JPH0567511U - Air conditioner sterilization mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To prevent the discharge of germicidal metal ions, which are harmful to the natural environment, to the outside and avoid environmental pollution. [Structure] A sterilizing mechanism of an air conditioner, which sterilizes microorganisms that propagate on the surface of the evaporator 7 with sterilizing metal ions (copper ions eluted from the copper fiber member 8a) eluted by condensed water generated on the surface of the evaporator 7. In the drain water discharge path 12 for discharging the condensed water, a bactericidal metal ion recovery means (bactericidal metal ion recovery filter 15a) for recovering the bactericidal metal ions (copper ions) contained in the condensed water is provided. Set up.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention mainly relates to a sterilization mechanism of an air conditioner for a vehicle.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In general, it is well known that highly toxic metal ions such as silver and copper have a bactericidal action against microorganisms (mold, bacteria, etc.). Conventionally, the bactericidal action of this bactericidal metal ion is used to sterilize the microorganisms that propagate on the evaporator surface of the air conditioner for vehicles, and prevent the generation of microbial metabolites that cause odors in the air conditioner. Techniques have been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-48818).

In the prior art of this sterilization mechanism, for example, a copper fiber member that generates sterilizing metal ions is arranged in the vicinity of an evaporator, and the condensed water generated on the surface of the evaporator elutes the copper ions from the copper fiber member. Then, the eluted copper ions are diffused to the evaporator surface through condensed water to kill the microorganisms on the evaporator surface.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the conventional sterilization mechanism is to sterilize the sterilizing metal ions by eluting the sterilizing metal ions in the condensed water, so that the sterilizing metal ions are also discharged outside the vehicle at the same time as the condensed water is discharged. there were. Since the germicidal metal ions discharged together with the condensed water have a germicidal ability, if discharged outside the vehicle, the germicidal metal ions are highly likely to destroy the natural environment. For example, in addition to sterilizing useful soil fungi and inhibiting plant growth, running water into rivers also has an adverse effect on fish and water purification.

In view of the above problems, the present invention has been devised so as to prevent the discharge of germicidal metal ions, which are harmful to the natural environment, to the outside, thereby avoiding environmental pollution. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the sterilization mechanism of the air conditioner according to the present invention is an air conditioner that sterilizes microorganisms that propagate on the evaporator surface with sterilizing metal ions eluted by condensed water generated on the evaporator surface. A sterilizing mechanism of the apparatus, wherein a sterilizing metal ion collecting means for collecting sterilizing metal ions contained in the condensed water is provided in the drain water discharge path for discharging the condensed water.

[0007]

[Action]

 Therefore, when passing through the bactericidal metal ion recovery means, the bactericidal metal ions contained in the condensed water are removed and only the condensed water without the bactericidal metal ions is discharged to the outside of the vehicle. Emissions are prevented, which solves the above issues.

[0008]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a vehicle air conditioner, and the vehicle air conditioner 1 is basically constructed by joining a blower unit 2, a cooling unit 3 and a temperature control unit 4 to each other. Has been done.

The blower unit 2 has a function of blowing air selectively introduced from an outside air intake port or an inside air intake port (not shown) to a downstream side of the vehicle air conditioner 1 by a fan 6 driven by a motor 5. is there.

The cooling unit 3 cools the air sent from the blower unit 2, and has an evaporator 7 that constitutes a cooling cycle therein. On the downstream side of the evaporator 7, a reticulated copper fiber member 8a constituting a sterilization mechanism is arranged in close proximity.

Since the copper fiber member 8a is for producing copper ions which are sterilizing metal ions, the condensed water produced on the surface of the evaporator 7 elutes the copper ions, and the copper ions are removed from the surface of the evaporator 7. It diffuses over the entire surface of the evaporator 7 via condensed water, and the diffused copper ions sterilize microbes such as molds and bacteria that propagate on the surface of the evaporator 7 to prevent a bad odor caused by metabolites of microorganisms. There is. In this embodiment, the copper fiber member 8a is arranged on the downstream side of the evaporator 7 in order to prevent the condensed water from the evaporator 7 from splashing, but the copper fiber member 8a is located on the upstream side of the evaporator 7. It may be placed on the side.

Reference numeral 9 is a drain hole, 10 is a drain discharge pipe, and 11 is a drain discharge port. The drain hole 9, the drain discharge pipe 10, and the drain discharge port 11 are used to discharge the condensed water generated in the evaporator 7. The water discharge path 12 is configured. Then, in the middle of the drain water discharge route 12 (in the pipeline of the drain discharge pipe 10), bactericidal metal ion recovery for recovering and removing copper ions (bactericidal metal ions) contained in the discharged condensed water A filter 15a is provided.

The sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15a is made of a porous metal material composed of a metal having a higher ionization tendency and a lower toxicity than copper ions (eg, aluminum, zinc, iron, nickel, stainless steel, and alloys thereof). It is a molded body, and is formed in a honeycomb shape, for example. The sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15a has a porosity of 90% or more. Therefore, the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15a, when the condensed water passes, reduces the copper ions contained in the condensed water by the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15a to be deposited on the surface of the condensed water for recovery and removal, It is designed to prevent copper ions from being discharged to the outside. Contrary to the precipitation of copper ions, some metal ions are eluted from the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15a due to oxidation and discharged to the outside, but the metal ions eluted at this time are toxic. Since it is low, it has no bactericidal effect and there is no danger of harming the natural environment even if it is discharged to the outside. In order to improve the copper ion recovery rate, a negative potential is applied to the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15a by the battery 16, for example. By doing so, the reduction of copper ions is promoted, copper ions are easily deposited on the bactericidal metal ion recovery filter 15a, and the copper ions can be effectively recovered.

The temperature control unit 4 is for adjusting the temperature of the cooling air cooled by the evaporator 7 to an appropriate temperature, has an air mix door 18 and a heater core 19, and controls the opening degree of the air mix door 18. By adjusting the cooling air, the cooling air is divided into one that passes through the heater core 19 to heat it and one that bypasses the heater core 19, and the heating air and the cooling air are mixed in the air mix chamber 20 on the downstream side. The temperature is controlled, and the temperature-controlled air is blown into the passenger compartment (not shown) from the outlets 21, 22, 23.

In the vehicle air conditioner 1 having the above structure, the air blown from the blower unit 2 is cooled by the evaporator 7 of the cooling unit 3, and the cooling air is temperature-controlled by the temperature control unit 4 to an appropriate temperature. And blows the air into the vehicle compartment from each of the outlets 21, 22, 23.

In the cooling unit 3, a small amount of copper ions, which are bactericidal metal ions, are eluted from the copper fiber member 8 a attached to the condensed water generated in the evaporator 7, and the eluted copper ions are evaporated. Bacteria that diffuse and move on the surface and propagate on the entire surface of the evaporator 7 are effectively killed. At the same time, the condensed water generated on the surface of the evaporator 7 droops downward of the evaporator 7 and flows down to the outside of the vehicle via the drain water discharge path 12 constituted by the drain hole 9, the drain discharge pipe 10, and the drain discharge port 11. Is discharged to.

When the condensed water flows through the drain water discharge path 12, the condensed water passes through the germicidal metal ion recovery filter 15a, and at this time, the copper ions which are germicidal metal ions contained in the condensed water are discharged. It is reduced and deposited on the bactericidal metal ion recovery filter 15a, and copper ions are recovered and removed.

As a result, it is possible to prevent sterilizing metal ions, which are harmful to the natural environment, from being discharged to the outside, and avoid environmental pollution. Further, the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15a has a merit that it is simple and small in size, can be easily attached to an air conditioner, and can realize low cost.

Next, a second embodiment of the sterilizing mechanism of the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. However, the same components as those of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only the different points will be described below.

The sterilizing mechanism of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it seals the copper fiber member 8b that produces copper ions of sterilizing metal ions. It is arranged between the urethane foam 25 and the evaporator 7 in a web form, and metal fibers are used for the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15b.

That is, the copper fiber member 8 b (web) is arranged in direct contact with the upper and lower end plates (not shown) of the evaporator 7, and copper ions are eluted from the end plate side to evaporate the evaporator 7. The surface is sterilized. According to this arrangement, the copper fiber member 8b has an advantage that it does not have ventilation resistance. The sterilizing effect of the copper fiber member 8b is about the same as that of the first embodiment.

As the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15b, for example, a metal fiber such as stainless fiber is used, and a molded body of a porous metal material composed of a metal having a higher ionization tendency and lower toxicity than copper ion is used. ing. The porosity of the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15b is 90% or more, as in the case of the first embodiment. Therefore, this sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15b reduces copper ions contained in the condensed water by the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15b when the condensed water passes, as in the first embodiment. It is deposited on the surface and recovered and removed to prevent copper ions from being discharged to the outside. Further, in order to improve the recovery rate of copper ions, the battery 16 gives a negative potential for promoting the reduction of copper ions in the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15.

Therefore, the sterilizing metal ion recovery filter 15b can prevent the sterilizing metal ions, which are harmful to the natural environment, from being discharged to the outside, and can avoid the environmental pollution. The same effect as the example can be obtained.

[0025]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, since the sterilizing metal ion collecting means for collecting the sterilizing metal ions contained in the condensed water is provided in the drain water discharge path, the sterilizing metal ions contained in the condensed water are contained. Ions can be easily removed, and only condensed water without bactericidal metal ions can be discharged to the outside of the vehicle, which prevents the emission of harmful substances and avoids the destruction of the natural environment. This has the effect of promoting protection of the natural environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Air conditioner for vehicle 2 Blower unit 3 Cooling unit 4 Temperature control unit 7 Evaporator 8a, 8b Copper fiber member 9 Drain hole 10 Drain discharge pipe 11 Drain discharge port 12 Drain water discharge route 15a, 15b Sterilizing metal ion recovery filter

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A sterilizing mechanism of an air conditioner, which comprises sterilizing microorganisms propagating on the surface of an evaporator with sterilizing metal ions eluted with condensed water generated on the surface of the evaporator, and drain water for discharging the condensed water. A sterilizing mechanism of an air conditioner, characterized in that sterilizing metal ion collecting means for collecting sterilizing metal ions contained in the condensed water is provided in the discharge path.