JP6633237B2 - Dust collector and vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a dust collecting apparatus including a separating unit for centrifuging dust by swirling dust-containing air, and a dust collecting unit for storing the dust separated by the separating unit, and a vacuum cleaner including the same. About.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a dust collecting device used in a vacuum cleaner, there is a dust collecting device that revolves dust-containing air to centrifuge dust. In such a dust collector, an exhaust pipe is coaxially arranged inside a cylindrical case in which an upper part is a separating part and a lower part is a dust collecting part, and dust-containing air is provided between the inner surface of the case and the exhaust pipe. Is turned to separate dust.

  In order to suppress the adhesion of dust to the exhaust pipe and to improve the dust separation performance, for example, the protrusion protrudes toward the separation unit at an outer edge of a shielding member disposed at a boundary between the separation unit and the dust collection unit. It is known that a barrier is formed. However, it is desired to suppress the attachment of dust to the exhaust stack and further improve the dust separation performance.

Japanese Patent No. 3788589

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a dust collection device which has improved dust separation efficiency while suppressing adhesion of dust to a ventilation section, and a vacuum cleaner provided with the same.

The dust collecting apparatus according to the embodiment includes a separating unit that rotates dust-containing air to centrifuge dust, and a dust collecting unit that stores the dust separated by the separating unit. The dust collecting device includes a cylindrical case and a structure. The case has an inlet through which dust-containing air is introduced inward. The structure portion is located inside the case, and a swirling flow of the dust-containing air is formed between the structure portion and the inner surface of the case. The structure has a tubular ventilation portion, a tubular enlarged portion, a ventilation opening, an opening, and a wall. The ventilation section discharges the swirling flow. The enlarged portion is located on the dust collecting portion side of the ventilation portion, and is enlarged outward from the ventilation portion. The ventilation opening is formed at a position inside the ventilation part on the surface of the enlarged part on the separation part side. The plurality of openings are formed at positions on the surface of the enlarged portion on the separation portion side that are enlarged outward from the ventilation openings. The wall projects at least at a position corresponding to the outside of the opening from the surface of the enlarged portion on the separation portion side toward the separation portion . No wall is formed at least at a part of the position facing the inlet .

It is a side view which cuts out and shows some dust collection devices of one Embodiment. It is a side view which shows a part of dust collection apparatus same as the above. It is a perspective view of a dust collection device same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows a part of structure part of a dust collector same as the above. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the structure of the dust collecting device from the opposite direction to FIG. 4. It is a top view of a part of structure part of a dust collector same as the above. It is a side view of a part of structure part of a dust collector same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the vacuum cleaner provided with the same dust collector.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

  1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a dust collector. The dust collecting device 1 separates and collects dust from dust-containing air sucked by a suction source, and is used for a vacuum cleaner 2 described later.

  The dust collection device 1 is a centrifugal separation type dust collection device that rotates dust-containing air to centrifuge dust. The dust collecting apparatus 1 has, as an air path configuration, an inlet 3 into which dust-containing air is introduced, and a first centrifugal separator 4 that is a separating unit that separates dust from the dust-containing air introduced through the inlet 3. A first dust collection unit 5 that collects dust separated by the first centrifugal separation unit 4, and a plurality of second dust collection units that further centrifuge dust not separated by the first centrifugal separation unit 4. It includes a second centrifugal separator 6, a second dust collector 7 for collecting dust separated by the second centrifuge 6, and an outlet 8 for discharging air from which dust has been separated. That is, the dust collector 1 of the present embodiment has a configuration including a multi-stage centrifugal separator, but the second centrifugal separator 6 and the second dust collector 7 are not essential components.

  Further, the dust collecting device 1 is structurally provided with a case 10 and a separator 11, and the case 10 and the separator 11 are detachable.

  The case 10 is formed in a tubular shape by a member such as a synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, the case 10 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. For this reason, the case 10 has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface portion 12 that is an outer surface portion, and a bottom portion 13 that covers an end of the outer peripheral surface portion 12, and an inner surface 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and one end side, That is, the upper side in FIG. 1 is open. The case 11 has an inlet 3 formed therein, and dust-containing air is introduced from the inlet 3 along the inner surface 14 of the case 11 to form a swirling flow. Inside the case 10, the first centrifugal separator 4 is formed on one end, that is, the upper side in FIG. 1, and the first dust collector 5 is formed on the other end, that is, the lower side in FIG. You.

  The separating body 11 is detachably locked to the case 10 by a locking portion 15. Further, the separator 11 includes an insertion portion 16 which is a structural portion located inside the case 10. The insertion portion 16 is a portion where a swirling flow of the dust-containing air is formed between the insertion portion 16 and the inner surface 14 of the case 14. The insertion portion 16 is disposed coaxially or substantially coaxially with the case 10, for example. Further, the insertion section 16 includes an exhaust pipe 20 which is a cylindrical ventilation section for discharging air from the first centrifugal separation section 4. The exhaust pipe 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The exhaust pipe 20 has a ventilation hole 21. For example, a plurality of ventilation holes 21 are formed around the exhaust pipe 20. Further, the ventilation hole 21 may be covered with, for example, a discharge filter 22 which is a filter.

  Further, the insertion section 16 includes a cylindrical enlarged section 24. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to 7, the enlargement section 24 forms a boundary between the first centrifugal separation section 5 and the first dust collection section 6. Further, the enlarged portion 24 is located on the first dust collection portion 6 side of the exhaust pipe 20. Further, the enlarged portion 24 is formed so as to be enlarged outward from the exhaust pipe 20. That is, the enlarged portion 24 is formed to have a larger diameter than the exhaust tube 20. Further, the enlarged portion 24 is disposed coaxially or substantially coaxially with the exhaust pipe 20. Further, the enlarged portion 24 is formed in a closed cylindrical shape with an opening on the first dust collecting portion 6 side, that is, the side facing the bottom portion 13 of the case 10. Therefore, the enlarged portion 24 includes a cylindrical side surface portion 26 and a top surface portion 27 that is a surface on the exhaust cylinder 20 side.

  The side surface portion 26 forms an outer peripheral surface of the enlarged portion 24 in the present embodiment. The side surface portion 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and extends along the axial direction of the case 10. Further, the side surface portion 26 is spaced and opposed to the inner surface 14 of the case 10. That is, a gap is formed between the side surface portion 26 and the inner surface 14 of the case 10. This gap is formed narrower than the gap between the exhaust pipe 20 and the inner surface 14 of the case 10. Therefore, between the side surface portion 26 and the inner surface 14 of the case 10, the flow velocity of the swirling flow of the dust-containing air is higher than that between the exhaust pipe 20 and the inner surface 14 of the case 10. Further, an end of the side surface 26 facing the bottom 13 is separated from the bottom 13. Further, a protrusion 30 which is a blade is formed on the side surface 26. The protruding portion 30 protrudes outward with respect to the side surface portion 26. That is, the protruding portion 30 protrudes in the radial direction with respect to the side surface portion 26. Further, the outer edge of the protruding portion 30 is located apart from the inner surface 14 of the case 10. Further, the protruding portion 30 is formed, for example, continuously in the circumferential direction of the enlarged portion 24, and both ends are not continuous with each other but are separated from each other. That is, in the present embodiment, the protruding portion 30 includes the intermittent portion 31. The protruding portion 30 has a protruding surface 32 on the first dust collecting portion 5 side. Further, in the present embodiment, the protruding portion 30 is formed in a plate shape having an opposite protruding surface 33 on the first centrifugal separation portion 4 side opposite to the protruding surface 32.

  The intermittent portion 31 is formed downstream of the swirling flow at a position facing the inlet 3. That is, in the present embodiment, the protruding portion 30 is formed so as to be discontinuous at least at a position facing the inlet 3.

  The protruding surface 32 protrudes outward with respect to the side surface portion 26. That is, the protruding surface 32 is formed to protrude radially with respect to the enlarged portion 24. Further, the protruding surface 32 is located on the first dust collection part 5 side with respect to the introduction port 3 at a position facing the introduction port 3. Further, the protruding surface 32 has an upstream end located within an upstream half circumference of the swirling flow with respect to the inlet 3. The protruding surface 32 includes a plurality of rectifying portions 35 and a connecting portion 36 that connects the rectifying portions 35.

  Each rectifying section 35 is formed in a spiral shape from the upstream side to the downstream side of the swirling flow of the dust-containing air toward the first dust collecting section 5. Each rectifying portion 35 is formed such that the upstream end gradually projects outward from the side surface portion 26 toward the downstream side of the swirling flow from the inlet 3 side. In the present embodiment, for example, two rectification sections 35 are formed. That is, in the present embodiment, the rectification unit 35 located on the upstream side of the swirling flow and the rectification unit 35 located on the downstream side are set. The downstream end of the rectification unit 35 located on the upstream side may be located on the upstream side of the swirling flow from the upstream end of the rectification unit 35 located on the downstream side, or may be located upstream of the rectification unit 35 located on the downstream side. It may wrap circumferentially with the end. In addition, even in a position other than the upstream end, the amount of the straightening portion 35 projecting outward from the side surface portion 26 may not be constant, and this amount may be increased or decreased at an arbitrary position. For example, in the present embodiment, the downstream end of the rectification unit 35 located downstream is formed such that the amount of the rectification unit 35 that gradually projects toward the downstream side of the swirling flow with respect to the side surface 26 decreases.

  The connecting portion 36 is formed by connecting the downstream end of one rectifying portion 35 and the upstream end of the other rectifying portion 35. The connecting portion 36 is formed smoothly and continuously with respect to each straightening portion 35. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 36 is formed by connecting the downstream end of the rectifying portion 35 located on the upstream side and the upstream end of the rectifying portion 35 located on the downstream side. For this reason, the connecting portion 36 is inclined toward the first centrifugal separator 4 from the downstream end of the rectifying portion 35 located on the upstream side to the upstream end of the rectifying portion 35 located on the downstream side. That is, the inclination direction of the connecting portion 36 is different from the inclination direction of each rectification portion 35. For this reason, the protruding portion 30 is formed to be curved at a position corresponding to the connecting portion 36.

  The opposite protruding surface 33 is basically formed parallel to the protruding surface 32. The opposite side protruding surface 33 may be formed so as to be inclined outward toward the downstream side of the swirling flow at a position corresponding to the connecting portion 36. In other words, the opposite protruding surface 33 may be formed to be inclined downstream of the swirling flow with respect to the normal direction of the side surface portion at that position.

  In addition, the protruding surface 32 and the opposite protruding surface 33 are not limited to planar shapes, but are formed to be curved toward, for example, the first centrifugal separation unit 4 side or the first dust collection unit 5 side. Is also good.

  The top surface portion 27 is formed along a direction intersecting the axial direction of the exhaust pipe 20. The top surface 27 has an opening 37 formed therein. The opening 37 is formed on the top surface 27 at a portion that is larger than the exhaust tube 20 and extends outward. Further, a plurality of openings 37 are formed on the top surface 27 along the outer edge thereof, that is, along the outer periphery of the top surface 27. For example, each opening 37 is formed as an arc-shaped elongated hole that curves along the circumferential direction. Further, the openings 37 are arranged at positions separated in the circumferential direction. Further, the opening 37 may be covered with a ventilation filter 38 which is a filter, for example.

  Further, a ventilation opening 40 may be formed in the top surface 27. The ventilation opening 40 is arranged at the center of the top surface 27 facing the exhaust pipe 20. The ventilation opening 40 is formed, for example, as a circular hole. Further, the ventilation opening 40 may be covered with a compression filter 41 which is a filter.

  Further, a connection portion 44 for detachably connecting the exhaust pipe 20 and the enlarged portion 24 may be formed on the top surface portion 27. The connection portion is, for example, an engagement portion 45 protruding from the periphery of the ventilation opening 40 and engaged with the end on the enlarged portion 24 side of the exhaust pipe 20, and a position inside the opening 37 on the top surface portion 27. And a positioning portion 46 that projects toward the first centrifugal separation portion 4 to position the exhaust stack 20. Note that the connection unit 44 is not an essential component.

  Further, a wall portion 48 is formed on the top surface portion 27. The wall portion 48 is formed so as to protrude in a rib shape on the first centrifugal separation portion 4 side with respect to the top surface portion 27. The wall 48 is formed at least at a position corresponding to the outside of the opening 37. Specifically, the wall 48 is located outside the opening 37 and along at least a part of the opening 37, and the end of the wall 48 is shorter than the end of the opening 37. Alternatively, it may be located at substantially the same position as the end of the opening 37, or may protrude longer than the end of the opening 37. Further, the end portion 48a of the wall portion 48 on the side of the first centrifugal separator 4 protrudes toward the first centrifugal separator 4 from the position E of the inlet 3 closest to the first dust collector 5. Further, the end 48a of the wall portion 48 on the first centrifugal separation portion 4 side projects from the position E closest to the first dust collection portion 5 side of the inlet 3 toward the first centrifugal separation portion 4 side. The amount M is set to be 1/4 or less of the width W of the inlet in the axial direction which is the longitudinal direction of the case 10. The position of the top surface 27 on the side of the exhaust cylinder 20 may be, for example, flush with or substantially flush with the position E of the inlet 3 closest to the first dust collection unit 5, or may be on the side of the first centrifugal separation unit 4. Or it may be on the first dust collection unit 5 side. Further, the wall portion 48 is formed as a pair, for example. These walls 48 are separated from each other at a position facing the inlet 3 and a position on the opposite side. For this reason, each wall portion 48 is formed to be curved in an arc shape when viewed in the axial direction.

  In addition, the separator 11 includes a partition 50. The partitioning part 50 is a part that partitions the second dust collecting part 7 between the case 10 and the partitioning part 50. The partition 50 includes, for example, a seal member 51. The seal member 51 is pressed against a step 52 formed to be enlarged at one end of the case 10 to close one end of the case 10 and to close a portion of the case 10 closer to one end than the step 52. The second dust collector 7 is separated from the first centrifugal separator 4 and the first dust collector 5 and partitioned. Further, the partitioning section 50 may be formed with an inclined section 53 that is a dust guiding section for guiding the dust centrifuged by the second centrifugal separating section 6 to the second dust collecting section 7.

  Further, the separation body 11 includes a separation main body 55 that covers one end of the case 10. The separation main body 55 is located outside the case 10. Although not shown, a wind guide section for guiding the air discharged from the exhaust pipe 20 to the second centrifugal separation section 6 is formed inside the separation main body section 55. Further, a plurality of cones 57 constituting the second centrifugal separator 6 are formed inside the separation main body 55. The cone portion 57 is formed in a conical shape whose diameter is reduced toward the case 10, and is arranged in an annular shape. Each of the cones 57 rotates the dust-containing air introduced therein to separate dust, and discharges the separated dust from the inclined portion 53 to the second dust collector 7. Although not shown, an air discharge unit that guides the air discharged from the second centrifugal separation unit 6 to the discharge port 8 is formed inside the separation main unit 55. For example, a filter may be arranged in the exhaust part. The separation body 55 has an outlet 8 formed therein. In addition, the detachable main body 55 may be provided with an attachment / detachment mechanism 58 for attaching / detaching the dust collector 1 to / from the vacuum cleaner 2.

  The vacuum cleaner 2 includes a main body 60 to which the dust collecting device 1 is detachably attached. In addition, the vacuum cleaner 2 includes an electric blower 61 serving as a suction source. Further, the vacuum cleaner 2 includes a control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the electric blower 61. In addition, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 includes an operation unit 63 for operating the start and stop of the electric blower 61. In the present embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 2 is, for example, a long stick-type vacuum cleaner having an air passage body 64 detachable from the elongated main body 60, for example. May be a canister type or the like capable of traveling on the floor, or a self-propelled type capable of autonomous traveling.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

  At the time of cleaning using the electric vacuum cleaner 11, the user attaches the dust collecting device 1 to the main body 60, operates the operation unit 63 to operate the electric blower 61, and uses the air path body 64 to operate the electric blower. The dust on the surface to be cleaned is sucked in with the air by using the negative pressure generated by driving the 61.

  The dust-containing air is sucked into the dust collecting device 1 from the air inlet 64 through the air inlet 64 through the main body 60. At this time, the dust-containing air is introduced by the inlet 3 along the tangential direction of the inner surface 14 of the case 10, and generates a swirling flow A between the insertion portion 16 and the inner surface 14 of the case 10.

  The swirling flow A is swirled between the exhaust stack 20 and the inner surface 14 and the first centrifugal separator 4 centrifugally separates dust, while increasing the flow velocity between the side surface 26 of the expanding portion 24 and the inner surface 14. While flowing along the protruding part 30 to the first dust collecting part 5. At this time, the dust is gradually compressed downward by the swirling flow A flowing along each straightening unit 35.

  Thereafter, the swirling flow A enters the inside of the enlarged portion 24, a part of the swirling flow A circulates through the opening 37, and the other portion passes through the ventilation opening 40. At this time, the dust accumulated in the first dust collection unit 5 is compressed.

  The dust-containing air that has passed through the exhaust pipe 20 is introduced from the air guide section into the cone section 57 of the second centrifugal separation section 6, and is swirled inside the cone section 57, where finer dust is separated and the second dust is separated. The dust is collected in the dust collector 7. Then, the air from which the dust is separated is exhausted from the exhaust port 8 to the outside of the dust collecting device 1 through the exhaust portion, is sucked into the electric blower 61, and is exhausted after cooling the electric blower 61. .

  Here, when the dust accumulated in the first dust collecting portion 5 increases, the swirling flow A becomes difficult to flow, and the dust-containing air tends to flow into the exhaust pipe 20 side by the negative pressure. At this time, since the protruding surface 32 includes the connecting portion 36 formed by connecting the downstream end side of one rectifying portion 35 and the upstream end side of the other rectifying portion 35, It is possible to suppress the air from flowing into the exhaust pipe 20 due to the negative pressure, thereby suppressing the dust from being lifted up.

  In addition, since the protruding portion 30 includes the intermittent portion 31 between at least any two adjacent rectifying portions 35, relatively large dust does not catch on the protruding portion 30 from the intermittent portion 31 to the first dust collecting portion 5. It becomes easy to be stored.

  In particular, since the intermittent portion 31 is formed on the downstream side of the swirling flow A at a position facing the inlet 3, relatively large dust in the dust-containing air introduced from the inlet 3 is immediately changed to the intermittent portion 31. From the first dust collecting portion 5, and the dust separation efficiency can be improved.

  Further, since the upstream end of the rectifying portion 35 is formed so as to gradually project outward from the side of the side surface portion 26 toward the downstream side of the swirl flow A from the inlet 3 side, the upstream end is formed along the swirl flow A. Dust sent into the first dust collecting portion 5 is hardly caught by the projecting portion 30.

  Further, since the projecting surface 32 is located on the first dust collecting portion 5 side with respect to the introduction port 3 at a position facing the introduction port 3, the introduction of the dust-containing air from the introduction port 3 is hardly hindered by the projection surface 32.

  In addition, since the upstream end of the protruding surface 32 is located within the upstream half circumference of the swirl flow A with respect to the inlet 3, the swirl flow A is formed by efficiently guiding the dust-containing air introduced from the inlet 3. can do.

  Further, the opposite protruding surface 33 of the first centrifugal separator 4 opposite to the protruding surface 32 of the protruding portion 30 is inclined outward toward the downstream side of the swirling flow A at a position corresponding to the connecting portion 36. Therefore, dust contained in the swirling flow A along the opposite protruding surface 33 is easily collected toward the first dust collecting portion 5 from a position where the opposite protruding surface 33 is inclined.

  Further, at the top surface 27 of the enlarged portion 24 on the side of the exhaust cylinder 20 which is enlarged outwardly of the cylindrical exhaust cylinder 20 for discharging the swirling flow A, it is formed at a position enlarged outwardly of the exhaust cylinder 20. The wall 48 projects from the top surface 27 of the enlarged portion 24 on the side of the exhaust pipe 20 toward the first centrifugal separator 4 corresponding to the outside of the opening 37 to be formed. The swirling flow A can be strengthened by taking a distance facing the inner surface 14, and the airflow passing through the opening 37 can be guided to the outside of the exhaust pipe 20 by the wall 48. For this reason, the dust separation efficiency can be improved while suppressing the adhesion of the dust to the exhaust pipe 20.

  Further, since the end 48a of the wall portion 48 on the first centrifugal separation portion 4 side protrudes from the position E of the inlet 3 closest to the first dust collection portion 5 to the first centrifugal separation portion 4 side, the wall 48 A sufficient distance between the portion 48 and the inner surface 14 of the case 10 can be ensured to enhance the swirling flow A, and the dust separation performance can be further improved.

  The amount M of the first centrifugal separator 4 at the end 48a of the wall 48 on the first centrifugal separator 4 side from the position E of the inlet 3 closest to the first dust collector 5 is larger than the case 10 of the case 10. Since the width is set to 1/4 or less of the width W of the inlet in the longitudinal direction, a sufficient distance between the wall portion 48 and the inner surface 14 of the case 10 is ensured to enhance the swirling flow A, and The airflow sucked into 20 is less likely to be blocked by the wall portion 48.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case 10 may be configured such that the bottom portion 13 is openable and closable, and the dust collected in the first dust collecting portion 5 and the second dust collecting portion 7 may be discharged from below.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dust collector 2 Vacuum cleaner 3 Inlet 4 First centrifugal separation part which is a separation part 5 1st dust collection part which is a dust collection part
10 cases
14 Inside
16 Interpolation part which is a structural part
20 Ventilation exhaust stack
24 Enlargement
37 opening
40 ventilation openings
48 wall
48a End A Swirling flow

Claims (5)

A dust collector comprising: a separation unit configured to rotate dust-containing air to centrifugally separate dust; and a dust collection unit configured to store dust separated by the separation unit,
A cylindrical case having an inlet through which the dust-containing air is introduced inward,
A structural portion in which a swirling flow of the dust-containing air is formed between the inside of the case and an inner surface of the case,
The structure section includes:
A cylindrical ventilation section for discharging the swirling flow,
A tubular enlarged portion located on the dust collection portion side of the ventilation portion, and expanded outward from the ventilation portion;
A ventilation opening formed at a position inside the ventilation section on the surface of the enlarged section on the separation section side,
In terms of the separation portion side of the enlarged portion, and an opening which the is formed in a plurality of numbers in expanded position outward from the vent opening,
Possess a wall portion projecting from the surface of the separation portion side of the enlarged portion at a position corresponding to the outside of at least the opening into the separation portion side, and,
The dust collector , wherein the wall is not formed at least at a part of the position facing the inlet . The dust collector according to claim 1, wherein the end of the wall on the side of the separating unit protrudes toward the separating unit more than the dust collecting unit closest to the inlet. The amount by which the separation portion side of the end of the wall portion closer to the separation portion than the dust collection portion side of the introduction port is 1/4 of the width of the introduction port in the longitudinal direction of the case. The dust collector according to claim 2, wherein the dust collector is set as follows. The opening, the in the plane of the separation portion side of the enlarged portion, the dust collecting apparatus of claims 1 to 3 any one wherein that are made form along the outer edges of the surface. A vacuum cleaner comprising the dust collecting device according to claim 1.

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