Patent Grant
8104502
The present invention relates to a structure for a drain water bacteriostatic unit of an air conditioner.
A drain pan for receiving and discharging drain water to the outside is provided in the lower portion of heat exchangers in general-purpose air conditioners.
Drain water held in a drain pan is discharged to the outside through a drain pipe from an inclined trench provided in the drain pan in the case of window type and wall type air conditioners, and through a drain pipe after being pumped up by a drain pump (including drain up kits) in the case of ceiling embedded-type and ceiling suspended air conditioners.
In either case, however, drain water stays in the drain pan for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, bacteria can multiply in the drain water in the drain pan, and odor and clogging of the drain pipe due to generation of slime become a problem.
As a measure against this, a technology for layering an antibacterial agent-containing resin composite layer and a sheet or a film made of a resin on the inner wall surface of the drain pan in sequence has already been proposed (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-78240). The antibacterial agent-containing resin composite layer contains crystal polypropylene, an inorganic filler and an antibacterial agent. Thus, according to this technology, the antibacterial agent transmits through the sheet or the film made of a resin and acts on the drain water, and therefore, bacteria are prevented from multiplying in the drain water.
In addition, a technology for pasting a copper alloy foil having pasteurizing effects on the bottom of the drain pan has also been proposed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-106630). Furthermore, a technology for mixing a pasteurizing agent in the material that forms the drain pan and irradiating the drain water with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet ray lamp has also been proposed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-97447).
In any of the above described technologies, however, a problem arises in that the structure of the drain pan becomes complicated, and the bacteriostatic effects gradually decrease together with contamination, for example, through generation of slime.
Furthermore, in the case of the technology disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-97447, the configuration of some air conditioners makes it difficult to uniformly irradiate the entirety of the drain pan with ultraviolet rays using a single ultraviolet ray lamp, and thus, a number of ultraviolet ray lamps are necessary. Therefore, there is a problem with this technology in that the cost for installing ultraviolet ray lamps and the operating costs both are high.
Under these circumstances, an antibacterial member 50, where a container 50A having a mesh structure is filled with an antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form, is generally used in such a state that the entirety is submerged in the drain water, as shown in
The antibacterial agent 50B has the minimum level of concentration required for gaining bacteriostatic effects. This minimum concentration differs depending on the type of antibacterial agent 50B used. Therefore, the initial amount (immersed amount) of the antibacterial agent is determined so that this minimum concentration can be ensured under the worst conditions (conditions that minimize the concentration of the eluted antibacterial agent) within the range of conditions for conventional use, and stable and effective bacteriostatic effects can be gained over the years that the antibacterial agent is used.
When all of the antibacterial agent of the amount determined in this manner is used in such a state as to be submerged in drain water, as shown in
In addition, though in the case where the period of use is short, only just the sufficient amount of antibacterial agent for ensuring the minimum concentration is required, it is necessary to increase the amount of antibacterial agent by such an amount that bacteriostatic effects can be gained over a long period of time (for example several years to a dozen or so years). In this case, the above described initial concentration is much greater than the above described minimum concentration required, and a problem arises that the antibacterial agent is consumed in a wasteful manner.
The present invention is provided in order to solve the above described problems, and an objective thereof is to provide a drain water bacteriostatic structure for an air conditioner where an antibacterial agent is eluted by a necessary amount at necessary times, so that the concentration of the antibacterial agent is always kept constant, and thus, stable and efficient bacteriostatic effects are sustained over a long period of time.
One embodiment for solving the above described problems according to the present invention provides a drain water bacteriostatic structure for an air conditioner having a drain pan 8 for holding drain water generated in an air conditioner 1, and an upright antibacterial member 50 which is installed inside the drain pan 8. The antibacterial member 50 has an antibacterial agent 50B. The length L3 of the antibacterial member 50 in the up-down direction is set such that the lower end portion 50a of the antibacterial member 50 is submerged in drain water when the drain water in the drain pan 8 is at the minimum water level L1, and the upper end portion 50b of the antibacterial member 50 is exposed above the maximum water level L2 of the drain water within the drain pan 8 by a predetermined length H or more.
In the above described configuration, when the antibacterial agent 50B, which is submerged in drain water in the lower end portion 50a of the antibacterial member 50, is eluted in the drain water and gradually reduced, new antibacterial agent 50B, which is located above the actual water level of the drain water and not eluted, moves down from above in response so as to be supplied in sequence.
Accordingly, the predetermined length H is set to an appropriate length, taking the consumed amount into consideration in accordance with the water level, and thus, continuous use with a constant concentration is possible over a desired long period of time. In addition, this configuration can be gained by modifying only the configuration of the antibacterial member 50 with the configuration of the drain pan 8 left as it is in the prior art, and therefore, the drain water bacteriostatic structure is simple and inexpensive.
It is preferable for the above described antibacterial member 50 to be formed of a container 50A having a number of pores and an antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form contained within the container 50A. In this case, the antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form is eluted out from the antibacterial member 50 through the pores of the container 50A, and thus, pasteurizing effects are gained. Furthermore, the space created as a result of elution of the antibacterial agent 50B is supplied with a new antibacterial agent 50B located above, and lowers smoothly as a result of gravity.
At this time, it is preferable for the air conditioner 1 to have a drain pump 22 and for the antibacterial member 50 to be provided in a portion where the drain pump 22 is installed. In this case, microscopic vibration when the drain pump 22 is driven allows new antibacterial agent 50B to be supplied smoothly into the above described space from above, and thus, more stable supply of antibacterial agent 50B is possible.
In general, the above described antibacterial agent in granular form or pellet form is placed at random, and therefore, this configuration provides excellent effects for supplying the antibacterial agent 50B smoothly into the above described space from above. Furthermore, the portion where the drain pump 22 is installed is originally designated as maintenance space, and therefore, the antibacterial member 50 can be easily replaced after years of use.
In addition, it is preferable for the above described antibacterial member 50 to be formed of an antibacterial agent holding material 50D having water soluble properties and an antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form which is mixed in with the holding material 50D. In this case, as the antibacterial agent holding material 50D dissolves, the antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form is eluted, so that pasteurizing effects are gained. Furthermore, as the antibacterial agent holding material 50D dissolves, the antibacterial member 50 sinks smoothly as a whole as a result of gravity. Therefore, the pasteurizing effects are always sustained in a stable state.
a) is a cross-sectional view showing the initial state of the antibacterial member, and
a) is a cross-sectional view showing the initial state of an antibacterial member in a prior art drain water bacteriostatic structure, and
In the following, a drain water bacteriostatic structure for an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described.
First,
As shown in
The fan 5 is formed of a radial fan having a number of blades 5b between a hub 5a which is located on top and a shroud 5c which is located beneath, and the center axis portion of the hub 5a is secured to the motor shaft 9a of the above described fan motor 9, and thus, the fan 5 is supported in such a manner as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. A bracket 9b for attaching the fan motor is attached to the top plate 32 of the main body casing 3 using a number of fan motor mounting members 11, and thus, the fan motor 9 is supported by the top plate 32.
A drain pan 8 having a form corresponding to the form of the heat exchanger 4 is placed beneath the heat exchanger 4. An air outlet passage 10 is formed in the outer periphery outside the heat exchanger 4, and an opening for blowing out air 10a is created downstream from the air outlet passage 10.
The cassette type main body casing 3 is formed of a side wall 3a made of a heat insulating material and the above described top plate 32, which covers the upper portion of the side wall 3a.
The heat exchanger 4 is formed so as to be of a cross fin coil type having a number of heat transfer pipes 42 and a number of plate fins 41. Each heat transfer pipe 42 is placed so as to extend in the horizontal direction and bent into approximately annular form, and thus, two columns of heat conductive pipes which extend parallel to each other are formed. Each plate fin 41 is placed so as to cross each heat transfer pipe 42. A pipe plate is provided at the two respective opening ends of the heat exchanger 4, and the respective pipe plates are linked through a predetermined partitioning plate 12.
The top plate 32 of the main body casing 3, the respective pipe plates, the partitioning plate 12 and the switch box 13, which is attached on the lower surface of the bell mouth 6, are all formed of a plate metal product. In addition, the top plate 32 and the switch box 13 are secured at the two ends, upper and lower, of the partitioning plate 12 with screws.
A recess 14 for accommodating the switch box 13 is created on one side of the above described bell mouth 6, and the switch box 13 is engaged in the recess 14.
A pair of attachment pieces 19, which are portions linked at the lower end of the respective pipe plates are formed integrally with the partitioning plate 12 at the lower end of the partitioning plate 12. The respective attachment pieces 19 are secured to the pipe plates with screws from beneath.
The air conditioner further has a drain hose connecting opening 21 which runs out from the building, a drain pump 22, which is placed in a drain pump accommodating portion 24, and a float switch 23. The drain pump accommodating portion 24 is partitioned by a partitioning plate 13a. The switch box 13 is covered with a lid cover.
(Structure for Installing Drain Pan and Antibacterial Member)
The above described drain pan 8 is formed as shown in
In addition, an antibacterial member 50 is installed within the second trench 82 in an upright state. This antibacterial member 50 has an antibacterial agent 50B (see
This antibacterial member 50 is formed of a container main body 50A in cylindrical form which extends over a predetermined length L3 in the up-down direction and an antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form which is contained in such a state that the container main body 50A is approximately filled to the fullest, as shown in
The antibacterial agent 50B has such properties as to dissolve in water, and thus, dissolves in accordance with the amount of drain water (immersed amount) in the first and second trenches 81 and 82 of the above described drain pan 8 so as to elute out through the pores in the walls of the container main body 50A and pasteurize the drain water.
In the case where such bacteriostatic effects are gained, as described above, the antibacterial agent 50B has the minimum concentration required for gaining effective bacteriostatic effects. This minimum concentration differs depending on the type of antibacterial agent 50B used. Therefore, the initial amount (immersed amount) of the antibacterial agent is usually determined in such a manner that the above described minimum concentration can be ensured under the worst conditions within the range of conditions for use (conditions which make the concentration of the eluted antibacterial agent the lowest), and in addition, stable, effective bacteriostatic effects can be gained over years of use (N years), as shown in
When all of the antibacterial agent of the amount determined in this manner is used in such a state as to be immersed in drain water, as in the prior art (
In addition, though in the case where the period of use is short, only just the sufficient amount of antibacterial agent for ensuring the minimum concentration is required, it is necessary to increase the amount of antibacterial agent by such an amount that bacteriostatic effects can be gained over a long period of time (for example several years to a dozen or so years). At this time, the initial concentration of the antibacterial agent in drain water is much greater than the minimum concentration required, and therefore, the antibacterial agent is consumed in a wasteful manner.
In the configuration according to the present embodiment, however, the antibacterial member 50 having the predetermined length L3 is formed in the drain pan 8 in the air conditioner, as described above. Furthermore, the lower end portion 50a of the antibacterial member 50 is submerged in drain water when the drain water is at the minimum water level L1, and the upper end portion 50c of the antibacterial member 50 is higher than the maximum water level L2 of the drain water by a predetermined length H or more.
In this configuration, even when the antibacterial agent 50B which is submerged in drain water is eluted (dissolves) in the drain water and gradually depletes in the lower end portion 50a of the antibacterial member 50 in the initial state shown in
Accordingly, when the predetermined length H is set to an appropriate length in accordance with the years of use, taking the amount of depletion into consideration in accordance with the water level, as shown in
In particular, according to the present embodiment, the above described antibacterial member 50 is formed of a container main body 50A having a number of pores and an antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form which is contained in the container main body 50A, as shown in
Accordingly, the antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form is eluted out through the number of the pores in the container main body 50A, and in addition, the lower end portion 50a from which the antibacterial agent 50B has been eluted out is supplied from above with a new antibacterial agent 50B, which moves down smoothly as a result of gravity.
As a result of this, in the configuration according to the present embodiment, the antibacterial agent 50 can be prevented from depleting in a wasteful manner, and the life can be prolonged to the maximum with the antibacterial agent maintaining a constant and stable concentration, so as to work effectively, unlike conventional cases, where the entirety of the antibacterial member 50 is immersed.
That is to say, in this configuration, a necessary amount of the antibacterial agent 50B is eluted at necessary times, so that the concentration of the antibacterial agent 50B is always kept constant in the drain water, and stable, efficient bacteriostatic effects can be sustained over a long period of time.
A first modification is the same as the above described first embodiment, except that the form of the antibacterial member 50 is changed to a flat cylindrical form, as shown in
In addition, in this configuration, the antibacterial member 50 can be easily installed, even in the case where the width of the second trench 82 in the drain pan 8 is small.
Furthermore, in this configuration, it is appropriate for the container main body 50A to be formed of, for example, a mesh member (made of a synthetic resin) having flexibility. In the case where the container main body 50A is formed of a mesh member, as shown in
A second modification is the same as the above described first embodiment, except that the above described antibacterial member 50 is formed so as to be in columnar form by uniformly kneading the antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form into a synthetic resin material 50D, which is an antibacterial agent holding material having water solubility, as shown in
In the case of this configuration, as the synthetic resin material 50D and the antibacterial agent 50B, which are located in the lower end portion of the antibacterial member, 50 dissolve, the antibacterial member 50 becomes shorter. The antibacterial member 50 is simply held by holding means in one form or another in such a manner that it can slide down from above, and thus, it is possible for stable antibacterial effects to be sustained over a long period of time, with the antibacterial agent maintaining a constant concentration, in approximately the same manner as in the above described case.
This embodiment is characterized in that the above described antibacterial member 50 is sandwiched between the respective plate fins 41 of the heat exchanger 4 so as to be secured in the space between these, and thus, the antibacterial member 50 is installed in the second trench 82 of the drain pan 8. The other parts of the configuration are all the same as in the first embodiment. In this configuration also, exactly the same advantages as in the first embodiment can be gained. In addition, in this case, no special attachment member or attachment structure is required, and thus, the cost is low.
This embodiment is characterized in that the antibacterial member 50 according to the first embodiment is secured to a heat transfer pipe 42 which is located on the outer periphery side in each plate fin 41 of the heat exchanger 4 using an engaging member 52, and thus, the antibacterial member 50 is installed in the second trench 82 of the drain pan 8. The other parts of the configuration are all the same as in the first embodiment. In this configuration also, exactly the same advantages as in the case of the first embodiment can be gained.
In this case, the engaging member 52 is formed of a ring 52a which is in cylindrical form and extends in the up-down direction, and is in C shape with an opening facing the plate fin 41, and a pair of engaging pieces 52b and 52c which extend toward the plate fin 41 from the side wall of the ring 52a, as shown in
In the configurations according to the second and third embodiments, the antibacterial member 50 is installed in such a state as to make contact with each plate fin 41 of the heat exchanger 4, and therefore, the amount of draft between the respective plate fins 41 is reduced.
Therefore, the fourth embodiment is characterized in that the antibacterial member 50 according to the first embodiment is installed in such a state as to be in the vicinity of the side wall 8a, which is located on the outer peripheral side of the drain pan 8, using an engaging member 51, as shown in
In this configuration, the engaging piece 51a of the hook 51b is engaged with the side wall 8a of the drain pan 8 in a simple manner, and thus, the antibacterial member 50 can be installed, and therefore, installation and replacement of the antibacterial member 50 are easy.
This embodiment is characterized in that the antibacterial member 50 is provided in a portion where the drain pump 22 is installed. This portion for installation is generally designated as maintenance space, and the antibacterial member 50 is easily subjected to appropriate vibration (microscopic vibration).
As shown in
In the case of this embodiment, as shown in
In this configuration, installation of the antibacterial member 50 allows the same advantages as in the respective embodiments to be gained, and microscopic vibration when the drain pump 22 is driven makes it possible for new antibacterial agent 50B to be smoothly supplied from above into the space created as a result of depletion of the antibacterial agent 50B in the lower end portion 50a, and thus, more stable supply of the antibacterial agent 50B is possible.
In general, the above described antibacterial agent in granular form or pellet form is placed at random, and therefore, some means for smoothly supplying the antibacterial agent 50B into the above described space from above is necessary. In this embodiment, this means has excellent effects.
Furthermore, the portion where the drain pump 22 is installed is originally designated as maintenance space, and therefore, replacement of the antibacterial member 50 after years of use is easy.
Though in the examples in the above description, the present invention is applied to a ceiling embedded air conditioner, the bacteriostatic structure according to the present invention is effective for bacteriostasis for drain water in other types of air conditioners, for example, ceiling suspended air conditioners, wall type air conditioners and window type air conditioners. The air conditioners may or may not have a drain pump in a portion where the drain pan is installed.
A drain up kit having, for example, a drain pan, a drain pump, and a water level controlling mechanism, may be used as the drain pan and drain pump. Such a kit can be installed separately and used independently (in some cases, the electrical system may be linked) of the air conditioner main body 1, and drain water that flows in can be discharged independently. In the case where the range of lift is insufficient with the drain pump mounted in the product, this kit may be used. Even in this case, the drain water bacteriostatic structure according to the present invention is effective.
According to the respective embodiments, any organic antibacterial agent, inorganic antibacterial agent or mixture of these can be selected for use as the antibacterial agent. As organic antibacterial agents, phenols, haloalkyls, iodine compounds, benzimidazoles, thiocarbamates, heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, quinones, isothiazolines, quaternary ammonium salts, cyanates, and anilides, and in addition, compounds of which the main component is trichlorocarbanide, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride and octadecyl dimethyl-3-trimethoxysilyl propyl ammonium may be used.
In addition, as inorganic antibacterial agents, inorganic antibacterial agents of which the main component is an inorganic compound, such as silver, copper, zinc or tin, and inorganic antibacterial agents where any of these antibacterial agents are carried by calcium carbonate, zeolite, kaolin clay, diatomaceous earth, talc, bentonite, ceramics, activated charcoal or apatite may be used.
Inorganic antibacterial agents carried by ceramics, activated charcoal, apatite or the like have advantages, such that the antibacterial properties are excellent, and they are nonvolatile and can be easily kneaded in with a resin. Accordingly, these are appropriate for the antibacterial member 50 according to the above described second modification (
The value of products using the antibacterial agent-containing resin composite containing the synthetic resin material 50D and the antibacterial agent 50B according to the second modification can be increased when an additive, such as a deodorant or a scenting agent is added and mixed in if necessary, within such a scope that the object of the present invention is not deviated from.
In addition, it is also possible to adopt an antibacterial agent in granular form or having a pellet structure which dissolves in water in such a manner that the antibacterial agent having pasteurizing effects is gradually eluted, such as water soluble glass carrying an inorganic antibacterial agent as described above, as the antibacterial agent 50B in granular form or pellet form having such properties as to dissolve in water, as described above.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-360316 | Dec 2004 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2005/022888 | 12/13/2005 | WO | 00 | 5/25/2007 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006/064812 | 6/22/2006 | WO | A |
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| 3990855 | Cort et al. | Nov 1976 | A |
| 4869075 | Ikari et al. | Sep 1989 | A |
| 5514344 | D'Agaro | May 1996 | A |
| 5976364 | Williams | Nov 1999 | A |
| 7392821 | Nakata et al. | Jul 2008 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 63-73039 | Apr 1988 | JP |
| 2-106630 | Apr 1990 | JP |
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| 10-78240 | Mar 1998 | JP |
| 2000-97447 | Apr 2000 | JP |
| 2002-257400 | Sep 2002 | JP |
| 2004-149585 | May 2004 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20110126917 A1 | Jun 2011 | US |
