Patent NZ-709406-A (NZ)
Title: Device for positioning a member for transmitting solar energy relative to an optical concentrator
Inventor: MARTIN LAVAL QUENTIN
IPC: F21S11/00
Filed: 2013-12-24
Abstract: The present invention relates to the field off the transportation and distribution of solar energy, in the form for example of light, from a collection zone to dark rooms devoid of conventional openings or in addition thereto, the collection and transportation being respectively carried out by means of an optical concentrator and a transmitting member wherein one of the ends is situated facing said optical concentrator and conventionally comprising a bundle of at least one optical fibre. The present invention relates more particularly to a device for positioning said transmitting member in relation to said optical concentrator, and also the method for manufacturing said positioning device. Light sources suitable for illuminating the interior of a building are usually divided between artificial lighting (e.g. electric bulb) and openings communicating directly with the outside. However, the increase in the cost of energy and environmental constraints render the use of electricity increasingly unsuitable for illuminating the different rooms of a building. Of all the prior art technologies, light wells are the most widely used. A light well usually comprises a collection zone, a transmission zone and a diffusion zone. The collection zone may consist of optical concentrators suitable for collecting and concentrating solar radiation and comprising for example a set of mirrors and/or lenses. One of the drawbacks of light wells is that the efficiency thereof may drop significantly due to poor positioning of the intake of the transmitting members in relation to the optical concentrator. Indeed, if the light collected is not correctly concentrated at the intake of light transmitting members, it is obvious that loss will inevitably occur in terms of the light transmitted. The aim of the present invention is thus that of remedying the drawbacks mentioned above and proposing a simple and reliable device for positioning the intake of a transmitting member relative to the associated optical concentrator. Said device is suitable for ensuring a stable position at a specific point of the intake of said transmitting member relative to the features of the associated optical concentrator. The present invention relates to a device (1) for positioning the intake (2) of a member for transmitting solar energy (3) relative to a convergent optical concentrator (4), comprising a mounting (11), made of ultra-high-performance fibre concrete, provided with at least one reserve (12) suitable for receiving and holding the optical concentrator (4) in a predetermined direction and allowing light to pass through said mounting (11), a receiver (13) suitable for receiving and holding the intake (2) of the transmitting member (3), and at least one spacer element (14) in order to keep said receiver (13) spaced apart from the mounting (11) in a stationary position relative to said reserve (12), said stationary position being defined in accordance with the features of the transmitting member (3) and optical concentrator (4), characterised in that the optical concentrator (4) is a convergent lens comprising two frontal faces called the front dioptre (6) and rear dioptre (7), and a peripheral face (8) joining the two front (6) and rear (7) dioptres and in that the reserve (12) comprises an orifice (18) passing through the mounting (11) on either side and a first countersink (19) formed on the front face (15) of the mounting (11) coaxially with said orifice (18), the respective transverse sections of the orifices (18) and first countersink (19) being homothetic to that of the peripheral face (8) of the optical concentrator (4), and the dimensions of the transverse section of the orifice (18) and the first countersink (19) being respectively slightly less and greater than those of the transverse section of the peripheral face (8) of the optical concentrator (4). The present invention pertains to the field of solar lighting systems such as light wells. The use of fibre concrete in the present invention allows the production of very precise devices for an acceptable cost.