JP5578196B2 - Ion generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator, and more particularly to an ion generator including a metal electrode and a ground electrode.

  As a conventional ion generator, for example, an ion generator described in Patent Document 1 is known. The ion generator includes a metal electrode, a ground electrode, and a substrate. The ground electrode is provided on the substrate. The metal electrode is attached to the substrate and faces the ground electrode. In the ion generator as described above, ions are generated between the metal electrode and the ground electrode by applying a high voltage between the metal electrode and the ground electrode.

  By the way, in the ion generator of patent document 1, there exists a possibility that the generation amount of ion may fall by generation | occurrence | production of leakage current. More specifically, when the ion generator is used, moisture and dirt may adhere to the surface of the substrate. When the ion generator is used in a state where moisture or dirt is attached, a leakage current flows between the metal electrode and the ground electrode via the moisture or dirt. Ions are generated by an electric field generated between the metal electrode and the ground electrode. Therefore, the leakage current causes a decrease in electric field strength between the metal electrode and the ground electrode. As a result, in the ion generator described in Patent Document 1, the amount of ions generated may be reduced.

Japanese Patent No. 4462348

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ion generator that can suppress the generation of leakage current.

An ion generator according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed so as not to contact a substrate, a ground electrode provided on the substrate, the ground electrode and the substrate, and a voltage is applied thereto. And a holding member that holds the metal electrode, and the holding member holds the substrate, the ground electrode, and the metal electrode. The ground electrode extends along two opposite sides of the substrate, and the tip of the metal electrode extends along the two sides when viewed in plan from the normal direction of the substrate. Projecting between the ground electrodes.

  According to the present invention, the occurrence of leakage current can be suppressed.

It is an exploded perspective view of an ion generator concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the ion generator of FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator from above. FIG. 3B is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator from the left side. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator according to the first modification from above. FIG. 4B is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator according to the first modification from the left side. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator according to the second modification from above. FIG. 5B is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator according to the second modification from the left side. FIG. 6A is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator according to the third modification from above. FIG. 6B is a plan view of the insulating substrate, the discharge electrode, and the ground electrode included in the ion generator according to the third modification from the left side.

  Hereinafter, an ion generator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an ion generator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the ion generator 1 of FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 from above. FIG. 3B is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 from the left side. In the following, the vertical direction in FIG. 1 is simply referred to as the vertical direction, and when viewed from above, the longitudinal direction of the ion generator 1 is simply referred to as the front-rear direction, and the short direction of the ion generator 1 is simply referred to as the horizontal direction. Call.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ion generator 1 includes an exterior case 2, an insulating substrate 4, a ground electrode 5, a discharge electrode (metal electrode) 6, and a terminal portion 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the insulating substrate 4 has a shape in which a part of the short side on the front side of the rectangular substrate is cut out. That is, the recess G is provided on the short side of the front side of the insulating substrate 4. Thereby, the insulating substrate 4 includes a main body portion 4a and extending portions 4b and 4c. The main body 4a has a rectangular shape. The extending part 4b extends from the right end of the front side of the main body part 4a to the front side. The extending part 4c extends from the left end of the front side of the main body part 4a to the front side.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ground electrode 5 is provided on the upper surface of the insulating substrate 4 and includes leg portions 5a and 5b, contact portions 5c, and connection portions 5d and 5e. The leg portions 5a and 5b are provided on the upper surfaces of the extending portions 4b and 4c, respectively, and extend along two long sides facing the left and right direction of the insulating substrate 4. The contact portion 5c is provided near the left rear corner of the upper surface of the main body portion 4a. The connection part 5d connects the leg part 5a and the contact part 5c. The connection part 5e connects the leg part 5b and the contact part 5c. The ground electrode 5 has a resistance value of about 50 MΩ. As a material of the ground electrode 5, for example, a ruthenium oxide paste or a carbon paste is used. In particular, ruthenium oxide is an optimal material because it does not cause migration even when a high electric field is applied. The ground electrode 5 is formed, for example, by applying and baking these pastes on the insulating substrate 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge electrode 6 is disposed so as not to contact the insulating substrate 4 and the ground electrode 5, and generates ions and ozone between the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5 by applying a voltage. To do. The discharge electrode 6 includes a needle-like part 6a and a locking part 6b. The needle-like portion 6a is a needle-like conductor that is bent so as to form an L-shape, and has a pointed tip portion. As shown in FIG. 3, the needle-like part 6a is located above the insulating substrate 4, and when viewed from above, the leg parts 5a, 5b and the leg parts 5a, 5b It extends in the front-rear direction in parallel. Thereby, the needle-like portion 6a protrudes into a region surrounded by the main body portion 4a and the extending portions 4b and 4c, that is, a region of the concave portion G of the insulating substrate 4 when seen in plan view from above. It faces the portions 5a and 5b. The needle-like part 6a is bent upward at the rear end.

  The locking part 6b is connected to the upper end where the needle-like part 6a is bent upward, and has a rectangular shape. An end 8a of a high-voltage lead 8 described later is connected to the locking portion 6b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal portion 7 includes a connecting portion 7a and a locking portion 7b. The connecting portion 7a is a rectangular conductor, is formed in a shape having a spring property, and is in pressure contact with the contact portion 5c due to the spring property. The locking portion 7b is connected to the connecting portion 7a and has a rectangular shape. An end portion 9a of a ground lead wire 9 to be described later is connected to the locking portion 7b.

  The outer case 2 is a rectangular parallelepiped container in which the upper case 2 a and the lower case 2 b are combined, and accommodates the insulating substrate 4, the ground electrode 5, the discharge electrode 6, and the terminal portion 7. Openings Op <b> 1 and Op <b> 2 are provided on the front end surface and the rear end surface of the exterior case 2, respectively. The opening Op1 is an air discharge port, and the opening Op2 is an air intake port.

  The upper case 2 a constitutes the upper half of the outer case 2. The upper half of the opening Op1 is provided on the front end face of the upper case 2a. Although not shown, the upper half of the opening Op2 is provided on the rear end face of the upper case 2a. Two claw portions 31 are provided on the left side surface of the upper case 2a.

  Also, holding portions 33 and 34 projecting upward from the upper surface are provided on the upper surface of the upper case 2a. Locking portions 6b and 7b are attached in the holding portions 33 and 34, respectively. Thereby, the upper case 2 a holds the discharge electrode 6 and the terminal portion 7.

  The lower case 2 b constitutes the lower half of the exterior case 2. A lower half of the opening Op1 is provided on the front end face of the lower case 2b. Although not shown, a lower half of the opening Op2 is provided on the rear end face of the lower case 2b. A locking arm portion 23 is provided on the left side surface of the lower case 2b. A claw portion 31 is fitted into the locking arm portion 23. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper case 2 a and the lower case 2 b are joined to form the outer case 2.

  The end portion 8 a of the high-voltage lead 8 is fitted into a hole (not shown) provided on the rear side of the holding portion 33. Thereby, the core wire 81 of the high-voltage lead wire 8 is connected to the locking portion 6b. Similarly, the end portion 9 a of the ground lead wire 9 is fitted into a hole (not shown) provided on the rear side of the holding portion 34. Thereby, the core 91 of the ground lead wire 9 is connected to the locking portion 7b.

  The high-voltage lead 8 is connected to the output terminal of the high-voltage power supply, and the ground lead 9 is connected to the ground terminal of the high-voltage power supply. The high-voltage power supply supplies a negative DC voltage, but may supply an AC voltage on which a negative DC bias is superimposed. And this ion generator 1 is integrated in an air cleaner or an air conditioner. That is, when the high-voltage power supply is set in the power supply circuit section of the air cleaner and the ion generator is set in the air blowing path, the air cleaner or the like blows air containing negative ions and ozone.

  The ion generator 1 having the above configuration can generate negative ions and ozone at a voltage of −1.3 KV to −42.5 KV, as described below. More specifically, when a negative voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5 is grounded, a strong electric field is formed between the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5. Thereby, the front-end | tip part of the discharge electrode 6 breaks down and it will be in a corona discharge state. In the vicinity of the tip of the discharge electrode 6, molecules in the air are turned into plasma, and the molecules are divided into positive ions and negative ions. The positive ions in the air are absorbed by the discharge electrode 6 and negative ions remain. . In order to obtain positive ions, a positive high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 6.

  Further, a discharge current flows between the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5. Oxygen in the air is decomposed by the discharge current to generate ozone.

(effect)
In the ion generator 1 configured as described above, generation of leakage current can be suppressed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge electrode 6 is disposed so as not to contact the insulating substrate 4. Therefore, even if moisture or dirt adheres to the upper surface of the insulating substrate 4, no leakage current flows between the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5 through the moisture or dirt. Thereby, in the ion generator 1, the fall of the electric field strength between the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5 is suppressed, and the fall of the generation amount of ion is suppressed.

  Moreover, even if moisture or dirt adheres to the upper surface of the insulating substrate 4, the ion generator 1 can be used. Therefore, the lifetime of the ion generator 1 can be extended.

  In the ion generator 1, the discharge electrode 6 is disposed so as not to contact the insulating substrate 4. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an insulating film that covers the ground electrode 5 in order to insulate the discharge electrode 6 from the ground electrode 5. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the ion generator 1 is reduced.

  Moreover, in the ion generator 1, the fall of the generation amount of ozone by a leakage current is suppressed. More specifically, in the ion generator, ozone is generated by a discharge current that flows between the discharge electrode and the ground electrode. The discharge current flows through the air, so that it comes into contact with more oxygen and generates more ozone. However, since the leakage current flows along the upper surface of the insulating substrate, the leakage current comes into contact with less oxygen than the discharge current. And since a discharge current reduces with the increase in a leakage current, the generation amount of ozone falls.

  Therefore, in the ion generator 1, the discharge electrode 6 is disposed so as not to contact the insulating substrate 4. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of a leakage current between the discharge electric power 6 and the ground electrode 5 is suppressed, and the fall of the generation amount of ozone is suppressed.

  Moreover, the air cleaner etc. in which the ion generator 1 is used are provided with a protection circuit that stops the operation of the ion generator 1 when the ion generator 1 is abnormal. For example, the protection circuit stops the operation of the ion generator 1 when the leakage current increases. However, in the ion generator 1, since generation | occurrence | production of a leakage current is suppressed, it is hard to generate | occur | produce the stop of operation | movement of the ion generator 1 by a protection circuit.

  Further, since the tip portion of the discharge electrode 6 is pointed, the electric field is concentrated on the tip portion of the discharge electrode 6. As a result, ions are efficiently generated at the tip portion of the discharge electrode 6.

  In the ion generator 1, the amount of ozone generated can be adjusted by adjusting the resistance value of the ground electrode 5.

(First modification)
Below, the ion generator 1a which concerns on a 1st modification is demonstrated. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 a according to the first modification from above. FIG. 4B is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 a according to the first modification from the left side. FIG. 2 is used for an external perspective view of the ion generator 1a.

  The difference between the ion generator 1 a and the ion generator 1 is the shape of the discharge electrode 6. In the ion generator 1, the needle-like portion 6 a of the discharge electrode 6 extends in the front-rear direction in parallel with the insulating substrate 4. On the other hand, in the ion generator 1a, the needle-like part 6a of the discharge electrode 6 is inclined so as to be lowered toward the front side. Thereby, the front-end | tip of the needle-like part 6a is located in the same height as the leg parts 5a and 5b in the up-down direction. Therefore, the electric field generated between the needle-like part 6a and the leg parts 5a and 5b becomes strong, and the amount of ions generated increases.

(Second modification)
Below, the ion generator 1b which concerns on a 2nd modification is demonstrated. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 b according to the second modification from above. FIG. 5B is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 b according to the second modification from the left side. FIG. 2 is used for an external perspective view of the ion generator 1b.

  The difference between the ion generator 1 b and the ion generator 1 a is the shape of the discharge electrode 6. In the ion generator 1a, the needle-like portion 6a of the discharge electrode 6 is inclined so as to be lowered toward the front side. On the other hand, in the ion generator 1 b, the needle-like portion 6 a extends in the front-rear direction in parallel with the insulating substrate 4. And the front-end | tip vicinity of the needle-like part 6a is bent below. Thereby, the front-end | tip of the needle-like part 6a is located in the same height as the leg parts 5a and 5b in the up-down direction. Therefore, the electric field generated between the needle-like part 6a and the leg parts 5a and 5b becomes strong, and the amount of ions generated increases.

(Third Modification)
Below, the ion generator 1c which concerns on a 3rd modification is demonstrated. FIG. 6A is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 c according to the third modification from above. FIG. 6B is a plan view of the insulating substrate 4, the discharge electrode 6, and the ground electrode 5 included in the ion generator 1 c according to the third modification from the left side. FIG. 2 is used for an external perspective view of the ion generator 1c.

  The difference between the ion generator 1 c and the ion generator 1 is the shape of the discharge electrode 6 and the shape of the insulating substrate 4. More specifically, the lengths of the extending portions 4b and 4c of the ion generator 1c are longer than the lengths of the extending portions 4b and 4c of the ion generator 1. That is, the depth of the notch provided in the insulating substrate 4 of the ion generator 1c (the size of the recess G) is greater than the depth of the notch provided in the insulating substrate 4 of the ion generator 1. deep. In other words, the size of the recess G provided in the insulating substrate 4 of the ion generator 1 c is larger than the size of the recess G provided in the insulating substrate 4 of the ion generator 1.

  Further, the needle-like portion 6a of the discharge electrode 6 is positioned at the same height as the ground electrode 5 in the vertical direction, and extends in the front-rear direction in parallel with the insulating substrate 4 between the extended portions 4b and 4c. Yes. Thereby, the distance between the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5 is reduced. As a result, the electric field generated between the discharge electrode 6 and the ground electrode 5 becomes strong, and the amount of ions generated increases.

(Other embodiments)
The ion generator which concerns on this invention is not restricted to the ion generators 1 and 1a-1c which concern on the said embodiment and modification, It can change within the range of the summary.

  The ion generators 1 and 1a to 1c may further include an insulating film that is provided on the surface of the insulating substrate 4 and covers the ground electrode 5 with a part of the ground electrode 5 exposed. In this case, the discharge electrode 6 generates ions between the portion where the ground electrode 5 is exposed from the insulating film.

  The present invention is useful for an ion generator, and is particularly excellent in that the generation of leakage current can be suppressed.

1, 1a to 1c Ion generator 2 Exterior case 4 Insulating substrate 5 Ground electrode 6 Discharge electrode G Recess

Claims (6)

A substrate,
A ground electrode provided on the substrate;
A metal electrode that is disposed so as not to contact the ground electrode and the substrate, and generates ions between the ground electrode by applying a voltage;
A holding member for holding the metal electrode;
With
The holding member is an exterior case that houses the substrate, the ground electrode, and the metal electrode,
The ground electrode extends along two opposing sides of the substrate,
The tip of the metal electrode protrudes between the ground electrodes extending along the two sides when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate.
An ion generator characterized by. A recess is provided on one side of the substrate, and the ground electrode extends on the substrate located on both sides of the recess,
The tip of the metal electrode protrudes into the recess when viewed in plan from the normal direction of the substrate,
The ion generator according to claim 1. The metal electrode has a pointed tip;
Ion generator according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in. The ground electrode extends in parallel with the metal electrode when viewed in plan from the normal direction of the substrate;
The ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein: The metal electrode includes a locking portion to which a lead wire is connected;
Ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in. An insulating film provided on the substrate and covering the ground electrode in a state where a part of the ground electrode is exposed,
In addition,
The metal electrode generates ions between the ground electrode and a portion exposed from the insulating film;
An ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein:

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