Suction port, suction port body and electric vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A suction port part that can suppress the influence of heat emitted from an electric motor on the surroundings, a suction port body having the same, and an electric vacuum cleaner having these are provided. [Solution] Air intake section 1 includes case body 10 and electric motor 11 housed in case body 10. Case body 10 has air intake 107 and air passage 103 communicating with a suction source. Electric motor 11 is arranged horizontally in case body 10 and has inlet 111 that introduces cooling air into the interior via air intake 107 and outlet 112 that discharges the air introduced from inlet 111 to air passage 103. Outlet 112 opens at an end face 1101 of electric motor 11.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a suction port portion including an electric motor housed in a case body, a suction port body having the same, and an electric vacuum cleaner including these. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, so-called power brushes have been known in vacuum cleaners, in which a rotating cleaning element is rotated by an electric motor to assist in suction cleaning. The electric motor is housed in a motor chamber within a case body made of synthetic resin or the like that forms the outer shell of the vacuum cleaner. The motor has an inlet and an outlet, and is configured to cool the motor by drawing in air from outside the case body using the suction force of an electric blower and passing it from the inlet to the outlet. For example, when the rotating cleaning element is subjected to a heavy rotational load, such as when cleaning a surface with long pile, such as a carpet, the coil inside the motor becomes hot, and the air discharged from the motor's outlet also becomes hot. In this case, because the outlet is formed on the periphery of the motor, the wall of the motor chamber facing the periphery of the motor must be positioned away from the outer periphery of the motor to prevent the wall of the motor chamber facing the periphery from being affected by the heat of the exhaust from the motor, which results in an increase in the size of the case body and, in turn, the size of the vacuum cleaner. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-21987 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a suction port section that can suppress the impact of heat emitted from an electric motor on the surrounding area, a suction port body that has the same, and an electric vacuum cleaner that is equipped with these. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The air intake unit of the embodiment includes a case body and an electric motor housed in the case body. The case body has an air intake port and an air passage portion communicating with a suction source. The electric motor is arranged horizontally in the case body and has an inlet port that introduces cooling air into the interior through the air intake port and an outlet port that discharges the air introduced from the inlet port into the air passage portion. The outlet port is opened on an end face portion of the electric motor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the air inlet portion of the embodiment. [Figure 2] 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a position corresponding to II in FIG. 6 of the suction port body including the same suction port portion. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the suction port portion and the suction port body from the rear. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an electric vacuum cleaner equipped with the same suction mouth body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] 4 to 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a suction port. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which suction port 1 is applied to suction port body 2. Hereinafter, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are defined based on the state in which suction port body 2 is used on a horizontal object to be cleaned. In the figures, the arrow FR direction is the forward direction, the arrow RR direction is the rearward direction, the arrow L direction is the leftward direction, the arrow R direction is the rightward direction, the arrow U direction is the upward direction, and the arrow D direction is the downward direction.

[0009] The suction port 1 includes a case body 10. The case body 10 is formed of a synthetic resin such as ABS. The case body 10 is formed, for example, longitudinally in the left-right direction, i.e., horizontally elongated. The case body 10 is composed of a plurality of case members 100 and is hollow. The case members 100 include, for example, a lower member 1000, an upper member 1001, and a cover body 1002 that can be attached to or detached from the lower member 1000 or the upper member 1001. The lower member 1000 and the upper member 1001 are each formed horizontally elongated and are fixed to each other vertically via fixing members such as screws. In other words, the lower member 1000 and the upper member 1001 are structured to sandwich and accommodate items from above and below. The lower member 1000 and the upper member 1001 may each be further divided into a plurality of members.

[0010] Between the lower member 1000 and the upper member 1001, there are defined an electric motor chamber 101 in which the electric motor 11, which is an item contained therein, is accommodated, and a control chamber 102 in which the control unit 12, which is also an item contained therein, is accommodated. In this embodiment, the electric motor chamber 101 and the control chamber 102 are arranged on one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction of the case body 10. In the example shown in the figure, the electric motor chamber 101 is on the right side of the case body 10, and the control chamber 102 is on the left side of the case body 10. For example, the electric motor chamber 101 and the control chamber 102 are each formed elongated in the left-right direction. In the electric motor chamber 101, the case body 10 is positioned so as to face the electric motor 11 in the radial direction around substantially the entire circumference thereof.

[0011] An air passage member 1003, which is part of the case member 100, is attached to the lower member 1000, and an air passage section 103 is defined between the lower member 1000 and the air passage member 1003. The air passage member 1003 is attached to the lower member 1000 from above, and its upper portion is covered by the upper member 1001. The air passage member 1003 forms the top surface, which is the upper portion of the air passage section 103. The air passage section 103 extends in the front-to-rear direction and, in this embodiment, is inclined from bottom to top from the front to the rear. The lower front portion of the air passage section 103 communicates with an intake port 104 for sucking in dust. Within the air passage section 103, air flows from the intake port 104 toward the rear. The intake port 104 is formed in at least the lower portion of the lower member 1000 and is elongated, for example, in the left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, the air passage section 103 is disposed between the motor chamber 101 and the control chamber 102, that is, at the center in the left-right direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the case body 10.

[0012] Furthermore, the lower member 1000 has a support piece 10000 extending in the front-rear direction. A cover member 1004, which is part of the case member 100, is attached to the upper part of the support piece 10000, and a support portion 105 is defined which rotatably supports the transmission body 13, which is an object contained therein. In this embodiment, the support portion 105 is located in front of the air passage portion 103 at the center in the left-right direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the case body 10. The support portion 105 is in communication with the motor chamber 101.

[0013] In the illustrated example, the cover body 1002 covers the top of the covering member 1004 and is positioned in front of the lower member 1000 and the upper member 1001, thereby defining a cleaning body chamber 106 in which the rotating cleaning body 14, which is the object to be housed, is accommodated. In this embodiment, the cover body 1002 is formed horizontally elongated with a length approximately equal to that of the lower member 1000 and the upper member 1001, and covers the top and both side portions of the rotating cleaning body 14. The cover body 1002 may also cover a portion of the bearing portion of the rotating cleaning body 14. At least the bottom of the cleaning body chamber 106 is open, so that when the suction port 1 or the suction port body 2 is in use, at least the bottom portion of the cleaning body 140 of the rotating cleaning body 14 can come into contact with the object to be cleaned. In this embodiment, the support member 105 is located in the center of the cleaning body chamber 106, and the rotating cleaning body 14 is supported on both side portions of the transmission body 13 rotatably supported by the support member 105, forming a cantilever support structure. Alternatively, one rotating cleaning element 14 may be rotatably supported on both sides of the cleaning element chamber 106. In this embodiment, the cleaning element chamber 106 is located in front of the suction port 104 and its rear portion is connected to the suction port 104, but this is not limiting and an opening at the bottom of the cleaning element chamber 106 may also serve as the suction port 104.

[0014] The electric motor 11 drives the drive unit. Preferably, the drive unit is in contact with the part to be cleaned. Also, preferably, the drive unit is a rotating body. In this embodiment, the drive unit is exemplified by the rotating cleaning body 14. However, the drive unit is not limited to this, and may be a drive wheel for moving the suction mouth body 2, or the like.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the electric motor 11 has a substantially cylindrical motor case 110 that forms an outer shell. The motor case 110 has an outer peripheral surface 1100, an end face portion 1101 located at one end of the outer peripheral surface 1100 and forming one end, i.e., one end face, of the electric motor 11, and an end face portion 1102 located at the other end of the outer peripheral surface 1100 and forming the other end, i.e., the other end face, of the electric motor 11. Heat-generating components that generate heat when current is applied, such as a rotor and a stator, are housed inside the motor case 110. In this embodiment, the electric motor 11 is exemplified by a brush motor. That is, a commutator is disposed integrally with the rotor inside the motor case 110, and brushes slide against the commutator.

[0016] The motor case 110 is made of, for example, metal. The motor case 110 has an inlet 111 and an outlet 112 for cooling the motor 11. By passing cooling air through the inlet 111 and the outlet 112 into the motor case 110, heat-generating parts inside the motor case 110 are cooled, and overheating or an increase in temperature of the motor 11 due to heat generated by these parts is prevented.

[0017] The inlet 111 is opened on the outer peripheral surface 1100 of the motor case 110. Therefore, the inlet 111 is opened in the radial direction of the motor 11. For example, the inlet 111 is formed as a longitudinal slit along the circumferential direction. The number of inlets 111 may be single or multiple. In this embodiment, the inlet 111 is located on the outer peripheral surface 1100 of the motor case 110, near the other end, and away from the end face portion 1102 toward the one end. The inlet 111 communicates with the outside air via an air intake 107 formed in the case body 10. The air intake 107 is located in the motor chamber 101. The air intake 107 is located at the rear of the case body 10. For example, the air intake 107 is formed in each of the lower member 1000 and the upper member 1001. The air intake 107 is longitudinal in the up-down direction, and multiple air intakes 107 are formed side by side in the left-right direction. Preferably, the air intake 107 is covered with a filter to prevent dust and other particles from entering the interior of the motor chamber 101 .

[0018] Furthermore, the discharge ports 112 are open on the end surface portion 1101. Therefore, the discharge ports 112 are open in the axial direction of the electric motor 11. For example, the discharge ports 112 are formed in a fan shape. There may be one or more discharge ports 112. In this embodiment, an output shaft 113 protrudes from the end surface portion 1101 on which the discharge ports 112 are formed. The discharge ports 112 are located around the output shaft 113, and in this embodiment, the discharge ports 112 are evenly or approximately evenly spaced in the circumferential direction.

[0019] The output shaft 113 outputs the power of the electric motor 11. The output shaft 113 is formed integrally with the rotor, and a commutator and brushes are located at the end of the output shaft 113 opposite the protruding side, i.e., the other end side of the electric motor 11. Preferably, the commutator and brushes are located on the other end side of the electric motor 11 with respect to the inlet 111.

[0020] A rotating member 114, which is a drive gear, is coaxially attached to the tip of the output shaft 113 and rotates integrally with the output shaft 113. An endless belt 115, which is a transmission member, is wound between the rotating member 114 and the transmission body 13, which is a driven gear, so that the rotation of the output shaft 113, i.e., the power of the electric motor 11, is transmitted to the transmission body 13, and the rotating cleaning body 14 connected to the transmission body 13 rotates integrally with the transmission body 13. In other words, the rotating member 114, the belt 115, and the transmission body 13 form a transmission unit that transmits the power of the electric motor 11 to the drive unit. In this embodiment, the output shaft 113 is coaxial with the electric motor case 110.

[0021] The electric motor 11 is disposed horizontally in the electric motor chamber 101, with its axial direction aligned in the left-right direction. The case member 100 of the case body 10 is disposed to face the entire outer periphery of the electric motor 11. In this embodiment, the electric motor 11 is held in the electric motor chamber 101 so that the end surface 1101 and the output shaft 113 are located on the central side in the left-right direction, which is the longitudinal direction, and the end surface 1102 is located on the outer side in the left-right direction. In other words, the electric motor 11 is disposed so that the end surface 1101 and the output shaft 113 are located on the air passage section 103 and support section 105 side. In the illustrated example, the end surface 1101 and the output shaft 113 are located on the left side, and the end surface 1102 is located on the right side.

[0022] In this embodiment, the electric motor 11 is supported at one end by a support case member 1005 which is part of the case member 100, and at the other end by an electric motor support member 1006 which is also part of the case member 100.

[0023] The support case member 1005 is attached to the lower member 1000 while covering at least one end of the electric motor 11 in the circumferential direction. The support case member 1005 houses a portion of the electric motor 11 extending from one end of the outer peripheral surface 1100 of the electric motor case 110 to the output shaft 113. An exhaust air passage 108 communicating with the exhaust port 112 is defined inside the support case member 1005. The exhaust air passage 108 is an air passage that connects the exhaust port 112 with the air passage section 103. The exhaust air passage 108 communicates with the air passage section 103 via a communication port 1030 formed in the air passage section 103. In this embodiment, the exhaust air passage 108 directly connects the exhaust port 112 with the air passage section 103. "Direct communication" means that only the exhaust air passage 108 is interposed between the exhaust port 112 and the air passage section 103, without any other room or the like being interposed therebetween. In the illustrated example, the support case member 1005 is positioned above the air passage member 1003 and assembled to the lower member 1000. The exhaust air passage 108 is a duct portion extending in the left-right and up-down directions from an end surface 1101 of the motor case 110 of the electric motor 11. The lower portion of the exhaust air passage 108 faces the upper portion of the air passage member 1003, which forms the top surface of the air passage member 1003. The exhaust air passage 108 is airtightly connected to the air passage member 1003 via a communication opening 1030 that opens in the up-down direction in the air passage member 1003. In the illustrated example, the communication opening 1030 is formed in a circular hole shape. Preferably, a plurality of communication openings 1030 are formed. However, the communication opening 1030 may be open in the left-right direction, etc.

[0024] The support case member 1005 also supports the output shaft 113 of the electric motor 11 via a bearing 15. The bearing 15 is located closer to the tip of the output shaft 113. The bearing 15 is located on the output shaft 113 closer to the base end than at least the rotating member 114. In this embodiment, the bearings 15 support the output shaft 113 closer to the base end and the tip than the rotating member 114, and are rotatably supported by the support case member 1005. At a position closer to the base end than the bearing 15, the output shaft 113 is located inside the exhaust air passage 108 and faces above the communication port 1030. The communication port 1030 is located between the bearing 15 and the exhaust port 112 of the electric motor 11. In this embodiment, the bearing 15 is covered by the support case member 1005 and located outside the exhaust air passage 108.

[0025] In this embodiment, the support case member 1005 is divided into a plurality of upper and lower members. In the illustrated example, the member forming the upper portion of the support case member 1005 is formed integrally with the cover member 1004. For clarity of explanation, the support case member 1005 is shown in FIG. 1 without the member forming part of the upper portion.

[0026] The motor support member 1006 is formed, for example, as a thin rib extending in the front-rear direction and having a thickness extending in the left-right direction, and functions to reinforce the case body 10. In the illustrated example, the motor support member 1006 holds wiring electrically connecting the motor 11 and the control unit 12. There may be one or more motor support members 1006. The motor support members 1006 are formed on the upper part of the lower member 1000 and the lower part of the upper member 1001, respectively, to sandwich the motor 11 from above and below. That is, the motor support members 1006 are configured to sandwich the motor 11 from a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the axial direction and to be positioned around the entire or substantially entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface 1100 of the motor case 110 of the motor 11. In this embodiment, the motor support members 1006 are arranged in pairs spaced apart in the left-right direction. In the illustrated example, the motor support members 1006 support one end side and the other end side of the motor 11 relative to the inlet 111 of the motor 11. That is, the inlet 111 is located between the motor support members 1006. In this embodiment, the air intake 107 of the case body 10 is located between the motor support members 1006. Preferably, a holder is interposed between the motor support members 1006 and the motor 11. The holder is formed in an annular shape from a flexible or elastic member such as sponge or rubber, and is wrapped around the motor case 110 in the circumferential direction.

[0027] The operation of the electric motor 11 can be switched on and off by the control unit 12. The control unit 12 is electrically connected to a terminal unit 116 arranged on an end surface 1102 of the electric motor 11.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 , the suction port body 2 equipped with the suction port 1 is also referred to as a floor brush, a cleaning head, or the like. The suction port body 2 is attached and detached via a connecting pipe 20. The connecting pipe 20 is airtightly connected to the air passage 103 of the suction port 1. This suction port body 2 is applied to a vacuum cleaner 3 as shown in FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 3 is a suction-type vacuum cleaner 3 in which an electric blower 31 serving as a suction source is disposed in the vacuum cleaner body 30, and negative pressure generated by driving the electric blower 31 sucks dust and air from the suction port body 2 into a separation section 32. The vacuum cleaner 3 may be any type, such as a floor-traveling type, a canister type, a stick type, an upright type, a handheld type, or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner. In the illustrated example, the vacuum cleaner 3 is a stick-type vacuum cleaner. In the illustrated example, the suction inlet body 2 is mechanically and fluidly connected to the vacuum cleaner body 30 via a connecting pipe 20, either directly or indirectly via a tube 33 such as an extension pipe. The operation of the electric blower 3 and the operation of the electric motor 11 of the suction inlet 2 are set by a user by operating an operation switch 34. The operation switch 34 is provided on the vacuum cleaner body 30 or on a grip 35 for gripping operation. The vacuum cleaner body 30 also includes a main body control unit 36 ​​that operates the electric blower 31 in accordance with the operation set by the operation switch 34. The main body control unit 36 ​​is electrically connected to the control unit 12 (shown in FIG. 4) of the suction inlet 1. Note that some or all of the functions of the control unit 12 (shown in FIG. 4) may be integrated into the main body control unit 36. The vacuum cleaner 3 also includes a power supply unit 37 that serves as a power supply means. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 37 is a battery or a secondary battery, but is not limited thereto and may also be an AC-DC adapter, a cord reel device, or the like that draws power from an external power source such as a commercial power source. The power supply unit 37 can supply power to electric parts located in the vacuum cleaner body 30, such as the electric blower 31 and the body control unit 36. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 37 can also supply power to the electric motor 11 and the control unit 12 (shown in FIG. 4) in the suction port 1 of the suction port body 2.

[0029] Next, the cleaning operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the embodiment will be described.

[0030] When cleaning, a user grips the grip portion 35 and operates the operation switch 34, causing the main body control unit 36 ​​to start the electric blower 31, and with the suction port body 2 placed on the area to be cleaned, the control unit 12 starts the electric motor 11. The power of the electric motor 11 is transmitted to the rotary cleaning body 14 via the transmission unit, driving the rotary cleaning body 14. Then, negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric blower 31 acts on the tubular body 33, the connecting pipe 20, the air passage portion 103 of the suction port body 1, and the suction port 104 via the separation unit 32. When the user uses the grip portion 35 to alternately move the suction port body 2 back and forth over the area to be cleaned, dust on the area to be cleaned is sequentially sucked together with air through the suction port 104, the connecting pipe 20, the tubular body 33, and into the separation unit 32. Furthermore, as the rotary cleaning body 14 rotates, the cleaning part 140 comes into contact with the part to be cleaned, and the dust scraped off or scraped out from the part to be cleaned is sucked in through the suction port 104. The dust-containing air sucked into the separation part 32 is separated and collected in the separation part 32. The air from which the dust has been separated cools the electric blower 31, and is then discharged to the outside of the vacuum cleaner body 30.

[0031] Negative pressure generated by the suction force of the electric blower 31 acts on the air passage 103, causing outside air to be drawn into the motor chamber 101, which is connected to the air passage 103 via the communication port 1030 and the exhaust air passage 108, through the air intake port 107. The drawn-in outside air is introduced radially into the motor case 110 of the electric motor 11 through the inlet port 111 on the outer circumferential surface 1100 of the electric motor case 110, which is adjacent to the air intake port 107, and cools heat-generating components such as the rotor and stator housed within the motor case 110. After cooling these components, the air is discharged axially through the outlet port 112 on the end surface 1101 of the electric motor case 110 and drawn into the air passage 103 through the communication port 1030 at the top of the air passage 103 via the exhaust air passage 108. This air flow is indicated by arrow W in the figure. The air drawn into the air passage 103 is then transported to the separation section 32 together with dust-containing air.

[0032] In this configuration, the electric motor 11 has an inlet 111 that introduces cooling air into the case body 10 via the air intake 107, and an outlet 112 that discharges the air introduced from the inlet 111 into the air passage 103 of the case body 10, and is arranged horizontally in the case body 10. By opening the outlet 112 to the end face 1101 of the electric motor 11, the heat of the air that absorbs heat from the heat-generating parts of the electric motor 11 and is discharged from the outlet 112 is less likely to be blown onto the case members 100 that constitute the case body 10, such as the lower member 1000 and upper member 1001 of the case body 10 that circumferentially cover the electric motor 11. This reduces the impact of the heat discharged from the electric motor 11 on the surrounding area.

[0033] For example, when cleaning an area to be cleaned, such as a long-pile carpet, the rotational load of rotary cleaning body 14 is large, which increases the load on motor 11, causing motor 11 to reach a high temperature, and the air discharged from discharge port 112 also reaches a high temperature. However, even if case member 100 is made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin such as ABS that can melt at a relatively low temperature, deformation due to the heat discharged from motor 11 can be prevented. Furthermore, even if suction port 104 is blocked, the load on motor 11 increases. However, since outside air can be taken in from an air path from intake port 107 to air path section 103, which is separate from the air path for dust-containing air drawn in from suction port 104, the temperature of motor 11 can be prevented from rising even if suction port 104 is blocked. In particular, thin-walled rib-like parts such as the motor support member 1006 that supports the electric motor 11 circumferentially are susceptible to the effects of heat, so by discharging the exhaust from the electric motor 11 in the axial direction and not blowing the exhaust directly onto the motor support member 1006, etc., the effects of heat can be minimized.

[0034] Furthermore, since the thermal impact on the surrounding area of ​​the electric motor 11 can be suppressed, there is no need to place the upper member 1001 of the case body 10, in particular, a large distance away from the electric motor 11, which makes it possible to reduce the height of the case body 10, i.e., the suction port portion 1 and the suction port body 2, and make the suction port portion 1 and the suction port body 2 compact.

[0035] Furthermore, since an exhaust port 112 is formed on the end face portion 1101 from which the output shaft 113 protrudes, the commutator and brushes of the electric motor 11 located at the end opposite the protruding side of the output shaft 113 are removed from the flow of cooling air flowing from the inlet port 111 to the exhaust port 112, and even if this cooling air contains dust, the dust can be prevented from adhering to the commutator and brushes.

[0036] By directly connecting the exhaust port 112 of the motor 11 to the air passage section 103 of the case body 10 via the exhaust air passage 108, the air passage section 103, which has a high negative pressure, can be used to efficiently draw cooling air into the motor 11, and the motor 11 can be stably cooled.

[0037] Since communication port 1030, which communicates air passage portion 103 and exhaust port 112, is formed at a position between bearing portion 15 that receives output shaft 113 and exhaust port 112, air discharged from exhaust port 112 is less likely to hit bearing portion 15, and even if this air contains dust, the dust is less likely to adhere to bearing portion 15, and a load is less likely to be applied to the rotation of output shaft 113. In particular, in this embodiment, bearing portion 15 is located at least closer to the base end of output shaft 113, i.e., closer to communication port 1030, with respect to rotating member 114, and therefore bearing portion 15 is interposed between rotating member 114 and exhaust port 112, and therefore air discharged from exhaust port 112 is less likely to hit rotating member 114, and dust is less likely to adhere to rotating member 114.

[0038] By forming communication opening 1030 at the top of air path section 103 extending in the front-to-rear direction, exhaust air from exhaust air path 108 flows in from communication opening 1030 in a direction intersecting the direction of the airflow flowing through air path section 103 (indicated by arrow W1 in Figure 2), and since air vent 1030 does not directly face the airflow passing through air path section 103, dust contained in the air passing through air path section 103 is less likely to flow back from communication opening 1030 to the exhaust air path 108 side.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the exhaust port 112 of the motor 11 is configured to be directly connected to the exhaust air passage 108, but this is not limiting, and the motor 11 may be configured to be connected to the cleaning body chamber 106 and / or the suction port 104, for example. In particular, in a configuration in which the output shaft 113 of the motor 11 is arranged outside the case body 10 in the motor chamber 101 and the support part 105 is arranged on the side of the cleaning body chamber 106, the exhaust air passage 108 may be configured so that air can be exhausted from the motor chamber 101 to the cleaning body chamber 106 and / or the suction port 104 via the support part 105.

[0040] The suction inlet portion 1 can also be applied to a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner 3 that does not have a suction inlet body, such as a robot vacuum cleaner. In that case, the case body 10 only needs to be disposed integrally with the vacuum cleaner body of the electric vacuum cleaner 3.

[0041] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Intake port 2. Suction port body 3. Vacuum cleaner 10 Case body 11 Electric motor 15 Bearing section 31 Electric blower as suction source 103 Air passage section 107 Air intake 108 Exhaust air duct 111 entrance 112 Outlet 113 Output shaft 1030 Connecting port 1101 End face part

Claims

1. A case body, an electric motor housed in the case body, the case body has an air intake port and an air passage portion communicating with a suction source, the electric motor has an inlet that introduces cooling air into the motor through the intake port and an outlet that discharges the air introduced from the inlet to the air passage, and is disposed horizontally in the case body; The outlet is open to an end face of the electric motor. A suction port portion characterized by:

2. The electric motor has an output shaft protruding from the end surface portion. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1 .

3. The case body has an exhaust air passage that directly connects the exhaust port and the air passage portion. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1 .

4. a bearing portion that rotatably receives the output shaft, The air passage portion has a communication opening that is in communication with the exhaust port and is located between the bearing portion and the exhaust port. The suction mouth portion according to claim 2 .

5. The air passage portion has a communication port at an upper portion thereof that communicates with the exhaust port, and extends in the front-rear direction. The suction mouth portion according to claim 2 .

6. The air intake portion according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided. A suction mouth body characterized by:

7. The suction mouth body according to claim 6 is provided. A vacuum cleaner characterized by:

8. The air intake portion according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided. A vacuum cleaner characterized by:

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