CN112914417B - Dust collecting device and electric dust collector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a dust collecting device and an electric dust collector capable of reducing pressure loss when air passes through a filter part. The dust collecting device (3) is provided with a partition wall (371) positioned between the first separation part (31) and the dust collecting part (32). The dust collecting device (3) is provided with an air duct part (33) which is positioned on the opposite side of the first separating part (31) from the dust collecting part (32). The first separator (31) has a cylindrical filter unit (370) that allows air after centrifugal separation to pass through the air duct (33). The filter (370) is formed such that the outer shape of one end portion located on the air passage portion (33) side is larger than the outer shape of the other end portion located on the dust collection portion (32) side. The partition wall (371) has a compression opening (3710) outside the filter unit (370), and the compression opening allows filtered air to pass therethrough to compress dust collected in the dust collection unit (32). The compression opening (3710) is disposed so that at least a part thereof overlaps a projection (PR2) of an inner shape of one end portion of the filter portion (370) along the axis.

Description

Dust collecting device and electric dust collector

The present application is based on Japanese patent application 2019-. This application incorporates the entire contents of the application by reference to these applications.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a dust collecting device having a separating portion including a cylindrical filter portion that passes centrifugally separated air through an air passage portion, and an electric vacuum cleaner including the dust collecting device.

Background

Conventionally, as a dust collecting device used in an electric vacuum cleaner or the like, a device including a separating unit for centrifugally separating dust by swirling dust-containing air and a dust collecting unit for collecting the dust separated by the separating unit is known. The separating part and the dust collecting part are arranged in a cylindrical shell, and are vertically separated by a partition wall in the shell. The partition wall is formed with a cylindrical filter portion constituting a part of the separation portion. The filter unit is disposed coaxially with the housing. In the separation section, the dust-containing air is swirled between the inner peripheral surface of the casing and the outer peripheral surface of the filter section to centrifugally separate the dust, and the dust is collected in the dust collection section. The air from which the dust is separated by the separation unit flows through the filter unit to the next separation unit or the like. For example, it is known that the pressure loss is suppressed by expanding the diameter of the end portion on the dust collecting portion side of the filter portion to incline the side surface and preventing the air passing through the side surface to the air passage portion from turning sharply.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a dust collecting device capable of reducing pressure loss when air passes through a filter part and an electric dust collector with the dust collecting device.

The dust collecting device of the embodiment is provided with a separating part for centrifugally separating dust from dust-containing air. The dust collecting device is provided with a dust collecting part for collecting the dust separated by the separating part. The dust collecting device is provided with a partition wall positioned between the separating part and the dust collecting part. The dust collecting device is provided with an air passage part which is positioned on the opposite side of the separating part from the dust collecting part. The separator has a cylindrical filter portion for passing the air after centrifugal separation to the air passage portion. The filter portion is formed such that the outer shape of one end portion located on the air passage portion side is larger than the outer shape of the other end portion located on the dust collection portion side. The partition wall has a compression opening on the outside of the filter unit, and the compression opening allows the filtered air to pass therethrough and compresses the dust collected in the dust collection unit. The compression opening is configured such that at least a portion thereof overlaps a projection of an inner shape of an end portion of the filter portion along the axis.

According to the dust collecting device with the above structure, the pressure loss when the air passes through the filter part can be restrained.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing the dimensions and positional relationship of a part of the dust collecting device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a part of the dust collecting device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner including the dust collecting device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a part of a dust collecting device according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the partition wall and the outer wall are removed from the filter unit of the dust collecting device of the second embodiment from the filter unit side.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the partition wall and the outer wall are removed from the filter unit of the dust collecting device of the second embodiment from the partition wall and the outer wall side.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a part of a dust collecting device according to a third embodiment.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In fig. 3, VC denotes an electric vacuum cleaner. In the present embodiment, the electric vacuum cleaner VC will be described by taking, for example, a floor-mounted or horizontal type electric vacuum cleaner that can travel on a floor surface. However, the vacuum cleaner VC is not limited to this, and may be a stick type, upright type, hand-held type, self-propelled type, or the like.

The electric vacuum cleaner VC includes a cleaner body 1. The cleaner body 1 is provided with an electric blower 2 serving as a suction source, a body control unit for controlling the electric blower 2, a power supply unit serving as a power supply for the electric blower 2, the body control unit, and the like, and a dust collecting device 3 for separating and collecting dust from dust-containing air sucked by the electric blower 2. In the present embodiment, the power supply unit uses a cord reel device having a power cord, but the power supply unit is not limited to this, and a battery such as a secondary battery may be used as well.

A main body suction port 10 is formed in the cleaner main body 1. An air passage body is connected to the main body suction port 10. In the present embodiment, the hose 4 as an air passage body is connected to the main body suction port 10, the extension pipe 5 as an air passage body is connected to the hose 4, and the suction port body 6 as an air passage body is connected to the extension pipe 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and depending on the type of the electric vacuum cleaner VC, the extension pipe 5 or the suction port body 6 may be connected to the main body suction port 10, or in the case of a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner, the air duct body may not be connected to the main body suction port 10. In the present embodiment, the electric vacuum cleaner VC includes an operation unit 7 for a vacuum operation to be held by a user. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 7 is formed in the hose 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation unit 7 may be formed in the cleaner body 1 depending on the type of the electric vacuum cleaner VC, and may not be provided in the case of a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner. A setting unit 8 for setting the operation of the electric blower 2 to the main body control unit is disposed in the operation unit 7.

The dust collector 3 shown in fig. 2 is configured as an air passage, and includes an air inlet 30 through which dust-containing air is introduced, a first separating portion 31 as a separating portion, a dust collector 32, an air passage portion 33 communicating with the first separating portion 31, a second separating portion 34 communicating with the air passage portion 33 as a downstream side separating portion, an air outlet 35 through which air from which dust is separated is discharged, and the like.

The first separating unit 31 is a centrifugal separating unit that centrifugally separates dust from the dust-containing air introduced through the air inlet 30. The first separation section 31 mainly centrifugally separates coarse dust from the dust-containing air.

The dust collecting part 32 collects at least the dust separated by the first separating part 31. That is, the dust collecting unit 32 mainly collects coarse dust, which is dust separated by the first separating unit 31. The dust collecting unit 32 may be configured to further collect the dust separated by the second separating unit 34 and removed from the second separating unit 34.

The air duct 33 conveys the air having passed through the first separator 31 to the downstream side of the first separator 31. In the present embodiment, the air passage 33 connects the first separator 31 and the second separator 34, and conveys the air having passed through the first separator 31 to the second separator 34.

The second separating portion 34 separates dust that is not separated in the first separating portion 31. The second separation section 34 mainly separates fine dust from the dust-containing air. In the present embodiment, the second separator 34 is a filter for filtering and separating dust. In the illustrated example, the second separating portion 34 is a filter formed in a pleated shape. In the present embodiment, the second separating portion 34 adheres to and holds a part of the separated dust. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second separating portion 34 includes the dust removing unit 340 for removing the attached dust. In the illustrated example, the dust removing unit 340 removes dust by urging the second separating portion 34 in a direction intersecting the wrinkle shape. The dust removing unit 340 may be manually operated by a user, or may be automatically operated by an actuator such as a motor triggered by a predetermined condition such as a user instruction and/or a clogging state of the second separator 34.

The dust collecting device 3 is structurally provided with a housing 36 and a separating body 37. In the present embodiment, the dust collection device 3 further includes a lid portion 38.

The housing 36 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a member such as a synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, the case 36 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. Therefore, the case 36 has a cylindrical side surface portion 360 as an outer side surface portion, and a bottom portion 361 covering an end portion of the side surface portion 360, and the inner surface 362 is formed in a cylindrical surface shape and has an opening at one end side, i.e., an upper side in fig. 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the bottom 361 may be opened and closed to discard the dust in the dust collecting unit 32 from the bottom 361. Further, the casing 36 has an air inlet 30 formed in the side surface portion 360, and dust-containing air is introduced from the air inlet 30 in a tangential direction of the inner surface 362 of the casing 36 to form a swirling flow. In the present embodiment, the duct 363 is formed along the outer surface of the side surface 360 in the inlet 30. The duct section 363 communicates with the main body suction port 10 shown in fig. 3. The duct section 363 shown in fig. 2 is not necessarily configured. The case 36 is detachable from the separator 37. Further, inside the housing 36, a first separating portion 31 is formed on one end side, i.e., an upper side in fig. 2, and a dust collecting portion 32 is formed on the other end side, i.e., a lower side in fig. 2.

The separation body 37 includes a filter unit 370 as a component located inside the case 36. The filter unit 370 is a portion located at the center of the swirling flow of the first separation unit 31. The filter portion 370 forms a swirling flow with the inner surface 362 of the housing 36. The filter 370 is a connection portion between the first separator 31 and the air passage 33. The filter unit 370 discharges air from the first separating unit 31 to the air passage unit 33. The filter unit 370 is formed in a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the filter unit 370 is formed in a cylindrical shape. However, the filter unit 370 is not limited to this, and may be formed in a polygonal tubular shape. The first separating portion 31 is formed up to the inside surrounded by the filter portion 370. The air passage 33 is located at one end in a direction parallel to the axis of the filter 370, and the dust collector 32 is located at the other end. The air passage 33 is positioned to communicate with one end of the filter 370. One end side of the filter unit 370 is an upper side in fig. 2, and the other end side is a lower side in fig. 2. The filter unit 370 is disposed coaxially or substantially coaxially with the housing 36.

As shown in fig. 1, the filter 370 is formed such that the outer shape, outer diameter, and inner shape, or inner diameter, of one end portion located on the air passage portion 33 side is larger than the outer shape, outer diameter, and inner shape, or inner diameter, of the other end portion located on the dust collection portion 32 side. In the present embodiment, the filter unit 370 is formed to gradually expand from the other end portion to the one end portion. Therefore, the side surface of the filter part 370 is inclined with respect to the axis of the filter part 370. The filter unit 370 is formed such that the inner shape or inner diameter of one end is larger than the outer shape or outer diameter of the other end. In the illustrated example, the filter unit 370 is formed in a truncated cone shape, and expands from the other end portion to the one end portion at a constant or substantially constant expansion rate. However, the expansion ratio of the filter portion 370 may be gradually increased from the other end portion to the one end portion, that is, the filter portion may be formed to be enlarged in a flare shape toward the one end portion.

The filter unit 370 includes a vent 3700. The vent 3700 is formed to penetrate the side surface of the filter unit 370. The vent holes 3700 are formed in a plurality around the filter unit 370. In the present embodiment, the vent 3700 is formed so as to be continuous from one end portion to the other end portion of the filter unit 370, and is opened to the side surface of the filter unit 370. However, the vent hole 3700 may be formed as a small hole, a slit, or the like, and be located between both ends of the filter unit 370 on the side surface of the filter unit 370.

At least a part of the vent 3700 is disposed in a range facing the air inlet 30. That is, at least a part of the vent 3700 is disposed within the projection PR1 of the inlet 30. The projection PR1 of the inlet 30 is a range or region surrounded by the shape of the outer edge of the inlet 30 when the inlet 30 is viewed in the opening direction, the normal direction of the opening surface, or the inflow direction of the dust-containing air. In the present embodiment, one end side of the vent hole 3700 is located at a position directly facing the air inlet 30, and the other end side is offset from the position directly facing the air inlet 30 toward the dust collection unit 32.

The filter 370 is formed such that the pores at one end on the air passage portion 33 side are fine and the pores at the other end on the dust collector 32 side are coarse. In the present embodiment, the filter unit 370 is formed such that the hole of the portion facing the air inlet 30 is thin and the hole of the other portion is thick. That is, the filter unit 370 is formed such that the holes at a position close to the upstream are fine, and the holes at a position far from the upstream are coarse. The filter 370 is likely to allow a large amount of air to pass through on the dust collector 32 side, and is less likely to allow air to pass through on the air duct 33 side.

In the present embodiment, the filter unit 370 is composed of a cylindrical frame 3701 which is a resin frame having a vent hole 3700 on a side surface thereof, and a discharge filter 3702 which is a mesh-like filter covering the side surface of the frame 3701 from one end portion to the other end portion of the frame 3701. In the present embodiment, the size of the pores of the discharge filter 3702 is defined as the size of the pores of the filter unit 370. The discharge filter 3702 is formed integrally with the frame 3701. The fine-mesh part of the filter unit 370 is constituted by the fine-mesh first discharge filter 37020, and the coarse-mesh part of the filter unit 370 is constituted by the second discharge filter 37021 having larger meshes than those of the first discharge filter 37020. In addition, when the vent hole 3700 is formed as a small hole, the vent hole 3700 itself may be configured to function as a discharge filter. In this case, the size of the vent 3700 is defined as the size of the pores of the filter part 370. That is, the discharge filter 3702 is not necessarily configured.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the separator 37 includes a partition wall 371. The partition wall 371 is located between the first separating section 31 and the dust collecting section 32, and partitions the first separating section 31 and the dust collecting section 32 in the housing 36. The partition wall 371 is located in a direction intersecting or orthogonal to the axis of the housing 36. The partition wall 371 is formed in a circular plate shape. The partition wall 371 is integrally formed at an end of the filter unit 370. The partition wall 371 is formed at the other end of the filter unit 370, which is the end on the dust collection unit 32 side. The partition wall 371 is disposed coaxially or concentrically with the filter unit 370. The partition wall 371 has an outer dimension or outer diameter larger than that of the filter unit 370. That is, the partition wall 371 is enlarged outward or radially with respect to the filter unit 370. The outer dimension or outer diameter of the partition wall 371 is smaller than the diameter of the inner surface 362 of the housing 36. Therefore, the outer edge of the partition wall 371 is located apart from the inner surface 362 of the housing 36. A gap through which coarse dust separated by the first separating portion 31 can pass is provided between the outer edge of the partition wall 371 and the inner surface 362 of the side surface portion 360 of the casing 36. That is, the partition wall 371 does not completely divide the inside of the housing 36 into the first separating portion 31 and the dust collecting portion 32, but is located at a boundary between a portion forming the first separating portion 31 and a portion forming the dust collecting portion 32 in the housing 36.

A compression opening 3710 is formed in the partition 371. The compression opening 3710 compresses the dust collected in the dust collecting part 32 by filtering the air flowing from the first separating part 31 to the dust collecting part 32. That is, the compression opening 3710 allows air flowing from the first separating portion 31 to the dust collecting portion 32 to flow back toward the first separating portion 31, thereby allowing the air to pass therethrough, and the dust in the dust collecting portion 32 is pressed against the compression opening 3710 or the periphery thereof to be compressed. The compression opening 3710 is formed to penetrate the partition wall 371 in the thickness direction. The compression opening 3710 communicates the first separating part 31 with the dust collecting part 32. The compression opening 3710 is disposed outside the filter unit 370. That is, the compression opening 3710 is located around the other end of the filter unit 370 on the dust collecting unit 32 side. As shown in fig. 1, the compression opening 3710 is configured to at least partially overlap a projection PR2 of an inner shape or diameter of an end portion of the filter portion 370 along the axis. A projection PR2 of the inner shape or inner diameter of one end portion of the filter portion 370 along the axis is a range or region surrounded by the inner shape or inner diameter of one end portion of the filter portion 370 when the filter portion 370 is viewed along the axis. That is, a virtual line L1 extending parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the filter unit 370 at a position closest to the compression opening 3710 with respect to the filter unit 370 intersects with the side surface of the filter unit 370. Further, it is more preferable that the compression opening 3710 is disposed so as to entirely overlap with a projection PR2 of an inner shape or an inner diameter of one end portion of the filter portion 370 along the axis. That is, it is preferable that the virtual line L2 extending parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the filter unit 370 or the outflow direction of the air from the compression opening 3710 at the position of the compression opening 3710 farthest from the filter unit 370 intersect at a position closer to the other end side than the one end of the filter unit 370.

In this embodiment, the compression openings 3710 are covered by a mesh-like compression filter 3711. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the compression opening 3710 may be formed as a small hole, a slit, or the like, and the compression opening 3710 itself may function as a compression filter. That is, the compression filter 3711 is not necessarily configured.

The separation body 37 includes an outer wall 372. The outer wall 372 ensures the flow rate of the swirling flow flowing from the first separating part 31 to the dust collecting part 32. In addition, the outer wall 372 surrounds dust compressed by the compression opening 3710. The outer wall 372 extends from the partition wall 371 toward the dust collecting part 32. The outer wall 372 is formed in a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the outer wall 372 is continuous with the outer edge of the partition wall 371. The outer wall 372 is integrally connected to the outer edge of the partition wall 371. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the outer wall 372 is formed in a cylindrical shape. A cylindrical cover (shade) having a downward opening is formed by the outer wall 372 and the partition wall 371. The outer wall 372 is disposed parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the filter unit 370. That is, the outer wall 372 of the present embodiment has a constant or substantially constant diameter dimension. The outer wall 372 is disposed coaxially or substantially coaxially with respect to the housing 36. Thus, the outer surface of the outer wall 372 is positioned in a parallel or substantially parallel position relative to the inner surface 362 of the housing 36. A gap is formed between the outer wall 372 and the inner surface 362 of the housing 36. The gap is formed narrower than the gap between the filter unit 370 and the inner surface 362 of the housing 36. Therefore, the flow velocity of the swirling flow of the dust-containing air between the outer wall 372 and the inner surface 362 of the casing 36 is faster than the flow velocity of the swirling flow of the dust-containing air between the filter portion 370 and the inner surface 362 of the casing 36. In addition, an end of the outer wall 372 opposite the bottom 361 is separated from the bottom 361.

In the present embodiment, the separating body 37 is provided separately from the cleaner body 1 shown in fig. 3. The separating body 37 shown in fig. 1 and 2 constitutes the dust collecting device 3, which is detachable from the cleaner body 1 shown in fig. 3, together with the housing 36. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the separating body portion 37 includes a main body portion 373 that detachably covers one end side of the housing 36. One end of the filter unit 370 is integrally connected to the body 373. The air passage 33 and the second separator 34 are disposed in the main body 373, respectively. In the present embodiment, the air passage 33 is formed inside the main body 373, and the second separator 34 is detachably disposed on the main body 373. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least a part of the separation body 37 may be provided integrally with the cleaner body 1 shown in fig. 3 and fixed to the cleaner body 1. That is, the filter 370, the air path 33, and the second separator 34 shown in fig. 1 and 2 may be formed at least partially in the cleaner body 1 shown in fig. 3.

The lid portion 38 shown in fig. 2 is detachably provided to the separation body portion 37. An exhaust port 35 is formed in one of the lid 38 and the separating body 37. In the present embodiment, the lid portion 38 covers the second separating portion 34. The second separating portion 34 is exposed by detaching the lid portion 38 from the separating body portion 37. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a knob or the like for operating the dust removing unit 340 of the second separating portion 34 from the outside of the cover portion 38 may be formed on the cover portion 38. In addition, in the case where at least a part of the separation body 37 is provided integrally with the cleaner body 1 shown in fig. 3, the lid portion 38 is not necessary because the internal structure of the cleaner body 1 itself can function as a lid portion. That is, the lid portion 38 shown in fig. 2 is not necessarily configured. In this case, the exhaust port 35 is formed inside the cleaner body 1 shown in fig. 3.

In the present embodiment, the dust collecting device 3 is detachably attached to the cleaner body 1 placed on the lower surface to be cleaned or the running surface, with the case 36 side shown in fig. 2 as the lower side and the separating body portion 37 and the lid portion 38 side as the upper side, such that the axis of the case 36 and the like is along the vertical direction. However, the dust collector 3 is not limited to this, and may be disposed arbitrarily, such as with the axis of the housing 36 or the like being inclined with respect to the vertical direction, or disposed along the horizontal direction.

Next, the operation and effect of the first embodiment will be described.

When performing dust collection using the electric vacuum cleaner VC, as shown in fig. 3, the user attaches the dust collecting device 3 to the cleaner body 1, holds the operation unit 7, operates the setting unit 8, operates the electric blower 2, and uses the air passage body to suck dust on the surface to be cleaned together with air by the negative pressure generated by the driving of the electric blower 2.

The dust-containing air is sucked into the dust collecting device 3 from the air duct body through the main body suction port 10 from the suction port 30 shown in fig. 2. At this time, the dust-containing air is introduced through the air inlet 30 in a tangential direction of the inner surface 362 of the casing 36, and a swirling flow of the first separating portion 31 is generated between the filter portion 370 and the inner surface 362 of the casing 36.

The swirling flow of the first separating portion 31 swirls between the filter portion 370 and the inner surface 362 to centrifugally separate dust, and a part of the swirling flow passes through the side surface of the filter portion 370 and is sucked into the air passage portion 33. The air drawn from the filter 370 to the air passage 33 is drawn directly from the side surface of one end of the filter 370 to the air passage 33.

At this time, according to the present embodiment, the inner shape and the inner diameter of the filter 370 on the other end side away from the air passage 33 are made smaller than the inner shape and the inner diameter on the one end side, and the side surface of the filter 370 is inclined, so that the air sucked from the first separating portion 31 to the air passage 33 is inclined, the curvature of the air flow is reduced, and the pressure loss when the air passes through the filter 370 can be suppressed.

In particular, by making the outer shape or outer diameter of the other end portion of the filter portion 370 smaller than the inner shape or inner diameter of the one end portion, at least a part of the swirling flow linearly flows from the first separator 31 to the air passage portion 33, and the pressure loss when the air passes through the filter portion 370 can be suppressed.

Further, since the filter unit 370 is formed to be enlarged from the other end portion to the one end portion, the air passage area inside the filter unit 370 can be enlarged, and the pressure loss can be more reliably suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the holes of the filter unit 370 are made fine at a position close to the upstream and where the flow velocity of the swirling flow is high, for example, at a position facing the air inlet 30, and are made coarse at a position far from the upstream and where the flow velocity of the swirling flow is relatively low, for example, at a position not facing the air inlet 30, so that air is uniformly sucked into the air passage unit 33 from the entire filter unit 370, coarse dust is easily guided to a position on the coarse-hole dust collecting unit 32 side of the filter unit 370, and the coarse dust can be easily conveyed from the first separating unit 31 to the dust collecting unit 32.

Further, since the outer wall 372 extends from the partition wall 371 toward the dust collecting part 32, the other part of the swirling flow of the first separating part 31 flows toward the dust collecting part 32 while increasing the flow velocity between the outer wall 372 and the inner surface 362, and dust can be easily transported to the dust collecting part 32. Then, the swirling flow flowing toward the dust collecting unit 32 circulates from the inside of the outer wall 372 to the first separating unit 31 through the compression opening 3710, so that the coarse dust, mainly among the dust accumulated in the dust collecting unit 32, is compressed by pressing the partition wall 371 or the compression filter 3711, and is sucked into the air passage unit 33 through the side surface of the filter unit 370. At this time, in the present embodiment, since the compression opening 3710 is disposed so that at least a part thereof overlaps the projection of the inner shape or inner diameter of the one end portion of the filter unit 370 along the axis of the filter unit 370, air is linearly sucked from the compression opening 3710 to the filter unit 370, and pressure loss can be suppressed.

The air having passed through the filter 370 flows from the air duct 33 to the second separator 34, and the air from which dust is further separated by the second separator 34 is sucked into the electric blower 2 through the air outlet 35, cools the electric blower 2, and the like, and is then discharged from the cleaner body 1. That is, in the present embodiment, the dust having passed through the first separator 31 is separated by the second separator 34 communicating with the first separator 31 via the air passage 33, and therefore the dust can be more reliably separated.

(second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 4 to 6. Note that the same components and operations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the first separating section 31 of the present embodiment, the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 are detachable from the filter section 370.

As shown in fig. 4, a locking portion 3703 is formed in the filter portion 370. The locking portion 3703 is disposed at the other end portion of the filter portion 370, which is the end portion on the dust collection portion 32 side. Preferably, a plurality of locking portions 3703 are arranged. In the present embodiment, a plurality of locking portions 3703 are arranged around the axis of the filter portion 370. In the illustrated example, the locking portions 3703 are disposed at positions opposite to each other with respect to the axis of the filter portion 370.

In the present embodiment, the locking portion 3703 is formed in a claw shape extending in a direction intersecting the axis of the filter portion 370. In the illustrated example, the locking portion 3703 is formed in a claw shape extending outward in a direction away from the axis of the filter portion 370.

Preferably, the locking portion 3703 is located closer to the axis than the smallest outer shape of the frame body 3701 of the filter portion 370. That is, the locking portion 3703 is located inward of the projection PR3 of the outer shape or outer diameter of the other end portion of the filter portion 370 along the axis, that is, at the axis of the filter portion 370.

In the present embodiment, the other end of the filter unit 370 is closed by the closing unit 3704. The blocking portion 3704 is formed in a plate shape and is located at a position overlapping the partition wall 371 in a state where the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 are attached to the filter unit 370. In the illustrated example, a locking portion 3703 is provided on the side of the dust collection section 32 of the plugging section 3704. However, the engaging portion 3703 is not limited to this, and may be provided to protrude from the frame 3701.

The blocking section 3704 is not necessarily configured, and the end of the filter section 370 on the dust collection section 32 side may be open. In this case, the opening is preferably covered by a filter. In addition, the plugging portion 3704 may be formed with a plurality of fine holes functioning as filters.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 5, an insertion hole 3712 into which the locking portion 3703 of the filter portion 370 is inserted is formed in the partition wall 371. The insertion hole 3712 is formed to penetrate the partition 371 in the thickness direction. The insertion hole 3712 is disposed on the center side of the partition 371 with respect to the compression opening 3710, that is, on the inner side of the compression opening 3710. The insertion hole portion 3712 may be single or plural. In the present embodiment, a plurality of insertion hole portions 3712 are arranged corresponding to the locking portions 3703. That is, the insertion hole 3712 is formed for each locking portion 3703. In the illustrated example, the insertion hole 3712 is an elongated hole curved in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the partition wall 371. A locking receiving portion 3713 for receiving the locking portion 3703 is formed in a part of the edge of the insertion hole 3712. The locking receiver 3713 can lock the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 connected to the partition wall 371 to the filter unit 370 by the locking unit 3703 restricting the position in the direction along the axis of the filter unit 370. The number of the locking receiving portions 3713 is set to correspond to the number of the locking portions 3703. In the present embodiment, the locking receiving portion 3713 is formed for each insertion hole 3712. That is, a plurality of locking receiving portions 3713 are arranged. In the illustrated example, the locking receiving portions 3713 are disposed at positions opposite to each other with respect to the center of the partition wall 371.

The locking receiving portion 3713 is formed in a claw shape extending in a direction along the partition wall 371. In the illustrated example, the locking receiving portion 3713 is formed in a claw shape flush with the partition wall 371. The locking receiving portion 3713 is formed in a claw shape extending inward in a direction toward the center of the partition wall 371 from a part of the edge of the insertion hole 3712. Therefore, the insertion portion 37120 into which the locking portion 3703 is inserted and the movement groove portion 37121 radially narrowed by the locking receiving portion 3713 as compared with the insertion portion 37120 are integrally formed in the insertion hole portion 3712 of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the partition wall 371 is formed with the filter positioning portion 3714. The filter unit positioning portion 3714 is in contact with the outer shape of the other end portion of the filter unit 370, and positions the filter unit 370 concentrically with respect to the partition wall 371. The filter unit positioning portion 3714 is formed on the surface of the partition wall 371 on the filter unit 370 side. The filter portion positioning portion 3714 is located between the compression opening 3710 and the insertion hole 3712, and is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the filter portion positioning portion 3714 is formed in an annular shape. The filter portion positioning portion 3714 is not necessarily configured.

When the dust collecting device 3 is used, the separating body 37 is attached with the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 to the filter unit 370. The partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 align the insertion hole 3712 with the locking portion 3703 of the filter unit 370, and insert the locking portion 3703 into the insertion hole 3712 in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the filter unit 370. At this time, the insertion hole 3712 aligns the insertion portion 37120 with the locking portion 3703. In this state, the end of the filter unit 370 on the dust collecting unit 32 side is positioned inside the filter unit positioning portion 3714, and the blocking portion 3704 overlaps the partition wall 371.

When the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 are twisted in the circumferential direction with respect to the filter unit 370 from this state, the locking portion 3703 slides in contact with the dust collection unit 32 side surface of the locking receiver 3713 along the movement groove 37121, and the position of the locking receiver 3713 is restricted in the axial direction of the filter unit 370 by the locking portion 3703. That is, the locking receiving portion 3713 is held in a state of being sandwiched between the locking portion 3703 and the blocking portion 3704.

As a result, the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 are fixed to the filter unit 370.

Further, the dust collecting device 3 functions as follows in the first embodiment: the dust-containing air is introduced through the air inlet 30 in a tangential direction of the inner surface 362 of the casing 36, a swirling flow of the first separating portion 31 is generated between the filter unit 370 and the inner surface 362 of the casing 36, the dust is centrifugally separated, and a part of the dust passes through the side surface of the filter unit 370 and is sucked into the air passage portion 33.

On the other hand, after the completion of dust collection or the like, when the dust collection device 3 is maintained, the separator body 37 is detached from the housing 36, the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 are twisted in the direction opposite to the attachment direction with respect to the filter unit 370, and the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 are integrally pulled out in the direction parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the filter unit 370 with respect to the filter unit 370 in a state where the locking unit 3703 has moved to the insertion unit 37120, thereby cleaning the discharge filter 3702 of the filter unit 370 or the compression filter 3711 of the partition wall 371, and the like.

In this manner, by making the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 detachable from the filter unit 370 and detaching the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 from the filter unit 370, there is substantially no portion having an outer shape or an outer diameter larger than that of the filter unit 370 on the other end portion side of the filter unit 370. Therefore, for example, even when the dust D is wound around the outside of the filter unit 370 and/or the discharge filter 3702 in the first separation unit 31 of the dust collection device 3 as shown in fig. 6, the dust D wound around the outside of the filter unit 370 and/or the discharge filter 3702 in a ring shape can be moved to the other end portion side of the filter unit 370 by using a cleaning body such as a brush and the like to remove the dust D easily by detaching the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 from the filter unit 370 after the dust collection is completed, and thus the maintenance is good.

In particular, since the filter unit 370 is formed so as to have a smaller outer shape or outer diameter from one end portion toward the other end portion, the dust D can be easily removed by moving the dust D toward the other end portion side of the filter unit 370.

Further, since the locking portion 3703 is located inward of the projection PR3 of the outer shape of the other end portion of the filter unit 370 along the axis of the filter unit 370, the dust D moving toward the other end portion of the filter unit 370 is less likely to be entangled with the locking portion 3703.

(third embodiment)

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 7. Note that the same components and operations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The second separation part 34 of the present embodiment is a centrifugal separation part that centrifugally separates fine dust.

That is, the second separating portion 34 is constituted by the tapered portion 341. The tapered portion 341 is formed in a conical shape with a diameter decreasing toward the housing 36 side. In the present embodiment, the plurality of tapered portions 341 are provided and arranged in an annular shape around the axis of the housing 36. Each tapered portion 341 can swirl the dust-containing air introduced from one end side to the inside to separate the dust, and can discharge the separated dust to the dust collecting portion 32 from the other end side. Each tapered portion 341 communicates with the exhaust port 35 via the exhaust air passage portion 342.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the dust-containing air sucked into the dust collector 3 from the air inlet 30 is swirled by the first separator 31 to centrifugally separate dust, and a part of the centrifugally separated air is sucked into the air passage 33 as it is, while the remaining part flows toward the dust collector 32 side and circulates from the compression opening 3710 to the first separator 31 to compress dust and is sucked into the air passage 33. The air sucked into the air passage 33 flows into the second separator 34, and the air from which dust is separated by the second separator 34 is sucked into the electric blower 2 through the air outlet 35, cools the electric blower 2 and the like, and is then discharged from the cleaner body 1.

In the second separator 34, the dust-containing air swirls inside the tapered portion 341 to centrifugally separate the dust, the separated dust is discharged to the dust collector 32, and the air from which the dust has been separated is discharged to the exhaust port 35 via the exhaust air passage portion 342.

That is, according to the present embodiment, even if the second separating portion 34 is a centrifugal separating portion, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be achieved, such as the suppression of the pressure loss when the air after centrifugal separation passes from the first separating portion 31 to the air passage portion 33, and the dust can be more reliably separated by the second separating portion 34.

In addition, the second embodiment may be applied to the third embodiment. That is, in the dust collecting device 3 in which the second separating section 34 is a centrifugal separating section, the partition wall 371 and the outer wall 372 may be configured to be detachable from the filter section 370.

In the above-described embodiments, the second separating portion 34 is not necessarily configured as long as the dust can be sufficiently separated in the first separating portion 31.

The dust collecting device 3 is not limited to the dust collecting device used in the electric vacuum cleaner VC, and may be used in a dust collecting device such as a dust collecting station of a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims (9)

1. A dust collecting device is characterized by comprising:

a separation section for centrifugally separating dust from dust-containing air;

a dust collecting part for collecting the dust separated by the separating part;

a partition wall positioned between the separation part and the dust collection part; and

an air passage portion located on the opposite side of the dust collecting portion with respect to the separating portion,

the separator has a cylindrical filter portion for passing the air after centrifugal separation to the air duct portion,

the filter portion is formed such that an outer shape of one end portion located on the air passage portion side is larger than an outer shape of the other end portion located on the dust collection portion side,

the partition wall has a compression opening on the outside of the filter unit, the compression opening allowing filtered air to pass therethrough to compress dust collected in the dust collection unit,

the compression opening is configured such that at least a portion overlaps a projection of an inner shape of the one end portion of the filter portion along the axis.

2. The dust collecting device according to claim 1,

the other end of the filter unit has an outer shape smaller than an inner shape of the one end.

3. The dust collecting device according to claim 1 or 2,

the filter unit has fine pores at the one end and coarse pores at the other end.

4. The dust collecting device according to claim 1 or 2,

the dust collecting device is provided with an air suction port which is formed at a position opposite to the side surface of the filter part and guides air containing dust to the separating part,

the filter unit has a portion facing the air inlet and a portion facing the air inlet, the filter unit having a smaller diameter and the filter unit having a larger diameter.

5. The dust collecting device according to claim 1 or 2,

the dust collecting device includes an outer wall extending from the partition wall toward the dust collecting unit.

6. The dust collecting device according to claim 1 or 2,

the dust collecting device further includes a downstream separator that communicates with the separator via the air passage and separates dust that has passed through the separator.

7. The dust collecting device according to claim 6,

the downstream separating section is a centrifugal separating section for centrifugally separating dust.

8. The dust collecting device according to claim 1 or 2,

the partition wall and the outer wall are detachable from the filter unit.

9. An electric dust collector is characterized in that,

the electric vacuum cleaner is provided with the dust collecting device of any one of claims 1 to 8.

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