US20170325645A1 - Suction nozzle and electric vacuum cleaner including the same - Google Patents
Suction nozzle and electric vacuum cleaner including the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170325645A1 US20170325645A1 US15/591,128 US201715591128A US2017325645A1 US 20170325645 A1 US20170325645 A1 US 20170325645A1 US 201715591128 A US201715591128 A US 201715591128A US 2017325645 A1 US2017325645 A1 US 2017325645A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- suction
- longitudinal direction
- passage
- outlet
- suction nozzle
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/02—Nozzles
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
- A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
- A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
- A47L5/24—Hand-supported suction cleaners
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
- A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
- A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
- A47L5/36—Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
- A47L5/362—Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
- A47L9/14—Bags or the like; Rigid filtering receptacles; Attachment of, or closures for, bags or receptacles
- A47L9/1409—Rigid filtering receptacles
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2805—Parameters or conditions being sensed
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
- A47L9/2842—Suction motors or blowers
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
- A47L9/2852—Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2857—User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L9/2894—Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L2201/00—Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
- A47L2201/04—Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
Definitions
- the disclosure relates to a suction nozzle for sucking air, and an electric vacuum cleaner including the same.
- a known electric vacuum cleaner is disclosed in JP-A 2015-70960.
- This electric vacuum cleaner includes a case including an air inlet and a discharge outlet for air, and an air passage that connects the air inlet and the discharge outlet is defined in the case.
- an electric blower that produces an air flow is arranged, and a dust collection portion that collects waste flowing in the air passage, such as, for example, dust, is arranged on the upstream side of the electric blower.
- Left and right wheels are attached to both side surfaces of the case. The case is thus able to travel on a floor in a room.
- a hose is connected to the air inlet of the case, and a connection pipe is connected to an upstream end of the hose.
- a handle and an operation switch are arranged in the connection pipe. The operation switch is operated to, for example, turn on or off the electric vacuum cleaner, and change the rotation rate of the electric blower.
- An extension pipe is attached to an upstream end of the connection pipe.
- a suction head is attached to an upstream end of the extension pipe such that the suction head is detachable from the extension pipe.
- the suction head includes a housing extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the extension pipe extends.
- a suction opening portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing is open and is arranged opposite to the floor.
- a substantially circular outlet which is in communication with the extension pipe is open in an upper portion of a longitudinal middle portion of the housing of the suction head.
- the suction opening portion is arranged to extend between both longitudinal end portions of the housing, while a dimension of the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction of the housing is arranged to be smaller than that of the suction opening portion.
- a suction chamber that connects the suction opening portion and the outlet is defined in the housing.
- the operation switch of the electric vacuum cleaner having the above-described structure is operated to drive the electric blower, air including waste, such as, for example, dust, is sucked into the suction chamber through the suction opening portion of the suction head. After being sucked into the suction head, the air flows in the suction chamber, and flows into the extension pipe through the outlet. After flowing into the extension pipe, the air flows into the case through the hose, and the waste in the air is collected in the dust collection portion in the case. The floor is thus cleaned.
- waste such as, for example, dust
- the outlet is open in the longitudinal middle portion of the housing. Therefore, portions of air flows sucked in through both end portions of the suction opening portion (i.e., a suction inlet) with respect to the longitudinal direction abruptly bend toward a longitudinal middle immediately after entering into the suction chamber (i.e., a suction passage), and join an air flow sucked in through a longitudinal middle portion of the suction opening portion. This may cause a turbulence in the suction chamber, resulting in reduced suction efficiency of the suction head.
- a suction opening portion i.e., a suction inlet
- a suction nozzle is a suction nozzle to be provided in an electric vacuum cleaner including an electric blower, the suction nozzle including a suction inlet arranged to extend in a longitudinal direction that is predetermined, and arranged opposite to a surface to be cleaned; an outlet to be connected to the electric blower; a suction passage arranged to extend along a center line joining a middle of the suction inlet in the longitudinal direction and a middle of the outlet in the longitudinal direction to connect the suction inlet and the outlet; and a plurality of partition walls each of which is arranged in the suction passage to extend from a side on which the suction inlet is defined to a side on which the outlet is defined.
- the suction passage includes a main passage having the center line of the suction passage passing therethrough; and a plurality of division passages arranged on both outer sides of the main passage with respect to the longitudinal direction with one of the partition walls being arranged between the main passage and an adjacent one of the division passages on either side of the main passage.
- the main passage and the division passages are divided from one another in the longitudinal direction of the suction inlet by the partition walls.
- a width of the main passage at the suction inlet measured in the longitudinal direction is arranged to be greater than a width of the main passage at the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction.
- An electric vacuum cleaner includes the above suction nozzle, a dust collection portion arranged downstream of the suction nozzle, and an electric blower arranged downstream of the dust collection portion.
- the suction nozzle according to the above preferred embodiment of the disclosure is able to achieve improved suction efficiency.
- an electric vacuum cleaner including the above suction nozzle is provided.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 5 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a result of a simulation of flows of air in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the result of the simulation of the flows of air in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air velocity distribution in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air pressure distribution in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a second preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 11 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a third preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 13 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the third preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 15 is a sectional front view of a suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
- a direction toward a floor F (i.e., a surface to be cleaned) illustrated in FIG. 3 is a downward direction, while a direction away from the floor F is an upward direction.
- a direction leading from an electric blower 7 to a suction inlet 4 is a forward direction, while a direction leading from the suction inlet 4 to the electric blower 7 is a rearward direction.
- a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and parallel to the floor F is a right-left direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction).
- a surface parallel to the front-rear direction and perpendicular to the right-left direction is referred to as a “side surface”. It is also assumed herein that an upstream side and a downstream side are defined with respect to a direction in which air sucked in through the suction inlet 4 when the electric blower 7 is in operation flows.
- the wording “the suction inlet 4 arranged opposite to the floor F (i.e., the surface to be cleaned)” and the like can refer to a situation in which the suction inlet 4 and the floor F face each other with another member (e.g., a rotary brush, etc.) arranged therebetween, in addition to a situation in which the suction inlet 4 and the floor F face each other directly with no other member arranged between the suction inlet 4 and the floor F.
- another member e.g., a rotary brush, etc.
- FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are a perspective view, a bottom view, and a side sectional view, respectively, of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first preferred embodiment.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is a so-called robot-type electric vacuum cleaner, and includes a case 2 which is substantially circular in a horizontal section (i.e., a section parallel to the floor F).
- a display portion 15 and an operation portion 16 are arranged in an upper surface of the case 2 .
- the operation portion 16 includes a plurality of buttons (not shown). By operating the operation portion 16 , a user can, for example, issue an instruction to turn on or off the electric vacuum cleaner 1 , issue an instruction to change the rotation rate of the electric blower 7 , which will be described below, or enter a condition, such as, for example, a time at which the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is to start cleaning.
- the display portion 15 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or the like, and displays, for example, the condition entered with the operation portion 16 .
- a position sensor (not shown) is arranged in the upper surface of the case 2 .
- the position sensor is used to detect the position of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 in a room, for example.
- the suction inlet 4 which is arranged to extend in the right-left direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction A), is defined in a bottom surface (i.e., a lower surface) of the case 2 , and a discharge outlet 5 , which is arranged to extend in the right-left direction, is defined in a rear portion of the case 2 .
- the suction inlet 4 is arranged opposite to the floor F (i.e., the surface to be cleaned) inside the room, and the discharge outlet 5 is arranged to face obliquely rearward and upward from the case 2 .
- a rotary brush (not shown) is arranged in the vicinity of the suction inlet 4 in a bottom portion of the case 2 . Note that the rotary brush may alternatively be arranged in the suction inlet 4 .
- An air passage 6 which connects the suction inlet 4 and the discharge outlet 5 , is arranged inside of the case 2 .
- the electric blower 7 which is arranged to produce an air flow, is arranged in the air passage 6 . Once the electric blower 7 is driven, air in the room flows into the air passage 6 through the suction inlet 4 as indicated by arrows S, and is sent out into the room through the discharge outlet 5 .
- a centrifugal fan is preferably used as the electric blower 7 , but other types of electric blowers, such as, for example, an axial flow fan, may alternatively be used.
- a dust collection portion 8 and a filter 9 are arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the direction in which the air flows between the suction inlet 4 and the electric blower 7 . Dust included in the air flowing in the air passage 6 is blocked by the filter 9 , and is collected in the dust collection portion 8 , which is defined in the shape of a container. Each of the dust collection portion 8 and the filter 9 is detachably fitted in the case 2 .
- the air passage 6 is arranged to decrease in a channel width (i.e., width in the longitudinal direction A) toward an air inlet (not shown) of the electric blower 7 .
- a suction nozzle 20 in the shape of a nozzle is detachably fitted in the case 2 on the upstream side of the dust collection portion 8 in the air passage 6 .
- the suction nozzle 20 includes the suction inlet 4 and an outlet 22 at an upstream end and a downstream end, respectively, and a suction passage 21 which connects the suction inlet 4 and the outlet 22 is defined in the suction nozzle 20 .
- the suction inlet 4 is arranged to extend in the predetermined longitudinal direction A, and is arranged opposite to the floor F (i.e., the surface to be cleaned).
- the outlet 22 is connected to the electric blower 7 .
- the width of the outlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be substantially equal to the width of the suction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- the suction passage 21 is arranged to extend upward from the suction inlet 4 and curve rearward, and is connected to an upper portion of the dust collection portion 8 through the outlet 22 .
- the upper side of a portion of the dust collection portion 8 is covered with the suction nozzle 20 . That is, the suction passage 21 is arranged to extend upward from the suction inlet 4 , and is connected to the upper portion of the dust collection portion 8 , and the upper side of a portion of the dust collection portion 8 is covered with the suction nozzle 20 .
- the details of the suction nozzle 20 will be described below.
- Left and right drive wheels 19 a are arranged at left and right end portions of the bottom surface of the case 2 .
- a trailer wheel 19 b which is defined by a caster, is arranged at a front end portion of the bottom surface of the case 2 .
- Each drive wheel 19 a is connected to a drive motor (not shown). The case 2 is thus able to travel on the floor F.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a control portion (not shown) which controls various portions of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 .
- the electric blower 7 , the display portion 15 , the operation portion 16 , the drive motor, the position sensor, a storage portion, and so on are connected to the control portion.
- the storage portion is arranged to store a control program for the electric vacuum cleaner 1 and, in addition, the condition entered with the operation portion 16 and so on.
- a power supply portion 11 including a secondary battery and so on is arranged in a front portion of the case 2 .
- the power supply portion 11 is arranged to supply power to the electric blower 7 , the control portion, the drive motor, and so on, and includes a case-side contact point (not shown) exposed in the bottom surface of the case 2 .
- the case-side contact point is arranged to make contact with a charger stand-side contact point of a charger stand (not shown) connected to a commercial power supply (not shown).
- the secondary battery of the power supply portion 11 is thus charged through the charger stand. Before a cleaning operation is started, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the charger stand.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the air passage 6 on the suction side including the suction nozzle 20
- FIG. 5 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle 20
- the suction nozzle 20 includes the suction inlet 4 , the outlet 22 , the suction passage 21 , and a plurality of partition walls 25 .
- the suction passage 21 is arranged to extend along a center line CT, which joins a middle of the suction inlet 4 in the longitudinal direction A and a middle of the outlet 22 in the longitudinal direction A, to connect the suction inlet 4 and the outlet 22 .
- Upper and lower surfaces of the suction passage 21 are defined by an upper wall 28 a and a lower wall 28 b , respectively, and left and right surfaces of the suction passage 21 are defined by a side wall 28 c and a side wall 28 d , respectively.
- Each of the upper wall 28 a and the lower wall 28 b is arranged to slant in such a manner as to increase in height as the upper wall 28 a or the lower wall 28 b extends rearward, and the suction passage 21 is arranged to slant and guide an air flow to the outlet 22 .
- the plurality of (two in the present preferred embodiment) partition walls 25 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction A.
- Each of the partition walls 25 is arranged in the suction passage 21 , and is arranged to extend from a side on which the suction inlet 4 is defined to a side on which the outlet 22 is defined.
- the partition walls 25 are arranged to extend from the suction inlet 4 to the outlet 22 to divide the suction passage 21 into a main passage 21 a and a plurality of (two in the present preferred embodiment) division passages 21 b and 21 c , which are divided from one another in the longitudinal direction A.
- the main passage 21 a has the center line CT of the suction passage 21 passing therethrough.
- the division passages 21 b and 21 c are arranged on both outer sides of the main passage 21 a with respect to the longitudinal direction A with one of the partition walls 25 being arranged between the main passage 21 a and an adjacent one of the division passages 21 b and 21 c on either side of the main passage 21 a .
- the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c are divided from one another in the longitudinal direction A of the suction inlet 4 by the partition walls 25 . That is, the main passage 21 a is arranged on the center line CT, and the division passages 21 b and 21 c are arranged on both outer sides of the main passage 21 a with respect to the longitudinal direction A.
- the suction inlet 4 is divided by the partition walls 25 into suction inlets 4 a , 4 b , and 4 c .
- the suction inlets 4 a , 4 b , and 4 c are arranged at upstream ends of the main passage 21 a , the division passage 21 b , and the division passage 21 c , respectively.
- Each of the suction inlets 4 b and 4 c is arranged adjacent to the suction inlet 4 a.
- Each partition wall 25 includes an upstream vertical portion 25 a , a first curved portion 25 b , a second curved portion 25 c , and a downstream vertical portion 25 d arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the direction in which the air flows.
- the upstream vertical portion 25 a is arranged at an upstream end of the partition wall 25 , and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. That is, each partition wall 25 includes the upstream vertical portion 25 a , which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, at the upstream end thereof.
- the first curved portion 25 b is defined continuously with a downstream side of the upstream vertical portion 25 a , and is arranged to curve so as to be convex away from the center line CT (i.e., outward in the longitudinal direction A). That is, each partition wall 25 includes the first curved portion 25 b , which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the upstream vertical portion 25 a and is arranged to curve so as to be convex away from the center line CT.
- the second curved portion 25 c is defined continuously with a downstream side of the first curved portion 25 b , and is arranged to curve so as to be convex toward the center line CT (i.e., inward in the longitudinal direction A).
- each partition wall 25 includes the second curved portion 25 c , which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the first curved portion 25 b and is arranged to curve so as to be convex toward the center line CT.
- the downstream vertical portion 25 d is defined continuously with the second curved portion 25 c at a downstream end, and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A.
- each partition wall 25 includes, at the downstream end thereof, the downstream vertical portion 25 d , which is defined continuously with the second curved portion 25 c and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A.
- each partition wall 25 is arranged outward of the downstream end thereof with respect to the longitudinal direction A, so that a width W 1 of the main passage 21 a at the suction inlet 4 a measured in the longitudinal direction A is greater than a width W 2 of the main passage 21 a at the outlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- a width W 3 of the suction inlet 4 b measured in the longitudinal direction A is smaller than a width W 4 of the division passage 21 b at the outlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- a width W 5 of the suction inlet 4 c measured in the longitudinal direction A is smaller than a width W 6 of the division passage 21 c at the outlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- the width W 3 of the suction inlet 4 b and the width W 5 of the suction inlet 4 c are arranged to be substantially equal to each other, and the width W 1 of the suction inlet 4 a is arranged to be greater than the width W 3 of the suction inlet 4 b and the width W 5 of the suction inlet 4 c .
- the width W 4 of the division passage 21 b at the outlet 22 and the width W 6 of the division passage 21 c at the outlet 22 are arranged to be substantially equal to each other.
- each of the width W 4 of the division passage 21 b at the outlet 22 and the width W 6 of the division passage 21 c at the outlet 22 approaches the width W 2 of the main passage 21 a at the outlet 22 .
- the width W 2 of the main passage 21 a at the outlet 22 , the width W 4 of the division passage 21 b at the outlet 22 , and the width W 6 of the division passage 21 c at the outlet 22 are arranged to be substantially equal to one another. Note that the width W 3 of the suction inlet 4 b and the width W 5 of the suction inlet 4 c may be different from each other.
- the number of partition walls 25 is not limited to two, but may alternatively be an even number equal to or greater than four.
- the suction passage 21 is divided into one main passage and an even number of division passages, the even number being equal to or greater than four.
- each partition wall 25 contributes to reducing turbulence in the vicinity of the upstream end of the partition wall 25 .
- the air flow smoothly enters into each of the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c .
- the air flows along the first curved portion 25 b and then the second curved portion 25 c .
- the air which has flowed into each of the division passages 21 b and 21 c is smoothly guided toward the center line CT. This contributes to reducing turbulence of the air in each of the division passages 21 b and 21 c , and causing the air to flow more smoothly therein.
- suction forces of equivalent magnitude act in the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c .
- suction forces are substantially evenly distributed in the longitudinal direction A of the suction inlet 4 .
- the width W 1 of the suction inlet 4 a of the main passage 21 a is arranged to be greater than the widths W 3 and W 5 of the suction inlets 4 b and 4 c , respectively, and this leads to improved suction efficiency of the suction nozzle 20 .
- each partition wall 25 contributes to causing air which has reached a downstream portion of each of the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c to be smoothly guided downstream of the outlet 22 .
- the air After passing in the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c , the air flows enter into the dust collection portion 8 through the outlet 22 . At this time, dust D in the air is blocked by the filter 9 , and is collected in the dust collection portion 8 . After passing through the filter 9 , the air flows in a portion of the air passage 6 on the downstream side of the filter 9 , and is then sent out of the case 2 through the discharge outlet 5 . The floor F is cleaned in the above-described manner.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 1 After traveling over the entire floor F while keeping the electric blower 7 in operation, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 returns to the charger stand, and the electric blower 7 is stopped. The cleaning operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is thus completed.
- FIGS. 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, illustrating a result of a simulation of flows of air in the portion of the air passage 6 on the suction side.
- almost no turbulence can be observed in any of the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c , and air flows in a laminar state in each of the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c .
- a turbulent flow that is so large as to rescatter the accumulated dust cannot be observed in the dust collection portion 8 .
- FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air velocity distribution in the portion of the air passage 6 on the suction side.
- the result shows that, in the suction passage 21 , air flows at a substantially uniform velocity at about 25 m/s, and in the dust collection portion 8 , air flows at a substantially uniform velocity at about 0.041 m/s.
- the air velocity varied widely in both the suction nozzle 20 and the dust collection portion 8 .
- FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air pressure distribution in the portion of the air passage 6 on the suction side. This figure shows that air pressure is substantially uniform in the suction nozzle 20 and the dust collection portion 8 at about ⁇ 230 Pa. In contrast, in the aforementioned comparative example, the air pressure varied widely in the suction nozzle 20 and the dust collection portion 8 .
- the plurality of partition walls 25 which are arranged to divide the suction passage 21 into the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c which are divided from one another in the longitudinal direction A of the suction inlet 4 , are provided in the suction nozzle 20 . This prevents a narrowing of a channel on a side closer to an air inlet of the electric blower 7 from causing flows of air sucked in through both end portions of the suction inlet 4 with respect to the longitudinal direction A to abruptly bend toward the center line CT immediately after entering into the suction passage 21 , and thus contributes to reducing turbulence of the air.
- the width W 1 of the main passage 21 a at the suction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A is greater than the width W 2 of the main passage 21 a at the outlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- the suction forces are substantially evenly distributed over the suction inlet 4 in the longitudinal direction A. This leads to improved suction efficiency of the suction nozzle 20 .
- each partition wall 25 includes the upstream vertical portion 25 a , which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, at an upstream end of the suction passage 21 . This contributes to further reducing turbulence in the vicinity of the upstream end of the partition wall 25 .
- each partition wall 25 includes the first curved portion 25 b , which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the upstream vertical portion 25 a and is arranged to curve so as to be convex away from the center line CT. This contributes to causing air sucked in through the suction inlets 4 b and 4 c at both end portions with respect to the longitudinal direction A to smoothly flow in the division passages 21 b and 21 c.
- each partition wall 25 includes the second curved portion 25 c , which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the first curved portion 25 b and is arranged to curve so as to be convex toward the center line CT. This contributes to causing the air sucked in through the suction inlets 4 b and 4 c at both end portions with respect to the longitudinal direction A to be smoothly guided to a downstream portion of the suction passage 21 .
- each partition wall 25 includes, at the downstream end thereof, the downstream vertical portion 25 d , which is defined continuously with the second curved portion 25 c and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. This contributes to causing the air flowing in each of the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c to be smoothly guided to the outlet 22 .
- the width W 1 of the main passage 21 a at the suction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be greater than each of the widths W 3 and W 5 of the division passages 21 b and 21 c , respectively, at the suction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- Arranging air to be sucked in through three separate suction inlets as described above contributes to reducing the likelihood of an occurrence of turbulence in the suction nozzle 20 , and increasing the amount of air sucked in by the suction nozzle 20 .
- each of the division passages 21 b and 21 c which are relatively narrow, on the outer side with respect to the longitudinal direction A of the suction inlet 4 contributes to further improving suction efficiency at end portions of the suction nozzle 20 with respect to the longitudinal direction A, at which weak suction forces tend to be observed most often in related art.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes the suction nozzle 20 , the dust collection portion 8 arranged downstream of the suction nozzle 20 , and the electric blower 7 arranged downstream of the dust collection portion 8 .
- the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is thus able to easily achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency.
- the dust D can be smoothly sucked in through even the suction inlets 4 b and 4 c at both end portions with respect to the longitudinal direction A without an increase in the rotation rate of the electric blower 7 . This contributes to reducing the turbulence in the dust collection portion 8 , and preventing the dust D accumulated in the dust collection portion 8 from being rescattered.
- the suction passage 21 is arranged to extend upward from the suction inlet 4 , and is connected to the upper portion of the dust collection portion 8 , and the upper side of a portion of the dust collection portion 8 is covered with the suction nozzle 20 . This contributes to reducing the size of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 .
- the first curved portion 25 b may alternatively be arranged to extend from a downstream end of the upstream vertical portion 25 a to the outlet 22 with the second curved portion 25 c and the downstream vertical portion 25 d being omitted.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the second preferred embodiment.
- FIG. 11 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second preferred embodiment.
- members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment.
- the second preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in the shape of partition walls 25 .
- the second preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment.
- a plurality of plate-shaped partition walls 25 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction A.
- Each partition wall 25 is defined by a plate perpendicular to a lower wall 28 b , and is arranged to extend in a straight line from a side on which a suction inlet 4 is defined to a side on which an outlet 22 is defined. That is, the partition wall 25 is in the shape of a plate, and is arranged to extend in a straight line from the side on which the suction inlet 4 is defined to the side on which the outlet 22 is defined.
- two of the partition walls 25 are arranged to incline toward each other as they extend from the suction inlet 4 toward the outlet 22 .
- each partition wall 25 is in the shape of a plate, and is arranged to extend in a straight line from the side on which the suction inlet 4 is defined to the side on which the outlet 22 is defined. This contributes to easily preventing a separation of an air flow passing in each of a main passage 21 a and division passages 21 b and 21 c from any partition wall 25 , and further reducing the likelihood of an occurrence of turbulence.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the third preferred embodiment.
- FIG. 13 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the third preferred embodiment.
- members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment.
- the third preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in the shape of partition walls 25 .
- the third preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment.
- Each partition wall 25 includes an upstream vertical portion 25 a , a straight portion 25 e , and a downstream vertical portion 25 d arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the direction in which air flows.
- the third preferred embodiment is different from the second preferred embodiment in that each partition wall 25 includes the downstream vertical portion 25 d , which is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, at a downstream end thereof. This causes air which has reached a downstream portion of each of a main passage 21 a and division passages 21 b and 21 c to be smoothly guided downstream of an outlet 22 .
- the straight portion 25 e is defined continuously with each of a downstream end of the upstream vertical portion 25 a and an upstream end of the downstream vertical portion 25 d , and is arranged to extend in a straight line.
- the present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment.
- the upstream vertical portion 25 a or the downstream vertical portion 25 d may alternatively be omitted in the present preferred embodiment.
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment.
- FIGS. 15 and 16 are a sectional front view and a side sectional view, respectively, of a suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment.
- members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment.
- the fourth preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that a so-called canister-type electric vacuum cleaner 30 is used instead of the robot-type electric vacuum cleaner 1 .
- the fourth preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 30 includes an air inlet 31 and a discharge outlet 5 in a front surface and a rear surface, respectively, of a case 2 thereof.
- An air passage 6 which is arranged to connect the air inlet 31 and the discharge outlet 5 , is defined in the case 2 .
- a dust collection portion 8 In the air passage 6 , a dust collection portion 8 , a filter 9 , and an electric blower 7 are arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side.
- Left and right wheels 39 are attached to side surfaces of the case 2 .
- the electric vacuum cleaner 30 is provided with a power supply cord (not shown) which is capable of being connected to a commercial power supply (not shown).
- a hose 32 is connected to the air inlet 31 of the case 2 , and a connection pipe 34 is connected to an upstream end of the hose 32 .
- a handle portion 35 and an operation portion 16 are arranged in the connection pipe 34 .
- the operation portion 16 is operated to issue an instruction to turn on or off the electric vacuum cleaner 30 , an instruction to change the rotation rate of the electric blower 7 , or the like.
- An extension pipe 33 is attached to an upstream end of the connection pipe 34 .
- a suction nozzle 20 is attached to an upstream end of the extension pipe 33 such that the suction nozzle 20 is detachable from the extension pipe 33 .
- the suction nozzle 20 includes a joint pipe 27 connected to the extension pipe 33 at the rear of a housing 26 thereof, and an outlet 22 is open at a downstream end of the joint pipe 27 .
- a width W 7 of the outlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be smaller than a width W 8 of a suction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- a width of an opening portion 29 at an upstream end of the joint pipe 27 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be substantially equal to the width W 7 of the outlet 22 .
- downstream ends of partition walls 25 are arranged within the range of the width W 7 of the outlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A.
- the air After flowing through each of the main passage 21 a and the division passages 21 b and 21 c , the air flows through the extension pipe 33 , the connection pipe 34 , and the hose 32 in the order named, and then flows into the case 2 through the air inlet 31 .
- the dust D in the air which has flowed into the case 2 is collected in the dust collection portion 8 .
- a floor F is thus cleaned.
- the present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment.
- the canister-type electric vacuum cleaner 30 is also able to achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency.
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the fifth preferred embodiment.
- members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment.
- the fifth preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that a so-called stick-type electric vacuum cleaner 40 is used instead of the robot-type electric vacuum cleaner 1 .
- the fifth preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 40 includes a case 2 including an air inlet 41 and a discharge outlet 5 in a lower surface and an upper surface, respectively, thereof.
- An air passage 6 which is arranged to connect the air inlet 41 and the discharge outlet 5 , is defined in the case 2 .
- a dust collection portion 8 In the air passage 6 , a dust collection portion 8 , a filter 9 , and an electric blower 7 are arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 40 is provided with a power supply cord (not shown) similar to that of the fourth preferred embodiment.
- a handle portion 35 and an operation portion 16 are arranged at an upper portion of the case 2 .
- a suction pipe 47 in the shape of a stick is connected to the air inlet 41 of the case 2 .
- a suction nozzle 20 is attached to an upstream end of the suction pipe 47 such that the suction nozzle 20 is detachable from the suction pipe 47 .
- the suction nozzle 20 according to the present preferred embodiment is similar in structure to the suction nozzle 20 according to the fourth preferred embodiment.
- the present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment.
- the stick-type electric vacuum cleaner 40 is also able to achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency.
- FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the sixth preferred embodiment.
- members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment.
- the sixth preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that a so-called handy-type electric vacuum cleaner 50 is used instead of the robot-type electric vacuum cleaner 1 .
- the sixth preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment.
- the electric vacuum cleaner 50 is similar in structure to the electric vacuum cleaner 40 according to the fifth preferred embodiment with the suction pipe 47 being omitted.
- a user can clean a floor F, a desktop (i.e., a surface to be cleaned), or the like with the electric vacuum cleaner 50 while holding a handle portion 35 .
- the present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment.
- the handy-type electric vacuum cleaner 50 is also able to achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency.
- partition walls 25 according to the first preferred embodiment partition walls similar to the partition walls 25 according to one of the second and third preferred embodiments may alternatively be arranged in the suction nozzle 20 according to each of the fourth to sixth preferred embodiments.
- a rotary brush may be arranged in the suction inlet 4 of the suction nozzle 20 according to each of the fourth to sixth preferred embodiments.
- Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are applicable to suction nozzles and electric vacuum cleaners including suction nozzles.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the priority benefit of Japan application serial no. 2016-094466, filed on May 10, 2016. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
- The disclosure relates to a suction nozzle for sucking air, and an electric vacuum cleaner including the same.
- A known electric vacuum cleaner is disclosed in JP-A 2015-70960. This electric vacuum cleaner includes a case including an air inlet and a discharge outlet for air, and an air passage that connects the air inlet and the discharge outlet is defined in the case. In the air passage, an electric blower that produces an air flow is arranged, and a dust collection portion that collects waste flowing in the air passage, such as, for example, dust, is arranged on the upstream side of the electric blower. Left and right wheels are attached to both side surfaces of the case. The case is thus able to travel on a floor in a room.
- A hose is connected to the air inlet of the case, and a connection pipe is connected to an upstream end of the hose. A handle and an operation switch are arranged in the connection pipe. The operation switch is operated to, for example, turn on or off the electric vacuum cleaner, and change the rotation rate of the electric blower. An extension pipe is attached to an upstream end of the connection pipe. A suction head is attached to an upstream end of the extension pipe such that the suction head is detachable from the extension pipe. The suction head includes a housing extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the extension pipe extends.
- In a bottom portion of the housing of the suction head, a suction opening portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing is open and is arranged opposite to the floor. A substantially circular outlet which is in communication with the extension pipe is open in an upper portion of a longitudinal middle portion of the housing of the suction head. The suction opening portion is arranged to extend between both longitudinal end portions of the housing, while a dimension of the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction of the housing is arranged to be smaller than that of the suction opening portion. A suction chamber that connects the suction opening portion and the outlet is defined in the housing.
- If the operation switch of the electric vacuum cleaner having the above-described structure is operated to drive the electric blower, air including waste, such as, for example, dust, is sucked into the suction chamber through the suction opening portion of the suction head. After being sucked into the suction head, the air flows in the suction chamber, and flows into the extension pipe through the outlet. After flowing into the extension pipe, the air flows into the case through the hose, and the waste in the air is collected in the dust collection portion in the case. The floor is thus cleaned.
- However, in the suction head (i.e., a suction nozzle) of the above-described known electric vacuum cleaner, the outlet is open in the longitudinal middle portion of the housing. Therefore, portions of air flows sucked in through both end portions of the suction opening portion (i.e., a suction inlet) with respect to the longitudinal direction abruptly bend toward a longitudinal middle immediately after entering into the suction chamber (i.e., a suction passage), and join an air flow sucked in through a longitudinal middle portion of the suction opening portion. This may cause a turbulence in the suction chamber, resulting in reduced suction efficiency of the suction head.
- A suction nozzle according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure is a suction nozzle to be provided in an electric vacuum cleaner including an electric blower, the suction nozzle including a suction inlet arranged to extend in a longitudinal direction that is predetermined, and arranged opposite to a surface to be cleaned; an outlet to be connected to the electric blower; a suction passage arranged to extend along a center line joining a middle of the suction inlet in the longitudinal direction and a middle of the outlet in the longitudinal direction to connect the suction inlet and the outlet; and a plurality of partition walls each of which is arranged in the suction passage to extend from a side on which the suction inlet is defined to a side on which the outlet is defined. The suction passage includes a main passage having the center line of the suction passage passing therethrough; and a plurality of division passages arranged on both outer sides of the main passage with respect to the longitudinal direction with one of the partition walls being arranged between the main passage and an adjacent one of the division passages on either side of the main passage. The main passage and the division passages are divided from one another in the longitudinal direction of the suction inlet by the partition walls. A width of the main passage at the suction inlet measured in the longitudinal direction is arranged to be greater than a width of the main passage at the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction.
- An electric vacuum cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure includes the above suction nozzle, a dust collection portion arranged downstream of the suction nozzle, and an electric blower arranged downstream of the dust collection portion.
- The suction nozzle according to the above preferred embodiment of the disclosure is able to achieve improved suction efficiency. In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, an electric vacuum cleaner including the above suction nozzle is provided.
- The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 5 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a result of a simulation of flows of air in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the result of the simulation of the flows of air in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air velocity distribution in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air pressure distribution in the portion of the air passage on the suction side of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a second preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 11 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a third preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 13 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the third preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 15 is a sectional front view of a suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the disclosure. -
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the disclosure. - Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is assumed herein that a direction toward a floor F (i.e., a surface to be cleaned) illustrated in
FIG. 3 is a downward direction, while a direction away from the floor F is an upward direction. It is also assumed herein that, with respect to a front-rear direction, a direction leading from anelectric blower 7 to asuction inlet 4 is a forward direction, while a direction leading from thesuction inlet 4 to theelectric blower 7 is a rearward direction. It is also assumed herein that a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and parallel to the floor F is a right-left direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction). It is also assumed herein that a surface parallel to the front-rear direction and perpendicular to the right-left direction is referred to as a “side surface”. It is also assumed herein that an upstream side and a downstream side are defined with respect to a direction in which air sucked in through thesuction inlet 4 when theelectric blower 7 is in operation flows. It is also assumed herein that the wording “thesuction inlet 4 arranged opposite to the floor F (i.e., the surface to be cleaned)” and the like can refer to a situation in which thesuction inlet 4 and the floor F face each other with another member (e.g., a rotary brush, etc.) arranged therebetween, in addition to a situation in which thesuction inlet 4 and the floor F face each other directly with no other member arranged between thesuction inlet 4 and the floor F. - An
electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the disclosure will be described below.FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are a perspective view, a bottom view, and a side sectional view, respectively, of theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first preferred embodiment. Theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 is a so-called robot-type electric vacuum cleaner, and includes acase 2 which is substantially circular in a horizontal section (i.e., a section parallel to the floor F). - A
display portion 15 and anoperation portion 16 are arranged in an upper surface of thecase 2. Theoperation portion 16 includes a plurality of buttons (not shown). By operating theoperation portion 16, a user can, for example, issue an instruction to turn on or off theelectric vacuum cleaner 1, issue an instruction to change the rotation rate of theelectric blower 7, which will be described below, or enter a condition, such as, for example, a time at which theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 is to start cleaning. Thedisplay portion 15 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or the like, and displays, for example, the condition entered with theoperation portion 16. - In addition, a position sensor (not shown) is arranged in the upper surface of the
case 2. The position sensor is used to detect the position of theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 in a room, for example. - The
suction inlet 4, which is arranged to extend in the right-left direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction A), is defined in a bottom surface (i.e., a lower surface) of thecase 2, and adischarge outlet 5, which is arranged to extend in the right-left direction, is defined in a rear portion of thecase 2. Thesuction inlet 4 is arranged opposite to the floor F (i.e., the surface to be cleaned) inside the room, and thedischarge outlet 5 is arranged to face obliquely rearward and upward from thecase 2. A rotary brush (not shown) is arranged in the vicinity of thesuction inlet 4 in a bottom portion of thecase 2. Note that the rotary brush may alternatively be arranged in thesuction inlet 4. - An
air passage 6, which connects thesuction inlet 4 and thedischarge outlet 5, is arranged inside of thecase 2. Theelectric blower 7, which is arranged to produce an air flow, is arranged in theair passage 6. Once theelectric blower 7 is driven, air in the room flows into theair passage 6 through thesuction inlet 4 as indicated by arrows S, and is sent out into the room through thedischarge outlet 5. A centrifugal fan is preferably used as theelectric blower 7, but other types of electric blowers, such as, for example, an axial flow fan, may alternatively be used. - In the
air passage 6, adust collection portion 8 and afilter 9 are arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the direction in which the air flows between thesuction inlet 4 and theelectric blower 7. Dust included in the air flowing in theair passage 6 is blocked by thefilter 9, and is collected in thedust collection portion 8, which is defined in the shape of a container. Each of thedust collection portion 8 and thefilter 9 is detachably fitted in thecase 2. On the downstream side of thefilter 9, theair passage 6 is arranged to decrease in a channel width (i.e., width in the longitudinal direction A) toward an air inlet (not shown) of theelectric blower 7. - A
suction nozzle 20 in the shape of a nozzle is detachably fitted in thecase 2 on the upstream side of thedust collection portion 8 in theair passage 6. Thesuction nozzle 20 includes thesuction inlet 4 and anoutlet 22 at an upstream end and a downstream end, respectively, and asuction passage 21 which connects thesuction inlet 4 and theoutlet 22 is defined in thesuction nozzle 20. Thesuction inlet 4 is arranged to extend in the predetermined longitudinal direction A, and is arranged opposite to the floor F (i.e., the surface to be cleaned). Theoutlet 22 is connected to theelectric blower 7. The width of theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be substantially equal to the width of thesuction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A. - The
suction passage 21 is arranged to extend upward from thesuction inlet 4 and curve rearward, and is connected to an upper portion of thedust collection portion 8 through theoutlet 22. The upper side of a portion of thedust collection portion 8 is covered with thesuction nozzle 20. That is, thesuction passage 21 is arranged to extend upward from thesuction inlet 4, and is connected to the upper portion of thedust collection portion 8, and the upper side of a portion of thedust collection portion 8 is covered with thesuction nozzle 20. The details of thesuction nozzle 20 will be described below. - Left and
right drive wheels 19 a are arranged at left and right end portions of the bottom surface of thecase 2. Atrailer wheel 19 b, which is defined by a caster, is arranged at a front end portion of the bottom surface of thecase 2. Eachdrive wheel 19 a is connected to a drive motor (not shown). Thecase 2 is thus able to travel on the floor F. - In addition, the
electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a control portion (not shown) which controls various portions of theelectric vacuum cleaner 1. Theelectric blower 7, thedisplay portion 15, theoperation portion 16, the drive motor, the position sensor, a storage portion, and so on are connected to the control portion. The storage portion is arranged to store a control program for theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 and, in addition, the condition entered with theoperation portion 16 and so on. - A
power supply portion 11 including a secondary battery and so on is arranged in a front portion of thecase 2. Thepower supply portion 11 is arranged to supply power to theelectric blower 7, the control portion, the drive motor, and so on, and includes a case-side contact point (not shown) exposed in the bottom surface of thecase 2. The case-side contact point is arranged to make contact with a charger stand-side contact point of a charger stand (not shown) connected to a commercial power supply (not shown). The secondary battery of thepower supply portion 11 is thus charged through the charger stand. Before a cleaning operation is started, theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the charger stand. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of theair passage 6 on the suction side including thesuction nozzle 20, andFIG. 5 is a sectional front view of thesuction nozzle 20. Thesuction nozzle 20 includes thesuction inlet 4, theoutlet 22, thesuction passage 21, and a plurality ofpartition walls 25. Thesuction passage 21 is arranged to extend along a center line CT, which joins a middle of thesuction inlet 4 in the longitudinal direction A and a middle of theoutlet 22 in the longitudinal direction A, to connect thesuction inlet 4 and theoutlet 22. Upper and lower surfaces of thesuction passage 21 are defined by anupper wall 28 a and alower wall 28 b, respectively, and left and right surfaces of thesuction passage 21 are defined by aside wall 28 c and aside wall 28 d, respectively. Each of theupper wall 28 a and thelower wall 28 b is arranged to slant in such a manner as to increase in height as theupper wall 28 a or thelower wall 28 b extends rearward, and thesuction passage 21 is arranged to slant and guide an air flow to theoutlet 22. - In the
suction passage 21, the plurality of (two in the present preferred embodiment)partition walls 25 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction A. Each of thepartition walls 25 is arranged in thesuction passage 21, and is arranged to extend from a side on which thesuction inlet 4 is defined to a side on which theoutlet 22 is defined. Thepartition walls 25 are arranged to extend from thesuction inlet 4 to theoutlet 22 to divide thesuction passage 21 into amain passage 21 a and a plurality of (two in the present preferred embodiment)division passages main passage 21 a has the center line CT of thesuction passage 21 passing therethrough. Thedivision passages main passage 21 a with respect to the longitudinal direction A with one of thepartition walls 25 being arranged between themain passage 21 a and an adjacent one of thedivision passages main passage 21 a. Themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages suction inlet 4 by thepartition walls 25. That is, themain passage 21 a is arranged on the center line CT, and thedivision passages main passage 21 a with respect to the longitudinal direction A. - In addition, the
suction inlet 4 is divided by thepartition walls 25 intosuction inlets suction inlets main passage 21 a, thedivision passage 21 b, and thedivision passage 21 c, respectively. Each of thesuction inlets suction inlet 4 a. - Each
partition wall 25 includes an upstreamvertical portion 25 a, a firstcurved portion 25 b, a secondcurved portion 25 c, and a downstreamvertical portion 25 d arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the direction in which the air flows. The upstreamvertical portion 25 a is arranged at an upstream end of thepartition wall 25, and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. That is, eachpartition wall 25 includes the upstreamvertical portion 25 a, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, at the upstream end thereof. The firstcurved portion 25 b is defined continuously with a downstream side of the upstreamvertical portion 25 a, and is arranged to curve so as to be convex away from the center line CT (i.e., outward in the longitudinal direction A). That is, eachpartition wall 25 includes the firstcurved portion 25 b, which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the upstreamvertical portion 25 a and is arranged to curve so as to be convex away from the center line CT. The secondcurved portion 25 c is defined continuously with a downstream side of the firstcurved portion 25 b, and is arranged to curve so as to be convex toward the center line CT (i.e., inward in the longitudinal direction A). That is, eachpartition wall 25 includes the secondcurved portion 25 c, which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the firstcurved portion 25 b and is arranged to curve so as to be convex toward the center line CT. The downstreamvertical portion 25 d is defined continuously with the secondcurved portion 25 c at a downstream end, and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. That is, eachpartition wall 25 includes, at the downstream end thereof, the downstreamvertical portion 25 d, which is defined continuously with the secondcurved portion 25 c and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. - Thus, the upstream end of each
partition wall 25 is arranged outward of the downstream end thereof with respect to the longitudinal direction A, so that a width W1 of themain passage 21 a at thesuction inlet 4 a measured in the longitudinal direction A is greater than a width W2 of themain passage 21 a at theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A. A width W3 of thesuction inlet 4 b measured in the longitudinal direction A is smaller than a width W4 of thedivision passage 21 b at theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A. A width W5 of thesuction inlet 4 c measured in the longitudinal direction A is smaller than a width W6 of thedivision passage 21 c at theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A. - The width W3 of the
suction inlet 4 b and the width W5 of thesuction inlet 4 c are arranged to be substantially equal to each other, and the width W1 of thesuction inlet 4 a is arranged to be greater than the width W3 of thesuction inlet 4 b and the width W5 of thesuction inlet 4 c. The width W4 of thedivision passage 21 b at theoutlet 22 and the width W6 of thedivision passage 21 c at theoutlet 22 are arranged to be substantially equal to each other. In addition, since each of thedivision passages division passage 21 b at theoutlet 22 and the width W6 of thedivision passage 21 c at theoutlet 22 approaches the width W2 of themain passage 21 a at theoutlet 22. In the present preferred embodiment, the width W2 of themain passage 21 a at theoutlet 22, the width W4 of thedivision passage 21 b at theoutlet 22, and the width W6 of thedivision passage 21 c at theoutlet 22 are arranged to be substantially equal to one another. Note that the width W3 of thesuction inlet 4 b and the width W5 of thesuction inlet 4 c may be different from each other. - Note that the number of
partition walls 25 is not limited to two, but may alternatively be an even number equal to or greater than four. In this case, thesuction passage 21 is divided into one main passage and an even number of division passages, the even number being equal to or greater than four. - If a cleaning start time previously stored in the storage portion of the
electric vacuum cleaner 1 having the above-described structure comes, thecase 2 leaves the charger stand and automatically travels on the floor F. At this time, theelectric blower 7 is driven, and the rotary brush is caused to rotate. The cleaning operation of theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 is thus started. Air flows including dust on the floor F enter into themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages suction inlets FIG. 5 ). - At this time, the upstream
vertical portion 25 a of eachpartition wall 25 contributes to reducing turbulence in the vicinity of the upstream end of thepartition wall 25. Thus, the air flow smoothly enters into each of themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages main passage 21 a and thedivision passages curved portion 25 b and then the secondcurved portion 25 c. Thus, the air which has flowed into each of thedivision passages division passages - In addition, because the widths W4 and W6 of the
division passages outlet 22 approach the width W2 of themain passage 21 a at theoutlet 22, suction forces of equivalent magnitude act in themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages suction inlet 4. - In addition, the width W1 of the
suction inlet 4 a of themain passage 21 a, where turbulence does not easily occur, is arranged to be greater than the widths W3 and W5 of thesuction inlets suction nozzle 20. - In addition, the downstream
vertical portion 25 d of eachpartition wall 25 contributes to causing air which has reached a downstream portion of each of themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages outlet 22. - After passing in the
main passage 21 a and thedivision passages dust collection portion 8 through theoutlet 22. At this time, dust D in the air is blocked by thefilter 9, and is collected in thedust collection portion 8. After passing through thefilter 9, the air flows in a portion of theair passage 6 on the downstream side of thefilter 9, and is then sent out of thecase 2 through thedischarge outlet 5. The floor F is cleaned in the above-described manner. - After traveling over the entire floor F while keeping the
electric blower 7 in operation, theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 returns to the charger stand, and theelectric blower 7 is stopped. The cleaning operation of theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 is thus completed. -
FIGS. 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, illustrating a result of a simulation of flows of air in the portion of theair passage 6 on the suction side. In these figures, almost no turbulence can be observed in any of themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages main passage 21 a and thedivision passages dust collection portion 8. - For a comparative example, a similar simulation was performed with the
partition walls 25 being omitted, and the result was that large turbulent flows were observed in thedust collection portion 8 and both end portions of thesuction passage 21 with respect to the longitudinal direction A. -
FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air velocity distribution in the portion of theair passage 6 on the suction side. The result shows that, in thesuction passage 21, air flows at a substantially uniform velocity at about 25 m/s, and in thedust collection portion 8, air flows at a substantially uniform velocity at about 0.041 m/s. In contrast, in the aforementioned comparative example, the air velocity varied widely in both thesuction nozzle 20 and thedust collection portion 8. -
FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a result of a simulation of an air pressure distribution in the portion of theair passage 6 on the suction side. This figure shows that air pressure is substantially uniform in thesuction nozzle 20 and thedust collection portion 8 at about −230 Pa. In contrast, in the aforementioned comparative example, the air pressure varied widely in thesuction nozzle 20 and thedust collection portion 8. - The above results show that the
suction nozzle 20 according to the present preferred embodiment is able to reduce turbulence in both thesuction passage 21 and thedust collection portion 8. - In the present preferred embodiment, the plurality of
partition walls 25, which are arranged to divide thesuction passage 21 into themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages suction inlet 4, are provided in thesuction nozzle 20. This prevents a narrowing of a channel on a side closer to an air inlet of theelectric blower 7 from causing flows of air sucked in through both end portions of thesuction inlet 4 with respect to the longitudinal direction A to abruptly bend toward the center line CT immediately after entering into thesuction passage 21, and thus contributes to reducing turbulence of the air. - In addition, the width W1 of the
main passage 21 a at thesuction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A is greater than the width W2 of themain passage 21 a at theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A. This causes each of the widths W4 and W6 of thedivision passages outlet 22 to approach the width W2 of themain passage 21 a at theoutlet 22, resulting in an increase in the suction force that acts in each of thedivision passages suction inlet 4 in the longitudinal direction A. This leads to improved suction efficiency of thesuction nozzle 20. - In addition, each
partition wall 25 includes the upstreamvertical portion 25 a, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, at an upstream end of thesuction passage 21. This contributes to further reducing turbulence in the vicinity of the upstream end of thepartition wall 25. - In addition, each
partition wall 25 includes the firstcurved portion 25 b, which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the upstreamvertical portion 25 a and is arranged to curve so as to be convex away from the center line CT. This contributes to causing air sucked in through thesuction inlets division passages - In addition, each
partition wall 25 includes the secondcurved portion 25 c, which is defined continuously with the downstream side of the firstcurved portion 25 b and is arranged to curve so as to be convex toward the center line CT. This contributes to causing the air sucked in through thesuction inlets suction passage 21. - In addition, each
partition wall 25 includes, at the downstream end thereof, the downstreamvertical portion 25 d, which is defined continuously with the secondcurved portion 25 c and is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. This contributes to causing the air flowing in each of themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages outlet 22. - In addition, the width W1 of the
main passage 21 a at thesuction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be greater than each of the widths W3 and W5 of thedivision passages suction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A. Arranging air to be sucked in through three separate suction inlets as described above contributes to reducing the likelihood of an occurrence of turbulence in thesuction nozzle 20, and increasing the amount of air sucked in by thesuction nozzle 20. Further, arranging each of thedivision passages suction inlet 4 contributes to further improving suction efficiency at end portions of thesuction nozzle 20 with respect to the longitudinal direction A, at which weak suction forces tend to be observed most often in related art. - In addition, the
electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes thesuction nozzle 20, thedust collection portion 8 arranged downstream of thesuction nozzle 20, and theelectric blower 7 arranged downstream of thedust collection portion 8. Theelectric vacuum cleaner 1 is thus able to easily achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency. In addition, because air flows in the laminar state in each of themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages suction inlets electric blower 7. This contributes to reducing the turbulence in thedust collection portion 8, and preventing the dust D accumulated in thedust collection portion 8 from being rescattered. - In addition, the
suction passage 21 is arranged to extend upward from thesuction inlet 4, and is connected to the upper portion of thedust collection portion 8, and the upper side of a portion of thedust collection portion 8 is covered with thesuction nozzle 20. This contributes to reducing the size of theelectric vacuum cleaner 1. - Note that, in the present preferred embodiment, the first
curved portion 25 b may alternatively be arranged to extend from a downstream end of the upstreamvertical portion 25 a to theoutlet 22 with the secondcurved portion 25 c and the downstreamvertical portion 25 d being omitted. - Next, a second preferred embodiment of the disclosure will now be described below.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the second preferred embodiment.FIG. 11 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second preferred embodiment. For the sake of convenience in description, members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment. The second preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in the shape ofpartition walls 25. The second preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment. - In a
suction passage 21, a plurality of plate-shapedpartition walls 25 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction A. Eachpartition wall 25 is defined by a plate perpendicular to alower wall 28 b, and is arranged to extend in a straight line from a side on which asuction inlet 4 is defined to a side on which anoutlet 22 is defined. That is, thepartition wall 25 is in the shape of a plate, and is arranged to extend in a straight line from the side on which thesuction inlet 4 is defined to the side on which theoutlet 22 is defined. In a front view, two of thepartition walls 25 are arranged to incline toward each other as they extend from thesuction inlet 4 toward theoutlet 22. - The present preferred embodiment is able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment. In addition, each
partition wall 25 is in the shape of a plate, and is arranged to extend in a straight line from the side on which thesuction inlet 4 is defined to the side on which theoutlet 22 is defined. This contributes to easily preventing a separation of an air flow passing in each of amain passage 21 a anddivision passages partition wall 25, and further reducing the likelihood of an occurrence of turbulence. - Next, a third preferred embodiment of the disclosure will now be described below.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of an air passage on the suction side including a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the third preferred embodiment.FIG. 13 is a sectional front view of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the third preferred embodiment. For the sake of convenience in description, members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment. The third preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in the shape ofpartition walls 25. The third preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment. - Each
partition wall 25 includes an upstreamvertical portion 25 a, astraight portion 25 e, and a downstreamvertical portion 25 d arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the direction in which air flows. The third preferred embodiment is different from the second preferred embodiment in that eachpartition wall 25 includes the downstreamvertical portion 25 d, which is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, at a downstream end thereof. This causes air which has reached a downstream portion of each of amain passage 21 a anddivision passages outlet 22. Thestraight portion 25 e is defined continuously with each of a downstream end of the upstreamvertical portion 25 a and an upstream end of the downstreamvertical portion 25 d, and is arranged to extend in a straight line. - The present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment. Note that the upstream
vertical portion 25 a or the downstreamvertical portion 25 d may alternatively be omitted in the present preferred embodiment. - Next, a fourth preferred embodiment of the disclosure will now be described below.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment.FIGS. 15 and 16 are a sectional front view and a side sectional view, respectively, of a suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth preferred embodiment. For the sake of convenience in description, members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment. The fourth preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that a so-called canister-typeelectric vacuum cleaner 30 is used instead of the robot-typeelectric vacuum cleaner 1. The fourth preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment. - The
electric vacuum cleaner 30 includes anair inlet 31 and adischarge outlet 5 in a front surface and a rear surface, respectively, of acase 2 thereof. Anair passage 6, which is arranged to connect theair inlet 31 and thedischarge outlet 5, is defined in thecase 2. In theair passage 6, adust collection portion 8, afilter 9, and anelectric blower 7 are arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side. Left andright wheels 39 are attached to side surfaces of thecase 2. In addition, theelectric vacuum cleaner 30 is provided with a power supply cord (not shown) which is capable of being connected to a commercial power supply (not shown). - A
hose 32 is connected to theair inlet 31 of thecase 2, and aconnection pipe 34 is connected to an upstream end of thehose 32. Ahandle portion 35 and anoperation portion 16 are arranged in theconnection pipe 34. Theoperation portion 16 is operated to issue an instruction to turn on or off theelectric vacuum cleaner 30, an instruction to change the rotation rate of theelectric blower 7, or the like. Anextension pipe 33 is attached to an upstream end of theconnection pipe 34. Asuction nozzle 20 is attached to an upstream end of theextension pipe 33 such that thesuction nozzle 20 is detachable from theextension pipe 33. - The
suction nozzle 20 includes ajoint pipe 27 connected to theextension pipe 33 at the rear of ahousing 26 thereof, and anoutlet 22 is open at a downstream end of thejoint pipe 27. A width W7 of theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be smaller than a width W8 of asuction inlet 4 measured in the longitudinal direction A. A width of anopening portion 29 at an upstream end of thejoint pipe 27 measured in the longitudinal direction A is arranged to be substantially equal to the width W7 of theoutlet 22. In addition, downstream ends ofpartition walls 25 are arranged within the range of the width W7 of theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A. - If a user of the
electric vacuum cleaner 30 having the above-described structure inserts a plug of the power supply cord into a socket (not shown), and operates theoperation portion 16, theelectric blower 7 is driven. As a result, air including dust D flows into each of amain passage 21 a anddivision passages suction inlet 4 of thesuction nozzle 20. At this time, because the downstream ends of thepartition walls 25 are arranged within the range of the width W7 of theoutlet 22 measured in the longitudinal direction A, air flowing in each of themain passage 21 a and thedivision passages outlet 22. - After flowing through each of the
main passage 21 a and thedivision passages extension pipe 33, theconnection pipe 34, and thehose 32 in the order named, and then flows into thecase 2 through theair inlet 31. The dust D in the air which has flowed into thecase 2 is collected in thedust collection portion 8. A floor F is thus cleaned. - The present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment. In addition, the canister-type
electric vacuum cleaner 30 is also able to achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency. - Next, a fifth preferred embodiment of the disclosure will now be described below.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the fifth preferred embodiment. For the sake of convenience in description, members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment. The fifth preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that a so-called stick-typeelectric vacuum cleaner 40 is used instead of the robot-typeelectric vacuum cleaner 1. The fifth preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment. - The
electric vacuum cleaner 40 includes acase 2 including anair inlet 41 and adischarge outlet 5 in a lower surface and an upper surface, respectively, thereof. Anair passage 6, which is arranged to connect theair inlet 41 and thedischarge outlet 5, is defined in thecase 2. In theair passage 6, adust collection portion 8, afilter 9, and anelectric blower 7 are arranged in the order named from the upstream side to the downstream side. In addition, theelectric vacuum cleaner 40 is provided with a power supply cord (not shown) similar to that of the fourth preferred embodiment. - A
handle portion 35 and anoperation portion 16 are arranged at an upper portion of thecase 2. Asuction pipe 47 in the shape of a stick is connected to theair inlet 41 of thecase 2. Asuction nozzle 20 is attached to an upstream end of thesuction pipe 47 such that thesuction nozzle 20 is detachable from thesuction pipe 47. Thesuction nozzle 20 according to the present preferred embodiment is similar in structure to thesuction nozzle 20 according to the fourth preferred embodiment. - The present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment. In addition, the stick-type
electric vacuum cleaner 40 is also able to achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency. - Next, a sixth preferred embodiment of the disclosure will now be described below.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the sixth preferred embodiment. For the sake of convenience in description, members or portions that have their equivalents in the above-described first preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of their equivalents in the first preferred embodiment. The sixth preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that a so-called handy-typeelectric vacuum cleaner 50 is used instead of the robot-typeelectric vacuum cleaner 1. The sixth preferred embodiment is otherwise similar to the first preferred embodiment. - The
electric vacuum cleaner 50 is similar in structure to theelectric vacuum cleaner 40 according to the fifth preferred embodiment with thesuction pipe 47 being omitted. A user can clean a floor F, a desktop (i.e., a surface to be cleaned), or the like with theelectric vacuum cleaner 50 while holding ahandle portion 35. - The present preferred embodiment is also able to achieve beneficial effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment. In addition, the handy-type
electric vacuum cleaner 50 is also able to achieve improved suction efficiency and cleaning efficiency. - Note that, instead of the
partition walls 25 according to the first preferred embodiment, partition walls similar to thepartition walls 25 according to one of the second and third preferred embodiments may alternatively be arranged in thesuction nozzle 20 according to each of the fourth to sixth preferred embodiments. - Also note that a rotary brush may be arranged in the
suction inlet 4 of thesuction nozzle 20 according to each of the fourth to sixth preferred embodiments. - Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are applicable to suction nozzles and electric vacuum cleaners including suction nozzles.
- Features of the above-described preferred embodiments and the modifications thereof may be combined appropriately as long as no conflict arises.
- While preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.
Claims (11)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2016094466A JP6707977B2 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2016-05-10 | Suction nozzle and vacuum cleaner equipped with the same |
JP2016-094466 | 2016-05-10 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20170325645A1 true US20170325645A1 (en) | 2017-11-16 |
Family
ID=58672481
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/591,128 Abandoned US20170325645A1 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2017-05-10 | Suction nozzle and electric vacuum cleaner including the same |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20170325645A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3243416A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6707977B2 (en) |
CN (2) | CN107348900B (en) |
TW (1) | TWI667984B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6707977B2 (en) * | 2016-05-10 | 2020-06-10 | 日本電産株式会社 | Suction nozzle and vacuum cleaner equipped with the same |
CN214631951U (en) * | 2019-08-28 | 2021-11-09 | 尚科宁家运营有限公司 | Debris fin for a dust cup of a robot cleaner and a dust cup |
CN113243820A (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2021-08-13 | 上海高仙自动化科技发展有限公司 | Floor brush assembly and cleaning robot |
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2016
- 2016-05-10 JP JP2016094466A patent/JP6707977B2/en active Active
-
2017
- 2017-05-08 EP EP17169854.1A patent/EP3243416A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2017-05-09 CN CN201710323514.4A patent/CN107348900B/en active Active
- 2017-05-09 CN CN201720510417.1U patent/CN207444897U/en not_active Withdrawn - After Issue
- 2017-05-10 US US15/591,128 patent/US20170325645A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2017-05-10 TW TW106115401A patent/TWI667984B/en active
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TWI667984B (en) | 2019-08-11 |
EP3243416A1 (en) | 2017-11-15 |
CN107348900B (en) | 2020-04-28 |
JP6707977B2 (en) | 2020-06-10 |
CN207444897U (en) | 2018-06-05 |
JP2017202050A (en) | 2017-11-16 |
CN107348900A (en) | 2017-11-17 |
TW201739402A (en) | 2017-11-16 |
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