JPH1123027A - Ventilating fan - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effect optimum dehumidification by starting and stopping a ventilating fan automatically in accordance with the condition of a humidity in a room. SOLUTION: A ventilating fan 10 is started when a humidity, detected by a humidity sensor 20, becomes higher than a preset reference humidity by operating the ventilating fan 10, the humidity sensor 20 and a timer in conjunction with each other. On the other hand, when the detected humidity has lowered to the reference humidity, the timer is started and the ventilating fan 10 is stopped after a given period of time has elapsed. Such starting and stopping of the ventilating fan, which are effected by a comparison between the detected humidity and the reference humidity, are effected by a microcomputer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ventilating fan for dehumidification that can be started and stopped appropriately in accordance with a detected humidity condition in conjunction with a humidity sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bathroom ventilation fan is provided on a ceiling of a bathroom for dehumidification so that a bathroom with high humidity can be dehumidified.

[0003] In the bathroom, steam rises from the hot water in the bathtub during bathing, and the humidity increases as the glasses become cloudy. Although high humidity is not a problem when taking a bath, if the steam in the bathroom is kept muffled (high humidity) after bathing, the steam will condense on the wall surface in the bathroom. Failure to adequately remove the condensed water can lead to mold development at a later date.

The bathroom is relatively airtight so that steam does not leak into other rooms. In particular, when a recent aluminum sash or the like is used, the airtightness is remarkably improved, and steam is less likely to escape from the bathroom than before, and it is necessary to dehumidify the bathroom more appropriately.

[0005] The dehumidification in the bathroom is performed by opening the bathroom window after bathing to ventilate, or turning on the switch and turning on the ventilation fan each time after bathing.

[0006]

In general, the removal of moisture from a bathroom by a conventional ventilation fan is performed by turning on and starting a ventilation fan provided on the ceiling side of the bathroom after bathing as described above.

However, in this method, since the last person who has taken a bath turns on the ventilation fan and turns the ventilation fan, it often happens that the ventilation fan is forgotten or turned off.

As a countermeasure for forgetting to switch off the ventilation fan, a ventilation timer with a delay timer is used, and the ventilation fan is automatically switched off after a certain period of time after the ventilation fan is turned on. That is, the ventilation fan is automatically stopped after the set time has elapsed since the switch of the ventilation fan is turned on, and dehumidification is performed within the set time of the timer.

However, in such a method, the dehumidification time (the rotation time of the ventilation fan) cannot be changed in accordance with the humidity in the bathroom, so that sufficient dehumidification often does not occur within the set time of the timer. . Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the set time of the timer. However, this would wastefully turn the ventilation fan, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of uneconomical and energy saving.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to appropriately start and stop a ventilation fan according to a humidity condition.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the ventilation fan from being forgotten to be attached or cut off, and to be able to appropriately start and stop the ventilation fan for dehumidification.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, the outline of a representative one will be briefly described.
It is as follows.

That is, in the present invention, the ventilation fan, the humidity sensor, and the timer are linked so that the ventilation fan can be started / stopped according to the humidity condition in a room such as a bathroom.

A humidity sensor detects the indoor humidity of a bathroom or the like that requires dehumidification, and when the detected humidity exceeds a preset reference humidity, the ventilation fan is automatically turned on and the ventilation fan is started to start dehumidification. Do. The reference humidity may be appropriately set by the user according to the room to be dehumidified.

On the other hand, when the dehumidification is performed by operating the ventilation fan, and when the detected humidity in the bathroom or the like falls to the reference humidity, the timer is started when the reference humidity is reached, and the ventilation fan is continuously operated within the set time. It can be stopped later.

If the ventilation fan is stopped immediately when the detected humidity falls to the reference humidity, the average humidity in the bathroom and the like is still high, but the humidity level around the humidity sensor is slightly changed and the detected humidity is accidentally changed. Even if the temperature drops to the reference humidity, the ventilation fan is stopped as it is. In such a case, even though the humidity in the bathroom is higher than the reference humidity and the dehumidification is required, the ventilation fan is stopped, and there is a problem that the dehumidification in the bathroom cannot be sufficiently performed.

However, in the present invention, as described above,
Even if the detected humidity falls to the reference humidity, the ventilation fan is not stopped immediately, and the ventilation fan can be continuously operated by the timer for the time set in the timer from that point. Even if the detected humidity temporarily indicates the reference humidity due to fluctuations in the humidity condition despite the high average humidity, the ventilation fan is not stopped immediately, and the ventilation fan is operated until the bathroom humidity falls below the reference humidity. You can continue.

Further, even if the timer is started and the ventilation fan continues to operate for a predetermined set time after the detected humidity drops to the reference humidity, if the detected humidity rises to the reference humidity within the set time, the timer setting is interrupted. It may be configured so that the ventilation fan is released and returned to the state before the timer was started and continues to operate.

As such a humidity sensor, a sensor having a conventional configuration can be used. For example, an electric resistance / humidity sensor utilizing the change of electric resistance, capacitance, resonance frequency, etc. depending on humidity may be used.

As the electric resistance humidity sensor, for example,
An ion conduction type humidity sensor using an oxide-based porous sintered body, or a semiconductor type humidity sensor using an electron donating property when water vapor chemically adsorbs to an oxide semiconductor can be used.

The attachment of the humidity sensor having such a configuration may be performed as an integral type provided integrally with the ventilation fan, or as a separate type in which the ventilation fan and the humidity sensor are formed separately.
The humidity sensor can be installed at a location suitable for humidity detection, and the ventilation fan can be installed at a location having good ventilation efficiency and easy installation.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) The ventilation fan 10 of the present invention
As shown in FIG. 1, a ventilation fan hood 11, a motor 12 for fan rotation, and a multi-blade sirocco fan 13 are provided.

The ventilation fan 10 of the sirocco fan 13 is mounted in a box-shaped ventilation fan hood 11 formed at the front opening with the sirocco fan 13 side facing the opening.

In this embodiment, the ventilation fan hood 1
As shown in FIG. 2, an exhaust duct D laid behind the ceiling B of the bathroom A is connected to the side surface of the exhaust fan 1, and the inside of the ventilation fan hood 11 and the exhaust duct D are communicated with each other. The exhaust duct D is, for example, a ventilation port 1 provided on an outer wall above the bathroom A.
4, the moisture (in this embodiment, steam in the bathroom) sucked into the exhaust duct D by the ventilation fan 10 can be discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct D. ing.

An appropriate hood is provided at the ventilation port 14 on the outer wall to which the end of the exhaust duct D is connected so that rainwater or the like is not blown into the exhaust duct D from the ventilation port 14. ing.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the humidity sensor 2
0 is provided on the side surface near the opening surface side in the ventilation fan hood 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the humidity sensor 20 has a detection portion 21 on the side slightly ahead of the sirocco fan 13.
Are provided so as to protrude.

As the humidity sensor 20, a commercially available product having a conventionally known configuration may be used.
An ionic conduction type electric resistance humidity sensor using an oxide-based porous sintered body such as ₂ O ₃ or Ta ₂ O ₅ may be used. A film using a silicon composite film or an organic polymer electrolyte film may be used.

Furthermore, a semiconductor type humidity sensor utilizing the electron donating property when water vapor is chemically adsorbed to an oxide semiconductor may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a control box 30 is provided behind the ventilation hood 11. The control box 30 includes a timer 40 and a sirocco fan 13 as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
Switch 41 for starting / stopping the rotation motor 12
And a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as “microcomputer”) 42 in which a control program is inserted is provided and electrically connected. The humidity sensor 20 having the above-described configuration provided on the ventilation fan hood 11 is also connected to the microcomputer 42 in the control box 30.

In this manner, the humidity detected in the bathroom A detected by the humidity sensor 20 is converted into an electric signal or the like and sent to the microcomputer 42, and the reference humidity stored in the microcomputer 42 and the humidity sensor 20 as needed. The transmitted detected humidity is compared with the detected humidity.

As a result of the comparison between the two humidities, if the detected humidity sent from the humidity sensor 20 is higher than the reference humidity, the switch 41 is turned on under the control of the microcomputer 42.
The motor 12 is rotated in the state of (entering).
By the rotation of the sirocco fan 13, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, the humidity in the bathroom A is discharged to the outside via the exhaust duct D, and dehumidification is performed.

During the operation of the ventilation fan 10, the humidity sensor 20 always detects the humidity in the bathroom A and continuously sends the detected humidity to the microcomputer 42 in the control box 30, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The detected humidity in the bathroom A that has been sent is compared with the reference humidity stored in the microcomputer 42 as needed. When the detected humidity falls to the reference humidity, the timer 40 is immediately controlled by the microcomputer 42. Is started.

The timer 40 turns on the switch 41 after a lapse of a set time from the time when it is started by the microcomputer 42.
It acts to stop the ventilation fan 10 in the state of FF (cut). That is, from the time when the timer 40 is started by the microcomputer 42, the switch 41 is turned on.
Will be under the control of.

When the detected humidity in the bathroom A is equal to or lower than the reference humidity while the switch 41 is under the control of the timer, the ventilation fan 10 is automatically stopped after a predetermined time set in the timer 40 has elapsed. Then, the dehumidification in the bathroom A is completed.

The time set in advance in the timer 40 may be set to the time from when the detected humidity reaches the reference humidity to when the ventilation fan 10 is further operated and the dehumidification is recognized to be sufficient. For example, the time required for the detected humidity to become a percentage of the reference humidity or less may be set as the set time.

On the other hand, if the detected humidity sent to the microcomputer 42 is equal to or higher than the reference humidity under the control of the timer, the timer 4 is controlled by the microcomputer 42.
The operation of 0 is canceled halfway. By releasing the operation of the timer 40, the switch 41 is removed from the control of the timer, and the ventilation fan 10 can continue to operate and continue dehumidification in a state before being controlled by the timer.

As described above, even if the humidity sensor 20 temporarily indicates the detected humidity lower than the reference humidity due to the fluctuation of the humidity environment in the bathroom A, the humidity in the bathroom A still indicates the humidity higher than the reference humidity. In the case where there is, the ventilation fan 10 is continuously operated by performing the halfway release of the timer 40 again so that the dehumidification can be completely performed until the ventilation fan 10 becomes equal to or lower than the reference humidity.

When the ventilation fan 10 is continuously operated and the detected humidity in the bathroom A falls to the reference humidity, the timer 40 is restarted under the control of the microcomputer 42 again.

In the above description, if the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 20 shows a value higher than the reference humidity after the switch 41 is placed under the timer control, the timer management is removed and the detected humidity returns to the reference humidity again. Until the ventilation fan 10
Are configured to be operated continuously. But,
A simple configuration in which the timer management cannot be canceled in the middle may be adopted.

That is, when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 20 falls to the reference humidity, the timer 40 is started and the switch 41 is controlled by the timer as described above, and after the time set in the timer 40 elapses, as described above. The switch 41 may be turned off.

Even if the detected humidity becomes higher than the reference humidity while the timer is under the control of the timer, the timer 40 is not canceled halfway and the ventilation fan 10 is stopped after the set time set in the timer 40 has elapsed. It may be configured. When the bathroom A is not so large and fluctuation in the humidity distribution hardly occurs, such a configuration is sufficient.

(Embodiment 2) In the present embodiment, unlike Embodiment 1, the humidity sensor 20 and the ventilation fan 1
0 is separated.

The ventilation fan 10 of the present embodiment is provided on the upper wall side of the window C of the bathroom A, as shown in FIG. With this configuration, it is not necessary to draw the exhaust duct D for the ventilation fan 10 into the ceiling B side, and the ceiling B does not need to be lowered.

The ventilation fan 10 used in this embodiment is
Then, the sirocco fan 13 having the configuration used in the above embodiment may be used.

In the present embodiment, the humidity sensor 20 is mounted at the center of the ceiling B of the bathroom A. At the same time, the control box 30 is also separated from the ventilation fan 10 and is mounted on the inner wall surface of the bathroom A at a height that can be reached by humans.

In the control box 30, a timer 40,
A switch 41 for a ventilation fan and a microcomputer 42 are provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the microcomputer 42 and the humidity sensor 20 provided on the ceiling B side are connected by wiring. In addition, the switch 41 in the control box 30 and the ventilation fan 10 provided above the wall surface are also connected by wiring.

As described above, the humidity in the bathroom A is detected, for example, by the humidity sensor 20 provided on the ceiling B side when steam rising from the bathtub 50 into the bathroom A and rising to the ceiling B side is detected. It is sent to the microcomputer 42 as needed.

The detected humidity sent to the microcomputer 42 is compared with the reference humidity in the same manner as in the first embodiment. On the basis of the comparison result between the two humidities, the start / stop of the ventilation fan 10 is controlled in conjunction with the microcomputer 42 and the timer 40, so that the dehumidification in the bathroom A can be appropriately performed.

In this embodiment, the ventilation fan 10 and the humidity sensor 20 are configured so as to be separately mounted. Therefore, depending on the humidity measurement environment such as the inside of the bathroom A, other than the ceiling B described above. Can be installed at

When the space such as the bathroom A where the humidity is measured is large, the humidity distribution tends to be biased. In the case where the ventilation fan 10 and the humidity sensor 20 are integrated as in the first embodiment, the selection of the mounting location of the ventilation fan 10 is inevitably given priority, and it is difficult to arrange a ventilation fan suitable for humidity detection.

For this reason, when such a deviation in the humidity distribution occurs, it is difficult to properly mount the integrated type in the integrated type. However, by adopting the separate type as in the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a portion suitable for humidity detection. In addition to the provision of the humidity sensor 20, the ventilation fan 10 can be separately attached to a location having good exhaust efficiency, and an effective attachment location can be selected for each.

In the present embodiment, the microcomputer 42 in the control box 30 and the humidity sensor 20 are connected by wiring. However, the humidity sensor 20 may be connected by a data transmission method such as optical transmission. .

(Embodiment 3) In the present embodiment, a separate type similar to that of the above-described Embodiment 2 is provided, and a plurality of humidity sensors 20 are further provided at a plurality of locations in the bathroom A as shown in FIG. It is configured to be provided. Bathroom A of the present embodiment is configured in a large space where ceiling B is high and large bathtub 50 can be installed, so that a relatively large number of people can take a bath at the same time.

In the present embodiment, two humidity sensors 20 are provided on the ceiling B side and three humidity sensors 20 are mounted above the wall surface. Further, the ventilation fan 10 is different from the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. The control box 30 is also mounted on the wall.

The humidity sensor 20, the control box 3
0 and the ventilation fan 10, as in the second embodiment,
Each is connected to a timer 40, a switch 41, and a microcomputer 42 in the control box 30 by wiring.

In the present embodiment, the detected humidity sent from the plurality of humidity sensors 20 is calculated in the microcomputer 42 from the detected humidity, and the average humidity is compared with the reference humidity. It has become. Microcomputer 4
When the average humidity calculated in 2 becomes higher than the reference humidity, the switch 41 is turned on (turned on) by the microcomputer 42 and the ventilation fan 10 is started to dehumidify the inside of the bathroom A. .

While the ventilation fan 10 is performing dehumidification, the detected humidity is sent to the microcomputer 42 from the plurality of humidity sensors 20 as needed, and the average humidity is calculated in the microcomputer 42 and compared with the reference humidity. I have. When the value of the average humidity decreases to the reference humidity, the timer 40 is started by the microcomputer 42, and the switch 41 is under the control of the timer. After elapse of a preset time set in the timer 40, the switch 41 is turned off and the ventilation fan 1
0 operation is stopped.

If the average humidity indicates a value higher than the reference humidity while the switch 41 is under the timer management, the timer management is canceled and the ventilation fan 1 is stopped.
0 operation is continued.

When the average humidity value based on the detected humidity again falls to the reference humidity by the continuous operation of the ventilation fan 10, the microcomputer 41 again switches the switch 41 under the timer control as described above. ing.

If the value of the average humidity under the timer control does not indicate a value higher than the reference humidity, the ventilation fan is stopped after a lapse of a preset time set in the timer 40, and the dehumidification in the bathroom is completed. Let me do.

In the present embodiment, one ventilation fan 10
And the plurality of humidity sensors 20 are configured as a separated type, but may be configured as a separated type using a plurality of ventilation fans 10 and a plurality of humidity sensors 20. By configuring the ventilation fan 10 in a plurality, the dehumidification time can be reduced.

In the first to third embodiments, the humidity sensor 20 and the ventilation fan 10 are configured to be linked via the microcomputer 42 in the control box 30 so that the dehumidifying operation can be automatically performed. However, instead of the humidity sensor 20, a humidity controller incorporating a conventional humidity detector and a control mechanism such as the microcomputer 42 in advance may be used.

For example, using a hair or a nylon element for a humidity detecting portion, a micro switch, a snap switch, a potentiometer, a nozzle, and a flapper mechanism are operated via a spring or a lever mechanism to expand and contract the torque caused by a change in humidity. Even if it is configured such that the operation of the ventilation fan 10 can be stopped according to the humidity by interlocking the timer 40 with the conventional humidity controller that converts the detected humidity into an electric and air pressure signal to operate the operation unit, I do not care.

In the first to third embodiments, the case where the ventilation fan 10 interlocked with the humidity sensor 20 and the like is applied to the bathroom A is described. It can also be applied to places where dehumidification management is required.

In the above embodiment, the ventilation fan is started when the reference humidity is higher than the reference humidity. However, the ventilation fan may be started when the reference humidity rises. Similarly, the timer 40 is started when the humidity drops to the reference humidity. However, the timer 40 may be started when the humidity drops below the reference humidity.

As described above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say, there is.

[0069]

Advantageous effects obtained by typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described.
It is as follows.

(1). In the present invention, since the humidity sensor and the ventilation fan are linked to start and stop the ventilation fan according to the indoor humidity condition, forgetting to put on or turn off the ventilation fan can be prevented, and dehumidification can be performed reliably.

(2). In the present invention, the timer is activated from the time when the indoor humidity becomes smaller than the preset proper humidity (reference humidity) by the ventilation fan, and the ventilation fan is configured to stop after a lapse of the time set in the timer. Compared with the conventional dehumidification using a timer that rotates the ventilation fan within a preset time without considering the dehumidification state, the disadvantage that the ventilation fan stops before the dehumidification is insufficient can be avoided.

(3). In the present invention, even when the optimum location of the ventilation fan and the optimal location of the humidity sensor do not match, the humidity sensor and the ventilation fan are separated so that both can be optimally arranged and the humidity condition can be appropriately detected. With the configuration, the timer is activated when the indoor humidity becomes smaller than the preset proper humidity (reference humidity) by the ventilation fan, and the ventilation fan is configured to stop after a lapse of the time set in the timer, Together, both can perform appropriate dehumidification according to the dehumidification environment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a ventilation fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a situation where a ventilation fan according to the present embodiment is provided in a bathroom.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state of wiring connection with a humidity sensor or the like of the ventilation fan according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a ventilation fan according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing how a ventilation fan according to another embodiment is attached.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an installation state of a ventilation fan according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 ventilation fan 11 ventilation fan hood 12 motor 13 sirocco fan 14 ventilation port 20 humidity sensor 21 detection part 30 control box 40 timer 41 switch 42 microcomputer (microcomputer) 50 bathtub A bathroom B ceiling C window D exhaust duct

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ventilation fan used for indoor dehumidification, comprising: a ventilation fan, a humidity sensor, and a timer for regulating the operation time of the ventilation fan, wherein the humidity detected by the humidity sensor is set in advance. Is compared with the reference humidity, the ventilation fan is started when the detected humidity is higher than the reference humidity, and when the detected humidity falls to the reference humidity, Start the timer,
The ventilation fan, the humidity sensor, and the timer are linked so that the ventilation fan can be continuously operated within a set time of the timer and the ventilation fan can be stopped after the set time has elapsed. And ventilation fan. 2. The ventilation fan according to claim 1, wherein instead of starting the ventilation fan when the detected humidity becomes higher than the reference humidity, the ventilation fan is started when the detected humidity rises to the reference humidity. And starting the timer when the detected humidity becomes lower than the reference humidity, instead of starting the timer when the detected humidity reaches the reference humidity. 3. The ventilation fan according to claim 1, wherein the detected humidity rises to the reference humidity while the ventilation fan continues to be operated within a set time set in the timer. The ventilating fan, wherein the timer setting is released and the ventilating fan is operated in a state before the timer is started. 4. The ventilation fan according to claim 1, wherein the humidity sensor is provided integrally with the ventilation fan in a hood of the ventilation fan.