Patent Grant
7687036
The present invention relates to an ion diffusing apparatus which discharges ions in a wide range.
One example of conventional ion diffusing apparatuses is described in a later-described comparative example 2 (see
In
In order to achieve this problem, there is a method to increase the length of a blowout opening 15 in its widthwise direction and to sent out air current in a wide range.
A later-described comparative example 4 is taken as an example. In an ion diffusing apparatus 110c of the comparative example 4 (see
Patent Publication 1: JP-A 2002-204622
Patent Publication 2: JP-A 2002-206163
In the ion diffusing apparatus 110a, however, a relation between turbulent flow in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus 14 and ion generating efficiency is not taken into consideration. For example, if disturbance such as stagnation and swirl exists in air flowing in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus 14, generated ions stay and prevent new ions from being generated, and the ion generating efficiency is deteriorated.
When there are variation in wind velocity of air current flowing through the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 due to drift generated by a blower 12, the amount of ions generated is reduced at a location where the wind velocity is slow, and the generating ability of the ion generating apparatus 14 is not sufficient at a location where the wind velocity is fast, and the ability of the entire ion generating apparatus 14 can not sufficiently be utilized.
If disturbance such as stagnation and swirl exists in air flowing in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus 14, probability of collision between generated ions is largely increased. When the ion generating apparatus 14 generates substantially the same amounts of plus ions and minus ions, the generated plus ions and minus ions collide against each other to lose the electric charge and thus, the transfer efficiency of ions by the air is deteriorated by the increase of the collision probability.
The ion diffusing apparatuses which disperse ions in the air such as the ion diffusing apparatus 110a are incorporated in many electric home appliances, but the ion diffusing apparatus also have the same problem.
In the ion diffusing apparatus 110c, variation in ion concentration is generated in a direction perpendicular to the flow, the ion concentration is high in the vicinity of the center of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 and is low in the opposite ends of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. Especially when air sent out from the blower 12 is largely unbalanced and the air current flows along left or right wall surface of the wind-blowing path 13, the wind velocity at diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 downstream of the wall surface along which the air flows is high, and the wind velocity at a location other than the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is small. Therefore, the ion concentration at the downstream region where the wind velocity is small is reduced, and since air current having high wind velocity does not pass through the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, the ion generating efficiency is largely deteriorated, and the ion dispersing ability is also deteriorated.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide an ion diffusing apparatus having higher ability by suppressing the disturbance or turbulent flow generated in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus and by enhancing the ion generating efficiency and the ion transfer efficiency. It is another object of the invention to provide an ion diffusing apparatus in which substantially uniform wind velocity and ion concentration can be obtained in any position of the blowout opening of the ion diffusing apparatus.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, the rectifier rectifies air flowing in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus to reduce the disturbance, thereby preventing the ion generating efficiency from being reduced, and reducing the collision probability between the generated ions. When the ion generating apparatus generates substantially the same amounts of plus ions and minus ions, it is possible to prevent the generated plus ions and minus ions from colliding against each other to lose the electric charge and thus, the transfer efficiency of ions can be prevented from being deteriorated. That is, the disturbance is rectified at upstream of the ion generating apparatus, thereby preventing the ion generating efficiency and ion transfer efficiency from being deteriorated.
According to the present invention, the turbulent flow can be rectified by the narrow portion, and air flowing in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus can be rectified to reduce the disturbance. Thus, substantially the same effect as that described above can be realized without using a special device.
In the present invention, a width of the electrical discharging surface in a direction perpendicular to the flow of the ions is defined as w1 and a width of the wind-blowing path opposed to the electrical discharging surface is defined as w2, a relation of 0.7×w1≦w2≦1.3×w1 or, preferably, w2=w1 is established. With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently transfer the ions and to disperse the same.
If the wind-blowing path is divided into a plurality of paths or divided by a wind introducing plate, the aspect ratio of the blowout opening can easily be set to an optimal value without being limited by a size, and ions can be discharged uniformly from the blowout opening, and it is possible to sent uniform ions to a distant place.
The present invention also has a feature in that the aspect ratio of the cross section of the wind-blowing path is gradually changed from the start point to the end point. With this, the attenuation of the wind velocity of the jet stream discharged from the blowout opening can be suppressed by appropriately setting the change of the aspect ratio and thus, the spray travel distance of ions can be elongated and the ions can be transferred in a wide range.
If the enlarging rate of the aspect ratio or the enlarging rate of the cross-sectional area to appropriate values, diffuser effect can be obtained and the sending out ability of ions can be enhanced.
If the aspect ratio AR of the cross section in the end point of the wind-blowing path to 2≦AR≦20 or 5≦AR≦22, preferably, 5≦AR≦20, the attenuation of the wind velocity of the jet stream sent out from the blowout opening can be suppressed, and the spray travel distance of ions can be elongated. Therefore, it is possible to increase the concentration of ions existing at a relatively far place.
It is preferable that the aspect ratio AR of the cross section in the start point of the wind-blowing path is equal to or less than 2.
According to the present invention, by providing the wind direction changing plate in the vicinity of the blowout opening, it is possible to intensively discharge ions sent out from the ions generating apparatus in a desired direction with a simple structure, and to disperse in a wide range.
Further, in the invention, air filter prevents greasy fumes or dust from entering the ions diffusing apparatus, and prevents the ions generating apparatus from being contaminated, and reduction of generating amount of ions with time can be suppressed.
According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the disturbance or drift generated in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus and to enhance the ion generating efficiency and ion transfer efficiency by providing a rectifier or a narrow portion, and it is possible to realize an ion diffusing apparatus having higher ability.
According to the present invention, the wind-blowing path is divided into a plurality of paths or divided by a plurality of wind introducing plates, and the widths of the electrical discharging surface and the wind-blowing path of the ion generating apparatus are optimized. With this, it is possible to realize substantially uniform wind velocity and ion concentration in any position of the blowout opening of the ion diffusing apparatus.
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. To simplify the explanation, the same elements of the invention that are the same as those of the conventional technique are designated by the same symbols, and the same elements in each of the embodiments and comparative examples are also designated by the same symbols.
A first embodiment will be explained.
In the fluid flowing passage 3, upstream portions of the blowout opening 5 comprise enlarged pipe portions 3b. The enlarged pipe portion 3b is designed such that as the fluid flows toward the blowout opening 5, a height of the enlarged pipe portion 3b is gradually reduced and its width is gradually increased, and a cross-sectional area is smoothly increased. In a start point of the fluid flowing passage 3 immediately after the fluid sending apparatus 2, a cross section shape of the enlarged pipe portion 3b is set such that the height is 45 mm, the width is 45 mm, i.e., the aspect ratio AR is 1. In the end of the fluid flowing passage 3, i.e., in the blowout opening 5, the height is set to 10 mm, the width is set to 360 mm, i.e., the aspect ratio AR is 36.
Here, the aspect ratio is a ratio between parameters of lengths which determine the cross section shape, and is a value determined by the aspect ratio AR=(longer parameter)/(shorter parameter). Therefore, in the case of a rectangular cross section, the aspect ratio AR=(long side)/(short side), and in the case of an elliptic cross section, the aspect ratio AR=(long diameter)/(short diameter). For example, in the case of a square cross section, the aspect ratio AR is 1, and in the case of a rectangular cross section in which a ratio between the long side and the short side is 2:1, the aspect ratio AR is 2. In the case of a perfect circular cross section, the aspect ratio AR is 1. Thus, the aspect ratio in the present specification is always 1 or more.
The enlarged pipe portion 3b is provided with a plurality of guiding plates 6 from a portion thereof immediately downstream of the fluid sending apparatus 2 to a slightly upstream portion of the blowout opening 5. The interior of the enlarged pipe portion 3b is divided into a plurality of pieces by the guiding plates 6. In this embodiment, the enlarged pipe portion 3b is divided into four pieces by the three guiding plates 6. Each of the divided fluid flowing passages 3 is designed such that its aspect ratio is increased toward the blowout opening 5, and the aspect ratio AR at the end of the guiding plate 6 close to the blowout opening 5 is set to about 9. The three guiding plates 6 are disposed such that the flow rate distribution in any portions of the blowout opening 5 the longitudinal direction is substantially the same. Therefore, the flow rate distribution in the longitudinal direction immediately after the blowout opening 5 is substantially the same in any portions of the blowout opening 5.
As a using example of the fluid generating apparatus 1a,
A mechanism in which the ability of the fluid generating apparatus 1a of the embodiment is largely enhanced as compared with the fluid generating apparatus 100a of the comparative example 1 will be explained below. The flow rate of the jet stream is attenuated immediately after the fluid is discharged from the blowout opening 5. The spray travel distance of the jet stream has a bearing on the length of the potential core of the jet stream.
In the fluid generating apparatus 1a of this embodiment, the aspect ratio of the blowout opening 5 is optimized to elongate the potential core of the jet stream, thereby suppressing the attenuation of the flow rate. Therefore, the spray travel distance of fluid is largely elongated as compared with the conventional technique (comparative example 1). For example, if the height of the blowout opening 5 is set to a constant value and a lateral width thereof is set to an infinite length, the two dimensional turbulent flow jet stream is obtained as already explained, and the potential core length becomes about 5 to 7 times of the height or diameter of the blowout opening. If the height and the lateral width of the blowout opening are set to the same value (AR=1), the jet stream becomes the same as the axial symmetric turbulent flow jet stream, and the potential core length becomes about 5 to 8 times of the height and the lateral width of the blowout opening. If the aspect ratio of the blowout opening 5 is optimized and the lateral width of the blowout opening 5 is appropriately set with respect to the height of the blowout opening 5, since the potential core length is influenced not only by the height of the blowout opening but also by the lateral width of the blowout opening, the potential core length becomes about 5 to 8 times of the average value of the height and width of the blowout opening, and the length is remarkably elongated as compared with the two dimensional turbulent flow jet stream or the axial symmetric turbulent flow jet stream of the blowout opening having the same height.
In
Therefore, the range of 5≦AR≦20 which satisfies both the range (2≦AR≦20) of the aspect ratio obtained from
That is, if the area of the blowout opening and the flow rate of the blowout opening are the same, i.e., if the flow rates are the same, the potential core length, i.e., the spray travel distance of fluid can be elongated by optimizing the aspect ratio of the blowout opening 5. In other words, when the potential core lengths are the same, i.e., when the spray travel distances of fluid are the same, since the flow rate can be reduced, the electricity to be consumed of the fluid sending apparatus 2 and the noise value can be reduced.
It is preferable that the cross-sectional areas of the end points of the fluid flowing passage 3 and the enlarged pipe portion 3b are set greater as compared with cross-sectional areas of the start points thereof. In this embodiment, the fluid flowing passage 3 and the enlarged pipe portion 3b are designed such that they have functions of diffusers. Therefore, the kinetic energy of fluid can be converted into static pressure, and this can assist the ability of the fluid sending apparatus 2. Thus, the flow rate is increased and the noise is reduced as compared with a case in which all of pressure loss generated when the fluid passes through various portions is applied to the fluid sending apparatus 2.
It is preferable that the aspect ratio of the fluid sending apparatus 2, i.e., the aspect ratio of the start point of the fluid flowing passage 3 is equal to or more than 2, but even when the aspect ratio of the start point of the fluid flowing passage 3 is great, if the aspect ratio of the cross section of the end point of the fluid flowing passage 3 is set to 5≦AR≦20, or the fluid flowing passage 3 is divided by the guiding plates 6 and the aspect ratio of the cross section of the fluid flowing passage 3 at the end of the guiding plate 6 on the side of the blowout opening 5 is set to 5≦AR≦20, the effect close to that described above can be obtained.
A second embodiment will be explained next.
In the second embodiment, the guiding plates 6 of the first embodiment are omitted, and the fluid flowing passage 3 is divided by a plurality of enlarged pipe portions 3b from the downstream portion immediately after the fluid sending apparatus 2. In this embodiment, the fluid flowing passage 3 is divided into two enlarged pipe portions 3b in the lateral direction and two enlarged pipe portions 3b in the vertical direction, i.e., the fluid flowing passage 3 is divided into total four enlarged pipe portions 3b and thus, four blowout openings 5 are provided. The divided fluid flowing passage 3 and their enlarged pipe portions 3b are designed such that the aspect ratios are increased as they approach the blowout opening 5, and the aspect ratio thereof at the position of the blowout opening 5 is set to about 10. Other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment.
The fluid generating apparatus 1b of this embodiment has a different flow rate distribution as compared with that of the first embodiment. That is, the spray travel distance of the jet stream forward of the fluid generating apparatus 1b is slightly shorter, but the transfer region of the jet stream in the vertical direction in a forward space of the fluid generating apparatus 1b can be increased.
The shape of the blowout opening 5 need not have the relation of height<width.
It is preferable that the aspect ratio of the fluid sending apparatus 2, i.e., the aspect ratio of the start point of the fluid flowing passage 3 is equal to or more than 2, but even when the aspect ratio of the start point of the fluid flowing passage 3 is great, if the aspect ratio of the cross section of the end point of the fluid flowing passage 3 is set to 5≦AR≦20, or the fluid flowing passage 3 is divided by the guiding plates 6 and the aspect ratio of the cross section of the fluid flowing passage 3 at the end of the guiding plate 6 on the side of the blowout opening 5 is set to 5≦AR≦20, the effect close to that described above can be obtained.
A third embodiment will be explained next.
Like the other embodiment in the second embodiment, the shape of the blowout opening 5 of a fluid generating apparatus 1d of the third embodiment has the relation of height>width. The fluid flowing passage 3 is divided into seven enlarged pipe portions 3b in the lateral direction and two enlarged pipe portions 3b in the vertical direction, i.e., the fluid flowing passage 3 is divided into total fourteen enlarged pipe portions 3b and thus, fourteen blowout openings 5 are provided. The divided fluid flowing passage 3 and their enlarged pipe portions 3b are designed such that the aspect ratios are increased as they approach the blowout opening 5, and the aspect ratio thereof at the position of the blowout opening 5 (in this case, height of the blowout opening/width of the blowout opening) is set to about 8. Other structures are the same as those of the other embodiment of the second embodiment.
In the fluid generating apparatus 1d, the flow rate distribution is different from the other embodiment of the second embodiment. That is, the spray travel distance of the jet stream forward of the fluid generating apparatus 1b is slightly shorter, the transfer region of the jet stream in the vertical direction in a forward space of the fluid generating apparatus 1d is substantially the same, and the transfer region of the jet stream in the lateral direction is largely increased. That is, it is possible to transfer the jet stream into the region which is wide in the vertical direction and the lateral direction forward of the fluid generating apparatus 1d.
A fourth embodiment will be explained next.
In a fluid generating apparatus 1e of this embodiment, a plurality of blowout direction changing plates 9 which turn in association are added in the vicinity of the blowout opening 5 of the first embodiment. If the direction of the blowout direction changing plates 9 is changed, the blowout direction of the fluid can be changed. Other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.
If the direction of the plurality of blowout direction changing plates 9 is changed around a rotation shaft 9a as shown in
A fifth embodiment will be explained next.
Generally, warm air discharged from the fan heater is; brought upward largely due to a buoyant force as the wind velocity is attenuated and thus, the spray travel distance is shortened. Since the fan heater 10 of this embodiment has the fluid generating apparatus 1b of the second embodiment, the attenuation of the wind velocity is suppressed, and the upward blowing of the warm air is suppressed and thus, the warm air currents along the floor surface. With this, the comfort of the fan heater is largely enhanced, and the amount of wind can be reduced and thus, the noise is small.
As another embodiment of the fifth embodiment, the fluid generating apparatus 1b of the fan heater 10 is changed to the fluid generating apparatus 1a of the first embodiment shown in
As another embodiment of the fifth embodiment, the fluid generating apparatus 1b of the fan heater 10 is changed to the fluid generating apparatus 1c of the other embodiment of the second embodiment shown in
A sixth embodiment will be explained.
The ion diffusing apparatus 11a of this embodiment comprises a blower 12, a wind-blowing path 13, an ion generating apparatus 14 disposed such that its electrical discharging surface 14a faces the wind-blowing path 13, and a control section (not shown). Ions are produced by the operation of the ion generating apparatus 14. The ions are transferred by the operation of the blower 12, flows through the wind-blowing path 13, and are discharged outside from a diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. Arrows in
A door 21 is provided on a front surface of a refrigerator 20a. The door 21 is provided at its upper portion with an outer-side ion blowout opening 22 which is in communication with the wind-blowing path 13 and the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 so that ions are discharged and dispersed outside of the refrigerator. An air filter (not shown) is disposed at an upstream portion of a suction opening of the blower 12 so as to prevent greasy fumes and dust from entering into the ion diffusing apparatus 11a.
The ion generating apparatus 14 can generate ions which become H+(H2O)n and O2−(H2O)m, and can switch between a mode for generating more minus ions than plus ions, a mode for generating more plus ions than minus ions, and a mode for generating the same amounts of minus ions and plus ions in accordance with its using object. Ions generated from the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 are discharged into the wind-blowing path 13, and are discharged out from the refrigerator from the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 and the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 by the operation of the blower 12.
Especially when the same amounts of plus ions (H+(H2O)n or the like) and minus ions (O2−(H2O)m or the like) are to be generated by the ion generating apparatus 14, H+(H2O)n and O2−(H2O)m discharged outside of the refrigerator are agglutinated on surfaces of microorganisms, and surround floating germs such as microorganisms in the air. These ions are concentrated and produced on the surfaces of [.OH] (hydroxyl radical) or H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) which are active species by collision as shown in the following formulae (1) to (3), thereby sterilizing the floating germs.
H+(H2O)n+O2−(H2O)m→.OH+½O2+(n+m)H2O (1)
H+(H2O)n+H+(H2O)n′+O2−(H2O)m+O2−(H2O)m′→2.OH+O2+(n+n′+m+m′)H2O (2)
H+(H2O)n+H+(H2O)n′+O2−(H2O)m+O2−(H2O)m′→H2O2+O2+(n+n′+m+m′)H2O (3)
As described above, by discharging the plus ions and minus ions into a living space outside the refrigerator around the forward area of the refrigerator 20a, suspended bacteria existing in the living space are sterilized, and sanitary living space can be provided, and it is possible to prevent the suspended bacteria from entering into the refrigerator from the outside when the door 21 is opened or closed, and sanitary inside environment of the refrigerator can be obtained.
The wind-blowing path 13 includes a narrow portion 13a and the enlarged pipe portion 13b. In the wind-blowing path 13 extending from the blower 12 toward the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, the narrow portion 13a is provided immediately before the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, and the wind-blowing path 13 which is in communication with the blower 12 has a shape in which a cross-sectional area of the narrow portion 13a is smoothly reduced as it approaches the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14. The disturbance of air flowing in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 can be rectified by the narrow portion 13a, and the deviation of flow, i.e., a so-called deviated flow generated at downstream of the blower 12 can be suppressed.
If the width of the ion generating apparatus 14 in a direction perpendicular to the flow of the electrical discharging surface 14a is defined as w1, and the width of the wind-blowing path 13 facing the electrical discharging surface 14a is defined as w2, they are set such that a relation of w2=w1 is established. Therefore, the ion concentration in the wind-blowing path 13 of the downstream portion of the ion generating apparatus 14 becomes substantially uniform in a plane perpendicular to the flowing direction.
If w2 is set greater than 1.3×w1, it is not preferable because the ion concentration is varied in a direction perpendicular to the flow. Especially when the center of the direction perpendicular to the flow of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 and the center of the wind-blowing path 13 facing the electrical discharging surface 14a are set at the same position, the ion concentration is high in the vicinity of the center of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, and the ion concentration is reduced at the opposite ends. If the electrical discharging surface 14a is deviated toward one side of the wind-blowing path 13, the ion concentration is high only on the one side of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, and the ion concentration becomes low on the other side.
If w2 is set smaller than 0.7×w1, ions discharged from the electrical discharging surface 14a do not go with air current and thus, it is not efficiency. Thus, if w2 is set such that the relation of 0.7×w1≦w2≦1.3×w1, preferably w2=w1 is satisfied, it is possible to efficiently transfer and disperse the ions.
The enlarged pipe portion 13b extends from the ion generating apparatus 14 to the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. A cross-sectional area of the enlarged pipe portion 13b is smoothly increased from the ion generating apparatus 14 toward the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. The cross section shape of the enlarged pipe portion 13b immediately after the ion generating apparatus 14 has 10 mm in height and 30 mm in width, i.e., the aspect ratio is 3, and at the end point of the enlarged pipe portion 13b, i.e., at the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, the cross section shape has 8 mm in height and 450 mm in width, i.e., the aspect ratio AR is 56.
The enlarged pipe portion 13b is provided with a plurality of wind introducing plates 16 extending from downstream portion of the ion generating apparatus 14 toward the upstream portion of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. The interior of the enlarged pipe portion 13b is divided into a plurality of pieces by the wind introducing plates 16. In this embodiment, the enlarged pipe portion 13b is divided into seven pieces by six wind introducing plates 16. Each of the divided wind-blowing paths 13 has an aspect ratio which is increased toward the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, and the aspect ratio at the end of the wind introducing plate 16 closer to the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is set to about 8. The six wind introducing plates 16 are designed such that the wind velocity distribution in the longitudinal direction at the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is substantially the same in any portion thereof. Thus, the ion concentration of the downstream portion of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 becomes substantially uniform in a plane perpendicular to the direction of flow.
The enlarged pipe portion 13b is inclined downward as approaching the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. That is, ions are sent out downward with respect to the horizontal plane from the outer-side ion blowout opening 22. In this embodiment, since the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 is disposed at the height of about 1700 mm from the floor surface, it is possible to efficiently disperse the ions into a space outside the refrigerator by sending out the ions downward with respect to the horizontal plane. Microorganisms such as suspended bacteria existing in the space around the refrigerator fall with time by gravity and are accumulated on a lower portion of the space. Therefore, if the ions are sent out downward with respect to the horizontal plane, the microorganisms can efficiently be sterilized. Especially in this embodiment, ions can effectively be dispersed at a position of 1300 mm to 1500 mm in height from the floor surface and thus, it is possible to effectively prevent a user from inhaling the microorganisms such as virus.
When the plus ions concentration is 2000 ions/cm3 or more and the minus ions concentration is 2000 ions/cm3 or more, the sterilizing effect is confirmed.
It is apparent from comparison with an ion diffusing apparatus 110a of a later-described comparative example 2 that ions discharged from the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 reach the ends of the room as shown in
A mechanism in which the ion dispersing ability of the ion diffusing apparatus 11a of the embodiment was remarkably enhanced as compared with the ion diffusing apparatus 110a of the comparative example 2 will be explained below. Firstly, the enlarged pipe portion 13b is designed to have a function of a diffuser. Therefore, the enlarged pipe portion 13b can convert the kinetic energy of the air current into static pressure and thus, the enlarged pipe portion 13b can assist the wind blowing ability of the blower 12. For this reason, the wind blowing amount is increased and the blower noise is reduced as compared with a case in which all of pressure loss generated in the air filter (not shown), the narrow portion 13a and other wind-blowing paths 13 are applied to the blower 12. Therefore, since the ions are transferred by a large amount of air current as compared with the comparative example 2, the dispersing efficiency is largely enhanced. The wind amount of the ion diffusing apparatus 11a is about twice as large as that of the comparative example 2, and the noise value at 1 m forward position of the refrigerator 29a at that time is also 22 dB like the comparative example 2.
Secondly, the narrow portion 13a rectifies the disturbance of air flowing in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, and suppresses the deviation of flow, i.e., so-called drift generated at the downstream portion of the blower 12. Thus, the disturbance of the air current is largely suppressed as compared with the comparative example 2. When ions collide against the wall surface or other obstacle, the ions lose the electric charge. When the ion generating apparatus 14 generates substantially the same amounts of plus ions and minus ions, the plus ions and minus ions collide against each other and the ions disappear. That is, if the air current is disturbed, the amount of ions to be disappeared is increased by the collision between the obstacle and ions and/or between the ions. If the air current is rectified, the amount of ions to be disappeared caused by the collision between the obstacle and ions and/or between the ions is reduced and thus, the lifetime of ion is elongated. The ion concentration is attenuated to 1/e within about three seconds in the comparative example 2, but in this embodiment, about five seconds are required until the ion concentration is attenuated to 1/e.
Thirdly, since the disturbance or deviation of air flowing in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 is suppressed, the air flowing in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 becomes uniform. With this, the ion generating efficiency on the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 is increased. That is, a desired amount of ions can be generated with lower voltage or a smaller wind amount, and the noise is reduced.
Fourthly, the positional relation between the wind-blowing path 13 and the ion generating apparatus 14 is set such that the width of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 in the direction perpendicular to the flow and the width of the wind-blowing path 13 facing the electrical discharging surface 14a are equal to each other. With this, the variation of the ion concentration in the direction perpendicular to the flow is suppressed, the ion concentration in the wind-blowing path 13 of the downstream portion of the ion generating apparatus 14 becomes substantially uniform in a plane perpendicular to the flowing direction, and the ions can efficiently be brought into the air current. Thus, the ions can efficiently be transferred and dispersed.
Fifthly, the attenuation of wind velocity is suppressed by optimizing the aspect ratio of the blowout opening and by elongating the potential core of jet stream. Thus, the spray travel distance of air current is remarkably elongated as compared with the comparative example 2. The explanation of the potential core, the mechanism which elongates the spray travel distance of air current caused by elongation of the potential core, and the effect of the mechanism are the same as those of the first embodiment. Thus, the blowout opening area and the blowout opening wind velocity are the same, i.e., if the wind amounts are the same, the potential core length, i.e., the spray travel distance of air current can be elongated by optimizing the aspect ratio of the blowout opening. In other words, if the potential core lengths, i.e., the spray travel distances of air current are the same, since the wind amount can be reduced, the electricity consumption and the noise value of the blower 12 can be reduced.
A seventh embodiment will be explained next.
In the seventh embodiment, the narrow portion 13a of the sixth embodiment is omitted, and a rectifier 17 is provided in the wind-blowing path 13 upstream of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14. With this structure, the disturbance of air flowing in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 can be rectified. Therefore, the effect of the narrow portion 13a in the sixth embodiment can be obtained, the pressure loss generated in the narrow portion 13a of the sixth embodiment can be eliminated, and the pressure loss generated in the wind-blowing path 13 can be reduced. Thus, the wind amount of the blower 12 can be increased and/or the noise of the blower 12 can be reduced. The wind introducing plate 16 of the enlarged pipe portion 13b is omitted, and the wind-blowing path 13 is divided into a plurality of enlarged pipe portions 13b from the downstream portion immediately after the ion generating apparatus 14. In this embodiment, the wind-blowing path 13 is divided into five enlarged pipe portions 13b in the lateral direction and three enlarged pipe portions 13b in the vertical direction, i.e., the fluid flowing passage 3 is divided into total fifteen enlarged pipe portions 13b and thus, fifteen diffusing apparatus blowout openings 15 are provided. The divided wind-blowing paths 3 and their enlarged pipe portions 13b are designed such that the aspect ratios are increased as they approach the blowout opening 5, and the aspect ratio thereof at the position of the blowout opening 5 is set to about 8.
Other structures are the same as those of the other embodiment of the sixth embodiment. Like the sixth embodiment, the wind-blowing path 13 and the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 are in communication with the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 provided in the upper portion of the door 21 disposed on the front surface of the refrigerator 20a so that ions are discharged and dispersed outside the refrigerator.
In the seventh embodiment, the distribution of ions is different from that of the sixth embodiment. That is, the wind amount is increased due to the reduction in pressure loss of the wind-blowing path 13. Thus, the forward dispersing distance of ions of the refrigerator is slightly increased, the ion concentration in the vertical direction in the forward space of the refrigerator becomes more uniform, and the ion concentration at a front and lower portion of the refrigerator can be increased.
The shapes of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 and the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 are not limited to the relation of height<width.
An eighth embodiment will be explained next.
In the eighth embodiment, the wind-blowing path 13 and the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 of the seventh embodiment are formed in the same manner as the fluid flowing passage 3 and the blowout opening 5 of the fluid generating apparatus 1d of the third embodiment. Therefore, the shape of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 has the relation of height>width, and the wind-blowing path 13 is divided into seven enlarged pipe portions 13b in the lateral direction and two enlarged pipe portions 13b in the vertical direction, i.e., the wind-blowing path 13 is divided into total fourteen enlarged pipe portions 13b and thus, fourteen diffusing apparatus blowout openings 15 are provided. The divided wind-blowing paths 3 and their enlarged pipe portions 13b are designed such that the aspect ratios are increased as they approach the blowout opening 5, and the aspect ratio thereof at the position of the blowout opening 5 (in this case, height of the blowout opening/width of the blowout opening) is set to about 8.
Other structures are the same as those of the other embodiment of the seventh embodiment. Like the seventh embodiment, the wind-blowing path 13 and the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 are in communication with the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 provided in the upper portion of the door 21 disposed on the front surface of the refrigerator 20 so that ions are discharged and dispersed outside the refrigerator.
The distribution of ions of the seventh embodiment is different from that of the sixth embodiment. That is, the dispersion distance of ions forward of the refrigerator and the dispersion region of ions in the lateral direction in the forward space of the refrigerator are slightly reduced, but the dispersion region of ions in the vertical direction in the forward space of the refrigerator is remarkably increased, the ion concentration in the vertical direction becomes more uniform, and the ion concentration of the front and lower portion of the refrigerator can be increased. That is, it is possible to disperse ions to a region which is wide in the vertical direction and the lateral direction forward of the ion diffusing apparatus 11c.
A ninth embodiment will be explained next.
In the ninth embodiment, the rectifier 17 of the seventh embodiment is omitted, the disposition of the ion generating apparatus 14 is different, and the shape of the wind-blowing path 13 in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus 14 and the air flow are different. The electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 is located at a position where the wind flow sent out from the blower 12 is hindered. Air sent out from the blower 12 collides against the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, the air includes ions generated from the electrical discharging surface 14a, and flows out toward the wind-blowing path 13 from a side of the ion generating apparatus 14, thereby obtaining the rectifying effect. Other structures are the same as those of the seventh embodiment.
In the ion diffusing apparatus 11d of this embodiment, when the air sent out from the blower 12 collides against the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, drift is suppressed. Therefore, although the rectifier 17 is omitted, substantially the same effect as that of the seventh embodiment can be obtained and thus, this embodiment is advantageous in terms of costs.
A tenth embodiment will be explained next.
In the tenth embodiment, the rectifier 17 of the seventh embodiment is omitted, the disposition of the ion generating apparatus 14 is different, and the shape of the wind-blowing path 13 in the vicinity of the ion generating apparatus 14 and the air flow are different. The electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 is located at a position where the wind flow sent out from the blower 12 is hindered. Air sent out from the blower 12 collides against the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, the air includes ions generated from the electrical discharging surface 14a, and flows out toward the wind-blowing path 13 from upper and lower sides of the ion generating apparatus 14, thereby obtaining the rectifying effect. Other structures are the same as those of the seventh embodiment.
In the ion diffusing apparatus 11e of this embodiment, when the air sent out from the blower 12 collides against the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, drift is suppressed. Therefore, although the rectifier 17 is omitted, substantially the same effect as that of the seventh embodiment can be obtained and thus, this embodiment is advantageous in terms of costs.
An eleventh embodiment will be explained next.
In an ion diffusing apparatus 11f of the eleventh embodiment, a plurality of wind direction changing plates 19 which rotate in association are added in the vicinity of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 of the sixth embodiment. By changing the direction of the wind direction changing plates 19, the blowout direction of ions can be changed. Other structures are the same as those of the sixth embodiment.
In this embodiment, since the directions of the wind direction changing plates 19 can be changed around the rotation shaft 19a as shown in
A twelfth embodiment will be explained next.
In an ion diffusing apparatus 11g of this embodiment, the wind introducing plate 16 of the sixth embodiment is omitted, and the wind direction changing unit 19b is added to the enlarged pipe portion 13b. The wind direction changing plates 19 is integrally molded with three plate members having functions of the wind introducing plates, and the wind direction changing plate 19 can turn around the rotation shaft 19a. By changing the direction of the wind direction changing unit 19b, the blowout direction of ions can be changed. Other structures are the same as those in the sixth embodiment.
In this embodiment, by changing the turning angle of the wind direction changing unit 19b as shown in
In this embodiment, the number of movable portions is smaller than that of the ion diffusing apparatus 11f of the eleventh embodiment and thus, the number of parts can be reduced. Therefore, this embodiment is advantageous in terms of costs and reliability.
A thirteenth embodiment will be explained next.
In an ion diffusing apparatus 11h of this embodiment, the blower 12 in the sixth embodiment is omitted, an upcurrent flowing passage 13c which is a portion of the wind-blowing path 13 is disposed such as to cover a radiating section 23 which is disposed on a back surface and/or side surface of a body of the refrigerator 20b. Other structures are the same as those of the sixth embodiment.
If the refrigerator 20b of this embodiment is operated, heat is dissipated from a compressor 24 of the refrigerator 20b and heat is dissipated from the radiating section 23 which is disposed on the back surface and/or side surface of the body of the refrigerator 20b and discharges heat of a heat exchanger (not shown) to outside of the refrigerator. Due to the heat, upcurrent 25 is generated in the upcurrent flowing passage 13c, and the air flows upward to the upper portion of the refrigerator 20b as shown in
In this embodiment, the blower 12 can be omitted, the blowing noise generated from the blower 12 can be eliminated and thus, the noise can be reduced remarkably. The upward flow of the upcurrent may be assisted by a cycle blower (not shown) which is generally provided in the vicinity of the compressor 24. Even if the ion generating apparatus 14 which generates ion flow is used in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a and ion wind generated by the ion generating apparatus 14 blows air, the same effect as described above can also be obtained.
A fourteenth embodiment will be explained next.
The height of the wind-blowing path of the narrow portion 13a is gradually reduced and the width of the wind-blowing path is gradually increased and the cross-sectional area is gently reduced. The enlarged pipe portion 13b extends from the narrow portion 13a to the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. A cross-sectional area of the enlarged pipe portion 13b is smoothly increased toward the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. More specifically, at the position of the end point of the narrow portion 13a, the height is 12 mm, the width is 30 mm, i.e., the aspect ratio AR is 2.5, at the position of the end point of the narrow portion 13a, the height is 8 mm, the width is 40 mm, i.e., the aspect ratio AR is 5, and at the end point of the enlarged pipe portion 13b, i.e., at the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, the height is 8 mm, the width is 450 mm, i.e., the aspect ratio AR is 56.
The enlarged pipe portion 13b is provided with a plurality of wind introducing plates 16 extending from downstream portion of the narrow portion 13a toward the upstream portion of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. The interior of the enlarged pipe portion 13b is divided into a plurality of pieces by the wind introducing plates 16. In this embodiment, the enlarged pipe portion 13b is divided into seven pieces by six wind introducing plates 16. Each of the divided wind-blowing paths 3 has an aspect ratio which is increased toward the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, and the aspect ratio at the end of the wind introducing plate 16 closer to the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is set to about 8. The six wind introducing plates 16 are designed such that the wind velocity distribution in the longitudinal direction at the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is substantially the same in any portion thereof. Thus, the ion concentration of the downstream portion of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 becomes substantially uniform in a plane perpendicular to the direction of flow.
In the blower system, a microparticle generating apparatus which generates desired microparticles is disposed. It is preferable that the microparticle generating apparatus is disposed at the position A or B shown in
Examples of the microparticles are particles having electric charge such as plus ions, minus ions and cluster; various active molecules such as radical, atoms, oxygen molecules, water molecules (water vapor); microparticle, aromatic component and medicinal having a sterilizing function; air from which pollen, dust and the like are removed by an air cleaner, and microparticles which are dispersed in the air to exhibit a function.
According to this embodiment, like the sixth embodiment, it is possible to disperse the microparticles to a wide range. A rectifier or a rectifying section may be provided instead of the narrow portion 13a. Even if the wind-blowing path 13 is divided and the aspect ratio of the terminal end of the wind-blowing path 13, i.e., the diffusing apparatus blowout openings 15 is set to about 8 instead of using the wind introducing plate 16, the same effect can be obtained.
Another embodiment of the fourteenth embodiment will be explained next.
In the refrigerator of this invention, the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 may be provided on a ceiling of the refrigerator. According to this structure, it is possible to disperse the microparticles having the sterilizing function to further location, and a space where microparticles such as suspended bacteria existing in a space around the refrigerator can be increased. Therefore, suspended bacteria are prevented from coming into the refrigerator from outside when its door is opened and closed, and sanitary inside environment is realized.
Although the embodiments have been explained above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the invention may be modified within a range not departing from the subject matter of the invention. Even if the ion diffusing apparatus and the microparticle diffusing apparatus are applied to other devices other than the refrigerator, the same effect can be obtained.
A comparative example to be compared with the first embodiment will be explained.
It is also found that the fluid generating apparatus 100a of the comparative example 1 has a problem that it is not suitable for transferring fluid to a wide range. Generally, the shape of the blowout opening of the fluid generating apparatus using the conventional technique has a low aspect ratio in many cases. A jet stream sent out from such a blowout opening is less prone to spread widely, and even if the jet stream spreads widely, the flow rate is largely reduced.
A comparative example 2 to be compared with the sixth embodiment will be explained.
The ion diffusing apparatus 110a of the comparative example 2 comprises the blower 12, the wind-blowing path 13, the ion generating apparatus 14 having the electrical discharging surface 14a which faces the wind-blowing path 13, and the control section (not shown). Ions generated by the operation of the ion generating apparatus 14 is transferred by the operation of the blower 12, passes through the wind-blowing path 13, and is discharged out from the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. Arrows in
The ion generating apparatus 14 can generate ions which become H+(H2O)n and O2−(H2O)m. Ions generated from the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 are discharged into the wind-blowing path 13, and sent outside of the refrigerator from the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 and the outer-side ion blowout opening 22 by the operation of the blower 12.
By discharging the plus ions and minus ions into a living space outside the refrigerator around the forward area of the refrigerator 200, suspended bacteria existing in the living space are sterilized, and sanitary living space can be provided, and it is possible to prevent the suspended bacteria from entering into the refrigerator from the outside when the door 21 is opened or closed, and sanitary inside environment of the refrigerator can be obtained.
According to
In order to increase the region having high concentration, the rotation number of the blower 12 of the ion diffusing apparatus 110a should be increased, but this method has a problem that the blowing noise is largely increased. In order to increase the region having high concentration, the generating amount of microparticles of the microparticle generating apparatus should be increased. In this case, however, there is a problem that it is necessary to largely increase the voltage to be applied to the ion generating apparatus 14, the ion generating noise is increased, and the amount of ozone exploded when the ions are generated.
Although the ion diffusing apparatus 110a and/or the ion generating apparatus 14 of the comparative example 2 are used in many electric home appliances, this also has a problem that the dispersing ability of microparticles is low.
A comparative example 3 to be compared with the sixth embodiment will be explained.
In the ion diffusing apparatus 110b of the comparative example 3, the narrow portion 13a of the sixth embodiment is omitted. Therefore, although the pressure loss of the wind-blowing path 3 is reduced, the disturbance of air flowing in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 can not be rectified, and deviation of flow, i.e., so-called drift generated downstream of the blower 12 can not be suppressed. That is, the probability of collision between the ions caused by the disturbance of the air current is increased and thus, the amount of ions which disappear is increased, and the lifetime of ion is shortened. The air flowing in the vicinity of the electrical discharging surface 14a is not uniform due to the disturbance or deviation of the air current, and the generating rate of ions above the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 is lowered. That is, higher voltage or greater amount of wind is required to secure the desired ion generating amount, and the noise is increased. The deviated air current includes ions and flows through the enlarged pipe portion 13b, and is sent out from the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. Therefore, deviation is generated also in the wind velocity distribution in the longitudinal direction of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15. Thus, deviation of the ion concentration of the downstream portion of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is generated on the plane which is perpendicular to the flowing direction, and the dispersing ability of ion is deteriorated.
A comparative example 4 to be compared with the sixth embodiment will be explained.
In the ion diffusing apparatus 110c of the comparative example 4, the shapes and disposition of the electrical discharging surface 14a and the wind-blowing path 13 near the electrical discharging surface 14a are different from those of the ion diffusing apparatus 11a of the sixth embodiment. If the width of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 in a direction perpendicular to the flowing direction is defined as w1 and the width of the wind-blowing path 13 facing the electrical discharging surface 14a is defined as w2, w2 is set to 2×w1. A center of the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14 in a direction perpendicular to the flowing direction and the center of the wind-blowing path 13 facing the electrical discharging surface 14a coincide with each other. Therefore, variation is generated in the ion concentration in the direction perpendicular to the flowing direction, the ion concentration is high in the vicinity of the center of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15, and the ion concentration at the opposite ends is low. Especially when the deviation in air sent out from the blower 12 is large and air current flows along left or right wall surface of the wind-blowing path 13, the wind velocity of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 downstream of the wall surface along which the air current flows is great, and wind velocity at location other than the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is small. Therefore, the ion concentration at the downstream region where the wind velocity is small is reduced, and since air current having high wind velocity does not pass through the electrical discharging surface 14a of the ion generating apparatus 14, the ion generating efficiency is largely deteriorated, and the ion dispersing ability is also deteriorated.
A comparative example 5 to be compared with the sixth embodiment will be explained.
In the ion diffusing apparatus 110d of the comparative example 5, the wind introducing plate 16 of the ion diffusing apparatus 11a of the sixth embodiment is omitted. Thus, the air current is separated from the left and right wall surfaces of the enlarged pipe portion 13b, and diffuser effect can not be obtained, a swirl region is generated in the region C shown in
A comparative example 6 to be compared with the sixth embodiment will be explained.
In the ion diffusing apparatus 110e of the comparative example 6, the position of the ion generating apparatus of the comparative example 3 is changed. That is, in the comparative example 3, the longitudinal direction of the ion generating apparatus 14 is perpendicular to the flowing direction of the air current. In the comparative example 6, the longitudinal direction of the ion generating apparatus 14 is in parallel to the flowing direction of the air current, and is disposed on the right side wall of the enlarged pipe portion 13b. Therefore, in addition to the inconvenience of the comparative example 3, there is also another convenience that the concentration of ion sent out from the right side of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 located downstream of the right side wall of the enlarged pipe portion 13b where the ion generating apparatus 14 is disposed is high, and the concentration of ion sent out from the left side and the center of the diffusing apparatus blowout opening 15 is low. That is, ions are not laterally dispersed in a wide range, and distributed to only in one direction (right direction), and the ion dispersing ability is deteriorated.
The ion diffusing apparatus of this invention can effectively utilized as a diffusing apparatus of cluster ions having a sterilizing function, and can be incorporated in various electric home appliances such as a refrigerator.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-316008 | Sep 2003 | JP | national |
| 2003-316024 | Sep 2003 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2004/009957 | 7/13/2004 | WO | 00 | 2/24/2006 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2005/026633 | 3/24/2005 | WO | A |
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| 20060285269 A1 | Dec 2006 | US |
