Top-type generator

Abstract

To provide a top-type generator that generates electric power by rotating efficiently.SOLUTION: A rotating shaft 13, to which a cylindrical magnet 10 is fixed, rotates in a top shape in a container 20 toward a center of gravity direction, and generates an electromotive force in a coil 21 disposed on an inner wall of the container 20 facing the cylindrical magnet 10. At least the center position of a cone-shaped portion 14 at the lower end of the rotating shaft 13 is supported by contact with a spherical rolling element of a bearing portion 27 provided on a lower surface plate 26 of the container 20. Therefore, the contact resistance of the rotating shaft 13 at the time when the rotating shaft 13 rotates can be reduced, resulting in high power generation efficiency.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a generator capable of generating electricity efficiently. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, generators generate electricity by placing a coil formed by winding a conductor close to a magnet and rotating the magnet relative to the coil, or by rotating the coil relative to the magnet, thereby generating an induced current in the coil. In this way, when the magnetic flux linking the coil changes over time, an electromotive force is generated in the coil.

[0003] In conventional generators, in order to rotate coils or magnets, the rotating shaft is rotated at high speed by a gas or steam turbine, at low speed by a water wheel, or driven by various types of engines or windmills.

[0004] The inventor has previously proposed a generator in which a rotor rotates inside a container, in which the tip of the rotating shaft is shaped into a cone or pyramid shape, thereby reducing the contact resistance between the rotating shaft and the bottom of the container that supports the lower end of the rotating shaft (Patent Document 1 below). This generator is called a "top-type generator" because the rotor rotates like a top. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7345746 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a top-type generator which has a smaller contact resistance and is capable of rotating at high speed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The generator of the present invention is a top-type generator in which one of a magnet and a coil is supported within a container so that it can rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the direction of gravity, and the other of the magnet and coil is positioned on the inner wall of the container opposite the rotating magnet or coil, and as the magnet or coil rotates, the interlinked magnetic flux of the coil changes over time, generating an electromotive force in the coil.

[0008] The upper part of the rotating shaft is rotatably supported on a top plate that covers the upper surface of the container, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the rotating shaft is attached to the part of the rotating shaft that protrudes from the top plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the rotating shaft has a conical portion at its lower part, the diameter of which decreases as it approaches the lower end, and the center position of the lower end of the rotating shaft contacts the bottom plate of the container that supports the rotating shaft via a spherical rolling element.

[0010] In addition, in the top-type generator of the present invention, the rotating shaft has a conical portion with a rounded tip at the lower part, and the spherical rolling element consists of a spherical rolling element that contacts the center position of the conical portion of the rotating shaft, and a plurality of spherical rolling elements that have a larger diameter than the spherical rolling element and contact a surface of the conical portion that is offset from the center position.

[0011] In addition, in the top-type generator of the present invention, the conical portion of the rotating shaft has a holding portion that holds one of the spherical rolling bodies in a state in which the spherical rolling body can rotate, and when the rotating shaft is supported by the bottom plate of the container, at least the center position of the rotating shaft, which is the center position of the holding portion, contacts the spherical rolling body, and the portion of the spherical rolling body exposed from the holding portion contacts the bottom plate.

[0012] In the top-type generator of the present invention, the spherical rolling elements are interposed between the rotating shaft and the bottom plate of the container, so that the contact resistance of the rotating shaft can be reduced. Moreover, since the spherical rolling elements are present in the conical portion of the rotating shaft, the contact distance between the spherical rolling elements and the rotating shaft is short, which further reduces the contact resistance and improves the rotation efficiency. In addition, it is possible to rotate the rotor of the top-type generator at high speed, thereby improving the efficiency of power generation. Effect of the Invention

[0013] The top-type generator of the present invention has a rotor with good rotational efficiency, is capable of high-speed rotation, and can achieve high power generation efficiency. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the container side of the generator in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a rotating body in the generator of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2(a) is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the conical portion of the rotating shaft in FIG. 1 and the spherical rolling elements, and FIG. 2(b) is a plan view of a bearing unit equipped with the spherical rolling elements. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a generator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the container side of a generator in a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a rotating body in the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a generator according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the relationship between a conical portion of a rotating shaft and spherical rolling elements in a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described based on examples.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of a top-type generator in the first embodiment. This generator is configured such that, as a permanent magnet 10 housed in a container 20 rotates, an electromotive force is generated in a coil 21 fixed to the inner wall of the container 20 .

[0017] 2 shows the configuration of the container 20, and Fig. 3 shows the configuration of a rotor 100 that rotates together with the magnet 10 inside the container 20. The rotor 100 has a cylindrical permanent magnet 10 fixed to a rotation shaft 13.

[0018] The cylindrical magnet 10 of the rotating body 100 is formed into a cylindrical shape by combining a semi-cylindrical permanent magnet 10(1) with a south pole at the top end and a north pole at the bottom end, and a semi-cylindrical permanent magnet 10(2) with a north pole at the top end and a south pole at the bottom end.

[0019] The upper part of the rotating shaft 13 protrudes from the cylindrical magnet 10, and a rotation transmission member 32 that transmits the rotational force of a rotation mechanism 33 to the rotating shaft 13 is installed on the upper end of the rotating shaft 13 (FIG. 1). The lower part of the rotating shaft 13 protrudes from the cylindrical magnet 10, and a cone-shaped portion 14 that tapers toward the lower end is formed near the lower end of the rotating shaft 13.

[0020] The cylindrical container 20 has a bearing 24 that supports the rotating shaft 13 of the rotating body 100 on an upper plate 25 that covers the upper surface of the container 20, and a plurality of coils 21 formed by winding a conductive wire are arranged on the inner wall of the container 20 in a position facing the cylindrical magnet 10 rotating inside the container 20. Further, a bearing portion 27 for supporting the conical portion 14 of the rotating shaft 13 is disposed on a bottom plate 26 covering the bottom surface of the container 20 .

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the relationship between the bearing portion 27 and the conical portion 14 of the rotating shaft 13. As shown in FIG. The cone-shaped portion 14 has a rounded tip. On the other hand, in the bearing portion 27, as shown in FIG. 4(b), multiple large-diameter spherical rolling elements 28(1) are arranged in a ring shape inside a cylindrical outer ring 29, and one small-diameter spherical rolling element 28(2) is disposed in the center of the ring.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4(a), this small diameter spherical rolling body 28(2) abuts against the tip of the central axis of the rotating shaft 13 (the central position of the conical portion 14), and the multiple large diameter spherical rolling bodies 28(1) abut against the surfaces of the conical portion 14 that exist around this central position. In other words, the small diameter spherical rolling element 28 ( 2 ) and the large diameter spherical rolling element 28 ( 1 ) are disposed at positions where they come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the conical portion 14 .

[0023] This generator is installed in a container 20 so that the rotation axis 13 of the rotor 100 is parallel to the direction of gravity. The upper part of the rotating shaft 13 is supported by a bearing 24 provided on the upper plate 25 of the container 20, and the lower part of the rotating shaft 13 is supported by a bearing portion 27 provided on the lower plate 26 of the container 20, so that the rotating shaft 13 rotates smoothly when a rotational force is applied. At this time, in the bearing portion 27, when the rotating shaft 13 rotates, the small diameter spherical rolling body 28(2) and the multiple large diameter spherical rolling bodies 28(1) in contact with the conical portion 14 of the rotating shaft 13 rotate in unison, thereby reducing friction during rotation and enabling smooth rotation.

[0024] In addition, the position where the conical portion 14 of the rotating shaft 13 contacts the spherical rolling elements 28 is a portion of the rotating shaft 13 where the diameter of the rotating shaft 13 is small, so the contact distance between the spherical rolling elements 28 and the rotating shaft 13 is short. Therefore, the contact resistance is small, and the rotation efficiency can be improved. Therefore, the rotating shaft 13 can also rotate at high speed.

[0025] When the rotating shaft 13 rotates, the cylindrical magnet 10 rotates, and the magnetic flux emitted from the cylindrical magnet 10 rotates around the rotating shaft 13. As a result, the interlinkage magnetic flux of the coil 21 changes over time, and an electromotive force is generated in the coil 21.

[0026] 5 is a schematic diagram showing a circuit for storing the induced current induced in the coils 21 in the storage battery 30. The alternating current generated from each coil 21 is rectified by a rectifier 31 and stored in the storage battery 30.

[0027] Next, an example of the operation of this generator will be described. (1) The rotating mechanism 33 is driven to rotate the rotating shaft 13 of the rotating body 100, and electricity is generated in the coil 21 in the container 20 by electromagnetic induction. (2) When the rotation of the rotating shaft 13 reaches a predetermined maximum speed, the rotating shaft 13 is released from the rotation transmission member 32, and the rotational motion of the rotating body 100 is carried out only by centrifugal force and inertia. (3) Power generation is continued in this state for a predetermined time, and before the rotation of the rotating shaft 13 stops, the rotation transmission member 32 is reconnected to the rotating shaft 13, and the driving of the rotating body 100 by the rotation mechanism 33 is resumed. (4) Repeat steps (1)-(3).

[0028] Even when such an operation is performed, the generator of the present invention allows the rotating shaft 13 to rotate efficiently, so that the state of "rotation due only to centrifugal force and inertia" described above in (2) above continues for a long period of time.

[0029] Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 shows the container 20 side of the top-type generator in the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows a rotor 101 in the second embodiment. Semi-cylindrical permanent magnets 41 and 42, each formed by vertically dividing a cylinder into two, are arranged with their cut surfaces facing each other on the inner wall of the container 20. The cut surfaces of the magnets 41 and 42 facing each other have different magnetic poles. 2, the container 20 has a bearing 24 and a bearing portion 27.

[0030] On the other hand, the rotating body 101 has a coil 50 in which an electric wire is wound around an electrically insulating bobbin. 3, the rotating body 101 has a rotating shaft 13 and a cone-shaped portion 14 at the lower end of the rotating shaft 13.

[0031] In this generator, a magnetic flux linkage of the coil 50 is generated based on the magnetic flux emitted from the magnets 41 and 42. When the rotating shaft 13 rotates, the coil 50 rotates and the magnetic flux linkage of the coil 50 changes over time, so that an electromotive force is generated in the coil 50.

[0032] 8 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for storing the induced current induced in the coil 50 in the storage battery 30. The current induced in the coil 50 is extracted by a slip ring 51 and a brush 52 and input to the rectifier 31, and then stored in the storage battery 30.

[0033] The generator of the second embodiment also has a conical portion 14 at the lower part of the rotating shaft 13 and a bearing portion 27 on the lower plate 26 of the container 20, so that efficient power generation is possible, just like the generator of the first embodiment.

[0034] Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the conical portion 14 of the rotating shaft 13 and the spherical rolling elements 61 in the third embodiment. The conical portion 14 of the rotating shaft 13 has a holder 60 at its tip that holds one spherical rolling element 61, and a part of this spherical rolling element 61 is exposed from the tip of the holder 60. This form is similar to the shape of the tip of a ballpoint pen.

[0035] In addition, a concave surface 62 is formed on the bottom plate 26 of the container 20 to receive a part of the spherical rolling element 61 exposed from the tip of the holding portion 60. The radius of curvature of the concave surface 62 is set to be slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the spherical surface of the spherical rolling element 61 so that the spherical rolling element 61 can roll within the concave surface 62.

[0036] In this structure, when the rotating shaft 13 is supported on the bottom plate 26 of the container, at least the center position of the rotating shaft 13, which is the center position of the holding portion 60, contacts the spherical rolling body 60 (note that the periphery of the center position of the holding portion 60 also contacts the spherical rolling body 60), and the portion of the spherical rolling body 61 exposed from the holding portion 60 contacts the bottom plate 62.

[0037] In addition, when the rotating shaft 13 rotates, the spherical rolling elements 61 rotate, reducing the contact resistance between the rotating shaft 13 and the lower plate 26. This improves the rotation efficiency and reduces the energy required for rotation. Furthermore, the concave curved surface 62 provided on the lower plate 26 can prevent the rotation shaft 13 holding the spherical rolling elements 61 from shifting sideways.

[0038] In the present invention, the rotating mechanism 33 that rotates the rotating shaft 13 may be a gas or steam turbine, a water wheel, a windmill, or the like. In the above operation example, the connection between the rotating shaft 13 and the rotating mechanism 33 is intermittent. However, the rotating mechanism 33 and the rotating shaft 13 may be constantly connected. [Industrial Applicability]

[0039] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The top-type generator of the present invention can be widely used as a power generating source in various industrial fields, and can also be used as a learning material in educational settings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10 Cylindrical magnet 10(1) Semi-cylindrical magnet with south pole on top 10(2) Semi-cylindrical magnet with north pole on top 13 Rotation axis 14 Cone-shaped part 20 containers 21 Coil 24 Bearings 25 Top plate 26 Bottom plate 27 Bearing section 28 Spherical rolling elements 28(1) Large diameter spherical rolling elements 28(2) Small diameter spherical rolling elements 29 Outer Ring 30 Storage battery 31 Rectifier 32 Rotation transmission member 33 Rotation mechanism 41 Magnet 42 Magnet 50 Coil 51 Slip ring 52 Brush 60 Holding part 61 Spherical rolling elements 62 Concave Surface 100 Rotating Body 101 Rotating Body

Claims

1. A generator in which one of a magnet and a coil is supported within a container so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to the direction of gravity, and the other of the magnet and the coil is disposed at a position on the inner wall of the container facing the rotating magnet or coil, and as the magnet or coil rotates, the interlinkage magnetic flux of the coil changes over time to generate an electromotive force in the coil, The rotating shaft has an upper portion rotatably supported by an upper plate that covers an upper surface of the container, a rotation mechanism for rotating the rotation shaft is attached to a portion of the rotation shaft protruding from the upper plate, The rotating shaft has a cone-shaped portion at its lower portion, the diameter of the shaft decreasing toward the lower end, A top-type generator, in which the center position of the lower end of the rotating shaft is in contact with the lower plate of the container that supports the rotating shaft via a spherical rolling element.

2. 2. The top-type generator according to claim 1, The rotating shaft has a cone-shaped portion having a rounded tip at the lower portion, The spherical rolling element comprises a spherical rolling element contacting the central position of the conical portion of the rotating shaft, and a plurality of spherical rolling elements having a larger diameter than the spherical rolling element and contacting a surface of the conical portion offset from the central position.

3. 2. The top-type generator according to claim 1, the conical portion of the rotating shaft has a holding portion that holds one of the spherical rolling elements in a state in which the spherical rolling element can rotate, A top-type generator in which, when the rotating shaft is supported by the bottom plate of the container, at least the center position of the rotating shaft, which is the center position of the holding portion, contacts the spherical rolling elements, and the portion of the spherical rolling elements exposed from the holding portion contacts the bottom plate.

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