JP3818126B2 - air purifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air purifier that purifies indoor air, and more particularly, to an in-vehicle air purifier that includes a gas sensor or an optical dust sensor for detecting the degree of air pollution and performing automatic motion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an in-vehicle air cleaner equipped with a sensor unit such as a gas sensor for detecting the degree of air pollution has only one hole for taking in contaminated air in the design case covering the sensor unit. Even if the wind generated by the shona or the wind generated during the running of the vehicle occurs, the wind does not flow around the sensor unit, and it takes time to detect the degree of air pollution.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-137932 also discloses an apparatus in which a smoke sensor is installed in a blower ventilation path of an air purifier in order to accelerate detection of the degree of air contamination. This known air purifier is provided with a bypass path that bypasses the filter. When smoke is not detected, air of a slight wind from the blower is passed through the bypass path. When smoke is detected, the blower is rotated at a high speed. In addition, the bypass passage is closed and strong air flows through the filter. However, this known air purifier needs to always perform a light wind operation with a blower.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to accelerate detection of the degree of contamination by generating a wind flow around a sensor unit that detects air contamination without always operating the blower. It is to provide an air purifier that can.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
This invention provides the air cleaner as described in each claim of a claim as a means for solving the said subject.
In the air purifier according to claim 1, the air purifier is attached to the ceiling of the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and an air passage through which air for purifying the air flows at a position where the air flow from the outside hits. Forms an independent space surrounded by the casing adjacent to the air passage, and installs a sensor portion for detecting air contamination in the space to form at least two openings in the casing . By arranging one side toward the front of the vehicle and the other side toward the lower surface of the vehicle , an external air flow (for example, wind from a vehicle front seat air conditioner) is introduced into the space through the opening, An air flow is generated around the sensor unit. As a result, the air flow can be generated around the sensor unit without always driving the blower, so that the detection of the contamination level of the sensor can be accelerated without using unnecessary power. Further, since the air purifier is provided on the ceiling in the vehicle interior of the vehicle, the space in the vehicle interior can be used effectively and is suitable as a vehicle air purifier. Furthermore, since one of the openings is directed toward the front surface of the vehicle and the other is directed toward the lower surface of the vehicle, it is easy to take in air from the air outlet of the air conditioner provided on the front panel in the vehicle interior. An air flow can be easily generated around.
[0006]
The air cleaner according to the second aspect introduces the air flow from the air conditioner for the front seat of the vehicle into the space portion through the opening, whereby the air flow can be easily generated around the sensor portion.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the air cleaner as viewed from below in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a left direction in FIG. It is a side view of the air cleaner seen from. The case body 11 of the air purifier 1 is provided with a suction port 12 for sucking in air contaminated from the outside and a blower port 13 for purifying the sucked air and blowing it out. An air passage 14 extending from the air outlet 13 to the air outlet 13 is formed. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, in this exemplary air purifier 1, a suction port 12 is provided on the lower surface of the case body 11, and air outlets 13 are provided on both side surfaces of the case body 11.
[0008]
In the case body 11, a blower 2 composed of a fan 21 and a motor 22, which are blower means, is housed in the vicinity of the suction port 12, and a filter (FIG. (Not shown). The blower 2 generates an air flow in the air passage 14 in the case body 11 from the suction port 12 toward the blowout port 13. The blower 2 blows outside air from the suction port 12 and blows out from the blowout port 13 to the outside again. It is something to be made. The filter performs removal and deodorization of odors and harmful gases when air passes, and has a known structure.
[0009]
A space 3 surrounded by a casing 31 is formed independently of the air passage 14 at a position where the wind flow outside the air cleaner 1 hits, for example, the front surface portion. A sensor unit 4 including a sensor 41 and an amplifier 42 is installed. The amplifier 42 receives the detection signal from the sensor 41 and controls the automatic operation of the blower 2. The space 3 and the air passage 14 are partitioned by an air passage outer wall 14a. The casing 31 is provided with openings 32 at at least two locations, and one opening 32a functions as an intake port for taking in air from the outside, and the other opening 32b serves as an outlet for discharging the air taken in. In order to function, they are provided at positions separated from each other. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the opening 32 a that functions as an intake port is formed on the side surface of the casing 31 (portion that becomes a positive pressure by an external wind flow), and the opening 32 b that functions as a discharge port is It is formed on the lower surface of the casing 31 (portion that becomes negative pressure due to the external wind flow).
[0010]
Therefore, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, the contaminated air is taken into the space portion 3 from the opening 32a of the casing 31 by the external wind flow, flows around the sensor portion 4, and is discharged from the opening 32b. Thus, a wind flow can be generated around the sensor unit 4 in the space 3, and the detection of the air pollution level of the sensor 41 can be accelerated.
[0011]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the air cleaner of the present embodiment. In this modification, an opening 32 c corresponding to a discharge port for discharging the air taken into the space portion 3 is also provided in the air passage outer wall 14 a that partitions the space portion 3 and the air passage 14. About another structure, it is the same as that of the air cleaner of above-described embodiment. Therefore, in this case, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4, the air taken into the space portion 3 from the opening 32a of the casing 31 by the external wind flow flows around the sensor portion 4 and branches. Is discharged from the opening 32b of the casing 31, and the other is discharged from the opening 32c of the air passage outer wall 14a through the air passage 14 to the outside. In this way, the opening 32 may be provided not only on the casing 31 side but also on the air passage outer wall 14a side, and the opening 32 may be provided in a large number without being limited to two places.
Further, the shape of the opening 32 may be a circular shape or a slit shape, and may further be a louver.
[0012]
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the air purifier 1 of the present invention is installed on the ceiling 51 in the cabin of the vehicle 5, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the air purifier 1. In this case, the air purifier 1 is attached to the ceiling 51 so that the opening 32 a for taking in air into the space 3 where the sensor unit 4 is placed is positioned to face the front surface of the vehicle 5. Further, the opening 32 b for discharging air from the space 3 is provided at a position on the lower surface of the casing 31 so as to face the lower side of the vehicle 5. Therefore, since the air flow from the discharge port of the air conditioner provided in the front panel 52 in the vehicle interior comes into contact with the opening 32a of the casing 31, contaminated air in the vehicle interior is easily taken in by the opening 32a, and the sensor It flows around the portion 4 and is discharged from the other opening 32b. Thereby, the air pollution in a vehicle interior can be detected at an early stage. In this case, the air inlet 12 of the air cleaner 1 faces downward, and the air outlet 13 faces both side surfaces of the vehicle.
[0013]
In the above description, the air flow from the vehicle front seat air conditioner is exclusively introduced into the space 3 in which the sensor unit 4 is placed. A wind flow, an air flow from the rear seat air conditioner, or the like may be introduced into the space.
[0014]
As described above, the air purifier of the present invention is such that even when the blower is stopped, the air in the space containing the sensor unit does not stagnate, and the external air always flows through the space. Can be detected at an early stage, and the air can be quickly purified by starting the blower after detection. Moreover, since it is not necessary to operate the blower at all times, energy can be saved, and in the passenger compartment, the passenger's mood is not impaired.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an air cleaner in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a case where the air cleaner of the present invention is installed on the ceiling of a vehicle interior of a vehicle.
6 is an enlarged view of the air purifier portion of FIG. 5. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air cleaner 11 ... Case main body 12 ... Suction port 13 ... Air outlet 14 ... Air passage 2 ... Blower 21 ... Fan 22 ... Motor 3 ... Space part 31 ... Casings 32, 32a, 32b, 32c ... Opening 4 ... Sensor part 41 ... sensor 42 ... amplifier

Claims (2)

An air flow path through which air flows from the suction port to the air outlet, an air blowing means for generating an air flow from the suction port toward the air outlet in the air flow path, and cleans the air passing through the air passage In order to do so, in an air purifier comprising a filter installed in the air passage,
The air purifier is attached to the ceiling of the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and a space surrounded by the casing, independent of the air passage, is adjacent to the air passage at a position where the air flow from the outside hits. And forming a sensor unit for detecting air contamination in the space, and forming at least two openings in the casing, with one of the openings facing the front of the vehicle and the other facing the lower surface of the vehicle An air purifier characterized by that. The air cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein an air flow from the vehicle front seat air conditioner is introduced into the space through the opening.

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