JPH1061491A - External combustion type heat gas engine and air conditioner using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external combustion type heat gas engine with improved durability and an air conditioner using the engine by forming a grease bank for supplying grease to a bearing part in a connecting rod. SOLUTION: Two grease banks 121, 125 are formed in connecting rods 5, 6. A first grease bank 121 is that of circular one along circumference of an end part at a small end and the grease bank 121 and an inner periphery surface 12 of the small end part are communicated by a communicating hole 123. The second grease bank 125 is a cylinder hole shaped extending from a large end side to the small end side and the grease bank 125 and an inner periphery surface 126 of the large end part are communicated by a communicating hole 127. Grease 131 is filled in the both grease banks 121, 125 and the grease can be flown from the communicating holes 123, 127 to the inner periphery surfaces 122, 126 of the small end part and the large end part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external combustion type hot gas engine and an air conditioner using the engine, and more particularly to a technique for reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a device for cooling, heating and hot water supply,
A heat pump using a Vermier cycle engine, which is an external combustion type hot gas engine (hereinafter referred to as VMHP: Vuilleumier cy
cle Heat Pump) has been developed. VMHP
Can directly change the air-conditioning or hot water supply by causing a pressure change only by a change in the temperature distribution of He (helium) gas as a sealing medium (working gas) and performing heat storage by a regenerator or heat exchange by a heat exchanger. (For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-65777 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 3170).

In the VMHP, a high temperature side cylinder and a low temperature side cylinder are orthogonally arranged, and a high temperature side displacer piston (hereinafter simply referred to as a piston) slides in the high temperature side cylinder, and a low temperature side cylinder moves in the low temperature side cylinder. Side piston slides. Both pistons are supported by a crankshaft via a connecting rod (hereinafter, referred to as a connecting rod), and operate with a phase difference of 90 °. Also, VM
Once the HP starts operating (rotating), it continues to operate only by heating the working gas on the high temperature chamber side.

In general, in a Vermier cycle engine, a regenerator interposed in a working gas circuit is formed by laminating several hundred fine meshes. for that reason,
When lubricating oil is used for a rotating part, a sliding surface, or the like of each part of an engine, there is a problem that a regenerator is clogged due to adhesion of lubricating oil mist, and heat storage performance is significantly reduced. Therefore, a non-lubricated operation is realized by using a grease-enclosed type rolling bearing for the rotating portion, or disposing a low friction material on the sliding surface.

[0005]

In the Vermier cycle engine, open needle roller bearings are used for the bearings at the small end and the large end of the connecting rod. Occurred.

That is, when assembling the engine, the needle roller bearing is filled with an appropriate amount of grease. However, when the needle roller rolls during operation, the grease gradually decreases and deteriorates. As a result, the needle roller gradually comes into metallic contact with the bearing surface and the pin, and the rolling surface tears and wears, and eventually seizes. Then, when seizure occurs, it is necessary to disassemble the engine and replace the connecting rod, the needle bearing and the like, and there is a problem that the running cost increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an external-combustion hot gas engine having excellent durability and an air conditioner using the same, in which a grease reservoir for supplying grease to a bearing portion is formed in a connecting rod. Is to do.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connecting rod for connecting a displacer piston and a crankshaft,
An external-combustion hot gas engine having a grease reservoir formed in the connecting rod and communicating with the end bearing surface is proposed.

According to the present invention, when the grease is reduced due to rolling of the needle roller or the like, the grease is automatically replenished from the grease pool. As a result, the progress of tearing and wear of the rolling surface is suppressed, and the durability of the engine is improved.

According to the invention of claim 2, a connecting rod connecting the displacer piston and the crankshaft, a first grease reservoir formed in the connecting rod and communicating with the small end bearing surface,
An external-combustion hot gas engine having a second grease reservoir formed in the connecting rod and communicating with the large-end bearing surface is proposed.

According to the present invention, even when the connecting rod is arranged upright, the small end bearing and the large end bearing are surely replenished with grease.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner using the external combustion type hot gas engine according to the first or second aspect.

According to the present invention, since the durability of the external combustion type hot gas engine constituting the air conditioner is improved, the maintenance / inspection interval can be lengthened and the running cost can be reduced.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 shows a cold / hot water circuit of a heat pump type air conditioner, which employs a Vilmier cycle hot gas engine 1 whose sectional perspective is shown in FIG. The hot gas engine 1 includes a high-temperature-side piston 2 and a low-temperature-side piston 3 arranged orthogonally to each other, and these are housed in a housing 4 in which a working gas such as helium is sealed.

The two pistons 2 and 3 are connected to the same crank pin 8 formed on a crank shaft 7 via connecting rods 5 and 6 so as to operate with a phase difference of 90 °. Therefore, for example, if the high temperature side piston 2 is located between the top dead center and the bottom dead center,
Will be located at the top dead center. 1 and 2,
Reference numeral 9 denotes a starter motor that drives the crankshaft 7.

A high-temperature chamber 41, medium-temperature chambers 42 and 43, and a low-temperature chamber 44 are defined in the housing 4, and a high-temperature regenerator 45 and a medium-temperature chamber 45 are interposed between the high-temperature chamber 41 and the medium-temperature chamber 42. While the heat exchanger 46 is interposed, the medium temperature room 43 and the low temperature room 4
4, a medium-temperature heat exchanger 47, a low-temperature regenerator 48, and a low-temperature heat exchanger 49 are interposed. In addition, high temperature room 41
A heater 51 is formed at an end of the heater 5.
1 is heated by the combustor 52.

When the high temperature side piston 2 and the low temperature side piston 3 operate in the housing 4, the enclosed working gas is
Each room 41, through the high temperature regenerator 45 and the low temperature regenerator 48,
Move between 42, 43 and 44. And the working gas is
When passing through these regenerators 45 and 48, it is heated or cooled, whereby the pressure in the sealed housing 4 is increased or reduced.

The exchange of heat energy with the outside is performed by the intermediate temperature heat exchangers 46, 4 connected to the intermediate temperature chambers 42, 43.
7 and a low-temperature heat exchanger 49 connected to the low-temperature chamber 44.
For example, when the heater 51 gives thermal energy to the working gas in the high-temperature chamber 41, the working gas in the medium-temperature chambers 42 and 43 emits heat energy to the external heat medium via the medium-temperature heat exchangers 46 and 47, and The working gas on the low temperature chamber 44 side absorbs heat energy from the external heat medium via the low temperature heat exchanger 49. That is, in the hot gas engine 1 of the present embodiment, the low-temperature heat exchanger 49 and the low-temperature chamber 44 constitute a heat absorbing unit,
The medium-temperature heat exchangers 46 and 47 and the medium-temperature chambers 42 and 43 constitute a heat radiation part.

In this embodiment, an air conditioner 81 having an indoor unit 61 and an outdoor unit 71 is configured by using the medium-temperature heat exchangers 46 and 47 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 49 as heat sources in the heat gas engine 1. I have. An indoor heat exchanger 62 is provided in the indoor unit 61, and an outdoor heat exchanger 72 is provided in the outdoor unit 71. 63 is an indoor fan, 7
3 is an outdoor fan.

The intermediate-temperature heat exchanger 46 and the indoor heat exchanger 62 are connected via a pipe 91, a four-way valve 83 and a pipe 92, and the indoor heat exchanger 62 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 49
The pipe 93 is connected via a four-way valve 84 and a pipe 94. The intermediate heat exchanger 46 and the outdoor heat exchanger 72 are connected via a pipe 95, a four-way valve 83, and a pipe 96, and the outdoor heat exchanger 72 and the intermediate heat exchanger 47 are
The pipe 97, the four-way valve 84 and the pipe 98 are connected. Further, the intermediate temperature heat exchanger 46 and the intermediate temperature heat exchanger 47 are connected via a pipe 99. Water (hereinafter, referred to as liquid refrigerant) is used as an external heat medium circulating in the pipeline.

In the air conditioner of this embodiment, the cooling and heating operation is performed in the following procedure.

For example, during the cooling operation, the hot gas engine 1 is operated by the ignition of the combustor 52, and the intermediate temperature heat exchangers 46 and 4 are operated.
While the heat energy of the working gas is released to the liquid refrigerant via 7, the heat energy of the liquid refrigerant is absorbed by the working gas via the low-temperature heat exchanger 49. At this time, the four-way valve 83, 8
1 is switched as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, and the liquid refrigerant that has released heat energy in the low-temperature heat exchanger 49 passes through the pipe 91, the four-way valve 83, and the pipe 92, and
Flow to 2. In the indoor unit 61, air is blown from the indoor fan 63 to the indoor heat exchanger 62 at low temperature,
The cold air is sent out into the room (cooling is performed), and the liquid refrigerant that has absorbed the heat energy of the room air flows through the pipe 93, the four-way valve 84,
It recirculates to the low-temperature heat exchanger 49 via the pipe 94.

At this time, the liquid refrigerant having absorbed the heat energy in the intermediate temperature heat exchanger 46 is supplied to the pipe 95, the four-way valve 83, the pipe 9
6, flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 72, is cooled by the air from the outdoor fan 73, flows through the pipe 97, the four-way valve 84, and the pipe 98 to the intermediate-temperature heat exchanger 47, and further flows through the pipe 99. To the middle-temperature heat exchanger 46 via.

Also, during the heating operation, the hot gas engine 1 is operated by the ignition of the combustor 52, and the intermediate temperature heat exchangers 46 and 47 are operated.
While the thermal energy of the working gas is absorbed by the liquid refrigerant through the low temperature heat exchanger 49, the thermal energy of the working gas is released to the working gas through the low temperature heat exchanger 49. In this case, the four-way valve 83,
84 is switched as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, and the heat energy of the outside air is
Supplied to

Next, the structure around the crankshaft 7 and the starter motor 9 will be described with reference to the main part longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Is a crankcase 11 that holds the crankshaft 7
And cylinder barrels 12, 1 for holding the pistons 2, 3
3 and a motor cover 14 that houses the starter motor 9. The crankshaft 7 has a pair of ball bearings 1 fitted to the journals 15 and 16.
The pistons 2 and 3 are slidably held by the cylinder barrel 12 via a medium-temperature heat exchanger 46 and the like.

As shown in an exploded perspective view in FIG. 4, the crankshaft 7 is of a so-called assembling type in which the main shaft 20 and the sub shaft 21 are integrated with the connecting rods 5 and 6 incorporated. This is connecting rod 5,6
Since the needle roller bearing 23 is used as the large end bearing of the above, the small diameter portion of the tip of the crank pin 8 on the main shaft 20 side is inserted into the engagement hole 26 on the sub shaft 21 side, and then tightened with the bolt 27. Thus, the crankshaft 7 is integrated.

In the present embodiment, the crankshaft 7 and the rotating shaft (hereinafter referred to as a motor shaft) 30 of the starter motor 9 are formed by casting or forging.
It is formed coaxially and integrally. That is, the motor shaft 30 is coaxially extended from the journal 15 of the main shaft 20, and has a structure in which the rotor 31 of the starter motor 9 is press-fitted to the outer peripheral surface thereof. In the figure, reference numeral 32 denotes a stator fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the motor cover 14.

Thus, in this embodiment, the connection between the crankshaft 7 and the motor shaft 30 becomes unnecessary,
In combination with the fact that an independent bearing is not required for supporting the motor shaft 30, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where both are separate. Further, since the offset of the starter motor 9 from the crank center is eliminated, the physical size of the entire housing 4 is reduced,
By having a cylindrical shape, the thickness and weight can be reduced. Further, since the starter motor 9 is of a high torque type, it is possible to omit a speed reducer, and it is possible to further reduce the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

In this embodiment, the crankshaft 7 and the balance weights 35 and 36, which are conventionally separate parts, are used.
And were integrated. That is, the balance weight 35 is integrally formed on the main shaft 20 side, and
A balance weight 36 is integrally formed on the side.

As a result, in the present embodiment, the connection between the crankshaft 7 and the balance weights 35 and 36 becomes unnecessary, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps are reduced, and the casting dies for the balance weights 35 and 36 are also used. This is unnecessary, and the cost of production equipment can be reduced.

On the other hand, in the hot gas engine 1 of the present embodiment, the pistons 2 and 3 are connected to the cross guide 10 in order to secure airtightness between the middle temperature chambers 42 and 43 and the inside of the crankcase 11.
They are connected to connecting rods 5 and 6 via 1,102. That is, the pistons 2 and 3 are
, The seal 104 attached to the crankcase 11 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 103, thereby sealing the shaft. Therefore, the cross guide 101,
102 slides along a guide hole 105 formed in the crankcase 11 as the pistons 2 and 3 reciprocate.

As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 5, the cross guides 101 and 102 of the present embodiment
It is formed in a columnar shape having 11,112. The upper and lower flanges 111 and 11 are attached to the cross guides 101 and 102, respectively.
A cylindrical slider 115 is externally slidably fitted between the two, and the outer peripheral surface of the slider 115 contacts the guide hole 105. The slider 115 is made of PTF having a very small coefficient of friction.
E (ethylene tetrafluoride resin) is used as a base material, and its length L is set to approximately half the distance D between the upper and lower flanges 111 and 112. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 24 denotes a connecting rod 5,
6 shows a needle roller bearing as a small end bearing, and 117 shows connecting rods 5 and 6 and cross guides 101 and
2 shows a cross guide pin for connecting to the second guide pin 102.

In this embodiment, the cross guides 101 and 102 also reciprocate along the guide holes 105 as the pistons 2 and 3 reciprocate. At this time, the slider 115
Since the inner peripheral surface is in contact with the cross guides 101 and 102, while the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the guide holes 105, the cross guides 101 and 102 and the guide holes 105 receive substantially the same frictional resistance. Relative movement.

As a result, the slider 115 is positioned near the lower ends of the cross guides 101 and 102 at the time of the highest movement (at the time of the top dead center of the pistons 2 and 3) shown in FIG. At the time (at the time of the bottom dead center of the pistons 2 and 3), it is located near the upper ends of the cross guides 101 and 102. That is, the moving distance of the slider 115 is substantially half of the moving distance of the cross guides 101 and 102, and the sliding speed of the slider 115 with respect to the cross guides 101 and 102 and the guide hole 105 is also substantially half of the moving speed of the cross guides 101 and 102. Become.

As a result, the moving speed between the slider 115 and the cross guides 101 and 102 is greatly reduced, so that abnormal wear and seizure are prevented, and the durability is far higher than that of the conventional one. Can be enhanced.

On the other hand, as shown in a partial sectional side view of FIG. 8, two grease reservoirs 121 and 125 are formed in the connecting rods 5 and 6 of this embodiment. The first grease reservoir 121 is formed in an arc shape along the circumference of the end portion on the small end side, and includes the grease reservoir 121 and the small end inner peripheral surface 12.
2 is communicated by a communication hole 123. Also, the second
The grease reservoir 125 is a cylindrical hole extending from the large end to the small end, and the grease reservoir 125 and the inner peripheral surface 126 at the large end are communicated with each other through a communication hole 127.
The connecting rods 5 and 6 of this embodiment are cast products, and the grease reservoirs 121 and 125 are formed by using a core.

The grease reservoirs 121 and 125 are filled with grease 131, and the communication holes 123 and 127 are filled.
From the inner peripheral surfaces 122 and 126 at the small end and the large end. Therefore, when the grease in the needle roller bearings 23 and 24 is consumed by a long operation, an appropriate amount of grease 131 is replenished from both the grease reservoirs 121 and 125 via the communication holes 123 and 127.

Thus, even when the hot gas engine 1 is operated for a long time in the He gas atmosphere, the lubrication of the needle roller bearings 23 and 24 is maintained in a good state, and the rotation failure or failure due to seizure or the like occurs. Can be prevented.

The description of the specific embodiment has been completed.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the crankshaft and the motor shaft are integrated, but may be manufactured separately and connected via a coupling or the like. As the slider interposed between the cross guide and the guide hole, a material such as an oil-impregnated sintered alloy may be used, or a metal pipe or the like whose inner and outer peripheral surfaces are coated with PTFE or the like may be used. Or a shape other than a cylinder. The grease pool formed on the connecting rod is
The high-temperature side connecting rod and the low-temperature side connecting rod may have different shapes, or the shape may be determined in consideration of productivity, functionality, and the like. In the horizontally connected low-temperature connecting rod, grease may be supplied to the small end and the large end from a single grease pool. In addition, the configuration of each part of the device, the shape of the member, and the like can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is applicable to various external combustion type hot gas engines such as a Stirling engine other than the Vermier cycle.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the external combustion type hot gas engine, since the grease reservoir communicating with the end bearing surface is formed in the connecting rod, the grease is generated by the rolling of the needle roller or the like. When it decreases, grease is automatically replenished from the grease pool. As a result, the progress of tearing and wear of the rolling surface is suppressed, and the durability of the engine is improved. In the air conditioner using the external combustion type hot gas engine, the maintenance / inspection interval can be lengthened and the running cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a heat pump type air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing a structure of a hot gas engine.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the hot gas engine.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the crankshaft.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view around a cross guide.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a position of a slider when the cross guide is raised.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the slider when the cross guide is lowered.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of a main part of a connecting rod.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot gas engine 2 High temperature side displacer piston 3 Low temperature side displacer piston 4 Housing 5, 6 Connecting rod 7 Crankshaft 23, 24 Needle roller bearing 61 Indoor unit 71 Outdoor unit 71 81 Air conditioner 117 Cross guide pin 121 First grease pool 122 Small end inner peripheral surface 123 Communication hole 125 Second grease reservoir 126 Large end inner peripheral surface 127 Communication hole

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location F25B 9/14 510 F25B 9/14 510A

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An external combustion type hot gas engine comprising: a connecting rod connecting a displacer piston and a crankshaft; and a grease reservoir formed in the connecting rod and communicating with an end bearing surface. . 2. A connecting rod connecting the displacer piston and the crankshaft, a first grease reservoir formed in the connecting rod and communicating with the small end bearing surface, and a first grease reservoir formed in the connecting rod and An external-combustion hot gas engine, comprising: a second grease reservoir communicating with an end bearing surface. 3. An air conditioner using the external combustion type hot gas engine according to claim 1.