JPH05697A - Posture control device and solar light power generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify configuration of a solar light power generating device and also control the posture easily and full-automatically by rotating the device body on the basis of a difference in electromotive force between photosensors provided in pair at positions sandwiching a screen. CONSTITUTION:In a solar light power generating device S, a plate screen 2 is erected on the device body 1, and a pair of photosensors 3 are provided in the direction of plate screen thickness at positions sandwiching the plate screen 2. Connection legs 5 provided ratably on a plane perpendicular to the screen 2 in the device body are connected to a solar light power generating device. There are disposed a device source 10 which turns round the connection legs 5 relatively to the device body 1 and stops them at a point where the difference in electromotive force between the photosensors in pair is nearly zero and a fuel jetting member 11 which moves the device body 1 in a direction perpendicular to the screen 2. Accordingly, configuration of a solar light power generating device S is simplified and posture is controlled easily and full- automatically.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an attitude control device for orienting a solar power generator in a predetermined direction with respect to sunlight in a space and a solar power generation device equipped with this attitude control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, artificial satellites orbiting in outer space,
It is possible to use sunlight as an energy source in the case of establishing a station in outer space in the future,
Its development and testing are being conducted.

When sunlight is used as an energy source, a solar power generator (SPS: Solar Power) is installed in outer space.
Station) must be provided. This solar power generation device is made by assembling a lightweight aggregate such as an aluminum alloy into a mesh shape, a cobweb shape, a truss shape, etc., and incorporating a large number of solar cells (solar cells) inside. In order to adjust the amount of light on the light-receiving surface or to move the light-receiving surface, the posture can be changed so that the light-receiving surface faces the sun.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned photovoltaic power generation device has the following problems to be solved. Since the drive system that expands (develops) the light-receiving surface and the control (attitude control) that directs it toward the sunlight surface are separate systems, the device becomes complicated. Since the computer calculates the positional relationship between the sun and the solar power generation device for attitude control and transmits the result to the drive device, it must be constantly monitored. In order to perform highly accurate position control, the fuel injection amount of the drive device must be delicately controlled, so that a control device for the fuel injection amount is required, resulting in an increase in size and cost of the device. Since the solar power generation device has a large area and is light in weight, it is difficult to obtain strength. Therefore, when the solar power generation device is deployed, the light receiving surface is likely to be distorted and a predetermined amount of light may not be obtained. Since a drive device for stopping the movement for attitude control is required, the device becomes large and the cost becomes high. The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an attitude control device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a device main body, a plate-shaped upright standing upright on the device main body, and this vertical movement. A pair of photosensors provided at positions sandwiching the upright in the thickness direction, and a connecting leg rotatably provided in the device body in a plane orthogonal to the upright and connected to the solar power generator. A drive source that is provided in the apparatus body, rotates the connecting leg relatively to the apparatus body, and stops at a position where the electromotive force difference between the pair of photosensors is substantially zero; And a fuel injection unit which is provided in the above and moves the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the upright position.

Further, the solar power generation device according to claim 2 is provided so as to be expandable and contractable with the center as a fulcrum, and becomes a flat surface when expanded, and an outer edge portion of the solar power generation device. The above-mentioned attitude control device is connected to the portions facing each other across the fulcrum of the solar power generation body.

[0007]

In the attitude control device of the present invention, when there is a difference in electromotive force between the pair of photosensors sandwiching the upright position, the drive source continues to rotate the device body,
When the upright is parallel to the sunlight, the amount of light emitted to one photosensor and the amount of light emitted to the other photosensor become equal, the electromotive force difference becomes almost zero, and the rotation of the device body Stop. As a result, the main body of the apparatus automatically keeps its posture so that it stands parallel to the sunlight.

Therefore, the attitude control device is provided so as to be expandable and contractable with the center as a fulcrum, and is opposed to each other across the fulcrum of the solar power generator in the outer edge portion of the solar power generator which is flat when expanded. When the solar power generation body is connected to the position, the attitude of the solar power generation body can be automatically controlled so that the light receiving surface of the solar power generation body is perpendicular to the sun rays.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an attitude control device S of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates the device body. The apparatus main body 1 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with a hollow inside, and a plate-shaped sensor (standing) 2
Are erected parallel to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus body 1.

A pair of phototransistors (photosensors) 3 are attached to the upper surface of the apparatus body 1 at positions where the sensor 2 is sandwiched in the thickness direction.
The phototransistor 3 produces a photovoltaic effect when irradiated with sunlight, and is electrically connected to a drive source 10 described later.

Further, the device body 1 is provided in the device body 1.
A drive shaft 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of
Both ends thereof are side surfaces 1 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus body 1.
It is projected from a and 1a. One ends of connecting legs 5 and 5 are fixed to both ends of the drive shaft 4, and the connecting legs 5 and 5 rotate relative to the apparatus body 1 as the drive shaft 4 rotates. It is like this. Each connecting leg 5 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and its base end portion is formed in a disk shape so as to be fixed to the drive shaft 4.

A gear 6 is mounted in the middle of the drive shaft, while a motor 7 is installed in the apparatus main body 1 adjacent to the gear 6. A gear 8 is attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 7, and the gear 8 is meshed with the gear 6. On the other hand, a large number of solar cells (solar cells) 9 ... Are installed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and these solar cells 9 ... Are used as the power source of the motor 7. The solar cells 9 ... And the motor 7 constitute a drive source 10 for rotating the connecting legs 5, 5 relative to the apparatus body 1. The drive source 10 is connected to the pair of phototransistors 3 and 3. When the electromotive force difference between the phototransistors 3 and 3 becomes substantially zero, the drive source 10 is stopped, that is, the motor 7 is stopped. There is.

Here, the electromotive force difference between the phototransistors 3 and 3 becomes almost zero when the phototransistors 3 and 3 are irradiated with an equal amount of sunlight. That is, when the tip ends of the connection legs 5 and 5 are connected and fixed to the solar power generation body 15 described later, the drive shaft 4 is rotated by the motor 7 and the connection legs 5 and 5 use the base end portions as fulcrums. Although it tries to rotate, since the tip ends of the connecting legs 5 and 5 are fixed as described above, the device body 1 rotates about the drive shaft 4. The sensor 2 also rotates as the device body 1 rotates,
When the sensor 2 is not parallel to the sun rays and is inclined at a certain angle, the light amount on one side of the sensor 2 is different from that on the other side. The amount of light emitted is different, and thus a difference in electromotive force occurs between the phototransistors 3 and 3. If there is a difference in electromotive force, the motor 7
Rotates and the apparatus body 1 continues to rotate.

When the sensor 2 becomes parallel to the sun's rays due to the rotation of the apparatus body 1, the amount of light applied to one phototransistor 3 becomes equal to the amount of light applied to the other phototransistor 3. The electromotive force difference becomes almost 0, and the rotation of the apparatus main body 1 stops. This allows
The device body 1 automatically maintains a constant posture with respect to sunlight.

A main power (fuel injection unit) 11 for moving the device main body 1 in a direction orthogonal to the sensor 2 in space is provided at the center of the side surface along the longitudinal direction of the device main body 1. This main power 11 A pair of auxiliary power 12, 12 on both sides of the
Is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of a solar power generation device including the attitude control device S having the above structure. In this figure, reference numeral 15 indicates a solar power generator. This solar power generation body 15 includes a large number of lightweight aggregates 16 such as aluminum alloys.
... is assembled into a truss shape to form a regular octagonal shape as a whole. A support 17 is provided at the center of the solar power generator 15.
Are located, and 9 aggregates 16 from this support 17 are located.
Eight sets of assemblies 18 ... Each of which is formed in a triangular shape are provided so as to extend radially outward. Each assembly 18 is composed of four sets of bases 19 formed by assembling three aggregates 16 in a triangular shape, and a solar cell 20 is incorporated in each base 19.

Further, in the solar power generator 15, the aggregates 16 constituting the solar power generator 15 are flexibly connected to each other by pin coupling or the like, so that the support 17 is extensible and extensible. There is.

Further, on the outer peripheral edge of the solar power generator 15,
Two pairs of the posture control devices S ... Are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at positions facing each other with the support body 17 interposed therebetween, and the tip ends of the connecting legs 5 and 5 of each posture control device S are subjected to photovoltaic power generation. It is connected to an aggregate 16 located at the outer peripheral edge of the body 15.

In order to develop and control the attitude of the solar power generator having the above structure, the following steps are performed. In the contracted original position shown in FIG. 3A, the main power 11 of each attitude control device S
Gushes fuel from. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the solar power generation body 15 is pulled by the attitude control device S and radially expands outward with the support body 17 as the center.

Then, after the photovoltaic power generator 15 has been developed to some extent, posture control is performed so that the light receiving surface of the photovoltaic power generator 15, that is, the solar cell 20 is perpendicular to the sun rays. That is, it is assumed that the solar power generator 15 is completely opened and the attitude control device S is at the position shown in FIG. In this case, the phototransistor 3 on one side (right side in the figure) of the attitude control device S is irradiated with the sun rays, but the phototransistor 3 on the other side (left side in the figure) is
Since most of the sunlight is blocked by the sensor 2 and is not irradiated, a difference in electromotive force occurs between the pair of phototransistors 3 and 3. Therefore, current flows from the solar cells 9 provided on the upper surface of the device body 1 to the motor 7,
This causes the drive shaft 4 to rotate. When the drive shaft 4 rotates, the tip ends of the connection legs 5 and 5 are connected and fixed to the solar power generator 15, so that the device body 1 moves around the drive shaft 4 as shown in FIG. 4B. Rotate.

When the sensor 2 is rotated by the rotation of the apparatus main body 1 and becomes parallel to the sun rays, the amount of light applied to one phototransistor 3 and the amount of light applied to the other phototransistor 3 are changed. Since they become equal and the electromotive force difference becomes almost 0, the rotation of the apparatus main body 1 stops.
As a result, all the sensors 2 of each attitude control device S connected to the solar power generator 15 are parallel to the sun rays.

After that, as shown in FIG. 5A, the solar power generator 15 is further pulled by injecting fuel from the main power 11 of each attitude control device S to move each attitude control device S. As the attitude control device S moves, the connecting legs 5 and 5 are pulled by the reaction from the photovoltaic power generator 15, so that the connecting legs 5 and 5 rotate about their base ends as fulcrums, and When the power generator 15 is completely developed in a plane, it stops at a position orthogonal to the sensor 2. At this time, the solar power generation body 15 is supported by each posture control device S by the support body
Since the sensor 15 is in a state of being pulled outward with respect to (the state where tension is applied), and the sensor 15 is parallel to the sun rays, the light receiving surface of the solar power generation body 15 is And become orthogonal (Fig. 5 (b)
reference).

When the attitude control device S is inclined due to the solar power generator 15 being tilted for some reason, an electromotive force difference is generated between the pair of phototransistors 3 and 3 and the attitude control device S is again caused.
Rotates around the drive shaft 4 to recover its posture, so that the solar power generator 15 is automatically controlled in posture so that its light-receiving surface is orthogonal to the sun's rays. In this case, the attitude control device S is pulled by the inclination of the solar power generation body 15 and slightly moves to try to release the tension state of the solar power generation body 15, but with the movement of the attitude control device S, the main power is reduced. 11
Alternatively, the attitude control device S is produced by ejecting fuel from the auxiliary power 12.
By making a slight movement in a direction in which the is separated from the support 17, it is possible to keep the tension always applied.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. Since the control of deploying the solar power generator 15 and the control of directing the light receiving surface of the solar power generator 15 to the sunlight surface can be performed only by the attitude control device S, the structure of the solar power generator itself is simple. Can be

Since the attitude of the solar power generator 15 is controlled by utilizing the electromotive force difference due to the amount of sunlight applied to the pair of phototransistors 3 and 3 provided in the attitude control device S, the conventional method is used. As described above, since it is not necessary to calculate the positional relationship between the sun and the photovoltaic power generator by a computer for attitude control and to transmit the result to the drive device, the attitude control can be easily made fully automatic. it can.

The solar power generator 15 has a support 1 at the center thereof.
Attitude control devices S are connected at positions facing each other with 7 in between, and each of the attitude control devices S is controlled so that the attitude is always directed in a predetermined direction with respect to the sun rays.
The attitude control of the photovoltaic power generator 15 can be performed accurately by only injecting the fuel from the 1 or the auxiliary power 12, and it is not necessary to control the fuel injection amount for the attitude control.

The attitude control device S is located at a position facing each other with the central support 17 sandwiched between the outer peripheral edges of the solar power generator 15.
Are connected to each other, the attitude control device S is moved in a direction in which the attitude control apparatus S is separated from the support body 17, the solar power generation body 15 is developed, and the attitude is controlled in a state where tension is applied to the solar power generation body 15. The tension is constantly applied to the photovoltaic power generator 15 from the attitude control device S in the direction of expansion. Therefore, it is possible to give sufficient strength to the large-sized and lightweight photovoltaic power generator 15 and prevent distortion of the light-receiving surface.

The attitude of the solar power generator 15 is controlled by the attitude control device S under tension, and the attitude control device S is controlled so that it always faces a predetermined direction with respect to the sun rays. So solar power generator 1
Since the drive device for stopping the movement of 5 for the attitude control is not required, it is possible to prevent the photovoltaic power generation device from increasing in size and cost.

In order to deploy and control the attitude of the photovoltaic power generator 15, it is necessary to move and rotate the attitude control device S.
The power source for rotation is a large number of solar cells 9 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and actually the main power 11 and the sub power 1
Only the fuel for 2 needs to be supplied, so the cost of the power source is very low.

In the above embodiment, the case where the attitude control device S is connected to the solar power generator 15 has been described as an example.
This attitude control device S is another object provided in outer space,
It can also be applied to the case where the attitude is controlled with respect to the sun rays by connecting to a facility or the like.

[0031]

As described above, in the attitude control device of the present invention, when there is a difference in electromotive force between the pair of photosensors sandwiching the upright, the device main body is rotated by the drive source. Then, when the vertical surface becomes parallel to the sun rays, the amount of light emitted to one photosensor becomes equal to the amount of light emitted to the other photosensor, and the electromotive force difference becomes almost 0. The rotation stops. As a result, the main body of the apparatus automatically keeps its posture so that it stands parallel to the sunlight.

Therefore, the attitude control device is provided so as to be expandable and contractable with the center as a fulcrum, and is opposed to each other across the fulcrum of the solar power generator in the outer edge portion of the solar power generator which is flat when expanded. The following effects can be obtained with the solar power generation device connected to the part to be turned on.

Since the control of unfolding the photovoltaic power generator and the control of directing the light receiving surface of the photovoltaic power generator to the sunlight surface can be performed only by the attitude control device, the structure of the photovoltaic power generator itself is simple. Can be

Since the attitude control of the solar power generator is performed by utilizing the electromotive force difference due to the light amount of the sunlight applied to the pair of photosensors provided in the attitude control device.
Unlike the conventional method, it is not necessary to calculate the positional relationship between the sun and the photovoltaic power generator by a computer for attitude control, and to transmit the result to the drive unit, so attitude control can be easily made fully automatic. You can

Attitude control devices are connected to the photovoltaic power generator at positions facing each other with a central fulcrum in between, and each of the attitude control devices is controlled in its attitude so as to always face a predetermined direction with respect to the sun rays. Therefore, the attitude control of the solar power generation body can be accurately performed only by injecting the fuel from the fuel injection unit, and it is not necessary to control the fuel injection amount for the attitude control.

The attitude control devices are connected to the outer peripheral edge of the photovoltaic power generator at positions facing each other with a central fulcrum in between, and the attitude control devices are moved in a direction away from the fulcrum to expand the solar power generator. However, since the attitude is controlled in a state where tension is applied to the solar power generation body, the solar power generation body is always in a state where tension is applied from the attitude control device in the developing direction. Therefore, it is possible to give sufficient strength to a large-sized and lightweight solar power generation body and prevent distortion of the light receiving surface.

The attitude of the photovoltaic power generator is controlled in a state of being tensioned by the attitude control device, and the attitude control device controls the attitude so that it always faces a predetermined direction with respect to the sun rays. Since the drive device for stopping the solar power generator against the movement for the attitude control is not required, it is possible to prevent the solar power generator from becoming large in size and high in cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an attitude control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the solar power generation device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method for deploying a solar power generation device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a method of attitude control of a solar power generation device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a method of attitude control of a solar power generation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 device body 2 sensors 3 Phototransistors (photosensors) 5 connecting legs 10 drive source 11 Fuel injection unit 15 Solar power generator S solar power generator

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body, a plate-shaped upright standing upright on the apparatus main body, a pair of photosensors provided at positions sandwiching the upright in the thickness direction, and the apparatus main body having the above-mentioned structure. A connecting leg that is rotatably provided in a plane orthogonal to the upright and is connected to the solar power generator; and a connecting leg that is provided in the device body and is rotated relative to the device body. A drive source that stops at a position where the electromotive force difference between the pair of photosensors is substantially zero, and a fuel injection unit that is provided in the device body and moves the device body in a direction orthogonal to the upright position. An attitude control device characterized by the following. 2. A photovoltaic power generator that is provided so as to be expandable and contractible about a center as a fulcrum and becomes a flat surface when expanded, and an outer edge portion of the photovoltaic power generator is sandwiched between fulcrums of the photovoltaic power generator. A solar power generation device comprising the attitude control device according to claim 1 connected to opposing portions.