JPH08274519A - Dewing preventing device for antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent corrosion or electric faults from being generated by dewing by suppressing dewing in an antenna dome by forcedly dewing moisture when humidity exceeds a reference value, and removing it as water drops. CONSTITUTION: Plural humidity sensors 11 detect the increase of humidity on the inner wall surface of a radome 21 of an antenna 20 and a control part 12 removes the moisture inside the radome 21 by selecting a Peltier cooling element 13 positioned where the detected humidity exceeds the prescribed reference value or near that section, performing an endothermic operation and generating dewing on the surface of that cooling element 13. Then, the dew drops are let to fall into a receiving tray 14 and drained through a way 15 to the outside. Thus, dewing on the inner wall surface of the radome can be effectively prevented with a simple configuration.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dew condensation preventing apparatus for preventing dew condensation on an antenna partially or wholly covered by a radome, and more particularly to an antenna dew preventing apparatus using a Peltier cooling element.

[0002]

Antennas used in snowfall areas (for example,
Parabolic antenna, horn reflector antenna and TA
Some CAN (Tactical Air Navigation System) antennas and the like have a configuration in which the antenna is covered with a radome in order to prevent rain and snow and dust from adhering.

However, when a radome is provided on the antenna,
Due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the radome, there is a problem that dew condensation occurs on the inner wall surface of the radome, leading to corrosion of the antenna structure and short circuit of electronic equipment.

In view of such problems, there is a conventional antenna provided with a radome which is provided with a dry air generator or an air conditioner inside the radome as a means for preventing dew condensation, and the air inside the radome is dried. The occurrence of condensation was prevented.

Further, as a technique similar to the above-mentioned dew condensation preventing means, there is, for example, a waveguide dehumidifier of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-108305. The waveguide dehumidifier is provided with a branch passage provided near the end of the waveguide and communicating with the waveguide, a humidity sensor provided in the branch passage, and a detection signal detected by the humidity sensor. And an amplifier for comparing with a preset reference signal, an electromagnetic valve that operates based on the output signal of the amplifier, and an exhaust hole for exhausting air in the waveguide by the action of the electromagnetic valve, When the humidity in the waveguide exceeds a preset value, the solenoid valve is opened to communicate the branch passage and the discharge hole, and the moist air in the waveguide is discharged to the outside.

[0006]

However, in the dew condensation preventing means using the above-mentioned conventional dry air generator or air conditioner, these dry air generator or air conditioner must be newly added to the antenna, There was a problem that the scale of the antenna would become large.

Further, when a dry air generator or an air conditioner is used, there is also a problem that a work for attaching a pipe for sending dry air to an antenna requires a great deal of cost and labor.

Further, since the dry air generator or the air conditioner has a complicated structure, there is a high possibility of failure and the reliability of the device is low.

Furthermore, since the dry air generator or the air conditioner has a structure that uses a motor, an air filter and a refrigerant, periodical inspection and replacement of parts are required, and there is a problem due to vibration and noise of the motor. There was also.

On the other hand, in the waveguide dehumidifying device of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-108305, a branch passage having a humidity sensor, a solenoid valve, and a discharge hole, and the moist air in the waveguide are discharged from the discharge hole to the outside. A means for generating pressurized dry air for pushing out must be provided, and there is a problem that the configuration is complicated.

[0012] In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-118310, on the inner wall surface of the radome body attached to the outer shell of the flying object,
A radome for a flying vehicle has been proposed, which is provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor ring and a Peltier element ring, and cools the Peltier element ring based on a signal from the pressure-sensitive sensor ring.

However, in this radome for projectiles, when the pressure-sensitive sensor ring detects a pressure, the Peltier element ring is cooled to reduce the thermal stress generated in the radome main body and to destroy the radome main body. It is intended to prevent this, and is a technology that is unrelated to the prevention of condensation on the antenna.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of dew condensation with a simple structure and to prevent the dew condensation of the antenna which can reduce the size of the antenna. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a device for preventing dew condensation of an antenna according to claim 1 is a device for preventing dew condensation of an antenna covered by a radome, the device being provided in the radome. The humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the radome, the control unit for outputting an operation signal when the detection result from the humidity sensor exceeds a predetermined reference value, and the operation signal from the control unit. It is equipped with a Peltier cooling element that absorbs heat based on its origin and generates dew condensation on the surface, a tray for receiving water droplets adhering to this Peltier cooling element, and a drainage channel for draining the water droplets collected on this tray to the outside of the radome. It has a different structure.

The condensation preventing device for an antenna according to claim 2 is
The humidity sensor and / or the Peltier cooling element is installed near the inner wall surface of the radome.

A dew condensation preventing device for an antenna according to claim 3 is
The radome has a plurality of antenna elements arranged at predetermined intervals along the inner wall surface of the radome, and the elongated Peltier cooling element is installed between the antenna elements.

A dew condensation preventing device for an antenna according to claim 4 is
The Peltier cooling element has a structure in which fine irregularities are formed on the surface.

[0018]

According to the apparatus for preventing dew condensation of an aerial wire having the above structure, the humidity in the radome is constantly monitored by the humidity sensor, and when the humidity rises above a predetermined reference value, the controller operates. A signal is output to cause the Peltier cooling element to start the heat absorption operation. Then, due to the temperature difference between the Peltier cooling element and the air in the radome,
Condensation is generated on the surface of the Peltier cooling element, and moisture in the radome is removed.

Then, the water droplets attached to the surface of the Peltier cooling element are collected in a tray and drained to the outside through a drainage channel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for preventing dew condensation on an antenna, wherein the humidity sensor and / or the Peltier cooling element are
Condensation can be prevented more effectively by adopting a configuration in which it is installed near the inner wall surface of the radome where dew condensation is likely to occur.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of antenna elements arranged along the inner wall surface of the radome at predetermined intervals along the inner wall surface of the radome. The Peltier cooling element can be arranged in the vicinity of the inner wall surface of the radome without causing interference, and the dew condensation can be prevented more effectively.

In the antenna dew condensation preventing device according to the fourth aspect, since the fine ruggedness is formed on the surface of the Peltier cooling element, dew condensation easily occurs on the surface of the Peltier cooling element. Therefore, the moisture in the radome can be quickly removed.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the antenna dew condensation preventing device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an antenna dew condensation preventing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
The dew condensation prevention device of this embodiment is configured to prevent dew condensation on the TACAN antenna.

In these drawings, the antenna (TACAN
The antenna 20 has a structure in which a plurality of antenna elements 22 are attached in the vicinity of the inner wall surface of a cylindrical radome 21 at predetermined intervals. Inside the radome 21 of the antenna 20, a plurality of humidity sensors 11, a control unit 12,
Plural Peltier cooling elements 13, saucer 14 and drainage channel 15
A dew condensation prevention device 10 is provided.

Each of the humidity sensors 11 has a radome 2
It is arranged near the upper and lower inner wall surfaces of No. 1 and constantly detects humidity. The control unit 12 obtains the humidity of each part in the vicinity of the inner wall surface of the radome 21 based on the signal from each humidity sensor 11. Then, the humidity is compared with a predetermined reference value, and when the humidity exceeds the reference value, a predetermined Peltier cooling element 13 is selected and an operation signal is output.

Each Peltier cooling element 13 is arranged near the inner wall surface of the radome 21 and between each antenna element 22. Each Peltier cooling element 13 has an elongated shape, and as shown in FIG. 3, fine irregularities are formed on the surface thereof. Each of the Peltier cooling elements 13 having such a configuration absorbs heat based on an operation signal from the control unit 12.

The saucer 14 has a ring shape that is substantially equal to the diameter of the radome 21, and is located below each Peltier cooling element 13. Further, the radome 2 is provided on the saucer 14.
1, a cylindrical drainage channel 15 leading to the outside is attached.

Next, the dew condensation prevention device 10 having the above structure
The operation will be described with reference to FIG. When a temperature difference occurs inside and outside the radome 21, the humidity near the inner wall surface of the radome 21 increases. This increase in humidity is detected by each humidity sensor 11, and a signal is output from each humidity sensor 11.

The control unit 12, which receives these signals, obtains the humidity of each portion in the vicinity of the inner wall surface of the radome 21 based on each signal and compares these humidity with a predetermined reference value. Then, the operation signal is output by selecting the part where the humidity exceeds the reference value and the Peltier cooling element 13 located in the vicinity thereof.

As a result, the selected predetermined Peltier cooling element 13 starts the heat absorption operation. Then, dew condensation occurs on the surface of the predetermined Peltier cooling element 13 due to the temperature difference between the predetermined Peltier cooling element 13 and the air inside the radome 21, and the moisture inside the radome 21 is removed.

After that, water droplets adhering to the surface of a predetermined Peltier cooling element 13 drop on the receiving tray 14, and the water droplets accumulated on the receiving tray 14 are drained to the outside of the radome 21 via the drainage channel 15.

According to the dew condensation preventing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment having such a structure, the dew condensation is positively generated on the surface of the Peltier cooling element 13 by a simple structure.
It is possible to effectively prevent dew condensation on the inner wall surface of the radome 21.

In the dew condensation prevention device 10 of this embodiment,
Since the elongated Peltier cooling element 13 is installed between the plurality of antenna elements 22, the Peltier cooling element 13 is installed near the inner wall surface of the radome 21 without causing interference of radio waves with the antenna elements 22. It is possible to prevent dew condensation more effectively.

Furthermore, by forming fine irregularities on the surface of each Peltier cooling element 13, dew condensation is likely to occur on the surface of each Peltier cooling element 13, and moisture in the radome 21 can be quickly removed.

Furthermore, since the dew condensation preventing device 10 is mainly composed of the humidity sensor 11 and the Peltier cooling element 13, it does not require an installation space like a conventional dry air generator or air conditioner, and the antenna does not need to be installed. There is also an effect that the size of the unit 20 can be reduced, and that regular maintenance after installation and replacement of consumable parts are unnecessary, and that maintenance is not troublesome.

The antenna dew condensation preventing device of the present invention is
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the plurality of humidity sensors 11 and the Peltier cooling element 13 are installed near the inner wall surface of the radome 21, but this is not particularly limited, and these may be anywhere in the radome 21. You may arrange.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit 12 is configured to perform the control based on the value of the humidity inside the radome 21, but the control unit 12 may be configured to perform the control based on the rate of increase of the humidity inside the radome 21. Good. Here, the control unit 12
However, it is possible to control the operation of the Peltier cooling element 13 based on the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the radome 21.

Further, the numbers of the humidity sensor 11, the Peltier cooling element 13, and the antenna element 22 are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and can be freely changed. Furthermore, the Peltier cooling element 13 can be changed to a shape other than an elongated shape, and may have a configuration in which fine irregularities are not formed on the surface.

In the above embodiment, the TACAN antenna (antenna 20) is provided with the dew condensation preventing device of the present invention. However, the dew condensation preventing device of the present invention is not limited to the TACAN antenna. It can be applied to various antennas having a radome.

[0040]

As described above, according to the antenna dew condensation preventing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the dew condensation with a simple structure and to reduce the size of the antenna.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an antenna dew condensation preventing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a Peltier cooling element forming the dew condensation preventing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Dew Condensation Prevention Device 11 Humidity Sensor 12 Control Part 13 Peltier Cooling Element 14 Saucepan 15 Drainage Channel 20 Antenna 21 Radome 22 Antenna Element

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A device for preventing dew condensation of an antenna covered with a radome, the humidity sensor being provided in the radome for detecting the humidity in the radome, and the detection result from the humidity sensor is set in advance. The control unit that outputs an operation signal when it exceeds the specified reference value, the Peltier cooling element that absorbs heat based on the operation signal from this control unit and causes dew condensation on the surface, and the Peltier cooling element A device for preventing dew condensation of an antenna, comprising: a saucer for receiving water droplets; and a drainage channel for draining the water droplets accumulated in the saucer to the outside of the radome. 2. The antenna dew condensation preventing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidity sensor and / or the Peltier cooling element is installed near an inner wall surface of the radome. 3. A plurality of antenna elements arranged along the inner wall surface of the radome at a predetermined interval, and the elongated Peltier cooling element is installed between the antenna elements. Dew condensation prevention device for the antenna described in 2. 4. The antenna dew condensation preventing device according to claim 1, wherein fine ruggedness is formed on the surface of said Peltier cooling element.