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

The present invention provides a snow removal apparatus for removing snow and ice from an inclined outwardly facing surface of a solar panel. The apparatus includes a scraper with a leading edge, an elongated handle, and a slide with an elongated top surface and first and second ends. The handle can be attached to the scraper in a way that allows the user to push and pull the scraper over a flat surface. The first end of the slide can be secured to the scraper, while the second end can be secured to the handle. The fastener securing the second end of the slide to the handle is preferably a nonstretchable cable tie fastener that allows the user to manipulate the handle in a way that 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 of the solar panels. The apparatus also includes a scraper mounted on an elongated handle or pole with a slide that is suspended under tension between the frame and the handle. The scraper has a top plate and a bottom, and the slide is secured to the scraper between the top plate and the bottom plate by a plurality of fasteners securing the bottom plate to the top plate. The fasteners are preferably screws that are set or countersunk into the bottom plate in such a manner that they do not come into contact with or damage the outwardly facing surface of the solar panels when the scraper is used to dislodge snow and ice from the outwardly facing surface and damage such 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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