JPH0478961B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a light pipe that is capable of efficiently transmitting large amounts of light energy and that is easy to fabricate and cascade.

The present applicant first focused sunlight using a lens or the like and introduced it into a light conductor cable, and transmitted the sunlight to any desired location through the light conductor cable for illumination or other purposes. A light collection device was proposed.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view for explaining an example of a sunlight collecting device previously proposed by the present applicant. In the figure, 1 is a cylindrical base portion, 2 is a transparent spherical body portion, Capsule 3 for solar collectors
When in use, a sunlight collecting device section 10 is housed in the capsule as shown in the figure. The sunlight collecting device section 10 includes a large number of concentrically arranged lenses 11 ₁ to 11 ₁₉ for concentrating sunlight, for example, 19 lenses, a sunlight direction sensor 12 for detecting the direction of the sun, A support frame 13 that integrally holds these, a first motor 15 that rotates these in the direction of arrow A, a support arm 16 that supports the lenses 11 ₁ to 11 ₁₉ and the motor 15, and the motor 15, a second motor 18 (second motor) for rotating the rotating shaft 17 in the direction of arrow B;
) etc., the direction of the sun is detected by the sunlight direction sensor ₁₂ , and the first and _second The sunlight focused by the lenses 11 ₁ to 11 ₁₉ is transmitted through a large number of optical conductor cables 21 ₁ to 21 ₁₉ (second (see figure)
etc., and transmit it to any desired location through the optical conductor cable.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of main parts for explaining the internal structure of the solar light collecting device, in which 14 is a first rotating shaft rotated by a first motor 15, and 18 is a first rotating shaft. 2 _{, a second motor for rotating the rotation shaft 17 of FIG. 1; and 11 1 to 11 5 are lenses ;}
1 ₁ to 11 ₅ , and these lenses 11
The sunlight L focused by lenses ₁ to 11 ₅ is introduced into light guide cables 21 ₁ to 21 ₅ whose light-receiving end faces are arranged at the focal point of each lens, and sent to any desired location through the light guide cables. where it is transmitted for illumination and other uses. However, in the illustrated example, each light guide cable is bundled and connected to a light guide 22 consisting of a light guide rod or a light transmission tube, etc., and is configured to be transmitted to any desired location through the light guide 22. has been done. Therefore, in the illustrated example, the lens 1 shown in FIG.
Since the light guide 22 is disposed through the position 1 ₃ , no lens corresponding to the lens 11 ₃ is used.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned solar light collecting device, it is also possible to directly transmit the sunlight introduced into the optical conductor cable to any desired location through the optical conductor cable, as shown in the illustrated example. The output light of all light guide cables is transferred to light guide rod 2.
However, in the former case, the amount of optical conductor cables used is enormous and the cost is high. In the latter case, since the optical conductor rods currently on the market are materials for manufacturing optical conductor cables or fibers, there is no means to prevent light leakage on their surfaces. Therefore, if the light guide rod is used as it is for transmitting light energy as described above, the surface is likely to be scratched, resulting in light leakage, and furthermore, it is difficult to support the light guide rod. There were problems such as large light leakage in some parts. In addition, some devices are equipped with light leakage means, but these use quartz with a refractive index lower than that of the quartz core as a cladding. If the NA of the passing light is small, there is not much of a problem, but if the NA is large, there is a good chance that light will leak from the cladding if it is scratched.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view for explaining an example of the light guide according to the present invention, in which 30 is a light guide rod, 40 is a tube for housing the light guide rod;
Reference numeral 50 denotes a clad for fixing and supporting the light guide rod 30 in the tube 40. In this way, the light guide rod 30 can be protected by the tube 40, and the light guide rod 30 can be attached to the clad 50. Since it is supported by tube 40,
No light leaks from this part, and light energy can be efficiently transmitted. In addition, in FIG. 3, the light guide rod 30 and the tube 4 are shown.
Although an example is shown in which there is a gap 60 between the cladding and the cladding, this gap may also be filled with cladding.

Further, the light guide rod 30 protrudes from the tube 40 by a predetermined length l at both ends, and the tube 40 is further provided with threads 41 on the outer periphery at both ends. In addition, it facilitates the manufacture of the light guide and facilitates the cascade connection of the light guides.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of essential parts for explaining an example of manufacturing the light guide shown in FIG.
30 is a light guide rod, 40 is a tube, and 70 is a jig, and the jig 70 has the light guide rod 3 in its center.
It has a recess 71 into which the protruding end of No. 0 is inserted, and a hole 72 communicating with the void 60.
The jig 70 is screwed onto the threaded portion 41 of the tube 40 as shown in the figure, and then the recess 71 of the jig 70 is screwed into the threaded portion 41 of the tube 40.
The end of the light guide rod 30 is inserted into the tube 40 so that the light guide rod 30 is supported at approximately the center of the tube 40. Next, in this next state, when a cladding solution is injected through the hole 72 of the jig 70, the gap 60 between the photoconductor rod 30 and the tube 40 is filled with the cladding, so after drying the cladding, the jig is removed. By removing 70, a light guide having the structure shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained. In addition, in that case,
When the filling amount of the cladding solution is increased, the void 6
The cladding can be filled throughout 0.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an example of cascading the light guides shown in FIG.
30a, 30b are light guide rods, 40a, 40b
is tube, 50a, 50b is clad, 60
a and 60b are air gaps, the left part with the suffix a constitutes one light guide (hereinafter referred to as light guide a), and the right part with the suffix b constitutes the other light guide (hereinafter referred to as light guide b). ). Then,
In order to connect these light guides a and b, first, a stopper member 80 is provided at the end of one tube 40b, and the inner diameter of the light guide rods 30a, 30 is
A connecting tube 90 made of a cladding material having approximately the same external shape as that of b, and a tube 40a at one end.
Screw 41a provided at the end of 40b (screw 4 used when screwing jig 70 in FIG. 4)
1), a coupling member 100 having a threaded portion 101 that is screwed into the tube, and a protrusion 102 that engages with the stopper member 80 provided at the end of the tubes 40b, 40a at the other end is prepared. The light guide rods 30a, 30b at the ends of the light guides a and b thus produced are inserted into the connecting tube 90 as shown. Connection tube 9
0 has a hole 91 approximately in the center, and this hole 91
Upon injection of optical oil or glue, the light guide rods 30a and 30b are optically coupled. In this state (or before), insert the coupling 100 from the end (not shown) of the light guide b, rotate the coupling 100, and screw the screw 101 into the tube 40a.
When screwed together with the screw 41a and tightened, the light guide a
and b are rigidly connected. In addition, coupling 1
If the tightening of 00 is too strong, the connecting tube 90
In this case, it is advisable to attach a reinforcing material to the outside of the connecting tube 90, since there is a risk that the light guide rod in the connecting tube 90 may be damaged.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a light guide which can efficiently transmit a large amount of light energy with a simple and inexpensive structure and means, and which is easy to manufacture and connect in cascade. can do.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing a solar light collecting device as an example in which the light guide according to the present invention is used. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the light guide according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the manufacturing process of the light guide shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part for explaining an example of the method, and is a cross-sectional view showing the connection part structure of the light guide shown in FIG. 3. 30, 30a, 30b...light guide rod, 31
... Polymer clad layer, 40 ... Tube, 5
0...Clad, 60...Gap, 70...Jig,
80... Stopper member, 90... Connection tube, 100... Coupling.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 consisting of a light guide rod, a tube for housing the light guide rod, and a cladding filled between the light guide rod and the tube to fixedly support the light guide rod within the tube; A light guide, characterized in that the conductor rod extends by a predetermined length beyond the tube at both ends, and the tube is threaded at the outer periphery at both ends.