Air treatment device

Abstract

To provide an air treatment device capable of reducing the feeling of oppression.SOLUTION: An air treatment device 10 comprises a housing 23, an air treatment part 24, and a fan 25. The housing 23 has a first port 27 through which air flows. The air treatment part 24 is provided inside the housing 23. The fan 25 is provided inside the housing 23 and produces an airflow. The housing 23 is installed such that the first port 27 is exposed towards an installation space, and such that a second port 44 allowing air to flow between it and the inner wall surface of an embedding hole 13 formed in the wall surface 12 of the installation space is provided in the embedding hole 13. The airflow produced by the fan 25 flows through the first port 27, the air treatment part 24, and the second port 44.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present invention relate to an air treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an air treatment device that draws in air in a room through an air intake port, treats it, and exhausts the treated air into the room through an exhaust port.

[0003] Such air treatment devices come in a variety of types, including freestanding types that are placed on the floor of a room, and wall-mounted types that are attached directly to the surface of a room's wall. However, because they are placed inside the room, there is a risk that they may create a feeling of oppression for people in the room. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-176014 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an air treatment device that can reduce the feeling of oppression when installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The air treatment device of the embodiment includes a housing, an air treatment unit, and a fan. The housing includes a first port through which air flows. The air treatment unit is provided within the housing. The fan is provided within the housing and creates an air flow. The housing is installed so that the first port is exposed toward the installation space, and a second port is provided in an embedding hole provided in a wall surface of the installation space, allowing air to flow between the housing and the inner wall surface of the embedding hole. The air flow created by the fan passes through the first port, the air treatment unit, and the second port. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the embodiment, it is expected that the sense of pressure when installed can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of an air treatment device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of an air treatment device according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of an air treatment device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0010] In the following embodiment, the air treatment device is a device that performs air treatment of any one of sterilization, disinfection, sterilization, sterilization, deodorization, and deodorization by a predetermined method on the air circulating inside the air treatment device. In the following, the treatment of the air treatment device will be described as a disinfection treatment, but the disinfection treatment can be replaced with disinfection treatment, sterilization treatment, sterilization treatment, deodorization treatment, and deodorization treatment. In addition, the air treatment function in the following refers to any one of the functions of disinfection, disinfection, sterilization, sterilization, deodorization, and deodorization. In addition, the predetermined method here is light irradiation, photocatalysis, ozone, and the like. Light irradiation refers to irradiation with light of wavelengths such as the UV-C region, UV-B region, UV-A region, visible light region, and infrared region. Photocatalysis refers to suppressing the activity of bacteria, viruses, and odor sources floating in the air, or decomposing them into water and carbon dioxide, by active enzymes and OH radicals generated by irradiating light (ultraviolet light or visible light) to a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide arranged inside the air treatment device. Ozone oxidizes and deodorizes odorous components in the air and on the surfaces of objects.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows an air treatment device 10. The air treatment device 10 is installed in a recessed hole 13 formed in a wall surface 12, which is the installation surface of the room, in a space to be treated, and has an air treatment function for treating the air in the room 11. The recessed state here means that the air treatment device 10 is installed in the recessed hole 13 so that at least a part of the air treatment device 10 is located (exposed) on the room side from the installation surface. The installation surface of the room 11 may be any of a ceiling surface, a side wall surface, or a partition surface, and in this embodiment, it is described as a side wall surface. In the following, the ceiling surface, the side wall surface, and the partition surface are collectively referred to as the wall surface 12. The air treatment device 10 is installed in a recessed state in the wall surface 12, and at least a part of the air treatment device 10 is located (exposed) in the space of the room 11, which is one of two spaces facing the wall surface 12, where people stay.

[0012] The wall surface 12 is formed on the surface of the wall member 14 facing the room 11. Behind the wall member 14, which is the outside of the room, a back space 15 is formed within the wall. The back space 15 may be connected to a space behind another wall member 14, a space in the ceiling or attic of a room, or a space under the floor. In addition, when the wall surface 12 is formed of a concrete wall, such as in an apartment building, there may be no back space 15 behind the wall surface 12. The air treatment device 10 may be arranged so that at least a portion of it is located (exposed) in the back space 15.

[0013] The recessed hole 13 in the wall surface 12 is a hole for installing, for example, a wall outlet or a wall switch, and a power line for supplying AC power is wired through the recessed hole 13. The recessed hole 13 is opened in a substantially square shape when viewed from inside the room 11. Note that the recessed hole 13 is not limited to a hole for installing a wall outlet or a wall switch, and may be a dedicated hole opened for the air treatment device 10.

[0014] The air treatment device 10 includes an air treatment device main body 20 and an installation unit 21 for installing the air treatment device main body 20 in the embedding hole 13.

[0015] The air processing device main body 20 includes a housing 23 , an air processing unit 24 and a fan 25 disposed inside the housing 23 , and a power supply unit 26 disposed outside the housing 23 .

[0016] The housing 23 can be embedded in the embedding hole 13 of the wall surface 12, and is formed, for example, in a substantially rectangular or cubic shape. The housing 23 is a small housing whose front side as viewed from the inside of the room 11 is a rectangle such as a square, and whose one side is, for example, 100 mm or less. An intake port 28, which is a first port 27, is provided in the central region of the front side of the housing 23, and an exhaust port 29 is provided on the rear side of the upper, lower, left, and right peripheral surfaces. Inside the housing 23, an air processing unit 24 and a fan 25 are arranged in this order between the intake port 28 and the exhaust port 29.

[0017] The air treatment section 24 includes a photocatalytic filter 31 and an ultraviolet light source 32 that irradiates the photocatalytic filter 31 with light.

[0018] The photocatalyst filter 31 includes a support and a photocatalyst supported on the surface of the support. The support has a plurality of vent holes formed therethrough in the forward and backward directions along which air flows from the intake port 28 to the fan 25. The photocatalyst is titanium oxide or the like, which is applied to and held on the surface of the support (i.e., the surface that comes into contact with air) and supported thereon. The photocatalyst may also be supported on the plurality of vent holes. When the photocatalyst is irradiated with ultraviolet light of, for example, 360 nm to 420 nm UV-A wavelength components or visible light from the ultraviolet light source 32, it generates active enzymes and OH radicals, and the generated active enzymes and OH radicals decompose odor components in the air to deodorize or eliminate odors, or suppress the activity of bacteria and viruses floating in the air.

[0019] The ultraviolet light source 32 includes a light-emitting element that emits light that excites the photocatalyst supported on the photocatalyst filter 31. The light-emitting element is a photocatalyst excitation LED that emits at least light in the ultraviolet region of the UV-A wavelength component of 360 nm to 420 nm, or light of a visible wavelength component, to excite the photocatalyst supported on the photocatalyst filter. The ultraviolet light source 32 is disposed on both sides of the photocatalyst filter 31 in the front-rear direction. The ultraviolet light source 32 disposed on the front side of the photocatalyst filter 31 is disposed so as to irradiate light facing the peripheral portion of the photocatalyst filter 31. In the inner region of the ultraviolet light source 32 disposed on the front side of the photocatalyst filter 31, a circulation region is provided through which air flows from the air intake 28 to the photocatalyst filter 31. The ultraviolet light source 32 disposed on the rear side of the photocatalyst filter 31 is disposed so as to irradiate light facing the central region of the photocatalyst filter 31.

[0020] The air treatment unit 24 is not limited to a configuration including the photocatalytic filter 31 and the UV-A ultraviolet light source 32, but may also include an ultraviolet light source that is a sterilizing LED that emits ultraviolet light with a UV-C wavelength component having a peak wavelength of 300 nm or less for sterilizing air, preferably an ultraviolet light with a wavelength component of 200 to 280 nm, or may also include an ozone generator that generates ozone. The air treatment unit 24 may include at least one of the photocatalytic filter 31 and the UV-A ultraviolet light source 32, the UV-C ultraviolet light source, and the ozone generator, and may include multiple types or all types.

[0021] A centrifugal fan is used for fan 25, which draws in air from one side in the axial direction, i.e., the intake port 28 side, and expels the air from the circumferential surface. The air expelled from the periphery of fan 25 is expelled from exhaust ports 29 on the circumferential surface of housing 23.

[0022] The power supply unit 26 is connected to the rear side of the housing 23. When the housing 23 is installed in the recessed hole 13 of the wall surface 12, the power supply unit 26 is connected to a power line wired in the recessed hole 13 to input AC power, and converts the AC power into a predetermined operating power and supplies it to the fan 25 and the ultraviolet light source 32. The power supply unit 26 may be detachably arranged on the rear side of the housing 23 by a connector connection. In this case, the power supply unit 26 may be arranged in advance in the recessed hole 13, and electrically connected by a connector connection when the housing 23 is installed in the recessed hole 13. The power supply unit 26 may be arranged inside the housing 23.

[0023] The installation unit 21 also includes an embedding box 35 that is installed in the embedding hole 13, and a holding member 36 that holds the housing 23 of the air treatment device main body 20 in the embedding box 35. The embedding box 35 and the holding member 36 may be configured as an integrated unit (for example, the embedding box 35 and the holding member 36 are connected at least in part) or may be configured as separate units.

[0024] The recessed box 35 is substantially square box-shaped when viewed from the room 11 in accordance with the opening shape of the recessed hole 13, and includes a box section 37 with an open front side facing the room 11, and an edge section 38 that protrudes from the front end side of the box section 37 and abuts against the wall surface 12. A power supply housing section 39 that houses the power supply section 26 protrudes from the central area on the rear side of the recessed box 35. The recessed box 35 may be a wiring box that is compatible with, for example, two wiring devices or two wiring devices, or may be a dedicated box. In the case of a wiring box, the edge section 38 made of a separate member may be added.

[0025] The holding member 36 is attached to the inside of the recessed box 35, for example, via a plurality of supports, and holds the housing 23 relative to the recessed box 35. The holding member 36 includes a rectangular frame-shaped holding portion 40 that holds the periphery of the housing 23, and a wind direction control portion 41 that protrudes from the front end side of the holding portion 40 to the periphery.

[0026] A gap 42 through which air can flow is formed between the outer surface of the holding portion 40 and the inner surface of the embedded box 35. A circulation port 43 is formed between the rear end portion of the holding portion 40 and the back side of the embedded box 35, facing the discharge port 29 of the housing 23 and communicating with the discharge port 29 of the housing 23 and the gap 42, through which air can flow.

[0027] The front end side of the holding part 40 protrudes forward from the front end side of the embedded box 35 and the wall surface 12, and an airflow direction control part 41 is provided from this protruding position toward the periphery. The airflow direction control part 41 is provided approximately parallel to the edge part 38 and the wall surface 12 of the embedded box 35, and an exhaust port 45, which is a second port 44 that communicates with the gap 42 and through which air flows, is provided between the edge part 38 and the wall surface 12.

[0028] The outer periphery of the air direction control unit 41 is smaller than the outer periphery of the edge 38 of the recessed box 35, but it may be the same size as the outer periphery of the edge 38 of the recessed box 35, or it may be larger than the outer periphery of the edge 38 of the recessed box 35.

[0029] When the air processing device main body 20 is installed in the embedding hole 13 of the wall surface 12 using the installation unit 21, the housing 23 is installed in the embedding hole 13 of the wall surface 12 via a gap 42 through which air can flow between the housing 23 and the inner wall surface of the embedding hole 13. Furthermore, an air flow path 47 is formed that passes through the intake port 28 (first port 27), the air processing device 24, the fan 25, the discharge port 29, the communication port 43, the gap 42, and the exhaust port 45 (second port 44). The fan 25 creates an air flow in the flow path 47 from the intake port 28 to the exhaust port 45.

[0030] The front side of the housing 23 protrudes into the room 11 further than the wall surface 12 and also protrudes into the room 11 further than the air direction control unit 41 of the holding member 36, but it may be positioned approximately on the same plane as or behind the front side of the air direction control unit 41 of the holding member 36.

[0031] When the air treatment device 10 is operating, air from the room 11 is sucked in through the intake port 28 by the rotation of the fan 25, processed through the air treatment device 24, and then exhausted through the exhaust port 45 into the room 11 via the exhaust port 29, the communication port 43, and the gap 42.

[0032] In the air treatment unit 24, the photocatalytic filter 31 is irradiated with ultraviolet light, for example, UV-A wavelength components of 360 nm to 420 nm, or visible light, from the ultraviolet light source 32, and the photocatalyst in the photocatalytic filter 31 generates active enzymes and OH radicals. The generated active enzymes and OH radicals decompose odorous components in the air passing through the air treatment unit 24, thereby deodorizing and eliminating odors, and suppressing the activity of bacteria and viruses floating in the air.

[0033] The air exhausted from the exhaust port 45 is controlled by the air direction control section 41 to flow along the wall surface 12, and is diffused far away over a wide range. Therefore, even if the air processing device 10 is small and the intake port 28 and the exhaust port 45 are placed close to each other, it is possible to prevent the treated air exhausted from the exhaust port 45 from being taken into the intake port 28. As a result, the treated air exhausted from the exhaust port 45 is diffused into the room 11, and the air in the room 11 can be efficiently treated.

[0034] Furthermore, since the air treatment device 10 is embedded in the embedding hole 13 in the wall surface 12, it can be installed without giving a feeling of oppression to people in the room 11.

[0035] The housing 23 of the air treatment device 10 is installed in the recessed hole 13 in the wall surface 12 via a gap 42 that allows air to flow between the housing 23 and the inner wall surface of the recessed hole 13, so that the gap 42 can be used as part of the flow path 47 between the intake port 28 and the exhaust port 45.This makes it possible to install the housing 23 in the limited space of the recessed hole 13 and realize a small-sized air treatment device 10 that can treat air.

[0036] Furthermore, the air processing device main body 20 is not limited to being installed in the embedding hole 13 for use, but can also be used alone without being embedded in the embedding hole 13, and can be used by placing it on a table or the like. When the air processing device main body 20 is used alone, the air flow changes from when it is installed and embedded in the embedding hole 13 for use, and the outlet 29 of the housing 23 functions as an exhaust outlet 45 that exhausts air into the room 11.

[0037] When the electric processing device main body 20 is used alone, it can be used by connecting it to a socket installed on the wall surface 12. For example, it can be provided with a plug that is inserted into the socket from the rear side of the housing 23 or the power supply unit 26 and electrically connected, and the housing 23 is installed in a state where it is directly attached to the front side of the wall surface 13. Also, the power supply unit 26 may be installed in advance in a part of the socket, and the housing 23 may be installed in the socket so that the housing 23 side and the power supply unit 26 are electrically connected. Also, the power supply unit 26 protruding from the housing 23 may be disposed in the recessed hole 13, which is a socket hole from which the socket is removed, and the housing 23 may be installed on the front side of the wall surface 12. In this case, a socket for supplying power to other electric devices may be provided in a part of the housing 23.

[0038] Although the first port 27 is the intake port 28 and the second port 44 is the exhaust port 45, the direction of the air flowing through the flow path 47 may be reversed, and the second port 44 may be the intake port 28 and the first port 27 may be the exhaust port 45.

[0039] Next, a second embodiment is shown in Fig. 2. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description of the components and their functions and effects will be omitted.

[0040] In comparison with the air treatment device 10 of the first embodiment, the fan 25 is an axial fan that draws in air from one side in the axial direction, that is, the front side, and exhausts air to the other side in the axial direction, that is, the rear side.

[0041] An outlet 29 through which air is discharged from the fan 25 is provided on the rear side of the housing 23. The outlet 29 is in communication with a communication port 43, a gap 42, and an exhaust port 45.

[0042] A partition wall may be provided between the rear side of the housing 23 and the power supply unit 26 to separate them and to guide the air discharged from the discharge port 29 to the communication port 43 .

[0043] Next, a third embodiment is shown in Fig. 3. Note that the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description of the components and the effects thereof will be omitted.

[0044] The air treatment unit 24 in the housing 23 is equipped with an ozone generator 50 that generates ozone. The ozone generator 50 generates ozone by a silent discharge method, an electrolysis method, an ultraviolet lamp method, or the like. For example, in the silent discharge method, a dielectric is provided between parallel electrodes, and a silent discharge is generated by applying a high AC voltage between the two electrodes, and oxygen is converted into ozone by electrons generated by this silent discharge.

[0045] A partition wall 51 is provided inside the housing 23 to separate the areas downstream of the ozone generator 50, and a first fan 25a and a second fan 25b, which are fans 25, are disposed in each area separated by this partition wall 51. Furthermore, a first outlet 29a and a second outlet 29b, which are outlets 29 communicating with each area separated by the partition wall 51, are provided on the rear side inside the housing 23.

[0046] The recessed box 35 is provided with an opening 52 that communicates between the second discharge port 29b of the housing 23 and the rear space 15. A partition wall, a ventilation passage, and the like are provided in the recessed box 35 so that the first discharge port 29a of the housing 23 communicates only with the communication port 43 that communicates with the gap 42, and the second discharge port 29b of the housing 23 communicates only with the opening 52 that communicates with the rear space 15.

[0047] A first flow path 47a is formed, which is an air flow path 47 passing through the intake port 28, which is the first port 27, the air processing unit 24, the first fan 25a, the first discharge port 29a, the communication port 43, the gap 42, and the exhaust port 45, which is the second port 44. By the rotation of the first fan 25a, an air flow from the intake port 28 to the exhaust port 45 is created in the first flow path 47a.

[0048] A second flow path 47b is formed through which air flows through the intake port 28 (first port 27), the air processing unit 24, the second fan 25b, the second discharge port 29b, the opening 52, and the rear space 15. Rotation of the second fan 25b creates an air flow in the second flow path 47b from the intake port 28 toward the second discharge port 29b.

[0049] The rotation speeds of the first fan 25a and the second fan 25b are controlled by PWM control or the like by a control unit included in the air treatment device 10, thereby varying the amount of ozone discharged into the room 11 through the first flow path 47a and the amount discharged into the back space 15 through the second flow path 47b, and varying the ratio of each discharge amount. This variation may be either switching between 0% and 100%, or switching stepwise or continuously. Furthermore, this variation may be either manually set or based on information from a sensor or the like.

[0050] The operating modes in which the control unit controls the first fan 25a and the second fan 25b include a first operating mode in which only the first fan 25a rotates to release ozone only into the room 11, a second operating mode in which only the second fan 25b rotates to release ozone only into the back space 15, and a third operating mode in which both the first fan 25a and the second fan 25b rotate to release ozone both into the room 11 and the back space 15.

[0051] When an ozone concentration sensor for detecting the ozone concentration in the room 11 is provided, the control unit may variably control the rotation speeds of the first fan 25a and the second fan 25b based on information on the ozone concentration in the room 11. For example, in the first operation mode, the rotation speed of the first fan 25a may be variably controlled so that the ozone concentration detected by the ozone concentration sensor is, for example, 0.05 ppm or less, which exists in nature. In the third operation mode, the rotation speed of the first fan 25a may be variably controlled so that the ozone concentration detected by the ozone concentration sensor is, for example, 0.05 ppm or less, which exists in nature, and the ratio of the rotation speed of the second fan 25b to the rotation speed of the first fan 25a may be relatively variably controlled so that the ozone discharged into the back space 15 is reduced when the ozone discharged into the room 11 is increased, and the ozone discharged into the back space 15 is increased when the ozone discharged into the room 11 is reduced. The ozone concentration in the room 11 may also be varied using information from a brightness sensor, a human sensor, or the like.

[0052] Further, a communication port 43 with the gap 42 provided by the holding member 36 communicates only with the first outlet 29a of the housing 23, and does not communicate with the second outlet 29b. Further, the second outlet 29b communicates only with the second outlet 29b of the housing 23, and does not communicate with the first outlet 29a.

[0053] Also, an outlet 53 is provided on the back side of the power supply housing 39 of the recessed box 35, and the power supply unit 26 provided on the back side of the housing 23 has a plug that is inserted into the outlet 53. As a result, by inserting the housing 23 into the recessed box 35 from the front, the plug of the power supply unit 26 can be inserted into the outlet 53 and electrically connected, improving ease of installation.

[0054] Then, when the second fan 25b rotates, ozone generated by the ozone generator 50 is supplied to the air flowing through the second flow path 47b and released into the back space 15, which is expected to have the effect of reducing pests such as termites, mites, and cockroaches in the back space 15. This is because, for example, the ozone released into the back space 15 deodorizes the pheromones of pests, thereby disrupting the reproduction activity of the pests and reducing the number of pests.

[0055] Then, when the second fan 25b rotates, ozone generated by the ozone generator 50 is supplied to the air flowing through the second flow path 47b and released into the back space 15, which is expected to have the effect of reducing pests such as termites, mites, and cockroaches that exist in the back space 15. This is because the ozone released into the back space 15 deodorizes the pheromones of the pests, thereby disrupting the reproduction activities of the pests and reducing the number of pests.

[0056] In the second operating mode in which ozone is released only into the rear space 15, the ozone concentration in the room 11 is not affected, so the ozone concentration in the rear space 15 can be made higher than 0.05 ppm, thereby further enhancing the effect of reducing pests.

[0057] Alternatively, the number of fans 25 may be only one, and a flow path adjustment mechanism such as a shutter may be used to switch between the first flow path 47a and the second flow path 47b, or to vary the amount of air flowing through each of the flow paths 47a, 47b. In this case, the partition wall 51 may not be provided. Alternatively, the air treatment device 10 may be provided with only the second flow path 47b, that is, the air treatment device 10 may emit ozone only into the back space 15 of the wall surface 12.

[0058] Note that, although main body 37 of embedding box 35 and holding part 40 of holding member 36 are disposed between the inner wall surface of embedding hole 13 and the outer circumferential surface of housing 23, these may be omitted, and gap 42 may be provided by directly opposing the inner wall surface of embedding hole 13 and the outer circumferential surface of housing 23. In this case, embedding box 35 may be installed on the back side of wall member 14, and air direction control part 41 may be provided in housing 23.

[0059] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 Air Treatment Equipment 12 Wall 13 Embedded hole 23 Case 24 Air Processing Unit 25 Fans 27 1st mouth 44 2nd mouth 50 Ozone Generator

Claims

1. A housing having a first port through which air flows; an air treatment unit disposed within the housing; A fan provided within the housing to create an air flow; Equipped with the housing is installed such that the first opening is exposed toward the installation space, and a second opening is provided in an embedding hole provided in a wall surface of the installation space, allowing air to circulate between the embedding hole and an inner wall surface of the embedding hole; The air treatment device, wherein the air flow generated by the fan passes through the first port, the air treatment device, and the second port.

2. A wind direction control unit is provided to make the air flow at the second outlet flow along the wall surface.

2. The air treatment system of claim 1.

3. A housing having a first port through which air flows; an air treatment unit disposed within the housing and having an ozone generator; A fan provided within the housing to create an air flow; Equipped with the housing is installed in an embedding hole provided in a wall surface of the installation space such that the first port is exposed toward the installation space; The air treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the air flow generated by the fan passes through the first opening and the air treatment device and heads toward the rear side of the wall.

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