JPH11342729A - Evaporator seal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently sterilize the bacteria-easily-propagating whole seal part by forming an evaporator seal by using a foaming material foamed by mixing an antibacterial agent in a main material. SOLUTION: An evaporator seal 20 for securing airtightness, sound insulating property and heat insulating property by sealing clearance with a unit case 2, is stuck to the periphery of an evaporator core 5. In this case, the seal 20 is formed of an antibacterial treatment-applied foaming material foamed by mixing an antibacterial agent (such as zeolite) in a main material (such as polyethylene). An antibacterial member 10 is installed on the outlet side of an evaporator 5. This antibacterial member 10 is formed in a comb shape so that a water soluble substance 15 containing an inorganic antibacterial agent is fixed to the tip part of the teeth 13 of a comb. The antibacterial member 10 is installed in the evaporator 5 by sending the respective teeth 13 of the comb-shaped antibacterial member 10 into clearance 5a of a fin of the evaporator 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to air-tightness, sound insulation,
In addition, the present invention relates to an evaporator seal for securing heat insulation and the like, and more particularly to an evaporator seal capable of exhibiting a sterilizing effect by itself.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, since the surface of an evaporator of an air conditioner is often in a wet state, microorganisms such as mold and bacteria are easily proliferated. These microorganisms generate various metabolites due to their physiological actions, causing an odor of the air conditioner.

[0003] Conventionally, sterilization techniques for evaporators include:
Various things have been proposed and disclosed. For example,
(A) JP-A-6-117797 discloses that the surface of an evaporator core is subjected to antibacterial treatment. Further, (b) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-147437 discloses that water in which copper ions are eluted and contained is sprayed onto an evaporator core by a spray nozzle to sterilize the surface of the evaporator core. Furthermore, (c) JP-A-5-270
No. 254 discloses that an aggregate of copper fibers is arranged around an evaporator core.

[0004]

However, the above (a)
Although this technology has a certain effect on the sterilization of the evaporator core itself, it does not reach the level of sterilization of the seal around the evaporator core, and in the end, there is the problem that bacteria grow on the sponge-like seal part that easily contains water. Was left. Although the technique (b) may be more effective than the technique (a), there is another problem that it is difficult to realize the technique because the apparatus becomes large. Also,
In the technique (c), when the copper fiber aggregate is provided separately from the seal, the problem that bacteria proliferate at the seal portion still remains, while the copper fiber aggregate is disposed instead of the seal. In this case, since the copper fiber aggregate is in a glass wool shape, there is a problem in that the performance inherently required as a sealing member such as airtightness, sound insulation, and heat insulation is not satisfied.

[0005] When we look at the places where bacteria actually breed,
It was found that the seal portion of the evaporator, which is likely to contain dew water, had the highest possibility of bacteria propagation, and that it was necessary to establish a sterilization technique including that portion.

[0006] In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention can sufficiently exhibit the inherent performance (airtightness, sound insulation, heat insulation, etc.) as a seal member for an evaporator, as well as a seal in which bacteria can easily propagate. It is an object of the present invention to provide an evaporator seal having a bactericidal action, which can efficiently sterilize the part itself, has a simple structure, and can be realized inexpensively and extremely easily.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an evaporator core is accommodated in an evaporator case, an antibacterial agent is contained in a main material of an evaporator seal interposed in a gap between the evaporator case and the evaporator core. Characterized by being formed of a foamed material obtained by mixing and foaming. In this case, since the antibacterial agent is mixed in the seal itself that easily contains water, it is possible to prevent bacteria from growing on the seal. Further, even if an antibacterial agent is mixed and foamed in the main material, the basic physical properties are hardly changed, so that it can be mounted around the evaporator core similarly to the conventional seal.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a vehicle air conditioner including an evaporator seal of the embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an air conditioning unit, which is arranged at the front of the vehicle as shown in FIG. The configuration of the air conditioning unit 1 itself includes, as shown in FIG. 2B, a blower 4 and an evaporator in a unit case (having a portion corresponding to an evaporator case) 2 constituting an air flow path 3 in order from the upstream side. The core 5 and the heater 6 are assembled. Doors 7 are arranged on the downstream side, and a dust filter 9 is arranged in front of the evaporator core 5. 8 is a drain pan for discharging the dew water of the evaporator 5 to the outside.

In the air conditioning unit 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 (b) and 2, a space between the evaporator core 5 and the unit case 2 is sealed to ensure airtightness, sound insulation, heat insulation, and the like. The evaporator seal 20 is attached. In this case, the seal 20 is formed of a foamed material that has been subjected to an antibacterial treatment by mixing and foaming an antibacterial agent (such as zeolite) in a main material (such as polyethylene).
As such, it has the function of preventing the growth of microorganisms and preventing the generation of foul odors.

In the air conditioning unit 1, an antibacterial member 10 is mounted on the outlet side of the evaporator 5. FIG.
3 shows the relationship between the evaporator 5 and the antibacterial member 10, and FIG.
Shows the configuration of the antibacterial member 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the antibacterial member 10 has a comb shape, and a water-soluble substance 15 containing an inorganic antibacterial agent is fixed to the tip of the teeth 13 of the comb. Then, each tooth 13 of the comb-shaped antibacterial member 10 is inserted into the fin gap 5 a of the evaporator 5.
, The antibacterial member 10 is attached to the evaporator 5.

In this case, zeolite (zeolites) is used as an antibacterial material, which is dissolved and solidified in water glass, which is a water-soluble substance, to obtain a comb-shaped antibacterial member 11.
Are arranged at the tips of the teeth 13. To make this, for example, a solution of water glass in which zeolite as an antibacterial agent is dissolved is prepared, and the tips of the teeth 13 of the comb-shaped main body 11 are immersed in the solution, lifted and dried.

As described above, the evaporator seal 20
Since the antimicrobial agent is contained in the seal 20, the seal 20 itself exerts a bactericidal action, and it is possible to suppress the growth of bacteria in the water contained in the sponge-like seal 20.

Further, by attaching the antibacterial member 10 to the evaporator 5, the antibacterial agent can be mixed into the dew water by contacting the dew water with the water-soluble substance 15, and as a result, the flow path of the dew water Can be sterilized with an antibacterial agent, and the propagation of bacteria can be efficiently suppressed, and the cause of the bad smell can be eliminated. In this case, since the water-soluble substance 15 contains an antibacterial agent, the antibacterial agent can be mixed into the dew water little by little as the water-soluble substance 15 is dissolved, and can be maintained for a long period of time. The antibacterial effect can be exhibited effectively. Therefore, there is no need to replace the antibacterial member 10 until the end of the life of the air conditioner.

The position where the antibacterial member 10 is arranged is as follows.
It is preferable that the evaporator 5 be located at a position where the dew water is surely brought into contact with the dew condensation water, and at the upper part of the evaporator 5 as much as possible.
However, it is preferable that the position is such that the ventilation resistance of the evaporator 5 is not increased as much as possible. By doing so, the antibacterial member 10 is located at the upstream portion on the flow path of the dew condensation water, and a sterilizing effect can be exerted on the entire downstream region. Moreover, it may be arranged not only on the outlet side of the evaporator 5 but also on the inlet side indicated by 10B in FIG.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the evaporator seal is formed of a foamed material obtained by mixing an antimicrobial agent into the main material and foaming, the seal itself that easily contains water can have a sterilizing effect. Therefore,
With a simple configuration, the propagation of bacteria can be prevented at low cost, and the generation of offensive odor can be prevented. In addition, since only the main material is mixed with an antibacterial agent, the basic physical properties of the seal hardly change, and the seal can be handled in the same manner as a conventional product.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a side view showing a state in which an air conditioning unit 1 including a seal of the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle, and (b) includes a seal of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the air conditioning unit 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the seal according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on an evaporator core.

3A and 3B are configuration diagrams of the antibacterial member 10 of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 air conditioning unit 2 unit case (evaporator case) 5 evaporator core 20 seal

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 13, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a sponge-like evaporator interposed in a gap between the evaporator case and the evaporator core when accommodating the evaporator core in the evaporator case. The seal is characterized by being formed from a foamed material obtained by mixing a main material with zeolite (zeolite) as an antibacterial agent and foaming. In this case, since the antibacterial agent is mixed in the seal itself that easily contains water, it is possible to prevent bacteria from growing on the seal. Also,
Even if zeolite as an antibacterial agent is mixed and foamed in the main material, the basic physical properties are hardly changed, so that it can be mounted around the evaporator core similarly to a conventional seal.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the evaporator seal is formed from a foamed material in which zeolite (zeolites) as an antibacterial agent is mixed into the main material and foamed, the seal that easily contains water can have a sterilizing effect. Therefore, the breeding of bacteria can be prevented at a low cost with a simple configuration, and the generation of offensive odor can be prevented. Further, since zeolite as an antibacterial agent is simply mixed in the main material, the basic physical properties of the seal hardly change, and the seal can be handled in the same manner as a conventional product.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When an evaporator core is accommodated in an evaporator case, an evaporator seal is provided in a gap between the evaporator case and the evaporator core. A seal for an evaporator, which is characterized in that: