JPH05322136A - Catalytic combustion appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a catalytic combustion appliance in which starting and steady catalytic combustions can be executed without discharging unburned gas components without partial deterioration of a catalytic member. CONSTITUTION:The catalytic combustion appliance comprises a nozzle 5 for injecting fuel gas, a blower 4 for supplying the air, a preheating premixer 27 for forming mixture gas of fuel gas and the air to overheat it to a predetermined temperature, igniters 8a, 8b for igniting the mixture gas, and a burning unit 11 for catalytic-burning the mixture gas. A preheating flame diffusing unit 10 made of air permeable mesh plate is disposed between the nozzle 5 and the unit 11 in the premixer 27. Preheating flame at the time of starting is diffused by the mesh plate of thermal conductors at positions in contact with an outside flame of the flame to be injected from the nozzle 5, partial deterioration of a catalytic member of a catalytic combustion part does not occur, the mixture gas is diffused even at a steady time to conduct catalytic combustion without discharging unburned gas component.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a catalytic combustion apparatus suitable for drying hair, clothes or pet's body hair by utilizing a heat source generated by combustion of gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been well known that a fuel of liquid petroleum gas such as propane and butane is burned on the surface of a catalyst to be used as a heat source. This is generally called catalytic combustion, and in order to start this catalytic combustion, it is necessary to raise the temperature of the fuel gas above the temperature at which the fuel gas can undergo an oxidation reaction (preheating). is there. As a means for this, a method is often used in which fuel gas is ignited, flame combustion is performed to heat the catalyst surface, and then the flame is extinguished to shift to catalyst combustion.

This method is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-2079.
No. 14 publication. JP 63-20791
According to the publication No. 4, a heat-sensitive member made of a bimetal, a shape memory alloy, or the like changes the opening area of the air intake hole according to the temperature, so that the flame combustion at the time of ignition is transferred to the catalytic combustion. The fire can be extinguished automatically.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the catalytic combustion apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 207914, as a method of obtaining the preheating temperature required to start catalytic combustion, the catalyst member is directly heated by the flame ejected from the nozzle. Therefore, the central part of the catalyst member is mainly heated, and if it is attempted to sufficiently heat the entire catalytic member, the temperature near the central part of the catalytic member becomes unnecessarily high, and the catalyst member deteriorates due to sillitaring (platinum agglomeration). There was a problem that partially caused. Further, if the heating time by the flame is shortened in order to prevent sillitaring, there is a problem that unburned gas components are exhausted at the time of starting.

Further, even during steady-state catalyst combustion, the mixed gas ejected from the nozzle tends to be biased near the center of the catalyst combustion member, so that there is a problem that the vicinity of the center of the catalyst member deteriorates first.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a catalyst capable of starting and performing steady catalytic combustion without causing partial deterioration of catalytic combustion. To provide a combustion device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a catalytic combustion apparatus of the present invention comprises a nozzle for ejecting fuel gas from a gas tank, an air blower for blowing air,
The preheating premixing unit includes a preheating premixing unit for producing a mixed gas of fuel gas and air to heat the mixed gas to a predetermined temperature, an ignition unit for igniting the mixed gas, and a combustion unit for catalytically burning the mixed gas. Is characterized in that a preheating flame diffusing section composed of at least one breathable mesh plate is installed in a gas flow path between the nozzle and the combustion section. In addition, the breathable mesh plate is preferably a good conductor of heat, and it is even better if it is arranged at a position where the outer flame of the flame ejected from the nozzle hits.

[0008]

According to the constitution of the catalytic combustion apparatus of the present invention, the preheating premixing section is provided with the air-permeable mesh plate of good heat conductor at the position where the external flame of the flame ejected from the nozzle between the nozzle and the combustion section hits. Since they are arranged, they are in a preheated flame diffusion state.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the catalytic combustion apparatus of the present invention is used in a hair dryer will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

The housing of the hair dryer body 1 is made of a heat-resistant molded product or a light metal, etc., and has a substantially cylindrical shape.
a and a handle portion 1b formed at the rear end portion of the wind tunnel portion 1a on the suction port side. The following members are housed inside the housing.

A gas cylinder 2 contains a fuel gas such as liquefied petroleum gas inside the gas cylinder 2, and the gas cylinder 2 is fixedly or detachably disposed in the handle portion 1b.

Reference numeral 3 is a power supply unit, and the power supply unit 3 is a storage battery 3
a, 3b and a charging connector portion 3c.

Reference numeral 4 is a blower, which is a motor 4a and a fan 4
b) and is fixed inside the housing by the straightening vanes 4c. The fan 4b is driven by the motor 4a to rotate, and air is sucked from the suction port 26 provided at the rear end of the wind tunnel 1a, and a required amount of air is sent to the preheating premixing unit 27 described later.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a nozzle. The nozzle 5 is composed of a cylindrical cylindrical portion 5a, and an ejection hole 5b for ejecting a mixed gas of fuel gas and air is formed at the tip of the cylindrical portion 5a. Air holes 5c that take in air on the side wall of
Are formed in plurality, and a small hole 5d for ejecting fuel gas is formed in the rear portion of the cylindrical portion 5a.

Reference numeral 6 is a valve unit attached to the gas cylinder 2 and comprises a gas valve 6a and a valve closing spring 6b.

A relay pipe 7 connects the gas cylinder 2 and the nozzle 5, and guides fuel gas from the gas cylinder 2 to the nozzle 5.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an ignition part, which is a piezoelectric device 8a and an electrode 8
The cylindrical portion 5a of the nozzle 5 corresponds to the opposite electrode which is composed of b and which causes a spark discharge with the electrode 8b. This spark discharge ignites a mixed gas of fuel gas and air.

Reference numeral 9 is a premixing wind tunnel that forms the preheating premixing section 27. The premixing wind tunnel 9 is installed so as to surround the nozzle 5 and the electrode 8b of the ignition section 8, and a shield section 12 described later. It is arranged with a space, and the fuel gas and the blown air are mixed inside the hollow of the premixing wind tunnel 9. Then, it also serves as a preheating unit for heating the mixed gas to a predetermined temperature when the mixed gas is ignited in the ignition unit 8.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a preheating flame diffusing portion, which is composed of a net made by knitting thin metal wires and a breathable mesh plate made of nonflammable thin plate pieces having a large number of small holes. The preheating flame diffusing section 10 is arranged in the premixing wind tunnel 9 between the nozzle 5 and a combustion section 11 which will be described later, and particularly at a position where the outer flame of the flame ejected from the nozzle 5 at the time of starting hits, The flame radiated from the nozzle 5 is the combustion part 11
It also prevents the catalyst member 11a from directly contacting the catalyst member 11a, and also plays a role of uniformly diffusing and distributing the mixed gas over the entire surface of the catalyst member 11a. In the preheating flame diffusing section 10, the preheating flame diffusing section 10 may be in a state of a large number of overlapping.

Reference numeral 11 is a combustion section, and the combustion section 11 is composed of a catalyst member 11a and a catalyst member holding frame 11b, and is a portion for catalytically burning the mixed gas. The catalyst member 11a is a cylindrical member having a carrier (base) made of ceramic or metal having good air permeability such as a honeycomb or a foam, and carrying (adhering) platinum, palladium or the like, and one end face thereof is a preheating flame. It is arranged so as to face the diffusion unit 10. Catalyst member holding frame 1
1b holds the catalyst member 11a on the inner peripheral portion and one end of the outer peripheral portion is held on the inner peripheral portion of the end portion of the premixing wind tunnel 9,
A space is provided between the shield 12 and the shield 12.

Reference numeral 12 is a shielding portion, and the shielding portion 12 is composed of a hollow cylindrical portion 12a and a hollow tapered cylindrical portion 12b. The outer peripheral portion of the hollow cylindrical portion 12a is the inner periphery of the wind tunnel portion 1a of the housing of the hair dryer body 1. The housing of the hair dryer body 1 is protected from the radiant heat of the combustion section 11 by housing the premixing wind tunnel 9 and the combustion section 11 inside the hollow. The hollow tapered cylindrical portion 12b is located near the end of the combustion unit 11, and burns the high-temperature combustion exhaust gas that has passed through the interior of the combustion unit 1 and the blast air at room temperature that has passed through the outer periphery of the combustion unit 11. It is forcibly mixed in the vicinity of the outlet of the section 11 and blows hot air of a desired temperature from the outlet 28.

Reference numeral 13 is a first temperature sensor such as a plate-shaped bimetal, which is a part of a safety device for stopping the supply of fuel gas in the event of an abnormality. The base 22 to be described later has the fixed end 13a.
It is supported by the mounting end portion 22a of No. 1 by welding or caulking, and the free end 13c is extended to the blower 4 side. A hole 13b is formed between the fixed end 13a and the free end 13c of the first temperature sensor 13, and the free end 13c is engaged with a latch link 17 to be described later when the ambient temperature rises in an abnormal condition. Disagreement (state of Figure 1)
It is mounted so that it can be displaced in any direction.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an electromagnet device, which is a movable iron piece 14a.
When the movable iron piece 14a is installed such that the free end 14c of the movable iron piece 14a is located below the free end 13c of the first temperature sensor 13, and the power supply unit 3 has a certain amount of remaining battery power. Only the movable iron piece 14a is the return spring 14
It overcomes the reaction force of d and is adsorbed and held by the electromagnet body 14b.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a ratchet wheel, which is composed of a disc portion 15a and a plurality of pawls 15b provided in the peripheral portion of the disc portion 15a, and a hole 15c is formed in the central portion of the disc portion 15a. A pin 21 described later is inserted into the hole 15c, and the pin 21 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the movement of an operator 18 described later.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a fuel gas amount control link, which has a substantially T-shape, and 16a, 16c, 16d denote substantially T-shaped end portions of the control link 16, which have a substantially T-shape. A hole 16b is formed at the central branch point of the shape, and a pin 21 is inserted into this hole 16b. The end portion 16a faces a free end of a third temperature sensor 24 described later,
The other end 16c is extended to a position where the gas valve 6a is driven to open. Further, the other end 16d is urged by the return spring 20 through the straight portion 17c of the latch link 17 which will be described later to rotate the entire latch link 17 clockwise around the mounting pin 21. There is.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a latch link, and the latch link 17 has a straight portion 17c, an end portion 17a fitted into the hole 13b of the first temperature sensor 13 when the operating element 18 is pushed down, and the operating element 18 in the same manner. A hole 17 formed by a pressurizing end 17d that snaps the piezoelectric device 8a when the pin 21 is pushed down, and the pin 21 is inserted into the substantially central portion of the straight portion 17c.
b is drilled.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an operator, which is a pressing portion 18a for pressing the pressurizing end 17d of the latch link 17 at the time of operation, and an operator returning member which is urged to return the operator 18 to the initial position. A recess 18b for holding the return spring 19 is formed.

Reference numeral 22 is a base for holding and fixing the nozzle and the temperature sensor, and the mounting end 22a of the first temperature sensor 13 is provided.
A mounting end 22b of the second temperature sensor 23, and a third end
Of the temperature sensor 24, the hole 22d for inserting the mounting pin 21 of the latch link 17, and the nozzle 5
And a nozzle mounting hole 22e for holding

Reference numeral 23 is a second temperature sensor for extinguishing the preheating flame, which is composed of a plate-shaped bimetal temperature sensor portion 23a and a small diameter rod 23b attached to the free end of the temperature sensor portion 23a.

Reference numeral 24 is a third portion for controlling the amount of gas ejected from the nozzle 5 in order to maintain a constant combustion temperature during steady catalytic combustion.
Of the low-expansion plate 24a made of a low-expansion metal material, one end of which is fixed to the mounting end 22c of the base 22, and one end of which is fixed to the other end of the low-expansion plate 24a. The high expansion plate piece 2 whose free end 24c at the other end extends in the direction of one end 16a of the fuel gas amount control link 16
4b and.

Reference numeral 25 is a circuit section including a drive circuit for the motor 4a and a control circuit for monitoring and charging the remaining battery level of the power source section 3 and is composed of a circuit board 25a and a circuit element 25b.

Reference numeral 26 is an air inlet, and 28 is an air outlet. Next, the operation of this catalytic combustion device will be described.

In FIG. 1, when the operator 18 is started to be pushed, the latch link 17 and the fuel gas amount control link 16
Rotates counterclockwise around the pin 21, and as a result, one end 16c of the fuel gas amount control link 16 also rotates counterclockwise, and the gas valve 6a opens due to the elastic force of the valve closing spring 6b. Then, the fuel gas starts to be ejected from the nozzle 5.

At about the same time, a power switch (not shown) is turned on in association with the movement of the operating element 18, and the blower unit 4
Motor 4a rotates, fan 4b rotates, and air is blown.

Then, when the operator 18 is further pushed in, the pressing end 17d of the latch link 17 causes the piezoelectric device 8 of the ignition portion 8 to move.
When a is pressurized, a spark discharge is generated between the electrode 8b and the cylindrical portion 5a of the nozzle 5, and a mixed gas (gas) of fuel gas and air ejected from the nozzle 5 is ignited. At this time, the end portion 17a of the latch link 17 rotates counterclockwise while pushing up the ventral side portion of the first temperature sensor 13. Then, the end portion 17a reaches the position of the hole 13b of the first temperature sensor 13 and is fitted into the hole 13b. At the same time, the first sensor 13 returns to the initial position. Therefore, even when the operating element 18 is returned to the initial position by the operating element return spring 19, the latch link 17 moves to the first position as shown in FIG. The temperature sensor 13 is latched and held in the hole 13b.

Since the latch link 17 is latched and held, the fuel gas amount control link 16 closes the valve until the end 16a contacts the free end of the low expansion plate piece 24b of the third temperature sensor 24. It is rotated counterclockwise by the spring 6b.

By the flame from the ejection hole 5b of the nozzle 5,
The preheating flame diffusing section 10 is red-heated, and the radiant heat causes the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the preheating premixing section 27 to be about 300 degrees Celsius or higher, so that the combustion section 11 is ready for catalytic combustion. The free end of the temperature sensor portion 23a of the second temperature sensor 23 is displaced in the nozzle 5 direction by the radiant heat from the preheating flame diffusion portion 10. At the same time, the small diameter rod 23b attached to the free end and having the tip inserted into the air intake hole 5c of the nozzle 5 in advance reaches the small hole 5d of the nozzle 5, as shown in FIG.

As indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 6, the fuel gas ejected from the small hole 5d of the nozzle 5 by the entry of the small diameter rod 23b is ejected from the ejection hole 5b while the ejection force is weakened, and part of the fuel gas is ejected. Of the fuel gas is blocked in its path and flows out of the nozzle through the air hole 5c. In this way, the ejection speed of the mixed gas of the fuel gas and the air from the ejection hole 5b sharply decreases, so that the flame in the ejection hole 5b is blown out by the air flow flowing around the nozzle 5.

Since the flame is extinguished, the nozzle 5
The mixed gas of the fuel gas and the air from is heated to a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius or more while passing through the preheating flame diffusion section 10.
The catalyst reaches the catalyst member 11a of the combustion section 11 and is catalytically burned there to become carbon dioxide and steam exhaust gas.
It is discharged downstream of a. When the catalytic combustion in the combusting section 11 starts, the catalytic member 11a is red-heated, and the radiant heat sequentially preheats the subsequent mixed gas to maintain the catalytic combustion in the combusting section 11.

On the other hand, since there is no flame in the ejection hole 5b, the temperature of the second temperature sensor 23 gradually decreases, and the temperature sensor portion 23a and the small diameter rod 23b return to the initial position.
The fuel gas is again jetted from the small holes 5d of the nozzle 5 in a predetermined flow path.

The blown air from the blower unit 4 is partially introduced into the premixing wind tunnel 9, but most of it is premixed wind tunnel 9 and the shielding unit 1.
It passes through the space surrounded by the two hollow cylindrical portions 12a. The air passing through the outside of the premixing wind tunnel 9 has its course changed to the center side by the hollow taper cylindrical portion 12b, is agitated and mixed with the exhaust gas of several hundred degrees Celsius passing through the combustion unit 11, and has a temperature of about 100 degrees Celsius. The hot air becomes a proper temperature and is discharged from the outlet 28. In this way, steady combustion is continued.

Next, the temperature control during steady combustion will be described. The temperature of the combustion section 11 during steady combustion is detected by the third temperature sensor 24. The combustion of the combustion section 11 is transmitted to the third temperature sensor 24 through the catalyst member holding frame 11b. Since the third temperature sensor 24 includes the low expansion plate piece 24a and the high expansion plate piece 24b, the difference between the expansion and contraction amounts of both expansion plate pieces faces the end portion 16a of the fuel gas amount control link 16. It appears as the amount of movement of the end portion 24c of the high expansion plate piece 24b.

When the temperature of the combustion section 11 rises in a steady state, the end portion 24c of the third temperature sensor 24 acts to push back the end portion 16a of the fuel gas amount control link 16 in the clockwise direction. Therefore, the gas valve 6a is moved in the closing direction, and as a result, the supply of the fuel gas amount is reduced, so that the combustion temperature is lowered.

When the temperature of the combustion section 11 becomes lower than the steady state, the end portion 24c of the third temperature sensor 24 moves in the direction away from the end portion 16a of the fuel gas amount control link 16, so that the fuel gas amount is increased. The control link 16 of the valve closing spring 6
By the reaction force of b, it is rotated counterclockwise, the gas valve 6a is slightly opened, and as a result, the supply of the fuel gas amount is increased, so that the combustion temperature is raised. The temperature control during steady combustion is performed as described above.

Next, the operation of the safety mechanism will be described. First, the safety mechanism when the battery is dead will be described. If the catalytic combustion is continued while the battery is dead, the catalytic combustion takes place in the absence of air blowing, which may cause incomplete combustion or the temperature around the combustion section 11 becomes high, which is not preferable for safety.

The movable iron piece 14a of the electromagnet device 14 is normally adsorbed and held by the electromagnet body 14b. However, when the remaining battery capacity of the power supply unit 3 falls below a certain amount, the adsorbing and holding force of the return spring 14d is reduced. Since it is less than the reaction force of
The free end 14c of 4a moves away from the electromagnet body 14c, so that the free end 14a moves toward the first temperature sensor 1.
It contacts the free end 13c of No. 3 and prevents the free end 13c from moving toward the latch link 17. Therefore, when there is no battery remaining at the start of use, even if the above-described starting operation is performed, the latch link 17 causes the hole 13 of the first temperature sensor 13 to move.
Since it is not latched and held by b, unless the battery is replenished,
It is something that cannot be started.

Further, when the remaining battery level is exhausted during steady use, the free end 14c of the movable iron piece 14a opens the latch link 17 which is already latched and held. It can be stopped.

Next, a safety mechanism will be described in the case where the combustion part 11 thermally runs away for some reason. Combustion section 11
In case of thermal runaway, the whole equipment becomes hot and the operation must be stopped immediately.

The first sensor 13 is a plate-shaped bimetal, and is arranged so that the free end 13c moves away from the latch link 17 when the ambient temperature rises. Therefore, the combustion section 11 causes thermal runaway, and the inside of the device Temperature rises abnormally,
Since the free end 13c is largely displaced in the above-mentioned direction and the latch link 17 held by the latch is opened, the use is immediately stopped in this case as well.

Next, a normal method of ending use from the state of steady combustion will be described. When the manipulator 18 is pushed in again, the ratchet wheel 15 rotates by a predetermined amount, and the pawl 15b pushes up the first temperature sensor 13, so that the latch link 17 latched and held is released in the same manner as described above. Therefore, even in this case, the use is immediately stopped. In practical application products, it is preferable that the product is stopped after passing through the cool air blowing mode before the stop.

[0051]

Since the catalytic combustion apparatus of the present invention is provided with the preheating flame diffusing section, it is started without causing partial deterioration of the catalytic member in the catalytic combustion section and without exhausting unburned gas components. In addition, it is possible to perform steady catalytic combustion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a catalytic combustion device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged operation state diagram of a fuel gas amount control link and a latch link portion showing a steady combustion state of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged operation state diagram of a second temperature sensor portion showing a preheat combustion state of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Hair Dryer Main Body 2 Gas Cylinder 3 Power Supply Section 4 Blower Section 5 Nozzle 6 Valve Unit 7 Relay Pipe 8 Ignition Section 9 Premixed Wind Tunnel 10 Preheating Flame Diffusion Section 11 Combustion Section 12 Shielding Section 13 First Temperature Sensor 14 Electromagnet 15 Claw Wheel 16 Control link 17 Latch link 18 Operator 19 Return spring 20 Return spring 21 Pin 22 Base 23 Second temperature sensor 24 Third temperature sensor 25 Circuit part 26 Suction port 27 Preheat premixing part 28 Discharge port

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Okada 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A nozzle for ejecting fuel gas from a gas tank, an air blower for blowing air, a preheat premixer for producing a mixed gas of fuel gas and air and heating the mixed gas to a predetermined temperature, and a mixed gas. A pre-heating pre-mixing section is a catalytic combustion apparatus comprising an ignition section for igniting a fuel cell and a combustion section for catalytically burning a mixed gas, wherein the preheating pre-mixing section has at least one gas flow path between the nozzle and the combustion section. A catalytic combustion device comprising a preheating flame diffusing section made up of one or more breathable mesh plates. 2. The catalytic combustion device according to claim 1, wherein the preheating flame diffusion portion is a good thermal conductor. 3. The catalytic combustion device according to claim 1, wherein the preheating flame diffusing section is installed at a position where the outer flame of the flame ejected from the nozzle hits.