Humidifier

Abstract

To provide a humidifier suppressing scattering of water droplets from an outlet.SOLUTION: A humidifier includes: a filter 12 whose circumference is partially soaked in water in a water storage zone 36 for storing water; a filter frame part 13 holding the filter 12; a support part 16 rotatably supporting the filter frame part 13; a rotary member 14 rotating the filter frame part 13; and a blow part 7 blowing air outside a body case 4 to the filter 12. The direction of a rotary shaft of the filter frame part 13 is a horizontal direction. The filter frame part 13 has a first filter frame 20 and a second filter frame 21. The first filter frame 20 includes: a first rotary shaft 23 extending in a leeward side in a blow direction to the filter 12; and a lot of first inside crosspieces 40 radially extending from the first rotary shaft around the first rotary shaft 23. The first inside crosspieces 40 are each provided with a water scattering suppression member 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an evaporative humidifier that rotates a filter that is partially immersed in water in a water storage container and humidifies air by passing air through the filter. [Background technology]

[0002] The conventional structure of this type of humidifier is as follows.

[0003] That is, it comprises a main case having an air intake and an air outlet, a water storage compartment provided within the main case for storing water, a disc-shaped filter having part of its periphery immersed in the water in the water storage compartment, a filter frame for holding the filter, a support part for rotatably supporting the filter frame, a rotating member for rotating the filter frame, an air blower part for blowing air from outside the main case to the filter, and an air duct for blowing the air sucked in from the air intake by the air blower part through the filter to the air outlet (for example, Patent Document 1 listed below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6397756 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In such conventional humidifiers, the filter rotates while being partially immersed in the water in the water storage container, and the air blowing unit blows air onto the filter that is out of the water. When the filter holds a lot of water and the air blowing unit blows a large amount of air onto the filter, water droplets scatter from the filter and are blown out from the air outlet.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional art, and has an object to provide a humidifier that suppresses scattering of water droplets from the air outlet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] and a rotating member that rotates the filter frame portion. A blower section that blows air outside the main body case to the filter, and an air passage that blows the air sucked in from the air intake by the air blower section to the air outlet through the filter, wherein the direction of the rotation axis of the filter frame portion is horizontal, the filter frame portion has a first filter frame and a second filter frame that is detachable from the first filter frame, the first filter frame has a first rotation axis extending toward the downwind side in the direction of air blowing to the filter, and a number of first inner rails extending radially from the first rotation axis with the first rotation axis as the center, and the first inner rails are provided with a water-splash suppression member. the first inner rib portion has a long and narrow plate shape, the water splash suppression member has a first receiving portion that protrudes toward the filter from an upwind side of the first inner rib portion facing the filter and extends in the longitudinal direction of the first inner rib portion from the first rotation shaft, the first receiving portion is disposed at a rear end of the first inner rib portion in the rotation direction of the filter frame portion, the water splash suppression member has a second receiving portion that protrudes from a windward end of the first receiving portion in the blowing direction of air to the filter to a front end side in the rotation direction of the filter frame portion, and a dimension of the second receiving portion protruding from the first receiving portion is smaller than a dimension of the first inner rib portion in the short side direction. The present invention is characterized by the above-mentioned, and by these means, the initial objective is achieved. Effect of the Invention

[0008] As described above, the present invention has the effect of suppressing water droplets from scattering from the air outlet. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a humidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] Cross-sectional view of the humidifier [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a gas-liquid contact portion of the humidifier; [Diagram 5] Development of the gas-liquid contact area of ​​the humidifier [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a filter and a filter frame of the humidifier; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a water storage container, a water supply unit, and a filter frame unit of the humidifier; [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first filter frame of the humidifier; [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a first filter frame of the humidifier; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (Embodiment 1) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a humidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a humidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention with a door open. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a humidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a gas-liquid contact section of a humidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the gas-liquid contact section of a humidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] In the following, the vertical direction in the installed state of the humidifier (hereinafter also referred to as the "installed state") as shown in Fig. 1 may be referred to as the up-down direction, and the horizontal direction as the left-right direction. In the following, in the installed state, the side of the long side on which the operation unit 34 is provided on the rectangular top surface of the humidifier is referred to as the "front", the side facing the front of the humidifier is referred to as the "rear", the side on the right side as viewed from the front of the humidifier is referred to as the "right side", and the side on the left side is referred to as the "left side".

[0012] 1 to 5, the humidifier 1 of this embodiment includes a main body case 4 in the shape of a vertically long box having an air intake 2 and an air outlet 3, and an air purifier 5, a gas-liquid contact unit 6, an air blower 7, and a control unit 9 inside the main body case 4. Inside the main body case 4, the air purifier 5 is disposed on the front side of the main body case 4, the air blower 7 is disposed on the rear side of the main body case 4, and the gas-liquid contact unit 6 is disposed between the air purifier 5 and the air blower 7. In an air passage 32 communicating with the air intake 2 and the air outlet 3, the air purifier 5, a filter 12 (described later) which is the gas-liquid contact unit 6, and the air blower 7 are disposed.

[0013] The air intakes 2 are located on the left and right side surfaces of the main body case 4, and the air outlet 3 is located on the top surface of the main body case 4. The air outlet 3 has a plurality of louvers 3a that rotate in the vertical direction. In FIG. 1, the air outlet 3 is in a state where the louvers 3a are closed.

[0014] Air purifying section 5 captures fine particles in the air passing through air purifying section 5 and removes them from the airflow. Air purifying section 5 has a vertically elongated shape and is made of a filter material folded into a bellows shape. Air purifying section 5 is provided on the downwind side of air intake 2 in air passage 32.

[0015] The gas-liquid contact section 6 retains water and promotes gas-liquid contact between the air to be purified and the water, and is provided on the downwind side of the air purifying section 5 in the air passage 32. The gas-liquid contact section 6 has a water supply section 10, a water storage container 11, a filter 12, a filter frame section 13, and a rotating member 14. There is an openable door 4a on the side of the main body case 4, and when the door 4a is opened, the water supply section 10 and the water storage container 11 appear.

[0016] The water supply unit 10 supplies water into the water storage container 11. One example of the water supply unit 10 is a water tank 15. The water tank 15 is attached to the end of the water storage container, and stores water therein. Water is supplied from the water tank 15 to the water storage container 11 by a valve mechanism, so that the water level in the water storage container 11 is kept substantially constant. The water supply unit 10 may also be configured to supply water from a pipe connected to a water pipe.

[0017] The water storage container 11 is in the shape of a generally long horizontal box with an open top, stores water supplied from a water tank 15, and is provided at the bottom of the main body case 4 so as to be freely attached and detached in the horizontal direction. It has a support part 16 that rotatably supports the filter frame part 13. The support part 16 has a first support plate 16a and a second support plate 16b that are generally long vertical plates extending upward from the upper edge of the water storage container 11. The upper part of the first support plate 16a has a first bearing 17a that rotatably supports the filter frame part 13, and the upper part of the second support plate 16b has a second bearing 17b that rotatably supports the filter frame part 13. The first support plate 16a is disposed on the leeward side of the second support plate 16b in the air passage 32.

[0018] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the filter and the filter frame of the humidifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, filter 12 is disk-shaped, with a portion of its periphery periodically immersed in the water in water storage container 11, and draws up water by utilizing capillary action. The water drawn up by capillary action is held by the connecting threads of filter 12, and purified by air passing through them. Filter 12 is held within filter frame 13.

[0020] The filter frame portion 13 has a first filter frame 20 and a second filter frame 21.

[0021] The first filter frame 20 has a circular shallow dish shape, and has a bottom surface with a plurality of openings 22. The first filter frame 20 has a first rotation shaft 23 protruding outward in the center of the bottom surface.

[0022] The second filter frame 21 has a circular shallow dish shape, and has a bottom surface with a plurality of openings 24. The second filter frame 21 has a second rotation shaft 25 protruding outward in the center of the bottom surface.

[0023] The filter 12 is disposed between the first filter frame 20 and the second filter frame 21, and the second filter frame 21 is configured to fit into the first filter frame 20. In this state, the second rotation shaft 25 of the second filter frame 21 and the first rotation shaft 23 of the first filter frame 20 each protrude outward. The filter frame portion 13 is rotatably supported by the first bearing 17a provided on the first support plate 16a of the water storage container 11 and the second bearing 17b provided on the second support plate 16b by the first rotation shaft 23 of the first filter frame 20 and the second rotation shaft 25 of the second filter frame 21. The first rotation shaft 23 of the first filter frame 20 and the second rotation shaft 25 of the second filter frame 21 extend in the front-rear direction of the main body case 4 (the direction of air blowing in the filter frame). The filter 12 and the filter frame portion 13 are configured to rotate in the vertical direction by the rotating member 14. The first rotating shaft 23 of the first filter frame 20 is attached to the first bearing 17a, and the second rotating shaft 25 of the second filter frame 21 is attached to the second bearing 17b, so that a portion of the periphery of the filter 12 of the filter frame portion 13 is immersed in the water in the water storage container 11.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the blower 7 is provided in the center of the main body case 4, and includes a motor 26, a fan 27 rotated by the motor 26, and a scroll-shaped casing 28 surrounding them.

[0025] The casing 28 is provided with an outlet 29 and an inlet 30. The outlet 29 is provided on the upper surface side of the main body case 4 of the casing 28. The inlet 30 is provided on the front surface side of the main body case 4 of the casing 28.

[0026] The motor 26 has a rotating shaft 31, and the rotating shaft 31 of the motor 26 extends horizontally from the front side to the rear side of the main body case 4.

[0027] Fan 27 is a sirocco fan, and is fixed to a rotating shaft 31 extending from motor 26. When the rotating shaft of motor 26 rotates, fan 27 also rotates, and air sucked in from air intake 2 of main body case 4 is sucked into casing 28 from suction port 30 and sent to air outlet 3 via exhaust port 29 of casing 28.

[0028] Air passage 32 is an air passage that sequentially communicates from intake 2 to outlet 3 via air purifier 5, filter 12, and blower 7. First, when fan 27 of blower 7 rotates, air outside main body case 4 is sucked in from intake 2 and blown to air passage 32. The air blown to air passage 32 passes through air purifier 5, which collects dust and the like, turning it into purified air. Next, the purified air passes through filter 12 that holds water, turning it into purified humidified air that contains moisture. The purified humidified air is blown out of main body case 4 from outlet 3 via blower 7.

[0029] The control unit 9 controls the gas-liquid contact unit 6 (rotating member 14) and the blower 7 (motor 26). Specifically, the control unit 9 controls the operation of the rotating member 14 which is the gas-liquid contact unit 6, the rotation speed of the motor 26 which is the blower 7, and the like, in response to the operation of the operating unit 34.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the water storage container, the water supply section, and the filter frame section of the humidifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the water storage container 11 has a water supply section 35, a water storage section 36, a partition plate 37, and a communication hole 38.

[0032] The partition plate 37 is a plate that separates the water supply section 35 and the water storage section 36. The partition plate 37 extends upward from the bottom surface of the water storage container 11, and the upper end of the partition plate 37 is disposed above the water surface.

[0033] The communication hole 38 is a horizontally long opening, and is disposed at the lower end of the partition plate 37. The communication hole 38 communicates between the water supply compartment 35 and the water storage compartment 36. Water in the water supply compartment 35 flows into the water storage compartment 36 through the communication hole 38. The bottom surface of the water supply compartment 35 and the bottom surface of the water storage compartment 36 are disposed on the same plane. When water is supplied from the water tank 15 to the water storage container 11 by the valve mechanism and the water level in the water storage container 11 is kept substantially constant, the communication hole 38 is located below the water surface.

[0034] The water supply section 35 is a section in which the water tank 15 is arranged. In Fig. 7, it is the section on the right side. Water is supplied from the water tank 15 to the water supply section 35.

[0035] The water storage compartment 36 is a compartment in which the filter 12 and the filter frame 13, which are part of the gas-liquid contact section 6, are disposed. In Fig. 7, this is the left-hand compartment.

[0036] 3, 5 and 6, the humidifier 1 includes the main body case 4 having the air intake 2 and the air outlet 3, the water storage compartment 36 provided in the main body case 4 for storing water, the disk-shaped filter 12 having a portion of its periphery immersed in the water in the water storage compartment 36, the filter frame 13 for holding the filter 12, the support section 16 for rotatably supporting the filter frame 13, a rotating member 14 for rotating the filter frame 13, the air blower 7 for blowing air from outside the main body case 4 to the filter 12, and the air passage 32 for blowing the air sucked in from the air intake 2 by the air blower 7 to the air outlet 3 via the filter 12. The rotation axis of the filter frame 13 is horizontal, and the filter frame 13 has a first filter frame 20 and a second filter frame 21 that is detachable from the first filter frame 20. The first filter frame 20 has a first rotating shaft 23 extending toward the downwind side in the direction of air blowing to the filter 12, and a number of first inner railings 40 extending radially from the first rotating shaft 23, with the first rotating shaft 23 as the center.

[0037] The feature of this embodiment is that the first inner sash portion 40 is provided with a water-splash suppression member 41, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Specifically, the first inner sash portion 40 has a long and narrow plate shape, and the water-splash suppression member 41 protrudes toward the filter 12 from the windward side 40a of the first inner sash portion 40 facing the filter 12, and has a first receiving portion 42 having a long and narrow plate shape extending from the first rotating shaft 23 in the longitudinal direction of the first inner sash portion 40. As a result, when water droplets are scattered from the filter 12 to the leeward side in the direction of air blowing to the filter 12, some of the scattered water droplets hit the windward side 40a of the first inner sash portion 40 facing the filter 12, run along the windward side 40a of the first inner sash portion 40, and flow into the first receiving portion 42, so that the water droplets are easily allowed to flow along the first receiving portion 42. Here, when the filter frame portion 13 rotates, a part of the first inner sash portion 40 moves upward together with the filter 12 that has come out of the water. Partway through this upward movement, the first receiving portion 42 tilts downward toward the rotation axis of the filter frame 13. As a result, the water droplets that have accumulated on the first receiving portion 42 flow along the first receiving portion 42 to the first rotating shaft 23, and then from the first rotating shaft 23 through the first bearing 17a and the first support plate 16a that is the support portion 16, into the water storage compartment 36. As a result, it is possible to prevent the water droplets from scattering from the air outlet 3 (see FIG. 5).

[0038] Moreover, the first receiving portion 42 is disposed at the rear end of the first inner rail portion 40 in the rotation direction of the filter frame portion 13. The cross-sectional shape of the first receiving portion 42 and the first inner rail portion 40 is L-shaped. As a result, when water droplets scatter from the filter 12 to the downwind side in the direction of air blowing to the filter 12, some of the scattered water droplets hit the inner rail windward side 40a of the first inner rail portion 40 facing the filter 12, and the water droplets that hit the inner rail windward side 40a flow along the inner rail windward side 40a into the first receiving portion 42, and are more likely to flow along the first receiving portion 42.

[0039] The water splash suppression member 41 has a second receiving portion 43 having a long and narrow plate shape that protrudes from the windward end of the first receiving portion 42 in the direction of airflow to the filter 12 toward the front end in the rotation direction of the filter frame 13. The dimension of the second receiving portion 43 protruding from the first receiving portion 42 is smaller than the dimension of the first inner frame 40 in the short direction. Specifically, the surface of the first inner frame 40 having a long and narrow plate shape and the surface of the second receiving portion 43 having a long and narrow plate shape are opposed to each other and are arranged so that their long sides are parallel to each other. The first receiving portion 42 is provided between the long side of the first inner frame 40 on the rear end side in the rotation direction of the filter frame 13 and the long side of the second receiving portion 43 on the rear end side in the rotation direction of the filter frame 13. The cross-sectional shape of the first inner frame 40, the first receiving portion 42, and the second receiving portion 43 is approximately U-shaped. The dimension of the second receiving portion 43 in the short side direction is smaller than the dimension of the first inner rail portion 40 in the short side direction.

[0040] As a result, when water droplets are scattered from the filter 12 to the downwind side in the direction of airflow to the filter 12, some of the scattered water droplets hit the windward side 40a of the first inner sash portion 40 facing the filter 12, flow along the windward side 40a of the inner sash portion 40 into the first receiving portion 42 between the first inner sash portion 40 and the second receiving portion 43, and are easily flowed along the first receiving portion 42. As a result, the second receiving portion 43 makes it difficult for the air to hit the water droplets flowing through the first receiving portion 42 between the first inner sash portion 40 and the second receiving portion 43, and it is possible to suppress the water droplets from scattering again. Furthermore, since the dimension of the second receiving portion 43 in the short side direction is smaller than the dimension of the first inner sash portion 40 in the short side direction, when water droplets are scattered from the filter 12 to the downwind side in the direction of airflow to the filter 12, the water droplets that hit the first inner sash portion 40 are easily hit. [Industrial Applicability]

[0041] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The humidifier according to the present invention is capable of suppressing the scattering of water droplets from the air outlet, and is therefore useful as a humidifier for commercial or domestic use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Humidifier 2 Air Intake 3 Air outlet 3a Louver 4 Main unit case 4a Door 5. Air Purifier 6 Gas-liquid contact area 7 Blower section 9. Control Unit 10 Water supply section 11 Water storage tank 12 Filters 13 Filter frame 14 Rotating members 15 Water Tank 16 Support part 16a 1st support plate 16b 2nd support plate 17a No. 1 bearing 17b No. 2 bearing 20 First filter frame 21 Second filter frame 22 Aperture 23 First Rotation Axis 24 Aperture 25 Second Rotation Axis 26 Motor 27 Fans 28 Casing 29 Discharge port 30 Intake port 31 Rotation axis 32 Wind path 34 Control section 35 Water Supply Section 36 Water Storage Section 37 Partition 38 Communication hole 40 1st inner pier 40a Windward side of inner pier 41 Water splash prevention material 42 First receiving part 43 Second receiving part

Claims

[Claim 1] a main body case having an intake port and an exhaust port; A water storage compartment for storing water provided in the main body case; a disk-shaped filter having a peripheral portion immersed in the water in the water storage compartment; A filter frame for holding the filter; A support portion that rotatably supports the filter frame portion; A rotating member that rotates the filter frame; a blower that blows air outside the main body case to the filter; an air passage through which the air sucked in from the air intake by the air blowing unit is blown to the air outlet through the filter; The rotation axis direction of the filter frame is a horizontal direction, The filter frame is A first filter frame; The filter includes the first filter frame and a detachable second filter frame, The first filter frame is A first rotation shaft extending toward the downwind side in the air blowing direction to the filter; a plurality of first inner rail portions extending radially from the first rotation shaft, the first inner rail portions being centered on the first rotation shaft; The first inner rail portion is provided with a water splash suppression member, The first inner rail portion has a narrow plate shape, the water splash suppression member has a first receiving portion that protrudes toward the filter from an upwind side of the first inner rib portion that faces the filter and extends in a longitudinal direction of the first inner rib portion from the first rotation shaft, the first receiving portion is disposed at a rear end of the first inner frame portion in a rotation direction of the filter frame portion, The water splash suppression member has a second receiving portion that protrudes from a windward end of the first receiving portion in a direction in which air is blown to the filter toward a front end side in a rotation direction of the filter frame portion, A humidifier, wherein a dimension of the second receiving portion protruding from the first receiving portion is smaller than a dimension of the first inner rail portion in a short direction.

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