Air engine teaching materials

Abstract

We provide air engine teaching materials that facilitate understanding engine structure, learning about energy conversion, environmental education, and manufacturing education. [Solution] The air engine teaching material 1 is driven by compressed air and comprises a cylinder case section 2, piston sections 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, connecting rod sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, crankshaft section 5, and tire sections 6a, 6b. The air engine employs a hollow structure in which a three-dimensionally continuous internal flow path is integrally formed inside the cylinder case, making it easy to realize complex flow path shapes that were difficult to form with conventional processing methods. Furthermore, by forming the cylinder section and internal flow path with transparent resin, the processes of compressed air inflow, expansion, and exhaust can be visually observed from the outside. Conventional teaching materials have problems in that it is difficult to visually observe the airflow inside the cylinder and the expansion and exhaust processes by compressed air, and the internal structure is complex, making it difficult for learners to participate in the design and manufacture of parts themselves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air engine driven by compressed air as a power source, and particularly to the structure of an air engine used as a teaching material for visually understanding the process of energy conversion and the operating principle of the engine.

Background Art

[0002] Air engines that drive pistons or rotors using compressed air as a power source are known and are widely used as engines for models and pneumatic devices. Also, in the field of education, simple air engine models are used as teaching materials for learning energy conversion and the basic structure of machines. However, there is a known engine teaching material made of aluminum alloy die-cast that allows for directly observing the internal movement of the engine by burning gasoline (see Patent Document 1). Also, an air engine for a power generation system that drives a piston using compressed air is known (see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is difficult to visually recognize the flow of air inside the cylinder case and the process of energy conversion by compressed air in an air engine teaching material, and there is a problem that it is difficult for learners to participate in the design and production due to the complex internal structure. Traditional methods involve either manufacturing materials using machining technology and equipment, or purchasing commercially available teaching materials. However, these methods are costly and often unsuitable for educators who lack machining skills. In one aspect, this invention aims to provide an air engine teaching material that allows for the visualization of the processes of compressed air inflow, expansion, and exhaust, as well as the formation of a three-dimensionally continuous internal flow path within the cylinder case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To achieve the above objective, a disclosed air engine teaching material is provided. This air engine teaching material is an engine driven by compressed air and includes a cylinder case, a piston, a connecting rod, a crankshaft, and a tire. The cylinder case has a hollow structure in which a continuous three-dimensional internal flow path is integrally formed in a location inaccessible to machining tools from the outside. Furthermore, by being formed from a transparent resin material, the complex internal flow path can be visualized, and the structure allows for external observation of each process of compressed air inflow, expansion, and exhaust. The piston section has an outer circumference shape that allows it to slide smoothly within the cylinder section of the cylinder case, and is structured to consist of at least two pistons. The connecting rod section is connected to the lower end of the piston section, and the other end is inserted into the eccentric shaft of the crankshaft section. The crankshaft section is connected to the pistons, with a phase difference between them, and is structured to convert the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational motion. The tire section rotates by transmitting the rotational motion of the crankshaft section, and the structure allows the vehicle to move as its outer surface rubs against the ground. This makes it easy to create complex internal flow paths that were difficult to form with conventional cutting processes, visualizes the energy conversion process, and facilitates disassembly and reassembly, thereby providing educational materials that allow users to understand the operating principles of an air engine step by step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this invention, since the cylinder case has a structure in which a three-dimensionally continuous internal flow path is integrally formed, complex air flow paths that were difficult to form with conventional machining can be easily realized, and the flow of compressed air can be stabilized. Furthermore, because it is formed from a transparent resin material, the processes of compressed air inflow, expansion, and exhaust can be seen from the outside, making it possible to intuitively understand the energy conversion process and the operating principle of the engine. Moreover, because the complex internal structure can be formed integrally, machining equipment is not required, and parts can be easily manufactured using digital fabrication equipment, making it useful as teaching material in which learners can participate in the design and manufacture themselves. Based on the above, this invention provides an air engine teaching material that demonstrates high educational effectiveness in understanding the structure of air engines, learning about energy conversion, environmental education, and manufacturing education. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a perspective diagram illustrating an example of an air engine teaching material based on the present invention, showing the model without the front wheel, frame, or compressed air supply cylinder attached. [Figure 2] This is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the cylinder case section of the air engine teaching material of the present invention, where arrow A indicates the direction of compressed air inflow. [Figure 3] This is a projection view of the cylinder case used in the air engine teaching material of this invention, where arrow A indicates the direction of compressed air inflow and arrow B indicates the direction of exhaust. (a) Front projection view of the cylinder case. (b) Right side projection view of the cylinder case. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The air engine teaching material of the embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example of the air engine teaching material according to the present invention, and the design is not limited to the example shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an air engine teaching material according to an embodiment. The air engine teaching material 1 has a cylinder case portion 2, piston portions 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, connecting rod portions 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, crankshaft portion 5, and tire portions 6a and 6b. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the cylinder case section 2 of the air engine teaching material 1. The cylinder case section 2 has a hollow structure in which a three-dimensionally continuous internal flow path is integrally formed in a position that is inaccessible to machining tools from the outside. This internal flow path is formed three-dimensionally and continuously to guide compressed air from arrow A to each cylinder section, and is a structure in which a complex shape that would be difficult to form with conventional cutting processes is integrally molded from a resin material. Figure 3 is a projection view of the cylinder case section 2 used in the air engine teaching material 1, where (a) is a front projection view of the cylinder case section 2 and (b) is a right side projection view of the cylinder case section 2. The cylinder case section 2 shows the flow in which compressed air flows in from arrow A, passes through a three-dimensionally continuous internal flow path, and is discharged from arrow B in each cylinder. Furthermore, since the cylinder case section 2 is made of a transparent resin material, the internal flow path and the movement of the piston section 3 located inside the cylinder section can be seen from the outside. The piston portions 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d have an outer circumference shape that allows them to slide within the cylinder portion of the cylinder case portion 2, and each piston portion is connected to the crankshaft portion 5 via the connecting rod portion 4. The connecting rod sections 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are inserted into cylindrical bearing sections made of resin, which are provided at the lower ends of the corresponding piston sections 3a to 3d, and connected by small screws. Furthermore, cylindrical bearing sections made of resin are mounted on the other ends of each connecting rod section 4a to 4d, corresponding to a plurality of eccentric shafts formed in the crankshaft section 5, and these bearing sections are rotatably fitted onto the eccentric shafts. The crankshaft section 5 is provided with a plurality of eccentric shafts arranged with a predetermined phase difference from the center of rotation, and a cylindrical bearing section made of resin material is rotatably fitted to the outer circumference of each eccentric shaft. The other ends of the plurality of connecting rod sections 4a to 4d are inserted into the corresponding bearing sections, forming a connecting structure in which the reciprocating motion of each piston section 3a to 3d is transmitted to the corresponding eccentric shaft. Furthermore, the left and right rotation axes of the crankshaft section 5 are rotatably supported by left and right shaft bearing sections formed integrally with the crankcase 2. The shaft bearing sections incorporate cylindrical bearing sections made of resin material to support the left and right shaft ends of the crankshaft section 5, and these bearing sections support the rotation axis of the crankshaft section 5 so as to be rotatable. In addition, tires 6 are attached to the left and right ends of the crankshaft section 5, and the rotational motion of the crankshaft section 5 is transmitted to the tires. The tires 6a and 6b are fixed to the rotation axes at the left and right ends of the crankshaft portion 5 and are formed as rotating bodies having a predetermined mass, and the rotational motion of the crankshaft portion 5 is transmitted to the tires 6a and 6b. Although the air engine of the present invention has been described above based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the configuration of each part can be replaced with any configuration having a similar function. Furthermore, other arbitrary components or processes may be added to the present invention. Moreover, the present invention may be a combination of any two or more configurations (features) from the embodiments described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0009] 1. Air Engine Training Materials 2 Crankcase section 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d Piston section 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d Connecting rod section 5. Crankshaft section 6a and 6b Tire section

Claims

[Claim 1] (Claim 1) An air engine educational material driven by compressed air, comprising a cylinder case, piston, connecting rod, crankshaft, and tire, wherein the cylinder case has a hollow structure in which a three-dimensionally continuous internal flow path is integrally formed at a position inaccessible to machining tools from the outside, and is formed of a transparent resin material so that the internal flow path and cylinder can be seen from the outside, thereby allowing the processes of compressed air inflow, expansion, and exhaust to be seen.

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