JP2004135700A

JP2004135700A - Electric vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: JP2004135700A
Application number: JP2002300843A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Hitoshi Suzuki; 鈴木　仁; Ritsuo Takemoto; 竹本　律雄; Masatoshi Tanaka; 田中　正俊; Yoshihiro Tsuchiya; 土屋　善弘
Original assignee: Toshiba Tec Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Tec Corp
Priority date: 2002-10-15
Filing date: 2002-10-15
Publication date: 2004-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-15
Also published as: JP4131927B2

Abstract

【課題】掃除機本体の大型化を抑制しつつ、吸塵性能を向上できるサイクロン式の電気掃除機を得ることにある。
【解決手段】第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂは掃除機本体内に並設されている。第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂは夫々、掃除機本体２の本体吸込み部６と連通して軸方向の前端側に設けられた吸込み部１２ａ、１２ｂ、軸方向の後端側に設けられて軸方向と交叉する方向に開口する塵排出部１４ａ，１４ｂ及び軸方向に開口する気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂを備えている。旋回流形成手段としての吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂは、第１、第２の分離筒体に導入される気流を旋回させる。塵排出部１４ａ，１４ｂの開口１５ａ，１５ｂから排出される塵を収容する集塵部３０は、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの下方に位置して掃除機本体２に設けられている。
【選択図】　　図３An object of the present invention is to provide a cyclone-type vacuum cleaner capable of improving dust-absorbing performance while suppressing an increase in the size of a vacuum cleaner body.
A first and second separation cylinders (10a, 10b) are juxtaposed in a cleaner body. The first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b communicate with the main body suction portion 6 of the cleaner main body 2 and are provided with suction portions 12a and 12b provided on the front end side in the axial direction, and on the rear end side in the axial direction. Dust discharge units 14a and 14b are provided and open in a direction crossing the axial direction, and air outlets 16a and 16b are opened in the axial direction. The suction portions 12a and 12b as swirling flow forming means swirl the airflow introduced into the first and second separation cylinders. The dust collecting unit 30 that stores dust discharged from the openings 15a and 15b of the dust discharging units 14a and 14b is provided in the cleaner body 2 below the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b. ing.
[Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、吸込み気流を旋回させてこの気流中に含まれる塵を分離しながら掃除するサイクロン式の電気掃除機に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、サイクロン分離室を兼ねる円筒形状の集塵部と電動送風機とが夫々垂直方向に立った姿勢で掃除機本体内に並設されているサイクロン式の電気掃除機が知られている。この電気掃除機では、掃除機本体の前側から水平方向に吸込まれる気流がその流れ方向を略９０°変えられて、集塵部の上部に設けられた吸塵筒部の吸塵開口からこの集塵部内に上方から下向きに旋回しながら供給される。この旋回流は、集塵部の下部で反転上昇して、この集塵部の中央に開口形成された集気口から流出し、この集気口と電動送風機とを連通させる吸気路を通って電動送風機に下向きに吸込まれる。電動送風機から流出した気流は掃除機本体外に排出される。
【０００３】
この電気掃除機では、集塵部内での気流の旋回による遠心力によって、この気流中に含まれる塵を分離させて、この塵を集塵部の底部に溜めることができる（例えば、特許文献１参照）。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−１７６２６号公報（第２−６頁、図１及び図１１）
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで、前記構成の電気掃除機では、上述のように、水平方向に流れる気流がその流れ方向を略９０°変えられて集塵部に供給され、この集塵部の下部で反転上昇されるので圧損が大きい。したがって、風路でのエネルギー損失が大きく、電動送風機の吸込み仕事量が良くないので、吸塵性能が良くない。
【０００６】
このようなサイクロン式の電気掃除機において圧損を抑制するためには風路を広くする必要がある。しかし、内部がサイクロン分離室となる円筒形状の分離筒体を例えば水平方向に寝かせた姿勢で配置するように設計する場合、分離筒体の内径を大きくして風路を広くすると、掃除機本体が大型化されやすいという問題がある。
【０００７】
つまり、分離筒体を水平方向に寝かせた姿勢で配置する場合、この分離筒体から排出される塵を収容する集塵部を分離筒体の回りに配設する必要がある。そのため、例えば集塵部を掃除機本体内の下部に配置した場合、掃除機本体は高さ方向に大きくなる。また、幅方向の一端部に配置した場合、掃除機本体は幅方向に大きくなる。
【０００８】
このように、サイクロン分離室となる分離筒体とともに集塵室が収容されることで掃除機本体が大型化し易いので、圧損を小さくするために分離筒体の内径を大きくすると、掃除機本体は更に大型化される。
【０００９】
本発明が解決しようとする課題は、掃除機本体の大型化を抑制しつつ、吸塵性能を向上できるサイクロン式の電気掃除機を得ることにある。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前記課題を解決するために、請求項１に係る発明の電気掃除機は、掃除機本体の本体吸込み部と連通して軸方向の一端側に設けられた吸込み部、軸方向の他端側に設けられて軸方向と交叉する方向に開口する塵排出部及び軸方向に開口する気流出口を備えた第１、第２の分離筒体を並設し、第１、第２の分離筒体に導入される気流を旋回させる旋回流形成手段をこれら第１、第２の分離筒体に設け、第１、第２の分離筒体の塵排出の開口から夫々排出される塵を収容する集塵部を第１、第２の分離筒体の回りに位置させて掃除機本体に設け、電動送風機を第１、第２の分離筒体の下流側に第１、第２の分離筒体の気流出口と夫々連通させて掃除機本体に設けている。
【００１１】
本発明において、掃除機本体の本体吸込み部は掃除機本体内に吸込まれる気流の入口として機能するものであり、この本体吸込み部には吸込まれる気流を導く吸塵ホース等の気流ガイド手段が接続される。
【００１２】
本発明において、第１、第２の分離筒体は夫々、気流がその内部を円滑に旋回できる筒状であれば円筒体でも角筒体でもよいが、特に断面において長軸と短軸との差が少ない楕円円筒体がよく、中でも断面が真円の円筒体を用いるのが好ましい。第１、第２の分離筒体の気流出口は夫々、第１、第２の分離筒体の端部開口等で形成できる。
【００１３】
本発明において、旋回流形成手段は、第１、第２の分離筒体に導入される気流に夫々旋回運度を与えるものである。旋回流形成手段は、第１、第２の分離筒体と一体に形成しても別体で形成してもよい。旋回流形成手段を第１、第２の分離筒体と一体に形成する場合、後述する実施形態で説明するように、第１、第２の分離筒体の吸込み部に旋回流を形成する機能を兼ねさせたものとしてもよい。また、旋回流形成手段は、後述する実施形態で説明する構成の他、吸込み部に旋回翼を設ける等して構成することもできる。
【００１４】
本発明において、集塵部は、第１、第２の分離筒体で分離されて塵排出部の開口から排出される塵を溜めるためのものであり、必要に応じて掃除機本体から取外して内部の塵を捨てることができるように形成するのが好ましい。また、集塵部は、内部に溜まった塵の量を視認できるようにするために、透明又は半透明等、内部が透視可能に形成することが望ましい。
【００１５】
本発明において、電動送風機は被清掃面上の塵埃を空気とともに吸込むための送風を形成するためのものである。電動送風機は、どのような姿勢で設けてもよいが、好ましくは、空気を吸込む吸気口を第１、第２の分離筒体の気流出口側に向けて、水平方向に寝かせた姿勢で設けるとよい。
【００１６】
本発明の電気掃除機によれば、電動送風機の送風力により掃除機本体の本体吸込み部から吸込まれる気流が、夫々の吸込み部を介して第１、第２の分離筒体内に導入される。このとき、第１、第２の分離筒体に導入される気流は、旋回流形成手段によって旋回流となるので、この旋回流によって気流中の塵が第１、第２の分離筒体内で遠心力により分離される。この分離された塵は第１、第２の分離筒体の夫々の塵排出口を通って集塵部に溜められる。一方、塵が除かれた気流は、旋回しながら第１、第２の分離筒体内を通って軸方向に開口する気流出口から夫々流出し、電動送風機に吸込まれる。
【００１７】
このように、本発明の電気掃除機によれば、掃除機本体に吸込まれた気流を反転させることなく第１、第２の分離筒体に通して、その過程で気流中に含まれる塵を遠心分離するので、圧損が少なくなる。また、これらの第１、第２の分離筒体を並設したので、第１、第２の分離筒体の径を小さくできる。これにより、第１、第２の分離筒体と集塵部との掃除機本体の占有スペースを小さくできる。
【００１８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、図１〜図７を参照して、本発明の一実施形態を説明する。図中符号１で示す電気掃除機が備える掃除機本体２は、図１及び図２に示すように、下ケース３ａと、この下ケース３ａの前部に上方から着脱可能に取付けられた前部下ケース３ｂと、下ケース３ａの後部に上方から固定的に取付けられた後部下ケース３ｃとを有している。
【００１９】
下ケース３ａには、その前部下側に位置してキャスター４が取付けられているとともに、後部両側に位置して夫々車輪５が取付けられている。これらキャスター４及び車輪５によって掃除機本体２は水平な姿勢で被清掃面Ｆ上に支持されている。この掃除機本体２は被清掃面Ｆ上をキャスター４及び車輪５の回転に伴って移動可能である。下ケース３ａの前壁には本体吸込み部６が形成されている。掃除機本体２の後端部例えば後壁には排気孔（図示せず）が形成されている。
【００２０】
掃除機本体２には、塵分離ユニット８及び電動送風機９等が収容されている。塵分離ユニット８は、図３〜図６に示すように、分離体１０、導入部２０、集塵部３０、フィルタ取付け部４０、第１のフィルタ５０、第２のフィルタ６０、及び第３のフィルタ７０等を備えている。
【００２１】
分離体１０は、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとを備えている。第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂは夫々、筒本体１１ａ，１１ｂと、旋回流形成手段を兼ねた吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂと、塵排出部１４ａ，１４ｂと、気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂとを備えている。
【００２２】
第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂは、掃除機本体２の縦方向の中心軸線ａ（図２参照）に対して線対称となるように、水平方向に寝かせた姿勢で掃除機本体２の幅方向に並設されている。これら第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂは一体に形成されている。なお、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとは別体で形成してもよい。
【００２３】
筒本体１１ａ，１１ｂは、例えば断面真円状に形成されている。吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂは、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂを上述のように並設させた時に、筒本体１１ａ，１１ｂの軸方向の前側且つ掃除機本体２の幅方向の中央側に位置して、筒本体１１ａ，１１ｂの接線方向に沿って下側に延出している。また、吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂの間にはガイド壁１７が下側に延出しており、吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂはこのガイド壁１７を周壁の一部として共有している。吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂの先端部には下方に開口する吸込み口１３ａ，１３ｂが形成されている。
【００２４】
塵排出部１４ａ，１４ｂは、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂを上述のように並設させた時に、夫々中央側と対向する外側に位置して、筒本体１１ａ，１１ｂの接線方向に沿って下側に延出している。塵排出部１４ａ，１４ｂの先端部には下方に開口する塵排出口１５ａ，１５ｂが形成されている。気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂは、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの軸方向後端部に開口している。
【００２５】
集塵部３０は、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂで分離された塵を溜めるためのものであり、例えば、内部に溜まった塵の量を視認できるように透明又は半透明の樹脂等によって分離体１０の幅と同程度の幅を有する直方体状に形成されている。集塵部３０には塵廃棄口（図示せず）が形成されており、この塵廃棄口は開閉自在な蓋（図示せず）等で気密に閉じられている。集塵部３０は分離体１０の下側に位置して掃除機本体２に着脱可能に取付けられている。この集塵部３０は、必要に応じて掃除機本体２から取外して内部の塵を捨てることができるようになっている。
【００２６】
集塵部３０の前端部には後述する導入部２０が一体に形成されている。集塵部３０の上壁には前方に寄せて幅方向中央部に上部前側開口３２が開口している。また、集塵部３０の上壁には後方に寄せて、幅方向両端部に第１、第２上部後側開口３３，３４が開口しているとともに、幅方向中央部に塵圧縮気流出口３５が開口している。
【００２７】
また、集塵部３０には、一端部及び外周の平坦領域の一部又は全部が開口した断面半円形状の気流ガイド部３６が設けられている。この気流ガイド部３６は、一端部を後方に向けるとともに平坦領域の開口を塵圧縮気流出口３５と対向させた状態で、この塵圧縮気流出口３５を上方から覆っている。これにより、集塵部３０内に流入した気流は、塵圧縮気流出口３５から流出し、気流ガイド３６により水平方向に曲げられて、電動送風機９に吸込まれる。
【００２８】
なお、気流ガイド部３６と集塵部３０とは一体に形成してもよい。また、塵圧縮気流出口３５にフィルタを設け、集塵部３０内の塵が外部に流出するのを抑制してもよい。ただし、後述するように、第３のフィルタ７０が第１、第２の分離筒体１０，１０ｂの軸方向の後側に塵圧縮気流出口３５と電動送風機９の吸気口９ｃとの間に位置して設けられるので、塵圧縮気流出口３５に設けるフィルタはなくてもよい。
【００２９】
導入部２０は、本体吸込み部６と第１、第の２分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂとを連通するためのものであり、例えば、水平方向に延びる直管部２１とこの直管部２１から上方に向かって湾曲する湾曲管部２２とを有している。この導入部２０は、直管部２１を集塵部３０の前側外方に突出させるとともに湾曲管部２２を集塵部３０内に収容させるようにして集塵部３０と一体に形成されている。なお、導入部２０は集塵部３０と別体で形成してもよい。
【００３０】
導入部２０の直管部２１側の端部開口は、掃除機本体２の本体吸込み部６に差し込まれて後述する気流ガイド手段７と連通している。一方、湾曲管部２２側の端部開口は集塵部３０の上部前側開口３２を介して集塵部３０の上方に開放している。また、導入部２０の内壁面には、図４に示すように、本体吸込み部６から吸込まれた空気を第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂに略均等に導入させるための稜部２３が形成されている。
【００３１】
塵分離ユニット８は、吸込み口１３ａ，１３ｂを上部前側開口３２すなわち導入部２０の湾曲管部２２側の端部開口と対向させ、且つ、塵排出口１５ａを第１上部後側開口３３と対向させるとともに塵排出口１５ｂを第２上部後側開口３４と対向させた状態で、分離体１０を集塵部３０にその上方から取付けることで組立てられている。なお、分離体１０を集塵部３０に取付ける際、図示しないシール材等により、塵排出部１４ａと集塵部３０との間、塵排出部１４ｂと集塵部３０との間、及び吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂと集塵部との間から空気が漏れないにようにするのが好ましい。
【００３２】
このように、塵排出口１５ａを第１上部後側開口３３と対向させた状態で集塵部３０に分離体１０を取付けることで、第１の分離筒体１０ａが塵排出部１４ａを介して集塵部３０内と連通する。同様に、塵排出口１５ｂを第２上部後側開口３４と対向させた状態で集塵部３０に分離体１０を取付けることで、第２の分離筒体１０ｂが塵排出部１４ｂを介して集塵部３０内と連通する。
【００３３】
さらに、吸込み口１３ａ，１３ｂを上部前側開口３２と対向させた状態で集塵部３０に分離体１０を取付けることで、第１の分離筒体１０ａ及び第２の分離筒体１０ｂが、吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂ及び導入部２０を介して本体吸込み部６と連通する。
【００３４】
なお、分離体１０と集塵部３０とを一体に形成してもよいが、集塵部３０に溜められた塵の塵廃棄口からの廃棄を容易にするためには、分離体１０と集塵部３０とは別体であるのが好ましい。
【００３５】
フィルタ取付け部４０は、気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂの共通接線に沿って延びる一対の側壁及びこれら両側壁の両端部を繋ぐ一対の端壁とを備えて気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂの囲むように枠状に形成されている。
【００３６】
フィルタ取付け部４０の後端部は開口していて、第３のフィルタ７０が着脱自在に取付けられている。一方、フィルタ取付け部４０の前端部には、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂ及び気流ガイド部３６の一端部の開口に夫々対応する通気孔４１〜４３が形成された板部材４４が固定されている。板部材４４の前面には、通気孔４１，４２の外周に位置して気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂと嵌合する凸部４５が形成されている。
【００３７】
第３のフィルタ７０は、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂから流出する気流に含まれる塵を捕捉するものであり、枠部７１とフィルタ本体７２と備えて形成されている。第３のフィルタ７０はフィルタ取付け部４０の内側の領域を後端部から覆う形状に形成されている。この第３のフィルタ７０は、フィルタ取付け部４０に後側から内部に嵌め込むとともに第３のフィルタ７０に設けられた図示しない支持部で支持させることで、このフィルタ取付け部４０に着脱自在に取付けられている。
【００３８】
第１、第２のフィルタ５０，６０は枠部５１，６１と濾材５２，６２とを備えて形成されている。図３〜図６では濾材５２，６２に点模様を付して示している。また、図６では濾材５２を省略して示している。
【００３９】
枠部５１，６１は、前側から後側に広がるように形成された略円錐形状の外形に形成されている。濾材５２，６２もまた、前側から後側に広がるように形成された略円錐形状に形成されている。これら第１、第２のフィルタ５０，６０は第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂに夫々嵌り込む大きさに形成されている。第１、第２のフィルタ５０，６０の後端部は開口している。第１、第２のフィルタ５０，６０は夫々の後端部をフィルタ取付け部４０の通気孔４１，４２に対向させて、このフィルタ取付け部４０に着脱自在に取付けられている。
【００４０】
なお、第１、第２のフィルタ５０，６０は夫々、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの旋回気流に含まれる塵が気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂから流出しないように抑制するとともに、前記塵を旋回気流に乗せて良好に塵排出部１４ａ，１４ｂに導くための補助部材として用いられるものであり、省略してもよい。
【００４１】
フィルタ取付け部４０は、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの軸方向の後側、例えば、分離体１０の後端部に気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂを凸部４５に嵌合させて取付けられている。このように、フィルタ取付け部４０を分離体１０の後端部に取付けることで、第３のフィルタ７０は、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの夫々の気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂと電動送風機９の吸気口９ｃとの間に着脱可能に配置されるとともに、塵圧縮気流出口３５と電動送風機９の吸気口９ｃとの間に着脱可能に配置される。同時に、第１のフィルタ５０は第１の分離筒体１０ａの内部に収容され、第２のフィルタ６０は第２の分離筒体１０ｂの内部に収容される。
【００４２】
第１のフィルタ５０、第２のフィルタ６０、及び第３のフィルタ７０は、例えば交換可能或いは水洗い可能に形成されている。また、第１のフィルタ５０、第２のフィルタ６０、及び第３のフィルタ７０は、単層でも多層でもよいとともに、塵の他に臭い成分を除去する等他の機能を付加することは妨げない。
【００４３】
電動送風機９は、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの下流側に位置して掃除機本体２内に内蔵されている。電動送風機９は、電動機部９ａとこの電動機部９ａにより回転されるファン（図示せず）が内蔵されたファン部９ｂとを備えている。ファン部９ｂの正面中央部には吸気口９ｃが開口されている。この電気掃除機１は、ファンを回転させることにより、吸気口９ｃから空気を吸込み、この空気を電動機部９ａの内部に通してから、この電動機部９ａに設けられている流出口９ｄから排出されて、吸塵のための送風をするように形成されている。この電動送風機９は、例えば吸気口９ｃを第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂ側に向け、水平方向に寝かせた姿勢で配置されている。
【００４４】
掃除機本体２の本体吸込み部６には、気流ガイド手段７としての吸塵ホース（図１参照）等が着脱可能に接続されるようになっている。気流ガイド手段７は、可撓性を有する吸塵ホース及びこの吸塵ホースの先端部の操作ハンドル部に着脱可能に接続される延長管（図示せず）とからなり、延長管の先端部に吸込み口体を接続して掃除に供される。
【００４５】
以上のように掃除機本体２内には、分離体１０、第３のフィルタ７０が取付けられたフィルタ取付け部４０、及び電動送風機９が、後述する気流の流れ方向に沿って前後方向にこの記載順に並べて掃除機本体２の上部に配置されている。一方、集塵部３０は分離体１０の下方に位置して掃除機本体２の下部に配置されている。以上の掃除機本体２内蔵部品は掃除機本体２の幅方向に関して左右対称に配置されている。
【００４６】
前記構成の電気掃除機１は、電動送風機９を運転することにより図示しない吸込み口体及び気流ガイド手段７を通して被清掃面Ｆ上の塵を空気とともに掃除機本体２の本体吸込み部６に吸込んで掃除できる。この電気掃除機１おける分離体１０内での気流の流れは図７（Ａ）〜（Ｃ）中矢印Ａ〜Ｆで示される。
【００４７】
詳しくは、本体吸込み部６に吸込まれた気流は、図７（Ａ）及び（Ｂ）中矢印Ａで示されるように、その流入速度を利用して、流れを遮るように設けられている導入部２０に沿って流れ方向を水平方向から上方向に変えながら、この導入部２０中を流通する。導入部２０から流出した気流は、吸込み口１３から第１の分離筒体１０ａ内に吸込まれる気流と、吸込み口１３ｂから第２の分離筒体１０ｂ内に吸込まれる気流との２つの気流に分かれて分離体１０に流入する。そして、吸込み口１３ａ，１３ｂから斜め後方に向かって流入し、図７（Ａ）及び（Ｂ）中矢印Ｂで示される旋回流となって第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂに吸込まれる。
【００４８】
このとき、掃除機本体２内蔵部品は掃除機本体２の幅方向に対して左右対称に配置されているとともに導入部２０に稜部２３が形成されているので、第１の分離筒体１０ａに流れ込む空気の流量と第２の分離筒体１０ｂに流れ込む空気の流量とは略同量であり、第１の分離筒体１０ａ内と第２の分離筒体１０ｂ内との間で負圧の差はほとんど生じない。
【００４９】
矢印Ｂで示される旋回流となって第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂに吸込まれた気流は、図７（Ａ）及び（Ｃ）中矢印Ｃで示されるように、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの内周面に誘導されて、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂ内を旋回しながら前側から後側に流動する。
【００５０】
この気流の旋回に伴う遠心力により、気流中に含まれる塵もまた、矢印Ｂ及び矢印Ｃで示されるように、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの内周面及び第１、第２のフィルタ５０，６０の外周面に誘導されて、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂ内を旋回しながら前側から後側に流動する。なお、矢印Ｃ方向の旋回気流は第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの後端部で反射されるが、矢印Ｂ方向から第１、第２分離に送り込まれる気流のエネルギーが大きいので、矢印Ｃ方向の旋回流に乗って後側に移動した塵が吸込み口１３ａ，１３ｂにまで逆流して戻ってくることはない。
【００５１】
第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの後側に移動した塵は、図７（Ａ）中矢印Ｄで示されるように、自重により塵排出部１４ａ，１４ｂを通って塵排出口１５ａ，１５ｂから落下して第１、第２上部後側開口３３，３４から集塵部３０内に収容される。
【００５２】
このとき、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの後側に移動した気流の一部は、矢印Ｄで示されるように、塵を誘導しつつ第１、第２上部後側開口３３，３４から集塵部３０に流入する。集塵部３０に流れ込んだ気流は、前記塵を集塵部３０内で圧縮し、図７（Ａ）中矢印Ｅで示されるように、塵圧縮気流出口３５から集塵部３０外に流出する。集塵部３０から流出した空気は、気流ガイド部３６及び第３のフィルタ７０を流通して電動送風機９に吸込まれる。
【００５３】
なお、上述したように、第１の分離筒体１０ａ内と第２の分離筒体１０ｂ内との間で負圧の差はほとんどないため、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとが集塵部３０を介して連通していても、塵が第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂのどちらかに逆流するといったことはない。
【００５４】
また、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの後側に移動した空気の大半は、図７（Ａ）中矢印Ｆで示されるように、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの夫々の気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂから分離体１０外に流出し、第３のフィルタ７０を流通して電動送風機９に吸込まれる。以上により、サイクロン式に塵分離がなされる。
【００５５】
以上のように、この電気掃除機１によれば、掃除機本体２に吸込まれた気流を反転させることなく、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの夫々にそれらの軸方向一端から他端に向けて直進的に流通させ、その過程で気流中に含まれる塵を遠心分離するので、圧損を少なくできる。したがって、風路でのエネルギー損失を抑制できるので、電動送風機９の吸込み仕事量を向上できるに伴って、吸塵性能を高くできる。
【００５６】
さらに、この電気掃除機１によれば、これらの第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂを並設したので、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの個々の径をこれら第１、第２の分離筒体の断面積の和と同等の断面積を有する分離筒体を１つ設けた場合の前記分離筒体の径と比べて小さくできる。
【００５７】
つまり、分離体１０の下方には集塵部３０が配設されるため、掃除機本体２内の分離体１０が収容される空間Ｓは、図２に示すように、通常、高さ方向が幅方向よりも狭い空間となる。そのため、収容可能な分離筒体の大きさは掃除機本体２の高さによって制限される。しかし、掃除機本体２内の分離体１０が収容される空間Ｓは幅方向は高さ方向よりも広いため、掃除機本体２の高さに合わせて分離筒体を設計すると、幅方向には空間が余る。第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂが収容される掃除機本体２内の収容空間の形状に合わせ、空いている空間、本実施形態では幅方向の空間を有効に利用して、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂを幅方向に並設することで、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの個々の径を小さくできる。
【００５８】
これにより、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂと集塵部３０との掃除機本体２の占有スペースを小さくできるので、両分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの風路すなわち合計断面積を大きく確保しつつ掃除機本体２を小型化できる、又は、掃除機本体２の大型化を抑制しつつ風路を広くできる。
【００５９】
したがって、この実施形態によれば、掃除機本体２の大型化を抑制しつつ、吸塵性能を向上できるサイクロン式の電気掃除機が得られる。
【００６０】
また、この電気掃除機１では、吸気口９ｃを第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂ側に向け、水平方向に寝かせた姿勢で電動送風機９を配置しているので、気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂから水平方向に流出した気流を流れ方向をほとんど変えることなく電動送風機９に吸込ませることができるので、さらに圧損が抑制される。
【００６１】
しかも、この電気掃除機１では、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとが互いに中心線ａに対して線対称に設けられているので、第１の分離筒体１０ａ内と第２の分離筒体１０ｂ内との間で負圧の差はほとんど生じない。そのため、第１の分離筒体１０ａで分離された塵を収容する集塵部３０と第２の分離筒体１０ｂで分離された塵を収容する集塵部３０とを共通にしても、塵が第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂのどちらかに逆流するといったことはない。したがって、集塵部３０を１つにできるので、構造を簡略化できる。
【００６２】
また、この電気掃除機１によれば、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂが夫々円形状に形成されている。そして、気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂの共通接線に沿って延びる一対の側壁及びこれら両側壁の両端部を繋ぐ一対の端壁とを備えて気流出口１６ａ，１６ｂの囲むように形成された枠状のフィルタ取付け部４０が第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの軸方向の後側に設けられているとともに、フィルタ取付け部４０にこの内側の領域を覆うように第３のフィルタ７０が取付けられている。
【００６３】
したがって、この電気掃除機１では、上述のように、掃除機本体２の大型化を抑制しつつ、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの内径を大きくできるので、これに伴って、上述のように構成した第３のフィルタ７０の面積もまた広くできる。
【００６４】
なお、本実施形態では、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとを掃除機本体２の幅方向に並列に配置したが、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとは掃除機の幅方向に限らず、掃除機本体２内の収容空間に適した方向に並列に配置すればよい。
【００６５】
また、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとが互いに線対称となる形状に形成したが、第１の分離筒体１０ａと第２の分離筒体１０ｂとは異なる形状或いは大きさに形成してもよい。その場合、第１の分離筒体１０ａ内と第２の分離筒体１０ｂ内との間で負圧の差が生じるので、集塵部３０を個別に設ける或いは集塵部３０内に隔離壁を設けて、塵が第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂのどちらかに逆流しないようにするとよい。
【００６６】
また、導入部２０の形状は、本体吸込み部６から吸込まれた気流を第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの吸込み部１２ａ，１２ｂ或いは旋回流形成手段に誘導するものであればよい。この実施形態では、水平方向に沿って配置される本体吸込み部６と下方に開口する吸込み口１３ａ，１３ｂを有する吸込み部１４ａ，１４ｂとを連通させるために、導入部２０を直管部２１と湾曲管部２２とを有する形状としているが、圧損を抑制するためには導入部２０は直管形状であるのが好ましい。
【００６７】
さらに、本実施形態では、集塵部３０に塵圧縮気流出口３５及び気流ガイド部３６を設けることで、第１、第２の分離筒体１０ａ，１０ｂの後側に移動した気流の一部を集塵部３０に流入させて、集塵部３０内で塵を圧縮するように形成しているが、塵圧縮気流出口３５及び気流ガイドは省略してもよい。
【００６８】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、掃除機本体の大型化を抑制しつつ、吸塵性能を向上できるサイクロン式の電気掃除機が得られる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態に係る電気掃除機を一部断面して示す側面図。
【図２】図１中Ｘ−Ｘ線に沿って示す断面図。
【図３】図１の電気掃除機が備える塵分離ユニットを前側から見た分解斜視図。
【図４】図１の電気掃除機が備える塵分離ユニットを一部断面して示す前側から見た斜視図。
【図５】図１の電気掃除機が備える塵分離ユニットを後側から見た分解斜視図。
【図６】図１の電気掃除機が備える塵分離ユニットを一部断面して示す後側から見た斜視図。
【図７】（Ａ）は図１の電気掃除機が備える塵分離ユニットを示す縦断面図。（Ｂ）は図７（Ａ）中Ｙ−Ｙ線に沿って示す断面図。（Ｃ）は図７（Ａ）中Ｚ−Ｚ線に沿って示す断面図。
【符号の説明】
１…電気掃除機
２…掃除機本体
６…本体吸込み部
９…電動送風機
９ａ…吸気口
１０ａ…第１の分離筒体
１０ｂ…第２の分離筒体
１２ａ，１２ｂ…吸込み部（旋回流形成手段）
１４ａ，１４ｂ…塵排出部
１５ａ，１５ｂ…塵排出口（塵排出部の開口）
１６ａ，１６ｂ…気流出口
３０…集塵部
４０…フィルタ取付け部
７０…フィルタ[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cyclone-type vacuum cleaner that swirls a suction airflow to separate and clean dust contained in the airflow.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a cyclone type vacuum cleaner is known in which a cylindrical dust collecting portion also serving as a cyclone separation chamber and an electric blower are arranged in a vacuum cleaner main body in a vertically standing posture. In this electric vacuum cleaner, the airflow sucked in the horizontal direction from the front side of the cleaner body is changed by about 90 ° in the direction of the airflow, and the airflow is sucked through the dust-collecting opening of the dust-collecting cylinder provided above the dust-collecting part. It is supplied to the section while turning downward from above. This swirling flow reverses and rises at the lower part of the dust collecting part, flows out of the air collecting opening formed at the center of the dust collecting part, and passes through the intake path that connects the air collecting opening to the electric blower. It is sucked downward into the electric blower. The airflow that has flowed out of the electric blower is discharged outside the cleaner body.
[0003]
In this vacuum cleaner, the dust contained in the airflow can be separated by the centrifugal force generated by the turning of the airflow in the dust collection unit, and the dust can be collected at the bottom of the dust collection unit (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-17626 (pages 2 to 6, FIGS. 1 and 11)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, as described above, the airflow flowing in the horizontal direction is supplied to the dust collection portion with its flow direction changed by approximately 90 °, and is inverted and raised below the dust collection portion. Large pressure loss. Therefore, the energy loss in the air path is large, and the suction work of the electric blower is not good, so that the dust suction performance is poor.
[0006]
In such a cyclone type vacuum cleaner, it is necessary to widen the air path in order to suppress pressure loss. However, when the cylindrical separation cylinder body inside which is a cyclone separation chamber is designed to be placed in a posture lying horizontally, for example, when the inside diameter of the separation cylinder body is increased and the air path is widened, the cleaner body However, there is a problem that the size is easily increased.
[0007]
That is, in the case where the separation cylinder is disposed in a posture lying horizontally, it is necessary to dispose a dust collecting portion for storing dust discharged from the separation cylinder around the separation cylinder. Therefore, for example, when the dust collecting unit is arranged at a lower part in the cleaner body, the cleaner body becomes larger in the height direction. Further, when the cleaner main body is disposed at one end in the width direction, the size of the cleaner body becomes larger in the width direction.
[0008]
As described above, since the main body of the vacuum cleaner is easily accommodated by accommodating the dust collecting chamber together with the separating cylindrical body serving as the cyclone separating chamber, if the inner diameter of the separating cylindrical body is increased in order to reduce the pressure loss, the main body of the vacuum cleaner becomes Further increase in size.
[0009]
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cyclone-type vacuum cleaner capable of improving dust-absorbing performance while suppressing an increase in the size of the cleaner body.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the vacuum cleaner of the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a suction part provided at one end in the axial direction in communication with a main body suction part of the cleaner body, and a suction part provided at the other end in the axial direction. A first and a second separation cylinder provided with a dust discharge portion provided in the direction intersecting with the axial direction and an air flow outlet opened in the axial direction are juxtaposed, and the first and second separation cylinders are provided on the first and second separation cylinders. A swirl flow forming means for swirling the introduced air flow is provided in each of the first and second separation cylinders, and the dust collection for accommodating dust respectively discharged from the dust discharge openings of the first and second separation cylinders. Part is provided around the first and second separation cylinders in the cleaner body, and an electric blower is provided downstream of the first and second separation cylinders in the airflow of the first and second separation cylinders. It is provided in the cleaner body in communication with the outlets.
[0011]
In the present invention, the main body suction portion of the main body of the cleaner functions as an inlet for airflow sucked into the main body of the cleaner, and the main body suction portion is provided with airflow guide means such as a dust suction hose for guiding the airflow to be sucked. Connected.
[0012]
In the present invention, the first and second separation cylinders may be cylindrical or square cylinders, respectively, as long as the airflow can smoothly swirl the inside thereof. An elliptic cylinder having a small difference is preferred, and a cylinder having a perfect circular cross section is particularly preferable. The air flow outlets of the first and second separation cylinders can be formed at the end openings of the first and second separation cylinders, respectively.
[0013]
In the present invention, the swirl flow forming means imparts swirl mobility to the airflow introduced into the first and second separation cylinders. The swirling flow forming means may be formed integrally with the first and second separation cylinders or may be formed separately. When the swirl flow forming means is formed integrally with the first and second separation cylinders, a function of forming a swirl flow at the suction portions of the first and second separation cylinders as described in an embodiment described later. May also be used. Further, the swirling flow forming means may be configured by providing a swirling blade at the suction portion, in addition to the configuration described in an embodiment described later.
[0014]
In the present invention, the dust collecting portion is for collecting dust separated by the first and second separation cylinders and discharged from the opening of the dust discharging portion, and may be removed from the cleaner body as necessary. Preferably, it is formed so that the dust inside can be discarded. Further, it is desirable that the inside of the dust collecting portion is formed to be transparent or translucent so that the amount of dust accumulated inside can be visually recognized.
[0015]
In the present invention, the electric blower is for forming a blower for sucking dust on the surface to be cleaned together with air. The electric blower may be provided in any posture, but preferably, the air blower is provided in a posture in which the air intake port for sucking air is laid in the horizontal direction toward the air flow outlet side of the first and second separation cylinders. Good.
[0016]
According to the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the airflow sucked from the main body suction portion of the main body of the cleaner by the blown air of the electric blower is introduced into the first and second separation cylinders through the respective suction portions. . At this time, the airflow introduced into the first and second separation cylinders is turned into a swirling flow by the swirling flow forming means, and dust in the airflow is centrifuged in the first and second separation cylinders by the swirling flow. Separated by force. The separated dust is accumulated in the dust collecting portion through the respective dust outlets of the first and second separation cylinders. On the other hand, the airflow from which dust has been removed flows out of the airflow outlets that open in the axial direction through the first and second separation cylinders while turning, and is sucked into the electric blower.
[0017]
As described above, according to the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the airflow sucked into the main body of the vacuum cleaner is passed through the first and second separation cylinders without reversing, and dust contained in the airflow in the process is removed. Centrifugation reduces pressure loss. Further, since the first and second separation cylinders are arranged in parallel, the diameter of the first and second separation cylinders can be reduced. Thereby, the space occupied by the cleaner main body between the first and second separation cylinders and the dust collecting portion can be reduced.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vacuum cleaner main body 2 provided in the vacuum cleaner denoted by reference numeral 1 in the drawing includes a lower case 3a, and a lower front portion detachably attached to a front portion of the lower case 3a from above. It has a case 3b and a rear lower case 3c fixedly attached to the rear of the lower case 3a from above.
[0019]
A caster 4 is attached to the lower case 3a at a lower front portion thereof, and wheels 5 are attached to both lower rear portions thereof. The cleaner body 2 is supported on the surface F to be cleaned in a horizontal posture by the casters 4 and the wheels 5. The cleaner body 2 is movable on the surface to be cleaned F with the rotation of the casters 4 and the wheels 5. A main body suction portion 6 is formed on a front wall of the lower case 3a. An exhaust hole (not shown) is formed in a rear end portion, for example, a rear wall of the cleaner body 2.
[0020]
The cleaner main body 2 houses a dust separation unit 8, an electric blower 9, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the dust separation unit 8 includes a separator 10, an introduction unit 20, a dust collection unit 30, a filter attachment unit 40, a first filter 50, a second filter 60, and a third A filter 70 and the like are provided.
[0021]
The separation body 10 includes a first separation cylinder 10a and a second separation cylinder 10b. The first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are respectively provided with cylinder bodies 11a and 11b, suction portions 12a and 12b also serving as swirling flow forming means, dust discharge portions 14a and 14b, and air flow outlets 16a and 16b. It has.
[0022]
The first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are laid in the horizontal direction so as to be symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center axis a of the cleaner main body 2 (see FIG. 2). 2 in the width direction. The first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder 10b are formed integrally. Note that the first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder 10b may be formed separately.
[0023]
The cylinder main bodies 11a and 11b are formed, for example, in a perfectly circular cross section. When the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are juxtaposed as described above, the suction portions 12a and 12b are located on the front sides of the cylinder bodies 11a and 11b in the axial direction and at the center in the width direction of the cleaner body 2. And extends downward along the tangential direction of the cylinder bodies 11a and 11b. A guide wall 17 extends downward between the suction portions 12a and 12b, and the suction portions 12a and 12b share the guide wall 17 as a part of the peripheral wall. Suction ports 13a and 13b that open downward are formed at the distal ends of the suction sections 12a and 12b.
[0024]
When the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are juxtaposed as described above, the dust discharge portions 14a and 14b are located on the outside facing the center side, respectively, and are tangential to the cylinder bodies 11a and 11b. It extends downward along the direction. Dust discharge ports 15a, 15b that open downward are formed at the distal ends of the dust discharge sections 14a, 14b. The air outlets 16a and 16b are opened at the axial rear ends of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b.
[0025]
The dust collecting unit 30 is for collecting dust separated by the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b, and is, for example, transparent or translucent so that the amount of dust collected inside can be visually recognized. It is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having the same width as the width of the separator 10 by a resin or the like. A dust disposal port (not shown) is formed in the dust collecting section 30, and the dust disposal port is air-tightly closed by an openable / closable lid (not shown) or the like. The dust collector 30 is located below the separator 10 and is detachably attached to the cleaner body 2. The dust collecting section 30 can be detached from the cleaner main body 2 as needed to discard dust therein.
[0026]
At the front end of the dust collecting section 30, an introduction section 20 described later is integrally formed. An upper front opening 32 is formed in the upper wall of the dust collecting portion 30 at the center in the width direction toward the front side. In addition, first and second upper rear openings 33 and 34 are opened at both ends in the width direction of the upper wall of the dust collection unit 30 toward the rear, and a dust compressed air outlet 35 is formed at the center in the width direction. Is open.
[0027]
In addition, the dust collecting section 30 is provided with an airflow guide section 36 having a semicircular cross-section with one or more or all of the outer peripheral flat area opened. The airflow guide portion 36 covers the dust compressed air outlet 35 from above with one end thereof facing backward and the opening of the flat region facing the dust compressed air outlet 35. Thus, the airflow that has flowed into the dust collection unit 30 flows out of the dust compression airflow outlet 35, is bent in the horizontal direction by the airflow guide 36, and is sucked into the electric blower 9.
[0028]
Note that the airflow guide section 36 and the dust collection section 30 may be formed integrally. In addition, a filter may be provided in the dust compressed air outlet 35 to suppress the dust in the dust collecting part 30 from flowing out. However, as will be described later, the third filter 70 is positioned between the dust compressed air outlet 35 and the air inlet 9c of the electric blower 9 at the rear side in the axial direction of the first and second separation cylinders 10 and 10b. Therefore, a filter provided at the dust compressed air outlet 35 may not be provided.
[0029]
The introduction part 20 is for communicating the main body suction part 6 with the suction parts 12a, 12b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a, 10b. For example, a straight pipe part 21 extending in the horizontal direction and a straight pipe part 21 are provided. And a curved tube portion 22 that curves upward from the straight tube portion 21. The introduction section 20 is formed integrally with the dust collection section 30 so that the straight pipe section 21 protrudes outward from the front side of the dust collection section 30 and the curved tube section 22 is accommodated in the dust collection section 30. . In addition, the introduction part 20 may be formed separately from the dust collection part 30.
[0030]
The end opening of the introduction section 20 on the side of the straight pipe section 21 is inserted into the main body suction section 6 of the cleaner main body 2 and communicates with the air flow guide means 7 described later. On the other hand, the end opening on the curved tube section 22 side is open above the dust collecting section 30 via the upper front opening 32 of the dust collecting section 30. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, a ridge on the inner wall surface of the introduction section 20 for introducing air sucked from the main body suction section 6 into the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b substantially uniformly. 23 are formed.
[0031]
The dust separation unit 8 has the suction ports 13a and 13b opposed to the upper front opening 32, that is, the end opening on the curved tube section 22 side of the introduction section 20, and the dust discharge port 15a opposed to the first upper rear opening 33. The separator 10 is attached to the dust collecting section 30 from above with the dust discharge port 15b facing the second upper rear opening 34, and is assembled. When the separator 10 is attached to the dust collecting section 30, a sealing material (not shown) or the like is used to separate the dust collecting section 30 between the dust discharging section 14a and the dust collecting section 30, between the dust discharging section 14b and the dust collecting section 30, and the suction section. It is preferable to prevent air from leaking from between the dust collecting portions 12a and 12b.
[0032]
As described above, by attaching the separating body 10 to the dust collecting section 30 with the dust discharge port 15a facing the first upper rear opening 33, the first separation cylindrical body 10a is connected via the dust discharging section 14a. It communicates with the inside of the dust collecting section 30. Similarly, by attaching the separating body 10 to the dust collecting section 30 with the dust outlet 15b facing the second upper rear opening 34, the second separating cylindrical body 10b collects via the dust discharging section 14b. It communicates with the inside of the dust part 30.
[0033]
Further, by attaching the separating body 10 to the dust collecting portion 30 with the suction ports 13a and 13b facing the upper front opening 32, the first separating cylindrical body 10a and the second separating cylindrical body 10b are connected to the suction section. It communicates with the main body suction section 6 via 12a, 12b and the introduction section 20.
[0034]
In addition, the separator 10 and the dust collecting unit 30 may be formed integrally. However, in order to easily dispose the dust collected in the dust collecting unit 30 from the dust disposal port, the separating unit 10 and the dust collecting unit 30 are collected. It is preferable that the dust part 30 is separate from the dust part 30.
[0035]
The filter mounting portion 40 includes a pair of side walls extending along a common tangent to the air outlets 16a and 16b, and a pair of end walls connecting both ends of these side walls, and is formed in a frame shape so as to surround the air outlets 16a and 16b. Is formed.
[0036]
The rear end of the filter mounting portion 40 is open, and the third filter 70 is removably mounted. On the other hand, at the front end of the filter mounting portion 40, ventilation holes 41 to 43 respectively corresponding to the air outlets 16a, 16b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a, 10b and the opening at one end of the air flow guide portion 36 are provided. The formed plate member 44 is fixed. On the front surface of the plate member 44, a convex portion 45 is formed which is located on the outer periphery of the ventilation holes 41 and 42 and fits with the air outlets 16a and 16b.
[0037]
The third filter 70 captures dust contained in the airflow flowing out of the airflow outlets 16a and 16b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b, and includes a frame 71 and a filter body 72. Is formed. The third filter 70 is formed in a shape that covers a region inside the filter mounting portion 40 from the rear end. The third filter 70 is removably mounted on the filter mounting portion 40 by being fitted into the filter mounting portion 40 from the rear side and supported by a support portion (not shown) provided on the third filter 70. Have been.
[0038]
The first and second filters 50 and 60 are formed with frame parts 51 and 61 and filter media 52 and 62. 3 to 6, the filter media 52 and 62 are shown with a dot pattern. In FIG. 6, the filter medium 52 is omitted.
[0039]
The frame portions 51 and 61 are formed in a substantially conical outer shape formed to extend from the front side to the rear side. The filter media 52 and 62 are also formed in a substantially conical shape that extends from the front side to the rear side. These first and second filters 50 and 60 are formed in a size that fits into the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b, respectively. The rear ends of the first and second filters 50 and 60 are open. The first and second filters 50 and 60 are detachably mounted on the filter mounting portion 40 with their rear ends facing the ventilation holes 41 and 42 of the filter mounting portion 40, respectively.
[0040]
The first and second filters 50 and 60 suppress the dust contained in the swirling airflow of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b from flowing out of the airflow outlets 16a and 16b, respectively. The dust is used as an auxiliary member to guide the dust to the dust discharge portions 14a and 14b by being put on the swirling airflow, and may be omitted.
[0041]
The filter mounting portion 40 is mounted on the rear side of the first and second separation cylinders 10 a and 10 b in the axial direction, for example, by fitting the air outlets 16 a and 16 b to the projection 45 at the rear end of the separation body 10. Have been. By attaching the filter attachment portion 40 to the rear end of the separator 10 in this manner, the third filter 70 is electrically connected to the air outlets 16a, 16b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a, 10b. The air blower 9 is detachably disposed between the air inlet 9 c and the dust compressed air outlet 35 and the air intake 9 c of the electric blower 9. At the same time, the first filter 50 is housed inside the first separation cylinder 10a, and the second filter 60 is housed inside the second separation cylinder 10b.
[0042]
The first filter 50, the second filter 60, and the third filter 70 are formed to be replaceable or washable, for example. In addition, the first filter 50, the second filter 60, and the third filter 70 may be a single layer or a multilayer, and do not hinder adding other functions such as removing odor components other than dust. .
[0043]
The electric blower 9 is built in the cleaner main body 2 at a position downstream of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b. The electric blower 9 includes an electric motor section 9a and a fan section 9b in which a fan (not shown) rotated by the electric motor section 9a is incorporated. An intake port 9c is opened at the front center of the fan section 9b. The vacuum cleaner 1 sucks air from an air inlet 9c by rotating a fan, passes the air through the inside of the motor unit 9a, and is discharged from an outlet 9d provided in the motor unit 9a. It is formed so as to blow air for dust absorption. The electric blower 9 is arranged in a posture lying horizontally, for example, with the intake port 9c facing the air outlets 16a, 16b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a, 10b.
[0044]
A dust suction hose (see FIG. 1) serving as an air flow guide means 7 is detachably connected to the main body suction portion 6 of the cleaner main body 2. The air flow guide means 7 comprises a flexible dust suction hose and an extension pipe (not shown) detachably connected to an operation handle at the tip of the dust suction hose. A suction port is provided at the tip of the extension pipe. The body is connected for cleaning.
[0045]
As described above, in the cleaner body 2, the separator 10, the filter mounting portion 40 to which the third filter 70 is mounted, and the electric blower 9 are described in the front-rear direction along the flow direction of the air flow described later. They are arranged in order and arranged on the upper part of the cleaner body 2. On the other hand, the dust collecting unit 30 is located below the separating body 10 and is arranged below the cleaner main body 2. The above built-in components of the cleaner body 2 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the width direction of the cleaner body 2.
[0046]
By operating the electric blower 9, the vacuum cleaner 1 having the above-described structure sucks dust on the surface F to be cleaned together with air into the main body suction portion 6 of the cleaner main body 2 through a suction port body (not shown) and the airflow guide means 7. Can be cleaned. The flow of the air flow in the separator 10 in the vacuum cleaner 1 is indicated by arrows A to F in FIGS.
[0047]
More specifically, the air flow sucked into the main body suction portion 6 is introduced so as to block the flow by using the inflow speed as shown by an arrow A in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The gas flows through the introduction portion 20 while changing the flow direction from the horizontal direction to the upward direction along the portion 20. The airflow flowing out of the introduction section 20 is divided into two airflows: an airflow sucked into the first separation cylinder 10a from the suction port 13 and an airflow sucked into the second separation cylinder 10b from the suction port 13b. And flows into the separator 10. Then, the gas flows obliquely rearward from the suction ports 13a and 13b, and becomes a swirling flow indicated by an arrow B in FIGS. 7A and 7B to be sucked into the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b. I will.
[0048]
At this time, since the built-in parts of the cleaner main body 2 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the width direction of the cleaner main body 2 and the ridge 23 is formed on the introduction portion 20, the first separating cylinder 10a is The flow rate of the air flowing in and the flow rate of the air flowing into the second separation cylinder 10b are substantially the same, and the negative pressure difference between the inside of the first separation cylinder 10a and the inside of the second separation cylinder 10b. Hardly occurs.
[0049]
As shown by the arrow C in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the airflow sucked into the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b as a swirling flow shown by the arrow B, It is guided by the inner peripheral surfaces of the second separation cylinders 10a and 10b, and flows from the front side to the rear side while turning inside the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b.
[0050]
Due to the centrifugal force caused by the turning of the airflow, dust contained in the airflow also flows, as shown by arrows B and C, in the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b and the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b. It is guided by the outer peripheral surfaces of the second filters 50 and 60 and flows from the front side to the rear side while turning inside the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b. The swirling airflow in the direction of arrow C is reflected at the rear ends of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b, but the energy of the airflow sent to the first and second separations from the direction of arrow B is large. However, the dust that has moved rearward on the swirling flow in the direction of arrow C does not flow back to the suction ports 13a and 13b and return.
[0051]
The dust that has moved to the rear side of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b passes through the dust discharge portions 14a and 14b by its own weight, as shown by the arrow D in FIG. , 15b from the first and second upper rear openings 33, 34 to be stored in the dust collecting section 30.
[0052]
At this time, a part of the airflow that has moved to the rear side of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b, as shown by the arrow D, induces dust while the first and second upper rear openings 33 are formed. , 34 flow into the dust collecting section 30. The airflow that has flowed into the dust collecting section 30 compresses the dust in the dust collecting section 30 and flows out of the dust collecting section 30 from the dust compressed air outlet 35 as shown by an arrow E in FIG. . The air flowing out of the dust collection unit 30 flows through the airflow guide unit 36 and the third filter 70 and is sucked into the electric blower 9.
[0053]
As described above, since there is almost no negative pressure difference between the inside of the first separation cylinder 10a and the inside of the second separation cylinder 10b, the first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder Even if the body 10b is in communication with the body via the dust collecting unit 30, the dust does not flow back to either the first or second separation cylinder 10a or 10b.
[0054]
In addition, most of the air that has moved to the rear side of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b is, as shown by an arrow F in FIG. 7A, the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b. The air flows out of the separator 10 from the air outlets 16a and 16b of the air blower 10b, flows through the third filter 70, and is sucked into the electric blower 9. As described above, dust separation is performed in a cyclone manner.
[0055]
As described above, according to the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are respectively moved from one end in the axial direction without reversing the airflow sucked into the cleaner main body 2. Since the dust is circulated straight toward the other end and the dust contained in the airflow is centrifuged in the process, the pressure loss can be reduced. Therefore, since the energy loss in the air path can be suppressed, the suction work of the electric blower 9 can be improved, and the dust absorbing performance can be improved.
[0056]
Further, according to the electric vacuum cleaner 1, since the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are provided side by side, the individual diameters of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are set to the respective diameters. The diameter can be made smaller than the diameter of the separation cylinder when one separation cylinder having the same cross-sectional area as the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first and second separation cylinders is provided.
[0057]
That is, since the dust collecting unit 30 is provided below the separator 10, the space S in the cleaner body 2 in which the separator 10 is housed usually has a height direction as shown in FIG. 2. The space becomes narrower than the width direction. Therefore, the size of the separation cylinder that can be accommodated is limited by the height of the cleaner main body 2. However, since the space S in which the separator 10 is housed in the cleaner main body 2 is wider in the width direction than in the height direction, when the separation cylinder is designed according to the height of the cleaner main body 2, the space in the width direction is reduced. Space is left. In accordance with the shape of the accommodation space in the cleaner body 2 in which the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b are accommodated, the empty space, in the present embodiment, the width direction space is effectively used, and By arranging the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b side by side in the width direction, the diameter of each of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b can be reduced.
[0058]
Thereby, the space occupied by the cleaner main body 2 between the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b and the dust collecting unit 30 can be reduced, so that the air paths, that is, the total cross-sectional area of both separation cylinders 10a and 10b is increased. It is possible to reduce the size of the cleaner body 2 while securing it, or to widen the air path while suppressing the enlargement of the cleaner body 2.
[0059]
Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a cyclone-type vacuum cleaner capable of improving dust-absorbing performance while suppressing an increase in the size of the cleaner body 2.
[0060]
Further, in the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the electric blower 9 is arranged in a posture lying horizontally in a state where the air inlet 9c is directed toward the airflow outlets 16a and 16b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b. Therefore, the airflow that has flowed out of the airflow outlets 16a and 16b in the horizontal direction can be sucked into the electric blower 9 without substantially changing the flow direction, so that the pressure loss is further suppressed.
[0061]
Moreover, in the vacuum cleaner 1, the first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder 10b are provided symmetrically with respect to the center line a, so that the inside of the first separation cylinder 10a is There is almost no difference in negative pressure between the pressure and the inside of the second separation cylinder 10b. Therefore, even if the dust collection unit 30 that stores the dust separated by the first separation cylinder 10a and the dust collection unit 30 that stores the dust separated by the second separation cylinder 10b are common, dust is not generated. There is no backflow to either the first or second separation cylinder 10a, 10b. Therefore, since the number of the dust collecting sections 30 can be reduced to one, the structure can be simplified.
[0062]
Further, according to the vacuum cleaner 1, the air outlets 16a, 16b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a, 10b are each formed in a circular shape. A frame-shaped filter including a pair of side walls extending along a common tangent of the air outlets 16a and 16b and a pair of end walls connecting both ends of the both side walls is formed so as to surround the air outlets 16a and 16b. An attachment portion 40 is provided on the axially rear side of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b, and a third filter 70 is attached to the filter attachment portion 40 so as to cover an area inside the filter attachment portion 40. ing.
[0063]
Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner 1, as described above, the inner diameters of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b can be increased while suppressing an increase in the size of the cleaner main body 2, and accordingly, The area of the third filter 70 configured as described above can also be increased.
[0064]
In the present embodiment, the first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder 10b are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the cleaner main body 2, but the first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder 10a are separated from each other. The cylindrical body 10b is not limited to the width direction of the cleaner, and may be arranged in parallel in a direction suitable for the accommodation space in the cleaner body 2.
[0065]
Further, the first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder 10b are formed in shapes that are line-symmetric with each other, but the first separation cylinder 10a and the second separation cylinder 10b have different shapes or It may be formed in a size. In that case, a negative pressure difference is generated between the inside of the first separation cylinder 10a and the inside of the second separation cylinder 10b. Therefore, the dust collecting sections 30 are separately provided or the separating wall is provided in the dust collecting section 30. It is preferable to provide the dust so that the dust does not flow back to one of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b.
[0066]
Further, the shape of the introduction portion 20 may be any shape as long as the airflow sucked from the main body suction portion 6 is guided to the suction portions 12a and 12b of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b or the swirling flow forming means. . In this embodiment, the introduction section 20 is connected to the straight pipe section 21 in order to allow the main body suction section 6 arranged along the horizontal direction to communicate with the suction sections 14a and 14b having the suction ports 13a and 13b opening downward. Although it has a shape having a curved tube portion 22, the introduction portion 20 is preferably a straight tube shape in order to suppress pressure loss.
[0067]
Further, in the present embodiment, by providing the dust compression air outlet 35 and the airflow guide part 36 in the dust collection part 30, a part of the airflow that has moved to the rear side of the first and second separation cylinders 10a and 10b is reduced. Although it is formed so as to flow into the dust collecting part 30 and compress the dust in the dust collecting part 30, the dust compressed air outlet 35 and the air flow guide may be omitted.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the cyclone type vacuum cleaner which can improve dust-absorbing performance while suppressing enlargement of a vacuum cleaner main body is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a partially sectioned vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a dust separation unit included in the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front side.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dust separating unit included in the electric vacuum cleaner shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the dust separation unit included in the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dust separating unit included in the vacuum cleaner of FIG.
FIG. 7A is a longitudinal sectional view showing a dust separation unit provided in the vacuum cleaner of FIG. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along line ZZ in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Vacuum cleaner
2 ... vacuum cleaner body
6 ... Suction part of main body
9 ... Electric blower
9a ... intake port
10a: First separation cylinder
10b: second separation cylinder
12a, 12b ... suction part (swirl flow forming means)
14a, 14b: dust discharge section
15a, 15b: dust outlet (opening of dust outlet)
16a, 16b ... air flow outlet
30 ... Dust collection unit
40 ... Filter mounting part
70 ... Filter

Claims

A vacuum cleaner body having a body suction portion,
A suction part provided at one end in the axial direction in communication with the main body suction part, a dust discharge part provided at the other end in the axial direction and opening in a direction intersecting with the axial direction, and an opening in the axial direction A first separation cylinder provided in the cleaner body, the
A suction part provided at one end in the axial direction in communication with the main body suction part, a dust discharge part provided at the other end in the axial direction and opening in a direction intersecting with the axial direction, and an opening in the axial direction A second separation cylinder provided in the cleaner body in parallel with the first separation cylinder,
A swirling flow forming means provided in the first and second separation cylinders and configured to swirl an air flow introduced therein;
A dust collection device that is provided around the first and second separation cylinders and is provided in the main body of the cleaner and accommodates dust discharged from an opening of a dust discharge unit of the first and second separation cylinders; A vacuum cleaner comprising: a unit; and an electric blower provided in the cleaner body in communication with the air outlet at a downstream side of the first and second separation cylinders.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first separation cylinder and the second separation cylinder are provided symmetrically with each other.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the air outlets of the first and second separation cylinders are each formed in a circular shape, and a pair of side walls extending along a common tangent to the air outlets. 4. A pair of end walls connecting both end portions of the both side walls is provided, and a frame-shaped filter mounting portion formed so as to surround the two air outlets is provided at an axial end of the first and second separation cylinders. A filter having a size occupying the area inside the mounting portion is provided on the filter mounting portion.