JP2012096644A - Tire heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tire heating device capable of increasing a temperature of the tire, even in right after the starting of traveling of a vehicle.SOLUTION: The tire heating device 1 includes a rotation side device 1a equipped with a power generation part 40a which has a vibrator 11 stored in an exterior section 10 integrally rotating with a wheel 3 and moving from the rotation center of the wheel to the outward with a centrifugal force by the rotation of the wheel 3, and a heat generation part 40b comprising a heating module 42 and increases the air temperature in the tire air chamber 2a, and a fixed side device 1b which periodically moves the vibrator 11 moving from the rotation center of the wheel 3 to the outward toward the rotation center of the wheel 3. The power generation part 40a vibrates a piezo element 12 to generate when the vibrator 11 reciprocates in the exterior section 10 in association with the rotation of the wheel 3 and the heating module 42 heats by the power generated in the power generation part 40a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire heating device that increases an air temperature in a tire air chamber by rotating a wheel.

If the air temperature in the tire air chamber (hereinafter referred to as tire temperature) is low when the vehicle starts to travel, the running resistance increases and fuel consumption decreases. Therefore, it is preferable to quickly increase the tire temperature after the start of traveling. Alternatively, it is preferable that the tire temperature has been increased to some extent at the start of running.
For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a technique for generating electric power by using rotation of a tire during traveling. If the tire temperature can be increased using electric power generated in this way, the vehicle is equipped. The tire temperature can be increased efficiently without increasing the consumption of another energy such as a secondary battery.
According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to generate electric power by the Seebeck effect by using the temperature increase of the tire in a traveling vehicle.
Moreover, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, static electricity generated in a tire in a traveling vehicle can be stored in a capacitor such as a capacitor.

JP 2009-40408 A JP 2006-521233 A

  However, with the technique of Patent Document 1, power cannot be generated until the tire temperature rises after the vehicle starts running. Moreover, with the technique of patent document 2, it cannot generate electric power until sufficient static electricity is stored in the tire after the vehicle starts running. Therefore, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot generate power immediately after the start of traveling, and even when the tire temperature is increased by using the power generated by the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the traveling starts. There is a problem that the tire temperature cannot be quickly raised later.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tire heating device that can increase the tire temperature even immediately after the start of traveling of the vehicle.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is housed in an exterior portion that rotates integrally with a wheel on which a tire is mounted, and is moved outward from the center of rotation of the wheel by centrifugal force due to rotation of the wheel. A rotation-side device including a power generation unit having a vibrator moving toward the head, a heat generation unit configured to include a heat generation module to increase the air temperature in the tire air chamber, and outward from the rotation center of the wheel. A stationary-side device that periodically moves the vibrator that is moving toward the center of rotation of the wheel, and the power generation unit causes the vibrator to move within the exterior as the wheel rotates. Kinetic energy when reciprocating is converted into electric power, and the heat generating module is a tire heating device that generates heat when supplied with electric power converted by the power generation unit.

According to this invention, the kinetic energy of the vibrator that reciprocates in the exterior can be converted into electric power with the rotation of the wheel, and further, the heat generation module is heated using this electric power to increase the tire temperature. Can do. Since the vibrator can reciprocate and convert kinetic energy into electric power even immediately after the start of traveling of the vehicle, the heat generating module can generate heat immediately after the start of traveling, and the tire temperature can be increased. Further, the tire temperature can be increased without consuming another energy such as a secondary battery.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the tire heating device according to claim 1, wherein the exterior portion includes a bottom portion on a side of the center of rotation of the wheel and a top portion facing the bottom portion. The vibrator 11 is housed so as to be able to reciprocate between the bottom part and the top part, and the power generation part moves the vibrator outward from the center of rotation of the wheel by a centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the wheel. And a piezoelectric element that vibrates to generate electric power when it collides with the top.

  According to this invention, when the reciprocating vibrator collides with the top of the exterior part, the piezoelectric element can be vibrated to generate electric power. That is, when the reciprocating vibrator vibrates the piezoelectric element to generate electric power, the kinetic energy of the reciprocating vibrator can be converted into electric power.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the tire heating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed side device is permanently attached to a caliper of a disc brake device that applies a braking force to the wheel. It is a magnet, and the vibrator has a magnetic member that is attracted to the stationary device.

  According to the present invention, the permanent magnet attached to the caliper of the disc brake device can be used as the stationary device. The vibrator has a magnetic member that is attracted to the stationary device, and the vibrator can be configured to be attracted to the stationary device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibration that is housed in an exterior portion that rotates integrally with a wheel on which a tire is mounted and that moves outward from the center of rotation of the wheel by centrifugal force due to the rotation of the wheel. A rotation-side device including a child, and a fixed-side device that periodically moves the vibrator moving outward from the rotation center of the wheel toward the rotation center of the wheel, The rotation-side device is a tire heating device that generates heat with kinetic energy when the vibrator reciprocates in the exterior portion as the wheel rotates.

  According to the present invention, the tire temperature can be increased by generating heat by the kinetic energy of the vibrator that reciprocates in the exterior as the wheel rotates. Since the vibrator can reciprocate even immediately after the start of traveling of the vehicle and generate heat from the rotation side device with kinetic energy, the tire temperature can be increased immediately after the start of traveling. Further, the tire temperature can be increased without consuming another energy such as a secondary battery.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the tire heating device according to claim 4, wherein the rotating side device is configured such that the vibrator that reciprocates as the wheel rotates slides in the exterior portion. And generating heat by frictional heat generated between the vibrator and the exterior part.

  According to the present invention, the rotary device can be heated by the frictional heat generated when the vibrator reciprocating with the rotation of the wheel slides in the exterior portion. And tire temperature can be raised with the rotation side apparatus which generate | occur | produced the heat | fever.

The invention according to claim 6 is the tire heating device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the fixed side device is permanently attached to a caliper of a disc brake device that applies a braking force to the wheel. It is a magnet, and the vibrator has a magnetic member that is attracted to the stationary device.

  According to the present invention, the permanent magnet attached to the caliper of the disc brake device can be used as the stationary device. The vibrator has a magnetic member that is attracted to the stationary device, and the vibrator can be configured to be attracted to the stationary device.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the tire heating device according to claim 4, wherein the fixed side device is a permanent magnet attached to a caliper of a disc brake device that applies a braking force to the wheel. The vibrator has a magnetic member that is attracted to the fixed-side device, and the rotation-side device fluctuates the magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet when the vibrator reciprocates as the wheel rotates. It generates heat by the eddy current generated by doing so.

  According to the present invention, the permanent magnet attached to the caliper of the disc brake device can be used as the stationary device, and the vibrator can be configured to be attracted to the stationary device by having the magnetic member attracted to the stationary device. . Then, when the vibrator reciprocates with the rotation of the wheel, the magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet of the fixed device is changed to generate eddy current, and the heat generated by the eddy current (Joule heat) Can generate heat.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire heating device capable of increasing the tire temperature even immediately after the start of traveling of the vehicle.

It is a figure which shows the rotation side apparatus with which a wheel is equipped, and the stationary side apparatus with which a caliper is equipped. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the power generation unit and the heat generation unit, (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a tapered exterior portion and vibrator, and (c) is elastically supported around the top including the bottom. It is sectional drawing which shows a structure. (A) is a figure which shows the state which the vibrator | oscillator moved toward the rotation center of a wheel, (b) is a figure which shows the state which the vibrator | oscillator moved outward from the rotation center of the wheel. (A) is a figure which shows the heat_generation | fever part provided with the electrical storage device which accumulates the electric power generated in the electric power generation part, (b) is a figure which shows the state which tire temperature falls. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the rotation side apparatus which is not provided with an electric power generation part. (A), (b) is a figure which shows an example with which a fixed side apparatus is provided in a fender.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 1, the tire heating device 1 according to this embodiment is attached to, for example, a disc brake device 4 and a wheel 3.
Specifically, the tire air is attached to the rim 3a of the wheel 3 that is attached to the knuckle 5 and rotates around the rotation center CL, and is formed as a sealed space between the tire 2 attached to the wheel 3 and the rim 3a. The rotation side device 1a provided in the chamber 2a and the fixed side device 1b provided in the caliper 4b of the disc brake device 4 are configured. The method for fixing the rotation-side device 1a to the rim 3a and the method for fixing the fixation-side device 1b to the caliper 4b are not limited and can be appropriately selected such as adhesion and welding.

The caliper 4b is provided so that an inner pad 4b3 and an outer pad 4b2 are opposed to each other with a brake disc rotor 4a sandwiched between a caliper body 4b1 that sandwiches a brake disc rotor 4a that rotates integrally with the wheel 3. . When the piston 4b4 presses the inner pad 4b3 against the brake disc rotor 4a, the inner pad 4b3 and the outer pad 4b2 are pressed against the brake disc rotor 4a to apply a braking force to the wheel 3.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the rotation-side device 1 a includes a power generation unit 40 a and a heat generation unit 40 b, and the power generation unit 40 a includes the vibrator 11 that is housed inside the hollow exterior unit 10.
The exterior portion 10 is attached to the tire air chamber 2 a side so that the bottom portion 10 a that is the rotation center side of the wheel 3 is in contact with the rim 3 a of the wheel 3. And the thin film-like piezoelectric element 12 is attached to the top part 10b which opposes the bottom part 10a so that a vibration is possible.

For example, a through hole 10c is formed in a part of the top portion 10b of the exterior part 10, and the thin film piezoelectric element 12 is attached so as to close the through hole 10c with an appropriate tension. In addition, a through hole 12a is formed in the piezoelectric element 12, and the hollow portion of the exterior portion 10 and the tire air chamber 2a communicate with each other. By forming the through hole 12a in this way, air resistance when the piezoelectric element 12 is vibrating can be reduced, and attenuation of vibration due to air resistance can be suppressed.
In addition, when the exterior part 10 is formed with the material which becomes conductors, such as a metal material, it is preferable that the piezoelectric element 12 is supported via insulating members, such as resin.

The vibrator 11 is housed in the exterior portion 10 so as to freely reciprocate between the bottom portion 10a and the top portion 10b, and is configured to move to the top portion 10b side by centrifugal force when the wheel 3 rotates. . That is, the vibrator 11 moves outward from the center of rotation by the rotation of the wheel 3. Furthermore, a magnetic member 11 a such as iron is attached to the bottom 10 a side of the vibrator 11. Alternatively, the vibrator 11 may be formed of a magnetic member such as iron.
When the vibrator 11 moves toward the piezoelectric element 12, the vibrator 11 collides with the top portion 10 b inside the exterior portion 10.

In addition, the exterior part 10 may have a rectangular cubic shape in cross section along the circumferential direction of the wheel 3 (rim 3a), or may have a circular cylindrical cross section.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the exterior portion 10 may be configured to be tapered from the bottom portion 10a side toward the top portion 10b side. When the cross-sectional shape along the circumferential direction of the wheel 3 is rectangular, the exterior portion 10 has a truncated pyramid shape (square pyramid), and when the cross-sectional shape is circular, the exterior portion 10 has a truncated cone shape.

Then, the side surface of the vibrator 11 is inclined in accordance with the inclination of the exterior portion 10, and the side surface of the vibrator 11 and the inside of the exterior portion 10 are in contact with each other on the top portion 10 b side.
With this configuration, for example, even when the vibrator 11 is tilted on the bottom 10 a side in the exterior part 10, the slope inside the exterior part 10 and the slope of the side surface of the vibrator 11 on the top part 10 b side. The posture of the vibrator 11 is corrected so that the values coincide with each other, and the tilt of the vibrator 11 is eliminated.

  If the vibrator 11 is tilted on the top portion 10b side, for example, a corner of the vibrator 11 enters the through hole 10c and contacts the piezoelectric element 12, and the piezoelectric element 12 may be damaged. As shown in FIG. 2B, the vibrator 11 and the piezoelectric element are formed by forming the exterior portion 10 to be tapered, inclining the side surface of the vibrator 11, and correcting the posture of the vibrator 11. 12 can be avoided, and as a result, damage to the piezoelectric element 12 can be avoided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, a protrusion 10d that protrudes from the bottom 10a of the exterior part 10 to the hollow part is formed, and further, a recess 11b that fits the protrusion 10d is formed in the vibrator 11. The recess 11b and the protrusion 10d may be fitted when the vibrator 11 moves to the bottom 10a side. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the vibrator 11 that has moved to the bottom 10a side from shifting in the lateral direction (the circumferential direction of the wheel 3 (see FIG. 1)), for example. As a result, it is possible to prevent the vibrator 11 from vibrating in the lateral direction.
In addition to the quadrangular frustum shape and the truncated cone shape, for example, a hemispherical exterior portion 10 may be considered.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the stationary device 1b according to the present embodiment is attached to the rim 3a side of the caliper body 4b1 of the disc brake device 4 and has a magnet (permanent magnet) that attracts the vibrator 11. Consists of including.

According to this configuration, when the wheel 3 is rotating, the power generation unit 40a of the rotation-side device 1a (see FIG. 1) approaches the position of the caliper body 4b1 as shown in FIG. When the stationary device 1b faces each other, the vibrator 11 is attracted to the stationary device 1b (permanent magnet) and moves to the bottom 10a side. That is, the stationary device 1 b moves the vibrator 11 toward the center of rotation of the wheel 3. Further, since the rotation side device 1 a periodically approaches the position of the caliper body 4 b 1 as the wheel 3 rotates, the stationary side device 1 b periodically moves the vibrator 11 toward the rotation center of the wheel 3. Let
Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the rotation-side device 1a is separated from the caliper body 4b1, the vibrator 11 moves outward from the center of rotation by centrifugal force, and the top portion 10b is formed inside the exterior portion 10. Collide with. At this time, the piezoelectric element 12 vibrates and generates electric power (generates power).

Thus, while the wheel 3 is rotating, the vibrator 11 reciprocates between the top portion 10b side and the bottom portion 10a side inside the exterior portion 10 as the wheel 3 rotates, and the top portion 10b. The piezoelectric element 12 is vibrated when it collides with the electric power to generate electric power (generate electric power).
Therefore, the power generation unit 40a including the vibrator 11 and the piezoelectric element 12 can periodically generate power while the wheel 3 is rotating.
As a result, the power generation unit 40 a has a function of converting kinetic energy into electric power when the vibrator 11 reciprocates inside the exterior unit 10 as the wheel 3 rotates.

In order to efficiently vibrate the piezoelectric element 12 when the vibrator 11 collides with the top portion 10b, the top portion 10b is separated from the periphery including the bottom portion 10a so that the top portion 10b is elastically supported with respect to the bottom portion 10a. You may comprise.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the top portion 10b is configured as a separate member from the periphery including the bottom portion 10a, and is elastically supported around the periphery including the bottom portion 10a by an elastic body 10b1 such as a spring.
If comprised in this way, when the vibrator | oscillator 11 collides, the top part 10b can be vibrated effectively, and by extension, the piezoelectric element 12 with which the top part 10b is equipped can be vibrated effectively. And it can generate electric power efficiently.
Alternatively, the piezoelectric element 12 can be effectively vibrated even if the exterior portion 10 is made of an elastic member such as hard rubber.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the heating unit 40b of the rotation side device 1a includes a rectifier 41 that rectifies the power generated by the power generation unit 40a, and a heating module 42 that generates heat by being supplied with the power rectified by the rectifier 41. , And a heat transfer module 43 that transfers the heat generated by the heat generation module 42 to a wide range.
The base 44 is formed, for example, so as to extend along the circumferential direction of the wheel 3 (the circumferential direction of the rim 3a) from the bottom 10a of the exterior portion 10 of the power generation unit 40a, and is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity. Is preferred.

The power generated by the vibration of the piezoelectric element 12 of the power generation unit 40a is AC power. Therefore,
The heat generating unit 40b includes a rectifier 41 configured to include a diode or the like (not shown), and converts AC power into DC power.
The heat generating module 42 includes a heat generating element 42a made of, for example, a nichrome wire, and generates heat with electric power (DC power) supplied from the rectifier 41.
Further, by providing the rectifier 41 and rectifying the electric power generated in the power generation unit 40a, a stable current can be supplied to the heating element 42a, so that the operation can be stabilized and the life can be extended.

The heat transfer module 43 is constituted by, for example, a heat pipe that transfers heat by evaporation / condensation of the working fluid vacuum-sealed in the container, and transfers heat generated by the heat generating module 42 to the base 44 for heating. The heat transfer module 43 is not limited to a heat pipe, and may be formed of a material such as copper having a high heat transfer rate, for example.
And the heated base 44 raises the air temperature in the tire air chamber 2a. That is, the tire temperature is increased.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the rotation side device 1a including the power generation unit 40a and the heat generation unit 40b is attached to the rim 3a of the wheel 3 (see FIG. 1), the rotation of the wheel 3 is performed. Can generate heat, and can further increase the air temperature (tire temperature) in the tire air chamber 2a.
When the tire temperature is low, such as when the vehicle starts to travel, the resistance during traveling increases and the fuel consumption during traveling decreases. Therefore, it is preferable to suitably increase the tire temperature when the vehicle is traveling.

A rotating device 1a configured as shown in FIG. 2A is attached to the rim 3a of the wheel 3 (see FIG. 1) to generate electric power according to the rotation of the wheel 3, and the generated electric power is further generated by the heating module 42. If the wheel 3 is configured to generate heat, energy for generating heat from the heat generating module 42 can be generated by the rotation of the wheel 3.
That is, the tire temperature can be increased without consuming another energy such as a secondary battery (not shown) provided in the vehicle.

When the tire temperature rises, the air pressure in the tire air chamber 2a rises, and the amount of deformation of the tire 2 (see FIG. 1) decreases, thereby reducing the rolling resistance.
Further, when the tire temperature is increased, the temperature of the tire 2 itself is also increased, the hysteresis loss of the rubber forming the tire 2 is reduced, and the rolling resistance is reduced.
Thus, when the tire temperature increases, the rolling resistance can be reduced, the resistance during traveling can be reduced, and the fuel consumption can be improved.
In addition, the power generation unit 40a (see FIG. 2A) of the tire heating device 1 according to the present embodiment can generate power according to the rotation of the wheel 3 (see FIG. 1), and promptly when the vehicle starts to travel. Power generation is possible, and the tire temperature can be increased.

  Note that the vibrator 11 (see FIG. 2A) of the rotation-side device 1a according to the present embodiment has a top portion of the exterior portion 10 due to centrifugal force when the wheel 3 (see FIG. 2A) rotates. 10b (see FIG. 2 (a)) and moved to the bottom 10a (see FIG. 2 (a)) by the attractive force (magnetic force) of the fixed side device 1b (see FIG. 2 (a)). Moving. Therefore, when the rotational speed of the wheel 3 is high, that is, when the vehicle speed of the vehicle equipped with the wheel 3 is high, the vibrator 11 (see FIG. 2A) is pressed against the top portion 10b with a large centrifugal force. When the suction force of the stationary device 1b is weak, the stationary device 1b does not move to the bottom 10a (see FIG. 2A) side by the suction force of the stationary device 1b. That is, the piezoelectric element 12 (see FIG. 2A) does not vibrate, and the power generation unit 40a (see FIG. 2A) does not generate power.

Further, when the vehicle speed is high, the tire temperature is quickly increased even if the heat generating portion 40b (see FIG. 2A) does not generate heat. Therefore, when the vehicle speed is high, the power generating portion 40a (see FIG. 2A). ) May not generate electricity.
Therefore, the attractive force (magnetic force) of the stationary device 1b is set so that the vibrator 11 (see FIG. 2A) reciprocates at a predetermined vehicle speed at which the tire temperature needs to be increased by the heat generated by the heat generating portion 40b. It is preferable to set. Such a predetermined vehicle speed and the suction force of the stationary device 1b may be values determined by a running experiment or the like.

For example, if the attracting force for attracting the vibrator 11 (see FIG. 2A) is increased by the stationary device 1b (see FIG. 2A) such as increasing the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, the vehicle speed increases. 3 (see FIG. 2A) is high, the vibrator 11 can be moved to the bottom 10a side of the exterior part 10, and the vibrator 11 can be reciprocated. The piezoelectric element 12 (see FIG. 2A) can be vibrated to generate power.
That is, if the attractive force (magnetic force) of the stationary device 1b is increased, the power generation unit 40a (see FIG. 2A) generates power even at a high vehicle speed, and the tire heating device 1 (see FIG. 1) generates the tire temperature. Can be increased.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the magnetic member 11a is attached to the vibrator 11 and is attracted to the fixed-side device 1b. However, the magnetic member 11a has a permanent magnetic pole opposite to that of the fixed-side device 1b. It is good also as a magnet. That is, when the rim 3a side of the permanent magnet provided in the fixed-side device 1b is an S pole (N pole), the bottom 10a side is attached to the vibrator 11 as a magnetic member 11a. Also good.
According to this configuration, the attractive force (magnetic force) between the stationary device 1b and the vibrator 11 can be further increased, and the power generation unit 40a generates power even at a high vehicle speed, and the tire heating device 1 (FIG. 1). Tire temperature can be increased.

Moreover, the structure by which several rotation side apparatus 1a (refer (a) of FIG. 2) is attached along the circumferential direction of the wheel 3 may be sufficient, and one or more electric power generation parts are attached to one rotation side apparatus 1a. The configuration may include 40a (see FIG. 2A) and one or more heat generating units 40b (see FIG. 2A).
Further, the heat generating portion 40b (see FIG. 2A) may be configured to extend in the width direction of the rim 3a.
In addition, the power generation unit 40a and the heat generation unit 40b are not limited to a configuration in which the power generation unit 40a and the heat generation unit 40b are integrally formed. The power generation unit 40a and the heat generation unit 40b are configured separately, and the power generated by the power generation unit 40a is supplied to the heat generation unit 40b. The structure which connects the electric power generation part 40a and the heat generating part 40b with conducting wire may be sufficient.

In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the heat generating module 42 is supplied with a power storage 42b such as a capacitor for storing the power generated by the power generation unit 40a, and the power supply to the heat generating element 42a according to the tire temperature. It is good also as a structure provided with the thermostat 42c comprised so that can be turned on and off. The thermostat 42c may be of a simple configuration using, for example, bimetal, and when the tire temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the thermostat 42c is electrically disconnected between the rectifier 41 and the heating element 42a, and the power to the heating element 42a is The supply is stopped. The predetermined temperature here may be a value determined by a running experiment or the like.
Further, the battery 42b is not limited to a capacitor, and may be a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery or the like.

  Furthermore, the battery 42b is provided on the upstream side of the thermostat 42c, that is, on the rectifier 41 side, and the electric power output from the rectifier 41 is stored in the battery 42b when the space between the rectifier 41 and the heating element 42a is interrupted by the thermostat 42c. Configure as follows.

  According to this configuration, when the tire temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the electric power generated by the power generation unit 40a can be stored in the battery 42b. When the tire temperature falls below a predetermined temperature and the thermostat 42c is electrically connected between the rectifier 41 and the heating element 42a, electric power is supplied to the battery 42b even when the wheel 3 (see FIG. 1) is not rotating. Is stored, the electric power can be supplied to the heating element 42a to generate heat to increase the tire temperature.

  For example, even when the vehicle is stopped and the wheel 3 (see FIG. 1) does not rotate, the tire temperature can be appropriately increased as long as the electric power is stored in the capacitor 42b, and the tire is set before the vehicle starts running. It becomes possible to raise the temperature in advance. In addition, the fuel consumption can be improved by reducing the resistance at the start of traveling.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when a vehicle whose tire temperature has decreased to the outside air temperature Tlow starts traveling at time t0 and travels with the tire temperature rising to temperature High at time t1, the vehicle stops at time t2. The tire temperature gradually decreases with time, and for example, decreases to the outside temperature Tlow at time t3. However, as shown in FIG. 4A, if the power generated by the power generation unit 40a is stored in the battery 42b and the tire temperature is appropriately increased by the power stored in the battery 42b, the structure shown in FIG. As shown by the broken line in (b), the decrease in the tire temperature can be delayed. For example, the time t4 when the tire temperature decreases to the outside air temperature Tlow can be set later than t3.

  In this case, when the traveling is resumed between times t3 and t4, the traveling can be resumed before the tire temperature has fallen to the outside air temperature Tlow. Therefore, the traveling can be resumed while the traveling resistance is small, and the fuel consumption can be improved.

  Further, a switch (not shown) may be provided instead of the thermostat 42c shown in FIG. 4 (a), and the switch may be controlled to be opened and closed by a control device (not shown) provided in the rotation side device 1a. For example, if the control device controls the switch at a predetermined time set in advance by the driver to electrically connect the rectifier 41 and the heating element 42a, at a predetermined time set by the driver. Tire temperature can be increased. If the time at which the driver starts traveling is set, the tire temperature can be increased in advance at the start of traveling, and fuel efficiency can be improved. As such a control device, for example, a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) control device (not shown) can be used.

  The tire heating device 1 shown in FIG. 2A has a configuration in which the heat generating unit 40b generates heat with the power generated by the power generating unit 40a, but may have a configuration without the power generating unit 40a.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, an exterior portion 10 surrounded by a bottom portion 10a and a top portion 10b formed of a conductor such as metal, and a side wall portion 10e formed of an insulator such as a resin, The rotary device 1a1 is configured to include the vibrator 11 housed in the unit 10, and includes the magnetic member 11a as described above by the rotation of the wheel 3 and the magnetic force of the fixed device 1b (permanent magnet). The vibrator 11 is reciprocated.

  When the rotation-side device 1a1 approaches the caliper body 4b1, and the vibrator 11 moving toward the top portion 10b of the exterior portion 10 is sucked by the fixed-side device 1b and moves toward the bottom portion 10a, the fixed-side device 1b The magnetic flux M generated by the permanent magnet included in the fluctuates and eddy current is generated. Since this eddy current generates heat (heat generation due to Joule heat) when it flows through the bottom portion 10a formed of a conductor, the tire temperature may be increased by the heat generated at this time.

According to this configuration, the rotation-side device 1a1 can increase tire air without including the power generation unit 40a and the heat generation unit 40b as shown in FIG.
In addition, it is preferable that the bottom 10a and the wheel 3 are electrically insulated so that the generated eddy current does not flow to the wheel 3 through the bottom 10a. For example, by interposing an insulating member (not shown) between the bottom portion 10a and the wheel 3, the bottom portion 10a and the wheel 3 can be electrically insulated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the rotary device 1 a 2 is configured such that the side surface of the exterior portion 10 and the side surface of the vibrator 11 slide, and the vibrator that reciprocates as the wheel 3 rotates. 11 may be configured to generate frictional heat due to friction between the armature 11 and the exterior portion 10, that is, a configuration in which the rotation-side device 1 a 2 generates heat due to frictional heat between the vibrator 11 and the exterior portion 10. And if it is set as the structure which raises a tire temperature with the heat_generation | fever of the rotation side apparatus 1a2, a tire temperature can be raised, without providing the electric power generation part 40a and the heat generating part 40b as shown to (a) of FIG.

  As described above, the rotation-side device 1a1 shown in FIG. 5A and the rotation-side device 1a2 shown in FIG. 5B generate heat by the kinetic energy of the vibrator 11 that reciprocates as the wheel 3 rotates. The tire temperature can be increased without consuming another energy such as a secondary battery, as in the case of the configuration and the power generation unit 40a shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stationary side device 1 b of the tire heating device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided in the caliper body 4 b 1 of the disc brake device 4, but is stopped with respect to the rotation of the wheel 3. If it is a site | part, it will not be limited to the caliper body 4b1.

For example, as shown to (a) of FIG. 6, as a structure which attaches the stationary side apparatus 1b which consists of a permanent magnet outward toward the rotation center of the wheel 3 of the rotation side apparatus 1a, such as the tire house part of the fender 100. Also good. As shown in FIG. 6B, the vibrator 11 of the rotation-side device 1a is configured to include a permanent magnet 11c having the same magnetic pole as that of the fixed-side device 1b on the top portion 10b side.
That is, when the wheel 3 side of the fixed-side device 1b is the S pole (N pole), the permanent magnet 11c is configured such that the fender 100 side is the S pole (N pole).

According to this configuration, when the rotary device 1a approaches the fixed device 1b, the vibrator 11 that has moved to the top 10b side by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the wheel 3 has a permanent magnet 11c and a fixed device 1b (permanent magnet). Move to the bottom 10a side by the repulsive force generated by repulsion.
And if the rotation side apparatus 1a leaves | separates from the stationary side apparatus 1b, the vibrator | oscillator 11 will move to the top part 10b side with a centrifugal force.
In this way, the vibrator 11 can reciprocate inside the exterior portion 10 as the wheel 3 rotates, and can vibrate the piezoelectric element 12 to generate electricity.

  Moreover, the structure by which a fixed side apparatus is provided in other fixed parts, such as the knuckle 5 (refer FIG. 1) may be sufficient.

  In recent years, an apparatus for intentionally generating a traveling sound by attaching it to a vehicle having a small traveling sound such as an electric vehicle has been studied. In the present embodiment configured as shown in FIG. The rotation-side device 1a is used as a device for generating a traveling sound because when the vehicle travels and the wheel 3 rotates, a collision sound is generated when the vibrator 11 collides with the top portion 10b inside the exterior portion 10. You can also.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tire heating apparatus 1a Rotation side apparatus 1b Fixed side apparatus 2 Tire 2a Tire air chamber 3 Wheel 3a Rim 4 Disc brake apparatus 4b Caliper 10 Exterior part 10a Bottom part 10b Top part 11 Vibrator 12 Piezoelectric element 40a Power generation part 40b Heat generation part 42 Heat generation module CL center of rotation

Claims (7)

A power generation unit having a vibrator housed in an exterior unit that rotates integrally with a wheel on which a tire is mounted and having a vibrator that moves outward from the center of rotation of the wheel by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the wheel; and a heating module A heat generating unit configured to increase the air temperature in the tire air chamber, and a rotation side device, and
A stationary device that periodically moves the vibrator moving outward from the center of rotation of the wheel toward the center of rotation of the wheel;
The power generation unit converts kinetic energy when the vibrator reciprocates in the exterior part with the rotation of the wheel into electric power,
The tire heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating module generates heat by being supplied with electric power converted by the power generation unit. The exterior part is
A bottom portion on the side of the rotation center of the wheel, and a top portion facing the bottom portion,
The vibrator is housed so as to be able to reciprocate between the bottom and the top,
The power generation unit includes a piezoelectric element that generates electric power by vibrating when the vibrator moves outward from the center of rotation of the wheel and collides with the top by centrifugal force due to rotation of the wheel. The tire heating device according to claim 1. The fixed device is a permanent magnet attached to a caliper of a disc brake device that applies a braking force to the wheel,
The tire heating device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator includes a magnetic member that is attracted to the stationary device. A rotation-side device including a vibrator that is housed in an exterior part that rotates integrally with a wheel on which a tire is mounted, and that moves outward from the center of rotation of the wheel by centrifugal force due to rotation of the wheel; and
A stationary device that periodically moves the vibrator moving outward from the center of rotation of the wheel toward the center of rotation of the wheel;
The rotation side device generates heat with kinetic energy when the vibrator reciprocates in the exterior portion as the wheel rotates.   The rotation-side device is characterized in that the vibrator that reciprocates as the wheel rotates slides in the exterior portion and generates heat by frictional heat generated between the vibrator and the exterior portion. The tire heating device according to claim 4. The fixed device is a permanent magnet attached to a caliper of a disc brake device that applies a braking force to the wheel,
The tire heating device according to claim 4, wherein the vibrator includes a magnetic member that is attracted to the fixed-side device. The fixed device is a permanent magnet attached to a caliper of a disc brake device that applies a braking force to the wheel,
The vibrator has a magnetic member that is attracted to the stationary device,
The rotation side device is:
The tire heating device according to claim 4, wherein the tire heating device generates heat due to an eddy current generated when a magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet fluctuates when the vibrator reciprocates as the wheel rotates.

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