JP4862705B2 - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a humidifier that humidifies air.

  Conventionally, as this type of humidifier, a rotatable cylindrical water absorption filter having one end opened is provided, and air sent from a fan is fed into the cylindrical filter from the open portion of the water absorption filter, and further to the outer periphery. The thing characterized by letting it pass to the side is known (for example, refer patent document 1).

  Hereinafter, the humidifier will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical humidifying filter 101 with one end open has water absorption, and rotates so that a part of the filter is immersed in the water stored in the water tank 102. A fan 103 provided upstream of the humidifying filter 101 sends air into the humidifying filter 101 and further passes it to the outer peripheral side to give humidity to the air, and then sends the air into the room from the humidifying device.

  Further, as this type of humidifying filter, a rotatable humidifying filter is constituted by a water absorbing portion and a water scraping portion, and the water absorbing portion is in specific contact with water (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  Hereinafter, the humidifying filter will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the humidifying filter 201 is composed of a water absorption part 202 and a water scraping part 203, and the water absorption part 202 is not immersed in water, and only a part of the water scraping part 203 is submerged in the water tank 204, It rotates around 205.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-226023 Japanese Patent No. 3799605

  In such a conventional humidifier, since the humidifying filter has water absorption, even when the operation is stopped, the humidifying filter partly immersed in the stored water is always kept dry in the part not immersed in the stored water. There exists a subject that it is easy to sag and mold | fungi, It is requested | required that a humidification filter can be maintained more cleanly.

  Further, in the conventional humidifying filter, the function of the water scraping part provided in a part of the humidifying filter is only to pump water, and there is a problem that it is necessary to increase the volume of the water absorbing part in order to have the humidifying performance. Therefore, a more compact humidifying filter is required.

  The present invention solves such conventional problems, and provides a humidifying filter and a humidifying device that enable humidification with higher efficiency and more compactness, and that can be kept dry and clean when operation is stopped. It is an object.

  In order to achieve the above object, the humidifying filter of the present invention comprises a humidifying filter that humidifies air, a blowing means, and a water supply means, and supplies water to the humidifying filter by the water supply means, In a humidifying device that sends air to the humidifying filter wetted by the means for humidification, the humidifying filter includes a breathable hydrophobic layer and a water absorbing layer, and is rotatable, so that only the hydrophobic layer is immersed in water. It is characterized by that.

  The water supplied from the water supply means is supplied in the order of the hydrophobic layer and the water absorption layer.

  In addition, the humidifying filter is configured in the order of a water absorption layer and a hydrophobic layer from the central axis of rotation toward the outside.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a hydrophobic layer of the humidifying filter is provided on a part of the outside of the water absorption layer.

  In addition, a space is provided between the hydrophobic layer and the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter.

  In addition, the hydrophobic layer and / or the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter has a foamed shape.

  Further, the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter has a honeycomb shape.

  The humidifying filter is cylindrical.

  The humidifying filter is hollow.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the humidifying filter is provided with a blowing means.

  Further, an ion exchange resin is disposed between the hydrophobic layer and the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter.

  In addition, a sterilizing material is disposed in the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the humidification filter and humidification apparatus which enable humidification more compact and highly efficient can be provided. Further, it is possible to provide a humidifying filter that can keep the humidifying filter clean by drying the water absorption layer when the operation is stopped. Moreover, the humidification apparatus which can send clean humid air indoors by keeping a humidification filter clean can be provided.

  The invention of claim 1 of the present invention is a humidifying filter having a breathable hydrophobic layer and a hydrophilic layer, wherein the humidifying filter is rotatable, and only the hydrophobic layer is immersed in water. Since the hydrophobic layer immersed in water has a function as a means for supplying water to the entire filter, it is possible to supply water uniformly to the entire humidifying filter by rotation. At the same time, since the hydrophobic layer has air permeability, it also has an effect as a part of the humidifying filter, and since one water supply and humidification can be performed at a time, the humidifying filter can be made more compact. Is obtained. In addition, the water absorbing layer also has air permeability, so that an effect as a humidifying filter can be obtained. In addition, by dipping only the hydrophobic layer in water, when the rotation is stopped, water is not supplied to the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter, and the portion of the hydrophobic layer that has not been submerged is immediately dried. The effect that the growth of the above mold etc. can be suppressed is obtained.

  Further, in the rotatable humidifying filter, the water absorbing layer and the hydrophobic layer are arranged in this order from the center axis of rotation to the outside, and when the rotation is stopped, the water absorbing layer is not immersed in water. By stopping the humidification filter, the humidification filter is immediately dried, and the effect of suppressing the growth of mold and the like on the humidification filter can be obtained.

  In addition, a hydrophobic layer is provided on a part of the outer side of the water absorption layer, and when the operation is stopped, the humidifying filter can be immediately installed by determining a stop position where the hydrophobic layer is immersed in the water storage. It is possible to suppress the growth of mold and the like.

  Further, it is characterized in that a space is provided between the hydrophobic layer and the water absorption layer, and the dry air enters the space after passing through the hydrophobic layer or the water absorption layer. In order to make the temperature unevenness uniform, water can be contained more efficiently when passing through the water-absorbing layer or the hydrophobic layer again.

  Further, the hydrophobic layer or / and the water absorbing layer are characterized by being in a foamed shape, and by adjusting the foaming density, the amount of air passing and the amount of water retained can be easily adjusted, The contact area and pressure loss of air and water can be arbitrarily changed.

  In addition, the water absorption layer has a honeycomb shape, and the pressure loss of the ventilation path can be reduced. By adjusting the size of the honeycomb, it is possible to easily adjust the passing amount of air and the holding amount of water, and the contact area and pressure loss of air and water can be arbitrarily changed.

  Further, the humidifying filter has a cylindrical shape. If the center of the cylinder is the rotating shaft of the humidifying filter, the thickness of the hydrophobic layer and the water depth of the water storage tank are matched to each other by rotation. It has the effect | action that water can be supplied uniformly to the whole hydrophobic layer. Furthermore, the water supplied to the entire hydrophobic layer is also supplied to the water absorption layer.

  Further, the humidifying filter is hollow, and air causes turbulent flow in the hollow portion and makes the humidity and temperature unevenness uniform. It can contain moisture efficiently.

  Further, an ion exchange resin is arranged between the hydrophobic layer and the water absorption layer, and when water moves to the water absorption layer not immersed in water, by passing through the ion exchange resin, The effect that scale component sticking to the water absorption layer can be prevented is obtained.

  In addition, it is characterized by disposing sterilizing material in the water absorption layer, and when it takes time for the humidifying filter to dry, mold etc. are easy to propagate, but by disposing sterilizing material, Can suppress it. Moreover, since the water absorption layer is easier to retain water than the hydrophobic layer and is difficult to dry, a higher suppression effect can be obtained.

  An eleventh aspect of the present invention includes the humidifying filter according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, an air blowing means, and a water supply means, and supplies water to the humidifying filter by the water supply means. The humidifying device is compact in order to use a humidifying filter that enables high-efficiency humidification by sending air to the humidified humidifying filter by the blowing means. Can be. In addition, when the operation is stopped, the water absorption layer is dried, and the humidification filter can be kept clean, so that a humidifier capable of sending clean humid air into the room can be obtained.

  In addition, the humidifying device is characterized in that the rotatable humidifying filter is hollow and the hollow portion is provided with a blowing means, and space can be used effectively. Further, if the concentric humidification filter is arranged in the cylindrical fan, the effect that the humidification using the entire surface of the humidification filter can be effectively performed can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the humidifying device 11 includes a hollow cylindrical humidifying filter 12, a fan 13 as a blowing means, and a water storage tank 14 as a water supply means, and the humidifying filter 12 stores only the hydrophobic layer. By rotating while immersed in the tank 14, water is supplied to the entire humidifying filter. The humidifying device 11 has air suction portions 15 on two opposite sides of the side surface, and the air sucked from outside the device by the fan 13 is the hydrophobic layer of the humidifying filter 12 as shown by the arrows in FIG. After that, it passes through the water absorption layer, becomes humidified air, and is discharged out of the humidifier 11. In addition to this, the air pushed by the fan may first pass through the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter and then pass through the hydrophobic layer. As long as it passes, the way of air flow is not particularly limited.

  As the water supply means, a humidifying filter is provided with a rotation drive body, a method of supplying water by rotating a part of the humidifying filter immersed in the water in the water storage tank, a water scraping portion provided around the humidifying filter, and a water storage tank A method of applying water pumped up from a humidifier filter, a method of providing a nozzle around the humidifier filter, and spraying a part or the whole of the humidifier filter like a shower, etc. are conceivable.

(Embodiment 2)
The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical humidification filter 21 includes a polyurethane foam 22 as a hydrophobic layer and a cotton sheet honeycomb 23 as a water absorption layer. The cotton sheet honeycomb 23 is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical polyurethane foam 22, and the cotton sheet honeycomb 23 and a wall surface (not shown) form a space inside the humidifying filter 21. The cotton sheet honeycomb 23 contains silver powder 24 as a sterilizing material.

  Further, the humidifying filter 21 is immersed in the water storage tank 25 so that only the polyurethane foam 22 is immersed in water. As shown by an arrow in FIG. 2, the air can pass through the cotton sheet honeycomb 23 and further through the polyurethane foam 22. As an example of the size of the cylindrical humidifying filter 21, a polyurethane foam having an outer diameter of 130 mm and a thickness of 15 mm is disposed inside, and a cotton sheet honeycomb having an outer diameter of 100 mm is disposed therein. At this time, a part of the lower part of the humidifying filter is immersed in the water storage, but if the water depth of the water storage is 10 mm, only 10 mm of the polyurethane foam layer 15 mm of the humidifying filter is immersed in water, and the water absorption layer is immersed in water. Absent.

  According to the said structure, when a humidification filter rotates, a water absorption layer obtains water from a hydrophobic layer, and is supplied. On the other hand, when the operation is stopped, since only the hydrophobic layer is immersed in water, it can be dried immediately and the growth of mold and the like on the humidifying filter can be suppressed.

  As the material constituting the hydrophobic layer, there are other resins and metals in addition to polyurethane. Examples of the resin include polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, and PET. These fibers may be entangled or woven to form a hydrophobic layer having voids, or the fibers may be foamed to themselves have voids. Since the resin is excellent in moldability, it is easy to process the humidifying filter into an arbitrary shape. Examples of the metal include aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass, silver, gold, and alloys thereof. Moreover, when using a metal for the material which comprises hydrophobicity, if the metal which has antibacterial properties, such as silver and copper, is included, disinfecting property can be provided to a humidification filter, without adding disinfecting material separately.

  Moreover, as a material which comprises a water absorption layer, there exist what weaved the fiber which has water absorption like cloth and paper, and what made it. If these are processed into a sheet shape, it is easy to form a honeycomb shape. You may give the space | gap which air can pass by giving punching processing and embossing to the water absorbing material processed into the sheet form. Further, the size and amount of the voids may be adjusted by entwining fibers having water absorption. Further, a hydrophobic base material may be used which has water absorption by coating or attaching a water absorption material.

  In addition, if a space is provided between the hydrophobic layer and the hydrophilic layer, the dry air enters the space after passing through the hydrophobic layer or the water absorption layer, thereby causing turbulent air flow and uniforming the humidity and temperature unevenness. After that, when passing through the water-absorbing layer or the hydrophobic layer again, the water can be contained more efficiently. As an arrangement method of the water absorption layer inside the humidification filter, for example, a honeycomb disk-shaped water absorption layer is arranged at one end inside a cylindrical hollow hydrophobic layer, and air is not passed through the other end of the hydrophobic layer. There is a method of sealing with a wall. In this case, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, all the air passes through the humidification filter twice by passing the air passing through the honeycomb water-absorbing layer and passing the escaped air through the hollow cylindrical hydrophobic layer. It will be. Since the contact time between air and water can be extended as compared with the case where air is linearly passed through the humidifying filter of the same volume, a larger amount of humidification can be obtained. In addition, as a method of passing air, contrary to the above, the hydrophobic layer, the hollow space, and the water absorption layer may be used in this order. Moreover, as long as the air flow is one of the above, a part of the hydrophobic layer and the water absorbing layer may be in contact with each other.

  If the humidification filter is cylindrical, the center of the cylinder is the rotation axis of the humidification filter, and the thickness of the hydrophobic layer and the water depth of the water storage tank are matched to supply water uniformly to the entire hydrophobic layer. it can. By rotating, when the water held by the hydrophobic layer is lifted up to the upper part of the humidifying filter, the water drops dripping toward the water absorbing layer existing under the humidifying filter, and water can be constantly supplied to the water absorbing layer.

(Embodiment 3)
The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical hollow humidifying filter 31 is formed by stacking a polyurethane foam 32 as a hydrophobic layer, an ion exchange resin sheet 33, and a cotton fiber-covered polyurethane foam 34 as a water absorption layer.

  According to the said structure, when a humidification filter rotates, a water absorption layer obtains water from a hydrophobic layer, and is supplied. On the other hand, when the operation is stopped, since only the hydrophobic layer is immersed in water, it can be dried immediately and the growth of mold and the like on the humidifying filter can be suppressed.

  If the hydrophobic or / and water-absorbing layer is foamed, the contact area and pressure loss of air and water can be arbitrarily changed by adjusting the foaming density. Materials with foamed shapes include resins and metals. For example, when a resin foam such as polyurethane foam is used, it is easy to process into a cylindrical shape or other shapes because of its excellent moldability. Can be. Further, even a material that does not absorb water itself, such as polyurethane foam, can be used as a water absorbing layer by attaching and covering, for example, cotton fibers on the surface. Conversely, if the cotton fiber is coated with a water repellent, for example, a fluorine compound, it can be used as a hydrophobic layer.

  A hollow humidification filter can be obtained by winding a sheet-like hydrophobic layer and a water absorption layer, for example. Moreover, it can obtain also by inserting the water absorption layer which hollowed out the center part similarly to the hydrophobic layer which hollowed out the center part previously.

  When a hydrophobic layer is provided on the outer periphery of the humidifying filter and a water absorbing layer is provided inside the hydrophobic layer, an ion exchange resin layer is provided between the layers, so that when the water moves to the water absorbing layer not immersed in water, ion exchange is performed. Since the resin passes through the resin and the scale component is removed by the ion exchange resin, it is possible to prevent the scale component from adhering to the water absorption layer. As the ion exchange resin, a sheet-like resin may be rolled together with the hydrophobic layer and the water absorbing layer, or a granular material may be sandwiched between the hydrophobic layer and the water absorbing layer.

(Embodiment 4)
The same parts as those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 4, the humidifying filter 41 has a disk shape, and is arranged in the order of a paper honeycomb 42 as a water absorption layer and a polyurethane foam 43 as a hydrophobic layer from the central axis of rotation outward. . The polyurethane foam 43 is provided only on a part of the outer periphery of the paper honeycomb 42, and a rotating shaft 44 for rotation is provided at the center of the disk. When the humidification operation is stopped, the humidification filter 41 stops in a state where only a part of the polyurethane foam 43 is immersed in the water storage tank 45.

  The humidifying filter has a rotatable disk shape. However, if attention is paid only to the water absorption layer, it may have a curved surface, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. When a water absorption layer is pleated, for example, a nonwoven fabric sheet, it is not easy to make a solid body with a circumference. In such a case, a disk-shaped humidification filter can be created by changing the shape of the hydrophobic layer disposed outside the water absorption layer. When the operation is stopped, it is possible to prevent the humidification filter from drying immediately and mold and so on from propagating by deciding the stop position where the water absorption layer is not immersed in water and only the hydrophobic layer is immersed in the water storage. it can.

(Embodiment 5)
The same parts as those in the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 5, the humidifying filter 53 including the hydrophobic layer 51 and the water absorbing layer 52 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and a fan 54 as a blowing unit having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the humidifying filter is disposed in the hollow portion. Has been.

  In this case, since the humidifying filter and the fan can be integrated by effectively using the hollow portion of the humidifying filter, a more compact humidifying filter and humidifying device can be realized.

  As the air flow, for example, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5, the humid air can be obtained by passing the dry air first sucked by the fan through the water absorption layer and the hydrophobic layer of the humidification filter.

  According to the present invention, a compact and highly efficient humidification can be performed, and a clean humidification filter and humidification device can be provided. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to household and commercial humidification devices and air conditioners.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a humidifier according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The schematic perspective view which shows the humidification filter of Embodiment 2 of this invention. The schematic perspective view which shows the humidification filter and water storage tank of Embodiment 3 Schematic sectional view showing a humidifying filter and a water storage tank of the fourth embodiment The schematic perspective view which shows the humidification filter and ventilation means of Embodiment 5 Schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional humidifying filter Schematic sectional view showing a conventional humidifier

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Humidifier 12 Humidification filter 13 Fan 14 Water storage tank 15 Air suction part 21 Humidity filter 22 Polyurethane foam 23 Cotton sheet honeycomb 24 Silver powder 25 Water storage tank 31 Humidity filter 32 Polyurethane foam 33 Ion exchange resin sheet 34 Cotton fiber covering polyurethane foam 41 Humidification filter 42 Paper honeycomb 43 Polyurethane foam 44 Rotating shaft 45 Water storage tank 51 Hydrophobic layer 52 Water absorption layer 53 Humidification filter 54 Fan 101 Humidification filter 102 Water tank 103 Fan 201 Humidification filter 202 Water absorption section 203 Water scraping section 204 Water tank 205 Support shaft

Claims (12)

A humidifying filter for humidifying air, a blowing means, and a water supply means are provided, and water is supplied to the humidifying filter by the water supplying means, and air is sent to the humidifying filter moistened by the blowing means to perform humidification. In the humidifier, the humidifier is provided with a breathable hydrophobic layer and a water-absorbing layer, is rotatable, and only the hydrophobic layer is immersed in water. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein water supplied from the water supply means is supplied in the order of the hydrophobic layer and the water absorption layer. The humidification device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the humidification filter is constituted in the order of a water absorption layer and a hydrophobic layer from the central axis of rotation toward the outside. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a hydrophobic layer of the humidifying filter is provided on a part of the outside of the water absorbing layer. The humidification device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a space is provided between the hydrophobic layer and the water absorption layer of the humidification filter. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hydrophobic layer and / or the water absorbing layer of the humidifying filter has a foamed shape. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter has a honeycomb shape. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the humidifying filter has a cylindrical shape. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the humidifying filter is hollow. The humidifying device according to claim 9, wherein a blower is provided in a hollow portion of the humidifying filter. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an ion exchange resin is disposed between the hydrophobic layer and the water absorbing layer of the humidifying filter. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a sterilizing material is disposed in the water absorption layer of the humidifying filter.

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