JP5866976B2 - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner connected to an intake system of an automobile engine, and more particularly to a drain structure for discharging water that has entered a housing of the air cleaner to the outside.

Conventionally, as this type of air cleaner, for example, configurations such as a first conventional configuration (Patent Document 1) and a second conventional configuration described below have been proposed.
In the first conventional configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the housing 41 of the air cleaner includes a lower first case 42 having an air inlet 42a and an upper side having an air outlet 43a. The second case 43. A filter 44 is interposed between the first case 42 and the second case 43 in a horizontally placed state. A drain hole 45 is formed in the bottom wall of the first case 42 for discharging water that has entered the first case 42 to the outside.

  In the second conventional configuration, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, between the first case 42 on one side provided with the air inlet 42a and the second case 43 on the other side provided with the air outlet 43a, A frame portion 44a on the outer periphery of the vertically placed filter 44 is interposed. The first case 42, the second case 43, and the frame portion 44a constitute an air cleaner housing 41. A drain hole 45 is formed in the bottom wall of the first case 42 for discharging water that has entered the first case 42 to the outside.

JP-A-2005-76599

  In the first conventional configuration, with the air cleaner mounted in the engine room of the vehicle, the dusty side in the first case 42 is arranged on the lower side, and the clean side in the second case 43 is on the upper side. Placed in. For this reason, even if water enters the dusty side in the first case 42, there is little possibility that the water will enter the clean side in the second case 43 through the horizontally placed filter 44.

  In the second conventional configuration, a drain hole 45 is formed in the bottom wall of the first case 42. That is, in a state where the air cleaner is mounted in the engine room of the vehicle, the dusty side in the first case 42 and the clean side in the second case 43 are arranged at substantially the same height on the horizontal plane. For this reason, if the drain hole 45 does not exist, the water that has entered the dusty side in the first case 42 may enter the clean side in the second case 43 through the lower part of the vertically placed filter 44.

  However, as shown in FIG. 11, when a plurality of reinforcing ribs 46 project from the inner surface of the bottom wall of the first case 42 and the reinforcing ribs 46 are disposed around the drain hole 45, Since the flow of water is blocked by the reinforcing rib 46, the water on the filter 44 side from the drain hole 45 hardly moves to the drain hole 45 side against the air flow. It may not be possible to perform the removal effectively. In such a case, the risk of water entering the clean side in the second case 43 from the dusty side in the first case 42 increases.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. The purpose is to provide an air cleaner that can effectively discharge water that has entered the dusty side in the first case to the outside, and can suppress the risk of the water entering the clean side in the second case. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention interposes a frame portion on the outer periphery of a vertically placed filter between a first case having an air inlet and a second case having an air outlet, In the air cleaner in which the housing is constituted by the first case, the second case, and the frame portion , water is provided between the lower ends of the first case and the frame portion and at the filter-side edge portion of the first case. A drainage portion is provided, a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided on the inner bottom portion of the first case, the reinforcing ribs protrude toward the filter side, and the drainage portion is formed between the protruding end portions of the reinforcing ribs. And Here, the vertically placed filter refers to a filter configured to filter air flowing in the lateral direction.

  Therefore, in the air cleaner according to the present invention, even when the dusty side in the first case and the clean side in the second case are arranged at substantially the same height on the horizontal plane in the state of being mounted in the engine room, The water that has entered the dusty side in the case can be effectively discharged to the outside from the drainage portion provided between the lower ends of the first case and the frame portion of the filter. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the possibility that water that has entered the dusty side in the first case enters the clean side in the second case through the vertically placed filter.

The said structure WHEREIN: It is good to make the upper edge of the lower end part of the said frame part higher than the bottom wall inner surface of a 1st case.
The said structure WHEREIN: It is good to make the said reinforcement rib contact | abut to the frame part of a filter.

  As described above, according to the present invention, water that has entered the dusty side in the first case can be smoothly discharged to the outside, and the risk of the water entering the clean side in the second case is suppressed. Demonstrate the effect that you can.

Sectional drawing which shows the air cleaner of 1st Embodiment. The fragmentary sectional view which expands and shows a part of air cleaner of FIG. The fragmentary sectional view in the 3-3 line of FIG. The fragmentary perspective view which shows the edge part of the 1st case of the same air cleaner. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the air cleaner of 2nd Embodiment. The fragmentary perspective view which shows the edge part of the 1st case of the same air cleaner. (A) And (b) is a partial top view which shows the example of a change of the edge part of a 1st case. (A) is sectional drawing of the air cleaner which shows the example of a change, (b) is a side view of the filter used for the air cleaner. Sectional drawing which shows the conventional air cleaner. Sectional drawing which shows the structure from which the conventional air cleaner differs. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an air cleaner embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air cleaner housing 21 is vertically arranged between a first case 22 disposed on one side, a second case 23 disposed on the other side, and open ends of both cases 22, 23. It is comprised from the frame part 24a of the outer periphery of the filter 24 interposed in the state. An air inlet 22 a communicating with the atmosphere is formed on the side wall of the first case 22. An air outlet 23 a connected to the intake system of the engine is formed on the side wall of the second case 23. A filter medium part 24 b for filtering air is provided inside the frame part 24 a of the filter 24.

  A metal gasket 25 is interposed between the peripheral edge excluding the lower end edge of the opening end of the first case 22 and the frame 24a of the filter 24 to prevent water from entering the first case 22. ing. An annular sealing material 26 for maintaining airtightness is interposed between the opening end of the second case 23 and the frame 24a of the filter 24. Between the opening ends of the first case 22 and the second case 23, a latching portion 27 for latching both cases 22 and 23 so as to be openable and closable, and for fastening both cases 22 and 23 in a closed state. A clamp 28 is provided. Then, by removing the clamp 28, it is possible to open the space between the first case 22 and the second case 23 and replace the filter 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water that has entered the first case 22 is discharged to the outside between the lower ends of the first case 22 and the lower end of the frame 24 a of the filter 24. The water drain part 29 is provided. The drainage portion 29 is constituted by a plurality of rectangular recess portions 30 formed at the edge of the first case 22 on the filter 24 side.

  The inner bottom portion of the first case 22 is formed so as to incline downward toward the drainage portion 29, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 31 are parallel to the inner surface of the bottom wall of the first case 22 toward the filter 24 side. It is formed to extend. The reinforcing rib 31 may be formed so as to extend over the entire upper wall inner surface, side wall inner surface, and bottom wall inner surface of the first case 22. Then, these reinforcing ribs 31 are projected to the filter 24 side, and the protruding end portion 31a abuts on the frame portion 24a of the filter 24, so that the protruding end portion 31a of the reinforcing rib 31 is shown in FIG. The recesses 30 are respectively formed between them.

  In addition, when the cases 28 and 23 are fastened by the clamp 28, the protruding end portions 31a of the reinforcing ribs 31 on the first case 22 are pressed against the frame portion 24a by the repulsive force of the clamp 28, so that the frame The lower end portion of the portion 24 a is pressed against the second case 23 side, and the sealing material 26 ensures airtightness between the filter 24 and the second case 23. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of the drainage portion 29, the upper edge of the lower end portion of the frame portion 24 a is configured to be higher than the inner surface of the bottom wall of the first case 22.

Next, the operation of the air cleaner configured as described above will be described.
When the engine is operated, air is introduced into the first case 22 from the air inlet 22a, is filtered by the filter 24, reaches the second case 23, and is sent from the air outlet 23a to the engine.

  In a state where the air cleaner is mounted in the engine room of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 1, the dusty side in the first case 22 and the clean side in the second case 23 are at substantially the same height on the horizontal plane. Be placed. In this state, when water enters the dusty side in the first case 22 from the air inlet 22a or the like, the water follows the air flow, and the filter 24 side along the descending inclined surface of the bottom wall of the first case 22 The water is stopped at the inner peripheral edge of the lower end portion of the frame portion 24a, and is discharged outwardly from the drainage portion 29 provided at the end edge portion of the first case 22. Therefore, there is no possibility that water may enter the clean side in the second case 23 from the dusty side through the vertically placed filter 24.

  Further, in this air cleaner, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 31 are formed on the inner bottom portion of the first case 22, but these reinforcing ribs 31 are protruded toward the filter 24, and a drainage portion is provided between the protruding end portions 31a. A plurality of recesses 30 constituting 29 are formed. For this reason, the water flowing through the inner bottom portion of the first case 22 flows smoothly toward the concave portions 30 without being disturbed by the reinforcing ribs 31 and is discharged from the concave portions 30 to the outside without any trouble.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In this air cleaner, an outer peripheral frame portion 24a of the filter 24 in a vertically placed state is interposed between a first case 22 having an air inlet 22a and a second case 23 having an air outlet 23a. Yes. A drainage portion 29 is provided between the lower ends of the first case 22 and the frame portion 24a.

  For this reason, even if the dusty side in the first case 22 and the clean side in the second case 23 are arranged at substantially the same height on the horizontal plane in a state where the air cleaner is mounted on the engine room, the first case 22 The water that has entered the dusty side inside can be immediately discharged to the outside from the drainage portion 29 provided between the lower ends of the first case 22 and the frame portion 24a of the filter 24. Therefore, the risk that water that has entered the dusty side in the first case 22 enters the clean side in the second case 23 through the vertically placed filter 24 can be suppressed.

  (2) In this air cleaner, the drainage portion 29 is constituted by a concave portion 30 formed at the edge of the first case 22 on the filter 24 side. For this reason, while the structure of the drain part 29 is simple, the water which penetrate | invaded the dusty side in the 1st case 22 can be discharged | emitted smoothly outside.

  (3) In this air cleaner, the reinforcing rib 31 is provided on the inner bottom portion of the first case 22, and the reinforcing rib 31 protrudes toward the filter 24, whereby the recess 30 is formed between the protruding end portions 31 a of the reinforcing rib 31. Is formed. For this reason, the reinforcing rib 31 provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall of the first case 22 does not get in the way, and the water in the dusty side is smoothly discharged from the recess 30 between the protruding end portions 31a of the reinforcing rib 31 to the outside. can do.

  (4) This air cleaner is configured such that the upper edge of the lower end portion of the frame portion 24 a is higher than the inner surface of the bottom wall of the first case 22. For this reason, it is difficult for the water in the dusty side to exceed the upper edge of the lower end of the frame portion 24a, and the risk of water entering the clean side can be more effectively suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of an air cleaner embodying the present invention will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one recess 30 constituting the drainage portion 29 is cut out at the edge of the lower end portion of the first case 22 on the filter 24 side. ing. Further, the end portions of the plurality of reinforcing ribs 31 provided on the inner bottom portion of the first case 22 are spaced from the end edge of the first case 22 without extending to the end edge of the first case 22. Placed in position. For this reason, the water flowing through the inner bottom portion of the first case 22 flows smoothly into one recess 30 without being obstructed by the reinforcing ribs 31 and is discharged.

Therefore, also in the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effects as the effects described in (1), (2) and (4) in the first embodiment.
(Example of change)
In addition, this embodiment can also be changed and embodied as follows.

  -As shown to Fig.7 (a), while forming a corrugated uneven part in the edge of the 1st case 22, and forming the drain part 29 by each recessed part 30 of the uneven part, each convex of an uneven part Reinforcing ribs 31 are provided corresponding to the portions.

  -As shown in FIG.7 (b), while forming the trapezoidal uneven | corrugated | grooved part in the edge of the 1st case 22, and forming the drainage part 29 by each recessed part 30 of the uneven | corrugated | grooved part, Reinforcing ribs 31 are provided corresponding to the portions.

-Omit the metal gasket 25 between the first case 22 and the frame 24a of the filter 24.
-Use a cylindrical filter 24 as shown in FIGS. That is, the flat filter paper 24c is spirally wound, the corrugated filter paper 24d is disposed in the spiral space, and one of the other one end openings between the flat filter paper 24c and the corrugated filter paper 24d is closed with the filler 24e. In addition, every other other end opening is closed with a filler 24e, so that air from one end opening that is not closed passes through both filter papers 24c and 24d and exits from the other end opening that is not closed. A cylindrical filter medium portion 24b having a shape is formed. And the cylindrical frame part 24a is provided in the outer periphery of the intermediate part of the axial direction of the filter medium part 24b. As shown in FIG. 8A, the filter 24 configured in this way is assembled to the housing 21 so that its axis extends in the lateral direction. The drainage part 29 is provided in the lower part of the peripheral wall of the first case 22.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Housing of air cleaner, 22 ... 1st case, 22a ... Air inlet, 23 ... 2nd case, 23a ... Air outlet, 24 ... Filter, 24a ... Frame part, 24b ... Filter material part, 29 ... Drain part, 30 ... Recess, 31 ... reinforcing rib, 31a ... projecting end.

Claims (3)

The first case, the second case, and the frame portion are interposed between a first case having an air inlet and a second case having an air outlet, with an outer peripheral frame portion of the filter placed vertically. In the air cleaner that composes the housing,
Between the first case and the lower end of the frame , and provided with a drainage portion at the filter side edge of the first case ,
An air cleaner characterized in that a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided on the inner bottom portion of the first case, the reinforcing ribs protrude toward the filter, and the drainage portion is formed between the protruding end portions of the reinforcing ribs . The air cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein an upper edge of a lower end portion of the frame portion is made higher than an inner surface of a bottom wall of the first case. An air cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that is brought into contact with the reinforcing rib to a frame portion of the filter.