JP2013130093A - Air cleaner for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner for an internal combustion engine that can be reduced in weight and cost.SOLUTION: The air cleaner 1 for an internal combustion engine is equipped with a casing 2 having an air influx port 2a and an air outflow port 2b, an annular main element 5 installed inside the casing 2, and a safety element 8 installed downstream of the main element 5 in the air flowing direction, wherein the safety element 8 has a frame 81 fitted with a flat-form filter part 82, the safety element 8 is attached to the air outflow port 2b in such an arrangement that the filter part 82 is positioned alongside the section of the flow passage in the air outflow port 2b.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner for an internal combustion engine used in a vehicle traveling in a dusty environment such as a desert area or a quarry site.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air cleaner that cleans air introduced into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is known in which a cup-shaped element holder is provided inside a casing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The air cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 1 usually has one element. On the other hand, as an air cleaner used in a dusty environment, an air cleaner having a double element structure in which an annular inner element is inserted inside an annular outer element is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2). .

  In a dusty environment such as a construction site, the element may be damaged. Therefore, a double structure is provided for the element, and the inner element is used as a safety element. In particular, in a desert area where a sandstorm occurs, when replacing the main element as the outer element, if there is no safety element, dust will enter the engine from the casing. If dust enters the engine, it will lead to wear inside the cylinder and shorten the life of the engine. In a desert area, a single sandstorm may continue for several days, and if the vehicle is driven during that time, the function of the air cleaner will deteriorate in a short time. Most of the components of sandstorms are debris finer than sand.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows the air flow in the air cleaner 108. As shown in the drawing, outside air that has flowed into the casing 100 via the air inlet flows near the inner wall of the casing 100, passes through the main element 105 and the safety element 104, and flows into the safety element 104. The purified air that has flowed into the safety element 104 flows from the air outlet toward the engine.

  FIG. 5 shows a conventional air cleaner. The air cleaner 108 includes a cylindrical casing 100, an air inlet 100 a is formed on the peripheral surface thereof, and an air outlet 100 b is provided on one end surface of the casing 100. A pipe 101 is connected to the air outlet 100b. Moreover, the other end side of the casing is opened, and a substantially cup-shaped casing cover 102 is attached by bolt fastening. A substantially cone-shaped element holder 103 is provided inside the casing 100, and the element holder 103 is arranged so that the axis of the element holder 103 and the axis of the casing 100 coincide with each other. The pipe 101 and the element holder 103 can be connected by welding or the like.

A cylindrical safety element 104 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the element holder 103 so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the element holder 103, and a cylindrical main element 105 is provided so as to surround the safety element 104. ing.
Packing 106A, 106B is interposed between one end of the safety element 104 and the main element 105 and the inner wall surface of the casing 100, and substantially dish-shaped element support plates 107A, 107B are provided on the other end side. Yes. Bolt holes are formed in the tip of the element holder 103 and the center of the element support plates 107A and 107B. Bolts B1 are inserted into the bolt holes from the element holder 103 side, and the nuts N1 and N2 are attached to the element support plates 107A and 107B. By using and urging the safety element 104 and the main element 105, the safety element 104 and the main element 105 are fixed in a state where the packings 106A and 106B are compressed.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-8650 JP-A-8-261077

However, in the air cleaner described above, the safety element 104 is only as long as the main element 105, although the safety element 104 is mainly required for preventing dust intrusion when the main element 105 is replaced. Is used, and there is a problem that the apparatus becomes complicated and the weight increases.
In addition, since the main element 105 requires a certain diameter and element thickness, it is not preferable that the main element 105 be too large or too small. Accordingly, since the size of the main element 105 is generally determined, the diameter and the like of the safety element 104 inserted into the main element 105 are also approximately determined. Therefore, it is difficult to expect sufficient filter performance with the safety element 104 alone, and it was an emergency component in the first place.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and it aims at providing the air cleaner which can achieve weight reduction and cost reduction.

  As a result of intensive research on such problems, the present inventor has reduced the size of the safety element by attaching a planar filter portion serving as a safety element to the air outlet along the cross-sectional direction of the flow path. The present inventors have found that it is possible to reduce the weight and cost of the apparatus and have completed the present invention.

  The air cleaner of the present invention is an air cleaner for purifying intake air for an internal combustion engine, and the air cleaner removes dust in the air disposed inside the casing and a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet. An annular main element and a safety element disposed downstream of the main element in the air flow direction, the safety element having a planar filter portion on a frame, and the safety element The filter part is attached to the air outlet so as to be along the cross-sectional direction of the air outlet.

In the present invention, since the filter portion of the safety element is planar and is disposed along the flow path cross-sectional direction of the air outlet, the planar filter portion may be disposed inside the frame body. It is not necessary to use a large element whose outer peripheral surface is a filter part, and an element holder for a safety element is also unnecessary, so that weight reduction, cost reduction, and simplification of the apparatus can be achieved.
Further, the safety element can be stably fixed to the casing by screwing the frame into the air outlet of the casing. A female helix may be formed inside the frame and a male helix may be formed at the air outlet of the casing, or a male helix may be formed outside the frame and a female helix formed at the air outlet of the casing. .

  Further, by fitting an annular packing provided at one end of the main element to the frame body, the frame body can be press-fitted into the inner circumferential side of the packing, and the frame body is elastic at the air outlet. The safety element is stably fixed to the casing by being pressed by the packing. Here, by providing magnets to the packing and the safety element and magnetizing each other, the safety element is further stably fixed.

  In the air cleaner of the present invention, the filter portion of the safety element is made flat, and is arranged along the flow path cross-sectional direction of the air outlet, so that the flat filter portion may be arranged inside the frame, There is no need to use a large element whose outer peripheral surface is a filter part as in the prior art, and an element holder for a safety element is not required, so that weight reduction, cost reduction, and simplification of the apparatus can be achieved.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of the air in one Embodiment of the air cleaner of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the typical structure of the A part vicinity of FIG. FIG. 2A shows the main element and the packing. FIG. 2B shows a safety element. FIG. 2C shows a form in which the main element and the safety element are engaged. It is explanatory drawing which shows one Embodiment of the air cleaner of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of the air in the conventional air cleaner. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional air cleaner.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the flow of air in the air cleaner 1. As shown in the figure, the outside air that has flowed into the casing 2 through the air inlet flows near the inner wall of the casing 2, passes through the main element 5 and the safety element 8, and flows into the safety element 8. The purified air that has flowed into the safety element 8 flows from the air outlet toward the engine.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure near the portion A in FIG. A packing 6 is attached to one end of the main element 5 shown in FIG. 2A, and a safety element 8 shown in FIG. A female helix is formed inside the safety element 8, and is engaged with the male helix of the air outlet 2b of the casing 2 to engage the casing 2 and the safety element 8 as shown in FIG. Combined. After this engagement, the main element 5 is fitted on the safety element 8.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the air cleaner of the present invention. The air cleaner 1 includes a cylindrical resin casing 2, an air inlet 2 a is formed on the peripheral surface of the casing 2, and an air outlet 2 b is provided on one end surface of the casing 2.
A pipe 3 is connected to the air outlet 2b. The air flowing out from the air outlet 2b flows into the engine cylinder. When dust is mixed into the air, cylinder wear occurs, so the air cleaner 1 is disposed upstream of the engine.
Moreover, the other end side of the casing 2 is opened, and a substantially cup-shaped resin casing cover 4 is attached by fastening with a bolt B2.

  A cylindrical main element 5 is provided inside the casing 2, and a rubber packing 6 is provided between one end of the main element 5 and an inner wall on one end side of the casing 2. Then, the main element 5 is pressed from the other end of the main element 5 by a substantially dish-shaped metal element support plate 7, and the packing 6 is compressed. In this structure, even if vibration is transmitted to the main element 5, the packing 6 exhibits the function of a damper. Further, the outer peripheral end portion of the element support plate 7 is bent, and the main element 5 is fitted inside the bent portion 7a.

As the main element 5, one having a general structure can be used. For example, one having a structure in which a filter paper is folded in a bellows shape and fitted in a resin or metal frame can be adopted. In addition to filter paper, non-woven fabric can also be used. An annular metal or resin frame is provided at both ends of the main element 5 to ensure strength.
Bolt holes are formed in the center of the element support plate 7 and the center of the casing cover 4, and bolts B3 are inserted into the bolt holes from the casing cover 4 side, and the element support plate 7 is attached to the main element using nuts N3 and N4. The main element 5 is fixed in a state where the packing 6 is compressed.

  A male spiral is formed at the air outlet 2b of the casing 2, and the safety element 8 is screwed into the male spiral. This safety element 8 is provided with a disk-like filter portion 82 in a frame 81, and the filter portion 82 is disposed along the flow path cross-sectional direction of the air outlet 2b. Of course, the filter portion 82 may be disposed slightly inclined. As a material of the filter part 82, a nonwoven fabric can be used, for example. As the material of the frame 81, resin or metal can be used. It is preferable to use a resin from the viewpoint of weight reduction. A female spiral is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the frame 81 and is screwed with the male spiral of the air outlet 2b. Of course, a male spiral may be formed on the inner peripheral wall of the frame 81, and a female spiral may be formed and screwed to the air outlet 2b.

Next, replacement work of the main element 5 will be described.
When a problem occurs in combustion of the engine due to clogging of the filter of the main element 5 while traveling in the desert area, it is necessary to replace the main element 5 with a new one. In this case, the bolt B2 is loosened and the casing cover 4 is removed from the casing 2. At this time, since the element support plate 7 is attached via the bolts B3 and the nuts N3 and N4, the element support plate 7 is also removed together with the casing cover 4. Next, the main element 5 is pulled out. At this time, since the frame 81 is screwed into the air outlet 2b, the safety element 8 can maintain the state of being attached to the air outlet 2b without being loosened.

  Next, a new main element 5 is assembled. Then, the new main element 5 is fitted on the frame 81 of the safety element 8. Next, the casing cover 4 to which the element support plate 7 is attached is attached to the casing 2. At this time, care is taken so that the main element 5 enters the inside of the bent portion 7a. The casing cover 4 is pressed against the casing 2 to align the bolt holes, and then the bolt B2 is inserted to fasten the casing cover 4 and the casing 2 together.

  In the air cleaner 1 described above, when air flows in from the air inlet 2a, the air passes through the filter portion of the main element 5, and then the air from which the dust is removed is directed to the engine via the safety element 8 and the air outlet 2b. It is taken into the cylinder through the intake valve and used as combustion air. The dust blocked by the main element 5 is adsorbed by the filter part or goes around to the back side of the element support plate 7. Therefore, when exchanging the main element 5, it is preferable to clean the inside of the casing 2 or the inside of the casing cover 4 to remove dust.

In the air cleaner according to the embodiment described above, the filter portion 82 of the safety element 8 is formed in a disk shape and is disposed along the flow path cross-sectional direction of the air outlet 2b. No need to use a large element whose outer peripheral surface is a filter part as in the prior art, and no need for an element holder for the safety element 8, reducing the weight, cost and equipment. Simplification can be achieved.
Further, when the main element 5 is replaced, the safety element 8 can surely prevent debris finer than sand from entering the engine side.

  Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the essence thereof.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the safety element 8 is an example in which the disk-shaped filter portion 82 is disposed on the frame body 81 and the filter portion 82 is disposed along the flow path cross-sectional direction of the air outlet 2b. However, the shape of the filter portion 82 may be other planar shapes such as a polygonal plate shape, and the filter portion 82 may be disposed with a slight inclination. In short, it is effective if it is arranged so that dust can be prevented from entering the engine when the main element is replaced.

  The present invention can be applied to an air cleaner that collects dust mixed in the air when the vehicle travels. In particular, it can be effectively used for dump trucks that travel in dusty environments such as quarry sites, and cars and tanks that travel in desert areas.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air cleaner 2 Casing 2a Air inflow port 2b Air outflow port 3 Piping 4 Casing cover 5 Main element 6 Packing 7 Element support plate 7a Bending part 8 Safety element 81 Frame body 82 Filter part 100 Casing 100a Air inflow port 100b Air outflow port 101 Piping 102 Casing cover 103 Element holder 104 Safety element 105 Main element 106A, 106B Packing 107A, 107B Element support plate 108 Air cleaner B1-B3 Bolt N1-N4 Nut

Claims (4)

An air cleaner for cleaning intake air for an internal combustion engine,
The air cleaner includes a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an annular main element disposed inside the casing for removing dust in the air, and downstream of the main element in the air flow direction. With safety elements arranged,
The safety element has a flat filter portion on a frame, and the safety element is attached to the air outlet so that the filter portion is along a flow path cross-sectional direction of the air outlet. Air cleaner for internal combustion engines.   The air cleaner for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the safety element is fixed to the casing by screwing the frame into an air outlet of the casing.   The air cleaner for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein an annular packing provided at one end of the main element is fitted onto the frame.   The air cleaner for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein a magnet is provided on the annular packing and the frame provided on the inner peripheral side of the packing and are magnetized to each other.

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