JPH09257069A - Spiral spring - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accumulate comparatively large capacity mechanical energy by forming a composite material formed of fiber-reinforced resin by a specified orientation state of long fibers, and besides to effectively utilize as various sources through high-efficient discharge of accumulated mechanical energy through mechanical deformation of the composite material. SOLUTION: A spiral spring is constituted such that the spring is formed of a plurality of long fibers and a composite material formed of matrix resin and holding the long fibers in a belt-like state, mechanical energy of rotation operation provided by an external energy source and/or a load is accumulated mainly as elastic strain energy of the long fibers and at a given time, accumulated elastic strain energy is fetched as mechanical energy to assist an energy source. Further, outer and inner surface layer parts 10 and 10 are formed of the composite material and an intermediate layer part 12 formed of a light material nipped between the two surface layer parts and maintaining a distance between the two surface layers is formed and molded in a spiral form state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can form a composite material in a single layer or by laminating it into a plate shape to accumulate mechanical displacement as energy and use the accumulated energy as a power source. The present invention relates to a spiral spring and its application.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following means are generally known as means for accumulating mechanical energy and appropriately discharging the accumulated energy.

(1) Rubber: The elastic strain energy per weight of rubber is comparable to that of various fibers, but the amount of deformation is large, and it is easily oxidized and brittle at room temperature, causing a problem in durability. It is rarely used other than as a power source. In addition, because of poor shape stability, a spiral
Molding into springs is difficult.

(2) Metal springs: Metal springs have a low elastic strain energy storage capacity per weight,
There is only about 50 to 1/100. However, because it has good moldability, it does not need to worry about its energy capacity or its weight, such as toys, watches, hand-wound gramophones, music boxes, and manual independent energy sources such as manual radios. However, it is not used as a so-called hybrid drive source that supplements an energy source that exists separately or in an application that requires light weight and large capacity.

(3) Composite material spring: An energy absorber made of FRP (fiber reinforced resin) has been proposed for purposes such as springs and dampers (Japanese Patent Publication Sho-59-59).
No. 40101). This absorber increases the strength and elastic modulus of the material by fiber reinforcement, but it absorbs mechanical energy as vibration, converts it into heat energy as much as possible, and releases it to the outside to damp vibration. And has excellent viscoelastic properties as a base material that holds the reinforcing material (high weight of viscous component)
There is a need. However, this energy absorber efficiently stores, for example, mechanical energy of rotation and releases the stored energy as mechanical energy of rotation again without energy loss, that is, to use as a hybrid drive source. In addition, it is not intended to store power energy.

An FRP spiral spring is also known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 120448/1989), but by using a woven fabric or a mat on both sides, cracking of the spring is prevented, sag resistance, and fatigue strength. Is improved and the elastic modulus is improved. In this way, by using fabrics and mats together, the absolute value of the stored energy is aside,
It is not taken into account that the fibers perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spring have a negative effect on the stored energy per weight or volume. Also, as an application, the energy stored in the forward movement is used as the drive source for the backward movement, or the energy stored in the manual winding is used as the drive source.For example, there is a separate drive source, and when necessary, There is no application for assisting the drive source or for leveling the load on the drive source (load leveling), that is, as a hybrid drive source.

(4) Flywheel: The flywheel is
It is possible to store a large amount of energy in the form of kinetic energy, but there are many unsolved problems and it has not been completed as a practical technology.

(5) Storage battery: The storage battery has a high stored energy density, but in order to store and use mechanical energy, a generator and an electric motor are separately provided, or a machine-electric conversion having both functions is provided. In addition to the economical aspect, the efficiency at each conversion step becomes a problem.

[0009]

Therefore, the inventors have
As a result of earnest research, long fibers are arranged in one direction to form a composite material made of strip-shaped fiber reinforced resin (FRP), and this composite material is used as a surface layer portion for maintaining strength on both sides.
By providing an intermediate layer portion formed of a lightweight material for holding the thickness between these two surface layers and sandwiching it, and forming these as a layered plate, thereby constituting a spiral spring, As a spiral spring, it has been found that a large amount of mechanical energy can be accumulated with respect to its weight and volume and that this accumulated energy can be efficiently released and widely used as a power source.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to form a composite material comprising a fiber reinforced resin according to a specific orientation state of long fibers,
By mechanically deforming this composite material, a relatively large amount of mechanical energy can be accumulated, and when the deformation of the composite material is restored, the accumulated mechanical energy is efficiently released and various types of mechanical energy are released. It is to provide a spiral spring that can be effectively used as a power source of

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a spiral spring according to the present invention comprises a composite material composed of a plurality of long fibers and a matrix resin which holds the long fibers in a strip shape, and external energy The mechanical energy of the rotational motion given from the source and / or the load is mainly stored as elastic strain energy of the long fiber, and the stored elastic strain energy is taken out as mechanical energy to assist the energy source when required. It is characterized by doing.

In this case, the long fibers have a tensile elastic modulus of 4
Tensile strength of 25 kgf / mm ² or less
It can be mainly composed of fibers of 0 kgf / mm ² or more.

However, the tensile modulus is preferably 3
It is 1,000 kgf / mm ² or less, more preferably 6,000 to 25,000 kgf / mm ² . On the other hand, the tensile strength is preferably is at 340kgf / mm ² or more, further preferably 500 kgf / mm ² or more.

The long fibers are preferably oriented in the longitudinal direction of the strip. In this case, as the fibers, those formed into a braided weave or a braid can be used.

On the other hand, the composite material may be composed of at least two layers, and the long fibers may be arranged in the same direction in each layer.

In this case, the long fibers can be arranged in the longitudinal direction at an inclination of ± 13.5 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the strip.

Further, the long fibers located on the outer side of the spirally wound strip are at least one kind of fiber selected from aramid fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber and polyethylene fiber, and in the inner part, At least one kind of fiber selected from carbon fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, and silicon carbide fiber can be used.

Further, in the spiral spring according to the present invention, the outer and inner surface layer portions are composed of a composite material composed of a plurality of long fibers and a matrix for holding them in a strip shape, and the intermediate layer portion is the surface layer. It is characterized by being lighter than the parts.

In this case, it is preferable that the inner fiber has a larger filament diameter because the accumulated energy becomes higher.

Further, the intermediate layer portion can form a hollow portion. The intermediate layer portion can be made of a lightweight material having a hollow portion. The hollow portion of the lightweight material may be formed of microballoons.

Further, the long fibers have a tensile elastic modulus of 4
Tensile strength of 25 kgf / mm ² or less
It can be mainly composed of fibers of 0 kgf / mm ² or more.

In this case, it is preferable that the long fibers are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the strip, and it is also possible to use fibers formed in the shape of a braid or a braid.

On the other hand, the composite material of both surface layers may be composed of at least two layers, and the long fibers may be arranged in the same direction in each layer.

Further, the long fibers may be arranged in the longitudinal direction at an inclination of ± 13.5 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the strip.

Further, in the spiral spring, the long fibers of the surface layer portion located on the outer side of the spirally wound strip are made of at least one kind of fiber selected from aramid fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber and polyethylene fiber. The long fibers of the surface layer portion located inside can be at least one kind of fiber selected from carbon fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, and silicon carbide fiber.

Also in this case, it is preferable that the inner fiber has a larger filament diameter because the accumulated energy becomes higher.

The thickness of the intermediate layer made of the lightweight material may be 0.2 to 6 times the average thickness of both surface layer portions.

The thickness of the intermediate layer made of the lightweight material can be 0.6 to 5 times that of the outer surface layer.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, when forming a spiral spring, basically, a sheet in which one layer or two or more layers of fiber reinforced resin prepreg are laminated is used and is formed into a spiral shape. It can be achieved by heating and pressurizing.

In the present invention, one side or the middle of one side or two or more layers of prepreg,
A spiral spring can be formed by providing a layer made of a lightweight material, forming the spiral shape, and heating / pressurizing the layer.

However, as the material used for the fiber-reinforced resin of the present invention, there is no limitation on the fibers which are particularly preferable for use in the spiral spring. For example, on the outside of the spiral, glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, etc., which are resistant to pulling, are used. On the other hand, as the reinforcing fibers on the inner side, carbon fibers and boron fibers that are resistant to compression are preferable. The springs obtained from these fibers all have a large stored energy capacity. Also,
Even when a lightweight layer made of the lightweight material is provided,
These fibers are preferably used.

As the matrix material used for the fiber reinforced resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, polyimide resin, bismaleimide resin, etc. can be used as thermosetting resin, and the thermoplastic resin can be Sulfone resin, polyester resin, fluorine resin, polyamide resin, polyacetal resin, polyphenyl sulfide, polyether ketone, polyether sulfone and the like can be used. In particular, among these resins, those having high crystallinity and less likely to undergo viscous deformation are preferable. In addition, ceramics and metals can be used, but these are inferior to resins in terms of energy storage capacity per weight.

As the prepreg for forming the fiber-reinforced resin of the present invention, a commercially available unidirectional prepreg can be used. Further, in order to obtain fibers arranged in one direction having a required angle, a filament winder can be used to obtain a prepreg oriented at a predetermined angle. In this case, a commercially available unidirectional prepreg may be used so that a predetermined angle can be provided during lamination. When the surface layer portion is formed of a plurality of layers, the angle can be changed for each layer, and the forward and reverse angles may be provided for each layer. In this case, the angle is
From the energy storage capacity, 1 for the longitudinal direction of the spring
Around 2 degrees is the most preferable, but the productivity is inferior to that without an angle setting (0 degree).

When the fiber is a woven fabric, the prepreg is cut into a predetermined width for use, or is cut into a predetermined width after being laminated with the intermediate layer portion or after laminating and molding. However, in this case, an ordinary woven fabric or knitted fabric is not preferable in terms of energy per weight.

From the viewpoint of operation, a so-called interlace weave in which weft yarns are put in places and warp yarns are gathered in a sheet form can be favorably used for one-way prepreg because the weft yarn amount is small. .

Further, even without using a prepreg, a yarn in which a resin liquid is dipped is wound around a mandrel with a filament winder at a certain angle to form a braid.
There are a mixture of positive and negative angles, and it is difficult to say that the yarn angles in each layer are constant, but they can be used. However, the method using this filament winder is not very preferable from the viewpoint of productivity.

In the spiral spring of the present invention, by providing the intermediate layer portion made of a lightweight material, it is possible to obtain a spiral spring having a relatively large energy capacity even if fibers having a relatively small accumulated energy are used.

A microballoon-containing material or a honeycomb can be used as the light-weight layer made of a light-weight material as the intermediate layer portion, but it is convenient to use the microballoon-containing material from the manufacturing operation. A glass balloon or a shirasu balloon is suitable as the microballoon. For example, a glass balloon having a specific gravity of 0.125 to 0.6 g / cc dispersed in an epoxy matrix is commercially available. There is no limitation on the matrix resin, and various known resins can be used. Foamed resin can also be used.

When the microballoon is used in the intermediate layer portion, it is previously added to the resin in an amount of 10 to 20% (weight ratio).
The volume ratio is 10 to 60%), and the mixture is molded into a required thickness, and when the matrix is a thermosetting resin, it is preliminarily converted to B stage, and this is used as a surface layer portion, and the prepreg containing fibers is used. It is laminated and molded.

It is also possible to use a honeycomb as the intermediate layer portion. In this case, the thickness direction of the honeycomb is used as the thickness direction of the intermediate layer portion. Therefore, a spring having a small thickness has a problem in manufacturing workability, but when the thickness is several mm or more, a spring having a large capacity of several cm or more can be preferably used.

Even if fibers are used in the intermediate layer portion in the form of a woven fabric, since the stored energy per capacity is not lowered, it can be used for reinforcing the spring in the width direction. In this case, fibers having a small specific gravity are preferable because the weight is not increased. In addition, for example, a foaming agent is mixed in the resin used for the intermediate layer portion and foamed by heating during molding, whereby the intermediate layer portion can be made of a lightweight material having a hollow portion.

In forming the spiral spring of the present invention, when a thermoplastic resin is used, each layer (surface layer portion and intermediate layer portion) is fused by press molding to be formed into a required shape. When using a thermosetting resin, for example, stack a spacer made of silicon rubber with a specified thickness and a laminate, wrap it up in a Date winding type, vacuum wrap it, heat it under pressure in an autoclave and cure it. To do. In this case, the pitch between the spiral turns in the natural state can be changed between the outer side and the inner side by giving a gradient to the thickness of the silicone rubber.

In the case of molding by pultrusion, the molded product extruded before the thermoplastic resin is sufficiently cooled and before the thermosetting resin is completely cured is used as a spacer (for example, heat-resistant silicon). A rubber sheet) is piled up and wound on a shaft, and then cooled or re-cured to be molded. This molding method is superior in productivity to the prepreg molding method using the thermosetting resin.

In the molding method using each of the spacers, an air bag or the like can be used as the spacer other than silicon rubber.

Further, in the case of adopting a structure which can be used as a spiral spring shape, the rigidity can be set small from the outside to the inside in order to avoid contact between the respective turns of the spring during winding and unwinding. . In this case, the width is constant and the thickness has a gradient, or the thickness is constant and the width has a gradient from the inside to the outside.

Further, in the present invention, each of the layers (surface layer portion, intermediate layer portion) may be in the form of a flat plate and can be used as a leaf spring.

[0047]

Embodiments of the spiral spring according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1 Carbon fiber [T300 manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.] was impregnated with an epoxy resin (uncured state), and two layers of prepreg were formed so that the fiber direction was ± 0 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction. Laminated prepreg laminates 10 and 10 (length 2,500 m
m, width 50 mm, thickness 0.5 mm).

The prepreg laminates 10 and 10 produced by laminating the two prepreg layers in this manner are shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the mold 20 having a diameter of 20 mm was wound around the mold 20 with the silicon plate 22 at equal pitch intervals.

After the entire laminate is wound, as shown in FIG. 2, the outside is wrapped with a polyester pressure tape 24, and a nylon film is vacuum packed. Then, it was put into an autoclave and held for 120 minutes under the heating and pressurizing conditions of a temperature of 130 ° C. and a pressure of 3 kg / cm ³ g to be cured.

By removing the pressure tape 24, the silicon plate 22 and the mold 20 from the obtained product in order,
A spiral spring composed of a laminate having an outer diameter of 150 mm was obtained.

Example 2 When the prepreg laminate 10 was prepared, two layers were laminated so that the fiber direction was ± 12 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction, and the other configurations were all the same as in Example 1, and the prepreg was the same. A laminate was created. Next, a film 12 of epoxy resin filled with glass microballoons [Microply SF-6 manufactured by Nippon Oil Co., Ltd.] (length: 2,500 m)
m, width 50 mm, thickness 1.5 mm).

As shown in FIG. 1B, the prepreg laminates 10 and 10 and the film 12 produced in this manner have the film 12 as an intermediate layer portion, and both sides of the film 12 are the prepreg laminates 10 and 10. Stack so that you can hold it at 10,
This laminate was wound around the mold 20 together with the silicon plate 22.

After winding all the laminate, a spiral spring was obtained under the same manufacturing conditions as in Example 1.

Example 3 When the prepreg laminate 10 was prepared, two layers were laminated so that the fiber direction was ± 0 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction, and the other configurations were all the same as in Example 1, and the prepreg was the same. A laminate was created. The other constituent materials and manufacturing conditions were all the same as in Example 2 to obtain a spiral spring.

Example 4 In preparing the prepreg laminate 10 for forming the outer surface layer of the spiral spring, aramid fiber (KEVLAR-49 manufactured by DuPont, USA) was replaced with epoxy resin (in place of the carbon fiber of Example 1). An uncured state) is impregnated and laminated in two layers such that the fiber direction thereof is ± 13 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction (each layer portion has a length of 2,500 mm and a width of 2,500 mm). 50 mm, thickness 0.5 m
m). The other constituent materials (inner surface layer portion and intermediate layer portion) and manufacturing conditions were all the same as in Example 2 to obtain a spiral spring.

Comparative Example A spring steel having a length of 2,500 mm, a width of 50 mm and a thickness of 0.5 mm was used, which was spirally wound around a required mold.
Heat treatment was performed in this state to obtain a spiral spring.

A. Trial on stored energy per weight
The spiral springs obtained in Test Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example were tested for accumulated energy per weight.

Test method As a sample, a spiral spring S having an outer diameter of 150 mm was used.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inner end has a core rod 3 with a diameter of 15 mm.
0 and its outer end fixed to the inside of the case 32, and the load and displacement when the wire 34 wound around the core rod 30 was pulled in the direction of the arrow by a tension universal tension tester. Was measured.

First, in the measurement, five identical samples were prepared, and when each of them was pulled until it was broken, the breaking strain of the sample was 80, which was the maximum breaking strain.
The accumulated energy per weight (kg · cm / kg) of each sample corresponding to the strain of% was determined from the area under the weight-displacement curve. These were carried out for each example. Since each spiral spring has a fixed outer circumference and is wound from the inside, there is little friction between the circumferences of the spring, the strain-stress characteristic curve shows a substantially straight line, and the area under the curve is the trigonometric method. I was able to ask. Table 1 shows the test results.

Further, when the hysteresis characteristics were drawn without causing the strain to be destroyed, it was confirmed that the slope of the return was the same as that of the forward and the hysteresis was slight.

Test results

[Table 1]

From the above-mentioned test results of accumulated energy per weight, the spiral springs obtained in Examples 1 to 4 according to the present invention are about 5 in comparison with the spiral springs in the conventional comparative example.
It was confirmed that the accumulated energy per weight of 0 times or more can be exhibited.

B. Fiber angle and stored energy per weight
In the manufacture of the spiral spring according to Example 2, the fiber angle α (°) and the accumulated energy per weight (kg · cm / k) when the angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fiber is changed variously.
As a result of measuring g), the characteristics shown in FIG. 4 were obtained. From this characteristic result, the accumulated energy per weight reaches the maximum value when the fiber angle is around ± 12 °,
It was confirmed that this angle is preferably within ± 13.5 degrees.

C. Per middle layer / surface layer thickness and weight
Relationship with Stored Energy In manufacturing the spiral spring according to the second embodiment, the thickness t1 of the outer surface layer portion, the thickness t3 of the inner surface layer portion, and the thickness t2 of the intermediate layer portion are variously changed to store the stored energy per weight ( k
g · cm / kg).

First, as a result of measuring the ratio (t2 / t1) of the thickness t2 of the intermediate layer portion to the thickness t1 of the outer surface layer portion, the characteristics shown in FIG. 5 were obtained. From this characteristic result,
It has been found that the maximum value is obtained in the ratio range of 1.5 to 3 of the thickness t2 of the intermediate layer portion to the thickness t1 of the outer surface layer portion.

When both the thickness t1 of the outer surface layer portion and the thickness t3 of the inner surface layer portion are 0.04 cm,
As a result of measurement when the thickness t2 of the intermediate layer portion was changed to 0 to 0.25 cm, the characteristics shown in FIG. 6 were obtained. From this characteristic result, the thickness t2 of the intermediate layer portion = 0.025-
The maximum value is obtained in the range of 0.2 cm, that is, in the range in which the thickness of the intermediate layer portion is 0.6 to 5 times the average thickness of both surface layer portions, while t3 / t1 is 1.25. At t3 / t1 where the maximum value shows the maximum and there is a maximum value.
It was found that the range was about 0.5 to 3. In this case, the glass fiber reinforced resin, the aramid fiber reinforced resin and the spring steel were subjected to the same measurement, and as a result, the accumulated energy per weight was about one-third or less as compared with that according to Example 2. It was confirmed.

Next, an apparatus applied to a power source for storing and releasing energy using the spiral spring according to the present invention will be described.

Application Example FIG. 7 shows that the driving rotational energy of the rotary shaft is accumulated in the spiral spring, and the energy accumulated in the spiral spring is appropriately discharged to the drive source side of the rotary shaft held in the free rotation state. It shows the basic principle in the case of being configured to apply (recycle) a required driving force to this rotating shaft.

That is, in FIG. 7, reference numeral 40 denotes a rotary shaft whose one end is connected to a required drive source (not shown), and one end 40a of the rotary shaft 40 has a drive source (for example,
The other end 40b is connected to a driven body (for example, an automobile wheel). On the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 40 configured as described above, the spiral spring 42 having the configuration described in the second embodiment is surroundingly arranged.

The spiral spring 42 is provided in the inner support case 4
4 and the outer holding case 46 are housed and arranged, and the outer holding case 46 is entirely covered by an outer housing 48. The outer housing 48 is externally fixed, and rotatably holds the rotary shaft 40 at both ends thereof via bearings 50 and 51, respectively.

However, the inner support case 44 of the spiral spring 42 has bearings 52, 53 at both ends in the axial direction.
The rotary shaft 40 is mounted so as to be rotatably supported via the. On the other hand, one end of the outer holding case 46 in the axial direction is detachably connected to the rotary shaft 40 via a one-way clutch 54 and a bearing 55.

Further, the inner side support case 44 of the spiral spring 42 has one end on the rotary shaft 40 side at the rotary shaft 40.
And a clutch 56 that is rotationally driven. Further, one end of the inner side support case 44 is connected to the outer housing 4 via a one-way clutch 58.
8 engages with a coupling portion 48a provided on the inner side surface on one end side.

On the other hand, the outer holding case 46 is detachably connected to the rotary shaft 40 via the one-way clutch 54 at the other end side (load side) 40b of the rotary shaft 40, and the external housing 48 The coupling portion 48b provided on the inner surface on the end side constitutes a brake coupling portion 60 for engaging and disengaging the brake coupling.

Next, the energy storage / release operation of the spiral spring 42 in the apparatus constructed as described above will be described.

First, the clutch 56 and the inner support case 44 of the spiral spring 42 are brought into engagement with each other, and the outer support case 46 of the spiral spring 42 and the outer housing 48 are brought into connection with each other by the brake connecting portion 60. In this way, when the rotary shaft 40 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow by the drive source, the inner support case 44 is freely rotated with respect to the one-way clutch 58, while the outer support case 46 is driven by the brake coupling portion 60. Outer housing 48
Since it is engaged with and fixed, the spiral spring 42 is tightened from the inside to the required limit. In this case,
The rotary shaft 40 freely rotates with respect to the one-way clutch 54. Further, even when the drive source is stopped, the spiral spring 42 is tightened by the rotating operation of the rotary shaft 40 due to the inertia of the load, and the rotary spring 40 is rotated.
The effect of the brake on can be exerted.

However, when tightening excessively beyond the required limit, the outer holding case 46 tries to rotate integrally with the inner support case 44. In this case, the outer holding case 46 and the outer housing 48 are The outer holding case 46 is configured to be able to slip and rotate at the coupling portion via an appropriate slip device (not shown).

By such a tightening operation of the spiral spring 42, a required elastic strain energy can be accumulated in the spiral spring 42.

Then, after the rotational drive of the rotary shaft 40 is stopped, the clutch 56 that connects the inner support case 44 of the spiral spring 42 and the rotary shaft 40 is disengaged. 44 is a spiral spring 42
The energy stored in the rotary shaft 40 tends to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotational driving direction of the rotary shaft 40. In this case, the one-way clutch 58 connecting the inner support case 44 and the outer housing 48 is engaged. Therefore, free rotation is blocked.

Then, when the engagement of the brake connecting portion 60 which connects the outer supporting case 46 of the spiral spring 42 and the outer housing 48 is released, the outer supporting case 46 is accumulated in the spiral spring 42. Due to the energy, the outer supporting case 46 and the rotary shaft 40 try to rotate in the same direction as the rotational driving direction of the rotary shaft 40. At this time, when the rotation shaft 40 is stopped or the rotation speed is lower than the rotation speed of the outer support case 46, the one-way clutch 54 is in the engaged state, and the spiral spring 42 causes the outer support case 46 to rotate. And the rotary shaft 40 are integrally rotated to release the accumulated energy.

As a result, when the rotary shaft 40 is stopped, the spiral spring alone starts driving, and when the rotary speed of the rotary shaft 40 is slow, the spiral spring assists the drive source. Become. In this case, a device for controlling the energy release rate of the spiral spring is provided so that the rotating shaft 4
It is preferable that the rotation speed of 0 does not suddenly increase.

In this way, the energy accumulated in the spiral spring 42 by the rotational driving of the rotary shaft 40 is disengaged by the clutch 56, the brake coupling portion 60 and the one-way clutch 58 when the drive of the rotary shaft 40 is stopped. In the rotational driving direction of the rotary shaft 40, the particles can be selectively discharged.

In this way, the energy is recovered and accumulated in the spiral spring 42 by the braking at the time of descending or decelerating on the slope, and this energy is used as the drive source at the start, and also as the drive source at the time of accelerating the drive source or the drive source at the time of climbing uphill. Demonstrate the function of assisting the lack of strength. It is also possible to increase the output of the drive source before a long climb and to increase the stored energy amount of the spiral spring 42 in advance. It should be noted that the one-way clutch 54 needs to be disengaged when backing by the drive source. In addition, when the load is rotated by the drive source without the energy flowing in and out of the spiral spring 42, the clutch 56
It suffices to remove it. In this case, when the drive source itself rotates in the reverse direction, the clutch 56 is disengaged, the brake coupling portion 60 is coupled, and the one-way clutch 54
Need to be released.

When the energy accumulated in the spiral spring 42 is discharged to the rotary shaft 40, the outer holding case 46 or the inner holding case 46 is connected to the rotary shaft 40 via the one-way clutch 54 or the clutch 56, respectively. In coupling, by providing a speed regulating mechanism such as a balance or a pendulum applied to a clock mechanism at these coupling portions, the rotating shaft 4 due to the release of stored energy
It can be configured to smoothly achieve zero speed control.

Further, when using the spiral spring 42 described above, both end portions of the spiral spring 42 and the central portion side (for example,
When the inner holding case 44) and the outer side (for example, the outer holding case 46) are combined and fixed, the spiral spring 42 is used.
When distorted within a certain safety range, there is no problem with mere adhesion or bolting. However, in the spiral spring 42, when fibers are arranged on one side and the spiral spring 42 is used by being distorted to near the breaking limit, it is necessary to disperse the strain or force applied to all the fibers. Further, even when the bending stress of the spring is concentrated at one location, the spring may break at that concentrated location, which is not preferable.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the spiral spring 4 is
The end reinforcing member 6 is attached to both side surfaces of the end 43 of the second end 43.
It is sandwiched by 4, 65 and fixed by adhesion. In this way, by strengthening the end portion 43 of the spiral spring 42 and attaching it to a predetermined joint portion by adhesion or another method, the above problems can be solved. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the winding end end portion 43 of the spiral spring 42 is shown, but the same end portion reinforcing member as described above may be attached to the winding start end portion of the spiral spring 42 not shown. Of course you can.

In this case, the end reinforcing members 64 and 65 can be made of a composite material reinforced with metal or fiber woven material, and the end reinforcing members 64 and 65 are connected to the end 43 of the spiral spring 42. It is preferable to form so that the thickness thereof becomes gradually thinner as the distance from each other increases, so that the thickness can be curved together with the spring, and it is set so as to avoid concentration of stress. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, among the end reinforcing members of the spiral spring 42, the end reinforcing member 65 on the side to be joined with the coupling member (the outer surface of the winding end end 43).
It is preferable that the tip end portion 65a is bent outward so as to be easily engaged. Also, regarding the end reinforcing member at the winding start end of the spiral spring 42 (not shown), the tip end of the side surface (that is, the inner side surface of the winding start end) that joins with the coupling member is bent and projected inward. Make it easy to match.

In this application example, the configuration shown in FIG. 7 shows the case where the rotary shaft 40 is configured as a single axis. However, the coupling side 40a with the driving source and the coupling side with the driven body (load The side) 40b may be separated, and these may be connected via an appropriate shaft coupling.

In FIG. 9, a plurality of the above-mentioned spiral springs are connected and arranged in series to accumulate the driving rotational energy of the rotary shaft in the spiral spring, and the energy accumulated in the spiral spring is released to the rotary shaft again. Then, an application example in which a required driving force is applied (recycled) to the rotary shaft is shown. For convenience of explanation, the same components as those shown in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, in FIG. 9, reference numeral 40 indicates a rotary shaft having one end connected to a required drive source (not shown) and the other end connected to a load. A plurality of spiral springs 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d having the structure described in Example 2 are sequentially arranged adjacently to each other in a surrounding manner.

These plural spiral springs 42a to 42d
Is the first spiral spring 42a and the last spiral spring 42d.
With respect to the outer support case 46 and the inner holding case 44
And held by the spiral springs 42a, 42b, 42
c and 42d are sequentially held by connecting cases 47a, 47b and 47c, which are integrally formed with the inner holding case portions 44a, 44b and 44c of the spiral spring and the outer support case portions 46a, 46b and 46c, respectively.

In this application example, the outer support case 46 is connected to the rotary shaft 40 via the clutch mechanism 66 including the clutch fork 66a, the clutch thrust bearing 66b and the multi-plate clutch 66c, and the one-way clutch 58. Engages with the outer housing 48. Further, a part of the outer supporting case 46 is provided with a sleeve 46 ′ that extends to the inner peripheral portions of the inner retaining case portions 44 a, 44 b and 44 c and the inner retaining case 44.
The inner holding case portions 44a, 44b, 44c and the inner holding case 4 are respectively attached to the sleeve 46 '.
4 is rotatably held via bearings 52 and 53.

Further, in this application example, the inner holding case 44 includes the brake drum 70a and the brake shoe 70b.
And a brake coupling mechanism 7 including a brake cam 70c
It is connected to the outer housing 48 via 0 and is engaged with the rotating shaft 40 via the one-way clutch 54.

The other structure is basically the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, also in the application example shown in FIG. 9, the operation thereof is basically the same as that of the application example shown in FIG. 7, and in the point that the spiral springs are arranged in multiples, the storage capacity and the discharge capacity of the elastic strain energy are increased. Is characterized in that it can be increased.

As described above, according to the structure of the spiral spring of the present invention, the stored energy can be significantly increased as compared with the conventional one. Therefore, when manufacturing an energy storage device using this spiral spring, it is necessary to have a structure in which the capability of the spiral spring can be fully utilized. Then, it is necessary to consider the breaking strain of the spiral spring, and to design the housing and the winding shaft so that the spring can be strained up to or near this strain. At least in the normal case, the diameter of the winding shaft should be smaller than the diameter of the molding tool. Further, when one place is distorted to a point closest to destruction at the earliest point, it is designed so that other portions are also distorted to a point near destruction to increase stored energy. For this purpose, it is desirable to design the pitch between the turns so that the curvature at the time of failure is experimentally determined for the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the spring and thereby the fracture strain is reached almost at the same time.

Naturally, there are variations in the breaking strain of mass-produced springs. Therefore, the range of use must be within the safe range considering variations. For example, the diameter of the winding shaft is set or a rotation stop device or a slip device is appropriately provided so as not to receive strain of 80% or more of the average breaking strain.

Further, in the spiral spring of the present invention, a strain is applied between the outer housing and the inner winding shaft. When a plurality of spiral springs are used in series, the housing side and the winding shaft side of one spring are sequentially connected. In this case, the outer and inner spring diameters are regulated by the housing and the winding shaft. However, in a device without such regulation, for example, a take-up spool system without a housing,
As the outside of the spring is pulled out, its outer circumference becomes smaller, and each orbit of the spring gathers in the axial direction at the same time.
Friction occurs between turns. Therefore, a large hysteresis occurs when the spring expands and contracts.

However, if the housing is present,
The outer circumference remains unchanged, and each revolution moves inward in sequence with the rotation of the winding shaft, friction is relatively small, and therefore hysteresis is also small. This also increases the efficiency of energy storage and release.

The hysteresis can be reduced by reducing the elastic modulus inside or outside the spring. Also, the hysteresis can be reduced by reducing the frictional resistance between the inside and the outside of the spring by mechanical processing. Furthermore, inside or outside the spring,
By attaching a lubricant such as paraffin oil that does not change the matrix to the surface, the friction resistance can be reduced and the hysteresis can be reduced.

Further, in the spiral spring of the present invention,
In the spring deformation, tensile deformation occurs in the outer surface layer portion, compressive deformation occurs in the inner surface layer portion, and only the middle portion in the thickness direction bends, and a portion without lengthwise deformation occurs. In order to make the best use of the capacity of the materials used, it is preferred that all materials reach the breaking point when they are broken by deformation. Therefore, it is preferable that the outer side (outer surface layer portion) of the portion that does not deform in length is resistant to tensile deformation, and the inner side (inner surface layer portion) of the portion that does not deform in length is resistant to compressive deformation. In addition, it is preferable that the fracture deformation be large toward the surface in each case. In this way, fibers and resins can be selected.

Each layer does not necessarily have to be a layer, but it is also preferable to change the fibers from the surface toward the intermediate part, ignoring the problem of productivity. When each layer portion is composed of a plurality of layers, such a change is relatively easy. Specifically, for example, aramid fiber or glass fiber is used for the outer layer of the outer surface layer portion, carbon fiber is used for the inner layer, and carbon fiber is used for the surface side (inner side of the spring) of the inner surface layer portion. It is also a preferred embodiment to use boron fibers or silicon carbide fibers for the (spring intermediate portion side) so that all layers of both layers are simultaneously destroyed.

The inner layer and the surface layer of the inner surface layer portion are made of the same fiber, and the filament diameter of the fiber is thicker in the surface layer, whereby the compression resistance is improved and the simultaneous fracture resistance is improved. Can be increased. Moreover, when the hollow intermediate layer portion is present, the same constitution can be adopted.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Of course.

As a conventional hybrid drive device using an energy conversion mechanism, for example, a bicycle is equipped with a precharged battery and an electric motor to assist human power on a slope, a generator, a storage battery, It may be a hybrid drive type vehicle that uses an electric motor (or an alternator in which a generator and an electric motor are integrated). On the other hand, in the spiral spring of the present invention, the rotational force is accumulated as it is and is used as it is, so there is no energy conversion, and therefore no extra device is required. . Therefore, the spiral spring of the present invention is
The stored energy is significantly improved compared to conventional springs and can be used as a useful means of hybrid drive.

[0105]

As is apparent from the above-described embodiments, the spiral spring according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of long fibers and a composite material composed of a matrix resin that holds the filaments in a strip shape, and Mechanical energy of rotational motion given from the driving source and / or the load of the above is mainly stored as elastic strain energy of the long fiber, and the stored elastic strain energy is taken out as mechanical energy at the required time to assist the driving source. In addition to constituting the outer and inner surface layer portions by the composite material, for example, an intermediate layer made of a lightweight material sandwiched between the both surface layer portions to maintain the distance between the both surface layers. The composite material is mechanically deformed by providing it and forming a spiral spring by forming the spiral spring to form a spiral spring. To allow the accumulation of over, yet the when to restore the deformation of the composite material, it is possible to effectively utilize the stored mechanical energy by efficiently released as various power sources.

Further, the spiral spring of the present invention improves the stored energy per weight when the intermediate lightweight layer portion is provided,
Further, when the intermediate lightweight layer is not provided, the stored energy per capacity is improved. Therefore, it is not preferable to use the woven fabric, knitted fabric, or non-woven fabric as the long fibers because the improvement effect is reduced. The fibers are preferably oriented substantially only in the longitudinal direction of the spring.

Therefore, the spiral spring according to the present invention is applied to a device applied to a power source or the like for storing and releasing energy, thereby leveling a change in load or a change in energy source. As a means
It can be used in a wide range of fields as exemplified below.

(1) Means for leveling load changes a. When a high load in the future is expected, energy is gradually accumulated in advance without forcing the drive source, and the drive source under high load is assisted. For example, in a route bus or the like, energy for climbing can be prepared by interlocking with a navigator and pre-programming. In addition, in a bicycle, when a long forward climb is visible, the output can be increased little by little from the front, a spiral spring can be wound to accumulate energy, and the accumulated energy can be released during climb.

B. The surplus rotational energy at low load is stored in the spiral spring to assist the energy source at high load.
For example, when the electric power demand is low, the spiral spring is wound with surplus electric power to accumulate energy, and when the electric power demand is high, the energy is released, which can be used for electric power load leveling.

C. During braking, mechanical energy, which is usually dissipated as heat, is stored in the spiral spring, which assists the energy source during normal rotation. For example, a spiral spring is wound to accumulate energy when descending or decelerating an automobile, bicycle, or train, and the accumulated energy is released when climbing or accelerating. Note that an elevator can be similarly applied, and as long as it is an energy source, it is not necessarily limited to driving an object.

(2) Means for Leveling Changes in Energy Source a. In wind power generation, energy is accumulated in a spiral spring when driving in strong winds, and stored energy is discharged when driving in no wind or low winds to achieve leveling of power generation output.

B. In tidal current power generation, a spiral spring is used instead of a battery, energy is accumulated in this spiral spring, and the accumulated energy is released when there is no tidal flow or low tidal flow to achieve leveling of power generation output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a manufacturing process of a spiral spring according to the present invention.

2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state during a manufacturing process of the spiral spring shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a test method for a sample such as a spiral spring according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the fiber angle and the stored energy per weight of the spiral spring according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the ratio of the thickness of the intermediate layer to the thickness of the outer surface layer of the spiral spring according to the present invention and the stored energy per weight.

FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the change in thickness of the intermediate layer with respect to the thickness of the outer surface layer of the spiral spring according to the present invention and the stored energy per weight.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing a basic principle in applying the spiral spring according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a principal part explanatory view showing an embodiment of a processing means of an end portion when the spiral spring according to the present invention is applied.

9 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a specific application example of the spiral spring according to the present invention shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Prepreg Laminate (Surface Layer) 12 Film (Intermediate Layer) 20 Mold 22 Silicon Plate 24 Pressing Tape 30 Core Rod 32 Case 34 Wire 40 Rotary Drive Shaft 40a Drive Source 40b Driven Body 42 Swirl Spring 42a to 42d Swirl Spring 43 End of spiral spring 44 Inner support case 44a to 44c Inner support case 46 Outer holding case 46 'Sleeve 46a to 46c Outer holding case 47a to 47c Connection case 48 External housing 48a One end side coupling part 48b Other end side Coupling part 50, 51 bearing 52, 53, 55 bearing 54 one-way clutch 56 clutch 58 one-way clutch 60 brake coupling part 64, 65 end reinforcing member 65a tip 66 clutch mechanism 66a clutch fork 66b clutch thrust bearing 66c Plate clutch 70 brake coupling mechanism 70a brake drum 70b brake shoe 70c brake cam

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A composite material composed of a plurality of long fibers and a matrix resin that holds the long fibers in a strip shape, and the mechanical energy of the rotational motion given from an external energy source and / or load is mainly used for the long fibers. A spiral spring, which is configured to accumulate as elastic strain energy, and to take out the accumulated elastic strain energy as mechanical energy when needed to assist an energy source. 2. The spiral spring according to claim 1, wherein the energy stored in the spiral spring by the load is configured to recover the energy of the load and apply the energy to the spiral spring when a brake is applied to the load. 3. The long fiber has a tensile elastic modulus of 40,000.
kgf / mm ² or less and tensile strength is 250 kgf
The spiral spring according to claim 1, wherein the spiral spring is mainly composed of fibers having a diameter of at least 1 / mm ² . 4. The spiral spring according to claim 1, wherein the long fibers are oriented in a strip-shaped longitudinal direction. 5. The spiral spring according to claim 1, wherein the composite material is composed of at least two layers, and long fibers are arranged in the same direction in each layer. 6. The long fibers are ± 1 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the strip.
The spiral spring according to claim 4, wherein the spiral springs are arranged in the longitudinal direction at an inclination of 3.5 degrees or less. 7. The long fibers located on the outer side of the spirally wound strip are aramid fibers, carbon fibers, glass fibers,
7. The fiber according to claim 1, wherein the fiber is at least one fiber selected from polyethylene fibers, and the inner portion is at least one fiber selected from carbon fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber and silicon carbide fiber. The spiral spring according to claim 1. 8. The outer and inner surface layer portions are made of a composite material composed of a plurality of long fibers and a matrix for holding the filaments in a strip shape, and the intermediate layer portion is lighter than the surface layer portion. A spiral spring. 9. The spiral spring according to claim 8, wherein a hollow portion is formed in the intermediate layer portion. 10. The spiral spring according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate layer portion is made of a lightweight material having a hollow portion. 11. The spiral spring according to claim 9, wherein the hollow portion of the lightweight material is formed of a microballoon. 12. Long fibers have a tensile modulus of 40,000.
0kgf / mm ² or less, tensile strength is 250kg
The spiral spring according to claim 8, which is mainly composed of fibers having f / mm ² or more. 13. The spiral spring according to claim 8, wherein the long fibers are oriented in a strip-shaped longitudinal direction. 14. The spiral spring according to claim 8, wherein the composite material of both surface layer portions comprises at least two layers, and the long fibers are arranged in the same direction in each layer. 15. The long fibers are ± with respect to the longitudinal direction of the strip.
The spiral spring according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the spiral springs are arranged in the longitudinal direction at an inclination of 13.5 degrees or less. 16. The long fibers of the surface layer portion located on the outer side of the spirally wound strip are aramid fibers, carbon fibers,
It is at least one fiber selected from glass fiber and polyethylene fiber, and the long fibers of the surface layer portion located inside are at least one fiber selected from carbon fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, and silicon carbide fiber. The spiral spring according to claim 8. 17. The intermediate layer portion made of a lightweight material has a thickness of
9. The average thickness of both surface layer portions is 0.2 to 6 times as large as the average thickness.
The described spiral spring. 18. The intermediate layer portion made of a lightweight material has a thickness of
The spiral spring according to claim 8, comprising 0.6 to 5 times the outer surface layer portion. 19. The energy of rotation, which is given from an external energy source and / or load, is mainly accumulated as elastic strain energy of long fibers, and the energy accumulated at the time of use is extracted as mechanical energy. The spiral spring of claim 8 configured to assist the source.