U.S. patent application number 14/718775 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-26 for hair dryer.
The applicant listed for this patent is SANFAT ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED. Invention is credited to Yusuke HORIGUCHI, Keitoku MORITA, Juncheng PENG, Masanori TERAMOTO.
Application Number | 20150335127 14/718775 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53268647 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150335127 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TERAMOTO; Masanori ; et
al. |
November 26, 2015 |
HAIR DRYER
Abstract
A hair dryer includes a heater, a fan, a motor for driving the
fan, a body case that accommodates the heater, the fan, and the
motor, and a thermal barrier tube disposed between the body case
and the heater. The diameter of the fan is allowed to be 90 mm or
more, and an air quantity formed by the fan is allowed to be 1.0
m.sup.3 to 1.4 m.sup.3/min, thereby enabling reduction of noise
while resulting in the sufficient air quantity.
Inventors: |
TERAMOTO; Masanori;
(Dongguan City, CN) ; MORITA; Keitoku; (Dongguan
City, CN) ; HORIGUCHI; Yusuke; (Duesseldolf, DE)
; PENG; Juncheng; (Dongguan City, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SANFAT ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED |
Hong Kong |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
53268647 |
Appl. No.: |
14/718775 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
34/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 20/10 20130101;
A45D 20/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 20/08 20060101
A45D020/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2014 |
JP |
2014105469 |
Claims
1. A hair dryer comprising: a heater; a fan; a motor for driving
the fan; a body case that accommodates the heater, the fan, and the
motor; and a thermal barrier tube disposed between the body case
and the heater, wherein a diameter of the fan is 90 mm or more; and
an air quantity formed by the fan is 1.0 m.sup.3 to 1.4
m.sup.3/min.
2. The hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the
fan is 105 mm or more; and the air quantity is 1.2 m.sup.3/min or
less.
3. The hair dryer according to claim 2, wherein the diameter of the
fan is 120 mm; and the air quantity is 1.0 m.sup.3/min.
4. The hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional
shape of the thermal barrier tube is a streamlined shape.
5. The hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal barrier
tube is formed with a heat-resistant resin.
6. The hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein a roll diameter of
the heater in an air blow inflow side is two or more times a roll
diameter of the heater in an air blow outflow side.
7. The hair dryer according to claim 1, comprising a U-shaped
handle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2014-105469, filed on May 21, 2014. The entire specification,
claims, and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-105469
are incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a hair dryer in which air
taken in by a fan is heated by a heater. In particular, the present
disclosure relates to a hair dryer capable of providing a
sufficient air quantity and of reducing a noise level.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In a hair dryer for drying hair and/or the like, a fan is
rotated by a motor, and air is taken into the main body of the hair
dryer through an air suction port, heated by a heater, and
discharged out of the main body through an air discharge port.
Driving of such a hair dryer has been able to generate a noise of
70 dB, to preclude TV or the like from being watched or a
conversation from being held near the hair dryer, and to disturb
the sleep of a sleeping person in the middle of the night. Main
causes of the noise of hair dryers are considered to be wind noise
caused by fans, sounds generated by motors, standing wave noise
caused by cases, and the like. Although the decreased rotation
number of a motor results in the reduced noise of a hair dryer, the
excessively decreased rotation number prevents an air quantity
required by the hair dryer from being obtained.
[0004] Many attempts to reduce the noise of hair dryers have been
conventionally made. Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai
Publication No. H5-228013 discloses the disclosure in which plural
holes are formed at locations having the high axial distributions
of the sound pressure of standing wave noise generated by
air-column resonance in the case of a dryer, and a resonator is
attached to the outer peripheral surface of the case so as to cover
the holes, to internally form an air layer, thereby silencing the
dryer. According to the constitution of the disclosure, actuation
of a motor causes a blower fan to rotate to result in generation of
an air blow in the case and to spout the air through an outlet.
Noise is generated due to the blow; however, since the plural holes
are formed at the locations having the high axial distributions of
the sound pressure of the standing wave noise in the case to
dispose the resonator on the holes, sounds having specific
frequencies can be absorbed and attenuated to reduce sound
pressure. Accordingly, the standing wave noise generated by
air-column resonance can be effectively absorbed to achieve the
silence.
[0005] Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No.
H6-209818 discloses a silent dryer in which a microphone for
detecting the rotation number of a blower fan, a microphone for
monitoring noise in a blowport, and a speaker disposed between the
blower fan and the microphones are connected to a signal processing
apparatus and internally packaged in a main body of the dryer. The
signal processing apparatus subjects the output signal of each
microphone to phase inversion and to signal processing in the same
amplitude in order to reduce the output signal from each
microphone, and sends the processed signal to the speaker. A sound
processed by the signal processing apparatus and output from the
speaker, and noise in the blowport have phases reverse to each
other, and therefore cancel each other, thereby reducing the
noise.
[0006] Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No.
H7-265120 discloses a hair dryer comprising: a trunk body, of which
both side are provided with a suction port and a discharge port,
respectively; a cylinder-shaped suction guide placed in the
interior of the trunk body; a motor and a fan placed in the
interior of the suction guide; and a discharge guide which is
placed on the discharge port side of the trunk body and of which
the interior and outlet are provided with a heating coil and a
discharge nozzle, respectively, wherein a curved surface formed at
a certain arc angle is elongated and placed from the tip of the
suction port of the suction guide to spread toward an external
side, to regulate the flow of suction air, thereby reducing noise.
This hair dryer has the effect of being silently actuated by
maintaining the flow of suction air in laminar flow to
significantly reduce suction noise.
[0007] In the hair dryer of Unexamined Japanese Patent Application
Kokai Publication No. H5-228013, there is needed a complicated
structure in which the plural holes are formed at locations having
the high axial distributions of the sound pressure of standing wave
noise generated by air-column resonance in the case, and the
resonator is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the case
so as to cover the holes.
[0008] In the silent dryer of Unexamined Japanese Patent
Application Kokai Publication No. H6-209818, it is necessary to
dispose the microphones, the speaker, and the signal processing
apparatus.
[0009] In the hair dryer of Unexamined Japanese Patent Application
Kokai Publication No. H7-265120, there is needed a special
structure in which the curved surface formed at a certain arc angle
is elongated and placed from the tip of the suction port of the
suction guide to spread toward the external side.
[0010] As described above, the conventional hair dryers have been
incapable of reducing noise from the hair dryers unless provided
with a special structure such as a resonator, a microphone, a
speaker, a signal processing apparatus, or a curved surface placed
on the tip of a suction port. An objective of the disclosure is to
provide a hair dryer in which noise can be reduced to 60 dB or less
while securing a sufficient air quantity of not less than 1.0
m.sup.3/min without allowing the hair dryer to be provided with a
special stricture.
SUMMARY
[0011] The problems described above are solved by a hair dryer of
the present disclosure, including: a heater; a fan; a motor for
driving the fan; a body case that accommodates the heater, the fan,
and the motor; and a thermal barrier tube disposed between the body
case and the heater, wherein a diameter of the fan is 90 mm or
more, and an air quantity formed by the fan is 1.0 m.sup.3 to 1.4
m.sup.3/min.
[0012] In the hair dryer of the present disclosure, further, the
diameter of the fan is 105 mm or more, and the air quantity can be
1.2 m.sup.3/min or less. As a result, noise from the hair dryer can
be allowed to be 53 dB or less.
[0013] In the hair dryer of the present disclosure, the diameter of
the fan is 120 mm, and the air quantity can be 1.0 m.sup.3/min. As
a result, noise from the hair dryer can be allowed to be 43 dB.
[0014] In the hair dryer of the present disclosure, a
cross-sectional shape of the thermal barrier tube can be a
streamlined shape. As a result, generated noise can be reduced
compared to conventional hair dryers in which mica plates have been
used.
[0015] In the hair dryer of the present disclosure, the thermal
barrier tube can be formed with a heat-resistant resin. As a
result, generated noise can be reduced compared to conventional
hair dryers in which mica plates have been used.
[0016] In the hair dryer of the present disclosure, a roll diameter
of the heater in an air blow inflow side can be two or more times a
roll diameter of the heater in an air blow outflow side. As a
result, a temperature difference depending on a place in which warm
air is generated can be reduced.
[0017] The hair dryer of the present disclosure can include a
U-shaped handle. As a result, it becomes easy to hold the hair
dryer including the fan having a diameter that is as large as 90 mm
or more.
[0018] In accordance with the hair dryer of the present disclosure,
the diameter of the fan is allowed to be 90 mm or more, and the air
quantity formed by the fan is allowed to be 1.0 m.sup.3 to 1.4
m.sup.3/min, thereby enabling achievement of a sufficient air
quantity of 1.0 m.sup.3/min and enabling noise to be reduced to 60
dB or less without disposing such special structures as disposed in
conventional apparatuses. As a result, the need for disposing a
special structure is eliminated, and therefore, the manufacturing
cost of the hair dryer can be greatly reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] A more complete understanding of this application can be
obtained when the following detailed description is considered in
conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a hair
dryer of the present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a hair dryer of the present
disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of a hair dryer of the present
disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a right side view of a hair dryer of the present
disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a hair dryer of the present
disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a hair dryer of the present
disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a graph representing a relationship between a fan
diameter and a rotation number at an air quantity of 1.2
m.sup.3/min; and
[0027] FIG. 8 is a graph representing a relationship between a fan
diameter and a noise at an air quantity of 1.2 m.sup.3/min.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] A hair dryer 8 of the present disclosure comprises: a
cylindrically-shaped body case 12; a nozzle 10 disposed in front of
the body case 12; a rear cover 24 disposed behind the body case 12;
and a handle 26 disposed on the top of the body case 12, as
illustrated in the plan view (FIG. 2), the front view (FIG. 3), the
right side view (FIG. 4), the rear view (FIG. 5), and the bottom
view (FIG. 6). The handle 26, which has a U shape, facilitates
holding of the hair dryer comprising a fan having a diameter that
is as large as 90 mm or more. When the U-shaped handle is replaced
by an L-shaped handle of which only one end is connected to the
dryer body, the effect of facilitating holding of the hair dryer is
also similar. As illustrated in FIG. 2, innumerable holes for
taking air in are formed in the rear cover 24.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cross
section of the hair dryer 8 taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 4. A
motor 18 is fixed on the internal side of the body case 12 by nine
flow regulating plates 20. A fan 22 is fixed on the surface, facing
the rear cover 24, of the rotating shaft of the motor 18. The fan
22 comprising seven blades has a diameter of 90 mm or more. A
diameter of less than 90 mm, of the fan, results in an insufficient
air quantity.
[0030] A thermal barrier tube 14 is disposed in front of the flow
regulating plate 20. The winding of a heater 16 is disposed on the
internal side of the thermal barrier tube 14. The thermal barrier
tube 14, which is formed with a heat-resistant resin such as PBT or
PPS, has the function of shielding heat from the heater 16 to
prevent the body case 12 from being influenced by the heat. A
conventional hair dryer has included a mica plate (internal side)
and a steel plate (external side) as components corresponding to
the thermal barrier tube 14; however, the mica plate has been
vibrated to generate noise by the flow of air. In the hair dryer 8
of the present disclosure, such a problem is solved by adopting the
thermal barrier tube 14 with a heat-resistant resin. Since the
inner surface of the thermal barrier tube 14 is formed to have a
streamlined shape that is weakly convex toward the internal side,
the flow of air is smoothened to reduce the noise generated due to
the thermal barrier tube 14. In addition, it has been difficult to
alter the shape of a conventional mica plate to be streamlined.
[0031] The diameter of the winding of the heater 16 is varied along
the direction of the flow of air. In other words, the roll diameter
of the heater 16 in an air inflow side is 93.6 mm while the roll
diameter of the heater 16 in an air outflow side is 44 mm. The
temperature of air heated by the heater 16 varies greatly depending
on a place. However, the temperature difference of air was able to
be reduced to 25.degree. C. (maximum temperature of 95.degree. C.
and minimum temperature of 75.degree. C.) at an air quantity of 1.2
m.sup.3/min by adopting such numerical values as the roll diameters
of the heater 16. In a conventional hair dryer, the temperature
difference of air depending on a place was 55.degree. C. (maximum
temperature of 115.degree. C. and minimum temperature of 60.degree.
C.) at an air quantity of 1.2 m.sup.3/min. Therefore, the
temperature difference in the hair dryer 16 of the present
disclosure is improved.
[0032] The nozzle 10, which is disposed in front of the body case
12, allows air heated by the heater 16 to converge and to be
discharged from the hair dryer 8. It is not essential to dispose
the nozzle 10 in the hair dryer 8.
[0033] FIG. 7 represents a relationship between the diameter of the
fan 22 and the rotation number of the motor 18 at an air quantity
of 1.2 m.sup.3/min, and FIG. 8 represents a relationship between
the diameter of the fan 22 and the noise at an air quantity of 1.2
m.sup.3/min.
[0034] Table 1 represents a relationship of the diameter of the fan
22, the rotation number of the motor 18, and a noise at an air
quantity of 1.2 m.sup.3/min.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Fan diameter Rotation number Noise (mm)
(rpm) (dB) 60 12000 65 75 7800 61 90 5400 57 105 4000 53 120 3000
48
[0035] As is clear from Table 1 above, at an air quantity of 1.2
m.sup.3/min, the noise is 65 dB when the diameter of the fan 22 is
60 mm, the noise is 61 dB when the diameter of the fan 22 is 75 mm,
and the noise is 57 dB when the diameter of the fan 22 is 90 mm. In
other words, it is necessary to allow the fan 22 to have a diameter
of 90 mm or more at an air quantity of 1.2 m.sup.3/min in order to
reduce the noise to 60 dB or less.
[0036] Table 2 represents a relationship of the diameter of the fan
22 and the noises at air quantities of 1.4 m.sup.3/min, 1.2
m.sup.3/min, and 1.0 m.sup.3/min.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Air Air Air quantity of quantity of quantity
of 1.4 1.2 1.0 Fan diameter Noise Noise Noise (mm) (dB) (dB) (dB)
60 67 65 62 75 64 61 58 90 60 57 53 105 56 53 48 120 51 48 43
[0037] Based on the above, it is necessary to allow the diameter of
the fan 22 to be 90 to 120 mm in order to allow the noise from the
hair dryer 8 to be 60 dB or less at an air quantity of 1.4
m.sup.3/min. In addition, it is necessary to allow the diameter of
the fan 22 to be 90 to 120 mm in order to allow the noise to be 60
dB or less at an air quantity of 1.2 m.sup.3/min. In addition, it
is necessary to allow the diameter of the fan 22 to be 75 to 120 mm
in order to allow the noise to be 60 dB or less at an air quantity
of 1.0 m.sup.3/min. In addition, the noise can be reduced to 43 dB
when the diameter of the fan 22 is 120 mm. In summary, it is found
that it is necessary to allow the diameter of the fan 22 to be 90
mm or more in order to reduce the noise to 60 dB or less while
securing a sufficient air quantity of 1.0 to 1.4 m.sup.3/min.
[0038] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for
explanatory purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has
presented specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in
an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. This detailed
description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and
the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims,
along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are
entitled.
* * * * *