JP5222627B2 - Portable generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable generator in which an engine and power generation components are collectively stored in a case.

Conventionally, a portable generator in which an engine and a power generation component are collectively stored in a case is commonly used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-286919 A (FIG. 2)

Patent document 1 is demonstrated based on the following figure.
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a conventional portable power generator. The portable power generator 100 has an engine 102 mounted substantially at the center of a base plate 101, and the crankshaft 103 of the engine 102 generates power as a power generation unit. A component 104 and a cooling fan 105 are connected, and a fuel tank 106 and a fuel system 107 are arranged on the opposite side, and these components are collectively stored in a case 108 indicated by an imaginary line. A handle 109 indicated by an imaginary line is provided on the upper portion of the case 108, and the portable generator 100 can be carried by grasping and lifting the handle 109 by hand.

  In the prior art, in order to rotationally drive the power generation component 104 as a power generation unit, maintenance such as supply of grease to the rotating portion and replacement of worn components is necessary. As a result, labor and cost are required. That is, in a portable generator, there is a demand for providing a technique that can reduce labor and cost for maintenance of power generation components.

  This invention makes it a subject to provide the technique which can reduce the effort and cost concerning maintenance of electric power generation components in a portable generator.

The invention according to claim 1 is a portable generator in which the engine and the power generation component are collectively stored in a case, and the case can be transported. The power generation component is provided in an exhaust system of the engine and exhausted. the exhaust reservoir to accumulate, to face the high temperature conductors, the cooling chamber to accumulate the cooling air generated by the fan provided to the crank shaft of the engine, Ri Ah in the heat generating element which is faced the cold conductor, the engine and the generator The parts are enclosed by a shroud, and the cooling air generated by the fan flows in the order of the engine and the power generation parts .

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the shroud forms a passage through which the cooling air sucked from an intake port of the portable generator flows, and has a curved shape in the vicinity of the fan. And

  In the invention according to claim 1, the power generation component is provided in an exhaust storage chamber provided in an engine exhaust system for storing exhaust gas, and a high-temperature conductor is exposed to a cooling chamber for storing cooling air generated by a fan provided in an engine crankshaft. A thermoelectric generator with a low-temperature conductor. Since power is generated by the thermoelectric generator, it is not necessary to supply grease or replace worn parts, and the labor and cost of maintenance can be reduced.

In the invention according to claim 1 , the engine and the power generation component are surrounded by the shroud, and the cooling air generated by the fan is allowed to flow in the order of the engine and the power generation component. Since the cooling passage is constituted by the shroud, the engine and the power generation component can be cooled by one fan.
In the invention concerning Claim 2, cooling air can be efficiently flowed.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of a thermoelectric generator used in the present invention. A thermoelectric generator 10 as a power generating component is provided with a high temperature conductor 11 provided on a high temperature side and a low temperature side. The low-temperature conductors 12 and 12 are composed of an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 13 and a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 14 interposed between the high-temperature conductor 11 and the low-temperature conductor 12.

Next, the operation of the thermoelectric generator 10 will be described.
The high temperature conductor 11 is maintained at a high temperature when heat is supplied from a high temperature heat medium as indicated by an arrow (1). Further, the low temperature conductors 12 and 12 maintain the low temperature by radiating heat to the low temperature medium as indicated by arrows (2) and (2).
In this way, when a temperature difference is generated between the high temperature conductor 11 and the low temperature conductors 12 and 12, the Seebeck effect occurs.
According to the Seebeck effect, electrons 15 move in the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor 13 as indicated by an arrow (3), and holes 16 move in the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 14 as indicated by an arrow (4). As a result, a current is generated as indicated by an arrow (5).

  As materials for n-type and p-type thermoelectric semiconductors, bismuth-tellurium compounds are suitable, but other thermoelectric materials such as lead-tellurium alloys, silicon-germanium alloys, cobalt-antimony compounds, and zinc-antimony compounds If so, the type does not matter.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the appearance of the thermoelectric generator according to the present invention. The thermoelectric generator 10 includes a high-temperature conductor 11, a low-temperature conductor 12, and an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor sandwiched between the high-temperature conductor 11 and the low-temperature conductor 12. 13 and the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor 14 and has a plate shape as a whole.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable generator according to the present invention. The portable generator 20 includes a case 21 for collectively storing engines and the like, an intake port 22 for taking outside air into the case 21, and a case. An exhaust port 23 for exhausting air from the inside 21, a handle 24 provided at the upper part of the case 21 that can be gripped by a hand, an oil supply cap 25 provided near the handle 24, and a lower part of the case 21. And a foot 26 for supporting the case 21. By providing the case 21 with the handle 24, the portable generator 20 can be easily transported.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and the portable generator 20 is mounted on the base plate 28 and a base plate 28 provided on the lower portion of the case 21 via mount rubbers 27, 27. Engine 30, a crankshaft 31 provided in the engine 30, a fan 33 that is fixed to the crankshaft 31 with a nut 32 and generates cooling air, and an exhaust system 34 that is connected to the engine 30 and guides exhaust gas. I have.
Details of the exhaust system 34 will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of the portable generator according to the present invention. The exhaust system 34 is connected to the engine 30 and guides exhaust gas, and the exhaust storage pipe 35 is provided in the exhaust gas introduction pipe 35 and stores exhaust gas. The chamber 36 and a tail pipe 37 that is provided in the exhaust storage chamber 36 and discharges the stored exhaust to the outside.

  The exhaust storage chamber 36 includes a support plate 38 that supports the exhaust introduction pipe 35, thermoelectric generation elements 10 and 10 that are provided on the outer surface 39 of the exhaust storage chamber 36 and generate power by a temperature difference, and these power generation components Heat dissipating plates 41, 41 provided to face the thermoelectric generators 10, 10 and radiating heat, and a heat sink 42 provided on the heat dissipating plates 41, 41 to dissipate heat are provided.

  The engine 30 includes an intake pipe 43, and an exhaust introduction pipe 35 is connected to the opposite side of the intake pipe 43. The exhaust introduction pipe 35 enters the exhaust storage chamber 36, has a U-shaped portion, and is supported by a support plate 38. As a result, the exhaust introduction interval 35 can be fixed at an appropriate position.

  Further, inside the case 21, shrouds 44, 44 are provided so as to surround the thermoelectric generators 10, 10 and the engine 30 as power generation components, and cooling air is formed inside the shrouds 44, 44 to store cooling air. And a cooling chamber 45.

  The shrouds 44 and 44 form a passage through which cooling air sucked from the intake ports 22 and 22 flows. When the fan 33 is rotated, air is sucked from the intake ports 22, 22, and cooling air is sent to the engine 30 and the cooling chamber 45. The cooling air cools the heat radiation plates 41 and 41 and the heat sink 42 and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust ports 23 and 23. As a result, heat can be efficiently radiated from the heat radiating plates 41 and 41 and the heat sink 42.

  In the embodiment, the cooling chamber 45 is a passage surrounded by the shrouds 44, 44, but is not necessarily limited to the passage surrounded by the shrouds 44, 44, and is surrounded by the case 21 without the shrouds 44, 44. It may be a space.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4. A fuel tank 46 is provided in the upper part of the case, and the fuel filler port 47 is closed by a fuel filler cap 25. FIG.
The shroud 44 has a curved surface 48 in the vicinity of the fan 33. As a result, the cooling air can flow efficiently.

The heat sink 42 has a plurality of plate-like fins 51 arranged at regular intervals. Cooling air flows through the gaps 52 between the plate-like fins 51 and the fins 51 and exits from the exhaust port 23 to the outside.
An end 53 of the exhaust introduction pipe 35 is in the exhaust storage chamber 36. As a result, the exhaust from the engine 30 is temporarily stored in the exhaust storage chamber 36. As a result, the exhaust storage chamber 36 can be kept at a high temperature.

  FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the shape of the exhaust introduction pipe. The exhaust introduction pipe 35 connected to the engine enters the exhaust storage chamber 36 from the inlet 54 of the exhaust storage chamber 36. Then, the first U-shaped portion 55, the second U-shaped portion 56, and the third U-shaped portion 57 are passed through to the end portion 53. That is, the path of the exhaust introduction pipe 35 in the exhaust storage chamber 36 becomes long. As a result, the amount of heat due to heat radiation can be increased, and the inside of the exhaust storage chamber 36 can be kept at a higher temperature.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the thermoelectric generator 10 has a heat radiating plate on the cooling chamber 45 side with the high temperature conductor 11 facing the outer surface 39 of the exhaust storage chamber 36. The low-temperature conductor 12 is provided so as to face the inner surface 58 of 41.

  (B) is a figure explaining another Example of the principal part, and the thermoelectric generation element 10 is provided so that the radiation fin 59 may contact | connect the low-temperature conductor 12. FIG. As a result, heat can be radiated from the low-temperature conductor 12 to the cooling chamber 45 more efficiently.

The operation of the portable generator configured as described above will be described next.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the cooling air. When the fan 33 is rotated, the cooling air flows from the intake port 22 as indicated by arrows (6) and (6). The obtained cooling air flows into the cooling chamber 45, hits the radiator plates 41 and 41 and flows as indicated by an arrow (7), and cooling air that flows around the exhaust storage chamber 36 and flows as indicated by an arrow (8). Divided into And cooling air is discharged | emitted from the exhaust port 23 outside as shown by arrow (9), (9).

  Since the passage (cooling chamber 45) is formed by the shrouds 44, 44, new cooling air always flows in one direction, and the thermoelectric generator 10 as the power generation component can be efficiently cooled.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of exhaust gas. The fuel is mixed with the air sucked from the intake pipe 43, fueled by the engine 30, and exhausted. As shown to (a), exhaust_gas | exhaustion is discharged | emitted from the engine 30 to the exhaust introduction pipe 35, and flows like the arrow (10).
As shown in (b), the exhaust introduction pipe 35 in the exhaust storage chamber 36 flows as shown by an arrow (11). And it discharge | releases in the exhaust storage chamber 36 as shown by the arrow (12), and is once stored. The exhaust gas stored in the exhaust storage chamber 36 flows into the tail pipe 37 as indicated by an arrow (13) and is exhausted to the outside as indicated by an arrow (14).

  FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 10A. Since heat transmitted from the exhaust is transmitted to the low temperature side, the exhaust storage chamber 36 as the exhaust system is transferred from the exhaust storage chamber 36 to the high temperature conductor 11 as indicated by the arrow (15). Heat is transmitted. As a result, the high temperature conductor 11 becomes high temperature.

  On the other hand, the low temperature conductor 12 radiates heat to the cooling chamber 45 side through the heat radiating plate 41 as indicated by an arrow (16). As a result, the low temperature conductor 12 becomes low temperature. That is, a temperature difference occurs between the high temperature conductor 11 side and the low temperature conductor 12 side of the thermoelectric generator 10. Then, as in the basic principle described with reference to FIG. 1, electric current flows in the direction indicated by the arrow (17) to generate power.

The portable generator according to the present invention has the engine and the like housed in the case in the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the case and may be housed in a frame. Absent.
Although the mixed flow fan is applied to the fan of claim 1, the present invention is not limited to the mixed flow fan, but can be applied to a radial fan (centrifugal fan) or an axial flow fan. It can be a fan of the form.
Further, in the embodiment, the cooling air is flowed from the engine side to the thermoelectric generation element side as the power generation component. However, the present invention is not limited to this direction. There is no problem.

The present invention is suitable for a portable generator.

It is a figure explaining the basic principle of the thermoelectric power generation element used for this invention. It is a figure explaining the external appearance of the thermoelectric power generation element which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of the portable generator which concerns on this invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. It is a plane sectional view of the portable generator concerning the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. It is a figure explaining the shape of an exhaust introduction pipe. FIG. 5 is a main part enlarged view of FIG. 4 illustrating the flow of cooling air. It is a figure explaining the flow of cooling air. It is a figure explaining the flow of exhaust. It is a principal part enlarged view of Fig.10 (a). It is a figure explaining the portable generator of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Thermoelectric power generation element (electric power generation component), 11 ... High temperature conductor, 12 ... Low temperature conductor, 20 ... Portable generator, 21 ... Case, 30 ... Engine, 31 ... Crankshaft, 33 ... Fan, 34 ... Exhaust system, 35 ... exhaust pipe, 36 ... exhaust reservoir, 37 ... tail pipe, 44 ... shroud, 45 ... cooling chamber.

Claims (2)

In a portable generator in which the engine and power generation components are stored together in a case, and the case can be transported,
The power generation part, the exhaust reservoir to accumulate the exhaust is provided in an exhaust system of the engine, to face the high temperature conductors, the cooling chamber to accumulate the cooling air generated by the fan provided to the crank shaft of the engine, extraordinary cold conductor Ri Oh by the heat generating element was Mase,
A portable generator characterized in that the engine and the power generation component are enclosed by a shroud, and cooling air generated by the fan flows in the order of the engine and the power generation component . The said shroud forms the channel | path through which the said cooling air suck | inhaled from the inlet port of the said portable generator flows, and exhibits the shape of a curved surface in the vicinity of the said fan. Portable generator.

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