This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-135979, filed on Jul. 19, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a magnetic reduction device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,794,781 discloses a magnetic reduction device using magnetic force.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a magnetic reduction device including: a base portion; a rotor rotatably supported relative to the base portion, and supporting first permanent magnets having different polarities alternatively arranged in a circumferential direction; a magnet support portion supporting second permanent magnets having different polarities alternatively arranged in the circumferential direction, the second permanent magnets being arranged concentrically with the first permanent magnets; and a soft magnetic body support portion supporting soft magnetic bodies arranged between the first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets along the circumferential direction, and being in non-contact with the rotor and the magnet support portion, wherein one of the magnet support portion and the soft magnetic body support portion is rotatable relative to the base portion, the other of the magnet support portion and the soft magnetic body support portion is non-rotatable relative to the base portion, and the magnetic reduction device comprises first and second sensors respectively facing the first and second permanent magnets at positions spaced radially outward from an axis of rotation of the rotor, and the first and second sensors for detecting a rotational phase difference between the rotor and the magnet support portion.
As illustrated in
The motor rotor 17 is rotatably held by the shaft member 40 via two bearings B1, and is rotatable about the central axis D. As compared with the stator 12, the motor rotor 17 is provided close to the distal end of the shaft member 40. The shape of the motor rotor 17 is flat and substantially cylindrical. The motor yoke 18 having a substantially annular shape is fitted and held onto and by an inner circumferential surface of the motor rotor 17. The motor yoke 18 projects radially outward from the motor rotor 17. The motor magnets 16 are fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the motor yoke 18 and arranged in a circumferential direction so as to face the teeth of the stator 12. The permanent magnets 51, which will be described later in detail, are fixed to an outer circumferential surface of a portion of the motor yoke 18 projecting radially outward from the motor rotor 17. The control of the energization states of the coils 14 generates magnetic attractive force and magnetic repulsive force between the stator 12 and the motor magnets 16, which rotates the motor yoke 18 located radially outward from the stator 12. That is, the motor M is an outer rotor type. When the motor yoke 18 rotates, the permanent magnets 51 also rotate. The motor rotor 17 and the motor yoke 18 are an example of a rotor.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above, when the motor yoke 18 rotates and the permanent magnet 51 rotates, each magnetic flux of the permanent magnets 51 and 52 modulated by the soft magnetic body 53 changes, and the magnetic force exerting between the permanent magnets 51 and 52 causes the low speed rotor 21 to rotate slower than the motor yoke 18. In this manner, the rotational input from the motor M is reduced and output. That is, the motor yoke 18 serves as a high speed rotor. Further, the rotation of the motor yoke 18 is transmitted to the low speed rotor 21 in a non-contact manner by the magnetic force, thereby suppressing vibration and driving noise, eliminating lubrication, and improving maintenance. Furthermore, it is easy to change the reduction ratio, the rotational torque of the low speed rotor 21, and the like, by appropriately changing each number, each size, each position, and the like of the permanent magnets 51, the permanent magnets 52, and the soft magnetic bodies 53.
Next, the sensors S1 and S2 will be described. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, a description will be given of the relationship between the leakage magnetic flux of the permanent magnets 51 and 52 in the circumferential direction and the rotational phase difference between the motor yoke 18 and the low speed rotor 21.
For example, as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the sensors S1 and S2 are arranged in the radial direction, but not limited thereto. The sensors S1 and S2 may be spaced away from each other in the radial direction with a predetermined angular difference in the circumferential direction. Further, although a pair of the sensors S1 and S2 is provided in the present embodiment, plural sets of such sensors may be provided.
In the present embodiment, the sensors S1 and S2 are used to detect the rotational phase difference between the motor yoke 18 and the low speed rotor 21, but not limited thereto. For example, the motor yoke 18 may be provided with a magnet for position detection for detecting the origin of the rotational position of the motor yoke 18, and a hall sensor for detecting the intensity of the magnetic flux of this magnet may be provided in the lower support portion 11. Likewise, the low speed rotor 21 may be provided with a magnet for position detection for detecting the origin of the rotational position of the low speed rotor 21, and a hall sensor for detecting the intensity of the magnetic flux of this magnet may be provided in the lower support portion 11. Also in this case, in a memory or the like constituting the detection circuit, the rotational torque of the low speed rotor 21 and the motor yoke 18 according to the relative position between the low speed rotor 21 and the motor yoke 18 may be stored in advance as data. It is therefore possible to detect the rotational phase difference between the motor yoke 18 and the low speed rotor 21 based on these hall sensors, and the rotational torque of the low speed rotor 21 may be calculated based on this rotational phase difference. Moreover, instead of one of the sensors S1 and S2 described above, a magnet and a hall sensor for position detection may be used.
Also, an FG sensor may be used instead of the sensor S1. The FG sensor includes: an FG magnet with which the motor yoke 18 rotates together; and a substrate provided with an FG pattern facing the FG magnet and generating an induced electromotive force in response to the rotation of the FG magnet. Likewise, an FG sensor may be used instead of the sensor S2. In this case, the FG sensor includes: an FG magnet with which the low speed rotor 21 rotates together; and a substrate provided with an FG pattern facing the FG magnet and generating an induced electromotive force in response to the rotation of the FG magnet. It is possible to detect the rotational phase difference between the motor yoke 18 and the low speed rotor 21 on the basis of the induced electromotive force generated by these FG patterns, and the rotational torque of the low speed rotor 21 may be calculated based on this rotational phase difference. Further, the permanent magnet 51 may be used as an FG magnet for the motor yoke 18. The permanent magnet 52 may be used as an FG magnet for the low speed rotor 21. Furthermore, an FG sensor may be used instead of one of the sensors S1 and S2 described above.
Further, instead of the sensors S1 and S2, the rotational phase difference of the low speed rotor 21 may be detected not by magnetic flux but by an optical method. For example, an optically detectable index for detecting the origin of the rotational position of the motor yoke 18 may be provided in the motor yoke 18 by for example, ink or a laser marker, and an optical sensor for detecting this index may be provided in the lower support portion 11. Likewise, the low speed rotor 21 may be provided with an optically detectable index for detecting the origin of the rotational position of the low speed rotor 21, and an optical sensor for detecting this index may be provided in the lower support portion 11. It is possible to detect the rotational phase difference between the motor yoke 18 and the low speed rotor 21 based on these optical sensors, and the rotational torque of the low speed rotor 21 may be calculated based on this rotational phase difference. Additionally, the optical sensor includes, for example, a light emitting element emitting light toward the index, and a light receiving element receiving the light reflected by the index. Also, instead of one of the sensors S1 and S2 described above, the index and the optical sensor described above may be used.
In the present embodiment, the base portion 10 supporting the shaft member 40 is separately formed from the lower support portion 11 supporting the soft magnetic bodies 53, but not limited thereto. They may be integrally formed. The upper fixed portion 20 and the upper support portion 19 are separately formed from each other, but may be integrally formed. Further, in a case where the soft magnetic bodies 53 are held only by the lower support portion 11 by adhesion or fitting, the upper support portion 19 may not be provided. The low speed rotor 21 is rotatably supported with respect to the upper fixed portion 20 via the bearing B1, but may be rotatably supported by the shaft member 40 via the bearing without providing the upper fixed portion 20.
In this embodiment, the lower support portion 11 and the upper support portion 19 are not rotatable relative to the base portion 10, and the low speed rotor 21 is rotatable relative to the base portion 10, but not limited thereto. For example, the lower support portion 11 and the upper support portion 19 may be rotatable relative to the base portion 10, and the low speed rotor 21 may not be rotatable relative to the base portion 10. In this case, the lower support portion 11 and the upper support portion 19 actually serve as a low speed rotor. Specifically, unlike the present embodiment described above, the low speed rotor 21 may be non-rotatably fixed to the upper fixed portion 20, the lower support portion 11 may be rotatable relative to the base portion 10 via a bearing, and the upper support portion 19 may be rotatable relative to the upper fixed portion 20 via a bearing. In this case, one of the lower support portion 11 and the upper support portion 19 that supports the soft magnetic bodies 53 is provided with the sensors S1 and S2 that respectively face permanent magnets 51b and 52b in the direction of the axis D. In this case, the sensors S1 and S2 as well as the lower support portion 11 and the upper support portion 19 rotate relative to the base portion 10. In this case, on the basis of the detection results of the sensors S1 and S2, it is possible to calculate the rotational torque of the lower support portion 11 and the upper support portion 19 indirectly serving as the low speed rotor. Further, in this case, when the above-described optical sensor is used instead of the sensors S1 and S2, the lower support portion 11 may be provided with the optical sensor.
Next, a description will be given of variations using an inner rotor type motor. Additionally, components similar to those of the described-above present embodiment are denoted by similar numerical references, and duplicated explanation is omitted.
The permanent magnets 51a are disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the motor yoke 18a such that different polarities are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the motor yoke 18a rotates, the permanent magnets 51a also rotate. Like the present embodiment described above, the soft magnetic body 53a is non-rotatably fixed to the base portion. A low speed rotor 21a has a thin and substantially disk shape. The low speed rotor 21a is disposed radially inward from the motor yoke 18a. The permanent magnets 52a are disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the low speed rotor 21a such that different polarities are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the low speed rotor 21a rotates, the soft magnetic bodies 53a also rotate. Further, when the motor yoke 18a rotates, the low speed rotor 21a rotates slower than the motor yoke 18a in accordance with the magnetic force acting between the permanent magnets 51a and 52a via the soft magnetic bodies 53a.
The sensors S1a and S2a respectively face the permanent magnets 51a and 52a in the direction of the central axis D, and respectively detect the leakage magnetic flux of the permanent magnets 51a and 52a. In the same manner as the present embodiment described above, the sensors S1a and S2a are fixed to the base portion. Thus, the rotational phase difference between the motor yoke 18a and the low speed rotor 21a is detected by the sensors S1a and S2a, and the rotational torque of the low speed rotor 21a is calculated based the rotational phase difference. Also in the first variation, the sensors S1a and S2a are disposed to respectively face the permanent magnets 51a and 52a, thereby suppressing an increase in size of the magnetic reduction device 1a in the direction of the axis D.
The sensors Sib and S2b respectively face the permanent magnets 51b and 52b in the direction of the axis D, and detect the leakage magnetic flux of the permanent magnets 51b and 52b. The sensors Sib and S2b rotate in synchronization with the soft magnetic bodies 53b. That is, the sensors Sib and S2b are fixed to the soft magnetic body supporting portion which is a member for supporting the soft magnetic bodies 53b so as to respectively face the permanent magnets 51b and 52b in the direction of the axis D. The sensors Sib and S2b rotate together with the soft magnetic bodies 53b.
Thus, the rotational phase difference between the motor yoke 18b and the stator 12b is detected by the sensors Sib and S2b, and the rotational torque of the soft magnetic body supporting portion serving as a low speed rotor is indirectly calculated based on the rotational phase difference. Also in the second variation, the sensors Sib and S2b are arranged to respectively face the permanent magnets 51b and 52b, thereby suppressing an increase in size of the magnetic reduction device 1b in the direction of the axis D.
Also in the first and second variations, the rotational torque of the low speed rotor may be detected by use of a hall sensor, an FG sensor, or an optical method.
The motor is incorporated into the magnetic reduction device in the present embodiment and the variations described above, but not limited thereto. The motor may be separately provided from the magnetic reduction device. That is, the motor may be provided outside the magnetic reduction device, and the rotor provided in the magnetic reduction device may be rotated by the motor through some kind of driving power transmission means. In this case, the rotor of the motor and the rotor of the magnetic reduction device are separately provided.
In the present embodiment and the variations described above, the leakage magnetic flux includes: magnetic flux that contributes to the rotation of the motor yoke in accordance with the magnetic attractive force and the magnetic repulsive force generated between the stator and the permanent magnets; and the magnetic flux that does not contribute to such rotation.
While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and other embodiments, variations and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2018-135979 | Jul 2018 | JP | national |