Air blower

Abstract

To provide an air blower inhibiting wind speed of air blowing out from a ceiling surface side toward a floor surface side from becoming non-uniform.SOLUTION: An air blower 100 includes: a top nozzle 120 horizontally erected from a front surface starting from an upper side of a side panel 110 and having a blowout port 121 facing downwardly; and a chamber 130 that forms a second hollow space 134 and includes a first opening 132a on a lower surface 132, a second opening 133b communicated with the top nozzle 120 on a side surface 133 erected from the lower surface 132 and a straightening plate 135 erected from the side surface 133 toward the second hollow space 134. The straightening plate 135 divides at least part of an air flow AF1 to be sucked from the first opening 132a to the second hollow space 134 into an upper air flow AF1a flowing into the top nozzle 120 from the upper side relative to the straightening plate 135 and a lower air flow AF1b flowing into the top nozzle 120 from the lower side relative to the straightening plate 135.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a blower that blows air from the ceiling surface side toward the floor surface side.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner that can ensure an energy-saving and effective air-conditioned space in a partitionless form and is easy to transfer or relocate due to layout changes or the like. This air conditioner supplies and air-conditions the air-conditioned air locally in an open space. This air conditioner includes a ceiling outlet surface that is disposed above the local area and supplies a parallel air flow of the air-conditioned air that descends toward the local area, an intake port that is disposed laterally at the lower part of the local area, a blowout port that blows out a slit-shaped air flow of the air-conditioned air along the local floor surface toward the intake port, and a flow path that communicates the intake port with the ceiling outlet surface. The flow path is provided with a fan that blows the air sucked into the flow path from the intake port toward the ceiling outlet surface and an air conditioner that air-conditions the air sucked into the flow path from the intake port.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1 blows out the air flow generated by the fan from the ceiling outlet surface through the ceiling chamber. The pressure of the air flow generated by the fan concentrates on one end side of the ceiling chamber. Therefore, since the pressure of the air flow generated by the fan becomes non-uniform in the ceiling chamber, there is a problem that the wind speed of the air blown out from the ceiling outlet surface becomes non-uniform.

[0005] The present disclosure solves the above-described conventional problems and provides a blower device that suppresses non-uniform air velocity of air blown from the ceiling surface side toward the floor surface side.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The blower device in the present disclosure includes a side panel having a suction port below the front surface and standing upright upward, a top nozzle having a blowout port standing upright horizontally from the front surface starting from above the side panel and directed downward, a chamber forming a hollow space, having a first opening on the lower surface and a second opening communicating with the top nozzle on the side surface standing upright from the lower surface, and a rectifying plate standing upright from the side surface toward the hollow space. The blower device also includes a duct communicating with the first opening, and a blower that generates an air flow from the suction port toward the blowout port through the duct and the chamber. The rectifying plate divides at least a part of the air flow sucked into the hollow space from the first opening into an upward air flow flowing from above the rectifying plate into the top nozzle and a downward air flow flowing from below the rectifying plate into the top nozzle.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] By blowing the downward air flow from the side that is the starting point of the top nozzle with respect to the upward air flow, the blower device in the present disclosure suppresses the air flow flowing into the top nozzle from being biased toward the tip side where the top nozzle stands and blowing out from the top nozzle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the air velocity of the air blown out from the blowout port of the top nozzle from becoming non-uniform in the standing direction of the top nozzle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, a more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or duplicate descriptions of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid making the following description overly redundant and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art.

[0010] Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0012] [1-1. Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, the air blower 100 is arranged in an indoor space such as an office and generates an airflow that blows from the ceiling surface side toward the floor surface side. The air blower 100 includes a side panel 110, a plurality of top nozzles 120, a chamber 130, a duct 140, a blower 150, and a support frame 160.

[0013] [1-1-1. Side Panel] The side panel 110 is a housing formed by assembling a plurality of plate materials such as wood and is erected upward. 'Erected upward' means that the side panel 110 stands upright from the floor surface toward the ceiling surface in the indoor space. The side panel 110 has a first hollow space 111 and a suction port 112.

[0014] The first hollow space 111 is a space for arranging the duct 140 and the blower 150 inside the side panel 110. The first hollow space 111 is formed by assembling the side panel 110. The first hollow space 111 is formed by at least the front panel 110a, the rear panel 110b, one side end panel 110c, and the other side end panel 110d.

[0015] The front panel 110a is a plate material that stands up from the floor surface side to the ceiling surface side in the indoor space.

[0016] The rear panel 110b is a plate material that is arranged to face the front panel 110a with the first hollow space 111 in between.

[0017] One side end panel 110c is a plate material that is arranged on one side end side of the front panel 110a and the rear panel 110b.

[0018] The other side end panel 110d is a plate material that is arranged to face the one side end panel 110c with the first hollow space 111 in between. In other words, the other side end panel 110d is arranged on the other side end side of the front panel 110a and the rear panel 110b.

[0019] The suction port 112 is provided below the front surface of the side panel 110 and is an opening for sucking air into the blower 150. 'The front surface of the side panel 110' refers to the front panel 110a among the plate materials constituting the side panel 110. That is, the suction port 112 is provided on the front panel 110a. 'Below' means the floor surface side rather than the head of a seated person in the indoor space, specifically, the position below a height of 130 cm from the floor surface. The suction port 112 is rectangular and has an upper end portion 112a, a lower end portion 112b, one side end portion 112c, and the other side end portion 112d.

[0020] The upper end portion 112a is a side provided horizontally.

[0021] The lower end portion 112b is a side provided below the upper end portion 112a.

[0022] One side end 112c is one side provided on one side end side of the upper end part 112a and the lower end part 112b. In other words, one side end 112c is one side provided on one side end side of the side panel 110 in a rectangular opening.

[0023] The other side end 112d is one side arranged on the other side end side of the upper end part 112a and the lower end part 112b. In other words, the other side end 112d is one side provided on the other side end side of the side panel 110 in a rectangular opening.

[0024] The suction port 112 is a rectangle with the upper end part 112a and the lower end part 112b as long sides, and the one side end 112c and the other side end 112d as short sides.

[0025] The one side end 112c provided at the end on the one side end side of the side panel 110 in the suction port 112 is provided on the other side end side of the side panel 110 rather than the top nozzle 120 arranged at one side end of the side panel 110.

[0026] The other side end 112d provided at the end on the other side end side of the side panel 110 in the suction port 112 is provided on the one side end side of the side panel 110 rather than the top nozzle 120 arranged at the other side end of the side panel 110.

[0027] [1-1-2. Top Nozzle] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the top nozzle 120 is erected horizontally from the front panel 110a starting from above the side panel 110, and is a kind of rectangular ventilation duct into which the air conveyed from the duct 140 flows. "Above the side panel 110" refers to a position higher than the head of a standing human body, specifically, a position at a height of 200 cm or more from the floor surface in the indoor space. "Erected horizontally" means standing in a direction parallel to the floor surface and the ceiling surface in the indoor space. The top nozzle 120 is connected to the front panel 110a. Eight top nozzles 120 are arranged in parallel along the front panel 110a from one side end to the other side end of the side panel 110. The top nozzles 120 are preferably arranged at equal intervals. The top nozzle 120 has an air outlet 121.

[0028] The air outlet 121 is an opening for blowing out the air that has flowed into the top nozzle 120. The air outlet 121 is provided facing downward. "Facing downward" means facing directly the floor surface in the indoor space. That is, the air outlet 121 is provided on the surface of the rectangular top nozzle 120 that faces the floor surface. The air outlet 121 is a rectangular opening, and is formed such that the standing direction is the long side and the direction parallel to the side panel 110 is the short side. One air outlet 121 is provided for one top nozzle 120. The air outlets 121 belonging to each top nozzle 120 are preferably arranged on the same plane when a certain horizontal plane is assumed. That is, in the indoor space, the air outlets 121 belonging to each top nozzle 120 are preferably arranged at the same height from the floor surface.

[0029] [1-1-3. Chamber] As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the chamber 130 is a housing that connects to the top nozzle 120 and the duct 140. The chamber 130 is connected to one top nozzle 120. That is, eight chambers 130 are arranged, which is the same number as the top nozzles 120. The chamber 130 is disposed above the side panel 110. The chamber 130 controls the air flow (the direction of the air current) from the duct 140 to the top nozzle 120. The chamber 130 is formed using metal processing techniques such as punching, bending, and welding on sheet metal and is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped (a regular hexahedron). The chamber 130 has an upper surface 131, a lower surface 132, side surfaces 133, a second hollow space 134, a flow rectifying plate 135, and a duct connection portion 136.

[0030] The upper surface 131 is a flat plate disposed above the lower surface 132 with the second hollow space 134 interposed therebetween.

[0031] The lower surface 132 is disposed below the upper surface 131 with the second hollow space 134 interposed therebetween. It is a flat plate. The lower surface 132 has a first opening 132a.

[0032] The first opening 132a is a hole that communicates the duct 140 with the chamber 130. The first opening 132a is similar in shape to the shape obtained by horizontally projecting the flow rectifying plate 135 onto the lower surface 132 and is formed in a rectangular shape (including a square).

[0033] The side surface 133 is a flat plate that rises from the peripheral edge of the lower surface 132. Four side surfaces 133 (four sides) are arranged, but two side surfaces 133 (two sides) are shown in FIG. 3. One of the four side surfaces 133, the side surface 133a, is connected to the top nozzle 120. The side surface 133a has a second opening 133b.

[0034] The second opening 133b is a hole that communicates the top nozzle 120 with the chamber 130. The second opening 133b is formed by cutting and raising the flow rectifying plate 135 from the side surface 133a using metal processing techniques.

[0035] The second hollow space 134 is a ventilation passage formed by the upper surface 131, the lower surface 132, and the side surface 133.

[0036] The rectifying plate 135 is a rectangular flat plate that stands up toward the second hollow space 134 starting from the side surface 133a. The standing direction of the rectifying plate 135 is preferably parallel to the lower surface 132. The rectifying plate 135 is formed by being cut and raised from the side surface 133a using metal processing technology. The shape of the rectifying plate 135 horizontally projected onto the lower surface 132 is similar to the first opening 132a. The standing tip of the rectifying plate 135 is arranged with a predetermined interval (for example, 10 cm) from the side surface 133 that faces the side surface 133a with the second hollow space 134 in between.

[0037] The duct connection part 136 is a circular pipe that stands up downward (toward the floor surface) starting from the lower surface 132. By inserting the duct connection part 136 into the duct 140, the duct 140 and the chamber 130 are connected.

[0038] [1-1-4. Duct] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the duct 140 is a ventilation pipe for conveying the air sucked from the suction port 112 to the blower 150 to the chamber 130. One end of the duct 140 is connected to the chamber 130, and the other end is connected to the blower 150. One duct 140 is arranged for one chamber 130. That is, eight ducts 140 are arranged. As the duct 140, for example, a known flexible duct can be adopted.

[0039] [1-1-5. Blower] As shown in FIG. 2, the blower 150 generates an air flow from the suction port 112 toward the blowout port 121 of the top nozzle 120 via the duct 140 and the chamber 130. As the blower 150, a known turbomachine such as a centrifugal blower can be adopted. Four blowers 150 are arranged, and the air flow generated by one blower 150 is conveyed to two top nozzles 120.

[0040] [1-1-6. Support frame] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support frame 160 is a member for supporting the top nozzle 120. The support frame 160 is formed of two support columns 160a and one support bar 160b. The support column 160a is a square bar that stands upright upward from the floor surface in the indoor space. The support bar 160b is a square bar that is disposed on the tip side where the support column 160a stands. The support bar 160b is connected to the tip sides where eight top nozzles 120 stand.

[0041] [1-2. Operation] Regarding the air blower 100 configured as described above, its operation will be described below.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, when the operation of the blower 150 is started, the air in the indoor space where the blower device 100 is installed becomes an air current AF1 and is sucked in from the suction port 112. The air (air current AF1) sucked in from the suction port 112 passes through the duct 140 and is conveyed to the chamber 130. The air (air current AF1) conveyed to the chamber 130 has its flow direction controlled by the chamber 130. That is, the chamber 130 switches the traveling direction of the air current AF1 from the vertical direction (from the floor side to the ceiling side) to the horizontal direction. At the same time, the rectifying plate 135 divides a part or all of the air current AF1 into an upward air current AF1a flowing into the top nozzle 120 from above with respect to the rectifying plate 135 and a downward air current AF1b flowing into the top nozzle 120 from below with respect to the rectifying plate 135. The upward air current AF1a and the downward air current AF1b flowing into the top nozzle 120 blow out downward from the blowout port 121, that is, toward the floor surface. At this time, most of the downward air current AF1b blows out from the blowout port 121 on the side (the side of the side surface 133a) that becomes the starting point of the top nozzle 120 with respect to the upward air current AF1a. In other words, the upward air current AF1a blows out from the blowout port 121 on the upright tip side of the top nozzle 120 with respect to the downward air current AF1b. When the air current AF1 including the upward air current AF1a and the downward air current AF1b blows out from the blowout port 121, the air in the space around the air current AF1 is attracted to the air current AF1, and a negative pressure region S is generated in the space between the adjacent top nozzles 120. Negative pressure (also called negative air pressure) refers to a state where the air pressure is lower than the surroundings. That is, the negative pressure region S is a region where the air pressure is lower than the surroundings. When the negative pressure region S is generated, a force acts to eliminate the negative pressure, and air (air current AF2) for eliminating the negative pressure region S is generated from the space around the top nozzle 120. The air current AF2 is also called an induced air current. The air current AF2 suppresses the force by which the adjacent air currents AF1 are attracted to the negative pressure region S and merge. Therefore, the blower device 100 generates an air current in which the merging of the adjacent air currents AF1 is suppressed, that is, an air current AF3 that is linear in the blowing direction as a whole (in the present application, this air current may be referred to as a "plane air current" or a "plane air flow"). The air (air current AF1) blown downward from the blowout port 121 is sucked into the suction port 112.

[0043] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in the present embodiment, the blower device 100 includes a side panel 110 having a suction port 112 below the front surface and standing upright upward, a top nozzle 120 standing upright horizontally from the front surface starting from above the side panel 110 and having a blowout port 121 directed downward, a chamber 130 forming a hollow space (second hollow space 134), a first opening 132a on the lower surface 132, a second opening 133b communicating with the top nozzle 120 on the side surface 133 standing upright from the lower surface 132, and a rectifying plate 135 standing upright from the side surface 133 toward the hollow space (second hollow space 134), a duct 140 communicating with the first opening 132a, and a blower 150 that generates an air flow AF1 from the suction port 112 toward the blowout port 121 through the duct 140 and the chamber 130. The rectifying plate 135 divides at least a part of the air flow AF1 sucked from the first opening 132a into the hollow space (second hollow space 134) into an upward air flow AF1a flowing from above the rectifying plate 135 into the top nozzle 120 and a downward air flow AF1b flowing from below the rectifying plate 135 into the top nozzle 120.

[0044] As a result, the downward air flow AF1b blows out from the blowout port 121 on the side (the side of the side surface 133a) that is the starting point of the top nozzle 120 with respect to the upward air flow AF1a. In other words, the upward air flow AF1a blows out from the blowout port 121 on the upright tip side of the top nozzle 120 with respect to the downward air flow AF1b. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the air flow AF1 flowing into the top nozzle 120 from being biased toward the upright tip side of the top nozzle 120 and blowing out from the top nozzle 120, and to suppress the wind speed of the air blown out from the blowout port 121 from becoming non-uniform in the standing direction of the top nozzle 120.

[0045] In addition, since the air flow AF1 becomes a planar air flow (air flow AF3), it is possible to suppress the occurrence of non-uniformity (variation) in the velocity distribution of the air flow AF1 on the horizontal plane. Therefore, for example, the blower device 100 can provide the same air flow AF1 to the user regardless of the position where the user stays.

[0046] In this embodiment, the flow rectifying plate 135 is configured to stand upright parallel to the lower surface 132.

[0047] As a result, the difference between the wind speed when the upward airflow AF1a blows out from the air outlet 121 and the wind speed when the downward airflow AF1b blows out from the air outlet 121 becomes the smallest. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the airflow AF1 flowing into the top nozzle 120 from being biased toward the upright tip side of the top nozzle 120 and blowing out from the top nozzle 120, and to suppress the wind speed of the air blown out from the air outlet 121 from becoming uneven in the upright direction of the top nozzle 120.

[0048] In this embodiment, the shape of the flow rectifying plate 135 horizontally projected onto the lower surface 132 is similar to the shape of the first opening 132a.

[0049] As a result, compared with the case where the shape of the flow rectifying plate 135 horizontally projected onto the lower surface 132 and the shape of the first opening 132a are not similar, the amount of the airflow divided into the upward airflow AF1a and the downward airflow AF1b can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the airflow AF1 flowing into the top nozzle 120 from being biased toward the upright tip side of the top nozzle 120 and blowing out from the top nozzle 120, and to suppress the wind speed of the air blown out from the air outlet 121 from becoming uneven in the upright direction of the top nozzle 120.

[0050] In this embodiment, the flow rectifying plate 135 is formed by raising the side surface 133a.

[0051] As a result, the second opening 133b is formed by raising the flow rectifying plate 135. Therefore, the productivity can be improved compared with the case where the flow rectifying plate 135 and the second opening 133b are formed separately.

[0052] (Modification example) Hereinafter, modification examples will be exemplified.

[0053] [2-1. Configuration] The same configuration as that of Embodiment 1 will not be described in detail, and the configuration different from that of Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0054] The blower 100 may be provided with a filter for collecting dust contained in the air sucked into the suction port 112 on the suction port 112 or on the downstream side of the suction port 112.

[0055] The top nozzle 120 may have a flow rectifying plate different from the flow rectifying plate 135 such that, among the velocity vectors of the air flow AF1 blown out from the air outlet 121, the velocity vector directed toward the suction port 112 is larger than the other velocity vectors excluding the velocity vector directed toward the suction port 112.

[0056] In Embodiment 1, four blowers 150 are arranged, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Two blowers 150 may be arranged such that the air flow generated by one blower 150 is conveyed to the four top nozzles 120.

[0057] In Embodiment 1, eight top nozzles 120 are arranged, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Two or more top nozzles 120 may be arranged.

[0058] In Embodiment 1, the support columns 160a and the support rods 160b constituting the support frame 160 are formed of square pipes, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The support columns 160a and the support rods 160b may be round bars.

[0059] In Embodiment 1, the flow rectifying plate 135 is formed by being cut and raised from the side surface 133a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The flow rectifying plate 135 may be formed independently of the side surface 133a and connected to the side surface 133a.

[0060] [2-2. Operation] Since the air flows AF1, AF2, and AF3 and the negative pressure region S generated by starting the operation of the blower 150 are the same as those in Embodiment 1, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] [2-3. Effects, etc.] As in the modified example, the blower 100 may be provided with a filter for collecting dust contained in the air sucked into the suction port 112.

[0062] Thereby, purified air (airflow AF1) with less dust than before passing through the filter can be blown out from the blowout port 121. Therefore, a comfortable air environment can be provided for the user who uses the blower 100.

[0063] As in the modified example, the top nozzle 120 may have a rectifying plate for controlling the direction of the airflow AF1 blown out from the blowout port 121.

[0064] Thereby, the blower 100 can blow out the airflow AF1 toward the suction port 112. Therefore, since the airflow AF1 blown out from the blowout port 121 is actively sucked into the suction port 112, it is possible to suppress the diffusion of the airflow AF1 to the outside of the blower.

[0065] As described above, as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application, Embodiment 1 and the modified example have been described. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can also be applied to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Further, it is also possible to combine the respective components described in the above Embodiment 1 and the modified example to form a new embodiment.

[0066] Note that since the above-described embodiments and modified examples are for exemplifying the technology in the present disclosure, various changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. can be made within the scope of the claims or the equivalent scope thereof.

Industrial Applicability

[0067] The present disclosure is applicable to a blower in which the wind speed of the air blown out from the ceiling surface side toward the floor surface side can be non-uniform.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0068] 100 Blower 110 Side panel 110a Front panel 110b Rear panel 110c One-side end panel 110d The other-side end panel 111 First hollow space 112 Suction port 112a Upper end 112b Lower end 112c One-side end 112d The other-side end 120 Top nozzle 121 Air outlet 130 Chamber 131 Upper surface 132 Lower surface 132a First opening 133 Side surface 133a Side surface 133b Second opening 134 Second hollow space 135 Flow straightening plate 136 Duct connection part 140 Duct 150 Blower 160 Support frame 160a Strut 160b Support rod

Claims

1. A side panel having a suction port below the front surface and standing upright upward, A top nozzle having a blowout port standing upright horizontally from the front surface starting from the upper part of the side panel and directed downward, A chamber forming a hollow space, having a first opening on the lower surface, a second opening communicating with the top nozzle on the side surface standing upright from the lower surface, and a rectifying plate standing upright from the side surface toward the hollow space, A duct communicating with the first opening, A blower for generating an air flow from the suction port through the duct and the chamber toward the blowout port, Comprising, The rectifying plate divides at least a part of the air flow sucked into the hollow space from the first opening into an upward air flow flowing into the top nozzle from above the rectifying plate and a downward air flow flowing into the top nozzle from below the rectifying plate, An air blowing device.

2. The rectifying plate is standing upright parallel to the lower surface, The air blowing device according to Claim 1.

3. The shape of the rectifying plate projected horizontally onto the lower surface is similar to the shape of the first opening, The air blowing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 2.

4. The rectifying plate is formed by raising the side surface, The air blowing device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

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