JP2006166638A - Element for expansion drive - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an element for expansion drive used in units driven by a linear motion simple in structure, light in weight, and downsized with ease; and to provide an expansion drive unit using the element. <P>SOLUTION: The element includes a pair of ends 101, 102, and is constituted by a curvature-like sheet type material 100 having a nearly arcuate cross section. The curvature-like sheet type material 100 consists of an actuator element of a bimorph type having a laminated structure in a thickness direction, in which a solid electrolyte layer 105 is placed between an electrode layers 103 and 104. One end 101 of the curvature-like sheet type material 100 is estranged from or approaches the other end 102 by energizing electrodes 106, 107 to set up an expansion motion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an expansion / contraction drive element and an expansion / contraction drive device using the same.

  Conventionally, as a method for expanding and contracting, a method of connecting a motion converting mechanism to a rotating body such as a motor shaft and changing the rotating motion to a reciprocating motion to expand and contract the bellows, for example (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-329068 A

  However, as described above, as a drive device for obtaining a telescopic motion or a reciprocating motion, a motion conversion device that converts from a rotational direction to a linear direction is usually required. For example, a device configuration comprising a number of components such as a drive cam fixed to a motor shaft, a yoke cam mounted on the drive cam, and a connecting rod that supports the yoke cam and is fixed to a frame. Is complicated.

  In addition, the conversion device is usually made of a metal material to ensure durability, and needs to be a certain size or larger in order to facilitate assembly. Heavy compared to other devices. Further, the drive mechanism including the motor and the motion conversion device attached to the motor shaft of the motor has a structure that is larger than a certain size in terms of the motor device configuration, and makes a structure that fits in a cube of about several centimeters on one side. It ’s difficult.

  Also, in a device that drives in a linear direction, such as a focus adjustment device, when the device is configured using a motor, the device configuration becomes complicated, the weight is heavy, and it is difficult to make a small device.

  Furthermore, a device using a motor is noisy and is not suitable for uses such as home use and medical use. Therefore, it is desirable that the driving element is silent.

  In other words, in order to drive a device driven by a linear motion, when a driving element having a rotational motion represented by a motor is used, the device configuration is complicated, heavy, and a small pump is used. It is difficult to make.

  An object of the present invention is an expansion / contraction drive element that can be used in a device driven by a linear motion, and has a simple structure, is lightweight, and can be easily miniaturized, and the same It is providing the expansion-contraction drive device using.

  Therefore, the present inventors have arrived at the present invention as a result of intensive studies.

The invention of claim 1 is composed of a curved plate having a pair of end portions and having a substantially arc-shaped cross section, and the curved plate has a solid electrolyte layer sandwiched between electrode layers. A bimorph type actuator element having a laminated structure in the thickness direction, and applying an electric current to the electrode causes one end portion of the curved plate-like body to move away from or approach the other end portion to give an expansion / contraction motion. Telescopic drive element.
The invention according to claim 2 is the expansion / contraction drive element according to claim 1, wherein the curved plate-like body has a substantially C-shaped cross section.
The invention according to claim 3 is the expansion / contraction drive element according to claim 1, wherein the curved plate-like body has a substantially arcuate cross section.
The invention according to claim 4 is the expansion / contraction drive element according to claim 1, wherein the curved plate-like body has a substantially V-shaped cross section.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that one end of the curved plate-like body is a free end and the other end is a support end. It is.
The invention of claim 6 is the structure in which the curved plate-like body is bent, and elastic force is applied to the opposite end portions in directions away from each other. The expansion / contraction drive element according to the item.
The invention according to claim 7 is the expansion / contraction drive element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the curved plate-like body is a molded body formed in a bent state.
In the present invention of claim 8, a plurality of expansion / contraction drive elements are arranged side by side between the vertically opposed bases so that the substantially arc-shaped cross-sections are opposite to each other across the opposed shaft,
The expansion / contraction drive element is composed of the expansion / contraction drive element according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
In the expansion / contraction drive device, one end of the curved plate-like body of both the expansion / contraction drive elements is in contact with the upper base as a free end, and the other end is supported by the lower base.
The invention according to claim 9 is the expansion / contraction drive device according to claim 8, wherein the other end of the curved plate-like body of the both expansion / contraction drive elements is supported on the lower base by a plurality of electrode support portions. is there.
The invention according to claim 10 is the expansion / contraction drive device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a connecting body for connecting the upper base and the lower base is provided on the opposed shaft.
In the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the curved plate-like body of the expansion / contraction drive element is formed with an electrically insulating portion that crosses between both end portions and divides the electrode region into a plurality of portions in an intermediate region thereof. The telescopic drive device according to any one of 8 to 10.
According to the invention of claim 12, a plurality of vertically opposed bases are vertically provided, and a plurality of expansion / contraction driving elements are arranged side by side between the bases. The expansion / contraction drive device according to item.
According to the invention of claim 13, between a plurality of vertically arranged bases, a plurality of expansion / contraction drive elements are arranged facing each other so that their substantially arcuate cross-sections are opposite to each other across the opposing shaft. Has been established,
A connecting body for connecting the plurality of bases to the opposing shaft is provided,
The connection body is biased by a resilient force pulling in the axial direction of the opposed shaft,
The expansion / contraction drive device according to claim 8, wherein a spacer is provided between each of the substrates to maintain a distance between the substrates against the tensile force.

The present invention can be used for an apparatus driven by linear motion or curvilinear motion by the above configuration. Further, since the element itself is flexible, the copying operation is possible. Moreover, the structure is simple, the weight is light, and the size can be easily reduced.
Therefore, in particular, it can be used for hands, such as fingers and arms of a robot, legs, torso, and the like. It can also be used for an endoscope driving device, a lens driving device, a table driving device for various measuring devices, an active damper driving device, a nursing bed driving device, and the like.

  Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated using figures, this invention is not limited to these.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the expansion / contraction drive element according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a curved plate-like body having a pair of opposed end portions 101 and 102 and having a substantially C-shaped cross section. The curved plate-like body 100 is composed of a bimorph type actuator element having a laminated structure in which a solid electrolyte layer 105 is sandwiched between electrode layers 103 and 104 in the thickness direction, and the electrode layers 103 and 104 are energized. Thus, the end 101 of the curved plate having a substantially C-shaped cross-section is separated from or close to the end 102 to give an expansion / contraction motion in the vertical direction. Reference numerals 106 and 107 denote electrodes connected to the electrode layers 103 and 104, 108 denotes an upper substrate, and 109 denotes a lower substrate. An end 101 of the curved plate-like body 100 is configured as a free end, is in contact with the upper base 108, and the end 102 is supported by an electrode support 110 provided on the lower base 109.

  The curved plate-like body 100 is a structure in which an originally flat actuator element is bent into a substantially C-shaped cross section, and elastic forces are applied to opposing ends 101 and 102 in directions away from each other. Has been. The curved plate-like body 100 is bent at a bending angle (θ) shown in FIG. 1, and this angle (θ) is appropriately determined depending on the degree of expansion / contraction of the upper base 108, and in particular, this curved plate-like body. When the elastic force is applied to the body 100, the angle is adjusted in consideration of the necessary elastic force.

  Therefore, the expansion / contraction drive element of this embodiment has a strong extension in the upward direction with respect to the upper base 108 while maintaining the state where the elastic force is urged in the direction in which the end portions 101 and 102 are separated from each other. Exercise can be granted. That is, a voltage is applied to the electrode layers 103 and 104 through the electrodes connected to the power source via the lead wires so that the plus and minus of the electrodes 106 and 107 are reversed, so that a solid electrolyte such as an ion exchange resin can be obtained. As the water molecules and ions contained in the layer 105 move, the curved plate-like body 100 causes expansion and contraction.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a preferred example of a telescopic drive device using an actuator element. FIG. 3 is a schematic right side view of FIG.
According to FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of the expansion / contraction drive elements 100 a and 100 b are arranged between the vertically opposed bases 108 and 109 so that the substantially C shape is opposite to each other with the opposing axis X interposed therebetween. The end portions 101 and 101 of the curved plate-like bodies of the both expansion / contraction driving elements are in contact with the upper base 108 as free ends, and the end portions 102 and 102 are supported by the lower base 109. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a connecting body 11 that connects the upper base body 108 and the lower base body 109 is provided on the opposed axis X. In this example, the connecting body 110 is formed of a string, but is not limited. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the expansion / contraction drive elements 100a and 100b are electrically insulated by dividing the electrode regions of the electrode layers 103 and 104 into a plurality of electrode regions 103 and 104 in the middle region. A portion 112 is formed. Reference numerals 103a and 103b denote divided inner electrode layers. Similarly, the outer electrode layer 104 is divided by an electrically insulating portion. (Not shown)

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, this expansion / contraction driving device is connected to the electrodes 106 and 107 of the expansion / contraction driving elements 100a and 100b through electrodes connected to a power source through lead wires so that the signs are reversed. When a voltage is applied to the electrode layers 103 and 104, water molecules and ions contained in the solid electrolyte layer 105 such as an ion exchange resin move, so that the expansion and contraction driving elements 100a and 100b have different expansion and contraction motions. The upper base body 108 is tilted and reversely tilted by energizing it in the opposite direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, by applying current to the inner electrode layers 103 a and 103 b divided by the electrical insulating portion in the opposite direction, the expansion / contraction driving element 100 a can be inclined to the side surface. it can. In this case, although not shown, the outer electrode layer 104 is also energized with the same polarity in a region corresponding to the electrode layers 103a and 103b.

    Therefore, the expansion / contraction drive element 100 having the insulating portion 112 can provide inclined surfaces having different dimensions as shown in FIG. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, if three or more of such expansion / contraction driving elements 100 are arranged on the circumference between bases 108 and 109 such as a disk-shaped table, a more complicated motion can be obtained. Can be given to the table.

  By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, one end 101 can be used as a free end to contact a rotating body 201 having a shaft support 200 to give a rotational motion. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, the structure which transmits the vertical motion of the upper base | substrate 108 to the slide body 300 which slides on the axial part 301 is also employable.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the end portion 101 can be directly pivotally supported 401 on the rotating body 400, or the end portion 101 can be fixed to the upper base body 500.

  In addition, the electrodes 601 and 602 may be disposed on each of the upper substrate 108 and the lower substrate 109.

  FIG. 13 shows a telescopic drive device that constitutes a finger part of a robot. A plurality of bases 108 and 109 that are vertically opposed to each other are vertically arranged, and a plurality of telescopic drive elements 100 are arranged between the bases 108 and 109. The connecting body 112 connected to the upper base body 108 and the lower base body 109 is provided on the opposing axis X, and the connecting body 112 includes a spring or the like that pulls in the axial direction of the opposing axis X. An elastic body 700 is provided, and a collar member 701 is provided around the coupling body 112 as a spacer that holds a space between the upper base body 108 and the lower base body 109. Thereby, it is possible to move the individual expansion / contraction drive devices in a multiple manner according to the mode of energization while maintaining the space, and to realize a complicated and smooth movement of the finger or the like.

  In addition, this invention can also be formed as a molded object shape | molded in the bending state of the said curved plate-shaped object, such as cross-sectional substantially C shape. Thereby, it can also be comprised as a drive element of a structure like FIGS. 14-15 and FIGS. 16-1 to 16-4.

  FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a telescopic drive device according to another embodiment of the present invention using an element having a substantially arcuate cross section. In FIG. 17, the expansion / contraction drive elements 100a and 100b used in this apparatus are formed of a curved plate-like body having a substantially arcuate cross section as shown. Like this element, this element is composed of a bimorph type actuator element having a laminated structure in which a solid electrolyte layer is sandwiched between electrode layers in the thickness direction. In FIG. 17, the parts indicated by the reference numerals indicate the same parts as the reference numerals of the above embodiment. When this curved plate-like element having a substantially arcuate cross section is used, a pair of elements 100a and 100b in contact with the upper base 108 are formed by the electrode support portions 106 and 107, as in the element of the above embodiment. With the supported end portions 102 and 102 as fulcrums, the end portions 101 and 101 perform a substantially circular motion in the vertical direction, whereby the upper base body 108 moves up and down. Since this element has a substantially arcuate cross section, its displacement is much smaller than that of the element, but the force that supports the upper substrate 108 and the like is increased.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a telescopic drive device according to still another embodiment of the present invention using an element having a substantially arcuate cross section. In this apparatus, a support portion 1091 provided on the lower base 109 is disposed between the opposing elements 100a and 100b, and the upper base 1081 is rotatably supported by the support portion 1091.
Accordingly, when the elements 100a and 100b are energized with opposite signs, the end portions 101 and 101 of the elements 100a and 100b perform a substantially circular motion in the vertical direction, and the upper base body 1081 rotates around the support portion 1091. Then, a motion that repeats an inclination of a certain angle and an inclination of the opposite angle with respect to the axis is caused.
The element end 101 is not only in contact with the upper base 1081 as shown in FIG. 18, but can also be used in various ways such as being fixed or rotatably supported. It is the same as the apparatus of the said embodiment, and it is as having stated already.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an application example of an expansion / contraction drive device for stacking elements having a substantially arcuate cross-section to ensure a force increase. FIG. 20 is a schematic sectional view taken along line XX. As shown in FIG. 19, the present embodiment has a structure in which the upper base 1082 is sandwiched between the pair of elements 100 and 100 in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the upper base body 1082 is pivotally supported 1084 at its central portion, and the upper base body 1082 rotates with a small displacement by energization. The connected cross-section T-shaped portion 1083 is slightly displaced but causes a curved motion with a larger force. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the lower base 1092 is configured as a housing in which the four elements are supported, as shown.

  Since the expansion / contraction drive device using the element having a substantially arcuate cross section can realize a large stress with such a small displacement, for example, a device as shown in FIG. 21 is used as a modification of the device of FIG. You can also According to this apparatus, when energized, a plurality of elements 100a displaced in the same direction are arranged on the upper side, and a plurality of elements 100b displaced in the same direction are arranged on the lower side. Since the upper base body 1082 is configured to rotate with a slight displacement, it is possible to give a rotational motion to the cross-section T-shaped portion 1083 while the element is supported by the elements 100a and 100b with a stronger force.

  Then, by stacking the devices shown in FIGS. 19 and 21 up and down as shown in FIG. 22, for example, it is possible to configure the device as a strong finger portion in a robot hand.

The drive element of the present invention can be driven to impart a rotational motion or a linear expansion / contraction motion by the element itself. Further, since the element itself is flexible, the copying operation is possible. Moreover, since the structure is simple and light, it can be easily downsized.
Therefore, the drive element of the present invention can be suitably used for a drive unit of a positioning device, a posture control device, a lifting device, a transport device, a moving device, an adjusting device, an adjusting device, a guiding device, or a joint device. In particular, the driving element of the present invention can be suitably used as a focus adjustment device and a zoom lens unit because of its simple structure, light weight, and easy size reduction.
In particular, it can be suitably used for hands such as robot fingers, arms, legs, torso, and the like. It can also be used for an endoscope driving device, a lens driving device, a table driving device for various measuring devices, an active damper driving device, a nursing bed driving device, and the like.
Also, for example, an output device (or three-dimensional printing / image / drawing etc.) for outputting a three-dimensional output of a thing drawn on a computer with the insulation line being made fine and the elements partitioned by the insulation line as a three-dimensional element (or It can be applied as a display device) or as a substitute for wooden molds when making molds. It can also be used as a valve that presses against a pipe such as a rubber tube by controlling expansion and contraction of the three-dimensional element. Furthermore, it can be used as a three-dimensional element for controlling the flow rate.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the expansion / contraction drive element according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a preferred example of a telescopic drive device using an actuator element. FIG. 3 is a schematic right side view of FIG. 2. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the operating state of the expansion-contraction drive apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic side view which shows the operation state of the expansion-contraction drive apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the operating state of the expansion-contraction drive apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows other embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic front view of the apparatus of FIGS. It is a schematic plan view which shows other embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows other embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows other embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows other embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows other embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows other embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the embodiment of the molded object of the expansion-contraction drive element which concerns on this invention. It is the same schematic side view. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the further embodiment of the molded object of the expansion-contraction drive element which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic conceptual diagram which shows the 2nd embodiment concerning the other molded object. It is a schematic conceptual diagram which shows the 3rd embodiment concerning the other molded object. It is a schematic conceptual diagram which shows the 4th embodiment concerning the other molded object. It is a schematic conceptual diagram which shows the 5th embodiment concerning the other molded object. 1 is a schematic side view showing a first embodiment of an apparatus equipped with an expansion / contraction drive element having a substantially arcuate cross section according to the present invention. It is a schematic side view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the apparatus. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows 3rd Embodiment of the apparatus. It is the XX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows 4th Embodiment of the apparatus. It is the schematic of the apparatus which mounts multiple apparatuses of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Curved plate-like body 101, 102 End part 103, 104 Electrode layer 105 Solid electrolyte layer 106, 107 Electrode 108 Upper base body 109 Lower base body 110 Electrode support part

Claims (13)

    It is composed of a curved plate having a pair of end portions and having a substantially arc-shaped cross section, and the curved plate has a laminated structure in which a solid electrolyte layer is sandwiched between electrode layers in the thickness direction. An expansion / contraction drive element comprising a bimorph type actuator element provided, and applying an expansion / contraction motion by energizing the electrode so that one end of the curved plate-like body separates from or approaches the other end.     The expansion / contraction drive element according to claim 1, wherein the curved plate-like body has a substantially C-shaped cross section.   The expansion / contraction drive element according to claim 1, wherein the curved plate-like body has a substantially arcuate cross section.   The expansion / contraction drive element according to claim 1, wherein the curved plate-like body has a substantially V-shaped cross section.   The expansion / contraction drive element according to claim 1, wherein one end of the curved plate-like body is a free end and the other end is a support end.     The expansion / contraction drive according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the curved plate-like body is a bent structure, and elastic force is applied to opposite opposing ends in a direction away from each other. Element.     The expansion / contraction drive element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the curved plate-shaped body is a molded body molded in a bent state. A plurality of expansion / contraction drive elements are arranged side by side between the vertically opposed bases so that the substantially arc-shaped cross-sections are opposite to each other across the opposed axis,
The expansion / contraction drive element is composed of the expansion / contraction drive element according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A telescopic drive device in which one end portion of the curved plate-like body of both the telescopic drive elements is in contact with the upper base as a free end and the other end is supported by the lower base.   The expansion / contraction drive device according to claim 8, wherein the other end portions of the curved plate-like bodies of the both expansion / contraction drive elements are supported on the lower base by a plurality of electrode support portions.   The expansion / contraction drive device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a connecting body for connecting the upper base and the lower base is provided on the opposing shaft.   The curved plate-like body of the expansion / contraction drive element is formed with an electrically insulating portion that crosses between both end portions and divides the electrode region into a plurality of portions in an intermediate region thereof. The telescopic drive device described in 1.   The expansion / contraction drive apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein a plurality of vertically opposing bases are vertically provided, and a plurality of expansion / contraction drive elements are arranged between the bases. A plurality of telescopic drive elements are arranged between each of the vertically arranged bases so as to face each other so that their substantially arc-shaped cross-sections are opposite to each other across the opposing shaft,
A connecting body for connecting the plurality of bases to the opposing shaft is provided,
The connection body is biased by a resilient force pulling in the axial direction of the opposed shaft,
The expansion / contraction drive device according to claim 8, wherein a spacer is provided between each of the substrates to maintain a distance between the substrates against the tensile force.

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