JP6422320B2 - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Description

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

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

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

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

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

JP 2004-251119 A

  The air cleaner described in Patent Document 1 is a sub-air chamber that serves as a breather chamber for returning the blow-by gas of an internal combustion engine to an intake device that includes an air cleaner and a connecting tube that is provided downstream of the air cleaner and is connected to a fuel supply device. A chamber is provided, the connecting tube is extended inward of the air cleaner case, the filter element is directly supported by the connecting tube, and a case member having an opening at the tip is integrally projected on the inner wall of the air cleaner case. A lid is provided at the opening of the member to form the sub-chamber, and a joint portion is provided on the lid, the joint portion having a communication path that projects toward the connecting tube and communicates from the sub-chamber to the connecting tube. Tube extension Characterized in that linked directly in.

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

  However, according to the structure of the air cleaner described above, since the sub chamber is formed by providing a lid at the opening of the case member, the structure of the case member is complicated, and it is difficult to easily form the sub chamber. There was a problem that it was difficult to make it easier.

  In addition, the connecting tube formed at one end of the filter element has a structure in which the tip of the connecting tube is fitted, and in order to securely seal between the connecting tube and the connecting tube, the connecting tube is connected from the outer periphery of the connecting tube by a band or the like. There is a problem that it is very difficult to attach the band inside the air cleaner.

  Note that the filter element is a part that needs to be replaced periodically because its filtration performance deteriorates due to use, and a configuration in which such a defective assembly may cause a safety problem.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to reliably assemble a circular type filter element to a connecting tube with a simple configuration and simplify the structure of component parts such as a case member. An object of the present invention is to provide an air cleaner capable of reducing the overall size.

An air cleaner according to the present invention has a case member and a cover member combined to form a hollow interior, and a cylindrical filter element is accommodated in the interior, and an inlet port for introducing outside air and the outside air filtered by the filter element An air cleaner having a mounting hole to which a connecting tube for supplying the internal combustion engine is mounted, wherein the filter element includes a pair of end plates attached to both ends in the axial direction, and extends from one end plate in the axial direction. the formed cylindrical connection opening together with the connecting tube is connected, provided with filtering means on the sides, the one end plate, the outer peripheral surface and the counter at a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface of the connecting port includes a picture-defining wall which is axially extended form to the connection port, the peripheral and the image-defining wall through the communicating hole communicating hole is formed Space and have the continuous and the inner peripheral surface side of the connecting port between the one end of the connecting tube by engaging said connecting port and said image-defining wall, the outer peripheral surface of the connection opening, wherein A breather chamber for recirculating blow-by gas of the internal combustion engine is formed by the inner peripheral surface of the defining wall and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting tube.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the defining wall is formed eccentric from the axial direction of the connection port.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the defining wall is formed concentrically with the axial direction of the connection port.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the functional chamber is divided into two or more by a partition wall.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting tube and the case member are connected to each other by an automatic assembly means.

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

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, a function chamber having a function as a breather chamber or a resonator chamber is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the connection port, the inner peripheral surface of the defining wall, and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting tube. In addition to simplifying the structure, the function chamber can be easily formed, and the air cleaner can be miniaturized.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, since the defining wall is formed eccentrically from the axial direction of the connection port, it is possible to easily secure the volume of the functional chamber.

  In addition, since the air cleaner according to the present invention has the defining wall formed concentrically with the axial direction of the connection port, the space in the vicinity of the connection portion with the connecting tube is effectively utilized to secure the volume of the functional chamber. Is possible.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, since the inside of the functional chamber is divided into two or more by the partition wall, for example, a functional chamber having two functions of a breather chamber and a resonator chamber can be formed.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, since the connecting tube and the case member are connected to each other by the automatic assembling means, the manufacture of the air cleaner can be automated, and the connecting tube and the case member can be assembled easily and reliably. Can be done.

The perspective view of the air cleaner concerning a 1st embodiment. The partial sectional view of the air cleaner concerning a 1st embodiment. The perspective view of the filter element integrated in the air cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. AA sectional drawing in FIG. The enlarged view of the connecting tube for demonstrating the automatic assembly | attachment means of the air cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The enlarged view of the case member for demonstrating the automatic assembly | attachment means of the air cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the assembly | attachment procedure of the automatic assembly | attachment means of the air cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view of the air cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The partial sectional view of the air cleaner concerning a 2nd embodiment. The top view of the air cleaner integrated in the air cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air cleaner according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air cleaner according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an air cleaner according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a connecting tube for explaining the automatic assembly means of the air cleaner according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the case member for explaining the automatic assembly means of the air cleaner according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an automatic view of the air cleaner according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the assembly | attachment procedure of an assembly means.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment is formed in a bottomed box shape with a connecting tube 30 attached and a case member 20 formed in a bottomed box shape and an inflow port 11. The cover member 10 thus formed is combined so that the openings are aligned with each other to form a hollow interior.

  The air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a drain hole 15 that communicates with the outside air. As described above, the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment is configured to be able to discharge the water accumulated inside the air cleaner 1 through the drain hole 15 to the outside.

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

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment accommodates a cylindrical filter element 40 and is connected to one end of the filter element 40 and is attached to the mounting member 21 formed in the case member 20. A connecting tube 30 extending from the air cleaner 1 to the outside of the air cleaner 1 is provided. Further, the end of the filter element 40 opposite to the side to which the connecting tube 30 is attached is in contact with the rib 12 protruding from the inner wall 13 formed on the cover member 10, and in the state where the cover member 10 is attached, the filter element 40 is prevented from moving in the axial direction.

  With this configuration, in the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, the outside air introduced from the inflow port 11 passes through the inside of the cover member 10 to reach the outer peripheral surface of the filter element 40, and the filter element 40 is moved from the outside to the inside. When the outside air is filtered, the outside air is supplied to the internal combustion engine via the connecting tube 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the filter element 40 includes a filter means 41 that is formed into a tubular shape by folding a sheet-like filter medium into a bowl shape, butting both ends in a direction orthogonal to the folding direction, and an axial direction of the filter means 41. It is comprised from the lower side end plate 42 and the upper side end plate 43 as a synthetic resin material attached to both end surfaces. The filtering means 41 is integrally joined to the lower end plate 42 and the upper end plate 43 by fusion or bonding. As the filtering means 41, a known filter medium such as a nonwoven fabric or filter paper is preferably used, and both ends are well-known such as welding using ultrasonic waves, bonding using a hot melt resin, or bonding using a caulking member. It is joined by joining means.

  The lower end plate 42 and the upper end plate 43 are made of, for example, a thermoplastic synthetic resin. For example, various thermoplastic synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene are preferably used. The upper end plate 43 to which the connecting tube 30 is connected is formed with a cylindrical connection port 44 extending in the axial direction from the outer periphery of the filtering means 41 toward the inner periphery of the filtering means 41. The fluid filtered by flowing through the connection port 44 can be discharged to the outside of the air cleaner 1 through the connecting tube 30.

  Further, the upper end plate 43 is formed with an defining wall 45 extending in the axial direction at a predetermined interval from the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44. The defining wall 45 is disposed so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44. In the present embodiment, the defining wall 45 is eccentric from the axial direction of the connection port 44 and opposes substantially half of the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44. . In addition, a communication hole 46 is formed in the connection port 44, and a space between the defining wall 45 and the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44 and an inner peripheral surface side of the connection port 44 are connected via the communication hole 46. It is continuous.

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

  The seal portion 34 is formed in a generally cup shape by a continuous portion 37 extending in the radial direction from the outer peripheral wall of the connecting tube 30 and an outer seal portion 38 formed by hanging from the end of the continuous portion 37. An inner seal portion 33 formed corresponding to the outer shape of the connection port 44 and the defining wall 45 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the portion 34. The inner seal portion 33 is hermetically assembled to the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44 and the defining wall 45 of the filter element 40 to seal the inner peripheral surface of the connection port 44 and the defining wall 45.

  A groove 32 that fits into the mounting hole 21 of the case member 20 extends along the circumferential direction at the tip of the outer seal portion 38, and the connecting tube 30 is fixed to the mounting hole 21 by the groove 32. Has been.

  In this way, by assembling the connecting tube 30 to the filter element 40, the functional chamber 50 is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44, the inner peripheral surface of the defining wall 45, and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting tube 30.

  The function chamber 50 functions as a breather chamber that introduces blow-by gas generated in the internal combustion engine through the blow-by connection port 39 formed in the outer seal portion 38 and returns the blow-by gas into the air cleaner 1 through the communication hole 46. Can be made.

  Thus, the air cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment forms the defining wall 45 in the filter element 40 and functions by the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44, the inner peripheral surface of the defining wall 45, and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting tube 30. Since the chamber 50 is formed, it is possible to easily configure a functional chamber having various functions. In addition to temporarily storing the blow-by gas as the blow-by chamber described above, the function performed by the functional chamber is to introduce noise into the functional chamber 50 through the communication hole 46 into the functional chamber 50. It is also possible to function as a resonator chamber that reduces the resonance frequency according to the volume of 50.

  The connecting tube 30 and the case member 20 are connected to each other by automatic assembling means. This automatic assembly means will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the end surface 30a of the seal portion 34 of the connecting tube 30 has an inclined surface 32a inclined so as to intersect with the extending direction of the groove portion 32 so that the end surface 30a and the groove portion 32 are continuous. Is formed. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the seal portion 34, an engagement rib 30b protruding in the radial direction is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a notch 22 protruding in the radial direction is formed in the mounting hole 21 of the case member 20, and the outer peripheral surface of the case member 20 is formed at the edge of the mounting hole 21. A pair of engaging protrusions 23 are formed. In addition, introduction portions 22 a, 22 a, and 23 a that are inclined with respect to each other are formed at end portions of the engagement protrusion 23 and the notch 22 in the circumferential direction.

  Next, the attachment procedure of the automatic assembly means will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 7A, the inclined surface 32a of the connecting tube 30 is inserted into the notch 22 formed in the mounting hole 21 of the case member 20, and the connecting tube 30 and the case member 20 are temporarily mounted. Assemble.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the connecting tube 30 is rotated in the circumferential direction, the inclined surface 32a moves along the outer edge of the mounting hole 21 via the introduction portion 22a, thereby The outer edge can be assembled to the groove 32.

  The connecting tube 30 and the case member 20 are fixed to each other in the circumferential direction by engaging the engaging rib 30b between the engaging protrusions 23 as shown in FIG. 7C. Since the engaging protrusion 23 is formed with the introducing portion 23a, the engaging rib 32b can easily get over the one engaging protrusion 23 and be locked to the engaging protrusion 23 by rotating in the direction of the arrow. Can do.

  Thus, since the air cleaner 1 which concerns on this embodiment connects and connects the connecting tube 30 and the case member 20 by an automatic assembly means, when assembling the connecting tube 30, the connecting tube 30 is elastically deformed. Then, after inserting the inclined surface 32a of the connecting tube 30 into the notch 22 of the mounting hole 21 without inserting it into the mounting hole 21, the connecting tube 30 and the case member are simply rotated in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the assembly work using a robot or the like can be easily automated.

  In the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, the connecting tube 30 forms a simple seal structure by assembling the outer edge of the mounting hole 21 to the groove portion 32, and the inside of the air cleaner 1 is configured as a dust side. Thus, the groove portion 32 does not need a sealing performance as high as that of the clean side and can adopt a simple sealing structure.

  As described above, the air cleaner according to the present embodiment has been described with respect to the case where the defining wall 45 is formed eccentrically with respect to the connection port 44 of the filter element 40. However, the definition wall is limited to being arranged eccentrically. I can't. Then, next, the air cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment provided with the defined wall of a form different from 1st Embodiment is demonstrated.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an air cleaner according to the second embodiment, FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air cleaner according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 10 is an air cleaner according to the second embodiment. It is a top view of the air cleaner integrated in a. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same or similar member as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the air cleaner 1a according to this embodiment, the seal portion 34a formed at one end of the connecting tube 30a is concentric with the connection port 44a formed in the upper end plate 43a of the filter element 40a. It is formed and assembled.

  The upper end plate 43a is formed with an defining wall 45a that is concentric with the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44a and spaced apart from the axial direction so as to correspond to the seal portion 34a of the connecting tube 30a. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the defining wall 45a is disposed so as to cover the entire outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44a, and between the defining wall 45a and the connecting port 44a, the inner peripheral surface of the defining wall 45a. And a pair of partition walls 47, 47 that are continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44a.

  With this structure, the connecting tube 30a is assembled to the filter element 40a in the same manner as the air cleaner 1 according to the first embodiment described above, whereby the outer peripheral surface of the connection port 44a, the inner peripheral surface of the defining wall 45a, and the connecting tube 30a. A first functional chamber 51 and a second functional chamber 52 are formed by the inner peripheral surface and the partition wall 47.

  Thus, since the defining wall 45a is formed concentrically with the connection port 44a, when the connecting tube 30a is assembled by the automatic assembling means described in the air cleaner 1 according to the first embodiment, the connecting tube 30a Positioning with the case member 20 is not required, and the connecting tube 30a can be assembled more easily.

  In the air cleaner 1 a according to this embodiment, the functional chamber is divided into a first functional chamber 51 and a second functional chamber 52 by a partition wall 47. Accordingly, for example, the first function chamber 51 can function as a blow-by chamber and the second function chamber can function as a resonator chamber, so that two functions can be provided.

  In the air cleaners 1 and 1a according to the first and second embodiments described above, the case member 20 and the cover member 10 are assembled in a detachable manner by using an engaging means such as an uneven engagement. However, you may comprise so that it may mutually assemble | attach using well-known fastening means, such as a screw.

  Further, the case where the lower end plate 42 and the upper end plates 43, 43a of the filter elements 40, 40a are made of synthetic resin has been described. It doesn't matter. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  1, 1a Air cleaner, 10 Cover member, 11 Inlet port, 12 Rib, 13 Inner wall, 20 Case member, 21 Mounting hole, 22 Notch, 23 Engagement projection, 30, 30a Connecting tube, 31 Outlet port, 32 Groove, 32a Inclined surface, 32b engagement rib, 33 inner seal part, 34, 34a seal part, 40, 40a filter element, 41 filtration means, 42 lower end plate, 43, 43a upper end plate, 44 connection port, 45, 45a The building wall, 46 communication holes, 47 partition walls, 50 function rooms, 51 first function room, 52 second function room.

Claims (5)

A case member and a cover member are combined to form a hollow interior, and a cylindrical filter element is accommodated therein, and an inflow port for introducing outside air and a connection for supplying outside air filtered by the filter element to an internal combustion engine An air cleaner comprising a mounting hole to which a tube is mounted,
The filter element has a pair of end plates attached to both ends in the axial direction, and the connecting tube is connected to a cylindrical connection port formed to extend in the axial direction from one end plate, and the side surface is filtered. With means,
The one end plate includes an defining wall formed to extend in the axial direction so as to face the outer peripheral surface at a predetermined interval from the outer peripheral surface of the connection port,
In the connection port, a communication hole is formed, and a space between the defining wall and the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface side of the connection port are continuous through the communication hole.
One end of the connecting tube engages with the connection port and the defining wall, so that the outer peripheral surface of the connection port, the inner peripheral surface of the defining wall, and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting tube are blow- by of the internal combustion engine. An air cleaner characterized in that a breather chamber for refluxing gas is formed. The air cleaner according to claim 1,
The air cleaner is characterized in that the defining wall is formed eccentrically from the axial direction of the connection port. The air cleaner according to claim 1,
The air cleaner is characterized in that the defining wall is formed concentrically with the axial direction of the connection port. In the air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The air cleaner is characterized in that the inside of the breather chamber is divided into two or more by a partition wall. In the air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The air cleaner, wherein the connecting tube and the case member are connected to each other by automatic assembling means.

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