JP3667226B2

JP3667226B2 - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: JP3667226B2
Application number: JP2000344836A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 敏紀三宅
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2000-11-13
Filing date: 2000-11-13
Publication date: 2005-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-13
Also published as: JP2002143052A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は電気掃除機のサイクロン集塵装置の構成に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
電動送風機により吸込んだ吸気を旋回させて塵埃を分離するサイクロン集塵装置を備えた電気掃除機が広く使用されている。このようなサイクロン集塵式電気掃除機の例を、例えば特開２０００−１６６８２９号公報に見ることができる。当該公報に開示された電気掃除機の概略構成を図９に示す。電気掃除機１は、電動送風機３を内蔵した本体２にサクションホース４及び接続パイプ５を介して吸込口体６を接続する。吸込口体６は床面ｆに面する吸込み口７を有している。サクションホース４と接続パイプ５の間にはダストカップ９を備えたサイクロン集塵装置８が配置される。サイクロン集塵装置８の入口部は接続パイプ５に接続し、出口部はサクションホース４に接続しており、これにより、吸込口体６から接続パイプ５、サイクロン集塵装置８、サクションホース４を経て電動送風機３に至る吸気路が構成される。なおサイクロン集塵装置８からはハンドル部３５が突き出す。ハンドル部３５の根元には、各種操作キーや運転状況表示部等を配置した操作部が設けられる。
【０００３】
上記構成の電気掃除機１において、電動送風機３を駆動すると、吸気路に吸気流が発生し、吸込口体６の吸込み口７から塵埃を含んだ空気が吸込まれる。吸込まれた空気は接続パイプ５を経てサイクロン集塵装置８に至り、そこで塵埃と空気とが分離される。塵埃は塵埃集積手段であるダストカップ９に集積され、空気のみサクションホース４から電動送風機３に吸引され、本体２の外へと排出される。なお、ダストカップ９は水平断面が円形で、垂直断面は上端の開口部に向かいテーパ状に広がった形となっている。
【０００４】
図１０は従来のサイクロン集塵装置８の構造を示す縦断面図であり、接続パイプ５の長手方向を垂直にした場合を示している。１０はサイクロン集塵装置８のサイクロン本体である。サイクロン本体１０は、接続パイプ５に連結する連結管１１の上端に、横方向に張り出す形で遠心分離室１２を形設している。遠心分離室１２は水平断面形状がほぼ円形であり、その内周壁の一部に、連結管１１からの空気の流入口１３が開口する。流入口１３は、空気の流入方向が遠心分離室１２の内周壁に対し接線方向となる位置に設けられている。遠心分離室１２の中心には排気筒１４を配置する。
【０００５】
排気筒１４は底面が閉じ、上面が開口した円筒形の部材であって、外周部に複数個の排気口１５を設けている。排気口１５にはナイロン等の合成繊維を織って細かいメッシュとしたフィルター１６を被着する。排気筒１４の上面開口部は遠心分離室１２の天井面に形設された連結管１７に挿入される。排気筒１４の外面上部は雄ネジ部１８となっており、その下に形設したフランジ１９の上にゴム等弾性材料からなるシール２０を載せ、ネジ部１８を連結管１７の下端（こちらは雌ネジ部となっている）にネジ込んで行けば、排気筒１４は遠心分離室１２の天井面から垂下する形で取り付けられる。連結管１７の他端にはサクションホース４が接続される。遠心分離室１２の下端は開口部２１となっており、ここにダストカップ９の上端の開口部２２が気密に挿入される。
【０００６】
塵埃集積手段であるダストカップ９の保持の仕組は次のようになっている。ダストカップ９の一側面、連結管１１に向かい合う側面の下方に、上向きのフック２３を形設する。連結管１１の側面には、このフック２３を係合させる、下向きのフック２４を形設する。サイクロン本体１０から取り外されたダストカップ９を、その開口部２２が遠心分離室１２の開口部２１に接近して行くよう、連結管１１と平行にスライドさせると、ダストカップ９の開口部２２が遠心分離室１２の開口部２１に挿入され、またフック２３がフック２４に係合する。ダストカップ９を限界まで、すなわち遠心分離室１２の開口部２１の内側に取り付けた弾性材料製シール２５にダストカップ９の口縁が当たるところまで押しつければ、ダストカップ９の開口部２２は遠心分離室１２の開口部２１に気密に接合することになる。同時にフック２３とフック２４も深く係合し、ダストカップ９の下部に横方向の力が加わっても、ダストカップ９は連結管１１から離れない。
【０００７】
上記装着状態を維持するため、ダストカップ９の外面の上端近くに装着片２６を取り付ける。装着片２６は水平な軸２７を介してダストカップ９に取り付けられ、垂直面内で回動可能である。装着片２６の上端には、サイクロン本体１０外面の凸部２８に係合する係止爪２９が形設されている。装着片２６の下部は、指で押すための押圧部３０となる。押圧部２３とダストカップ９の外面との間には圧縮コイルバネ３１が挿入され、係止爪２９を凸部２８に係合させる回転付勢力を装着片２６に与えている。
【０００８】
係止爪２９と凸部２８の相向かい合う面は、係止爪２９の側が上向きの、凸部２８の側が下向きの、それぞれ斜面となっている。そのため、ダストカップ９をサイクロン本体１０に装着すべくダストカップ９をスライドさせて行くと、係止爪２９と凸部２８の斜面同士が接触し、装着片２６は圧縮コイルバネ３１の付勢力に抗して回動する。係止爪２９が凸部２８を乗り越えれば両者は係合し、その係合状態は圧縮コイルバネ３１によって維持される。この状態になれば、ダストカップ９をサイクロン本体１０から引き抜こうとしても引き抜くことはできない。押圧部３０を押し、凸部２８に対する係止爪２９の係合を解除すれば、ダストカップ９は取り外し可能となる。
【０００９】
上記サイクロン集塵装置８に空気が吸込まれると、吸気流は連結管１１から流入口１３を通って遠心分離室１２の中に、遠心分離室１２の内周壁に沿って接線方向に流入し、排気筒１４の周囲に高速の旋回気流を形成する。高速旋回に伴う遠心力により、空気流に含まれていた塵埃は空気流から分離され、ダストカップ９の中に落下し集積されて行く。排気筒１４の周囲を旋回した空気流は排気口１５から排気筒１４の中に入り、サクションホース４に吸込まれる。
【００１０】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記の電気掃除機では、空気流から分離されダストカップ９に集積された塵埃が旋回気流とともにダストカップ９の中を回りつづけ、分離効率が悪い。
【００１１】
そこで本発明は、サイクロン集塵装置を備えた電気掃除機において、サイクロン集塵装置の塵埃集積手段の中に遮蔽部材を設け、この遮蔽部材に塵埃を含んだ空気流が衝突して塵埃の分離が促進されるようにするとともに、分離された塵埃の旋回を抑制し、塵埃の遠心分離効率を向上させることを目的とする。
【００１２】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するため、本発明では、電動送風機の運転によって発生する気流により床面等の塵埃を吸込み口から吸込み、前記吸込み口と連通する吸気路を介して吸込んだ気流を旋回させて気流を塵埃と分離し、分離した塵埃を塵埃集積手段に集積するサイクロン集塵装置を備えた電気掃除機において、前記塵埃集積手段の下部に、複数の遮蔽板を該塵埃集積手段の中心から内周壁に向かって放射状に突出させるとともに、該遮蔽板の側縁部と該塵埃集積手段の内周壁との間に空間を存在させて設け、前記遮蔽板の側縁部に、旋回気流の風上方向に向かって突出するリブを形設した。
【００１３】
このように塵埃集積手段内部に遮蔽部材を設けたから、遠心分離室内の高速旋回気流により塵埃集積手段内に引き起こされる副次的旋回気流が遮蔽部材に衝突して急激に方向転換することにより、質量の大きい塵埃は慣性力で気流より分離する。分離した塵埃は遮蔽部材によりそれ以上の旋回を阻止され、再び舞い上がることがない。
【００１４】
また本発明では、電動送風機の運転によって発生する気流により床面等の塵埃を吸込み口から吸込み、前記吸込み口と連通する吸気路を介して吸込んだ気流を旋回させて気流を塵埃と分離し、分離した塵埃を塵埃集積手段に集積するサイクロン集塵装置を備えた電気掃除機において、前記塵埃集積手段の下部に、複数の遮蔽板を該塵埃集積手段の中心から内周壁に向かって放射状に突出させるとともに、該遮蔽板の側縁部と該塵埃集積手段の内周壁との間に空間を存在させて設け、前記遮蔽板は、該遮蔽板の略半ばから旋回気流の風上方向に向け屈曲されているものとした。
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の各種実施形態を図１〜図７に基づき説明する。なお、これらの実施形態は、電気掃除機としての基本構成は図９、１０で紹介した従来構造と同じであり、この従来構造と共通する構成要素については前の符号を流用し、説明は省略する。
【００２０】
図１〜図３に本発明の第１の実施形態を示す。サイクロン集塵装置８は気流から分離した塵埃を集積する塵埃集積手段を有する。ここではサイクロン本体１０に対し着脱自在に設けられたダストカップ９を塵埃集積手段としているが、塵埃集積手段の構成はこれに限定されるものではない。サイクロン本体１０に固定した塵埃集積容器に塵埃排出用のハッチを設ける構成であっても良い。あるいは吸気路を構成する要素のいずれかに塵埃集積容器を固定し、これに可動式のサイクロン本体を組み合わせても良い。
【００２１】
排気筒１４の下端には傘状の分離部材４０を取り付ける。分離部材４０は、排気筒１４の下端に螺合する雌ネジ部４１を上端に有し、そこから斜め下へ円錐形に広がり、円錐形状の外端に円筒壁を有する外輪４２を垂設した形状になっている。外輪４２とダストカップ９の間には環状の空間４３が形成される。
【００２２】
ダストカップ９の底面から開口部２２に向かい、遮蔽部材５０が立ち上がる。遮蔽部材５０は、合成樹脂射出成形品であるダストカップ９に一体成形されるものであり、図３に見られるように、４枚の垂直な遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄが９０゜間隔で中心から放射状に突出した形になっている。遮蔽部材５０は、開口部２２に向かい全体として先細となるように形成され、その上端は分離部材４０よりやや低い高さまで届く。遮蔽部材５０の側縁部とダストカップ９の内周壁との間には空間５１が形成される。ダストカップ９は開口部２２に向かいテーパ状に広がり、空間５１はダストカップ９の底部では幅が狭く、上の方に行くほど幅が広くなっている。
【００２３】
ダストカップ９の内周壁には、ダストカップ９の底面から開口部２２に向かって、４個の垂直なリブが形設される。その内２個のリブ５２は遮蔽板５０ａと５０ｂの間、及び遮蔽板５０ｃと遮蔽板５０ｄの間に配置されている。残る２個のリブ５３は遮蔽板５０ｂ、５０ｄの側縁と向き合う位置に配置され、ここで空間５１の幅を狭めている。いずれのリブも、遮蔽部材５０の高さの半分を少し越す程度の高さを有している。
【００２４】
上記実施形態における集塵動作について説明する。サイクロン集塵装置８に空気が吸込まれると、吸気流は連結管１１から流入口１３を通って遠心分離室１２の中に、遠心分離室１２の内周壁に沿って接線方向に流入し、排気筒１４の周囲に高速の旋回気流を形成する。気流に含まれていた塵埃は高速旋回による遠心力で気流から分離する。塵埃を分離した気流は排気口１５から排気筒１４の中に入り、サクションホース４に吸込まれる。
【００２５】
排気筒１４の周囲に高速旋回気流が発生するのに伴い、ダストカップ９の内部全体に副次的な旋回気流が生じる。高速旋回気流から分離した塵埃は、この副次的旋回気流に乗って旋回しつつ、分離部材４０の外周とダストカップ９の間の空間４３を通り分離部材４０の下に落下する。分離部材４０が円錐形なのはこの塵埃の流れを円滑にするためである。
【００２６】
分離部材４０の下において、副次的旋回気流は空間５１を旋回する。図３に示すように、副次的旋回気流はダストカップ９の内周壁に沿って進む矢印Ｐ１の成分と、遮蔽部材５０の遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄの裏側に生じる負圧により遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄの裏側に回り込む矢印Ｐ２の成分とを有する。遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄの裏側に回り込んだ気流は次の遮蔽板の前面に衝突して向きを変えるが、この時気流に含まれていた塵埃は慣性で気流から分離され、ダストカップ９の底に落下する。気流は次々に遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄに衝突し、同様に塵埃が分離される。
【００２７】
リブ５２、５３の働きは次のようなものである。図３に示すように、リブ５２は副次的旋回気流のうち、ダストカップ９の内周壁に沿って進む矢印Ｐ１の成分を矢印Ｐ３のようにダストカップ９の中心方向に案内し、遮蔽板５０ａ、あるいはその反対側においては遮蔽板５０ｃに、効率よく衝突させる。リブ５３は遮蔽板５０ｂ、５０ｄの側縁と向き合い、狭い通気路を形成している。空気流Ｑ１、Ｑ２がこの狭い通気路の手前で衝突し、塵埃を分離する。
【００２８】
副次的旋回気流は時として分離部材４０の外周を抜けて上昇しようとする挙動を示すことがある。分離部材４０の外周から垂下した外輪４２は、上昇する気流に向かって設けられているので、気流と共に塵埃が上昇し、遠心分離室１２に逆流することが阻止される。
【００２９】
このように、旋回気流から分離された塵埃はダストカップ９内に集積される。集積された塵埃は矢印Ｐ２のように遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄの裏側に回り込んでダストカップ９の中心方向に向かう気流やリブ５２により矢印Ｐ３のようにダストカップ９の中心方向に案内される気流に押されて圧縮され、体積が小さくなるので、多量の塵埃を集積できる。装着片２６によるロックを解除してダストカップ９をサイクロン本体１０から取り外し、適当な容器の上でダストカップ９を逆さにすれば、塵埃は開口部２２から落下する。ダストカップ９自身は開口部２２に向かってテーパ状に広がっており、逆に遮蔽部材５０の方は開口部２２に向かって先細になっているので、塵埃は容易に排出され、容器に向かって落下する。
【００３０】
遮蔽部材５０の第２の実施形態を図４に示す。この実施形態では、遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄの側縁部に、空気流の風上方向に向かって突出するリブ５４を形設している。矢印Ｐ１のように旋回してきた空気流は矢印Ｒ１、Ｒ２のように分岐し、ダストカップ中心方向に向かう気流Ｒ１が塵埃を中心近傍に集積させ、遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄとの間で塵埃を圧縮する。
【００３１】
遮蔽部材５０の第３の実施形態を図５に示す。この実施形態では、遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄを、各々半ば程から空気流の風上方向に向け屈曲させている。矢印Ｐ１のように流れてきた空気流はこの屈曲部５５のため矢印Ｒ１、Ｒ２のように分岐し、ダストカップ中心方向に向かう気流Ｒ１が塵埃を中心近傍に集積させ、遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄとの間で塵埃を圧縮する。
【００３２】
上記第１〜第３の実施形態において、遮蔽部材５０は４枚の遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄを有しているが、遮蔽板の数、形状、配置等は種々改変が可能である。またダストカップ９側のリブ５２、５３も、その数、形状、配置等に様々な工夫を加えることが可能である。
【００３３】
遮蔽部材５０の第４の実施形態を図６に示す。この実施形態では、ダストカップ９の底面中心より開口部２２に向け、支持部材６０を立ち上がらせた。支持部材６０は、金属によりボルト形状に成形し、これをダストカップ９の底面にナット６１で固定したものである。支持部材６０をダストカップ９と同じく合成樹脂製として、ダストカップ９に一体成形する構成とすることもできる。この支持部材６０に、ダストカップ９と別体に成形した遮蔽部材５０をスライド可能に取り付ける。支持部材６０の上端には遮蔽部材５０のスライド範囲を制限するストッパ部６２を設ける。
【００３４】
遮蔽部材５０は円盤状の底部５６の中心からハブ部５７を立ち上がらせ、このハブ部５７の周囲に、前記遮蔽板５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄを放射状に配置した形状となっている。ハブ部５７は支持部材６０をスライド自在に貫通させるものであり、底の部分に、ストッパ部６２に当たる当接部５８が設けられている。遮蔽部材５０には適当な回り止め手段を施し、旋回気流に追随して支持手段６０の周りを回ることがないように、またリブ５２、５３との位置関係が狂わないようにする。回り止め手段は、例えばリブ５２、５３のどれかに係合する突部を遮蔽部材５０から突出させる、あるいは支持部材６０及びこれを通すハブ部５７の穴を非円形断面とするといった手法で実現できる。
【００３５】
ストッパ部６２の首下部分には、ゴム等弾性材料からなるスリーブ状の緩衝部材６３が取り付けられている。また遮蔽部材５０の底部５６には、遮蔽部材５０の質量増加手段として、金属の円板からなる重り５９が固定されている。
【００３６】
上記構成のダストカップ９をサイクロン本体１０から取り外し、図７のように開口部２２を下にして傾けると、遮蔽部材５０に作用する重力により、遮蔽部材５０が支持部材６０をガイドとしてスライドし、塵埃塊Ｄをダストカップ９から押し出す。重り５９が取り付けられているので、遮蔽部材５０の排出力は増加している。押し出し終わった後、スライドの最終行程で遮蔽部材５０はストッパ部６２により押し止められるが、当接部５８が直接ストッパ部６２に当たるのでなく、緩衝部材６３に当たるので、衝撃、また衝撃音は小さく、使用者を驚かせたり、不快感を与えたりすることがない。遮蔽部材５０のスライド機構部、すなわち支持部材６０とこれを支えるダストカップ９の底部、あるいは遮蔽部材５０のハブ部５７、といった構成要素が破損することもない。ダストカップ９の向きを元に戻せば、遮蔽部材５０は重力により逆方向にスライドし、塵埃分離のための所定位置に復帰する。
【００３７】
ストッパ部６１は、支持部材６０に一体成形しても良く、別成形したものを支持部材６０に取り付けても良い。また緩衝部材６２の材質はゴム、発泡ウレタン等弾性に富むものであれば何でも良い。コイルバネを使用することもできる。緩衝部材６２の取り付けについても、ストッパ部６１の首下に固定するという方式に限定される訳ではなく、当接部５８の方に固定しても良く、あるいはストッパ部６１と当接部５８の間を自由に移動できるようにしておいても良い。遮蔽部材５０の質量を増加させる手段についても、別体の重り５９を取り付けるという方法の他、遮蔽部材５０の全体を金属製とするといった方法も採用可能である。
【００３８】
さらに、上記各実施形態のサイクロン集塵装置８は、図９とは異なる形式の電気掃除機に組み合わせることができる。例えば図８の電気掃除機７０においては、大型の吸込口体７１から傾動可能な接続パイプ７２を立ち上がらせ、その上部に、電動送風機７３を一体的に組み合わせたサイクロン集塵装置８を配置した。これ以外の種々の形式の電気掃除機にも、掃除機構造に合わせて組み合わせることが可能である。
【００３９】
以上、本発明の各種実施形態につき説明したが、この他、発明の主旨を逸脱しない範囲で更に種々の変更を加えて実施することができる。
【００４０】
【発明の効果】
本発明は、電動送風機の運転によって発生する気流により床面等の塵埃を吸込み口から吸込み、前記吸込み口と連通する吸気路を介して吸込んだ気流を旋回させて気流を塵埃と分離し、分離した塵埃を塵埃集積手段に集積するサイクロン集塵装置を備えた電気掃除機において、前記塵埃集積手段の下部に、複数の遮蔽板を該塵埃集積手段の中心から内周壁に向かって放射状に突出させるとともに、該遮蔽板の側縁部と該塵埃集積手段の内周壁との間に空間を存在させて設けた構成としたから、遠心分離室内の高速旋回気流により塵埃集積手段内引き起こされる副次的旋回気流が遮蔽部材に衝突して急激に方向転換することにより、質量の大きい塵埃は慣性力で気流より分離されるので、塵埃の分離が促進される。分離した塵埃は遮蔽部材によりそれ以上の旋回を阻止され、再び舞い上がることがなくなる。
【００４１】
また本発明は、前記遮蔽板の側縁部に、旋回気流の風上方向に向かって突出するリブを形設しているから、旋回気流はこのリブにより分岐し、塵埃集積手段の中心方向に向かう気流が塵埃を中心近傍に集積させ、遮蔽板との間で塵埃を圧縮する。
【００４２】
また本発明は、前記遮蔽板がその略半ばから旋回気流の風上方向に向け屈曲されているから、空気流はこの屈曲部のため分岐し、塵埃集積手段の中心方向に向かう気流が塵埃を中心近傍に集積させ、遮蔽板との間で塵埃を圧縮する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明電気掃除機の第１実施形態を示すサイクロン集塵装置の縦断面図
【図２】図１のＡ−Ａ線の箇所におけるサイクロン集塵装置の水平断面図
【図３】図１のＢ−Ｂ線の箇所におけるダストカップの水平断面図
【図４】図３と同様の水平断面図にして、本発明電気掃除機の第２実施形態を示すもの
【図５】図３と同様の水平断面図にして、本発明電気掃除機の第３実施形態を示すもの
【図６】本発明電気掃除機の第４実施形態を示すサイクロン集塵装置の縦断面図
【図７】図６に図示したダストカップから塵埃を排出する状況を示す断面図
【図８】本発明に係るサイクロン集塵装置を備えさせる電気掃除機の側面図
【図９】従来のサイクロン集塵方式電気掃除機の概略構成図
【図１０】従来のサイクロン集塵装置の縦断面図
【符号の説明】
１電気掃除機
２本体
３電動送風機
４サクションホース
５接続パイプ
６吸込口体
７吸込み口
８サイクロン集塵装置
９ダストカップ（塵埃集積手段）
１０サイクロン本体
１１連結管
１２遠心分離室
１４排気筒
２１開口部（遠心分離室の）
２２開口部（ダストカップの）
４０分離部材
５０遮蔽部材
５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ、５０ｄ遮蔽板
５８当接部
５９重り（質量増加手段）
６０支持部材
６２ストッパ部
６３緩衝部材[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a configuration of a cyclone dust collecting device of a vacuum cleaner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Vacuum cleaners equipped with a cyclone dust collector that separates dust by swirling intake air sucked by an electric blower are widely used. An example of such a cyclone dust collecting type vacuum cleaner can be found in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-166829. FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of the electric vacuum cleaner disclosed in the publication. The vacuum cleaner 1 connects a suction port body 6 via a suction hose 4 and a connection pipe 5 to a main body 2 incorporating an electric blower 3. The suction port body 6 has a suction port 7 facing the floor surface f. Between the suction hose 4 and the connection pipe 5, a cyclone dust collecting device 8 having a dust cup 9 is arranged. The inlet part of the cyclone dust collector 8 is connected to the connection pipe 5, and the outlet part is connected to the suction hose 4, whereby the connection pipe 5, the cyclone dust collector 8 and the suction hose 4 are connected from the suction port body 6. An intake passage that reaches the electric blower 3 is formed. A handle portion 35 protrudes from the cyclone dust collecting device 8. At the base of the handle portion 35, an operation portion on which various operation keys, an operation status display portion, and the like are arranged is provided.
[0003]
In the vacuum cleaner 1 configured as described above, when the electric blower 3 is driven, an intake flow is generated in the intake passage, and air containing dust is sucked from the suction port 7 of the suction port body 6. The sucked air reaches the cyclone dust collector 8 through the connection pipe 5, where the dust and air are separated. Dust is collected in a dust cup 9 which is dust collecting means, and only air is sucked from the suction hose 4 to the electric blower 3 and discharged out of the main body 2. The dust cup 9 has a circular horizontal cross section, and the vertical cross section is tapered toward the opening at the upper end.
[0004]
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a conventional cyclone dust collector 8, and shows the case where the longitudinal direction of the connection pipe 5 is vertical. Reference numeral 10 denotes a cyclone body of the cyclone dust collector 8. The cyclone main body 10 has a centrifuge chamber 12 formed in a laterally projecting manner at the upper end of a connecting pipe 11 connected to the connecting pipe 5. The centrifuge chamber 12 has a substantially circular horizontal cross section, and an air inlet 13 from the connecting pipe 11 opens in a part of the inner peripheral wall thereof. The inflow port 13 is provided at a position where the air inflow direction is tangential to the inner peripheral wall of the centrifugal separation chamber 12. An exhaust cylinder 14 is disposed in the center of the centrifuge chamber 12.
[0005]
The exhaust tube 14 is a cylindrical member having a closed bottom surface and an open top surface, and a plurality of exhaust ports 15 are provided on the outer peripheral portion. The exhaust port 15 is covered with a filter 16 made of synthetic fiber such as nylon and made into a fine mesh. The upper surface opening of the exhaust cylinder 14 is inserted into a connecting pipe 17 formed on the ceiling surface of the centrifuge chamber 12. The upper part of the outer surface of the exhaust tube 14 is a male threaded portion 18. A seal 20 made of an elastic material such as rubber is placed on a flange 19 formed below the exhaust tube 14, and the threaded portion 18 is connected to the lower end of the connecting pipe 17 (this is The exhaust tube 14 is attached so as to hang down from the ceiling surface of the centrifuge chamber 12. The suction hose 4 is connected to the other end of the connecting pipe 17. The lower end of the centrifuge chamber 12 is an opening 21, and the opening 22 at the upper end of the dust cup 9 is inserted in an airtight manner.
[0006]
The mechanism for holding the dust cup 9 which is dust collecting means is as follows. An upward hook 23 is formed on one side of the dust cup 9 and below the side facing the connecting pipe 11. On the side surface of the connecting tube 11, a downward hook 24 is formed to engage the hook 23. When the dust cup 9 removed from the cyclone main body 10 is slid in parallel with the connecting tube 11 so that the opening 22 approaches the opening 21 of the centrifugal separation chamber 12, the opening 22 of the dust cup 9 is removed. The centrifuge chamber 12 is inserted into the opening 21 and the hook 23 engages with the hook 24. If the dust cup 9 is pressed to the limit, that is, until the lip of the dust cup 9 hits the seal 25 made of an elastic material attached to the inside of the opening 21 of the centrifuge chamber 12, the opening 22 of the dust cup 9 is centrifuged. It will be airtightly joined to the opening 21 of the separation chamber 12. At the same time, the hook 23 and the hook 24 are also engaged deeply, and the dust cup 9 does not leave the connecting pipe 11 even if a lateral force is applied to the lower portion of the dust cup 9.
[0007]
In order to maintain the mounting state, the mounting piece 26 is attached near the upper end of the outer surface of the dust cup 9. The mounting piece 26 is attached to the dust cup 9 via a horizontal shaft 27 and can be rotated in a vertical plane. At the upper end of the mounting piece 26, a locking claw 29 that engages with the convex portion 28 on the outer surface of the cyclone body 10 is formed. The lower part of the mounting piece 26 is a pressing part 30 for pressing with a finger. A compression coil spring 31 is inserted between the pressing portion 23 and the outer surface of the dust cup 9, and a rotational biasing force that engages the locking claw 29 with the convex portion 28 is applied to the mounting piece 26.
[0008]
The opposing surfaces of the locking claw 29 and the convex portion 28 are inclined surfaces with the locking claw 29 side facing upward and the convex portion 28 side facing downward. Therefore, when the dust cup 9 is slid to attach the dust cup 9 to the cyclone body 10, the inclined surfaces of the locking claw 29 and the convex portion 28 come into contact with each other, and the attachment piece 26 resists the urging force of the compression coil spring 31. Then rotate. If the locking claw 29 gets over the convex portion 28, both engage with each other, and the engaged state is maintained by the compression coil spring 31. If it will be in this state, even if it tries to pull out the dust cup 9 from the cyclone main body 10, it cannot be pulled out. The dust cup 9 can be removed by pressing the pressing portion 30 and releasing the engagement of the locking claw 29 with respect to the convex portion 28.
[0009]
When air is sucked into the cyclone dust collector 8, the intake air flows from the connecting pipe 11 through the inlet 13 into the centrifugal separation chamber 12 and tangentially along the inner peripheral wall of the centrifugal separation chamber 12. A high-speed swirling airflow is formed around the exhaust tube 14. The dust contained in the air flow is separated from the air flow by the centrifugal force accompanying the high-speed turning, and falls into the dust cup 9 and accumulates. The air flow swirling around the exhaust tube 14 enters the exhaust tube 14 through the exhaust port 15 and is sucked into the suction hose 4.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above vacuum cleaner, the dust separated from the air flow and accumulated in the dust cup 9 continues to rotate around the dust cup 9 together with the swirling airflow, and the separation efficiency is poor.
[0011]
Accordingly, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner equipped with a cyclone dust collector, wherein a shielding member is provided in the dust collecting means of the cyclone dust collector, and an air flow containing dust collides with the shielding member to separate the dust. It is an object of the present invention to improve the efficiency of centrifugal separation of dust by suppressing swirling of the separated dust.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, dust on the floor or the like is sucked from the suction port by the air flow generated by the operation of the electric blower, and the sucked air flow is swirled through the intake passage communicating with the suction port. It was separated from the dust, in an electric vacuum cleaner having a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for stacking the separated dust to the dust accumulation unit, the bottom of the dust accumulation unit, the inner peripheral wall a plurality of shield plates from the center of the dust accumulation unit And projecting radially toward the edge of the shield plate, and a space is provided between the side edge of the shielding plate and the inner peripheral wall of the dust collecting means. A rib projecting toward is formed.
[0013]
Since the shielding member is provided inside the dust accumulating means in this way, the secondary swirling air flow caused in the dust accumulating means by the high-speed swirling air flow in the centrifugal separation chamber collides with the shielding member and suddenly changes its mass. Large dust is separated from the air current by inertial force. The separated dust is prevented from further swiveling by the shielding member and does not rise again.
[0014]
Further, in the present invention, dust on the floor or the like is sucked from the suction port by the air flow generated by the operation of the electric blower, the air flow sucked through the intake passage communicating with the suction port is separated from the dust , In a vacuum cleaner equipped with a cyclone dust collecting device for collecting separated dust on the dust collecting means , a plurality of shielding plates project radially from the center of the dust collecting means toward the inner peripheral wall at the lower part of the dust collecting means. In addition, a space is provided between the side edge of the shielding plate and the inner peripheral wall of the dust collecting means, and the shielding plate is bent from the middle of the shielding plate toward the windward direction of the swirling airflow. It was supposed to be.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In these embodiments, the basic configuration as a vacuum cleaner is the same as the conventional structure introduced in FIGS. 9 and 10, and the same reference numerals are used for the components common to the conventional structure, and the description is omitted. To do.
[0020]
1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The cyclone dust collecting device 8 has dust collecting means for collecting dust separated from the airflow. Here, the dust cup 9 detachably attached to the cyclone main body 10 is used as the dust collecting means, but the configuration of the dust collecting means is not limited to this. A configuration may be employed in which a dust collecting hatch is provided in the dust collecting container fixed to the cyclone body 10. Alternatively, the dust collecting container may be fixed to any of the elements constituting the intake passage, and a movable cyclone main body may be combined therewith.
[0021]
An umbrella-shaped separation member 40 is attached to the lower end of the exhaust tube 14. The separation member 40 has a female thread portion 41 that is screwed to the lower end of the exhaust tube 14 at its upper end, and extends from there obliquely downward in a conical shape, with an outer ring 42 having a cylindrical wall at the outer end of the conical shape. It has a shape. An annular space 43 is formed between the outer ring 42 and the dust cup 9.
[0022]
The shielding member 50 rises from the bottom surface of the dust cup 9 toward the opening 22. The shielding member 50 is formed integrally with a dust cup 9 which is a synthetic resin injection molded product, and as shown in FIG. 3, four vertical shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are spaced by 90 °. The shape is projected radially from the center. The shielding member 50 is formed so as to taper toward the opening 22 as a whole, and its upper end reaches a height slightly lower than that of the separation member 40. A space 51 is formed between the side edge of the shielding member 50 and the inner peripheral wall of the dust cup 9. The dust cup 9 expands in a tapered shape toward the opening 22, and the space 51 is narrow at the bottom of the dust cup 9 and becomes wider toward the top.
[0023]
On the inner peripheral wall of the dust cup 9, four vertical ribs are formed from the bottom surface of the dust cup 9 toward the opening 22. Two of the ribs 52 are disposed between the shielding plates 50a and 50b and between the shielding plates 50c and 50d. The remaining two ribs 53 are arranged at positions facing the side edges of the shielding plates 50b and 50d, and the width of the space 51 is narrowed here. Each of the ribs has a height that slightly exceeds half of the height of the shielding member 50.
[0024]
The dust collection operation in the above embodiment will be described. When air is sucked into the cyclone dust collector 8, the intake air flows from the connecting pipe 11 through the inlet 13 into the centrifuge chamber 12, tangentially along the inner peripheral wall of the centrifuge chamber 12, A high-speed swirling airflow is formed around the exhaust tube 14. Dust contained in the air current is separated from the air current by centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation. The airflow from which the dust has been separated enters the exhaust cylinder 14 through the exhaust port 15 and is sucked into the suction hose 4.
[0025]
As a high-speed swirling air flow is generated around the exhaust tube 14, a secondary swirling air flow is generated in the entire interior of the dust cup 9. Dust separated from the high-speed swirling airflow is swung on the secondary swirling airflow, passes through the space 43 between the outer periphery of the separating member 40 and the dust cup 9, and falls below the separating member 40. The separation member 40 is conical in order to facilitate the flow of dust.
[0026]
Under the separating member 40, the secondary swirling airflow swirls in the space 51. As shown in FIG. 3, the secondary swirling airflow is shielded by the component indicated by the arrow P <b> 1 that travels along the inner peripheral wall of the dust cup 9 and the negative pressure generated behind the shielding plates 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, and 50 d of the shielding member 50. And a component indicated by an arrow P2 that wraps around the back side of the plates 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d. The airflow that wraps around the back side of the shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d changes the direction by colliding with the front surface of the next shielding plate. At this time, the dust contained in the airflow is separated from the airflow by inertia, It falls to the bottom of the cup 9. The airflow successively collides with the shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d, and the dust is similarly separated.
[0027]
The functions of the ribs 52 and 53 are as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, the rib 52 guides the component of the arrow P1 that travels along the inner peripheral wall of the dust cup 9 in the secondary swirling airflow toward the center of the dust cup 9 as indicated by the arrow P3. 50a, or the other side, efficiently collides with the shielding plate 50c. The rib 53 faces the side edges of the shielding plates 50b and 50d and forms a narrow air passage. Airflows Q1 and Q2 collide in front of this narrow air passage and separate dust.
[0028]
The secondary swirling airflow sometimes exhibits a behavior of trying to rise through the outer periphery of the separation member 40. Since the outer ring 42 that hangs down from the outer periphery of the separation member 40 is provided toward the rising airflow, dust rises with the airflow and is prevented from flowing back into the centrifugal separation chamber 12.
[0029]
In this way, the dust separated from the swirling airflow is accumulated in the dust cup 9. The accumulated dust wraps around the back side of the shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d as indicated by an arrow P2 and flows toward the center of the dust cup 9 in the center direction of the dust cup 9 as indicated by an arrow P3 by the airflow or rib 52. A large amount of dust can be collected because the volume is reduced by being pushed and compressed by the guided airflow. If the dust cup 9 is removed from the cyclone body 10 by releasing the lock by the mounting piece 26 and the dust cup 9 is turned upside down on a suitable container, the dust falls from the opening 22. The dust cup 9 itself is tapered toward the opening 22, and conversely, the shielding member 50 is tapered toward the opening 22, so that the dust is easily discharged and is directed toward the container. Fall.
[0030]
A second embodiment of the shielding member 50 is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, ribs 54 are formed on the side edges of the shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d so as to protrude toward the windward direction of the airflow. The air flow swirling as indicated by the arrow P1 branches as indicated by the arrows R1 and R2, and the air flow R1 directed toward the center of the dust cup accumulates dust near the center, and between the shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d. Compress the dust with.
[0031]
A third embodiment of the shielding member 50 is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d are bent toward the windward direction of the airflow from the middle. The airflow flowing as shown by the arrow P1 is branched as indicated by the arrows R1 and R2 due to the bent portion 55, and the airflow R1 toward the center of the dust cup accumulates dust near the center, and the shielding plates 50a, 50b, Dust is compressed between 50c and 50d.
[0032]
In the first to third embodiments, the shielding member 50 includes four shielding plates 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d. However, the number, shape, arrangement, and the like of the shielding plates can be variously modified. . The ribs 52 and 53 on the dust cup 9 side can be modified in various ways in terms of the number, shape, arrangement, and the like.
[0033]
A fourth embodiment of the shielding member 50 is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the support member 60 is raised from the center of the bottom surface of the dust cup 9 toward the opening 22. The support member 60 is formed into a bolt shape with metal and is fixed to the bottom surface of the dust cup 9 with a nut 61. The support member 60 may be made of a synthetic resin like the dust cup 9 and may be integrally formed with the dust cup 9. A shielding member 50 molded separately from the dust cup 9 is slidably attached to the support member 60. A stopper 62 that limits the sliding range of the shielding member 50 is provided at the upper end of the support member 60.
[0034]
The shielding member 50 has a shape in which the hub portion 57 is raised from the center of the disc-shaped bottom portion 56, and the shielding plates 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, and 50 d are arranged radially around the hub portion 57. The hub portion 57 allows the support member 60 to slide freely, and a contact portion 58 that contacts the stopper portion 62 is provided at the bottom portion. Appropriate anti-rotation means is applied to the shielding member 50 so as not to follow the swirling airflow and turn around the support means 60 and to prevent the positional relationship with the ribs 52 and 53 from being distorted. The anti-rotation means is realized by, for example, a method in which a protrusion engaging with any of the ribs 52 and 53 protrudes from the shielding member 50, or a hole of the support member 60 and the hub portion 57 through which the hole is passed has a noncircular cross section. it can.
[0035]
A sleeve-like cushioning member 63 made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached to a lower neck portion of the stopper portion 62. A weight 59 made of a metal disk is fixed to the bottom portion 56 of the shielding member 50 as a means for increasing the mass of the shielding member 50.
[0036]
When the dust cup 9 configured as described above is removed from the cyclone main body 10 and tilted with the opening 22 facing downward as shown in FIG. 7, the shielding member 50 slides with the support member 60 as a guide due to gravity acting on the shielding member 50. The dust mass D is pushed out from the dust cup 9. Since the weight 59 is attached, the discharging force of the shielding member 50 is increased. After the extrusion is completed, the shielding member 50 is stopped by the stopper portion 62 in the final stroke of the slide, but the contact portion 58 does not directly hit the stopper portion 62 but hits the buffer member 63, so that the impact and impact sound are small. It does not surprise the user or cause discomfort. The sliding mechanism portion of the shielding member 50, that is, the support member 60 and the bottom portion of the dust cup 9 that supports the supporting member 60 or the hub portion 57 of the shielding member 50 is not damaged. When the direction of the dust cup 9 is restored, the shielding member 50 slides in the reverse direction due to gravity and returns to a predetermined position for dust separation.
[0037]
The stopper portion 61 may be formed integrally with the support member 60, or may be separately attached to the support member 60. Any material may be used for the buffer member 62 as long as it is rich in elasticity, such as rubber and urethane foam. A coil spring can also be used. The mounting of the buffer member 62 is not limited to the method of fixing the stopper member 61 below the neck of the stopper portion 61, but may be fixed toward the contact portion 58, or the stopper portion 61 and the contact portion 58 may be fixed. You may be able to move freely between them. As a means for increasing the mass of the shielding member 50, it is possible to adopt a method in which the whole shielding member 50 is made of metal, in addition to a method of attaching a separate weight 59.
[0038]
Furthermore, the cyclone dust collector 8 of each said embodiment can be combined with the vacuum cleaner of a different type from FIG. For example, in the vacuum cleaner 70 of FIG. 8, the connecting pipe 72 which can be tilted up from the large suction inlet 71 was raised, and the cyclone dust collector 8 which combined the electric blower 73 integrally was arrange | positioned on the upper part. Other various types of vacuum cleaners can be combined in accordance with the structure of the vacuum cleaner.
[0039]
Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, other various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention sucks dust on the floor surface or the like from the suction port by the air flow generated by the operation of the electric blower, turns the sucked air flow through the intake passage communicating with the suction port to separate the air flow from the dust, in electric vacuum cleaner having a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for stacking the dust dust accumulation unit, the bottom of the dust accumulation unit, to protrude radially toward the inner peripheral wall a plurality of shield plates from the center of the dust accumulation unit In addition, since a space is provided between the side edge of the shielding plate and the inner peripheral wall of the dust collecting means, a secondary effect caused in the dust collecting means by the high-speed swirling airflow in the centrifuge chamber is provided. Since the swirling airflow collides with the shielding member and suddenly changes direction, dust having a large mass is separated from the airflow by inertial force, so that the separation of the dust is promoted. The separated dust is prevented from further swiveling by the shielding member and does not soar again.
[0041]
Further, according to the present invention, a rib projecting toward the windward direction of the swirling airflow is formed on the side edge of the shielding plate. Therefore, the swirling airflow is branched by the rib and is directed toward the center of the dust collecting means. The air flow toward it collects the dust near the center and compresses the dust with the shielding plate.
[0042]
Further, in the present invention, since the shielding plate is bent toward the windward direction of the swirling airflow from approximately the middle, the airflow is branched due to the bent portion, and the airflow toward the center of the dust collecting means removes the dust. It accumulates near the center and compresses dust between the shield plates.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cyclone dust collecting apparatus showing a first embodiment of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus taken along a line AA in FIG. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the dust cup taken along line B-B in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing a second embodiment of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention. Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention in the same horizontal sectional view as Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cyclone dust collecting apparatus showing a fourth embodiment of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which dust is discharged from the dust cup shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner provided with a cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to the present invention. Schematic diagram of the machine [Fig. 10] A longitudinal sectional view of a conventional cyclone dust collector [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner 2 Main body 3 Electric blower 4 Suction hose 5 Connection pipe 6 Suction port body 7 Suction port 8 Cyclone dust collector 9 Dust cup (dust collecting means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cyclone main body 11 Connecting pipe 12 Centrifugal chamber 14 Exhaust pipe 21 Opening part (of centrifugal chamber)
22 Opening (in the dust cup)
40 Separating member 50 Shielding members 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d Shielding plate 58 Contact portion 59 Weight (mass increasing means)
60 Support member 62 Stopper 63 Buffer member

Claims

Dust on the floor surface is sucked from the suction port by the air flow generated by the operation of the electric blower, the air flow sucked through the intake passage communicating with the suction port is separated from the dust, and the separated dust is dust In a vacuum cleaner equipped with a cyclone dust collecting device that accumulates in the accumulating means,
A plurality of shielding plates project radially from the center of the dust collecting means toward the inner peripheral wall at the lower part of the dust collecting means, and between the side edge of the shielding plate and the inner peripheral wall of the dust collecting means. A space exists,
A vacuum cleaner characterized in that a rib protruding toward the windward direction of the swirling airflow is formed on a side edge of the shielding plate .

Dust on the floor surface is sucked from the suction port by the air flow generated by the operation of the electric blower, the air flow sucked through the intake passage communicating with the suction port is separated from the dust, and the separated dust is dust In a vacuum cleaner equipped with a cyclone dust collecting device that accumulates in the accumulating means ,
A plurality of shielding plates project radially from the center of the dust collecting means toward the inner peripheral wall at the lower part of the dust collecting means, and between the side edge of the shielding plate and the inner peripheral wall of the dust collecting means. A space exists,
The vacuum cleaner , wherein the shielding plate is bent from approximately the middle of the shielding plate toward the windward direction of the swirling airflow .