Telescope snow sweeping and defrosting device based on Antarctic extreme environment

Abstract

The invention discloses a telescope snow sweeping and defrosting device based on the Antarctic extreme environment. The device is integrated on a telescope shell and located near window sealing glass. The device comprises a snow sweeping module, an electric heating defrosting module and a heat balance module, the snow sweeping module is used for removing accumulated snow on the outer surface of the window sealing glass, the electric heating defrosting module is used for removing frost on the outer surface of the window sealing glass, and the heat balance module is fixed to the upper portion of the window sealing glass. Dry cold air is blown out to the outer surface of the window sealing glass, so that the window sealing glass reaches a heat balance state. The device is compact in structure, high in adaptability and capable of effectively coping with extreme low temperature, strong wind and frost and snow accumulation environments of the south pole, automatic and efficient snow removal and defrosting at the glass sealing glass of the telescope are achieved, and the observation efficiency and continuous operation capacity of the telescope in the extreme environments such as the south pole are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a snow removal and defrosting device for telescopes in the extreme Antarctic environment. Based on the adhesion of snow and frost in the extreme Antarctic environment, it specifically relates to the design of a rapid snow removal and defrosting device for telescopes, enabling telescopes located in the Dome A region that have been in extreme environments for a long time to be quickly restored and put back into use. Background Technology

[0002] Dome A in Antarctica, the highest point of the Antarctic ice sheet, is considered one of the most advantageous astronomical observation sites on Earth. According to long-term meteorological monitoring data, Dome A experiences strong temperature inversions near the surface, with the atmosphere remaining extremely stable for approximately 70% of the time. This period is characterized by extremely low atmospheric water vapor content, low wind speeds, a high proportion of clear nights, extremely low background light, and a persistent strong temperature inversion layer. These conditions collectively contribute to its excellent astronomical site characteristics. In recent years, the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has deployed a series of photoelectric telescopes, including CSTAR and AST3, in the Dome A region, achieving numerous important scientific results.

[0003] However, the extreme environment of the Dome A region also poses a severe challenge to the long-term stable operation of the telescope. Temperatures in this area are consistently below -30°C, and can drop to below -70°C in winter. Coupled with frequent strong winds, this often brings the risk of frost and snow accumulation on the ground, making the telescope's aperture extremely susceptible to snow cover or frost formation. Furthermore, rapid temperature increases can also trigger severe frost problems. Currently, the conventional approach to such frost and snow cover is to suspend observations and wait for natural conditions to improve before manually resuming operations by going to the Dome A region to melt the frost and snow. This method not only results in a significant loss of continuous observation time during the polar night but also severely impacts the telescope's observation efficiency and the continuity of data acquisition.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a telescope snow removal and defrosting device suitable for extreme environments such as Dome A in Antarctica. This device should be able to efficiently remove snow and frost from the light-transmitting glass at low Antarctic temperatures, taking into account the different adhesion forces of snow and frost. This would ensure the continuous operation of the telescope during critical observation windows such as the polar night, and improve observation efficiency and equipment reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to overcome the problem of the inability to autonomously clear snow and frost in the extreme environment of Antarctica, and proposes a compact, reliable, and environmentally adaptable telescope snow clearing and defrosting device. Through the synergistic effect of mechanical snow clearing, uniform heating, and thermal balance, this invention effectively solves the problem of snow and frost accumulation on the outer surface of the telescope window glass at sites such as Dome A in Antarctica, achieving rapid and automated cleaning and ensuring the telescope's observation efficiency.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A telescope snow removal and defrosting device based on the extreme environment of Antarctica is integrated into the telescope housing and located near the outer surface of the sealing glass. The device mainly includes a snow removal module, an electric defrosting module, and a thermal balance module. The snow removal module is used to remove snow from the outer surface of the sealing glass, the electric defrosting module is used to remove frost from the outer surface of the sealing glass, and the thermal balance module is fixed above the sealing glass and blows dry, cold air onto the outer surface of the sealing glass to bring the sealing glass to a thermal equilibrium state.

[0008] Furthermore, the snow-sweeping module and the electric defrosting module are installed diagonally on the outer surface of the sealed window glass, and the heat balance module is installed on one edge of the telescope's sealed window glass.

[0009] Furthermore, the snow sweeping module includes a snow sweeping drive motor, a snow sweeping rod connecting shaft, and a snow sweeping rod.

[0010] Furthermore, the snow sweeping drive motor is installed inside the telescope housing, and the snow sweeping rod is connected to and installed outside the telescope housing via a snow sweeping rod connecting shaft, and is driven by the snow sweeping drive motor. The snow sweeping rod has a built-in brush, and its sweeping range covers the outer surface of the electrically heated sealing glass. By driving the snow sweeping rod to sweep back and forth on the outer surface of the sealing glass, it removes the snow with weak adhesion left on the outer surface of the sealing glass. Furthermore, the electrically heated defrosting module includes a defrosting drive motor, a defrosting rod connecting shaft, a defrosting rod, a heating wire fixing seat, a chamois sleeve, and a heating wire.

[0011] Furthermore, the defrosting drive motor is also installed inside the telescope housing, and the defrosting rod is connected to the outside of the telescope housing via a defrosting rod connecting shaft and is driven by the defrosting drive motor. The area it sweeps covers the outer surface of the electrically heated sealing glass. An electric heating wire is fixed on the defrosting rod via an electric heating wire fixing seat, and the electric heating wire is covered with a chamois sleeve.

[0012] Furthermore, by heating the heating wire and driving the defrosting module to sweep back and forth at a uniform speed across the outer surface of the sealed window glass, the adhesion of the frost layer on the outer surface of the sealed window glass is reduced, causing the frost with strong adhesion to melt. Under the action of the heating wire, the water formed by the melting frost layer is completely absorbed by the chamois sleeve. This process is repeated multiple times across the outer surface of the sealed window glass until the frost layer on the outer surface is completely removed. Furthermore, the chamois sleeve has strong water absorption properties; while the frost melts, the chamois sweeping action promptly removes water droplets and watermarks left on the sealed window glass, ensuring the cleanliness of the outer surface of the sealed window glass.

[0013] Furthermore, the heat balance module includes a blower that can blow dry, cold air onto the outer surface of the sealed window glass, allowing the outer surface of the sealed window glass to quickly reach a heat balance state.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0015] This invention designs a telescope snow removal and defrosting device based on the extreme environment of Antarctica, which can effectively and quickly remove snow and frost from the outer surface of the telescope's sealing glass. The snow removal module, the electric defrosting module, and the thermal balance module constitute a snow removal and defrosting system, which realizes rapid snow removal and defrosting and ensures the thermal balance state of the outer surface of the sealing glass, making the normal observation of the telescope more reliable. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall sealing lens tube of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the snow removal module in this invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electric defrosting module in this invention;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the thermal balance module in this invention;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the snow removal module in this invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the electric defrosting module in this invention;

[0022] The markings in the diagram are as follows: 1-Snow sweeping module, 11-Snow sweeping drive motor, 12-Snow sweeping rod connecting shaft, 13-Snow sweeping rod, 2-Electric defrosting module, 21-Defrosting drive motor, 22-Defrosting rod connecting shaft, 23-Defrosting rod, 24-Heating wire fixing seat (left), 25-Heating wire fixing seat (right), 26-Chamois sleeve, 27-Heating wire, 3-Thermal balance module, 31-Blower, 4-Telescope housing, 41-Sealing window glass. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will be further explained and described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] A telescope snow removal and defrosting device based on the extreme environment of Antarctica is used for rapid snow removal and defrosting before telescope observation. The telescope snow removal and defrosting device includes a snow removal module, an electric defrosting module, and a thermal balance module.

[0025] like Figure 1As shown, the telescope snow removal and defrosting device is based on an infrared telescope and mainly includes a snow removal module 1, an electric defrosting module 2, a thermal balance module 3, and a telescope housing 4. The telescope housing 4 is a closed housing, and the snow removal module 1, the electric defrosting module 2, and the thermal balance module 3 are all mounted on the telescope housing 4. The snow removal module 1 has its rotating shaft located on the upper left of the upper surface of the telescope housing 4, while the electric defrosting module 2 is rotate symmetrically mounted on the lower right of the upper surface of the telescope housing 4.

[0026] The snow removal module is used to remove snow from the outer surface of the sealed window glass 41, and its structure is as follows: Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the system includes a snow sweeping drive motor 11, a snow sweeping rod connecting shaft 12, and a snow sweeping rod 13. The snow sweeping drive motor 11, as the driving part of the snow sweeping module, is fixedly installed on the upper left side of the upper surface of the telescope housing 4 to prevent the snow sweeping drive motor 11 from coming into contact with the harsh external environment, thereby affecting the service life of the snow sweeping drive motor 11. The snow sweeping rod 13 is connected to the outside of the telescope housing 4 via the snow sweeping rod connecting shaft 12 and is driven by the snow sweeping drive motor 11. Ultimately, it is necessary to ensure that the area swept by the snow sweeping rod 13 covers the outer surface of the sealing glass 41. The snow on the outer surface of the sealing glass 41 has weak adhesion. Driving the snow sweeping rod 13 to sweep back and forth on the outer surface of the sealing glass 41 can effectively sweep away the snow left on the outer surface.

[0027] The aforementioned electric defrosting module 2 is used to remove frost from the outer surface of the sealed window glass 41, and its structure is as follows: Figure 1 and 3 As shown, the module includes a defrost drive motor 21, a defrost rod connecting shaft 22, a defrost rod 23, a left heating wire fixing seat 24, a right heating wire fixing seat 25, a chamois sleeve 26, and a heating wire 27. The defrost drive motor 21 is also installed inside the telescope housing 4. The defrost rod 23 is connected to the outside of the telescope housing 4 via the defrost rod connecting shaft 22. A heating wire 27 is fixed to the defrost rod 23 via the left and right heating wire fixing seats 24 and 25. A chamois sleeve 26 covers the outside of the heating wire 27. The entire electric defrost module 2 is driven by the defrost drive motor 21, and its sweeping range covers the outer surface of the electric heated sealing glass 41. The frost layer on the outer surface of the sealing glass 41 has strong adhesion. By heating the heating wire 27 to a suitable temperature and then driving the defrost rod 23 to sweep back and forth across the outer surface of the sealing glass 41 at a uniform speed, the adhesion of the frost layer on the outer surface of the sealing glass 41 can be effectively reduced. The chamois sleeve 26 can effectively absorb the frost layer that falls off the outer surface of the window glass 41, and under the action of the heating wire 27, it melts and is completely absorbed by the highly absorbent chamois sleeve 26. This process is repeated multiple times on the outer surface of the window glass 41 until the frost layer on the outer surface of the window glass 41 is completely cleaned.

[0028] The thermal balance module 3, as described above Figure 1 and4 As shown, it includes a blower 31. The outer surface of the sealed window glass 41 is not uniformly heated due to the influence of the heating wire 27 in the electric defrosting module 2. The blower 31 blows dry, cold air onto the outer surface of the sealed window glass 41 to bring the sealed window glass 41 to a thermal equilibrium state, thereby avoiding affecting the observation.

[0029] The workflow of this embodiment is as follows:

[0030] After experiencing extreme weather, start the snow sweeping drive motor 11 and the defrosting drive motor 21 to their initial working positions (both sides open), and then carry out snow removal work, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the snow sweeper 13 initially removes the snow with weak adhesion on the surface of the sealed window glass 41 until a layer of frost with strong adhesion is exposed on the outer surface of the sealed window glass 41. Then, the defrost lever 23 is activated. Figure 6 As shown, the suede sleeve 26 sweeps back and forth across the outer surface of the sealed glass 41 at a uniform speed. While sweeping, the suede sleeve 26 absorbs the melted frost, thus cleaning and drying the outer surface of the sealed glass 41. Finally, the blower 31 blows out cold air to achieve thermal balance on the outer surface of the sealed glass 41, avoiding the impact on observation caused by uneven heating of the outer surface of the sealed glass 41.

[0031] In summary, this invention provides a telescope snow removal and defrosting device based on the extreme environment of Antarctica, including a snow removal module, an electrothermal defrosting module, and a thermal balance module. The snow removal module includes a snow removal drive motor, a snow removal rod connecting shaft, and a snow removal rod. The motor is located inside the telescope housing, and the snow removal rod is located outside the housing via the connecting shaft, used to periodically remove snow with low adhesion from the outer surface of the sealing glass. The electrothermal defrosting module includes a defrosting drive motor, a defrosting rod connecting shaft, a defrosting rod, a heating wire fixing seat, a chamois sleeve, and a heating wire. The motor drives the heating wire to sweep across the outer surface of the sealing glass at a uniform angular velocity, reducing the adhesion of frost on the outer surface of the sealing glass. The chamois sleeve can promptly absorb and remove any detached frost layers. The thermal balance module allows the outer surface of the sealing glass swept by the electrothermal defrosting module to quickly reach a thermal equilibrium state, avoiding the impact of uneven heat distribution on observation due to uneven heat distribution on the outer surface of the sealing glass. This invention features a compact structure and strong adaptability, effectively coping with the extreme low temperatures, strong winds, and frost accumulation environment of Antarctica. It enables automatic and efficient snow removal and defrosting of the telescope's window glass, significantly improving the telescope's observation efficiency and continuous operation capability in extreme environments such as Antarctica.

[0032] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A telescope snow-removal defrosting device based on the extreme environment of the South Pole, characterized by, The device is integrated on the telescope shell near the window glass; the device comprises a snow sweeping module, an electric heating defrosting module and a thermal balance module, the snow sweeping module is used for removing the snow on the outer surface of the window glass, the electric heating defrosting module is used for removing the frost on the outer surface of the window glass, and the thermal balance module is fixed above the window glass and makes the window glass reach a thermal balance state by blowing dry cold air to the outer surface of the window glass.

2. The telescope snow-removal defrosting device based on the extreme environment of the South Pole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The snow sweeping module comprises a snow sweeping driving motor, a snow sweeping rod connecting shaft and a snow sweeping rod; the snow sweeping driving motor is fixedly installed in the interior of the telescope shell, the snow sweeping rod is arranged outside the telescope shell through the snow sweeping rod connecting shaft and is driven by the snow sweeping driving motor, and the range swept by the snow sweeping rod covers the outer surface of the electric heating window glass.

3. The telescope snow-removal defrosting device based on the extreme environment of the South Pole according to claim 2, characterized in that, By driving the snow sweeping rod to reciprocally sweep the outer surface of the window glass, the snow with weak adhesion on the outer surface of the window glass is swept away.

4. The telescope snow sweeping and defrosting device based on the extreme environment of the Antarctic according to claim 1, wherein the electric heating defrosting module comprises a defrosting driving motor, a defrosting rod connecting shaft, a defrosting rod, an electric heating wire fixing seat, a suede sleeve and an electric heating wire; the defrosting driving motor is installed in the telescope shell, the defrosting rod is arranged outside the telescope shell through the defrosting rod connecting shaft and is driven by the defrosting driving motor, the range swept by the defrosting rod covers the outer surface of the electric heating window glass, the electric heating wire is fixed on the defrosting rod through the electric heating wire fixing seat, and the suede sleeve is sleeved outside the electric heating wire.

5. A telescope snow-removal defrosting device based on the extreme environment of the South Pole according to claim 4, characterized in that, By heating the electric heating wire and driving the defrosting rod to reciprocally sweep the outer surface of the window glass, the adhesion of the frost layer on the outer surface of the window glass is reduced.

6. A snow sweeping and defrosting device for a telescope based on the extreme environment of the South Pole according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The water formed by the melting of the frost layer under the action of the electric heating wire is completely absorbed by the suede sleeve, and the outer surface of the window glass is reciprocally swept for multiple times until the frost layer on the outer surface of the window glass is completely cleaned.

7. The telescope snow-removal defrosting device based on the extreme environment of the South Pole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal balance module comprises a blower; the blower blows dry cold air to the outer surface of the window glass, so that the window glass reaches a thermal balance state.

Images