JP2007274857A - Generator for faucet, and automatic faucet device with generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a generator for faucet, which can increase the amount of power generation even if the rate of flow is small without causing the increase of magnet volume, and to provide an automatic faucet device with generator. <P>SOLUTION: This generator for faucet is equipped with a cylinder which is provided, with its inside led to a water-supply passage and with its axial direction roughly parallel with the direction of the flow of supply water, a moving blade which is provided inside the cylinder capably of rotating around the axis of the cylinder, a magnet which is provided inside the cylinder capably of rotating around the axis of the cylinder in a body with the moving blade, a pair of coils which are provided outside the cylinder, catching the magnet in the axial direction of the above cylinder, and a plurality of polar teeth which consist of magnetic substances that are provided, standing in a row in the circumferential direction of the above cylinder, facing both end faces of the above magnet, between the above coil and the above magnet outside the above cylinder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a faucet generator that generates electric power using a flow of water supply and an automatic faucet device including the faucet generator.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an automatic faucet device in which a sensor is detected by inserting a hand under a faucet and water is automatically discharged from the faucet. There is also known a device that arranges a small generator in the flow path of such an automatic water faucet device, stores electric power obtained by the generator, and supplements electric power of a circuit such as the above-described sensor. Yes.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic faucet generator in which a magnet and a coil are arranged in a state of being separated in the axial direction. However, in this case, there is only one coil that is placed opposite to the magnet, the magnetic flux that crosses the coil can be secured only in one direction, the limited installation space such as an automatic faucet, and the condition that the flow rate is relatively small Even below, there is a demand for technology that effectively increases power generation.
JP 2004-336882 A

  The present invention provides a faucet generator and an automatic faucet device with a generator that can increase the amount of power generation without increasing the volume of the magnet and even with a small flow rate.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the inside is in communication with the water supply flow path, and the cylinder is provided with the axial direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the water supply flows, and is rotatable about the central axis of the cylinder. A moving blade provided inside the cylindrical body, a magnet integrated with the moving blade and rotatable about a central axis of the cylindrical body, A pair of coils provided outside the cylindrical body with the magnet sandwiched in the axial direction, and the cylinder facing the both end surfaces of the magnet between the coil and the magnet outside the cylindrical body There is provided a faucet generator comprising a plurality of pole teeth made of a magnetic body arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the body.

  Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a water supply inlet, a water supply outlet, a water supply channel that guides the water supplied from the inlet to the water outlet, and an interior of the water supply channel. A cylindrical body that is communicated and provided with the axial direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the water supply flows, and a moving blade that is provided inside the cylindrical body so as to be rotatable about the central axis of the cylindrical body; A magnet provided integrally with the moving blade and rotatable around the central axis of the cylindrical body, and outside the cylindrical body with the magnet sandwiched in the axial direction of the cylindrical body A pair of coils provided and a magnetic body provided between the coil and the magnet outside the cylindrical body so as to face both end faces of the magnet and arranged in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body An automatic faucet device with a generator characterized by comprising a plurality of pole teeth It is.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a faucet generator and an automatic faucet device with a generator that can increase the amount of power generation without increasing the magnet volume even at a small flow rate.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an installation aspect of the automatic faucet device with a generator (hereinafter also simply referred to as an automatic faucet device) according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the main part of the automatic faucet device.

  The automatic water faucet device according to the present embodiment includes a water discharge fitting 3 attached to a wash basin 2 or the like, for example. The water discharge fitting 3 is connected to an inflow port 5 such as tap water via a pipe 4. The water discharge fitting 3 includes a cylindrical main body 3a and a water discharge portion 3b that extends outward in the diameter of the main body 3a and is provided on the upper portion of the main body 3a. A water discharge port 6 is formed at the distal end side of the water discharge unit 3 b, and a sensor 7 is built in the vicinity of the water discharge port 6.

  Inside the pipe 4 and the water discharge fitting 3, a water supply flow path that guides the water supplied from the inflow port 5 to the water discharge port 6 is formed. An electromagnetic valve 8 that opens and closes the water supply flow path is built in the main body 3a of the water discharge fitting 3, and a constant flow valve 55 that limits the amount of water discharge is built in the downstream of the electromagnetic valve 8. Yes. In addition, a pressure reducing valve or a pressure regulating valve (not shown) for reducing the pressure when the water supply source pressure is too higher than the working pressure is built in upstream of the electromagnetic valve 8. A generator 11 is built in the water discharger 3b downstream of the constant flow valve 55. The main body 3a is provided with a charger 56 for charging the electric power generated by the generator 11, and a control unit 57 for controlling the driving of the sensor 7 and the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 8. Since the generator 11 is disposed downstream of the constant flow valve 55, the water supply source pressure (primary pressure) does not act directly on the generator 11. The constant flow valve 55, the pressure reducing valve, and the pressure regulating valve are appropriately provided as necessary.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of the generator 11.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the generator 11.

  The generator 11 mainly includes a cylindrical body 13, a stationary blade 14, a moving blade 15, a magnet M, and a coil 16 in a cover 12 (see FIG. 7).

  The cylindrical body 13 is built in the water discharge portion 3b of the water discharge fitting 3 with the inside thereof communicating with the water supply flow path, and the axial direction of the cylindrical body 13 is installed so as to be substantially parallel to the direction in which the water supply flows. The Inside the cylinder 13, a stationary blade 14, a moving blade 15, and a bearing 17 are provided in order from the upstream side in the direction in which the water supply flows. The centers of the stationary blade 14, the moving blade 15 and the bearing 17 coincide with the axial center of the cylindrical body 13.

  The stationary blade 14 has a shape in which a conical body is integrally provided on the upper surface (a surface located on the upstream side) of the cylindrical body. On the peripheral surface of the stationary blade 14, a plurality of protruding fixed blade portions 18 protruding outward in the diameter are provided. The fixed wing portion 18 is inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side while twisting rightward with respect to the axial center of the stationary blade 14. The stationary blade 14 is fixed to the cylindrical body 13.

  A moving blade 15 is provided on the downstream side of the stationary blade 14 so as to be separated from the stationary blade 14. The moving blade 15 has a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of protruding blade portions 19 projecting radially outward are provided on the circumferential surface thereof. Contrary to the fixed wing part 18 of the stationary blade 14, the wing part 19 of the moving blade 15 is inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side while twisting leftward with respect to the axial center. The rotor blade 15 is rotatably supported on a bearing 17 fixed to the cylindrical body 13. That is, the moving blade 15 is rotatable around the central axis of the cylindrical body 13.

  The bearing 17 is formed by connecting a ring member 21 fixed to the inner wall portion of the cylindrical body 13 and a shaft support portion 22 provided at the center of the ring member 21 by a connecting member 23 extending in the radial direction. . Since the connection member 23 is not closed and penetrates, the flow of water supply inside the cylinder 13 is not hindered.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ring member 21 of the bearing 17 is fixed on a stepped portion 29 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 13. A shaft member 24 fixed to the shaft center of the rotor blade 15 is rotatably supported on the shaft support portion 22 of the bearing 17. The tip of the shaft member 24 protrudes from the rotor blade 15 and is supported by the stationary blade 14. The tip end portion of the shaft member 24 and the stationary blade 14 are not fixed to each other, and the shaft member 24 is rotatable with respect to the stationary blade 14 fixed to the cylindrical body 13.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, both end portions of the shaft member 24 may be fixed to the shaft support portion 22 and the stationary blade 14, respectively, and the moving blade 15 may be fitted to the shaft member 24 so as to be rotatable. .

  The cylindrical body 13 has a flange portion 32 projecting radially outward, and an annular magnet M fixed to the blade portion 19 of the rotor blade 15 is accommodated in the flange portion 32. A pair of annular coils 16 are provided outside the flange portion 32 so as to sandwich the magnet M in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 13. The coil 16 is positioned by the flange portion 32 of the cylindrical body 13.

  Each coil 16 has a cylindrical yoke 31 shown in FIG. 4 and a coil wiring portion (not shown) disposed inside the yoke 31. The yoke 31 is composed of two yokes 33 and 34 both made of a magnetic material. The yoke 33 includes an annular plate portion 33a opposed to one end surface portion of the coil wiring portion (a surface opposite to the surface facing the magnet M), a circumferential surface portion 33b opposed to the circumferential surface portion of the coil wiring portion, and a cylindrical body. And a plurality of pole teeth 33c opposed to the magnet M with the 13 flange portions 32 interposed therebetween. The plurality of pole teeth 33c protrude radially inward and are provided integrally with the peripheral surface portion 33b, and are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The yoke 34 protrudes outward in the diameter and has a ring shape having a plurality of pole teeth 34 a arranged between the pole teeth 33 c of the yoke 33.

  On one end face side of the magnet M, N poles and S poles are alternately magnetized along the circumferential direction, and on the other end face side, N poles and S poles are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction. Although it is magnetized, it is magnetized so that the polarities of the both end faces are reversed when viewed in the axial direction.

  Next, the operation of the faucet generator according to this embodiment and the automatic faucet device including the same will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of water (solid arrow) and the flow of electricity (dotted arrow) in the automatic faucet device with a generator according to the present embodiment.
When the user holds his hand under the spout 6, the sensor 7 detects this and the control unit 57 opens the electromagnetic valve 8. Thereby, water supply is supplied to the inside of the cylindrical body 13 of the generator 11, and the water that flows inside the cylindrical body 13 is discharged from the water outlet 6. When the user moves his hand away from the bottom of the spout 6, the solenoid valve 8 is closed and water automatically stops.

  The flowing water that has flowed into the cylindrical body 13 flows on the conical surface of the stationary blade 14 and is diffused radially outward, flows between the fixed blade portions 18 on the peripheral surface of the stationary blade 14, and moves rightward with respect to the axial center. It turns into a swirling flow that swirls toward the moving blade 15. The swirling flow that has flowed through the stationary blade 14 hits the inner wall surface on the upper side of the blade portion 19 provided on the peripheral surface of the moving blade 15, rotates the moving blade 15 and the magnet M, and flows on the peripheral surface between the blade portions 19. . Furthermore, it passes through the bearing 17, passes through the inside of the cylindrical body 13, and reaches the spout 6.

  In the specific example shown in FIG. 1, the swirl flow formed by the stationary blade 14 flows into the upper side of the blade portion 19 of the moving blade 15 and swirls in the right direction. Acts, and the rotor blade 15 rotates clockwise. When the rotor blade 15 rotates, the magnet M provided integrally therewith also rotates, and the polarities of the pole teeth 33c, 34a of the yokes 33, 34 facing the magnet M across the flange portion 32 of the cylindrical body 13 are changed. It will change. That is, the state in which the yoke 34 is the south pole when the yoke 33 is the north pole and the yoke 34 is the north pole when the yoke 33 is the south pole is repeated. Electric power is generated, that is, power is generated.

  The electric power generated by the generator 11 is charged into the charger 56 and then used to drive the electromagnetic valve 8, the sensor 7, and the control unit 57.

  In the present embodiment, the magnet M is sandwiched between the two coils 16 in the axial direction, thereby causing a change in magnetic flux interlinked with the coil 16 on each of both end surfaces (in two directions) of the magnet M. And more power generation can be obtained.

  Further, since the pair of coils 16 are arranged in the axial direction of the flow path, even if the number of coils is increased by one as compared with the conventional case, an increase in the radial dimension of the generator 11 can be suppressed. Can be built in-line. That is, since the generator 11 does not protrude in the radial direction with respect to the spout 3, the spout 3 can be reduced in size, and the appearance is clean and the appearance is not impaired.

  Further, since the pair of coils 16 are arranged in the axial direction with the magnet M interposed therebetween, the magnetic force in the axial direction acting on the magnet M rotated integrally with the rotor blade 15 becomes substantially equal. The rotation of the moving blade 15 is stabilized, the power generation performance is stabilized, the load on the bearing 17 is reduced, the sliding loss at the bearing 17 can be reduced, and the durability can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the positions of the pole teeth 33 c and 34 a facing one end face of the magnet M and the pole teeth 33 c and 34 a facing the other end face in the circumferential direction of the magnet M are shown. By deviating, the detent torque (initial torque when the magnet M starts to rotate) is reduced, and power can be generated even with a smaller flow rate. Furthermore, the cogging torque (works between the magnet M and the pole teeth 33c and 34a). Torque unevenness due to magnetic attractive force is also reduced, and rotation unevenness (vibration) is eliminated, so that power generation performance is improved.

  In particular, when the slip amount between the pole teeth 33c and 34a facing each other with the magnet M interposed therebetween is half the mounting pitch in the circumferential direction of each pole tooth 33c and 34a, the detent is determined. Torque can be reduced most.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to them, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

  Examples of the faucet device in which the faucet generator of the present invention is used include a kitchen faucet device, a living and dining faucet device, a shower faucet device, a toilet faucet device, and a toilet faucet device. In addition to automatic faucet devices using human body detection sensors, for example, one-touch faucet devices by turning on / off a manual switch, fixed-quantity water faucet devices that stop water by counting the flow rate, and stop when a set time has elapsed. It can also be applied to a water faucet device. The generated power may be used for, for example, light-up of water discharge, water discharge of electrolysis functional water, flow rate display (metering), temperature display, voice guide, and the like.

It is a mimetic diagram showing the inside of the faucet generator concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic cross section of the faucet generator according to the first specific example of the embodiment. It is a schematic cross section of the faucet generator according to the second specific example of the embodiment. In the same embodiment, it is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement | positioning relationship between a magnet and a yoke. In the same embodiment, it is a model perspective view which illustrates the arrangement | positioning relationship of the pole teeth which are facing the both end surfaces of a magnet. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the installation aspect of the automatic faucet device with a generator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the principal part of the automatic water faucet device. In the automatic faucet device with a generator concerning the embodiment of the present invention, it is a mimetic diagram showing the flow of water (solid line arrow) and the flow of electricity (dotted line arrow).

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Water discharge metal fitting, 5 ... Inlet, 6 ... Water discharge port, 7 ... Sensor, 8 ... Solenoid valve, 11 ... Generator, 12 ... Cover, 13 ... Cylindrical body, 14 ... Static blade, 15 ... Moving blade, 16 ... Coil, 18 ... fixed wing, 19 ... wing, 31, 33, 34 ... yoke, 33c, 34a ... pole teeth, M ... magnet

Claims (6)

A cylindrical body whose inside is communicated with the water supply flow path and provided with the axial direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the water supply flows;
A moving blade provided inside the cylinder so as to be rotatable around a central axis of the cylinder;
A magnet integrally provided with the moving blade and provided inside the cylinder so as to be rotatable around a central axis of the cylinder;
A pair of coils provided outside the cylinder with the magnet sandwiched in the axial direction of the cylinder;
Between the coil and the magnet outside the cylindrical body, a plurality of pole teeth made of a magnetic body provided side by side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body so as to face both end faces of the magnet;
A faucet generator characterized by comprising:   The power generation for faucets according to claim 1, wherein the pole teeth facing one end face of the magnet and the pole teeth facing the other end face are displaced in the circumferential direction of the magnet. Machine.   The faucet generator according to claim 2, wherein the amount of deviation of the position of the pole teeth as viewed in the circumferential direction of the magnet is half the mounting pitch of the pole teeth as viewed in the circumferential direction of the magnet. A water supply inlet,
A water supply outlet,
A water supply channel for guiding water supplied from the inlet to the water outlet;
A cylindrical body whose inside is communicated with the water supply flow path and provided with the axial direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the water supply flows;
A moving blade provided inside the cylinder so as to be rotatable around a central axis of the cylinder;
A magnet integrally provided with the moving blade and provided inside the cylinder so as to be rotatable around a central axis of the cylinder;
A pair of coils provided outside the cylinder with the magnet sandwiched in the axial direction of the cylinder;
Between the coil and the magnet outside the cylindrical body, a plurality of pole teeth made of a magnetic body provided side by side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body so as to face both end faces of the magnet;
An automatic faucet device with a generator characterized by comprising:   5. The automatic generator-equipped generator according to claim 4, wherein the pole teeth facing one end face of the magnet and the pole teeth facing the other end face are displaced in the circumferential direction of the magnet. Faucet device. 6. The automatic faucet with a generator according to claim 5, wherein the amount of deviation of the position of the pole teeth as viewed in the circumferential direction of the magnet is half of the mounting pitch of the pole teeth as viewed in the circumferential direction of the magnet. apparatus.

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