JP2009138724A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner wherein anti-dust performance is improved without increasing vent resistance by constituting so that air is taken in from a position offset from an air element, and an outlet of clean air is located on the side opposite to the inlet air flow direction. <P>SOLUTION: The air cleaner includes an almost L-type rib 10 which is provided on the wall-face of a space 6 on the dust side in a cleaner case 5 facing the air element 4. The almost L-type rib 10 is integrally formed of a first rib 10A which directs inlet air from an air-inlet 8 toward the direction of folds 4a of the air element 4 and opposite to an air outlet 9, and a second rib 10B which directs the air directed by the first rib 10A toward the direction opposite to the direction by the first rib 10A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner for air purification.

As a conventional vehicle air cleaner that purifies air supplied to, for example, a vehicle engine, there is a configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1. This is an air element that has a zigzag crease in the cleaner case and partitions the cleaner case into a dust side space and a clean side space, and introduces outside air into the dust side space and a clean side. An air extraction portion for discharging clean air from the space portion is provided to face the air element, and both are shifted in the direction in which the folds of the air element are arranged. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain low ventilation resistance and good dust resistance (dust collecting ability).
JP 2007-64025 A

  By the way, air that flows into the dust side space portion from the air intake portion is provided at a position that is offset in the direction along the fold of the air element with respect to the air element, for example, due to layout conditions in the vehicle to be mounted. The flow direction may be inclined with respect to the fold of the air element. In this case, in order to make the dust collection area of the air element as wide as possible and to effectively use the air element, the air extraction part is arranged at a position opposite to the air inflow direction from the air intake part.

  In the air cleaner having such an arrangement of the air intake portion and the air intake portion, if the passage cross section of the air intake portion is widened in order to reduce the airflow resistance, the air flow flowing in at an inclination with respect to the crease of the air element. However, it is pulled in the direction opposite to the inflow direction by the suction action on the air extraction side, and an air flow component along the fold of the air element is generated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, dust 51 accumulates in the valleys 50 a of the air element 50 (folded folds as viewed from the dust side space), and the air flow when passing through the air element 50 is shown in FIG. 4. As indicated by the arrows in the middle, the air elements 50 are dispersed in the direction of the inclined surface 50b (the inclined portion between the folds). In this case, the air flow passing through the air element 50 is deteriorated, resulting in a clogged state at an early stage, and there is a problem in terms of dust resistance.

  In order to improve the dust resistance, the flow rate of the air flowing into the dust-side space by narrowing the passage cross section of the air intake is preferably increased to overcome the suction action on the air take-out. By doing so, the air that is inclined with respect to the folds of the air element and flows into the dust side space flows in the extending direction, and the air flow in the dust side space is aligned with the folds of the air elements (see FIG. 4 and the vertical direction of FIG. 5), dust 51 can be deposited on the inclined surface 50 b of the air element 50 as shown in FIG. 5. As a result, air passes through the valley 50a of the air element 50 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 5, so that the air flow through the air element 50 is good and the dust collecting ability can be maintained for a long period of time. Performance can be obtained. However, there is a problem that by reducing the passage cross section of the air intake portion, the ventilation resistance increases, and the engine output performance decreases.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air cleaner capable of obtaining good dust resistance without increasing ventilation resistance.

  For this reason, the present invention forms the air intake portion so that the flow direction of the air flowing into the cleaner case from the air intake portion is inclined with respect to the fold of the air element in the cleaner case. In an air cleaner having a configuration in which an air discharge part for discharging filtered clean air is arranged on the side opposite to the flow direction of the inflow air, the inflow air is arranged in the direction in which the folds of the air elements are arranged and opposite to the air discharge part A first rib that is directed in the lateral direction is provided.

  According to the present invention, the flow direction of the air flowing into the cleaner case from the air intake portion is inclined with respect to the fold of the air element, and the flow of the incoming air flows through the air discharge portion that discharges the clean air after filtration. In the air cleaner configured to be disposed on the opposite side of the direction, the inflowing air can be flowed in the direction in which the folds of the air elements are aligned without reducing the cross section of the air intake section. Dust can be deposited on the inclined surface. Therefore, good dust resistance can be obtained without increasing the ventilation resistance, and when used as a vehicle air cleaner, both dust resistance and engine output performance can be achieved at a high level.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 are schematic views showing the configuration of an embodiment of an air cleaner according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic view seen from the air intake side, and FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG. A schematic diagram is shown.

  1 and 2, the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes a first case member 2, a second case member 3, and three members of an air element 4 in which folds are formed in zigzags as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It is configured. By joining the first case member 2 and the second case member 3 to each other, a cleaner case 5 having an opening for attaching / detaching the air element on the upper surface is formed. The air element 4 is mounted in the cleaner case 5 so that it can be inserted and removed from the opening. The cleaner case 5 is partitioned into a dust side space 6 on the first case member 2 side and a clean side space 7 on the second case member 3 side with the air element 4 mounted.

  The first case member 2 is formed with an air intake portion 8 for taking outside air into the dust side space portion 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air intake portion 8 has an inlet 8 a formed at, for example, the upper surface side of the air cleaner 1 and offset to the fold direction side (left side in FIG. 1) of the air element 4. Is formed. And the air intake part 8 passes the said air intake part 8, and the flow direction of the air which flows in into the dust side space part 6 in the cleaner case 5 is with respect to the crease | fold 4a (shown in FIG. 3) of the air element 4. As shown by arrow a in FIG.

  The second case member 3 is formed with an air discharge portion 9 for discharging the filtered clean air in the clean side space portion 7. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air discharge portion 9 is formed on the side opposite to the flow direction (downward in the drawing) of air flowing from the air intake portion 8 into the dust side space portion 6. By doing so, the dust collection area of the air element 4 can be widened, and the dust collection effective area of the air element 4 can be widened. The clean air discharged from the air discharge unit 9 is supplied to the intake side of the vehicle engine, for example.

  Further, in the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, a rib 10 bent in a substantially L shape as shown in FIG. 1 is integrally formed on an inner wall 2a facing the air element 4 of the first case member 2. The rib 10 causes the inflow air from the air intake portion 8 to flow in the direction in which the folds 4a of the air element 4 are arranged (the vertical direction side of the air cleaner 1) and in the direction opposite to the air discharge portion 9 (below the air cleaner 1). The first rib portion 10A to be directed and the second rib portion to direct the air directed by the first rib portion 10A in the direction opposite to the directing direction by the first rib portion 10A (the upper side of the air cleaner 1) 10B is integrally formed. The second rib portion 10B of the rib 10 is formed close to the wall surface of the first case member 2 so as to restrict the air flow.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although it is the structure which provides the single rib which integrally formed the 1st rib part 10A and the 2nd rib part 10B, the 1st rib part 10A and the 2nd rib part 10B are provided. It is good also as a structure formed with a separate rib mutually independent.

The operation of the rib 10 in the air cleaner 1 of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
The air flow that has passed through the air intake portion 8 is inclined with respect to the fold 4a of the air element 4 and flows into the dust side space portion 6 as indicated by an arrow a in FIG. This air flow is pulled upward in FIG. 3 by the suction action from the air discharge portion 9 side, but hits the first rib portion 10A of the rib 10 and, as shown by the arrow b in FIG. Are guided in the direction in which the folds 4 a are arranged and in the direction opposite to the air discharge portion 9, that is, in the lower direction of the dust side space portion 6. The air flow guided in the lower direction of the dust side space portion 6 hits the lower wall surface of the dust side space portion 6 and moves toward the upper side of the dust side space portion 6 as indicated by an arrow c in FIG. This air flow is directed and guided in the upper direction of the dust side space portion 6 by the second rib portion 10B. At this time, since the air flow is narrowed by narrowing the interval between the second rib portion 10B and the wall surface of the dust-side space portion 6, the flow velocity of the air flow increases. As a result, as indicated by an arrow d in FIG. 3, the air flow overcomes the suction action on the side of the air discharge portion 9 and moves toward the upper portion of the dust side space portion 6 and hits the upper wall surface of the dust side space portion 6. The airflow which hits the upper wall surface of the dust side space 6 is directed toward the lower part of the dust side space 6 as indicated by an arrow e in FIG.

  As described above, the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is provided with the ribs 10, so that the air flowing into the dust side space 6 can flow in the direction in which the folds 4 a of the air elements 4 are arranged. Dust can be collected on the 4 inclined surfaces. Moreover, dust can be collected on substantially the entire surface of the air element 4 by swirling the air. For this reason, the dust collection capability can be maintained for a long time, and the effective area of the air element 4 where dust can be collected can be widened, and the dust resistance can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to narrow down the passage section of the air intake portion 8, the ventilation resistance can be reduced and the engine output performance can be improved. Accordingly, both dust resistance and engine output performance can be achieved at a high level.

  Part of the air that has flowed into the dust side space 6 passes through the air element 4 and flows toward the clean side space 7 before moving in the direction of the second rib portion 10B. For this reason, since the amount of air passing between the second rib portion 10B and the wall surface of the dust side space portion 6 is smaller than the initial amount of air flow, the air flow is restricted by the second rib portion 10B, thereby reducing the airflow resistance. Will not increase.

  When the inflowing air hits the first rib portion 10A, there is a possibility that the air flow is disturbed and the ventilation resistance is somewhat increased. In order to further reduce the airflow resistance, it is desirable that the shape of the rib 10 is such that the inflow air is directed in the extension direction of the inflow direction. On the other hand, in order to further improve the dust resistance, the shape of the rib 10 may be such that the inflow air is directed to the lower side of the dust side space 6 rather than the direction of the arrow b in FIG. .

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an air cleaner according to the present invention. Schematic configuration diagram viewed from the right side of FIG. Diagram explaining the action of ribs Explanatory drawing of undesirable dust collection state of air element Explanatory drawing of preferable dust collection state of air element

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air cleaner 2 1st case member 3 2nd case member 4 Air element 4a Crease (of air element)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Cleaner case 8 Air intake part 9 Air exhaust part 10 Rib 10A 1st rib part 10B 2nd rib part

Claims (5)

The air intake portion is formed so that the flow direction of the air flowing into the cleaner case from the air intake portion is inclined with respect to the fold of the air element in the cleaner case, and the clean air filtered by the air element is discharged. In the air cleaner configured to arrange the air discharge portion on the opposite side to the flow direction of the inflowing air,
An air cleaner, comprising: a first rib for directing the inflow air toward a direction in which the folds of the air elements are arranged and in a direction opposite to the air discharge portion.   2. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a second rib that directs air directed by the first rib in a direction opposite to a direction directed by the first rib.   The air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the second rib is formed so as to restrict a flow of air.   The air cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a single rib is formed by integrally forming the first rib and the second rib.   The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a directing direction by the first rib is a direction extending a flow direction of the inflowing air.

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