Humidification device

Abstract

To provide a humidifier capable of favorably water supply while preventing backflow to a water supply pipe and inflow of unnecessary water to an overflow pipe.SOLUTION: In a humidifier, a plate-like water supply guide 42 guiding water flowing between a water supply connection port 23a and an overflow connection port 34a is provided in a flow passage 41 formed with: shielding means 26 which shields the water supply connection port 23a and the overflow connection port 34a; and a wall surface 12a. The water supply guide 42 has a downward slope from the wall surface 12a to a flat surface 26a of the shielding means 26 and an opening section 42d is provided at one edge side of the flat surface 26a. Thus, the humidifier can provide a structure capable of favorably supplying water while preventing backflow to a water supply pipe 23 and unnecessary inflow to an overflow pipe 34.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a humidifier that supplies humidified air to a room. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, this type of humidifier has been equipped with a water storage chamber that stores water within the device body, humidified air generating means installed in the water storage chamber for generating humidified air, a blower fan that blows the humidified air generated by the humidified air generating means into the room through an air outlet, a water supply pipe that supplies water to the water storage chamber, an overflow pipe that connects to the water storage chamber via a connection port formed in the wall of the water storage chamber and drains water that exceeds a predetermined water level, and a shielding means that covers the connection port of the water storage chamber, in which the shielding means prevents air from flowing into the connection port and overflow pipe (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-003168 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this conventional device, as shown in Figure 11, humidified air generated by humidified air generating means (equivalent to rotor 110, mist motor 111 and porous portion 113 in prior art 1, for example) is prevented from flowing into overflow pipe 125 by shielding means 127. On the other hand, water supply pipe 120 passes through opening 128, and the end of water supply pipe 120 is exposed inside the water storage chamber, so there is a risk that humidified air will flow into water supply pipe 120 and cause a backflow. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the humidifier of claim 1 of the present invention comprises an appliance body, a water storage chamber located within the appliance body for storing water, a water supply pipe through which water to be supplied to the water storage chamber flows, a water supply connection port at one end of the water supply pipe connected to the water storage chamber, an overflow pipe for draining water that has exceeded a predetermined water level in the water storage chamber, an overflow connection port located below the water supply connection port and one end of the overflow pipe connected to the water storage chamber, and shielding means for covering the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, the shielding means being located opposite the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port and comprising parallel surfaces that separate the water storage chamber from the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, and vertical surfaces located to the sides of the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port and separating the water storage chamber from the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, The parallel surface is arranged approximately parallel to the wall surface of the water storage chamber on which the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port are formed, and the vertical surface is arranged approximately perpendicular to the wall surface so that the parallel surface and the vertical surface form a U-shape when viewed in a plane. The shielding means and the front wall A flow path is formed between the parallel surface and the water supply connection port, connecting the water storage chamber to the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, and the flow path is provided with a plate-shaped water supply guide that guides flowing water between the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, and the water supply guide has one end fixed to the parallel surface and the other end abutting the wall surface, and is sloped downward from the wall surface toward the parallel surface, and an opening is provided on one end side of the parallel surface.

[0006] In the humidifier according to claim 2, the area of the opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the water supply pipe.

[0007] In addition, in the humidifier of claim 3, the overflow connection port has a protrusion at the end of the overflow pipe that protrudes beyond the wall surface into the flow path, and when the water storage chamber is viewed in a plane, the distance A from the other end of the water supply guide to the opening and the distance B from the wall surface to the end of the protrusion satisfy the relationship A > B.

[0008] In addition, the humidifier of claim 4 is characterized in that when the water storage chamber is viewed in a plane, the distance C from one end to the other end of the water supply guide and the distance D from the parallel plane to the wall surface satisfy the relationship C>D.

[0009] In the humidifier according to claim 5, the opening is formed by a single hole spaced apart from both ends of the vertical surface of the water supply guide.

[0010] In addition, the humidifying device of claim 6 comprises mist generating means for generating mist from the water in the water storage chamber, and a blower fan for blowing humidified air containing the mist generated by the mist generating means through an air outlet, and is characterized in that the mist generating means is composed of a rotating body that draws up water in the water storage chamber by rotation and scatters it in an outer circumferential direction, a mist motor connected to a drive shaft that supports the rotating body so that it can rotate, and a collision body against which the water scattered by the rotating body collides. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to this invention, in a flow path formed by a shielding means covering the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port and a wall surface, a plate-shaped water supply guide is provided between the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port to guide flowing water, and the water supply guide slopes downward from the wall surface to a parallel surface of the shielding means, and an opening is provided on one end side of the parallel surface, thereby preventing backflow into the water supply pipe and unnecessary inflow into the overflow pipe and providing a structure that allows water to be supplied preferably.

[0012] Furthermore, since the area of the opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the water supply pipe, water flowing out from the water supply pipe does not clog the opening, and water can be reliably supplied into the water storage chamber.

[0013] In addition, the end of the overflow pipe has a protrusion that protrudes beyond the wall surface into the flow path, and when the water storage chamber is viewed in a plane, the distance A from the other end of the water supply guide to the opening and the distance B from the wall surface to the end of the protrusion have a relationship of A>B, so that water can be prevented from entering the overflow pipe when it flows through the opening and falls down through the water guided by the water supply guide.

[0014] Furthermore, when the water storage chamber is viewed from above, the distance C from one end of the water supply guide to the other end and the distance D from the parallel surface of the shielding means to the wall surface are in the relationship C>D, so that the leaf spring action acts on the water supply guide, applying a force to abut against the wall surface, making it less likely for gaps to form between the water supply guide and the wall surface, and allowing water that reaches the water supply guide along the wall surface to flow smoothly into the water supply guide.

[0015] In addition, the opening is composed of a single hole spaced a distance from both ends of the vertical surface of the water supply guide, thereby increasing the opening area and ensuring the flow rate passing through, while also ensuring the strength of the water supply guide and making the force contacting the wall surface uniform, making it less likely for gaps to form between the water supply guide and the wall surface.

[0016] In addition, the mist generating means is composed of a rotating body that draws up water in the water storage chamber by rotating and scatters it toward the outer periphery, a mist motor connected to a drive shaft that supports the rotating body so that it can rotate, and a collision body against which the water scattered by the rotating body collides, making it possible to generate humidified air containing mist with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the embodiment [Figure 3] Control block diagram of the embodiment [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart illustrating the operation from the start to the end of operation of the embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the shielding means of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the water supply guide according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the water storage chamber of the same embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the water supply guide and the protrusion in the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the water supply guide and the flow path according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Next, a humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In the following description, "front (front face)," "rear (rear face)," "upper," "lower," "right," and "left" follow the definitions in Fig. 1 and Figs. 6 to 9. The up-down direction corresponds to the vertical direction when the device main body 1 is installed. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction correspond to the horizontal direction when the device main body 1 is installed. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the device main body 1, and the front-rear and left-right arrangement of each component in Fig. 2 differs from the actual arrangement.

[0020] 1 is the device body which is roughly box-shaped and surrounded on all sides by various panels, 2 is an air outlet formed on the top of the device body 1 and equipped with louvers 3, 4 is an operation unit equipped with multiple switches and issuing various operation commands, 5 is a plurality of intake holes formed in the center of the front of the device body 1 and having a shutter structure that draws air into the device body 1, 6 is a drainage tank storage door installed at the bottom of the device body 1 and which allows the drainage tank 7 installed inside to be removed by pulling the handle, 8 is a water supply port door located next to the drainage tank storage door 6 and stores the water supply port 43 of the water supply tank 9 installed inside, 10 is a water level window formed at the bottom of the water supply port door 8 and allows the amount of water remaining in the water supply tank 9 to be visually observed, and 11 is a tire part installed at the bottom of the device body 1 that allows the device body 1 to be moved.

[0021] Reference numeral 12 denotes a water storage chamber installed inside the appliance body 1 for storing a predetermined amount of water, and this water storage chamber 12 is provided with a cylindrical rotor 13 whose lower end is submerged in water and supported by a drive shaft 15.

[0022] The rotor 13 is a hollow inverted cone whose diameter gradually expands upward. When a mist motor 14 connected to a drive shaft 15 is driven to rotate the rotor 13, the centrifugal force of the rotation of the rotor 13 draws up water from the water storage chamber 12, pushing the water up along the outer and inner walls of the rotor 13, and scattering the water that has been pushed up along the outer wall of the rotor 13 around, and also scattering the water that has been pushed up along the inner wall of the rotor 13 around from multiple scattering ports (not shown) formed at the top end of the rotor 13.

[0023] Reference numeral 16 denotes a cylindrical porous body located at a predetermined distance from the upper outer periphery of rotor 13 and rotating together with rotor 13. Porous body 16 has porous section 17, which acts as an impact body and is made of a number of slits, wire mesh, punched metal, etc., installed on its entire circumferential wall. The rotor 13, mist motor 14, and porous section 17 form a mist generator that functions as mist generating means and is capable of generating large amounts of humidified air containing mist with a simple configuration. Assembly is easy and low cost, as it only requires assembling mist motor 14 and drive shaft 15.

[0024] The mist motor 14 constituting the mist generating device is driven, and the centrifugal force generated by rotating the rotor 13 draws up the water in the water storage chamber 12 and scatters the air. The water droplets that pass through the porous section 17 are crushed, which breaks down the water into fine particles, generating a large amount of mist with a particle size of nanometers (nm) (hereinafter referred to as fine mist), as well as water droplets with a relatively large particle size (hereinafter referred to as large mist). Due to the Lenard effect caused by the water being broken down into fine particles, the fine mist becomes charged with negative ions, and the large mist becomes charged with positive ions.

[0025] Reference numeral 18 denotes a blower fan that is driven at a predetermined rotation speed to suck in dry air from within the room and blow it upward toward the device body 1. When the blower fan 18 is driven, dry air that has flowed into the blower box 80 from outside the device body 1 through the suction hole 5 is discharged from the blower outlet 81, flows through the blower passage 79, and flows into the water storage chamber 12 through the air inlet 83 of the air tunnel 82. The air passes through the water storage chamber 12 and the air-water separation case 19 and is blown out from the blower outlet 2, supplying humidified air containing the fine mist and negative ions generated within the water storage chamber 12 into the room.

[0026] The air-water separation case 19 is connected to the other upper end (left side) of the water storage chamber 12 so that the flow path faces vertically upward, and serves as an air-water separation air passage through which humidified air containing fine mist and large-diameter mist generated within the water storage chamber 12 flows.

[0027] Reference numeral 20 denotes a heater installed in the water storage chamber 12 to heat the stored water, and switches ON / OFF as appropriate so that the temperature detected by the water storage temperature sensor 21, which is installed on the outer wall of the water storage chamber 12 and detects the stored water temperature, becomes a predetermined temperature.

[0028] Reference numeral 22 denotes a water level sensor installed in the water storage chamber 12 that detects the water level by the up and down movement of a float. When the water level in the water storage chamber 12 drops below a predetermined level, it outputs an OFF signal, when the water level rises above the predetermined level it outputs an ON signal, and when the water level rises further and the water storage chamber 12 becomes full, it outputs a full water signal.

[0029] Reference numeral 23 denotes a water supply pipe having one end connected to the water storage chamber 12 and the other end installed at the bottom of the water supply tank 9 with a predetermined clearance. The water supply pipe 23 is connected to the water storage chamber 12 at a water supply connection port 23a. Installed midway along the water supply pipe 23 are a self-priming water supply pump 24 that causes water in the water supply tank 9 to flow into the water storage chamber 12, a flow rate sensor 25 that detects the flow rate of water flowing through the water supply pipe 23, and an ion elution unit 71 as ion elution means. In other words, the water stored in the water storage chamber 12 is supplied from the water supply tank 9 by the water supply pump 24 installed midway along the water supply pipe 23.

[0030] When the water supply pump 24 is driven, the ion elution unit 71 applies a predetermined constant current to an electrode 74 in the ion elution unit 71, causing silver ions, which are metal ions, to elute from the electrode 74 into the water in the water supply pipe 23. The water into which the silver ions have eluted is then supplied into the water storage chamber 12, thereby preventing slime from forming around the water storage chamber 12.

[0031] 28 is a drain pipe having one end connected to the bottom of the water storage chamber 12 and the other end installed above the drain inlet 27 of the drain tank 7, and a drain valve 29 is provided midway along the drain pipe 28 to open and close an electromagnetic valve to control the drainage of water from the water storage chamber 12.

[0032] Reference numeral 30 denotes a blown air temperature sensor installed on the wall surface of the air outlet 2 to detect the temperature of the humidified air being blown into the room, 31 denotes an intake air temperature sensor installed near the blower fan 18 to detect the temperature of the room air sucked in through the intake hole 5, and 32 denotes a humidity sensor installed near the intake air temperature sensor 31 to detect the humidity in the room where the appliance main body 1 is installed.Based on the temperature and humidity detected by each sensor, the rotation speed of the mist motor 14 and the blower fan 18 is changed and the ON / OFF state of the heater 20 is switched.

[0033] Numeral 33 denotes a plurality of baffle plates as air-water separation means, which are installed midway within the air-water separation case 19 and have inclined surfaces that slope vertically upward. When humidified air flows into the water-air separation case 19, the humidified air flows in a serpentine manner around the baffle plate 33, causing large-diameter mist in the humidified air to be separated by the inclined surface. When the separated large-diameter mist gathers together, it flows under the influence of gravity along the inclined surface to the lower end of the baffle plate 33 and falls into the water storage chamber 12, thereby reducing the amount of large-diameter mist guided to the air outlet 2 and guiding humidified air containing a large amount of fine mist to the air outlet 2.

[0034] Reference numeral 34 denotes an overflow pipe having one end connected to the wall of the water storage chamber 12 and the other end installed above the drain receiving port 44 of the water supply tank 9. The overflow pipe 34 is connected to the water storage chamber 12 at an overflow connection port 34a. In the unlikely event that the water level sensor 22 malfunctions and is unable to detect a full water level, the water supply pump 24 continues to operate and the water supply to the water storage chamber 12 does not stop, but water can be returned to the water supply tank 9 through the overflow pipe 34, thereby preventing water from overflowing from the water storage chamber 12.

[0035] Reference numeral 35 denotes a drain float that is installed in the drain tank 7 and rises as the water level in the drain tank 7 rises, 36 denotes a magnet installed at the top end of the drain float 35, and 37 denotes a proximity sensor that is installed opposite the magnet 36 and determines the ON / OFF state based on the presence or absence of magnetic force. As the water in the drain tank 7 increases and the drain float 35 rises, the location where the magnet 36 is installed gradually drops and gradually moves away from the proximity sensor 37, weakening the magnetic force that can be detected by the proximity sensor 37. When the drain tank 7 is nearly full, the proximity sensor 37 can no longer detect the magnetic force and outputs an OFF signal, closing the drain valve 29 and preventing water from leaking from the drain tank 7.

[0036] Reference numeral 38 denotes a louver motor that is connected to a support shaft (not shown) of the louver 3 and rotates the louver 3 to a predetermined angle, and rotates the louver 3 to the predetermined angle when the humidification operation is started or stopped.

[0037] Reference numeral 39 denotes a front panel installed to cover the upper front surface of the instrument body 1, which can be removed when maintenance of the operating unit 4 is required.

[0038] Reference numeral 40 denotes an outer panel that is installed to cover the central part of the front surface of the fixture body 1 and has a suction hole 5 formed therein. Although not shown, the interior of the outer panel 40 is equipped with a priming port for supplying priming water to the water supply pump 24 and an air filter that captures and purifies dust in the air that flows into the fixture body 1.

[0039] The operation unit 4 has an operation switch 45 for instructing the start and stop of operation, a low-noise switch 46 for executing quiet operation to reduce the operating noise by reducing the rotation speed of the mist motor 14 by a predetermined value, a timer on / off switch 47 for setting whether or not to perform timer operation to start or stop the humidification operation to supply humidified air into the room, a clock setting switch 48 for setting the current time, a timer setting switch 49 for setting the start time or stop time of the humidification operation to supply humidified air into the room, and a humidification switch 49 for selecting the amount of humidified air to be supplied into the room from three humidification levels. the humidification switch 50, an air volume switch 51 for selecting the volume of humidified air to be supplied to the room from three air volume levels, a level display unit 52 for displaying the humidification level or air volume level set by the humidification switch 50 or the air volume switch 51, a display changeover switch 53 for changing the display items on the level display unit 52 from humidification and air volume level to humidity, current time, etc., a drain switch 54 for opening the drain valve 29 and forcibly draining the water in the water storage chamber 12 when the switch is pressed for three seconds, and a child lock switch 55 for prohibiting any operation other than stopping the operation.

[0040] The operation unit 4 is also provided with lamps corresponding to each switch, including an operation lamp 56 that lights up when the operation switch 45 is operated, a timer lamp 57 that lights up the lamp for the mode set to either timer on control or timer off control when the timer on / off switch 47 is operated, a display item lamp 58 that lights up a specified lamp depending on the detected humidity displayed on the level display unit 52 and the current time (am or pm), a drain lamp 59 that lights up when the drain switch 54 is operated and the drain valve 29 is opened, and a child lock lamp 60 that lights up when the child lock switch 55 is operated and the child lock is set.

[0041] Reference numeral 61 denotes a control unit made up of a microcomputer that controls the operation and opening and closing of valves based on the detection values detected by each sensor and the settings of each switch provided on operation unit 4. This control unit 61 is equipped with mist motor control means 62 that drives mist motor 14 at a predetermined rotation speed, blower fan control means 63 that drives blower fan 18 at a predetermined rotation speed, heater control means 64 that controls the water temperature in water storage chamber 12 by changing the ON / OFF state of heater 20, timing means 65 that counts the time that has elapsed since the start of a specific operation, and ion elution control means 69 that elutes silver ions from electrode 74.

[0042] Reference numeral 79 denotes an air passage formed inside the appliance body 1 through which air blown by the blower fan 18 flows, 80 denotes an air blower box installed so as to cover the blower fan 18 and guiding air drawn in through the intake port 68 to the air outlet port 81, and 82 denotes an air tunnel installed above the water storage chamber 12 and allowing air circulating inside the air passage 79 to flow into the water storage chamber 12 via an air inlet 83. The air passage 79 is formed by partition walls that form the interior of the appliance body 1, such as the inner panel 66, from the air outlet port 81 to the air inlet 83, and when the blower fan 18 is driven, air passes near the partition walls, such as the inner panel 66, and flows into the air inlet 83 of the air tunnel 82.

[0043] Next, the operation from the start to the end of operation in one embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0044] First, when the operation switch 45 of the operating unit 4 is operated or the operation start time set by the timer on / off switch 47 arrives, the control unit 61 opens the drain valve 29 to drain the water in the water storage chamber 12, and when it determines that the water level sensor 22 has output an OFF signal, it starts driving the water supply pump 24 to drain the water in the water supply pipe 23, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, it closes the drain valve 29, entering a water replacement mode (step S101).

[0045] When the water replacement mode of step S101 is completed, the control unit 61 supplies water from the water supply tank 9 into the water storage chamber 12 via the water supply pipe 23, and when it determines that the water level sensor 22 has output an ON signal, it stops driving the water supply pump 24, assuming that a predetermined amount of water has been supplied into the water storage chamber 12, and then operates the blower fan 18 for a predetermined period of time to perform a start-up mode in which large water droplets adhering to the rotor 13 are removed (step S102).

[0046] When the start-up mode of step S102 is completed, the control unit 61 drives the louver motor 38 to stop the louver 3 at a position perpendicular to the top surface of the appliance body 1, and controls the rotation speed of the mist motor 14 and the blower fan 18 using the mist motor control means 62 and the blower fan control means 63 so that they are driven at predetermined rotation speeds based on the humidification level and air volume level set by the humidification switch 50 and the air volume switch 51, and controls the ON / OFF state of the heater 20 using the heater control means 64 based on the detection value of the water temperature sensor 21, thereby performing a normal operation mode in which humidification operation is performed to keep the water temperature in the water storage chamber 12 within a predetermined temperature range that matches the humidification level and air volume level (step S103).

[0047] To explain the normal operation mode in more detail, the mist motor control means 62 changes the rotation speed of the mist motor 14 within the range of 800 to 1400 rpm, and the blower fan control means 63 changes the rotation speed of the blower fan 18 within the range of 400 to 800 rpm, thereby performing humidification operation with a rotation speed that matches the air volume level, and furthermore, the water temperature in the water storage chamber 12 is changed so that the temperature detected by the blower temperature sensor 30 becomes a value that matches the humidification level, and the heater control means 64 switches and controls the ON / OFF state of the heater 20 so that the temperature detected by the water storage temperature sensor 21 remains within the range of approximately 30 to 40°C.

[0048] In this normal operation mode, when the water level in the water storage chamber 12 drops and an OFF signal is detected by the water level sensor 22, the control unit 61 starts driving the water supply pump 24 and applies a predetermined constant current value to the electrode 74 in the ion elution unit 71, supplying water containing a predetermined concentration of silver ions into the water storage chamber 12. This causes an antibacterial effect on the water in the water storage chamber 12, making it possible to prevent slime from forming around the water storage chamber 12.

[0049] If the operation switch 45 is turned OFF during the normal operation mode after starting the normal operation mode in step S103, or if the time to stop the humidification operation set by the timer on / off switch 47 arrives, the control unit 61 drives the louver motor 38 to keep the louver 3 open at an angle of approximately 20° relative to the top surface of the appliance body 1, turns the heater 20 ON to heat the water, switches the ON / OFF state of the heater 20 so that the detection value of the water storage temperature sensor 21 fluctuates between 63°C and 65°C, and performs a sterilization operation for 10 minutes to sterilize the water in the water storage chamber 12, and after 10 minutes has elapsed, performs a cooling operation to cool the water storage chamber 12, and then opens the drain valve 29 to perform a cleaning mode to drain the water in the water storage chamber 12 (step S104).

[0050] When the cleaning mode of step S104 is completed, the control unit 61 causes the mist motor control means 62 and the blower fan control means 63 to drive the mist motor 14 and the blower fan 18 at a predetermined rotation speed for a predetermined time, thereby implementing a drying mode to dry the inside of the water storage chamber 12 (step S105).After the predetermined time has elapsed, the mist motor 14 and the blower fan 18 are stopped, thereby terminating the drying mode, and the louver motor 38 is driven to close the louver 3, thereby terminating operation.

[0051] Next, details of a structure in one embodiment of the present invention that can prevent backflow into the water supply pipe 23 and unnecessary inflow into the overflow pipe 34 and that can supply water appropriately will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0052] When humidified air is generated by rotating rotor 13 and scattering water in water storage chamber 12 to the surrounding area, the structure of the prior art has the risk of humidified air flowing into water supply pipe 23, causing the water to flow back. This has resulted in the water supplied from water supply pipe 23 and stored in water storage chamber 12 being unintentionally returned through water supply pipe 23, resulting in a decrease in water supply efficiency.

[0053] Therefore, by installing the shielding means 26 shown in Figures 6 to 9, the water supply connection port 23a and the overflow connection port 34a can be covered, thereby preventing the humidified air generated in the water storage chamber 12 from flowing into the water supply pipe 23 and the overflow pipe 34.

[0054] The shielding means 26 is composed of parallel surfaces 26a and vertical surfaces 26b, and has a U-shaped cross section in a plan view. The parallel surfaces 26a are located opposite the water supply connection port 23a and the overflow connection port 34a, and the vertical surfaces 26b are located to the sides of the water supply connection port 23a and the overflow connection port 34a and are connected to both ends of the parallel surfaces 26a. The end of the vertical surfaces 26b that is not on the side of the parallel surfaces 26a abuts against the wall surfaces 12a of the water storage chamber 12.

[0055] Flow path 41 is formed by the parallel surfaces 26a and vertical surfaces 26b that constitute shielding means 26 and the portion surrounded by wall surface 12a. When water is supplied from water supply pipe 23 to water storage chamber 12, water flowing out from water supply connection port 23a flows through flow path 41 and is supplied to water storage chamber 12, but there is a risk that the water will enter overflow connection port 34a located downstream of water supply connection port 23a and be drained via overflow pipe 34. This will result in a situation where water that should be stored in water storage chamber 12 by water supply is not stored but is drained via overflow pipe 34, resulting in a deterioration in water supply efficiency.

[0056] 6 to 9 is installed in the flow path 41 between the water supply connection port 23a and the overflow connection port 34a, and an opening 42d is provided in the water supply guide 42, thereby preventing unnecessary inflow into the overflow pipe 34. The water supply guide 42 will be described in detail below.

[0057] The water supply guide 42 is composed of a flat plate and slopes downward from the wall surface 12a side to the parallel surface 26a side. One end 42a of the water supply guide 42 on the parallel surface 26a side is fixed to the parallel surface 26a and is integrated with the shielding means 26. The other end 42b of the water supply guide 42 on the wall surface 12a side abuts against the wall surface 12a, with almost no gap between the other end 42b and the wall surface 12a. By providing an opening 42d on the one end 42a side of the water supply guide 42, a canopy portion 42e is formed between the other end 42b and the opening 42d.

[0058] Here, when water flowing out from water supply connection port 23a due to the water supply operation falls toward water supply guide 42, it flows downward along the slope of water supply guide 42, passes through opening 42d and falls into water storage chamber 12, and the overhanging effect of eaves portion 42e prevents the water from flowing into overflow connection port 34a located downstream. Also, even if water flowing out from water supply connection port 23a falls down wall surface 12a, the other end 42b abuts against wall surface 12a without any gaps, so the water flows smoothly to eaves portion 42e, and the flow of water falling down wall surface 12a can be blocked.

[0059] Furthermore, because the water supply guide 42 is inclined downward, water flowing under the eaves portion 42e flows around the rear surface of the eaves portion 42e from the opening 42d, making it difficult for the water to flow against gravity and reach the wall surface 12a. In other words, the water supply guide 42 makes it difficult for the water to flow down the wall surface 12a into the overflow connection port 34a.

[0060] In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the water supply guide 42 is 45 degrees relative to the horizontal. A smaller inclination angle reduces the area of the inclined surface, i.e., the area of the opening 42d and the eaves 42e. This reduces the flow rate of water supplied to the water storage chamber 12 and reduces the effectiveness of preventing water from flowing into the overflow connection port 34a. On the other hand, a larger inclination angle requires a certain distance between the water supply connection port 23a and the overflow connection port 34a, which is limited by the structure of the water storage chamber 12. In other words, the inclination angle of the water supply guide 42 is designed to ensure a sufficient water supply flow rate according to the structure of the water storage chamber 12 while preventing backflow into the water supply pipe 23 and unnecessary inflow into the overflow pipe 34. In this embodiment, the optimal inclination angle is set taking these factors into consideration to configure a humidifier that can supply water optimally.

[0061] 7, in this embodiment, the water supply guide 42 is formed by bending a plate-shaped component, with the portion above the bend forming an inclined surface with an opening 42d and a visor 42e, and the portion below the bend being fixed to the parallel surface 26a of the shielding means 26. This configuration is intended to increase the strength of the water supply guide 42 by firmly fixing the water supply guide 42 to the parallel surface 26a over a wide area, but it may also be formed with only an inclined surface as long as the required strength is ensured. In other words, it is sufficient that one end 42a of the water supply guide 42 on the parallel surface 26a side is firmly fixed to the parallel surface 26a by a fixing means such as welding, melting, or adhesive, and that the strength is ensured so that it will not come off or break when water is supplied.

[0062] Furthermore, by making the area of opening 42d larger than the cross-sectional area of water supply pipe 23, it is possible to ensure the necessary flow rate of water to be supplied to water storage chamber 12. In other words, when water flows through water supply pipe 23 and flows out from water supply connection port 23a, it can be smoothly supplied to water storage chamber 12 without clogging when passing through opening 42d of water supply guide 42.

[0063] Next, the relationship between the dimensions of the eaves portion 42e of the water supply guide 42 in a plan view and the dimensions of the overflow connection port 34a, and the resulting effects will be described with reference to FIG.

[0064] The eaves portion 42e is intended to prevent water flowing out from the water supply connection port 23a from flowing into the downstream overflow connection port 34a due to the effect of the eaves. On the other hand, the overflow connection port 34a is composed of a protruding portion 34b from which a fitting for connecting the overflow pipe 34 and the water storage chamber 12 protrudes.

[0065] 9, if the horizontal length of eaves portion 42e is defined as the distance A from the other end 42b on the wall surface side of water supply guide 42 to the edge of opening 42d, and the horizontal length of protrusion 34b is defined as the distance B from wall surface 12a of water storage chamber 12 to the end of protrusion 34b, then the relationship A > B is satisfied. In other words, when water storage chamber 12 is viewed from above, the end of protrusion 34b is hidden by eaves portion 42e, so that when water flowing along the downward slope of eaves portion 42e reaches opening 42d and falls into water storage chamber 12, it is possible to prevent the water from flowing from the end of protrusion 34b into overflow connection port 34a.

[0066] Next, the relationship between the dimensions of the water supply guide 42 in a plan view and the dimensions of the flow path 41, and the resulting effects will be described with reference to FIG.

[0067] The other end 42b of the water supply guide 42 on the wall surface 12a side abuts against the wall surface 12a, so that when water flows out from the water supply connection port 23a and falls down the wall surface 12a, it flows smoothly to the eaves portion 42e. However, when installing the shielding means 26 in the water storage chamber 12, there is a risk that the other end 42b will not be able to abut against the wall surface 12a without any gaps due to variations in the installation position.

[0068] Therefore, as shown by the dotted line 421 in Figure 10, assuming that the water supply guide 42 is not restricted, i.e., is not in contact with the wall surface 12a of the water storage chamber 12, the distance between one end 42a of the water supply guide 42 and the other end 42b1 when the water supply guide 42 is not restricted is C, and the distance between the parallel surface 26a of the shielding means 26 and the wall surface 12a of the water storage chamber 12 is D, the relationship C>D is satisfied.

[0069] At this time, when the water supply guide 42 is in a restricted state, that is, when the shielding means 26 and the water supply guide 42 are assembled to the water storage chamber 12 and the other end 42b of the water supply guide 42 abuts against the wall surface 12a, the water supply guide 42 is bent by the resistance from the wall surface 12a, as shown in Figure 10. In other words, the water supply guide 42 acts as a leaf spring, and a force acts in the direction in which the other end 42b of the water supply guide 42 abuts against the wall surface 12a, allowing for a more even abutment, thereby preventing the flow of water from flowing down the wall surface 12a without flowing into the eaves portion 42e.

[0070] Next, the detailed structure of the opening 42d of the water supply guide 42 and the resulting effects will be described with reference to FIG.

[0071] Increasing the area of opening 42d is necessary because it ensures the required water supply flow rate, but if it is made too large, the water supply guide 42 may be damaged due to being unable to withstand the water falling from water supply connection port 23a, or there may be variations in the force of contact with wall surface 12a, causing gaps.

[0072] Therefore, opening 42d is configured at a distance from side end 42c, which is the both ends on vertical surface 26b of water supply guide 42, and is also configured as a single hole. This ensures the strength of water supply guide 42 and prevents damage. Furthermore, when opening 42d is configured as multiple holes, the flow rate is lower due to surface tension compared to a single hole with the same opening area, so by configuring it as a single hole, a greater flow rate can be ensured.

[0073] In this embodiment, the humidifier is described as one in which water in the water storage chamber 12 is pumped by rotating the rotor 13, and the water is broken down in the porous section 17 to generate fine mist and negative ions, which are then released into the room as humidified air. However, the humidifier may also be an evaporative type, in which humidified air is released into the room by blowing air over a filter saturated with water.

[0074] Furthermore, the other configurations used in the present embodiment are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and the invention can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 12 Water Chamber 12a Wall 13 Rotating body 14 Mist Motor 15 Drive shaft 17 Porous part (collision body) 18 Blower fan 23 Water supply pipe 23a Water supply connection port 26 Shielding means 26a parallel plane 26b vertical plane 34 Overflow pipe 34a Overflow connection port 34b Protrusion 41 Flow path 42 Water Supply Guide 42d opening

Claims

1. The instrument body, a water storage chamber located within the device body for storing water; a water supply pipe through which water to be supplied to the water storage chamber flows; a water supply connection port at which one end of the water supply pipe is connected to the water storage chamber; an overflow pipe for draining water that exceeds a predetermined water level in the water storage chamber; an overflow connection port located below the water supply connection port, one end of the overflow pipe connected to the water storage chamber; a shielding means for covering the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, The shielding means is located opposite the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, and has parallel surfaces that separate the water storage chamber from the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port; a vertical surface that is located on the side of the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port and that separates the water storage chamber from the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port; The parallel surface is arranged approximately parallel to the wall surface of the water storage chamber on which the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port are formed, and the vertical surface is arranged approximately perpendicular to the wall surface so that the parallel surface and the vertical surface form a U-shape when viewed in a plane. a flow path communicating from the water storage chamber to the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port is formed by the shielding means and the wall surface; The flow path is provided with a plate-shaped water supply guide for guiding flowing water between the water supply connection port and the overflow connection port, The water supply guide has one end fixed to the parallel surface, the other end abutting the wall surface, and is inclined downward from the wall surface toward the parallel surface, and an opening is provided on one end side of the parallel surface.

2. 2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the area of the opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the water supply pipe.

3. In the overflow connection port, an end of the overflow pipe has a protruding portion that protrudes beyond the wall surface into the flow path, A humidifier as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the water storage chamber is viewed in a plane, the distance A from the other end of the water supply guide to the opening and the distance B from the wall surface to the end of the protrusion satisfy the relationship A > B.

4. A humidifier as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the water storage chamber is viewed in a plane, the distance C from one end to the other end of the water supply guide and the distance D from the parallel plane to the wall surface satisfy the relationship C > D.

5. 5. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the opening is a single hole spaced apart from both ends of the vertical surface of the water supply guide.

6. The device is provided with a mist generating means for generating mist from the water in the water storage chamber, and a blower fan for blowing humidified air containing the mist generated by the mist generating means through an air outlet, A humidifier as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mist generating means is composed of a rotating body that draws up water in the water storage chamber by rotation and scatters it in an outer circumferential direction, a mist motor connected to a drive shaft that supports the rotating body so that the rotating body can rotate, and a collision body against which the water scattered by the rotating body collides.

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