Snow Removal Apparatus for Solar Panels

Abstract

A snow removal apparatus or snow sweeper generally having an elongated handle secured to a scraper and further including a slide suspended between the scraper and the handle is disclosed for use in removing snow and ice from outwardly facing surfaces of solar panels. The scraper preferably includes a top plate and a bottom plate secured to one another so as to engage the slide. The bottom plate is preferably made of HDPE. In preferred embodiments, the bottom plate will have a leading edge that extends beyond a first end of the slide and the top plate, the slide will be made at least partially of polyethylene material and a second or following end of the slide will include a stiffener and the polyethylene material is sewn at least partially around the stiffener.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 305,370, filed Mar. 8, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing snow from an array of solar panels or other similar surface. More specifically, the present invention is a snow sweeper including a scraper, an elongated handle engage with a scraper and a slide engaged to both to provide a slip zone for snow and ice to descend after it is dislodged from the surface of any of the solar panels.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The accumulation of snow and ice on outwardly facing surfaces of solar panels significantly can reduce the efficiency of such solar panels. This is because the snow and ice can diminish the amount of sunlight that passes through the outwardly facing surface of the solar panel, thereby limiting the amount of sunlight that is received ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a snow removal apparatus or sweeper for removing snow and ice from an inclined outwardly facing surface on an inclined solar panel. The preferred snow removal apparatus includes a scraper having a leading edge; an elongated handle for attachment to the scraper; a slide having an elongated top surface and first and second ends; and a fastener that is substantially nonstretchable. The handle can be attached to the scraper in a manner that permits the handle to be used to both push and pull the scraper over a flat surface, in separate operations. The first end of the slide can be secured to the scraper in a manner that permits snow and ice dislodged by the scraper to slip downward on the elongated top surface of the slide when the snow and ice is dislodged from the solar panel; and the second end of the slide can be secured to the handle by the fastener when the handle is attached to the scraper and the first end is secured to the scraper so that the second end can be pulled by the handle when the scraper is pulled by the handle. In preferred embodiments, the second end of the slide will either be stiffened or will include a stiffener that will allow the second end or the trailing end to be rigid enough to engage and dislodge snow and ice when the second end engages such snow and ice on the inclined outwardly facing surface of the inclined solar panel. In preferred embodiments, the fastener will secure the second end to the handle in such a manner that a distance between the second end and a securing point or protrusion on the handle to which the fastener is preferably engaged or secured is preferably no more than about three inches, more preferably no more than about 2.5 inches, more preferably no more than about 2.0 inches; even more preferably no more than about 1.5 inches, even more preferably no more than about 1 inches and most preferably no more than about ½ (0.5) inches so that the second end is secured to the handle under tension that is sufficient to enable the user to manipulate the handle of the snow removal apparatus in a manner the allows the second end of the slide to effectively engage and dislodge snow and ice when the second end engages such snow and ice on the inclined outwardly facing surface.

Problems solved by technology

The accumulation of snow and ice on outwardly facing surfaces of solar panels significantly can reduce the efficiency of such solar panels.

This is because the snow and ice can diminish the amount of sunlight that passes through the outwardly facing surface of the solar panel, thereby limiting the amount of sunlight that is received within the solar panel.

This device works very well for the inclined surface of a roof, but is not as useful for clearing snow and ice from solar panel.

First, the wheeled head frame will roll up above the outwardly facing surface of the solar panel so that it is not able to dislodge snow and ice directly engaged with the outwardly facing surface of the solar panel.

Other aspects of this device make it inadequate for removing snow and ice from solar panels.

However, a snow rake may severely damage a roof surface, a surface of a wing of an aircraft, or an outwardly facing glass surface of a solar panel when the blade is dragged across such a surface.

What is more, the use of snow rakes may be difficult and strenuous as a user must pull snow and ice from such a surface.

This may prove to be very strenuous, however.

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