JP2012211538A - Air cleaner appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner appliance which keeps improvement of dust capturing performance compatible with reduction of intake resistance.SOLUTION: An outside air introduction pipe 6 that serves as an outside air introduction passage is installed in frontward protrusion on the left front end side of a dust side half 2, while a fresh air introduction pipe 7 that serves as a fresh air introduction passage is installed in frontward protrusion on the left front end side of a clean side half 3. An element body 11 of an air cleaner element 5 keeps a roughly pleated part 15, which has comparatively wide pleat intervals, disposed at the rear part, and a densely pleated part 16, which has comparatively narrow pleat intervals, disposed at the front part, so that an intermediately pleated part 17, which has intermediate pleat intervals, lies between the roughly pleated part 15 and the densely pleated part 16.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner device attached to an automobile engine or the like, and more particularly to a technique for achieving both improvement in dust capturing performance and reduction in intake resistance.

  An engine mounted on an automobile or the like is provided with an air cleaner device upstream of the intake system in order to prevent dust (floating dust or the like) contained in outside air from flowing into the combustion chamber. The air cleaner device includes an air cleaner case forming an outer shell of the device and an air cleaner element housed in the air cleaner case as main components. The air cleaner case is divided into a dust side into which outside air is introduced and a clean side in which air that has passed through the air cleaner element is temporarily stored, and an outside air introduction pipe to which an outside air duct or the like is connected is provided on the dust side, A fresh air outlet pipe to which an intake duct or the like is connected is provided on the clean side (see Patent Document 1). Note that an automobile may be provided with an air purification filter device that purifies the air in the passenger compartment, similar to an intake air cleaner device (see Patent Document 2). In the air purification filter device of Patent Document 2, in order to equalize the flow speed of the passing air per unit area of the filter medium (element), the center of the flow rate of the passing air increases with the pitch of the folds in the element (folding interval). The part is small.

JP 2006-122909 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-76729

  Air cleaner devices for automobiles supply clean air to the engine for a long period of time by improving dust trapping performance (ie, increasing the air cleaner element replacement interval) while not obstructing the passage of air during high-speed operation Therefore, it is required to suppress a decrease in engine output. However, since the air cleaner element of Patent Document 1 uses an air cleaner element that is folded at a constant pleat interval, reducing the pleat interval to increase dust trapping performance increases the intake resistance. Increasing the pleat interval to reduce the dust has a problem that the dust capturing performance is lowered and the replacement interval of the air cleaner element is shortened. On the other hand, in the air purification filter device of Patent Document 2, the inflow side duct and the outflow side duct are on the same line, and the part where the flow rate of the passing air increases is always constant. Even if it is adopted in an air cleaner device for an engine where the air pressure changes, it has been impossible to achieve both improvement in dust capturing performance and reduction in intake resistance.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to provide an air cleaner device that achieves both improved dust capturing performance and reduced intake resistance.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air cleaner device (1) for filtering air supplied to an internal combustion engine, wherein an air cleaner case (4) provided with an outside air introduction path (6) and a fresh air outlet path (7). ) And an air cleaner element (5) that captures dust in the air, the fresh air outlet path is not open on the flow path extension line (L) of the outside air introduction path, and the air cleaner element is The portion where the passing air amount increases during low speed operation of the internal combustion engine is defined as dense (16), and the portion where the passing air amount increases during high speed operation of the internal combustion engine is defined as rough (15).

  In the second aspect, the air cleaner element has an element body (11) formed by fold-folding the filter medium, narrows the pleat interval between the dense portions, and reduces the crease interval between the rough portions. Widened.

  In the third aspect, the air cleaner element divides the air cleaner case into a dust side (2) and a clean side (3), the outside air introduction path opens to the dust side, and the fresh air lead-out path Is a part spaced apart from the flow line extension line of the outside air introduction path, and opens to the clean side, and the part where the amount of air passing through during the low speed operation of the internal combustion engine is the outside air introduction path and the fresh air lead-out path A portion where the air cleaner element intersects or near the portion where the air cleaner element intersects, and a portion where the amount of air passing through during high-speed operation of the internal combustion engine is the passage extension line of the outside air introduction passage and the dust side It was set as the vicinity of the site | part where a wall surface crosses.

  In the air cleaner element according to the first aspect, the portion where the passing air amount increases during low-speed operation is made dense, so that the amount of dust that can be trapped in the normal region of the engine increases, and the replacement interval of the air cleaner element can be lengthened. . On the other hand, since the portion where the passing air amount increases during high-speed operation is roughened, the intake resistance when a large amount of fresh air is inhaled into the engine is reduced, and a decrease in output during high-speed driving or the like is suppressed. Further, in the air cleaner element according to the second aspect, it is possible to easily form the density while using a single filter medium. Further, in the air cleaner device according to the third aspect, outside air introduced from the outside air introduction path to the dust side passes through the air cleaner element via the shortest flow path during low speed operation, and fresh air is derived from the clean side. On the other hand, during high-speed operation, the inertia increases so that it travels straight in the dust side and collides with the wall surface, then passes through the air cleaner element in the vicinity and passes from the clean side to the fresh air lead-out path. Derived.

It is a perspective view which shows the air cleaner apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a staircase longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air cleaner apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the air cleaner element concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air cleaner element which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the intake flow at the time of the low speed driving | operation in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow-velocity distribution at the time of the low speed driving | operation in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the intake flow at the time of the high speed driving | operation in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow-velocity distribution at the time of the high speed driving | operation in 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the air cleaner apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view of the air cleaner element concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the intake flow at the time of the low speed driving | operation in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow-velocity distribution at the time of the low speed driving | operation in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the intake flow at the time of the high speed driving | operation in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow-velocity distribution at the time of the high-speed driving | operation in 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view of the air cleaner element which concerns on the partial modification of 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, several embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an air cleaner device for an automobile engine will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of each member, up, down, left and right, front and back are indicated by arrows in FIGS. 1 and 9, and the position and direction are indicated along these.

[First Embodiment]
<< Configuration of First Embodiment >>
<Configuration of air cleaner device>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air cleaner device 1 of the first embodiment includes a box-shaped air cleaner case 4 formed by fastening a lower dust side half 2 and an upper clean side half 3, and a dust side half. 2 and an air cleaner element 5 (not shown in FIG. 1) that is fitted / held to the upper end of 2. On the left side of the front end of the dust side half 2, an outside air introduction pipe 6, which is an outside air introduction path, projects forward. On the right side of the front end of the clean side half 3, a fresh air introduction pipe 7, which is a fresh air extraction path, is provided. It protrudes forward. Outside air flows into the outside air introduction pipe 6 from the front of the engine room or the like via an air duct (not shown). The fresh air outlet pipe 7 is connected to an intake manifold fastened to an engine cylinder head via an intake duct, a throttle chamber, and the like (not shown).

<Configuration of air cleaner element>
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air cleaner element 5 includes an element main body 11 formed by folding a filter paper in the left-right direction, and a rectangular outer frame 12 that holds the element main body 11. In the element main body 11 of the first embodiment, a rough pleat portion 15 having a relatively wide pleat interval is provided at the rear portion, and a dense pleat portion 16 having a relatively narrow pleat interval is provided at the front portion. A middle pleat portion 17 having an intermediate pleat interval is formed between the pleat portion 16 and the dense pleat portion 16.

<< Operation of First Embodiment >>
When the engine starts operation, air (or air-fuel mixture) is sucked into the combustion chamber with negative pressure along with the reciprocating motion of the piston, and an intake air flow is generated in the intake system in accordance with the engine speed.

(During low speed operation)
During low-speed operation, which is the normal region of the engine, since the intake amount per unit time is relatively small, a weak (low flow velocity) intake flow is generated in the intake system including the air cleaner device 1. During low speed operation, as shown in FIG. 5, outside air from the outside air introduction pipe 6 flows into the dust side half 2 at a low speed, passes through the air cleaner element 5, and then passes through the clean side half 3 and from the fresh air outlet pipe 7. leak. Since the inertia of the outside air is small when the flow velocity of the intake air flow is low, most of the passing air flows through the shortest flow path connecting the outside air introduction pipe 6 and the fresh air lead-out pipe 7, and the shortest flow path and the air cleaner element 5 passes through the element main body 11 in the vicinity of the portion where it intersects with 5 (that is, the dense pleat portion 16).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the flow velocity of the intake air flow at the time of low speed operation is the fastest in the vicinity of the portion where the shortest flow path and the air cleaner element 5 intersect (indicated by cross hatching), and slows as the distance from the portion increases. (The flow rate is indicated by the density of hatching).

  During low-speed operation, most of the dust in the outside air is captured by the dense pleats 16, but the dense pleats 16 have a narrow pleat interval (that is, because the actual surface area relative to the area in plan view is large). ) Clogging due to trapping dust is less likely to occur. Therefore, even if the engine is operated for a long period of time and the total amount of outside air introduced into the air cleaner device 1 becomes very large (that is, even if the air cleaner element 5 captures a large amount of dust), the replacement interval of the air cleaner element 5 Is difficult to shorten.

(During high-speed operation)
During high-speed operation of the engine, the intake air amount per unit time increases, so that an intake flow that is strong (high flow velocity) is generated in the intake system. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, in the air cleaner device 1, outside air from the outside air introduction pipe 6 flows into the dust side half 2 at a high speed, passes through the air cleaner element 5, and then flows out through the clean side half 3. It flows out from the pipe 7. Since the inertia of the outside air increases when the flow velocity of the intake air flow is high, most of the passing air flows along the flow path extension line L of the outside air introduction pipe 6 and collides with the wall surface of the dust side half 2. The element passes through the element body 11 at a rough pleat portion 15 at the rear portion in the vicinity (directly above).

  As shown in FIG. 8, the flow velocity of the intake air flow at the time of high speed operation is the fastest at the rear portion (indicated by cross hatching) facing the opening of the outside air introduction pipe 6, and is slowed toward the front portion (the flow velocity is reduced). The density of hatching (indicated by the higher the flow rate, the denser).

  The rough pleat portion 15 has a wide pleat interval (that is, a thin thickness along the intake flow direction) and a small resistance to the passing air. As a result, the engine can generate a high output by reducing the intake resistance. The rough pleat 15 has a small actual surface area relative to the area in plan view, and the amount of dust that can be captured is small. However, since the engine is not operated at a high speed, clogging of the rough pleat portion 15 is unlikely to occur like the dense pleat portion 16.

(During medium speed operation)
During medium-speed operation of the engine, the intake air amount per unit time is moderate, so that a moderately strong intake flow is generated in the intake system. In this case, in the air cleaner device 1, the outside air from the outside air introduction pipe 6 flows into the dust side half 2 at a medium speed, passes through the air cleaner element 5, flows out of the fresh air outlet pipe 7 through the clean side half 3. When the flow velocity of the intake air flow is medium, the inertia of the outside air is also medium. Therefore, most of the passing air is the element main body at the middle fold portion 17 between the rough fold portion 15 and the dense fold portion 16. 11 is passed. The middle pleat portion 17 has a medium pleat interval, is relatively less likely to be clogged by dust trapping, and has a relatively low resistance to the passing air. As a result, the engine can generate a relatively high output, and clogging with dust in the middle pleat portion 17 is relatively difficult to occur.

[Second Embodiment]
<< Configuration of Second Embodiment >>
<Configuration of air cleaner device>
The overall configuration of the air cleaner device of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment described above, but the arrangement of the outside air introduction pipe is different. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of the second embodiment, the outside air introduction pipe 6 protrudes from the left side rear end side of the dust side half 2.

<Configuration of air cleaner element>
As shown in FIG. 10, the air cleaner element 5 of the second embodiment has an element body 11 formed by folding filter paper along a line inclined from the right front to the left rear, and a relatively wide pleat interval. A rough pleat portion 15 having a relatively narrow pleat spacing is provided on the left front portion, and a moderate pleat spacing is provided between the rough pleat portion 15 and the dense pleat portion 16. The middle pleat portion 17 is provided.

<< Operation of Second Embodiment >>
(During low speed operation)
During low speed operation, as shown in FIG. 11, the outside air from the outside air introduction pipe 6 flows into the dust side half 2 at a low speed, passes through the air cleaner element 5, and then passes through the clean side half 3 from the fresh air outlet pipe 7. leak. Since the inertia of the outside air is small when the flow velocity of the intake air flow is low, most of the passing air flows through the shortest flow path connecting the outside air introduction pipe 6 and the fresh air lead-out pipe 7, and the shortest flow path and the air cleaner element 5 passes through the element main body 11 in the vicinity of the portion where it intersects with 5 (that is, the dense pleat portion 16).

  As shown in FIG. 12, the flow velocity of the intake air flow at the time of low speed operation becomes the fastest near the portion where the shortest flow path and the air cleaner element 5 intersect (indicated by cross-hatching), and slows as the distance from the portion increases. (The flow rate is indicated by the density of hatching).

  During low-speed operation, most of the dust in the outside air is trapped by the dense pleated portions 16, but the dense pleated portions 16 have a narrow pleat interval (that is, a large actual surface area relative to the area in plan view) Clogging due to dust trapping is less likely to occur. Therefore, even if the engine is operated for a long period of time and the total amount of outside air introduced into the air cleaner device 1 becomes very large (that is, even if the air cleaner element 5 captures a large amount of dust), the replacement interval of the air cleaner element 5 Is difficult to shorten.

(During high-speed operation)
During high-speed operation of the engine, the intake air amount per unit time increases, so a strong intake flow is generated in the intake system. In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, in the air cleaner device 1, outside air from the outside air introduction pipe 6 flows into the dust side half 2 at a high speed, passes through the air cleaner element 5, passes through the clean side half 3, and is supplied with fresh air. Flows out of 7. Since the inertia of the outside air increases when the flow velocity of the intake air flow is high, most of the passing air flows along the flow path extension line L of the outside air introduction pipe 6 and collides with the wall surface of the dust side half 2. It passes through the element body 11 at the rough pleat portion 15 at the right rear portion in the vicinity (directly above).

  As shown in FIG. 14, the flow velocity of the intake air flow during high-speed operation is the fastest at the left rear portion (indicated by cross-hatching) facing the opening of the outside air introduction pipe 6 and becomes slower as it moves away from the left rear portion (flow velocity). Is indicated by hatching density (the higher the flow rate, the higher the density).

  The rough pleat portion 15 has a wide pleat interval (that is, a thin thickness along the intake flow direction) and a small resistance to the passing air. As a result, the engine can generate a high output by reducing the intake resistance. The rough pleat 15 has a small actual surface area relative to the area in plan view, and the amount of dust that can be captured is small. However, since the engine is not frequently operated at high speed, clogging of the rough pleat portion 15 is unlikely to occur like the dense pleat portion 16 as in the first embodiment.

(During medium speed operation)
During medium-speed operation of the engine, the intake air amount per unit time is moderate, so that a moderately strong intake flow is generated in the intake system. In this case, in the air cleaner device 1, the outside air from the outside air introduction pipe 6 flows into the dust side half 2 at a medium speed, passes through the air cleaner element 5, flows out of the fresh air outlet pipe 7 through the clean side half 3. Since the inertia of the outside air becomes moderate when the intake air flow is of a medium strength, most of the passing air is at the middle pleat portion 17 between the rough pleat portion 15 and the dense pleat portion 16. Pass through the body 11. The middle pleat portion 17 has a medium pleat interval, is relatively less likely to be clogged by dust trapping, and has a relatively low resistance to the passing air. As a result, the engine can generate a relatively high output, and clogging with dust in the middle pleat portion 17 is relatively difficult to occur.

  This is the end of the description of specific embodiments. However, aspects of the present invention are not limited to these embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an air cleaner device in which a rectangular air cleaner element is accommodated in a box-shaped air cleaner case. The present invention can also be applied. In the embodiment described above, the pleat interval of the element body is changed in three steps, but it may be changed in two steps, four steps or more, or may be changed continuously. In the second embodiment, the element body in which the filter paper is folded along an inclined line is used. However, as shown in FIG. 15, the filter paper is folded in an arc shape centering on the left rear part. The main body 11 may be formed. In addition, as long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention, the installation site and installation angle of the outside air introduction pipe and the fresh air outlet pipe in the air cleaner case can be appropriately changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air cleaner apparatus 2 Dust side half 3 Clean side half 4 Air cleaner case 5 Air cleaner element 6 Outside air introduction pipe 7 Fresh air outlet pipe 11 Element main body 15 Coarse fold part 16 Close fold part 17 Middle fold part L Flow path extension line

Claims (3)

An air cleaner device for filtering air supplied to an internal combustion engine,
An air cleaner case provided with an outside air introduction path and a fresh air outlet path, and an air cleaner element that captures dust in the air,
The fresh air outlet passage is not open on the flow path extension line of the outside air introduction passage,
The air cleaner device is characterized in that a portion where the passing air amount increases during low-speed operation of the internal combustion engine is dense, and a portion where the passing air amount increases during high-speed operation of the internal combustion engine is roughened.   2. The air cleaner element according to claim 1, wherein the air cleaner element has an element main body formed by folding a filter medium, the pleat interval of the dense portion is narrowed, and the pleat interval of the rough portion is widened. The air cleaner device described. The air cleaner element divides the air cleaner case into a dust side and a clean side,
The outside air introduction path opens to the dust side,
The fresh air lead-out path is a portion spaced from the flow path extension line of the outside air introduction path, and opens to the clean side,
The portion where the amount of passing air increases during low-speed operation of the internal combustion engine is a portion where the air cleaner element intersects with the shortest flow path connecting the outside air introduction path and the fresh air lead-out path or the vicinity thereof,
The portion where the amount of air passing through the internal combustion engine at a high speed is close to a portion where a flow path extension line of the outside air introduction passage intersects with a wall surface of the dust side. The air cleaner apparatus described in 2.

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