JP2803189B2 - Inhaler - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inhaler used for inhaling a drug solution into, for example, the pharynx.

(B) Prior art FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an inhaler previously filed by the present applicant.

In this inhaler, a flat plate-shaped heater 13 is fixed inside (bottom) of a main body case 1 to which a cover body 12 provided with an ejection port 11 is detachably attached, and a tank unit 14 is arranged above the heater 13. doing. This tank unit 14 is a unit integrally provided with a water supply tank 2 for storing water, a pressure adjustment ventilation path 3 and a second heating chamber 4. Water supply tank 2
The cover body 21 is detachably fitted to the upper opening, and a first water passage 5 provided with a check valve 51 therein is protruded from the lower part (bottom part). A horizontal flange plate portion 22 protrudes from both sides of the first water passage 5, and is disposed on the heater 13 via a packing 13a. In other words, the heater 13 is surrounded by the packing 13a and the horizontal flange plate 2
A first heating chamber 6 having a small capacity and having the upper wall 2 and communicating with the first water passage 5 is formed. Similarly, a large-capacity second heating chamber (with a lower opening and a steam nozzle 42 at the top) 4
Has the heater 13 as the bottom through a packing 13a.
The lower part of the second heating chamber 4 and the upper part of the water supply tank 2 communicate with each other via a pressure adjusting ventilation path 3. Further, the first heating chamber 6 and the second heating chamber 4 communicate with each other via a second water passage (pipe) 7. Further, a suction liquid tank 8 is provided in the case body 1 so as to be detachable, and a tip nozzle (a suction liquid nozzle) 82 of a suction liquid tube 81 fitted and disposed in the suction liquid tank 8 is connected to the steam nozzle 42. Corresponding arrangement.

In this inhaler, the water in the water supply tank 2 flows into the first heating chamber 6 through the first water passage (check valve 51) 5.
Water is heated and boiled in the first heating chamber 6. The hot water whose pressure has increased due to boiling flows through the second water passage 7 due to the accumulation and expansion thereof, and flows into the second heating chamber 4. At this time,
The check valve 51 prevents backflow of hot water from the first heating chamber 6 to the water supply tank 2. The hot water that has flowed into the second heating chamber 4 is completely vaporized here and is ejected from the steam nozzle 42. On the other hand, the lower part of the second heating chamber 4 and the upper part of the water supply tank 2 communicate with each other through the pressure adjusting ventilation path 3. Therefore, pressure is applied to the water supply tank 2, and water is smoothly supplied from the water supply tank 2 to the first heating chamber 6.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The above-mentioned inhaler proposed by the present applicant vaporizes small-volume water in two stages of a first heating chamber and a second heating chamber. Therefore, there is an effect that the spray can be quickly started and stopped by turning on and off the power.

By the way, the pressure regulation ventilation passage in this inhaler communicates the lower part with the lower part of the second heating chamber, and communicates the upper part with the upper part of the water supply tank so that the amount of water in the second heating chamber does not increase more than a certain value. The action of returning the excess to the water tank,
And a function of maintaining the overall pressure balance. Therefore, the position of the communicating portion (opening) of the pressure regulating ventilation passage with the second heating chamber is the most important point for maintaining a stable atomized state in the inhaler. For example,
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (A), if there is too much of this communicating portion (gap t between the surface of the heater 13 and the lower opening surface A of the pressure adjusting air passage 3), If the lower opening surface A of the adjustment ventilation passage 3 is too high, the second
There is a possibility that the amount of water in the heating chamber 4 increases, and the hot water spouts directly from the nozzle. Conversely, if the lower opening surface A of the pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3 is too low with respect to the surface of the heater 13 (the gap t is too small), the amount of water in the second heating chamber 4 is too small, and the pressure is hardly increased, Intermittent spraying, a so-called breathing phenomenon, occurs. Therefore, normally, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the gap t (communication portion with the second heating chamber 4) between the lower opening surface A of the pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3 and the heater 13 is appropriately set,
A stable atomization state is set.

However, in the inhaler of FIG. 5 [FIG. 6 (A)] filed by the applicant of the present invention, the lower communicating portion of the pressure regulating ventilation passage 3 is simply opened at the lower portion, and the lower opening surface A This is a structure in which a predetermined distance (t) is opened on the surface facing the heater 13 and the heater 13. On the other hand, after long-term use, the heater 13 and the tank unit 14 are so-called warped due to heat and pressure.
Due to this warpage, the positional relationship between the heater 13 and the lower opening surface A of the pressure adjusting air passage 3 changes. As shown in FIG. 6 (B), when the heater 13 warps outward due to heat, pressure, or the like, the communicating portion (the gap t between the heater 13 and the lower opening surface A of the pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3) increases. As a result, the amount of hot water in the second heating chamber 4 is increased, and there is a risk that hot water is directly ejected from the nozzle. That is, a stable atomization state cannot be maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problems, and keeps a communication portion (gap) communicating with a lower portion of a second heating chamber of a pressure adjustment ventilation passage always constant even when a heater or a tank unit is warped. An object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler that holds and realizes a stable atomization state.

(D) Means and action for solving the problem In order to achieve this object, the inhaler of the present invention has the following configuration.

A water supply tank for storing water, a first heating chamber having a small capacity above the heater for heating water from the water supply tank, and water boiling above the heater above the heater in the first heating chamber; A large-capacity second heating chamber for evaporating and jetting from a nozzle, and the first heating chamber and the second
In the inhaler provided with a water passage communicating with the heating chamber, and a pressure regulating vent having a lower part communicating with the water conduit and an upper part communicating with the upper part of the water supply tank, the lower part of the pressure regulating vent is vertical. A movable adjusting valve for pressure balance is provided, the upper end of which is located in the lower part in the pressure adjusting ventilation passage, and the lower end which is larger than the upper end is in the water passage and supported by the heater. It is characterized by:

In the inhaler having such a configuration, in order to maintain the entire pressure balance and secure a stable atomization state, a movable adjustment valve for pressure balance is fitted and provided at a lower portion of the pressure adjustment ventilation path. . For example, when the heater is warped downward (or when the tank unit is warped upward), the facing distance between the heater surface and the lower opening surface of the pressure adjustment ventilation path is displaced. That is, the facing distance increases. At this time, the movable adjustment valve is lowered by its own weight and follows the heater due to the increase in the warp facing distance of the heater, and the lower end portion is still in contact with the heater.
Therefore, the facing distance (communication gap) between the pressure regulating valve and the heater does not change at all, the entire pressure balance is completely maintained, and a stable atomization state is ensured.

(E) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a specific embodiment of the inhaler according to the present invention.

The overall configuration of the inhaler is substantially the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

The main body case 1 is a case body having an upper opening and a bottom, and has a rotatable ejection port 11 at one upper end. A cover body 12 having a window hole 12a for projecting the ejection port 11 is detachably fitted above the case body 1. Further, a concave portion 1a is provided at an appropriate position of the main body case 1, and the suction liquid tank 8 is provided in this concave portion 1a so as to be insertable and removable. A flat heater (positive temperature coefficient thermistor) 13 is fixed to the inside (bottom) of the main body case 1 via a support plate 1b, and a tank unit 14 is disposed above the heater 13. This tank unit 14 is a unit integrally provided with a water supply tank 2 for storing water, a pressure adjustment ventilation path 3 and a second heating chamber 4.

The water supply tank 2 has an upper opening, and a cylindrical cover body (tank cap) 21 is detachably fitted to the upper opening. A check valve 51 is provided at a lower portion (bottom portion) of the water supply tank 2.
The first water passage 5 provided with a projection is provided. A horizontal flange plate portion 22 protrudes from both sides of the first water passage 5, and is disposed on the heater 13 via a packing 13a. In other words, a small-capacity first heating chamber 6 which is surrounded by the packing 13a, has a horizontal flange plate portion 22 as an upper wall, and communicates with the first water passage 5 is formed. Similarly, the large-capacity second heating chamber 4 (having a lower opening and a steam nozzle 42 at the upper part) 4 has the heater 13 at the bottom through a packing 13a. The lower part of the second heating chamber 4 and the upper part of the water supply tank 2 communicate with each other via a pressure adjusting ventilation path 3. Further, the first heating chamber 6 and the second heating chamber 4 communicate with each other via a second water passage (pipe) 7. That is, the second water passage 7 has one end connected to the first heating chamber 6.
And the other end is communicated with the upper part of the second heating chamber 4 so that the hot water boiled in the first heating chamber 6 is sent to the second heating chamber 4. Further, a suction liquid tube 81 is fitted and disposed in the suction liquid tank 8, and a tip nozzle (a suction liquid nozzle) 82 of the suction liquid tube 81 is arranged corresponding to the steam nozzle 42.

The feature of this embodiment is that a pressure adjusting movable adjusting valve 31 is provided in the pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3, and the pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3 and the second heating chamber 4 are communicated via the movable adjusting valve 31. It is in.

As shown in FIG. 2, the movable adjustment valve 31 has a cylindrical shaft portion 31a.
A large-diameter head 31b having a substantially conical shape is integrally provided at the end of the flat surface 31c.
A groove 31d having a predetermined depth is provided in the plane of 1c. And
The groove 31d communicates with the inner hole of the cylindrical shaft 31a. The movable adjustment valve 31 is made of metal (for example, SUS) and has a constant weight. The pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3 and the lower part of the second heating chamber 4 communicate with each other via the groove 31d. The depth of the groove 31d, that is, the bottom of the groove 31d and the heater
The opposing distance with 13 is set to be the most optimal pressure adjustment. As shown in FIG.
The shaft portion 31a is fitted to the pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3 so as to be vertically movable, and in this fitted state, the head portion 31b protrudes outward from the lower end large diameter opening 30 of the pressure adjusting ventilation passage 3. . That is, in this state, the flat surface 31c of the movable adjustment valve 31
The upper surface of the heater 13 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the heater 13.
The depth is set to be the communication gap.

In the inhaler having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, in a normal state, the movable adjustment valve 31 is lowered by its own weight with respect to the pressure adjustment ventilation passage 3, and the flat surface 31c of the head 31a is formed.
Is in contact with the upper surface of the heater 13 by pressing, and the depth of the groove 31d (bottom)
The facing distance between the heater 13 and the heater 13 is a set interval (an appropriate gap normal state of the communicating portion). Therefore, the overall pressure adjustment is proper, and a stable atomization state is ensured. As shown in FIG. 4, when the heater 13 warps downward (or when the tank unit 14 warps upward).
In other words, the facing distance between the surface of the heater 13 and the lower opening surface of the pressure adjusting ventilation path 3 is displaced. That is, the facing distance increases. At this time, the movable adjustment valve corresponds to the increased distance of the heater 13 warping and facing.
31 descends and follows by its own weight and absorbs this change. The flat surface 31c is in contact with the heater 13 as before. Therefore, the distance between the groove 31d and the warped heater 13 (the gap between the communicating portions) does not change at all, the entire pressure balance is completely maintained, and a stable atomization state can be secured.

(F) Effects of the Invention In the present invention, as described above, the upper end portion is located at the lower portion in the pressure adjusting air passage, and the lower end portion larger than the upper end portion is located in the water passage and supported by the heater. Movable adjusting valve is provided, the lower end of the movable adjusting valve always contacts the heater by its own weight, and the pressure adjusting ventilation passage and the second heating chamber communicate with each other via the movable adjusting valve. . Therefore, even when the heater or the tank unit is warped by heat or pressure and the facing distance between the lower opening surface of the pressure adjustment ventilation path and the heater is displaced, the movable adjustment valve follows this displacement by its own weight, and is always The lower end faces the heater.
Therefore, irrespective of the deformation of the heater or the like, the communicating portion (gap) between the pressure adjustment ventilation path and the second heating chamber is not displaced at all,
At all times, the entire pressure balance is maintained, and a stable atomization state can always be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an inhaler of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a movable adjusting valve for pressure balance used in the inhaler of the embodiment, and FIG. Sectional view, fourth
The figure is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing an operation state of the inhaler of the embodiment,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional inhaler, and FIG. 6 (A).
Is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a conventional inhaler, and FIG.
It is principal part explanatory sectional drawing which shows the defect of the conventional inhaler. 2: Water supply tank, 3: Pressure adjustment vent, 4: Second heating chamber, 5: First water passage, 6: First heating chamber, 31: Movable adjustment valve.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water supply tank for containing water, and a first small-capacity water supply heater for heating water from the water supply tank above a heater.
A heating chamber, a large-capacity second heating chamber above the heater, which evaporates water boiled in the first heating chamber and ejects the water from a nozzle, and a first heating chamber above the heater. An inhaler comprising: a water passage communicating the chamber with the second heating chamber; and a pressure adjustment air passage having a lower part communicating with the water passage and an upper part communicating with the upper part of the water supply tank. The lower part of the channel is arranged vertically, and the upper end is located at the lower part in the pressure adjusting vent, the lower end larger than the upper end is located in the water passage, and the movable part for the pressure balance is supported by the heater. An inhaler comprising a regulating valve.