JP3077906B2 - Deployable solar cell paddle - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a deployable solar cell paddle mounted on a space vehicle such as an artificial satellite.

(Prior Art) In general, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), this type of deployable solar cell paddle has an extension structure 1 which is extendable to a mounting structure (not shown) such as a satellite main body via a storage container 2 as shown in FIG. The extension structure 1 is provided with a plurality of flexible panels such as a film material on which solar cells are mounted.
, 3a, 3b,... The panels 3a, 3b,... Are folded and stored in the paddle storage containers 5a, 5 as shown in FIG. 3 (b), and are expanded one-dimensionally in the direction of the arrow in conjunction with the extension of the extension structure 1. Then, the deployment operation is guided by the guide wire 6.

In such a solar cell paddle, in order to electrically connect the solar cells mounted on the panels 3a, 3b,..., For example, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. Connection terminals 4a, 4b, ... and 4a ', 4b', connected to respective solar cells (not shown) for 3a, 3b, ...
... are provided symmetrically, and the connection terminals 4a, 4b, ... and 4a ', 4
are electrically connected to each other by a cable 7.

However, in the above solar cell paddle, the panels 3a, 3
A cable 7 for electrically connecting the connection terminals 4a, 4b,... and 4a ′, 4b ′,.
If the cable is not wired so as to have a predetermined loop R so as to allow the cable deformation in the folded state of 3a, 3b,... And the unfolded state shown in FIG. Since it is difficult to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a loop storage space in the panel storage container, and there is a problem in that the folded storage volume becomes large. According to this, especially in the case where the number of panels is increased in order to increase the panel area, which has recently been requested, the panel storage container is promoted in size, which is a serious problem. .

Further, according to this, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a first panel and a second panel which can be freely extended in the X-axis and Y-axis directions are provided.
When the panel 8 is applied two-dimensionally to the two-dimensionally expanded solar cell paddle in which the panel 8 is sequentially expanded in the Y-direction and the X-direction by the two-dimensional combination via the extending structures 9a and 9b, When it is wired in the direction, the cable 7
Is folded in a state of being stacked between the panels 8 (see FIG. 3B), thereby causing mutual interference with the panel 8 in the cable 7 and the loop R having such an extent that the plastic strain of the cable strand can be prevented. Is difficult to have. For this reason, in the two-dimensional deployment type solar cell paddle, it is difficult to route the cable wiring in the Y direction, and the size is promoted as in the above-described one-dimensional deployment type, and There is a problem that a wiring layout restriction is imposed on the paddle wiring design.

Such a situation is not limited to the above-mentioned flexible type deployable solar cell paddle having flexibility, but is also the same for a rigid type deployable solar cell paddle.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional deployable solar cell paddle, a predetermined loop must be provided to the cable wiring, thereby increasing the size of the cable. There is a problem that the wiring design is restricted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a simplified configuration, can be improved in miniaturization, can prevent cable interference, and can improve handleability. The purpose is to provide.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In the present invention, a plurality of panels in which a plurality of solar cells are arranged on a panel surface are rotatably unfoldably connected via a hinge portion. In a deployable solar battery paddle in which solar cells of the plurality of panels are electrically connected to each other via a cable, connection terminals of the solar cells of the plurality of panels are connected to solar cells of an adjacent panel. A plurality of connection terminals are arranged at predetermined intervals along the arrangement line of the hinge portion on the panel surface so as to be positioned non-symmetrically with respect to the arrangement line of the hinge portion, and the adjacent panel The configuration is such that the connection terminals located non-linearly symmetrically are connected by a cable so as to be substantially linear in plan view when deployed, so that the solar cells of adjacent panels are electrically connected.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, when the panel is folded and housed, the rotation biasing deformation thereof is dispersed into a slight bending and twist, and thus the rotation of the panel is mainly caused by the twist of the cable strand. While being bent substantially in parallel with the arrangement line of the hinge portion while absorbing the deformation accompanying it. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of protrusion from the end of the panel, and at the same time, to use a large cable loop, thereby reliably preventing interference between the cables and reducing the size of the folded storage space. Can be promoted.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a main part of an expandable solar cell paddle according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 shows a panel expanded state, and FIG. 2 shows a panel folded state. Things.

That is, the plurality of panels 10a, 10b,... On which the solar cells (not shown) are mounted are rotatably connected via a hinge 11 so as to be freely expandable, for example, as shown in FIG. Are connected in combination. These panels 10a, 10b, ...
, And a plurality of connection terminals 12a, 12b,... And 12a ', 12b',... These connection terminals 12a, 12b, ... and 12a ', 12
are electrically connected to the solar cells (not shown), and connection terminals 12a, 12b, ... and 12a ', 12b' form pairs between the panels 10a, 10b, .... Are arranged so as to be non-linearly symmetric with respect to the arrangement line of the hinge portion 11. The pair of connection terminals 12a, 12b, ... and 12a ', 12b', ... between these panels 10a, 10b, ...
For example, they are electrically connected via a cable 13 having a circular cross section. The cable 13 is crossed at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the arrangement line of the hinge portion 11, and the rotation urging deformation accompanying the folding and unfolding of the panels 10a, 10b,. Is distributed and provided. The torsional deformation of the cable strand does not exceed a maximum of 1/2 rotation at the end of the cable strand regardless of the inclination angle, and the strain on the cable strand can be kept small. .

In the above configuration, the panel 10 in the unfolded state shown in FIG.
When a, 10b,... are pivotally folded and accommodated in conjunction with the contraction of the extension structure 1 (see FIG. 2), the cable 13 is distorted by the urging deformation of the panel into bending and torsion. Granted. At this time, the cable 13 mainly receives the deformation accompanying the rotation of the panels 10a, 10b,.
Is bent substantially parallel to the array line.

When the panels 10a, 10b,..., Which are stored in a folded state, are unfolded, the cable 13 is similarly bent and twisted in a direction opposite to that in the folded state. Thereby, the cable 13 is connected to the connection terminals 10a, 10b, 10c, in a state where the cable 13 intersects with the original arrangement direction of the hinge portion 11 at a predetermined inclination angle in a substantially reverse operation to the unfolding operation.
. And 10a ', 10b', 10c ', ... (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

As described above, the deployable solar cell paddle is connected to the panel 10.
The connection terminals 12a, 12b, 12c,... and 12a ′, 12b ′, 12c ′,. By connecting the connecting terminals 12a, 12b, 12c,... And 12a ', 12b', 12c ',... With the cable 13, the rotational biasing deformation accompanying the folding and unfolding of the panels 10a, 10b,. It is configured to be bent and torsion, and to bend substantially in parallel with the arrangement direction of the hinge portions 11 while absorbing deformation accompanying rotation of the panels 10a, 10b,... Mainly by the torsion. According to this, in the panel folded state, it is possible to reduce the amount of protrusion of the cable 13 from the panel end while taking a large cable loop, thereby reducing the number of the panel 10a,
It is possible to reliably prevent the cables from interfering with each other when the cables 10b,... Are folded and unfolded, and to reduce the size of the folded storage space.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a one-dimensional deployable solar battery paddle has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to a two-dimensional deployable solar battery paddle. In this case, unlike the related art, the cable 13 can be wired in any two-dimensional direction, so that the wiring can be designed without restricting the wiring layout in the wiring design. it can.

Therefore, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the structure can be simplified, the size can be improved, and the influence of deformation on the cable strands can be minimized, and interference between cables can be prevented. The present invention can provide a deployable solar cell paddle capable of preventing the occurrence of the problem and improving the handleability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a plan view, a side view, and a front view of a main part of an expandable solar cell paddle according to an embodiment of the present invention in a developed and folded state, and FIG. 3 is an application of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic view of a one-dimensional deployable solar cell paddle, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show a plane, a side surface, and a front view, respectively, of a main part of the conventional deployable solar cell paddle in a developed and folded state. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a two-dimensionally developed solar cell paddle to which the present invention is applied. 10a, 10b, Panel, 11 Hinge, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12
a ', 12b', 12c ': Connection terminal, 13: Cable.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B64G 1/44

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of panels in which a plurality of solar cells are arranged on a panel surface are rotatably connected via a hinge so as to be freely expandable, and a cable is connected between the solar cells of the plurality of panels. In the deployable solar cell paddle electrically connected through the plurality of panels, the connection terminal of each solar cell of the plurality of panels is sandwiched between the connection terminal of the solar cell of the adjacent panel and the arrangement line of the hinge portion. A plurality of panels are arranged at predetermined intervals along the arrangement line of the hinge portion on the panel surface so as to be positioned non-linearly, and the connection terminals between the non-linearly symmetrical connection terminals of adjacent panels are arranged at the time of development. A deployable solar battery paddle, wherein the solar battery cells are connected to each other by a cable so as to be substantially linear in a plan view and electrically connected to solar battery cells on adjacent panels.