JP2003135865A - Buoyancy adjusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a buoyancy adjusting device capable of making an object float up and down by adjusting the buoyancy of the object by means of a simple arrangement, while saving power. SOLUTION: The buoyancy adjusting device 101, which enables an object to float up and down by adjusting the buoyancy of the object, is provided with volume control mechanisms 118, 200 and 300 changing the shape of inner space to control the volume of the inner space, and control parts 112 and 115 for controlling the volume control mechanism 118 when the object floats down and when it floats up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a buoyancy adjusting device, and more particularly, to a buoyancy adjusting device that adjusts buoyancy to enable descending and ascending.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a diving toy that imitates a submersible and is capable of diving navigation and floating by remote control.
In such a diving toy, it is desired that diving and floating can be easily performed with a simple structure.

First, a method of diving and ascending a real submersible will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the construction of a submersible.

As shown in FIG. 6, a real submersible boat 30 has a main body 31, a propulsion device 32 for propulsion, a rudder 33 for turning, a compressed air tank 34 for diving and floating inside the main body 31, A drainage tank 35 was provided. Diving and floating are performed by opening and closing valves 36 and 37.

For example, when diving, the valve 36 is closed,
By opening the valve 37, the air in the drainage tank 35 is discharged from the exhaust port 39, and water is injected into the drainage tank 35 from the pouring / draining port 38. Since the amount of drainage of the main body 31 is reduced by injecting water into the pouring drainage tank 35,
Buoyancy is reduced and it descends.

Further, when floating, the valve 37 is closed and the valve 36 is opened to supply compressed air from the compressed air tank 34 to the pouring / draining tank 35, and the water injected into the pouring / draining tank 35 is poured / drained into the pouring / draining port 38. Emitted from. When the water is discharged from the pouring drain tank 35, the main body 31
As the amount of drainage increases, the buoyancy increases and the surface floats.

However, a real submersible 3 as shown in FIG.
The structure of 0 requires a compressed air tank 34 and a pouring / draining tank 35, and also requires storage of compressed air, a valve, and the like, which makes the structure complicated, and therefore cannot be applied to a diving toy or the like.

Therefore, in the diving toy, diving and levitation were controlled by the method described below.

7 to 9 show the construction of a conventional diving toy.

In the submersible toy 1 shown in FIG. 7, the weight and the like are set so that buoyancy is "0" so that the toy body is balanced in water. The main body 2 includes a propulsion device 3, a submarine rudder 4,
The rudder 5 is provided, and by controlling the propulsion device 3, the submarine 4, and the rudder 5 by remote control, the levitation and the diving can be controlled.

As shown in FIG. 7 (A), the submersible toy 1 propels the propulsion device 3 in the direction of arrow D, while rotating the sub-rudder 4 in the direction of arrow E1. As a result, water pressure is applied to the upper surface of the submarine 4. By applying water pressure on the upper surface of the submarine 4,
The main body 2 can be lowered in the arrow F direction. Also,
As shown in FIG. 7 (B), the submersible toy 1 propels the propulsion device 3 in the direction of arrow D while rotating the sub-rudder 4 in the direction of arrow E2. As a result, water pressure is applied to the lower surface of the submarine 4. When water pressure is applied to the lower surface of the submarine 4, the main body 2 moves to the arrow G
Descend in the direction.

The diving toy 10 shown in FIG.
It is configured to have propulsion devices 12 and 13 which are rotatable with respect to the main body 11 on both side surfaces of the device 1. Propulsion device 12
The main body 11 can be turned in the arrow H1 direction by rotating the main body 11 faster than the propulsion device 13. Also,
By rotating the propulsion device 13 faster than the propulsion device 12, the main body 11 can be turned in the arrow H2 direction.

Further, by rotating the propulsion devices 12 and 13 in the direction of arrow I1, a downward propulsion force is exerted. Therefore, the main body 11 can be dived. Further, the propulsive force acts upward by rotating the propulsion devices 12 and 13 in the direction of the arrow I2. Therefore, the main body 11 can be levitated.

Further, the diving toy 20 shown in FIG. 8 has a main body 21 including a propulsion device 22, a rudder 23, and an elevating device 24. It can be moved in the direction of arrow D by the propulsion device 22. In addition, turning is possible by turning the rudder 23. Further, the main body 21 can be moved in the arrow J direction by driving the lifting device 24 provided on the bottom surface of the main body 21. Lifting device 2
It is possible to ascend and descend by No. 4.

[0016]

In the conventional diving toys shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, however, the diving toys shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 levitate and dive in the direction of the rudder or the propulsion device. However, there were problems such as not being able to dive.

In addition, the diving toy shown in FIG. 8 has a problem that the screw for exclusive use for levitation and diving needs to be continuously rotated at the time of ascending and diving, so that the battery and the like are greatly consumed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a buoyancy adjusting device capable of lifting and lowering with a simple structure and saving power.

[0019]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a buoyancy adjusting device (1) which adjusts buoyancy so that the buoyancy can be lowered and levitated.
01), the volume control mechanism (118; 200; 3) that deforms the shape of the internal space and controls the volume of the internal space.
00) and the volume control mechanism (1
18) for controlling the control unit (112, 115).

A second aspect of the present invention is the volume control mechanism (118;
200) is provided between the inner space and the outside, and a separating member (134; 20) that deformably separates the inner space.
5) between the inner space and the outside, the isolation member (13
4; 205) for deforming the internal space so that the volume of the internal space is changed (131, 132, 133; 201, 2).
02, 203, 204).

A third aspect of the present invention is that the isolation member (134) is
It is composed of an elastic sheet.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the separating member (205) can be expanded and contracted by being bent.

The volume control mechanism (300) according to claim 5
Is provided between the internal space and the outside, and is deformed according to a drive voltage to deform the internal space.
It is composed of 1).

According to the present invention, by using the volume control mechanism (118; 200; 300) to control the volume of the internal space, the buoyancy is controlled, and ascending and descending are performed. Therefore, the use of a latent rudder or compressed air is used. Without it, you can control levitation and diving. Therefore, with a simple structure, it is possible to ascend and descend on the spot without propulsion. Further, since the rudder steering is unnecessary, the degree of freedom in design is improved.

[0025]

1 is an external view of an embodiment of a diving system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a diving system of the present invention.

The diving system 100 of the present embodiment is constructed to include a diving device 101 and a remote controller 102.

The submersible device 101 includes an IR sensor 111, a control unit 112, drivers 113 to 115, and a propulsion motor 11.
6, a rudder motor 117, a drainage mechanism 118, a screw 119, a rudder 120, a battery 121, and a power supply circuit 122. The IR sensor 111 receives infrared rays emitted from the remote controller 102 according to the operation of the operation button 124, and generates a detection signal. I
The detection signal generated by the R sensor 111 is the control unit 112.
Is supplied to. The control unit 112 analyzes the detection signal from the IR sensor 111, and when the detection signal relates to the propulsion speed, supplies the propulsion speed control signal corresponding to the detection signal to the driver 113. The driver 113 has a control unit 1
A drive signal corresponding to the propulsion speed control signal from 12 is generated and supplied to the propulsion motor 116.

The propulsion motor 116 is rotationally driven by the drive signal from the driver 113 to rotate the screw 119. For example, when the remote controller 102 gives an instruction to increase the speed, the rotation of the propulsion motor 116 is increased and the rotation of the screw 119 is increased. Screw 119
As the number of rotations increases, the propulsion speed increases. Further, when the deceleration instruction is issued from the remote controller 102, the rotation of the propulsion motor 116 is reduced and the rotation of the screw 119 is reduced. The reduced rotation of the screw 119 reduces the propulsion speed. As described above, the propulsion speed of the diving apparatus 101 is controlled.

Further, when the detection signal is related to the direction, the control unit 112 supplies the direction control signal corresponding to the detection signal to the driver 114. The driver 114 generates a drive signal according to the direction control signal from the control unit 112 and supplies it to the rudder motor 117.

The rudder motor 117 rotates on the basis of a drive signal from the driver 114 to move the rudder 120 to an arrow A.
Rotate in the direction. When there is an instruction from the remote controller 102 to turn in the direction of arrow A1, the rudder motor 1
17 is rotated, and the rudder 120 is rotated in the arrow A2 direction. Further, when there is an instruction from the remote controller 102 to turn in the direction of arrow A2, the rudder motor 117 turns, and the rudder 120 turns in the direction of arrow A1. As described above, the turning direction of the submersible device 101 can be controlled.

Further, when the detection signal is related to levitation / diving, the control section 112 supplies a dive control signal corresponding to the detection signal to the driver 115. Driver 11
5 generates a drive signal corresponding to the diving control signal from the control unit 112 and supplies it to the drainage mechanism 118.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the drainage mechanism 118.

The drainage mechanism 118 is configured to include a motor 131, a reduction gear mechanism 132, a drainage drive section 133, and a drainage sheet 134. The motor 1 has a driver 1
A diving drive signal or a levitating drive signal is supplied from 15.
The rotation shaft 135 of the motor 131 is coupled to the reduction gear mechanism 132. The reduction gear mechanism 132 includes the gears 136 to
139 and rotating shafts 140 and 141.

The gear 1 is attached to the rotary shaft 135 of the motor 131.
36 is press-fitted and fixed. It meshes with the gear 137. The gear 137 is arranged in parallel with the rotary shaft 135, and is press-fitted and fixed to the rotary shaft 140 rotatably held. In addition to the gear 137, the rotation shaft 140 has a gear 13
8 is press-fitted and fixed. The gear 138 is the gear 1
It rotates with the rotation of 37.

The gear 138 meshes with the gear 139. The gear 139 is arranged in parallel with the rotating shafts 135 and 140, and is press-fitted into the rotating shaft 141 that is rotatably held,
It is fixed. The rotation of the rotation shaft 135 of the motor 131 is reduced by the gears 136 to 139, and the rotation shaft 141
Be transmitted to.

A drain driving unit 133 is engaged with the rotating shaft 141. The drainage drive unit 133 includes a female screw 142 and a male screw 1.
It is configured to include 43. The female screw 142 is press-fitted and fixed to the rotary shaft 141. The female screw 143 is formed with a screw hole 144 in the extending direction of the rotating shaft 141, that is, in the arrow B direction. A male screw 143 is screwed into the screw hole 144. One end of the male screw 143 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the drainage sheet 134, and the other end thereof is a female screw 142.
The screw holes 144 are screwed together. Since the male screw 143 has one end fixed to the drainage sheet 134, it does not rotate due to the rotation of the fixed female screw 143.

Therefore, when the female screw 143 is rotated by the rotation of the rotary shaft 141, the male screw 143 moves in the direction of arrow B. The drainage sheet 134 is made of an elastic sheet such as a rubber sheet, and is fixed around the hole 146 formed on the side wall of the hull 145 so as to close the hole 146.

When the male screw 143 moves in the arrow B direction, the drainage sheet 134 is elastically deformed and deformed in the arrow B direction.

When there is an instruction to dive from the remote controller 102, the drainage sheet 134 deforms in the direction of arrow B1, that is, inside the hull 145. Drainage sheet 13
When 4 is deformed in the direction of arrow B1, the internal volume of the hull 145 is reduced and the amount of drainage is reduced, so that the diving apparatus 101 dives. Assuming that the arrow C1 direction is the floating direction and the arrow C2 direction is the diving direction, it moves in the arrow C2 direction.

When there is an instruction to levitate from the remote controller 102, the rotation of the motor 131 deforms the drainage sheet 134 in the direction of arrow B2, that is, outside the hull 145. When the drainage sheet 134 is deformed to the outside of the hull 145, the hull 145 bulges outward and the amount of drainage increases, so that the submersible device 101 floats in the direction of arrow C1.

The drainage sheet 134 is deformed to the inside of the hull 145 by the water pressure as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3, and is deformed to the outside by the internal pressure of the hull 145 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It has such strength and elasticity that it can be driven by the motor 131, the reduction gear mechanism 132, and the drainage drive unit 133 without being damaged.

By changing the drainage amount of the hull 145 as described above, the hull 145 can be submerged or levitated.

According to this embodiment, since the floating and diving can be controlled without using the rudder and the compressed air, the rudder, the compressed air tank, the valve, etc. are unnecessary. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange the sub-rudder so as to be located in the water when ascending, so that the degree of freedom in designing the hull can be increased. Further, the levitation and diving can be controlled without driving the propulsion motor 116. That is, it is possible to only float and dive.

Further, since a tank for compressed air or the like is unnecessary, it can be realized with a simple structure.

In this embodiment, the drainage sheet is made of rubber to drain water, but the bellows may be compressed or extended to control the drainage amount.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a modification of the drainage mechanism.
FIG. 4 (A) is a diagram showing a state of diving, and FIG. 48 (B) is a diagram showing a state of floating.

The drainage mechanism 200 of this embodiment is provided with the motor 20.
1, a worm gear 202, a pinion gear 203, a rack gear 204, and a bellows bag 205. The rotation shaft 206 of the motor 201 is rotated by a dive driving signal or a levitation driving signal from the driver 115.

The worm gear 202 is press-fitted and fixed to the rotary shaft 206 of the motor 201. Worm gear 2
Reference numeral 02 meshes with the pinion gear 203. The pinion gear 203 is rotatably held by a rotary shaft 207 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the rotary shaft 206 of the motor 201. The pinion gear 203 meshes with the rack gear 204. The rack gear 204 is guided so as to be movable in the arrow B direction.

When the motor 201 is rotated by the diving drive signal, the pinion gear 203 rotates in the direction of arrow θ1. When the pinion gear 203 is rotated in the arrow θ1 direction, the rack gear 204 is moved in the arrow B1 direction. A bellows bag 205 is fixed to one end of the rack gear 204. The bellows bag 205 is made of rubber, resin, or the like, and includes a bellows portion 208 and a mounting portion 209. The bellows portion 208 is formed of a bottomed bellows and is capable of expanding and contracting. Mounting part 209
Are formed integrally with the opening of the bellows portion 208. The mounting portion 209 has a shape such that at least the outer peripheral shape thereof engages with the hole portion 146, and no gap is formed between the mounting portion 209 and the hole portion 146.

When the rack gear 204 moves in the arrow B1 direction, the bottom surface of the bellows portion 208 moves in the arrow B1 direction, and the bellows portion 208 extends as shown in FIG. 4 (A). When the bellows portion 208 is extended, the volume inside the bellows portion 208 increases, and water enters from the outside of the hull 145. This reduces the amount of drainage of the hull 145. As the amount of drainage of the hull 145 decreases, the buoyancy of the hull 145 decreases, and the hull 145 sinks.

When the motor 201 is rotated by the levitation drive signal, the pinion gear 203 rotates in the direction of arrow θ2. When the pinion gear 203 is rotated in the arrow θ2 direction, the rack gear 204 is moved in the arrow B2 direction.
When the rack gear 204 is moved in the direction of arrow B2, the bottom surface of the bellows portion 208 is moved in the direction of arrow B2, as shown in FIG.
The bellows portion 208 is compressed as shown in FIG. When the bellows portion 208 is compressed, the volume inside the bellows portion 208 is reduced, and water is discharged from the inside of the hull 145. This increases the amount of drainage of the hull 145. As the amount of drainage of the hull 145 increases, the buoyancy of the hull 145 increases and the hull 145 floats.

According to this modification, the hole 14 of the hull 145 is
6 can be reduced and the amount of drainage can be increased.

Although the drainage mechanisms 118 and 200 drive the motors 131 and 201, the drive source of the drainage mechanism is not limited to the motor, and a piezoelectric element or the like may be used. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another modification of the drainage mechanism.

The drainage mechanism 300 of this modification is the piezoelectric element 3
It consists of 01. The piezoelectric element 301 is a drain plate 302.
And electrode 303. The drainage plate 302 is made of a piezoelectric material, and has a hole 1 formed in the side wall of the hull 145.
It is fixed at 46. The electrode 303 is fixed inside the hull 145 of the drain plate 302. At the time of floating, a voltage is applied from the driver 115 to the drain plate 302 and the electrode 303.

The piezoelectric element 301 deforms when a voltage is applied, and displaces the drainage plate 302 in the direction of arrow B2 as shown by the broken line in FIG.

The displacement of the drainage plate 302 in the direction of arrow B2 increases the volume of the hull 145 and increases the amount of drainage. Due to the increase in the drainage of the hull 145, the hull 14
The buoyancy is generated in 5, and it floats.

Also, at the time of diving, the driver 115 applies a reverse voltage. By applying the reverse voltage, the drainage plate 302 is displaced in the direction of arrow B1 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

The displacement of the drainage plate 302 in the direction of arrow B1 reduces the volume of the hull 145 and reduces the amount of drainage. Due to the decrease of the drainage of the hull 145, the hull 14
5 dives.

When the piezoelectric element 301 is used,
Since the displacement is small, the displacement of the drainage is small. Therefore, for example, the drainage mechanisms 118 and 200 may be used in combination and used for fine adjustment of the amount of drainage.

In the present embodiment, the diving device is described as an example of the floating / sinking device, but the present invention is not limited to the diving device, and may be applied to a device such as a balloon or an airship that floats and descends in the air. it can.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the volume of the internal space is controlled by the volume control mechanism, the buoyancy is controlled and the levitation and descent are performed, so that the rudder and the compressed air are not used. It is possible to control levitation and diving, so it is possible to levitate on the spot with a simple structure and without propulsion.
It has the features of being able to descend and being able to improve the degree of freedom in design because it does not require a rudder.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a drainage mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a modified example of the drainage mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of another modification of the drainage mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining diving and floating operations of a conventional diving apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining diving and levitation operations of a conventional diving apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining diving and levitation operations of a conventional diving apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining diving and floating operations of a conventional diving apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 dive system 101 diving equipment 102 remote controller 111 IR sensor 112 control unit 113-115 driver 116 propulsion motor 117 rudder motor 118, 200, 300 Drainage mechanism 119 screw 120 rudder 121 batteries 122 power supply circuit 123 Operation part 131, 201 motor 132 Reduction gear mechanism 133 Drainage drive 134 Drainage sheet 145 hull 146 hole 202 Worm Gear 203 pinion gear 204 rack gear 205 bellows bag 208 Bellows 209 mounting part 301 Piezoelectric element 302 Drain plate 303 electrode

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A buoyancy adjusting device that adjusts buoyancy so that the buoyancy can be lowered and levitated, and a volume control mechanism that deforms the shape of the internal space and controls the volume of the internal space; and the volume control during the descent and levitation. A buoyancy adjusting device having a control unit for controlling the mechanism. 2. The volume control mechanism is provided between the internal space and the outside, and the isolation member is provided between the internal space and the outside, and the isolation member is provided between the internal space and the outside. The buoyancy adjusting device according to claim 1, further comprising a driving unit that deforms the space so that the volume of the space changes. 3. The buoyancy adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the separating member is made of an elastic sheet. 4. The buoyancy adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the isolation member is made expandable and contractable by bending. 5. The volume control mechanism comprises a piezoelectric element that is provided between the internal space and the outside and that deforms in response to a drive voltage to deform the internal space. The buoyancy adjusting device described.