JP4349182B2 - Electrostatic atomizer and air conditioner equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer and an air conditioner including the electrostatic atomizer, and more particularly to a technique for protecting a reed switch that detects a float in a water reservoir.

  Conventionally, as an air conditioner, a filter equipped with a filter that captures dust or dust in the air, a filter such as activated carbon that adsorbs odor molecules, or a device that performs deodorization using electrostatic atomization technology is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Here, electrostatic atomization means that a high voltage is applied between a counter electrode and a liquid such as water held by a transport unit made of a porous material such as ceramic, and the tip of the transport unit is caused by capillary action. This is a phenomenon in which the water transported to the side is atomized toward the counter electrode.

By the way, for the electrostatic atomizer which atomizes water, it is necessary to provide some means for detecting the water level in the water reservoir, but the conventional electrostatic atomizer does not have a simple detection method.
JP-A-5-345156

  The present invention was invented in view of the above-described conventional problems, and a reed switch for detecting a float with a magnet in a water reservoir is installed in a main body side tank case to which an electrostatic atomizer is detachable. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic atomizer and an air conditioner equipped with the electrostatic atomizer that can easily and reliably detect the water level of the water reservoir by a detection method using a float with a magnet and a reed switch. To do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention transports the water reservoir 1 for storing water W and the water W of the reservoir 1 to the tip side located outside the water reservoir 1. a conveying section 2 of the porous, and a voltage applying unit 5 for applying a high voltage to the conveyance unit 2, a mist of water W of the transfer section 2 is atomized by applying high voltage to the transport unit 2 the electrostatic atomizing unit 6 to generate, an electrostatic atomization device that includes a body-side tank case 18 for detachably housing the water reservoir 1, to ups and downs in accordance with the level of the water reservoir 1 A float 12 with a magnet 13 and a reed switch 15 for detecting the water level in the water reservoir 1 in response to a magnetic field generated from the magnet 13 of the float 12 are provided. The reed switch 15 is attached to and detached from the water reservoir 1. outside of the body-side tank case 28 to freely accommodated The holding portion provided on the side, turned off when the water in the water reservoir is large, is characterized in that arranged so turned on when the water is low.

With such a configuration, the reed switch 15 for detecting the float 12 of the water reservoir 1 is installed in the main body side tank case 18 to which the water reservoir 1 is detachable. The magnet 13 accommodated in the float 12 moves up and down in response to the change, and the distance between the magnet 13 and the reed switch 15 changes. Therefore, the magnetic field generated from the magnet 13 also changes. It is possible to easily and reliably detect whether there is water.

  Moreover, it is preferable to provide a recess 57 in the bottom 1a of the water reservoir 1 so that the float 12 can move to a position lower than the bottom 1a of the water reservoir 1. In this case, the float 12 is provided in the water reservoir 1 It is possible to move to a position lower than the bottom portion 1 a of the water reservoir 1, and in a state where the float 12 is submerged in the depression 57, the water W in the water reservoir 1 is hardly left. As a result, it is possible to use the water W in the water reservoir 1 almost without leaving it, and to avoid the misleading notification of notifying that there is no water W although there is some water W. .

  The float 12 is preferably formed in a vertical cylindrical shape, and the magnet 13 is preferably magnetized in the direction of the vertical axis N of the float 12. In this case, even when the float 12 rotates around the vertical axis M, the magnetic field Since the direction does not change, there is no possibility that there is a portion where the reed switch 15 does not react, and a stable detection range can be secured. Therefore, there is no need for prevention of rotation of the float 12 or a positioning member, and there is no problem that the slidability of the float 12 deteriorates due to prevention of rotation.

  Moreover, it is preferable to arrange a detection switch 20 for detecting the electrostatic atomization unit 6 in the main body side tank case 18, and in this case, when installing the electrostatic atomization unit 6 in the main body side tank case 18, If it is not installed correctly, the distance between the float 12 and the reed switch 15 will change, and it will not be possible to detect correctly. However, the detection switch 20 can detect whether it has been installed correctly and inform the user.

  The air conditioner 21 according to the present invention includes the electrostatic atomizer 40 and a blower including a fan 23 and a wind tunnel 24 driven by a motor 22, and filters the air sucked from the suction port 25. 26 is an air conditioner that is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 27 after being filtered by the discharge port 27. The electrostatic atomizer 40 is disposed in the air flow path 28 from the suction port 25 to the discharge port 27, A front panel 29 for fixing the electrostatic atomizer 40 at a predetermined position is detachably attached to the front opening of the air conditioner 21.

  With such a configuration, in addition to the effect of preventing the reed switch 15 from being damaged due to water leakage or dirt due to water leakage, the front panel 29 is fitted into the front opening of the air conditioner 21. Only by using the front panel 29, the electrostatic atomizer 40 can be fixed at a predetermined position in the air conditioner 21, and therefore the electrostatic atomizer 40 is fixed in the air conditioner 21. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated part separately, and the structure can be simplified.

  In the electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention, the water level of the water reservoir can be detected easily and reliably by a detection method using a float with a magnet and a reed switch.

  Moreover, in the air conditioner equipped with the electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention, an electrostatic atomizer that can easily and reliably detect the water level of the water reservoir by a detection method using a float with a magnet and a reed switch. With a simple structure, the front panel of the air conditioner can be used to fix in place.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  The electrostatic atomizer 40 of this embodiment is comprised with the main body side tank case 18 which accommodates the electrostatic atomizer 6 and the electrostatic atomizer 6 detachably, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Has been. The electrostatic atomization unit 6 is opposed to the water reservoir 1 that stores the water W, the porous transport unit 2 that transports the water W from the water reservoir 1, and the transport direction of the water W by the transport unit 2. A counter electrode 3 disposed; and a voltage application unit 5 that applies a high voltage between the transport unit 2 and the counter electrode 3, and a high voltage is applied between the transport unit 2 and the counter electrode 3. As a result, the water W of the transport unit 2 is atomized to generate mist. Further, a float 12 with a magnet 13 that floats and sinks in accordance with the water level of the water reservoir 1 is housed in the water reservoir 1, while a magnetic field generated from the magnet 13 of the float 12 is on the outer surface side of the main body side tank case 18. A reed switch 15 that detects the water level in the water reservoir 1 in response to the above is installed.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the electrostatic atomizer 6 is provided with the water reservoir 1 at the lower part, and is arranged in a cylindrical shape with a holder 8 having a ventilation hole 7 on the peripheral surface and an upper part of the holder 8. The counter electrode 3, the application electrode 4 that is fitted in the lower part of the holder 8 and applies a voltage to the water W, and the plurality of rod-shaped water absorbers 2 a that constitute the transport unit 2 held by the application electrode 4. The protrusion on the outer surface of the upper end opening edge of the water reservoir 1 formed in a cup shape is provided, for example, on the outer peripheral flange portion of the application electrode 4 attached to the lower portion of the holder 8. It is attached by engaging the bayonet in the engaging recess.

  The counter electrode 3 and the application electrode 4 are both made of a synthetic resin mixed with a conductive material such as carbon or a metal such as SUS, and have conductivity. The electrode 3 is grounded through a grounding contact plate that contacts the outer surface of the connecting projection formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Similarly, the applied electrode 4 that is fitted and fixed in the lower part of the holder 8 and is fixed by pressing the rib on the inner surface of the holder 8 is also subjected to a high voltage via a contact plate that contacts the outer surface of the connecting projection formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. It is connected to the voltage application part 5 to apply.

  The rod-shaped water absorber 2a has a needle-like top, and a plurality of rod-shaped water absorbers 2a in the example of FIG. These rod-shaped water absorbers 2a are arranged on the same circumference at equal intervals, the upper part protrudes upward from the application electrode 4, and the lower part protrudes downward to come into contact with the water W placed in the water reservoir 1. .

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2B, reference numeral 10 denotes a cylindrical skirt projecting downward from the application electrode 4 and surrounds the outside of the plurality of rod-shaped water absorbers 2a, and the lower end thereof is a rod-shaped water absorber 2a. The lower end opening is covered with a lattice-like lattice-shaped protective cover 11. The skirt 10 in the application electrode 4 applies a high voltage to the water W by coming into contact with the water W placed in the water reservoir 1, and at the same time, the rod-shaped water absorption formed of ceramic together with the lattice-shaped protective cover 11. The body 2a is protected.

  On the other hand, the counter electrode 3 mounted so as to close the upper opening of the holder 8 has an opening 16 in the center as shown in FIG. 2A, and the edge of the opening 16 is viewed from above. A plurality of arcs R having the same diameter centered on the needle-like portion 2b at the upper end of the plurality of rod-shaped water absorbent bodies 2a are smoothly connected by other arcs r. The counter electrode 3 is grounded, the voltage application unit 5 is connected to the application electrode 4, and when the rod-shaped water absorber 2a sucks up water W by capillary action, the needle-like portion 2b at the upper end of the rod-shaped water absorber 2a is applied to the application electrode. The arc R of the counter electrode 3 functions as a substantial electrode and functions as a substantial electrode on the side 4, and the counter electrode 3 and the tip of the rod-shaped water absorber 2 a constituting the transport unit 2 that transports the water W. In this case, a high voltage is applied. The opening 16 is covered with a lattice-shaped protective cover 17, thereby preventing fingers and the like from coming into contact with the rod-shaped water absorbent body 2 a through the opening 16.

  FIG. 3 shows a principle diagram of the electrostatic atomizer 6. Now, the water reservoir 1 containing the water W is mounted, and the water W is brought into contact with the skirt 10 of the application electrode 4. At the same time, the rod-like water absorbent body 2 a sucks up the water W by capillary action, and further the counter electrode 3 is attached. When the voltage application part 5 which becomes a high voltage generation source is connected to the application electrode 4 and a negative voltage is applied to the application electrode 4 while being grounded, the tip of the rod-shaped water absorber 2a constituting the transport part 2 and the counter electrode 3 In this case, a high voltage is applied. If this voltage is a high voltage that can cause the water W to undergo Rayleigh splitting, the water W that has reached the needle-like portion 2b at the upper end of the rod-shaped water absorbing body 2a will cause the Rayleigh splitting to have a nanometer-sized particle diameter. Electrostatic atomization that causes atomization to be mist M is performed.

  Here, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a float 12 is disposed inside the application electrode 4, and a magnet 13 is fixed in the float 12. The specific gravity of the entire float 12 with the magnet 13 is set to be smaller than the specific gravity 1 of the water W, so that it floats and sinks according to the water level of the water reservoir 1. Further, a through hole 12a is provided in the center of the float 12, and by passing a rod-shaped guide pin 14 through the through hole 12a, stable sliding in the vertical direction is possible.

  In this example, the float 12 has a vertical cylindrical shape, and a magnet 13 is fixed therein. In FIG. 4, the magnet 13 is magnetized in the radial direction of the float 12 (lateral direction in the figure). The magnet 13 is magnetized in the direction of the vertical axis D of the float 12 (vertical direction in the figure). Incidentally, in the case of FIG. 4, when the float 12 rotates around the vertical axis D as indicated by an arrow A, the direction of the magnetic field changes, and there may be a portion where the reed switch 15 does not react. In this case, it is necessary to separately provide a member for preventing rotation of the float 12 and positioning, and in this case, there is a problem that the slidability of the float 12 is deteriorated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable to magnetize in the direction of the vertical axis D of the float 12, and in this case, the direction of the magnetic field does not change even if the float 12 rotates about the vertical axis D. A member for preventing rotation is not necessary, and a stable detection range can be secured.

  On the other hand, the reed switch 15 includes a pair of lead pieces 50A and 50B. When the magnet 13 comes close to the abutting portion of the lead pieces 50A and 50B, two opposing facing electrodes repeat the electrical opening / closing operation. Contact portions 50a and 50b are provided, and each contact portion 50a and 50b is sealed with a glass tube 50c. As shown in FIG. 1, the reed switch 15 is fixed by a holding portion 56 provided on the outer surface side of the main body side tank case 18, and the float 12 floats when there is a lot of water W in the water reservoir 1. Therefore, the contact portions 50a and 50b are turned off, and when the water W is low, the float 12 sinks and the contact portions 50a and 50b are turned on. Thereby, the water level in the water reservoir 1 can be detected.

  Therefore, in the electrostatic atomizer 40 in which the electrostatic atomizer 6 is detachable from the main body side tank case 18, the reed switch 15 is installed in the main body side tank case 18. At this time, the reed switch 15 may be installed inside the main body side tank case 18, however, water leakage or dirt due to water leakage from the water reservoir 1, or damage caused by human contact may occur. Therefore, the above problem can be solved by providing the reed switch 15 in a place where a person outside the main body side tank case 18 cannot touch. That is, by providing the reed switch 15 that reacts to the magnetic field generated from the magnet 13 of the float 12 on the outside of the main body side tank case 18, the reed is caused by water leakage or dirt due to liquid leakage from the water reservoir 1 or by human touch. An effect of preventing the switch 15 from being damaged can be obtained.

  Next, the draft surface at which the float 12 starts to float starts from a position slightly lowered from the upper surface of the float 12, so that the float 12 sinks despite a certain amount of water W remaining in the water reservoir 1. That is, even when the float 12 is sinked, the water W remains for the vertical distance from the lowermost part of the float 12 to the water surface, so that a little water W is accumulated at the bottom of the water reservoir 1. Therefore, in the present invention, a recess 57 is provided in the bottom 1 a of the water reservoir 1 so that the float 12 can move to a position lower than the bottom 1 a of the water reservoir 1. In this example, the size of the recess 57 is slightly larger than that of the float 12, and is formed so that most of the float 12 can enter. Thereby, the float 12 can move to a position lower than the bottom 1a of the water reservoir 1, and when the float 12 is submerged in the recess 57, the water W in the water reservoir 1 is hardly left. Therefore, it is possible to use the water W in the water reservoir 1 to the last while leaving almost no water W. In addition, there is an advantage that it is possible to avoid erroneous notification that there is no water even though there is some water W.

  Next, when the electrostatic atomizer 6 is installed in the main body side tank case 18, the distance between the float 12 and the reed switch 15 changes if it is not installed correctly, and cannot be detected correctly. Therefore, in this example, a detection switch 20 such as a limit switch is disposed inside the main body side tank case 18, and it is confirmed that the electrostatic atomizer 6 is correctly installed by the output from the detection switch 20. I am trying to inform you. The notification may be any system such as voice or light. Thus, by detecting the electrostatic atomization unit 6 with the detection switch 20 and informing the user, the user can check whether the electrostatic atomization unit 6 is accurately mounted in the main body side tank case 18. Confirmation can be easily performed, and handling is improved.

  6-8 has shown an example of the air conditioner 21 provided with the electrostatic atomizer 40 of the said structure. The air conditioner 21 includes a blower including a fan 23 driven by a motor 22 and a wind tunnel 24. After the air sucked from the suction port 25 on the back is filtered by the filter unit 26, the air is fed from the discharge port 27 to the outside. To be released. In this example, in addition to the path for sucking air from the suction port 25 from the front surface of the fan 23, a bypass path for bypassing the outer peripheral portion of the fan 23 and sucking it from the back surface of the fan 23 is provided. Further, an electrostatic atomizer 40 is disposed in the air flow path 28 from the suction port 25 to the discharge port 27 in the air conditioner 21. A front panel 29 for fixing the electrostatic atomizer 40 in a predetermined position is detachably attached to the front opening of the air conditioner 21. In this example, the electrostatic atomizer 40 can be fixed at a predetermined position by the rib 30 protruding from the back surface of the front panel 29 pressing the electrostatic atomizer 40 from above with the front panel 29 installed. It is like that.

  As a result, nanometer-sized charged mist generated by electrostatic atomization from inside the air conditioner 21 is generated, and air deodorization and the like are performed more effectively. When the atomizing unit 6 is taken out, the reed switch 15 is installed at a place on the outer surface of the main body side tank case 18 that cannot be touched by a person. The effect which can prevent 15 damage is acquired. In addition, the electrostatic atomizer 40 can be fixed at a predetermined position in the air conditioner 21 using the front panel 29 simply by fitting the front panel 29 into the front opening of the air conditioner 21. It is not necessary to separately provide a dedicated part for fixing the gasification device 40 in the air conditioner 21, and the structure can be prevented from becoming complicated.

It is a sectional side view of the electrostatic atomizer provided with the electrostatic atomizer and main body side tank case which show one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a top view of the electrostatic atomization part same as the above, (b) is a sectional side view. It is a principle figure explaining the principle which generates nanosize mist by electrostatic atomization same as the above. It is a principle figure of the magnet and reed switch magnetized in the radial direction of the float same as the above. It is a principle figure of the magnet and reed switch magnetized in the vertical axis direction of the float same as the above. It is a perspective view of the air conditioner provided with the electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a perspective view of the state which removed the front panel of the air conditioner same as the above. It is a sectional side view of an air conditioner same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water reservoir part 1a Bottom part 2 Conveyance part 3 Counter electrode 5 Voltage application part 6 Electrostatic atomization part 12 Float 13 Magnet 15 Reed switch 18 Main body side tank case 20 Detection switch 21 Air conditioner 22 Motor 23 Fan 24 Wind tunnel 25 Inlet 26 Filter section 27 Discharge port 28 Air flow path 29 Front panel 40 Electrostatic atomizer 57 Depression M Vertical axis W Water

Claims (5)

A water reservoir section for storing water, a porous transport section for transporting water in the water reservoir section to a tip side located outside the water reservoir section, and a voltage application section for applying a high voltage to the transport section. electrostatic with the electrostatic atomizer for generating mist of water transport unit is atomized by applying high voltage to the transport unit, and a body-side tank case for detachably housing the water reservoir a atomizing device, a magnet with a float of ups and downs in accordance with the level of the water reservoir, together with and a reed switch in response to a magnetic field generated from the float magnet to detect the water level in the water reservoir, the lead The switch is turned off when there is a lot of water in the water reservoir, and turned on when there is little water in the holding part provided on the outer surface side of the main body side tank case for detachably storing the water reservoir. Specially placed The electrostatic atomization device according to.   2. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein a depression is provided in the bottom of the water reservoir so that the float can move to a position lower than the bottom of the water reservoir.   3. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the float is formed in a vertical cylindrical shape, and the magnet is magnetized in the direction of the vertical axis of the float.   The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein a detection switch for detecting an electrostatic atomizer is disposed in the main body side tank case.   5. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1 and a fan including a fan driven by a motor and a wind tunnel, and after filtering the air sucked from the suction port with a filter unit, the discharge port An air conditioner that discharges from the outside to the outside, wherein the electrostatic atomizer is disposed in the air flow path from the suction port to the discharge port, and the electrostatic atomizer is disposed at the front opening of the air conditioner An air conditioner having a front panel for removably attaching the front panel to a predetermined position.

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