JP6519509B2 - Heating device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating device for heating a polymer fiber actuator.

  DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART Conventionally, the polymer fiber actuator of patent document 1 is known. The polymer fiber actuator has, for example, a shape extending linearly in one axial direction. The polymer fiber actuator can be displaced to rotate about one axial direction by applying a temperature change.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0219078

  By the way, when using a polymer fiber actuator given in patent documents 1 as a drive part of an actuator device, a heating device for heating a polymer fiber actuator is needed. As a heating device, for example, a device comprising a metal wire wound directly on the outer peripheral surface of a polymer fiber actuator can be considered. In this heating device, the metal wire is heated by energizing the metal wire, and the heat generated from the metal wire heats the polymer fiber actuator. However, when such a heating device is used, the displacement amount of the polymer fiber actuator may be reduced because the metal wire inhibits the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator.

  The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a heating device capable of more accurately securing displacement of a polymer fiber actuator.

  In order to solve the above problems, the heating device (10) comprises a conductive member (11) embedded in a polymer fiber actuator (20) and a magnetic field generation unit for applying a time-varying magnetic field to the conductive member And (30).

  According to this configuration, when the magnetic field generation unit applies the temporally changing magnetic field to the conductive member, the conductive member generates heat due to the induction heating. The heat generated from the conductive member is transferred to the polymer fiber actuator, whereby the polymer fiber actuator is heated and rotationally displaced. When the polymer fiber actuator is rotationally displaced, the amount of displacement of the polymer fiber actuator is smaller at the inside than at the portion of the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, as in the above-described configuration, when the conductive member is embedded in the polymer fiber actuator, the conductive member can be disposed at a portion where the displacement amount is small in the polymer fiber actuator. As a result, when the polymer fiber actuator is displaced, the conductive member does not easily inhibit the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator, so that the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator can be more accurately secured.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parentheses as described in said means and a claim is an example which shows a correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  According to the present invention, the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator can be more accurately secured.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the heating apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross-section which followed the II-II line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the polymer fiber actuator of the heating apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the heating apparatus of other embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the heating apparatus of other embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the heating apparatus of other embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the heating apparatus of other embodiment.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the heating device will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the heating device 10 of the present embodiment is a device for heating the polymer fiber actuator 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the polymer fiber actuator 20 is a wire-like member having an axis m as a central axis. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the central axis m of the polymer fiber actuator 20 is circular. The polymer fiber actuator 20 is formed of, for example, 6,6-nylon. The polymer fiber actuator 20 has a characteristic of being displaced in the rotational direction r about the central axis m when the temperature rises due to heating. As a method for achieving such characteristics, for example, there is a method of orienting the crystal structure of the polymer fiber actuator 20 so as to be inclined with respect to the direction along the central axis m.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the heating device 10 includes a metal wire 11 and a magnetic field generation unit 30.

  The metal wire 11 is a wire-like member made of a conductive metal material. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, metal wire 11 is embedded in polymer fiber actuator 20. More specifically, the metal wire 11 is disposed at the central portion of the polymer fiber actuator 20 along the central axis m of the polymer fiber actuator 20. In the present embodiment, the metal wire 11 corresponds to a conductive member.

  The magnetic field generation unit 30 applies a magnetic field whose magnitude and direction change temporally to the metal wire 11. The magnetic field generation unit 30 includes a coil 31, a power supply device 32, and a control device 33.

  The coil 31 is helically disposed outside the outer circumferential surface 21 of the polymer fiber actuator 20. The coil 31 forms a magnetic field so as to surround the coil 31 based on the supply of alternating current.

  The power supply device 32 is a device that supplies an alternating current to the coil 31. The power supply device 32 switches the supply of alternating current to the coil 31 and the stop thereof based on the control signal transmitted from the control device 33.

  The control device 33 is mainly configured of a microcomputer having a CPU, a memory, and the like. The control device 33 rotationally displaces the polymer fiber actuator 20 by controlling the energization of the coil 31 via the power supply device 32.

Next, an operation example of the heating device 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
When displacing the polymer fiber actuator 20 in the rotational direction r, the control device 33 transmits, to the power supply device 32, a control signal indicating that the supply of alternating current to the coil 31 is permitted. Thereby, the power supply device 32 starts supply of the alternating current to the coil 31. When an alternating current flows in the coil 31, a magnetic field is formed to surround the coil 31. The magnitude and direction of the magnetic field temporally change according to the alternating current supplied to the coil 31. This time-varying magnetic field is applied to the metal wire 11.

  When the metal wire 11 receives the influence of the time-varying magnetic field, an eddy current flows in the metal wire 11. At this time, Joule heat corresponding to the electric resistance is generated in the metal wire 11, whereby the metal wire 11 generates heat by itself. That is, the metal wire 11 generates heat due to induction heating. The heat generated from the metal wire 11 is transferred to the polymer fiber actuator 20, whereby the polymer fiber actuator 20 is heated and displaced in the rotational direction r.

  Further, when the polymer fiber actuator 20 displaced in the rotational direction r is returned to the original state, the control device 33 transmits a control signal to the effect that the supply of alternating current to the coil 31 is stopped to the power supply device 32. As a result, the power supply device 32 stops the supply of alternating current to the coil 31. By stopping the supply of the alternating current to the coil 31, the induction heating of the coil 31 is stopped, and the polymer fiber actuator 20 is cooled by the outside air. Thereby, the polymer fiber actuator 20 is displaced in the rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction r, and returns to the original state.

  According to the heating device 10 of the present embodiment described above, the actions and effects shown in the following (1) to (5) can be obtained.

  (1) When the polymer fiber actuator 20 is displaced in the rotational direction r, the displacement amount of the polymer fiber actuator 20 is smaller in the inside than in the portion of the outer peripheral surface 21. Therefore, if the metal wire 11 is embedded in the inside of the polymer fiber actuator 20 like the heating device 10 of this embodiment, the metal wire 11 can be arrange | positioned in the part with a small displacement amount in the polymer fiber actuator 20. FIG. As a result, when the polymer fiber actuator 20 is displaced in the rotational direction r, the metal wire 11 does not easily inhibit the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator 20, so that the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be more accurately secured. Become.

  (2) As a method of heating the metal wire 11, for example, a feeder for supplying an electric current is directly connected to the metal wire 11, and the metal wire 11 is made to flow by passing the current through the metal wire 11 through the feeder. A method of heating is also conceivable. However, in the case of this method, when the polymer fiber actuator 20 is displaced in the rotational direction r, the feeder may possibly inhibit the rotational displacement of the polymer fiber actuator 20. In this respect, if the method of heating the metal wire 11 using induction heating as in the heating device 10 of the present embodiment is adopted, a feeder line directly connected to the metal wire 11 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, since the problem that the rotational displacement of the polymer fiber actuator 20 is inhibited by the feeder does not occur, the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be more accurately secured.

  (3) The metal wire 11 is formed in a wire shape. As a result, the polymer fiber actuator 20 in the form of a wire can be uniformly heated, so that the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be easily displaced.

  (4) The metal wire 11 is disposed at the center of the polymer fiber actuator 20. That is, the metal wire 11 is disposed at the portion of the polymer fiber actuator 20 with the smallest displacement. This makes it possible to more accurately secure the displacement of the polymer fiber actuator 20.

  (5) The metal wire 11 is used as the conductive member embedded inside the polymer fiber actuator 20. Thus, the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be heated by the action of induction heating, and the rigidity of the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be enhanced.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the heating device 10 will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, metal particles 12 are embedded inside the polymer fiber actuator 20 of the present embodiment instead of the metal wires 11. The metal particles 12 are particulate members made of a conductive metal material. In addition, in FIG. 3, the size of the metal particle 12 is illustrated larger than the actual size for description. The metal particles 12 are dispersed and disposed inside the polymer fiber actuator 20. In the present embodiment, the metal particles 12 correspond to the conductive member.

  According to the heating device 10 of the present embodiment described above, in addition to the actions and effects of (1) and (2) of the first embodiment, to obtain the actions and effects of the following (6) and (7) it can.

  (6) The polymer fiber actuator 20 of the present embodiment can be manufactured only by embedding the metal particles 12 in the polymer fiber actuator 20 when the polymer fiber actuator 20 is manufactured. Thus, the manufacture of the polymer fiber actuator 20 is facilitated.

  (7) The metal particle 12 is used as the conductive member embedded in the inside of the polymer fiber actuator 20. Thus, the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be heated by the action of induction heating, and the rigidity of the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be enhanced.

Other Embodiments
In addition, each embodiment can also be implemented in the following modes.
The shape of the polymer fiber actuator 20 can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the polymer fiber actuator 20 may have a shape that is twisted around the axis n. In this case, the metal wires 11 embedded in the polymer fiber actuator 20 are arranged in a spiral around the axis n. In the heating device 10 shown in FIG. 4, the metal particles 12 of the second embodiment may be embedded in the polymer fiber actuator 20 instead of the metal wire 11.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the polymer fiber actuator 20 may have a combined structure in which two polymer fiber members 201 and 202 are twisted around the axis n. In this case, the metal wires 111 and 112 embedded in the polymer fiber members 201 and 202, respectively, are spirally disposed about the axis n. In the heating device 10 shown in FIG. 5, the metal particles 12 of the second embodiment may be embedded in the polymer fiber members 201 and 202 instead of the metal wires 111 and 112.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the polymer fiber actuator 20 may have a combined structure in which three polymer fiber members 203, 204, and 205 are twisted around the axis n. In this case, the metal wires 113, 114, and 115 embedded in the polymer fiber members 203 to 205, respectively, are arranged in a spiral around the axis n. In the heating device 10 shown in FIG. 5, the metal particles 12 of the second embodiment may be embedded in the polymer fiber members 203 to 205 instead of the metal wires 113 to 115.

  In the heating device 10 of the first embodiment, the metal wire 11 may be disposed at a position deviated from the center of the polymer fiber actuator 20. That is, the metal wire 11 may be disposed inside the polymer fiber actuator 20. Also, a part of the metal wire 11 may protrude outside the polymer fiber actuator.

  In the heating device 10 according to the first embodiment, a plurality of metal wires 11 may be embedded in the polymer fiber actuator 20.

  The magnetic field generation unit 30 is not limited to the coil 31, the power supply device 32, and the control device 33. For example, the magnetic field generation unit 30 may have a configuration as shown in FIG. The magnetic field generation unit 30 shown in FIG. 7 includes a permanent magnet 34 and an actuator 35. The permanent magnet 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape around the central axis m, and is disposed outside the outer circumferential surface 21 of the polymer fiber actuator 20 with a predetermined gap. The permanent magnet 34 is fixed to the shaft 350 of the actuator 35. The actuator 35 is, for example, a motor or a solenoid. Assuming that a direction parallel to the central axis m of the polymer fiber actuator 20 is “X direction”, the actuator 35 reciprocates the shaft 350 in the X direction. Thereby, the permanent magnet 34 reciprocates in the X direction with respect to the polymer fiber actuator 20. A magnetic field whose magnitude and direction change temporally is applied to the metal wire 11 by the reciprocation of the permanent magnet 34, so that the metal wire 11 can be heated by induction heating. In addition, the structure shown by FIG. 7 is applicable also to the embodiment and modification which are shown by FIGS.

  The present invention is not limited to the above specific example. That is, to the above specific examples, those skilled in the art may appropriately modify the design as long as the features of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, each element included in each specific example described above and its arrangement, material, conditions, shape, size, and the like are not limited to those illustrated, and can be appropriately changed. Moreover, each element with which the above-mentioned embodiment is equipped can be combined as much as technically possible, and what combined these is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as the feature of the present invention is included.

10: Heating device 11, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115: Metal wire (conductive member)
12: Metal particle (conductive member)
30: magnetic field generation unit 31: coil 32: power supply device 20: polymer fiber actuator

Claims (6)

Conductive members (11, 12, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115) embedded in the polymer fiber actuator (20);
A magnetic field generator (30) for applying a time-varying magnetic field to the conductive member;
A heating device comprising The magnetic field generator is
A coil (31) disposed on the outside of the outer peripheral surface (21) of the polymer fiber actuator;
The heating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a power supply device (32) for causing an alternating current to flow through the coil. The heating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductive members (11, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115) are formed in a wire shape. The heating device according to claim 3, wherein the conductive member is disposed inside the polymer fiber actuator. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is formed in a particle shape. The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the conductive member is made of a metal material.

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