JP3364576B2 - Dehumidifying / humidifying equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dehumidifying / humidifying device that combines a dehumidifying function and a humidifying function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A device having both a dehumidifying function and a humidifying function is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-198934 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-285327.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the former device. As a dehumidifying function, the high pressure refrigerant in the compressor is transmitted to the cooler (evaporator) 1, the air in the room sucked from the air suction hole 2 passes through the air cleaning filter 3, and the cooler 1 dehumidifies and cools. Then, the temperature is returned to almost room temperature by the condenser (condenser) 5, sucked by the fan 6, and returned to the room through the air outlet 7. The dehumidified water is dropped on the dew tray 8,
Collected in the water supply / drainage tank 9.

Further, as a humidifying mechanism, an ultrasonic wave transmission unit 11 is attached to the bottom of the spray tank 10, and the water blown in the form of mist becomes mist by the air sent from the suction hole 12 by the fan 6, It is diffused from the blowout hole 13. Water is sucked into the spray tank 10 from the water supply / drainage tank 9 by the pump 14 via the water suction pipe 15 and the suction pipe 16, and is kept at a constant water level.

Here, the water supply / drainage tank 9 is the equipment main body 17
It is detachably installed in the lower part of the, and also serves as a water supply tank for humidification and a drain tank for dehumidification. When the water supply / drainage tank 9 is full during the dehumidifying operation or when the water supply / drainage tank 9 is empty during the humidifying operation, the water supply / drainage tank 9 is taken out to perform drainage or water supply, and the water supply / drainage tank 9 is restored again. It is intended to be set and used in.

In the latter device, an evaporator and a condenser are arranged in a passage connecting the suction port and the blowout port of the device body, and a water tank for discharging the condensed water dropped from the evaporator is arranged below them. There is. An ultrasonic humidifier is connected to the water tank via a suction hose, and the water sucked from the water tank is atomized and blown out from the outlet.

[0007]

In the above-described device in which the dehumidifier and the humidifier are combined, the water obtained by the dehumidification is used as the water for humidification, so that it is necessary to forget to discharge the water by the dehumidification. Since it is left for a long time, this method of atomizing water with ultrasonic waves will scatter the germs generated by leaving it for a long time, which is a sanitary problem.

Therefore, in order to solve the problem of humidification by ultrasonic waves, there is a humidifier which heats water to evaporate it. However, since tap water is usually used, inorganic salts such as calcium and magnesium are concentrated over a long period of use, and are deposited as scales and adhere to the inner wall of the evaporation tank to reduce the heat transfer efficiency and overheat the heater. There is a harmful effect of. For this reason, the evaporating tank has a drainage structure,
It was troublesome to bring the equipment to a place where it could be drained.

Further, since a pump is used to supply water to the humidifier, there is a problem in terms of noise and reliability. Further, since the water supply / drainage tank or the water tank is internally equipped with a water absorption pipe, etc. Putting on and taking off becomes troublesome.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dehumidifying / humidifying device which adopts a humidification system by heating and evaporation, solves a sanitary problem, and has excellent workability of drainage and water supply.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a humidifying section for heating and evaporating water, a dehumidifying section for dehumidifying indoor air, and water for supplying to the humidifying section. A water storage part for storing water collected from the dehumidification part,
The drainage tank is detachably arranged below the water storage section.

Here, since the method of heating water to evaporate is adopted for humidification, even if bacteria are propagated by accumulating water in the water storage portion for a long period of time, it can be killed by boiling. It is hygienic.

A water drain hole or an overflow pipe leading to the drain tank is formed in the water storage section. Therefore, the drainage tank can store the water discharged from the water storage portion, such as dirty water that has been stored for a long period of time or water generated by dehumidification. In addition, these drainage is done by using the natural head. Moreover, since the drainage tank is provided separately from the water storage unit, the drainage tank can be easily taken out and the accumulated water can be discarded, so that the work becomes easy.

Therefore, by periodically draining water from the drain hole, it is possible to collect water having a high specific gravity containing inorganic salts used for humidification for a long time in the drain tank, so that the heat transfer efficiency is lowered or the heating heater is overheated. Such an adverse effect can be eliminated. Further, even if the water collected from the dehumidifying section is collected in the water storing section, it is drained from the overflow pipe, so that the dehumidifying operation can be performed for a long time.

A water supply tank is detachably provided above the water storage section. Therefore, when water is supplied to the water storage section, only the water supply tank needs to be handled, which facilitates the water supply work. Furthermore, since the total volume of the water storage unit and the water supply tank is smaller than the volume of the drainage tank, even if water leaks from the water storage unit when the water supply tank is installed, all can be collected in the drainage tank, providing a sense of security. can get.

Here, the overflow pipe may be connected to a position higher than the equilibrium water level of the water reservoir when the water tank is attached. That is, when the water tank is set with the tank filled up, the water level in the water storage section rises, but before it reaches the upper surface, it is drained to the drain tank from the overflow pipe, so it is possible to prevent water from overflowing from the upper surface of the water storage section. .

[0017]

FIG. 1 shows a dehumidifying / humidifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this dehumidifying / humidifying device, a humidifying section 20 of a type that heats and evaporates water and a dehumidifying section 2 that dehumidifies indoor air.
1, a water storage unit 22 that stores water to be supplied to the humidification unit 20 and also collects water collected from the dehumidification unit 21, a drainage tank 23 that is detachably arranged below the water storage unit 22, and a water storage unit 22. A water supply tank 24 for replenishing water is provided, and these are installed inside the apparatus main body 25.

A steam outlet 26 is formed on the upper surface of the apparatus body 25, and a louver 27 is attached to the outlet 26. The louver 27 has a structure in which the direction can be changed. Further, on the side surface, an air intake port 28 for taking in the indoor air and an air outlet port 29 for blowing dehumidified air located below the air intake port 28 are formed.

The water storage section 22 is a closed container, and a water supply tank 24 is placed on the upper surface thereof. Water tank 24
A well-known valve mechanism is provided in the water supply port 30, and water is flowed out of the water supply tank 24 into the water storage part 22 by engaging with a recess 31 formed in the upper surface of the water storage part 22. At this time, in the state where the valve mechanism does not suck in air, that is, in the state where the water storage section 22 is filled with water, the water supply tank 2
The water supply from No. 4 stops and the water surface becomes constant. This is the equilibrium water surface H. A float switch 32 is provided in the water storage unit 22 to detect the water level. Also,
On the bottom surface of the water storage section 22, a water draining hole 33 which is lowered one step is formed and is closed by a drain screw 34.

The dehumidifying section 21 is arranged in a passage 35 extending from the air suction port 28 to the air blowing port 29, and has a blower fan 36, a motor 37 for driving the blower fan 36, and a dehumidifying heater 3.
8, a hygroscopic material 39 and a heat exchanger 40. The heat exchanger 40 is of a type in which cold air and warm air are crossed to perform heat exchange. Further, below the heat exchanger 40, a water collecting tray 41 for receiving the dew adhered to this surface by dehumidification is provided, and is located at a position higher than the water storage section 22. The water collecting tray 41 and the lower portion of the water storing portion 22 are connected by a connecting pipe 42 so that the water falling on the water collecting tray 41 is collected by the water storing portion 22, and the connecting pipe 42 descends toward the water storing portion 22. There is.

In the vertical portion of the connecting pipe 42, the drain tank 2
An overflow pipe 43 leading to 3 is formed. At the lower end of the inlet 43a of the overflow pipe 43, the equilibrium water level H
Above, and the upper end is below the upper surface of the water storage section 22.

The humidifying section 20 has an evaporation tank 45 communicating with the water storage section 22, and a heater 4 arranged below the evaporation tank 45.
6 and. The evaporation tank 45 is erected from the intermediate portion of the connecting pipe 42 and is formed in a tubular shape reaching below the air outlet 26. The heater 46 is fixed to the outer wall surface of the lower portion of the evaporation tank 45 and is located below the equilibrium water surface H. Further, a temperature sensor 47 such as a thermistor is attached above the heater 46 to prevent overheating.

The drainage tank 23 is a container which is slidably attached to the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 25 below the water storage section 22 and has an open upper surface, and the upper surface thereof is the water storage section 22 and the water collecting tray 41.
Water discharged from the water storage section 22, that is, the drainage hole 33 and the overflow pipe 43.
Not only the water from the water but also the water overflowing from the water collecting tray 41 or the water spilled when the water supply tank 24 is attached or detached can be received. Moreover, the volume of the drain tank 23 is larger than the total volume of the water storage section 22 and the water supply tank 24.

In the figure, 50 is a tank lid which is opened and closed for attaching and detaching the water supply tank 24, 51 is a drain lid which is opened and closed for attaching and detaching the drain tank 23, and 52 is a water level of the drain tank 23. A water surface switch composed of an optical sensor, 53 is a set switch for detecting whether or not the drain tank 23 is attached, 5
Reference numerals 4 and 55 are a room temperature sensor and a humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity inside the room.

Next, the operation of the dehumidifying / humidifying device will be described according to the order of use. Although the operation can be started from either the humidifying or dehumidifying operation, the case of performing the humidifying operation will be described. First, take out the water supply tank 24 set on the upper surface of the water storage section 22 in the apparatus main body 25 and add water. Re-set on the upper surface of the water storage section 22 as before. Water is sequentially discharged from the valve mechanism under the water supply tank 24 and flows out into the water storage section 22, and the lower part of the evaporation tank 45 is also filled with water, and when the equilibrium water level H is reached, the water is replenished from the water supply tank 24. Stop.

When a humidifying operation is instructed by a switch (not shown) or the like, a heater (46) provided on the outer surface of the evaporation tank 45 is energized by a controller (not shown) so that the inside of the evaporation tank 45 is energized. The water accumulated at the bottom of the table is heated and boiled. The steam rises in the evaporation tank 45 and rises to the outlet 26.
From the device main body 25 to humidify the surrounding air.

As described above, when steam is generated by using the evaporation tank 45, it is possible to intensively heat and vaporization is efficient.
Moreover, since the evaporation tank 45 extends long, the water vapor is cooled during the rising, and the temperature does not become high when it comes out from the air outlet 26, and there is a risk of accidentally getting burned even if the body is near the air outlet 26. Absent.

When the amount of water in the evaporation tank 45 decreases, the water level of the water storage section 22 in communication decreases, but the water supply tank 24
When the air flows into the water supply tank 24 from the valve mechanism, the water is replenished from the water supply tank 24 again and returns to the equilibrium water level H. If the humidifying operation is continued as it is, the water in the water supply tank 24 will eventually run out, and the water level will also drop below the equilibrium water level H. When the water temperature falls below a certain level, the float switch 32 provided in the water storage unit 22 operates to stop the energization of the heater 46 and turn on an LED (not shown) for urging water supply to the water supply tank 24. Works.

When the user puts water in the water supply tank 24 and resets it, the humidifying operation is restarted again by the signal from the float switch 32. To stop the operation, press the power off switch. Should float switch 32
If the float switch 32 does not operate due to the inconvenience, the water surface is further lowered, a part of the heater 46 comes above the water surface, and the surface of the evaporation tank 45 is in an idle state, and the evaporation tank 45 Surface temperature rises. At this time, the temperature sensor 47 installed on the surface of the evaporation tank 45 detects this temperature rise, stops the energization of the heater 46, and turns on the LED for notifying the abnormal stop.

Further, when the humidifying operation is continued for a long time using tap water, inorganic salts such as calcium and magnesium dissolved in the tap water remain without being evaporated, so that the water in the water storage section 22 is gradually increased. Will be concentrated in. If left as it is, it eventually deposits as water stains and adheres to the inner wall of the evaporation tank 45 to reduce the heat transfer efficiency of the heater 46, and the humidification operation cannot be performed due to the reduction of the humidification capacity and the operation of the temperature sensor 47. Will cause harmful effects such as. It is also known that concentrated inorganic salts such as calcium and magnesium have a large specific gravity and tend to accumulate in the lower part. Therefore, when the user loosens the drain screw 34 of the water storage section 22 and opens the water drain hole 33 after the humidifying operation for a certain period of time, the waste water can be collected in the drain tank 23.

Further, when it is not necessary to supply water to the water supply tank 24 but water is supplied and set in the water storage section 22,
Since the water flows out from the water supply tank 24 until the internal pressure of the water supply tank 24 and the internal water pressure are balanced with the atmospheric pressure, the equilibrium water level H
Although it becomes higher than a certain level, when it becomes higher than a certain level, it is collected in the drainage tank 23 via the overflow pipe 43 and does not overflow from the upper surface of the water storage section 22. In addition, even if the water in the water supply tank 24 is out of order and the water in the water supply tank 24 flows out, the volume of the drainage tank 23 is reduced to the water supply tank 24 and the water storage section 2.
Since it is larger than the sum of the volumes of 2, the overflow pipe 43
It can be accommodated in the drainage tank 23 via. In addition, even if the drain screw 34 is defective, the drainage tank 2 is
Water leakage can be accommodated in 3.

Next, the case of performing the dehumidifying operation will be described. When the dehumidifying operation is instructed by the switch etc., the blower fan 3
6 and the heater 38 for dehumidification is energized for a predetermined time. When a predetermined time has passed, the dehumidifying heater 38 is deenergized for a predetermined time, and then the dehumidifying heater 38 is energized again for a predetermined time. Note that the blower fan 36 is operated by the control device so that it is continuously energized during the dehumidifying operation. When the dehumidifying heater 38 is energized, the air sucked from the air suction port 28 by the blower fan 36 is warmed,
It becomes warm air and reaches the hygroscopic material 39. The hot air is hygroscopic material 3
When passing through 9, the moisture retained in the moisture absorbent 39 is removed, and the moisture is removed from the moisture absorbent 39 as hot air having a high humidity and reaches the heat exchanger 40. The heat exchanger 40 exchanges heat with the air sucked from the air intake port 28, the temperature of the hot air is lowered, and the moisture above the dew point is absorbed by the heat exchanger 4.
Within 0, water drops are deposited. When the power supply to the dehumidifying heater 38 is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time, the air reaching the hygroscopic material 39 from the blower fan 36 becomes cold air at about room temperature.
At this time, the hygroscopic material 39 removes water from the cold air passing therethrough and retains it inside the hygroscopic material 39. In general, lithium chloride, calcium chloride, silica gel or zeolite is used as a hygroscopic material for such purpose.

The water dewed inside the heat exchanger 40 by this dehumidifying operation falls into the water collecting tray 41, passes through the connecting pipe 42 and collects in the water storage section 22, and the amount of water increases to reach the inlet 43a of the overflow pipe 43. Then, the overflow pipe 4
It flows from 3 to the drain tank 23. When the dehumidification operation is continued as it is and the amount of water due to dehumidification reaches a predetermined volume, the water surface switch 52 detects this water level and stops the dehumidification operation, and an LED (not shown) for urging the drainage tank 23 to drain water is turned on. The control device works to do so. When the user takes out the drainage tank 23, drains it, and sets it again after draining it, the dehumidifying operation is restarted again based on the signals from the set switch 53 and the water surface switch 52.

When the proper humidity operation is instructed, the humidity sensor 5
5 and the detection signals of the room temperature sensor 54 are read, and the humidifying or dehumidifying operation is switched according to a preset appropriate humidity and temperature condition. In this case, since the water collected in the water storage section 22 by the dehumidifying operation is preferentially used for humidification,
The dehumidifying operation can be quickly switched to the humidifying operation, the water reservoir 22 functions as a shared tank, and the labor of water supply and drainage is reduced.

As described above, since the humidification is performed by heating and evaporation, even if the water is stored in the water storage section 22 for a long period of time and bacteria are propagated, the water is killed by boiling, so that there is no possibility of causing a sanitary problem. Moreover, the drainage hole 3 is provided at the bottom of the water storage section 22.
3 is provided, drain water such as dirty water due to long-term storage or heavy water containing inorganic salts such as calcium due to long-term humidification operation can be collected in the drain tank 23.

Since the drainage tank 23 is detachably provided independently of the water storage section 22 and the like, the drainage water and the overflow water from the water storage section 22 can be collected in the drainage tank 23 by utilizing the natural head. You can In addition, the water can be easily discarded simply by taking out the drainage tank 23.

Since the drop-type water supply tank 24 used during the humidifying operation is detachably installed in the water storage section 22, the water supply is easy to handle. Further water tank 2
Since the volume of the drainage tank 23 is larger than the total volume of the water storage section 4 and the water storage section 22, even if an abnormality occurs in the water storage section 22 and water leaks, the leaked water can be collected in the drainage tank 23 and can be used with confidence.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiment within the scope of the present invention. For example, the heater of the humidifying section may be placed in water in the evaporation tank.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a heater 60 is installed in the lower portion of the evaporation tank 45 and is arranged below the water storage section 22, and a nozzle 61 communicating with the evaporation tank 45 from the water storage section 22 is provided. The needle 62 is arranged in 61 so that it can be moved up and down,
During the humidifying operation, the needle 62 is raised to remove water droplets from the heater 6
A drip-type humidification method may be adopted in which the water is dripped on 0 and vaporized instantaneously to generate water vapor. With this method, humidification can be performed quickly.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a humidifying section for heating and evaporating water, a dehumidifying section for dehumidifying indoor air, and water for supplying to the humidifying section are provided. Since it has a water storage unit that stores water and collects water collected from the dehumidification unit, and a drainage tank that is detachably arranged below the water storage unit, the problem of germs when humidifying by ultrasonic waves is water. The water that has been eliminated by heating and the water that has accumulated in the water storage section is drained to the drainage tank. Therefore, the drainage tank can be removed for drainage treatment work, which makes the work easier. Moreover, since the water obtained by the dehumidification is stored in the water storage section, the humidification operation can be performed by using this water, and the operation can be quickly switched without performing the water supply work.

Further, by forming a drain hole in the water storage section leading to the drainage tank, dirty water or water containing inorganic salts collected in the water storage section can be discharged, which is hygienic and has no scale. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the heating performance and the deterioration of the humidifying ability due to the adhesion.

Further, by forming an overflow pipe leading to the drainage tank in the water storage part, the dehumidification operation can be continued continuously for a long time because the water is drained to the drainage tank when the amount exceeds a certain amount, and the water storage part Even if water is overfilled, it will not overflow from the upper surface of the reservoir.

If a water supply tank is detachably provided above the water storage section to supply water, the water supply operation can be facilitated by handling only the water supply tank. Here, if the total volume of the water storage section and the water supply tank is smaller than the volume of the drain tank, and if water leaks due to an abnormality in the water storage section or water tank, the entire volume is collected in the drain tank. be able to.

At this time, if the overflow pipe is connected to a position higher than the equilibrium water surface of the water storage part when the water supply tank is attached, even if the water supply tank is fully filled and set, it overflows and is discharged to the drain tank. The total amount of replenished water can be effectively used for humidification.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dehumidifying / humidifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another type of humidifying section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional dehumidifying / humidifying device.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 Humidifier 21 Dehumidifier 22 Water storage 23 drainage tank 24 Water tank 33 Drainage hole 43 Overflow pipe 45 evaporation tank 46 heating heater

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-4-340040 (JP, A) Actual opening Sho 47-9232 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho 47-6649 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho 54-105161 (JP , U) Actual Kaihei 2-44625 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 6/00 F24F 1/02 451

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A humidifying unit for heating and evaporating water, a blower fan for sucking indoor air, and a moisture for indoor air
Absorbent material that is taken and held, heated air that has been sucked in and warm air
To remove the hot air from the heater and the moisture absorbent
Dehumidification with heat exchanger that exchanges heat with indoor air to cause condensation
Section, a water collecting tray arranged below the heat exchanger, a water storing section for storing water to be supplied to the humidifying section and also collecting water collected from the water collecting tray, the water storing section and the water collecting section. A drainage tank with an open upper surface that is detachably arranged below the plate, and the upper surface of the drainage tank is larger than the area including the water storage section and the water collecting tray so as to receive all the water falling from above. A dehumidifying / humidifying device characterized by being enlarged. 2. An air inlet and an air outlet located below the air inlet are formed on a side surface of the apparatus body,
The dehumidifying part in a passage leading to the air outlet is arranged from the air inlet, the heat exchanger of the dehumidifying part is disposed at a position closer to the air inlet and air outlet, Atsumarisuisara, from water storage unit The dehumidifying / humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the dehumidifying / humidifying device is arranged at a higher position. 3. An overflow pipe communicating with a drainage tank and a water drain hole are formed in the water storage part, a water supply tank is detachably provided above the water storage part, and the total volume of the water storage part and the water supply tank is the above-mentioned. The dehumidifying / humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the dehumidifying / humidifying device is smaller than the volume of the drainage tank. 4. An appropriate humidity operation for switching humidification or dehumidification operation according to an appropriate humidity and temperature condition preset based on detection signals from a humidity sensor and a room temperature sensor. The dehumidifying / humidifying device according to. 5. A controller for repeating a cycle of energizing and stopping energizing the heater while driving a blower fan during the dehumidifying operation, and sends hot air or cold air to the hygroscopic material. The dehumidifying / humidifying device according to any one of 1. 6. The humidification section has an evaporation tank communicating with the water storage section, and a heater disposed below the water surface of the water storage section below the evaporation tank. A temperature sensor is provided above the heater to prevent overheating, a float switch is provided in the water storage unit, and the control device that controls the heating heater detects a decrease in the water level in the water storage unit by the float switch. At this time, the energization to the heating heater is stopped, and the energization to the heating heater is stopped by the temperature detection of the temperature sensor when the surface temperature of the evaporation tank rises when the float switch does not operate. Claim 1 characterized by
5. The dehumidifying / humidifying device according to any one of 5 above.