U.S. patent application number 10/815784 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for air cleaner for engines.
Invention is credited to Chi, Lee San, Hsu, Wen Yuan.
Application Number | 20050217222 10/815784 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35052695 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050217222 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Wen Yuan ; et
al. |
October 6, 2005 |
AIR CLEANER FOR ENGINES
Abstract
An air cleaner for engines includes a fender provided on the
side of the air inlet and the air passage, and a hollow tube
adapted to the air inlet to prevent weeds, dust, and pebbles from
entering into the air cleaner for enabling clean air to be
delivered to the engine continuously and protecting the carburetor
from being contaminated by foreign matter.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Wen Yuan; (Kaohsiung
City, TW) ; Chi, Lee San; (Kaohsiung City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Leong C. Lei
PMB#1008
1867 Ygnacio Valley Rd.
Walnut Creek
CA
94598
US
|
Family ID: |
35052695 |
Appl. No.: |
10/815784 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
55/385.1 ;
55/385.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 34/82 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
055/385.1 ;
055/385.3 |
International
Class: |
B01D 050/00 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. An air cleaner for an engine of a mower comprising a case, a
cover mounted on said case, and an air cleaner element accommodated
in a space defined by said case and said cover; wherein at least an
air inlet is provided on one side of said case, a hollow tube
extending from said side of said case and communicating with said
air inlet, a supplementary air inlet provided at a bottom of said
case to admit air and to function as a drain, a locking member
provided on said case and having a bottom provided with an air
outlet, said air cleaner element being mounted on said locking
member, an air passage provided below said case, a hollow tube
integrally formed with said bottom of said case and communicating
with said air passage, a fender provided by said air passage below
said case, said locking member being provided with two locking
posts going upwardly through said air cleaner element to engage
with two fasteners thereby keeping said air cleaner element and
said cover in place.
8. The air cleaner for an engine of a mower as claimed in claim 7,
wherein said locking member extends upwardly from a center of said
case.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is related to an air cleaner for an
engine adapted to a power mower, and more particularly, to one that
prevents foreign matter such as weeds, dust, and pebbles from being
sucked into the air cleaner to enable clean air to be fed to the
engine continuously and prevent the foreign matter from
contaminating the carburetor of the engine.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The air cleaner for engines adapted to power mowers
generally available in the market functions to introduce fresh air
to be mixed with fuel for combustion and explosion in the engine to
generate power. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings, the power mower 1 is essentially comprised of a body 11,
two front wheels 12, two rear wheels 13, an engine 14, a fuel tank
15 and a handle 16. Wherein, a cutting cylinder (not illustrated)
is provided at the bottom of the body 11; both pairs of front
wheels 12 and rear wheels 13 are respectively provided in the front
and the rear of the body 11; the engine 14 and the fuel tank 15 are
mounted on the top of the body 11; the handle 16 extends upwards
from the rear of the body 11; a speed controller 151 is provided to
the handle 16; and a conductor 152 is used to connect the speed
controller 16 to the engine 14. Once the power mower operates, the
fresh air is introduced through an air cleaner 2 into a carburetor
3 to mix with the fuel. The mixture is then imported into the
engine 14 for combustion and explosion to create power to drive the
cutting cylinder to revolve with the speed to be controlled by the
speed controller 151, thus for the user to steer the handle 16 for
mowing.
[0005] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the air cleaner 2 includes a
case 21, an air cleaner element 22 and a cover 23. Wherein, on one
side of the case 21 which is closer to the carburetor 3 is provided
with an air inlet 211, and a supplementary air inlet 212. In
addition to admitting the air, the supplementary air inlet 212 also
functions as a drain. A locking member 213 in a long oval shape
extends upwards from the center of the case 21. An air outlet 214
is provided on the bottom of the locking member 213 and two locking
posts 215 are each provided on both sides inside the locking member
213. The locking post 215 relates to a hollow pillar and is
internally threaded. Furthermore, an air passage 216 connecting
through the carburetor 3 is disposed below the case 21.
[0006] The air cleaner element 22 has a hollow center at its bottom
for the insertions of the locking member 213 and both locking
pillars 215 from the case 21. A trap 221 in the form of a piece of
filtration cotton or paper is provided to the peripheral of the air
cleaner element 22. A resilient washer 222 is provided on the lower
circumference of the air cleaner element 22, and a locking hole 223
is disposed above the air cleaner element 22 at where in relation
to the location of the locking pillar 215.
[0007] The cover 23 is a rectangular shape to cover up the case 21
and a through hole 231 is provided on top of the cover 23 in
relation to the location of the locking pillar 215 to permit
insertion of a fastener 24 for locking purposes.
[0008] As illustrated in FIG. 3 for the assembly of the air cleaner
2 of the prior art, the air cleaner element 22 is placed on the
locking member 213 inside the case 21 with the locking holes 223 on
the air cleaner element 22 located in relation to the locking post
215 and the resilient washer 222 below the air cleaner element 22
flushed to the case to prevent overflow of clean air. The cover 23
is then placed upon the case with the through hole 231 on top of
the cover 23 located in relation to the locking hole 223 of the air
cleaner element 22. The fastener 24 is inserted through the locking
hole 223 of the air cleaner element 22 via the through hole 231 and
locked to the locking post 215.
[0009] When the engine 14 is operating as illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 3, the ambient air enters into the case 21 through the air
inlet 211 and the supplementary air inlet 212. Vapor and foreign
matter carried by the air are filtered with the trap 221 for the
vapors to condensate into drops to be drained out of the case 21
through the supplementary air inlet 212. As illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 2, the clean air passing through the trap 221 enters into the
air passage 216 through the air outlet 214 to mix with the fuel by
the carburetor 3 for keeping the engine 14 running.
[0010] However, foreign matter including weeds, dust and pebbles
are usually present in the air fed to the power mower in operation.
When the air around the air cleaner 2 enters into the case 21
through the air inlet 211 and the supplementary air inlet 212, the
foreign matter will be usually sucked into the case 21 at the same
time, and weeds and dust of a smaller size may pass through the air
inlet 211 and the supplementary air inlet 212 may be intercepted by
the trap 221; but larger sized matter may block the air inlet 211
resulting in a higher concentration of air-fuel mixture to
discharge the higher volume of exhaust. Furthermore, it requires
the user to remove the air cleaner 2 for cleaning. In serious
cases, the engine will fail and the foreign matter will contaminate
the carburetor 3.
[0011] As described above, the air inlet 211 is vulnerable to being
blocked by weeds and dust resulting in an insufficient supply of
fresh air to the carburetor 3 to discharge higher volume of
exhaust. Frequent maintenance of the air filter also presents an
inconvenience for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide
an engine air cleaner for a power mower to supply clean air
continuously to the carburetor and prevent weeds, dust, and pebbles
from being sucked into the air cleaner and thereby contaminating
the carburetor. To achieve this purpose, a fender is provided on
the side of the air inlet and air passage of the air cleaner to
prevent weeds, dust, and chisels from being sucked into the air
filter.
[0013] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0014] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power mower of the prior
art.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an air cleaner used in an
engine of the power mower of the prior art.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a local part of the air
cleaner of the prior art.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an air cleaner of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a local part of the air
cleaner of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the present invention
adapted to a power mower.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments
only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, an air cleaner 4 adapted to an
engine 61 is essentially comprised of a case 41, an air cleaner
element 42 and a cover 43. The case 41 and the cover 43 define a
space to accommodate the air cleaner element 42. An air inlet 411
is provided on the side at where close to a carburetor 5. A hollow
tube 412 extends externally from the peripheral of the case 41. A
supplementary air inlet 413 is provided at the bottom of the case
41 to admit air and to function as a drain. A long oval locking
member 414 extending upward from the center of the case 41 has at
its bottom disposed with an air outlet 415 and two hollow locking
posts 416 each internally threaded respectively provided on both
sides of the locking member 414. An air passage 417 is connecting
through a carburetor 5 is provided below the case 41. The air
passage relates to a hollow tube 419 integrated with the case 41 at
its below, and a fender to screen the case 41 is provided by the
air passage 417 below the case 41.
[0023] The air cleaner element 42 has a hollow center bottom to
merely receive the placement of the locking member 414 and the
locking pillars 416 of the case 41. A trap 421 usually in the form
of a piece of filtration cotton or paper is provided to the
peripheral of the air cleaner element 42. A resilient washer is
mounted to the lower circumference of the air cleaner element 42
and a locking hole 423 is provided on top of the air cleaner
element 42 at where in relation to the locking pillar 416.
[0024] The rectangular cover 43 properly covers up the case 41 and
a through hole 431 is provided on top of the cover 43 at where in
relation to the locking pillar 416 to permit the insertion of a
fastener 44 for locking purpose.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 5, upon assembling the air cleaner 4
of the present invention, the air cleaner is mounted to the locking
member 414 inside the case 41; the locking hole 423 on top of the
air cleaner element 42 is disposed at where in relation to the
locking pillar 46 while the resilient washer 422 below the air
cleaner element 42 is flushed on the case 41 to avoid overflow of
the clean air; the cover 43 is placed on the case 41 with the
through hole 431 on top of the cover 43 located at where in
relation to the locking hole 423 of the air cleaner element 42; and
the case 41 is secured to the locking post 416 with the fastener 44
inserted through the locking hole 423 of the air cleaner element 42
via the through hole 431.
[0026] When the engine 61 is operating as illustrated in FIGS. 5
and 6, the ambient air enters into the case 41 through the air
inlet 411 and the supplementary air inlet 413 from the hollow tube
412 extending externally from the peripheral of the air inlet 411
of the case 41. Vapors and foreign matters carried by the air are
filtered through the trap 421 of the air cleaner element 42 for the
vapors to condensate into drops to be drained out of the case 41
through the supplementary air inlet 413 that functions also as
drainage. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the clean air passing
through the trap 421 enters into the air passage 417 through the
air outlet 415 of the case 41 to be mixed with the fuel at the
carburetor 5, thus to keep the engine 61 running.
[0027] Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, when the present invention
is used in a power mower, weeds, dust, and chisels ejected during
the mowing are stopped from entering into the air cleaner 4 by the
fender 418 provided on the side of the air passage 417 below the
case 41. As stopped by the fender 418, weeds, dust, and chisels are
prevented from an easy ingression into the air inlet 411, and in
turn, the air inlet 411 is protected from being blocked. The fender
418 shields the carburetor 5 to prevent from being contaminated by
weeds, dust, and chisels. Furthermore, when those weeds, dust, and
chisels attempt to enter together with the air into the air cleaner
4, they are stopped by the hollow tube 412 of the case 41, thus to
maintain normal operation of the engine.
[0028] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0029] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *