JPH0932719A - Generation device and method of traveling wave - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate a traveling wave and carry an object by arranging a plurality of shape memorizing alloy in a line or stripe shape memorized the waveform while shifting the phase of the waveform and heating and cooling repeatedly in these phase order. SOLUTION: An alloy tape 1 shape memorizing processed in a sine waveform shape is divided to three groups by every 40 pieces and its phase is arranged on a position of 0, 2π/3, 4π/3 in order and the end of the alloy tape 1 is fixed by an adhesive tape. Then, by using a pair of jigs 2, 2' having a surface with the wave length and amplitude same as the alloy tape 1, the alloy tape 1 is deformed in a 0 phase shape entirely. Further, a rubber sheet applied an adhesive is placed on the jigs 2, 2' and the whole is fixed integrally by holding the alloy tape 1. Both ends of respective alloy tapes 1 are connected to the electric power source circuit having a switch mechanism and the lines of respective phases are electrified and heated respectively and independently and the phases of the whole seats are made to 2π/3, 4π/3, 0. A traveling wave is generated by repeating this.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traveling wave generator used for transporting an object such as a liquid or a solid, and a traveling wave generating method in the traveling wave generator, which is an object to be transported. When is a liquid, it can be used as a propulsion device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A number of methods are conceivable and many have been put into practical use as a mechanism for conveying an object, but most of them use an electric motor or an internal combustion engine to obtain rotational power. In some cases, a reciprocating power is obtained by using a crank or a hydraulic cylinder.

Shape memory alloys have been put to practical use in various products by utilizing the shape memory effect. For example, the door of the automatic dryer, the air-direction switching flap of the air conditioner,
It is a temperature sensor and actuator, such as a rice cooker control valve and a hot water shutoff pipe for a water purifier. In addition, although not put into practical use, there are some that have been proposed and prototyped as actuators for robot arms, jacks, and the like.

[0004]

The conventional methods of conveying objects have some form of rotating or sliding portion, but these require maintenance such as lubrication and disassembly cleaning for a certain period of time. In addition, under bad environmental conditions such as generation of fine powder and corrosive liquid, since fine powder and corrosive liquid may enter the rotating part and sliding part, in the conventional transfer method, It was difficult to implement or required frequent maintenance. In addition, the conventional transfer method has problems such as generation of vibration and noise.

[0005]

As a result of various studies in view of the above, the present invention requires no maintenance even under adverse environmental conditions and does not cause problems such as noise and vibration. The present invention invents a completely new transport method and transport device that utilize the shape memory effect of the above.

That is, the first aspect of the present invention is a shape memory alloy line or strip in which a waveform is memorized, wherein the phases of the waveform are shifted by 2π / n (n is an integer of 3 or more) and parallel. A plurality of shape memory alloys arranged in the same shape are fixed to the same shape by a flexible material and are integrated, and a means for repeating heating and cooling of each phase line in the order of phase is provided. It is a characteristic traveling wave generator.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the traveling wave generator according to the first aspect, the line (A) having a predetermined phase is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the martensite reverse transformation point temperature to produce the flexible material. The whole body fixed by the above is deformed into a waveform memorized by the line (A), and then the line (A) is cooled to a temperature below the reverse transformation point of martensite, and the line (A) is
This is a method of generating a traveling wave characterized in that a waveform having a phase shift of 2π / n is sequentially generated by sequentially performing an operation of heating a line (B) having a phase shift of 2π / n.

In the present invention, the shape memory alloy can be bent by an external force because it has a low elastic modulus at an environmental temperature below the martensite reverse transformation point (hereinafter referred to as Af point) temperature of the shape memory alloy.
When heated above the Af point temperature, the elastic modulus increases,
This is an application of the property of overcoming an external force and recovering to a memory shape.

In the present invention, a plurality of line-shaped or strip-shaped shape memory alloys in which waveforms are stored are arranged by shifting the phase of the waveforms by 2π / n. Consider a group of waveforms having a phase of 2π / 3 and a group of waveforms having a phase of 4π / 3, and consider a device having means for heating and cooling the lines of each phase (see FIG. 1). The device is integrally fixed by a flexible material according to the phase of and is apparently in the state shown in FIG. 1 (b), but the original phase (phase at the time of shape recovery) is shown in FIG. 1 (a). Since it is a phase, and are in a state of being deformed. Here, when only is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the Af point, the shape is stored in the phase of 2π / 3, and thus the shape is restored up to the phase of 2π / 3. At this time, since the other corrugations and are fixed by the flexible material and are integrated, they are deformed by the generated force of and become the phase of the whole. Next, when the heating of is stopped and only heating is performed, the entire phase becomes 4π / 3 in the same manner. Further, if only heating is stopped and only heating is performed, the entire phase becomes 0 this time. By repeating this, a phase shift of the waveform is continuously generated and a traveling wave is generated.

The traveling wave generator can be used to convey articles. As shown in Fig. 5, when a rod-shaped body or granular body is started from the corrugated valley, by heating and shifting the entire phase by 2π / 3, an inclination toward the traveling method is generated at the initial starting point. , The object rolls in the direction of travel. Then, when heating and cooling are repeated as described above, an inclination is continuously generated, and the article continues to roll in the traveling method.

In the present invention, the waveform to be memorized in the shape memory alloy may be any waveform in principle, but in consideration of the repeated life, it is added to the shape memory alloy when deformed following other lines. A sinusoidal wave is desirable in order to minimize the generated distortion.

The shape memory alloy used in the present invention is Ni
Many alloy systems such as Ti-based, CuZnAl-based, CuAlNi-based, AuCd-based are possible, but NiTi-based alloys are preferable from the viewpoint of recovery force, repetitive characteristics, workability and the like.
As the composition of the NiTi-based alloy, Ni is 49 to 51 at
%, An alloy consisting of the balance Ti and unavoidable impurities, or a part of the Ni and / or Ti is 0.01 to
2 at% of Fe, Cr, Al, V, Mn, Co, Nb,
An alloy in which 0.01 to 10 at% of Cu and 0.01 to 30 at% of Pd are substituted with one or more kinds can be given. The alloy having the above composition exhibits excellent shape memory characteristics.
As a preferable property of the shape memory alloy used in the present invention, the Af point is 6 when the device of the present invention is used in air.
0 to 80 ° C, 40 to 80 ° C when used in water
It is. Moreover, the transverse elastic modulus is 1800 or more at the point Af or higher.
2500kg / mm ² is preferable, and below Af point is 500-1
000 kg / mm ² is preferred.

In the present invention, the method for fixing the wire or strip of the shape memory alloy to the flexible material may be to apply an adhesive to two flexible sheets to sandwich and fix the wire or strip. However, any method may be used as long as the wire or the strip is securely fixed without twisting, rolling, displacement between the front and back. Also, the shape memory alloy line or strip is 1 for each phase.
You may arrange | position by one or two or three bundles.

In the present invention, the shape of the shape memory alloy has a line and a line. Although the line is easier to work and form than the line, the degree of difficulty of the corrugation is about the same, and a flexible material is used. It is easier to fix it to the strip by twisting, rolling during use,
Problems such as front and rear misalignment are unlikely to occur. Therefore, although the cost for processing and forming is higher for the strip, it is preferable to use the strip.

There are various methods for heating the shape memory alloy. However, in order to heat the specified line or strip among a large number of arranged lines or strips as quickly as possible, it is necessary to apply electric current. It is desirable to utilize Joule heat generation, and there are methods such as directly energizing the wire or strip, or winding a heating medium around the wire or strip and heating the wire or strip by energizing the medium. , The former is the most desirable. The cooling method may be natural cooling by the environment, spraying a refrigerant such as air or water, or flowing the refrigerant through a pipe integrated with the apparatus, but is not limited thereto.

When n is set to 2 when a plurality of waveforms are arranged by shifting the phase of the waveform by 2π / n, a standing wave is generated. Therefore, n must be 3 or more.

Objects conveyed using the traveling wave generator of the present invention are light and small objects such as pencils and screws, or solids such as foods such as rice and beans that can withstand rolling. Though conceivable, the present invention is not limited to these, and liquids such as water, beverages, chemicals, and sewage can be transported.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, Ni: 50 at%, T
A NiTi-based shape memory alloy with i: 50 at% and Af point: 80 ° C. was used.

Example 1 Cross-sectional shape 1 mm × 0.5 mm
NiTi shape memory alloy tape (1) of wavelength 100m
Shape memory processing was performed in a sine wave shape with m and an amplitude of 30 mm. This was cut into a length of 3 m and a total of 120 pieces were produced. The 120 NiTi shape memory alloy tapes (1) were divided into three groups of 40 tapes each, the phase of the first group (hereinafter referred to as "0") was set to 0 and the phase of the second group (hereinafter referred to as "to be referred to").
The phase of 2π / 3 and the phase of the third group (hereinafter referred to as “) at the position of 4π / 3, one by one, ...
・ A set of jigs (2) (2 ′) having the same wavelength and the same amplitude as the alloy tape as shown in FIG. Was used to deform the tape into a phase 0 shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a rubber sheet (3) coated with an adhesive (4) is placed on the jigs (2) and (2 ′), and the whole is fixed by sandwiching the alloy tape. Integrated. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, both ends of each alloy tape were connected to a power supply circuit having a switch mechanism so that the lines of each phase could be independently heated to prepare a traveling wave generator (11).

(Embodiment 2) The traveling wave generator (11) obtained in Embodiment 1 is placed on a horizontal table, five pencils (12) are placed on the equipment, and electricity is applied to the whole sheet. Was set to 2π / 3 (FIG. 5 (b)). Next, the current supply was stopped and the current was supplied to set the phase of the entire sheet to 4π / 3 (FIG. 5 (c)). Further energization was stopped and the phase of the entire sheet was set to 0 (FIG. 5 (d)). By repeating this, a traveling wave can be generated, and the pencil (12) was conveyed as the wave progressed. This carrier did not have any troubles even under adverse conditions of fine powder, and operated quietly without vibration or noise.

Example 3 A NiTi shape memory alloy wire having a diameter of 0.2 mm was subjected to shape memory treatment into a sine wave shape having a wavelength of 10 mm and an amplitude of 5 mm. Cut this to a length of 25 mm,
A total of 40 pieces were produced. The 40 NiTi shape memory alloy wires are divided into 4 groups of 10 wires, the phase of the first group (hereinafter referred to as “0”) is 0, the phase of the second group (hereinafter referred to as “) is π / 2, The phase of the third group (described below) is π, and the phase of the fourth group (described below) is at a position of 3π / 2, one by one, ...
, ..., the ends of the alloy wire are fixed with adhesive tape, and the alloy wire is fixed by using a jig having a surface with the same wavelength and the same amplitude as the alloy wire as shown in FIG. All the lines were transformed to the phase 0 position. Further, a polyethylene sheet coated with an adhesive is placed on the jig, and the alloy tape is sandwiched between the polyethylene sheet and the whole to be fixed to be integrated into a traveling wave generator (2
0) was prepared. This device has internal dimensions 5 as shown in Fig. 6.
It was placed in a box (21) having a liquid introduction hole (22) and a liquid discharge hole (23) in the center of a 5 mm × 20 mm surface (2 surfaces) having a size of mm × 20 mm × 25 mm. Vinyl tubes (24) in the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet
7 was connected, the physiological saline solution (25) was fed from the tube to the liquid introduction hole (22), and electricity was applied in the same manner as in Example 2. As a result, as shown in FIGS. Saline solution was carried and discharged from the liquid discharge hole.

(Embodiment 4) A liquid transfer device (3) of Embodiment 3
0) was attached to the side of the toy ship (31) as shown in FIG. 8, the ship proceeded in the traveling direction shown in FIG.

[0023]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a traveling wave can be generated, and a carrier device, a pump and a propulsion device using this require almost no maintenance such as lubrication and disassembly cleaning. In addition, it can be used even under a bad environment such as a fine powder, and vibration and noise are not generated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a shape memory alloy and waveforms at the time of recovering the respective shapes. (B) The shape memory alloy is a waveform that is fixed and integrated according to the waveforms of.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for manufacturing a traveling wave generator according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for manufacturing the traveling wave generation device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of the traveling wave generator of the first embodiment.

5 (a) to 5 (d) are explanatory views showing a carrying process of the carrying device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a liquid transfer device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 7B is an exploded view of the liquid transfer device according to the third embodiment.

7 (a) to 7 (c) are explanatory views showing a process of transporting the liquid device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an example of a propulsion device to which the liquid transfer device according to the third embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Tape 2, 2'Jig 3 Rubber Sheet 4 Adhesive 11, 20 Traveling Wave Generator 12 Pencil 21 Box 22 Liquid Inlet Hole 23 Liquid Discharge Hole 24 Vinyl Tube 25 Saline Solution 30 Liquid Transfer Device 31 Toy Ship of

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A shape memory alloy line or strip that stores waveforms, wherein the phases of the waveforms are shifted by 2π / n (n is an integer of 3 or more) and a plurality of shapes are arranged in parallel. A traveling wave generator, characterized in that the memory alloy is fixed and integrated in the same shape by a flexible material, and has means for repeating heating and cooling of each phase line in the order of phases. 2. The traveling wave generator according to claim 1,
The line (A) having a predetermined phase is heated to a temperature higher than the martensite reverse transformation point temperature to transform the whole unit fixed by the flexible material into a waveform memorized by the line (A),
Next, the line (A) is cooled to a temperature below the reverse transformation point of martensite and the line (B) whose phase is deviated by 2π / n from the line (A) is sequentially heated.
A progressive wave generation method, characterized in that waveforms shifted by π / n are sequentially generated.