WO2023058654A1 - Three-dimensional knit structure and heat exchanger, filter member, and electrode - Google Patents

Abstract

This three-dimensional knit structure (10) is characterized in that multiple layers of single layer knit fabric (15) are laminated, the single layer knit fabric (15) is a structure in which metal fibers (11) having a loop shape (12) are interweaved, and interlayer metal fibers (13) connect the laminated layers of the single layer knit fabric (15).

Description

Three-dimensional knitted structure, heat exchanger, filter member, electrode

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a three-dimensional knitted structure made by knitting metal fibers, and a heat exchanger, a filter member, and an electrode having the three-dimensional knitted structure.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-164104 filed in Japan on October 5, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, porous bodies of metals such as copper, aluminum and titanium have been used as electrodes and current collectors, heat exchanger members, noise absorbing members, filter members, shock absorbing members and the like in various batteries.
For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a heat exchange member in which a metal porous layer is formed on the surface of a metal tube.
Patent Document 2 proposes a filter member made of a metal porous sintered body having a three-dimensional network structure.
Patent Document 3 discloses a porous aluminum sintered body having a structure in which aluminum fibers are sintered.
Patent Document 4 discloses a water electrolysis apparatus using a sintered body of titanium fibers as an electrode.

Further, Patent Document 5 proposes a metal wire structure in which metal wires are woven. This metal wire structure has a single-layer structure in the shape of a flat plate, and by stacking a plurality of these and then sintering them, it has a three-dimensional structure and can be used as the above-mentioned heat exchanger, filter member, electrode, etc. can be considered.
Furthermore, in Patent Document 6, a heat exhaust clothing that covers the humanoid robot and a blower are provided, and a ventilation path is provided between the outer shell of the humanoid robot and the heat exhaust clothing to cool the humanoid robot. Cooling devices have been proposed that do.

JP 2014-095529 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-300526 JP 2016-194117 A JP 2018-156798 A JP-A-05-261146 JP 2020-075350 A

By the way, in the cooling device for the humanoid robot shown in Patent Document 6, in order to improve the cooling efficiency, the metal porous bodies of Patent Documents 1 to 4 and the metal wire structure of Patent Document 5 are arranged as heat dissipation fins in the air blowing path. can be considered.
However, in the metal porous bodies and metal wire structures described above, since there are portions fixed by sintering, when they are arranged in a portion having a movable portion such as the outer shell of a humanoid robot, There is a possibility that the metal porous body and the metal wire structure will not expand and contract following the movement of the movable part, and the radiation fins will buffer each other and be plastically deformed.
It should be noted that the above-described problems may also occur in heat exchangers, filter members, electrodes, etc., which are disposed at locations having movable parts.

The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and even if it is arranged in a place having a movable part, it expands and contracts following the movement of the movable part and suppresses plastic deformation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional knitted structure capable of achieving the above, and a heat exchanger, a filter member, and an electrode provided with this three-dimensional knitted structure.

In order to solve such problems and achieve the above objects, a three-dimensional knitted structure according to one aspect of the present invention is a three-dimensional knitted structure in which a plurality of single-layer knitted fabrics are laminated, is a structure in which metal fibers are woven in a loop shape, and is characterized in that the layers of the laminated single-layer knitted fabric are connected by interlayer metal fibers.

According to the three-dimensional knitted structure having this configuration, single-layer knitted fabrics having a structure in which metal fibers are knitted in a loop shape are laminated, and interlayer metal fibers connect the layers of the stacked single-layered knitted fabrics. Since the structure is such that the metal fibers are not fixed by sintering or the like, they can expand and contract following the movement of the movable part, and plastic deformation can be suppressed. In addition, since it has a structure in which metal fibers are woven, it is possible to ensure thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity in the same manner as the metal porous body.
Therefore, it can be stably used as various members such as heat exchangers (radiating fins), filter members, and electrodes.

Here, in the three-dimensional knitted structure according to one aspect of the present invention, the interlayer metal fibers are part of the metal fibers constituting the single-layer knitted fabric, and the interlayer metal fibers have a loop shape. It is preferable to connect a plurality of the single-layer knitted fabrics by using a single-layer knitted fabric.
In this case, part of the metal fibers constituting the single-layer knitted fabric are used as the interlayer metal fibers to connect a plurality of the single-layered knitted fabrics, so that thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity are further improved.

Moreover, in the three-dimensional knitted structure according to one aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the metal fibers are made of copper or a copper alloy, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, titanium or a titanium alloy.
In this case, the metal fiber is made of any one of copper or copper alloy, aluminum or aluminum alloy, titanium or titanium alloy, so that thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity can be secured, and the heat exchanger (heat dissipation It can be used more stably as various members such as fins, filter members, and electrodes.

Furthermore, in the three-dimensional knitted structure according to one aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the porosity is within the range of 85% or more and 99% or less.
In this case, since the porosity is within the above range, the fluid can be smoothly circulated inside the three-dimensional knitted structure, and the contact area between the metal fibers and the fluid can be ensured. Therefore, it can be used more stably as various members such as heat exchangers (radiating fins), filter members, and electrodes. The porosity is the porosity with respect to the three-dimensional knitted structure.

A heat exchanger according to an aspect of the present invention includes the three-dimensional knitted structure described above.
Since the heat exchanger having this configuration includes the three-dimensional knitted structure described above, it can be used by arranging it in a location having a movable portion. Moreover, heat exchange efficiency can be improved by the contact between the fluid flowing through the inside of the three-dimensional knitted structure and the metal fibers.

A filter member according to an aspect of the present invention includes the three-dimensional knitted structure described above.
Since the filter member having this configuration includes the three-dimensional knitted fabric structure described above, it can be used by arranging it in a location having a movable portion. Further, by circulating the fluid inside the three-dimensional knitted structure, substances in the fluid can be filtered.

An electrode according to an aspect of the present invention is characterized by including the three-dimensional knitted structure described above.
Since the electrode having this configuration includes the three-dimensional knitted structure described above, it can be used by arranging it at a location having a movable portion. Further, the reaction can be promoted by the contact between the fluid flowing inside the three-dimensional knitted structure and the metal fibers.

According to the above aspect of the present invention, a three-dimensional knitted structure capable of expanding and contracting following the movement of the movable portion and suppressing plastic deformation even when disposed at a location having the movable portion; , a heat exchanger, a filter member, and an electrode provided with this three-dimensional knitted structure can be provided.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention, showing a normal state; FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention, showing a contracted state; FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention, showing a stretched state; FIG. 1 is an enlarged explanatory view of a single-layer knitted fabric of a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention; BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a heat exchanger (radiating fin) provided with a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an explanatory diagram of a filter member provided with a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an electrode provided with a three-dimensional knitted structure that is an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

A three-dimensional knitted structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The three-dimensional knitted structure 10 of this embodiment is used as, for example, a heat exchanger (radiating fin), a filter member, and an electrode.

As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10 according to the present embodiment is formed by weaving metal fibers 11, and has a structure in which a plurality of single-layer knitted fabrics 15 are laminated. .
As shown in FIG. 2, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 has a structure in which metal fibers 11 are knitted in a loop shape 12 .

Interlayer metal fibers 13 connect the layers of the laminated single-layer knitted fabric 15 .
In the present embodiment, part of the metal fibers 11 constituting the single-layer knitted fabric 15 is used as the inter-layer metal fibers 13, and the layers of the laminated single-layer knitted fabric 15 are woven into the loop shape 12 by the inter-layer metal fibers 13. Connected.
That is, the three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10 of the present embodiment can be used not only in the surface direction of the single-layer knitted fabric 15 (left-right direction and depth direction in FIGS. 1A to 1C) but also in the lamination direction of the single-layer knitted fabric 15 (FIGS. 1C in the Z direction) also has a braided structure.

Since the single-layer knitted fabric 15 has a knitted structure, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 can be stretched in the plane direction.
In the present embodiment, as described above, since the single-layer knitted fabric 15 is also knitted in the lamination direction, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 Z direction in FIG. 1C) can also be expanded and contracted.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the metal fibers 11 are continuous in the X direction in FIG. It has a structure with different thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity depending on the structure. Furthermore, by changing the density and frequency of weaving in the lamination direction, the thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity can be changed.
As shown in FIG. 2, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 of the present embodiment is flat knitted in which loops 12 are formed and sequentially connected in the horizontal direction (X direction in FIG. 2). be. Flat knitting is also called knitting or jersey knitting.

Here, the metal fibers 11 can be made of various metals depending on the intended use. In this embodiment, for example, copper or copper alloys, aluminum or aluminum alloys, titanium or titanium alloys, It is preferable to
If the metal fibers 11 are made of copper or a copper alloy, they are particularly excellent in electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.
When the metal fibers 11 are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, they are excellent in electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, and are also excellent in corrosion resistance. Also, the weight of the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 can be reduced.
When the metal fiber 11 is made of titanium or a titanium alloy, it has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as excellent corrosion resistance. Moreover, the weight of the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 can be further reduced.
The cross-sectional shape of the metal fiber 11 is not particularly limited as long as it can be woven into the loop shape 12, but is preferably circular, elliptical or polygonal. The average fiber diameter of the metal fibers 11 is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 0.3 mm or more and 5 mm or less.

In addition, since the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 of the present embodiment has a structure in which the metal fibers 11 are woven, voids are present inside. In this embodiment, the porosity of the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 is preferably in the range of 85% or more and 99% or less.
In addition, in the three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 can be stretched and contracted in the plane direction and the stacking direction. It is preferable to satisfy the porosity of The porosity is expressed by the following formula, where V (cm ³ ) is the apparent volume of the three-dimensional knitted structure 10, W (g) is the weight, and ρ (g/cm ³ ) is the density of the metal itself of the metal fibers 11. Calculated from
Porosity (%) = (1 - (W / V) / ρ) × 100

Next, a method for manufacturing the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the metal fibers 11 are woven to form the single-layer knitted fabric 15 of the first layer. Next, using a part of the metal fibers 11 of the single-layer knitted fabric 15 of the first layer, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 of the second layer is formed while weaving it into the loop shape 12 of the single-layer knitted fabric 15 of the first layer. do. That is, the loop shape 12 also serves as the interlayer metal fiber 13 . By repeating this, the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 of the present embodiment is manufactured.
In this embodiment, the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 having the configuration described above is constructed by weaving one metal fiber 11 .

Here, the heat exchanger 20 provided with the three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This heat exchanger 20 has radiation fins 21 made of the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 . As shown in FIG. 4, the heat radiation fins 21 (three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10) are provided between a robot housing 25 serving as a heat source and heat exhaust clothing 26 covering the robot housing 25. It is inserted into path 27 and used.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, one single-layer knitted fabric 15A of the radiation fins 21 (three-dimensional knitted structure 10) and the robot housing 25 are joined together, and the other single-layer knitted fabric 15A of the radiation fins 21 (three-dimensional knitted structure 10) is joined. The single-layer knitted fabric 15B and the heat exhaust clothing 26 are joined together, and the radiation fins 21 (three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10) are arranged so that the single-layer knitted fabric 15 is laminated from the robot housing 25 side to the heat exhaust clothing 26 side. are placed.

In this state, air is blown through the air blowing path 27 between the heat exhaust clothing 26 and the robot housing 25 . As a result, the airflow path 27 expands, and the heat exhaust clothing 26 and the robot housing 25 are moved in the direction of being separated from each other. At this time, the radiation fins 21 (three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10) are arranged such that the single-layer knitted fabric 15 is stacked from the robot housing 25 side to the heat exhaust clothing 26 side, so the stacking direction (Z in FIG. 4) direction). At this time, the number of contact points between the laminated single-layer knitted fabrics 15 increases, and heat conduction is efficiently performed.

According to the three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 having a structure in which the metal fibers 11 are knitted in a loop shape is laminated, and the laminated single-layer Since the layers of the knitted fabric 15 are connected by inter-layer metal fibers, the metal fibers 11 are not fixed by sintering or the like. Even if it is provided, the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 will expand and contract following the movement of the movable part, and plastic deformation can be suppressed.
Moreover, since the metal fiber 11 is woven into the structure, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity can be ensured in the same manner as the metal porous body.

In the present embodiment, the interlayer metal fibers are part of the metal fibers 11 forming the single-layer knitted fabric 15, and the interlayer metal fibers have a loop shape to connect the plurality of single-layer knitted fabrics 15. , the interlayer metal fibers and the single-layer knitted fabric 15 are composed of the same metal fibers 11, so that the thermal conductivity and the electrical conductivity are further excellent.

In this embodiment, when the metal fibers 11 are made of copper or a copper alloy, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, titanium or a titanium alloy, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity can be ensured, and heat It can be used more stably as various members such as exchangers (radiating fins), filter members, and electrodes.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the porosity is preferably in the range of 85% or more and 99% or less.
In this case, since the porosity is within the above range, the fluid can be smoothly circulated inside the three-dimensional knitted structure, and the contact area between the metal fibers and the fluid can be ensured. Therefore, it can be used more stably as various members such as heat exchangers (radiating fins), filter members, and electrodes.

Since the heat exchanger 20 of the present embodiment includes the three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 10 of the present embodiment as the radiation fins 21, the single-layer knitted fabric 15 can be expanded and contracted in the plane direction and the stacking direction, and the movable part can be It can be used by arranging it in a place where it has.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the technical idea of the invention.
Although the three-dimensional knitted structure shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and 2 has been described as an example in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, instead of the single-layer knitted fabric 15 having the structure shown in FIG. The single-layer knitted fabric may be a weft knitted fabric other than the plain knitted fabric, such as a rubber knitted fabric or a purl knitted fabric, or may be a warp knitted fabric in which the fabrics are sequentially connected in the longitudinal direction and knitted.
Further, in the present embodiment, a part of the metal fibers constituting the single-layer knitted fabric has been described as being used as the interlayer metal fibers, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the metal fibers constituting the single-layer knitted fabric are Another metal fiber may be used as the interlayer metal fiber. That is, single-layer knitted fabrics as shown in FIG. 2 may be laminated and the layers may be connected with a plurality of ring-shaped metal fibers, or the layers may be connected with a plurality of spiral-shaped metal fibers.

Further, in the present embodiment, the three-dimensional knitted structure is described as being used for a heat exchanger (radiating fin), but it is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. , or may be used as an electrode 40, as shown in FIG.
A filter member 30 shown in FIG. 5 has a pipe body 31 and a filter 32 inserted into the pipe body 31 , and includes the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 as the filter 32 . In addition, since the three-dimensional knitted structure has a difference in thermal conductivity depending on the direction, it is desirable to arrange the direction in which the thermal conductivity is the largest in the heat transfer direction.

Electrode 40 shown in FIG. 6 is used in water electrolysis device 50 . This water electrolysis device 50 includes a water electrolysis cell 51 having a pair of electrodes 40, 40 arranged opposite to each other and an ion permeable membrane 54 arranged between the pair of electrodes 40, 40. . Catalyst layers 55 and 56 are formed on both surfaces of the ion permeable membrane 54 (surfaces in contact with the pair of electrodes 40 and 40), respectively. A pair of electrodes 40 , 40 are formed of the three-dimensional knitted structure 10 . In the water electrolysis device 50 , water (H ₂ O) is supplied to the anode side, and hydrogen ions (H ⁺ ) move in the water electrolysis cell 51 to electrolyze the water.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, a three-dimensional knitted structure capable of expanding and contracting to follow the movement of the movable portion and suppressing plastic deformation even when arranged at a location having a movable portion, and the three-dimensional knitted structure. Heat exchangers, filter members, and electrodes can be provided with knitted structures.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Three-dimensional knitted fabric structure 11 Metal fiber 12 Loop shape 13 Interlayer metal fiber 15 Single layer knitted fabric 20 Heat exchanger 30 Filter member 40 Electrode

Claims (7)

1. A three-dimensional knitted fabric structure in which a plurality of single-layer knitted fabrics are laminated,
   The single-layer knitted fabric has a structure in which metal fibers are knitted in a loop shape,
   A three-dimensional knitted structure, characterized in that interlayer metal fibers connect layers of the laminated single-layer knitted fabrics.
2. The interlayer metal fibers are part of the metal fibers constituting the single-layer knitted fabric,
   2. The three-dimensional knitted fabric structure according to claim 1, wherein the interlayer metal fibers have loop shapes and connect the plurality of single-layer knitted fabrics.
3. 　The three-dimensional knitted structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the metal fibers are made of any one of copper or a copper alloy, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, titanium or a titanium alloy.
4. The three-dimensional knitted structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the porosity is within the range of 85% or more and 99% or less.
5. A heat exchanger comprising the three-dimensional knitted structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. A filter member comprising the three-dimensional knitted structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
7. An electrode comprising the three-dimensional knitted structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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