JPH096436A - Sunlight collecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enhance the heat resistance of a light receiving section of an optical fiber by providing the optical fiber, making the light receiving member with a heat resistance glass raw material and providing a heat sink fin to at least a light receiving end. CONSTITUTION: The sunlight collected by a condenser lens 11 is received by a light receiving member 12, and led to an object place through an optical fiber 13. The light receiving member 12 is made of a heat resistant glass material and a heat sink fin 18 is provided thereto. Thus, it is surely prevented that the light receiving member 12 and the optical fiber 13 are molten or baked by the synergitic effect of the heat resistance of the light receiving member 12 and the cooling action of the fin 18 to enhance the heat resistance of the light collecting device. Furthermore, since a high temperature heat is not delivered to the optical fiber 13 through the light receiving member 12 and an outer sheath 17, the optical fiber 13 is not molten by heat. In this case, another fin 18 is provided also to a border between the light receiving member 12 and the optical fiber 13 to more surely prevent the molten optical fiber 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sunlight concentrating device for concentrating sunlight to guide it to another place for irradiation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Improving sunlight in places with poor sunlight, maintaining the interior of buildings such as buildings in natural sunlight, and disinfecting, sterilizing, and growing plants, medically, chemically, In the case of irradiating sunlight for biological purposes, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-310010, sunlight is condensed by a condenser lens and then it is condensed by an optical fiber. A solar light concentrator that receives light and guides it to a desired place has already been proposed. However, in this type of sunlight concentrator, when the sunlight collected by the condenser lens is received by the optical fiber, the temperature at the focal point of the lens is very high, and in some cases 1200 to 1
Since the temperature may reach as high as 500 ° C., there is a drawback that the light receiving end of the optical fiber is melted by the heat and the light concentrating device is damaged and thus fails to function, and in some cases, there is even a risk of ignition.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to obtain a solar light concentrating device in which the heat resistance of the light receiving portion of an optical fiber is improved.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the solar light concentrating device of the present invention comprises a condensing lens for concentrating the sunlight, a light receiving member for receiving the converging sunlight, and a light receiving member. It has an optical fiber that guides the sunlight to the desired place,
The light receiving member is made of heat resistant glass, and at least the light receiving end is provided with a fin for heat radiation. According to a specific configuration aspect of the present invention, the light receiving member is inserted into a metallic outer jacket, and the fin is formed in the outer jacket. In the present invention, the light receiving member is integrally formed with the optical fiber, or is separately formed and adhered to each other with a transparent adhesive. It is desirable to provide fins for heat dissipation around the boundary between the light receiving member and the optical fiber. According to a specific configuration aspect of the present invention, a box-shaped porous head cover for holding a condenser lens, a light receiving member, and an optical fiber is provided, and the condenser lens is attached to the front surface of the head cover which is open. At the same time, the light receiving member is mounted inside the head cover in a state where the central axis line coincides with the optical axis of the condenser lens and the light receiving surface coincides with the focal point of the condenser lens.

According to another specific configuration of the present invention, a condenser lens for concentrating sunlight, a light receiving member made of heat-resistant glass for receiving the condensed sunlight, and the light receiving member. And a box-shaped porous head cover for holding the condensing lens, the light-receiving member and the optical fiber, which is integrally bonded with the optical fiber for guiding the received sunlight to a desired place, and the head cover is opened. The condenser lens is attached to the front surface of the head cover, and the light receiving member, which is inserted into the metallic outer jacket, has the central axis aligned with the optical axis of the condenser lens and the light receiving surface of the condenser lens. Is attached in a state where the focal point of the light receiving member and the optical fiber are attached to each other, and a metal attaching member connected to the outer jacket is provided around the adhesive portion. Is set, fins for heat dissipation in these mantle and the mounting member.

[0006]

The sunlight collected by the condenser lens is received by the light receiving member and guided to the intended place through the optical fiber. At this time, since the light receiving member is formed of a heat-resistant glass material, and fins for heat dissipation are provided,
Due to the synergistic effect of the heat resistance of the light receiving member and the cooling action of the fins, the light receiving member and the optical fiber are reliably prevented from being melted or burned, and the heat resistance of the light concentrating device is enhanced. Further, since high heat is not transmitted to the optical fiber through the light receiving member and the outer jacket, the optical fiber is not melted by heat. In this case, by providing a fin also at the boundary between the light receiving member and the optical fiber, it is possible to more reliably prevent the optical fiber from melting or melting.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The sunlight concentrating device shown in FIG. A light guide cable 2 that guides the sunlight collected by the head 1 to a target location, and a sensor 31 of a tracking device 3 (see FIG. 4) that automatically adjusts the direction of the light collection head 1 according to the movement of the sun. Control box 4 with built-in components other than, and foldable legs 6
It is composed of an extendable and retractable support column 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the condensing head 1 has a box-shaped head cover 10 whose side surface is surrounded by a perforated plate 10a such as punching metal. The front surface is in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid, and the condenser lens 11 for concentrating sunlight is attached to the open front surface. The condenser lens 11 collects the light at the rear end of the head cover 10. A transparent light-receiving member 12 for receiving the shining sunlight is attached in a state where its central axis coincides with the optical axis of the condenser lens 11 and its light-receiving surface 12a at the tip coincides with the focal point of the condenser lens 11. The front end surface of the optical fiber 13 in the light guide cable 2 is integrally bonded to the rear end surface of the light receiving member 12 with a transparent adhesive. The light guide cable 2 is made by covering the flexible optical fiber 13 made of quartz glass fiber, multi-component glass fiber, plastic fiber or the like with a flexible outer cover 14.

On the other hand, the light receiving member 12 is made of a glass material having high heat resistance such as quartz glass, and is composed of one glass rod in the embodiment, but a large number of thin glass fibers are desired. It may be bundled in the thickness of. The light-receiving member 12 is wholly densely inserted in an outer jacket 17 made of a metal having a good heat transfer property such as aluminum or copper, and a fin 18 for heat dissipation made of a heat conductive metal similar to the outer jacket 17 is inserted into the outer jacket 17. Are provided in plural. In the illustrated example, the fins 18 are locally provided only at a position near the tip (light receiving surface) of the light receiving member 12, but may be provided on the entire outer jacket.

A cylindrical mounting member 20 for mounting the outer cover 17 and the light guide cable 2 to the head cover 10 is integrally connected to the rear end portion of the outer cover 17. The mounting member 20 is made of a metal having a good heat conductivity such as aluminum or copper like the outer jacket 17, and has a fin 21 for heat dissipation, and its tip portion is attached to the rear end wall of the head cover 10. By being inserted into the hole 22 and tightened with the nut 23, the head cover 10 is attached to the outside of the head cover 10 so as to cover the adhesive portion 15 between the light receiving member 12 and the optical fiber 13. And this mounting member 2
A fixing metal fitting 24 for fixing the light guide cable 2 is screwed to 0, and a fixing screw 25 on a side surface of the fixing metal fitting 24.
By tightening and locking it to the light guide cable 2,
The light guide cable 2 is fixed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the tracking device 3 has a driving means 30 composed of two motors 30a and 30b capable of changing the direction of the condensing head 1 vertically and horizontally.
And a plurality of light receiving elements 33a around the upright shaft rod 32.
33d are arranged at equal intervals, a sensor 31 for detecting the position of the sun depending on which light receiving element the shaft 32 casts a shadow, and a control for controlling the driving means 30 by a signal from the sensor 31. And a circuit 34 for tracking the moving sun by the sensor 31 and controlling the driving means 30 by the control circuit 34 to automatically control the condensing head 1 in a direction always facing the sun. The sensor 31 is attached to the center of the upper edge of the front surface of the light collecting head 1, and the driving means 30 and the control circuit 34 are housed in the control box 4. As such a tracking device,
For example, JP-A-60-11808 and JP-A-4-98.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 303, etc., various types have already been proposed, and such a known tracking device can be used in the present invention.

In the sunlight concentrating device having the above structure, the sunlight condensed by the condenser lens 11 is received by the light receiving member 12.
The light is received by and is guided to a desired place through the light guide cable 2. At this time, the light receiving surface 12a of the light receiving member 12
The sunlight, which has become hot due to light collection, is projected onto the
The light receiving member 12 is made of heat-resistant glass, and the fins 18 for heat dissipation dissipate heat to suppress the temperature rise of the light receiving member 12, so that the heat resistance of the light receiving member 12 and the cooling action by the fins 18 are achieved. The light receiving member 12 is not melted or burned out due to the synergistic effect of. Further, the head cover 10 is formed of a perforated plate 10a,
Since the inside and outside are well ventilated, the heat radiated from the fins 18 does not stay inside.

Due to the cooling effect of the fins 18, high heat is not transmitted to the optical fiber 13 through the light receiving member 12 and the outer jacket 17, and the adhesive portion 15 between the light receiving member 12 and the optical fiber 13 has the fin 21. Is covered with a mounting member 20
Since cooling is performed also in the optical fiber 13,
Does not melt due to heat. Therefore, the optical fiber 1
As 3, not only those having a high heat-resistant temperature such as quartz glass fiber but also those having a relatively low heat-resistant temperature (for example, 200 ° C. or less) such as plastic fiber can be used.

Thus, when the heat resistant temperature of the optical fiber 13 used is low, the length of the light receiving member 12 is increased so that the adhesive portion 15 with the optical fiber 13 is located as far away from the light receiving surface 12a as possible. If possible, it is desirable to position the head cover 10 outside the head cover 10 as shown in the drawing, whereby the melting of the optical fiber 13 can be prevented more reliably. The above optical fiber 1
In the case where 3 has a high heat resistance temperature such as quartz glass fiber, the length of the light receiving member 12 can be shortened so that the bonding portion 15 with the optical fiber 13 can be positioned inside the head cover 10.

Further, in the above embodiment, the light receiving member 12 and the optical fiber 13 are individually formed, and they are integrally bonded with a transparent adhesive. However, the optical fiber 13 has a heat resistant temperature like a silica glass fiber. When using a high one, the tip of the optical fiber 13 can be used as it is as the light receiving member 12 without separately forming the light receiving member 12 and the optical fiber 13. However, in this case, since the optical fiber 13 is generally a bundle of many thin wires formed by coating the circumference of the core with a fluororesin or the like, if this is used as it is as the light receiving member 12, the solar heat Therefore, the above resin may burn. Therefore, the resin at the tip of the optical fiber 13 is removed in advance by an appropriate method such as baking by heat of the sun or melting with a chemical for the length required as a light receiving member, and the fine line of the resin removed portion is removed. It is desirable to form the light receiving member 12 by bundling them into one.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sunlight collected by the condenser lens is received by the light receiving member made of heat-resistant glass, and is guided to the intended place through the optical fiber. Since the heat-dissipating fins are provided on the light-receiving member to dissipate heat, it is possible to reliably prevent the light-receiving member and the optical fiber from melting due to the synergistic effect of the heat resistance of the light-receiving member and the cooling action of the fins. ,
The heat resistance of the light collector can be improved. Further, by providing a similar fin at the bonding portion between the light receiving member and the optical fiber, it is possible to more reliably prevent the optical fiber from melting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a light collecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a connection diagram of a control device.

[Description of sign]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Head cover 11 Condensing lens 12 Light receiving member 12a Light receiving surface 13 Optical fiber 15 Adhesive part 17 Outer shell 18 Fin 20 Mounting member 21 Fin

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A condenser lens for condensing sunlight, a light receiving member for receiving the condensed sunlight, and an optical fiber for guiding the received sunlight to a target location, wherein the light receiving member is heat resistant. The solar concentrator, which is made of the above glass material and is provided with a fin for heat dissipation at least at the light receiving end. 2. The solar light concentrating device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving member is inserted into a metallic outer jacket, and the fin is provided in the outer jacket. 3. The sunlight concentrating device according to claim 1, wherein the resin coating on the tip portion of the optical fiber is removed and the tip portion is used as a light receiving member. 4. The sunlight concentrating device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving member is formed separately from the optical fiber, and the light receiving member and the optical fiber are bonded to each other with a transparent adhesive. thing. 5. The solar light concentrating device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein fins for heat dissipation are provided around the boundary between the light receiving member and the optical fiber. 6. The sunlight concentrating device according to claim 1, wherein the sunlight concentrating device is a box-shaped porous head cover that holds a condensing lens, a light receiving member, and an optical fiber. The condenser lens is attached to the front surface of the head cover which is open, and the light receiving member is provided inside the head cover so that the central axis coincides with the optical axis of the condenser lens and the light receiving surface is condensed. It is attached so that it matches the focal point of the lens. 7. A condensing lens for concentrating sunlight, a light receiving member made of a heat-resistant glass material for receiving the converging sunlight, and a light receiving member integrally bonded to the light receiving member to block the received sunlight. It has an optical fiber for guiding to a target location, a box-shaped porous head cover for holding these condenser lenses, a light receiving member and the optical fiber, and the condenser lens is attached to the front surface of the head cover which is open. Inside the head cover, the above-mentioned light receiving member inserted in a metal outer cover is attached with its central axis aligned with the optical axis of the condenser lens and its light receiving surface aligned with the focal point of the condenser lens. A bonding portion between the light receiving member and the optical fiber is arranged outside the head cover, and a metal mounting member connected to the outer jacket is provided around the bonding portion. A solar light concentrating device, which is provided with fins for heat dissipation.