humidifier

Abstract

To provide a humidifier capable of accurately detecting an indoor humidity with a humidity sensor.SOLUTION: A humidifier is configured such that since part of dry air blown by a blower fan 6 passes through an opening 17 provided in a first wall surface 16, flows into a space A, and then circulates through a humidity sensor 14, an area near the humidity sensor 14, which is immediately downstream of the blower fan 6, has a more positive pressure than that downstream of an evaporative filter 9, thereby making it possible to prevent humidified air from flowing into the humidity sensor 14 and improve the detection accuracy of outside air humidity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vaporizing humidifier.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in this type of device, the opening of the sensor case containing the humidity sensor is attached via a sealing member to the main body case, and a ventilation hole for introducing indoor air is provided in the inner wall facing the opening, so that the indoor humidity can be accurately detected without being affected by the humidified air inside the humidifier. (For example, Patent Document 1)

[0003] Also, separately from the normal suction port, air for flowing through the humidity sensor is taken in from a bypass suction port, and after merging with the ventilation path through which the air flowing in from the suction port flows via a bypass ventilation path, there is a humidifying device that passes through a vaporization filter to generate humidified air. (For example, Patent Document 2)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the humidifier of Patent Document 1, since the ventilation path of the humidified air is at a positive pressure compared to inside the sensor case, if a slight gap occurs due to the aging deterioration of the sealing member, the humidified air may enter the sensor case, and there is a risk that the detection accuracy of the humidity will decrease.

[0006] Furthermore, in the humidifier described in Patent Document 2, the air that has passed through the humidity sensor merges with the airflow path that flows in from the intake port via a bypass airflow path, and then passes through the vaporization filter. Therefore, a space is required upstream of the vaporization filter for the air to merge, which may result in a larger size for the humidifier itself. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the humidifier according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a main body of the appliance, a blower fan installed inside the main body of the appliance for blowing air, an intake port for taking in air from outside the main body of the appliance, an airflow path through which the air that has passed through the intake port flows, a humidity sensor provided outside the airflow path for detecting the humidity of the air taken in from the intake port, an evaporative filter provided in the airflow path and downstream of the blower fan for humidifying the air, an outlet for blowing the humidified air generated by the evaporative filter out of the main body of the appliance, a fan casing surrounding the outer circumference of the blower fan, and an opening provided in the fan casing or the space where the humidity sensor is installed and the airflow path upstream of the evaporative filter, wherein a portion of the air blown by the blower fan passes through the opening and flows to the humidity sensor.

[0008] Also ,before The device is characterized by having ventilation holes in the second wall separating the space where the humidity sensor is installed from the airflow path downstream of the vaporization filter, through which the air that has passed through the humidity sensor can pass.

[0009] Furthermore, claims 2 This humidifier is characterized by having an air filter that can be attached to the aforementioned intake port and collects dust from the air. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this invention, a portion of the dry air blown by the fan passes through the opening and flows to the humidity sensor. As a result, the area near the humidity sensor, which is immediately downstream of the fan, becomes more positive pressure than the area downstream of the vaporization filter. This prevents humidified air from flowing into the humidity sensor and improves the accuracy of detecting outside air humidity.

[0011] Furthermore, since the humidity sensor is installed downstream of the blower fan and in a separate airflow path from the one passing through the humidifying filter, there is no need to create a confluence space between the intake port and the blower fan. This allows the intake port and the blower fan to be placed closer together, thus enabling a reduction in the overall size of the humidifier.

[0012] Furthermore, a ventilation hole is provided in the second wall separating the space where the humidity sensor is installed from the airflow path downstream of the vaporization filter, allowing the air that has passed through the humidity sensor to pass through. As a result, the air that has passed through the humidity sensor merges with the airflow path downstream of the vaporization filter and is sent out to the outside from the outlet, preventing air from leaking out through gaps in the humidifier's casing and thus preventing the generation of a whistling wind noise. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] A schematic front view of one embodiment of this invention. [Figure 2] Right side cross-sectional view of the same embodiment [Figure 3] Enlarged view of the area near the opening of the same embodiment [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the right side of a conventional humidifier. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Next, a humidifier in one embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to the figures.

[0015] 1 is the main body of the humidifier, 2 is a water tank provided at the lower part inside the main body 1, and it is supplied with water by a cartridge-type water supply tank 3. The water supply tank 3 is inserted into the main body 1 from the upper surface of the main body 1, placed on the water tank 2, and supplies a certain amount of water into the water tank 2. 4 is a suction port for taking in dry air (dry air) in the room into the main body 1 of the appliance, which is open on the side surface of the main body 1 of the appliance. 5 is a blowout port for sending out moist air (humidified air) into the room, which is open on the upper surface of the main body 1 of the appliance. 6 is a blower fan composed of a sirocco fan or the like installed in the air blowing path 12 from the suction port 4 to the blowout port 5, and 7 is a motor for driving the blower fan 6. Downstream of the blower fan 6, a heater 8 for heating air and a horizontally long rectangular vaporization filter 9 formed by pleating a sheet-like material with good water absorption are installed. The lower end of the vaporization filter 9 is immersed in the water in the water tank 2, and the water is sucked up by capillary action so as to spread over the entire surface.

[0016] The water tank 2 has a water supply part 10 supplied with water by the water supply tank 3 and a vaporization filter installation part 11 where the vaporization filter 9 is installed arranged side by side. Both are integrally formed by resin and are connected at the bottom to store water at the same level. And this water tank 2 can be taken out from the back of the main body 1 of the appliance.

[0017] The dry air in the room taken in from the suction port 4 by the blower fan 6 becomes humidified air after passing through the heater 8 and then passing through the vaporization filter 9 moistened by the water in the water tank 2, and is sent out into the room from the blowout port 5.

[0018] 13 is a fan casing installed so as to surround the outer periphery of the blower fan 6. The air sucked into the central part of the blower fan 6 from the suction port 4 is blown centrifugally from the outer periphery of the blower fan 6, flows through a spiral air passage (not shown) in the fan casing 13 along the rotation direction of the blower fan 6, and is sent out to the downstream side of the air blowing path 12.

[0019] Reference numeral 14 is a humidity sensor provided outside the air flow path 12 for detecting the humidity in the air. The humidity sensor 14 is mounted on a substrate 15, and the position of the humidity sensor 14 is fixed by fixing the substrate 15 to the upper part inside the appliance main body 1. Here, in FIG. 2, the space where the humidity sensor 14 and the substrate 15 are installed is denoted by A.

[0020] A structure that separates the air flow path 12 upstream of the vaporization filter 9 from the space A is defined as the first wall surface 16. The first wall surface 16 is a portion through which the dry air taken in from the suction port 4 in the air flow path 12 passes, and also includes the fan casing 13.

[0021] Here, by providing an opening 17 in the first wall surface 16, a part of the dry air sent out by the blower fan 6 passes through the opening 17 and flows into the space A. Details of the opening 17 will be described later.

[0022] A structure that separates the air flow path 12 downstream of the vaporization filter 9 from the space A is defined as the second wall surface 18. The second wall surface 18 is a portion through which the humidified air that has passed through the vaporization filter 9 in the air flow path 12 passes.

[0023] Here, by providing a ventilation hole 19 in the second wall surface 18, the dry air that has passed through the opening 17 and circulated in the space A passes through the ventilation hole 19 and merges with the humidified air. Details of the ventilation hole 19 will be described later.

[0024] Reference numeral 20 is an air filter composed of a HEPA filter or the like made of a sheet-like filter material such as a non-woven fabric, which collects fine dust and fine particles such as PM2.5 in the air to clean the air, and can be freely attached to and detached from an attachment portion (not shown) formed at the suction port 4.

[0025] Next, the detailed structures of the opening 17 and the ventilation hole 19 in an embodiment of the present invention, and the resulting effects will be described based on FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0026] Refer to Figure 2. A portion of the dry air blown out by the blower fan 6 flows into space A through the opening 17 provided in the first wall surface 16 and passes through the humidity sensor 14. At this time, the area near the humidity sensor 14 is in positive pressure immediately after the blower fan 6 has blown air. Even if there were a path connecting the airflow path 12 downstream of the vaporization filter 9 and the area near the humidity sensor 14, the area near the humidity sensor 14 would be in more positive pressure than the area downstream of the vaporization filter 9. This prevents humidified air from flowing into the humidity sensor 14, allowing the humidity sensor 14 to accurately detect the humidity of the dry air in the room.

[0027] Here, the opening area of ​​the opening 17 is set so that the airflow rate passing through the opening 17 is sufficiently smaller than the airflow rate passing through the airflow path 12. This is because the airflow rate in the airflow path 12, which is blown out from the outlet 5 as humidified air, is not reduced as much as possible. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, it is desirable to install the opening 17 on the side of the fan casing 13 facing the blower fan 6. In other words, the fan casing 13 immediately after the blower fan 6 experiences a greater positive pressure, so it is possible to secure the airflow rate necessary for the humidity sensor 14 to detect humidity while keeping the opening area of ​​the opening 17 as small as possible.

[0028] Furthermore, it is desirable for the humidity sensor 14 to be close to the opening 17 within space A. In other words, by allowing the dry air that has passed through the opening 17 to pass through the humidity sensor 14 without a decrease in airflow, the opening area of ​​the opening 17 can be kept to the minimum necessary.

[0029] Furthermore, when the operation of the main unit 1 is stopped, the blower fan 6 also stops, and at this time, the humidity near the vaporization filter 9 rises to the vicinity of the blower fan 6. Here, as mentioned above, by making the opening area of ​​the opening 17 as small as possible and placing the humidity sensor 14 near the opening 17, the amount of humidity flowing into space A can be minimized, and when the operation of the blower fan 6 is started and dry air is introduced into space A, the humidity can be removed quickly.

[0030] On the other hand, the dry air that passes through the opening 17 and into space A, and then passes through the humidity sensor 14, passes through the ventilation holes 19 provided in the second wall surface 18 and flows into the air supply path 12, where it merges with the humidified air.

[0031] In the absence of the ventilation holes 19, the dry air flowing into space A through the opening 17 may leak out through gaps in the main body of the appliance 1, potentially causing an unintended whistling noise.

[0032] However, by providing a ventilation hole 19 that allows for reliable ventilation, air leakage from the gap is prevented as much as possible, and air can flow from the positive-pressure space A to the negative-pressure airflow path 12 downstream of the vaporization filter 9. At this time, the opening area of ​​the ventilation hole 19 is set to be such that the flow rate passing through the ventilation hole 19 is sufficiently larger than the flow rate of air leaking from the gap, and to be the minimum necessary area for the air that flows in from the opening 17 to flow out.

[0033] Next, the effects of placing the humidity sensor 14 downstream of the blower fan 6 will be explained based on Figure 4.

[0034] Figure 4 shows the configuration of a conventional humidifier in which the humidity sensor 14 is installed upstream of the blower fan 6. Dry air taken in from the humidity sensor intake port 4a, which is a separate intake port from the intake port 4, flows through the humidity sensor 14, passes through the opening 17, and merges with the dry air that flowed in from intake port 4 in space B. The merged dry air is then sent to the airflow path 12 by the blower fan 6.

[0035] In this case, if the humidity sensor 14 is installed upstream of the blower fan 6 as shown in Figure 4, a space B is required for the sensors to merge, compared to the case where the humidity sensor 14 is installed downstream of the blower fan 6 as shown in Figure 2. As a result, the size of the humidifier unit becomes larger.

[0036] On the other hand, in the configuration of this embodiment shown in Figure 2, the intake port 4 and the blower fan 6 can be placed close together, which makes the humidifier body more compact and smaller.

[0037] Furthermore, while the air filter 20 can collect dust and other particles from the indoor air, allowing clean, dry air to be drawn into the humidifier unit through the intake port 4, in the conventional humidifier configuration shown in Figure 4, the air filter 20 is not installed at the humidity sensor intake port 4a. As a result, air containing dust and other particles may circulate around the humidity sensor 14, potentially reducing the accuracy of humidity detection due to dust and other particles adhering to it. Additionally, if an air filter 20 were to be installed at the humidity sensor intake port 4a, the air filter 20 would need to be larger, or additional parts would be required, increasing costs.

[0038] On the other hand, in the configuration of this embodiment shown in Figure 2, the dry indoor air drawn in through the air filter 20 can be circulated to the humidity sensor 14. As a result, clean, dry air free from dust and other particles circulates to the humidity sensor 14, preventing a decrease in the accuracy of humidity detection.

[0039] Furthermore, the other configurations used in this embodiment are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It can be implemented 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 variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1. Main body of the device 4. Inlet 5 Air outlet 6. Blower fan 9. Evaporation filter 12. Airflow path 13. Fan casing 14 Humidity Sensor 16. First Wall 17 Aperture

Claims

1. The main body of the device, A fan installed inside the main body of the device to blow air, A vaporization filter is installed downstream of the blower fan to humidify the air, The aforementioned device body includes an air intake port for taking in air from outside the main body of the device, An outlet for blowing humidified air generated by the vaporization filter out of the main body of the appliance, A blowing path through which air that has passed the intake port flows to the outlet via the vaporization filter, A humidity sensor is provided outside the airflow path to detect the humidity of the air taken in from the intake port, A fan casing surrounding the outer circumference of the aforementioned blower fan, An opening is provided in the first wall that separates the fan casing or the space in which the humidity sensor is installed from the airflow path upstream of the vaporization filter, The system includes a ventilation hole provided in a second wall that separates the space where the humidity sensor is installed from the airflow path downstream of the vaporization filter, A portion of the air blown by the aforementioned fan passes through the opening and flows through the humidity sensor. A humidifier characterized in that the air that has passed through the humidity sensor passes through the ventilation hole.

2. The humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with an air filter that can be attached to the aforementioned intake port and collects dust from the air.

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