JPH05240288A - Vibration or rotation control device using electroviscous fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a vibration or rotation control device using the electroviscous fluid which is excellent in the responsiveness in the ON/OFF operation of the voltage, prevents the settling of the fine particles, and is excellent in the control effect. CONSTITUTION:A vibration or rotation control device is provided with a pair of or more electrodes 1 which are opposite to each other, the electroviscous fluid 4 is filled between the electrodes 1, and this device controls the vibration or the rotation by making use of the changes in the characteristics of the electroviscous fluid 4 caused by the application of the voltage between the electrodes 1. This device is also provided with a means 5 to drive a part of or the whole of the control device so as to be rotated or reciprocated in the direction different from the input direction of the vibration or the rotation to be controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has one or more sets of electrodes facing each other and filled with an electrorheological fluid between the electrodes.
The present invention relates to a device for controlling vibration or rotation by utilizing a characteristic change of an electrorheological fluid by applying a voltage between electrodes, and can be used in the fields of dampers, clutches, fluid couplings, dynamic dampers, anti-vibration rubber and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional control device of this type, as shown in FIG. 5, a piston 101 of a reciprocating rod 100 is used.
It is known that the cylinder is housed in a cylinder 102, the cylinder 102 is filled with an electrorheological fluid 103, and electrodes 104 and 105 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 102 and the outer peripheral surface of the piston 101, respectively. These electrodes 104, 105
By applying a voltage to, the viscosity of the electrorheological fluid 103 is changed and the reciprocating movement of the piston 101 is controlled. In the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, a rotary shaft 106 is rotatably inserted in a cylinder 107, a plurality of electrode plates 108 are attached to the rotary shaft 106, and a plurality of electrode plates are sandwiched in the cylinder 107. 109 and electrorheological fluid 1
It is the one that satisfies 03. When a voltage is applied to both electrodes 108 and 109, the viscosity of the electrorheological fluid 103 changes and the rotation of the rotating shaft 106 is controlled.

[0003]

In any of the conventional examples, when a voltage is applied to control the operation of the piston 100 and the rotary shaft 106, that is, the reciprocating motion and the rotation, powder (sintering) in the electrorheological fluid (sintering) is used. Carbon and the like) form a chain, but when the state is switched from this state to a state in which the voltage is cut off, the chain of the powder is not immediately broken, and the responsiveness is poor. In addition, when it is not used for a long period of time, the powder dispersed in the electrorheological fluid settles, the control effect of the device is significantly reduced, and the insulation resistance is lowered in the settled portion, so that discharge may occur. there were. Further, there is a disadvantage that the powder is not re-dispersed if it settles. Furthermore, when a high voltage is applied to the electrorheological fluid, the powder in the fluid causes electrophoresis and aggregates on the electrodes, which may reduce the control effect of the device.

Therefore, the present invention provides a vibration or rotation control device using an electrorheological fluid, which has excellent responsiveness when the voltage is turned on and off, prevents sedimentation of powder, and has an excellent control effect. With the goal.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has one or more sets of electrodes facing each other, an electrorheological fluid is filled between the electrodes, and a voltage is applied between the electrodes. In a device for controlling vibration or rotation by utilizing a characteristic change of an electrorheological fluid caused by the above, a part or the whole of the control device is rotated or reciprocated in a direction different from the input direction of the vibration or rotation to be controlled. It has a driving means.

[0006]

According to the present invention, if the driving means is activated at the moment when the voltage is cut off, the chains of the powder in the electrorheological fluid are immediately broken and the response is improved. Further, the electro-rheological fluid can be caused to flow by operating the driving means when the powder starts to settle. Furthermore, if the means for driving when a high voltage is applied is operating, the electrorheological fluid is flowing, so that it is possible to prevent the powder from aggregating on the electrodes.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the vibrating piston 1 itself is formed as a positive electrode, and the cylinder 2 is placed at a position facing the positive electrode, that is, at a position surrounding the outer circumference of the piston 1.
Is provided, the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 2 is configured as a negative electrode 3, and the electrorheological fluid 4 is filled between the electrodes 1 and 3 facing each other, and a voltage is applied between the electrodes 1 and 3. The vibration of the piston 1 is controlled by utilizing the characteristic change of the electrorheological fluid 4. Piston 1
Reciprocates in the direction of the arrow (vibration direction) shown in FIG. 1, but a means 5 for driving the cylinder 2 to rotate in a direction different from the input direction of the vibration to be controlled, that is, a part of the device to be controlled. It is provided. A motor 5 is used as the driving means 5 and the output shaft 6 of the motor is used as the cylinder 2
The rotation of the motor is transmitted to the cylinder 2. Further, a sensor 7 for detecting the sedimentation of the powder in the electrorheological fluid 4 is provided, and the means 5 for driving when the sedimentation of the powder occurs is driven. Although the sensor 7 is used in this embodiment, the cylinder 2 may be rotated at all times, or may be rotated at regular intervals using a timer or the like. Further, the cylinder 2 may be rotated only when the voltage is turned off, or at least when the voltage is turned off. Furthermore, FIG.
In FIG. 1, the piston 1 serving as an electrode and the other electrode 3 are connected to a voltage source, respectively. Furthermore, as the driving means 5, vibration or rotation input to the motor may be used, or it may be moved by using a piezo element or an ultrasonic vibrator. This embodiment can be used as a shock absorber.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cylinder 2 is driven in a direction different from the direction in which the piston 1 oscillates, that is, the cylinder 2 is rotated, so that the electrorheological fluid 4 in the cylinder 2 has a A flow different from the vibration direction is generated to prevent the powder dispersed in the fluid from settling.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, negative electrodes 9 are provided on both sides of the piston 1 provided on the vibration isolation table 8, and positive electrodes 10 are provided so as to face the electrodes 9 and the pistons 1 are provided. The tips of the electrodes 9 and 10 are inserted into the cylinder 2, and the cylinder 2 is filled with the electrorheological fluid 4. The cylinder 2 is driven by a means similar to that shown in FIG. 1 so as to rotate in a direction different from the vibration input direction.
Is provided.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cylinder 2
A cylinder-shaped one is used as the cylinder 2. The cylinder 2 is filled with the electrorheological fluid 4, positive electrodes 10 are attached to both ends of the piston 1, and the cylinder 2 facing these electrodes 10 is used.
A negative electrode 9 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 2, and the cylinder 2 can be reciprocated by the driving means 5.
The piston 1 vibrates in the direction shown in FIG.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the object to be controlled is the rotation of the rotary shaft 11, the cylinder 2 is provided at one end of the rotary shaft 11, and the electrorheological fluid 4 is filled in the cylinder 2. The piston 1 is reciprocated by inserting the piston 1 into the cylinder 2 and rotating the roller by bringing the roller into contact with the piston 1. These rollers and a drive source for the rollers (not shown) constitute means 5 for driving. In this embodiment, contrary to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the piston 1 is configured to reciprocate in a direction different from the input direction of rotation to be controlled. This embodiment can be used as a fluid coupling.

Also in each of the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the driving means 5 may be operated at all times, or the timing of the operation may be selected using a timer, a sensor or the like. Further, in any of the above-described embodiments, the device 5 is driven by the driving means 5 so that the distance between the electrodes does not change, and part or all of the device is driven. This is because when the distance between the electrodes changes, the electric field strength changes even with the same voltage, making control difficult. The electrorheological fluid is a powder of sintered carbon or the like (having a lower electric resistance than the solvent but not a perfect conductor) dispersed in a solvent of silicon or the like. Has a large specific gravity, so if left alone, the powder will settle.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided means for driving a part or the whole of the control device so as to rotate or reciprocate in a direction different from the input direction of vibration or rotation to be controlled. Therefore, if it is driven at least when the voltage is cut off, there is no inconvenience that the chain of powder formed in the electrorheological fluid will not be cut immediately when the voltage is switched from the state where the voltage was applied , Responsiveness is improved. Further, if the means for driving the powder dispersed in the electrorheological fluid is driven before settling, a flow is generated in the electrorheological fluid to prevent the powder from settling. Furthermore, since a flow is generated in the electrorheological fluid when the driving means is driven, when a high voltage is applied to the electrorheological fluid, the powder in the fluid causes electrophoresis and aggregates on the electrodes. Can be prevented. Furthermore, even when sedimentation occurs, it is possible to generate a flow in the electrorheological fluid by driving the driving means to promote redispersion. None of the effects described above has a substantial effect on the direction in which vibration or rotation is controlled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Piston 2 Cylinder 5 Driving means 3,9,10 Electrode

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Having one or more sets of electrodes facing each other,
In a device that controls the vibration or rotation by using the characteristic change of the electrorheological fluid caused by applying the voltage between the electrodes and filling the electrorheological fluid between the electrodes, the vibration that should control part or all of the control device Alternatively, there is provided a vibration or rotation control device using an electrorheological fluid, which has means for driving so as to rotate or reciprocate in a direction different from a rotation input direction. 2. The vibration or rotation control device using an electrorheological fluid according to claim 1, wherein the actuation and stop of the driving means are performed by a command of a timer or a sensor.