Detailed Description
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
< embodiment 1>
(with respect to structure)
A power generation device 1 according to embodiment 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. The power generation device 1 generally includes a bobbin 10, a coil 20, a permanent magnet 30, a first yoke 40, a second yoke 50, a shaft 60, an operation button 61, and a case 80. The power generation device 1 is a small-sized power generator, and typically has a height of about 15 to 30mm and a lateral dimension of about 10 to 20 mm. In fig. 1, the vertical direction indicated by arrow a is the height, and the direction perpendicular to arrow a is the lateral direction.
As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the bobbin 10 has a cylindrical shape with flanges at both ends. Specifically, the bobbin 10 includes a shaft portion 11, a first flange portion 12 at an upper end of the shaft portion 11, and a second flange portion 13 at a lower end of the shaft portion 11. The shaft portion 11 of the bobbin 10 is provided with a vertically penetrating center hole 14. The first flange portion 12, the second flange portion 13, and the center hole 14 have a circular shape in plan view. The bobbin 10 is fixed in position by the second protrusion 84 (fig. 3) of the case 80. Specifically, the lower end of the second flange portion 13 is in contact with the second projection 84 of the housing 80.
A coil 20 is wound around the bobbin 10. Specifically, the coil 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft portion 11 of the bobbin 10. The coil 20 is, for example, an electromagnet coil. For ease of understanding, the coil 20 is not shown in fig. 2.
The permanent magnet 30 is provided in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10 so as to be movable in the extending direction of the bobbin 10 (the direction of arrow a in fig. 1). The coil 20 generates a voltage by moving the permanent magnet 30 up and down the central hole 14. That is, since the permanent magnet 30 moves up and down along the winding direction of the coil 20, an alternating current is generated in the coil 20. In the present embodiment, the permanent magnet 30 is movable in the center hole 14 of the coil bobbin 10, but any magnet may be used as long as it is a magnet body including a permanent magnet. Specifically, the power generation device 1A of embodiment 2 will be described.
The permanent magnet 30 is magnetized in the up-and-down moving direction (axial direction). The magnetization (magnetization) method is not particularly limited, and for example, a method of fixing a magnetic material at the center of an air-core coil, and magnetizing the magnetic material in the axial direction by flowing a pulse high current is given. The material of the permanent magnet is not particularly limited, but a Nd — Fe — B sintered magnet is preferably used from the viewpoint of exhibiting high magnetic force.
The permanent magnet 30 shown in fig. 1 and 2 is a cylinder. The column body is a structure with a hollow inside and the shape of the column body is the same as that of the cylinder body. Also, the column includes a cylinder, a prism, a disk, and the like, and is a cylinder in the present embodiment. The shape of the permanent magnet 30 is not limited as long as it can be inserted into the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10. The upper and lower dimensions of the permanent magnet 30 are preferably larger than the upper and lower dimensions of the central hole 14.
A first yoke 40 is provided at one end (specifically, the upper end) of the permanent magnet 30. The first yoke 40 is attached to the upper end of the permanent magnet 30 and is fixed to the bobbin 10. Specifically, the first yoke 40 is held by the first protrusion 83 (fig. 3) of the case 80 and abuts against the upper end of the first flange 12 of the bobbin 10. Here, the fact that the first yoke 40 is fixedly provided to the bobbin 10 means that the position of the first yoke 40 and the position of the bobbin 10 are constant, and includes a case where the first yoke is bonded to the upper end of the bobbin 10 and a case where the first yoke is in a state of being lifted from the upper end of the bobbin 10.
The first yoke 40 has a through hole 41 at a position aligned with the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10. Specifically, the through hole 41 is provided substantially at the center of the first yoke 40. The through hole 41 penetrates a shaft 60 described later. The first yoke 40 shown in fig. 1 and 2 has a quadrangular shape in plan view. The first yoke 40 is sized to cover the entire upper end surface of the permanent magnet 30. Specifically, the planar shape of the first yoke 40 is the same as the planar shape of the inner surface of the housing 80, and more specifically, the outer peripheral edge of the first yoke 40 abuts against the inner surface of the housing 80.
The first yoke 40 is made of a yoke (yoke iron). The yoke is soft iron that amplifies the attractive force of the magnet, and may be made of soft magnetic material as long as it contains iron. The second yoke 50 described later is made of the same material.
A second yoke 50 is provided at the other end (specifically, the lower end) of the permanent magnet 30. The second yoke 50 can be attached to the lower end of the permanent magnet 30, as in the first yoke 40. The second yoke 50 of the present embodiment is attached to and in contact with only the lower end of the permanent magnet 30, and may not be bonded to the permanent magnet 30. The second yoke 50 shown in fig. 1 and 2 has a circular shape in plan view. The second yoke 50 is sized to cover the entire lower end surface of the permanent magnet 30. The second yoke 50 has a smaller area in plan view than the first yoke 40. The second yoke 50 has substantially the same thickness as the first yoke 40. The upper and lower sides of the permanent magnet 30 are sandwiched between the first yoke 40 and the second yoke 50, and the attraction force of the permanent magnet 30 is amplified.
The second yoke 50 is supported by a support cover 51. The support cover 51 is formed of a non-magnetic material. The nonmagnetic substance is a substance other than a ferromagnetic substance and includes a normal magnetic substance, a diamagnetic substance and a diamagnetic substance. Examples of the nonmagnetic material include metals such as aluminum and synthetic resins such as plastics. The support cover 51 of the present embodiment is made of synthetic resin.
As shown in fig. 2 in particular, the support cover 51 includes an upper end portion 52 that covers a part of the upper end of the second yoke 50, and a flange portion 53 that protrudes downward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper end portion 52. The support cover 51 has a circular shape in plan view corresponding to the shape of the second yoke 50, and the second yoke 50 is attached to the flange portion 53. An opening 54 penetrating vertically is provided at a substantially central portion of the upper end portion 52. Thus, in a state where the second yoke 50 is supported by the support cover 51, the second yoke 50 is in contact with the permanent magnet 30.
The shaft 60 abuts on the upper end of the permanent magnet 30. The shaft 60 is an elongated rod-like member and extends in the vertical direction. The shaft 60 is formed of a non-magnetic body. The nonmagnetic material is the same as the support cover 51 described above. The shaft 60 of the present embodiment is aluminum. The shaft 60 extends through the through hole 41 of the first yoke 40, and the lower end thereof abuts against the upper end of the permanent magnet 30.
The shaft 60 may be a magnetic shaft formed of a magnetic material. The shaft 60 is in contact with the permanent magnet 30, but the magnet may be moved by pressing the shaft 60, and a gap may be provided between the shaft 60 and the magnet.
An operation button 61 is provided at the upper end of the shaft 60. An operation button 61 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 60. The operation button 61 is displaceable between a projected position (fig. 1(a)) and a retracted position (fig. 1 (B)). When the operation button 61 is pushed downward, the shaft 60 also moves downward, and the permanent magnet 30 moves downward. In this way, the operation button 61 applies a force to the permanent magnet 30 via the shaft 60 to be separated from the first yoke 40.
Although the operation button 61 of the present embodiment is connected to the shaft 60 to form the operation portion, the operation button 61 need not be provided, and may be configured such that the shaft 60 extends upward and the permanent magnet 30 is moved by operating the upper end of the shaft 60. In this case, the upper end of the shaft 60 serves as an operation portion.
The coil bobbin 10, the coil 20, the permanent magnet 30, the first yoke 40, the second yoke 50, the shaft 60, and the operation button 61, which are the above-described members, are housed in the case 80. The housing 80 is a quadrangular prism with an open upper portion, and has a bottom wall 81 and a side wall 82. A cover 70 is fitted to an upper end portion of the housing 80, the cover 70 having a central hole 74 in a central portion. The above-described operation button 61 is fitted in the central hole 74 of the cover 70. The housing 80 and the operation button 61 are formed of, for example, a non-magnetic material, typically synthetic resin. An elastic member such as rubber, a spring, or the like may be provided on the bottom wall 81 of the housing 80. This makes it possible to facilitate the return of the permanent magnet 30.
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the housing 80. First protrusions 83 having a triangular shape in plan view are provided at corners where the side walls 82 of the case 80 meet. The first protrusion 83 holds the corner of the rectangular first yoke 40 in the plan view from below. The height of the first protrusion 83 is preferably equal to or greater than 2/3, which is the height of the side wall 82 of the housing 80. Second protrusions 84 having a rectangular shape in plan view are provided on the inner surfaces of the side walls 82 of the housing 80. The second protrusion 84 holds the bobbin 10 having the circular shape in plan view from below. The height of the second protrusion 84 is preferably one-third or more and two-thirds or less of the height of the side wall 82 of the housing 80. This ensures a space for the permanent magnet 30 and the second yoke 50 to move downward.
The cover 70 includes a main body 71, an upper frame 72 positioned at the upper end edge of the side wall 82 of the housing 80, and a lateral frame 73 abutting against the inner surface of the side wall 82. The lower end of the horizontal frame 73 abuts the upper end of the first yoke 40. Upper frame 72 is coplanar with the outer surface of side wall 82 of housing 80. By providing the case 80 and the cover 70, the power generating device can be provided as a single body. Further, it is possible to prevent waste, dust, or the like from entering the bobbin 10.
(about actions)
Next, the operation of the power generation device 1 of the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to fig. 1.
First, as shown in fig. 1(a), the operation button 61 of the power generator 1 is pressed downward from above, and the shaft 60 is moved downward. Since the lower end of the shaft 60 abuts against the upper end of the permanent magnet 30, the permanent magnet 30 also moves downward as shown in fig. 1(B) in accordance with the operation of the operation button 61. At this time, since the permanent magnet 30 is attracted to the first yoke 40, the operation button 61 needs to be pressed with a force stronger than the attraction force to separate the permanent magnet 30 from the first yoke 40. Since the second yoke 50 is attracted to the lower end of the permanent magnet 30, the second yoke 50 also moves downward as the permanent magnet 30 moves downward. When the hand is separated from the operation button 61, the permanent magnet 30 and the first yoke 40 attract each other, and the permanent magnet 30 returns to the original position as shown in fig. 1 (a).
As shown by the one-dot chain line in fig. 1(a) and 1(B), the magnetic flux of the magnetic circuit of the power generator 1 is generated from the permanent magnet 30, passes through the first yoke 40, passes through the second yoke 50, and returns to the permanent magnet 30. When the permanent magnet 30 is located above, the magnetic circuit is located at a position shown by a one-dot chain line in fig. 1 (a). When the operation button 61 is pressed and the permanent magnet 30 and the second yoke 50 move downward, the magnetic circuit extends vertically as shown by the one-dot chain line in fig. 1(B) because the position of the first yoke 40 does not change. Thus, the magnetic circuit moves relative to the coil 20, and thus an electromotive force is generated. The power generation device 1 of the present embodiment can generate power by a simple operation of pushing the operation button 61 to separate the permanent magnet 30 positioned in the center hole 14 of the coil 20 from the first yoke 40 and releasing the hand from the operation button 61 to attract the permanent magnet 30 to the first yoke 40, and thus can have a simple configuration. In addition, the power generation device can be downsized.
The electromotive force generated in the coil 20 is transmitted to a rectifying unit (not shown) via wires (not shown) connected to both ends of the coil 20, and the rectifying unit can perform full-wave rectification for rectifying an alternating current to form a direct-current power supply. The rectified current is output to the outside via an electrode (not shown). The current output to the outside is supplied to a load of an external device, and is driven (operated) by the supplied current. The external device is not limited as long as it needs power instantaneously, and examples thereof include a doorbell, a button, and a remote controller.
Further, since the permanent magnet 30 is separated from the first yoke 40 by pressing the operation button 61 and the permanent magnet 30 is attracted to the first yoke 40 by releasing the hand from the operation button 61, the operation button 61 is operated to sound "click" and a finger can feel a pressing feeling, thereby providing a click feeling.
(regarding the assembling method)
Next, an assembling method of the power generator 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 2 in particular.
First, the coil 20 is wound around the bobbin 10, and the permanent magnet 30 is inserted into the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10. The first yoke 40 is attracted to the upper end of the permanent magnet 30, the second yoke 50 is attracted to the lower end of the permanent magnet 30, and the permanent magnet 30 is sandwiched between the first yoke 40 and the second yoke 50. In this state, the second yoke 50 side is inserted into the housing 80 as the bottom wall 81 side. Thereby, the upper end of the second projection 84 of the case 80 abuts against the lower end of the second flange 13 of the bobbin 10, and the bobbin 10 is held in the case 80. The upper end of the first protrusion 83 of the case 80 abuts against the lower end of the first yoke 40, and the first yoke 40 is held in the case 80.
Next, the operation button 61 with the shaft 60 attached thereto is inserted into the central hole 74 of the cover 70, and the cover 70 is covered above the housing 80. As described above, since the first projection 83 and the second projection 84 are provided in the housing 80, the components provided separately can be assembled by inserting them into the housing 80 in order, and therefore, a coupling member such as an adhesive or a screw is not required, and the assembly is easy.
In the following embodiments, another configuration example of the power generation device 1 will be described. Hereinafter, only the differences from embodiment 1 will be described in detail.
< embodiment 2>
In the power generation device 1 according to embodiment 1 described above, the permanent magnet 30 is movable in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10, but any magnet may be used as long as it includes a permanent magnet. The other structure may be the same as that of embodiment 1.
As shown in fig. 4, the magnet body movable in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10 includes a magnetic body 31A movable in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10 and a permanent magnet 32A attached to the lower end side of the magnetic body 31A. The inclusion of the permanent magnet means not only the case where only the permanent magnet is provided as in embodiment 1, but also the case where a magnetic material is provided in addition to the permanent magnet. The magnetic body 31A is a long member having magnetism, specifically, a yoke. The magnetic body 31A is located in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10. The dimension in the up-down direction of the magnetic body 31A is preferably equal to or slightly larger than the dimension in the up-down direction of the center hole 14.
The permanent magnet 32A is made of the same material as the permanent magnet 30 of embodiment 1, but has a different shape. The permanent magnet 32A is typically cylindrical in shape, being laterally long (diameter > height). The permanent magnet 32A is disposed at a position extending from the center hole 14 of the bobbin, and is not located in the center hole 14. The diameter of the permanent magnet 32A is larger than the diameter of the central hole 14.
The permanent magnet 30 of embodiment 1 described above has a vertically long (diameter < height) cylindrical shape, but the permanent magnet 32A of the present embodiment typically has a horizontally long (diameter > height) cylindrical shape. The magnetic force of a permanent magnet is more susceptible to diameter than height. Therefore, by using the permanent magnet 32A long in the lateral direction of the present embodiment, the power generation force can be increased as compared with the power generation device 1 of embodiment 1.
As described above, the movement of the magnet body in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10 includes not only the case where the entire magnet body is positioned in the center hole 14, but also the case where a part of the magnet body (the magnetic body 31A) is positioned in the center hole 14 and the other magnet body (the permanent magnet 32A) is positioned outside the center hole 14.
Permanent magnet 32A and second yoke 50 are supported by support cover 51A. The support cover 51A is formed of a nonmagnetic material as in the first embodiment. The support cover 51A includes an upper end portion 52A that covers a part of the upper end of the second yoke 50, a first flange portion 53A that protrudes downward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper end portion 52A, and a second flange portion 54A that protrudes downward from the outer peripheral edge of the first flange portion 53A. The diameter of the second flange portion 54A is larger than the diameter of the first flange portion 53A. The permanent magnet 32A is held by the first flange portion 53A, and the second yoke 50 is held by the second flange portion.
< embodiment 3>
Although the power generation devices 1 and 1A according to embodiments 1 and 2 are provided with the case 80, the case 80 may not be provided. The other structure may be the same as that of embodiment 1.
As shown in fig. 5, in the power generation device 1B of the present embodiment, the coil bobbin 10, the coil 20, the permanent magnet 30, the first yoke 40, the second yoke 50, the shaft 60, and the operation button 61 are surrounded on their sides by the third yoke 90B. As shown in fig. 6, the third yoke 90B has a cylindrical shape. The third yoke 90B is made of the same material as the first yoke 40 and the second yoke 50.
The bobbin 10B of the present embodiment is provided with a first side portion 15B extending upward from the outer edge of the first flange portion 12B and a second side portion 16B extending downward from the outer edge of the second flange portion 13B, in addition to the shaft portion 11B, the first flange portion 12B, and the second flange portion 13B, which are provided with the central hole 14B. The first side portion 15B and the second side portion 16B abut against the inner surface of the third yoke 90B. The dimension from the upper end edge of the first side portion 15B to the lower end edge of the second side portion 16B is substantially the same as the height of the third yoke 90B. A bottom wall 81B that covers the lower side of the third yoke 90B is provided at the lower end of the second side portion 16B. The bottom wall 81B functions as a cover for covering the lower end of the bobbin 10B.
Since the power generation device 1B of the present embodiment is provided with the third yoke 90B surrounding the outer periphery of the bobbin 10B, the permanent magnet 30 is covered with the first yoke 40, the second yoke 50, and the third yoke 90B, and therefore the magnetic circuit of the permanent magnet 30 can be formed as a closed circuit, and leakage of magnetic force to the outside can be avoided, and thus the electromotive force can be further increased. Further, if the inner surface of the third yoke 90 is in contact with the outer surfaces of the first side portion 15B and the second side portion 16B of the bobbin 10, the bobbin 10B may be accommodated in the third yoke 90B, which facilitates assembly.
In embodiments 1 and 3, a description has been given of a mode in which the permanent magnet 30 is provided in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10, and in embodiment 2, a description has been given of a mode in which the magnetic body 31A is provided in the center hole 14 of the bobbin 10 and the permanent magnet 32A is provided on an extension of the center hole 14, but the present invention is not limited to these modes. For example, a plurality of permanent magnets may be provided in the center hole 14, a permanent magnet and a magnetic body may be provided in the center hole 14, or a permanent magnet may be provided in the center hole 14 and a magnetic body may be provided on an extension of the center hole 14.
In the power generation devices 1, 1A, and 1B of the above embodiments, the first yoke 40 is provided at the upper end of the magnet body, and the second yoke 50 is provided at the lower end of the magnet body, but the second yoke 50 need not be provided as long as the first yoke 40 is provided at one end of the magnet body.
In the above embodiment, the direction in which the operation button 61 is provided is set to be upward and the opposite direction is set to be downward, but the operation button 61 need not be provided upward and can be used in the lateral direction, and conversely, the operation button 61 can be provided downward.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the illustrated embodiments. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiments within the same scope as or equivalent scope to the present invention.