1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air cleaner for a vehicle, and in particular to the shape of the air cleaner.
2. Description of Related Art
In an air cleaner for a vehicle, the inside of a box-shaped case is generally divided by a filter into an intake port side air chamber (suction side air chamber) and an exhaust port side air chamber (discharge side air chamber). See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 07-125669.
However, in a conventional air cleaner, smooth flow of air is easily hindered. The filter is generally disposed to face the passing direction of air flowing into the suction side air chamber. Therefore, when the layout of the vehicle does not permit the passing cross section area of the air to be extended, the filter area must be decreased, and the filter becomes clogged after only a short period of use.
On the other hand, when a filter 101 extends along an inflow direction C1 of air inflowing from an intake port 102, as in an air cleaner 100 shown in FIG. 11, the filter area can be increased without extending the passing cross section area of air, and the smooth flow of air can be maintained over a long period of time.
However, since a wall 103 constituting an air chamber is provided in parallel with filter 101 in air cleaner 100 of FIG. 11, the flow of air is disturbed in the back of a suction side air chamber R1, and smooth flow of air to a discharge side air chamber R2 from suction side air chamber R1 may be hindered.