U.S. patent application number 13/574473 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-03 for air suction/injection device and vacuum cleaner comprising the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to PANASONIC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kenji Itou, Tatsuo Kikkawa, Yoshiki Kuroki, Katsumi Matsumura, Tooru Odachi, Masakazu Onda.
Application Number | 20130000071 13/574473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44306491 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130000071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Itou; Kenji ; et
al. |
January 3, 2013 |
AIR SUCTION/INJECTION DEVICE AND VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING THE
SAME
Abstract
The present invention provides a technology, which is capable of
easily switching between the vacuum function and the blower
function of the vacuum cleaner with a simple configuration, and is
also capable of effectively utilizing the blower function even in
the various situations. Typical air suction/injection device is
configured that the interior of the main unit constitutes a main
passage of air, and the interior of an injection passage section
provided in the main body constitutes a sub-passage. Once a
suctioned airstream is created in the main passage, a power fan
inside of a suction chamber is rotated, and in conjunction with
such a rotation, an injection fan is rotated so that an injecting
airstream is created in the sub-passage. In such case, a passage
switching section composed of a valve member provided in the
location of joining the main passage and the sub-passage is
switched to easily switch between a creation of an injecting
airstream and a creation of a suctioned airstream.
Inventors: |
Itou; Kenji; (Shiga, JP)
; Matsumura; Katsumi; (Shiga, JP) ; Kuroki;
Yoshiki; (Shiga, JP) ; Odachi; Tooru; (Shiga,
JP) ; Kikkawa; Tatsuo; (Shiga, JP) ; Onda;
Masakazu; (Shiga, JP) |
Assignee: |
PANASONIC CORPORATION
Kadoma-shi, Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
44306491 |
Appl. No.: |
13/574473 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
November 12, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2010/006670 |
371 Date: |
August 31, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/414 ;
15/415.1; 415/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/225 20130101;
A47L 9/0653 20130101; A47L 5/28 20130101; A47L 9/08 20130101; A47L
5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/414 ;
15/415.1; 415/60 |
International
Class: |
F04D 25/16 20060101
F04D025/16; A47L 9/02 20060101 A47L009/02; A47L 5/22 20060101
A47L005/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 22, 2010 |
JP |
2010-011623 |
Mar 11, 2010 |
JP |
2010-053991 |
Aug 6, 2010 |
JP |
2010-177293 |
Claims
1. An air suction/injection device which connects to a front end of
a suction hose included in a vacuum cleaner, the air
suction/injection device comprising: a tube-like main body, one end
of said main body serving as a rear end opening section connected
to the front end of said suction hose and the other end thereof
serving as a front end opening section, and an interior of said
main body forming a main passage of air; an injection passage
section having an injecting air inlet for introducing air from
outside and an injection outlet for injecting the introduced air to
the outside, an interior of said injection passage section forming
a sub-passage from said injecting air inlet to said injection
outlet; a power fan provided in the interior of said main body and
being rotated by a suctioned airstream created in said main passage
by means of suction of air through said suction hose; an injection
fan provided in an interior of said injection passage section and
rotates in conjunction with said power fan to create an injecting
airstream from said injecting air inlet toward said injection
outlet in said sub-passage; and an injection switching section for
permitting or limiting injection of said injecting airstream from
said injection outlet to the outside.
2. The air suction/injection device according to claim 1, wherein
said injection switching section is a passage switching section for
switching between connecting of and blocking of said sub-passage to
said injection outlet.
3. The air suction/injection device according to claim 1, wherein
said injection switching section is a passage open-close section
for opening or blocking said main passage or said sub-passage at a
location upstream of said power fan or said injection fan, in a
flow direction of the suctioned airstream.
4. The air suction/injection device according to claim 1, further
comprising a power fan housing section provided in said main
passage in said main body, for housing said power fan therein,
wherein said power fan housing section includes a inner suction
inlet facing to said main passage and a suctioned air introduction
inlet for introducing air from the outside.
5. The air suction/injection device according to claim 4, further
comprising an air introduction cover member for closing at least a
portion of a passage of air from said suctioned air introduction
inlet to said main passage in openable and closable manner.
6. The air suction/injection device according to claim 2, wherein
said injection passage section is provided in the main body so that
the sub-passage in said injection passage section is joined to said
main passage in said main body, and said front end opening section
in said main body serves as said injection outlet in said injection
passage section, and wherein said passage switching section is
provided in a section where said main passage is joined to said
sub-passage and is a valve member for changing its position so as
to close one of said main passage and said sub-passage.
7. The air suction/injection device according to claim 3, wherein
said injection passage section is provided in said main body so
that the sub-passage in said injection passage section reaches said
front end opening section along said main passage inside of said
main body, and wherein said passage open-close section is a valve
member for blocking only said main passage.
8. The air suction/injection device according to claim 6, further
comprising a lever member provided outside of said main body, said
lever member being operative in response to a positional change of
said valve member.
9. The air suction/injection device according to claim 2, wherein
said front end opening section is provided in said main body as a
turnable opening section, which is a separate member turnable in a
circumference direction thereof, an interior of said turnable
opening section being provided with a through hole and a closed
hole, said closed hole being adjacent to the through hole and
having one open end that leads to said main body and the other
closed end, wherein said injection passage section is provided in
the main body so that said main passage is adjacent to said
sub-passage in an end leading to said turnable opening section of
said main body, and the through hole of said turnable opening
section serves as said injection outlet in said injection passage
section, and wherein said turnable opening section connects said
closed hole to one of said main passage and said sub-passage, and
said turnable opening section is turned so as to connect said
through hole to the other of said main passage and said
sub-passage, so that it functions as said passage switching
section.
10. The air suction/injection device according to claim 4, wherein
said injection passage section and said power fan housing section
are a cylindrical housing for fan section such that said injection
passage section and said power fan housing section are integrated
together in a state in which the injection fan and the power fan
are internally housed, respectively, and is rotatably provided to
said main body, wherein the housing for fan section is inserted in
the main body, at a location between said front end opening section
and said rear end opening section along a direction for
intersecting with a tube axis of said main body, and at least a
portion of an outer circumference thereof faces to said main
passage of said main body, wherein said injecting air inlet is
provided at a location in a top surface of said housing for fan
section and at the outside of said main body and an injection
outlet is provided in a part of the outer circumference of said
housing for fan section to form said sub-passage between said
injecting air inlet and said injection outlet, and wherein said
housing for fan section functions as said injection switching
section, by turning said housing for fan section to change a
position of said injection outlet.
11. The air suction/injection device according to claim 1, wherein
said injection passage section is provided to be inserted in the
main body so as to position said sub-passage along said main
passage inside of said main body, and said suction air introduction
inlet is provided at a location facing to the outside of said main
body in said suctioned airstream, the air suction/injection device
comprising a passage open-close section serving as said injection
switching section for closing at least a part of the passage of air
from said suction air introduction inlet to said main passage in
openable and closable manner.
12. The air suction/injection device according to claim 1, further
comprising a suction nozzle detachably provided in said front end
opening section.
13. The air suction/injection device according to claim 1, further
comprising a liquid spray section including a liquid storage tank
and a spray nozzle for spraying liquid stored in the liquid storage
tank, wherein the liquid spray section is detachably provided in
said injection outlet.
14. The air suction/injection device according to claim 1, wherein
said front end opening section is a front end nozzle section at a
front end side, the front end nozzle section having a shape in
which a cross sectional area is gradually reduced toward the front
end.
15. The air suction/injection device according to claim 14, wherein
an injection opening regulation member for adjusting a momentum of
the injecting airstream is provided inside of said front end nozzle
section.
16. A vacuum cleaner, comprising an air suction/injection device,
and a suction hose provided with the air suction/injection device,
the air suction/injection device comprising: a tube-like main body,
one end of said main body serving as a rear end opening section
connected to the front end of said suction hose and the other end
thereof serving as a front end opening section, and an interior of
said main body forming a main passage of air; an injection passage
section having an injecting air inlet for introducing air from
outside and an injection outlet for injecting the introduced air to
the outside, an interior of said injection passage section forming
a sub-passage from said injecting air inlet to said injection
outlet; a power fan provided in the interior of said main body and
being rotated by a suctioned airstream created in said main passage
by means of suction of air through said suction hose; an injection
fan provided in an interior of said injection passage section and
rotates in conjunction with said power fan to create an injecting
airstream from said injecting air inlet toward said injection
outlet in said sub-passage; and an injection switching section for
permitting or limiting injection of said injecting airstream from
said injection outlet to the outside.
17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein said air
suction/injection device is detachably connected to said suction
hose.
18. The air suction/injection device according to claim 7, further
comprising a lever member provided outside of said main body, said
lever member being operative in response to a positional change of
said valve member.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an air suction/injection
device employed in a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner comprising
such air suction/injection device, and particularly relates to an
air suction/injection device, which is capable of injecting air by
utilizing suction of air created by a vacuum cleaner and is also
capable of switching between suction and an injection of air, and
to a vacuum cleaner comprising the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] General vacuum cleaners involve a function for suctioning
air to suction dusts together with air (hereinafter referred to as
"vacuum function"), and in recent years, new configurations of
vacuum cleaners involving a function for injecting air to blow
dusts off (hereinafter referred to as "blower function") are
proposed. When the vacuum cleaner comprises the blower function, it
is possible to sweep dusts present in a location that is difficult
to see by a user (a back side, a top surface and the like of an
installed furniture) or in a high location viewed by a user (a top
surface of the above-described furniture, a hood of a lighting
device, a ceiling and the like).
[0003] A technology of utilizing exhaust air is conventionally
known as a specific blower function. Even though the exhaust air is
an airflow which has passed through a dust chamber of the vacuum
cleaner, such exhaust air is provided as a clean airflow in the
practical blower function. However, users tend to have images as
insanitation, in view of utilizing the exhaust air. Further, when
the blower function has a configuration of utilizing a suction hose
or an extension tube or the like, it is suspected that minute
amount of dusts adhered to the interior thereof are blown out, and
therefore users also tend to have images as insanitation. Thus,
blower functions, which do not utilize exhaust air, are recently
proposed.
[0004] For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an air
suction/injection device comprising a suction fan actuated by a
suction force, an injection fan generating an injection force, and
a power transmission means which transmits the power of the
above-described suction fan to the above-described injection fan.
According to such configuration, the injection fan can be rotated
by the suction force of the vacuum cleaner by only connecting the
air suction/injection device to the suction hose. Hence, the blower
function, which does not utilize exhaust air, can be additionally
utilized, regardless of the type of the vacuum cleaner.
[0005] Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses a suction tool for a
vacuum cleaner configured to comprise a pressure generator section,
which is capable of forcing air into an injection nozzle provided
in a suction port. Such a suction tool injects compressed air
created in the pressure generator section such as an air pump and
the like from the injection nozzle, so that dusts adhered to the
surface to be cleaned or accumulated in a corner of a concave and
convex section are blown out and then are suctioned. Hence, the
blower function without utilizing the exhaust air can be achieved
and the dusts blown out by the blower function can be rapidly
suctioned, such that the dust collection with higher efficiency can
be realized.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application
Publication No. 2000-217746 [0007] Patent Literature 2: Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2001-321305
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0008] However, since the aforementioned conventional technology
cannot provide easy switching of the timing between the injection
and the suction of the air with a simple configuration, sufficient
contribution of the blower function to the cleanup work of the
vacuum cleaner cannot be achieved.
[0009] More specifically, the situations, in which the blower
function can be preferably employed, include not only: the
above-described situation (1) cleaning a location that is difficult
to see by a user or a high location; or situation (2) sweeping
dusts adhered to the surface to be cleaned or accumulated in a
corner of a concave and convex section, but also situation (3)
cleaning objects, on which there is a fear to cause a damage, an
unwanted movement, a misoperation, or an erroneous suction when the
suction port approaches thereto. However, since the switching
between the blower function and the vacuum function is difficult in
the conventional technology, such technology cannot sufficiently
address the various situations as described above.
[0010] For instance, examples of the aforementioned situation (3)
typically include: ornaments such as artificial flowers and the
like, which may be possibly broken by applying the suction;
wall-hanged picture frames or clocks, which may be inclined when
they are directly touched for the cleanup; telephones, facsimile
machines or keyboards of personal computers, which may possibly be
misoperated due to the approach of the suction port; or inside of
drawers containing small articles, which may possibly be
erroneously suctioned, and the like, and when the cleanup of these
objects are conducted, the damage, the movement or the erroneous
suction as described above may be possibly caused only by the use
of the ordinary suction.
[0011] Here, while dusts can be blown out from the object through
the pneumatic injection by employing the conventional blower
function, such simple blowing out may possibly cause a broad
scatter of the dusts. In particular, in the room with higher air
tightness, the simple use of the blower function results in only
dispersing the dusts, which eventually leads to broadening the area
for removing dusts by suctioning. Further, since no particular
disclosure related to configurations for switching between the
ordinary vacuum function and the blower function is made in the
related art, it is difficult to provide an easy switching between
the vacuum function and the blower function in accordance with the
various situations such as the above-described situations (1) to
(3) with a simple configuration.
[0012] The present invention is made in order to solve the problem
described above, and an object of the present invention is to
provide a technology, which is capable of easily switching between
the vacuum function and the blower function of the vacuum cleaner
with a simple configuration, and is also capable of effectively
utilizing the blower function even in the various situations.
Solution to Problem
[0013] To solve the above mentioned problems, according to the
present invention, there is provided an air suction/injection
device which connects to a front end of a suction hose included in
a vacuum cleaner, the air suction/injection device comprising: a
tube-like main body, one end of the main body serving as a rear end
opening section connected to the front end of the suction hose and
the other end thereof serving as a front end opening section, and
an interior of the main body forming a main passage of air; an
injection passage section having an injecting air inlet for
introducing air from outside and an injection outlet for injecting
the introduced air to the outside, an interior of the injection
passage section forming a sub-passage from the injecting air inlet
to the injection outlet; a power fan provided in the interior of
the main body and being rotated by a suctioned airstream created in
the main passage by means of suction of air through the suction
hose; an injection fan provided in an interior of the injection
passage section and rotates in conjunction with the power fan to
create an injecting airstream from the injecting air inlet toward
the injection outlet in the sub-passage; and an injection switching
section for permitting or limiting injection of the injecting
airstream from the injection outlet to the outside.
[0014] According to the above-described configuration, it achieves
not only that the injecting airstream can be created in the
sub-passage without employing a configuration that requires a
specific power source, but also that the injection of the injecting
airstream from the injection outlet can be permitted and blocked by
the injection switching section. Hence, it achieves not only that
the injecting airstream can be easily injected from the front end
of the suction nozzle in the use of the vacuum cleaner without
adopting complicated configurations, but also that switching
between the suction (vacuum function) and the injection (blower
function) of air can be easily achieved by substantially the action
of the injection switching section. This results in that the
switching between the blower function and the vacuum function in
the vacuum cleaner can be easily achieved with a simple
configuration, and in addition, the blower function can be
effectively utilized in various conditions.
[0015] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
injection switching section may be a passage switching section for
switching between connecting of and blocking of the sub-passage to
the injection outlet.
[0016] According to the above-described configuration, the
sub-passage, which leads to the injection outlet, is connected or
blocked to achieve permission or blocking of the flow of the
injecting airstream from the sub-passage to the front end opening
section. This allows easy switching between the suction (vacuum
function) and the injection (blower function) of air to further
considerably improve the operability.
[0017] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
injection switching section may be a passage open-close section for
opening or blocking the main passage or the sub-passage at a
location upstream of the power fan or the injection fan, in a flow
direction of the suctioned airstream.
[0018] According to the above-described configuration, the
permission or the blocking of the flow of the injecting airstream
from the sub-passage to the injection outlet is achieved by opening
and closing the main passage or the sub-passage. This allows easy
switching between the suction (vacuum function) and the injection
(blower function) of air to further considerably improve the
operability.
[0019] In the above-described air suction/injection device, it may
further comprises a power fan housing section provided in the main
passage in the main body, for housing the power fan therein, and
the power fan housing section may include an inner suction inlet
facing to the main passage and a suctioned air introduction inlet
for introducing air from the outside.
[0020] According to the above-described configuration, air can be
taken from the suctioned air introduction inlet to the power fan
housing section while the power fan is protected with the power fan
housing section, so that the reduction in the pressure due to the
main passage directly affects the interior of the power fan housing
section to reduce the pressure therein, so that a large quantity of
the suctioned airstream is created from the suction air inlet
toward the inner suction inlet. This allows rotating the power fan
at an elevated rate, so that the injecting airstream with higher
flow velocity can be created by means of the injection fan.
[0021] In the above-described air suction/injection device, it may
further comprise an air introduction cover member for closing at
least a portion of a passage of air from the suctioned air
introduction inlet to the main passage in openable and closable
manner.
[0022] According to the above-described configuration, the air
introduction cover member is opened only when the injecting
airstream is created and the air introduction cover member is
closed when the injecting airstream is not created, so that a fear
for decreasing the flow velocity of the suctioned airstream can be
avoided.
[0023] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
injection passage section may be provided in the main body so that
the sub-passage in the injection passage section is joined to the
main passage in the main body, and the front end opening section in
the main body may serve as the injection outlet in the injection
passage section, and the passage switching section may be provided
in a section where the main passage is joined to the sub-passage
and may be a valve member for changing its position so as to close
one of the main passage and the sub-passage.
[0024] According to the above-described configuration, one of the
main passage and the sub-passage is closed by switching the valve
member to connect the aforementioned one of these passages to the
front end opening section. Hence, when the main passage is closed,
the sub-passage leads to the front end opening section so that the
injecting airstream can be injected from the front end opening
section, and when the sub-passage is closed, the suctioned
airstream can be created in the main passage from the front end
opening section toward the rear end opening section. Accordingly,
the switching between the blower function and the vacuum function
in the vacuum cleaner can be easily achieved with a simple
configuration simply by the switching of the valve member.
[0025] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
injection passage section may be provided in the main body so that
the sub-passage in the injection passage section reaches the front
end opening section along the main passage inside of the main body,
and the passage open-close section may be a valve member for
blocking only the main passage.
[0026] According to the above-described configuration, the
sub-passage directly leads to the front end opening section, so
that the injecting airstream can be injected from the front end
opening section without particularly switching the passage and the
suctioned airstream can be created in the main passage by opening
the valve member. Accordingly, the switching between the blower
function and the vacuum function in the vacuum cleaner can be
easily achieved with a simple configuration simply by the opening
and closing the closing valve member.
[0027] In the above-described air suction/injection device, it may
further comprise a lever member provided outside of the main body,
the lever member being operative in response to a positional change
of the valve member.
[0028] According to the above-described configuration, switching of
the valve member provided inside of the main body can be achieved
by operating the lever member provided outside of the main body.
Hence, the switching between the blower function and the vacuum
function in the vacuum cleaner can be easily achieved with a simple
configuration.
[0029] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
front end opening section may be provided in the main body as a
turnable opening section, which is a separate member turnable in a
circumference direction thereof, an interior of the turnable
opening section being provided with a through hole and a closed
hole, the closed hole being adjacent to the through hole and having
one open end that leads to the main body and the other closed end,
and the injection passage section may be provided in the main body
so that the main passage is adjacent to the sub-passage in an end
leading to the turnable opening section of the main body, and the
through hole of the turnable opening section may serve as the
injection outlet in the injection passage section, and the turnable
opening section may connect the closed hole to one of the main
passage and the sub-passage, and the turnable opening section may
be turned so as to connect the through hole to the other of the
main passage and the sub-passage, so that it functions as the
passage switching section.
[0030] According to the above-described configuration, the closed
hole can be connected to the main passage or the sub-passage by
turning the turnable opening section to close one of these
passages, so that switching of the connection and the blocking of
the sub-passage can be achieved. Hence, the switching between the
blower function and the vacuum function in the vacuum cleaner can
be easily achieved with a simple configuration.
[0031] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
injection passage section and the power fan housing section may be
cylindrical housing for fan section such that the injection passage
section and the power fan housing section are integrated together
in a state in which the injection fan and the power fan are
internally housed, respectively, and may be rotatably provided to
the main body, the housing for fan section may be inserted in the
main body in a location between the front end opening section and
the rear end opening section along a direction for intersecting
with the tube axis of the main body, and at least a portion of an
outer circumference thereof may face to the main passage of the
main body, the injecting air inlet may be provided in a location in
a top surface of the housing for fan section and at the outside of
the main body, and an injection outlet may be provided in a part of
the outer circumference of the housing for fan section to form the
sub-passage between the injecting air inlet and the injection
outlet, and the housing for fan section may function as the
injection switching section, by turning the housing for fan section
to change the position of the injection outlet.
[0032] According to the above-described configuration, the
connection or the blocking of the sub-passage configured inside of
the housing for fan section with the front end opening section can
be achieved by turning the housing for fan section to change the
position of the injection outlet. Hence, the creation and the
stopping of the injecting airstream can be achieved simply by
turning the housing for fan section, so that the switching between
the blower function and the vacuum function in the vacuum cleaner
can be easily achieved with a simple configuration.
[0033] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
injection passage section may be provided to be inserted in the
main body so as to position the sub-passage along the main passage
inside of the main body, and the suctioned air introduction inlet
may be provided at a location facing to the outside of the main
body in the suctioned airstream, and it may comprise a passage
open-close section serving as the injection switching section for
closing at least a part of the passage of air from the suctioned
air introduction inlet to the main passage in openable and closable
manner.
[0034] According to the above-described configuration, the main
passage and the sub-passage are provided in the interior of the
main body, and at least a portion of the passage of air from the
suctioned air introduction inlet to the above-described main
passage is closed by the passage open-close section in openable and
closable manner. Hence, when the above-described passage is closed
with the passage open-close section, no air is introduced into the
sub-passage, so that only the suctioned airstream is created in the
main passage. On the other hand, when the passage open-close
section is opened, air is introduced into the sub-passage, so that
the injecting airstream is substantially created. The injecting
airstream can be formed or be stopped in this way by opening and
closing the passage open-close section, so that switching between
the blower function and the vacuum function in the vacuum cleaner
can be easily achieved with a simple configuration.
[0035] In the above-described air suction/injection device, it may
further comprise a suction nozzle detachably provided in the front
end opening section.
[0036] According to the above-described configuration, the suction
nozzle is detachable, so that the suction nozzle having appropriate
configuration can be selectively employed according to the
conditions of the cleanup, the objects of the cleanup or the
locations of the cleanup.
[0037] In the above-described air suction/injection device, it may
further comprise a liquid spray section including a liquid storage
tank and a spray nozzle for spraying liquid stored in the liquid
storage tank, and the liquid spray section may be detachably
provided in the injection outlet.
[0038] According to the above-described configuration, the liquid
spray section may be mounted to the front end opening section in
the present embodiment, so that liquid can be sprayed by using the
injecting airstream. Hence, the variation of the cleanup can be
broadened.
[0039] In the above-described air suction/injection device, the
front end opening section may be configured as a front end nozzle
section at a front end side, the front end nozzle section having a
shape in which a cross sectional area is gradually reduced toward
the front end. This allows utilizing the air suction/injection
device itself as the suction nozzle.
[0040] In the above-described air suction/injection device, an
injection opening regulation member for adjusting the momentum of
the injecting airstream may be provided inside of the front end
nozzle section.
[0041] When the configuration functioning as both of the suction
port and the injection outlet is employed according to the
above-described configuration, if the injection opening regulation
member is not actuated at the time of vacuum, the vacuum process
can be conducted through an original dimensional area of the
opening of the suction port, and if the injection opening
regulation member is actuated at the time of blower, the
dimensional area of the opening of the injection outlet (namely,
suction port) can be reduced to achieve enhanced flow velocity of
the injecting air stream.
[0042] The present invention may also include a vacuum cleaner,
comprising one of the aforementioned air suction/injection devices,
and a suction hose provided with the air suction/injection device.
In vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, the air
suction/injection device may be connected to the suction hose, and
preferably, may be detachably connected to the suction hose.
[0043] The above-described objects, the other objects, the
characteristic and the benefits of the present invention will
become apparent from the following descriptions of the preferred
embodiments taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
[0044] As described above, the present invention provides benefits
for providing a technology, which is capable of easily switching
between the vacuum function and the blower function of the vacuum
cleaner with a simple configuration, and is also capable of
effectively utilizing the blower function even in the various
situations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a vacuum
cleaner comprising an air suction/injection device according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a side view, illustrating an example of an air
suction/injection device according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, illustrating an example of a
condition of the air suction/injection device shown in FIG. 2
provided with a suction nozzle mounted thereon.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a side view of the air suction/injection device
shown in FIG. 3, illustrating an example of a condition at the time
of vacuum (in formation of suctioned airstream).
[0049] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 4, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a side view, illustrating an example of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 3 in a condition of being
mounted to a handy operation section (suction hose) equipped in the
vacuum cleaner.
[0051] FIG. 7 is a side view of the air suction/injection device
shown in FIG. 3, illustrating an example in a condition at the time
of blower (in formation of injecting airstream).
[0052] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 7, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0053] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 8, illustrating an example
of a condition in a suction chamber at the time of blower (in
formation of injecting airstream) viewed from the lower side
(direction of arrow-view line I in FIG. 8).
[0054] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the air suction/injection
device shown in FIG. 3, illustrating an example of a condition, in
which a front end brush included in the suction nozzle is
protruded.
[0055] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the air suction/injection
device shown in FIG. 2, illustrating an example of a condition, in
which a suction nozzle having other structure is mounted
thereto.
[0056] FIG. 12 is a side view, illustrating an example of an air
suction/injection device according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0057] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 12, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0058] FIG. 14 is a side view of the air suction/injection device
shown in FIG. 12, illustrating an example in a condition at the
time of blower (in formation of injecting airstream).
[0059] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 14, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0060] FIG. 16 is a side view, illustrating an example of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 11 in a condition of being
mounted to a lower section of a handy operation section equipped in
the vacuum cleaner.
[0061] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an air
suction/injection device according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention, illustrating an example of the internal configuration at
the time of vacuum (in formation of suctioned airstream) viewed
from the lateral side.
[0062] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 17, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0063] FIG. 19 is a perspective view, illustrating an example of an
air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 4 of the
present invention.
[0064] FIG. 20 is a side view, illustrating an example in a
condition, in which a suction nozzle is mounted to the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 19 and in a condition at the
time of vacuum (in formation of suctioned airstream).
[0065] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 20, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0066] FIG. 22 is a side view of the air suction/injection device
shown in FIG. 19, illustrating an example in a condition at the
time of blower (in formation of injecting airstream).
[0067] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 22, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0068] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the air suction/injection
device shown in FIG. 19, illustrating an example of a condition, in
which a suction nozzle having other structure is mounted
thereto.
[0069] FIG. 25 is a side view of an air suction/injection device
according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention, illustrating an
example of a condition, in which a liquid spray section is mounted
thereto.
[0070] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 25, illustrating an example
in a condition at the time of blower (in formation of injecting
airstream and thus in the spraying of liquid) viewed from the
lateral side.
[0071] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of an air
suction/injection device according to Embodiment 6 of the present
invention, illustrating an example of the internal configuration at
the time of vacuum (in formation of suctioned airstream) viewed
from the lateral side.
[0072] FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 27, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0073] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 27, illustrating another
example of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in
formation of injecting airstream) viewed from the lateral side.
[0074] FIG. 30 is a partial cross-sectional view of an air
suction/injection device according to Embodiment 7 of the present
invention, illustrating an example of the internal configuration at
the time of vacuum (in formation of suctioned airstream) viewed
from the lateral side.
[0075] FIG. 31 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 30, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the upper side (direction of
arrow-view line II-II in FIG. 30).
[0076] FIG. 32 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 30, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the upper side (direction of
arrow-view line in FIG. 30).
[0077] FIG. 33 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 30, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the lower side.
[0078] FIG. 34 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 30, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream).
[0079] FIG. 35 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 34, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the upper side (direction of
arrow-view line IV-IV in FIG. 34).
[0080] FIG. 36 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 34, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the upper side (direction of
arrow-view line V-V in FIG. 34).
[0081] FIG. 37 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 34, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the lower side.
[0082] FIG. 38 is a perspective view, illustrating an example of an
air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 8 of the
present invention, including an example of the internal
configuration thereof.
[0083] FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 38, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the upper side (direction of
arrow-view line VII-VII in FIG. 40).
[0084] FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 38, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of vacuum (in formation
of suctioned airstream) viewed from the lateral side (direction of
arrow-view line VI-VI in FIG. 39).
[0085] FIG. 41 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 38, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration at the time of blower (in formation
of injecting airstream) viewed from the lateral side (direction of
arrow-view line VI-VI in FIG. 39).
[0086] FIG. 42 is a perspective view, illustrating a modified
Embodiment based on the air suction/injection device shown in FIG.
38.
[0087] FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 42, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration viewed from the upper side (direction
of arrow-view line IX-IX in FIG. 44).
[0088] FIG. 44 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air
suction/injection device shown in FIG. 42, illustrating an example
of the internal configuration viewed from the lateral side
(direction of arrow-view line VIII-VIII in FIG. 42).
REFERENCE CITATION LISTS
[0089] 10A to 10G air suction/injection device [0090] 27 liquid
spray section [0091] 111 to 171 main body [0092] 111a, 141a front
end opening section [0093] 111b to 171b rear end opening section
[0094] 112 to 172 injection passage section [0095] 112a to 172a
injecting air inlet [0096] 113 to 143 lever member [0097] 113c,
123c, 143c air introduction cover member [0098] 114a to 164a
injection fan [0099] 114b to 164b power fan [0100] 114c to 164c fan
rotating shaft [0101] 115 to 175 suction chamber (power fan housing
section) [0102] 115a to 175a inner suction inlet (inner suction
port) [0103] 115b, 125b, 145b, 175b suctioned air introduction
inlet [0104] 116, 126, 146 passage switching section (valve member)
[0105] 121a, 131a, 161a, 171a front end nozzle section (front end
opening section) [0106] 121f injection opening regulation plate
(injection opening regulation member) [0107] 136 passage open-close
section [0108] 151h bearing section [0109] 152c bearing section
[0110] 155c inner suction cover member [0111] 156 turnable opening
section (passage switching section) [0112] 156a through hole [0113]
156b closed hole [0114] 165b suctioned air introduction inner inlet
[0115] 165c suctioned air introduction outer inlet [0116] 167
housing for fan section (injection switching section, injection
passage section, power fan housing section) [0117] 173 air
introduction cover member (injection switching section, passage
open-close section) [0118] 174 integrated-type fan section
(injection fan, power fan) [0119] 175c inner suction cover member
(injection switching section, passage open-close section) [0120]
177 injection section (injection passage section, power fan housing
section) [0121] 271 liquid storage tank
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0122] Hereinafter, preferable Embodiments of the present invention
will be described in reference to the annexed figures. In the
following descriptions, the same reference numerals are assigned to
identical or correspondent elements throughout the separate views,
and the duplicated descriptions thereof are not presented.
Embodiment 1
Illustrative Structure of the Vacuum Cleaner
[0123] First of all, an example of a vacuum cleaner comprising an
air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 1 of the
present invention will be specifically described. As shown in FIG.
1, an air suction/injection device 10A according to the present
Embodiment is provided to a typical canister type electric vacuum
cleaner 20. More specifically, the canister type vacuum cleaner 20
(hereinafter referred simply to as vacuum cleaner 20) comprises a
cleaner main body 21, a suction hose 22, a handy operating section
23, a suction extension tube 24, a suction port member 25, and a
suction nozzle 26, and an air suction/injection device 10A.
[0124] The cleaner main body 21 comprises an electric blower 31, a
dust collection chamber 32, a wheel 33, and a power cable 34, and
one end of the suction hose 22 is detachably connected thereto
through a connecting pipe 35. The other end of the suction hose 22
is provided with the handy operating section 23, and one end of the
suction extension tube 24 is detachably connected to the front end
section of the handy operating section 23. In addition, the suction
port member 25 is detachably attached to the other end of the
suction extension tube 24. The suction nozzle 26 and the air
suction/injection device 10A are also detachably attached to the
section under the handy operating section 23, and the suction
nozzle 26 and the air suction/injection device 10A are attachable
to a front end section of the handy operating section 23, in place
of the suction extension tube 24.
[0125] The cleaner main body 21 is provided with the electric
blower 31 and the dust collection chamber 32 inside thereof, in
which a suction force is generated by an actuation of the electric
blower 31 to create a suction force at the suction port of the
suction port member 25 through the suction hose 22 and the suction
extension tube 24. Further, the power cable 34 is drawably stored
inside of the cleaner main body 21. Further, the cleaner main body
21 is configured to have a pair of wheels 33 provided in the both
lateral sides for freely moving on the floor surface.
[0126] In the use of the vacuum cleaner 20, the user, at first,
draws the power cable 34 from the cleaner main body 21, and a plug
for power supply at the front end section is inserted in the power
source plug port, and then the cleaner main body 21 is switched on
by operating the handy operating section 23. This allows creating
the suction force at the suction port of the suction port member 25
by the actuation of the electric blower 31, so that the dusts on
the floor surface are suctioned to be collected in the dust
collection chamber 32 through the suction extension tube 24, the
suction hose 22 and the connecting pipe 35.
[0127] The user holds the handy operating section 23 and moves the
location of the suction port member 25 on the floor surface to
change a region of the floor surface to be cleaned. When it is
intended to change the location to be cleaned, the cleaner main
body 21 can travel on the floor surface by means of rotation of the
wheels 33 by dragging the suction hose 22. In addition to above,
the cleaner main body 21 is also provided with a handle, not shown
here, which can be used to lift the cleaner main body 21 to be
moved.
[0128] Meanwhile, when it is intended to clean a small region such
as a corner of a room, a clearance between furniture and the like,
instead of the cleanup of the floor surface, the suction extension
tube 24 or the suction port member 25 is removed, and instead, the
suction nozzle 26 is attached thereto to conduct the cleanup. In
addition, when it is intended to carry out: (1) cleaning a location
that is difficult to see by a user or a high location; (2) sweeping
dusts adhered to the surface to be cleaned or accumulated in a
corner of a concave and convex section; (3) cleaning objects, on
which there is a fear to cause a damage, an unwanted movement, a
misoperation, or an erroneous suction when the suction port
approaches thereto, or the like, the blower function can be
preferably employed, in addition to the cleaning by means of the
ordinary suction force (cleaning by the vacuum function). Thus, the
suction extension tube 24 or the suction port member 25 is removed,
and instead, the air suction/injection device 10A is attached, and
further, the suction nozzle 26 is attached to the front end section
thereof to conduct the cleanup.
[0129] The specific configurations in the vacuum cleaner 20 as
shown in FIG. 1, more specifically, the cleaner main body 21, the
suction hose 22, the handy operating section 23, the suction
extension tube 24, the suction port member 25 and the suction
nozzle 26 and the like are not particularly limited to any specific
elements, and various types of configurations, which are well known
in the field of vacuum cleaner, may be preferably employed.
[Configuration of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0130] Next, the specific configurations of the air
suction/injection device 10A according to the present Embodiment
will be described in reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5.
[0131] As shown in the side view of FIG. 2, the air
suction/injection device 10A according to the present Embodiment
comprises a main body 111, an injection passage section 112, a
lever member 113, and in addition, a fan section, a suction chamber
and a passage switching section, which are not shown in FIG. 2.
Further, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3 and the side
view of FIG. 4, a suction nozzle 26A including a brush at the front
end section can be attached to the air suction/injection device
10A.
[0132] The main body 111 has substantially tube-like form, and the
inside thereof forms a main passage of air. The both ends of the
main body 111 serve as a front end opening section 111a and a rear
end opening section 111b, respectively, and the front end opening
section 111a is configured as a substantially tetragonal opening
section, which is capable of being attached with the suction nozzle
26A (or, other suction nozzle 26), and the rear end opening section
111b is configured as a cylindrical opening section, which is
capable of being attached with the suction hose 22 (more
specifically, handy operating section 23). The front end opening
section 111a and the rear end opening section 111b are preferably
formed to be tapered. This allows easily mounting and removing the
suction nozzle 26A or the suction hose 22 at the outer
circumference of the front end opening section 111a or the rear end
opening section 111b.
[0133] The injection passage section 112, as shown in FIG. 2 or
FIG. 4, is provided so as to be integrated with the main body 111
in the positional relation of being inclined to the tube axis
direction of the main body 111. The interior of the injection
passage section 112 serves as a sub-passage of air, and such a
sub-passage is configured to lead to the front end opening section
111a. Further, the injection passage section 112 is provided with
an injecting air inlet 112a.
[0134] The air suction/injection device 10A is mounted on the handy
operating section 23 at the front end of the suction hose 22
basically in the attitude that the injection passage section 112 is
positioned in the upper side. Accordingly, the side where the
injection passage section 112 is positioned is referred to as
"upper", and the opposite side is referred to as "lower" in the
following descriptions. In addition, the side where the front end
opening section 111a is positioned is referred to as "front end,"
and the side where rear end opening section 111b is positioned is
referred to as "rear end."
[0135] The section of the injection passage section 112 exposed
upward from the main body 111 extends, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG.
4, so as to be inclined to the tube axis direction of the main body
111, and the upper surface thereof is provided with a disc-shaped
section as shown in FIG. 3, and the injecting air inlet 112a is
formed under such a disc shape element. Such an injecting air inlet
112a is an opening to allow the air flow into the inside of the
injection passage section 112, namely, the sub-passage.
[0136] In addition, the lower side of the main body 111, namely the
position opposite to the injection passage section 112 across the
main body 111, is provided with a plurality of suction
force-regulation holes 111c along the outer circumference of the
main body 111. The suction force-regulation holes 111c serve as
taking external air in the main passage from locations other than
the front end opening section 111a, in order to avoid creating
excessive load to the vacuum cleaner with reduced flow of air below
a certain flow velocity by the block of the main passage of the
main body 111 due to the intake or the stick of dusts into the
front end opening section 111a.
[0137] The lever member 113 is composed of a switching lever 113a,
a lever support section 113b and an air introduction cover member
113c. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the lever support section 113b
is positioned between the switching lever 113a and the air
introduction cover member 113c, and such a lever support section
113b serves as a rotary shaft, which is rotatably supported in the
condition of extending through the main body 111. In addition, as
discussed later, the lever support section 113b is provided with a
passage switching section mounted thereto, which allows switching
of the passage switching section by operating the switching lever
113a.
[0138] The switching lever 113a is in a frame shape, which is
positioned to cover the lower section of the main body 111 as shown
in FIG. 3, and the air introduction cover member 113c is in a plate
shape, which is capable of closing suctioned air introduction
inlets that is provided in the side wall of the main body 111 (not
shown in FIGS. 2 to 4), in openable and closable manner. Since the
switching lever 113a is biased toward the front end side by an
elastic member such as a spring and the like as shown in FIG. 3,
the air introduction cover member 113c is positioned basically in
the side of the rear end. Since the lever member 113 is rotated
around the lever support section 113b as discussed later, the air
introduction cover member 113c is moved to side of the front end
when the switching lever 113a is moved to the side of the rear end.
In such occasion, the suctioned air introduction inlet (not shown
in FIGS. 2 to 4) closed by the air introduction cover member 113c
is opened. In addition, since the switching lever 113a knocks a
portion of the surface of the lower side of the main body 111 to be
stopped by being moved fully to the side of the rear end, the air
introduction cover member 113c is configured not to move to the
front end side beyond necessity.
[0139] The suction nozzle 26A mounted to the front end opening
section 111a of the main body 111 is composed of a nozzle body 261
and a front end brush 262 as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. The front
end of the nozzle body 261 is provided with a suction port 261a for
suctioning dusts as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the front end
brush 262 is folded under the nozzle body 261 in the structure
shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, and is capable of being protruded to be
positioned in side of the front end of the suction port 261a, as
discussed later.
[0140] The interior of the air suction/injection device 10A is
provided with, as illustrated in the vertical cross-sectional view
of FIG. 5, a main passage 101 composed of the interior of the main
body 111, a sub-passage 102 composed of the interior of the
injection passage section 112, and the suction chamber 115 facing
the main passage 101 in the lower section of the injection passage
section 112. The injection passage section 112 and the suction
chamber 115 abut each other, and are integrated into one piece, the
inside of which is provided with a fan section 114. In other words,
the injection passage section 112 and the suction chamber 115 serve
as a housing for fan section, and the suction chamber 115 serve as
a power fan housing section. In addition, a section of the suction
chamber 115 facing the main passage 101 is provided with an inner
suction inlet (inner suction port) 115a, and further, is also
provided with a suctioned air introduction inlet 115b leading to
the outside of the main body 111, as discussed later.
[0141] The fan section 114 is composed of an injection fan 114a
positioned in the injection passage section 112, a power fan (a
motive fan) 114b positioned in the suction chamber 115, and a fan
rotating shaft 114c for rotatably supporting these fans. The
injection fan 114a serves as creating injecting airstream that
flows toward the front end opening section 111a in the sub-passage
102. The power fan 114b, which shares the fan rotating shaft 114c
with the injection fan 114a, is configured of being rotated in
conjunction with the injection fan 114a. Here, specific actions of
the fan section 114 will be described together with the
descriptions of formation of the injecting airstream as discussed
later.
[0142] The main passage 101 and the sub-passage 102 are composed of
the interiors of the main body 111 and of the injection passage
section 112, respectively, as described above, and as shown in FIG.
5, the sub-passage 102 is joined to the main passage 101 in a
position thereof in the side of the front end. While the main
passage 101 (main body 111) extends in the substantially advancing
direction viewed from the front end opening section 111a, the
sub-passage 102 is branched on the way of the main passage 101
toward the direction forming acute angle to the main passage 101.
Here, such a condition will be expressed in reference to the main
body 111 and the injection passage section 112, instead of the
expression in reference to the main passage 101 and the sub-passage
102, to present that the injection passage section 112 is provided
in the main body 111, so that the sub-passage 102 inside of the
injection passage section 112 is joined to the main passage 101
inside of the main body 111. In addition, it can be considered that
the sub-passage 102 is joined to the main passage 101, such that
the front end opening section 111a in the main body 111 also serves
as an injection outlet in the injection passage section 112.
[0143] In addition, the section where the main passage 101 is
joined to the sub-passage 102 is provided with a passage switching
section 116. While the passage switching section 116 may be
configured of switching the connection or the blocking of the
sub-passage 102 at least over the front end opening section 111a,
it is configured to conduct an alternative switching so that one of
the main passage 101 and the sub-passage 102 is connected to the
front end opening section 111a in the present Embodiment.
[0144] More specifically, the passage switching section 116 is a
substantially plate-shaped valve member as shown in FIG. 5, and an
end thereof is fixedly supported by the lever support section 113b.
Accordingly, an operation of the switching lever 113a allows the
passage switching section 116 flapping in the region of the joined
section around the fulcrum of the lever support section 113b.
Hence, the flapping angle of the passage switching section 116 can
be freely changed by the operation of the switching lever 113a.
[0145] Here, it is assumed that the joined section in the main
passage 101 is defined as "main body joined gate 111d" as
represented by the region surrounded with dotted line in FIG. 5,
and the joined section in the sub-passage 102 is defined as
"injection joined gate 112b", such that the passage switching
section 116 of the valve member changes the angle thereof (flaps)
so as to shut one of the main passage 101 and the sub-passage 102
by the operation of the switching lever 113a. In addition to above,
the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is in the condition, in which the
passage switching section 116 closes the injection joined gate
112b.
[0146] In addition, in either of the main body joined gate 111d and
the injection joined gate 112b, it is provided with stoppers 111e
and 112c, which stop the movement of the passage switching section
116 at a predetermined position in order to avoid a situation where
the flapping of the passage switching section 116 is beyond the
position corresponding to the closed condition. These stoppers 111e
and 112c are composed of protrusions in the inner wall of the main
body 111 or the injection passage section 112, and while linear
protrusions adapted to the shape of the passage switching section
116 are illustrated in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, it is not
limited to such a configuration, and protrusions of other shapes
may be also employed.
[0147] Specific configurations of the air suction/injection device
10A and the suction nozzle 26A according to the present Embodiment
are not particularly limited, and the main body 111, the injection
passage section 112, the lever member 113, the fan section 114, the
suction chamber 115 and the passage switching section 116 and the
like may also be configured of being produced by employing members,
materials, shapes and the like, which are well known in the field
of vacuum cleaners or in the general and broader fields of home
electric appliances.
[Action of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0148] Next, actions of the air suction/injection device 10A having
the above-described configuration, in particular, details of the
function for discharging injecting airstream from the suction port
261a (blower function) and the switching between the blower
function and the function for conducting ordinary suction (vacuum
function) will be specifically described in reference to FIG. 6 to
FIG. 10, in addition to FIG. 5.
[0149] First of all, the air suction/injection device 10A may be
directly mounted to the handy operating section 23 provided at the
front end section of the suction hose 22 to be used, as shown in,
for example, FIG. 6. More specifically, the user, starting from the
condition that the suction extension tube 24 and the suction port
member 25 is mounted to the handy operating section 23 (see FIG.
1), removes the suction extension tube 24, and uses in the
condition that the air suction/injection device 10A is instead
mounted. In addition to above, the suction nozzle 26A is mounted to
the air suction/injection device 10A (see FIG. 3 to FIG. 5), and
the actions of the air suction/injection device 10A will be
described on the basis of such a condition in the following
descriptions.
[0150] Next, the ordinary vacuum function will be described. Since
the air suction/injection device 10A is in steady state where the
switching lever 113a is positioned in the side of the front end as
shown in FIG. 5, the passage switching section 116 closes the
injection joined gate 112b, and opens the main body joined gate
111d in the joined section of the main passage 101 and the
sub-passage 102. Once a suction force is generated by the actuation
of the cleaner main body 21 (not shown in FIG. 5), such a suction
force propagates to the main passage 101 and the suction nozzle 26A
through the suction hose 22 (not shown in FIG. 5). Hence, as
represented by thick line arrows in the diagram, external air is
suctioned through the suction port 261a, and suctioned airstream is
formed in the main passage 101 from the front end opening section
111a toward the rear end opening section 111b.
[0151] In the next, switching to the blower function will be
described. When the user conducts an operation of moving the
switching lever 113a toward the side of the rear end as shown in
FIG. 7, the air introduction cover member 113c moves to the side of
the front end, so that the suctioned air introduction inlet 115b,
which has been closed by the air introduction cover member 113c, is
opened. Further, the passage switching section 116 moves from the
position for closing the injection joined gate 112b to the position
for closing the main body joined gate 111d in the joined site
between the main passage 101 and sub-passage 102 as shown in FIG.
8. This allows opening the injection joined gate 112b, so that the
sub-passage 102 communicates with the front end opening section
111a but the main passage 101 is blocked from the front end opening
section 111a. A suction force created in vicinity of the rear end
opening section 111b causes the suction of air in the interior of
the suction chamber 115 through the inner suction inlet 115a, as
illustrated by thick arrows in the diagram.
[0152] At this time, since the opened suctioned air introduction
inlet 115b lead to the suction chamber 115 as shown in FIG. 9,
which is a view from the direction of arrow I of alternate long and
two short dashes line in FIG. 8, the interior of the suction
chamber 115 also leads to external atmosphere. Hence, a suctioned
airstream is formed through the suctioned air introduction inlet
115b and the suction chamber 115 toward the inner suction inlet
115a. Such a suctioned airstream flows from the rear end opening
section 111b through the main passage 101 toward the suction hose
22 (not shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9). The interior of the suction
chamber 115 is provided with the power fan 114b, and the power fan
114b rotates by the effect of the suctioned airstream. More
specifically, if the pressure of the main passage 101 is reduced by
the suctioned airstream created in the main passage 101, this also
directly reduces the pressure inside of the suction chamber 115 to
create a large quantity of suctioned airstream from the suctioned
air introduction inlet 115b toward the inner suction inlet 115a.
This allows the power fan 114b rotating in the interior of the
suction chamber 115.
[0153] Further, since the power fan 114b shares the fan rotating
shaft 114c with the injection fan 114a, the injection fan 114a also
rotates in association with the rotation of the power fan 114b.
Since the injection fan 114a is provided in the injection passage
section 112, an injecting airstream is formed in the sub-passage
102, and the injecting airstream flows from the front end opening
section 111a into the interior of the suction nozzle 26A, and
eventually is injected from the suction port 261a, as illustrated
in thick arrows of FIG. 8.
[0154] In addition to above, if the user cancel the condition where
the switching lever 113a is moved to side of the rear end, the
switching lever 113a moves from the side of the rear end to the
side of the front end and returns to the original position. In
response to such a situation, the air introduction cover member
113c closes the suctioned air introduction inlet 115b, and the
passage switching section 116 moves from a position for opening the
injection joined gate 112b to a position for opening the main body
joined gate 111d. Hence, the sub-passage 102 is blocked from the
front end opening section 111a and the main passage 101 leads to
the front end opening section 111a, so that the rotations of the
power fan 114b and the injection fan 114a are stopped, and the
injecting airstream, which has been injected from the suction port
261a is also stopped. In addition, since the suctioned airstream is
formed in the main passage 101, a suction force is created again in
the suction port 261a.
[0155] As described above, the present Embodiment allows
discharging the injecting airstream from the front end opening
section 111a simply by the operation of the switching lever 113a
for switching the passage switching section 116. Hence, the
injecting airstream can be easily discharged from the front end of
the suction nozzle 26A, in the use of the vacuum cleaner 20 without
a need for adopting complicated configurations. In addition, it can
stop the blower function and to return to the vacuum function by
simply returning the switching lever 113a to the original position,
so that suitable switching between the vacuum function and the
blower function can be achieved according to the operating
condition of the vacuum cleaner 20, in addition to providing
improved operability.
[0156] If the switching between the vacuum function and the blower
function can be easily achieved, dusts accumulated over the object
to be cleaned, for example, are blown out by means of the blower
function, and then the dusts, which are blown and whirled up, can
be rapidly suctioned before being spread throughout the interior of
the room by immediately returning to the vacuum function. Such a
cleaning method can be preferably utilized in the cases of, for
example: (1) cleaning a location that is difficult to see by a user
or a high location; (2) sweeping dusts adhered to the surface to be
cleaned or accumulated in a corner of a concave and convex section;
(3) cleaning objects, on which there is a fear to cause a damage,
an unwanted movement, a misoperation, or an erroneous suction when
the suction port approaches thereto, or the like.
[0157] In addition, if the momentum of the injecting airstream is
constant in the above-described cleanup (3), injecting airstream is
squirted to cause a fear that the dusts scatters beyond necessity,
according to the types of the object or the types of the dusts.
Here, in the present Embodiment, the passage switching section 116
serving as the valve member is configured to change the angle by
the operation of the switching lever 113a so as to open one of the
main passage 101 and the sub-passage 102 and close the other.
Hence, for example, the switching lever 113a can be held in the
middle position without completely reaching to the side of the rear
end to simultaneously create the injecting airstream and the
suctioned airstream.
[0158] Accordingly, the operating condition of the switching lever
113a can be suitably adjusted to freely change the ratio of the
injecting airstream and the suctioned airstream, such that the
object can be struck with the preferable flow velocity of the
injecting airstream. In addition, the operating condition of the
switching lever 113a can be adjusted to achieve a fine adjustment
of the flow velocity of the injecting airstream, so that a fine
adjustment of the blower function can also be achieved.
[0159] Further, the injection fan 114a, which creates the injecting
airstream, is rotated by the power fan 114b, and the power fan 114b
is rotated by the suctioned airstream created in the main passage
101. Hence, since the injection fan 114a is rotated by the flow of
air running through the main passage 101, it is not necessary to
provide a source of actuation utilizing an electric power source.
Hence, a simplified configuration of the air suction/injection
device 10A can be adopted to avoid an increase in the cost.
[0160] In addition to above, the switching between the vacuum
function and the blower function can also be suitably carried out
as described above, even in the condition that the front end brush
262 of the suction nozzle 26A is projected so as to be positioned
in the side of the front end of the suction port 261a as shown in
FIG. 10. More specifically, the switching lever 113a is moved to
the side of the rear end to open the suctioned air introduction
inlet 115b as shown in FIG. 10, so that air is taken in the suction
chamber 115 through the suctioned air introduction inlet 115b to
form the suctioned airstream with larger flow velocity from the
suctioned air introduction inlet 115b toward the inner suction
inlet 115a. This allows rotating the power fan 114b inside of the
suction chamber 115 at an elevated rate, so that the injecting
airstream with higher flow velocity can be created by means of the
injection fan 114a.
Modified Embodiment
[0161] While the injection passage section 112 is provided so as to
be integrated with the main body 111 in the present Embodiment, the
present invention is not limited to such a specific configuration,
and the injection passage section 112 may alternatively be provided
as an absolutely separated element or separate configuration from
the main body 111. More specifically, it is sufficient in the
present invention to comprise an injection passage section, which
has an air inlet and an injection outlet, and the interior of which
forms a sub-passage, integrally with the tubular main body or
separately from the tubular main body.
[0162] In addition, while the suction chamber 115 adjacent to the
injection passage section 112 is provided in the present
Embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such a specific
configuration, and the suction chamber 115 may be omitted. While it
is, of course, preferable to provide the suction chamber 115, since
such a suction chamber involves the function for protecting the
power fan 114b in the main passage 101 and the function for
successfully creating the suctioned airstream toward the suctioned
air introduction inlet 115b, the inside of suction chamber 115
(power fan 114b) and the inner suction inlet 115a, the suction
chamber 115 may serve as, for example, `power fan housing section`,
and therefore it may be configured to have a preferable shape to
protect the power fan 114b, or it may be configured to have, for
example, tubular shape to successfully create the suctioned
airstream. Alternatively, in the case of providing no suction
chamber 115, the power fan 114b may be provided at least inside of
the main body 111, since it is sufficient to rotate the power fan
114b by means of the suctioned airstream created in the
above-described main passage by the suction of air through the
suction hose.
[0163] In addition, while the injection fan 114a and the power fan
114b included in the fan section 114 are configured to be in
conjunction with the common fan rotating shaft 114c in the present
Embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such a specific
configuration, and for example, a known acceleration and
deceleration mechanism may be interposed between the injection fan
114a and the power fan 114b. In particular, the rotating speed per
unit time of the injection fan 114a can be increased by interposing
the mechanism, which can achieve the acceleration, to allow
creating faster injecting airstream.
[0164] In addition, while the present Embodiment employs the
suction nozzle 26A having the front end brush 262 serving as the
suction nozzle 26 to be mounted to the air suction/injection device
10A, the present invention is not limited to such a specific
configuration, and various types of known suction nozzles may also
be preferably employed. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a suction
nozzle 26B comprising relatively longer nozzle body 263 may also be
employed. Such a suction nozzle 26B may preferably be employed for
the cleanup of, for example, a high location or a clearance between
furniture or the like. These suction nozzles 26A and 26B may be
suitably chosen for the use as required. Further, when it is
intended to clean specific objects, to which it is not preferable
to be contacted with the dust-covered suction nozzle due to the
ordinary cleanup, for example, a top of a desk, a telephone, a
facsimile machine, a personal computer or the like, a dedicated
suction nozzle may be previously prepared.
[0165] In addition, while the lever member 113 in the present
Embodiment comprises the air introduction cover member 113c in
addition to the switching lever 113a, the present invention is not
limited to such a specific configuration, the air introduction
cover member 113c may be omitted, and/or other configuration may be
further provided. On the lever member 113, any known configuration
may be adopted, provided that it is presented outside of the main
body 111 and it is operative in response to a positional change of
the passage switching section 116 (valve member).
[0166] In addition, while the air introduction cover member 113c is
provided in the lever member 113 in the present Embodiment in order
to close the suctioned air introduction inlet 115b, through which
air is taken in the suction chamber 115, the present invention is
not limited to such a specific configuration, and for example, it
may provides, instead of the air introduction cover member 113c, a
member for closing the injecting air inlet 112a, through which air
is taken in the injection passage section 112.
[0167] In addition, while the front end opening section 111a is
configured of a specific shape of substantially tetragonal to allow
limiting the type of the attachment available to be mounted in the
present Embodiment, it is not necessarily limited to such a
specific configuration, and it may be configured of a tapered and
substantially cylindrical shape, so that commercially available
various types of attachments can be mounted, in addition to the
suction nozzles 26A and 26B.
[0168] In addition, while the switching between the main passage
101 and the sub-passage 102 is achieved by means of the passage
switching section 116 serving as the valve member in the present
Embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such a specific
configuration, and it may adopt at least a configuration (injection
switching section) for permitting or limiting the injection of the
injecting airstream to the outside from the injection outlet (the
front end opening section 111a in the present Embodiment). Since
the injecting airstream is created by rotating the fan section 114
with the suctioned airstream as described above, substantially no
other than the injecting airstream is injected through the front
end opening section 111a when the injecting airstream is created,
without a need for completely blocking the connection between the
main passage 101 and the front end opening section 111a. Hence, a
known member or the like, which allows permission or blocking of
the injecting airstream, may alternatively be provided in vicinity
of the injection joined gate 112b instead of the passage switching
section 116, so that an advantageous effect equivalent to that of
the present Embodiment can also be obtained.
[0169] In addition, while the canister type vacuum cleaner 20 (see
FIG. 1) is exemplified as the typical vacuum cleaner in the present
Embodiment, the present invention is, of course, not limited to
such a specific configuration, and other canister type cleaner
having different configuration from that of the vacuum cleaner 20
may be employed, or an upright-type vacuum cleaner or a handy-type
vacuum cleaner may be alternatively employed. Further, while the
air suction/injection device 10A according to the present
Embodiment is configured to be detachable to the suction hose 22
(handy operating section 23), it is not limited to such a
configuration, and it may alternatively be configured to be
integrated with a part of the main body of the suction device such
as the suction hose 22 (handy operating section 23) and the
like.
Embodiment 2
[0170] An air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 2 of
the present invention has a configuration, which is basically
equivalent to that of the air suction/injection device 10A
according to the above-described Embodiment 1, except that the
following features are considerably different: the front end
opening section is in nozzle-like, instead of substantially
tetragonal; it is provided with a member for reducing an injection
area of the opening as discussed later at the time of blower to
provide enhanced flow velocity of the injecting airstream; and a
lever lock section for continuing the blower function is provided.
The air suction/injection device according to the present
Embodiment will be specifically described in reference to FIG. 12
to FIG. 16.
[Configuration of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0171] First of all, a specific configuration of an air
suction/injection device 10B according to the present Embodiment
will be described in reference to FIG. 12 to FIG. 15. As shown in
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the air suction/injection device 10B according
to the present Embodiment comprises a main body 121, an injection
passage section 122, a lever member 123, a fan section 124, a
suction chamber 125 and a passage switching section 126, and in
addition, a lever lock section 127.
[0172] The configuration of the main body 121 is similar to that of
the main body 111 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1, and the
interior thereof serves as a main passage 101, and the side of the
front end thereof has a nozzle-like shape, in which the cross
sectional area is decreased as approaching to the front end
section, instead of substantially quadrangular prism shape. Such a
nozzle-like front end section is referred to as a front end nozzle
section 121a. In addition to above, a rear end opening section 121b
is similar to the rear end opening section 111b in the
aforementioned Embodiment 1. In addition, a plurality of suction
force-regulation holes 121c are provided in the lower side of the
main body 121.
[0173] The configuration of the injection passage section 122 is
also similar to that of the injection passage section 112 in the
aforementioned Embodiment 1, and the interior thereof serves as the
sub-passage 102, and an injecting air inlet 122a is provided in the
upper side. In addition to above, the injecting air inlet 122a is
formed as an opening of substantially square shape, unlike the
slit-like opening of the injecting air inlet 112a in the
aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0174] The configuration of the lever member 123 is also configured
of a switching lever 123a, a lever support section 123b and an air
introduction cover member 123c, similarly as in the lever member
113 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1. The switching lever 123a in
the lever member 123 is also capable of moving toward the side of
the front end and toward the side of the rear end, and the air
suction/injection device 10B is further provided with the lever
lock section 127, which is capable of holding the switching lever
123a in a state after it is moved to the side of the rear end.
While the lever lock section 127 is composed of a known stopper
member, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, it may alternatively be
composed of a known lock mechanism and the like.
[0175] As shown in FIG. 13, the interior of the main body 121 is
provided with a suction chamber 125, which is adjacent to the lower
side of the injection passage section 122 and faces to the main
passage 101, and the interiors of the injection passage section 122
and the suction chamber 125 are provided with a fan section 124. In
addition, a section of the suction chamber 125 facing to the main
passage 101 is provided with an inner suction inlet 125a, and is
also provided with a suctioned air introduction inlet 125b, which
leads to the outside of the main body 121 and is capable of being
opened and closed with the air introduction cover member 123c, as
shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.
[0176] The fan section 124 is also composed an injection fan 124a
positioned in the injection passage section 122, a power fan 124b
positioned in the suction chamber 125, and a fan rotating shaft
124c for rotatably supporting these fans, similarly as in the fan
section 114 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0177] The main passage 101 and the sub-passage 102 are also
configured that the sub-passage 102 is joined to the main passage
101 in a position thereof in the side of the front end, similarly
as in the air suction/injection device 10A according to the
aforementioned Embodiment 1. Then, the section where the main
passage 101 is joined to the sub-passage 102 is provided with a
passage switching section 126. Such a passage switching section 126
is configured of a substantially plate-shaped valve member, and is
also configured to change an angle by means of the operation of the
switching lever 123a, similarly as in the passage switching section
116 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0178] Here, since one of the main body joined gate 121d that is
the joined section of the main passage 101 and the injection joined
gate 122b that is the joined section of the sub-passage 102 are
alternatively closed by means of the flapping of the passage
switching section 126, the main passage 101 or the sub-passage 102
are configured of providing alternative switching of the connection
to the front end nozzle section 121a by means of the passage
switching section 126 (and the lever member 123). In addition to
above, the main body joined gate 121d and the injection joined gate
122b are provided with stoppers for stopping the movement of the
passage switching section 126 at a predetermined position,
similarly as the air suction/injection device 10A according to the
aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0179] In addition, a plate-shaped injection opening regulation
plate 121f is presented in the location of the inner surface of the
front end nozzle section 121a located in the side of the front end
and the lower side viewed from the main body joined gate 121d, as
shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 15. The rear end of such an injection
opening regulation plate 121f is attached to the lower inner
surface of the front end nozzle section 121a by a flapping shaft,
and the front end is oriented toward a suction port 121g of the
front end nozzle section 121a. Then, the injection opening
regulation plate 121f flaps as reference with the flapping shaft of
the side of the rear end, so that a cross sectional area of the
main passage 101 in the front end nozzle section 121a can be
gradually reduced as the aperture is gradually closed.
[0180] In addition to above, while the suction port 121g serves as
an opening section for suctioning air from the outside toward the
inside, at the time of vacuum, it also serves as an another opening
section for injecting air from the inside toward the outside, or in
other words, "injection outlet", at the time of blower. Therefore,
a cross sectional area of the main passage 101 in the front end
nozzle section 121a will be referred to as an "area of the
injection opening" in the following descriptions, for the purpose
of indicating the meaning of an area of the opening of the
injection outlet.
[0181] In addition, the rear end of the injection opening
regulation plate 121f is configured to extend to the side of the
rear end beyond the aforementioned flapping shaft, so as to be in
contact with the front end of the passage switching section 126
when the passage switching section 126 closes the main body joined
gate 121d. Hence, while the injection opening regulation plate 121f
is contacted with the lower inner surface of the front end nozzle
section 121a when the passage switching section 126 closes the
injection joined gate 122b as shown in FIG. 13, the front end of
the passage switching section 126 is in contact with the rear end
of the injection opening regulation plate 121f once the passage
switching section 126 flaps to close the main body joined gate
121d, and then the side of the front end of the injection opening
regulation plate 121f is moved toward the upper side by the
principle of leverage so that the injection opening regulation
plate 121f is inclined, as shown in FIG. 15. Such structural
condition presents the condition, in which the injecting airstream
proceeds toward the front end nozzle section 121a from the
injection passage section 122 (the sub-passage 102). Hence, the
area of the injection opening can be reduced by means of the
injection opening regulation plate 121f when the injecting
airstream is injected from the suction port 121g, thereby
increasing the flow velocity of the injecting airstream.
[Action of the Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0182] Next, the action of the air suction/injection device 10B
having the above-described structure will be specifically described
in reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 15. The following descriptions are
also based on the condition, where the air suction/injection device
10B is directly mounted to the handy operating section 23 provided
at the front end section of the suction hose 22 for the use (see
FIG. 6 and the like), similarly as in the aforementioned Embodiment
1.
[0183] First of all, the ordinary vacuum function will be
described. Since the air suction/injection device 10B is in steady
state, in which the switching lever 123a is positioned in the side
of the front end as shown in FIG. 13, the passage switching section
126 closes the injection joined gate 122b, and opens the main body
joined gate 121d in the joined section between the main passage 101
and sub-passage 102. Then, the suction force of the vacuum cleaner
20 (not shown in FIG. 13) causes suctioning external air through
the suction port 121g as illustrated by thick line arrows in the
diagram to create a suctioned airstream in the main passage 101
from the front end nozzle section 121a toward the rear end opening
section 121b.
[0184] Next, the switching to the blower function will be
described. When the user conducts an operation of moving the
switching lever 123a toward the side of the rear end as shown in
FIG. 15 (and FIG. 14), the air introduction cover member 123c moves
to the side of the front end, so that the suctioned air
introduction inlet 125b, which has been closed by the air
introduction cover member 123c, is opened. Further, the passage
switching section 126 moves from the position for closing the
injection joined gate 122b to the position for closing the main
body joined gate 121d in the joined section between the main
passage 101 and sub-passage 102. This allows opening the injection
joined gate 122b, so that the sub-passage 102 is in communication
with the front end nozzle section 121a but the main passage 101 is
blocked from front end nozzle section 121a. The suction force
created in vicinity of the rear end opening section 121b causes
suction of air in the interior of the suction chamber 125 through
the inner suction inlet 125a, as illustrated by thick arrows in the
diagram.
[0185] At this time, since the opened suctioned air introduction
inlet 125b leads to the suction chamber 125, the interior of the
suction chamber 125 also leads to external air. Hence, a suctioned
airstream is, although it is not shown here, created through the
suctioned air introduction inlet 115b and the suction chamber 125
toward the inner suction inlet 115a (see FIG. 9). Such a suctioned
airstream flows, as shown in FIG. 15, from the rear end opening
section 121b through the main passage 101 toward the suction hose
22 (not shown in FIG. 15). The power fan 124b provided in the
interior of the suction chamber 125 rotates by the effect of the
suctioned airstream, and the injection fan 124a rotates in
conjunction with such a rotation. Hence, as illustrated in thick
line arrows in FIG. 15, the injecting airstream is formed in the
injection passage section 122, namely the sub-passage 102, and the
injecting airstream flows to the interior of the front end nozzle
section 121a, and eventually is injected from the suction port
121g.
[0186] Further at this time, the passage switching section 126
flaps to close the main body joined gate 121d as described above,
to achieve the condition, where the injection opening regulation
plate 121f is inclined. Hence, since the area of the injection
opening is reduced by means of the injection opening regulation
plate 121f, the injecting airstream from the sub-passage 102 is
injected through the suction port 121g in the condition of the
increased flow velocity. In addition, since the switching lever
123a is locked in the condition to be positioned in the side of the
rear end by the lever lock section 127 as shown in FIG. 15 (and
FIG. 14), the injection of the injecting airstream is continued
until such a locked condition is released. When the user releases
the lock of the switching lever 123a by the lever lock section 127,
the switching lever 123a moves from the side of the rear end to the
side of the front end and returns to the original position.
[0187] In response to this situation, the air introduction cover
member 123c closes the suctioned air introduction inlet 125b, and
the passage switching section 126 moves from a position for opening
the injection joined gate 122b to a position for opening the main
body joined gate 121d, and further, the injection opening
regulation plate 121f is returned from the inclined condition to
the condition of being in contact with the lower inner surface of
the front end nozzle section 121a. Hence, the sub-passage 102 is
blocked from the front end nozzle section 121a and the main passage
101 leads to the front end nozzle section 121a, so that the
rotations of the power fan 124b and the injection fan 124a are
stopped, and the injecting airstream, which has been injected from
the suction port 261a, is also stopped. In addition, since a
suctioned airstream is formed in the main passage 101, a suction
force is created again in the suction port 261a.
[0188] Since the front end opening section forms the front end
nozzle section 121a as described above in the present Embodiment,
the air suction/injection device 10B may be employed, in place of
the general suction nozzle (for example, suction nozzles 26A, 26B
or the like). Hence, for example, the air suction/injection device
10B may be detachably mounted to the lower side of the handy
operating section 23 as shown in FIG. 16, instead of the suction
nozzle, and the suction extension tube 24 (not shown in FIG. 16)
may be removed from the handy operating section 23 and the air
suction/injection device 10B may be attached, when the blower
function is required.
[0189] In addition, since the lever lock section 127 is provided in
the present Embodiment, the position of the switching lever 123a
can be locked at the position of the blower function. Hence, the
device can easily keep the blower function and also easily returns
to the vacuum function by simply releasing the lock. Further, since
the injection opening regulation plate 121f is provided in the
interior of the front end nozzle section 121a, the air
suction/injection device 10B can be employed as the general suction
nozzle at the time of the vacuum, and also can be employed for
enhancing the flow velocity of the injecting airstream from the
suction port 121g to increase the momentum of the injecting
airstream at the time of the blower, by reducing the area of the
injection opening.
[0190] In addition to above, while the plate-shaped injection
opening regulation plate 121f is used for the member for reducing
the area of the injection opening (injection opening regulation
member) in the present Embodiment, the present invention is not
limited to such a specific configuration, and various types of
known members may be employed, provided that the member is capable
of reducing the area of the opening of the opening section serving
as the "injection outlet" (the suction port 121g in the present
Embodiment) in the blower. Further, the injection opening
regulation member necessarily may have not only the function for
increasing the flow velocity of the injecting airstream to enhance
the momentum, but also the function for, inversely, increasing the
area of the injection opening to reduce the flow velocity to
diminish the momentum. More specifically, members, which can adjust
the momentum of the injecting airstream, may be employed for the
injection opening regulation member.
[0191] Further, while the injection opening regulation plate 121f
in the present Embodiment is configured to be inclined so as to
reduce the area of the injection opening by achieving that the
front end of the passage switching section 126 is in contact with
the rear end of the injection opening regulation plate 121f, the
present invention is not limited to such a specific configuration,
and it may be alternatively configured to be in conjunction with
the action of the lever member 123, or it may be alternatively
configured to allow only the change of only an the inclination
angle of the injection opening regulation plate 121f without being
in conjunction with other members.
[0192] In addition, while no additional member is presented to the
front end nozzle section 121a in the present Embodiment, a front
end brush 262 or the like, for example, may be additionally
included similarly as in the suction nozzles 26A and 26B in the
aforementioned Embodiment 1. Further, an extension nozzle
conformable to the shape of the front end nozzle section 121a may
be attachable.
Embodiment 3
[0193] An air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 3 of
the present invention has a configuration, which is basically
equivalent to that of the air suction/injection device 10B
according to the above-described Embodiment 2, in which the front
end opening section of the main body is the front end nozzle
section of the nozzle-like shape, except that the following
features are considerably different: the interior of such a front
end nozzle section is completely divided into the main passage and
the sub-passage; and passage open-close section for opening and
closing the main passage is provided as the injection switching
section, instead of the above-described passage switching section.
The air suction/injection device according to the present
Embodiment will be specifically described in reference to FIG. 17
and FIG. 18.
[Configuration of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0194] First of all, as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the air
suction/injection device 10C according to the present Embodiment
comprises a main body 131, an injection passage section 132, a
lever member 133, a fan section 134, a suction chamber 135 and a
passage open-close section 136. Similarly as in the main body 121
in the aforementioned Embodiment 2, the main body 131 is configured
that a front end nozzle section 131a and a rear end opening section
131b are formed at both ends, respectively, the lower sides of
which are provided with a plurality of suction force-regulation
holes 131c. In addition, the inside of the main body 131 is
provided with a suction chamber 135, which comprises an inner
suction inlet 135a and a suctioned air introduction inlet that is
not shown here, and the fan section 134 is provided inside of the
injection passage section 132 and the inside of the suction chamber
135.
[0195] The injection passage section 132 is provided with an
injecting air inlet 132a, similarly as in the injection passage
section 122 in the aforementioned Embodiment 2. In addition, the
lever member 133 is composed of a switching lever 133a, a lever
support section 133b and an air introduction cover member that is
not shown, similarly as in the lever member 123 in the
aforementioned Embodiment 2. In addition, the fan section 134 is
composed of an injection fan 134a, a power fan 134b and a fan
rotating shaft 134c, similarly as in the fan section 124 in the
aforementioned Embodiment 2.
[0196] Here, each of the main passage 101 and the sub-passage 102
provided inside of the air suction/injection device 10C is
completely separated from each other, unlike the air
suction/injection device 10A according to the aforementioned
Embodiment 1 or unlike the air suction/injection device 10B
according to the aforementioned Embodiment 2. Thus, there is no
section for joining these passages, and there is no opening
equivalent to the injection joined gate 122b in the aforementioned
Embodiment 2, and instead, an injection outlet 132b is provided in
the front end of the front end nozzle section 131a. On the other
hand, an opening equivalent to the main body joined gate 121d in
the aforementioned Embodiment 2 is provided as a main body
open-close gate 131d.
[0197] Such a main body open-close gate 131d may be provided in the
side of the rear end beyond the suction port 131g positioned in the
front end of the front end nozzle section 131a, and further, a
passage open-close section 136 having similar configuration of the
passage switching section 126 in the aforementioned Embodiment 2 is
provided in order to open and close the main body open-close gate
131d. Such passage open-close section 136 serves as switching
between the creation of the suctioned airstream and the creation of
the injecting airstream in the front end nozzle section 131a by
opening and blocking only the main passage 101.
[Action of the Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0198] Next, the action of the air suction/injection device 10C
having the above-described structure will be specifically
described. First of all, the ordinary vacuum function will be
described that, since the air suction/injection device 10C is in
steady state, which the switching lever 133a is positioned in the
side of the front end as shown in FIG. 17, the passage open-close
section 136 is in contact with the upper inner surface of the
injection passage section 132 to open the main body open-close gate
131d. Then, the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 20 (not shown
in FIG. 17) causes suctioning external air through the suction port
131g as illustrated by thick line arrows in the diagram to create a
suctioned airstream in the main passage 101 from the front end
nozzle section 131a toward the rear end opening section 131b.
[0199] Next, the switching to the blower function will be
described. When the user conducts an operation of moving the
switching lever 133a toward the side of the rear end as shown in
FIG. 18, a suctioned air introduction inlet that is not shown is
opened, and the passage open-close section 136 moves from the
condition of being in contact with the inner surface of the
injection passage section 132 to the position for closing the main
body open-close gate 131d. This allows blocking the main passage
101 and the suction force in the main passage 101 causes suction of
air in the interior of the suction chamber 135 through the inner
suction inlet 135a.
[0200] As described above, since the suction chamber 135 leads to
external air through a suctioned air introduction inlet that is not
shown, a suctioned airstream is created toward the suctioned air
introduction inlet, the suction chamber 135 and the inner suction
inlet 135a. Therefore, the power fan 134b provided in the interior
of the suction chamber 125 rotates by the effect of the suctioned
airstream, and the injection fan 134a rotates in conjunction with
such a rotation. This allows, as illustrated in thick line arrows
in the diagram, that the injecting airstream is formed in the
injection passage section 132, namely in the sub-passage 102, and
the injecting airstream is injected only from the injection outlet
132b located at the front end of the front end nozzle section 131a
and the front end of the injection passage section 132.
[0201] Then, if the user cancels the condition where the switching
lever 133a is moved to the side of the rear end, the passage
open-close section 136 opens the main body open-close gate 131d,
and the suctioned air introduction inlet that is not shown is
closed by the air introduction cover member that is not shown.
Hence, the suctioned airstream, which was created toward the
suctioned air introduction inlet, the suction chamber 135 and the
inner suction inlet 135a, dissipates, and rotations of the power
fan 134b and the injection fan 134a are stopped, and the injecting
airstream injected through the injection outlet 132b is also
stopped. In addition, since the suctioned airstream is formed in
the main passage 101, a suction force is created again at the
suction port 131g.
[0202] As described above, since the injection passage section 132
is directly connected to the front end nozzle section 131a in the
present Embodiment, the injecting airstream can be discharged from
the front end nozzle section 131a without particularly conducting a
switching, and the suctioned airstream can be created in the main
passage 101 by opening the main body open-close gate 131d with the
passage open-close section 136. Accordingly, switching between the
blower function and the vacuum function in the vacuum cleaner can
be easily achieved with a simple configuration simply by the open
and the close of the passage open-close section 136 serving as a
shut-off valve member.
[0203] Here, the area of the opening in the suction port 131g and
the injection outlet 132b is not particularly limited, and it may
have a certain area ratio, which can effectively achieve the blower
function and the vacuum function. An example is a configuration, in
which the suction port 131g has an area of the opening that is
equivalent to the opening area of the general suction nozzle, and
an area of the opening of the injection outlet 132b is reduced.
Since such a configuration allows easy suction of the dusts from
the suction port 131g at the time of vacuum, similar convenience as
obtained by the use of the general suction nozzle can be obtained,
and at the time of blower, the injecting airstream can be injected
through the opening having smaller area so that the flow velocity
of the injecting airstream can be enhanced.
[0204] In addition, the suctioned airstream and the injecting
airstream flow through completely different passages (main passage
101 and sub-passage 102) in the present Embodiment, the fear for
injecting the dusts, which have been stuck to the inner wall of the
main passage 101 at the vacuum, from the sub-passage 102 at the
time of blower, is completely avoided. Hence, further cleaner
injecting airstream from the injection outlet 132b can be
injected.
[0205] While the positions of the main body open-close gate 131d
and the passage open-close section 136 are substantially equivalent
to the position of the joined position of the main passage 101 with
the sub-passage 102 since the basic configuration of the air
suction/injection device 10C in the present Embodiment is similar
to the basic configuration of the air suction/injection device 10B
according to the aforementioned Embodiment 2, the present invention
is not limited to such a specific configuration, and it is needless
to point out that the main body open-close gate 131d and the
passage open-close section 136 can be disposed at any of the
positions, provided that at least the pressure inside of the
suction chamber 135 can be reduced by closing the main body
open-close gate 131d.
Embodiment 4
[0206] An air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 4 of
the present invention has a configuration, which is basically
equivalent to that of the air suction/injection device 10A
according to the above-described Embodiment 1, except that the
following features are different: the front end opening section of
the main body has a shape, which is suitable for being fitted with
an attachment such as a suction nozzle and the like in the internal
circumference thereof and not on the outer circumference thereof,
and the front end opening section is cylindrical. The air
suction/injection device according to the present Embodiment will
be specifically described in reference to FIG. 19 to FIG. 24.
[Configuration of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0207] First of all, a specific configuration of an air
suction/injection device according to the present Embodiment will
be described in reference to FIG. 19 to FIG. 23. The air
suction/injection device 10D according to the present Embodiment
comprises, similarly as in the air suction/injection device 10A
according to the aforementioned Embodiment 1, a main body 141, an
injection passage section 142, a lever member 143, a fan section
144, a suction chamber 145 and a passage switching section 146.
[0208] The configuration of the main body 141 is similar to that of
the main body 111 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1, and the
interior thereof serves as a main passage 101, and the front end
opening section 141a located in the side of the front end has also
substantially cylindrical shape. However, the front end opening
section 141a is configured that an attachment such as a suction
nozzle 26A and the like is fitted in the internal circumference of
the front end opening section 141a, and not on the outer
circumference, unlike the front end opening section 111a in the
aforementioned Embodiment 1. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 19, the
outer shape of the front end opening section 141a has a dimension
larger than that of the outer shape of the main body 141. In
addition to above, a rear end opening section 141b is similar to
the rear end opening section 111b in the aforementioned Embodiment
1. In addition, a plurality of suction force regulation holes 141c
are provided in the lower side of the main body 141.
[0209] Here, as shown in FIG. 19, the front end opening section
141a having relatively large diameter is configured to be supported
from the side of the rear end by the injection passage section 142,
which is provided to protrude toward the upside of the main body
141. More specifically, the section of the front end opening
section 141a disposed in the side of the rear end and being hung
out from the main body 141, is supported in an integrated form with
the upper surface of the injection passage section 142. Since the
front end opening section 141a is configured to be fitted with an
attachment in the internal circumference as described above, even
relatively heavier attachment can also be sufficiently supported
without being dropped off. In addition to above, the suction nozzle
26C is attached to the front end opening section 141a in the
present Embodiment, similarly as in the aforementioned Embodiment
1.
[0210] In addition, the interior of the main body 141 is provided
with a suction chamber 145 having an inner suction inlet 145a and a
suctioned air introduction inlet 145b, and the interiors of the
injection passage section 142 and the suction chamber 145 are
provided with a fan section 144.
[0211] An injecting air inlet 142a is provided in the injection
passage section 142, similarly as in the injection passage section
112 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1. In addition, the lever
member 143 is composed of a switching lever 143a, a lever support
section 143b and an air introduction cover member 143c, similarly
as in the lever member 113 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1. In
addition, the fan section 144 is composed of an injection fan 144a,
a power fan 144b and a fan rotating shaft 144c similarly as in the
fan section 114 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0212] The configurations of the main passage 101 and the
sub-passage 102 are also similar to that of the air
suction/injection device 10A according to the aforementioned
Embodiment 1, and a passage switching section 146 is provided in
the section of joining these passages. Such a passage switching
section 146 is also configured of a substantially plate-shaped
valve member, similarly as in the passage switching section 116 in
the aforementioned Embodiment 1, and the angle can be changed by
means of the operation of the switching lever 143a to alternatively
close one of the main body joined gate 141d that is the joined
section of the main passage 101 and the injection joined gate 142b
that is the joined section of the sub-passage 102. Hence, the main
passage 101 or the sub-passage 102 are configured of providing the
alternative switching of the connection to the front end opening
section 141a by means of the passage switching section 146 (and the
lever member 143).
[Action of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0213] Next, the action of the air suction/injection device 10D
having the above-described structure will be specifically
described. First of all, the ordinary vacuum function will be
described that, since the air suction/injection device 10D is in
steady state, in which the switching lever 143a is positioned in
the side of the front end as shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the
passage switching section 146 closes the injection joined gate 142b
and opens the main body joined gate 141d in the joined section
between the main passage 101 and sub-passage 102. Then, the suction
force of the vacuum cleaner 20 (not shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21)
causes suctioning external air through the suction port 261a of the
suction nozzle 26C as illustrated by thick line arrows in the
diagram to create a suctioned airstream from the front end opening
section 141a toward the rear end opening section 141b in the main
passage 101.
[0214] Next, the switching to the blower function will be
described. When the user conducts an operation of moving the
switching lever 143a toward the side of the rear end as shown in
FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, the air introduction cover member 143c is
moved to the side of the front end to open the suctioned air
introduction inlet 145b. Further, since the injection joined gate
142b is opened by the movement of the passage switching section 146
in the joined section between the main passage 101 and sub-passage
102, the sub-passage 102 leads to the front end opening section
141a, but the main passage 101 is blocked from the front end
opening section 141a. Hence, the suction force created in vicinity
of the rear end opening section 141b causes suction of air in the
interior of the suction chamber 145 through the inner suction inlet
145a, as illustrated by thick arrows in the diagram.
[0215] Since the interior of the suction chamber 145 leads to
external air due to the opening of the suctioned air introduction
inlet 145b at this time, the suctioned airstream is created toward
the suctioned air introduction inlet 145b, the suction chamber 145,
and the inner suction inlet 145a. Such s suctioned airstream flows,
as shown in FIG. 14, through the main passage 101 from the rear end
opening section 141b toward the suction hose 22 (not shown in FIG.
23). Then, the power fan 144b provided inside of the suction
chamber 145 rotates by the effect of the suctioned airstream, and
the injection fan 144a rotates in conjunction with such a rotation.
Hence, as indicated by thick line arrows of FIG. 14, the injecting
airstream is created in the injection passage section 142, namely
the sub-passage 102, and the injecting airstream flows into the
interior of the front end opening section 141a, and is eventually
injected through the suction port 261a of the suction nozzle
26C.
[0216] Then, if the user cancel the condition where the switching
lever 133a is moved to the side of the rear end, the passage
switching section 146 opens the main body joined gate 141d, and the
suctioned air introduction inlet 145b is closed by the air
introduction cover member 143c. Hence, the suctioned airstream,
which was created toward the suctioned air introduction inlet 145b,
the suction chamber 145 and the inner suction inlet 145a,
dissipates, and the rotations of the power fan 144b and the
injection fan 144a are stopped, and the injection of the injecting
airstream through the suction nozzle 26C is stopped. In addition,
since the suctioned airstream is formed in the main passage 101, a
suction force is created again at the suction nozzle 26C.
[0217] While the air suction/injection device 10D according to the
present Embodiment has substantially similar configuration as that
of the air suction/injection device 10A according to the
aforementioned Embodiment 1 as described above, the front end
opening section 141a has the configuration, in which an attachment
is fitted in the internal circumference thereof and the outer shape
is larger than that of the main body 141, as mentioned above.
Further, as clearly illustrated in the perspective view of FIG. 19,
the injection passage section 142 is formed to have a canopy-like
shape of the entire upper surface, and leads to a portion of the
front end opening section 141a. Such a configuration allows
sufficiently supporting the fitted attachment not only with a light
weight as the general suction nozzle 26C, but also with relatively
heavier weight. Hence, a number of the available types of the
attachments can be added, for the benefit of the user.
[0218] While the suction nozzle 26C comprising the front end brush
262 is employed for the attachment mounted to the air
suction/injection device 10D in the present Embodiment, the present
invention is not limited to such a specific configuration, and
various types of known suction nozzles may also be preferably
employed. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, a relatively longer
suction nozzle 26D may be employed. Although such a suction nozzle
26D is sufficiently longer than the suction nozzle 26B exemplified
in the aforementioned Embodiment 1 (see FIG. 10), and thus has
heavier weight than the suction nozzle 26B, the use of the air
suction/injection device 10D according to the present Embodiment
allows holding such a heavier nozzle with stable attaching
condition, presenting improved usability for the users.
Embodiment 5
[0219] An air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 5 of
the present invention has a configuration, which is basically
equivalent to that of the air suction/injection device 10D
according to the above-described Embodiment 4, except that the
following feature is different: an attachment mounted to the front
end opening section 141a is a liquid spray section, instead of the
suction nozzle 26. The air suction/injection device according to
the present Embodiment will be specifically described in reference
to FIG. 25 and FIG. 26.
[Configuration of the Liquid Spray Section]
[0220] As shown in FIG. 25, an air suction/injection device
according to the present Embodiment is fitted with a liquid spray
section 27 as an attachment to a front end opening section 141a.
The liquid spray section 27 comprises a liquid storage tank 271, a
spray nozzle 272, a liquid suction tube 273 and a shielding plate
274.
[0221] The liquid storage tank 271 is capable of storing liquid
such as a cleaning solution, a deodorant, a fragrance and the like,
inside thereof. The spray nozzle 272 serves as spraying liquid
stored inside of the liquid storage tank 271, and the shielding
plate 274 is provided inside thereof. The liquid suction tube 273
connects the inside of the liquid storage tank 271 with the spray
nozzle 272, and serves as introducing liquid from the liquid
storage tank 271 to the spray nozzle 272.
[0222] The shielding plate 274 is fixed to an inner wall of the
spray nozzle 272, so as to achieve an upright condition for
shutting the interior of the spray nozzle 272 and a lying condition
lying from the side of the rear end toward the side of the front
end of the spray nozzle 272. While the position of providing the
shielding plate 274 is not particularly limited, the position is at
least beyond the position of connecting with the liquid suction
tube 273 toward the side of the rear end. In addition to above, a
spraying outlet 275 for spraying liquid is formed at the front end
of the spray nozzle 272.
[0223] Specific configurations of the liquid storage tank 271, the
spray nozzle 272, the liquid suction tube 273 and the shielding
plate 274, which composes the liquid spray section 27, are not
particularly limited, and known configurations in the field of
spraying liquid may be preferably applied to any of these elements.
In addition, the liquid spray section 27 may comprise other member
or mechanism.
[Action of the Liquid Spray Section]
[0224] The actions of spraying liquid by employing the liquid spray
section 27 of the above configuration will be described that the
basic actions are similar to the actions of the injection of the
injecting airstream. More specifically, when the user conducts an
operation for moving a switching lever 143a toward the side of the
rear end as shown in FIG. 25, an air introduction cover member 143c
is moved to the side of the front end to open a suctioned air
introduction inlet 145b. Further, in the joined section between the
main passage 101 and sub-passage 102, the injection joined gate
142b is opened by the movement of the passage switching section
146, so that the sub-passage 102 leads to the front end opening
section 141a but the main passage 101 is blocked by the front end
opening section 141a.
[0225] Hence, the suction force created in vicinity of the rear end
opening section 141b acts on the interior of the suction chamber
145, which leads to external air by the opened suctioned air
introduction inlet 145b, through the inner suction inlet 145a. This
allows creating the suctioned airstream toward the suction chamber
145 and the inner suction inlet 145a as illustrated by thick line
arrows in FIG. 26. Then, the power fan 144b provided inside of the
suction chamber 145 rotates, and the injection fan 144a rotates in
conjunction with such a rotation. Hence, as illustrated by thick
line arrows in FIG. 26, the injecting airstream is created in the
injection passage section 142, namely in the sub-passage 102, and
the injecting airstream flows into the interior of the front end
opening section 141a.
[0226] Since such an injecting airstream is introduced in the
interior of the spray nozzle 272, the shielding plate 274 standing
so as to shut the spray nozzle 272 falls down in the side of the
front end by the injecting airstream to achieve the injection from
the spraying outlet 275. Since the liquid suction tube 273 connects
between the shielding plate 274 and the spraying outlet 275, the
discharge of the injecting airstream allows liquid in the liquid
storage tank 271 being introduced into the interior of the spray
nozzle 272 through the liquid suction tube 273. Then, as
illustrated by thick line arrows in FIG. 26, such a liquid is
atomized by the injecting airstream to be injected from the
spraying outlet 275.
[0227] Then, if the user cancels the condition where the switching
lever 143a is moved to the side of the rear end, the passage
switching section 146 opens the main body joined gate 141d, and the
suctioned air introduction inlet 145b is closed by the air
introduction cover member 143c. Then, the suctioned airstream,
which actuates the power fan 144b and the injection fan 144a,
dissipates, and the injecting airstream injected from spraying
outlet 275 is stopped.
[0228] Here, since the spray nozzle 272 leads to the main passage
101 by the open of the main body joined gate 141d, suctioned
airstream is created in the interior of the spray nozzle 272.
Hence, the shielding plate 274 in the state of being fallen down,
stands up by the suctioned airstream, resulting in shutting the
spray nozzle 272. Accordingly, an unwanted situation, in which the
liquid in the interior of the liquid storage tank 271 is carelessly
flowed into the interior of the air suction/injection device 10D,
is avoided. In addition to above, even if it is assumed that liquid
is suctioned in mistake by any possibility, it is structurally
inevitable to suction in the form of mist, and therefore this will
not be harmful for the vacuum cleaner 20 at all.
[0229] As described above, the liquid spray section 27 is mounted
to the front end opening section 141a in the present Embodiment, so
that liquid can be sprayed by using the injecting airstream. Hence,
when a cleaning solution is employed as liquid, the type of the
dusts, which cannot be removed by the ordinary vacuum function or
the above-described blower function (for example, dusts clogged
onto the cleaning surface or the like) can be removed by spraying a
mist of the cleaning solution. Alternatively, a deodorant or a
fragrance can be employed as liquid to spray them throughout the
room. In such case, a deodorant, a fragrance or the like can be
sprayed over the broader area and in one stroke, as compared with
the commercially available pressurized-can type agent. This results
in spreading the variation of the cleanup.
Embodiment 6
[0230] An air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 6 of
the present invention has a configuration, which is basically
equivalent to that of the air suction/injection devices 10A to 10D
according to the above-described Embodiment 1 to 5, except that the
device is also configured that a front end opening section of a
main body is turnably structured to function as a passage switching
section and no valve member is included. The air suction/injection
device according to the present Embodiment will be specifically
described in reference to FIG. 27 to FIG. 29.
[Configuration of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0231] First of all, the air suction/injection device 10E according
to the present Embodiment comprises a main body 151, an injection
passage section 152, a fan section 154 and a suction chamber 155 as
shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, similarly as in the air
suction/injection device 10A according to the aforementioned
Embodiment 1.
[0232] The configuration of the main body 151 is similar to the
main body 111 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1, and the interior
thereof serves as the main passage 101, and the front end opening
section 111a is not provided in the side of the front end, but a
turnable opening section 156 is provided instead. The turnable
opening section 156 functions as a front end opening section and at
the same time, as a passage switching section for the main body
151. The turnable opening section 156 is presented as a separate
member in the main body 151 (injection passage section 152), which
is rotatable in the circumference direction around the center of a
turning shaft section 156d, and the inside of which is provided
with a through hole 156a and a closed hole 156b that is adjacent to
such a through hole 156a.
[0233] The through hole 156a leads to a suction port 156c to form a
passage through which an airstream flows. On the other hand, the
closed hole 156b is configured to open an end that leads to the
main body 151, namely the side of the rear end, and to close the
other end, namely the side of the front end. In addition, the main
body 151 and an end of the injection passage section 152, which are
in contact with the turnable opening section 156, are provided with
a main connecting gate 151d and an injection connecting gate 152b,
respectively. Accordingly, the injection passage section 152 is
provided to the main body 151 so as to be adjacent to the main
passage 101 and the sub-passage 102 at an end leading to the
turnable opening section 156.
[0234] The turnable opening section 156 has, as shown in FIG. 27
and FIG. 28, a nozzle-like shape, in which the cross sectional area
is decreased as approaching to the front end section in the present
Embodiment, only the through hole 156a extends through from the
front end to the rear end, and the closed hole 156b has an open end
only in the side of the rear end. It is needless to point out that
the configuration is not limited thereto, and alternative
configuration for accommodating to mount an attachment such as the
suction nozzle 26 and the like may be adopted. In addition to
above, the rear end opening section 151b is similar to the rear end
opening section 111b in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0235] In addition, the interior of the main body 151 is provided
with a suction chamber 155 having an inner suction inlet 155a, and
the interiors of the injection passage section 152 and the suction
chamber 155 are provided with a fan section 154. Here, while the
configuration of the injection passage section 152 is basically
similar to that of the injection passage section 112 in the
aforementioned Embodiment 1, the injecting air inlet 152a is
provided so as to face to an upper surface of the fan section 154
in the upper surface of the injection passage section 152, and is
not provided in the upper side wall of the injection passage
section 152, unlike the injecting air inlet 112a of the
aforementioned Embodiment 1. In addition, the suction chamber 155
is provided with an inner suction cover member 155c for closing the
inner suction inlet 155a in openable and closable manner. Here, the
fan section 154 is composed of an injection fan 154a, a power fan
154b and a fan rotating shaft 154c, similarly as in the fan section
114 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[Action of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0236] Next, the action of the air suction/injection device 10E
having the above-described structure will be specifically
described. First of all, the ordinary vacuum function will be
described that the through hole 156a of the turnable opening
section 156 faces to the main connecting gate 151d and the closed
hole 156b faces to the injection connecting gate 152b in the air
suction/injection device 10E as shown in FIG. 27. More
specifically, this means that the main passage 101 leads to the
turnable opening section 156, and the sub-passage 102 is blocked
from the turnable opening section 156. Hence, a suction force of
the vacuum cleaner 20 (not shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28) allows
suctioning external air through the suction port 156c of the
turnable opening section 156 to create a suctioned airstream in the
main passage 101 toward the rear end opening section 151b as
illustrated by thick line arrows in the diagram.
[0237] Next, the switching to the blower function will be
described. When the user twists the turnable opening section 156 as
shown in FIG. 28, the through hole 156a faces to the injection
connecting gate 152b, and the closed hole 156b faces to the main
connecting gate 151d. More specifically, this means that the
sub-passage 102 leads to the turnable opening section 156, and the
main passage 101 is blocked from the turnable opening section 156.
Hence, a suction force created in vicinity of the rear end opening
section 151b allows suctioning air from the inside of the suction
chamber 155 through the inner suction inlet 155a as illustrated by
thick line arrows in the diagram.
[0238] Here, while the inner suction inlet 155a included in the
suction chamber 155 is closed by the inner suction cover member
155c, the inner suction cover member 155c is suctioned by the
aforementioned suction force (suctioned airstream) to open the
inner suction inlet 155a. This results in rotating the power fan
154b by suctioning the interior of the suction chamber 155 through
the inner suction inlet 155a to rotate the injection fan 154a in
conjunction with the injection fan 114a. Hence, as illustrated by
thick line arrows in FIG. 28, an injecting airstream is created in
the injection passage section 152, namely in the sub-passage 102,
and the injecting airstream flows via the through hole 156a of the
turnable opening section 156 and be eventually injected from the
suction port 156c.
[0239] Then, the turnable opening section 156 is turned back to the
previous position by the user to shut the sub-passage 102 by the
closed hole 156b and allow the main passage 101 leading to through
hole 156a, so that the rotations of the power fan 154b and the
injection fan 154a are stopped, and the injecting airstream
injected from the turnable opening section 156 is stopped. In
addition, since the suctioned airstream is formed in the main
passage 101, suction force is created again at the through hole
156a and the suction port 156c.
[0240] Since the injection passage section 152 is provided in a
positional relation of being inclined at an acute angle over the
tube axis direction of the main body 151 at this time as shown in
FIG. 28, the lower surface of suction chamber 155 integrated with
the injection passage section 152 is also inclined. Hence, the
inner suction cover member 155c provided in the lower surface of
the suction chamber 155 is to be closed by the flow of the
suctioned airstream.
[0241] As described above, since the present Embodiment is
configured that the turnable opening section 156 connects the
closed hole 156b to one of the main passage 101 and the sub-passage
102 and connects the through hole 156a to the other passage, the
section functions not only as the front end opening section but
also as the passage switching section. Hence, switching between the
connection and the shutoff of the sub-passage 102 can be achieved
without employing a lever member. Hence, switching between the
blower function and the vacuum function can be easily achieved with
a simple configuration.
[0242] In addition, when the main passage 101 is connected to the
turnable opening section 156 and thus no injecting airstream is
created, the inner suction cover member 155c can be closed, and the
sub-passage 102 is connected to the turnable opening section 156 so
as to automatically open the inner suction cover member 155c.
Hence, the rotation of the injection fan 154a can be effectively
achieved by the air flow flowing through the main passage 101, and
in addition, the power fan 154b can be protected without disturbing
the rotation of the power fan 154b.
[0243] In addition to above, the inner suction cover member 155c
may be omitted in the present Embodiment, and for example, it may
be alternatively configured that the fan rotating shaft 154d
serving as rotating shafts of the injection fan 154a and the power
fan 154b extends through the inner suction inlet 155a protrudes
from the injection passage section 152 to the inside of the main
body 151, as shown in FIG. 29. In such a configuration, bearing
sections 151h and 152c for supporting the fan rotating shaft 154d
are provided in a section between the injection passage section 152
and the suction chamber 155 and the inner surface of the main body
151, respectively, (indicated by a circle surrounded with an
alternate-long-and-short dash line in the diagram). By employing
such a configuration, the fan section 154 is supported not only by
the injection passage section 152 and the inside of the suction
chamber 155 but also by the bearing sections 151h and 152c inside
of the main body 151, so that the fan section 154 can be more
stably supported.
Embodiment 7
[0244] An air suction/injection device according to Embodiment 7 of
the present invention has a configuration, which is basically
equivalent to that of the air suction/injection devices 10A to 10E
according to the above-described Embodiment 1 to 6, except that the
device is also configured to comprise an injection switching
section, which can be achieved by constituting an injection passage
section itself to be turnable, instead of employing a passage
switching section serving as a valve member. The air
suction/injection device according to the present Embodiment will
be specifically described in reference to FIG. 30 to FIG. 37.
[Configuration of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0245] First of all, the air suction/injection device 10F according
to the present Embodiment comprises a main body 161, an injection
passage section 162, a fan section 164 and a suction chamber 165
similarly as in the air suction/injection device 10A according to
the aforementioned Embodiment 1 as shown in FIG. 30. Here, FIG. 30
is a cross-sectional view cut along the vertical direction
(longitudinal direction) of the air suction/injection device
10F.
[0246] The configuration of the main body 161 is similar to that of
the main body 111 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1, and the
interior thereof serves as a main passage 101, and the side of the
front end thereof is configured as a front end nozzle section 161a,
similarly as in the main body 121 in the aforementioned Embodiment
2. A suction port 161g are provided at the front end of such a
front end nozzle section 161a. In addition to above, a rear end
opening section 161b is similar to the rear end opening section
111b in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0247] In addition, the injection passage section 162 is configured
as a housing for fan section 167, which is integrated with a
suction chamber 165, unlike the main bodies 111 to 141 in the
aforementioned Embodiments 1 to 5. Such a housing for fan section
167 is configured to have a cylindrical shape, which houses the fan
section 164 inside thereof, and the upper section constitutes an
injection passage section 162 and the lower section constitutes a
suction chamber 165. The housing for fan section 167 is turnably
inserted in the main body 161 along a direction (transverse
direction in FIG. 30) perpendicular to the tube axis of the main
body 161 (longitudinal direction in FIG. 30). In addition to above,
the direction for inserting the housing for fan section 167 is not
limited to the perpendicular direction, and may be a direction
having at least an intersect therewith.
[0248] Since the housing for fan section 167 is inserted in the
main body 161, the outer circumference thereof basically faces to
the main passage 101. In addition, the inside of the main body 161
is provided with a support for housing section 161h, which is
capable of turnably supporting the inserted housing for fan section
167. In addition, a plate-shaped passage open-close section 166,
which is positioned along the radial direction of the housing for
fan section 167, is provided under the housing for fan section 167.
The specific configurations of the support for housing section 161h
and the passage open-close section 166 will be discussed later.
[0249] The fan section 164 is composed of, similarly as in the fan
section 114 in the aforementioned Embodiment 1, an injection fan
164a, a power fan 164b and a fan rotating shaft 164c, and is housed
inside of the housing for fan section 167 as described above, and
the injection fan 164a is located inside of the injection passage
section 162 as shown in FIG. 31, and the power fan 164b is located
inside of the suction chamber 165, as shown in FIG. 32. Here, FIG.
31 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing for fan section
167, illustrating the inside of the injection passage section 162
viewed from the upper side, and corresponds to a cross-sectional
view along line II-II in FIG. 30. FIG. 32 is also a partial
cross-sectional view, illustrating the inside of the suction
chamber 165 viewed from the upper side, and is a cross-sectional
view along line in FIG. 30. More specifically, FIG. 31 and FIG. 32
are cross-sectional views along the direction perpendicular to the
vertical direction (i.e., transverse direction).
[0250] As shown in FIG. 31, the outer circumference of the
injection passage section 162 in the housing for fan section 167 is
provided with an injection connecting gate 162b by cutoff a portion
thereof. Such an injection connecting gate 162b serves an injection
outlet in an injection passage section 162. In addition, an
injecting air inlet 162a is provided in the upper surface of the
injection passage section 162 (namely, upper surface of the housing
for fan section 167) in a position facing to the upper surface of
the fan section 164 similarly as in the injecting air inlet 152a in
the aforementioned Embodiment 6. Hence, the section between the
injecting air inlet 162a and the injection connecting gate 162b
forms the sub-passage 102. In addition, the lower surface of the
suction chamber 165 faces to the main passage 101, and such
location is provided with an inner suction inlet 165a similarly as
in the inner suction inlet 115a in the aforementioned Embodiment
1.
[0251] In addition, as shown in FIG. 32, the above-described
support for housing section 161h is located in the section of the
housing for fan section 167 outside of the suction chamber 165.
Such support for housing section 161h is configured of a wall-like
shape, which curves along the outer circumference of the suction
chamber 165, and a portion thereof is exposed to the outside of the
main body 161. Further, a suctioned air introduction outer inlet
165c is provided in such an exposed section. On the other hand, the
suction chamber 165 is in the condition of being fitted inside of
the support for housing section 161h, a portion of the outer
circumference of which is provided with a suctioned air
introduction inner inlet 165b. Hence, if the suctioned air
introduction inner inlet 165b provided in the suction chamber 165
coincides with the suctioned air introduction outer inlet 165c
provided in the support for housing section 161h by the turn of the
housing for fan section 167, it serves as "suctioned air
introduction inlet" similarly as in the suctioned air introduction
inlet 115b in the aforementioned Embodiment 1.
[0252] The most part of the passage open-close section 166 provided
under the housing for fan section 167 is located inside of the
support for housing section 161h and a part thereof is located
outside of the support for housing section 161h, as shown in FIG.
32 and FIG. 33. The passage open-close section 166 is in the
positional relation, in which both ends thereof (one is inside of
the support for housing section 161h and the other is in the
outside of the support for housing section 161h) are coplanar, and
a section between the both ends is curved so as to cover a half of
the circumference of the inner suction inlet 165a.
[0253] In the condition shown in FIG. 31 to FIG. 33, namely at the
time of vacuum, the passage open-close section 166 is located along
the extending direction of the main passage 101 (passage
direction), and is configured to move toward the direction for
intersecting with the main passage 101 (crossing direction) by
turning the housing for fan section 167 to close the main passage
101, as discussed later. Here, FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of
transverse direction, similarly as FIG. 31 and FIG. 32, and is a
partial cross-sectional viewed from the bottom side, and is not a
partial cross-sectional view viewed from the top side.
[0254] In addition to above, it is satisfactory for the present
Embodiment that at least a portion of the outer circumference of
the housing for fan section 167 faces to the main passage 101, and
therefore it is not necessary for whole of the housing for fan
section 167 to be located inside of main body 161. In the present
Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, approximately a three-fourths of
the outer circumference is inserted in the main body 161, and
approximately a quarter is exposed at the outside of the main body
161.
[Action of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0255] Next, the action of the air suction/injection device 10F
having the above-described structure will be specifically
described. First of all, the ordinary vacuum function will be
described that, in the air suction/injection device 10F as shown in
FIG. 31, the injection connecting gate 162b provided in the
injection passage section 162 (housing for fan section 167) does
not face to the suction port 161g of the front end nozzle section
161a, but is in the condition that it faces to the inner side wall
near the rear end to be blocked. More specifically, the sub-passage
102 equivalent to the inside of the injection passage section 162
is blocked from the front end nozzle section 161a.
[0256] At this time, there is no overlapped opening regions between
the suctioned air introduction inner inlet 165b provided in the
suction chamber 165 and the suctioned air introduction outer inlet
165c provided in the support for housing section 161h, as shown in
FIG. 32. Since the suctioned air introduction inner inlet 165b,
which is oriented toward the suction port 161g in FIG. 32, is in
the condition of being covered with the support for housing section
161h, and in addition, the outer circumference surface of the
suction chamber 165 is exposed over the suctioned air introduction
outer inlet 165c, so that the suctioned air introduction outer
inlet 165c is in the closed condition. In such a condition, no
external air is supplied from the outside into the inside of the
suction chamber 165.
[0257] Hence, external air is suctioned through the suction port
161g of the front end nozzle section 161a by a suction force of the
vacuum cleaner 20 (not shown in FIGS. 31 to 33) as illustrated by
thick line arrows in FIG. 31 to FIG. 33 to create a suctioned
airstream in the main passage 101 toward the rear end opening
section 161b. On the contrary, no flow of air is created in the
blocked sub-passage 102.
[0258] In the next, the switching to the blower function will be
described. FIG. 34 to FIG. 37 are cross-sectional views correspond
to FIG. 30 to FIG. 33, respectively, and while FIG. 34 to FIG. 37
illustrates the condition at the vacuum, FIG. 34 to FIG. 37
illustrates the condition at the blower.
[0259] As shown in FIG. 34 and FIG. 35, when user twists the
housing for fan section 167, the injection connecting gate 162b of
the injection passage section 162 faces to the suction port 161g of
the front end nozzle section 161a. In response to this situation,
the opening region of the suctioned air introduction inner inlet
165b provided in the suction chamber 165 and the opening region of
the suctioned air introduction outer inlet 165c provided in the
support for housing section 161h acquire an overlapped section as
shown in FIG. 36, so that external air can be introduced into the
inside of the suction chamber 165 as illustrated by thick line
arrows in FIG. 36. This allows creating a suctioned airstream
through the suctioned air introduction outer inlet 165c, the
suctioned air introduction inner inlet 165b, and the suction
chamber 165 and toward the inner suction inlet 165a (not shown in
FIG. 35 and FIG. 36).
[0260] Further, as shown in FIG. 36 and FIG. 37, the plate-like
passage open-close section 166 located along the passage direction
changes its direction to the crossing direction by the turn of the
housing for fan section 167 to close the main passage 101. This
prevents the suctioned airstream from reaching to the front end
nozzle section 161a, and makes such a stream acting only for
rotating the power fan 164b inside of the suction chamber 165.
Hence, the injection fan 164a also rotates in conjunction with the
rotation of the power fan 164b, the injecting airstream is created
in the sub-passage 102, and such an injecting airstream flows in
the front end nozzle section 161a and is discharged from the
suction port 161g, as illustrated by thick line arrows in FIG.
35.
[0261] Then, the user twists the housing for fan section 167 to
return to the original location, the close of the main passage 101
by the passage open-close section 166 is cancelled to open the main
passage 101 and to release the coincidence state of the suctioned
air introduction inner inlet 165b with the suctioned air
introduction outer inlet 165c, and the "suctioned air introduction
inlet" is closed and simultaneously the injection connecting gate
162b is also closed so that the rotations of the power fan 164b and
the injection fan 164a are stopped and the injecting airstream
discharged from the front end nozzle section 161a is stopped. In
addition, since the suctioned airstream is created in the main
passage 101, sufficient suction force is regenerated in the suction
port 161g.
[0262] As described above, since it is configured to achieve the
closing and the opening of the "suctioned air introduction inlet"
and the opening and the closing of the main passage 101 by turning
the housing for fan section 167 in the present Embodiment, such a
housing for fan section 167 functions as an injection switching
section. Hence, the switching between the blower function and the
vacuum function in the vacuum cleaner can be easily achieved by
simply turning the housing for fan section 167.
[0263] While the housing for fan section 167 is configured to
function as the injection switching section by turning the housing
for fan section 167 to direct the injection connection gate 162b
(injection outlet) toward the front end nozzle section 161a or
toward the rear end opening section 161b in the present Embodiment,
the present invention is, of course, not limited to such a specific
configuration, and it is satisfactory to be configured to function
as an injection switching section by changing at least the position
of the injection connection gate 162b (injection outlet). In
addition, while the passage open-close section 166 serving as
closing the main passage 101 functions as the supporting injection
switching section, the passage open-close section 166 may not to be
necessarily provided depending on some specific configuration of
the air suction/injection device 10F.
Embodiment 8
[0264] A configuration of an air suction/injection device according
to Embodiment 8 of the present invention is different from that of
the air suction/injection devices 10A to 10F according to the
aforementioned Embodiments 1 to 7 in terms of some of the
constituting elements, in which the sub-passage is positioned along
the main passage in the interior of the main body so that the air
introduction cover member functions as the injection switching
section. The air suction/injection device according to the present
Embodiment will be specifically described in reference to FIG. 38
to FIG. 44.
[Configuration of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0265] First of all, the air suction/injection device 10G according
to the present Embodiment is composed of a main body 171 and an
injecting section 177 as shown in FIG. 38. The configuration of the
main body 171 is similar to the main bodies 111 to 161 of the
aforementioned Embodiments 1 to 7, and the interior thereof serves
as a main passage 101, as shown in FIG. 39. In addition, similarly
as in the aforementioned Embodiment 2, 3 or 7, the front end
section thereof is configured of a front end nozzle section 171a.
The front end of such a front end nozzle section 171a is provided
with a suction port 171g. In addition to the above, a rear end
opening section 171b is also similar to the rear end opening
sections 111b to 161b of the aforementioned Embodiments 1 to 7.
[0266] The injecting section 177 is composed of an injection
passage section 172 and a suction chamber 175, and an
integrated-type fan section 174 provided inside thereof. The
injection passage section 172 and the suction chamber 175 are
substantially integrated, and the interior thereof is provided with
the integrated-type fan section 174. In addition, such an injecting
section 177 is inserted in the main body 171 so that the
sub-passage 102 is positioned along the main passage 101.
[0267] The injection passage section 172 in the injecting section
177 is basically similar to the injection passage sections 112 to
152 in the aforementioned Embodiments 1 to 6, and the interior
thereof constitutes the sub-passage 102, except that the injection
passage section 172 includes an inner injection nozzle 172c. Such
an inner injection nozzle 172c extends from the main body of the
injection passage section 172 provided with the integrated-type fan
section 174 to the suction port 171g of the front end nozzle
section 171a, and the front end thereof is provided with the
injection outlet 172b. In the present Embodiment, the location of
the injection outlet 172b is presented to be closer to the side of
the rear end beyond the suction port 171g.
[0268] The main body of the injection passage section 172 (section
except the inner injection nozzle 172c) is substantially integrated
with the suction chamber 175 as shown in FIG. 39, similarly as in
the housing for fan section 167 in the aforementioned Embodiment 6.
The insides of these integrated sections are provided with a
rotatable integrated-type fan section 174, which also serves as a
partition. The integrated-type fan section 174 is composed of an
injection fan wing 174a, a power fan wing 174b, and a fan rotating
section 174c. The fan rotating section 174c is in the form of a
disc-shape, and the circumference thereof is rotatably supported
with inner walls of the injection passage section 172 and the
suction chamber 175 through the fan support member 177a. Then, a
surface of the fan rotating section 174c in the side of the
injection passage section 172 (side of the sub-passage 102) is
provided with a plurality of injection fan wings 174a, and a
surface in the opposite side (side of the suction chamber 175) is
provided with a plurality of power fan wings 174b.
[0269] In addition, an inner suction inlet 175a is presented at a
location in the suction chamber 175 facing to the main passage 101,
similarly as in the aforementioned respective Embodiments. Such a
location also coincides with a location of the suction chamber 175
facing to the power fan wing 174b of the integrated-type fan
section 174. In addition, the interior of the suction chamber 175
is communicated with the suctioned air introduction inlet 175b
provided at the location facing to the outside of the main body
171, as shown in FIG. 40.
[0270] Hence, a creation of a suctioned airstream in the main
passage 101 allows suction of air in the interior of the suction
chamber 175 through the inner suction inlet 175a, so that external
air is introduced through the suctioned air introduction inlet 175b
into the suction chamber 175. This results in creating airflow in
the direction from the suctioned air introduction inlet 175b toward
the suction chamber 175, so that the integrated-type fan section
174 is rotated by striking the power fan wing 174b with such an
airflow.
[0271] In addition, an injecting air inlet 172a is presented at a
location in the injection passage section 172 facing to the outside
of the main body 171. Such a location also coincides with a
location of the main body of the injection passage section 172
facing to the injection fan wing 174a of the integrated-type fan
section 174. In addition, the sections starting from the injecting
air inlet 172a through the main body of the injection passage
section 172 and the inner injection nozzle 172c to the injection
outlet 172b form the sub-passage 102.
[0272] The surface of the integrated-type fan section 174 in the
opposing side to the surface provided with the power fan wing 174b
is provided with the injection fan wing 174a, as described above.
Hence, the rotation of the integrated-type fan section 174 by means
of the suction of air in the interior of the suction chamber 175
allows air contained in the interior of the injection passage
section 172 striking the injection fan wing 174a to create an
injecting airstream in the sub-passage 102, which is then injected
from the injection outlet 172b.
[0273] Here, as shown in FIG. 40, a location of the main passage
101 corresponding to the inner suction inlet 175a (shown with
dotted line in the diagram.) is provided with an inner suction
cover member 175c for closing such an inner suction inlet 175a in
openable and closable manner (see also, FIG. 38 and FIG. 39). The
inner suction cover member 175c is capable of allowing the
introduction of external air into the interior of the suction
chamber 175 and stopping the introduction by opening and closing
thereof. Therefore, such an inner suction cover member 175c
functions as a passage open-close section (switching cover member)
for switching between the connection and the blocking of the
sub-passage 102 for the front end nozzle section 171a.
[0274] Here, FIG. 39 and FIG. 40 are cross-sectional views of the
air suction/injection device 10G shown in FIG. 38, and
specifically, FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view showing the
interior of the air suction/injection device 10G from the upper
side, and FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of
the main passage 101 of the air suction/injection device 10G from
the lateral side. In addition, FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of
FIG. 39 along line VI-VI, and FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of
FIG. 40 along line VII-VII.
[Action of Air Suction/Injection Device]
[0275] Next, the action of the air suction/injection device 10G
having the above-described structure will be specifically
described. First of all, the ordinary vacuum function will be
described that the inner suction cover member 175c closes the inner
suction inlet 175a in the air suction/injection device 10G as shown
in FIG. 38 and FIG. 40, and therefore no air is introduced from the
outside into the interior of the suction chamber 175 through the
suctioned air introduction inlet 175b. Here, once external air is
suctioned through the suction port 171g of the front end nozzle
section 171a as illustrated by thick line arrows in the diagrams by
a suction force of the vacuum cleaner 20 (not shown in FIG. 38 to
FIG. 40), a suctioned airstream is created in the main passage 101
toward the rear end opening section 171b in the main body 171. In
addition to above, since the integrated-type fan section 174 is not
rotated in this state, no injecting airstream is generated, and
thus the interior of the inner injection nozzle 172c is in
none-airstream state.
[0276] In the next, switching to the blower function will be
described. When the user moves the inner suction cover member 175c
from the closing state to open the inner suction inlet 175a as
shown in FIG. 41, external air is introduced through the suctioned
air introduction inlet 175b. Hence, once the suctioned airstream is
created in the main passage 101 of the main body 171 by the suction
force of the vacuum cleaner 20 (not shown in FIG. 41), the
integrated-type fan section 174 is rotated in the interior of the
injecting section 177 to create the injecting airstream in the
interior of the injection passage section 172, namely in the
sub-passage 102, and then is injected from the injection outlet
172b. Since no passage open-close section for closing the main
passage 101 is provided in the air suction/injection device 10G
unlike in Embodiment 3 or Embodiment 7, a smaller suctioned
airstream is created in the suction port 171g of the front end
nozzle section 171a in such a state.
[0277] After that, when the user closes the inner suction cover
member 175c, no external air is introduced into the suction chamber
175, so that the rotation of the integrated-type fan section 174 is
stopped, and the injecting airstream injected from the front end
nozzle section 171a is also stopped. In addition, since the
suctioned airstream is created in the main passage 101, sufficient
suction force is regenerated in the suction port 171g.
[0278] As described above, the present Embodiment includes the
passage open-close section (inner suction cover member 175c)
serving as the injection switching section, which is capable of
closing the inner suction inlet 175a in openable and closable
manner. Hence, when the closing of the inner suction inlet 175a is
maintained at the passage open-close section, no external air is
introduced into the suction chamber 175 so that a suctioned
airstream is created at the suction port 171g of the main passage
101, and on the other hand, once the passage open-close section is
opened, external air is introduced to the sub-passage 102, so that
an injecting airstream is created at the inner injection nozzle
172. The injecting airstream can be formed or be stopped in this
way by opening and closing the passage open-close section, so that
switching between the blower function and the vacuum function in
the vacuum cleaner can be easily achieved with a simple
configuration.
[0279] In addition, as described above, a slight suctioned
airstream is created even at the time of blower. Hence, even if the
dusts are whirled up by the blower stream injected from the
injection outlet 172b, the air suction/injection device 10G allows
suctioning and collecting the dusts from the suction port 171g
without switching from the vacuum to the blower.
Modified Embodiment
[0280] While the inner suction cover member 175c for closing such
an inner suction inlet 175a in openable and closable manner is
employed for the passage open-close section in the present
Embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such a specific
configuration, and a member, which is capable of closing at least a
portion of the passage of air from the suctioned air introduction
inlet 175b to the main passage 101 (inner suction inlet 175a) in
openable and closable manner, may alternatively be employed.
Another exemplary implementation for the passage open-close section
may include, for example, an air suction/injection device 10H
having an air introduction cover member 173 shown in FIG. 42 to
FIG. 44.
[0281] As shown in FIG. 42, the basic configuration of the air
suction/injection device 10H is almost similar to the configuration
of the above-described air suction/injection device 10G, except
that the inner suction cover member 175c for closing the inner
suction inlet 175a is not provided, and instead, the air
introduction cover member 173 is provided, as shown in FIG. 43 and
FIG. 44. The air introduction cover member 173 serves as closing
the suctioned air introduction inlet 175b, similarly as one of the
air introduction cover members 113c, 123c and 143c in the
aforementioned Embodiment 1, 2 and 4, respectively, and is
configured as a cover member, which is capable of sliding along the
longitudinal direction of the air suction/injection device 10H in
the present modified Embodiment.
[0282] By employing such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 42 to
FIG. 44, the air introduction cover member 173 is opened to
introduce external air to the interior of the suction chamber 175
which rotates the integrated-type fan section 174, so that the
injecting airstream is injected from the injection outlet 172b of
the inner injection nozzle 172c (sub-passage 102). On the other
hand, when the air introduction cover member 173 is closed,
external air is not introduced to the interior of the suction
chamber 175 and hence the rotation of the integrated-type fan
section 174 is not occurred, and thus, no injecting airstream is
created and a suctioned airstream is generated in the main passage
101 from the suction port 171g.
[0283] As described above, the use of the air suction/injection
device 10H, which is configured to include the air introduction
cover member 173 in place of the inner suction cover member 175c,
can also achieve an easy switching between the vacuum function and
the blower function with a simple constitution similarly as in the
above-described the air suction/injection device 10G.
[0284] Here, FIG. 43 and FIG. 44 are cross-sectional views of the
air suction/injection device 10H shown in FIG. 42, and
specifically, FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the
interior of the air suction/injection device 10H from the upper
side, and FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view of showing interior of
the main passage 101 of the air suction/injection device 10H from
the lateral side. In addition, FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view of
FIG. 39 along line VIII-VIII, and FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view
of FIG. 40 along line IX-IX. Here, arrows indicating the airflow is
not shown in FIG. 42 to FIG. 44, since the configuration of the air
suction/injection device 10H is substantially similar to the
configuration of the air suction/injection device 10G, and the
creations of the injecting airstream and the suctioned airstream
therebetween are also similar.
[0285] While the above-described configuration of the modified
Embodiment is to close the suctioned air introduction inlet 175b
and the aforementioned configuration of the present Embodiment is
to close the inner suction inlet 175a, the specific configuration
of the passage open-close section is not limited to the
configuration of closing an upstream side or a downstream side of
the passage for external air in openable and closable manner, and
alternative configurations for permitting and blocking the flow of
external air to the interior of suction chamber 175 may be also
employed, or the passage open-close section 166 having the
configuration described in the aforementioned Embodiment 7 may be
alternatively employed, in place of the switching cover member.
More specifically, any type of known configurations may be adopted
for the passage open-close section in the present Embodiment,
provided that the configuration is to close at least a portion of
the passage of air from the suctioned air introduction inlet 175b
to the main passage 101 (inner suction inlet 175a) in openable and
closable manner as described above.
[0286] Those of ordinary skills in the art will recognize that the
present invention is not limited to the descriptions of the
aforementioned Embodiments, and various types of modifications may
be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention as set forth in the following claims, and
further, implementations obtained by suitably combining technical
aspects disclosed in different Embodiments or a plurality of
modified Embodiments are included in the spirit and scope of the
present invention. For example, modified Embodiment exemplified in
the aforementioned Embodiment 1 is applicable to the other
Embodiments 1 to 8, and on the other hand, available combination of
at least two or more of the configurations disclosed in the
aforementioned Embodiments 1 to 8 may be included in the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
[0287] In addition, many improvements and other Embodiments of the
present invention are apparent for those having ordinary skills in
the art based on the above-described descriptions. Therefore, the
above-described description should be construed as illustrations
only, and to be presented for the purpose of teaching the best mode
for conducting the present invention by a person having ordinary
skills in the art. Therefore, details of the structures and/or
functions may be substantially modified without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0288] The present invention can preferably be employed in the
fields of various types of vacuum cleaners, regardless of household
use or business use, or regardless of canister type or upright
type, if it is intended to utilize the blower function and the
vacuum function.
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