JPH04191511A - Action control method by fluid and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make control stable in action characteristic at low voltage, by containing a liquid-crystal substance in a room having a narrow portion and applying an electric field to the narrow portion to vary a rheological property of the liquid substance. CONSTITUTION:Through an engine mount absorbs vibration of an engine by deformation of a rubber wall 2, liquid-crystal substance in a room 4 moves through an orifice 6 up and down a partioning plate 5 due to variation of volume of the room 4, so that this flow resistance enhance enhances the efficiency of vibration absorption. Accordingly, by on/off in the application of voltage to electrodes 61, 62 or by regulating the applied voltage, a rheological property, such as elastic modulus, of the liquid crystal, is varied, so that the flow resistance is varied. The vibration attenuation characteristic can thus be varied, so that efficient vibration absorption according to the vibration condition becomes possible. In this case, by a suitable relation between frequency of the engine vibration and frequency of voltage applied to the electrodes 61, 62, and the vibration adsortion is possible in a wide range of temperature or frequency, or at lower applied voltages.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a fluid motion control method and device.

BACKGROUND ART AND PROBLEMS Various methods and devices have been proposed for controlling fluid motion using an ER raw fluid whose elastic modulus is changed by applying an electric field. For example, a two-chamber engine mount with hydraulic damping performance (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6O-104828) has a partition plate installed in the chamber formed by the rubber wall supporting the engine and the rubber membrane below. An orifice is formed in the partition plate, a counter electrode is provided on the orifice, and the ER raw fluid is sealed in the chamber. In this engine mount, damping performance corresponding to the load caused by the engine can be obtained by utilizing the fact that when the electrode is energized, the viscosity of the ER raw fluid increases and the flow velocity of the orifice decreases. In addition, the use of ER raw fluid has been proposed for clutches, valves, vibration generators, and the like.

However, these devices using ER raw fluid have
There were the following problems.

1) Since a high voltage of several kV/mm is required to change the viscosity of the ER raw fluid, the power supply and wiring become large.

2) Since it is an ER raw fluid dispersion system, precipitation occurs within several minutes to several hours, significantly deteriorating the operating characteristics.

3) Normal ER raw fluids and dispersion systems contain a certain amount of water, and the dispersed particles tend to absorb moisture, so the ER characteristics tend to change (as the electrical insulation properties decrease as the water content increases). There is a risk that dielectric breakdown or destruction of the device itself may occur due to the application of high voltage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art and provide a fluid-based operation control method and apparatus that can be operated at low voltage and have stable operating characteristics.

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to seal a liquid substance having liquid crystallinity in a container having one or more narrow parts, and apply an electric field to the narrow part to improve the rheological properties of the liquid substance. A method for controlling motion using a fluid, which controls mechanical work by changing resistance to movement in the narrowed portion by changing properties, and a housing provided with one or more narrowed portions. A fluid-based motion control device comprising: a liquid substance having liquid crystal properties sealed in the housing portion; and a pair of electrodes provided in the narrow portion and facing each other. This is achieved by

Typical rheological properties include elastic modulus, including the following.

・Storage shear modulus (G') ・Loss shear modulus (G') ・tan δ (-G"/G-) "77-(-G"/ (2xπxF) (poise
) Here, F is the frequency of the electric field (Hz).

The narrow portion may take various forms, such as an orifice in the form of a bow, a slit in the form of a line, or a gap between two opposing surfaces.

The following are examples of liquid crystalline substances that can be used in the method and apparatus of the present invention.

*Nematic, smectic liquid crystal (1) Azomethine compound・4-Methyl-4′, n-butyl-benzylideneaniline (MBBA)・4-ethoxy-4′-n-butyl-benzylideneaniline (EBBA)・4-ethoxy- 4'-n-hexyl-benzylideneaniline, 4-n-butoxy-4'-n-octyl-2-methyl-benzylideneaniline, 4-n-propoxy-4'-n-octyl-benzylideneaniline, 4-n -Hexyl-4'-cyano-benzylideneaniline, 4-n-hebutyl-4'-cyano-benzylideneaniline, 4-n-octyl-4'-cyanobenzylideneaniline, 4-cyano-4'-ethyl- Benzylideneaniline, 4-methoxy-4'-butanoyloxy-benzylideneaniline, 4-butanoyloxy-4'-methoxy-benzylideneaniline, 4-methoxy-4'-(3-methylpentanoyloxy)-benzylideneaniline, 4-hexyloxy-
4'-(5-methylhexanoyloxy)-benzylideneaniline/4-n-butyl-4'-β-cyanoethyl-benzylideneaniline (2) Azo compound/4-n-butyl-4'-n-hexyl Oxyazobenzene/4-ethyl-4'-n-hexanoyloxy azobenzene ◆N-Butyl-4-(4'-n-butylphenylazo)-phenyl carbonate/4-ethoxy-4'-n-pentanoyloxyazobenzene 4-n-pentyl-4'-methoxyazobenzene (3) Azoxy compound 4.4'-dimethoxyazoxybenzene (FAA) 4-methoxy-4',-butylazoxybenzene 4- n-hexyl-4'-butoxyazoxybenzene, 4-ethoxy-4'-〇-hexanoyloxyazoxybenzene, 4-n-pentyl-4'-n-pentanoylazoxybenzene, 4-n- heptanoyloxy-4'-sheer 7
= Noadoxybenzene (4) ester compound・4-n-butylbenzoic acid-4'-n-hexyloxyphenyl ester・4-n-hexyloxybenzoic acid-4'
-n-hebutoxyphenyl ester, 4-(4'-n-pentyloxybenzoyloxy)benzaldehyde, 4-hexyl carbonate-4'-pentoxyphenylbenzoate, 4-hexyl carbonate-4'-hebutoxy Phenylbenzoate/4-(4-n-butoxybenzoyloxy)benzoic acid-47-n-hexyloxyphenyl ester/4-(4-methoxybenzoyloxy)bei 8
- Rezoic acid-4'-n-propylphenyl ester/4-(4-methoxybenzoyloxy)benzoic acid-4'-(4-butylphenoxycarbonyl)phenyl ester/4-n-butylbenzoic acid -4'-n-cyanophenyl ester/4-(4-n-pentylphenyl)benzoic acid-4'-n-pentylphenyl ester/4-(4-n-pentylphenyl)benzoic acid-4t, - Cyanophenyl ester/4-n-hexylbenzoic acid-4'-n-
Isocyanophenyl ester/4-n-octyloxy-3-cyanobenzoic acid-4' -n-bentylphenyl ester/4-(4-n-octyl-3-cyanobenzoyloxy)benzoic acid-4' -n-pentylphenyl ester・4-(4-n-pentylbenzoyloxy)benzoic acid-4' -n-pentylphenyl ester・4-(4-n-pentylbenzoyloxy)=3-chlorobenzoic acid- 4'-n-pentylphenyl ester/4-n-heptylthiobenzoic acid-4'-
n-Cyanophenyl ester (5) Stilbene compound・4,4′-jethoxy-trans-stilbene・4-ethoxy-4′-〇-butyl-α-methyl-trans-stilbene・4-ethoxy-2-methyl-4 '-n-butyl-trans-stilbento 4-ethoxy-4'-n-butyl-α-chloro-trans-stilbene 4-ethoxy-4'-n-butyl-β-chloro-trans-stilbene 4-ethoxy Toxy-4'-n-octyl-α-methyl-trans-stilbene 4-ethyl-xy-4'-(2-methylhexyl)-
β-chloro-trans-stilbene (6) biphenyl,
Terphenyl compound・4-rr-pentyl-4'-
Cyanobiphenyl (CB-5) ・4-n-hexyl-4'-nitrobiphenyl ・4-n-hexyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl ・4-n-octyl-4'-cyanophenyl 4- n-hebutyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl, 4-n-hexyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl, 4-n-pentanoyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl, 4-n-hebutyloxy-4'-propylcarbonyl Biphenyl, 4-n-propyl-4'-cyano-p-terphenyl, 4-n-octyl-4'-cyano-p-terphenyl, 4-decyl-4'-hexanoylbiphenyl, 4-hexyloxy- 4'-Hexylbiphenyl (7) trans cyclohexane type 4-(trans-4-pentylcyclohexyl)benzonitrile trans, trans-4'-propyldicyclohexyl-4-carboxylic acid trans, trans -4'-Propyldicyclohexyl-4-carbonitrile trans-4-(4'-n-pentylcyclohexyl)-4'-cyanobiphenyl trans-1,4-bis(4-propoxycarbonyl)cyclohexane trans-1,4-bis(4-nonyloxycarbonyl)cyclohexane (8) pyrimidine series・5-n-hexyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine・5 n-heptyl-2-(4-cyano phenyl)pyrimidine, 5-cyano-2-(4-n-hexylphenyl)pyrimidine, 5-cyano-2-(4-n-pentyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine, 5-cyanophenyl-2-hebutylphenylenepyrimidine, 5-(4-n-butylphenyl)-2-(4-cyanophenyl)pyrimidine, 5-cyanophenyl-2-butylphenyl-pyrimidine, 5-n-propyl-2-(4'-cyano-4-biphenyl) ) Pyrimidine・5-cyano-2-(4'-n-propyl-4-biphenyl)pyrimidine (9) Others・4-methoxy-4'-butanoyluoquine-diphenylacetylene・4-(4'-n -tetradecyloxybenzoyloxy)benzylidene-4''-toluidine trans-4-n-butyl-α-methyl-4'-cyanophenylcinnamate 2-n-octyl-5-(4-methoxybenzylideneamino)pyridine・7-n-Butyl-2-aminofluorene cholesteric liquid crystal (1) Cholesterol derivatives cholesteryl promide cholesteryl-n-hexyl ether cholesteryl-n-heptanoate cholesteryl-1]-hebutyl carbonate cholesteryl-n -hebutyl mercaptocarbonate conflict cholesteryl benzoate cholesteryl -ω-phenylheptanonite φ cholesteryl erucate 4-n-dodecyloxy-1-naphthyridine-cholesteryl-p-aminobenzoate (2) chiral mesogen substance N-( 4-ethoxybenzylidene)-4-(2-methylbutyl)aniline, 4-ethoxy-4'-(2-methylbutyl)azobenzene, 4-ethoxy-4'-(2-methylbutyl)azoxybenzene, 4-(2- Methylbutyl)benzoic acid-4
'-n-hexyloxyphenyl ester・4-n-hebutoxy-4'-(2-methylbutyloxycarbonyl)biphenyl・4-[4-(2-methylbutyl)bency=1
6-ruoxy]benzoic acid-4'-n-pentylphenyl ester, 4-[4-(2-methylbutyl)benzoyloxy]benzoic acid-4'-cyanophenyl ester, 4-[4-, (2 -Methylbutyl)benzoyloxy]benzoic acid-4'-nitrophenyl ester, 4-[4-(3-methylpentyl)penzoyluoquine]benzoic acid-4'-methylphenyl ester, 4-(2-methylbutyl )-4'-cyanobiphenyl 4-(3-methylpentyl)-4'-cyanobiphenyl 4-[4-(2-methylbutyl)phenyl]benzoic acid-4'-n-butylphenyl ester 4- [4-(2-Methylbutyl)phenyl]benzoic acid-4'-cyanophenyl ester/trans-4-(2-methylbutyl)cyclohexylcarboxylic acid-4'-cyanodiphenyl ester/4-n- Xyloxybenzoic acid-4'
-(2-Methylbutoxycarbonyl)phenyl ester/4-(4-methylbutyl)-41-cyano-p-terphenyl * Main chain thermotropic liquid crystal polymer As shown in Figure 5(a), mesogen (liquid crystal formation It has a repeating structure of a rigid group) and a spacer (flexible, bendable silver).

In addition to polyester, it includes polyether, polycarbonate, etc.

*Side-chain thermotropic liquid crystal polymer A comb-shaped polymer with a flexible main chain and a side chain containing mesogens, as shown in Figure 5(b). For the main chain skeleton, non-quality polymers such as vinyl polymers and polysiloxanes are used.

*Rigid main chain polymers As shown in Figure 5 (C), polyglutamic acid esters, cellulose derivatives, polyisocyanates are used as polymer species, or otropic liquid crystal polymers.

* Lyotropic * Rigid polymer solution Poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide (e.g., trade name Kevlar) / Hydroxypropyl cellulose sulfate / Water rod virus / Water * α-helical poly(benzyl-glutaminate) / Dioxane DNA , 't-RNA/water * Block copolymer * Amphiphile Soap (sodium palmitate, etc.) Surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate-1, etc.) Phospholipid action and effect Liquid crystals are substances consisting of organic rod-shaped molecules. The position occupied by the molecule and the direction of the molecular axis are 3 as seen in solid crystals.
It is a substance that exhibits an intermediate state between a completely dimensionally regular state and an irregular state as seen in ordinary isotropic liquids. The definition of a liquid crystal is that even if the long-range order of molecular positions is lost, the long-range order of the molecular orientation is maintained.

According to the present invention, by utilizing such characteristics of liquid crystal, it is possible to provide a fluid-based operation control method and device that achieves the following effects.

That is, 1) The liquid crystal has a voltage of 200V/mm to 300V/mm, for example.
Since a sufficient change in rheological properties such as elastic modulus can be obtained at such a low voltage, the power supply and wiring can be miniaturized and practical use is easy. For example, Merck's NP-1289 (cyanobiphenyl P-type mixed liquid crystal) has a shear modulus of 0.09 dyn/cJ without an electric field, but a shear modulus of 99 dyn/crH at 520 V/mm. Show rate.

2) Since changes in rheological properties such as elastic modulus are based on the alignment state of the liquid crystalline material, rapid changes can be caused by a slight change in voltage.

Therefore, the effects of transient currents and the like that occur during high voltage 0N10FF are less likely to occur, and stable and reliable control can be performed.

3) Since liquid crystalline substances are liquid mixtures or solutions,
Stable operation is obtained without precipitation.

4) Liquid crystalline substances are inherently good electrical insulators, and the voltage required for operation is low, so problems of dielectric breakdown are unlikely to occur.

Furthermore, the rheological properties of liquid crystalline substances exhibit temperature dependence and frequency dependence regarding mechanical loads, and depending on the temperature conditions and load frequency, the rheological properties may not change sufficiently due to the electric field. In this case, there is a possibility that the change in resistance to the movement of the liquid crystalline substance in the narrow area will not be sufficient, making it impossible to properly control mechanical work. On the other hand, such temperature dependence and frequency dependence can be reduced by setting the frequency of the electric field applied to the narrow part in an appropriate relationship with the frequency of the mechanical load on the controlled part, for example, making it the same frequency. , mechanical work can be controlled more precisely or over a wider range.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is an example of a two-chamber engine mount.

In the figure, (1) is the support plate of the engine, which is connected to the rubber wall (2). The lower part of the rubber wall (2) is connected to the rubber membrane (3), and both form a chamber (4). The chamber (4) has a partition plate (5) having an orifice (6).
It is separated by. The rubber wall (2) is surrounded by an outer wall (7), the rubber membrane (3) is surrounded by a cap (9) via an air chamber (8), and the cap (9) is connected to the chassis of the vehicle. . The chamber (4) contains a liquid substance (A) having liquid crystal properties. The orifice (6) is
As shown in FIG. 1B, it is composed of electrodes (61) and (62) facing each other and an insulating member (63) between them. The electrodes (61) and (62) are connected to a power source (not shown). When installed in a car, this engine mount absorbs engine vibrations through a rubber wall (
The deformation in 2) acts as an absorber, but this is accompanied by a change in volume (4). At this time, the liquid crystal substance in the chamber (4) passes through the orifice (6) and moves up and down the partition plate (5),
The flow resistance at that time makes vibration absorption more efficient. Therefore, when applying a voltage of 0N10FF to the electrodes (61) and (62) or adjusting the applied voltage, the rheological properties such as the elastic modulus of the liquid crystal material change, and the flow resistance when passing through the orifice changes. changes. Thereby, the vibration damping characteristics can be changed, and efficient vibration absorption can be performed in accordance with the vibration state. in this case,
By setting the frequency of the engine and the frequency of the voltage applied to the electrodes (61) and (62) in an appropriate relationship, for example, making them the same, the temperature dependence and frequency dependence of changes in the rheological properties of the liquid crystal material can be reduced. With a small size, effective vibration absorption can be achieved over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies, or at lower applied voltages.

In addition, multiple orifices are provided and the voltage side is controlled separately.
It is also possible to adjust the total throughput of the orifice in more detail.

FIG. 2 shows an example of application of the present invention to an automobile shock absorber (damper). This absorber has an outer cylinder (
11) and an inner cylinder (12), which are connected by a rubber cylinder (13) and can slide against each other. Inner cylinder (12)
A rubber film (14) is provided at the lower part of the rubber film (14), and a liquid crystalline substance (A) is sealed in the upper part and inside the outer cylinder (11). An orifice (15) is formed at one end of the inner cylinder (12). The edge of the orifice is constituted by electrodes (16) and (17), and these electrodes are connected to a power source (not shown) through conductive wires.

In this absorber, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder slide as the gore 1 and the membrane (14) deform, and at this time, the resistance of the fluid passing through the orifice acts against the vibration. Electrode (16), (1
When 7) is energized, the elastic modulus of the liquid crystal material increases, the resistance to flow through the orifice increases, and as a result, the vibration damping characteristics change.

Therefore, by controlling the energization, it is possible to obtain appropriate vibration damping characteristics that are compatible with the shock mitigation effect of the spring. For example, when a large impact is applied, the current to the electrode is removed to reduce the flow resistance at the orifice.
It is possible to perform control such that the shock mitigation by the spring is made effective, and immediately after that, the electrodes are energized to increase the flow resistance and speed up the damping of vibrations. In this example as well, it is of course possible to provide a plurality of orifices and control the voltages separately to adjust the total amount of communication through the orifices in more detail.

FIG. 3 shows an example of application of the present invention to a clutch.

This clutch includes an input side clutch plate (21) connected to an input shaft (23), and an output side clutch plate (22) connected to an output shaft (24). The output side clutch plate (22) has a disc shape, and the input side clutch plate (21)
) has a hollow structure surrounding this disc, and its tip side is in liquid-tight contact with the output IPIII (24) via a seal member (25). The gap between the input end clutch plate (22) and the output side clutch plate (21) forms a planar narrow part, and the liquid crystal material Tfi(A) is sealed therein. Input side clutch plate (22) and output side clutch plate (21
) are connected to a power source (not shown) by a conductive wire (27) via an input shaft (23) and an output shaft (24), respectively. This clutch functions as a fluid clutch using the liquid crystalline substance. Both clutch plates (21) and (22) are
They also act as electrodes, and when a voltage is applied between them, the rheological properties such as the elastic modulus of the liquid crystal material change.
The resistance force against the relative rotational movement of both clutch plates changes,
Transmission of rotational force can be controlled. Note that it is also possible to increase the number of clutch plates coupled to the input/output shaft and have each act as an electrode for more detailed control.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a vibrator.

This pie break includes a cylinder (31), a piston (32) slidably supported through the cylinder,
valves (33) arranged within the cylinder (31);
(34), (35).

(36). These valves are connected to the piston (
32) is composed of concentric multilayer electrode plates, and adjacent layers in each bulb are wired so as to serve as opposite electrodes. Each gap between the layered electrode plates is a narrow portion through which fluid can pass in the axial direction. Valves at both ends (33)
, (36) are fixed to the cylinder (31), and the valves (34) and (35) therebetween are fixed to the piston (32). The cylinder (31) has a valve (34)
.

A supply port (37) is provided at a position corresponding to between (35),
A discharge port (3) is provided on the axially outer side of the valves (33) and (36).
8). A liquid crystalline substance is forced into the cylinder through the supply port (37).

When current is applied to the bulbs (33) and (35) in this state, changes in rheological properties such as an increase in the elastic modulus of the liquid crystal material occur between the electrode layers of these bulbs, resulting in an increase in flow resistance. , the piston (32) moves to the right due to the force of pumping the liquid crystal material. Next, when the previous energization is removed and the valves (34) and (36) are energized, the piston (32) moves to the left in the figure due to the opposite action.

Therefore, by alternating the energization to the valve,
The piston vibrates according to its alternating frequency.

In the second six examples, each operation is controlled using a liquid substance having liquid crystal properties, so as mentioned above, stable operation can be obtained at low voltage.

Further, similar to the above examples, the present invention can achieve the above-described effects by using a liquid crystalline substance in various methods and devices that conventionally used an ER fluid. Examples to which the present invention can be applied are listed below (the numbers in parentheses indicate publications that describe methods and devices using ER raw fluids).

・Clutch (JP-A-63-318326, JP-A-63-
215431, JP-A-63-199933, JP-A-61
-2966, JP 53-84, Electromechanical conversion amplifier (JP 61-143262, JP 48-35286)
) ・Flow rate control device (JP 58-161010) ・Water pressure valve (US Patent No. 2661596) ・Vibration generator (US Patent No. 3984086) ・Dampening bearing (US Patent No. 63-135
612)・Pressure auxiliary mechanism (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-170593)
・Differential device (JP-A-52-1.26829) ・Seal (
JP 63-306288, JP 48-5824,

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of an engine mount, FIG. 1B is a plan view of a part thereof, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shock absorber (damper).
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clutch, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vibrator, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a liquid crystal material. (1)...Engine support plate (2)...Rubber wall (4)...Chamber (5)...Partition plate (6)... ... Orifice (11) ... Outer cylinder (12) ... Inner cylinder (14) ... Rubber membrane (15) ... Orifice (16 ), (17)... Electrode (21)... Input end clutch plate (22)...
... Output side clutch plate (23) ... Human power shaft (24) ... Output shaft (26) ... Chamber (31) ... Cylinder ( 32) Piston (3B), (34), (35), (36)
... Valve (37) ... Supply port (38) ... Discharge port (A) ... Liquid substance with liquid crystal properties (or more) Figure 1//-m-\1,,/g5. l), ”,,, 箪 2 諪l (1/ z'TETl-, -6
2) Fig. 3 - "-----\ >/'-1"

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) A liquid substance having liquid crystal properties is sealed in a containing part having one or more narrow parts, and an electric field is applied to the narrow part to change the rheological properties of the liquid substance. A method of controlling motion using a fluid, which is characterized by controlling mechanical work by changing the resistance force against movement of the fluid. (2) The operation control method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid substance contains one or more types of liquid crystal components. (3) The operation control method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid substance comprises one or more thermotropic liquid crystal components. (4) The operation control method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the liquid crystal component comprises a low molecular weight liquid crystal of 30 wt% or more. (5) The operation control method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal component comprises a p-type liquid crystal. (6) The operation control method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal component comprises an n-type liquid crystal. (7) A housing portion including one or more narrow portions, a liquid substance having liquid crystal properties sealed in the housing portion, and a pair of electrodes provided in the narrow portions and facing each other. An operation control device using a fluid.