JPH0833219B2 - Ultrasonic humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ultrasonic humidifier provided with measures against microorganisms.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as social interest in health and hygiene has increased, there has been an increasing demand for preventing microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that propagate in humidifying water of ultrasonic humidifiers.

In conventional ultrasonic humidifiers, chemicals are injected into the humidifying water tank to prevent microbial contamination of the humidifying water (eg, see JP-A-63-34433), or sterilizing metal is plated inside the atomizing water tank. (For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-57444).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional ultrasonic humidifier, phytotoxicity occurs when a drug is injected to prevent microbial contamination of humidifying water,
Similarly, the safety has not been completely proved when plating a sterilizing metal, and the proof is extremely difficult.

In view of the above problems, the first object of the present invention is to prevent microbial contamination of humidifying water without fear of chemical damage. The second purpose is to sterilize the humidifying water with the minimum required water temperature in the minimum time. The third purpose is to improve efficiency by sterilizing the humidifying water in the water tank without any corners.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the means of the present invention is a humidifier main body having a water tank for storing humidifying water, an ultrasonic transducer arranged at the bottom of the water tank, An ultrasonic vibration circuit unit for driving the ultrasonic vibrator, a water supply tank detachably mounted on the humidifier main body for supplying water to the water tank, and a water tank above the water tank An atomizing chamber provided in contact with the air inlet, an air inlet and an air outlet provided in the humidifier main body, and air is sucked from the air inlet and blown out from the air outlet through the atomizing chamber. An air passage that communicates as such, a blower provided in the air passage, and is disposed so as to surround the ultrasonic transducer,
The ultrasonic humidifier is provided with an annular heater provided in the water tank for heating the humidifying water, and a heating controller for operating the annular heater.

A third means for achieving the third object is a configuration of an ultrasonic humidifier in which a stirring means for humidifying water is provided in a water tank.

With the configuration of the means of the present invention, even if microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi propagate in the humidifying water in the water tank, the heating controller is provided with the annular heater provided so as to surround the ultrasonic transducer in the water tank. By heating the humidifying water immediately before spraying and stirring around the ultrasonic vibrator from the surroundings, the heating and sterilizing ability of the humidifying water immediately before spraying is increased, and the temperature distribution in the water tank is rapidly uniformized. Then, the microorganism can be killed (hereinafter referred to as sterilization).

Embodiments First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In FIG. 1, a water tank 2 having an ultrasonic transducer 3 for exciting the humidifying water to atomize the water is arranged in the humidifier main body 1. Immediately below the ultrasonic oscillator 3, there is an ultrasonic oscillation circuit section 4 which is a drive power source for vibrating the ultrasonic oscillator 3, and immediately above the water tank 2 is atomized adjacent to the water tank 2. There is a room 5.

Further, the humidifier main body 1 is provided with an air suction port 6 and an air outlet 7, and the air sucked from the suction port 6 is supplied to the atomization chamber 5
Ventilation passage 8 communicating so as to blow out from the air outlet 7 via
And a blower 9 is provided in the communication passage 8.

The humidifier main body 1 has a water supply tank 10 which is detachably mounted and is connected to the water tank 2 via a water supply valve 11. Further, an annular heater 12 enclosing a heating element is arranged at the bottom of the water tank 2 so as to surround the ultrasonic vibrator 3 for the purpose of heating and sterilizing the humidifying water. As a heating means, a ceramic heater, a nichrome heater, a sheath heater, a planar heater, or heat generated by switching loss of the power transistor of the oscillation circuit section 4 may be used. When the position of the heater is installed above the water tank 2, the temperature difference between the upper and lower sides becomes large if the water is not stirred.

The annular heater 12 is connected to a heating controller 15 provided in the ventilation passage 8 below the water tank 2 to control the heating time. The heating control unit 15 has a timer T, and the timer T is for starting the sterilization after the ultrasonic humidifier is stopped, in consideration of the time when the microorganisms in the water tank grow to a certain number. The time for energizing the annular heater 12 is set, and the heating time, that is, the operating time of the annular heater 12 that rises from the initial water temperature and continues at 60 ° C to 70 ° C for 30 minutes is set.

Further, a thermostat 12b for preventing overheating of the heater 12a is connected in series in the annular heater 12, and when in water, the circuit is opened when the water temperature reaches about 70 ° C, and the circuit is closed at about 60 ° C. Have

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram mainly showing the connection between the heating control unit 15 and the annular heater 12, and there is a power switch S ₁ for opening and closing all circuits connected to the power source D, and water is supplied to the aquarium 2 in series with the power source. A float switch F _S is connected to prevent idling of the water, which will be closed if entered.

The oscillation circuit unit 4, the blower 9, the heating control unit 15, and the annular heater 12 are connected in parallel to the power source via the power switch S ₁ and the float switch F _S , respectively, and these are also dedicated so that they can be operated separately. The switches S ₂ and S _{3 are} provided.

A timer contact T _a is connected in series to the annular heater 12 so that the operating time is controlled by the timer T of the heating controller 15.

In the above configuration, when the water is supplied to the water supply tank 10 and the float switch F _S is turned on, the switches S ₁ , S ₂
When turned on, the ultrasonic transducer 3 vibrates ultrasonically by the ultrasonic oscillation circuit section 4, atomizing the humidifying water, and the atomizing chamber 5
Fill up with.

On the other hand, air is taken into the humidifier body 1 from the suction port 6 by the blower 9, passes through the ventilation passage 8, and is blown out through the air outlet 7
Although it is blown out more, since the ventilation passage 8 is passing through the atomizing chamber 5, the atomized humidifying water filling the atomizing chamber 5 is simultaneously blown out as humidified air from the air outlet 7 by the air, Used as an ultrasonic humidifier.

The ultrasonic humidifier stops when there is no need for humidification,
At this time, the humidification water in the aquarium 2 is prone to the proliferation of microorganisms.

In this case the set time of the timer T in the heating control unit 15, the contact T _a timer enters, the water temperature current flows to the annular heater 12 was raised to 60 to 70 ° C., to kill microbes.
When the water temperature of the humidification temperature is 45 ° C, general bacteria that have propagated in the humidifier water tank cannot be killed.
(See FIG. 3) At 50 to 55 ° C, there is some sterilizing effect, but depending on conditions such as the type of bacteria and humidification flow rate, the bactericidal effect may be low. If it is 60 ° C or higher, it can be killed in about 20 minutes as shown in the table below. Considering the sterilization effect and reduction of power consumption, control at 60-70 ℃. The water temperature is controlled by the thermostat 12b for preventing overheating.

The annular heater 12 may be energized immediately before using the humidifier or during humidifying operation. Further, if the position where the heater is attached is set at a distance from the ultrasonic vibrator at the bottom of the water tank, it is effective that the entire heated water can be heated by convection generated during heating.

By the way, the breeding speed of the humidified water in the water tank 2 was about 10 ³ to 10 ⁵ times in 24 hours, which was the same regardless of whether the water tank 2 was old or new or the washing conditions.

Here, since the annular heater 12 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 2, there is an effect of making the temperature distribution uniform by convection of water.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG.

The same parts as those described in the first embodiment by the first means are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, in order to ensure the safety and energy saving of water heating by the annular heater 12 and sterilize accurately, the water temperature sensor 13 that detects the average temperature of the water temperature in the water tank 2 and outputs a temperature signal, and the water temperature The temperature signal from the sensor is received, the heating time is determined, and a water temperature controller (14) for accurately controlling the sterilization temperature based on the heating time is provided in the ventilation passage, and the input of the annular heater (12) is turned on and off.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment of the present invention, and therefore will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a connection in which the water temperature sensor 13 and the water temperature control unit 14 described above are added to FIG.

In FIG. 5, a water temperature sensor 13 is connected to the water temperature control unit 14 connected in parallel to the power source D, and a contact 14a of the water temperature control unit connected in series to the annular heater 12 is detected by the water temperature sensor 13. It is provided so that it can be turned on and off depending on the temperature.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The operation of the heating controller 15 is the same as that described in the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

At the start of sterilization of the humidifying water in the water tank 2, the heating control unit 15
Timer T operates to close its contact Ta. At this time, since the temperature signal from the water temperature detection sensor 13 indicates a low water temperature, the water temperature control unit 14 does not operate and the contact point 14a of the water temperature control unit is closed so that the annular heater 12 is energized. The water temperature rises with the passage of time, and when it reaches the set temperature (70 ° C.), the water temperature control unit 14 operates and opens the contact 14a of the water temperature control unit to cut off the current. When the water temperature drops to 60 ° C, the contact 14a is closed again, and the current flows. As shown in FIG. 4, the timer T of the heating controller 15 repeats this operation for 30 minutes from the time t, and then the signal Ta from the water temperature controller 14 opens the contact Ta to end the sterilization of the humidifying water and the annular heater 12 Driving is stopped.

Therefore, the timer T should sterilize by heating about twice a day.
If set, no chemicals or metals that can prevent microbial contamination of the humidifying water are used, so there is no problem of secondary contamination and the practical effect is large. Alternatively, the heater can be energized immediately before operating the humidifier to heat-sterilize it and then humidify it.

The heat sterilization was performed at 60 ° C for 30 minutes here, but 6
It is widely known that if the temperature is 0 ° C or higher, sterilization can be performed in less than 30 minutes.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5.

In FIG. 1, there is a small motor 16 in the ventilation passage 8 in contact with the atomization chamber 5, and the water tank 2 is passed through a through hole 17 provided in the atomization chamber 5.
It is connected to a rotary shaft of a stirrer 18 for stirring the humidifying water therein. The rotating blades of the stirrer 18 are of the so-called screw type. As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5, the small motor 16 of the stirrer 18 is connected in parallel to the power source in the same manner as the annular heater 12, and if the annular heater 12 is energized, it is energized and operates in the same manner.

The other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment of the second invention, and the description thereof will be omitted.

 Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

The timer T of the heating control unit 15 works to reach the sterilization start time, and when the annular heater 12 is energized, the small motor 16
Is also energized at the same time, and the stirrer 18 operates. This stirrer 16
By this operation, the humidifying water in the water tank 2 is agitated, the temperature of the water is averaged, the water temperature sensor 13 can detect a more accurate water temperature, and contributes to more accurate sterilization and energy saving. Therefore, the third aspect of the present invention is used for sterilization only when the humidifying spray of the humidifier main body is not performed.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the humidifying water stored in the water tank is controlled by the annular heater provided so as to surround the ultrasonic transducer and the heating control unit controlling the annular heater. Even if it is contaminated with microorganisms, it is almost 100% sterilized by heat treatment at 60 ° C. for 30 minutes, so it has no hygiene side effects such as chemical damage and is safe without hot water burns.

An annular heater that surrounds the ultrasonic transducer heats the humidifying water immediately before spraying / stirring with the ultrasonic transducer from the surroundings, increasing the heating and sterilizing ability of the humidifying water immediately before spraying, and also the water tank. There is an effect that the homogenization of the temperature distribution in the inside proceeds rapidly, and a hygienic ultrasonic humidifier that further increases energy saving and sterilization certainty can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ultrasonic humidifier according to the first means of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a connection of a heating control unit of the ultrasonic humidifier, and FIG. The figure shows the heat resistance test result of general bacteria that propagated in the water tank of the humidifier, Fig. 4 shows the relationship between water temperature and time of the ultrasonic humidifier, and Fig. 5 shows the water temperature sensor in the second and third means. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing connection of a water temperature control unit and a motor of an agitator. 1 ... Humidifier body, 2 ... Water tank, 3 ... Ultrasonic transducer,
4 ... Oscillation circuit part, 5 ... Atomization chamber, 6 ... Suction port, 7 ...
… Blowout port, 8 …… ventilator, 9 …… blower, 10 …… water supply tank, 12 …… annular heater, 13 …… water temperature sensor, 14 …… water temperature control unit, 15 …… heating control unit, 18 …… mixer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A humidifier body having a water tank for storing humidifying water, an ultrasonic vibrator arranged at the bottom of the water tank, an ultrasonic vibration circuit section for driving the ultrasonic vibrator, and the water tank. A water supply tank detachably mounted on the humidifier main body for supplying water to the humidifier, an atomizing chamber provided above the water tank and adjacent to the water tank, and the humidifier main body An air suction port and a blowout port provided, a ventilation path that communicates so as to suck air from the suction port and blow out air from the blowout port through the atomization chamber, and a blower provided in the ventilation path And an annular heater disposed to surround the ultrasonic transducer and configured to heat the humidifying water provided in the water tank, and a heating control unit that operates the annular heater. Ultrasonic humidifier.