JP7625402B2 - Air purification equipment for rail vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air purification device that purifies the air inside a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle.

Traditionally, railroad cars equipped with air purification devices that purify the air inside the passenger compartment have been known. Patent Document 1 discloses that a railroad car is provided with an electrostatic atomizer that generates nanometer-sized charged fine water particles as an air purification device with deodorizing and disinfecting functions. This electrostatic atomizer includes a discharge electrode surrounded by a cylindrical body, a water supply means that supplies water to the discharge electrode, and a high-voltage application means that applies a high voltage to electrostatically atomize the water supplied to the discharge electrode to generate charged fine water particles. The generated charged fine water particles are released to the outside from an outlet formed in the cylindrical body, contributing to deodorization and disinfection.

JP 2009-286196 A

The air purifier in Patent Document 1 has difficulty delivering the microparticles that contribute to deodorization and sterilization to passengers.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an air purification device for railway vehicles that can easily deliver microparticles that contribute to deodorization and sterilization to passengers.

In order to solve the above problems, an air purification device for a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is an air purification device that purifies the air in a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle, and includes at least one purification unit arranged in the passenger compartment, and a connecting member that connects the purification unit to a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment, an interior panel facing the passenger compartment, or a passenger compartment interior member arranged in the passenger compartment, and the purification unit includes a housing having an intake port and an exhaust port, a microparticle generating device that generates microparticles and releases them into an air passage connecting the intake port and the exhaust port within the housing, and a fan that generates an air flow in the air passage from the intake port toward the exhaust port.

According to the above configuration, the purification unit installed in the passenger compartment blows out the microparticles in the airflow generated by the fan of the purification unit. This makes it easy to deliver the microparticles that contribute to deodorization and sterilization to passengers.

The present invention provides an air purification device for railway vehicles that can easily deliver microparticles that contribute to deodorization and sterilization to passengers.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional top view of a railway vehicle in which an air purification device according to a first embodiment is arranged. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the vehicle body shown in FIG. 1 cut perpendicularly to the vehicle longitudinal direction. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the purification unit shown in FIG. 1 as seen obliquely from below in a passenger compartment. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the internal configuration of the purification unit shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the purification unit shown in FIG. 3 . 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of a connection point between the purification unit and the passenger compartment interior member shown in FIG. 3. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a power supply path of the air purifying device shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a purification unit of an air purification device according to a second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below in a passenger compartment. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a power supply path of the air purifying device shown in FIG. 8 . 11 is a schematic perspective view of a purification unit of an air purification device according to a first modified example, as viewed obliquely from below in a passenger compartment. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a purification unit of an air purification device according to a second modified example, as viewed obliquely from below in a passenger compartment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a power supply path of an air purification device according to Modification 3.

The following describes the embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction in which the railcar travels and in which the car body extends is defined as the car longitudinal direction, and the lateral direction perpendicular to the car longitudinal direction is defined as the car width direction.

First Embodiment
First, a railway vehicle 1 in which an air purification device 30A according to a first embodiment of the present invention is arranged will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional top view of the railway vehicle 1 in which an air purification device 30A according to the first embodiment is arranged. Figure 2 is a schematic sectional front view of the car body 2 shown in Figure 1 cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the car. The railway vehicle 1 includes a car body 2 and a bogie (not shown) that supports the car body 2.

The car body 2 of the railway vehicle 1 has a generally box-shaped structure made up of an underframe 3, a pair of side structures 4, a pair of end structures 5, and a roof structure 6. The side structures 4 are provided with boarding doors and window materials. Above the underframe 3, floor panels 11 are arranged extending in the longitudinal direction of the car. Side lining panels 12 are arranged on the inside of each of the pair of side structures 4, and end lining panels 13 are arranged on the inside of each of the pair of end structures 5. A ceiling panel 14 is arranged below the roof structure 6. The floor panels 11, side lining panels 12, end lining panels 13, and ceiling panel 14 all face the passenger compartment S. In other words, the passenger compartment S is defined by the floor panels 11, side lining panels 12, end lining panels 13, and ceiling panel 14.

Across-flow fans 15 and air conditioning ducts 16 are arranged above the passenger compartment S, i.e., above the ceiling panel 14. The cross-flow fans 15 are arranged in the center of the vehicle body 2 in the vehicle width direction. The air conditioning ducts 16 are arranged on both sides of the cross-flow fans 15 in the vehicle width direction, and extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

In the passenger compartment S, various interior components such as seats 21, lighting fixtures 22, luggage racks 23, handrail rods 24, and handrail rod receivers 25 are arranged. In this example, the seats 21 are long seats with seating extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The lighting fixtures 22 are arranged below the ceiling board 14. The luggage racks 23 are arranged above the seats 21. The luggage racks 23 protrude from the side interior panel 12 facing the passenger compartment S into the passenger compartment S (i.e., toward the center of the vehicle width direction of the car body 2) so that passenger luggage and the like can be placed thereon.

A pair of handrail bars 24 spaced apart in the vehicle width direction extend parallel to each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Each of the pair of handrail bars 24 supports a number of handrails 24a spaced apart from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. A number of handrail bar receivers 25 are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The handrail bar receivers 25 extend in the vertical direction, and the upper end of the handrail bar receiver 25 is attached to the roof structure 6. The handrail bar receiver 25 extends so as to protrude downward from the ceiling panel 14, and the lower end of the handrail bar receiver 25 is connected to the handrail bar 24 in the passenger compartment S.

More specifically, the ceiling panel 14 includes a central ceiling panel 14a and a pair of side ceiling panels 14b. The central ceiling panel 14a is located in the center of the car width direction and below the air conditioning duct 16. The pair of side ceiling panels 14b are provided on both sides of the central ceiling panel 14a in the car width direction. The pair of side ceiling panels 14b are located, for example, above the window material provided on the side structure 4. Parts of the pair of side ceiling panels 14b and the central ceiling panel 14a are arranged to cover the roof structure 6 when viewed from the passenger compartment S side. The handrail rod receiver 25 protrudes downward toward the passenger compartment S from between the central ceiling panel 14a and the side ceiling panels 14b in the car width direction.

In addition, display devices that display information visible to passengers (guidance information, advertising information, etc.) and audio equipment such as speakers that output sound may be installed in the passenger compartment S.

An air purifier 30A that purifies the air in the cabin S is placed in the cabin S. The air purifier 30A includes a number of purification units 31 that blow out microparticles that have deodorizing and disinfecting effects, and a number of connection members 32 that connect the purification units 31 to cabin interior components. The air purifier 30A also includes a harness cover 33, a harness 72, and a spacer 73, which will be described later.

In this embodiment, the connection member 32 is configured to connect the purification unit 31 to a cabin interior member above the upper end 21a of the seat 21 in the cabin S. Specifically, the connection member 32 connects the purification unit 31 to the handrail rod receiver 25, which is an interior cabin member. As described below, in this embodiment, the connection member 32 is configured to cover part or all of the handrail rod receiver 25.

The multiple purification units 31 in the passenger compartment S are divided into multiple first purification units 31 and multiple second purification units 31. If the passenger compartment S is virtually divided in the center in the vehicle width direction (at the center plane C shown in Figures 1 and 2) into two regions, a first region R1 and a second region R2, the multiple first purification units 31 are arranged in the first region R1, and the multiple second purification units 31 are arranged in the second region R2. Note that the first purification units 31 and the second purification units 31 are arranged in different regions, but have the same configuration. In the following description, when the first purification units 31 and the second purification units 31 are not distinguished from each other, they are referred to as "purification units 31."

As shown in FIG. 1, the first purification units 31 are arranged along a first straight line extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the first region R1 when the passenger compartment S is viewed in a plan view, and the second purification units 31 are arranged along a second straight line extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the second region R2 when the passenger compartment S is viewed in a plan view. The purification units 31 are arranged closer to the center in the vehicle width direction than the handrail rod receiver 25. The purification units 31 are arranged in one of the two regions, the first region R1 and the second region R2, and are configured to blow air diagonally downward toward the other region.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the purification unit 31 shown in Figure 1, seen from diagonally below in the passenger compartment. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the purification unit 31, with some elements such as the front and side parts of the housing 40 removed, in order to explain the internal configuration of the purification unit 31 shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the purification unit 31 shown in Figure 3, seen from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The purification unit 31 has a housing 40, an intake duct 51, an exhaust duct 52, a fan 53, a microparticle generator 54, and a power supply unit 55.

The housing 40 is constructed, for example, from multiple resin and metal members in a roughly box-like shape with a storage space U. The housing 40 has a vertically elongated shape that is long in the vertical direction along the handrail rod receiver 25. Specifically, the housing 40 has four side plates 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d that cover the sides of the storage space U, an upper plate 40e that covers the top of the storage space U, and a lower plate 40f that covers the bottom of the storage space U.

The housing 40 has two suction ports 41 and an air outlet 42. The two suction ports 41 are provided on a pair of side panels 40b, 40c that face each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, among the four side panels 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d. A filter 41a for removing dust and the like is provided on the suction port 41. The air outlet 42 is provided on the lower end of the housing 40. For example, the air outlet 42 is provided above the upper end 21a of the seat 21 in the passenger compartment S and below the handrail 24. The air outlet 42 is provided on the lower panel 40f. A mesh cover 42a that allows air to pass through is provided on the lower panel 40f so as to cover the lower surface of the lower panel 40f and the air outlet 42 from below. Note that a louver may be provided on the lower panel 40f instead of the mesh cover 42a.

The housing 40 has a housing body 43 and a lid 44. The housing body 43 is fastened to the connecting member 32. The components housed in the accommodation space U, i.e., the fan 53, the microparticle generator 54, and the power supply unit 55, are attached to the housing body 43 directly or via a support member. The housing body 43 has an opening 43a that connects the accommodation space U of the housing 40 to the outside. The lid 44 is connected to the housing body 43 so that the opening 43a can be opened and closed.

In this embodiment, the cover 44 is composed of the side plate 40d, which is located in the center of the vehicle body 2 in the vehicle width direction, out of the two side plates 40a, 40d that face each other in the vehicle width direction. The housing main body 43 includes the three side plates 40a, 40b, and 40c excluding the side plate 40d, an upper plate 40e, and a lower plate 40f.

A pivoting part 45 is provided on the upper end of the housing body 43, more specifically, on the upper plate 40e. The lid body 44 is attached to the housing body 43 by the pivoting part 45 so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5). The pivoting part 45 is realized by, for example, a hinge. By opening the lid body 44, the fan 53, the microparticle generator 54, and the power supply unit 55 can each be attached and detached from the housing body 43 through the opening 43a.

An air passage is formed inside the housing 40, connecting the intake port 41 and the exhaust port 42. The air passage is composed of two intake ducts 51, an exhaust duct 52, and a fan 53.

Each suction duct 51 connects each suction port 41 and the fan 53. The suction port 41 and the fan 53 are located at approximately the same height. The suction duct 51 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between the suction port 41 and the fan 53. In this example, the dimension between the suction port 41 and the fan 53 of the suction duct 51 is shorter than the diameter of the impeller 53a described below.

The blow-out duct 52 connects the fan 53 and the blow-out port 42. The blow-out duct 52 includes a first duct section 52a that extends vertically and a second duct section 52b that is inclined relative to the vertical direction.

The first duct portion 52a is disposed in an area close to the outer side of the vehicle body 2 in the vehicle width direction in the storage space U. More specifically, the first duct portion 52a is fixed to the side plate 40a while being in contact with the side plate 40a. The upper end of the first duct portion 52a is connected to the fan 53, and the lower end of the first duct portion 52a is connected to the upper end of the second duct portion 52b.

The second duct section 52b extends obliquely downward from the lower end of the first duct section 52a so as to approach the center of the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 2 as it extends downward from the lower end of the first duct section 52a. The blow-out duct 52 is formed so that the purification unit 31 arranged in one of the two regions, the first region R1 and the second region R2, blows out microparticles obliquely downward toward the other region. An opening 52c connected to the microparticle generating device 54 is formed in the middle of the second duct section 52b.

The fan 53 generates an airflow in the air passage from the intake 41 to the exhaust 42. In this embodiment, the fan 53 is a sirocco fan. The fan 53 has a fan motor (not shown) that receives power from a power supply unit 55 and rotates a rotating shaft extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, an impeller 53a fixed to the rotating shaft, and a fan casing 53b that houses the impeller 53a. A pair of side surfaces of the fan casing 53b facing each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction are each provided with a case inlet, and the intake duct 51 is connected to the case inlet. A case outlet is provided on the underside of the fan casing 53b, and the exhaust duct 52 is connected to the case outlet.

The microparticle generator 54 generates microparticles that contribute to deodorization and sterilization. The microparticle generator 54 has a discharge electrode that generates charged microparticles by applying a voltage. The microparticles are, for example, Plasmacluster ions (registered trademark).

The microparticle generator 54 emits microparticles into an air passage that connects the intake port 41 and the exhaust port 42 inside the housing 40. The microparticle generator 54 is provided in the exhaust duct 52. More specifically, the microparticle generator 54 is disposed on the upper surface of the second duct section 52b in the exhaust duct 52. The emission section 54a of the microparticle generator 54 protrudes inwardly into the second duct section 52b through the opening 52c of the second duct section 52b, and microparticles are emitted from the emission section 54a into the duct.

The power supply unit 55 takes in power from a railway vehicle-side power supply (see FIG. 7; hereafter referred to as the "vehicle-side power supply") 70, and supplies power to the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53. The vehicle-side power supply 70 is installed outside the passenger compartment S, and converts high voltage collected from ground facilities (e.g., overhead lines or third rail) into low voltage. The vehicle-side power supply 70 supplies power to the air conditioning system, lighting fixtures 22, various control circuits, etc. The vehicle-side power supply 70 is, for example, a static inverter device.

The power supply unit 55 is a converter that converts the voltage taken in from the vehicle-side power supply 70 into a predetermined voltage for the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53. The power supply unit 55 is accommodated in the housing 40. Within the housing 40, the power supply unit 55 is disposed above the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53. A harness 72 is connected to the power supply unit 55. The harness 72 passes through an insertion hole 46 that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing 40.

Figure 6 is a schematic top cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the connection point between the purification unit 31 shown in Figure 3 and the handrail rod receiver 25, which is an interior component of the passenger compartment. The connection member 32 is composed of, for example, a plurality of resin members and metal members. The connection member 32 includes a first member 61 and a second member 62. The first member 61 and the second member 62 extend in the vertical direction along the handrail rod receiver 25 (see Figure 3). The first member 61 and the second member 62 are fixed to each other with the handrail rod receiver 25 sandwiched between them in the vehicle width direction.

The connecting member 32 has a shape and size that fits the cabin interior member to which it is attached. For example, the first member 61 and the second member 62 each have recesses 61a, 62a shaped to fit the outer surface of the handrail rod receiver 25. With the handrail rod receiver 25 fitted into these recesses 61a, 62a, the first member 61 and the second member 62 are fixed to each other. In this way, the connecting member 32 is fixed to the handrail rod receiver 25.

Of the first member 61 and the second member 62, the first member 61 located at the center of the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 2 is fastened to the housing 40 by a fastener such as a bolt. Therefore, the purification unit 31 is fixed to the handrail rod receiver 25 via the connection member 32.

The connection member 32 has a harness cover portion that covers the portion of the harness 72 protruding from the housing 40. The first member 61 and the second member 62 form an insertion space V1 through which the harness 72 is inserted, with the handrail rod receiver 25 sandwiched in the vehicle width direction. The connection member 32 has a first hole 63 and a second hole 64 that communicate between the inside and outside of the insertion space V1. The first hole 63 is provided in the first member 61 at a position that corresponds to the insertion hole 46 of the housing 40 when the first member 61 is fastened to the housing 40.

A harness cover 33 is disposed between the connection member 32 and the lamp 22 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The harness cover 33 is fixed to the connection member 32, for example. The harness cover 33 covers the portion of the harness 72 protruding from the second hole 64 of the connection member 32. The harness cover 33 forms an insertion space V2 through which the harness 72 is inserted. The harness cover 33 has a first hole 65 and a second hole 66 that communicate between the inside and outside of the insertion space V2. The first hole 65 is provided at a position on the harness cover 33 that corresponds to the second hole 64 of the connection member 32 when the harness cover 33 is fixed to the connection member 32.

The portion of the harness 72 that comes out of the second hole 66 of the harness cover 33 passes above the lamp 22.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the power supply path of the air purification device 30A shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 includes a schematic side view of the vicinity of the ceiling board 14 in the passenger compartment S as viewed in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the harness 72 is a branch harness that branches off from a main harness 71 that connects from the vehicle-side power source 70 to the lamp 22, and is connected at its end to the power supply device 55. Hereinafter, the harness 72 is referred to as the "branch harness 72."

The ceiling plate 14 has an opening 14c. For example, the opening 14c is arranged between the central ceiling plate 14a and the side ceiling plate 14b in the vehicle width direction, or near the connection point of the central ceiling plate 14a and the side ceiling plate 14b. A plurality of openings 14c are arranged at intervals in the vehicle longitudinal direction. A main harness 71 that supplies power to the lamp 22 passes through the opening 14c. A branch harness 72 also passes through this opening 14c. However, the connection point between the main harness 71 and the branch harness 72 does not have to be outside the passenger compartment S, and may be inside the passenger compartment S. For example, the connection point between the main harness 71 and the branch harness 72 may be arranged between the lamp 22 and the ceiling plate 14 in the vertical direction.

One or more spacers 73 are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the ceiling board 14 and the lighting fixture 22 in the vertical direction. By arranging the spacers 73 in this manner, a gap space G is formed between the ceiling board 14 and the lighting fixture 22 for inserting the branch harness 72. The gap space G overlaps the lighting fixture 22 in a plan view. This makes it possible to hide at least the portion of the branch harness 72 located in the gap space G from passengers.

As described above, according to the air purification device for a railway vehicle of this embodiment, the purification unit 31 arranged in the passenger compartment S blows out microparticles in the air flow generated by the fan 53 of the purification unit 31. This makes it possible to easily deliver microparticles that contribute to deodorization and sterilization to passengers.

In addition, in this embodiment, the air outlet 42 is positioned above the upper end 21a of the seat 21 in the cabin S and below the handrail 24. This allows clean air to be appropriately exhausted to passengers in the cabin S.

In addition, in this embodiment, the connection member 32 connects the purification unit 31 to the interior components of the passenger compartment, so the air purification device can be installed in the passenger compartment S without increasing the burden on the vehicle design or modifying the vehicle body. In addition, the connection member 32 connects the purification unit 31 to the interior components of the passenger compartment above the upper end 21a of the seat 21 in the passenger compartment S, so the purification unit 31 and the connection member 32 do not take up space near the seat.

In addition, in this embodiment, the purification unit 31 is connected to the handrail rod receiver 25, so it can be placed in the dead space around the handrail rod receiver 25 where it does not get in the way of passengers. In addition, the air outlet 42 is placed at the lower end of the vertically elongated housing 40, so fine particles can be blown out as close to the passengers as possible.

In addition, in this embodiment, the purification unit 31 is positioned closer to the center of the vehicle width than the handrail rod receiver 25, so the air outlet 42 of the purification unit 31 can be brought closer to passengers standing near the center of the vehicle width inside the passenger compartment S, thereby improving the deodorizing and disinfecting effects of the purification unit 31.

In addition, in this embodiment, the housing 40 has a lid 44 that opens and closes the opening 43a, and the purification unit 31 is configured so that the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53 can be attached and detached through the opening 43a when the lid 44 is open. As a result, once the housing 40 is connected to the cabin interior member by the connecting member 32, the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53 can be replaced through the opening 43a without removing the housing 40 from the cabin interior member.

In addition, in this embodiment, power is supplied to the power supply device 55, which is located above the upper end 21a of the seat 21 in the passenger cabin S, from the electrical wiring for the lamp 22, which is located above the upper end 21a of the seat 21 in the passenger cabin S. This allows the harness required for the purification unit 31 to be shortened.

In addition, in this embodiment, a gap space G is formed between the ceiling board 14 and the lighting fixture 22 by sandwiching a spacer 73, and the branch harness 72 can be arranged to pass through the space above the lighting fixture 22. This makes it possible to hide or make the branch harness 72 less visible to passengers.

In addition, in this embodiment, the portion of the branch harness 72 that comes out of the housing 40 is covered by the harness cover portion and the harness cover 33, making it possible to hide or make the harness less visible to passengers.

In addition, in this embodiment, the power supply unit 55 is housed within the housing 40. That is, the power supply unit 55 is also integrated with the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53 as the purification unit 31. This makes it easy to install the power supply unit 55 for supplying power to the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53.

In addition, in this embodiment, the power supply unit 55 is disposed above the microparticle generator 54 and the fan 53 within the housing 40. In this way, the power supply unit 55 can be disposed closer to the ceiling, thereby shortening the power supply path extending from the ceiling side to the power supply unit 55.

In addition, in this embodiment, the air outlet duct 52 arranged in one of the two regions is configured to blow air diagonally downward toward the other region. This makes it easier to disperse microparticles in the passenger compartment S.

Second Embodiment
Next, an air purifier 30B according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the purification unit 31 of the air purifier 30B according to the second embodiment, as viewed from diagonally below in a passenger compartment. The strap 24a is omitted in Fig. 8 and Fig. 11 shown later. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the power supply path of the air purifier 30B shown in Fig. 8. In the following, the air purifier 30B of this embodiment will be mainly described in terms of the parts that are different from the first embodiment, and explanations that overlap with the first embodiment will be omitted.

The air purifier 30B of this embodiment includes a plurality of purification units 31 and a plurality of connection members 80 that respectively connect the purification units 31 to cabin interior members. The purification units 31 in the air purifier 30B of this embodiment have the same configuration as those in the first embodiment.

The connection member 80 connects the purification unit 31 to the cabin interior components above the upper end 21a of the seat 21 in the cabin S. In this embodiment, the purification unit 31 of the air purification device 30B is connected to the lamp 22 instead of the handrail rod receiver 25 via the connection member 80. The connection member 80 has a support having a spacer portion 81 and a bracket portion 82, and a fastener (not shown) that fastens the housing 40 to the bracket portion 82. The support is made of, for example, a metal member that is integrally molded. The fastener includes, for example, a bolt.

The spacer portion 81 is sandwiched between the ceiling plate 14 and the lamp 22 in the vertical direction. That is, when the lamp 22 is fixed to the ceiling plate 14, the spacer portion 81 is positioned by being sandwiched between the ceiling plate 14 and the lamp 22, and as a result, the support is fixed to the lamp 22. For example, the spacer portion 81 is a plate that is vertical and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

In addition, by disposing the spacer portion 81, a gap space G for inserting the branch harness 72 is formed between the ceiling plate 14 and the lighting fixture 22 in the vertical direction. For example, the spacer portion 81 may be a plate-like shape that is vertically perpendicular, and the plate-like spacer portion 81 may have a groove or slit formed therein as the gap space G for inserting the branch harness 72.

The bracket portion 82 is connected to an end of the spacer portion 81 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. It protrudes from the end of the spacer portion 81 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The bracket portion 82 extends downward from the connection position with the spacer portion 81. Specifically, the bracket portion 82 has a first plate 82a that is continuous with the end of the spacer portion 81 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the up-down direction, and a second plate 82b that is perpendicular to the vehicle width direction and hangs down from the outer end of the first plate 82a in the vehicle width direction. The housing 40 is fixed to the second plate 82b by a fixing device. The housing 40 has a vertically elongated shape that is long in the up-down direction along the bracket portion 82, and the air outlet 42 is located at its lower end.

This embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

The bracket portion 82 extends vertically from the connection position with the spacer portion 81. The blow-out port 42 is located at the lower end of the vertically elongated housing 40 along the bracket portion 82. This allows the microparticles to be blown out as close as possible to the passengers.

In addition, in this embodiment, the spacer portion 81 is sandwiched vertically between the ceiling plate 14 and the lighting fixture 22. By fixing the lighting fixture 22 to the ceiling plate 14, the position of the spacer portion 81 is fixed and the housing 40 is positioned. This makes it easy to place the purification unit 31 in the passenger compartment S.

Other Embodiments
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modified examples, and the configurations can be changed, added, or deleted.

For example, the shape, arrangement, type, number, etc. of each component of the purification unit are not limited to those described in the above embodiment. For example, the housing does not have to be vertically elongated, and can be changed as appropriate depending on the position where the purification unit is placed. The lid does not have to be rotatable relative to the housing body, and for example, the lid may be slidable relative to the housing body, or the lid may be detachable from the housing body. The housing does not have to have a lid. The fan does not have to be a sirocco fan, and can be, for example, a propeller fan. The positions of the suction port and the blowing port in the housing can also be changed as appropriate. The number of suction ports and blowing ports can also be changed as appropriate. The microparticle generator does not have to use plasma discharge, and can be any device that generates microparticles that contribute to deodorization and sterilization.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the connecting members are the connecting member 32 that connects the purification unit 31 to the handrail rod receiver 25 and the connecting member 80 that connects the purification unit 31 to the lighting fixture 22, but the connecting members in the present invention are not limited to these.

For example, FIG. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of the purification unit 31' of the air purification device 30C according to the first modification, seen from diagonally below in the passenger compartment. As shown in FIG. 10, the connecting member may connect the purification unit 31' to the luggage rack 23. In this case, the housing of the purification unit 31' may be horizontally elongated to avoid collision with passengers. Also, FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective view of the purification unit 31 of the air purification device 30D according to the second modification, seen from diagonally below in the passenger compartment. As shown in FIG. 11, the connecting member may connect the purification unit 31 to the handrail rod 24. Also, the handrail rod 24 may include one that extends in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the connecting member may connect the purification unit to a stanchion pole extending upward from the floor board facing the passenger compartment, a seat, or other interior member of the passenger compartment. The connecting member may connect the purification unit to an interior member of the passenger compartment below the upper end of the seat in the passenger compartment. However, to avoid taking up space near the seats, it is preferable that the connection member connect the purification unit to the cabin interior member above the top end of the seats in the passenger compartment.

In the above embodiment, the connecting member 32 that connects the purification unit 31 to the handrail rod receiver 25 and the connecting member 80 that connects the purification unit 31 to the lamp 22 are described, but the connecting member 32 only needs to have a shape and size that fits the passenger compartment interior member to which it is attached, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, although the connecting member is not shown in Figures 10 and 11, if the mounting target is a configuration having a rod-shaped portion such as a luggage shelf 23 or a handrail rod 24, the connecting member may be, for example, a gripping tool that can grip the rod-shaped portion so as to fit the outer circumferential surface of the rod-shaped portion.

The connecting member does not have to connect the purification unit to a cabin interior component. For example, the connecting member may connect the purification unit to a ceiling panel or interior panel (side interior panel or gable interior panel) facing the cabin.

In the above embodiment, the branch harness 72 branches off from the main harness 71 that connects the railcar power source 70 to the lamp 22, but the branch harness is not limited to this and may branch off from the main harness that connects the railcar power source to another electrical component. It is preferable that the branch harness branches off from the main harness that connects from the railcar power source to electrical components arranged above the upper end of the seats in the passenger compartment. For example, the electrical components may be display devices or audio equipment. Note that when the purification unit is arranged above the upper end of the seats in the passenger compartment, it is preferable that the electrical components to which the main harness is connected are arranged above the upper end of the seats in the passenger compartment in order to shorten the harness for the purification unit.

The power supply device 55 may be arranged outside the housing 40. That is, the power supply device 55 may be separate from the purification unit 31. For example, FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram for explaining the power supply path of the air purification device 30E according to the third modification. As shown in FIG. 12, the power supply device 55 may be arranged above the lighting fixture 22. In this case, the entire power supply device 55 may be arranged inside the passenger compartment S, or a part of the power supply device 55 may extend outside the passenger compartment S through the opening 14c. That is, at least a part of the power supply device 55 may be arranged between the ceiling board 14 and the lighting fixture 22 in the vertical direction. When the power supply device 55 is arranged outside the purification unit 31 in this way, the purification unit 31 can be made more compact than when the power supply device 55 is housed inside the housing 40. The power supply device may also be arranged outside the passenger compartment S. For example, the power supply device may be arranged above the ceiling board 14. However, it is preferable to arrange the power supply device 55 above the lighting fixture 22 in the passenger compartment, since the installation work of the power supply device can be performed in the passenger compartment S.

The branch harness does not have to pass between the ceiling plate and the lamp (i.e., above the lamp). In the above embodiment, the harness cover is disposed between the connection member and the lamp in the vehicle longitudinal direction, but the position of the harness cover is not limited to this. For example, the harness cover may be disposed between the ceiling plate and the purification unit in the vertical direction and directly above the purification unit. The connection member does not have to include a harness cover portion, and it is sufficient that the harness cover is disposed to cover the portion of the harness that protrudes from the housing. The shape and position of the harness cover may also be changed as appropriate depending on the position of the purification unit and the interior member to which the purification unit is connected.

The configuration, arrangement, and number of components inside the passenger compartment of a railway vehicle are not limited to those described in the above embodiment. For example, the seats were long seats in the above embodiment, but they may be cross seats or semi-cross seats.

1: Railway vehicle 2: Car body 12: Side interior lining 13: End interior lining 14: Ceiling panel 21: Seat 22: Lighting fixture 23: Luggage shelf 24: Handrail rod 25: Handrail rod receiver 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E: Air purifier 31: Purifier unit 32: Connection member 33: Harness cover 40: Housing 40a: Intake port 40b: Outlet port 41: Housing main body 51: Intake duct 52: Outlet duct 53: Fan 54: Microparticle generator 55: Power supply unit 41: Intake port 42: Outlet port 43: Housing main body 43a: Opening 44: Lid 46: Through hole 51: Intake duct 52: Outlet duct 52a: First duct section 52b: Second duct section 53 : Fan 54 : Microparticle generating device 55 : Power supply device 70 : Railway vehicle side power supply 71 : Main harness 72 : Branch harness 73 : Spacer 80 : Connection member 81 : Spacer portion 82 : Bracket portion G : Gap space R1 : First region R2 : Second region S : Passenger cabin

Claims (16)

An air purification device for purifying air in a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle, comprising:
At least one purification unit disposed within the passenger compartment;
a connection member that connects the purification unit to a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment, an interior panel facing the passenger compartment, or an interior member disposed in the passenger compartment;
The purification unit comprises:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a microparticle generating device that generates microparticles and releases the microparticles into an air passage that connects the air inlet and the air outlet in the housing;
a fan that generates an air flow in the air passage from the air inlet toward the air outlet,
the connecting member connects the purification unit to the cabin interior member above a top end of a seat in the cabin;
The passenger compartment interior member is a handrail rod receiver extending in the vertical direction and supporting a plurality of handrails,
The housing has a vertically elongated shape that is long in the up-down direction along the handrail rod receiver,
The air purifying device for a railway vehicle, wherein the air outlet is disposed at a lower end of the housing. The air purifying device for a railway vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is disposed above the upper end of the seat and below the handrail in the passenger compartment. The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the microparticle generating device has a discharge electrode that generates the charged microparticles by applying a voltage. The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the purification unit is disposed closer to the center in the car width direction than the handrail rod receiver. An air purification device for purifying air in a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle, comprising:
At least one purification unit disposed within the passenger compartment;
a connection member that connects the purification unit to a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment, an interior panel facing the passenger compartment, or an interior member disposed in the passenger compartment;
The purification unit comprises:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a microparticle generating device that generates microparticles and releases the microparticles into an air passage that connects the air inlet and the air outlet in the housing;
a fan that generates an air flow in the air passage from the air inlet toward the air outlet,
the connecting member connects the purification unit to the cabin interior member above a top end of a seat in the cabin;
the cabin interior member is a lighting fixture disposed below a ceiling board facing the cabin,
The connecting member is
a support including a spacer portion extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and sandwiched in a vertical direction between the ceiling board and the lamp, and a bracket portion connected to an end of the spacer portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction;
a fastener for fastening the housing to the bracket portion. The bracket portion extends in a vertical direction from a connection position with the spacer portion,
The housing has a vertically elongated shape that is long in the up-down direction along the bracket portion,
The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the air outlet is disposed at a lower end of the housing. The housing includes:
a housing main body having an opening communicating an accommodation space of the housing with the outside and fastened to the connecting member;
a cover connected to the housing body so as to be capable of opening and closing the opening,
7. The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the purification unit is configured so that the microparticle generation device and the fan can be attached and detached through the opening when the lid is open. 8. The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply device that receives electric power from a railway vehicle-side power supply and supplies electric power to the fine particle generation device and the fan. 9. The air purification device for a railway vehicle as described in claim 8, further comprising a branch harness that branches off from a main harness that connects from the railway vehicle side power supply to electrical equipment arranged above an upper end of the seat in the passenger compartment, and whose end is connected to the power supply device. An air purification device for purifying air in a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle, comprising:
At least one purification unit disposed within the passenger compartment;
a connection member that connects the purification unit to a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment, an interior panel facing the passenger compartment, or an interior member disposed in the passenger compartment;
The purification unit comprises:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a microparticle generating device that generates microparticles and releases the microparticles into an air passage that connects the air inlet and the air outlet in the housing;
a fan that generates an air flow in the air passage from the air inlet toward the air outlet,
The air purification device comprises:
a power supply device that receives power from a railway vehicle power supply and supplies power to the microparticle generating device and the fan;
a main harness that is connected from the railcar-side power source to electrical equipment disposed above an upper end of the seat in the passenger compartment, and a branch harness that is connected at an end thereof to the power supply device;
the electrical equipment is a lighting fixture disposed below a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment,
A gap space is formed between the ceiling board and the lighting fixture by sandwiching a spacer or the connecting member,
An air purification device for a railway vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the branch harness is disposed in the gap space. The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to any one of claims 8 to 10 , wherein the power supply device is accommodated within the housing. An air purification device for purifying air in a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle, comprising:
At least one purification unit disposed within the passenger compartment;
a connection member that connects the purification unit to a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment, an interior panel facing the passenger compartment, or an interior member disposed in the passenger compartment;
The purification unit comprises:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a microparticle generating device that generates microparticles and releases the microparticles into an air passage that connects the air inlet and the air outlet in the housing;
a fan that generates an air flow in the air passage from the air inlet toward the air outlet,
the air purification device further includes a power supply device that receives power from a railway vehicle side power supply and supplies power to the fine particle generation device and the fan;
The power supply device is accommodated within the housing,
The housing has a vertically elongated shape,
An air purification device for a railway vehicle, wherein the power supply device is disposed within the housing above the fine particle generating device and the fan. An air purification device for purifying air in a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle, comprising:
At least one purification unit disposed within the passenger compartment;
a connection member that connects the purification unit to a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment, an interior panel facing the passenger compartment, or an interior member disposed in the passenger compartment;
The purification unit comprises:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a microparticle generating device that generates microparticles and releases the microparticles into an air passage that connects the air inlet and the air outlet in the housing;
a fan that generates an air flow in the air passage from the air inlet toward the air outlet,
the air purification device further includes a power supply device that receives power from a railway vehicle side power supply and supplies power to the fine particle generation device and the fan;
The power supply device is disposed above a lighting fixture that is disposed below a ceiling panel facing the passenger compartment, the air purifying device for a railway vehicle. The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 13 , further comprising a harness cover for covering a portion of a harness that supplies power from a railway vehicle-side power source to the purification unit, the portion protruding from the housing. The air purification device for a railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 13 , wherein the connecting member has a harness cover portion that covers a portion of a harness that supplies power from a railway vehicle side power source to the purification unit, the harness extending from the housing. The purification unit comprises:
an intake duct connecting the intake port and the fan;
Further comprising an outlet duct connecting the fan and the outlet port,
The air outlet is disposed at a lower end of the housing,
the purification unit is disposed in a first region of two regions, a first region and a second region, which are obtained by virtually dividing the passenger compartment at a center in a vehicle width direction;
The air purifying device for a railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , wherein the blow-out duct is formed so as to blow out fine particles obliquely downward toward the second area.

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