Air purifiers

Abstract

Provided is an air purifier with which it is possible to increase the amount of wind flowing through an ion generation unit, thereby increasing the amount of ions generated. The air purifier according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a casing in which are formed a suction opening and a blowout opening, a ventilation pathway by which the suction opening and the blowout opening communicate, a fan accommodated inside the ventilation pathway, and an ion generation unit that discharges ions in air flowing through the ventilation pathway, the air purifier being such that: the ventilation pathway has a first flow path formed between a first wall surface and a second wall surface that face each other, the first flow path being connected to the fan accommodation section, and a second flow path in which the ion generation unit is provided, the second flow path connecting the first flow path and the blowout opening; the fan discharges air from the accommodation section into the first flow path so that the flow rate is higher on the second-wall-surface side than on the first-wall-surface side; and the first wall surface extends so as to approach the second wall surface as the first wall surface advances toward the downstream side in the flow path direction in which the air discharged by the fan flows through the ventilation pathway.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air purifier. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-026694, filed on February 20, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an air purifier in which a blower, an ion generating unit, etc. are arranged in an air passage that connects an air intake formed in the device body with an air outlet. In the above-mentioned air purifier, the fan constituting the blower is rotated so that air sucked in from the outside through the air intake passes through the ion generating unit arranged in the air passage, and the air to which ions generated by the ion generating unit are added is discharged from the air outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-86509 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide, as an example, an air purifier that can increase the amount of ions generated by increasing the amount of air passing through an ion generating unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An air purifier according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a housing in which an intake port and an exhaust port are formed, an air passage connecting the intake port and the exhaust port, a fan housed inside the air passage, and an ion generating unit that emits ions into air flowing through the air passage, the air passage being formed between opposing first and second wall surfaces and having a first flow path connected to a housing for the fan, and a second flow path in which the ion generating unit is provided and which connects the first flow path and the exhaust port, the fan blows air from the housing into the first flow path so that the flow speed on the second wall surface side is faster than that on the first wall surface side, and the first wall surface extends so as to approach the second wall surface as the air blown out by the fan proceeds downstream in a flow path direction through the air passage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a side view showing an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing an air passage of the air purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a fan housing of the air purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a first flow path and a second flow path of the air purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow speed of air flowing through a first flow path and a second flow path of the air purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid repetitive explanations, and elements that are not directly related to the present invention may be omitted. Furthermore, the forms of the components shown in the embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these forms.

[0008] A portable air purifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, also referred to as air purifier 100) will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 1 is a front perspective view showing the air purifier 100. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the air purifier 100. Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing an air passage of the air purifier 100. Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing an accommodation section 150 of the fan 130 of the air purifier 100. Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a first flow path 160 and a second flow path 170 of the air purifier 100. In the following description, the side on which the air purifier 100 is placed is referred to as the lower side, the opposite side is referred to as the upper side, the side on which the logo L of the peripheral cover 111 is provided is referred to as the front (front) side, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear (rear) side.

[0009] As an example, the air purifier 100 is for purifying the air inside a vehicle. The air purifier 100 is configured so as to be able to be installed in, for example, a drink holder. The air purifier 100 may be configured so as to be powered from a cigarette lighter socket or a USB port. Alternatively, a battery or other power source may be installed.

[0010] The air purifier 100 includes a housing 110. The housing 110 is a member that forms the exterior of the air purifier 100. The housing 110 includes a peripheral cover 111 and a top cover 112.

[0011] The peripheral cover 111 is a cylindrical member having an internal space, and is formed so as to widen as it goes upward. The peripheral cover 111 is configured so as to be separable into an upper cover 111a and a lower cover 111b. The upper cover 111a and the lower cover 111b are provided so as to be detachable.

[0012] The upper cover 111a is disposed on the upper portion of the air purifier 100 and constitutes a part of the outer peripheral surface. The upper cover 111a is provided with a logo L at a predetermined position. The upper cover 111a is formed so that the cross-sectional shape when cut on a horizontal plane is a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. The upper surface of the upper cover 111a is provided with an inclination toward the upper rear so that the rear side is higher than the front side.

[0013] Lower cover 111b is disposed at the bottom of air purifier 100 and constitutes a part of the outer circumferential surface. Lower cover 111b is formed, for example, so that the cross section of lower cover 111b when cut on a horizontal plane is an arc shape so that it can be installed in a drink holder. Lower cover 111b is formed with suction port 113 for taking in outside air. Suction port 113 is, for example, made up of a plurality of holes formed in a slit shape. A filter (not shown) is attached to suction port 113. A pair of suction ports 113 are provided side by side in the circumferential direction and facing each other on the left and right.

[0014] The top cover 112 is inserted into an opening 111c formed at the upper end of the peripheral cover 111, and is configured to cover the upper end of the peripheral cover 111 (see FIG. 3). The top cover 112 is provided with its top surface inclined upward and rearward so that the rear side is higher than the front side. An air outlet 114 for blowing air out to the outside is formed in the front part of the top cover 112. An operating unit 115 for performing various operations of the air purifier 100 is provided behind the air outlet 114 on the top cover 112. The user can switch the operation mode of the air purifier 100 by operating the operating unit 115.

[0015] 3 to 5, air passage 120 will be described. Air passage 120 is formed by, for example, resin molding. Air passage 120 communicates with inlet 113 and outlet 114. Air passage 120 houses fan 130 and ion generating unit 140.

[0016] As an example, the fan 130 is a centrifugal fan (sirocco fan). The fan 130 has a body portion 130a formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is capable of sucking air from both sides in the cylindrical axis direction. As an example, the fan 130 is housed so that the cylindrical axis direction is the left-right direction. That is, the suction port 113 and the suction port of the fan 130 (the end portion in the cylindrical axis direction) are arranged to face each other.

[0017] Ion generating unit 140 includes discharge electrode 140a for emitting ions (see FIG. 6). Discharge electrode 140a has a brush-shaped tip and is disposed facing air passage 120. Discharge electrode 140a includes a positive discharge electrode that generates positive ions and a negative discharge electrode that generates negative ions, and is disposed side by side at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction.

[0018] In the above configuration, the ion generating unit 140 emits ions (positive ions and negative ions) by applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode 140a to generate a discharge. The emitted positive ions and negative ions are carried by the air flowing through the air passage 120 and diffused to the outside, thereby enabling, for example, sterilization and deodorization of the room.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the air passage 120 has an accommodation section 150 that accommodates the fan 130, a first flow path 160 connected to the accommodation section 150, and a second flow path 170 that connects the first flow path 160 and the air outlet 114.

[0020] The container 150 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0021] The accommodation section 150 is made up of a fan casing that accommodates the fan 130. The accommodation section 150 is disposed in the lower part of the housing 110. The accommodation section 150 includes an involute wall 151 that faces a part of the outer circumferential surface of the fan 130, and a pair of side walls 152 that respectively connect the left and right ends of the involute wall 151. The pair of side walls 152 are provided parallel to each other with equal spacing between them.

[0022] The involute wall 151 is formed so that its cross-sectional shape when cut along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the fan 130 is involute-shaped. The involute wall 151 is formed so that the distance between the involute wall 151 and the outer circumferential surface of the fan 130 increases toward the downstream side in the flow path direction (hereinafter referred to as the flow path direction) in which the air blown out by the fan 130 flows through the air passage 120. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the fan 130 is configured so that its rotation direction is counterclockwise.

[0023] The accommodation section 150 includes an outlet 153 through which the fan 130 sends air to the first flow path 160. The outlet 153 is, for example, disposed at the rear of the housing 110 and opens upward.

[0024] The delivery port 153 includes a first guide wall 153a that bends from one end 151a of the involute wall 151 and then extends upward, a second guide wall 153b that extends upward from the other end 151b of the involute wall 151, and a pair of side walls 153c that connect the left and right ends of the first guide wall 153a and the second guide wall 153b, respectively. The pair of side walls 153c are provided parallel to each other with equal opposing distances.

[0025] One end 151a of the involute wall 151 refers to the end at which the distance between the involute wall 151 and the outer circumferential surface of the fan 130 is smallest. The other end 151b of the involute wall 151 refers to the end at which the distance between the involute wall 151 and the outer circumferential surface of the fan 130 is smallest. The tangent direction of the other end 151b of the involute wall 151 is upward, and the other end 151b is smoothly connected to the second guide wall 153b.

[0026] The first flow path 160 and the second flow path 170 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, the first flow path 160 is a flow path that connects the outlet 153 of the storage unit 150 and the upstream end of the second flow path 170 in the flow path direction. The first flow path 160 is formed between a first wall surface 161 and a second wall surface 162 that face each other. More specifically, the first flow path 160 includes the first wall surface 161 and the second wall surface 162 that face each other, and a pair of side walls 163 that connect the left and right ends of the first wall surface 161 and the second wall surface 162, respectively. The pair of side walls 163 are provided in parallel so that the opposing intervals are equal. The first flow path 160 is a flow path for guiding air to the second flow path 170, and here, the first flow path 160 is arranged so as to extend upward from the outlet 153 and incline backward as it proceeds upward.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the second flow path 170 is a flow path that connects the downstream end of the first flow path 160 in the flow path direction and the air outlet 114. The second flow path 170 is formed between a third wall surface 171 and a fourth wall surface 172 that face each other. More specifically, the second flow path 170 includes the third wall surface 171 and the fourth wall surface 172 that face each other, and a pair of side walls 173 that connect the left and right ends of the third wall surface 171 and the fourth wall surface 172, respectively. The pair of side walls 173 are configured so that the distance between them increases as they move downstream in the flow path direction. The third wall surface 171 is connected to the first wall surface 161, and the fourth wall surface 172 is connected to the second wall surface 162. The second flow path 170 is a flow path that determines the direction of air blown out from the air outlet 114, and here, the second flow path 170 is arranged so as to incline forward from the upper end of the first flow path 160 toward the air outlet 114.

[0029] Ion generation unit 140 is disposed near air outlet 114 of second flow path 170. More specifically, discharge electrode 140a of ion generation unit 140 is formed to protrude from third wall surface 171 toward fourth wall surface 172. A tip end of discharge electrode 140a is disposed in an intermediate portion between third wall surface 171 and fourth wall surface 172 (see FIG. 6).

[0030] In the above configuration, when air purifier 100 rotates fan 130 by a motor (not shown), outside air is drawn into storage unit 150 through intake port 113. The air drawn into storage unit 150 is discharged from the outer circumferential surface of fan 130 through fan 130, swirls inside storage unit 150, and is guided to first flow path 160 through outlet port 153. When the air guided to first flow path 160 passes through second flow path 170 (ion generation unit 140), ions are added to the air by ion generation unit 140, and the air is blown out from outlet port 114.

[0031] Due to the characteristics of fan 130, which is a centrifugal fan, the flow speed increases as the distance from center of rotation O of fan 130 increases when viewed from the axial direction (cylinder axis direction) of fan 130. Therefore, the flow speed of air flowing along second guide wall 153b and second wall surface 162 located on the side away from center of rotation O of fan 130 is configured to be faster than the flow speed of air flowing along first guide wall 153a and first wall surface 161 located on the side closer to center of rotation O of fan 130.

[0032] That is, the fan 130 sends air from the container 150 into the first flow path 160 so that the flow velocity on the second wall surface 162 side is faster than that on the first wall surface 161 side.

[0033] 5, the first wall surface 161 extends so as to approach the second wall surface 162 as it advances downstream in the flow path direction. In other words, the first wall surface 161 extends so as to be inclined rearward as it advances upward.

[0034] This allows the air (slow-flowing air) flowing along first wall surface 161 to merge with the air (fast-flowing air) flowing along second wall surface 162 as it progresses downstream in the flow path direction. By merging the slow-flowing air with the fast-flowing air, the air is efficiently merged while suppressing the generation of turbulence. Therefore, the amount of air passing through second flow path 170 (ion generating unit 140) located downstream of first flow path 160 can be increased, and the amount of ions generated can be increased.

[0035] Also, the second flow path 170 is disposed inclined toward the first wall surface 161 side with respect to the first flow path 160. Here, the second flow path 170 is disposed inclined toward the first wall surface 161 side (front side). As a result, in the second flow path 170, the fourth wall surface 172 can be a wall surface located on the outer periphery side, and the third wall surface 171 can be a wall surface located on the inner periphery side. Therefore, the air (air with a high flow rate) flowing through the second wall surface 162 can be smoothly guided to the fourth wall surface 172. Also, the air (air with a low flow rate) flowing through the first wall surface 161 is easily guided away from the third wall surface 171 to the fourth wall surface 172 side. Therefore, even at the connection portion between the first flow path 160 and the second flow path 170, the air with a low flow rate is merged with the air with a high flow rate, thereby efficiently merging the air while suppressing the generation of turbulence.

[0036] The cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path 160 is configured to become smaller toward the downstream side in the flow path direction. As an example, the first flow path 160 extends such that the first wall surface 161 approaches the second wall surface 162 toward the downstream side. As a result, the first flow path 160 is configured such that the cross-sectional area becomes smaller toward the downstream side in the flow path direction. The cross-sectional area here refers to the cross-sectional area when cut along a plane perpendicular to the flow path direction.

[0037] This allows the flow velocity of the air flowing through first flow path 160 to increase as it moves downstream in the flow path direction. Therefore, the amount of air passing through second flow path 170 (ion generating unit 140) can be increased, and the amount of ions generated can be increased.

[0038] In addition, the first wall surface 161 is configured to extend closer to the second wall surface 162 as it progresses downstream in the flow path direction, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path 160 becomes smaller as it progresses downstream. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, the first flow path 160 may be configured so that the width in the left-right direction (the distance between a pair of opposing side walls 163) becomes smaller as it progresses downstream.

[0039] Further, the second wall surface 162 is configured to be inclined in a direction away from the center of rotation O of the fan 130 as it progresses downstream in the flow path direction when viewed from the axial direction of the fan 130. Here, the direction away from the center of rotation O of the fan 130 is the rearward direction. By providing the second wall surface 162 so as to be inclined rearward as it progresses downstream in the flow path direction, it is possible to increase the radius of curvature of the connection portion between the second wall surface 162 and the fourth wall surface 172, compared to a case in which the second wall surface 162 is not inclined rearward.

[0040] In the above configuration, by intentionally inclining second wall surface 162 in a direction away from center of rotation O of fan 130, it is possible to form a gently curved surface with a large radius of curvature from second wall surface 162 to fourth wall surface 172. Therefore, air can be efficiently guided from second wall surface 162 along the fourth wall surface, and air with a high flow rate can be supplied to ion generation section 140 of second flow path 170.

[0041] The flow speed of air flowing through the first flow path 160 and the second flow path 170 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an image diagram showing the flow speed of air flowing through the first flow path 160 and the second flow path 170 of the air purifier 100. In Fig. 6, the flow speed is represented by the shade of light ink, so that the faster the flow speed, the darker the light ink, and the slower the flow speed, the lighter the light ink.

[0042] 6, air flowing in the first flow path 160 is merged with the fourth wall surface 172 side in the second flow path 170, so that faster air can pass through the tip of the discharge electrode 140a. In addition, the ion generation unit 140 is formed to protrude from the third wall surface 171 toward the fourth wall surface 172, so that faster air on the fourth wall surface 172 side of the second flow path 170 can easily pass through the tip of the discharge electrode 140a, and the amount of ions generated can be increased.

[0043] Although fan 130 is composed of a centrifugal fan (sirocco fan), the present invention is not limited to this and may be any fan that blows air from storage section 150 into first flow path 160 so that the flow rate increases as the air moves away from first wall surface 161 toward second wall surface 162.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above-described embodiment may be replaced with a configuration that is substantially the same as the configuration shown in the above-described embodiment, a configuration that provides the same effect, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 100 air purifier, 110 housing, 113 intake port, 114 outlet port, 130 fan, 140 ion generating section, 140a discharge electrode, 150 storage section, 153 outlet port, 160 first flow path, 161 first wall surface, 162 second wall surface, 170 second flow path

Claims

1. A housing in which an inlet and an outlet are formed; An air passage communicating the air inlet and the air outlet; A fan accommodated inside the air passage; An ion generating unit that emits ions into the air flowing through the air passage, The air passage is a first flow passage formed between a first wall surface and a second wall surface facing each other and connected to a housing portion of the fan; The ion generating unit is provided, and a second flow path is provided connecting the first flow path and the air outlet, the fan sends air from the accommodation portion into the first flow path so that a flow velocity on the second wall surface side is faster than a flow velocity on the first wall surface side, the first wall surface extends toward the second wall surface as the air blown by the fan travels downstream in a flow path direction through the air blowing path, The second flow path is disposed so as to be inclined toward the first wall surface side with respect to the first flow path, An air purifier, wherein a cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path becomes smaller toward a connection portion with the second flow path.

2. The ion generating unit includes a discharge electrode for emitting ions, The second flow path is formed between a third wall surface connected to the first wall surface and a fourth wall surface connected to the second wall surface, the third wall surface being opposed to the first wall surface, The air purifier according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge electrode is formed to protrude from the third wall surface toward the fourth wall surface.

3. The housing is disposed in a lower portion of the housing, and is configured to allow the fan to blow air upward. A delivery port is provided. The air outlet is provided on an upper surface of the housing and is provided forward of the air outlet, The first flow path extends upward from the delivery port and inclines rearward as it extends upward, The air purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second flow path is inclined forward from an upper end of the first flow path toward the air outlet.

Images