JP6655207B2 - Combustion equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a combustion device that drives a blower fan with an electromotive force generated by using combustion heat.

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional combustion device, when a part of the function of the device is driven by electric power, there is a device that uses electric power obtained by generating power using heat from combustion without relying on an external power supply.
In order to realize such a mechanism with a combustion device, for example, an electric heating module as shown in Patent Document 1 is used.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the thermoelectric module 20, a heat radiating member 21 arranged in contact with the heat radiating side of the thermoelectric module 20, and a thermoelectric module 20 arranged in contact with the heat absorbing side of the thermoelectric module 20. A cooling and heating device including a heat transfer block 22 and a heat absorbing member 23 connected to the heat absorbing side of the thermoelectric module 20 with the heat transfer block 22 interposed therebetween is disclosed.

JP 2003-229606 A

By the way, the thermoelectric conversion element used in the thermoelectric module has a heat sink (heat radiating member 21, heat absorbing member 21) which receives heat from the heating means and the cooling means and transmits the heat to the thermoelectric conversion element in forming the high temperature part and the low temperature part. Member 23) is attached.
In order for the heating energy and cooling energy given from the heating means and the cooling means to each heat sink to be efficiently transmitted to the high temperature part and the low temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion element, the high temperature part and the low temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion element If the heat sink is not closely exchanged with the heat sink, the heat efficiency is low.
Regarding this point, with reference to Patent Document 1, "... the heat radiating member 21 penetrates through the second seal member 27 through a bolt hole formed in the flange portion 25b, and the cover 25 is fastened to the heat radiating member 21 by the bolt 31. ... (paragraph 0029 of the specification), "similar to the heat dissipating member 21, the heat absorbing member 23 is also bolted to the heat transfer block 22 by a plurality of bolts 32, and the cover 25 and the heat absorbing member 23 are fastened to each other. In the gap between the inner surface, a sealing 29 such as silicone is attached. "(Paragraph 0031 of the specification).

That is, the thermoelectric conversion element and the heat sink are only screwed on the outside of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the vicinity of the center of the thermoelectric conversion element is not configured to be pressed closely to the heat sink.
Further, since the members related to fixing the heat sink and the thermoelectric conversion element are exposed to high heat, their shapes are liable to change over time, so that the state of adhesion between the thermoelectric conversion element and the heat sink deteriorates, and that much. In addition, the efficiency of conducting heat to the thermoelectric conversion element is reduced, and the efficiency of converting (input) heat into electric power is further reduced.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and improves the adhesion accuracy between a thermoelectric conversion element and a heat sink, prevents deterioration of the degree of adhesion due to aging, and improves heat transfer efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a combustion device that can perform the combustion.

The present invention provides a combustion chamber for burning a burner housed in a housing, a high-temperature portion heated via a high-temperature side heat sink exposed in the combustion chamber, and a blower positioned on a surface opposite to the combustion chamber. A thermoelectric conversion element comprising: a low-temperature portion to which a low-temperature side heat sink cooled by a fan is attached; and a combustion device that emits combustion heat heated by the burner from an outlet formed in the housing. Wherein the blower fan is driven by a thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric conversion element, wherein the high-temperature side heat sink and the low-temperature side heat sink have a plate-shaped base that is in close contact with the thermoelectric conversion element. has a plurality of fins that protrude at a predetermined distance from each other from the base, and the hot-side heat sink and the cold-side heat sink, the thermoelectric conversion element As with the high-temperature portion and the low temperature portion are in close contact, has a biasing member which is adapted be pressed with a biasing force, the biasing member comprises a strip-shaped portion disposed at a distance from one another, said swath And a plurality of curved comb portions formed so as to have a gap therebetween, and the plurality of curved comb portions are inserted between the fins of the high-temperature side heat sink, and The center region of the base of the side heat sink is pressed down.

According to the above configuration, the blower fan is driven by the electric power supplied from the thermoelectric conversion element. Therefore, the burner can be used by driving the blower fan even when there is no external power supply or when there is a power outage.
In addition, since the high-temperature side heat sink and the low-temperature side heat sink have an urging member that is pressed with an urging force so that the high-temperature portion and the low-temperature portion of the thermoelectric conversion element are in close contact with each other, the high-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature The part and the low-temperature side heat sink and the low-temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion element can be brought into contact with each other with a high degree of adhesion, and can be brought into contact with as large an area as possible, thus improving the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. And, since the heat sink and the thermoelectric conversion element are pressed down by the biasing force, even if the related members are thermally deformed due to aging and the biasing force is slightly changed, the biasing member continues to be pressed down and its adhesion is maintained. Can be held as much as possible.
Further, since the biasing member presses the central region of the high-temperature side heat sink and / or the low-temperature side heat sink, it prevents floating of the central region due to thermal deformation of the heat sink and the thermoelectric conversion element, and prevents the heat sink and the thermoelectric device from rising. It is also possible to prevent a reduction in the contact area of the conversion element.

According to the configuration, the biasing member includes a band-shaped portion arranged at a distance from each other, and a plurality of curved comb portions that are bridged so as to connect between the band-shaped portions and are formed so as to have a gap therebetween, Having. Then, the plurality of curved combs of the urging member, enters between the fins of the hot-side heat sink, since the so press the central region of the base of the high-temperature side heat sink, heat reliably base and the thermoelectric conversion element Lifting due to deformation can be prevented, and a decrease in the contact area between the heat sink and the thermoelectric conversion element can be prevented.

Preferably, there is provided a fixing member connected to the low-temperature side heat sink with the urging member and the high-temperature side heat sink interposed therebetween, wherein the fixing member is a frame, and the urging is performed by the frame. A member is pressed against the high-temperature side heat sink, and the fins of the high-temperature side heat sink protrude from a central opening.
According to the above configuration, since the fixing member is connected to the low-temperature heat sink with the urging member and the high-temperature heat sink interposed therebetween, the fixing member can be positioned and fixed so as to sandwich the urging member and the high-temperature heat sink. Since the urging member and the high-temperature heat sink are sandwiched between the fixing member and the low-temperature heat sink, the urging member is pressed against the high-temperature heat sink by the fixing member. By pressing down only from the high-temperature side heat sink side, the high-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the low-temperature side heat sink and the low-temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion element can be brought into close contact by applying urging force. Further, since the fixing member is a frame-shaped body, and the fin of the high-temperature side heat sink projects from the central opening, the projecting fin can be easily heated.

Preferably, the fin of the high-temperature side heat sink protruding from the fixing member is exposed into the combustion chamber from a through hole formed in a wall of the combustion chamber, and the fixing member is connected to the low-temperature side heat sink side. Characterized in that it has an abutting portion that partially projects to the opposite side to abut against the wall of the combustion chamber.
According to the above configuration, the high-temperature side heat sink protruding from the central opening of the fixing member is exposed into the combustion chamber through the through hole formed in the wall of the combustion chamber, so that the high-temperature side heat sink can be efficiently heated. it can. Then, by abutting the protruding portion protruding from the fixing member against the wall of the combustion chamber, it is possible to serve as a position regulating means for preventing the high-temperature side heat sink from being excessively exposed in the combustion chamber. Further, the heat transmitted to the fixing member via the urging member or the high-temperature heat sink can be prevented from flowing to the wall of the combustion chamber as much as possible without passing through the thermoelectric conversion element.

Preferably, the fixing member has a convex portion partially projecting toward the low temperature side heat sink, and a region of the convex portion is connected to the low temperature side heat sink.
According to the above configuration, since the fixing member is connected to the low-temperature side heat sink only in the region of the convex portion, the heat transmitted to the fixing member via the urging member and the high-temperature side heat sink causes the thermoelectric conversion element to be connected to the low-temperature side heat sink. Flow to the low-temperature side heat sink without intervention can be prevented as much as possible. That is, for example, in a configuration in which the urging member and the low-temperature side heat sink are directly connected with a high-temperature side heat sink interposed therebetween, a large amount of heat escapes to the low-temperature side heat sink by transmitting through the urging member without through the thermoelectric conversion element. However, such a situation can be prevented and high thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be realized.

Preferably, the high-temperature side heat sink has a smaller outer shape than the low-temperature side heat sink.
According to the above configuration, since the high-temperature side heat sink has a smaller outer shape than the low-temperature side heat sink, the thermal gradient of heat transmitted to the high-temperature part and the low-temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion element increases, and the generated current increases. Can be increased. Further, the high-temperature side heat sink has a small heat capacity, so that it can be easily heated quickly, and a heat gradient that can drive the blower fan can be realized quickly.

Preferably, a heat transfer member for flattening each contact surface is interposed between each of the heat sinks and the high-temperature portion and the low-temperature portion of the thermoelectric conversion element.
According to the above configuration, a uniform contact surface without unevenness such as unevenness can be formed between each heat sink and the high-temperature portion and the low-temperature portion of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the substantial contact area is close to the maximum. It can be. This optimizes heat exchange efficiency.

The fuel source of the burner is a cartridge type gas cylinder containing compressed liquefied gas.
According to the above configuration, there is no need to guide the fuel from the outside, and a combustion device excellent in portability and portability can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the accuracy of adhesion between a thermoelectric conversion element and a heat sink, prevent deterioration of the degree of adhesion due to aging, and improve heat transfer efficiency. Can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a combustion device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a combination when cut at the position of B-C-D-E in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a combustion unit inside a housing of the combustion device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a low-temperature portion inside a housing of the combustion device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a thermoelectric conversion unit of the combustion device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fixing member of the thermoelectric conversion unit of the combustion device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a fixing member of the thermoelectric conversion unit of the combustion device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a right side view of a fixing member of the thermoelectric conversion unit of the combustion device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the thermoelectric conversion unit of the combustion device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a notification device that notifies that the thermoelectric conversion device of the combustion device of FIG. 1 is generating power. FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation of a notification device that reports that the thermoelectric converter of the combustion device of FIG. 1 is generating power. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a combustion device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The combustion device of the present invention is a combustion device that burns fuel such as gas or kerosene and drives a blower fan by an electromotive force generated by using the combustion heat, and its use is limited to heating. It does not include a general device that exerts a heating effect by combustion. In the following description, a fan heater will be described as an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and a detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings.
Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. It is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise stated.
Further, in the following drawings, portions denoted by the same reference numerals have the same configuration unless otherwise specified, and thus duplicate description will be omitted.

1 to 3 show a configuration of a fan heater as a combustion device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
In these figures, fan heater 10 is preferably of a portable size, and can be used even in a place where there is no external power supply.
The fan heater 10 is provided with a casing 12, a fuel supply unit 20, a combustion chamber 30, a thermoelectric conversion unit 40 as a thermoelectric conversion device including a thermoelectric conversion element described later, a blower fan 50, and cooling air from the blower fan 50. And the like low temperature space S2.
[Outline of housing]
Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG.
The housing 12 is formed, for example, by applying heat-resistant coating to steel, has a rectangular shape as a whole, and has a handle on the side surface 12B for easy carrying.
As shown in FIG. 2, a fuel supply unit 20 and a combustion chamber 30 are arranged inside the housing 12, and a blower fan 50 is mounted on the back surface 12C.

An outlet 18 is formed on the front surface 12A of the housing 12 so as to blow the heat inside the housing 12 to the outside as warm air by blowing air from the blower fan 50. The blowing direction of the outlet 18 is adjusted. Louvers 19 are provided. The louver 19 is fixed at an inclination θ1 similar to that of the deflecting unit 71 described later, but the louver 19 may be capable of changing its inclination manually or automatically so that the wind direction can be changed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, a viewing window 16 composed of a large number of through holes is formed on the front surface 12A so that the flame of the combustion chamber 30 can be visually recognized.
As shown in FIG. 2, a door 27 that can be opened and closed is provided on the back surface 12 </ b> C of the housing 12, and the gas cylinder 22 can be taken in and out by opening the door 27.
[About the top]

A dome-shaped top surface portion 14 having a curved surface that is convex upward is provided at the uppermost portion of the housing 12. As can be understood from FIG. 1, the top surface portion 14 is formed with an appropriate number of heat-dissipating holes 14 a formed of parallel slits that are long in the width direction. The heat radiating port 14a is a hole for releasing combustion heat until the blower fan 50 is driven, and will be described later.
As described above, since the top surface portion 14 does not have a flat surface, it is possible to prevent a device such as a pot from being placed on the fan heater 10 in a general sense, thereby ensuring safety.

Further, when the top surface portion 14 is in a high temperature state, there is a possibility that a burn may occur if touched carelessly. Therefore, at least the upper surface of the top surface portion 14 may be preliminarily printed with a character or a symbol that calls attention only when the temperature is high.
Examples of components of a paint that develops or discolors only at such a high temperature include, for example, reversible thermochromic functional materials, and inorganic compounds such as Ag, Cu, Hg, Ag ₂ HgI ₄ and Cu ₂ HgI ₄ . Iodides and complexes of heavy metals such as Pb have been put to practical use. As the organic compound, a fused aromatic ring-substituted ethylene derivative, cholesteric liquid crystal, 3,6-dimethoxyfluoran, rhodamine B lactam, or the like can be used. In particular, an organic compound-based material is preferable because it exhibits discoloration in the range of 50 to 100 ° C.

[About combustion]
The fuel supply section 20 is a section for supplying fuel to the burner 32 of the combustion chamber 30.
Gas, kerosene, or the like can be used as the fuel used in the combustion equipment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the fuel is gas, and further, as shown in FIG. The fuel source is a cartridge type gas cylinder 22 containing compressed liquefied gas so as to be detachable from the fuel supply unit 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gas cylinder 22 is detachable from the cylinder connection portion 23. The fuel gas discharged from the gas cylinder 22 enters a governor provided in the cylinder connection part 23, is pressure-adjusted, and is supplied to the burner 32 via a gas valve 33 schematically shown. Thereby, the fuel gas is burned by the burner 32. The gas valve 33 may be a normally closed solenoid valve, for example.
When the gas cylinder 22 is heated and the internal pressure rises abnormally, the attachment / detachment between the cylinder connection part 23 and the gas cylinder 22 is made by a magnet so that the safety mechanism is activated and detached. The cylinder connecting portion 23 is connected to the operation knob 28 in FIG.

The user manually rotates the operation knob 28 to forcibly open the gas valve 33, which is an electromagnetic valve shown in FIG. 2, and subsequently moves the operation knob 28 in the same direction, thereby causing a piezoelectric ignition (not shown). A spark discharge is generated from the igniter electrode 34 as a means, and the fuel gas ejected from the burner 32 is ignited.
A flame detection device is arranged in the combustion flame. In this embodiment, for example, a thermocouple 26 schematically shown in FIG. 2 can be used as a flame detection device, and the hot junction 26a of the thermocouple is heated while the burner 32 is burning, and is arranged at a location other than the flame. Since a temperature gradient is generated between the thermocouple 26 and the cold junction 26b, an electromotive force is generated in the thermocouple 26. This electric power drives the electromagnet of the gas valve 33 constituted by an electromagnetic valve to keep the valve open, so that the combustion gas continues to be emitted from the burner 32 and the combustion is continued. As the burner 32, for example, a Bunsen burner can be used.

  As the flame detecting device, the thermocouple 26 can be used as described above, but it is also possible to detect the flame current using the frame rod electrode. However, since the frame rod electrode itself does not generate an electromotive force, power is separately required to detect a flame or to obtain driving power for the gas valve (solenoid valve) 33, and an external power is required. This is not the most preferable mode in the fan heater 10 which does not require a power supply or a storage battery. In this regard, the thermocouple 26 is preferable because it can detect the flame FR and obtain the driving power of the gas valve 33 by the electromotive force, and operates reliably even if soot due to combustion adheres to the hot junction 26a.

  Further, in FIG. 1, a heating power changing knob 35 is provided on the knob 28 on the front surface of the fan heater 10. The heating power changing knob 35 switches a two-stage type regulating valve (not shown) after the gas valve 33 and before the burner 32. By this switching, in the fan heater 10 of the present embodiment, the gas amount supplied to the burner 32 can be adjusted so as to be set in a plurality of stages. In this embodiment, the heating power of the burner 32 can be changed into two levels, F1 and F2, in two stages.

[Combustion chamber and its surroundings]
Please refer to FIG.
In the figure, the inside of the housing 12 is located at a position slightly rearward from the center, and a partition wall 29 that is vertically arranged so as to partition the internal space has a front area on the left side of the figure in the depth direction X and a right side area on the right side of the figure. Two spaces are divided into a rear area. The front region is a high-temperature space S1 having the combustion chamber 30, and the rear region is a low-temperature space S2.
The combustion chamber 30 has a high-temperature space S1 in which fuel gas burns, and a burner 32 and an igniter electrode 34 are disposed in the high-temperature space S1. Then, the fuel gas supplied from the fuel supply unit 20 is sent to the burner 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the burner 32 has, for example, a rod shape that is long in the width direction Y of the high-temperature space S <b> 1, and a plurality of flame openings 32 a are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction, so that the Flames are formed evenly in a line along the line.
Further, a part or the whole of the front wall 30b of the combustion chamber 30 is formed of heat-resistant glass, and has a configuration in which the inside can be visually recognized from the viewing window 16 in FIG.
The upper end portion of the front wall 30b shown in FIG. 2 is a wall surface that is inclined so as to rise toward the blower fan 50 (the rear surface 12C side). At the same time, the flow path cross-sectional area of the airflow rising in the combustion chamber 30 is reduced.
The upper end of the partition wall 29 is bent 90 degrees toward the front of the device and provided with a baffle plate 39 extending horizontally.

Due to the function of the rectifying wall 37 and the baffle plate 39, the combustion heat rising in the combustion chamber 30 is arranged in the upper part of the combustion chamber 30, and the flow to the upper right is suppressed by the upper opening 82 facing the front of the device, and as much as possible. It is directed to the front of the device, that is, to the outlet 18.
Further, between the upper opening 82 and the radiating port 14a, the combustion heat from the upper opening 82 is prevented from being released from the radiating port 14a when the blower fan 50 is driven. A turning portion 71 is provided which is directed toward the outlet 18 by the wind.
More specifically, the turning portion 71 slightly descends toward the front of the device (on the side of the outlet 18) from the rear of the device at a position reaching the top surface portion 14 in the upper portion of the housing 12. It is formed as a plate that is inclined so as to be inclined.
An opening 72 is formed on the front side of the diverting portion 71 so as to pass upward. Combustion heat until the blower fan 50 is driven passes through the opening 72 toward the top surface 14 and escapes from the heat radiation port 14a. Has become. On the other hand, a part of the main flow path for discharging warm air between the turning portion 71 and the baffle plate 39 by connecting the intake port 53 for taking in the outside air on the back surface 12C and the outlet port 18 on the front surface 12A. After being driven by the blower fan 50, the combustion heat flowing out of the upper opening 82 changes its vector in the direction of the outlet 18 by the cooling air from the blowing fan 50 and mixes with the cooling air. The hot air is blown outward from the outlet 18 toward the outside.
Thus, the presence of the diverting portion 71 changes the flow of the combustion heat from the upper opening 82 before and after the driving of the blower fan 50.

The blower fan 50 shown in FIG. 2 mainly performs a “hot air blowing function” for blowing out hot air from the outlet 18 in FIGS. 1 and 3, and at the same time, cools a low temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40. Having a "cooling function". That is, when the burner 32 continues to burn, the temperature of the low-temperature part of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 also easily rises due to the combustion heat. However, once the blower fan 50 is started, the low-temperature part is blown by the wind to a low-temperature side described later. The cooling is performed via the heat sink 44, whereby the temperature difference between the high-temperature portion 43 and the low-temperature portion 44 can be maintained during the period when the blower fan 50 is driven.
Specifically, the blower fan 50 has an upper opening 82 of the combustion chamber 30 in a main flow path (a flow path of the air flow AR4 in the drawing for performing the hot air blowing function) connecting the intake port 53 and the blowout port 18. It is arranged further upstream and takes in outside air from the intake port 53 into the housing 12 to send cooling air toward the low-temperature side heat sink 44 and to send air toward the outlet 18. The blower fan 50 shown in FIG. 2 is preferably an axial fan having a propeller 51 that blows air in the axial flow direction (same as the X direction in the drawing) by driving the motor 52.
The blower fan 50 is driven by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 in FIG. 3 without using an external power supply.

As shown in FIG. 3, the high-temperature space S1, which is the combustion chamber 30, is formed by a space such as an internal housing surrounded by a front wall 30b, side walls 30c and 30d, and a back wall 30e (the same place as the partition wall 29). It is defined.
4 and 5 show a specific configuration in a state where this space is removed only by the front wall 30b.
Returning to FIG. 3, the wind of the blower fan 50 wraps around the outside of the side walls 30 c and 30 d forward like the inner wall surface of the housing 12 as indicated by AR 1 and AR 1. That is, since the combustion chamber 30 is considerably heated, by providing an air layer between the side walls 30 c and 30 d of the combustion chamber 30 and the inner wall of the housing 12, heat from the combustion chamber 30 is transferred to the housing 12. It prevents movement to the outer surface of the body 12, so that the outer surface of the housing 12 does not become excessively hot during the combustion of the burner 32.
The cooling air from the blower fan 50 cools the low-temperature side heat sink 44 of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 in the low-temperature space S2 and, as shown in FIG. The air flows AR1 and AR1 are directed toward the front of the device, and the air flows AR4 are directed upward in the low-temperature space S2 and pass through the air flow path 83 as shown in FIG.
Thus, the airflow AR2 having the heat of combustion passing through the upper opening 82 is appropriately guided to the outlet 18 by the airflow AR4 passing through the air flow path 83.

  Here, a sealing member 81 is provided between the vicinity of the lower end portion 18a of the outlet 18 and the combustion chamber 30 to prevent the airflow AR3 generated by the blower fan 50 and rising toward the outlet 18 from entering. ing. In the case of the present embodiment, the sealing member 81 closes from the base end of the rectifying wall 37 to the lower end portion 18a of the outlet 18 at the upper part of the front wall 30b, and gradually slopes down toward the outlet 18 side. It has been. The sealing member 81 is arranged in a range indicated by a parallel oblique line of a dashed line in FIG. 3 in plan view, and seals this range.

The function of the sealing member 81 will be described in detail below.
As shown by AR1 in FIG. 3, the air blown from the blower fan 50 not only passes through the inside of the housing as AR4 in FIG. 2, but also wraps around the front surface (the outlet 18 side) of the front wall 30b, and is thereby shown in FIG. As described above, the space between the front wall 30b and the housing rises as AR3. The sealing member 81 prevents the upward flow AR3 from entering the upper part of the housing 10 by preventing the upward flow AR3 from entering. Thus, it is possible to prevent the upward flow AR3 from obstructing the momentum of the airflow AR4 passing through the air flow path 83 toward the outlet 18. In addition, heat is trapped in the upper region of the housing 10 by the rising flow AR3, and it is possible to effectively prevent heat damage to components due to a rise in internal temperature.
In addition, since the sealing member 81 covers from the front wall 30b of the combustion chamber 30 to the lower end portion 18a of the outlet 18, the sealing member 81, the front wall 30b of the combustion chamber 30, By forming the space S5 between the upper opening 82 in the housing 12 and the outlet 18 with the turning part 71, the warm air guided toward the outlet 18 can be efficiently discharged from the outlet 18. it can.
In addition, when foreign matter such as dust or dust that falls into the inside of the device from the heat-dissipating port 14a of the top surface portion 14 when the device is not in operation or the like, the object that falls onto the turning portion 71 is inclined. It is moved to the opening 72 along the plane. The foreign matter or the like falls through the opening 72 and falls on the sealing member 81. Then, the foreign matter and the like are discharged to the outside through the outlet 14 on the front surface of the device along the inclined surface of the sealing member 81. As described above, the sealing member 81 also functions as a foreign matter discharge unit that appropriately guides foreign matter or the like that has entered the housing 12 and discharges the foreign matter to the outside of the device.

Specifically, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, the tip 71 a of the turning portion 71 is closer to the outlet 18 than the rear end 81 a of the sealing member 81 in the depth direction X of the device. 2 (left side in FIG. 2), whereby the foreign matter that has fallen can be easily dropped on the sealing member 81. Further, the straightening wall 37 (upper end of the front wall 30b) is inclined so as to rise toward the blower fan 50 (the right side in FIG. 2), so that the tip of the turning portion 71 in the depth direction X. The fan 71 is located closer to the blower fan 50 than the fan 71a. Therefore, even if foreign matter such as dust or dust that has fallen from the heat radiation port 14a before the driving of the blower fan 50 floats above the combustion chamber 30 or in the space S5, the foreign matter is caused to hit the rectifying wall 37, It can be dropped on the sealing member 81, and the penetration into the upper opening 82 can be prevented as much as possible.
In addition, the distal end portion 81b of the sealing member 81 is located above the lowermost step of the outlet 18 to make it easy to take out foreign substances and to prevent the upward flow AR3 from being blown out from the outlet 18 while being bent. .

[Thermoelectric conversion unit, etc.]
In this embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion device is configured as a thermoelectric conversion unit 40, for example.
The thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is fixed to the partition wall 29 as can be understood from FIG. The fixing method will be described later.
The arrangement position of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, and FIG. 10 shows a horizontal cross section of the thermoelectric conversion unit.
A configuration example will be described with reference to these as appropriate.
In FIG. 2, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 connected to the high-temperature portion 41a (see FIG. 6) of the thermoelectric conversion element 41 exposed to the combustion chamber 30 (high-temperature space S1), and the thermoelectric conversion element exposed to the low-temperature space S2 The low-temperature side heat sinks 44 connected to the low-temperature portion 41b (see FIG. 6) of 41 are heat sinks formed of the same material, respectively, and are selected from metals having good thermal conductivity, such as iron, copper, and aluminum. Is used.

As can be understood from FIGS. 6 and 10, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the low-temperature side heat sink 44 sandwich the thermoelectric conversion element 41 in close contact with each other, and a plate-like base 43 b that comes into close contact with the thermoelectric conversion element 41 in a planar manner. , 44b and a plurality of fins 43a, 44a projecting from the bases 43b, 44b at a predetermined distance from each other, so that they have a large surface area suitable for heat exchange and a heat capacity according to the size. ing.
Here, the thermoelectric conversion element 41 uses a Seebeck element (semiconductor element) that generates a thermoelectromotive force using the Seebeck effect. Such a thermoelectric conversion element 41 is formed by bonding an n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor, and when heated, carriers move between boundaries between different kinds of semiconductors to generate electromotive force.
In this case, if the potential difference of the current is V and the temperature difference between the high temperature side and the low temperature side is ΔT,
V = aΔT (a is Seebeck coefficient)
Holds, and the greater the temperature gradient between the high temperature side and the low temperature side, the greater the voltage due to the generated electromotive force.

  Also, a characteristic of this embodiment is that the size of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the size of the low-temperature side heat sink 44 are different and have different heat capacities. Thereby, an appropriate temperature gradient is obtained, a sufficient electromotive force is generated, and a high rotation speed of the blower fan 50 is effectively obtained. In addition, by reducing the heat capacity of the high-temperature side heat sink 43, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 can be easily heated quickly at the time of startup, whereby the blower fan 50 can be driven quickly. In the case of the present embodiment, the size ratio between the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the low-temperature side heat sink 44 is set to about 1: 2.

  In the combustion chamber 30, the distance between the flame FR at the time of combustion and the high-temperature heat sink 43 may be shortened, and the high-temperature heat sink 43 may be quickly heated at the time of startup. However, the closer the distance between the flame FR and the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is, the larger the heat conduction to the high-temperature side heat sink 43 becomes. However, if it is too close, the thermoelectric conversion element 41 in the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 may be damaged. . Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the input amount of the fuel gas to the burner 32 in FIG. 2 can be switched in two stages by the heating power changing knob 35 in FIG. 1 as described above. In the adjustment, at the time of maximum combustion, the size of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the degree of protrusion into the combustion chamber 30 are determined so that damage to the thermoelectric conversion element can be prevented by heating the high-temperature side heat sink 43. The size of the heat sink 44 is determined in relation to the obtained electromotive force.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the casing is divided into the high-temperature space S1 and the low-temperature space S2 from the front side to the rear side with the partition wall 29 as a reference in the upright state of the device. By arranging the combustion chamber 30 having the burner 32 in the high-temperature space S1 and the blower fan 50 in the low-temperature space S2, the combustion chamber 30 and the thermoelectric conversion unit are arranged in the housing 12 along the depth direction of the device. 40, each part of the blower fan 50 can be arranged so as to face each other, and an extremely compact combustion device can be realized. In addition, the blower fan 50 can be made close to and opposed to the low-temperature heat sink 44 as an axial fan, and the cooling efficiency is high.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40.
In the figure, a thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is composed of a thermoelectric conversion element 41 having a thin square or rectangular shape and two heat transfer members arranged in close contact with each other so as to sandwich the high-temperature portion 41a and the low-temperature portion 41b of the thermoelectric conversion element 41. 42a, 42b, a high-temperature side heat sink 43 and a low-temperature side heat sink 44 larger than the high-side heat sink 43 which are tightly fixed so as to sandwich them from the front and back, and surrounds the high-temperature side heat sink 43, and accommodates the thermoelectric conversion element 41 and the heat transfer member 42 therein. Frame member 45, an urging member 46 housed in the inner periphery of the opening of the frame member 45 to apply the heat sinks 43 and 44 to the thermoelectric conversion element 41, and fixed to the low-temperature side heat sink 44. , Thermoelectric conversion element 41, heat transfer member 42, high-temperature side heat sink 43, fixing member 6 for holding frame member 45 in between And it has a door.

As described above, the thermoelectric conversion element 41 is a Seebeck element, and is configured by bonding two different types of semiconductors. The power supply cord 41c is routed to drive the motor 52 (see FIG. 2) of the blower fan (not shown). Connected to the circuit.
The heat transfer member 42 creates a uniform surface, that is, a flat surface that is evenly adhered by being filled into a fine uneven surface or the like in a contact surface of a heat sink made of a cast product of aluminum or the like. . For this reason, it can be obtained by applying a liquid material such as a synthetic resin having excellent thermal conductivity, and for example, silicone grease or the like can be used.
The configuration of each of the heat sinks 43 and 44 on the high temperature side and the low temperature side is as described above. There are two reasons why the high temperature side heat sink 43 is smaller than the low temperature side heat sink 44. This is because the heat capacity is changed so that a sufficient heat gradient required for driving can be quickly obtained. Another reason is that the size of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is set to maintain the distance between the flame and the heat sink so that the flame of the burner 32 does not damage the thermoelectric conversion element 41 during the two-stage combustion described above. It is to decide. It is necessary to prevent a failure due to overheating of the thermoelectric conversion element 41 exceeding the heat-resistant temperature (250 ° C. in the case of the present embodiment). The high-temperature portion 41a of the thermoelectric conversion element 41 has a temperature sufficient to maintain the driving of the blower fan 50 and the lighting of the notifying means 59 (notifying that the fan heater is being driven; see FIG. 1). After the blower fan 50 is driven, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 may be cooled so as not to exceed the allowable temperature limit of the thermoelectric conversion element 41 (for example, 220 ° C.).

  The frame member 45 surrounds and accommodates the base 43 b of the high-temperature side heat sink 43, the thermoelectric conversion element 41, and the heat transfer member 42, and transfers the heat of the high-temperature side heat sink 43, the thermoelectric conversion element 41, and the heat transfer member 42 to the fixing member 67. It is a heat insulating material that prevents transmission to the outside, and also prevents invasion of foreign substances such as dust. The shape of the inner opening of the frame member 45 is substantially the same as the outer shape of the high-temperature side heat sink 43, and has a slightly larger inner opening. The frame member 45 is formed of, for example, a heat insulating material made of inorganic fibers such as ceramics.

  The biasing member 46 is a member for pressing down with a biasing force such that the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the low-temperature side heat sink 44 are in close contact with the high-temperature portion 41a and the low-temperature portion 41b of the thermoelectric conversion element 41. In the case of the present embodiment, the heat sink 43 has an urging force for pressing the high-temperature side heat sink 43 toward the thermoelectric conversion element 41 side. The shape and material of the biasing member 46 are not limited as long as the biasing member 46 can exert a biasing force. In the present embodiment, the biasing member 46 is formed of a metal plate spring whose central portion is curved and protruded toward the thermoelectric conversion element 41 side. I have. In FIG. 6, the biasing member 46 is bridged so as to connect between the strip-shaped portions 46b, 46b arranged vertically in parallel at a predetermined distance from each other, and formed in parallel with a gap therebetween. It has a plurality of curved comb portions 46a. As shown in FIG. 10, the curved comb portion 46a has a plurality of high-temperature side heat sinks 43 so that the fins 43a can be exposed to the combustion chamber 30 as shown in FIG. The fins 43a have a narrow width that can be inserted between the fins 43a. In other words, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, four curved comb portions 46 a are provided, the gap between each other is opened as a wide slit, and the fin 43 a of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is a slit between the curved comb portions 46 a. It comes through.

The fixing member 62 is connected to the low-temperature side heat sink 44 so as to press the urging member 46, thereby fixing the members 46, 45, 43, 42, 41 between the low-temperature side heat sink 44 and the fixing member 62. This is a jig and is shown in detail in FIGS.
The fixing member 62 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10 and FIGS.
The fixing member 62 is a frame-shaped body made of a metal frame having a stepped concave portion. An urging member 46 and a frame member 45 are interposed between the frame-shaped body and the low-temperature side heat sink 44. By pressing 46 against the high-temperature side heat sink 43 side (low-temperature side heat sink 44 side), the urging force causes not only the urging member 46 and the frame member 45 but also the high-temperature side heat sink 43, the heat transfer member 42, and the thermoelectric conversion element. 41 is also positioned and fixed. Thereby, the main surface of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 pressed by the urging force comes into close contact with the main surface of the high-temperature portion 41 a of the thermoelectric conversion element 41. The fixing member 62 is, for example, a sheet metal product.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, folded portions 63, 63 that are folded toward the low-temperature heat sink side are provided on the upper and lower sides of the frame-shaped fixing member 62. . The folded portions 63 are locking portions that are locked to the urging member 46. That is, the band portions 46b, 46b of the urging member 46 shown in FIG. 6 are locked to the folded portions 63, 63, so that the urging member 46 does not come off even when pressed against the high-temperature heat sink 43. , Can exert an urging force. Then, when the urging member 46 is pressed against the high-temperature side heat sink 43, as shown in FIG. 10, the plurality of curved comb portions 46a inserted between the fins 43a are moved to the central region (the thermoelectric conversion section) of the base 43b of the high-temperature side heat sink 43. An area corresponding to the central area of the element 41) is pressed down in a well-balanced manner. Further, since the curved comb portion 46a exerts an urging force while flexing so as to increase the area in close contact with the high-temperature side heat sink 43, the contact area between the base 43b of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the thermoelectric conversion element 41 (see FIG. In this case, the contact area via the heat transfer member 42) can be made as large as possible.
As described above, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the low-temperature side heat sink 44 adhere to the high-temperature portion 41a and the low-temperature portion 41b of the thermoelectric conversion element 41 shown in FIG. I do. Further, since the curved comb portion 46a exerts a biasing force on the low-temperature side heat sink 44 side while flexing so as to increase the area in close contact with the high-temperature side heat sink 43, for example, the fixing member 62 and the combustion for attaching the fixing member 62 Even if the back wall 30e of the chamber 30 undergoes thermal deformation due to aging, the bending of the curved comb portion 46a that holds down the high-temperature side heat sink 43 changes, so that the high-temperature side heat sink 43 can be kept pressed. Moreover, since the curved comb portion 46a enters between the fins 43a and presses down the central region of the base 43b to increase the close contact between the base 43b and the central region of the thermoelectric conversion element 41, the base 43b and the thermoelectric conversion element 41 Of the central region due to thermal deformation of the substrate can be prevented. Thus, high thermoelectric conversion efficiency can be maintained for a long period of time, and a decrease in performance can be prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, the fixing member 62 has a plurality of convex portions partially protruding toward the low-temperature side heat sink 44 side on a pair of left and right band-shaped portions 67, 67 of the frame-shaped body. A portion 84 (four in the figure) is formed, and only the region of the convex portion 84 is connected to the low temperature side heat sink 44 as shown in FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a screw hole 84a for connecting to the low-temperature side heat sink 44 is formed in the convex portion 84, and only the periphery 84b of the screw hole 84a contacts the low-temperature side heat sink 44. are doing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the heat of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 from escaping to the low-temperature side heat sink 44 via the fixing member 62 without being transmitted to the thermoelectric conversion element 41 as much as possible.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the fixing member 62 projects the fin 43a of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 that is not directly pressed by the curved comb portion 46a from the central opening 69, and the projected fin 43a is 5, and is exposed (projected in the case of FIG. 5) into the combustion chamber 30 through a through hole 49 formed in a wall portion (rear wall 30e) of the combustion chamber 30 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the thermoelectric conversion unit 40, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is exposed on the burner side of the partition wall 29 (the rear wall 30 e), and the low-temperature side heat sink 44 is on the blower fan 50 side. Exposed. The through-hole 49 has the same shape as the outer shape of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and is slightly enlarged.

In this manner, the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is connected to and assembled to the rear wall 30e of the combustion chamber. In the case of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is connected to the rear wall 30e of the combustion chamber as follows.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the strips 67, 67 of the fixing member 62 are folded back toward the rear wall 30 e near the middle of each outer edge thereof, and the leading end is bent. 66, 66 are formed. These hooking pieces 66, 66 are inserted into fixing holes 29a formed of small vertical slits in the rear wall 30e shown in FIG. 5, and are slid slightly downward so as to be hooked. By connecting the conversion unit 40 to the rear wall 30e (the partition wall 29) of the combustion chamber, easy assembly is possible.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the fixing member 62 partially protrudes on the side opposite to the low-temperature side heat sink 44 side, and abuts against a wall (back wall 30 e) of the combustion chamber. have. The abutting portion 65 is a position regulating means in the depth direction, and each outer edge of the band-shaped portions 67, 67 is formed by folding back toward the rear wall 30e side of the combustion chamber, and is equally spaced at four locations on the outside. Are located. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the low-temperature side heat sink 44 is fastened to the rear wall 30e with the fastener 86, the tip of the abutting portion 65 abuts against the rear wall 30e (the partition wall 29). The high-temperature side heat sink 43 projecting into the combustion chamber shown in FIG. Therefore, excessive heating of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 can be suppressed, and breakage of the thermoelectric conversion element 41 can be prevented.

[Relationship between combustion chamber and high temperature part]
In the case of the present embodiment, the following various measures are taken so that the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is heated quickly and the startup time of the blower fan 50 can be shortened.
First, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is arranged in the combustion chamber 30 (exposed to the high-temperature space S1). Specifically, the fins 43a of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 project from the back wall 30e of the combustion chamber 30 toward the front.
The high-temperature side heat sink 43 is in a state where a plurality of fins 43a are arranged in a row in the horizontal width direction Y of the high-temperature space S1.
The high-temperature side heat sink 43 is smaller than the low-temperature side heat sink 44, and when the supply amount of the fuel gas to the burner 32 is maximized, the temperature difference from the low-temperature side heat sink 44 becomes 150 ° C. in about 40 seconds. Have been.
In a state where the supply amount of the fuel gas to the burner 32 is maximized and the flame FR is maximized, the main surface (front surface) of the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is arranged so as to face the front end of the flame FR. I have. The burner 32 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the high-temperature side heat sink 43 so that the flame FR does not come into contact with the high-temperature side heat sink 43 even during high-power combustion.

[About heat sink]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the high-temperature-side heat sink 43 is quickly heated to shorten the startup time of the blower fan 50. However, the startup of the blower fan 50 still requires some time. . That is, when a temperature difference of, for example, 150 ° C. is generated between the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the low-temperature side heat sink 44, an electromotive force is generated in the thermoelectric conversion element 41 made of a semiconductor. About a second is required.
For this reason, during the time until the blower fan 50 starts, the combustion heat of the burner 32 is trapped in the housing 12 and the internal temperature increases, which may cause damage to internal components.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a heat radiating port 14 a for discharging the combustion heat up to the activation of the blower fan 50 to the outside is formed separately from the outlet 18.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the heat radiating port 14a is formed by arranging a plurality of slit-shaped through holes in a row, and at least an object larger than the through hole passes through the heat radiating port 14a to form a casing. The shape does not penetrate into the body 12. Note that the heat dissipation port 14a is not limited to a slit-shaped through hole, and may be, for example, a large number of round or polygonal small holes or a net shape.
That is, the heat radiating port 14a has a function of releasing heat so as not to be trapped in the housing 12, and therefore, the heat radiating port 14a is located above the outlet 18, more preferably, in the present embodiment. As described above, it is formed on the top surface portion 14 of the housing 12.
The outlet 18 is also formed in the upper part of the housing 12 (in the case of the present embodiment, as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 2, a portion above the upper opening 82 of the combustion chamber 30 is formed). Accordingly, even when the space S4 in the housing above the outlet 18 is small, the heat until the blower fan 50 starts is not only from the heat outlet 14a but also from the outlet 18. So they can escape.

[Operation status notification device]
Next, an example of the configuration of the operating state notification device according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the fan heater 10, not only the hot air is obtained by the combustion of the burner 32 but also the electromotive force is obtained by the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 at the same time, and the wind of the blower fan 50 is generated. This realizes the blowing of warm air as a fan heater.
Here, the fan heater 10 is provided with a notification device 59 so that such an operation state can be monitored from the outside.
However, the fan heater 10 does not include a built-in power supply such as a battery, and when the notification device 59 is operated by electricity, the drive current of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is supplied to the fan motor 52 of the blower fan. It is preferable to branch the circuit and supply a drive current to the alarm device 59 so that it operates as an operation monitor.
However, immediately after the fan heater 10 finishes burning, the temperature of the combustion chamber 30 in the housing 12 does not suddenly reach room temperature, and since there is residual heat, the temperature of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 becomes higher and lower. Since the thermal gradient remains for a while and the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 continues to generate electromotive force for about 40 seconds, the notification device 59 continues to operate even though the operation of the fan heater 10 has been terminated. Is displayed, and in some cases, there is an inconvenience that the user may mistakenly think that the fan heater 10 is still operating even though the fan heater 10 is turned off.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following configuration of the notification device 59 is employed in monitoring the operation of the fan heater 10.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the notification device 59.
In the figure, the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 forms a circuit as shown using the power supply cord 41c of FIG. 6, and a drive current by the Seebeck effect is supplied from the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 to the fan motor 52 of the blower fan. As a result, the blower fan 50 is driven.
A power supply circuit from the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 to the fan motor 52 is branched in parallel, and for example, as shown by reference numeral 59 in FIG. it can.

  In FIG. 11, the notification device 59 has a lighting device in which a power supply circuit from the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is branched and arranged in parallel. The lighting device may be an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, or the like, but in the present embodiment, a power-saving and long-life light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as “LED”) 59-1 is attached to drive the driving current from the thermoelectric conversion unit 40. It is lit only by receiving it. As a result, while the fan heater 10 is operating, the notifying device 59 is turned on to notify the user of this.

A switch device 59-2 is connected in the middle of the circuit to which the LED is connected, and only when the switch device 59-2 is on, if the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 normally exhibits its performance, the LED 59-1 is used. Lights up.
The switch device 59-2 may use any alternative means such as a differential amplifier as long as it can be turned on and off, but the present embodiment uses a transistor.
A thermocouple 26 such as a thermocouple as a flame detecting device described with reference to FIG. 2 is connected to a base terminal of the transistor 59-2 via an amplifier 59-3. As a result, the switch device 59-2 is configured to be opened and closed by a signal from the thermocouple 26. Specifically, the switch device 59-2 is turned on while the thermocouple 26 detects the combustion flame of the burner 32. When the thermocouple 26 stops detecting the combustion flame of the burner 32, the switch device 59-2 is turned off, and the drive current flowing from the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 to the LED 59-1 is stopped.

  As the amplifier 59-3, for example, an operational amplifier is used, and the current from the thermocouple 26 is amplified using the electromotive force of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 as power supply power. Then, for example, when the thermoelectromotive force generated from the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is small for some reason, the capability cannot be sufficiently exhibited, the switch device 59-2 is also turned off, and the LED 59-1 does not light. . In this way, the user can know not only the presence or absence of the combustion flame of the burner 32 but also the success or failure of the stable operation state including the state of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40.

The notification device 59 is configured as described above, and its operation will be described with reference to the configuration of FIG. 2 and the timing chart of FIG.
When the user rotates the operation knob 28 (see FIG. 1) to forcibly open the gas valve 33, which is an electromagnetic valve shown in FIG. 2, and subsequently moves the operation knob 28 in the same direction, the piezoelectric ignition means is used. Spark discharge is performed from the igniter electrode 34 to ignite the fuel gas ejected from the burner 32 (t1 in FIG. 12). At this time, when the high-temperature side heat sink 43 of the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is heated by the flame from the burner 32, the temperature difference from the low-temperature side heat sink 44 causes the Seebeck effect of the thermoelectric conversion element 41 built in the thermoelectric conversion unit 40. Then, an electromotive force is generated, and the motor 52 of the blower fan 50 is driven. As a result, the high-temperature side heat sink 43 is heated, while the low-temperature side heat sink 44 is cooled by blowing air. Therefore, during combustion, the rotation of the blowing fan 50 is maintained, and at the same time, the driving current is also supplied to the LED 59-1 in FIG. It lights by flowing.

In other words, during combustion, the hot junction 26a of the thermocouple 26 is present in the flame FR of the burner 32 and is hot, so that an electromotive force is generated between the hot junction 26a and the cold junction 26b, and the current is generated. , Are supplied to the amplifier 59-3 in FIG. Since the current amplified by the amplifier 59-3 is applied to the base terminal of the transistor 59-2, the switch is turned on, so that the emitter flows from the collector of the transistor 59-2 and the LED 59-1 is turned on. .
Accordingly, during the period from t1 to t2 in FIG. 12, that is, during the combustion of the fan heater 10, the lighting of the LED 59-1 is visually recognized by the notification device 59 of FIG. Can be visually recognized.

Next, the user returns the operation knob 28 in FIG. 1 to stop the combustion of the fan heater 10 (t2 in FIG. 12).
Then, the temperature gradient of the thermocouple 26 immediately becomes flat, and the electromotive force of the thermocouple 26 disappears. Therefore, the emitter side of the transistor 59-2 in FIG. 11 stops conducting, and the LED 59-1 also turns off at the time t2 in FIG. Turns off immediately.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the notification device 59 also promptly displays the operation stop at the same time as the operation stop of the fan heater 10.
In the case where such a switch device 59-2 is not provided, the temperature difference between the high-temperature side heat sink 43 and the low-temperature side heat sink 44 in FIG. The electromotive force from 40 does not disappear. Therefore, as is apparent from FIG. 11, the LED 59-1 continues to be lit during N # in FIG. Therefore, although the user has stopped the operation of the fan heater 10, the notification device 59 indicates “during operation”. Therefore, it is suspected that the device is out of order or the operation knob 28 is unnecessarily turned. Will occur.
However, according to the present embodiment, such inconvenience can be appropriately prevented.

[Second embodiment]
FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fan heater 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The fan heater 100 in this figure is different from the fan heater 10 in FIGS.
That is, the notifying device 90 is not an LED, but a marker 85 that can be visually recognized through a window 87 formed in the housing 12, and a thermocouple such that the marker 85 approaches and separates from the window 87. And a moving means section 91 for moving by an electromotive force of 26.

The window portion 87 is, for example, a through-hole for making the marker portion 85 in the housing 12 visible, and is adjacent to the front surface of the housing 12, preferably adjacent to the operation knob 28 like the reference numeral 59 in FIG. It is formed.
The marker portion 85 in FIG. 13 is disposed inside the housing 12 and adjacent to the front surface. In the case of the present embodiment, the marker portion 85 moves in the vertical direction Z so that the marker portion 85 is visible when approaching the window portion 87. , And is not visible when separated. The marker 85 is preferably colored in a color opposite to the color of the front surface of the housing 12.
The moving unit 91 has a rod-shaped connecting member 80 connected to the marker 85 and a driving unit 92 that slides the connecting member 80 in the vertical direction Z by the electromotive force of the thermocouple 26.

The drive unit 92 slides based on the detection result of the thermocouple 26, which is a flame detection device that detects the presence or absence of the flame FR of the burner 32. The marker unit 85 synchronizes with the drive unit 92. It is designed to slide.
A safety valve that opens and closes a valve based on the detection result of the thermocouple 26 is used as the drive unit 92 of the present embodiment (hereinafter, the “drive unit 92” is referred to as a “safety valve 92”). By using the safety valve 92 in this manner, the marker 85 approaches the position A in the drawing away from the window 87 when the flame FR is not detected, and approaches the window 87 when the flame FR is detected. It is possible to move to the position B in FIG.

That is, when the operation knob 28 is pushed and turned, the seesaw-shaped member 76 interlocked with it pushes up the main valve 77 and the safety valve 92, and opens the pipes RX1 and RX2 closed by the main valve 77 and the safety valve 92. Gas, thereby generating a flame FR from the burner 32. When the hot junction 26a of the thermocouple 26 is heated by the flame FR, an electromotive force is generated, and the electromotive force flows to an electromagnet 94 provided around the safety valve 92, and the safety valve 92 made of a magnet repels and moves upward. To maintain the valve-opened state, so that the valve-opened state is maintained even if the hand is released from the operation knob 28. Then, in synchronization with the upward movement of the safety valve 92, the marker 85 also slides upward through the connecting member 80 to the position B, and becomes visible from the window 87. The member 76 pushes up only the main valve 77 in conjunction with the turned operation knob 28 even when the hand is released from the operation knob 28.
On the other hand, if the user turns the operation knob 28 back to close the main valve 77 to extinguish the flame FR, or if the flame FR goes out, the electromotive force of the thermocouple 26 disappears and the safety valve 92 is turned off. Moves downward so as to close the pipe line RX2, and in synchronization with this movement, the marker 85 also slides downward through the connecting member 80 to the position A, and is not visible from the window 87. Becomes
As described above, the safety valve 92 functions not only as the original safety valve 92 but also as a driving unit or a switch device for moving the marker unit 85 up and down.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the notification result can be indicated by the notification device 90 based on the detection result of the thermocouple 26 as the flame detection device, and the marker unit 85 is tuned to the safety valve 92 that moves up and down. The user can recognize that the flame FR has disappeared even if the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 still generates the electromotive force after the flame FR has disappeared.
By the way, for the movement of the marker portion 85 of the second embodiment, only the electromotive force from the thermocouple 26 is used, and the electromotive force generated from the thermoelectric conversion unit 40 is not used as shown in FIG. . Therefore, as long as the flame FR is on, even when the thermoelectric conversion element 41 shown in FIG. 2 breaks down and the blower fan 50 stops operating, the marker portion 85 in FIG. However, if the internal heat rises due to the combustion heat of the burner 32 being trapped in the housing 12 without driving the blower 50, the thermostat (not shown) arranged above the combustion chamber 30 operates before reaching a dangerous temperature. As a result, the electromotive force flowing from the thermocouple 26 to the electromagnet 94 is shut off and the safety valve 92 is closed, so that combustion stops. As a result, the marker 85 also slides downward to the position A in synchronization with the movement of the safety valve 92, so that the user can grasp that the flame FR has disappeared.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.
Some of the components described in the embodiments can be omitted, or can be combined with other components not described.

12 ... housing, 15 ... heat dissipation port, 18 ... outlet, 30 ... combustion chamber, 32 ... burner (gas burner), 37 ... rectifying wall, 40 ... thermoelectric Conversion unit, 41: thermoelectric conversion element, 43: high temperature heat sink, 44: low temperature heat sink, 46: urging member, 50: blower fan, 62: fixing member, 71 ... turning part, 59 ... notification device, 81 ... sealing member

Claims (7)

A combustion chamber for burning a burner housed in the housing, a high-temperature part heated via a high-temperature side heat sink exposed in the combustion chamber, and a cooling fan which is located on a surface opposite to the combustion chamber and cooled by a blowing fan A thermoelectric conversion element including a low-temperature portion to which a low-temperature side heat sink is attached, and a combustion device that emits combustion heat heated by the burner from an outlet formed in the housing,
The blower fan is configured to be driven by a thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric conversion element,
The high-temperature side heat sink and the low-temperature side heat sink have a plate-shaped base that is in close contact with the thermoelectric conversion element, and a plurality of fins that project from the base at predetermined intervals.
The high-temperature side heat sink and the low-temperature side heat sink, so that the high-temperature portion and the low-temperature portion of the thermoelectric conversion element are in close contact with each other, comprising an urging member that is pressed with an urging force,
The biasing member has a band-shaped portion arranged at a distance from each other, and a plurality of curved comb portions that are bridged to connect between the band-shaped portions and formed to have a gap therebetween,
The combustion device wherein the plurality of curved comb portions are interposed between the fins of the high-temperature side heat sink to press down a central region of the base of the high-temperature side heat sink. A fixing member connected to the low-temperature side heat sink with the urging member and the high-temperature side heat sink interposed therebetween,
The fixing member is a frame-shaped body, according to claim 1, characterized in that with pressing the urging member by the frame body to the hot-side heat sink, causing the central opening to protrude the fins of the hot-side heat sink A combustion device according to claim 1. While exposing the fins of the high-temperature side heat sink protruding from the fixing member from the through-hole formed in the wall of the combustion chamber into the combustion chamber,
The combustion device according to claim 2 , wherein the fixing member has an abutting portion that partially protrudes to a side opposite to the low-temperature side heat sink and abuts against a wall of the combustion chamber. The fixing member has a convex portion which partially protrudes into the low-temperature side heat sink side to claim 2 or 3 region of the convex portion is characterized in that it is connected to the cold-side heat sink The combustion device as described. The combustion device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the high-temperature side heat sink has a smaller outer shape than the low-temperature side heat sink. The claims 1, characterized in that it has a structure interposing a heat transfer member for flattening the respective contact surfaces between the high temperature part and low temperature part of the heat sink and the thermoelectric conversion element 5 The combustion device according to any one of the above. The combustion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein a fuel source of the burner is a cartridge type gas cylinder containing a compressed liquefied gas.

Images