Patent Description:
An axial flow blower (air blower) for blowing away fallen leaves and dust by ejection of a high speed air flow includes a housing including an air blowing passage, a motor case disposed in the air blowing passage, an electric motor (hereinafter simply referred to as a motor) housed in the motor case, and an air blowing fan coupled to a driving portion of the motor. Such an axial flow blower is configured to generate an air flow from a suction opening toward an ejection opening of the air blowing passage by rotating the air blowing fan with a driving force of the motor (see, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>, as well as <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>).

Conventional axial flow blowers include the one in which a cylindrical or tubular blow-out pipe (also referred to as a blower nozzle, a blower pipe, or a blowing pipe, for example) extending in a front-rear direction (longitudinal direction) is attached to an opening of a housing, an opening (a distal opening) on the front side of the blow-out pipe forms an ejection opening, and the blow-out pipe tapers in a tapered shape (see, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>).

Generally, a motor-driven axial flow blower has a smaller air blowing force (flow speed) than that of a centrifugal blower. Thus, as described in Patent Literature <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the distal end of the blow-out pipe is tapered at a predetermined angle to narrow the wind passing through the inside of the blow-out pipe, thereby increasing a wind speed. With the above-mentioned tapered shape, however, while the axial flow blower has an increased wind speed, the volume of the wind that the axial flow blower can blow may decrease.

To avoid this, the wind volume may be increased by increasing the size of the air blowing fan or increasing the rotational speed of the motor, for example. However, increasing the size of the air blowing fan may increase the overall size of the blower. In addition, increasing the rotational speed of the motor may cause a louder operation sound of the blower, and this may unfortunately cause noise problems. Since the motor-driven blower has a smaller operation sound than that of an engine-driven blower, it is not desirable for the motor-driven blower to increase the rotational speed of the motor so as to increase the wind volume.

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and provides an axial flow blower capable of effectively increasing a wind speed while suppressing decrease in a wind volume.

In order to solve the above problem, an axial flow blower according to the present invention includes a housing including a suction opening, an ejection opening, and an air blowing passage extending from the suction opening to the ejection opening, an electric motor disposed within the housing, and an air blowing fan coupled to the electric motor and rotated within the air blowing passage with a driving force of the electric motor so as to blow air from the suction opening toward the ejection opening. The housing is provided with a blow-out pipe that forms a portion of the air blowing passage extending in a direction along a rotation axis of the air blowing fan and has a distal end opening serving as the ejection opening. A distal end portion of the blow-out pipe is provided with an R part formed of an outwardly rounded arc.

According to the invention, the blow-out pipe is formed of a straight pipe.

According to the invention, the R part includes a first R part, and a second R part formed of an inwardly rounded arc formed across a perimeter of an end portion of the first R part is provided to be continuous with an end portion of the first R part.

According to the invention, the arc of the second R part has a radius smaller than that of the arc of the first R part.

According to the invention, a straight part having a constant diameter is provided to be continuous with an end portion of the second R part.

According to the invention, a ratio of a diameter of the straight part with respect to a diameter of the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe may be set within a range from <NUM>% to <NUM>%.

In yet another preferred aspect, a ratio of a radius of the arc of the first R part with respect to a diameter of the straight part may be set within a range from <NUM>% to <NUM>%.

In yet another preferred aspect, the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe may have a diameter of <NUM>, the arc of the first R part may have a radius of from <NUM> to <NUM>, and the arc of the second R part may have a radius smaller than <NUM>.

In further preferred aspect, a flow directing plate as a stationary blade that directs a flow of air blown forward by the air blowing fan may be disposed downstream of the air blowing fan as a moving blade, and the R part may be arranged downstream of the flow directing plate.

According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively increase a wind speed while suppressing decrease in a wind volume by providing an R part on a distal end portion of a blow-out pipe provided in a housing.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, an air suction side (i.e., an operator side) will be referred to as a rear side or a proximal end side, and an air ejection side (i.e., a side opposite to the operator side) will be referred to as a front side or a distal end side. A side including a handle gripped by the operator will be referred to as an upper side, and a side opposite to this will be referred to as a lower side.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an axial flow blower <NUM> of the present embodiment includes a housing <NUM> in which an air blowing passage <NUM> extending from a suction opening <NUM> to an ejection opening <NUM> is formed. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> includes a motor case <NUM>, an electric motor <NUM>, an air blowing fan <NUM> coupled to the electric motor <NUM>, and a flow directing plate <NUM> disposed in the air blowing passage <NUM>.

By rotating the air blowing fan <NUM> within the air blowing passage <NUM> with a driving force of the electric motor <NUM>, the axial flow blower <NUM> generates a high speed air flow from the suction opening <NUM> toward the ejection opening <NUM> and discharges the air flow to the outside from the ejection opening <NUM>. The operator can blow away fallen leaves and dust by directing the air flow from the ejection opening <NUM> toward the ground while holding the axial flow blower <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes a main body portion <NUM> and a blow-out pipe <NUM> that protrudes frontward from the main body portion <NUM>.

The main body portion <NUM> is a resin tubular body or box body extending in the front-rear direction and having a front end face that is open. The right and left side surfaces and lower surface of the rear portion of the main body portion <NUM> each have the suction opening <NUM> having a plurality of slit holes. Hereinafter, the suction opening <NUM> formed on each of the right and left surfaces (side walls) of the rear portion of the main body portion <NUM>, through which outside air (air) is introduced from the lateral side into the main body portion <NUM> (air blowing passage <NUM>), may be referred to as a lateral suction opening <NUM>, and the suction opening <NUM> formed on the bottom surface (bottom wall) of the rear portion of the main body portion <NUM>, through which outside air (air) is introduced from the lower side into the main body portion <NUM> (air blowing passage <NUM>), may be referred to as a lower suction opening <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the rear end face of the main body portion <NUM> (i.e., the rear end portion of the air blowing passage <NUM>) is closed by a rear wall <NUM> (without a suction opening) that is formed into a rectangular shape.

The blow-out pipe <NUM> is a resin cylindrical member (straight pipe) extending in the front-rear direction. The rear portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> is inserted into and attached to the opening on the front side of the main body portion <NUM>. The front portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> protrudes frontward from the opening on the front side of the main body portion <NUM>. The opening (distal opening) on the front side of the blow-out pipe <NUM> forms the ejection opening <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an outer cylindrical body <NUM> is formed within the main body portion <NUM> at a central portion. The outer cylindrical body <NUM> is a resin cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction. The front portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM> extends straight in the front-rear direction (with a constant diameter in the front-rear direction), and is formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than that of the rear end portion (proximal end portion) of the blow-out pipe <NUM>. The rear portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM> is tapered to have a diameter gradually expanded from the front side toward the rear side. The rear end portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM> is formed to have a slightly larger diameter than that of the rear end portion (proximal end portion) of the blow-out pipe <NUM>.

The front edge portion (the opening on the front end face) of the outer cylindrical body <NUM> extends to the rear edge portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM>. Further, the outer surface of the rear edge portion (the opening on the rear end face) of the outer cylindrical body <NUM> is in contact with the inner surface of the rear portion of the main body portion <NUM>. That is, the outer cylindrical body <NUM> is disposed between the blow-out pipe <NUM> and the suction opening <NUM> formed in the rear portion of the main body portion <NUM>.

Herein, the blow-out pipe <NUM> and the outer cylindrical body <NUM> are concentrically arranged such that the central axis of the blow-out pipe <NUM> matches with the central axis of the outer cylindrical body <NUM>.

Thus, the air blowing passage <NUM> is defined by the internal space of the blow-out pipe <NUM>, the outer cylindrical body <NUM>, and the rear portion of the main body portion <NUM>. The air blowing passage <NUM> is an air communication passage extending substantially straight in the front-rear direction from the suction opening <NUM> to the ejection opening <NUM>.

The motor case <NUM> is a resin container disposed within the housing <NUM>. The motor case <NUM> is a cylindrical member and is disposed in the central portion (on the rotation axis of the air blowing fan <NUM> described later) of the air blowing passage <NUM>. The rear end face of the motor case <NUM> is open in a circular shape, and the front end portion of the motor case <NUM> is closed in a conical shape.

The motor case <NUM> is disposed in the central portion of the front portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM>. The front portion (conical portion) of the motor case <NUM> protrudes frontward of the front end face of the outer cylindrical body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the motor case <NUM> is supported by a plurality of flow directing plates <NUM> in the central portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM>.

The flow directing plate <NUM> is provided between the inner surface of the front portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM> and the outer surface of the motor case <NUM>. The flow directing plate <NUM> is a rectangular plate-like member made of resin extending in a radial direction of the air blowing passage <NUM>. The inner end portion of the flow directing plate <NUM> is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the motor case <NUM>. Further, the outer end portion of the flow directing plate <NUM> is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the front portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM>. In other words, the flow directing plate <NUM> is a support member provided between the inner surface of the air blowing passage <NUM> and the outer surface of the motor case <NUM>.

The flow directing plate <NUM> directs an air flow within the air blowing passage <NUM> (more specifically, an air flow downstream of the air blowing fan <NUM>, blown forward by the air blowing fan <NUM> described later). This flow directing plate <NUM> is also referred to as a stationary blade. In the present embodiment, the plurality of (five in the illustrated example) flow directing plates <NUM> is disposed at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the outer cylindrical body <NUM>.

The motor case <NUM>, the flow directing plates <NUM>, and the outer cylindrical body <NUM> of the present embodiment are formed integrally as a unitary component. However, the motor case <NUM>, the flow directing plates <NUM>, and the outer cylindrical body <NUM> may be formed as separate components and assembled together.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the electric motor <NUM> is an electrically-driven motor and is housed in the motor case <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> is disposed in the central portion (on the rotation axis of the air blowing fan <NUM> described later) of the air blowing passage <NUM> (the outer cylindrical body <NUM> and the motor case <NUM>). The electric motor <NUM> is configured such that, with current supplied to a coil of the main body portion <NUM>, a rotating shaft portion <NUM> provided in the main body portion <NUM> in a protruding manner rotates about an axis O.

The main body portion <NUM> is fixed within the motor case <NUM>. In a state where the main body portion <NUM> is fixed within the motor case <NUM>, the rotating shaft portion <NUM> protrudes rearward of the rear end face of the motor case <NUM>.

The air blowing fan <NUM> is disposed behind the motor case <NUM>, inside of the front portion of the outer cylindrical body <NUM>. The air blowing fan <NUM> includes a coupling portion <NUM> and a plurality of blades <NUM>.

The coupling portion <NUM> is a short cylindrical member, and is formed to have a diameter substantially equal to that of the motor case <NUM>. The rear end face of the coupling portion <NUM> is closed by a spherical surface (i.e., in a dome shape), and the front end face of the coupling portion <NUM> is open in a circular shape. The central portion of the coupling portion <NUM> includes a boss <NUM>, and the boss <NUM> includes an insertion hole <NUM> into which the rotating shaft portion <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is inserted. The coupling portion <NUM> is fixed to the rotating shaft portion <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> by fitting the rotating shaft portion <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> into the insertion hole <NUM> of the coupling portion <NUM>.

In addition, while rotating relative to the motor case <NUM>, the coupling portion <NUM> forms a portion of the motor case <NUM> as a rear case of the motor case <NUM>.

In the axial flow blower <NUM> of the present embodiment, the plurality of blades <NUM> is disposed (provided in a protruding manner) on the outer peripheral surface of the coupling portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the plurality of (<NUM> in the illustrated example) blades <NUM> is disposed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the coupling portion <NUM>. Driving the electric motor <NUM> to rotate the rotating shaft portion <NUM> and the air blowing fan <NUM> about the axis O allows each of the blades <NUM> to blow air from the rear side (upstream side) toward the front side (downstream side) within the air blowing passage <NUM>. That is, in the axial flow blower <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the air blowing fan <NUM> is rotated within the air blowing passage <NUM> with a driving force of the electric motor <NUM>, a high speed air flow is generated from the suction opening <NUM> on the upstream side toward the ejection opening <NUM> on the downstream side. The blade <NUM> of the air blowing fan <NUM> is also referred to as a moving blade. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, when the blades (moving blades) <NUM> of the air blowing fan <NUM> are rotated within the air blowing passage <NUM> with a driving force of the electric motor <NUM>, the high speed air flow flowing downstream of the electric motor <NUM> flows while swirling through the inside of the cylindrical blow-out pipe <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the electric motor <NUM> (or the rotating shaft portion <NUM> thereof) and the air blowing fan <NUM> are disposed with the rotation axis O being along the front-rear direction, and thus the rotation axis O of the electric motor <NUM> (or the rotating shaft portion <NUM> thereof) and the air blowing fan <NUM> matches with the central axis of the blow-out pipe <NUM>, the outer cylindrical body <NUM>, and the motor case <NUM>. The air blowing passage <NUM> defined by the blow-out pipe <NUM>, the outer cylindrical body <NUM>, and the like extends substantially straight in the direction along the rotation axis O of the air blowing fan <NUM>.

In the axial flow blower <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a handle <NUM> is provided on the upper surface of the main body portion <NUM>. The handle <NUM> is a columnar member extending in the front-rear direction and is gripped by the operator. The front end portion and the rear end portion of the handle <NUM> are respectively coupled to the front portion and the rear end portion on the upper surface of the main body portion <NUM>. The front portion of the handle <NUM> is provided with a throttle lever <NUM> serving as control means, with which the operator increases or decreases the rotational speed of the rotating shaft portion <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> while gripping the handle <NUM>.

A control case <NUM> is formed inside of the front end portion (a portion coupled to the main body portion <NUM>) of the handle <NUM>. The control case <NUM> houses a control unit (not shown) that controls driving of the electric motor <NUM>, that is, rotation of the air blowing fan <NUM>, based on a signal from the throttle lever <NUM>. The control unit is connected to a power source cable (not shown) connected to a battery <NUM> as a power source. In addition, the control unit and the throttle lever <NUM> are connected to each other via a signal cable (not shown) provided within the handle <NUM>. The control unit is connected to a power supply cable (not shown) connected to the electric motor <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, in the axial flow blower <NUM>, the battery <NUM> serving as a power source for the control unit and the like is mounted on the rear surface of the main body portion <NUM> (i.e., the upper portion of the rear wall <NUM> that forms the rear surface of the main body portion <NUM>).

To blow away fallen leaves and dust with the axial flow blower <NUM>, the operator grips the handle <NUM> with a hand to carry the axial flow blower <NUM>. Then, the operator controls the throttle lever <NUM> of the handle <NUM> to rotate the air blowing fan <NUM> so as to generate a high speed air flow within the air blowing passage <NUM> and introduce outside air (air) (from the lateral and lower sides) from the suction openings <NUM> (the lateral suction openings <NUM> and the lower suction opening <NUM>) into the air blowing passage <NUM>, and directs the air flow from the ejection opening <NUM> toward the ground.

In addition to the above configuration, the axial flow blower <NUM> of the present embodiment is configured such that the front end portion (distal end portion) of the blow-out pipe <NUM> defining the front portion of the air blowing passage <NUM> is tapered with a corner R (R part) in order to increase a wind speed while suppressing decrease in a wind volume of the air flow directed toward the ground from the ejection opening <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the opening on the front side of the cylindrical blow-out pipe <NUM>, that is, the distal end portion (downstream end portion) of the blow-out pipe <NUM> is provided with an R part (first R part) 19a. The R part 19a is formed of an outwardly rounded arc formed across the perimeter of the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM>.

In addition, an R part (second R part) 19b is provided to be continuous with the end portion (downstream end portion) of the R part (first R part) 19a. The R part 19b is formed of an inwardly rounded arc formed across the perimeter of the end portion of the R part 19a. In the present embodiment, the arc of the R part 19b on the front side has a radius smaller than that of the arc of the R part 19a on the rear side.

Furthermore, a straight part 19c is provided to be continuous with the end portion (downstream end portion) of the R part (second R part) 19b. The straight part 19c is a cylindrical part extending in the front-rear direction (with a constant diameter in the front-rear direction). In the present embodiment, the opening (distal opening) on the front side of the straight part 19c forms the ejection opening <NUM>.

The R part 19a, the R part 19b, and the straight part 19c of the present embodiment are formed integrally with the blow-out pipe <NUM>. However, the R part 19a, the R part 19b, and the straight part 19c may not be formed integrally with the blow-out pipe <NUM>.

Providing the R part (first R part) 19a as described above prevents the air coming out of the ejection opening <NUM> from spreading in the circumferential direction of the blow-out pipe <NUM>, and thus can increase a wind speed while suppressing decrease in a wind volume (see <FIG>).

In addition, although the blow-out pipe <NUM> with an edged end may generate wind noise, the blow-out pipe <NUM> provided with the second R part 19b can blow wind by smoothly merging the wind flowing straight through the blow-out pipe <NUM> in the direction along the rotation axis O of the air blowing fan <NUM> and the wind guided to be slightly inclined inward by the first R part 19a at a position where the winds meet, and thus the noise can be effectively reduced.

Furthermore, providing the straight part 19c allows the wind blown out of the ejection opening <NUM> to maintain the straight flowing property, and thus the wind speed can more effectively be increased.

In the above-described configuration, the R part 19a, the R part 19b, and the straight part 19c may be set to have any dimensions. However, when the R part 19a and the R part 19b are too large in size, decrease in the wind volume may be larger. In contrast, when the R part 19a is too small in size, it will be difficult to obtain the effect of increasing the wind speed while suppressing decrease in the wind volume.

To balance decrease in the wind volume and increase in the wind speed, it is confirmed that it is preferable that a ratio (ϕDc/ϕD) of a diameter (inside diameter) ϕDc of the straight part 19c with respect to a diameter (inside diameter on the upstream side of the R part 19a) ϕD of the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> be set within the range from <NUM>% to <NUM>% (i.e., not smaller than <NUM>% and not larger than <NUM>%). In addition, it is confirmed that it is preferable that a ratio (Ra/ϕDc) of a radius Ra of the arc of the first R part 19a with respect to a diameter (inside diameter) ϕDc of the straight part 19c be set within the range from <NUM>% to <NUM>% (i.e., not smaller than <NUM>% and not larger than <NUM>%). In other words, it is preferable that a ratio (Ra/ϕD) of the radius Ra of the arc of the first R part 19a with respect to the diameter ϕD of the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> be set within the range from <NUM>% to <NUM>% (i.e., not smaller than <NUM>% and not larger than <NUM>%) and a ratio (Rb/ϕD) of a radius Rb of the arc of the second R part 19b with respect to the diameter ϕD of the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> be set smaller than <NUM>%.

In one example, when the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> has a diameter (inside diameter on the upstream side of the R part 19a) ϕD of about <NUM>, it is preferable that the arc of the first R part 19a have a radius Ra of from <NUM> to <NUM>, and the arc of the second R part 19b have a radius smaller than <NUM>. In addition, it is preferable that the straight part 19c have a length of about <NUM> to <NUM>, but not limited thereto.

It should be noted that the blow-out pipe <NUM> need not include all of the R part 19a, the R part 19b, and the straight part 19c. The blow-out pipe <NUM> may include only the R part 19a or only the R part 19a and the R part 19b, for example. Further, the blow-out pipe <NUM> may include the straight part 19c to be continuous with the end portion (downstream end portion) of the R part 19a, without the R part 19b provided therebetween.

As described above, in the axial flow blower <NUM> of the present embodiment, the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> formed of a straight pipe is provided with the R part (first R part) 19a formed of an outwardly rounded arc. This prevents the air coming out of the ejection opening <NUM> from spreading in the circumferential direction of the blow-out pipe <NUM>, and thus can increase a wind speed while suppressing decrease in a wind volume (see <FIG>).

In addition, the R part (second R part) 19b formed of an inwardly rounded arc is provided to be continuous with the end portion of the R part (first R part) 19a. With this configuration, although the blow-out pipe <NUM> with an edged end may generate wind noise, the blow-out pipe <NUM> provided with the second R part 19b can blow wind by smoothly merging the wind flowing straight through the blow-out pipe <NUM> in the direction along the rotation axis O of the air blowing fan <NUM> and the wind guided to be slightly inclined inward by the first R part 19a at a position where the winds meet, and thus the noise can be effectively reduced.

Further, the arc of the R part (second R part) 19b has a radius smaller than that of the arc of the R part (first R part) 19a. With this configuration, the noise can be effectively reduced with a relatively small change in shape.

Further, the straight part having a constant diameter is provided to be continuous with the end portion of the R part (second R part) 19b. With this configuration, providing the straight part 19c allows the wind blown out of the ejection opening <NUM> to maintain the straight flowing property, and thus the wind speed can more effectively be increased.

Further, the flow directing plate <NUM> as a stationary blade that directs the flow of air blown forward by the air blowing fan <NUM> is disposed downstream of the air blowing fan <NUM> as a moving blade, and the R part 19a is arranged downstream of the flow directing plate <NUM>. With this configuration, the flow of air blown forward by the air blowing fan <NUM> (moving blade) is directed by the flow directing plate <NUM> (stationary blade), such that the flow of air guided by the tapered R part 19a can be more smoothly guided.

As described above, according to the axial flow blower <NUM> of the present embodiment, providing the R part 19a in the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe <NUM> provided in the housing <NUM> can effectively increase a wind speed while suppressing decrease in a wind volume.

Although one example of the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and changes can be made appropriately within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
An axial flow blower (<NUM>) for blowing away fallen leaves and dust comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) including a suction opening (<NUM>), an ejection opening (<NUM>), and an air blowing passage (<NUM>) extending from the suction opening (<NUM>) to the ejection opening (<NUM>);
an electric motor (<NUM>) disposed within the housing (<NUM>); and
an air blowing fan (<NUM>) coupled to the electric motor (<NUM>) and rotated within the air blowing passage (<NUM>) with a driving force of the electric motor (<NUM>) so as to blow air from the suction opening (<NUM>) toward the ejection opening (<NUM>),
wherein
the housing (<NUM>) is provided with a blow-out pipe (<NUM>) that forms a portion of the air blowing passage (<NUM>) extending in a direction along a rotation axis (O) of the air blowing fan (<NUM>) and has a distal end opening serving as the ejection opening (<NUM>), and the blow-out pipe (<NUM>) is formed of a straight pipe,
characterized in that
a distal end portion of the blow-out pipe (<NUM>) is provided with an R part (19a, 19b) formed of an outwardly rounded arc,
the R part (19a, 19b) includes a first R part (19a), and a second R part (19b) formed of an inwardly rounded arc formed across a perimeter of an end portion of the first R part (19a) is provided to be continuous with the end portion of the first R part (19a),
the arc of the second R part (19b) has a radius smaller than that of the arc of the first R part (19a),
a straight part (19c) having a constant diameter is provided to be continuous with an end portion of the second R part (19b), and
a ratio of a diameter of the straight part (19c) with respect to a diameter of the distal end portion of the blow-out pipe (<NUM>) is set within a range from <NUM>% to <NUM>%.