Dust collector

Abstract

A dust collector includes a main-body housing and a motor assembly disposed in the main-body housing. The motor assembly includes a blower fan, which is disposed in the interior of the main-body housing; and a suction motor, which rotates the blower fan. The motor assembly generates suction force at a suction port, which fluidly communicates with the interior of the main-body housing. At least first and second air-exhaust passageways are respectively in the up-down direction in the interior of the main-body housing and through which air exhausted from the motor assembly flows.

1 . A dust collector comprising:
 a main-body housing having a suction port, which in fluid communication with an interior of the main-body housing;   a motor assembly that comprises: a blower fan, which is disposed in the interior of the main-body housing; and a suction motor, which is configured to rotate the blower fan, the motor assembly being configured to generate suction force at the suction port; and   at least first and second air-exhaust passageways provided in an up-down direction in the interior of the main-body housing and through which air exhausted from the motor assembly flows.   
     
     
         2 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the second air-exhaust passageway is disposed above the first air-exhaust passageway such that a vertically extending line intersects the first air-exhaust passageway and the second air-exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein a communication-path opening fluidly connects the first air-exhaust passageway to the second air-exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The dust collector according to  claim 3 , wherein the communication-path opening fluidly connects one-end portion of the first air-exhaust passageway to one-end portion of the second air-exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The dust collector according to  claim 3 , wherein the communication-path opening has a quadrangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The dust collector according to  claim 3 , wherein a horizontal cross-sectional area of the communication-path opening is ½ or less of the maximum cross-sectional area of the first air-exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein when the motor assembly is generating the suction force, the direction in which air flows through the first air-exhaust passageway is opposite of the direction in which air flows through the second air-exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein an air-exhaust port is fluidly connected to the second air-exhaust passageway and fluidly communicates with the exterior of the main-body housing. 
     
     
         9 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein air exhausted from the motor assembly flows through the first air-exhaust passageway, then flows into the second air-exhaust passageway via a communication-path opening and then flows through the second air-exhaust passageway, and finally is exhausted from an air-exhaust port. 
     
     
         10 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tank, on or in which the suction port is provided;   wherein:   the main-body housing comprises:
 a tank cover, which is disposed on the upper side of the tank; 
 a separator, which is disposed on the upper side of the tank cover; and 
 a cowling, which is disposed on the upper side of the separator; 
   the first air-exhaust passageway is defined by the tank cover and the separator; and   the second air-exhaust passageway is defined by the separator and the cowling.   
     
     
         11 . The dust collector according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the tank cover comprises a first cover-plate part, which covers the tank, and a first guide-plate part, which protrudes upward from an upper surface of the first cover-plate part;   the separator comprises a second cover-plate part, which covers the tank cover, and a second guide-plate part, which protrudes upward from an upper surface of the second cover-plate part;   the first air-exhaust passageway is defined by the upper surface of the first cover-plate part, the first guide-plate part, and a lower surface of the second cover-plate part; and   the second air-exhaust passageway is defined by the upper surface of the second cover-plate part, the second guide-plate part, and a lower surface of the cowling.   
     
     
         12 . The dust collector according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second air-exhaust passageway has a longest dimension that extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. 
     
     
         13 . The dust collector according to  claim 12 , wherein a communication-path opening fluidly connects the first air-exhaust passageway to the second air-exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         14 . The dust collector according to  claim 13 , wherein when the motor assembly is generating the suction force, the direction in which air flows through the first air-exhaust passageway is opposite of the direction in which air flows through the second air-exhaust passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The dust collector according to  claim 14 , wherein an air-exhaust port is fluidly connected to the second air-exhaust passageway and fluidly communicates with the exterior of the main-body housing. 
     
     
         16 . The dust collector according to  claim 15 , wherein air exhausted from the motor assembly flows through the first air-exhaust passageway, then flows into the second air-exhaust passageway via the communication-path opening and then flows through the second air-exhaust passageway, and finally is exhausted from the air-exhaust port. 
     
     
         17 . The dust collector according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the communication-path opening fluidly connects an end portion of the first air-exhaust passageway to an end portion of the second air-exhaust passageway;   the communication-path opening has a quadrangular shape in horizontal cross-section; and   a horizontal cross-sectional area of the communication-path opening is ½ or less of the maximum cross-sectional area of the first air-exhaust passageway.   
     
     
         18 . The dust collector according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a tank, on or in which the suction port is provided;   wherein:   the main-body housing comprises:
 a tank cover, which is disposed on the upper side of the tank; 
 a separator, which is disposed on the upper side of the tank cover; and 
 a cowling, which is disposed on the upper side of the separator; 
   the first air-exhaust passageway is defined by the tank cover and the separator; and   the second air-exhaust passageway is defined by the separator and the cowling.   
     
     
         19 . The dust collector according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the tank cover comprises a first cover-plate part, which covers the tank, and a first guide-plate part, which protrudes upward from an upper surface of the first cover-plate part;   the separator comprises a second cover-plate part, which covers the tank cover, and a second guide-plate part, which protrudes upward from an upper surface of the second cover-plate part;   the first air-exhaust passageway is defined by the upper surface of the first cover-plate part, the first guide-plate part, and a lower surface of the second cover-plate part; and   the second air-exhaust passageway is defined by the upper surface of the second cover-plate part, the second guide-plate part, and a lower surface of the cowling.