JP2007321640A - Heat accumulator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat accumulator manufacturable at low cost, reducing the possibility of lowering a capability of nucleating a heat storage agent when used for a long period, and not consuming power for each operation. <P>SOLUTION: The heat accumulator 1 comprises a container 4 which is placed in a water jacket 3 and in which the heat storage agent 5 is sealingly contained. The container 4 has the nucleating trigger 6 formed in a convex shape to induce the phase change of the heat storage agent 5. On the upper side of the nucleating trigger 6, a rotating body 12 operating the nucleating trigger 6 is supported by a support member 10 in which a bimetal 13 is assembled. The rotating body 12 has blades 12a, and a pressing part 23b is formed on the outer peripheral part of the rotating body. When the rotating body 12 receives the flow of cooling water and rotated, the pressing part 12b presses the nucleating trigger 6 to nucleate the heat storage agent 5 in the container 4 for heating. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat storage device that can effectively warm up an engine.

  Since the engine has a problem such as a large friction when the warm-up is not completed, early warm-up is required. In particular, components having sliding portions such as cylinder bores, pistons, crankshafts, and the like are desired to complete early warm-up in order to realize efficient operation. When an in-cylinder explosion starts, a normal engine warms engine components such as cylinder blocks and cylinder heads, and engine oil that circulates in the oil passages formed in these engine components. Progresses. Conventionally, in order to achieve the early warm-up completion of such an engine, the rapid warm-up of an engine that stores a heat storage material that generates heat when a phase change occurs from a supercooled state in a heat storage material storage chamber formed so as to surround the cylinder. An apparatus has been proposed (Patent Document 1). Such a rapid warm-up device applies a voltage to a heat storage material (heat storage agent) that is in a supercooled state when the engine is cold started, thereby starting a phase change and generating latent heat. It is configured.

JP 11-182393 A

As described above, the rapid warm-up device for an engine described in Patent Document 1 can raise the temperature locally around the cylinder directly immediately after the cold start, and can efficiently raise the temperature of the engine. is there.
However, in the configuration in which the phase change of the heat storage agent is started by applying a voltage as in the rapid warm-up device of the internal combustion engine described in Patent Document 1, the material used for the electrode, such as silver, is expensive, so the cost is high. It becomes. In addition, there is a concern about a decrease in the ability to nucleate due to an increase in the frequency of use and the number of years, that is, a decrease in the ability to change the phase. Furthermore, the configuration in which the phase change of the heat storage agent is started by voltage application consumes electric power every time it operates.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a heat storage device that can reduce the risk of lowering the ability to nucleate a heat storage agent when used for a long period of time and that does not consume power every operation. The task is to do.

In order to solve such a problem, a heat storage device of the present invention includes a container accommodated in a water jacket formed in a cylinder block, a heat storage agent enclosed in the container, and a heat generation agent that induces a phase change of the heat storage agent. And a trigger actuating means for actuating the nuclear trigger by a fluid force of cooling water flowing through the water jacket. If the fluid force of the cooling water is used to operate the nucleation trigger in this way, it is not necessary to install a trigger operating means that requires external power. In order to nucleate the heat storage agent enclosed in the container, a configuration in which a plate-like nucleation trigger and an electromagnetic solenoid (actuator) that presses the nucleation trigger with a needle may be combined. However, when it is set as the heat storage apparatus which employ | adopted the electromagnetic solenoid, there exists a possibility of producing the following problems. First, it is difficult to secure a space for mounting the electromagnetic solenoid, and there are problems of strength and sealing properties associated with cylinder block processing. In addition, it is difficult to align the needle and the nucleation trigger, and there is a concern that the heat storage agent will not nucleate due to the position of the needle and the nucleation trigger being shifted. Further, the size of the electromagnetic solenoid is restricted due to the mounting space and the like, and there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a driving force sufficient to press the plate-like nucleation trigger with an automobile power supply. Further, when an electromagnetic solenoid is used, the operating noise is loud, and if an attempt is made to install a soundproof cover or the like as a countermeasure against this operating noise, there will be an increase in cost and a problem in mounting space. According to the present invention, these problems can be solved.
Note that the heat storage agent may be a substance that can be in a supercooled state and can extract latent heat when a predetermined nucleation condition, that is, a condition for starting a phase change from the supercooled state is established. Can be adopted. For example, sodium acetate trihydrate (CH ₃ COONa · 3 (H ₂ O)) can be employed.

  In such a heat storage device, the nucleation trigger is an elastic plate disposed on the outer plate of the container, and the trigger actuating means includes a pressing portion that presses the nucleation trigger, and the flow of cooling water It can be set as the structure made into the rotary body rotated by a physical strength (Claim 2). The nucleation trigger is provided with a slit in an elastic plate, for example, and when pressed, the opposing surfaces of the slit are rubbed together, whereby the heat storage agent inside the container can be nucleated. The trigger actuating means for pressing such a nucleation trigger may have a configuration in which a pressing part is formed by providing a protrusion on the rotating body to form a pressing part, or forming the rotating body into an elliptical shape or a cam shape. it can. That is, a pressing part can be formed in the outer peripheral part of a rotary body, and a nuclear trigger can be pressed by a press part by rotating a rotary body with the fluid force of cooling water. Thereby, the heat storage agent can be nucleated without introducing external power.

  Thus, the nucleation trigger is an elastic plate arranged on the outer plate of the container, and the trigger actuating means includes a pressing portion that presses the nucleation trigger, and is rotated by the fluid force of cooling water. In the case where the rotating body is to be configured, it is desirable that the support member of the rotating body is provided with a switch unit that separates the rotating body from the nucleation trigger as the temperature of the cooling water increases. ). Since the nucleation trigger only needs to be operated during cold start, when the warm-up proceeds and the temperature of the cooling water rises, the rotor is moved away from the nucleation trigger and the nucleation trigger continues to be pressed. The purpose is to eliminate the problem.

The other heat storage device of the present invention is configured such that the nucleation trigger is brought into contact with the solidified body in which cutting powder that induces a phase change of the heat storage agent is generated by touching the heat storage agent and the solidified body. A rotating body configured to combine the scraping means for generating the cutting powder from the solidified body, the trigger actuating means is rotated by the fluid force of cooling water, and the solidified body and the scraping means are moved relative to each other. (Claim 4). It is known that a heat storage agent such as sodium acetate trihydrate (CH ₃ COONa · 3 (H ₂ O)) initiates a phase change by applying some stimulus when in a supercooled state. For example, when a new surface (fresh surface) that is not exposed to the atmosphere in which the heat storage agent is present appears, the phase change is started due to this. In order to utilize such a phenomenon, the present invention is intended to start nucleation, that is, phase change, by introducing cutting powder scraped from the solidified body into a heat storage agent in a supercooled state. . For example, a rotating body that rotates by the fluid force of cooling water is linked to a solidified body or scraping means, and cutting powder is generated by sliding the scraping means and the solidified body together, and the cutting powder is put into a heat storage agent. To do.

  In such a heat storage device, the connection member between the rotating body and the solidified body is provided with a switch unit that disconnects the connection between the rotating body and the solidified body as the temperature of the cooling water rises. (Claim 5). This is because the nucleation trigger only needs to be operated during cold start, so when the warm-up proceeds and the temperature of the cooling water rises, the connection between the rotating body and the solidified body is cut off, and the cutting powder is removed. The purpose is to eliminate the state of being continuously generated. In the present invention, it is assumed that the solidified body is connected to the rotating body and rotated to realize the relative movement with the scraping means. However, the rotating body and the scraping means are connected to each other, and the solidified body is connected to the rotating body. When the relative motion is realized, the connection between the rotating body and the scraping means is disconnected.

  The heat storage device of the present invention is configured to nucleate the heat storage agent by pressing the plate-like nucleation trigger using the rotational force of the rotating body, or by operating the solidified body or scraping means. For this reason, the positional relationship between the rotating body and the nucleation trigger and the positional relationship between the rotating body and the solidified body or scraping means are important. Therefore, in order to appropriately maintain the position of the container in the water jacket, it is desirable to include a positioning means for positioning the container in the water jacket.

  According to the present invention, since the heat storage agent is nucleated by utilizing the fluid force of the cooling water flowing through the water jacket, the heat storage agent is nucleated at low cost and when used for a long period of time. It is possible to provide a heat storage device that can reduce the possibility of a decrease in capacity and that does not consume power for each operation.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cylinder block 2 incorporating a heat storage device 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the internal structure by breaking the cylinder block 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. In addition, the cylinder block 2 in a present Example is a thing of a 4-cylinder engine. A water jacket 3 is formed on the cylinder block 2.

  The heat storage device 1 includes a container 4 accommodated in the water jacket 3. The container 4 has a halved shape corresponding to the shape of the cylinder, and is accommodated in the water jacket 3 so as to sandwich the cylinder from both sides by the two containers 4. Inside the container 4, a heat storage agent 5 is enclosed. The heat storage agent 5 is sodium acetate trihydrate. Sodium acetate trihydrate has a melting point of about 58 ° C. and can maintain a supercooled state up to about −20 ° C. to −30 ° C.

  A nucleation trigger 6 that induces a phase change of the heat storage agent 5 is provided on the upper surface of the container 4. The nucleation trigger 6 is an elastic plate disposed on the outer plate of the container 4 and is formed in a convex shape on the top plate portion of the container 4 as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 7 is provided. Further, a seal plate 6 a is stuck so that the internal heat storage agent 5 does not leak from the slit 7.

  Such a container 4 is sandwiched and supported at its lower end by a clip 8 installed in the water jacket 3. The clip 8 corresponds to the positioning means of the container 4 in the present invention. The clip 8 positions the container 4 in the water jacket 3 and the container 4 is supported in a stable state.

  On the upper side of the nucleation trigger 6, a trigger actuating device 9 for activating the nucleation trigger 6 is installed. The trigger actuating device 9 corresponds to the trigger actuating means in the present invention, and includes a support member 10 and a U-shaped support frame 11 connected to the support member 10. 4 is supported by the support frame 11 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. 4A and 4B are explanatory views showing the configuration of the rotating body 12, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a side view. The rotating body 12 includes blades 12a so that the rotating body 12 can be rotated by the fluid force of the cooling water flowing through the water jacket 3. Further, a projecting pressing portion 12 b is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 12. The pressing portion 12b presses the nucleation trigger 6 as the rotating body 12 rotates. When the nucleation trigger 6 is pressed, the heat storage agent 5 inside the container 4 starts nucleation. When the container 4 is mounted in the water jacket 3, the container 4 is positioned in a state where a portion other than the pressing portion 12 b of the rotating body 12 is in contact with the nucleation trigger 6. If positioning is performed in this way, the nucleation trigger 6 is pressed by the pressing portion 12b as the rotating body 12 rotates. Note that the pressing amount of the nucleation trigger 6 can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the pressing portion 12b.

  The support member 10 is fixed to the cylinder block 2. A bimetal 13 is incorporated in such a support member 10. The bimetal 13 corresponds to the switch means in the present invention. The bimetal 13 is bent when the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the water jacket 3 rises, and the rotating body 12 attached to the support frame 11 is raised and separated from the nucleation trigger 6.

  The operation of the heat storage device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings. The bimetal 13 at the time of cold start is linear as shown in FIG. 6A, and the rotating body 12 is lowered. For this reason, the rotating body 12 is in contact with the nucleation trigger 6. When the engine is started in such a state, driving of a water pump (not shown) is started, and cooling water flows into the water jacket 3 from the cooling water inlet 2a formed in the lower portion of the cylinder block 2. The cooling water flows as indicated by arrows 14 and 15 in FIG. 2 and rotates the rotating body 12. As the rotating body 12 rotates, the pressing part 12b presses the nucleation trigger 6. Thereby, the heat storage agent 5 inside the container 4 nucleates and starts a phase change accompanied by heat generation. This heat promotes warm-up of the engine.

  As described above, the warm-up of the engine is promoted by the heat generation of the heat storage agent 5, and the temperature of the cooling water rises as the warm-up progresses due to the operation of the engine. When the temperature of the cooling water rises, the bimetal 13 is bent as shown in FIG. 6B, and the rotating body 12 is separated from the nucleation trigger 6. Thereby, even if the rotary body 12 rotates with the flow of cooling water, the nucleation trigger 6 is not kept pressed. In addition, the thermal storage agent 5 which completed nucleation can prepare for the next nucleation by absorbing ambient heat and returning to a supercooled state again.

  In addition, since the shape of the rotary body 12 should just be provided with the press part which presses the nucleation trigger 6 by rotating, the cam-shaped rotary body 16 as shown in FIG. 7 is also employable.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the risk of lowering the ability to nucleate the heat storage agent when used for a long period of time at a low cost. In addition, power is not consumed for each operation.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The heat storage device 20 of the second embodiment is different from the heat storage device 1 of the first embodiment in the following points. That is, the heat storage device 1 according to the first embodiment has a configuration including the plate-shaped nucleation trigger 6, the rotating body 12, and the support member 10 in which the bimetal 13 is incorporated. The heat storage device 20 includes a rotating body 21, a rotor 22 that rotates when the rotating body 21 rotates, a solidified body 23 that is integrated with the rotor 22, and the solidified body 23 that comes into contact with the solidified body 23. It is the structure provided with the spring brush 24 which produces | generates. Moreover, the bimetal 25 which is a switch means which connects and disconnects the rotary body 21 and the rotor 22 according to temperature is provided. The spring brush 24 corresponds to the scraping means in the present invention.

  Unlike the rotating body 12 in the first embodiment, the rotating body 21 provided with the blades 21a is supported by a support member 26 fixed to the cylinder block 2 so as to be able to rotate sideways. The rotor 22 is attached so that the upper end side is exposed above the container 4. Here, the rotor 22 is attached to a gart between the opening 4a provided in the container 4 as shown in FIG. 10 so that the heat storage agent 5 inside the container 4 does not leak from the location. This is done by mounting a lip 27 sandwiched by a spring 28.

  The solidified body 23 is formed by kneading sodium acetate trihydrate into metal powder. When the cutting powder scraped off from the solidified body 23 is put into the heat storage agent 5, nucleation of the heat storage agent 5 occurs. The solidified body 23 may be any material as long as the cutting powder can induce nucleation of the heat storage agent 5, that is, a phase change. Substances such as wax and oil that have a property of easily repelling moisture are not suitable as substances that cause nucleation of the heat storage agent 5 and are not included. Such a solidified body 23 is integrated with the rotor 22 and disposed so as to be exposed in the container 4. However, a space is provided inside the container 4 so that the heat storage agent 5 is not immersed, and the solidified body 23 is positioned in this space.

  Such a solidified body 23 can generate cutting powder by rotating in contact with the spring brush 24. The spring brush 24 is mounted in the container 4. For this reason, a material that does not corrode by the heat storage agent 5 is selected as the material of the spring brush 24.

  One end of a bimetal 25 serving as a connection member with the rotor 22 is fixed to the rotating body 22. One rotor 22 has a shape including a protrusion 22a as shown in the plan view of FIG. When the rotating body 22 is rotating, the other end of the bimetal 25 engages with the protrusion 22a, so that the rotor 22 rotates. When the rotor 22 rotates, the solidified body 23 integrated with the rotor 22 rotates and moves relative to the spring brush 24 so that the cutting powder is scraped off. When the cutting powder is put into the heat storage agent 5, the heat storage agent nucleates and the engine warm-up is promoted. The rotor 22 can be changed to a rotor 29 having a cam shape as shown in FIG. 12B or an ellipse rotor 30 as shown in FIG. In short, it is only necessary to have a shape that rotates slightly with respect to the rotation of the rotating body 21 so that the rotor does not rotate as it is at the rotation speed of the rotating body 21. This is because only a small amount of cutting powder needs to be put into the nucleation of the heat storage agent 5, and when the solidified body 23 rotating at the same rotational speed as that of the rotating body comes into contact with the spring brush 24, This is because the wear is accelerated.

  The rotating body 21 and the rotor 22 in the cold state are connected via the bimetal 25 as shown in FIG. If the engine is started in this state and the coolant flows through the water jacket 3, the heat storage agent 5 nucleates as described above, and the warm-up of the engine is promoted by the latent heat at that time. Further, when the warm-up proceeds by the operation of the engine, the temperature of the cooling water rises. When the temperature of the cooling water rises, the bimetal 25 is bent as shown in FIG. As a result, the relative movement between the solidified body 23 and the spring brush 24 is also stopped, and the generation of cutting powder is also stopped.

  In addition, about the component which is common in Example 1, the same reference number is attached | subjected in drawing, The detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The heat storage device 40 according to the third embodiment includes a rotating body 41, a rotor 42 integrated with the rotating body 41, a rod 43 that moves up and down according to the rotation of the rotor 42, and a solidification integrated on one end side of the rod 43. The structure includes a body 44 and a spring brush 45 that generates cutting powder from the solidified body 44 by contacting the solidified body 44. Moreover, the bimetal 46 which is a switch means which connects and disconnects the rotary body 41 (rotor 42) and the rod 43 according to temperature is provided. The spring brush 45 corresponds to the scraping means in the present invention.

  Unlike the rotating body 21 in the second embodiment, the rotating body 41 provided with the blades 41a is supported by a shaft 47 that is rotatably supported by the cylinder block 2 so as to be able to rotate in the vertical direction. The rod 43 is attached so that the upper end side is exposed above the container 4. The same seal as that of the attachment location of the rotor 22 of Example 2 is applied to the location so that the heat storage agent 5 inside the container 4 does not leak. One end side of the bimetal 46 is fixed to the upper end portion of the rod 43.

  The rotor 42 itself is the same as the rotor 22 in the second embodiment. Moreover, the same thing as the rotor 29 and the rotor 30 can be used. For this reason, when the protrusion provided on the rotor 42 pushes down the rod 43 via the bimetal 46, the solidified body 44 and the spring brush 45 rub against each other to generate cutting powder. When the generated cutting powder is put into the heat storage agent 5, the heat storage agent 5 nucleates and generates heat.

  The rotor 42 and the rod 43 in the cold state are connected via the bimetal 46 as shown in FIG. If the engine is started in this state and the coolant flows through the water jacket 3, the heat storage agent 5 nucleates as described above, and the warm-up of the engine is promoted by the latent heat at that time. Further, when the warm-up proceeds by the operation of the engine, the temperature of the cooling water rises. When the temperature of the cooling water rises, the bimetal 46 is bent as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the vertical movement of the rod 43 is stopped, the relative movement between the solidified body 44 and the spring brush 45 is also stopped, and the generation of cutting powder is also stopped.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications of these embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. It is apparent from the above description that various other embodiments are possible within the scope.

It is a top view of a cylinder block incorporating a heat storage device. It is a schematic diagram which fractures | ruptures a cylinder block and demonstrates an internal structure. It is an AA line expanded sectional view in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a rotary body, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is explanatory drawing which expanded and showed the periphery of the part which mounted | wore the rotary body. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a rotary body and a nucleation trigger, (a) is a figure which shows the state at the time of cold, (b) is a figure which shows the state after warming-up completion. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of another rotary body, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is a schematic diagram which fractures | ruptures the cylinder block in Example 2, and demonstrates an internal structure. It is an expanded sectional view of the cylinder block in Example 2. It is explanatory drawing which expanded and showed the periphery of the part which mounted the rotary body in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a rotary body and a rotor, (a) is a figure which shows the state at the time of cold, (b) is a figure which shows the state after completion of warming-up. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the shape of a rotor. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a cylinder block in Embodiment 3. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which expanded and showed the periphery of the part which mounted the rotary body in Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a rotary body and a rod, (a) is a figure which shows the state at the time of cold, (b) is a figure which shows the state after completion of warming-up.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 20, 40 Thermal storage apparatus 2 Cylinder block 2a Cooling water inlet 3 Water jacket 4 Container 5 Thermal storage agent 6 Nucleation trigger 7 Slit 8 Clip 9 Trigger actuator 10 Support member 11 Support frame 12, 16, 21, 41 Rotating body 12a, 21a, 41a Blade 12b Press part 13, 25, 46 Bimetal 22, 29, 30, 42 Rotor 23, 44 Solidified body 24, 45 Spring brush 27 Lip 28 Garter spring

Claims (6)

A container accommodated in a water jacket formed in the cylinder block;
A heat storage agent enclosed in the container;
A nucleation trigger to induce a phase change of the thermal storage agent;
Trigger actuating means for actuating the nucleation trigger by a fluid force of cooling water flowing through the water jacket;
A heat storage device characterized by comprising: The heat storage device according to claim 1,
The nucleation trigger is an elastic plate disposed on the outer plate of the container,
The heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger actuating means is a rotating body that includes a pressing portion that presses the nucleation trigger and rotates by a fluid force of cooling water. The heat storage device according to claim 1,
The nucleation trigger is an elastic plate disposed on the outer plate of the container,
The trigger actuating means includes a pressing portion that presses the nucleation trigger, and is a rotating body that rotates by a fluid force of cooling water,
A heat storage device characterized in that the support member of the rotating body is provided with switch means for separating the rotating body from the nucleation trigger as the temperature of the cooling water rises. The heat storage device according to claim 1,
The cutting powder is generated from the solidified body by contacting the solidified body with a solidified body in which cutting powder that induces a phase change of the thermal storage agent is generated by touching the heat storage agent with the nucleation trigger. Combining with scraping means,
The heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger actuating means is a rotating body that rotates by a fluid force of cooling water to move the solidified body and the scraping means relative to each other. The heat storage device according to claim 1,
The cutting powder is generated from the solidified body by contacting the solidified body with a solidified body that generates cutting powder that induces a phase change of the thermal storage agent by touching the heat storage agent with the nucleation trigger. Combining with scraping means,
The trigger actuating means is rotated by a fluid force of cooling water, and is a rotating body that relatively moves the solidified body and the scraping means,
A heat storage device characterized in that the connecting member between the rotating body and the solidified body is provided with switch means for disconnecting the connection between the rotating body and the solidified body as the temperature of the cooling water rises. The heat storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A heat storage device comprising positioning means for positioning the container in the water jacket.

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