Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of reducing noise.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner comprises: a case body having an air inlet and air outlets; a ventilation passage for allowing air from the air inlet to flow toward the air outlets; an electric suction machine arranged in the ventilation passage; a dust collection part arranged in the ventilation passage on an upstream side of the electric suction machine in an air flowing direction; and a sound reduction part arranged in the ventilation passage between the dust collection part and the electric suction machine so as to reduce noise including drive sound of the electric suction machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional vacuum cleaner, Patent Document 1 discloses a canister-type vacuum cleaner in which a partition wall having a communication port is provided between a dust collection chamber and an electric blower in the vacuum cleaner body, a vibration plate is provided on the upstream side of the partition wall in the airflow direction, and a sound absorbing member is arranged in a hole-like space provided in the vibration plate. According to this vacuum cleaner, when the electric blower is operated, high-frequency sound is generated from the electric blower, and the high-frequency sound is radiated toward the dust collection chamber through the communication port in front of the electric blower, and the high-frequency sound passing through the vibration plate is absorbed by the sound absorbing member to reduce noise. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-5561 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of the vacuum cleaner of Patent Document 1, the sound-absorbing material between the dust collection chamber and the electric blower impedes air flow, and suction performance is easily reduced due to pressure loss caused by the sound-absorbing material. Therefore, there is a demand for a vacuum cleaner that can reduce noise without reducing suction performance.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides an electric vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having an intake port and an exhaust port, a ventilation passage through which air from the intake port flows to the exhaust port, an electric suction machine provided in the ventilation passage, a dust collection section provided in the ventilation passage upstream of the electric suction machine in the airflow direction, and a sound reduction section provided in the ventilation passage between the dust collection section and the electric suction machine for reducing noise, including the driving sound of the electric suction machine, by the sound reduction section. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, noise can be reduced without reducing suction performance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a vertical sectional view of a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a vacuum cleaner body in a vacuum cleaner of a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an intake side sound reducing portion of the vacuum cleaner body of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an exhaust-side sound reducing portion of the vacuum cleaner body of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a cleaner body in a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an intake side sound reducing section of a vacuum cleaner body according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an intake side sound reducing portion of a vacuum cleaner body according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 13 is a structural explanatory diagram of an intake side sound reducing portion of a fourth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is a structural explanatory diagram of an intake side sound reducing portion of a fifth embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description is illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0010] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention. The vacuum cleaner 1 is a stick-type vacuum cleaner including a vacuum cleaner body 2 and a suction port body 3 detachably connected to the vacuum cleaner body 2. The housing 5 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 has a cylindrical body 6, a cylindrical tapered portion 7 connected to the body 6, a cylindrical first thin housing portion 8 connected to the tapered portion 7, a cylindrical bent portion 9 connected to the first thin housing portion 8, and a cylindrical second thin housing portion 10 connected to the bent portion 9. In the present embodiment, the housing 5 is generally cylindrical, but is not limited to being cylindrical, and may be partially or entirely rectangular or cylindrical with a polygonal cross section.

[0011] The suction port body 3 comprises a suction port body 11 placed on a floor surface F, a joint portion 12 connected to the suction port body 11, and a connection pipe portion 13 connected to the joint portion 12. The connection pipe portion 13 is connected to the suction port body 11 via the joint portion 12, so that the connection pipe portion 13 can rotate in the front-rear and left-right directions relative to the suction port body 11. In this description, the direction in which the suction port body 3 moves forward is referred to as the front, the opposite side is referred to as the rear, the right side facing the front is referred to as the right side, and the opposite side is referred to as the left side.

[0012] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner 1 of the first embodiment. In the housing 5 of the vacuum cleaner main body 2, of the body 6, the first thin housing part 8, and the second thin housing part 10, the body 6 has the largest inner diameter and outer diameter, the first thin housing part 8 has the next largest inner diameter and outer diameter, and the second thin housing part 10 has the smallest inner diameter and outer diameter. Inside the housing 5, a partition wall 21 is provided at the boundary between the first thin housing part 8 and the second thin housing part 10 to separate the internal space of the first thin housing part 8 from the internal space of the second thin housing part 10, and the internal space of the first thin housing part 8 and the internal space of the second thin housing part 10 do not communicate with each other.

[0013] 2 shows the state of the vacuum cleaner 1 when cleaning a floor surface F, and at this time, when the user holds the second thin housing part 10, the vacuum cleaner 1 is in a state in which the suction port body 3 is located at the frontmost position, the second thin housing part 10 is located at the rearmost position, and the vacuum cleaner body 2 is inclined backward from the lower end 14 to the upper end 15. The second thin housing part 10 is formed thinner than the first thin housing part 8 so that it can be easily gripped by the user's hand, functions as a handle, and is inclined further toward the floor surface F relative to the first thin housing part 8 so that it is easier for the user to grip. In the following description, the lower end 14 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 shown in FIG. 2 may be referred to as one end 14, and the upper end 15 may be referred to as the other end 15.

[0014] 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the vacuum cleaner body 2 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the first embodiment. The housing 5 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 has an intake port 31 on the end surface on the one end 14 side of the body 6, and an exhaust port 32 on the periphery of the body 6. Inside the housing 5, there are provided an air passage 33 for flowing air from the intake port 31 to the exhaust port 32, an electric suction machine 34 provided in the air passage 33, a dust collection section 35 provided on the air passage 33 upstream of the electric suction machine 34 in the airflow direction, an intake side sound reduction section 36 provided in the air passage 33 between the dust collection section 35 and the electric suction machine 34 and constituting a part of the air passage 33, and an exhaust side sound reduction section 37 provided in the air passage 33 between the electric suction machine 34 and the exhaust port 32 and constituting a part of the air passage 33. Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment, the suction port body 3 is provided with an intake port body side sound reduction section 22 (see FIG. 2).

[0015] 3, the second thin housing portion 10 is provided at a position away from the electric suction device 34 and has a hollow interior, in which a battery serving as a power source for driving the electric suction device 34 or an electric cord with a plug connectable to a commercial power source may be stored. The connection portion 13a (see FIG. 2) of the connection tube portion 13 of the suction port body 3 is inserted into the intake port 31 of the housing 5 of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 for connection.

[0016] In the vacuum cleaner body 2, a dust collection section 35, an intake side sound reduction section 36, and an electric suction machine 34 are provided in the body 6 in this order from the intake port 31 side. The dust collection section 35 has an inlet 35a at one end through which dust-containing air flows in from the intake port 31, and an outlet 35b at the other end through which the air from which dust has been removed is discharged to the intake side sound reduction section 36, and a dust collection bag or a dust collection device is stored in the internal space of the dust collection section 35. In the case of a dust collection bag, a so-called paper bag that accumulates dust in a breathable pack body is used. In the case of a dust collection device including a container body and a filter, a configuration is conceivable in which dust captured by the filter is accumulated in the container body, and air from which dust has been removed is exhausted from an exhaust port of the dust collection device. Alternatively, in the case of a cyclone-type dust collector, a cyclone section including a centrifugal separator (inner cylinder) and a container body is provided, and dust is separated in the cyclone section, the separated dust is stored in the container body, and the air from which the dust has been removed is exhausted from the exhaust port of the cyclone section. An openable and closable lid (not shown) constituting a part of the housing 5 is provided near the dust collector 35, and the dust can be disposed of by opening the lid and removing the dust collection pack or the dust collector (dust collection container) from inside the dust collector 35. The lid has a double structure in which a part of the outer wall (housing 5) and a part of the wall surface forming the dust collector 35 are integrated, and the dust collection pack is removed by opening the lid. The double-structure lid can also reduce noise during operation. In addition, when reducing wind noise (intake) more effectively, it is preferable to use a filter-type dust collector or dust collection pack rather than a cyclone-type dust collector. This is because in a cyclone type dust collector, the wind speed increases in the cyclone section, causing increased wind noise. Filter type dust collectors and dust collection packs do not have a cyclone section, so they can reduce wind noise (intake) more than cyclone type dust collectors.

[0017] Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the suction side sound reduction section 36 of the vacuum cleaner body of Fig. 3. The suction side sound reduction section 36 is equipped with a sound reduction pipe 41 having one end opening 36a connected to the exhaust port 35b of the dust collection section 35 and the other end opening 36b connected to the suction port 34a of the electric suction machine 34. The suction side sound reduction section 36 is configured to reduce noise including the ventilation noise of air flowing from the dust collection section 35 to the suction side sound reduction section 36 and the driving noise of the electric suction machine 34 moving from the electric suction machine 34 to the suction side sound reduction section 36, and the detailed configuration and sound reduction action of the suction side sound reduction section 36 will be described in detail later.

[0018] Cylindrical sound-reduction covers 38, 39 are provided around the sound-reduction pipe 41 and the electric suction machine 34. The intake-side sound-reduction section 36 includes the sound-reduction cover 38 around the sound-reduction pipe 41. There is a gap between the housing 5 and the sound-reduction covers 38, 39, and this gap forms part of the ventilation passage 33. The housing 5 is provided with a large number of through-hole-like exhaust ports 32 in a portion that is the underside during cleaning and extends from the vicinity of the exhaust port 35b of the dust collection section 35 to the electric suction machine 34.

[0019] Returning to Fig. 3, the exhaust-side sound-reducing section 37 includes a sound-reducing tube 51. The sound-reducing tube 51 has a one-end opening 37a connected to the sound-reducing cover 39 and a other-end opening 37b disposed near the partition wall 21 inside the first thin housing section 8 (see Fig. 5). The other-end opening 37b of the sound-reducing tube 51 opens toward the partition wall 21 at the other end of the first thin housing section 8. The exhaust-side sound-reducing section 37 is configured to reduce noise including the ventilation noise of the air flowing downstream from the electric suction machine 34 in the airflow direction and the driving noise of the electric suction machine 34 from the electric suction machine 34 toward the downstream in the airflow direction, and the detailed configuration and sound-reducing action of the exhaust-side sound-reducing section 37 will be described in detail later. In the vacuum cleaner body 2, the dust collection section 35, the intake side sound reduction section 36, the electric suction device 34 and the exhaust side sound reduction section 37, which are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream in the airflow direction of the ventilation passage 33, are aligned on the same central axis 40.

[0020] 3, the ventilation passage 33 has a first exhaust passage 33A extending from the electric suction machine 34 to the inside of the first thin housing portion 8, and a second exhaust passage 33B which is folded back at the partition wall 21 in the first thin housing portion 8 and extends to the exhaust port 32. The first exhaust passage 33A is an exhaust passage formed by the sound attenuation tube 51 of the exhaust-side sound attenuation section 37, and the second exhaust passage 33B is an exhaust passage formed by the outer periphery of the sound attenuation tube 51 and the first thin housing portion 8. Furthermore, the ventilation passage 33 has a first expansion section 33C at the folded back portion between the first exhaust passage 33A and the second exhaust passage 33B, and has a second expansion section 33D midway along the second exhaust passage 33B. Therefore, when the electric suction machine 34 is driven, the air in the ventilation passage 33 passes through the dust collecting section 35, the suction side sound reducing section 36, the electric suction machine 34 and the first exhaust passage 33A from the intake port 31, enters the first expansion section 33C, turns back and flows into the second exhaust passage 33B, passes through the second expansion section 33D midway along the second exhaust passage 33B, and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 32. Note that a sound absorbing material may be attached to the partition wall 21. The intake air is exhausted from the exhaust port 32 through a plurality of parts having a sound reduction effect, such as sound reduction by the suction port body side sound reduction part 22 described later, sound reduction by the intake side sound reduction part 36, sound reduction by the exhaust side sound reduction part 37, sound reduction by the second exhaust path 33B which forms a long exhaust path by having a turn-back part between the first exhaust path 33A and the second exhaust path 33B between the exhaust side sound reduction part 37 and the exhaust port 32, and sound reduction by the first expansion part 33C provided at the turn-back part between the first exhaust path 33A and the second exhaust path 33B and the second expansion part 33D provided midway through the second exhaust path 33B. Therefore, compared to a case where a plurality of parts having a sound reduction effect, including a sound reduction part, are not provided, the sound reduction effect is improved, and an electric vacuum cleaner with a low operating noise can be realized. In this case, since the dust collection section 35, the intake side sound reduction section 36, the electric suction machine 34 and the exhaust side sound reduction section 37 are aligned on the same central axis 40 within the housing 5, exhaust loss can be kept low and suction performance can be maintained.

[0021] <Sound-reducing section on intake side> Returning to FIG. 4, the intake side sound reduction section 36 has a sound reduction tube 41 that can be ventilated. The sound reduction tube 41 has a straight tube section 41a that has a constant inner diameter and outer diameter and extends straight, and a tapered section 41b whose opening widens toward the upstream side (one end side) in the airflow direction. Hereinafter, the tapered section 41b of the sound reduction tube 41 of the intake side sound reduction section 36 may be referred to as the first tapered section 41b. The first tapered section 41b is provided on the upstream side (one end side) of the sound reduction tube 41 in the airflow direction, and the one end opening 36a, which is the largest opening of the first tapered section 41b, is connected to the exhaust port 35b of the dust collection section 35. The other end (the end on the other end side), which is the smallest opening of the first tapered section 41b, is connected to one end (the end on the one end side) of the straight tube section 41a. The straight tube section 41a may have a shape that does not have the tapered section 41b on the one end side. When the dust collection section 35 does not have a tapered section, the dust collection section 35 can be expanded to the area where the tapered section is present, thereby increasing the capacity of the dust collection section 35. Alternatively, the straight pipe section 41a can be extended to the area where the tapered section is present, and a through hole 42 (described later) can be provided at the extended area, thereby improving the noise reduction effect. Also, instead of the straight pipe section 41a of the sound reduction pipe 41, a curved pipe, a pipe bent in a crank shape, or the like may be used.

[0022] The sound-reducing tube 41 has a structure that allows ventilation on at least a part of the surrounding surface. In the case of this embodiment, the structure that allows ventilation of the sound-reducing tube 41 is a plurality of through holes 42 that penetrate the inner surface and the outer surface of the straight tube portion 41a. The range in which the plurality of through holes 42 are provided is a range that covers the entire circumference of the straight tube portion 41a, and is a range that covers from the end portion on one end side of the straight tube portion 41a to the vicinity of the other end opening 36b. The plurality of through holes 42 allow the air inside the straight tube portion 41a to be ventilated to the expansion chamber 43, which is the internal space between the straight tube portion 41a and the sound-reducing cover 38. The expansion chamber 43 is an annular space centered on the central axis 40 of the vacuum cleaner body 2. In this embodiment, the through hole 42 is circular, but the shape of the through hole 42 is not particularly limited, and may be an ellipse, an oval, a polygon such as a triangle or a square (including a lattice shape), or an indefinite shape. In the present embodiment, the through holes 42 penetrate the straight pipe portion 41a in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 40, but the through holes 42 may penetrate the straight pipe portion 41a in a direction oblique to the central axis 40. The range in which the multiple through holes 42 are provided may not be the entire circumference of the straight pipe portion 41a in the longitudinal direction, but may be a part of the circumference, or may be a range from the vicinity of one end of the straight pipe portion 41a to the vicinity of the other end opening 36b, or may be a range from the end of the straight pipe portion 41a to the other end opening 36b. Alternatively, the through holes 42 may not be provided in the middle of the straight pipe portion 41a, but may be provided in a predetermined range on the end side of the one end and in a predetermined range on the other end opening 36b side.

[0023] 4, an annular seal member (not shown) is provided around the vicinity of suction port 34a of electric suction machine 34, and the other end opening 36b of sound reduction tube 41 is in close contact with this seal member. The inner diameter of the other end opening 36b of sound reduction tube 41 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of suction port 34a of electric suction machine 34, and other end opening 36b completely surrounds suction port 34a.

[0024] A connecting tube portion 44 is provided on the other end side of the sound attenuation tube 41 in this embodiment. The connecting tube portion 44 has an inner diameter and an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the other end opening 36b of the sound attenuation tube 41, and the other end opening 44a of the connecting tube portion 44 is connected to the one end opening 39a of the sound attenuation cover 39. Furthermore, a step portion 44b is provided on the connecting tube portion 44 on the one end side of the other end opening 44a, and the other end opening 38a of the sound attenuation cover 38 fits into and is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the step portion 44b. The one end opening 38b of the sound attenuation cover 38 abuts against the outer surface of the first tapered portion 41b of the sound attenuation tube 41 with almost no gap.

[0025] According to this embodiment, during cleaning, the leakage of noise, including the airflow noise generated when air flows in and out of the dust collecting unit 35 and the driving noise generated by the electric suction machine 34, to the outside of the housing 5 can be suppressed by the intake-side sound-reducing unit 36 ​​as follows. The noise generated on the dust collecting unit 35 side and the electric suction machine 34 side is transmitted to the inside of the sound-reducing tube 41. The noise (sound waves) is introduced into the expansion chamber 43 through the multiple through holes 42 of the sound-reducing tube 41, and a part of the noise is reduced by sound wave interference in the expansion chamber 43. This reduces the noise level leaking to the outside of the housing 5. Furthermore, on the outside of the other end side of the straight tube portion 41a and the first tapered portion 41b of the sound-reducing tube 41, a sound-reducing cover 38 is provided as an inner cylinder wall of the inner space (expansion chamber 43), and on the outside of the sound-reducing cover 38, the housing 5 is provided as an outer cylinder wall of the outer space (part of the second exhaust passage 33B). In this way, the intake-side sound-reducing section 36 has a structure in which a wall (sound-reducing pipe 41), a space (expansion chamber 43), a wall (sound-reducing cover 38), a space (part of the second exhaust passage 33B), and a wall (housing 5) are arranged from the inside of the sound-reducing pipe 41 to the outside, so this structure also contributes to noise reduction. Furthermore, the sound-reducing cover 39 around the electric suction machine 34 also contributes to noise reduction.

[0026] <Exhaust sound reduction section> 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the exhaust side sound reduction section 37 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the first exhaust passage 33A has a sound reduction pipe 51 that can be ventilated. The sound reduction pipe 51 has a straight pipe section 51a and a tapered section 51b whose opening widens toward the upstream side (one end side) in the airflow direction. Hereinafter, the tapered section 51b of the sound reduction pipe 51 of the exhaust side sound reduction section 37 may be referred to as the second tapered section 51b. The second tapered section 51b is provided on the upstream side (one end side) of the sound reduction pipe 51 in the airflow direction, and the one end opening 37a, which is the largest opening of the second tapered section 51b, is connected to the other end opening of the sound reduction cover 39. The other end, which is the smallest opening of the second tapered section 51b, is connected to one end of the straight pipe section 51a. High-frequency sound from the electric suction machine 34 is attenuated while being reflected by the tapered inner surface of the second tapered portion 51b, whose cross-sectional area decreases toward the downstream side in the air flow direction. The length from one end to the other end of the second tapered portion 51b is longer than the length of the electric suction machine 34 in the longitudinal direction. By lengthening the length of the second tapered portion in this manner, the taper angle of the second tapered portion 51b can be made gentler, thereby improving the attenuation effect of high-frequency sound.

[0027] The sound-reducing tube 51 has a structure that allows ventilation on at least a part of the surrounding surface. In the case of this embodiment, the structure that allows ventilation of the sound-reducing tube 51 is a plurality of through holes 53 that penetrate the inner surface and the outer surface of the straight tube portion 51a. The range in which the plurality of through holes 53 are provided is a range that covers the entire circumference of the straight tube portion 51a, and is a range that extends from the vicinity of one end side of the straight tube portion 51a to the vicinity of the middle portion. A sound-reducing cover 56 that covers the plurality of through holes 53 is provided in the range in which the plurality of through holes 53 of the straight tube portion 51a are provided. The plurality of through holes 53 allow the air inside the straight tube portion 51a to ventilate to an expansion chamber 57, which is an internal space between the straight tube portion 51a and the sound-reducing cover 56. The expansion chamber 57 is an annular space centered on the central axis 40 of the vacuum cleaner main body 2. In this embodiment, the through hole 53 is circular, but the shape of the through hole 53 is not particularly limited, and may be an ellipse, an oval, a polygon such as a triangle or a square (including a lattice shape), or an indefinite shape. The second exhaust passage 33B is an annular space around the sound-reducing tube 51. The range in which the multiple through holes 42 are provided may be a range over the entire circumference in the longitudinal direction of the straight pipe portion 51a, a range from the vicinity of one end side of the straight pipe portion 51a to the vicinity of the other end opening 36b, or a range from the end of the one end side of the straight pipe portion 51a to the other end opening 37b. Alternatively, the through hole 53 may not be provided in the middle part of the straight pipe portion 51a, but may be provided in a predetermined range on the end side of the one end side and a predetermined range on the other end opening 37b side. In this embodiment, the through hole 53 penetrates the straight pipe portion 51a in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 40, but the through hole 53 may penetrate the straight pipe portion 51a in a direction oblique to the central axis 40.

[0028] During cleaning, noise generated on the electric suction machine 34 side is transmitted to the inside of the sound-reducing tube 51. The noise (sound waves) is introduced into the expansion chamber 57 through the multiple through holes 53 of the sound-reducing tube 51, and a part of the noise is reduced by sound wave interference in the expansion chamber 57. This reduces the noise level leaking to the outside of the housing 5. A sound-absorbing material may be provided to cover at least a part of at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface of the sound-reducing tube 51, or a sound-absorbing material may be provided to cover at least a part of at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface of the sound-reducing cover 39. In addition, it is preferable that the electric suction machine 34 is attached to the sound-reducing cover 39 or the tapered part 51b of the sound-reducing tube 51 via an elastic member such as rubber. This can reduce the transmission of vibrations of the electric suction machine 34 to the sound-reducing cover 39 or the tapered part 51b. In addition, it is preferable that the sound-reducing cover 39 or the sound-reducing tube 51 is attached to the inner surface of the housing 5 via an elastic member such as rubber. This can reduce the transmission of vibrations of the electric suction machine 34 to the housing 5. Rubber (e.g., butyl rubber) may be attached to the electric suction machine 34, the sound-reducing cover 39, the sound-reducing tube 51, etc. This can reduce the transmission of vibration from the electric suction machine 34 to the housing 5. The second expansion section 33D around the exhaust-side sound-reducing section 37 is formed by making the angle that the tapered section 7 of the housing 5 makes with respect to the central axis 40 gentler than the angle that the tapered section 51b of the sound-reducing tube 51 of the exhaust-side sound-reducing section 37 makes with respect to the central axis 40, and by positioning the end of the tapered section 7 on the first thin housing section 8 side closer to the second thin housing section 10 side (the other end side) than the end of the tapered section 51b on the straight tube section 51a side (see FIG. 5).

[0029] <About the sound-reducing part on the suction port body side> As shown in FIG. 2, the suction port body side sound reduction section 22 is provided inside the connection pipe section 13 of the suction port body 3. The suction port body side sound reduction section 22 has a sound reduction tube 22b with a plurality of through holes 22a provided around the entire circumference. An expansion chamber 23 is provided between the housing of the connection pipe section 13 and the sound reduction tube 22b, surrounding the periphery of the sound reduction tube 22b. During cleaning, noise generated on the side of the vacuum cleaner body 2 is transmitted to the inside of the suction port body side sound reduction section 22. The sound waves are introduced into the expansion chamber 23 through the through holes 22a, and a part of the sound is reduced by sound wave interference in the expansion chamber 23. This reduces the noise level leaking to the outside. In addition, the suction port body 3 may have a plurality of through holes in the upper wall of the rotating brush storage section that stores the rotating brush 24, and an expansion chamber may be provided above the upper wall of the rotating brush storage section to provide another suction port body side sound reduction section. This separate suction port body side sound reduction section can reduce noise including the driving sound of the rotating brush 24 and airflow sound.

[0030] As described above, in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2), the rotating brush 24, the dust collecting section 35, and the electric suction cleaner 34, which are the places where noise is generated, are concentrated on the upstream side of the air flow direction of the vacuum cleaner 1, and a noise source is not arranged on the downstream side. In addition, the second thin housing section 10, which is formed thinner than the first thin housing section 8 so that the user can easily hold it with his / her hand and functions as a handle, is provided at the opposite end farthest from the suction port body 3. With such a structure, the noise source is located at a position away from the user who uses the vacuum cleaner 1, and the sound reduction structure is provided on the side closer to the user, so that noise is less likely to be transmitted to the user. In the case of this embodiment, the vacuum cleaner main body 2 is configured using cylindrical members such as the dust collecting section 35, the straight pipe section 41a of the sound reduction pipe 41, the sound reduction covers 38 and 39, and the straight pipe section 51a of the sound reduction pipe 51, but is not limited to being cylindrical, and may be partially or entirely rectangular or cylindrical with a polygonal cross section.

[0031] (Modification 1 of the first embodiment) FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a vacuum cleaner body in a first modified example of the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the same elements as those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals. In the vacuum cleaner body 2X in the first modified example, the positions of the multiple exhaust ports 32 are provided on one end side of the housing 5 relative to the electric suction device 34. That is, in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3), the exhaust ports 32 are provided in a portion overlapping with the electric suction device 34, but in the first modified example, the exhaust ports 32 are not provided in a portion overlapping with the electric suction device 34. For example, the exhaust ports 32 may be provided in a portion that is the underside during cleaning and that extends from the vicinity of the discharge port 35b of the dust collecting section 35 to the front of the electric suction device 34. In this way, there are no exhaust ports 32 facing and close to the sound-reducing cover 39 that covers the electric suction device 34, so that noise leaking to the outside can be reduced compared to the case where there are exhaust ports 32 facing and close to the sound-reducing cover 39 (see FIG. 3).

[0032] (Modification 2 of the first embodiment) In the intake-side sound-reducing section 36 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a case where a plurality of through holes 42 are provided as a structure allowing ventilation on the peripheral surface of the sound-reducing tube 41 has been illustrated, but the structure allowing ventilation provided on the peripheral surface of the sound-reducing tube 41 is not limited to a plurality of through holes 42. For example, a breathable porous sound-absorbing material may be provided on the peripheral surface (inner surface) of the sound-reducing tube 41 that does not have a through hole. In this case, the sound-reducing cover 38 may be omitted from the sound-reducing tube 41. Alternatively, a portion of the sound-reducing tube 41 that does not have a through hole may be made of a breathable porous sound-absorbing material. In this case, noise (sound waves) passes through the sound-absorbing material and enters the expansion chamber 43, where it is reduced.

[0033] Second embodiment Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the suction side sound reducing section 61 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 of the second embodiment. In Fig. 7, the same elements as those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the suction side sound reducing section 61, and the other configurations in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. Below, the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 7, in the second embodiment, the intake-side sound-reducing section 61 has the same sound-reducing pipe 41 as in the first embodiment, which has a straight pipe section 41a and a tapered section 41b, and a sound-absorbing material 62 that covers the entire outer surface of the straight pipe section 41a of the sound-reducing pipe 41. For example, a thin sheet-like urethane foam can be used as the sound-absorbing material 62. By providing the sound-absorbing material 62, sound waves attempting to enter the expansion chamber 43 are absorbed by the sound-absorbing material 63, further improving the sound insulation performance (sound reduction performance).

[0035] 7 shows an example in which the thin sheet-like sound absorbing material 62 is wrapped around the outer surface of the sound attenuation tube 41, but the sound absorbing material 62 may be large enough to cover almost the entire interior of the expansion chamber 43 (large enough to fill almost the entire interior of the expansion chamber 43). The sound absorbing material 62 may cover a part of the outer surface of the sound attenuation tube 41, or the sound absorbing material 62 may cover at least a part of the inner surface of the sound attenuation tube 41, or the sound absorbing material 62 may cover at least a part of both the outer surface and the inner surface of the sound attenuation tube 41.

[0036] The exhaust-side sound-reducing part of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The exhaust-side sound-reducing part has a sound-reducing pipe 51 having a straight pipe portion 51a and a tapered portion 51b, which is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a thin sheet-like sound-absorbing material (not shown) that covers the entire outer surface of the straight pipe portion 51a of the sound-reducing pipe 51. For example, urethane foam can be used as the sound-absorbing material. By disposing the sound-absorbing material, sound waves that are about to enter the expansion chamber 57 are absorbed by the sound-absorbing material, so that the sound insulation performance is further improved. Although the example shows a case where a thin sheet-like sound-absorbing material is wrapped around the outer surface of the sound-reducing pipe 51, the sound-absorbing material may be large enough to cover almost the entire inside of the expansion chamber 57 (large enough to fill almost the entire inside of the expansion chamber). In addition, the sound-absorbing material may cover a part of the outer surface of the sound-reducing pipe 51, or the sound-absorbing material may cover at least a part of the inner surface of the sound-reducing pipe 51, or the sound-absorbing material may cover at least a part of both the outer surface and the inner surface of the sound-reducing pipe 51.

[0037] 5, the second embodiment may be further described. A sound absorbing material (e.g., urethane foam) (not shown) may be provided in the second exhaust path 33B. More specifically, the annular space around the sound attenuation pipe 51, which is the second exhaust path 33B, may be filled with the sound absorbing material. The sound absorbing material used is one that allows exhaust air to pass through (has air permeability). This makes it somewhat more difficult to exhaust the air, but the sound waves are absorbed by the sound absorbing material, improving the sound reduction effect. The first expansion section 33C provided at the turn-back portion between the first exhaust path 33A and the second exhaust path 33B and the second expansion section 33D provided midway along the second exhaust path 33B may also be filled with the same sound absorbing material.

[0038] Third embodiment Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the intake side sound reducing section 71 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 of the third embodiment. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 8. In Fig. 8, elements similar to those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals. The only difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is the configuration of the intake side sound reducing section 71, and the other configurations in the third embodiment are similar to those in the first embodiment. Below, the differences between the third embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, in the third embodiment, the intake side sound reducing section 71 is provided between the tapers of the first tapered section 41b and further includes a circular reflecting plate 72 that reflects the driving sound from the electric suction machine 34. The reflecting plate 72 has a plurality of legs 73, which are fixed to the inner surface of the first tapered section 41b. The reflecting plate 72 has a planar area larger than the area of ​​the smallest opening 74 of the first tapered section 41b, and is disposed at a position overlapping the smallest opening 74 of the first tapered section 41b when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis (the direction of the central axis 40) of the electric suction machine 34. The reflecting plate 72 is made of resin, metal, a composite material thereof, or the like.

[0040] Between the reflecting plate 72 and the inner surface of the first tapered portion 41b, a gap is provided through which air and noise from the dust collecting portion 35 can pass. By providing the reflecting plate 72 in the intake side sound reducing portion 71 of the third embodiment, when sound waves (driving sound) from the electric suction machine 34 pass through the straight pipe portion 41a of the sound reducing tube 41, the sound waves are reflected by the reflecting plate 72, so that the sound waves emitted from the opening 74 can be reduced from directly heading toward the dust collecting portion 35. In addition, the reflecting plate may be arranged so that the sound waves reflected by the reflecting plate 72 and returning to the straight pipe portion 41a and the sound waves heading from the electric suction machine 34 to the straight pipe portion 41a collide with each other and cancel each other out. Therefore, according to the intake side sound reducing portion 71 of the third embodiment, in addition to the noise (sound waves) that have passed through the multiple through holes 42 of the straight pipe portion 41a of the sound reducing tube 41 being reduced in the expansion chamber 43 as in the first embodiment, the noise reduction effect of the reflecting plate 72 can be obtained. In addition, when the sound-reducing tube 41 does not have a tapered portion 41b whose opening widens toward the upstream side (one end side) in the airflow direction, the opening 74 is connected to a hole in the other end wall of the dust collecting section 35 that faces the opening 74 on the upstream side of the straight tube portion 41a, a lattice plate is provided at a position slightly spaced from the other end wall in the dust collecting section 35, and a reflecting plate 72 is provided on the lattice plate at a position overlapping with the opening 74. In this way, when a dust collecting pack is accommodated in the internal space of the dust collecting section 35, it is possible to prevent the dust collecting pack from being sucked into the opening 74 and blocking the opening 74. When a dust collecting device is accommodated in the internal space of the dust collecting section 35, if the dust collecting device has a filter, a reflecting plate 72 is provided between the filter and the opening 74. In the case of a cyclone-type dust collecting device, a reflecting plate 72 is provided between the exhaust port of the cyclone section and the opening 74.

[0041] (Modification of the third embodiment) The intake-side sound-attenuating section 71 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may further include a sound-absorbing material that covers at least a part of at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface of the straight pipe section 41a of the sound-attenuating pipe 41.

[0042] (Fourth embodiment) Fig. 10 is a structural explanatory diagram of an intake side sound-reducing section 91 of the fourth embodiment. In Fig. 10, elements similar to those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals. The only difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is the configuration of the intake side sound-reducing section 91, and the other configurations in the fourth embodiment are similar to those in the first embodiment. Below, the differences between the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment will be mainly described.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 10, in the intake side sound attenuation section 91 of the fourth embodiment, the sound attenuation pipe 92 has a straight pipe section 92a, a tapered section 92b (hereinafter referred to as the first tapered section 92b), a connecting pipe section 92c that connects the straight pipe section 92a and the first tapered section 92b, and a baffle plate 92d provided inside the straight pipe section 92a. The baffle plate 92d is configured to gradually change the flow direction of air passing through the sound attenuation pipe 92. The peripheral wall of the straight pipe section 92a does not have a through hole (see FIG. 4) as in the first embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the dust collecting section 35 and the electric suction machine 34 are arranged on the same central axis 40, so that a housing similar to the housing 5 (see FIG. 3) in the first embodiment can be used.

[0044] In the case of this embodiment, the baffle plate 92d of the sound reduction tube 92 changes the direction of the air flow (arrow A) flowing from the dust collection section 35 into the sound reduction tube 92 to a direction (arrow B) that reverses the direction of the air flow by 180 degrees, and then changes the direction of the air flow to a direction (arrow C) that reverses the direction of the air flow by 180 degrees and guides the air to the electric suction machine 34 side, thereby changing the direction of the air flow stepwise. On the other hand, the sound waves (driving sound) from the electric suction machine 34 proceed through the sound reduction tube 92 in a path opposite to the air flow in the sound reduction tube 92, and the sound waves attenuate as they proceed through the sound reduction tube 92. In this way, the noise of the vacuum cleaner can also be reduced by the intake side sound reduction section 91 of the fourth embodiment. Also, as can be seen from FIG. 10, the ventilation passage inside the sound reduction tube 92 is configured such that thin and thick parts are alternately positioned in the air flow direction, and the thick parts become expansion parts. The air that flows into the sound reduction tube 92 passes through a plurality of expansion parts and is sucked into the electric suction machine 34. In this way, noise can be reduced by passing through multiple expansion sections.

[0045] (Modification 1 of the fourth embodiment) 10 may be configured to continuously change the direction of air flow passing through the sound reduction tube 92. In this case, the direction of air flow is continuously changed, for example, by changing the direction of air flow (arrow A) flowing from the dust collection unit 35 into the sound reduction tube 92 into a spiral direction while guiding the air to the electric suction machine 34 side. On the other hand, sound waves (driving sound) from the electric suction machine 34 travel through the sound reduction tube 92 in a path opposite to the air flow in the sound reduction tube 92, and the sound waves are attenuated as they travel through the sound reduction tube 92.

[0046] (Modification 2 of the fourth embodiment) The intake-side sound-reducing section 91 of the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 10 may have a sound-absorbing material covering at least a part of the inner surface of the straight pipe section 92a of the sound-reducing pipe 92, or may have a sound-absorbing material covering at least a part of the surface of the baffle plate 92d. Note that the sound-reducing structures of the fourth embodiment, the modified example 1 of the fourth embodiment, and the modified example 2 of the fourth embodiment are applicable to the exhaust-side sound-reducing section.

[0047] Fifth embodiment Fig. 11 is a structural explanatory diagram of the intake side sound-reducing section 101 of the fifth embodiment. In Fig. 11, elements similar to those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals. The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the intake side sound-reducing section 101, and the other configurations in the fifth embodiment are similar to those in the first embodiment. Below, the differences between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 11, the intake side sound attenuation section 101 of the fifth embodiment includes a first sound attenuation tube 103 provided on the rotation axis 102 of the electric suction machine 34, and a second sound attenuation tube 104 connected to the first sound attenuation tube 103. The first sound attenuation tube 103 has an open end 103a on the downstream side in the airflow direction connected to the suction port 34a of the electric suction machine 34, a closed end 103b provided so as to face the open end 103a, and a connection hole 103c provided on the wall surface between the open end 103a and the closed end 103b, through which air flows in from the intake port 31 (see FIG. 3). The inner and outer diameters of the first sound attenuation tube 103 on the closed end 103b side are larger than the inner and outer diameters on the open end 103a side, and the internal space on the closed end 103b side is an expansion section 103d.

[0049] The second sound attenuation tube 104 has a bent tube section 104a having an end on the other end side connected to the connection hole 103c of the first sound attenuation tube 103, and a tapered section 104b (hereinafter referred to as the first tapered section 104b) connecting one end side end of the bent tube section 104a to the dust collection section 35. In the case of this embodiment, the central axis 105 of the dust collection section 35 and the rotation axis 102 of the electric suction machine 34 are misaligned in parallel, and the bent tube section 104a is bent at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. In the case of the fifth embodiment, the dust collection section 35 and the electric suction machine 34 are not arranged on the same axis, so a housing different from the housing 5 in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3) is used.

[0050] In this suction-side sound-reducing section 101, air (arrow D) from the dust collecting section 35 flows into the electric suction machine 34 via the second sound-reducing tube 104 and the first sound-reducing tube 103. Meanwhile, sound waves E (driving sound) from the electric suction machine 34 reach the closed end 103b from the open end 103a of the first sound-reducing tube 103, and are reflected by the closed end 103b toward the electric suction machine 34. At this time, the sound waves G (reflected sound) reflected by the closed end 103b can cancel out the sound waves E (driving sound) from the electric suction machine 34 to some extent. In this way, the noise of the vacuum cleaner can also be reduced by the suction-side sound-reducing section 101 of the fifth embodiment.

[0051] (Modification of the fifth embodiment) 11 may further include a sound absorbing material covering at least a part of the inner surface of the closed end 103b of the first sound attenuation pipe 103. The sound attenuation structures of the fifth embodiment and the first modified example of the fifth embodiment are applicable to the exhaust side sound attenuation section.

[0052] A preferred aspect of the present invention includes a combination of any of the above-mentioned aspects. In addition to the above-mentioned embodiment, various modifications of the present invention are possible. These modifications should not be interpreted as not belonging to the scope of the present invention. The present invention should include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1: electric vacuum cleaner, 2: vacuum cleaner body, 3: suction port body, 5: housing, 6: trunk portion, 7: tapered portion, 8: first thin housing portion, 9: bent portion, 10: second thin housing portion, 11: suction port body, 11a: suction port, 12: joint portion, 13: connecting pipe portion, 13a: connecting portion, 14: lower end (one end), 15: upper end (other end), 21: partition wall, 22: suction port body side sound-reducing portion, 22a: through hole, 22b: sound-reducing pipe, 23: expansion chamber, 24: rotating brush, 31: intake port, 32: exhaust port, 33: ventilation passage, 33A: first exhaust passage, 33B: second exhaust passage, 33C: first expansion portion, 33D: second expansion portion, 34: electric suction machine, 34a: suction port, 35: dust collection section, 35a: inlet port, 35b: exhaust port, 36, 61, 71, 91, 101: intake side sound-reducing section, 36a, 37a, 38b, 39a: one end opening, 36b, 37b, 38a, 44a: other end opening, 37: exhaust side sound-reducing section, 38, 39, 56: sound-reducing cover, 40: central shaft, 41, 51, 92: sound-reducing tube, 41a, 51a, 92a: straight tube section, 41b, 92b: tapered section (first tapered section), 42, 53: through hole, 43: expansion chamber, 44: connecting tube section, 44b: step section, 51b: tapered section (second tapered section), 52: one end opening, 62: sound absorbing material, 72: reflector, 73: leg, 74: smallest opening, 92c: connecting tube, 92d: baffle, 102: rotation axis, 103: first sound attenuation tube, 103a: open end, 103b: closed end, 103c: connecting hole, 103d: expansion section, 104: second sound attenuation tube, 104a: bent tube section, 104b: tapered section (first tapered section), 105: central axis, A, B, C, D: arrows, E, G: sound waves, F: floor surface

Claims

1. The electric vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having an air intake port and an exhaust port, a ventilation passage through which air from the air intake port flows to the exhaust port, an electric suction machine provided in the ventilation passage, a dust collection unit provided in the ventilation passage upstream of the electric suction machine in the airflow direction, and a sound reduction unit provided in the ventilation passage between the dust collection unit and the electric suction machine for reducing noise including the driving sound of the electric suction machine.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the sound reduction section comprises a sound reduction tube having a ventilating structure on at least a portion of a peripheral surface thereof.

3. 3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the breathable structure is a plurality of through holes penetrating the inner and outer surfaces of the sound-reducing tube.

4. 4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the sound reduction section further comprises a sound absorbing material covering at least a part of at least one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the sound reduction tube.

5. 5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an open end of the sound reduction tube downstream in the airflow direction is connected to a suction port of an electric suction machine.

6. The sound reduction tube has a tapered portion at an end portion upstream in the airflow direction, the tapered portion having an opening that widens toward the upstream side in the airflow direction, 6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the sound reducing section further comprises a reflecting plate provided between the tapers of the tapered section for reflecting driving sound from the electric suction device.

7. 7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the reflector has a planar area larger than an area of ​​the smallest opening of the tapered portion and is disposed at a position overlapping with the smallest opening of the tapered portion when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the electric suction machine.

8. The sound reduction tube has a tapered portion at an end portion upstream in the airflow direction, the tapered portion having an opening that widens toward the upstream side in the airflow direction, 5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sound reducing section further comprises a reflecting plate provided between the tapers of the tapered section for reflecting driving sound from the electric suction device.

9. 2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sound reduction section has therein a baffle plate that changes the flow direction of air passing through the ventilation passage in a stepwise or continuous manner, and the baffle plate reduces the driving sound of the electric suction machine.

10. 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sound reduction section has an open end downstream in the airflow direction that connects to a suction port of the electric suction machine, a closed end provided opposite the open end, and a connection hole provided in a wall surface between the open end and the closed end through which air flows in from the intake port, and reflects driving noise from the electric suction machine toward the electric suction machine by the closed end, and reduces the driving noise from the electric suction machine by the reflected sound reflected by the closed end.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sound-reducing cover that covers the periphery of the electric suction unit.

12. The vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having an intake port and an exhaust port, a ventilation passage for allowing air from the intake port to flow to the exhaust port, an electric suction machine provided in the ventilation passage, a dust collecting section provided in the ventilation passage upstream of the electric suction machine in the airflow direction, an intake side sound reducing section provided in the ventilation passage between the dust collecting section and the electric suction machine, and an exhaust side sound reducing section provided in the ventilation passage between the electric suction machine and the exhaust port, The housing has a body part in which the electric suction device is provided, and a thin housing part which is provided at a position away from the electric suction device and is thinner than the body part, The exhaust port is provided in the housing near the electric suction device, the ventilation path includes a first exhaust path extending from the electric suction device to inside the thin housing portion, and a second exhaust path turning back inside the thin housing portion and extending to the exhaust port; a first expansion section at a folded-back portion between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage; A second expansion section is provided in the second exhaust passage, The exhaust-side sound-reducing section of the electric vacuum cleaner has a tapered section whose opening widens toward the upstream side in the airflow direction, at an end of the first exhaust passage on the upstream side in the airflow direction.

13. a vacuum cleaner body including a housing having an air intake port and an exhaust port, a ventilation passage for directing air from the air intake port to the exhaust port, an electric suction machine provided in the ventilation passage, a dust collecting section provided in the ventilation passage upstream of the electric suction machine in the air flow direction, an intake side sound reducing section provided in the ventilation passage between the dust collecting section and the electric suction machine, and an exhaust side sound reducing section provided in the ventilation passage between the electric suction machine and the exhaust port; A suction port body that can be connected to an intake port of a vacuum cleaner body, The housing has a body part in which the electric suction device is provided, and a thin housing part which is provided at a position away from the electric suction device and is thinner than the body part, The exhaust port is provided in the housing near the electric suction device, the ventilation path includes a first exhaust path extending from the electric suction device to inside the thin housing portion, and a second exhaust path turning back inside the thin housing portion and extending to the exhaust port; a first expansion section at a folded-back portion between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage; A second expansion section is provided in the second exhaust passage, The exhaust-side sound-reducing portion has a tapered portion at an end of the first exhaust passage on the upstream side in the airflow direction, the tapered portion having an opening that widens toward the upstream side in the airflow direction, In this vacuum cleaner, a suction port body is provided with a suction port body side sound reduction section.

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