Handheld electric vacuum

Abstract

To provide a vacuum for performing suction work, designed to suppress noise during the work, to prevent breakage of a blower, to efficiently collect large sucked matter, and to easily switch between suction (vacuum) and blowing (blower).SOLUTION: A hand-held electric vacuum includes an ejector unit 40 configured to send pressure air, generated by a blower, into a pipe 10 from a periphery of the pipe 10 and jet the pressure air toward the discharge port. The pipe 10 includes: a tip pipe 10 having the suction port 10A; and a body pipe to a tip side of which the tip pipe is connected and a basal-end side of which has the discharge port. The ejector unit is configured to eject pressure air along an outer side of the tip pipe inserted into the body pipe. The tip pipe is freely slidably connected to the body pipe. On an outer periphery of the tip pipe, a partition plate is provided that is configured to switch whether the pressure air sent to the ejector unit 40 should be jetted to the discharge port side or the suction port 10A side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a handheld electric vacuum that is used to suck up dust, collected materials, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] A vacuum used for sucking up and collecting dust such as fallen leaves and other debris (hereinafter referred to as suction work) creates suction pressure (negative pressure) inside a pipe by using a blower to suck dust and other debris into the pipe through an inlet at one end of the pipe, and collects the sucked-in dust and other debris into a collection body such as a bag through an outlet at the other end of the pipe (see Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9,874,225 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional vacuum mentioned above, in order to create a negative pressure inside the pipe, the air inside the pipe is sucked in by a blower and released from the pipe through a pressure flow path branching off from the pipe, and a part of the sucked material sucked into the pipe from the suction port is sent to the pressure flow path via the casing of the blower where the fan rotates. For this reason, conventional vacuums have problems such as noise generation and damage to the fan due to contact between the blower fan and the sucked material.

[0005] In addition, in the conventional vacuum, the pressure flow path narrows at the portion where the blower is present, so the large suctioned objects sucked into the pipe from the suction port cannot be collected through the pressure flow path. Also, downstream of the pressure flow path of the main pipe, a large air pressure cannot be obtained toward the exhaust port, so the large suctioned objects cannot be sent smoothly to the exhaust port. For this reason, the conventional vacuum had a problem of being unable to efficiently collect large suctioned objects.

[0006] Furthermore, while conventional vacuums are dedicated to suction work, when cleaning up fallen leaves over a wide area, it is more efficient to collect the leaves scattered around the area to a certain extent on the ground before sucking them up, and a blower is usually used in combination with the vacuum before starting the suction work. For this reason, there is a demand for a machine that can switch between suction and blowing, but conventional vacuums have a problem in that it is not possible to easily switch between them due to their structure.

[0007] The present invention has been proposed to address these problems. That is, the objectives of the present invention are to suppress noise during operation of a vacuum that performs suction work, to prevent damage to the blower, to enable efficient collection of large suction objects, and to enable easy switching between suction (vacuum) and blowing (blower). [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve such problems, the present invention has the following configuration. a blower provided on the outside of the pipe and driven by an electric motor; a handle for holding the handle provided on the outside of the pipe, closer to the exhaust port in the longitudinal direction of the pipe; and an ejector unit provided on the pipe, closer to the suction port, in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, for sending pressurized air from the blower into the pipe from around the pipe and spraying it towards the exhaust port, the pipe comprising a tip pipe having the suction port, and a main pipe having a tip end connected to the tip pipe and a base end connected to the exhaust port, the ejector unit spraying the pressurized air along the outside of the tip pipe inserted into the main pipe, the tip pipe being connected to the main pipe so as to be able to slide freely, and a partition plate provided on the outer periphery of the tip pipe for switching whether the pressurized air sent to the ejector unit is sprayed towards the exhaust port or towards the suction port. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The handheld electric vacuum of the present invention, which has these characteristics, can reduce noise during suction work, prevent damage to the blower, and efficiently collect large objects to be suctioned. It also has an easy-to-integrate mechanism for switching between suction (vacuum) and blowing (blower). [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are external views of a handheld electric vacuum according to an embodiment of the present invention ((a) is a side view, and (b) is a front view). [Diagram 2] Cross-sectional view taken along Z1-Z1 in FIG. [Diagram 3] 1(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y1 in FIG. [Figure 4] An explanatory diagram of the handheld electric vacuum pipe placed on the ground. [Diagram 5]An explanatory diagram showing examples of arrangement of a blower and battery in a handheld electric vacuum ((a) is arrangement example 1, (b) is arrangement example 2, (c) is arrangement example 3, and (d) is arrangement example 4). [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a handheld electric vacuum in use. [Figure 7] An explanatory diagram showing the suction (vacuum) and blower (blower) switching mechanism of a handheld electric vacuum ((a) is in suction mode, (b) is in blowing mode). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts having the same function, and duplicated descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the handheld electric vacuum (hereinafter simply referred to as vacuum) 1 is a handheld working machine that performs suction work, and is equipped with a pipe 10 that sucks up dust and collected materials, a blower 20, a handle 30, and an ejector unit 40.

[0013] The pipe 10 has a suction port 10A at one end and a discharge port 10B at the other end, and the material sucked into the pipe 10 from the suction port 10A is discharged from the discharge port 10B. During the suction operation, a collection bag or the like (not shown) is attached to the discharge port 10B.

[0014] In the illustrated example, the pipe 10 includes a tip pipe 11 having a suction port 10A, and a main pipe 12 connected to the tip side of the tip pipe 11 and having a discharge port 10B on the base side.

[0015] In addition, the pipe 10 has an inner diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the suction port 10A over the entire length of the tip pipe 11 and the main pipe 12. This allows all of the material sucked into the pipe 10 from the suction port 10A to be sent smoothly to the discharge port 10B without encountering significant resistance.

[0016] In the illustrated example, the pipe 10 has a bent portion 10T between the longitudinal center portion 10C and the outlet 10B, but the pipe 10 may be straight without the bent portion 10T.

[0017] The blower 20 is provided outside the pipe 10. More specifically, the blower 20 is disposed close to the outer periphery of the pipe 10. Referring to FIG. 2, the blower 20 is a centrifugal blower driven by an electric motor 21 built in the blower 20. The drive shaft of the electric motor 21 and the rotation shaft of the fan 22 are coaxial and disposed in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the pipe 10. The casing 23 of the blower 20 having a volute shape is disposed along the outer periphery of the pipe 10. The wind sucked from the suction part 24 by the rotation of the fan 22 passes through the casing 23 and is sent as compressed air into a pressure flow path 25 disposed along the outer periphery of the pipe 10. Note that a compressor or the like may be used instead of the illustrated centrifugal blower as long as it can send compressed air.

[0018] The handle 30 for carrying the pipe is provided on the outside of the pipe 10, closer to the outlet 10B in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 10. In the illustrated example, the handle 30 is disposed between the central portion 10C in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 10 and the outlet 10B.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the handle 30 is provided on the bent portion 10T of the pipe 10, and includes a handle frame 31 having one end connected to the distal end side of the bent portion 10T and the other end connected to the proximal end side of the bent portion 10T. A grip portion 32 is provided in the center of the handle frame 31, and an operating member 33 for adjusting the rotation speed of the electric motor 21 of the blower 20 is provided inside the grip portion 32.

[0020] A battery 50 that supplies power to the electric motor 21 is attached to the outside of the pipe 10 near the outlet 10B. In the illustrated example, the battery 50 is housed in a portion of the pipe 10 closer to the base end than the handle 30 and below the handle 30.

[0021] The ejector unit 40 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 10 near the suction port 10A, and sends pressurized air from the blower 20 from around the pipe 10 into the pipe 10 and ejects it toward the exhaust port 10B. The pressurized air ejected from the ejector unit 40 is ejected toward the exhaust port 10B along the inner surface of the pipe 10. This pressurized air reduces the pressure inside the pipe 10, and a suction flow is generated in the pipe 10 from the suction port 10A toward the exhaust port 10B.

[0022] The ejector section 40 includes an annular flow passage 41 that is provided so as to protrude outward from the pipe 10. The annular flow passage 41 is provided in an annular shape around the central axis P of the pipe 10, and pressurized air from the blower 20 is introduced into the annular flow passage 41 via a pressure flow passage 25. As shown in Figs. 1(b) and 3, the pressure flow passage 25 is connected at a position whose center is offset from the annular flow passage 41. As a result, in the annular flow passage 41, the pressurized air becomes a swirling flow around the central axis P of the pipe 10.

[0023] The annular flow passage 41 has an opening 42 that communicates with the inside of the pipe 10 all around the central axis P of the pipe 10. A nozzle portion 43 is formed inside the pipe 10 corresponding to the opening 42, and pressurized air is ejected from the nozzle portion 43 along the inner surface of the pipe 10 while swirling.

[0024] In the illustrated example, the nozzle portion 43 is formed by the tip pipe 11 inserted into the main body pipe 12. Accordingly, pressurized air is blown from the annular flow passage 41 of the ejector portion 40 toward the outside of the tip pipe 11 inserted into the main body pipe, and the pressurized air is ejected toward the exhaust port 10B along the outside (outer peripheral surface) of the tip pipe 11.

[0025] The vacuum 1 thus constructed creates a unidirectional suction flow without any branching flow from the suction port 10A at one end to the exhaust port 10B at the other end within the pipe 10. Also, since there is no narrowing in the pipe 10, the pipe 10 maintains an inner diameter along the longitudinal direction that is large enough to pass a large object to be suctioned.

[0026] As a result, the vacuum 1 can efficiently guide the suctioned matter sucked into the pipe 10 from the suction port 10A to the discharge port 10B, and even when a large suctioned matter is sucked in from the suction port 10A, it can be smoothly guided to the discharge port 10B and collected without causing clogging or the like.

[0027] In particular, the vacuum 1 sends a swirling flow from the ejector part 40 into the pipe 10, and the swirling flow can transport the suctioned object to the discharge port 10B while sucking it up, and the suctioned object can be transported reliably by centrifugal force without excessively increasing the suction pressure.

[0028] In addition, since the vacuum 1 does not blow air from inside the pipe 10 toward the blower 20, the suctioned material sucked into the pipe 10 does not enter the blower 20. This prevents the suctioned material from colliding with the fan 22 of the blower 20, which would cause noise or damage the fan 22, and thus reduces noise during operation and prevents damage to the blower 20, maintaining high durability.

[0029] Next, a description will be given of the arrangement of each part of the vacuum 1. In the example shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the vacuum 1 is arranged in the following order from the tip side (suction port 10A side) of the pipe 10: the ejector part 40, the blower 20, the handle 30, and the battery 50. In addition, a bent part 10T is provided in the pipe 10, the handle 30 is provided above the bent part 10T, and a drive circuit 51 for the blower 20 is provided in the space below the bent part 10T.

[0030] According to such an arrangement of each part, by arranging the blower 20 close to the ejector part 40, the length of the pressure flow path 25 can be shortened, and loss of blowing performance can be reduced. In addition, by providing the bent part 10T, the free space around the pipe 10 is efficiently utilized to arrange the blower 20 and the drive circuit 51, so that as a whole, each part is housed compactly around the pipe 10. Furthermore, by arranging the battery 50, which is a heavy object, close to the handle 30, the weight burden when the grip part 32 of the handle 30 is held with one hand can be reduced.

[0031] Furthermore, in the case where the pipe 10 has a bent portion 10T, and the blower 20 and the drive circuit 51 are arranged on the underside of the pipe 10, when the vacuum 1 body is placed on the ground, as shown in FIG. 4, the blower 20 etc. are accommodated in the empty space below the pipe 10 created by the bent portion 10T, so that the inconvenience of the blower 20 etc. hitting the ground can be avoided.

[0032] However, the above-mentioned arrangement of each part of the vacuum 1 is only an example, and various arrangements can be appropriately adopted. FIG. 5 shows examples. (a) shows an arrangement example 1, in which the blower 20 and the battery 50 are arranged below the pipe 10. (b) shows an arrangement example 2, in which the blower 20 is arranged above the pipe 10, and the battery 50 is arranged at the base end side of the handle 30. (c) shows an arrangement example 3, in which the blower 20 is arranged below the pipe 10, and the battery 50 is arranged above the pipe 10. (d) shows an arrangement example 4, in which the blower 20 is arranged below the pipe 10, and the battery 50 is arranged below the handle 30. Note that this is not the only example, and various arrangements are possible in consideration of weight balance and the like.

[0033] 6, the vacuum 1 is operated by holding the grip 32 of the handle 30 with one hand and pointing the suction port 10A of the pipe 10 downward. A bag B or the like for collecting the material sucked into the pipe 10 is appropriately connected to the discharge port 10B of the pipe 10.

[0034] 1 and the like, the blower 20 and the battery 50, which are heavy objects provided in the vacuum 1, are arranged separately in front of and behind the grip 32. As a result, the handle 30 is located between the center of gravity G1 of the blower 20 and the center of gravity G2 of the battery 50, and the center of gravity G0 (which is approximately the center of gravity of the vacuum body) of the combined weight of the blower 20 (center of gravity G1) and the battery 50 (center of gravity G2) is located vertically below the grip 32.

[0035] In this way, by balancing the weight so that the center of gravity of the vacuum 1 body is located below the grip 32 of the handle 30, the operator can hold the grip 32 in a well-balanced manner and work without being subjected to a heavy weight load. Also, in the cases of the examples shown in Fig. 4, by taking the weight balance into consideration appropriately, it becomes possible to work comfortably as a handheld work machine, similar to the example shown in Fig. 6.

[0036] The embodiment of the vacuum 1T shown in FIG. 7 is made possible to switch between suction and blowing operations by adding a simple switching mechanism to the previously described vacuum 1 (other than the switching mechanism, the configuration is the same as the previously described vacuum 1).

[0037] The switching mechanism is such that the tip pipe 11 is slidably connected to the main pipe 12, and a partition plate 11A is provided on the outer periphery of the tip pipe 11 to switch whether the pressurized air sent to the ejector section 40 is ejected to the exhaust port 10B side or the intake port 10A side.

[0038] 7(a) shows the switching state when performing suction work. In this state, the tip pipe 11 slides in the direction of the arrow a (toward the tip), and the partition plate 11A abuts against a stopper provided on the edge of the tip side of the annular flow path 41. As a result, the partition plate 11A blocks the pressurized air from the annular flow path 41 toward the tip side of the pipe 10, and the pressurized air entering the pipe 10 from the annular flow path 41 is ejected toward the discharge port 10B along the outer periphery of the tip pipe 11. In this state, the tip of the tip pipe 11 becomes the suction port 10A, and a suction flow is formed in the pipe 10.

[0039] 7(b) shows a switching state when performing blowing work. In this state, the tip pipe 11 slides in the direction of the arrow b (toward the base end), and the partition plate 11A abuts against a stopper provided on the edge of the base end side of the annular flow path 41. As a result, the partition plate 11A blocks the pressurized air from the annular flow path 41 toward the base end side of the pipe 10, and the pressurized air entering the pipe 10 from the annular flow path 41 is blown out toward the tip side (the suction port 10A side) along the outer periphery of the tip pipe 11. In this state, the tip side of the tip pipe 11 becomes the blowing port, and a discharge flow is formed in the pipe 10 from the base end side of the pipe 10 toward the tip side.

[0040] In the example shown in Figure 7(b), the tip (suction port 10A) of the tip pipe 11 is stored inside the main pipe 12. This allows the compressed air that is blown out along the outer periphery of the tip pipe 11 toward the tip side to be regulated in direction inside the tip of the main pipe 12, and the air with reduced spread is blown out from the tip side of the main pipe 12. This allows targeted blowing, making it possible to effectively carry out the gathering work.

[0041] In this way, the vacuum 1T according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 can be a dual-purpose vacuum and blower machine by adding a simple switching mechanism. In the prior art, an example is known in which switching between vacuum and blower is performed by attaching an external attachment, but in this case, attaching and detaching the attachment becomes complicated, and switching requires a lot of effort. The vacuum 1T according to the embodiment of the present invention does not require attachment and detachment, and can be switched between vacuum and blower with just a simple switching operation, so not only is the operation simple, but the attachment does not need to be stored separately, making storage management easy.

[0042] The Vacuum 1T of the embodiment of the present invention can be switched to blower mode when cleaning fallen leaves over a wide area, gathering some of the fallen leaves scattered around on the ground, and then switched to vacuum mode to suck up the gathered leaves, enabling efficient collection work.

[0043] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's technologies as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose, configuration, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1, 1A~1D, 1T: Vacuum (handheld electric vacuum), 10: Pipe, 10A: Intake port, 10B: Exhaust port, 10C: Central part, 10T: Bent part, 11: Tip pipe, 11A: Partition plate, 12: Main pipe, 20: Blower, 21: Electric motor, 22: Fan, 23: Casing, 24: Suction section, 25: Pressure flow path, 30: Handle, 31: Handle frame, 32: Grip, 33: Operation member, 40: Ejector portion, 41: Annular flow passage, 42: Opening portion, 43: Nozzle portion, 50: Battery, 51: Drive circuit, P: Central axis, G0, G1, G2: Center of gravity

Claims

1. A handheld electric vacuum for suction work, A pipe having a suction port on one end and a discharge port on the other end; a blower provided outside the pipe and driven by an electric motor; a handle for carrying the pipe provided on the outside of the pipe and toward the outlet in the longitudinal direction of the pipe; an ejector unit provided in the longitudinal direction of the pipe near the suction port, the ejector unit sending pressurized air from the blower into the pipe from around the pipe and ejecting the air toward the exhaust port; The pipe includes a tip pipe having the suction port, and a main body pipe connected to the tip pipe at a tip end thereof and having the discharge port at a base end thereof, The ejector portion ejects pressurized air along the outer side of the tip pipe inserted into the main pipe, The tip pipe is slidably connected to the main pipe, A handheld electric vacuum characterized in that a partition plate is provided on the outer periphery of the tip pipe to switch whether the pressurized air sent to the ejector section is sprayed toward the exhaust port side or the suction port side.

2. 2. The handheld electric vacuum according to claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of the pipe is equal to or larger than the diameter of the suction port over the entire length of the pipe.

3. 3. The handheld electric vacuum according to claim 1, wherein the pipe has a bent portion between a longitudinal center portion and the discharge port.

4. 4. The handheld electric vacuum according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the electric vacuum body is located below the gripping portion of the handle.

5. 5. The handheld electric vacuum according to claim 1, further comprising a battery attached to the outside of said pipe near said discharge port for supplying power to said electric motor.

6. 6. The handheld electric vacuum according to claim 5, wherein the handle is located between a center of gravity of the battery and a center of gravity of the blower.

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