JP3482144B2 - Air circulation type vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the operation of an electric blower in a cleaner body to suck air through an air inlet of an air inlet body, pass the air through a filter to capture dust, and then pass through the filter. The present invention relates to an air circulation type electric vacuum cleaner that returns air discharged from an electric blower to an intake port, collects the returned air, and cleans the air while circulating the air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an air circulation type vacuum cleaner, a flow that guides air discharged from an electric blower to an intake port side of an intake port and a flow of air that is sucked from the intake port together with collected air and contains dust. There is a flow that leads to the dust collection chamber of the cleaner body, and it is a vacuum cleaner that accompanies the circulation of air because the flow path of these two directions of air flows in and out of the cleaner body has a coaxial flow path configuration. It has excellent advantages such as easy piping processing for air flow in and out of the main body and simple appearance.

Therefore, the present applicant attaches a stepped cylindrical connection port body to the main body of the vacuum cleaner, and inserts a connection pipe having a double pipe structure on the suction port side inside the connection port body for connection. Has developed the coaxial flow path configuration. According to this configuration, the air discharged from the electric blower in the main body of the vacuum cleaner is passed through the ventilation hole formed in the wall portion that forms the boundary between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion of the connection port body, The exhaust air can be returned between the outer pipe part of the fitted communication pipe and the small-diameter pipe part of the communication pipe fitted in the small diameter part, and from there, the exhaust air can be returned to the intake port of the suction port body. In addition, the air that is returned to and collected by the intake port and the air containing dust that is sucked into the intake port when the air is collected can be guided to the dust collection chamber of the cleaner body through the inner pipe portion.

In the coaxial flow path structure, the air discharged from the electric blower is cleaned by passing between the large diameter portion of the connection port body and the outer pipe portion of the communication pipe fitted therein. It is necessary to make an airtight seal so that it does not leak out of the machine body, and it leaks to the dust collection chamber side between the small diameter part of the connection port and the inner pipe part of the communication pipe fitted to this. It is necessary to make an airtight seal so that it will not occur. For these airtight seals, the applicant has installed rubber annular seal materials on the outer circumferences of the outer tube portion and the inner tube portion, respectively, so as to provide a space between the outer tube portion and the large-diameter portion and the inner tube portion. The airtightness between the portion and the small diameter portion is designed.

[0005]

However, since the connection port body and the communication pipe are both made of synthetic resin, the concentricity between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion of the connection port body and the outer pipe portion of the communication pipe body. It is difficult to precisely determine the coaxiality between the inner pipe part and the inner pipe part. From such a situation, in the conventional configuration in which the airtight seal in the coaxial flow path is performed in the radial direction,
When the communication pipe provided with a pair of rubber annular seal members is fitted into the connection port body to be attached, one annular seal member is compared with the other annular seal member due to the variation in the coaxiality. It is easy to compete with the inner surface of the large diameter portion or the inner surface of the small diameter portion of the connection port body. Therefore, there is a problem in that the work force when the communication pipe is fitted into the connection port body and attached is largely varied, and the workability is not good.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an air circulation type electric cleaning in which a connection port body on the cleaner body side and a communication pipe on the suction port body side which is inserted into and attached to the cleaner body form a coaxial flow path structure. In a machine, it is to improve the workability of attaching the communication pipe to the connection port body.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, air sucked from an air inlet of an air inlet is filtered by an operation of an electric blower incorporated in a cleaner body to catch dust,
It is premised on an electric vacuum cleaner that returns air that has passed through the filter and is discharged from the electric blower to the intake port, collects the returned air, and circulates the air to perform cleaning.

In order to solve the first problem, the invention of claim 1 is attached to the cleaner body,
And, a stepped cylindrical connection port body having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion and a ventilation hole in a wall portion that defines the boundary between them, and air discharged from the electric blower provided in the cleaner body. A recirculation chamber that guides to the vent hole, and an inner pipe portion that is detachably attached to the connection port body and that is inserted into the small diameter portion inside an outer pipe portion that is inserted into the large diameter portion. A communication pipe on the side of the suction port body that guides the air sucked into the dust collection chamber of the cleaner body in which the filter is housed by the inner pipe portion, while communicating between the two pipe portions with the ventilation hole, A radial direction in which one of an airtight seal between the connection port body and an outer pipe portion of the communication pipe and an airtight seal between the connection port body and an inner pipe portion of the communication pipe is provided. In addition to the airtight seal structure in the It is characterized in that it has a tight seal structure.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the connection port body on the cleaner body side and the communication pipe on the suction port body side that is inserted into and attached to the cleaner body form a coaxial flow path. That is,
The inner pipe part of the communication pipe inserted in the small diameter part of the connection port body,
An inner flow path is formed that guides the air sucked into the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body through the suction port of the suction port body to the dust collecting chamber side.
The outer pipe part of the communication pipe inserted in the large diameter part of the connection port body,
An outer flow path that guides the air that is about to be returned to the intake port side through the return chamber and the ventilation hole of the connection port body is formed between the inner flow path and the inner flow path of the communication pipe on the radially outer side of the inner flow path. To do.
With this coaxial flow path configuration, it becomes possible to perform cleaning while circulating air between the cleaner body and the suction port body.

In this air circulation type cleaning, since the connection port body and the outer pipe part of the communication pipe are sealed by the airtight seal structure provided between them, the ventilation holes of the return chamber and the connection port body are sealed. The air, which is guided to the outer flow path between the inner and outer conduits of the communication pipe and is about to be returned to the intake port side, passes between the large diameter part of the connection port body and the outer pipe part of the communication pipe. It can prevent leaking out of the vacuum cleaner body. Similarly, since the connection port body and the inner pipe part of the communication pipe are sealed by another airtight seal structure provided therebetween, the communication pipe passes through the return chamber and the ventilation hole of the connection port body. The air that is guided to the outer flow path between the inner and outer ducts of the air and is about to be returned to the intake port side passes through between the small diameter part of the connection port body and the inner pipe part of the communication pipe to the dust collection chamber side. It can be prevented from leaking.

One of the airtight seal structures secures airtightness in the radial direction of the connection port body and the communication pipe as described above, and the other in the thrust direction of the connection port body and the communication pipe as described above. Since it is airtight,
When inserting the communication pipe into the connection port body and attaching it, a bid is made to prevent insertion of the communication pipe into the connection port body regardless of variations in the radial dimension of the connection port body and the communication pipe body. It does not occur in an airtight seal structure that seals at. Therefore, it is possible to make the force for inserting and attaching the communication pipe into the connection port constant by mainly depending on the airtight seal structure that performs sealing in the radial direction.

In carrying out the invention of claim 1, as in the invention of claim 2 subordinate to this invention, an airtight seal structure in the radial direction is provided between the connection port body and the outer pipe portion of the communication pipe. At the same time, the airtight seal structure in the thrust direction may be provided between the connection port body and the insertion tip end surface of the inner pipe portion of the communication pipe. By doing so, the airtight sealing structure in the radial direction seals between the large-diameter portion of the connection port body and the outer pipe portion of the communication pipe, so that air leaks to the outside of the cleaner body passing between them. In the airtight seal structure in which the seal between the connection port body and the inner pipe part of the communication pipe is abutted in the thrust direction, the sealability may deteriorate, but The air leaking from the side of the recirculation chamber through the suction chamber is sucked into the dust collecting chamber, which is advantageous in that it does not leak out of the cleaner body.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upright type air circulation type vacuum cleaner 11 according to the first embodiment includes a cleaner body 12, a suction port body 13, and a handle 14. .

The cleaner body 12 is formed by connecting a pair of left and right synthetic resin body cases 21 by screwing or the like. The handle 14 is connected to one side of the upper end portion of the main body case 21 (the side that becomes the back side when used) via a pivotal attachment portion 15. Handle 14 having operation switch 14a
1 is disposed in a use position that continuously extends above the cleaner body 12 as shown in FIG. 1 when used, and when not used, the cleaner body is folded downward by pivoting around the pivotal attachment portion 15. 12 is disposed in a non-use position along the back side.
The length of the handle 14 is substantially equal to the total length of the cleaner body 12 and the suction port body 13 connected to the cleaner body 12 as described below, and the lower end of the handle 14 in the non-use position is in contact with the floor surface. In this case, the vacuum cleaner body 12 can be supported so as not to lose its self-standing posture.

At the lower end of the main body case 21, a connection port body 22 exposed at the lower end surface is attached. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the suction port body 13 is attached to the connection port body 22.
Can be detachably inserted and attached. The connection body 22 is
The large-diameter portion 22a and the small-diameter portion 22b are connected to each other to form a stepped cylindrical shape, and a plurality of vent holes 22c are circumferentially spaced in the wall portion that defines the boundary between the small-diameter portion 22b and the large-diameter portion 22a. It is provided in. The connection port body 22 is sandwiched between both main body cases 21 of the cleaner body 12, and by fitting recesses and projections at a plurality of locations (not shown) into the main body cases 21, both in the axial direction and the circumferential direction. Even fixed so that it does not move.

As shown in FIG. 2, required partition ribs are integrally provided on the inner surfaces of the two main body cases 21 so that their tips come into contact with each other when they are connected to each other. Inside is the dust collection chamber 23 at the bottom,
It is partitioned into an exhaust chamber 24 in the middle part, a reel housing part 25 in the upper part, and a recirculation chamber 26 extending over the dust collection chamber 23 and the exhaust chamber 24. The dust collection chamber 23, which is located on the front side of the exhaust chamber 24 (upstream side with respect to the intake air), is opened on the surface that is the front side when the cleaner body 12 is used, and this opening can be attached to and detached from the lower portion of the body case 21. Case lid 27 attached to
It is hermetically closed by.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the dust collection chamber 2
The slanted bottom wall portion 3 is formed as a filter attachment portion 28, and a pivot 29 is provided in the vicinity of the filter attachment portion 28 manually in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 2 against the force of a spring (not shown).
A filter holder 30 that is rotated around the center is attached. Between the filter mounting portion 28 and the small diameter portion 22b of the connection port body 22, there is provided a connection port body packing 20 made of synthetic rubber for airtightly partitioning between them, that is, between the reflux chamber 26 and the dust collection chamber 23. It is installed.

As shown in FIG. 11, the connecting port body packing 20 is connected to the outer periphery of an annular packing main part 20a which is in close contact with a mouth frame 31a which will be described later, and an annular mounting groove 20b.
In addition, an annular seal portion 20c and a plurality of valve plate portions 20d that open and close the suction opening of the mouth frame 31a are integrally provided inside the packing main portion 20a. The sealing portion 20c as the thrust direction sealing material has, for example, a short cylindrical shape, and the mouth frame contacting surface 20 of the packing main portion 20a is formed.
It is projected on the side opposite to a1. Each valve plate portion 20d has six T-shaped notches 20 shown in FIG. 11 (A).
The electric blowers 35, which will be described later, are respectively partitioned by e.
The suction opening is opened by being pulled by the suction negative pressure generated by, and is returned to a position where the suction opening is closed by its own elastic force as the negative pressure disappears.

The connection port body packing 20 is attached to the end of the small diameter portion 22b on the dust collecting chamber 23 side while covering the outer peripheral surface, the inner peripheral surface and the end surface of the end portion. Therefore, the short cylindrical seal portion 20c is fitted along the inner peripheral surface of the end of the small diameter portion 22b on the dust collection chamber 23 side. Along with the attachment of the connection port body 22 to the main body case 21, a part of the filter attachment portion 28 of the main body case 21 is closely fitted in the attachment groove 20b of the connection port body packing 20, The connection port body packing 20 arranged in this way airtightly partitions the reflux chamber 26 and the dust collecting chamber 23.

A dust collecting bag 31 made of a paper pack as a filter which is removably housed in the dust collecting chamber 23 has a flat plate-shaped mouth frame 31a having a suction opening at the center thereof, which is filtered by a filter holder 30. It is attached to the attachment portion 28 and is housed in the dust collection chamber 23. A filter support 32 having a large number of elongated ventilation holes is housed in the upper portion of the dust collection chamber 23, and the filter support 32 supports the dust collection bag 31 that has expanded due to the cleaning operation.

An electric blower 35 is installed in the exhaust chamber 24 with its suction port facing the dust collecting chamber 23 side. 36, 3
Reference numeral 7 is a vibration-proof motor supporting rubber fitted to both front and rear ends of the electric blower 35. The partition rib 38 located at the boundary between the exhaust chamber 24 and the dust collecting chamber 23 is provided with an opening 38a facing the suction port, so that the dust collecting bag 31 in the dust collecting chamber 23 is passed. Air is an electric blower 35
Is sucked into. Reference numeral 45 in FIG. 2 is arranged in communication with the suction side of the electric blower 35 and opens when the vacuum pressure in the dust collection chamber 23 falls below a predetermined value to collect the air (outside air) outside the cleaner body 12. It is a leak valve for introducing into the dust chamber 23.

The electric blower 35 includes an electric blower 35a and a motor cover 39 attached to the blower 35a. As shown in FIG. 2, the electric blower 35a is
A commutator motor portion 35c, which is a component other than the blower portion such as a stator and a rotor, is projected downstream of the blower portion 35b in which the diffuser and the centrifugal fan are housed inside the fan cover. The motor support rubber 36 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the fan cover. During operation of the electric blower 35, the air in the dust collecting chamber 23 side sucked into the centrifugal fan through the suction port is discharged from the periphery of the fan, and then is guided by the inner surface of the fan cover while being guided to the outer periphery of the diffuser. From the entrance of the department, and
While being statically pressured by this diffuser, it is mainly discharged toward the periphery of the commutator motor portion 35c and the like.

The motor cover 39 formed of a synthetic resin in a cup shape covers the portion of the blower portion 35b on the downstream side of the diffuser. The opening edge portion of the cover 39 is fitted on the outer peripheral portion of the fan cover with the motor supporting rubber 36 that hermetically seals between the both covers sandwiched therebetween. On the peripheral wall of the motor cover 39, a plurality of exhaust small holes (not shown) communicating the inside of the motor cover 39 with the exhaust chamber 24 are formed, and an exhaust port (not shown) facing the exhaust chamber 24 (not shown) in the main body case 21 ( The exhaust area is much larger than that of the exhaust small holes), and a predetermined amount of air is exhausted to the outside of the cleaner body 12 with respect to the circulating air volume by these exhaust paths to obtain the required intake performance. Is able to.

The motor support rubber 37 is attached to the central portion of the bottom wall of the motor cover 39 so as to project from the outer surface thereof. Electric blower 35 provided with this motor cover 39
With the motor support rubbers 36 and 37 fitted to both axial ends thereof, respectively, in the exhaust chamber 24 and the reel housing portion 25.
It is installed by being inserted between the partition rib 21b and the partition rib 38 which form the boundary of the above. As shown in FIG. 2, a cord reel 40 for supplying power to the electric blower 35 is housed in the reel housing portion 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, an air outlet 41 having an opening area much larger than that of the exhaust small hole (not shown) is integrally provided on the periphery of the motor cover 39, and a rubber is provided at the outlet 41. The packing 42 is fitted. The air outlet 41 is airtightly connected to a hole 44 provided in a partition rib 43 that partitions the reflux chamber 26. Therefore, the inside of the motor cover 39 and the recirculation chamber 26 are communicated with each other via the air outlet 41.

Next, the suction port body 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. The suction port body 13 includes a communication pipe 51 made of synthetic resin as a connection part that is communicated with the cleaner body 12 side, a suction port body main part 52 made of synthetic resin, a rotary cleaning body 53, and a reflux outlet 54. And a return air passage A and a suction air passage B.

The connecting pipe 51, which is connected to the cleaner body 12 side by being removably fitted into the connecting port body 22, is connected to the connecting port body 22 as shown in FIGS. 3, 8 and 9. Inside of the small diameter portion 22a of the connection port body 22 which is integrally and coaxially provided inside the large diameter portion 22a of the large diameter portion 22a, which is inserted and connected in a detachable manner, and through which a plurality of ribs are provided. A small diameter inner tube portion 62 that is inserted and connected to the left and right sides, and a left and right pair that are oppositely arranged so as to face each other and project substantially at right angles to the axial direction of both tube portions 61 and 62. Axis tube portion 63 of Both pipe parts 61, 6
2 has a coaxial double tube structure. The pair of pivot tube portions 63 have a cylindrical shape, and flanges 63a that are continuous in the circumferential direction are integrally provided on the open front end edges thereof.

One end of the outer pipe portion 61 is open, and the other end is individually communicated with the pivot pipe portion 63 through a pair of communication ports 64. The tip of the pivot tube portion 63 is open,
The rear end is closed by the inner pipe portion 62. The outer peripheral surface of the outer pipe portion 61 is made of synthetic rubber O as a radial seal material.
An annular seal material 65 made of a ring or the like is attached. As shown in FIG. 3, in the outer pipe portion 61, the large diameter portion 22 is formed until the flange portion 61a, which integrally projects from the outer peripheral surface thereof, comes into contact with the tip of the large diameter portion 22a of the connection port body 22.
It is fitted inside a. In the connected state by this fitting, the flow passage portion between the inner and outer pipe portions 61 and 62 is communicated with the reflux chamber 26 through the ventilation hole 22c and the large diameter portion 22a.
The airtightness between the outer pipe portion 61 and the outer pipe portion 61 is ensured by the radial annular seal material 65 sandwiched between the two.
In addition, in the present invention, the annular sealing material 65 is used as the large diameter portion 22.
The airtight seal structure in the radial direction can also be realized by attaching to the inner peripheral surface of a.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, a lock mechanism is provided on the connection body 22 side of the cleaner body 12. This mechanism is composed of a rotatable lock knob 16, a coil spring 17 for urging the knob 167, and a spring bearing 18 for receiving the spring 17. The spring bearing 18 extends integrally from the inner surface of the main body case 21. Has been issued. As shown in FIG. 12, the lock knob 16 has a substantially L shape in a side view, has a hook portion 16a having a claw shape at one end thereof, and has a pressing operation portion 16b at the other end thereof, and A central axis 16c is provided on both side surfaces of the central portion, and the central axis 16c is rotatably mounted around the central axis 16c. This lock pick 1
6 is biased by the coil spring 17 in a direction in which the hook portion 16a is passed through a groove provided in the large diameter portion 22a and is caught in the recess 61b on the outer peripheral surface of the outer pipe portion 61. Then, the hook portion 16a is hooked into the recess 61b of the outer pipe portion 61 to prevent the suction port body 13 from coming off the connection port body 22, and the hooking causes the pressing operation portion 16b to move to the coil spring 17. By pushing in against it, it is possible to remove the suction port body of another type for replacement or maintenance.

Both axial ends of the cylindrical inner tube portion 62, which is longer than the outer tube portion 61, are open. The small diameter portion 22b is attached to the connection port body 22 with the attachment of the communication pipe 51.
The inner tube portion 62 fitted inside has a ring-shaped insertion tip surface 62c at the sealing portion 2 of the connection port body packing 20.
The air containing dust is guided to the inside of the dust collecting bag 31 by being brought into close contact with 0c from the axial direction. As described above, the insertion tip surface 62c of the inner pipe portion 62 and the seal portion 20c which is abutted from the thrust direction of the connection port body 22 and the communication pipe 51 inserted thereinto are the small diameter portion 22b of the connection port body 22. An airtight seal structure is provided to ensure airtightness with the inner pipe portion of the communication pipe 51. The airtight structure in the thrust direction is such that an annular step portion projecting inward is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the end of the small diameter portion 22b on the dust collection chamber 23 side, and the inner pipe portion 62 that abuts the step portion in the thrust direction. It may be realized by mounting an annular rubber seal on the insertion tip surface 62c.

Inner tube portion 62 protruding outside the connection port body 22
The opening at the tip end of the inlet 6 is provided between the pivot tube portions 63.
2a, and an inlet upper wall 66 and an inlet lower wall 67 are respectively projected outward at the upper and lower edges thereof. The pair of left and right inlet end side walls 62b that form the boundary between the inlet 62a and the pair of pivot tube portions 63 have a distance between their facing surfaces that is upstream from the inner tube portion 62 in the air suction direction (see an arrow indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 8). It is formed in a slanted shape so as to spread. This structure reduces wind loss and allows the air to smoothly enter the inlet 62.
It is excellent in that it can be sucked into a.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the main body 52 of the suction port body includes a main body upper case 71, a main body lower case 72, and a main body lower case 72.
It is formed by connecting a main part middle case 73 sandwiched between these by screwing.

A pair of bearings 74 having semicircular recesses on the inner surfaces of the main case upper and lower cases 71, 72 behind the main case middle case 73 (only the main case lower case 72 side is shown in FIG. 6) are integrally projectingly provided, and the respective pivot tube portions 63 are rotatably connected by being sandwiched from above and below by the upper and lower bearing portions 74 which are fitted to each other. With this connecting structure, the communication pipe 51 is pivotally attached to the rear portion of the main body 52 of the suction port so as to turn up and down, and by this rotation, the main body 52 of the suction port is attached to the surface to be cleaned. You can get a proper posture. The relative rotation of the communication pipe 51 and the suction port body main part 52 is restricted by the inlet lower wall 67 and an upward stopper part 75 provided in the main part lower case 72 between the bearing parts 74 thereof. During rotation, the flange portion 63a and the bearing portion 7
The mating surfaces with respect to 4 are in sliding contact. In FIG. 8, P is a communication pipe 5
1 shows the center of rotation of the main body 52 and the suction port main body 52.

A blowout chamber 81 is provided in the main portion 52 of the suction port body.
And a recovery chamber 82 below the blowing chamber 81, and the main middle case 73 forms a partition wall between the chambers 81 and 82. The blowout chamber 81 includes a rib 83 (see FIG. 4) projectingly provided on the inner surface of the main part upper case 71 and the main part lower case 7.
2 and the mating surfaces of the ribs 84 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) protruding from the inner surface of the rib 2 are fitted to each other by projections and depressions.
Rib 8 projectingly provided on the inner surface of the upper case 71 of the main part.
5 (see FIG. 4) and ribs 86 (see FIG. 5) projectingly provided on the upper surface of the main part middle case 73 are partitioned by fitting the mating surfaces into each other. The other ribs 87 to 90 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 surround one side and the front side of the blowout chamber 81, and these ribs are provided in each of the cases 71 to 73 similarly to the ribs 83 to 86. . The front portion of this enclosure has substantially the same shape as an intake port 91 described later, and is formed right above the intake port 91.

The recovery chamber 82 is divided into a lower main case 72 and a main middle case 73. Both cases 72,
The mating surfaces of 73 are fitted into each other by projections and depressions. An intake port 91 is formed in the bottom wall 72a of the lower main case 72 so as to face the recovery chamber 82, as shown in FIGS. The intake port 91 is formed as a rectangular opening extending in the width direction of the intake port body 13 (left-right direction in FIGS. 4 to 7). As shown in FIG. 7, the bottom wall 72 of the main part lower case 72
A fixed brush 92 is attached to a along the rear edge of the intake port 91. The brush 92 is also used as a windproof means for preventing the air blown to the surface to be cleaned through the air intake port 91 from blowing backward toward the suction port body 13.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rear end portion in the widthwise central portion of the main portion middle case 73 is bent upward so as to be fitted into the inner surface of the main portion upper case 71 in an uneven manner, and this bent portion An arcuate portion 73a is formed on the. The arcuate portion 73a is the inlet 62 of the communication pipe 51.
It is arranged to face the front side of a. The main portion lower case 72 is provided with a guide 93 having a circular arc surface continuous from both ends in the width direction of the circular arc portion 73a. The arcuate portion 73a and the guide 93 which are continuous with each other guide the movement of the arcuate shutter 94. The shutter 94, which is reciprocally moved in association with the raising / lowering operation of the communication pipe 51 with respect to the suction port body main portion 52, is provided over the communication pipe 51 and the suction port body main portion 52, and is provided inside the rear edge portion 94a. The upper wall 66 of the inlet of the communication pipe 51 is hooked.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the shutter 94 is pulled by the inlet upper wall 66 and is pulled by the inlet upper wall 66 when the communication pipe 51 is in an inclined posture with respect to the suction port main portion 52, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear edge portion 94 is disposed in the open position shown in FIG. 3 and is in a posture in which the communication pipe 51 has a right angle with respect to the suction port body 52 when not in use.
The inner pipe portion 62 hits a and is pushed by this pipe portion 62 to be placed in the closed position. When the shutter 94 is in the open position, the air passage cross-sectional area in the suction air passage B immediately before the inlet 62a is the maximum, and when the shutter 94 is in the closed position, the air passage cross-sectional area is the smallest in the immediately preceding position. (Shutter 94
Includes a state in which the air passage cross-sectional area becomes zero by hitting the bottom wall 72. ) Is set. As described above, the shutter 94 that interlocks when the communication pipe 51 rises above a certain angle is provided to limit the cross-sectional area of the air passage. Even if the electric blower 35 is operating when the vehicle is placed in an independent posture, the amount of air circulating through the suction port body 13 is drastically reduced, so that the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 53 can be significantly reduced or stopped automatically. It is excellent in being able to do it.

The front portion of the recovery chamber 82 is located right above the intake port 91 and communicates with this port 91. Collection room 82
The rear part is narrowed so as to be converged at the center part in the width direction and slightly extends rearward, and the extending rear part faces and communicates with the inlet 62a of the inner pipe part 62 of the communication pipe 51. The recovery chamber 82 and the inner flow passage of the inner pipe portion 62 form a suction air passage B communicating with each other. The air blown into the recovery chamber 82 toward the intake port 91 through the air passage B and the air sucked from the surface to be cleaned into the intake port 91 are sucked into the cleaner body 12 side. It has become.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, in the rotary cleaning body 53, one or more blades 102 are mounted as cleaning members on the rotary shaft 101 as the cleaning body main body, and
Support shaft supports 103, 104 are provided at both ends of the rotary shaft 101.
The support shafts 105 projecting from the supports 103 and 104 are supported by bearings 106, respectively. Therefore, the rotary cleaning body 53 is configured so that the portions other than the bearings 106 at both ends thereof are rotated integrally. The rotary cleaning body 53 has its bearing 106 fixed to the bearing holding portions (not shown) provided at both ends in the width direction of the lower case 72 of the main portion by being fixed so that the intake port 91.
It is arranged in the recovery chamber 82 in a posture parallel to the above. When the rotary cleaning body 53 is rotated, its blade 10
The tip of 2 passes through the intake port 91 and contacts the surface to be cleaned.

4 and 5 are provided at the rear of the blow-out chamber 81.
As shown in FIG. 5, the pivot pipe portion 63 of the communication pipe 51 is arranged, and the blowout chamber 81 and the flow path between the inner and outer pipe portions 61 and 62 of the communication pipe 51 are connected via these pipe portions 63. ing. As described above, the front part of the blowout chamber 81 faces the main part middle case 73, and the reflux blowout port 54 penetrates through the main part middle case 73 to the width direction of the suction port body main part 52. It is formed along. The recirculation blowout port 54 provided with the rotary cleaning body 53 placed between the intake port 91 blows the air in the blowout chamber 81 to the blade 102, and when the suction port body 13 is pushed forward. When the rotation direction F of the rotating cleaning body 53 (see FIG. 8) that rotates together is defined as the forward direction, the rotating cleaning body 53 is located in front of the rotation shaft 101 of the rotating cleaning body 53 so as to obtain the rotation in the forward direction. The case 73 is opened.

The return air outlet 54 is formed by a slit extending continuously in the width direction of the main inlet body 52. Therefore, the circulation outlet 54 is provided parallel to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 53. The circulation outlets 54 are arranged in the same manner in the width direction of the main body 52 of the suction inlet with the communication pipe 51 as the center. The reflux outlet 54 may be formed by a plurality of discontinuous holes or the like.

In the above structure, the flow passage between the inner and outer pipe portions 61 and 62 of the communication pipe 51, the inner flow passage of the pivot pipe portion 63, and the blowout chamber 81 of the main body 52 of the suction port communicate with each other in this order. The return air passage A is formed, and the electric blower 3
The air discharged from 5 is guided to the return outlet 54 by the return air passage A, and passes through the outlet 54 to the intake port 9
It is set back to 1.

In the figure, 111 is a bumper mounted along the front outer surface of the main body 52 of the suction port body, 112 is a front wheel mounted on the lower case 72 of the main part, and 113 and 114 are rear wheels.

Next, the operation of the air circulation type vacuum cleaner 11 provided with the suction port body 13 having the above construction will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, this electric vacuum cleaner 11 has a power supply cord unwound from a cord reel 40 in a state where a communication pipe 51 of a suction port body 13 is inserted and connected to a connection port body 22 of a cleaner body 12. Power is supplied to the electric blower 35 via this blower 3
It is used by moving the vacuum cleaner 11 as a whole through the handle 14 while driving 5 and bringing the suction port body 13 into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

During this use, dust contained in the suction air (indicated by the dotted arrow in FIGS. 1 and 8) which is guided to the suction air passage B of the suction port body 13 and flows into the dust collecting bag 31 is used. The air captured by the dust collecting bag 31 and passing through the dust collecting bag 31 further passes through the filter support 32 and the electric blower 3
5 is discharged into the recirculation chamber 26 through the air outlet 41 of the motor cover 39, and a part thereof passes through the exhaust small hole (not shown) and the exhaust chamber 24 and the exhaust port (not shown). And is discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 12.

The exhaust gas flowing into the reflux chamber 26 is connected to the connection port body 2.
It is guided to the return air passage A of the suction port body 13 from the second ventilation hole 22c, and is blown from the return air outlet port 54 toward the collection chamber 82 side of the suction air passage B toward, for example, the intake port 91. Such an air flow is shown by a solid arrow in FIGS. Therefore, the blown air is blown to the blade 102 of the rotary cleaning body 53 that is rotatably arranged immediately below the recirculation outlet 54 to rotate the cleaning body 53 clockwise in FIG. 8 and immediately after that. After being blown onto the surface to be cleaned facing the intake port 91, the dust on the surface to be cleaned is lifted up and sucked into the recovery chamber 82 through the intake port 91 and collected in the suction air passage B. Then, along with this collection, the dust is collected in the dust collecting chamber 23 of the cleaner body 12.

As the air discharged from the electric blower 35 is thus collected and circulated by the suction port body 13,
With that momentum, the outside air between the bottom wall 72a of the suction port body 13 and the surface to be cleaned is sucked into the suction port 91 together with the dust, and the rotary cleaning body 53 is rotated using the circulating air. It is possible to perform air circulation type cleaning while scratching out dust on the surface to be cleaned.

By the way, according to the electric vacuum cleaner having the above structure, the large diameter portion 22a of the connection port body 22 and the outer pipe portion 61 of the communication pipe 51 inserted in this portion are provided between them. It is sealed by an airtight sealing structure in the radial direction by an annular sealing material 65. Therefore, in the air circulation type cleaning, the air may be guided between the inner and outer conduits 61 and 62 of the communication pipe 51 through the recirculation chamber 26 and the ventilation hole 22c of the connection port body 22 and returned to the intake port 91 side. It is possible to prevent the generated air from leaking to the outside of the cleaner body 12 through the space between the large diameter portion 22a of the connection port body 22 and the outer pipe portion 61 of the communication pipe 51. By preventing such air leakage, it is of course possible that the air leaked to the surface to be cleaned is not blown and light dust is not scattered, and the amount of air returned to the intake port 91 is not reduced. There is no fear that the performance of sucking in the outside air at the intake port 91 will be reduced, or the performance of scraping out dust will be reduced as the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 53 is reduced, and the suction performance of the intake port 91 will be reduced.

Further, according to the electric vacuum cleaner of the above structure, the space between the connection port 22 and the inner pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51 is connected to the seal portion 20c of the connection port body packing 20 provided therebetween. The inner tube portion 62 is sealed by abutting the insertion tip surface 62c from the thrust direction. Therefore, the air which is guided to the flow path between the inner and outer conduits 61 and 62 of the communication pipe 51 through the return chamber 26 and the ventilation hole 22c of the connection port body 22 and is about to be returned to the intake port 91 side is connected. It is possible to prevent leakage to the dust collecting chamber 23 side through between the small diameter portion 22b of the mouth 22 and the inner pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51. By preventing such air leakage, the amount of air returned to the intake port 91 does not decrease, and the amount of air sucked into the dust collecting chamber 23 through the main body 52 of the intake port does not decrease. The outside air suction performance at 91 is reduced, and the rotary cleaning unit 5
There is no fear that the dust scraping performance will deteriorate as the rotation of No. 3 decreases and the dust suction performance at the intake port 91 will also deteriorate.

Further, in the present invention, the seal portion 2 which forms the airtight seal structure in the thrust direction together with the inner connection port body 62.
0c and the connection port body packing 20 for airtightly partitioning the reflux chamber 26 and the dust collection chamber 23 may be provided separately, but since they are integrally formed in this embodiment, the connection port body packing 20 and the seal are sealed. It is excellent in that it is not necessary to separately provide the portion 20c and the number of parts for the hermetic seal can be reduced.

In the present invention, the seal portion 20c is not limited to a cylindrical shape, but is a flat plate shape, and the insertion tip surface 62c of the inner pipe portion 62 is projected from the thrust direction on the surface opposite to the dust collecting chamber 23. By applying it, an airtight seal structure between the connection port body 22 and the inner pipe portion 62 can be formed. In this case, variation in the radial position of the insertion tip surface 62c is temporarily large, and the tip surface 62c is made flat.
It is possible to obtain an airtight seal in the thrust direction by securely hitting against. However, as described above, in the configuration in which the cylindrical seal portion 20c is provided integrally with the connection port body packing 20, the dust collection chamber 23 of the small diameter part 22b of the connection port body 22 is provided.
Since the end portion on the side can be wrapped, the leakage path from the inside of the inner pipe portion 62 through the suction opening of the mouth frame 31a to the dust collection chamber 23 bends in a complicated shape. It is excellent in that the performance of the airtight seal between the reflux chamber 26 and the dust collecting chamber 23 can be improved.

Then, one of the both airtight seal structures, that is, the large diameter portion 22a of the connection port body 22 in this embodiment.
The airtightness between the connecting pipe 22 and the outer pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51 is ensured by the ring-shaped elastic sealing material 65 arranged along the radial direction of the connection port body 22 and the communication pipe 51. The airtightness between the small-diameter portion 22b of the mouthpiece 22 and the inner pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51 is controlled by the seal portion 20c and the inner pipe portion 6 along the thrust direction of the connection mouthpiece 22 and the communication pipe 51.
It is ensured by abutment with the insertion tip surface 62c of No. 2.

Therefore, when the communication pipe 51 is inserted into the connection port 22 and the suction port 13 is attached to the cleaner body 12, the radial size of the connection port 22 and the communication pipe 52 made of synthetic resin varies. Regardless of the above, in the airtight seal structure that performs the sealing in the thrust direction, there is no competition to prevent the insertion of the communication pipe 51 into the connection port body 22.
As a result, the force for inserting and mounting the communication pipe 51 into the connection port body 22 can be mainly dependent on the airtight seal structure that performs sealing in the radial direction. The small diameter part 2
An annular gap can be provided between the inner peripheral surface of 2b and the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe portion 62 inserted into the small diameter portion 22b. Therefore, when assembling the electric vacuum cleaner on the manufacturing side and attaching / detaching the communication pipe 51 on the user side, it is possible to reduce the variation in the attachment force and improve the workability of attaching the communication pipe 51 to the connection port body 22. .

Moreover, as described above, in the present embodiment, the radial airtight seal structure is provided between the connection port body 22 and the outer pipe portion 61 of the communication pipe 51, and the airtightness in the thrust direction is obtained. A seal structure is provided between the connection port body 22 and the inner pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51. As described above, the airtight seal structure in the radial direction seals between the large diameter portion 22a of the connection port body 22 and the outer pipe portion 61 of the communication pipe 51, so that the cleaner main body 12 passing between them is exposed to the outside. Air leaks can be reliably prevented. On the other hand, connection port 2
In the airtight sealing structure in which the thrust is struck between the 2 and the inner pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51, the sealing performance tends to be deteriorated due to variations in the axial positioning of the communication pipe 51 by the lock mechanism. There is. However, even if so, even if air leaks from the side of the reflux chamber 26 into the inner pipe portion 62 through the airtight seal structure in the thrust direction, the leaked air is sucked into the dust collection chamber 23. Therefore, it does not leak out of the cleaner body 12.

Further, the inner tube portion 62 has its insertion tip surface 62c.
Is abutted against the sealing portion 20c which is integral with the connection mouthpiece packing 20 to form an airtight seal in the thrust direction. The airtight seal between the main portion 20a and the mouth frame 31a can be enhanced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the first embodiment, the airtight seal between the connection port body 22 and the outer pipe portion 61 of the communication pipe 51 has an airtight seal structure in the radial direction, and the connection port body 22 and the inner pipe of the communication pipe 51 are formed. Although the airtight seal between the portion 62 and the portion 62 has the airtight seal structure in the thrust direction, instead of this, the airtight seal between the connection port body 22 and the outer pipe portion 61 of the communication pipe 51 is airtight in the thrust direction. A seal structure may be used, and the airtight seal between the connection port body 22 and the inner pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51 may be an airtight seal structure in the radial direction. In this case, a wall portion of the connection port body 22 (a wall portion that forms a boundary between the large diameter portion 22a and the small diameter portion 22b) having the vent hole 22c side end surface of the outer pipe portion 61 and the vent hole 22c with which the outer pipe portion 61 abuts. An annular rubber packing is attached to either one of the above, and the packing is abutted from the thrust direction in accordance with the attachment of the communication pipe to the connection port body, whereby an airtight seal structure in the radial direction can be realized. In addition, the airtight seal structure in the radial direction has a small diameter portion 22a of the connection port body 22.
This can be realized by providing an elastically deformable annular seal member such as an O-ring on either the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe portion 62 of the communication pipe 51. Even in the case of carrying out in this way, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained and the problem of the present invention can be solved.

Further, in the first embodiment, the example in which the communication pipe 51 on the suction port body 13 side is directly connected to the suction port body main portion 52 is shown, but they are arranged coaxially. It may be connected via a flexible double tube. Further, the present invention can be applied to a canister type or a handy type air circulation type vacuum cleaner.

[0058]

The present invention is carried out in the form as described above, and has the following effects.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the stepped cylindrical connection port body on the cleaner body side and the double tubular communication pipe on the suction port body side that is inserted into and attached to this are coaxial. In an air circulation type vacuum cleaner that forms a dynamic flow path structure,
Either the airtight seal between the large diameter part of the connection port and the outer pipe part of the communication pipe or the airtight seal between the small diameter part of the connection port and the inner pipe part of the communication pipe is set in the radial direction. The air-tight seal structure for the other side, and the other for the air-tight seal structure in the thrust direction, the force for inserting and connecting the communication pipe into the connection port is mainly dependent on the air-tight seal structure for sealing in the radial direction. Can be reduced, and therefore, workability of attaching the communication pipe to the connection port body can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of an entire upright type air circulation type vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof cut away.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cleaner body and a suction port body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a structure around a suction port body of the electric vacuum cleaner shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the suction port body shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the structure of the suction port body shown in FIG. 3 with a main part upper case removed and a part thereof shown in section.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of the suction port body shown in FIG. 3 with its main part upper case, main part middle case, and communication pipe removed.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the suction port body shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line ZZ in FIG.

9A is a side view showing a communication pipe provided in the suction port body shown in FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY in FIG. (C) is a front view showing a partial cross section of a communication pipe provided in the suction port body shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the connection port body of the electric vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 2 and a part of the communication pipe removed therefrom.

11 (A) is a front view showing the configuration of the connection port body packing included in the electric vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 2. FIG. Figure 1 (B)
Sectional drawing of the connection body packing shown along the XX line in 1 (A).

FIG. 12A is a side view showing a configuration of a lock knob included in the electric vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 12B is a view showing the structure of the lock knob as viewed from the direction of arrow W in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Vacuum cleaner, 12 ... Vacuum cleaner main body, 13 ... Suction port body, 20 ... Connection port body packing (sealing material), 20c ... Sealing part of connection port body packing (thrust direction sealing material), 22 ... Connection port body , 22a ... Large diameter part of connection port body, 22b ... Small diameter part of connection port body, 22c ... Vent hole of connection port body, 23 ... Dust collection chamber, 26 ... Reflux chamber, 31 ... Dust collection bag (filter), 35 ... Electric blower, 51 ... Communication pipe, 52 ... Suction port main part, 54 ... Recirculation outlet, 61 ... Outer pipe part, 62 ... Inner pipe part, 62a ... Inner pipe part inlet, 62c ... Inner pipe part insertion Tip surface, 63 ... Pivot tube part, 65 ... Sealing material (radial direction sealing material), 71 ... Main part upper case, 72 ... Main part lower case, 73 ... Main part middle case, 82 ... Collection chamber, 83 ... Blowing chamber, 91 ... Intake port, A ... Return air passage, B ... Suction Road.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air blower built into a cleaner body is operated to pass air sucked through an inlet of a suction port through a filter to capture dust, pass through the filter and be discharged from the electric blower. The returned air to the inlet,
In an electric vacuum cleaner that collects and circulates the returned air and cleans it, a ventilation hole is attached to a wall portion that is attached to the cleaner body and that has a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion and forms a boundary between these portions. A stepped cylindrical connection port body having, a recirculation chamber provided in the cleaner body for guiding air discharged from the electric blower to the ventilation hole, and detachably attached to the connection port body, and The inner pipe portion inserted into the small diameter portion has an inner pipe portion inside the outer pipe portion that is inserted into the large diameter portion, and communicates between the both pipe portions with the ventilation hole, and the filter is provided by the inner pipe portion. A communication pipe on the suction port body side that guides air sucked into the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner body housed therein; and an airtight seal between the connection port body and an outer pipe portion of the communication pipe. Air between the connection port body and the inner pipe portion of the communication pipe An air circulation type vacuum cleaner characterized in that one of the tight seals has an airtight seal structure in the radial direction and the other has an airtight seal structure in the thrust direction. 2. An airtight seal structure in the radial direction is provided between the connection port body and an outer pipe portion of the communication pipe, and an airtight seal structure in the thrust direction is provided in the connection port body and the communication pipe. The air circulation type vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the air circulation type vacuum cleaner is provided between the inner tube portion and the insertion front end surface.