Powerless humidification module for air cleaner capable of preventing leakage of water

Disclosed is a powerless humidification module for an air cleaner which is capable of preventing leakage of water into the air cleaner. A powerless humidification module for an air cleaner which is detachably mounted on an upper portion of a body of the air cleaner and is capable of preventing leakage of water includes a base cover having a first opening opened toward the air cleaner and a second opening opened toward a side surface of the first opening, a cistern part located in the interior of the base cover and located such that a space defined between an inner partition wall and an outer partition wall having predetermined heights such that water supplied to one side thereof is stored surrounds a periphery of the first opening whereby water supplied to one side thereof is stored, and a humidification filter located in the second opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This present application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C § 371 of PCT application number PCT/KR2018/007572 filed on Jul. 4, 2018 which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0086609 filed on Jul. 7, 2017 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The disclosures of the above-listed applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a humidification module, and more particularly to a powerless humidification module for an air cleaner which is installed in an air cleaner and is capable of preventing leakage of water into the air cleaner.

BACKGROUND ART

An air cleaner having a general humidification function can perform air purification and humidification by using an air purification filter and a humidification unit installed in the interior of a device.

However, according to a humidification cleaner of a conventional technology, when a humidification function is not used, a humidification filter installed in the interior of the device has to be separated, and thus it is bothersome to use the humidification cleaner and the size of the device increases as the number of parts installed in the interior of the device increases.

Further, because the humidification cleaner of the conventional technology is disposed in the interior of the device, the humidified air is supplied to the interior via the interior of the device and thus the humidification degree is low.

In an effort to solve the above-described problems, in patent document 1 of the applicant discloses a powerless humidification device for an air cleaner that can be separated from an air cleaner without being integrally formed with the air cleaner and can be mounted on various kinds of air cleaners with a simple structure.

The humidification device may be easily mounted on various types of air cleaners and thus may humidifies an interior by using air discharged from the air cleaner without using a separate power supply, but water in the interior of the humidification device may be introduced into the air cleaner as the humidification device is detachably mounted on the air cleaner.

When the water leaked from the humidification device is introduced into the interior of the air cleaner, the electric parts located in the interior of the air cleaner may break down and a short circuit accident may occur according to occasions, and it may be considered that a waterproof member, such as rubber, is interposed in an attachment/detachment part to prevent the problem, but the waterproof member formed of a material such as rubber may deteriorate the easiness of attachment of the humidification module.(Patent Document 1) Patent document 1: KR 2017-0043314 A

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to overcome the above-described problems, and provides a powerless humidification module for an air cleaner that may prevent leakage of water into an air cleaner.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powerless humidification module for an air cleaner which is detachably mounted on an upper portion of a body of the air cleaner and is capable of preventing leakage of water, humidification module including: a base cover having a first opening opened toward the air cleaner and a second opening opened toward a side surface of the first opening; a cistern part located in the interior of the base cover and located such that a space defined between an inner partition wall and an outer partition wall having predetermined heights such that water supplied to one side thereof is stored surrounds a periphery of the first opening whereby water supplied to one side thereof is stored; and a humidification filter located in the second opening.

The humidification module may further include a protector located in the interior of the base cover to communicate the first opening and the second opening and located to cover an upper portion of the first opening.

The protector may include: an upper prevention wall located to cover the upper portion of the first opening; and a guide wall extending from an outer periphery of the upper prevention wall to the space of the cistern part.

The humidification module may further include a drain hole formed on one side of the base cover, and when the water supplied to one side space of the cistern part overflows a predetermined height of an overflow recess formed in the outer partition wall, the water may be discharged through the drain hole, overflowing the outer partition wall through the overflow recess.

The humidification module may further include a partition wall which has a height such that the space, in which the water of the cistern part is stored, is divided into one side space and an opposite side space, and when the water supplied to one side space of the cistern part overflows a predetermined height of an overflow recess formed in the partition wall, the water may be introduced into the opposite side space of the cistern part, overflowing the partition wall through the overflow recess.

The humidification module may further include a drain hole formed on one side of the base cover, and when the water introduced to the opposite side space of the cistern part overflows a predetermined height of an overflow recess formed in the outer partition wall, the water may be discharged through the drain hole overflowing the outer partition wall through the overflow recess.

The humidification module may further include a sensor configured to detect the level of the water stored in the space of the cistern part.

Advantageous Effects

According to the powerless humidification module for an air cleaner that may prevent leakage of water according to the present invention, overflowing of water into the interior of the air cleaner and introduction of water when the water is supplied can be prevented, a predetermined amount of water that is necessary for humidification can be adjusted, and the humidification module can be easily attached to and detached from the air cleaner.

BEST MODE

The objectives, features, and other advantages of the present invention will be more apparent by describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not to precise scale and may be exaggerated in thickness of lines or size of components for descriptive convenience and clarity. In addition, the terms used herein are defined by taking functions of the present invention into account and can be changed according to user or operator custom or intention. Therefore, definition of the terms should be made according to the overall disclosure set forth herein.

Further, the embodiments are provided exemplarily for description of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

The elements constituting the humidification module capable of preventing leakage of water of an air cleaner according to the present invention may be integrally used or separately used as occasion demands. Further, some elements may be omitted according to the usage of the humidification module.

Hereinafter, a humidification module for an air cleaner capable of preventing leakage of water according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.1to5.

A powerless humidification module for an air cleaner capable of preventing leakage of water (hereinafter, simply referred to as a ‘humidification module’) according to the present invention, as illustrated inFIG.1, is a powerless humidification module1000that may be attached to and detached from an upper portion of the body of an air cleaner10to humidify air that is suctioned through a suction hole11of the air cleaner, is purified, and is discharged to the upper side.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the powerless humidification module1000according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a base cover100, a cistern part200, a humidification filter250, and a protector300.

The base cover100may be located to be attached to and detached from the upper side of the air cleaner10and may have a first opening110and a second opening120, and a cover part400that covers the opened upper portion of the base cover100may be located in the base cover100.

The opening110is located on the lower side of the base cover100and is opened toward an air discharge part (not illustrated) formed on the upper side of the air cleaner100, and thus the air discharged from the upper side of the air cleaner10is introduced through the first opening110.

The second opening120is opened toward one side surface of the first cover100, that is, a side surface of the first opening110, and the air introduced from the air cleaner through the first opening110is discharged to the outside through the second opening120.

The cistern part200is located inside the base cover100, and water is supplied to one side of the cistern part200.

The cistern part200has a space between partition walls210aand210bhaving predetermined heights such that the supplied water is stored, and the formed space is located to surround a periphery of the first opening110.

Further, an overflow recess211formed to be recessed is formed on one side of an outer partition wall210bof the cistern part200.

A water tank500may be provided on one side of the cistern part200through a through-hole410formed in the cover part400such that the water accommodated in the water tank500is supplied to one side of the cistern part200, but the present invention is not limited thereto and, for example, water may be supplied directly to one side of the cistern part200through the through hole410.

When water is supplied to one side of the cistern part200through the water tank500, an injection cap510installed in an entrance of the water tank500may be provided.

The humidification filter250is located in the second opening120of the base cover100. In detail, a lower side of the humidification filter250is inserted into a space formed on the side of the second opening120of the cistern part200, and includes a material that can absorb and contain the water.

Accordingly, the lower side of the humidification filter250is immersed in the water supplied to the cistern part200, and humidification is performed as the air discharged from the air cleaner10and introduced through the first opening110is discharged to the outside through the second opening120in a state in which the humidity of the air is increased while the air passes through the humidification filter250immersed in the water (seeFIG.2).

In this way, the water supplied to the cistern part200can be prevented from being introduced into the air cleaner10through the discharge part of the air cleaner10by disposing the cistern part200, in which the space to which water is supplied is formed between the partition walls210aand210b, surrounds the circumference of the first opening110communicated with the discharge part, through which the air is discharged from the air cleaner10.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.4, a partition wall220may be provided in the cistern part200. A plurality of partition walls220are formed to have a predetermined height such that the space of the cistern part200, in which the water is stored, is divided into two parts, and accordingly, the space of the cistern part200is divided into one side space230and an opposite side space240and the part in which the water is supplied and the humidification filter250are located in the one side space230.

Further, a recessed overflow recess221is formed in the partition wall220.

Accordingly, the humidification filter250is immersed in the water supplied to the one side space230of the cistern part200, and if the water supplied to the one side space230exceeds the height of the overflow recess221located in the partition wall220, the water overflows the partition wall220through the overflow recess221and is introduced into the opposite side space240of the cistern part200.

Accordingly, the water supplied to the cistern part200can be prevented from being introduced into the interior of the air cleaner10and the water level of a part in which the humidification filter250is immersed can be constantly adjusted.

The protector300is located inside the base cover100to communicate the first opening110and the second opening120formed in the base cover100, and is located to cover an upper side of the first opening110through the upper prevention wall310located on the upper side of the first opening110.

That is, the upper prevention wall310is spaced apart from the first opening110by a predetermined interval to cover the upper side of the first opening110, and the first opening110and the second opening120are located to communicate with each other.

In this way, when the water tank500is installed from the upper side of the humidification module1000to the cistern part200, the water leaked from the opened injection hole located below the water tank500or the water directly supplied from the upper side of the humidification module100may be introduced into the air cleaner10through the first opening110, and because the protector300is provided, the water can be prevented from being introduced into the interior of the air cleaner10when the water tank500is coupled or water is directly supplied.

Further, the protector300includes a guide wall320that extends from an outer periphery of the upper prevention wall310to the lower side.

The guide wall320extends from the outer periphery of the upper prevention wall310to the space of the cistern part200, to which the water is supplied.

In detail, the guide wall320extends from an outer periphery of the upper prevention wall310to the lower side, and extends continuously with the space of the cistern part200, in detail, the inner partition wall210aof the cistern part200.

Accordingly, as descried above, the introduction of the water leaked in the upper prevention wall310can be prevented by the upper prevention wall310and the introduction of the water into the air cleaner10can be prevented by the cistern part200as well, and the leaked water can be introduced into the cistern part200along the guide wall320to be used for humidification through the humidification filter250.

Further, the guide wall320may extend from an outer periphery of the upper prevention wall310, except for the second opening120, to be continuous with the inner partition wall210athat defines the space of the cistern part200.

Accordingly, the flows of the air through the second opening120can be made smoother, and a portion of the leaked water can be directly absorbed by the humidification filter250to be used for humidification.

As illustrated inFIGS.4and5, a drain hole130may be formed on one side of the base cover100.

The drain hole130is formed by opening a lower portion of one side of the base cover100, and if the supplied water overflows the height of the overflow recess211formed in the outer partition wall210bof the cistern part200and is introduced, the overflowing water overflows the outer partition wall210band flows between the inner peripheral surface of the base cover100and the outer partition wall210bof the cistern part200through the overflow recess211and is discharged to the humidification module1000through the drain hole130.

Further, when the partition wall220is provided in the cistern part200to divide the space of the cistern part200, and if the water introduced from one side of the cistern part200into the opposite side space240of the cistern part200after overflowing the partition wall220overflows the height of the overflow recess211formed in the outer partition wall210b, the overflowing water flows to the base cover100, after overflowing the outer partition wall210bthrough the overflow recess211and is discharged through the drain hole130(see the arrow ofFIG.5).

Accordingly, the water in the cistern part200can be prevented from being introduced into the interior of the air cleaner10by two stages.

Further, a sensor (not illustrated) that detects the level of the water stored in the space of the cistern part200is further provided, and if the water introduced into the space of the cistern part200is detected to be a predetermined height or more, it may be displayed through a display unit (not illustrated) connected to the sensor.

Meanwhile, an opening/closing unit (not illustrated) may be provided on the side of the drain hole130, and if the sensor detects that the level of the water is a predetermined height or more, the opening/closing unit can be opened such that the water introduced to the base cover100, after overflowing the outer partition wall210bof the cistern part200can be discharged.

As described above, according to the powerless humidification module for an air cleaner that may prevent leakage of water according to the present invention, overflowing of water into the interior of the air cleaner and introduction of water when the water is supplied can be prevented, a predetermined amount of water that is necessary for humidification can be adjusted, and the humidification module can be easily attached to and detached from the air cleaner.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, it should be understood that an ordinary person in the art to which the present invention pertains can variously change and modify the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and all the changes and equivalents also fall within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS