Handheld electric vacuum

Abstract

To provide a hand held electrically driven vacuum which performs suction, can suppress noise in work time and breakage of a blower, can efficiently collect large suction objects, and can easily switch suction (vacuum) and blowing (blower).SOLUTION: A hand held electrically driven vacuum comprises: a blower 20 which is provided on outside of a pipe 10 and is driven by an electric motor; a hand held handle 30 which is provided on outside of the pipe 10 and is provided near a discharge hole of the pipe 10 in a longitudinal direction; and an ejector part 40 which is provided near a suction hole of the pipe 10 in the longitudinal direction, sends pressure air by the blower into the pipe 10 from the surrounding of the pipe 10 and ejects the pressure air toward the discharge hole. The ejector part 40 is configured so that, an annular channel which is provided around a center axis of the pipe 10 and into which the pressure air by the blower is introduced, is provided so as to protrude outward of the pipe 10, and in the annular channel, the pressure air becomes a revolving flow around the center axis.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a handheld electric vacuum cleaner that sucks up dust, collected materials, and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] A vacuum used for sucking up and collecting dust such as fallen leaves and other collected materials (hereinafter referred to as suction work) creates suction pressure (negative pressure) inside a pipe by suction using a blower, sucks dust and other materials into the pipe through an inlet port at one end of the pipe, and collects the sucked dust and other materials into a collection body such as a bag through an outlet port 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, to create a negative pressure inside the pipe, air is sucked in from the pipe by a blower and released from the pipe through a pressure flow path branching off from the pipe. Some of the material sucked into the pipe from the suction port is sent to the pressure flow path via the casing of the blower, which rotates the fan. For this reason, conventional vacuums have the problem of noise generation and damage to the fan due to contact between the blower fan and the material being sucked.

[0005] In addition, in conventional vacuum cleaners, the pressure flow path narrows where the blower is located, so large objects sucked into the pipe from the suction port cannot be collected through the pressure flow path. Furthermore, downstream of the pressure flow path in the main pipe, a large air pressure cannot be obtained toward the discharge port, so large objects cannot be smoothly sent to the discharge port. Therefore, conventional vacuum cleaners have the problem of being unable to efficiently collect large 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 some of the leaves scattered around on the ground before sucking them up, and so a blower is 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. Specifically, the objectives of the present invention are to suppress noise during operation, prevent damage to the blower, enable efficient collection of large objects, and allow easy switching between suction (vacuum) and blowing (blower) in a vacuum that performs suction work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve such problems, the present invention has the following configuration. A handheld electric vacuum for suction work comprises a pipe having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, a blower provided on the outside of the pipe and driven by an electric motor, a handle for handholding provided on the outside of the pipe and closer to the outlet in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, and an ejector unit provided on the pipe closer to the inlet 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 outlet, the ejector unit having an annular flow path provided around the central axis of the pipe and projecting outside the pipe, and the pressurized air from the blower is introduced in the annular flow path, the annular flow path being provided around the central axis of the pipe, and the pressurized air is Outside the pipe A handheld electric vacuum that generates a swirling flow around the central axis. [Effects 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, efficiently collect large objects, and can easily incorporate a mechanism for switching between suction (vacuum) and blowing (blower). [Brief explanation 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). [Figure 2] Z1-Z1 cross-sectional view in Figure 1(b). [Figure 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. [Figure 5] An explanatory diagram showing examples of the placement of the blower and battery in a handheld electric vacuum ((a) is placement example 1, (b) is placement example 2, (c) is placement example 3, and (d) is placement example 4). [Figure 6] An explanatory diagram showing the use of a handheld electric vacuum. [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 INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings denote parts with the same functions, 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] Blower 20 is provided outside pipe 10. More specifically, blower 20 is disposed close to the outer periphery of pipe 10. Referring to FIG. 2, blower 20 is a centrifugal blower driven by a built-in electric motor 21. The drive shaft of electric motor 21 and the rotation shaft of fan 22 are coaxial and disposed in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of pipe 10. A volute-shaped casing 23 of blower 20 is disposed along the outer periphery of pipe 10. Air drawn in from suction section 24 by the rotation of fan 22 passes through casing 23 and is sent as compressed air into pressure flow path 25 disposed along the outer periphery of pipe 10. Note that a compressor or the like may be used instead of the centrifugal blower shown in the figure, as long as it can send compressed air.

[0018] The handle 30 for carrying the pipe 10 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 located 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 example shown, 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 longitudinally of the pipe 10 near the suction port 10A, and sends pressurized air from the blower 20 into the pipe 10 from around 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 within the pipe 10 from the suction port 10A toward the exhaust port 10B.

[0022] The ejector section 40 includes an annular flow path 41 that protrudes outward from the pipe 10. The annular flow path 41 is formed in a ring shape around the central axis P of the pipe 10, and pressurized air from the blower 20 is introduced into the annular flow path 41 via a pressure flow path 25. As shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 3, the pressure flow path 25 is connected at a position where its center is offset from the annular flow path 41. As a result, in the annular flow path 41, the pressurized air becomes a swirling flow around the central axis P of the pipe 10.

[0023] The annular flow path 41 has an opening 42 that communicates with the inside of the pipe 10 around the entire circumference of 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 path 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 along the outside (outer peripheral surface) of the tip pipe 11 toward the discharge port 10B.

[0025] The vacuum 1 configured in this manner generates a unidirectional suction flow without any branching flow from the suction port 10A at one end to the discharge port 10B at the other end within the pipe 10. Furthermore, since there are no narrowed portions within the pipe 10, the pipe 10 maintains an inner diameter along its length that is large enough to pass a large object.

[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 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] Furthermore, since this vacuum 1 does not blow air from inside the pipe 10 toward the blower 20, the sucked material sucked into the pipe 10 does not get into the blower 20. This prevents the sucked material from colliding with the fan 22 of the blower 20, causing noise or damaging the fan 22, thereby suppressing noise during operation and preventing damage to the blower 20, thereby maintaining high durability.

[0029] Next, we will explain the arrangement of each part of the vacuum 1. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vacuum 1 is arranged in the following order from the tip end 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 this arrangement of the various parts, by arranging the blower 20 close to the ejector unit 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 portion 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, the various parts are 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 holding the grip portion 32 of the handle 30 with one hand can be reduced.

[0031] Furthermore, in the case of a pipe 10 having a bent portion 10T, if the blower 20 and the drive circuit 51 are arranged on the lower side of the pipe 10, when the vacuum 1 main body is placed on the ground, as shown in Figure 4, the blower 20 etc. can be accommodated in the empty space below the pipe 10 created by the bent portion 10T, thereby avoiding the problem of the blower 20 etc. hitting the ground.

[0032] However, the above-described arrangement of each part of the vacuum 1 is merely an example, and various arrangement configurations can be appropriately adopted. Figure 5 shows such examples. (a) shows arrangement example 1, in which the blower 20 and battery 50 are arranged below the pipe 10. (b) shows arrangement example 2, in which the blower 20 is arranged above the pipe 10, and the battery 50 is arranged on the base end side of the handle 30. (c) shows 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 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 a limitation, and various arrangements are possible taking into consideration weight balance, etc.

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

[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 roughly 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 portion 32 of the handle 30, the operator can hold the grip portion 32 in a well-balanced manner and perform work without being subjected to a heavy weight load. Also, in the cases of the examples shown in Figure 4, by taking the weight balance into consideration as appropriate, it becomes possible to perform work comfortably as a handheld work machine, just like the example shown in Figure 6.

[0036] The embodiment of the vacuum 1T shown in Figure 7 is made possible by adding a simple switching mechanism to the above-mentioned vacuum 1, allowing it to switch between suction and blowing operations (other than the switching mechanism, it has the same configuration as the above-mentioned 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 toward 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, tip pipe 11 slides in the direction of arrow a (toward the tip), and partition plate 11A abuts against a stopper provided on the edge of the tip side of annular flow path 41. As a result, partition plate 11A blocks the pressurized air flowing from annular flow path 41 toward the tip side of pipe 10, and the pressurized air entering pipe 10 from annular flow path 41 is ejected along the outer periphery of tip pipe 11 toward outlet 10B. In this state, the tip of tip pipe 11 becomes suction port 10A, and a suction flow is formed within pipe 10.

[0039] 7(b) shows the switching state when performing blowing work. In this state, tip pipe 11 slides in the direction of arrow b (toward the base end), and partition plate 11A abuts against a stopper provided on the edge of annular flow path 41 on the base end side. As a result, partition plate 11A blocks the pressurized airflow from annular flow path 41 toward the base end side of pipe 10, and the pressurized airflow entering pipe 10 from annular flow path 41 is ejected toward the tip end side (suction port 10A side) along the outer periphery of tip pipe 11. In this state, the tip end side of tip pipe 11 becomes the blowing port, and a discharge flow is formed within pipe 10 from the base end side of pipe 10 toward the tip end 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. As a result, the pressurized air blown out along the outer periphery of the tip pipe 11 toward the tip side is restricted in direction inside the tip of the main pipe 12, and air with reduced spread is blown out from the tip side of the main pipe 12. This makes it possible to blow air at a targeted point, allowing for effective gathering work.

[0041] In this way, the vacuum 1T according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 7 can be made into a dual-purpose vacuum and blower by adding a simple switching mechanism. Conventional techniques involve switching between vacuum and blower functions by attaching an external attachment, but this makes attaching and detaching the attachment cumbersome and requires a great deal of effort. The vacuum 1T according to the embodiment of the present invention does not require attachment attachment and can be switched between vacuum and blower functions with a simple switching operation. This not only simplifies operation, but also simplifies storage management, as there is no need to store the attachment separately.

[0042] When cleaning fallen leaves over a wide area, the Vacuum 1T of this embodiment of the present invention can be switched to blower mode to collect some of the fallen leaves scattered around on the ground, and then switched to vacuum mode to suck up the collected leaves, allowing for efficient collection work.

[0043] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's technologies as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purposes, configurations, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1, 1A~1D, 1T: Vacuum (handheld electric vacuum), 10: Pipe, 10A: Inlet, 10B: Outlet 10C: Central part, 10T: Bent part, 11: Tip pipe, 11A: Partition plate, 12: Main body 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: Operating member, 40: Ejector portion, 41: Annular flow path, 42: Opening portion, 43: Nozzle portion, 50: Battery, 51: Drive circuit, P: Central axis, G0, G1, G2: Center of gravity position

Claims

1. A handheld electric vacuum that performs 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, the handle being provided on the outside of the pipe and closer to the outlet in the longitudinal direction of the pipe; an ejector unit provided near 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 ejecting the air toward the discharge port; The ejector portion is an annular flow path provided around a central axis of the pipe and into which pressurized air from the blower is introduced, the annular flow path being provided so as to protrude outward from the pipe; A handheld electric vacuum characterized in that, in the annular flow path, the pressurized air becomes a swirling flow around the central axis outside the pipe.

2. 2. The handheld electric vacuum according to claim 1, wherein the inner 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 the center portion in the longitudinal direction and the outlet.

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

5. 5. The handheld electric vacuum according to claim 1, wherein a battery for supplying power to the electric motor is attached to the outside of the pipe near the outlet.

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

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