Dryer

Abstract

To provide a dryer capable of improving efficiency of air heating with a simple structure and appropriately heating air while suppressing power consumption.SOLUTION: The present invention for solving the problem includes a suction part 2 for sucking external gas into a housing 1, a heating part 3 for heating the gas sucked by the suction part 2, a blowout part 4 for discharging the gas heated by the heating part 3, and a control part 5 for controlling a suction degree of the suction part 2 and a heating degree of the heating part 3. The heating part 3 has a cylindrical body 31 having both ends facing the suction part 2 and the blow-out part 4, a thin film heating element 32 abutting on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31, and a closing part 33 for closing a cross section inside the cylindrical body 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair dryer that has low power consumption and high usability. [Background technology]

[0002] Hair dryers are appliances that operate a heater and a motor simultaneously, and therefore consume a lot of power as home appliances. However, simply replacing the heater or motor with one with lower output will not fully achieve the purpose of drying hair. In response to this, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a hair dryer that can be made more efficient by devising a heater installation method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-158661 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The dryer described in Patent Document 1 has a heat dissipation assembly that sandwiches an annular heating element on both sides to heat the gas flowing through it. However, this type of heat dissipation assembly has a large cross-sectional area through which the gas to be heated flows, which makes it prone to uneven heat distribution and reduces the efficiency of air heating. Furthermore, the housing for holding the assembly has a complex structure, which increases the difficulty of design and manufacturing and increases the unit price, leaving room for improvement.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a dryer that has a simple structure, improves air heating efficiency, and is capable of appropriately heating air while reducing power consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, comprises an suction section that draws external gas into the interior of a housing, a heating section that heats the gas sucked in by the suction section, and a discharge section that discharges the gas heated by the heating section, and the heating section has a cylindrical body with both ends facing the suction section and the discharge section, a thin-film heating element that abuts the inner surface of the cylindrical body, and a closing section that closes the inner cross section of the cylindrical body. With this configuration, the flow path through which the air flows is restricted to increase the flow rate, and the contact area between the heating portion and the volume of the circulating air is increased to increase the heating efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, can provide a dryer that has a simple structure, improves air heating efficiency, and is capable of appropriately heating air while reducing power consumption. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a front view of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view of a cylinder and a heat dissipation portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are explanatory views of a closing section according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory perspective view of a cylindrical body and a heat dissipation portion according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the dryer X according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The description will be made in detail in the order of the configuration of the embodiment, the method of implementation, and other examples. The following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, the term "substantially" in the application documents is a concept that includes cases where the subsequent shape is chamfered or rounded, and where the elements that make up the shape are deformed or changed in length within a range that does not impair the purpose or effect of the configuration.

[0010] First Embodiment Dryer X includes suction unit 2 that draws external gas into housing 1, heating unit 3 that heats the gas drawn in by suction unit 2, blowing unit 4 that emits the gas heated by heating unit 3, and control unit 5 that controls the degree of suction by suction unit 2 and the degree of heating by heating unit 3, and outside air drawn in by suction unit 2 is heated by heating unit 3 and emitted from blowing unit 4. In dryer X, the route that this gas takes is referred to as flow path T.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the housing 1 has a cylindrical intake section 11 that takes in outside air, a grip section 12 that has an integral cylindrical part that stores the suction section 2 and has a protruding part for the user to grip, and a nozzle section 13 that is a cylindrical member that includes the blowing section 4 at its end and stores the heating section 3. The intake portion 11, the grip portion 12, and the nozzle portion 13 are arranged so that the diameters of their respective cylindrical portions are approximately the same, and the intake portion 11 and the nozzle portion 13 are connected so that the grip portion 12 is sandwiched between them. The connection can be achieved by, for example, joining them with an adhesive, but the cylindrical portions may also be mated with each other or screwed together. Meanwhile, the housing 1 may be cut in a direction including the axis, and each portion may be fastened with a screw.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the suction unit 2 is a part that draws in outside air from the intake unit 11 and generates a flow in the flow path T toward the blowing unit 4. The suction unit 2 has a suction container 21 that is attached inside the cylindrical part of the intake unit 11 and / or the gripping unit 12, and a drive unit 22 that is fixed inside the suction container 21 and that generates a flow inside the flow path T when driven. In the embodiment, the drive unit 22 is driven to rotate, and a fan 23 is provided in this part, so that it functions as an axial fan to generate a flow in the flow path T in the direction toward the blowing unit 4. As a modified example, the drive unit 22 may be a sirocco fan or a turbo fan.

[0013] The heating unit 3 is attached to the inside of the nozzle unit 13 and includes a cylindrical body 31 with both ends facing the suction unit 2 and the blowing unit 4, a thin-film heating element 32 that is a heating element attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 31, a closing portion 33 that closes the inner cross section of the cylindrical body, and a plurality of heat dissipation portions 34 that extend and protrude from the outer surface of the cylindrical body 31. The heat dissipation portions 34 are fixed by their tips coming into contact with the inner surface of the nozzle unit 13, and the space formed between the plurality of heat dissipation portions 34 and the nozzle unit 13 forms the flow path T. Of the heating unit 3, the cylindrical body 31 and the heat dissipation portions 34 are preferably made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or an alloy containing aluminum.

[0014] The blowing section 4 is a portion provided at the tip of the nozzle section 13, and has a disk member 41 provided directly above the cylindrical body 31, and a circular ring member 42 provided at a distance from the disk member 41, with the same diameter as the nozzle section 13 and connected to the end of the nozzle section 13, and partition walls connecting these two members are provided at equal intervals, and the area between the partition walls becomes the communication holes 43. In this way, the center is closed and communication holes 43 that communicate with the inside of the housing 1 are provided around it, so that heated gas is released from the communication holes 43.

[0015] The control unit 5 is electrically connected to the suction unit 2 and the heating unit 3, and controls the drive unit 22 and the thin-film heating element 32. The control unit 5 is electrically connected to a control circuit 50, a control switch 51 that transmits signals to the control circuit 50, and a power storage unit 52 that stores power. The control circuit 50 supplies power from the power storage unit 52 to the suction unit 2 and the heating unit 3 in response to a signal from the control switch 51. Moreover, the control unit 5 is prevented from overheating by storing at least the control circuit 50 and the power storage unit 52 inside the gripping unit 12 away from the flow path T.

[0016] Intake portion 11 is a cup-shaped part with multiple holes for drawing in outside air. The multiple holes may be a mesh and may be provided on either the end face or the circumferential surface of intake portion 11. It is also preferable to provide a filter on the inner circumferential surface of intake portion 11 to prevent dust from entering the interior.

[0017] The grip portion 12 has a connecting portion 121, which is a tube that connects to the intake portion 11 and the nozzle portion 13, and a grip portion 122, which is a tube that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 121. The internal spaces of the connecting portion 121 and the grip portion 122 are arranged to communicate with each other. In the embodiment, the diameter of the grip portion 122 is larger than that of the connecting portion 121, and the length is longer, making it easier for the user to grip.

[0018] The suction unit 2 is mainly stored inside the connecting portion 121, and the control unit 5 is mainly stored inside the gripping portion 122. By storing heavy parts concentrated in the gripping portion 12, the center of gravity of the entire device is moved to the center, making it easier to hold.

[0019] The nozzle part 13 is a cylindrical member that connects to the end face of the grip part 12 and determines the direction of blowing. The heating part 3 is mainly stored inside the nozzle part 13. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation part 34 comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle part 13, thereby holding the heating part 3 in a predetermined position. In addition, the blowing part 4 is fitted to the tip of the nozzle part 13.

[0020] The suction container 21 is a member that holds the drive unit 22 or the fan 23 in a predetermined position, and is an overall cylindrical member that is provided so as to be held by fitting with the inner circumferential surface of the connection part 121. The suction container 21 has partitions provided at predetermined positions and is divided into a drive support part 211 that supports and fixes the drive unit 22 near the central axis, a fan storage part 212 that is a space that stores the fan 23 so that it can rotate, and an air passage 213 that is provided parallel to the axial direction and that circulates the air flowing from the fan 23.

[0021] The drive support part 211 has an internal shape that is substantially the same as that of the drive part 22, and supports the drive part 22 in an engaged state. The drive support part 211 is provided adjacent to the fan storage part 212, and a hole through which the rotation shaft of the drive part 22 passes is provided between the drive support part 211 and the fan storage part 212.

[0022] The fan storage section 212 is a cylindrical section with a larger diameter than the fan 23, and one end facing the intake section 11 is open or has a flow straightener, and the other end is provided with a partition wall. A hole that penetrates toward the drive support section 211 is provided in the center of this partition wall, and a ventilation path 213 is provided near the outer periphery so that the fluid can be transported through this.

[0023] The ventilation paths 213 are formed by a partition wall radially connecting the outer peripheral surface of the drive support part 211 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body of the suction container 21, and are circulation passages that pass through the end of the suction container 21 on the nozzle part 13 side and the fan housing part 212, and are arranged at equal intervals so as to surround the outer periphery of the drive support part 211. The ventilation paths 213 pass through the end of the suction container 21 on the nozzle part 13 side and the fan housing part 212, and act as a flow path T for air.

[0024] The drive unit 22 is supported by a drive support part 211, and a rotary shaft extending to the fan storage part 212 rotates due to power transmitted from the control part 5, thereby working together with the fan 23 to generate airflow. The drive unit 22 is provided downstream of the fan 23 and abuts against the drive support part 211. Furthermore, the air passage 213 has a partition wall extending in the radial direction, which allows waste heat from the drive unit 22 to be used to heat the circulating air. In this embodiment, the drive unit 22 is a BLDC motor, which further reduces power consumption.

[0025] Fan 23 is provided so that its rotation axis coincides with the axis of fan storage section 212, and as it rotates, it generates a flow in the direction from intake section 11 toward nozzle section 13. The maximum diameter of fan 23 is at least larger than the diameter of drive support section 211, enabling efficient transfer of air to ventilation path 213, and by narrowing flow path T, the flow rate of the exhausted gas can be increased even at low output.

[0026] The cylindrical body 31 is smaller than the diameter of the inner circumference of the nozzle part 13 so that it can be stored inside the nozzle part 13. By making the thickness at least 8 mm or less, and preferably 5 mm or less, the heat capacity of the cylindrical body 31 itself is reduced and heat can be efficiently transferred to the heat dissipation part 34.

[0027] The thin-film heating element 32 is a so-called film heater that is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 31 and is heated by power transmitted from the control unit 5. In the embodiment, the thin-film heating element 32 is rolled up and attached to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 31 with a heat-resistant adhesive or the like, but it may also be in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 31 simply by virtue of its restoring force that attempts to return it to a flat plate shape. Furthermore, in the open state (flat plate state), the height of the thin-film heating element 32 is approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the height of the cylinder 31, and its width is equal to or slightly shorter than the inner diameter of the cylinder 31. In this way, the thin-film heating element 32 is in contact with approximately the entire inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 31, and heat from the thin-film heating element 32 can be efficiently transmitted to the heat dissipation unit 34.

[0028] The closing portion 33 defines a flow path T by closing the cross section of the cylindrical body 31, and improves heating efficiency by preventing the airflow from heading inward into the cylindrical body 31. In this embodiment, the closing portion 33 is a thin plate member provided so as to cover the entire end face of the cylindrical body 31 on the intake portion 11 side as shown in Fig. 5(a), and has a conductor hole 331 on the periphery on the side closer to the grip portion 12 for inserting a conductor that supplies power to the thin-film heating element 32. The closing portion 33 is arranged to cover and abut the entire periphery of the end of the cylindrical body 31, and covers at least 80% of the cross section of the cylindrical body 31, more preferably 90% or more, and even more preferably 95% or more, thereby preventing gas from flowing inside the cylindrical body 31. This defines the flow path T, increases the flow rate, and improves thermal efficiency.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5(b), the closing portion 33 may be formed by connecting multiple strip-shaped flexible members at the end face or outer peripheral face of the cylindrical body 31 and arranging them without gaps, or by allowing a conductor for supplying power to the thin-film heating element 32 to pass through between the strip-shaped materials.

[0030] In this embodiment, the drive unit 22 is provided to protrude from the fan storage unit 212 in the direction of the nozzle unit 13, and the outer diameter of the drive unit 22 and the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 31 are substantially the same. As a result, the drive unit 22 blocks the flow toward the central axis of the heating unit 3 between the suction container 21 and the heating unit 3, and the gas is guided. In this case, the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 31 may be made larger than the outer diameter of the driving part 22 in order to improve the guiding performance. It is also possible for a part of the drive unit 22 to penetrate into the cylindrical body 31 and form the closing unit 33, or for the end face of the drive support unit 211 of the suction container 21 to come into contact with the end face of the cylindrical body 31, thereby forming the suction container 21 as the closing unit 33. In this way, the cylindrical body 31 can be closed without providing the closing unit 33, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

[0031] The insides of the connection part 121 and the gripping part 122 are connected, and in this embodiment, this connected part overlaps with the suction container 21, so that it is closed except for the part where the conductor passes through, preventing gas from flowing into any part other than the flow path T, thereby improving flow efficiency.

[0032] The heat dissipation section 34 is a portion that protrudes integrally with the cylindrical body 31 from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31, and is made up of a plurality of constituting protrusions that are arranged at equal intervals. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation section 34 has 20 or more protrusions 341, each of which is curved in the radial direction of the cylindrical body 31. The curvature of the protrusions 341 increases the contact area between the heat dissipation section 34 and the gas flowing through the flow path T, making it easier for the gas to receive heat. The direction and degree of curvature are constant in each protrusion, and the cross-sectional shape does not change in the height direction of the cylindrical body 31, so the flow rate inside the heating section 3 is less likely to decrease.

[0033] The protrusions 341 are arranged so that their width does not change in the direction of protrusion, ensuring uniform heat distribution. The spacing between the protrusions 341 is approximately the same as the width of the protrusions 341 near the cylindrical body 31, but increases in width as they move away from the cylindrical body 31. This increases the flow rate near the tip, facilitating heat exchange.

[0034] The tip of the protrusion 341 is arranged to abut against the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle part 13, and supports the heating part 3 in a predetermined position. The end of the protrusion 341 is rounded to increase the contact area with the nozzle part 13, leading to stable support. The inner peripheral surface of the nozzle portion 13 is preferably made of glass wool or ceramic fiber, which has high heat insulation properties, and this allows the temperature of the gas to be further increased. In the nozzle portion 13, only the spaces between the plurality of protrusions 341 become the flow paths T, so that the contact area per volume of the gas is increased, and the efficiency of heating the gas is greatly improved.

[0035] The communication hole 43 connects the inside and outside of the flow path T at the tip of the nozzle portion 13. The communication hole 43 is provided directly above the heat dissipation portion 34 in the axial direction, so that the air heated by the heat dissipation portion 34 can be discharged without being blocked, and furthermore, the communication hole 43 is provided radially away from the cylindrical body 31, so that the air inside the cylindrical body 31 is not discharged. In other words, the flow path is narrowed to increase the flow rate and improve the heating efficiency.

[0036] The control circuit 50 is a device that distributes power in response to the operation of the control switch 51. The control circuit 50 may be a simple electronic circuit or a microcomputer. The control unit 5 may be provided with a temperature sensor or a sensor for detecting water, and the control circuit 50 may be configured to send a signal to stop operation when a value obtained from the sensor exceeds a threshold value.

[0037] The control switch 51 is a button provided on the side of the gripper, and is electrically connected to the control circuit 50. The control switch 51 preferably includes at least a switch that can operate the output of the drive unit 22 and a button that can operate the on / off of the thin-film heating element 32, which allows for quick drying of hair and the supply of cool air.

[0038] The power storage unit 52 is a part that stores power and is stored at the lower end of the grip portion 12. The power storage unit 52 is assumed to be a lithium-ion battery and is provided so that it can be charged externally. The hair dryer X has high thermal efficiency and can increase the flow rate even with a low-output motor, so the power storage unit 52 also makes it easy to dry hair, etc.

[0039] Hereinafter, a method for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is carried out by a user who dries their hair with a hair dryer X. The method for carrying out the present invention is an example, and the method for carrying out the present invention is not limited to this, and the order of the steps may be reversed.

[0040] The user points the blowout unit 4 toward their hair and presses the control switch 51. This causes the control circuit 50 to supply power from the power storage unit 52 to the drive unit 22 and the thin-film heating element 32. At this time, heat generated by the thin-film heating element 32 moves to the cylinder 31 or the heat dissipation unit 34. When the drive unit 22 and the fan 23 are operated, a flow is generated along the flow path T from the intake unit 11 toward the blowout unit 4. Here, the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path T is smaller than the area of ​​the fan 23, so a high-speed flow is generated. The air flowing through the flow path T is then efficiently heated as it passes through the space formed between the cylinder 31, the heat dissipation unit 34, and the nozzle unit 13, and warm air is supplied from the blowout unit 4.

[0041] As a result, the user can apply heated air to their hair. By operating the control switch 51, the user can stop the power supplied to the thin-film heating element 32 and supply cool air. At this time, the large surface area of ​​the heat dissipation section 34 makes it easier for the air to absorb heat, shortening the time it takes to switch from hot air to cool air.

[0042] As a modification of the heating unit 3, the shape of the heat dissipation unit 34 provided on the cylindrical body 31 may be as shown in Fig. 6. That is, the heat dissipation unit 34 according to the modification has a plurality of branched protrusions 342 that branch off and protrude midway, and a plurality of sub-protrusions 343 provided between the branched protrusions 342, spaced at equal intervals.

[0043] The branched protrusion 342 is a protrusion curved in the radial direction of the cylindrical body 31, and branches into two or more branches at a position farther from the axial center of the cylindrical body 31 than the tip of the sub-protrusion 343. The width of the branched protrusion 342 is approximately constant at any position, and the surface area relative to the volume is constant, reducing uneven heat distribution. In addition, the tip of the branched protrusion 342 is rounded and is provided to abut against and be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 13.

[0044] The secondary protrusion 343 is a protrusion that is arranged midway between two adjacent branch protrusions 342 so that its axis coincides with the radial direction of the cylindrical body 31, and its protrusion height is lower than that of the branch protrusions 342, forming a predetermined gap between it and the branch protrusions 342.

[0045] In the modified example, as described above, gaps are formed between the protrusions at predetermined intervals, increasing the contact area of ​​the air in the flow path T with the heat dissipation section 34. More specifically, the branch protrusions 342 increase the contact area at positions spaced apart in the radial direction, and the sub-protrusions 343 increase the contact area near the cylindrical body 31 even when the branch protrusions 342 are spaced apart from each other.

[0046] Furthermore, the heating section 3 has a cylindrical body 31 with both ends facing the suction section 2 and the blowing section 4, a thin-film heating element 32 that abuts the inner surface of the cylindrical body 31, and a closing section 33 that closes the inner cross section of the cylindrical body 31, thereby restricting the flow path T through which the air flows and increasing the flow rate, and also increasing the contact area with the heating section 3 relative to the volume of the circulating air, thereby improving the heating efficiency.

[0047] Furthermore, the closing portion 33 is provided on the end face of the cylindrical body 31 closer to the suction portion 2, thereby preventing gas from entering the inside of the cylindrical body 31 and further enhancing the effect of improving the flow rate.

[0048] In addition, multiple heat dissipation sections 34 are provided that protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31, and the heat dissipation sections 34 are curved in the radial direction of the cylindrical body 31, thereby further increasing the contact area and improving heating efficiency.

[0049] Furthermore, the suction unit 2 has an air passage 213 for discharging the sucked gas, and the air passage 213 is arranged toward the heat dissipation unit 34 so that the gas can be discharged without attenuating its flow rate.

[0050] In addition, the suction unit 2 has a cylindrical suction container 21, a drive unit 22 held in the suction container 21, and a fan 23 connected to the drive unit 22 to create air flow inside the suction container 21. The suction container 21 has a drive support part 211 that supports the drive unit 22, and an air passage 213 that discharges the sucked gas from the end. The air passage 213 is arranged around the drive support part 211, making the suction unit 2 compact and creating an efficient flow toward the heat dissipation part 34.

[0051] The dryer X also includes a control unit 5 that controls the suction unit 2 and the heating unit 3. The control unit 5 has a power storage unit 52, and supplies power from the power storage unit 52 to the suction unit 2 and the heating unit 3, thereby enabling the dryer X to be used without being connected to an external power source. In particular, the above-described configuration can be achieved because it increases the efficiency of flow and heating and reduces power consumption. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] X Dryer T-channel 1 chassis 11 Capture section 12 Grip part 121 Connection part 122 Gripping part 13 Nozzle section 2 Suction part 21 Suction container 211 Drive support part 212 Fan storage section 213 Ventilation Channel 22 Drive unit 23 Fans 3 Heating section 31 Cylinder 32 Thin film heating element 33 Closing part 331 Conductor hole 34 Heat radiation part 341 Projection 342 Branched protrusion 343 Subprojection 4. Air outlet 41 Disc member 42 Circular member 43 Communication hole 5. Control section 50 control circuit 51 Control Switch 52 Power storage unit

Claims

1. The device includes a suction unit that draws external gas into the housing, a heating unit that heats the gas drawn in by the suction unit, and a discharging unit that discharges the gas heated by the heating unit, The heating section of this dryer has a cylindrical body with both ends facing the suction section and the discharge section, a thin-film heating element abutting the inner surface of the cylindrical body, and a closing section that closes the inner cross section of the cylindrical body.

2. The dryer according to claim 1 , wherein the closing portion is provided on an end surface of the cylindrical body that is closer to the suction portion.

3. The dryer according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of heat dissipation portions are provided protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body.

4. The dryer according to claim 3 , wherein the heat dissipation portion is curved relative to a radial direction of the cylindrical body.

5. the suction unit has an air passage for discharging the sucked gas, The dryer according to claim 3 , wherein the air passage is disposed toward the heat dissipation portion.

6. the suction unit includes a cylindrical suction container, a drive unit held by the suction container, and a fan connected to the drive unit to generate air flow inside the suction container, 6. The dryer according to claim 5, wherein the suction container has a drive support part that supports the drive part and an air passage that discharges the sucked gas from an end part, and the air passage is arranged around the drive support part.

7. a control unit that controls the suction unit and the heating unit, The dryer according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a power storage unit, and supplies electric power from the power storage unit to the suction unit and the heating unit.

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