JPH1014265A - Generators and electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a power generation device capable of efficiently collecting and accumulating low-density and large-variation natural energy, and further providing energy having a quality suitable for power generation. SOLUTION: A working container 21 containing a working liquid which expands / contracts due to a temperature change is provided, and a fluctuation lever 23 is moved by the fluctuation, thereby transmitting transmission gears 30, 31, and 32.
Winds up the mainspring 11. The generator 15 is connected to the output side of the mainspring 11 to generate power. Spring 11
The energy can be stored even when the speed of fluctuation of the working vessel 21 is low, and the generator 15 can be efficiently driven with a constant torque. In addition, since energy can be stored in the mainspring 11, a large-capacity secondary battery can be omitted, and problems such as deterioration and disposal can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power generator for generating power using natural energy such as a temperature difference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system for generating power using natural energy such as wind power and tidal power has been developed and put into practical use. Energy, such as wind, light, and temperature, which exist naturally, has a low energy density and an inconsistent intensity, and is more difficult to use than fossil energy.
Therefore, it is necessary to greatly increase the energy density and store the energy in order to make it practically usable as a power source of electric equipment. For this reason, the power generation system becomes large, and a secondary battery for storing electric power is required.

[0003] In recent years, most of the familiar devices such as watches have been digitized, and electric power is required to operate them. For this reason, a small-sized device capable of generating power using natural energy is required.
No. 371 describes an apparatus for generating electricity by operating a generator using a pressure change of a gas or liquid sealed by a change in temperature. This power generator can supply power using changes in temperature, so conventional small devices that use batteries can be operated without batteries, preventing the hassle of replacing batteries and disposing of used batteries. doing.

[0004]

When the temperature naturally changes due to sunlight or the like, the change is gradual,
Therefore, the pressure change accompanying the temperature change is also gradual.
For this reason, the pressure rise and expansion of the sealed gas slowly progress. On the other hand, in a mechanical generator in which a rotor rotates inside a stator to generate power, efficient power generation is impossible unless a predetermined rotation speed is obtained. Therefore, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-341371, the expansion of the sealed gas is suppressed until the pressure reaches a certain level, then the gas is released, and the generator is rotated at high speed by the displacement at that time. For this reason, continuous power generation is impossible, and a large-capacity secondary battery using a chemical change is required for use as a power source. Such a secondary battery is relatively short-lived due to deterioration due to liquid leakage or dry-up. Therefore, the product life is not so long. In addition, secondary batteries using chemical change have a disposal problem similarly to batteries. Further, since an electric actuator and a sensor are required to control the expansion of the gas, there is a problem that power generation cannot be restarted if the secondary battery is discharged without generating power for a long time. Although it is possible to mechanically control the pressure of the gas using a spring, there is a problem that energy is consumed for the pressure control.

[0005] Therefore, in the present invention, natural energy having a low energy density and fluctuating energy density can be efficiently accumulated for power generation, and can be used as a power source for small electric equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a power generator and an electric device having a built-in power generation function. Another object of the present invention is to provide a power generator using natural energy that can supply a constant power for a long time without requiring a large-capacity secondary battery. Another object of the present invention is to provide a power generation device that does not require electrical control when power generation is started using natural energy and can generate power at any time and in any state.

[0006]

For this reason, in the power generator of the present invention, natural energy is temporarily stored in the mainspring, and the generator is driven by the mainspring to generate power. The mainspring can be hoisted if it has a force equal to or higher than a certain hoisting torque, and can store the energy required for hoisting irrespective of the speed of displacement at the time of hoisting. Therefore, even if the density of the natural energy is low, any natural energy can be stored if the mainspring is wound up with a torque that can be generated at the energy density using a wheel train or the like. Further, since the mainspring can store energy irrespective of the winding speed of the mainspring, it is not necessary to control the winding speed and a control mechanism such as an actuator is not required. Therefore,
Power generation can be started even when there is no stored energy, and power can be generated at any time in any state. Furthermore, a mechanism for winding up the mainspring using a wheel train or the like may be provided, so that a small-sized power generator with a simple structure can be provided. Since a substantially constant torque can be supplied from the mainspring for a long time, the generator can be driven at a predetermined output for a long time. Therefore, even when the density of natural energy fluctuates greatly, a substantially constant power generation amount can be secured. As described above, the mainspring is very suitable for storing natural energy, and the natural energy can be efficiently and stably used by temporarily storing the natural energy in the mainspring to generate power.

Furthermore, the mainspring can be wound by natural energy while driving the generator by setting one side as a winding side and the other as an output side. For this reason, since charging of energy and power generation can be performed simultaneously, a stable power source can be provided. In addition, the mainspring can be manually wound using manual winding or other jigs, so that when natural energy is insufficient, it is possible to artificially apply energy to compensate for the shortage. . In this way, the mainspring can be used as an energy storage means,
A large-capacity secondary battery is not required, and a non-electrolytic type ceramic film or semiconductor capacitor may be provided as a smoothing capacitor in the rectifying means for rectifying the power output from the generator. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate components that are likely to deteriorate from the power generation device, and it is possible to greatly extend the life of the power generation device. In addition, the problem related to the disposal of the secondary battery can be prevented.

The mainspring can be rolled up using various natural energies, for example, it can be rolled up using the temperature difference of the environment. When the temporal temperature difference of the environment is used, it is sufficient to provide a temporal temperature difference, that is, a fluctuating section whose volume or length increases or decreases due to a temperature change, and a transmission section that winds up the mainspring by the movement of the fluctuating section. . As the transmitting unit, a unit that catches a change in one direction of the changing unit and winds up the mainspring can be adopted. When winding the mainspring in one direction of the moving part, the mechanism is simple,
Since the load on the fluctuating section and transmission section can be small,
An inexpensive power generator can be provided with a simple mechanism. On the other hand, it is also possible to adopt a transmission unit that catches a change in the bidirectional direction of the moving part and winds up the mainspring. After catching a change in the first direction of the moving part and winds the mainspring, the moving part is opened once. Furthermore, by providing a transmission unit that performs an operation of winding up the mainspring in response to a change in the second direction of the fluctuating unit, the efficiency of collecting natural energy into the mainspring can be increased. A temperature change can be converted into kinetic energy by installing an operating unit in the fluctuating unit filled with a gas that expands and contracts due to a temporal temperature difference of the environment.
In this case, the input efficiency to the mainspring is improved by configuring the transmission unit so that a larger load is applied from the transmission unit to the operating unit when the temperature of the environment increases in the direction of decreasing the temperature of the environment. it can. Further, it is also possible to adopt a shape memory member whose shape changes due to a temporal temperature difference of the environment, and to convert the temperature change into kinetic energy by this shape memory member. It is possible to provide a spring constituted by a shape memory member as an operating portion, and assuming that the spring constant is substantially constant even when the temperature changes, a substantially constant load is applied to the operating portion with respect to both temperature changes. It is desirable to do so. When the first and second stable positions are different from each other at a predetermined temperature, if the energy is supplied to the mainspring while detecting one direction of the temperature change, the first and second stable positions are not changed. It is desirable to apply a load at the intermediate position from the transmission unit to the operating unit, and if energy is supplied to the mainspring while capturing both directions of temperature change, the operating force generated in the operating unit at the intermediate position is approximately one. It is desirable to apply a load of / 2. Furthermore, in the case where energy is accumulated by capturing both directions of temperature change by adding an opening operation, it is desirable that a load generated in the operation unit at the intermediate position be applied from the transmission unit to the operation unit.

As a method of generating a temperature change, it is also possible to condense sunlight to a fluctuating portion to raise the temperature, and accumulate solar energy in the mainspring. In the case of using the light condensing means, by changing the amount of light condensing on the fluctuating part by the movement of the sun, the frequency of the temperature change of the fluctuating part can be increased, and the input efficiency of solar energy can be improved.
As such a light condensing means, there are a means using a plurality of condensing lenses and a means provided with a plurality of slits.

[0010] It is also possible to accumulate natural energy in the mainspring due to a temperature difference in the place of the environment, and convert the temperature difference into electric power once using the Seebeck effect.
With this electric power, the mainspring can be wound by the motor. It is conceivable to heat the hot junction side of the thermoelectric conversion means using sunlight.

Furthermore, a solar battery may be used, and the mainspring may be wound by electric power from the solar battery. It is also possible to wind up the mainspring using the kinetic energy of the fluid, such as wind, water, and tidal power, and the mainspring can accumulate that energy even if the speed of the medium that captures natural energy is high or low. It is possible. On the other hand, the energy stored in the mainspring can be output with quality suitable for power generation, for example, constant torque.
As described above, once the natural energy is stored in the mainspring, a large-capacity secondary battery can be eliminated, and stable power generation can be performed using natural energy having a low energy density and a large fluctuation. Moreover, since natural energy can be stored by a small and simple mechanism using a spring, a small and portable power generation device can be provided. Therefore, by combining such a power generation device with an operation unit such as a time-measuring device or a communication device that operates by the power supplied from the power generation device, the power generation device can be used anytime and anywhere, and there is no problem such as battery disposal. Electrical equipment can be provided.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a timekeeping device 1 incorporating a power generator 10 according to the present invention. The timing device 1 of the present example collects sunlight to cause a temperature change,
A power generator 10 for generating power using the power generator, and a power controller 5 for rectifying and controlling the power output from the power generator 10.
And a timekeeping unit 2 operated by the electric power. The power generation device 10 of the present example is a closed elastic container 2
A high-pressure working fluid in which a liquid layer and a gas phase coexist, for example, ammonia, is stored in the inside of the device 1. The mainspring 11 can be wound up by this kinetic energy. The power generator 10 of the present example has downward and upward drive teeth 22a and 22b on both side surfaces.
The elongated fluctuating lever 23 formed with is formed so as to fluctuate linearly in the vertical direction of the drawing by the expansion and contraction of the working container 21. Furthermore, the movement of the fluctuation lever 22 is
Transmitted to the mainspring 11 by 0, 31 and 32,
Kinetic energy obtained from the working fluid by winding up the mainspring 11 can be stored in the mainspring 11.

The energy stored in the mainspring 11 is output from an output gear 12 and transmitted to a generator 15 via a wheel train 13 having a first gear 13a and a second gear 13b. The generator 15 of this example is of a rotary type in which a rotor 16 having a permanent magnet rotates inside a stator 17, and the rotor 16 rotates together with a flywheel 16a so that electric power can be taken out from both sides of the stator coil 17a. ing. The power output from the generator 15 is rectified by the power control unit 5. The power control unit 5 of this example includes a power consuming unit 51 connected in parallel with the generator 15 so as to keep the power generation load substantially constant, and a rectifier circuit 52 that converts AC output from the generator 15 into DC. A smoothing capacitor 53 installed on the output side of the rectifier circuit 52, a step-up / step-down circuit 54 capable of controlling the load power of the generator 15, and
Is provided with an auxiliary capacitor 55 for stabilizing the power supplied to the power supply.

The mainspring 11 is a spirally wound spring, which stores energy by being wound up, and outputs the stored energy by unwinding the spring. Therefore, when a predetermined load (torque) is applied to the output side, it is possible to output energy corresponding to the load for a long time as shown in FIG. On the other hand, if no load is applied to the output side, the spring is suddenly loosened and the stored energy is dissipated. Therefore, in this example, when the power consumption of the operation unit 2 is small, the power consumption
Is appropriately consumed, and the speed of unwinding the mainspring 11 is reduced so that the energy stored in the mainspring 11 is not wasted. There are various methods for controlling power consumption, and the value of a circuit element such as a resistor or a coil connected in parallel with the generator 15 may be controlled. Alternatively, it is also possible to adopt a mechanism in which power is consumed by a power consuming device such as a motor, and the spring 11 is wound by the output of the motor.

Further, when there is no power consumption in the operation section 2, it is useless to wind up the mainspring and consume energy. Therefore, in this example, the generator 1
The movement of the flywheel 16a of the fifth
The stop by 6 prevents the mainspring 11 from unwinding. The brake 56 can be configured using an electrically operated actuator such as a bimorph. The brake 56 is connected to the smoothing capacitor 5
3 or the auxiliary capacitor 55 to operate with the electric power stored therein.
Alternatively, if there is no power at 55, the flywheel 16a
Is to be released. Therefore, in a state where there is no power, when energy starts to be accumulated in the mainspring 11, the generator 15 rotates naturally and power is taken out.
When the voltage of the capacitor 53 or 55 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the flywheel 16a is stopped to prevent the energy stored in the mainspring 11 from being wasted.

In the step-up / step-down circuit 54 of this embodiment, when the power generator 15 generates power by the mainspring 11 and outputs power, the output current is increased even if the output voltage is low so that the predetermined power is generated at a low rotation speed. I am getting it. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in a state where the output torque of the mainspring 11 is sufficiently obtained, the voltage on the generator side is reduced so that a current of 2i flows through the generator 15, and the step-up / step-down circuit 54
And supplies it to the operation unit 2. Meanwhile, the mainspring 1
Since the specified current value cannot be ensured when the output torque of No. 1 decreases, the boosting of the step-up / step-down circuit 54 is stopped so that the generator 15 can obtain a low output current i with a high output voltage. As a result, a predetermined output voltage and current can be obtained even when the torque of the mainspring 11 is unwound and the operating time of the operating unit 2 can be extended. Further, when the output of the mainspring 11 decreases,
By stepping down and outputting the voltage by the step-up / step-down circuit 54, it is possible to obtain a low-torque, high-voltage, low-current power from the generator 15 and further extend the time during which the operation unit 2 can operate.

This control is possible because the release speed (unwinding speed) of the mainspring can be controlled by utilizing the fact that the electromagnetic brake of the generator is proportional to the output current. Lowers the output voltage,
By increasing the electromagnetic brake of the generator by increasing the output current, while the torque of the mainspring is small,
By reducing the electromagnetic brake of the generator by increasing the output voltage and decreasing the output current, the allowable range in which the generator can be operated by the spring can be increased.
Considering the energy supplied from the mainspring to the generator, when the torque is large, the required energy is supplied at a low rotational speed, and then the rotational speed is increased by the reduced torque. This means that the necessary amount of energy can be supplied.

Many electronic devices equipped with a power generation device such as a solar cell have been developed. However, these electronic devices are very large because they convert low-density and fluctuating natural energy into electric power and store it. A secondary electron is required, and a large-sized capacitor using a chemical change of an electrolyte system such as an electric double-layer capacitor is used. Capacitors using such chemical changes are relatively quick to deteriorate due to several causes such as dry-up, liquid leakage, evaporation, and increase in charge / discharge resistance. It is inferior to electrolyte-based capacitors, such as ceramic film capacitors and semiconductor capacitors. However, non-electrolytic capacitors are not employed in conventional power generators because of their small capacities.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the mainspring 1
Since the energy can be stored in step 1, it is not necessary to use an electrolytic capacitor. Therefore, in this example, a non-electrolytic capacitor can be used for the smoothing capacitor 53 and the auxiliary capacitor 55, and the life of the power generator 10 and the electric device 1 using the same can be greatly extended.
It can be used for a long time without any trouble. Further, since the non-electrolytic capacitor has little deterioration, there is no problem of disposal, and even in the case of disposal, there is hardly any problem of environmental pollution since members involving chemical changes are hardly used.

Returning to the power generator 10, the power generator 1 of this embodiment
0 will be described in more detail. Power generation device 10 of this example
Is provided with a light condensing system 40 that condenses sunlight and irradiates it to the working container 21 to control the temperature of the working container 21.
In the light collecting system 40 of this example, a plurality of light collecting lenses 41 are arranged side by side, and the sunlight 49 having different incident angles for each lens is condensed on a heat absorbing portion 45 provided at the bottom of the working container 21. I can do it. Furthermore, the incident angle at which the condenser lens 41 can collect light is set discretely, and as the position of the sun changes, the condenser lens 41 that matches the incident angle from the sun changes the heat absorption part 45. The sunlight is intermittently condensed, and the light from the other lens 41 is reflected by the reflector 44 so that heat is not transmitted to the working container 21.

Accordingly, the timepiece device 1 which is the electric device of the present embodiment.
When the camera is installed in a place such as a park where sunlight is radiated as needed, or is mounted on a car and moved, the sunlight is intermittently condensed to the heat absorbing portion 45 by the condensing system 40, and the working container 21 is Heated intermittently. When heated, the pressure of the working fluid inside the working vessel 21 rises and expands. On the other hand, when sunlight stops being applied, heat is released from the working vessel 21 and the working fluid pressure decreases and contracts. . Therefore, the working container 21 of this example repeats the expansion and contraction intermittently. For this reason, the fluctuation lever 23 connected to the working container 21 moves up and down due to expansion and contraction, and the transmission gears 30, 31 and 32 are driven by the drive teeth 22a and 22b provided on both sides of the fluctuation lever 23, and the mainspring is rotated. 11 is wound up, and energy is stored in the mainspring 11.

As shown in FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner, the hoisting mechanism of this embodiment can wind the mainspring 11 by using the bidirectional movement of the fluctuation lever 23. For this reason,
As shown in FIG. 3 (a), a driving tooth 22a that is driven downward is provided on the right side of the fluctuation lever 23 in the drawing, and meshes with a gear 30 provided with upward teeth. Spring 11
Is turned counterclockwise to wind up. On the other hand, when the fluctuation lever 23 fluctuates upward, as shown in FIG. 3B, the gear 30 cannot be reversed by the stopper 35, so that the fluctuation lever 23 It is pushed by the part and goes to the left. As a result, the upward drive teeth 22b provided on the left side of the variable lever 23 mesh with the gear 31 provided with downward teeth. Therefore, when the fluctuation lever 23 moves upward, the gear 31 rotates clockwise, and this movement is transmitted to the auxiliary vehicle 31a as shown in FIG. Is transmitted to Such a train wheel 3
The downward fluctuation of the fluctuation lever 23 via the gear 4
The rotation becomes a counterclockwise rotation of 0, which also winds the mainspring 11.

The mainspring 11 of this embodiment has one end 1
1a is connected to the output gear 12 and the other end 11b
Is connected to a hoisting gear 30. Therefore, the mainspring 11 can be wound while the output gear 12 is driven by the mainspring 11, and energy can be stored in the mainspring 11 without interrupting power generation by the mainspring 11. For this reason, it is possible to continuously supply stable electric power, and in this respect, a large-capacity secondary battery is unnecessary. It is possible to employ energy storage means such as winding a weight in place of the mainspring 11, but during the winding of the weight, energy cannot be output, and power generation is temporarily stopped. Therefore, a secondary battery for storing power during this time is required. On the other hand, in the power generator using the mainspring of the present example, if energy is stored in the mainspring, power can always be generated using the energy, so that a secondary battery is basically unnecessary. Of course, it is also possible to provide them in consideration of a sudden change in voltage or the like.

Further, there is provided an actuator 39 for moving the position of the fluctuation lever 23 so that the fluctuation lever 23 of this embodiment can realize a neutral state in which the fluctuation lever 23 does not mesh with either of the gears 30 and 31. This actuator 39
Can be moved by bimorph, etc.
By moving the upper end of the moving lever 23, the two gears 30 and 31 are moved.
A state that does not engage with is realized. The actuator 39 is also operated by using the electric power of the smoothing condenser 53 and the like. When there is no electric power, the variable lever 23 comes into contact with one of the gears 30 or 31. Therefore, when the working container 21 expands and contracts without any electric power, the mainspring 11 is wound through one of the gears 30 or 31 so that power is always generated.

A power generation cycle in the power generation device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to a PV diagram of FIG. The first state curve A shown in FIG. 4 indicates that the temperature of the working fluid is outside temperature T1.
And the second state curve B indicates a state in which the working fluid is heated by the sunlight to reach a temperature T2 higher than the outside. When the working fluid in the state a having the volume v1 at 1 atm (1 atm) and the temperature T1 is heated by the sunlight, first, the pressure of the working fluid becomes a state b in which the pressure of the working fluid becomes the pressure p1 which generates the torque capable of moving the transmission gear 31. With a constant volume, it increases by pressure. When the pressure reaches p1, the mainspring 11 can be wound up with a constant torque.
The volume expands under the state of the pressure p1, and the working container 21 expands or expands to inject energy into the mainspring 11 via the fluctuation lever 23 and the transmission gear. Light collection system 40
If the sunlight cannot be condensed on the heat absorbing portion 45 due to this, the temperature of the working fluid decreases after reaching the temperature T2. Therefore, the working fluid expands to the state c of volume v3 which becomes the pressure p1 at the temperature T2, and the fluctuation lever 23 moves between the states b and c.
As a result, the gear 31 is driven, and energy is stored in the mainspring 11.

In this state, since the fluctuation of the fluctuation lever 23 is temporarily stopped, in the power generator 10 of this embodiment, the fluctuation lever 23 is released from the gear 31 by using the actuator 39. As a result, the working fluid expands from the pressure p1 to 1 atm, and shifts to the state d of the volume v4 along the state curve B at the temperature T2. When the temperature of the working fluid decreases from T2 to the ambient temperature T1, the pressure of the working fluid decreases, and the internal pressure of the working container 21 becomes negative. Accordingly, a downward force is generated on the fluctuation lever 23, and the pressure of the working fluid decreases to a pressure p2 at which this force becomes equal to the torque of the gear 30. Pressure p
When the state e is reached, the fluctuating lever 23 drives the gear 30 by the downward drive teeth 22a, and the working container 21 contracts. The working container 21 contracts or contracts while the pressure p2 is constant until the state f of the volume v2 at which the temperature of the working fluid becomes equal to the temperature T1 of the external environment. Is saved.

When the state f is reached, the movement of the fluctuation lever 23 is temporarily stopped, so that the fluctuation lever 23 is released from the gear 30 again in the power generator 10 of this embodiment. As a result, the working liquid in the working container 21 changes from the pressure p2 to 1
It contracts to atmospheric pressure and returns to the state a of volume v1. The power generation device 10 of the present embodiment adopts such a power generation cycle, and draws a cycle of temperature change in which the working liquid is heated from the temperature T1 to the temperature T2 and is cooled again, and is shown by hatching in FIG. The energy of the area abco and the area o'def can be input to the mainspring 11 and accumulated. Then, the generator 15 is driven by the energy stored in the mainspring 11, and appropriate power can be obtained at an appropriate time.

The energy U that can be stored in the mainspring in such a cycle is calculated as follows.

U = (p1-1) × (v3-v1) + (1-p2) × (v4-v2) (1) Here, it is assumed that the working fluid changes state almost along the ideal gas. And state curves A and B at respective temperatures
Is expressed as follows.

Pv = A (T = T1) (2) pv = B (T = T2) (3) where p is pressure, v is volume (volume of working vessel), and T is Temperature and A and B are constants.

Therefore, equation (1) is as follows with p1 and p2 as variables.

U = (p1-1) × (B / p1−A) + (1−p2) × (BA / p2) (4) Since the pressures p1 and p2 are independent of each other, differentiation is performed for each of them. Then, the maximum value of U is obtained as follows.

Umax = 2 × (√A−√B) ² (p1 = 1 / p2 = √ (B / A)) (5) At this time, the load Lup at the time of expansion applied to the fluctuation lever 23
And the load Ldown at the time of contraction are as follows.

Lup / Ldown = (p1-1) / (1-p2) = √ (B / A) (6) Here, since the constant A is smaller than B, the expression (6) is larger than 1. Therefore, when a cycle of injecting energy into the mainspring 11 using the bidirectional movement of the fluctuating lever 23 moved by the working container 21 as in this example is adopted, the expansion time, that is, the direction in which the temperature of the environment increases is used. When the load applied to the fluctuation lever 23 at the time of contraction, that is, when the temperature of the environment decreases, the fluctuation lever 2
It is desirable that the wheel train 34 be configured so as to be larger than the load applied to the wheel train 3. The energy stored in the mainspring 11 can be maximized by selecting the load in consideration of the type of the fluid stored in the working container 21 and the target temperature difference, and the energy due to the temperature change of the working fluid can be reduced. It can be collected efficiently. In this example, the energy due to the temperature change generated in the working fluid is energy provided by sunlight, but may be simply a change in room temperature or water temperature. A large temperature difference can be efficiently accumulated in the mainspring.

In the power generator 10 of this embodiment, when the movement of the fluctuation lever 23 temporarily stops, the gear 30 or 3
Opening from 1 allows the working fluid to expand or contract to atmospheric pressure at that temperature, thereby increasing the energy recovery rate to the spring 11. of course,
Without the actuator 39, the variable lever 23 is moved to the gear 3
It is also possible to recover energy while being constrained to 0 or 31. In this case, in the above equation (1), the conditions of v1 = v2 and v3 = v4 are added, and the power generation cycle becomes a rectangle having the diagonal points c and f in FIG. 4, and Umax is p2 = p1ｐ (B / A) (√
A-√B) It is almost halved to ² . Therefore, the configuration of the power generation device is simplified by omitting the actuator 39, but the energy recovery rate is slightly reduced.

On the other hand, it is of course possible to wind the mainspring 11 by moving the fluctuation lever 23 in one direction. FIG. 5 shows an example. Fluctuating lever 23 of this example
Is provided with only downward drive teeth 22 a, and the drive teeth 22 a are pressed against the transmission gear 30 by the leaf spring 26. Therefore, when the fluctuation lever 23 moves upward, the drive teeth 22a do not mesh with the transmission gear 30, and the fluctuation lever 23 moves almost freely upward. On the other hand, when the angle of the sunlight changes and the sunlight does not hit the heat absorbing portion 45, the working container 21 contracts, and the fluctuation lever 23 is pulled downward.
At this time, since the drive teeth 22a and the transmission gear 30 mesh with each other, the mainspring 11 is wound up, and energy is accumulated. As described above, in the power generating apparatus employing the variable lever 23 in which the driving teeth 22a are provided in one direction, FIG.
Can be recovered substantially along the cycle o'def shown in FIG. The maximum value Umax of recoverable energy is (は A-√B) when p2 = √ (A / B).
² and almost half of equation (5), which is about the same as the case where energy is accumulated by capturing bidirectional movement due to temperature change without opening. Such a power generator that winds the mainspring 11 in one direction has a simple structure, can be made compact, and can be provided at low cost. Furthermore, the fluctuation lever 23
It can accumulate almost the same amount of energy as a device that captures bidirectional motion due to temperature changes without releasing the motion of the device, making it suitable for small power generation devices and electrical equipment.

[Second Embodiment] The method of converting the temperature change into the kinetic energy of the fluctuating lever is not limited to the above. In FIG. 6, as an example, a leaf spring 25 made of a shape memory alloy whose shape changes depending on temperature is used instead of a working container in which a working fluid is sealed. The spring 25 made of a shape memory alloy has a focusing lens 4
7 and mask plate 4 formed with a plurality of slits 46a
The sunlight 49 is intermittently radiated by the light condensing system 40 using 6. In this figure, only a portion for storing energy in the mainspring 11 is shown, and the configuration of the generator and the like is omitted because it is the same as that of the power generator shown in FIG. In addition, FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration in which energy in the mainspring 11 is stored by capturing one-way movement of the fluctuation lever 23 due to a temperature change corresponding to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, As in FIG. 1, it is of course possible to adopt a configuration in which energy is stored in the mainspring 11 by capturing a bidirectional movement.

Also in such a power generation device, the spring 25 made of a shape memory alloy is intermittently irradiated with sunlight by using the fact that the direction of sunlight changes with time, and is heated. Therefore, the temperature of the shape memory alloy 25 fluctuates, and for example, fluctuates in the vertical direction in the drawing. As a result, the fluctuation lever 23 connected to the shape memory alloy spring 25 moves up and down in the same manner as described above, and it is possible to wind up the mainspring 11 using this movement. The variable lever 23 of this example is provided with only downward drive teeth 22a, and the drive teeth 22a are pressed against the transmission gear 30 by the leaf spring 26. Therefore, when the fluctuation lever 23 moves upward, the drive teeth 22a do not mesh with the transmission gear 30, and the fluctuation lever 23 moves almost freely upward. On the other hand, when the angle of sunlight changes and is blocked by the mask plate 46, the shape memory alloy spring 25 moves downward, and the variation lever 23 is pulled downward. At this time, since the drive teeth 22a and the transmission gear 30 mesh with each other, the mainspring 11 is wound up, and energy is accumulated.
The spring 25 made of a shape memory alloy is not limited to a leaf spring as in this embodiment, but may be any shape such as a coiled spring that can exert an appropriate elastic force.

FIG. 7 shows a shape memory alloy spring 25 having two stable positions, a first stable position X1 and a second stable position X2 different from the first stable position X1 at a predetermined temperature as a working part. The operation of the adopted power generator is shown. In this example, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the spring 25 made of a shape memory alloy has constant spring constants k1 and k2 on the low temperature side and the high temperature side regardless of the temperature change. As described with reference to FIG. 4 in the description of the first embodiment, even in a power generator using a spring 25 made of a shape memory alloy, a case for supplying energy to the mainspring in one direction of temperature change (the Case 1), a case for supplying energy to the mainspring in both directions of temperature change (second case), and furthermore, when the displacement of the spring 25 is stopped, the fluctuation lever 23 is opened to balance the temperature. A case (third case) in which energy is recovered by displacing to a position (stable positions X1 and X2) is conceivable.

In the third case in which the fluctuation lever 23 is opened to the stable position, as shown in FIG. 7, the displacement-force curve C on the low temperature side of the spring 25 made of a shape memory alloy,
It displaces along the displacement-force curve D on the high temperature side. First, when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value in the state of the point a of the low-temperature stable point X1, the stable point of the spring 25 moves to X2. Therefore,
Since the point a is displaced with respect to the stable point X2, a force is generated,
When reaching a point b at which a force F1 for winding the mainspring 11 through the wheel train is obtained, the mainspring 11 is hoisted with a constant torque. When the point c, at which the displacement X4 is reached, the torque is insufficient, and the winding of the mainspring 11 is stopped. At this stage,
In the third case, since the displacement lever 23 is released, the spring 25 is displaced to the second stable point X2 (point d). On the other hand, when the temperature falls to a predetermined value or less, the stable point moves to the first stable point X1, so that a force is generated at the second stable point X2, and the point e becomes a force F2 for winding up the mainspring 11. Then, the mainspring 11 is wound up with a constant torque. When the torque reaches a point f (displacement X3) at which the torque is insufficient, the winding of the mainspring 11 stops, so that the displacement lever 23 is released again and moves to the first stable point a (displacement X1). In the power generation device of the present example, such a power generation cycle is drawn in the third case, so that the energy of the area abco and the area o'def shown by oblique lines in FIG. be able to. Then, the generator 15 is driven by the energy stored in the mainspring 11, and appropriate power can be obtained at an appropriate time.

The energy U that can be stored in the mainspring in such a cycle is calculated as follows.

U = | F1 × (X4-X1) | + | F2 × (X2-X3) | (7) Here, assuming that the spring 25 of the shape memory alloy is displaced with the same spring constant k, Displacement-force curve C at temperature
And D are represented below.

F = k1 · X1−k1 · x (8) F = k2 · X2−k2 · x (9) where F is a force and x is a displacement.

Therefore, the equation (7) becomes as follows using F1 and F2 as variables.

U = F1 (X2-F1 / k2-X1) -F2 (X2-X1 + F2 / k1) = F1 (X2-X1) -F1 ² / k2-F2 (X2-X1) -F2 ² / k1 (10) Since the forces F1 and F2 are independent of each other, differentiating them to obtain the maximum value of U gives the following.

Umax = k1 / 4 (X2-X1) ² + k2 / 4 (X2-X1) ² F1 = k2 (X2-X1) / 2 = k2 · X2-k2 · (X1 + X2) / 2 F2 = −k1 ( X2−X1) / 2 = k1 · X1−k1 · (X1 + X2) / 2 (11) Accordingly, a spring having two stable points X1 and X2 like the spring using the shape memory alloy described above. Is used, the load applied to the fluctuation lever 23 is two stable points X
By configuring the wheel train 34 so as to provide a load at the midpoint between 1 and X2, it is possible to efficiently collect energy due to environmental temperature changes. This midpoint load corresponds to half the force at the stable points X1 and X2.

A cycle in which the variable lever 23 is driven by a spring 25 having the same spring constant k1 on the low temperature side and the same spring constant k2 on the high temperature side, and energy is injected into the mainspring 11 using the bidirectional movement of the variable lever 23. Is adopted, the load applied to the fluctuation lever 23 when the temperature of the environment increases is substantially equal to the load applied to the fluctuation lever 23 when the temperature of the environment decreases. By configuring the wheel train 34, energy due to environmental temperature changes can be efficiently collected.

In the third case, the moving lever 23
When the movement of the spring temporarily stops, the spring is displaced to a stable position by releasing the gear 30 or 31 to increase the energy recovery rate to the mainspring 11, but an actuator 39 is provided as in the second case. Instead, it is also possible to recover energy in a state where the fluctuating lever 23 is restrained by the gear 30 or 31. In this case, in the above equation (7), U = | F1 × (X4-X3) | + | F2 × (X4-X3) | (12), and the power generation cycle is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. The rectangle becomes a diagonal point c ′ (displacement X4 ′) and point ff ′ (displacement X3 ′). Therefore, k1 = k2 and F1 = −
Umax at the time of F2 and F1 and F2 at that time are as follows.

Umax = k1 / 4 (X2−X1) ² F1 = k1 (X2−X1) / 4 F2 = −k1 (X2−X1) / 4 (13) Therefore, an intermediate point between the stable points X1 and X2. It is desirable that half of the load be applied to the fluctuation lever 23, and the configuration of the power generator is simplified by omitting the actuator 39, but the energy recovery rate is slightly reduced.

On the other hand, in a power generating apparatus employing the variable lever 23 having the driving teeth 22a provided in one direction, energy can be recovered substantially along the cycle o'def shown in FIG. The maximum values Umax and F2 of the recoverable energy are as follows.

Umax = k1 / 4 (X2−X1) ² F2 = −k1 (X2−X1) / 2 = k1 · X1−k1 · (X1 + X2) / 2 (14) Therefore, the stable points X1 and X2 A high energy can be stored in the mainspring 11 by configuring the wheel train so that the load at the intermediate point of (1) is applied to the fluctuation lever 23. In addition, even a power generator having a simple configuration in which the movement in one direction is taken can store as much energy as in the case where energy is stored by capturing a two-way movement due to a temperature change without opening. Suitable for power generators and electrical equipment.

As described above, in the power generator 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, natural energy called temperature change is temporarily stored in the mainspring, and the generator is driven by the mainspring to generate power. Like that. The mainspring is capable of hoisting as long as it has a force equal to or higher than a certain hoisting torque, and stores the energy required for hoisting regardless of the expansion / contraction speed of the working vessel or the displacement speed of the shape memory alloy. Can be. Therefore, even if the speed of the temperature change is very low and the density of the natural energy provided thereby is low, the transmission gear 3
Using a train of 0, 31, 32, etc., the spring can be wound up with a torque that can be turned by the force that can generate the working container or shape memory alloy, so natural energy with low density can be stored in the spring. It is. Since the mainspring can store energy irrespective of the winding speed, a mechanism for controlling the winding speed is not required, and natural energy can be recovered by a very simple mechanism. In this example, the energy stored in the mainspring is prevented from being wasted, or
Although some actuators are used to increase the energy recovery rate, it is needless to say that natural energy can be recovered without these actuators.
Further, these actuators are only required to be used in a state where the mainspring has energy, and are not necessary for starting power generation or starting recovery of energy to the mainspring. Therefore, even when no energy is stored in the mainspring, natural energy can be reliably recovered in the mainspring.

Further, as described above, since a substantially constant torque can be supplied from the mainspring for a long time, the generator can be driven at a predetermined output for a long time. For this reason, even when the density of natural energy fluctuates greatly due to a temperature change or the like, a substantially constant power generation amount can be secured. As described above, the mainspring used in the power generation device of this example accumulates natural energy, and is also very suitable as a storage means for discharging for power generation. By using natural energy efficiently,
And it can be used stably. Further, in this example, natural energy appearing as a temporal change in temperature can be recovered, but it is of course possible to recover other natural energy using a mainspring.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows an example of a power generator 10 and an electric apparatus 1 using a thermoelectric conversion unit 27 utilizing the Seebeck effect. In the power generation device 10 of the present example, sunlight 49 is radiated to the hot junction side 27a of the thermoelectric conversion unit 27 using the light condensing system 40, and the temperature difference between the hot junction side 27b and the cold junction side 27b at room temperature is reduced. The electric power can be taken out from the thermoelectric conversion unit 27 by this temperature difference. Furthermore, the thermoelectric conversion unit 2
The motor 37 is driven by the electric power obtained from the motor 7 to wind up the mainspring 11 via the train wheel 34. Spring 11
Is connected to a generator 15 by a train 13 and generates power by rotating the generator 15 with a constant torque. The electric device of the present example also includes the power control unit 5 that controls the output of the generator 15, so that the energy stored in the mainspring 11 can be used more efficiently. Note that portions having the same functions as those of the power generation device 10 or the power control unit 5 using the above-described temperature change can be adopted, and thus the same reference numerals are used and detailed description is omitted.

Also in the power generator 10 of this embodiment, natural energy appearing as a temperature difference is temporarily stored in the mainspring 11 so that natural energy having a low density and high fluctuation can be extracted as energy having a quality convenient for power generation. Can be.

Further, in the power generator 10 of this embodiment,
A jig 3 for manual winding on a train wheel 34 for winding up the mainspring 11
8 so that when sunlight cannot be obtained or when the mainspring 11 is unwound, the user can wind the mainspring using a jig such as a hand or a battery-driven motor to obtain power. Has become. Therefore, even in a situation where electric power is surely required, such as at the time of a disaster, by using the power generator 10 of the present example, functions such as a clock, a radio, and a communication device can be provided without worrying about running out of batteries. Operating section 2 can be used.

Fourth Embodiment FIGS. 9 and 10 show a power generator 10 using a solar cell 28 and a windmill 29 as natural energy input means, and a lighting device 1 as an electric device using the same. Is shown. Power generation device 1 of this example
0, the motor 37 is driven by the electric power generated by the solar cell 28 as shown in FIG.
So that the energy of the sunlight can be stored in the mainspring 11. On the other hand, the wind turbine 29 can wind up the mainspring 11 using natural energy obtained as wind power and accumulate the energy in the mainspring 11. Since the mainspring 11 can accumulate energy by the displaced winding regardless of the winding speed,
Energy can be easily input from input means having a high rotation speed, such as the windmill 29. As described above, energy can be easily injected into the mainspring from a medium having a different movement speed, so that the movement of the fluid capable of recovering energy is not limited to the wind, and the mainspring is moved by a flow of water such as a river or tide. It is possible to wind up, and it is also possible to store the tidal power as spring energy through the vertical movement of waves. Then, a predetermined power can be obtained by the same energy output from the mainspring as described above.

The power generator 10 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10
Has a means for capturing two types of natural energy, ie, a solar cell 28 and a windmill 29, and smoothes the variation in natural energy so that energy can be more reliably stored in the mainspring 11. The lighting device 1 of the present example is suitable for lighting a park or the like. A solar cell 28 is installed at an upper portion, and generates electricity when sunlight is irradiated without wind, and the energy of the spring 11 is generated by the energy. It can be rolled up. On the other hand, a windmill 29
The lighting device 1 is turned by the tail wings 60, and the windmill 29 faces upwind. Therefore, when the wind blows, power is generated even at night, and energy is stored in the mainspring 11. Lights 62 are mounted on four sides of the lighting device 1, and the lights 62 are turned on by the power generated by the generator 15 connected to the output side of the mainspring 11, so that the park can be illuminated. I have. When the power control unit 5 of the present example detects that it is daytime by an optical sensor or the like, the brake 5 shown in FIG.
The rotation of the generator 15 is stopped by 6 to prevent the energy of the mainspring 11 from being wasted. Then, at night, the brake 56 is released and the generator 15 is turned in the daytime using the energy stored in the mainspring 11, so that a constant amount of power can be supplied to the light 62.

As described above, once the natural energy is stored in the mainspring to generate power, the density is low,
Natural energy that fluctuates greatly can be obtained as energy suitable for constantly generating power. Further, when energy is input to the mainspring, the energy can be reliably stored even at a low speed without being affected by the speed of displacement, so that natural energy having a low density can be recovered by a simple mechanism. In addition, since a constant torque can always be generated from the mainspring, it is easy to rotate the generator at a constant speed, and high power generation efficiency can be obtained without performing complicated control. In particular, when the power consumption is almost constant, such as at nighttime illumination, the output of the mainspring becomes constant, so that rotation control or the like is unnecessary. Further, the generator is not limited to the rotary type as in this example, and even a generator using a piezoelectric body or the like can generate power using energy stored in the mainspring. Using such a power generation device, not only the above-mentioned street lights, emergency lights, garden lights and other lighting and clocks, but also electronic thermometers, altimeters,
It is possible to supply electric power to a compass, a communication device, a portable information processing device, and the like, and it is possible to provide an electric device capable of exhibiting performance anytime and anywhere.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, natural energy having a low energy density and fluctuating energy density is temporarily stored and used in the mainspring for efficient power generation. ing. Therefore, according to the present invention, a power generation device capable of using various natural energies such as temperature change, temperature difference, sunlight, wind power, tidal power, and hydraulic power as a power source of an electric device, and an electric power device having a built-in power generation function of the present invention. Equipment can be provided. Further, since a mechanical spring is used as a means for storing energy, a constant power can be supplied for a long time without requiring a large-capacity secondary battery. It is possible to provide a small number of power generation devices and electric devices. In the power generator and the electric device according to the present invention, the power required for the operation unit such as a clock can be secured anytime and anywhere, and the function of the operation unit can be exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power generation device and electric equipment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a torque characteristic of a mainspring.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a driving state of a fluctuating lever of the power generation device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a cycle of the power generator shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a power generation device according to the present invention, which is different from the power generation device shown in FIG. 1, and is an example in which a mainspring is wound up by a movement of a fluctuation lever in one direction.

FIG. 6 is an example of a power generator for winding a mainspring using the shape memory alloy according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a cycle of the power generator shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an example of a power generator for winding a mainspring using a temperature difference according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a power generator for winding a mainspring using a solar cell and a windmill according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the power generation device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, electric equipment 2, operating part 5, power control part 10, power generation device 11, spring 12, output gear 13, wheel train 15, generator 16, rotor 16a, flywheel 17 ··· Stator 21 ··· Working vessel with built-in working liquid 22 ··· Drive teeth 23 ··· Variable lever 25 ··· Shape memory alloy 27 ··· Thermoelectric conversion unit 28 ··· Solar cell 29 ··· Windmills 30, 31, 32 ·・ Transmission gear 34 ・ ・ Transmission gear train 35 ・ ・ Stopper 37 ・ ・ Motor 38 ・ ・ Hand-wound jig 39 ・ ・ Actuator for opening the variable lever 40 ・ ・ Condensing system 41, 47 ・ ・ Lens 45 ・Heat absorbing part 46 Mask plate 46a Slit 51 Power consuming part 52 Rectifying part 53 Smoothing capacitor 54 Buck-boost circuit 55 Auxiliary capacitor

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A power generator, comprising: a mainspring; hoisting means for winding the mainspring using a temperature difference of an environment; and a generator driven by the mainspring. 2. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the hoisting means includes: a fluctuating section whose volume or length increases or decreases due to a temporal temperature difference of the environment; and a transmission section that winds up the mainspring by movement of the fluctuating section. A power generator, comprising: 3. The power generator according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit winds the mainspring by detecting a change in one direction of the fluctuation unit. 4. The power generator according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit captures a bidirectional change of the fluctuation unit and winds up the mainspring. 5. The moving part according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting part catches a change in the first direction of the moving part, winds up the mainspring, opens the moving part, and further releases the second part of the moving part. A power generator that winds up the mainspring by detecting a change in the direction of the power spring. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the changing unit includes an operating unit filled with a gas that expands and contracts according to a temporal temperature difference of the environment, and the transmitting unit increases the temperature of the environment. The power generation device is characterized in that the load applied to the operating part in the direction of the power generation is set to be larger than the load applied to the operating part in the direction of the decrease in the temperature of the environment. 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the changing unit includes an operating unit having a different direction of displacement depending on a temporal temperature difference of the environment, and when the temperature of the environment increases and when the temperature of the environment increases. A power generator, wherein loads applied from the transmission unit to the operating unit when the temperature decreases are substantially equal. 8. The power generator according to claim 2, wherein the variable unit includes an operating unit filled with a gas that expands and contracts according to a temporal temperature difference of the environment. 9. The power generation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit includes a shape memory member whose shape changes according to a temporal temperature difference of the environment. 10. The moving part according to claim 3, wherein the changing part includes, as an operating part, a spring of a shape memory member having first and second stable positions different from each other at a predetermined temperature. A power generator, wherein a load generated in the operating section at an intermediate position between the second stable positions is applied from the transmitting section to the operating section. 11. The variation unit according to claim 4, wherein the variation unit includes, as an operation unit, a spring of a shape memory member having first and second stable positions different from each other at a predetermined temperature. A power generator, wherein a load approximately half the operating force generated in the operating section at an intermediate position between the second stable positions is applied from the transmitting section to the operating section. 12. The moving part according to claim 5, wherein the changing part includes a spring of a shape memory member having first and second stable positions different from each other at a predetermined temperature as an operating part. A power generator, wherein a load generated in the operating section at an intermediate position between the second stable positions is applied from the transmitting section to the operating section. 13. The power generation device according to claim 2, further comprising a light condensing unit that condenses sunlight on the fluctuation unit. 14. The power generator according to claim 13, wherein the light condensing means can change the amount of light condensed on the fluctuating portion by the movement of the sun. 15. The power generator according to claim 14, wherein the light collecting means includes a plurality of light collecting lenses. 16. The power generator according to claim 14, wherein the light collecting means includes a plurality of slits. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hoisting means comprises:
A power generator, comprising: a thermoelectric conversion unit that generates electric power based on a local temperature difference of the environment; and a transmission unit that winds up the mainspring by electric power from the thermoelectric conversion unit. 18. The power generation apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising means for heating the hot junction side of said thermoelectric conversion means using sunlight. 19. A power generation apparatus comprising: a solar cell; a mainspring; hoisting means for winding the mainspring by electric power from the solar cell; and a generator driven by the mainspring. 20. A power generator comprising: a mainspring; hoisting means for winding the mainspring using kinetic energy of a fluid; and a generator driven by the mainspring. 21. The mainspring according to claim 1, wherein one side of the mainspring is a winding side and the other side is an output side, and the mainspring is driven by the hoisting means while driving the generator. A power generator characterized in that it can be wound up. 22. The power generator according to claim 1, further comprising means for artificially winding the mainspring. 23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising rectifying means for rectifying power output from the generator, wherein a smoothing capacitor of the rectifying means is a non-electrolyte type. Power generator. 24. An electric apparatus, comprising: the power generator according to claim 1, and an operating unit that operates by electric power supplied from the power generator.