JP2016073064A - Power generating apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power generating apparatus capable of reliably generating power when liquid flows.SOLUTION: A power generating apparatus 10 comprises: a plurality of power generation units 16 each having a fixed body 12 and a floating body 13: and a fuel tank 11. The fixed body 12 of the power generation unit 16 has a cylindrical member 17 and an electromagnetic coil 18 and the like, and is fixed to an inside surface of a side wall 11C of the fuel tank 11. An inner peripheral surface 24 of the cylindrical member 17 partitions a through-hole 21 penetrating in a vertical direction. The floating body 13 of the power generation unit 16 has a floating member 32 and a permanent magnet 33 in an integrated manner, and is stored in the through-hole 21 of the cylindrical member 17. The floating body 13 is afloat on fuel in the through-hole 21 of the cylindrical member 17 by buoyant force. When a liquid surface of the fuel in the through-hole 21 oscillates, the floating body 13 moves in a vertical direction with respect to the fixed body 12 in accordance with the oscillation of the liquid surface. When the permanent magnet 33 moves in a vertical direction with respect to the electromagnetic coil 18, the electromagnetic coil 18 generates power by electromagnetic induction in accordance with the vertical motion of the permanent magnet 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generation device for a vehicle.

  Patent Document 1 describes a fuel tank device that includes a fuel tank that contains fuel therein and an energy conversion device that is disposed inside the fuel tank. The energy conversion device has a cylindrical case, a disk-shaped piston, a columnar magnet, and a coil, and is attached to the bottom surface of the fuel tank. The case is formed with a piston housing portion in the center in the axial direction for housing the piston, and two coil housing portions on both sides of the piston housing portion. Further, a plurality of guide holes are formed around the coil housing portion so as to be continuous from the end surface portion of the case to the piston housing portion and guide the fuel flowing in the fuel tank from the outside of the case into the piston housing portion. A cylindrical magnet that moves in the coil of the coil housing portion as the piston moves is attached to the piston toward both axial sides. As the piston moves, the magnet moves in the coil, so that an induced electromotive force is generated by electromagnetic induction. In the same publication, fuel often flows by turning or accelerating / decelerating the vehicle. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the energy conversion device is the direction in which the axial direction coincides with the vehicle width direction or the vehicle front-rear direction, or the vehicle. It is described that an oblique direction when viewed in a plan view may be used.

JP 2008-199803 A

  In the fuel tank device described in Patent Document 1, since the energy conversion device is attached to the bottom surface of the fuel tank, the piston is disposed in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the fuel tank and moves by the flow of fuel in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the fuel tank. However, since the fuel flow state (flow direction, flow velocity, etc.) is not uniform in the fuel tank, even if the fuel flows largely in the vehicle front-rear direction or the vehicle width direction on the fuel level side, On the bottom side, the flow of fuel may be reduced. In this case, although the fuel is flowing, the piston does not move and there is a possibility that power generation cannot be performed.

  Further, since a part of the fuel is guided from the outside of the case to the piston housing portion by the plurality of guide holes and hits the piston, and the piston moves in the axial direction, the axial direction of the energy conversion device is the flow direction of the fuel in the fuel tank. , The energy conversion device functions effectively. However, the flow direction of the fuel in the fuel tank changes in various directions depending on the driving operation of the vehicle (turning operation, acceleration / deceleration operation, etc.) by the driver and the inclination of the road surface. It cannot always coincide with the flow direction of the fuel in the fuel tank. For this reason, for example, if the energy conversion device is disposed with the axial direction of the energy conversion device set in a direction that coincides with the vehicle longitudinal direction, the fuel flows when the fuel flows in the vehicle width direction due to turning of the vehicle or the like. Despite this, the piston does not move in the axial direction, and there is a possibility that power generation cannot be performed.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle power generation device that can reliably generate power when a liquid flows.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle power generation device of the present invention includes a tank, an electromagnetic coil, and a floating body. The tank is mounted on the vehicle and stores liquid therein. The electromagnetic coil is fixed to the inside of the tank with the shaft core along the vertical direction, and allows the liquid to flow into the inner diameter portion. The floating body has a permanent magnet, is disposed on the inner diameter portion of the electromagnetic coil, floats on the liquid stored in the inner diameter portion of the electromagnetic coil, and moves vertically with respect to the electromagnetic coil in accordance with the oscillation of the liquid level of the liquid. Moving. The electromagnetic coil generates power by electromagnetic induction corresponding to the movement of the permanent magnet in the vertical direction.

  In the above configuration, when a vehicle driving operation (acceleration / deceleration operation, turning operation, etc.) by the driver, a road surface inclination during traveling, etc., force in the vehicle front-rear direction or vehicle width direction acts on the liquid inside the tank. The liquid inside the tank flows in the tank according to the direction of the force, and the liquid level of the liquid is swung. When the liquid level of the liquid oscillates, the floating body moves up and down with respect to the electromagnetic coil in accordance with the oscillation of the liquid level of the liquid, and the electromagnetic coil generates power by electromagnetic induction in accordance with the movement of the permanent magnet. By using the electric power generated in this way in the vehicle, it is possible to effectively use the energy of the liquid flowing inside the tank while the vehicle is running, and to improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

  Further, when the liquid flows, the liquid level of the liquid fluctuates. When the liquid level of the liquid oscillates, the permanent magnet moves in accordance with the oscillation of the liquid level, and the electromagnetic coil generates electricity by the movement of the permanent magnet. As described above, the electromagnetic coil generates electric power by utilizing the fluctuation of the liquid level. For example, even if the liquid flow state (flow direction, flow velocity, etc.) differs between the liquid level side and the tank bottom side. Thus, it is possible to reliably generate power without changing the arrangement position of the permanent magnet or the like according to the flow state of the liquid.

  Further, since the permanent magnet floats on the liquid, even if the amount of the liquid in the tank changes, the permanent magnet is always arranged near the liquid surface of the liquid and moves according to the perturbation of the liquid surface when the liquid flows. For this reason, even if the amount of liquid in the tank changes, it is possible to reliably generate power by ensuring a sufficient length in the vertical direction of the electromagnetic coil.

  The electromagnetic coil allows liquid to flow into the inner diameter portion of the electromagnetic coil. That is, since the liquid can be stored also in the inner diameter portion of the electromagnetic coil, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the capacity of the tank due to the provision of the electromagnetic coil inside the tank.

  According to the present invention, power can be reliably generated when a liquid flows.

It is a side view of a vehicle provided with the power generator concerning this embodiment. It is II-II arrow sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. It is a disassembled perspective view of a fixed body. It is a VV arrow sectional view in the state where the fixed object of Drawing 4 was assembled. FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing movements of a plurality of floating bodies inside the fuel tank when the fuel tank of FIG. 2 is viewed from the VI direction, where FIG. Each state is shown.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, FR represents the front of the vehicle, UP represents the upper side, IN represents the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the alternate long and short dash line CL represents the central axis of the through hole 21. Moreover, in the following description, the left-right direction means the left-right direction with the vehicle facing forward.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the electric power generating apparatus 10 which concerns on this embodiment is mounted in the vehicle 1 provided with a diesel engine (illustration omitted). The power generation apparatus 10 includes a fuel tank (tank) 11 and a plurality (20 in this embodiment) of power generation units 16.

  The fuel tank 11 has a rectangular plate-shaped upper wall portion 11a, a rectangular plate-shaped bottom wall portion 11b, and a rectangular cylindrical side wall portion 11c extending in the vertical direction, and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1 is the longitudinal direction. It is integrally formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape (box shape) and is fixed to a side frame 2 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. Inside the fuel tank 11, a fuel storage space 14 that stores light oil (liquid) that is fuel of the vehicle 1 is defined. The upper wall portion 11a is provided with a fuel filler port 15 that communicates the fuel storage space 14 with the outside.

  The plurality of power generation units 16 each have a fixed body 12 and a floating body 13. The plurality of power generation units 16 are arranged in the fuel storage space 14 of the fuel tank 11 so as to be adjacent to each other along the side wall portion 11 c of the fuel tank 11. Four fuel storage spaces 14 are arranged in the vehicle width direction along the side wall portion 11c of the fuel tank 11 at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the fuel storage space 14, and are disposed at both ends of the fuel storage space 14 in the vehicle width direction. Are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction along the side wall portion 11 c of the fuel tank 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the fixed body 12 of the power generation unit 16 includes a cylindrical member 17, an electromagnetic coil 18, a coil cover 19, and a stopper 20. Fixed to the inner surface.

  The cylindrical member 17 is a cylindrical body made of resin extending in the vertical direction, and has a circular upper end opening 22, a substantially circular lower end opening 23, and the upper end opening 22 and the lower end opening 23 continuously in the vertical direction. The inner circumferential surface 24 extends linearly, and is formed shorter than the vertical length of the fuel storage space 14 of the fuel tank 11. The inner peripheral surface 24 of the cylindrical member 17 defines a through hole 21 that penetrates in the vertical direction. The cylindrical member 17 has upper and lower thick regions 17a and 17b and a thin region 17c between the upper and lower thick regions 17a and 17b. The vertical length of the thin region 17c is longer than each of the upper and lower thick regions 17a and 17b. The distance from the central axis CL of the through-hole 21 (indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIGS. 4 and 5) to the outer peripheral surface 26a of the upper thick-walled area 17a, and the lower thick-walled area from the central axis CL of the through-hole 21 The distance to the outer peripheral surface 26b of 17b is set to substantially the same distance. The distance from the central axis CL of the through hole 21 to the outer peripheral surface 26c of the thin region 17c is set shorter than the distance from the central axis CL of the through hole 21 to the outer peripheral surfaces 26a, 26b of the upper and lower thick regions 17a, 17b. The That is, the outer peripheral surface 26c of the thin region 17c of the cylindrical member 17 is disposed closer to the central axis CL side of the through hole 21 than the outer peripheral surfaces 26a, 26b of the upper and lower thick regions 17a, 17b. An annular recess 27 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer side of the outer peripheral surface 26c. A protruding portion 25 that protrudes toward the central axis CL of the through hole 21 is formed at the lower edge of the inner peripheral surface 24. The projecting portion 25 restricts the later-described floating body 13 from dropping from the lower end opening 23 downward.

  The electromagnetic coil 18 is attached to the concave portion 27 outside the outer peripheral surface 26c of the thin region 17c in a state where the inner diameter is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 26c of the thin region 17c of the cylindrical member 17. That is, the through hole 21 of the cylindrical member 17 extends in the vertical direction in the inner diameter portion of the electromagnetic coil 18, and the axis of the electromagnetic coil 18 is substantially the same as the central axis CL of the through hole 21. Both ends of the electromagnetic coil 18 are connected to the converter 3 that rectifies alternating current. The converter 3 is disposed outside the fuel tank 11 and mounted on the vehicle 1, and is connected to a battery (not shown), auxiliary equipment (not shown), and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the coil cover 19 is composed of a pair of resin-made curved plate-like cover division bodies 19 a and 19 b, and the length in the vertical direction is the vertical direction of the thin region 17 c of the cylindrical member 17. It is formed slightly shorter than the length. The cover division bodies 19a and 19b have a semi-cylindrical shape obtained by dividing a hollow cylinder having an inner peripheral surface 19c along the outer peripheral surface of the electromagnetic coil 18 into approximately two equal parts by a cut surface including the central axis. Each of the cover divided bodies 19a and 19b has a pair of upper and lower claw portions 28 extending from the cut surface, and a pair of upper and lower engaging portions 29 that engage with the claw portions 28. The upper and lower claw portions 28 of the cover divided body 19a and the upper and lower engaging portions 29 of the cover divided body 19b are disposed at opposing positions, and the upper and lower engaging portions 29 of the cover divided body 19a and the cover divided body 19b It arrange | positions in the position which the upper and lower nail | claw part 28 opposes. The claws of the cover divided bodies 19a and 19b with the electromagnetic coil 18 sandwiched between the cover divided bodies 19a and 19b so that the inner peripheral surfaces 19c of the cover divided bodies 19a and 19b are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electromagnetic coil 18. The portion 28 and the locking portion 29 are engaged, and the coil coil 19 covers the electromagnetic coil 18. A pair of upper and lower cutout portions 30 from which both end portions of the electromagnetic coil 18 can protrude are formed in the cover divided body 19a. With the coil cover 19 covering the electromagnetic coil 18, both ends of the electromagnetic coil 18 are formed from the cutout portion 30. The part protrudes. Note that the boundary between the lower edge of the thick area 17 a on the upper side of the cylindrical member 17 and the upper edge of the coil cover 19, the upper edge of the thick area 17 b on the lower side of the cylindrical member 17, and the lower edge of the coil cover 19 , The boundary portions of the cover divided bodies 19a and 19b, the plurality of engaging portions 29 of the cover divided bodies 19a and 19b, and the upper and lower cutout portions 30 of the cover divided body 19a from the outside of the coil cover 19 ( Sealing is performed so that fuel does not enter the electromagnetic coil 18 side). Also, both ends of the electromagnetic coil 18 protruding from the upper and lower cutouts 30 of the cover divided body 19a and the wiring extending from the both ends of the electromagnetic coil 18 to the converter 3 are covered with a resin cover or the like so as not to directly contact the fuel. Covered.

  The stopper 20 is a resin-made rectangular plate piece, and is fixed to the upper end edge of the cylindrical member 17 so as to protrude from the upper end edge of the cylindrical member 17 toward the central axis CL of the through hole 21. The stopper 20 restricts the movement of the floating body 13 to be described later upward from the upper end opening 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the stationary body 12 of the power generation unit 16 has the upper end opening 22 of the cylindrical member 17 facing downwardly from the lower surface of the upper wall portion 11 a of the fuel tank 11 and facing the cylindrical member 17. The lower end opening 23 is fixed to the inner side surface of the side wall portion 11c of the fuel tank 11 by the upper and lower mounting members 31 in a state where the lower end opening 23 is spaced upward and opposed from the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 11b of the fuel tank 11. When fuel is supplied to the fuel storage space 14 of the fuel tank 11, the fuel flows from the lower end opening 23 of the cylindrical member 17 into the through hole 21 (see FIG. 5), and the fuel is also stored in the through hole 21.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the floating body 13 of the power generation unit 16 integrally includes an upper floating member 32 and a lower permanent magnet 33, and has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 21. It is formed in a column shape and is inserted into the through hole 21 from the upper end opening 22 of the cylindrical member 17 and accommodated. The vertical movement of the floating body 13 in the through hole 21 is restricted between the stopper 20 and the protrusion 25. The floating member 32 is a resin-made columnar box, in which air is sealed and floats on fuel stored in the through hole 21 of the cylindrical member 17 (hereinafter simply referred to as fuel in the through hole 21). . The permanent magnet 33 is entirely covered with a resin cover 34, and the upper surface of the cover 34 is fixed to the lower surface of the floating member 32 with an adhesive or the like. The volume and weight of the floating body 13 are set to values obtained by experiments, simulations, calculations, or the like so that the floating body 13 floats on the fuel in the through hole 21. The floating body 13 floats on the fuel in the through hole 21 of the cylindrical member 17 due to buoyancy, and when the liquid level of the fuel in the through hole 21 swings, the floating body 13 moves relative to the fixed body 12 according to the swing of the liquid level. Move up and down. That is, when the liquid level of the fuel in the through hole 21 swings, the permanent magnet 33 moves in the vertical direction with respect to the electromagnetic coil 18 according to the swing of the liquid level. When the permanent magnet 33 moves in the vertical direction with respect to the electromagnetic coil 18, the electromagnetic coil 18 generates power by electromagnetic induction in accordance with the vertical movement of the permanent magnet 33.

  In the power generator 10 configured as described above, for example, when the vehicle 1 is stopped for a long time on a non-inclined road surface and the fuel in the fuel tank 11 does not flow, as shown in FIG. The liquid level (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6A) is stationary. In a state where the liquid level of the fuel is stationary, the plurality of floating bodies 13 of the plurality of power generation units 16 are arranged in the horizontal direction at the height position of the liquid level of the fuel and are stationary with respect to the fixed body 12. On the other hand, depending on the driving operation (acceleration / deceleration operation, turning operation, etc.) performed by the driver while the vehicle 1 is traveling, the inclination of the road surface during traveling, etc., the fuel in the fuel tank 11 is transferred to the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1. When the fuel in the fuel tank 11 flows in the fuel tank 11 according to the direction in which the force is applied, as shown in FIG. 6B, the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank 11 ( 6 (b) oscillates. When the fuel level fluctuates, the plurality of floating bodies 13 pass through the through holes 21 in accordance with the change in the fuel liquid level in the through holes 21 of the cylindrical members 17 in which the floating bodies 13 are accommodated. Move up and down. When the floating body 13 moves up and down in the through hole 21, the permanent magnet 33 moves up and down with respect to the electromagnetic coil 18, and the electromagnetic coil 18 generates power by electromagnetic induction according to the movement of the permanent magnet 33. The electric power generated by this electromagnetic induction is stored in a battery (not shown) via the converter 3 or used as power for auxiliary equipment (not shown). By using the electric power generated in this way in the vehicle 1, the energy of the liquid (fuel) flowing inside the fuel tank 11 can be effectively used while the vehicle 1 is traveling, and the fuel consumption of the vehicle 1 is improved. be able to.

  Further, when the fuel flows through the fuel tank 11, the liquid level of the fuel fluctuates. When the liquid level of the fuel swings, the permanent magnet 33 moves up and down in the through hole 21 of the cylindrical member 17 in accordance with the swing of the liquid level, and the electromagnetic coil 18 generates electricity by the movement of the permanent magnet 33. As described above, the electromagnetic coil 18 generates electric power by utilizing the fluctuation of the liquid level of the fuel. Therefore, unlike the case where electric power is generated by using the flow of fuel at a predetermined height in the fuel tank 11, the fuel is generated. It is possible to generate power reliably without changing the arrangement position of the power generation unit 16 and the permanent magnet 33 according to the flow state (flow direction, flow velocity, etc.). For example, even when the fuel flow is small near the bottom wall portion 11b in the fuel tank 11 and the fuel flow is large on the liquid level side of the fuel tank 11, the power generation unit 16 is located on the liquid level side where the fuel flow is large. Without changing the arrangement position, it is possible to reliably generate power by using the fluctuation of the liquid level of the fuel.

  Further, regardless of the driving operation (acceleration / deceleration operation, turning operation, etc.) performed by the driver while the vehicle 1 is traveling, or the flow direction (front-rear direction or vehicle width direction) of the fuel that flows due to the inclination of the road surface during traveling, etc. Since the liquid level of the fuel fluctuates, the electromagnetic coil 18 can reliably generate power regardless of the fuel flow direction (front-rear direction or vehicle width direction).

  Further, since the permanent magnet 33 floats on the fuel, even if the amount of fuel in the fuel tank 11 changes, the permanent magnet 33 is always arranged near the liquid level of the fuel, and according to the fluctuation of the liquid level when the fuel flows. Moving. For this reason, even if the amount of fuel in the fuel tank 11 changes, it is possible to reliably generate power by sufficiently securing the length of the electromagnetic coil 18 in the vertical direction.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reliably generate power when the fuel flows.

  When fuel is supplied to the fuel storage space 14 of the fuel tank 11, the fuel flows into the through hole 21 from the lower end opening 23 of the cylindrical member 17, and the fuel is also stored in the through hole 21. A reduction in the capacity of the fuel tank 11 due to the provision of the power generation unit 16 in the fuel storage space 14 can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the power generation device 10 is mounted on the vehicle 1 equipped with the diesel engine, and the light oil is stored in the fuel tank 11. However, the power generation device 10 is mounted on the vehicle equipped with the gasoline engine, and the gasoline is stored in the fuel tank 11. May be stored.

  In the present embodiment, the plurality of power generation units 16 are fixed to the side wall 11c of the fuel tank 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one power generation unit 16 is fixed to the side wall 11c of the fuel tank 11. do it.

  Further, the power generation unit 16 is disposed along the side wall portion 11c of the fuel tank 11 and fixed to the side wall portion 11c. However, the power generation unit 16 is disposed at another location in the fuel storage space 14 of the fuel tank 11, It may be fixed inside the fuel tank 11. For example, the power generation unit 16 may be disposed at a position separated from the side wall portion 11c of the fuel tank 11, or may be fixed to the upper wall portion 11a and the bottom wall portion 11b of the fuel tank 11.

  Moreover, although the floating member 32 of the floating body 13 sealed air inside, for example, it may be sealed with foamed polystyrene, foamed polyethylene, foamed urethane, or the like in which a large number of cavities are present. Further, the structure of the floating body 13 is not limited to the structure in which the upper floating member 32 and the lower permanent magnet 33 are fixed. For example, a permanent magnet may be arranged inside a box having an internal space larger than that of the permanent magnet, and may be accommodated in the box together with air and sealed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to the content of the said embodiment, Of course, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from this invention. That is, it is needless to say that other embodiments, examples, operation techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are all included in the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the fuel tank 11 that stores light oil is applied as a tank. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any tank that stores liquid therein may be used, such as a tank that stores window washer liquid. It may be.

1: Vehicle 10: Power generation device 11: Fuel tank (tank)
13: Floating body 16: Power generation unit 17: Cylindrical member 18: Electromagnetic coil 21: Through hole 32 of the cylindrical member 32: Floating member 33: Permanent magnet

Claims (1)

A tank mounted on the vehicle and storing liquid inside;
An electromagnetic coil that is fixed in the inside of the tank in a state in which the shaft core is along the vertical direction, and that allows the liquid to flow into the inner diameter portion;
It has a permanent magnet, is arranged in the inner diameter part of the electromagnetic coil, floats on the liquid stored in the inner diameter part, and moves up and down with respect to the electromagnetic coil in accordance with the oscillation of the liquid level of the liquid A floating body,
The power generation apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the electromagnetic coil generates power by electromagnetic induction according to the movement of the permanent magnet in the vertical direction.

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