Humidifier

• US 7,754,157 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Ecology Systems Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Panasonic Ecology Systems Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Takahiro, Inagaki, Jun, Tomioka, Toshikazu, Nakanishi, Yoshihito, Yoshida, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joyner; Kevin C
• Application Number:
  US10/610,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,569 Days
• Field of Search: 261/75, 261/119, 261/104, 261/107, 261/DIG.46, 210/295, 210/296, 210/198.1, 210/696, 210/764, 96/50, 96/80, 96/82, 422/120, 422/121, 205/701, 205/745
• US Class Current: 422/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4606 for producing oligodynamic substances to disinfect the water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46138 Electrodes comprising a substrate and a coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46157 Perforated or foraminous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/02 Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/00 Air-humidification , e.g. cooling by humidification
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/20 by sterilisation

Abstract

The present invention provides a humidifier capable of removing microorganisms without using electric power. The humidifier includes a reservoir; a humidification system including a humidification filter arranged such that at least part thereof is immersed in water and a blowing means for discharging air through the humidification filter; and a microorganism remover including a first electrode and a second electrode having different electric potentials and opposing to each other to have a space therebetween and a short circuit part for causing a short circuit between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode is higher than the second electrode in electric potential and at least the first and second electrodes are arranged in contact with water in the reservoir.

Claims

1. A humidifier comprising:

a water source connected to a reservoir having a water inlet for supplying water thereto;

a humidification system including a humidification filter arranged in said reservoir such that at least part thereof is immersed in water and a blowing means for discharging air humidified through said humidification filter, said humidification filter including a first part and a second part;

a microorganism remover including a first electrode and a second electrode having different oxidation-reduction potentials and opposing to each other to have a space therebetween and a short circuit part for causing a short circuit between said first electrode and said second electrode,

wherein said first electrode comprises a material having a higher oxidation-reduction potential than a material comprising the second electrode and at least said first electrode and said second electrode are arranged in contact with the water in which said humidification filter is immersed in said reservoir, and

wherein said microorganism remover constitutes at least part of a passage that passes water entering said reservoir to said humidification filter such that the only water that is supplied to said second part of said humidification filter is the water that passes through said space between said first and second electrodes of said microorganism remover.

2. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said microorganism remover is arranged in said reservoir.

3. The humidifier in accordance with claim 2, wherein not less than 25% by volume of water retained in said reservoir exists in said space.

4. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said microorganism remover is arranged below said humidification filter.

5. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second electrode is positioned below said first electrode.

6. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said short circuit part is positioned above a water surface.

7. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode have an oxidation-reduction potential difference of 0.3 V or more.

8. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said space is 30 mm or less.

9. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second electrode comprises a material having an oxidation-reduction potential smaller than that of water and is made of a metal which is inert to form a protective oxide layer on its surface.

10. The humidifier in accordance with claim 9, wherein said second electrode is made of zinc or a zinc alloy.

11. The humidifier in accordance with claim 10, wherein a surface of said second electrode is phosphated.

12. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second electrode is detachable from said microorganism remover or said humidifier and surface-cleanable.

13. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for visually checking a contamination degree of said second electrode.

14. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first electrode and said short circuit part are electrically connected via a first connector made of the same material as that of said first electrode and wherein said second electrode and said short circuit part are electrically connected via a second connector made of the same material as that of said second electrode.

15. The humidifier in accordance with claim 14, wherein said first connector and said second connector have a clearance therebetween which is larger than the space between said first electrode and said second electrode.

16. The humidifier in accordance with claim 14, wherein surfaces of said first connector and said second connector other than said short circuit part are electrically insulated.

17. The humidifier in accordance with claim 14, wherein said first connector and said second connector have water repellency.

18. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said microorganism remover includes a housing for accommodating said first electrode, said second electrode and said short circuit part.

19. The humidifier in accordance with claim 18, wherein said housing includes a spacer for providing said space.

20. The humidifier in accordance with claim 18, wherein said housing is L-shaped and includes a horizontal portion for accommodating said first electrode and said second electrode and retaining said first and second electrodes in contact with water and a vertical portion for accommodating said short circuit part while positioning said short circuit part above a water surface.

21. The humidifier in accordance with claim 18 further comprising an installation casing for accommodating said humidification filter, wherein said installation casing and said housing are integrated.

22. The humidifier in accordance with claim 18, wherein said housing has two or more apertures and at least one of the two or more apertures faces said water inlet of said reservoir.

23. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a microorganism removal filter for eliminating bacteria from air flown into said humidification filter.

24. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said microorganism remover is detachable from said humidifier.

25. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said short circuit part forms a constant short circuit between said first electrode and said second electrode.

29. The humidifier in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and said second electrodes has a through hole that allows said water to pass therethrough.

26. A humidifier comprising:

a main body;

a reservoir formed in said main body having a water inlet for supplying water thereto;

a water reservation tank proximate said water inlet for feeding water to said reservoir;

a cover removably attachable to said main body, said cover and main body enclosing said water reservation tank in an operating configuration;

a humidification system including a humidification filter arranged in said reservoir such that at least part thereof is immersed in water and a blowing means for discharging air humidified through said humidification filter, said humidification filter including a first part and a second part;

a microorganism remover including a first electrode and a second electrode having different oxidation-reduction potentials and opposing to each other to have a space therebetween and a short circuit part for causing a short circuit between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said microorganism remover constitutes at least part of a passage that passes water entering said reservoir to said humidification filter such that the only water that is supplied to said second part of said humidification filter is the water that passes through said space between said first and second electrodes of said microorganism remover; and

wherein said first electrode comprises a material having a higher oxidation-reduction potential than a material comprising the second electrode and at least said first electrode and said second electrode are arranged in contact with the water in said reservoir.

27. A humidifier comprising:

a water source connected to a reservoir;

a humidification system including a humidification filter arranged in said reservoir such that at least part thereof is immersed in water and a blowing means for discharging air humidified through said humidification filter, said humidification filter including a first part and a second part;

a microorganism remover including a first electrode and a second electrode having different oxidation-reduction potentials and opposing to each other to have a space therebetween and a short circuit part for causing a short circuit between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said microorganism remover constitutes at least part of a passage that passes water entering said reservoir to said humidification filter such that the only water that is supplied to said second part of said humidification filter is the water that passes through said space between said first and second electrodes of said microorganism remover; and

wherein said first electrode comprises a material having a higher oxidation-reduction potential than a material comprising the second electrode and at least said first electrode and said second electrode are arranged in contact with the water in said reservoir.

28. A humidifier comprising:

a water source connected to a reservoir;

a humidification system including a humidification filter arranged in said reservoir such that at least part thereof is immersed in water and a blowing means for discharging air humidified through said humidification filter, said humidification filter including a first part and a second part;

a microorganism remover including a first electrode and a second electrode having different oxidation-reduction potentials and opposing to each other to have a space therebetween and a short circuit part for causing a short circuit between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said second electrode is positioned below said first electrode, wherein said microorganism remover constitutes at least part of a passage that passes water entering said reservoir to said humidification filter such that the only water that is supplied to said second part of said humidification filter is the water that passes through said space between said first and second electrodes of said microorganism remover; and

wherein said first electrode comprises a material having a higher oxidation-reduction potential than a material comprising the second electrode and at least said first electrode and said second electrode are arranged in contact with the water in said reservoir.