. The motor 16 is connected to the above-mentioned circuit board, and rotates based on electric power supplied via the circuit board in response to operation of the operation switch 19. The centrifugal fan 15 is supported by a rotating shaft of a motor 16 that extends in the third direction Z. Therefore, the centrifugal fan 15 rotates in the a side or the b side in the first direction X as the motor 16 rotates (that is, in response to the operation of the operation switch 19). The a side in the first direction X is the opening 33E (discharge port) side of the nozzle 30, which will be described later. Note that FIG. 2 shows an example in which the centrifugal fan 15 rotates in the a side of the first direction X. When the centrifugal fan 15 rotates in this manner, air in the external space OR flows into the internal space 13C via the opening 14 (intake port). The air AR that has flowed into the internal space 13C flows within the housing 10 from the b side to the a side in the first direction X due to the rotation of the centrifugal fan 15. That is, the air AR flows through the air flow path 18 in the cylindrical portion 12 toward the nozzle 30 side, and is heated by the heater 17 attached to the inner circumferential surface 12a of the cylindrical portion 12 at this time.

In addition, in the example of the internal structure of the dryer 1 in FIG. 2, an example has been described in which air AR is taken into the internal space 13C by the centrifugal fan 15 and distributed to the air flow path 18, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the opening 14 serving as the suction port may be formed on the surface of the connecting portion 13 in the first direction b, and an axial fan may be provided in the internal space 13C instead of the centrifugal fan 15.

By the way, when the dryer 1 is set to, for example, a cold air mode using the operation switch 19, the heater 17 may not be supplied with electric power or may be supplied with almost no electric power. In the case of such a cold air mode, the air AR may not be substantially heated, and cold air having approximately the same temperature as the external space OR may be supplied to the nozzle 30. Further, when the dryer 1 is set to, for example, a strong wind mode using the operation switch 19, a large amount of current is supplied to the motor 16, the motor 16 and the centrifugal fan 15 rotate at high speed, and as a result, the air flowing through the air flow path 18 is The flow rate of AR may be increased. On the other hand, when the dryer 1 is set to, for example, a weak wind mode using the operation switch 19, the current supplied to the motor 16 is suppressed, the motor 16 and the centrifugal fan 15 rotate at low speed, and as a result, the air flow path 18 is The flow rate of the flowing air AR may be slowed down.

The air AR flows through the air flow path 18 of the cylindrical portion 12 and reaches the opening 10E at the end of the cylindrical portion 12 on the a side in the first direction X. In this embodiment, the opening 10E has a circular shape when viewed from the a side in the first direction X, but is not limited to this.

Next, the nozzle 30 will be explained. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the nozzle 30 viewed from the a side in the first direction X. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing the nozzle 30 at a different angle than in FIG. FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the nozzle 30 viewed from the b side in the first direction X.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, the nozzle 30 is exposed to the external space OR. The nozzle 30 includes a cylindrical (cylindrical in this embodiment) frame 31 and a plurality of branch portions 32 . The b side of the frame 31 in the first direction X is open, while the a side of the frame 31 in the first direction X is closed. The opening 30A of the frame 31 is circular when viewed from the b side in the first direction X, and has approximately the same area as the opening 10E of the housing 10. The nozzle 30 and the housing 10 are connected so that the opening 30A and the opening 10E are butted against each other. Thereby, the internal space 31C of the frame 31 and the air flow path 18 of the housing 10 are communicated with each other. The frame 31 and the cylindrical portion 12 have the same central axis O (see FIG. 2) extending in the first direction X.

The number of the plurality of branch parts 32 is not limited as long as it is plural, but from the viewpoint of suppressing the flow path resistance in the vicinity of the branch part 32, it is preferably from 2 to 8, and in this embodiment. There are four. The plurality of branch portions 32 are cylindrical and have the same shape and size. That is, an internal space is formed inside each of the plurality of branch parts 32. The plurality of branch parts 32 are attached to the same position on the outer peripheral surface 31F of the frame 31 in the first direction X. Here, the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 12 of the housing 10 and the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface 31F of the frame 31 of the nozzle 30 are collectively referred to as the circumferential direction of the dryer 1 or simply the circumferential direction. The plurality of branch parts 32 are lined up in the circumferential direction of the dryer 1, and are attached to the outer peripheral surface 31F at equal intervals. That is, the branch portions 32 that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are attached at intervals of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the central axis O when viewed from the first direction X. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) first spaces IR1 are formed between branch portions 32 adjacent in the circumferential direction, that is, inside the plurality of branch portions 32 arranged in the circumferential direction. Each of the plurality of first spaces IR1 is connected to an external space OR surrounding the plurality of branch parts 32.

Each of the plurality of branch parts 32 includes a connecting part 34 and an extending part 33 extending in the X direction, and the connecting part 34 and the extending part 33 are integrally formed.

The connecting portion 34 is attached to the outer peripheral surface 31F of the frame 31 and connects the frame 31 and the extension portion 33. The connecting portion 34 has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the outside in the radial direction of the frame 31. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portion 34 includes an upper surface 34u that gradually inclines outward in the radial direction toward the a side in the first direction X, and both ends of the upper surface 34u in the circumferential direction and the frame 31. and a pair of side surfaces 34S that connect the outer circumferential surface 31F. The pair of side surfaces 34S are formed symmetrically, and in the first direction It curves away. Moreover, when paying attention to the ends on the b side of the pair of side surfaces 34S (that is, the connection points with the extension portion 33), the distance in the circumferential direction between the pair of ends 34Su on the outside in the radial direction is It is larger than the distance in the circumferential direction between the pair of end portions 34Sd. A generally rectangular hole 31H is formed in the frame 31 when viewed from the inside to the outside in the radial direction, and the internal space 34C of the connecting portion 34 and the internal space 31C of the frame 31 communicate with each other via the hole 31H. are doing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the extending portion 33 is formed into an approximately isosceles trapezoidal shape when viewed from the a side in the first direction X. As shown in FIG. The extending portion 33 includes a first portion (first bottom portion) 33d located on the inside in the radial direction, and a second portion (first portion) located on the outside in the radial direction and having a longer length in the circumferential direction than the first bottom portion 33d. 2 bottom portion) 33u, and a pair of portions (side portions) 33S that connect the first bottom portion 33d and the second bottom portion 33u. The first bottom portion 33d, the second bottom portion 33u, and the pair of side portions 33S form a frame of the extending portion 33 in the circumferential direction. When viewed from side a in the first direction Each second bottom portion 33u forms a part of a large diameter circle centered on the central axis O. At the b-side end of the extending portion 33 in the first direction 5), and both ends of the first bottom portion 33d in the circumferential direction are connected to the pair of ends 34Sd (see FIG. 5). The internal space 33C of the extension part 33 and the internal space 34C of the connecting part 34 (see FIG. 5) are in communication.

Focusing on a pair of extending portions 33 that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. Of the pair of side parts 33S of the other extension part 33, the side part 33S which is close to one extension part 33 is generally parallel, and the above-mentioned first space IR1 is formed between these side parts 33S. It is formed. Further, since the extending portion 33 is connected to the frame 31 via a connecting portion 34 that is formed to project outward in the radial direction toward the a side in the first direction When viewed from side a, a generally circular second space IR2 is formed inside the first bottom portion 33d of each extension portion 33. Therefore, when viewing the nozzle 30 from the a side in the first direction X, the closed end of the frame 31 on the a side can be visually recognized through the second space IR2. The plurality of first spaces IR1 communicate with the second space IR2. Therefore, in this embodiment, there are a second space IR2 and a plurality of first spaces IR1 inside the plurality of branch portions 32 arranged in the circumferential direction.

As described above, in each of the plurality of branch parts 32, the internal space 33C of the extension part 33 and the internal space 34C of the connecting part 34 communicate with each other, and the internal space 34C of the connecting part 34 and the internal space of the frame 31 communicate with each other. It communicates with 31C. Furthermore, the internal space 31C of the frame 31 and the air flow path 18 of the housing 10 are in communication. Therefore, the air AR flowing through the air flow path 18 toward the a side in the first direction , flows through the internal spaces 34C of the plurality of (four) connecting parts 34, then flows through the internal spaces 33C of the plurality of (four) extension parts 33, and finally flows through the respective internal spaces. It is discharged into the external space OR from the opening 33E (discharge port) at the a-side end of 33C. In this way, the plurality of branch portions 32 arranged in the circumferential direction function as a plurality of gas flow paths arranged in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in the dryer 1 of this embodiment, the nozzle 30 includes a plurality of branched gas flow paths (a plurality of branch portions 32), and a plurality of gas flow paths (a plurality of branch portions) arranged in the circumferential direction. 32), there are a first space IR1 and a second space IR2. The first space IR1 and the second space IR2 are connected to the external space OR.

By the way, in the first direction The ratio to the total area is not particularly limited, but is preferably between 0.8 and 1.2, and is approximately 1 in this embodiment.

According to the dryer 1 described above, when the air AR is discharged from each of the openings 33E, the air A0 in the external space OR is caught in the flow of the discharged air AR, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. As a result, the air A0 flows through the plurality of first spaces IR1 and the second space IR2, and joins the discharged air AR. That is, according to the dryer 1, the air volume increases by adding the air A0 outside the dryer 1 to the air AR discharged from the nozzle 30, so it is possible to generate a large air volume with a small amount of electric power. As a result, power consumption can be suppressed.

In addition, in the dryer 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the area of the opening 30A on the b side (air AR suction port side) of the nozzle 30 and the plurality of gas flow paths (the plurality of branch portions 32) The ratio to the total area of the openings 33E is 0.8 or more and 1.2 or less, more specifically approximately 1, and the area of the openings 30A and the total area of the openings 33E are approximately equal. According to such a configuration, the flow path resistance near the opening 33E (discharge port) of the nozzle 30 is reduced, and a reduction in air volume due to flow path resistance is suppressed, so that the air volume from the dryer 1 can further increase.

Although the present invention has been described above using the above embodiment as an example, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the first space IR1 and the second space IR2 are provided inside the plurality of gas flow paths (the plurality of branch parts 32), but the second space IR2 is not essential. .

In addition, those skilled in the art can appropriately modify the dryer of the present invention based on conventionally known knowledge. As long as such modifications still have the structure of the present invention, they are, of course, included within the scope of the present invention.

1... Dryer, 10... Housing, 32... Branch (gas flow path), 30A... Opening, 33E... Opening, IR1... First space, IR2... Second space, OR... External space

Claims (4)

comprising a nozzle and a casing connected to the nozzle,
The nozzle includes a plurality of branched gas flow paths,
A dryer, wherein there is a space inside the plurality of gas flow paths arranged in a circumferential direction. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the space is connected to an external space surrounding the plurality of gas flow paths arranged in the circumferential direction. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein there is a space between two adjacent channels among the plurality of gas channels in the circumferential direction. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the area of the opening on the suction port side of the nozzle to the area of the openings of the plurality of gas flow paths is between 0.8 and 1.2.

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