JPH07117611B2 - Light collector - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an improvement of a light concentrating device that collects light from the sun in one place.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as this type of light collecting device, a device using a mirror, a lens, or the like is known.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) By the way, since the direction of the light from the sun changes every moment, the conventional device changes the arrangement direction of the mirrors, lenses, etc. in response to this change, so It has a drawback that it requires a tracking device, and the entire device becomes large-scale.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple and popular type light concentrating device that can efficiently collect the sun's rays in one place without requiring the sun's ray tracking equipment.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a plurality of reflectors each having a pair of light-introducing surfaces and light-propagating surfaces that have been mirror-finished are arranged concentrically at predetermined intervals with each light-propagating surface as the center, and the respective arranged reflectors. Forming a light guiding path that guides light toward the center of a concentric circle on each of the adjacent light guiding surfaces, and forming a light propagation path that propagates light in the direction perpendicular to the concentric circles on each light propagation surface. Become.

(Operation) Now, the light entering at a predetermined incident angle with respect to the length direction of the light propagation path 4 is repeatedly reflected by the light introduction surfaces 1A and 1B of the reflector 1, and the end opening is formed in the light introduction path 3. Proceed towards. The light guided into the light propagation path 4 from the terminal opening propagates in the light propagation path 4 toward the terminal opening while being repeatedly reflected by the light propagation surfaces 1C and 1D of the reflector 1.

Since the plurality of light introduction paths 3 are concentrically provided, light from any direction is guided into the light propagation path 4 through the light introduction path 3 and propagates toward the terminal opening in the light propagation path 4. can do.

Therefore, if the present invention is installed in a sunny place, it is possible to maintain constant the light-collecting efficiency of the sunlight, which changes from moment to moment, without following the direction of arrival of the sunlight.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a reflector 1 made of a quadrangular prism having a pair of light-introducing surfaces 1A, 1B and light-propagating surfaces 1C, 1D which are mirror-finished, is provided for each light propagation. A plurality of concentric circles are arranged at predetermined intervals with the surfaces 1C and 1D facing the center, and are enclosed in a cylindrical transparent body 2 such as plastic.

Then, the light-introducing surfaces 1A and 1B of the adjacent reflectors 1 gradually reduce the opening area toward the center of the concentric circle, and the light-introducing path 3 for guiding light to the center is formed in a concentric shape. Moreover, the light propagation paths 4 for propagating light in the direction perpendicular to the concentric circles are formed by the light propagation surfaces 1C and 1D of the respective reflectors 1.

Angle α formed by the light introducing surfaces 1A and 1B forming the light introducing path 3
Is an acute angle so that light can be efficiently guided into the light propagation path 4. Also, each light propagation surface of each adjacent reflector 1
The angle β formed by 1C and 1D is an obtuse angle so that the light introduced into the light propagation path 4 can be efficiently propagated without being escaped to the outside. Further, in order to efficiently propagate the light introduced into the light propagation path 4, the arrangement interval A of each reflector 1 is
That is, the width of the opening on the terminal side of the light introduction path 3 is made extremely smaller than the length B of the bottom sides of the light reflecting surfaces 1C and 1D of the reflector 1.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the light propagating through the light introduction path 3 has a different propagation distance depending on the incident direction and the angle α described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the angle α is 20 degrees, the light I indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is the light indicated by the point a and the dotted line.
II propagates to point b, and light III indicated by a broken line propagates to point c, and returns to the original path. Therefore, the angle α described above
The arrangement interval A is determined in consideration of these.

In such a configuration, the light incident on the transparent body 2 at a predetermined incident angle with respect to the lengthwise direction of the transparent body 2 receives the light introducing surfaces 1A, 1A of the reflector 1.
While repeating reflection at B, the light travels in the light introducing path 3 toward the terminal opening. The light guided into the light propagation path 4 from the terminal opening propagates in the light propagation path 4 toward the terminal opening while being repeatedly reflected by the light propagation surfaces 1C and 1D of the reflector 1.

Since the plurality of light introduction paths 3 are concentrically provided, light from any direction can be guided into the light propagation path 4 through the light introduction path 3 and propagate toward the terminal opening. Therefore, if the present embodiment is made vertical to the place where the sun shines, it is possible to collect light constantly without concentrating the sunlight, which does not follow the arrival direction of the sun rays.

In the present embodiment, in the reflector 1, the light propagation surfaces 1C and 1D are convex as shown in FIG. 2, but instead of this, the light propagation surface 5C is shown in FIG. It is also possible to use the reflector 5 in which 5D forms a concave surface. Further, the reflector 1 may be a flat surface without the light propagation surfaces 1C and 1D forming a convex surface. In this case, the reflector 1 is a triangular prism.

(Effects of the Invention) In the present invention as described below, a plurality of light introduction paths are concentrically arranged and a light propagation path is formed in a direction perpendicular to the concentric circles, so that the arrival direction changes momentarily. Even in sunlight, the light collection efficiency becomes constant.

Further, it is not necessary to use the tracking equipment for tracking the sun rays as in the conventional case, so that it is possible to provide a simple, compact and popular type device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part thereof, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining incident light and a propagation distance, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment. Reference numeral 1 is an incident body, 1A and 1B are light introduction surfaces, 1C and 1D are light propagation surfaces, 3 is a light introduction path, and 4 is a light propagation path.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of reflectors having a pair of light-introducing surfaces and a light-propagating surface that have been mirror-finished are arranged in concentric circles at predetermined intervals with each light-propagating surface as the center, and the reflectors are arranged. Forming concentrically a light introduction path that guides light toward the center of a concentric circle on each adjacent introduction surface of each reflector, and a light propagation path that propagates light in the direction perpendicular to the concentric circles on each light propagation surface. Condensing device formed.