IP Library Granted Patent US 7,959,717
Granted Patent B2
US 7,959,717 · App. 12/095,311 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Air conditioning system with electrostatically atomizing function

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,959,717
App. No.
12/095,311
Granted
Jun 14, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function includes an electrostatically atomizing unit and a ventilation duct which flows conditioned air. The electrostatically atomizing unit generates a mist of charged minute water particles. The electrostatically atomizing unit is provided with a discharge port which locates adjacent to an air outlet of the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles flows into an airflow which is sent from the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles effectively spreads to the space by the air flow without dissipating inside the ventilation duct.

Claims (56)

1. An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function, said system comprising:

an electrostatically atomizing unit; and

a ventilation duct configured to flow a conditioned air and to have an air outlet for sending said conditioned air;

said atomizing unit comprising:

an emitter electrode;

a water supplying means for supplying water to said emitter electrode;

an opposed electrode disposed in an opposed relation to said emitter electrode;

a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode, thereby electrostatically atomizing the water at a tip of said emitter electrode to generate a mist of charged minute water particles flowing from said emitter electrode towards and through said opposed electrode; and

a discharge port for discharging said mist of the charged minute water particle;

said electrostatically atomizing unit being disposed outwardly of said ventilation duct to locate said discharge port adjacent to said air outlet in order to carry said mist on said conditioned air flowing from said air outlet, wherein

said electrostatically atomizing unit includes an atomization barrel which is configured to surround said emitter electrode and hold said opposed electrode, said atomization barrel being formed at its front end with said discharge port, said atomization barrel having a center axis which is inclined with respect to a direction of said conditioned air flowing from said air outlet.

2. An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function, said system comprising:

an electrostatically atomizing unit; and

a ventilation duct configured to flow a conditioned air and to have an air outlet for sending said conditioned air;

said atomizing unit comprising:

an emitter electrode;

a water supplying means for supplying water to said emitter electrode;

an opposed electrode disposed in an opposed relation to said emitter electrode;

a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode, thereby electrostatically atomizing the water at a tip of said emitter electrode to generate a mist of charged minute water particles flowing from said emitter electrode towards and through said opposed electrode; and

a discharge port for discharging said mist of the charged minute water particle;

said electrostatically atomizing unit being disposed outwardly of said ventilation duct to locate said discharge port adjacent to said air outlet in order to carry said mist on said conditioned air flowing from said air outlet, wherein

said electrostatically atomizing unit includes an atomization barrel which is configured to surround said emitter electrode and hold said opposed electrode, and includes an extension duct flowing said mist of the charged minute water particles discharged from said atomization barrel, said extension duct being formed at its front end with said discharge port and being arranged to locate said discharge port in the vicinity of said air outlet.

3. An air conditioning system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein

said extension duct is a bendable flexible duct.

4. An air conditioning system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein

said extension duct is tapered to have its inside diameter narrower towards said discharge port than at the connection with said atomization barrel.

5. An air conditioning system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein

said ventilation duct is configured to have a branch duct which merges to a portion of said extension duct to flow a portion of said conditioned air into said extension duct.

6. An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function, said system comprising:

an electrostatically atomizing unit; and

a ventilation duct configured to flow a conditioned air and to have an air outlet for sending said conditioned air;

said atomizing unit comprising:

an emitter electrode;

a water supplying means for supplying water to said emitter electrode;

an opposed electrode disposed in an opposed relation to said emitter electrode;

a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode, thereby electrostatically atomizing the water at a tip of said emitter electrode to generate a mist of charged minute water particles flowing from said emitter electrode towards and through said opposed electrode; and

a discharge port for discharging said mist of the charged minute water particle;

said electrostatically atomizing unit being disposed outwardly of said ventilation duct to locate said discharge port adjacent to said air outlet in order to carry said mist on said conditioned air flowing from said air outlet, wherein

said electrostatically atomizing unit includes an atomization barrel which is configured to surround said emitter electrode and hold said opposed electrode, and includes a extension duct flowing said mist of the charged minute water particles discharged from said atomization barrel, said extension duct being formed at its front end with said discharge port which is connected to said ventilation duct immediately upstream of said air outlet.

7. An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function, said system comprising:

an electrostatically atomizing unit; and

a ventilation duct configured to flow a conditioned air and to have an air outlet for sending said conditioned air;

said atomizing unit comprising:

an emitter electrode;

a water supplying means for supplying water to said emitter electrode;

an opposed electrode disposed in an opposed relation to said emitter electrode;

a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode, thereby electrostatically atomizing the water at a tip of said emitter electrode to generate a mist of charged minute water particles flowing from said emitter electrode towards and through said opposed electrode; and

a discharge port for discharging said mist of the charged minute water particle;

said electrostatically atomizing unit being disposed outwardly of said ventilation duct to locate said discharge port adjacent to said air outlet in order to carry said mist on said conditioned air flowing from said air outlet, wherein

said electrostatically atomizing unit includes an atomization barrel which is configured to surround said emitter electrode and hold said opposed electrode, and includes an extension duct flowing said mist of the charged minute water particles discharged from said atomization barrel, said extension duct being formed at its front end with said discharge port and being arranged to locate said discharge port downstream of said air outlet.

8. An air conditioning system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein

said extension duct is a bendable flexible duct.

9. An air conditioning system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein

said extension duct is tapered to have its inside diameter narrower towards said discharge port than at the connection with said atomization barrel.

10. An air conditioning system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein

said ventilation duct is configured to have a branch duct which merges to a portion of said extension duct to flow a portion of said conditioned air into said extension duct.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 28, 2009
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
To: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022206/0574 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2008
From: YANO, TAKESHI; HIRAI, TOSHIHISA; WADA, SUMIO; SUGAWA, AKIHIDE; MATSUMOTO, TATSUHIKO; AKISADA, SHOUSUKE
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 021012/0765 →