Air shower

Abstract

To reduce the time required until floating dust settles down after a user leaves an air shower.SOLUTION: In an air shower, a fan motor (a motor 24) is provided with momentum accumulation means (a flywheel 26).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Air showers are widely used as devices that are installed, for example, between clean rooms and work rooms and corridors or anterooms, etc., to prevent the inflow or introduction of dust into clean rooms or work rooms. An example of an air shower is disclosed in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-121830 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] After a user uses an air shower, the dust removed from the user floats inside the air shower, and there is a risk that the floating dust will escape into the clean room when the door to the clean room is opened. To settle this dust, some air showers are equipped with a mechanism that blows clean air down from the ceiling to clean the inside of the air shower after the user leaves the room. An example of this technology is also disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0005] However, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 blows out a gentle breeze by stopping one of the two fans, which causes problems in that it takes time for the breeze to calm down and that it requires electricity to operate until the breeze calms down.

[0006] The present invention solves this problem, and its purpose is to reduce the time it takes for airborne dust to settle after a user leaves the room, and to reduce the power consumption associated with this measure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In an air shower, the fan motor has a momentum accumulation means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time it takes for floating dust to settle after a user leaves a room, and also to reduce the power consumption associated with this measure.

[0009] Further means and effects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the entire specification below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an air shower device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional configuration. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as needed. [Example]

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an air shower device, showing a perspective view. 10 is the air shower, 11 is the housing, and 12 is the door. In this diagram, only one door is visible, but there is also a door on the other side. Typically, a person enters from a room with a low level of cleanliness, is exposed to the air jet in the air shower room, and then leaves through the other door. This diagram shows a manual door, but it can be an automatic door, a sheet shutter, vinyl, or no door at all, or the object separating the outer room from the air shower room can be anything.

[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the AA section in Figure 1. Air is sent by operating a fan motor 22, and dust is removed through a HEPA filter 21. The dust-removed air is released into an air shower through a nozzle 20. In this case, the nozzle 20 is not limited to a nozzle, and any structure is possible as long as it is a passageway for air, such as a punched plate or simple holes.

[0014] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of fan motor 22, showing the structure when the present invention is not applied. Fan 23 and motor 24 are connected by shaft 25. Rotation of motor 24 rotates fan 23, which is connected by shaft 25, and blows air. In the case of Figure 3, fan 23 rotates while motor 24 is rotating, and when motor 24 is stopped, i.e., when the power supply to motor 24 is stopped, fan 23 also stops.

[0015] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of a fan motor 22 in one embodiment of the present invention. The difference from Figure 3 is that a flywheel 26 is provided on a shaft 25. The flywheel 26 may be integral with the shaft 25 or may be a separate component; both cases are included.

[0016] The purpose of the flywheel 26 is to store the energy of rotational motion, and therefore it can also be called momentum storage means, and the use of other momentum storage means instead is also within the scope of this embodiment.

[0017] In Figure 4, during normal operation, the rotation of motor 24 rotates fan 23 connected by shaft 25 to blow air. This is the same as in Figure 3. The difference is that rotational energy is stored as momentum in flywheel 26 according to its weight.

[0018] When the power supply to motor 24 is stopped, unlike the case of Figure 3, the momentum accumulated in flywheel 26 is converted into rotational motion and consumed, causing shaft 25 to rotate. In other words, fan 23 rotates and can blow air. As a result, after the user leaves the air shower, fan 23 continues to rotate and blow air until the momentum accumulated in flywheel 26 is consumed, thereby settling any floating dust.

[0019] In contrast to Patent Document 1, the method of the present invention does not suddenly reduce the air volume by half, so that the air volume equivalent to that during normal operation can be obtained immediately after the power supply to the motor 24 is stopped. This reduces the time required for floating dust to settle.

[0020] Furthermore, in this calming operation state, power supply to the motor 24 is stopped, so the fan is rotated only by the momentum accumulated in the flywheel 26, allowing calming operation without consuming any power. This also contributes to reducing power consumption. Note that the increase in power consumption due to the addition of the flywheel itself is outweighed by the effect of no power supply to the motor during calming operation, as the user only uses the air shower for a maximum of about one minute.

[0021] Additionally, it has the advantage of contributing to file safety.

[0022] In the method of Patent Document 1, only one motor is operated based on instructions from a control circuit or the like. Therefore, if a malfunction occurs in the control circuit or if there is a programming error, there is a risk that the specified tranquilization operation cannot be performed. In contrast, the tranquilization operation of the present application automatically starts when the power supply to the motor is stopped, so errors do not actually occur. This is a fail-safe method, and tranquilization operation can be performed reliably. [Example]

[0023] Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 of the first embodiment. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the flywheel 26 is disposed outside the motor.

[0024] In this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in terms of the size, weight, and configuration of the flywheel or momentum accumulating means. [Example]

[0025] 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of Example 1. The difference between this example and Example 1 is that an additional momentum accumulating means such as a weight 27 is provided on the shaft 25.

[0026] In FIG. 6, the weight 27 is attached to the flywheel 26, but the present invention also includes the case where the weight 27 is attached directly to the shaft 25.

[0027] Also, the element 26 in FIG. 6 is lighter in weight than the weight 27, and the main momentum accumulating means may be realized by the weight 27.

[0028] In order to prevent eccentricity of the shaft, it is desirable that the weights 27 are arranged at equal angles to each other. It is also desirable that the weights 27 have the same weight.

[0029] In this embodiment, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0030] Furthermore, depending on the customer's requirements for the calming operation time, the calming operation time can be easily changed by changing the weight and size of the sinker, which has the added benefit of being able to meet a variety of customer requirements with a single basic structure.

[0031] The above describes the ideas and concepts of the present invention using various embodiments. Of course, examples realized by combining the embodiments are also included within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, as long as the disclosed ideas and concepts are used, modifications and similar examples are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0032] Furthermore, one example of the present invention described using the above embodiments can also be expressed as follows.

[0033] <1> An air shower with a momentum accumulation means in the fan motor.

[0034] <Part 2> In the air shower described in <No. 1>, the momentum accumulation means is a flywheel.

[0035] <Part 3> In the air shower described in <Item 2>, the flywheel is disposed on a shaft connecting the fan motor and the fan.

[0036] <Part 4> In the air shower described in <Item 2>, the flywheel is disposed outside the fan motor.

[0037] <Part 5> In the air shower described in <No. 1>, the momentum accumulation means is a weight.

[0038] <Part 6> In the air shower according to <Item 5>, the weight is disposed on a shaft connecting the fan motor and the fan.

[0039] <Part 7> In the air shower according to <Item 6>, the weights are arranged at equal angles to the shaft.

[0040] <Part 8> In the air shower according to <No. 7>, the weight is disposed on the shaft with equal weight. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10: Air shower 11: Housing 12: Door 20: Nozzle 21: HEPA filter 22: Fan motor 23: Fan 24: Motor 25: Shaft 26: Flywheel 27: Weight

Claims

1. In an air shower, the fan motor has a momentum accumulation means.

2. 2. The air shower of claim 1, wherein said momentum storage means is a flywheel.

3. 3. The air shower according to claim 2, wherein said flywheel is disposed on a shaft connecting said fan motor and said fan.

4. 3. The air shower according to claim 2, wherein the flywheel is disposed outside the fan motor.

5. 2. The air shower of claim 1, wherein said momentum accumulation means is a weight.

6. 6. An air shower according to claim 5, wherein said weight is disposed on a shaft connecting said fan motor and said fan.

7. 7. An air shower according to claim 6, wherein said weights are disposed at equal angles to said shaft.

8. 8. An air shower according to claim 7, wherein the weights are arranged on the shaft with equal weights.

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