JPH04348758A - Inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the inhaler which can shorten the time from the energization of a heater before the start of inhalation and does not pulsate the injecting steam and to provide the inhaler allows a safe and sure operation by preventing the housing of water in excess of a prescribed volume into a water suction tank. CONSTITUTION:A kettle chamber 9 of a small capacity communicating with a feed water tank 7 is juxtaposed via a feed water pipe 11 with the water suction tank 7 so as to obtain the water level approximately equal to the water level in this tank. One side face of the kettle chamber 9 is formed of the heater 10 so that an inhaling liquid M is sprayed from an inhaling liquid nozzle 5 at the time of ejecting the steam of the kettle chamber 9 generated by heating the water with the heater 10 from a steam nozzle 5 through a steam chamber 12, by which the steam is generated in a short period of time. Since there is no check valve, the steam is ejected without pulsation. A discharge port 7d to be opened to allow the discharge of the water W exceeding the prescribed level when a cap 8 is not closed and to be closed when the cap 8 is closed is provided on the feed water tank 7 so that the excess water W is discharged before the cap 8 is closed even if the water W of the prescribed volume or above is supplied. The safe and sure operation is thus executed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is used to treat inflammation, etc. occurring in the respiratory system of the human body, and in particular, a so-called boiler that sprays an inhalation liquid (medicinal solution) using steam jets. Regarding formula inhalers.

0002

[Prior Art] This type of inhaler has an inhalation tank that contains an inhalation liquid (medicinal solution), an inhalation liquid nozzle that sucks up and sprays the inhalation liquid from the inhalation tank, and a spout located near the inhalation liquid nozzle. The steam nozzle comprises: a steam nozzle disposed as shown in FIG. It is common that the suction liquid is communicated with the upper part of the water supply tank so that when steam is ejected from the steam nozzle, the suction liquid is sprayed from the suction liquid nozzle.

However, in order to generate steam by heating, for example, about 50 cc of water stored in a water supply tank with a heater, it takes, for example, about 3 minutes from the time the heater is turned on until the steam is generated. Therefore, it has the disadvantage that it takes a long time from when the heater is energized until the start of inhalation.

[0004] Therefore, an inhaler disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-124472 has been proposed as an inhaler that shortens the time from energization of the heater to the start of inhalation. To explain this based on FIG. 3, A is a suction tank containing suction liquid M, B is a suction liquid nozzle, C is a steam nozzle, and D is a suction liquid nozzle.
is a water tank containing water W, and E is a heater. F is a steam chamber (tank), which has a cylindrical housing with an open bottom, and the opening of the housing is closed by a heater E. The water supply tank D has a check valve G made of a ball and a coil spring at its bottom, and the water supply pipe H is connected to this check valve G.
One end of is connected. The water supply pipe H is routed around the lower part of the steam chamber F while being in contact with the heater E, and then stands up parallel to the steam chamber F, and its other end enters the inside of the steam chamber F from the upper surface. Further, the steam nozzle C is also entered into the steam chamber F from the upper surface thereof. J
is a communication pipe that communicates between the water supply tank D and the upper part of the steam room F.

In this system, water W in the water tank D flows into the water supply pipe H through the check valve G, and the water level
(Water surface) WS2 is the water level of water tank D (Water surface) WS
It will be the same as 1. When heater E is energized in this state,
The water in the water supply pipe H is heated and eventually boils and expands in volume. At this time, since one end of the water supply pipe H is connected to the check valve G, the hot water flows into the steam chamber F from the other end.
Specifically, it is dripped onto the upper surface of the heater E. The dripping hot water is
It instantaneously turns into steam and is ejected from the steam nozzle C. At this time, the suction liquid in the tank A is sucked up by the Venturi effect and is sprayed from the suction liquid nozzle B. Therefore, this device does not directly heat the water in the water supply tank like the general type explained earlier, but instead converts the cold water in the small capacity water supply pipe H into hot water in a short period of time. The two-step heating method, in which water is dripped into the steam chamber F and vaporized, shortens the time from energization of the heater to the start of suction.

[0006]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, the above two
For the staged heating type, a check valve to prevent backflow of hot water is an essential component. That is, without a check valve, the hot water would expand in the direction of the water supply tank, making it difficult to drip into the steam chamber or prolonging the time it takes to start dripping. This check valve not only increases costs due to the increase in parts, but also generates noise due to intermittent collisions between the balls that constitute the check valve.

Furthermore, since hot water is dripped into the steam chamber intermittently, the steam ejected from the steam nozzle also pulsates, resulting in a so-called breathing phenomenon that is undesirable for an inhaler. In other words, when hot water drips, it instantly vaporizes,
The pressure in the steam chamber increases and steam is ejected from the steam nozzle, but as the pressure in the steam chamber decreases and the amount of water in the water supply pump decreases, cold water is supplied through the check valve and is heated again. This is because it takes some time for it to boil, that is, before the next drop.

Furthermore, if more water than a predetermined amount is supplied to the water supply tank and, for example, a large amount of water flows out from the communication pipe into the steam room, vaporization will not occur even if there is dripping, and in extreme cases If a user becomes suspicious and changes the position of the inhaler, then hot water may flow out of the steam nozzle and cause burns.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its first object is to shorten the time from energization of the heater to the start of suction, and to prevent the ejected steam from pulsating. There are inhalers available. The second object is to provide an inhaler that can operate safely and reliably without storing more than a predetermined amount of water in the water supply tank.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] The inhaler according to claim 1 has an inhalation tank for storing an inhalation liquid, an inhalation liquid nozzle for sucking up and atomizing the inhalation liquid in the inhalation tank, and a spout outlet in the vicinity of the inhalation liquid nozzle. a steam nozzle arranged so that the
A suction device comprising a water supply tank with a lid containing water for generating steam and a heater for heating the water, and in which suction liquid is sprayed from the suction liquid nozzle when steam is spouted from the steam nozzle. In the water heater, a small-capacity water boiling chamber is installed in parallel with the water supply tank so as to obtain a water level approximately equal to that of the water supply tank, a water supply pipe that communicates the water supply tank and the water boiling chamber at the lower part, and a water supply pipe that communicates with the water boiling chamber. A steam chamber is provided above the water supply tank, and a communication pipe is attached to communicate the upper part of the water supply tank with the steam chamber, and the heater is placed near the water boiling chamber and the steam nozzle is communicated with the steam chamber. be.

[0011] In the inhaler according to claim 2, the water supply tank according to claim 1 is provided with a discharge port that opens so that water exceeding a predetermined water level can be discharged when the lid is not closed, and is closed when the lid is closed. It has a different configuration.

[0012] In the inhaler according to claim 3, the side portion of the water boiling chamber facing the heater according to claim 1 or 2 is inclined with respect to the water level direction.

[0013]

According to the structure of claim 1, the water in the small-capacity water boiling chamber connected to the water supply tank through the water supply pipe is heated until steam is generated in a short time, and the steam passes through the steam chamber. Since there is no check valve, water is continuously supplied from the water supply tank and steam is ejected stably, so there is no pulsation in its operation. Furthermore, since there is no check valve, there is no noise caused by it. Furthermore, since a communicating pipe is provided, the pressure in the steam chamber and the pressure in the water supply tank are equalized, facilitating smooth supply of water from the water supply tank to the boiling water chamber.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the water tank contains water exceeding a predetermined water level, the water is discharged from the water tank through the outlet before the water tank lid is closed. This allows operation to be performed with a safe and reliable amount of water at all times.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the area of the side of the water boiling chamber facing the heater can be increased, by matching the size and shape of the heater to the area, the amount of heating heat can be increased and steam is generated. The time it takes to do this can be further reduced.

[0016]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 1 represents an inhaler base, and 2 represents an inhaler cover, which form the outer shell of the inhaler. The inhaler base 1 has a placing part 1a slightly above the lowest part, and has a standing wall 1b erected from the placing part 1a, and has an inner accommodating part 1c and an outer accommodating part 1d open to the outside. Hanging wall 1e from placing part 1a
are provided vertically to form the lower accommodation portions 1f. The outer housing part 1d is an upper flange part 1g connected to the upper end of the vertical wall 1b.
It is separated from the inside of the outer shell by a mounting portion 1a and a standing wall 1b. 1h is a through hole that communicates the inner accommodating part 1c and the lower accommodating part 1f, 1j is a guide projection protruding from the hanging wall 1e forming the lower accommodating part 1f, and 1k is a through hole formed in the upper flange part 1g. . The inhaler cover 2 is removably latched to the upper end of the inhaler base 1 so as to cover the upper surface of the inhaler base 1 including the inner housing part 1c, and accommodates an inhaler nozzle and a steam nozzle to be described later. It also has an outlet 2a corresponding to the outlet of the steam nozzle.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an inhalation (medicinal solution) tank, which has a cylindrical shape with a bottom to accommodate the inhalation solution (medicinal solution) M and is placed on the placement portion 1a of the outer storage portion 1d. 4 is a suction liquid nozzle, which is formed sufficiently longer than the suction tank 3 in order to suck up and spray the suction liquid M in the suction tank 3;
The lower part is located near the bottom of the inhalation tank 3, and the upper part extends into the inhaler cover 2 through a through hole 1k formed in the upper flange 1g, and is removably locked in a locking tool to be described later. ing.

Reference numeral 5 designates a steam nozzle, in which a base portion having an inlet 5a and a tip portion having an ejection port 5b are formed in a bent shape. is supported by Reference numeral 6 denotes a locking tool, which has an arc shape when viewed from the side, and has locking grip portions 6a, 6 at both ends.
b, one locking grip part 6a removably locks the steam nozzle 5, and the other locking grip part 6b removably locks the suction liquid nozzle 4.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a water supply tank, which has a roughly cylindrical shape with a bottom and is mounted on the mounting portion 1a of the inner storage portion 1c and approximately concentrically with the through hole 1h in order to store water for generating steam. be placed. Specifically, a ring-shaped collar 7b is provided protruding from the outer peripheral surface near the opening edge of the cylindrical portion 7a, and a male thread is further carved on the outer periphery. Further, in the center, there is a hollow pipe-shaped discharge passage 7 extending to a position slightly sunken from the open end of the cylindrical part 7a.
c is provided, and water is accommodated in the space formed by the cylindrical portion 7a and the discharge path 7c. The upper opening of the discharge passage 7c becomes the discharge port 7d, and the water W is supplied to the water supply tank 7.
If it is supplied in excess so as to exceed the discharge port 7d, it will be discharged from there through the discharge path 7c and further through the through hole 1h. Therefore, the position of the outlet 7d determines the maximum (predetermined) water level of the water W that can be stored in the water supply tank 7. Further, a communication pipe and a water supply pipe, which will be described later, are supported through the upper and lower parts of the cylindrical portion 7a.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a lid, which includes a base 8a for closing the opening and discharge port 7d of the water tank 7, an outer cylindrical portion 8b with a female thread that engages with the male thread of the collar 7b, and a lid that protrudes beyond the outer cylindrical portion 8b. It consists of a central protrusion 8c, and a central protrusion 8c.
A seal packing 8d that can close the discharge port 7d is provided at the tip of the
is provided. This lid 8 is used to supply water to the water tank 7.
After inserting, the outer circumferential cylinder portion 8b is screwed onto the collar 7b until the seal packing 8d closes the discharge port 7d. The above-mentioned discharge port 7d cooperates with the lid 8 to open so that water exceeding a predetermined water level can be discharged when the lid 8 is not closed.
If you close it, it will become occluded. 8e is a ring-shaped seal packing that seals the lid 8 and the water tank 7.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a water boiling room, which has a small capacity and is installed in parallel with the water tank 7 so that a water level approximately equal to that of the water tank 7 can be obtained, and the amount of water supplied thereto is small. Ru. Specifically, one side of the water boiling chamber 9 also serves as a flat heater 10 for heating water, and therefore the length of the heater 10 in the vertical (water level) direction is approximately the same as that of the water tank 7. be. Further, the other side surfaces and bottom surface constituting the water boiling chamber 9 are molded, for example, from a plastic material, and are open at the top. When designing the water boiling chamber 9, it is important to keep the heater 1 as small as possible when reducing the capacity.
While considering thermal efficiency by increasing the area in contact with 0, power consumption is selected such that steam is generated in about several tens of seconds after the heater 10 is energized. Note that the heater does not necessarily have to serve as one side of the water boiling chamber, and may be arranged in the vicinity of the water boiling chamber made of a material with good heat transfer. Reference numeral 11 denotes a water supply pipe, and both ends thereof are supported through the cylindrical portion 7a and the side surface so as to communicate the water supply tank 7 and the boiling water chamber 9 at the lower part. Due to this water supply pipe 11, the water level SW2 in the water boiling room 9 becomes approximately equal to the water level SW1 in the water supply tank 7.

A steam chamber 12 is formed above and in communication with the boiling chamber 9, and stores the steam generated in the boiling chamber 9. A base portion of a steam nozzle 5 having an entrance port 5a is supported through the upper surface of the steam chamber 12. 13 is a communicating pipe, L
One end penetrates the lower surface of the steam chamber 12, and the other end penetrates the cylindrical portion 7a of the water tank 7, in order to communicate the upper part of the water tank 7, at least above the drain port 7d, and the steam chamber 12. Supported.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a drainage tray, which is guided by the guide protrusion 1j of the inhaler base 1, and is housed in or removed from the lower accommodation portion 1f. When the drainage tray 14 is accommodated in the lower accommodation portion 1f, the drain tray 14 is connected to the through hole 1h, that is, the water supply tank 7.
It faces the discharge path 7c. Therefore, when water exceeding the discharge port 7d is supplied to the water supply tank 7, water discharged through the discharge passage 7c is accommodated.

[0025] As a preparatory work, the inhaler is manufactured by:
The suction liquid M is injected into the suction tank 3 , the suction tank 3 is housed (set) in the outer housing part 1 d of the inhaler base 1 , and the suction liquid nozzle 4 is secured to the other locking grip of the locking tool 6 . It is locked in the part 6b. Next, water W is supplied to the water tank 7, the water tank 7 is sealed, and the drain port 7d is
Screw the lid 8 onto the water tank 7 so as to close it. In this case, when water is supplied to the extent that it exceeds the drain port 7d, that amount is discharged into the drain tray 14 through the drain channel 7c. Further, the water W in the water supply tank 7 passes through the water supply pipe 11 and is also filled in the water heating chamber 9, and both water levels SW1 and SW2 become equal. Then, attach the inhaler cover 2 to the inhaler base 1.
to be locked.

After this preparatory work is completed, when the heater 10 is energized, the water W in the water boiling chamber 9 is heated, and after several tens of seconds, steam is generated and stored in the steam chamber 12. becomes high pressure, and steam is ejected from the ejection port 5b of the steam nozzle 5. When this steam is ejected, the suction liquid M is sucked up through the suction liquid nozzle 4 due to the Venturi effect, and the suction liquid M is mixed with the steam and sprayed.
This is blown out from the outlet 2a of the inhaler cover 2.

Furthermore, the pressure inside the steam chamber 12 is controlled by the communication pipe 13.
Because it is fed back to the water tank 7 through
The pressures on the water surfaces of the water boiling chamber 9 and the water supply tank 7 are equalized. Therefore, the water in the water boiling chamber 9 is vaporized, its water level SW2 is lowered, and the water level SW1 in the water tank 7 is lowered.
Even if there is a difference between the water supply tank 7 and
water passes through the water supply pipe 11 to the water boiling room 9 until the water level reaches the same level.
supplied to In addition to this water level balancing action, steam is continuously generated in the water boiling chamber 9, so there is no pulsation in the ejection of steam, and therefore the so-called breathing phenomenon does not occur.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIG. 2. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment mainly in the shape of the water boiling chamber, and members with the same basic functions are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations will be omitted.

The water boiling chamber 9 has a small capacity and is installed in parallel with the water tank 7 so that a water level approximately equal to that of the water tank 7 can be obtained, and the amount of water supplied thereto is small. Moreover, the heater 10 constituting one side of the water boiling chamber 9 is inclined by an angle θ with respect to the water level (vertical) direction. In addition, even in this case, the heater does not necessarily have to serve as one side of the water boiling chamber, and the water boiling chamber may be made of a material with good heat transfer and may be placed near it. It is sufficient that the side of the water boiling room facing the heater is inclined with respect to the water level (vertical) direction. In this case, even if the water volume and water level SW2 in the water boiling chamber 9 are the same as in the previous embodiment, the area of the heater that comes into contact with the water is increased, so the size and shape of the heater must be adjusted accordingly. By doing so, the amount of heating heat can be increased and the time required to generate steam can be further shortened.

In each of the embodiments, the discharge port is located at the upper end of a hollow pipe-shaped discharge passage provided in the center of the water supply tank, but an opening is provided in the cylindrical portion of the water supply tank, and the opening is opened with a lid. Modifications such as occlusion are possible. Furthermore, if the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank does not exceed a predetermined amount by other means, the outlet can be omitted.

[0031]

Effects of the Invention In the inhaler according to claim 1, the water in the small-capacity water boiling chamber connected to the water supply tank through the water supply pipe is heated until steam is generated in a short time, and the steam passes through the steam chamber. Since there is no check valve, water is continuously supplied from the water supply tank and steam is ejected stably, so there is no pulsation in its operation, and there is no check valve. Since there is no noise, there is no noise caused by it. Furthermore, since a communication pipe is provided, the pressure in the steam chamber and the pressure in the water supply tank are equalized, helping to smoothly supply water from the water supply tank to the water boiling room. Therefore,
The time from energization of the heater to the start of suction can be shortened, and the ejected steam does not pulsate.

[0032] In the inhaler according to claim 2, even when water exceeding a predetermined amount (water level) is contained in the water tank, the water is drained out of the water tank from the outlet before closing the lid of the water tank. Since the water is discharged, operation can always be performed with a safe and reliable amount of water.

[0033] In the inhaler according to claim 3, since the area of the side of the water boiling chamber facing the heater can be increased, by matching the size and shape of the heater to this, the amount of heating heat can be increased and steam can be generated. You can further reduce the time it takes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Inhaler base 2 Second contact 3 Suction tank 4 Suction liquid nozzle 5 Steam nozzle 6. Locking tool 7 Water tank 7d Discharge port 8 Lid 9　Kettle room 10 Heater 11 Water supply pipe 12 Steam room 13 Communication pipe 14 Drainage tray M Inhalation liquid (medicinal liquid) W Water

Claims (3)

[Claims] [Claim 1] An inhalation tank that contains an inhalation liquid; an inhalation liquid nozzle that sucks up and sprays the inhalation liquid from the inhalation tank;
a steam nozzle disposed so that the spout is located near the suction liquid nozzle; a water supply tank having a lid for accommodating water for generating steam; and a heater for heating the water;
In the inhaler, in which the inhaled liquid is sprayed from the inhaled liquid nozzle when steam is ejected from the steam nozzle, a small-capacity water boiling chamber is installed in parallel with the water supply tank so as to obtain a water level approximately equal to that of the water supply tank. and a water supply pipe that communicates the water supply tank and the water boiling room at the bottom, a steam chamber that communicates with the water boiling room and is provided above it, and a communication pipe that communicates the upper part of the water supply tank and the steam room. An inhaler characterized in that the heater is disposed near the boiling water chamber and the steam nozzle is communicated with the steam chamber. 2. Claim 1, wherein the water supply tank is provided with a discharge port that opens so that water exceeding a predetermined water level can be discharged when the lid is not closed, and is closed when the lid is closed.
Inhaler as described. 3. Claim 1, wherein the side of the water boiling chamber facing the heater is inclined with respect to the water level direction.
or the inhaler described in 2.