Air cleaner box and work equipment

Abstract

To inhibit increase in the size and inhibit suctioning of dust into an engine.SOLUTION: An air cleaner box 4 is attached to a carburetor 2e of an engine 2a of a self-propelled mower 1. The air cleaner box 4 includes: a box body 40 which is attached to the carburetor 2e and filters air taken from an intake port 40a to send the air to the carburetor 2e; and a wind deflector 44 which is disposed so as to face the intake port 40a. In a gap between the box body 40 and the wind deflector 44, a gap located above the intake port 40a is larger than a gap located below the intake port 40a. Further, a gap located above the intake port 40a is larger than a gap at the side of the intake port 40a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air cleaner box attached to an internal combustion engine of a work machine, and to a work machine equipped with this air cleaner box. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a self-propelled mower equipped with an engine (internal combustion engine) for mowing. With such a self-propelled mower, dust can fly up during operation, and the engine can suck in this dust. For this reason, Patent Document 1 describes covering the engine of the self-propelled mower with a cover to prevent dust from being sucked into the engine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-309710 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The self-propelled brush cutter described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the engine itself is covered, which causes the brush cutter itself to become large. For this reason, there is a need for a configuration in such a work machine that can prevent the brush cutter from becoming large while also preventing dust from being sucked into the engine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention provides an air cleaner box (4) attached to a carburetor (2e) of an engine (2a) of a work machine (1), the air cleaner box (4) including a box main body (40) attached to the carburetor (2e) for filtering air taken in through an air intake port (40a) and sending the filtered air to the carburetor (2e), and an air guide plate (44) arranged to face the air intake port (40a), wherein the gap between the box main body (40) and the air guide plate (44) is larger above the air intake port (40a) than below the air intake port (40a), and the gap above the air intake port (40a) is larger than the gap at a position to the side of the air intake port (40a).

[0006] In this air cleaner box (4), the gap between the box body (40) and the air guide plate (44) is larger above the air intake port (40a) than at other positions. In other words, air can easily flow from a position above the box body (40) and the air guide plate (44) to the air intake port (40a) through the gap between the box body (40) and the air guide plate (44). In this way, the air cleaner box (4) includes the air guide plate (44), allowing air to be drawn into the box body (40) from an upper position where there is less dust. Furthermore, because the air guide plate (44) is simply positioned opposite the air intake port (40a), the size of the air cleaner box (4) can be reduced. Therefore, the air cleaner box (4) can be reduced in size while also reducing the amount of dust drawn into the engine (2a).

[0007] In the air cleaner box (4), the air guide plate (44) includes a plate body portion (44a) facing the air intake port (40a) and a wall portion (W) rising from the plate body portion (44a) toward the box body portion (40), and the wall portion (W) may include at least one of a first wall portion (W1) located below the air intake port (40a) and a second wall portion (W2) located to the side of the air intake port (40a). In this case, by providing the wall portion (W), the air cleaner box (4) can easily reduce the gap between the air guide plate (44) and the box body portion (40).

[0008] The present invention also provides a work machine (1) including the above-mentioned air cleaner box (4), an engine (2a), and a carburetor (2e), in which the air cleaner box (4) is positioned so that the air intake (40a) of the box main body (40) faces the carburetor (2e).

[0009] In this work machine (1), as described above, the provision of the air guide plate (44) allows air to be drawn into the box body (40) from an upper position where there is less dust. Furthermore, in the work machine (1), the air intake port (40a) faces the carburetor (2e), making it less likely for dust to be drawn in than when the air intake port (40a) faces outward. Furthermore, because the air guide plate (44) is simply disposed opposite the air intake port (40a), it is possible to prevent the air cleaner box (4) from becoming larger. Therefore, in the work machine (1) equipped with this air cleaner box (4), it is possible to prevent dust from being drawn into the engine (2a) while preventing the work machine (1) itself from becoming larger.

[0010] In the work machine (1), the air guide plate (44) may be sandwiched between the box body (40) and the carburetor (2e) and fixed to the carburetor (2e) together with the box body (40) by bolts (46) that are inserted into the carburetor (2e) from the inside of the box body (40) through the air guide plate (44). In this case, even if the work machine (1) includes the air guide plate (44), the air guide plate (44) can be easily attached to the carburetor (2e) together with the box body (40).

[0011] In the work machine (1), the box main body (40) includes a cleaner body (42) having an air intake port (40a), a cleaner cover (41) that, together with the cleaner body (42), forms an air storage space (R) for storing air, and a filter (43) that is disposed in the storage space (R) and filters the taken-in air, and the cleaner body (42) may be attached to the carburetor (2e) together with an air guide plate (44) by bolts (46). In this case, when the cleaner cover (41) is not attached to the cleaner body (42), the air guide plate (44) and the cleaner body (42) can be easily attached to the carburetor (2e) by using the bolts (46). [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the intake of dust into the engine while suppressing an increase in size. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a self-propelled mower according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the engine of the self-propelled brush cutter. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the air cleaner box as seen from the back side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the air cleaner box as seen from the rear side. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the air cleaner box as seen from the rear at an angle different from that of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the air intake port and its surroundings of the air cleaner box. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cleaner body and the air guide plate are attached to the carburetor with the cleaner cover removed. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged top view of the portion of FIG. 7 that is attached to the carburetor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0015] First, with reference to Figure 1, the basic configuration of a self-propelled mower 1 to which an air cleaner box 4 according to an embodiment is applied will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the self-propelled mower (work machine) 1 comprises a self-propelled traveling unit 2 and a handle device 3 for operating the self-propelled mower 1. An operator operates the handle device 3 of the self-propelled mower 1 and, for example, mows grass using the traveling unit 2 while moving the traveling unit 2 over ground covered with grass. In the following description, "front," "rear," "left," and "right" refer to the self-propelled mower 1 as the reference unless otherwise specified.

[0016] The traveling section 2 is equipped with an engine 2a as an internal combustion engine. The traveling section 2 is able to travel in the front-to-rear direction by driving wheels 2c provided on the unit body 2b with the engine 2a. In addition, a grass-cutting unit 2d is provided on the underside of the unit body 2b. The grass-cutting unit 2d cuts grass by rotating cutters using, for example, the driving force of the engine 2a.

[0017] The handle device 3 includes a rod-shaped handle portion 3a and an operating portion 3b. The lower end of the handle portion 3a is attached to the left side surface of the unit body 2b of the traveling portion 2. The handle portion 3a is rod-shaped and extends obliquely upward and rearward from the unit body 2b.

[0018] The operating unit 3b is provided at the upper end of the handle unit 3a. The operator operates the operating unit 3b to control the traveling direction of the traveling unit 2. The operator also operates various operating levers and the like provided on the operating unit 3b to control the traveling (forward, backward, traveling speed, etc.) of the traveling unit 2 and the operation of the mowing unit 2d.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the running unit 2 further includes a carburetor 2e (see also FIG. 8) and an air cleaner box 4. The carburetor 2e is attached to the rear of the engine 2a. The carburetor 2e mixes air with fuel in a fuel tank 2f and sends the mixture to the engine 2a. The air cleaner box 4 is attached to the rear of the carburetor 2e. The air cleaner box 4 filters the air it takes in and sends it to the carburetor 2e.

[0020] The air cleaner box 4 will be described in detail below. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the air cleaner box 4 includes a box main body 40 and an air guide plate 44. The box main body 40 is a box-shaped member attached to the rear side of the carburetor 2e. The box main body 40 filters the air taken in through the air intake port 40a and sends the filtered air to the carburetor 2e.

[0021] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the box main body 40 includes a cleaner cover 41, a cleaner body 42, and a filter 43. Note that the filter 43 is omitted from FIGS. 4 and 5. The cleaner body 42 is provided with an air intake port 40a for taking air into the box main body 40. In this embodiment, the air intake port 40a is provided near the lower right corner of the cleaner body 42. The cleaner cover 41 and the cleaner body 42 form an air storage space R (see FIG. 6). The filter 43 is disposed within the storage space R (see FIG. 6) and filters the air taken into the box main body 40.

[0022] Here, a method for fixing the cleaner cover 41 and the cleaner body 42 will be described. The cleaner cover 41 has a recessed shape that accommodates the cleaner body 42 inside. A protrusion 42a (see FIG. 5) is provided on the left edge of the cleaner body 42. A hole or recessed engagement portion 41a (see FIG. 4) is provided on the left portion of the inner surface of the cleaner cover 41. The protrusion 42a engages with the engagement portion 41a, thereby fixing the left portion of the cleaner body 42 to the cleaner cover 41. The right portion of the cleaner body 42 is fixed to the cleaner cover 41 by a knob bolt 45 that penetrates the cleaner cover 41 and is inserted into the cleaner body 42.

[0023] The box main body 40 is disposed so that the air intake 40a faces the carburetor 2e (rear side). The air guide plate 44 is disposed so as to face the air intake 40a of the box main body 40. In this embodiment, the air guide plate 44 is disposed on the front side (carburetor 2e side) of the cleaner body 42 where the air intake 40a is provided.

[0024] More specifically, the air guide plate 44 includes a plate body portion 44a and a wall portion W. The plate body portion 44a is a plate-shaped member that faces the air intake port 40a of the box body portion 40. The wall portion W rises (extends) from the plate body portion 44a toward the box body portion 40. The wall portion W also includes a first wall portion W1 located below the air intake port 40a and a second wall portion W2 located to the side of the air intake port 40a. In this embodiment, the second wall portion W2 is located to the right of the air intake port 40a.

[0025] In this embodiment, the cleaner body 42 has a portion to the left of the portion where the air intake 40a is provided that protrudes forward (toward the air guide plate 44). In other words, when the air guide plate 44 is placed on the front surface of the cleaner body 42, there is no or only a small gap between the cleaner body 42 and the air guide plate 44 in the portion to the left of the air intake 40a. In addition, the air guide plate 44 is provided with the first wall portion W1 and the second wall portion W2, as described above. Therefore, when the air guide plate 44 is placed on the front surface of the cleaner body 42, there is no or only a small gap between the cleaner body 42 and the air guide plate 44 in the portions below and to the right of the air intake 40a.

[0026] That is, the gap between the box main body 40 (cleaner body 42) and the air guide plate 44 is larger above the air intake port 40a than below the air intake port 40a. Also, the gap between the box main body 40 (cleaner body 42) and the air guide plate 44 is larger above the air intake port 40a than on the sides (right and left sides) of the air intake port 40a.

[0027] As a result, as shown in Figure 3, in the air cleaner box 4, air is guided from an opening A formed at the top of the air intake 40a through the gap between the air guide plate 44 (plate main body portion 44a) and the cleaner body 42 to the air intake 40a, and air is taken into the box main body portion 40 from the air intake 40a.

[0028] The cleaner body 42 and the air guide plate 44 are respectively provided with vents 42b and 44b for sending air taken into the box main body 40 to the carburetor 2e. The vents 42b and 44b are connected to each other. As indicated by arrow Y in FIG. 6, air taken into the box main body 40 from the intake port 40a is sent to the carburetor 2e via the vents 42b and 44b. At this time, the air passes through the filter 43, which removes dust.

[0029] Next, a method for attaching the air cleaner box 4 to the carburetor 2e and a method for fixing the air guide plate 44 will be described. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the air guide plate 44 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the cleaner body 42 of the box main body 40 and the carburetor 2e. The cleaner body 42 is attached to the carburetor 2e together with the air guide plate 44 by bolts 46 inserted toward the carburetor 2e. In other words, the air guide plate 44 is fixed to the carburetor 2e together with the box main body 40 (cleaner body 42) by bolts 46 inserted into the carburetor 2e from the inside of the box main body 40 via the cleaner body 42 and the air guide plate 44.

[0030] When attaching the air cleaner box 4 to the carburetor 2e, first the cleaner body 42 and the air guide plate 44 are attached to the carburetor 2e with the bolts 46. Next, the filter 43 is placed in the cleaner body 42, and the cleaner cover 41 is attached to the cleaner body 42 with the knob bolts 45.

[0031] As described above, in the air cleaner box 4, the gap between the box main body 40 and the air guide plate 44 is larger at the position above the air intake port 40a than at other positions. In other words, air can easily flow from the position above the box main body 40 and the air guide plate 44 to the air intake port 40a through the gap between the box main body 40 and the air guide plate 44. In this way, by providing the air guide plate 44, the air cleaner box 4 can take in air into the box main body 40 from an upper position where there is less dust.

[0032] Furthermore, because the air guide plate 44 is simply disposed to face the intake port 40a, it is possible to prevent the air cleaner box 4 from becoming too large. Therefore, the air cleaner box 4 can prevent dust from being sucked into the engine 2a while preventing the box from becoming too large.

[0033] The air guide plate 44 has a first wall portion W1 and a second wall portion W2 that rise toward the cleaner body 42. Thus, by providing the first wall portion W1 and the second wall portion W2, the air cleaner box 4 can easily reduce the gap between the air guide plate 44 and the box main body 40.

[0034] The self-propelled brush cutter 1 also includes the above-mentioned air cleaner box 4. The air cleaner box 4 is also positioned so that the air intake 40a of the box main body 40 faces the carburetor 2e. This allows the self-propelled brush cutter 1 to take in air into the box main body 40 from an upper position where there is less dust, by providing the air guide plate 44 as described above.

[0035] Furthermore, in the self-propelled brush cutter 1, the air intake 40a of the box main body 40 faces the carburetor 2e, making it less likely for dust to be sucked in than if the air intake 40a faced outward. And, because the air guide plate 44 is simply positioned to face the air intake 40a, it is possible to prevent the air cleaner box 4 from becoming larger. Therefore, in the self-propelled brush cutter 1 equipped with this air cleaner box 4, it is possible to prevent the self-propelled brush cutter 1 itself from becoming larger, while also preventing dust from being sucked into the engine 2a.

[0036] The air guide plate 44 is fixed to the carburetor 2e together with the box body 40 by bolts 46 that are inserted into the carburetor 2e from the inside of the box body 40 via the air guide plate 44. In this case, even if the air cleaner box 4 is provided with the air guide plate 44 in the self-propelled brush cutter 1, the air guide plate 44 can be easily attached to the carburetor 2e together with the box body 40.

[0037] The box main body 40 is made up of a cleaner cover 41 and a cleaner body 42. The cleaner body 42 is attached to the carburetor 2e together with an air guide plate 44 by bolts 46. In this case, when the cleaner cover 41 is not attached to the cleaner body 42, the air guide plate 44 and the cleaner body 42 can be easily attached to the carburetor 2e by using the bolts 46.

[0038] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, depending on the shape of the cleaner body 42, the air guide plate 44 may be configured to have only one of the first wall portion W1 and the second wall portion W2, or may not be configured to have the first wall portion W1 or the second wall portion W2. Furthermore, although the air guide plate 44 is configured to have the second wall portion W2 disposed on the right side, depending on the shape of the cleaner body 42, the second wall portion W2 may be disposed on the left side.

[0039] Furthermore, for example, the traveling unit 2 may perform work other than mowing. In other words, the air cleaner box 4 may be applied to a work machine other than the self-propelled brush cutter 1. The air cleaner box 4 may also be applied to a handheld work machine equipped with an engine and a carburetor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...self-propelled brush cutter (work machine), 2a...engine, 2e...carburetor, 4...air cleaner box, 40...box main body, 40a...air intake port, 41...cleaner cover, 42...cleaner body, 43...filter, 44...air guide plate, 44a...plate main body, 46...bolt, W...wall, W1...first wall, W2...second wall.

Claims

1. An air cleaner box (4) attached to a carburetor (2e) of an engine (2a) of a work machine (1), a box body (40) attached to the carburetor (2e), filtering air taken in through an air intake (40a) and sending the filtered air to the carburetor (2e) through an air vent (42b); a wind guide plate (44) arranged to face the air intake port (40a); Equipped with The air intake (40a) is provided on the surface of the box body (40) on the side where the air vent (42b) is provided, An air cleaner box (4) for a work machine (1), wherein the gap between the box main body (40) and the air guide plate (44) is larger at a position above the air intake (40a) than at a position below the air intake (40a), and the gap above the air intake (40a) is larger than the gap at a position to the side of the air intake (40a).

2. The air guide plate (44) is provided with an air vent (44b), 2. An air cleaner box (4) for a work machine (1) as described in claim 1, wherein air taken into the box main body (40) from the intake port (40a) is sent to the carburetor (2e) via the air vent (42b) and the air vent (44b).

3. The air guide plate (44) is a plate body portion (44a) facing the intake port (40a); a wall portion (W) rising from the plate main body portion (44a) toward the box main body portion (40); Equipped with An air cleaner box (4) of a work machine (1) as described in claim 1, wherein the wall portion (W) includes at least one of a first wall portion (W1) located below the intake port (40a) and a second wall portion (W2) located to the side of the intake port (40a).

4. A work machine (1) comprising the air cleaner box (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the engine (2a), and the carburetor (2e), The air cleaner box (4) is arranged so that the intake port (40a) of the box body (40) faces the carburetor (2e).

5. The working machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein the air guide plate (44) is sandwiched between the box main body (40) and the carburetor (2e) and is fixed to the carburetor (2e) together with the box main body (40) by a bolt (46) inserted into the carburetor (2e) from the inside of the box main body (40) via the air guide plate (44).

6. The box body (40) is a cleaner body (42) having the intake port (40a); a cleaner cover (41) that forms an air storage space (R) together with the cleaner body (42); a filter (43) disposed in the storage space (R) for filtering the taken-in air; Equipped with 6. The work machine (1) according to claim 5, wherein the cleaner body (42) is attached to the carburetor (2e) together with the air guide plate (44) by the bolts (46).

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