Fluid sterilizer

Abstract

To provide a fluid sterilizer which enhances a sterilization capacity by allowing ultraviolet light emitted from a light source (light emitting element) to appropriately enter a passage tube.SOLUTION: A fluid sterilizer includes a cylindrical passage tube 10 having a side peripheral wall 11 and a light source unit 20 including a light emitting element 21 disposed on the side peripheral wall and a base plate 22 on which the light emitting element is mounted, where a cutout region 14 is formed in the side peripheral wall of the passage tube along the passage tube in a longitudinal direction and the light source unit is housed in the cutout region. It is preferable that the fluid sterilizer further include a heat sink 50 disposed outside in a radial direction relative to the base plate of the light source unit and being in contact with an outer face of the base plate and a casing 60 that houses the heat sink. Furthermore, it is preferable that the passage tube further include a through hole 15 at a position where the light emitting element in the cutout region looks out, an ultraviolet transmitting window 40 disposed in the through hole, and a cyclic reflector 30 housed in the cutout region and surrounding the light emitting element.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid sterilization device.

Background Art

[0002] Various products are provided that sterilize a fluid (for example, a liquid for beverages or food raw material water, or various cooling water and washing water for factories) by irradiating ultraviolet light. As an invention related to this, a fluid sterilization device provided in a fluid flow path is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] The fluid sterilization device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a flow path pipe, a light source that irradiates water passing through the flow path pipe with ultraviolet light, and a housing that houses the flow path pipe and the light source. Further, a window portion that transmits ultraviolet light is provided on at least a part of the wall surface of the flow path pipe, and the light source is provided at a position corresponding to the window portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the fluid sterilization device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the light source housed in the housing is first fixed to the housing outside the flow path pipe, and further the housing is fixed to the flow path pipe. In such a structure, the number of assembly steps is large.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid sterilization device that can easily attach a light source unit (light emitting element) to a flow path pipe.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above-described problems, the fluid sterilization device according to the present invention is A cylindrical flow channel tube having a circumferential wall, A light source unit comprising a light-emitting element disposed on the side peripheral wall and a substrate on which the light-emitting element is mounted, Equipped with, A notched region is formed in the side circumferential wall of the flow channel pipe, along the longitudinal direction of the flow channel pipe. The light source unit is characterized in that it is housed in the notched region.

[0008] According to this aspect of the present invention, a notched region for housing a light source unit is formed in the side wall of the flow channel tube, so that the light source unit (light-emitting element) can be easily attached to the flow channel tube. Furthermore, since the light-emitting element is housed in a recessed space corresponding to the notched region, ultraviolet light emitted from the light-emitting element can be incident into the inside of the flow channel tube without leakage.

[0009] Furthermore, the fluid sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is A heat sink is disposed radially outward from the substrate of the light source unit and is in contact with the outer surface of the substrate, A housing for the heat sink, It is preferable to further include the following.

[0010] According to this aspect of the present invention, the heat sink can be brought into contact with the outer surface of the substrate of the light source unit, and the heat sink can be housed in a casing. Therefore, according to this aspect of the present invention, the fluid sterilization device can be miniaturized, and the heat generated in the light source unit can be properly dissipated.

[0011] Furthermore, in the fluid sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, The flow channel has a through hole in the position facing the light-emitting element in the notched region. A UV light transmission window portion provided in the through hole, An annular reflector is housed in the aforementioned notched region and surrounds the light-emitting element, It is preferable to further include the following.

[0012] According to this aspect of the present invention, a through-hole is formed in the notched region of the flow channel tube at a position facing the light-emitting element, allowing the light source unit, reflector, and ultraviolet light transmission window to be housed in the notched region. As a result, the light-emitting element, reflector, and ultraviolet light transmission window are located further inside the flow channel tube. This makes it possible to further miniaturize the fluid sterilization device and to further improve the incidence efficiency of ultraviolet light emitted from the light-emitting element into the flow channel tube.

[0013] Furthermore, in the fluid sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, The system comprises multiple light-emitting elements, reflectors, and ultraviolet light-transmitting windows. The flow channel pipe has a plurality of through holes, A first through-hole is provided at a first position on the side circumferential wall of the flow channel pipe, In the side circumferential wall, a second through-hole is provided at a second position located a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction from the first position. At least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements, at least one of the plurality of reflectors, and at least one of the plurality of ultraviolet light-transmitting window portions face the first through-hole, It is preferable that other light-emitting elements among the plurality of light-emitting elements, other reflectors among the plurality of reflectors, and other ultraviolet light-transmitting windows among the plurality of ultraviolet light-transmitting windows face the second through-hole.

[0014] According to this aspect of the present invention, ultraviolet light can be irradiated onto the flowing water from multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the flow channel. As a result, the sterilization ability can be further enhanced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, a fluid sterilization device can be provided in which a light source unit (light-emitting element) can be easily attached to a flow channel tube. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1]Vertical cross-sectional view of a fluid sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Exploded perspective view of the fluid sterilization device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Exploded perspective view of the fluid sterilization device according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] (a) Perspective view of a fluid sterilization device according to a modification, (b) Cross-sectional view of a fluid sterilization device according to a modification. [Figure 5] Vertical cross-sectional view of a fluid sterilization device according to another modification.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, a fluid sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the fluid sterilization device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fluid sterilization device 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid sterilization device 1 viewed from the obliquely lower side. Further, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid sterilization device 1 viewed from the obliquely upper side.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fluid sterilization device 1 according to this embodiment includes a flow path tube 10 through which a fluid flows, a light source unit 20, a reflector 30, an ultraviolet light transmission window portion (for example, quartz glass) 40, a heat sink 50, a housing 60, and the like.

[0019] The flow path tube 10 of this embodiment is a tubular member having a side peripheral wall 11. The flow path tube 10 has a straight tube form (I-shaped) and further has opening ends (an inlet end 12 and an outlet end 13) at both ends opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, the fluid to be sterilized (for example, water) flows into the flow path tube 10 from the inlet end 12, circulates inside the side peripheral wall 11, and flows out from the outlet end 13. However, the form of the flow path tube 10 is not limited to this. Examples of other forms of the flow path tube 10 include an L-shaped form and the like.

[0020] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the flow channel pipe 10 of this embodiment includes a notched region 14 that runs along the longitudinal direction of the side circumferential wall 11 and is recessed radially inward of the flow channel pipe 10 (side circumferential wall 11), and a through hole 15 that penetrates the notched region 14 of the side circumferential wall 11. As will be described later, the light-emitting element 21 of the light source unit 20 faces the through hole 15 provided in the notched region 14.

[0021] In this embodiment, the flow channel tube 10 has three through holes 15, but the number of through holes 15 is not limited to this. Also, in this embodiment, the flow channel tube 10 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). However, the material of the flow channel tube 10 is not limited to this. Other materials for the flow channel tube 10 include resins such as perfluoroethylene propene copolymer (FEP) and perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), and metals such as stainless steel.

[0022] Next, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the light source unit 20 includes an element-emitting element 21 that emits ultraviolet light (for example, light having a peak wavelength in the range of 100 nm to 400 nm), a substrate 22 on which the element-emitting element 21 is mounted, and the like.

[0023] In this embodiment, the light source unit 20 is positioned opposite the notched region 14 of the flow channel tube 10 and is arranged to fit inside the notched region 14. As described above, the light-emitting element 21 faces the through-hole 15 provided in the notched region 14. As a result, ultraviolet light from the light-emitting element 21 enters the interior of the flow channel tube 10 (inside the side periphery wall 11) without leakage and irradiates the fluid flowing through the flow channel tube 10.

[0024] Since the light source unit 20 and heat sink 50 are positioned to fit into the notched area 14, they are less likely to shift position even during assembly before being fixed in the housing 60. Therefore, the assembly process of placing the light source unit 20 and heat sink 50 in the notched area 14 and clamping them in the housing 60 can be easily performed. Furthermore, while the flow channel 10 is cylindrical, the surface on which the light source unit 20 is positioned in the notched area 14 is formed as a flat surface. Therefore, the substrate 22 and heat sink 50 are easy to attach to the notched area 14.

[0025] The type of light-emitting element 21 is not particularly limited, but examples include semiconductor light-emitting elements such as LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and laser diodes. In this embodiment, three light-emitting elements 21 are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction, but this is not limited to this configuration. Furthermore, in this embodiment, one light-emitting element 21 faces one through-hole 15, but multiple light-emitting elements 21 may face one through-hole 15.

[0026] In this way, since the light-emitting element 21 is positioned to face the through-hole 15 of the flow channel tube 10, ultraviolet light emitted from the light-emitting element 21 can be safely injected into the interior of the flow channel tube 10 without any leakage. As a result, the efficiency of the ultraviolet light emitted from the light-emitting element 21 entering the flow channel tube 10 can be increased, thereby improving the sterilization performance.

[0027] Furthermore, since the light-emitting element 21 faces a through-hole 15 formed in a notched region 14 that is recessed radially inward in the flow channel tube 10 (side peripheral wall 11), the light-emitting element 21 can be positioned further inside the flow channel tube 10. Consequently, the substrate 22 on which the light-emitting element 21 is mounted is also positioned further inside the flow channel tube 10. As a result, the fluid sterilization device 1 can be miniaturized, and the incidence efficiency of ultraviolet light irradiated from the light-emitting element 21 (incidence efficiency into the flow channel tube 10) can be further increased.

[0028] Next, as shown in Figure 1, the reflector 30 is an annular member surrounding the light-emitting element 21. In this embodiment, the reflector 30 is located between the substrate 22 and the side wall 11 of the flow channel 10 and is housed in the notched region 14 of the flow channel 10. According to this embodiment, by providing the reflector 30, ultraviolet light from the light-emitting element 21 can be distributed so that it irradiates a desired range. As a result, the illuminance of ultraviolet light in the distribution range can be increased, and the sterilization performance can be further improved.

[0029] Next, as shown in Figure 1, the ultraviolet light-transmitting window portion 40 is sandwiched between the periphery of the through-hole 15 in the notched region 14 of the flow channel pipe 10 and the tip of the reflector 30. By sandwiching the ultraviolet light-transmitting window portion 40 between the periphery of the through-hole 15, which is housed in the notched region 14, and the tip of the reflector 30, the flowing water sterilization device 1 can be made more compact.

[0030] Next, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the heat sink 50 is positioned radially outward from the substrate 22 of the light source unit 20. More specifically, the heat sink 50 is in contact with the outer surface (the surface facing radially outward) of the substrate 22. The bottom side of the heat sink 50 fits into the notched region 14 of the flow channel tube 10.

[0031] By arranging the heat sink 50 in this manner, the heat generated by the light source unit 20 (light-emitting element 21 and substrate 22) can be properly dissipated, and the flowing water sterilization device 1 can be made more compact.

[0032] Next, the housing 60 is a cylindrical member that is installed around the flow channel pipe 10 (side peripheral wall 11). Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the housing 60 houses the heat sink 50 inside. The housing 60 in this embodiment is made of a resin such as polypropylene (PP), but is not limited to this.

[0033] In this way, by housing the heat sink 50 in a cylindrical housing 60, it is possible to prevent the heat sink 50 from detaching from the flow channel 10. Furthermore, the flow water sterilization device 1 can be made more compact.

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the foregoing description is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit it. The present invention may include modifications and improvements that can be made without departing from its spirit. Furthermore, the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[0035] In the fluid sterilization apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment, one notch region 14 is formed in the flow channel pipe 10, but a fluid sterilization apparatus 2 with a structure as shown in Figure 4 may also be used (hereinafter, the fluid sterilization apparatus 2 shown in Figure 4 may be referred to as a "modified example").

[0036] Here, Figure 4(a) is a perspective view of the fluid sterilization device 2 according to a modified example, and Figure 4(b) is a cross-sectional view of the fluid sterilization device 2 according to a modified example. As shown in Figure 4(b), in the fluid sterilization device 2 according to a modified example, notched regions 14, 34 may be formed at multiple locations in the flow channel pipe 10 (the notched region 14 and the notched region 34 are located at a predetermined distance apart in the circumferential direction of the side wall 11).

[0037] Hereinafter, the notched region 14 will be referred to as the first notched region 14, and the notched region 34 will be referred to as the second notched region 34. Furthermore, in the side circumferential wall 11 of the flow channel pipe 10, the location where the first notched region 14 is formed will be referred to as the first position, and the location where the second notched region 34 is formed will be referred to as the second position.

[0038] The positional relationship between the first notch region 14 (first position) and the second notch region 34 (second position) is not particularly limited, but in the modified example shown in Figure 4, the second notch region 34 is provided at a position rotated 90° clockwise from the first notch region 14, with the center of the side circumferential wall 11 as the origin.

[0039] Furthermore, a through hole 15 penetrates the first notch region 14. In addition, another through hole 35 penetrates the second notch region 34. Hereinafter, the through hole 15 that penetrates the first notch region 14 will be referred to as the first through hole 15, and the through hole 35 that penetrates the second notch region 34 will be referred to as the second through hole 35.

[0040] Furthermore, the first through-hole 15 faces the light-emitting element 21 (light source unit), the reflector 30, and the ultraviolet light-transmitting window 40. Also, the second through-hole 35 faces another light-emitting element 31 (light source unit) separate from the light-emitting element 21, another reflector 36 separate from the reflector 30, and another ultraviolet light-transmitting window 41 separate from the ultraviolet light-transmitting window 40.

[0041] The number of light-emitting elements 21 etc. (set of light-emitting elements 21, reflector 30, and ultraviolet light-transmitting window portion 40) provided in the first notch region 14 (first position) is not particularly limited. Similarly, the number of light-emitting elements 31 etc. (set of light-emitting elements 31, reflector 36, and ultraviolet light-transmitting window portion 41) provided in the second notch region 34 is not particularly limited.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(a), a heat sink 51 separate from the heat sink 50 is provided. The heat sink 50 makes thermal contact with the light-emitting element 21 (the substrate 22 on which the light-emitting element 21 is mounted), and the heat sink 51 makes thermal contact with the light-emitting element 31 (the substrate on which the light-emitting element 31 is mounted). In addition to the housing 60 that houses the heat sink 50, another housing 61 is provided to house the heat sink 51.

[0043] According to the modified configuration described above, ultraviolet light can be irradiated onto the flowing water from multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the flow channel 10. As a result, the illuminance of the ultraviolet light irradiated onto the fluid can be increased, further enhancing the sterilization ability.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in another modified example (fluid sterilization device 3) in Figure 5, control plates 120 and 130 having multiple small holes may be provided at the inlet end 12 and outlet end 13 of the flow channel pipe 10, respectively. [Industrial applicability]

[0045] The fluid sterilization device according to the present invention can be used, for example, in ultraviolet light sterilization devices, water purifiers, water heaters, water supply pipes, cooling water circulation devices, water dispensers, beverage dispensers, etc. However, its applications are not limited to these. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1… Fluid sterilizer 10…Flow tube 11... Side walls 12…Inlet end 13...Exit end 14,34… Notch region 20…Light source unit 21, 31… Light-emitting elements 22... Circuit board 30, 36… reflector 40, 41… Ultraviolet light transmission window section 50, 51… Heatsink 60, 61… cabinet

Claims

1. A cylindrical flow path pipe having a side peripheral wall; a light source unit including a light emitting element disposed on the side peripheral wall and a substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted; Equipped with a cutout region is formed in the side peripheral wall of the flow path pipe along a longitudinal direction of the flow path pipe, The light source unit is accommodated in the cutout area. Fluid sterilizer.

2. 2. The fluid sterilizing device according to claim 1, wherein the flow passage pipe is made of resin or metal.

3. 3. The fluid sterilizing device according to claim 1, wherein the cutout region is a recess that does not extend from the outer peripheral wall of the side peripheral wall to the inner peripheral wall.

4. The fluid sterilization device according to claim 1 , wherein a surface on which the light source unit is disposed in the cutout region is formed flat.

5. a heat sink disposed radially outward of the flow path pipe relative to the substrate and in contact with an outer surface of the substrate; 5. A fluid sterilization device according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink is arranged to fit into the cut-out area.

6. a heat sink disposed radially outward from the substrate of the light source unit and in contact with an outer surface of the substrate; The fluid sterilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a cylindrical housing that houses the heat sink and is provided around the side peripheral wall of the flow path pipe.

7. The fluid sterilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow passage pipe has a through hole in the cutout region at a position where the light emitting element faces.

8. The fluid sterilizing device according to claim 7 , further comprising an ultraviolet light transmitting window portion provided in the through hole.

9. 9. The fluid sterilization device of claim 8, further comprising an annular reflector received in the cutout area and surrounding the light emitting element.

10. the light emitting element, the reflector, and the ultraviolet light transmitting window portion are each provided in a plurality of portions, The flow passage pipe has a plurality of through holes, a first through hole among the through holes is provided at a first position of the side peripheral wall of the flow path pipe, a second through hole among the through holes is provided at a second position in the side peripheral wall, the second position being a predetermined distance away from the first position in the circumferential direction; At least one light-emitting element of the plurality of light-emitting elements, at least one reflector of the plurality of reflectors, and at least one ultraviolet light-transmitting window of the plurality of ultraviolet light-transmitting windows face the first through hole, Another light-emitting element of the plurality of light-emitting elements, another reflector of the plurality of reflectors, and another ultraviolet light-transmitting window of the plurality of ultraviolet light-transmitting windows face the second through hole.

10. A fluid disinfection device according to claim 9.

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