dehumidifier

Abstract

To provide a dehumidifier capable of sending wind which sufficiently spreads from an air outlet.SOLUTION: A dehumidifier 100 includes a housing 1, a dehumidification part 4, a centrifugal fan 5, and a wind direction member 2. The housing 1 has an air inlet 10 and an air outlet 11. The centrifugal fan 5 is disposed at the housing 1. The wind direction member 2 is provided at the air outlet 11. The centrifugal fan 5 rotates around a rotary shaft 50 extending in a predetermined direction which is a vertically upper direction. The wind direction member 20 has upper wind guide surfaces 3 and lower wind guide surfaces 9 which guide wind from the centrifugal fan 5. The upper wind guide surfaces 3 and the lower wind guide surfaces 9 incline from the predetermined direction, which is the vertically upper direction, to a rotation direction in which the centrifugal fan 5 rotates.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dehumidifier. [Background technology]

[0002] The dehumidifier described in Patent Document 1 includes a blower unit and a dehumidifying unit. Air dehumidified by the dehumidifying unit is blown out from the blower unit. As shown in FIG. 8 and paragraph

[0037] of Patent Document 1, the blower unit includes a blower fan and a spiral panel. The spiral panel creates a spiral airflow from the blower fan. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6827993 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the dehumidifier described in Patent Document 1, the vortex panel merely creates a spiral airflow from the blower fan, and the air cannot be sufficiently spread. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6 and paragraph

[0021] of Patent Document 1, the dehumidifier described in Patent Document 1 requires the blower unit to have an oscillating structure in order to dehumidify laundry over a wide area.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a dehumidifier that can send air that spreads sufficiently from an air outlet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a dehumidifier includes a housing, a dehumidifying unit, a centrifugal fan, and an air direction member. The housing has an air inlet and an air outlet. The centrifugal fan is disposed in the housing. The air direction member is provided at the air outlet. The centrifugal fan rotates around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction. The air direction member has an air guide surface that guides air from the centrifugal fan. The air guide surface is inclined from the predetermined direction toward the rotation direction of the centrifugal fan. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the dehumidifier of the present invention, it is possible to send air that spreads sufficiently from the air outlet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper part of the II-II cross section of FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is an enlarged view of the airflow direction member taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a vertical cross section of the dehumidifier. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a further enlarged view of the cross section of the airflow direction member. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a louver member. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fan protection member. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing angle adjustment shafts provided on the louvers and radial plates. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will not be repeated. In the following description, terms indicating specific positions and directions, such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," or "rear," may be used. However, these terms are used for convenience to facilitate understanding of the contents of the embodiments, and are not related to the directions in which the embodiments are actually implemented.

[0010] A dehumidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a dehumidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of an upper part in the II-II cross section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of an airflow direction member 20 in the III-III cross section of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a vertical cross section of the dehumidifier 100. Fig. 5 is a further enlarged view of the cross section of the airflow direction member 20. Fig. 6 is a view showing a plan view of the louver member 21. Fig. 7 is a view showing a plan view of the fan protection member 27. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the angle adjustment shaft 39 provided on the louvers 23 and the radial plates 29.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1 , the dehumidifier 100 includes a housing 1 and an airflow direction member 20. The housing 1 has an air intake 10 and an air outlet 11. The air intake 10 draws air from the outside of the housing 1 into the inside. The air intake 10 is located at the left and right lower parts of the housing 1. The air outlet 11 blows air from the inside of the housing 1 to the outside. The air outlet 11 is located on a top surface 12 of the housing 1. The airflow direction member 20 is provided in the air outlet 11. Therefore, the airflow direction member 20 is provided on the top surface 12 of the housing 1. Since the air outlet 11 is located on the top surface 12 of the housing 1, the dehumidifier 100 only needs to be placed under the object to be dehumidified when in use. This makes it easy to use the dehumidifier 100. The object to be dehumidified is, for example, laundry such as clothes. In other words, the dehumidifier 100 can also be used to dry laundry such as clothes. By placing the dehumidifier 100 under the laundry, the dehumidifier sends dry air to the laundry and shakes and spreads the laundry, thereby enabling the laundry to be dried efficiently.

[0012] 2, the dehumidifier 100 includes a dehumidifying unit 4, a centrifugal fan 5, a fan casing 6, and a fan driving unit 7. The dehumidifying unit 4, the centrifugal fan 5, and the fan casing 6 are all disposed inside the housing 1.

[0013] The dehumidifier 4 dehumidifies the air drawn in through the air inlet 10. The dehumidifier 4 may be a desiccant type, a compressor type, or a hybrid type that combines the desiccant type and the compressor type. In the case of a desiccant type, the dehumidifier 4 includes a zeolite rotor, a heat exchanger, a heater, and a heater blower fan (none of which are shown). The heat exchanger, heater, and heater blower fan form a regeneration air passage. The zeolite rotor passes the air drawn in through the air inlet 10, causing the water vapor in the air to be adsorbed onto the zeolite. The heater heats the air and passes it through the zeolite. As the heated air passes through the zeolite, the water vapor adsorbed by the zeolite is released into the regeneration air passage. The water vapor in the regeneration air passage then exchanges heat with the air drawn in through the air inlet 10 as it passes through the heat exchanger, condensing and appearing as water droplets. On the other hand, in the case of the compressor type, the dehumidification unit 4 has an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor (none of which are shown). The evaporator, condenser, and compressor constitute a refrigeration cycle. The evaporator cools the air drawn in through the air inlet 10 using the refrigeration cycle. The water vapor in the cooled air condenses and appears as water droplets. Therefore, the absolute humidity of the air drawn in through the air inlet 10 decreases as it passes through the dehumidification unit 4.

[0014] The centrifugal fan 5 rotates around a rotation axis 50 extending vertically upward (an example of a predetermined direction). When the centrifugal fan 5 rotates, wind is generated outside the centrifugal fan 5 in the direction of rotation of the centrifugal fan 5 (hereinafter referred to as the rotation direction). The centrifugal fan 5 is, for example, a turbofan (aerofoil fan), a radial fan (paddle fan), or a sirocco fan (multi-blade fan). In addition to the centrifugal fan 5, an axial flow fan (propeller fan, etc.), a mixed flow fan, or a cross flow fan (cross flow fan, etc.) may also be used.

[0015] The fan casing 6 accommodates the centrifugal fan 5. The fan casing 6 is bowl-shaped with an open top and a hollowed-out center. Therefore, the fan casing 6 has a central space 60 and a curved outer periphery 61. The central space 60 guides air that has passed through the dehumidifier 4 to the centrifugal fan 5. The curved outer periphery 61 gently curves from the horizontal to the vertically upward direction from below to outside the centrifugal fan 5. The curved outer periphery 61 also directs the air generated by the centrifugal fan 5 vertically upward. Therefore, the air that reaches the air direction member 20 from the centrifugal fan 5 is directed in the rotational direction and vertically upward.

[0016] The fan drive unit 7 drives the centrifugal fan 5 arranged in the fan casing 6. The fan drive unit 7 is arranged to pass through the central space 60. The fan drive unit 7 has, for example, a power supply (not shown), a motor 71, and a control unit (not shown). The power supply supplies power to the motor 71. The motor 71 rotates the centrifugal fan 5 in a rotational direction using the power supplied from the power supply. The control unit controls the rotation of the centrifugal fan 5 caused by the motor 71.

[0017] The air direction member 20 has an upper louver member 21 and a lower fan protection member 27. The louver member 21 has a center cap 22, louvers 23 (an example of a blade), and corner plates 24. The center cap 22 is located vertically upward from the center of the centrifugal fan 5. The center cap 22 passes through the rotation axis 50. There are multiple louvers 23. Each louver 23 is arranged radially from the center cap 22. The corner plates 24 are arranged on the outer periphery of the louvers 23. The corner plates 24 cover the top surface 12 of the housing 1.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3 , the fan protection member 27 has a circumferential plate 28 and radial plates 29. There are multiple circumferential plates 28 and multiple radial plates 29. Each circumferential plate 28 is circumferentially shaped about the rotation axis 50. That is, each circumferential plate 28 is aligned with the rotation direction of the centrifugal fan 5. Each radial plate 29 is perpendicular to the multiple circumferential plates 28. That is, each radial plate 29 is aligned with a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the centrifugal fan 5. Note that each radial plate 29 does not necessarily have to be perpendicular to the rotation direction, as long as it intersects with the rotation direction.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the surface of each louver 23 facing in the opposite direction to the rotation direction is the upper air guide surface 3. The surface of each radial plate 29 facing in the opposite direction to the rotation direction is the lower air guide surface 9. Both the upper air guide surface 3 and the lower air guide surface 9 guide the air from the centrifugal fan 5 (white arrows in FIG. 4). All the lower air guide surfaces 9 are continuous with the upper air guide surface 3. However, since the number of upper air guide surfaces 3 (the number of louvers 23) is greater than the number of lower air guide surfaces 9 (the number of radial plates 29), some upper air guide surfaces 3 are not continuous with the lower air guide surfaces 9. Note that the number of upper air guide surfaces 3 (the number of louvers 23) and the number of lower air guide surfaces 9 (the number of radial plates 29) may be equal.

[0020] Either or both of the upper wind guide surface 3 and the lower wind guide surface 9 are also referred to as wind guide surfaces. Both the upper wind guide surface 3 and the lower wind guide surface 9 are inclined from the vertically upward direction (predetermined direction) toward the rotational direction. Both the upper wind guide surface 3 and the lower wind guide surface 9 do not necessarily have to be inclined, as long as at least one is inclined. Due to this inclination, the wind is blown out from the air outlet 11 while being guided in the rotational direction and the vertically upward direction. Therefore, it is possible to send air that spreads sufficiently from the air outlet 11. In particular, since both the upper wind guide surface 3 and the lower wind guide surface 9 are inclined, it is possible to send even more spreading air from the air outlet 11.

[0021] The tilt angles α and β are 35° or more and less than 55° (preferably 40° or more and less than 50°) from the vertically upward direction in the rotational direction. By setting the tilt angles α and β to 35° or more and less than 55° (preferably 40° or more and less than 50°), it is possible to send a more widespread air from air outlet 11.

[0022] The lower air guide surface 9 is inclined more inclined from the vertically upward direction (predetermined direction) toward the rotational direction than the upper air guide surface 3. In other words, the inclination from the vertically upward direction toward the rotational direction is greater for the lower air guide surface 9 than for the upper air guide surface 3 (α<β). Because the lower air guide surface 9 is inclined more than the upper air guide surface 3, the air from the centrifugal fan 5 is less likely to lose momentum. Therefore, a more divergent air can be sent from the air outlet 11. Note that the inclination from the vertically upward direction toward the rotational direction may be the same for the upper air guide surface 3 and the lower air guide surface 9 (α=β).

[0023] As shown in Figure 5, the upper air guide surface 3 and the lower air guide surface 9 have longitudinal directions that radiate from the rotation axis 50. The longitudinal directions of the upper air guide surface 3 and the lower air guide surface 9 are perpendicular to the direction of rotation. Therefore, the air from the centrifugal fan 5 is blown out from the outlet 11 after being sufficiently guided by the upper air guide surface 3 and the lower air guide surface 9. As a result, it is possible to send air that spreads sufficiently from the outlet 11. Note that the longitudinal directions of the upper air guide surface 3 and the lower air guide surface 9 do not necessarily have to be perpendicular to the direction of rotation, as long as they intersect with the direction of rotation.

[0024] The upper air guide surface 3 is twisted so that the side farther from the rotation shaft 50 is more inclined from the vertically upward direction toward the rotation direction than the side closer to the rotation shaft 50. In other words, the upper air guide surface 3 is twisted so that the inclination from the vertically upward direction toward the rotation direction increases with increasing distance from the rotation shaft 50. That is, the upper air guide surface 3 is less inclined toward the side connected to the center cap 22 and more inclined toward the side farther from the center cap 22. As shown in FIG. 6 , the twisting of the upper air guide surface 3 narrows the width of the upper air guide surface 3 in the rotation direction near the rotation shaft 50, where there is limited space. This makes it possible to arrange more upper air guide surfaces 3 (and therefore louvers 23). Arranging more upper air guide surfaces 3 allows for more divergent air to be sent from the air outlet 11. The lower air guide surface 9 may also be twisted in the same way as the upper air guide surface 3. Alternatively, only the lower air guide surface 9 may be twisted, and the upper air guide surface 3 may not be twisted.

[0025] The multiple louvers 23 are arranged at equal intervals on the same plane. The number of louvers 23 is, for example, 72. Similarly, the multiple radial plates 29 are arranged at equal intervals on the same plane lower than the louvers 23. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the number of radial plates 29 is, for example, 24 (one-third the number of louvers 23). The numbers of louvers 23 and radial plates 29 are not limited to 72 and 24, respectively. The arrangement of the louvers 23 and radial plates 29 is preferably dense. Here, "dense" means that, in a plan view, the area covered by the louvers 23 and radial plates 29 is larger than the area not covered (where the centrifugal fan 5 and fan casing 6 are visible). The dense arrangement of the louvers 23 and radial plates 29 allows the air from the centrifugal fan 5 to be sufficiently guided to the upper air guide surface 3 and the lower air guide surface 9. Therefore, a more divergent air can be sent from the air outlet 11.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 8 , the airflow direction member 20 may have an angle adjustment mechanism. The angle adjustment mechanism adjusts the angles of the louvers 23 and radial plates 29, which are continuous with the upper airflow guide surfaces 3 and lower airflow guide surfaces 9, relative to the vertical direction and the rotational direction while they are still integrated. The angle adjustment mechanism is, for example, an angle adjustment shaft 39 formed at the boundary between the louvers 23 and the radial plates 29. The angle adjustment shaft 39 extends along the longitudinal direction of the upper airflow guide surfaces 3 and lower airflow guide surfaces 9. Therefore, the angles of the upper airflow guide surfaces 3 and lower airflow guide surfaces 9 relative to the vertical direction and the rotational direction can be freely adjusted by rotating them around the angle adjustment shaft 39. The angle adjustment mechanism adjusts the direction of the airflow guided by the upper airflow guide surfaces 3 and lower airflow guide surfaces 9. This increases the degree of freedom in the spread of the airflow sent from the air outlet 11. The angle adjustment mechanism may adjust the angles of the upper airflow guide surfaces 3 and lower airflow guide surfaces 9 manually or automatically.

[0027] Furthermore, the angle adjustment shaft 39 may be formed on each of the louvers 23 and the radial plates 29, rather than on the boundary between the louvers 23 and the radial plates 29 (not shown). Therefore, the angles of the upper airflow guide surface 3 and the lower airflow guide surface 9 relative to the vertical direction and the rotation direction can be adjusted independently by rotating them around their respective angle adjustment shafts 39. As a result, the degree of freedom in the spread of the air blown from the air outlet 11 can be further increased.

[0028] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding. The thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each illustrated component may differ from the actual components due to the convenience of drawing. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited. Various modifications are possible within a scope that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention.

[0029] (1) As described with reference to Fig. 1, the air outlet 11 is formed on the top surface 12 of the housing 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. The air outlet 11 may be formed on a surface other than the top surface 12 of the housing 1.

[0030] (2) As explained with reference to Fig. 3, the airflow direction member 20 has been explained as having the upper airflow guide surface 3 and the lower airflow guide surface 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. The airflow direction member 20 may have either the upper airflow guide surface 3 or the lower airflow guide surface 9.

[0031] (3) As described with reference to FIG. 7 , the fan protection member 27 has been described as having a circumferential plate 28, but the present invention is not limited to this. The fan protection member 27 may have a lattice plate (not shown) instead of the circumferential plate 28. The lattice plate has, for example, a plurality of vertical plates and a plurality of horizontal plates. The plurality of vertical plates and the plurality of horizontal plates are respectively arranged on the same plane. The plurality of vertical plates and the plurality of horizontal plates intersect to form a plurality of lattices. At least one of the vertical plates and the horizontal plates has a lower air guide surface 9. [Industrial Applicability]

[0032] The present invention provides a dehumidifier and has industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 chassis 3 Upper wind guide surface 4 Dehumidification section 5. Centrifugal fan 6 Fan casing 7 Fan drive unit 9 Lower air guide surface 10 Intake port 11 Air outlet 12 Top 20 Wind direction member 21 Louver member 22 Center cap 23 Louver 24 corner board 27 Fan Protection Department 28 Circumferential Plate 29 Radial Plate 39 Angle adjustment axis 50 Rotational Axis 60 Central space 61 Outer curved part 71 Motor 100 dehumidifier

Claims

1. a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; a dehumidifying unit that dehumidifies the air drawn in through the air inlet; a centrifugal fan disposed in the housing; a wind direction member provided at the air outlet; Equipped with The centrifugal fan rotates around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction, the airflow direction member has an airflow guide surface that guides the airflow from the centrifugal fan, The dehumidifier has an upper air guide surface that is inclined from the predetermined direction toward the rotation direction of the centrifugal fan, and a lower air guide surface that is located below the upper air guide surface.

2. the airflow direction member is provided on the top surface of the housing, The airflow direction member has an upper blade and a lower fan protection member, The blade has the upper wind guide surface, The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the fan protection member has the lower air guide surface.

3. the fan protection member includes a circumferential plate aligned in the rotation direction and radial plates intersecting the circumferential plate, The dehumidifier according to claim 2 , wherein the radial plate has the lower air guide surface.

4. The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the lower air guide surface is more inclined from the predetermined direction toward the rotation direction than the upper air guide surface.

5. The wind guide surface has a longitudinal direction, The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal direction is aligned along a direction intersecting the rotation direction.

6. A housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; a dehumidifying unit that dehumidifies the air drawn in through the air inlet; a centrifugal fan disposed in the housing; a wind direction member provided at the air outlet; Equipped with The centrifugal fan rotates around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction, the airflow direction member has an airflow guide surface that guides the airflow from the centrifugal fan, the wind guide surface is inclined from the predetermined direction toward the rotation direction of the centrifugal fan, The dehumidifier, wherein the air guide surface is twisted so that the side farther from the rotation axis is more inclined from the predetermined direction to the rotation direction than the side closer to the rotation axis.

7. A housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; a dehumidifying unit that dehumidifies the air drawn in through the air inlet; a centrifugal fan disposed in the housing; a wind direction member provided at the air outlet; Equipped with The centrifugal fan rotates around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction, the airflow direction member has an airflow guide surface that guides the airflow from the centrifugal fan, the wind guide surface is inclined from the predetermined direction toward the rotation direction of the centrifugal fan, The angle of the air guide surface relative to the predetermined direction and the rotation direction is adjustable.

Images