Patent Publication Number: US-2022233738-A1

Title: Air Sterilizer

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an air sterilizer. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In recent years, the spread of COVID-19 has had a major impact on the world and has had a serious impact on the national economies. The droplets generated in a mouth and nasal cavity of a person during coughing, sneezing, talking, and singing are released from the mouth, and large droplets are scattered about 2 meters, but they fall afterwards. Droplets smaller than 5 micrometers in diameter and their dried droplet nuclei are called aerosols, can remain airborne for long periods of time, and cause the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). 
     As a countermeasure against this, an air sterilizer using a germicidal lamp or an ultraviolet LED (light emitting diode) as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, has been developed and sold. However, since these air sterilizers are located independently of sources of aerosols containing bacteria or viruses, i.e., the location of the infected person, an exhaled air of a person containing aerosols does not always pass through the air sterilizer. In the drawing, an air sterilizer  1  is arranged on a back side of people who are facing each other and having conversations. The air sucked from a suction port  2  is sterilized inside and then horizontally discharged from a discharge port  3 . A pathogen  5  discharged from an exhaled air of an infected person  4  is carried by an air flow  6  discharged from the discharge port  3  to a person  7  facing each other, and this person may be infected. In such an arrangement, the pathogen  5  enters the suction port  2  of the air sterilizer  1  after going through the room, and it is only a small portion of the pathogen discharged from the infected person  4 . Therefore, there is a risk that the aerosol released from the infected person is spread out the room by the air flow generated by the air sterilizer without being inactivated. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Document 
     For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus which is installed on both sides of a bed in a hospital room, sterilizes intake air with ultraviolet rays and blows it upward like an air curtain. 
     Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 9,310,088 B2 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is intended to intake air beside the bed, and it is not possible to suck the exhalation of the infected person intensively. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to effectively prevent infection of a disease by sucking the exhalation of the infected person. 
     SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 
     In order to achieve the above objects, an air sterilizer according to one aspect of the present invention includes a case having a suction port and a discharge port of air, a sterilizer arranged inside the case and sterilizing or inactivating bacteria or viruses in air inside the case, and an airflow generator generating an airflow that directs air containing an exhalation of a person in a space outside of the case to the suction port. 
     The suction port, in an installation condition, may be arranged at an upper region of a space where the person resides and opens at a lower region. 
     The suction port may be provided with a cylindrical rectifying member in which an inner diameter increases toward an end part. 
     The airflow generator may be arranged inside the case. 
     The air sterilizer may further include a duct connecting to the discharge port and extending below the suction port, and the duct may have a vent hole facing the suction port. 
     The airflow generator may be arranged outside of the case and at a position facing the suction port. 
     The air sterilizer may further include a transparent panel connecting to a lower part of the suction port and extending downward. 
     The air sterilizer may include a top plate on which the suction port is formed, a body of a lectern supporting the top plate, and a shield connecting to an upper part of the top plate and extending upward toward the top plate, and the discharging port may open below the top plate. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, infection of diseases can be effectively prevented. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a conventional air sterilizer. 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic front view of an air sterilizer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic front view of an air sterilizer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a view as seen from a direction of an arrow B in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic front view of an air sterilizer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic front view of an air sterilizer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic right-side view of the air sterilizer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of an air sterilizer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An air sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The air sterilizer is a device to suck exhalation of a facing speaker, sterilize or inactivate bacteria or viruses in an air, and discharge. 
     Air Sterilizer ( 1 ) 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the air sterilizer  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention has a box-shaped case  101 . The case  101  may have a substantially cylindrical shape in addition to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An inner peripheral surface of the case  101  has a reflective surface which efficiently reflects ultraviolet rays emitted by a sterilizer  105  arranged inside. Alternatively, an outer peripheral surface of the case  101  may be processed so as not to transmit ultraviolet rays, or the case  101  may be formed of a member that does not transmit ultraviolet rays. 
     The case  101  has a suction port  102  and a discharge port  103  of air. The suction port  102  is arranged at the upper region of the space where a person resides and opens at a lower region. More specifically, the suction port  102  is, for example, arranged between speakers facing each other and at the upper region of the space, and the suction port  102  is opened toward a space between the speakers. The case  101  is, for example, suspended above a table  110 , and the suction port  102  is arranged at lower part of the case  101 . The air sterilizer  100  may have a self-supporting support post on the table  110  or on a floor surface, and the support post may support the case  101  so that the suction port  102  is held above the table  110 . 
     The exhalations of the speakers have higher temperatures than room temperatures so it has a property of moving upward. Therefore, according to a configuration in which the suction port  102  is opened on the upper region of the speakers, the exhalations of the speakers can be efficiently collected. 
     The discharge port  103  for the sucked air is opened in a direction different from the suction port  102 . The discharge port  103  is formed at a position across the sterilizer  105  and opposite to the suction port  102 . In the present embodiment, the discharge port  103  is opened toward the upper region in the upper part of the case  101 , but it is not limited to this embodiment. 
     The air sterilizer  100  has the sterilizer  105 , an airflow generator  106 , and a rectifying member  107  as a configuration for sterilizing or inactivating air. 
     The sterilizer  105  is a device that is arranged inside the case  101  and emits ultraviolet rays to an inside of the case  101  to sterilizer or inactivate bacteria or viruses contained in the air sucked into the case  101 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , in the present embodiment, the sterilizer  105  is constituted by a pair of germicidal lamps which are elongated in a flow path direction. Further, the sterilizer  105  may also use a sterilizing power of photocatalysts excited by ultraviolet rays in addition to the sterilizing power of the ultraviolet rays themselves by arranging the photocatalysts in surroundings. 
     The airflow generator  106  is a device that is generating an air flow from an outside of the case  101  to an inside of the case  101 . The airflow generator  106  is, for example, a fan rotated by a motor. Further, quietness can be ensured by using a cross flow fan for the airflow generator  106 . 
     In the present embodiment, the airflow generator  106  is arranged inside the case  101  and between the sterilizer  105  and the discharge port  103 . The airflow generator  106  may be located on a flow path virtually connecting the suction port  102 , the sterilizer  105 , and the discharge port  103 , and may be arranged between the suction port  102  and the sterilizer  105 , for example. The air sucked from the suction port  102  is sterilized or inactivated by the sterilizer  105  and discharged to the outside of the case  101  by the air flow generated by the air flow generating device  106 . 
     The rectifying member  107  is a member arranged at the suction port  102 . The rectifying member  107  is a cylindrical member having an inner diameter that increases from the suction port  102  toward an end, that is, a trumpet-shaped member. The rectifying member  107  guides the air in the lower region of the air sterilizer  100  to the suction port  102 . The rectifying member  107  may be integrated with the case  101 . 
     In general, a fan as the airflow generator  106  generates an air flow having momentum and directivity on a discharging side, but has a characteristic of sucking surrounding air from all directions on a sucking side. Therefore, if an inhalation is performed by a fan, not only the exhaled air of the person seated at a lower region but also the air from all direction in a vicinity of the suction port  102  is sucked. Thus, it is difficult to suck all of the exhaled air. On the other hand, according to the air sterilizer  100  having the rectifying member  107 , the rectifying member  107  can mainly suck an air of a lower region of the suction port  102 . As a result, the exhaled air of the person seated at the lower region of the air sterilizer  100  can be sucked more efficiently. In other words, since released pathogens included in human breath, sneeze, cough and the like can be inactivated without spreading in a room, infection of disease can be prevented more effectively than the conventional sterilizer. 
     Air Sterilizer ( 2 ) 
     With reference to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , an air sterilizer  200  according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with focus on parts different from those of the first embodiment. This air sterilizer  200  has an airflow generator  206  that is arranged outside the case  101  and at a position facing the suction port  102  and blows out an air flow having directivity upward. More specifically, the airflow generator  206  is arranged on the top plate of the table  110  placed below the air sterilizer  200 . In the following description, the same components as those of the other embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the airflow generator  206  is, for example, a cross-flow fan. An outer shape of the airflow generator  206  is, for example, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and arranged so as to separate speakers facing each other. For example, the airflow generator  206  is arranged in a substantially center of the table  110  and substantially parallel to edges of the table  110 . The airflow generator  206  may have a cover. The cover can ensure safety, for example, by preventing a person&#39;s hand from directly touching the fan. The cover may also be waterproof or water repellent. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the fan from getting dirty even when liquid or the like is spilled on the table  110 . 
     The airflow generator  206  can be arranged in place of or in addition to the airflow generator  106  arranged inside the case  101 . By arranging each of the airflow generators  106  and  206  before and after the sterilizer  105  on the flow path direction of the air flow, the airflow generators  106  and  206  form a push-pull type device which forms a uniform captured air flow. According to this configuration, an upward airflow becomes more stable and stronger, and the exhalation of the speakers facing each other across the table  110  can be more efficiently guided to the suction port  102 . 
     Air Sterilizer ( 3 ) 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an air sterilizer  300  according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a transparent panel  307  which is connected to a lower part of the suction port  102  and extends downward. The transparent panel  307  is, for example, an acrylic plate, and arranged so as to block an exhalation of a person facing the table  110 . According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent large droplets contained in the exhalation of the speaker from reaching a person facing the speaker even if the droplets do not get on the air flow from a lower region to an upper region. Further, according to the transparent panel  307 , even when an upward air flow is disturbed by another blower such as an air conditioner or a ventilation system, the air flow can be stabilized. 
     A predetermined gap is provided between the transparent panel  307  and the airflow generator  206  arranged on the table  110 . According to this configuration, one airflow generator  206  can generate an upward air flow on both side of the transparent panel  307 . 
     In the above-described embodiments, two airflow generators  106  and  206 , and one sterilizer  105  are provided, but the air sterilizer according to the present invention may include more airflow generators and sterilizers than those described. For example, two sets in total may be arranged on one side and another side of the transparent panel. 
     Air Sterilizer ( 4 ) 
     With reference to  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , an air sterilizer  400  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with focus on parts different from those of the third embodiment. This air sterilizer  400  includes a duct  408  connected to the discharge port  103  and extends below the suction port  102 . The duct  408  is a hollow member and air discharged from the discharge port  103  flows inside. Further, the duct  408  has an annular shape and both ends are connected to the discharge port  103 . The duct  408  is fixed to the case  101  and the rectifying member  107  and along sides of the transparent panel  307 . Furthermore, the duct  408  is connected to the top plate of the table  110  below the suction port  102 . 
     In the duct  408 , a vent hole  409  is bored in a direction facing the suction port  102  in a top surface part of the table  110 . The air flowing into the duct  408  from the discharge port  103  blows out from the vent hole  409  to generate an upward air flow above the table  110 . The vent hole  409  may be a nozzle. 
     According to this configuration, since the exhalation can be efficiently collected by the air flow from the vent hole  409  and it can be formed more compactly than a configuration in which a separate airflow generator is placed on the table  110 , the table  110  can be effectively used when eating or the like. 
     Air Sterilizer ( 5 ) 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , an air sterilizer  500  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with focus on parts different from those of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the air sterilizer is different from the embodiment described above in that the air sterilizer is configured as a lectern in which the suction port  102  is formed on the top plate  510 . 
     The top plate  510  is a member to form a top surface of the lectern and a microphone or the like that collects the voice of a speaker  508  may be placed on the top plate  510 .
     A through hole having a shape corresponding to the suction port  102  is formed on the top plate  510 , and the suction port  102  is connected to this through hole.
 
The top plate  510  is supported by a body of the lectern in which a front panel  511   a  and left and right side-panels  511   b  are arranged in a U shape. The front panel  511   a  is, for example, made of an opaque panel so as to hide a lower body of a performer. Further, the left and right side-panels  511   b  may also be made of opaque panels. In the drawing, for convenience, configurations of the suction port  102 , the discharge port  103 , the sterilizer  105  and the airflow generator  106  arranged on a back side of the left and right side-panels  511   b  are illustrated. The discharge port  103  is formed on a lower surface side of the top plate  510  and opens below the top plate  510 , and the air in which pathogen is inactivated is discharged below the top plate  510 .
   

     A shield  512  extending upward from the top plate  510  is connected to an upper part of the top plate  510 . The shield  512  is, for example, a member connected near one end of the top plate  510  and curved so as to cover the top plate  510 . Further, the shield  512  is a transparent member. According to this configuration, exhalation of the speaker  508  standing on another end side of the lectern and speaks toward the shield  512  can be blocked by the shield  512 , thereby infection to the audience can be prevented. Further, since the shield  512  can guide the air flow generated by the airflow generator  106  in a direction from the speaker to the suction port  102 , the exhalation of the speaker  508  can be sucked more efficiently. In other words, according to this lectern type of the air sterilizer  500 , the speaker or the performer can prevent spreading pathogen into the room without using surgical masks. Therefore, contents of the speech are clarified and facial expressions of the speaker or the performer are not covered by the surgical masks, so effective press conferences or lectures can be held. 
     According to the air sterilizer of the present embodiment described above, it is possible to inactivate the pathogen released from the exhalation of the person without spreading in the room, so that the infection of the disease can be effectively prevented. Although the embodiments described above have described modes of inhaling pathogens released from a person sitting on a table and a person standing toward the lectern, the object of the present invention is not limited to these and can be widely applied to a person standing in front of a counter at a hospital reception or a person coming for an examination. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           100  air sterilizer 
           101  case 
           102  suction port 
           103  discharge port 
           105  sterilizer 
           106  airflow generator 
           107  rectifying member 
           110  table