JP2005057869A - Power generation controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of changing largely an output voltage from a water stream generator for generating with a water stream in association with a variation of a flow rate. <P>SOLUTION: A power generation controller for controlling the output voltage from the water stream generator includes a switching means 50 for switching a winding relating to a power generation of a winding 41 in the water stream generator from many (N) to a little (n<SB>1</SB>=N/2) or its inverse, and a controller 30 for controlling an operation of the switching means 50. When the water stream changes from a low flow rate to a large flow rate or its inverse so that the output voltage of the water stream generator reaches a set upper limit voltage or a set lower limit voltage, the switching means 50 is switched by the controller 30 based on monitoring by a voltage monitoring means to switch the number of turns of the winding 41 in the water stream generator from the many to the little or its inverse. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generation control device, and more particularly to a device that controls an output voltage from a water current generator that generates power using a water flow in a water channel.

  Conventionally, it has been equipped with a water current generator that generates electricity by rotating a water wheel in the water flow of the water channel, and the output from the water current generator is stored in power storage means such as a storage battery or a charging capacitor, and this is used as a power source to drive devices such as solenoid valves A water supply apparatus designed to do this is known.

For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a water current generator and a charging capacitor are provided, and the alternating current output from the water current generator is converted into direct current by a rectifier circuit, then the charging capacitor is fed and charged, and the charging capacitor is used as a power source. An electromagnetic valve (water supply valve) that is operated and controlled by a controller is disclosed.
This type of water supply device is used in, for example, an automatic faucet, an automatic cleaning device for a toilet, and the like.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional power supply circuit including a water current generator.
In the figure, 200 is a winding in the water current generator, 202 is a rectifier circuit for converting the AC output from the water current generator into a direct current, and 204 is a smoothing capacitor.
Reference numeral 206 denotes a three-terminal regulator, and reference numeral 208 denotes a charging capacitor that serves as a power source for the apparatus. Devices such as electronic components and electromagnetic valves in the water supply apparatus operate using the charging capacitor 208 as a power source.

  In a water supply apparatus equipped with a water current generator, the output voltage from the water current generator is determined by the number of turns of the winding 200 of the water current generator, and the output voltage increases when the number of turns is large, and the output voltage decreases when the number of turns is small. .

Here, in the water current generator in the conventional water supply apparatus, since the number of turns of the winding 200 is constant, the output voltage greatly fluctuates according to the change in the flow rate of the water flow in the water channel as shown in FIG.
In other words, the output voltage from the water current generator is higher than the voltage that is originally desired to be extracted (for example, about 5 to 10 V), and a high voltage that greatly exceeds this is output as the flow rate increases.

In order to withstand such a high voltage, conventionally, it is necessary to use a capacitor having a high withstand voltage, such as a condenser of a water supply device, a three-terminal regulator, and other electronic components.
These electronic components having a high withstand voltage are high in cost, and in addition to that, the size of the components is large, which leads to an increase in the size of the water supply device.
On the other hand, if the number of turns of the winding 200 of the water current generator is reduced to avoid this, there arises a problem that a sufficient output voltage cannot be obtained when the flow rate of the water flow is small.

  In addition, although there exists what was disclosed by following patent document 2 and patent document 3 as a prior art considered to be related to this invention, the thing disclosed by the former patent document 2 is related to an electric motor, and patent document 3 The disclosures relate to moving coil motors, each of which is different from the present invention and does not control the output voltage from the water current generator.

JP 2001-207498 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-248219 JP-A-57-208855

The power generation control device of the present invention has been devised against the background described above.
Thus, the first aspect of the present invention is a power generation control device for controlling an output voltage from a water current generator that generates power with a water flow in a water channel, and (a) the number of turns involved in power generation of the winding in the water current generator. (B) a voltage monitoring means for directly monitoring the output voltage from the water current generator; (b) a control unit that controls the operation of the switching means; When the water flow changes from a small flow rate to a large flow rate or vice versa and the output voltage from the water flow generator reaches a set upper limit voltage or a set lower limit voltage, the control unit switches the switching means. By operating, the number of turns of the winding in the water current generator is switched from a large number to a small number or vice versa.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a terminal is provided at each of a position where a small number of turns of the winding and a position where a large number of turns are provided in the water current generator. It is characterized in that it is selectively connected to any one of them, and the output extraction position from the water current generator is changed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the terminals are provided at different positions of a single continuous winding.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the water current generator is provided in a water supply device including a water supply valve.

Effects and effects of the invention

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the output voltage from the water current generator reaches the set upper limit voltage or the set lower limit voltage, the control means switches the switching means based on the monitoring by the voltage monitoring means, and the water current generator According to the present invention, the output voltage can be taken out high even when the flow rate of the water flow is small. Even when the flow rate becomes large, the output voltage from the water current generator can be kept low by the switching operation by the switching means.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to use an electronic component having a higher withstand voltage than necessary as an electronic component of the water supply device, and the cost required for it can be reduced. A device such as a device can be made smaller than before.

  The voltage monitoring means can be configured to indirectly monitor the voltage based on the number of rotations of the water turbine in the water current generator. In the present invention, however, the voltage monitoring means directly monitors the output voltage from the water current generator. In this way, when the output voltage reaches the set upper limit voltage or the set lower limit voltage, this can be detected accurately and directly.

  In the present invention, a terminal is provided at each of a position where a small number of windings and a position where a large number of windings are provided in the water current generator, and the switching means is selectively connected to any of these terminals. The output extraction position from the water current generator can be changed (claim 2).

In this case, each terminal can be provided at a different position of a continuous single winding.
It is possible to prepare multiple independent windings with different turns and control the output voltage from the water current generator by selecting the windings with different turns. Winding must be provided, the number of parts increases, the structure becomes complicated, and when windings are made by overlapping them partially, the bobbin for the winding becomes larger. Cause problems.
However, if each terminal is provided at a different position of a single winding and the output output position from the winding is changed, such a problem does not occur and it is advantageous.

  The present invention can also be applied to a water current generator of a water supply device provided with a water supply valve, that is, a device for controlling an output voltage from the water current generator (claim 4).

Next, an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a power generation control device in a water supply device for an automatic faucet will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an automatic water faucet installed in the hand-washing machine 12, as a water discharge part 14 provided in a form standing from the hand-washing machine 12, and a main body function part attached to the wall W at a position separated from this. Water supply device 16.
The water discharge portion 14 is provided with a water discharge port 18 and a sensor 20 that detects a hand below the water discharge port 18.

The water supply device 16 has a box 24, and includes an electromagnetic valve (water supply valve) 26 provided on the water channel, a water current generator 28 for generating power by rotating a water wheel by the water flow in the water channel, and a microcomputer. A substrate 32 on which the control unit 30 and other electronic components are mounted is accommodated.
The water supply device 16 and the water discharge unit 14 are connected to each other by a water supply tube 34 and a signal code 36 for signal transmission / reception.
Reference numeral 38 denotes a water stop cock.

In the case of the automatic faucet 10 of this example, when a hand is inserted in front of the sensor 20, the sensor senses this, and the electromagnetic valve 26 is opened under the control of the control unit 30 in the water supply device 16, and the water supply tube 34. Water is supplied to the water discharger 14 through, and water is discharged from the water discharge port 18 of the water discharger 14.
At this time, the water current generator 28 in the water supply device 16 performs power generation by rotating the water wheel at the momentum of the water flow in the water channel.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 denotes a rectifier circuit (full-wave rectifier circuit) composed of a diode bridge. The AC output taken out from the winding 41 of the water current generator 28 is converted into DC by the rectifier circuit 40, and is further converted by a smoothing capacitor 42. After smoothing, the voltage is stabilized by a three-terminal regulator 44 and then charged to a charging capacitor 46 serving as a power source.

  48 is an electromagnetic valve drive circuit comprising an H-bridge circuit including transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4. The base terminals of the respective transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 are connected to the control unit 30, and the transistors Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 are on / off controlled by the controller 30.

Thus, in the case of this solenoid valve drive circuit 48, the current flows in one direction to the solenoid 26A in the solenoid valve 26 by the on operation of the transistors Q1 and Q4, and the reverse to the solenoid 26A by the on operation of the transistors Q2 and Q3. Directional current flows.
Thereby, the valve opening operation and the valve closing operation of the electromagnetic valve 26 are performed.

The winding 41 in the water current generator 28 is composed of a single continuous winding, and terminals a and b extend from an end position and an intermediate position.
Here, the total number of turns of the winding 41 is N, and the terminal b extends from a position where the number of turns N is divided into n ₁ and n ₂ (here, n ₁ = n ₂ = N / 2).

Reference numeral 50 denotes switching means for selectively switching the output extraction position from the winding 41 between the terminal b and the terminal a, and the switching operation is controlled by the control unit 30.
In this example, the switching means 50 is constituted by a relay.

In this example, when the switching means 50 is connected to the terminal a, the number of turns of the winding 41 in the water current generator 28 is N, and a high voltage corresponding to the number of turns is output.
On the other hand, when there a terminal b to the connection state, turns of wire 41 in the flow generator 28 is n _1, the number of turns the output voltage is lower than when the N.

The output voltage from the winding 41 in the water current generator 28 is input to the control unit 30 via the voltage detection circuit 52, and the output voltage is monitored by the control unit 30.
That is, in this example, the control unit 30 also serves as voltage monitoring means for directly monitoring the output voltage.

Thus, the control unit 30 switches the switching means 50 to the terminal b side in the winding 41 when the output voltage reaches the set upper limit voltage (for example, 10 V in this example).
On the other hand, when the output voltage drops to the set lower limit voltage (for example, 5 V in this example), the switching means 50 is switched to the terminal a side.

  In this example, the power generation control device includes terminals a and b provided on the winding 41, a switching means 50, a voltage detection circuit 52 and a control unit 30.

In this example, as the water begins to flow through the water channel and the flow rate of the water flow increases, the output voltage from the water current generator 28, specifically, the output voltage from the winding 41 increases as shown in FIG. .
At this time, the switching means 50 is switched to the terminal a side.

Thus, when the output voltage from the water current generator 28 reaches 10 V which is the set upper limit voltage, the switching means 50 is switched to the terminal b side according to a command from the control unit 30.
At this time, the number of turns of the winding 41 in the water current generator 28 decreases from N to n ₁ , and accordingly, the output voltage also decreases as the number of turns decreases.

As described above, the terminal b extends from an intermediate position of the winding 41 where the number of turns n ₁ = n _2, and therefore, the output voltage from the winding 41 is half of the initial value when switching to the terminal b side. 5V.
The output voltage from the water current generator 28 gradually increases again as the flow rate of the subsequent water flow increases.

  The above is a case where the output voltage increases as the flow rate of the water flow increases. However, when the switching means 50 is switched to the terminal b side, the flow rate of the water flow decreases and the output voltage becomes the set lower limit voltage. In this example, the switching means 50 is switched from the terminal b side to the terminal a side, and the output voltage from the winding 41 is increased.

  According to the present example as described above, the output voltage from the water current generator 28 can be taken out high even when the flow rate of the water flow is small, while switching is possible even when the flow rate becomes large. The output voltage can be kept low by the switching operation by means 50.

  Therefore, according to this example, it is not necessary to use an electronic component having a higher withstand voltage than necessary as the electronic component in the water supply device 16, and the cost required for it can be reduced, and the electronic component can be downsized. The device 16 can be made smaller than before.

  In this example, the output voltage from the water current generator 28 is directly monitored, and when the output voltage reaches the set upper limit voltage or the set lower limit voltage, the number of turns of the winding 41 in the water current generator 28 is changed. Therefore, when the output voltage reaches the set upper limit voltage or the set lower limit voltage, this can be accurately detected, and the switching operation of the switching means 50 can be performed at an appropriate and accurate timing.

  Further, in this example, the winding 41 is formed as one continuous winding, terminals a and b are provided at different positions of the winding 41, and the output voltage output position from the winding 41 is changed. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of windings, and there is no problem that the bobbin for windings becomes larger than when the independent windings are partially overlapped.

However the winding 41 in the flow generator 28 in the present invention, constituted by a winding 41-1 of turns N as shown in FIG. 4, the winding 41-2 of turns n _1, winding 41 It is also possible in some cases to extend the terminal b from -2 and the terminal a from the winding 41-1 and switch the switching means 50 between them.

  In the above example, the number of turns of the winding 41 in the water current generator 28 is switched to two stages. However, in the present invention, it is possible to switch to three stages or more, and in the above example, Although the switching unit 50 is configured by a relay, the switching unit 50 may be configured by a semiconductor element such as a transistor.

  In addition, the present invention can also be configured as a power generation control device for a water supply device or other water supply device in an automatic toilet cleaning device, or as a power generation control device in various devices other than the water supply device. For example, the present invention can be configured in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows an automatic faucet with the water supply apparatus and a hand-washing machine. It is a circuit diagram which shows the electric power generation control apparatus of this embodiment in the water supply apparatus of FIG. 1 with another element. It is explanatory drawing which shows the control action by the electric power generation control apparatus of the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the coil | winding of the other form of a water current generator with the terminal for output extraction. It is a figure which shows the example of the electric power feeding circuit containing the coil | winding of the conventional water current generator. It is explanatory drawing of the malfunction which arises with the electric power feeding circuit of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

16 Water supply device 26 Solenoid valve (water supply valve)
28 Water current generator 30 Control unit 41 Winding 50 Switching means 52 Voltage detection circuit a, b terminal

Claims (4)

A power generation control device that controls an output voltage from a water current generator that generates power with a water flow in a water channel,
(A) a switching means for switching the number of turns involved in power generation of the winding in the water current generator from a large number to a small number or vice versa, (b) a control unit for controlling the operation of the switching means, and (c) the water flow Voltage monitoring means for directly monitoring the output voltage from the generator, and the water flow changes from a small flow rate to a large flow rate or vice versa, and the output voltage from the water flow generator is set to an upper limit voltage or a set value. When the lower limit voltage is reached, the control unit switches the switching means to switch the number of windings in the water current generator from many to few or vice versa. Power generation control device.   2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein a terminal is provided at each of a position for giving a small number of windings and a position for giving a large number of windings in the water current generator, and the switching means is selectively connected to any one of the terminals. A power generation control device characterized by being in a state to change the output extraction position from the water current generator.   3. The power generation control device according to claim 2, wherein each of the terminals is provided at a different position of a continuous single winding.   The power generation control device according to claim 1, wherein the water flow generator is provided in a water supply device including a water supply valve.

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