Air sterilization device

Abstract

To provide an air sterilization device that exhibits superior air sterilization efficiency and additionally enables efficient release of heat emitted from a light source into air via a heat sink.SOLUTION: An air sterilization device includes: a channel 2 allowing air to flow in one direction; a light source 5 that applies ultraviolet light L to the air flowing in the channel 2; and a heat sink 4 that releases heat emitted from the light source 5 into the air, the heat sink 4 comprising a bottom plate part 4a and multiple standing plate parts 4b erected in parallel from the bottom plate part 4a, allowing the air to pass between the multiple standing plate parts 4b, wherein the light source 5 is disposed between the multiple standing plate parts 4b while being thermally connected to the heat sink 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air sterilization device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, there is an air sterilization device that includes a UV light source that irradiates the air with ultraviolet (UV) light to sterilize the air, and a heat sink that dissipates the heat generated by the UV light source into the air (see Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] Specifically, Patent Document 1 below discloses an air purifying device comprising: a substantially L-shaped support member having a bottom and sides; a substrate arranged on the bottom; a light source arranged on the substrate and capable of emitting ultraviolet light; a heat sink having heat dissipation fins arranged on the sides; a substantially L-shaped heat pipe at least a portion of which is accommodated in a recess formed in the support member; and a cover covering at least a portion of the heat sink; wherein the bottom of the support member has a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface, the substrate is arranged on the first surface side, the side of the support member has a third surface connected to the first surface and a fourth surface located opposite the third surface, the heat sink is arranged on the third surface side, and the recesses are formed on the second surface side and the fourth surface side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-150324 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the substrate on which the light source is arranged and the heat sink are thermally connected via a heat pipe, which results in poorer thermal conductivity from the light source to the heat sink compared to when the substrate is directly connected to the heat sink.

[0006] Furthermore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the light source is positioned at one end in the direction of air flow, which results in uneven irradiation of ultraviolet light on air flowing away from the light source, resulting in reduced sterilization efficiency.

[0007] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide an air sterilization device that has excellent air sterilization efficiency and is capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated by a light source into the air via a heat sink. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A flow path through which air flows in one direction; a light source that irradiates ultraviolet light onto the air flowing through the flow path; a heat sink that dissipates heat generated by the light source into the air, the heat sink has a bottom plate portion and a plurality of standing plate portions standing upright in parallel from the bottom plate portion, and is arranged so that air flows between the plurality of standing plate portions; The air filtering device is characterized in that the light source is positioned between the plurality of upright plate portions and is arranged in a state of being thermally connected to the heat sink. [2] The air filtering device according to [1], wherein the light source is arranged in a state of being thermally connected to the bottom plate portion. [3] The heat sink is provided to extend in the one direction, The air filtering device according to [2], wherein the light sources are arranged in a line in the one direction. [4] The air sterilization device according to [3], characterized in that the plurality of light sources are arranged on the same surface of the same substrate and are thermally connected to the bottom plate portion via the substrate. [5] The flow path is constituted by a duct extending in the one direction, The air filtering device according to [1], wherein the heat sink is disposed inside the duct. [6] The air filtering device according to [5], wherein the inner surface of the duct is treated to absorb ultraviolet light. [7] The heat sink has a top plate portion that closes the gap between the plurality of upright plate portions on the opposite side to the bottom plate portion, The air filtering device according to [1], wherein the flow path is formed by the space between the bottom plate portion, the plurality of upright plate portions, and the top plate portion. [8] A light-blocking member is provided connected to both ends of a member that configures the flow path, The air filtering device according to [1], wherein the light-shielding member has a plurality of holes extending outward from both ends of the member. [9] The air filtering device according to [8], characterized in that the inner surface of the hole is treated to absorb ultraviolet light.

[10] The air filtering device according to [8], wherein the plurality of holes are provided at an angle from both ends of the member toward the side where the light source is arranged.

[11] The air sterilization device according to [1], wherein the heat sink is treated to reflect ultraviolet light on the surfaces between the light sources of the plurality of upright plate portions.

[12] The air sterilization device according to

[11] , characterized in that the heat sink is treated to absorb ultraviolet light on all surfaces except for the surfaces between the light sources of the plurality of upright plate portions.

[13] The air filtering device according to [1], wherein the heat sink is configured by arranging a plurality of L-shaped members, each including the bottom plate portion and the upright plate portion, in parallel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] As described above, the present invention provides an air sterilization device that has excellent air sterilization efficiency and is capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated by a light source into the air via a heat sink. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an air filtering device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the air filtering device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air filtering device taken along line AA shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a heat sink is arranged so that air flows between a plurality of standing plate portions. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air filtering device taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing ultraviolet light irradiated from a light source. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air filtering device taken along line BB in FIG. 1, showing ultraviolet light irradiated from a light source. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a heat sink having a top plate portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a heat sink made up of a plurality of L-shaped members. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which light blocking members are attached to both ends of a duct. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which light blocking members are attached to both ends of the heat sink shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the light blocking member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following description, the dimensions of the components may be shown at different scales to make them easier to see, and the dimensional ratios of the components may not necessarily be the same as in reality.

[0012] As one embodiment of the present invention, an air filtering device 1 shown in, for example, Figs. 1 to 11 will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the air filtering apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the air filtering apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the air filtering apparatus 1 taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a heat sink 4 is arranged so that air flows between a plurality of upright plate portions 4b. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the air filtering apparatus 1 taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing ultraviolet light L irradiated from a light source 5. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the air filtering apparatus 1 taken along line BB in FIG. 1, showing ultraviolet light L irradiated from a light source 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a heat sink 4A having a top plate portion 4c. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a heat sink 4B formed of a plurality of L-shaped members 40. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which light-shielding members 7 are attached to both ends of a duct 2. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which light-shielding members 7 are attached to both ends of a heat sink 4A. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the light-shielding member 7.

[0013] In addition, in the drawings shown below, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system is set up, with the X-axis direction being the length direction of the air sterilization device 1, the Y-axis direction being the width direction of the air sterilization device 1, and the Z-axis direction being the height direction of the air sterilization device 1.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the air sterilization device 1 of this embodiment includes a duct 2 that forms a flow path, a plurality of light source units 3 that irradiate ultraviolet light L onto the air flowing through the flow path, and a heat sink 4 that dissipates heat generated by the plurality of light source units 3 into the air.

[0015] The duct 2 is made of a cylindrical body made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. In this embodiment, the duct 2 is made of a cylindrical body that extends in one direction (the X-axis direction in this embodiment) and has a substantially square cross section.

[0016] The duct 2 may be made of resin, such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), or ABS. However, it is preferable to perform a durability treatment to prevent deterioration due to the ultraviolet light L. The duct 2 may also be formed of a cylinder with a substantially circular cross section, and the cross-sectional shape, length, outer diameter, etc. can be changed as appropriate.

[0017] The duct 2 forms a flow path through which air flows in one direction by circulating an airflow F of air blown by a fan (not shown) from an opening 2a on one end side to an opening 2b on the other end side.

[0018] The light source units 3 each have a plurality of light sources 5 and a plurality of circuit boards 6 for supplying power to the light sources 5. The light sources 5 are UV light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes (LDs) that emit ultraviolet light L. The circuit boards 6 have a flat plate shape extending in one direction. Each light source unit 3 has a configuration in which the light sources 5 are arranged at regular intervals in one direction on one surface of the circuit board 6.

[0019] The heat sink 4 is made of a material with high ultraviolet reflectivity and high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, and has a bottom plate portion 4a and a plurality of standing plate portions 4b that stand upright in parallel from one surface of the bottom plate portion 4a.

[0020] The heat sink 4 is disposed inside the duct 2, extending in one direction, so that air flows between the plurality of upright portions 4b.

[0021] On the other hand, the light source units 3 are positioned between the upright plate units 4b and are arranged in a state of being thermally connected to one surface of the bottom plate unit 4a. As a result, the light sources 5 are thermally connected to the bottom plate unit 4a (heat sink 4) via the circuit board 6.

[0022] In the air filtering device 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, the multiple light sources 5 located between the multiple upright plate portions 4b radially emit ultraviolet light L in a direction (upward in this embodiment) perpendicular to the circuit board 6. That is, the multiple light sources 5 are provided on the same surface of the same circuit board 6, and each emits ultraviolet light L radially in the same direction.

[0023] As a result, the ultraviolet light L emitted from each light source 5 is irradiated from the base end side to the tip end side of the standing plate portion 4b while repeatedly reflecting between adjacent standing plate portions 4b, as shown in Fig. 5. The ultraviolet light L emitted from each light source 5 is irradiated from the base end side to the tip end side of the standing plate portion 4b while overlapping with each other in one direction, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0024] As a result, the air filtering device 1 of this embodiment can efficiently sterilize the air flowing through the duct 2 by irradiating the air flowing between the plurality of upright plate portions 4b with ultraviolet light L. Furthermore, by arranging the plurality of light sources 5 in the flow path through which the air flows, it is possible to maintain illuminance in the flow path and increase the sterilization efficiency.

[0025] Furthermore, in the air filtering device 1 of this embodiment, the plurality of light sources 5 located between the plurality of upright plate portions 4b are thermally connected to the bottom plate portion 4a via the circuit board 6. This makes it possible to efficiently dissipate heat generated by the plurality of light sources 5 into the air via the heat sink 4.

[0026] Furthermore, in the air sterilization device 1 of this embodiment, in order to increase the efficiency of sterilizing air by ultraviolet light L, for example, the surfaces between the multiple light sources 5 of the multiple upright portions 4b that make up the heat sink 4 may be configured to be mirror-finished to reflect the ultraviolet light L.

[0027] Meanwhile, in the air filtering device 1 of this embodiment, the surfaces of the plurality of standing plate portions 4b constituting the heat sink 4, except for the surfaces between which the plurality of light sources 5 are arranged, may be subjected to anodizing or fluorine coating treatment that absorbs ultraviolet light L. Specifically, it is preferable that the surface be formed on the surface of the standing plate portion 4b of the heat sink 4 that faces the inner wall surface of the duct 2. This not only improves durability against ultraviolet light L, but also makes it possible to improve heat dissipation from the plurality of standing plate portions 4b.

[0028] Furthermore, the inner surface of the duct 2 may be configured to be anodized to absorb the ultraviolet light L. This makes it possible to increase durability against the ultraviolet light L. Also, the inner surface of the duct 2 may be configured to be fluorine coated to reflect the ultraviolet light L. This makes it possible to increase the utilization efficiency of the ultraviolet light L and improve the sterilization efficiency.

[0029] In the air filtering apparatus 1 of this embodiment, a heat sink 4A as shown in Fig. 7 may be used instead of the heat sink 4. Specifically, the heat sink 4A has a top plate portion 4c that closes the space between the plurality of upright plate portions 4b on the side opposite to the bottom plate portion 4a.

[0030] As a result, the heat sink 4A forms a flow path through which air flows in one direction by the spaces K between the bottom plate 4a, the plurality of upright plate portions 4b, and the top plate 4c. In addition, the surface of the top plate 4c facing the light source 5 may be subjected to a mirror finish that reflects the ultraviolet light L.

[0031] Furthermore, in the air filtering apparatus 1 of this embodiment, a heat sink 4B as shown in Fig. 8 may be used instead of the heat sink 4. Specifically, this heat sink 4B has a plurality of L-shaped members 40, each having a bottom plate portion 4a and an upright plate portion 4b, and these L-shaped members 40 are arranged in parallel. An I-shaped member 41, each having the upright plate portion 4b, is combined with one end of the L-shaped member 40.

[0032] This makes it easier to arrange the light source section 3 relative to the upright plate section 4b of each L-shaped member 40 in the heat sink 4B, and therefore makes it possible to simplify the manufacture of this air filtering device 1.

[0033] Furthermore, the air filtering device 1 of this embodiment may be configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, in which the light-shielding members 7 are connected to both ends of the duct 2, or as shown in FIG. 10, in which the light-shielding members 7 are connected to both ends of the heat sink 4A.

[0034] The light blocking member 7 is made of, for example, aluminum, has a plurality of holes 7a extending outward from both ends of the duct 2 and the heat sink 4A, and is attached to both ends of the duct 2 and the heat sink 4A.

[0035] In this embodiment, the plurality of holes 7a have a honeycomb shape. The plurality of holes 7a of the light-shielding member 7 have a light-shielding function that prevents ultraviolet light L from leaking from both ends of the duct 2 and the heat sink 4A, and a rectifying function that rectifies the flow of air flowing from one end of the duct 2 or the heat sink 4A to the other end.

[0036] The plurality of holes 7a are not limited to having such a honeycomb shape, and can be modified as appropriate. The light blocking member 7 is not limited to being made of metal, and can also be made of resin.

[0037] The inner surface of the hole 7a is treated with anodized aluminum, which absorbs ultraviolet light. This not only increases the durability of the light blocking member 7 against ultraviolet light L, but also makes it even more difficult for the ultraviolet light L to leak from both ends of the duct 2 and the heat sink 4A.

[0038] 11, the light-shielding member 7 may have a configuration in which the holes 7a are inclined from both ends of the duct 2 or heat sink 4A toward the side where the light sources 5 are arranged (the lower side in this embodiment), thereby making it even more difficult for the ultraviolet light L to leak from both ends of the duct 2 or heat sink 4A.

[0039] The present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the plurality of light sources 5 located between the plurality of standing plate portions 4b are thermally connected to the bottom plate portion 4a via the circuit board 6. On the other hand, the light sources 5 may be located between the plurality of standing plate portions 4b and arranged in a state of being thermally connected to the heat sinks 4, 4A, and 4B. Therefore, it is also possible to use a configuration in which the plurality of light sources 5 are thermally connected to the top plate portion 4c via the circuit board 6, or a configuration in which the plurality of light sources 5 are thermally connected to the standing plate portion 4b via the circuit board 6. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...air sterilization device 2...duct (flow path) 3...light source section 4, 4A, 4B...heat sink 4a...bottom plate section 4b...standing plate section 4c...top plate section 5...light source 6...circuit board 7...light-shielding member 7a...hole section 40...L-shaped member L...ultraviolet light F...air flow

Claims

1. a flow path through which air flows in one direction; a light source that irradiates ultraviolet light onto the air flowing through the flow path; a heat sink that dissipates heat generated by the light source into the air, the heat sink has a bottom plate portion and a plurality of standing plate portions standing upright in parallel from the bottom plate portion, and is arranged so that air flows between the plurality of standing plate portions; The air filtering device is characterized in that the light source is positioned between the plurality of upright plate portions and is arranged in a state of being thermally connected to the heat sink.

2. The air filtering device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is arranged in a state of being thermally connected to the bottom plate portion.

3. The heat sink is provided to extend in the one direction, The air filtering device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the light sources are arranged in the one direction.

4. 4. The air filtering device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged on the same surface of the same substrate and are thermally connected to the bottom plate portion via the substrate.

5. the flow path is formed by a duct extending in the one direction, The air filtering device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is disposed inside the duct.

6. 6. The air filtering device according to claim 5, wherein an inner surface of the duct is treated to absorb ultraviolet light.

7. the heat sink has a top plate portion that closes a gap between the plurality of upright plate portions on the opposite side to the bottom plate portion, 2. The air filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is formed by spaces among the bottom plate, the plurality of upright plate portions, and the top plate.

8. a light blocking member connected to both ends of a member constituting the flow path; 2. The air filtering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light blocking member has a plurality of holes extending outward from both ends of the member.

9. 9. The air filtering device according to claim 8, wherein the inner surfaces of the holes are treated to absorb ultraviolet light.

10. The air filtering device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of holes are provided at an angle from both ends of the member toward the side where the light source is disposed.

11. 2. The air filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink has a surface between the light sources of the plurality of upright plate portions that is treated to reflect ultraviolet light.

12. The air filtering device according to claim 11, wherein the heat sink is treated to absorb ultraviolet light on all surfaces except for the surfaces between the light sources of the plurality of upright plate portions.

13. 2. The air filtering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink is formed by arranging a plurality of L-shaped members, each of which includes the bottom plate portion and the upright plate portion, in parallel.

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