KR20200029233A - Sterilization module and home appliance including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted inside a housing of a home appliance, and can sterilize a fluid passing through the housing. The sterilization module comprises: a ring-shaped frame having an opening unit through which the fluid passes; at least one light emitting diode unit disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the frame; at least one heat radiating unit extending from the outer circumferential surface of the frame; and at least one mounting unit extending from the outer circumferential surface of the frame and fixing the frame to the inside of the housing.

Description

Sterilization Module and Home Appliance Containing It {STERILIZATION MODULE AND HOME APPLIANCE INCLUDING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a sterilization module, and more particularly, to a sterilization module and a home appliance for sterilizing microorganisms in a fluid such as air using an ultraviolet light emitting diode.

An air purifier is a device that purifies the inhaled air and discharges the purified air. The air purifier sucks contaminated air into a fan to collect dust or bacteria by a filter and deodorizes various odors such as body odor.

Recently, as interest in air quality has increased due to an increase in fine dust and the like, research on methods for various home appliances to perform an air cleaning function is increasing.

On the other hand, not only the removal of dust, but also the demand for sterilization of bacteria and various bacteria contained in the air is increasing.

To this end, methods for sterilizing the bacteria or various bacteria using ultraviolet light (Ultra Violet (UV)) have been proposed. Conventionally, ultraviolet lamps are mainly used, but the ultraviolet lamps have limitations in form and area. Accordingly, recently, a method of using an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED) that emits ultraviolet light has been studied.

In the ultraviolet light emitting diode, heat is generated when ultraviolet light is emitted, and as the temperature increases due to the generated heat, the emission efficiency of ultraviolet light may rapidly decrease. Therefore, excellent heat dissipation performance for the ultraviolet light emitting diode may be required.

In this regard, the prior art 1 (Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1142638, registered on April 26, 2012), using a heat dissipation component UV light sterilization care device that radiates heat generated from the UV LED lamp to the outside Disclosed.

However, according to the prior art 1, a home appliance in which a fan is included as a heat dissipation component and the UV LED sterilization care device can be installed may be limited according to the size of the fan, and a flow path design in the home appliance may be additionally required. . In addition, the structure for mounting the ultraviolet LED sterilization care device in the product has not been disclosed.

Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1142638 (Registration on April 26, 2012)

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a mounting portion for mounting an ultraviolet light emitting diode in a home appliance, and a sterilizing module capable of minimizing the volume of the heat radiation portion for heat dissipation of the ultraviolet light emitting diode.

Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a home appliance including a sterilization module and a sterilization module capable of ensuring sterilization performance while minimizing the flow resistance of a fluid.

The sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the ring-shaped frame having an opening through which the fluid passes, at least one heat dissipation portion extending from the outer circumferential surface of the frame, and the sterilization extending from the outer circumferential surface of the frame At least one mounting portion for mounting the module to the home appliance is formed integrally, so that an increase in volume for implementing each of the mounting portion and the heat dissipation portion can be minimized. At least one light emitting diode unit may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the frame.

The at least one heat dissipation unit is formed at a position corresponding to the at least one light emitting diode unit, and may discharge heat generated from the light emitting diode unit to the outside.

The at least one light emitting diode unit includes an ultraviolet light emitting diode that emits ultraviolet light, and can sterilize a fluid passing through the opening.

According to an embodiment, the at least one heat dissipation unit may be formed with a streamlined surface facing the direction in which the fluid flows, thereby reducing air resistance.

The at least one mounting portion may include a mounting protrusion fitted to the mounting groove formed in the inner wall of the housing of the home appliance. The length of the mounting protrusion is formed to be longer than the length of the heat dissipation portion, thereby separating the space between the heat dissipation portion and the inner wall of the housing, thereby minimizing flow disturbance or vortex formation.

The length of the at least one mounting portion is formed shorter than the distance between the inner circumferential surface of the frame and the center of the opening, so that a larger amount of fluid can pass through the opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sterilization module is integrally formed with a mounting portion for mounting the ultraviolet light emitting diode in the home appliance, and a heat dissipation portion for heat dissipation of the ultraviolet light emitting diode, thereby increasing the volume according to the implementation of the mounting portion and the heat dissipation unit. Can be minimized.

In addition, the heat dissipation unit is formed at a position corresponding to the ultraviolet light emitting diode, it is possible to effectively discharge heat generated from the ultraviolet light emitting diode to the outside.

In addition, the heat dissipation portion is formed in a streamlined surface facing the inlet side, it is possible to minimize the flow of the fluid.

In addition, the mounting portion is formed longer than the heat dissipation portion, and spaced between the heat dissipation portion and the inner wall of the housing to enable smooth flow of fluid and minimize the occurrence of vortices.

In addition, the length of the mounting portion is shorter than the distance between the inner circumferential surface of the frame and the center of the opening of the frame, so that a larger amount of fluid passes through the opening to maximize sterilization performance.

1 is a perspective view of a sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view showing an ultraviolet light emitting diode unit of the sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view for explaining the heat radiation fin of the sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing another form of the heat sink fin included in the sterilization module of the present invention.
5 and 6 are diagrams showing examples of a structure in which a sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed in a housing of a home appliance.
7 is an exemplary view showing an air purifier as an example of a home appliance including a sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and the technical spirit disclosed in the specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes and equivalents included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention It should be understood to include water to substitutes.

1 is a perspective view of a sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a view showing an ultraviolet light emitting diode unit of the sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a view for explaining the heat radiation fin of the sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a view showing another form of the heat sink fin included in the sterilization module of the present invention.

The sterilization module may be included in various home appliances that process and discharge (air, heat, sanitize, purify, etc.) the incoming air, such as an air cleaner, air sterilizer, air conditioner, or other blower. The sterilization module included in the home appliance may sterilize microorganisms present in the inflowing air to provide purified air to the user.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure describe sterilization modules 10 for sterilizing air passing through a flow path (duct or housing) in a home appliance. However, according to the embodiment, the sterilization module 10 may be mounted in a home appliance (eg, a water purifier, etc.) having a flow path (duct or housing) through which water flows, and sterilize microorganisms present in water. That is, the sterilization module 10 can sterilize microorganisms or bacteria contained in a fluid (such as air or water) passing through the home appliance.

On the other hand, in the following specification, although the sterilization module 10 is shown as having a shape of a polygonal ring (or a circular ring), according to an embodiment, the sterilization module 10 is a flow path (duct or housing) through which air flows in a home appliance. ) Can be implemented in various forms depending on the structure or shape.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sterilization module 10 may include at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode unit 11 and a main body 12.

The at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode unit 11 may sterilize microorganisms or bacteria in the air passing through a flow path (duct or housing) in the home appliance to provide purified air. Although the sterilization module 10 is shown in this specification as including five ultraviolet light emitting diode units, the number of ultraviolet light emitting diode units is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode unit 11 includes a substrate 111 and an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) that emits ultraviolet light for sterilization of air. ; 112).

A circuit for controlling light emission of the UV LED 112 may be formed on the substrate 111. The substrate 111 may be implemented as a printed circuit board (PCB).

For example, the substrate 111 may be fastened to the frame 122 of the main body 12 to be fixed. To this end, at least one fastening groove 113 may be formed on the substrate 111. Each of the at least one fastening groove 113 may correspond to a fastening groove formed in the frame 122. The substrate 111 may be fastened to the frame 122 as fastening means such as fastening screws (not shown) are inserted into the fastening groove 113.

The UV LED 112 is mounted on the substrate 111 and can emit ultraviolet light for sterilization of air.

Typically, ultraviolet light can be subdivided according to the length of the wavelength. For example, ultraviolet light may be divided into UV-A having a wavelength of 320 nm to 400 nm, UV-B having a wavelength of 280 nm to 320 nm, and UV-C having a wavelength of 200 to 280 nm.

Among them, UV-C, which is a short-wavelength ultraviolet ray, has a property of destroying bacterial DNA and causing a chemical reaction to a special material, and thus can be effectively used for sterilization, removal of surface or water contamination, and curing.

Therefore, the UV LED 112 included in the ultraviolet light emitting diode unit 11 may be an LED that emits light in the ultraviolet wavelength range, and more preferably, UV-C that emits light of the UVC wavelength with excellent sterilization effect. It can be an LED.

According to an embodiment, the ultraviolet light emitting diode unit 11 may further include a concave lens (not shown) for dispersing ultraviolet light emitted from the UV LED 112 to increase the emission area of the ultraviolet light.

The main body 12 may include a frame 122, at least one heat dissipation unit 124, and at least one mounting unit 126. In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the frame 122 constituting the main body 12, at least one heat dissipation unit 124, and at least one mounting portion 126 may be integrally formed. The main body 12 may be made of a material having a high thermal conductivity. In addition, the main body 12 may be made of a material having a high reflectance to reflect ultraviolet light emitted from the UV LED 112 to various positions. For example, the body 12 may be made of a metal such as aluminum, but is not limited thereto.

The frame 122 may have a ring shape or a tube (tube) shape as a whole. As the frame 122 has a ring or tube shape, an opening may be formed inside the frame 122. Accordingly, when the air introduced through the air inlet of the home appliance moves inside the flow path (housing or duct), the flow obstruction by the frame 122 can be minimized. Although the frame 122 is illustrated in this specification as having a polygonal ring shape, the frame 122 may have various shapes such as a circular ring shape according to an embodiment.

At least one infrared light emitting diode unit 11 may be fastened to the inner circumferential surface of the frame 122. In this case, the UV LED 112 may be disposed to face the inside of the sterilization module 10 or the main body 12 as shown in FIG. 1 to emit ultraviolet light.

As will be described later in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sterilization module 10 is installed in the housing (or duct) 500 of the home appliance, and when air passes, it passes through the inside (opening) of the sterilization module 10. The amount of air may be greater than the amount of air passing through the area between the inner peripheral surface of the housing 500 and the sterilization module 10. That is, the UV LED 112 emits ultraviolet light toward the inside of the sterilization module 10 through which a large amount of air passes, thereby effectively sterilizing.

In addition, as described above, since the frame 122 is made of a metal such as aluminum having excellent reflectance, it is possible to reflect the ultraviolet light emitted by the UV LED 112 to various regions. Accordingly, microorganisms in the air passing through the region between the inner peripheral surface of the housing 500 and the sterilization module 10 may be sterilized.

Meanwhile, heat is generated when the UV LED 112 emits ultraviolet light, and accordingly, the temperature of the UV LED 112 may increase. As the temperature of the UV LED 112 increases, the light output performance of the UV LED 112 rapidly decreases, and the life of the UV LED 112 may also decrease. Accordingly, a heat dissipation structure for minimizing the increase in temperature of the UV LED 112 is required.

Each of the at least one heat dissipation unit 124 may include a plurality of heat sinks for dissipating heat generated when driving the UV LED 112 to the outside. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of heat sinks may be formed parallel to the flow direction of air, thereby minimizing air flow obstruction. According to an embodiment, each of the at least one heat dissipation unit 124 may include a plurality of heat radiation fins instead of the plurality of heat radiation plates.

The heat dissipation unit 124 may be formed to extend outward from the outer circumferential surface of the frame 122. For example, the plurality of heat sinks (or fins) may extend in a direction perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface.

The ultraviolet light emitting diode unit 11 may be fastened to the inner circumferential surface of the frame 122 corresponding to the position of the heat dissipation unit 124. Accordingly, heat generated from the UV LED 112 may be emitted to the outside through the substrate 111, the frame 122, and the heat dissipation unit 124.

On the other hand, referring to Figure 3, the heat dissipation performance of the heat dissipation unit 124 is an extended length of the heat sink (or heat sink fins (extended length from the outer circumferential surface of the frame 122; L), the spacing D between the heat sinks, and It may be related to the thickness (T) of the heat sink. For example, the heat dissipation performance of the heat dissipation unit 124 may increase as the extended length (L) of the heat sink or the thickness (T) increases, and the heat dissipation performance may be maximum when the distance (D) is about 1 to 1.5 mm. have.

However, as the extension length L of the heat sink increases, the area of the opening of the sterilization module 10 decreases, so that sterilization performance may decrease. In addition, as will be described later in FIG. 5, in order to minimize flow disturbance due to generation of vortices when air passes between the housing 500 and the sterilization module 10, the heat sink is a housing (or duct; 500) It may have a length spaced at least a predetermined distance from the inner wall. That is, the extended length L of the heat sink may be set based on the opening area of the sterilization module 10 and the distance from the housing 500.

Meanwhile, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front surface of the heat dissipation unit 124 is formed perpendicular to the air flow direction based on the air flow direction, and turbulence or flow velocity may be reduced.

Referring to FIG. 4, according to an embodiment, the front surface of the heat dissipation unit 125 may be formed in a streamlined shape to reduce the air resistance coefficient. Specifically, the front side may be formed in a streamlined shape rounded toward the rear as it moves away from the outer circumferential surface of the frame 122. Accordingly, the occurrence of the turbulence or the decrease in the flow rate is minimized to smooth the flow of air, and the heat dissipation effect can also be increased.

At least one mounting portion 126 may mount the sterilization module 10 inside the housing 500 of the home appliance.

For example, each of the at least one mounting portion may be formed to extend from the outer circumferential surface of the frame 122. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the mounting portion may be implemented with a mounting projection 126 extending in a vertical direction from the outer circumferential surface of the frame 122.

In FIG. 1, for convenience of description, the extended length of the mounting projection 126 is shown to be shorter than the length L of the heat dissipation unit 124, but as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the extension of the mounting projection 126 is extended. The length may be formed longer than the extended length (L) of the heat dissipation unit 124. Accordingly, a space is formed between the heat dissipation unit 124 and the housing 500, so that the flow of air can be minimized.

Further, the length of the mounting projection 126 may be longer than the distance between the inner circumferential surface of the frame 122 and the center position (center of the opening) of the frame 122. Accordingly, when the sterilization module 10 is mounted on the housing 500, the amount of air passing through the opening of the frame 122 passes between the outer circumferential surface of the frame 122 and the inner wall of the housing 500. Since it is more than the amount of air, the sterilizing effect of the sterilizing module 10 can be increased.

The mounting protrusion 126 is fitted into the mounting groove provided on the inner wall of the housing 500 of the home appliance, and the sterilization module 10 can be mounted inside the housing 500.

Various embodiments in which the sterilization module 10 is fixed inside the housing 500 of the home appliance will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6 below.

5 and 6 are views showing examples of a structure in which the sterilizing module according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed in a housing of a home appliance.

In the following drawings, a flow path (housing or duct; 500) through which the air inside the home appliance passes is assumed to be cylindrical. The housing 500 may be formed with an inlet 502 through which air is introduced and an outlet 504 through which air sterilized by the sterilization module 10 is discharged.

Referring to FIG. 5, a mounting groove 506 corresponding to the mounting protrusion 126 may be formed on the inner wall of the housing 500.

The mounting protrusion 126 may be fitted into the mounting groove 506. At this time, since the length of the heat dissipation unit 124 is shorter than the length of the mounting protrusion 126, the inner wall of the heat dissipation unit 124 and the housing 500 may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

On the other hand, since the UV LED 112 emits ultraviolet light toward the center of the opening of the frame 122, the ultraviolet light emitted from the UV LED 112 faces the inner edge of the frame 122, that is, the UV LED 112. It may be irradiated to the inner peripheral surface of the frame 122. Since the frame 122 is made of metal (such as aluminum) having excellent reflectance, ultraviolet light emitted from the UV LED 112 can be reflected in various regions.

Accordingly, not only sterilization of air passing through the inner frame of the frame 122, but also sterilization of air passing through the space between the outer frame of the frame 122, that is, the frame 122 and the inner wall of the housing 500 may be achieved.

According to an embodiment, referring to FIG. 6, the main body 12 of the sterilization module 10 may further include a mounting frame 128 connected to the mounting projection 126. In this case, the frame 122, the heat dissipation unit 124, the mounting projection 126, and the mounting frame 128 may all be integrally formed.

The outer circumferential surface of the mounting frame 128 may be formed to correspond in shape and size to the inner wall of the housing 500. The mounting frame 128 may be fixed to the inner wall of the housing 500 through separate fixing means (fixing screws, adhesives, etc.). As the mounting frame 128 is fixed to the inner wall of the housing 500, the sterilization module 10 can be mounted in the home appliance.

7 is an exemplary view showing an air purifier as an example of a home appliance including a sterilization module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The air purifier 700 shown in FIG. 7 is only an example for a home appliance including a sterilization module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the home appliance including the sterilization module 10 is shown in FIG. 7 It is not limited to the air purifier 700 of the.

Referring to FIG. 7, the air purifier 600 may include various configurations for purifying air in an indoor space. For example, the air purifier 700 according to an embodiment is provided in a blower 710 for generating air flow, a base 720 placed on the ground provided on the lower side of the blower 710, and a blower 710 Flow switching device 730 for switching the discharge direction of the air flow, and an input / output device 740 for receiving user input for controlling the operation of the air purifier 700 or outputting information related to the operation of the air purifier 700 ).

The sterilization module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed in the blower 710 to sterilize microorganisms in the air passing through the flow path in the blower 710.

Specifically, referring to an example of a cross section of the blower 710, the blower 710 is a fan module 712 for generating the flow of air, and dust collection or deodorization of the air sucked into the blower 710, etc. It may include a filter module 716 to purify the air through. The sterilization module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed between the fan module 712 and the filter module 716.

The fan module 712 is a hub combined with a rotating shaft 715 of a fan motor (not shown), a shroud 713 spaced apart from the hub, and a plurality of blades disposed between the hub and the shroud 713 714. That is, a plurality of blades 714 rotate according to the driving of the fan motor, and air flow may occur according to the rotation of the blades 714. Air may be sucked into the blower 710 through a suction port formed on the side wall of the base 720 or the filter module 716, and flow upward and be discharged to the outside.

The air sucked into the blower 710 may be filtered by at least one filter included in the filter module 716. The at least one filter may be provided in a cylindrical shape and have a filter surface for filtering air. For example, the filter module 716 may include a dust collecting filter (such as an electrostatic dust collecting filter) for collecting dust or foreign matter in the air, and a deodorizing filter performing a deodorizing function, but is not limited thereto. When the filter module 716 includes a dust collecting filter and a deodorizing filter, dust or foreign substances may be filtered while the suctioned air passes through the dust collecting filter, and odors may be filtered while passing through the deodorizing filter.

The air filtered by the filter module 716 may be sterilized while passing through the sterilization module 10. 5 to 6, the UV LED 112 of the sterilization module 10 is disposed closer to the inner wall of the blower 710 than the center of the inner flow path (duct) of the blower 710 , It may be arranged to face the center of the inner flow path. Accordingly, the UV LED 112 may sterilize the air passing through the inside of the frame 122 of the sterilization module 10. On the other hand, since the frame 122 is made of a material having high reflectivity (such as aluminum), the ultraviolet light emitted from the UV LED 112 is reflected by the frame 122, and is applied to the air passing through the outside of the frame 122. Sterilization can be performed.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments.

The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical spirits within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

In the interior of the housing of the home appliance, the sterilizing module for sterilizing the fluid passing through the housing,
A ring-shaped frame having an opening through which the fluid passes;
At least one light emitting diode unit disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the frame;
At least one heat dissipation part extending from the outer circumferential surface of the frame; And
A sterilization module extending from the outer circumferential surface of the frame and including at least one mounting portion for fixing the frame to the interior of the housing. According to claim 1,
Each of the at least one heat dissipation unit,
A sterilization module formed by extending from an outer circumferential surface at a position corresponding to the inner circumferential surface where each of the at least one light emitting diode unit is disposed. According to claim 1,
Each of the at least one light emitting diode unit,
A substrate fastened to the inner circumferential surface of the frame; And
A sterilization module comprising an ultraviolet light emitting diode mounted on the substrate to face the opening and emitting ultraviolet light. According to claim 3,
The ultraviolet light emitting diode,
Sterilization module that emits ultraviolet light in the UVC (Ultraviolet C) wavelength range. According to claim 1,
Each of the at least one heat dissipation unit,
It includes a plurality of heat sinks or heat sink fins,
A sterilization module having a streamlined surface facing the inlet through which the fluid flows. According to claim 1,
Each of the at least one mounting portion,
A sterilization module including a mounting protrusion fitted to a mounting groove in the housing. According to claim 1,
The extension length of each of the at least one mounting portion is longer than the extension length of each of the at least one heat dissipation module. According to claim 1,
The extension length of each of the at least one mounting portion is shorter than the distance between the inner circumferential surface of the frame and the center of the opening. According to claim 1,
The at least one mounting portion,
A mounting projection extending from the outer circumferential surface of the frame; And
It includes a mounting frame connected to the mounting projection,
The mounting frame is a sterilization module formed to correspond to the inner wall of the housing. According to claim 1,
The frame, the at least one heat dissipation unit, and the at least one mounting unit is a sterilization module made of aluminum. The sterilization module according to claim 1; And
A home appliance including a housing in which the sterilization module is disposed, and a flow path through which a fluid flows is formed. The method of claim 11,
The at least one mounting portion includes a mounting projection,
A home appliance in which at least one mounting groove to which the mounting projection is fitted is formed on an inner wall of the housing.

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