JPH03123521A - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sufficiently kill harmful microbes without excessively raising the temperature of an electrically-driven air blower by disposing a far infrared ray radiator within the chamber of dust collecting chamber of warm air circulating channel of exhaust air from the electrically-driven air blower. CONSTITUTION:A far infrared ray radiator 26 is disposed within a dust collecting chamber 18 by mounting a return current channel communicating with the dust collecting chamber. Then when the exhaust side of an electrically- driven air blower is connected to the dust chamber, and the electrically-driven air blower is driven, heated exhaust air is sent back to the dust collecting chamber through return current channel to kill harmful microbes in the dust collecting chamber. At this moment, the far infrared ray radiator in the dust chamber absorbs thermal energy from the heated air stream, and emits it in the form of far infrared ray. Since far infrared ray penetrades into organisms with ease, harmful microbes can be effectively killed at rather low temperature, and the motor of the air blower needs not to be over-heated. Besides even when the electric air blower is turned off at an earlier time, the far infrared ray, which continues to be radiated from the accumulated far infrared ray radiator will never fail to kill harmful microbes.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner using a vacuum suction method using an electric blower, and in particular, the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner using a vacuum suction method using an electric blower. It relates to something that is circulated in a room to kill harmful microorganisms such as mites in the dust collection room.

(Prior art) Conventionally, a vacuum cleaner that kills harmful microorganisms in a dust collection chamber by circulating hot air using exhaust air from an electric blower is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7774/1983. The vacuum cleaner has a structure in which one end is connected to the suction port of the vacuum cleaner body and an exhaust port to which the other end of the dust suction hose can be connected, and the exhaust air from the electric blower is exhausted. The dust is returned to the dust collection chamber from the mouth through the hose and suction port. Also, Japanese Patent Publication No. 111922
As described in Publication No. 0, a structure is also adopted in which a recirculation air path is formed in the vacuum cleaner body for recirculating exhaust air from an electric blower into a dust collection chamber. In addition, in these conventional vacuum cleaners, when the temperature of hot air exceeds a certain value, the electric blower is automatically stopped by controlling a thermoswitch.

In any case, in these vacuum cleaners, the hot air circulation path between the dust collection chamber and the electric blower forms a closed system.
The temperature of the motor of the electric blower rises rapidly, and therefore, for safety, hot air circulation must be stopped early. However, if hot air circulation is stopped early, the temperature of the dust in the dust collection chamber will drop before it rises sufficiently, making it impossible to kill harmful microorganisms sufficiently.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, in conventional vacuum cleaners that use the exhaust air from an electric blower to kill harmful microorganisms such as dust mites in the dust collection chamber, it is difficult to prevent the excessive temperature rise of the electric blower. If this electric blower is stopped early in order to prevent this, the temperature inside the dust collection chamber begins to drop before it rises sufficiently, causing the problem that harmful microorganisms cannot be killed sufficiently.

The present invention aims to solve these problems, and when killing harmful microorganisms in the dust collection chamber by circulating hot air using exhaust air from an electric blower, the temperature of the electric blower etc. is raised excessively. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner that can sufficiently kill harmful microorganisms without causing harmful microorganisms.

[Structure of the invention,]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention comprises a vacuum cleaner body having an electric blower chamber and a dust collection chamber therein, a fan and an electric motor that rotationally drives the fan, and the suction side communicates with the dust collection chamber. A vacuum cleaner comprising: an electric blower built in the electric blower chamber; and a recirculation means such as a hose or a recirculation air passage within the vacuum cleaner body that communicates the exhaust side of the electric blower with the dust collection chamber, In order to achieve the above object, a far-infrared radiator made of ceramics or the like is disposed within the dust collection chamber.

Furthermore, a large number of vents including hexagonal holes, round holes, square holes, etc. may be formed in the far-infrared radiator.

(Function) In the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, when killing harmful microorganisms such as mites in the dust accumulated in the dust collection chamber, the exhaust side of the electric blower in the vacuum cleaner body and the dust collection chamber are communicated by the recirculation means. Then, drive the electric blower. Then, the heated exhaust air from the electric blower is returned to the dust collection chamber via the recirculation means, creating a circulating airflow around the electric blower and the dust collection chamber.

This increases the temperature inside the dust collection chamber, and the heat kills harmful microorganisms within the dust collection chamber. At this time, a far-infrared radiator in the dust collection chamber absorbs thermal energy from the heated air stream and emits it in the form of far-infrared radiation into the dust collection chamber. Since far-infrared rays easily penetrate into organic matter, harmful microorganisms are effectively killed even at low temperatures, and the temperature of the motor of the electric blower can be prevented from rising excessively.

Furthermore, even if this electric blower is stopped early,
The far-infrared rays that are continuously emitted from the far-infrared radiator that has accumulated thermal energy continue to heat the dust in the dust collection chamber.
Harmful microorganisms in this dust are reliably killed.

Furthermore, in the vacuum cleaner according to the second aspect of the present invention, thermal energy is efficiently absorbed by the far-infrared ray radiator by passing a heated air flow through a large number of ventilation portions in the far-infrared ray radiator.

(Example) Hereinafter, configurations of embodiments of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a vacuum cleaner body, and this vacuum cleaner body 11 consists of a body case 12 and a lid body 13.

In the vacuum cleaner main body 11, a grid-like communication opening 1 is provided.
The dust collection chamber 1 is opened upward by a partition wall 17 having 6
8 is partitioned in the front part, and this dust collection chamber 1
An electric blower room 19 is sectioned at the rear of the air blower 8 .

A paper dust collection bag 22 serving as a main dust collection filter is detachably mounted in the dust collection chamber 18 by a holder 21 pivotally mounted within the dust collection chamber 18. Further, an auxiliary dust collecting filter 23 that covers the communication port 16 is detachably attached to the front surface of the partition wall 17. Incidentally, the dust collection bag 22 and the auxiliary dust collection filter 23 are attached to and removed from the dust collection chamber 18 through the upper opening thereof.

Furthermore, a far-infrared radiator 26 is disposed within the dust collection chamber 18. This far-infrared radiator 26 is attached, for example, to the front surface of the auxiliary dust collecting filter 23.

The far-infrared radiator 26 is made of, for example, zirconium-based ceramics, and has a rectangular flat plate shape, as shown in detail in FIG. In addition, the far-infrared radiator 26 has a honeycomb shape and has a large number of ventilation portions 27 made of hexagonal holes extending in the front-rear direction.

On the other hand, an electric blower 31 is disposed within the electric blower room 19 . This electric blower 31 includes a fan (not shown), an electric motor 32 that rotationally drives the fan,
It consists of a fan cover 33 containing the fan, and the like. An air intake port 34 is located in the center of this fan cover 33.
is formed with an opening.

On the other hand, an exhaust port (not shown) is formed in the frame of the electric motor 32. And the electric blower 31
The front and rear sides are supported by support walls 35 and 36 formed in the electric blower chamber 24 via rubber supports 37 and 311. Front support wall 35 and rubber support 37
has an annular shape, so that the electric blower 31
The air intake port 34 is in close communication with the dust collection chamber 18 via the communication port 16.

Note that a power cord 39 for feeding power to the electric motor 32, which uses an external AC power source as a driving power source, is led out from the rear of the vacuum cleaner main body 11.

Furthermore, an exhaust chamber 41 is defined within the vacuum cleaner main body 11 and located behind the electric blower chamber 24, and a main exhaust filter 42 is attached to the exhaust chamber 41. A lattice-shaped exhaust port 43 is formed on the outer rear surface of the main body case 12 of the vacuum cleaner main body 11 and communicates with the exhaust port of the electric blower 31 via the exhaust filter 42. Note that this exhaust port 43 is covered from the inside by an auxiliary exhaust filter 44.

The lid body 13 has a rear end pivotally attached to the main body case I2, and covers the dust collection chamber 18 so as to be openable and closable from above. In order to hold the lid 13 in a closed state, a clamp 46 is pivotally attached to the front surface of the lid 13, and the clamp 46 is detachably attached to the front of the main body case 12. A locking portion 47 that is engaged with is formed.

A substantially cylindrical suction port 5 that communicates with the dust collection chamber 18 and opens upwardly and outwardly is provided in the front part of the lid body 13.
1 is formed. Note that a part of a connector (not shown) is provided on the side surface of the suction port 5I. The lid I3 also includes the dust collection chamber 18 and the vacuum cleaner main body 11.
A shutter 52 that can be opened and closed from the outside to open and close the suction port 5I communicating with the outside is supported so as to be slidable back and forth.

Further, in the upper part of the vacuum cleaner main body 11, a recirculation air path 56 is formed as a recirculation means from a position communicating with the exhaust port of the electric blower 31 to the suction port 51. This return air passage 56 is connected to the electric blower chamber 19 of the main body case 12.
A main body side duct 57 formed in the front part of the interior, and the lid body 1
3 and a lid side duct 58 formed at the rear part of the inside. The main body side duct 57 has a rear end opening located within the electric blower chamber 19 and a front end opening opening into the partition wall 17 . Note that a seal backing 5g is provided at this front end opening. On the other hand, the lid side duct 58 has a rear end opening on the rear surface of the lid 13 so that it comes into airtight contact with the seal backing 59 when the lid 13 is closed, and a front end of the lid side duct 58. An opening is formed in the rear side wall of the suction port 51 as an outflow port 6o.

Further, a normally open shutter switch 61 is provided on the lid 13 adjacent to the front of the upper surface of the suction port 51 . This shutter switch 61 has a switch 62 that projects upward and is biased upward.
2 is turned on when it falls. The opening/closing element 62 is pressed down by the shutter 52 which closes the suction port 51, and rises when the shutter 52 opens and leaves.

Further, a forced return type thermoswitch 66 is attached to the upper surface of the main body case 12, located near the rear of the rear end opening of the main body side duct 57. This thermo switch 6
6 has a temperature detection section 67 at the bottom and an operation button 68 at the top, and turns off when the temperature detected by the temperature detection section 67 exceeds a predetermined temperature of about 50 degrees Celsius. It is turned on by pressing the operation button 68. Note that the temperature detection section 67 detects the temperature of the electric blower 3 on the upper inner surface of the electric blower chamber 19! It is located in a position that communicates with the exhaust side of the

71 is a dust suction hose, and one end of this hose 71 has
A connecting pipe 7 that is detachably inserted into the suction port 51 and connected thereto.
2 is provided. Although not shown, this connecting pipe 72 is provided with a portion of a connector electrically connected to a portion of the connector of the suction port 51. Also,
Although not shown, the other end of the hose 71 is provided with a grip tube to which a suction port is detachably connected via an extension tube.

A portion of both of the connectors electrically connects the control circuit of the electric blower 31 provided in the vacuum cleaner body 11 to an operation switch provided in the grip tube, and when this operation switch is turned on, the electric blower 31 is turned on. 31 is driven. Furthermore, when both connectors are partially disconnected, the electric blower 11 is driven when both the shutter switch 61 and the thermoswitch 66 are turned on.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

Of course, the lid 13 is closed during normal cleaning, but
In this state, the rear end opening of the lid side duct 58 is pressed against the seal backing 59 of the front end opening of the main body side duct 57, and both ducts 57.
8 are communicated with each other to form a return air passage 56. Further, the shutter 52 is slid rearward and opened, and the connecting pipe 72 of the hose 71 is connected to the opened suction port 51. When the shutter 52 is open, this shutter 5
2 is away from the opening/closing element 62 of the shutter switch 61,
This shutter switch 61 is turned off. In addition, when the hose 71 is connected to the suction port 51, the connecting pipe 72
As a result, the outflow port 60 at the front end opening of the lid side duct 58 is airtightly closed.

Furthermore, the suction port body is connected to the grip tube via an extension tube.

Then, when you turn on the operation switch on the grip tube,
Electric blower 31 is operated. That is, the electric motor 32 is driven, and the fan is rotated by the electric motor 32. The negative pressure generated by this generates an air flow, and dust is sucked together with air from the suction port body, and is guided to the dust collection chamber 18 of the vacuum cleaner main body 11 via the extension pipe and hose 71, and is carried into the dust collection bag. captured within 22. In addition, this dust collection bag 22
The air filtered by the far-infrared radiator 26 is passed through the ventilation section 27 of the far-infrared radiator 26, the auxiliary dust collection filter 23, the communication port 16, the intake port 34 of the electric blower 31, the inside of the electric blower 31, the exhaust port of this electric blower 31, and the electric blower. The air passes through the chamber 19, the main exhaust filter 42, and the auxiliary exhaust filter 44 in the stated order, and is discharged from the exhaust port 43 to the outside of the cleaner main body 11 as exhaust air. Note that when the airflow passes through the electric blower 31, the electric motor 32 thereof is cooled.

During such normal cleaning, the outlet 60 is closed, so the exhaust air from the electric blower 31 flows into the dust collection chamber 1.
Not refluxed to 8.

When thermally disinfecting the inside of the dust collection chamber 18, as shown in FIG. to close the suction port 5I.

In this state, the exhaust port of the electric blower 31 is communicated with the dust collection chamber 18 through the recirculation air passage 56 . At the same time, the front part of the shutter 52 is connected to the opening/closing element 62 of the shutter switch 61.
The switch 62 is brought into contact with the switch 62 from above, and the switch 62 is lowered, turning on the shutter switch 61. Next, when the button 68 on the head of the thermoswitch 66 is pressed to turn on the thermoswitch 66, the electric blower 31 starts operating.

As a result, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, the dust collection chamber 18
The air inside the electric blower 31 is sucked into the electric blower 31 and discharged into the electric blower room 19. At this time, the air flow passing through the electric blower 31 cools the electric motor 32 which generates heat due to driving. In this way, by removing the heat generated by the electric motor 32,
The temperature of the air stream increases.

The heated exhaust air from the electric blower 31 is drawn by the negative pressure generated by the fan, and mostly passes from the electric blower chamber 19 through the main body side duct 57 and the lid side duct 58. It is sent into the suction port 51 from the outlet 60, and is returned from the suction port 51 into the dust collection bag 22 of the dust collection chamber 18. In this way, from the electric blower 31 to the dust collection chamber 1
8 and returns to the electric blower 31, and as this circulation airflow repeatedly passes through the electric blower 31, the temperature further rises, and the temperature inside the dust collection chamber 18 rises. As a result, the temperature of the dust stored in the dust collection bag 22 rises, and harmful microorganisms such as mites in the dust are killed by the heat.

When the temperature inside the electric blower room 19 rises and exceeds a certain temperature of, for example, 50°C, the thermoswitch 6
6 is turned off, and the operation of the electric blower 31 is automatically stopped. This prevents excessive temperature rise and
2 and deformation of the vacuum cleaner body 11 due to heat are prevented.

By the way, when the circulating air current is occurring as described above, that is, when hot air is circulating, the warm air flows through the many ventilation portions 27 of the far-infrared radiator 26 located between the dust collection bag 22 and the electric blower 31. As this warm air passes through, the far-infrared radiator 26 absorbs and accumulates thermal energy from the warm air. The far-infrared radiator 26 converts the thermal energy into far-infrared rays and emits the far-infrared rays. Irradiating the dust in the dust collection chamber I8 with this far infrared rays also heats the dust and harmful microorganisms in the dust.

Even after the electric blower 31 stops and hot air circulation stops, the far-infrared radiator 26 continues to emit the accumulated thermal energy as far-infrared rays for a while.
Heating of the dust inside 8 continues. Therefore, even if the electric motor 32 is stopped early to prevent overheating of the electric motor 32, the harmful microorganisms in the dust are completely killed by heat, and harmful microorganisms such as mites are surely killed.

In addition, being able to stop the electric blower 31 early in this way is advantageous in terms of energy saving, and the electric blower 31
This is advantageous not only for extending the life of the main body case 12, but also for preventing the adverse effects of heat on the main body case 12 and the like.

Furthermore, far-infrared rays (wavelength 4 to 400 μm) have the property of easily penetrating into the interior of organic objects, so they easily pass through the paper dust collection bag 22 and heat harmful microorganisms from within their bodies. Thermal killing of harmful microorganisms is completely ensured. It also has a high penetrating power for far infrared rays generated at a relatively low temperature of about 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, which also makes it possible to keep the temperature low during hot air circulation, making it easier to use as a vacuum cleaner. The safety of the equipment is improved and its lifespan is extended.

Further, since the far-infrared radiator 26 has a large number of vents 27, heated air flows through these vents 27, so that thermal energy is efficiently absorbed and stored in the far-infrared rays radiator 26. Therefore, the heating effect due to far-infrared radiation is improved.

Note that the material of the far-infrared radiator 26 is not limited to ceramics, and may be ordinary natural stone or the like. However, ceramics, which are sintered molded products, can be formed into any desired shape, have good manufacturability, and can easily be shaped into a honeycomb shape as shown in the figure.

Further, the large number of ventilation parts 27 of the far-infrared radiator 26 are not limited to hexagonal holes, but may include holes of a large number of geometric shapes, such as round holes, triangular holes, square holes, or pentagonal holes. Even if it is formed continuously. However, hexagonal holes are advantageous in terms of strength and cross-sectional area of the air passage. Further, the far-infrared radiator 26 may be porous with high air permeability, that is, it may be sponge-like.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the return air passage 56 formed in the vacuum cleaner body 11 is used as a return means for communicating the electric blower chamber 19 and the dust collection chamber 18, but the return means is a return air passage formed in the vacuum cleaner body 11. It may also be a hose whose both ends are connected to the exhaust port and the exhaust port, respectively.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

In the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, which is equipped with a recirculation means for communicating the exhaust side of the electric blower with the dust collection chamber, the far-infrared radiator is disposed in the dust collection chamber, so that the exhaust air from the electric blower is When using warm air circulation to kill harmful microorganisms such as mites in the dust collection room, even if the electric blower is stopped early to prevent it from overheating,
Far-infrared radiation: far-infrared rays continue to be emitted from the body, and dust continues to be heated by this far-infrared rays, which, combined with the fact that far-infrared rays easily penetrate into organic objects, sufficiently kills harmful microorganisms. In addition, as mentioned above, by stopping the electric blower early, far infrared rays can easily penetrate into the organic matter, so the temperature of hot air circulation can be kept low.
Not only can energy be used economically, but electric blowers and the like can be prevented from being adversely affected by heat, making it safe.

Furthermore, in the vacuum cleaner according to the second aspect, since the far-infrared ray radiator is provided with a large number of ventilation parts, thermal energy is efficiently absorbed by the far-infrared ray radiator, and therefore, the heating effect of the far-infrared rays is further improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the far-infrared radiator same as above. 11. Vacuum cleaner body, 18. Dust collection chamber, 19. Electric blower chamber, 26. Far infrared radiator, 27. Ventilation section, 3
1. Electric blower, 32. Electric motor, 56. Return air path within the vacuum cleaner body as a return means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) The vacuum cleaner body has an electric blower chamber and a dust collection chamber therein, a fan, and an electric motor that rotates the fan. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a blower; and a recirculation means for communicating an exhaust side of the electric blower with the dust collection chamber, and further comprising a far-infrared radiator disposed within the dust collection chamber. (2) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that a large number of ventilation portions are formed in the far-infrared radiator.