# US 7,608,936 B2 · Faucet generator

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- Number: US 7,608,936 B2
- Document ID: US7608936B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/177,045
- Filed: 2008-07-21
- Published: 2009-01-29
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2007-07-23
- Assignees: Toto Ltd.
- Inventors: Takeshi Shimizu; Makoto Hatakeyama; Masahiro Kuroishi; Naoyuki Onodera; Tomoko Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608936B2

## CPC

- E03C 1/0404: {Constructional or functional features of the spout}
- F03B 3/04: with substantially axial flow throughout rotors, e.g. propeller turbines {(rotors per se F03B3/126)}
- F03B 3/126: {Rotors for essentially axial flow, e.g. for propeller turbines (with adjustable blades F03B3/14)}
- H02K 7/1823: {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines}
- H02K 21/24: with magnets axially facing the armatures, e.g. hub-type cycle dynamos
- F05B 2220/20: within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A faucet generator includes; a rotor vane which is disposed in a water supply channel; an annular magnet which is rotatable integrally with the rotor vane; and a stator having: a coil which is disposed to be opposed to an end face of the magnet that is substantially perpendicular to a radial direction; a plurality of inductors which are placed separately from one another along a circumferential direction between the end face of the magnet and the coil; and a yoke which is disposed to be continuously contacted with the inductor and surround the coil. The axial direction of the rotor vane is substantially parallel to the water supply channel. In the annular magnet, the end faces which are substantially perpendicular to a radial direction are alternately magnetized with N and S poles along the circumferential direction of the magnet. In the yoke, cutaway portions which are formed by cutting away portions that are opposed to the circumferential face portion of the coil, and that are in the vicinity of the tip ends of the inductors, in one end that is on the side where said inductors are disposed, whereby portions of the yoke which are in the vicinity of the tip ends of the inductors are formed so as to relatively recede from the magnetic inducible area of the magnet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A faucet generator comprising:
a rotor vane which is disposed in a water supply channel;
an annular magnet which is rotatable integrally with said rotor vane; and
a stator having a coil which is disposed to be opposed to an end face of said magnet that is substantially perpendicular to a radial direction, a plurality of inductors which are placed separately from one another along a circumferential direction between said end face of said magnet and said coil, and a yoke which is disposed to be continuously contacted with said inductors and surround said coil,
wherein an axial direction of said rotor vane is substantially parallel to said water supply channel,
end faces of said annular magnet which are substantially perpendicular to a radial direction are alternately magnetized with N and S poles along a circumferential direction of said magnet, and,
in one end of said yoke that is on a side where said inductors are disposed, portions which are in a vicinity of tip ends of said inductors are formed to relatively recede from a magnetic inducible area of said magnet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A faucet generator according to claim 1, wherein said yoke has cutaway portions which are formed by cutting away portions that are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors, in one end that is opposed to a circumferential face portion of said coil, and that is on the side where said inductors are disposed, and
portions of said yoke which are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors are formed to relatively recede from the magnetic inducible area of said magnet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A faucet generator according to claim 2, wherein said cutaway portions are formed by cutting away portions that are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors, in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a radial direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A faucet generator according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of said magnet is formed to be larger than an inner diameter of said stator, an outer diameter of said magnet is formed to be smaller than an outer diameter of said stator, and
portions of said yoke which are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors are formed to relatively recede from the magnetic inducible area of said magnet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A faucet generator according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of said magnet is formed to be smaller than an outer diameter of said stator, said yoke has cutaway portions which are formed by cutting away portions that are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors, in one end that is on the side where said inductors are disposed, in portions that are on a side of an inner circumferential face of said magnet, and
portions of said yoke which are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors are formed to relatively recede from the magnetic inducible area of said magnet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A faucet generator according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of said magnet is formed to be larger than an inner diameter of said stator, said yoke has cutaway portions which are formed by cutting away portions that are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors, in one end that is on the side where said inductors are disposed, in portions that are on a side of an outer circumferential face of said magnet, and
portions of said yoke which are in the vicinity of the tip ends of said inductors are formed to relatively recede from the magnetic inducible area of said magnet.

### Claim 7

A faucet generator comprising:
a rotor vane which is disposed in a water supply channel;
an annular magnet which is rotatable integrally with said rotor vane; and
a stator having a coil which is disposed to be opposed to an end face of said magnet that is substantially perpendicular to a radial direction, a plurality of inductors which are opposed to a side face of said magnet, and which are placed separately from one another along a circumferential direction, and a yoke which is disposed to be continuously contacted with said inductors and surround said coil,
wherein an axial direction of said rotor vane is substantially parallel to said water supply channel,
in said annular magnet, said side face is alternately magnetized with N and S poles along a circumferential direction of said magnet, and
said yoke has cutaway portions which are formed by partially cutting away an end portion that is opposed to a circumferential face portion of said coil, that is on a side where said inductors are disposed, and that is substantially perpendicular to a radial direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A faucet generator according to claim 1, wherein said rotor vane is rotated by a force of a water flow, the water flow flowing inside with respect to an inner circumferential face of said magnet which is disposed to surround at least a rotor vane upstream portion that is a part of said rotor vane, or with respect to an inner circumferential face of a rotor vane ring that integrates said rotor vane with said magnet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A faucet generator according to claim 7, wherein said rotor vane is rotated by a force of a water flow, the water flow flowing inside with respect to an inner circumferential face of said magnet which is disposed to surround at least a rotor vane upstream portion that is a part of said rotor vane, or with respect to an inner circumferential face of a rotor vane ring that integrates said rotor vane with said magnet.