U.S. patent application number 09/774593 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-16 for air cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYODA BOSHOKU CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Oda, Kouichi.
Application Number | 20010013274 09/774593 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26585213 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010013274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oda, Kouichi |
August 16, 2001 |
Air cleaner
Abstract
An air cleaner wherein an element for filtering intake air and
an absorber member for absorbing fuel vapor are disposed within a
housing. Within the housing, a stopper portion for tentatively
attaching the absorber member and a seat portion capable of
receiving the absorber member at a side opposite from the stopper
portion are formed near a site where the element is mounted. The
element or the absorber member has a presser portion that retains
the absorber member in a state where the absorber member is pressed
against the seat portion, when the element is mounted within the
housing.
Inventors: |
Oda, Kouichi; (Kariya-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Oliff & Berridge PLC
P.O. Box 19928
Alexandria
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
TOYODA BOSHOKU CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
26585213 |
Appl. No.: |
09/774593 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
96/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 46/0036 20130101;
F02M 35/024 20130101; B01D 46/0005 20130101; B01D 2271/022
20130101; B01D 2259/4566 20130101; B01D 2279/60 20130101; B01D
2258/01 20130101; B01D 46/521 20130101; B01D 46/10 20130101; B01D
2257/702 20130101; F02M 25/0872 20130101; B01D 2259/4516 20130101;
B01D 53/0415 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
96/134 |
International
Class: |
B01D 053/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2000 |
JP |
2000-33685 |
Dec 21, 2000 |
JP |
2000-389148 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An air cleaner in which an element for filtering an intake air
and an absorber member for absorbing fuel vapor are disposed within
a housing, the air cleaner comprising: a stopper portion for
tentatively attaching the absorber member, the stopper portion
being formed near a site at which an element is mounted, within the
housing; a seat portion formed within the housing, the seat portion
being capable of receiving the absorber member at a side opposite
from the stopper portion; and a presser portion that is formed on
at least one of the element and the absorber member and that
retains the absorber member in a state where the absorber member is
pressed against the seat portion when the element is mounted within
the housing.
2. An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the stopper portion
has a protruded shape having a size that allows the stopper portion
to retain an outer peripheral portion of the absorber member to an
inner wall of the housing to such a degree that the outer
peripheral portion does not fall apart from the housing.
3. An air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the stopper portion
has an arcuate sectional shape.
4. An air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the stopper portion
has a triangular sectional shape.
5. An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the seat portion is
an end portion of a rib extending on an inner wall of the housing
substantially in a direction of a flow of the intake air.
6. An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the presser portion
has a rigidity corresponding to the seat portion of the
housing.
7. An air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the presser portion
is formed by hardening an end portion of the element through
pressing.
8. An air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the presser portion
is formed by hardening an end portion of the absorber member
through pressing.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Nos.
2000-033685 filed on Feb. 10, 2000 and 2000-389148 filed on Dec.
21, 2000, including the specifications, drawings and abstracts are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an air cleaner having a function of
absorbing fuel vapor leaking from an intake system of an internal
combustion engine.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As an air cleaner of the aforementioned kind, an art
disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application
Laid-Open No. SHO 61-58676, is known. In this related art, an air
cleaner element and an adsorption filter for absorbing fuel vapor
are disposed in an air cleaner housing. Although the laid-open
application does not clearly teach a structure for mounting and
retaining the adsorption filter to an inner wall of the housing, it
can easily be understood that the adsorption filter and the element
are separately mounted to the inner wall of the housing. Based on
this structure, it is conceivable that a means, such as firm
fitting, welding or the like, is employed for mounting the
adsorption filter to the housing inner wall.
[0006] Since the adsorption filter and the element are separately
mounted to the housing as mentioned above, the workability is not
good. Furthermore, if the adsorption filter mounting means is a
fitting means, a predetermined fitting clearance is naturally
needed, so that the adsorption filter, after being mounted, may
suffer rattling, which is a factor of noise. If the mounting means
is a welding means, the rattling of the adsorption filter is
eliminated, but the mounting operation becomes complicated.
Furthermore, regardless of which one of a firm fitting means or a
welding means is employed, it is difficult to separate the
adsorption filter from the housing for the recycling of the air
cleaner, or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to improve
workability by making it possible to mount two members, that is, an
air cleaner element and an absorber member for absorbing fuel
vapor, in a due state merely by mounting the air cleaner element
within a housing of an air cleaner, and to simplify the mounting of
the absorber member without allowing the rattling thereof, and to
relatively facilitate the separation of the absorber member from
the housing through the use of a tool or the like for the recycling
of the air cleaner, or the like.
[0008] A first aspect of the invention is an air cleaner wherein an
element for filtering intake air and an absorber member for
absorbing fuel vapor are mounted. Within the housing, a stopper
portion for tentatively attaching the absorber member and a seat
portion capable of receiving the absorber member at a side opposite
from the stopper portion are formed near a site where the element
is mounted. The element or the absorber member has a presser
portion that retains the absorber member in a state where the
absorber member is pressed against the seat portion, when the
element is mounted within the housing.
[0009] According to this construction, by tentatively attaching the
fuel vapor absorber member within the housing through the use of
the stopper portion and by, while maintaining the state, mounting
the element to the housing, it is possible to mount the two
members, that is, the element and the absorber member, in a due
state. Therefore, the workability in mounting the two members
improves. Furthermore, although the mounting of the absorber member
is a simple operation of tentatively attaching the absorber member
as mentioned above, the absorber member is retained in a state that
allows no rattling after the mounting thereof is completed. For the
recycling of the air cleaner or the like, the housing and the
absorber member can be relatively easily separated from each other
by using a tool or the like after the element is detached from the
housing.
[0010] In the above-described aspect, the stopper portion may have
a protruded shape having a size that allows the stopper portion to
retain an outer peripheral portion of the absorber member to an
inner wall of the housing to such a degree that the outer
peripheral portion does not fall apart from the housing, and the
seat portion may be an end portion of a rib extending on an inner
wall of the housing substantially in a direction of a flow of the
intake air.
[0011] Therefore, neither the stopper portion nor the seat portion
increases the resistance against the flow of intake air within the
housing. Hence, regardless of whether the absorber member is used,
the housing and the like can be commonly used without degradations
in the intake resistance characteristic and the filtering
capability of the air cleaner.
[0012] Furthermore, in the above-described aspect, the presser
portion of the absorber member or the element may have a rigidity
corresponding to the seat portion of the housing.
[0013] Therefore, after the element is mounted, the absorber member
is firmly secured by the seat portion and the presser portion, and
the secured state is stable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages
of the invention will become apparent from the following
description of preferred embodiments with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are used to represent
like elements and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air cleaner in accordance
with a first embodiment of the invention, in a disassembled
state;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the air cleaner, illustrating
an assembled state thereof;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the air
cleaner enclosed in an imaginary-line circle in FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of a
housing according to a modification of the first embodiment,
corresponding to the view of FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an air cleaner in accordance
with a second embodiment of the invention; and
[0020] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of an air
cleaner in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention,
corresponding to the view of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described
below.
[0022] A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air cleaner of an internal
combustion engine, in a disassembled state. FIG. 2 is a sectional
view of the air cleaner illustrating an assembled state thereof.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion enclosed in an
imaginary-line circle in FIG. 2. As show in these drawings, a
housing 10 of the air cleaner is a molding formed from a synthetic
resin. The housing 10 is divided into a lower housing 10a having an
inlet port 12, and an upper housing 10b having an outlet port 14.
Therefore, an upper face of the lower housing 10a and a lower face
of the upper housing 10b are open. The housing 10 is designed so
that an outer peripheral frame 32 of an air cleaner element 30
(described below) is clamped and secured between opening edges of
the lower housing 10a and the upper housing 10b.
[0023] Clamps 18, each formed by a metal spring member, are
attached to brackets 16 that are formed together with an outer
peripheral portion of the lower housing 10a. The brackets 16 and
the clamps 18 are disposed at several positions in a
circumferential direction along the periphery of the lower housing
10a. A clamp receptacle 20 continuously extends in a
circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the opening
portion of the upper housing 10b. The clamps 18 can be engaged with
and retained to the clamp receptacle 20.
[0024] As is apparent from FIG. 3, a protrusion-like stopper
portion 22 is slightly protruded inward from an inner wall of the
upper housing 10b, at a site near the opening thereof. The stopper
portion 22 is provided for tentatively attaching and retaining a
fuel vapor absorber member 28, and has an arc-like sectional shape.
A shape of the stopper portion 22 with respect to the
circumferential direction of the upper housing 10b may be either
one of a continuous shape extending over the entire range and a
discontinuous shape fragmented at predetermined intervals.
[0025] A plurality of ribs 24 are formed on the inner wall of the
upper housing 10b, and extend inwardly of the stopper portion 22 of
the opening portion. Each rib 24 extends along the direction of
flow of intake air (indicated by arrows in FIG. 2) within the upper
housing 10b. An opening-side end portion of each rib 24 forms a
seat portion 26 that receives the absorber member 28 when the
absorber member 28 is mounted in a due manner.
[0026] The absorber member 28 is a member for absorbing fuel vapor
leaking from the side of the outlet port 14 (the engine side) and
thereby preventing emission of fuel vapor to outside the vehicle.
The absorber member 28 is disposed upstream or downstream of the
air cleaner element 30 for filtering external air. The absorber
member 28 is tentatively attached inside the upper housing 10b by
insetting it inwardly of the stopper portion 22 from the opening
portion of the upper housing 10b (FIG. 1) before joining the lower
housing 10a and the upper housing 10b. Therefore, the stopper
portion 22 will suffice if the stopper portion 22 has a shape that
facilitates the insetting of the absorber member 28 (for example,
an arcuate shape in section), and has such a small amount of
protrusion that the absorber member 28 will not from falling
apart.
[0027] The stopper portion 22 may be replaced by a stopper portion
52 having a right triangular shape in section, which is provided
with a tilt surface 52f and a shelf-like portion 52t as shown in
FIG. 4. When inserting the absorber member 28 to the inside of the
stopper portion 52 from the opening portion of the upper housing
10b, the peripheral edge of the absorber member 28 fits along the
tilt surface 52f of the stopper portion 52. This makes it possible
to tentatively attach the absorber member 28 between the stopper
portion 52 and the seat portion 26 with ease. The tentatively
attached absorber member 28 can be supported reliably by the
shelf-like portion 52t of the stopper portion 52.
[0028] The shape of the stopper portion 52 with respect to the
peripheral direction of the upper housing 10b may be continually
formed or separately formed at a predetermined interval over the
entire length. However, it is preferable to be separately formed at
a predetermined interval such that the absorber member 28 can be
easily removed in a recycling process.
[0029] When the absorber member 28 is tentatively attached, a
fitting clearance (not shown) of a normally needed size is secured
between the absorber member 28 and the seat portions 26.
[0030] Typically, a non-woven cloth is used in the air cleaner
element 30, and a hard outer peripheral frame 32 formed by, for
example, injection molding of a synthetic resin, is provided around
an outer peripheral portion of the non-woven cloth. The outer
peripheral frame 32 has a seal 36 in a portion of the frame 32 that
is clamped between the opening edges of the lower housing 10a and
the upper housing 10b, as is apparent in FIG. 3. The outer
peripheral frame 32 has a presser portion 34 that extends beyond
the stopper portion 22 and presses the absorber member 28 against
the seat portions 26 when the air cleaner element 30 is mounted
within the housing 10. The presser portion 34 may be formed by
hardening an end portion of the non-woven cloth through pressing.
An important point herein is that the presser portion 34 be
provided with a rigidity that matches the rigidity of the seat
portions 26.
[0031] In the air cleaner constructed as described above, the
absorber member 28 is tentatively attached inside the upper housing
10b by insetting the absorber member 28 inwardly of the stopper
portion 22 in the above-described manner. Next, the lower housing
10a and the upper housing 10b are joined with the seal 36 of the
outer peripheral frame 32 of the air cleaner element 30 being
positioned between the opening edges of the two housings 10a, 10b.
The joined state is retained by hooking the clamps 18 to the clamp
receptacle 20. In this manner, the air cleaner element 30 is
mounted within the housing 10 and, at the same time, the presser
portion 34, extending beyond the stopper portion 22, presses the
outer peripheral portion of the absorber member 28 against the seat
portions 26. Therefore, the mounting of the absorber member 28 to
the interior of the housing 10 is also completed.
[0032] That is, by mounting the air cleaner element 30 to the
housing 10, the two members, that is, the air cleaner element 30
and the absorber member 28, are mounted in the due state. Thus, the
workability in mounting the two members improves. After being
mounted, the absorber member 28 is pressed against the seat
portions 26, while filling the aforementioned fitting clearance.
Therefore, the rattling of the absorber member 28, which becomes a
cause for noises or vibrations of the air cleaner, is resolved. For
the recycling of the air cleaner or the like, the absorber member
28 can be relatively easily separated from the upper housing 10b by
using a tool or the like after separating the lower housing 10a and
the upper housing 10b from each other and detaching the air cleaner
element 30.
[0033] As described above, the stopper portion 22 has an amount of
protrusion that is small but sufficient to prevent the absorber
member 28 from falling apart when the absorber member 28 is
tentatively attached to the upper housing 10b. The ribs 24 forming
the seat portions 26 extend following the direction of flow of
intake air. Therefore, the presence of the stopper portion 22 and
the ribs 24 does not increase the resistance against the flow of
intake air within the housing 10. Hence, the housing 10 can also be
applied to an air cleaner that does not employ an absorber member
28, without degrading the intake air resistance characteristic nor
the filtering capability.
[0034] It should be noted herein that a conventional absorber
member mounting means employing welding also has problems of
degradations in the intake resistance characteristic and the
filtering capability of the air cleaner because the conventional
means needs relatively large welding seats within the housing and
therefore sacrifices the capacity within the housing.
[0035] A second embodiment of the invention will be described with
reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an air cleaner,
illustrating a state where an air cleaner element 30 is mounted to
a housing 10. The housing 10 of the second embodiment is of an
integral structure type, in which a portion of a side wall of the
housing 10 has an opening 40 for inserting the absorber member 28
and the air cleaner element 30. Firstly, the absorber member 28 is
disposed within the housing 10 by inserting the absorber member 28
through the opening 40. Using a stopper portion 22 formed on an
inner wall of the housing 10, the absorber member 28 is tentatively
attached inside the housing 10 as in the first embodiment.
[0036] An outer peripheral frame 32 of the air cleaner element 30
has a presser portion 34 as in the first embodiment. Furthermore,
the outer peripheral frame 32 has a cover portion 44 for closing
the opening 40 from outside, and a hinge 42 that is disposed
opposite from the cover portion 44. To mount the air cleaner
element 30, the air cleaner element 30 is disposed and set in the
housing 10 via the opening 40, starting at a side of the hinge 42.
After that, the hinge 42 is positioned to a recess 11 formed in the
inner wall of the housing 10. While this state is maintained, the
air cleaner element 30 is turned about the hinge 42 in a direction
indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5, so that the cover portion 44
closes the opening 40. The thus-established state is maintained by
a claw 46 formed on the cover portion 44 being engaged with a claw
receptacle 48 formed on an outer wall of the housing 10.
[0037] Thus, the mounting of the air cleaner element 30 into the
housing 10 is completed, and the housing 10 is tightly closed. At
the same time, the presser portion 34, extending beyond the stopper
portion 22, presses the outer peripheral portion of the absorber
member 28 against the seat portions 26. Thus, the absorber member
28 is mounted within the housing 10 in a due state. Therefore,
according to the second embodiment, too, by mounting the air
cleaner element 30 to the housing 10, the two members, that is, the
air cleaner element 30 and the absorber member 28, are mounted in a
due state. Thus, the second embodiment achieves substantially the
same functions and advantages as mentioned above. Portions of the
second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first
embodiment, except the type of the housing 10 and the means for
mounting the air cleaner element 30 to an interior of the housing
10. Therefore, description of those portions is omitted.
[0038] A third embodiment will next be described with reference to
FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of an air
cleaner, corresponding to the view of a portion of the first
embodiment in FIG. 3. As is apparent in FIG. 6, a presser portion
29 is formed on an absorber member 28 in the third embodiment,
instead of the presser portion 34 of the air cleaner element 30.
When the absorber member 28 is tentatively attached within a upper
housing 10b, to a site located inwardly of a stopper portion 22,
the presser portion 29 extends beyond the stopper portion 22 and
reaches the vicinity of an opening of the upper housing 10b.
[0039] When the air cleaner element 30 is mounted within the
housing 10 in a manner as described above in conjunction with the
fist or second embodiment, the outer peripheral frame 32 of the air
cleaner element 30 contacts an end surface of the presser portion
29, so that, via the presser portion 29, an outer peripheral
portion of the absorber member 28 is pressed against the seat
portions 26. This state is retained. Therefore, in this embodiment,
too, by mounting the air cleaner element 30 to the housing 10, the
mounting of the absorber member 28 is also completed as in the
first and second embodiments. This presser portion 29 is also
provided with a rigidity that matches the rigidity of the seat
portions 26, by hardening the presser portion 29 through pressing
or a different process.
[0040] Although in the first, second and third embodiments, the
absorber member 28 is disposed downstream of the air cleaner
element 30, that is, at the outlet port 14-side within the housing
10, it is also possible to adopt a construction in which the
absorber member 28 is disposed upstream of the air cleaner element
30.
[0041] While the invention has been described with reference to
what are presently considered to be preferred embodiments thereof,
it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments or constructions. On the contrary, the
invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements.
* * * * *