JP2016133014A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner which captures dust with a simple structure without increasing the product size.SOLUTION: A case 5 housing a filter 40 for capturing dust included in air includes: an air passage 12 for leading air to the filter 40; and a reflow passage 7 for taking part of the air passing through the air passage 12 and returning the air to the air passage 12 again. An air intake port T1 for taking air thereinto is formed at the lower side of the air passage 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

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.

  An air cleaner that filters air supplied to an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle has been conventionally known. This type of air cleaner removes dust such as dust contained in the atmosphere by a filter medium such as nonwoven fabric. It captures and supplies clean air to the internal combustion engine (see Patent Document 1).

  However, when dust is directly captured by the filter medium, the ventilation resistance of the filter medium immediately increases, it becomes difficult to maintain the function of the air cleaner, and the replacement cycle of the filter medium tends to be accelerated.

  In view of this, there are known air cleaners having a technique for capturing dust by various methods and extending the exchange cycle of the filter medium.

  As such an air cleaner, for example, an oil bath type in which the case itself is an oil reservoir, a cyclone type having a structure that causes a vortex in the case during intake, and the like are known.

  In the oil bath type air cleaner, the intake path in the case where the oil reservoir is formed is formed in a trap shape, and when the flow of the intake air suddenly bends, dust falls on the oil surface due to inertia, Dust is trapped by viscosity.

  On the other hand, the cyclone type air cleaner is provided with a rectifier that creates a vortex flow in a cylindrical case, and dust contained in the air sucked into the case is centrifuged and dropped to the bottom to capture the dust. Is done.

JP 2004-251119 A

  Such a conventional air cleaner has a complicated structure due to the formation of an intake passage, an increase in the number of parts due to the necessity of a rectifier, etc., or an increase in product size, and is applied to a small product such as a motorcycle. It may be difficult.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an air cleaner capable of capturing dust with a simple structure without increasing the product size.

  An air cleaner according to the present invention includes an air passage (12) that guides the air to the filter in a case (5) in which a filter (40) that captures dust contained in the air is accommodated, and the air passage. A recirculation path (7) that takes in a part of the air passing through and returns the air path back to the air passage, and an intake port (T1) for taking in the air is formed below the air passage. It is characterized by that.

  Further, in the air cleaner according to the present invention, the air passage has a bent portion formed by bending, and the intake port is formed in the bent portion on the side where centrifugal force is applied to the air passing through the air passage. It is characterized by being.

  Further, in the air cleaner according to the present invention, a return port (T2) for returning the air taken into the return path to the air passage is above the intake port, and the air passing through the air passage It is formed toward the downstream side in the flow direction.

  Moreover, the air cleaner which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The said recirculation | reflux path is extended and formed toward the inside from the said inlet.

  Although it has a simple structure, dust contained in external air can be efficiently captured before reaching the filter element without increasing the product size.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an air cleaner. It is a partial sectional view of an air cleaner. It is an internal block diagram of a case main body. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the flow of the air in an air cleaner. It is an enlarged view of the A part of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present 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. . Further, the air cleaner of this embodiment is used with the vertical direction shown in FIG. 4 as the vertical direction of the air cleaner. For convenience, in the following description, the vertical and horizontal directions of FIG. It demonstrates as a left-right direction.

  1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the air cleaner, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the air cleaner, FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the case body, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the air flow in the air cleaner, and FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 4, FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of portion X in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5C is an enlarged view of portion Y in FIG. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment has a case main body 5 that is hollow inside, and the case main body 5 captures dust contained in the air. A filter element 40 for cleaning air is accommodated. The case body 5 is formed by combining a case member 10 in which an outside air intake port 15 for taking in external air is formed and a cover member 20 to which a connecting tube 30 is attached.

  The case member 10 and the cover 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 assembly of the case member 10 and the cover member 20 is detachably assembled using fastening means such as screws.

  An upper surface of the case member 10 has an opening 11 for introducing air into the case body 5. The outside air intake port 15 is formed in a housing 17 that protrudes from the upper portion of the case member 10, and the housing 17 is provided in the upper portion so as to cover the opening 11 provided on the upper surface of the case body 5. The outside air intake 15 and the opening 11 communicate with each other inside. The air taken in from the outside air intake 15 is taken into the case body 5 through the opening 11.

  Inside the case member 10, an air passage 12 that guides the air taken in from the outside air inlet 15 to the filter element 40 is provided. The air passage 12 is formed by standing up a plurality of ribs 12a to 12d for partitioning the space and guiding the air flow on the inner wall of the case member 10, one of which communicates with the opening 11 and the other the filter element 40. It has an opening that can be connected to.

  Further, the inside of the case member 10 has a first space 6 in which the filter element 40 is accommodated, and a second space 7 that is separated by a rib 12e that functions as an air passage 12 and a partition wall. The second space 7 is provided at the left corner of the case member 10 adjacent to the air passage 12 and after taking in the air introduced into the air passage 12 and separating the dust contained in the air. It functions as a reflux path that returns to the air passage 12 again.

  That is, in the second space 7, the dust contained in the air passing through the air passage 12 is removed to clean the air, and the cleaned air is returned to the air passage 12 again, so that the filter element 40 To reduce the burden of the exchange and prolong the replacement cycle.

  Although the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is not shown, the cover member 20 also has a plurality of ribs standing on the inner wall of the cover member 20, similarly to the case member 10, and the case member 10 and the cover member 20 are connected to each other. In the assembled state, the air passage 12 and the second space 7 are formed by the mutual contact of the ribs.

  In addition, the air passage 12 and the second space 7 in the present embodiment are formed by bringing the tip portions of the ribs into contact with each other in the state where the case member 10 and the cover member 20 are assembled as described above. It is not limited to this form. For example, the air passage 12 and the second space 7 may be formed by arranging the ribs so as to overlap each other, and the tip of the other rib is fitted to the tip of one rib. In a state where the fitting portion to be combined is formed and the case member 10 and the cover member 20 are assembled, the ribs may be fitted to each other and the ribs may be connected to each other without a gap.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the air passage 12 includes, for example, an inner rib 12a formed in a curved shape, and an outer rib 14 disposed to face the inner rib 12a. Three ribs 12b to 12d are continuously arranged so as to have two gaps. The outer rib 14 is formed with two communication ports T1 and T2 that communicate with the second space 7 through the gap.

  One communication port T1 is provided on the downstream side of the air passage 12, and is formed between the first rib 12b and the second rib 12c. The communication port T <b> 1 functions as an intake port for taking a part of the air passing through the air passage 12 into the second space 7, and is arranged at the lower end portion of the air passage 12.

  On the other hand, the other communication port T2 is provided upstream of the air passage 12 and above the intake port, and is formed between the second rib 12c and the third rib 12d. The communication port T2 functions as a return port for returning the air taken in from the intake port to the air passage 12 again, and is disposed at the upper corner of the second space 7 and above the air passage 12. Is done.

  As described above, the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment pays attention to the fact that the dust is heavier than the air, and the intake port (communication port T1) to the second space 7 that communicates with the air passage 12 is connected to the air passage. By providing it at a part of the direction (lower end) where 12 gravity is applied, dust is efficiently guided to the intake port. Further, by providing the return port (communication port T2) upward, the air taken in is guided upward and returned to the air passage 12 from the communication port T2. Most of the introduced dust falls without flowing upward due to its own weight, accumulates at the bottom, is prevented from returning to the air passage 12 again, and is captured in the second space 7.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the air passage 12 of the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is formed to be bent (bent) in a substantially L shape from the upper surface of the case body 5 to the lower side. .

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 (c), the communication port T1 functioning as an intake port is provided on the downstream side of the bent portion on the lower outer side of the air passage 12, and the first rib 12b is directed toward the downstream side. A step is provided between the second rib 12c and the second rib 12c so as to narrow the air passage 12, and the end of the first rib 12b is inclined obliquely upward toward the upstream side. The protrusion 16 is integrally provided.

  Thereby, the air flowing along the outer rib 14 of the air passage 12 is branched by the step formed on the communication port T1 and the protrusion 16, and is smoothly guided to the space.

  As described above, in the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment, by providing the communication port T1 in the curved portion of the air passage 12 where the centrifugal force works, a large amount of dust moves to the outside in the air flow direction due to the centrifugal force and the dead weight of the dust. Therefore, air containing a lot of dust is efficiently taken in from the communication port T1.

  Therefore, the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment captures a large amount of dust contained in the air in the second space 7 before the air introduced from the outside reaches the filter element 40 through the air passage 12. This can reduce clogging of the filter element 40 and prolong the replacement cycle.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 (b), the communication port T2 functioning as a return port is connected to the third rib 12d and the inner wall of the case member 10 (or the cover member 20) (first portion). 2), the lower end of the third rib 12d is curved outward, the upper end of the second rib 12c is curved inward, and the end of each rib 12c, 12d is provided. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, the air taken into the second space 7 is discharged obliquely downward toward the downstream side of the air passage 12. It is formed so as to be inclined. By forming the communication port T2 in this way, the air in the second space 7 is smoothly returned to the air passage 12 by the negative pressure acting in the vicinity of the communication port T2.

  The vicinity of the communication port T1 in the second space 7 is formed so that the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the communication port T1 toward the inside, and the flow rate of air introduced from the communication port T1 is intentionally Has been lowered. As a result, an increase in ventilation resistance due to strong flow interference between the air and the inner wall or rib of the case body 5 is prevented, and the air taken in from the communication port T1 flows smoothly into the interior. Moreover, it becomes easy to isolate | separate dust from air because the flow velocity of air is reduced.

  In addition, a plurality of ribs 18 projecting inward are provided on the inner wall of the second space 7, and dust is easily separated and captured by direct contact of air with these ribs 18.

  In addition, it becomes easy to catch more dust by arrange | positioning the several rib 18 arrange | positioned in the 2nd space 7 alternately, and setting it as a labyrinth structure.

Further, in the configuration of the present embodiment, as a result of verifying the flow rate and ventilation resistance in the vicinity of the air passage 12, the communication port T1, and the communication port T2, when air having a flow rate of 0.3 m ³ / min is passed through the air passage 12, The pressure loss in the vicinity of the communication port T1 was 2.3 Pa (1.35%), and the air flow rate in the vicinity of the communication port T2 was 0.06 m ³ / min (17%). Moreover, the dust trapped by the second space 7 was 50% of the total amount. From this result, it was found that there was almost no influence on the ventilation resistance of the air passage 12 due to the provision of the reflux path, and dust was efficiently captured in the second space 7.

  That is, according to the air cleaner of the present embodiment, dust can be efficiently removed without substantially affecting the airflow resistance of the air passage 12. Moreover, when forming the 2nd space 7 which functions as a reflux path, since it is only necessary to partition the inside of the case main body 5 using partition bodies, such as a rib, it manufactures, without increasing a number of parts. Can do.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter element 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and one end side thereof is positioned at a predetermined position in the first space 6, and the other end side of the filter element 40 is disposed on the other end side. A connecting tube 30 extending from the mounting hole 21 formed in the cover member 20 to the outside of the air cleaner 1 is attached. And in the state where the cover member 10 was attached, the filter element 40 is clamped by the case member 10 and the cover member 20, and the movement to an axial direction is prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a positioning rib 19 that protrudes along the outer edge of the filter element 40 is formed on the inner wall of the case member 10, and the positioning rib 19 moves the filter element 40 in the radial direction. Is prevented.

  The tip of the positioning rib 19 is formed in a tapered shape, for example, and when the cover member 10 is assembled, the filter element 40 is assembled following the tapered shape, so that the filter element 40 is easily positioned in the radial direction. be able to.

  The filter element 40 is formed, for example, by folding a sheet-shaped filter medium into a bowl shape, butting both end portions in a direction orthogonal to the folding direction into a cylindrical shape, and end plates as synthetic resin materials on both end surfaces in the axial direction. It is attached and formed. In addition, since this kind of filter element is already well-known, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting tube 30 is a tubular member made of a material having elasticity such as rubber and elastomer, and has an outlet (not shown) extending to the outside of the air cleaner 1 at one end. And an inner seal member 35 that is airtightly assembled with the filter element 40 inside the air cleaner 1 at the other end.

  The inner seal member 35 is formed in a substantially cup shape extending in the radial direction from the outer peripheral wall of the connecting tube 30, and a cylindrical insertion portion (not shown) is formed substantially coaxially with the inner seal member 35. The insertion portion can be inserted into the filter element 40 to adjust the intake sound and the output characteristics of the internal combustion engine, and the length thereof can be appropriately changed according to the desired intake sound volume and the output characteristics of the internal combustion engine. It is a possible site.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above has an air passage formed in the case body 5 through the opening 11 through which external air is taken from the outside air inlet 15. After passing through 12 to the filter element 40 and passing through the filter element 40 from the outside to the inside, the air is filtered, and then the filtered air is discharged to, for example, the internal combustion engine through the connecting tube 30.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a reflux path in the air passage 12, and air taken in from the outside through the outside air inlet 15 passes through the air passage 12. Before reaching the filter element 40, a part of air containing a lot of dust is introduced into the second space 7 functioning as a reflux path, and after dust is trapped in the second space 7, The air introduced into the second space 7 is cleaned and returned to the air passage 12.

  Therefore, according to the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, a part of the dust contained in the air is captured in the second space 7 before the external air reaches the filter element 40 through the air passage 12. Therefore, clogging of the filter element 40 is reduced, and the filter medium replacement cycle can be prolonged.

  As described above, the air cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes the air passage 12 that guides the air to the filter and the air passage 12 in a case in which a filter that captures dust contained in the air is accommodated. A second space 7 that functions as a reflux path that takes in part of the air passing through the air passage 12 and returns the air passage 12 back to the air passage 12, and the communication port T1 that functions as an intake port for taking in the air, It is formed at the lower end of the air passage 12. In the air cleaner 1 configured as described above, dust contained in the air passing through the air passage 12 is heavier than air. Therefore, air containing a large amount of dust efficiently from the connection port T1 formed on the lower side of the air passage. It is taken into the second space 7.

  The air passage 12 has a bent portion formed by bending, and a communication port T1 is formed in the bent portion on the side where centrifugal force is applied to the air passing through the air passage 12. Therefore, a large amount of dust tends to gather outside the air flow direction due to centrifugal force, so that air containing a large amount of dust is efficiently taken into the second space 7.

  The other communication port T2 that functions as a return port for returning the air taken into the second space 7 to the air passage 12 is formed toward the downstream side in the air flow direction through the air passage 12. . Therefore, the air in the second space 7 is smoothly sucked and returned to the air passage 12 by the negative pressure acting on the other communication port T2.

  The other communication port T2 is disposed above the one communication port T1, and air flows upward in the second space 7. Accordingly, the dust is accumulated downward due to its own weight, so that the dust is prevented from returning to the air passage 12.

  Further, the rib functioning as a wall body forming the air passage 12 also serves as a part of the wall body constituting the second space, so that the number of parts can be further reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

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

  Further, it can be applied to various products by combining with a chamber having a predetermined volume, changing the shape of the air passage, changing to a panel type air filter, and the like.

  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.

T1, T2 Communication port 1 Air cleaner 5 Case body 7 Second space 10 Case member 15 Outside air intake 12 Air passage 12a Inner rib 14 Outer rib 18 Rib 20 Cover member 30 Connecting tube 40 Filter element

Claims (4)

In the case where the filter that captures dust contained in the air is housed,
An air passage for directing the air to the filter;
A reflux path that takes in a portion of the air passing through the air passage and returns it back to the air passage;
With
An air cleaner, wherein an intake port for taking in the air is formed at a lower end portion of the air passage. The air passage has a bent portion formed by bending,
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the intake port is formed in the bent portion on the side where centrifugal force is applied to the air passing through the air passage.   The return port for returning the air taken into the reflux path to the air passage is formed above the intake port and toward the downstream side in the air flow direction through the air passage. The air cleaner according to claim 2.   The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reflux path is formed to extend from the intake port toward the inside.

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