JP6894564B1 - Rotating structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem of a prior art, that is, a rotary connecting device capable of connecting a rotating body to a fixed body in a rotatable state by using a spherical surface. Is to provide a rotating structure using. SOLUTION: The rotary coupling device of the present invention is a coupling device in which a rotating body can rotate with respect to a fixed body by installing it between a fixed body and a rotating body, and a part (or all) of the rotating body is spherical. It is provided with a spherical member, and an accommodating body for accommodating a part of the spherical member. When the accommodating body is fixed to the fixed body and a part of the spherical member is accommodated in the accommodating body, the spherical portion of the spherical member is connected to the spherical member while being in contact with the fixed body (or the accommodating body) at one contact point. The rotating body rotates with respect to the fixed body. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a rotation mechanism of an object, and more specifically, by connecting a fixed body and a rotating body via a member having a spherical surface, the rotating body can rotate with respect to the fixed body. It relates to a connecting device and a rotating structure.

Conventionally, a hinge has been widely used as a rotation mechanism. For example, a door provided at the entrance of a house or a room is attached to a frame material by a plurality of hinges arranged in the vertical direction, and the door rotates left and right around a vertical axis connecting these hinges as a rotation axis. Further, the lid of the jewelry box is attached to the box body by a plurality of hinges arranged in the horizontal direction, and in this case, the box lid rotates up and down with the horizontal axis as the rotation axis.

As described above, the rotation mechanism by the hinge is limited in the rotation direction around a specific one axis and cannot rotate in an arbitrary direction. In addition, as in the example of the door and box lid described above, among rotating objects (hereinafter referred to as "rotating bodies"), hinges are forced to be installed on the rotating shaft side, and the rotating objects are aesthetically pleasing. Requests such as not wanting to install foreign matter on the rotating shaft side cannot be fulfilled as long as a hinge is used.

Therefore, the inventor sought a rotation mechanism that does not use hinges, and devised an extremely simple rotation mechanism that uses a sphere. According to this, the possibility of rotating in an arbitrary direction is expanded without being limited to a specific one axis, and the rotation axis side of the rotating body can be made free (no foreign matter is installed). Several structures using spheres have been proposed so far. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a suitcase in which a sphere is a wheel (caster).

JP-A-2018-52484

The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a sphere as a wheel (caster) of a suitcase. The technique of using a sphere as a wheel substitute in this way has been widely used, and in this case, a state in which a rotating shaft is attached to the sphere as shown in Patent Document 1 (the case of FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1). ), Or in a state where other objects are in contact with the surface of the sphere at multiple points or within a predetermined range (case of FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1), the sphere will rotate. However, in order to attach the rotating shaft to the sphere, a part called the rotating shaft is naturally required, and it takes time and effort to attach the rotating shaft, and the rotation direction is limited to the circumference of the rotating shaft, so that the rotating shaft rotates in an arbitrary direction. It can also be pointed out that the performance of the obtained sphere is not fully utilized. Further, when the sphere is rotated while other objects are in contact with each other at multiple points or within a predetermined range, a friction surface is generated over a wide range on the surface of the sphere, so to speak, the sphere is strongly rotated when an extra frictional force is applied. Will be done.

In any case, the prior art is limited to the technical idea of using the sphere as a wheel, and the idea of using the sphere as a means for rotatably connecting the rotating body to the fixed body like a hinge is not presented. It was. On the other hand, the inventor brings the sphere into contact with the fixed body at one contact and also brings the sphere into contact with the rotating body at one contact, and rotates with the axis connecting these two contacts as the rotation axis. We have found that by rotating the body, the sphere can perform, for example, the function of a hinge. With such a configuration, since the sphere is in contact with another object only at two contacts, no extra frictional force acts, and since the sphere is used, it is limited to a specific one axis. The possibility of rotating in any direction without any direction will be expanded.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, that is, a rotary connecting device capable of connecting a rotating body to a fixed body in a rotatable state by using a spherical surface, and a rotary connecting device using the same. It is to provide a rotating structure.

The present invention has been developed focusing on the point that the rotating body is rotated with respect to the fixed body by bringing the spherical surface into contact with the fixed body at one contact point, and is based on an unprecedented idea. It is an invention made.

The rotary coupling device of the present invention is a coupling device that enables the rotating body to rotate with respect to the fixed body by installing it between the fixed body and the rotating body, and is a spherical member in which a part (or all) is spherical. And, it is provided with an accommodating body for accommodating a part of this spherical member. When the accommodating body is fixed to the fixed body and a part of the spherical member is accommodated in the accommodating body, the spherical portion of the spherical member is connected to the spherical member while being in contact with the fixed body (or the accommodating body) at one contact point. The rotating body rotates with respect to the fixed body.

In the rotary coupling device of the present invention, the accommodating body may include a fixed side accommodating body and a rotating side accommodating body. This fixed-side housing is a hollow box composed of a fixed-side installation bottom surface and a fixed-side side wall surface, and the surface facing the fixed-side installation bottom surface is opened. Similarly, the rotation-side housing body is a rotation-side installation bottom surface. It is a hollow box composed of the side wall surface on the rotating side, and the surface facing the bottom surface of the installation on the rotating side is opened. When the fixed side housing is fixed to the fixed body with the fixed side installation bottom surface as the installation surface and a part of the spherical member is housed in the fixed side housing, the spherical part of the spherical member comes into contact with the fixed side installation bottom surface at one contact point. To do. Further, the rotating side housing is fixed to the rotating body with the rotating side installation bottom surface as the installation surface so that the fixed side installation bottom surface and the rotating side installation bottom surface are substantially parallel (including parallel), and a part of the spherical member is formed. When housed in the rotating side housing, the spherical portion of the spherical member comes into contact with the rotating side installation bottom surface at one contact point. In this state, the rotating body rotates with respect to the fixed body with the axis connecting the contact on the bottom surface of the fixed side installation and the contact point on the bottom surface of the rotating side as the rotation axis.

The rotary coupling device of the present invention may also include an annular housing. In this case, when the accommodating body is fixed to the fixed body and a part of the spherical member is accommodated in the accommodating body, the spherical portion of the spherical member is in contact with the fixed body at one contact point, and the rotating body is connected to the spherical member. Rotates with respect to the fixed body.

In the rotary coupling device of the present invention, the accommodating body may include an annular fixed side accommodating body and an annular rotating side accommodating body. In this case, when the fixed side accommodating body is fixed to the fixed body and a part of the spherical member is accommodated in the fixed side accommodating body, the spherical portion of the spherical member comes into contact with the fixed body at one contact point. Further, when the rotating side accommodating body is fixed to the rotating body so that the fixed side accommodating body and the rotating side accommodating body are substantially parallel (including parallel), and a part of the spherical member is accommodated in the rotating side accommodating body, the spherical surface is formed. The spherical portion of the member comes into contact with the rotating body at one point of contact. In this state, the rotating body rotates with respect to the fixed body with the axis connecting the contact point of the fixed body and the contact point of the rotating body as the rotation axis.

The rotating structure of the present invention is a structure in which the rotating body can rotate with respect to the fixed body, and includes the fixed body, the rotating body, and the rotary connecting device of the present invention. The fixed-side housing of the rotary coupling device is a hollow box composed of a fixed-side installation bottom surface and a fixed-side side wall surface, and the surface facing the fixed-side installation bottom surface is opened to accommodate the rotary coupling device on the rotary side. The body is a hollow box composed of a rotating side installation bottom surface and a rotating side side wall surface, and a surface facing the rotating side installation bottom surface is opened. Further, the fixed side housing is fixed to the fixed body with the fixed side installation bottom surface as the installation surface, and one of the rotating side housing bodies is such that the fixed side installation bottom surface and the rotating side installation bottom surface are substantially parallel (including parallel). It is fixed to the rotating body with the bottom surface of the installation on the rotating side as the installation surface. Then, a part of the spherical member is accommodated in the fixed side accommodating body, so that the spherical portion of the spherical member comes into contact with the fixed side installation bottom surface at one contact point, and a part of the spherical member is accommodated in the rotating side accommodating body. As a result, the spherical portion of the spherical member comes into contact with the bottom surface of the installation on the rotating side at one contact point. In this state, the rotating body rotates with respect to the fixed body with the axis connecting the contact on the bottom surface of the fixed side installation and the contact point on the bottom surface of the rotating side as the rotation axis.

In the rotating structure of the present invention, it is also possible that the fixed body is provided with a substantially quadrangular opening, and the substantially quadrangular rotating body is arranged in the opening. In this case, rotary coupling devices are installed at both ends of a predetermined one side of the rotating body, and the rotating body rotates around the one side (the side between the installed rotary coupling devices) as a rotation axis.

In the rotating structure of the present invention, it is also possible that the rotating connecting devices are installed at the four corners of the rotating body arranged in the opening of the fixed body. However, each of these four rotary coupling devices is installed so that the spherical member can be attached and detached. In this case, when the two adjacent rotary coupling devices are removed, the rotating body rotates with one side between the remaining two rotary coupling devices as the rotation axis.

The rotary coupling device and the rotary structure of the present invention have the following effects.
(1) Since the spherical member comes into contact with the fixed body or the rotating body only at the contact point, no extra frictional force acts on the spherical member, that is, the rotating body can smoothly rotate with respect to the fixed body.
(2) By bringing the spherical member to which the rotating body is connected into contact with the fixed body with only one contact point, the rotating body can rotate in an arbitrary direction without being limited to a specific one axis.
(3) For example, when the door is a rotating body, it is not necessary to install a foreign object such as a hinge on the rotating shaft side of the door, that is, the rotating shaft side of the door can be freed (no foreign matter is installed). It can form an aesthetically pleasing (simple) entrance.

The side view which shows typically the rotary coupling apparatus of this invention. (A) is a side view schematically showing a spherical member of a sphere, and (b) is a side view schematically showing a spherical member having an oval cross-sectional view. (A) is a side view schematically showing a box-shaped container, and (b) is a side view schematically showing a rotary coupling device including a box-shaped container. (A) is a plan view schematically showing an annular containment body, (b) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an annular containment body, and (c) is a rotary coupling device schematically showing an annular containment body. Side view shown. (A) is a side view schematically showing a box-shaped fixed side accommodating body and a rotating side accommodating body, and (b) is a schematic rotating connecting device including a box-shaped fixed side accommodating body and a rotating side accommodating body. Side view showing. (A) A side view schematically showing an annular fixed side accommodating body and a rotating side accommodating body, and (b) a side view schematically showing a rotary connecting device including an annular fixed side accommodating body and a rotating side accommodating body. .. (A) is a side view schematically showing a rotating structure in which a predetermined space is provided between the fixed body and the rotating body, and (b) is a side view schematically showing a predetermined space between the fixed body and the rotating body. A detailed side view of a rotary coupling device constituting a rotary structure. (A) is a side view schematically showing a rotating structure in which there is no predetermined space between the fixed body and the rotating body, and (b) is a rotation constituting the rotating structure in which there is no predetermined space between the fixed body and the rotating body. Detailed side view of the coupling device. (A) is a side view schematically showing a rotary structure in which rotary coupling devices are arranged at four corners, and (b) is a side view schematically showing a rotary structure in which two rotary coupling devices on the right side are removed. ) Is a side view schematically showing a rotary structure in which the two rotary coupling devices on the left side are removed. (A) is a side view schematically showing a structure in which two rotating bodies are rotatably connected, and (b) is a plan view schematically showing a plurality of rotatably connected rotating bodies. (A) is a side view schematically showing an accommodating body 120 formed by three spheres SP, and (b) is a plan view schematically showing an accommodating body 120 formed by three spheres SP.

An example of the rotary coupling device and the embodiment of the rotary structure of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1. 1. Rotational coupling device First, the rotary coupling device of the present invention will be described in detail. The rotary structure of the present invention is a structure including the rotary coupling device of the present invention. Therefore, the rotary coupling device of the present invention will be described first, and then the rotary structure of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the rotary coupling device 100 of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the rotary coupling device 100 of the present invention is configured to include a spherical member 110 and an accommodating body 120, and by installing the rotary body 300 between the fixed body 200 and the rotating body 300, the rotating body 300 becomes the fixed body 200. On the other hand, it makes it rotatable. For example, in FIG. 1, a rod-shaped rotating body 300 is attached to a spherical member 110, an accommodating body 120 is attached to a fixed body 200 (in this case, a fixed floor), and a part of the spherical member 110 is attached to the accommodating body 120. Contained, the spherical member 110 is in contact with the fixed body 200 at the contact CP of 1. With such a configuration, the spherical member 110 can rotate in an arbitrary direction while being in contact with the fixed body 200 only by the contact CP, and as a result, the rotating body 300 can also rotate in an arbitrary direction. At this time, the accommodating body 120 prevents the spherical member 110 from moving in a large plane (deviation from the accommodating body 120).

In the rotary coupling device 100 of the present invention, the spherical member 110, which is the base axis for rotating the fixed body 200, does not come into wide contact with other objects (fixed body 200, rotating body 300, etc.) (specifically, 1). One of the features is that it rotates (in the state of being in contact with the contact CP of 2). As a result, the spherical member 110 can rotate without receiving a large frictional force, and the rotating body 300 can also smoothly rotate with respect to the fixed body 200. Therefore, it is desirable that the spherical member 110 does not come into contact with other objects as much as possible. For example, the housing 120 shown in FIG. 1 may have a clearance between its side surface and the spherical member 110.

2A and 2B are side views schematically showing a spherical member 110, in which FIG. 2A shows a spherical spherical member 110, and FIG. 2B shows a spherical member 110 having an oval cross-sectional view. As shown in this figure, the spherical member 110 is a member having a spherical surface, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the entire surface may be a spherical surface, or as shown in FIG. 1B. It is also possible to use a shape in which a part of the surface is spherical. Note that FIG. 2B shows a spherical member 110 obtained by cutting a part (left and right parts in the figure) from a sphere, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a member having a shape like an "abacus ball" is referred to as a spherical member 110. Various shapes having a spherical surface can be used as the spherical member 110. Further, the spherical member 110 is preferably made of a material having a small friction coefficient (for example, made of metal or glass) in order to suppress the frictional force generated when it comes into contact with the fixed body 200 or the like as much as possible.

As the housing 120 constituting the rotary coupling device 100, a hollow box-shaped one and an annular (ring-shaped) one can be particularly exemplified. FIG. 3A is a side view schematically showing the box-shaped housing 120, and FIG. 3B schematically shows the rotary coupling device 100 provided with the box-shaped housing 120. It is a side view. As shown in FIG. 3A, the box-shaped housing 120 is a hollow columnar body provided with an installation bottom surface 121 and a side wall surface 122, and a surface facing the installation bottom surface 121 (upper surface in the figure) is opened. There is. The box-shaped housing 120 can adopt a shape such as a square column or a column as long as it is a hollow column. However, the inner diameter of the accommodating body 120 may be designed to be long enough to cause a clearance between the accommodating body 120 and the accommodating spherical member 110. Further, in order to suppress the frictional force generated when the housing body 120 comes into contact with the spherical member 110 as much as possible, it is preferable to use a material having a small friction coefficient (for example, a metal or a hard resin).

As shown in FIG. 3B, the box-shaped accommodating body 120 is fixed to the fixed body 200 with the installation bottom surface 121 as the installation surface. In other words, the accommodating body 120 is fixed to the fixed body 200 so that the installation bottom surface 121 comes into contact with the surface of the fixed body 200. Then, the spherical member 110 is arranged so that a part thereof (generally the lower half in the figure) is accommodated in the accommodating body 120. As a result, the spherical member 110 (that is, the rotating body) keeps the spherical member 110 in contact with the housing 120 (installation bottom surface 121) only by the contact CP while preventing the spherical member 120 from moving in a large plane. 300) can rotate in any direction. In this case, the spherical member 110 comes into contact with the accommodating body 120 (installation bottom surface 121), but since it is fixed to the fixed body 200, the accommodating body 120 is a part of the fixed body 200. That is, it can be considered that the spherical member 110 is indirectly in contact with the fixed body 200 only by the contact CP.

FIG. 4A is a plan view schematically showing the annular container 120, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the annular container 120, and FIG. 4C is an annular container. It is a side view which shows typically the rotary coupling apparatus 100 provided with 120. As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the annular accommodating body 120 is provided with a through hole for accommodating a part of the spherical member 110, and has a small wall thickness with respect to the diameter. is there. The member cross-sectional shape of the housing body 120 shown in this figure is generally L-shaped including a curve corresponding to the curvature of the spherical member 110, but the housing is not limited to this and has an arbitrary cross-section such as a circular cross-section or a square cross-section. Body 120 can be used. However, the inner diameter dimension of the accommodating body 120 (outer diameter dimension of the through hole) may be designed to have a length such that a clearance is generated between the accommodating body 120 and the accommodating spherical member 110.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the annular container 120 is fixed to the fixed body 200 and is arranged so that a part of the spherical member 110 is housed in the container 120. As a result, the spherical member 110 (that is, the rotating body 300) is in an arbitrary direction while the accommodating body 120 prevents the spherical member 110 from moving in a large plane, and the spherical member 110 is maintained in contact with the fixed body 200 only by the contact CP. Can rotate to.

The accommodating body 120 is referred to as two parts, that is, an accommodating body attached to the fixed body 200 (hereinafter, referred to as “fixed side accommodating body 120F”) and an accommodating body attached to the rotating body 300 (hereinafter, referred to as “rotating side accommodating body 120R”). ) Can also be used. FIG. 5A is a side view schematically showing a box-shaped fixed side housing 120F and a rotating side housing 120R. Similar to the housing 120 shown in FIG. 3A, the box-shaped fixed-side housing 120F has an installation bottom surface (hereinafter, referred to as “fixed-side installation bottom surface 121F”) and a side wall surface (hereinafter, “fixed-side side wall surface”). It is a hollow columnar shape provided with "122F"), and the surface facing the fixed side installation bottom surface 121F (upper surface in FIG. 5) is open. Further, the box-shaped rotating side housing 120R is also a hollow columnar body having an installation bottom surface (hereinafter, referred to as “rotating side installation bottom surface 121R”) and a side wall surface (hereinafter, referred to as “rotating side side wall surface 122R”). Yes, the surface facing the bottom surface 121R installed on the rotation side (lower surface in FIG. 5) is open.

FIG. 5B is a side view schematically showing a rotary coupling device 100 provided with a box-shaped fixed side housing 120F and a rotating side housing 120R. As shown in this figure, the fixed side accommodating body 120F is fixed to the fixed body 200 with the fixed side installation bottom surface 121F as the installation surface (so that the fixed side installation bottom surface 121F is in contact with the surface of the fixed body 200), and one of them rotates. The side accommodating body 120R is fixed to the rotating body 300 with the rotating side installation bottom surface 121R as an installation surface (so that the rotating side installation bottom surface 121R is in contact with the surface of the rotating body 300). A part of the spherical member 110 (generally the lower half in the figure) is housed in the fixed side accommodating body 120F, and the other part (generally the upper half in the figure) is housed in the rotating side accommodating body 120R. Is placed in. That is, the spherical member 110 is housed in the box formed by the fixed side housing body 120F and the rotating side housing body 120R. At this time, a clearance is provided between the opening side (upper side in the figure) end of the fixed side side wall surface 122F and the opening side (lower side in the figure) end of the rotating side side wall surface 122R so that frictional force is not generated. , It is better to arrange so that both sides do not touch.

By adopting the configuration shown in FIG. 5B, the accommodating body 120 (fixed side accommodating body 120F and rotating side accommodating body 120R) can prevent the spherical member 110 from moving in a large plane, and the rotating body 300 has a spherical surface. The member 110 can rotate with respect to the fixed body 200 while maintaining contact with the two contacts. More specifically, the spherical member 110 has a contact point with the fixed side accommodating body 120F (fixed side installation bottom surface 121F) (hereinafter referred to as "fixed side contact CPF") and a rotating side accommodating body 120R (rotating side installation bottom surface 121R). The rotating body 300 can rotate with respect to the fixed body 200 with the axis connecting the fixed side contact CPF and the rotating side contact CPR as the rotating axis while contacting the contact (hereinafter referred to as "rotating side contact CPR"). .. At that time, as a matter of course, the rotating side accommodating body 120R fixed to the rotating body 300 also rotates with respect to the fixed body 200.

FIG. 6A is a side view schematically showing the annular fixed side accommodating body 120F and the rotating side accommodating body 120R. Similar to the housing 120 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the annular fixed-side housing 120F and the rotating-side housing 120R are provided with through holes for housing a part of the spherical member 110. , The wall thickness dimension is small with respect to the diameter. The member cross-sectional shapes of the fixed side accommodating body 120F and the rotating side accommodating body 120R shown in this figure are circular.

FIG. 6B is a side view schematically showing the rotary coupling device 100 provided with the annular fixed side housing 120F and the rotating side housing 120R. As shown in this figure, the fixed side accommodating body 120F is fixed to the fixed body 200, and one rotating side accommodating body 120R is fixed to the rotating body 300. A part of the spherical member 110 (the lower part in the figure) is housed in the fixed side accommodating body 120F, and the other part (the upper part in the figure) is housed in the rotating side accommodating body 120R. Arranged to be. With such a configuration, the accommodating body 120 (fixed side accommodating body 120F and rotating side accommodating body 120R) can prevent the spherical member 110 from moving in a large plane, and the rotating body 300 has two spherical members 110. It can rotate with respect to the fixed body 200 while maintaining contact with the two contacts. More specifically, while the spherical member 110 is in contact with the fixed side contact CPF and the rotating side contact CPR, the rotating body 300 rotates with respect to the fixed body 200 with the axis connecting the fixed side contact CPF and the rotating side contact CPR as the rotating axis. It will be possible. At that time, as a matter of course, the rotating side accommodating body 120R fixed to the rotating body 300 also rotates with respect to the fixed body 200.

2. Rotating structure Subsequently, the rotating structure of the present invention will be described in detail. The rotary structure of the present invention is a structure including the rotary coupling device 100 described so far. Therefore, avoiding explanations overlapping with the contents described in the rotary coupling device 100, only the contents peculiar to the rotary structure of the present invention are avoided. I will explain it. That is, the contents not described here are the same as those described in "1. Rotational coupling device".

The rotating structure of the present invention can be used as a door structure provided at the entrance of a house or room as shown in FIG. In this case, the fixed body 200, which is a door frame, is provided with a substantially quadrangular opening, and the substantially quadrangular rotating body 300, which is a door, is arranged in the opening. Then, the rotary coupling device 100 of the present invention is installed between the fixed body 200 and the rotating body 300. For example, in FIG. 7A, rotation coupling devices 100 are installed at two upper and lower positions on the left end of the rotating body 300.

FIG. 7 (b) is an enlarged detailed side view of “part a” of FIG. 7 (a). As shown in this figure, the rotary coupling device 100 arranged on the upper portion of the rotating body 300 includes a spherical member 110, a box-shaped fixed side accommodating body 120F, and a rotating side accommodating body 120R. Then, the fixed side accommodating body 120F is fixed to the fixed body 200 with the fixed side installation bottom surface 121F as the installation surface (upper surface in the figure), and the rotating side accommodating body 120R rotates with the rotating side installation bottom surface 121R as the installation surface (lower surface in the figure). The spherical member 110 is fixed to the body 300, and the spherical member 110 is housed in the housing 120 (fixed side housing 120F and rotating side housing 120R). Similarly, the rotary connecting device 100 arranged at the lower part of the rotating body 300 also includes a spherical member 110, a box-shaped fixed side accommodating body 120F, and a rotating side accommodating body 120R, and has a fixed side installation bottom surface 121F. The fixed side accommodating body 120F is fixed to the fixed body 200 as an installation surface (lower surface in the figure), and the rotating side accommodating body 120R is fixed to the rotating body 300 with the rotating side installation bottom surface 121R as the installation surface (upper surface in the figure). The spherical member 110 is accommodated in the accommodating body 120 (fixed side accommodating body 120F and rotating side accommodating body 120R).

By adopting the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the accommodating body 120 (fixed side accommodating body 120F and rotating side accommodating body 120R) prevents the upper and lower spherical members 110 from moving in a large plane, and the upper and lower spherical members 110 are respectively fixed side contacts. The CPF and the rotating side contact CPR make contact with the fixed body 200. The fixed side contact CPF and the rotating side contact CPR formed by the upper spherical member 110, and the fixed side contact CPF and the rotating side contact CPR formed by the lower spherical member 110 are arranged substantially in a straight line. The upper and lower rotary coupling devices 100 may be arranged. By installing the upper rotary coupling device 100 and the lower rotary coupling device 100 in this way, the rotating body 300 can rotate around the rotation axis (dashed line) shown in FIG. 7A.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, a considerable space is provided between the fixed body 200 and the rotating body 300, and the rotary connecting device 100 is arranged using this space. However, as shown in FIG. 8, there may be a case where an appropriate space is not provided between the fixed body 200 and the rotating body 300. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the fixed side accommodating body 120F may be installed inside the fixed body 200, and the rotating side accommodating body 120R may be installed inside the rotating body 300. Further, in the case where a space of about half as shown in FIG. 7 is provided between the fixed body 200 and the rotating body 300, the fixed side accommodating body 120F is installed using the space and inside the rotating body 300. It is preferable to install the rotating side accommodating body 120R, or to use the space to install the rotating side accommodating body 120R and to install the fixed side accommodating body 120F inside the rotating body 300.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the rotating structure of the present invention may have a structure in which the rotating connecting devices 100 are arranged at the four corners of the rotating body 300. However, in this case, the rotary coupling device 100 is installed so that the spherical member 110 can be attached and detached. When the spherical member 110 is detachably installed, it has been conventionally used such that the accommodating body 120 (fixed side accommodating body 120F and rotating side accommodating body 120R) is provided with an opening window, or the accommodating body 120 is provided with an opening / closing door. Various technologies are available.

In the state shown in FIG. 9A, since the rotary coupling devices 100 are arranged at the four corners, the rotating body 300, which is a door, cannot rotate with respect to the fixed body 200, which is a door frame, so to speak, in a locked state. It is said that. Then, when the two rotation connecting devices 100 on the right side are removed from the state of FIG. 9A, the state shown in FIG. 9B is obtained, and the rotating body 300 rotates around the rotation axis on the left side as in FIGS. 7 and 8. It will be possible. On the other hand, when the two rotation connecting devices 100 on the left side are removed, the state shown in FIG. 9C is obtained, and the rotating body 300 can rotate around the rotation axis on the right side.

Up to this point, the rotary structure formed by the rotary coupling device 100 provided with the box-shaped fixed side container 120F and the rotary side container 120R has been described, but the rotary structure of the present invention is an annular fixed side container. It can also be formed by a rotary coupling device 100 provided with 120F and a rotary side housing 120R.

3. 3. Modification Example By using the rotary connecting device 100 of the present invention, the rotating bodies 300 can be rotatably connected to each other. FIG. 10A is a side view schematically showing a structure in which two rotating bodies are rotatably connected, and FIG. 10B is a plan view schematically showing a plurality of rotatably connected rotating bodies. Is. As shown in FIG. 10A, when the accommodating body 120 and the spherical member 110 are arranged on the rotating body 300 on one side (left side in the figure), and the accommodating body 120 is arranged on the rotating body 300 on the other side (right side in the figure). , The left and right rotating bodies 300 can rotate around the rotation axis, respectively. Then, when these combinations are made continuous, as shown in FIG. 10B, a structure that can be folded and unfolded like a folding screen can be obtained.

Containment body 120 can also be formed by three spherical SPs. FIG. 11A is a side view schematically showing the housing 120 formed by the three spheres SP, and FIG. 11B is a plane schematically showing the housing 120 formed by the three spheres SP. It is a figure. In this case, the spherical member 110 can rotate freely while maintaining a state in which the spherical member 110 is in contact with the sphere SP at one contact CP, that is, at three contact CPs. The spherical SP may be made of a material having a small friction coefficient (for example, metal or glass) in order to suppress the frictional force generated when it comes into contact with the spherical member 110 as much as possible.

The rotary coupling device and the rotary structure of the present invention can be used as a uniaxial rotating body for doors, windows, cupboards, gates, box lids, counters, display panels, folding screens, and the like. The multi-axis rotation function can be used for windmills, antennas, telescopes, outdoor playsets with rotation, stirrers, illuminators, surveillance cameras, etc., and also for skeleton structures, jungle gyms, steel towers, roofs, etc. can do.

100 Rotary coupling device 110 (rotation coupling device) Spherical member 120 (rotation coupling device) housing 120F (containment body) fixed side housing 121F (fixed side housing) fixed side installation bottom surface 122F (fixed) Fixed side wall surface 120R (of accommodating body) Rotating side side wall surface (of accommodating body) 121R (rotating side accommodating body) Rotating side installation bottom surface 122R (rotating side accommodating body) Rotating side side wall surface 200 Fixed body 300 Rotating body CP Contact CPF Fixed side contact CPR Rotating side contact SP Sphere

Claims (5)

The structure is such that the rotating body can rotate with respect to the fixed body.
The fixed body provided with a substantially quadrangular opening, the rotating body arranged in the opening, and a rotary connecting device are provided.
The rotary coupling device includes a fixed side accommodating body fixed to the fixed body, a rotating side accommodating body fixed to the rotating body, and a spherical member which is partially or wholly spherical.
The fixed-side housing is a hollow box composed of a fixed-side installation bottom surface and a fixed-side side wall surface, and a surface facing the fixed-side installation bottom surface is opened.
The rotating side housing is a hollow box composed of a rotating side installation bottom surface and a rotating side side wall surface, and a surface facing the rotating side installation bottom surface is opened.
The fixed-side housing is fixed to the fixed body on the fixed-side installation bottom surface.
The rotating body is fixed to the rotating body on the rotating side installation bottom surface so that the fixed side installation bottom surface and the rotating side installation bottom surface are parallel or substantially parallel to each other.
By accommodating a part of the spherical member in the fixed side accommodating body, the spherical portion of the spherical member comes into contact with the fixed side installation bottom surface at one contact point.
By accommodating a part of the spherical member in the rotating side accommodating body, the spherical portion of the spherical member comes into contact with the rotating side installation bottom surface at one contact point.
The rotary coupling device is installed at four corners of the rotating body.
A rotating shaft connecting the contact of the fixed side installation bottom surface of the rotary coupling device installed at the upper part and the contact of the fixed side installation bottom surface of the rotary coupling device, and a contact of the fixed side installation bottom surface of the rotary coupling device installed at the lower part. The rotation axis connecting the contacts on the bottom surface of the installation on the rotation side is arranged on a straight line.
The spherical member is detachable from the fixed side accommodating body and the rotating side accommodating body.
When the two spherical members adjacent to each other are removed, the rotating body rotates around the rotation axis of the two remaining rotary coupling devices.
A rotating structure characterized by that. An opening window is provided in the fixed side accommodating body and the rotating side accommodating body, and the spherical member can be attached to and detached from the opening window .
The rotating structure according to claim 1. An opening / closing door is provided on the fixed side accommodating body and the rotating side accommodating body, and the spherical member can be attached / detached from the opening / closing door .
The rotating structure according to claim 1. A clearance is provided between the opening-side end of the fixed side wall surface and the opening-side end of the rotating side wall surface.
The rotating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A clearance was provided between the fixed side wall surface and the spherical member, and a clearance was provided between the rotating side wall surface and the spherical member.
The rotating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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