An interactive sand theater device

Abstract

The utility model relates to sand curtain device technical field, the utility model provides an interactive sand curtain device, it includes the sand bin that rotates to be equipped with on the frame body, the sand bin is closed ring structure, be equipped with a plurality of partition plates for separating sand bin internal space in the sand bin, a plurality of partition plates are along the circumference arrangement, the inner ring inner wall of sand bin is equipped with a plurality of openings, a plurality of openings are along the circumference arrangement, and every opening is located between two adjacent partition plates, a plurality of baffle are all slidingly arranged on the inner ring inner wall of sand bin, a plurality of baffle respectively one to one with a plurality of openings, and the baffle is used for plugging the opening, the sand bin rotation axis is along the horizontal arrangement to make the sand that falls from the inner ring of sand bin from the top can fall back to the sand bin. The closed ring sand bin takes the partition plate, can store more sand, and the sand curtain is formed continuously to the sand that lets, prolongs the effect time length, the sand can circulate, need not increase the sand bin volume, and the motor load is reduced, the baffle controls the opening, can flexibly adjust the sand curtain effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this utility model relate to the field of sand curtain device technology, specifically, to an interactive sand curtain device. Background Technology

[0002] A sand screen installation is a creative installation that combines mechanical transmission with visual art. It typically combines projection technology and various lighting to present a complete and realistic effect on the sand screen, or to enhance the visual expressiveness of the flowing sand.

[0003] Currently, some simple sand curtain devices are usually installed manually or semi-automatically. For example, a transparent container is manually rotated and filled with sand to simulate the effect of a sand curtain, or a small electric motor is used to drive a simple rotating structure, which in turn drives the sand-filled components to rotate through a simple transmission device.

[0004] The above-mentioned simple device has the following drawbacks: the part containing sand is usually an hourglass, and the sand curtain effect produced by one rotation is short-lived. If the problem is solved by simply increasing the volume of the hourglass, it will increase the burden on the motor, reduce its service life, and the overall installation is not secure enough. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, the embodiments of this utility model provide an interactive sand curtain device, which solves the technical problems of the short duration of the sand curtain effect caused by the conventional hourglass rotating once, the insufficient structural stability, and the easy increase of motor load in the related technology.

[0006] According to one aspect, at least one embodiment of the present invention provides an interactive sand screen device, comprising: A frame on which a sand chamber is rotatably mounted, the sand chamber being a closed ring structure, the sand chamber containing a plurality of partitions for separating the internal space of the sand chamber, the plurality of partitions being arranged along the circumference, and the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand chamber having a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings being arranged along the circumference, and each opening being located between two adjacent partitions. A plurality of baffles are slidably disposed on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin, and each of the baffles corresponds to one of the openings, and the baffles are used to block the openings; The sand bin is positioned horizontally along its rotation axis so that sand falling from the inner ring of the upper sand bin can fall back into the sand bin.

[0007] For example, at least one embodiment of this utility model provides an interactive sand curtain device in which the sliding direction of the baffle is parallel to the rotation axis of the sand chamber, and a plurality of electromagnets are slidably arranged on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand chamber. Each of the plurality of electromagnets corresponds to one of the plurality of baffles, and the electromagnets are used to drive the baffles to slide.

[0008] For example, at least one embodiment of this utility model provides an interactive sand curtain device, wherein the outer peripheral wall of the sand chamber is provided with a sliding contact portion, the sliding contact portion is a closed ring structure, and a plurality of electromagnets are electrically connected to the sliding contact portion. The interactive sand curtain device further includes: A current collector is disposed on the frame and abuts against the sliding contact portion. The current collector can be connected to a power source to supply power to a plurality of the electromagnets.

[0009] For example, at least one embodiment of this utility model provides an interactive sand screen device in which a plurality of guide rods are provided on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand chamber, and each of the plurality of guide rods corresponds to a plurality of electromagnets. The guide rods are arranged horizontally and pass through the electromagnets, and the guide rods slide in cooperation with the electromagnets.

[0010] For example, at least one embodiment of this utility model provides an interactive sand screen device in which an elastic element is also sleeved on the guide rod, and the two ends of the elastic element are respectively connected to the electromagnet and the guide rod to provide the sliding reset force of the electromagnet.

[0011] For example, at least one embodiment of this utility model provides an interactive sand screen device, wherein the outer peripheral wall of the sand chamber is provided with an annular toothed portion, and a driving member is also included. The driving member is disposed on the frame and is used to drive the sand chamber to rotate. The driving member includes: A gear, which is rotatably mounted on the frame and meshes with the annular tooth portion; An electric motor, which is mounted on the frame, is used to drive the gear to rotate.

[0012] For example, at least one embodiment of this utility model provides an interactive sand screen device, wherein the cross-section of the sand chamber is annular or polygonal.

[0013] For example, at least one embodiment of this utility model provides an interactive sand curtain device in which a plurality of guide wheels are rotatably mounted on the frame, and the guide wheels press against the outer peripheral wall of the sand chamber to stabilize the rotation of the sand chamber.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of this utility model are as follows: The sand chamber is equipped with a closed-loop structure that rotates horizontally. Inside the sand chamber, there are several partitions arranged along the circumference to divide the internal space. As the sand chamber continues to rotate, sand can continuously pass through the relevant structure to form a sand curtain, no longer limited to the amount of sand that can be discharged in a single flip of an hourglass. This extends the duration of the sand curtain effect. Moreover, compared to an hourglass, the ring structure and partition design of the sand chamber can store more sand, thus increasing the duration.

[0015] Furthermore, the above design allows sand falling from the inner ring of the upper sand bin to fall back into the sand bin, realizing sand recycling. It eliminates the need to increase the total amount of sand by increasing the volume of the sand bin (or similar hourglass components) indefinitely, reducing the load requirements on drive components (such as motors) and avoiding reduced service life due to excessive component load.

[0016] In addition, by sliding the baffle, the opening and closing of the opening can be controlled, thereby controlling the timing and amount of sand release. This allows for more flexible adjustment of the sand curtain effect and further optimization of the sand curtain presentation. This also improves the performance of the sand curtain device and indirectly helps to solve the problems of simple devices having a single effect and being difficult to control. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this utility model will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the exemplary embodiments of this utility model and these drawings without any creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of an interactive sand screen device in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an interactive sand screen device from a second perspective in one embodiment; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of section A in the middle; Figure 4 for Figure 2 Partial sectional view at point B in the middle; Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the baffle structure in the embodiment; Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an interactive sand screen device from a third-person perspective in one embodiment; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of section C; Figure 8 for Figure 1 The control principle diagram of the electromagnet in the embodiment is shown.

[0019] In the diagram: 1. Frame, 2. Sand bin, 201. Opening, 202. Annular toothed part, 3. Divider plate, 4. Baffle, 5. Electromagnet, 6. Sliding contact, 7. Current collector, 8. Guide rod, 9. Elastic element, 10. Gear, 11. Guide wheel. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and not intended to limit its scope.

[0021] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to the disclosure; these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one," and "several" includes "two" and "more than two."

[0022] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0023] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0024] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0025] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0026] like Figures 1-3As shown, this invention illustrates an interactive sand curtain device according to one embodiment. The frame 1 serves as the supporting structure for the entire interactive sand curtain device and is typically made of metal or a sturdy material. The frame 1 is connected to the sand chamber 2 via rotating connecting components (such as bearings), allowing the sand chamber 2 to rotate stably horizontally on the frame 1, providing a stable support foundation for the rotation of the sand chamber 2. Figure 1 As shown, specifically, symmetrically arranged arc-shaped support frames are welded or bolted onto the frame 1. Arc grooves are opened in the arc-shaped support frames, which enable the sand bin 2 to be supported in the arc grooves to achieve stable support.

[0027] The horizontally rotating sand chamber 2 enables the sand to fall back into the sand chamber 2 under gravity when it falls from the inner ring of the upper sand chamber 2, thus achieving sand recycling. This avoids increasing the volume of the sand chamber 2 to increase the duration of the sand curtain, thereby reducing the load on the drive components (such as the motor) and improving the service life of the device.

[0028] Furthermore, the sand bin 2 has a closed ring structure, forming a ring-shaped container. Inside the container, several partition plates 3 are uniformly welded, bolted, or integrally formed along the circumference (the partition plates 3 can be made of plastic, thin metal sheets, etc., and their edges are tightly connected to the inner wall of the sand bin 2 to ensure the airtightness of the partitioned space, prevent sand from flowing freely inside the sand bin 2, and ensure that each partitioned space can independently store sand). The partition plates 3 divide the interior of the sand bin 2 into multiple independent spaces, all of which can store sand. On the inner ring inner wall of the sand bin 2, several openings 201 are equally spaced along the circumference. The openings 201 are located between two adjacent partition plates 3, providing channels for sand to flow out. It is worth mentioning that the cross-section of the sand bin 2 can be annular or polygonal, such as a rectangular ring, a circular ring, or an elliptical ring. The closed ring with a rectangular cross-section has parallel top and bottom edges and perpendicular left and right edges. The internal partition plates 3 can be set vertically or inclined. The closed ring with a circular or elliptical cross-section has no sharp edges, allowing sand to flow more smoothly inside the ring and reducing accumulation and jamming.

[0029] Furthermore, the baffle 4 is a plate-shaped structure that matches the opening 201, and its size is slightly larger than the opening 201 so as to completely seal the opening 201. The baffle 4 slides on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin 2 through a sliding connection structure (such as setting a groove on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin 2, and setting a slider on the baffle 4 to cooperate with it). Each baffle 4 corresponds one-to-one with the corresponding opening 201, so as to achieve precise control of the opening and closing of the opening 201. Thus, when the device is started (after filling an appropriate amount of sand into each of the partition spaces of the sand bin 2), the sand bin 2 is driven by a driving component (such as a motor, etc.). Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, gear 10 is horizontally mounted on frame 1, located between two arc-shaped support frames, so as to mesh with the annular toothed part 202 integrally formed on the outer peripheral wall of sand chamber 2. Driven by a motor bolted to frame 1, the sand chamber 2 rotates through gear 10. As the sand chamber 2 rotates, when a certain opening 201 rotates to a suitable position (such as facing downwards), the corresponding baffle 4 is controlled to slide open the opening 201, and sand falls from the opening 201 to form a sand curtain effect. As the sand chamber 2 continues to rotate, subsequent openings 201 reach suitable positions in sequence, and the corresponding baffle 4 opens, and sand continues to fall to maintain the sand curtain effect. The sand falling from the upper inner ring will fall back into the sand chamber 2 under the action of gravity and continue to participate in the cycle. In the above process, the number and time of opening 201 can be adjusted by controlling the sliding of baffle 4 as needed, thereby changing the shape and effect of the sand curtain, which can improve the aesthetics to a certain extent.

[0030] As a parallel implementation method, an electromagnetic drive structure can also be adopted for the drive component. A permanent magnet is embedded in the outer ring of the sand chamber 2, and an electromagnetic coil group is installed at the corresponding position on the frame 1. By controlling the direction and intensity of the coil current, an alternating magnetic field is generated to drive the permanent magnet to rotate the sand chamber 2. The above method has no mechanical contact, low wear and extremely low noise, and is suitable for quiet environments (such as art galleries). However, the driving force is limited and it is only suitable for small and lightweight sand chambers 2. Alternatively, a human-assisted drive method can be adopted, adding a manual crank to the motor drive. The "electric / manual" mode can be switched. When the power is off, the basic sand curtain effect can be maintained by manual rotation. This method is suitable for outdoor temporary exhibitions or scenarios that emphasize interactive experience (such as audience participation in controlling the rotation speed with the crank).

[0031] As a further implementation method, such as Figure 1 As shown, several guide wheels 11 are rotatably mounted on the arc-shaped support frame of the frame 1, with several arranged at intervals in each arc-shaped support frame. Each guide wheel 11 presses against the outer peripheral wall of the sand bin 2 to stabilize the rotation of the sand bin 2. Specifically, the guide wheel 11 is generally "disc-shaped", with an arc-shaped or slightly concave curved surface (not a plane) rim that fits the arc-shaped contour of the outer peripheral wall of the closed annular structure of the sand bin 2, increasing the contact area to avoid excessive local pressure that could cause wear on the outer wall of the sand bin 2. In addition, the rim of the guide wheel 11 is in close contact with the outer peripheral wall of the sand bin 2, with a slight preload (which can be achieved by adjusting the installation position of the bearing seat on the frame 1, such as by opening an elongated hole in the bearing seat and finely adjusting the front and rear distance with bolts), ensuring that the sand bin 2 does not wobble radially when rotating, and also preventing additional frictional resistance due to excessive pressure.

[0032] As a parallel implementation method, a ball bearing structure can be used instead of the guide wheel 11. That is, a number of spaced balls are rolled on the arc-shaped support frame of the frame 1 (the balls are embedded in the groove of the support frame) so that the balls press against the outer wall of the sand bin 2. The structure is more streamlined, the cost is reduced, and it is suitable for small and lightweight sand bins 2.

[0033] As a further implementation method, such as Figures 4-7 As shown, for the sliding of the baffle 4, its sliding direction is set to be parallel to the rotation axis of the sand bin 2, and several electromagnets 5 are also slidably arranged on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin 2. The several electromagnets 5 correspond one to one of the several baffles 4. The electromagnets 5 can drive the baffles 4 to slide. The electromagnets 5 can be electromagnets.

[0034] The advantages are as follows: the driving force of the electromagnet 5 can be precisely controlled by adjusting the current, which can avoid the "stuttering" and "overshooting" problems caused by wear and gaps in mechanical drives (such as linkage push), ensuring that the baffle 4 slides smoothly along the rotation axis of the sand chamber 2, realizing the "gradual opening and closing" of the opening 201 (such as linear adjustment from half open to fully closed), thereby precisely controlling the amount of sand output, making the sand curtain effect (such as sand particle density and flow speed) more delicate and controllable. Moreover, the electromagnet 5 generates magnetic force when it is energized and disappears when it is de-energized, without the "lag" of mechanical transmission. It can respond to control signals within milliseconds. When it is necessary to quickly switch the sand curtain effect (such as suddenly pausing the sand output or rapidly increasing the sand output), it can drive the baffle 4 to slide immediately, avoiding sand curtain discontinuity caused by slow response, especially suitable for scenarios where the projected image and the sand curtain are synchronized.

[0035] In addition, since the inner wall space of the sand bin 2 is limited, the electromagnet 5 can be directly fixed next to the baffle 4 and placed in the sand bin 2 between two adjacent partition plates 3. It can directly drive the baffle 4 to slide through magnetic force, without the need to set up complex transmission structures such as gears 10 and connecting rods, thus avoiding occupying the inner ring sand storage or sand discharge space, reducing frictional losses between components, and lowering the maintenance cost of the device.

[0036] It is worth mentioning that the drive signal of the electromagnet 5 can be remotely sent through the controller (such as PLC or microcontroller), without the need for manual contact with the rotating sand chamber 2. This facilitates the realization of "one-click control of multiple baffles 4" and "switching the state of baffles 4 according to a preset program" (such as timed cyclic opening and closing, and simulated breathing light-style sand discharge), making it suitable for unattended exhibition scenarios (such as automatic demonstration devices in science and technology museums).

[0037] Furthermore, since the rotation of the sand chamber 2 cannot be powered by a physical cable, a sliding contact line + current collector 7 is used to improve the power supply of the electromagnets 5. The principle is that two copper wires (the sliding contact line, i.e., the sliding contact part 6) are wrapped around the outer ring of the sand chamber 2. The current collector 7 consists of two protruding carbon brushes that can contact the two copper wires. When the sand chamber 2 rotates, the sliding contact line will rotate with it. The current collector 7 remains in place and they will always be in contact. Several electromagnets 5 are electrically connected to the sliding contact part 6, and the current collector 7 is connected to the power supply to supply power to several electromagnets 5 (after the power supply reaches the inside of the sand chamber 2, the 220V AC power is converted into 5V and 12V DC power through a transformer. The 5V power is used by the controller, and the 12V power is used by the electromagnets).

[0038] The control process of electromagnet 5 can be implemented using solid-state relays (solid-state relays are control elements that control high voltage with low voltage and large current with small current). A controller is added, with the solid-state relay positioned between the controller and the electromagnet and electrically connected to both. The controller indirectly controls whether the electromagnet is energized and activated, and whether it extends or retracts, through the solid-state relay. Each electromagnet 5 is equipped with an independent solid-state relay. The controller can communicate with the outside world through a WIFI module to receive corresponding control information from the host computer, such as which baffles 4 extend and which baffles 4 retract, and then correspond to the solid-state relay to be controlled, thereby controlling the on / off state of several electromagnets.

[0039] For a simple example: If a sand screen needs to display the time 10:00, the sand falling area is initially the upper half of sand chamber 2, which is in a high position. Because it's constantly rotating, the electromagnets are constantly changing (incrementing cyclically). The electromagnets in the lower part of sand chamber 2 are always open to collect the falling sand. For ease of understanding, ignore the rotation of sand chamber 2 for now. The time 10:00 is horizontally divided into 21 pixels corresponding to 21 groups of electromagnets, and vertically divided into 8 pixels. After the above processing, we get 8 groups of values / states (expansion / retraction) corresponding to the 21 electromagnets. Every 200ms, it moves down one pixel, meaning every 200ms, the state of the 21 electromagnets changes based on the processed values / states. Connecting the pixels, that is, connecting the expansion / retraction states of the electromagnets, gives us the corresponding time, text, and pattern. Adding the previously ignored rotation of sand chamber 2, the corresponding values / states are incremented according to the rotation direction and passed to the subsequent electromagnets, thus achieving the goal of displaying the time 10:00.

[0040] As a further implementation method, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, several guide rods 8 are also installed through the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin 2. Each guide rod 8 corresponds to one of several electromagnets 5. The guide rods 8 are set horizontally and pass through the electromagnets 5. The guide rods 8 and the electromagnets 5 are slidably engaged to provide guidance and support for the sliding of the electromagnets. Furthermore, an elastic element 9 (spring) is also sleeved on the guide rod 8. The two ends of the elastic element 9 are connected to the electromagnets 5 and the guide rods 8 respectively to provide the sliding reset force of the electromagnets 5.

[0041] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solution of this utility model without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of this utility model, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. An interactive sand screen device, characterized in that, include: A frame (1) is provided with a sand bin (2) which is rotatably mounted on the frame (1). The sand bin (2) is a closed ring structure. The sand bin (2) is provided with a number of partition plates (3) for separating the internal space of the sand bin (2). The partition plates (3) are arranged along the circumference. The inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin (2) is provided with a number of openings (201). The openings (201) are arranged along the circumference, and each opening (201) is located between two adjacent partition plates (3). Several baffles (4) are slidably disposed on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin (2). Each of the baffles (4) corresponds to one of the openings (201). The baffles (4) are used to block the openings (201). The sand bin (2) is arranged horizontally along its rotation axis so that sand falling from the inner ring of the upper sand bin (2) can fall back into the sand bin (2).

2. The interactive sand screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding direction of the baffle (4) is parallel to the rotation axis of the sand bin (2), and a number of electromagnets (5) are also slidably provided on the inner wall of the inner ring of the sand bin (2). The number of electromagnets (5) correspond one-to-one with the number of baffles (4), and the electromagnets (5) are used to drive the baffles (4) to slide.

3. The interactive sand screen device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer peripheral wall of the sand chamber (2) is provided with a sliding contact part (6), the sliding contact part (6) is a closed ring structure, and several of the electromagnets (5) are electrically connected to the sliding contact part (6). The interactive sand curtain device also includes: The current collector (7) is disposed on the frame (1) and abuts against the sliding contact (6). The current collector (7) can be connected to a power source to supply power to a plurality of the electromagnets (5).

4. An interactive sand screen device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner ring of the sand bin (2) is provided with a number of guide rods (8), each of the guide rods (8) corresponding to a number of electromagnets (5). The guide rods (8) are arranged horizontally and pass through the electromagnets (5). The guide rods (8) and the electromagnets (5) are in sliding cooperation.

5. An interactive sand screen device according to claim 4, characterized in that, An elastic element (9) is also sleeved on the guide rod (8). The two ends of the elastic element (9) are respectively connected to the electromagnet (5) and the guide rod (8) to provide the sliding reset force of the electromagnet (5).

6. An interactive sand screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The sand bin (2) has an annular toothed portion (202) on its outer peripheral wall and also includes a driving component. The driving component is mounted on the frame (1) and is used to drive the sand bin (2) to rotate. The driving component includes: Gear (10), which is rotatably mounted on the frame (1) and meshes with the annular toothed portion (202); An electric motor is mounted on the frame (1) and is used to drive the gear (10) to rotate.

7. An interactive sand screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The cross-section of the sand bin (2) is annular or polygonal.

8. An interactive sand screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The frame (1) is also provided with a number of guide wheels (11) that rotatably press against the outer wall of the sand bin (2) to stabilize the rotation of the sand bin (2).

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