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EP2788694A2 - Solar panel cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Solar panel cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number
EP2788694A2
EP2788694A2 EP12720975.7A EP12720975A EP2788694A2 EP 2788694 A2 EP2788694 A2 EP 2788694A2 EP 12720975 A EP12720975 A EP 12720975A EP 2788694 A2 EP2788694 A2 EP 2788694A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
header
motor
solar panels
header member
frame
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12720975.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Benvenuto Mchele PREZIUSO
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from IT000117A external-priority patent/ITRM20110117A1/en
Priority claimed from IT000614A external-priority patent/ITRM20110614A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2788694A2 publication Critical patent/EP2788694A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B13/00—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers
    • A46B13/001—Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B13/00—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers
    • A46B13/02—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers power-driven carriers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B1/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools
    • B08B1/30—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools by movement of cleaning members over a surface
    • B08B1/32—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools by movement of cleaning members over a surface using rotary cleaning members
    • B08B1/34—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools by movement of cleaning members over a surface using rotary cleaning members rotating about an axis parallel to the surface
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S40/00—Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors
    • F24S40/20—Cleaning; Removing snow
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a solar panel cleaning apparatus.
  • Cleaning generally means to brush an active surface of the panels with or without liquid; in the following the cleaning is also called washing, if brushing is done with addition of liquid.
  • the patent U.S. 5,323,508 describes a cleaning apparatus for roof glazing comprising an elongate brush rotating about its axis and mounted at its opposite ends in carriages running on guide rails.
  • German patent application DE 10 2010 017 698 describes a method for cleaning a surface of a photovoltaic panel that is inclined downward from a horizontal ridge by the rotation of a brush that moves forward on the panel by a plurality of wheels. Mounted on the horizontal ridge is a guide on which the upper end of the brush moves.
  • the patent application DE 10 2010 025 845 discloses a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning member movable over a surface to be cleaned.
  • the cleaning member is guided by a track on opposite sides of the surface, and has a cylindrical brush.
  • the cleaning element is moved by a motor on the track.
  • WO 2004/091816 relates to a cleaning arrangement for photovoltaic generators and flat concentrating solar collectors.
  • Said cleaning arrangement can be used, particularly, in arid and semi-arid zones to eliminate dust and sand that influence the efficiency of these generators.
  • a cylindrical brush is put in rotation by a drive unit on the surface to be cleaned. The rotation of the brush is transmitted to gears which engage two underlying binary toothed driving. Therefore, the cylindrical brush moves translating parallel to itself.
  • the Spanish patent application No. 2 322 745 describes a solar panel cleaning apparatus that comprises longitudinal guides, concentrical roller brushes, a drive unit movable mounted on each longitudinal guide and provided with at least one motor for the rotation of the roller brushes and their movement with the drive unit as well as an electronic control panel and a rain sensor to automatically start the drive unit.
  • the apparatus of the patent application No. 2 322 745 is not transportable and adaptable to different panels, it does not provide for supply of washing water to the brushes, if not rainwater.
  • the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a solar panel cleaning apparatus that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art above mentioned.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning apparatus that does not require guides or the like for its movement on solar panels for their cleaning or washing.
  • one object of the invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning apparatus that is so arranged as to rest on the same panel to be cleaned, in contact with its peripheral portions, and moved onto a new array of panels to be cleaned at the end of a cleaning operation of an array of panels joined to one another.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having such a light weight that it can be handled also by one person.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a same solar panel cleaning apparatus that can be used for solar panels of different sizes.
  • Another object of the invention is to maintain the same efficiency in washing both large and small panels.
  • a further object of the invention is to allow solar panels to be brushed both with and without water or other water solution.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning apparatus that can be powered from the mains or be independent from it.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic axial cross-section view along a broken line F-F in Figure 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but showing partially and in a larger scale the apparatus positioned on solar panels;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-section view similar to that of Figure 3, but showing partially and in a larger scale the apparatus positioned on solar panels;
  • FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention adapted to rest on a large panel
  • - Figure 8 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the fourth embodiment of the invention adapted to rest on a small panel;
  • FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic axial cross-section view along a line A-A in Figure 7 of the fourth embodiment of the invention located on a large panel, an operator and a power supply unit being included;
  • FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic axial cross-section view along a line B-B in Figure 8 of the fourth embodiment of the invention located on a small panel, an operator and a power supply unit being included;
  • FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary and cut axial cross-section view along line C-C in Figure 7, in which roller brushes, among other things, are not shown;
  • FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line D-D in Figure 11, showing an upper header member of the apparatus with the addition of roller brushes;
  • FIG. 13 shows a detail of an enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A of Figure 7, without power unit and other parts of the upper header member;
  • FIG. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along the lines C-C of Figure 1, relevant to the wheel shaft;
  • FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line E-E in Figure 11, showing the lower header member with the addition of the roller brushes;
  • FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line E-E in Figure 11 showing only the fixed part of the lower header member with the addition of the roller brushes, but without the wheel;
  • FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line E-E in Figure 11 showing only the movable part of the lower header member, with the dashed fixed part and the wheel;
  • - Figure 18 is a fragmentary side view in more detail of the fixed part and movable part of the upper header member in a condition of maximum extension of the latter, in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention
  • - Figure 19 is a fragmentary side view, similar to that of Figure 18, of the fixed part and movable part of the upper header member in a condition of reduced extension of the latter, in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.
  • FIG. 20 is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A of Figure 7, without power unit and other parts of the lower header member.
  • FIG 1 there is shown a diagrammatic top plan view of a first embodiment of a solar panel cleaning apparatus according to the invention.
  • a substantially rectangular frame comprising a pair of upper and lower header members 4, 5 and a pair of opposite sections fixed at their ends to the header members 4, 5 to form side walls 2, 3 of the frame 1.
  • the header members 4, 5 may be substantially in the form of plates; the terms "upper” and “lower” which identify them, refer to their level in the use of the apparatus: that is, the header member 4 is called upper being intended to be positioned near the upper edge Bs of the solar panels, and the header member 5 is called lower being intended to be positioned near the lower edge Bi.
  • the header members 4, 5 support a plurality of roller brushes 8 being fixed consecutively to a first brush shaft 9' mounted for rotating on the header members 4, 5. Alternatively, the brushes can be implemented in a single roller.
  • the header members 4, 5 also support a pair of wheels 19, 19 integral with a wheel shaft 11 in the vicinity of its support on the header members 4, 5, the wheel shaft 11 being rotatably mounted on the header members 4, 5.
  • the pair of wheels 19, 19, in contact with the front surface S of the solar panels P, are keyed concentrically to the wheel shaft 11 for moving the apparatus on the front surface S.
  • the first brush shaft 9' is driven by a first motor 6 mounted on the upper header member 4 externally to the frame 1, and the wheel shaft 11 is driven by a second motor 7. Also the second motor is mounted on the upper header member 4 like the first brush shaft 9' via a suitable supporting element 12.
  • the central control unit 13 is connected to a power supply via a cable 14 passing in an outer groove of the section of the wall 3 and a socket 15.
  • mounted inside the container of the central control unit 13 is, by way of example, a rectifier comprising a transformer for alternating current, an AC/DC rectifier and a filter, to supply the first motor 6 and the second motor 7 from the mains.
  • the central control unit 13 includes what is conventionally necessary for the operation of the apparatus both in presence of an operator and automatically.
  • the series of solar panels to be cleaned shall be equipped with mechanical or electronic switches that interact with the apparatus in its operation. Also these devices are not shown or described in detail because conventional.
  • a propulsion system of the apparatus on the solar panels to be cleaned comprises, as header rotating means, a header wheel 16 mounted on the upper header member 4 by means of a support block 18 near a slot (not indicated with numeral reference numbers in the figures).
  • the slot being made in the upper header member 4 allows the header wheel 16 to engage the upper edge of the solar panel and roll on it, as will be seen better later.
  • the header wheel 16 is not idle as being driven via a flexible transmission 26 by a gear 17 driven by the second motor 7.
  • header roller 20 mounted on the lower header member 5 inside the frame 1, as header rotating means, is a header roller 20, designed to engage the front surface of the solar panel. Also the header roller 20 is not idle as being connected by means of a flexible transmission 21 to the wheel shaft 11, as will be seen in greater detail below. The wheels and the rollers move in synchronism.
  • handles Mounted on the outer side of the side walls 2 and 3 of frame 1 are handles generally designated as 22.
  • the frame 1 is covered by a cover 23, being for example transparent, that is fixed to the side walls 2 and 3 by screws generally indicated as 24.
  • FIG. 2 represents a diagrammatic top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention
  • same or similar reference numerals are used to designate parts identical or similar to those in the first embodiment. Differences from the first embodiment are highlighted in detail below.
  • a second brush shaft 9" is mounted on the header members 40, 50 of a frame 10 parallel to the first brush shaft 9', and carries a plurality of roller brushes 80 for cleaning the solar panel, the roller brushes 80 being mounted rigidly in an adjustable position along its second shaft 9".
  • the second brush shaft 9" is driven by the first brush shaft 9' by means of a flexible transmission 25, as will be seen in greater detail below.
  • the roller brushes 80 of the brush shafts 9' and 9" are mounted in a desired number to obtain the desired degree of cleanliness.
  • the propulsion system of the apparatus comprises a further header wheel 160 mounted on the upper header member 40 by means of a support block 18 near a slot (not indicated with reference number) that allows the header wheel 160 to engage the upper edge of the solar panel and roll on it, like the header wheel 16. Even the header wheel 160 is not idle as being moved by a gear 170 driven by the motor 7 together with the wheel shaft 11.
  • header roller 200 mounted on the lower header member 50 within the frame 10, symmetrically with respect to wheel shaft 11, is a header roller 200, as header rotating means, designed to engage the front surface of the solar panel, in addition to the header roller 20 already in the first embodiment. Even the header roller 200 is not idle as being connected by a flexible transmission 210 to the wheel shaft 11, as will be seen in greater detail below.
  • Figures 4 and 5 are a top plan view and a cross- section view, both partial and in an enlarged scale, of the apparatus according to the second embodiment, being positioned on solar panels generally indicated as P and shown only partially on uprights s, s.
  • the propulsion system of the apparatus is shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5.
  • the pair of drive wheels 19, 19 integral with wheel shaft 11 rest on the front surface S of the solar panels P.
  • the header wheels 16, 160 being mounted on the upper header member 40 by support blocks 18, engage the upper edge Bs of the solar panels P and roll on it, being driven by means of flexible transmissions 26, which are substantially crowns and chains, by relative gears 17, 170 driven by the motor 7, which turns the wheel shaft 11.
  • header rollers 20, 200 engaging the front surface of the solar panel near their lower edge Bi. Also the header rollers 20, 200 are drive rollers because they are connected by flexible transmissions 21, 210 to wheel shaft 11. Mounted on the frame 10 is the cover 23, preferably made of transparent material like in the first embodiment, in order to permit the effectiveness of the apparatus to be monitored in the cleaning of the solar panels.
  • the flexible transmissions that drive wheels, rollers and brushes can also be replaced by other types of transmissions, for example, by gear trains which receive motion from the first motor 6 and the second motor 7.
  • means for varying the number of revolutions of the output shaft of the motors 6 and 7 are provided so as to adjust the speed of rotation of the respective shafts 9' and 11. In this way, it is possible to independently select, from each other, the rotation speed of the brushes and the speed of movement of the apparatus on the solar panels P, for example as a function of the degree and type of dirt on them.
  • An assessment of this kind can be made by an operator that checks the apparatus verifying the operation and modifying it by means of a device connected with a cable to the central control unit, or with a wireless remote control, if adequate means of communication between the operator and the apparatus are provided.
  • the apparatus may operate fully automatically if the arrays of panels are provided with appropriate limit switches or stations for the apparatus.
  • This third embodiment differs from the second as the cover 230 is made up of solar panels that can supply an alternative form of power to the apparatus and make it independent from the mains. In this case a transformation of the mains voltage would not be required, and it should be if the apparatus according to the invention were powered by the same solar panels that it is cleaning, but without the complication of power cables to which the apparatus must be connected.
  • the central control unit 13 comprises a battery 27 for the accumulation of the current delivered by the cover 230 to the solar panels and a connecting cable 28 between the battery 27 and the cover 230.
  • the apparatus For putting into use the apparatus according to the first three embodiments thereof described above, it is raised by gripping it through the handles 22 and positioning it on the solar panels.
  • the apparatus has at its disposal the energy to turn the brush shaft and the shaft for its propulsion if the apparatus is electrically connected to the mains, or it is connected to a source of energy supplied by the solar panels that are cleaned or to its own source of energy represented by the solar panel cover 230.
  • the apparatus can advance by means of a remote control in one and the other direction of advancing on the panels.
  • the roller brushes work independently from the advancing of the apparatus that is permitted by the provided wheels and rollers that are all driving wheels and rollers. In this way, a proper grip of the apparatus is assured on panel portions even in the junctions between one panel and the other.
  • a station can be provided alongside of the array of panels.
  • the station for the apparatus can be a frame having the same shape as that of the solar panel to be cleaned.
  • the invention achieves the intended purpose of providing a solar panel cleaning apparatus which does not require guides or the like for its movement on solar panels for cleaning them.
  • the apparatus according to the first three embodiments can be easily adapted to each width of panels by replacing wall sections and shafts having the right length.
  • the invention can also provide one apparatus adjustable to different types of panels. This is shown in the following with reference to Figures 7 and 8, in which a diagrammatic top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown. Thanks to it, the solar panel cleaning apparatus is ready to be applied to a large panel and to a small panel, respectively.
  • a frame indicated as 100 is preferably open at the top, without bottom, and extending longitudinally with opposite parallel side walls 2 and 3.
  • the frame 100 which is structurally very similar to those indicated with 1 and 10 in the previous embodiments, is designed to overlie by its length a panel in its short side, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, which are diagrammatic axial sections obtained along lines A-A in Figure 7 and B- B in Figure 6, respectively.
  • the solar panel is indicated as PL, since it is of a width greater than that indicated as PS in Figure 10.
  • an operator and, diagrammatically, a supply unit AU are added.
  • the solar panel is in particular a photovoltaic or hybrid solar panel, consisting of single modules such as those indicated as PI, P2, P3.
  • the apparatus is useful for other types of panels whose surface should be cleaned.
  • an upper header member 400 and a lower header member 500 are provided with reference to Figures 9 and 10.
  • Solar panels are shown in their traditional inclined position in Figures 9 and 10, being supported on uprights s, s.
  • roller brushes mounted on a pair of brush shafts generally indicated as 9.
  • the wheels 19, 19, allow the frame 100 to advance along the panel to be washed.
  • FIG 11 there is shown a diagrammatic fragmentary axial cross-section view along the line C-C in Figure 7, i.e. taken along the wheel shaft 11.
  • the roller brushes 80 mounted on the shaft 9 placed side by side are not shown.
  • the solar panel is not described in detail, only peripheral portions of the modules PI, P3, made with E-shaped sections Pr, being shown.
  • the wheels 19 that are rigidly fixed on the shaft 11 advance above the E- shaped section Pr.
  • the shaft 11 that, at one end thereof, is rotatably mounted on the upper header member 400, is rotated by the motor 7 for driving the wheels.
  • Provided in the upper and lower header members 400 and 500 are header rotating means for engaging the frame 100 with peripheral portions of the modules PI, P3.
  • the header means are in the form of counteracting idle wheels that are coplanar and perpendicular respectively to the panel, being called horizontal and vertical in the following for simplicity's sake. They are indicated respectively as 27 and 28, in engagement with side and lower faces of the E- shaped section Pr.
  • the horizontal counteracting idle wheel 27 passes through a vertical wall 29, which constitutes an extension downwards of the upper header member 400, in a slot 30 in order to be in contact with the side face of the E-shaped section Pr.
  • Idle supporting wheels 31, 31 engaged with the vertical wall 29 are side by side to the horizontal counteracting wheel 27.
  • a generally fixed left-hand end wheel 19 (with reference to figure 11) is mounted on the shaft 11 as well as wheels 19 are adjustable in position along the shaft 11, such as the central one shown in Figure 11, which is also designed to move on juxtaposed sections Pr of adjacent modules P2 , P3 of the panel. Also the right- hand end wheel 19 is a wheel movable along the shaft 11.
  • FIG 12 there is shown a diagrammatic cross-section view taken along a line D-D in Figure 11, i.e. facing the upper header member 400.
  • Figure 12 there are shown the side walls 2, 3 of the frame 100, and the roller brushes 80 mounted on their respective brush shafts 9 parallel to wheel shaft 11, even if the roller brushes 80 are not shown in Figure 11.
  • the horizontal counteracting idle wheels 27 passing through the slots 30 in the wall 29 are shown dashed.
  • the vertical counteracting idle wheels 28 are mounted on suspension elements 32 by means of at least a pair of bolts 33 with interposed springs 34.
  • the side walls 2 and 3 of the frame 100 are made by sections that, at a side thereof facing the outside of the wall, are equipped wjthjojigjtudinal grooves 35 whose function will be illustrated later.
  • the sections of the side walls 2, 3 have chambers 36 for the passage of a washing solution under pressure, and sealed ducts 37 designed for the passage of electric cables.
  • the chambers 36 in the inner side are holes with nozzles 38 for spraying the washing solution on the roller brushes 80.
  • the sections of the side walls 2, 3 are equipped at the top with a groove 39, whose function will be illustrated later, as for the longitudinal grooves 35.
  • Figure 13 shows a detail of an enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A in Figure 7, without the drive unit and other parts of the upper header member 400.
  • FIG 13 there is shown diagrammatically a rotatable support for the brush shaft 9 on the wall 29 through a bearing 41.
  • a roller brush 80 is shown rigidly connected to the brush shaft 9 by means of a security dowel 42. In this way, the position of the brush can be chosen along the brush shaft 9 on the basis of the panel width, as will be seen later.
  • FIG 13 there is also indicated as 43 a supporting arm of the brush shaft 9 bridged onto the sections of the side walls 2, 3 by locking members 44 received in the groove 39 of both walls.
  • FIG 14 which is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross- section view along the lines C-C in Figure 7, similar supporting arms 43 of the wheel shaft 11 are bridged onto the sections of the side walls 2, 3 by locking members 44 received in the groove 39.
  • the wheel 19 is displaceable rigidly coupled to shaft 11 by means of a security dowel 45.
  • Juxtaposed sections Pr, Pr of adjacent modules PI, P2 of the panel are shown below the movable wheel 19.
  • Figure 15 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along the lines E-E in Figure 11. It shows substantially the apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the invention near the lower header member 500, with a motor that is not indicated in Figure 11.
  • the solar panel cleaning apparatus In the vicinity of the lower header member 500, the solar panel cleaning apparatus has an upper fixed part and a lower movable part that for clarity's sake are shown separately in Figures 16 and 17, which show, analogously to Figure 15, diagrammatic cross-section views taken along the lines E-E in Figure 11.
  • the apparatus in correspondence with the lower header member 500, has substantially the same configuration as that in the upper header member 400 from a functional point of view, supports for the shafts 11 of the wheels 19, 19 and for the brush shafts 9 of the roller brushes 80 being provided in both header members.
  • header member means in the following not only the crossbar of the frame 100 but also that part of the apparatus which is connected to the crossbar itself.
  • a motor 47 for the actuation of the brush shaft 9.
  • the brush shaft 9 are joined together by a flexible transmission represented diagrammatically with dashed lines, and with parts removed for clarity's sake.
  • the flexible transmission can be made by pulleys generally indicated as 48, integral with the brush shaft 9, on which a toothed belt 49 runs.
  • the movable part of the lower header member 500 is generally indicated as 51 and represented in Figure 17, where the side walls 2 and 3 of the frame 100, as they are not part of the movable part, are shown in dashed lines on which the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 is mounted in an adjustable position by means of vertical brackets 52, 52.
  • the wall of the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 has a pair of depressions 53, 53 in order to not interfere with the roller brushes 80.
  • Shown in Figure 17 is also a wheel 19 fixed in an adjustable position on the wheel shaft 11.
  • the adjustable wheel 19 is not part of the header member but is movable with the latter, as will be said below.
  • the lower header member 500 is shown in detail in Figures 18 and 19 in respective relative positions of its fixed part 46 and its movable part 51.
  • Figure 18 is a fragmentary side view of the fixed part and moving part of the lower header member 500 in the case in which the apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the invention rests on a particularly large panel PL to be washed
  • Figure 19 is a fragmentary side view of the apparatus in the case in which it rests on a small panel PS.
  • the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 can be locked along the longitudinal grooves 35 of the sections Pr in such a position that the movable part 51 is in abutment against the panel PS, as shown in Figure 19.
  • the movable part 51 is provided with horizontal and vertical counteracting idle wheels that are spring-charged against the panel PS by virtue of wheel holder arrangements indicated as 54, 55. Similar vertical arrangements are already depicted diagrammatically in Figure 12 with reference to the upper header member 400, where they are indicated generally as 32.
  • Figure 20 is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A of the lower header member 500 in Figure 7, in which its fixed part 46 is diagrammatically shown without the drive unit in order to describe means for connection to the supply unit UA.
  • the movable part 51 is in abutment with the panel PL.
  • the horizontal and vertical counteracting idle wheels 27, 28 are spring- charged.
  • a quick coupling 56 for attaching a water pipe 57 connected to the supply unit UA shown in Figures 9 and 10. As shown with the further cross-section view in the wall 3, the quick coupling 56 leads to the chamber 36 inside the section of the side wall for the passage of the washing solution.
  • An electrical connection with the supply unit UA is provided on the fixed part 46 of the lower header member 500, over the quick coupling 56, via a cable 58 and a switch 59.
  • the apparatus is transported to the site in which the panels are situated. Its frame 100 is positioned above the panel, and the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 is brought in abutment with the lower side of the panel, so that header means for engaging the frame 100 in both the upper header member 400 and lower header section 500 is active with the outer peripheral portions of the panels.
  • said header means are counteracting idle wheels 27, 28 that can slide on vertical portions and on horizontal lower portions of the panel. Also the wheel 19 near the lower header member 500 is adjusted along the shaft 11 so as to advance on the upper peripheral portion of the panel.
  • roller brushes 80 are adjusted in position and locked along their respective brush shafts 9 in such a way that there is no surface of the panel that is not brushed from the roller brushes 80 mounted on either shaft 9. After hydraulic and electrical connection, the machine advances under the supervision of even a single operator until the complete cleaning of the panels.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A solar panel cleaning apparatus comprises a frame (10) having side walls (2, 3) and upper and lower header members (40, 50) supporting a plurality of roller brushes (80) suitable to clean, by rotary wiping, solar panels (P) by a pair of brush shafts (9', 9"), and a wheel shaft (11) with a pair of wheels (19, 19), for moving the apparatus on the front surface (S) of solar panels (P). In the upper header member (40) the frame (10) comprises a central control unit (13) connected to a power supply, a first motor (6) for actuating the first brush shaft (9'), a second motor (7) for actuating the wheel shaft (11), a pair of header drive wheels (16, 160) engaged to roll on the upper edge (Bs) of solar panels (P). A pair of header drive rollers (20, 200) are mounted on the lower header member (50) and moved by the wheel shaft (11).

Description

SOLAR PANEL CLEANING APPARATUS
Technical field
The present invention relates to a solar panel cleaning apparatus. Cleaning generally means to brush an active surface of the panels with or without liquid; in the following the cleaning is also called washing, if brushing is done with addition of liquid.
Background art
The patent U.S. 5,323,508 describes a cleaning apparatus for roof glazing comprising an elongate brush rotating about its axis and mounted at its opposite ends in carriages running on guide rails.
With reference to the solar panels, the German patent application DE 10 2010 017 698 describes a method for cleaning a surface of a photovoltaic panel that is inclined downward from a horizontal ridge by the rotation of a brush that moves forward on the panel by a plurality of wheels. Mounted on the horizontal ridge is a guide on which the upper end of the brush moves.
The patent application DE 10 2010 025 845 discloses a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning member movable over a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning member is guided by a track on opposite sides of the surface, and has a cylindrical brush. The cleaning element is moved by a motor on the track.
WO 2004/091816 relates to a cleaning arrangement for photovoltaic generators and flat concentrating solar collectors. Said cleaning arrangement can be used, particularly, in arid and semi-arid zones to eliminate dust and sand that influence the efficiency of these generators. A cylindrical brush is put in rotation by a drive unit on the surface to be cleaned. The rotation of the brush is transmitted to gears which engage two underlying binary toothed driving. Therefore, the cylindrical brush moves translating parallel to itself.
In all the arrangements above mentioned the brushes advance on guides or tracks that are attached peripherally near glazing or solar panels to be cleaned. This means that these arrangements may be used only after providing the solar panels with suitable guides or tracks. As readily noted, the arrangement described in WO/091816, apart from the structural differences with other apparatuses, even if transportable from one panel to another, can be employed only if flanked with solar panels having the same dimensions in width and length.
Currently, solar panel plants are instead of most different sizes, and therefore the arrangement described in WO/091816 and also the other apparatuses can not be adapted to each solar panel to be cleaned.
Further, the Spanish patent application No. 2 322 745 describes a solar panel cleaning apparatus that comprises longitudinal guides, concentrical roller brushes, a drive unit movable mounted on each longitudinal guide and provided with at least one motor for the rotation of the roller brushes and their movement with the drive unit as well as an electronic control panel and a rain sensor to automatically start the drive unit. Besides the fact that the apparatus of the patent application No. 2 322 745 is not transportable and adaptable to different panels, it does not provide for supply of washing water to the brushes, if not rainwater.
Summary of invention
In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a solar panel cleaning apparatus that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art above mentioned.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning apparatus that does not require guides or the like for its movement on solar panels for their cleaning or washing.
More specifically, one object of the invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning apparatus that is so arranged as to rest on the same panel to be cleaned, in contact with its peripheral portions, and moved onto a new array of panels to be cleaned at the end of a cleaning operation of an array of panels joined to one another.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having such a light weight that it can be handled also by one person. Another object of the invention is to provide a same solar panel cleaning apparatus that can be used for solar panels of different sizes.
In particular, another object of the invention is to maintain the same efficiency in washing both large and small panels.
A further object of the invention is to allow solar panels to be brushed both with and without water or other water solution.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning apparatus that can be powered from the mains or be independent from it.
The technical task mentioned and the objects specified are substantially achieved by various embodiments of a solar panel cleaning apparatus, comprising the technical characteristics set forth in one or more of the enclosed claims.
Brief description of drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusjye embodiments of a sbTar panel cleaning apparatus, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a first embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 3 is a diagrammatic axial cross-section view along a broken line F-F in Figure 2;
- Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but showing partially and in a larger scale the apparatus positioned on solar panels;
- Figure 5 is a cross-section view similar to that of Figure 3, but showing partially and in a larger scale the apparatus positioned on solar panels;
- Figure 6 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a third embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 7 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention adapted to rest on a large panel; - Figure 8 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the fourth embodiment of the invention adapted to rest on a small panel;
- Figure 9 is a diagrammatic axial cross-section view along a line A-A in Figure 7 of the fourth embodiment of the invention located on a large panel, an operator and a power supply unit being included;
- Figure 10 is a diagrammatic axial cross-section view along a line B-B in Figure 8 of the fourth embodiment of the invention located on a small panel, an operator and a power supply unit being included;
- Figure 11 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary and cut axial cross-section view along line C-C in Figure 7, in which roller brushes, among other things, are not shown;
- Figure 12 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line D-D in Figure 11, showing an upper header member of the apparatus with the addition of roller brushes;
- Figure 13 shows a detail of an enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A of Figure 7, without power unit and other parts of the upper header member;
- Figure 14 is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along the lines C-C of Figure 1, relevant to the wheel shaft;
- Figure 15 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line E-E in Figure 11, showing the lower header member with the addition of the roller brushes;
- Figure 16 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line E-E in Figure 11 showing only the fixed part of the lower header member with the addition of the roller brushes, but without the wheel;
- Figure 17 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line E-E in Figure 11 showing only the movable part of the lower header member, with the dashed fixed part and the wheel;
- Figure 18 is a fragmentary side view in more detail of the fixed part and movable part of the upper header member in a condition of maximum extension of the latter, in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; - Figure 19 is a fragmentary side view, similar to that of Figure 18, of the fixed part and movable part of the upper header member in a condition of reduced extension of the latter, in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; and
- Figure 20 is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A of Figure 7, without power unit and other parts of the lower header member.
Description of preferred embodiments of the invention
Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown a diagrammatic top plan view of a first embodiment of a solar panel cleaning apparatus according to the invention. Indicated in figure 1 as 1 is a substantially rectangular frame comprising a pair of upper and lower header members 4, 5 and a pair of opposite sections fixed at their ends to the header members 4, 5 to form side walls 2, 3 of the frame 1. The header members 4, 5 may be substantially in the form of plates; the terms "upper" and "lower" which identify them, refer to their level in the use of the apparatus: that is, the header member 4 is called upper being intended to be positioned near the upper edge Bs of the solar panels, and the header member 5 is called lower being intended to be positioned near the lower edge Bi.
The header members 4, 5 support a plurality of roller brushes 8 being fixed consecutively to a first brush shaft 9' mounted for rotating on the header members 4, 5. Alternatively, the brushes can be implemented in a single roller. The header members 4, 5 also support a pair of wheels 19, 19 integral with a wheel shaft 11 in the vicinity of its support on the header members 4, 5, the wheel shaft 11 being rotatably mounted on the header members 4, 5.
The pair of wheels 19, 19, in contact with the front surface S of the solar panels P, are keyed concentrically to the wheel shaft 11 for moving the apparatus on the front surface S.
The first brush shaft 9' is driven by a first motor 6 mounted on the upper header member 4 externally to the frame 1, and the wheel shaft 11 is driven by a second motor 7. Also the second motor is mounted on the upper header member 4 like the first brush shaft 9' via a suitable supporting element 12. The supporting element 12, being fixed to the upper header member 4, supports a central control unit 13. The central control unit 13 is connected to a power supply via a cable 14 passing in an outer groove of the section of the wall 3 and a socket 15. Although not shown, mounted inside the container of the central control unit 13 is, by way of example, a rectifier comprising a transformer for alternating current, an AC/DC rectifier and a filter, to supply the first motor 6 and the second motor 7 from the mains. It should be understood that the central control unit 13 includes what is conventionally necessary for the operation of the apparatus both in presence of an operator and automatically. In this second mode the series of solar panels to be cleaned shall be equipped with mechanical or electronic switches that interact with the apparatus in its operation. Also these devices are not shown or described in detail because conventional.
Besides the aforementioned pair of drive wheels 19, 19 integral with the shaft 11 bearing the wheels that are designed to roll on the front surface S of the solar panels, a propulsion system of the apparatus on the solar panels to be cleaned comprises, as header rotating means, a header wheel 16 mounted on the upper header member 4 by means of a support block 18 near a slot (not indicated with numeral reference numbers in the figures). The slot being made in the upper header member 4 allows the header wheel 16 to engage the upper edge of the solar panel and roll on it, as will be seen better later. The header wheel 16 is not idle as being driven via a flexible transmission 26 by a gear 17 driven by the second motor 7.
Mounted on the lower header member 5 inside the frame 1, as header rotating means, is a header roller 20, designed to engage the front surface of the solar panel. Also the header roller 20 is not idle as being connected by means of a flexible transmission 21 to the wheel shaft 11, as will be seen in greater detail below. The wheels and the rollers move in synchronism.
Mounted on the outer side of the side walls 2 and 3 of frame 1 are handles generally designated as 22. The frame 1 is covered by a cover 23, being for example transparent, that is fixed to the side walls 2 and 3 by screws generally indicated as 24.
Referring to Figure 2 which represents a diagrammatic top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention, same or similar reference numerals are used to designate parts identical or similar to those in the first embodiment. Differences from the first embodiment are highlighted in detail below.
A second brush shaft 9" is mounted on the header members 40, 50 of a frame 10 parallel to the first brush shaft 9', and carries a plurality of roller brushes 80 for cleaning the solar panel, the roller brushes 80 being mounted rigidly in an adjustable position along its second shaft 9". The second brush shaft 9" is driven by the first brush shaft 9' by means of a flexible transmission 25, as will be seen in greater detail below. The roller brushes 80 of the brush shafts 9' and 9" are mounted in a desired number to obtain the desired degree of cleanliness.
The propulsion system of the apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention comprises a further header wheel 160 mounted on the upper header member 40 by means of a support block 18 near a slot (not indicated with reference number) that allows the header wheel 160 to engage the upper edge of the solar panel and roll on it, like the header wheel 16. Even the header wheel 160 is not idle as being moved by a gear 170 driven by the motor 7 together with the wheel shaft 11.
Mounted on the lower header member 50 within the frame 10, symmetrically with respect to wheel shaft 11, is a header roller 200, as header rotating means, designed to engage the front surface of the solar panel, in addition to the header roller 20 already in the first embodiment. Even the header roller 200 is not idle as being connected by a flexible transmission 210 to the wheel shaft 11, as will be seen in greater detail below.
In Figure 3, the second embodiment of the invention is shown in a cross-section view taken along a broken line F-F in Figure 2.
Reference is made now to Figures 4 and 5, which are a top plan view and a cross- section view, both partial and in an enlarged scale, of the apparatus according to the second embodiment, being positioned on solar panels generally indicated as P and shown only partially on uprights s, s.
The propulsion system of the apparatus is shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5. In particular, it is noted that the pair of drive wheels 19, 19 integral with wheel shaft 11 rest on the front surface S of the solar panels P. The header wheels 16, 160, being mounted on the upper header member 40 by support blocks 18, engage the upper edge Bs of the solar panels P and roll on it, being driven by means of flexible transmissions 26, which are substantially crowns and chains, by relative gears 17, 170 driven by the motor 7, which turns the wheel shaft 11.
Mounted on the lower header member 5 within the frame 10 are header rollers 20, 200 engaging the front surface of the solar panel near their lower edge Bi. Also the header rollers 20, 200 are drive rollers because they are connected by flexible transmissions 21, 210 to wheel shaft 11. Mounted on the frame 10 is the cover 23, preferably made of transparent material like in the first embodiment, in order to permit the effectiveness of the apparatus to be monitored in the cleaning of the solar panels.
It should be understood that the flexible transmissions that drive wheels, rollers and brushes can also be replaced by other types of transmissions, for example, by gear trains which receive motion from the first motor 6 and the second motor 7. Although not described in detail, in the apparatus according to the present invention means for varying the number of revolutions of the output shaft of the motors 6 and 7 are provided so as to adjust the speed of rotation of the respective shafts 9' and 11. In this way, it is possible to independently select, from each other, the rotation speed of the brushes and the speed of movement of the apparatus on the solar panels P, for example as a function of the degree and type of dirt on them.
An assessment of this kind can be made by an operator that checks the apparatus verifying the operation and modifying it by means of a device connected with a cable to the central control unit, or with a wireless remote control, if adequate means of communication between the operator and the apparatus are provided. Furthermore, as already mentioned, the apparatus may operate fully automatically if the arrays of panels are provided with appropriate limit switches or stations for the apparatus.
With reference to Figure 6 there is shown a diagrammatic top plan view of a third embodiment of the invention.
This third embodiment differs from the second as the cover 230 is made up of solar panels that can supply an alternative form of power to the apparatus and make it independent from the mains. In this case a transformation of the mains voltage would not be required, and it should be if the apparatus according to the invention were powered by the same solar panels that it is cleaning, but without the complication of power cables to which the apparatus must be connected.
For this purpose, the central control unit 13 comprises a battery 27 for the accumulation of the current delivered by the cover 230 to the solar panels and a connecting cable 28 between the battery 27 and the cover 230.
For putting into use the apparatus according to the first three embodiments thereof described above, it is raised by gripping it through the handles 22 and positioning it on the solar panels. The apparatus has at its disposal the energy to turn the brush shaft and the shaft for its propulsion if the apparatus is electrically connected to the mains, or it is connected to a source of energy supplied by the solar panels that are cleaned or to its own source of energy represented by the solar panel cover 230. The apparatus can advance by means of a remote control in one and the other direction of advancing on the panels. The roller brushes work independently from the advancing of the apparatus that is permitted by the provided wheels and rollers that are all driving wheels and rollers. In this way, a proper grip of the apparatus is assured on panel portions even in the junctions between one panel and the other.
If the apparatus is maintained on the same array of panels without being removed for a certain period of time, a station can be provided alongside of the array of panels. The station for the apparatus can be a frame having the same shape as that of the solar panel to be cleaned. In the embodiments described there is shown that the invention achieves the intended purpose of providing a solar panel cleaning apparatus which does not require guides or the like for its movement on solar panels for cleaning them. The apparatus according to the first three embodiments can be easily adapted to each width of panels by replacing wall sections and shafts having the right length. However, the invention can also provide one apparatus adjustable to different types of panels. This is shown in the following with reference to Figures 7 and 8, in which a diagrammatic top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown. Thanks to it, the solar panel cleaning apparatus is ready to be applied to a large panel and to a small panel, respectively.
In Figures 7 and 8 parts identical or similar to those of the previous embodiments are indicated with the same numbers or the like. In particular a frame indicated as 100 is preferably open at the top, without bottom, and extending longitudinally with opposite parallel side walls 2 and 3. The frame 100, which is structurally very similar to those indicated with 1 and 10 in the previous embodiments, is designed to overlie by its length a panel in its short side, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, which are diagrammatic axial sections obtained along lines A-A in Figure 7 and B- B in Figure 6, respectively. In Figure 9 the solar panel is indicated as PL, since it is of a width greater than that indicated as PS in Figure 10. In Figures 9 and 10 an operator and, diagrammatically, a supply unit AU are added. The solar panel is in particular a photovoltaic or hybrid solar panel, consisting of single modules such as those indicated as PI, P2, P3. However, the apparatus is useful for other types of panels whose surface should be cleaned.
At the ends of the side walls 2, 3 of the frame 100, an upper header member 400 and a lower header member 500 are provided with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Solar panels are shown in their traditional inclined position in Figures 9 and 10, being supported on uprights s, s.
In Figures 7 to 10 there are indicated generally as 80 roller brushes mounted on a pair of brush shafts generally indicated as 9. As already said for the previous embodiments of the invention the wheels 19, 19, allow the frame 100 to advance along the panel to be washed.
It should be understood that, according to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the apparatus shown in Figures 7 and 9 and that one in Figures 8 and 10 are identical, differing from each other only for the position in which the roller brushes 80 are fixed along the brush shaft 9, in such a position to come into rubbing contact with the panel, and in which the wheels 19 are fixed along the wheel shaft 11.
With reference to Figure 11, there is shown a diagrammatic fragmentary axial cross-section view along the line C-C in Figure 7, i.e. taken along the wheel shaft 11. For clarity's sake, in Figure 11 the roller brushes 80 mounted on the shaft 9 placed side by side are not shown. The solar panel is not described in detail, only peripheral portions of the modules PI, P3, made with E-shaped sections Pr, being shown. The wheels 19 that are rigidly fixed on the shaft 11 advance above the E- shaped section Pr. The shaft 11 that, at one end thereof, is rotatably mounted on the upper header member 400, is rotated by the motor 7 for driving the wheels. Provided in the upper and lower header members 400 and 500 are header rotating means for engaging the frame 100 with peripheral portions of the modules PI, P3. Obviously, the peripheral portions are external ones. According to the fourth embodiment, the header means are in the form of counteracting idle wheels that are coplanar and perpendicular respectively to the panel, being called horizontal and vertical in the following for simplicity's sake. They are indicated respectively as 27 and 28, in engagement with side and lower faces of the E- shaped section Pr. In particular, the horizontal counteracting idle wheel 27 passes through a vertical wall 29, which constitutes an extension downwards of the upper header member 400, in a slot 30 in order to be in contact with the side face of the E-shaped section Pr. Idle supporting wheels 31, 31 engaged with the vertical wall 29 are side by side to the horizontal counteracting wheel 27.
A generally fixed left-hand end wheel 19 (with reference to figure 11) is mounted on the shaft 11 as well as wheels 19 are adjustable in position along the shaft 11, such as the central one shown in Figure 11, which is also designed to move on juxtaposed sections Pr of adjacent modules P2 , P3 of the panel. Also the right- hand end wheel 19 is a wheel movable along the shaft 11.
With reference to Figure 12, there is shown a diagrammatic cross-section view taken along a line D-D in Figure 11, i.e. facing the upper header member 400. In Figure 12 there are shown the side walls 2, 3 of the frame 100, and the roller brushes 80 mounted on their respective brush shafts 9 parallel to wheel shaft 11, even if the roller brushes 80 are not shown in Figure 11. The horizontal counteracting idle wheels 27 passing through the slots 30 in the wall 29 are shown dashed. The vertical counteracting idle wheels 28 are mounted on suspension elements 32 by means of at least a pair of bolts 33 with interposed springs 34.
The side walls 2 and 3 of the frame 100 are made by sections that, at a side thereof facing the outside of the wall, are equipped wjthjojigjtudinal grooves 35 whose function will be illustrated later. Internally, the sections of the side walls 2, 3 have chambers 36 for the passage of a washing solution under pressure, and sealed ducts 37 designed for the passage of electric cables. In correspondence of the chambers 36 in the inner side are holes with nozzles 38 for spraying the washing solution on the roller brushes 80. The sections of the side walls 2, 3 are equipped at the top with a groove 39, whose function will be illustrated later, as for the longitudinal grooves 35.
Reference is made now to Figure 13 that shows a detail of an enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A in Figure 7, without the drive unit and other parts of the upper header member 400.
In Figure 13 there is shown diagrammatically a rotatable support for the brush shaft 9 on the wall 29 through a bearing 41. A roller brush 80 is shown rigidly connected to the brush shaft 9 by means of a security dowel 42. In this way, the position of the brush can be chosen along the brush shaft 9 on the basis of the panel width, as will be seen later. In Figure 13 there is also indicated as 43 a supporting arm of the brush shaft 9 bridged onto the sections of the side walls 2, 3 by locking members 44 received in the groove 39 of both walls.
As shown in Figure 14, which is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross- section view along the lines C-C in Figure 7, similar supporting arms 43 of the wheel shaft 11 are bridged onto the sections of the side walls 2, 3 by locking members 44 received in the groove 39. In Figure 14 the wheel 19 is displaceable rigidly coupled to shaft 11 by means of a security dowel 45. Juxtaposed sections Pr, Pr of adjacent modules PI, P2 of the panel are shown below the movable wheel 19.
Reference is made now to Figure 15, which is a diagrammatic cross-section view along the lines E-E in Figure 11. It shows substantially the apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the invention near the lower header member 500, with a motor that is not indicated in Figure 11.
In the vicinity of the lower header member 500, the solar panel cleaning apparatus has an upper fixed part and a lower movable part that for clarity's sake are shown separately in Figures 16 and 17, which show, analogously to Figure 15, diagrammatic cross-section views taken along the lines E-E in Figure 11.
The apparatus, in correspondence with the lower header member 500, has substantially the same configuration as that in the upper header member 400 from a functional point of view, supports for the shafts 11 of the wheels 19, 19 and for the brush shafts 9 of the roller brushes 80 being provided in both header members. For clarity's sake header member means in the following not only the crossbar of the frame 100 but also that part of the apparatus which is connected to the crossbar itself.
Mounted on the fixed part, generally indicated as 46, of the lower header member 500 is a motor 47 for the actuation of the brush shaft 9. The brush shaft 9 are joined together by a flexible transmission represented diagrammatically with dashed lines, and with parts removed for clarity's sake. For example the support at right hand of the shaft 11 of the wheels 19, 19 is not shown. By way of example, the flexible transmission can be made by pulleys generally indicated as 48, integral with the brush shaft 9, on which a toothed belt 49 runs.
The movable part of the lower header member 500 is generally indicated as 51 and represented in Figure 17, where the side walls 2 and 3 of the frame 100, as they are not part of the movable part, are shown in dashed lines on which the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 is mounted in an adjustable position by means of vertical brackets 52, 52. The wall of the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 has a pair of depressions 53, 53 in order to not interfere with the roller brushes 80. Shown in Figure 17 is also a wheel 19 fixed in an adjustable position on the wheel shaft 11. The adjustable wheel 19 is not part of the header member but is movable with the latter, as will be said below.
The lower header member 500 is shown in detail in Figures 18 and 19 in respective relative positions of its fixed part 46 and its movable part 51. Figure 18 is a fragmentary side view of the fixed part and moving part of the lower header member 500 in the case in which the apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the invention rests on a particularly large panel PL to be washed, and Figure 19 is a fragmentary side view of the apparatus in the case in which it rests on a small panel PS.
Shown in Figures 18 and 19 are also the supporting arms 43 of the shafts and the locking members 44 received in the groove 39 of the side walls 2 and 3.
As can be seen, the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 can be locked along the longitudinal grooves 35 of the sections Pr in such a position that the movable part 51 is in abutment against the panel PS, as shown in Figure 19. Although not shown, the movable part 51 is provided with horizontal and vertical counteracting idle wheels that are spring-charged against the panel PS by virtue of wheel holder arrangements indicated as 54, 55. Similar vertical arrangements are already depicted diagrammatically in Figure 12 with reference to the upper header member 400, where they are indicated generally as 32.
Reference is made now to Figure 20, which is a fragmentary enlarged diagrammatic axial cross-section view along lines A-A of the lower header member 500 in Figure 7, in which its fixed part 46 is diagrammatically shown without the drive unit in order to describe means for connection to the supply unit UA. The movable part 51 is in abutment with the panel PL. Although it is not shown, the horizontal and vertical counteracting idle wheels 27, 28 are spring- charged.
Provided in the fixed part 46 is a quick coupling 56 for attaching a water pipe 57 connected to the supply unit UA shown in Figures 9 and 10. As shown with the further cross-section view in the wall 3, the quick coupling 56 leads to the chamber 36 inside the section of the side wall for the passage of the washing solution. An electrical connection with the supply unit UA is provided on the fixed part 46 of the lower header member 500, over the quick coupling 56, via a cable 58 and a switch 59.
In the operation of the solar panel cleaning apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is transported to the site in which the panels are situated. Its frame 100 is positioned above the panel, and the movable part 51 of the lower header member 500 is brought in abutment with the lower side of the panel, so that header means for engaging the frame 100 in both the upper header member 400 and lower header section 500 is active with the outer peripheral portions of the panels. In the fourth embodiment said header means are counteracting idle wheels 27, 28 that can slide on vertical portions and on horizontal lower portions of the panel. Also the wheel 19 near the lower header member 500 is adjusted along the shaft 11 so as to advance on the upper peripheral portion of the panel. The roller brushes 80 are adjusted in position and locked along their respective brush shafts 9 in such a way that there is no surface of the panel that is not brushed from the roller brushes 80 mounted on either shaft 9. After hydraulic and electrical connection, the machine advances under the supervision of even a single operator until the complete cleaning of the panels.

Claims

1. A solar panel cleaning apparatus including:
- at least a first motor-driven brush shaft (90,
- one or more roller brushes (8; 80) on said first motor-driven brush shaft (90, the brushes being suitable to clean, by rotary wiping, the front surface (S) of solar panels (P) that is limited on the top by an upper edge (Bs) and on the bottom by a lower edge (Bi),
- a motor-driven wheel shaft (11),
- at least a pair of wheels (19, 19), in contact with the front surface (S) of solar panels (P), the wheels being keyed concentrically to the motor-driven wheel shaft (11), for moving the apparatus on said front surface (S),
characterised in that the at least first motor-driven brush shaft (90 and the motor-driven wheel shaft (11) are mounted on a frame (1) comprising a pair of upper and lower header members (4, 5) and a pair of opposite side walls (2, 3) that are fixed to the upper and lower header members (4, 5) in upper and lower ends thereof, the upper and lower header members (4, 5) being provided with header rotating means so to roll on the panel upper edge (Bs) and the panel lower edge (Bi).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the upper header member (4) the frame (1) comprises a central control unit (13) connected to a power supply, a first motor (6) for actuating the at least first brush shaft (90, a second motor (7) for actuating the wheel shaft (11), said header rotating means being both a header drive wheel (16) engaged to roll on the upper edge (Bs) of solar panels (P), and a header drive roller (20), that is mounted on the lower header member (5) and moved by the wheel shaft (11) in engagement with the front surface of the solar panels (P) near the lower edge (Bi).
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a second brush shaft (9") is mounted on the upper and lower header members (40, 50) parallel to the first brush shaft (90 and is driven by the first brush shaft (90 by a flexible transmission (25), the second brush shaft (9") holding a plurality of roller brushes (80) for cleaning the solar panels (P), the roller brushes (80) being rigidly mounted in alternative adjustable positions with respect to those of the first brush shaft (9');
said header rotating means comprising:
a pair of header drive wheels (16; 160) are mounted rotatably on the upper header member (40) and project through slots made in the header member (40) to roll on the upper edge (Bs) of the solar panels (P), the header drive wheels (16; 160) being connected by means of respective crowns and chains (26) to a gear (17; 170) that is driven by the second motor (7) of the wheel shaft (11);
- a pair of header drive rollers (20; 200) engaging the front surface (S) of the solar panels (P) are mounted rotatably on the lower header (50) and are connected by means of respective crowns and chains (21, 210) to respective crowns keyed to the wheel shaftj j^jnjts^na^opposite to the end connected to the second motor (7).
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper header member (400) is integrally connected to the upper end of the walls (2, 3) of the frame (100) and comprises, as said header rotating means, counteracting header idle wheels (27; 28), in contact with orthogonal faces of the upper edge (Bs) of the solar panels (P) so to roll on said faces, and a lower header member (500) is made in two parts that are a fixed part (46) and a movable part (51), whose fixed part (46) is attached to a lower end of the walls (2, 3) of the frame (100), and movable part (51) can be separated from the fixed part (46) of the same lower header member (500) and comprises, as said header rotating means, counteracting header idle wheels (27; 28), in contact with orthogonal faces of the lower edge (Bi) of the solar panels (P) in a way to roll on said faces, so that the movable part (51) of the lower header member (500) is adjustable in position along the frame (100) depending on the distance between the upper and lower edges (Bs, Bi) of the panel (P) on which the apparatus is positioned.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each side wall (2, 3) is formed by a section that is provided with
- longitudinal grooves (35, 35) in an external side of the section for adjustably locking in position the movable part (51) separable from the lower header member (500) along the frame (100),
- chambers (36) for the passage of a washing solution, and ducts (37) designed for the passage of electric cables, both chambers (36) and ducts (37) being inside the section,
- holes with nozzles (38), in an internal side of the section for spraying the washing solution onto the roller brushes (80), and
- at least a groove (39), on the top of the section, for adjustably locking in position supporting arms (43) of the motor-driven wheel shaft (11) in contact with the front surface (S) of the solar panel (P).
6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein both the roller brushes (80) and the wheels (19, 19) in contact with the front surface (S) of the solar panel (P) are mounted rigidly in an adjustable position along the respective shafts (9, 9; 9', 9"; 11).
7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the counteracting header idle wheels (27; 28), in contact with the orthogonal faces of the upper and lower edges (Bs, Bi) of the solar panels (P) are spring charged against the same faces.
8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the motor-driven wheel shaft (11) and the roller shafts (9, 9) are mounted between the upper header member (400) and the fixed part (46) of the lower header member (500), and are driven by a motor (7) located on the upper header member (400) and by a motor (47), located on the fixed part (46) of the lower header member (500) respectively.
9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the locking of the movable part (51) of the lower header member (500) is carried out adjustably by means of brackets (56), and the locking in position of the supporting arms (43) of said shafts (9, 11) is carried out adjustably by means of locking members (44) inserted in said grooves (35; 39) .
10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said chambers (36) for the passage of the washing solution in said sections of the side walls (2, 3) can be connected by a movable supply unit (UA) comprising a washing solution tank and a power unit.
11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the frame (1; 10) is covered by a transparent panel (23) fixed to the side walls (2, 3), and said control central unit (13) comprises a mains power rectifier.
12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the frame (1; 10) is covered by its solar panel (230) fixed to the side walls (2, 3), and said control central unit (13) comprises a connection (28) to the solar panel (230), and a battery (27), besides to a mains power rectifier.
EP12720975.7A 2011-03-14 2012-03-14 Solar panel cleaning apparatus Withdrawn EP2788694A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000117A ITRM20110117A1 (en) 2011-03-14 2011-03-14 WASHING EQUIPMENT FOR PANEL SURFACES, IN PARTICULAR OF SOLAR PANELS
IT000614A ITRM20110614A1 (en) 2011-11-21 2011-11-21 EQUIPMENT FOR CLEANING SOLAR PANELS
PCT/IT2012/000071 WO2012123979A2 (en) 2011-03-14 2012-03-14 Solar panel cleaning apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2788694A2 true EP2788694A2 (en) 2014-10-15

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EP12720975.7A Withdrawn EP2788694A2 (en) 2011-03-14 2012-03-14 Solar panel cleaning apparatus

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