JPH10111368A - Configuration of thermal power generating wristwatch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wristwatch which uses a thermal generating power element and generates power by merely worn on the arm. SOLUTION: The wristwatch contains a thermal generating power element 12 inside of it, and includes a heat radiation ring 11, an insulated ring 10, a protective material 13 for thermal generating power element, a facing component. Micro thermal electromotive force caused by different between temperature of an arm given to the thermal generating power element 12 through the rear cover 9 and temperature at which the thermal generating power element radiates heat through the body and a dial 3 is used as main power supply or auxiliary power supply. When the thermal generating power element 12 radiates heat through the protective material (flat spring) 13 between the rear cover 9 for protecting the element and the element 12, the heat is radiated to the body and the dial 3 through the heat radiation ring 11 made of high thermal conductive material. Sandwiching the insulated ring 10 made of a low thermal conductive resin between the rear cover 9 and the body prevents heat from the arm accumulated in the rear cover 9 from conducting to the body through the rear cover 9 and saturating temperature of the whole wristwatch due to human body temperature.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wristwatch equipped with a thermoelectric element composed of a large number of thermocouples.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional timepiece utilizing thermoelectric generation by a temperature difference uses a thermoelectric element, in which electrodes of a thermocouple are connected in series, attached to a band, and utilizes a temperature difference generated between a human body and air. Power to generate power and start the watch.

[0003]

In order to use the voltage generated from the thermoelectric generator as an effective power source, it is necessary to generate a larger temperature difference in the thermoelectric generator. In addition, in the case of the above-described structure, the thermoelectric generator is attached to a place (band portion) where stress is most concentrated among parts constituting the wrist and the wrist size of the human wrist, and the thermoelectric generator is damaged. There is a high risk that the watch will not start if one thermoelectric generator is damaged because the electrodes between the elements are connected in series.

[0004]

According to the present invention, as one solution to the above problems, a thermoelectric element is installed inside a wristwatch body, and a thermoelectric element protection material (elastic member) is provided as a further measure for preventing damage. Has been established. In addition, heat (body temperature) from the arm is taken into the thermoelectric generator efficiently using the back cover as a medium, and a heat-dissipating ring made of a material with high thermal conductivity is used to efficiently dissipate heat efficiently (direct contact with the human body). Use a no dial, glass edge, decorative edge, etc. on the heat radiation side) to increase the temperature difference between the body temperature on the heat generation side and the environmental temperature on the heat radiation side to obtain a larger voltage from the thermoelectric generator. The purpose is.

The structure of the present invention has a structure in which heat (body temperature) from the arm is efficiently taken into the thermoelectric generator and heat is easily radiated efficiently, and is generated between the body temperature on the heat generation side and the ambient temperature on the heat radiation side. By increasing the temperature difference, a larger voltage can be obtained from the thermoelectric generator. Furthermore, by installing the thermoelectric element inside the watch body, it is effective against external stress (the watch case plays the role of a protector), and the thermoelectric element protection material (elastic member) can be used. The installation prevents damage to the thermoelectric generator due to variations in the assembly tolerance of the watch exterior parts.

Further, a member in contact with the thermoelectric generator is subjected to alumite treatment to insulate the member, thereby preventing a short circuit between the thermoelectric generators.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples and drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2 shows an assembled sectional view of a basic structure according to the present invention, and FIG.
Shows an assembling plan view. Other drawings will be described for each embodiment.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of the present invention, wherein 1 is a trunk (BS material), 2 is glass (sapphire), 3
Is a dial (BS material), 4 is a needle, 5 is a middle frame (polyacetal), 6 is a movement, 7 is a spacer (methacrylic resin), 8 is a back cover packing (thermoplastic elastomer),
9 is a back cover (SUS304), 10 is a heat insulating ring (polycarbonate as a resin having low thermal conductivity), 11 is a heat dissipation ring (high-purity aluminum as a metal material having high thermal conductivity,
12 is a thermoelectric element (combined with a large number of thermocouples); 13 is a thermoelectric element protection material (leaf spring made of a metal material having high thermal conductivity and elasticity: BeCuR, PB
-BH, SUS17-7PH material, etc.).

The glass 2 is adhered to the body 1. Needle 4
, The dial 3 and the movement 6 are unitized.
The heat radiating ring 11 is incorporated into the inner part of the body 1 by a screw fixing method, and sandwiches a part of the unit. The unit consisting of the hands 4, the dial 3 and the movement 6 is positioned in the lateral direction by the middle frame 5. Middle frame 5
Are fixed to the heat radiating ring 11 having a high thermal conductivity with an interference. The heat insulating ring 10 is attached to the inner diameter of the body 1, and engages and fixes the back cover 9 via the back cover packing 8. The heat insulating ring 10 having a low thermal conductivity prevents heat of the human body from being transmitted from the case back 9 to the body 1. The thermoelectric generator 12 is bonded to the heat radiating ring 11 with a silver paste (not shown). A spacer 7 is adhered to the back cover 9 to support the unit in the vertical direction.
The leaf spring 13 is inserted between the back cover 9 and the thermoelectric generator 12 and performs mechanical support and thermal connection with the thermoelectric generator 12.

The heat of the human body (arm) is transferred to the back cover 9 and the leaf spring 1.
3 and is transmitted to the hot junction side of the thermoelectric generator 12.
Since the case 1 has the back cover 9 attached thereto through the heat insulating ring 10 having a low thermal conductivity, heat is transferred from the back cover 9 to the case 1.
It is difficult to transmit directly to

Next, the heat conduction state in this configuration will be described in relation to the thermal conductivity λ [W / mK] of each component. First,
Heat from the arm is transferred through the back cover 9 (SUS304: λ16) to protect the thermoelectric power generating element having relatively high thermal conductivity (leaf spring).
13 (BeCuR: λ300) and then to the hot junction side (body temperature side) on the lower surface of the thermoelectric generator 12. At this time, the spacer 7, the back lid packing 8, and the heat insulating ring 10 that are in contact with the back lid 9 except for the leaf spring 13 are organic compounds (λ 0.1 to 0.2), and most of the heat is transferred to the thermoelectric element protection material ( It is easily conducted to the leaf spring 13 and is collected on the lower surface of the thermoelectric generator 12. At that time, the heat insulating ring 10 is
The body temperature moves from the body to the torso 1 to prevent the temperature of the entire watch from saturating, and serves as a heat shield functioning as a boundary between the environmental temperature and the body temperature. Making the transmission distance as large as possible) is the point of this structure.

Next, the cold junction side (outside environment side) on the upper surface of the thermoelectric element 12 is coated with a heat-dissipating ring 11 (high-purity aluminum: λ220) having a relatively high thermal conductivity by silver paste (λ: 420). 12 is adhered to the upper surface. Outside temperature (cold heat)
Is glass 2 (Al ₂ O ₃ : λ50), barrel 1 (BS: λ
121), conducting to the dial 3 (BS: λ121),
The body 1 and the dial 3 are directly taken in, transmitted to the heat radiating ring 11, and transmitted to the upper surface of the thermoelectric generator 12. Further, Cu (λ300) may be used as the material of the heat radiation ring 11 in some cases.

At this time, the reason why the material of the glass 2 is made of Al ₂ O ₃ is that the glass 2 has a thermal conductivity λ which is about 50 times that of SiO ₂ . This is because the heat transfer distance is shortened so that cold heat is easily transmitted to the body 1 efficiently (a plastic fixing method is also used as a conventional glass fixing method). Actually, it has been described that the cold heat is transmitted from the glass 2 and the body 1 to the cold junction side of the thermoelectric generator 12. However, since no cold heat exists physically, the heat of the cold junction side of the thermoelectric generator 12 is reduced. Glass 2 and body 1
Say to run away.

Further, a heat radiating ring 1 having a relatively high thermal conductivity.
1 is a dial 3 (BS: λ12
By fixing the heat radiation ring 11 and the dial 3 to each other by fixing the heat radiation ring 11 to the body 1 in a sandwiching manner, it is possible to conduct more environmental temperature (cold heat) to the heat radiation ring 11. .

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 shows that the thermoelectric generator protection member (leaf spring) 13 of FIG. 1 is installed on the cold junction side (the upper surface of the thermoelectric generator 12), and the thermoelectric generator 12 is directly attached to the back cover 9. It was installed. Therefore, heat loss is smaller than in the structure via the thermoelectric element protection material (leaf spring) 13 in FIG. 1, and more body temperature can be conducted to the hot junction side (the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 12: back lid side). . In addition, the provision of the thermoelectric element protection material (leaf spring) 13 on the cold junction side is disadvantageous in terms of heat transmission in which the conduction distance from the heat radiating ring 11 to the upper surface of the thermoelectric element becomes longer. The protective material (leaf spring) 13 serves to prevent damage to the thermoelectric generator due to variations in assembly tolerance of the watch exterior parts.

(Embodiment 3) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a structure in which the hot junction side of the thermoelectric generator 12 has the same structure as that of FIG. That is, what corresponds to the body 1 in FIG. 1 is composed of the body 1 and the glass edge 14 (FIG. 4 called a two-stage plastic straight structure in the watch exterior structure) or the decorative edge 15 (FIG. 5). Things. The cooling of the outside air is performed by a glass edge 14 (FIG. 4 called a two-stage plastic straight structure in a watch exterior structure) or a decorative edge 15.
(FIG. 5) and the heat generating element 12 through the heat radiating ring 11.
To the cold junction side. The structure is such that environmental temperature (cold heat) is concentrated on the upper surface of the thermoelectric generator 12 bonded to the heat radiating ring 11 with silver paste. As a feature of FIGS. 4 and 5, since the body 1, the glass edge 14, and the decorative edge 15 are fixed by sandwiching the edge packing 17, the body 1 (BS
Most of the heat of the small arm conducted to the material: λ121) is further blocked by the edge packing 17 (polyethylene: λ0.1-0.2), and the temperature of the entire wristwatch is prevented from becoming saturated by body temperature. it can. Therefore, the glass edge 14 and the decorative edge 15 are conducted to minimize the loss of the environmental temperature (cold heat),
The environmental temperature can be taken into the thermoelectric generator 12. In addition, the design of general wristwatches is mostly glass edge 14, decorative edge 1
5 or a design with a false edge, which is an effective structure that does not impair the decorativeness.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 6 shows the heat radiating ring 11 of FIG.
This is a structure in which a plurality of the thermoelectric generators 12 are brought into direct contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the glass rim 14 and are arranged in a plurality of circles. The shape of the leaf spring 13 is changed due to the circumferential arrangement. That is, one end of the leaf spring 13 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the back cover 9, and the other end of the leaf spring 13 is pressed against the hot junction side of the thermoelectric element 12 so as to press the tubular inner surface of the glass rim 14. In contact. With this structure, the heat loss (radiation of the environmental temperature of the heat radiating ring 11) until the environmental temperature is concentrated on the upper surface of the thermoelectric generator can be reduced.

(Example 5) FIG. 13 shows a case 1 in which a plurality of grooves 20 are intentionally formed in the body 1 and FIG. Thereby, the cold heat / environmental temperature transmitted from the body 1 and the glass edge 14 to the upper surface of the thermoelectric generator via the heat radiation ring 11 increases.

(Embodiment 6) FIGS. 11 and 12 show still another embodiment, in which the heat (body temperature) of the arm is efficiently concentrated on the back cover 9, and the watch band 19 and the surface of the back cover 9 are in contact with the arm. Heat-intensifying sheet 22 (high-purity Al material: λ220)
Is installed. The heat-intensifying sheet 22 conducts body temperature around the arm and supplies heat to the back cover 9. Since the contact area with the human body is larger than the contact with only the back lid 9 (only the upper surface of the arm), more body temperature can be collected in the back lid 9 in a short time.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 10 shows an alternative to the above-described thermoelectric element protection material 13 (leaf spring). A groove is formed in the back cover 9, and instead of the thermoelectric element protection material (leaf spring) 13, the thermoelectric element protection material (A) is provided between the groove of the back cover 9 and the thermoelectric element 12.
u, Ag, Al, Cu, and other foils 13 are sandwiched therebetween, and serves to prevent damage to the thermoelectric generator due to variations in assembly tolerance of watch exterior parts. Furthermore, they have high thermal conductivity (Au: λ300, Ag: λ420, Al: λ220,
Cu: λ390), the body temperature from the back cover 9 can be efficiently transmitted to the thermoelectric generator 12.

(Embodiment 8) FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are alternatives to the screw-type fixing method of the heat radiating ring 11 described above. FIG.
FIG. 8 shows that the body 1 and the heat radiating ring 11 are fixed by bonding.
In FIG. 9, the heat radiation ring fixing packing 18 is interposed and fixed. In FIG. 9, the heat radiation ring 11 has a convex shape and the body 1 has a concave shape, and is fixed by biting.

(Embodiment 9) FIG. 15 shows an anodizing treatment of the heat radiating ring 11 (made of Al) used in the above embodiment, and a sheet 21 made of Al that has been subjected to the anodizing treatment. By interposing between the spring 13 and the back cover 9, insulation is provided to prevent a short circuit between the thermoelectric generators.

[0023]

By wearing a wristwatch having the above structure, one year in the summer when the body temperature is about 36 ° C. and the outside air temperature is about 30 ° C., and in the winter season when the body temperature is about 36 ° C. and the outside air temperature is about 15 ° C. The lower surface (body temperature side) and the upper surface (environment temperature)
A temperature difference of about 6 ° C to 11 ° C results. That is, a temperature difference is generated between the lower surface (body temperature side) and the upper surface (environmental temperature) of the thermoelectric generator, and a small amount of voltage is generated (Seebeck effect). The clock is started using the minute voltage as a main power supply or an auxiliary power supply of the clock main body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic assembly sectional view according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly plan view in a state where a back cover is opened.

FIG. 3 is an assembled cross-sectional view in which the thermoelectric generator protection material (leaf spring) of FIG. 1 is installed on the heat radiation side (the upper surface of the thermoelectric generator).

FIG. 4 is an assembled sectional view in which a glass rim is provided on the upper surface of the trunk of FIG. 1; (It is called a two-stage plastic straight structure in the watch exterior structure)

FIG. 5 is an assembled sectional view in which a decorative edge is installed on the upper surface of the trunk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an assembled cross-sectional view in which a plurality of thermoelectric elements are arranged directly on a glass edge in a structure excluding the heat radiation ring of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an assembled sectional view in which a body and a heat radiating ring are fixed by bonding.

FIG. 8 is an assembled sectional view in which a body and a heat radiating ring are fixed with a packing interposed therebetween.

FIG. 9 is an assembly sectional view in which a concave shape is formed on a body and a convex shape is formed on a heat radiating ring, and the body is fixed by biting.

FIG. 10 shows Au, In, Ag, and A in place of the leaf spring in FIG.
It is an assembly sectional view using 1 or Cu foil.

FIG. 11 is an assembled sectional view in which a heat conductive plate is installed on a wristwatch band.

FIG. 12 is a rear plan view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an assembled sectional view in which a plurality of grooves are formed in the body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an assembled sectional view in which a plurality of grooves are formed in the glass edge of FIG.

FIG. 15 is an assembled sectional view in which an anodizing process is performed on a heat radiating ring (made of Al), and an anodized Al sheet is interposed between a leaf spring and a back cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body 2 Glass 3 Dial 4 hands (hour hand, minute hand, second hand) 5 Middle frame 6 Movement (including booster circuit, rechargeable battery) 7 Spacer 8 Back cover packing 9 Back cover 10 Heat insulating ring 11 Heat dissipation ring 12 Thermoelectric elements (multiple thermoelectric 13 Protective material for thermoelectric element 14 Glass edge 15 Decorative edge 16 Glass packing 17 Edge packing 18 Radiation ring fixing packing 19 Band 20 Groove 21 Anodized aluminum sheet 22 Heat-intensive sheet

Claims (8)

[Claims] A back lid attached to the body via a heat insulating ring made of a resin material having low thermal conductivity;
Glass attached to the case on the side opposite to the case back, a heat dissipation ring made of a metal material having high thermal conductivity fixedly attached to the inner diameter portion of the case, and a space between the heat dissipation ring and the case back A thermoelectric element formed by combining a large number of thermocouples inserted through a thermoelectric element protection material made of a leaf spring-like metal material having high thermal conductivity and elasticity; A thermoelectric wristwatch comprising: a unit including a hand, a dial, and a module disposed on an inner diameter portion. 2. The thermoelectric wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element protection material is provided between the back cover and the thermoelectric element. 3. The thermoelectric wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least two parts, a body and an edge. 4. The thermoelectric wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves are provided on an outer surface of the body. 5. The heat dissipation ring according to claim 1, wherein anodizing treatment is performed on the aluminum, and an anodized aluminum sheet is provided between the thermoelectric generator protection material and the thermoelectric generator. Thermal power watch. 6. The thermoelectric wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiating ring is fixed to the body by a screw type, an adhesive type, a biting type, or a packing sandwiching type fixing method. 7. A body and a back lid attached to the body via a heat insulating ring made of a resin material having low thermal conductivity,
Glass attached to the body on the side opposite to the back lid side, a thermoelectric element formed by combining a number of thermocouples attached to the inner diameter of the body, one end attached to the back lid, and the other end attached to the back lid Pressing the thermoelectric generator inside the body,
A thermoelectric element protection material made of a leaf spring-like metal material having high thermal conductivity and elasticity, and a unit made up of hands, a dial and a module arranged on the inner diameter of the body and the heat radiating ring. A thermoelectric watch. 8. The thermoelectric wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein a heat-intensive material, which is a metal sheet having high thermal conductivity, is provided on the surface of the band and the back cover of the wristwatch.