The present invention relates generally to internal combustion engines. More particularly, the present invention relates to air cleaners for internal combustion engines.
Internal combustion engines mix air with fuel to produce a combustible fuel-air mixture. Before the air enters the engine, it often passes through an air cleaner to remove any undesirable particles (e.g., dirt, grass clippings, twigs, and the like).
Current air cleaners generally include a pleated filter media contained within a filter housing. Generally, the filter housing includes two halves that bolt together. The filter element is positioned between the two halves and the bolt is tightened until the housing makes solid contact with both ends of the filter media. Thus, the screw is used to assure that the filter media is properly seated within the housing.
Other air cleaners use simple connections to assemble the housing but require the maintenance of tight tolerances to assure that the filter element is properly positioned. The tight tolerances increase the cost associated with the manufacture of the housing.
The present invention provides a filter device for an engine and operable to support a filter element. The filter device comprising a housing defining a filter receiving space having a first end and a second end. The first end and second end defining an axial length therebetween. A biasing element is integrally formed as one piece with the housing and disposed adjacent the first end.
In another aspect, the invention provides an air cleaner assembly for an engine. The assembly includes a base having a filter support and a base engagement portion, and a filter element which together define a longitudinal direction. The assembly also includes a cover including an integrally formed biasing element, and a cover engagement portion. The base engagement portion is engaged with the cover engagement portion to position the biasing member adjacent the filter element to bias the filter element in the longitudinal direction.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a cover for use with an engine filter base and a filter element. The cover comprising a shell, a biasing element integrally formed as one piece with the shell, and an attachment member integrally formed as one piece with the shell. The attachment member is adapted to engage the filter base such that the filter element is sandwiched between the biasing element and the filter base.
The biasing element accounts for variations and tolerances in the various components that make up the air cleaner so that when the cover and the base attach to one another, they firmly clamp the filter element and inhibit rattling. In addition, the biasing element assures that contact between the base and the filter element is sufficient to maintain a seal therebetween.
Additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
a is a section view taken along line A-A of
a is a section view taken along line A-A of
a is a section view taken along line A-A of
Engines of the type described herein are well-suited to use as the source of power for outdoor power equipment such as lawn and garden maintenance equipment. One such piece of equipment, a rototiller 10 is illustrated in
With reference to
The air cleaner 20, shown in
The filter element 40, illustrated in
The base 30, illustrated in
The air outlet aperture 90 is provided in the base 30 to allow for the escape of the filtered air. The air outlet aperture 90 is a hole in the base 30 that provides a fluid path from the hollow opening 65 of the filter element 40 out of the air cleaner 20. In most applications, the outlet aperture 90 will directly or indirectly connect to the carburetor to allow for the delivery of filtered air.
The flat platform 75 also supports attachment pedestals 95 that include attachment apertures 100 that engage the cover 35 to attach the cover 35 to the base 30. The attachment apertures 100 are substantially rectangular openings in the attachment pedestals 95. The construction of
The cover 35, illustrated in
Each tab member 110 includes a hook portion 120 that is attached to the cover 35 by a cantilevered extension 125. The cantilevered extension 125 allows the hook portion 120 to be moved from an engaged position to a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the hook portion 120 attaches the cover 35 to the base 30 by engaging the attachment pedestal 95 adjacent the attachment apertures 100. To connect or disconnect the cover 35, the user presses the tab members 110 into their disengaged position (toward the interior of the cover 35). In the disengaged position, the hook portions 120 pass freely through the attachment apertures 100 in the attachment pedestals 95. Both tab members 110 are positioned to allow the cover 35 to be in a desired position relative to the base 30 when the two components are attached to one another. In constructions in which the base 30 includes attachment pedestals 95, the tab members 110 extend only a portion of the height of the cover 35. In constructions that do not include pedestals 95, the tab members 110 and hook portions 120 extend beyond a lowermost edge 130 of the cover 35.
The biasing portion 105, best illustrated in
As shown in
To disassemble the air cleaner 20, the user moves the hook portions 120 toward the center of the air cleaner 20 and pulls the cover 35 away from the base 30. The hook portions 120 pass through the attachment apertures 100 and the cover 35 disengages from the base 30.
It should be understood that only one possible system for the attachment of the cover 35 to the base 30 has been described with many other systems being possible. For example, other constructions may locate the attachment apertures in the cover and the hook members in the base.
One of ordinary skill will realize that there are many different arrangements of the cover 35 and/or base 30 that include an integrally-formed biasing portion 105.
Another example, illustrated in
a illustrate another construction in which a biasing member 105c is formed in a spiral shape. A spiral cut 160 in the top 135c of the cover 35c forms a spiral arm 165 that extends into the filter space 45 of the cover 35c where it can contact the filter element (not shown) when the cover 35c is attached to the base (not shown).
In yet another variation illustrated in
As should be clear, many other biasing members are possible. As such, the invention should not be limited to those few examples described herein.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
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