JP2007077963A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner for a fuel cell with a filter having a longer service life and less replacing frequency. <P>SOLUTION: The filter 3 is stored in an air cleaner case 1 consisting of an upper case 5 and a lower case 7. A resonator 17 in the condition of contacting the lower face of the filter 3 is arranged in the lower case 7 at its corner on the opposite side to an air inlet 9. Along with resonance and vibration of the resonator 17, the filter 3 is vibrated to shake off trapped foreign matters such as dust or carbon. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner that purifies air supplied to a fuel cell.

As an air cleaner for an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, there are many air cleaners that are improved in assembling property, improved in cleaner performance, reduced in airflow resistance, etc., as described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 below. Are known.
JP 2003-227425 A JP 2003-35223 A JP-A-6-262024 JP-A-5-208110

  By the way, fuel cells that are being mounted on vehicles in recent years require extremely clean air from which foreign particles having a particle size several times smaller than dust and carbon floating in the air are removed compared to the air supplied to the internal combustion engine. The

  For this reason, the air cleaner installed in the air supply path of the fuel cell has a structure in which the mesh size of the filter is smaller than that of the air cleaner used in the internal combustion engine. As compared with the air cleaner for internal combustion engines, there is a problem that the filter replacement frequency is increased.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the frequency of filter replacement of an air cleaner for a fuel cell.

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner for purifying air supplied to a fuel cell, wherein a filter for capturing foreign matter in the air is accommodated in the case, and a resonator for removing intake sound is accommodated so that resonance vibration is transmitted to the filter. The main feature is that.

  According to the present invention, the resonance of the resonant resonator is applied to the filter and the trapped foreign matter is shaken off, so that the life of the filter is extended and the frequency of filter replacement can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air cleaner showing a first embodiment of the present invention. This air cleaner is installed in an air supply system for a fuel cell (not shown), particularly upstream of an air supply machine (compressor), and contains a filter 3 in a case 1. The filter 3 has a smaller mesh size than an air cleaner used in an internal combustion engine.

  The case 1 includes an upper case 5 installed on the upper side in the vertical direction (upper part in FIG. 1) of the filter 3 and a lower case 7 installed on the lower side in the vertical direction (lower part in FIG. 1). These are divided into upper and lower parts at appropriate positions near the installation site of the filter 3, and are fixed to each other by an appropriate method. An air inlet 9 is provided on the lower left side of the lower case 7 in FIG. 1, while an air outlet 11 is provided on the upper right side of the upper case 5 in FIG.

  The periphery of the filter 3 is fixed to the inner surface of the case 1 via a fixing member 13, and a sealing material 15 is provided on the upper portion of the fixing member 13. The fixing member 13 has a function of a base of the filter 3 and also serves to maintain the shape of the filter 3 processed into a fold shape. The filter 3 fixed by the fixing member 13 is such that the dust side of the filter 3 that is the inflow side of air containing foreign matter is exposed to the lower side in the vertical direction, and the clean of the filter 3 that is the outflow side of the purified air The side is exposed to the upper side in the vertical direction. The sealing material 15 has a substantially T-shaped cross section, and protrudes toward the outside of the case 1, a fitting portion 15 a that is fitted between the case 1 and the filter 3, an inner flange portion 15 b that is in contact with the upper portion of the filter 3. And an outer flange portion 15c fitted into the concave portion 1a.

  A resonator 17 for removing the intake sound is installed at the corner of the lower case 7 on the right side in FIG. 1 opposite to the air inlet 9.

  The resonator 17 includes an upper surface portion 19 that contacts a part of the fixing member 13 and the filter 3, a lower surface portion 21 below the upper surface portion 19, and an inclined portion 23 that connects the upper surface portion 19 and the lower surface portion 21 to each other. . The inclined portion 23 is inclined so that the connecting portion with the upper surface portion 19 is on the right side in FIG. 1 from the connecting portion with the lower surface portion 21, and flows into the lower case 7 that is the dust side of the filter 3. It plays the role of guiding the air to the filter 3.

  The ends of the upper surface 19 and the lower surface 21 of the resonator 17 opposite to the inclined portions 23 are joined to the inner wall of the lower case 7. Further, the end portions of the upper surface portion 19 and the lower surface portion 21 of the resonator 17 in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1 are also joined to the inner wall of the lower case 7. For this reason, a part of the outer wall of the resonator 17 is shared with the lower case 7 of the air cleaner 1.

  Note that the end portions of the upper surface portion 19, the lower surface portion 21, and the inclined portion 23 of the resonator 17 in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1 are not joined to the inner wall of the lower case 7 of the air cleaner 1, and are side walls dedicated to the resonator. May be set separately and joined to the side wall portion.

  A through hole 23 a is formed in the inclined portion 23 of the resonator 17 described above, and a cylindrical portion 25 corresponding to the neck of the resonator that projects into the resonator 17 is provided in the through hole 23 a, and the internal portion of the resonator 17 is formed by the cylindrical portion 25. Communicate with the outside. Further, a drain hole 21a is provided in the lower surface portion 21 of the resonator 17 as a resonator opening.

  The resonance frequency of the resonator 7 described above can be expressed by the following equation, and the resonance frequency here resonates with the resonance frequency determined by the idling rotational speed of the air supply unit that supplies air to the fuel cell.

ω = (c / 2π) × √ {S / (L × V)}
c: sound velocity, S: neck cross-sectional area, L: neck length, V: volume in the resonator The lower case 7 of the above-described air cleaner 1 is substantially at the center in the left-right direction in FIG. A lower surface inclined portion 7a inclined downward from the left side position to the right side is provided, and a draining / dust removing hole 7b as a case opening is formed at the end of the lower surface inclined portion 7a. And the piping part 27 which protrudes below is connected to this draining and dust removal hole 7b.

  Next, the operation will be described. The air that has flowed into the lower case 7 from the air inlet 9 passes through the filter 3 from the dust side of the filter 3 and is trapped and cleaned by foreign matters such as dust and carbon in the air. Then, it flows out into the upper case 5 and is supplied to a fuel cell (not shown) through the air outlet 11. The fuel cell generates electricity by reacting the purified air with hydrogen, which is separately supplied fuel.

  At this time, the noise of the air flowing into the lower case 7 is reduced by the resonance of the resonator 17 due to its inherent resonance frequency. When the resonator 17 resonates and vibrates, the vibration is directly transmitted to the filter 3 to shake off the trapped foreign matter, and the shaken foreign matter moves along the lower surface inclined portion 7a, thereby draining and dusting. It is discharged to the outside through the removal hole 7 b and the piping part 27.

  In this way, the foreign matter captured by the filter 3 is forcibly shaken off by the vibration of the resonator 17, so that the life of the filter 3 is prolonged and the replacement frequency of the filter 3 can be reduced.

  The resonator 17 is in contact with the fixing member 13 that fixes the filter 3, and the fixing member 13 is also vibrated, so that the entire filter 3 vibrates and the trapped foreign matter is surely shaken off. be able to.

  Since the resonator 17 described above is arranged at the corner of the lower case 7, a space (dead space) serving as an air flow path in the lower case 7 can be effectively used, and air flowing into the lower case 7 can be ventilated. The resistance can be reduced as compared with the case where the resistance is arranged near the center of the lower case 7. At this time, the inclined portion 23 is provided on the surface exposed to the air flow path in the case 1 of the resonator 17 so that the air flowing into the lower case 7 is directed to the filter 3 and rectified and guided. The ventilation resistance can be further reduced.

  In the present embodiment, on the assumption that the filter 3 is fixed to the inner surface of the case 1 via the fixing member 13, the resonator 17 is provided on the lower case 7 by providing the resonator 17 in contact with the fixing member 13. Located in the corner. According to such a configuration, in addition to the effect of reliably shaking off foreign matter, the effects of effective use of dead space and reduction of ventilation resistance are produced in a superimposed manner.

  The resonator 17 is configured to resonate with the resonance frequency determined by the idling rotational speed of the air supply unit that supplies air to the fuel cell, so that the air suction noise can be reduced and the foreign matter can be reduced compared with the case where the air flow rate is large. It becomes easy to shake off. Further, the vibration of the resonator 17 is applied to the filter 3 in a state where the air flow rate is small, and foreign matter is removed. As a result, the removed foreign matter is captured by the filter 3 again as compared with a state where the air flow rate is large. Can be prevented.

  The resonator 17 is not necessarily configured to resonate with the resonance frequency determined by the idling rotational speed of the air supply unit that supplies air to the fuel cell.

  In addition, a resonator 17 is disposed on the dust side in the lower vertical direction of the filter 3. A drainage / dust removal hole opened to the outside is provided at the lower part of the case 1 near the drainage hole 21 a provided in the lower part of the resonator 17. 7b and the piping part 27 are provided. Thereby, the air wave due to resonance of the resonator 17 is directed from the water drain hole 21a to the water drain / dust removing hole 7b in the lower case 7, and the shaken foreign matter is removed by the air flow accompanying the air wave. The water can be efficiently guided to the water draining / dust removing hole 7b.

  Furthermore, by setting the above-described piping part 27 so that a blower air 29 of a radiator fan (not shown) passes in the vicinity of the outlet, an air flow speed difference occurs between the inner side and the outer side of the lower case 7, The high outside, that is, the vicinity of the outlet of the pipe portion 27 through which the blown air 29 flows becomes negative pressure, and the foreign matter and water shaken down in the lower part of the lower case 7 are sucked out by the blower air 29 of the radiator fan and moved to the outside of the case 1. The foreign matter and water can be reliably discharged.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the resonator 17 is in direct contact with the filter 3 as shown in the above-described embodiment. However, the resonator 17 is in contact with only the fixing member 13 that fixes the filter 3. In other words, in other words, the filter 3 may be in contact with the filter 3 indirectly via the fixing member 13 or the like. That is, if the vibration of the resonator 17 accompanying resonance (resonance vibration) is transmitted to the filter 3 and the foreign matter captured by the filter 3 is shaken off, the contact form between the resonator and the filter is directly It functions as part of the present invention even if it is manual or indirect (the same applies to the embodiments described later).

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an air cleaner showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This air cleaner is provided with a resonator 31 in the upper case 5 as compared with the first embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the air cleaner according to this embodiment is provided with the resonator (first resonator) 17 and the resonator (second resonator) 31 on the dust side and the clean side of the filter 3, respectively.

  The resonator 31 in the upper case 5 includes a lower surface portion 33 and an inclined portion 35 that extends to the upper right from the right end portion of the lower surface portion 33 in FIG. 2 and is joined to the lower surface of the upper case 5. The lower surface portion 33 joins the outer end portion to the inner surface of the upper case 5 and is brought into contact with the fixing member 37 and the sealing material 39 provided on the outer peripheral side upper portion of the filter 3. The sealing material 39 here includes a fitting portion 39 a that is fitted between the case 1 and the filter 3, and an outer flange portion 39 b that is fitted into the concave portion 1 a that protrudes toward the outside of the case 1.

  A through hole 35 a is formed in the inclined portion 35, and a cylindrical portion 41 corresponding to a resonator neck that protrudes into the resonator 31 is provided in the through hole 35 a, and the cylindrical portion 41 communicates the inside and the outside of the resonator 31. To do.

  Note that the lower end portion 33 and the inclined portion 35 of the resonator 31 are not joined to the inner wall of the upper case 5 of the air cleaner 1 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. In addition, the side wall portion may be joined.

  According to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the resonator 17 at the bottom of the filter 3, the resonator 31 at the top of the filter transmits the vibration at the time of resonance to the filter 3 to remove foreign matters such as dust and carbon. Since it shakes off, it can remove a foreign material more effectively.

  Further, by changing the resonance frequencies of the resonator 17 at the lower part of the filter 3 and the resonator 31 at the upper part of the filter 3 to each other, the resonance vibration of the resonator can be widened, and the condition for transmitting the vibration to the filter 3 is increased. Can be efficiently performed. In this case, it is preferable that any one of the resonators 17 and 31 is configured to resonate with a resonance frequency determined by an idling rotational speed of an air supply unit that supplies air to the fuel cell.

  Furthermore, since both the resonators 17 and 31 are arranged at the corners of the case 1, the space (dead space) serving as an air flow path in the lower case 7 and the upper case 5 can be used effectively and flows into the upper case 5. The air ventilation resistance can also be reduced compared to the case where the resonator 31 is arranged near the center of the upper case 5. At this time, the inclined portion 35 is also provided on the surface exposed to the air flow path in the case 1 of the resonator 31, and the air flowing into the upper case 5 is rectified and guided toward the air outlet 11. Ventilation resistance can be reduced.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an air cleaner showing a third embodiment of the present invention. As in the first embodiment, the air cleaner includes a case 10 that accommodates the filter 3 including an upper case 50 having an air outlet 110 and a lower case 70 having an air inlet 90. Two resonators 43 and 45 having the same shape and having an air layer with a double wall structure of the lower case 70 are provided.

  The two resonators 43 and 45 share the outer wall with the wall portion of the lower case 70, and a space serving as an air layer is provided between the shared outer wall and the inner walls 43a and 45a. Further, the two resonators 43 and 45 are provided with a common boundary wall 47 serving as a partition wall on the opposing surface on the side opposite to the air inlet 90, and the opposing surfaces on the air inlet 90 side are piping of the air inlet 90. Inclined walls 43b and 45b, which are in contact with each other at their upper ends, are provided on both sides thereof.

  Between the inclined walls 43b and 45b, a pipe serving as the air inlet 90 is arranged, and the opening at the tip thereof communicates with the inner air flow path surrounded by the resonators 43 and 45.

  Further, the inner walls 43a and 45a of the two resonators 43 and 45 facing each other are provided with through holes 43c and 45c, respectively, and the through holes 43c and 45c correspond to the resonator necks protruding into the respective resonators 43 and 45. The cylindrical portions 47 and 49 are provided, and the cylindrical portions 47 and 49 communicate the inside and the outside (air flow path) of the resonators 43 and 45.

  And the filter 3 is installed with the fixing member 13 in the position surrounded by the upper surface of each of these resonators 43 and 45 and the upper end periphery of the lower case 70, and the upper case 50 is covered from the top, and both are fixed by an appropriate method. At this time, a part of the outer peripheral side of the filter 3 and the fixing member 13 come into contact with the upper surfaces of the resonators 43 and 45.

  According to the air cleaner according to the third embodiment described above, the lower case 70 has a double structure of the outer wall and the inner walls 43a, 45a, and the resonators 43, 45 are provided with an air layer between the outer wall and the inner walls 43a, 45a. Therefore, even in the frequency range where the resonators 43 and 45 do not resonate, the air layer can exhibit the sound insulation effect and can block the intake sound, and can also perform the heat insulation.

  In addition, by providing the two resonators 43 and 45, similarly to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, vibrations with different resonance frequencies can be transmitted to the filter 3, and the action of removing the trapped foreign matter is enhanced. be able to.

  In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the upper case 50 also has a double-structured case wall (second resonator) as in the case of the resonator (first resonator) 43 of the lower case 70. May be provided.

It is sectional drawing of the air cleaner which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the air cleaner which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the air cleaner which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,10 Air cleaner case 3 Filter 7b Drain and dust removal hole (case opening)
13, 37 Fixing member 17, 31, 43, 45 Resonator 21a Drain hole (resonator opening)
23, 35 Inclined part of the resonator 27 Piping part 29 Air blown from the radiator fan 43a, 45a Inner wall of the case wall surface

Claims (12)

  In an air cleaner for purifying air supplied to a fuel cell, a filter for capturing foreign matter in the air is housed in a case, and a resonator for removing an intake air sound in contact with the filter is housed in the case. Air cleaner.   The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the resonator is disposed at a corner portion in the case.   3. The air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein an inclined portion that rectifies and guides the air flowing in the case is provided on a surface of the resonator that is exposed to an air flow path in the case.   The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the filter is fixed to the case via a fixing member, and the resonator is brought into contact with the fixing member.   5. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the resonator is disposed on a dust side at a lower portion in the vertical direction of the filter, and a case opening that opens to the outside is provided at a lower portion of the case. An air cleaner characterized in that a piping portion projecting downward is connected to the opening, and the piping portion is set so that air blown from a radiator fan passes in the vicinity of the outlet.   5. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the resonator is disposed on a dust side at a lower portion in the vertical direction of the filter, and a resonator opening that opens into the case is provided at a lower portion of the resonator. An air cleaner characterized in that a case opening that opens to the outside is provided at a lower portion of the case in the vicinity of the resonator opening.   The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the case wall surface has a double structure of an outer wall and an inner wall, and an air layer is provided between the outer wall and the inner wall to form the resonator.   The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the resonator is configured to resonate with a resonance frequency determined by an idling rotational speed of an air supply unit that supplies air to the fuel cell. Air cleaner.   The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of the resonators having different resonance frequencies are provided.   10. The air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of resonators is configured to resonate with a resonance frequency determined by an idling rotational speed of an air supply unit that supplies air to the fuel cell. Air cleaner.   The air cleaner according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the first resonator is provided on the dust side of the filter and the second resonator is provided on the clean side of the filter.   In the air cleaner for purifying the air supplied to the fuel cell, a filter for capturing foreign matter in the air is accommodated in the case, and a resonator for removing the intake sound is accommodated so that resonance vibration is transmitted to the filter. A featured air cleaner.

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