An aspirating device for combustion air

The invention relates to an intake arrangement (1) for the combustion air (2) of an internal combustion engine (3) of a handheld portable work apparatus (4), such as a cutoff machine, motor-driven chain saw or the like. An air filter (5) is provided for purifying the combustion air (2). Dust-laden combustion air is directed onto the air filter via openings (6) of a filter housing (7). The combustion air (2) is purified by the air filter (5) and is drawn by suction by the engine (3) via an intake pipe (25) of a carburetor (8). A carrier airflow (10) is provided in a flow channel (15) for continuously or intermittently transporting away dust (11) deposited on the air filter (5). The combustion air (2) and the carrier airflow (10) are spatially separated via a discharge tube (13). In this way, a minimization of the dust load of the air filter (5) is ensured on the one hand and a continuous transport away of the dust (11) from the air filter (5) is ensured on the other hand. The removal transport of the dust (11) ensures continuous operation of the work apparatus (4).