Air intake and blowout tool

Abstract

A compressed air introduction part (5) capable of introducing compressed air into an air passage (2a) of a cylinder body (2) is provided. The compressed air introduction part (5) has a compressed air exit port (5a) formed in the shape of a ring that extends circumferentially about a cylinder-center axis (C1) of the cylinder body (2). An annular protuberance surface portion (30) is formed on an inner circumferential surface forming the air passage (2a) on an air blowout port (2c) side of the compressed air exit port (5a), and a protuberance surface (30a) of the annular protuberance surface portion (30) is shaped so as to extend from a peripheral edge portion of the air blowout port (2c) side of the compressed air exit port (5a) along the radial direction of the cylinder body (2) and to then gradually curve and extend toward the air blowout port (2c) side.

Claims

1. An air intake and blowout tool comprising: a cylinder body that includes along a cylinder-central axis an air passage having an air intake port on one end and an air blowout port on another end, and, in a midsection of the cylinder body, a compressed air introduction part capable of introducing compressed air into the air passage, the compressed air introduction part configured to introduce compressed air into the air passage toward an air blowout port side of the air passage to generate negative pressure in the air passage on an air intake port side thereof and thereby produce an air flow in the air passage, and thus providing air being sucked from the air intake port into the air passage and blown out from the air blowout port, wherein: the compressed air introduction part includes a compressed air exit port formed in a shape of ring that extends circumferentially about the cylinder-central axis, and slot-shaped extending straight along a radial direction of the cylinder body to open into the air passage; the cylinder body has a first air passage that forms an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder body on an air intake port side that includes an intake port side air guiding surface extending along the cylinder-central axis and a second air passage forming inner circumferential surface of the cylinder body on an air blowout port side of the compressed air exit port that includes an annular protuberance surface portion protruding toward a radially inner side of the cylinder body greater than an air passage forming inner circumferential surface on an air intake port side of the compressed air exit port, and extending circumferentially about the cylinder-central axis; the annular protuberance surface portion includes a protuberance surface shaped to extend from a peripheral edge portion of the air blowout port side of the compressed air exit port toward the radially inner side of the cylinder body and to then gradually curve and extend toward the air blowout port side; and the compressed air exit port and the intake port side air guiding surface on the air passage inner circumferential surface of the cylinder body have a continuous portion therebetween that includes an annular stepped surface portion recessed in an L-shape in cross-sectional view and extending along a peripheral edge portion of the air intake port side of the compressed air exit port.

2. The air intake and blowout tool of claim 1, wherein the cylinder body includes first and second cylinder members each open at both ends, and is configured to be assembled by inserting one end side of the first cylinder member into an interior of the second cylinder member to screw one end side of the second cylinder member with an outer circumferential surface of a midsection of the first cylinder member; and wherein the compressed air introduction part is configured to be formed of a portion surrounded by an outer circumferential surface of the one end side of the first cylinder member and an inner circumferential surface of a midsection of the second cylinder member.

3. The air intake and blowout tool of claim 2, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the midsection of the second cylinder member includes an annular face extending along a direction orthogonal to the cylinder-central axis and opposing one end face of the first cylinder member, and wherein the compressed air exit port is configured to be formed between the one end face of the first cylinder member and the annular face.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air intake and blowout tool according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane II-II shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated as the part III shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. It is noted that the following description of preferred embodiments is merely an example in nature.

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates an air intake and blowout tool 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The air intake and blowout tool 1 converts compressed air generated by a compressor (not shown) to a high-volume air flow, and is utilized for operations to scatter away swarf and water drops sticking on equipment by blowing the air and to suck in and collect dust and waste produced in a plant by using the air.

(6) The air intake and blowout tool 1 includes a cylinder body 2 having, along a cylinder central axis C1, an air passage 2a that allows air to flow inside. The air passage 2a has an opening on one end that forms an air intake port 2b and an opening on another end that forms an air blowout port 2c.

(7) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylinder body 2 includes first and second cylinder members 3, 4 each open at both ends.

(8) A first recessed groove 3a is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first cylinder member 3 on one end side thereof and has an annular shape extending circumferentially about the cylinder central axis C1. The first recessed groove 3a is shaped to have a wider groove width and to be shallow.

(9) A male thread portion 3b is formed continuously with the first recessed groove 3a and on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylinder member 3 at a midsection thereof.

(10) An annular rib portion 3c is also formed continuously with the male thread portion 3b and on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylinder member 3 at the midsection thereof. The annular rib portion 3c protrudes radially outwardly and extends circumferentially about the cylinder central axis C1.

(11) An annular protuberance surface portion 30 is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first cylinder member 3 on the one end side thereof. The annular protuberance surface portion 30 projects toward a radially inner side of the cylinder body 2 and extends circumferentially about the cylinder central axis C1.

(12) The annular protuberance surface portion 30 includes a protuberance surface 30a formed to extend from one end face of the first cylinder member 3 (a peripheral edge portion of a compressed air exit port 5a on an air blowout port 2c side, as described below) toward the radially inner side of the cylinder body 2 and to then gradually curve and extend toward another end side of the first cylinder member 3.

(13) A blowout port side air guiding surface 3d continuous with the protuberance surface 30a is formed on a portion extending from a midsection of the inner circumferential surface of the first cylinder member 3 to the other end thereof. The blowout port side air guiding surface 3d is tapered to increase gradually in diameter in a direction away from the protuberance surface 30a.

(14) A tapered surface 4a is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the second cylinder member 4 on one end side thereof. The tapered surface 4a gradually decreases in diameter toward the one end.

(15) On the other hand, an annular mounting face 4b is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second cylinder member 4 on another end side thereof. The annular mounting face 4b is recessed in the shape of a step and extends along a peripheral edge portion of an opening of the other end. A surface of the annular mounting face 4b has a thread portion that is not shown.

(16) An annular second recessed groove 40 extending circumferentially about the cylinder central axis C1 is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylinder member 4 at a midsection thereof. The second recessed groove 40 is shaped to have a wider groove width and to be shallow.

(17) The second recessed groove 40 includes a belt-shaped bottom surface 40a extending circumferentially in an annular manner about the cylinder central axis C1, a first annular face 40b extending from one edge of the belt-shaped bottom surface 40a in a direction orthogonal to the cylinder-central axis C1, and a second annular face 40c extending from another edge of the belt-shaped bottom surface 40a in the direction orthogonal to the cylinder-central axis C1.

(18) A compressed air introduction hole 40d opening in the belt-shaped bottom surface 40a of the second recessed groove 40 is formed penetrating at the midsection of the second cylinder member 4. The compressed air introduction hole 40d is coupled to an L-shaped pipe 6 (see FIG. 1).

(19) A female thread portion 4c is formed continuously with the second recessed groove 40 and on the inner circumferential surface of the second cylinder member 4 on the one end side thereof. The female thread portion 4c can be screwed with the male thread portion 3b.

(20) An annular fitting portion 4d corresponding to the annular rib portion 3c is formed in a portion continuous with the female thread portion 4c on the inner circumferential surface of the second cylinder member 4 on the one end side thereof.

(21) On the other hand, a tapered air intake surface 4e and an intake port side air guiding surface 4f formed continuously with the air intake surface 4e are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the second cylinder member 4 on the other end side thereof. The air intake surface 4e decreases gradually in diameter from the peripheral edge portion of the opening of the other end of the second cylinder member 4 toward an interior thereof. The intake port side air guiding surface 4f extends lineally along a cylinder central axis of the second cylinder member 4 toward the one end side of the second cylinder member 4. An annular stepped surface portion 4g extending along a peripheral edge portion of an opening of the second recessed groove 40 is formed on the intake port side air guiding surface 4f on the one end side of the second cylinder member 4.

(22) The cylinder body 2 is then assembled by inserting the one end side of the first cylinder member 3 into the interior of the second cylinder member 4 through the one end side of the second cylinder member 4 and screwing the male thread portion 3b of the first cylinder member 3 with the female thread portion 4c of the second cylinder member 4 until the annular rib portion 3c is fitted with the annular fitting portion 4d.

(23) When the first and second cylinder members 3, 4 are assembled, the first recessed groove 3a and the second recessed groove 40 oppose each other and a portion surrounded by the first recessed groove 3a and the second recessed groove 40 forms a compressed air introduction part 5 of the present disclosure.

(24) In the assembled first and second cylinder members 3, 4, one end face of the first cylinder member 3 opposes the first annular face 40b and a gap formed between the one end face of the first cylinder member 3 and the first annular face 40b serves as a compressed air exit port 5a of the present disclosure.

(25) Thus, the compressed air exit port 5a has a shape in a ring extending circumferentially about the cylinder central axis C1 and is slot-shaped extending straight in the radial direction of the cylinder body 2 so as to open into the air passage 2a. The annular protuberance surface portion 30 is formed to protrude toward the radially inner side of the cylinder body 2 greater than the intake port side air guiding surface 4f on the air intake port 2b side of the compressed air exit port 5a. The annular stepped surface portion 4g is then formed to extend along a peripheral edge portion of the compressed air exit port 5a on the air intake port 2b side thereof.

(26) The compressed air introduction part 5 then introduces compressed air through the compressed air exit port 5a into the air passage 2a. In the present disclosure, the compressed air is introduced to advance linearly from the compressed air exit port 5a to the air passage 2a of the interior of the cylinder body 2 toward the radially inner side of the cylinder body 2. While the annular protuberance surface portion 30 is provided on the air blowout port 2c side of the compressed air exit port 5a, no wall is provided on the air intake port 2b side of the compressed air exit port 5a. Thus, the compressed air introduced from the compressed air exit port 5a into the air passage 2a flows smoothly along the protuberance surface 30a of the annular protuberance surface portion 30 toward the air blowout port 2c side due to the Coanda effect, as illustrated by the allow X1 shown in FIG. 3. In this manner, the compressed air is introduced into the air passage to direct toward the air blowout port side thereof, thus causing the generation of an air flow in the air passage 2a. In doing so, the compressed air exit port 5a extends radially to be slot shaped and a cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body 2 inner circumferential surface forming the compressed air exit port 5a on the air intake port 2b side is thus not acute angled. The phenomenon that a part of the compressed air introduced from the compressed air exit port 5a into the air passage 2a advances toward the air intake port 2b side is less likely to occur. This enables reduced energy loss around the compressed air exit port 5a and increased volume flow rate of the air in the air passage 2a. The compressed air exit port 5a then does not need to be wider and thus the flow rate of the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introduction part 5 into the air passage 2a is not reduced. Moreover, the cylinder body 2 inner circumferential surface on the air intake port 2b side of the compressed air exit port 5a is positioned radially outwards from the cylinder body 2 inner circumferential surface on the air blowout port 2c side. The air intake port 2b is thus designed to have a larger diameter, enabling increased air intake volume in the air intake port 2b.

(27) Then, even if a part of the compressed air introduced from the compressed air exit port 5a into the air passage 2a advances toward the air intake port 2b side, its flow stays at a portion corresponding to the annular stepped surface portion 4g, as illustrated by the arrow Y1 in FIG. 3, to be less likely to prevent the air flow in the air passage 2a (the arrow Z1 in FIG. 3). This enables further reduced energy loss around the compressed air exit port 5a and increased volume flow rate of the air in the air passage 2a.

(28) In addition, circumferential walls of the first and second cylinder members 3,4 are placed over one another at a midsection of the assembled air intake and blowout tool 1, resulting in the highly rigid air intake and blowout tool 1. The air intake and blowout tool 1 then consists only of two components, allowing shorter assembly time to reduce assembly cost.

(29) Additionally, as the first and second cylinder members 3, 4 are assembled, a gap formed between the first and second cylinder members 3, 4 serves as the compressed air exit port 5a of the compressed air introduction part 5, so that the first and second cylinder members 3, 4 do not require preceding machining processes to form holes or grooves for a compressed air exit port 5a, enabling lower machining cost.

(30) The present disclosure is suitable for an air intake and blowout tool having a cylinder shape and allowing intake or blowout operation by introducing compressed air into the tool and thereby generating a high volume of air flow inside the tool along the central axis of the cylinder.