RADIANT-ENERGY-DRIVEN ORIENTATION SYSTEM

• US 3,635,015 A
• Filed: 09/19/1969
• Issued: 01/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald L. Samuels
• Original Assignee: Ronald L. Samuels
• Inventors: Samuels, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ostrager, A. M.
• Application Number:
  US04/859,541
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 250/203,83R 60/26,23
• US Class Current: 60/530
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/363 using sun sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/44 using radiation, e.g. deployable solar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/783 using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

Radiant energy apparatus which automatically orients itself relative to the radiation source. A sensing panel having an absorbing surface to be exposed generally toward the source and a radiating surface shielded from the source but thermally connected to the absorbing surface is variably covered by a sensor shutter which is controlled by passive, bimetallic, radiation-direction-sensitive means. A power drive unit including a thermally expansive fluid-filled cylinder and piston connected therewith is mounted on the panel and drives an orienting mechanism in response to the temperature of the sensing panel as determined by its angle of exposure toward the source, the degree of its shielding therefrom as by the sensing shutter, and the rate of thermal radiation from the sensing panel. The power drive element may also drive the second shutter for variable shielding of the panel for additional feedback control of the system.

Claims

1. Radiant energy driven orientation system comprising:

base structure means for carrying at least one orientable member;

thermal energy sensor body member rotatably mounted upon said base structure means and having a first portion of its surface exposable toward a predetermined source of radiant energy for absorbing energy therefrom and a second portion of its surface, thermally coupled to said first portion, exposable toward relatively nonradiating media whereby the average temperature of said sensor body member is a predetermined function of the relative magnitude of the absorbing and radiating fluxes associated respectively with said first and second surface portions;

direction sensor, variable shutter means disposed contiguously over a first predetermined sector of said first surface portion;

position sensor, variable shutter means disposed contiguously over a second predetermined sector of said first surface portion;

direction sensor means connected to said direction sensor, variable shutter means for controlling the degree of exposure of said first sector of said first surface portion to said source of radiant energy responsive to the angular orientation of said sensor body member with respect to the direction of said energy flux from said source incident upon said sensor body member;

thermally actuable, orienting force providing means thermally coupled to said sensor body member and connected to said position sensor, variable shutter means for controlling thereby the degree of exposure of said second predetermined sector of said first surface portion to said source responsive to said average temperature of said sensor body member; and

force-transmissive means interconnected between said orienting force providing means and said base structure means for rotatably varying the angular disposition of said sensor body member with respect to said base structure member for maintaining said first predetermined surface portion thereof exposable toward said surface.

2. The invention, according to claim 1, in which said thermally actuable orienting force providing means comprises at least one cylinder and cooperating piston carried by said sensor body member and containing a thermally expansive fluid the volume of which, and consequently the lineal displacement of said piston, being a predetermined function of said average temperature of said sensor body member.

3. The invention, according to claim 1, in which said first surface portion comprises relatively reflective and relatively absorptive areas, with respect to said radiant energy, and in which said shutter means comprises radiation shielding means for varying the proportion of said reflective to absorptive areas which is exposed to the flux of said radiant energy.

4. The invention, according to claim 1, in which said thermal energy sensor body member includes a bias flux control surface segment and which further includes intensity sensor, variable shutter means disposed contiguously over said bias flux control surface segment;

and intensity sensor means connected to said intensity control shutter means for controlling the degree of exposure of said bias flux control segment to said source of radiant energy responsive to the intensity of said energy flux from said source incident upon said sensor means.

5. The invention, according to claim 3, in which said direction sensor, variable shutter means is formed to include a plurality of apertures arranged in a predetermined array over said first sector of said first surface portion of said sensor body member.

6. The invention, according to claim 5, in which said relatively absorptive areas of said first surface portion include an array of absorptive areas corresponding geometrically to, and disposed in juxtaposed relation with, said predetermined array of apertures of said direction sensor, variable shutter means.