Hydrogen Generator

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen generator having excellent visibility even in a dark room and reduced glare from illumination. [Solution] This is a hydrogen generator comprising a housing 20 having an internal space 100 that accommodates at least a water tank 50 and a hydrogen generation unit 52, wherein the housing 20 has a main body portion 30 having the internal space 100, and a base portion 35 supporting the lower part of the main body portion 30, the main body portion 30 having a light-emitting portion 70 disposed within the internal space 100, and a bottom surface portion 32 supported by the base portion 35, the base portion 35 having a reflective surface portion 37 on its periphery that faces the bottom surface portion 32 of the main body portion 30 at a distance, and the bottom surface portion 32 having a light-transmitting hole 75 at a position facing the reflective surface portion 37 of the base portion 35 that allows light from the light-emitting portion 70 to pass through.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator that generates hydrogen from water in an electrolytic cell. [Background technology]

[0002] Inhaling hydrogen from a hydrogen generator is a common form of relaxation. A hydrogen generator generally generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water stored in a water tank in an electrolytic cell. The water tank and electrolytic cell are housed in a housing having an internal space, and the housing is provided with a water inlet and a hydrogen inlet. An example of such a hydrogen generator is that shown in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-41200 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The hydrogen generator can be placed anywhere in the room, but since it is mainly used for relaxation, it is placed, for example, on a bedside table in a bedroom, etc. To further enhance the relaxing effect, the hydrogen generator is often used in a darkened room.

[0005] When the hydrogen generator is in use, it is difficult to know where the hydrogen generator is located because of the darkness around it. For this reason, when the hydrogen generator is in operation, a light-emitting part provided on the housing emits light or a display lights up, so that the user can recognize the location of the hydrogen generator.

[0006] However, since the light from the light-emitting unit and display is directly visible to the user, it may be dazzling in a dark room. In addition, if the hydrogen generator is placed directly on the floor of a room, the user will look down at the hydrogen generator from above, which may prevent the user from recognizing the exact position of the hydrogen generator and cause the user to hit their foot.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a hydrogen generator that has excellent visibility even in a dark room and reduces the glare of the illumination light. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the hydrogen generator of the present invention is a hydrogen generator comprising a housing having an internal space that accommodates at least a water tank and a hydrogen generation unit, the housing having a main body portion having the internal space and a base portion supporting a lower part of the main body portion, the main body portion having a light-emitting unit disposed within the internal space and a bottom surface portion supported by the base portion, the base portion having a reflective surface portion on its periphery that faces and is spaced apart from the bottom surface portion of the main body portion, and the bottom surface portion having a light-transmitting hole at a position facing the reflective surface portion of the base portion that transmits light from the light-emitting unit.

[0009] Furthermore, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the reflecting surface portion may be configured so that a surface facing the light transmitting hole is inclined so as to face outward.

[0010] Furthermore, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the reflecting surface portion may be curved so as to be concave outward.

[0011] Furthermore, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the light transmission hole may be provided in plurality along an outer circumferential direction of the bottom surface portion.

[0012] Furthermore, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the light emitting portion may irradiate light in a direction different from a direction from the light emitting portion toward the light transmitting hole in the internal space.

[0013] In addition, the hydrogen generator of the present invention may be configured so that the water tank is translucent to transmit light from the light-emitting unit, and the main body has a window portion that transmits light from the light-emitting unit through the water tank.

[0014] Furthermore, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the main body may have an array of many small heat dissipation holes, and the heat dissipation holes may transmit light from the light emitting portion.

[0015] In addition, in the hydrogen generator of the present invention, the light-emitting unit can emit light of multiple colors, and the light from the light-emitting unit may change color depending on time or the state of the hydrogen generator. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, the reflective surface portion around the periphery of the base reflects and shines light from the internal space of the main body, so that the light seen from outside can be indirect light and the glare of the illumination can be reduced. In addition, because the light illuminates the base portion at the bottom of the housing, the user can look down from above and reliably recognize the position of the hydrogen generator even if the housing is placed on the floor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydrogen generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the hydrogen generator. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the hydrogen generator. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the base and main body that constitute the housing, in which the base and the bottom surface of the main body are integrated and the rest of the main body is disassembled. [Diagram 5] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a light transmission hole and a reflecting surface portion of the housing. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hydrogen generator with the light-emitting part illuminated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios of the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0019] The hydrogen generator 10 of this embodiment electrolyzes stored water in the hydrogen generation unit 52 consisting of an electrolytic cell to generate hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen is extracted from the intake port 42 so that the user can inhale the hydrogen.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, the hydrogen generator 10 includes a housing 20 formed in a generally box shape. The housing 20 has a box-shaped main body 30 and a base 35 that supports the lower part of the main body 30. The main body 30 has a top surface 31, a bottom surface 32, and a side surface 33. The bottom surface 32 of the main body 30 faces and is spaced apart from the periphery of the base 35. For this reason, when the housing 20 is viewed obliquely from above as in Fig. 1, a visual effect can be obtained that makes the main body 30 appear to be floating above the base 35.

[0021] A water supply port 40 is provided on an upper surface 31 of the main body 30, which serves as an inlet for pouring water into a water tank 50 housed inside the main body 30. In the drawings, the water supply port 40 is closed by a removable cover member 40a.

[0022] An inlet 42 for extracting the generated hydrogen is disposed on the upper surface 31 of the main body 30. The inlet 42 is covered with a cap 42a. The user can inhale the generated hydrogen by removing the cap 42a, connecting an inhalation tube (not shown), and attaching the inhalation tube to the nose. In addition, an oxygen outlet 43 for extracting the generated oxygen is disposed on the upper surface 31. The oxygen outlet 43 is covered with a cap 43a. The user can inhale both the generated hydrogen and oxygen by connecting a dedicated tube (not shown) that can be connected to both the inlet 42 and the oxygen outlet 43.

[0023] An operation display unit 44 is disposed on the upper surface 31 of the main body 30, which displays the state and setting state of the hydrogen generator 10 and allows setting operations to be performed.

[0024] A front window 45 is disposed on the side surface 33 of the main body 30, through which part of the water tank 50 housed inside the main body 30 can be seen. The amount of water remaining in the water tank 50 can be visually confirmed through the front window 45. The front window 45 is also provided with line indicators 45a that indicate the lower and upper limits of the amount of water in the water tank 50.

[0025] 1 and 2, side surface portion 33 of main body portion 30 has a large number of heat dissipation holes 46 arranged on the side surface and rear surface when the surface on which front window portion 45 is provided is defined as the front surface. Heat dissipation holes 46 are small holes, and communicate between the inside and outside of main body portion 30. When hydrogen generator 10 is in operation, the temperature inside main body portion 30 rises, and heat can be dissipated through heat dissipation holes 46.

[0026] 3, the main body 30 has an internal space 100. The internal space 100 accommodates a water tank 50, a hydrogen generation unit 52 that generates hydrogen and oxygen from the water in the water tank 50, and a hydrogen filter 54 through which the generated hydrogen passes.

[0027] The water tank 50 has a water inlet 61 that communicates with the water supply port 40 of the main body 30, and a long and narrow water filter 63 through which water passes from the water inlet 61. The above-mentioned lid member 40a is screwed into the water inlet 61. The water filter 63 removes impurities contained in the poured water.

[0028] The water tank 50 has a water storage section 62, which is a space for storing water. The water tank 50 is made of a translucent resin material such as acrylic. Water is sent from the water storage section 62 to the hydrogen generation section 52. The hydrogen generation section 52 is an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes water. The hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generation section 52 is sent to a gas-liquid separation section 64 that is integrally provided in the water tank 50. The gas from the hydrogen generation section 52 also contains water droplets, which can be separated by the gas-liquid separation section 64, allowing only the hydrogen to be sent to the hydrogen filter 54.

[0029] The oxygen generated in the hydrogen generation section is returned to the water storage section 62 of the water tank 50. Therefore, oxygen accumulates in the upper part of the water storage section 62. This oxygen can be taken out from the oxygen outlet section 43 described above.

[0030] The light-emitting unit 70 is disposed in the internal space 100 of the main body 30. The light-emitting unit 70 is composed of an LED unit capable of emitting a plurality of colors, and as shown in FIG. 3, the light-emitting unit 70 is provided on the bottom surface 32 of the main body 30. The light-emitting unit 70 includes three LEDs capable of emitting the three primary colors of light, and can emit light of various colors including white. As shown in FIG. 4, the light-emitting unit 70 is disposed on the mounting substrate 71, and is provided at two locations on the bottom surface 32. The light-emitting unit 70 is disposed so as to be able to irradiate light toward the internal space 100 of the main body 30. That is, the light-emitting unit 70 irradiates light from the bottom surface 32 upward.

[0031] The base portion 35 has a reflecting surface portion 37 that faces the bottom portion 32 at a distance over substantially the entire periphery. The bottom portion 32 has a large number of light transmission holes 75 that transmit light from the light emitting portion 70 in a peripheral portion that faces the reflecting surface portion 37 of the base portion 35. A large number of the light transmission holes 75 are arranged in a direction along the outer periphery of the bottom portion 32, and two rows are arranged along the inner and outer periphery direction of the bottom portion 32. The light transmission holes 75 are formed by small holes that penetrate the bottom portion 32 and are spaces, but may be filled with a light-transmitting material.

[0032] As described above, the light-emitting unit 70 irradiates light upward from the bottom surface portion 32, and irradiates light in a direction different from the direction from the light-emitting unit 70 toward the light transmission hole 75 in the internal space 100. For this reason, the light from the light-emitting unit 70 is not directly irradiated to the light transmission hole 75 provided in the bottom surface portion 32, and direct light from the light-emitting unit 70 is prevented from reaching the light transmission hole 75. The light from the light-emitting unit 70 is reflected and scattered in various directions within the internal space 100 of the main body portion 30, and part of it passes through the light transmission hole 75 as indirect light and reaches the reflective surface portion 37.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 5, the reflecting surface portion 37 is inclined so that the surface facing the light transmission hole 75 faces outward. The reflecting surface portion 37 is curved so as to be concave toward the outside. Light scattered in the internal space 100 of the main body portion 30 is emitted in various directions from the light transmission hole 75 and is reflected toward the outer periphery of the base portion 35 by the curved reflecting surface portion 37. The reflecting surface portion 37 is an inclined surface, so that it can reflect light from the light transmission hole 75 toward the outside, and is curved, so that it can reflect light so that it can be seen from a wider range.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hydrogen generator 10, showing a state in which the light-emitting unit 70 is emitting light. In this figure, the darker the color, the stronger the light emitted. When the light-emitting unit 70 emits light, the water tank 50 transmits light as described above. In addition, since the water stored in the water tank 50 also transmits light, a portion of the light from the light-emitting unit 70 is visible to the outside through the front window 45 of the main body 30. Therefore, the front window 45 of the main body 30 and its periphery are indirectly illuminated. In addition, a portion of the light from the light-emitting unit 70 passes through the heat dissipation holes 46 and is visible to the outside. Therefore, the periphery of the area of ​​the main body 30 where a large number of heat dissipation holes 46 are arranged is indirectly illuminated.

[0035] As described above, the base 35 of the housing 20 indirectly illuminates its surroundings because a part of the light from the light emitting unit 70 is reflected by the reflecting surface 37 through the light transmission hole 75. This light is indirect light because it is light scattered inside the main body 30 and reflected by the reflecting surface 37, and the intensity of the light from the light emitting unit 70 including the LED is reduced. The light from the front window 45 is also visible as light scattered after passing through the water tank 50. In addition, the light from the heat dissipation hole 46 is also light scattered in the internal space 100 of the main body 30. In this way, each light irradiated from the housing 20 is emitted as indirect light, not as direct light from the light emitting unit 70. For this reason, even if the hydrogen generator 10 is used in a dark room, the user does not feel dazzled by strong light.

[0036] Furthermore, in the periphery of housing 20, reflective surface portion 37 of base portion 35 and bottom surface portion 32 of main body portion 30 face each other at a distance, creating the visual effect of main body portion 30 floating. In addition, light from light-emitting portion 70 is reflected by reflective surface portion 37 of base portion 35 through light-transmitting hole 75 of bottom surface portion 32, thereby illuminating the periphery of base portion 35, thereby further improving the design of housing 20, and because the portion of housing 20 placed on the floor emits light, the user can reliably recognize the position of hydrogen generator 10 by looking down from above, even in a dark room.

[0037] The color of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 70 can change depending on the state of the hydrogen generator 10. Examples of the state of the hydrogen generator 10 include whether the hydrogen generator 10 is operating or stopped, the amount of water remaining, whether an error has occurred, and the like. A control unit (not shown) provided in the hydrogen generator 10 detects these operating states, and the control unit changes the color of the light from the light-emitting unit 70 depending on the state of the hydrogen generator 10, allowing the user to easily grasp the state of the hydrogen generator 10. Furthermore, the color of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 70 may change depending on the time. In this case, the visual effect of the light can be enhanced, and the design of the hydrogen generator 10 can be further improved.

[0038] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the application of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various applications are possible within the scope of the technical concept. In the embodiment described above, two light emitting units 70 are arranged on the bottom surface 32, but one or three or more light emitting units may be arranged. In addition, the light emitting units 70 may be arranged at any position in the internal space 100 where the emitted light does not directly face the light transmitting hole 75. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10 Hydrogen generator 20. Cabinet 30 Main body 31 Top part 32 Bottom part 33 Side part 35 Base 37 Reflective surface section 40 Water inlet 42 Intake port 43 Oxygen outlet 44 Operation display section 45 Front window 46 Heat radiation hole 50 Water Tank 52 Hydrogen generation unit 54 Hydrogen Filter 61 Water inlet 62 Water storage section 63 Water Filter 64 Gas-liquid separation section 70 Light emitting part 71 Mounting board 75 Light transmission hole 100 Interior Space

Claims

1. A hydrogen generator including a housing having an internal space for accommodating at least a water tank and a hydrogen generating unit, The housing has a main body portion having the internal space and a base portion supporting a lower portion of the main body portion, the main body portion has a light emitting portion disposed in the internal space and a bottom surface portion supported by the base portion, the base portion has a reflective surface portion on a periphery thereof facing and spaced apart from a bottom surface portion of the main body portion; The bottom surface portion has a light transmission hole at a position facing the reflecting surface portion of the base portion, through which light from the light emitting portion passes.

2. 2. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface portion has a surface facing the light transmitting hole that is inclined so as to face outward.

3. The hydrogen generator according to claim 2 , wherein the reflecting surface portion is curved so as to be concave outward.

4. 4. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light transmission holes are provided along an outer circumferential direction of the bottom surface portion.

5. 4. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting portion irradiates light in a direction different from a direction from the light emitting portion toward the light transmitting hole in the internal space.

6. the water tank is translucent so as to transmit light from the light emitting unit; 4. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a window portion that transmits light from the light emitting portion through the water tank.

7. The main body has a large number of small heat dissipation holes arranged in an array, 4. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiation hole transmits light from the light emitting portion.

8. The light emitting unit can emit light of multiple colors, 4. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the light from the light emitting section changes color depending on time or depending on the state of the hydrogen generator.

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