Power generation module and remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12549067-B2
Application number	US-202318449077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2023
Priority date	Aug 23, 2022
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A power generation module includes an input part, an elastic member, generator, a rotatable member, a transmission part, and a lock part. The elastic member stores energy input to the input part. The generator generates power when a rotor of the generator is rotated. The rotatable member rotates the rotor. The transmission part transmits the energy stored in the elastic member to the rotatable member. The lock part restricts a rotation of the rotor by the transmission part. The energy is stored in the elastic member by the lock part restricting the rotation of the rotor while the input part moves from an initial position to a prescribed position. The restriction of the rotor by the lock part is released and the rotor is rotated by the energy stored in the elastic member when the input part moves to the prescribed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A power generation module, comprising:
an input part; an elastic member configured to store energy input to the input part; a generator including a stator and a rotor and generating power when the rotor is rotated with respect to the stator; a rotatable member rotating the rotor; a transmission part transmitting the energy stored in the elastic member to the rotatable member; and a lock part restricting a rotation of the rotor by the transmission part, the energy being stored in the elastic member by the lock part restricting the rotation of the rotor while the input part moves from an initial position to a prescribed position, the restriction of the rotor by the lock part being released and the rotor being rotated by the energy stored in the elastic member when the input part moves to the prescribed position, wherein the rotor and the rotatable member are moved to a start position by a magnetic force of the generator when the input part moves from the prescribed position to the initial position, the rotatable member includes a central part and multiple protruding parts spreading radially from the central part, the transmission part transmitting the energy stored in the elastic member to the protruding parts, and a number of magnetic poles of the stator and a number of magnetic poles of the rotor each are integer multiples of a number of the protruding parts.

2 . The module according to claim 1 , wherein
a distance of the lock part moving until the restriction of the rotor is released is less than a distance of the input part moving from the initial position to the prescribed position.

3 . A remote control device, comprising:
a case; an operation button located at the case; a link mechanism moved by an operation of the operation button; and the module according to claim 1 , the module being connected to the link mechanism.

4 . A power generation module, comprising:
an input part; an elastic member configured to store energy input to the input part; a generator including a stator and a rotor and generating power when the rotor is rotated with respect to the stator; a rotatable member rotating the rotor; a transmission part transmitting the energy stored in the elastic member to the rotatable member; and a lock part restricting a rotation of the rotor by the transmission part, the energy being stored in the elastic member by the lock part restricting the rotation of the rotor while the input part moves from an initial position to a prescribed position, the restriction of the rotor by the lock part being released and the rotor being rotated by the energy stored in the elastic member when the input part moves to the prescribed position, wherein a state is maintained in which the rotor remains at a current pole and does not move to an adjacent pole when the input part moves from the prescribed position to the initial position, the rotatable member includes a central part and multiple protruding parts spreading radially from the central part, the transmission part transmitting the energy stored in the elastic member to the protruding parts, and a number of magnetic poles of the stator and a number of magnetic poles of the rotor each are integer multiples of a number of the protruding parts.

5 . The module according to claim 4 , wherein
the rotatable member includes:
a first wheel rotated by the transmission part; and
a second wheel transmitting a rotation of the first wheel to the rotor,
the transmission part rotates the second wheel and the rotor via the first wheel when the input part has moved to the prescribed position, and the state is maintained in which the rotor remains at the current pole and does not move to the adjacent pole when the input part moves from the prescribed position to the initial position.

6 . The module according to claim 4 , wherein
the rotatable member includes:
a first wheel rotated by the transmission part; and
a second wheel transmitting a rotation of the first wheel to the rotor,
the first wheel includes:
a disc part; and
a gear part provided in the disc part,
the second wheel includes:
a cylindrical part;
a gear part provided in the cylindrical part, the gear part meshing with the gear part of the first wheel; and
a block body provided to be movable inside the cylindrical part, the block body being mounted to a rotary shaft of the generator,
the transmission part rotates the second wheel and the rotor via the first wheel when the input part has moved to the prescribed position, and the state is maintained in which the rotor remains at the current pole and does not move to the adjacent pole when the input part moves from the prescribed position to the initial position.

7 . The module according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a withdrawing part allowing the transmission part to withdraw from the rotatable member while maintaining the state in which the rotor remains at the current pole and does not move to the adjacent pole when the input part moves from the prescribed position to the initial position.

8 . A power generation module, comprising:
an input part; a moving member configured to move when energy is input to the input part; an elastic member configured to store the energy input to the input part; a generator generating power when a rotor of the generator is rotated; a rotatable member rotating the rotor; a transmission part transmitting the energy stored in the elastic member to the rotatable member; and a lock part restricting a rotation of the rotor by the transmission part, the energy being stored in the elastic member by the lock part restricting the rotation of the rotor while the input part moves from an initial position to a prescribed position, the restriction of the rotor by the lock part being released and the rotor being rotated by the energy stored in the elastic member when the input part moves to the prescribed position, wherein the module further comprises: a lock part operation unit used as a point of force for moving the lock part, the lock part operation unit includes a sloped surface abutting the moving member, the lock part is rotated when the sloped surface is pressed, the lock part and the lock part operation unit being rotated around a same rotary fulcrum according to the movement of the input part, a distance from the rotary fulcrum to the lock part operation unit being greater than a distance from the rotary fulcrum to the lock part.

9 . A power generation module, comprising:
a main part; a movable part moving with respect to the main part when energy is input; an elastic member configured to store the energy that is input; a generator generating power when a rotor of the generator is rotated; a rotatable member rotating the rotor; a transmission part transmitting the energy stored in the elastic member to the rotatable member; and a lock part restricting a rotation of the rotor by the transmission part, the transmission part colliding with the movable part inside the main part after the energy stored in the elastic member is released and the rotatable member is rotated.

10 . The module according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a first return elastic member returning the movable part to an original position when the input of the energy is released, the first return elastic member connecting the main part and the movable part.

11 . The module according to claim 9 , wherein
the transmission part moves in a same direction as a movement direction of the movable part.

12 . The module according to claim 11 , wherein
the transmission part collides with t

Assignees

• Toto Ltd

Inventors

• Nakano Yukimasa
• Maeno Takashi
• Iwanaga Takashi
• Hashimoto Shingo

Classifications

• H02K7/07

  using pawls and ratchet wheels · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• H01H13/04

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• H02K7/10

  Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters · CPC title

• H02K2213/03

  Machines characterised by numerical values, ranges, mathematical expressions or similar information · CPC title