Mist sauna apparatus

Abstract

To provide a mist sauna apparatus for forming a mist atmosphere and a strong sauna atmosphere in a room.SOLUTION: The mist sauna apparatus 1 includes a heating unit 40 having a heating fan 41 forming a heating air passage 60 and a heating means 50 for heating air sucked into a casing 10 from a suction port 20, and a mist unit 70 having a mist fan 72 forming a mist air passage 80, wherein the heating air passage 60 and the mist air passage 80 are formed independently in the casing 10 so that warm air flowing through the heating air passage 60 does not flow into the mist air passage 80. A hot air blowoff port 21a and a mist blowoff port 21b are provided on one side surface of a casing 10, and hot air blown off from the hot air blowoff port 21a flows toward mist-like mist blown off from the mist blowoff port 21b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mist sauna device, and more particularly to a mist sauna device that sprays mist into a room. [Background technology]

[0002] Various mist sauna devices have been proposed in the past. For example, there is a mist sauna device in which a mist nozzle is attached to a bathroom heater and connected to a heat source that supplies hot and cold water, spraying shower-like splashes of mist into the bathroom from the mist nozzle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The mist sauna device in Patent Document 1 can spray a large amount of mist into the bathroom, thereby increasing the humidity in the bathroom in a short period of time. However, the mist, which has large particles on the order of 100 μm, hits the human body. This leaves the bather wet, as if they had just taken a shower, making it difficult for them to feel the sweating effect and placing a great strain on the body.

[0003] There are also mist sauna devices that spray hot water onto a heat exchange accelerator housed in a housing to generate a fine micro-mist, which is then supplied into the bathroom (see, for example, Patent Document 2). While the mist sauna device in Patent Document 2 places little strain on the body, the invisible submicron-order micro-mist that is blown into the bathroom makes the mist feel less tangible and does not increase the humidity in the bathroom. As a result, bathers are less likely to experience the sensation of mist.

[0004] Furthermore, a mist sauna device has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3), which houses a circulation fan, an atomization means that generates mist by irradiating water in a water storage unit with ultrasonic waves, and a heating means within a housing, with the atomization means and heating means disposed within an air passage formed by the circulation fan. The mist sauna device of Patent Document 3 uses the atomization means to generate a mist-like mist on the order of several microns, unlike the large-particle splash mist and minute-particle micromist described above. Therefore, the mist-like mist generated within the housing, which is gentle on the body, can be blown into the bathroom using warm air generated by the circulation fan.

[0005] However, in the mist sauna device of Patent Document 3, the atomizing means is located in the air passage downstream of the circulation blower, so the mist flowing in the air passage is heated by the warm air circulating from the bathroom into the housing, causing the mist to easily evaporate in the air passage. Furthermore, because the heating means is located in the same air passage as the mist, the mist is likely to adhere to the heating means as it passes through. As a result, less mist is blown into the bathroom than is generated by the atomizing means, making it impossible to create a mist atmosphere that provides a relaxing feeling with an excellent visual effect, like the bathroom is filled with steam from a hot spring.

[0006] Furthermore, to create a strong sauna atmosphere in a bathroom with high temperature and humidity, it is necessary to increase the volume of warm air circulating in the bathroom. However, in the mist sauna device of Patent Document 3, the atomization means is located downstream of the circulation fan in the air duct, so increasing the volume of air causes mist particles to collide with each other in the air duct, and the mist tends to return to water inside the housing. As a result, an air flow suitable for blowing mist into the bathroom is not created, and sufficient humidification capacity is not obtained, which creates the problem of not being able to create a strong sauna atmosphere with excellent sweat-inducing effects. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-285556 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-69531 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-222228 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a mist sauna device that can efficiently spray mist into a room and create a mist atmosphere that provides a relaxing feeling and a strong sauna atmosphere that is highly effective in inducing sweating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present technology, A mist sauna device in which a heating unit and a mist unit are housed in a casing, The casing has an intake port for drawing indoor air into the casing, a warm air outlet for blowing warm air from inside the casing into the room, and a mist outlet for blowing mist-like mist from inside the casing into the room, The heating unit has a heating fan that forms a heating air path from the air inlet to the hot air outlet, and a heating means for heating the air drawn into the casing from the air inlet, The mist unit has a mist fan that forms a mist air passage from an intake port that takes in indoor air to a mist outlet, and a mist generating unit that generates mist-like mist by irradiating ultrasonic waves onto mist water in a water storage unit, The heating air duct and the mist air duct are formed independently within the casing so that the warm air flowing through the heating air duct does not flow into the mist air duct. The hot air outlet and the mist outlet are provided on one side surface of the casing, A mist sauna device is provided in which warm air blown into a room from a warm air outlet flows toward atomized mist blown into the room from a mist outlet.

[0010] According to the first aspect, the heating air duct and the mist air duct are formed independently within the casing, preventing contact between the warm air flowing through the heating air duct and the mist flowing through the mist air duct and preventing evaporation of the mist within the casing. Furthermore, the mist unit has a mist fan independent of the heating fan, creating an airflow suitable for maintaining the mist, and directing the mist generated within the casing to the mist outlet. This allows the mist flowing through the mist air duct to the mist outlet to be efficiently blown into the room.

[0011] According to the first aspect, the heating unit and the mist unit are housed in a single casing, the warm air outlet and the mist outlet are provided on one side of the casing, and the warm air blown into the room from the warm air outlet flows toward the mist blown into the room from the mist outlet, so that the mist blown out from the mist outlet can be diffused throughout the room by the warm air. This allows the white mist, which has a high visual effect, to be evenly distributed throughout the room, creating a relaxing mist atmosphere.

[0012] Furthermore, according to the first aspect, a mist air duct separate from the heating air duct is formed by a mist fan separate from the heating fan. Therefore, even if the airflow rate of the heating fan is increased to create a hot and humid indoor environment, collisions between mist particles flowing through the mist air duct do not increase, preventing the mist from turning back into water within the casing. Furthermore, by blowing a large amount of high-temperature hot air from the hot air outlet toward the mist, the bather can feel the hot air humidified by the mist. This allows the mist unit blowing mist into the room to achieve sufficient humidification capacity to create a hot and humid indoor environment, creating a strong sauna atmosphere with a high sweating effect.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present technology, in the first aspect, A part of the air drawn into the casing from the air inlet by operating the heating fan flows toward the intake through a flow path inside the casing formed between the casing wall and a heating air duct constituting the heating air duct.

[0014] Because warm air heated by the heating means flows through the heating air passage, according to the second aspect, part of the air drawn into the casing from the air intake is moderately heated when it passes through the flow path inside the casing formed between the casing wall and the heating air passage duct that forms the heating air passage. This allows the heated air to guide mist to the mist outlet, making it possible to more efficiently create a mist atmosphere and a strong sauna atmosphere in the room.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present technology, in the first or second aspect, The mist unit has a water storage section to which mist water heated by a mist water heating means is supplied.

[0016] According to the third aspect, the mist generating capacity of the mist generating unit is increased, so that the humidity in the room can be increased more efficiently.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of the present technology, in any one of the first to third aspects, The water storage section of the mist unit has an upward opening section that releases atomized mist into the mist air duct, The mist fan of the mist unit is a Line Flow Fan (registered trademark), The mist-like mist discharged from the upper opening of the water storage section into the mist air duct is pushed toward the mist outlet by the air flow flowing from the line flow fan toward the upper opening of the water storage section.

[0018] According to the fourth aspect, the mist released from the upper opening of the water storage unit into the mist duct can be pushed toward the mist outlet by the flat, wide airflow generated by the line flow fan, which reduces collisions between mist particles in the mist duct and allows all of the generated mist to be guided to the mist outlet, thereby more efficiently blowing the mist into the room.

[0019] According to a fifth aspect of the present technology, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, The casing includes a main body case having a lower opening, and a cover that covers the lower opening of the main body case and forms the lower surface of the casing; The cover has a common opening that is shared by the hot air outlet and the mist outlet, The hot air outlet and the mist outlet are arranged adjacent to and in parallel with the common opening of the cover via a partition wall.

[0020] According to the fifth aspect, in a ceiling-mounted mist sauna device, the warm air outlet and the mist outlet are arranged adjacent to each other in the shared opening of the cover via a partition wall, preventing contact between the mist and the warm air until the mist is blown into the room from the mist outlet. Furthermore, the warm air blown into the room from the warm air outlet can be more directly directed toward the mist blown into the room from the mist outlet. This allows a mist atmosphere and a strong sauna atmosphere to be created more efficiently in the room.

[0021] According to a sixth aspect of the present technology, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, The heating unit has a movable louver at the downstream end of the heating air duct, Depending on the louver position of the movable louver, the warm air blown into the room from the warm air outlet flows toward the atomized mist blown into the room from the mist outlet.

[0022] According to the sixth aspect, the hot air blown out from the hot air outlet can be directed more directly toward the atomized mist blown out from the mist outlet, thereby more efficiently creating a mist atmosphere and a strong sauna atmosphere in the room.

[0023] According to a seventh aspect of the present technology, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, The device has an operation control means for controlling the operation of the heating unit and the mist unit, The operation control means executes a first operation in which the heating unit is operated with a predetermined heating capacity of the heating means for heating and a predetermined air-blowing capacity of the heating fan, and the mist unit is operated to blow warm air into the room from the warm air outlet while blowing mist-like mist into the room from the mist outlet, thereby diffusing the mist-like mist inside the room; and a second operation in which the heating unit is operated with a heating capacity of the heating means for heating and a air-blowing capacity of the heating fan that is higher than those in the first operation, and the mist unit is operated to blow warm air, which is at a higher temperature and has an increased airflow rate than in the first operation, into the room from the warm air outlet while blowing mist-like mist into the room from the mist outlet, thereby creating a hotter and more humid environment than in the first operation.

[0024] According to the first to sixth aspects, the mist generated in the casing can be efficiently blown into the room. According to the seventh aspect, in the second operation, the heating capacity of the heating means and the air-blowing capacity of the heating fan are increased compared to the first operation, so that warm air humidified by the mist can be circulated throughout the room, creating a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. This allows bathers to enjoy not only a relaxing mist atmosphere, as the mist is evenly dispersed throughout the room, but also a strong sauna atmosphere, which is highly effective at inducing sweating. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a bathroom in which a mist sauna device according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the mist sauna apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, seen from above with the cover removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the mist sauna apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, seen from below with the cover removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a mist sauna apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the mist sauna device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control operations when the first operation and the second operation are performed in the mist sauna device according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A mist sauna device according to an embodiment of the present invention that is applied to a bathroom heater / dryer will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, bathroom heater / dryer 1 according to this embodiment is a ceiling-embedded mist sauna device that is embedded in the ceiling wall 4a of bathroom 4. Bathroom heater / dryer 1 has a single casing 10 that forms its outer shell. Casing 10 includes main case 2, which is a modified rectangular box with a lower opening 30, and is installed above the ceiling of bathroom 4. Cover 3, which is generally rectangular in plan view, covers lower opening 30 on the underside of main case 2 from below mounting opening 4b in ceiling wall 4a. Therefore, cover 3 forms the underside of casing 10, which is one side of casing 10. Bathroom heater / dryer 1 may also be a wall-mounted type.

[0028] Outside bathroom 4, heat source unit 100 is installed to supply heated heat medium and mist water to bathroom heater / dryer 1. Although not shown, heat source unit 100 has a well-known configuration, including burners that heat the heat medium and hot water for the bathtub and faucet via corresponding heat exchangers, and a circulation pump that circulates the heat medium. Hot water or antifreeze is used as the heat medium. Heat source unit 100 may also serve as a heat source unit for heating rooms other than bathroom 4, or it may be dedicated to bathroom heater / dryer 1. Heat source unit 100 is not limited to a combustion-type heat source unit, and may also be an electric heat source unit, heat pump, etc.

[0029] The peripheral walls that make up main body case 2 are made up of front wall 11a, rear wall 11b, left wall 11c, right wall 11d, and top wall 11e, with exhaust pipe 14 located in the right area of ​​the outer surface of front wall 11a. Note that in this specification, the outer surface of front wall 11a is considered the front of bathroom heater / dryer 1, and the depth direction when viewed from the front of main body case 2 is called the front-to-back direction, the width direction is called the left-to-right direction, and the height direction is called the up-to-down direction.

[0030] The casing 10 contains a heating unit 40 that draws air from the bathroom 4 into the casing 10, heats the drawn-in air, and blows the heated warm air from the casing 10 into the bathroom 4, and a mist unit 70 that generates mist-like mist in the casing 10 and blows the mist-like mist from the casing 10 into the bathroom 4.

[0031] A plurality of grill bars 3a extending in the left-right direction are laid horizontally across the rear half of the cover 3, and a generally rectangular shared opening 21 extending in the left-right direction is formed in the front half of the cover 3, which is opened and closed by movable louvers 65. The air inlet 20 is made up of a plurality of openings formed by the grill bars 3a. The shared opening 21 is an opening shared by a warm air outlet 21a and a mist outlet 21b, which will be described later. A connecting wall is formed between the side-by-side air inlet 20 and the shared opening 21, connecting the outer peripheral walls of the left and right covers 3.

[0032] The heating unit 40 has a heating fan 41 that forms a heating air path 60 from the intake port 20 to the warm air outlet 21a, and a heating gas-liquid heat exchanger (heating means) 50 that heats the air sucked into the casing 10 from the intake port 20.

[0033] A bathroom temperature sensor (bathroom temperature detection means) S1 (see Figure 5) that detects the room temperature of the bathroom 4 and a bathroom humidity sensor (bathroom humidity detection means) S2 (see Figure 5) that detects the humidity of the bathroom 4 are arranged near the intake port 20 inside the main body case 2.

[0034] A heater-air-path duct 42 is provided within the main body case 2 and is fixedly connected to a predetermined location within the main body case 2. The heater-air-path duct 42 includes a scroll-shaped heater-air-path upstream duct 42a and a heater-air-path downstream duct 42b, which is a generally rectangular cylinder elongated in the left-right direction and connected to the downstream end of the heater-air-path upstream duct 42a. The upstream end of the heater-air-path upstream duct 42a is connected to the air inlet 20, and the downstream end of the heater-air-path downstream duct 42b is connected to the hot-air outlet 21a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , gaps of a certain size are formed at predetermined locations between the heater-air-path duct 42 and the left and right walls 11c, 11d and the top wall 11e of the main body case 2. These gaps form an in-casing flow path 28 through which a portion of the air drawn into the casing 10 through the air inlet 20 by operating the heating fan 41 flows toward the intake 71 (described later).

[0035] The heating fan 41 is housed in the heating air passage upstream duct 42a. The heating fan 41 is a sirocco fan that is rotationally driven by a heating fan motor 44. The heating fan 41 is supported horizontally on the rotation shaft of the heating fan motor 44 and is disposed near the rear wall 11b inside the main body case 2 so that it blows air forward. Note that a line flow fan may be used as the heating fan 41 instead of a sirocco fan.

[0036] The gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 is housed near the downstream end of the heating air duct downstream duct 42b. The gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 is a heat medium circulation type heat exchanger that heats air by gas-liquid heat exchange with a heat medium supplied from the heat source apparatus 100. The gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 is composed of a plurality of heat absorption fins 51 arranged vertically in the left-right direction and a plurality of heat absorption pipes 52 that penetrate the heat absorption fins 51 from the left and right. A heat medium supply pipe 201, through which the heat medium is supplied from the heat source apparatus 100, is connected to the upstream end of the heat absorption pipe 52. A flow control valve 150 (see FIG. 5) that supplies / cuts off the heat medium to the gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 and adjusts the supply flow rate of the heat medium, and a heat medium temperature sensor (heat medium temperature detection means) S3 (see FIG. 5) that detects the heat medium temperature downstream of the flow control valve 150 are installed in the heat medium supply pipe 201. The downstream end of heat absorption pipe 52 is connected to heat medium connection pipe 203, which supplies the heat medium passing through gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 to liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 (described later), and liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 is connected to heat medium return pipe 202, which returns the heat medium passing through liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 to heat source unit 100. These pipes therefore form heat medium flow path 200, which circulates the heat medium between heat source unit 100 and bathroom heater / dryer 1. When heating fan 41 is driven and the heat medium is circulated from heat source unit 100 to gas-liquid heat exchanger 50, the air drawn into casing 10 through air inlet 20 and flowing through heating air duct 60 is heated, and warm air is blown out into bathroom 4 from warm air outlet 21a.

[0037] Heating air duct 60, which connects air inlet 20 to hot air outlet 21a, is formed in heating air duct 42 by rotating heating fan 41. A shared movable cylinder 25 extending toward shared opening 21 in cover 3 is provided at the downstream end of heating air duct downstream duct 42b. Shared movable cylinder 25 is used to adjust the downstream end of heating air duct downstream duct 42b and the downstream end of mist air duct downstream duct 73c (described later) so that they face shared opening 21 in cover 3, depending on the thickness of ceiling wall 4a of bathroom 4 and the construction method. Therefore, shared movable cylinder 25 is formed so that a portion of the lower outer periphery of shared movable cylinder 25 abuts against the upper surface of cover 3 around the shared opening 21 when main body case 2 and cover 3 are connected. The common movable cylinder 25 has a substantially rectangular cylindrical heating cylinder 25a located at the rear and having a width in the left-right direction slightly larger than that of the common opening 21, and a mist cylinder 25b located at the left end of the front and having a width in the left-right direction smaller than that of the heating cylinder 25a. The heating cylinder 25a and the mist cylinder 25b are integrally formed. Therefore, the rear region of the common opening 21 of the cover 3, defined by the downstream end of the heating cylinder 25a, forms the warm air outlet 21a.

[0038] A movable louver 65 that changes the direction of hot air blowing during operation and closes the common opening 21 when stopped is journaled near the lower end opening of the heating cylinder section 25a that constitutes the downstream end of the heating air duct 60. A louver motor 66 that adjusts the louver position of the movable louver 65 is attached to the outer surface of the left wall that constitutes the heating cylinder section 25a of the common movable cylinder section 25.

[0039] Although not shown, an air-path switching damper is provided in a right area of ​​heating-air-path downstream duct 42b upstream of the location of gas-liquid heat exchanger 50. This damper switches the air path of air drawn into casing 10 by heating fan 41 between hot air outlet 21a (circulation side) and exhaust pipe 14 (exhaust side). Therefore, by switching the air-path switching damper to the exhaust pipe 14 side while heating fan 41 is rotating, air in bathroom 4 is exhausted to the outside through exhaust pipe 14.

[0040] The mist unit 70 has a mist fan 72 that forms a mist air passage 80 that runs from an intake port 71 that takes in air flowing through the casing internal flow path 28 to the mist outlet 21b, and a mist generating section 75 that generates atomized mist by irradiating ultrasonic waves onto mist water in a water storage section 76.

[0041] Mist generating unit 75 has an upwardly open portion 76a and includes a water storage unit 76 that stores water for mist supplied from water supply pipe 230, an ultrasonic vibrator 77 provided at the bottom of water storage unit 76, an oscillator 78 (see FIG. 5) that vibrates ultrasonic vibrator 77, and a water level sensor (water level detection means) S4 (see FIG. 5) that detects the water level of water for mist in water storage unit 76. One or more ultrasonic vibrators 77 are provided depending on the size of water storage unit 76. A water level electrode or a float sensor is used as water level sensor S4.

[0042] The ultrasonic vibrator 77 and oscillator 78 have known configurations, and generate mist-like mist from the liquid surface by irradiating (oscillating) ultrasonic waves to the mist water in the water storage section 76 and vibrating the mist water on the liquid surface in the water storage section 76. By adjusting the oscillation output, frequency, etc. of the oscillator 78, visible white mist-like mist of about 1 to 10 μm is emitted from the upper opening 76a into the mist air duct 80.

[0043] The water supply pipe 230 is connected to a liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 disposed below the heating air duct 42 in the gap between the heating air duct upstream duct 42a and the heating air duct downstream duct 42b in the front-to-rear direction. A water replenishment solenoid valve 231 (see FIG. 5) is disposed in the water supply pipe 230. In addition to the water supply pipe 230 described above, the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 is connected to a water conduit 205 to which mist water is supplied from the heat source unit 100, a heat medium connection pipe 203 that constitutes the heat medium flow path 200 described above, and a heat medium return pipe 202 that returns the heat medium from the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 to the heat source unit 100. The liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 is a plate-type heat exchanger in which a flow path is formed between a plurality of heat transfer plates 56 arranged in parallel. When the heat medium after passing through the gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 and the mist water supplied from the heat source device 100 flow alternately between the heat transfer plates 56, liquid-liquid heat exchange occurs between the heat medium and the mist water via the heat transfer plates 56, and the heated mist water is supplied from the water supply pipe 230 to the water storage unit 76. In this way, the mist water heated in the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 can be supplied to the water storage unit 76 using the heat medium after flowing through the gas-liquid heat exchanger 50. Therefore, the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 constitutes the mist water heating means. Note that hot water heated in the heat source device 100 may be supplied directly to the water storage unit 76 as mist water without using the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55. In this case, the heat source device 100 constitutes the mist water heating means. Alternatively, an electric heating means may be used instead of using a heat medium.

[0044] A mist air passage duct 73 is provided within the main body case 2 and is connected to a predetermined location of the main body case 2 in a fixed position. The mist air passage duct 73 is provided above the heating air passage downstream duct 42b and spaced a predetermined distance from the top wall 11e of the main body case 2. The mist air passage duct 73 includes: a mist air passage upstream duct 73a having a generally semi-cylindrical shape and elongated in the left-right direction, which is connected to the upstream end of the water storage section 76; a mist air passage communication duct 73b having a generally rectangular shape and elongated in the left-right direction, which is provided above the heating air passage downstream duct 42b and spaced a predetermined distance from the top wall 11e of the main body case 2, which extends forward from the downstream end of the water storage section 76; and a mist air passage downstream duct 73c having a generally inverted L shape in a front view, which extends downward from the downstream end of the mist air passage communication duct 73b along the left wall 11c of the main body case 2 toward the shared opening 21 of the cover 3. The downstream end of the mist air passage downstream duct 73c is in communication with the shared opening 21 of the cover 3. An exhaust path communicating with the exhaust tube 14 described above is formed on the right side of the lower portion of the mist airflow downstream duct 73c.

[0045] Openings are formed between the upper end of the mist passage upstream duct 73a and the upper wall 11e of the main body case 2, and on the left and right side walls of the mist passage upstream duct 73a. Therefore, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 2, a portion of the air drawn into the casing 10 from the air inlet 20 flows toward these openings through the previously described casing flow path 28. These openings thus form the intake port 71 that draws air into the mist passage 80. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the downstream end of the mist passage downstream duct 73c is connected to the mist cylinder portion 25b of the previously described shared movable cylinder portion 25. Therefore, within the shared opening 21 of the cover 3, the left front region defined by the downstream end of the mist cylinder portion 25b forms the mist outlet 21b.

[0046] The mist fan 72 is housed in the mist air passage upstream duct 73a. The mist fan 72 is a line flow fan. The mist fan 72 is horizontally supported by the rotation shaft of a mist fan motor 74 (see FIG. 5), and is driven to rotate by the mist fan motor 74.

[0047] The mist air passage 80 connecting the intake 71 to the mist outlet 21b is formed by rotating the mist fan 72. As described above, the mist outlet 21b is arranged adjacent to and in front of the warm air outlet 21a, and the warm air outlet 21a and the mist outlet 21b, which are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction, are separated only by the partition wall 250 that constitutes the heating cylinder portion 25a and the mist cylinder portion 25b of the shared movable cylinder portion 25.

[0048] When the mist fan 72 is rotated, ultrasonic waves are applied to the mist water in the water storage section 76, causing mist-like mist to be released from the upper open section 76a of the water storage section 76 into the mist duct 80. The air flow created by the mist fan 72 pushes the mist-like mist toward the mist outlet 21b, as shown by the dotted arrows in Figures 2 and 4, and the mist-like mist is then blown out of the mist outlet 21b into the bathroom 4.

[0049] Remote control R is placed in bathroom 4 or in a changing room adjacent to bathroom 4. By operating remote control R (such as by operating a switch), it is possible to perform a first operation that diffuses mist-like mist into bathroom 4 to create a misty atmosphere, a second operation that creates a high-temperature, high-humidity sauna-like atmosphere in bathroom 4, and other operations (turning on and off the various operations that can be performed by bathroom heater / dryer 1, such as heating operation, ventilation operation, and drying operation), set the airflow direction using movable louver 65, set the bathroom temperature, set the airflow volume of heating fan 41, and so on.

[0050] Figure 5 is a control block diagram of bathroom heater / dryer 1. Bathroom heater / dryer 1 has controller 300, which controls the operation of bathroom heater / dryer 1. Controller 300 is composed of an electronic circuit unit including a CPU, RAM, ROM, interface circuitry, etc. Controller 300 is located inside main body case 2. Note that controller 300 may also be composed of multiple electronic circuit units that can communicate with each other. Controller 300 may also be located outside main body case 2.

[0051] Controller 300 is connected to various sensors, such as bathroom temperature sensor S1, bathroom humidity sensor S2, heating medium temperature sensor S3, and water level sensor S4, and receives detection signals from these sensors. Controller 300 is also connected to heating fan motor 44 of heating fan 41, mist fan motor 74 of mist fan 72, louver motor 66 of movable louvers 65, control valves such as flow control valve 150 and water replenishment solenoid valve 231, and oscillator 78. Controller 300 is also connected to heat source machine controller 101 and remote control R mounted on heat source machine 100 to control the operation of heat source machine 100, and is configured to be able to communicate various setting data, command data, and the like with heat source machine controller 101 and remote control R via wired or wireless communication.

[0052] Controller 300 also includes, as functional components, sauna operation control unit 301 for creating a mist or strong sauna atmosphere in bathroom 4, heating operation control unit 302 for controlling heating operation, drying operation control unit 303 for controlling drying operation, ventilation operation control unit 304 for controlling ventilation operation, and notification control unit 305 for controlling the notification of specified information from the display and speaker of remote control R. Controller 300 executes a control program using appropriate input data to control the operation of heating fan motor 44, mist fan motor 74, louver motor 66, control valves 150 and 231, oscillator 78, and other components, thereby controlling the various operations of bathroom heater / dryer 1. Thus, controller 300 constitutes operation control means. Although not shown, heat source unit controller 101 of heat source unit 100 also includes, as functional components, a heating operation control unit and other components.

[0053] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, control operations in a first operation in which bathroom 4 is provided with a mist atmosphere and a second operation in which bathroom 4 is provided with a strong sauna atmosphere will be described.

[0054] When a request to perform either the first operation or the second operation is made by the user operating the remote control R or by a pre-set timer function, etc. (Yes in step ST1), the controller 300 executes the operation control shown in FIG. 6 according to each operation program.

[0055] The controller 300 first opens the flow control valve 150 of the heat medium supply pipe 201 (for example, opening: 100%) and commands the heat source machine controller 101 of the heat source machine 100 to circulate the heat medium in the heat medium flow path 200 (step ST2). Then, the heat source machine controller 101 of the heat source machine 100 operates a circulation pump (not shown) and performs a heating operation to heat the heat medium to a constant temperature. This starts the circulation of the heat medium in the heat medium flow path 200.

[0056] When the circulation of heat medium through heat medium flow path 200 begins and the temperature of the heat medium flowing into gas-liquid heat exchanger 50, detected by heat medium temperature sensor S3 on heat medium return pipe 201, reaches or exceeds a predetermined fan activation start temperature (e.g., 40°C) (Yes in step ST3), controller 300 activates heating fan motor 44 to rotate heating fan 41 at a predetermined starting rotation speed (e.g., starting rotation speed for first operation: 1100 rpm, starting rotation speed for second operation: 1800 rpm). Controller 300 also activates louver motor 66 to control movable louver 65 to a predetermined louver position (e.g., a fixed position where hot air from hot air outlet 21a flows toward mist outlet 21b) during operation (step ST4). This initiates circulation of hot air between bathroom heater / dryer 1 and bathroom 4. Controller 300 then opens water replenishment solenoid valve 231 (step ST4). As a result, water for mist is supplied from the heat source device 100 to the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55, and the water for mist heated to an appropriate temperature (for example, 30° C.) in the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 is supplied to the water storage section .

[0057] When the water level sensor S4 in the water storage section 76 detects that the mist water has reached a predetermined minimum water level (Yes in step ST5), the controller 300 activates the oscillator 78 to irradiate the mist water in the water storage section 76 with ultrasonic waves, and activates the mist fan motor 74 to rotate the mist fan 72 at a predetermined operating rotation speed (e.g., 500 rpm) (step ST6). In this embodiment, the mist fan 72 is rotated at a fixed rotation speed in both the first and second operations, but the rotation speed of the mist fan 72 may be changed depending on the operating conditions. Although not shown, during the first and second operations, the water level sensor S4 continuously detects the water level of the mist water in the water storage section 76, and when the water level sensor S4 detects a predetermined maximum water level, the controller 300 closes the water replenishment solenoid valve 231 to stop the supply of mist water to the water storage section 76, and when the water level sensor S4 detects a predetermined minimum water level, the controller 300 opens the water replenishment solenoid valve 231 to resume the supply of mist water to the water storage section 76.

[0058] Next, when the room temperature detected by the bathroom temperature sensor S1 reaches the predetermined set temperature set for the first and second operations (e.g., set temperature for the first operation: 35°C, set temperature for the second operation: 48°C) (Yes in step ST7), the controller 300 activates the heating fan motor 44 to maintain the set temperature, driving the heating fan 41 to rotate at a predetermined operating speed (e.g., operating speed for the first operation: 500 to 800 rpm, operating speed for the second operation: 1500 to 1800 rpm), and controls the flow control valve 150 at a predetermined operating opening (e.g., operating opening for the first operation: 10 to 30%, operating opening for the second operation: 50 to 100%) (step ST8). Therefore, the heating capacity of gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 and the air-blowing capacity of heating fan 41 in second operation, which creates a high-temperature, high-humidity environment in bathroom 4 (e.g., room temperature: 37°C or higher, relative humidity: 90% or higher), are set higher than those in first operation. This allows warm air to be blown into bathroom 4 at a temperature and air volume appropriate for each operation. Note that multiple set temperatures may be set for each operation.

[0059] When the operation switch is turned off using the remote control R or a stop request is made due to the set operation timer expiring (Yes in step ST9), the controller 300 stops the heating fan motor 44 of the heating fan 41 and the mist fan motor 74 of the mist fan 72, and stops the oscillator 78. The controller 300 also closes the movable louver 65 and closes the flow control valve 150 and the water replenishment solenoid valve 231 (step ST10).

[0060] As described above in detail, in this embodiment, heating air duct 60 and mist air duct 80 are formed independently within casing 10. This prevents contact between the warm air flowing in heating air duct 60 and the mist flowing in mist air duct 80, thereby preventing the mist from evaporating within casing 10. Furthermore, the mist flowing through mist air duct 80 does not pass through gas-liquid heat exchanger 50, which heats the air drawn into casing 10. This also prevents the mist from adhering to gas-liquid heat exchanger 50. Furthermore, mist unit 70 includes mist fan 72, which is independent of heating fan 41. This creates an airflow suitable for maintaining the mist, allowing the mist generated within casing 10 to be pushed to mist outlet 21b. This allows the mist flowing through mist air duct 80 to mist outlet 21b to be efficiently blown into bathroom 4.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, heating unit 40 and mist unit 70 are housed within single casing 10, so hot air outlet 21a and mist outlet 21b can be provided on cover 3, which is one side of casing 10. And, because the hot air blown into bathroom 4 from hot air outlet 21a flows toward the mist blown into bathroom 4 from mist outlet 21b, the mist blown from mist outlet 21b can be diffused throughout bathroom 4 by the hot air. This allows a highly visually effective white mist, reminiscent of steam from a hot spring, to be spread evenly throughout bathroom 4, creating a relaxing misty atmosphere.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, mist fan 72, which is separate from heating fan 41, forms mist air duct 80 independent of heating air duct 60. Therefore, even if the airflow rate of heating fan 41 is increased to create a high-temperature, high-humidity environment in bathroom 4, collisions between mist particles flowing in mist air duct 80 do not increase. Furthermore, by blowing a large amount of high-temperature warm air from warm air outlet 21b toward the mist, the bather can experience the warm air humidified by the mist. Thus, mist unit 70, which blows mist into bathroom 4, can provide sufficient humidifying power to create a high-temperature, high-humidity environment in bathroom 4, creating a strong sauna atmosphere with a high sweating effect.

[0063] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, warm air heated by gas-liquid heat exchanger 50 flows within heating-air duct 60, and as a portion of the air drawn into casing 10 from air inlet 20 passes through in-casing flow path 28 formed between the structural wall of casing 10 and heating-air duct 42 that constitutes heating-air duct 60, the air is moderately heated. This allows the heated air to push out the mist, and a mist atmosphere and strong sauna atmosphere can be more efficiently created in bathroom 4.

[0064] In addition, according to this embodiment, mist water heated by the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 55 is supplied to the water storage section 76, which increases the mist generation capacity of the mist generation section 75, thereby more efficiently increasing the humidity in the bathroom 4.

[0065] When a sirocco fan is used as mist fan 72, a locally high-velocity airflow is formed in the direction of the extension of the outlet formed in the scroll-shaped fan casing. This causes mist particles to collide with each other in mist duct 80, causing the mist to easily return to water. As a result, the amount of mist sprayed from mist outlet 21b tends to decrease. In contrast, according to this embodiment, a line flow fan is used as mist fan 72. The flat, wide airflow generated by the line flow fan pushes the mist sprayed from upper opening 76a of water storage section 76 into mist duct 80 toward mist outlet 21b. This reduces collisions of mist particles in mist duct 80 compared to a sirocco fan, and ensures that all generated mist is guided to mist outlet 21b. This allows for more efficient spraying of mist into bathroom 4.

[0066] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the ceiling-embedded mist sauna device, hot air outlet 21a and mist outlet 21b are arranged side by side and adjacent to shared opening 21 of cover 3 via partition wall 250, so that the hot air blown out from hot air outlet 21a into bathroom 4 can flow more directly toward the atomized mist blown out from mist outlet 21b into bathroom 4. This makes it possible to create a mist atmosphere and a strong sauna atmosphere in bathroom 4 more efficiently.

[0067] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, movable louvers 65 are provided at hot air outlet 21a, which allow the hot air blown out from hot air outlet 21a to flow more directly toward the mist blown out from mist outlet 21b, which is arranged adjacent to hot air outlet 21a. This makes it possible to create a mist atmosphere and a strong sauna atmosphere in bathroom 4 more efficiently.

[0068] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the mist-like mist generated within the casing 10 can be efficiently sprayed into the bathroom 4, so that bathers can enjoy not only a relaxing mist atmosphere as the mist-like mist is evenly dispersed throughout the bathroom 4, but also a strong sauna atmosphere that is excellent for inducing sweating.

[0069] (Other embodiments) (1) In the above embodiment, the mist sauna device is installed in the bathroom. However, in the present invention, the mist sauna device may be installed in an independent sauna room without a bathtub.

[0070] (2) In the above embodiment, the louver positions of the movable louvers are set to be the same in the first operation and the second operation. However, in the present invention, the louver positions of the movable louvers may be changed between the first operation and the second operation.

[0071] (3) In the above embodiment, the heating means is provided downstream of the heating fan in the heating air duct. However, because the air in the bathroom is heated by circulation, the heating means may be provided upstream of the heating fan in the heating air duct.

[0072] (4) In the above embodiment, a push-type mist fan is used, and the mist generating unit is located downstream of the push-type mist fan in the mist air duct. However, if a suction-type mist fan is used, the mist generating unit may be located upstream of the suction-type mist fan in the mist air duct. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 Bathroom heater / dryer 2 Main unit case 3 Cover 10 Casing 21 Common opening 21a Warm air outlet 21b Mist outlet 28 Casing internal flow path 40 Heating Unit 41 Heating Fan 50 Gas-liquid heat exchanger 55 Liquid-liquid heat exchanger 60 Heating air duct 65 Movable louver 70 Mist Unit 71 Intake port 72 Mist Fan 75 Mist generation unit 76 Water storage section 76a Upper opening 80 Mist Airway 250 Bulkhead 300 Controller

Claims

1. A mist sauna device in which a heating unit and a mist unit are housed in a casing, The casing has an intake port for drawing indoor air into the casing, a warm air outlet for blowing warm air from inside the casing into the room, and a mist outlet for blowing mist-like mist from inside the casing into the room, The heating unit has a heating fan that forms a heating air path from the air inlet to the hot air outlet, and a heating means for heating the air drawn into the casing from the air inlet, The mist unit has a mist fan that forms a mist air passage from an intake port that takes in indoor air to a mist outlet, and a mist generating unit that generates mist-like mist by irradiating ultrasonic waves onto mist water in a water storage unit, The heating air duct and the mist air duct are formed independently within the casing so that the warm air flowing through the heating air duct does not flow into the mist air duct. The hot air outlet and the mist outlet are provided on one side surface of the casing, This mist sauna device is configured so that warm air blown into the room from a warm air outlet flows toward the mist-like mist blown into the room from a mist outlet.

2. The mist sauna device according to claim 1, The mist sauna device is configured so that part of the air sucked into the casing from the intake port by operating the heating fan flows toward the intake port through a flow path in the casing formed between the casing wall and a heating air duct constituting the heating air duct.

3. The mist sauna device according to claim 1 or 2, The mist sauna device is configured such that mist water heated by mist water heating means is supplied to the water storage section of the mist unit.

4. The mist sauna device according to claim 1 or 2, The water storage section of the mist unit has an upward opening section that releases atomized mist into the mist air duct, The mist fan of the mist unit is a line flow fan. This mist sauna device is configured so that the mist-like mist released from the upper opening of the water storage part into the mist air duct is pushed toward the mist outlet by the air flow flowing from the line flow fan toward the upper opening of the water storage part.

5. The mist sauna device according to claim 1 or 2, The casing includes a main body case having a lower opening, and a cover that covers the lower opening of the main body case and forms the lower surface of the casing; The cover has a common opening that is shared by the hot air outlet and the mist outlet, The mist sauna device has the hot air outlet and the mist outlet arranged adjacent to each other in the shared opening of the cover via a partition wall.

6. The mist sauna device according to claim 1 or 2, The heating unit has a movable louver at the downstream end of the heating air duct, The mist sauna device is configured so that the warm air blown into the room from the warm air outlet flows toward the mist-like mist blown into the room from the mist outlet depending on the louver position of the movable louver.

7. The mist sauna device according to claim 1 or 2, The device has an operation control means for controlling the operation of the heating unit and the mist unit, The operation control means operates the heating unit with a predetermined heating capacity of the heating means for heating and a predetermined airflow capacity of the heating fan, and also operates the mist unit to blow warm air into the room from the warm air outlet while blowing mist-like mist into the room from the mist outlet, thereby diffusing mist-like mist throughout the room; and operates the heating unit with a heating capacity of the heating means for heating and an airflow capacity of the heating fan that is higher than those of the first operation, and also operates the mist unit to blow warm air, which is at a higher temperature and at an increased airflow rate than in the first operation, into the room from the warm air outlet while blowing mist-like mist into the room from the mist outlet, thereby creating a hotter and more humid environment than in the first operation.

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