JPS60205151A - Sun tracking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit to face a solar light receiving surface to the sun substantially regardless of the change of seasons without empolying a solar position detecting unit or a driving mechanism by a method wherein an expandable body, formed by a shape memory alloy, is heated selectively to deform and change the inclination of a tracking body. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of expandable bodies 13, which are formed by tension coil springs of shape memory alloy, and a balance spring 14, formed by a normal steel, are provided. When the sun shines, lens section 16 in a direction wherein the sun positions collects the solar light and heats the expandable bodies 13 positioned so as to be opposed to the lens section 16. According to this method, the temperature of the expandable bodies 13 exceeds the point of transformation and the bodies 13 are contracted. The tracking body 5 inclines in accordance with the change of the shapes of the expandable bodies 13 to face the solar light receiving surface 9 facing againt the sun. The other expandable bodies 13 are contracted sequentially in accordance with the movement of the sun and the expandable bodies 13, which become not receiving the solar light, return to a normal temperature and are expanded, therefore, the solar light receiving surface 9 may be faced against the sun at all times.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar tracking device suitable for use in devices that utilize solar energy, such as power storage devices using solar cells, water heaters, and daylighting devices. be.

Technical Background and Problems Traditionally, for example, in devices that generate electricity using solar cells, a tracking mechanism has been installed so that the sunlight receiving surface on which the solar cells are arranged is always facing the moving sun. It has been implemented. Regarding the tracking function, there are those that have a detection part that detects the position of the sun and operate a drive mechanism according to the signal from this detection part, and those that have a built-in clock that adjust the position of the sun receiving surface according to the time. There are some types that change direction. All of these devices require a drive mechanism using a motor, making the device complex and bulky, and the construction of a framework to support the entire device is also difficult. In addition, devices that change the direction of the sun-receiving surface depending on the time of day require adjusting the setting conditions depending on the season, which is extremely inconvenient.

Purpose of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a sun tracking device that can substantially direct the sunlight receiving surface toward the sun regardless of seasonal changes without using a sun position detection unit or drive mechanism. That is.

Summary of the Invention The present invention stores a shape at room temperature and a shape at high temperature in a stretchable body made of a shape memory alloy, and selectively changes the shape of the stretchable body according to the position of the sun using a lens part of the assembly. It is configured to be heated and deformed, thereby changing the inclination of the tracking body and directing the sunlight receiving surface toward the sun.

Embodiment of the Invention An embodiment of the present invention will be described as being applied to a solar cell watch. First, a ball (1) that is framed and stands upright is provided, and in the middle of this ball (1) there is a
'(2) is installed. And this ball (
A support base (3) serving as a fixed part is provided on the top of 1), and a tracking body (5) is attached to this support base (3) so as to be tiltable in any direction via a flexible shaft (4). There is. This tracking body (5) includes a shaft part (7) having a flange (6) at the lower end and a solar cell mount (7) fixed to this shaft part (7).
8) and a solar cell (10) placed on this solar cell mount (8) to form a sunlight receiving surface (9) and a plurality of bird repellent rods α.

Between the spring hanging part (2) fixed to the upper surface of the abutment (3) and the flange (6), there are a plurality of elastic bodies formed in the shape of a tension coil spring made of a shape memory alloy. (to) and a balance spring C14 made of ordinary steel. Specifically, nine elastic bodies (
(to) and three balance springs (14), which are arranged on the circumference.

Moreover, a cylindrical light condenser (2) surrounding the extensible body 09 and the balance spring a4 is provided on the upper part of the support base (3).
is installed. This light condenser α9 has the telescopic body α
A plurality of lens portions αd made of cylindrical lenses are integrally formed at positions on the radiation line including the stretchable body (to) every 9. These lens portions α0 are formed to correspond to the stretchable body (2), and the portion without the stretchable body (2) is used as a cover aη for blocking wind.

Further, a battery box 0υ is provided at the bottom of the ball (1), and in this battery box (IFj) there is a battery connected to the solar cell αO through wiring arranged inside the ball (1). ) is provided.

In such a configuration, in case of night or rainy weather,
The extensible body (to) is kept at room temperature l) and set so that the axis (7) of the tracking body (5) is vertical in balance with the balance spring α4. And when there is sunlight, K is the fifth
As shown in the figure, the lens part (l) is located in the direction where the sun is located.
f3 condenses sunlight and heats the lens part (the stretchable body (to) at the position corresponding to IQ. From this, the stretchable body 0
The temperature at No. 3 exceeds the conversion point and the stretchable body (2) contracts. The tracking body (5) tilts according to the change in shape of the stretchable body υ,
Point the sunlight receiving surface (9) toward the sun. Such an operation is performed so that the other stretchable bodies (2) gradually shrink as the sun moves, and the stretchable body (2) that no longer receives sunlight
Since J returns to room temperature and expands, the sunlight-receiving surface (9) always faces the sun. Furthermore, even if the sun is blocked by clouds and the tracking body (5) returns to the vertical position, it will still effectively receive sunlight because it will be tilted in the direction in which the sun appeared next.

In addition, there is a large difference in solar energy between summer and winter, and especially in winter, when the temperature of the expandable body is raised to the required temperature, a low K condition occurs. , a heater may be installed near the entire stretchable body 0j, and the stretchable body αJ may be preheated by the heater when the outside temperature drops below a certain temperature. Further, the shape of the extensible body (1j) is not limited to a coil spring shape, and various shapes may be used depending on the inclined structure of the tracking body (5).

Effects of the Invention The present invention allows the stretchable body formed of a shape memory alloy to memorize the shape at room temperature and the shape at high temperature, and the stretchable body is shaped according to the position of the sun by the lens part of the assembly. By heating and sequentially deforming the tracker, the sunlight receiving surface of the tracker can be easily directed toward the sun, and this operation can be performed without using a sun position detector or drive mechanism. Moreover, since it is oriented directly in the direction of the sun, it has the advantage that it is completely unaffected by seasonal changes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view of a sundial, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the main part, and FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional plane thereof. Incidentally, FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view. 3... Abutment (fixed part), 5... Tracking body, 9... Sunlight receiving surface, 13... Expandable body, 15... Light condensing body, 1
6...For lens part Requester Toshiba Electric Materials Corporation J, Jll 32Figure 33Figure 1uFigure 1B

Claims (1)

[Claims] A tracking body equipped with a sunlight receiving surface is attached to a fixed part so as to be tiltable in any direction, and a plurality of elastic bodies that determine the inclination of the tracking body are made of a shape memory alloy between the tracking body and the fixed part. What is claimed is: 1. A solar tracking device, characterized in that a light condenser is formed and arranged in a rectangular shape, and a light condenser is provided on the outer periphery of these expandable bodies and includes a plurality of lens portions that are arranged opposite to the expandable bodies.