Autonomous power generation device and cylinder device using same

Abstract

Provided are: an autonomous power generation device in which the mutual positional relationship between a magnetic circuit and a permanent magnet is changed by linear motion and a magnetic circuit in which the direction of magnetic flux has been changed is formed instantaneously; and a cylinder device using the autonomous power generation device.　In a coil unit (12), a coil (19) is wound around the outer periphery of a core body (17b), and sliding surfaces (17d, 17e) having a predetermined dimension (d) are provided on the front and rear of the coil (19), with slide pieces (21, 22) respectively located thereon. In a magnet unit (13), a permanent magnet (14) is sandwiched from above and below by U-shaped magnetic flux paths (15, 16) having pole pieces (15a, 16a) that face each other to form a pair and pole pieces (15b, 16b) that face each other to form a pair, the pairs being disposed on front and rear sides of the coil (19). During the process of the core body (17b) moving from a first position to a second position, the two slide pieces (21, 22) move along the sliding surfaces (17d, 17e) by means of magnetic forces from the pole pieces (15a, 16a, 15b, 16b).

Description

Standalone power generating device and cylinder device using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a stand-alone power generating device that uses mechanical fluctuations to fluctuate magnetic flux passing through an induction coil and converts it into electrical energy, and to a cylinder device that uses the same to detect the position of a piston.

[0002] Cylinder devices are used in a variety of applications, such as clamping devices and pressure detection devices. For example, in clamping devices, a piston is operated to fix a clamped object, such as a workpiece, mold, or tool, to a table or robot hand. Release and lock operations are determined based on the position of the piston. A clamping failure occurs when the piston is not positioned between the release and lock positions. Cylinder devices are equipped with a mechanism for detecting the piston position as an operating state. For example, a cylinder device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a passage that is closed or opened depending on the position of the piston, and compressed air is supplied to the passage to detect the piston position based on the flow state of the air. Patent Document 2, for example, discloses a technology in which a coil and a magnet are installed inside the cylinder device, and the overlap distance between the coil and the magnet is changed depending on the moving position of the piston, thereby detecting the operating state of the cylinder device as a change in coil inductance.

[0003] Cylinder devices that use compressed air to detect their operating state require the installation of a compressed air source, the routing of the compressed air, and an environment for supplying power to the compressed air source. Also, in technology that uses changes in inductance to detect the operating state, it is necessary to prepare an environment for supplying power to the cylinder device so that current can be supplied to the coil.

[0004] As a device that generates current independently and transmits mechanical fluctuations to the outside without a power source or connection to external electrical wiring, stand-alone power generating devices such as those exemplified in Patent Documents 3 to 5 are known. As shown in each of these patent documents, a very small wireless radio is placed nearby the stand-alone power generating device. The stand-alone power generating device cooperates with the wireless radio to supply power generated by mechanical fluctuations, and the wireless radio then wirelessly transmits the occurrence of the mechanical fluctuations.

[0005] The technologies of Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose a magnetic circuit that passes through a central opening of an excitation coil, and upper and lower moving pieces that are connected to the upper and lower poles of a permanent magnet, with both ends of the magnetic circuit disposed between the upper and lower moving pieces, and by swinging the upper and lower moving pieces, the magnetic flux direction of the magnetic circuit is changed by fluctuating between a first extreme position where one end of the magnetic circuit contacts the upper moving piece and the other end of the magnetic circuit contacts the lower moving piece, and a second extreme position where the other end of the magnetic circuit contacts the upper moving piece and one end of the magnetic circuit contacts the lower moving piece. The electrical energy generated by the excitation coil operates a wireless module for wireless transmission. According to the technology of Patent Document 5, a magnetically conductive plate is attached to each pole of a permanent magnet, the iron core of a coil is positioned to face one of the magnetically conductive plates, and the magnetically conductive plates facing the iron core of the coil are switched up and down between the south pole and north pole plates, thereby changing the direction of the magnetic flux of the iron core.

[0006] Unlike rotary generators, which generate electricity when continuous rotational motion is applied as a mechanical fluctuation, stand-alone power generators are devices that capture momentary and intermittent mechanical fluctuations and generate electricity instantaneously. Because the amount of power generated by stand-alone power generators depends on changes in magnetic flux, the technologies in each patent document use an elastic body to further accelerate the rate of change of external mechanical fluctuations and increase the amount of change in magnetic flux.

[0007] As such a device, the techniques of Patent Documents 3 and 4 accelerate the mechanical fluctuation by temporarily storing the external mechanical fluctuation in an elastic body and then releasing it all at once. For example, Patent Document 3 uses a leaf spring as such an elastic body, Patent Document 4 uses a spring element, and Patent Document 5 uses an elastic piece.

[0008] Japanese Patent No. 7246686 Japanese Patent No. 7366386 Special Publication No. 2009-516802 Special Publication No. 2022-552337 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-153094

[0009] In the technology of the stand-alone power generating device disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4, the magnetic circuit and the permanent magnet change their relative positions in response to external mechanical fluctuations by swinging about a predetermined rotation axis.

[0010] Furthermore, the technology for an independent power generating device in Patent Document 5 movably installs a permanent magnet between two chute panels with chutes extending up and down on opposing surfaces, and moves the permanent magnet linearly up and down along the chute to change the relative positions of the magnetic circuit and the permanent magnet in response to external mechanical fluctuations. However, with this technology, the magnetic circuit including the permanent magnet does not form a closed loop with a magnetic conductive plate, and the magnetic flux density passing through the magnetic conductive plate is low.

[0011] The technologies for the stand-alone power generators in Patent Documents 3 to 5 move either the entire magnetic circuit side or the entire permanent magnet side, and because the mass to be moved is large, there is a limit to how much acceleration of the mechanical fluctuation can be increased even if the resilience stored in the elastic body is used, and electromotive force cannot be expected. Furthermore, these are intended for use as switches operated by humans. The cylinder device includes a piston and a shaft member. The shaft member moves up and down, and such movement cannot operate conventional stand-alone power generators.

[0012] Furthermore, like a clamping device, a cylinder device needs to detect various positions of the shaft member, such as the release position, the lock position, and positions that may be considered to be clamped improperly, and within the limited size range of the cylinder device, it is difficult to install an independent power generating device in each location.

[0013] The first object of the present invention is to provide a stand-alone power generating device that uses linear motion to change the relative positions of a magnetic circuit and a permanent magnet, and instantaneously forms a magnetic circuit with a changed magnetic flux direction. The second object of the present invention is to provide a stand-alone power generating device that generates electricity directly by utilizing external linear motion.

[0014] A third object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder device that can detect the position of the piston by using an independent power generator to detect the position of the piston, without having to install a compressed air source, route the compressed air, or prepare an environment for supplying power to the compressed air source or coil.

[0015] The self-sustaining power generating device of the present invention comprises: a coil unit in which a coil is wound around the outer periphery of a core whose length direction is the core axis direction, and which has contact terminals on both the front and back of the outer periphery of the core, sandwiching the coil; and magnet units in which magnetic flux paths of soft magnetic materials, which are provided respectively for the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, are U-shaped in side view, overlapping with a gap between them, one magnetic flux path on the inside and the other magnetic flux path on the outside, with the permanent magnet sandwiched between them, and the pole pieces at both ends thereof forming pairs facing each other, and are arranged in front and rear of the coil; the front pair of pole pieces are arranged to sandwich a front contact terminal in the core axis direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces are arranged to sandwich a rear contact terminal in the core axis direction, and when the core is in a first front position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces, When the core is in the second rear position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the pair of front pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the pair of rear pole pieces, and the probe portion of the core protruding from the opening overlaps with the displacement portion, thereby converting the up and down movement of the piston portion into movement in the core axial direction.The self-sustaining power generating apparatus of the present invention comprises: a coil unit in which a coil is wound around the outer periphery of a core body whose length direction is the core axis direction; sliding surfaces having a predetermined distance in the core axis direction are provided on both the front and rear sides of the outer periphery of the core body, sandwiching the coil, and having front and rear sliding pieces that slide on the front and rear sliding surfaces, respectively; and a magnet unit in which magnetic flux paths that are U-shaped in side view of soft magnetic materials provided respectively for the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet overlap with one magnetic flux path on the inside and the other on the outside, sandwiching the permanent magnet, and the pole pieces at both ends thereof form pairs facing each other, and are arranged on the front and rear sides of the coil, the front pair of pole pieces being arranged to sandwich the front sliding piece in the core axis direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces being arranged to sandwich the rear sliding piece in the core axis direction, When the core body is in a first front position, the front sliding piece is in contact with the front pole piece of the pair of front pole pieces, and the front sliding piece is in contact with the front pole piece of the pair of rear pole pieces. When the core body is in a second rear position, the front sliding piece is in contact with the rear pole piece of the pair of front pole pieces, and the rear sliding piece is in contact with the rear pole piece of the pair of rear pole pieces. As the core body moves from the first position to the second position, the two sliding pieces move along the sliding surfaces due to magnetic forces from the pole pieces. The cylinder device of the present invention includes a shaft member that moves up and down along the center line C using pressurized oil or compressed air. The up and down movement of the shaft member is converted into movement in the core axis direction c1, which is the radial direction of the center line C, to operate the self-sustaining power generating device. A displacement section is provided whose radial distance from the center line C changes due to the shape of a taper, hole, recess, groove, etc., and the displacement section moves in accordance with the movement of the shaft member. Furthermore, when the displacement portion faces the probe portion of the stand-alone power generating device, movement of the core in the core axis direction c1 occurs.

[0016] The self-sustaining power generating device of the present invention can provide a self-sustaining power generating device that utilizes linear motion as it is. Furthermore, the self-sustaining power generating device of the present invention can provide a self-sustaining power generating device that has a fast response speed and increases electromotive force by increasing the change in magnetic flux passing through the coils of the magnetic circuit. According to the cylinder device of the present invention, the up and down movement of the shaft body is converted into a movement that moves the core body in the core axis direction c1. Contact terminals are provided on the front and rear of the core body, respectively. Between the two ends of the overlapping U-shaped magnetic flux path, each contact terminal makes linear contact from one side to the other, thereby reversing the direction of the magnetic flux passing through the center of the coil of the coil unit without magnetic flux leakage.

[0017] FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an independent power generating device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating components of the independent power generating device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating components of the independent power generating device. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are diagrams illustrating the operation of the independent power generating device. FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams illustrating the effects of the independent power generating device. FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a cylinder device of a first mode. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a cylinder device of a second mode (released state). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cylinder device of a second mode (intermediate state). FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a cylinder device of a second mode (locked state). FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a cylinder device of a third mode. FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a cylinder device of a fourth mode. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a cylinder device of a fourth mode (slip state). FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a cylinder device of a fifth mode (released state). 14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating a cylinder device in a fifth mode (locked state). FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating a cylinder device in a sixth mode (released state). FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams illustrating a cylinder device in a sixth mode (locked state). FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D are diagrams illustrating a cylinder device in a seventh mode.

[0018] First, the self-sustaining power generating device will be described. In FIG. 1A , the self-sustaining power generating device 1 includes a magnet unit 13 fixed to a housing 2 with bolts 23 and a coil unit 12 movable in a core axis direction c1 by a probe 11 formed of a ball. The magnet unit 13 includes a permanent magnet 14 and an upper magnetic flux path 15 and a lower magnetic flux path 16 made of soft magnetic material. Magnetic flux paths made of soft magnetic material are provided for the upper and lower magnetic poles of the permanent magnet 14, respectively. The two magnetic flux paths 15, 16 are U-shaped in side view, sandwiching the permanent magnet 14. One magnetic flux path 15 is on the inside, and the other magnetic flux path 16 is on the outside, and they are arranged to overlap with a gap between them. The two ends of the magnetic flux path 15 form pole pieces 15a, 15b, and the two ends of the magnetic flux path 16 form pole pieces 16a, 16b.

[0019] The coil unit 12 includes a core 17, a coil 19 wound around the core 17 via a bobbin 19a, and ring-shaped contact terminals 21 and 22 sandwiching the coil 19. Pole pieces 15a and 16a face each other as a pair on the front side of the coil 19, while pole pieces 15b and 16b face each other as a pair on the rear side of the coil 19. The core 17 has a front end 17a on the front side (right in the drawing) of its core axis direction c1, a core body 17b in the center, and a rear end 17c on the rear side (left in the drawing). The core 17 is cylindrical with its core axis direction c1 aligned radially from the centerline C. Hereinafter, in the drawings, the right side of the core axis direction c1 is referred to as the front side, and the left side is referred to as the rear side. The core body 17b accounts for most of the length of the core 17 in the core axis direction c1, and the coil 19 is wound around the core body 17b. Although not clearly visible in the drawing, the bobbin 19a is adhesively fixed to the magnetic flux path 15. The core body 17b and the coil 19 are not fixed, and the core body 17b can move in the core axis direction c1 via the hollow of the bobbin 19a, which is the center of the coil 19.

[0020] The core body 17b is made of a soft magnetic material. The front end portion 17a and the rear end portion 17c may be made of a soft magnetic material or a non-magnetic material. However, if they are made of a soft magnetic material, they must be spaced apart so as not to magnetically short-circuit the upper and lower magnetic flux paths 15, 16.

[0021] The core body 17b and the front end 17a, and the core body 17b and the rear end 17c have protrusions a and recesses b for fitting together. The outer peripheral surfaces between the core body 17b and the front end 17a and between the core body 17b and the rear end 17c are provided with sliding surfaces 17d and 17e, respectively, which are smaller in diameter than the other outer peripheries by a distance d. The contact terminals 21 and 22 are soft magnetic and fitted onto the outer peripheries of the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e, respectively, allowing the contact terminals 21 and 22 to move freely on the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e in the core axis direction c1 within the range of the distance d. The large-diameter portion of the core body 17b and the front end 17a and rear end 17c restrict movement of the contact terminals 21 and 22 beyond the distance d. The two contact terminals 21 and 22 are always in contact with the corresponding sliding surfaces 17d and 17e, and magnetic flux passes between the core body 17b and the contact terminals 21 and 22 without any magnetic gap.

[0022] The front end 17a of the core 17 abuts against the probe section 11, and when radial movement of the center line C is transmitted from the probe section 11 to the core 17, the rear end 17c of the core 17 moves in the core axis direction c1 relative to the magnet unit 13.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the coil unit 12 and contact terminals 21 and 22 in detail. Note that the coil 19 (and bobbin 19a) are indicated by dashed lines in the figure. When the front end 17a and rear end 17c of the core 17 are removed from the core body 17b, the contact terminals 21 and 22 can be removed from the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e. The front end 17a has an input end p that contacts the probe 11, a first base portion q that is larger in diameter than the sliding surface 17d, and a recess b that fits with the protrusion a of the core body 17b. The rear end 17c has a base portion r that contacts the elastic body 18, a second base portion s that is larger in diameter than the sliding surface 17e, and a recess b that fits with the protrusion a of the core body 17b. The contact terminals 21 and 22 are cylindrical with a height h, which is shorter than the distance d. Each of the contact terminals 21 and 22 has abutment surfaces 21a and 21b and abutment surfaces 22a and 22b on the front and back sides, respectively, which are perpendicular to the core axis direction c1.

[0024] 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the magnet unit 13 and the core 17. The magnet unit 13 has a permanent magnet 14 sandwiched between upper and lower magnetic flux paths 15, 16, and is fixed to the housing 2 with bolts 23. The upper and lower magnetic flux paths 15, 16 are made by bending plate material into a U-shape. The pole pieces 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, which are the ends of the upper and lower magnetic flux paths 15, 16, respectively, are disposed with a gap between the core body 17b, front end 17a, and rear end 17c. Furthermore, the core body 17b, front end 17a, and rear end 17c do not come into contact with each other before, during, or after movement when pressed by the probe 11 or elastic body 18, so as not to form a magnetic flux path.

[0025] The magnetic poles of the permanent magnet 14 appear in the pole pieces 15a, 16b of the upper and lower magnetic flux paths 15, 16. The pole pieces 15a, 15b of the upper magnetic flux path 15 and the pole pieces 16a, 16b of the lower magnetic flux path are arranged parallel to each other with a distance t between them. The pole pieces 15a, 16a are capable of contacting the front and back contact surfaces 21b, 21a of the contact terminal 21, respectively. The pole pieces 15b, 16b are capable of contacting the front and back contact surfaces 22a, 22b of the contact terminal 22, respectively. The pole pieces 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b are provided with arc-shaped notches x to increase the contact area with the contact terminals 21, 22. When the contact terminals 21 and 22 slide on the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e, the contact terminals 21 and 22 come into contact with the pole pieces 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b and are prevented from sliding, so the range over which the contact terminals 21 and 22 can move is within this distance t.

[0026] 4A to 4D illustrate the operation of the self-sustaining power generating apparatus 1. The rear end 17c of the core 17 of the self-sustaining power generating apparatus 1 abuts against the elastic body 18, which is a compression spring, and the elastic body 18 is housed in the spring chamber 24. When the core 17 moves rearward in the core axial direction c1, the elastic body 18 accumulates a resilient force, which is used to push the core 17 forward. The mechanism for pushing the core 17 forward is not limited to the elastic body 18. Alternatively, a mechanism for pushing the core 17 forward by supplying pressure oil or compressed air to an operating chamber, as described later in FIG. 6B, may be used. Returning to the explanation of the operation of the self-sustaining power generating apparatus 1, in FIG. 4A, the rear pole piece 15b of the upper magnetic flux path 15, the contact terminal 22, the core body 17b, the contact terminal 21, and the front pole piece 16a of the lower magnetic flux path 16 are magnetically short-circuited to form a magnetic circuit φ1. The magnetic circuit φ1 is a path that goes around without any leakage along the way.

[0027] 4B shows the core 17 moving rearward in the core axis direction c1. The contact terminals 21 and 22 are pushed by the front end 17a and the larger-diameter portion of the core body 17b, respectively, and the rear pole piece 15b of the upper magnetic flux path 15 and the contact terminal 22, and the contact terminal 21 and the front pole piece 16a of the lower magnetic flux path 16 begin to separate, creating a gap g. The moving speed v1 of the core 17 and the contact terminals 21 and 22 up to this point is the moving speed of the probe unit 11. The magnetic force between the rear pole piece 15b of the upper magnetic flux path 15 and the contact terminal 22, and the magnetic force between the contact terminal 21 and the front pole piece 16a of the lower magnetic flux path 16, weakens.

[0028] In Fig. 4C, the moment the magnetic force between the rear pole piece 16b of the lower magnetic flux path 15 and the contact terminal 22 and the magnetic force between the contact terminal 21 and the front pole piece 15a of the upper magnetic flux path 15 become dominant, the contact terminals 21 and 22 leave the state of moving speed v1, are accelerated on the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e, and collide with the pole pieces 15a and 16b, respectively. Note that Fig. 4B and Fig. 4C show the states before and after the contact terminals 21 and 22 are suddenly accelerated and move, even though the core 17 has hardly moved at all.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4C, the distance d between the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e is designed so that the rear ends of the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e are positioned at or beyond the rear pole piece 16b of the lower magnetic flux path 16 and the front pole piece 15a of the upper magnetic flux path 15, respectively. In this state, the front pole piece 15a of the upper magnetic flux path 15, the contact terminal 21, the core body 17b, the contact terminal 22, and the rear pole piece 16b of the lower magnetic flux path 16 are magnetically short-circuited to form a magnetic circuit φ2. The magnetic circuit φ2 also forms a complete circuit without leakage. Focusing on the core body 17b, the direction of the magnetic flux passing through the core body 17b is opposite to that of the magnetic circuit φ1 and the magnetic circuit φ2. The instantaneous switch from the magnetic circuit φ1 to the magnetic circuit φ2 results in a large change in magnetic flux. The core 17 then moves until the ball 11 climbs onto the tapered portion 8 (FIG. 4D). When the ball 11 descends the tapered portion 8, the reverse process is carried out, from FIG. 4D to FIG. 4A. At this time, it is the rear end portion 17c and the large-diameter portion of the core body 17b that push the sliding piece 22 and the sliding piece 21 forward, respectively. The movement for reversing the magnetic flux of the core body 17b is the same, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0030] 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams for evaluating the performance of the stand-alone power generating device 1. FIG. 5A shows the test circuit 200 used in the evaluation. FIG. 5B shows the results of measuring the electromotive force of the stand-alone power generating device 1′ (see FIG. 1B) using contact terminals 21′ and 22′. The contact terminals 21′ and 22′ replace the contact terminals 21 and 22 of the stand-alone power generating device 1. The only difference is that, unlike the movable contact terminals 21 and 22, they are fixed to the core body 17b; otherwise, the structure is the same as that of the stand-alone power generating device 1′. In the stand-alone power generating device 1′, the contact terminals 21′ and 22′ cannot move independently of the core body. FIG. 5C shows the results of measuring the electromotive force of the stand-alone power generating device 1, in which the contact terminals can move independently of the core body.

[0031] In the case of the stand-alone power generator 1', the peak of the electromotive force is at about 10 msec (0.01 sec), as shown in Fig. 5B, whereas in the case of the stand-alone power generator 1, the peak is at about 4 msec (0.004 sec), as shown in Fig. 5C. As can be seen from the measurement results in Fig. 5C, the stand-alone power generator 1 has a faster response speed. It can also be observed that the electromotive force increases from about 2 V to about 8 V.

[0032] In the self-sustaining power generating device 1' of Fig. 5B, the magnetic force from the pole pieces 15a and 16b also has an attractive effect on the core 17, but the mass of the core as a whole is large, and it is not possible to accelerate significantly from the moving speed of the probe unit 11, which appears to have slowed the response speed. On the other hand, in the self-sustaining power generating device 1 of Fig. 5C, the mass of the contact terminals 21 and 22 moving on the sliding surfaces 17d and 17e is very small compared to the entire core 17, and the acceleration of the contact terminals 21 and 22 is large, which increases the change in magnetic flux passing through the coil 19 (passing through the core body 17b), and therefore increases the electromotive force. In addition, the fact that the contact terminals 21 and 22 are not affected by the elastic force of the elastic body 18 on the front side in the core axial direction c1 is also thought to contribute to the increase in acceleration.

[0033] As described above, in the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1, the linear motion of the probe unit 11 can be directly used to move the core body 17b. Furthermore, the mass of the contact terminals 21 and 22 is much smaller than that of the core 17, allowing for greater acceleration and a faster response speed. The faster response speed also results in a greater change in the magnetic flux passing through the coil 19, thereby increasing the electromotive force. Furthermore, the two moving contact terminals 21 and 22 are used to form closed loops of the magnetic circuits φ1 and φ2, thereby increasing the magnetic flux passing through the coil 19. On the other hand, in the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1′, although the magnetic flux cannot be increased as much as in the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1, the entire core is a closed loop, allowing the magnetic flux generated by the linear motion to pass through the coil 19 with less leakage.

[0034] [Outline of Cylinder Device] The cylinder device described below includes a shaft member that moves up and down in the direction of the center line C using pressurized oil, compressed air, or the like. The up and down movement of the shaft member is converted into movement in the core axis direction c1, which is the radial direction of the center line C, to operate the self-sustaining power generating device. A displacement section is provided whose distance in the radial direction of the center line C changes depending on the shape of a taper, hole, groove, or the like, and the displacement section moves in response to the movement of the shaft member. When the displacement section faces the probe of the self-sustaining power generating device, movement of the core in the core axis direction c1 occurs.

[0035] Cylinder devices are limited in size, and it is not possible to install an independent power generating device anywhere in the vertical stroke range of the shaft member. The location where it can be installed is above the stroke range of the piston part of the shaft member, and the number is limited to one. Cylinder devices differ in how the displacement part responds to the movement of the shaft member in events such as locked state, released state, clamp failure, and slip state. Cylinder devices are classified by type as follows. Note that each cylinder device may be equipped with multiple independent power generating devices, and instead of installing an independent power generating device on the flange part of each cylinder device, an independent power generating mechanism may be installed in another location, such as inside the lower wall of a cylinder device with an increased height.

[0036] 1) Displacement portion and shaft member move integrally This applies to the cylinder device 40 of the first embodiment, the cylinder device 60 of the third embodiment, and the cylinder device 70 of the fourth embodiment, which will be described below. In the cylinder device 40 and the cylinder device 60, the displacement portion is provided on the shaft member itself. In the cylinder device 70, the displacement portion is not provided on the shaft member itself, but on a sleeve that surrounds the shaft member when the shaft member descends and moves almost integrally with it.

[0037] 2) A sleeve that surrounds the shaft member and moves up and down is provided, and a displacement portion is provided on the sleeve. This applies to the cylinder device 50 of the second embodiment and the cylinder device 80 of the fifth embodiment described below. A displacement portion is provided on the sleeve. Within the range of up and down movement of the shaft member, a predetermined first range is defined in which the movements of the sleeve and shaft member are linked. In the cylinder device 50, a stepped portion is provided on the shaft member, and the sleeve engages and descends in the first range. The sleeve rises due to the elastic force of the elastic body stored when it descends. In the cylinder device 80, stepped portions are provided in two locations, one above and one below, on the shaft member. When the shaft member descends, the sleeve engages with the upper stepped portion in the first range to lower it. When the shaft member rises, the sleeve engages with the lower stepped portion in the second range to raise it.

[0038] 3) A sleeve is provided that surrounds the shaft member and oscillates about the center line C, and one or more displacement units are provided on the sleeve. This applies to the cylinder device 90 of the sixth embodiment and the cylinder device 110 of the seventh embodiment described below. A mechanism that converts the up and down movement of the shaft member into a rotational movement is provided to rotate the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with one or more displacement units so that the rotational position corresponding to the up and down position of the shaft member faces the detection unit, and the timing for operating the self-sustaining power generation device can be set one or more times.

[0039] 6A shows a cross section of a cylinder device 40 equipped with an independent power generating apparatus 1. The cylinder device 40 is equipped with a shaft member 5 that moves up and down. The independent power generating apparatus 1 is installed inside the cylinder device 40 together with a wireless module 101.

[0040] The shaft member 5 has a shaft body 5a formed in this order from the top, a piston portion 5b having a larger diameter than the shaft body 5a, and a lower shaft 5c located below. In the cylinder device 40, pressure oil, compressed air, or the like is supplied to a cylinder bore 3 drilled in the housing 2 to move the piston portion 5b up and down. The cylinder bore 3 is a space formed inside the ceiling portion 2a, the bottom portion 2b, and a body wall 2c extending in the vertical direction, and between the body wall 2c. When pressure oil, compressed air, or the like is supplied to a chamber 3a above the piston portion 5b, the piston portion 5b descends, and when pressure oil, compressed air, or the like is supplied to the chamber 3b below, the piston portion 5b ascends.

[0041] A cylindrical hole 4 formed in the ceiling portion 2a of the housing 2 surrounds the shaft body 5a, and a portion of the shaft member 5 penetrates the ceiling portion 2a and protrudes outside the housing 2. The shaft member 5 is rotatable about a center line C and movable in the vertical direction (the direction of the center line C). A guide groove 6 is provided on the outer wall of the lower shaft 5c. The guide groove 6 has, from the bottom, a swivel groove 6a and a linear groove 6b. A ball 7 is inserted into the guide groove 6. As a result, when the shaft member 5 moves in the vertical direction, the ball 7 is guided along the swivel groove 6a, and the shaft member 5 moves in the vertical direction while swiveling. Furthermore, the ball 7 is guided along the linear groove 6b, and the shaft member 5 moves linearly in the vertical direction.

[0042] A tapered displacement section 8 is provided midway along the height of shaft body 5a. Meanwhile, an opening 9 perpendicular to center line C is drilled in the peripheral wall surface of tubular bore 4. The position of opening 9 is within the range over which displacement section 8 moves when shaft body 5a moves up and down. A ball-shaped probe section 11 is fitted into and protrudes from opening 9. Displacement section 8 faces opening 9 at a predetermined position, and probe section 11 overlaps and rides on displacement section 8, thereby converting the up and down movement of shaft body 5a into movement perpendicular to center line C (direction c1, radial direction of center line C). Displacement section 8 is tapered. Probe section 11 is used to detect opening 9.

[0043] The motion of the probe 11 is transmitted to the front end 17a of the core 17 of the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1. The stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 converts the kinetic energy of the probe 11 into electrical energy, and supplies power to the wireless module 101 to drive it. The wireless module 101 wirelessly transmits a signal indicating that it has climbed over.

[0044] Furthermore, the rear end portion 17c of the core 17 of the stand-alone power generating device 1 abuts against an elastic body 18, which is a compression spring, at the rear side. The elastic body 18 is housed in a spring chamber 24, and when the core 17 moves in the core axial direction c1, a resilient force is accumulated in the spring chamber 24. The resilient force accumulated in the elastic body is used as a force to push the core forward when the shaft body 5a descends and the probe part 11 descends from the displacement part 8.

[0045] With the cylinder device 40, the conditions under which the self-sustaining power generating apparatus 1 generates power can be determined by the position of the displacement portion 8 provided midway up the shaft body 5a. With the cylinder device 40, the up and down movement of the shaft body 5a is converted into movement in a direction perpendicular to the center line C (direction c1, radial direction of the center line C) by riding on the displacement portion 8, so that when the piston portion 5b reaches a raised position, the self-sustaining power generating apparatus 1 can operate the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world by wireless signal.

[0046] Note that when the probe unit 11 climbs up onto the displacement unit 8 or descends from the displacement unit 8, a change in magnetic flux occurs in the core 17 of the stand-alone power generating device 1, but the direction of the magnetic flux is opposite and the polarity of the generated voltage is different. Therefore, the wireless module 101 may wirelessly emit different signals based on the polarity of the voltage to notify the outside in which direction the change occurred. Alternatively, the same signal may be wirelessly emitted even when the polarity of the generated voltage is different. In this case, since it is not possible to distinguish between the released position and the locked position based on the wireless signal from the wireless module 101 alone, it is determined whether the cylinder device 40 is in the process of moving to the released position or the process of moving to the locked position.

[0047] Furthermore, while the self-sustaining power generating apparatus 1 utilizes the biasing force of the elastic body 18 to push the core 17 forward, pressure of pressurized oil, compressed air, or the like may be utilized instead of the biasing force of the elastic body 18. FIG. 6B illustrates this modification. The spring chamber 24 to which the elastic body 18 is attached is replaced with a working chamber 25 to which pressurized oil, compressed air, or the like is supplied, and the rear end portion 17c is replaced with a piston 27. The pressure of the pressurized oil, compressed air, or the like supplied to the working chamber moves the piston 27 forward in the direction c1, pushing the core body 17b. In this case, the pressurized oil, compressed air, or the like supplied to the working chamber 25 may be supplied via a flow path 26 from the chamber 3a above the piston portion 5b within the cylinder bore 3. As a result, when pressurized oil, compressed air, or the like is supplied to the chamber 3a, it is also supplied to the working chamber 25 from the chamber 3a through the flow path 26. Therefore, at the timing when it is desired to operate the core body 17b forward in the core axis direction c1, pressurized oil or compressed air, etc. is supplied to the operating chamber 25, and the pressurized oil or compressed air, etc. can accurately operate the core body 17b.

[0048] [Second embodiment: Cylinder device 50] In the cylinder device 40, the self-sustaining power generating device 1 operates when the shaft member 5 is in an elevated position, but in the cylinder device 50, the self-sustaining power generating device 1 operates when the shaft member 5 is in a lowered position.

[0049] 7, the same components as those of the cylinder device 40 in FIG. 6A are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted. In the figure, the stroke range of the shaft member 5 is indicated by ST. This range indicates the range of vertical movement of the position marked with an "*" on the shaft member 5 in the figure. The cylinder device 50 is equipped with a link clamp mechanism 30 consisting of links 30a and 30b at the end of the shaft member 5, and can clamp the workpiece W at a point of action 30c.

[0050] Shaft member 5 comprises, in order from the top, a shaft body 5a and a piston portion 5b having a diameter larger than that of shaft body 5a. A stepped portion 5d is provided midway along the length of shaft body 5a, and the diameter of shaft body 5a above stepped portion 5d is larger than that of the lower portion.

[0051] A sleeve 51 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the shaft body 5a above the stepped portion 5d. The sleeve 51 is surrounded by the cylindrical bore 4. The lower end 51a of the sleeve 51 has a reduced diameter and is adapted to engage with the stepped portion 5d. The upper end 51b of the sleeve 51 has a limited range of movement by the ceiling portion 2a of the housing 2. In other words, even if the shaft body 5a rises, once the upper end 51b of the sleeve 51 abuts against the ceiling portion 2a of the housing 2, the sleeve 51 cannot rise any further, and only the shaft body 5a rises.

[0052] A displacement portion 53 is provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 51 midway up its height. An opening 9 is drilled within the range of movement of the displacement portion 53. A probe 11 within the opening 9 detects the displacement portion 53 and protrudes from the opening 9. The opening 9 faces the displacement portion 53, and the probe 11 overlaps the displacement portion 53, thereby converting the up and down movement of the shaft body 5a into movement in a direction perpendicular to the center line C (direction c1, the radial direction of the center line C). The sleeve 51 is biased upward by an elastic body 55 having a fixed end 54 provided on the housing 2 side as its base end.

[0053] 7, the piston portion 5b of the cylinder device 50 is in a lowered position, and the link clamp mechanism 30 has released the workpiece W. This shows the state immediately after the stepped portion 5d of the shaft body 5a has pressed down the sleeve 51, causing the probe portion 11 to come out of the recessed displacement portion 43. In other words, this is the state immediately after the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 has activated the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world by wireless signal.

[0054] 8 shows the cylinder device 50 in the process of switching from the released state to the locked state, or from the locked state to the released state. The sleeve 51 is pushed up by the elastic body 32, and the probe 11 falls into the displacement part 53. At the moment the probe 11 overlaps the displacement part 53, the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 can operate the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world by wireless signal.

[0055] Figure 9 shows the cylinder device 50 in a locked state. The sleeve 51 cannot rise, and only the shaft body 5a is raised. The probe 11 has fallen into the displacement portion 53. Therefore, the range in which the sleeve 51 engages with the stepped portion 5d and descends in conjunction with it is the lower first range ex11 of the range ST in the process of the shaft member 5 stroking. This range corresponds to the distance ex1 between the upper end 51b of the sleeve 51 and the ceiling portion 2a in Figure 7.

[0056] According to the cylinder device 50, the probe portion 11 in the opening 9 overlaps with the displacement portion 53, thereby converting the up and down movement of the shaft body 5a into movement perpendicular to the center line C (direction c1, radial direction of the center line C). Therefore, when the piston portion 5b is in the lowered position, the self-sustaining power generating device 1 can operate the wireless module 101 and notify the outside by wireless signal.

[0057] [Third embodiment: cylinder device 60] The cylinder device 60 is a cylinder device used for pressure detection purposes. The same components as those in the cylinder device 40 of Fig. 6 are assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again. The cylinder device 60 includes a safety valve 61, adjustment screws 64a and 64b, and a spring seat 62. The spring seat 62 determines the position of the other end of the elastic body 18. The cylinder bore 3 communicates with a path P through which a fluid whose pressure is to be detected flows.

[0058] Hole-shaped displacement portion 68 is provided midway along the height of shaft body 5a. Meanwhile, opening 9 perpendicular to center line C is drilled in the peripheral wall surface of tubular bore 4. Probe portion 11 protruding from opening 9 overlaps displacement portion 68, thereby converting the up and down movement of shaft body 5a into movement in the direction perpendicular to center line C (direction c1, radial direction of center line C).

[0059] The biasing force of the elastic body 18 can be adjusted using the adjustment screws 64a, 64b and the spring seat 62. The piston portion 5b is subjected to the pressure of the fluid in the path P, but even if it tries to move upward, it cannot push the probe portion 11 to the right in the direction c1 unless the pressure exceeds the biasing force of the elastic body 18 (FIG. 10A). On the other hand, if the pressure of the fluid in the path P exceeds the biasing force of the elastic body 18, the probe portion 11 will be pushed to the right in the direction c1 (FIG. 10B). At this time, the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 can operate the wireless module 101 to send a wireless signal to the outside to notify that the specified pressure has been exceeded.

[0060] [Fourth embodiment: Cylinder device 70] The cylinder device 70 is a cylinder device used as a clamping device. In FIG. 11, the same components as those of the cylinder device 40 in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. The cylinder device 70 includes a grip member 71 that engages with a hole Wh provided in the workpiece W and a tapered shaft portion 5e inserted into the grip member 71. The tapered shaft portion 5e is part of the shaft member 5, which, like the cylinder devices 40, 50, and 60, includes a shaft body 5a and a piston portion 5b. The shaft body 5a, piston portion 5b, and tapered shaft portion 5e of the shaft member 5 move up and down as a unit. The lower end of the grip member 71 abuts against a sleeve 72 that surrounds the shaft member 5. The sleeve 72 is surrounded by the cylindrical bore 4. When the grip member 71 descends, the sleeve 72 also descends, and when the sleeve 72 rises, the grip member 71 also rises.

[0061] When pressure oil or compressed air is supplied to the upper chamber 3a of the cylinder bore 3, the piston portion 5b descends and the sleeve 72 ascends. When pressure oil or compressed air is supplied to the lower chamber 3b of the cylinder bore 3, the piston portion 5b ascends. By descending the piston portion 5b and drawing the shaft member 5 toward the seating surface ss, the tapered shaft portion 5e expands the diameter of the grip claws 71a and engages them with the inner surface of the hole Wh, and then the grip member 71 is further drawn toward the seating surface ss to secure the workpiece W. At this time, if the grip member 71 properly engages with the hole Wh, the grip member 71 will not descend in conjunction with the drawing of the grip member 71. Note that even if the grip member 71 descends slightly, it will be pushed up by the piston portion 5b and return to its original position when the release state is reached.

[0062] 11A shows the state before the gripping member 71 pulls in the workpiece W, and FIG. 11B shows the state after the gripping member 71 pulls in and clamps the workpiece W. Pressurized oil or compressed air is supplied to the upper chamber 3a, causing the piston 5b to move down and expanding the chamber 3a.

[0063] 12 shows that an attempt to clamp the workpiece W failed, resulting in a slippage. A slippage occurs when the hole Wh in the workpiece W is larger than expected or the grip claws 71a are damaged. In such cases, the grip member 71 slips without engaging with the hole Wh, causing the piston portion 5b to descend more than expected.

[0064] A concave displacement portion 73 is provided on the outer periphery of sleeve 72 midway up the height thereof. An opening 9 is drilled within the range of movement of displacement portion 73. Probe 11 within opening 9 overlaps displacement portion 73, thereby converting the up and down movement of shaft body 5a into movement in a direction perpendicular to center line C (direction c1, radial direction of center line C).

[0065] Because the grip member 71 is not engaged with the hole Wh, the grip member 71 and the sleeve 72 descend in conjunction with the descent of the piston portion 5b. When the probe portion 11 descends to a position where it overlaps the displacement portion 73, the stand-alone power generating device 1 can operate the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world by wireless signal that a grip failure has occurred.

[0066] In the grip member 71 described above, the diameter of the grip claws 71a is expanded by the tapered shaft portion 5e by bending, but the grip claws 71a may be configured to be movable left and right.

[0067] [Fifth embodiment: cylinder device 80] The cylinder device 80 is capable of detecting two positions with one stand-alone power generation device 1. In Fig. 13, the same components as those of the cylinder device 40 in Fig. 6 are given the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. The cylinder device 80 is equipped with a link clamp mechanism 30 consisting of links 30a and 30b, and can clamp a workpiece W at a point of application 30c. In the figure, the stroke process of the shaft member 5 is indicated by a range ST. This range indicates the range of movement up and down from the position marked with an "*" on the shaft member 5 in the figure.

[0068] The shaft member 5 comprises a shaft body 5a formed from top to bottom and a piston portion 5b having a larger diameter than the shaft body 5a. A stepped portion 5d is provided along the length of the shaft body 5a, and the diameter of the shaft body 5a is larger above the stepped portion 5d than below. A sleeve 81 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the shaft body 5a. The bore 4 surrounds the sleeve 81. The lower end 81a of the sleeve 81 has a reduced diameter and is adapted to be caught on the stepped portion 5d. The upper end 81b of the sleeve 81 has a limited range of movement by the ceiling portion 2a of the housing 2. In other words, even if the shaft body 5a rises with the lower end 81a caught on the stepped portion 5d, once the upper end 81b of the sleeve 81 abuts against the ceiling portion 2a of the housing 2, the sleeve 81 cannot rise any further and only the shaft body 5a rises.

[0069] A braking member 84 is attached to the outer periphery of the sleeve 81. The braking member 84 is a member that applies a brake to the up and down movement of the sleeve 81 by elastic force, and can be, for example, an O-ring or a rectangular rubber. A stepped portion 5f is further provided on the shaft member 5 below the stepped portion 5d. The stepped portion 5f also serves as the upper surface of the piston portion 5b. The lower end 81a of the sleeve 81 abuts against the stepped portion 5f as the piston portion 5b rises. If the lower end 81a of the sleeve 81 catches on the stepped portion 5d, the sleeve 81 will rise as the piston portion 5b rises, regardless of the braking by the braking member 84.

[0070] A displacement portion 83 is provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 81 midway up the height thereof. An opening 9 is drilled within the range of movement of the displacement portion 83. The probe 11 in the opening 9 falls into the displacement portion 83, thereby converting the up and down movement of the shaft body 5a into movement in a direction perpendicular to the center line C (direction c1, the radial direction of the center line C).

[0071] 13, the piston portion 5b of the cylinder device 80 is lowered, and the link clamp mechanism 30 has released the workpiece W. This shows the state immediately after the stepped portion 5d of the shaft body 5a has pressed down the sleeve 81 and the probe portion 11 has been released from the displacement portion 83. In other words, this is the state immediately after the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 has operated the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world by wireless signal that it has reached the release position.

[0072] Thereafter, in the state in the middle of switching from the released state to the locked state, the downward movement of the sleeve 81 is braked by the brake member 84, and the sleeve 81 is held in the position shown in FIG.

[0073] FIG. 14A shows the cylinder device 80 in a locked state. This is the state immediately after the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 operates the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world that it has reached the locked position via a wireless signal. The lower end 81a of the sleeve 81 abuts against the stepped portion 5f, which is the upper surface of the piston portion 5b, and the sleeve 81 rises despite braking by the braking member 84. This is the state immediately after the probe portion 11 overlaps the displacement portion 83. From the state shown in FIG. 13 to the state shown in FIG. 14A, the sleeve 81 moves a distance ex2 (see FIG. 13). When the lower end 81a of the sleeve 81 engages with the stepped portion 5f and the piston portion 5b rises by the distance ex2, the probe portion 11 overlaps the displacement portion 83. In FIG. 14A, within the stroke range ST of the shaft member 5, a second range ex22 is shown where the sleeve 81 engages with the stepped portion 5f and moves. This is the final position of the shaft member 5's upward stroke. Conversely, even during the transition from the state shown in Figure 14A to the state shown in Figure 13, the lower end 81a of the sleeve 81 engages with the stepped portion 5d and moves a distance ex2. In Figure 14A, during the process of range ST, the first range in which the sleeve 81 engages with the stepped portion 5d and moves is shown as ex21. This is the final position of the downward stroke of the shaft member 5.

[0074] According to the cylinder device 80, the probe portion 11 in the opening 9 falls into the displacement portion 83, thereby converting the up and down movement of the shaft body 5a into movement perpendicular to the center line C (direction c1, radial direction of the center line C). Therefore, when the piston portion 5b is in the lowered position or the raised position, the self-sustaining power generating device 1 can operate the wireless module 101 and notify the outside world by wireless signal.

[0075] In the cylinder device 80, the probe portion 11 is released from the displacement portion 83 in the release position, and the probe portion 11 is dropped into the displacement portion 83 in the lock position, but the up and down positions of the displacement portion 83 may be changed so that this is the opposite.

[0076] A retaining ring 84a made of spring steel may also be used as the braking member 84. In this case, as shown in Fig. 14B, a minute groove 4a may be formed in the cylindrical hole 4, and the retaining ring 84a may fit into the groove when the diameter of the retaining ring 84a expands due to elastic restoring force, thereby braking the up-and-down movement of the sleeve 81.

[0077] [Sixth embodiment: cylinder device 90] The cylinder device 90 is another example that enables detection of two positions with one stand-alone power generating apparatus 1. In Fig. 15 , the same components as those in the cylinder device 40 in Fig. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0078] In Figure 15A, a sleeve 91 is fitted onto the shaft body 5a. The bore 4 surrounds the sleeve 91. The sleeve 91 is restricted in its vertical movement by a stop ring 92, but is able to rotate around the shaft body 5a. A rotation mechanism 93 is provided between the shaft body 5a and the sleeve 91. The rotation mechanism 93 includes a guide groove 94 and a ball (engagement device) 95. The guide groove 94 is configured by a spiral rotation groove 94a and a linear groove 94b connected upward. The ball 95 is inserted into the guide groove 94. The ball 95 is rotatably supported in a support opening 98 provided on the inner wall of the sleeve 91. When the piston portion 5b moves between the uppermost position and the lowermost position, the sleeve 91 is rotated 90 degrees by the rotation mechanism 93.

[0079] 15B , circular displacement portions 96 and 97, on which probe portion 11 overlaps, are provided on the outer periphery of sleeve 91 at different angular positions (90 degrees apart) from center line C. Displacement portions 96 and 97 are holes with a smaller diameter than probe portion 11 that are drilled at the same height as opening 9. By overlapping displacement portions 96 and 97, probe portion 11 inside opening 9 converts the up and down movement of shaft body 5a into movement in a direction perpendicular to center line C (direction c1, radial direction of center line C).

[0080] 15A shows the cylinder device 90 in the released state. The piston portion 5b is in the lowest position, and the probe portion 11 overlaps the displacement portion 96. When the probe portion 11 overlaps the displacement portion 96, the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 operates the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world by wireless signal that the release position has been reached.

[0081] 16A shows the cylinder device 90 in a locked state. The piston portion 5b is in the uppermost position, and the probe portion 11 overlaps the displacement portion 97. When the probe portion 11 overlaps the displacement portion 97, the stand-alone power generating apparatus 1 operates the wireless module 101 to notify the outside world by wireless signal that the locked position has been reached.

[0082] In the cylinder device 90, a change in magnetic flux occurs in the core 17 of the stand-alone power generating device 1, but the direction of the magnetic flux is the same and cannot be distinguished by the wireless signal of the wireless module 101 alone. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether the cylinder device 90 is in the release position or the lock position based on whether it is in the process of moving to the release position or the process of moving to the lock position. In this case, the controller can determine that the piston has reached a predetermined position by combining information from the pressure rise signal in the lower chamber 3b and the signal emitted when the probe 11 is inserted into the hole on the lock position side, or the pressure rise signal in the upper chamber 3a and the signal when the probe 11 is inserted into the hole on the release side position.

[0083] In the cylinder device 90, displacement portions 96 and 97 are provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 91, but only one of the displacement portions 96 and 97 may be provided. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 16B, a groove 99 may be provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 91, and the probe 11 may ride on the outer periphery of the sleeve 91 at a displacement portion just before the release position tp1 and the lock position tp2, shown in light ink. With the cylinder device 90, one or two positions can be detected with one stand-alone power generating device 1. If more displacement portions are added, further positions can be detected.

[0084] [Seventh embodiment: cylinder device 110] The cylinder device 110 is another example in which the cylinder device 90 is modified so that two positions can be detected with one stand-alone power generating apparatus 1. In the cylinder device 110 of Fig. 17A, the same components as those of the cylinder device 90 of Fig. 16 are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. The sleeve 91 has been replaced with a sleeve 111, which, like the sleeve 91, can be rotated 90 degrees by a rotation mechanism 93.

[0085] 17B and 17C, the sleeve 111 has displacement portions 116 and 117 on the same circumference at different angular positions about the center line C. The displacement portions 116 and 117 have different radial distances from the center line C. In this example, the displacement portion 116 is closer to the center line C, and the displacement portion 117 is farther away. A groove 119 is provided on the same circumference between the displacement portions 116 and 117, with a radial distance from the center line C midway between the displacement portions 116 and 117. The depth of the groove 119 is set to a depth that prevents the contact terminal 22 of the stand-alone generator 1 from moving due to the influence of any of the pole pieces 15a, 15b, 16a, and 16b.

[0086] 17D shows the electromotive force of the stand-alone generator 1 when the probe unit 11 moves from the displacement portion 116 to the displacement portion 117. When the probe unit 11 moves from the displacement portion 116 to the groove 119, the contact terminal 22 simply changes the distance from the displacement portion 116 to the groove 119 depending on the rotational speed of the sleeve 111. Therefore, the electromotive force generated during this movement is not enough to generate a power sufficient to transmit a signal. When the probe unit 11 moves to the displacement portion 117 at the end of the rotational movement process of the sleeve 111, the probe unit 11 moves instantaneously due to the magnetic force of the pole pieces 15a and 16b, generating a large electromotive force.

[0087] When the sleeve 111 rotates in the opposite direction, the opposite phenomenon occurs. That is, when the sleeve 111 is released from the displacement portion 117 and moves along the groove 119, it is not possible to generate enough power to transmit a signal. However, when the probe unit 11 is moved to the displacement portion 116 at the end of the rotational movement process of the sleeve 111, a large electromotive force is generated.

[0088] In each of the above cylinder devices, the up-and-down movement of the shaft body 5a is converted into a movement that moves the core body 17b in the core axis direction c1. Contact terminals are provided at the front and rear of the core body 17b, and each contact terminal moves linearly from one side to the other between the two ends of the overlapping U-shaped magnetic flux path, which are spaced apart, thereby reversing the direction of the magnetic flux passing through the center of the coil of the coil unit without any magnetic flux leakage. Note that although the stand-alone power generating device 1 is used, the stand-alone power generating device 1' may be used instead.

[0089] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1' Standalone power generating device 2 Housing 2a Ceiling portion 2b Bottom portion 2c Body wall 3 Cylinder hole 3a Chamber 3b Chamber 4 Cylindrical hole 4a Groove 5 Shaft member 5a Shaft body 5b Piston portion 5c Lower shaft 5d Stepped portion 5e Tapered shaft portion 6 Guide groove 7 Ball 8, 43, 53, 68, 73, 83, 96, 97, 116, 117 Displacement portion 9 Opening 11 Probing portion 12 Coil unit 13 Magnet unit 14 Permanent magnet 15, 16 Magnetic flux path 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b Pole piece 17 Core 17a Front end portion 17b Core body 17c Rear end portion 17d, 17e Sliding surface 18 Elastic body 19 Coil 19a bobbin 21, 22, 21', 22' contact terminal 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b abutment surface 23 bolt 24 spring chamber 25 operating chamber 26 flow path 27 piston 30 link clamp mechanism 30a, 30b link 30c point of action 31 sleeve 32 elastic body 34 fixed end 40 cylinder device 50 cylinder device 51 sleeve 51a lower end 51b upper end 54 fixed end 55 elastic body 60 cylinder device 61 safety valve 62 spring seat 64a, 64b adjusting screw 70 cylinder device 71 grip member 71a grip claw 72 sleeve 80 cylinder device 81 sleeve 81a lower end 81b upper end 84 braking member 84a Snap ring 90 Cylinder device 91 Sleeve 92 Stop ring 93 Swivel mechanism 94 Guide groove 94a Swivel groove 94b Linear groove 95 Ball (engagement tool) 98 Support opening 99 Groove 101 Wireless module 111 Sleeve 119 Groove 200 Test circuit C Center line P Path W Workpiece Wh Hole a Convex portion b Concave portion c1 Core axial direction d Distance g Gap p Input end r Base portion ss Seating surface t Spacing tp1Release position tp2 Lock position v1 Movement speed x Notch φ1 Magnetic circuit φ2 Magnetic circuit

Claims

1. A coil unit having a coil wound around the outer periphery of a core whose length direction is the core axis direction, the coil being sandwiched between contact terminals at the front and back of the outer periphery of the core; and magnet units arranged on the front and rear sides of the coil, with U-shaped magnetic flux paths in a side view of soft magnetic materials provided for the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, one magnetic flux path being on the inside and the other magnetic flux path being on the outside, overlapping with a gap between them, and with the pole pieces at both ends facing each other to form a pair, the front pair of pole pieces being arranged to sandwich the front contact terminal in the core axis direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces being arranged to sandwich the rear contact terminal in the core axis direction, when the core is in a first position on the front side, the front contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the pair of front pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the pair of rear pole pieces, An independent power generating device characterized in that, when the core is in a rear second position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces.

2. A coil unit having a coil wound around the outer periphery of a core body, the length of which is in the core axial direction, and sliding surfaces at a predetermined distance in the core axial direction provided on the front and rear of the outer periphery of the core body sandwiching the coil, and front and rear sliding pieces sliding on the front and rear sliding surfaces, respectively; and a magnet unit arranged on the front and rear sides of the coil, with soft magnetic bodies provided respectively for the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, and with U-shaped magnetic flux paths in a side view, one magnetic flux path on the inside and the other magnetic flux path on the outside, overlapping with a distance between them, sandwiching the permanent magnet, and with the pole pieces at both ends facing each other to form a pair, the front pair of pole pieces being arranged to sandwich the front sliding piece in the core axial direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces being arranged to sandwich the rear sliding piece in the core axial direction, When the core body is in a first front position, the front sliding piece is in contact with the front pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the front sliding piece is in contact with the front pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces; when the core body is in a second rear position, the front sliding piece is in contact with the rear pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear sliding piece is in contact with the rear pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces; and during the process of the core body moving from the first position to the second position, the two sliding pieces move along the sliding surfaces due to magnetic force from the pole pieces.

3. An independent power generating device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an elastic body is arranged on the rear side of the core body, and a resilient force that moves the core body forward is accumulated in the elastic body as the core body moves from the first position to the second position.

4. An independent power generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coil is fixed in position relative to the magnet unit, and the core body is movable from the first position to the second position via the coil center.

5. A self-sustaining power generating device comprising: a piston section which moves in the vertical direction; a shaft body which is connected to the piston section; a cylindrical hole which surrounds the shaft body and has an opening in the middle of its height; and a self-sustaining power generating device, wherein the shaft body is provided with a displacement section which faces the opening at a predetermined position while the piston section moves up and down; and wherein the self-sustaining power generating device comprises: a coil unit in which a coil is wound around the outer periphery of a core whose length is in the core axial direction and which has contact terminals on both the front and rear of the outer periphery of the core, sandwiching the coil; and a magnet unit arranged on the front and rear sides of the coil, in which soft magnetic bodies are provided for the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, and which have U-shaped magnetic flux paths in a side view, one of which is on the inside and the other is on the outside, overlapping with a gap between them, with the pole pieces at both ends of the soft magnetic bodies facing each other to form a pair; and The front pair of pole pieces are arranged to sandwich a front contact terminal in the core axial direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces are arranged to sandwich a rear contact terminal in the core axial direction; when the core is in a first front position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces; when the core is in a second rear position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces; and a cylinder device characterized in that the probe portion of the core protruding from the opening overlaps with the displacement portion, thereby converting the up and down movement of the piston portion into movement in the core axial direction.

6. A device comprising a piston section which moves in the vertical direction, a shaft body connected to the piston section, a sleeve which surrounds the shaft body and is urged in the upward direction, a cylindrical hole which surrounds the sleeve with an opening provided midway up the length, and an independent power generating device, wherein the sleeve is provided with a displacement section which faces the opening at a predetermined position while the piston section moves up and down, and the sleeve engages with a stepped section of the shaft body and moves only within a first predetermined range as the shaft body descends, while the independent power generating device comprises a coil unit in which a coil is wound around the outer periphery of a core whose length direction is the core axis direction, and which has contact terminals at the front and rear of the outer periphery of the core sandwiching the coil. a magnetic flux passage having a U-shape in a side view of a soft magnetic body provided for each of the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, one magnetic flux passage being on the inside and the other magnetic flux passage being on the outside, overlapping with a gap between them, with pole pieces at both ends facing each other to form a pair, and comprising magnet units disposed on the front and rear sides of the coil, and the front pair of pole pieces are disposed so as to sandwich a front contact terminal in the core axial direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces are disposed so as to sandwich a rear contact terminal in the core axial direction, when the core is in a first position on the front side, the front contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces, and when the core is in a second position on the rear side, the front contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces, A cylinder device characterized in that the probe portion of the core protruding from the opening overlaps with the displacement portion, thereby converting the up and down movement of the piston portion into movement in the core axial direction.

7. A device comprising a piston portion which moves in an up and down direction, a shaft body connected to the piston portion, a sleeve which surrounds the shaft body, a cylindrical hole which surrounds the sleeve with an opening provided midway up the length, and an independent power generating device, wherein the sleeve is provided with a displacement portion so as to face the opening at a predetermined position while the piston portion moves up and down, and wherein the sleeve moves while engaging with a first stepped portion of the shaft body only in a first range at the end of the process of the shaft body descending, and moves while engaging with first and second stepped portions of the shaft body only in a second range at the end of the process of the shaft body ascending, while the independent power generating device is a coil unit in which a coil is wound around the outer periphery of a core whose length direction is the core axial direction, and which has contact terminals at the front and rear of the outer periphery of the core sandwiching the coil. a magnetic flux passage having a U-shape in a side view of a soft magnetic body provided for each of the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, one magnetic flux passage being on the inside and the other magnetic flux passage being on the outside, overlapping with a gap between them, with pole pieces at both ends facing each other to form a pair, and comprising magnet units disposed on the front and rear sides of the coil, and the front pair of pole pieces are disposed so as to sandwich a front contact terminal in the core axial direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces are disposed so as to sandwich a rear contact terminal in the core axial direction, when the core is in a first position on the front side, the front contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces, and when the core is in a second position on the rear side, the front contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces, A cylinder device characterized in that the probe portion of the core protruding from the opening overlaps with the displacement portion, thereby converting the up and down movement of the piston portion into movement in the core axial direction.

8. A device comprising a piston section which moves in the vertical direction, a shaft body connected to the piston section, a sleeve which surrounds the shaft body, a cylindrical hole which surrounds the sleeve with an opening provided midway along its height, and an independent power generating device, wherein the sleeve has one or more displacement sections provided on the same circumference so as to face the opening, and the sleeve rotates as the shaft body moves up and down, while the independent power generating device comprises: a coil unit in which a coil is wound around the outer periphery of a core whose length direction is the core axis direction, and which has contact terminals on both the front and rear of the outer periphery of the core, sandwiching the coil; and magnet units arranged on the front and rear sides of the coil, each of which has U-shaped magnetic flux paths in a side view of a soft magnetic material provided for the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, one magnetic flux path on the inside and the other magnetic flux path on the outside, overlapping with a gap between them, and the pole pieces at both ends of the magnetic flux paths facing each other to form a pair, and The front pair of pole pieces are arranged to sandwich a front contact terminal in the core axial direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces are arranged to sandwich a rear contact terminal in the core axial direction; when the core is in a first front position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces; when the core is in a second rear position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces; and a cylinder device characterized in that the probe portion of the core protruding from the opening overlaps with the displacement portion, thereby converting the up and down movement of the piston portion into movement in the core axial direction.

9. A cylinder device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the coil unit has sliding surfaces at a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the core on both the front and rear sides of the outer periphery of the core, sandwiching the coil, the front and rear contact terminals being able to slide on the front and rear sliding surfaces, respectively, and in the process of the core moving from the first position to the second position, the two contact terminals move on the sliding surfaces by the magnetic force from the pole piece.

10. A device comprising a piston section which moves in an up and down direction, a shaft body connected to the piston section, a sleeve which surrounds the shaft body, a cylindrical hole which surrounds the sleeve with an opening provided midway up the length, and an independent power generating device, wherein the sleeve has two displacement sections on the same circumference facing the opening and which are at different distances from the center, and a groove having a depth intermediate between the two displacement sections on the same circumference, and the sleeve rotates as the shaft body moves up and down, and the independent power generating device comprises a coil unit in which a coil is wound around the outer circumference of a core whose length direction is the core axis direction, and which has contact terminals at the front and rear of the outer circumference of the core, sandwiching the coil therebetween. a magnetic flux passage having a U-shape in a side view of a soft magnetic body provided for each of the upper and lower magnetic poles of a permanent magnet, one magnetic flux passage being on the inside and the other magnetic flux passage being on the outside, overlapping with a gap between them, with pole pieces at both ends facing each other to form a pair, and comprising magnet units disposed on the front and rear sides of the coil, the front pair of pole pieces being disposed so as to sandwich a front contact terminal in the core axial direction, and the rear pair of pole pieces being disposed so as to sandwich a rear contact terminal in the core axial direction, the coil unit being provided with sliding surfaces at the front and rear of the outer periphery of the core, sandwiching the coil, the sliding surfaces being a predetermined distance apart in the core axial direction, and the front and rear contact terminals being capable of sliding on the front and rear sliding surfaces, respectively, and when the core is in a first position on the front side, the front contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the front pair of pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the front pole piece of the rear pair of pole pieces, When the core is in a second rear position, the front contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the pair of front pole pieces, and the rear contact terminal is in contact with the rear pole piece of the pair of rear pole pieces, and the probe portion of the core protruding from the opening overlaps with the displacement portion, thereby converting the up and down movement of the piston portion into movement in the core axial direction, and the two contact terminals move on the sliding surface by magnetic force from the pole pieces in the process of the core moving from the first position to the second position.

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