JPH0443200A - Pseudo-weightless free floating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily experience the pseudo-weightless state by installing a capsule into which a human body is accommodated, with his face in contact state with the outside air, and the inside of which is charged with fluid and can be sealed, and supporting the capsule so that attitude can be freely changed by an attitude control means. CONSTITUTION:A capsule 1 in which a human body 8 is accommodated is supported by an attitude control means 2, and the capsule 1 can be turned freely around the Z axis-in the longitudinal direction and the Y-axis in the horizontal direction. The capsule 1 is constituted of a capsule body 1A and a capsule cap 1B as the cover for the capsule body 1A, and the outer frame of the capsule body 1A is formed from a rigid wall 6 which is sufficiently pressure-resistive for the pressure close to the atmospheric pressure, and almost all the outer frame of the capsule cap 1B consists of the rigid wall 6, and a part consists of a soft wall 4 which can be expanded and contracted for the pressure. The soft wall 4 is set in the vicinity of a lung part 10 from a face 8A, and absorbs the volume change of the human body 8 in aspiration, and installed for the pressure adjustment for the external pressure. The inside of the capsule 1 is charged with warm water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a pseudo weightless swimming device, and particularly to a pseudo weightless swimming device including a capsule containing a human body subjected to the buoyancy of a fluid. The present invention also relates to a medical device that promotes blood circulation.

(Prior Art) One of the attractions of swimming underwater, such as scuba diving, is the feeling of neutral buoyancy. Neutral buoyancy here refers to a well-balanced state of ups and downs in water. In a state of neutral buoyancy, even if you are in an inverted position with your legs above your head, blood will not rise to your head and you will feel normal. This state is also called a pseudo weightless state. It is also sometimes used as a training tool for spaceflight.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, although being able to experience a pseudo weightless state is very attractive, it has not been possible to experience it with a simple device.

Normal scuba diving allows you to experience a pseudo-weightless state, but it required a location with a large amount of water, such as underwater or a pool. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is not possible to experience a pseudo weightless state in a small amount of water that can be easily handled.

In addition, in scuba diving, even when the water is only as deep as the height of the human body, in order to experience a pseudo weightless state, a complicated device called a regulator is required, just as when the water is deep. There was a problem.

On the other hand, there is something called a float capsule. This is a device that allows a human body to float on the surface by placing a human body inside a capsule and filling the capsule about halfway with high-density salt water. However, with this device, there was a problem in that it was not possible to take an inverted posture, and the degree of freedom in posture was low.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a simple pseudo weightless swimming device that allows a person to experience a pseudo weightless state in a variety of human body postures. The present pseudo weightless swimming device is also intended to be applicable as a medical device that promotes blood circulation through pressure changes within the capsule.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention accommodates a human body with its face in contact with outside air,
A capsule that can be filled with a fluid and sealed and that includes a rigid wall that does not deform within a predetermined pressure and a flexible wall that has an elastic structure; The above-mentioned problem is solved by comprising a posture control means for freely changing the posture.

Further, the flexible wall is provided in the vicinity of a position where the head and lungs of the human body are accommodated in the capsule.

Further, the attitude control means is characterized in that it includes a rotation means for rotating the capsule around two orthogonal axes passing near the center of gravity of the capsule.

(Function) A human body is placed inside a capsule, the face is exposed to the outside air, the capsule is sealed to prevent fluid from leaking, and fluid is replenished into the capsule. The fluid has a density equal to that of a human body, for example, as water between the passageways, and the human body is in balance with its gravity and the buoyant force of the fluid, and the human body becomes in a pseudo weightless state. Since the capsule includes a rigid wall that does not deform within a predetermined pressure, for example around 1 atmosphere, and a flexible wall that has an elastic structure, the capsule does not deform as a whole.

On the other hand, only flexible walls expand and contract in response to internal pressure. Therefore, when the pressure within the capsule increases or decreases in response to the increase or decrease in volume as the human body breathes, the flexible wall expands or contracts.

As a result, even though the human body breathes and its volume increases and decreases, the fluid pressure within the capsule in the vicinity of the flexible wall remains approximately equal to the outside air pressure against which the flexible wall is located. In addition, when the capsule is at rest, the fluid pressure distribution inside the capsule is
It is determined only by the depth of the fluid within the capsule relative to the location of the flexible wall, and remains the same even as the human body breathes and its volume increases or decreases.

Then, the capsule is supported by the posture control means, and the posture control means changes the posture of the capsule at a constant speed or with acceleration while the human body is in the pseudo weightless state, thereby reducing the fluid pressure applied to the human body. Change the slope appropriately.

As a result, it is possible to realize a pseudo-weightless state that is rich in variation.

In addition, since the flexible wall is provided in the vicinity of the position where the human body's face and lungs are housed in the capsule, it quickly absorbs pressure changes within the capsule due to human breathing, and is arranged in the vicinity of the human body from the head to the lungs. can be kept approximately equal to the outside pressure.

In addition, since the attitude control means includes two orthogonal axes passing near the center of gravity of the capsule and a rotation means for rotating the capsule around the axes, the attitude control means can use less power. The capsule can be rotated by.

FIG. 4(1) shows the relative pressure distribution corresponding to the depth of water from the top of the capsule when a capsule consisting of only a rigid wall is filled with water, for example. When no external pressure is applied as shown in FIG. 4 (1), water pressure is generated by gravity acting on the water, so water pressure is proportional to the water depth. Water pressure is approximately 0.1 atm per meter.

FIG. 4(2) shows the relative pressure corresponding to the depth of water from the top of the capsule when the capsule is partially composed of a flexible wall 4 in addition to a rigid wall and is filled with water. In this case, if the flexible wall 4 is constructed at a depth of 2 m, an external pressure of 1.0 atm will be applied, and the internal and external pressures will be balanced. A difference of 0.8 atm between the original gravitational pressure of 0.2 atm and 1.0 atm is applied to the entire capsule. That is, the difference between the pressure due to gravity applied to the flexible wall 4 and the outside air pressure is transmitted throughout the capsule and added to the pressure distribution due to gravity. Then, as shown in Figure 4 (2),
Near the flexible wall inside the capsule, the outside pressure is equal to 1 atm,
The pressure distribution within the capsule is determined based on the water depth based on the position of the flexible wall.

(Example) Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a capsule 1 containing a human body 8 is supported by the posture control means 2 and is rotatable around the longitudinal Y-axis and the horizontal Y-axis.

The capsule 1 is composed of a capsule body IA that closes off most of the volume, and a capsule cap IB that is a lid of the capsule body IA. The outer frame of the capsule body IA is made of a rigid wall 6 that is sufficiently pressure resistant to pressures around 1 atmosphere. The outer frame of the capsule cap IB is mostly made of a rigid wall 6, and a part is made of a flexible wall 4 that can expand and contract in response to pressure. The flexible wall 4 is provided from the face 8A to the vicinity of the lungs 10, and absorbs changes in the volume of the breathing human body 8 and adjusts the pressure with the outside air pressure.

The capsule cap IB includes a water tap 12 that supplies hot water 73 as a fluid to the capsule 1, and a window 16 that allows the face 8A of the human body 8 to come into contact with the outside air so that the human body 8 can breathe the air and view the outside scenery. is provided. The capsule cap IB serves as a lid that can be opened and closed on the capsule body IA using the fulcrum 28 as a hinge. The contact portions of the capsule body IA and the capsule cap IB each constitute a flange 20.18 and are brought together via an O-ring 22. In addition, the capsule body IA and the capsule cap IB have a lock handle 14.
It is fixed by tightening the capsule 1, thereby preventing the hot water inside the capsule 1 from leaking to the outside. The window frame 24 of the window 16 serves as a backing made of rubber material, and the window frame 24 of the window 16 serves as a backing made of rubber material.
Place the outer circumference of the eyes, nose, and mouth on the window frame 24 and tighten the rubber belt 26.
By hanging it on your head, you can prevent the hot water inside the capsule 1 from leaking to the outside.

Next, the attitude control means 2 for freely changing the attitude of the capsule 1 will be described. The attitude control means 2 supports the capsule 1 and rotates it around two orthogonal axes, namely, the Y axis and the Y axis passing near the center of gravity of the capsule 1. Here, the Y-axis is an axis in the longitudinal direction of the capsule 1 that passes through the center of gravity of the capsule 1, and the Y-axis is an axis that passes through the center of gravity of the capsule 1 and is horizontal to the ground (not shown). The Y axis is a fixed axis, but the Y axis is capsule 1
It also rotates on a plane perpendicular to the Y axis.

Rotation of the capsule l around the Y-axis is achieved by a ball bearing inner ring 42 fixed to the outer wall of the capsule l and a rotating shaft 6 of the Y-axis.
The ball bearing outer ring 44 fixed to the ball 4
This is accomplished by rotating through 3. The rotation of the ball bearing inner ring 42 relative to the outer ring 44 is driven by the Z-axis motor 5.
2. The Z-axis motor 52 is the rotation axis 6 of the Y-axis.
4, the pulley 50 is fixed to the shaft of the Z-axis motor 52, and the pulley 48 is fixed to the outer wall of the capsule 1.
and are interlocked via the timing belt 54.

The rotation of the capsule 1 around the Y-axis is achieved by rotating the Y-axis supported by a bearing 46 provided on the frame 66. The bearing 46 supports the entire load of the capsule 1. A pulley 60 fixed to the Y-axis is interlocked with a pulley 58 via a timing belt 61, and the pulley 58 is fixed to the shaft of a Y-axis motor 56. The Y-axis motor 56 is
It is a driving source for the shaft and is fixed to the frame 66.

The frame 66 is fixed to the ground, etc., and therefore the Y-axis motor 56 is also stationary with respect to the ground, etc. However, the Z-axis motor 52 moves in response to rotation of the Y-axis.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Open the capsule cap IB and insert the human body 8 into the capsule body I.
Enter A, tighten the lock handle 14, cover the capsule body IA with the capsule cap IB, press the face 8A against the window frame 24 of the window 16, hang the rubber belt 26 around the head, and close the face 8A.
A is brought into close contact with the window frame 24, and then the water tap 12 is opened, the capsule 1 is filled with hot water 73, and the water tap 12 is closed. The human body 8 holds the support part 30 inside the capsule body IA with his/her hand and prepares for the movement of the capsule l. Upon receiving a signal indicating completion of preparation, the Z-axis motor 52 and Y-axis motor 56 of the attitude control means 2 are activated.
starts rotating according to a predetermined program to bring the capsule l into various positions. This predetermined program is memorized and controlled by a microcomputer, and the number of rotations around the Z axis and Y axis,
Various program sets are prepared based on combinations of rotational acceleration, etc., and it is also possible to select in advance which program set is to be selected as a menu.

In this way, the rotation of the two-axis motor 52 and the Y-axis motor 56 is not limited to constant speed, but involves various acceleration changes, and therefore the gradient of fluid pressure applied to the human body can be appropriately changed, and is not monotonous. It is possible to realize a pseudo-weightless state that is full of changes.

Furthermore, since the flexible wall 4 is provided in the vicinity of the position where the lungs 10 are accommodated from the face 8A of the human body 8 in the capsule 1, it quickly absorbs pressure changes in the capsule 1 caused by the human body's breathing, and Since the area from the portion 8A to the lung portion 10 can be maintained at approximately the same pressure as the outside air pressure, the user can comfortably experience a pseudo weightless state.

FIG. 2 shows an inverted state in which the capsule 1 is rotated 180 degrees around the Y axis without rotating around the Z axis compared to the upright position of the capsule 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 also shows that since the water pressure at the flexible wall 4 is equal to 1 atmosphere of atmospheric pressure, the water pressure at the foot 9 located approximately 1.5 m above the flexible wall 4 is approximately 0.85 m depending on the water depth.
It is shown to be atmospheric pressure. The pressure inside the capsule 1 is small (within 0.2 atmospheres of positive pressure), and the pressure range is narrow, allowing the human body to experience a comfortable pseudo-weightless state.

Since the flexible wall 4 is provided near the lung part 10, the water pressure around the lung part 10 becomes close to 1 atm, and the flexible wall 4 absorbs changes in the body's volume associated with respiratory movements, making breathing easier. It can be done. Further, since it is not necessary to use a so-called regulator, the device can be simplified, manufacturing costs can be reduced, and safety can be increased.

Furthermore, since the flexible wall 4 is located near the face 8A, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the window frame 24 is reduced, making it easier to block water. Furthermore, the pressure difference between the outside and inside of the face 8A that is in contact with the outside air is reduced, and no unreasonable pressure is applied to the human body 8.

Furthermore, since the water pressure in the ear is approximately equal to the outside air pressure, there is no need to adjust the inner ear pressure, so-called ear removal.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a simple pseudo weightless swimming device that allows the user to experience a pseudo weightless state in a variety of postures of the human body 8.

In addition, by creating a pseudo weightless state inside the small capsule 1, the capsule 1 can be easily controlled and acceleration can be easily applied to the human body 8.In addition, the installation of this pseudo weightless swimming device It is easy to choose the location freely.

In addition, since the flexible wall 4 is located close to the face 8A, the water pressure changes greatly in the foot portion 80 and the like away from the flexible wall 4 as the capsule 1 stands upright or stands upside down, as shown in the figure. Blood circulation can be promoted by creating a pressure difference between the body and the heart, and by setting the temperature of the hot water 73 to an appropriate temperature, and it can also be used as a health promotion device or a medical device.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Unlike the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The upper part is outside the capsule 1. Capsule body IA
The opening 3 is covered with a flexible wall 5. The flexible wall 5 is a soft rubber diaphragm, one end of which wraps around the neck 11 to form a sealing band 7, while the other end forms a circumferential frame 5A;
is fixed and sealed in the opening 3 of the capsule body IA by the lock handle 15.

The head 8B of the human body 8 is not immersed in the warm water 73 and cannot be affected by buoyancy. Therefore, for example, the human body 8
When the body is in an inverted position, the weight of the head 8B is applied to the neck 11. To support it, a head support 70.72 made of resilient material is provided on each support plate 76.78. The support plate 78 is removably attached to the capsule body IA.
is removably attached to the support plate 78. An adjustment screw 74 is screwed into the support plate 76, and by rotating the adjustment screw 74, the head support 70 can be appropriately pressed against the top of the head 8B.

The attitude control means 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The support plate 78 is removed from the capsule body IA, the human body 8 enters the capsule body IA, and the support plate 78 is removed from the capsule body IA.
A, the head 8B is brought out from the center of the flexible wall 5, the sealing band 7 is sealed to the neck 11, and the peripheral edge 5A of the flexible wall 5 is attached.
is fixed and sealed in the opening 3 of the capsule body IA by the lock handle 15. Next, the water tap 13 is opened and the capsule 1 is filled with warm water. Upon receiving the above preparation completion signal, the two-axis motor 52 and the Y-axis motor 56 of the posture control means 2 start rotating according to a predetermined program, as in the first embodiment, and the human body 8 enters a pseudo weightless state full of changes. can be experienced.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved. In addition, since the neck 11 is provided with a flexible wall 5 via the sealing band 7 and the entire face is outside the capsule 1, the degree of freedom of movement of the entire face is increased and the user can comfortably experience a pseudo-weightless state.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments (various improvements and changes in design may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention). It goes without saying that this is possible.

For example, although the posture control means 2 has been shown to rotate around two orthogonal axes, the rotation axis is not limited to orthogonal rotation, and the rotation axis may be one axis (or three or more axes may be used). .Furthermore, a motion other than a rotational motion, for example a translational motion, may be introduced.

Further, the driving method of the attitude control means 2 is not limited to timing belt and boolean driving, but may be gear driving, for example.

In the second embodiment, the fluid may be salt water to compensate for the lack of buoyancy on the head, and the concentration of the salt water may be adjusted to balance gravity and buoyancy.

Further, the fluid 73 in the capsule 1 is not limited to hot water, but may be other fluids such as oil. In that case, if the specific gravity is different from that of the human body, an appropriate adjustment weight or a swim bladder containing air or the like may be attached to one human body to balance the buoyancy and gravity exerted on the human body.

Further, the human body may be naked or may have a swimsuit or the like attached to it.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention has a structure in which a flexible wall is provided in the capsule and a capsule posture control means is provided, thereby providing a simple pseudo-weightless swimming device that allows you to experience a pseudo-weightless state in a variety of human body postures. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a pseudo weightless swimming device that allows the user to comfortably experience a pseudo weightless state within a predetermined pressure range based on atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a medical device that promotes blood circulation through pressure changes within the capsule.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows that the capsule in Figure 1 is rotated 180 degrees around the Y axis.
FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the pressure distribution inside a capsule without a flexible wall and a capsule with a flexible wall. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Capsule, 2... Attitude control means 4... Flexible wall, 6... Rigid wall 8... Human body, 73... Fluid diagram, Figure 3, Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A capsule that can house a human body with the face in contact with the outside air, fill it with fluid and seal it, and has a rigid wall that does not deform within a predetermined pressure and an elastic structure. A pseudo zero-gravity swimming device comprising: a capsule configured to include a flexible wall having a flexible wall; and posture control means that supports the capsule and freely changes its posture. 2. The pseudo zero-gravity swimming device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible wall is provided near a position where the face and lungs of the human body are accommodated in the capsule. 3. The attitude control means includes a rotation means for rotating the capsule around two orthogonal axes passing near the center of gravity of the capsule. Pseudo weightless swimming device.