Energy conversion mechanism and fluid machine using the same

Abstract

To provide a novel energy conversion mechanism that allows efficient energy conversion by preventing leakage of fluid flowing in a flow path from a predefined path and by bringing fluid into contact with a rotor.SOLUTION: An energy conversion mechanism 1 includes: a main rotor 2; a valve rotor 3; and a case 4 that rotationally contains both of the rotors 2, 3. The main rotor 2 includes a center part 21 and a projection part 22 projecting from the center part 21. The valve rotor 3 includes a contact projection 31 and a contact recess 32. The case 4 includes a flow passage having: a conversion path R1 which feeds fluid introduced from an introduction port Ri into an outlet port Ro; an introduction path R2 which introduces fluid into the conversion path R1; and an outlet passage R3 into which fluid is drawn out of the conversion path R1. At least either energy conversion of conversion from fluid energy into rotational energy and conversion from rotation energy into fluid energy is possible.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy conversion mechanism and a fluid machine utilizing the same, and more specifically to an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy and vice versa, and a fluid machine that utilizes the energy conversion mechanism to transport a fluid using the force of a rotating body or to obtain rotational power using the force of a flowing fluid. [Background technology]

[0002] Fluid machines such as fluid pumps are known, which use the rotational motion of a rotor placed in a flow path to push out a fluid when transporting the fluid. Fluid machines such as fluid motors are also known, which use the flow of the fluid to rotate a rotor placed in the flow path, thereby obtaining rotational power. These fluid machines incorporate energy conversion mechanisms that can convert fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy and vice versa, and various energy conversion mechanisms have been proposed with the aim of improving energy conversion efficiency, optimizing the shape, reducing costs, etc. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an energy conversion mechanism (inscribed type fluid pump / motor 11) capable of converting fluid energy and rotational kinetic energy mutually, which includes an inner rotor (14), an outer rotor (13) inscribed in the inner rotor (14) and rotating relative to the inner rotor (14) in the same direction, and a rotor housing (12) rotatably housing both rotors (13, 14), wherein a suction passage (16) is opened on the side of a chamber (15) whose volume varies with the relative rotation of the rotors where the volume expands and a discharge passage (17) is opened on the side where the volume decreases, and a confinement section (15a) where the volume of the chamber (15) is maximum is formed between the end (16a) of the suction passage (16) and the start (17a) of the discharge passage (17) by both rotors (13, 14) and a land section (12b) that closes the rotors in the width direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-093853 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In an energy conversion mechanism, it is desirable to convert energy efficiently by ensuring that the fluid flowing through the flow path comes into contact with the rotor without leaking outside the specified path. There is always a demand for new energy conversion mechanisms that can convert energy efficiently.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to propose a new energy conversion mechanism that enables efficient energy conversion by preventing fluid flowing through a flow path from leaking outside the predetermined path and by mutual contact with a rotor, and also to propose a fluid machine that utilizes such an energy conversion mechanism to transfer fluid using the rotational force of the rotor or to obtain rotational power using the force of the flowing fluid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, an energy conversion mechanism according to the present invention is an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy and rotational kinetic energy into each other, the energy conversion mechanism comprising: a main rotor arranged rotatably about the first axis, the main rotor including a pair of main rotor surfaces extending in a plane perpendicular to the first axis at a predetermined interval, and a main rotor outer circumferential surface connecting the pair of main rotor surfaces along an outer shell shape of the main rotor surfaces; a valve rotor including a pair of valve rotor surfaces extending in a plane at a predetermined interval and a valve rotor outer circumferential surface connecting the pair of valve rotor surfaces along the outer shell shape of the valve rotor surfaces and contacting the main rotor outer circumferential surface, the valve rotor being rotatably disposed about a second axis line parallel to the first axis line; a case including a pair of opposing walls extending in a plane at a predetermined interval and a partition wall connecting the pair of opposing walls, the pair of opposing walls being in sliding contact with the pair of opposing main rotor surfaces and the pair of valve rotor surfaces, and rotatably containing the main rotor and the valve rotor; Equipped with The main rotor has a central portion as a rotation input / output portion, which has an arc-shaped outer shape centered on the first axis and in which a connection structure with an external member is formed at the center for inputting rotation from the outside or outputting rotation to the outside, and a protrusion portion which protrudes from the central portion in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and is formed in an arc-shaped outer shape with its center spaced from the first axis by the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the central portion, the valve rotor has a contact protrusion formed in a convex arc shape about the second axis so that the valve rotor outer circumferential surface contacts the main rotor outer circumferential surface at the center of the main rotor, and a contact recess formed in a corresponding concave arc shape so that the valve rotor outer circumferential surface contacts the main rotor outer circumferential surface at the protrusion of the main rotor; the case has, as partition walls, a main rotor partition wall having an inner wall surface along the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational locus of the main rotor, and a valve rotor partition wall having an inner wall surface along the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational locus of the valve rotor; Within the case, a fluid flow path is formed, the fluid flow path being surrounded by the outer peripheral surface of the main rotor, the outer peripheral surface of the valve rotor, the facing wall, and the partition wall, the fluid flow path including a conversion path which is a flow path for flowing fluid introduced from an inlet along the outer peripheral surface of the main rotor to an outlet, an introduction path which is a flow path communicating with the inlet of the conversion path and introducing fluid into the conversion path, and an outlet path which is a flow path communicating with the outlet of the conversion path and discharging fluid from the conversion path, This device is characterized by being capable of at least one of the following energy conversions: conversion from fluid energy to rotational kinetic energy, which is output as rotation to an external member connected to the center when the protrusions are pressed by the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path, causing the main rotor to rotate; and conversion from rotational kinetic energy to fluid energy, which is input as rotation from an external member connected to the center, causing the fluid in the fluid flow path to be pushed out and flowed by the protrusions.

[0008] In this energy conversion mechanism, in a preferred embodiment, the main rotor has a ratio of the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion to the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the protruding portion of 2:1.

[0009] In this embodiment, it is further preferable that the protrusion has a nephroid curve contour in the range of its base that forms an angle of 19.1° to 30° with respect to an imaginary plane that includes the first axis and the center line of the arc contour of the protrusion.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment of this energy conversion mechanism, the main rotor has a ratio of the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion to the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion portion of 1:1.

[0011] In this embodiment, it is more preferable that the protrusion has a cardioid curve contour in the range of its base that forms an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to an imaginary plane that includes the first axis and the center line of the arc contour of the protrusion.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of this energy conversion mechanism, an inlet passage and an outlet passage are arranged in parallel in the case, and a single fluid flow path that folds around the main rotor is formed as the conversion path, with the end of the inlet passage and the end of the outlet passage separated by a valve rotor.

[0013] In this form, an inner cavity valve rotor having the same outer shape as the valve rotor and an inner cavity formed therein, the inner cavity valve rotor being disposed at a position rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis with respect to the valve rotor; the main rotor has, as protrusions, a first protrusion and a second protrusion that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the first protrusion by 180° about the first axis; Except when the protrusion and the contact recess are tightly engaged with each other, the conversion path may be partitioned by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the valve rotor, and the inner cavity valve rotor and may be separable into four chambers.

[0014] In this energy conversion mechanism, another preferred embodiment is the main rotor has, as protrusions, a first protrusion and a second protrusion that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the first protrusion by 180° about the first axis; The valve rotors include a first valve rotor and a second valve rotor that has the same shape as the first valve rotor and is arranged at a position rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis, The case is provided with a first fluid flow path in which an inlet path and an outlet path are arranged in a straight line and a conversion path that goes around one half of the circumference of the main rotor, and a second fluid flow path that is the same shape as the first fluid flow path and is rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis, The end of the inlet passage of the first fluid flow path and the end of the outlet passage of the second fluid flow path are separated by a first valve rotor, and the end of the outlet passage of the first fluid flow path and the end of the inlet passage of the second fluid flow path are separated by a second valve rotor.

[0015] One example of a fluid machine according to the present invention is a fluid machine equipped with an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting rotational kinetic energy into fluid energy, in which a fluid is moved by being pushed by an internal rotor by rotating a rotary input shaft, and characterized in that the fluid machine includes the above energy conversion mechanism as an energy conversion mechanism, and the rotation input / output section functions as a rotary input shaft. In this example, the fluid machine is configured as a fluid pump that includes a rotary power generating device that inputs rotational force to the rotary input shaft and uses the rotational power of the rotary power generating device to pump the fluid.

[0016] Another example of the fluid machine according to the present invention is a fluid machine equipped with an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy, and which obtains rotational power from a rotary output shaft by utilizing the force of the flowing fluid by transporting the fluid, and which is characterized in that the fluid machine includes the above-mentioned energy conversion mechanism as an energy conversion mechanism, and causes the rotation input / output portion to function as the rotary output shaft. In this example, the fluid machine includes a fluid pumping device connected to an inlet passage and pumping the fluid into the inlet passage, The fluid motor may be configured as a fluid motor that rotates a rotary output shaft by the force of fluid pumped from a fluid pumping device.

[0017] Another example of a fluid machine according to the present invention is a fluid machine configured as a transmission device of a bicycle for transmitting rotational input of a crank to a wheel, a first energy conversion mechanism coupled to the rotation shaft of the crank; a second energy conversion mechanism coupled to the rotation shaft of the wheel; the energy conversion mechanism according to claim 6 is used as the first energy conversion mechanism and the second energy conversion mechanism, The inlet path of the first energy conversion mechanism is connected to the outlet path of the second energy conversion mechanism, and the outlet path of the first energy conversion mechanism is connected to the inlet path of the second energy conversion mechanism, thereby forming a closed fluid flow path inside the integrated first energy conversion mechanism and second energy conversion mechanism.

[0018] Another example of the fluid machine according to the present invention is a fluid machine equipped with an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy, and which obtains rotational power from a rotary output shaft by utilizing the force of the flowing fluid by transporting the fluid, A gas is used as the fluid, an energy conversion mechanism in which a valve rotor and an inner cavity valve rotor are arranged in the one flow path; a fuel supply device disposed in the inner cavity of the inner cavity valve rotor to supply fuel; an ignition device disposed in the inner cavity of the inner cavity valve rotor to ignite the supplied fuel; When the four chambers separated by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the valve rotor, and the inner hollow valve rotor are, from the upstream side, an intake chamber that can communicate with the inlet passage, a compression chamber whose spatial volume gradually decreases as the main rotor rotates, a combustion chamber whose spatial volume gradually increases as the main rotor rotates, and an exhaust chamber that can communicate with the outlet passage, the introduced gas moves sequentially from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, the combustion chamber, and the exhaust chamber within the combustion chamber as the main rotor rotates, and is ignited by an ignition device at a predetermined timing during movement from the compression chamber to the combustion chamber, and the resulting combustion explosive force advances the transport of the gas and rotates the main rotor, thereby configuring an internal combustion engine that obtains rotational power from the rotary output shaft. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an energy conversion mechanism in which a fluid flowing through a flow path is in contact with a rotor without leaking from a predetermined path, thereby enabling efficient energy conversion. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a fluid machine that uses such an energy conversion mechanism to transport a fluid using the rotational force of the rotor, or to obtain rotational power using the force of a flowing fluid. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism according to Embodiment 1. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating optimization of the protrusions of the energy conversion mechanism of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is an explanatory diagram of the rotor position during operation of the energy conversion mechanism of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining optimization of the protrusions of the energy conversion mechanism of FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment is applied to a transmission mechanism of a bicycle. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which an energy conversion mechanism according to an embodiment is applied to an internal combustion engine. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the internal combustion engine of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] An energy conversion mechanism to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that each drawing is a schematic view of the inside of the case as viewed in the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the internal rotor, and does not necessarily accurately reflect the actual dimensions or details. Furthermore, although the terms "contact" and "close contact" are used to describe the contact state between the main rotor, valve rotor, and case in this specification, this does not mean that they must be in strict contact, and some clearance may be allowed between each part.

[0022] <Embodiment 1> (composition) Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating optimization of the protrusions of the energy conversion mechanism 1 according to the first embodiment. The energy conversion mechanism 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to these figures.

[0023] The energy conversion mechanism 1 is an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy and rotational kinetic energy into each other. As shown in Fig. 1, the energy conversion mechanism 1 includes a main rotor 2 rotatably arranged about a first axis Z1, a valve rotor 3 rotatably arranged about a second axis Z2 parallel to the first axis Z1 at a predetermined distance, and a case 4 containing the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3.

[0024] The main rotor 2 is a plate- or block-shaped body that rotates around the first axis Z1. The main rotor 2 includes a pair of main rotor surfaces 2a that extend in a plane perpendicular to the first axis Z1 at a predetermined interval (separated by the thickness dimension) and a main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b that connects the pair of main rotor surfaces 2a along the outer shell shape of the main rotor surfaces 2a. The main rotor 2 is formed of a hard material, such as metal or resin. The main rotor 2 is rotatably held in a case 4 (described later). The main rotor 2 has a central portion 21 located on the first axis Z1 and protruding portions 22 protruding from the central portion 21. The protruding portions 22 of the main rotor 2 include a first protruding portion 22A and a second protruding portion 22B that is 180° rotationally symmetrical to the first protruding portion 22A about the first axis Z1. The first protrusion 22A and the second protrusion 22B are similar except that they are oriented in 180° rotational symmetry, and the description of the protrusion 22 applies to both the first protrusion 22A and the second protrusion 22B.

[0025] The central portion 21 has an arc-shaped outer surface centered on the first axis Z1 as a rotation input / output portion, and a connection structure for connecting to an external member is formed in the center for inputting rotation from the outside or outputting rotation to the outside. The connection structure of the central portion 21 is formed so as to extend along the first axis Z1, centered on the first axis Z1, and may be a shaft-like structure that protrudes to the outside of the surface of the case 4 described below, or a bearing-like structure that is exposed on the surface of the case 4 so that a shaft can be inserted from the outside.

[0026] The protrusions 22 protrude from the central portion 21 in a direction (radial direction) perpendicular to the first axis Z1, and are formed in an arcuate shape with their center located at a position away from the first axis Z1 by the radius of the arcuate shape of the central portion 21. More specifically, the radius of the arcuate shape of the protrusions 22 is set to be half the radius of the arcuate shape of the central portion 21. In other words, in the main rotor 2, the ratio of the radius of the arcuate shape of the central portion 21 to the radius of the arcuate shape of the protrusions 22 is 2:1.

[0027] Here, the ridgeline of the protrusion 22 may be formed so that its entire ridgeline follows a path along a perfect circle of a constant radius when viewed along the first axis Z1. However, it is preferable that the ridgeline be formed so that a predetermined range follows a curved path that deviates from a perfect circle of a constant radius, in order to more effectively prevent a gap from forming between the protrusion 22 and the valve rotor 3 (described later). That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 22 preferably follows a path along a perfect circle of a constant radius within a range of 38.2° from the top of the protrusion 22 about the first axis Z1, and follows a nephroid curve in the remaining range toward the base. In other words, when the ratio of the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion 21 to the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion 22 is 2:1 as in the first embodiment, it is preferable that the base range (N) of the protrusion 22, which forms an angle of 19.1° to 30° with respect to an imaginary plane including the first axis Z1 and the center line (X1) of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion 22, follows a nephroid curve.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1 , the valve rotor 3 is a plate- or block-shaped rotor that rotates about the second axis Z2. The rotor includes a pair of valve rotor surfaces 3a that extend in a plane at a predetermined distance, and a valve rotor outer circumferential surface 3b that connects the pair of valve rotor surfaces 3a along the outer shell shape of the valve rotor surfaces 3a and contacts the main rotor outer circumferential surface 2b. The valve rotor 3 is arranged so that the distance between the pair of valve rotor surfaces 3a is the same as the distance between the pair of main rotor surfaces 2a of the main rotor 2, and the valve rotor surfaces 3a extend on the same plane as the main rotor surfaces 2a. The valve rotor 3 is formed of a hard material, such as metal or resin. The valve rotor 3 is held in a case 4 (described later) so as to be rotatable about the second axis Z2. The valve rotor 3 is generally crescent-shaped, and the valve rotor outer circumferential surface 3b has a convex contact protrusion 31 and a concave contact recess 32.

[0029] The contact protrusion 31 is formed in a convex arcuate outer shape centered on the second axis Z2 so that the valve rotor outer circumferential surface 3b comes into contact with the main rotor outer circumferential surface 2b at the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2. More specifically, the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the contact protrusion 31 is the same as the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion 22 of the main rotor 2 and is set to half the radius of the arcuate outer shape at the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2. The center of the arc of the contact protrusion 31 is located away from the center of the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2 by the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2 plus the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the contact protrusion 31. In other words, the first axis Z1 and the second axis Z2 are parallel lines separated by 1.5 times the radius of the arcuate outer shape at the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2.

[0030] The contact recess 32 is formed in a concave arcuate outer shape so that the valve rotor outer circumferential surface 3b contacts the main rotor outer circumferential surface 2b at the protrusion 22 of the main rotor 2. More specifically, the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the contact recess 32 is the same as the radius of the arcuate outer shape at the protrusion 22 of the main rotor 2, and is set to half the radius of the arcuate outer shape at the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2. The center of the arc of the contact recess 32 is spaced apart from the center of the contact protrusion 31 by the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the contact recess 32.

[0031] The case 4 is a sealed frame made of a hard material, such as metal or resin. The case 4 has a pair of opposing walls (not shown) that extend in a plane at a predetermined interval and a partition wall 41 connecting the pair of opposing walls. The case 4 rotatably contains the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3, with the pair of main rotor surfaces 2a and the pair of valve rotor surfaces 3a in sliding contact with the pair of opposing walls. The case 4 includes, as partition walls 41, a main rotor partition wall 41a having an inner wall surface that follows the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational trajectory of the main rotor 2, a valve rotor partition wall 41b having an inner wall surface that follows the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational trajectory of the valve rotor 3, and a flow path partition wall 41c having the inner wall surfaces of the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3 (described below).

[0032] Within the case 4 housing the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3, a fluid flow path R is formed, surrounded by the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b, the valve rotor outer peripheral surface 3b, a facing wall (not shown), and a partition wall 41. This fluid flow path R includes a conversion path R1, which is a flow path along the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b through which fluid introduced from an inlet Ri flows to an outlet Ro, an introduction path R2, which is a flow path communicating with the introduction port Ri of the conversion path R1 and introducing fluid into the conversion path R1, and an outlet path R3, which is a flow path communicating with the outlet Ro of the conversion path R1 and discharging the fluid from the conversion path R1. The fluid flow path R may take several forms, but in the energy conversion mechanism 1 of the first embodiment, the introduction path R2 and the outlet path R3 are arranged in parallel, and are formed as a single fluid flow path R that folds around the main rotor 2 as the conversion path R1. An end of the introduction path R2 and an end of the outlet path R3 are separated by the valve rotor 3. As a result, the inlet Ri and outlet Ro of the conversion path R1 do not communicate with each other outside the conversion path R1, and the pressure in the introduction path R2 is transmitted to the outlet path R3 via the conversion path R1.

[0033] The energy conversion mechanism 1 having these components is used, for example, as a mechanism for converting fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy, in which the protrusions 22 are pushed by a fluid flowing through the fluid flow path R, causing the main rotor 2 to rotate and output rotational energy to an external member connected to the central portion 21. In another example, the energy conversion mechanism 1 is used as a mechanism for converting rotational kinetic energy into fluid energy, in which rotational input from an external member connected to the central portion 21 pushes the fluid in the fluid flow path R through the protrusions 22 and causes it to flow. Regardless of whether the energy conversion mechanism 1 operates as a mechanism for converting energy into any of these types, the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3 rotate in relation to each other, and the fluid moves from the inlet path R2 to the outlet path R3 via the conversion path R1 without being isolated by the valve rotor 3 between the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3, preventing short-circuiting. The behavior of the rotors 2 and 3 when the energy conversion mechanism 1 is operating is described below. In this specification, "short circuit" means that the pressure applied to the inlet passage R2 instantly leaks out into the outlet passage R3, and does not mean that the fluid that has entered between the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 and the valve rotor partition wall 41b of the case 4 flows out into the outlet passage R3 without circulating around the main rotor 2 as the valve rotor 3 rotates.

[0034] (Rotor behavior during operation) Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the rotor position during operation of the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1, and shows a state in which Figure 3(a) shows a state in which the entire surface of the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 is in close contact with the first protrusion 22A of the main rotor 2, Figure 3(b) shows a state in which one intersection line between the contact protrusion 31 and the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 is in contact with one intersection line between the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2 and the first protrusion 22A, Figure 3(c) shows a state in which the central position of the contact protrusion 31 of the valve rotor 3 is in contact with the central position of the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2, Figure 3(d) shows a state in which the other intersection line between the contact protrusion 31 and the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 is in contact with one intersection line between the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2 and the second protrusion 22B, and Figure 3(e) shows a state in which the entire surface of the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 is in close contact with the second protrusion 22B of the main rotor 2. 3, the manner in which the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3 rotate in relation to each other during operation of the energy conversion mechanism 1 will be described. Note that, for convenience of explanation, the following will be based on the drawing and assume that the energy conversion mechanism 1 is arranged with the first axis Z1 and the second axis Z2 oriented horizontally (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), the outlet path R3 is arranged below the inlet path R2 (below the plane of the drawing in the vertical direction), and the conversion path R1 is arranged to the right (right side of the plane of the drawing) with respect to the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3. The left-right and up-down directions in this position will be used for the explanation.

[0035] First, in the state shown in FIG. 3(a), the main rotor 2 is in a rotational position where the first protrusion 22A and the second protrusion 22B are at the same vertical height, and the valve rotor 3 is in a rotational position where the contact recess 32 faces right. In the state shown in FIG. 3(a), the entire valve rotor outer surface 3b at the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 is in close contact with the main rotor outer surface 2b at the first protrusion 22A of the main rotor 2. The upstream side of the second protrusion 22B is in communication with the inlet channel R2, and the downstream side of the second protrusion 22B is in communication with the outlet channel R3. Also, in the state shown in FIG. 3(a), focusing on a portion of the flow path, the upstream side of the second protrusion 22B of the conversion channel R1 forms a chamber in communication with the inlet channel R2, and this chamber is also filled with fluid (see dashed arrow). Furthermore, in the state shown in FIG. 3(a), because the valve rotor 3 is in close contact with the main rotor 2, the inlet channel R2 and the outlet channel R3 are not short-circuited.

[0036] Next, when the main rotor 2 rotates clockwise from the state shown in Figure 3(a), the valve rotor 3 rotates counterclockwise while the valve rotor outer peripheral surface 3b at the contact recess 32 gradually moves away from the upper side relative to the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b at the first protrusion 22A of the main rotor 2, resulting in the state shown in Figure 3(b). In the state shown in Figure 3(b), one intersection line between the contact protrusion 31 and the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 is in contact with one intersection line between the center portion 21 and the first protrusion 22A of the main rotor 2. Also, in the state shown in Figure 3(b), focusing on a part of the flow path, the upstream side of the second protrusion 22B of the conversion path R1 forms a chamber sandwiched between the first protrusion 22A and the second protrusion 22B, and the fluid filling this chamber (see dashed arrow) then moves toward the outlet path R3 as the main rotor 2 rotates. During the transition from the state shown in Figure 3(a) to the state shown in Figure 3(b), one of the intersection lines between the contact convex portion 31 and the contact concave portion 32 of the valve rotor 3 moves while contacting the first protrusion portion 22A of the main rotor 2, so that the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3 are not short-circuited.

[0037] Next, when the main rotor 2 rotates clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 3(b), the valve rotor 3 rotates counterclockwise while the valve rotor outer surface 3b at the contact protrusion 31 contacts the main rotor outer surface 2b at the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3(c). In the state shown in FIG. 3(c), the contact protrusion 31 of the valve rotor 3 contacts the central portion of the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2 at its central position. Also, in the state shown in FIG. 3(c), when focusing on a portion of the flow path, the fluid (see dashed arrow) filling the chamber sandwiched between the second protrusion 22B and the first protrusion 22A on the upstream side moves toward the outlet path R3 compared to the state shown in FIG. 3(b). During the transition from the state shown in FIG. 3(b) to the state shown in FIG. 3(c), the contact protrusion 31 of the valve rotor 3 moves while contacting the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2, so that the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3 are not short-circuited.

[0038] Next, when the main rotor 2 rotates clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 3(c), the valve rotor 3 rotates counterclockwise while the contact protrusion 31 of the valve rotor 3 contacts the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3(d). In the state shown in FIG. 3(d), the other intersection line between the contact protrusion 31 and the contact recess 32 of the valve rotor 3 contacts one intersection line between the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2 and the second protrusion 22B. In the state shown in FIG. 3(d), the valve rotor outer peripheral surface 3b at the contact recess 32 is separated from the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b at the second protrusion 22B of the main rotor 2. Furthermore, in the state shown in FIG. 3(d), when focusing on a portion of the flow path, the fluid (see dashed arrow) filling one chamber sandwiched between the second protrusion 22B and the first protrusion 22A on the upstream side moves toward the outlet path R3 more than in the state shown in FIG. 3(c). During the transition from the state shown in Figure 3(c) to the state shown in Figure 3(d), the contact protrusion 31 of the valve rotor 3 moves while contacting the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2, so that the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3 are not short-circuited.

[0039] Next, when the main rotor 2 rotates clockwise from the state shown in Figure 3(d), the valve rotor 3 rotates counterclockwise while the other intersection line between the contact convex portion 31 and the contact concave portion 32 of the valve rotor 3 contacts the second protrusion 22B of the main rotor 2, resulting in the state shown in Figure 3(e). In the state shown in Figure 3(e), the entire valve rotor outer surface 3b at the contact concave portion 32 of the valve rotor 3 is in close contact with the main rotor outer surface 2b at the second protrusion 22B of the main rotor 2, and the upstream side of the first protrusion 22A communicates with the inlet channel R2, and the downstream side of the first protrusion 22A communicates with the outlet channel R3. Also, in the state shown in Figure 3(e), when focusing on a part of the flow path, the upstream side of the second protrusion 22B of the conversion channel R1 forms a chamber communicated with the outlet channel R3, and this chamber is also filled with fluid (see the dashed arrow). That is, the state shown in Fig. 3(e) is a form in which the main rotor 2 is rotated 180° from the state shown in Fig. 3(a). Also, in the state shown in Fig. 3(e), the valve rotor 3 is in close contact with the main rotor 2, so the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3 are not short-circuited. From then on, Figs. 3(b) to 3(e) are transitioned in a state in which the first protrusion 22A and the second protrusion 22B are switched, and this is the operation during one rotation of the main rotor 2 of the energy conversion mechanism 1 in which the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3 are linked.

[0040] As explained above, the energy conversion mechanism 1 maintains a state in which the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3 are always in contact with each other and the inlet path R2 and outlet path R3 are not short-circuited.

[0041] (Actions and Effects) The energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1 includes a main rotor 2 rotatably arranged around a first axis Z1, the main rotor 2 including a pair of main rotor surfaces 2a extending in a plane and a main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b connecting the pair of main rotor surfaces 2a; a valve rotor 3 rotatably arranged around a second axis Z2, the valve rotor 3 including a pair of valve rotor surfaces 3a extending in a plane and a valve rotor outer peripheral surface 3b connecting the pair of valve rotor surfaces and in contact with the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b; and a case 4 having a pair of opposing walls extending in a plane and a partition wall 41 connecting the pair of opposing walls, the case 4 having the pair of opposing walls in sliding contact with the pair of main rotor surfaces 2a and the pair of valve rotor surfaces 3a, and rotatably containing the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3. The main rotor 2 has a central portion 21 having an arc-shaped outer contour centered on the first axis Z1 and a central connection structure for connecting to an external member for inputting rotation from the outside or outputting rotation to the outside, and a protrusion 22 protruding from the central portion 21 and having an arc-shaped outer contour centered at a position spaced from the first axis Z1 by the radius of the arc-shaped outer contour of the central portion 21. The valve rotor 3 has a contact protrusion 31 having a convex arc-shaped outer contour centered on the second axis Z2 and a contact recess 32 having a concave arc-shaped outer contour corresponding to the valve rotor outer peripheral surface 3b contacting the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b of the protrusion 22 of the main rotor 2. The case 4 further has, as partition walls, a main rotor partition wall 41a having an inner wall surface along the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational trajectory of the main rotor 2, and a valve rotor partition wall 41b having an inner wall surface along the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational trajectory of the valve rotor 3. In the energy conversion mechanism 1, the rotor 2, valve rotor 3, and case 4 have these respective parts, and are in contact with each other. This is a new form of energy conversion mechanism that has never been seen before, in which the main rotor 2, which has an arc-shaped outer shape protruding from the rotor periphery, and the approximately crescent-shaped valve rotor 3 rotate while in contact with each other.

[0042] In the energy conversion mechanism 1 configured as described above, a fluid flow path R is formed within the case 4 and is surrounded by the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b, the valve rotor outer peripheral surface 3b, the facing wall, and the partition wall 41. This fluid flow path R includes a conversion path R1, which is a flow path that flows fluid introduced from an inlet Ri along the main rotor outer peripheral surface 2b to an outlet Ro, an introduction path R2, which is a flow path that communicates with the inlet Ri of the conversion path R1 and introduces the fluid into the conversion path R1, and an outlet path R3, which is a flow path that communicates with the outlet Ro of the conversion path R1 and discharges the fluid from the conversion path R1.

[0043] In the energy conversion mechanism 1 having such a configuration, fluid energy is converted into rotational kinetic energy, which is output to an external member connected to the central portion 21 when the protrusions 22 are pushed by the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path R, causing the main rotor 2 to rotate. The energy conversion mechanism 1 also converts at least one of the following energy conversions: rotational kinetic energy is converted into fluid energy when rotation is input from an external member connected to the central portion 21, forcing the fluid in the fluid flow path R through the protrusions 22 and causing it to flow. In the energy conversion mechanism 1, the main rotor 2, the valve rotor 3, and the case 4 are in contact with each other, and pressure in the inlet path R2 is not transmitted to the outlet path R3 without passing through the conversion path R1. In other words, while fluid energy and rotational kinetic energy are converted into each other in the conversion path R1, the energy conversion mechanism 1 prevents pressure from the fluid flowing through the inlet path R2 from escaping the path that passes through the conversion path R1, thereby enabling efficient energy conversion.

[0044] As a result, the energy conversion mechanism 1 is a new type of energy conversion mechanism that makes it difficult for the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path R to leak outside a predetermined path and allows for efficient energy conversion by mutual contact with the main rotor 2.

[0045] According to this energy conversion mechanism 1, the ratio of the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the central portion 21 to the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the protrusion portion 22 is 2:1, which allows the main rotor 2 and the valve rotor 3 to rotate smoothly in coordination.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the energy conversion mechanism 1, the protrusion 22 has a nephroid curve outer shape in the range (N) at the base that forms an angle of 19.1° to 30° with respect to an imaginary plane that includes the first axis Z1 and the center line of the arc outer shape of the protrusion 22, thereby improving the contact accuracy with the valve rotor 3 over the entire circumference of the main rotor 2.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the energy conversion mechanism 1, the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3 are arranged in parallel in the case 4, and a single fluid flow path R that folds around the main rotor 2 is formed as the conversion path R1, so that the flow path connection ports are gathered in one direction, making it easy to use and compact.

[0048] <Embodiment 2> 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism 101 according to embodiment 2. The energy conversion mechanism 101 according to embodiment 2 is similar to the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1 in terms of its basic configuration, which is mainly composed of a main rotor, a valve rotor, and a case, as well as the sizes and shapes of the main rotor and the valve rotor. However, it differs from the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1 in terms of the shape of the case, the number of valve rotors, and the flow path configuration. The energy conversion mechanism 101 will be described below, but the same components as those in FIG. 1 will be assigned the same reference numerals in FIG. 4 as those in FIG. 1 and their description will be omitted. Differences from the energy conversion mechanism 1 will mainly be described.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the energy conversion mechanism 101 includes a main rotor 2 rotatably arranged around a first axis Z1, a set of valve rotors 3 (3A, 3B) including a first valve rotor 3A rotatably arranged around a second axis Z2 and a second valve rotor 3B rotatably arranged around a third axis Z3, and a case 104 that contains the main rotor 2 and the set of valve rotors 3 (3A, 3B).

[0050] The energy conversion mechanism 101 differs from the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1 in that the valve rotors 3 include a first valve rotor 3A whose shape, positioning, and coordinated relationship with the main rotor 2 are similar to those of the valve rotor of the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1, and a second valve rotor 3B which has the same shape as the first valve rotor 3A and is arranged at a position rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis Z1.

[0051] The case 104 has a configuration that combines the configuration of the valve rotor 3 side of the case 4 of embodiment 1 with a configuration that is plane-symmetrical with respect to a plane that passes through the first axis Z1 and is perpendicular to a line connecting the first axis Z1 and the second axis Z2 at the shortest distance. That is, the case 104 has partition walls 141 that include two sets of valve rotor partition walls 141b and flow path partition walls 141c that correspond to the valve rotor partition walls 41b and flow path partition walls 41c of the case 4 of embodiment 1 and are plane-symmetrical with respect to this plane. The case 104 rotatably houses the main rotor 2, the first valve rotor 3A, and the second valve rotor 3B, with the first valve rotor 3A in sliding contact with one valve rotor partition wall 141b and the second valve rotor 3B in sliding contact with the other valve rotor partition wall 141b.

[0052] In this manner, two fluid flow paths R, a first fluid flow path RA and a second fluid flow path RB, which have the same shape as the first fluid flow path RA and are rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis Z1, are formed inside the case 104 that houses the main rotor 2, the first valve rotor 3A, and the second valve rotor 3B. In each of the fluid flow paths RA and RB, an inlet path R2 and an outlet path R3 are linearly arranged, and the conversion path R1A of the first fluid flow path RA circles around one half of the circumference of the main rotor 2, while the conversion path R1B of the second fluid flow path RB circles around the other half of the circumference of the main rotor 2. In addition, in these fluid flow paths, the inlet path R2A of the first fluid flow path RA and the outlet path R3B of the second fluid flow path RB are adjacent to each other, and the outlet path R3A of the first fluid flow path RA and the inlet path R2B of the second fluid flow path RB are adjacent to each other, so that the fluid flows in opposite directions. In addition, in this fluid flow path, the end of the inlet path R2A of the first fluid flow path RA and the end of the outlet path R3B of the second fluid flow path RB are separated by the first valve rotor 3A, and the end of the outlet path R3A of the first fluid flow path RA and the end of the inlet path R2B of the second fluid flow path RB are separated by the second valve rotor 3B.

[0053] The energy conversion mechanism 101 has the same basic configuration as the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1, although there are differences in the orientation of the outlet path relative to the inlet path and the number of flow paths. Therefore, according to the energy conversion mechanism 101, like the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1, the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path R is less likely to leak outside the predetermined path, and the fluid comes into contact with the main rotor 2, enabling efficient energy conversion.

[0054] <Embodiment 3> Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism 201 according to embodiment 3. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating optimization of the protrusions of the energy conversion mechanism according to embodiment 3. The energy conversion mechanism 201 according to embodiment 3 is similar to the energy conversion mechanism 1 according to embodiment 1 in terms of its basic configuration, which is mainly composed of a main rotor, a valve rotor, and a case. However, the shapes of the valve rotor partition walls of the main rotor, the valve rotor, and the case are different from those of the energy conversion mechanism 1 according to embodiment 1. The energy conversion mechanism 201 will be described below, but the description of the similarities to the energy conversion mechanism 1 according to embodiment 1 will be omitted, and the differences from the energy conversion mechanism 1 according to embodiment 1 will be mainly described.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the energy conversion mechanism 201 includes a main rotor 202 rotatably arranged around a first axis Z1, a valve rotor 203 rotatably arranged around a second axis Z2, and a case 204 containing the main rotor 202 and the valve rotor 203.

[0056] While the main rotor 2 of embodiment 1 has two protrusions 22, a first protrusion 22A and a second protrusion 22B, the main rotor 202 has only one protrusion 222. Also, while the main rotor 2 of embodiment 1 has a 2:1 ratio between the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the central portion 21 and the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the protrusion 22, the main rotor 202 has a 1:1 ratio between the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the central portion 221 and the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the protrusion 222. In the main rotor 2 of embodiment 1, the protrusion 22 has a nephroid curve outer shape in the range (N) on the bottom side thereof, which forms an angle of 19.1° to 30° with respect to an imaginary plane including the first axis Z1 and the center line of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion 22. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 222 has a cardioid curve outer shape in the range (C) on the bottom side thereof, which forms an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to an imaginary plane including the first axis Z1 and the center line of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion 222.

[0057] The valve rotor 203 has a 1:1 ratio between the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion 221 and the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion 222, and therefore has a larger proportion of its size to the central portion of the main rotor than the valve rotor 3 of embodiment 1. That is, as shown in Fig. 5 , the valve rotor 203 has the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the contact protrusion 231 set to be the same as the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the protrusion 22 of the main rotor 2, and the same as the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion 221 of the main rotor 202. Furthermore, the center of the arc of the contact protrusion 231 is positioned away from the center of the central portion 221 of the main rotor 202 by the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion 221 of the main rotor 202 plus the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the contact protrusion 231. That is, the first axis Z1 and the second axis Z2 are parallel lines spaced apart by twice the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape at the center 221 of the main rotor 202. The radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the contact recess 232 is the same as the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape at the protrusion 222 of the main rotor 202, and is set to be the same as the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape at the center 221 of the main rotor 202. The center of the arc of the contact recess 232 is spaced apart from the center of the contact protrusion 231 by the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the contact recess 232.

[0058] The case 204 is larger than the valve rotor partition wall 41b of embodiment 1 so that the valve rotor partition wall 241b has an inner wall surface that follows the outermost edge of the rotational trajectory of the valve rotor 203, and the position of the flow path partition wall 41c is adjusted to widen the flow path that has become narrower as a result.

[0059] The energy conversion mechanism 201 has a similar basic configuration to the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1, although there are differences in the shape of the main rotor and the accompanying shapes of the valve rotor and partition wall, etc. Therefore, according to the energy conversion mechanism 201, like the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1, the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path R is less likely to leak outside the predetermined path, and is in contact with the main rotor 202, enabling efficient energy conversion.

[0060] <Embodiment 4> 7 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an energy conversion mechanism 301 according to embodiment 4. The energy conversion mechanism 301 according to embodiment 4 is similar to the energy conversion mechanism 201 according to embodiment 3 in terms of its basic configuration, which is mainly composed of a main rotor, a valve rotor, and a case, as well as the sizes and shapes of the main rotor and the valve rotor. However, the energy conversion mechanism 301 according to embodiment 4 differs from the energy conversion mechanism 201 according to embodiment 3 in terms of the shape of the case (excluding the shape of the valve rotor partition wall), the number of valve rotors, and the flow path configuration. The energy conversion mechanism 301 according to embodiment 4 is similar to the energy conversion mechanism 101 according to embodiment 2 in terms of the shape of the case (excluding the shape of the valve rotor partition wall), the number of valve rotors, and the flow path configuration, which are different from those of the energy conversion mechanism 201. That is, the energy conversion mechanism 301 has a flow path configuration similar to that of the energy conversion mechanism 101 according to embodiment 2, which is obtained by modifying the energy conversion mechanism 1 according to embodiment 1, compared to the energy conversion mechanism 201 according to embodiment 3. For this reason, in the energy conversion mechanism 301 of embodiment 4, the same components as those in the energy conversion mechanism 201 of embodiment 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 5 in FIG. 7, and the same channel components as those in FIG. 4 in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 4, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] The energy conversion mechanism 301 has a configuration similar to that of the energy conversion mechanism 201 of embodiment 3, and therefore, like the energy conversion mechanism 201 of embodiment 3, the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path R is less likely to leak outside the specified path and is in contact with the main rotor 202, allowing for efficient energy conversion.

[0062] [Other forms] Although the energy conversion mechanism according to the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be embodied in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and for example, the following modifications are also possible.

[0063] (1) The number, material, shape, position, size, angle, direction, etc. of the components described in the above embodiment are examples and can be changed within the scope that does not impair the effects of the present invention.

[0064] (2) In the above embodiment, the rotational output energy is obtained from the connecting structure formed in the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the valve rotor may be provided with a connecting structure along the second axis Z2 as a rotational output portion, and the rotational output energy may be obtained from the connecting structure.

[0065] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the main rotor 2 has a ratio of 2:1 between the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion 21 and the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the two protrusions 22, and the main rotor 202 has a ratio of 1:1 between the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion 221 and the radius of the arcuate outer shape of one protrusion 222. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The main rotor may have a ratio of the radius of the arcuate outer shape of the central portion to the radius of the protrusion other than 2:1 and 1:1, for example, 4:1.

[0066] (4) In the above-described embodiment, the flow path partition wall defining the inner wall surface of the inlet path R2 and the flow path partition wall defining the inner wall surface of the outlet path R3 are partially common, and the inlet path R2 and the outlet path R3 are adjacent to each other and facing in the same direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The inlet path and the outlet path may be separated and facing in different directions. [Example]

[0067] The energy conversion mechanism according to the present invention has been described above, but the energy conversion mechanism according to the present invention can be applied to a variety of products. In the following, several examples using the energy conversion mechanism according to the present invention will be proposed. Example 1 (fluid pump) The energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment can be used as a fluid pump, which is a fluid machine that moves a fluid by being pushed by an internal rotor when a rotary input shaft is rotated. As a specific example, the energy conversion mechanism 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used, and the rotary shaft of a rotary power generator such as an electric rotary motor is connected to the rotary input / output portion of the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2, and piping for flowing the fluid to be pumped is connected to each of the inlet passage R2 and outlet passage R3. In this way, the energy conversion mechanism 1 can be used as a fluid pump that pumps a fluid using the rotary power of the rotary power generator, with the rotary input / output portion of the central portion 21 of the main rotor 2 functioning as an input shaft.

[0068] <Example 2> (fluid motor) The energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment can be used as a fluid motor, which is a fluid machine that obtains rotational power from a rotary output shaft by transferring a fluid and utilizing the force of the flowing fluid. As a specific example, the energy conversion mechanism 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used, and a fluid pump or other fluid pumping device capable of pumping fluid is connected to the inlet path R2, and a recovery pipe for recovering the pumped fluid is connected to the outlet path R3. In this way, the energy conversion mechanism 1 can be used as a fluid motor in which the rotary input / output portion functions as a rotary output shaft and the rotary output shaft is rotated by the force of the fluid pumped from the fluid pumping device.

[0069] Example 3 (Bicycle transmission) FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment is applied as a transmission mechanism of a bicycle 400. The energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment can be used as a bicycle transmission device for transmitting rotational input of a crank to a wheel. As shown in FIG. 8, the bicycle 400 of Example 3 includes an energy conversion mechanism 401 that applies the energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment, a frame 402, a crank 403, a wheel 404, and other bicycle parts such as a handlebar, a saddle, and pedals. Since the structure of a bicycle is known, a description thereof will be omitted, and only the energy conversion mechanism 401 will be described below.

[0070] The energy conversion mechanism 401 is configured by connecting two symmetrically arranged energy conversion mechanisms 1 of Embodiment 1 to each other to form an integrated unit, and has a structure in which a closed fluid flow path is formed inside. Specifically, the energy conversion mechanism 401 includes a first energy conversion mechanism 1A of the same configuration as the energy conversion mechanism 1 of Embodiment 1 that is connected to the rotation shaft of a crank 403, and a second energy conversion mechanism 1B of the same configuration as the energy conversion mechanism 1 of Embodiment 1 that is connected to the rotation shaft of a wheel 404. In this energy conversion mechanism 401, the inlet channel R2F of the first energy conversion mechanism 1A is connected to the outlet channel R3R of the second energy conversion mechanism 1B, and the outlet channel R3F of the first energy conversion mechanism 1A is connected to the inlet channel R2R of the second energy conversion mechanism 1B, so that a closed fluid flow path is formed inside the integrated first energy conversion mechanism 1A and second energy conversion mechanism 1B. That is, the energy conversion mechanism 401 is provided in place of the chain transmission mechanism used in many bicycles. Rotation is input from the crank 403 to the rotation input / output portion of the main rotor of the first energy conversion mechanism 1A, and fluid flows through an internal closed fluid flow path. This fluid flow rotates the rotation input / output portion of the main rotor of the second energy conversion mechanism 1B, thereby rotating the wheel 404. In this way, the energy conversion mechanism 401, which combines two energy conversion mechanisms 1, can be used as a bicycle transmission device that transmits the rotation of the crank 403 to rotate the wheel 404. Note that the inlet path R2F of the first energy conversion mechanism 1A and the outlet path R3R of the second energy conversion mechanism 1B, and the outlet path R3F of the first energy conversion mechanism 1A and the inlet path R2R of the second energy conversion mechanism 1B, may be connected by a flexible rubber tube or resin tube such as a pressure tube, as long as they allow pressure transmission.

[0071] Example 4 (Internal combustion engine) FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment is applied to an internal combustion engine. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation, with FIGS. 10(a) to 10(h) sequentially showing one cycle of operation. The energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment can be used as an internal combustion engine that rotates a main rotor by using the combustion explosive force obtained by mixing supplied gas with fuel at a predetermined position and igniting the mixture, thereby obtaining rotational power from a rotary output shaft. An internal combustion engine 500 according to a fourth embodiment uses gas as a fluid to be mixed with fuel to obtain the combustion explosive force. As shown in FIG. 9, the internal combustion engine 500 includes an energy conversion mechanism 501 that employs the energy conversion mechanism according to the embodiment, a fuel supply device 506 that supplies fuel at a predetermined timing, an ignition device 507 that can ignite the supplied fuel, and other components such as piping for supplying gas to the energy conversion mechanism 501, a control unit for controlling the operation of the energy conversion mechanism 501, the fuel supply device 506, and the ignition device 507. The basic cycle concept of supplying gas into the chamber of the internal combustion engine, compressing the gas, mixing it with fuel, and igniting it to cause an explosion, moving the internal rotor (moving body), and obtaining power is the same as that of existing internal combustion engines, so an explanation of this will be omitted. Below, the configuration around the energy conversion mechanism 501 and its basic operation will be explained.

[0072] The energy conversion mechanism 501 is basically similar in configuration to the energy conversion mechanism 1 of embodiment 1, and includes a main rotor 502, a valve rotor 503, and a case 504, but further includes an inner hollow valve rotor 505 that is arranged at a position rotationally symmetrical by 180° with respect to the valve rotor 503 around the first axis Z1.

[0073] The main rotor 502 has a configuration similar to that of the main rotor 2 of embodiment 1, and has a central portion 521 and protrusions 522 (first protrusion 522A and second protrusion 522B) that protrude from the central portion 521 with 180° rotational symmetry around the first axis Z1.

[0074] The valve rotor 503 has an approximately crescent shape similar to the valve rotor 3 of embodiment 1, and has a convex contact protrusion 531 and a concave contact recess 532 on its outer surface, and is positioned in the same position as the valve rotor 3 of embodiment 1.

[0075] The case 504 has a configuration basically similar to that of the case in embodiment 1, and houses the main rotor 502 and the valve rotor 503, but part of the wall surface constituting the conversion path R1 bulges outward to form an inner wall surface along the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational trajectory of the inner cavity valve rotor 505 so that it can also house the inner cavity valve rotor 505 described below. In the case 504, an inlet path R2 and an outlet path R3 are arranged in parallel, and a single fluid flow path that folds around the main rotor 502 is formed as the conversion path R1.

[0076] The inner hollow valve rotor 505 has the same outer contour as the valve rotor 503 and is generally crescent-shaped, and has a convex contact protrusion 551 and a concave contact recess 552 on its outer circumferential surface, and as described above, is disposed at a position rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis Z1 with respect to the valve rotor 503. The inner hollow valve rotor 505 has a cavity that opens to the contact recess 552 side.

[0077] In the energy conversion mechanism 501 configured in this manner, except when the protrusion 522 and the contact recess 532 mesh with each other without any gap, the conversion channel R1 is partitioned into four chambers by the first protrusion 522A, the second protrusion 522B, the valve rotor 503, and the inner hollow valve rotor 505. In other words, in the energy conversion mechanism 501, the conversion channel R1 is partitioned into four chambers by the first protrusion 522A, the second protrusion 522B, the valve rotor 503, and the inner hollow valve rotor 505, and from the upstream side, these are an intake chamber P1 that can communicate with the introduction channel R2, a compression chamber P2 whose spatial volume gradually decreases as the main rotor 502 rotates, a combustion chamber P3 whose spatial volume gradually increases as the main rotor 502 rotates, and an exhaust chamber P4 that can communicate with the discharge channel R3.

[0078] The fuel supply device 506 is an injector and is disposed in the inner cavity of the inner cavity valve rotor 505 .

[0079] The ignition device 507 is a spark plug and is disposed in the inner cavity of the inner cavity valve rotor 505 .

[0080] In the internal combustion engine 500 configured as described above, the introduced gas moves sequentially from the intake chamber P1 to the compression chamber P2, the combustion chamber P3, and the exhaust chamber P4 as the main rotor 502 rotates. Then, at a predetermined timing during the movement from the compression chamber P2 to the combustion chamber P3 (at or around the timing when the protrusion 522 and the contact recess 552 of the inner cavity valve rotor 505 mesh with each other without any gap), fuel is sprayed from the fuel supply device 506 and ignited by the ignition device 507, and the resulting combustion explosive force advances the transfer of the gas, causing the main rotor 502 to rotate, thereby obtaining rotational power from the rotary output shaft.

[0081] The combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine 500 will be further described with reference to FIG. 10, where the movement of gas within a certain range is indicated by hatching. In the combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine 500, first, as shown in FIG. 10(a), when the protrusion 522 (first protrusion 522A) and the contact recess 532 are tightly engaged with each other, a portion of the conversion path R1 from the inlet Ri to the downstream side of the second protrusion 522B becomes an intake chamber P1 that communicates with the inlet path R2, and gas is introduced from the inlet path R2. As the main rotor 502 rotates, the introduced gas enters the compression chamber P2, which is a spatial range sandwiched between the upstream protrusion 522 (522A) and the downstream inner cavity valve rotor 505 as shown in FIGS. 10(b) to 10(d), and whose spatial volume gradually decreases as the main rotor 502 rotates. In other words, the introduced gas is gradually compressed while in the compression chamber P2. Here, a cavity is formed in the inner cavity valve rotor 505 that opens toward the contact recess 552. As shown in FIG. 10(d), when the contact recess 552 faces the compression chamber P2, gas is introduced into this cavity, and this cavity functions as part of the compression chamber P2. Next, as the main rotor 502 rotates, the protrusion 522 (second protrusion 522B) and the contact recess 532 mesh tightly together, as shown in FIG. 10(e), and the protrusion 522 (first protrusion 522A) and the outer surface of the contact recess 552 of the inner cavity valve rotor 505 mesh tightly together. The introduced gas is forced into the internal cavity of the inner cavity valve rotor 505 and becomes maximally compressed. When the introduced gas is maximally compressed or in a high compression state around that state, fuel is sprayed from the fuel supply device 506 and ignited by the ignition device 507. 10(f) to 10(g), the combusted internal gas enters the combustion chamber P3, which is a spatial range sandwiched between the upstream inner cavity valve rotor 505 and the downstream protrusion 522 and whose spatial volume gradually increases as the main rotor 502 rotates, and the combustion explosive force pushes the protrusion 522 (first protrusion 522A), applying a rotational force to the main rotor 502. Then, as the main rotor 502 rotates, the protrusion 522 (first protrusion 522A) and the contact recess 532 again mesh with each other without any gap, as shown in FIG. 10(h), which is similar to FIG. 10(a).In this state, a portion of the conversion path R1, from the downstream side of the second protrusion 522B to the outlet Ro, forms an exhaust chamber P4 that communicates with the outlet path R3, and the introduced gas is discharged from the outlet path R3, completing one cycle of intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust. The main rotor 502 of the energy conversion mechanism 501 has two protrusions 522, and two combustion explosions apply rotational force to the main rotor 502 during one rotation. In the internal combustion engine 500, this combustion cycle is repeated, and rotational power can be obtained from the main rotor 502. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1,101,201,301,401,501...energy conversion mechanism, 1A...first energy conversion mechanism, 1B...second energy conversion mechanism, 2,202,502...main rotor, 2a...main rotor surface, 2b...main rotor outer surface, 3,203,503...valve rotor, 3A...first valve rotor, 3B...second valve rotor, 3a...valve rotor surface, 3b...valve rotor outer surface, 4,104,204,504...case, 21,221,521...center portion, 22, 222, 522...protrusion, 22A, 522A...first protrusion, 22B, 522B...second protrusion, 31, 231, 531...contact convex portion, 32, 232, 532...contact concave portion, 41, 141...partition wall, 41a...main rotor partition wall, 41b, 141b, 241b...valve rotor partition wall, 41c, 141c...flow path partition wall, 400...bicycle, 402...frame, 403...crank, 404...wheel, 500...internal combustion engine, 505...inner cavity valve rotor, 506... Fuel supply device, 507... ignition device, 551... contact protrusion (of inner cavity valve rotor), 552... contact recess (of inner cavity valve rotor), P1... intake chamber, P2... compression chamber, P3... combustion chamber, P4... exhaust chamber, R... fluid flow path, R1... conversion path, R1A... conversion path (of first fluid flow path RA), R1B... conversion path (of second fluid flow path RB), R2... introduction path, R2A... introduction path (of first fluid flow path RA), R2B... introduction path (of second fluid flow path RB), R2F... (first energy - introduction path (of the energy conversion mechanism 1A), R2R... introduction path (of the second energy conversion mechanism 1B), R3... outlet path, R3A... outlet path (of the first fluid flow path RA), R3B... outlet path (of the second fluid flow path RB), R3F... outlet path (of the first energy conversion mechanism 1A), R3R... outlet path (of the second energy conversion mechanism 1B), RA... first fluid flow path, RB... second fluid flow path, Ri... introduction port, Ro... outlet port, Z1... first axis, Z2... second axis, Z3... third axis

Claims

1. An energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy and rotational kinetic energy into each other, a main rotor including a pair of main rotor surfaces extending in a plane perpendicular to a first axis at a predetermined interval, and a main rotor outer circumferential surface connecting the pair of main rotor surfaces along an outer shell shape of the main rotor surfaces, the main rotor being rotatably disposed about the first axis; a valve rotor including a pair of valve rotor surfaces extending in a plane at a predetermined interval, and a valve rotor outer circumferential surface connecting the pair of valve rotor surfaces along the outer shell shape of the valve rotor surfaces and contacting the main rotor outer circumferential surface, the valve rotor being rotatably disposed about a second axis line parallel to the first axis line; a case including a pair of opposing walls extending in a plane at a predetermined interval and a partition wall connecting the pair of opposing walls, the pair of opposing walls being in sliding contact with the pair of opposing main rotor surfaces and the pair of valve rotor surfaces, and rotatably containing the main rotor and the valve rotor; Equipped with the main rotor has a central portion as a rotation input / output portion, the central portion having an arc-shaped outer surface centered on the first axis, and a connecting structure with an external member formed at the center for inputting rotation from the outside or outputting rotation to the outside; and a protrusion portion protruding from the central portion in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, the protrusion portion also having an arc-shaped outer surface centered at a position spaced from the first axis by a radius of the arc-shaped outer surface of the central portion, the valve rotor has a contact protrusion formed in a convex arc outer shape about the second axis so that the valve rotor outer peripheral surface contacts the main rotor outer peripheral surface at the central portion of the main rotor, and a contact recess formed in a corresponding concave arc outer shape so that the valve rotor outer peripheral surface contacts the main rotor outer peripheral surface at the protrusion of the main rotor, the case has, as partition walls, a main rotor partition wall having an inner wall surface along the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational locus of the main rotor, and a valve rotor partition wall having an inner wall surface along the outermost peripheral edge of the rotational locus of the valve rotor; Within the case, a fluid flow path is formed which is surrounded by the main rotor outer peripheral surface, the valve rotor outer peripheral surface, the facing wall, and the partition wall, the fluid flow path including a conversion path which is a flow path for flowing fluid introduced from an inlet along the main rotor outer peripheral surface to an outlet, an introduction path which is a flow path communicating with the inlet of the conversion path and for introducing fluid into the conversion path, and an outlet path which is a flow path communicating with the outlet of the conversion path and for discharging fluid from the conversion path, an energy conversion mechanism capable of at least one of the following energy conversions: converting fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy by outputting rotation to an external member connected to the central portion when the protrusions are pressed by the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path, causing the main rotor to rotate; and converting rotational kinetic energy into fluid energy by inputting rotation from the external member connected to the central portion, pushing the fluid in the fluid flow path out through the protrusions.

2. 2. The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 1, an energy conversion mechanism, wherein the ratio of the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the central portion to the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the protrusion portion is 2:1 in the main rotor;

3. 3. The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 2, An energy conversion mechanism in which the protrusion has a nephroid curve outer shape in a range of its bottom side that forms an angle of 19.1° to 30° with respect to an imaginary plane that includes the first axis and the center line of the arc outer shape of the protrusion.

4. 2. The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 1, an energy conversion mechanism, wherein the ratio of the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the central portion to the radius of the arc-shaped outer shape of the protrusion portion is 1:1 in the main rotor;

5. 5. The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 4, An energy conversion mechanism in which the protrusion has a cardioid curve outer shape in a range of its bottom side that forms an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to an imaginary plane that includes the first axis and the center line of the arc outer shape of the protrusion.

6. 2. The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 1, In the case, the inlet path and the outlet path are arranged in parallel, and a single fluid flow path that folds around the main rotor is formed as the conversion path, an end of the inlet passage and an end of the outlet passage are separated by the valve rotor;

7. 7. The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 6, an inner cavity valve rotor having the same outer shape as the valve rotor and an inner cavity formed therein, the inner cavity valve rotor being disposed at a position rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis with respect to the valve rotor; the main rotor has, as the protrusions, a first protrusion and a second protrusion that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the first protrusion by 180° about the first axis, an energy conversion mechanism in which, except when the protrusion and the contact recess are tightly engaged with each other, the conversion path is divided into four chambers by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the valve rotor, and the inner cavity valve rotor.

8. 2. The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 1, the main rotor has, as the protrusions, a first protrusion and a second protrusion that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the first protrusion by 180° about the first axis, the valve rotors include a first valve rotor and a second valve rotor that has the same shape as the first valve rotor and is arranged at a position rotationally symmetrical by 180° about the first axis, In the case, as the fluid flow paths, a first fluid flow path is formed in which the inlet path and the outlet path are arranged in a straight line and the conversion path goes around one half of the circumference of the main rotor, and a second fluid flow path is formed which has the same shape as the first fluid flow path and is 180° rotationally symmetrical about the first axis, an end of an inlet passage of the first fluid flow path and an end of an outlet passage of the second fluid flow path are separated by the first valve rotor, and an end of an outlet passage of the first fluid flow path and an end of an inlet passage of the second fluid flow path are separated by the second valve rotor.

9. A fluid machine equipped with an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting rotational kinetic energy into fluid energy, in which a fluid is pushed out by an internal rotor by rotating a rotary input shaft, A fluid machine comprising the energy conversion mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8 as the energy conversion mechanism, and causing the rotation input / output portion to function as the rotation input shaft.

10. The fluid machine according to claim 9, A rotational power generating device is provided to input a rotational force to the rotation input shaft, A fluid machine configured as a fluid pump that pumps fluid using the rotational power of the rotational power generating device.

11. A fluid machine equipped with an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy, and which obtains rotational power from a rotary output shaft by utilizing the force of the flowing fluid by transporting the fluid, A fluid machine comprising the energy conversion mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8 as the energy conversion mechanism, wherein the rotation input / output portion functions as the rotation output shaft.

12. The fluid machine according to claim 11, a fluid pumping device connected to the inlet passage and pumping a fluid into the inlet passage; A fluid machine configured as a fluid motor that rotates the rotary output shaft by the force of the fluid pumped from the fluid pumping device.

13. A fluid machine configured as a transmission device of a bicycle for transmitting rotational input of a crank to a wheel, a first energy conversion mechanism coupled to a rotation shaft of the crank; a second energy conversion mechanism coupled to the rotation shaft of the wheel; Equipped with the energy conversion mechanism according to claim 6 is used as the first energy conversion mechanism and the second energy conversion mechanism, A fluid machine characterized in that an inlet path of the first energy conversion mechanism is connected to an outlet path of the second energy conversion mechanism, and an outlet path of the first energy conversion mechanism is connected to an inlet path of the second energy conversion mechanism, thereby forming a closed fluid flow path inside the integrated first energy conversion mechanism and second energy conversion mechanism.

14. A fluid machine equipped with an energy conversion mechanism capable of converting fluid energy into rotational kinetic energy, and which obtains rotational power from a rotary output shaft by utilizing the force of the flowing fluid by transporting the fluid, A gas is used as the fluid, The energy conversion mechanism according to claim 7 ; a fuel supply device disposed in the inner cavity of the inner cavity valve rotor to supply fuel; an ignition device disposed in the inner cavity of the inner cavity valve rotor to ignite the supplied fuel; a compression chamber whose spatial volume gradually decreases as the main rotor rotates, a combustion chamber whose spatial volume gradually increases as the main rotor rotates, and an exhaust chamber whose spatial volume can be communicated with the discharge passage; when the four chambers partitioned by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the valve rotor, and the inner hollow valve rotor are, from the upstream side, an intake chamber that can communicate with the inlet passage, a compression chamber whose spatial volume gradually decreases as the main rotor rotates, a combustion chamber whose spatial volume gradually increases as the main rotor rotates, and an exhaust chamber that can communicate with the outlet passage, the fluid machine is configured as an internal combustion engine in which, as the introduced gas moves into the intake chamber, the compression chamber, the combustion chamber, and the exhaust chamber in that order as the main rotor rotates, the introduced gas is ignited by the ignition device at a predetermined timing during movement from the compression chamber to the combustion chamber, and the resulting combustion explosive force advances the transport of the gas to rotate the main rotor, thereby obtaining rotational power from the rotary output shaft.

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