JPS58214737A - Automatically adjusting device of wind shift - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to perform the silent and smooth oscillating motion of vanes by a compact mechanism wherein an actuator utilizing a shape memory alloy means of Cu-Zn-Al base, Ti-Ni base or the like material is employed. CONSTITUTION:The actuator 50 consists of an operating member 60, which slides within a cylindrical outer tube 54 equipped with both bottoms and both the surfaces of which serves as the spring seats of an ordinary coiled spring 56 and a coiled spring 58 made of a shape memory alloy such as Cu-Zn-Al base metal, Ti-Ni base metal or the like, both springs being installed opposing to each other with the operating member 60 therebetween. Both the ends of the coiled spring 58 are connected to a drive control circuit 66 in order to easily control the voltage applied across both the ends of the coiled spring 58. When electric current is supplied to the coiled spring 58, said spring 58 is heated up to a high temperature state, which results to shift the operating member 60 to the right end side of a notch 52 by the shape memory effect and the energizing of the coiled spring 58 is stopped with the shifting movement of the operating member 60 and the temperature of the coiled spring 58 is left to lower so that the operating member 60 is shifted to the left end side of the notch 52 by the action of the coiled spring 56 serving as a bias coil in order to restore the initial state enabling the shape memory alloy to actuate its shape changing action again. Accordingly, neither motor nor air pressure source becomes necessary, resulting in enabling to realize very quiet operation and compact construction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic wind direction adjustment device, and more particularly to an automatic wind direction adjustment device that allows the swinging motion of the blades to be performed quietly and smoothly with a compact mechanism by improving the drive source. It is.

Traditionally used in automotive air conditioners, etc.
An automatic wind direction adjustment device that automatically oscillates a plurality of air outlet blades to blow out air while continuously changing the blowing direction within a predetermined angular range.
Generally, the following structure is adopted.

That is, in the device shown in FIG. 1, an appropriate number of wind direction plates (vanes) 2 are rotatable around a support shaft 4 that engages with and is supported by an air outlet (not shown), and the same Each side end is pivoted by a pin 6 to a coupling plate 8 which in turn is pivoted to a drive member 12 by a pin 10. A long hole 14 provided in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of this drive member 12 is provided with a drive motor 1.
The eccentric pin 18 attached to the rotating shaft of 6 is inserted.

They are engaged. Therefore, the rotational movement of the motor 16 is controlled by the drive member 1 by the elongated hole 14 and the eccentric pin I8.
This is converted into a reciprocating motion of the wind direction plate 2, and further into an oscillating motion of the wind direction plate 2.

However, in devices with this type of structure, a reduction motor is required to reduce the rotational speed of the motor, but its operating noise causes discomfort to the driver and also causes damage to the motor and reduction gear. Due to necessity, the device cannot be made compact, which is economically disadvantageous, and there is also a risk that the motor may burn out when locked.

On the other hand, in the pneumatically driven automatic wind direction adjustment device shown in FIG.
The wind direction plate 2 is caused to swing back and forth in the same way as in the case described above, but since it uses a diaphragm system, it is difficult to freely change the swing speed, and in addition, it is difficult to freely change the swing speed. This also had the disadvantage of requiring a considerable amount of space for installation, making it impossible to create a compact device.

Here, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and includes a plurality of blades that are rotatably provided in parallel to each other within the opening of the housing from which a predetermined wind is to be blown. This is an automatic wind direction adjustment device that is linked by a connecting member connected to them and automatically oscillates by a drive mechanism to blow out wind in a predetermined direction.The operating noise is extremely quiet. , and it is possible to easily change the swing speed.
The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic wind direction adjustment device having a compact shape.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention uses a shape memory alloy means that changes shape into a predetermined shape in accordance with temperature changes as a drive mechanism, and the neck of the blade according to the shape change of the shape memory alloy means. It is characterized by a swinging motion, and the shape memory alloy means and the shape memory alloy means whose shape has been changed are returned to the original shape after the shape change is stopped by heating or cooling. Another feature of the present invention is that an actuator including a return means is used, and the blade is oscillated by the reciprocating movement of the connecting member caused by the actuator.

Thus, according to the present invention, the shape memory alloy means may be used alone or together with the shape memory alloy means.
By using an actuator that also includes a return means, the blades are oscillated by simply changing the temperature due to heating or cooling, making the operation extremely quiet and making it easy to change the oscillation speed. This made it possible to provide an automatic wind direction adjustment device that was compact in size. In other words, with the present invention, there is no discomfort due to the i-sound of a motor with a reducer unlike in the conventional motor type, there is no risk of seizure when the motor is locked, and a large space is required for installation. There is no longer any need to do so. In addition, there is no problem with the conventional pneumatic system where it is difficult to easily change the speed of expansion and contraction of the diaphragm, and problems such as the need to secure a considerable amount of installation space due to vacuum hose piping, etc. have been eliminated. could also be cleverly resolved.

Hereinafter, two or three embodiments of the automatic wind direction adjustment device according to the present invention will be specifically described based on the drawings.

First, in FIG. 3, reference numeral 32 is an opening in the housing of the automobile air conditioner, and a suitable number of mutually parallel panels are provided rotatably around a support shaft 34 that is pivotally supported in this opening 32. Each end of the wind direction plate (vane) 36 on the same side is pivotally supported by a connecting plate (connecting member) 40 by a pin 38, and the connecting plate 40 is also supported under the action of a predetermined frictional force by a clutch 42. The actuating plate 44 is slidably connected to one end of the actuating plate 44 . Note that at the other end of the operating plate 44, there is another set of wind direction plates 36. Connecting plate 40. Clutch 42 is similarly engaged. The clutch 42 is constructed by bending the legs of the 1-shaped connecting plate 40 and applying elastic force to the actuating plate 40.
4 are sandwiched between each other, and a protrusion 46 provided at one end thereof is engaged with a long hole 48 in the longitudinal direction of the actuating plate 44. Therefore, the connecting plate 40 and the actuating plate 44 are held in a predetermined position. They can slide against each other in the direction of the elongated hole 48 against the frictional force of.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the actuator (drive mechanism) 50 embodying the present invention has a cylindrical shape with both bottoms and a notch 52 that is linear in the longitudinal direction of the body. An ordinary coil spring (return means) 56 and a Cu-Zn-Al or Ti-
A coil spring (shape memory alloy means) 58 made of a shape memory alloy such as Ni-based is faced to each other, and an operating member 60 is sandwiched between them, and the operating member 60 has both sides as spring seats. It has a shape that allows it to slide inside the outer cylinder 54, and a part of the outer cylinder 54 projects outward from the notch 52, and an engagement hole 62, which is a long hole in the projecting direction, is provided in the projecting part. A pin 64 erected in the longitudinal center of the actuation plate 44 is engaged with the engagement hole 62 .

Note that both ends of the shape memory alloy coil spring 58 are connected to a drive control circuit 66, and are further connected to a switch, a battery, etc., although not shown. By the way, such a drive control circuit 66 is as follows.
Specifically, as shown in FIG.
R2, TR4° charging capacitor c2. An astable multivibrator consisting of C4 and variable resistors VR2, VR4, etc. is used, and as shown in FIG.
As a waveform in which F ri'' periods 1 and 2 are repeated alternately, the voltage supplied to both ends of the shape memory alloy coil spring 580 can be easily controlled.

In the automatic wind direction adjustment device having such a configuration, when the current supplied to the shape memory alloy coil spring 58 is OFF, the coil spring 58 is in a cold low temperature state and is disposed on the right side. As shown in FIG. 7, the force of the normal coil spring 56 as a bias coil pushes the operating member 60 to the left side of the notch 52.

Next, when a current is supplied to the shape memory alloy coil spring 58, the coil spring 58 is heated to a high temperature state. And, due to the shape memory effect, which is a characteristic of shape memory alloys, even if they are deformed, they remember the shape before deformation and return to the original shape before deformation when heated (which causes a change in humidity). As shown in FIG. 8, the coil spring 58 overcomes the force of the normal coil spring 56 and pushes (compresses) it to the right, so that the operating member 60 is moved to the right end side of the notch 52. This allows them to be moved to

After the operating member 60 is moved to the right end side of the notch 52, the current supply to the coil spring 58 is stopped, the humidity of the coil spring 58 is reduced, and the coil spring 58 is used as a bias coil again. By the action of the coil spring 56, the operating member 60 is moved to the left end side of the notch 52, as described above, and the state shown in FIG. 7 is achieved.

In this way, when the operating member 60 is moved from side to side due to the change in shape of the coil spring 58 due to the temperature change, the pin 64 inserted into and engaged with the engagement hole 62 is erected. Since the plate 44 can also be moved left and right at the same time,
The respective connecting plates 40, which are attached to both ends of the actuating plate 440 via clutches 42, are also moved left and right,
As a result, the wind direction plate 36 is oscillated around the support shaft 34 by a predetermined angle. As the wind direction plate 36 oscillates, the connecting plate 4o and the actuating plate 44 are periodically displaced in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. Since it is a hole, it is absorbed there and does not interfere with the movement or rotation of these members.

In addition, when the rotation of the wind direction plate 36 is locked, the clutch 42 is activated and the operating plate 44 can be moved left and right regardless of whether the connecting plate 40 is fixed, so that the wind direction plate 36 is locked only on one side. It stops at .

In addition, for controlling the intermittent operation of the current that determines the period of rotation of the wind direction plate 36, a variable resistor VR in the drive control circuit 66 is used.
2. By adjusting VR4, O shown in Fig. 6 can be obtained.
It becomes possible to easily select the combination of N time TI and OFF time T2, and the operation of the coil spring 58 made of shape memory alloy,
As a result, the period of the oscillating motion of the wind direction plate 36 can be arbitrarily controlled.

As detailed above, in this embodiment, the operating member 4
0 is operated by the shape changing action of the coil spring 58 made of a shape memory alloy based on temperature changes, which eliminates the need for a motor and also eliminates the need for a pneumatic source, resulting in not only extremely quiet operation but also , the swing cycle can be varied over a wide range, the wind direction adjustment function will not deteriorate due to repeated operations, and it can be made into a compact device that requires only a small installation space. It can be effective.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 9 to 11.

In FIG. 9, the actuator 7o has a bimetallic double structure in which a shape memory alloy 72 and a spring (returning means) 74 made of ordinary spring steel are bonded together. As shown in FIG. 10, the end of the wind direction plate 36, which is rotatable around the support shaft 34, is pivotally supported by a connecting plate 4o by a pin 38, and the connecting plate 4o is also supported by a pin 7.
1 pivotally supports one end of the actuator 70. The other end 73 of the actuator is fixed to a fixed member.

When the current is not applied to both ends of the shape memory alloy 72, the actuator 70 is in a straight line state as shown by the solid line due to the biasing force of the spring 74, and the connecting plate 4
A lever 78, which is pivoted to a pin 76 at Since the connecting plate 40 is in a curved state as shown by the dotted chain line, the connecting plate 40 is moved to the left, and the wind direction plate 3
6 is rotated counterclockwise, and at the same time, the lever 78 is rotated around the support shaft 82 to press the limit switch 80.

In this way, by intermittent heating of the shape memory alloy 72 by intermittent heating, the actuator 70 expands and contracts, and the wind direction plate 36 makes an oscillating motion. For example, a configuration in which the bistable multivibrator 86N and the power transistor 88 are wired K' as shown in the figure is adopted.

Thus, in response to the rising signal from the limit switch 84 shown in FIG. 11(A) and the falling signal from the limit switch 80 shown in FIG. (The rectangular wave signal shown by C1 can be sent to the power transistor 88 to drive and control the actuator 70.

This embodiment has a simpler structure, occupies less space for installation, and has the unique effect of being a compact device with quiet swinging motion.

Further, in another actuator 90 shown in FIG. 12, a coil spring 92 facing the coil spring 58 made of a shape memory alloy is also made of a similar shape memory alloy, and both ends of the coil spring 92 are made of a similar shape memory alloy. Therefore, if the two coil springs 58 and 92 are alternately energized by the two drive control circuits 66 and 94, the return means required in the previous embodiment can be achieved. The fill spring 56 (FIG. 7) becomes unnecessary.

Furthermore, FIG. 13 shows another actuator 96 according to the present invention in place of the diaphragm 22 of the conventional automatic wind direction adjustment device in FIG. Unlike the previous example, this actuator 96 uses a metal that exhibits a "reversible shape memory effect" that freely repeats its original shape and deformed state simply by heating and cooling without applying mechanical force to the shape memory alloy. A fill spring 98 made of a Ti-Ni alloy (such as a Ti-Ni alloy) is used alone, and energization is controlled ON and OFF by a drive control circuit 66, and the coil spring 9
8 is repeatedly heated and cooled, it becomes possible to control the periodic rotation (oscillation) of the wind direction plate as described above. In this case, 981 coil springs are sufficient for swinging the wind direction plate, and no return means is required, making it possible to provide a more compact device with a simpler structure.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the heating method for the shape memory alloy means is electrical heating, but the present invention is not limited to this in any way, and heating methods using induction coils and Various other heating methods can be employed, such as conventional external heating methods. Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a system in which the shape memory alloy means (spring, etc.) is actively cooled, not only or instead of heating.

In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications and improvements can be made to the present invention based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing essential parts of a conventional automatic wind direction adjustment device, respectively. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the automatic wind direction adjustment device according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of its actuator, FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of its drive control circuit, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the waveform of the control signal, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the actuator and the wind direction plate when energization is OFF, and FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 7 when energization is ON. FIG. 9 is a front view of an actuator used in another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the device of the present invention using the actuator of FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a 1θ view FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a waveform of a control signal for an actuator in the device. 12 and 13 are sectional views of actuators according to still further embodiments of the present invention. 32: Housing opening 36: Wind direction plate (blade) 40: Connecting plate (connecting member) 50, 70.90.96: Actuator (drive mechanism) 56: Fill spring (returning means) 58, 92.9s: Coil spring (Shape memory alloy means) 7
2: Shape memory alloy 74: Spring (returning means) Applicant: Kojima Press Kogyo Co., Ltd. Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 12 Figure 13

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of blades, which are rotatably provided in parallel to each other within the opening of the housing from which a predetermined amount of air is to be blown, are interlocked by a connecting member connected to the blades, and are driven by a drive mechanism. In an automatic wind direction adjustment device that automatically oscillates and blows air in a predetermined direction, the drive mechanism uses a shape memory alloy means that changes its shape to a predetermined shape in accordance with temperature changes, An automatic wind direction adjustment device characterized in that the blade is oscillated in accordance with the shape change of the shape memory alloy means. (2) A plurality of blades, which are rotatably provided in parallel to each other within the opening of the housing from which a predetermined amount of air is to be blown, are driven while being interlocked by a connecting member connected to the blades. In a predetermined blade device, the driving mechanism is a shape memory alloy means that changes its shape to a predetermined shape in response to a temperature change, and a shape memory alloy means that changes its shape to a predetermined shape according to a change in temperature. an actuator including a return means for returning to the original shape after the change in the blade, and the swinging motion of the blade is performed by the reciprocating movement of the connecting member caused by the actuator. Wind direction adjustment device.