Air humidification and purification device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air humidification and purification devices face issues with water supply management, leading to contamination, bacterial growth, and reduced efficiency due to unnecessary humidification in purification mode, and increased power consumption and noise.
Innovation Solution
An air humidification and purification device with a flow path regulating member that controls air flow and water supply, allowing water to be supplied only during humidification mode, and includes a water supply valve mechanism operated by the rotating member to block water supply when not needed, thereby improving both humidification and purification efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is continuously supplied from the water container to the water tank to maintain a constant water level, then the water tank maintains adequate water for humidification, but mold, scale, odor, and bacteria proliferate in the water tank after humidification ends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the water supply system adaptive rather than static. The water supply valve is controlled to open only during humidification mode and close during purification mode, allowing the system to dynamically adjust water supply based on operational requirements. This prevents water stagnation and subsequent contamination while ensuring adequate water supply during humidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the flow path regulating member's rotation position to automatically control the water supply valve state. When the regulating member rotates to the humidification position, the water supply valve opens; when rotated to the purification position, the valve closes. This self-controlled mechanism eliminates the need for separate water supply control systems and ensures water is supplied only when needed.
2Device complexity
If air flows directly into the blowing fan without passing through the humidification member, then the device structure is simple, but humidification efficiency is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a rotatable flow path regulating member with a flow path guiding portion that dynamically directs air flow based on the selected mode. During humidification mode, the guiding portion redirects air to pass through the humidification member, maximizing humidification efficiency. During purification mode, the guiding portion allows direct air flow to the blowing fan, maintaining structural simplicity. This dynamic flow regulation resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and humidification efficiency.
3Productivity
If the flow path regulating member is used to increase air flow rate through the humidification member, then humidification efficiency improves, but the entirety of air is not supplied to the humidification member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow directing function from a complex multi-component flow path regulating member and implements it through a simplified structure with a rotatable member and flow path guiding portion. This extracted design achieves effective flow regulation to the humidification member during humidification mode without the complexity of multiple regulating components, resolving the contradiction between humidification efficiency and device complexity.
4Productivity
If the blowing fan driving RPM is increased to achieve the same air discharge amount when air passes through the humidification member, then air discharge is maintained, but power consumption and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the air flow path based on operational mode using the rotatable flow path regulating member. During purification mode, the system bypasses the humidification member, reducing flow resistance and allowing the blowing fan to operate at lower RPM for the same air discharge amount, thereby reducing power consumption and noise. During humidification mode, the system routes air through the humidification member when needed. This dynamic flow path adjustment eliminates the need for increased fan power.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively blocks water supply to prevent contamination, reduces bacterial growth, eliminates the need for a driving mechanism for water supply, and enhances both humidification and purification efficiencies while reducing noise and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a humidification member for performing humidification using water supplied to the water tank unit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an air humidification and purification device comprising: a housing; a blowing part; an air purification filter; a water container; a water tank unit; a humidification member; an air flow path part; a flow path regulating member; and a driving part, wherein the water container has a water supply valve member, the flow path regulating member includes: a rotary shaft part; a body part rotating integrally with the rotary shaft part, and opening and closing at least a portion of the air flow path part; and a pressing part which rotates integrally with the rotary shaft part, and when the flow path regulating member rotates, the flow direction of the air in the air flow path part is changed by means of the body part, and the water supply valve member opens and closes by means of the pressing part.