WO2012127944A1

WO2012127944A1 - Generator device

Info

Publication number: WO2012127944A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/053608
Authority: WO
Inventors: 井上　宏之; 敏治大橋
Original assignee: パナソニックＥｓパワーツール株式会社
Priority date: 2011-03-23
Filing date: 2012-02-16
Publication date: 2012-09-27
Also published as: JP2012200106A

Abstract

This generation device is portable, and is provided with: a fuel tank that houses a fluid fuel; a generator unit; and a casing that houses the fuel tank and the generator unit. The casing has an air supply opening and an air exhaust opening. The generator unit is configured in a manner so as to generate power using the air obtained through the air supply opening and the fluid fuel obtained from the fuel tank, and to discharge unneeded gases through the air exhaust opening. The casing has: a first wall surface; a second wall surface having a second normal line direction that differs from the first normal line direction of the first wall surface; and a third wall surface having a third normal line direction that intersects a plane containing the first normal line direction and the second normal line direction. The casing is configured in a manner so as to be selectively self-supporting in a first posture, wherein the first wall surface is on the bottom, and a second posture, wherein the second wall surface is on the bottom. The air supply opening and the air exhaust opening are formed at the third wall surface.

Description

Power generator

The present invention relates to a portable power generator.

Conventionally, as a power generation device, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-7777, a skeleton member forming a skeleton as a main body, an engine / power generation unit provided in the skeleton member, and an engine / power generation There is an engine-driven generator with a case covering the unit. The engine-driven generator has an exhaust port in a rear case that forms a rear surface of the case, and a bottom portion is formed of an undercover among the skeleton members. The under cover is provided with a transport wheel at the rear end via an axle, a leg at the front end, and the under cover can be disposed substantially horizontally with the leg and the wheel in contact with the ground. The engine-driven generator is used (utilized) as a generator in this posture.

However, since the engine-driven generator having the above-described configuration has an exhaust port in the rear case on the rear end side where the wheels are provided, when the posture of the device is changed around the wheel axis, the exhaust port faces downward. As it approaches the ground, mud or the like tends to adhere to the exhaust port. And if it lifts and conveys with the rear fixed handle provided in the rear case, since an exhaust port will face upwards, it will become easy to hit rain to the said exhaust port. In addition, power supply to the outside (use of the apparatus) with no change in posture is not assumed, and it can be used only in a posture in which the above-described under cover is disposed substantially horizontally.

Therefore, in view of this situation, a power generation device that changes the posture and makes it usable and suppresses adhesion of rain, mud, etc. to the exhaust port and the air supply port during each available posture and transportation movement, etc. It was an issue to provide.

A power generation device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a portable power generation device, and includes a fuel tank that stores fluid fuel, a power generation unit, and a housing that stores the fuel tank and the power generation unit. Prepare. The housing has an air supply port and an exhaust port. The power generation unit is configured to generate electric power using the fluid fuel obtained from the fuel tank and air obtained through the air supply port, and to discharge unnecessary gas through the exhaust port. The housing includes a first wall surface, a second wall surface having a second normal direction different from the first normal direction of the first wall surface, and a plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction. And a third side surface having a third normal direction intersecting with. The case is configured to selectively stand by a first posture with the first wall surface down and a second posture with the second wall surface down. The air supply port and the exhaust port are formed in the third wall surface.

In the power generator according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the third normal direction is perpendicular to the plane.

In the power generator of the third mode according to the present invention, in the first or second mode, the third side surface includes a pair of side wall surfaces facing each other in the third normal direction. The air supply port is formed in one of the pair of side wall surfaces. The exhaust port is formed on the other of the pair of side wall surfaces.

In the power generation device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the housing has the first side wall portion provided with the air supply port as the side wall portion, And a second side wall portion provided with an exhaust port. The first side wall portion and the second side wall portion oppose each other in the axial direction.

A power generator according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes an output unit that is detachably connected to an external load in any one of the first to fourth aspects. The output unit is configured to supply power generated by the power generation unit to the connected external load. The output unit is attached to the housing so as to be rotatable around a direction intersecting the plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction.

In the power generator according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the housing includes a wheel that rotates around the third normal direction. The second wall surface is adjacent to the first wall surface. The wheel is disposed at a corner between the first wall surface and the second wall surface.

It is the perspective view which permeate | transmitted a part of housing | casing of the electric power generating apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the generator of the said electric power generating apparatus. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1 changed to the second mounting posture. It is a perspective view of the power generator.

As shown in FIG. 1, a power generation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a box-shaped housing 2 that constitutes an outer shell, and a generator 10 mounted on the housing 2. The shell includes a moving mechanism unit having a wheel 42 for transporting movement and a moving operation unit 46 gripped during the transporting movement. Therefore, this power generation device 1 is, for example, a portable power source that is suitably used as an external power source for an electric tool that is brought into a building site or the like and used on the site, or a charging power source for charging a battery pack of the tool. It is a device.

The casing 2 includes a substantially rectangular plate-like floor portion 3, a plate-like ceiling portion 4 that is substantially the same shape as the floor portion 3 and faces the floor portion 3, and a ceiling portion that rises from the edge of the floor portion 3. And four outer wall portions connected to the four sides.

In the following description, the four outer wall portions include a rear wall portion 6 rising from one long side of the floor portion 3, a front wall portion 5 rising from the other long side, and a right wall portion 7 rising from one short side. And the left wall portion 8 rising from the other short side. In addition, when not distinguishing the right wall part 7 and the left wall part 8 in particular, it describes only as a side wall part. The direction along the long side of the floor 3 is defined as the longitudinal direction L. In the longitudinal direction L, the left wall 8 side is the left side, the right wall 7 side is the right side, and is orthogonal to the bottom longitudinal direction L. In the direction along the short side, the front wall 5 side is the front and the rear wall 6 is the rear. Then, based on the state of FIG. 3, the ceiling 4 side is the upper side and the floor 3 side is the lower side.

The housing 2 has a first wall surface 3S, a second wall surface 6S, and a third side surface. The second wall surface 6S has a normal direction (second normal direction) different from the normal direction (first normal direction) of the first wall surface 3S. The third side surface has a normal direction (third normal direction) intersecting with a plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction.

In the present embodiment, the first normal direction and the second normal direction are orthogonal to each other. That is, the first wall surface 3 S is an outer surface of the floor portion 3, and the second wall surface 6 S is an outer surface of the rear wall portion 6. Therefore, the second wall surface 6S is adjacent to the first wall surface 3S.

In the present embodiment, the third normal direction is perpendicular to the plane. Therefore, the third side surface includes a pair of

side wall surfaces

7S and 8S facing each other in the third normal direction. One side wall surface 7 S is an outer surface of the right wall portion 7, and the other side wall surface 8 S is an outer surface of the left wall portion 8.

The housing 2 has an air supply port 36 and an exhaust port 39. The air supply port 36 and the exhaust port 39 are formed in the third wall surface. In the present embodiment, the air supply port 36 is formed on one of the pair of

side wall surfaces

7S and 8S (side wall surface 7S). The exhaust port 39 is formed on the other (side wall surface 8S) of the pair of

side wall surfaces

7S and 8S.

The housing 2 has a ceiling surface 4S that is the outer surface of the ceiling portion 4 and a front surface 5S that is the outer surface of the front wall portion 5. Thus, the housing | casing 2 is formed in the box shape of the rectangular parallelepiped which has the six

surfaces

3S, 4S, 5S, 6S, 7S, 8S.

The housing 2 includes a moving mechanism unit. The moving mechanism unit has two wheels 42 and one axle 43. The axle 43 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The axle 43 is attached to the housing 2 so as to penetrate the housing 2 along the third normal direction (longitudinal direction L). The axle 43 is disposed at a corner between the first wall surface 3S and the second wall surface 6S. The two wheels 42 are attached to both ends of the axle 43 so as to be rotatable about the axial direction of the axle 43. The wheel 42 may be fixed to the axle 43. In this case, the axle 43 is attached to the housing 2 so as to be rotatable around its axial direction. Thus, the housing | casing 2 is equipped with the wheel 42 rotated around the 3rd normal line direction. The wheel 42 is disposed at a corner between the first wall surface 3S and the second wall surface 6S. In particular, in the present embodiment, one wheel 42 is attached to the corner of the first wall surface 3S and the second wall surface 6S on the right wall surface 7S, and the other wheel 42 is the first wall surface 3S and the second wall surface 6S on the left wall surface 8S. It is attached to the corner.

The housing 2 has a first leg portion 44 on the first wall surface 3S. In the present embodiment, the housing 2 includes two first leg portions 44 that are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction L. The 1st leg part 44 is formed in the edge part by the side of the front wall part 65 in 1st wall surface 3S. The length of the first leg portion 44 (the length in the first normal direction) is the same as that of the first wall surface 3S when the housing 2 is placed on a plane with the first wall surface 3S down as shown in FIG. It is designed to be parallel to the plane. That is, the housing | casing 2 is comprised so that it may become independent with the 1st wall surface 3S down.

Moreover, the housing | casing 2 has the 2nd leg part 45 in the 2nd wall surface 6S. In this embodiment, the 2nd leg part 44 is formed in the edge part by the side of the ceiling part 4 in the 2nd wall surface 6S. The length of the second leg 45 (the length in the second normal direction) is the same as that of the second wall surface 6S when the housing 2 is placed on a plane with the second wall surface 6S down as shown in FIG. It is designed to be parallel to the plane. That is, the housing | casing 2 is comprised so that it may become independent with the 2nd wall surface 6S down.

As described above, the housing 2 is selectively used in the first posture (first placement posture) with the first wall surface 3S down and the second posture (second placement posture) with the second wall surface 6S down. It is configured to stand on its own.

As shown in FIG. 2, the generator 10 includes a liquid storage unit 11 that stores fluid fuel (fuel liquid in this embodiment), a power generation unit (power generation unit) 12 that generates power from the fuel liquid, and a power generation unit 12. An adjustment unit (adjustment unit) 13 that adjusts the generated power and an output unit (output unit) 14 that outputs the electric power to the outside are provided. And the liquid storage part 11, the electric power generation part 12, and the adjustment part 13 are arrange | positioned in the housing | casing 2, and the output part 14 is exposed from an outer shell. The generator 10 may further include a power storage unit that stores the generated power, may supply power to the output unit 14 from the power storage unit, and may further include a control unit that controls the power generation operation of the generator 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid storage unit 11 includes two tanks 15 (15 A and 15 B) that store fuel liquid therein, and the tank 15 is detachably attached to the housing 2 and disposed in the housing 2. The casing 2 includes an outlet 19 (see FIG. 1) for taking out the tank 15 in the ceiling portion 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tank 15 (15A, 15B) includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 18 (18A, 18B) having a surface along the vertical direction, and a bottom 16 (16A) closing the lower end of the peripheral wall 18 (cylinder). , 16B) and a ceiling 17 (17A, 17B) that closes the upper end of the peripheral wall 18 (cylinder). When the housing 2 is arranged in the first posture (see FIG. 4), the bottom (first wall portion) 16 becomes the bottom wall of the tank 15. On the other hand, when the housing 2 is arranged in the second posture (see FIG. 5), the rear wall portion (second wall portion) 181 of the peripheral wall 18 adjacent to the bottom 16 serves as the bottom wall of the tank 15. . In the tank 15, the inner surface of the bottom 16 is a first inclined surface 20 inclined downward toward the rear, and the inner surface on the rear side of the peripheral wall 18 (the inner surface of the wall portion 181 on the rear side of the peripheral wall 18) is downward. It becomes the 2nd inclined surface 21 inclined toward back. Therefore, the fuel liquid in the tank 15 easily flows to the rear end side of the bottom 16 due to its own weight (gravity). The tank 15 is not limited to a rectangular cylindrical container, and may be a cylindrical container or the like.

The tank 15 is supplied on the ridge line between the rear end of the inner surface of the bottom 16 that is the rear end of the first inclined surface 20 and the lower end of the inner surface on the rear side of the peripheral wall 18 that is the lower end of the second inclined surface 21. A path 22 is provided so as to protrude, and the fuel liquid in the tank 15 is supplied to the power generation unit 12 via the supply path 22.

The supply path 22 is inclined downward and rearward, protrudes from the tank 15, and has a supply port 23 whose lower end is open to the outside. The fuel liquid flows into the power generation unit 12 from the supply port 23. That is, the supply port 23 is provided at the corner between the bottom (first wall portion) 16 and the wall portion (second wall portion) 181. The supply path 22 is preferably provided with a valve that opens the supply path 22 by attaching the tank 15 to the housing 2.

Further, the tank 15 is divided into a raw material tank (fuel tank) 24 for storing hydrocarbon-based raw material liquid (fluid fuel) and a water tank 25 for storing water for diluting the raw material liquid. The capacity is larger than the storage capacity of the water tank 25. The number of tanks 15 is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more. The raw material liquid is not limited to a hydrocarbon-based liquid, and the liquid for diluting the raw material liquid is not limited to water. The fluid fuel is not limited to liquid but may be gas. For example, hydrogen can be used as the fluid fuel.

As shown in FIG. 3, the power generation unit 12 has an outer shell formed of a substantially rectangular case 26 having a long side along the longitudinal direction L. The case 26 has receiving ports 27 (27 A and 27 B). Provided.

The receiving port 27 is formed at the front end of the upper surface of the case 26 and opens upward from the case 26. The two inlets 27 (27A, 27B) are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction L, and the raw material inlet 27A facing the supply port 23 (23A) of the raw material tank 24 and the supply port 23 (23A of the water tank 25). ) And a water receiving port 27B that faces each other. Each receiving port 27 (27A, 27B) communicates with the corresponding tank 15 (15A, 15B) via the supply path 22 (22A, 22B), and fluid (fuel) in the tank 15 (15A, 15B). Liquid, water) is received in the case 26.

Further, in the case 26, as shown in FIG. 2, a fuel cell unit 28 that generates power using fuel liquid and air, a mixing unit 29 that mixes raw material liquid (fluid fuel) and water, and outside air And an air pump 30 (details will be described later) for taking (air) into the case 26. Therefore, the generator 10 is a so-called fuel cell generator 10.

The mixing unit 29 is disposed between the receiving port 27 and the fuel cell unit 28, and is composed of, for example, a fuel pump. The fuel pump mixes a raw material liquid (fluid fuel) and water to form a raw material liquid (fluid fuel). ) Is then supplied to the fuel cell unit 28. Therefore, the fuel cell unit 28 generates power using the fluid fuel diluted in the mixing unit 29. In addition, for example, the supply path 22 of the raw material tank 24 and the supply path 22 of the water tank 25 are merged downstream to mix the raw material liquid and water in the supply path 22, and the mixing unit 29 may not be provided. . Further, a reforming unit for reforming the raw material liquid may be further disposed between the receiving port 27 and the fuel cell unit 28.

The fuel cell unit 28 includes, for example, a fuel cell stack (not shown) in which power generation cells are integrated, and generates electric power by reacting a fuel liquid (fluid fuel) and air in the fuel cell stack. Therefore, the fuel cell stack is a reaction unit that reacts the fuel liquid and air, and the fuel cell unit 28 is configured to generate electric power directly in the reaction unit.

The power generation cell of the fuel cell stack described above is mainly composed of, for example, an anode electrode to which a fuel liquid is supplied, a cathode electrode to which air is supplied, and an electrolyte plate disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. Is configured. As the fuel cell unit 28, for example, a solid polymer fuel cell using an ion exchange membrane as an electrolyte plate, a phosphoric acid fuel cell using a member containing phosphoric acid as an electrolyte plate, or a molten carbonate as an electrolyte plate. There are a molten carbonate type used, a solid oxide type using ceramics as an electrolyte plate, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the adjusting unit 13 is disposed between the fuel cell unit 28 and the output unit 14 and is, for example, an inverter that converts DC power generated by the power generation unit 12 into AC power. Yes. That is, the adjustment unit (adjustment unit) 13 is configured to convert the power (DC power) generated by the power generation unit 12 into predetermined AC power and supply it to the output unit (output unit) 14. In addition, the electric power generating apparatus 1 may be an apparatus that does not include the adjusting unit 13 as well as the adjusting unit 13 is not limited to an inverter. For example, the adjustment unit 13 may be configured to convert electric power (DC power) generated by the power generation unit 12 into predetermined DC power and supply it to the output unit (output unit) 14. In this case, the output unit 14 outputs DC power.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, the output unit 14 includes a rectangular box-shaped main body 33 and a rotation shaft 34 that supports the main body 33 so as to be rotatable about its axis, and the rotation shaft 34 has a substantially cylindrical shape. Thus, both end portions in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 34 are fixed to the housing 2 so as not to rotate. The rotating shaft 34 is disposed at the front end of the ceiling portion 4 of the housing 2, and the axial direction of the rotating shaft 34 is positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

The main body portion 33 has four rectangular outer surfaces and two substantially square end surfaces, the rotation shaft 34 is inserted therein, and the axis of the rotation shaft 34 is located at the intersection of the diagonal lines of each end surface. . For this reason, the outer surface of the main body 33 is directed outward in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 34, and the long side of the outer surface is positioned substantially parallel to the axial direction of the rotary shaft 34. The direction of each outer surface is changed by rotating.

Moreover, the main-body part 33 has the connection surface 35 in the 1st outer surface which is one of the outer surfaces, and the connection surface 35 is equivalent to external load apparatuses 60 (corresponding to the external load in FIG. ) End 61 is a connector or jack, a so-called outlet port, or the like. And the main-body part 33 has a conducting wire member (not shown) electrically connected with the edge part 61 inside. The conductive member protrudes from the main body portion 33 into the housing 2 and is electrically connected to the adjustment portion 13. Therefore, the output unit (output unit) 14 is configured to output AC power obtained from the adjustment unit (adjustment unit) 13.

Therefore, the main body 33 holds the end 61 of the load device 60 at the connection surface 35 and is electrically connected to the held end 61 by a conductive member. The power generated by the power generation unit 12 is generated by the adjustment unit 13. After the adjustment, the load device 60 is supplied via the output unit 14. In addition, an outer surface is not restricted to four, Three may be sufficient and you may have five or more.

As described above, the power generation device 1 of the present embodiment includes the output unit 14 that is detachably connected to the external load 60. The output unit 14 is configured to supply the electric power generated by the power generation unit 12 to the connected external load 60. The output unit 14 is attached to the housing 2 so as to be rotatable around a direction (rotational axis direction) intersecting a plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction. In the present embodiment, the rotation axis direction of the output unit 14 is parallel to the third normal direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the power generation unit 12 further includes a reflux unit 31 that returns water generated in the fuel cell unit 28 or water remaining in the fuel cell unit 28 after power generation to the water tank 25. Then, by returning the water in the fuel cell unit 28 to the water tank 25 via the reflux unit 31, it becomes easy to suppress the consumption of the water in the water tank 25, and the capacity of the water tank 25 is reduced (smaller and lighter). It becomes easy.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the housing 2 further includes an air supply unit and an exhaust unit that allow the inside of the case 26 of the power generation unit 12 and the outside of the housing 2 to communicate with each other. While outside air flows in, the air in the housing 2 is discharged to the outside from the exhaust part.

The air supply portion is disposed at the upstream end of the air supply channel 37, the air supply port 36 that opens to the right wall portion 7, the air supply channel 37 that connects the air supply port 36 and the air supply opening of the case 26. An air filter 38. Then, air (outside air) flows into the air supply unit by driving the air pump 30, and the outside air flows from the air supply port 36 to the air supply opening 37 through the air supply channel 37. Further, the foreign matter introduced into the air supply port 36 mixed with the outside air is inhibited from flowing downstream of the air supply flow path 37 by the air filter 38, and is difficult to enter the power generation unit 12.

The exhaust portion includes an exhaust port 39 opened in the left wall portion 8, an exhaust passage 40 connecting the exhaust port 39 and the exhaust opening of the case 26, and an air filter 41 disposed at the downstream end of the exhaust passage 40. Is provided. Then, exhaust generated by the power generation unit 12 such as carbon dioxide flows into the exhaust, and the exhaust flows from the exhaust opening to the exhaust port 39 through the exhaust passage 40 and is discharged to the outside of the housing 2. The Further, the foreign matter mixed with the wind from the outside of the housing 2 is blocked by the air filter 41 into the exhaust flow path 40, and a strong wind is blown to the outside of the housing 2 when the exhaust portion is not exhausting. Even in such cases, it is difficult for foreign matter to enter the power generation unit 12.

Therefore, the power generation unit (power generation unit) 12 generates electric power using the fluid fuel obtained from the fuel tank 24 and the air obtained through the air supply port 36, and discharges unnecessary gas through the exhaust port 39. Composed. In particular, in the present embodiment, the power generation unit (power generation unit) 12 is a fuel cell that generates fluid (DC power) by causing an electrochemical reaction of fluid fuel with air. The unnecessary gas is, for example, a gas (for example, carbon dioxide) generated by an electrochemical reaction between fluid fuel and air. Further, air that has not been used in the power generation unit 12 is discharged from the exhaust port 39 as unnecessary gas.

As shown in FIG. 3, the moving mechanism section includes an axle 43 having an axial center along the longitudinal direction L, a disk-like wheel 42 provided at each end of the axle 43, and the axle 43. 2 and a holding part (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, the axle 43 is positioned behind the middle of the short side of the floor portion 3 and is held by the holding portion, and the shaft center (axial direction) is aligned in parallel with the longitudinal direction L. As shown in FIG. 3, the axle 43 has one end portion of the shaft center (axial direction) protruding from the right wall portion 7, the other end portion protruding from the left wall portion 8, and a wheel 42 at each end portion. Are attached approximately concentrically.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wheel 42 has a radius larger than the dimension in the radial direction from the center of the circle to the rear end of the floor portion 3, and the outer periphery of the wheel 42 projects rearward and downward from the housing 2 in a side view. The wheel 42 can support the housing 2 on a floor surface (not shown) of the structure.

The wheel 42 is rotatable with respect to the housing 2, and the housing 2 is easily transported forward or backward by abutting and rolling the wheel 42 on the floor of the structure. be able to. Further, by rotating the housing 2 around the axis of the wheel 42, the orientation of the housing 2 with respect to the floor surface (the posture of the power generation device 1) can be changed. And the electric power generating apparatus 1 makes the 1st mounting attitude | position which made the outer surface of the floor part 3 the lower surface which opposes a floor surface, and made the outer surface of the rear wall part 6 as shown in FIG. The mounting posture can be switched by selecting one of the two mounting postures.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the floor portion 3 further includes a first leg portion 44 that supports the housing 2 together with the wheels 42 in the first mounting posture, in addition to the moving mechanism portion. Note that, similarly to the above description, unless otherwise specified, the configuration will be described in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction in the first placement posture.

The first leg portion 44 protrudes downward and is provided on the front end side of the floor portion 3 and comes into contact with the floor surface in the first placement posture. Therefore, the housing 2 can be supported with respect to the floor surface by the first leg portion 44 and the wheel 42 by bringing the first leg portion 44 into contact with the floor surface. And this power generator 1 is movable conveyance by tilting the housing | casing 2 back (tilting back) from the 1st mounting attitude | position with the axle 43 as a fulcrum, and separating | separating the 1st leg part 44 from a floor surface. It becomes a posture and can be transported and moved via the moving mechanism.

Further, the rear wall portion 6 includes a second leg portion 45 that supports the housing 2 together with the wheels 42 in the second placement posture, and a movement operation portion 46 for performing a movement operation during the transportation movement. Similar to the above description, unless otherwise defined, the configuration will be described in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction in the first placement posture.

The movement operation unit 46 includes two rod-like portions 47 projecting upward from the rear wall portion 6 and a bridging portion 48 that connects the upper ends of the rod-like portions 47. The rod-like portion 47 can be adjusted in the upward projection amount. The outer surface of the bridging portion 48 is a gripping surface that is gripped by the user.

Therefore, when switching to the transporting posture, it is possible to change the posture of the housing 2 by gripping the moving operation unit 46, and the posture can be easily switched. And the housing | casing 2 can be pulled around via the movement operation part 46, and the wheel 42 can be drive | worked, and it becomes easy to carry and move the housing | casing 2. Further, by changing and adjusting the protruding amount of the rod-like portion 47 to be small, the movement operation unit 46 may not easily interfere with the use of the power generation device 1 at times other than during transportation movement such as when used as an external power source. it can.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second leg portion 45 protrudes rearward and is provided on the upper end side of the rear wall portion 6, and as shown in FIG. 5, comes into contact with the floor surface in the second placement posture. Therefore, the housing 2 can be supported with respect to the floor surface by the second leg portion 45 and the wheel 42 by bringing the second leg portion 45 into contact with the floor surface. Further, the power generation device 1 is brought into the transport posture by tilting the housing 2 forward (tilting forward) from the second placement posture with the axle 43 as a fulcrum, and separating the second leg portion 45 from the floor surface. . Therefore, the transporting posture is an intermediate posture generated when switching between the first mounting posture and the second mounting posture.

The left wall 8 further includes a power generation operation unit such as a power switch 49 for externally operating the power generation operation of the power generation unit 12. Therefore, the power generation apparatus 1 starts the power generation operation of the power generation unit 12 when the power switch 49 is turned on and is turned off during the power generation operation, thereby stopping the power generation operation. The power generation operation is continued until the cutting operation is performed.

Next, the operation of the power generation device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the power switch 49 is switched on, the power generation unit 12 operates the air pump 30. The air pump 30 takes in air from the outside of the housing 2 through the air supply port 36 (arrow A11) and supplies the air to the fuel cell unit 28 (arrow A12). In addition, the power generation unit 12 operates the fuel pump 29. The fuel pump 29 obtains fluid fuel from the raw material tank (fuel tank) 15A (arrow A21). The fuel pump 29 obtains water from the water tank 15B (arrow A22). In the fuel pump 29, the fluid fuel is mixed with water and diluted. The fuel pump 29 supplies the diluted fluid fuel to the fuel cell unit 28 (arrow A23). The fuel cell unit 28 generates electric power by causing an electrochemical reaction of fluid fuel with air. The fuel cell unit 28 discharges unnecessary gas generated by the electrochemical reaction to the outside of the housing 2 through the exhaust port 39 (arrow A13). The fuel cell unit 28 discharges water generated by the electrochemical reaction to the water tank 15B (arrow A24). The fuel cell unit 28 outputs power (DC power) generated by the electrochemical reaction to the adjustment unit (inverter) 13 (arrow A31). The adjustment unit 13 converts the DC power obtained from the fuel cell unit 28 into predetermined AC power and outputs it to the output unit 14 (arrow A32). The output unit 14 supplies AC power to the external load 60 connected to the output unit 14 (arrow A33).

As described above, the power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a liquid storage unit 11 that stores a fuel liquid, a power generation unit 12 that generates power from the fuel liquid, and a housing that houses the liquid storage unit 11 and the power generation unit 12. Body 2, output unit 14 for outputting the power from power generation unit 12 to the outside, moving mechanism unit for transporting and moving, air supply port 36 for supplying power to power generation unit 12 from outside the housing, and housing from power generation unit 12 And an exhaust port 39 for exhausting outside the body. The moving mechanism unit includes a wheel 42 that rotates with respect to the housing 2, and an axle 43 that is the center of rotation of the wheel 42. The housing 2 includes a floor portion 3 provided with a moving mechanism portion at one end, and side wall portions (7, 8) rising from the floor portion 3 so as to intersect the axial direction of the axle 43. An air supply port 36 and an exhaust port 39 were provided on the side wall portions (7, 8).

That is, the power generation device 1 of the present embodiment is a portable power generation device, and includes a fuel tank 24 that stores fluid fuel, a power generation unit (power generation unit) 12, and a housing that stores the fuel tank 24 and the power generation unit 12. A body 2. The housing 2 has an air supply port 36 and an exhaust port 39. The power generation unit 12 is configured to generate electric power using the fluid fuel obtained from the fuel tank 24 and the air obtained through the air supply port 36 and to discharge unnecessary gas through the exhaust port 39. The housing 2 has a first wall surface 3S, a second wall surface 6S, and a third wall surface (7S, 8S). The second wall surface 6S has a second normal direction different from the first normal direction of the first wall surface 3S. The third wall surface (7S, 8S) has a third normal direction intersecting with a plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction. The housing | casing 2 is comprised so that it may selectively become independent by the 1st attitude | position which turns down the 1st wall surface 3S, and the 2nd attitude | position which faces the 2nd wall surface 6S down. The air supply port 36 and the exhaust port 39 are formed in the third wall surface (7S, 8S).

Further, the power generation device 1 of the present embodiment includes an output unit 14 that is detachably connected to the external load 60. The output unit 14 is configured to supply the electric power generated by the power generation unit 12 to the connected external load 60. The output unit 14 is attached to the housing 2 so as to be rotatable around a direction intersecting a plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction.

Further, in the power generation device 1 of the present embodiment, the housing 2 includes wheels 42 that rotate around the third normal direction (longitudinal direction L). The second wall surface 6S is adjacent to the first wall surface 3S. The wheel 42 is disposed at a corner between the first wall surface 3S and the second wall surface 6S.

Moreover, in the power generator 1 of this embodiment, the side wall portions (7, 8) are orthogonal to the axial direction. That is, the third normal direction (longitudinal direction L) is orthogonal to the plane (a plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction).

Moreover, in the electric power generating apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the housing | casing 2 is the 1st side wall part (right wall part) 7 which provided the air supply port 36 as a side wall part (7, 8), and the 1st which provided the exhaust port 39. 2 side walls (left wall) 8. The first side wall part (right wall part) 7 and the second side wall part (left wall part) 8 face each other in the axial direction. That is, the third side surface includes a pair of side wall surfaces facing each other in the third normal direction (longitudinal direction L). The air supply port 36 is formed in one of the pair of side wall surfaces (side wall surface 7S). The exhaust port 39 is formed on the other (side wall surface 8S) of the pair of side wall surfaces.

Further, in the power generation device 1 of the present embodiment, the power generation unit 12 mainly includes the fuel cell unit 28. That is, the power generation unit 12 is a fuel cell that generates electric power by causing an electrochemical reaction of fluid fuel with air.

The power generator 1 configured as described above has the following operational effects. In the definition of the front-rear direction, the description that does not specify the posture is the first placement posture, and the description that specifies the posture conforms to the specified posture.

By providing the moving mechanism portion at the rear end of the floor portion 3, the posture change of the housing 2 is restricted in the rotation direction of the wheel 42, and the mounting surface of the housing 2 is the outer surface and the rear wall portion of the floor portion 3. 6 and the two outer surfaces facing the circumferential direction of the axle 43. Therefore, the power generation device 1 selectively has a first placement posture in which the outer surface of the floor portion 4 is a lower surface and a second placement posture in which the outer surface of the rear wall portion 6 is a lower surface.

And since the outer wall part (side wall part) which is hard to be obstruct | occluded by any mounting attitude | position is prescribed | regulated, the malfunction and function by obstruction | occlusion of the exhaust port 39 grade | etc., Are provided by providing the exhaust port 39 and the air supply port 36 in the said site | part. It is possible to make it difficult to cause failure. Furthermore, the air supply port 36 is provided in the right wall portion 7 (first side wall portion), and the exhaust port 39 is provided in the left wall portion 8 (second side wall portion) facing the first side wall portion in the axial direction. The opening areas of the air supply port 36 and the exhaust port 39 can be easily formed larger than those provided on the same outer wall portion. Therefore, it becomes easy to reduce pressure loss due to the

air filters

38 and 41 during supply and exhaust. Further, since the air supply port 36 and the exhaust port 39 are opened in a direction crossing the moving direction during transportation, mud or the like due to rain from above or mud splashing from the feet of the carrier is exhausted. It is difficult to adhere to the mouth 39, and it is possible to make it difficult to cause a malfunction due to adhesion of rainwater, mud, or the like.

That is, according to the power generation device 1 of the present embodiment, the posture can be changed and used, and rain and the like can be made difficult to adhere to the exhaust port and the air supply port in each available posture. Compared with this power generation device, rain or the like can be made less likely to adhere to the exhaust port or the air supply port during transportation.

In addition, since the liquid storage unit 11 is disposed above and in front of the power generation unit 12 based on the first mounting posture, the liquid storage unit 11 is above and behind the power generation unit 12 when changing to the second mounting posture. The liquid storage unit 11 is positioned above the power generation unit 12 at the time of change to the rearward tilted movement posture. Therefore, the fuel liquid can be supplied from the liquid storage unit 11 to the power generation unit 12 by its own weight (gravity), and the fuel liquid supply to the power generation unit 12 can be performed with a simple configuration. Furthermore, since it is possible to eliminate the fuel pull-in device that sucks the fuel liquid from the liquid storage unit 11 and reduce the output, the power generation device 1 can be reduced in weight and production cost.

Further, since the first inclined surface 20 and the second inclined surface 21 are provided in the tank 15, the fuel liquid is easily introduced into the supply port 23 in each mounting posture and moving posture, and the fuel liquid is stably supplied. It can be made easy to supply. And since it becomes easy to maintain the upstream opening of the supply path 22 in the state covered with the fuel liquid at the time of each mounting posture, moving posture, and attitude change, gas such as air in the tank 15 does not easily enter the supply path 22. This makes it difficult to cause malfunction due to gas mixture in the flow path on the fuel liquid side. Furthermore, by providing the receiving port 27 of the power generation unit 12 at the front end of the upper surface of the case 26, the fuel liquid in the power generation unit 12 hardly flows back to the receiving port 27 at the time of each mounting posture, moving posture, or posture change.

In addition, by providing the output unit 14 at the upper end of the front wall unit 5, the position of the output unit 14 is not easily blocked by the floor or the like in each mounting posture or moving posture, and the load device 60 is connected to the output unit 14. It is possible to facilitate connection. And while making the main-body part 33 of the output part 14 rotatable with respect to the housing | casing 2, it is connected by rotating the main-body part 33 by having arrange | positioned the axial center of the rotating shaft 34 substantially parallel to the axle shaft 43. The direction of the surface 35 can be switched between the direction toward the floor 3 and the direction toward the rear wall 6. For this reason, when the outdoor surface is used in rainy weather, the connection surface 35 is directed outwardly of the front and rear housings 2 or obliquely downward and downward, so that the connection surface 35 can be prevented from being exposed to rainwater. It becomes easy to avoid malfunction.

In addition, since the power generation operation part is provided on the outer wall part (left wall part 8) that is not easily blocked in any mounting posture, it is more in contact with the transporting movement than those provided on the front wall part 5 and the rear wall part 6. It becomes difficult to be blocked at the time of mounting as compared with those provided on the floor 3 and the rear wall 6. By providing the outer wall portion on the exhaust port 39 side, the operator's clothes and the like are opened in the outer wall portion (exhaust gas) when the power switch 49 is operated as compared with the one provided on the outer wall portion on the air supply port 36 side. It is difficult to be sucked into the mouth 39 or the air supply port 36), and it becomes easy to suppress problems due to the blockage of the opening.

The air supply port 36 and the exhaust port 39 may be provided on the same side wall (the right wall 7 or the left wall 8). In addition, the output unit 14 allows the main body 33 to rotate about the rotation shaft 34, but the rotation shaft 34 can rotate about the housing 2, and the rotation of the rotation shaft 34 changes the orientation of the outer surface of the main body 33. Also good. Further, the moving mechanism unit may fix the axle 43 to the housing 2 so as not to rotate, and allow the wheel 42 to rotate around the axle 43 so as to be supported by the axle 43. You may have. Further, wheels may be provided on the first leg portion 44 and the second leg portion 45 so as to be able to carry and move in the first placement posture and the second placement posture.

Further, the exhaust passage 40 may be arranged in the vicinity of the water tank 25 or in the vicinity of the water tank 25 so that the exhaust gas including heat generated during power generation flows in the vicinity of the water tank 25. In this power generator 1, the exhaust passage 40 and the water tank 25 are thermally coupled directly or indirectly through a narrow air layer, and the heat of the exhaust gas easily flows into the water tank 25. The water in the water tank 25 is difficult to freeze due to heat. Indirect thermal coupling may be achieved by arranging a heat transfer member between the exhaust passage 40 and the water tank 25 and performing heat exchange (heat supply to the water tank) via the heat transfer member. Good.

The power generation unit 12 is not limited to one that directly generates electricity by reaction in the reaction unit, but is an internal combustion engine type power generation unit 12 that burns (oxidation reaction) a fuel liquid (fluid fuel) such as gasoline or light oil. May be. In this power generation apparatus 1, the power generation unit 12 converts the energy generated by burning the fuel liquid into a rotational drive using a piston, a crank, or the like, a reaction unit such as an engine, and a dynamo that converts the rotational drive into electric power. Power conversion unit. And the reaction part is arrange | positioned so that it may be located below the liquid storage part 11 in any case of each mounting attitude | position and a movement attitude | position.

Further, the power generator 1 is not limited to a power source for electric tools.

Claims

A portable power generator,
A fuel tank containing fluid fuel;
A power generation unit;
A housing for housing the fuel tank and the power generation unit;
With
The housing has an air supply port and an exhaust port,
The power generation unit is configured to generate electric power using the fluid fuel obtained from the fuel tank and air obtained through the air supply port, and to discharge unnecessary gas through the exhaust port,
The housing includes a first wall surface, a second wall surface having a second normal direction different from the first normal direction of the first wall surface, and a plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction. And a third side surface having a third normal direction intersecting with
The housing is configured to selectively stand by a first posture with the first wall surface down and a second posture with the second wall surface down,
The air supply port and the exhaust port are formed in the third wall surface.
The power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third normal direction is orthogonal to the plane.
The third side surface includes a pair of side wall surfaces facing each other in the third normal direction,
The air supply port is formed on one of the pair of side wall surfaces,
The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port is formed on the other of the pair of side wall surfaces.
The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the power generation unit is a fuel cell that generates electric power by electrochemically reacting the fluid fuel with the air.
It has an output unit that is detachably connected to an external load.
The output unit is configured to supply power generated by the power generation unit to the connected external load;
2. The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is attached to the housing so as to be rotatable around a direction intersecting the plane including the first normal direction and the second normal direction. .
The housing includes wheels that rotate around the third normal direction,
The second wall surface is adjacent to the first wall surface;
The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the wheel is disposed at a corner between the first wall surface and the second wall surface.