JP2012048900A - Ion generator and electric device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generator capable of highly efficiently supplying ions without largely depending on an air volume of an electric device on which the ion generator is mounted.SOLUTION: An ion generator 51 for taking in a part of an air current generated from the outside to blow out it together with ions to the outside includes a housing 11, at least one ion generation electrode part (31, 41) provided in the housing 11, and a blower fan 9 provided in the housing 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator and an electric device including the same.

  Many ion generators using the discharge phenomenon have been put into practical use. These ion generators are generally composed of an ion generating element for generating ions, a power supply unit including a high voltage transformer for supplying a high voltage to the ion generating element, and a power input unit such as a connector. .

  This ion generating element generates ions by a discharge phenomenon. The discharge phenomenon is caused by causing dielectric breakdown of air by concentrating an electric field on the tip of the discharge electrode. Examples of ion generators that have been put into practical use include metal wires, metal plates with sharp corners, needle-shaped metals, etc. as discharge electrodes, and ground potential metal plates or grids as induction electrodes (counter electrodes). There is something to do. An example of this type of ion generating element is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-199653 (Patent Document 1). As another example, there is an ion generating element in which no induction electrode is particularly arranged. An example of this type of ion generating element is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-374670 (Patent Document 2). In general, ions generated by the ion generating element are discharged to the outside in an airflow generated by a blower fan as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-255668 (Patent Document 3).

  It has been pointed out that there is a correlation between this air flow and the amount of ions generated. For example, according to Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 42-13343, in the negative ion generator, the amount of negative ions generated in accordance with an increase in the amount of airflow (volume of airflow passing per unit time) flowing between the negative ion generation electrodes. Is disclosed to increase.

JP-A-10-199653 JP 2002-374670 A JP-A-8-255668 Japanese Utility Model Publication No.42-13343

  As described above, if the air volume of the airflow is increased, the amount of ions generated is also increased, so that the ion generation efficiency can be increased. However, when the air volume of the electrical equipment equipped with the ion generator is increased, the power consumption and noise of the electrical equipment are also increased. In addition, the air volume of electrical equipment is often determined for reasons other than the efficiency of ion generation. For example, when the electrical device is an air conditioner, the air volume is usually determined in terms of adjusting the heating capacity or the cooling capacity. In addition, it is difficult to mount a large fan in a small electric device, and thus the amount of air that can be generated is limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ion generator capable of supplying ions with high efficiency without largely depending on the air volume of an electrical device on which the ion generator is mounted. And an electric device equipped with the same.

  An ion generator of the present invention is an ion generator that takes in a part of an air flow generated outside and blows it out together with ions, and includes a housing and at least one ion generating electrode portion provided in the housing And a blower fan provided in the housing.

  According to this device, the ion generator itself has an independent air blowing fan. By blowing air suitable for ion generation by this blower fan, ions can be supplied with high efficiency without largely depending on the air volume of the electrical equipment on which the ion generator is mounted.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the blower fan is arranged to blow air to at least one of the at least one ion generating electrode portion.

  Thereby, a high-speed air current can be sprayed on the ion generating electrode part independently of the air volume of the electric device. Therefore, ions can be supplied with high efficiency without largely depending on the air volume of the electric device on which the ion generator is mounted.

  In the one aspect described above, preferably, the at least one ion generating electrode portion includes first and second ion generating electrode portions. The first ion generating electrode portion has a needle-like electrode extending in a straight line. The second ion generating electrode portion has a bent needle electrode.

  Thereby, the discharge | release directions of each ion of the 1st and 2nd ion generating electrode part differ mutually. Therefore, it can suppress that the ion from each of the 1st and 2nd ion generating electrode part couple | bonds together immediately after discharge | release. Thereby, the effective ion generation amount can be increased.

  More preferably, the blower fan is disposed so as to blow air to the second ion generating electrode part.

  As a result, it is possible to compensate for a decrease in ion generation efficiency due to the use of a bent needle electrode instead of a straight needle electrode.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the at least one ion generating electrode part includes a positive ion generating electrode part and a negative ion generating electrode part. The blower fan is disposed so as to blow between positive ions and negative ions emitted from each of the positive ion generation electrode part and the negative ion generation electrode part.

  Thereby, since positive ions and negative ions can be shielded by a high-speed air stream, it is possible to suppress positive ions and negative ions from being combined with each other immediately after release. Thereby, the effective ion generation amount can be increased.

  The ion generating apparatus of the present invention preferably has a high voltage generating circuit for applying a voltage to the ion generating electrode portion provided in the housing. Thereby, compared with the case where a high voltage generation circuit is provided outside a housing | casing, an ion generator can be reduced in size.

  Preferably, the thickness of the blower fan is equal to or less than the thickness of the high voltage generating circuit. Thereby, compared with the case where a thicker ventilation fan is provided, an ion generator can be reduced in size.

  Preferably, the ion generator has an input connector for supplying power to the high voltage generation circuit, at least a part of which is provided in the housing. Thereby, compared with the case where an input connector is provided outside a housing | casing, an ion generator can be reduced in size.

  An electric apparatus according to the present invention includes any of the ion generators described above and a blower that generates an airflow sent to the ion generator.

  According to this electrical device, the ion generating device itself has an independent blower fan separately from the air blowing section of the electrical device. By performing ventilation suitable for ion generation by this blowing fan, it is possible to supply ions with high efficiency without greatly depending on the air volume of the electrical equipment.

  As described above, according to the ion generator and the electric device of the present invention, ions can be supplied with high efficiency without largely depending on the air volume of the electric device on which the ion generator is mounted.

It is a schematic plan view of the ion generator in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with line II-II of FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the ion generator of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows schematically the ion generation electrode part which the ion generator of FIG. 1 has. It is a schematic plan view of the ion generator in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with line VI-VI of FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5. It is a functional block diagram of the ion generator of FIG. It is a schematic plan view of the ion generator in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with line XX of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view of the air cleaner as an electric equipment in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematically the internal structure of FIG. 11 from the back side.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
Referring mainly to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, ion generator 51 of the present embodiment is added to an electric device that can generate an airflow (for example, air cleaner 60 of a fourth embodiment described later). Thus, ions are supplied into the air stream. Specifically, the ion generator 51 is attached to an electrical device such that an air flow generated outside the ion generator 51 flows along the upper surface of the ion generator 51.

  The ion generator 51 includes an outer case 11 (housing) and a plurality of members provided in the outer case 11. The plurality of members are integrated by the outer case 11. Specifically, the plurality of members include a positive ion generation electrode unit 31 (FIG. 4), a negative ion generation electrode unit 41, a blower fan 9, a power input connector 10, and a power supply unit 2. The outer case 11 is opened on the upper surfaces of the ion generating electrode portions 31 and 41 and the blower fan 9.

  The blower fan 9 is disposed so as to blow air to the positive ion generation electrode unit 31 and the negative ion generation electrode unit 41, and specifically, upstream of each of the positive ion generation electrode unit 31 and the negative ion generation electrode unit 41. Arranged on the side. The blower fan 9 takes in a part (arrow BF) of the air flow (arrows BA and BF) generated outside the ion generator 51 and then strikes the positive ion generation electrode part 31 or the negative ion generation electrode part 41. Arranged to be able to. The speed of the airflow hitting the positive ion generating electrode part 31 or the negative ion generating electrode part 41 is increased by the action of the blower fan 9. That is, the air is applied to the positive ion generating electrode portion 31 or the negative ion generating electrode portion 41 through the blower fan 9 as compared with the speed of the airflow passing through the outer case 11 or in the vicinity of the outer case 11 without passing through the blower fan 9. The speed of airflow is greater.

  Referring to FIG. 3, power supply unit 2 applies a positive voltage and a negative voltage to positive ion generating electrode unit 31 and negative ion generating electrode unit 41, respectively. For this purpose, the power supply unit 2 includes a drive circuit 21, a high voltage transformer 22 (high voltage generation circuit), a diode 23p (positive high voltage circuit), and a diode 23n (negative high voltage circuit). A power input connector 10 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 2.

  A part of the power input connector 10 is disposed in the outer case 11, and the other part is exposed to the outside of the outer case 11, so that an external power source can be connected to the connector. The power supply from the outside is, for example, a commercial AC power supply or a power supply circuit section of an electric device to which the ion generator 51 is attached.

  The drive circuit 21 has an input side electrically connected to the power input connector 10 and an output side electrically connected to the primary side of the high-voltage transformer 22. The high-voltage transformer 22 boosts the voltage input to the primary side and outputs it to the secondary side. One side of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 22 is electrically connected to the discharge electrode 6 of the positive ion generation electrode part 31 through the diode 23p, and electrically connected to the discharge electrode 6 of the negative ion generation electrode part 41 through the diode 23n. It is connected. The other secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 22 is electrically connected to the induction electrode 7 of each of the positive ion generation electrode part 31 and the negative ion generation electrode part 41.

  The polarity of the diode 23p is selected so that a positive voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 6 of the positive ion generation electrode part 31, and the polarity of the diode 23n is a negative voltage applied to the discharge electrode 6 of the negative ion generation electrode part 41. Have been selected to be. As a result, positive ions can be generated in the positive ion generating electrode portion 31 and negative ions can be generated in the negative ion generating electrode portion 41. That is, bipolar ions can be generated.

  The magnitude of the voltage applied to the discharge electrode 6 can be selected so that a desired ion species is efficiently generated in the ion generation by corona discharge. Various voltage waveforms can be used. For example, a DC waveform, an AC waveform biased positively or negatively, or a pulse waveform biased positively or negatively can be used.

  Preferably, the high-voltage transformer 22 is resin-molded to ensure electrical insulation.

  Referring to FIG. 4, each of positive ion generation electrode portion 31 and negative ion generation electrode portion 41 has a support substrate 5, a discharge electrode 6, and an induction electrode 7. The support substrate 5 supports the discharge electrode 6 and the induction electrode 7. The discharge electrode 6 has a needle shape and extends in a direction perpendicular to the support substrate 5. The induction electrode 7 is made of, for example, a sheet metal and is provided with a hole. The discharge electrode 6 is disposed at the center of the hole.

  Preferably, the back side of the support substrate 5 is resin-molded in order to ensure electrical insulation.

  According to this Embodiment, the ion generator 51 receives the airflow generated outside the ion generator 51, and the ion generator 51 itself has the independent ventilation fan 9. FIG. By performing ventilation suitable for ion generation by this blower fan 9, it is highly efficient without largely depending on the air volume of an electric device (for example, an air cleaner according to a fourth embodiment described later) on which the ion generator 51 is mounted. Ions can be supplied.

  Specifically, the blower fan 9 is arranged so as to blow air to the ion generation electrode part, that is, the positive ion generation electrode part 31 and the negative ion generation electrode part 41. Thereby, a high-speed air current can be sprayed on the ion generating electrode part independently of the air volume of the electric device. As a result, the generated ions are released early from the ion generation electrode portion, and therefore, ion neutralization or recombination in the vicinity of the ion generation electrode portion can be suppressed. Therefore, the effective ion generation amount of the ion generator 51 can be increased. As described above, according to the present embodiment, ions can be supplied with high efficiency without largely depending on the air volume of the electric device on which the ion generator 51 is mounted.

  The blower fan 9 takes in only a part of the airflow generated outside the ion generator 51, and most of the airflow generated outside flows without passing through the blower fan 9. Therefore, an increase in ventilation resistance resulting from the provision of the blower fan 9 is hardly a problem.

  The high voltage transformer 22 (FIG. 3) is provided in the outer case 11. Thereby, compared with the case where a high voltage | pressure transformer is provided outside an exterior case, an ion generator can be reduced in size.

  The thickness of the blower fan 9 is equal to or less than the thickness of the high-pressure transformer 22. Thereby, compared with the case where a thicker ventilation fan is provided, an ion generator can be reduced in size.

  In addition, the ion generator 51 includes a power input connector 10 that is partially provided in the outer case 11 and that supplies power to the high-voltage transformer 22. Thereby, compared with the case where a power input connector is provided outside an exterior case, an ion generator can be reduced in size.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ion generator 51 is attached to an electric device so that an air flow (arrow BA) generated outside flows along the upper surface of the ion generator 51. As a result, ions are taken into this air stream and are sent out of the electrical equipment along with this air stream. Therefore, the generated ions can be quickly sent out of the electric device.

The positive ions described above are, for example, cluster ions in which a plurality of water molecules are attached around hydrogen ions (H ⁺ ), and are represented as H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is a natural number). The negative ions are, for example, cluster ions in which a plurality of water molecules are attached around oxygen ions (O ²⁻ ), and are represented as O ²⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is a natural number). Moreover, H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is a natural number) which is a positive ion in the air and O ²⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is a natural number) which is a negative ion are generated in substantially the same amount. It is possible that both ions surround mold fungi and viruses that float in the air, and can break down fungus fungi by the action of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) of the active species generated at that time Become.

(Embodiment 2)
Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, ion generator 52 of the present embodiment includes positive ion generating electrode portion 32 and negative ion generating electrode portion 42, and outer case 12.

  The positive ion generating electrode part 32 has first and second ion generating electrode parts 32a and 32b, and the negative ion generating electrode part 42 has first and second ion generating electrode parts 42a and 42b. Each of first ion generating electrode portions 32a and 42a has a configuration substantially similar to that of the ion generating electrode portion in the first embodiment.

  Each of the second ion generating electrode portions 32b and 42b has a discharge electrode 6b and induction electrodes 7a and 7b. The discharge electrode 6b has a portion connected to the support substrate 5, that is, a root portion, and a tip portion that is a portion where discharge is performed. The discharge electrode 6b is bent between the root portion and the tip portion. Specifically, the root portion extends perpendicular to the support substrate 5, the tip portion is parallel to the support substrate 5, and the direction toward the tip is the direction of the airflow (left direction in FIG. 7). It extends to be almost the same.

  The blower fan 9 is disposed on the upstream side (the right side in FIGS. 5 and 7) of the second ion generating electrode portions 32b and 42b. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer case 12 is configured to allow ventilation between each of the second ion generation electrode portions 32 b and 42 b and the blower fan 9. With this configuration, the blower fan 9 can blow air to the second ion generating electrode portions 32b and 42b.

  The upper surface (surface shown in FIG. 5) of the outer case 12 has a hole OP at a position corresponding to the position of each discharge electrode 6 of the first ion generation electrode portions 32a and 42a. That is, each of the holes OP exposes the discharge electrode 6 and covers the induction electrode 7 when viewed from the upper surface of the outer case 12. The back surface of the outer case 12 (the surface corresponding to the left end of the outer case 12 in each of FIGS. 5 and 7) has an opening OQ on the downstream side of the discharge electrode 6b (the side in which the tip of the discharge electrode 6b is directed). . The upper surface of the outer case 12 covers each discharge electrode 6b. The outer case 12 isolates the first and second ion generating electrode portions 32a and 32b, and isolates the first and second ion generating electrode portions 42a and 42b.

  With the above configuration, the ions generated by the first ion generating electrode portions 32a and 42a are emitted from the upper surface of the ion generating device 52 through the hole OP formed in the upper surface of the outer case 12, and are generated outside the ion generating device 52. It is carried on the airflow BA (FIG. 6). The ions generated by the second ion generating electrode portions 32b and 42b are released from the back surface of the ion generating device 52 through the opening OQ formed on the back surface of the outer case 12, and are eventually generated outside the ion generating device 52. It joins with the generated air flow BA (FIG. 6).

  Referring to FIG. 8, one of the secondary sides of high-voltage transformer 22 is electrically connected to discharge electrodes 6 and 6b of positive ion generation electrode section 32 through diode 23p, and negative ion generation electrode section through diode 23n. It is electrically connected to 42 discharge electrodes 6 and 6b. The other side of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 22 is electrically connected to the induction electrodes 7, 7 a and 7 b of the positive ion generation electrode part 32 and the negative ion generation electrode part 42.

  Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as the configuration of the first embodiment described above, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is not repeated.

  According to the present embodiment, the ion emission direction of the first ion generation electrode portions 32a and 42a is different from the ion emission direction of the second ion generation electrode portions 32b and 42b. Therefore, it can suppress that the ion from each of the 1st and 2nd ion generating electrode part couple | bonds together. Thereby, the effective ion generation amount can be increased.

  A blower fan 9 is disposed so as to blow air to the second ion generating electrode portions 32b and 42b. As a result, it is possible to compensate for a decrease in ion generation efficiency due to the use of the bent discharge electrode 6b instead of the straight discharge electrode 6.

(Embodiment 3)
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, in ion generation device 53 of the present embodiment, positive ion generation electrode unit 31 receives an air flow (arrow CP) generated outside ion generation device 53 and receives positive ions. The negative ion generation electrode unit 41 receives an air flow (arrow CN) generated outside the ion generation device 53 and releases negative ions. That is, positive ions and negative ions are released from the ion generator 53 as indicated by arrows CP and CN in FIG.

  The blower fan 9 is arranged so as to blow air between the positive ions and negative ions released as described above (arrow CA in the figure). The speed of the air flow (arrow CA) by the air blow is such that the air flow generated outside the ion generator 53 does not pass through the air blow fan 9 due to the action of the air blow fan 9, and the positive ion generating electrode portion 31 or the negative ion. It is larger than the velocity flowing in the vicinity of the generation electrode portion 41.

  The upper surface (surface shown in FIG. 9) of the outer case 13 has a hole OP at a position corresponding to the position of each discharge electrode 6 of the positive ion generation electrode portion 31 and the negative ion generation electrode portion 41. That is, each of the holes OP exposes the discharge electrode 6 and covers the induction electrode 7 when viewed from the upper surface of the outer case 13.

  Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as the configuration of the first or second embodiment described above, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

  According to the present embodiment, the positive ions and negative ions immediately after being released from the ion generator 53 are blocked by the high-speed airflow (arrow CA) generated by the blower fan 9. Thereby, the fall of the ion concentration accompanying the coupling | bonding of the positive ion and negative ion immediately after discharge | release can be suppressed. Therefore, the effective ion generation amount of the ion generator 53 can be increased.

(Embodiment 4)
Referring mainly to FIGS. 11 and 12, air cleaner 60 (electrical device) includes ion generator 51 (FIG. 1), main body 62, and front panel 61. The main body 62 includes a main fan 69 (air blower), a fan casing 65, and a blowout port 63. The outlet 63 is provided at the upper rear part of the main body 62, and clean air containing ions is supplied into the room from the outlet 63.

  The main fan 69 is attached to substantially the center of the main body 62 and blows air taken in from the air intake port along the fan casing 65. The air taken into the air cleaner 60 is purified by passing through a filter (not shown). The purified air is supplied to the outside from the outlet 63 through the fan casing 65.

  An ion generator 51 (FIG. 1) is attached to a part of the fan casing 65 that forms a passage path for purified air. Therefore, the airflow generated by the main fan 69 is sent to the ion generator 51.

  According to the present embodiment, in addition to the main fan 69 of the air cleaner 60, the ion generator 51 itself has the independent blower fan 9 (FIG. 1). By blowing air suitable for generating ions by the blower fan 9, ions can be supplied with high efficiency without largely depending on the air volume of the air purifier 60.

Below, the specific example of the said effect is given.
The air volume of the airflow blown from the air outlet 63 of the air cleaner 60 can be adjusted by the rotational speed of the main fan 69. When a low rotational speed is selected, the speed at which the airflow generated by the main fan 69 hits the ion generator 51 is reduced. Even in such a case, the blower fan 9 of the ion generator 51 itself generates a high-speed air current locally, so that ions can be supplied with high efficiency.

  In this embodiment, ion generator 51 (FIG. 1) is used, but ion generator 52 (FIG. 5) or 53 (FIG. 9) may be used instead. Moreover, although the air cleaner was demonstrated as an example of an electric equipment, an electric equipment may be an air conditioner (air conditioner), a refrigeration equipment, a vacuum cleaner, a humidifier, a dehumidifier etc. besides this, and an ion generator What is necessary is just an electric equipment which has a ventilation part for carrying the ion discharge | released from the airflow.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention can be particularly advantageously applied to an ion generator and an electric apparatus including the ion generator.

  2 power supply unit, 5 support substrate, 6, 6b discharge electrode, 7, 7a, 7b induction electrode, 9 blower fan, 10 power input connector, 11-13 outer case (housing), 21 drive circuit, 22 high voltage transformer (high Voltage generation circuit), 23n, 23p diode, 31, 32 positive ion generation electrode part, 32a, 42a first ion generation electrode part, 32b, 42b second ion generation electrode part, 41, 42 negative ion generation electrode part, 51-53 Ion generator, 60 air cleaner (electric equipment), 69 main fan.

Claims (9)

An ion generator that takes in a part of the air flow generated outside and blows it out together with ions,
A housing,
At least one ion generating electrode provided in the housing;
An ion generator comprising a blower fan provided in the housing.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the blower fan is arranged to blow air to at least one of the at least one ion generation electrode unit. The at least one ion generating electrode portion includes:
A first ion generating electrode portion having a needle-like electrode extending in a straight line;
The ion generator of Claim 2 containing the 2nd ion generating electrode part which has the bent acicular electrode.   The ion generator according to claim 3, wherein the blower fan is arranged to blow air to the second ion generation electrode unit. The at least one ion generating electrode part includes a positive ion generating electrode part and a negative ion generating electrode part,
The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the blower fan is disposed so as to blow between positive ions and negative ions emitted from the positive ion generation electrode unit and the negative ion generation electrode unit, respectively. .   The ion generator of any one of Claims 1-5 further provided with the high voltage generation circuit for applying a voltage to the said ion generation electrode part provided in the said housing | casing.   The ion generator according to claim 6, wherein a thickness of the blower fan is equal to or less than a thickness of the high voltage generation circuit.   The ion generator of any one of Claims 1-7 further provided with the input connector for supplying a power supply to the said high voltage generation circuit at least one part provided in the said housing | casing. The ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An electric device comprising: a blower that generates an airflow sent to the ion generator.

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