Rotator structure of nanomist-generating device

Abstract

Provided is a rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device which generates a nanomist by rotating a rotator having a conical shape, wherein a lower portion of the rotator is immersed in water and mist-scattering ports are disposed in an upper portion; the device generates a nanomist by scattering the water through the ports, the water being drawn up along an inner wall surface of the rotator by rotating the rotator; and a radius at an upper end of the ports is an upper portion radius R1, a height to the upper end of the ports from a waterline L is a drawing height H, and a mean angle between a horizontal line and the inner wall surface is a side surface mean angle 1; and the angle 1 is set within 5% of for satisfying a basic structure equation R1 sin.sup.3 +2 H cos sin.sup.2 +H cos.sup.3 =0.

Claims

1. A rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device which generates a nanomist by rotating a rotator having a conical shape an upper portion of which has a larger diameter than a lower portion thereof, wherein a lower portion of the rotator is immersed in water in a water reservoir and mist-scattering ports are disposed in an upper portion; wherein the nanomist-generating device generates a nanomist by scattering the water through the mist-scattering ports, the water being drawn up along an inner wall surface of the rotator by rotating the rotator; wherein an inner wall surface radius at an upper end height of the mist-scattering ports is an upper portion radius R1, a height up to the upper end height of the mist-scattering ports from a height of a waterline up to which the lower portion of the rotator is immersed in the water in the water reservoir is a drawing height H, and a mean angle between a horizontal line and the inner wall surface in a range of the drawing height H is a side surface mean angle 1; and wherein the side surface mean angle 1 is set within a range of +(5% to 5% of ) for satisfying a basic structure equation
R1 sin.sup.3 +2H cos sin.sup.2 +H cos.sup.3 =0.

2. The rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the side surface mean angle 1 is set to an angle between the horizontal line and a straight line connecting a lower inner wall surface point and an upper inner wall surface point, the lower inner wall surface point being an intersection of the waterline and the inner wall surface, and the upper inner wall surface point being an inner wall surface point at the upper end height.

3. The rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the side surface mean angle 1 is set to 50 degrees<80 degrees.

4. The rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall surface has a tapered shape extending linearly in a front cross sectional view.

5. The rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall surface has a curved shape expanding outward in a front cross sectional view.

6. The rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the waterline is set to a value between a prescribed lower limit height and a prescribed upper limit height in a case where the height of the waterline is controlled so as to change between the lower limit height and the upper limit height.

7. The rotator structure of a nanomist-generating device according to claim 2, wherein the side surface mean angle 1 is set to 50 degrees<80 degrees.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outward appearance of a rotator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front cross sectional view showing a structure of the rotator of a nanomist-generating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic front view for explaining a waterline and a side surface mean angle of the rotator structure of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a front cross sectional view showing a structure of a rotator of a nanomist-generating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a view showing a process to derive a basic structure equation on the rotator structure of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6A is a graph showing relations between a humidification amount and a side surface mean angle of a side surface having a tapered shape of the rotator structure according to the embodiments of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6B is a graph showing relations between the humidification amount and the side surface mean angle of the side surface having a curved shape of the rotator structure according to the embodiments of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7A is a graph showing relations between an amount of negative ions and the side surface mean angle of the side surface of the rotator structure according to the embodiments of the present invention in a case where a total area of mist-scattering ports (holes) is equal to 90 mm.sup.2;

(9) FIG. 7B is a graph showing relations between the amount of negative ions and the side surface mean angle of the side surface of the rotator structure according to the embodiments of the present invention in a case where the total area of mist-scattering ports is equal to 130 mm.sup.2;

(10) FIG. 8A is a schematic front view showing a waterline concept in the rotator structure of the present invention, which structure is a waterline-fixed type; and

(11) FIG. 8B is a schematic front view showing the waterline concept in the rotator structure of the present invention, which structure is a waterline-changing type.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(12) A rotator structure 1A of a nanomist-generating device 10A according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail properly with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1, the nanomist-generating device 10A is equipped with a rotator 2A, a motor 3 and a water reservoir 4 (refer to FIG. 2). The rotator 2A has a conical shape such that an upper portion has a larger diameter than a lower portion. The motor 3 rotates the rotator 2A. The water reservoir 4 stores water W to be drawn up by the rotator 2A. A nanomist and negative ions are generated by rotating the rotator 2A. The nanomist-generating device 10A generates a mist of extremely fine droplets, so that a proper humidity is kept while keeping refreshment, and there are a bacteria-elimination effect and a relaxation effect due to negative ions. Therefore, the nanomist-generating device 10A is habitually used for user's health.

(14) As shown in FIG. 2, the rotator 2A has the conical shape such that the upper portion has the larger diameter than the lower portion, and an inner wall surface 21A thereof has a tapered shape extending linearly in a front cross sectional view. A lower portion of the rotator 2A is immersed in the water W in the water reservoir 4, and the rotator 2A is provided with mist-scattering ports 22 in an upper portion thereof. A porous body 23 made with slits or made of a wire netting which promotes fining of the mist scattered from the mist-scattering ports 22 to generate negative ions, is disposed around the mist-scattering ports 22.

(15) By adopting such a structure, in the nanomist-generating device 10A the rotator 2A is rotated to draw up the water W stored in the water reservoir 4 along the inner wall surface 21A of the rotator 2A, and scatters the water through the mist-scattering ports 22, and furthermore lets scattered droplets collide against the porous body 23 to crush them, so that a nanomist and negative ions are effectively generated.

(16) The rotator structure 1A of the nanomist-generating device 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention is capable of locally maximizing generation amounts of a nanomist and negative ions, because a side surface mean angle 1 which can locally maximize a water-drawing amount can be properly set, if the side surface mean angle 1 is set to +(5% to 5% of ) for satisfying the following basic structure equation:
R1 sin.sup.3 +2H cos sin.sup.2 +H cos.sup.3 =0
where, R1 is an upper portion radius which is an inner wall surface radius R at an upper end height of the mist-scattering ports 22, H is a drawing height which is a height up to the upper end of the mist-scattering ports 22 from a waterline L in a state where the lower portion of the rotator is immersed in the water W in the water reservoir 4, and the side surface mean angle 1 is an angle between the inner wall surface 21A in the range of the drawing height H and a horizontal line.

(17) For example, the side surface mean angle 1 can be set as follows, in a case where the upper portion radius R1 is determined by a shape of the rotator 2 to be set by a designed size of the nanomist-generating device 10, a known shape of the rotator 2 or the like, a designed drawing height H, which is a height derived by subtracting a prescribed height of the lower immersed portion of the rotator 2 necessary for drawing up the water in the water reservoir 4 from a height up to the upper end of the mist-scattering ports 22 from a lower end of the rotator 2, is determined, and the rotator 2 is disposed in the water reservoir 4 so that a lower position of the designed drawing height H coincides with the waterline L. Note that, since the designed drawing height H coincides with the drawing height H which is a height up to the mist-scattering ports 22 from the waterline L, the drawing height H is used instead of the designed drawing height H hereinafter.

(18) That is, the side surface mean angle is 75.7 degrees which satisfies the basic structure equation in a case where the upper portion radius R1 is set to 33 mm and the drawing height H is set to 66 mm by using a size of the nanomist-generating device 10, a known shape of the rotator 2 or the like, which R1 and H are factors in relation to a shape of the rotator 2 of the nanomist-generating device 10.

(19) Therefore, a wall surface rising acceleration along the side surface is the local maximum value in the case of =75.7 degrees, that is, the angle of 75.7 degrees is a side surface mean angle at which a water-drawing amount becomes the local maximum. Consequently, an angle as a standard value of the side surface mean angle 1 can be set to a value within about 71.9 to about 79.5 degrees.

(20) <Side Surface Mean Angle>

(21) As shown in FIG. 3, a side surface mean angle is an angle between a horizontal line (for example, waterline L) and a straight line 5 connecting a lower inner wall surface point 51 and an upper inner wall surface point 52, the lower inner wall surface point 51 being an intersection of the waterline L and the inner wall surface 21 (refer to also FIG. 2), and the upper inner wall surface point 52 being an intersection of the inner wall surface 21 and a line at the drawing height H.

(22) Therefore, in a case of the inner wall surface 21 having a tapered shape extending linearly in the front cross sectional view, an angle between a horizontal line (waterline L) and the straight line 5 connecting the lower inner wall surface point 51 and the upper inner wall surface point 52 is the side surface mean angle =1.

(23) Similarly, even if in a case of an inner wall surface 21A having a curved shape expanding outward in the front cross sectional view, an angle between the horizontal line (waterline L) and the straight line 5 connecting the lower inner wall surface point 51 and the upper inner wall surface point 52 is the side surface mean angle =1. Even if in a case of the inner wall surface 21 having the tapered shape or a case of the inner wall surface 21A having the curved shape, their side surface mean angles are the same if their lower inner wall surface points 51 are the same and their upper inner wall surface points 52 are the same.

(24) <Waterline>

(25) In the basic structure equation, the height of the waterline L is a height of the water W stored in the water reservoir 4. The height of the waterline L is changed as the water W is drawn up by the rotator 2. The nanomist-generating device 10 is classified into a water level fixed type (refer to FIG. 8A) and a water level changeable type (refer to FIG. 8B) according to its usage and/or specifications, the water level fixed type controlling the height of the waterline L so as to be substantially constant, and the water level changeable type controlling the height of the waterline L so as to be changeable between an upper limit water level and a lower limit water level.

(26) As shown in FIG. 8A, in the water level fixed type, water W in a water tank 41 is supplied through a supply hole 42a of a tank cap 42 when the water level L (height of waterline L) is lowered by drawing up the water W by the rotator 2, and when the water level L rises to an end surface of the tank cap 42 to close the supply hole 42a, the water supply is stopped. Thus the water level (height of waterline L) is controlled so as to be substantially constant.

(27) In the water level fixed type, the rotator 2 is disposed in the water reservoir 4 so that the height position of the waterline L coincides with the lower end of the drawing height H which is set according to a size of the nanomist-generating device 10, a known shape of the rotator 2 or the like.

(28) As shown in FIG. 8B, in the water level changeable type, when the water W is drawn up by the rotator 2 and the water level L is lowered, a lower limit water level L1 is detected by a float sensor 42b to start supplying water into the water reservoir 4 through water supply pipe not shown, and when it is judged that the water is supplied up to an upper limit water level L2, the water supply is stopped by an upper limit water level setting device 42c, so that the water level (height of waterline L) is controlled between the lower limit water level L1 and the upper limit water level L2.

(29) In the water level changeable type, the lower limit water level L1 and the upper limit water level L2 are set so that the side surface mean angle corresponding to a height of a variable waterline L is within a range of (5% of ) to (+5% of ) for the most suitable side surface mean angle of the rotator 2 in a case of the designed drawing height H. And the rotator 2 is disposed in the water reservoir 4 so that a waterline L which positions at a middle position between the lower limit water level L1 and the upper limit water level L2 coincides with the designed drawing height H.

(30) Furthermore, it is preferable that a difference between the lower limit water level L1 and the upper limit water level L2 is set to be small.

(31) Next, a rotator structure 1B of a nanomist-generating device 10B according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

(32) An inner wall surface 21B of a rotator 2B according to the second embodiment has a curved shape expanding outward in a front cross sectional view. Therefore, the rotator 2B differs from the rotator 2A according to the first embodiment having the tapered shape in which the inner wall surface 21A extends linearly. However, since the other structures are similar to those of the nanomist-generating device 10A according to the first embodiment, the same symbols are used for similar structures and detailed explanations thereof are omitted.

(33) The rotator 2B according to the second embodiment is configured so as to have the same values as the rotator 2A according to the first embodiment, as for the upper portion radius R1, the drawing height H and the side surface mean angle 1.

(34) The rotator 2B according to the second embodiment has a side surface angle 11 of the inner wall surface 21B at a lower inner wall surface point 51 which the waterline L passes, and a side surface angle 12 of the inner wall surface 21B at an upper inner wall surface point 52 which is at the uppermost height position. A side surface angle becomes gradually larger as it goes to the upper inner wall surface point 52 from the lower inner wall surface point 51 (11<12).

(35) Operations of the rotator structures 1A, 1B (upper portion radius R1=33 mm, drawing height H=61 mm) of the nanomist-generating devices 10A, 10B according to the embodiments of the present invention constructed as above will be explained mainly with reference to experimental results shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B.

(36) FIGS. 6A and 6B to be referred to show experimental results on how shapes of rotators (rotator 2A having the tapered shape, rotator 2B having the curved shape) and side surface mean angles 1 (68 degrees, 75 degrees) affect a humidification amount (ml/h) which has a positive correlation with a generation amount of a nanomist. FIG. 6A shows a case of the rotator 2A having the tapered shape, and FIG. 6B shows a case of the rotator 2B having the curved shape.

(37) Furthermore, in these cases, two kinds of results of a case of the total port area of 90 mm.sup.2 and a case of the total port area of 130 mm.sup.2 are shown in order to examine affections of total opening area (total port area mm.sup.2) of the mist-scattering ports 22.

(38) Furthermore, experimentations are also performed in a case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 80 degrees. However the power for drawing up the water W is insufficient, so that the generation of a nanomist was not detected. Therefore, only data for the side surface mean angles 1 of 68 degrees and of 75 degrees are shown.

(39) As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the humidification amount (ml/h) in the case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 75 degrees is larger than that of 68 degrees regardless of shapes of the rotator 2.

(40) In the case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 75 degrees, the humidification amount (ml/h) of the rotator 2A (refer to FIG. 2) having the tapered shape is 66 to 70 ml/h as shown in FIG. 6A, and on the other hand, that of the rotator 2B (refer to FIG. 4) having the curved shape is about 61 ml/h as shown in FIG. 6B. Therefore, the rotator 2A (refer to FIG. 2) having the tapered shape is superior to the rotator 2B (refer to FIG. 4) having the curved shape.

(41) In the case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 68 degrees, the humidification amount (ml/h) of the rotator 2A (refer to FIG. 2) having the tapered shape is 50 to 54 ml/h as shown in FIG. 6A, and on the other hand, that of the rotator 2B (refer to FIG. 4) having the curved shape is about 54 ml/h as shown in FIG. 6B. Therefore, it is understood that the rotator 2A (refer to FIG. 2) having the tapered shape is affected more largely than the rotator 2B (refer to FIG. 4) having the curved shape by the side surface mean angle and the total port area.

(42) In the case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 80 degrees, the generation of a nanomist was not detected due to the power shortage for drawing up the water W.

(43) However, if a rotational speed or a rotational radius of the rotator 2 (2A, 2B) is set to be large, it is presumably recognized that the humidification amount (ml/h) has a local maximum value not at 68 nor 80 degrees but at around 75 degrees (75.7 degrees at which an extreme value is shown) of the side surface mean angle 1. This supports that a side surface mean angle estimated by using the foresaid basic structure equation is an optimum value.

(44) Furthermore, in a case where the side surface mean angle 1 is too small, a size of the rotator 2 increases, so that a whole size of the nanomist-generating device 10 increases. Therefore, manufacturing of the device becomes difficult. Thus, a shape of the rotator is determined based on also the foresaid experimental result so that a range of the side surface mean angle 1 is 50 degrees<80 degrees, preferably 68 degrees<80 degrees.

(45) FIGS. 7A and 7B show experimental results on how shapes of rotators (rotator 2A having the tapered shape, rotator 2B having the curved shape) and side surface mean angles 1 (68 degrees, 75 degrees, 80 degrees) affect a generation amount of negative ions (number/cc). FIG. 7A shows a case of a total port area of 90 mm.sup.2, and FIG. 7B shows a case of the total port area of 130 mm.sup.2.

(46) As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the generation amount of negative ions (number/cc) in the case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 75 degrees is larger than that of 68 degrees regardless of the total port area. In a case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 68 to 75 degrees, the rotator 2B (refer to FIG. 4) having the curved shape is superior to the rotator 2A (refer to FIG. 2) having the tapered shape. It is presumably recognized that this has been caused by increasing of a power for crushing a water droplet into fine droplets. This increasing of the power is generated as follows. That is, a pressing acceleration to perpendicularly press an inner wall surface of the rotator 2 acts profitably because of the curved shape of the rotator 2, so that the velocity of mists which are scattered through the mist-scattering ports 22 increases, and furthermore, they collide with the porous body 23 disposed around the outside of the mist-scattering ports 22 and collide with a device body wall (not shown) disposed around the outside of the porous body 23.

(47) For the rotator 2A (refer to FIG. 2) having the tapered shape, the generation amount of negative ions is 9500 (number/cc) as shown in FIG. 7A in the case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 75 degrees and the total port area of 90 mm.sup.2, and is about 8300 (number/cc) as shown in FIG. 7B in the case of the side surface mean angle 1 of 75 degrees and the total port area of 130 mm.sup.2. Therefore, the rotator 2A (refer to FIG. 2) having the tapered shape is affected by the total port area more largely than the rotator 2B (refer to FIG. 4) having the curved shape.

(48) Furthermore, similarly to the humidification amount (ml/h) shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, if a rotational speed or a rotational radius of the rotator 2 (2A, 2B) is set to be large, it is presumably recognized that the generation amount of negative ions (number/cc) has a local maximum value not at 68 nor 80 degrees but at around 75 degrees (75.7 degrees at which an extreme value is shown) of the side surface mean angle 1.

(49) This supports that a side surface mean angle estimated by using the foresaid basic structure equation is an optimum value. Furthermore, in a case where the side surface mean angle 1 is too small, a size of the rotator 2 increases, so that a whole size of the nanomist-generating device 10 increases. Therefore, manufacturing of the device becomes difficult. Thus, a shape of the rotator is determined based on also the experimental result so that a range of the side surface mean angle 1 is 50 degrees<80 degrees, preferably 68 degrees<80 degrees.

(50) According to the above, in a case where the upper portion radius R1 and the drawing height H of the rotator structure 1 (1A, 1B) of the nanomist-generating device 10 (10A, 10B) according to the embodiments of the present invention are set in response to design requests or the like, the side surface mean angle at which the wall surface rising acceleration is the extreme value is derived by solving a side surface mean angle which satisfies the basic structure equation, and thus a water-drawing amount can be locally maximized.

(51) Therefore, if the side surface mean angle 1 is set within a range of (5% of ) to (+5% of ), the side surface mean angle 1 at which a water-drawing amount of the water W is locally maximized can be properly set. A generation amount of negative ions and a humidification amount having a positive correlation with a generation amount of a nanomist can be locally maximized.

(52) In the above, embodiments of the present invention have been explained, but the present invention is not limited to those and can be carried out in an embodiment appropriately modified. For example, in the embodiments, the side surface mean angle 1 is set within a range of 75.7 degrees5% of 75.7 degrees (about 71.9 degrees to 79.5 degrees), but it may be preferably set in the range of 3% or appropriately also in the range of (5% to +3%) considering influences of a friction resistance of the inner wall surface, a rotational radius, a drawing height, and so on.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS

(53) 1, 1A, 1B Rotator structure 2, 2A, 2B Rotator 3 Motor 4 Water reservoir 10, 10A, 10B Nanomist-generating device 21, 21A, 21B Inner wall surface 22 Mist-scattering port 23 Porous body 41 Water tank 42 Tank cap 42a Supply hole 42b Float sensor 42c Upper limit water level setting device 51 Lower inner wall surface point 52 Upper inner wall surface point L Waterline L1 Lower limit water level L2 Upper limit water level R Inner wall surface radius R1 Upper portion radius R2 Lower portion radius W Water