JP7181955B2 - Filters for air conditioners - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law 1. Distribution of sample products Distribution date: Late November 2020, Distribution location: Nishitani Shoji Co., Ltd. (1-10-11 Minamihorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka) 2. Posting on website Posting date: January 26, 2021, website address https://taishi-mask. com/air-filter-revirase/

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a filter for air conditioners, and more particularly to a filter for air conditioners having antiviral fibers in which powder of an antiviral agent produced using dolomite as a raw material is retained.

The new coronavirus is spreading all over the world, and medical institutions in particular are required to wear safer masks. As highly safe masks, there are masks as shown in Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1. This mask was researched and developed in response to the SARS epidemic, and uses a special antiviral agent, Dolomite (BR-p3), which destroys attached virus proteins. This special dolomite is a powder of magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide obtained by partial hydration after firing dolomite.

The novel coronavirus, on the other hand, floats in the air. In order to prevent airborne infection, the inventors considered retrofitting an air conditioner filter using the antiviral agent of Non-Patent Document 1 to the air inlet of an existing air conditioner. If it is a retrofit, it can be easily used by many people because it is simply attached to existing air conditioners. The configuration of this post-installed filter for air conditioners consisted of an inner layer made of antiviral fibers to which the antiviral agent was attached, and a surface layer and a back layer made of nonwoven fabric sandwiching this layer.

Japanese Patent No. 4621590 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-110762 Japanese Patent No. 4776896 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-290613

Taishi Co., Ltd. | Barrière Block-Mask that inactivates viruses, [Searched on February 11, 2021], Internet <https://taishi-mask.com/> Rakuten | Silver ion air conditioner filter, [searched on February 11, 2021], Internet <https://item.rakuten.co.jp/kagudoki/byt1008555/> Y's Innovation Co., Ltd. | Sterilization / deodorant filter for air conditioners, [searched on February 11, 2021], Internet <https://www.hokurikumeihin.com/ys/index.html> Starfilter | Barrière Block - Mask that inactivates viruses, [searched on February 11, 2021], Internet <https://www.starfilter.co.jp/html/sf100003.html/>

The average particle size of the antiviral agent powder is very small, 1 nm or more and 200 nm or less (primary particles). Even so, the powder contains a mixture of primary particles and secondary particles.
When a filter for air conditioning equipment containing such special dolomite was experimentally produced, a problem arose in that the powder leaked out of the filter.

The main reason the powder leaks out of the filter is that the air conditioner has a built-in fan that causes the filter to vibrate due to suction. In particular, when dust accumulates on the filter, the vibration increases and the amount of leakage increases.

The raw material, dolomite, is also used as food and is said to be safe. In the case of the mask, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, since the filter is arranged further inside the inner layer made of antiviral fibers, the amount of leaking powder is very small. Furthermore, in the case of masks, a small amount of leaked special dolomite may destroy the virus in the body, and in the case of masks, leakage of powder is not regarded as a problem.

However, unlike the mask, the air conditioner filter always vibrates greatly due to suction by the fan as described above, and is used for a long period of time compared to the mask. For this reason, in filters for air conditioners, the content of special dolomite is remarkably reduced due to leakage of powder. In addition, the powder sucked into the air conditioning equipment is released into the air when the air is discharged from the air conditioning equipment, so there is a possibility that it will get into the eyes, but it is preferable that the special dolomite, which is a strong alkali, gets into the eyes. is not.

Therefore, leakage of powder is a very serious problem in filters for air conditioners. According to the inventor's research, there has never been a filter using special dolomite as a filter for air conditioners, and the problem of powder leaking out of the filter is a new problem that has arisen this time.

There are many types of conventional filters for air conditioners. For example, Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 1 describe post-installed commercial filters using fine silver particles. Non-Patent Document 2 describes a commercially available retrofit filter using silver ions. Non-Patent Document 3 describes a commercially available filter that is retrofitted using Cerami.DA processing, which is an antiviral processing liquid. Non-Patent Document 4 describes a commercially available filter that uses a bio-enzyme filter for retrofitting. Patent Document 3 describes a filter using caffeine extracted from tea. Patent document 4 describes a filter using p-benzoquinone derivative, which is an extract of bamboo, as antibacterial and antiviral.
These conventional filters for air conditioners not only do not use special dolomite as an antiviral agent, but also do not have the problem of powder leaking out, and naturally have no means to solve the problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filter for an air conditioner that reduces leakage of antiviral agent powder produced using dolomite as a raw material.

To solve the above problems, an air conditioner filter according to one aspect of the present invention is a filter for air conditioners used in air conditioners, which retains powder of an antiviral agent produced using dolomite as a raw material. It is characterized by comprising a filter base material having at least three layers, an inner layer made of antiviral fibers, a surface layer and a back layer sandwiching the inner layer, and the three layers being fixed at predetermined intervals.

In the air conditioner filter of the present invention, since three layers are fixed at predetermined intervals, the amplitude in each layer is small. This makes it difficult for the antiviral agent powder in the inner layer to scatter outside the filter base material.

Further, an air conditioner filter according to one aspect of the present invention is a filter for air conditioners that is retrofitted to an air intake port of an air conditioner, and holds powder of an antiviral agent produced using dolomite as a raw material. It is characterized by comprising a filter base material having at least three layers, an inner layer made of antiviral fibers, a surface layer and a back layer sandwiching the inner layer, and the three layers being fixed at predetermined intervals.

In the air conditioner filter of the present invention, since three layers are fixed at predetermined intervals, the amplitude in each layer is small. This makes it difficult for the antiviral agent powder in the inner layer to scatter outside the filter base material. In addition, the air conditioner filter can be easily used in existing air conditioners.
In the air conditioner filter of the present invention, the predetermined interval is preferably 7 mm to 8 mm.

If the fixing interval is wide, there is a disadvantage that the amplitude of each layer constituting the filter base material is not so small and the scattering of powder is not so much reduced. On the other hand, if the fixing interval is too narrow, there is a disadvantage that the welded area increases too much and the air flow is greatly blocked. Therefore, the present inventor examined various prototypes and obtained an appropriate fixing interval. It should be noted that this fixation can easily be fused by an ultrasonic device.

A is a plan view of the air conditioner filter of the embodiment as seen from the back side, and B is a cross-sectional view of A taken along line IB-IB. A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing how a filter with a long fixed interval shakes, and B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing how a filter with a short fixed interval shakes.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments and drawings, but the embodiments shown below are not intended to limit the present invention to those described herein, The invention can equally be applied to those with various modifications without departing from the technical idea shown in the claims. In each drawing used for explanation in this specification, each member is displayed with a different scale in order to make each member recognizable on the drawing. are not shown in proportion to the dimensions of the

[Embodiment]
A main part of the air conditioner filter 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is a plan view of the air conditioner filter 10 of the embodiment viewed from the back side, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IB-IB of FIG. 1A.

The air conditioner filter 10 of the present embodiment is a retrofit type filter that is attached to the intake port of existing air conditioners (for example, air purifiers, air conditioners, etc.). As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the air conditioner filter 10 is composed of three layers: an inner layer 1 , a surface layer 2 and a back layer 3 .

The inner layer 1 is a layer made of antiviral fibers in which special dolomite (BR-p3) powder is retained. This special dolomite is powder of magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide obtained by baking dolomite and then partially hydrating it as described in Patent Document 1. Special dolomite powder is an antiviral agent that inactivates viruses by destroying their proteins.

The inner layer 1 is formed by applying or kneading the special dolomite to a nonwoven fabric. As a holding method, for example, molten polyvinyl chloride resin is injected (extruded) and drawn from the outer nozzle, and polyethylene in which special dolomite powder is dispersed is injected (extruded) and drawn into the polyethylene. There is a method of producing a composite fiber using hollow fibers dispersed in a liquid and polypropylene as a core material. The fibers are then used to manufacture the filter of the inner layer 1 .
As another holding method, an aqueous solution is prepared by dispersing and dissolving special dolomite powder, urethane, and, if necessary, a dispersant in water, and then the nonwoven fabric is immersed in this aqueous solution and then dried. There are methods, etc.

The surface layer 2 is a polypropylene non-woven fabric that is also used for masks and the like, and has fine mesh holes that block dust and pollen in the air.

The backing layer 3 is also nonwoven. The nonwoven fabric of the back layer 3 preferably has finer mesh holes than the nonwoven fabric of the surface layer 2, since it can collect particles and droplet nuclei with a diameter ranging from 1 μm to 51 μm. Specifically, a meltblown nonwoven fabric, which is often used as a filter for masks, is used.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the air conditioner filter 10 is composed of a three-layer filter substrate in which an inner layer 1 is sandwiched between a surface layer 2 and a back layer 3. Both ends (upper end side, lower end side) are folded back to the back layer 3 side. The air conditioner filter 10 of this embodiment has a width W of 150 mm and a length L of 1200 mm.

In this air conditioner filter 10, the three layers of the inner layer 1, the surface layer 2, and the back layer 3 (6 layers in the folded portion) are fixed by ultrasonic welding. This fixation is point welding at equal intervals, and the three-layer first fixation portions 4 and the six-layer second fixation portions 5 are all equally spaced with an interval P of 7 mm in the width W direction and the length L direction. ing.

The air conditioner filter 10 is intended to be used after being cut according to the size of the air intake of the air conditioner to be used. Then, the air conditioner filter 10 is attached to the intake port of the air conditioner with the surface layer 2 facing forward and the back surface 3 using an adhesive or the like.

In order not to impose a load on the suction force of the air conditioner, the air conditioner filter is supposed to cover the air intake with a gap of about 1 cm either above or below the air intake.

Further, since the retrofit type air conditioner filter 10 of the present embodiment is assumed to be used for about three months, it needs to be replaced. When cutting the air conditioner filter 10 according to the size of the intake port of the air conditioner using the air conditioner filter 10, the first fixed portions 4 formed at equal intervals can be used as marks for cutting, so scissors or the like can be used to cut the air conditioner filter 10. can be cut cleanly.

Air conditioners using this air conditioner filter 10 can block viruses, bacteria, pollen, and PM2.5 at the air intake port by the air conditioner filter 10, and can discharge air from which these have been removed.

On the other hand, the special dolomite powder has an average particle diameter of 1 nm or more and 200 nm or less, which is smaller than the mesh holes of the back layer 3 on the air intake side of the air conditioner. For this reason, the special dolomite powder may be released from its retention due to the suction force of the air or the vibration of the air conditioner, and this powder may leak out of the filter base material.

Therefore, the present inventor examined the distance between the adjacent fixing portions 4 by changing them to 15 mm, 10 mm, 8 mm, and 7 mm. As a result, the amount of special dolomite powder leaking from the three-layered filter substrate decreased as the distance between the fixed portions 4 became narrower.

The reason for this will be described with reference to FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view of a filter for air conditioners. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, PA (FIG. 2A), in which the interval between the first fixing portions 4 is wide, has large deflection due to intake and vibration. Deflection due to deflection and vibration is reduced. For this reason, the special dolomite powder held in the nonwoven fabric can continue to be held even if it vibrates, so the amount of leakage is reduced.

However, if the interval between the first fixing portions 4 is too narrow, the welded area will increase too much, which will greatly block the flow of air. In addition, there is a limit to the distance between the first fixing portions 4 for the convenience of the ultrasonic welding machine.

Therefore, according to the results of studies conducted by the present inventors, it was found that the interval between the first fixing portions 4 is preferably about 7 mm to 8 mm. When the air conditioner filter 10 forming the first fixed portion 4 at this interval was tapped with a finger or the like, leakage of the special dolomite powder could hardly be visually confirmed. Special dolomite powder was hardly found in the discharged air. On the other hand, when the air conditioner filter 10 with the interval between the first fixing portions 4 set to 15 mm or 10 mm was tapped with a finger or the like, leakage of the special dolomite powder could be visually confirmed.

As described above, the air conditioner filter 10 of the present embodiment is an antiviral filter that can be retrofitted to the air inlet of an existing air conditioner, so that it is possible to easily and inexpensively prevent virus infection in the air conditioner. can. In the air conditioner filter 10, since the three layers of filter base materials are fixed at predetermined intervals, the amplitude in each layer is small, and the antiviral agent powder in the inner layer is less likely to scatter outside the filter base material. Become.

Note that the air conditioner filter 10 of the present invention is not limited to being used as a retrofit for existing air conditioners, and can also be used as a dedicated filter inside air conditioners.

Further, the three-layered nonwoven fabric forming the air conditioner filter 10 of the present invention may be other fibers such as woven fabric. Also, the number of layers is not limited to three, and additional layers can be added. Moreover, the fixing method in the fixing portion 4 of the present invention is not limited to welding by ultrasonic waves. For example, it may be glued or sutured.

10: Filter for air conditioner 1, 1A, 1B: inner layer 2, 2A, 2B: surface layer 3, 3A, 3B: back layer P, PA, PB: spacing

Claims (2)

An air conditioner filter for use in an air conditioner,
It consists of a filter base material having at least three layers: an inner layer made of antiviral fibers in which powder of an antiviral agent produced using dolomite as a raw material is retained, and a surface layer and a back layer sandwiching the inner layer,
A filter for an air conditioner, wherein the three layers are fixed at intervals of 7 mm to 8 mm . A filter for an air conditioner that is retrofitted to an air inlet of an air conditioner,
It consists of a filter base material having at least three layers: an inner layer made of antiviral fibers in which powder of an antiviral agent produced using dolomite as a raw material is retained, and a surface layer and a back layer sandwiching the inner layer,
A filter for an air conditioner, wherein the three layers are fixed at intervals of 7 mm to 8 mm .

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