JP4712579B2 - Mist sauna equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mist sauna apparatus that generates a mist sauna atmosphere in a room by hot and humid air and heated fine particulate water droplets.

  As a mist sauna device that generates a mist sauna atmosphere by hot and humid air and heated fine particulate water droplets, conventionally, spraying fine water droplets in the bathroom using the hot water and water pressure of the water heater , Crushing hot water and spraying it in the bathroom, sprinkling the heat exchange accelerator to generate steam and supplying it into the bathroom, boiling water with a heating device, supplying steam into the bathroom, heating There exist some which sprinkle the hot water produced | generated with the apparatus to the heat exchange promoter, produce | generate steam, and supply it in a bathroom (refer patent document 1).

JP 2000-197682 A

  The sauna has a dry sauna that creates a sauna atmosphere with air heated by a high-temperature (typically 90 ° C to 100 ° C) heater, and steam at a low temperature (generally near 40 ° C and near 100% relative humidity). There is a mist sauna that creates a sauna atmosphere. Mist saunas are less common to dry saunas and have recently become popular in public homes as well as public baths. A conventional mist sauna apparatus that creates a mist sauna atmosphere has a temperature / humidity environment that is controlled by controlling the temperature of the hot water, the amount of circulating water, and the amount of circulating air in order to provide the user's preferred temperature / humidity environment. In a mist sauna, temperature and humidity are important control factors, and in the case of a mist sauna using a bathroom space, it is important to control the entire bathroom to an appropriate temperature and humidity. The mist referred to in the mist sauna is fine water particles and is generally steam. In a temperature / humidity environment suitable for a mist sauna, the burden on the body is reduced for bathers compared to a dry sauna, but a sauna bath in a humid environment is burdensome in breathing. In the air conditions of a mist sauna, breathlessness is improved if the mist inside the bathroom remains, but the feeling of breathing varies from person to person. In the conventional spraying type with hot water or spraying with a nozzle, in order to leave the mist in the bathroom, the temperature in the bathroom must be lowered or the temperature of the hot water must be raised. Changing the temperature is uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mist sauna apparatus capable of generating a mist sauna atmosphere in an appropriate temperature and humidity state while leaving the mist in the room. It is to obtain a mist sauna device that can easily enjoy a mist sauna bath, and to enhance the functions of the device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a series of air passage structures having an opening that leads to a room and another opening that leads to the same room as a box, and the air passage structure has one opening to another opening. A circulation blower that forms an air flow to the front is incorporated, and an atomizing means with variable atomization capability is provided in the air passage structure on the downstream side of this circulation blower to disperse the water, and the air passage structure on the downstream side of the atomization means A means for providing an electric heating means with variable capacity for heating the airflow flowing through the part is adopted.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to generate a mist sauna atmosphere at an appropriate temperature and humidity while leaving the mist in the bathroom by selecting the atomization ability of the atomization means and the ability of the electric heating means, and the mist fills the bathroom. The mist sauna device that can enjoy the mist sauna bathing feeling visually is obtained.

  The mist sauna device of the present invention is placed in a bathroom or installed to make the bathroom a mist sauna atmosphere. In addition, the bathroom said here shows the specific space provided with a certain amount of airtightness, and is not necessarily limited to what is called a bathroom provided with a bathtub, but also includes a space defined by a tent or the like. The mist sauna apparatus is configured by forming a series of air passage structures having a suction opening leading to the inside of the bathroom and a blow-off opening leading to the inside of the bathroom into a box, and incorporating functional parts into the box. A circulation fan that forms an air flow from the suction opening toward the blow-off opening is incorporated in the air passage structure. The air passage structure on the downstream side of the circulation blower is provided with atomizing means with variable atomization capability for atomizing and diffusing water. An atomization means is the structure provided with the some ultrasonic transducer | vibrator which atomizes water with a vibration energy in a water storage container. Water is supplied to the water storage container from the water storage tank through a constant level device. The air passage structure close to the outlet opening on the downstream side of the atomizing means is provided with a variable capacity electric heating means for heating the airflow flowing through the portion. The electric heating means is composed of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor and a heater case, and is installed at a higher position than the atomization means.

The mist sauna device can be installed in the bathroom or installed in a space behind the ceiling of the bathroom to make the bathroom a mist sauna atmosphere. However, when installed in a space behind the ceiling or the like, the water supply system to the atomizing means constitutes a water supply system having an electromagnetic valve or the like connected to the water pipe, regardless of the water storage tank or the constant liquid level device. If the circulating blower, the atomizing means, and the electric heating means are operated, the bathroom is filled with steam and becomes a mist sauna atmosphere.

  That is, the bathroom air sucked from the suction opening by the circulation blower carries the mist atomized by the atomizing means and diffused to the air passage structure to the electric heating means and passes through the electric heating means. The mist is heated together with air by an electric heating means, and becomes a warm mist and is blown into the bathroom from the blowout opening. The fine mist passes through the electric heating means and is blown into the bathroom together with warm air, but the large mist of particles adheres to the electric heating means and evaporates and is supplied to the bathroom together with the mist. It becomes warm water and flows down along the airway structure. The atomizing device is at a lower position than the electric heating means, and the hot water that has flowed down is received by the water storage container and used again as atomized water. The temperature of the water in the hot water container is raised by this hot water, and atomization is promoted. The amount of mist can be adjusted by selecting the atomization ability of the atomizing means, and the temperature and humidity conditions are suitable for the bather's preference while leaving the mist in the bathroom by selecting the capacity of the electric heating means and the air volume of the circulating blower. A mist sauna atmosphere can be generated easily. And the mist sauna bath feeling that mist fills the bathroom can be enjoyed visually.

  This mist sauna device also functions as a warm air heater by stopping the atomization means and operating the electric heating means and the circulating blower. And if the ventilation fan installed in the bathroom is used together, the bathroom can be used as a drying room for clothes and the like.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 8 relates to a ceiling-installed mist sauna apparatus. 1 is a block diagram showing a bathroom in which a mist sauna apparatus is installed, FIG. 2 is a front view of a bathroom remote controller, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus body, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus body, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an arrow A part in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an atomizing means portion, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a drain pan, and FIG. 8 is a rear view of a main body box.

  This mist sauna apparatus is installed in a space such as the ceiling of the bathroom 1 as shown in FIG. The apparatus main body includes a front panel 2 provided along the ceiling surface and a main body box 3 installed in a space such as the back of the ceiling. A remote controller 4 is provided outside the bathroom 1 and a bathroom remote controller 5 is provided inside the bathroom 1. The main body box 3 has a structure in which functional parts are incorporated into an outer shell of a hexahedron having an open bottom surface, and the open bottom surface is attached along the back surface of the ceiling. The front panel 2 is provided along the ceiling surface so as to cover the open lower surface of the main body box 3. A series of air passage structures 8 having a suction opening 6 leading to the bathroom 1 and a blowout opening 7 leading to the bathroom 1 are formed in the apparatus main body. The suction opening 6 is opened on the side surface of the front panel 2, and the blowout opening 7 is opened on one side of the front surface of the front panel 2. A circulation blower 9 that forms an air flow from the suction opening 6 toward the blowout opening 7 is incorporated in the air passage structure 8 of the main body box 3. The air passage structure 8 on the downstream side of the circulating blower 9 is provided with an atomizing means 10 having variable atomization capability for atomizing and diffusing water. The atomizing means 10 is disposed on a drain pan 11 provided between the front panel 2 and the main body box 3, and a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators that atomize water with vibration energy in a water storage container 12A for storing water. 12B.

  The water storage container 12A is provided with a water supply system 13 and an overflow pipe 14 for discharging water at the time of abnormal water supply, and further provided with a water level detection means 15 for detecting the position of the water to be stored (low water surface / high water surface). . The water supply system 13 is connected to a water supply source through a water supply electromagnetic valve 16 through a strainer with a check valve (not shown). The ultrasonic vibrator 12B is provided with a cylindrical separator 17 along a water column generated by vibration energy so that the water columns do not interfere with each other so that the atomization function is not impaired. The air passage structure 8 near the blowout opening 7 on the downstream side of the atomizing means 10 is provided with a variable capacity electric heating means 18 for heating the airflow flowing through the part. The electric heating means 18 is composed of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor 19 and a heater case 20, and is installed at a higher position than the atomizing means 10 so that the adhered water flows down to the water storage container 12A (FIGS. 3 and 4). FIG. 6).

  The drain pan 11 has a structure that covers the front surface (bottom surface) of the main body box 3, and the ventilation suction port 21, the circulation suction port 22, and the circulation outlet 23 are surrounded by a standing wall 24 and opened. The end of the air passage structure 8 communicating with the electric heating means 18 is fitted on the standing wall 24 of the circulation outlet 23 with a gap (see FIGS. 5 and 7). With this configuration, water droplets generated in the air passage structure 8 of the electric heating means 18 of the air passage structure 8 can be introduced into the drain pan 11 from the gap and can be prevented from dripping from the blowout opening 7. The front panel 2 is provided with a louver 25 that changes the air direction from the blowout opening 7 and a drive motor (not shown) that drives the louver 25. The louver 25 processes a signal sent from the bathroom remote controller 5 by a receiving device (not shown) and a control unit 26 arranged in the mist sauna device. The louver 25 is configured in a lattice shape so that a finger or the like does not enter.

  In addition to the circulation fan 9, a ventilation fan 27 is also incorporated in the main body box 3. The ventilation blower 27 can change the air volume by variably controlling the rotational speed of its motor (not shown). This motor operation signal is processed and controlled by the control unit 26 by the operation signal of the remote controller 4 and the ventilation switch of the bathroom remote controller 5. The ventilation air passage is separate from the air passage structure 8, and the air sucked from the suction opening 6 on the side surface of the front panel 2 is sucked into the ventilation blower 27 through the open ventilation damper 28, and the main body box body The air is exhausted from the three selectable exhaust ports 29 through a duct. The main body box 3 is provided with a plurality of selectable sub suction ports 30 so that ventilation can be performed from other rooms (dressing room and toilet) (see FIG. 8).

  The mist sauna device transmits an operation signal by the remote controller 4, is controlled in operation by a control unit 26 provided in the device body, and operates in each requested operation mode. As the operation mode, a mist sauna operation mode, a cool breeze mist mode, a heating mode by the circulation blower 9 and the electric heating means 18 for warming the bathroom before bathing, a cool breeze mode only for the circulation blower 9, a ventilation blower 27 and the electric heating means 18 and There are a drying mode with the circulation fan 9 and a ventilation mode with only the ventilation fan 27.

  When the mist sauna mode is selected by the remote controller 4, an operation process is performed by the control unit 26, the water supply electromagnetic valve 16 is opened by the operation command, and water is supplied to the water storage container 12A. Water is supplied until the high water level is detected by the water level detection means 15, and the water supply electromagnetic valve 16 is closed when the high water level is detected. Thereafter, the atomizing means 10 operates and the water in the water storage container 12A is consumed. When the water level detection means 15 detects the low water level, the water is supplied again. In parallel with the water supply, the circulation blower 9 and the electric heating means 18 are operated to make the bathroom 1 a mist sauna atmosphere filled with steam. That is, the air in the bathroom 1 sucked from the suction opening 6 by the circulation blower 9 carries the mist atomized by the atomizing means 10 and diffused to the air passage structure 8 to the electric heating means 18 and passes through the electric heating means 18. . The mist is heated together with air by the electric heating means 18 and is blown into the bathroom 1 from the blowout opening 7 as a warm mist.

  The fine mist passes through the electric heating means 18 and is blown to the bathroom 1 together with warm air, but the large mist of particles adheres to the electric heating means 18 and evaporates and is supplied to the bathroom 1 together with the mist. The mist of particles flows down as warm water. The atomizing means 10 is at a lower position than the electric heating means 18, and the hot water that has flowed down is received by the water storage container 12 </ b> A and used as water to be atomized again. The temperature of the water in the water storage container 12A is increased by this hot water, and atomization is promoted. The mist amount can be adjusted by selecting the atomizing ability of the atomizing means 10, and the appropriate temperature suitable for the bather's preference while remaining the mist in the bathroom 1 by selecting the capacity of the electric heating means 18 and the air volume of the circulating blower 9.・ A mist sauna atmosphere in an appropriate humidity state can be generated. And the mist sauna bath feeling that mist fills the bathroom 1 can be enjoyed visually.

  When draining the water in the water storage container 12 </ b> A, the drain electromagnetic valve 31 is opened to drain the drain pan 11. The water accumulated in the drain pan 11 is drained by a drain up 32 to a drain outlet of the bathroom 1 through a drain pipe. The drain pan 11 is provided with electrode type drain detecting means 33. When the drain is detected, an error is displayed from the control unit 26 to the remote controller 4, and the operation is stopped.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The present embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 relates to the atomizing means, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the mist sauna device of the present embodiment, the atomizer 34 is employed as the atomizing means 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the atomizing means 10 may be configured by the sprayer 34 alone, or may be configured side by side with the ultrasonic transducer 12B as shown in FIG. 10. Adjustment of the amount of mist in the sprayer 34 is performed by the number which makes the sprayer 34 work. Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The present embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is obtained by adding a visual element to mist, and is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the configuration related to this. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the mist sauna device of the present embodiment, the light emitting LED 35 is disposed in the vicinity of the blowout opening 7 of the air passage structure 8. The light emitting LED 35 may be one or plural, and can be made to emit light by operating the bathroom remote controller 5 during operation in the mist sauna mode. The light emitted from the light emitting LED 35 is reflected by the mist, and a mist having a color sensation is blown out, so that a mist sauna bath with a good visual atmosphere can be enjoyed. The color of light emitted from the light emitting LED 35 can be selected by the bathroom remote controller 5. Other functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The above-mentioned mist sauna device (not including the ventilation function) is a temporary space that does not have a bathtub facility as a temporary bathing facility in the event of a disaster, by incorporating it into a unit bath or carrying it in a compact form. But it can be a bathing facility that can be used as a mist bath, and can also function as a heater.

It is a block diagram which shows the bathroom which installed the mist sauna apparatus. (Embodiment 1) It is a front view of a bathroom remote control. (Embodiment 1) It is a disassembled perspective view of an apparatus body. (Embodiment 1) It is sectional drawing of an apparatus main body. (Embodiment 1) It is an enlarged view of the A arrow part of FIG. (Embodiment 1) It is a perspective view of the atomization means part. (Embodiment 1) It is sectional drawing of a drain pan. (Embodiment 1) It is a rear view of a main body box. (Embodiment 1) It is a perspective view of the atomization means part. (Embodiment 2) It is a perspective view of the atomization means part. (Embodiment 2) It is sectional drawing of the blowing opening part of an air path structure. (Embodiment 3)

Explanation of symbols

  3 Body box, 6 Suction opening, 7 Blowing opening, 8 Air passage structure, 9 Circulating fan, 10 Atomizing means, 11 Drain pan, 12A Water storage container, 12B Ultrasonic vibrator, 17 Separator, 18 Electric heating means, 19 Positive Characteristic thermistor, 20 heater case, 24 vertical wall, 27 ventilation fan, 34 sprayer, 35 light emitting LED.

Claims (4)

A series of air passage structures having an opening that leads to the room and another opening that leads to the same room are configured in a box, and a circulation blower that forms an air flow from one opening to the other opening is formed in the air passage structure. Built-in atomizing means with variable atomization capability for atomizing and dissipating water in the air flow structure downstream of the circulation blower is provided, and the airflow flowing through the air flow structure in the air flow structure downstream of the atomizing means An electric heating means with variable capacity for heating
The box is configured to be installed in a space behind the ceiling of the room, and a drain pan provided with a water supply system for supplying water to the atomizing means is provided under the box, and directed to the opening of the air channel structure of the drain pan. A mist sauna device in which the ends of the air passage structure are externally fitted to a standing wall provided on the drain pan with a gap between them. 2. The mist sauna apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electric heating means is composed of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor and a heater case for holding the positive temperature thermistor, and the atomizing means includes a water storage container for storing water to be atomized. Is a mist sauna device arranged at a low position where water can be received from the electric heating means. It is a mist sauna apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 , Comprising: The mist sauna apparatus which provided light emitting LED in the blowing opening of the air path structure. The mist sauna apparatus which added the ventilation function which exhausts indoor air to the outdoor to the mist sauna apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 3 .

Images