JP2015075248A - Water leakage prevention device for humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure that a water discharge water level sensor and an overflow water level sensor can function without being affected by unnecessary interference due to bubbles and microorganisms and that an overflow from a drain tank and an element case can be detected.SOLUTION: An element case includes a water discharge case portion and an overflow case portion, and water discharge drain piping and overflow drain piping are provided. A drain tank includes a water discharge tank portion and an overflow tank portion, and a water discharge water level sensor and an overflow water level sensor are provided. A water leakage prevention device for a humidifier includes a control section for operating a water discharge pump to discharge water in the water discharge tank portion when the water discharge water level sensor detects that a water level of the water discharge tank portion reaches a water discharge water level and for closing a water feed valve to stop water feeding to a vaporization element when the overflow water level sensor detects that water is present in the overflow tank portion.

Description

  The present invention relates to a water leakage prevention device for a humidifier, and more particularly to a water leakage prevention device for a humidifier that can detect an abnormality in a drainage path of the humidifier and prevent water leakage to the outside of the humidifier.

An example of a humidifier that humidifies indoor air is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the humidifier 101 humidifies the air by vaporizing the water supplied by the water supply mechanism 102 by the vaporizing element 103. The water supply mechanism 102 includes a water supply pipe 105 having a water supply valve 104 and a sprinkler 106 that drops water supplied through the water supply pipe 105 onto the vaporizing element 103. The vaporizing element 103 has water absorption and is supported by the element case 107. The element case 107 receives water dropped from the vaporizing element 103.
The humidifier 101 stores the water that has been dropped from the vaporizing element 103 into the element case 107 and stored in the drain tank 108 and is discharged by the drain mechanism 109. The drain tank 108 stores water discharged from the element case 107 through the drain drain pipe 110. The drainage mechanism 109 includes a drainage pipe 112 having a drainage pump 111 that drains water from the drainage tank 108, and includes a drainage water level sensor 113 that detects that the water in the drainage tank 108 has reached the drainage water level A1. An overflow water level sensor 114 that detects that the water in the tank 108 has reached the maximum stored water level A2 is provided.

  The water supply valve 104, the drainage pump 111, the drainage water level sensor 113, and the overflow water level sensor 114 are connected to a control unit 116 that constitutes a water leakage prevention device 115. When the drain water level sensor 113 detects that the water level in the drain tank 108 has reached the drain water level A1, the controller 116 drives the drain pump 111 to discharge the water in the drain tank 108 to the outside through the drain pipe 112. To do. Further, when the overflow water level sensor 114 detects that the water in the drain tank 108 has reached the stored maximum water level A2, the control unit 116 closes the water supply valve 104 and stops water supply to the vaporizing element 103. Accordingly, the water leakage prevention device 115 prevents water leakage from the drain tank 108 to the outside.

  As a water leakage prevention device for equipment that uses such water, Patent Document 1 discloses that in a functional water generator that uses electricity to generate functional water, a water receiving portion that stores the leaked water, and a water receiving portion. Some have a water leakage detection unit that detects accumulated water leakage and a control unit that receives a signal from the water leakage detection unit and controls the operation of the functional water generator.

JP 2001-47029 A

By the way, in the humidifier 101 shown in FIG. 2, since the drainage tank 108 causes microbial contamination if unnecessary water is stored, the depth of the drainage tank 108 is designed so as to have a necessary minimum capacity. .
For this reason, the water level sensor 113 for drainage or the suction port of the drainage pump 111 and the overflow level sensor 114 are difficult to obtain a large difference in water level, so that the water levels for drainage and overflow are detected as distinctly different values. There are problems that make it difficult to function.

Further, in the humidifier 101, the pressurized air is supplied to the drainage tank 108 through the drainage drain pipe 110 by the pressure of the air passing through the vaporizing element 103. The drainage drain pipe 110 is in contact with the water surface of the water stored in the drainage tank 108 in order to prevent scattering of water drops falling from the opening at the lower end and unpleasant noise.
For this reason, the air supplied through the drainage drain pipe 110 generates bubbles in the water stored in the drainage tank 108, and these bubbles adhere to the electrode-type drainage water level sensor 113 and the overflow water level sensor 114. In this case, there is a problem that causes erroneous detection of the water level.

Further, in the humidifier 101, microorganisms (slime) generated on the bottom surface of the drain tank 108 may grow and adhere to the opening at the lower end of the drain drain pipe 110. If the opening of the drainage drain pipe 110 is blocked due to the adhesion of microorganisms, the falling water of the vaporizing element 103 cannot be discharged from the element case 107 to the drainage tank 108.
For this reason, the water accumulated in the element case 107 will eventually overflow. Since the overflow from the element case 107 is an abnormal overflow outside the drain tank 108, the overflow water level sensor 114 provided in the drain tank 108 does not function effectively and cannot be detected.
As a measure for detecting an overflow from the element case 107, there is an attempt to perform detection using a water level sensor installed on the element case 107. However, the water level sensor installed on the element case 107 has a problem that it is difficult to ensure the detection accuracy because it cannot avoid the influence of water or high-humidity air slightly scattered from the vaporizing element 103.

  This invention has a drainage tank structure in which it is difficult to secure the depth, and the drainage water level sensor for controlling the drainage pump and the overflow water level sensor for detecting the overflow are not subject to unnecessary interference caused by bubbles or microorganisms. It is an object of the present invention to provide a water leakage prevention device for a humidifier that can function reliably and can reliably detect an overflow from a drain tank and an abnormal overflow from an element case.

  The present invention provides a humidifier that evaporates water supplied by a water supply mechanism by a vaporizing element and humidifies the air, and stores water dropped in an element case supporting the vaporizing element in a drainage tank and discharges it by the drainage mechanism. In the water leakage waterproof device, the element case includes a drainage case portion for storing water falling from the vaporizing element, and an overflow case portion for storing water exceeding a maximum storage water level of the drainage case portion, The drain case has drain drain piping, the overflow case has overflow drain piping, and the drain tank is for drainage that collects water discharged from the drain case by the drain drain piping. Stores water that exceeds the maximum water level stored in the tank section and the drain tank section, and An overflow tank section for collecting water discharged from the case drain section through the overflow drain pipe, and a drainage water level sensor for detecting that the water level of the drainage tank has reached the drainage water level. Provided with an overflow water level sensor that detects the presence or absence of water in the tank, and when the drain water level sensor detects that the water level in the drain tank has reached the drain water level, drives the drain pump of the drain mechanism When the overflow water level sensor detects that there is water in the overflow tank portion, the water supply valve of the water supply mechanism is closed to supply water to the vaporizing element. A control unit for stopping is provided.

  The present invention divides a drainage tank into a drainage tank part for storing water falling into the element case, an overflow tank part for storing water overflowed from the drainage tank part and the overflow case part, and a drainage water level sensor and overflow water for each. A water level sensor is installed to detect the water level for drainage and discharge the water in the tank for drainage, and the overflow water level sensor detects the presence of water in the overflow tank and supplies water to the vaporizing element. With a drain tank structure where it is difficult to secure depth, the drain water level sensor for controlling the drain pump and the overflow water level sensor for detecting overflow are subject to unnecessary interference such as bubbles and microorganisms. Without overflowing from the drain tank and from the element case. Overflows can be reliably detected.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a water leakage prevention device of a humidifier. (Example) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the water leakage prevention device of the humidifier. (Conventional example)

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a humidifier 1 includes a water supply mechanism 2 that supplies water for vaporization, and a vaporization element 3 that vaporizes the water supplied by the water supply mechanism 2 to humidify the air. The water supply mechanism 2 includes a water supply pipe 5 having a water supply valve 4, and a sprinkler 6 that drops water supplied through the water supply pipe 5 onto the vaporizing element 3. The vaporizing element 3 has water absorption and is supported by the element case 7. The element case 7 receives water dropped from the vaporizing element 3.
The element case 7 includes a deep wall 8, a shallow wall 9 that is continuous with the deep wall 8 and is located above the deep wall 8, and a peripheral wall 10 that surrounds the deep wall 8 and the shallow wall 9. And formed into a box shape. The element case 7 includes a drain case 11 and an overflow case 12. The drainage case portion 11 is formed by a deep wall 8 and a peripheral wall 10 surrounding the deep wall 8. The overflow case portion 12 is formed by a shallow wall 9 and a peripheral wall 10 surrounding the shallow wall 9.
The drain case 11 supports the lower part of the vaporizing element 3 and stores water falling from the vaporizing element 3. The falling water of the vaporizing element 3 is stored from the upper surface of the deep bottom wall 8 to the height of the highest stored water level B1. The drainage case portion 11 includes a drainage drain pipe 13 on the deep bottom wall 8. The drainage drain pipe 13 discharges the falling water of the vaporizing element 3 stored in the drainage case part 11.
The overflow case portion 12 has the upper surface of the shallow wall 9 positioned at the same height as the highest stored water level B1 of the drainage case portion 11. The overflow case portion 12 stores water on the shallow bottom wall 9 that exceeds the maximum storage water level B1 of the drainage case portion 8. The overflow case portion 12 includes an overflow drain pipe 14 on the shallow bottom wall 9. The overflow drain pipe 14 discharges the water that has flowed over the shallow bottom wall 9 beyond the stored maximum water level B1 of the drainage case portion 8.

The humidifier 1 includes a drain tank 15 that stores water dropped from the vaporizing element 3 to the element case 7, and a drain mechanism 16 that discharges the water stored in the drain tank 15.
The drainage tank 15 includes a first bottom wall 17, a second bottom wall 18 that is continuous with the first bottom wall 17, a peripheral wall 19 that surrounds the first bottom wall 17 and the second bottom wall 18, and an opposing peripheral wall 19. And a partition wall 20 that partitions between the first bottom wall 17 and the second bottom wall 18. The drainage tank 15 includes a drainage tank unit 21 and an overflow tank unit 22. The drain tank portion 21 is formed by the first bottom wall 17, the peripheral wall 19 surrounding the first bottom wall 17, and the partition wall 20. The overflow tank portion 22 is formed by the second bottom wall 18, the peripheral wall 19 surrounding the second bottom wall 18, and the partition wall 20.
The drainage tank portion 21 is disposed below the drainage case portion 11 of the element case 7 and stores water discharged from the drainage case portion 8 through the drainage drain pipe 13. The drainage drain pipe 13 is in contact with the water surface of the water stored in the drainage tank unit 21 in order to prevent scattering of water drops falling from the opening at the lower end and unpleasant noise. The drainage tank unit 21 sets a drainage water level B2 for starting the discharge of water at a predetermined height from the upper surface of the first bottom wall 17, and stores the upper end of the partition wall 20 above the drainage water level B2. The water level is set to B3. Water that exceeds the stored maximum water level B3 of the drain tank 21 flows into the overflow tank 22.

The overflow tank section 22 stores water that exceeds the maximum storage water level B3 of the drain tank section 21 and stores water discharged from the overflow case section 12 through the overflow drain pipe 14.
The drainage mechanism 16 includes a drainage pipe 24 having a drainage pump 23 that drains water from the drainage tank unit 21 and detects that the water in the drainage tank unit 21 has reached the drainage water level B2. 25 and an overflow water level sensor 26 for detecting the presence or absence of water in the overflow tank section 22. The overflow water level sensor 26 is disposed on the upper surface of the second bottom surface 18, has an electrode structure, and detects the presence or absence of water on the second bottom surface 18 by conductivity.
The water supply valve 4, the drainage pump 23, the drainage water level sensor 25, and the overflow water level sensor 26 are connected to a control unit 28 that constitutes a water leakage prevention device 27. When the drain water level sensor 25 detects that the water level in the drain tank 21 has reached the drain water level B2, the controller 28 drives the drain pump 23 to drain the water in the drain tank 21 into the drain pipe 24. To discharge outside. When the overflow water level sensor 26 detects that there is water in the overflow tank unit 22, the control unit 28 closes the water supply valve 4 of the water supply mechanism 2 and stops water supply to the vaporizing element 3.

Next, the operation will be described.
The humidifier 1 discharges the water dropped from the vaporizing element 3 to the drainage case 11 of the element case 7 through the drainage drain pipe 13 and stores it in the drainage tank 21.
In the case of the drainage water level sensor 25 detecting that the water level of the drainage tank unit 21 has reached the drainage water level B2 by the control unit 28, the water leakage prevention device 27 drives the drainage pump 23 to discharge the drainage tank unit 21. Is discharged to the outside through the drainage pipe 24, thereby preventing water leakage from the drainage tank section 21 to the outside.
Further, in the humidifier 1, when the water stored in the drain tank 21 exceeds the stored maximum water level B3, the water flows into the overflow tank 22. The water flowing into the overflow tank 22 is detected by the overflow water level sensor 26.
The water leakage prevention device 27 closes the water supply valve 4 of the water supply mechanism 2 and stops the water supply to the vaporizing element 3 by the control unit 28 when the overflow water level sensor 26 detects the presence of water, thereby stopping the water supply tank unit 21. Prevent water leakage from the outside.
Further, in the humidifier 1, the drainage drain pipe 13 is blocked by bubbles and microorganisms, so that the water in the drainage case part 11 cannot be discharged to the drainage tank part 21, and the water in the drainage case part 11 is stored at the highest stored water level B1. In the case of flowing into the overflow case section 12 beyond this distance, it is discharged to the overflow tank section 22 through the overflow drain pipe 14 to prevent water leakage from the drain case section 11 to the outside. The water flowing into the overflow tank 22 is detected by the overflow water level sensor 26.
The water leakage prevention device 27 closes the water supply valve 4 of the water supply mechanism 2 and stops the water supply to the vaporizing element 3 by the control unit 28 when the overflow water level sensor 26 detects the presence of water, thereby stopping the water supply case unit 11. Prevent water leakage from the outside.

As described above, the water leakage prevention device 27 of the humidifier 1 is used for the overflow tank 21 for storing the water that has overflowed from the drain tank section 21 and the drain tank section 21 and the overflow case section 12. The tank unit 22 is divided into a drainage water level sensor 25 and an overflow water level sensor 26, and the drainage water level sensor 25 detects the drainage water level and discharges the water from the drainage tank unit 21. The overflow water level sensor 26 detects the presence of water in the overflow tank unit 22 and stops water supply to the vaporizing element 3.
Thereby, the water leakage prevention device 27 of the humidifier 1 has a drain tank structure in which it is difficult to secure a depth, and includes a drain level sensor 25 for controlling the drain pump 23 and an overflow level sensor 26 for detecting overflow. It is possible to function reliably without receiving unnecessary interference such as bubbles and microorganisms, and it is possible to reliably detect overflow from the drain tank 15 and overflow from the element case 7.

In this embodiment, the drain tank portion 21 and the overflow tank portion 22 of the drain tank 15 are integrally formed. However, the drain tank portion 21 and the overflow tank portion 22 are formed separately. You can also.
For example, in the drainage tank 15, a separate drainage tank unit 21 and an overflow tank unit 22 are arranged with a height difference and are connected by an overflow pipe, and the overflow tank unit is separated from the drainage tank unit 21 by a drop. It is also possible to drain to 22 through overflow piping.

  The water leakage prevention device for a humidifier according to the present invention can reliably function the drainage water level sensor and the overflow water level sensor for detecting overflow without receiving unnecessary interference such as bubbles and microorganisms. The overflow from the element case and the overflow from the element case can be reliably detected, and can be applied not only to a humidifier but also to a device having a structure for storing a liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Humidifier 2 Water supply mechanism 3 Vaporization element 4 Water supply valve 5 Water supply piping 6 Water sprinkler 7 Element case 11 Drainage case part 12 Overflow case part 13 Drain drain pipe 14 Overflow drain pipe 15 Drain tank 16 Drainage mechanism 21 For drainage Tank section 22 Overflow tank section 23 Drain pump 24 Drain piping 25 Drain water level sensor 26 Overflow water level sensor 27 Water leakage prevention device 28 Control section

Claims (1)

  In a water leakage waterproof device of a humidifier that vaporizes water supplied by a water supply mechanism by a vaporizing element to humidify the air, and stores water dropped in an element case supporting the vaporizing element in a drainage tank and discharges it by a drainage mechanism The element case includes a drainage case portion for storing water falling from the vaporizing element, and an overflow case portion for storing water exceeding the maximum storage water level of the drainage case portion, and the drainage case portion. Is provided with drainage drain piping, the overflow case portion is provided with overflow drain piping, and the drainage tank is a drainage tank portion that stores water discharged from the drainage case portion by the drainage drain piping; Stores water that exceeds the maximum water level stored in the drain tank and also uses the overflow case. An overflow tank section for collecting water discharged from the overflow drain pipe, and a drainage water level sensor for detecting that the water level of the drainage tank has reached the drainage water level. An overflow water level sensor for detecting the presence or absence of water, and when the drain water level sensor detects that the water level in the drain tank has reached the drain water level, the drain pump of the drain mechanism is driven to Control for discharging water from the drain tank and closing the water supply valve of the water supply mechanism to stop water supply to the vaporizing element when the overflow water level sensor detects that there is water in the overflow tank A water leakage prevention device for a humidifier, comprising a section.

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