Filter Casing and Filter Receptacle

Abstract

To provide a casing for a filter, and a filter housing body excellent in maintainability of an air filter.SOLUTION: A casing for a filter comprises a receiving part for receiving an air filter in an attachment position, a pressing mechanism and a placing part. The pressing mechanism is disposed so as to hold with the receiving part, an attachment space corresponding to an attachment position in a space in the casing, to be a passage of the air filter guided to the attachment position, and has an operated part, and a pressing member configured so as to press the air filter to the receiving part by the operation of the operated part and attach the air filter. A part of the operated part or the pressing member is configured so as to enter into a space due to the self-weight of the operated part or the pressing member. The placing part is configured so as to inhibit a part of the operated part or the pressing member from entering into the space due to that a part of the pressing member is placed outside the space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter casing for housing an air filter and a filter housing.

Background Art

[0002] An air filter may be used to purify the air discharged from an air conditioner. The air filter is attached to a predetermined attachment position in the casing and housed in the casing. The casing (filter housing) housing the air filter is externally attached to the air conditioner so as to cover the discharge port of the air conditioner, for example. The conditioned air discharged from the air conditioner is taken into the casing and purified by passing through the air filter.

[0003] The air filter in the filter housing needs to be airtightly attached to the attachment position so that the air taken into the casing is not discharged outside the casing without passing through the air filter. Patent Document 1 describes rotating a pressing bar made by bending a steel plate into a U-shaped cross section and pressing the air filter against the inner wall of the casing in the direction of the air flow. A handle for rotating the pressing bar around the direction in which the pressing bar extends is connected to the pressing bar.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When dust accumulates on the filter medium with the use of an air filter, the collection performance of the air filter deteriorates. Therefore, in order to continuously use the air filter, it is necessary to regularly clean or replace the filter medium, and at that time, the air filter is taken in and out with respect to the casing. However, a member or a handle that presses the air filter may enter the space inside the casing that serves as the passage of the air filter and interfere with the taking in and out of the air filter. Even if the handle is operated in advance so that these members and the handle are located outside the above space prior to taking in and out the air filter, the pressing member and the handle may rotate due to their own weight due to the contact and vibration between the air filter and the casing during the operation and enter the above space.

[0006] In particular, a large and heavy air filter is taken in and out of the casing by an operator holding it with both hands. Therefore, when a member or a handle that presses the air filter enters the space that serves as the passage of the air filter, in order to move these members and the handle outside the space, it is necessary to once lower the air filter and operate the handle, making it impossible to perform the work smoothly. In addition, taking in and out the air filter with respect to the casing externally attached to the upper part of the air conditioner is performed at a relatively high place, so the work takes extra time while taking care not to let the air filter fall.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a filter casing and a filter housing excellent in maintainability of an air filter.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a filter casing configured to guide an air filter to a predetermined mounting position and allow air taken in from the outside to pass through the air filter mounted at the mounting position. The filter casing includes a receiving portion that receives the air filter at the mounting position, and A pressing mechanism provided so as to sandwich, between the receiving portion, a mounting space corresponding to the mounting position in a space within the casing that serves as a passage for the air filter guided to the mounting position. The pressing mechanism has an operation portion and a pressing member configured to press the air filter against the receiving portion by operating the operation portion, thereby attaching the air filter. The pressing mechanism is configured such that a part of the operation portion or the pressing member enters the space due to the weight of the operation portion or the pressing member. It is characterized by including a mounting portion configured to prevent a part of the operation portion or the pressing member from entering the space when a part of the pressing member is placed outside the space.

[0009] The pressing mechanism further has a drive shaft extending in the depth direction of the casing parallel to the moving direction of the air filter guided within the space. The drive shaft is connected to each of the operation portion and the pressing member so as to rotate integrally therewith, and is movable in the depth direction and rotatable around the center line of the drive shaft. The pressing mechanism is configured such that when the drive shaft is located at a first depth direction position, the pressing member can rotate around the center line to press the air filter. Preferably, the mounting portion is configured such that when the pressing member is located at a predetermined rotation direction position and the drive shaft is located at a second depth direction position different from the first depth direction position, the pressing member is placed on the mounting portion.

[0010] The pressing member has a portion extending away from the drive shaft, and has a portion extending horizontally when the pressing member is located at the rotation direction position. Preferably, the mounting portion has a horizontal mounting surface 50a that supports the portion from below.

[0011] The casing further includes a stop portion configured to prevent the pressing member from rotating beyond the rotational direction position for pressing the air filter by contacting the pressing member from a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the pressing member when pressing the air filter. This is preferable.

[0012] The casing is provided with a pair of wall portions that are provided on both sides of the pressing member in the depth direction so as to be orthogonal to the depth direction and are configured to support the rotation of the drive shaft, and two protrusions that extend from portions on both sides of the center line of the first wall portion among the wall portions toward the side of the second wall portion facing the first wall portion at positions below the drive shaft, and that function as the placement portion and the stop portion. It is preferable to include a frame having these.

[0013] Among the protrusions, the distance in the depth direction between the protrusion functioning as the placement portion and the second wall portion is wider than the length of the pressing member in the depth direction. It is preferable that the distance in the depth direction between the protrusion functioning as the stop portion and the second wall portion is narrower than the length of the pressing member in the depth direction.

[0014] The operated portion is disposed on the front side in the depth direction with respect to the frame. The casing further includes a mounting tool that is removably attached to the frame, and is disposed on the side where the operated portion rotates so that the pressing is released with respect to the operated portion located at a rotational direction position corresponding to the rotational direction position of the pressing member that has pressed the air filter, so as to prevent the rotation of the operated portion when the pressing of the air filter is released. This is preferable.

[0015] It is preferable that the mounting tool is configured to prevent the air filter from coming out of the mounting space by contacting the air filter in the mounting space from the front side in the depth direction.

[0016] One aspect of the present invention is a filter housing. The filter housing includes the filter casing, and an air filter guided to an attachment position within the casing and attached to the attachment position. The casing is a guide portion including a receiving portion that receives the air filter at the attachment position, is formed within the casing along a passage of the air filter guided to the attachment position, and has a guide portion configured to guide the air filter to the attachment position while contacting the air filter and receiving the air filter. The air filter is characterized in that a member made of a fluororesin material is provided at a portion that contacts the guide portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the filter casing and the filter housing of the above aspect, the maintainability of the air filter is excellent.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, the filter casing and the filter housing of the embodiment will be described.

[0020] (Filter Casing) FIG. 1 is an external view showing a filter housing 80 with a part of a filter casing (hereinafter simply referred to as a casing) 1 omitted. FIG. 2(a) is a diagram for explaining the guidance to the mounting position of the air filter 100.

[0021] The casing 1 is configured to guide the air filter 100 to the mounting position within the casing 1 and allow the air taken in from the outside to pass through the air filter 100 mounted at the mounting position. The mounting position is the position within the casing 1 where the air filter 100 is located in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2(b) and (c) to be referred to later.

[0022] The casing 1 preferably has an outer shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped and is a housing with a hollow inside. The casing 1 is manufactured by combining, for example, plate materials and parts made of a metal material. The casing 1 has an outlet (see FIG. 2(a)) for taking in and out the air filter 100 during cleaning of the air filter 100 and replacement of the filter medium (described later) (maintenance), an intake port (not shown) for taking in air from the outside, and an exhaust port (not shown) for discharging the air that has passed through the air filter 100. An opening and closing door is provided at the outlet, for example. In the casing 1 shown in FIG. 1, the intake port is provided in, for example, the portion of the casing 1 that forms the bottom surface of the rectangular parallelepiped, and the exhaust port is provided in, for example, the portion of the casing that forms the upper surface of the rectangular parallelepiped.

[0023] The casing 1 includes a receiving portion 10, a pressing mechanism 30, and a mounting portion 50 (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

[0024] The receiving part 10 is a part that receives the air filter 100 at the mounting position. In FIG. 1, the receiving part 10 consists of a rectangular support base arranged at the bottom inside the casing 1. The support base has a shape in which the outer periphery of the rectangular shape extends circumferentially when viewed from above while supporting the outer peripheral part (outer frame described later) of the air filter 100 from below, and the air taken in from the intake port is passed through the filter medium (described later) of the air filter 100, and its inner peripheral side is open.

[0025] In addition to FIG. 1, FIG. 2(b), FIG. 2(c), FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 also show the pressing mechanism 30. In FIG. 2(a), the illustration of the pressing mechanism 30 is omitted. FIG. 3 is a view showing from above the position where the air filter 100 is pressed by a pressing member 33 of the pressing mechanism 30 described later. FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the pressing mechanism 30 orthogonal to the depth direction (Z direction).

[0026] The pressing mechanism 30 is a mechanism provided so as to sandwich a mounting space S' (see FIG. 2(a)) corresponding to the mounting position in a space S inside the casing 1 that serves as a passage for the air filter 100 guided to the mounting position between the receiving part 10. The depth direction of the casing 1 is a direction (Z direction) parallel to the moving direction of the air filter 100 guided in the space S. In the casing 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, two pressing mechanisms 30 are provided, one on each side in the width direction (Y direction) of the casing 1 orthogonal to the depth direction (Z direction).

[0027] The pressing mechanism 30 has an operating part 31 and a pressing member 33.

[0028] The operating part 31 is a part that an operator operates when pressing and releasing the pressing of the air filter 100 by the pressing mechanism 30, and functions as a lever. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the operating part 31 is omitted.

[0029] The pressing member 33 is a member configured to press the air filter 100 against the receiving portion 10 by the operation of the operated portion 31 and attach the air filter 100. In FIG. 1, two pressing members 33 are arranged at intervals in the depth direction (Z direction). Between the two pressing mechanisms 30, the rotational direction of the drive shaft 35, which will be described later, and the shape of the pressing member 33, which will be described later, when viewed in the depth direction (Z direction), are symmetric with respect to the center in the width direction (Y direction) of the mounting position.

[0030] The pressing mechanism 30 preferably further has a drive shaft 35. The drive shaft 35 is a rod-shaped portion extending in the depth direction (Z direction) of the casing 1. The drive shaft 35 is connected to each of the operated portion 31 and the pressing member 33 so as to rotate integrally with the operated portion 31 and the pressing member 33. The operated portion 31 is connected to the front end of the drive shaft 35 and extends away from the center line of the drive shaft 35. The center line of the drive shaft 35 is a line passing through the center of the cross-section of the drive shaft 35 orthogonal to the extending direction of the drive shaft 35. The pressing member 33 shown in FIG. 4 is a member produced by bending, for example, a steel plate so as to have an extending portion 33a and a pressing portion 33b. Note that FIG. 4 shows the pressing mechanism 30 provided on the right side when viewed in the depth direction (Z direction) among the pressing mechanisms 30 on both sides in the width direction (Y direction). The extending portion 33a is a portion extending away from the drive shaft 35. The extending portion 33a is preferably a portion that extends in a substantially horizontal direction when the pressing member 33 is located at a predetermined rotational direction position around the center line as shown in FIG. 4(a). The distance between the pressing portion 33b and the center of the drive shaft 35 is longer than the distance between the air filter 100 and the center of the drive shaft 35 in the later-described released state. Thereby, in the later-described pressing state shown in FIG. 4(b), the pressing mechanism 30 presses the outer peripheral portion of the air filter 100 downward via the pressing portion 33b and presses the air filter 100 against the receiving portion 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing members 33 are arranged one by one at four locations corresponding to the four corners of the outer peripheral portion of the air filter 100, and press the outer peripheral portion of the air filter 100 against the receiving portion 10 with a circumferentially uniform force.

[0031] The drive shaft 35 is movable in the depth direction (Z direction) and rotatable about the center line of the drive shaft 35. The pressing mechanism 30 is configured such that when the drive shaft 35 is positioned at the first depth direction position, the pressing member 33 can rotate about the center line to press the air filter 100. As shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 2(c), the first depth direction position is a position in the depth direction (Z direction) where the pressing member 33 can rotate around the drive shaft 35. The pressing mechanism 30 can adopt a released state shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 4(a) and a pressed state shown in FIGS. 2(c) and 4(b) according to the rotational direction position of the pressing member 33.

[0032] The pressing mechanism 30 is configured such that when the drive shaft 35 is positioned at the first depth direction position, a part of the operated part 31 or the pressing member 33 enters the space S due to the self-weight of the operated part 31 or the pressing member 33. In the pressing mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 4, since the operated part 31 and the pressing part 33b of the pressing member 33 are located in the overlapping azimuth direction with respect to the drive shaft 35, even if the operated part 31 and the pressing part 33b are arranged above the drive shaft 35 and located outside the space S, when an impact or vibration acts on the casing 1, the drive shaft 35 can be easily rotated by its self-weight, and a part of the operated part 31 and the pressing part 33b enters the space S. In the pressing mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 4, the operated part 31 enters the space S and the pressing part 33b enters the mounting space S'.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the mounting part 50 and the stopping part (described later) 60 with a part of the frame 40 (the second wall part 42 described later) omitted, which will be described later. In FIG. 5, the operated part 31 of the pressing mechanism 30 is omitted. The mounting part 50 is configured to prevent a part of the operated part 31 (the part including the end on the side opposite to the drive shaft 35) or a part of the pressing member 33 (the pressing part 33b) from entering the space S when a part of the pressing member 33 (the pressing part 33b) is mounted outside the space.

[0034] The placement portion 50 is preferably configured such that when the pressing member 33 is located at a predetermined rotational direction position and the drive shaft 35 is located at a second depth direction position different from the first depth direction position, the pressing member 33 is placed on the placement portion 50. When the pressing member 33 is arranged at the rotational direction position shown in Fig. 4(a), the drive shaft 35 is movable in the depth direction (Z direction) between the first depth direction position and the second depth direction position. The rotation of the drive shaft 35 is restricted at the second depth direction position. As shown in Fig. 5, the placement portion 50 preferably has a horizontal placement surface 50a that supports the extending portion 33a from below.

[0035] When attaching the air filter 100 to the casing 1, open the door of the outlet of the casing 1, and with the drive shaft 35 of the pressing mechanism 30 positioned at the first depth direction position, operate the operated portion 31 to position the pressing member 33 at the above-mentioned predetermined rotational direction position. Further, by pushing the drive shaft 35 in the depth direction to move it to the second depth direction position, the pressing member 33 is placed on the placement portion 50. Thereby, the pressing member 33 and the operated portion 31 are arranged outside the space S. In this state, even if the air filter 100 contacts the casing 1 or vibration is transmitted from the air conditioner, it is prevented that a part of the pressing member 33 and the operated portion 31 enters the space S due to its own weight. Thus, the work of moving the air filter 100 in the depth direction from the outlet toward the attachment position can be performed smoothly. After moving the air filter 100 to the attachment position, operate the operated portion 31 to pull out the drive shaft 35 and move it from the second depth direction position to the first depth direction position. Further, rotate the pressing member 33 to the rotational direction positions shown in Figs. 2(c) and 4(b), and press the pressing member 33 against the air filter 100. In this way, the air filter 100 is attached to the attachment position.

[0036] On the other hand, when removing the air filter 100, the operated part 31 is operated to release the pressing mechanism 30. As shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 4(a), the pressing member 33 is positioned at a predetermined rotational direction position. Further, the drive shaft 35 is pushed in to move it from the first depth direction position to the second depth direction position, and the pressing member 33 is placed on the placement part 50. In this state, as described above, since a part of the pressing member 33 and the operated part 31 is prevented from entering the space S due to its own weight, the work of pulling out the air filter 100 from the mounting position and taking it out from the outlet can be smoothly performed.

[0037] According to the above casing 1, the work associated with cleaning the air filter 100 and replacing the filter material becomes easy, and the maintainability is excellent.

[0038] The casing 1 is externally attached to the air conditioner. The air conditioner is, for example, a type of device called a vertical or upright type in which the longitudinal direction of the air conditioner is parallel to the vertical direction. This type of air conditioner generally has an outlet at the upper part for discharging the conditioned air, and the casing 1 is installed on the uppermost surface (ceiling surface) of the air conditioner near the outlet. A duct extending to the intake port of the casing 1 is connected to the outlet of the air conditioner, and air whose temperature, humidity, air volume, etc. have been adjusted is taken into the casing 1. The air conditioner is provided with a fan driven for blowing, and vibrations associated with the rotation of the fan are easily transmitted to the casing 1.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the casing 1 preferably further includes a stop portion 60. The stop portion 60 abuts against the pressing member 33 from the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the pressing member 33 (counterclockwise in FIGS. 4 and 5) when pressing the air filter 100, so that the pressing member 33 is configured to prevent rotation beyond the rotational position for pressing the air filter 100 and functions as a stopper. When the pressing member 33 rotates beyond the rotational position for pressing the air filter 100, even if the operated portion 31 is rotated one more turn to restart the operation for pressing, it may be necessary to put a finger into the narrow space in the casing 1 to operate the operated portion 31, or it may not be possible to rotate it in contact with the inner wall of the casing 1, which will cause trouble in the attachment work of the air filter 100. Therefore, it is preferable that the pressing member 33 does not rotate beyond the rotational position for pressing the air filter 100.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, the casing 1 preferably includes a frame 40. The frame 40 has a pair of wall portions 41, 42 and two protruding portions 43, 44. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the frame 40 is omitted. The wall portions 41, 42 are provided on both sides of the pressing member 33 in the depth direction (Z direction) so as to be orthogonal to the depth direction (Z direction), and are configured to support the rotation of the drive shaft 35. The protruding portions 43, 44 are portions that extend from both sides of the center line of the drive shaft 35 of the first wall portion 41 toward the side of the second wall portion 42 facing the first wall portion 41 at a position below the drive shaft 35. The protruding portion 43 functions as a mounting portion 50, and the protruding portion 44 functions as a stop portion 60.

[0041] The frame 40 is arranged in two places in the depth direction (Z direction) corresponding to the depth direction position of the pressing member 33 so as to extend in the casing 1 in a direction parallel to the width direction (Y direction) of the casing 1. Both ends in the extending direction (Y direction) of the frame 40 are connected to the inner wall of the side surface of the casing 1. In the illustrated example, the cross-sectional shape of the frame 40 orthogonal to the extending direction (Y direction) of the frame 40 is a substantially U-shaped opened downward. The two pressing members 33 arranged on both sides in the width direction (Y direction) of the casing 1 are covered by the frame 40 so as to be positioned between the wall portions 41 and 42 of one frame 40. The protruding portions 43 and 44 shown in FIG. 5 are bent so as to protrude toward the front side in the depth direction (Z direction) from the lower end of the wall portion 41.

[0042] The frame 40 is provided with an insertion port opened downward (only the insertion port 42a of the wall portion 42 is shown in the figure) so that the drive shaft 35 is arranged to penetrate the wall portions 41 and 42. Further, the frame 40 is provided with a support member 45 having an insertion port 45a opened laterally so as to penetrate the drive shaft 35 arranged to penetrate the insertion port and be able to support the drive shaft 35 from below. The support member 45 shown in FIG. 5 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section opened downward orthogonal to the width direction (Y direction) of the casing 1, and is attached to the frame 40 so as to cover a part of the Y-direction region of the frame 40. The casing 1 preferably further includes such a support member 45. Thereby, the drive shaft 35 is positioned in the vertical direction (X direction) and the horizontal direction (Y direction), and the magnitude of the pressing force by the pressing member 33 is stabilized.

[0043] In order to adjust the height position of the drive shaft 35, the casing 1 may further include one or a plurality of (for example, two) plate materials (not shown) arranged to be sandwiched between the upper surface of the frame 40 shown in FIG. 5 and the support member 45. By adjusting the height position of the drive shaft 35 using the plate material, the magnitude of the pressing force by the pressing member 33 can be adjusted.

[0044] The distance G1 in the depth direction between the protruding portion 43 that functions as the mounting portion 50 and the second wall portion 42 is preferably wider than the length L in the depth direction of the pressing member 33, and the distance G2 in the depth direction between the protruding portion 44 that functions as the stopping portion 60 and the second wall portion 42 is preferably narrower than the length L in the depth direction of the pressing member 33. Thereby, according to the depth direction position of the drive shaft 35, the rotatable state and the non-rotatable state of the pressing member 33 can be switched, and the effect of preventing the rotation of the pressing member 33 beyond the rotational direction position where the pressing state is achieved is ensured regardless of the depth direction position of the drive shaft 35.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows the mounting tool 70. The casing 1 preferably further includes the mounting tool 70. The mounting tool 70 is a member that is removably mounted on the frame 40. The mounting tool 70 is arranged on the side where the operated portion 31 rotates to release the pressing with respect to the operated portion 31 located at the rotational direction position corresponding to the rotational direction position of the pressing member 33 that presses the air filter 100 so as to prevent the rotation of the operated portion 31 that releases the pressing of the air filter 100. Thereby, during use, it is prevented that the pressing of the air filter 100 is released due to the drive shaft 35 rotating when the casing 1 receives vibration or the like from the air conditioner. The mounting tool 70 is mounted on the frame 40 after the air filter 100 is attached. The mounting tool 70 is preferably mounted on the front frame 40 among the two frames 40 shown in FIG. 1. The form of the mounting tool is not limited to that shown in FIG. 6. According to an example, the mounting tool may be in the form shown in FIG. 1, and further, instead of being mounted on the frame 40, it may be mounted on the inner surface of the door of the outlet. In this case, the mounting tool can be left mounted on the door regardless of the attachment of the air filter 100.

[0046] The mounting tool 70 is preferably configured to prevent the air filter 100 from coming out of the mounting space S' by abutting against the air filter 100 in the mounting space S' from the front side in the depth direction. The mounting tool 70 shown in FIG. 6 has an abutting portion 70a that abuts against the attached air filter 100 from the front side.

[0047] The casing of another embodiment is configured to guide an air filter to a predetermined mounting position and allow air taken in from the outside to pass through the air filter mounted at the mounting position. The casing includes: a filter casing configured to guide an air filter to a predetermined mounting position and allow air taken in from the outside to pass through the air filter mounted at the mounting position, a receiving portion that receives the air filter at the mounting position, a pressing mechanism provided between the receiving portion and a mounting space corresponding to the mounting position in a space inside the casing that serves as a passage for the air filter guided to the mounting position, the pressing mechanism including an operated portion and a pressing member configured to press the air filter against the receiving portion by operating the operated portion to attach the air filter, and a stopping portion configured to prevent movement of the pressing member that releases pressing of the air filter when contacting the pressing member that presses the air filter.

[0048] When the pressing member is displaced from the position for pressing the air filter, even if an attempt is made to operate the operated portion again to restart the operation for pressing the air filter, it may be necessary to insert a finger into the narrow space inside the casing 1 to operate the operated portion, or it may not be possible to rotate in contact with the inner wall of the casing, resulting in time-consuming work for attaching the air filter. According to the casing of this embodiment, the pressing member can be prevented from rotating by being displaced from the position for pressing the air filter. The stopping portion functions as a stopper.

[0049] The casing of this embodiment is preferably configured in the same manner as the casing 1 of the above embodiment.

[0050] (Filter housing) The filter housing 80 of the embodiment includes the casing 1 of the above embodiment and an air filter 100.

[0051] The air filter 100 is guided to the mounting position in the casing 1 and is mounted at the mounting position. The air filter 100 includes a filter medium (not shown) and an outer frame 101. In FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 6, the air filter 100 is indicated by the contour formed by the outer frame 101. The filter medium is configured to allow air to pass through and collect dust in the air. The filter medium is, for example, a sheet-like member made of a non-woven fabric or the like that is pleated and folded into a zigzag shape. The outer frame 101 is a member that surrounds the filter medium so that air passes through the filter medium. The outer frame 101 preferably has a rectangular shape and is supported from below by the receiving portion 10. The air filter 100 has, for example, the performance of a HEPA filter.

[0052] The casing 1 has a guide portion 11. The guide portion 11 is a part of the casing 1 that includes a receiving portion 10 for receiving the air filter 100 at the mounting position. The guide portion 11 in FIGS. 1 to 3 consists of a support base that constitutes the receiving portion 10. The guide portion 11 is formed in the casing 1 along the passage of the air filter 100 guided to the mounting position, and is configured to guide the air filter 100 to the mounting position while contacting the air filter 100 and receiving it.

[0053] The air filter 100 is provided with a member (hereinafter referred to as the contact portion) 102 (see FIG. 2) made of a fluororesin material at a portion that contacts the guide portion 11. Thereby, when taking the air filter 100 in and out of the casing 1, the friction between the air filter 100 and the guide portion 11 is reduced, and as shown in FIG. 2(a), the operation of moving the air filter 100 in the depth direction from the outlet to the mounting position can be performed smoothly. Therefore, the maintainability is further improved. The fluororesin material is a material containing a fluororesin, preferably a material made of a fluororesin. The fluororesin is preferably at least one of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer), PFA (perfluoroethylene-perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymer), FEP (perfluoroethylene-perfluoropropylene copolymer), and PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), and more preferably PTFE. The contact portion 102 is, for example, a sheet-like member attached to the lower surface of the outer frame 101 facing the side of the receiving portion 10.

[0054] The air filter 100 preferably further includes a gasket 103. The gasket 103 is provided so as to be interposed between the contact portion 102 and the lower surface of the outer frame 101. Thereby, the leakage of air from between the pressed air filter 100 and the receiving portion 10 is suppressed, and the sealing performance is improved. The gasket 103 is made of, for example, a material of a rigid foamed polyurethane resin.

[0055] As described above, the present invention has been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can of course be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0056] For example, in the casing 1 of the above-described embodiment, the azimuth direction in which the operated portion 31 extends away from the drive shaft 35 and the azimuth direction in which the pressing portion 33b of the pressing member 33 is located may not overlap with respect to the center line of the drive shaft 35 of the pressing mechanism 30. For example, when viewed in the direction of the center line of the drive shaft 35, the direction in which the operated portion 31 extends away from the drive shaft 35 and the direction in which the pressing portion 33b extends toward the tip of the pressing member may be substantially parallel.

Explanation of Signs

[0057] 1 Casing for Filter 10 Receiving Portion 11 Guide Portion 30 Pressing Mechanism 31 Operated Portion 33 Pressing Member 33a Extending Portion 33b Pressing Portion 35 Drive Shaft 40 Frame 41 First Wall Portion 42 Second Wall Portion 42a, 45a Insertion Port 43, 44 Protruding Portion 50 Mounting Portion 50a Mounting Surface 60 Stopping Portion 70 Mounting Tool 70a Contact Portion 80 Filter Housing 100 Air Filter 101 Outer Frame 102 Contact Portion 103 Gasket

Claims

1. A filter casing configured to guide an air filter to a predetermined mounting position and allow air taken in from the outside to pass through the air filter mounted at the mounting position, comprising: a receiving portion that receives the air filter at the mounting position; a pressing mechanism provided so as to sandwich, between the receiving portion, a mounting space corresponding to the mounting position in a space inside the casing that serves as a passage for the air filter guided to the mounting position, the pressing mechanism having an operated portion and a pressing member configured to press the air filter against the receiving portion by operating the operated portion to mount the air filter, and the pressing mechanism being configured such that a part of the operated portion or the pressing member enters the space due to the weight of the operated portion or the pressing member; a placement portion configured to prevent the part of the operated portion or the pressing member from entering the space when the part of the pressing member is placed outside the space. The filter casing is characterized by comprising the placement portion.

2. The pressing mechanism further has a drive shaft extending in the depth direction of the casing parallel to the moving direction of the air filter guided in the space, the drive shaft being connected to each of the operated portion and the pressing member so as to rotate integrally therewith, and being movable in the depth direction and rotatable around the center line of the drive shaft. The pressing mechanism is configured such that when the drive shaft is located at a first depth direction position, the pressing member rotates around the center line and is capable of pressing the air filter. The filter casing according to claim 1, wherein the placement portion is configured such that when the pressing member is located at a predetermined rotation direction position and the drive shaft is located at a second depth direction position different from the first depth direction position, the pressing member is placed on the placement portion.

3. The pressing member has a portion extending away from the drive shaft, and has a portion extending horizontally when the pressing member is located at the rotation direction position. The filter casing according to claim 2, wherein the placement portion has a horizontal placement surface that supports the portion from below.

4. The casing further includes a stop portion configured to prevent the pressing member from rotating beyond the rotational direction position for pressing the air filter by contacting the pressing member from a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the pressing member when pressing the air filter, the filter casing according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The casing includes a pair of wall portions provided on both sides of the pressing member in the depth direction so as to be orthogonal to the depth direction and configured to support the rotation of the drive shaft, and two protruding portions extending from portions on both sides of the center line of the first wall portion among the wall portions, in a position below the drive shaft, toward the side of the second wall portion facing the first wall portion, the two protruding portions functioning as the placement portion and the stop portion, the filter casing according to claim 4, comprising a frame having.

6. Among the protruding portions, the distance in the depth direction between the protruding portion functioning as the placement portion and the second wall portion is wider than the length of the pressing member in the depth direction, the filter casing according to claim 5, wherein the distance in the depth direction between the protruding portion functioning as the stop portion and the second wall portion is narrower than the length of the pressing member in the depth direction.

7. The operated portion is disposed on the front side in the depth direction with respect to the frame, the casing further includes a mounting tool removably attached to the frame, and is disposed on the side where the operated portion rotates so that the pressing is released, with respect to the operated portion located at a rotational direction position corresponding to the rotational direction position of the pressing member that has pressed the air filter, so as to prevent the rotation of the operated portion when the pressing of the air filter is released, the filter casing according to claim 5 or 6.

8. The mounting tool is configured to prevent the air filter from coming out of the mounting space by contacting the air filter in the mounting space from the front side in the depth direction, the filter casing according to claim 7.

9. A filter casing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and an air filter guided to a mounting position within the casing and attached to the mounting position. The casing is a guide portion including a receiving portion for receiving the air filter at the mounting position, and is formed in the casing along a passage of the air filter guided to the mounting position, and has a guide portion configured to guide the air filter to the mounting position while receiving the air filter in contact with the air filter. The air filter is provided with a member made of a fluororesin material at a portion in contact with the guide portion. A filter housing characterized by this.

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