Air cleaner device

Abstract

This air cleaner device (AC) is configured such that an amount-of-protrusion (T2) from a cover-side seal surface (61) of a cover-side vertical wall (7) gradually decreases toward a case connection part (10) side. An amount-of-protrusion (T2x) on the case connection part (10) side of the cover-side vertical wall (7) that first comes into contact with a seal part (23) when a cover (12) is closed is set to be the smallest. Due to this configuration, even if a reaction force (F) of an intake duct member (3) acts on the cover (12) when the cover (12) is closed, the cover-side vertical wall (7) is less likely to bite into the seal part (23) at a chamfered edge part (125) to which the intake duct member (3) is connected. As a result, the cover-side vertical wall (7) can be suppressed from biting into the seal part (23) when the cover (12) is closed.

Description

Air cleaner device

[0001] The present invention relates to an air cleaner device that is applied to, for example, an automobile engine and filters intake air.

[0002] In a conventional air cleaner device applied to an automobile engine, as described in Patent Document 1 below, for example, a case that houses an element member, which is a filtering material, is divided into two parts, an upper part and a lower part, a body and a cover, and an intake duct that introduces intake air into the engine is connected to the cover. That is, air drawn in from the body (outside air) is filtered by the element member and is led to the engine via an intake duct member connected to the cover.

[0003] The body and cover are connected by a hinge, and the cover rotates relative to the body using the hinge as a fulcrum, allowing the cover to be opened and closed relative to the body. A seal molded integrally with the element member is located between the body and cover along the entire periphery, and the gap between the body and cover is sealed airtight via the seal.

[0004] Here, in an air cleaner device, when replacing an element member, the task of attaching and detaching the intake duct member from the cover is heavy work, so the element member is usually replaced by opening and closing the cover while the intake duct member is still connected to the cover.

[0005] However, when the intake duct member is connected from the side perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover, as described above, when the cover is opened or closed with the intake duct member connected, a reaction force acts on the cover, pressing the cover in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover. As a result, when the cover is closed, this reaction force can cause the joint surfaces of the body and the cover to shift horizontally, which could result in the seal portion of the element member becoming caught between the body and the cover, leaving room for improvement.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-044153

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides an air cleaner device including a case in which a body and a cover are joined together, and an element member housed inside the case, the body and the cover being rotatable relative to each other around a hinge-like case connection portion as a fulcrum, and an intake duct member being connected to the cover, the element member having an element main body that filters air, and a seal portion that is provided on the outer periphery of the element main body and is sandwiched between the body and the cover, the body having a body-side seal surface that comes into contact with the seal portion at a body-side end that faces the cover when the cover is closed, and the cover faces the body when the cover is closed. The air cleaner device has: a cover-side seal surface that is provided at the cover-side end portion opposite the body-side seal surface and that cooperates with the body-side seal surface to clamp the seal portion; a cover-side vertical wall that protrudes toward the body side so as to overhang outside the seal portion in the outer peripheral region of the cover-side seal surface and has a cover-side vertical wall end face formed at its tip; and a duct connection portion to which the intake duct member is connected, wherein the cover-side vertical wall is a side edge portion of the cover-side end portion that is adjacent to the case connection portion, and at the duct connection edge portion where the duct connection portion is formed, the amount of protrusion from the cover-side seal surface gradually decreases toward the case connection portion.

[0008] In this way, at the duct connection edge portion adjacent to the case connection portion, the protrusion amount of the cover-side vertical wall is gradually reduced toward the case connection portion, and the protrusion amount of the cover-side vertical wall that first comes into contact with the seal portion on the case connection portion side when the cover is closed is set to be the smallest. This makes it possible to prevent the seal portion from being caught by the cover-side vertical wall at the duct connection edge even if a reaction force of the intake duct member acts on the cover when the cover is closed.

[0009] 1 is a plan view of an air cleaner device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the air cleaner device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the air cleaner device with the cover of FIG. 1 removed. FIG. 4 is a front view of the air cleaner device with the intake duct member of FIG. 2 removed. FIG. 5 is a front view of the air cleaner device with the cover of FIG. 4 opened. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a plan view of an air cleaner device according to a second embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed.

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air cleaner device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, an embodiment in which the air cleaner device according to the present invention is applied to an automobile engine, as in the conventional case, will be described.

[0011] 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of an air cleaner device according to the present invention. In the description of this embodiment, the vertically upper side corresponding to the upper side in FIGS. 2 and 4 is defined as "upper," and the vertically lower side corresponding to the lower side in FIGS. 2 and 4 is defined as "lower." Furthermore, one end of the body 11 facing the cover 12 is defined as a "first end 11A," and the other end is defined as a "second end 11B." Similarly, one end of the cover 12 facing the body 11 is defined as a "first end 12A," and the other end is defined as a "second end 12B."

[0012] (Configuration of Air Cleaner Device) Fig. 1 is a plan view of the air cleaner device AC according to this embodiment, showing a state in which an intake duct member 3 is connected to the air cleaner device AC. Fig. 2 is a front view of the air cleaner device AC shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the air cleaner device AC with the cover 12 of Fig. 1 removed. Fig. 4 is a front view of the air cleaner device AC with the intake duct member 3 of Fig. 2 removed.

[0013] 1 to 4, the air cleaner device AC according to this embodiment includes a case 1 formed in a box shape from a synthetic resin material and attached to a vehicle body (not shown), and an element member 2 housed inside the case 1. Also connected to the case 1 is an intake duct member 3 that guides air (intake air) filtered through the element member 2 to an intake manifold of an engine (not shown).

[0014] 2 and 4, the case 1 is configured as two separate parts, an upper part and a lower part, and includes a body 11 having an element accommodating section (not shown) formed to open upward, and a cover 12 that fits over the body 11 from above and covers the element member 2 accommodated in the element accommodating section. Here, the body 11 and the cover 12 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other via a case connecting section 10 that is configured like a hinge in which the two are engaged with each other. In other words, the case 1 is configured so that the cover 12 can rotate relative to the body 11, with the case connecting section 10 as a fulcrum.

[0015] 1 and 3 , the body 11 has a generally rectangular shape including a first side 111, a second side 112, a third side 113, and a fourth side 114. That is, the body 11 has a linear (planar) chamfered edge 115 between the first side 111 and the second side 112. The first side 111 of the body 11 is provided with a first hinge 116 that cooperates with a second hinge 126 (described later) provided on the first side 121 of the cover 12 to form the case connecting portion 10. The second side 112 and the fourth side 114 of the body 11 are provided with latched portions 118 that can latch with latching portions 128 (described later) of the cover 12.

[0016] Furthermore, a first duct connector (not shown) corresponding to an air intake port is provided on a side (not shown) of the second end 11B of the body 11. An outside air introduction duct (not shown) is connected to this first duct connector, and outside air is introduced into the case 1 through this outside air introduction duct (not shown).

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 , and 4 , the cover 12 has a first end 12A that corresponds to the first end 11A of the body 11 and is connectable to the first end 11A of the body 11. That is, like the body 11, the cover 12 has a generally rectangular shape including a first side 121, a second side 122, a third side 123, and a fourth side 124. A linear (flat) chamfered edge 125 corresponding to the duct connection edge is provided between the first side 121 and the second side 122. The first side 111 of the cover 12 is provided with a second hinge 126 that cooperates with the first hinge 116 of the body 11 to form the case coupling portion 10. The second side 112 and the fourth side 114 of the cover 12 are provided with locking portions 128 that can be locked to the locking portions 118 of the body 11.

[0018] The cover 12 also has a second duct connection portion 127, which serves as an air intake port that opens to the outside, at the chamfered edge portion 125 of the second end portion 12B. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the second duct connection portion 127 is provided generally perpendicular to the chamfered edge portion 125 and oriented obliquely upward so that its tip side gradually moves away from the body 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air intake duct member 3 is tightly secured to the second duct connection portion 127 via a well-known band member 30.

[0019] 3, the element member 2 has an element body 21 formed by pleating a filter material such as filter paper, a frame-shaped frame portion 22 made of a resin material and integrally formed around the periphery of the element body 21, and a seal portion 23 made of a resin material and integrally molded around the periphery of the frame portion 22. The element member 2 (element body 21) divides the interior of the case 1 into a dust side chamber DS on the body 11 side and a clean side chamber CS on the cover 12 side (see FIG. 2).

[0020] With the above-described configuration, in the air cleaner device AC, the outside air introduced into the body 11 is filtered by passing through the element member 2 (element main body 21), and this filtered outside air is led from the second duct connection portion 127 of the cover 12 through the intake duct member 3 to the intake manifold of the engine (not shown).

[0021] (Configuration of sealing portion) Fig. 5 shows a side view of the air cleaner device AC in Fig. 4 with the cover 12 slightly open, just before the cover 12 is closed. Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of part E in Fig. 7.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 , the body 11 has a circumferentially continuous, frame-shaped body-side seal surface component 4 at a first end 11A (see FIG. 2 ) serving as a body-side end that opens toward the cover 12. The body-side seal surface component 4 is provided so as to protrude upward toward the cover 12, i.e., toward a cover-side seal surface component 6 (described later). A body-side seal surface 41 is formed at the tip of the body-side seal surface component 4. The body-side seal surface 41 supports the seal portion 23 of the element member 2 by contacting the lower surface 231 of the seal portion 23. The body-side seal surface 41 is formed flat and generally parallel to the horizontal direction. The body-side seal surface 41 has a width W1 that is relatively smaller than the width W2 of a cover-side seal surface 61 (described later). This allows the seal portion 23 to be sandwiched between the body-side seal surface 41 and the cover-side seal surface 61 (described later).

[0023] The body 11 also has a body-side vertical wall 5 that faces a cover-side vertical wall 7 (described later) in the outer peripheral region of the body-side seal surface component 4. The body-side vertical wall 5 extends generally in the up-down direction, and a body-side vertical wall end surface 51 is provided at the tip of the body-side vertical wall 5. The body-side vertical wall end surface 51 is formed generally flat, is generally parallel to a cover-side vertical wall end surface 71 (described later), and is provided continuously in the circumferential direction. In addition, in the first side portion 111, the second side portion 112, the third side portion 113, and the fourth side portion 114 excluding the chamfered side portion 115, the body-side vertical wall end surface 51 is offset below the body-side seal surface 41, i.e., offset in a direction away from the cover 12 with respect to the body-side seal surface 41, and is set relatively lower than the body-side seal surface 41.

[0024] The cover 12 has a flange-shaped cover-side seal surface forming portion 6 that extends outward in a generally horizontal direction at a first end 12A (see FIG. 2 ) that serves as a cover-side end facing the body 11. The cover-side seal surface forming portion 6 is formed with a cover-side seal surface 61 that can elastically contact the seal portion 23 of the element member 2 when the cover 12 is closed. The cover-side seal surface 61 is formed generally parallel to the body-side seal surface 41 and is flat, has a width W2 that is larger than the width Ws of the seal portion 23, and is configured to be able to press the seal portion 23 against the body-side seal surface 41.

[0025] The cover 12 also has a generally flat cover-side vertical wall 7 in the outer peripheral region of the cover-side seal surface 61, i.e., the outer peripheral edge of the cover-side seal surface 61. The cover-side vertical wall 7 is provided so as to overhang the outside of the seal portion 23 of the element member 2 and extend toward the body 11, and is formed continuously in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the cover-side vertical wall 7 has a protrusion amount H2 from the cover-side seal surface 61 set to be larger than the height Hs of the seal portion 23 at the first side portion 121, the second side portion 122, the third side portion 123, and the fourth side portion 124, excluding the chamfered side portion 125. That is, at the first side portion 121, the second side portion 122, the third side portion 123, and the fourth side portion 124, the protrusion amount H2 of the cover-side vertical wall 7 from the cover-side seal surface 61 is set to be generally constant, and the tip end of the cover-side vertical wall 7 is configured to overlap the outer surface 42 of the body-side seal surface component 4, which corresponds to the body-side end in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the cover-side vertical wall 7 has a cover-side vertical wall end surface 71 at the tip of the cover-side vertical wall 7. The cover-side vertical wall end surface 71 is formed flat, is generally parallel to the body-side vertical wall end surface 51, and is provided continuously in the circumferential direction.

[0026] 7 to 9, the body-side vertical wall 5 is formed so that the amount of protrusion H1 from the body-side seal surface 41 at the chamfered edge 115 of the body 11 gradually increases toward the case connecting portion 10. In this case, the body-side vertical wall 5 is arranged so that at least at the maximum protrusion position, i.e., at the end closest to the first edge 111 that constitutes the case connecting portion 10, it overlaps in the horizontal direction with an outer seal surface 230 (described later) that is on the outer peripheral side of the seal portion 23 of the element member 2 (see FIG. 9).

[0027] On the other hand, the cover-side vertical wall 7 is formed so that the protrusion amount H2 from the cover-side seal surface 61 at the chamfered edge 125 of the cover 12 gradually decreases toward the case connecting portion 10. In other words, at the chamfered edge 125 of the cover 12, the protrusion amount of the cover-side vertical wall 7 that first comes into contact with the seal portion 23 when the cover 12 is closed, i.e., the protrusion amount H2x of the end of the chamfered edge 125 adjacent to the case connecting portion 10, is set to be smallest. Conversely, at least at the maximum protrusion position, i.e., the end of the chamfered edge 125 adjacent to the second edge 122 farthest from the case connecting portion 10, the cover-side vertical wall 7 is arranged to overlap in the horizontal direction with the outer surface 42 of the body-side seal surface constituent portion 4, which corresponds to the body-side end (see FIG. 7 ).

[0028] 10 , the cover-side vertical wall 7 has an inner inclined surface 72 that is inclined so that the distance Cx (see FIG. 6 ) from the seal portion 23 (specifically, the seal portion center 23x) of the element member 2 gradually increases toward the cover-side vertical wall end surface 71. In this embodiment, the inner inclined surface 72 is set to an inclination angle θc that is smaller than the inclination angle θs of an outer seal surface 230 (described later) of the seal portion 23 of the element member 2. The cover-side vertical wall 7 is provided, at the inner edge of the cover-side vertical wall end surface 71, with an R-chamfered portion 73 whose longitudinal cross section, which is a cross section along the protruding direction of the cover-side vertical wall 7, is generally arc-shaped. The inner inclined surface 72 and the R-chamfered portion 73 need only be provided on at least the chamfered edge portion 125, and may also be provided on the entire circumference of the cover-side vertical wall 7, including the chamfered edge portion 125, the first edge portion 121, the second edge portion 122, the third edge portion 123, and the fourth edge portion 124.

[0029] 6 to 9, the element member 2 is supported by the body 11 via a seal portion 23 formed integrally with the upper peripheral edge portion of the frame portion 22. That is, the element member 2 is supported by the body-side seal surface forming portion 4 by having the lower surface 231 of the seal portion 23 placed on the body-side seal surface 41 of the body-side seal surface forming portion 4.

[0030] The frame portion 22 is housed inside the body-side seal surface constituent portion 4 so that the outer surface of the frame portion 22 faces the inner surface of the body-side seal surface constituent portion 4 in the horizontal direction. In other words, the outer surface of the frame portion 22 abuts against the inner surface of the body-side seal surface constituent portion 4, thereby restricting horizontal movement of the element member 2 relative to the body 11.

[0031] The seal portion 23 has an outer seal surface 230 that faces the body-side vertical wall 5 or the cover-side vertical wall 7 and is formed in an inclined (tapered) shape such that the width Ws of the seal portion 23 gradually increases toward the frame portion 22. In other words, because the outer seal surface 230 is formed in the inclined shape, the cover-side vertical wall 7 is guided outward along the inclination when the cover 12 is closed.

[0032] (Effects of the Present Embodiment) In the conventional air cleaner device AC, when the intake duct member 3 is connected from the side perpendicular to the opening / closing direction of the cover 12, if the cover 12 is opened or closed while the intake duct member 3 is connected, a reaction force F (see FIG. 1 ) acts on the cover 12, pressing the cover 12 in a direction perpendicular to the opening / closing direction of the cover 12. Therefore, when the cover 12 is closed, the reaction force F may cause the horizontal position of the cover-side vertical wall end surface 71, which is the joint surface of the cover 12 with the body 11, to shift toward the fourth side 114, which is the direction in which the reaction force F acts. This raises the risk of the seal portion 23 becoming caught between the body 11 and the cover 12, and there is still room for improvement.

[0033] In contrast, the air cleaner device AC according to this embodiment is configured such that the protrusion amount H2 of the cover-side vertical wall 7 from the cover-side seal surface 61 gradually decreases toward the case connecting portion 10 at the chamfered edge 125 serving as a duct connection edge adjacent to the case connecting portion 10, so that the protrusion amount H2x of the cover-side vertical wall 7 on the case connecting portion 10 side, which first comes into contact with the seal portion 23 when the cover 12 is closed, is set to be smallest. As a result, even if a reaction force F of the intake duct member 3 acts on the cover 12 when the cover 12 is closed, the cover-side vertical wall 7 is less likely to bite into the seal portion 23 at the chamfered edge 125 serving as the duct connection edge. As a result, it is possible to prevent the seal portion 23 from being bitten by the cover-side vertical wall 7 when the cover 12 is closed.

[0034] At this time, at the fourth side 124 opposite the chamfered side 125 across the case connecting portion 10, the reaction force F of the intake duct member 3 causes the horizontal position of the cover-side vertical wall end surface 71 to be displaced in a direction away from the seal portion 23. Therefore, at the fourth side 124 facing the chamfered side 125 across the case connecting portion 10, it is relatively unlikely that the seal portion 23 will be caught by the cover-side vertical wall 7. For this reason, it is sufficient that the gradual change structure of the cover-side vertical wall 7 that gradually changes the protrusion amount H2 of the cover-side vertical wall 7 is provided at least on the chamfered side 125 as the duct connecting side.

[0035] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the body-side vertical wall 5 is formed so that the body-side vertical wall end face 51 is parallel to the cover-side vertical wall end face 71, the amount of protrusion H1 from the body-side seal surface 41 gradually increases toward the case connecting portion 10, and the body-side vertical wall 5 overlaps the outer circumferential side of the seal portion 23 at the maximum protruding position of the body-side vertical wall 5, i.e., at the end on the case connecting portion 10 side. Therefore, the body-side vertical wall 5 abuts against the seal portion 23 (outer seal surface 230), thereby suppressing positional deviation of the element member 2 (seal portion 23) and effectively suppressing jamming of the seal portion 23 into the chamfered edge portion 115 serving as the duct connecting edge.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cover-side vertical wall 7 has a gradually varying structure such that, at the maximum protruding position of the cover-side vertical wall 7, the cover-side vertical wall 7 overlaps with the outer surface 42 of the body-side seal surface constituent part 4, which corresponds to the body-side end. As a result, the inner surface of the cover-side vertical wall 7 abuts against the outer surface 42 of the body-side seal surface constituent part 4, thereby suppressing misalignment of the cover 12 with respect to the body 11. Furthermore, because the cover-side vertical wall 7 overlaps with the outer surface 42 of the body-side seal surface constituent part 4, the cover-side vertical wall 7 covers the side portion (outer seal surface 230) of the seal part 23, and the cover-side vertical wall 7 can protect the seal part 23.

[0037] In addition, in this embodiment, an inner inclined surface 72 is provided on the inner surface of the cover-side vertical wall 7, such that the distance Cx from the seal portion 23 (seal portion center 23x) gradually increases toward the tip of the cover-side vertical wall 7. This ensures a relatively large gap between the tip of the cover-side vertical wall 7 and the seal portion 23, making it possible to suppress interference between the cover-side vertical wall 7 and the seal portion 23. This makes it possible to more effectively suppress the seal portion 23 from being caught by the cover-side vertical wall 7 when the cover 12 is closed.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to the inner inclined surface 72 of the cover-side vertical wall 7, the outer seal surface 230 of the seal portion 23 is also formed in an inclined shape such that the width Ws of the seal portion 23 gradually increases toward the frame portion 22. Therefore, the inclination of the outer seal surface 230 makes it possible to guide the cover-side vertical wall 7 outward (toward the side away from the seal portion 23). This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the seal portion 23 from being caught by the cover-side vertical wall 7 when the cover 12 is closed.

[0039] Furthermore, when the cover 12 is closed, the inner inclined surface 72 slides against the outer seal surface 230 of the seal portion 23, so that the horizontal position of the cover-side vertical wall end surface 71, which has been pressed toward the fourth side 124 by the reaction force F, can be corrected outward (toward the intake duct member 3) along the outer seal surface 230 of the seal portion 23. From this perspective, it is possible to more effectively prevent the seal portion 23 from getting caught in the chamfered side 125, which is the duct connecting side.

[0040] In this embodiment, an R-chamfered portion 73 having an arc-shaped longitudinal section is provided on the inner edge of the cover-side vertical-wall end face 71. In other words, at the tip of the cover-side vertical wall 7, the R-chamfered portion 73 connects the inner inclined surface 72, which corresponds to the inner surface of the cover-side vertical wall 7, and the cover-side vertical-wall end face 71. Therefore, even if the seal portion 23 is pinched by the cover-side vertical wall 7, the R-chamfered portion 73 suppresses strong interference between the cover-side vertical wall 7 and the seal portion 23, thereby suppressing damage to the seal portion 23. Furthermore, the R-chamfered portion 73 slides against the outer seal surface 230, smoothly guiding the cover-side vertical wall 7 outward, and effectively correcting the horizontal position of the cover-side vertical-wall end face 71 toward the intake duct member 3.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the intake duct member 3 is connected to the chamfered edge 125 of the cover 12. That is, in this embodiment, at the chamfered edge 125 of the cover 12, where the reaction force F of the intake duct member 3 acts directly and the seal portion 23 is likely to become caught by the cover-side vertical wall 7, the protrusion amount H2 from the cover-side seal surface 61 of the cover-side vertical wall 7 gradually decreases toward the case connecting portion 10. Therefore, even if the reaction force F of the intake duct member 3 acts on the cover 12 when the cover 12 is closed, it is possible to more effectively prevent the seal portion 23 from becoming caught by the cover-side vertical wall 7 at the chamfered edge 125 of the cover 12.

[0042] 11 shows a second embodiment of the air cleaner device according to the present invention, in which the shape of the case 1 is modified. Note that the basic configuration other than the modified points is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

[0043] FIG. 11 shows a plan view of the air cleaner device AC' according to this embodiment with the cover 12 removed.

[0044] 11 , in the air cleaner device AC′ according to this embodiment, the body 11 is configured to have a substantially rectangular (oblong) shape in a plan view. Although not shown, the cover 12 is also configured to have a rectangular (oblong) shape in a plan view corresponding to the body 11. Specifically, in this embodiment, the body 11 has a first side 111, a second side 112 adjacent to one end of the first side 111 and perpendicular to it, a fourth side 114 adjacent to the other end of the first side 111 and perpendicular to it, and a third side 113 facing parallel to the first side 111.

[0045] Furthermore, although not shown, in the case 1 according to this embodiment, which is rectangular in plan view, a second duct connection portion 127 to which the intake duct member 3 is connected is provided on the second side portion 122 of the cover 12. That is, in this embodiment, a reaction force F of the intake duct acts on the cover 12 in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover 12, i.e., from the second side portion 123 toward the fourth side portion 124. As a result, when the cover 12 is closed, the reaction force F causes the horizontal position of the cover-side vertical wall end surface 71, which is the joint surface of the cover 12 with respect to the body 11, to be shifted toward the fourth side portion 114, which is the direction in which the reaction force F acts.

[0046] Therefore, in this embodiment, at least the cover-side vertical wall 7 at the second side portion 122 of the cover 12 is formed so that the protrusion amount H2 from the cover-side seal surface 61 gradually decreases toward the case connecting portion 10. In other words, at the second side portion 122 of the cover 12, the protrusion amount of the cover-side vertical wall 7 that first comes into contact with the seal portion 23 when the cover 12 is closed, i.e., the protrusion amount H2x of the end of the second side portion 122 adjacent to the case connecting portion 10, is set to be smallest. Note that this gradually changing structure of the cover-side vertical wall 7 may be provided over the entire second side portion 122, or may be unevenly distributed toward the end adjacent to the case connecting portion 10.

[0047] As described above, in the air cleaner device AC' of this embodiment, which has a case 1 that is rectangular in plan view, the protrusion amount H2 of the cover-side vertical wall 7 from the cover-side seal surface 61 gradually decreases toward the case connecting portion 10, at least at the second side portion 122 of the cover 12. As a result, even if the reaction force F of the intake duct member 3 acts on the cover 12 from the second side portion 122 toward the fourth side portion 124, the cover-side vertical wall 7 is less likely to bite into the seal portion 23 at the second side portion 122 serving as the duct connecting side. This makes it possible to prevent the seal portion 23 from being bitten by the cover-side vertical wall 7 when the cover 12 is closed, as in the first embodiment.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the configurations exemplified in the above-described embodiments, but can be freely modified according to, for example, the specifications of the air cleaner device to which the present invention is applied.

[0049] In particular, in the above embodiment, the gradual-change structure for gradually changing the amount of protrusion H1 of the body-side vertical wall 5 from the body-side seal surface 41 or the amount of protrusion H2 of the cover-side vertical wall 7 from the cover-side seal surface 61 is provided on the chamfered edge portion 115, 125 adjacent to one end of the first edge portion 111 on which the case connecting portion 10 is provided. However, the gradual-change structure is not limited to being provided on the chamfered edge portion 115, 125. In other words, the gradual-change structure may be provided on, for example, the fourth edge portion 114, 124 adjacent to the other end of the first edge portion 111 in addition to the chamfered edge portion 115, 125. This configuration can more effectively prevent the seal portion 23 from being caught by the cover-side vertical wall 7 when the cover 12 is closed.

Claims

1. An air cleaner device comprising a case formed by joining a body and a cover, and an element member housed inside the case, the body and the cover being rotatable relative to each other around a hinge-shaped case connection part as a fulcrum, and an intake duct member connected to the cover, wherein the element member has an element main body that filters air, and a seal part that is provided on the outer periphery of the element main body and is sandwiched between the body and the cover, the body has a body-side seal surface that comes into contact with the seal part at a body-side end that faces the cover when the cover is closed, the cover has a cover-side seal surface that is provided on a cover-side end that faces the body when the cover is closed, facing the body-side seal surface, and that cooperates with the body-side seal surface to sandwich the seal part, a cover-side vertical wall that protrudes towards the body so as to overhang outside the seal part at the outer periphery of the cover-side seal surface, and has a cover-side vertical wall end face at its tip, and a duct connection part to which the intake duct member is connected, the cover-side vertical wall is a side edge portion of the cover-side end portion that is adjacent to the case connection portion, and at a duct connection edge portion where the duct connection portion is formed, the amount of protrusion from the cover-side sealing surface gradually decreases toward the case connection portion side.

2. An air cleaner device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has a body-side vertical wall, which is provided on one of the side edges of the body-side end portion facing the duct connection edge portion, protruding towards the cover side so as to overhang outside the seal portion in the outer peripheral region of the body-side seal surface, and which has a body-side vertical wall end face at its tip facing the cover-side vertical wall end face, and the body-side vertical wall is formed so that the body-side vertical wall end face is parallel to the cover-side vertical wall end face and the amount of protrusion from the body-side seal surface gradually increases towards the case connecting portion side, and is provided so as to overlap with the outer peripheral surface of the seal portion at least at the maximum protruding position.

3. An air cleaner device according to claim 1, wherein the cover-side vertical wall is arranged to overlap the outer periphery of the body-side end portion at least at the maximum protruding position.

4. An air cleaner device according to claim 1, wherein the cover-side vertical wall has an inner inclined surface such that the distance from the seal portion gradually increases toward the end face of the cover-side vertical wall.

5. An air cleaner device according to claim 4, wherein the cover-side vertical wall has an R-chamfered portion on the inner edge of the end face of the cover-side vertical wall, the vertical cross section of which along the direction in which the cover-side vertical wall extends is arc-shaped.

6. An air cleaner device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the body and the cover have chamfered edges where a part of a rectangle is chamfered linearly in a plan view, and the intake duct member is connected to the chamfered edge of the cover.

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