Humidifying tank

Abstract

The utility model discloses a humidifying tank, and belongs to the field of medical auxiliary instruments. The humidifying tank mainly solves the problems that a buoy of an existing humidifying tank is prone to being clamped in an unstable environment, sealing is poor, and leakage occurs. The humidifying tank comprises a tank body and a bottom plate, the tank body and the bottom plate are sealed and assembled through a sealing ring, the tank body is provided with an air inlet, an air outlet and a liquid inlet, a small buoy, a large buoy and a floating sealing assembly are arranged in the tank body, and the small buoy and the large buoy are hinged to a hinge seat close to one side of the liquid inlet. By means of the lever principle, the small buoy floats upwards to drive the floating sealing assembly to block the liquid inlet when normal, the large buoy plays a role when the small buoy breaks down, the liquid inlet amount is accurately controlled, and the stability and reliability of equipment are improved. The special structure of the floating seal assembly achieves double blocking, and the sealing effect is enhanced. The humidifying effect is optimized through the flow guide wall below the air inlet and outlet and the flow guide part on the large buoy. The hinge seat limiting part is convenient to install and prolongs the service life of components. The humidifying tank can stably operate in various environments, and reliable wet gas is provided for a patient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical auxiliary devices, and in particular to a humidifier that provides moist gas to patients. Background Technology

[0002] In the medical field, medical humidifiers are important devices used in conjunction with humidifier heaters. Their main function is to heat and humidify dry gas before delivering it to the patient. This process effectively reduces the irritation of dry gas to the patient's respiratory mucosa, protects the integrity of the respiratory mucosa, and simultaneously moistens the alveoli, enhancing their activity, thereby promoting gas exchange and improving the patient's respiratory comfort and treatment outcomes.

[0003] The working principle of a humidifier is based on automatic liquid control. Liquid is injected into the tank through the inlet pipe. When the liquid reaches a certain level, a float rises and seals the inlet to prevent overfilling. The liquid inside the tank evaporates under the heating of the humidifier heater, and the resulting humidified gas mixes with the gas delivered to the patient through the outlet. As the liquid in the tank continues to evaporate, the liquid level drops, and the float also drops, loosening the seal on the inlet and allowing the inlet pipe to continue injecting liquid into the tank. This achieves automatic control of the liquid volume inside the tank, ensuring that the humidifier can continuously and stably provide the patient with suitable humidified gas.

[0004] Currently, humidification tanks on the market have some design and usage issues. Common humidification tanks employ a structure of an independent small buoy and an outer large buoy, controlling the liquid inlet flow by having the buoy rise and block the inlet. However, in unstable environments (such as inside an ambulance), the small buoy may get stuck, leading to overfilling and affecting the safe use of the equipment. Furthermore, some humidification tanks use a float that can move up and down along its height, blocking the injection port by rising and falling, thus limiting liquid inlet when full and automatically replenishing when insufficient. However, this design only uses the top of the float to block the bottom of the injection port, resulting in poor sealing and a tendency to leak. Moreover, the independent small buoy floats suspended above the liquid inside the tank, and the guide pipe is perpendicular to the bottom of the tank. In turbulent environments, the small buoy may get stuck in the guide pipe, failing to effectively block the inlet. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a medical humidification tank that solves the problems of float getting stuck, poor sealing effect, and leakage in the prior art when the humidification tank is used in unstable environments. It enables stable and reliable control of the liquid inlet volume in various environments, ensuring safe use of the equipment.

[0006] This application provides a humidification tank, including a tank body and a bottom plate. The tank body and the bottom plate are sealed together by a sealing ring. The tank body has two air inlets and outlets and one liquid inlet. The tank body is provided with a small buoy, a large buoy, and a float sealing assembly located directly below the liquid inlet. The float sealing assembly can block the liquid inlet when the small buoy or the large buoy floats upward. The side of the tank body near the liquid inlet is also provided with a hinge seat. One side of the small buoy and the large buoy are both hinged to the hinge seat.

[0007] As some embodiments of this application, the hinge seat has a large pivot hole and a small pivot hole located below the large pivot hole; a small pivot is provided on one side of the small buoy; a large pivot is provided on one side of the large buoy; the large pivot is rotatably connected to the large pivot hole so that the large buoy is hinged on the hinge seat, and the small pivot is rotatably connected to the small pivot hole so that the small buoy is hinged on the hinge seat.

[0008] As some embodiments of this application, the small rotating shaft hole of the hinge seat is also provided with a protruding limiting part. The small rotating shaft is a cross shaft. The limiting part cooperates with the keyway part of the small rotating shaft to control the installation position of the small buoy, which facilitates the installation and positioning of the small buoy. At the same time, it limits the maximum displacement of the small buoy to prevent the sealing force of the float seal assembly on the liquid inlet from being too great, which would reduce its lifespan.

[0009] As some embodiments of this application, the floating seal assembly includes a sealing liquid column, a sealing liquid ring, and sealing liquid silicone. The sealing liquid column can be supported by a small buoy or a large buoy. The top of the sealing liquid column is provided with a tip. The sealing liquid ring is sleeved on the upper side of the sealing liquid column. The center of the sealing liquid silicone wraps around the tip. The outer side of the sealing liquid silicone wraps around the top of the sealing liquid ring, and an annular depression is formed between the sealing liquid column and the sealing liquid ring.

[0010] As some embodiments of this application, the sealing column further includes a top ring portion, which is a rod-shaped part protruding outward from the main body of the sealing column and located below the top tip portion; a sealing top groove is opened on the lower side of the sealing ring, and the top ring portion is located in the sealing top groove and can drive the sealing ring to move upward.

[0011] As some embodiments of this application, the sealing column further includes a large top float and a small top float, which are rod-shaped protrusions outward from the main body of the sealing column. The large top float is located below the top ring, and the small top float is located below the large top float. A small top column hole that mates with the small top float is provided on one side of the small buoy. When the small buoy rises, it drives the small top float to move upward through the small top column hole, and the small top float drives the sealing column to move upward to block the liquid inlet. A large top column groove that mates with the large top float is provided on one side of the large buoy. When the large buoy rises, it drives the large top float to move upward through the large top column groove, and the large top float drives the sealing column to move upward to block the liquid inlet.

[0012] As some embodiments of this application, a guide wall is provided below the air inlet and outlet of the tank; the top of the large buoy is provided with a guide part corresponding to the shape of the guide wall. After the dry gas enters the tank through the air inlet and outlet, it is guided by the guide wall and the guide part to fully contact the moisture in the tank and then flows out of the tank through another air inlet and outlet under the guidance of the guide wall and the guide part, so that the airflow is closer to the water surface, reducing gas turbulence and improving the humidification level.

[0013] As some embodiments of this application, a guide plate is also provided on the side of the guide wall away from the tank side wall. The guide plate is inclined and the side connected to the guide wall is higher. A keyhole-shaped groove is opened on the guide plate.

[0014] As some embodiments of this application, the small buoy has a raised buoy cavity at its upper end, and the large buoy has a clearance groove at its lower end to avoid the buoy cavity.

[0015] As some embodiments of this application, the small buoy has a small support leg on the bottom side away from the small pivot; the large buoy has a large support leg on the bottom side away from the large pivot.

[0016] One or more technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0017] 1. High Stability and Reliability of the Humidification Tank: This humidification tank employs a design where large and small buoys are hinged on a hinged base, operating based on the lever principle. In various environments, especially unstable environments such as those experienced by ambulances, this design significantly reduces the risk of buoy jamming compared to existing technologies where independent small buoys are prone to getting stuck. When the small buoy fails to rise normally due to an accident (such as transport damage), the large buoy promptly activates, causing the float seal assembly to block the liquid inlet, effectively preventing excessive liquid injection. After liquid evaporation reduces and the float seal assembly loosens, the liquid inlet can resume normal liquid intake. This cycle precisely controls the liquid volume within the tank, ensuring stable and reliable operation of the humidification tank, improving equipment safety, and reducing the risks associated with equipment use due to buoy malfunction.

[0018] 2. Strong Sealing Effect: The floating seal assembly adopts a structure consisting of a sealing liquid column, a sealing liquid ring, and sealing silicone. The sealing silicone wraps around the tip of the sealing liquid column in the center and around the tip of the sealing liquid ring on the outside, forming an annular depression between the two. When sealing the inlet, the central part of the sealing silicone seals the inlet hole, while the annular depression seals the lower edge of the inlet, achieving double sealing. Compared with the existing technology that relies solely on the top of the float to seal the bottom of the injection pipe, this greatly enhances the sealing effect, effectively reduces leakage, and further improves the safety and reliability of the equipment.

[0019] 3. Excellent Humidification: The tank's inlet and outlet are equipped with guide walls, and the top of the large buoy has a corresponding guide section. After entering the tank, the dry gas, guided by the guide walls and guide section, can fully contact the moisture in the tank and flow closer to the water surface, reducing gas turbulence. This design ensures a more thorough humidification process within the tank, improving the humidification level and guaranteeing the humidification effect of the output gas. This better meets the patient's needs, reduces the irritation of the dry gas to the patient's respiratory mucosa, and enhances the therapeutic effect.

[0020] 4. Easy installation and long service life: The small pivot hole of the hinge seat has a raised limiting part that cooperates with the keyway of the small pivot shaft on one side of the small buoy, facilitating easy control of the small buoy's installation position and achieving precise installation positioning. At the same time, the limiting part also restricts the maximum upward displacement of the small buoy, preventing excessive sealing force from the float seal assembly on the liquid inlet and extending the service life of components such as the sealing silicone. Furthermore, the small support legs at the bottom of the small buoy and the large support legs at the bottom of the large buoy provide cushioning and support, improving buoy stability and reducing the possibility of buoy damage during storage and transportation, ensuring the normal operation of the humidification tank.

[0021] 5. Convenient to use and rationally structured: An inclined guide plate is set on the side of the guide wall away from the tank body, and the guide plate has a keyhole-shaped groove. On the one hand, the guide plate can make the gas entering the tank more dispersed, increase the contact area between gas and moisture, and further improve the humidification effect; on the other hand, the keyhole-shaped groove can provide restraint for the connection of gas pipes, making it convenient to connect and fix the gas pipes, improving the convenience of using the humidification tank and the rationality of the overall structure. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the humidification tank according to an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the humidification tank according to an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the internal structure of an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal three-dimensional structure of an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the tank according to an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the tank body according to an embodiment of this application.

[0030] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Tank body; 11. Air inlet / outlet; 12. Liquid inlet; 13. Hinge seat; 131. Large shaft hole; 132. Small shaft hole; 133. Limiting part; 14. Guide plate; 15. Guide wall; 2. Bottom plate; 3. Sealing ring; 4. Small buoy; 41. Small top column hole; 42. Small shaft; 43. Small support leg; 44. Float cavity; 5. Large buoy; 51. Large top column groove; 52. Large shaft; 53. Large support leg; 54. Circumvention groove; 55. Guide part; 6. Float seal assembly; 61. Sealing liquid column; 611. Top part; 612. Top ring part; 613. Large top float part; 614. Small top float part; 62. Sealing liquid ring; 621. Sealing liquid top groove; 63. Sealing liquid silicone. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0032] Example 1: This example is a humidification chamber for medical auxiliary use, such as... Figures 1-8 As shown, the device includes a tank body 1 and a bottom plate 2, which are sealed together by a sealing ring 3. The tank body 1 has two air inlets / outlets 11 and one liquid inlet 12. Inside the tank body 1, there are small buoys 4, large buoys 5, and a float seal assembly 6 located directly below the liquid inlet 12. The float seal assembly 6 can seal the liquid inlet 12 when the small buoys 4 or the large buoys 5 float upwards. The tank body 1 also has a hinge seat 13 on the side near the liquid inlet 12. One side of the small buoys 4 and the large buoys 5 are both hinged to the hinge seat 13. Specifically:

[0033] The hinge seat 13 has a large pivot hole 131 and a small pivot hole 132 located below the large pivot hole 131; a small pivot 42 is provided on one side of the small buoy 4; a large pivot 52 is provided on one side of the large buoy 5; the large pivot 52 is rotatably connected to the large pivot hole 131 so that the large buoy 5 is hinged on the hinge seat 13, and the small pivot 42 is rotatably connected to the small pivot hole 132 so that the small buoy 4 is hinged on the hinge seat 13.

[0034] In this embodiment, the tank 1 is similar to some existing technologies in that its outer wall is transparent, so that the internal condition of the humidification tank can be observed in real time.

[0035] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0036] In this embodiment, when the humidification tank and heater work together, liquid begins to be injected through its inlet 12. As the liquid in the tank 1 gradually increases, once a certain amount is reached, the small buoy 4 rotates along the small shaft 42 and floats upward under the action of upward buoyancy. The upward movement of the small buoy 4 will drive the floating seal assembly 6 to move upward. When the floating seal assembly 6 moves to a specific height, it will block the liquid inlet 12, thereby stopping the liquid injection.

[0037] However, in rare unforeseen circumstances, such as damage to the small buoy 4 during transportation, preventing it from rising properly, the large buoy 5 will rise when the liquid level in tank 1 continues to increase to a certain height. Once the large buoy 5 rises, it can also activate the float seal assembly 6 to seal the liquid inlet 12, effectively preventing excessive liquid injection and ensuring the safe use of the humidification tank.

[0038] When the liquid in tank 1 decreases due to evaporation, the float seal assembly 6, which originally blocked the inlet 12, will move down and loosen, reopening the inlet 12 and allowing liquid to continue flowing in. This cycle repeats, achieving precise control of the liquid volume in tank 1. Throughout the process, the coordinated work of the small float 4, the large float 5, the float seal assembly 6, and the hinge seat 13 forms a stable lever. Utilizing the lever principle, this avoids the problem of the float getting stuck in the guide pipe due to shaking during unstable environments such as ambulance travel, which could cause the inlet 12 seal to fail. This greatly increases the stability of the humidifier, ensuring stable and reliable operation under various conditions. It effectively solves the problems that may occur when existing humidifiers are used in unstable environments, improving the safety and reliability of the equipment.

[0039] Example 2: This example is a detailed refinement of one feasible scheme for the structure of the humidification tank, based on Example 1. Specifically:

[0040] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 8 As shown, the floating seal assembly 6 includes a sealing liquid column 61, a sealing liquid ring 62, and a sealing liquid silicone 63. The sealing liquid column 61 can be supported by a small buoy 4 or a large buoy 5. The top of the sealing liquid column 61 is provided with a tip 611. The sealing liquid ring 62 is sleeved on the upper side of the sealing liquid column 61. The center of the sealing liquid silicone 63 wraps around the tip 611, and the outer side of the sealing liquid silicone 63 wraps around the top of the sealing liquid ring 62, forming an annular depression between the sealing liquid column 61 and the sealing liquid ring 62. During the process of sealing the liquid inlet 12, the central part of the sealing liquid silicone 63 will block the liquid inlet hole of the liquid inlet 12 under the push of the sealing liquid column 61. At the same time, the annular depression will block the lower edge of the liquid inlet 12 under the joint push of the sealing liquid column 61 and the sealing liquid ring 62, thereby achieving double sealing, further enhancing the safety and reliability of the equipment, and reducing the risk of adverse events.

[0041] A protruding limiting part 133 is also provided in the small rotating shaft hole 132 of the hinge seat 13. The small rotating shaft 42 is a cross shaft. The limiting part 133 cooperates with the keyway part of the small rotating shaft 42 to control the installation position of the small buoy 4. At the same time, it limits the maximum upward displacement of the small buoy 4 to avoid the sealing force of the float sealing assembly 6 on the liquid inlet 12 being too great, which would reduce the life of the sealing silicone 63. In this embodiment, the large rotating shaft 52 is also a cross shaft. Compared with ordinary rotating shafts, the cross shaft has better rotation performance and higher strength when used here.

[0042] The sealing column 61 also includes a top ring portion 612, which is a rod-shaped part protruding outward from the main body of the sealing column 61. In this embodiment, it protrudes symmetrically on both sides and is cylindrical, located below the top tip portion 611. A sealing top groove 621 is opened on the lower side of the sealing ring 62, and the top ring portion 612 is located in the sealing top groove 621 and can drive the sealing ring 62 to move upward.

[0043] The sealing column 61 also includes a large top float 613 and a small top float 614. The large top float 613 and the small top float 614 are rod-shaped protrusions from the main body of the sealing column 61. In this embodiment, they are cylindrical. The large top float 613 is located below the top ring 612, and the small top float 614 is located below the large top float 613. The small buoy 4 has a small top column hole 41 on one side that cooperates with the small top float 614. When the small buoy 4 floats up, it drives the small top float 614 to move up through the small top column hole 41. The small top float 614 drives the sealing column 61 to move up to block the liquid inlet 12. The large buoy 5 has a large top column groove 51 on one side that cooperates with the large top float 613. When the large buoy 5 floats up, it drives the large top float 613 to move up through the large top column groove 51. The large top float 613 drives the sealing column 61 to move up to block the liquid inlet 12.

[0044] Below the air inlet and outlet 11 of the tank body 1, there is a guide wall 15; the top of the large buoy 5 is provided with a guide part 55 corresponding to the shape of the guide wall 15. After the dry gas enters the tank body 1 through the air inlet and outlet 11, it is guided by the guide wall 15 and the guide part 55 to fully contact the moisture in the tank body 1. Then, under the guidance of the guide wall 15 and the guide part 55, it flows out of the tank body 1 from the other air inlet and outlet 11, so that the airflow is closer to the water surface in the tank body 1, reducing gas turbulence, improving the humidification level, and ensuring the humidification effect of the gas.

[0045] A guide plate 14 is also provided on the side of the guide wall 15 away from the side wall of the tank 1. The guide plate 14 is inclined, with the side connected to the guide wall 15 being higher. A keyhole-shaped groove is opened on the guide plate 14. The guide plate 14 can not only make the gas entering the tank 1 more dispersed, but also provide constraint for the connection of the gas pipe.

[0046] The small buoy 4 has a raised buoy cavity 44 at its upper end to provide sufficient buoyancy, and the large buoy 5 has a clearance groove 54 at its lower end to avoid the buoy cavity 44, so that the small buoy 4 can operate independently.

[0047] The small buoy 4 has a small support leg 43 on the bottom side away from the small pivot 42, which serves as a buffer and support, improves the stability of the small buoy 4 and prevents the small buoy 4 from being damaged during storage and transportation; the large buoy 5 has a large support leg 53 on the bottom side away from the large pivot 52, which improves the stability and lifespan of the large buoy 5, and at the same time makes the liquid level required for the large buoy 5 to float higher than that of the small buoy 4.

[0048] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including both the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the invention.

[0049] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this invention and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A humidification tank, comprising a tank body (1) and a bottom plate (2), wherein the tank body (1) and the bottom plate (2) are sealed together by a sealing ring (3), the tank body (1) is provided with two air inlets and outlets (11) and one liquid inlet (12), and the tank body (1) is provided with a small buoy (4), a large buoy (5) and a floating seal assembly (6) located directly below the liquid inlet (12), wherein the floating seal assembly (6) can block the liquid inlet (12) by being driven by the small buoy (4) or the large buoy (5) floating upwards, characterized in that, The tank body (1) is also provided with a hinge seat (13) on the side near the liquid inlet (12), and one side of the small buoy (4) and the large buoy (5) are both hinged on the hinge seat (13); The floating seal assembly (6) includes a sealing liquid column (61), a sealing liquid ring (62), and a sealing liquid silicone (63). The sealing liquid column (61) can be lifted by a small buoy (4) or a large buoy (5). The top of the sealing liquid column (61) is provided with a tip (611). The sealing liquid ring (62) is sleeved on the upper side of the sealing liquid column (61). The center of the sealing liquid silicone (63) wraps around the tip (611). The outer side of the sealing liquid silicone (63) wraps around the top of the sealing liquid ring (62), and an annular depression is formed between the sealing liquid column (61) and the sealing liquid ring (62).

2. The humidification tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge seat (13) has a large pivot hole (131) and a small pivot hole (132) located below the large pivot hole (131); a small pivot (42) is provided on one side of the small buoy (4); a large pivot (52) is provided on one side of the large buoy (5); the large pivot (52) is rotatably connected to the large pivot hole (131) so that the large buoy (5) is hinged on the hinge seat (13), and the small pivot (42) is rotatably connected to the small pivot hole (132) so that the small buoy (4) is hinged on the hinge seat (13).

3. The humidification tank according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hinge seat (13) is provided with a protruding limiting part (133) in the small rotating shaft hole (132). The small rotating shaft (42) is a cross shaft. The limiting part (133) cooperates with the keyway part of the small rotating shaft (42) to control the installation position of the small float (4).

4. The humidification tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing column (61) also includes a top ring (612), which is a rod-shaped part protruding outward from the main body of the sealing column (61) and located below the top tip (611); the sealing ring (62) has a sealing top groove (621) on its lower side, and the top ring (612) is located in the sealing top groove (621) and can drive the sealing ring (62) to move upward.

5. The humidification tank according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sealing column (61) also includes a large top float (613) and a small top float (614). The large top float (613) and the small top float (614) are rod-shaped protrusions from the main body of the sealing column (61). The large top float (613) is located below the top ring (612), and the small top float (614) is located below the large top float (613). The small buoy (4) has a small top column hole (41) on one side that mates with the small top float (614). When the small buoy (4) floats, The small top column hole (41) drives the small top float (614) to move upward, and the small top float (614) drives the sealing liquid column (61) to move upward to block the liquid inlet (12); the large buoy (5) has a large top column groove (51) that cooperates with the large top float (613) on one side. When the large buoy (5) floats upward, the large top float (613) is driven upward through the large top column groove (51), and the large top float (613) drives the sealing liquid column (61) to move upward to block the liquid inlet (12).

6. The humidification tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, Below the air inlet and outlet (11) of the tank body (1) are provided guide walls (15); the top of the large buoy (5) is provided with a guide part (55) corresponding to the shape of the guide wall (15). After the dry gas enters the tank body (1) through the air inlet and outlet (11), it is guided by the guide wall (15) and the guide part (55) to fully contact the moisture in the tank body (1) and then flows out of the tank body (1) from another air inlet and outlet (11) under the guidance of the guide wall (15) and the guide part (55).

7. The humidification tank according to claim 6, characterized in that, A guide plate (14) is provided on the side of the guide wall (15) away from the side wall of the tank (1). The guide plate (14) is inclined and the side connected to the guide wall (15) is higher. A keyhole-shaped groove is opened on the guide plate (14).

8. The humidification tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The small buoy (4) has a raised buoy cavity (44) at the upper end, and the large buoy (5) has a clearance groove (54) at the lower end to avoid the buoy cavity (44).

9. The humidification tank according to claim 2, characterized in that, The small buoy (4) has a small support leg (43) on the bottom side away from the small pivot (42); the large buoy (5) has a large support leg (53) on the bottom side away from the large pivot (52).

Images