RU2225671C2 - Piezoelectric thermomechanical motor-generator set - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: thermomechanical motors running at low temperature gradient and piezoelectric generators. SUBSTANCE: in order to provide for direct conversion of gravitational field energy into mechanical and electrical energy piezoelectric thermomechanical motor-generator set that has shaft mounted in supports for rotation and radially arranged nitinol components possessing shape memory effect and connected to masses exposed to gravitational field is provided in addition with piezoids having electrodes; the latter are connected through switch to ends of nitinol components, and masses actuate piezoids through levers and periodically deform them. EFFECT: enlarged functional capabilities. 2 cl, 1 dwg

Description

 The present invention relates simultaneously to thermomechanical engines operating at a small temperature gradient, and piezoelectric generators. A piezoelectric thermomechanical engine generator combines the properties of a thermomechanical engine and a piezoelectric generator. It can be used in all areas of the national economy.

 Known piezoelectric generator containing a piezoelectric element with electrodes, working in bending (see the book of V.V. Lavrinenko, I.A. Kartashev, BC Vishnevsky. Piezoelectric motors. M .: Energy, 1980, pp. 102-103) .

 The well-known piezoelectric generator converts the mechanical energy applied to the rotor into electrical energy, but its design does not allow the direct conversion of the energy of the gravitational field into electrical energy.

 A thermomechanical engine is known comprising a wheel passing through heating and cooling zones with radially arranged curved bimetallic elements with masses at the free ends (USSR patent 19407, class F 03 G 7/00, 1929).

 The known engine design does not directly convert the energy of the gravitational field into mechanical energy without external sources of thermal energy.

 Closest to the proposed invention is a thermomechanical engine containing a wheel partially immersed in a hot water tank with a shaft and radially arranged nitinol elements having a shape memory effect (SU 1094984 A, IPC 7 F 03 G 7/06, publ. 05/30/1984 g . - prototype).

 The known engine design does not directly convert the energy of the gravitational field into mechanical energy without external sources of thermal energy.

 The task of the invention is to expand the operational and functional capabilities by directly converting the energy of the gravitational field into electrical and mechanical energy.

 The technical result is achieved by the fact that a piezoelectric thermomechanical engine generator containing a shaft mounted in bearings with the possibility of rotation, and radially arranged nitinol elements having a shape memory effect and connected to masses affected by the gravitational field, is equipped with piezoelectric elements with electrodes, electrodes electrically connected through the switch to the ends of the nitinol elements, and the masses act through the levers on the piezoelectric elements and periodically deform them.

 The presence of distinctive features determines the compliance of the proposed technical solution to the criterion of "novelty."

 The claimed technical solution also meets the criterion of "inventive step", since no solutions with features distinguishing the claimed technical solution from the prototype and the criterion of "industrial applicability" were found.

 The possibility of achieving a technical result is confirmed by the following theoretical conclusions: heating of nitinol elements is possible not only by contacting them with a heated liquid or gas, but also by passing electric current through them (see AS 612784, ac 598773, a.s. 700888, ac 817143). When a piezoelectric element is deformed, which arises as a result of the action of a mass weight force, a current pulse arises in the circuit connecting the piezoelectric element’s electrodes when it is closed by a switch (see the book by S. P. Kalashnikov. Electricity. M .: Nauka, 1977 ., pp. 97-104, Fig. 72, 74, 75). Therefore, if we create the conditions under which periodic deformation of the piezoelectric elements will occur, and the current will periodically flow through the nitinol elements, which will periodically heat them, then a mass imbalance will occur as a result of a change in the size of the nitinol elements. If, however, create conditions under which the current will periodically flow in nitinol elements located on one side of the vertical axis of symmetry, and at the same time there will be no current in nitinol elements located on the other side of the vertical axis of symmetry, then the motor shaft will come into rotation under the influence of a constantly maintained mass imbalance.

 Periodic deformation of piezoelectric elements can be created if the motor is rotated with an external push, while the piezoelectric elements will work mainly in bending. A bend piezoelectric element is described in S.G. Kalashnikov. Electricity. M .: Nauka, 1977, on p. 104, Fig. 75.

 The conditions under which current will periodically flow in nitinol elements located on one side of the vertical axis of symmetry, and at the same time there will be no current in nitinol elements located on the other side of the vertical axis of symmetry, can be created constructively in various ways.

 The drawing schematically shows a General view of a piezoelectric thermomechanical engine generator (intermediate structural elements are not shown).

 The masses 1 are fixed on nitinol elements 2 having a shape memory effect. Nitinol elements 2 are mounted on levers 3, which are pivotally mounted on disk 4 with one degree of freedom in the vertical plane. The swivel joint is indicated by the position 5. The levers 3 on one side are fixed by stops 6, which are fixedly mounted on the disk 4 and limit the movement (rotation) of the levers 3 counterclockwise. Piezoelectric elements 7 with electrodes are fixedly mounted on the disk 4 (electrodes are not shown in the drawing). The electrodes of the piezoelectric elements 7 are electrically connected by a conductor (wire) 8 to the ends of the nitinol elements 2. The nitinol elements 2 are electrically isolated from the levers 3 and masses 1. Dielectric spacers 9 are installed between the piezoelectric elements 7 and levers 3. The disk 4 is made of dielectric material and mounted on the shaft 10. On the disk 4, limit switches 11 are installed around the circumference, and on the support 12 there is a closing sector 13 and a closing sector 14. The conductors 8 are open by limit switches 11 (in the drawing, a schematic diagram a limit switch 11) adic depicted. The closing sector 13 is installed along the vertical axis of symmetry (at the entrance to the upper right quadrant of the coordinate plane). The closing sector 14 is installed along the horizontal axis of symmetry (at the exit from the upper right quadrant of the coordinate plane). The closing sectors 13 and 14 are attached to the support 12 at such a distance from the plane of the disk 4 that they provide the closure of the limit switches 11 when they enter the zone of location of the closing sectors. All limit switches 11 are installed on the disk 4 strictly under the corresponding piezoelectric elements 7 (only one switch is visible in the drawing).

 In order for the engine to start working, it needs to be informed of a push by an external force. At the initial moment of motion, the piezoelectric element 7, which is in its highest position, does not experience bending loads and its electrodes are not charged. After the start of movement (clockwise, as indicated in the drawing), the limit switch 11 corresponding to this piezoelectric element will disengage from the closing sector 13 and will be in the off state, i.e., the electrodes of the piezoelectric element will be open. With further movement around the circumference, this piezoelectric element will experience an increasing bending moment from the action of mass 1, which is transmitted to the piezoelectric element through the nitinol element 2 and lever 3. As a result of this action, a corresponding deformation of the piezoelectric element will occur, and as a result of deformation of the piezoelectric element on its electrodes will appear potential difference. When this piezoelectric element and its corresponding limit switch enter the zone of closure sector 14, the limit switch will turn on (close the electrodes of the piezoelectric element through conductor 8) and a current pulse will pass through the nitinol element 2, which will heat it. As a result of heating, the nitinol element 2 will change its size (it will straighten and increase its overall length) and move the mass 1 fixed on it, which will create a general mass imbalance that will support the rotation of the engine.

When the piezoelectric element 7 and the corresponding limit switch 11 exit from the location zone of the closing sector 14, the limit switch will turn off (break the circuit) and the induced charges will remain on the electrodes. With a further 270 ^° rotation, the nitinol element 2 will be cooled by the surrounding air and again change its dimensions in the opposite direction (will take the shape and dimensions that it had before heating), thereby maintaining a general mass imbalance. When entering the zone of the closing sector 13, the limit switch 11 will turn on again (close the circuit) and a discharge current pulse will pass through the nitinol element 2, which will heat it again. Then the process will be repeated and as a result of the constantly maintained mass imbalance, the engine will rotate at a speed at which the nitinol elements will have time to cool.

Claims (1)

Piezoelectric thermomechanical engine-generator, containing a shaft mounted in bearings with the possibility of rotation, and radially arranged nitinol elements having a shape memory effect and connected to the masses, which are affected by a gravitational field, characterized in that it is equipped with piezoelectric elements with electrodes, electrodes are electrically connected through the switch to the ends of the nitinol elements, and the masses act through the levers on the piezoelectric elements and periodically deform them.