JP2021156172A - Pump apparatus and method for operating torque transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable change of rotation speed of a rotating shaft while suppressing breakage and wear to suppress the labor related to maintenance and suppress increase in size of equipment of a pump station.SOLUTION: A pump apparatus comprises a pump 100 having a rotating shaft 136 to which an impeller is connected, a driving device 120 for rotating a drive shaft 128 to rotate the rotating shaft of the pump, and a torque transmission device 125 that has an input shaft and an output shaft and contains a viscous fluid, whose viscosity changes under the action of a field generated by applying electricity, in a torque transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft. The torque transmission device is provided between the drive shaft and the rotating shaft, in the middle of the drive shaft, or in the middle of the rotating shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

The present invention relates to a method of operating a pump device and a torque transmission device.

An example of a conventional vertical shaft pump will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a pumping station in which a conventional vertical shaft pump is installed. In FIG. 8, a discharge elbow 412 is arranged on the first floor 410, and a pumping pipe 416, an impeller casing 418, a suction bell 420, and the like are integrated in a suction water tank 414 provided under the first floor 410. Suspended. A speed reducing device 424 and a prime mover 426 connected to the speed reducing device 424 are arranged on the second floor 422 provided above the first floor 410, and a pump that vertically penetrates and protrudes from the outer wall of the discharge elbow 412. The shaft 428 is connected to the output shaft of the speed reducer 424 via an appropriate shaft joint. Therefore, the rotation speed of the prime mover 426 is decelerated by the speed reducing device 424, and the pump shaft 428 is rotationally driven by the decelerated rotation speed to pump water by the vertical shaft pump.

The vertical pump installation structure includes a first floor 410 on which the discharge elbow 412 is arranged, and a second floor 422 on which the speed reducer 424 and the prime mover 426 are arranged. A pump building with a floor structure is required. With such a structure, the construction cost of the pump building is high, and because the installation height of the vertical pump is high, a tall crane or the like is required for the assembly work, and the assembly work is complicated. there were. Further, the speed reducer 424 needs a cooling device or the like for cooling the lubricating oil as ancillary equipment.

In order to solve these problems, a pump station based on the structural diagram shown in FIG. 9 has been proposed. That is, a vertical pump in which the discharge elbow 430, the pumping pipe 490, the impeller casing 492, and the suction bell 494 are integrally configured is arranged on the floor 484 in which the discharge elbow 430 is arranged on the suction water tank 488. The pumping pipe 490 below the discharge elbow 430, the impeller casing 492, and the suction bell 494 are integrally suspended below the water surface of the suction water tank 488. Here, the reduction gear 450 is integrally attached to the outer wall of the discharge elbow 430, the output shaft of the reduction gear is connected to the pump shaft 434, and the input shaft 452 of the reduction gear is discharged horizontally by the discharge elbow 430. It protrudes horizontally in the direction opposite to the direction of discharge. A prime mover 486 appropriately connected to the input shaft 452 of the speed reducer 450 via a shaft joint is arranged.

According to such a configuration, since the reduction gear 450 is attached to the outer wall of the discharge elbow 30, the installation height of the vertical pump is lowered, and a tall crane or the like is not required for assembly and disassembly, and the installation height is also reduced. Since the pump building needs only one floor, the construction cost of the pump building can be reduced. Further, the lubricating oil of the speed reducer 430 is brought into contact with the outer wall of the discharge elbow 430 to flow down, and is directly contacted with the outer wall of the discharge elbow 430, and is effectively cooled by the fluid passing through the discharge elbow 430. By doing so, there is an effect that a cooling device for cooling the lubricating oil of the speed reducing device 430 is not required as ancillary equipment.

JP-A-11-193799 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-200960 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-78471 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-281098 Jikkenhei 3-32221

However, the size of the reduction gear has a limit for further miniaturization because the degree of reduction is determined by the gear ratio.

Further, since the reduction gear uses gears, there is a risk of gear wear over time and gear damage due to repeated fatigue, so it is necessary to perform regular maintenance. Further, in recent years, it has been necessary to increase or decrease the number of revolutions in response to a request for drainage. Therefore, in order to respond mechanically, a plurality of gear ratios are provided and a clutch mechanism is required. The number of gears increased, the cost increased, and the size also increased.

As a device for changing the number of revolutions, when the drive is an electric motor, the power supplied to the electric motor can be supplied via an inverter, but the electric motor used for the drive of the pump used in the drainage pump station has a capacity. Since the inverter is large and has special specifications, it is large in size, expensive in terms of money, and has a long-term delivery time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to change the number of rotations of the rotating shaft while suppressing damage or wear, to suppress maintenance labor, and to increase the size of pump station equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of operating a pump device and a torque transmission device that can be suppressed.

The pump device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a pump having a rotating shaft to which an impeller is connected, a driving device that rotates a driving shaft so as to rotate the rotating shaft of the pump, and an input shaft and an output shaft. The torque transmission device is provided with a torque transmission device that incorporates a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes due to the action of a field generated by applying electricity in a torque transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft. The device is provided between the drive shaft and the rotation shaft, in the middle of the drive shaft, or in the middle of the rotation shaft.

According to this configuration, by adopting a torque transmission device that uses a viscous fluid that changes the viscosity of the lubricating oil according to the size of the field generated by applying electricity, the rotation of the rotating shaft while suppressing damage or wear. The number can be changed, and the labor related to maintenance can be suppressed, and the size of the equipment at the pump station can be suppressed.

The pump device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the pump device according to the first aspect, and the drive shaft is provided with air around the torque transmission device between the drive device and the torque transmission device. Equipped with a fan that causes flow.

According to this configuration, even if the temperature of the viscous fluid rises and heat is generated, the fan provided on the drive shaft rotates to generate an air flow around the torque transmission device, and the air flow is applied to the torque transmission device. The generated heat is transferred so that the torque transfer device is cooled.

The pump device according to the third aspect of the present invention is the pump device according to the first or second aspect, and the drive shaft is placed between the torque transmission device and the pump and around the torque transmission device. Equipped with a fan that causes air flow.

According to this configuration, even if the temperature of the viscous fluid rises and heat is generated, the fan provided on the drive shaft rotates to generate an air flow around the torque transmission device, and the air flow is applied to the torque transmission device. The generated heat is transferred so that the torque transfer device is cooled.

The pump device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the pump device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the torque transmission device is provided in the middle of the drive shaft, and the torque transmission device is , Equipped with fins on the outer circumference.

According to this configuration, when the output shaft is rotating, the torque transmission device can be cooled by the heat dissipation action of the fins provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device by heat transfer.

The pump device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the pump device according to the fourth aspect, and the output shaft of the torque transmission device is an input shaft, a disk provided on the input shaft, and the viscous fluid. It has a yoke in which a space for accommodating the fluid is formed, and a flow path through which the viscous fluid circulates inside the yoke and inside the fins is provided.

According to this configuration, when the output shaft is rotating, the torque transmission device can be cooled by the heat dissipation action of the fins provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device by heat transfer. At the same time, even if the output shaft is not rotating and the input shaft is rotating, the viscosity between the disc and the yoke is due to the action of centrifugal force caused by the rotation of multiple discs on the input shaft. A second flow path formed in the fin through a first flow path through which the fluid penetrates from the inner wall of the yoke, which is radially opposed to the outer circumference of the disk, to the inside of the fin provided on the outer circumference of the torque transmission device. Pass through the flow path. Therefore, the heat inside the torque transmission device is transferred to the second flow path formed in the fan along with the viscous fluid, and is further dissipated to the surrounding air via the fan.
The heat-dissipated and cooled viscous fluid passes through a second flow path provided along the fins provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device. Then, on the end side of the input shaft, from the inner wall close to the input shaft of the yoke facing in the axial direction of the disk, via a third flow path penetrating the yoke toward the outer periphery of the torque transmission device. , Returned to the containment space that houses the disc.

The pump device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the pump device according to the fifth aspect, and the flow path is the first flow path that penetrates the inner wall of the yoke and extends to the fin, and the flow path. It has a second flow path that communicates with the first flow path, is provided on the input shaft side of the first flow path, penetrates the inner wall of the yoke, and extends to the fins. The position of the end on the inner wall side of the yoke of the second flow path is closer to the rotation axis core of the input shaft than the position of the end on the inner wall side of the yoke of the first flow path.

According to this configuration, the position where the cooled viscous fluid is returned is closer to the rotation axis of the input shaft than the position where the viscous fluid flows out from the accommodation space, so that the centrifugal force applied to the viscous fluid is increased accordingly. small. Due to this difference in centrifugal force, a force for circulating the viscous fluid is generated.

The pump device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the pump device according to the first aspect, and the torque transmission device is provided on the rotation shaft and at a position where the pump is exposed to pumping water. There is.

According to this configuration, the temperature of the viscous fluid rises, but in the present embodiment, even if such heat is generated, since the torque transmission device is inside the casing of the pump, the impeller of the pump If the casing is filled with water by rotation, the torque transmission device is cooled when the water passes through the outer periphery of the torque transmission device, so that it is not necessary to separate a special cooling device from the pump.

In the operation method of the torque transmission device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a torque in which a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes due to the action of a field generated by applying electricity is built in a torque transmission path from an input shaft to an output shaft. A method of operating a transmission device, in which a step of applying electricity so as to generate a field acting on the viscous fluid at a certain time in a unit time and a step of applying electricity to the viscous fluid in the remaining time of the unit time. It has a step of not applying electricity so as not to generate a field of action, and by making the ratio of the time of applying electricity to the time of not applying electricity variable, the output is output from the input shaft of the torque transmission device. This is an operation method of a torque transmission device that changes the transmission ratio of rotational energy to the shaft.

According to this configuration, by changing the ratio of the time when electricity is supplied and the time when electricity is not applied, the ratio of the time when an electric field is generated in the torque transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft is changed, and the time ratio is changed from the input shaft. It is possible to operate by arbitrarily determining the transmission ratio of rotational energy to the output shaft. By performing such an operation, the device for cooling the heat generated by the viscous fluid can be made smaller or unnecessary.

According to one aspect of the present invention, by adopting a torque transmission device using a viscous fluid that changes the viscosity of the lubricating oil according to the size of the field generated by applying electricity, it rotates while suppressing damage or wear. The number of rotations of the shaft can be changed, and the labor related to maintenance can be suppressed, and the size of the equipment at the pump station can be suppressed.

It is a vertical sectional view of the torque transmission device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows a part of the pump device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the pump device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the detail of the impeller part. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows a part of the pump device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a vertical sectional view of the torque transmission device provided with fins on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device shown in FIG. 1. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the torque transmission device which shows that fins were provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device shown in FIG. 1 in a mode different from FIG. It is a cross-sectional view of the torque transmission device of FIG. 5A. Similar to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, it is a vertical cross-sectional view showing that fins are provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the torque transmission device of the aspect different from the torque transmission device shown in FIG. It is a structural drawing of a pump station where a conventional vertical shaft pump is installed. It is a structural drawing of the pump station which is different from FIG.

Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters and duplicate explanations for substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy of the following description and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art.

First, we explain a torque transmission device that utilizes the property that the viscosity of the lubricating oil changes depending on the field by including fine particles in the lubricating oil that have the property of being acted by the field generated by applying electricity. do.

<First Embodiment>
For example, FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the torque transmission device according to the first embodiment. The torque transmission device 125 according to the first embodiment has an input shaft 101 and an output shaft 102. A plurality of discs 121 are provided on the input shaft 101 (for example, near the end of the input shaft 101 on the output shaft 102 side) at intervals. Inside the yoke 123, which is a part of the output shaft 102, a storage space for accommodating each of the discs 121 is formed.

An electrically insulating airtight seal 104 is provided at each end of the accommodation space, and a viscous fluid containing solid particles in an electrically insulating liquid medium such as lubricating oil is provided in the sealed accommodation space. 105 is enclosed. A positive electrode is in contact with the output shaft 102, and a negative electrode is in contact with the input shaft 101, and a voltage is applied to these positive and negative electrodes to generate an electric field (also called an electric field) in the accommodation space. It has become.

Since no electrical field is generated in the viscous fluid 105 when no voltage is applied, only a slight force generated by the viscosity of the liquid medium of the viscous fluid 105 acts between the disk 121 and the yoke 123. Even if the shaft 101 rotates, the torque of the input shaft 101 is not transmitted to the output shaft 102, and the output shaft 102 does not rotate.

However, when the voltage is gradually applied, an electric field is generated between the disk 121 and the yoke 123, and the voltage becomes stronger. The solid particles of the viscous fluid 105 promote the formation of clusters depending on the strength of the electrical field. Then, the viscosity of the viscous fluid 105 increases as the cluster of solid particles grows. Therefore, the torque acting on the disc 121 and the yoke 123 gradually increases, and the torque transmitted from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 gradually increases.

When the strength of the electrical field acting on the viscous fluid 105 exceeds a certain level, almost 100% of the torque of the input shaft 101 is transmitted to the output shaft 102, as if the input shaft 101 and the output shaft 102 were integrated. Will be.

The torque transmission device 125, which utilizes the fact that the viscosity of the lubricating oil is changed according to the size of the field generated by applying electricity, has the input shaft 101 according to the strength of the electric field acting on the viscous fluid. Torque is transmitted to the output shaft 102. As described above, the torque transmission device 125 has an input shaft 101 and an output shaft 102, and a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes due to the action of a field generated by applying electricity is transferred from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102. Built in the torque transmission path of.

However, in the operation in which the torque of the output shaft is smaller than the torque of the input shaft, the rotational energy of the input shaft is not 100% converted into the rotational energy of the output shaft, and a part of the energy is discharged as dissipated energy to the viscous fluid. Let me. Therefore, the temperature of the viscous fluid may rise to deteriorate the properties of the viscous fluid, or the expansion of the viscous fluid may damage the airtight seal that makes the viscous fluid airtight.

As a countermeasure, a cooling device for cooling the viscous fluid may be provided. However, since it is necessary to separately provide a cooling device, there is a problem that the equipment becomes large and the cost increases.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the conventional mechanical speed reducer, the viscosity of the lubricating oil is increased by including fine particles having a property of being acted by an electric field generated by applying electricity in the lubricating oil. The purpose is to reduce the size and cost of equipment when substituting a torque transmission device that utilizes the property of changing depending on the situation.

Hereinafter, in each embodiment, the drive device that rotates the drive shaft so as to rotate the rotation shaft of the pump may include only the prime mover, or may include the prime mover and the speed reducer. Further, in each embodiment, a vertical shaft pump will be described as an example of the pump, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a horizontal shaft pump may be used.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of the pump device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, the discharge elbow portion of the vertical shaft pump is shown. As shown in FIG. 2A, the pump device 100 according to the first embodiment rotates a vertical shaft pump P having a rotating shaft 136 to which an impeller (not shown) is connected and a rotating shaft 136 of the vertical shaft pump P. A drive device 120 for rotating the drive shaft 128 and a torque transmission device 125 provided in the middle of the rotation shaft 136 are provided.

The discharge elbow 110 has a substantially curved tube shape, but outside the discharge elbow tube, the rotating shaft 126 extending vertically from below through the through hole 119 of the discharge elbow 110 and extending upward from the direction opposite to the discharge direction of the discharge elbow 110. The drive shaft 128 that extends and transmits the rotational driving force of the drive device 120 is arranged so that the gear Z provided on the drive shaft 128 directly meshes with the gear A provided on the pump rotary shaft 26. It has a rotating shaft to which impellers are connected. In addition, another gear or the like may be passed from the gear A to the gear Z.

The positional relationship between the rotating shaft 126, the drive shaft 128, and the discharge elbow 110 is determined via the casing 114 and is arranged with each other.

The discharge elbow 110 has a through hole 119 bored in the axial direction at the axial core position of the rotating shaft 126, and the rotating shaft 126 is shaft-sealed by the shaft sealing device 132 in the through hole 119.

The gear A and the gear Z in the casing 114 may have any gear ratio. The rotary shaft 126 is rotatably supported on the casing 114 by a bearing 122 provided on the upper portion of the casing 114 and a bearing 124 provided on the upper portion of the casing 114. The drive shaft 128 is rotatably supported by a drive shaft bearing 129 provided in a direction opposite to the discharge direction of the discharge elbow 110 of the casing 114.

A rotating shaft 126 is inserted into the pipe of the discharge elbow 110 from outside the pipe through a through hole 119. The lower end of the rotating shaft 126 is connected to a torque transmission device containing a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes by the action of a field generated by applying electricity (here, an electric field as an example). The torque transmission device referred to here is, for example, the device shown in FIG. 1 described above. Here, the surface of the input shaft 101 and the surface of the output shaft 102 may be covered with an electric insulating material, or an electric insulating film may be formed. Taking FIG. 1 as an example, the lower end of the rotating shaft 126 is connected to the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device 125 shown in FIG.

The output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device connects an impeller (not shown) to a rotating shaft 136 connected to an end portion. The impeller (not shown) rotates due to the rotation of the rotating shaft 136. By rotating the impeller, the water in the suction water tank can be discharged from the discharge elbow 110 to the discharge side through a pipeline in which the pumping pipe, the impeller casing and the suction bell are integrally suspended.

The pump device 100 includes a positive electrode T1 on the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device 125 and a negative electrode T2 on the input shaft 101 as shown in FIG. 1, and these positive electrodes T1 and negative electrodes T2 as shown in FIG. 2A. A power supply 141 for applying a voltage to the electrode T2 is provided.

The positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power supply 141 are connected to the positive electrode T1 and the negative electrode T2 of the torque transmission device 125, respectively, via the wiring passing through the pipe 137 penetrated from the outside of the pipe of the discharge elbow 110.

The power supply 141 can supply electricity to the torque transmission device 125 by varying the length of the DC voltage or current or the application time and the non-application time, and supplies electricity to the positive electrode T1 and the negative electrode T2 of the torque transmission device 125. .. As a result, the viscosity of the viscous fluid contained in the accommodation space is changed by the action of the field generated by supplying electricity (here, an electric field as an example). The power supply 141 is not limited to a DC power supply that can change the length of time for supplying electricity from the power supply to the torque transmission device per unit time, and may be a DC power supply that changes the output of voltage or current. ..

<Pump operation example>
Next, an operation example of the pump will be described. When the drive shaft 128 that transmits the rotational driving force of the driving device 120 rotates, the driving force is transmitted from the gear Z to the rotating shaft 126 via the gear A.

When electricity (voltage) is not applied to the positive electrode T1 and the negative electrode T2 of the torque transmission device 125 from the power supply 141, the rotary shaft 126 and the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device only rotate, and the rotational torque is , The output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device is not transmitted, and therefore the rotating shaft 136 does not rotate.
That is, the viscosity of the viscous fluid built in the torque transmission device 125 is the minimum, and the viscous fluid is agitated, but the energy dissipated at that time is small and almost zero. Therefore, the temperature of the viscous fluid hardly rises.

However, when electricity is gradually applied, a field is generated in the viscous fluid between the disk 121 and the yoke 123, and the solid particles contained in the viscous fluid cluster in the direction of the generated field according to the strength of the field. To form. Then, the viscosity of the viscous fluid increases as the cluster of solid particles grows. Therefore, the torque acting on the disc 121 and the yoke 123 is gradually increased, and the torque of the input shaft 101 is gradually transmitted to the output shaft 102. Along with this, the rotation speed of the output shaft 102 gradually increases with respect to the rotation speed of the input shaft 101. The rotating shaft 136 rotates with the rotation of the output shaft 102, and the water in the suction water tank is discharged to the discharge side through the discharge elbow 110 by the rotation of the impeller provided on the rotating shaft 136.

By the way, when operating in a state where the torque of the output shaft 102 is smaller than the torque of the input shaft 101, the rotational energy of the input shaft 101 is not 100% converted into the rotational energy of the output shaft 102, and a part of the viscous fluid is used. It is an operation to discharge as energy dissipated to.

Therefore, the temperature of the viscous fluid rises, but in the present embodiment, even if such heat is generated, the torque transmission device 125 is inside the casing of the pump, so that the rotation of the impeller of the pump causes the temperature of the viscous fluid to rise. If the casing is filled with water, the torque transmission device 125 is cooled when the water passes through the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125, so that it is not necessary to separate a special cooling device from the pump. In this case, the surface of the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device and the surface of the output shaft 102 may be covered with an electrical insulating material or an electrical insulating film may be formed. As a result, even if water passes through the outer circumference of the torque transmission device, the field is effectively applied to the viscous fluid between the disk 121 and the yoke 123 by applying electricity, avoiding an electrical short circuit through the water. Can be caused.

Therefore, the strength of the field generated in the viscous fluid between the disc 121 and the yoke 123 can be changed by changing the height of the voltage or the magnitude of the current of the electricity supplied from the power source, and the strength of the field generated in the viscous fluid between the disc 121 and the yoke 123 can be changed. Since the viscosity of the viscous fluid between them can be changed, it is possible to arbitrarily determine the transmission ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 for operation.

That is, if the speed reducer of the conventional vertical pump is a mechanical type, there is a limit to miniaturization, it is more difficult to miniaturize even though the speed is variable, and since gears are used, it is regularly performed. I had to do maintenance. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, by adopting the torque transmission device 125 using a viscous fluid that changes the viscosity of the lubricating oil according to the size of the field generated by applying electricity, damage or wear is suppressed. At the same time, the number of rotations of the rotating shaft can be changed, which can reduce the labor involved in maintenance and reduce the size of the equipment at the pump station.

<Efficient driving method>
Next, an example of an efficient operation method will be described. When the field strength generated in the viscous fluid exceeds a certain level, the transfer ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 becomes approximately 100%. In that case, the dissipated energy to the viscous fluid becomes almost zero, and it is as if the input shaft 101 and the output shaft 102 are integrated. Looking at what has been said so far in the state of the dissipated energy to the viscous fluid, the dissipated energy to the viscous fluid is the strength of the field generated in the viscous fluid when the field strength is zero and the field strength generated in the viscous fluid. When is more than a certain value, the strength of the field generated in the viscous fluid becomes smaller than that in the case between the two.

In the present embodiment, by utilizing this property and performing the following operation method, the energy dissipated to the viscous fluid is reduced.
For example, when converting X% (0 ≦ X ≦ 100) of the rotational energy of the input shaft 101 into the rotational energy of the output shaft 102, the rotation of the output shaft from the input shaft in a certain unit time (or a certain fixed time) Tσ. _{T 100} is the time for the field strength generated in the viscous fluid to be above a certain level so that the energy transfer ratio is 100%, and the rotational energy transfer ratio from the input shaft to the output shaft is 0%. _{Let T 0} be the time for zeroing the field strength generated in the viscous fluid.
Tσ = T ₁₀₀ + T ₀
And T ₁₀₀ / Tσ × 100 = X%
It is a driving method.

That is, the transmission ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft to the output shaft is 100% in X% of the unit time Tσ (T _100). That is, the operation is in a state where the dissipated energy to the viscous fluid is almost zero. _{Further, of the unit time Tσ, the remaining time is T 0} so that the field strength generated in the viscous fluid is zero so that the transmission ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 is 0%. Similarly, the operation is in a state where the dissipated energy to the viscous fluid is almost zero.

However, around the unit time Tσ (= T ₁₀₀ + T ₀ ), the transmission of rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 becomes X%. _{Therefore, the time T 0} and the time T ₁₀₀ are set so that the transmission of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 becomes X%.

In this way, the strength of the field generated in the viscous fluid is constant so that the transmission ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 is 100% (or the maximum ratio) from the power supply 141 in the unit time Tσ. Of the above-mentioned electricity supply time T ₁₀₀ and unit time Tσ, the remaining time is generated in the viscous fluid so that the transfer ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft to the output shaft is 0% (or the minimum ratio). Set the _{time T 0} to zero the strength of (that is, no electricity is applied).

As described above, the operation method of the torque transmission device for incorporating the viscous fluid whose viscosity changes due to the action of the field generated by applying electricity in the torque transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft according to the present embodiment is a unit time. Of these, the step of applying electricity so as to generate a field acting on the viscous fluid at a certain time, and the process of applying electricity so as not to generate a field acting on the viscous fluid during the remaining time of the unit time. It has a step of preventing it from occurring. By making the ratio of the time when electricity is applied to the time when electricity is not applied variable, the ratio of rotational energy transmission from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device 125 is made variable. The unit time may be in units of seconds or per second of rotation of the input shaft.

According to this configuration, _{by changing the ratio of the time T 100} for supplying electricity and the time T ₀ for not applying electricity, the torque transmission path from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 (specifically, for example, the disk 121). It is possible to change the time ratio at which an electric field is generated (between the yokes 123) and arbitrarily determine the transmission ratio of rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 for operation. In this case, the power supply 141 may not necessarily have a variable function of changing the magnitude or strength of the voltage or current.

By performing such an operation, the device for cooling the heat generated by the viscous fluid between the disk 121 and the yoke 123 can be made smaller or unnecessary.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a torque transmission device using a viscous fluid that changes the viscosity of the lubricating oil according to the size of the field generated by supplying electricity is arranged inside the pump. The size of the entire device can be reduced as compared with the case of using the speed reducer of.

Further, the torque transmission device 125 is provided on the rotating shaft 126 at a position where the vertical shaft pump P is exposed to pumped pumped water. As a result, the torque transmission device 125 is cooled by the pumped pumped water, so that the heat generated by the viscous fluid can be easily cooled.
Since the torque transmission device 125 does not use gears, regular maintenance is almost unnecessary, so that there is no problem even if it is arranged inside the pump.

Conventionally, only when the drive machine is an electric motor, the power supply to the electric motor is controlled by a special specification, large and expensive inverter. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, whether it is an electric motor or an arbitrary drive such as an engine other than an electric motor, it is much smaller and more versatile than such an inverter, and has a voltage or current output. The rotation speed of the pump can be made variable by using a DC power supply that makes the voltage variable, or a DC power supply that can make the length of time for supplying electricity from the power supply to the torque transmission device per unit time variable.

In addition, electricity is applied to the torque transmission device so as to generate an electric field that acts on the viscous fluid at a certain time in the unit time, and it acts on the viscous fluid at the remaining time in the unit time. The ratio of the time when electricity is applied and the time when electricity is not applied is variable by not applying electricity so that an electric field is not generated. By doing so, the transmission ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device 125 to the output shaft 102 can be made variable. By doing so, the heat generation of the viscous fluid can be suppressed to a lower level.
In particular, during the time when electricity is applied, the strength of the field generated in the viscous fluid so that the transmission ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device 125 becomes 100% (or the maximum ratio). When electricity is applied so that the temperature is above a certain level, the heat generation of the viscous fluid is suppressed to the minimum level. Therefore, the viscous fluid cooling device can be miniaturized or eliminated.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the pump device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 2C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the details of the impeller portion. As shown in FIG. 2C, the pump water flows around the outer circumference of the torque transmission device 125 according to the present embodiment to cool the torque transmission device 125.

In FIG. 2B, the pump device 10 includes a fixed pipe 20 fixed to the structure 99 and a pump main body 30 housed in the fixed pipe 20 so as to be able to be taken in and out. When the pump device 10 is operated, the pump main body 30 is housed in the fixed pipe 20, and when the pump device 10 is inspected, the pump main body 30 is handled so as to be pulled out from the fixed pipe 20.

The fixed pipe 20 has a column pipe 21 that mainly houses the pump main body 30 and a suction pipe 25. The column pipe 21 has a length that can cover the pump body 30, is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is made of steel or cast iron. The column pipe 21 is arranged so that the axis is vertical and is fixed to the structure 99. The column pipe 21 is provided with a branch pipe 21p extending in the horizontal direction above a predetermined height or more above the upper end of the housed pump body 30. The branch pipe 21p forms a flow path for the pumped water. The column pipe 21 is provided with an upper flange 21a at the upper end and a lower flange 21b at the lower end. A removable column lid 22 is airtightly attached to the upper flange 21a. The lower flange 21b is attached to the suction pipe flange 25f of the suction pipe 25.

The suction pipe 25 is a member integrally formed by attaching a different diameter pipe 25p below the suction pipe flange 25f in which an opening 25h having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the column pipe 21 is formed. The different diameter pipe 25p is formed in a bell mouth shape in which the diameter gradually shrinks downward from the suction pipe flange 25f and then rapidly expands to the same diameter as the column pipe 21 near the lower end. ing.

The pump main body 30 has an electric motor 33 provided with a rotating shaft 32, and an open type impeller 31 attached to the tip of the pump shaft below the electric motor 33. The electric motor 33 is a dry motor, and the inside is sealed and sealed from the outside, and the whole is surrounded by a motor casing 337 so that water does not enter the inside when operating in water. Below the motor casing 337, there is a penetrating portion of the rotating shaft 32 of the motor 33, and the penetrating portion is provided with a mechanical seal 336 as a shaft sealing device.
The rotating shaft 32 extending through the mechanical seal 336 is connected to the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device described above. A pump shaft is connected to the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device. Although not shown, a DC power source described above is connected to the torque transmission device so that electricity (voltage or current) can be variably supplied.

Inside the mechanical seal 336 and the motor casing 337, the rotor 332 fixed to the rotating shaft 32, the rotor 332, and the stator 333 and the rotating shaft 32 arranged on the outer periphery thereof are rotated with a slight gap. A lower bearing 334 and an upper bearing 335 that can be supported are housed. The stator 333 is fixed to the motor casing 337. A power cable 33c for driving is pulled out from the upper part of the motor casing 337. The cable outlet is sealed to prevent water from entering the inside of the motor.

The pump main body 30 further has an impeller casing 34 that surrounds the impeller 31 so as to cover the side surface circumference (rotational direction). Further, a guide vane 35 is arranged on the discharge side of the impeller 31. The impeller casing 34 has a length that surrounds the guide vanes 35 in addition to the impeller 31 so as to cover the side surfaces thereof. The inner diameter of the lower end of the impeller casing 34 is formed to be substantially the same as the opening 25h of the suction pipe flange 25f (inner diameter of the different diameter pipe 25p), and the outer diameter of the upper end is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the column pipe 21. Has been done. The impeller casing 34 is formed so that its diameter gradually increases from the lower end to the upper end.

An annular fitting seat 34s is formed on the outer circumference of the impeller casing 34. On the other hand, an annular receiving seat 23 is formed on the inner surface of the column pipe 21. The receiving seat 23 and the fitting seat 34s are in close contact with each other so that water does not leak. By fitting the receiving seat 23 and the fitting seat 34s, the pump main body 30 is placed on the column pipe 21, and the pump main body 30 is housed in the column pipe 21.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the motor casing 337 guides an inflow port for introducing a part of the pumped water of the impeller 31 to the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125 and a part of the pumped water flowing around the outer circumference of the torque transmission device 125. It has an outlet that flows out to the vane 35. With this structure, when a part of the pumped water of the impeller 31 is guided to the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125 and flows, the heat generated by the torque transmission device 125 can be cooled.

Next, an example of the operation of the pump device 10 will be described. The water level in the water tank rises due to the inflow of rainwater, and when the water level is lower than the water level A1, the electric motor 33 starts to be started with no electricity supplied to the torque transmission device. Since the supply of electricity to the torque transmission device is zero, the torque of the input shaft 101 is not transmitted to the output shaft 102, and therefore the pump shaft does not rotate.
When the water level rises further and reaches the water level SLWL at the lower end of the impeller 31, the impeller 31 can suck in water. Therefore, by gradually increasing the supply of electricity to the torque transmission device, the torque of the input shaft 101 can be gradually transmitted to the output shaft 102, and the pump shaft gradually increases in rotation speed. .. Electricity is supplied to the torque transmission device 125 so that 100% of the torque of the input shaft 101 is transmitted to the output shaft 102 while the water level rises to the steady operation water level RWL.

On the contrary, when the water level gradually decreases from the state of the maximum water level HWL and falls below the steady operation water level RWL, the supply of electricity to the torque transmission device is gradually reduced to move from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102. The torque transmission of the pump shaft can be gradually reduced, and the rotation speed of the pump shaft is gradually reduced. When the water level falls below SRWL, the supply of electricity to the torque transmission device is stopped so that the torque of the input shaft 101 is not transmitted to the output shaft 102. In this way, depending on the situation where the water level at the time of starting and stopping is transient, it is possible to operate the rotating shaft and the motor body without applying a sudden load or an excessive current.

<Third embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of the pump device according to the third embodiment. As described in the first embodiment of FIG. 2A, outside the pipe of the discharge elbow 110, the rotating shaft 126 extending upward through the through hole 119 of the discharge elbow 110 from vertically below, and the discharge elbow 110. The drive shaft 128 extending from the direction opposite to the discharge direction of the drive device 120 and transmitting the rotational driving force of the drive device 120 is such that the gear A provided on the rotary shaft 126 and the gear Z provided on the drive shaft 128 mesh with each other. Is located in. Of course, another gear or the like may be passed through the gear A and the gear Z. The positional relationship between the rotating shaft 126, the drive shaft 128, and the discharge elbow 110 is determined via the casing 114 and is arranged with each other.

The discharge elbow 110 has a through hole 119 bored in the axial direction at the axial core position of the rotating shaft 126, and the rotating shaft 126 is shaft-sealed by the shaft sealing device 132 in the through hole 119.

The first gear and the second gear in the casing 114 have an arbitrary gear ratio, and the rotating shaft 126 is provided by a bearing 122 provided on the upper part of the casing 114 and a bearing 124 provided on the upper part of the casing 114. It is rotatably supported by the casing 114. The drive shaft 128 is rotatably supported by a drive shaft bearing provided in a direction opposite to the discharge direction of the discharge elbow 110 of the casing 114.

A rotating shaft 126 is inserted into the pipe of the discharge elbow 110 from outside the pipe through a through hole 119, and is connected to an impeller provided at an end (not shown). The impeller rotates due to the rotation of the rotating shaft 126. By rotating the impeller, the water in the suction water tank can be discharged from the discharge elbow 110 to the discharge side through a pipeline in which the pumping pipe, the impeller casing and the suction bell are integrally suspended.

The end of the drive shaft 28 on the opposite side of the gear Z provided to the drive shaft 28 is connected to a torque transmission device containing a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes by the action of a field generated by applying electricity. The torque transmission device 125 referred to here may be, for example, the device shown in FIG. 1 described above. In the aspect of FIG. 3, unlike FIG. 2A, it is not necessary to cover the surface of the input shaft 101 and the surface of the output shaft 102 with an electric insulating material or to form an electric insulating film. Taking FIG. 1 as an example, the end of the drive shaft 128 on the opposite side of the gear Z is connected to the output shaft 102 of the device shown in FIG.

The input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device 125 is connected to the drive shaft 138 that transmits the rotational driving force of the drive device 120. The drive shaft 138 is rotated by the rotation of the drive device 120, and the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device 125 connected to the drive shaft 138 is rotated.

The output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device 125 is provided with a positive electrode T1, the input shaft 101 is provided with a negative electrode T2, and the pump device 101b is provided with a power supply 141 for supplying a voltage to the positive electrode T1 and the negative electrode T2. ..

The power supply 141 can supply electricity by changing the output of DC voltage or current or by changing the supply time of electricity per unit time, and when electricity is supplied to the positive electrode T1 and the negative electrode T2 of the torque transmission device 125, it is in the accommodation space. The viscosity of the viscous fluid contained in the is changed by the action of the field generated by the supply of electricity.

The drive shaft 138 is provided with a fan 151 that blows air around the shaft in the axial direction. Therefore, when the drive device 120 rotates, the fan 151 provided on the drive shaft 138 also rotates, and the air around the shaft is started to be blown in the axial direction. Therefore, an air flow is also generated on the outer surface of the torque transmission device, and the heat generated in the torque transmission device can be cooled. The air flow generated in the axial direction by the fan 151 provided on the drive shaft 38 may be directed in the torque transmission device 125 direction or in the opposite direction.

Further, the drive shaft 128 is also provided with a fan 152 that blows air around the shaft in the axial direction as an example. In that case, torque is transmitted to the drive shaft 128 by the torque transmission device 125, and when the drive shaft 28 rotates, the fan 152 provided on the drive shaft 28 also rotates to start blowing air around the shaft in the axial direction. do. It is preferable that the air flow generated by the fan 152 provided on the drive shaft 128 is in the same direction as the air flow generated by the fan 152 provided on the drive shaft 138 in order to enhance the cooling effect.

Next, an operation example of the pump will be described. When the drive shaft 138 that transmits the rotational driving force of the drive device 120 rotates, the driving force is transmitted to the drive shaft 28 via the torque transmission device 125.

When electricity is not supplied from the power supply 141 to the positive electrode T1 and the negative electrode T2 of the torque transmission device 125, the rotary shaft 126 and the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device only rotate, and the rotational torque is the torque transmission. It is not transmitted to the output shaft 102 of the device and therefore the drive shaft 128 does not rotate.

However, when electricity is gradually supplied from the power source, a field is generated in the viscous fluid between the disk 121 and the yoke 123, and the solid particles contained in the viscous fluid cluster in the direction of the field according to the strength of the field. Form. Then, the viscosity of the viscous fluid increases as the cluster of solid particles grows. Therefore, the torque acting on the disc 121 and the yoke 123 is gradually increased, and the torque of the input shaft 101 is gradually transmitted to the output shaft 102. Along with this, the drive shaft 128 rotates, and the gear Z provided at the other end of the drive shaft 128 is rotated.

From the gear Z provided on the drive shaft 128 to the gear A provided on the rotating shaft 126, the gears are in direct mesh with each other, or between the gear Z and the gear A, another gear or the like is used. Finally, the torque of the drive shaft 128 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 126 so as to mesh with each other, and the impeller provided on the rotating shaft 126 rotates, so that the water in the suction water tank is discharged through the discharge elbow 110. It is discharged to the side.

Here, when operating in a state where the torque transmitted to the output shaft 102 is smaller than the torque of the input shaft 101, the rotational energy of the input shaft 101 is partially converted into the rotational energy of the output shaft 102 without being 100% converted. However, it is an operation to discharge as dissipated energy to the viscous fluid.

Therefore, the temperature of the viscous fluid rises, but in the present embodiment, even if such heat is generated, the fan 151 provided on the drive shaft 138 connected to the input shaft 101 of the torque transmission device rotates. An air flow is generated around the torque transmission device, and the heat generated in the torque transmission device 125 is transferred to the air flow, so that the torque transmission device is cooled. Further, if the drive shaft 128 connected to the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device is provided with the fan 152, the fan provided on the drive shaft 128 also rotates to generate an air flow around the torque transmission device, and further. The heat generated in the torque transmission device can be cooled.

In this way, the drive shaft 138 that transmits the rotational driving force of the drive device is provided with the fan 151, and when the air flow generated by the fan 151 due to the rotation of the drive shaft 138 passes through the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125, Since the torque transmission device 125 is cooled, it is not necessary to separately install a special cooling device in addition to the normally arranged equipment.

Therefore, by changing the degree of electricity supply from the power source and changing the field strength generated in the viscous fluid between the disk 121 and the yoke 123, the transfer ratio of the rotational energy from the input shaft 101 to the output shaft 102 can be changed. It is possible to decide and drive arbitrarily.

<Modification example 1 of the torque transmission device according to the third embodiment>
The configuration of the torque transmission device according to the third embodiment may be the configuration shown in FIG. 4 below. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the torque transmission device provided with fins on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the torque transmission device 125b includes fins 106 connected to the outer circumference of the torque transmission device 125b (specifically, the outer circumference of the yoke 123) as compared with the torque transmission device 125 of FIG. Is different. As a result, the outer peripheral area of the torque transmission device that comes into contact with air increases as compared with the shape of FIG. The heat generated by the torque transfer device 125b conducts heat through the fins and diffuses over the entire surface of the fins, and transfers heat to the air in contact with the fin surface to dissipate heat. When the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device rotates, the air around the fins connected to the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125b is disturbed, and heat dissipation from the fins 106 is promoted.

In particular, when the torque transmission device 125b of FIG. 4 is applied to the third embodiment, the fins 106 connected to the outer periphery of the torque transmission device due to the rotation of the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device mainly move in the drive shaft 128 direction. Creates a flow of airflow. As a result, it is possible to achieve a cooling effect due to an air flow synergistically with the fans 151 and 152 provided on the drive shaft 38 and the drive shaft 28 described above.

<Modification 2 of the torque transmission device according to the third embodiment>
FIG. 5A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the torque transmission device showing that fins are provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device shown in FIG. 1 in a mode different from that of FIG. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the torque transmission device of FIG. 5A.

Similar to FIG. 4, in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the fin 106b is connected to the outer circumference of the torque transmission device, and the fin 106b in FIGS. 5A and 5B has one side of the rectangular parallelepiped plate in the axial direction and the other side. It is arranged on the outer circumference of the torque transmission device in a state of being extended in the radial direction. Similar to the fin 106 of FIG. 4, the outer peripheral area of the torque transmission device 125c in contact with air is larger than that of the form of FIG. Then, the heat generated by the torque transmission device 125c conducts heat through the fins 106b and diffuses over the entire surface of the fins 106b, and heat is transferred to the air in contact with the surface of the fins 106b to dissipate heat. When the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device 125 rotates, the air around the fins 106b connected to the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125 is disturbed, and heat dissipation from the fins 106b is promoted.

However, unlike the fin 106 shown in FIG. 4, the fins 106b shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are in the axial direction parallel to the output shaft 102 as shown by the arrows due to the rotation of the output shaft 102 of the torque transmission device 125. Air flows into the fins from the fins, and the flow of air flows radially in the outer peripheral direction of the torque transmission device. Even with such an air flow, if the fans 151 and 152 provided on the drive shaft 138 and the drive shaft 128 flow air in the direction of the torque transmission device 125, respectively, a cooling effect due to the synergistic air flow can be obtained. It is possible to play.

<Modification 3 of the torque transmission device according to the third embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing that fins are provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device shown in FIG. 1, similarly to FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B. The fin 106c of FIG. 6 has the same shape as the fins shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

However, in FIG. 6, the yoke 123 has three flow paths 107 (also the first flow path) penetrating from the inner wall of the yoke 123, which is radially opposed to the outer circumference of the plurality of discs 121 of the input shaft 101, to the inside of the fin 106c. Is formed. A flow path 108 (also referred to as a second flow path) extending along the fin 106c in a direction parallel to the output shaft 102 is formed in the fin 106c provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125d. The flow path 108 communicates with the three flow paths 107.

Further, on the end side of the input shaft 101, a flow path 109 penetrating from the inner wall of the yoke 123 facing the disk 121 in the axial direction near the input shaft 101 to the inside of the fin 106c provided on the outer circumference of the torque transmission device 125d. (Also referred to as a third flow path) is formed. This flow path 109 communicates with the flow path 108. In this way, the three flow paths 107 and the flow path 109 communicate with each other via the flow path 108. In this way, a flow path is provided in which the viscous fluid circulates inside the yoke 123 and inside the fin 106c.

With such a configuration, when the output shaft 102 is rotating, the fins 106c provided on the outer periphery of the torque transfer device are provided by heat transfer as described in FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B. The torque transmission device 125d can be cooled by the heat dissipation action. At the same time, even when the output shaft 102 is not rotating and the input shaft 101 is rotating, the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the plurality of disks 121 of the input shaft 101 causes the disk 121 and the disk 121 to rotate. The viscous fluid between the yokes 123 passes through a flow path 107 that penetrates from the inner wall of the yoke 123, which is radially opposed to the outer periphery of the disk 121, to the inside of the fins 106c provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device 125d. It passes through the flow path 108 formed in the fin 106c. Therefore, the heat inside the torque transmission device is transferred to the flow path 108 formed in the fin 106c along with the viscous fluid, and is further dissipated to the surrounding air via the fin 106c.

The viscous fluid that has been radiated and cooled passes through a flow path 108 provided along the fins 106c provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device. Then, on the end side of the input shaft 101, a flow penetrating the yoke 123 from the inner wall of the yoke 123 facing the disk 121 in the axial direction near the input shaft 101 toward the fins 106c provided on the outer periphery of the torque transmission device. It is returned to the accommodation space for accommodating the disk 121 again via the road 109.
Here, the position of the end of the flow path 109 on the inner wall side of the yoke 123 is closer to the rotation axis of the input shaft 101 than the position of the end of the flow path 107 on the inner wall side of the yoke 123. As a result, the position where the cooled viscous fluid is returned is relatively closer to the rotation axis of the input shaft 101 than the position where the viscous fluid flows out from the accommodation space, so that the centrifugal force applied to the viscous fluid is small accordingly. Due to this difference in centrifugal force, a force for circulating the viscous fluid is generated.

As described above, in the aspect of FIG. 6, even when the output shaft 102 is not rotating and the input shaft 101 is rotating, the heat of the torque transmission device can be efficiently cooled. Is.

In the example of FIG. 6, a flow path in which the viscous fluid circulates inside the yoke and the inside of the fin is formed, but the flow path is not limited to this, and a flow path in which the viscous fluid circulates only inside the yoke is formed. It may or may not have fins.

The configuration according to FIG. 3 has been described above including the modified examples of FIGS. 4 to 6, but the efficient operation method of the torque transmission device having the configuration according to FIG. 3 is described in the first embodiment described above. The described operating method can also be applied to this embodiment.
The torque transmission device according to the modification of FIGS. 4 to 6 may be applied to the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

<Modification example of torque transmission device according to each embodiment>
A modified example of the torque transmission device according to each embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a torque transmission device having a mode different from that of the torque transmission device shown in FIG. The torque transmission device 125e of FIG. 7 has an input shaft 101 and an output shaft 102, similarly to the torque transmission device 125 of FIG. A plurality of discs 121 are provided at intervals from each other near the end of the input shaft 101 on the output shaft 102 side, and the yoke 123, which is a part of the output shaft 102, accommodates each of the discs 121. A containment space is formed.

Airtight seals 104A are provided at both ends of the storage space, and a viscous fluid 105 containing solid particles in a liquid medium such as lubricating oil is sealed in the sealed storage space. A coil 103 is provided inside the yoke 123 and on the side of the accommodation space. By energizing the coil 103 with an electric current, a magnetic field 131 generated from the coil 103 and acting on the solid particles is formed in the liquid medium in the accommodation space around the disk 121. The solid particles of the viscous fluid 105 form clusters depending on the strength of the magnetic field 131. Torque is transmitted from the disk 121 to the wall surface of the accommodation space via the cluster, and the input shaft 101 and the output shaft 102 are connected.

The state of the magnetic field generated from the coil 103 differs depending on the magnitude of the current. When no current is applied to the coil, a magnetic field acting on the viscous fluid 105 is not generated, so that only a slight force generated by the viscosity of the liquid medium of the viscous fluid 105 acts between the disk 121 and the yoke 123. Therefore, even if the input shaft 101 rotates, the torque of the input shaft 101 is not transmitted to the output shaft 102, and the output shaft 102 does not rotate.

However, as the current is gradually increased, a magnetic field is formed from the coil 103 between the disk 121 and the yoke 123, whereby the solid particles of the viscous fluid 105 cluster according to the strength of the magnetic field. To form. Then, the viscosity of the viscous fluid 105 increases as the cluster of solid particles grows. Therefore, the torque acting on the disc 121 and the yoke 123 gradually increases, and the torque of the input shaft 101 is transmitted to the output shaft 102.

When the strength of the field acting on the viscous fluid 105 exceeds a certain level, almost 100% of the torque of the input shaft 101 is transmitted to the output shaft 102, as if the input shaft 101 and the output shaft 102 were integrated. ..

As described above, the torque transmission device 125e according to FIG. 7 can be used in place of the torque transmission device 125 described in FIG. 1, and can be used instead in each embodiment.

In each embodiment, the torque transmission device has been described as being provided in the middle of the drive shaft or the rotation shaft, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the torque transmission device may be provided between the drive shaft and the rotation shaft. ..

As described above, the pump device according to each embodiment includes a vertical shaft pump P having a rotating shaft to which an impeller is connected, a driving device that rotates the drive shaft so as to rotate the rotating shaft of the vertical shaft pump, and an input shaft and an output shaft. A torque transmission device that incorporates a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes due to the action of a field (for example, an electric field or a magnetic field) generated by applying electricity in a torque transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft. , Equipped with. This torque transmission device is provided between the drive shaft and the rotary shaft, in the middle of the drive shaft, or in the middle of the rotary shaft.

According to this configuration, by adopting a torque transmission device that uses a viscous fluid that changes the viscosity of the lubricating oil according to the size of the field generated by applying electricity, the rotation of the rotating shaft while suppressing damage or wear. The number can be changed, and the labor related to maintenance can be suppressed, and the size of the equipment at the pump station can be suppressed.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. Further, components over different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

10 Pumping device 100 Pumping device 101 Input shaft 102 Output shaft 104 Airtight seal 105 Viscous fluid 106b, 106c Fin 110 Discharge elbow 114 Casing 119 Through hole 120 Drive device 121 Disk 122 Bearing 123 Yoke 124 Bearing 125, 125b, 125c, 125d, 125e Torque transmission device 126 Rotating shaft 128 Drive shaft 129 Drive shaft bearing 131 Magnetic field 132 Shaft sealing device 136 Rotating shaft 137 Pipe 138 Drive shaft 141 Power supply 151, 152 Fan 20 Fixed pipe 21 Column pipe 21a Upper flange 21b Lower flange 21p Branch pipe 22 Column Lid 23 Receiving seat 25 Suction pipe 25f Suction pipe Flange 25h Opening 25p Different diameter pipe 26 Pump rotating shaft 30 Pump body 31 Impeller 32 Rotating shaft 33 Electric motor 332 Rotating element 333 Fixture 334 Lower bearing 335 Upper bearing 336 Mechanical seal 337 Motor casing 33c Power cable 34 Impeller casing 34s Bearing 35 Guide vane 99 Structure P Vertical pump

Claims (8)

A pump with a rotating shaft to which an impeller is connected,
A drive device that rotates the drive shaft so as to rotate the rotation shaft of the pump,
A torque transmission device that has an input shaft and an output shaft and incorporates a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes due to the action of a field generated by applying electricity in a torque transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft.
With
The torque transmission device is a pump device provided between a drive shaft and a rotary shaft, in the middle of the drive shaft, or in the middle of the rotary shaft. The pump device according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft includes a fan that causes an air flow around the torque transmission device between the drive device and the torque transmission device. The pump device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive shaft includes a fan that causes an air flow around the torque transmission device between the torque transmission device and the pump. The torque transmission device is provided in the middle of the drive shaft.
The pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the torque transmission device includes fins on the outer periphery thereof. The output shaft of the torque transmission device has a yoke in which a space for accommodating the input shaft, a disk provided on the input shaft, and the viscous fluid is formed.
The pump device according to claim 4, wherein a flow path is provided in which the viscous fluid circulates inside the yoke and inside the fins. The flow path includes a first flow path that penetrates the inner wall of the yoke and extends to the fin, a second flow path that communicates with the first flow path and is formed in the fin, and the second flow path. It has a third flow path that communicates with the road and penetrates the inner wall of the yoke and extends to the fins.
The fifth aspect of claim 5, wherein the position of the end of the third flow path on the inner wall side of the yoke is closer to the rotation axis of the input shaft than the position of the end of the first flow path on the inner wall side of the yoke. Pump device. The pump device according to claim 1, wherein the torque transmission device is provided on the rotating shaft at a position where the pump is exposed to pumped pumped water. It is a method of operating a torque transmission device that incorporates a viscous fluid whose viscosity changes due to the action of a field generated by applying electricity in the torque transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft.
A process of applying electricity so as to create a field acting on the viscous fluid at a certain time in a unit time.
In the remaining time of the unit time, a step of not applying electricity so as not to generate a field acting on the viscous fluid, and a step of preventing electricity from being applied.
Have,
A method of operating a torque transmission device that changes the transmission ratio of rotational energy from the input shaft to the output shaft of the torque transmission device by making the ratio of the time when electricity is applied to the time when electricity is not applied variable.

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