JP2785113B2 - Circulation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for circulating a dielectric liquid, typically a liquid crystal, and more particularly to a liquid crystal generated between cell electrodes when an electric field is applied to the dielectric liquid. The present invention relates to a circulating device utilizing a spiral motion. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied as a liquid crystal supply pump, a micro power source for a micromachine, and a temperature controller for various devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, well-known electromagnetic motors and ultrasonic motors have been put into practical use as rotary system driving sources.
These generate rotary power using an electromagnet and a dielectric vibrator. Recently, machining, medical, precision measurement,
In the fields of electronic devices, optical devices, and the like, ultra-small mechanisms called micromachines have been required, and such micromachines are becoming increasingly limited with conventional rotary drive sources. That is, in the conventional rotary system drive source, miniaturization itself is the limit, and it is necessary to solve a power transmission control problem with respect to inertia, a lubrication problem, and the like.

[0003] In response to such a request, the present applicant has
Earlier, we discovered a phenomenon in which a spiral motion occurs at the electrode end of the cell when an electric field is applied to the dielectric liquid cell sealed between the facing parallel electrodes. It has been proposed that a rotor be installed at a portion where the energy is generated to extract energy to form a motor (see JP-A-6-294374).
Here, a sealed cell filled with a dielectric liquid between parallel electrodes formed on opposing parallel side surfaces, and a rotor arranged at the center of the vortex of the region where electrode termination occurs when voltage is applied between the electrodes And a power generating device, comprising: means for extracting rotational energy of the rotor; and voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the parallel electrodes.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the principle of a power generating apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-294374 using liquid crystal as a dielectric liquid. A pair of facing parallel (+) electrodes 2 and (-) electrodes 3 are arranged in a cell 1 filled with liquid crystal L whose four sides are sealed by glass such as Pyrex glass. An electric field is applied between these electrodes by a power supply 4. In this state, the (+) electrode 2 and the (-) electrode 3
When an electric field is applied, the (-) charged liquid crystal particles move to the (+) pole and lose their charge, and then are pushed one after another by the (-) charged liquid crystal particles. A pair of swirling motions are generated at the electrode end portions as shown by arrows. By arranging the rotor at the center of the spiral, its kinetic energy can be taken out and used as a motor.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a specific example of a power generator in which a rotor is arranged at the center of a spiral. A pair of rotors 5 are arranged in a swirl generating area in the cell 1. The rotor has, for example, an output shaft 6 and is supported by appropriate means on the upper and lower surfaces of the cell. The cell can be made, for example, as having the following dimensions: inter-electrode distance d: about 1 mm, width a: less than about 1 mm, cell long side l: about 20 mm, cell height h: about 30 mm.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned power generator, the rotor is directly disposed at the center of the spiral.
There was a limit to its application as a power generator. It is an object of the present invention to more effectively apply the spiral motion phenomenon to micromachines or ultra-small mechanisms or parts in the fields of machining, medical treatment, precision measurement, electronic devices, optical devices, and the like. For example, recently, liquid crystals have been used in various small display devices, and there is a demand for a pump capable of injecting a small amount of liquid crystals in an accurate amount. Previous pumps were large, had moving parts, and had limitations for use in such applications. Further, there is a need for a micro temperature control mechanism for heating and cooling micro devices such as semiconductor devices.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As the research has been continued, the inventor of the present invention has arranged that the end of the electrode is centered because the pressure at the center of the dielectric liquid spiral at the end of the parallel electrode decreases. When a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet communicating with the inside of the closed cell were provided, a pressure difference was generated between the inlet and the outlet, and it was confirmed that the pressure difference was proportional to the applied electric field strength. . Therefore, it can be used as a pump by connecting the liquid inlet to the dielectric liquid source,
In addition, it operates as a circulating device by connecting the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet with piping via an external operating unit, and is applied to a fluid motor, a pump, and the like by utilizing the circulating motion and action in the external operating unit. be able to. Based on this finding, the present invention provides an electrode having a dimension slightly smaller than the dimension of the surface on two opposing surfaces of two insulating plates at regular intervals, and filling a dielectric liquid between the electrodes. A closed cell, at least one liquid inlet that is disposed such that the terminal end of the electrode is centered and communicates with the inside of the closed cell, and at least one liquid outlet that communicates with the inside of the closed cell; A circulating device comprising: a voltage application unit that applies a voltage between the electrodes. Preferably, the dielectric liquid is a liquid crystal represented by a nematic liquid crystal or a smectic liquid crystal.

The present invention is applied to a dielectric liquid pump using the present circulating apparatus, a motor having an impeller installed in an external piping system connecting a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet of the circulating apparatus, and a motor using the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide a temperature control device in which a temperature control mechanism is installed in an external piping system connecting a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet of a circulation device.

[0009]

In a cell in which a dielectric liquid, for example, a liquid crystal is sealed between opposing electrodes, when an electric field is applied between the electrodes,
After the (−) charged liquid crystal particles move to the (+) pole and lose their charge, they are pushed one after another by the (−) charged liquid crystal particles, and the liquid crystal is swirled at the electrode end. Exercise causes the pressure in the center of the spiral to decrease. When a liquid inlet that communicates with the inside of the closed cell and a liquid outlet that communicates with the inside of the closed cell are provided such that the terminal end of the electrode is located at the center, a differential pressure is generated between the inlet and the outlet, and the differential pressure is It is proportional to the applied electric field strength. Utilizing a differential pressure that can be controlled by the applied electric field strength, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet operate as a circulating device by connecting the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet through a pipe via an external operating part, utilizing the differential pressure that can be controlled by the applied electric field strength. By utilizing this circulating motion / action in the operating section, it can be applied to fluid motors and the like.

[0010]

As already described with reference to FIG. 8, a cell filled with liquid crystal L whose four sides are sealed by glass such as Pyrex glass is provided with a pair of facing parallel (slightly smaller than the inner surface dimensions of the cell). +) Electrode 2 and (−) electrode 3
When an electric field is applied from a power source between these electrodes, the liquid crystal particles charged to (−) move to the (+) pole and lose their charge, and then move one after another to (−). The liquid crystal particles are pushed by the charged liquid crystal particles, and a swirling motion is generated at the terminal of the electrode.

FIG. 1 shows a circulation device according to the present invention. The superstructure has been cut away to show the interior. The circulating device is composed of two insulator parallel plates 1 at regular intervals.
1 and 11 and a closed cell 13 mounted on each of its opposing surfaces and having electrodes 12, 12 of dimensions slightly smaller than the dimensions of the opposing surfaces and filled with a dielectric liquid L between the electrodes. The superstructure of the closed cell has at least one liquid inlet 14 arranged centered on the terminal end of the electrode and in closed communication with the interior of the closed cell.
And at least one liquid outlet 15 which is connected to the inside of the closed cell in a sealed state. The circulation device further includes a voltage applying means 16 for applying a voltage between the parallel electrodes.
And When an electric field is applied between the electrodes, the (-) charged liquid crystal particles move to the (+) pole and lose their charge, and then are pushed one after another to the (-) charged liquid crystal particles. As a result, a pair of swirling motions are generated at the electrode end portions as shown by arrows. The portion in which the swirling motion is occurring is referred to as an action portion 17 here. Since the pressure at the center of the working portion (the center of the spiral) is reduced, placing a liquid inlet at the center of the vortex and, for example, arranging a liquid outlet at the center of the cell creates a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet.

As the flat plate, glass, non-conductive ceramics, non-conductive plastics and the like can be used. As the electrode material, when a glass cell is used, a transparent electrode such as ITO is used, but a metal electrode using a metal, an organic conductor, a carbon material, a conductive ceramic, a thin film electrode, Any of the bulk electrodes can be used. It is preferable to use an ITO or other thin film electrode formed on a substrate by sputtering or other methods so as to face each other. The distance d between the opposing electrodes can be in the range of 0.01 to 5.0 mm.
Regarding the dimensions of the electrodes, an electrode terminal portion is formed inside the end of the opposing flat plate surface about 1/2 of the electrode interval d per operating portion so that the operating portion can be formed stably. The liquid outlet can be attached to a portion of the non-working portion that does not affect the working portion. Although the cell is shown in FIG. 1 as having a rectangular cross section, it is not limited to this, and a cell having a polygonal cross section can be used.

FIG. 2 shows the position where the working portion and the liquid inlet and outlet can be attached. (A) is the case of one working part, in which the working part is formed at one end of the electrode. (B) shows a case of a two-action portion, which is formed on both left and right ends of the electrode. (C) shows a case of a three-action part, in which the action parts are formed at both left and right ends and a lower end of the electrode.

Liquid crystal is typically used as the dielectric liquid. When a certain kind of organic compound crystal is heated, the liquid crystal melts at a certain temperature to become a cloudy viscous liquid, and the cloudy liquid is optically anisotropic and is optically isotropic ordinary liquid. It is called liquid crystal for distinction. As the liquid crystal used in the present invention, all liquid crystals which flow when a voltage is applied and generate a convection phenomenon are intended. Liquid crystals can be basically classified as follows, although there are some differences in opinion: (A) lyotropic (lyotropic) liquid crystal (B) thermotropic liquid crystal (B-1) nematic liquid crystal (cholesteric) LCD) (B-2) smectic liquid crystal (eg: S _m A phase, S _m C
Phase, S _m C ^* phase) (B-3) discotic liquid

A lyotropic liquid crystal generally refers to a liquid crystal that becomes a liquid crystal by interaction with a solvent, and forms a molecular aggregate such as various micellar structures (spherical, columnar, tubular) and lamellar structures. Lyotropic liquid crystals are prepared by adding an amphiphilic compound having both a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group, such as various soaps, surfactants, lipids, hydrated oxides of certain metals, and block copolymers, to water or other water. It is produced by mixing with a solvent in an appropriate ratio.

[0016] Thermotropic liquid crystal refers to a liquid crystal state of a single-composition or multi-component substance exhibited by a change in temperature.
Many have a structure having a benzene ring-centered core and both terminal groups (tails) such as an alkyl chain and asymmetric carbon. The core has a benzene ring or a cyclohexane ring as a skeleton structure. The nematic liquid crystal has the lowest viscosity and the highest fluidity. Smectic liquid crystal is a greasy viscous cloudy fluid, show various characteristic optical pattern under polarized light _{microscope, S m A, S m B} ·
... many variants phases, such as S _m I have been known. Among these, _Sm A phase and S _m C
The phase, S _m C ^* phase, is known. S _m C ^* phase is S _m C
It is a mixture of liquid crystals having a chiral group in the phase.

According to the present invention, among liquid crystals, specifically,
Thermotropic liquid crystal, especially nematic liquid crystal and S
_m A phase, and it is preferable to use a smectic liquid crystal typified example S _m C ^* phase. In particular, it is preferable to use S _m C ^* phase smectic liquid crystal.

Tables 1 and 2 list structural formulas and temperature characteristics of commercially available S _m C ^* phase smectic liquid crystals.

[0019]

[Table 1]

[0020]

[Table 2]

The present circulation device can be used as a pump without moving parts by connecting the liquid inlet to the dielectric liquid source and connecting the liquid outlet to the dielectric liquid inlet of various devices. Recently, liquid crystals are used in various small display devices, and it is required to inject a small amount of liquid crystals in an accurate amount. In such a case, the present circulation device can be used as a pump.

FIG. 3 shows an application example as a power source of a micromachine. The impeller 1 is installed in the piping system outside the circulation device.
The motor shaft output can be taken out by interposing an external motor 19 provided with the motor 8. This shaft output can be used as a power source of a micromachine in the fields of machining, medical care, precision measurement, electronic devices, optical devices, and the like, and can also be used as a power source of a pump.

FIG. 4 shows an application example in which a temperature control mechanism is incorporated in a piping system outside the circulation apparatus. A micro element such as a semiconductor element 21 that cannot be normally used by using the heat exchanger 20 or a temperature control device such as a Peltier element and a circulating device through which a refrigerant including a heat medium or cooling water can flow. Alternatively, a temperature control mechanism for a minute portion can be realized. For example, by attaching a thermocouple 23 between the semiconductor element 21 and the temperature control device 22 and connecting the temperature control device 22 to a DC power supply 24, the dielectric liquid circulating according to the required heating / cooling amount The amount of can be set.

(Example) A circulation device having dimensions as shown in FIG. 5 was manufactured. The specifications of the circulation device are as follows: Cell plate material: Multi-component glass Glass dimensions: 20 × 30 × 2 mm Electrode material: Tin-based transparent conductive film Electrode dimensions: 10 × 20 mm Cell internal dimensions: 12 × 21 × 1 mm Distance between electrodes: 1 mm Liquid inlet: Two at both ends of the electrode Liquid outlet: One at the center of the inlet

As shown in FIG. 6, DC 1000 V is applied to the cell.
A constant voltage power supply capable of generating a liquid crystal is connected, and a liquid inlet and an outlet are extended by a thin tube, and a nematic liquid crystal ZLI-4446 manufactured by Merck Co., Ltd. (viscosity of 25 centipoise, 0.05 Pa · S, specific gravity 0.7) ) Was filled, and the pressure difference between the liquid inlet and the outlet was measured for each applied electric field. as a result,
The generated differential pressure (mmH ₂ O) shown in the graph of FIG. 7 could be measured. The generated differential pressure is the applied electric field strength (KV / mm)
It can be seen that it is directly proportional to

In the above embodiment, the two insulator flat plates and the electrodes are arranged so as to face in parallel. However, it is not necessary that the two insulator flat plates and the electrodes are arranged so as to face strictly in parallel. However, even if they are slightly displaced from parallel, they may be arranged so as to face each other.

[0027]

According to a new principle, a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet can be provided as a dielectric liquid supply pump having no movable parts by using a differential pressure which can be controlled by an applied electric field strength and via an external operating part. By connecting these to each other by a pipe, they operate as a circulating device, and can be applied to a fluid motor for a micromachine, a micro-element temperature control device, and the like by utilizing this circulating motion and action in an external operating unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the circulation device of the present invention, but with the upper structure cut away to show the interior.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams showing positions where an operation portion and a liquid inlet and an outlet can be attached; FIG.
Is the case of two working parts, and (c) is the case of three working parts.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing an application example as a power source of a micromachine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing an application example in which a temperature control mechanism is incorporated in a piping system outside the present circulation device.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing dimensions of a circulation device used in the embodiment;
It is a side view and a top view.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a differential pressure between a liquid inlet and an outlet is measured for each applied electric field in an example.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a generated differential pressure (mmH ₂ O) and an applied electric field strength (KV / mm) in an example.

FIG. 8: JP-A-6-2 using liquid crystal as a dielectric liquid
It is explanatory drawing which shows the principle of a power generation device of 94374.

FIG. 9 is a Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-2 where a rotor is arranged at the center of a spiral.
It is a perspective view of a specific example of the power generation device of No. 94374.

[Explanation of symbols]

 L Liquid crystal 11 Insulator parallel plate 12 Electrode 13 Cell 14 Liquid inlet 15 Liquid outlet 16 Voltage applying means 17 Working part 18 Impeller 19 Motor 20 Heat exchanger 21 Semiconductor element 22 Temperature controller 23 Thermocouple 24 DC power supply

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A closed cell, comprising: two oppositely-spaced insulating flat plates having electrodes spaced slightly smaller than the dimensions of said surfaces and filled with a dielectric liquid between the electrodes; At least one liquid inlet communicating with the inside of the closed cell, and at least one liquid outlet communicating with the inside of the closed cell, and a voltage is applied between the electrodes. A circulating device comprising: voltage applying means for applying the voltage. 2. The circulation device according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric liquid is a liquid crystal. 3. The circulation device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal is a nematic liquid crystal or a smectic liquid crystal. 4. A dielectric liquid pump using the circulation device according to claim 1. 5. A motor in which an impeller is installed in an external piping system connecting a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet of the circulation device according to claim 1. 6. A temperature control device, wherein a temperature control mechanism is installed in an external piping system connecting a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet of the circulating device of claim 1.