JP2005201176A - Pump and liquid fuel feeding mechanism using this - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pump and a liquid fuel feeding mechanism using the pump having long service life and capable of increasing discharge amount of fluid and of completely preventing a backflow of the fluid. <P>SOLUTION: In this pump 1, magnetic flux generated by carrying a current in a coil 4 acts on magnetic flux of a magnet 3 to enable vibration of the coil 4. A pump chamber 8 is provided with a suction part having a first valve 9a capable of sucking fluid and a discharge part having a second valve 11b capable of discharging the sucked fluid. When the coil 4 is vibrated by carrying a current in the coil 4, a diaphragm 6 is vibrated, and the pump chamber 8 repeats expansion and contraction and sucks fluid via the first valve 9a of the suction part. The sucked fluid can be discharged outside via the second valve 11b of the discharge part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pump that can reliably supply liquid fuel to a fuel cell and a liquid fuel supply mechanism using the pump.

A conventional pump will be described with reference to Patent Document 1 as shown in FIG. 6. Cases 55 a and 55 b include a flow path 52 including a suction flow path 52 a and a discharge flow path 52 b, and a pedestal portion 53, Further, a counterbore portion 54, communication holes 61a and 61b, and the like are provided. Further, the membrane valve 7 in which the through holes 56a and 56b are formed is sandwiched between the casings 55a and 55b, and the casings 55a and 55b are fastened and integrated by screws or the like.
A suction valve (not shown) for preventing backflow through the upper counterbore part 54, the lower base part 53, and the through hole 56a of the membrane valve 57 is provided at the end of the suction flow path 52a of the flow path 52. A discharge valve (not shown) formed at the end of the discharge flow path 52b of the flow path 52 to prevent backflow by the lower spot facing portion 54, the through hole 56b of the membrane valve 57, and the upper pedestal portion 53. Is formed.

  A recess (not shown) is formed along the periphery of at least one flow path 52 of the upper and lower casings 55a and 55b, and an O-ring (not shown) such as rubber is fitted in the recess. With the O-ring, the airtightness of the flow path 52 is maintained, and fluid leakage can be prevented. A diaphragm (not shown) made of a piezoelectric element is disposed on the upper housing 55a, and a pump chamber (not shown) is hermetically formed between the housing 55a and the diaphragm.

In the operation of such a conventional pump, when a voltage is applied to a diaphragm made of a piezoelectric element, the diaphragm is bent, the pump chamber is expanded, the discharge valve is closed, and the suction valve is opened. The fluid sucked from 52a fills the pump chamber. Then, when the pump chamber is compressed by contracting the diaphragm, the suction valve is closed and the discharge valve is opened, so that fluid is supplied from the discharge flow path 52b to an external device (not shown). It has become.
JP 2001-173568 A Japanese Patent No. 2003-083256

However, in the conventional pump described in Patent Document 1, since the diaphragm is made of a piezoelectric element, there is a possibility that the diaphragm is subject to fatigue failure due to repeated bending.
In addition, since it is difficult to increase the bending rate of the diaphragm, it has been impossible to increase the discharge of fluid by one bending.
In addition, since the suction valve and the discharge valve for preventing the back flow of the fluid are configured by the holes 56a and 56b, the membrane valve 57 in the part in which the holes 56a and 56b are formed is the pedestal portion 53 or the spot facing portion. 54, it is difficult to completely prevent the backflow of fluid if there is a sag or the like in the pedestal 53 or the counterbore 54.
The present invention solves the problems as described above, has a long life, can increase the discharge amount of fluid, and can completely prevent backflow of fluid, and fluid supply mechanism using the same The purpose is to provide.

As a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the pump of the present invention includes a drive unit comprising a magnet and a coil disposed around the magnet, and a pump chamber formed on the side facing the drive unit. And the drive unit is configured such that the magnet is fixed to a yoke made of a magnetic material, and the coil is fixed to an elastically deformable diaphragm disposed on a side facing the magnet, and the coil is energized. The magnetic flux generated by this acts on the magnetic flux of the magnet so that the coil can vibrate,
The pump chamber has a suction part capable of sucking fluid and a discharge part capable of discharging the sucked fluid. When the coil is energized to vibrate the coil, the diaphragm vibrates and the pump The chamber is repeatedly expanded and contracted to suck the fluid through the suction portion, and the sucked fluid can be discharged to the outside through the discharge portion. .

  Further, as a second solving means for solving the above problem, the suction portion is formed with a first valve for preventing the fluid sucked into the pump chamber from flowing backward, Is characterized in that a second valve is formed to prevent the fluid from flowing backward from the pump chamber.

Further, as a third means for solving the above problems, the pump chamber has a film-like first sheet member disposed on the side facing the diaphragm, and an outer side of the first sheet member. A film-like second sheet member is disposed, and the first valve is formed in the first sheet member so as to shield the first hole formed in the second sheet member;
The second valve is formed in the second seat member so as to be able to shield a second hole formed in the first seat member.

  As a fourth means for solving the problem, a second spacer having a predetermined thickness is disposed between the first and second sheet members, and the second spacer includes the second spacer. When the first opening is formed at the position where the first hole is opposed and the second opening is formed at the position where the second hole is opposed, the two spacers are sandwiched between the first and second sheet members. The first valve can directly shield the first opening, and the second valve can directly shield the second opening.

  Further, as a fifth solving means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the first and second valves are each formed in a tongue-like shape so as to be elastically deformable.

  As a sixth means for solving the above problems, the fluid supply mechanism of the present invention uses the pump according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and is capable of sucking and discharging fluid by driving the driving unit. A suction channel is formed in a portion facing the first valve so that fluid can be sucked into the pump chamber, and a discharge channel is formed in a portion facing the second valve. The fluid sucked into the pump chamber can be discharged to the outside.

  Further, as a seventh solving means for solving the above-described problem, a second spacer having a predetermined thickness is disposed on the opposite side of the pump chamber facing the second sheet member, A slit-like groove is formed, a third sheet member is disposed on the opposite side of the second sheet member, and the second spacer is sandwiched between the second sheet member and the third sheet member. Thus, the suction channel and the discharge channel are formed.

  Further, as an eighth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the fluid is made of liquid fuel, and a tank storing the liquid fuel can be attached to the suction flow path, and the discharge flow path Is characterized in that a fuel cell capable of supplying the liquid fuel discharged by the pump chamber can be mounted.

In the pump of the present invention, when the coil is energized and the coil is vibrated, the diaphragm vibrates, the pump chamber repeatedly expands and contracts, sucks the fluid through the suction portion, and sucks the sucked fluid through the discharge portion. Since the diaphragm can be discharged to the outside, an elastically deformable member such as rubber can be used for the diaphragm, and the diaphragm can be long-lived without fatigue failure.
Moreover, since the drive part is formed by the magnet and the coil, the volume of the pump chamber can be increased, and the amount of fluid discharged can be increased.

  A first valve for preventing the fluid sucked into the pump chamber from flowing backward in the suction portion, and a second valve for preventing the fluid discharged from the pump chamber from flowing backward in the discharge portion. Since the first and second valves are formed, the fluid can be prevented from backflowing and reliably discharged to the outside.

  The first valve is formed in the first seat member so as to shield the first hole formed in the second seat member, and the second valve is formed in the second seat member, Since the second hole formed in the two-seat member can be shielded, the backflow of the fluid can be reliably prevented by the first and second valves.

  Further, by holding the first spacer between the first sheet member and the second sheet member, the first valve can directly shield the first opening and the second valve can directly shield the second opening. Therefore, the back flow of the fluid can be reliably prevented.

  Further, the first valve is formed in the first sheet member so as to be elastically deformed in the shape of a tongue, and the second valve is formed in the second sheet member so as to be elastically deformed in the shape of a tongue. The backflow of the fluid can be prevented more reliably by the first and second valves.

  The fluid supply mechanism of the present invention uses the pump according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and is capable of sucking and discharging fluid by driving a drive unit. A suction channel is provided at a portion facing the first valve. Since the fluid can be sucked into the pump chamber in which the fluid is formed, a discharge passage is formed in the portion facing the second valve so that the fluid sucked into the pump chamber can be discharged to the outside. The fluid can be reliably sucked and discharged to the outside.

The second spacer is formed with a slit-shaped groove, and a third sheet member is disposed on the opposite side of the second sheet member. The second spacer is narrowed by the second sheet member and the third sheet member. Since the suction flow path and the discharge path are formed by holding, the flow path can be formed by sequentially stacking the second sheet member, the second spacer, and the third sheet member. Therefore, a fluid supply mechanism that is thin and easy to assemble can be provided.

  In addition, the fluid is composed of liquid fuel, and a tank storing liquid fuel can be attached to the suction passage, and a fuel cell capable of supplying liquid fuel by a pump chamber can be attached to the discharge passage. Therefore, the liquid fuel in the tank can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell by the pump.

  A pump of the present invention and a liquid fuel supply mechanism using the pump will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main part of the pump according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional perspective view of the main part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a liquid fuel supply mechanism using the pump of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the flow path according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a liquid fuel supply mechanism using a pump according to the present invention.

First, in the pump 1 according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a driving part is formed at the uppermost part, and this driving part is provided with a yoke 2 made of a magnetic material. A collar portion 2a having a substantially rectangular outer shape is formed, and a central portion of the collar portion 2a is protruded upward in the figure to form a concave portion 2b having a predetermined height. Support holes 2c are formed at the four corners of the flange portion 2a.
In addition, a magnet 3 made of a columnar permanent magnet is fixed to the yoke 2 with an adhesive or the like on the ceiling surface of the recess 2 b, and a cylindrical coil 4 is disposed outside the magnet 3 to drive the pump 1. The part is formed.

The magnet 3 is formed to have a height approximately equal to the depth of the recess 2b, and the coil 4 is formed to be lower than the height of the magnet 3 and is fixed to an FPC (flexible substrate) 5 at the bottom of the figure with an adhesive or the like. ing. Such a drive unit of the pump 1 connects a wiring pattern (not shown) formed in the FPC 5 to the coil 4, and the magnetic flux generated by energizing the alternating current of the coil 4 becomes the magnetic flux of the magnet 3. By acting, the coil 4 moves up and down in the drawing.
In addition, a diaphragm 6 made of a plate-like rubber or the like having a predetermined thickness is disposed below the FPC 5, and the diaphragm 6 is sandwiched between the pump spacers 7 below. A pair of pump spacers 7 are moved up and down, and a pump chamber 8 having a circular shape and a predetermined volume is formed inside.
Such a pump chamber 8 is configured such that the inside of the pump chamber 8 contracts or expands when the coil 4 moves up and down and the diaphragm 6 vibrates.

A film-like first sheet member 9 is disposed on the lower side in the figure facing the diaphragm 6 constituting the pump 8. The first seat member 9 is formed with a first valve 9a that is elastically deformed and is formed in the shape of a tongue that forms the suction portion of the pump chamber 8, and a supply portion is provided on the right side of the first valve 9a. The hole 9b which comprises is formed in the position included in the pump chamber 8. FIG.
A first spacer 10 thicker than the first sheet member 9 is disposed below the first seat member 9, and the first spacer 10 constitutes a suction portion at a position facing the first valve 9b. A first opening 10a is formed, and a second opening 10b is formed at a position facing the first hole 9b.

Further, a film-like second sheet member 11 is disposed below the first spacer 10, and a hole 11a is formed in the second spacer 11 at a position facing the first opening 10a. A second valve 11b that is elastically deformable in the form of a tongue piece that constitutes the supply portion is formed at a position facing the opening 10b.
In such a pump 1, when the coil 4 is moved up and down and the pump chamber 8 is contracted, the first valve 9a is elastically deformed upward, and fluid such as liquid fuel is supplied from a tank 30 described later as an external storage member. Can be sucked into the pump chamber 8.

Further, when the pump chamber 8 contracts due to the vertical movement of the coil 4, the liquid fuel that is the fluid sucked into the pump chamber 8 shields the first opening 10 a from the first opening 10 a and externally passes through the first opening 10 a. To prevent backflow.
When the pump chamber 8 contracts, the second valve 11b is elastically deformed and the second opening 10b is opened. As a result, the liquid fuel in the pump chamber 8 is discharged and can be supplied to an external device such as a fuel cell 31 described later.
That is, the suction portion of the pump chamber 8 includes a first valve 9a for preventing the fluid sucked into the pump chamber 8 from flowing back from the suction portion to the storage member, and the discharge portion of the pump chamber 8 includes the pump chamber. A second valve 11 b is formed for preventing the fluid supplied from 8 to the external device from flowing back to the pump chamber 8.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fluid supply mechanism 21 of the present invention using the pump 1 having such a configuration has a first flow path 22 formed along the second sheet member 11. The first flow path 22 includes a suction flow path 22a for sucking fluid into the pump chamber 8, and a discharge flow path capable of discharging the fluid sucked into the pump chamber 8 and supplying the fluid to an external device such as a fuel cell. 22b is formed.
A second spacer 23 having a predetermined thickness is disposed along the second sheet member 11 at the lower portion of the second sheet member 11 in the figure, and a first flow path 22 is formed in the second spacer 23. The first and second groove portions 23a and 23b are formed in a slit shape.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the second spacer 23 is formed with a third groove 23 c that forms a second flow path 25 described later in a slit shape in a portion facing the first flow path 22.

  A film-like third sheet member 24 is disposed below the second spacer 23, and the second spacer 23 is sandwiched between the third sheet member 24 and the second sheet member 11 on the pump 1 side. By sandwiching, the upper and lower sides of the first, second, and third groove portions 23a, 23b, and 23c are sealed, and the first flow path 22 and the second flow path 25 are formed. The suction flow path 22a of the first flow path 22 is formed at a position facing the first valve 9a via the first opening 10a and the first hole 11a, and the discharge flow path 22b is connected to the second valve 11b. It is formed in the position which opposes.

In the fluid supply mechanism 21 of the present invention having the first and second flow paths 22 and 25 as described above, the pump 1 is integrated and assembled with the second sheet member 11 also serving as a component on the pump 1 side. ing. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the thickness and size can be reduced.
The assembly of the fluid supply mechanism 21 using the pump 1 and the pump 1 is performed by inserting a rod-like rivet 26 into the support hole 2c of the yoke 2 on the pump 1 side, and the rivet 26 is formed in the support hole formed in each member. (Not shown) and the lower end portion of the rivet 26 protrude from the other holding member (not shown) disposed under the third sheet member 24 through the support hole 24a of the third sheet member 24. To do.
The upper end portion of the rivet 26 protruding from the support hole 2c of the yoke 2 and the lower end portion of the rivet 26 protruding from the other holding member are caulked so that the pump 1 of the present invention is integrated with the fluid supply mechanism 21. It is assembled.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in a portion other than the pump 1, one plate-like holding member 27 is disposed on the FPC 5, and a plurality of rivets 26 are inserted into the one holding member 27. Further, the present invention has been integrally formed with the pump 1 by caulking both ends of the rivet 26 protruding from one holding member 27 and the other holding member (not shown) below the third sheet member 24. The fluid supply mechanism 21 is assembled.
In the fluid supply mechanism 21 assembled in this manner, the rivets 26 are caulked so that the respective members are pressed against each other and the pump chamber 8 and the first and second flow paths 22 and 25 are sealed. .

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, the fluid supply mechanism 21 of the present invention has a suction port 28 formed at the end of the suction flow path 22a of the first flow path 22, and the end of the discharge flow path 22b. A supply port 29 is formed in the part.
A tank 30 storing fluid therein can be attached to the suction port 28, and a fuel cell 31, for example, an external device can be attached to the supply port 29.
Further, the second flow path 25 has a take-out port 32 formed on the fuel cell 31 side and can be attached to the fuel cell 31, and a discharge port 33 is formed on the tank 30 side and can be attached to the tank 30. It has become.

The operation of the fluid supply mechanism 21 of the present invention equipped with the tank 30 and the fuel cell 31 will be described. An external switch (not shown) is operated to supply an alternating current of a predetermined frequency to the coil 4 of the pump 1. Thus, the magnetic flux generated in the coil 4 acts on the magnetic flux of the magnet 3, and the coil 4 vibrates up and down in the drawing.
When the vibrating coil 4 moves upward as shown in FIG. 1, the pump chamber 8 expands via the FPC 5 and the diaphragm 6, and the internal pressure decreases.
As the pressure in the pump chamber 8 decreases, the tongue-shaped first valve 9a is elastically deformed toward the pump chamber 8 side.
Then, the liquid fuel in the tank 30 passes through the first hole 11 a of the second sheet member 11 and the first opening 10 a of the first spacer 10 from the suction port 28 through the suction flow path 22 a of the first flow path 22. It passes through and is sucked into the pump chamber 8.

Thereafter, when the energization direction to the coil 4 is reversed, the coil 4 is moved downward in the drawing and the pump chamber 8 is compressed. When the pump chamber 8 is compressed and the internal pressure increases, the liquid fuel moves the second valve 11b downward through the second hole 9b of the first sheet member 9 and the second opening 10b of the first spacer 10 in the drawing. Elastically deform.
As a result, the liquid fuel sucked into the pump chamber 8 is pushed out to the discharge passage 22b.
The coil 4 repeatedly vibrates and the pump chamber 8 repeats expansion / compression, so that the liquid fuel is supplied to the stack in which a plurality of cells inside the fuel cell 31 are stacked through the supply port 29 to obtain a desired voltage. Can generate electricity.

Further, the liquid fuel waste liquid after generating electricity is pushed by the liquid fuel supplied from the supply port 29 and discharged from the take-out port 32 to the second flow path 25.
The waste liquid discharged to the second flow path 25 is returned from the discharge port 33 to a waste liquid chamber (not shown) in the tank 30.
In the embodiment of the pump 1 according to the present invention, the first spacer 10 is sandwiched between the first and second sheet members 9 and 11, but the first spacer 10 is not used and the first spacer 10 is used. The valve 9a may directly shield / open the first hole 11a of the second sheet member 11, and the second valve 11b may directly shield / open the second hole 9b of the first sheet member 9.

It is a principal part cross-sectional perspective view of the pump regarding this invention. It is a principal part disassembled cross-section perspective view of FIG. It is a perspective view of the liquid fuel supply mechanism using the pump of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the flow path concerning this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the liquid fuel supply mechanism using the pump regarding this invention. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view explaining the conventional pump.

Explanation of symbols

1: Pump of the present invention 2: Yoke 3: Magnet 4: Coil 6: Diaphragm
8: pump chamber 9: first sheet member 10: first spacer 11: second sheet member 21: fluid supply mechanism 22 of the present invention: first flow path 23: second spacer 24: third sheet member 25: second Channel 26: Rivet

Claims (8)

A drive unit comprising a magnet and a coil disposed around the magnet and a pump chamber formed on the side facing the drive unit, the drive unit being fixed to a yoke made of a magnetic material At the same time, the coil is fixed to an elastically deformable diaphragm disposed on the side facing the magnet, and magnetic flux generated by energizing the coil acts on the magnetic flux of the magnet so that the coil can vibrate. And
The pump chamber has a suction part capable of sucking fluid and a discharge part capable of discharging the sucked fluid. When the coil is energized to vibrate the coil, the diaphragm vibrates and the pump The chamber is repeatedly expanded and contracted to suck the fluid through the suction portion, and the sucked fluid can be discharged to the outside through the discharge portion. pump. The suction portion is formed with a first valve for preventing the fluid sucked into the pump chamber from flowing backward, and the discharge portion prevents the fluid from flowing backward from the pump chamber under discharge. The pump according to claim 1, wherein a second valve is formed. In the pump chamber, a film-like first sheet member is disposed on the side facing the diaphragm, and a film-like second sheet member is disposed outside the first sheet member. The valve is formed in the first sheet member and can shield the first hole formed in the second sheet member,
3. The pump according to claim 2, wherein the second valve is formed in the second sheet member so as to shield a second hole formed in the first sheet member. A second spacer having a predetermined thickness is disposed between the first and second sheet members, and a first opening is formed in the second spacer at a position facing the first hole. When the second opening is formed at a position where the second holes face each other and the second spacer is sandwiched between the first and second sheet members, the first valve opens the first opening and the second opening. 4. The pump according to claim 3, wherein the valve is capable of directly shielding each of the second openings. The pump according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each of the first and second valves is formed in a tongue shape so as to be elastically deformable. The pump according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein fluid can be sucked and discharged by driving the driving unit, and a suction channel is formed in a portion facing the first valve, and the pump chamber is formed in the pump chamber. A fluid can be sucked, and a discharge channel is formed in a portion facing the second valve so that the fluid sucked into the pump chamber can be discharged to the outside. Fluid supply mechanism. A second spacer having a predetermined thickness is disposed on the opposite side of the pump chamber facing the second sheet member, and a slit-like groove is formed in the second spacer, and the second sheet member The third sheet member is disposed on the opposite side, and the suction channel and the discharge channel are formed by sandwiching the second spacer between the second sheet member and the third sheet member. The fluid supply mechanism according to claim 6. The fluid is composed of liquid fuel, a tank storing the liquid fuel can be attached to the suction passage, and the liquid fuel discharged by the pump chamber can be supplied to the discharge passage. 7. The fluid supply mechanism according to claim 6, wherein a simple fuel cell can be mounted.

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