JP3702975B2 - Acoustic transducer for acoustic communication using incompressible fluid in piping - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an acoustic transducer for acoustic communication using an incompressible fluid such as water or oil in a pipe.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, as one of relatively large-scale air conditioner systems introduced into large buildings or the like, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, generally, a common heat source unit 1 and a large number of air conditioning zones 2 (2a, 2b). , 2c, 2d,...), Air-conditioning zone side devices 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d,...), A cold / hot water pipe 4 connecting the heat source unit 1 and each air-conditioning zone side device 3, Some include a heat source controller 6 and a centralized controller 7 installed in a centralized control unit arranged at an appropriate location such as the management room 5.
The cold / hot water pipe 4 is composed of an outgoing pipe 4 a that goes from the heat source unit 1 to each air conditioning zone side device 3 and a return pipe 4 b that goes from each air conditioning zone side device 3 to the heat source unit 1, and circulates in the heat source unit 1. A pump 8 is provided. The heat source device 1 is composed of one or more, and the air conditioning zone side device 3 includes a fan coil unit and an air handling unit, and these one or more are installed in each air conditioning zone 2. In the figure, the air-conditioning zone side devices 3a, 3b, 3d are fan coil units, and the air-conditioning zone side device 3c is an air handling unit.
[0003]
Each air conditioning zone side device 3 is provided with a valve 9 in the forward pipe 4a, and the air conditioning zone side device 3 and the valve 9 are controlled by a controller 11 operated by an individual remote controller 10 or the like. On the other hand, a signal line 13 is laid between the heat source controller 6 installed in the management room 5 and the controller 12 of the heat source unit 1, whereby the heat source unit 1 is remotely controlled in the management room 5. In addition, in order to calculate the air conditioning charges for each air conditioning zone 2, a signal line 14 is also laid between the centralized controller 7 in the management room 5 and the controller 11 in the air conditioning zone side device 3, so that each air conditioning zone side device 3. And the centralized controller 7 communicate with each other via the signal line 14. The signal line 14 is configured as a bus line common to the controllers 11. Therefore, the controllers 11 are configured to communicate with the centralized controller 7 by being identified by individually set addresses.
[0004]
The following communication is performed between the controller 11 of each air-conditioning zone side device 3 and the centralized controller 7. For example, from the centralized controller 7 side to each controller 11 side, the contents such as start / stop, operation mode switching, temperature setting, wind speed switching for the purpose of control, weekly setting, specific date setting, operation for the purpose of schedule / monitoring, etc. Communication such as time setting is performed. In addition, communication such as operation time, valve opening time, and heat amount integration is performed from each controller 11 side to the centralized controller 7 side for the purpose of charge management.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above system, a special technique is required for the construction of the signal line connecting each air-conditioning zone side device and the centralized controller, and the labor cost and the material cost increase the cost for the construction and the necessary space is necessary. There is such a problem.
[0006]
Therefore, the present inventors have previously proposed an air conditioning system in which communication between each air-conditioning zone side device and the centralized controller is performed using sound waves propagating through water in the cold / hot water pipes via sound wave transducers. Refer to the description and drawings attached to the application for Japanese Patent Application No. 7-12938.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to apply sound waves or ultrasonic waves (hereinafter simply referred to as sound waves) using an incompressible fluid in the pipe such as water in the pipe or oil in the pipe when applied to the air conditioning system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suitable acoustic transducer for performing acoustic communication.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, in the acoustic transducer according to the present invention, first, an annular piezoelectric element having a radial direction as a vibration direction is joined to an axial end of a metal cylinder in a cylindrical shape. A vibrator was configured, and the cylindrical vibrator was configured to be supported in the pipe with the axial direction matched.
[0009]
In the acoustic transducer of the present invention, a cylindrical vibrator is configured by joining an annular piezoelectric element having a radial direction as a vibration direction between the edges of a pair of metal cylinders opposed in the axial direction. The cylindrical vibrator was configured to be supported in the pipe with the axial direction matched.
[0010]
In the present invention, it is proposed that in the above-described configuration, the cylindrical vibrator is supported by the spoke-like support rod body so that the axial direction thereof is matched in the pipe.
[0011]
In the present invention, it is proposed that the edge of the cylindrical vibrator is streamlined.
[0012]
In the present invention, a plurality of cylindrical vibrators are supported in the pipe at axial distances, and the distances are set so that the vibration phases corresponding to the respective cylindrical vibrators are in phase at the operating frequency. In response to the above, it is proposed that the input / output of each cylindrical vibrator is performed at different times.
[0013]
Further, the present invention proposes a configuration in which a pipe portion supporting a cylindrical vibrator is configured as a piping unit and joined to a piping location that constitutes a transmission / reception unit for acoustic communication.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, vibration in the radial direction of the piezoelectric element driven by the signal voltage, that is, vibration whose diameter expands or contracts, that is, so-called respiratory vibration is transmitted to the metal cylinder, and this metal cylinder operates as a resonator. Then, breathing vibration is performed in the same manner as the piezoelectric element. This vibration can apply acoustic vibrations of sound waves to incompressible fluids such as water and oil in the pipe. That is, the cylindrical vibrator is used as a transmitter in acoustic communication using incompressible fluids. be able to.
[0015]
On the other hand, the sound wave propagated through the incompressible fluid in the pipe causes the metal cylinder to perform a breathing vibration in the same manner as described above as a resonator, and this vibration is transmitted to the piezoelectric element to generate a signal voltage corresponding to the vibration. can do. That is, the cylindrical vibrator can be used as a receiver in acoustic communication using an incompressible fluid.
[0016]
In the above cylindrical vibrator, by increasing the surface area of the metal cylinder, the vibration energy exchanged with water can be increased. The surface area can be enlarged by increasing the diameter of the cylindrical vibrator itself, or by arranging a plurality of cylindrical vibrators in parallel.
[0017]
Since the transducer for transmitting and receiving sound waves is cylindrical and is supported by matching the axial direction in the pipe, the flow resistance of water in the pipe compared to the case of using a cylindrical transducer Does not increase. This is more effective when the shape of the edge is streamlined.
[0018]
If the piping work supporting the cylindrical vibrator can be performed as a unit, the acoustic transmission / reception unit in the piping system can be easily installed.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of an acoustic transducer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings with respect to an example applied to an air conditioning system.
FIG. 1 conceptually shows a configuration example of an air conditioning system to which the present invention is applied, and main components are the same as the conventional system configuration shown in FIG. For this reason, in FIG. 1, the same components as those in the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, in each air-conditioning zone 2 except for the control room 5, an acoustic transmission / reception unit 15a is installed in the forward pipe 4a upstream of the valve 9 provided upstream of the air-conditioning zone side equipment 3. The controller 11 is connected to a transmission / reception circuit (not shown). In addition, an acoustic transmission / reception unit 15 b is installed upstream of the valve 9 in the forward tube 4 a in the management room 5. The acoustic transmission / reception unit 15 b is connected to a transmission / reception circuit (not shown) configured in the heat source controller 6 and the centralized controller 7 in addition to a transmission / reception circuit (not shown) configured in the controller 11. On the other hand, an acoustic transmission / reception unit 15 c is also installed in the forward pipe 4 a in the heat source unit 1, and this is connected to a transmission / reception circuit (not shown) configured in the controller 12 of the heat source unit 1. In the above example, the acoustic transmission / reception unit 15 is installed in the forward pipe 4a of the cold / hot water pipe 4, but can also be installed in the return pipe 4b.
[0020]
These acoustic transmission / reception units 15 (15a, 15b, 15c) are provided with acoustic transducers according to the present invention. For example, FIG. 2 shows an example of a portion of the acoustic transmission / reception unit 15a of the air-conditioning zone side device 3, and the cylindrical vibrator 21 constituting the acoustic transducer of the present invention is connected to the cold / hot water pipe 4 in the axial direction. It is made to correspond to an axial direction and is supported in the cold / hot water piping 4 by the support rod body 22. FIG. As will be described later, the cylindrical vibrator 21 has a cylindrical configuration in which a metal cylinder 23 and a piezoelectric element 24 are joined. A signal line 25 reaching an electrode (not shown) of the piezoelectric element 24 is connected to the support rod 22. Through the cold / hot water pipe 4. Even if the cylindrical vibrator 21 for ultrasonic transmission / reception is installed in the cold / hot water pipe 4, the cylindrical vibrator 21 is literally cylindrical, so that the flow resistance of excess water is not increased.
[0021]
FIG. 3 shows main components of the cylindrical vibrator 21. Reference numeral 23 denotes a metal cylinder such as duralumin, and 24 denotes a piezoelectric element such as piezoelectric ceramics. The piezoelectric element 24 is formed in an annular shape having the same width as the thickness of the edge of the metal cylinder 23, and the polarization direction is the axial direction as shown in FIG. Note that the electrodes for generating distortion in the piezoelectric element 24 and generating a signal voltage from the distortion are not shown in the same manner as in FIG.
[0022]
In such a component, the piezoelectric element 24 is joined to the edge of one side of the metal cylinder 23 to constitute the cylindrical vibrator 21 shown in FIG. For the joining, an appropriate method such as a method using an adhesive, a method using brazing, or a method using screws can be applied.
[0023]
In the above configuration, when an AC signal voltage is applied from the transmission / reception circuit of the controller 11 to the electrode of the piezoelectric element 24 by the signal line 25, the diameter of the piezoelectric element 24 whose arrow direction in FIG. Radial vibration, so-called breathing vibration is performed, and this vibration is transmitted to one side of the metal cylinder 23. The metal cylinder 23 provided with breathing vibration from the axial direction to the edge on one side operates as a resonator, and performs breathing vibration whose diameter expands and contracts similarly to the piezoelectric element 24. The cylindrical vibrator 21 can apply ultrasonic vibrations to the water in the cold / hot water pipe 4 by this breathing vibration, and thus the cylindrical vibrator 21 can be used as a transmitter for acoustic communication.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the ultrasonic wave propagates through the water in the cold / hot water pipe 4, the metal cylinder 23 operates as a resonator by the ultrasonic wave and performs the breathing vibration in the same manner as described above. As a result, the AC signal voltage is generated between the electrodes of the piezoelectric element 24 according to the respiratory vibration. Therefore, the cylindrical vibrator 21 can be used as a receiver for acoustic communication.
[0025]
As described above, the cylindrical vibrator 21 installed in the acoustic transmission / reception units 15a, 15b, and 15c is operated via the transmission / reception circuit, so that the cold / hot water pipe 4, or the cold / hot water in the forward pipe 4a in the case of the configuration described above. By transmitting sound waves to the heat source controller 6, the heat source controller 1, the controller 12 of the heat source machine 1, the centralized controller 7, and the various types of signals as described above can be performed between the controller 11 of each air conditioning zone side device 10, There is no need to install signal lines. In the transmission / reception operation described above, since the cold / hot water in the cold / hot water pipe 4 operates as a bus line common to the acoustic transmission / reception units 15a, 15b, 15c, the controllers 11, 12 are identified by individually set addresses. To communicate with each other. Each communication between the acoustic transducers of the acoustic transmission / reception units 15a, 15b, and 15c can be performed by applying a serial transmission technique using a half-duplex communication line in conventional data communication.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the cylindrical vibrator 21 according to the present invention. Elements corresponding to those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the annular piezoelectric element 24 whose vibration direction is the radial direction is joined between the edges of a pair of metal cylinders 23a and 23b opposed in the axial direction to form the cylindrical vibrator 21. ing. And this cylindrical vibrator | oscillator 21 forms the shape of a both-ends edge in streamline s, and comprises low fluid resistance. Note that such an edge shape is not always necessary, and conversely, such an edge shape can also be applied to the cylindrical vibrator 21 shown in FIGS.
[0027]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a configuration in which the cylindrical vibrator 21 according to the present invention is supported on the cold / hot water pipe 4. In this configuration, the cylindrical vibrator 21 is a spoke-like support rod disposed every 120 degrees. 25 is supported coaxially in the cold / hot water pipe 4. In such a configuration, the cylindrical vibrator 21 can be stably supported without increasing the fluid resistance of water.
[0028]
In the cylindrical vibrator 21 of the present invention, by increasing the surface area of the metal cylinder 23, vibration energy exchanged with water can be increased, thereby stabilizing communication. Can do. Such an increase in the surface area of the metal cylinder 23 can be performed by increasing the diameter of the cylindrical vibrator 21. Even in this case, the fluid resistance of water does not increase so much.
[0029]
FIG. 6 shows another configuration example for increasing the vibrational energy exchanged with water. In this example, a plurality of cylindrical vibrators 21a and 21b are separated from each other in cold and hot water at a distance in the axial direction. The cylindrical vibrators are supported in the axial direction of the pipe 4 and are shifted in time according to the distance so that the vibration phases corresponding to the cylindrical vibrators 21a and 21b are in phase at the operating frequency. 21a and 21b are input / output.
[0030]
For example, in FIG. 6, the two cylindrical vibrators 21 a and 21 b are shifted by a distance λ / 2 corresponding to the half wavelength of the sound wave to be used, and the two cylindrical vibrators 21 a and 21 b perform input / output. The phase of the sound wave is shifted by a half wavelength as shown in FIG. For example, when the communication direction by these cylindrical vibrators 21a and 21b is on the left side in the figure, the phase of the AC signal voltage applied to the cylindrical vibrator 21a during transmission is set to be higher than the phase of the cylindrical vibrator 21b. By delaying by a half wavelength, the phase of ultrasonic vibration applied to water by the respective cylindrical vibrators 21a and 21b matches on the left side in the figure, so that the energy applied to water can be added. In reception, the AC signal voltage detected by the cylindrical vibrator 21a can be delayed by a half wavelength and added to the AC signal voltage detected by the cylindrical vibrator 21b, so that the received AC signal voltage is added. As a result, the sensitivity can be improved. Note that the number of cylindrical vibrators 21 to be installed as described above may be three or more.
[0031]
In the above configuration, if the pipe portion that supports the cylindrical vibrator 21 is configured as a unit and is connected to other pipe portions by flange connection or end welding, the installation of the acoustic transmission / reception unit is possible. The accompanying piping work becomes easy.
[0032]
In the embodiment described above, the acoustic transducer of the present invention is installed in the cold / hot water piping of the air conditioning system. However, the acoustic transducer of the present invention is also not water or oil. The present invention can be used for an appropriate piping system that allows a compressive fluid to pass through the piping.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the acoustic transducer of the present invention is installed in a pipe, and even if the energy of ultrasonic waves exchanged with water is increased, the flow resistance of water is not increased so much, and an incompressible fluid in the pipe is used. Thus, reliable ultrasonic communication can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system diagram conceptually showing a configuration example of an air conditioning system that performs communication by applying an acoustic transducer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a sound transmitting / receiving unit in the configuration of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing main components of a cylindrical vibrator constituting the acoustic transducer of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another configuration example of a cylindrical vibrator.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a method for installing a cylindrical vibrator in a pipe.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another example of a method for installing a cylindrical vibrator in a pipe.
7 is an explanatory diagram of a signal transmission / reception phase in the installation example of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional air conditioning system that performs communication through a signal line.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat source machine 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, ...) Air-conditioning zone 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, ...) Air-conditioning zone side apparatus 4 (4a.4b) Cold / hot water piping 5 Control room 6 Heat source controller 7 Centralized controller 8 Circulating pump 9 Valve 10 Individual remote controller 11 Controller (of air conditioning zone side device) Controller 12 (Heat source unit) Controller 13, 14 Signal lines 15a, 15b, 15c Acoustic transmitter / receiver 21 Cylindrical vibrator 22 Support rod 23 Metal Cylinder 24 Piezoelectric element 25 Signal line s Streamline

Claims (6)

An annular piezoelectric element having a radial direction as a vibration direction is joined to an edge on one side of a metal cylinder in the axial direction to form a cylindrical vibrator, and the cylindrical vibrator is piped with its axial direction matched. An acoustic transducer for acoustic communication using an incompressible fluid in a pipe, characterized by being supported inside An annular piezoelectric element having a radial vibration direction is joined between the edges of a pair of metal cylinders facing each other in the axial direction to form a cylindrical vibrator, and the cylindrical vibrator is made to coincide with the axial direction. An acoustic transducer for acoustic communication using an incompressible fluid in the pipe characterized by being supported in the pipe 3. The acoustic transducer for acoustic communication using an incompressible fluid in a pipe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cylindrical vibrator is supported by a spoke-like support bar so that the axial direction thereof coincides with the pipe. Waver 4. An acoustic transducer for acoustic communication using an incompressible fluid in a pipe according to claim 1, wherein the end of the cylindrical vibrator is streamlined. A plurality of cylindrical vibrators are supported in the pipe at a distance in the axial direction, and the time corresponding to the distance is such that the phase of vibration corresponding to each cylindrical vibrator is in phase at the operating frequency. The acoustic transmission and reception for acoustic communication using the incompressible fluid in the pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cylindrical vibrator is configured to perform input / output by shifting Waver 6. The pipe portion that supports the cylindrical vibrator is configured as a pipe unit, and is configured to be joined to a pipe location that constitutes a transmission / reception unit for acoustic communication. Acoustic transducer for acoustic communication using incompressible fluid in pipes

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