Indoor heating system, sauna, and indoor heating method

Abstract

To provide an indoor heating system enabling efficient circulation of air in a heated room.SOLUTION: An indoor heating system comprises a casing having an inlet for warm air, which is air in the room heated by a heat source installed at a predetermined location in the room and which rises and flows in, an outlet for the warm air, the outlet having a smaller area than the inlet, and an air flow path through which air flows from the inlet toward the outlet, wherein the outlet is arranged such that the warm air accelerated through the air flow path flows out along a ceiling of the room, and the warm air flowing out from the outlet reaches a wall of the room and flows downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to indoor heating equipment, saunas, and indoor heating methods.

Background Art

[0002] There are known saunas (so-called dry saunas) in which a hot air bath is taken in a room heated by a stove, and saunas (so-called Finnish saunas) in which "löyly" is performed by pouring water on a heat source such as a sauna stone installed in a sauna room to generate steam (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, in a sauna room, hot (or hot and humid) air heated by a heat source rises upward in the room and diffuses along the ceiling. In this case, layers of hot air and cold (or low-humidity and cold) air are formed near the ceiling. And there may arise a problem that the hot air hardly descends and it is difficult to warm the area near the feet. And such a problem can be said not only for saunas but also generally when heating a normal room by providing a heat source.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide indoor heating equipment that efficiently circulates the heated indoor air, and a sauna including the indoor heating equipment.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The indoor heating equipment according to one aspect of the present invention includes a housing having a warm air inlet through which warm air, which is the air in the room heated by a heat source installed at a predetermined location in the room, rises and flows in, a warm air outlet having a smaller area than the inlet, and an air flow path through which air flows from the inlet to the outlet. The outlet is arranged such that the warm air accelerated through the air flow path flows out along the ceiling of the room, and the warm air flowing out from the outlet reaches the wall of the room and flows downward.

[0007] A sauna according to one aspect of the present invention includes the above-described indoor heating equipment and a heat source installed at a predetermined location in the room.

[0008] Also, an indoor heating method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of allowing warm air, which is the air in the room heated by a heat source installed at a predetermined location in the room, to flow into the warm air inlet, and a step of allowing the warm air to flow out from an air flow path through which air flows from the inlet to a warm air outlet having a smaller area than the inlet. The step of allowing the warm air to flow out is to allow the warm air to flow out from the outlet such that the warm air accelerated through the air flow path flows out along the ceiling of the room, and the warm air flowing out from the outlet reaches the wall of the room and flows downward.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide indoor heating equipment that efficiently circulates the heated air in the room and a sauna including the indoor heating equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, those denoted by the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations.

[0012] An indoor heating equipment (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "this equipment") according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0013] This equipment is provided with at least one in a predetermined room 10, for example, like the housing A shown in FIG. 1. The predetermined room 10 may be a space used as a living area. Also, the predetermined room 10 may be a space prepared for a specific use, for example, it may include a sauna.

[0014] Further, the predetermined room 10 may be provided with a heat source h. The heat source h may be, for example, a stove or the like to be installed. For example, when the predetermined room 10 is a sauna, the heat source h may include a sauna stove or sauna stones.

[0015] Generally, when a heat source is installed in a room, the indoor air heated by the heat source (hereinafter referred to as "warm air") has a lower air density, becomes relatively lighter in mass than the surrounding air, and rises. The rising warm air diffuses into the room along the ceiling. Thus, the warm air tends to stay near the ceiling of the room.

[0016] This equipment provides a mechanism for efficiently distributing the air heated by the heat source throughout the room by causing such warm air to flow downward or stirring the indoor air.

[0017] Hereinafter, as an example, it will be described assuming that the predetermined room 10 equipped with this equipment is a sauna.

[0018] A sauna is a heat therapy method in which a person enters a room (hereinafter referred to as a "sauna room") heated by a heat source to warm the body. The heat source may be, for example, a sauna stove or sauna stones. In addition, the heat source may include a heating device or a heating mechanism within the range used for a sauna. The sauna room is heated by the heat source to maintain the temperature inside the sauna room.

[0019] In addition, in order to increase the perceived temperature in the sauna room, for example, water is poured on the sauna stones of the heat source to generate steam, and the sauna room is brought into a high-temperature and high-humidity state (so-called "rouryu"). In a sauna using such rouryu, it is possible to apply the equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the housing A of this equipment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the housing A installed in a predetermined room 10.

[0021] The housing A is a duct-shaped structure having an air inlet and an air outlet, and is provided above a heat source h installed in a predetermined room 10 (hereinafter referred to as the "sauna room 10"). The housing A is provided with an inlet A1 for warm air h1, which is warm air heated by the heat source h, to rise and flow in. Further, the housing A has an air flow path through which the warm air h1 flowing into the inlet A1 passes, and is provided with an outlet A2 through which the warm air h1 flows out.

[0022] The heat source h may be, for example, sauna stones heated by a sauna stove. When water is poured on the heat source h, water vapor is generated. Therefore, the warm air h1 circulates in the sauna room 10 in a high-temperature and high-humidity state.

[0023] The area of the outlet A2 of the housing A is smaller than the area of the inlet A1. For example, the area of the outlet A2 may be 10% to 20% of the size of the inlet A1. And the air flow path of the housing A may become narrower toward the outlet A2. Thereby, a constriction flow of the warm air h1 flowing from the inlet A1 to the outlet A2 can occur. That is, an effect (so-called Venturi effect) in which the warm air h1 accelerates and progresses in the air flow path of the housing A can be obtained.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, in order to allow the rising warm air to flow into the inlet A1, the housing A is installed above the heat source h, and it is desirable that the inlet A1 opens toward the heat source h.

[0025] The outlet A2 may open in a direction along the ceiling. It is desirable that the outlet A2 is in contact with the ceiling or disposed at a position close to the ceiling.

[0026] The warm air h1 flowing out from the outlet A2 travels along the ceiling and, for example, changes its direction downward when it reaches the wall.

[0027] In this way, when the warm air h1 generated in the sauna room 10 passes through the air flow path of the housing A, it is accelerated by the Venturi effect, flows out from the outlet A2, and then collides with the wall and changes its direction downward. This prevents the warm air h1 from staying near the ceiling, and in the sauna room 10, it is possible to push down the layer of high-temperature and high-humidity warm air and low-temperature and low-humidity air. That is, it becomes easier for the user of the sauna to get warm up to near the feet.

[0028] The housing A may be provided near the wall so that the warm air h1 flowing out from the outlet A2 and traveling along the ceiling can easily change its direction downward.

[0029] For example, when the housing A cannot be provided near the wall, as shown in FIG. 1, a flow straightening plate a may be provided. In this case, when the warm air h1 collides with the flow straightening plate a, the warm air h1 changes its direction downward. Thereby, even if the warm air h1 does not reach the wall, a mechanism can be provided for the warm air h1 to change its direction downward.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a view of the sauna room 10 including the housing A as seen from the ceiling side. As shown in FIG. 2, the facility A may be arranged such that the outlet A2 faces the corner of the ceiling of the sauna room 10. Thereby, when the warm air h1 flowing out from the outlet A2 collides with the corner of the sauna room 10, it changes its direction downward and also changes its direction horizontally, generating an air flow that swirls in the sauna room 10. In this way, the housing A can also provide a mechanism for the warm air in the sauna room 10 to circulate horizontally.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a view showing variations (sauna room 11, sauna room 12) in which the housing A is installed in the sauna room 10. FIG. 3 shows views of the sauna room 11 and the sauna room 12 as seen from the horizontal direction (11a and 12a) and as seen from the ceiling side (11b and 12b), respectively.

[0032] In FIG. 3, the sauna room 11 includes a housing A provided with two outlets A2. As shown in 11b, for example, the heat source h may be installed closer to the side of the sauna room 11. And the outlets A2 of the housing A installed above the heat source h are directed toward the two corners of the ceiling on the side where the heat source h is installed. Therefore, the warm air h1 circulates in an air current as indicated by the arrows shown in 11a and 11b.

[0033] In FIG. 3, different from the case of the sauna room 11, as shown in 12b, the heat source h may be installed at the center of the sauna room 12. And the outlets A2 of the housing A installed above the heat source h are arranged to face the two corners of the diagonal of the ceiling. Therefore, the warm air h1 circulates in an air current as indicated by the arrows shown in 12a and 12b.

[0034] Next, referring to FIG. 4, the column B in this equipment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the sauna room 10 with the column B installed.

[0035] The column B is a columnar equipment installed at a predetermined position in the sauna room 10. The column B may be a circular column or a square column.

[0036] The column B may be installed, for example, in the sauna room 10 so as to be located in the advancing direction of the warm air h1. In the case of FIG. 4, the warm air h1 flowing out from the outlet A2 and changing its direction horizontally collides with the column B.

[0037] When the warm air h1 collides with the column B, a vortex B1 of the warm air h1 is generated behind the column B. Such a vortex is called a Karman vortex.

[0038] The Karman vortex refers to the vortex generated behind an obstacle when an obstacle is placed against a flowing fluid (for example, air, water, etc.).

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, the warm air h1 flowing out from the outlet A2 collides with the column B, generating a Karman vortex B1. And the warm air h1 circulates horizontally in the sauna room 10 while accompanying the Karman vortex B1.

[0040] Thus, the column B is provided on the path of the warm air h1 traveling in the horizontal direction, and is a facility for generating the Karman vortex of the collided warm air h1. Thereby, the warm air h1 traveling in the horizontal direction in the sauna room 10 can circulate while accompanied by vortices, and a mechanism for stirring the air in the sauna room 10 can be provided.

[0041] Although it is assumed that the column B is a vertical column, it is not limited to this, and it may be a horizontal column.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing variations (sauna room 13, sauna room 14) in which the column B is installed in the sauna room 10. FIG. 5 shows, for the sauna room 13 and the sauna room 14, a view seen from the horizontal direction (13a and 14a) and a view seen from the ceiling side (13b and 14b), respectively.

[0043] In FIG. 5, in the sauna room 13, similar to the sauna room 11 in FIG. 3, the housing A is installed. As shown in 13a and 13b, the column B is installed at the advancing direction of the warm air h1 flowing out from the two outlets A2, respectively. Therefore, the warm air h1 circulates while accompanied by the Karman vortex B1 in an air flow as indicated by the arrow shown in 13b.

[0044] In FIG. 5, in the sauna room 14, similar to the sauna room 12 in FIG. 3, the housing A is installed. As shown in 14b, since the warm air h1 collides with the two corners of the ceiling of the sauna room 10, four horizontal air flows of the warm air h1 can be generated. And the four columns B may be arranged at the advancing direction of the warm air h1 circulating in each direction. Therefore, the warm air h1 circulates while accompanied by the Karman vortex B1 in an air flow as indicated by the arrow shown in 14b.

[0045] Also, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the warm air h1 flowing out from the outlet A2 collides with the wall and circulates in the horizontal direction, a fairing plate I that rounds the corners of the room in the sauna room 10 may be provided.

[0046] The straightening plates (i) may be installed at each corner of the sauna room (10), or may be installed in only a few locations.

[0047] 6B is a diagram showing the corners of the sauna room 10 where the airflow rectifying plate I is installed, viewed from the horizontal direction. The airflow rectifying plate I does not have to round all corners of the sauna room 10 from the ceiling to the floor. In other words, as shown in FIG. 6B, for example, the corners may be rounded in the area where the hot air h1 may collide.

[0048] This allows the warm air h1 circulating in the sauna room 10 to change direction more smoothly in the horizontal direction.

[0049] Furthermore, the sauna room 10 may be provided with a straightening plate U, as shown in Figure 6B. The straightening plate U restricts, for example, the flow of warm air h1 flowing out of the outlet A2 that collides with the wall ahead and moves backward (i.e., the airflow returning toward the outlet A2). In the case of Figure 6B, the straightening plate U restricts the flow of some of the warm air h1 flowing out of the outlet A2 that moves in the opposite direction and sneaks under the outlet A2. This makes it possible to restrict the flow of warm air that does not circulate horizontally.

[0050] Also, a straightening plate E may be attached as shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a straightening plate E is attached to a sauna room 10. In the case of Figure 7, the straightening plate E is attached to the edge of the inlet A1 of the housing A.

[0051] The straightening plate D is a straightening plate that guides the rising hot air h1 generated by the heat source h to the inlet A1. This restricts the hot air h1 from leaking from the inlet A1, and allows the hot air h1 to be efficiently guided to the equipment A.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 8, the housing A may have a structure in which a small window is provided. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing small window O(1) and small window O(2), which are various types of small windows provided in the housing A.

[0053] As shown by O(1) and O(2) in Figure 8, the small window in the housing A has a structure that can be opened and closed. Small window O(1) shows the window in an open state, and small window O(2) shows the window in a closed state. In this way, the small window in the housing A is structured to create an air outlet in the housing A other than the outlet A2.

[0054] When the small window is in the state E(2), the warm air h1 that flows into the inlet A1 of the equipment A flows out only from the outlet A2. On the other hand, when the small window is in the state E(1), an air current is generated that expels the warm air h1 from the small window E(1), and the force of the air current of the warm air h1 flowing out from the outlet A2 weakens. In this way, the small window of the housing A has a structure that can be opened and closed, and it is possible to provide a mechanism for controlling the amount of air current of the warm air h1 circulating within the sauna room 10, for example.

[0055] The flow of heating a room using this equipment will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the time sequence of heating a room using this equipment. Note that the following description will be given assuming that the present invention is implemented using a sauna including this equipment, as an example.

[0056] First, hot air h1 is generated by the heat source h (S1) in the sauna room 10. The hot air h1 may contain steam generated by pouring water onto the sauna stones, which are the heat source.

[0057] Next, the generated warm air h1 rises, flows into the inlet A1 of the housing A, passes through the air flow path of the housing A, and flows out from the outlet A2 (S2). At this time, the warm air h1 passing through the air flow path of the housing A is accelerated by the above-mentioned Venturi effect, gains momentum, and flows out from the outlet A2.

[0058] Next, the discharged warm air h1 collides with the wall of the sauna room 10 or the flow rectifying plate A and flows downward (S3). As a result, in the sauna room 10, it is possible to push down the layer of high-temperature and high-humidity warm air and low-temperature and low-humidity air. Fig. 10 is an image diagram comparing a normal sauna room (a) and the sauna room (b) according to the present invention. In (a), the generated warm air h1 tends to stay near the ceiling, and an air layer of the warm air h1 and the low-temperature and low-humidity air c1 is generated above the sauna room. In (b), this layer is pushed down by the present equipment. As a result, for example, the user of the sauna room 10 can be warmed up to near the feet.

[0059] Then, a part of the warm air h1 that has collided with the wall changes its direction horizontally.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 11, the warm air h1 that has changed its direction horizontally collides with the column B provided in the traveling direction. As a result, the warm air h1 circulates in the sauna room 10 while accompanying the Karman vortex B1, and stirs the air in the sauna room 10 (S4). Thereby, the warm air h1 can be efficiently delivered to the user in the sauna room 10.

[0061] In this way, in the sauna room 10, the above-described S1 to S4 are repeated. In this case, by the present equipment, the sauna room 10 can be made such that the warm air h1 reaches near the user's feet, and moreover, a mechanism can be provided in which the warm air h1 circulates efficiently in the room. Thereby, the perceived temperature of the user in the sauna room 10 can be maintained. For example, the frequency of pouring water on the heat source h to increase the perceived temperature of the user can be reduced, and the room temperature drop of the sauna room 10 due to continuous pouring of water on the heat source h can be prevented. That is, the room temperature of the sauna room 10 can be maintained, and the quality of the sauna room becomes stable.

[0062] In the above-described embodiments, the main equipment and sauna according to the present invention may be configured to include some or all of the housing A, the pillar B, the rectifying plates a, i, u, e, and the small window o. The above-described embodiments are examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited only to its embodiments. Further, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from its gist. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can adopt embodiments in which each of the elements described below is replaced with an equivalent one, and such embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0063] 10, 11, 11a, 11b, 12, 12a, 12b, 13, 14, (a), (b) … predetermined rooms (sauna rooms), A … housing, B … pillar, a, i, u, e … rectifying plates, o(1), o(2) … small windows, A1 … inlet, A2 … outlet, h … heat source, h1 … warm air, c1 … air with low temperature and low humidity

Claims

1. Warm air, which is the air in the room heated by a heat source installed at a predetermined location indoors, rises and flows in, an inlet of the warm air, an outlet of the warm air, having an area smaller than that of the inlet, an air flow path through which air flows from the inlet to the outlet, comprising a housing having the above, the outlet is arranged such that the warm air accelerated through the air flow path flows out along the ceiling of the room, the warm air flowing out from the outlet reaches the wall of the room and flows downward, Indoor heating equipment.

2. When the warm air flowing out from the outlet reaches a corner of the ceiling, after the reaching, a column provided at a predetermined location in the advancing direction of the warm air is further provided such that the warm air with a horizontal air flow collides to generate a Karman vortex of the warm air. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 1.

3. Further comprising a first rectifying plate provided at a predetermined position on the ceiling of the room and having a surface facing in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction of the warm air. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 1.

4. Further comprising a second rectifying plate that rounds at least a part of a predetermined corner in the room. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 1.

5. Further comprising a third rectifying plate provided at a predetermined location in the room so as to restrict the air flow of the warm air flowing in the opposite direction of the wall among the warm air flowing out from the outlet and colliding with the wall of the room. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 1.

6. Further comprising a fourth rectifying plate that guides the warm air heated by the heat source and rising to the inlet. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 1.

7. The housing further has an openable small window, the position of the small window is between the inlet and the outlet, by opening the small window, the warm air flows out into the room from the outlet and the small window. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 1.

8. Further comprising a second rectifying plate that rounds at least a part of a predetermined corner in the room. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 2.

9. Further comprising a third rectifying plate provided at a predetermined location in the room so as to restrict the air flow of the warm air flowing in the opposite direction of the wall among the warm air flowing out from the outlet and colliding with the wall of the room. The indoor heating equipment according to Claim 2.

10. An indoor heating equipment according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, the heat source, comprising a sauna.

11. A step of allowing warm air, which is the air in the room heated by a heat source installed at a predetermined location in the room, to flow into an inlet of the warm air; A step of allowing the warm air to flow out from an air flow path through which air flows from the inlet to an outlet of the warm air, the area of the outlet being smaller than that of the inlet; comprising; In the step of allowing the warm air to flow out, the warm air is allowed to flow out from the outlet such that the warm air accelerated through the air flow path flows out along the ceiling of the room; The warm air flowing out from the outlet reaches a wall of the room and flows downward; An indoor heating method.

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