Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L9/16—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using physical phenomena
  • A61L9/18—Radiation
  • A61L9/20—Ultraviolet radiation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B15/00—Installations affording protection against poisonous or injurious substances, e.g. with separate breathing apparatus
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
  • A62B18/02—Masks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F8/00—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
  • F24F8/20—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by sterilisation
  • F24F8/22—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by sterilisation using UV light

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an air purifier that has the function of inactivating viruses by irradiating them with ultraviolet light.
• SARS-CoV-2 a novel coronavirus
• SARS-CoV-2 a novel coronavirus
• SARS-CoV-2 is a major threat worldwide. It is predicted that large amounts of SARS-CoV-2 are present in the breath exhaled by SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and in living spaces occupied by infected individuals, and there is an urgent need to sterilize SARS-CoV-2 present in such air.
• Patent Document 1 discloses a virus inactivation device that has a suction pipe with a bell-mouth shaped suction port at one end that serves as an entrance for capturing the breath exhaled by the user, and a main unit connected to the other end of the suction pipe, the main unit having a blower that generates an airflow from the suction port into the main unit, and an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates the air that has flowed into the main unit through the suction pipe with ultraviolet light of 222 nm or 254 nm.
• Patent Document 1 describes that by inactivating viruses in the breath immediately after it is exhaled, the device has the effect of effectively suppressing the risk of infection due to the spread of viruses to the surrounding area.
• Non-Patent Document 1 discloses experimental results showing that a time-dependent decrease in infectivity (viral titer) occurs when a liquid medium containing SARS-CoV-2 is irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 253.7 nm at an irradiance of 500 ⁇ W/ cm2 for 30 seconds from a distance of 30 cm, resulting in a 99.99% decrease in infectivity of SARS-CoV-2.
• Non-Patent Document 1 also discloses that the decrease is due to a significant decrease in the amount of viral RNA (RiboNucleic Acid) (damage to the viral genome).
• UVC disinfects SARS-CoV-2 by induction of viral genome damage without apparent effects on viral morphology and proteins
• Chieh-Wen Lo Ryosuke Matsuura, Kazuki Iimura, Satoshi Wada, Atsushi Shinjo, Yoshimi Benno, Masaru Nakagawa, Masami Takei & Yoko Aida, Scientific Reports volume 11, Article number: 13804 (2021).
• Non-Patent Document 1 To ensure an irradiation time of 30 seconds based on Non-Patent Document 1, it is necessary to set the size (length) of the ultraviolet irradiation space taking into account the amount of human inhalation and exhalation in order to ensure that irradiation time. This restriction causes the air purifier to become larger in size, which is a problem. Furthermore, when inactivating viruses, the air purifier must be optimized according to the amount of virus-containing air that can be processed per unit time, as well as the application and purpose, and this optimization design requires a great deal of effort.
• the air purifier of a first aspect of the present invention has an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light of a wavelength capable of inactivating viruses, and an air flow path that has an air inlet and an air outlet and through which the air that enters from the inlet is irradiated with the ultraviolet light before it exits from the outlet, and is characterized in that the ultraviolet light source is provided at a position inside or outside the air flow path.
• a second aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that when the ultraviolet light source is provided outside the air flow path, the air flow path is formed of a material that transmits the ultraviolet light.
• a third aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that a reflective surface that reflects the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source located inside the air flow path into the air flow path is formed on an inner surface of the air flow path.
• a fourth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the second aspect, characterized in that a reflective surface that reflects the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source, which is located outside the air flow path, into the air flow path is provided outside the ultraviolet light source.
• a fifth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier described in the first aspect, characterized in that the ultraviolet light source is provided both inside and outside the air flow path, the air flow path is made of a material that transmits the ultraviolet light, and a reflective surface that reflects the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source located outside as viewed from the air flow path into the air flow path is provided outside the ultraviolet light source.
• a sixth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that the wavelength of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source is 100 nm or more and 310 nm or less.
• a seventh aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, further comprising an air flow rate adjustment device that adjusts the time that the air stays in the air flow path, and the air flow rate adjustment device has a blower equipped with rotating blades that adjusts the flow rate of the air in the air flow path by rotating the rotating blades.
• An eighth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, further comprising an air flow rate adjustment device that adjusts the time that the air stays in the air flow path, and the air flow rate adjustment device has an adjustment valve that adjusts the flow rate of air flowing out of the air flow path.
• a ninth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, further comprising an air flow rate adjustment device that adjusts the time that the air stays in the air flow path, wherein the ultraviolet light source is a light source that can change the amount of ultraviolet light irradiation, and the air flow rate adjustment device adjusts the flow rate of the air based on the amount of irradiation of the ultraviolet light source.
• a tenth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that an upstream connecting pipe is connected to the inlet, and a downstream connecting pipe is connected to the outlet.
• An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that the blower serving as the air flow rate adjustment device is provided inside the air flow path.
• a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that an upstream connecting pipe is connected to the inlet and a downstream connecting pipe is connected to the outlet, and the blower is provided in the upstream connecting pipe or the downstream connecting pipe.
• a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, further comprising an air flow rate adjustment device that adjusts the time that the air stays in the air flow path, the air flow rate adjustment device comprising a blower having a rotating blade that adjusts the flow rate of the air in the air flow path by rotating the rotating blade, and a regulating valve that adjusts the flow rate of air flowing out of the air flow path.
• a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that the air purifier is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, and at least one internal flow path through which air flows is provided within the air flow path.
• a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the fourteenth aspect, characterized in that a blower is provided which has rotating blades and adjusts the flow speed of the air in the air flow path by rotating the rotating blades, and the blower is provided at an inlet or an outlet of the internal flow path.
• a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that a homogenizing member for homogenizing the flow of air is provided in the air flow path, and the homogenizing member is constituted by a lattice-shaped partition wall.
• a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that a homogenizing member for homogenizing the flow of air is provided in the air flow path, and the homogenizing member is constituted by a honeycomb-shaped partition wall.
• An 18th aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that narrow plate bodies forming outer openings and wide plate bodies having inner openings are arranged alternately in the air flow path in the direction of air flow, forming a serpentine path connecting the outer openings and the inner openings.
• a 19th aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that the air purifier is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays, at least one internal flow path through which air flows is provided within the air flow path, and a homogenizing member for homogenizing the air flow is provided within the air flow path, and the homogenizing member has a lattice-shaped partition wall and a honeycomb-shaped partition wall.
• a twentieth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the fourth aspect, characterized in that an outer mirror body having a mirror outer circumferential surface is provided at a central axis position of the air flow path.
• a twenty-first aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the fourth aspect, characterized in that it includes an ultraviolet light source position changing device that changes the distance between the ultraviolet light source and an outer peripheral surface of the air flow path.
• a 22nd aspect of the present invention is the air purifier described in the 21st aspect, wherein the ultraviolet light source position changing device has a pair of support shafts extending in the axial direction of the central axis of the air flow path, a pair of rotating parts supported for free rotation on the pair of support shafts, a pair of actuator parts fixed to the pair of rotating parts, and a pair of advancing/retracting rods provided on the pair of actuator parts, the ultraviolet light source is fixed to the tip ends of the pair of advancing/retracting rods, and the ultraviolet light source position changing device changes the distance between the ultraviolet light source and the outer peripheral surface of the air flow path by rotating the pair of actuator parts around the pair of support shafts through the advancing and retracting movement of the pair of advancing/retracting rods.
• a 23rd aspect of the present invention is the air purifier described in the first aspect, characterized in that it comprises a humidity adjustment device provided at an upstream position of the air flow path, a humidity detection unit provided at an upstream position of the air flow path downstream of the humidity adjustment device, and a control unit that controls the humidity adjustment device based on the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit.
• a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, characterized in that it is used to inactivate viruses in the air of a room where humans or animals are present, viruses in the air entering the room, or viruses in the air leaving the room.
• a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the first aspect, which is an air purifier used to inactivate external air that may contain viruses as air inhaled by a user, and is characterized in having an intake port and an exhaust port for a person to breathe through their nose or mouth, a human-side sealing part that seals at least the nose and mouth from the outside, and a human-side intake pipe line that communicates between the intake port and the outlet.
• a 26th aspect of the present invention is the air purifier described in the first aspect, which is an air purifier used for inactivating a user's exhaled breath that may contain viruses and discharging it to the outside, characterized in that it has an intake port and an exhalation port for a person to breathe through their nose or mouth, a human sealing part that seals at least the nose and mouth from the outside, and a human-side exhalation pipe line that communicates between the exhalation port and the inlet.
• a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect, characterized in that the air purifier is mounted on a wearing tool that moves with the movement of a user.
• a 28th aspect of the present invention is the air purifier described in the first aspect, comprising an inner tube extending in a predetermined direction and formed of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, a plurality of the ultraviolet light source provided around the outside of the inner tube, an outer tube container that houses the inner tube and the ultraviolet light source inside, an inner tube inner mouth that communicates the inner tube with the inside of the outer tube container, an inner tube outer mouth that communicates the inner tube with the outside, a communication port that communicates the inside and outside of the outer tube container, and an air flow rate adjustment device provided in the outer tube container that adjusts the time that air stays in the outer tube container, and is characterized in that the air flow rate adjustment device is provided inside the outer tube container facing the inner tube inner mouth.
• a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the twenty-eighth aspect, characterized in that it has a reflective surface provided on an inner surface of the outer cylindrical container, which reflects the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source toward the inside of the outer cylindrical container.
• a 30th aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the 28th or 29th aspect, characterized in that the air flow rate adjustment device has an air agitator and a motor that rotates the agitator.
• a thirty-first aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the third or fourth aspect, characterized in that an uneven portion for diffusing ultraviolet rays is formed on the reflective surface.
• a 32nd aspect of the present invention is an air purifier as described in the third or fourth aspect, characterized in that the ultraviolet light source is composed of a plurality of ultraviolet light-emitting elements arranged in the direction in which the internal flow path extends, and has the ultraviolet light-emitting elements arranged facing the internal flow path side and the ultraviolet light-emitting elements arranged facing the reflective surface side.
• a thirty-third aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the third aspect, characterized in that a collision part larger than a flow path diameter of the upstream connecting pipe is provided inside the air flow path, and the surface of the collision part is an ultraviolet reflective surface.
• a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the thirty-third aspect, further comprising a baffle section within the air flow path for causing the air flow to meander along the ultraviolet light source without leakage, and a surface of the baffle section is formed as an ultraviolet reflective surface.
• a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the twenty-fifth aspect, characterized in that it has an air retention chamber provided between the human side intake duct and the human enclosed section, and an intake connection path communicating between the air retention chamber and the human enclosed section.
• a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the thirty-fifth aspect, characterized in that the human enclosed section is provided with an exhaust valve configured to exhaust only the breath of the user while preventing the intake of air outside the human enclosed section.
• a 37th aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the 26th aspect, characterized in that it has an air retention chamber provided between the human side expiratory duct and the human sealed section, and an expiratory connection path communicating between the air retention chamber and the human sealed section.
• a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the thirty-seventh aspect, characterized in that the human enclosed section is provided with an intake valve configured to prevent the user's exhaled air from leaking outside the human enclosed section while allowing only the user's inhaled air to be drawn into the human enclosed section.
• a thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the twenty-fifth aspect, characterized in that it has an air retention chamber provided between the human side intake duct and the human enclosed section, and the air retention chamber is connected to the human enclosed section.
• a fortieth aspect of the present invention is the air purifier according to the twenty-sixth aspect, characterized in that it has an air retention chamber provided between the human side expiratory duct and the human sealed part, and the air retention chamber is connected to the human sealed part.
• the present invention makes it possible to provide an air purifier that can reduce the time required to inactivate viruses by irradiating the air with a large amount of ultraviolet light in a short period of time. Furthermore, the present invention can provide a small air purifier that can inactivate viruses contained in at least one of the inhaled and exhaled air of a person. The present invention can provide an air purifier that has a relatively simple configuration and can be easily optimized according to the application or purpose when inactivating viruses in the air.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing the basic configuration of an air flow path and a configuration in which an ultraviolet light source is provided at the center.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing a configuration in which multiple ultraviolet light sources are uniformly disposed within the air flow path.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing an example of a configuration in which an ultraviolet light source is provided outside the air flow path.
• 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an ultraviolet light source is provided inside and outside an air flow path made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, and a reflective surface is also provided.
• 11 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an air flow rate adjusting device is configured by providing an adjusting valve in a passage connected to an air flow path.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing a configuration in which multiple ultraviolet light sources are uniformly disposed within the air flow path.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing an example of a configuration in which an ultraviolet light source is provided outside the air
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an air flow rate adjusting device is configured by providing an air blower on an upstream connecting pipe that communicates with an air flow path.
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an air flow rate adjusting device is configured by providing an air blower at a downstream position facing the air flow path.
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an air flow rate adjusting device is configured by providing an air blower on a downstream connecting pipe that communicates with an air flow path.
• FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an air flow rate adjusting device is configured by providing a plurality of blowers.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the uniformizing member is configured with lattice-shaped partition walls.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the homogenizing member is constructed of honeycomb-shaped partition walls.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which an internal flow passage, for example transparent, is provided within the air flow passage.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment having a blower, a lattice-shaped partition wall, a honeycomb-shaped partition wall, and an internal flow passage.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which a meander is formed in the air flow path.
• FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which a meandering portion is formed in the air flow path.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment having a humidity adjusting device and an ultraviolet light source position changing device.
• FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing an example of the arrangement relationship between an air flow path and an ultraviolet light source
• FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing an example of an ultraviolet ray shielding member
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the ultraviolet light source position changing device.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an ultraviolet light source position changing device.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram to explain virus inactivation in human and animal living spaces.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining virus inactivation in a room where animals such as birds, cows, and pigs are kept.
• FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of using an air purifier for inhalation through a mask.
• FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the use of an air purifier on exhalation of a mask.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the use of an air purifier in the intake of a full-face helmet.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the use of an air purifier on the exhaled air of a full-face helmet.
• FIG. 1 shows an example of use in a portable air purifier using a mask and inactivating both inhaled and exhaled air.
• FIG. 1 shows an example of use of a portable air purifier using a full-face helmet and performing inactivation on both inhaled and exhaled air.
• 1A is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air purifier according to a more specific embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 1B is a front view of an agitation unit
• FIG. 1C is a view of the agitation unit as viewed from below.
• FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 28 in an air purifier according to a more specific embodiment.
• FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air purifier, illustrating the effect of an air flow rate adjusting device according to a more specific embodiment.
• 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining modified examples of the reflecting surface, in which FIG. 10A is a vertical cross-sectional view of an outer cylinder, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an air purifier that inactivates inhaled and exhaled air.
• FIG. 10A is a vertical cross-sectional view of an outer cylinder
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an air purifier that inactivates inhaled and exhaled air.
• FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage pattern applicable to each embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a usage pattern of an air purifier that inactivates both inhaled and exhaled air, (b) shows a usage pattern of an air purifier that is only for inhalation, and (c) shows a usage pattern of an air purifier that is only for exhalation.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an ultraviolet light-emitting element as an example of an ultraviolet light source.
• 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a modified example of the present invention, in which FIG. 10A is a plan view of a support pillar, and FIG.
• FIGS. 13A-13C are diagrams showing other configurations of the human enclosure according to the present embodiment, illustrating an example of a helmet in which at least the mouth and nose are sealed from the outside.
• 1A to 1D are diagrams for explaining an embodiment in which a collision section and a baffle section are provided in an air flow path, in which (a) is a side view of the air flow path, (b) is a perspective view, (c) is a schematic cross-sectional view, and (d) is a simulation diagram of the air flow.
• 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining an embodiment in which a collision portion and a baffle portion are provided in an air flow path, where FIG. 5A is a perspective view, FIG. 5B is a plan view, and FIG.
• FIG. 5C is a simulation diagram of an air flow.
• 1A is a schematic side view of a user wearing a mask unit
• FIG. 1B is a schematic front view of the same
• FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a portable inhalation-side inactivation unit
• FIG. 2B is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a mask unit.
• 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a configuration for inactivating both inhaled and exhaled gas, in which (a) is a side view of a mask unit, and (b) is a rear view of the mask unit.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment in which a full-face helmet is used as a human enclosure and an air retention chamber is provided in the full-face helmet.
• viruses are composed of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), and since they are both composed of nucleic acids, it is expected that the degree of inactivation of viruses will be great if they are exposed to a large amount of strong ultraviolet light all at once in a short period of time.
• one objective of this embodiment is to provide an air purifier that can inactivate viruses harmful to the human body, such as coronaviruses, in a shorter time than conventional air purifiers equipped with ultraviolet light sources, and that has a simple configuration and can optimally set the processing time required to inactivate viruses.
• Each configuration of this embodiment is premised on determining the amount and intensity of ultraviolet light capable of inactivating the target viruses through experiments, etc.
• the configuration of this air purifier aims to achieve an inactivation rate of 99.99% or more for the target viruses.
• the air purifiers of the embodiments of the present invention can increase the intensity and amount of ultraviolet light per unit time compared to conventional configurations, and can shorten the ultraviolet light irradiation time. Therefore, the space in which the air is irradiated with ultraviolet light can be made smaller, making them suitable for use in air purifiers that supply clean air to a user's mask, etc., or air purifiers that turn the breath exhaled from a user's mask, etc., into clean air.
• the 1 for example, has an ultraviolet light source 3 that emits ultraviolet light of a wavelength capable of inactivating viruses, and an air flow path 58 that has a first air inlet 56 and a first air outlet 57 and through which the air that enters through the first inlet 56 is irradiated with ultraviolet light before it exits through the first outlet 57, and is characterized in that the ultraviolet light source 3 is provided at a position either inside or outside the air flow path 58.
• an ultraviolet ray shielding member is provided at a predetermined location of the air purifier 1 so that the ultraviolet ray emitted from the ultraviolet ray light source 3 is not radiated outside the air purifier 1. It can be said that the reflective surface described later has both a reflective function and an ultraviolet ray shielding function.
• the ultraviolet rays that are often used are UV-C with wavelengths of 100 nm or more and 280 nm or less, and UV-B with wavelengths of 280 nm or more and 310 nm or less.
• the ultraviolet light source 3 may be a light source capable of varying the amount of ultraviolet light irradiation. In this case, by increasing the amount of ultraviolet light irradiation, the residence time of the air in the air flow path 58 required for inactivating the air can be shortened.
• the air flow path 58 of the air purifier 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a cylinder 60, a first wall 61 which is an upstream wall, and a second wall 62 which is a downstream wall, and the air flow path 58 is configured as an air container.
• a first inlet 56 is formed in the first wall 61, and a first outlet 57 is formed in the second wall 62.
• An upstream connecting pipe 63 is connected to the first inlet 56, and a downstream connecting pipe 64 is connected to the first outlet 57.
• a second inlet 65 is formed at the upstream end of the upstream connecting pipe 63.
• a second outlet 66 is formed at the downstream end of the downstream connecting pipe 64.
• the direction in which the air flow passage 58 extends is referred to as the extension direction or axial direction, and the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is referred to as the width direction or radial direction.
• the circumferential direction is not limited to a circular direction, but is used to mean the direction around a polygon such as a square.
• the first inlet 56 and the first outlet 57 may be formed in the same first wall body 61.
• the first wall body 61 is configured to be connected to an upstream connecting pipe 63 and a downstream connecting pipe 64. Since the ultraviolet light source 3 is disposed at the central axis position of the cylindrical body 60, ultraviolet light can be evenly irradiated from the central axis position to the air flowing inside the cylindrical body 60.
• one ultraviolet light source 3 is provided inside the air flow path 58.
• a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 3, for example, four ultraviolet light sources 3, are provided inside the air flow path 58.
• the air flow path 58 is used as a container for holding a predetermined amount of air to be inactivated with viruses so that it can be exposed to a predetermined irradiation amount (radiation intensity x time).
• An ultraviolet ray shielding member is provided outside the air flow path 58 to prevent the influence of ultraviolet rays on the surrounding area, but this is omitted in the drawing.
• the ultraviolet ray shielding member is omitted as appropriate.
• the ultraviolet light source 3 is drawn in solid lines so as to be easily visible even when it is inside the air flow path 58, and the inside of the ultraviolet light source 3 shown in solid lines is drawn in gray.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Fig. 3 is characterized in that the ultraviolet light source 3 is disposed outside the air flow path 58, and at least the portion of the air flow path 58 corresponding to the position where the ultraviolet light source 3 is disposed is formed of a material that transmits ultraviolet light (e.g., a transparent material, etc.). Since the ultraviolet light source 3 is disposed outside the air flow path 58, there is an advantage that the ultraviolet light source 3 can be easily replaced. In addition, since the ultraviolet light source 3 is not inside the air flow path 58, there is an advantage that the air flow is smooth.
• a material that transmits ultraviolet light e.g., a transparent material, etc.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Fig. 4 is characterized in that the ultraviolet light source 3 is disposed both inside and outside the air flow path 58, that the cylinder 60 of the air flow path 58 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, and that a reflecting surface 67 that reflects ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source 3 located on the outside as viewed from the air flow path 58 toward the air flow path 58 is provided on the outside of the ultraviolet light source 3.
• this reflecting surface 67 is formed of an inner barrel 121 shown in Fig. 17(b).
• ultraviolet light sources 3 are provided both inside and outside the air flow path 58, ultraviolet light with higher intensity can be effectively irradiated to the air flowing through the air flow path 58, making it possible to make the entire device compact and shortening the inactivation processing time. Furthermore, since the amount of irradiation can be increased even though the device is compact, the amount of inactivated air that can be supplied per unit time can be increased.
• the air purifier 1 shown in FIG. 5 is characterized in that the residence time adjustment device is composed of an adjustment valve 68 disposed at the second outlet 66.
• An example of a residence time adjustment device is the air flow rate adjustment device 20.
• the adjustment valve 68 can be provided at any position on the first outlet 57 of the air flow path 58 or the downstream connecting pipe 64.
• the residence time of the air can be increased by narrowing the valve of the adjustment valve 68 to reduce the amount of air flowing out of the air flow path 58, and the residence time can be reduced by fully opening the valve of the adjustment valve 68 to increase the amount of air flowing out of the air flow path 58. In this way, the residence time of the air in the air flow path 58 can be adjusted by the adjustment valve 68.
• the air purifier 1 shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment in which the air flow rate adjustment device 20 is configured by an air blower 75.
• the air flow rate adjustment device 20 is configured by an air blower 75.
• the blower 75 can be provided at the upstream connecting pipe 63, the downstream connecting pipe 64, and/or the air flow path 58.
• Fig. 6 shows a configuration in which the blower 75 is provided at the second inlet 65 of the upstream connecting pipe 63
• Fig. 7 shows a configuration in which the blower 75 is provided at the first outlet 57
• FIG. 8 shows a configuration in which the blower 75 is provided at the second outlet 66 of the downstream connecting pipe 64.
• Fig. 9 shows a configuration in which the blower 75 is provided at both the second inlet 65 and the second outlet 66.
• the air purifier 1 shown in FIG. 10 is characterized by the provision of a uniforming member 76 that uniforms the air flow in the air flow path 58.
• the uniforming member 76 is configured with a lattice-shaped partition wall 77.
• An upstream space 80 is provided upstream of the lattice-shaped partition wall 77 inside the air flow path 58.
• the upstream space 80 may be a simple space.
• the air purifier 1 shown in FIG. 11 is characterized in that the uniformizing member 76 is composed of a honeycomb-shaped partition wall 78 .
• 11 shows a configuration in which a honeycomb-shaped partition wall 78 is provided substantially facing the first wall body 61.
• an upstream space portion 80 is provided as shown in FIG.
• a configuration in which a partition wall (not shown) is provided in the upstream connecting pipe 63 to divide it into reduced lattices or honeycombs, and an air passage (not shown) is provided for each lattice or honeycomb that communicates with the enlarged lattice or honeycomb in the air flow path 58.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Fig. 12 is characterized in that at least one internal flow path 81 is provided inside the air flow path 58.
• the internal flow path 81 is preferably made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light.
• the ultraviolet light source 3 is provided outside the air flow path 58, so the entire circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 60 is also made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light.
• 12 shows a configuration in which a blower 75 is provided at the position of the second inlet 65 and four cylindrical internal flow paths 81 are provided.
• the cross-sectional shape of the internal flow paths 81 is not particularly limited. By providing the internal flow paths 81, the air flow can be made uniform.
• the internal flow passage 81 may be provided so as to be directly connected to the first inlet 56 or the first outlet 57 .
• the ultraviolet light sources 3 and the internal flow paths 81 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the air flow path 58.
• [Ninth embodiment] 13 is characterized by having a configuration in which a blower 75 is provided at a predetermined position communicating with the air flow path 58, a configuration in which a lattice-shaped partition wall 77 is provided in the air flow path 58, a configuration in which a honeycomb-shaped partition wall 78 is provided in the air flow path 58, and a configuration in which an internal flow path 81 is provided in the air flow path 58.
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an air purifier 1 according to a tenth embodiment
• FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air purifier 1 taken along the central axis of an air flow path 58 thereof.
• the tenth embodiment is an air purifier 1 in which an ultraviolet light source 3, a narrow plate 83 forming an outer opening 82, and a wide plate 85 having an inner opening 84 are provided in the air flow path 58, and is characterized in that the narrow plate 83 and the wide plate 85 are alternately arranged in the direction in which the air flow path 58 extends to form a meandering path 86 connecting the outer opening 82 and the inner opening 84.
• one ultraviolet light source 3 is provided at the central axis position of the air flow path 58.
• the ultraviolet light source 3 may be provided outside the air flow path 58, or may be provided both inside and outside the air flow path 58.
• the air flows through the serpentine path 86, so that the residence time is longer than when the air flows linearly through the air flow path 58, and the degree of inactivation can be increased.
• the narrow plate 83 and the wide plate 85 are preferably made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light.
• Figures 16 to 19 are diagrams for explaining the eleventh embodiment.
• Figure 16 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration including the control system.
• Figure 17(a) is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the air flow path and the ultraviolet light source
• Figure 17(b) is a diagram showing an ultraviolet light shielding member that houses all the components shown in Figure 17(a).
• Figure 17(b) shows an example in which the ultraviolet light shielding member is composed of an inner lens barrel.
• FIG. 18 is a front view of the ultraviolet light source position changing device, showing an example in which six ultraviolet light sources are provided around the air flow path.
• FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view showing an ultraviolet light source position changing device.
• the air purifier 1 is characterized in that an ultraviolet light source 3 is provided around an air flow path 58 made of transparent glass, and an outer mirror body 107 having a mirror outer peripheral surface is provided at the central axis position of the air flow path 58.
• an annular passage 108 between the outer peripheral surface of the air flow path 58 and the outer mirror body 107 becomes a passage through which air flows.
• the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source 3 is reflected by the reflective surface 67 of the inner mirror body 121 shown in Figure 17 (b) and also by the outer mirror body 107, which has the advantage of causing multiple reflections between the outer mirror body 107 and the inner mirror body 121, allowing the ultraviolet light to be effectively irradiated into the air.
• the "central axis position" refers to the position of the central region of the air flow path 58 where multiple reflections between the outer mirror body 107 and the inner mirror body 121 can be efficiently achieved in 360° around the central axis, and where there is no practical problem of bias in the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated in the annular passage 108.
• the air purifier 1 is characterized in that it includes an ultraviolet light source position changing device 105 that changes the distance between the ultraviolet light source 3 and the outer circumferential surface of the air flow path 58 .
• the ultraviolet light source position changing device 105 has at least a pair of support shafts 112 extending in the axial direction of the central axis of the air flow path 58, a pair of rotating parts 113 rotatably supported by the pair of support shafts 112, a pair of actuator parts 116 fixed to the pair of rotating parts 113, and a pair of advancing and retracting rods 115 provided on the pair of actuator parts 116, and the ultraviolet light source 3 is fixed to the tip of the pair of advancing and retracting rods 115.
• the number of support shafts 112 is increased or decreased according to the number of ultraviolet light sources 3. In this embodiment, six ultraviolet light sources 3 are provided, so six support shafts 112 are provided around the air flow path 58 at 60° intervals.
• An example of the actuator 116 is a solenoid.
• a solenoid has a cylinder 114 that drives a reciprocating rod 115.
• the ultraviolet light source position changing device 105 for example, by protruding the advancing/retracting rod 115 from the cylinder 114, the distance from the support shaft 112 to the ultraviolet light source 3 becomes longer, the pair of actuator parts 116 are rotated in a direction approaching the outer circumferential surface of the air flow path 58, and the ultraviolet light source 3 is fixed at that position.
• the pair of actuator parts 116 are rotated in a direction away from the outer circumferential surface of the air flow path 58, and the ultraviolet light source 3 is fixed at that position.
• the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet light to the air flowing through the air flow path 58 can be changed.
• the air flow path 58 includes an equalizing member 76 located upstream of the air flow path 58.
• An inlet-side connecting pipe 101 is connected to the inlet of the air flow path 58, and an outlet-side connecting pipe 102 is connected to the outlet of the air flow path 58.
• the inlet-side connecting pipe 101 and the outlet-side connecting pipe 102 are configured to connect the annular passage 108 to the upstream-side connecting pipe 63 and the downstream-side connecting pipe 64, respectively.
• the inlet-side connecting pipe 101 is also a part of the upstream-side connecting pipe 63
• the outlet-side connecting pipe 102 is also a part of the downstream-side connecting pipe 64.
• the humidity adjustment device 103 is provided on the upstream connecting pipe 63.
• FIG. 16 shows a configuration in which the humidity adjustment device 103 is provided downstream of the blower 75 and upstream of the equalizing member 76.
• the humidity adjustment device 103 may be a known electrically driven dehumidifier.
• the humidity adjustment device 103 may be configured to house a moisture absorbing member (not shown) such as silica gel. When the moisture absorbing member has absorbed a predetermined amount of moisture, the humidity adjustment device 103 may be removed from the upstream connecting pipe 63 and replaced.
• the humidity adjustment device 103 may also be provided with a heating device (not shown) that evaporates moisture such as silica gel. The moisture absorbing member is reused by heating it with the heating device.
• the moisture absorbing member can be regenerated and the temperature of viruses attached to the moisture absorbing member can be raised above the virus' death temperature (e.g., nucleic acid destruction temperature), thereby enabling the moisture absorbing member to be regenerated and preventing the spread of viruses by the moisture absorbing member.
• the humidity adjustment device 103 indicated by the dashed line shows a modified installation position of the humidity adjustment device 103, and shows a configuration in which the humidity adjustment device 103 is provided upstream of the blower 75.
• a dehumidifier used in a normal air conditioner (air conditioner) may be provided at the position shown by the dashed line, or a dehumidifier containing the moisture absorbing member described above may be provided.
• a flow velocity sensor 111 serving as a flow velocity detection unit is provided at the position of the downstream connecting pipe 64, and a control unit 118 controls the rotation speed of the fan of the blower 75, etc. based on the flow velocity detected by the flow velocity sensor 111 to obtain the required flow velocity.
• the control unit 118 outputs control information for the humidity adjustment device 103, control information for changing the amount of ultraviolet irradiation by increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the ultraviolet light source 3, and control information for specifying the number and position of the ultraviolet light source 3 to the ultraviolet light source position change device 105 to change the distance to the air flow path 58.
• the control unit 118 is connected to an input unit 119 that is configured with an operation panel, a remote control, or the like.
• the control unit 118 has a memory unit 122 in which the necessary inactivation conditions according to each type of virus are stored, or a memory unit 122 in which the necessary inactivation conditions for inactivating viruses regardless of type are stored, and inactivates viruses in the air flowing through the air flow path 58 based on the required air treatment flow rate input by the user and the inactivation mode corresponding to each necessary inactivation condition stored in each memory unit 122.
• the flow rate for inactivation processing can be increased up to the maximum flow rate at which viruses can be inactivated with the maximum irradiation amount of the six ultraviolet light sources 3, according to a user instruction.
• the internal configuration of the air flow path 58 can be changed to a configuration in which a blower is provided facing the internal flow path as shown in Fig. 28.
• the control unit 118 controls adjustment variables (parameters) of the inner blower and the outer blower based on the flow velocity detected by the flow velocity sensor 111 so as to obtain a final desired flow velocity.
• FIG. 16 shows a configuration in which the flow velocity sensor 111 is provided downstream of the air flow path 58, a configuration in which it is provided within the air flow path 58 can also be adopted as necessary.
• the twelfth embodiment shown in FIG. 20 is characterized in that the air purifier 1 is installed in a room 88, which is a living space where humans 89 and pet animals 95 live, to inactivate viruses 90 in the air.
• the air to be inactivated may be air within a room 88 shown in FIG. 20, or virus-containing air may be taken into the room 88 from outside (not shown).
• the air purifier 1 according to this embodiment to the air within a room 88 or the air entering the room, the number of infectious viruses can be reduced, thereby reducing the possibility of viral infection of humans 89 and pets 95 living in the room 88.
• non-inactivated viruses are displayed in black and designated by the symbol 90, while inactivated viruses are displayed in white and designated by the symbol 90a.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Fig. 21 is characterized by its use for inactivating viruses in the air of a room 91 in which various animals 92, for example egg-laying chickens, are kept. It is conceivable that the air used in the production factory of an egg producer plagued by avian influenza and the like could be inactivated by the air purifier 1 of the present invention. Inactivation treatment could also be carried out only during periods when avian influenza is likely to spread. Examples of other animals 92 include cows, pigs, etc.
• the air to be inactivated may be air within a room 91 shown in Fig. 21, or air containing viruses may be taken into the room 91 from outside (not shown).
• the air purifier 1 shown in Figures 22 and 23 is characterized in that the human sealing part 41 is configured as a mask 93.
• the "human sealing part 41" is defined as "a member that has an intake port and an expiration port for a person to breathe through the nose or mouth, and seals at least the nose and mouth from the outside.”
• the "human sealing part 41” includes a mask 93 or a full-face helmet 94 (see Figure 24) that seals at least the nose and mouth and can seal the face or head of a person from the outside.
• FIG. 22 is a diagram of the intake portion, which is configured so that air 87 containing non-inactivated viruses 90 can be taken in by the intake side inactivation unit 37, which is the air purifier 1, and inactivated air can be supplied to the nose and mouth from the intake port 42 of the mask 93 via the human side intake pipe 44.
• An exhalation port (not shown) is provided in the mask 93.
• a valve body that opens and closes with breathing can be provided in the exhalation port, and the valve body can be a valve (e.g., a check valve) that opens only when air in the mask 93 is released.
• FIG. 23 is a diagram of the exhalation portion, in which exhaled air containing non-inactivated viruses 90 leaving the human body through the exhalation port 43 of the mask 93 is taken into the exhalation side inactivation unit 38 through the human side exhalation tube 45. It is then configured to be sent out as purified air 87a containing inactivated viruses 90a by the exhalation side inactivation unit 38.
• the mask 93 is provided with an intake port 42 (not shown).
• the intake port 42 may be provided with a valve that opens and closes in response to breathing, and the valve may be a valve (e.g., a check valve) that opens only when air in the mask 93 is inhaled. 22 and 23, air in which the virus has not been inactivated is indicated by reference numeral 87 and is shown by a grey arrow, and air in which the virus has been inactivated is indicated by reference numeral 87a and is shown by a hollow arrow.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Figures 24 and 25 is characterized in that the human sealed portion 41 is configured as a full-face helmet 94.
• Figure 24 is a diagram illustrating the inhalation portion
• Figure 25 is a diagram illustrating the exhalation portion.
• the full-face helmet 94 according to this embodiment is configured to be able to seal the entire head from the neck up, and to seal the nose and mouth from the outside.
• the full-face helmet 94 is provided with an intake port 42 and an exhalation port 43.
• the human-side intake pipe 44 and the human-side expiratory pipe 45 shown in Figures 24 and 25 are configured as bellows-shaped human-side intake pipe 44 and human-side expiratory pipe 45 so as to be easily bent.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Fig. 26 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a mask 93 is used to make the air purifier 1 portable.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Fig. 27 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a full-face helmet 94 is used to make the air purifier 1 portable. Both embodiments are characterized in that the air purifier 1 is mounted on a wearing device 97 that moves with the user as the user moves. Examples of the wearing device 97 include wearing clothes 96 and a belt. 26 and 27, the wearable garment 96 is equipped with an inhalation side inactivation unit 37 and an exhalation side inactivation unit 38.
• the inhalation side inactivation unit 37 inactivates viruses in the inhaled air and the exhalation side inactivation unit 38 inactivates viruses in the exhaled air, a person wearing the wearable garment 96 does not release infectious viruses into the outside space, and also eliminates the risk of taking infectious viruses into the body from the outside. With this configuration, air purification becomes possible in a manner closer to everyday life.
• Figure 28(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air purifier according to the seventeenth embodiment
• Figure 28(b) is a front view showing the connection configuration between the cover wall and the stirring rod in the stirring unit
• Figure 28(c) is a view of the stirring unit from below
• Figure 29 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the air purifier in Figure 28
• Figure 30 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the air flow of the air purifier and the effect of the stirring rod.
• the air purifier 1 of this embodiment shown in Fig. 28 the direction in which the inner cylinder 2 extends is called the axial direction, and this axial direction is indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 28.
• the axial direction X is set in the up-down direction, but a configuration example in which the axial direction X is set in the horizontal direction or in an oblique direction can also be appropriately adopted.
• the direction in which the outer cylinder container 4 spreads perpendicular to the axial direction X is called the radial direction or lateral direction, and is indicated by the arrow Y in Fig. 28.
• the direction around the inner cylinder 2 is called the circumferential direction, regardless of whether the cross-sectional shape of the inner cylinder 2 is circular, rectangular, or the like.
• the air purifier 1 includes an inner cylinder 2 extending in a predetermined direction and formed of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 3 provided around the outside of the inner cylinder 2, an outer cylinder container 4 that houses the inner cylinder 2 and the ultraviolet light sources 3 therein, and a residence time adjustment device provided in the outer cylinder container 4 for adjusting the residence time of air in the outer cylinder container 4.
• the residence time adjustment device includes an air flow velocity adjustment device 20.
• the air flow rate adjusting device 20 is provided in the outer cylinder container 4 so as to face the inner opening 6 of the inner cylinder.
• “Facing” includes a configuration in which the air flow rate adjusting device 20 is provided opposite to the inner opening 6 of the inner cylinder.
• the outer cylinder container 4 is an air container extending in the axial direction of the outer cylinder 10, and is composed of the outer cylinder 10 and two wall surfaces provided in a direction intersecting the outer cylinder 10. In the configuration shown in Figures 28 to 30, the outer cylinder container 4 is configured in the shape of an air container by the outer cylinder 10, an upper wall surface 11, and a lower wall surface 12.
• the outer cylindrical container 4 is an example of the air flow path 58 .
• the inner cylinder 2 is an air flow passage formed of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays, for example, glass, highly transparent synthetic resin such as PMMA, etc.
• the shape of the flow passage and the direction in which it extends are not particularly limited.
• the inner cylinder 2 is formed in a linear duct shape.
• the cross-sectional shape of the duct is not particularly limited and may be circular or polygonal.
• the inner cylinder 2 is an example of the internal flow passage 81 .
• the cross-sectional shape of the inner cylinder 2 is preferably circular.
• the inner cylinder 2 may have a bent or curved shape.
• the inner cylinder 2 may have a curved shape due to restrictions on the spatial arrangement of the air purifier 1. In that case, the shapes of the ultraviolet light source 3 and the outer cylinder 10 are appropriately modified to correspond to the three-dimensional shape of the inner cylinder 2.
• the outer cylinder container 4 includes an outer cylinder 10 and is a container for containing air that forms a space for inactivating viruses in the air.
• the outer cylinder container 4 is formed to extend in the same direction as the inner cylinder 2.
• the shapes of the outer cylinder 10, the upper wall surface 11 and the lower wall surface 12 are not particularly limited as long as they are configured to accommodate at least the inner cylinder 2 and the ultraviolet light source 3 therein.
• the outer cylinder 10 is formed of a cylinder, and the lower wall surface 12 and the upper wall surface 11 are each formed of a disk.
• the inner cylinder 2 is provided at the center position of the outer cylinder 10 .
• UV light source 3 Any type of light source can be used for the ultraviolet light source 3 as long as it can emit ultraviolet light with enough intensity to inactivate viruses.
• An ultraviolet lamp 9 having a cylindrical surface or an ultraviolet light emitting element 73 may be used.
• a thin cylindrical ultraviolet lamp 9 extending vertically parallel to the inner cylinder 2 is used as the ultraviolet light source 3.
• six ultraviolet lamps 9 are provided around the inner cylinder 2, extending vertically at equal intervals of 60 degrees, over a 360° circumference.
• the number of ultraviolet light sources 3 installed around the inner cylinder 2 is preferably 1 to 8. It is also possible to provide a rotary holder (not shown) that holds the ultraviolet light source 3, and a motor (not shown) that rotates the holder around the central axis of the outer cylindrical container 4.
• the holder is composed of a circular ring or disk that holds the ultraviolet light source 3, and is configured to be rotatable relative to the outer cylindrical container 4 and the reflective surface 5. With this configuration, the ultraviolet light source 3 moves relative to the air in the outer cylindrical container 4, which has the advantage that the amount of ultraviolet light irradiation can be made uniform for the air in the outer cylindrical container 4.
• the inner cylinder 2 has an inner cylinder inner opening 6 and an inner cylinder outer opening 7 .
• the inner cylinder inner port 6 is an opening for sending air present in the internal space of the outer cylinder container 4 into the inner cylinder 2 .
• the inner cylinder inner mouth 6 is located at the end of the internal space of the outer cylinder container 4, and is provided as an opening of the inner cylinder 2 at a position closer to the upper wall surface 11 than to the lower wall surface 12.
• the inner cylinder inner mouth 6 is provided on the tip side (upper side) of the inner cylinder 2.
• the inner cylinder outer opening 7 is an outer opening that communicates the inside of the inner cylinder 2 with the outside of the outer cylinder container 4.
• the inner cylinder outer opening 7 is also an opening that can be considered an exhaust port of the outer cylinder container 4 in terms of air flow.
• the inner cylinder outer opening 7 is provided on the base end side (lower side) of the inner cylinder 2. That is, the inner cylinder outer opening 7 is provided on the lower wall surface 12 of the outer cylinder container 4 facing downward.
• the inner cylinder outer port 7 is an example of the first outlet 57 .
• the communication ports 8 are openings that communicate between the inside and outside of the outer casing 4.
• six communication ports 8 are evenly spaced on the bottom wall surface 12 of the outer casing 4.
• the six communication ports 8 are provided at the midpoints of the circumferential spacing between adjacent ultraviolet light sources 3.
• the six communication ports 8 are spaced circumferentially at intervals of 60°. Note that this number is merely an example, and it is sufficient that at least one communication port 8 is provided in the outer casing 4.
• the communication port 8 is an example of the first inlet 56 .
• the communication ports 8 it is preferable to provide the communication ports 8 so that the conditions around the inner cylinder 2 in terms of air convection and retention are as uniform as possible.
• the reflective surface 5 is a surface that reflects ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source 3 toward the inside of the outer cylindrical container 4.
• the reflective surface 5 is disposed at a position where it can reflect ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source 3 toward the air moving inside the outer cylindrical container 4, the stagnant air, and the convecting air.
• a preferred location for such an arrangement is to form the reflective surface 5 on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 10 of the outer cylinder container 4. Note that it is preferable to provide the reflective surfaces 5 not only on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 10 but also on the outer cylinder 10, the upper wall surface 11, and the lower wall surface 12.
• the direction in which the ultraviolet rays are reflected is preferably toward the inner cylinder 2.
• FIG. 31(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of an outer cylinder showing a modified reflecting surface
• FIG. 31(b) is a partially enlarged view of the reflecting surface.
• the reflection surface 5a is formed with an uneven portion 70 having a size of, for example, 0.1 mm to 30 mm, and the uneven portion 70 is mirror-finished.
• the configuration shown in Fig. 31(b) shows an example in which a convex portion 71 having a cross section of a substantially semicircular or substantially elliptical shape is formed.
• such uneven portions 70 are provided not only on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 10 but also on the upper wall surface 11 and the lower wall surface 12 .
• the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is diffused by the surface of the reflecting surface 5a, and the ultraviolet light is diffused.
• the ultraviolet light can be uniformly irradiated to the air flowing inside the outer tubular container 4, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of areas in the air moving inside the outer tubular container 4 that are difficult to be irradiated with the ultraviolet light.
• the air purifier 1 is provided with an air flow rate adjusting device 20 that adjusts the time that air stays in the outer cylindrical container.
• the air flow rate adjusting device 20 can be composed of at least one blower 75 as shown in FIG. 9 or an adjusting valve 68 as shown in FIG. 28, in this embodiment, the air flow rate adjusting device 20 is configured to include at least a rotating agitator 21. That is, the air flow rate adjusting device 20 has the agitator 21 and a motor 22 as a means for rotating the agitator 21.
• the agitator 21, the motor 22, etc. function as an internal blower for the air flow path 58.
• the air flow rate adjusting device 20 may be configured with a blower 75 (see FIG.
• the blower 75 provided in the air purifier 1 as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 may be used as the blower 75.
• At least one blower 75 that generates the air flow required to blow air into or suck air out of the outer cylindrical container 4 is omitted in the drawing of FIG. 28.
• the blower 75 as shown in FIG. 9 functions as an outer blower for the air flow path 58.
• the agitator 21 is composed of an agitating rod 31, an agitating blade, etc.
• the agitator 21 is an example of the rotating blade 59 shown in FIG.
• the agitating rod 31 is used to prevent the air flow from becoming too effective. This ensures that the ultraviolet light is irradiated for, for example, 5 seconds or more, and ensures that the viruses are inactivated.
• the motor 22 be configured so that it can rotate in both forward and reverse directions.
• an agitator moving device 35 can be provided to adjust the distance (gap d) between the cover wall 24 of the agitator 21 and the inner opening 6 of the inner cylinder.
• the agitator moving device 35 may be configured to move only the rotating shaft 23 in the vertical direction, or may be configured to move the entire motor 22 in the vertical direction.
• the agitator 21 of the air flow rate adjusting device 20 is provided facing the inner opening 6 of the inner cylinder 2, and it is preferable that the extending direction of the agitator rod 31 is the same as the extending direction of the inner cylinder 2.
• the rotating shaft 23 of the agitator 21 is disposed so as to substantially coincide with the central axis of the inner cylinder 2.
• the motor 22 is installed on the upper surface of the upper wall surface 11, and a rotating shaft 23 from the motor 22 is inserted into the outer cylindrical container 4, and a cover wall 24 and an agitator 21 are attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 23.
• the agitator 21 is composed of a bar or blade extending vertically or obliquely downward.
• the lower tip side area of the agitator 21 is in a state of being protruded into the inner cylinder 2 from the upper end of the inner cylinder 2.
• the rotation of the agitator rod 31 (fan) agitates the air and at the same time centrifugal force acts. This centrifugal force can send air.
• the length of the agitator 21 can be set to be 5% or more and 50% or less, assuming that the total length of the inner cylinder 2 is 100%.
• the length of the stirring tool 21 that is inserted into the inner cylinder 2 can be set to be 5 mm or more and 100 mm or less.
• the vertical gap d between the cover wall 24 and the inner cylinder 2 can be set to 5 mm or more and 100 mm or less.
• the device-side intake pipe 15 is provided so as to encompass the area of the outer cylinder container 4 where a plurality of communication ports 8 are provided below the bottom wall surface 12.
• a plurality of communication ports 8 are provided in a circumferential shape around the inner cylinder 2, so that the device-side intake pipe 15 has an intake chamber 18 that covers all of the communication ports 8 on the lower surface of the bottom wall surface 12.
• an apparatus-side exhaust pipe 16 is provided so as to be drawn out from the inner cylinder outer opening 7 toward the outside.
• the apparatus-side exhaust pipe 16 is provided so as to penetrate a wall surface 18h such as a side wall and a bottom wall of the intake chamber 18.
• the apparatus-side intake pipe 15 and the apparatus-side exhaust pipe 16 constitute an intake/exhale manifold 17.
• the apparatus-side intake pipe 15 is an example of the upstream-side connecting pipe 63 .
• the apparatus-side exhaust pipe 16 is an example of the downstream-side connecting pipe 64 .
• the rotating agitator 21 is rotationally driven to control the air flow rate of the air in the external tubular container 4 so as to satisfy the required irradiation time when the outside air is sucked into the external tubular container 4.
• the rotating agitator 21 often acts like an extremely low pressure turbine.
• a blower device 75 as shown in Figures 6 to 9 can be provided at a predetermined location of the air purifier 1.
• the communication port 8 is used as an inlet 32 for introducing outside air into the outer tube container 4, and the inner tube outer port 7 is used as an exhaust port 33 for the air after ultraviolet irradiation.
• the air that has entered the outer tube container 4 from the inlet 32 is irradiated with ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source 3, while being exhausted from the inner tube inner port 6 through the inner tube outer port 7, thereby inactivating viruses in the air introduced into the outer tube container 4.
• the applicant has irradiated a liquid culture medium containing SARS-CoV-2 with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 253.7 nm from a distance of 30 cm at an irradiance of 500 ⁇ W/ cm2 for 30 seconds, which resulted in a time-dependent decrease in infectivity (viral titer) and a 99.99% decrease in infectivity of SARS-CoV-2.
• the applicant has attempted to significantly shorten the irradiation distance of 30 cm and the irradiation time of 30 seconds, aiming for an irradiation distance of at least 10 cm, which is the length of the inner cylinder 2, and an irradiation time of 5 seconds or less. Therefore, according to this embodiment, in a configuration having multiple ultraviolet light sources 3, if the air residence time within the outer cylindrical container 4 can be achieved so that it can be irradiated for 5 seconds, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be inactivated.
• the values of 10 cm distance and 5 seconds based on this specified ultraviolet light source can be designed to achieve a more favorable degree of inactivation (a distance shorter than 10 cm or a time shorter than 5 seconds by improving the irradiation strength of the ultraviolet light source).
• the device demonstrates the ability to continuously inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the air on the inhalation and exhalation sides of a person in real time in accordance with the timing of the person's breathing.
• the present air purifier 1 has adjustment variables (parameters) that can optimize the conditions for inactivation.
• the adjustment variable is the rotation speed of the motor 22 of the agitator 21, and if necessary, the size of the gap (gap d) between the agitator 21 and the inner opening 6 of the inner cylinder can be included.
• the system is configured to effectively create air stagnation on the intake side and/or intake side so that air that may be contaminated with viruses is irradiated with ultraviolet rays for at least five seconds, thereby ensuring the residence time required for inactivation.
• it is possible to shorten the time required for inactivating the virus by increasing the intensity of the ultraviolet light source and the number of ultraviolet light sources.
• the conditions required for inactivation can be determined according to the characteristics and composition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, mutant viruses, or other viruses.
• the rotation of the agitator 21 generates a vortex 26 in which the airflow spreads from the center of the inner cylinder 2 of the outer cylinder container 4 toward the side (in the radial direction in the configuration shown in FIG. 30).
• This vortex 26 functions as a low-pressure air curtain that prevents air at the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 2 from entering through the inner cylinder inlet 6 at the upper end of the inner cylinder 2.
• an external swirling flow 27 is generated around the inner cylinder 2. The generation of the external swirling flow 27 can prevent the air from immediately rising and being sucked into the inner cylinder inlet 6 of the inner cylinder 2.
• the intake air sucked in from the communication port 8 becomes stagnant in the buffer zone on the side of the inner cylinder 2. As shown in FIG. 30 , this stagnant flow becomes an air buffer flow 28 that swirls vertically in the buffer zone, and prevents air from being sucked in through the inner cylinder inner opening 6 of the inner cylinder 2 .
• an inner cylinder swirling flow is also generated by the agitator 21 inserted into the inner cylinder 2.
• the strength of this vortex 26, outer swirling flow 27, and inner cylinder swirling flow can be controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the motor 22 and the gap d using the agitator movement device 35, which is provided as necessary, to control the basic flow of the air blower (not shown), and the residence time of the air in the outer cylinder container 4 can be precisely adjusted.
• reflective surfaces 5, 5a are formed on the inner surface of the outer tube container 4, so that ultraviolet light from the multiple ultraviolet light sources 3 provided around the outside of the inner tube 2 can be directed at the air, and ultraviolet light from the reflective surfaces 5, 5a can also be directed at the air inside the outer tube container 4, thereby increasing the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated per unit time, thereby offering the advantage of shortening the virus inactivation time.
• ultraviolet irradiation since there are two types of ultraviolet irradiation, namely, the first ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet light source 3 to the air present inside the outer cylindrical container 4 and the second ultraviolet irradiation by the reflecting surfaces 5, 5a, viruses can be strongly inactivated with a simple configuration.
• FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the air purifier according to the seventeenth embodiment. Note that, in Fig. 32, the components of the inhalation side inactivation unit 37 and the exhalation side inactivation unit 38 inside the external cylindrical container 4 are not visible, but are drawn with solid lines for easy understanding.
• Figure 33(a) shows a usage pattern of an air purifier that inactivates both inhaled and exhaled air
• Figure 33(b) shows a usage pattern of an air purifier that is only for inhalation
• Figure 33(c) shows a usage pattern of an air purifier that is only for exhalation.
• this air purifier 1 is equipped with an intake side inactivation unit 37 and an expiration side inactivation unit 38, and is used on both the intake side and expiration side of a person.
• This air purifier 1 alone is configured to inactivate viruses in real time in sync with a person's breathing (continuously in the intake and expiration of air).
• the intake-side inactivation unit 37 is an air purifier used to inactivate external air that may contain viruses as intake air for the user, and includes a mask 40 (one example of a human sealing part 41) with an intake port 42 and an exhalation port 43, and a human-side intake pipe 44 (human-side intake pipe) that connects the intake port 42 to the inner cylinder outer port 7 (exhaust port 33).
• the human sealing part 41 is a mounting member that can seal the face or head of a person from the outside, and examples of the human sealing part 41 include a full-face helmet in addition to the mask 40, or a member that seals at least the nose and mouth.
• FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of a helmet 51 as an example of a human sealing portion 41 other than the mask 93 and full-face helmet 94 shown in FIGS.
• This helmet 51 has a helmet part 52 that covers the head, a guard part 53 that seals the head to a predetermined degree when the user breathes, and a sealant 54 that enhances the degree of sealing of the guard part 53.
• this helmet 51 is configured to seal at least the nose and mouth areas of a person, and to be able to seal the person's face or head from the outside.
• the guard portion 53 is connected downwardly from the helmet portion 52 and is made of a transparent material that does not obstruct the user's field of vision.
• the sealing device 54 is composed of a string that seals the guard portion 53, for example around the user's neck, an elastic material such as rubber, etc., and is composed of a material that improves the degree of isolation between the external space and the internal space through which the user breathes when the user breathes.
• the guard portion 53 or the helmet portion 52 is provided with an intake port 42 and an exhalation port 43 .
• 36 can be used as the sealed part for other people 41, even if it does not have a helmet part 52, so long as it has a structure for isolating the external space from the internal space.
• it can be configured as a sealed face guard that seals at least the nose and mouth and isolates the external space from the internal space.
• the exhalation side inactivation unit 38 is an air purifier used to inactivate the user's exhaled breath, which may contain viruses, and discharge it to the outside, and has a mask 40 (an example of a human sealed section 41) with an intake port 42 and an exhalation port 43, and a human side exhalation pipe 45 (human side exhalation pipe) that connects the exhalation port 43 to the communication port 8 (inlet port 32).
• a mask 40 an example of a human sealed section 41
• an intake port 42 and an exhalation port 43 an example of a human sealed section 41
• a human side exhalation pipe 45 human side exhalation pipe
• the inhalation side inactivation unit 37 and exhalation side inactivation unit 38 can be housed in a case 39 (see FIG. 33(a)) as an air purifier unit, and can be adapted to move with the movement of the person.
• the air purifier unit can be attached to a bed or wheelchair, or can be mounted on a wagon, various types of carts, backpacks, etc. that can move with the movement of the user.
• FIG. 33(b) it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which only the intake side inactivation unit 37 is housed in a backpack to inactivate air containing external viruses.
• FIG. 33(c) a configuration may be adopted in which only the exhalation side inactivation unit 38 is used to inactivate viruses that may be contained in one's own exhaled breath.
• the intake side inactivation unit 37 and the exhaust side inactivation unit 38 of the air purifier 1 are provided with a motor 22 for the agitator 21, a battery (not shown) as a driving source for the ultraviolet light source 3, and a control unit (not shown) that controls the rotation speed and gap d of the agitator 21.
• the usage forms shown in FIG. 33 are not limited to the configurations according to FIG. 32, and may employ the configurations of the embodiments described in this specification.
• the air sucked into the buffer zone around the inner cylinder 2 swirls due to the rotation of the agitator 21.
• ultraviolet light is irradiated and viruses are inactivated.
• a low-pressure air curtain for fully inactivating the air is created by the rotation of the agitator 21, creating an airflow film that retains the air.
• the inactivated air then gradually descends within the inner cylinder 2.
• the degree of retention can be controlled by the rotation speed of the agitator 21 and the gap d.
• a user wearing the mask 40 inhales virus-inactivated air through the human-side intake pipe 44, and can safely inhale air even if viruses are present in the outside air.
• the intake-side inactivation unit 37 is a device for protecting the user from outside intake air that may contain large amounts of harmful viruses.
• the user's virus-contaminated exhaled air inside the mask 40 is sucked through the device side intake pipe 15 into the external cylinder container 4 of the exhalation side inactivation unit 38 via the human side exhalation pipe 45.
• the air sucked into the buffer zone around the inner cylinder 2 is then irradiated with ultraviolet light and inactivated.
• the air in the buffer zone is swirled by the rotation of the agitator 21.
• a low-pressure air curtain for fully inactivating the air by the rotation of the agitator 21 creates an airflow film, retaining the air, and the inactivated air gradually descends within the inner cylinder 2 and is finally exhausted to the outside from the device-side exhaust pipe 16.
• the exhalation-side inactivation unit 38 is a device for protecting people indoors or outdoors from viruses in the user's exhaled breath.
• the inhalation side inactivation unit 37 can continuously supply air in which viruses have been inactivated at all times, and the exhalation side inactivation unit 38 can constantly exhaust viruses contained in the user's exhaled breath to the outside in an inactivated state.
• the allocation of the air inlet 32 and the exhaust outlet 33 can be changed as appropriate, so long as the amount and intensity of ultraviolet light irradiated onto the air inside the outer cylindrical container 4 is sufficient to inactivate the target viruses.
• the communication port 8 is used as the air inlet 32, and the inner cylinder outer port 7 is used as the exhaust port 33.
• the communication port 8 may be used as the air exhaust port, and the inner cylinder outer port 7 may be used as the external air inlet.
• a blower 75 may be installed as necessary, and the rotation direction of the agitator 21 may be set to a direction that allows air to be sucked into the inner cylinder 2.
• Figure 34 is a schematic diagram showing the light emission from an ultraviolet light-emitting LED module as an example of an ultraviolet light-emitting element
• Figure 35(a) is a plan view showing an example of an ultraviolet light source in which an ultraviolet light-emitting element is attached to the surface of a support
• Figure 35(b) is a front view of the same.
• the light distribution angle of the light emitting portion 73h of the ultraviolet light emitting element 73 is often 90° or more and 120° or less. Also, the irradiation distance of the ultraviolet light emitting element 73 is often about 100 mm.
• an ultraviolet light emitting element 73 such as an ultraviolet light emitting LED module is used as the ultraviolet light source 3 extending parallel to the inner tube 2
• ultraviolet light emitting elements 73 when using ultraviolet light emitting elements 73 in an air purifier with reflective surfaces 5, 5a, it is preferable to arrange the ultraviolet light emitting elements 73 not only on the side facing the inner tube 2 but also on the side facing the reflective surfaces 5, 5a so that the air remaining in the outer tube container 4 can be irradiated with ultraviolet light reflected from the reflective surfaces 5, 5a.
• the support shown in FIG. 35 has a square cross section, the cross section may also be circular, triangular, or polygonal.
• ultraviolet light emitting elements 73 are provided on each side of the support 74, ultraviolet light can be irradiated almost evenly around the support 74, achieving the same uniformity as a cylindrical ultraviolet lamp.
• the inactivation rate of viruses is 99.99% or more. However, even if the inactivation rate is lower than that, the air purifier can be used as an air purifier for inactivating viruses.
• the likelihood of infection and onset of illnesses caused by viruses depends on the amount of virus that adheres to the mucous membranes of the throat, etc.
• the air purifier 1 shown in Figures 1 to 19, 28 to 31, etc. can be used in a wide range of applications for inactivating viruses present in the air, as shown in Figures 20 and 21.
• a configuration can be adopted in which the air purifier according to the present invention is installed in an inactivation treatment space (inactivation box) attached to a room where a user lives, etc., to achieve inactivation of viruses.
• a configuration can be adopted in which air is repeatedly passed through the air purifier as necessary.
• Figure 37 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the air flow path, where Figure 37(a) is a side view of the air flow path, Figure 37(b) is a perspective view, Figure 37(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view, and Figure 37(d) is a diagram showing a simulation of the air flow.
• the front-rear direction is the direction in which the air flow path extends, and is the direction indicated by X in the figures.
• the lateral direction (left-right direction) is the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and is the direction indicated by Y in the figures.
• the directions right and left indicate the direction as viewed from the direction in which the air travels.
• the up-down direction is the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the lateral direction, and is the direction indicated by Z in the figures.
• the air flow path 58 according to this embodiment is characterized in that a collision section 130 having an area larger than the cross-sectional area of the upstream connecting pipe 63 is provided at an upstream position in the air flow path 58 so as to face the inlet of the upstream connecting pipe 63, that a baffle plate section 131 is provided at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction behind the collision section 130 to make the air flow meander along the ultraviolet light source 3 without leaking, and that both the collision section 130 and the baffle plate section 131 are mirror-finished (ultraviolet light reflection processing).
• the ultraviolet light source 3 is provided at approximately the center position in the horizontal and vertical directions of the air flow path 58.
• the air flow path 58 is configured to be cylindrical, and the downstream connecting pipe 64 is provided on the right side surface on the rear side.
• the baffle portion 131a and 131b have recesses 141 and 141 (see FIG. 37(b)) corresponding to the shape of the ultraviolet light source 3.
• the outer edge of the baffle portion 131a is connected to the right inner circumferential wall of the air flow path 58 without any gaps, and the recess 141 is fitted into the right side surface of the ultraviolet light source 3.
• the outer edge of the baffle portion 131b is connected to the left inner circumferential wall of the air flow path 58 without any gaps, and the recess 141 is fitted into the left side surface of the ultraviolet light source 3.
• the fitting is performed so that the ultraviolet light source 3 is divided into approximately two equal parts on the left and right sides with a center line extending in the longitudinal direction of the ultraviolet light source 3 in between.
• This configuration forms a serpentine path for the air.
• at least two leakage prevention walls 133 are provided so as to extend inwardly of the upstream connecting pipe 63 and protrude therefrom in order to prevent ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source 3 from leaking out of the inlet of the upstream connecting pipe 63.
• leakage prevention walls 133 On opposing wall surfaces of the upstream connecting pipe 63, adjacent leakage prevention walls 133 in the front-rear direction are provided so as to protrude from different wall surfaces in a staggered manner.
• the leakage prevention walls 133 have an overlapping region in the center when viewed from the front-rear direction, so that the ultraviolet light is blocked by the leakage prevention walls 133.
• the leakage prevention walls 133 may be formed of a substantially semicircular plate or the like having an angle equal to or greater than 180°.
• the upstream connection tube 134 which is connected to the upstream side of the upstream connection pipe 63, can be bent in a specific direction, such as up, down, left, or right, so that ultraviolet rays do not escape in the direction of the air flow.
• a prevention section (not shown) that prevents ultraviolet rays from leaking out can be provided at the bent location. Examples of such a prevention section include a configuration in which the upstream connection tube 134 is mirror-finished, or a configuration in which an ultraviolet absorbing surface is formed. Note that the leakage prevention wall section 133 and prevention section can also be provided on the downstream connection pipe 64 side as necessary.
• Figure 37(d) shows the air flow in the air flow path 58 predicted by computer simulation.
• the collision part 130 By providing the collision part 130, the air flow that enters the air flow path 58 generates a mushroom-shaped backflow, and the backflow and the air flow that meanders due to the baffle part 131 can obtain the residence time required for inactivation.
• the ultraviolet light source 3 is sandwiched between the recesses 141 from two directions, making it possible to move the air flow near the surface of the ultraviolet light source 3 where the ultraviolet light intensity increases rapidly, thereby enhancing the inactivation effect. This effect is strengthened by the collision part 130, the baffle part 131, and the inner wall of the air flow path 58 having an ultraviolet reflective surface such as a mirror finish.
• the multiple reflection chamber 145 is configured to be connected in a meandering manner in the direction in which the air flow path 58 extends.
• the multiple reflection chamber 145 is an indoor space surrounded by two baffle parts 131 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, the inner wall of the air flow path 58, and the surface of the ultraviolet light source 3.
• FIGS. 38A and 38B are diagrams for explaining an embodiment in which a collision section 130 and a baffle section 131 are provided in a rectangular parallelepiped air flow path 58, in which Fig. 38A is a perspective view, Fig. 38B is a plan view, and Fig. 38C is a simulation diagram of an air flow.
• This air flow path 58 has, for example, a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 3 (two in the figure) arranged in a predetermined direction, such as the horizontal direction, in the air flow path 58.
• the collision section 130 is made of a rectangular plate larger than the area of the upstream connecting pipe 63, and the baffle section 131a located on the right side is made of a rectangular plate connected to the upper inner wall, right inner wall, and lower inner wall of the air flow path 58 without any gaps, and has an insertion hole 143a through which the right light source 3a passes and a recess 141 that fits into about half of the left light source 3b.
• the baffle plate portion 131b located on the left side is composed of a rectangular plate connected to the upper inner wall, left inner wall, and lower inner wall of the air flow path 58 without any gaps, and has an insertion hole 143b for inserting the left light source 3b and a recess 141 for fitting into approximately half of the right light source 3a.
• the collision portion 130, the baffle plate portion 131, and the inner wall of the air flow path 58 are mirror-finished. With this configuration, even if multiple ultraviolet light sources 3 are provided at predetermined positions such as above, below, left, and right, the residence time and ultraviolet light intensity required for inactivation can be ensured by appropriately configuring the baffle plate portion 131 having the insertion hole 143 and the recess 141.
• the residence time within the air flow path 58 can be ensured to be approximately 3 seconds, assuming the amount of air supply per unit time required for the mask section 40 described below, and it is expected that various mutated viruses, such as coronavirus mutant strains that are expected to occur in the future, will be inactivated even when a general ultraviolet light source is used.
• FIG. 39 shows another example of the configuration using the human sealing part 41
• Fig. 39(a) is a schematic side view of a user wearing a mask unit 140
• Fig. 39(b) is a schematic front view thereof
• Fig. 39(c) is a schematic rear view thereof
• Fig. 40(a) shows an intake side inactivation unit 37
• Fig. 40(b) is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the mask unit 140.
• the air flow path 58 disposed in the intake side inactivation unit 37 employs the configuration shown in FIG. 37 .
• FIG. 37 In the configuration shown in Fig.
• the human sealed portion 41 is composed of a mask portion 40.
• the mask portion 40 has an intake port 42 and an exhaust valve 136.
• the mask unit 140 has an air retention chamber 124 provided between the human intake pipe 44 and the mask portion 40, and a connection communication passage 125 that communicates between the air retention chamber 124 and the mask portion 40.
• the connection communication passage 125 can be not only a normal tube with a circular cross section, but also a tapered tube with a wide cross section on the air retention chamber 124 side and a small cross section on the mask part 40 side.
• the air retention chamber 124 is placed at the back of the user's head by a placement part.
• the placement part may be formed by a separate wearing tool (not shown).
• the placement part may also be formed by fixing the user's head by sandwiching it from the front and back between the mask part 40 and the air retention chamber 124 using the elasticity of the connection communication passage 125.
• the air retention chamber 124 has a connection hole to which the person-side intake pipe 44 is connected, and a pair of left and right air communication ports connected to the connection communication passage 125.
• the pair of connection communication passages 125 are connected to a pair of intake ports of the mask part 40.
• the user's exhaled air is exhausted from an exhaust valve 136 provided in the mask section 40.
• This exhaust valve 36 is configured to exhaust only the user's exhaled air while preventing the inhalation of air outside the mask section 40.
• a check valve can be used as such a valve.
• the mask part 40 is configured to inactivate only the exhaled air by the air purifier 1 having the air flow path 58, the user's inhaled air can be sucked into the mask part 40 from an inhalation valve (not shown) provided in the mask part 40.
• This inhalation valve is configured to prevent the user's exhaled air from leaking outside the mask part 40 while sucking only the user's inhaled air into the mask part 40.
• Fig. 41(a) is a side view of a mask unit 140 with such a configuration
• Fig. 41(b) is a view from the back.
• a human side inhalation pipe 44 and a human side exhalation pipe 45 are connected to the air retention chamber 124, and a total of four connecting communication passages 125 are provided, one pair on each side of the head, in order to send the inhaled air and the exhaled air corresponding to the human side inhalation pipe 44 and the human side exhalation pipe 45 to the mask part 40.
• the four connecting communication passages 125 are connected to the inhalation port 42 and the exhalation port 43 of the mask part 40, respectively.
• the air retention chamber 124 may be provided not only at the back of the user's head, but also connected to the mask part 40.
• Fig. 42(a) is a front view of such an articulated mask 144
• Fig. 42(b) is a rear view of the articulated mask 144
• Fig. 42(c) is a view of the articulated mask 144 worn on the user's head.
• this connected type mask 144 as shown in Fig. 42(c), only the inhaled air is inactivated, and two exhaust valves 136, which are check valves, are provided in the mask part 40, arranged vertically on the left side of the mask part as seen from the user's side.
• two exhaust valves 136 which are check valves
• the air retention chamber 124 of this connected type mask 144 has two finger-shaped pull-out parts 138 provided from a rectangular prism-shaped base chamber 139, which are respectively connected to the two intake ports 42.
• a connection pipe 137 is provided on the back side of the base chamber 139, which connects to the person's side intake pipe 44 (not shown).
• Fig. 43 shows an embodiment in which the human sealing part 41 is configured by a full-face helmet 94, not a mask part 40.
• an air retention chamber 124 is attached to the rear position of the full-face helmet 94.
• the human-side intake pipe 44 is connected to the air retention chamber 124.
• a pair of connection communication passages 125 extend from the air retention chamber 124 toward the inside of the full-face helmet 94, and an opening 125a serving as an inactivated air outlet of the connection communication passage 125 is located around the nose or mouth.
• a pair of exhaust valves 136 are provided below the pair of connection communication passages 125.
• connection communication passages 125 the number of connection communication passages 125, the number of exhaust valves 136, and the vertical relationship between the connection communication passages 125 and the exhaust valves 136 shown in Fig. 43 are merely examples, and are not limited to Fig. 43, and various configurations can be adopted.
• connection communication passage 125 shown in FIG. 43 has a tube shape, it may also be configured as a connection communication passage 125 that is integrated with a member of the full-face helmet 94 .
• a sealing device 146 is provided at the bottom of the full-face helmet 94 to seal the inside and outside of the full-face helmet 94.
• the sealing device 146 is often configured as a sealing means that seals around the neck of the user.
• the configuration in which the full-face helmet 94 is worn has the advantage that the full-face helmet 94 and the sealing device 146 can increase the degree of sealing and isolation from the outside, and the risk of the full-face helmet 94 coming off due to an external impact or being caught can be reduced compared to the mask part 40, thereby improving safety.
• the full-face helmet 94 can be provided with an air retention chamber part 124, although this is not shown in the figures.
• This air purifier uses the communication port as an inlet for introducing outside air into the outer cylindrical container, and the inner cylindrical outer port as an exhaust port for air after ultraviolet irradiation, and irradiates the air that has entered the outer cylindrical container from the inlet with ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source while discharging it from the inner port of the inner cylindrical container through the outer port of the inner cylindrical container, thereby inactivating viruses in the air introduced into the outer cylindrical container.
• the inner cylinder is configured as an inner cylinder provided at a central axis position of the outer cylinder container, and the reflection surface is formed on the inner surface of the outer cylinder container,
• the air purifier is characterized in that a plurality of the ultraviolet light sources are arranged at circumferential positions on the outer side of the inner cylinder.
• An air purifier characterized in that a plurality of the inlets are provided on an upper wall surface or a lower wall surface of the outer cylindrical container, and an air intake chamber is provided to cover the inlets.
• An air purifier characterized in that the inlet is provided at a position between adjacent ultraviolet light sources in a circumferential direction on the outside of the inner cylinder.
• An air purifier comprising an agitator moving device for adjusting the distance between the agitator and the inner opening of the inner cylinder.
• An air purifier characterized in that the axial length of the inner cylinder is shorter than the axial length of the outer cylinder container, and the agitator is provided in the space between the outer cylinder container and the inner cylinder.
• An air purifier wherein the agitator has a cover wall on the opposite side to the inner opening of the inner cylinder, the cover wall having approximately the same size as the inner opening of the inner cylinder.
• An air purifier used to inactivate outside air that may contain viruses as air inhaled by a user A human sealing part that has an intake port and an exhaust port for a person to breathe through the nose or mouth and seals at least the nose and the mouth from the outside;
• An air purifier comprising: a human-side intake pipe that communicates between the intake port and the exhaust port.
• An air purifier used to inactivate a user's breath that may contain viruses and discharge it to the outside
• a human sealing part that has an intake port and an exhaust port for a person to breathe through the nose or mouth and seals at least the nose and the mouth from the outside
• An air purifier comprising: a human-side expiratory conduit that communicates between the expiratory port and the inlet.
• This air purifier uses the inner tube outer port as an inlet for introducing outside air into the outer tube container, and the communication port as an exhaust port for air after ultraviolet light irradiation, and irradiates ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source onto air entering the outer tube container from the inner tube outer port through the inner tube inner port, while discharging the air from the communication port, thereby inactivating viruses in the air introduced into the outer tube container.
• An air purifier comprising: a holder that holds the ultraviolet light source; and a motor that rotates the holder around a central axis of the outer cylindrical container.
• Air purifier 2 Inner cylinder 3: Ultraviolet light source 4: Outer cylinder container 4a: Inner surface of outer cylinder container 5, 5a: Reflecting surface 6: Inner cylinder inner mouth 7: Inner cylinder outer mouth 8: Communication port 11: Upper wall surface of outer cylinder container 12: Lower wall surface of outer cylinder container 18: Intake chamber 20: Air flow rate adjustment device (an example of a residence time adjustment device) 21: Stirrer 22: Motor 24: Lid wall 32: Inlet 33: Exhaust port 35: Stirrer moving device 40: Mask section 41: Person-use sealed section 42: Inlet 43: Exhaust port 44: Person-side intake pipe (an example of a person-side intake pipe line) 45: Human side expiratory tube (an example of a human side expiratory tube) 56: First entrance (entrance) 57: 1st Exit (Exit) 58: Air flow path 59: Rotating vane 63: Upstream connecting pipe 64: Downstream connecting pipe 67: Reflecting surface 68: Adjusting valve (an example of

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• 2023
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