Abstract:
An air cleaner for a vehicle includes a body accommodating a filter element, a cover that covers the top of the body, and clamping units clamping the body and the cover. The clamping units include i) at least one first clamp that clamps sides of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a first spring and functions as a hinge point allowing the cover to rotate with respect to the body and ii) at least one second clamp that clamps the other sides of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a second spring and locks and unlocks the body and the cover by means of rotation of a key.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0093935 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 28, 2010, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an air cleaner for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an air cleaner which may be made of plastic for a vehicle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, the intake system of vehicle engines is equipped with an air cleaner that sucks air from the atmosphere, filters foreign substances from the air, and then supplies the filtered air to the engine. 
         [0006]    The air cleaner includes a body accommodating a filter element etc., a cover that covert the upper portion of the body, and a plurality of clamping units that clamps the cover to the body, using elasticity of springs. 
         [0007]    In common gasoline vehicles, the air cleaner is made of plastic and mounted apart from the injector, such that explosion pressure is not directly transmitted to the air cleaner; therefore, the body and the cover are fixed by the clamping units. 
         [0008]    On the other hand, in vehicles using LPG fuel, since a mixer that mixes the LGP fuel with the air is mounted between the intake hose and a throttle body, combustion in the engine reaches even around the mixer, such that the explosion pressure (hereafter, referred to as “backfire pressure) is transmitted to the inside of the air cleaner. 
         [0009]    Therefore, when the LPG vehicle is equipped with the air cleaner made of plastic and having the structure with the body and the cover fixed by clamping units, the backfire pressure is exerted as large internal pressure between the body and the cover; therefore, the parts of the air cleaner (body, cover, filter element, and clamping units, etc.) are damaged by the backfire pressure. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, the air cleaners made of plastic are replaced by air cleaners made of steel in the LPG vehicles in the related art, but in this case, the weight and manufacturing cost of the air cleaners are increased. 
         [0011]    The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Various aspects of the present invention have been made in an effort to provide for an air cleaner for a vehicle having advantages of being able to be made of plastic and prevent damage from backfire pressure by removing the backfire pressure with a simple structure. 
         [0013]    One aspect of the present invention provides for an air cleaner that is made of plastic and includes a body accommodating a filter element, a cover that covers the top of the body, and clamping units clamping the body and the cover, in which the clamping unit includes a clamp that clamps the edges of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a spring and locks and unlocks the body and the cover by rotation of a key. 
         [0014]    Another aspect of the present invention provides for an air cleaner that is made of plastic and includes a body accommodating a filter element, a cover that covers the top of the body, and clamping units clamping the body and the cover, in which the clamping units include a clamp that clamps the edges of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a spring and functions as a hinge point allowing the cover to rotate with respect to the body. 
         [0015]    Yet another aspect of the present invention provides for an air cleaner for a vehicle that is made of plastic and includes a body accommodating a filter element, a cover that covers the top of the body, and clamping units clamping the body and the cover, in which the clamping units include i) at least one first clamp that clamps sides of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a first spring and functions as a hinge point allowing the cover to rotate with respect to the body and ii) at least one second clamp that clamps the other sides of the body and the cover by means of elastic force of a second spring and locks and unlocks the body and the cover by means of rotation of a key. 
         [0016]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, a gap may be defined between the body and the cover, against the elastic force of the first and second springs by the internal pressure between the body and the cover. 
         [0017]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the first and second clamps may be made of plastic. 
         [0018]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the first clamp may be mounted in a first mounting portion formed at one edge of the body. 
         [0019]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, a hinge protrusion hinged to the first clamp may be formed at one edge of the cover. 
         [0020]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the hinge protrusion may be formed in a yoke shape with the bottom inclined with respect to the top and may have a hinge groove where the first clamp is fitted. 
         [0021]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the second clamp may be mounted in a second mounting portion formed at the other edge of the body. 
         [0022]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, a locking protrusion locked to the second mounting portion by the second clamp may be formed at the other edge of the cover. 
         [0023]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the locking protrusion may protrude outward from the edge of the cover and may have a locking groove where the second clamp is fitted. 
         [0024]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the first clamp may include a first shaft mounted in the first mounting portion to be movable up/down and fitted in the hinge groove of the hinge protrusion, a first locking portion integrally formed at the top of the first shaft and locked to the top of the hinge protrusion, a first cap mounted in the first mounting portion and where the lower end of the first shaft is fitted, and a first cap bolt fitted in the lower end of the first shaft, with the first spring fitted on the first shaft in the first cap. 
         [0025]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the first locking portion may have a first surface that is flat to support the top of the hinge protrusion and a second surface rounded upward and connected to the first surface. 
         [0026]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, wherein the first shaft may have a guide protrusion integrally connected with the first locking portion and vertically fitted in a guide groove of the first mounting portion. 
         [0027]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, the second clamp may include a second shaft mounted in the second mounting portion to be movable up/down and rotatable and fitted in a locking groove of the locking protrusion, a second locking portion integrally formed at the top of the second shaft and locked to the locking protrusion by means of rotation of the second shaft, a second cap mounted in the second mounting portion and where the lower end of the second shaft is fitted, and a second cap bolt fitted in the lower end of the second shaft, with the second spring fitted on the second shaft in the second. 
         [0028]    Further, in the air cleaner for a vehicle, a grip for holding may be integrally formed at the second locking portion. 
         [0029]    According to various aspects of the present invention, since a configuration which is made of plastic and can remove the backfire pressure is achieved, the air cleaner can be used for vehicles using gasoline and it is possible to reduce the weight and manufacturing cost and prevent damage from the backfire pressure. 
         [0030]    Further, since the first clamp functions as a hinge point allowing the cover to rotate with respect to the body in various aspects, the air cleaner may be used in a small space that is not enough to attach/detach the cover to/from the body. 
         [0031]    The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an exemplary air cleaner for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a partial exploded perspective view showing the combination structure of an exemplary first clamp used in the air cleaner for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing an assembly of the parts shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view showing the combination structure of an exemplary second clamp used in the air cleaner for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing an assembly of the parts shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are views illustrating the operation of an exemplary air cleaner for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0040]    The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. 
         [0041]    Further, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for understanding and ease of description, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the thickness of parts, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. 
         [0042]    Referring to the figures, an air cleaner  100  for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention can be used for LPG vehicles that use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (hereafter, referred to as “LPG”) as fuel. 
         [0043]    The air cleaner  100  for an LPG vehicle according to various embodiments may be disposed in the intake system of the LPG engine including a mixer (not shown) that mixes the air with the LPG. 
         [0044]    The intake system of the LPG engine is implemented by common intake systems for LPG engines well known in the art and the detailed description is not provided. 
         [0045]    The air cleaner  100  for a vehicle is provided to suck air from the atmosphere, filter the foreign substances from the air, and then supply the filtered air to the mixer. 
         [0046]    Since the mixer is mounted between the intake hose and the throttle body in the intake system of the LPG engine, the combustion in the engine reaches around the mixer, such that the explosion pressure (hereafter, referred to as “backfire pressure”) may be transmitted to the inside of the air cleaner  100  according to various embodiments. 
         [0047]    Therefore, the air cleaner  100  for a vehicle according to various embodiments may be made of plastic and has a structure that is not damaged by the backfire pressure. 
         [0048]    For this purpose, the air cleaner  100  for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention basically includes a body  10 , a cover  30 , and clamping units  50  and  70 , which are described below. 
         [0049]    The body  10  is made of plastic and has a space therein to accommodate a filter element  11  that filters the air, in various embodiments. 
         [0050]    Further, the body  10  has an air outlet  19  to discharge the air filtered by the filter element  11  to the engine. 
         [0051]    In this configuration, the filter element  11  is supported by a filter frame fixed between the top of the body  10  and the bottom of the cover  30  and it is an intake filter well known in the art, and accordingly, the detailed description is not provided in the specification. 
         [0052]    The body  10  is a rectangular case with the top open, where the opening is inclined upward from one side to the other side. The lower edge of the opening may be defined as one edge while the upper edge may be defined in the other edge in various embodiments. 
         [0053]    In various embodiments, the cover  30  is made of plastic with the bottom open, corresponding to the body  10 , to cover the opening of the body  10 , and may be connected to the edges of the opening of the body  10  by the clamping units  50  and  70 , which are describe below in detail. 
         [0054]    In this case, the cover  30  has an air inlet  31  to suck the external air into the filter element  11  in the body  10 . 
         [0055]    The clamping units  50  and  70  are provided to clamp the cover  30  to the body  10 , with the opening of the body  10  covered by the cover  30 . 
         [0056]    The clamping units  50  and  70  may include a first clamp  50  made of plastic to clamp one edge of the body  10  and one edge of the cover  30  which corresponds to the edge of the body  10  and a second clamp  70  made of plastic to clamp the other edge of the body  10  and the other edge of the cover  30  which corresponds to the other edge of the body. 
         [0057]    In various embodiments, the first clamp  50  clamps edges of the body  10  and the cover  30 , using elastic force of a spring, is a hinge clamp allowing the cover  30  to rotate with respect to the body  10 , and may be mounted in a pair on one edge of the body  10 . 
         [0058]    That is, the first clamp  50  makes a hinge point that allows the cover  30  to rotate about one edge of the body  10 . 
         [0059]    The first clamp  50  is mounted at one edge of the body  10 , and for this configuration, a first mounting portion  21  is formed at one edge of the body  10  to mount the first clamp  50 . 
         [0060]    Hereafter, the structure of the first clamp  50  described above and a structure for mounting the first clamp  50  to the first mounting portion  21  are described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0061]    The first mounting portion  21  protrudes from one edge of the body  10  and has a cylindrical first mounting groove  22  with the bottom open to assemble the first clamp  50  and a first mounting hole  23  connected to the first mounting groove  22  on the top. 
         [0062]    Further, a support protrusion  24  supporting a first shaft  51  of the first clamp  50 , which is described in detail below, is formed on the top of the first mounting portion  21 , and has a guide groove  25  formed upward. 
         [0063]    In various embodiments, the first clamp  50  includes the first shaft  51 , a first locking portion  55 , a first cap  61 , a first spring  64 , and a first cap bolt  67 . 
         [0064]    The first shaft  51  has a circular external circumference and is mounted in the first mounting portion  21  to be able to move up/down, that is, may be fitted in the first mounting hole  23  of the first mounting portion  21  to be able to move up/down and disposed on the first mounting groove  22 . 
         [0065]    The first locking portion  55  is integrally formed at the top of the first shaft  51  in a rectangular shape having predetermined width and length, and has a first surface  56  that is flat and a second surface  57  rounded upward and connected to the first surface  56 , on the bottom. One will appreciate that the first locking portion may be monolithically formed at the top of the first shaft. 
         [0066]    In this configuration, the first shaft  512  has a guide protrusion  53  that is integrally connected with the first locking portion  55  and vertically fitted in the guide groove  25  of the support protrusion  24  of the first mounting portion  21 . One will appreciate that the guide protrusion may be monolithically formed with the first locking portion. 
         [0067]    The first cap  61  is mounted in the first mounting groove  22  of the first mounting portion  21  to be locked to the upper surface in the mounting groove  22 , and is formed in a cylindrical shape with the bottom open. 
         [0068]    In this case, a first fitting hole  62  where the first shaft  51  is fitted through the first mounting hole  23  is formed on the top of the first cap  61 . 
         [0069]    The first spring  64 , which is fitted on the first shaft  51  in the first cap  61 , is a compression coil spring that is compressed by the first shaft  51  while applying elastic force against first shaft  51   
         [0070]    Further, the first cap bolt  67  may be thread-fastened to the lower end of the shaft  51 , with the first spring  64  fitted on the first shaft  51  in the first cap  61 . The first cap bolt  67  has an external diameter larger than the external diameter of the first shaft  51 . 
         [0071]    Therefore, the upper end of the first spring  64  is supported by the upper surface in the first cap  61  and the lower end is supported by the first cap bolt  67 . 
         [0072]    In various embodiments, the second clamp  70  clamps the other edges of the body  10  and the cover  30 , using the elastic force of a spring, and is a key clamp that can lock/unlock the body  10  and the cover  30  by key rotation. 
         [0073]    The second clamp  70  is mounted in a pair at the other edge of the body  10 , and for this configuration, a second mounting portion  26  for mounting the second clamp  70  is formed at the other edge of the body  10 . 
         [0074]    Hereafter, the structure of the second clamp  70  and the structure for mounting the second clamp  70  in the second mounting portion  26  are described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0075]    The second mounting portion  26  protrudes from the other edge of the body  10  and has a cylindrical second mounting groove  27  with the bottom open to assemble the second clamp  70  and a second mounting hole  28  connected to the second mounting groove  27  on the top. 
         [0076]    In various embodiments, the second clamp  70  includes a second shaft  71 , a second locking portion  75 , a second cap  81 , a second spring  84 , and a second cap bolt  87 . 
         [0077]    The second shaft  71  has a circular external circumference and is mounted in the second mounting portion  26  to be able to move up/down and rotate, that is, may be fitted in the second mounting hole  28  of the second mounting portion  26  and disposed on the second mounting groove  27 . 
         [0078]    The second locking portion  75  is integrally formed at the top of the second shaft  71  and may be locked to the edge of the cover  30 , which is described below, by rotation of the second shaft  71 . One will appreciate that the second locking portion may be monolithically formed with the top of the second shaft. 
         [0079]    In this case, a grip  76  that a worker or a user holds is integrally formed at the second locking portion  75 . One will appreciate that the grip may be monolithically formed with the second locking portion. 
         [0080]    The second cap  81  is mounted in the second mounting groove  27  of the second mounting portion  26  to be locked to the upper surface in the mounting groove  27 , and is formed in a cylindrical shape with the bottom open. 
         [0081]    In this case, a second fitting hole  82  where the second shaft  71  is fitted through the second mounting hole  28  is formed on the top of the second cap  81 . 
         [0082]    The second spring  84 , which is fitted on the second shaft  71  in the second cap  81 , is a compression coil spring that is compressed by the second shaft  71  while applying elastic force against second shaft  71 . 
         [0083]    Further, the second cap bolt  87  may be thread-fastened to the lower end of the shaft  71 , with the second spring  84  fitted on the second shaft  71  in the second cap  81 . The second cap bolt  87  has an external diameter larger than the external diameter of the second shaft  71 . 
         [0084]    Therefore, the upper end of the second spring  84  is supported by the upper surface in the second cap  81  and the lower end is supported by the second cap bolt  87 . 
         [0085]    Meanwhile, in various embodiments, a hinge protrusion  91  hinged to the first clamp  50  may be formed at one edge of the cover  30  which corresponds to the first mounting portion  21  of the body  10  and a locking protrusion  95  locked to the second mounting portion  26  by the second clamp  70  may be formed at the other edge of the cover  30  which corresponds to the second mounting portion  26  of the body  10 . 
         [0086]    The hinge protrusion  91  protrudes from one edge of the cover  30  in a yoke shape with the bottom inclined with respect to the top, and has a hinge groove  92  where the first shaft  51  of the first clamp  50  is fitted. 
         [0087]    In this configuration, the hinge protrusion  91  is guided by the second surface  57  of the first locking portion  55  of the first clamp  50  and the first shaft  51  is fitted in the hinge groove  92 , when the cover  30  is combined with the body  10 , in which it lifts up the first shaft  51  and its top is supported by the first surface  56  and locked to the first locking portion  55 , with the first spring  64  compressed. 
         [0088]    Further, the locking protrusion  95  protrudes outward from the edge of the cover  30  and a locking groove  96  where the second shaft  71  of the second clamp  70  is fitted is formed in the protrusion direction. 
         [0089]    In this configuration, the locking protrusion  95  may allows the second locking portion  75  of the second clamp  70  to pass through the locking groove  96  and may be locked to the second locking portion  75  by rotation of the second shaft  71 , when the cover  30  is combined with the body  10 . 
         [0090]    In a process of assembling the air cleaner  100  for a vehicle having the configuration described above, according to various embodiments of the present invention, the first clamp  50  is first mounted in the first mounting portion  21  of the body  10  and the second clamp  70  is mounted in the second mounting portion  26 , in various embodiments. 
         [0091]    In this position, the cover  30  is combined with the body  10 , in which the second locking portion  75  of the second clamp  70  is fitted in the locking groove  96  of the locking protrusion  95  of the cover  30 , and then the cover  30  is pressed. 
         [0092]    Accordingly, the hinge protrusion  91  of the cover  30  is guided by the second surface  57  of the first locking portion  55  of the first clamp  50  and the first shaft  51  is fitted in the hinge groove  92 , in which it lifts up the first shaft  51  and its top is supported by the first surface  56  and locked to the first locking portion  55 , with the first spring  64  compressed. 
         [0093]    Thereafter, in various embodiments, a user holds the grip  76  of the second clamp  70  and lifts up and turns the second shaft  71  in one direction. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the second locking portion  75  is locked to the locking protrusion  95 , with the second spring  84  compressed by the second shaft  71 . 
         [0094]    Therefore, the first and second clamps  50  and  70  can clamp the body  10  and the cover  30  by means of the elastic force of the first and second springs  64  and  84 , in the process described above. 
         [0095]    Accordingly, in various embodiments, when backfire pressure above a predetermined level is exerted between the body  10  and the cover  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the cover  30  is lifted up by the backfire pressure against the elastic force of the first and second springs  64  and  84 , such that a gap G is defined between the body  10  and the cover  30 . 
         [0096]    Therefore, the backfire pressure is released through the gap G between the body  10  and the cover  30 , and when the backfire pressure drops below predetermined pressure, the cover  30  is recombined with the body  10  by the elastic force of the first and second springs  64  and  84 . 
         [0097]    Meanwhile, in various embodiments, the user holds the grip  76  of the second clamp  70  and lifts up and turns the second shaft  71  in one direction in order to replace the filter element  11  in the body  10  in the state described above. 
         [0098]    Accordingly, in various embodiments, the second locking portion  75  is unlocked from the locking protrusion  95  and the edges of the body  10  and the cover  30  are separated, such that the cover  30  is rotated about the clamp  50  and the inside of the body  10  is opened. 
         [0099]    That is, since the first locking portion  55  of the first clamp  50  presses the top of the hinge protrusion  91  of the cover  30  by means of the elastic force of the first spring  64 , the cover  30  can rotate with the top of the hinge protrusion  91  supported by the first locking portion  55 , when the second clamp  70  is unlocked. 
         [0100]    According to the air cleaner  100  for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention described above, since the first and second clamps  50  and  70  which are made of plastic and can remove the backfire pressure, the air cleaner can be used for vehicles using gasoline and it is possible to reduce the weight and manufacturing cost and prevent damage from the backfire pressure. 
         [0101]    Further, since the first clamp  50  functions as a hinge point that allows the cover  30  to rotate with respect to the body  10  in various embodiments, the air cleaner can be used in a small space that is not enough to attach/detach the cover  30  to/from the body  10 . 
         [0102]    Although various embodiments exemplifies when edges of the body  10  and the cover  30  are clamped by the hinge-typed first clamp  50  and the other edges of the body  10  and the cover  30  are clamped by the key-typed second clamp  70 , the present invention is not limited thereto and the entire edges of the body  10  and the cover  30  may be clamped by the first clamp  50  or the second clamp  70 . 
         [0103]    For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper” or “lower”, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
         [0104]    The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.