# Patent

## Title
Intake device

## Abstract

Due to the low suction strength or an unsuitable positional relationship or distance between the suction feed and the oral cavity, conventional extra-oral intake devices exhibit the problem of not being able to fully suck particulate matter and droplets from teeth, shavings from repair products, saliva, bacteria, blood, rinse water, tooth surface cleaning agents, etc., that are dispersed to outside the oral cavity during practice. In order to improve suction strength, the present invention provides an intake device that is equipped with a protruding airflow-regulating member, the top of which is oriented in the direction in which the fluid flows into the opening part of the suction feed, and that can efficiently suck dispersed particulate matter and droplets within a wide range.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2014/061502, filed on Apr. 17, 2014 and published in Japanese as WO 2014/171555 A1 on Oct. 23, 2014. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-087134, filed on Apr. 18, 2013. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an intake device comprising a flow straightening member in an opening part of a suction hood.
Background Art
In dental treatment, an extraoral intake device is used for protecting health of patients and dental medical workers and keeping the inside of an examination room clean by sucking at patients' mouth dust or spray which scatters to the outside of a mouth during the examination, such as shavings of teeth or repairing material, saliva, bacterium, blood, rinse water, cleaning agent for tooth surfaces, and so on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
However, in the conventional technique, the above dust or spray cannot be completely sucked because the suction force is weak or because distance or positional relationship between a suction hood and a mouth is not appropriate.
In order to improve suction force, the present invention provides an intake device comprising a flow straightening member in an opening part of a suction hood.
Means for Solving the Problem
Specifically, the present invention provides the following intake device.
In the first invention, an intake device having a suction hood provided with a flow straightening member convex toward a fluid flow direction is provided.
In the second invention, based on the first invention, an intake device wherein the flow straightening member has one kind of shape selected from a generally egg shape, a generally cone shape, a generally pyramidal shape, and a generally partial spherical shape, is provided.
In the third invention, based on either one of the first invention or the second invention, an intake device wherein an inner surface of the suction hood has a megaphone's inner surface shape, is provided.
In the fourth invention, based on any one of the first invention to the third invention, an intake device wherein the flow straightening member is completely housed in the inner space of the suction hood, is provided.
In the fifth invention, based on any one of the first invention to the third invention, an intake device wherein the flow straightening member is arranged to protrude from the inner space of the suction hood, is provided.
In the sixth invention, based on the fifth invention, an intake device wherein the protruding part of the flow straightening member is convex toward the opposite side of a fluid flow direction, is provided.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
The present invention provides an intake device which can efficiently suck dust or spray scattering widely.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a whole of the intake device in the embodiment 1;
FIG. 2 is a view enlarging the suction hood part of the intake device in the embodiment 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the flow straightening in the conventional technique;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the flow straightening in the intake device in the embodiment 1;
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of the shape of the flow straightening member;
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of the shape of the flow straightening member;
FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of the shape of the flow straightening member;
FIG. 8a is a photo of the intake device sucking smoke in case where the flow straightening member is configured to be planar;
FIG. 8b is a photo of the intake device sucking smoke in case where the flow straightening member is configured to be convex toward the opposite side of a fluid flow direction;
FIG. 8c is a photo of the intake device sucking smoke in case where the flow straightening member is configured to have a generally partial spherical shape convex toward a fluid flow direction;
FIG. 8d is a photo of the intake device sucking smoke in case where the flow straightening member is configured to have a generally egg shape convex toward a fluid flow direction;
FIG. 9 is a view enlarging the suction hood part of the intake device in the embodiment 2; and
FIG. 10 is a view enlarging the suction hood part of the intake device in the embodiment 3.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below by using the attached drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and can be put into practice in various modes within a range not departing from its gist. An embodiment 1 will be described mainly for claims 1 to 3. An embodiment 2 will be described mainly for claim 4. An embodiment 3 will be described mainly for claims 5 and 6.
Embodiment 1
Embodiment 1: Outline
The intake device in this embodiment is characterized by being provided with a flow straightening member convex toward a fluid flow direction in its suction hood.
Embodiment 1: Structure
The intake device in this embodiment has a suction hood provided with a flow straightening member, and additionally, may have a main body or an arm and the like. FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a whole of the intake device in this embodiment.
The “main body” (0101) is provided with a mechanism which generates negative pressure to perform suction. Specifically, a motor starts rotating when turning on power, and a member connected to a rotary shaft of the motor rotates to generate negative pressure inside the main body.
The “arm” (0102) is a component connected to the main body, having a function for supporting a suction hood which will be explained in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the arm is preferably provided with a plurality of joints. By this configuration, the position of the suction hood connected to the tip of the arm can be easily adjusted.
The “suction hood” (0103) is a component connected to the tip of the arm, having a function for catching dust or spray. FIG. 2 is a view enlarging the suction hood part of the intake device in this embodiment. The dotted line part illustrates the structure inside the suction hood. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, an inner surface of the suction hood is configured to have a megaphone's inner surface shape. By this configuration, the catching space is made larger and dust or spray scattering widely can be sucked efficiently.
The “flow straightening member” (0204) is a component arranged inside the suction hood, having a function for introducing the air sucked from the suction port (0205) into the cavity. The flow straightening member in this embodiment is characterized by being convex toward a fluid flow direction. As illustrated in FIG. 2, being convex toward a fluid flow direction means being convex toward the exhaust port (0206). The flow straightening member is fixed to the inside of the suction hood by the supporting base (0207).
FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the flow straightening in the conventional technique. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flow straightening member in a plate shape as in the conventional technique cannot sufficiently prevent the occurrence of a vortex.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the flow straightening in the intake device in this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in case where the flow straightening member is configured to have a generally partial spherical shape convex toward the exhaust port, the sucked air is introduced along the convex surface. Therefore, it does not generate a vortex and is carried to the exhaust port smoothly. In order to minimize the volume of the catching space where a vortex may occur, the distance x from the end of the flow straightening member to the exhaust port is preferably short.
As the shape of the flow straightening member, other than a generally partial spherical shape, it is also considered to take a generally egg shape as illustrated in FIG. 5, or a generally cone shape as illustrated in FIG. 6, or a generally pyramidal shape as illustrated in FIG. 7. In any of the shape, the sucked air is carried to the exhaust port smoothly along the convex surface of the flow straightening member.
FIGS. 8a to 8d are photos of the intake device sucking smoke. FIG. 8a is a photo in case where the flow straightening member is configured to be planar. FIG. 8b is a photo in case where the flow straightening member is configured to be convex toward the opposite side of a fluid flow direction. FIG. 8c is a photo in case where the flow straightening member is configured to have a generally partial spherical shape convex toward a fluid flow direction. FIG. 8d is a photo in case where the flow straightening member is configured to have a generally egg shape convex toward a fluid flow direction. In FIGS. 8c and 8d, in comparison with FIGS. 8a and 8b, a line of the sucked smoke appears clearly. Therefore, it is shown that the occurrence of a vortex near the exhaust port is prevented and the sucking linear velocity is improved by the flow straightening member configured as in this embodiment.
Embodiment 1: Effects
The present invention provides an intake device which can efficiently suck dust or spray scattering widely.
Embodiment 2
Embodiment 2: Outline
In the intake device in the embodiment 1, in case where a part of the flow straightening member is arranged outside the suction hood, the air introduced along the part does not flow to the exhaust port directly and a part of dust or spray scatters to the vicinity.
The intake device in this embodiment is characterized in that the flow straightening member is completely housed in the inner space of the suction hood in order to solve such a problem.
Embodiment 2: Structure
The intake device in this embodiment comprises a main body, an arm, a suction hood, and a flow straightening member. The main body, the arm, and the suction hood are the same as described in the embodiment 1. The flow straightening member is the same as described in the embodiment 1, except for the following points.
FIG. 9 is a view enlarging the suction hood part of the intake device in this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the “flow straightening member” (0904) in this embodiment is arranged to be completely housed in the inner space of the suction hood. By this configuration, the air introduced along the convex surface of the flow straightening member wholly flow to the exhaust port and dust or spray can be efficiently sucked.
Embodiment 2: Effects
The present invention provides an intake device which can efficiently suck dust or spray scattering widely.
Embodiment 3
Embodiment 3: Outline
The intake device in this embodiment is characterized in that a part of the flow straightening member is arranged to protrude from the inner space of the suction hood and the protruding part is convex toward the opposite side of a fluid flow direction.
Embodiment 3: Structure
The intake device in this embodiment comprises a main body, an arm, a suction hood, and a flow straightening member. The main body, the arm, and the suction hood are the same as described in the embodiment 1. The flow straightening member is the same as described in the embodiment 1, except for the following points.
FIG. 10 is a view enlarging the suction hood part of the intake device in this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the “flow straightening member” (1004) in this embodiment is arranged to protrude from the inner space of the suction hood. The protruding part of the flow straightening member (1008) is configured to be convex toward the opposite side of a fluid flow direction.
In the intake device in this embodiment, for the protruding part of the flow straightening member has a convex shape, the air introduced along the part of the flow straightening member is carried to the inner space of the suction hood smoothly and dust or spray does not scatter to the vicinity. In case where the flow straightening member is configured to have the shape as illustrated in FIG. 10, the distance from the end of the flow straightening member to the exhaust port is made short and the occurrence of a vortex can be prevented more efficiently.
Embodiment 3: Effects
The present invention provides an intake device which can efficiently suck dust or spray scattering widely.

## Claims

1. A dental intake device for providing extraoral suction during a dental treatment, comprising:
a suction hood including:
an intake opening into which a fluid flows;
a converging hood inner surface along which the fluid taken in by the intake opening flows; and
an exhaust opening configured to be operatively connected to a suction source such that the fluid taken in by the intake opening is exhausted via the exhaust opening, wherein the converging hood inner surface continuously converges from the intake opening to the exhaust opening so that the converging hood inner surface forms a truncated conical surface;

a flow straightening member having a tip and a base opposite to the tip, the flow straightening member being located within the suction hood, the tip of the flow straightening member being closer to the exhaust opening than the intake opening so that the tip is located between the intake opening and the exhaust opening, the flow straightening member having a convex outer surface that is spaced apart from the converging hood inner surface forming a gap between the convex outer surface and the converging hood inner surface, such that all of the fluid taken in by the intake opening flows through said gap; and
a support that fixes the flow straightening member to the suction hood,
wherein one part of the support is connected to the convex outer surface at a position which is located between the tip and the base, and
another part of the support is connected to the converging hood inner surface.

2. The intake device according to claim 1,
wherein the flow straightening member has a shape selected from a generally egg shape, a generally cone shape, a generally pyramidal shape, and a generally partial spherical shape.

3. The intake device according to claim 1,
wherein the suction hood is truncated cone-shaped, and
a diameter of the intake opening is larger than a diameter of the exhaust opening.

4. The intake device according to claim 1,
wherein the flow straightening member is completely housed in an inner space of the suction hood.

5. The intake device according to claim 1,
wherein the base of the flow straightening member outwardly protrudes from the intake opening of the suction hood.

6. The intake device according to claim 5,
wherein a part of the base of the flow straightening member protrudes from the intake opening and is in a convex shape with a base tip that is located outside of the suction hood.

7. The intake device according to claim 2,
wherein the suction hood is truncated cone-shaped, and
a diameter of the intake opening is larger than a diameter of the exhaust opening.

8. The intake device according to claim 2,
wherein the support is configured with a plurality of supports, each of the plurality of supports is hemispherically-shaped, and each of the plurality of supports has a vertex and a support base,
a vertex of each of the plurality of supports is connected to the converging hood inner surface, and
a support base of each of the plurality of supports is connected to the member outer surface.

9. The intake device according to claim 3,
wherein the support is configured with a plurality of supports, and each of the plurality of supports is hemispherically-shaped, and each of the plurality of supports has a vertex and a support base,
a vertex of each of the plurality of supports is connected to the converging hood inner surface, and
a support base of each of the plurality of supports is connected to the member outer surface.

10. The intake device according to claim 2,
wherein the base of the flow straightening member outwardly protrudes from the intake opening of the suction hood.

11. The intake device according to claim 3,
wherein the base of the flow straightening member outwardly protrudes from the intake opening of the suction hood.

12. The intake device according to claim 7,
wherein the base of the flow straightening member outwardly protrudes from the intake opening of the suction hood.

13. The intake device according to claim 8,
wherein the base of the flow straightening member outwardly protrudes from the intake opening of the suction hood.

14. The intake device according to claim 9,
wherein the base of the flow straightening member outwardly protrudes from the intake opening of the suction hood.

15. The intake device according to claim 10,
wherein a part of the base of the flow straightening member protrudes from the intake opening and is a convex shape with a base tip that is located outside of the suction hood.

16. The intake device according to claim 11,
wherein a part of the base of the flow straightening member protrudes from the intake opening and is a convex shape with a base tip that is located outside of the suction hood.

17. The intake device according to claim 12,
wherein a part of the base of the flow straightening member protrudes from the intake opening and is a convex shape with a base tip that is located outside of the suction hood.

18. The intake device according to claim 13,
wherein a part of the base of the flow straightening member protrudes from the intake opening and is a convex shape with a base tip that is located outside of the suction hood.

19. The intake device according to claim 14,
wherein a part of the base of the flow straightening member protrudes from the intake opening and is a convex shape with a base tip that is located outside of the suction hood.

20. The intake device according to claim 1,
wherein the support is configured with a plurality of supports, and each of the plurality of supports is hemispherically-shaped, and each of the plurality of supports has a vertex and a support base
a vertex of each of the plurality of supports is connected to the converging hood inner surface, and
a support base of each of the plurality of supports is connected to the member outer surface.