JP2006113736A - Sensor-equipped device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor-equipped device that enables an integrated structure of a sensor part and a generator part for the sharing of designs and parts and for miniaturization, while securing a sufficient amount of electric power without using an electromagnetic generator. <P>SOLUTION: The sensor-equipped device 10 includes a bearing device 11 with a heat source; a circuit part 14 including sensors 12, 13 for detecting the operating condition of the bearing device 11; and a heat generating module 16 disposed on the heating surface of the bearing device 11 as a generator for generating the power to drive the circuit part 14. The circuit part 14 is provided with a sending means 17 for sending detection signals from the sensors or the results of processing of the detection signals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor-equipped device including a rotation speed sensor, a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, and the like that detect an operating state of, for example, a bearing device that supports an axle of a railway vehicle or an automobile and other mechanical devices.

As a conventional sensor-equipped device, for example, a generator, a temperature sensor, and a vibration sensor are installed on a rotating shaft or a housing of a bearing device or a mechanical device, and each sensor circuit unit is driven by electric power from the generator. By estimating the temperature of the bearing device or the mechanical device from the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, seizure or separation of the bearing device or abnormality of the mechanical device is detected, or the bearing device is separated from the vibration detected by the vibration sensor. In addition, a device that detects an abnormality of a mechanical device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-329593 A JP 2003-307228 A

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, an electromagnetic generator is used as a power source for driving the sensor circuit portion attached to the rotating shaft, and therefore, a coil is installed on the rotating shaft and a component such as a magnet is installed on the stationary side. There is a problem that it is difficult to integrate the sensor unit and the generator unit, and the structure is different between the sensor unit and the generator unit.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a generator such as a thermoelectric generator is used as a power source for driving the circuit portion of the sensor attached to the housing. Therefore, there is a case where the amount of power generated by the thermoelectric generator cannot be obtained sufficiently.

  The present invention has been made in order to eliminate such inconveniences, and an object of the present invention is to enable an integrated structure of the sensor unit and the generator unit, and to achieve common design and parts. An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor-equipped device that can be reduced in size. Furthermore, it is providing the apparatus with a sensor which can ensure sufficient electric power generation amount, without using an electromagnetic generator.

1) A device with a sensor according to the present invention is arranged on a device body such as a bearing device or a mechanical device having a heat source, a circuit unit including a sensor for detecting an operation state of the device body, and a heat generating surface of the device body. And a thermoelectric module as a generator for generating electric power for driving the circuit unit, wherein the circuit unit transmits a detection signal by the sensor or a processing result of the detection signal. Means are provided.
According to the sensor-equipped device having the above-described configuration, the thermoelectric generation module that generates the driving power for the circuit unit including the sensor that detects the operation state of the device main body is disposed on the heat generation surface of the device main body having the heat generation source. The temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generator module can be increased, and a sufficient amount of power generation can be ensured without using a conventional electromagnetic generator.

2) The sensor-equipped device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the sensor-equipped device according to 1), the circuit unit is provided integrally with the thermoelectric generator module.
According to the sensor-equipped device having the above-described configuration, the sensor circuit unit and the thermoelectric generator module as the generator can be integrated, so that the design and parts can be shared and the size can be reduced. The cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In addition, since the current from the thermoelectric generator module does not need to be rectified with a direct current, a rectifier is not required, and the number of parts in the circuit portion can be reduced.

3) The sensor-equipped device according to the present invention is the sensor-equipped device according to 1) or 2), wherein a heating surface of the thermoelectric generator module is disposed on a heat generating surface of a rotating shaft of the device body, and the thermoelectric generator module A radiator is provided on the cooling surface.
According to the sensor-equipped device having the above-described configuration, the heating surface of the thermoelectric generator module is disposed on the heat generating surface of the rotating shaft of the apparatus main body, and the radiator is provided on the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generator module, thereby being attached to the cooling surface. The radiator is cooled by the air flow generated with the rotation of the rotating shaft, and the temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generator module is increased, so that the amount of power generation can be increased.

4) The sensor-equipped device according to the present invention is the sensor-equipped device according to 3), wherein the fins of the radiator are provided in parallel to a tangential direction of the rotating shaft, or concentric with the rotating shaft. It is characterized by that.
According to the sensor-equipped device having the above-described configuration, the fins of the radiator are provided in parallel to the tangential direction of the rotating shaft, or are provided concentrically with the rotating shaft, whereby the flow of air generated as the rotating shaft rotates. The cooling effect of the radiator is improved, the temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generator module can be further increased, and the power generation amount can be further increased.

5) The sensor-equipped device according to the present invention is the sensor-equipped device according to 1) or 2), wherein the device body is an axle bearing device for a railway vehicle, and at least of the circuit unit and the thermoelectric generator module. The thermoelectric generator module is arranged in an upper portion from the axial center of the housing of the railcar axle bearing device.
According to the sensor-equipped device having the above-described configuration, the device body is a railcar axle bearing device, and at least the thermoelectric generator module among the circuit portion and the thermoelectric generator module has a large load and a large calorific value. Since the heat generated in the bearing portion is effectively transferred to the heating surface of the thermoelectric generator module and the cooling surface is cooled by the wind during travel, the heat generation is performed. The temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface of the module can be increased, and the amount of power generation can be increased.

6) The device with a sensor according to the present invention is the device with a sensor according to any one of 1) to 4) above, wherein the device body is a bearing device that supports an axle of a railway vehicle or an automobile. And
According to the sensor-equipped device configured as described above, when the thermoelectric generator module is attached to the rotating shaft, a slip ring necessary for supplying power using a conventional cable can be omitted.

7) The sensor-equipped device according to the present invention is the sensor-equipped device according to any one of 1) to 6), wherein the transmission unit transmits a detection signal by the sensor or a processing result of the detection signal to a radio wave, Transmission is performed by wireless communication such as optical communication or ultrasonic communication.
According to the sensor-equipped device configured as described above, the transmission means transmits the detection signal by the sensor or the processing result of the detection signal by wireless communication such as radio wave, optical communication, or ultrasonic communication, so that a signal line, a cable, or the like Since it becomes unnecessary, it is possible to avoid complication of wiring and replacement work due to disconnection of signal lines.

  According to the present invention, since the thermoelectric generation module for generating the driving power for the circuit unit including the sensor for detecting the operation state of the apparatus main body is disposed on the heat generation surface of the apparatus main body having the heat generation source, the thermoelectric generation module The temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface can be increased, and a sufficient amount of power generation can be ensured without using an electromagnetic generator or the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part for explaining the sensor-equipped device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a thermoelectric generator module and a sensor circuit unit, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part for explaining a sensor-equipped device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6 and FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the sensor-equipped device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a bearing device (device main body) 11 having a heat source, and a temperature at which the operating state of the bearing device 11 is detected. Thermoelectric generation as a generator that generates a driving electric power for the sensor circuit unit 14 that is disposed to face the sensor circuit unit 14 including the sensor 12 and the vibration sensor 13 and the shaft end surface (heat generation surface) of the rotating shaft 15 of the bearing device 11. The sensor circuit unit 14 includes a transmission unit 17 that transmits a detection signal from the temperature sensor 12 and the vibration sensor 13 or a processing result of the detection signal.

  The bearing device 11 includes a rolling bearing 18 as a heat source for supporting an axle 15 of, for example, a railway vehicle or an automobile. The rolling bearing 18 is fitted on an outer ring 20 fitted in a housing 19 and the axle 15. A plurality of rolling elements 22 are disposed between the inner ring 21 and the inner ring 21 so as to be able to roll in the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor circuit unit 14 includes a temperature sensor 12 and a vibration sensor 13, a transmission / reception unit 23 as a transmission unit 17, a light emitting element 24 such as a semiconductor laser or an LED, and a light reception that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal. In addition to the element 25, a signal processing unit 26 and a voltage stabilization circuit 27 are provided.

  As the temperature sensor 12, a thermistor temperature measuring element, a non-contact type temperature measuring element such as a platinum resistance thermometer or a thermocouple can be used, and as the vibration sensor 13, a vibration measuring element such as a piezoelectric element is used. Can do. The vibration sensor 13 may be an acceleration, speed, displacement type, or the like that can convert vibration into an electrical signal. When the vibration sensor 13 is attached to a device having a lot of noise, the use of an insulation type is more affected by noise. It is preferable because it is not received.

  The thermoelectric generator module 16 is attached to (or placed in close proximity to) a shaft end surface (heat generation surface) of the axle 15 of the bearing device 11 to generate power for driving the sensor circuit unit 14. In the embodiment, a metal plate 28 having a heating surface that directly contacts the shaft end surface of the axle 15 is provided, and the sensor circuit unit 14 is integrally provided on the metal plate 28.

  A module main body 29 is installed on the surface of the metal plate 28 away from the heating surface, and a radiator 30 is installed on the surface of the module main body 29 on the side away from the metal plate 28 (cooling surface). As shown in FIG. 2, the radiator 30 is provided with a plurality of fins 31 arranged in parallel to the tangential direction of the axle 15.

  As the axle 15 rotates, the temperature of the rolling bearing 18 rises due to heat generated by the rolling portion, the temperature of the axle 15 rises, and the temperature of the heating surface of the metal plate 28 of the thermoelectric generator module 16 rises. On the other hand, the radiator 30 attached to the cooling surface is cooled by the wind (air) generated with the rotation of the axle 15, thereby increasing the temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface, and from the thermoelectric module 16. Electric power is obtained. Here, since the heat radiator 30 is provided with the plurality of fins 31 parallel to the tangential direction of the axle 15 as described above, the cooling effect by the flow of air generated with the rotation of the axle 15 is achieved. Accordingly, the temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generator module 16 is increased, and the amount of power generation can be increased.

  The electric power generated from the thermoelectric generator module 16 is accumulated in the secondary battery 32 and supplied from the secondary battery 32 to the sensor circuit unit 14 via the voltage stabilization circuit 27, thereby driving the sensor circuit unit 14.

  The temperature sensor 12 and the vibration sensor 13 are operated by driving the sensor circuit unit 14 to detect the temperature and vibration of the bearing device 11, and the detection signal is A / D converted in the processing unit 26 or compared with a certain threshold value. Thus, the necessary processing is performed, and the detection result and the processing result are transmitted from the light emitting element 24 to the light receiving element 25a of the external transmission / reception device 40 by optical communication, and the transmission / reception device 40 converts the optical signal into an electrical signal and transmits a predetermined signal. Output to an external terminal.

  In this embodiment, the light emitting element 24a is provided in the transmitting / receiving device 40 and the light receiving element 25 is provided on the sensor circuit unit 14 side so that a command such as a measurement data transmission request from the external transmitting / receiving device 40 can be received. ing.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the thermoelectric generation module 16 that generates the driving power for the circuit unit 14 including the sensors 12 and 13 that detect the operation state of the bearing device 11 is disposed on the heat generating surface of the axle 15 of the bearing device 11. Therefore, the radiator 30 attached to the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generation module 16 is cooled by the air flow generated as the axle 15 rotates, and the temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generation module 16 is large. Thus, the amount of power generation can be increased. As a result, a sufficient amount of power generation can be ensured without using a conventional electromagnetic generator.

  Further, since the fins 31 of the radiator 30 are provided parallel to the tangential direction of the axle 15, the cooling effect of the radiator 30 due to the air flow generated with the rotation of the axle 15 is improved, and the thermoelectric generator module 16. The temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface can be further increased, and the amount of power generation can be further increased.

  Furthermore, since the sensor circuit unit 14 and the thermoelectric generator module 16 as a generator have an integral structure, the design and parts can be shared and the size can be reduced, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. Can do.

  Furthermore, since the current from the thermoelectric generator module 16 does not need to be rectified with direct current, a rectifier is not required, and the number of parts of the circuit unit 14 can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since the thermoelectric generator module 16 is attached to the axle 15, a slip ring necessary for supplying power using a conventional cable can be omitted.

  Furthermore, since the transmission means 17 transmits the detection signal by the sensor or the processing result of the detection signal by optical communication wireless communication, a signal line, a cable and the like are not required, and the wiring becomes complicated and the signal line Replacement work or the like due to disconnection can be avoided.

  Furthermore, since the circuit unit 14 including the thermoelectric generator module 16 and the sensors 12 and 13 is installed on the same metal plate 28 and integrated, it can be easily fixed with a bolt or the like when attached to the shaft end surface of the axle 15. Can do.

Next, a sensor-equipped device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The sensor-equipped device 50 is different from the first embodiment in that a rotation speed sensor 51 is added to the sensor circuit unit 14 and wireless communication using radio waves is employed instead of wireless communication using optical communication. . Therefore, the sensor circuit unit 14 is provided with a transmission / reception antenna 52 instead of the light emitting element 24 and the light receiving element 26.

  The rotation speed sensor 51 is attached to the metal plate 28 of the thermoelectric generator module 16 so as to be integrally rotated with the axle 15, and is opposed to the hall sensor 53 in the radial direction on the inner diameter surface of the end portion of the housing 19. The multi-pole magnet encoder 54 is mounted, and the Hall sensor 53 is energized by driving the sensor circuit unit 14 with the electric power from the thermoelectric generator module 16. A change is detected to detect the rotational speed of the axle 15.

  As in the first embodiment, the detection signal from the rotation speed sensor 51 is A / D converted in the processing unit 26 or necessary processing is performed by comparing it with a certain threshold value. The result is transmitted by radio waves from the transmission / reception antenna 52 to the transmission / reception antenna 56 of the external transmission / reception device 60. The transmission / reception device 60 performs a predetermined process on the received signal and outputs it to a predetermined external terminal.

  In this embodiment, since the rotational speed of the axle 15 is detected, the rotational speed information is added to the vibration analysis result by the vibration sensor 13 to improve the detection accuracy when the abnormality of the bearing device 11 is detected. Is possible. About another structure and an effect, it is the same as that of the said 1st Embodiment.

Next, a sensor-equipped device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the sensor-equipped device 70, the sensor circuit unit 14 and the thermoelectric generator module 16 having the same structure as those of the first embodiment are attached to a bearing housing 73 of an axle bearing device 72 for a railway vehicle including a double-row tapered roller bearing 71. This is an example. 6 and 7, reference numeral 75 denotes a rail, and 76 denotes a wheel.

  In the railway vehicle axle bearing device 72, as the axle 74 rotates (runs), the temperature of the double-row tapered roller bearing 71 rises, and the temperature of the bearing housing 73 also rises. When the heating surface of the metal plate 28 of the thermoelectric generation module 16 is attached to the bearing housing 73, the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generation module 16 is cooled by the wind that is running, so the temperature of the heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generation module 16 The difference can be increased and the amount of power generation can be increased.

  Here, since the load applied to the double row tapered roller bearing 71 is large on the upper side in the circumferential direction of the bearing, heat generation is also large in this portion. Therefore, the surface temperature of the bearing housing 73 is also high in the upper portion of the bearing housing 73.

  For this reason, the heat generated in the double-row tapered roller bearing 71 is provided by arranging the thermoelectric generation module 16 on the upper part from the shaft center of the bearing housing 73 of the axle bearing device 72 for a railway vehicle having a large load and a large calorific value. Since the cooling surface is effectively transmitted to the heating surface of the thermoelectric generation module 16 and is cooled by the wind during traveling, the temperature difference between the heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric generation module 16 can be further increased. The amount can be further increased. About another structure and an effect, it is the same as that of the said 1st Embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the radiator 30 is provided with a plurality of fins 31 parallel to the tangential direction of the axle 15 is exemplified. Instead, as shown in FIG. By providing a plurality of fins 31 a concentrically with the axle 15 at 30, it is possible to further enhance the cooling effect due to the flow of air generated as the axle 15 rotates.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the thermoelectric generation module 16 and the sensor circuit unit 14 are integrated is illustrated, but this is not necessarily required, and the thermoelectric generation module 16 and the sensor circuit unit 14 are separately provided. The structure attached to the position may be sufficient.

  In addition, the materials, shapes, dimensions, forms, numbers, locations, etc. of the apparatus main body, sensors, circuit units, thermoelectric generator modules, transmission means, radiators, fins, etc. exemplified in the above embodiments can achieve the present invention. As long as it is arbitrary, it is not limited.

It is principal part sectional drawing for demonstrating the apparatus with a sensor which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure seen from the arrow A direction of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the fin of a heat radiator. It is a block diagram of a thermoelectric generation module and a sensor circuit part. It is principal part sectional drawing for demonstrating the apparatus with a sensor which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing for demonstrating the apparatus with a sensor which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10, 50, 70 Sensor-equipped device 11 Bearing device (device main body)
12 temperature sensor 13 vibration sensor 14 circuit part 16 thermoelectric generator module 17 transmission means 28 metal plate (heating surface)
30 Radiators 31, 31a Fins 51 Rotational speed sensor 72 Axle bearing device for railway vehicles (device main body)
73 Housing

Claims (7)

Thermoelectric generator as a generator main body having a heat source, a circuit unit including a sensor for detecting an operation state of the apparatus main body, and a generator that is disposed on a heat generating surface of the apparatus main body and generates driving power for the circuit unit Module and
The apparatus with a sensor, wherein the circuit unit includes a transmission unit that transmits a detection signal by the sensor or a processing result of the detection signal.   The sensor-equipped device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit unit is provided integrally with the thermoelectric generator module.   3. The sensor-equipped device according to claim 1, wherein a heating surface of the thermoelectric generator module is disposed on a heat generating surface of a rotating shaft of the apparatus main body, and a radiator is provided on a cooling surface of the thermoelectric generator module. .   4. The sensor-equipped device according to claim 3, wherein fins of the radiator are provided in parallel to a tangential direction of the rotating shaft, or are provided concentrically with the rotating shaft.   The apparatus main body is an axle bearing device for a railway vehicle, and at least the thermoelectric generation module among the circuit portion and the thermoelectric generation module is arranged in an upper part from the axial center of the housing of the axle bearing device for the railway vehicle. The sensor-equipped device according to claim 1 or 2.   5. The sensor-equipped device according to claim 1, wherein the device main body is a bearing device that supports an axle of a railway vehicle or an automobile.   The sensor-attached device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits a detection signal by the sensor or a processing result of the detection signal by wireless communication.

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