JP2012157506A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner allowing smooth mobility of a cleaner body capable of enhancing cleaning workability.SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner includes: a cleaner body 1 in which an electric blower is provided having a dust collection part; a hose freely detachably connected to the cleaner body 1; an extension pipe freely detachably connected to the hose; and a suction tool connected to the extension pipe; wheel axles 8 formed as projecting to the outside of the cleaner body 1 on right and left sides of the cleaner body 1; and running wheels 12 attached to the axles 8. The running wheels 12 are insert molded with outer wheels 16 of a rolling bearing and inner wheels 14 of the rolling bearing are held on the axles 8 so that the running wheels are freely turnably arranged to the cleaner body 1.

Description

  It relates to a vacuum cleaner.

  As is generally known, there is a vacuum cleaner that can perform cleaning while moving on a surface to be cleaned. The so-called canister-type vacuum cleaner has a built-in electric blower and a vacuum cleaner body with a dust collecting part connected to a suction tool via a hose and an extension tube, and operates an operation part provided at the end of the hose. The cleaning operation is performed. And a vacuum cleaner main body follows and runs by pulling a hose with cleaning operation.

  As a configuration for running the cleaner body, for example, a cylindrical shaft provided with a claw portion on the outer periphery protrudes from the approximate center of the running wheel, and a bearing portion that forms this shaft on the cleaner body There is known an electric vacuum cleaner that is configured to be fitted to the traveling wheel so that the traveling wheel is rotatably held with respect to the vacuum cleaner body and is prevented from coming off (Patent Document 1).

JP-A-5-184488

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, in order to fit the shaft provided with the claw portion into the bearing portion, it is necessary to provide a slight gap between the bearing portion and the shaft so as to have play. In order to prevent the running wheel from rattling due to the play, it is necessary to increase the fitting length between the bearing portion and the shaft, but there is a problem that the contact resistance between the bearing portion and the shaft increases. For this reason, when the cleaner body is caused to follow the cleaning operation, there is a problem that the mobility of the cleaner body is poor and the cleaning workability is poor.

  Therefore, a configuration in which traveling wheels are mounted on the vacuum cleaner body via ball bearings is conceivable. Generally, the ball bearing is fixed by press fitting. Specifically, the inner ring of the ball bearing is press-fitted and fitted to the axle that protrudes from the cleaner body, and the outer ring of the ball bearing is press-fitted and fitted to the holding wall that is formed on the running wheel. It is conceivable to support it rotatably.

  However, since both the cleaner body and the traveling wheel are made of synthetic resin, an error may occur in the diameter of the axle of the cleaner body and the retaining wall of the traveling wheel due to molding errors. The shaft of the main body of the vacuum cleaner fits the inner diameter of the inner ring and is formed with a small diameter, so the dimensional error is small, but the outer wall of the outer ring fits the holding wall of the running wheel. As a result, the dimensional error increases. Therefore, if the retaining wall is formed with a small diameter due to molding errors of the traveling wheel, the ball bearing cannot be fitted, and if the retaining wall is formed with a large diameter, it is not securely fixed. There are problems such as being unable to stop rotation.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, improves the mobility of the cleaner body using a ball bearing, improves the cleaning workability, and can reliably attach the ball bearing to the traveling wheel. It is an object to provide a vacuum cleaner.

  A vacuum cleaner body having a built-in electric blower and having a dust collecting part, a hose detachably connected to the vacuum cleaner body, an extension pipe detachably connected to the hose, and connected to the extension pipe A suction tool, on both left and right side surfaces of the cleaner body, having an axle formed to protrude toward the outside of the cleaner body, and a running wheel attached to the axle, the running wheel rolling The outer ring of the bearing is integrally formed by insert molding, and the inner ring of the rolling bearing is held on an axle so as to be rotatable with respect to the cleaner body.

  It is preferable that a cover body that is fixed to the axle from the outside of the traveling wheel to prevent the traveling wheel from coming off and covers the rolling bearing is provided.

  Preferably, the axle is formed hollow, and a screw is screwed onto the axle to prevent the cover body from being detached.

  Further, the cleaner body is formed with an annular body-side loose-fitting rib concentrically with the axle, and the traveling wheel has an annular travel concentric with a holding wall that holds the outer ring of the rolling bearing. It is preferable that a ring-side loose-fit rib is formed, and the main body-side loose-fit rib and the traveling-wheel-side loose-fit rib have a configuration in which peripheral walls are close to and face each other.

  Further, the main body side loose fitting rib is formed with a smaller allowable diameter than the holding wall, and the running wheel side loose fitting rib is formed with a smaller allowable diameter than the main body side loose fitting rib, and the holding wall and the main body side are formed. It is preferable that a labyrinth structure is constituted by the loose fitting rib and the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to form an exhaust port through which at least a part of the exhaust from the electric blower is exhausted at a position on the outer diameter side of the running wheel side loose fitting rib on the side surface of the cleaner body covered with the running wheel. .

  According to the first aspect, the traveling wheel can be attached to the cleaner body via the ball bearing, the mobility of the cleaner body can be improved, and the cleaning workability can be improved. Also, by integrally forming the ball bearing on the traveling wheel by insert molding, the ball bearing can be easily and reliably fixed to the traveling wheel, the ball bearing can be prevented from rotating, and the ball bearing Since the centering can be surely performed, the running wheel can be supported with respect to the cleaner body without rattling, and the running performance can be further improved.

  According to the second aspect, by providing the cover body, the traveling wheel is prevented from coming off, and the cover body covers the rolling bearing, thereby preventing the dust from entering the rolling bearing.

  According to the third aspect, since the cover body is fixed by a screw screwed to the axle, the axle is expanded in the radial direction by the screw, and the inner ring of the rolling bearing that is press-fitted can be firmly fixed. The effect of.

  According to the fourth aspect, since the main body side loose fitting rib and the running wheel side loose fitting rib are close to each other with their peripheral walls facing each other, the rolling bearing is provided between the main body side loose fitting rib and the running wheel side loose fitting rib. It is possible to prevent the dust from being mixed.

  According to the fifth aspect, since the holding wall, the main body side loose fitting rib, and the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib have a labyrinth structure that is alternately engaged, it is possible to prevent dust from being mixed into the rolling bearing. There is an effect such as being able to.

  According to the sixth aspect, the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust port generates an air flow that flows toward the edge of the traveling wheel. Therefore, even if dust enters the space between the traveling wheel and the cleaner body, the air current causes the air to flow toward the edge of the traveling wheel. It is pushed back and produces effects such as preventing dust from entering the rolling bearing.

It is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention. It is the same top view. It is the same side view. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the traveling wheel. It is a disassembled perspective view of the lower case and a running wheel. It is a disassembled perspective view of the lower case and traveling wheel in another embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner body, a lower case 2, an upper case 3 that covers the rear upper part of the lower case 2, and a lid that covers the upper part of the lower case 2 so as to be openable and closable. An electric blower chamber (not shown) in which an electric blower is housed is formed in a space formed by a body 4 and surrounded by the lower case 2 and the upper case 3, and the lower case 2 and the lid A dust collection chamber (not shown) is formed in a space surrounded by the body 4, and the lid 4 is opened in the dust collection chamber to collect paper packs, cyclone dust cups, and the like. The dust part can be attached detachably. Reference numeral 5 denotes a connection port formed in front of the cleaner body 1, to which a flexible hose is detachably connected, and the hose is detachable through an extension pipe (not shown). Connected. A free wheel 6 is disposed in front of the bottom surface of the lower case 2, and a pair of traveling wheels 12 (described later) are rotatably disposed on the left and right side surfaces of the rear portion of the lower case 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 7 denotes a running wheel arrangement portion formed on the outer wall surface of the rear side of the lower case 2, and an axle 8 is formed to protrude outward from the lower case 2 at a substantially center. Yes. The axle 8 is formed in a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape having a screw hole on the inside, and has four fixing ribs 9 on the side surface. The fixing rib 9 is formed with a taper so as to become higher from the distal end side of the axle 8 toward the proximal end side (lower case 2 side). Reference numeral 10 denotes an annular main body-side loose-fitting rib formed concentrically with the axle 8 so as to surround the axle 8 in the traveling wheel arrangement portion 7 and is formed to have a diameter larger than an outer diameter of a ball bearing 13 described later. ing. On the outer peripheral side of the traveling wheel arrangement portion 7, a loose rib 11 is formed in a semicircular shape concentrically with the axle 8 toward the outer side of the lower case 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 12 denotes a substantially disc-shaped synthetic resin traveling wheel disposed in the traveling wheel disposition portion 7, and a ball is formed at the approximate center of the side surface of the traveling wheel 12 on the lower case 2 side. A bearing 13 is provided. The ball bearing 13 is a metal rolling bearing including an inner ring 14 and an outer ring 16 that is rotatably held with respect to the inner ring 14 via a plurality of rolling elements 15. The running wheel 12 is formed integrally with the outer ring 16 of the ball bearing 13 by insert molding, and the inner ring 14 is press-fitted into the axle 8 so that it can rotate with respect to the lower case 2. It is arranged.

  An annular holding wall 17 for holding the outer ring 16 of the ball bearing 13 is formed concentrically with the ball bearing 13 by insert molding the ball bearing 13 at the approximate center of the running wheel 12. Reference numeral 18 denotes an annular running-wheel-side loose-fitting rib which is provided on the running wheel 12 and is concentrically formed with the holding wall 17 and is positioned so as to surround the holding wall 17. Between the side loose fitting ribs 18, loose fitting grooves that are loosely fitted with the main body side loose fitting ribs 10 are formed.

  When the traveling wheel 12 is mounted on the axle 8 of the traveling wheel disposition portion 7, the main body side loose fitting rib 10 is formed between the holding wall 17 and the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib 18. The body-side loose fitting rib 10 and the traveling wheel-side loose fitting rib 18 are close to each other and face each other in the loose fitting groove. And the labyrinth structure is formed in the space surrounding the ball bearing 13 by configuring the running wheel side loose fitting rib 18, the main body side loose fitting rib 10, and the holding wall 17 to be alternately arranged. It is formed.

  A backlash rib 19 is provided on the traveling wheel 12 so as to be opposed to the backlash rib 11 of the travel wheel disposition portion 7 with a gap. The backlash rib 11 on the travel wheel 12 side and the travel wheel are disposed. The rattling rib 19 on the side of the portion 7 abuts to prevent rattling of the traveling wheel 12 when overcoming a step and the like, and when the cleaner body 1 is accidentally dropped, the traveling wheel 12 is greatly damaged. When a load is applied, the loose ribs 11 and 19 come into contact with each other to prevent a large load from being applied to the axle 8.

  In the present embodiment, the outer ring 16 of the ball bearing 13 and the traveling wheel 12 are integrally formed by insert molding. Therefore, compared to the configuration in which the ball bearing 13 is press-fitted and fitted, The ball bearing 13 can be easily and reliably fixed, the ball bearing 13 can be prevented from rotating, and the ball bearing 13 can be reliably centered. On the other hand, it can support without shakiness and can improve the runnability of the cleaner body 1 further.

  In addition, a configuration in which the outer ring 16 of the ball bearing 13 and the lower case 2 are integrally formed by insert molding is also conceivable, but the lower case 2 is larger than the running wheel 12 and has a complicated shape, so insert molding. Therefore, the work of mounting the ball bearing 13 on the mold of the lower case 2 is difficult and the molding becomes difficult. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the outer ring 16 and the running wheel 12 of the ball bearing 13 are integrally formed by insert molding, compared to the configuration in which the lower case 2 and the ball bearing 13 are integrally formed, A mold for molding can be made small, molding is easy, and defects during manufacturing can be reduced.

  Since the traveling wheel 12 is integrally formed with the outer ring 16 of the ball bearing 13 by insert molding, the traveling wheel 12 is formed with an opening 20 facing the inner ring 14 of the ball bearing 13 in terms of the mold configuration. . A cover body 21 covers the opening 20 of the traveling wheel 12 and is secured to the threaded hole of the axle 8 by fixing the screw 22 to prevent the traveling wheel 12 from coming off.

  Since the fixing rib 9 is tapered on the side surface of the axle 8, the inner ring 14 of the ball bearing 13 is press-fitted into the lower case 2 side of the axle 8 even when a molding error occurs in the axle 8. Thus, it is possible to securely press fit. Further, since the axle 8 expands in the radial direction by screwing the screw 22 for fixing the cover body 21 to the axle 8, the inner ring 14 of the ball bearing 13 can be more securely fixed.

  Further, when the running wheel 12 and the outer ring 16 of the ball bearing 13 are integrally formed by insert molding, the ball bearing 13 is exposed from the opening 20 of the running wheel 12 but prevents the running wheel 12 from being removed from the outside of the running wheel 12. By providing the cover body 21, the ball bearing 13 can be covered with the cover body 21, and dust can be prevented from entering the ball bearing 13 from the opening 20 of the traveling wheel 12.

  Further, when the traveling wheel 12 is mounted on the axle 8 of the traveling wheel disposition portion 7, the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib 18 surrounds the body side loose fitting rib 10, and the body side loose fitting rib 10 and the traveling wheel side loose fit. Since the ribs 18 are configured to be close to each other, dust can be prevented from entering through the gap between the main body side loose fitting rib 10 and the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib 18, and dust can be mixed into the ball bearing 13. Can be prevented.

  Further, the running wheel side loose fitting rib 18, the main body side loose fitting rib 10 and the holding wall 17 are configured to be alternately arranged, and by forming a labyrinth structure in a space surrounding the ball bearing 13, It is possible to prevent dust from entering the ball bearing 13 from between the traveling wheel 12 and the cleaner body 1.

  In particular, a vacuum cleaner collects dust on the floor surface, so that there is a problem that dust tends to enter the ball bearing 13. However, due to the above configuration, a special ball bearing for dust prevention is used as the ball bearing 13. Without using, a general ball bearing can be used.

  The ball bearing 13 may be a dust-proof ball bearing instead of a general ball bearing.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, an exhaust port 23 may be provided in the traveling wheel disposition portion 7 so that at least a part of the exhaust from the electric blower is exhausted from the exhaust port 23. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the position on the outer diameter side of the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib 18 between the main body side loose fitting rib 10 and the backlash removing rib 11 of the traveling wheel disposition portion 7. Three exhaust ports 23 are formed. Although not shown, a flow path for guiding at least a part of the exhaust from the electric blower to the exhaust port 23 is formed in the cleaner body 1. The exhaust port 23 is preferably formed on the upper side of the traveling wheel main body disposition portion so that the dust exhausted from the exhaust port 23 does not wind up dust on the surface to be cleaned.

  Exhaust air from the electric blower is exhausted from the exhaust port 23 toward the traveling wheel 12, guided in a direction along the shape of the traveling wheel 12, and flows so as to spread outward around a position facing the exhaust port 23. As for the exhaust gas flowing toward the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib 18, the direction of the airflow is further changed by the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib 18, so that the exhaust gas from the electric blower eventually moves toward the edge side of the traveling wheel 12. A flowing airflow is formed. Therefore, in the state where the electric blower is driven, an airflow that flows from the axle 8 toward the edge of the traveling wheel 12 is always formed between the traveling wheel 12 and the cleaner body 1. Even if dust is about to enter from between the main bodies 1, it is pushed back toward the edge of the traveling wheel 12 by the air current. That is, an exhaust port is provided in the traveling wheel disposition portion, and at least a part of the exhaust from the electric blower is exhausted from the exhaust port, so that the ball bearing 13 is connected between the traveling wheel 12 and the cleaner body 1. It is possible to prevent dust from entering.

  The present invention is widely applicable to a vacuum cleaner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner main body 2 Lower case 3 Upper case 4 Cover body 5 Connection port 6 Free wheel 7 Traveling wheel arrangement | positioning part 8 Axle 9 Fixing rib 10 Main body side loose fitting rib 11 Backlash rib 12 Running wheel 13 Ball bearing 14 Inner ring 15 Moving body 16 Outer ring 17 Holding wall 18 Traveling wheel side loose fitting rib 19 Backlash rib 20 Opening 21 Cover body 22 Screw 23 Exhaust port

Claims (6)

A vacuum cleaner body with a built-in electric blower and a dust collecting part;
An axle formed on the vacuum cleaner body so as to protrude toward the outside of the vacuum cleaner body;
A running wheel mounted on the axle via a rolling bearing,
The rolling bearing is composed of an inner ring fixed to the axle and an outer ring that is rotatably held with respect to the inner ring via rolling elements,
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the running wheel is formed integrally with an outer ring of the rolling bearing by insert molding.   The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a cover body that is fixed to the axle from the outside of the traveling wheel, prevents the traveling wheel from coming off, and covers the rolling bearing.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the axle is formed hollow, and a screw is screwed onto the axle to prevent the cover body from being detached. The vacuum cleaner main body is formed with an annular main body side loose fitting rib concentrically with the axle,
In the traveling wheel, an annular traveling wheel side loose fitting rib is formed concentrically with a holding wall that holds the outer ring of the rolling bearing,
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main body side loose fitting rib and the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib are configured so that peripheral walls are close to each other and face each other. The main body side loose fitting rib is formed with a smaller allowable diameter than the holding wall,
The running wheel side loose fitting rib is formed with a smaller allowable diameter than the main body side loose fitting rib,
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein a labyrinth structure is constituted by the holding wall, the main body side loose fitting rib, and the traveling wheel side loose fitting rib.   An exhaust port through which at least a part of exhaust from the electric blower is exhausted is formed at a position on the outer diameter side of the running wheel side loose fitting rib on the side surface of the cleaner body covered with the running wheel. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 5.

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