JP2015121122A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner in which a circular type filter element can be surely attached to a connecting tube with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: In an air cleaner, a case member having an attachment hole to which a connecting tube is attached and a cover member having an inflow port are combined to form a hollow in an inside thereof, and a cylindrical filter element is stored in the inside. The filter element includes a pair of end plates attached to both axial ends, a cylindrical connection port extended from one of the end plates to the axial direction so that the connecting tube is connected thereto, and filter means provided on a side surface. One end of the connecting tube has an outflow port, and the other end has an insertion part inserted into the connection port, and an inner seal part formed almost coaxially with the insertion part and airtightly connected with an outer periphery of the connection port. The case member has a holding part holding the inner seal part with the connection port.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner that filters air supplied to an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle.

  Conventionally, various structures are known for air cleaners that filter air supplied to an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle. The filter element accommodated in the air cleaner is roughly classified into two types, a panel type in which pleated filter media are arranged in a plate shape and a circular type in which pleated filter media are arranged in a cylindrical shape.

  The panel type is excellent in mass productivity due to the freedom of shape and flat shape, but there is a compatibility problem that it is difficult to horizontally deploy from a shape with a high degree of freedom to other models, and there is a restriction on the filtration area depending on the product shape There is a problem.

  On the other hand, the circular type has the advantage that it is easy to secure a filtration area because it is provided with a filter medium in the circumferential direction, and is easily compatible with other models.

  Various forms of air cleaners having such a circular type filter element are known.

JP 2004-251119 A

  The air cleaner described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a sub-chamber for returning the blow-by gas of the internal combustion engine in an intake device including an air cleaner and a connecting tube provided downstream of the air cleaner and connected to a fuel supply device. Extend the connecting tube to the inside of the air cleaner case, directly support the filter element with this connecting tube, and project the case part with an opening at the tip on the inner wall of the air cleaner case. A lid is provided to form the sub-chamber, and the lid is provided with a joint portion that protrudes toward the connecting tube and includes a communication path that communicates from the sub-chamber to the connecting tube, and the joint portion is extended from the connecting tube. Connected directly to the The features.

  As described above, the air cleaner described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the filter element is directly supported by the connecting tube, and the sub-chamber is directly attached to the connecting tube so that the sub-chamber is provided downstream of the partition wall supporting the filter element. In contrast, the partition wall is not required and the sub-chamber does not affect the intake characteristics, and the degree of freedom in setting the intake characteristics, the intake sound characteristics, the output characteristics of the internal combustion engine, and the like can be increased.

  However, according to the structure of the air cleaner described above, the end of the connecting tube is fitted to the connecting tube formed at one end of the filter element, and the connecting tube is securely sealed between the connecting tube and the connecting tube. There is a problem that it is necessary to fix the connecting tube with a band or the like from the outer periphery of the wire, and it is very difficult to attach the band inside the air cleaner.

  In addition, the filter element must be inserted in the axial direction with the connecting tube fitted in the mounting hole formed in the case member, and the connecting tube and connecting tube could be fitted securely. There was a problem that the seal could not be visually confirmed, and there was a possibility that a sealing failure could occur due to the sag of the connecting tube.

  Note that the filter element is a part that needs to be replaced periodically because the filtration performance is lowered by use, and the configuration in which such an assembly failure occurs has a large safety problem.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air cleaner that can securely assemble a circular type filter element to a connecting tube with a simple configuration.

  An air cleaner according to the present invention combines a case member in which a mounting hole to which a connecting tube is attached and a cover member in which an inflow port is formed to form a hollow interior, and a cylindrical filter element is accommodated therein. An air cleaner, wherein the filter element includes a pair of end plates attached to both ends in the axial direction, and the connecting tube connected to a cylindrical connection port formed to extend from one end plate in the axial direction. In addition, a filtering means is provided on a side surface, one end of the connecting tube is formed with an outflow port, the other end is formed in the connection port, and the connection port is formed substantially coaxially with the insertion unit. An inner seal portion that is airtightly connected to the outer periphery of the case, and the case member includes a holding portion that sandwiches the inner seal portion together with the connection port. It is characterized in.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the end portion of the inner seal portion includes a flange portion that radially expands the diameter, and the flange portion is sandwiched between the end plates and the end surfaces of the holding portion. .

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the case member includes a blow-by chamber that recirculates a blow-by gas of the internal combustion engine, and the connecting tube is formed with a blow-by connection port that is connected to the blow-by chamber.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the blow-by chamber is formed by closing a recess formed in the case member with a lid member.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the cover member includes an inner wall facing an end plate in which the connection port of the filter element is not formed.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these features can also be the invention.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, one end of the connecting tube is formed with an outflow port, and the other end is formed to be substantially coaxial with the insertion portion inserted into the connection port, and is connected to the outer periphery of the connection port in an airtight manner. Since the case member has a holding portion that holds the inner seal portion together with the connection port, the inner seal portion is securely held in the radial direction by the connection port and the holding portion, so that the simple assembly method can be used. Even if it exists, the inner seal portion can be reliably connected to the connection port in a radial direction in a radial direction, and the sealing performance of the portion can be ensured. Furthermore, since a cylindrical filter element is used, it is easy to secure a filtration area as compared with the panel type, and compatibility with other models can be easily provided.

  Moreover, since the air cleaner which concerns on this invention has clamped the flange part also in the axial direction with the end plate and the holding | maintenance part, it can improve sealing performance more.

  In addition, since the air cleaner according to the present invention directly communicates the blow-by chamber with the connecting tube, the blow-by gas recirculation structure can be configured with a small number of parts.

  Moreover, since the air cleaner which concerns on this invention comprises the blowby chamber by obstruct | occluding the recessed part formed in the case member with the cover member, it can form a blowby chamber with a simple structure.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, since the cover member includes an inner wall facing the one end of the filter element in the axial direction, the filter element can be prevented from moving in the axial direction and coming off from the connecting tube.

The perspective view of the air cleaner concerning this embodiment. The partial sectional view of the air cleaner concerning this embodiment. The perspective view of a case member. The top view of a case member. The exploded view of the air cleaner concerning this embodiment. Sectional drawing of the air cleaner which concerns on this embodiment. The modification of the air cleaner which concerns on this embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to each claim, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. .

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air cleaner according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air cleaner according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a case member, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the air cleaner according to the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the air cleaner according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an air cleaner according to the present embodiment. It is a modified example of.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment has a hollow interior formed by combining a case member 20 to which a connecting tube 30 is attached and a cover member 10 in which an inflow port 11 is formed. .

  The cover member 10 and the case member 20 are each formed of a synthetic resin. For example, a thermoplastic synthetic resin such as a polypropylene resin or a polyamide resin is preferably used. Furthermore, the cover member 10 and the case member 20 are assembled in a detachable manner using fastening means such as screws.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment accommodates a cylindrical filter element 40 and is connected to one end of the filter element 40 and is attached to the mounting member 21 formed in the case member 20. A connecting tube 30 extending from the air cleaner 1 to the outside of the air cleaner 1 is provided. Further, the opposite end of the filter element 40 to the side on which the connecting tube 30 is attached is opposed to the inner wall 13 formed on the cover member 10, and the filter element 40 is axially moved when the cover member 10 is attached. Prevents moving. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner wall 13 is formed with positioning ribs 13a protruding along the outer edge of the filter element 40, and the positioning rib 13a prevents the filter element 40 from moving in the radial direction. ing. Since the tip of the positioning rib 13a is formed in a taper shape, the filter element 40 is assembled following the taper shape when the cover member 10 is assembled. Therefore, the filter element 40 is easily positioned in the radial direction. It can be carried out.

  With this configuration, in the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment, the outside air introduced from the inflow port 11 reaches the filter element 40 through the passage 12 formed in the cover member 10, and the filter element 40 is moved outside. When the outside air is filtered from the inside to the inside, the outside air is filtered, and the outside air filtered through the connecting tube 30 is discharged to the internal combustion engine.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the filter element 40 includes a filter means 41 that is formed in a tubular shape by folding a sheet-like filter medium into a bowl shape, butting both ends in a direction orthogonal to the folding direction, and an axial direction of the filter means 41. It is comprised from the end plate 42 as a synthetic resin material attached to both end surfaces. The filtering means 41 is joined and integrated with the end plate 42 by fusion, adhesion or the like. As the filtering means 41, a known filter medium such as a nonwoven fabric or filter paper is preferably used, and both ends are well-known such as welding using ultrasonic waves, bonding using a hot melt resin, or bonding using a caulking member. It is joined by joining means.

  The end plate 42 is made of, for example, a thermoplastic synthetic resin, and various thermoplastic synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene are preferably used. Further, the end plate 42 on the side to which the connecting tube 30 is connected is formed with a cylindrical connection port 43 extending in the axial direction from the outer periphery of the filtering means 41 to the inner periphery of the filtering means 41. The fluid filtered by flowing toward the outside can be discharged from the connection port 43 to the outside of the air cleaner 1 through the connecting tube 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the case member 20 is a bottomed box-like member having an open end, and a blow-by chamber 24 is formed on the bottom surface 27 and from the bottom surface 27 toward the open end. A holding portion 22 having a substantially C-shaped cross section is provided. The holding part 22 is configured to be in airtight contact with the outer periphery of the inner seal part 34 of the connecting tube 30 described later. The holding portion 22 is formed with a plurality of ribs 23 protruding in the radial direction. The rib 23 is configured to contact the lower end of the inner seal portion 34 along the axial direction, and is formed shorter than the holding portion 22.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the blow-by chamber 24 formed on the bottom surface 27 is formed by forming a recess in the bottom surface 27 and closing the recess with a lid member 26. The lid member 26 is formed with an inlet 24a for introducing blow-by gas generated in the internal combustion engine, and is integrally welded to the bottom surface 27 by known welding means such as vibration welding. The blow-by chamber 24 is formed with a blow-by inlet 25 that is connected to the connecting tube 30. Further, the side wall of the case member 20 is formed with a mounting hole 21 into which the connecting tube 30 is fitted and a drain hole 28 for discharging the oil that flows in with the introduction of blow-by gas.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting tube 30 is a tubular member made of a material having elasticity such as rubber and elastomer, and has an outlet 31 extending to the outside of the air cleaner 1 at one end and the other end at the other end. An inner seal portion 34 that is airtightly assembled with the filter element 40 inside the air cleaner 1 is provided.

  The inner seal portion 34 is formed in a substantially cup shape by a continuous portion 37 extending in the radial direction from the outer peripheral wall of the connecting tube 30, and a cylindrical insertion portion 33 is formed substantially coaxially with the inner seal portion 34. . The insertion part 33 can adjust the intake sound and the output characteristics of the internal combustion engine by being inserted into the filter element 40, and the length thereof is appropriately set according to the volume of the desired intake sound and the output characteristics of the internal combustion engine. It can be changed.

  The connecting tube 30 includes a blow-by connection port 35 connected to the blow-by chamber 24. By connecting the blow-by connection port 35 to a blow-by introduction port 25 extending from the blow-by chamber 24, the blow-by connection port 35 generated in the internal combustion engine is provided. The gas can be recirculated into the air cleaner 1.

  Next, the airtight structure of the filter element 40 in the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the filter element 40 has a connection port 43 formed in one end plate 42, and the inner seal portion 34 of the connecting tube 30 is connected to the outer periphery of the connection port 43 in an airtight manner. The outer peripheral surface of the inner seal portion 34 is in contact with the holding portion 22 formed on the case member 20, and the inner seal portion 34 is sandwiched between the holding portion 22 and the connection port 43. At this time, since the inner seal portion 34 has elasticity, the inner seal portion 34 is elastically deformed in the radial direction by being sandwiched between the holding portion 22 and the connection port 43 to constitute a diameter seal of the connection port 43.

  Further, a flange portion 36 that is radially expanded is formed at the tip of the inner seal portion 34, and the shaft seal is provided by sandwiching the flange portion 36 between the tip of the holding portion 22 and the end plate 42. It is composed. The continuous portion 37 is in contact with the end face of the rib 23 in the axial direction, and constitutes a pressing mechanism so that the inner seal portion 34 is not deformed when the filter element 40 is assembled in the axial direction.

  The blow-by introduction port 25 formed in the case member 20 extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the filter element 40, and prevents the blow-by connection port 35 from being detached from the blow-by introduction port 25 when the filter element 40 is attached or detached. .

  The connecting tube 30 extends from the mounting hole 21 to the outside of the case member 20, but the mounting hole 21 is closed by a pair of outer seal portions 32 formed in a flange shape so that the inside of the air cleaner 1 is closed. The outside is sealed.

  Thus, in the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, the connecting tube 30 has one end formed with the outflow port 31 and the other end formed with the insertion portion 33 inserted into the connection port 43 and the insertion portion 33 substantially coaxially. In addition, the case member 20 includes the holding portion 22 that sandwiches the inner seal portion 34 together with the connection port 43, so that the inner seal portion 34 is connected to the connection port 43. 43 and the holding part 22 are securely held in the radial direction, so that the inner seal part 34 can be reliably connected to the connection port 43 in the radial direction even with a simple assembling method, and the sealing performance of the part concerned Can be secured.

  Further, the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment has a flange portion 36 formed at the tip of the inner seal portion 34 in the axial direction by the end plate 42 of the filter element 40 and the holding portion 22. Can be increased.

  Moreover, since the air cleaner 1 which concerns on this embodiment comprises the blowby chamber 24 by obstruct | occluding the recessed part formed in the case member 20 with the cover member 26, it can form the blowby chamber 24 by simple structure. .

  Further, in the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment, the cover member 10 includes the inner wall 13 that faces the one end of the filter element 40 in the axial direction, so that the filter element 40 moves in the axial direction and comes off from the connecting tube 30. Can be prevented.

  In addition, since the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes the outer seal portion 32 in which the connecting tube 30 closes the mounting hole 21, the inside of the air cleaner 1 is configured as a dust side, so that the outer seal portion 32 is clean. The sealing performance as high as the side is not required and a simple sealing structure can be adopted.

  In the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment, the case member 20 and the cover member 10 have been described as being assembled to each other using fastening means such as screws. However, the case member 20 and the cover member 10 are hinged to each other. It may be configured to be assembled so that it can be opened and closed.

  Further, in the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, the case where the connecting tube 30 is inserted and attached to the attachment hole 21 formed in the case member 20 has been described. However, as shown in FIG. It is possible to form a notch 29a, close the notch 29a with a closing plate 29b, and sandwich the connecting tube 30 between the closing plate 29b and the case member 20 '. At this time, the closing plate 29b is formed with a fitting portion 29c that fits with the wall surface of the case member 20 'along the insertion direction. By assembling the closing plate 29b along the fitting portion 29c, the assembling work is performed. Can be easily performed. Moreover, since the inside of case member 20 'becomes a dust side, even if it is a simple labyrinth seal by the fitting part 29c, sufficient sealing performance can be ensured.

  In addition, the case where the insertion portion 33 of the connecting tube 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape has been described, but a so-called funnel shape in which the tip shape is expanded outward in order to perform smooth intake may be used.

  Further, the case where the inner wall 13 formed on the cover member 10 is formed so as to face the end plate 42 of the filter element 40 has been described. However, the inner wall is a filter when the cover member 10 is assembled to the case member 20. As long as it is possible to prevent the element 40 from falling off in the axial direction, a rib or the like may be projected from the inner peripheral wall of the cover member 10 toward the filter element 40.

  Further, the case where the end plate 42 to which the filter element 40 is joined is made of a synthetic resin has been described. However, the end plate 42 is not limited to the synthetic resin, and may be made of, for example, metal or elastomer.

  Further, the case where the holding portion 22 is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section standing from the bottom surface 27 toward the opening end has been described, but the shape is not limited to this shape as long as the filter element 40 can be sandwiched. For example, the C shape may be divided into a plurality of parts. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air cleaner, 10 Cover member, 11 Inflow port, 12 Passage, 13 Inner wall, 20 Case member, 21 Mounting hole, 22 Holding part, 23 Rib, 24 Blow-by chamber, 25 Blow-by introduction port, 26 Lid member, 27 Bottom surface, 30 Connecting Tube, 31 Outlet, 32 Outer seal part, 33 Insertion part, 34 Inner seal part, 35 Blow-by connection port, 36 Flange part, 37 Connecting part, 40 Filter element, 41 Filtration means, 42 End plate, 43 Connection port

Claims (5)

An air cleaner in which a case member formed with a mounting hole to which a connecting tube is attached and a cover member formed with an inflow port are combined to form a hollow interior, and a cylindrical filter element is housed therein,
The filter element has a pair of end plates attached to both ends in the axial direction, and the connecting tube connected to a cylindrical connection port formed to extend in the axial direction from one end plate, and on the side surface. Comprising a filtering means;
One end of the connecting tube is formed with an outlet, the other end is inserted into the connection port, and an inner seal portion is formed substantially coaxially with the insertion portion and is connected to the outer periphery of the connection port in an airtight manner. With
The said case member is provided with the holding part which clamps the said inner seal part with the said connection port, The air cleaner characterized by the above-mentioned. The air cleaner according to claim 1,
The end portion of the inner seal portion includes a flange portion that expands in the radial direction,
The air cleaner, wherein the flange portion is sandwiched between end plates and end surfaces of the holding portion. In the air cleaner according to claim 1 or 2,
The case member includes a blow-by chamber for returning a blow-by gas of the internal combustion engine,
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the connecting tube has a blow-by connection port connected to the blow-by chamber. In the air cleaner according to claim 3,
The blow-by chamber is formed by closing a recess formed in the case member with a lid member. In the air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes an inner wall facing an end plate in which the connection port of the filter element is not formed.

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