Air purifier

Abstract

Provided is an air purifier that addresses a heat problem occurring when a semiconductor element is used as a light source.　An air purifier 1 is characterized by comprising a plurality of ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 that emit ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength capable of inactivating viruses, a base body part 3 provided with the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 on an outer surface thereof, an air flow passage 7 which is provided with an air inlet 5 and an air outlet 6 and is irradiated with the ultraviolet radiation before air introduced from the inlet 5 is discharged from the outlet 6, a reflective surface 8 formed on an inner surface of the air flow passage 7 and reflecting the ultraviolet radiation, and a baffle plate 10 provided in the air flow passage 7 to cause air flowing through the air flow passage 7 to meander, wherein the base body part 3 includes a heat pipe 11 that dissipates heat generated by the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 to the outside of the air purifier 1.

Description

Air purifier

[0001] The present invention relates to an air purifier having a function of inactivating viruses by irradiating ultraviolet rays.

[0002] In recent years, infectious diseases caused by viruses such as the novel coronavirus and its variants, avian influenza, herpes virus, or monkeypox have become a major threat worldwide. As shown in Patent Document 1, in view of the current prevalence of the novel coronavirus, the applicant has proposed an air purifier having a meandering structure capable of irradiating a large amount of ultraviolet rays to the air flowing inside the device.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a toxicity target elimination device that eliminates a wide range of toxicity targets including bacteria, viruses, and harmful molecules using an ultraviolet lamp or the like.

[0004] International Publication No. WO2024 / 101058, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-175258

[0005] By the way, since the current ultraviolet lamp uses mercury, there is a risk that future production may be discontinued, and since the power consumption is also large, it is desirable to switch to ultraviolet irradiation using semiconductor elements. However, when using semiconductor elements, there has been no practical method for countermeasures against the heat generated by the elements.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier that solves the problem of heat generated when using a semiconductor element as a light source. Another object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized air purifier that can be worn on the human body by solving the problem of heat when using a semiconductor element as a light source.

[0007] An air purifier according to a first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of ultraviolet light-emitting elements that emit ultraviolet light of a wavelength capable of inactivating viruses; a base portion having the ultraviolet light-emitting elements on its outer surface; an air passage having an air inlet and an outlet, wherein the ultraviolet light is irradiated to the air that enters from the inlet and exits from the outlet; a reflective surface formed on the inner surface of the air passage that reflects the ultraviolet light; and a baffle plate portion provided in the air passage that causes the airflow through the air passage to meander, wherein the base portion has a heat pipe portion that dissipates the heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting elements to the outside of the air purifier.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the heat pipe portion comprises a heat transfer portion that dissipates heat corresponding to the ultraviolet light-emitting element, a main communication portion that communicates with the heat transfer portion, and a heat exchange portion provided outside the air passage. A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the heat transfer portion is composed of a branch portion that is thermally connected to the ultraviolet light-emitting element.

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the base portion has a base portion reflective surface that reflects ultraviolet light. A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the heat exchange portion has a surface-shaped heat conductor and a plurality of heat dissipation fins attached to the outer surface of the surface-shaped heat conductor.

[0010] A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the heat exchange section has a plurality of tubular heat conductors and a plurality of heat dissipation fins attached to the outer surface of the tubular heat conductors. A seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the heat exchange section is arranged in a direction intersecting or parallel to the direction in which the base section extends.

[0011] An eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the ultraviolet light-emitting element is provided so as to avoid the outer surface of the base portion on which the baffle plate portion is provided. A ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that electrical wiring for the ultraviolet light-emitting element is provided inside the base portion.

[0012] A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the base portion is composed of the heat pipe portion, and the heat pipe portion has a heat pipe base portion for fixing the ultraviolet light-emitting element. An eleventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the outer surface of the heat pipe portion, excluding the heat pipe base portion, is composed of a heat pipe reflective surface.

[0013] A twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the base portion, which includes the ultraviolet light-emitting element and the heat pipe portion, is detachably configured to the structure having the air passage, the reflective surface, and the baffle plate portion. A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the electrical wiring for the ultraviolet light-emitting element is arranged to avoid the position of the ultraviolet light-emitting element. A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the base portion is installed so as to penetrate the baffle plate portion. A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of baffle plate portions are provided, and all of the plurality of baffle plate portions are the same shape. A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the base portion has a rectangular prism shape, and one edge of the base portion faces the opening on the outlet side.

[0014] The present invention provides an air purifier that solves the problem of heat generated when a semiconductor element is used as a light source. Furthermore, the present invention provides a small air purifier that can be worn on the human body while solving the heat problem when a semiconductor element is used as a light source.

[0015] (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air purifier according to the first embodiment, and (b) is a perspective view of the air purifier. A perspective view showing an example of a straight column section with densely spaced ultraviolet light-emitting elements. A perspective view showing an example of a straight column section with sparsely spaced ultraviolet light-emitting elements. (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the heat exchange section of the heat pipe section according to the second embodiment is attached to the rear end of the air purifier, and (b) is a side view showing only the heat exchange section as seen from the rear. (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment in which the heat exchange section is attached to the cylindrical body of the air purifier, and (b) is a plan view showing only the heat exchange section. This is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view of an air purifier showing a different configuration of the base section. Figure 7 shows an example of the characteristics of an ultraviolet light-emitting element, where (a) is a diagram with the radiation range on the horizontal axis and the irradiance on the vertical axis, and Figure 7(b) is a diagram showing the irradiation distance from the ultraviolet light-emitting element. This is a diagram to explain the effective germicidal power of an ultraviolet LED. This is a diagram showing an example of the usage form of an air purifier according to the fifth embodiment. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an air purifier according to the fifth embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in Figure 10. This is a schematic explanatory diagram of the heat pipe section. This is a diagram showing other components of the mask, and is a diagram showing an example of a face mask-like mask. This is a diagram showing other components of the mask, and is a diagram showing an example of a helmet that seals at least the mouth and nose from the outside. This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment in which a full-face helmet is used as the mask.

[0016] The following description of an air purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention will be given with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] In the following description of the specification, the front-rear direction is the direction in which the air passage 7 extends, and is indicated by X in the figure. The lateral direction (width direction, left-right direction) is the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and is indicated by Y in the figure. The lateral direction is the radial direction if it is cylindrical. The expressions "circumference" or "outer circumference" are used to mean that the cross-section of the cylindrical body is not only circular, but also includes other outer shapes such as squares.

[0017] This air passage 7 is formed by a cylindrical body 40 with a circular or square cross-section extending in the front-rear direction, and is formed in a substantially container shape with a front wall portion 38 and a rear wall portion 39. An upstream connecting pipe 26 is connected to the front wall portion 38, and a downstream connecting pipe 27 is connected to the cylindrical body 40 at a lateral position near the rear wall portion 39. Air entering from the inlet 5 of the upstream connecting pipe 26 is sent out from the outlet 6 of the downstream connecting pipe 27 by an upstream fan device (not shown) so that the airflow flows into the inlet 5 and / or is drawn in from the outlet 6 by a downstream fan device (not shown).

[0018] A straight column portion 4 extending in the front-to-back direction is provided approximately at the center of the cylindrical body 40 of the air passage 7. The straight column portion 4 is formed as a straight column and is shown as an example of the base portion 3. The base portion 3 has a plurality of ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 on its outer surface.

[0019] In the configurations shown in Figures 1 to 3, the straight column section 4 is formed in the shape of a rectangular prism with four faces. In the configuration shown in Figure 2, ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are attached to these four faces with as little gap as possible. In the configuration shown in Figure 3, the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are attached to the surfaces of the four faces with some gaps between them. Note that in Figure 1(b), the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are omitted in some cases for simplicity.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, within the air passage 7, a collision section 28 with an area larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the upstream connecting pipe 26 is provided at an upstream position within the air passage 7 so as to face the inlet 5 of the upstream connecting pipe 26. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the collision section 28 is made of a plate-like object similar in shape to the outer circumferential wall of the air passage 7 and is fixed to the tip area of ​​the straight column section 4.

[0021] The straight column section 4 at the rear of the impact section 28 is fitted with baffle plates 10 that cause the airflow to meander along the straight column section 4 at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction without leakage. It is preferable that both the impact section 28 and the baffle plates 10 are mirror-finished (ultraviolet-reflective) to enhance the inactivation performance.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1(b), the baffle plate portion 10 has a right semicircular baffle plate portion 10a that is seamlessly connected to the inner circumferential wall located on the right side when viewed from the direction of airflow, and a left semicircular baffle plate portion 10b that is seamlessly connected to the inner circumferential wall located on the left side.

[0023] The baffle plates 10a and 10b have recesses 35, 35 corresponding to the shape of the straight column section 4. The outer edge of the baffle plate 10a is seamlessly connected to the right inner circumferential wall of the air passage 7, and the recess 35 is fitted into the right side of the straight column section 4. Similarly, the outer edge of the baffle plate 10b is seamlessly connected to the left inner circumferential wall of the air passage 7, and the recess 35 is fitted into the left side of the straight column section 4. The fitting configuration divides the straight column section 4 into approximately two equal parts on either side of the center line extending in the longitudinal direction. This configuration forms a meandering air passage.

[0024] By providing the collision section 28, the airflow entering the air passage 7 generates a mushroom-shaped backflow, and this backflow, along with the meandering airflow due to the baffle plate section 10, can obtain the necessary residence time for inactivation. Furthermore, the straight column section 4 is sandwiched between the recesses 35 from two directions, which allows the airflow to move near the surface of the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 where the ultraviolet intensity increases rapidly, thereby enhancing the inactivation effect.

[0025] Reflective surfaces 8 that reflect ultraviolet light are provided on the inner surface of the air passage 7 so as large an area as possible. Preferably, reflective surfaces are also provided on the inner surfaces of the cylindrical body 40, the front wall portion 38, the rear wall portion 39, and on the surfaces of the baffle plate portion 10 and the collision portion 28. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, it is also preferable to provide base reflective surfaces 17 in the region between the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 arranged on the straight column portion 4.

[0026] In this configuration, the multiple reflection chambers 42 are arranged in a meandering manner in the direction in which the air passage 7 extends. The multiple reflection chamber 42 is an indoor space surrounded by two adjacent baffle plate sections 10 in the front-to-back direction, the inner circumferential wall of the air passage 7, and the surface of the straight column section 4.

[0027] The downstream connecting pipe 27 is preferably an elbow pipe that extends radially outward from an opening in the cylindrical body 40, then bends and extends rearward (towards the rear wall portion 39). By making the downstream connecting pipe 27 an elbow pipe, leakage of ultraviolet rays from the outlet 6 of the downstream connecting pipe 27 can be suppressed. Note that the shape of the downstream connecting pipe 27 is not limited to an elbow pipe. In addition, to prevent ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 from leaking from the upstream connecting pipe 26 and the downstream connecting pipe 27, leakage prevention walls (not shown) may be installed inside the upstream connecting pipe 26 and the downstream connecting pipe 27, respectively.

[0028] Furthermore, the straight column section 4, which is the base section 3, has a heat pipe section 11 that dissipates the heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 to the outside of the air purifier 1. The heat pipe section 11 can be configured in two ways: either it is provided inside the housing section 43 of the straight column section 4, or the base section 3 itself is composed of the heat pipe section 11.

[0029] The configurations shown in Figures 1 to 3 are examples of configurations in which the heat pipe section 11 is provided inside the housing section 43 of the base section 3. The base section 3 has a structure in which the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is exposed, and a configuration can be adopted in which the outer surface of the housing section 43, excluding the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2, has a base section reflective surface 17 that reflects ultraviolet light. Also, as shown in Figure 4 for example, the heat pipe section 11 has a heat transfer section 12 that dissipates heat corresponding to the position in which each ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is provided, a main communication section 13 that communicates with the heat transfer section 12, and a heat exchange section 14 provided on the outside of the air passage 7.

[0030] In the configuration shown in Figure 4, the heat transfer section 12 is composed of branch sections 44 that branch off from the main communication section 13. In the configuration shown in Figure 6, the heat transfer section 12 is composed of a heat pipe base section 15 for transferring heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2.

[0031] (Base unit 3 equipped with ultraviolet light-emitting element 2) Figures 2 and 3 show an example of a configuration in which the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is attached to the base unit 3. The configuration shown in Figure 2 is one in which a large number of ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are attached without gaps around the housing unit 43 of the straight column unit 4 as a replacement for conventional ultraviolet lamps. In the configuration shown in Figure 2, a total of 18 ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are provided on each face of the square prism in the front-to-back direction in 2 rows of 9 elements, so it is also possible to propose a configuration in which the entire straight column unit 4 has as many as 72 ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2. Regardless of whether 72 elements are actually necessary for virus inactivation treatment, with a configuration having such a large number of ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2, a light source with inactivation performance equivalent to that of a conventional ultraviolet lamp can be constructed by appropriately adjusting the number of ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2.

[0032] The configuration shown in Figure 3 is one in which ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are arranged spaced apart on the surface in the front-to-back direction in order to limit the number of ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2. Figure 7(a) is a graph with the radiation range on the horizontal axis and the irradiance on the vertical axis, and Figure 7(b) is a graph showing the irradiation distance, which is how far the light from the LED light source reaches. In the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 shown in Figure 7(a), the irradiance is greatest when the irradiation distance d is 10 mm, and the irradiance decreases as the irradiation range widens to 20 mm, 30 mm, ..., 100 mm. Based on the characteristics of the LED light source as shown in Figure 7(a), by adjusting the overlap of the ultraviolet intensity distribution, it is possible to set the illuminance distribution around the straight column section 4 to be almost uniform even in a configuration in which ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are arranged spaced apart as shown in Figure 3.

[0033] If the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are arranged at a distance from each other in the front-to-back direction, as shown in Figure 3, the baffle plate portion 10 can be provided in the area where the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are not located. Figure 4 shows such an arrangement.

[0034] In the configuration shown in Figure 4, if the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 were arranged around the entire perimeter of the housing 43, a corresponding number of ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 would be required. Therefore, the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are arranged only on the surface of the base 3 facing the inlet 5 and on the folded surface of the serpentine flow path. In this case, the average ultraviolet intensity will naturally decrease, but the necessary exposure time can be secured by adjusting the folded flow path. In this case, at least one ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 will be present in the multiple reflection chamber 42 (see Figure 4), which serves as the folded passage.

[0035] However, even with a configuration in which ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are provided without gaps on the circumferential surface of 4 as shown in Figure 2, by making the gap between the baffle plate portion 10 and the straight column portion 4 small enough so that air does not pass through directly, the air entering from the inlet 5 can form a meandering airflow until it exits at the outlet 6.

[0036] The distinctive features of the configuration shown in Figures 2 and 3 are that it has a heat exchange section 14 that communicates with the heat pipe section 11 to release heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 to the outside, and that the electrical wiring 21 for the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is provided inside the straight column section 4.

[0037] The heat exchange section 14 shown in Figure 1 has a pipe section of the same diameter as the main communication passage 13 shown in Figure 4, which protrudes from the rear wall section 39 by a predetermined length. The shape and position of the heat exchange section 14 can be changed according to the configuration of the air purifier 1. For example, the shape of the protruding part of the heat exchange section 14 shown in Figure 1 can be configured as a spiral shape with a radius increasing from the center. In addition, by providing electrical wiring 21 inside the housing section 43, it is possible to eliminate disadvantages such as the reduction or obscuration of light from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 due to the presence of the electrical wiring 21.

[0038] [Second Embodiment] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the second embodiment. Figure 4(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the heat exchange section 14 of the heat pipe section 11 is attached to the rear end of the air purifier 1. Figure 4(b) is a side view showing only the heat exchange section 14 as seen from the rear.

[0039] The heat exchange section 14 shown in Figure 4 is formed by arranging a pair of disc-shaped surface heat conductors 18, 18 that exhibit good thermal conductivity at a predetermined interval in the front-to-back direction, and covering the outer circumference to prevent the medium inside the heat pipe section 11 from escaping. The four support sections 32 shown in Figure 4(b) are column members for holding the pair of surface heat conductors 18 at predetermined intervals.

[0040] The heat exchange section 14, which has surface-shaped heat conductors 18, 18, is provided so as to be attached to the rear wall 39 of the air purifier 1 via an insulating layer 33. Heat dissipation fins 20 extending in a predetermined direction, such as horizontally, are erected at predetermined intervals on the rear side of the surface-shaped heat conductors 18, 18. If necessary, a protective section 31 is provided to cover the heat dissipation fins 20, and the protective section 31 is made of wire mesh 30 or the like.

[0041] In the configuration shown in Figure 4, the downstream connecting pipe 27 is located laterally near the rear wall 39, so the rear wall 39 is an externally facing surface with a large area relative to the base 3. By providing the heat exchange section 14 on this dead space surface, the heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 can be efficiently dissipated. In other words, in this configuration, the heat exchange section 14 is located in a direction that intersects with the direction in which the base 3 extends. In the case of Figure 4, the intersecting angle is 90°, but depending on the positions of the inlet 5 and outlet 6 of the air purifier 1, the intersecting angle can be appropriately changed from an angle greater than 0° to less than 180°.

[0042] The cross-sectional area of ​​the branch portion 44, an example of the heat transfer section 12 shown in Figure 4(a), is shown as a narrow tube compared to the area occupied by the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2, but it has a sufficient cross-sectional area to dissipate the heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2. The branch portion 44 may also be thermally connected to a copper plate or the like that dissipates the heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 itself.

[0043] In this configuration, the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 are arranged in a branch-like shape so that the number of branches 44 that receive heat from the heat pipe section 11 corresponds to the position of the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2. Therefore, the heat exchange function of the heat pipe section 11 does not interfere with anything else, and the heat generated from the ultraviolet light-emitting elements 2 can be effectively dissipated.

[0044] [Third Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the third embodiment. In this third embodiment, the heat exchange part 14 is provided in a direction parallel to the direction in which the base part 3 extends (parallel includes substantially parallel), and the heat exchange part 14 has a plurality of tubular heat conductors 19.

[0045] In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the case where the heat exchange part 14 is provided on the outer part of the cylindrical body 40 excluding the side provided on the downstream connection pipe 27 is shown. An external communication path 36 extending along the rear wall part 39 is provided, and a plurality of tubular heat conductors 19 communicating with the external communication path 36 are provided. Specifically, four tubular heat conductors 19 are provided for a horizontal pipe 45 extending along the outer periphery with which the external communication path 36 communicates, and heat radiation fins 20 are erected in a direction intersecting the tubular heat conductors 19.

[0046] In the example shown in FIG. 5, only one stage of the tubular heat conductor 19 is provided, but a plurality of stages of tubular heat conductors 19 communicating with the external communication path 36 may be provided in the width direction in which the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 40 increases. Note that the air cleaner 1 shown in FIG. 5 may be a rectangular parallelepiped cylindrical body or a cylindrical body. If it is a cylindrical body, a heat exchange part 14 along the circular peripheral surface is formed.

[0047] Thus, by providing the heat exchange part 14 in a direction parallel to the direction in which the base part 3 extends and connecting the heat exchange part 14 facing the outside through the external communication path 36 from the heat pipe part 11 in the straight column part 4 at the center of the air flow path 7, the area of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 40 is larger than that of the front wall part 38 and the rear wall part 39. Therefore, there is an advantage that the area of the heat exchange part 14 can be increased as necessary.

[0048] [Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this fourth embodiment, the base part 3 is constituted by the heat pipe part 11 itself. A heat pipe base part 15 for thermally connecting the ultraviolet light emitting element 2 is provided on the heat pipe part 11. The heat pipe base part 15 is provided at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the ultraviolet light emitting element 2, and the heat pipe base part 15 is communicated with the main communication part 13.

[0049] Furthermore, the electrical wiring 21 for the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is positioned to avoid the location of the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2. As a result, the electrical wiring 21 passes through the outer surface of the heat pipe section 11 and is connected to an external drive battery.

[0050] Generally, the inner surfaces of the cylindrical body 40, the front wall 38, and the rear wall 39 are made of reflective material to enhance the inactivation effect and prevent ultraviolet rays from leaking out, so they are not visible from the outside. Therefore, if the electrical wiring 21 is covered with an insulating material that protects it from heat from the heat pipe section 11, and if the electrical wiring 21 is exposed to the outside of the heat pipe section 11, there is no need to worry about the appearance being poor due to exposed wiring, as is the case with general lighting devices.

[0051] In Figure 6, the heat pipe section 11 is drawn thickly, but if the configuration includes a heat pipe base section 15, its thickness can be appropriately set to a diameter that enhances heat exchange performance. In that case, it may be composed of multiple heat pipe sections 11 with different diameters. The heat pipe base section 15 can also be shaped such that a flower or fruit-like ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is placed at the end of its branch or trapezoidal section.

[0052] The configuration shown in Figure 6 is one in which a narrow element opening 16 is provided in a plate member 47 connected to the baffle plate section 10, such that the airflow does not directly pass through it. A heat pipe reflecting surface 50 is provided in the location of the heat pipe section 11 that is exposed to ultraviolet light within the airflow channel 7. Note that the element opening 16 is drawn large in Figure 6 for clarity.

[0053] In Figure 6, the position of the heat pipe reflective surface 50 is shown for convenience, but by placing it in the location of the heat pipe section 11 that is exposed to ultraviolet light within the individual air passages 7, multiple reflections can be achieved as much as possible to increase the degree of inactivation. Alternatively, the plate member 47 can be omitted, and the functional part of the plate member 47 can be formed on the circumferential surface of the heat pipe section 11. Furthermore, if ease of replacement is a priority, the heat pipe section 11 unit can be replaced more easily if the position of the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is recessed compared to the position of the plate member 47.

[0054] (Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Device) For the ultraviolet light-emitting device 2 used in this air purifier 1, it is preferable to select a deep ultraviolet LED (LED-UVC), and for example, the peak wavelength can be set to about 280 nm. Four points can be given as examples of a preferred selection of ultraviolet light-emitting device 2. (1) Determine by referring to ultraviolet sensitivity data appropriate for virus inactivation. The peak is located at longer wavelengths than the commonly used germicidal effect curve.

[0055] (2) The germicidal power, taking into account the output of the deep ultraviolet LED, is used as an indicator. As shown in Figure 8, for example, the germicidal effect of Nichia Corporation's NCSU434B (280 nm) is determined not only by the germicidal effect of each wavelength shown in Figure 8(a), but also by the effective germicidal power (see Figure 8(c)) obtained by multiplying the output of the ultraviolet LED at each wavelength shown in Figure 8(b). (3) The wavelength of the ultraviolet LED that has a long lifespan is adopted, taking into consideration the lifespan (output maintenance rate) of the ultraviolet LED. For example, the estimated lifespan of Nichia Corporation's NCSU434B (280 nm) is 10,000 hours, which is relatively long. (4) Among the "LED-UVC" currently being developed by several companies, the optimal "LED-UVC" is used as the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 after considering various factors, such as the type of virus to be inactivated, the intensity of the light source, the cost, and the ease of handling for heat countermeasures.

[0056] (Other Configurations) In this embodiment, the base unit 3, which includes the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2, heat pipe section 11, and electrical wiring 21 shown in Figures 2 and 3, can also be detachably attached to the structure 48 having an air passage 7, a reflective surface 8 provided on a predetermined surface, and a baffle plate section 10. In this case, the base unit 3 can be replaced as a replacement unit, similar to when replacing the ultraviolet lamp. With this configuration, it becomes easier to handle replacements in the event of problems such as soiling of the reflective surface due to air flowing through the air passage 7 or damage to the baffle plate section 10 due to falling, and this is advantageous from a maintenance perspective.

[0057] When considered as a replacement unit, the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is depicted as protruding from the surface of the base portion 3 in Figure 4, etc., but it is also possible to provide it in a recessed position relative to the circumferential surface of the plate member 47, as shown in Figure 6, for example. Furthermore, multiple reflective surfaces, such as heat pipe reflective surfaces 50 that reflect reflected light back to the inside of the air passage 7, can be provided in that recessed position on the recessed surface of the base portion 3 or the straight column portion 4.

[0058] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, by housing the electrical wiring 21 inside the base portion 3, interference and obstruction with the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 are eliminated, and replacement can be done unit by unit within the housing portion 43, making replacement easier without the electrical wiring 21 getting caught on the baffle plate portion 10 or the like.

[0059] In the first to third embodiments described above, if cooling is insufficient with natural convection or a configuration that provides heat dissipation fins 20, a cooling fan is provided around the air passage 7 to direct air toward the heat pipe section 11 and heat dissipation fins 20, thereby creating a structure that cools by forced convection.

[0060] [Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. The air purifier 1 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the angle of the straight column portion 4 with respect to the opening on the outlet 6 side, the shape of the baffle plate portion, and the arrangement position of the heat exchange portion of the heat pipe portion. Components similar to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0061] Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of how the air purifier according to the fifth embodiment is used, where (a) is a view from the left rear of the wearer, and (b) is a view from the right front of the wearer. Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air purifier according to the fifth embodiment. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the heat pipe section. Note that in Figure 11, the position opposite the inlet opening is shown by a dashed line.

[0062] (Method of Use) As shown in Figure 9, the air purifier 1 of this embodiment is suitable for use when carried on the back using a dedicated backpack strap or the like. When carrying the air purifier 1 on the back, the outlet 6 side should be facing upwards so that the air passage 7 extends in the vertical direction. The user wears a mask 60 on their head, and the mask 60 is connected to the outlet 6 of the air purifier 1 via an intake tube 61 such as a hose. The mask 60 is also provided with an exhaust port 73 with a check valve that allows exhaled air to be discharged to the outside of the mask 60. Note that the air purifier 1 according to the first to fourth embodiments described above may also be used when carried on the back as shown in Figure 9. In the following description of this embodiment, the direction in which the air passage 7 extends (X direction) may be referred to as the vertical direction.

[0063] (Upstream Fan Device) As shown in Figure 10, in this embodiment, the air purifier 1 is equipped with an upstream fan device 62 at the inlet 5 of the upstream connecting pipe 26 so that air entering from the inlet 5 is discharged from the outlet 6 of the downstream connecting pipe 27. The upstream fan device 62 rotates to draw air in from the inlet 5, as indicated by the white arrow in Figure 10. The rotation speed of the upstream fan device 62 is adjustable. This allows the air intake speed (intake volume) to be adjusted according to the user's physical condition and age.

[0064] (Straight column section) As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the straight column section 4 of this embodiment has a rectangular prism shape, and its ridge line 4a is positioned to face the outlet opening (opening) 63 (an opening provided on the side of the cylindrical body 40) on the outlet 6 side. In the cross section perpendicular to the extension direction of the cylindrical body 40, in the cross section including the outlet opening 63 of the cylindrical body 40, if one diagonal of the straight column section 4 is extended, the extension of that diagonal line extends toward the outlet opening 63 of the cylindrical body 40.

[0065] The inventors of this invention conducted experiments on the airflow entering the air passage 7 in two cases: when the ridge line 4a of the straight column section 4 is oriented toward the outlet opening 63, as in this embodiment, and when the flat portion of the straight column section 4 (the side portion supporting the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2) is facing the outlet opening 63 (see Figure 1). As a result, it was confirmed that when the ridge line 4a of the straight column section 4 is facing the outlet opening 63, as in this embodiment, the airflow becomes more complex, and the residence time (residence time in the air passage 7) is 20% or more greater than when the flat portion of the straight column section 4 is facing the outlet opening 63. This makes it possible to further enhance the inactivation effect.

[0066] (Collision section and baffle section) As shown in Figures 10 and 11, within the air passage 7, a collision section (baffle section) 28 is provided at an upstream position within the air passage 7, facing the inlet opening 64 on the inlet 5 side (an opening provided in the bottom surface (front wall section 38) of the cylindrical body 40). The collision section 28 and baffle section 10 are arranged downstream of the collision section 28 within the air passage 7. These collision sections 28 and baffle sections 10 are arranged in different orientations, but all have the same shape and function as baffle sections. In other words, in this embodiment, all of the baffle sections (collision section 28 and baffle section 10) have the same shape. For this reason, in the following description, the collision section 28 and baffle section 10 may be referred to as "baffle section 65" with the same reference numeral.

[0067] Each of the baffle plate sections 65 has a roughly curved baffle plate section 65a that is seamlessly connected to the inner circumferential wall on one side (upper side in the figure) in the Y direction, and a roughly curved baffle plate section 65b that is seamlessly connected to the inner circumferential wall on the other side (lower side in the figure). A curved shape refers to a shape enclosed by a chord and an arc of a circle, and in this embodiment, the arc is larger than a semicircle. The arc portions 65C of the multiple baffle plate sections 65 are seamlessly connected to the inner circumferential wall of the cylindrical body 40. The chord portions 65D of the multiple baffle plate sections 65 are arranged parallel to each other. The size of the upstreammost baffle plate section 65 (collision section 28) is set to be large enough to cover the entire area of ​​the inlet opening 64. Also, the baffle plate sections 65 (baffle plate section 10) downstream of the upstreammost baffle plate section 65 (collision section 28) are set to be the same size as the upstreammost baffle plate section 65 (collision section 28).

[0068] Multiple baffle plates 65 have through holes 66 through which the straight column portion 4 passes. That is, the straight column portion (base portion) 4 is installed so as to pass through the baffle plates 65. As shown in Figure 10, baffle plates 65a and 65b are arranged symmetrically in the Y direction. This configuration forms a meandering air path.

[0069] The inventors of this application have discovered that by forming multiple baffle plate portions 65 with the same shape, including the collision portion 28, and with a size that allows the straight column portion 4 to pass through them, the airflow becomes more complex and the residence time of air in the air passage 7 increases compared to cases where the straight column portion 4 does not pass through or where the collision portion 28 is circular (see Figure 1). This makes it possible to further enhance the inactivation effect.

[0070] (Heat pipe section) As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the heat pipe section 11 has a base section 68 that is in close contact with the back surface (inner surface of the straight column section 4) of the base section 67 that supports the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 of the straight column section 4, and a heat exchange section 69 provided on the outside of the air passage 7. Figure 12 shows one of the four base sections 67 that make up the four faces of the straight column section 4.

[0071] The base portion 68 is a plate-shaped member (for example, a copper member) with high heat conductivity, and a part of the heat pipe portion 11 is disposed inside it. The base portion 68 and the base portion 67 of the straight column portion 4 are arranged to be in close contact with each other in a surface contact state, as shown by the white arrows in Figure 12. In Figure 12, the heat pipe portion 11 is arranged in a meandering manner, but this is not the only arrangement. Furthermore, it is preferable that the heat pipe portion 11 inside the base portion 68 is positioned opposite each ultraviolet light-emitting element 2.

[0072] The heat exchange section 69 is the part that dissipates heat from the heat pipe section 11 and has, for example, a plurality of heat dissipation fins 70. The heat dissipation fins 70 are connected to the heat pipe section 11. The heat exchange section 69 may be provided with a protective section 31 that covers the heat dissipation fins 70 if necessary, and the protective section 31 is made of a wire mesh 30 or the like.

[0073] In this embodiment, the heat exchange section 69 is provided on the side (outer surface) of the cylindrical body 40. This makes it possible to suppress the transfer of heat to the back of the head when the user carries the air purifier 1 on their back (see Figure 9), unlike when the heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting element 2 is dissipated from the upper side (rear wall 39 side) of the air purifier 1.

[0074] Furthermore, the heat exchange section 69 in this embodiment is provided in the area of ​​the side surface (outer surface) of the cylindrical body 40, excluding the side facing the back when the device is carried on the back (in Figure 9, the side opposite to the outlet opening 63 side (downstream connecting pipe 27 side)). This ensures that the heat exchange section 69 does not get in the way when the user carries the air purifier 1 on their back, and also reduces the transfer of heat to the back.

[0075] Although Figure 12 shows one of the base portions 67 that make up the four faces of the straight column portion 4, the same configuration may be provided for all of the base portions 67 that make up the four faces of the straight column portion 4. Alternatively, a base portion 68 may be provided for all of the base portions 67 that make up the four faces of the straight column portion 4, and one heat pipe portion 11 may be continuously arranged within the base portions 68 of the four faces, sharing an external heat exchange portion 69.

[0076] (Other Heat Exchange Sections) As shown in Figure 10, in this embodiment, a heat exchange section 71 for dissipating heat from the air inside the cylindrical body 40 to the outside is provided on the upper side (rear wall 39 side) of the air purifier 1. The heat exchange section 71 has a surface-type heat conductor 72 exposed to the inside of the cylindrical body 40 and a plurality of heat dissipation fins 73 provided on the upper surface of the surface-type heat conductor 72. In this embodiment, the surface-type heat conductor 72 also serves as the rear wall 39. If necessary, a protective section (not shown) made of wire mesh or the like that covers the heat dissipation fins 73 may also be provided. In this way, by dissipating heat from the air inside the cylindrical body 40 to the outside, the temperature of the air inhaled by the user can be reduced. Note that the heat exchange section 71 is not required.

[0077] (Variations of the mask) Next, we will explain variations of the mask.

[0078] (Modification 1) Figure 13 is a diagram showing another configuration of the mask, and is a diagram showing an example of a face mask.

[0079] In Figure 13, a face mask 100 is used instead of the mask 60. This face mask 100 has an outer mask 101 that seals at least the wearer's mouth, nose and eyes from the outside, a band 102 for attaching the outer mask 101 to the head, and an inner mask 103 that is placed inside the outer mask 101 and seals at least the nose and mouth area of ​​the person.

[0080] As shown in Figure 13, the outer mask 101 has an annular contact portion 104 that adheres closely to the outer circumference of the wearer, and a transparent visor portion 105 located inside the annular contact portion 104. The annular contact portion 104 preferably has an elastic material that can conform to the contours of the face. This allows the internal space of the outer mask 101 to be sealed. A band 102 is attached to the annular contact portion 104. The visor portion 105 is made of a transparent material that does not obstruct the user's field of vision. The visor portion 105 preferably has a shape that bulges forward to ensure a wide internal space. By making the visor portion 105 bulge forward, the face mask 100 can be worn so as to cover the glasses G while wearing glasses G. The visor portion 105 is provided with a connection portion 106 to which an intake pipe 61 is connected, at a position corresponding to the internal mask 103 which will be described later.

[0081] The inner mask 103 is a mask that seals the wearer's nose and mouth and is continuous with the connection portion 106 of the visor portion 105. An inhalation tube 61 is connected to the connection portion 106. In addition, an exhaust valve (not shown) is provided near the connection portion 106, which allows exhaled air to be discharged from the inner mask 103 to the outside of the face mask 100.

[0082] With this type of face mask 100, by appropriately setting the size of the outer mask 101, even users who need to wear glasses (for example, healthcare workers) can wear the face mask 100 while wearing their glasses and use the air purifier 1.

[0083] (Modification 2) Figure 14 shows another configuration of the mask, and is a diagram showing an example of a helmet that seals at least the mouth and nose from the outside.

[0084] In Figure 14, a helmet 80 is used instead of a mask 60. This helmet 80 has a helmet portion 81 that covers the head, a guard portion 82 that seals the wearer's head to a predetermined extent for breathing, and a sealing device 83 that enhances the degree of sealing of the guard portion 82. In other words, this helmet 80 is configured to seal at least the nose and mouth area of ​​a person, and to seal the person's face or head from the outside.

[0085] The guard portion 82 is connected downward from the helmet portion 81 and is made of a transparent material that does not obstruct the user's field of vision. The sealant 83 is made of a string, an elastic material such as rubber, that seals the guard portion 82, for example, around the user's neck, and is made of a material that improves the degree to which the external space and the internal space in which the user breathes are isolated when the user breathes. The guard portion 82 or the helmet portion 81 is provided with an intake port 84 and an exhalation port 85. An intake tube 61 is connected to the intake port 84. An exhalation tube 73 is connected to the exhalation port 85. Note that the configuration shown in Figure 14 does not necessarily have to have a helmet portion 81, as long as it has a configuration that isolates the external space from the internal space. For example, it is also possible to configure it as a sealed face guard that at least seals the nose and mouth and isolates the external space from the internal space.

[0086] (Modification 3) Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment in which a full-face helmet is used as a mask.

[0087] In Figure 15, a full-face helmet 90 is used instead of the mask 60. In this configuration, an air retention chamber 91 is attached to the rear of the full-face helmet 90. When the intake air is inactivated, an intake pipe 61 is connected to the air retention chamber 91.

[0088] A pair of connecting passages 92 extend from the air retention chamber 91 into the interior of the full-face helmet 90, and the openings 92a of the connecting passages 92, which serve as inactivated air outlets, are located around the nose or mouth. A pair of exhaust valves 93 are provided below the pair of connecting passages 92.

[0089] Note that the number of connecting passages 92, the number of exhaust valves 93, and the relative positions of the connecting passages 92 and exhaust valves 93 shown in Figure 15 are merely examples and are not limited to Figure 15; various configurations can be adopted. Also, although Figure 15 shows the connecting passages 92 as tube-shaped, they may also be composed of connecting passages 92 integrated with the components of the full-face helmet 90.

[0090] Furthermore, a sealing device 94 may be provided at the bottom of the full-face helmet 90 to seal the inside and outside of the full-face helmet 90. The sealing device 94 is often composed of a sealing means that seals the area around the user's neck. Compared to using a mask 60, the configuration of wearing a full-face helmet 90 has the advantage of providing a higher degree of airtightness and isolation from the outside by using the full-face helmet 90 and the sealing device 94, and also reduces the risk of it coming off due to external impacts or snagging compared to the mask 60, thereby enhancing safety.

[0091] Although the present invention has been described above with examples of embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the description of the claims, and it goes without saying that various modifications, additions of configurations, or improvements can be made within that scope.

[0092] 1: Air purifier 2: Ultraviolet light-emitting element 3: Base unit 5: Inlet 6: Outlet 7: Airflow path 8: Reflective surface 10: Baffle plate 11: Heat pipe unit 12: Heat transfer unit 13: Main communication unit 14: Heat exchange unit 15: Heat pipe base unit 17: Base unit reflective surface 18: Surface-shaped heat conductor 19: Tubular heat conductor 20: Heat dissipation fins 21: Electrical wiring 44: Branch unit 50: Heat pipe reflective surface

Claims

1. An air purifier comprising: a plurality of ultraviolet light-emitting elements that emit ultraviolet light at wavelengths capable of inactivating viruses; a base portion having the ultraviolet light-emitting elements on its outer surface; an air passage having an air inlet and an outlet, wherein the ultraviolet light is irradiated to the air that enters from the inlet and exits from the outlet; a reflective surface formed on the inner surface of the air passage that reflects the ultraviolet light; and a baffle plate portion provided in the air passage that causes the airflow through the air passage to meander, wherein the base portion has a heat pipe portion that dissipates the heat from the ultraviolet light-emitting elements to the outside of the air purifier.

2. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the heat pipe section comprises a heat transfer section that dissipates heat corresponding to the ultraviolet light-emitting element, a main communication section that communicates with the heat transfer section, and a heat exchange section provided on the outside of the air passage.

3. The air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the heat transfer section is composed of a branch section that is thermally connected to the ultraviolet light-emitting element.

4. The air purifier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base portion has a base portion reflective surface that reflects ultraviolet light.

5. The air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange section has a surface-type heat conductor and a plurality of heat dissipation fins attached to the outer surface of the surface-type heat conductor.

6. The air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange section has a plurality of tubular heat conductors and a plurality of heat dissipation fins attached to the outer surface of the tubular heat conductors.

7. The air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange section is arranged in a direction intersecting or parallel to the direction in which the base section extends.

8. The air purifier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ultraviolet light-emitting element is provided so as to avoid the outer surface of the base portion on which the baffle plate portion is provided.

9. The air purifier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein electrical wiring for the ultraviolet light-emitting element is provided inside the base portion.

10. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is composed of the heat pipe portion, and the heat pipe portion has a heat pipe base portion for fixing the ultraviolet light-emitting element.

11. The air purifier according to claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the heat pipe portion, excluding the heat pipe base portion, is configured as a heat pipe reflective surface.

12. The air purifier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base portion, which includes the ultraviolet light-emitting element and the heat pipe portion, is detachably configured to the structure having the air passage, the reflective surface, and the baffle plate portion.

13. The air purifier according to claim 10, wherein the electrical wiring for the ultraviolet light-emitting element is arranged to avoid the position of the ultraviolet light-emitting element.

14. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is installed so as to penetrate the baffle plate portion.

15. The air purifier according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of baffle plates are provided, and all of the plurality of baffle plates are the same shape.

16. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the base portion has a rectangular prism shape, and one edge of the base portion faces the opening on the outlet side.

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