Patent Grant
12044435
The present disclosure relates to a liquid-retaining device for a humidifying apparatus.
In a humidifying apparatus or air purifier, a water-retaining container to accommodate water is provided in order to humidify air. Water-retaining containers that are detachable for purposes of water supply are known (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-55682).
When a detachable water-retaining container was removed in order to supply water, there was a possibility that water could spill from the water-retaining container. For example, inside an aircraft or in another such environment, vibration is constantly generated while the aircraft is moving, and there are cases where it is impossible to maintain a horizontal state during takeoff and landing. Therefore, water inside the water-retaining container would undulate or leap upward, whereby it was possible for the water to leak out from the water-retaining container and there was a risk of electrical leakage, short-circuiting, etc., in surrounding electronic equipment.
The present disclosure provides a liquid-retaining device that is effective in preventing liquid leakage, and a humidifying apparatus equipped with the liquid-retaining device.
The liquid-retaining device according to the present disclosure comprises a device body capable of accommodating a liquid, a first ventilation part, a second ventilation part, a partition part, and a humidifying filter. The first ventilation part includes a first hole passing through a wall surface of the device body, the first hole configured to introduce air. The second ventilation part includes a second hole passing through the wall surface of the device body, the second hole configured to lead out the air. The partition part divides an interior of the device body into a first region and a second region, the first region being a region for accommodating the liquid, the second region being a region to form an air flow path between the first ventilation part and the second ventilation part. The humidifying filter is arranged so as to extend from the first region to the second region.
The humidifying apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises the liquid-retaining device, a body part to which the liquid-retaining device can be attached, an airflow generator that is arranged in the body part, the airflow generator configured to generate an airflow passing through the air flow path, and a discharge opening that is arranged in the body part, the discharge opening configured to discharge humidified air through the air flow path.
Embodiments are described in detail below with reference to appropriate drawings. Detailed description may be omitted where such description is unnecessary. For example, detailed description of matters that are already well known, or repeated descriptions for configurations that are substantially identical, may be omitted.
The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided in order for a person skilled in the art to sufficiently understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to thereby limit the subject matters disclosed in the claims.
In the following description, a Z-axis direction is described as a vertical direction, with a positive side of a Z axis being upward and a negative side of the Z axis being downward, for purposes of convenience; however, the Z-axis direction is not limited thereto because modes for attaching an electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 are varied. Unless otherwise noted, the negative direction of the Z axis may also not denote a direction of gravity.
In the following embodiments, electrostatic atomization in an electrostatic atomization apparatus, which is one example of a humidifying apparatus, involves cooling a water application electrode and causing moisture in air to condense on the water application electrode, thereby generating charged particulate water. An electrode-cooling-type electrostatic atomization method not requiring a direct supply of water is used for the water application electrode.
As shown in
The body part 1a is a casing and accommodates the water-retaining container 10, the first air flow path 210, the second air flow path 220, the electrostatic atomization part 70, the controller 80, and the fan 90.
The water-retaining container 10 (one example of a liquid-retaining device) has a container body 10a to retain water. The water-retaining container 10 has a first ventilation hole 11 and a second ventilation hole 12 in an upper surface (Z-axis-positive-direction-side surface) of the container body 10a. The first ventilation hole 11 (one example of a first ventilation part) forms a path for taking air before being humidified into the container body 10a. The second ventilation hole 12 (one example of a second ventilation part) forms a path for sending humidified air out from the container body 10a to the electrostatic atomization part 70. In the present embodiment, the ventilation holes 11, 12 are positioned in an upper part 101 of the container body 10a so that water W inside the container body 10a does not spill. The ventilation holes 11, 12 are also formed in a sufficiently small size so that the water W inside the container body 10a does not spill. For example, the ventilation holes 11, 12 are 0.1 to 2 cm2 in size. Each of the ventilation holes 11, 12 may optionally be configured from a plurality of small holes.
The upper part 101 of the container body 10a may optionally be a sealable lid. A user can open the upper part 101 of the container body 10a when removing the water-retaining container 10 from the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 and refilling the container body 10a with the water W.
In the present embodiment, the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 are provided in the upper part of the container body 10a so that the water W inside the container does not readily spill; however, this configuration is not essential to achieving the object of the present invention. The ventilation holes 11, 12 may instead be provided in a side surface of the container body 10a, provided that the location is such that the water W does not spill.
The water-retaining container 10 further comprises a humidifying filter 13 inside the container body 10a. The humidifying filter 13 is installed in an upright manner between the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 (midway along an X-axis direction). This disposition enables the humidifying filter 13 to efficiently supply moisture to low-humidity air taken in from the outside and to generate high-humidity air.
The humidifying filter 13 humidifies low-humidity air that has flowed in from the first ventilation hole 11. The humidifying filter 13 is, for example, a corrugated humidifying filter, suctioning moisture held by the container body 10a and holding this moisture. In this state, low-humidity air passes through gaps in the humidifying filter 13, whereby moisture evaporates from a surface inside the humidifying filter 13, the air is humidified, and high-humidity air is generated. The humidifying filter 13 has fire-retardancy and does not readily burn even when fire is present inside an aircraft. The humidifying filter 13 may also optionally have resistance to corrosion. The refilled water W evaporates slowly in the humidifying filter 13, therefore enabling continuous electrostatic atomization during a long flight.
The first air flow path 210 extends from a first end, which is an air intake opening 21a, to a second end 21b connected to the first ventilation hole 11 in the water-retaining container 10. The first air flow path 210 takes in air from the air intake opening 21a in accordance with the flow of an airflow generated by the fan 90, and passes the air to the first ventilation hole 11 in the water-retaining container 10. The air that is taken in is low-humidity air A1 that is insufficient to generate condensation water.
The second air flow path 220 extends from a third end 22a connected to the second ventilation hole 12 in the water-retaining container 10 to a fourth end, which is an air discharge opening 22b (one example of a discharge opening). The second air flow path 220 sends air A2 that has been humidified in the water-retaining container 10 from the second ventilation hole 12 to the electrostatic atomization part 70 in accordance with the flow of the airflow generated by the fan 90. The second air flow path 220 furthermore sends out air A3 that contains charged particulate water generated by the electrostatic atomization part 70 to the discharge opening 22b, and releases the air A3 to the outside.
The duct member 30 (one example of a connection part) is an integrally molded article and has a first duct 31 and a second duct 32, as shown in
The electrostatic atomization part 70 is arranged above the second air flow path 220. The electrostatic atomization part 70 is provided with, for example, a cooling part, a water application electrode, and a counter electrode (none of which are shown), as is well known. A high voltage is applied to the water application electrode and the counter electrode, and the cooling part cools the water application electrode. Condensation thereby occurs on the electrode due to moisture in the high-humidity air A2, and charged particulate water is generated. The air A3 that contains the charged particulate water is released to the outside by the discharge opening 22b.
The controller 80 includes, for example, a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). The controller 80 controls operations of, for example, the electrostatic atomization part 70 and the fan 90 described below in accordance with a program stored in a memory.
The fan 90 (one example of an airflow generator) generates an airflow to cause air to pass from the first air flow path 210 to the second air flow path 220 through the inside of the water-retaining container 10. The air is sent to the intake opening 21a, the first air flow path 210, the water-retaining container 10, the electrostatic atomization part 70, and the discharge opening 22b by the running of the fan 90. The fan 90 is not limited to being arranged at the position shown in
A variety of equipment is mounted in the limited space within an aircraft. It is possible that this mounted equipment includes electronic equipment that would break down due to immersion or submersion or the like in water or adhesion of water droplets. The electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 of the present disclosure is equipment that handles water and requires operations to replenish water periodically occur, and therefore, the water-retaining container 10 has a structure that is detachable from the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1. However, the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 of the present disclosure is installed inside an aircraft, and is therefore exposed to vibrations from various directions during operation. Due to these vibrations, the water-retaining container 10 could accidentally become detached from the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 and cause water leakage.
A container detachment mechanism 50, which is shown in
The container detachment mechanism 50 causes the duct member 30 to move upward and downward relative to the water-retaining container 10, and brings about a state in which the duct member 30 is in pressing contact with the water-retaining container 10 when the water-retaining container 10 is attached to the body part 1a. Specifically, the container detachment mechanism 50 is provided with a spring 51 arranged between the body part 1a and the duct member 30, a protruding part 35 formed in a lower part of the duct member 30, and a recessed part 15 formed in an upper part 101 of the container body 10a, as shown in
Alternatively, the recessed part may be provided to the duct member 30, and the protruding part may be provided on the water-retaining-container 10.
A cushion material 39 is arranged between the duct member 30 and the water-retaining container 10. The cushion material 39 is arranged between the first duct 31 and a periphery of the first ventilation hole 11, and between the second duct 32 and a periphery of the second ventilation hole 12. The cushion material 39 improves close-fitting properties between the water-retaining container 10 and the duct member 30, therefore making it possible to effectively prevent water leakage.
In an electrostatic atomization method performed by the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1, the air A1 taken in from the intake opening 21a passes through the first air flow path 210 and is taken into the water-retaining container 10, in which the water W is accommodated, due to the airflow generated by the fan 90, as shown in
Conventionally, in low-humidity environments such as an interior of aircraft flying through the sky at high altitude, a level of humidity necessary to produce condensation water could not be reached, and the condensation water could not be obtained. Alternatively, there were also cases in which the condensation water would freeze due to strong cooling of a heat-absorbing surface, and the condensation water still could not be obtained. As a result, a problem was presented in that electrostatic atomization could not be performed.
In the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 or the electrostatic atomization method according to Embodiment 1, the low-humidity air A1 taken in from the air intake opening 21a is caused to pass through an interior of the water-retaining container 10 and is humidified, the humidified air A2 is caused to pass through the electrostatic atomization part 70, and air A3 that contains charged particulate water is discharged. Therefore, even when outside air that is taken in has low humidity, humidified air can constantly be sent to the electrostatic atomization part 70. Thus, it is possible to produce the condensation water necessary for electrostatic atomization, and to perform electrostatic atomization even in low-humidity environments.
The electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 comprises the duct member 30 and the container detachment mechanism 50. The duct member 30 has the first duct 31, which is connected to the first ventilation hole 11 and forms a part of the first air flow path 210, and the second duct 32, which is connected to the second ventilation hole 12 and forms a part of the second air flow path 220. The container detachment mechanism 50 brings the duct member 30 into pressing contact with the water-retaining container 10 attached to the body part 1a. Therefore, during the running of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1, it is possible to prevent water leakage from the water-retaining container 10 even when, inter alia, vibration is generated or it is impossible to maintain a horizontal state during takeoff and landing, etc., of the aircraft. In addition, because the duct member 30 is capable of moving upward and downward, it is also easy to attach and detach the water-retaining container 10.
In the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 or the electrostatic atomization method according to Embodiment 1, electrostatic atomization can be performed using moisture in an amount of 100 mL or less for a flight of approximately 24 hours. This is because the insufficiency in the required moisture is refilled from humidity contained in the air. Thus, the amount of moisture used can be less than that in the direct-water-supply-type electrostatic atomization disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4877410.
In the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1, electronic equipment such as the electrostatic atomization part 70, the controller 80, and the fan 90 can be disposed above the water-retaining container 10. This reduces a likelihood that water will enter an interior of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 even if water leakage occurs, making it possible to suppress a risk of electrical leakage, short-circuiting, etc.
In Embodiment 2, a water-retaining container 2 that is attachable and detachable from the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 differs from the water-retaining container 10 in Embodiment 1 by having a partition part 121 to form a wall to partition an interior space of the water-retaining container 2. The water-retaining container 2 is described below, specifically in relation to structures and functions that differ from those of Embodiment 1, with reference to
As shown in
The water-retaining container 2 is provided with a first ventilation hole 11 (one example of a first ventilation part) and a second ventilation hole 12 (one example of a second ventilation part), each of which includes a hole that passes through a wall surface of the upper part 101 of the container body 2a. The first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 are arranged so as to be aligned in an X-axis direction. The first ventilation hole 11 introduces air into the container body 2a. The second ventilation hole 12 leads the air out of the container body 2a.
As shown in
The water-retaining container 2 comprises the humidifying filter 13. The humidifying filter 13 is arranged between the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 inside the airflow passage region 123. The humidifying filter 13 is also arranged so as to extend from the water-retaining region 122 to the airflow passage region 123. A lower part of the humidifying filter 13 is arranged inside the water-retaining region 122, and an upper part of the humidifying filter 13 is arranged in an air flow path inside the airflow passage region 123. The humidifying filter 13 is inserted into the through-hole 121c of the partition part 121 so as to be closely fitted to the side surface part 121a, filling the through-hole 121c without leaving any gap. Water absorbed by the lower part of the humidifying filter 13 in the water-retaining region 122 rises by capillary action. The upper part of the humidifying filter 13 inside the airflow passage region 123 thereby holds moisture.
The humidifying filter 13 may optionally be closely fitted to the side surface part 121a by using a bond, etc. Alternatively, a gasket member, etc., may optionally be compressed between the humidifying filter 13 and the side surface part 121a, filling a space therebetween.
In the water-retaining container 2 of the present embodiment, the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 are provided in the upper part 101 of the container body 2a; however, the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 are not limited to this arrangement. The ventilation holes 11, 12 may optionally be provided in a wall surface in a part other than the upper part 101 (e.g., wall surfaces of the side parts 103, 104) of the container body 2a, provided that these holes communicate with the airflow passage region 123.
In the water-retaining container 2 in the present embodiment, the interior of the container is vertically divided so that the airflow passage region 123 is arranged on an upper side and the water-retaining region 122 is arranged on a lower side; however, the water-retaining container 2 is not limited to this arrangement. For example, the water-retaining region 122 may optionally be arranged on the upper side in the interior of the container, and the airflow passage region 123 may be arranged on the lower side. In this case, the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 may optionally be provided in lower wall surfaces of the side parts 103, 104, respectively, so as to communicate with the airflow passage region 123. Alternatively, the water-retaining region 122 may optionally be arranged on one of left and right sides of the interior of the container, and the airflow passage region 123 may optionally be arranged on the other of the left and right sides of the interior of the container. In this case, the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 may optionally be provided in a wall surface of the upper part 101 and a wall surface of one of the side parts 103, 104, respectively, so as to communicate with the airflow passage region 123.
The water-retaining container 2 is used by being detachably attached to the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1. The water-retaining container 2 may optionally be attached to the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 via a connection part such as the duct member 30 (
The airflow generated by the fan 90 shown in
The water-retaining container 2 according to the present embodiment, and according to modified examples 1 and 2 and other embodiments described below, is not limited to being applied to the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1, but may also optionally be applied to a humidifying apparatus. In this case, the humidified air from the second ventilation hole 12 is discharged from a discharge opening similar to the discharge opening 22b shown in
In an aircraft, etc., vibration is constantly generated while the aircraft is moving, and there are cases where it is impossible to maintain a horizontal state during takeoff and landing. Therefore, the water-retaining container 2 attached to the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 or a humidifying apparatus becomes tilted, or the water W undulates or leaps upward. As a result, there is a possibility that the surface of the accommodated water W will change, or that the water W will leak out from the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 in the water-retaining container 2 to the outside. This would cause electrical leakage, short-circuiting, etc., in the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 or the humidifying apparatus. Furthermore, when the water-retaining container 2 is removed from the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 or the humidifying apparatus and handled as a separate unit, consideration must be given to leakage of water W to the outside resulting from the container falling or from vibration produced by handling. Because the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 in the water-retaining container 2 are airflow paths, as described in Embodiment 1, it is necessary to keep the ventilation holes 11, 12 open during running of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 or the humidifying apparatus.
In the water-retaining container 2 according to Embodiment 2, the partition part 121 is present in the interior of the container, and the humidifying filter 13 linking the water-retaining region 122 and the airflow passage region 123 is arranged so as to be closely fitted to the partition part 121. Thus, even when the water-retaining region 122 is filled with water, the water W cannot in any large amount infiltrate the airflow passage region 123, which is in an upper part from the water-retaining region 122. Thus, it is possible to suppress the risk of electrical leakage, short-circuiting, etc., in the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1 or the humidifying apparatus. At the same time, because the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 in the water-retaining container 2 are kept open, the flow path of the airflow for electrostatic atomization or humidification is secured.
Since the water-retaining container 2 according to Embodiment 2 has a structure in which water leakage does not readily occur, the risk of occurrence of electrical leakage, short-circuiting, etc., due to water leakage is suppressed and safety is enhanced in an aircraft environment in which electronic equipment is present in each of multiple adjacent areas.
Furthermore, the water-retaining container 2 according to Embodiment 2 can generate and send humidified air as a separate unit.
Also, in the water-retaining container 2, the bottom part 121b of the partition part 121 is inclined from the airflow passage region 123 toward the water-retaining region 122, i.e., downward. Provided that the water-retaining container 2 is in a state of being disposed right-side up (e.g., a state in which the water-retaining container 2 is attached in the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1) as shown in
When the water-retaining container 2 is handled as a separate unit, i.e., is not attached to the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1, there is a concern that even a slight amount of water leaking out into the airflow passage region 123 could leak from the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12.
In order to prevent this, the water-retaining container 2 comprises a first lid member 17 and a second lid member 18 that are capable of opening and closing the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12, as shown in
The first lid member 17 and the second lid member 18 have a structure in which, when the water-retaining container 2 is removed from the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1, the lid members 17, 18 are pushed upward by springs 23, 24 so as to close. The springs may optionally be coil springs, torsion springs, leaf springs, or another such spring structure. Gaps between the upper part 101 of the container body 2a and the first lid member 17 and second lid member 18 may optionally be filled by a cushion material, etc.
According to the present modified example, when the water-retaining container 2 is attached to the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1, the air flow path for electrostatic atomization is secured. When the water-retaining container 2 is removed from the body part 1a of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 1, the first ventilation hole 11 and the second ventilation hole 12 are closed.
Therefore, even when the water-retaining container 2 is handled as a separate unit, it is possible to achieve a water-stopping function that can sufficiently withstand even strong vibrations and falling.
As indicated above, the above embodiments are described as examples of features disclosed in the present application. However, the features in the present disclosure are not limited thereto and can also be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, deletions, etc., have been made, as appropriate. The constituent elements described in the above embodiments can also be combined to create new embodiments. In the above embodiments, the water-retaining container 10, 2 accommodates water; however, the water-retaining container 10, 2 may optionally accommodate another liquid.
In understanding the scope of the present disclosure, the term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section, or a part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function.
In understanding the scope of the present disclosure, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms “including,” “having,” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member,” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiment(s), the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a device. The term “circumference” and its derivatives may include a distance or measurement around an outside or an inside of a circle, any other round shape, or any polygonal shape.
Terms that are expressed as “means-plus function” in the claims should include any structure that can be utilized to carry out the function of that part of the present disclosure. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially,” “about,” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
While only selected exemplary embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the exemplary embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 62/810,386, filed on Feb. 26, 2019. The entire disclosure of U.S. provisional application No. 62/810,386 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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| 62810386 | Feb 2019 | US |
