Heating and Humidifying Device

Abstract

To provide a heating device that can uniformly apply air to a heating part.SOLUTION: A heating device X comprises: an air blowing part 2 comprising intake ports and exhaust ports, and for blowing air from the intake ports to the exhaust ports; a heating part 35 arranged downstream of the air blowing part 2, and for heating the blown air; and a duct part 3 connected to the exhaust ports of the air blowing part 2, and housing the heating part 35. The air blowing part 2 comprises a driving motor 20 of which a driving shaft 21 extends in a first direction; a pair of sirocco fans 22 connected to the driving shaft 21; and casings 23 housing the sirocco fans 22, and comprising the exhaust ports. The dust part 3 comprises a pair of connection ports 30c connected to the exhaust ports of a pair of the casings 23, along the first direction. The heating part 35 is long in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating device that warms the air sucked in from a suction port and blows it out from a blowout port.

Background Art

[0002] As a heating device, there has been an electric heater that sucks air from the outside of the housing to form warm air and blows the warm air in a specific direction. It includes a blower unit that sucks air into the housing from a suction port and blows it toward a blowout port, and a heating unit that heats the air blown toward the blowout port.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above conventional electric heater, since the blower unit blows air with a sirocco fan having a rotation axis in the front-rear direction, there is a problem that the air flow is biased at the left and right positions in the duct, and the air does not hit the heating unit (PTC heater) evenly. An object of the present invention is to provide a heating device capable of evenly applying air to a heating unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The heating device according to the present invention includes a blower unit having an air inlet and an air outlet and blowing air from the air inlet to the air outlet, a heating unit disposed downstream of the blower unit and heating the blown air, and a duct unit connected to the air outlet of the blower unit and housing the heating unit. The blower unit includes a drive motor whose drive shaft extends in a first direction, a pair of sirocco fans connected to the drive shaft, and a casing that houses the sirocco fans and has the air outlet. The duct unit has a pair of connection ports connected to the air outlets of the pair of casings along the first direction, and the heating unit is long in the first direction.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the above configuration, air can be evenly applied to the heating unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] <Summary> A first blower device according to an aspect of the embodiment includes a blower unit having an air inlet and an air outlet and blowing air from the air inlet to the air outlet, a heating unit disposed downstream of the blower unit and heating the blown air, and a duct unit connected to the air outlet of the blower unit and housing the heating unit. The blower unit includes a drive motor whose drive shaft extends in a first direction, a pair of sirocco fans connected to the drive shaft, and a casing housing the sirocco fans and having the air outlet. The duct unit has a pair of connection ports connected to the air outlets of the pair of casings along the first direction, and the heating unit is long in the first direction. Thereby, air is supplied to the duct unit from both sides in the first direction from the pair of sirocco fans, and air can be evenly applied to a wide range of the heating unit that is long in the first direction. Also, thereby, warm air can be generated by efficiently using the amount of heat generated in the heating unit. The duct unit may have at least one of an upstream air passage and a downstream air passage of a second blower device, or may not have both air passages. When having both air passages, the heating unit may be disposed in the upstream air passage, may be disposed in the downstream air passage, or may be disposed so as to straddle the upstream air passage and the downstream air passage. The total area of the pair of connection ports may be the same as, larger than, or smaller than the area of the portion where the heating unit is disposed. The duct unit may or may not have a connection wall that is an inclined surface of a fourth blower device. The duct unit may or may not have a guide plate portion of a fifth blower device. When having a connection wall with an inclined surface and a guide plate portion, the inclination angle of the guide plate portion may be the same as, larger than, or smaller than the inclination angle of the inclined surface of the connection wall. When including a control unit for controlling the blower unit and the heating unit, the control unit may be disposed on the side opposite to the air outlet, on the same side, or so as to straddle both sides with the rotation axis of the sirocco fan interposed therebetween. A humidifying unit may or may not be provided.

[0009] The second blower according to another aspect of the embodiment is the first blower, wherein the duct portion includes an upstream air passage that guides the air blown from the exhaust port in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a downstream air passage that changes the direction of the air that has passed through the upstream air passage and guides it in a third direction along a direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, and the heating portion is disposed in the upstream air passage. As a result, the flow direction of the air in the duct portion is changed, and the device can be made compact. In addition, the pressure loss due to passing through the heating portion can be suppressed, and the air volume can be ensured.

[0010] The third blower according to another aspect of the embodiment is the first or second blower, wherein the duct portion is configured such that the area of the portion where the heating portion is disposed is larger than the total area of the pair of connection ports. As a result, the speed of the airflow sent from the connection port can be reduced, and the range of the airflow can be widened before the air contacts the heating portion. Therefore, air can be applied to a wide range of the heating portion, and the amount of heat generated in the heating portion can be efficiently utilized.

[0011] The fourth blower according to another aspect of the embodiment is the first to third blowers, wherein the duct portion includes a pair of end walls extending in the second direction from both outer ends in the first direction of the pair of connection ports adjacent in the first direction, and a connection wall that projects into the duct from both inner ends in the first direction of the pair of connection ports adjacent in the first direction and connects both inner ends, and the surface of the connection wall in the duct is an inclined surface that approaches the other adjacent connection port as it moves downstream in the second direction from both inner ends. As a result, the airflow can be expanded from both end portions in the first direction of the duct portion to the inner side, and air hits a wide range including the intermediate position in the first direction of the heating portion, and the amount of heat generated in the heating portion can be efficiently utilized.

[0012] The fifth blower device according to another aspect of the embodiment is the fourth blower device, wherein the duct portion has a guide plate portion on the downstream side of the connection port, which approaches the other adjacent connection port as it moves downstream in the second direction. Thereby, the air blown out from the casings connected to both sides of the duct in the first direction can be guided inward, and the air can be applied to a wide range including the intermediate position in the first direction of the heating portion, and the amount of heat generated in the heating portion can be efficiently utilized.

[0013] The sixth blower device according to another aspect of the embodiment is the fifth blower device, wherein the inclination angle of the guide plate portion with respect to the second direction is smaller than the inclination angle of the inclined surface connected to the connection port on the upstream side of the guide plate portion with respect to the second direction. Thereby, the flow of air in the duct portion can be smoothly guided toward the center side in the first direction, and the pressure loss of the air flow can be reduced.

[0014] The seventh blower device according to another aspect of the embodiment is the first to sixth blower devices, further including a control unit that controls the blower unit and the heating unit, and the control unit is arranged on the side opposite to the exhaust port with the rotation axis of the sirocco fan interposed therebetween. Thereby, it becomes difficult for the control unit (electric substrate) to be affected by the heat of the heating unit, and a failure can be prevented.

[0015] The eighth blower device according to another aspect of the embodiment is the first to seventh blower devices, further including a humidifying unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the heating unit and humidifies the air heated by the heating unit, and the humidifying unit includes a humidifying filter that humidifies the heated air, a humidifying tray for supplying water to the humidifying filter, a water supply tank for storing water for supplying water to the humidifying tray, and a filter case that is placed on the humidifying tray and houses the humidifying filter, and the upper wall of the filter case is closed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the air passing through the humidifying filter from escaping into the space beside the humidifying filter, and the efficiency of humidification can be improved.

[0016] <Embodiment> 1. Overall Configuration A heating device that is an example of the embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the heating device X includes a blower unit 2 and a duct unit 3 that houses a heating means 35 in a housing 1. The blower unit 2 corresponds to an example of a blowing unit, the heating means corresponds to an example of a heating unit, and the duct unit corresponds to an example of a duct unit. The heating device X mainly blows out the air sucked from the suction port 12a of the housing 1 (covered by the filter 19 in the figure) from the blowout port 11a of the housing 1. The heating means 35 heats the air sent into the duct unit 3 by the blower unit 2 before it is blown out from the duct unit 3. The heating device X includes an operation display unit 4 having an operation means 41 and a display means 43, and a control unit 5 (see (a) of FIG. 3) that controls the blower unit 2, the heating means 35, the display means 43, etc. according to the operation content of the operation means 41. The control unit 5 is provided with a power supply means for generating electric power supplied to the blower unit 2, the heating means 35, and the control unit 5. The control unit corresponds to an example of a control section. The heating device X further includes a humidifying unit 6 that humidifies the air sent out by the blower unit 2. The humidifying unit corresponds to an example of a humidifying section. As shown in FIG. 2, the humidifying unit 6 is composed of a humidifying unit main body 60 and a water supply tank 61. The humidifying unit main body 60 is installed so as to be insertable and removable on the side opposite to the blowout port 11a in the housing 1, and the water supply tank 61 is configured to be removable from the housing 1. In addition, the side of the housing 1 where the blowout port 11a is located is defined as the front side, and when looking directly at the blowout port 11a, the side located on the right side in the left-right direction is, for convenience, defined as the right side. Hereinafter, each part will be described.

[0017] 2. Housing As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 1 is box-shaped (rectangular parallelepiped-shaped). Here, for example, it is thin in the front-rear direction and has a substantially square shape when viewed from the front. The housing 1 has an air outlet 11a in the front wall 11. One or more louvers 59 for changing the direction of the blown air are provided at the air outlet 11a. A human sensor 53 is provided at the upper part of the front wall 11 at the left and right center portions, and in FIG. 1, a cover 57 for protecting the human sensor 53 appears. The housing 1 has a suction port 12a in the rear wall 12. A filter 19 is detachably attached to the rear wall 12 corresponding to the suction port 12a. An opening 12b for the humidifying unit main body 60 is provided below the suction port 12a of the rear wall 12. Note that the opening 12b is provided along substantially the entire length in the left-right direction. Thereby, the humidifying ability can be enhanced. An operation display unit 4 is provided on the upper wall 13 of the housing 1. The operation display unit 4 is provided at the center in the left-right direction, and on one side (right side) in the left-right direction thereof, an opening 13a for the water supply tank 61 and a lid 17b for opening and closing the opening 13a are provided.

[0018] Inside the housing 1, a blower unit 2, a duct unit 3, and a control unit 5 are accommodated and supported. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the air outlet 11a is provided on the lower side, the suction port 12a is provided on the upper side, the blower unit 2 is arranged on the upper side and to the left, the duct unit 3 is arranged in the middle in the vertical direction and to the left, the humidifying unit main body 60 is arranged on the lower side and to the left, the water supply tank 61 is arranged vertically on the right side, and the control unit 5 is arranged above the front side of the blower unit 2. Thereby, the heating device X can be miniaturized. Since the control unit 5 and the operation display unit 4 are arranged on the upper side and the humidifying unit main body 60 is arranged on the lower side, it is configured such that the electrical components are not easily wetted by water. Since the control unit 5 and the operation display unit 4 are arranged above the rotation axis of the sirocco fan 22 and the heating means 35 is arranged on the downstream side of the sirocco fan 22, it is configured such that the air heated by the heating means 35 does not easily flow toward the electrical component side. Since the heating means 35 is arranged at the center in the vertical direction and the humidifying unit main body 60 is arranged on the lower side, the heating means 35 and the humidifying unit main body 60 are located close to each other, and the heat loss of the air passing through the humidifying unit main body 60 can be reduced.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the housing 1 includes a frame 14 to which a blower unit 2, a duct unit 3, and a control unit 5 are attached, a front cover 15 that covers the front side of the frame 14, a right rear cover 16 that covers the right side and the right rear side of the frame, and an upper cover 17a and a lid 17b that cover the upper side of the frame 14. The frame 14 has, integrally and in a standing state from a bottom wall portion 140, a partition wall portion 141 that partitions a space for accommodating a water supply tank 61 and a space for accommodating the blower unit 2, the duct unit 3, etc., a front right wall portion 142 that extends from the front end of the partition wall portion 141 to the right side, a rear left wall portion 143 that extends from the rear end of the partition wall portion 141 to the left side, a right wall portion 144 that extends from the right end of the front right wall portion 142 to the rear side, and a left wall portion 145 that extends from the left end of the rear left wall portion 143 to the front side. As a result, the rear surface side of the frame 14 becomes a space for accommodating the water supply tank 61, and the front surface side of the frame 14 becomes a space for accommodating the blower unit 2, etc. With a simple configuration, the water supply tank 61 for storing water and electrical components such as the blower unit 2, the heating means 35, the control unit 5, and the operation display unit 4 can be compartmentalized in terms of arrangement. Note that the unit accommodation portion (accommodation space) 146 for accommodating the blower unit 2, the duct unit 3, the control unit 5, and the operation display unit 4 is composed of the partition wall portion 141, the rear left wall portion 143, and the left wall portion 145 of the frame 14, the front cover 15, and the upper cover 17a. The water supply tank accommodation portion (accommodation space) 147 for accommodating the water supply tank 61 is composed of the partition wall portion 141, the front right wall portion 142, and the right wall portion 144 of the frame 14, and the right rear cover 16.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 6(b), the frame 14 has attachment portions 148a for attaching the blower unit 2, the duct unit 3, and the control unit 5, positioning portions 148b for positioning each unit, etc. As shown in Fig. 6(a), a notch 141a is formed on the lower side of the partition wall portion 141, a notch 143a is formed on the lower side of the rear left wall portion 143, and a notch 163a is formed on the lower side of the rear wall portion 163 of the right rear cover 16 as shown in Fig. 5. The notches 141a, 143a, and 163a are continuous with each other. As a result, a space is formed in which the rear part on the lower side of the housing 1 is open as shown in Fig. 2, and this space becomes a humidifying unit accommodating portion (accommodating space) 151 for accommodating the humidifying unit body 60.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 6(b), the frame 14 has a front left wall portion 152 that extends to the left in a substantially flush state with the front right wall portion 142, and a middle left wall portion 153 that extends rearward from the left end of the front left wall portion 152 and is connected to the rear left wall portion 143. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the humidifying unit accommodating portion 151 is composed of the bottom wall portion 140 of the frame 14, the front left wall portion 152, the lower side of the front right wall portion 142, the lower side of the right wall portion 144, the middle left wall portion 153, and the lower side of the right wall portion 161 of the right rear cover 16 (see Fig. 4 etc.). The frame 14 has a stretching portion 154 that is horizontal and protrudes to the side opposite to the humidifying unit accommodating portion 151 in a state of straddling the upper side of the front left wall portion 152 and the upper side of the middle left wall portion 153. The upper end portion of the front left wall portion 152 and the upper end portion of the middle left wall portion 153 are fitted to the fitting portion 30g of the duct unit 3, and the stretching portion 154 abuts against the stretching portion 30h of the fitting portion 30g of the duct unit 3 from below as shown in Fig. 4 to support the duct unit 3. The frame 14 has a mounting portion 155 for mounting the front cover 15 on the front left wall portion 152.

[0022] 3. Blowing Unit As shown in Fig. 9, the blowing unit 2 discharges the air sucked from the air inlet 23a from the air outlet 23b. As shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the blowing unit 2 includes a drive motor 20 whose drive shaft 21 extends in the left - right direction (first direction), a pair of sirocco fans 22 connected to the drive shaft 21, and a casing 23 that houses the sirocco fans 22. In the blowing unit 2 here, the casing 23 that houses the sirocco fans 22 is provided with the drive motor 20 interposed therebetween in the left - right direction. As shown in FIG. 9, each casing 23 has air inlets 23a on both end faces in the left-right direction. Thereby, for example, when two sirocco fans are arranged in the left-right direction, the suction force can be increased compared to a single sirocco fan corresponding to the length of the two sirocco fans arranged side by side and sucking air from the air inlets on both end faces of one casing. The two casings 23 have exhaust ports 23b facing downward. The two exhaust ports 23b are provided at intervals in the left-right direction. The outer peripheral surface of the opening side end portion constituting the exhaust port 23b has a flange portion 23c projecting outward. The two casings 23 have a coupling portion 24 for coupling with the drive motor 20 interposed therebetween.

[0023] 4. Duct Unit (1) Air Duct As shown in FIG. 9, the duct unit 3 has two connection ports 30c connected to the exhaust ports 23b of the pair of casings 23 along the left-right direction. A heater 35, which is a heating portion, is accommodated in the air duct inside the duct unit 3. When viewed from the left-right direction, the duct unit 3 has an "L" shape extending forward. That is, the air that enters from the connection port 30c has an "L" - shaped air duct 30 inside that goes downward first and then forward as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3(a). In other words, the duct unit 3 has an upstream air duct 30a that guides the air sent out from the exhaust port 23b of the blower unit 2 downward in a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and a downstream air duct 30b that changes the direction of the air that has passed through the upstream air duct 30a and guides it forward in a direction orthogonal to both the left-right direction and the downward direction. The heater 35 is arranged in the upstream air duct 30a. Here, the downward direction is an example of the second direction and the forward direction is an example of the third direction.

[0024] The heater 35 uses, for example, a PTC heater. The heater 35 has a large number of through holes in the vertical direction, but for the sake of convenience, it is shown as a plate shape in the figure. The heater 35 has a plate shape and is supported in a state where its main surface is orthogonal to the vertical direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 9, the duct unit 3 has two connection ports 30c and one air outlet 30d. The two connection ports 30c are provided at intervals in the left - right direction, merge in the upstream air duct 30a, and are sent out from one air outlet 30d of the downstream air duct 30b. The air sent out blows out from the air outlet 11a through the louver 59 (see FIG. 1(b)). The total area of the two connection ports 30c is smaller than the area of the portion where the heater 35 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 9, the duct unit 3 has a V - shaped part 30e that projects downstream between the two connection ports 30c and connects the inner ends in the left - right direction of the pair of connection ports 30c so that the air entering from the two connection ports 30c merges upstream of the heater 35, and a guide plate part 30f that guides air to the center in the left - right direction on the downstream side of the connection port 30c. The surface of the V - shaped part 30e that contacts the inside of the duct unit 3 is an inclined surface that approaches the center in the left - right direction (a virtual line passing through the center of the pair of connection ports 30c and extending in the up - down direction) as it moves downward. In other words, the inner surface of the V - shaped part 30e is an inclined surface that approaches the adjacent other connection port 30c as it moves downward from both ends on the inner side in the left - right direction of the connection port 30c. Note that the V - shaped part 30e corresponds to an example of a connection wall. The guide plate part 30f is inclined so as to approach the center in the left - right direction (a virtual line passing through the center of the pair of connection ports 30c and extending in the up - down direction) as it moves downward. In other words, the guide plate part 30f is inclined so as to approach the adjacent other connection port 30c as it moves downward.

[0026] The air duct 30, the V - shaped part 30e, and the guide plate part 30f are configured to be plane - symmetric with respect to a virtual plane passing through the center in the direction in which the pair of connection ports 30c are arranged (left - right direction), that is, the center between the pair of connection ports 30c and orthogonal to the left - right direction. Thereby, in the left - right direction, the variation in the fluidity (air volume) of the air in the air duct 30 can be reduced. By reducing the variation in fluidity, the air is evenly heated by the heater 35 that is long in the left - right direction. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the duct unit 3 is composed of a plurality of duct members. Here, it is separated front and rear and includes a front duct body 31 and a rear duct body 33.

[0027] (2) Front duct body The front duct body 31 includes a front wall portion 311 that forms the front wall of the upstream air passage 30a, an upper wall portion 312 that forms the upper wall of the downstream air passage 30b, a front side wall portion 313 that extends rearward and downward from both left and right ends of the front wall portion 311 and the upper wall portion 312 to form the front part of the side wall of the air passage 30, and a front lower wall portion 314 that extends in the front-rear direction below the upper wall portion 312 and forms the lower wall except for the rear end portion of the lower wall of the downstream air passage 30b. The air outlet 30d is formed by the front edge of the upper wall portion 312, the front side wall portion 313, and the front lower wall portion 314. The front duct body 31 has a top wall portion 315 located between a pair of connection ports 30c. That is, the front duct body 31 has a top wall portion 315 that extends rearward from the upper end of the front wall portion 311 at the intermediate portion in the left-right direction. The front part of the connection port 30c is composed of the upper end of the front wall portion 311, the upper end of the front side wall portion 313, and the left and right ends of the top wall portion 315. The front duct body 31 has a stepped front fitting portion 316 that extends upward and spreads forward or to the left and right from the upper end of the front wall portion 311, the upper end of the front side wall portion 313, and the left and right ends of the top wall portion 315. As shown in FIG. 8, the front duct body 31 has a front V-shaped portion 317 having inclined surfaces that approach each other as they move downward from the left and right edges in the left-right direction of the top wall portion 315, and a front guide plate portion 318 that extends rearward from below the front part of the connection port 30c in the front wall portion 311 and approaches the center in the left-right direction as it moves downward. The front duct body 31 has a plurality of front support portions 319 on the front wall portion 311 that support the upper and lower ends of the heater 35.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 8(b), the front lower wall portion 314 has an inlet 314a for allowing the air sent out from the blower unit 2 to flow into the humidifying unit 6 on the rear side, and an outlet 314b for allowing the air that has passed through the humidifying unit 6 to flow out into the downstream air passage 30b on the front side. Note that the inlet 314a is composed of a plurality of small openings. The outlet 314b is composed of a plurality of (here, four) openings larger than the inlet 314a, and the front lower wall portion 314 is reinforced from the connecting portion 314c between the openings. The front duct body 31 has a front fitting portion 321 that extends downward from the left end and the front end of the front lower wall portion 314, and a front extension portion 323 that extends horizontally outward from the front fitting portion 321.

[0029] (3) Rear duct body As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the rear duct body 33 has a rear wall portion 331 that forms the rear wall of the upstream air passage 30a, rear side wall portions 333 that extend forward from both the left and right ends of the rear wall portion 331 to form the rear side portions of the side walls of the air passage 30, and a rear lower wall portion 334 that forms the rear portion of the lower wall of the downstream air passage 30b. The rear side wall portion 333 and the front side wall portion 313 form the side wall 30j of the duct unit 3 shown in Fig. 9 and correspond to an example of an end wall that extends in the downward (second direction). The rear duct body 33 has a top wall portion 335 located between the pair of connection ports 30c. That is, the rear duct body 33 has a top wall portion 335 that extends forward from the upper end of the rear wall portion 331 at the intermediate portion in the left - right direction. The rear side portion of the connection port 30c is composed of the upper end of the rear wall portion 331, the upper end of the rear side wall portion 333, and the left and right ends of the top wall portion 335. And the connection port 30c is composed of the upper end of the front wall portion 311 of the front duct body 31, the upper end of the front side wall portion 313, the left and right ends of the top wall portion 315, the upper end of the rear wall portion 331 of the rear duct body 33, the upper end of the rear side wall portion 333, and the left and right ends of the top wall portion 335. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear duct body 33 has a stepped rear fitting portion 336 that extends upward from the upper end of the rear wall portion 331, the upper end of the rear side wall portion 333, and the left and right ends of the top wall portion 335 and spreads rearward or to the left and right. The front fitting portion 316 and the rear fitting portion 336 form a fitting portion 326 (see FIG. 9), and the flange portion 23c at the opening side end that constitutes the exhaust port 23b of the casing 23 of the blower unit 2 fits into the fitting portion 326. Thereby, the blower unit 2 is connected in a state with enhanced airtightness.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 7, the rear duct body 33 has a rear V-shaped portion 337 having inclined surfaces that approach each other as they move downward from the left and right edges of the top wall portion 335 in the horizontal direction, and a rear guide plate portion 338 that extends forward from below the rear portion of the connection port 30c in the rear wall portion 331 and approaches the center in the horizontal direction as it moves downward. The front V-shaped portion 317 and the rear V-shaped portion 337 form a V-shaped portion 30e shown in FIG. 9, and the front guide plate portion 318 and the rear guide plate portion 338 form a guide plate portion 30f shown in FIG. 9. Also, the inclination angle of the guide plate portion 30f with respect to the vertical direction is smaller than the inclination angle with respect to the vertical direction of the inclined surface of the V-shaped portion 30e that connects to the connection port 30c located above the guide plate portion 30f. Thereby, the air that enters from the connection port 30c can be smoothly guided to the inside in the horizontal direction, and the pressure loss can be reduced. The rear duct body 33 has a plurality of rear support portions 339 on the rear wall portion 331 that support the upper and lower ends of the heater 35.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, the rear lower wall portion 334 has a notch portion 334a so as to fit with the portion that projects rearward of the front lower wall portion 314. The rear lower wall portion 334 has a groove portion 334b into which the projecting portion of the front lower wall portion 314 is inserted, facing the notch portion 334a. Thereby, the front lower wall portion 314 and the rear lower wall portion 334 can be reliably connected. The rear duct body 33 has a rear fitting portion 341 that extends downward from the left end of the rear lower wall portion 334, and a rear extension portion 343 that extends horizontally outward in the left-right direction from the rear fitting portion 341. The rear fitting portion 341 and the front fitting portion 321 constitute the fitting portion 30g shown in FIG. 9, and the rear extension portion 343 and the front extension portion 323 constitute the extension portion 30h shown in FIG. 9.

[0032] (4) Switching means The duct unit 3 has an inlet 314a on the rear side and an outlet 314b on the front side of the front lower wall portion 314, and is configured to send air to the humidifying unit 6 side. That is, the duct unit 3 includes switching means 36 inside for switching between a first state of sending the air that has entered from the blower unit 2 from the outlet 30d at the downstream end of the downstream air passage 30b, and a second state of sending it from the outlet 30d via the humidifying unit 6. The switching means 36 has a switching plate 361 that is rotatably supported, and a drive motor 363 that rotates the switching plate 361 so as to be in the first state and the second state. The control unit 5 drives the drive motor 363 by an operation of the operation means 41. Although there is one switching plate 361, FIGS. 7 and 8 show the switching plate 361 in both the first state and the second state. The switching plate 361 is rectangular in shape and long in the left-right direction, with one long side serving as the rotation axis, and rotation shaft portions 365 extending outward in the left-right direction from both ends in the left-right direction and being supported by the front side wall portion 313 of the front duct body 31. One of the rotation shaft portions 365 is inserted through the through hole 313a of the front side wall portion 313 and connected to the drive motor 363.

[0033] (5) Sensor As shown in FIG. 9, the duct unit 3 has a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heater 35 or a temperature corresponding to the temperature. The temperature sensor here is provided at a site corresponding to the heater 35 on the outer surface of the front wall portion 311 of the front duct body 31. The temperature sensor is provided in a state of being housed in a protective case 37.

[0034] 5. Operation display unit The operation display unit 4 has an operation means 41 and a display means 43 mounted on a single substrate 45. As shown in FIG. 5, the substrate 45 is attached to the back surface of the upper cover 17a. The operation display unit 4 is arranged in the middle part in the left-right direction as an apparatus.

[0035] 6. Control Unit The control unit 5 includes a plurality of electronic components and a substrate on which these are mounted. These are attached via an attachment portion 148 to a recess 149 in the rear left wall portion 143 of the frame 14 as shown in FIG. 6 while being housed in a case 51. Note that a plurality of electronic components for generating driving power are also mounted on the substrate. Further, the recess 149 in the frame 14 is used when carrying the heating device X. A fixing plate 55 having a human sensor 53 is provided on the case 51 of the control unit 5. Thereby, the distance between the human sensor 53 and the substrate of the control unit 5 can be made close.

[0036] 7. Humidifying Unit The humidifying unit 6 has a humidifying unit main body 60 and a water supply tank 61 as shown in FIG. 2. (1) Water Supply Tank The water supply tank 61 has a tank main body 611 having a cylindrical portion 612 (see FIG. 10) protruding downward in a cylindrical shape at the lower part, and a cap 613 detachably attached to the cylindrical portion 612 of the tank main body 611. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 612 is open, enabling the entry and exit of water. The tank main body 611 has a vertically long shape and has a handle portion 611a at the upper part. As shown in FIG. 10, the cap 613 has a cylindrical portion 615 extending in the cylinder axis direction (vertical direction) at the bottom of a bottomed cylindrical cap main body 614, a ring portion 616 supported by the cylindrical portion 615, a rod body 617 having a flange portion 617a at the lower end and inserting the ring portion 616 in the cylinder axis direction, a spring body 618 disposed between a ridge portion 617b above the flange portion 617a of the rod body 617 and the ring portion 616, and a valve body 619 provided at the upper end of the rod body 617. When the valve body 619 is removed from the heating device X, since the rod body 617 is biased downward by the spring body 618, the opening at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 615 is closed. When the valve body 619 is set in the heating device X, the rod body 617 moves upward by the convex portion 661a of the humidifying unit main body 60, and the opening at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 615 is opened.

[0037] (2) Humidifying unit main body The humidifying unit main body 60 is a so-called vaporization type in which air passes through the humidifying filter 63 containing moisture. As shown in FIG. 11, the humidifying unit main body 60 includes at least a humidifying filter 63 that humidifies when air heated by the heater 35 passes through, a humidifying tray 64 for supplying water to the humidifying filter 63, and a filter case 65 that is placed on the humidifying tray 64 and houses the humidifying filter 63. Here, the humidifying unit main body 60 has an outer tray 66 that stores the water received from the water supply tank 61, and the water is supplied to the humidifying tray 64 arranged in the outer tray 66. The humidifying unit main body 60 includes, in the outer tray 66, a processing member for performing a predetermined process on the water stored in the outer tray 66 and the water supplied to the humidifying tray 64, and a float 68 for detecting the water level of the water stored in the outer tray 66.

[0038] (2-1) Humidifying filter As the humidifying filter 63, for example, a pleated filter formed by folding a non-woven fabric can be used. The humidifying filter 63 has a rectangular paper shape, is zigzag-shaped with front and back folds at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of sheets (for example, two sheets) are arranged along the left-right direction. (2-2) Humidifying tray As shown in FIG. 11, the humidifying tray 64 has a box-shaped tray main body portion 641 with an open upper surface, an opening portion 643 provided at the bottom portion of the tray main body portion 641, and a plurality of vertical rib portions 645 for regulating the position of the filter case 65 in the front-rear direction. The tray main body portion 641 has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from above. A plurality of openings 643 are provided. There are a total of two openings provided on both sides in the left - right direction below the filter case 65, and a total of four openings provided at intervals in the left - right direction at the rear side of the filter case 65. As a result, water is evenly stored in the humidifying tray 64. The vertical rib portions 645 are end walls on the short - side of the tray main body portion 641 (left - and right - end walls), and there are a total of four vertical rib portions provided one by one in front of and behind the filter case 65. The filter case 65 is inserted into the humidifying tray 64 from above along a pair of front - and - rear vertical rib portions 645.

[0039] (2 - 3) Filter case The filter case 65 has a box - shape that is long in the left - right direction, with the front and rear surfaces being substantially open, and the lower surface having an opening 651 that extends in the left - right direction at the center in the front - rear direction. The opening 651 faces the opening 643 of the humidifying tray 64. As a result, water smoothly flows into the humidifying tray 64. The filter case 65 is composed of two front - and - rear members for housing the humidifying filter 63, but the left - and right end walls and the upper wall are closed. As a result, the air flowing in from the rear side of the filter case 65 passes through the humidifying filter 63 and flows out from the front side. That is, since the upper wall and the left - and right end walls are closed, most of the air flowing in from the rear part side passes through the humidifying filter 63 and flows out from the front - part side of the filter case 65, and the humidifying efficiency can be improved.

[0040] (2 - 4) Outer tray As shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 12, the outer tray 66 has a water receiving portion 661 that is located below the water supply tank 61 and receives water from the water supply tank 61, a tray placement portion 662 where the humidifying tray 64 is placed, and a gripping portion configuration portion 663 for forming a gripping portion 663a when inserting and removing the outer tray 66 with respect to the housing 1.

[0041] The water receiving part 661 is partitioned by a tray placement part 662 and a partition wall part 664, and has a box shape with an open upper surface including the partition wall part 664. The water receiving part 661 has a convex part 661a for pushing up the valve body 619 when the water supply tank 61 is set, an extending part 661b that surrounds the convex part 661a and extends the outer side of the cylindrical part 615 of the cap 613 of the water supply tank 61 to a position higher than the lower end of the cylindrical part 615, a float housing part 661c for housing the float 68, a float support part 661d (see (a) of FIG. 11) for supporting the float 68 so as to be vertically movable, and a case housing part 661e for housing a case 67 that houses a silver-containing member (not shown) that imparts an antibacterial action as an example of a processing member. Note that a through hole 664a for flowing water from the water receiving part 661 to the tray placement part 662 side is provided on the lower side of the partition wall part 664.

[0042] The tray placement part 662 is arranged in the left-right direction with respect to the water receiving part 661. Thereby, the dimension in the front-rear direction can be reduced. Note that the left-right direction is the direction in which the two sirocco fans 22 and the drive motor 20 are arranged, and is longer than the front-rear direction. Note that the tray placement part 662 has a plurality of ribs 662a for suppressing rattling of the humidifying tray 64. The grip part constituent part 663 is configured to straddle the water receiving part 661 and the tray placement part 662, and the grip part 663a is constituted by a recessed part on the back side of the rear wall part 66a of the outer tray 66.

[0043] (2-5) Float The float 68 moves up and down according to the amount of water stored in the water receiving part 661. Here, a pair of convex parts 681 protruding in the left-right direction of the float 68 are movably supported by a concave part that is the float support part 661d of the water receiving part 661. A magnet (not shown) is housed in the float 68, and is detected by a magnetic field sensor 58 attached to the frame 14 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0044] 8. Use The heating device X has a heating function of blowing out heated air and a heating and humidifying function of humidifying and blowing out the heated air. The usage status of each function will be described below. (1) Heating function This will be described with reference to FIG. 13. When the user operates the operation means 41 to turn off the humidification function and start it, as shown in FIG. 13(a), the switching plate 361 of the switching means 36 closes the inlet 314a to the humidification unit 6 side. As a result, as shown by the arrow A in the figure, the air sent out by the blower unit 2 is heated by the heater 35 while passing through the upstream air passage 30a, passes through the downstream air passage 30b, and is blown out to the outside from the air outlet 11a of the housing 1.

[0045] (2) Heating and humidifying function When the user operates the operation means 41 to turn on the humidification function and start it, as shown in FIG. 13(b), the switching plate 361 of the switching means 36 closes the upstream side of the downstream air passage 30b, and the inlet 314a to the humidification unit 6 side opens. As a result, as shown by the arrow B in the figure, the air sent out by the blower unit 2 is heated by the heater 35 while passing through the upstream air passage 30a, enters from the inlet 314a on the humidification unit 6 side, passes through the humidification filter 63, and then enters the downstream air passage 30b from the outlet 314b. The humidified air that has entered the downstream air passage 30b is heated by the heater 35 and blown out to the outside from the air outlet 11a of the housing 1 together with the air (arrow C in the figure) that has entered the downstream air passage 30b from between the extended portion 311a of the front duct body 31 of the duct unit 3 and the switching plate 361.

[0046] Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and for example, the following modifications may be made. Also, combinations of embodiments, modifications, and modifications may be made. In addition, examples not described in the embodiments or modification examples, and design changes within the scope not departing from the gist are also included in the present invention.

[0047] <Modification example> 1. Heating device The heating device X was provided with the humidifying unit 6, but it may not be provided. Further, a unit having functions other than humidification may be provided. Examples of functions other than humidification include, for example, a dehumidifying function, a circulator function, an air cleaning function, and the like. These functions may be provided alone or together with the humidifying unit.

[0048] 2. Blower section (1) Position The blower unit 2 is arranged at the upper part of the housing 1 such that the drive shaft 21 extends in the left - right direction. However, for example, it may be arranged at the lower part of the housing 1 such that the drive shaft 21 extends in the left - right direction, or it may be arranged at the left - right parts of the housing such that the drive shaft 21 extends in the up - down direction. (2) Number of sirocco fans The blower unit 2 was provided with two sirocco fans 22 and a drive motor 20 in the left - right direction, which is an example of the first direction. However, for example, it may be provided with three or more sirocco fans. In this case, a plurality of sirocco fans may be rotated by one drive motor, or one drive motor and two sirocco fans may be taken as a set, and a plurality of sets may be provided in the first direction. (3) Drive shaft The first direction in which the drive shaft 21 extends was the left - right direction, but it may be the up - down direction, the front - back direction, or a direction intersecting these. In the embodiment, the drive shaft 21 of the drive motor 20 extends, and the sirocco fan 22 is attached to the extending portion. However, for example, the drive motor rotating shaft may be connected to the rotating shaft of the sirocco fan. (4) Position of sirocco fans The pair of sirocco fans 22 only needs to be arranged in the first direction, and may be arranged with the drive motor 20 in between, or may be adjacent to each other on one side of the drive motor 20. (5) Intake port and exhaust port The casing 23 had intake ports 23a on two end walls orthogonal to the first direction. However, it may have an intake port 23a only on the end face on the side away from the drive motor 20, or may have an intake port 23a only on the end face close to the drive motor 20. Note that it is preferable to have intake ports 23a on both end faces in terms of the suction force. Although the exhaust port 23b faces downward, it may face other directions depending on the connection relationship with the duct unit 3.

[0049] 3. Duct Unit (1) When viewed from the extending direction of the drive shaft 21 of the drive motor 20, the air passage 30 is in an "L" shape. That is, the upstream air passage 30a and the downstream air passage 30b are substantially orthogonal. Thus, by utilizing the structure that converts the air flow direction from the upstream air passage 30a to the downstream air passage 30b, the air passage leading to the humidifying unit 6 side and the air passage not leading to the humidifying unit 6 side are easily configured. However, when the humidifying unit 6 is not provided, it may be in an "I" shape (a straight line shape) when viewed from the extending direction of the drive shaft 21. Also, even when the humidifying unit 6 is provided, the angle between the upstream air passage 30a and the downstream air passage 30b does not have to be 90 degrees, and it may be within the range of 75 degrees to 105 degrees. (2) Connection Wall In an example of the connection wall, the V-shaped portion 30e, where two inclined surfaces are connected at the lower end, does not necessarily have to be connected at the lower end, or the lower end portion may be flat within a range that does not affect the air flow (in this case, it has a shape similar to a trapezoid with a short length of the bottom side). The connection wall may be in a V shape with straight inclined surfaces, a U shape with curved inclined surfaces, a semi-circular shape, or an anti-elliptical shape. However, considering the air fluidity, a V shape with straight inclined surfaces is preferred. Also, considering the air pressure loss, the angle of the inclined surface with respect to the second direction is preferably 40 to 80 degrees. (3) Guide Plate Portion Although one guide plate portion 30f is provided at each connection port 30c, a plurality of them may be provided in the left-right direction or a plurality of them may be provided in the up-down direction. One guide plate portion 30f is provided at each connection port 30c and is in a straight shape. However, for example, it may be in a curved shape, or in a shape with a straight shape having a plurality of inclination angles, or in a shape with a curved shape having a plurality of radii of curvature, or in a shape having a straight portion and a curved portion. Also, considering the pressure loss of air, the angle of the guide plate portion with respect to the second direction is preferably 10 to 40 degrees. (4) Ceiling wall portion The front duct body 31 had a ceiling wall portion 315, and the rear duct body 33 had a ceiling wall portion 335. However, for example, the outer surface of the V-shaped portion 30e may constitute the outer surface of the duct unit 3, and the duct unit 3 may be configured not to have a ceiling wall portion.

[0050] 4. Heating section The heating section was constituted by one heater 35 that was long in the left-right direction, but it may be constituted by a plurality of heaters 35 in the longitudinal direction. However, when a plurality of heaters are used, temperature unevenness may occur between adjacent heaters, so one heater is preferred.

[0051] 5. Humidifying unit The humidifying unit 6 was a so-called vaporization type, but it may be, for example, an ultrasonic type, a heating type, or a hybrid type. The air supplied to the humidifying unit main body 60 (humidifying filter 63) is configured to pass from the air passage 30 through the humidifying filter 63 and return to the air passage 30, but the air that has passed through the humidifying filter 63 may be blown out through a path different from the air passage 30. Considering the structure, space, and path components of the different path, it is preferable to use the air passage 30.

[0052] 6. Operation display unit and control unit The operation display unit 4 was provided on the upper wall 13, but it may be provided at other locations. However, considering the heat of the heater 35, it is preferably arranged in the region opposite to the heater 35 with respect to the rotation axis of the sirocco fan 22. The control unit 5 is attached to the frame 14 in a state of being located on the back side of the upper wall 13 and on the back side of the front wall 11, but it may be provided on other members or at other locations. However, considering the heat of the heater 35, it is preferably arranged in the region opposite to the heater 35 with respect to the rotation axis of the sirocco fan 22. Also, considering the rotational vibration of the drive motor 20, it is preferably provided on members other than the blower fan, for example, on the front wall or the upper wall.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0053] 1 Housing 2 Blower Unit (Blowing Section) 3 Duct Unit (Duct Section) 20 Drive Motor 21 Drive Shaft 22 Sirocco Fan 23 Casing 23a Air Inlet 23b Air Outlet 30c Connection Port 35 Heater (Heating Section) X Heating Device

Claims

1. A blower unit having an air inlet and an air outlet and blowing air from the air inlet to the air outlet, A heating unit arranged downstream of the blower unit and heating the blown air, A duct unit connected to the air outlet of the blower unit and housing the heating unit, A humidifying unit arranged on the downstream side of the heating unit and humidifying the air heated by the heating unit, A housing housing the blower unit, the duct unit, and the humidifying unit and comprising: The humidifying unit includes a humidifying filter for humidifying the heated air, a humidifying tray for supplying water to the humidifying filter, and a water supply tank for storing water for supplying water to the humidifying tray, The blower unit includes a drive motor whose drive shaft extends in a first direction, a pair of sirocco fans connected to the drive shaft, and a casing housing the sirocco fans and having the air outlet, The duct unit has a pair of connection ports connected to the air outlets of the pair of casings along the first direction, and has an inlet for merging the air entering from the pair of connection ports on the upstream side of the heating unit and flowing the air into the humidifying unit, The heating unit is long in the first direction, The humidifying tray is long in the first direction, and the humidifying filter is arranged along the first direction, The air sent out from the blower unit is heated by the heating unit, passes through the humidifying filter from the inlet, and is blown out to the outside from the air outlet of the housing, The humidifying unit is detachably arranged below the duct unit, The surface of the housing in which an opening for inserting and removing the humidifying unit is formed is located on the side opposite to the surface of the housing in which the air outlet is formed in the insertion and removal direction of the humidifying unit, A heating and humidifying device.

2. The duct unit has an upstream air passage for guiding the air blown from the air outlet in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a downstream air passage for changing the direction of the air that has passed through the upstream air passage and guiding the air along a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, The heating unit is arranged in the upstream air passage, The heating and humidifying device according to Claim 1.

3. The duct unit is configured such that the area of the portion where the heating unit is arranged is larger than the total area of the pair of connection ports, The heating and humidifying device according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The duct unit has a pair of end walls extending in the second direction from both outer ends in the first direction of the pair of connection ports adjacent to each other in the first direction, A connecting wall that projects into the duct from both ends on the inner side in the first direction at the pair of connection ports adjacent to the first direction and connects the both ends on the inner side having wherein the surface of the connecting wall within the duct is an inclined surface that approaches the other adjacent connection port as it moves downstream in the second direction from both ends on the inner side The heating and humidifying device according to claim 2.

5. The duct portion has a guide plate portion on the downstream side of the connection port that approaches the other adjacent connection port as it moves downstream in the second direction. The heating and humidifying device according to claim 4.

6. The inclination angle of the guide plate portion with respect to the second direction is smaller than the inclination angle of the inclined surface connecting to the connection port on the upstream side of the guide plate portion with respect to the second direction. The heating and humidifying device according to claim 5.

7. further comprising a control unit for controlling the blower unit and the heating unit, wherein the control unit is arranged on the side opposite to the exhaust port with the rotation axis of the sirocco fan interposed therebetween. The heating and humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. comprising a filter case that is placed on the humidifying tray and houses the humidifying filter, wherein the upper wall of the filter case is closed. The heating and humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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