Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROU~D OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a vacuur cleaner
for automatically removing dust clinging to a filter
by utilizing the turning force of a cord reel.
With the prior art vacuum cleaner of this
type, there has been proposed an attempt to operate a
dust removing mechanism upon drawing and winding a
length of a cord from or around a cord reel. However,
such an a.ttempt suffers from a shortcoming in that a
coil spring having a large amount cf torque is required
to wind the cord around the cord reel with the result
of increasing the force to draw the cord out of the cord
reel. For this reason, the dust removing mechanism is
operable onl~ upon dra.wing out a cord from the reel,
and is inoperable upon winding the cord around the reel
~ , .
.. , .. . . ~ .. . . ... ... . .
1053~36Z
1 so tha.t the spring built in the cord reel is used only
for the purpose of winding the cord around the reel.
However, the cord is normally drawn from the cord reel
prior to starting up cleaning, so that the dust clinging
to the filter during the cleaning can not automa.tically
be removed after the completion of clea.ning with
the cleaner of the above-mentioned construction. -
Accordingly, in order to efficiently remove the dust
clinging to the filter, it is desirable to remove the
dust from the filter both upon dra.wing a.nd winding a
cord, that is, before and after the cleaning opera.tion. ~;
~ . .
S~ARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a vacuum cleaner which can automatically remove `.
dust clinging to a filter upon drawing and winding a
cord without the need of increasing a torque required
for a spring built in a cord reel.
To attain the above-mentioned object, the
present invention has a feature in that the rotational .
20 speed of a dust removing element for slidingly striking .:
the back surface of a.filter body is smaller than that .
of a cord reelO
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a
dust case section;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a.
3 ~S386Z `
1 body case; ~ r
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the
essential portion of a cord reel portion;
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of
the cord reel section;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of -
the essential part of a coupling section;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view
showing the coupling section in an engaged condition; ~ -
Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view
taken along a line I-I of Fig. l; c ~ ; ~
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along -
a line II-II of Fig. 8;
Fig. lC is an enlarged view of the coupling
section of Fig. l;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a packing; ;-
:, .
Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the essential
part of a filter device;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of -~
the essential part of the filter device of Fig. 2;
Fig. 1~ is an enlarged view taken along a line
III-III of Fig. 2;
- Fig. 15 is a view showing the operation of
the filter device according to the present invention
Flg. 16 is a view showing the operations of
the dust removing means and a transmission means;
Fig. 17 is a view showing the operation of a -~
dust removing element;
Fig, 18 is a cross-sectional view of the dust
removing element;
,
- 2 -
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1053862
l Fig. 19 is a view showing the operation of the
prior art dust removing means;
Figs. 20 and 21 are plots showing the relation-
ship between the dust collecting capacity and a suction
force;
Fig. 22 is an enlarged view of a filter body;
Fig. 23 is an enlarge view of the prior art
filter body;
Fig. 24 is a view showing a filter body
according to the present inve~tion; and
Fig. 25 is a view showing the operation of
the prior art filter body. `
:
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRRFERRED EMBODIMENTS
These and other objects and features of the
present invention will be apparent from reading the
following explanation with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Referring to Figs. l and 3, there is shown
at 1 a main body case made of a synthetic resin. The
case 1 is of a split type, and thus consists of a
lefthand case lb and a righthand case la~ and is formed
- integrally with a first handle 2. Sho~n at 3 and 4 are -
ribs which are provided in facing relation to each ,
other within the lefthand and righthand cases lb, la,
and serve to divide the interior of the case l into
a chamber 5 for an electric blower, a chamber 6 for a -
cord reel, and an exhaust chamber 7. Cushion rubbers
designated by the reference-numerals 8 and 9 serve to
support an electric blower lO within the electric blower
- 3 -
j
.- ~- . . - , . - . . ,, , .. :
~5386Z
chamber 5. A shielding plate l] fabrica.ted of steel
is interposed between the rib 3 and the cushion rubber
9. A reel supporting plate 12 of a 'U' shape intimately
contacts the rib 4. A dust portion 13 is defined by ~.
the reel supporting plate 12 and shielding pla.te 11 :
for introducing or guiding air flow from the electric ~:
blower chamber 5 to the exhaust chamber 7. Shown at 14
is a contact mount which is secured, together with the .-
reel shaft 15, to the reel supporting plate 12 by means
of a screw 30. Shown at 16 is a cord reel which is
rotatably supported on the reel shaft 15. Provided on .
the side wall of the cord reel 16 is a braking ring 19
for a stopper 18 which is adapted to limit the winding
operation of the cord 17. Shown at 20 is a coil spring,
15 whose one end is secured to the reel shaft 15 and whose ~:
other end is secured to the cord reel 16. The winding .. ..
operation of the cord 17 is effected by means of the .`~
pre-loaded coil spring 20. ~
Designated by the reference numeral 21 is ^ : .
20 a transmission means which consists of a first gea.r
21a integrally formed on the side wall of the cord reel -.
16; a drive gear 22 fabricated of a synthetic resin .
for meshing with the first gear 21a.; a face gear 24
fabricated of a synthetic resin for meshing with the
25 drive gear 22 and turning the direction of a. rota.ry
shaft 23 of the gear 22 through an angle of 90;
and a drive coupling 26 integral with the face gea.r 24. .- .. -.
The respective components of sa.id transmission means
are all secured on the cord reel supporting plate 12, :
30 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
,
_ 1~ _ ~, ,
~ ~ 5 3 ~6 Z
1 Provided in the eord reel supporting plate
12, as best shown in Fig. 5, are an attaching hole 27
for the cord reel 16 and contact mount 14, an attaching -
hole 28 for the face gear 24, and an attaching hole 29
for the drive gear 22. As shown in Fig. 4, angles ~, a
g s ~1~ Q2~ ~3~ Q4 have close bearing on the
engagement of the respective parts and are dependent
merely on the accuracy of the cord reel supporting plate
alone. The contaet mount 14 and cord reel 16 are secured
10 by means of a screw 30 to the cord reel supporting plate ~-
12. Rotary shafts 23, 25~ as best shown in Fig. 4, are
secured to the eord reel supporting plate 12.
Turning to Figs. 1 and 2, shown at 31 is a
dust indieator for indieating the eondition of dust
being eollected. The dust indieator is positioned within
the handle portion 2 of the case 1 by means of an
indieator attaehing tube 32. Shown at 33 are air
exhaust openings 33 for discharging air flow from the ~ -
exhaust air chamber 7 outside the case 1. A elean filter
34 is positioned inwardly of the exhaust openings 33.
The elean filter 34 is intended for the dual purposes
of reetifying the air flow and arresting the sound, and
is fabrieated of a porous material sueh as urethane
foam and the like. Shown at 35 in Figs. 1 and 2 is a
25 dust ease made of a syntehtie resin, whieh eollects ',t
therein the dust being fed through a hose not shown.
The interior of the dust case 35 is divided into a rough
dust chamber 37 and fine dust chamber 38 by means of the
rib 36. As is clear from Fig. 1, shown at 39 is a
suction port? to which is connected a hose, and at 40 a
iO5386Z ::
1 reverse flow preventive or check valve provided in the
suction port 39. Shown at 41 in Fig. 2 is a second
handle portion which is secured to the dust case 35
by means of screws 41a and 41b
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, shown at 43 is
a movable locking portion adapted to removably attach
the dust case 35 to the main body case 1, and the locking
portion 43 consists of a locking piece 43a and a spring
43b. The locking piece 43a is slidingly fitted in the
second handle portion 41.
As shown in Fig. 1, a filter means 44 is
removably fitted in an opening in the dust case 35, and
consists of a net filter 45 made of synthetic resin,
a filter body 46, a dust removing assembly 47 and a pack-
ing 48 for h~lding same.
The dust removing assembly 47 includes a dust
removing element 49 adapted to slidingly strike the
back surface of a filter-body 46j a dust removing gear
50 fabricated of synthetic resin, a transmission gear 51
fabricated of synthetic resin for meshing with -the dust
removing gear 50, a force receiving coupling 53 fabricated
of synthetic resin and fitted on a shaft 52 of the
- transmission gear 51, and a supporting plate 54 having
- a plurality of drag openings or slits 54a, as seen in
25 Fig. 12.
- ~s indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, the stopper ;
means 60 consists of a stopper 18, a lever 62 mounting
same thereon so as to allow pivotal movement of the
stopper 18, a spring 63 for pulling the lever 62 in the
direction of an arrow Po, and a braking wall 65 which
: ' .
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1 defines a wedge shaped space 64 together with the braking
ring 19 and is adapted-to brake the cord reel 16 with
the aid of the braking ring 19 with the stopper 18
maintained bit therebetween, i.e., in the space 64.
Shown at 66 is a screw for sècuring the braking wall 65
to the main body case 1, and at 67 a pedal for forcing
the stopper 18 in the direction of an arrow Qo to
release the cord reel 16 from the braked condition to
wind the cord 17 therearound. The pedal 67 is pivotally
supported by means of a pin 68.
As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a packing 48
includes a peripheral packing portion 48a which is
fitted around the filter body 46, thereby removably
holding the ~ilter means 44 against the dust case 35
in air tight relation; and a packing portion 48b
interposed between the supporting body 54 and a front
wall lc of the case 1. -
The packing 48 serves to efficiently help
suck the dust carried by the air flow which have been
produced due to a vacuum or negative pressure P2 within
~he dust case 35, rather than due to the atmospheric
pressure Pl when the dust case 35 is installed in the
case 1 and the electric blower 10 is maintained in
operation. -
Referring to Fig. 18~ a striking portion 49a
is formed by bending the end of a wire such as a piano
wire into an arcuate or spherical form, and the remain-
ing portion of the wire serves as a dust removing body
portion 49b. A dust removing element 49 consists of the
striking portion h9a thus formed and the dust removing
i~386Z :
1 body portion ~9b. The other end of the dust removing
body portion 49b is bent into a screw-retaining portion
49c. The dust-removing element 49 is secured to the
dust removing gear 50 by securing the screw-retaining
portion 4~c to the dust removing gear by means of a -
screw 70. Provided in the stri~ing portion 49a is a
protective material 49d made of a resilient resin and
the like.
Shown at 53a in Figs. 6 and 7 is a projection
formed on the force receiving coupling 53, while the
outer peripheral portion of the projection 53a is
chamfered in view of safety in the case of the rotation
of the projection exposed. Shown at 69 is a pin which
has been press fitted in the shaft 52 for transmitting
a drive force by engaging the rib 53b. Shown at 26a is
a groove defined in the drive coupling 26, while the
projection 53a is fitted in the groove 26a to thereby -
transmit a torque. In addition, the edge 26b of the
groove 26a is chamfered in view of safety, while the
width of the groove 26a is set to less than 10 mm so
as not to allow a finger to be inserted therein. The
outer peripheral portion 26c of the drive coupling 26
is chamfered in view of safety in the rotating condition
thereof and for facilitating the engagement between the
driven coupling 53 and the drive coupling 26 upon
installing the dust case 35.
In Fig. 7, 'J' represents an axis of rotation
of the driven coupling 53, 'H' an axis of rotation of
the drive coupling 26, and ~ a deviation between the
both axes of rotation J and H which has been caused by
- 8
1~386Z
l the sum of the dimensional tolerances of the respective
parts. 'G' represents -a locus described by the tip 'F'
of the projection 53a at the time of the attachment
or removal of the dust case 35., and '~' does the maximum
5 deviation of the locus 'G'. The difference in width
between the projection 53a and the groove 26a is
determined so a.s to be larger than twice the sum of .
'~' and '~'. As a result, there may not take place
an excessive loss of torque and damage on the dust case
lO 35 due to the diviation 'S' between the axes of rotation
'J' and 'H'. ~:
Upon installation of the dust case 35 to the ;
main body case l, the driven coupling 53 is placed so as
to abut the drive coupling 26 from above obliquely.
15 However, the driven coupling 53 is readily fitted to
the drive coupling 26 because of the chamfered outer .
peripheral portions 26c and 53c, while compressing the .
spring 41, thereby bringing the dust case 35 into
engagement with the main body case l. Thereafter~ when
20 the drive coupling 53 is also rotated in an idle condition
mtil the position of the projection 53a coincides with
the position of the groove 26aO Thus, a torque can be
- transmitted thereafter. .
- The dust removing assembly 47 is positioned
25 in the rear of the filter body 46. The dust removing
gear 50 is rotatably mounted on the supporting pla.te 54
and mounts thereon a dust removing element 49 adapted
to slide on the rear surface of the filter body 46. :
A rotary disc 55 is secured to the hub portion ..
30 50a of the dust-removing gea.r 50 by means of a screw 55a.
- _ 9 _ -
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~0~;~86~ `~
1 to rotate the gear 50, and integra.lly mounts a knob 56
thereon. The dust removing knob 56 is manually opera.ble -
only when the dust case 35 is removed from the main .
body case 1. .:
The transmission gear 51 is rigidly secured
on the shaft 52 according to press-fitting or by means .. :
of a screw, and attached to the supporting plate 54 ~
in such a manner as to mesh with the dust removing
gear 50. .
The engagement of the driven coupling 53 with
the drive coupling 26 on the slde of the ma.in body ca.se
1 permits turning force of the cord reel 16 to be
transmitted to the dust removing element 49 by way of ;~ -
gear 21, drive gear 22, face gear 24~ drive coupling 26, :-
driven coupling 53, transmission gear 51, and dust
removing gear 50, so that the dust removing element 49
is rotated to rub the rear surfa.ce of the filter body
46. Shown at 58 are tra.velling wheels mounted on the
case 1, and at 59 is a travelling wheel mounted on the
dust case 35.
As shown in the drawings, assume Nl as the
number of teeth of the gea.r 21 mounted on the cord reel
16, N2 as the number of teeth of the drive gear 22, N3 as
the number of teeth of the face gear 24, N~ as the number
25 of teeth of the transmission gear 51, and N5 as the -
number of teeth of the dust removing gear 50. Then?
the rotational speed of the shaft 50a of the dust-
removing gea.r 50 can be given by multiplying the ~ -
rotational speed of the rotary shaft 16 of the cord ..
N x N
reel 16 by ~ .
- 10 -
-
105386~2
1 Accordingly, if the value f N1 x N4 is ]ess
than 1, then the rotational speed of the dust-removing
gear 50 is less than that of the cord reel 16.
In order to accomodate the transmission
means 21 and the dust removing means 47 within
the case 1 of a practical size and the dust case 35,
respectively, it is desirable to render the value of
N x N
Nl x N4 between 1/2 and 1/5. In the embodiment, the
numbers Nl, N2, N3, N4 and N5 of teeth of the respective
gears are 53, 13, 41, 13 and 70, respectively.
The filter body 46 consists of a corrugated
filter medium 46a, and a frame body 46b made of synthetic
resin and holding the corrugated filter medium 46a.
Provided in the groove portions of the corrugations of
the corrugated filter medium 46a, i.e., on the side
opposite to the side of the filter, which is rubbed by
the dust removing element 49, i.e., in the corners
right behind the ridge 46c of the corrugated filter
medium 46a are spacers 71 having a triangular cross
section and made of synthetic resin. As shown in Fig. 13,
~ ~ there are provided reinforcing members 46d on the ridges
of the corrugations of the corrugated filter medium 46a
on the side opposite to the side of the corrugation, which ~
is rubbed by the dust removing element 49. ;
~he spacers 71 and the reinforcing members
~ 46b are connected by connecting ribs 46e, as best
- shown in Figs. 12 to 14.
Shown at 72 is a plug for a potential source,
which is secured to the end of the cord 17, and shown
at 73 is a cover for an opening 74 for drawing out the
.. . .
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:~S3~6Z
1 cord 17 therethrough. A transparent cover 75 for a
dust indicator 31 is positioned in the first handle
portion 2.
The cord reel 16 includes upper and lower
side plates 16a, 16b which are provided separately and
secured in position by means of a screw 76.
A condensor 77 is secured to the electric
blower 10 by means of a supporting piece 78 and a ~-
screw 79. A carbon brush is designa-ted by the reference ;
numeral 80.
Shown at 81 is a screw which couples together
the lefthand and righthand cases lb and la, and at 82
a change - over switch secured to the rear, top surface
of the main body case 1 by means of a metal piece 83
to select either of the watt consumptions 450 watt and
600 watt.
Wheels 59 are attached to the undersurface
of the dust case 35 by means of a support plate 84,~`
washer 85, screw 86 and nut 87. A check valve 40 is -
20 attached in position in the air intake opening by means i-
of a spring 88. An air intake opening cover 90 is -~
attached to the front surface of the dust case 35 by
means of a screw 89. A packing 91 is used for sealing
between the intake air-opening cover 90 and the dust
case 35. A lead wire 92 is provided for the remote
control of a manual switch and provided on a hose to
be inserted into the intake air opening 39. The lead
wire 92 is received within the second handle 41. Shown
at 93 is a remote control relay, and at 94a, 94b, 94c
and 94d silencing members positioned on the outer
12 -
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:
105386Z
1 periphery of the electric blowel 10 and made of a flame
proof material. Sho~.n at 95 is a stationary locking `;
portion.
With the above-mentioned arrangement~ when the
electric blower 10 is operatedj then the dust which ha.s
been introduced through the air inta.ke opening 39 is
removed or remains on the net filter 45 and filter 46.
The air flow which has passed through the filter 46
travels through the exhaust air chamber 7 from the ..
exhaust opening 33 outside the ma.in body case 1, while
cooling the electric blower 10 on their way to outside.
The rough dust is collected in the rough dust chamber 37
by means of the net filter 45, while fine dust is
collected in a fine dust chamber 38 by means of the
filter 45.
The drawing out or winding of the cord 17
causes the cord reel 16 to rota.te. The rotation of the .
cord reel 16 is transmitted to the dust removing :
element 49 by way of first gear 21, drive gear 22, fa.ce
gear 24, drive coupling 26, driven coupling 53, transmis-
sion gear 51, and dust removing gear 50, thus rotating
the dust removing element 49. ;
The dust removing element 49 rubs the back .
surface of the filter body 46 during its rotation, so
that the dust clinging to the filter body 46 drops
in the fine-dust chamber 38.
The shaft of the dust removing gea.r 50 for
rotating the dust removing element 49 produces a. torque~
. N x N
of which value amounts to -3'~ , that is, approxima.tely
4.2 in the case of this embodiment times the torque of
13 -
.
~05386Z : ~:
1 the reel shaft 15 of the cord reel 16, so that thetorque produced on the reel shaft 15 of the cord reel 16
may be approximately 1/4.2 times the torque on the ~ -
shaft of the dust removing gear 39. Accordingly, the ~ .
coil spring 20 is required to p:roduce a toraue, sufficient
to wind the cord 17, in addition to a torque amounting .
to approximately 1/4.2 times the torque produced on :
the shaft of the dust removing gear 39.
In contrast thereto, Figo 19 shows the prior
10 art cord reel assembly, wherein the rotation or turning .
force of the cord reel 160 is transmitted through a .
first gear 210 to a drive gear 220 and then to the .
ratchet type coupling 260. Then, the rotation i9
transmitted from the coupling 260 to the ratchet type
15 coupling 530 which is so designed as to rotate only ..
in one direction by means of a coupling spring 410, then . :
from the coupling 530 to a mount 550 mounting the dust
removing element 490 thereon, for turning the mount 550.
In this case, assume Na as the number of teeth of the
gear 210, and Nb as the number of teeth of the drive
; -.
gear 220, and the value of Na./Nb is larger than one.
Then, for rotating the dust removing element 490, a. ~
- tGrque required for the reel shaft of the cord reel 160 ~ ~;
should be Na/Nb times the torque required for rotating : . ..
25 the dust removing element 490. As a. result, the torque ~:
to be produced by the coil spring will be considera.ble. . .
Assume Tl as the torque required for winding
the cord 17, and T2 as the torque required for rotating
the dust removing element 49. Then 5 the torque To to be
produced by means.of the coil spring 20 in this embodiment
- 14 _
1~538~iiZ -
1 and a torque T to be produced by means of the prior
art coil spring are given as follows:
To ~ Tl ~ (1/2 to 1/5) x T2
T = Tl ~ (one or more than one) x T2.
As can be seen from this, the torque T2 required for
rotating the dust removing element 49 is considerably
small as compared with the torque Tl required for
winding the cord 17, in the case of this embodiment.
As a result, the embodiment shown permits the dust
removing element 49 to be operated without the need of
increasing a torque to be produced by the coil spring
20 either in the drawing out direction or in the winding
direction of the cord 17.
As is apparent from the foregoing, the dust
removing element 49 slidingly strikes the top edge
portion 46c of the corrugations of the filter body 46
from the both directions,-as shown in Fig. 17, both
upon winding and drawing out the cord 17, so that the
top edge portions 46c of the corrugations of the filter
body 46 will not be deformed. In this respect, according
to the prior art dust removing element, the ridged
portions 46c of the corruga-tions of the filter body 46
is hit by the dust removing element only in one direction,
so that the repetition of such an operation leads to the
deformation of the ridged portions 46c with the resulting
failure of the dust removing element in stri~ing the
ridged portions of the corrugations sufficiently. In
- 15 - `~
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1~5386Z :
1 addition, according to this embodiment, a suction force
whose level is lowered down to a point X after the
cleaning operation as shown in Fig. 20 may be recovered
to a point Y according to the winding operation of the
5 cord 17, and then further recovered to a point Z according `- `
to the drawing out operation of the cord 17 at the sta.rt
of the cleaning operation. As a result, the cleaning
operation ma.y be started under a. strong suction force. ~
In addition, if the cord 17 is wound after the
completion of the cleaning operation, then the dust
clinging to the filter 46 may be automatically removed, ~ n
thus presenting convenience for the cleaning operation. :
I~ the normal operation, the dust removing
operation is carried out automa.tically by winding and ~
15 drawing out the cord 17 in the normal cleaning opera.tion, `: . .
presenting a characteristic as shown by a curve l Ut in ~. :
Fig. 21. A curve 'W' in Fig. 21 represents the ~ -
characteristic in the case of the dust removing opera~
tion which is carried out only manually. The comparison ...
of the curve 'U' with the curve 'W' reveals that the 'U
curve allows the collection of dust of a much more amount
as compared with the curve 'W'. In other words, the
curve 'U' allows the cleaning under a strong suction
force, in terms of the same amount of dust being
collected. However, in case the filter body 46 is
clogged~ then a suction force may be recovered only up
to the point X in Fig. 21, in the case of the dust
removing operation utilizing the turning force of the
cord reel .6.
In such a. case, the movable locking po~tion 42
- 16 -
1053136;~ `
1 is unlocked, so that the dust Gase 35 may removed from
the main body case 1. As a result~ the dust removing
assembly 47 may be separated from the transmission
assembly 21 along the line Ql ~ Ql' in Fig. 16, i.e.
into the side of the main body case 1 and the side
of the dust case 35, so that the dust removing knob
56 becomes exposed. Then, the dust removing knob 56
is rotated, so that the dust removing element 49 may
hit the top edge portions 46c of the corrugations of
the filter body 46. In this manner, the suction force
or quantity of air can be recovered to the point X3
in Fig. 21.
In this embodiment, when the dust removing ;
knob 56 is rotated, the transmission gear 51 and the
driven coupling 53 remain idling, so that the dust
removing element 49 may be rotated with ease.
In case the striking portion 49a and the dust
removing body portion 49b are placed in parallel with
the surface of the filter 46, then the distance from the
filter ~6 to the dust removing body portion 49b is
shortened by the width of the striking portion 49a, as
compared with the prior art arrangement, wherein the
striking portion 49a is positioned between the filter 46
and the dust removing body portion 49b. In other words,
the dust removing assembly 47 7 electric blower 10 and
cord reel 16 may be placed closer to each other by the
width of the striking portion 49a. As a result, the
cleaner case consisting of the main body case 1 and
the dust case 35 may be rendered smaller in size than
that of the conventional cleaner caseO Particularly in
:~ .
- 17 -
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- : ~ . - . . . . .. :. . . .. ... . .. .. ..
10531362 :
1 case the dust rernoving element 49 is ma.de of a wire a.s
in this embodiment, the width of the striking portion
49a of a bent wire will be only the distance from the
filter 46 to the dust removing body portion 49b, so
5 that the size of the cleaner case ma.y be rendered smaller -
in size. In addition, the dust removing element 49 -
is formed by simply bending a wire, so that the manufac- .
turing steps are much simplified. Since the protective
material covers the end portion of the dust removing .
lO element 49, the damage and wear in the filter body 46 :
may be prevented.
As shown in Fig. 23, if the filter is bent
into a corrugated shape having sharp corners as in the
filter 460, the relatively small-sized dust or sand .
would be caught in the groove portions of the corruga-
tions. In contrast thereto~ as shown in Figs. 22 and
- 24~ the filter body 46 shown has spacers 71 in the groove
portions of the corrugations, so that there is no risk
of dust 99 being caught in the groove portions of the
corrugations, but the dust tends to cling to the side
surface of the groove portions or drops in the fine-
dust chamber 38 in the dust case 35. :
In addition, if the dust removing element 49slidingly hits or rubs the back surface of the filter
body 46 free of the spacers 71, then there arises a
possibility of cracking or tear in the top edge portions ~
of the corruga.tions on the back surfa.ces of the filter -
body 460. In contrast thereto, a.s shown Figs. 22 and
24, with the filter body 46 having spacers 71, if the
filter surface causes wear of a depth of X4 as shown
.~
- 18 -
' ~' .
.~ - - - - . . , . , . ~ . , :
.- . :, . , . . : . . ,
1~5;~36Z
1 in Fig. 24, then there results only exposed spacers 71
presenting no possibility of causing cracking holes or
tear in the surface of the filter body ~6. In addition,
the spacers 71 protect the corrugated filter 46a ~rom
wear and damage due to the rubbing motions of the dust
removing element 49, while the reinforcing member 46b
protects the corrugated filter 46a from damage due to
inadvertent external force of the user. In other words,
in the case of the prior art arrangement as shown in
Fig. 25, if an external force P3 is exerted on the top
edge portions of the corrugations of the filter 460,
then there is created an abnorma1 stress in the joint
portion between the corrugated filter 461 and the holding
frame 462~ thus leading to cracking 463 in the filter
461 made of paper and having a low mechanical strength.
In contrast thereto, in the case of this embodiment as
sho~ in Fig. 15, even if an external force P4 is applied
to the filter, the reinforcing member 46b is deformed
elastically, thereby preventing the creation of the
abnormal stress in the joint portion between the corrugated
filter medium 46a and the frame body 46b, with the
resulting prevention of the filter 46 from damage.
On the other hand, if the filter body 46 is
exposed to moisture, the filter body causes linear
expansion, so that the corrugated filter 46a is bent
or wrinkled, failing to achieve the intended dust remov-
- ing effect. In this embodiment, however, the spacers 71
and reinforcing members 46b absorb the moisture and thus
cause the linear expansion, thereby preventing the
waving phenomenon or wrinkles of the corrugated filter.
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1~)53862 ~
1 As shown in Fig. 14~ the spacers 71 and
reinforcing members 46d are placed on the same side of .
the filter 46, so tha.t the reinforcing members L~6a and
frame body 46b may be molded integra.lly by using a .
5 plastic material. In such a ca.se, a.s shown, a gate .
100, through which the plastic material is injected,
may be placed only in a cavity for the reinforcing
member 46d, thus allowing the molding of the both ^;
spacers 71 and the reinforcing members 46d. This avoids
the provision of the gate 100 as well as a gate to be
positioned in the cavities for the groove portions, in .
the casting mold. As a resul-t, productivity can be
much improved, without the need of providing such
excessive gates 100.
Still furthermore~ as shown in Fig. 4, the .
cord reel 16 and the transmission components associated
therewith are placed as one block, or a sub-assembly,
so that these components may be built in the main body i~
case 1 with ease, but without a risk of the transmission
components being out of engagement.
Meanwhile, with this embodiment, the dust case .-
35 is installed in the case 1, and then the stationary :
- locking portion 95 is fitted, after which the movable
locking portion 43 is engaged. In this case, however,
25 the coupling portion is pla.ced close to the stationary `-
locking portion 95, so that there is no possibility of
the coupling portion being da.ma.ged, due to their low .. : .
impinging speed. Still furthermore, this fa.cilita.tes ~:.
the alignment of the both axes of rotations a.t the time `.
of engagement of.coupling~ thus minimizing the loss
,
~ - 20 -
~053862
1 in torque in the coupling porti.on, with the accompan~ing
positive transmission of torqueO . ..
As is apparent from the foregoing description, -
the vacuum cleaner a.ccording to the present invention
5 permits smooth dust removing operations both upon .
drawing out and winding the cord from and around the
cord reél.
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