Body air blower and air blowing structure of body air blower

Abstract

The air blower for the body includes a housing having an air intake and an air outlet, a Peltier element disposed within the housing, a first fin formed on one side of the Peltier element, and an air blower fan for blowing air to the first fin, and blows out temperature-adjusted air from the air outlet after the air has passed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first fin. A blowing area for the temperature-adjusted air is provided within the housing between the downstream side of the fin unit and the air outlet, and a return inlet portion is formed in the blowing area that communicates with a return flow path that can return the temperature-adjusted air to the upstream side of the first fin.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a body air blowing device having a Peltier element arranged in a housing, fins formed on one side of the Peltier element, and an air blowing fan that blows air to the fins, and which blows temperature-adjusted air that is either cool air that has passed through the fins or warm air, and to the air blowing structure thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there have been many extremely hot days throughout the year that are uncomfortable for people. On such days, people are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids and use air conditioners appropriately to prevent heatstroke.

[0003] However, due to reasons such as a lack of air conditioning equipment or insufficient cooling, workers who work outdoors in extreme heat, workers who work in humid indoor environments, and people who enjoy recreation, sports, or watching events under the blazing sun are unable to cool down with air conditioning.

[0004] In response to these circumstances, clothing with air conditioning functions and portable air conditioners have become increasingly popular in recent years, primarily for people seeking to escape the heat. Among these air conditioners, a blower using a Peltier element has also been developed. An example of such a blower is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0005] Patent Document 1 is a technical document disclosed in a patent application filed by the present applicant. Patent Document 1 describes a clothing cooling device that includes a housing, a Peltier element in the housing, a cooling fin formed on one side of the Peltier element, a heat dissipation fin formed on the other side opposite the one side, a blower fan that blows air to the cooling fin and the heat dissipation fin, an air intake for taking air into the housing, a cold air outlet for blowing out cold air that has passed through the cooling fin, and a heat dissipation outlet for exhausting hot air that has passed through the heat dissipation fin.

[0006] In Patent Document 1, air is taken into the housing from an air intake by a blower fan, and heat is exchanged between the air and the cooling fins before passing through the cooling fins. The air that has passed through the cooling fins is cooled compared to its state before passing through the cooling fins, and becomes cold air, which is blown out from the cold air port. This allows the user of the clothing cooling device to cool their body with the blown cold air. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7290237 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The applicant, while proceeding with technical development relating to a portable body blower such as the clothing cooling device of Patent Document 1, has discovered new technical problems with conventional body blowers.

[0009] That is, when a user is working under the blazing sun on a very hot day when the outside temperature exceeds 35°C, the user may start using the clothing cooling device of Patent Document 1 to cool down by blowing cool air on the user's body. In such a situation, the user feels uncomfortable due to the heat of the outside temperature exceeding 35°C and the large amount of sweat produced. Therefore, the user has a strong desire to immediately blow cool air at a temperature as far away from the outside temperature as possible to cool the user's body.

[0010] On the other hand, in the clothing cooling device of Patent Document 1, when the device is started to be used, outside air (air) with an outside temperature of over 35°C is continuously drawn into the housing from the air intake, passes through the cooling fins, and is then blown out as cold air from the cold air outlet. At this time, the cold air that starts to be blown out immediately after the device is started to be used has a temperature far removed from the cold air temperature that the wearer desires to have on his or her body.

[0011] As the cool air continues to be blown from this state, the temperature of the cool air gradually drops over time until it reaches a temperature that is comfortable for the user. However, it takes a fairly long time, for example several tens of minutes, from the start of use of the garment cooling device until the cool air drops to a temperature that is comfortable for the body and can be blown.

[0012] Therefore, when the clothing cooling device is used on a particularly hot day when the outside temperature exceeds 35°C, there is a problem that the body of the user, who is feeling uncomfortable due to heat and sweat, cannot be quickly cooled with cool air at a comfortable temperature.

[0013] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a body air blowing device and its air blowing structure that can blow temperature-adjusted air generated through heat exchange between air drawn in from an air intake and fins, and adjust the temperature of the air to a comfortable temperature for the user in a shorter time from the start of blowing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] (1) A body blower device, which is one aspect of the present disclosure that has been made to solve the above problems, comprises a housing having an air intake and an air outlet, a Peltier element arranged in the internal space of the housing, a fin unit having a first fin, and a blower fan that blows air to the first fin formed on one side of the Peltier element, and blows out from the air outlet a temperature-adjusted air, which is either cold air or hot air that has passed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first fin, wherein a blowing area for the temperature-adjusted air is provided in the internal space of the housing between the downstream side of the fin unit and the air outlet, and a return inlet portion is formed in the blowing area that is connected to a return flow path that can return the temperature-adjusted air to the upstream side of the first fin.

[0015] According to this aspect, the temperature-adjusted air can be returned from the return inlet to the upstream side of the first fin through the return flow path and supplied to the first fin again, so that the temperature-adjusted air containing the returned temperature-adjusted air is blown out from the air outlet. It is also assumed that the air outlet for the body according to the present disclosure is used in an environment in which the ambient temperature surrounding the air outlet for the body and the temperature of the temperature-adjusted air to be blown are greatly different, for example, by a temperature difference of more than 10 degrees Celsius. Even in such a case, due to the presence of the return flow path, the temperature-adjusted air blown out from the air outlet can be temperature-adjusted and blown out with good response from the start of blowing, at a temperature change speed several times faster than that of a conventional air outlet for the body that does not have a return flow path, until it reaches the desired temperature.

[0016] (2) In the aspect described in (1) above, it is preferable that a reflux outlet portion that is connected to the return flow path is formed in the internal space of the housing upstream of the first fin, and that the wind and the refluxed temperature-adjusted wind merge at the reflux outlet portion.

[0017] According to this embodiment, the temperature-adjusted air that has been returned to the upstream side of the first fin can be sent out again to the first fin by the flow of air newly introduced from the air intake port. Therefore, a sending means for sending the returned temperature-adjusted air toward the first fin is not required, and the returned temperature-adjusted air can pass through the first fin by the flow of newly introduced air.

[0018] (3) In the aspect described in (1) or (2) above, it is preferable that the air blowing area is provided with an air direction adjustment section that divides the flow of the temperature-adjusted air to the return inlet side and the air blowing outlet side.

[0019] According to this aspect, the temperature-adjusted air that has reached the air supply region can be reliably separated into a reflux path leading to the reflux inlet portion and an air supply path leading to the air supply port. Therefore, the temperature-adjusted air that has flowed into the reflux path flows back through the return flow path and is returned to the upstream side of the first fin. In addition, the temperature-adjusted air that has flowed into the air supply path is blown out to the outside from the air supply port.

[0020] (4) In the aspect described in (3) above, at the branch point of the air direction adjustment portion, the flow path cross-sectional area of the temperature-adjusted air flowing on the reflux inlet portion side is defined as the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr, the flow path cross-sectional area of the temperature-adjusted air flowing on the air supply port side is defined as the second flow path cross-sectional area Se, and the sum of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr and the second flow path cross-sectional area Se is defined as the total flow path cross-sectional area S. Then, it is preferable that the ratio k (%) of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr to the total flow path cross-sectional area S satisfies 0 < k ≤ 50.

[0021] According to this aspect, the body air supply device according to the present disclosure can ensure that the air volume of the temperature-adjusted air blown out from the air supply port is reduced to such an extent that it does not have an adverse effect on the user without significantly reducing it. In addition, the body air supply device according to the present disclosure can also adjust the temperature of the blown-out temperature-adjusted air to a temperature close to the desired temperature in a shorter time from the start of air supply. Therefore, in the body air supply device according to the present disclosure, the flow rate and temperature of the temperature-adjusted air are harmoniously balanced, and the temperature-adjusted air can be supplied from the air supply port.

[0022] (5) In the aspect described in any one of (1) to (4) above, it preferably has a reflux outlet portion for returning the temperature-adjusted air refluxed to the return flow path to the upstream side of the first fin, and the reflux outlet portion is arranged at a position where it can be sucked by the air supply fan.

[0023] According to this aspect, due to the rotation of the air supply fan, the temperature-adjusted air flowing back through the return flow path can flow from the reflux outlet portion to the air supply fan and merge with the air newly introduced through the intake port. Therefore, the refluxed temperature-adjusted air can be supplied to the first fin again.

[0024] (6) In any one of the aspects described in (1) to (5) above, it is preferable that the blower fan is a centrifugal fan.

[0025] According to this aspect, when the temperature-adjusted air flows from the blowing area into the return flow inlet by the centrifugal fan, the temperature-adjusted air is sucked into the return flow passage as the blades rotate during blowing. Therefore, when the temperature-adjusted air that has flowed into the return flow passage is sent out toward the return flow outlet, there is no need to provide a separate means for sucking in the temperature-adjusted air.

[0026] (7) In any one of the aspects described in (1) to (6) above, it is preferable that the housing has an exhaust port, the fin unit has a second fin formed on the side opposite the one side of the Peltier element, and the blower fan blows the air to the second fin together with the first fin.

[0027] According to this aspect, the Peltier element is capable of preventing the cooling efficiency and heat generation efficiency from decreasing over time on one side and the other side, so that the temperature-adjusted air can be continuously blown out at a stable temperature.

[0028] (8) In any one of the aspects described in (1) to (7) above, it is preferable that a control unit is provided, and the control unit switches the temperature-adjusted air between cool air and hot air by reversing the polarity of the direct current supplied to the Peltier element.

[0029] According to this aspect, when the temperature-adjusted air is cold air, the body air blower according to the present disclosure can blow cold air adjusted to a comfortable temperature to people who particularly want cold air, such as workers who work outdoors in extremely hot weather, workers who work in work clothes in a humid indoor environment, people who are engaged in recreation, sports, or watching games under the blazing sun, etc. When the temperature-adjusted air is hot air, the body air blower according to the present disclosure can blow hot air adjusted to a comfortable temperature to people who particularly want warm air, such as workers whose hands have become cold after doing wet work in winter, and people who are exposed to cold winds and are engaged in activities while feeling cold.

[0030] (9) Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the air blowing structure of a body blower in another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a housing having an intake port and an air outlet, a Peltier element arranged in the internal space of the housing, a fin unit having a first fin, and a blower fan that blows air to the first fin formed on one side of the Peltier element, and is characterized in that the body blower blows out temperature-adjusted air, which is either cold air or hot air that has passed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first fin, from the air outlet, and is configured with an air blowing path that blows the temperature-adjusted air that has passed through the first fin directly out of the air outlet to the outside, as well as a return path that returns the temperature-adjusted air to the upstream side of the first fin and supplies it again to the first fin.

[0031] According to this embodiment, the temperature-adjusted air can be returned from the return inlet through the return flow path to the upstream side of the first fin and supplied to the first fin again, so that the temperature-adjusted air containing the returned temperature-adjusted air is blown out from the air outlet. When this air blower for body is used in an environment where the ambient temperature surrounding the air blower for body and the temperature of the temperature-adjusted air to be blown are greatly different, for example, by a temperature difference of more than 10 degrees Celsius, the temperature-adjusted air blown out from the air outlet can be adjusted with good response from the start of blowing to the desired temperature by passing through the return path, for example, at a temperature change speed several times faster than that of a conventional air blower for body that does not have a return path.

[0032] (10) In the aspect described in (9) above, it is preferable that the return path merges with the airflow path located upstream of the first fin.

[0033] According to this embodiment, the temperature-adjusted air that has been returned to the upstream side of the first fin is sent out again to the first fin by the flow of air newly introduced from the air intake port. Therefore, a sending means for sending the returned temperature-adjusted air toward the first fin is not required, and the returned temperature-adjusted air can pass through the first fin only by the flow of newly introduced air.

[0034] (11) In the aspect described in (9) or (10) above, it is preferable that an exhaust port is formed in the housing, the fin unit has a second fin formed on the side opposite the one side of the Peltier element, and the blower fan blows the air to the second fin together with the first fin.

[0035] According to this aspect, the Peltier element is capable of preventing the cooling efficiency and heat generation efficiency from decreasing over time on one side and the other side, so that the temperature-adjusted air can be continuously blown out at a stable temperature. Effect of the Invention

[0036] Therefore, the body blower and its blowing structure of the present disclosure have the excellent effect of blowing air that is adjusted to a temperature comfortable for the user in a shorter time than the start of blowing, by blowing air (wind) drawn in from the air intake and temperature-adjusted air generated through heat exchange in the fins. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a body blower according to an embodiment, seen from the exhaust port side. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the body blower shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a plan view of the personal air blower shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the exhaust port side. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view of the body blower shown in FIG. 1, seen from the blower port side. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a Peltier element unit provided in the personal air blower shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 3, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air circulating within the housing of the body blower device shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 2. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a plan view showing the inside of a housing of the body blower device shown in FIG. 1, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of temperature-adjusted air. FIG. [Figure 9] 3, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of temperature-adjusted air and exhaust air within the housing of the body blower device shown in FIG. [Figure 10] 3, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of temperature-adjusted air returning toward the blower fan of the body blower device shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a table showing the relationship between the ambient temperature and the cool air temperature measured at each time point in a verification experiment in which cool air was continuously blown for 30 minutes by the body blower devices according to the example and comparative examples 1 to 3. [Figure 12] 11, is a graph showing the measured values ​​of the ambient temperature and the measured values ​​of the cool air temperature in the verification experiments using the body blower devices according to the example and the comparative examples 1 to 3. [Figure 13] Following Figure 11, this is a graph showing the temperature difference between the actual measured ambient temperature and the actual measured cool air temperature in verification experiments using the body blower devices of the embodiment and comparison examples 1 to 3. [Figure 14] Following Figure 11, this is a table showing the temperature difference per hour between the actual measured value of cool air temperature measured at a previous time and the actual measured value measured at a subsequent time in verification experiments using the body blower devices of the embodiment and comparison examples 1 to 3. [Figure 15] 14, this is a graph showing the actual measured ambient temperature, the cool air temperature before and after the measurement, and the difference in the cool air temperature between the before and after the measurement, for the body blower of the embodiment. [Figure 16] 14, this is a graph showing the actual measured ambient temperature, the cool air temperature before and after the measurement, and the difference in the cool air temperature between the before and after the measurement, for the body blower device of Comparative Example 1. [Figure 17] 14, this is a graph showing the actual measured ambient temperature, the cool air temperature before and after the measurement, and the difference in the cool air temperature between the before and after the measurement for the body blower device of Comparative Example 2. [Figure 18] 14, this is a graph showing the actual measured ambient temperature, the cool air temperature before and after the measurement, and the difference in the cool air temperature between the before and after the measurement, for the body blower device of Comparative Example 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a body air blowing device and its air blowing structure according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to embodiments.

[0039] The body blower according to the present disclosure is used by people who particularly require cool air, such as workers who work outdoors in extremely hot weather, workers who work in work clothes in a humid indoor environment, people who engage in recreation, sports, or watching games under the blazing sun, etc. Alternatively, the body blower is used by people who particularly require warm air, such as workers whose hands become cold after doing wet work in winter, or people who are exposed to cold winds and engaged in activities outdoors while feeling cold.

[0040] <Overview of the body air blower 1> First, a brief overview of a personal air blower 1 according to the present embodiment will be given with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Figs.

[0041] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a body blower according to an embodiment as viewed from the exhaust port side, and an exploded perspective view of the body blower is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the body blower shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the exhaust port side, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the body blower as viewed from the air outlet side. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a Peltier element unit provided in the body blower shown in Fig. 1.

[0042] In the body blower shown in Fig. 1, the direction from the lower left to the upper right is defined as the X-axis direction, the direction from the upper left to the lower right is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the up-down direction is defined as the Z-axis direction, and the directions defined in Fig. 1 are also used in Fig. 2 and the subsequent figures. Also, electrical wiring for the Peltier element 31 and the blower fan 35 and the power source are not shown in each figure.

[0043] 1 to 5, the body blower 1 includes a control unit 2, a housing 10, a Peltier element unit 30, a blower fan 35, and a return system 60. The Peltier element unit 30 includes a Peltier element 31, a heat sink unit 32, and a fin cover 34. The heat sink unit 32 corresponds to the fin unit according to the present disclosure.

[0044] <About Housing 10> Next, the housing 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, the housing 10 has a first housing portion 11 and a second housing portion 12, which are separate bodies. The housing 10 is formed by butting the first housing portion 11 and the second housing portion 12 in an opposing arrangement, joining them together, and integrating them to have an internal space 10S.

[0045] The housing 10 has a base formed in a flat, approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape with R-shaped corners, and a first return pipe section 65 of the return system 60 protrudes to one side in the X-axis direction (the lower left side in Figure 1) on one side of the long side along the Y-axis direction.

[0046] An internal space 10S is defined between the first housing portion 11 and the second housing portion 12. In the first housing portion 11, an air intake port 21 and an air exhaust port 22 are formed by opening a part of the first plate portion 11a. The air intake port 21 and the air exhaust port 22 are formed at positions spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. In addition, in the second housing portion 12, an air blow port 23 is formed by opening a part of the second plate portion 12a. In the housing 10, the air blow port 23 is disposed in a direction directly opposite the air exhaust port 22 in the Z-axis direction.

[0047] As will be described in detail later, a return system 60 is formed in the housing 10 as shown in FIGS.

[0048] <About Blower Fan 35> Next, the blower fan 35 will be described. The blower fan 35 blows air toward the heat sink unit 32. As shown in Fig. 2, in this embodiment, the blower fan 35 is a type of centrifugal fan, and is a multi-blade blower (sirocco fan) with suction capacity. The sirocco fan is substantially cylindrical with multiple blades arranged in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the central axis of rotation, and blows air sucked in along the central axis outward from between the rotating blades.

[0049] The blower fan 35 has an intake air introduction section 38 between the blades 36 and the drive section 37. Air is taken in from the intake port 21 to the intake air introduction section 38. The blower fan 35 is disposed in the internal space 10S of the housing 10 in accordance with the position of the intake port 21, and the outer periphery of the blades 36 is surrounded by a fan outer peripheral wall 39.

[0050] Incidentally, unlike axial flow fans such as propeller fans and turbo fans, centrifugal fans are less susceptible to disturbances such as wind direction and strength in the air they draw in, and because they blow air using centrifugal force acting on the air they draw in, they are quieter when in operation.

[0051] On the other hand, a sirocco fan blows air by utilizing the centrifugal force acting on the sucked air due to the rotation of a plurality of blades. Generally, the wind force of the air blown by the sirocco fan is smaller than that of axial fans such as propeller fans and turbo fans. Therefore, in the internal space 10S of the body blower 1 according to the present embodiment, the housing 10 is provided with a width-reducing flow path 53 formed by the fan outer peripheral wall 39 between the blower fan 35 and the Peltier element unit 30.

[0052] In the width-reducing flow path 53, the flow path width n (0 < n) of the air blown by the blower fan 35, that is, the post-temperature-adjustment air FL described later, is narrower than the flow path width m (0 < n < m) of the air flow passing through the rotation center axis O of the blower fan 35 so that the wind force due to the blowing pressure, flow velocity, etc. becomes larger.

[0053] As an example, the ratio of the flow path width n to the flow path width m is preferably in the range of 25% or more and 75% or less. This is because the wind force blown by the blower fan 35 can be increased, and the air blown by the blower fan 35 can be evenly delivered to the two Peltier element units 30, achieving a well-balanced harmony.

[0054] <Regarding the Peltier element unit 30> Next, the Peltier element unit 30 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, two Peltier element units 30 are arranged in the housing 10. As described above, the Peltier element unit 30 includes a Peltier element 31, a heat sink unit 32, and a fin cover 34.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the Peltier element 31 is a type of plate-shaped semiconductor thermoelectric element having one surface 31a and the other surface 31b on the opposite side. The Peltier element 31 is electrically connected to the control unit 2 and a power source (not shown) via a power supply port 3. One surface 31a of the Peltier element 31 corresponds to one side of the Peltier element according to the present disclosure, and the other surface 31b of the Peltier element 31 corresponds to the opposite side of the Peltier element according to the present disclosure.

[0056] When a direct current is supplied from a power source to the Peltier element 31, one surface 31a absorbs heat and becomes an absorbing state (cooling surface) due to the Peltier effect, while the other surface 31b generates heat and becomes a heating state (heating surface). When the direction of the supplied direct current is reversed by the control unit 2, in the Peltier element 31, the other surface 31b absorbs heat and becomes an absorbing state (cooling surface), while the one surface 31a generates heat and becomes a heating state (heating surface).

[0057] That is, in the Peltier element 31, when the control unit 2 reverses the direction of the direct current supplied to the Peltier element 31, the cooling surface and the heating surface are switched between the one surface 31a and the other surface 31b.

[0058] The Peltier element 31 has the characteristic of absorbing heat and generating heat at the same time at a temperature that has a relative temperature difference from the outside air temperature, for example, in a temperature range of about 20 to 50°C. That is, for example, when the Peltier element 31 absorbs and generates heat in summer when the outside air temperature is 35°C, the cooling surface exhibits heat of 15 to -15°C, which becomes cold heat for cooling the body. At the same time, the heating surface exhibits heat of 55 to 85°C, which becomes exhaust heat.

[0059] On the other hand, when the Peltier element 31 absorbs and generates heat in winter when the outside temperature is 5°C, the cooling surface exhibits heat of -15 to -45°C, which becomes exhaust heat, and at the same time, the heating surface exhibits heat of 25 to 55°C, which becomes heat for warming the body.

[0060] In the present embodiment, Peltier element 31 has a temperature characteristic of absorbing heat and generating heat at the same time in a temperature range of about 20 to 50° C. relative to the outside air temperature, as an example.

[0061] However, the Peltier element is not limited to the temperature characteristics described in this embodiment, and may be configured with appropriate changes as long as the temperature characteristics can cool the body to a degree that does not cause frostbite and warm the body to a degree that does not cause burns by the temperature-adjusted air FL described later. As an example, the temperature characteristics of the Peltier element are a temperature range of about 10 to 40°C or about 10 to 20°C relative to the outside air temperature.

[0062] 5, the heat sink unit 32 is composed of a blower-side heat sink 32A and an exhaust-side heat sink 32B. The blower-side heat sink 32A corresponds to a first fin according to the present disclosure, and the exhaust-side heat sink 32B corresponds to a second fin according to the present disclosure. The blower-side heat sink 32A and the exhaust-side heat sink 32B form a pair.

[0063] The blower-side heat sink 32A is formed to a size that allows it to come into contact with one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31 over almost the entire area, and is composed of numerous fins that are folded back into a roughly wave-like shape and are arranged vertically from the flat plate portion 32Aa with gaps provided between adjacent fins.

[0064] The exhaust side heat sink 32B is formed to a size that allows it to come into contact with the other surface 31b of the Peltier element 31 over almost the entire area, and is composed of numerous fins that are folded back into a roughly wave-like shape and are arranged vertically from the flat plate portion 32Ba with gaps provided between adjacent fins.

[0065] 5, in the Peltier element unit 30, a surface of the flat plate portion 32Aa of the air-supply side heat sink 32A and one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31 are disposed opposite each other so as to be in surface contact with each other. Also, a surface of the flat plate portion 32Ba of the exhaust side heat sink 32B and the other surface 31b of the Peltier element 31 are disposed opposite each other so as to be in surface contact with each other.

[0066] However, strictly speaking, due to a difference in accuracy between the surface shape of the flat plate portion 32Aa of the air-supply side heat sink 32A and the surface shape of one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31, there is a small gap (gap) between the surface of the flat plate portion 32Aa and the one surface 31a. Similarly, due to a difference in accuracy between the surface shape of the flat plate portion 32Ba of the exhaust side heat sink 32B and the surface shape of the other surface 31b of the Peltier element 31, there is a small gap (gap) between the surface of the flat plate portion 32Ba and the other surface 31b.

[0067] Therefore, between the Peltier element 31 and the blower-side heat sink 32A, and between the Peltier element 31 and the exhaust-side heat sink 32B, there is a grease layer 33 that fills such gaps with grease. The grease has relatively high thermal conductivity, for example, a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W / m K, and maintains a relatively high viscosity within a temperature range of approximately 0 to 100°C.

[0068] By providing the grease layer 33, the heat generated by the Peltier element 31 is transferred to the heat sink unit 32 through the first surface 31a and the second surface 31b while suppressing heat transfer loss.

[0069] The body blower 1 according to the present embodiment has two Peltier element units 30 arranged side by side. However, the number of Peltier element units each having a Peltier element, a first fin, and a second fin is not limited to two, and may be variously changed, for example, to one, three or more.

[0070] The body blower 1 according to this embodiment has two Peltier element units 30 arranged side by side, and each of the two Peltier elements has heat absorption and heat generation. On the other hand, the Peltier element unit can be configured with one large Peltier element, with the heat absorption and heat generation characteristics being approximately the same as when two small Peltier elements are used.

[0071] However, when comparing the first condition using one large Peltier element with the second condition using two small Peltier elements, the second condition may have a better response in terms of heat absorption and heat generation caused by the Peltier elements than the first condition. Therefore, the body air blower 1 according to this embodiment has two Peltier element units 30 arranged side by side.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 5, the Peltier element unit 30 is configured such that the fin cover 34 surrounds the entire air-supply side heat sink 32A and the exhaust side heat sink 32B that are in contact with the Peltier element 31.

[0073] <About the airflow after temperature adjustment FL> Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Fig. 3, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air circulating within the housing of the body blower shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the internal space 10S of the housing 10 is partitioned by a first partitioning member 51 and a second partitioning member 52 at the boundary of the Peltier element 31 of the Peltier element unit 30, and is divided into two spaces, upper and lower (in the Z-axis direction in Fig. 7). The first partitioning member 51 is disposed between the blower fan 35 and the end of the upstream side Fa of the Peltier element unit 30.

[0074] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 7, the second partitioning member 52 is disposed between the end of the downstream side Fb of the Peltier element unit 30 and the side end 12b of the second housing portion 12, and the exhaust port 22 and the blower port 23 are separated by the second partitioning member 52.

[0075] 6, in the body blower 1 according to the present embodiment, the air intake 21 is an air vent for supplying air AR from the outside to the blower fan 35. When the air AR is introduced into the internal space 10S from the air intake 21 by the blower fan 35, the air flow path F of the introduced air AR is divided into a flow toward the blower heat sink 32A and a flow toward the exhaust heat sink 32B from the upstream side Fa toward the downstream side Fb.

[0076] (1) When air AR flows through the blower side heat sink 32A The air AR passes through the air-blowing heat sink 32A and undergoes heat exchange with the air-blowing heat sink 32A, becoming temperature-adjusted air FL.

[0077] At this time, when one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31 is a cooling surface, the air AR supplied from the air intake 21 is cooled with heat exchange with the air-blowing heat sink 32A, and becomes cold air CF as shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, when the one surface 31a is a cooling surface, this cold air CF becomes temperature-adjusted air FL.

[0078] Conversely, when one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31 is the heating surface, the air AR supplied from the air intake 21 is heated through heat exchange with the air-blowing heat sink 32A, and becomes hot air HF as shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, when the one surface 31a is the heating surface, this hot air HF becomes temperature-adjusted air FL.

[0079] In the body blower 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 2 reverses the direction of the direct current supplied to the Peltier element 31 to switch between a case where the temperature-adjusted air FL is cold air CF and a case where the temperature-adjusted air FL is hot air HF.

[0080] (2) When air AR flows through the exhaust side heat sink 32B The air AR passes through the exhaust heat sink 32B and exchanges heat with the exhaust heat sink 32B, becoming exhaust air EX. This exhaust air EX is discharged from the exhaust port 22 to the outside.

[0081] In the body blower 1 according to this embodiment, the exhaust heat sink 32B is entirely covered with a fin cover 34. Therefore, the air AR supplied to the exhaust heat sink 32B passes through the gaps between the fins of the exhaust heat sink 32B without flowing through the blower heat sink 32A, and becomes the exhaust EX.

[0082] The entire periphery of the blower side heat sink 32A is also covered with a fin cover 34. Therefore, the air AR supplied to the blower side heat sink 32A passes through the gaps between the fins of the blower side heat sink 32A without flowing through the exhaust side heat sink 32B, and becomes the temperature-adjusted air FL. Therefore, the temperature-adjusted air FL is generated without being mixed with the exhaust air EX.

[0083] The generated temperature-adjusted air FL is sent out to an air-blowing area Q provided in the internal space 10S of the housing 10. As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the air-blowing area Q is a space formed in a range between the air outlet 23 and the second partitioning member 52 and between the second plate portion 12a of the second housing portion 12 and the second partitioning member 52 in the Z-axis direction, and between the end of the downstream side Fb of the Peltier element unit 30 and the side end 12b of the second housing portion 12 in the Y-axis direction.

[0084] <About Circulation System 60> Next, the return system 60 will be described. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the inside of the housing of the body blower shown in Fig. 1, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of temperature-adjusted air. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow CC in Fig. 3, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of temperature-adjusted air and exhaust air in the housing of the body blower shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow DD in Fig. 3, and is a schematic diagram showing the flow of temperature-adjusted air returning toward the blower fan of the body blower shown in Fig. 1.

[0085] As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 7 to 10, the body air blower 1 according to this embodiment is formed with a return system 60. The return system 60 is configured with an air blowing structure including a return path F1 arranged in parallel with an air blowing path F2. As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9, the air blowing path F2 is a path that blows the temperature-adjusted air FL that has passed through the air-blowing-side heat sink 32A directly to the outside from the air outlet 23.

[0086] The return path F1 is a path that returns the temperature-adjusted air FL that has passed through the blower-side heat sink 32A to the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A and supplies the temperature-adjusted air FL to the blower-side heat sink 32A again. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the return path F1 merges with the air flow path F of the air AR introduced from the intake port 21 on the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A.

[0087] Specifically described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, FIGS. 7, and FIGS. 8, the reflux system 60 includes a return flow path 60S, a reflux inlet portion 61, a reflux outlet portion 63, a first return pipe portion 65, a connection portion 66, a second return pipe portion 68, a wind direction adjustment wall 69, and the like.

[0088] The wind direction adjustment wall 69 is provided in the air blowing region Q. The wind direction adjustment wall 69 corresponds to the wind direction adjustment portion according to the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the wind direction adjustment wall 69 divides the flow of the post-temperature-adjustment air FL into the reflux inlet portion 61 side and the air blowing port 23 side.

[0089] Here, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the air blowing region Q, at the branch point 69P of the wind direction adjustment wall 69 with respect to the Y-axis direction, the cross-sectional area of the reflux path F1 through which the post-temperature-adjustment air FL flows on the reflux inlet portion 61 side is defined as the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr. Also, the cross-sectional area of the air blowing path F2 through which the post-temperature-adjustment air FL flows on the air blowing port 23 side is defined as the second flow path cross-sectional area Se.

[0090] And when the sum of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr and the second flow path cross-sectional area Se is the total flow path cross-sectional area S, the ratio k (%) of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr to the total flow path cross-sectional area S satisfies 0 < k ≤ 50. Preferably, the ratio k (%) satisfies 20 ≤ k ≤ 50, and in the present embodiment, the ratio k is approximately 25 (%). If the ratio k exceeds 50 (%), in the air blowing region Q, the opening area of the air blowing port 23 that blows out the post-temperature-adjustment air FL becomes too small, and the post-temperature-adjustment air FL cannot be blown out from the air blowing port 23 with a sufficient air volume.

[0091] The reflux inlet portion 61 and the connection portion 66 are provided on the side portion of the housing 10. The reflux outlet portion 63 is provided in the internal space 10S of the housing 10. The reflux inlet portion 61 has an inflow side opening 62 formed in the housing 10. The inflow side opening 62 communicates with the air blowing region Q as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The inflow side opening 62 communicates with the return flow path 60S.

[0092] The return flow path 60S is a flow path for returning the temperature-adjusted air FLr from the return inlet portion 61 to the intake air introduction portion 38 of the blower fan 35 disposed on the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A. The return flow path 60S is formed in a section from the return inlet portion 61 through the first return pipe portion 65, the connection portion 66, and the second return pipe portion 68 to the return outlet portion 63.

[0093] The connection portion 66 has a connection portion opening 67 formed in the first case portion 11 of the housing 10. The connection portion opening 67 communicates with the internal space 10S of the housing 10, as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 10. The connection portion opening 67 is disposed on the side of the first case portion 11, on the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A, at a position intersecting with a virtual axis J passing through the rotation center axis O of the blower fan 35 along the X-axis direction, as shown in Fig. 8.

[0094] The return flow inlet portion 61 and the connection portion 66 are connected by a tubular first return pipe portion 65. The first return pipe portion 65 is disposed along the outer side of the housing 10, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 8, and 10. The connection portion 66 is also connected to a tubular second return pipe portion 68 disposed in the internal space 10S of the housing 10.

[0095] The second return pipe section 68 is connected to the connection section 66 in a state of communication with the connection section opening 67 on one side in the X-axis direction (the left side in FIG. 10). The reflux outlet section 63 is formed by deeply cutting out an end of the second return pipe section 68 on the other side in the X-axis direction (the right side in FIG. 10) from the inner periphery side to the outer periphery side of the blade 36 in the radial direction of the rotational center axis O of the blower fan 35. In the reflux outlet section 63, an outlet side opening 64 is formed at the end of this second return pipe section 68.

[0096] 2, 6, and 10, the reflux outlet portion 63 is disposed in the internal space 10S of the housing 10, close to the intake air introduction portion 38 of the blower fan 35 located on the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A. That is, the reflux outlet portion 63 is an outlet that returns the temperature-adjusted air FLr that has been returned to the return flow passage 60S to the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A, and is disposed at a position where it can be sucked in by the blower fan 35. Therefore, the refluxed temperature-adjusted air FLr easily flows from the outlet opening 64 of the reflux outlet portion 63 to the intake air introduction portion 38 of the blower fan 35.

[0097] As the blades 36 of the blower fan 35 rotate, the temperature-adjusted air FLr that flows into the return path F1 and returns is sucked through the return flow path 60S toward the return outlet portion 63, and is sent from the outlet opening 64 to the intake air introduction portion 38 of the blower fan 35. As a result, in the intake air introduction portion 38 of the blower fan 35, the returned temperature-adjusted air FLr merges with the air AR newly introduced from the intake port 21, and is supplied again to the blower-side heat sink 32A.

[0098] <Verification experiment> Next, for the purpose of confirming the significance of the body blower 1 according to the present embodiment, an experiment was conducted to verify the effect of the return system 60. The body blower according to the embodiment and the body blowers according to the comparative examples 1 to 3 were used in the experiment.

[0099] In the experiment, the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet of the body blower of the embodiment and the body blower of comparison examples 1 to 3 was measured over time with a thermometer to confirm the behavior of temperature change in which the blown out air becomes cool air for each body blower.

[0100] The body blower according to the example is the body blower 1 according to the present embodiment. The body blower according to the comparative example 1 is product A. The body blower according to the comparative example 2 is product B. The body blower according to the comparative example 3 is product C.

[0101] (1) Experimental method In the experiment, the body blowing devices according to the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3 were used simultaneously in a laboratory with the same ambient temperature. The experiment was also carried out with the four body blowing devices according to the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3 positioned sufficiently apart from each other so as not to affect each other's temperatures of the cool air they blew.

[0102] In the experiment, the body blower continued to blow cool air from the blower port for 30 minutes under the ambient temperature in the laboratory in each of the Example and Comparative Examples 1 to 3. The temperature of the cool air was measured every minute by a thermometer.

[0103] (2) Experimental conditions <Common conditions for Examples and Comparative Examples 1 to 3> -Temperature characteristics of Peltier element: Temperature characteristics with a temperature range of approximately 10 to 15 degrees Celsius compared to the external environmental temperature Heat absorbing side heat sink in contact with the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element: air blowing side heat sink 32A (Example) and a heat sink having the same performance as the air blowing side heat sink 32A (Comparative Examples 1 to 3) Heat-generating side heat sink in contact with the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element: exhaust side heat sink 32B (Example) and a heat sink having the same performance as the exhaust side heat sink 32B (Comparative Examples 1 to 3) · Blower fan: Sirocco fan with the same air volume Intake port; an opening formed similarly to intake port 21 Exhaust port; an opening formed similarly to exhaust port 22

[0104] <Conditions of the Example> · Circulation system 60: Yes · Air flow structure of the body air blower; return path F1 and air flow path F2 are arranged in parallel <Common conditions for Comparative Examples 1 to 3> Circulation system: No - Airflow structure of the body airflow device; only airflow path corresponding to airflow path F2

[0105] (3) Experimental results Fig. 11 is a table showing the relationship between the ambient temperature and the cool air temperature measured at each time point in a verification experiment in which cool air was continuously blown for 30 minutes by the body blower devices according to the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3. Fig. 12 is a graph showing the actual measured ambient temperature and the actual measured cool air temperature in the verification experiment using the body blower devices according to the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3. Fig. 13 is a graph showing the temperature difference between the actual measured ambient temperature and the actual measured cool air temperature in the verification experiment using the body blower devices according to the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3, which is the temperature difference relative to the ambient temperature, between the actual measured ambient temperature and the actual measured cool air temperature.

[0106] Fig. 14 is a table showing the temperature difference per unit time between the actual measured value of the cool air temperature measured at a previous time and the actual measured value measured at a subsequent time in verification experiments using the body blower devices according to the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3. Fig. 15 is a graph showing the actual measured value of the ambient temperature, the cool air temperature at the previous and subsequent measurement times, and the difference in the cool air temperature between the previous and subsequent measurement times for the body blower devices according to the embodiment.

[0107] Fig. 16 is a graph showing the actual measured value of the ambient temperature, the cold air temperature at the measurement times before and after, and the difference between the cold air temperatures at the measurement times before and after, for a body blower according to Comparative Example 1. Fig. 17 is a graph showing the actual measured value of the ambient temperature, the cold air temperature at the measurement times before and after, and the difference between the cold air temperatures at the measurement times before and after, for a body blower according to Comparative Example 2. Fig. 18 is a graph showing the actual measured value of the ambient temperature, the cold air temperature at the measurement times before and after, and the difference between the cold air temperatures at the measurement times before and after, for a body blower according to Comparative Example 3.

[0108] The temperature of the cold air was measured every minute using a thermometer, but in Figures 11 to 18, the results of the cold air temperature measurements taken 5 minutes or more after the start of blowing are shown in a format recorded every 5 minutes.

[0109] The results of the verification experiment are shown in Figures 11 to 18. As shown in Figure 11, the ambient temperature T in the laboratory was 35°C at the start of the experiment, and was 36.4°C at the end of the experiment, a rise of 1.4°C during the 30 minutes during which the verification experiment was conducted.

[0110] In the case of the body blower according to the embodiment, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the temperature Ta of the cool air was 33.7°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, 31°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, 28.8°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and 24.8°C at the end of the experiment. Also, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, the temperature difference (Ta-T) between the temperature Ta of the cool air and the ambient temperature T was -1.6°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, -4.2°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, -6.6°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and -12.1°C at the end of the experiment.

[0111] In contrast, in the case of the body blower of Comparative Example 1, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the temperature Tb of the cool air was 34°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, 32.6°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, 31.8°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and 25.7°C at the end of the experiment. Also, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, the temperature difference (Tb-T) between the temperature Tb of the cool air and the ambient temperature T was -1.3°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, -2.6°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, -3.6°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and -10.7°C at the end of the experiment.

[0112] In the case of the body blower of Comparative Example 2, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the temperature Tc of the cool air was 34.3°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, 33.5°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, 32°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and 27.8°C at the end of the experiment. Also, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, the temperature difference (Tc-T) between the temperature Tc of the cool air and the ambient temperature T was -1°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, -1.7°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, -3.4°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and -8.6°C at the end of the experiment.

[0113] In the case of the body blower of Comparative Example 3, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the temperature Td of the cool air was 34.1°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, 33.4°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, 33.2°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and 27.4°C at the end of the experiment. Also, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, the temperature difference (Td-T) between the temperature Td of the cool air and the ambient temperature T was -1.2°C 1 minute after the start of the experiment, -1.8°C 2 minutes after the start of the experiment, -2.2°C 3 minutes after the start of the experiment, and -9°C at the end of the experiment.

[0114] <Consideration> The results of the verification experiment are as follows: The results of the verification experiment show that, as a first phenomenon, the temperature Ta of the blown cool air by the body blower of the embodiment at the end of the experiment is the lowest, with a temperature difference of 1.7 to 3.5°C from the temperatures Tb, Tc, and Td of the blown cool air by the body blower of the comparative examples 1 to 3.

[0115] 14 to 18, the applicant confirmed the temperature difference per unit time between the actual value measured at an earlier time and the actual value measured at a later time for the temperature of the cool air blown by the body blower devices according to the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3. The results of the verification experiment showed that there was no particularly large difference in such temperature difference per unit time between the embodiment and comparative examples 1 to 3 in the 25 minutes from 5 minutes after the start of the experiment to the end of the experiment.

[0116] However, as shown in Figures 14 to 18, from the start of the experiment, especially up until 3 minutes have elapsed, in the case of the body blower of Comparative Example 1, the temperature difference per hour (Tb2-Tb1) remains at around 1°C. In the case of the body blower of Comparative Example 2, the temperature difference per hour (Tc2-Tc1) also remains at around 1°C. In the body blower of Comparative Example 3, the temperature difference per hour (Td2-Td1) is only around 0.5°C.

[0117] In contrast, in the case of the body blower device of the embodiment, the second phenomenon is that the temperature difference per hour (Ta2-Ta1) is nearly 2 to 3°C, and it can be seen that, compared to the body blower devices of comparison examples 1 to 3, the cooling rate of the cold air blown out immediately after blowing begins is the greatest in the body blower device of the embodiment.

[0118] On the other hand, in the case of the body blower of Comparative Example 1, the time required for the temperature difference (Tb-T) between the ambient temperature T and the cold air temperature Tb to reach approximately -9°C from the start of blowing cold air was 15 to 20 minutes.

[0119] In addition, in the case of the body blower device of Comparative Example 2, the time required for the temperature difference (Tc-T) between the ambient temperature T and the cold air temperature Tc to reach approximately -9°C from the start of blowing cold air was 30 minutes, which was also the time when the experiment was ended.

[0120] Similarly, in the case of the body blower device of Comparative Example 3, the time required for the temperature difference (Td-T) between the ambient temperature T and the cold air temperature Td to reach approximately -9°C from the start of blowing cold air was 30 minutes, which was also the time when the experiment was ended.

[0121] In contrast, in the case of the body blower of the embodiment, as mentioned above, the time required for the temperature difference (Ta-T) between the ambient temperature T and the cold air temperature Ta to reach approximately -9°C in one example was only about 5 minutes from the start of blowing cold air.

[0122] In the case of the embodiment, such a required time corresponds to 1 / 4 to 1 / 3 of that in Comparative Example 1, and corresponds to 1 / 6 of that in Comparative Examples 2 and 3. This also shows that, as a third phenomenon, in the body blower device of the embodiment, the cooling speed of the cold air blown out immediately after the start of blowing is 3 to 6 times faster than in the body blower devices of Comparative Examples 1 to 3.

[0123] The reason why the first, second, and third events described above were confirmed in the body blower device of the embodiment is presumably because the body blower device of the embodiment is a body blower device 1 that constitutes a return system 60.

[0124] That is, in the body blower 1, as shown in Fig. 7, when air AR introduced from the intake port 21 by the blower fan 35 flows through the air flow path F in the internal space 10S of the housing 10 at an increased flow rate and passes through the blower-side heat sink 32A, the temperature-adjusted air FL becomes a larger air volume and is blown out from the air outlet 23. In the body blower 1, when the temperature-adjusted air FL aimed at the user is blown out toward the body at a large volume, the comfort of the user is improved, particularly for people who seek cool air outdoors in extreme heat, or for people who feel cold when exposed to cold wind outdoors and seek warm air.

[0125] However, if the flow velocity of the air AR introduced from the intake port 21 becomes too large, an incomplete heat exchange phenomenon may occur in which the air AR flowing through the air circulation path F is blown out from the exhaust port 23 without being able to sufficiently exchange heat with the exhaust side heat sink 32A.

[0126] Therefore, as one of the means for avoiding the occurrence of such a heat exchange incomplete event, it is considered to increase the size of the Peltier element unit in order to lengthen the time that the introduced air passes through the heat sink on the blower side so as to perform sufficient heat exchange with the heat sink on the blower side. It is also considered to suppress the volume of the temperature-adjusted air blown out from the air outlet. However, in a blower device in which the Peltier element unit is enlarged or the volume of the temperature-adjusted air is suppressed, the size of the device increases the cost, and it is also difficult for the user to use.

[0127] In contrast, the body blower 1 is equipped with the return system 60, and therefore is able to prevent incomplete heat exchange without increasing the size of the Peltier element unit or restricting the volume of the temperature-adjusted air.

[0128] That is, there may be cases where the air AR introduced into the internal space 10S of the housing 10 from the intake port 21 flows through the air flow path F at a higher flow rate and is not sufficiently heat exchanged in the blower-side heat sink 32A. However, the body blower 1 has a return system 60. Therefore, even in such a case, as shown in FIG. 8, the temperature-adjusted air FL that has not been sufficiently heat exchanged is returned to the blower-side heat sink 32A again through the return path F1 when it reaches the blower area Q, and becomes the returned temperature-adjusted air FLr.

[0129] The temperature-adjusted air FLr that has been returned can exchange heat again with the air-blowing heat sink 32A, so that the temperature can be adjusted to a temperature state closer to the desired temperature. Therefore, it is considered that immediately after the start of air blowing, especially under a condition where the temperature difference with the ambient temperature T is large, the body air blowing device 1 that constitutes the return system 60 can adjust the temperature-adjusted air FL that is blown out from the air outlet 23 to a temperature closer to the desired temperature in a shorter time.

[0130] Next, the action and effect of the body air blower 1 and its air blowing structure according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0131] The air blower for a body 1 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 10 in which an intake port 21, an air outlet 23, and an exhaust port 22 are formed, a Peltier element 31 arranged in an internal space 10S of the housing 10, a heat sink unit 32 consisting of an air blowing side heat sink 32A formed on one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31 and an exhaust side heat sink 32B formed on the other surface 31b, and a blower fan 35 for blowing air to the air blowing side heat sink 32A and the exhaust side heat sink 32B. The body air blowing device blows out temperature-adjusted air FL, which is either cold air CF or warm air HF obtained by air AR passing from the upstream side Fa to the downstream side Fb, from an air outlet 23, characterized in that an air blowing area Q for the temperature-adjusted air FL is provided in the internal space 10S of the housing 10 between the downstream side Fb of the heat sink unit 32 and the air outlet 23, and a return inlet portion 61 is formed in the air blowing area Q, which is connected to a return flow path 60S that can return the temperature-adjusted air FL to the upstream side Fa of the air blowing side heat sink 32A.

[0132] The air blowing structure of the body air blower 1 according to this embodiment includes a housing 10 in which an intake port 21, an air outlet 23, and an exhaust port 22 are formed, a Peltier element 31 arranged in an internal space 10S of the housing 10, a heat sink unit 32 consisting of an air blowing side heat sink 32A formed on one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31 and an exhaust side heat sink 32B formed on the other surface 31b, and a blower fan 35 that blows air to the air blowing side heat sink 32A and the exhaust side heat sink 32B. In contrast to 2A, the body blower 1 blows out temperature-adjusted air FL, which is either cold air CF or warm air HF that has passed as air AR from the upstream side Fa to the downstream side Fb, from the air outlet 23, and is characterized in that it is configured with an air outlet path F2 that blows the temperature-adjusted air FL that has passed through the air outlet 23 directly to the outside, as well as a return path F1 that returns the temperature-adjusted air FL that has passed through the air outlet 23 to the upstream side Fa of the air outlet 32A and supplies the temperature-adjusted air FL that has passed previously to the air outlet 32A again.

[0133] Due to these features, the temperature-adjusted air FL can be returned from the return inlet portion 61 through the return flow path 60S to the upstream side Fa of the blower side heat sink 32A and supplied again to the blower side heat sink 32A, so that the temperature-adjusted air FL containing the returned temperature-adjusted air FLr is blown out from the blower port 23.

[0134] That is, there may be cases where the temperature-adjusted air FL that has once passed through the blower-side heat sink 32A is unable to sufficiently exchange heat between the air AR flowing through the air flow path F and the blower-side heat sink 32A. Even in such a case, the temperature-adjusted air FL in this state passes through the blower-side heat sink 32A again, thereby exchanging heat with the blower-side heat sink 32A, so that the temperature can be adjusted to a temperature closer to the desired temperature.

[0135] In particular, it is assumed that the body blower 1 will be used in an environment where there is a large discrepancy between the ambient temperature surrounding the body blower 1 and the temperature of the temperature-adjusted air FL to be blown, for example, by a temperature difference of more than 10 degrees C. Even in such a case, due to the presence of the return system 60, the temperature-adjusted air FL blown out from the air outlet 23 can be temperature-adjusted and blown with good response from the start of blowing, at a temperature change speed that is 3 to 5 times faster than that of a conventional body blower that does not have a return flow path, until the desired temperature is reached.

[0136] Furthermore, when a user is working in the hot sun on an extremely hot day when the outside temperature exceeds 35° C., for example, the user has a strong desire to be able to instantly cool the body with cool air at a comfortable temperature. Even in such a case, the body blower 1 can responsively blow cool air CF (temperature-adjusted air FL) that has been cooled to a desired temperature to the body, and can quickly cool the body of the user who is feeling uncomfortable due to heat or sweat.

[0137] Therefore, the body blower 1 according to this embodiment has the excellent effect of being able to adjust the temperature-adjusted air FL to a comfortable temperature for the user in a shorter time from the start of blowing when blowing the temperature-adjusted air FL generated through heat exchange between the air AR introduced from the air intake 21 and the blower-side heat sink 32A. The blowing structure of the body blower 1 according to this embodiment also has the same effect as the body blower 1 according to this embodiment.

[0138] Furthermore, in the body blower 1 of this embodiment, a return outlet section 63 that is connected to a second return pipe section 68 that communicates with the return flow path 60S is formed in the internal space 10S of the housing 10 on the upstream side Fa of the blower side heat sink 32A, and is characterized in that the intake air AR (wind) and the returned temperature-adjusted wind FLr merge at the return outlet section 63.

[0139] The air blowing structure of the body air blower 1 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the return path F1 merges with the air flow path F on the upstream side Fa of the air blower heat sink 32A.

[0140] Due to these characteristics, the temperature-adjusted air FLr returned to the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A on the air flow path F can be sent out again to the blower-side heat sink 32A by the air flow of the air AR newly introduced from the intake port 21. Therefore, there is no need for a sending means for sending the returned temperature-adjusted air FLr toward the blower-side heat sink 32A, and the returned temperature-adjusted air FLr can pass through the blower-side heat sink 32A by the flow of the newly introduced air AR.

[0141] Furthermore, the body blower 1 of this embodiment and the blowing structure of the body blower 1 of this embodiment are characterized in that an exhaust port 22 is formed in the housing 10, the heat sink unit 32 has an exhaust side heat sink 32B formed on the other surface 31b opposite to the one surface 31a of the Peltier element 31, and the blower fan 35, together with the blower side heat sink 32A, blows air AR as wind to the exhaust side heat sink 32B.

[0142] Due to these characteristics, the Peltier element 31 is able to prevent the cooling efficiency and heat generation efficiency on one surface 31a and the other surface 31b from decreasing over time, so that the temperature-adjusted air FL can be continuously blown out at a stable temperature.

[0143] That is, the Peltier element 31 has the characteristic that, due to the heat transfer occurring between the heat absorption side and the heat generation side on both the heat transfer surfaces of the first surface 31a and the second surface 31b, low temperature heat is generated on the heat absorption side heat transfer surface and high temperature heat is generated on the heat generation side heat transfer surface. In this Peltier element 31, if the heat generated on the heat generation side in particular is not efficiently discharged to the outside, it will gradually become difficult to absorb heat on the heat absorption side heat transfer surface. If the Peltier element 31 is in such a state, not only will the cooling efficiency on the heat transfer surface of the Peltier element decrease over time, but there is also the risk of the Peltier element being damaged or burned out, which is undesirable.

[0144] In contrast, in the body blower 1 according to the present embodiment, the blower fan 35 blows air AR as wind to the exhaust-side heat sink 32B together with the blower-side heat sink 32A. In particular, when the one surface 31a is absorbing heat, the high-temperature exhaust heat generated on the other surface 31b is heat-exchanged with the air AR sent from the blower fan 35 at the exhaust-side heat sink 32B to which the heat is transferred, and becomes hot air HF. This hot air HF is exhausted to the outside from the exhaust port 22.

[0145] Therefore, the Peltier element 31 can continuously maintain the Peltier effect on both the heat transfer surfaces, the first surface 31a and the second surface 31b, without incurring adverse effects due to insufficient dissipation of exhaust heat on the second surface 31b with respect to heat transfer between the heat absorption side and the heat generation side. Therefore, damage to the Peltier element 31 caused by the inability to continuously dissipate the exhaust heat generated on the second surface 31b of the Peltier element 31 can be suppressed.

[0146] In addition, in the body blower 1 according to the present embodiment, in the blowing region Q, an air direction adjusting wall 69 that divides the flow of the temperature-adjusted air FL into the reflux inlet portion 61 side and the air outlet 23 side is provided. This is a characteristic.

[0147] Due to this characteristic, the temperature-adjusted air FL that has reached the blowing region Q can be reliably separated into a reflux path F1 leading to the reflux inlet portion 61 and a blowing path F2 leading to the air outlet 23. Therefore, the temperature-adjusted air FL that has flowed into the reflux path F1 becomes the refluxed temperature-adjusted air FLr through the return flow path 60S and is returned to the upstream side Fa of the blowing-side heat sink 32A. In addition, the temperature-adjusted air FL that has flowed into the blowing path F2 is blown out from the air outlet 23 to the outside.

[0148] In addition, in the body blower 1 according to the present embodiment, at the branch point 69P of the air direction adjusting wall 69, the flow path cross-sectional area of the temperature-adjusted air FL flowing through the reflux inlet portion 61 side is the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr, and the flow path cross-sectional area of the temperature-adjusted air FL flowing through the air outlet 23 side is the second flow path cross-sectional area Se. When the sum of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr and the second flow path cross-sectional area Se is the total flow path cross-sectional area S, the ratio k (%) of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr to the total flow path cross-sectional area S is 0 < k ≤ 50. This is a characteristic.

[0149] Due to this characteristic, the body blower 1 can ensure the air volume of the temperature-adjusted air FL blown out from the air outlet 23 to such an extent that it does not have an adverse effect on the user without significantly reducing it. In addition, the body blower 1 can also adjust the temperature of the blown temperature-adjusted air FL to a temperature close to the desired temperature in a shorter time from the start of blowing. Therefore, in the body blower 1, the flow rate and the temperature are harmoniously balanced, and the temperature-adjusted air FL can be blown from the air outlet 23.

[0150] On the other hand, in the body blower 1, as the value of the ratio k (%) increases, the air volume of the temperature-adjusted air FL blown out from the air outlet 23 decreases. On the other hand, when the value of the ratio k (%) increases, the temperature-adjusted air FL blown out from the air outlet 23 mainly becomes the temperature-adjusted air FLr refluxed through the reflux path F1 and is blown.

[0151] Therefore, although the temperature-adjusted air FL after adjustment does not blow out from the air outlet 23 while ensuring a large air volume thereof, in the temperature-adjusted air FL blown out from the air outlet 23, the higher the value of the ratio k (%) is, the more the speed of temperature change toward the desired temperature increases after the start of blowing. Therefore, as long as the value of the ratio k (%)) is not limited within the range of 0 < k ≤ 50, the longer the value of the ratio k (%) is, the shorter the time required for the temperature-adjusted air FL blown out from the air outlet 23 to reach the desired temperature becomes.

[0152] Further, in the body air blower 1 according to the present embodiment, the reflux outlet portion 63 is an outlet for returning the temperature-adjusted air FLr refluxed to the return flow path 60S to the upstream side Fa of the blower-side heat sink 32A, and is characterized in that it is arranged at a position where it can be sucked by the blower fan 35.

[0153] Due to this feature, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, with respect to the blower fan 35 whose blades 36 are rotating, the temperature-adjusted air FLr refluxing through the return flow path 60S can flow from the reflux outlet portion 63 to the intake introduction portion 38 and merge with the air AR newly introduced through the intake port 21. Therefore, the refluxed temperature-adjusted air FLr can be supplied to the blower-side heat sink 32A again.

[0154] Further, in the body air blower 1 according to the present embodiment, the blower fan 35 is a sirocco fan which is a kind of centrifugal fan, and is characterized in that.

[0155] Due to this feature, when the temperature-adjusted air FL flows into the return path F1 from the blowing region Q by the blowing of the blower fan 35, the temperature-adjusted air FL is sucked into the return flow path 60S as the blades 36 rotate during the blowing. Therefore, when sending out the temperature-adjusted air FL flowing into the return path F1 toward the outflow-side opening 64 of the reflux outlet portion 63 through the return flow path 60S, it is not necessary to separately provide means for sucking the temperature-adjusted air FL.

[0156] Furthermore, the body blower 1 in this embodiment is equipped with a control unit 2, which is characterized in that the temperature-adjusted air FL is switched between cold air CF and hot air HF by reversing the polarity of the direct current supplied to the Peltier element 31.

[0157] Due to this feature, when the temperature-adjusted air FL is cold air CF, the body blower 1 can blow cold air CF adjusted to a comfortable temperature to people who particularly want cold air, such as workers who work outdoors in extremely hot weather, workers who work in work clothes in a humid indoor environment, people who are engaged in recreation, sports, or watching games under the blazing sun, etc. When the temperature-adjusted air FL is hot air HF, the body blower 1 can blow hot air HF adjusted to a comfortable temperature to people who particularly want warm air, such as workers whose hands have become cold after doing wet work in winter, or people who are exposed to cold winds and doing activities outdoors while feeling cold.

[0158] Although the present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and applied without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0159] For example, in the embodiment, the blower fan 35 is a sirocco fan that can suck air AR toward the blades 36 by rotating the blades 36. However, the blower fan may be, for example, an axial flow fan such as a propeller fan, a turbo fan, or the like, other than the sirocco fan.

[0160] However, since an axial fan does not have the ability to draw air toward the blades by rotating the blades, it is necessary to configure a suction means in the return flow path of the body blower device of the present disclosure to draw the temperature-adjusted air to be returned from the return inlet portion to the upstream side of the first fin.

[0161] In the embodiment, the air outlet 23 is disposed on the second plate portion 12a side of the second housing portion 12 as shown in Fig. 6. However, the air outlet may be disposed on the side end of the housing in a position parallel to the cross section of the flow path of the air passing through the first fin, such as when the air outlet is disposed on the side end 12b side of the second housing portion 12 as shown in Fig. 7.

[0162] In addition, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, there is given an air supply side heat sink 32A and an exhaust side heat sink 32B in which numerous fins are folded back into a generally wave-like shape and vertically stand from flat plate portions 32Aa, 32Ba with gaps between adjacent fins.

[0163] However, the configuration of the first fin and the second fin is not limited to the embodiment, and can be modified in various ways as long as they are configured in a manner that can dissipate heat generated by the Peltier element by heat exchange with the outside air.

[0164] In addition, in the embodiment, the body blower 1 is configured with the external shape shown in Figures 1 to 6, but the external shape of the body blower is not limited to the embodiment and can be changed as appropriate.

[0165] Furthermore, in the air blower 1 for body according to the embodiment, the air outlet 23 may be configured to have a structure that allows an air blow control device that controls the flow of the blown temperature-adjusted air FL to be detachably attached. With such an air blow control device, the air blower for body according to the present disclosure can blow the temperature-adjusted air in a desired direction from the outlet of the attached air blow control device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0166] 1 Body blower 2. Control section 10. Housing 10S interior space 21 Air Intake 22 Exhaust port 23 Ventilation vent 31 Peltier element 31a One side (one side) 31b Other side (opposite side) 32 Heat sink unit (fin unit) 32A Blower side heat sink (first fin) 32B Exhaust side heat sink (second fin) 35 Blower fan 36 Wings 60S Return flow path 61 Return inlet section 63 Return outlet 69 Wind direction adjustment wall (wind direction adjustment part) 69P Branch point Q Ventilation area F Wind distribution channel Fa Upstream Fb Downstream F1 reflux pathway F2 Air flow path AR Air (Wind) CF cold air HF Hot Air FL Wind after temperature adjustment Sr First flow path cross-sectional area Se Second flow path cross-sectional area S Total cross-sectional area of ​​flow passage

Claims

1. a housing having an intake port and an air outlet formed therein; A Peltier element disposed in the internal space of the housing; a fin unit having a first fin; a blower fan that blows air to the first fin formed on one side of the Peltier element, and the air passes from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first fin, and the temperature-adjusted air, which is either cold air or hot air, is blown out from the air outlet, a blowing area for the temperature-adjusted air is provided in the internal space of the housing between a downstream side of the fin unit and the air outlet, a return inlet portion is formed in the air blowing area and communicates with a return flow path capable of returning the temperature-adjusted air to the upstream side of the first fin; an airflow direction adjustment unit is provided in the airflow region, which divides the flow of the temperature-adjusted airflow into the return inlet side and the air outlet side; at a branch point of the airflow direction adjustment unit, a first flow path cross-sectional area Sr is a flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the temperature-adjusted airflow flowing through the return inlet side, a second flow path cross-sectional area Se is a flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the temperature-adjusted airflow flowing through the air outlet side, and the sum of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr and the second flow path cross-sectional area Se is a total flow path cross-sectional area S; A ratio k (%) of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr to the total flow path cross-sectional area S is 0<k≦50; A body air blowing device comprising:

2. 2. The body air blower according to claim 1, a return outlet portion that is connected to the return flow passage and is formed in the internal space of the housing on the upstream side of the first fin; At the return outlet portion, the air stream and the returned temperature-adjusted air stream merge with each other. A body air blowing device comprising:

3. 2. The body air blower according to claim 1, a return outlet portion that returns the temperature-adjusted air that has returned to the return flow path to the upstream side of the first fin, The return outlet portion is disposed at a position where it can be sucked by the blower fan; A body air blowing device comprising:

4. 2. The body air blower according to claim 1, The blower fan is a centrifugal fan; A body air blowing device comprising:

5. 2. The body air blower according to claim 1, an exhaust port is formed in the housing, and the fin unit has a second fin formed on a surface opposite to the one surface of the Peltier element; the blower fan blows the air to the second fins together with the first fins; A body air blowing device comprising:

6. 6. The air blower for body according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit, the control unit switching the temperature-adjusted air between cool air and warm air by reversing a polarity of a direct current supplied to the Peltier element; A body air blowing device comprising:

7. a housing having an intake port and an air outlet formed therein; A Peltier element disposed in the internal space of the housing; a fin unit having a first fin; a blower fan that blows air to the first fin formed on one side of the Peltier element, and the air blower for body blows out from the air outlet a temperature-adjusted air, which is either a cold air or a hot air, that has passed from an upstream side to a downstream side of the first fin, a return path for returning the temperature-adjusted air that has passed through the first fin to the upstream side of the first fin and supplying the temperature-adjusted air to the first fin again, in addition to the air blowing path for blowing the temperature-adjusted air directly to the outside from the air blowing port; an airflow direction adjustment unit that divides the flow of the temperature-adjusted air into the return path side and the airflow path side is provided in a blowing region of the temperature-adjusted air provided between the downstream side of the first fin and the air outlet; at a branching point of the airflow direction adjustment unit, a first flow path cross-sectional area Sr is a flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the temperature-adjusted air flowing through the return path side, a second flow path cross-sectional area Se is a flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the temperature-adjusted air flowing through the airflow path side, and the sum of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr and the second flow path cross-sectional area Se is a total flow path cross-sectional area S; A ratio k (%) of the first flow path cross-sectional area Sr to the total flow path cross-sectional area S is 0<k≦50; The air blowing structure of a body air blowing device comprising:

8. The air blowing structure for a body air blowing device according to claim 7, the return path merges with the airflow path located upstream of the first fin; The air blowing structure of a body air blowing device comprising:

9. The air blowing structure for a body air blowing device according to claim 7 or 8, an exhaust port is formed in the housing, and the fin unit has a second fin formed on a surface opposite to the one surface of the Peltier element; The air blowing structure of a body air blowing device, wherein the air blowing fan blows the air to the second fins together with the first fins.

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