JPH0674145U - Air compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It is difficult to completely sterilize the suction air of an air compressor with an ultraviolet germicidal lamp. Further, it is difficult to remove the virus if a dryer, a dust removing filter and a sterilizer are connected to the compressed air discharge pipe. [Structure] An ultraviolet germicidal lamp 9 is provided in a suction passage in a package case 6 to substantially sterilize bacteria in suction air, and a dryer 14 and a dust removing device are provided in a discharge pipe 10 of compressed air obtained by an air compressor A. The filter unit 15 and the sterilizer 16 are connected in series to dehumidify the compressed air having high dryness, and then the sterilizer 16
To sterilize. The filter unit 13 for dust removal is used for preliminary dust removal and dehumidification. The remaining bacteria that have been almost killed by the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 9 are captured by the sterilizer 16, so that only a few viruses can pass through. Although the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 9 is turned off when the air compressor A is inspected, the compressed air containing only the virus is sent to the compressed air user side because of the function of the sterilizer 16.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a sterilization and sterilization device in an air compressor, and more specifically, to remove as much bacteria as possible while gradually removing water contained in compressed air generated by an air compressor. With respect to possible device improvements.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 It is widely known to use a filter that does not allow bacteria to pass through in order to remove bacteria in compressed air, but when passing compressed air compressed by an air compressor, bacteria are removed by the filter. At the same time, drain water adheres to the filter at the same time, which in turn creates a bacterial growth environment. Therefore, although it is possible to remove the bacteria in the compressed air only with the filter, it is temporary, and thereafter, there is a disadvantage that the bacteria propagate on the filter. What is more inconvenient is that dust in the compressed air adheres to this filter, which becomes a hotbed for the growth of bacteria and causes the filter to sink, degrading the filter function.

Therefore, it has been proposed to dispose a dust removal filter in front of the bacteria removal filter, remove the dust with the dust removal filter, and try to remove the bacteria. However, in this proposal, compressed air containing water is passed through, so even if the dust in the compressed air is removed by the dust filter, the water in the compressed air will accumulate in the filter case of the dust filter, and eventually the bacteria will be removed. There is the inconvenience that the moist air also flows toward the filter.

On the other hand, the sterilization device in the air compression device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-31485 has a sterilization device including an air dryer, a dust filter, and a sterilization filter in the discharge pipe of the air compressor. Drain traps are installed in the dust removal filter and the sterilizer, respectively, and the membrane filter is used as the sterilization filter.

According to the invention described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-31485, the compressed air is dehumidified by the air dryer on the most upstream side, and the drain water in the compressed air is separated there. In the next dust remover, the drain water is also dehumidified by the drain trap along with the dust removal.

[0006] When it flows into the sterilizer, the compressed air is once discharged to the outside area of the membrane filter, and the water is discharged by the drain trap of the sterilizer, so that water particles adhere to the membrane filter as much as possible. Therefore, clogging of the membrane filter is prevented, and water particles are prevented from adhering to the membrane filter as much as possible, so that a growth environment for bacteria can be prevented from forming there. Therefore, the disinfection effect is good. In particular, since the drain reservoir is connected to the outlet through the membrane filter, bacteria that have grown in the drain reservoir will not accidentally escape from the outlet to the discharge destination. Drain water is automatically removed by an automatic trap. In this way, the water content in the compressed air is gradually removed, so that the sterilization effect becomes favorable.

Various types of air compression devices provided with a germicidal lamp have been proposed. Among them, there is one in which an ultraviolet germicidal lamp is provided in the air suction passage of the air compressor. This suction passage is not open and is a housing or duct.Because the ultraviolet germicidal lamp emits strong ultraviolet rays and is harmful to the human body, the emitted light rays are not emitted to the human body, especially the human eyes. It is like this. For example, it has an electrical circuit that turns off the UV germicidal lamp when the housing door is opened. In addition, by accommodating the air compressor, the motor for driving the air compressor, the air compressor made of compressed air, and the ultraviolet germicidal lamp in one housing, it is possible to impart a combined function of soundproofing and sterilization.

In the conventional air compression device, either one of the above-mentioned sterilization device and mercury lamp sterilization device is used.

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

The membrane filter used in the above-mentioned conventional sterilization filter device has an eye that cannot pass bacteria of 0.1 to 0.4 μm or more. The effects of this are shown in Table 1.

As is clear from Table 1 above, most of the general bacteria are collected by the membrane filter. Since the membrane filter is a filter, organisms of 0.1 to 0.4 μm or less pass through. On the other hand, viruses, such as influenza virus, have a size of 0.075 μm to 0.11 μm, so that they can hardly be removed by a membrane filter.

In addition, the drain accumulated in the case of the sterilization filter device before the sterilization filter device contains water, oil and water that has passed through the dust removal filter. And keep the bacteria growing under the temperature of compressed air. If this is discharged as drain, it is considered that the drain becomes contaminated with general bacteria. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis shows the number of days elapsed since the drain was generated, and the vertical axis shows the number of bacteria in 1 cc of the drain, which was measured by collecting the drain of the actual air compressor.

On the other hand, an ultraviolet germicidal lamp is used that produces ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 253.7 mm as a maximum value, and according to this, a germicidal effect is recognized by all bacterial species including viruses, and the germicidal effect is similar to that of chemicals. Does not produce resistant bacteria. It takes time to sterilize with an ultraviolet germicidal lamp. For example, when a germicidal ray irradiance of 1.5 W / m ² is obtained when a 15 W ultraviolet germicidal lamp is irradiated at a distance of 50 cm from bacteria on the agar. All the bacteria are completely killed by irradiation for 90 seconds. However, when it comes to sterilizing the bacteria in the suction flow of an air compressor with an ultraviolet sterilization lamp, the device becomes extremely large in order to keep the same bacteria sterilizing line for 90 seconds. I have a problem. From the side of the air compressor, it takes about 15 seconds to delay the suction flow and irradiate the same suction air with the germicidal rays. In this way, when the germicidal rays are applied to the bacteria on the agar under the same conditions as above, 97.3-98.4% of the general bacteria are killed, including the difference depending on the bacterial species, and the virus is killed to the same degree. It is considered to be a thing.

Further, the ultraviolet germicidal lamp is turned off when the door of the casing is opened for checking the ultraviolet germicidal lamp or the air compressor in the casing. However, the equipment that uses compressed air still needs compressed air, and there are cases where the air compressor cannot be stopped, and compressed air that is not sterilized is sent.

As described above, in the air compressor equipped with the air dryer, the dust filter with the drain trap, and the sterilization filter with the drain trap, even though the sterilization of general bacteria is almost complete, the virus cannot be removed. Active bacteria are excreted. In addition, an air compressor equipped with a mercury germicidal lamp to irradiate the suction passage of the air compressor cannot completely sterilize it, and tentative typhoid bacteria, Shigella, staphylococci, etc. may be contained in the suction air flow. When bacteria are contained, the surviving bacteria are sent to the equipment using compressed air together with the compressed air. If this happens, there will be serious problems if the equipment using compressed air is medical or dental.

The present invention is capable of removing almost all general bacteria and also almost completely removing viruses, and is capable of sterilizing even during maintenance and inspection. The purpose is to provide.

[0016]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 A first aspect of the present invention is a sterilizing means for sterilizing bacteria in the intake air of an air compressor, an air compressor, and a sterilizing means for collecting bacteria in the discharge air of an air compressor, which is an air compressor. An air compression device characterized by being arranged according to a flow.

A second aspect of the present invention is an air dryer in which a sterilizing lamp for irradiating the suction air of an air compressor is provided in the suction flow path, and a drain trap is provided in the discharge pipe of the air compressor according to the flow of the compressed air. The air compression device is characterized in that a dust removing filter means and a sterilizer are arranged in series.

In a third aspect of the present invention, an ozone generator is provided so that ozone flows into a suction passage of an air compressor, and a drain wrap is provided in a discharge pipe of the air compressor according to a flow of compressed air. The air compressor is characterized in that an air dryer, dust removing filter means, and a sterilizer are arranged in series.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the air compressor according to the first aspect, characterized in that the air compressor is housed in the package case and the sterilizing means is provided in the package case. is there.

A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a flow of compressed air, and a dust removing filter means having a coarser filter than the dust removing filter means provided on the upstream side of the air dryer is arranged on the upstream side of the air dryer. The air compression device according to the second aspect is characterized in that.

A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to a flow of compressed air, in which a dust removing filter means having a coarser filter than the dust removing filter means disposed on the upstream side of the air dryer is arranged on the upstream side of the air dryer. The air compression device according to the third aspect is characterized in that.

A seventh invention of the present invention has a package case, and at least an air compressor in the package case, and provides an effective sterilizing power to an intake air flow in the package case of the air compressor. It is equipped with an ozone generator that adds ozone so that the ozone concentration is generated, and the ozone concentration in the discharge air of the air compressor is not harmful to the human body at the suction port of the air compressor. The air compressor according to the third invention or the sixth invention, characterized by comprising an ozone filter for removing ozone so as to obtain a concentration.

[0023]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flow sheet.

A belt device 4 connects between the electric motor 2 fixed on the compressed air tank 3 and the air compressor 1. The suction pipe 8 of the air compressor 1 is provided with a silencer 5, and the discharge pipe 10 is pressurized. It communicates with the compressed air tank 3. Such an air compressor unit A is housed in a closed package case 6, and the case 6 is provided with an air intake 7. From the compressed air tank 3, a compressed air extraction pipe 11 that penetrates the package case 6 in an airtight manner communicates with the outside. An ultraviolet sterilizing lamp 9 is mounted in the package case 6 as a sterilizing means.

In the above, the position of the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 9 and the shape of the suction passage are taken into consideration so that the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 9 can sterilize the bacteria in the suction air stream with effective illuminance and time. In this example, the suction air sucked from the air intake port 7 is guided downward by the partition wall 12, and the suction air flow flowing along the vertical wall of the partition wall 12 is maintained so that the sterilization line acts continuously. An ultraviolet germicidal lamp 9 is fixed vertically on the vertical wall.

The discharge pipe 10 is provided with a dust removing filter unit 13, an air dryer 14 as dust removing filter unit, a dust removing filter unit 15 as a dust removing filter unit, and a sterilizer 16 according to the flow of compressed air. The air dryer 14, the dustproof filter unit 15, and the sterilizer 16 constitute a sterilizing means. However, regarding the flow of the compressed air in the air dryer 14, if the dust filter unit 13 is provided on the upstream side, the sterilizing ability is improved. Can increase sex.

The air dryer 14 is composed of any one of a refrigeration type air dryer (air cooling type or water cooling type), an adsorption type air dryer, and a hollow fiber membrane type air dryer, and the dust removal filter devices 13 and 15 have the same configuration. The filter 17 is composed of a body 20 and a filter 17 composed of a cylindrical filter medium, a housing 18, and an automatic drain trap 19. The filter 17 allows compressed air flowing from the inflow port 36 to pass from the outer side to the inner side and from the outflow port 37. Particles such as dust contained in the compressed air are removed, and the automatic drain trap 19 automatically discharges drain water. The filter 17 of the dust removing filter unit 13 has a larger eye than the filter 17 of the dust removing filter unit 15.

The sterilizer 16 has the following configuration. That is, the sterilizer 16 comprises a top cover 21 and a housing 22 which is detachably attached below the top cover 21, and a cylindrical filter support 25 having a through hole 24 in the housing 22. Are connected in a downward direction, and a cylindrical membrane filter 26 is removably attached around the cylindrical filter support 25, and is opposed to the cylindrical membrane filter 26 on the top cover 21. Of the compressed air, an outlet 27 for compressed air is formed in the outer region of the housing, and an outlet 28 is formed in the inner side of the cylindrical filter support 23. A drain reservoir 29a is formed between the lower end of the cylindrical membrane filter 26 and the automatic drain trap 3 is connected to the drain reservoir 29a. There are those that are attached.

Now, in the above, the means for making the cylindrical membrane filter 26 freely insertable into and removable from the cylindrical filter support 25 is, in this example, the bolt 32 that can be screwed to the top cover 21 and the filter support. It comprises a receiving plate 33 capable of holding the lower end of the body 25 from below and a nut 34 screwed into the bolt 32.

As the membrane filter 26, there is usually about 0.1 micrometer (μm) to 5 micrometer (μm), but it is possible to disinfect general bacteria, fungi such as mold and yeast. For this reason, a film having a thickness of about 0.1 μm to 0.5 μm is used. Moreover, the material of this membrane filter may be regenerated cellulose, nitrocellulose, or the like.

When the electric motor 2 is energized and the air compressor 1 is operated, the air in the package case 6 is sucked into the suction pipe 8 from the muffler 5, and the inside of the package case 6 is depressurized by the sucked air. Then, the air flows into the package case 6 from the air intake 7. The ultraviolet sterilization lamp 9 is always lit and irradiates the air passing in front of the partition wall 12 in the package case 6, whereby the bacteria in the air entering the case 6 are sterilized and are almost sterile. It is in a state. The air compressor 1 boosts the pressure and sends it to the compressed air tank 3, where aseptic air is stored. The required aseptic air is stored in the compressed air tank 3 and is taken out from the compressed air extraction pipe 11 to the discharge pipe 10.

When the compressed air passes through the discharge pipe 10, it is first dust-removed by the dust-removing filter device 13, and the drain generated here is removed by the drain trap 19. Next, it is dehumidified by the air dryer 14. That is, in the air dryer 14, by pre-cooling, main cooling and cooling, the water vapor in the compressed air is condensed and is automatically discharged to the outside by a drain trap (not shown) attached as a drain. It is something.

The compressed air that has been dehumidified and dehumidified by the dust removing filter unit 13 and the air dryer 14 flows into the next dust removing filter unit 15, where particles such as dust in the compressed air are removed. In this case as well, drain water is generated due to the cooling by the outside air or the resistance of the filter, and the drain is discharged to the outside by the automatic drain trap 19 attached to the dust removing filter unit 15 here as well.

By the way, the compressed air that has been dehumidified to a large extent and has exited from the filter unit 15 for removing dust is not directly contacted with the membrane filter 26 from the inlet 27 of the sterilizer 16 and then enters the housing 22 outside thereof. It flows in, and then passes through the membrane filter 26. On the other hand, the water that has been drained at this stage is stored in the drain reservoir 29a and is discharged to the outside by the automatic drain trap 31.

Therefore, the membrane filter 26 will not be clogged with the drain water particles contained in the compressed air, and the drain water particles will be attached to the membrane filter 26 to cause a bacterial growth environment. Nor. The compressed air is gradually dehumidified and dust-removed up to the drying and drying process, but the remaining living fungi sterilized by the sterilization lamp 9 pass through, so the sterilization is impossible. However, since the membrane filter 26 is set to have a pore size of about 0.1 μm to 0.5 μm, the membrane filter 26 captures all dead bacteria and viable fungi except for viruses that can pass through the filter. Will end up.

In the present embodiment or the embodiments described later, the dust removing filter unit 13 of the dust removing filter means in the upstream example of the sterilizer 16 is not limited to one, but a plurality of dust removing filter units are connected in series or in parallel. May be placed in Further, the number of dust removing filter devices 15 of the dust removing filter means provided on the upstream side of the air dryer 14 is not limited to one, and a plurality of dust removing filter devices may be arranged in series or in parallel.

Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 9 is used as a sterilizing means for bacteria in the suction air of the air compressor 1, but the sterilizing means may be an ozone generator.

FIG. 2 is a flow sheet of Example 2. The same parts as in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals to avoid duplication of explanation. The partition 12 is provided with an ozone generator 9A so that ozone is discharged toward the suction passage. Further, in front of the muffler 5, an ozone filter 35 using activated carbon that adsorbs ozone in the intake air is provided. As is well known, in this ozone filter, activated carbon is adhered in a film form on a frame having a honeycomb-shaped cross section so as to come into contact with the air flow in the largest possible area.

Here, the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator 9 A differs depending on the use of compressed air, and the concentration in the suction air is 0.1 to 0.5 ppm for meat refrigerators, food showcases, cooked foods, etc. Food processed foods of 0.04 to 0.4 ppm, hospital operating rooms and examination rooms of 0.1 to 0.5 ppm, livestock animals of 0.1 to 0.4 ppm, and housing of 0.1. It is 02-0.5 ppm, 0.02-0.5 ppm etc. in the garbage room and public toilet. Although it is not necessary to provide the filter 35, it is desirable to eliminate bacteria in the compressed air supplied in the food-related and medical-related fields. Therefore, the intake air from the ozone generator 9A position to the ozone filter 35 is not changed. It is advisable to add ozone of the above concentration or higher so that the ozone concentration in the suction air after passing through the ozone filter 35 becomes the above-mentioned ozone concentration for each application. In this case, since the intake air flow is generated in the package case 6, no problem occurs even if the ozone concentration exceeds the allowable limit of the human body in the package case 6, and sterilization can be effectively performed. At the same time, the ozone filter 35 can supply compressed air having an ozone concentration within the permissible limit of the human body and for each application.

However, also in this embodiment, when the package case 6 is opened and the air compressor A is inspected, the operation of the air compressor unit A cannot be stopped in many cases due to circumstances on the compressed air demand side. . However, if a large amount of ozone is generated in the ozone generator 9A, it is harmful to the human body, so the ozone generator 9A stops the generation of ozone. As a result, although the sucked air cannot be sterilized, since the sterilization is continuously performed by the sterilization device including the sterilizer 16, compressed air containing less bacteria can be obtained.

[0041]

[Effect of device]

 According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sterilizing means for the bacteria in the air is arranged because the sterilizing means for the bacteria in the intake air of the air compressor, the air compressor, and the sterilizing means for the bacteria in the discharge air are arranged in this order. The sterilization by the sterilization and the sterilization by the sterilization means are performed repeatedly, and compressed air containing only a very small amount of bacteria is supplied to the compressed air use part.

A second aspect of the present invention is an air dryer in which a sterilizing lamp for irradiating the suction air of an air compressor is provided in the suction flow path, and a drain trap is provided in the discharge pipe of the air compressor according to the flow of the compressed air. Since the filter means for dust removal and the sterilizer are arranged in series, the bacteria in the air are sterilized by a germicidal lamp, and the connected air dryer, dust filter, and sterilizer are connected. Due to the repeated sterilization effect, compressed air containing only a very small amount of bacteria is supplied to the compressed air use part.

In a third aspect of the present invention, an ozone generator is provided so that ozone flows into a suction passage of an air compressor, and a drain wrap is provided in a discharge pipe of the air compressor according to a flow of compressed air. Since it was decided that the air dryer, the filter means for dust removal, and the sterilizer were installed in a row, the air dryer and dust filter connected with the bacteria in the air were sterilized by ozone generated from the ozone generator. The sterilization effect of the sterilizer is repeated, and compressed air containing only a very small amount of bacteria is supplied to the compressed air use part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, since the sterilizing means is provided in the package case together with the air compressor in the first aspect, it is possible to eliminate the influence of the sterilizing means on the human body, and at the same time, to reduce the noise of the air compressor. Can be measured.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the dryer, the dust removing filter means, and the flow of compressed air in the sterilization device connected to the sterilizer are more upstream than the dust removing filter means. Since the filter means for coarse dust removal is provided, dust removal and dehumidification are thoroughly performed, and the durability of the sterilization device is increased.

The sixth invention of the present invention has the same effect as the fifth invention in the third invention.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the third or sixth aspect, ozone can be removed at the inlet of the air compressor while significantly enhancing the sterilization effect by ozone, and the ozone concentration of compressed air can be increased. There is an effect that can be regulated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow sheet of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow sheet of Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing changes over time of bacteria in drain water.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Air Compressor 6 Package Case 9 Ultraviolet Sterilization Lamp 10 Discharge Pipe 13 Dust Removal Filter Device 14 Air Dryer 15 Dust Removal Filter Device 16 Sterilizer

Claims (7)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A sterilizing means for sterilizing bacteria in suction air of an air compressor, an air compressor, and a sterilizing means for collecting bacteria in discharge air of the air compressor are arranged according to an air flow of the air compressor. An air compression device characterized by being installed. 2. An air dryer having a sterilizing lamp for irradiating the suction air of the air compressor in the suction passage, and each having a drain trap in the discharge pipe of the air compressor according to the flow of the compressed air, a dust removing filter means, and a sterilization. An air compression device, characterized in that the devices are arranged in series. 3. An ozone generator is provided so that ozone flows into a suction passage of an air compressor, and an air dryer and a dust removing filter means each having a drain trap according to the flow of compressed air in a discharge pipe of the air compressor, An air compression device, wherein disinfecting devices are arranged in series. 4. The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein the air compressor is housed in a package case and the sterilizing means is provided in the package case. 5. A dust removing filter means having a coarser filter than the dust removing filter means arranged on the upstream side of the air dryer with respect to the flow of the compressed air is arranged. The air compression device according to. 6. With respect to the flow of compressed air, a dust removing filter means having a coarser filter than the dust removing filter means provided on the upstream side of the air dryer is arranged on the upstream side of the air dryer. The air compression device according to. 7. A package case having at least an air compressor within the package case to provide an ozone concentration that produces an effective germicidal effect on the suction airflow within the package case of the air compressor. Equipped with an ozone generator that adds ozone, the ozone concentration in the discharge air of the air compressor is not harmful to the human body at the suction port of the air compressor, and ozone is adjusted so that it will be the desired ozone concentration in the compressed air use part. The air compressor according to claim 3 or 6, further comprising an ozone filter for removing the ozone filter.