An intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection

Abstract

The present invention discloses an intelligent multi-rotor UAV for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection, which relates to the technical field of photovoltaic panel maintenance equipment, comprising: a body, wherein a plurality of propellers are distributed around the body for providing flight power; a lens is arranged in front of the body for inspecting and photographing the photovoltaic panel; a water tank is fixed below the body for storing cleaning water, and a side wall of the water tank is provided with an openable and closable water inlet; a support rod, wherein a plurality of support rods are distributed around the bottom of the water tank for supporting the body when the UAV lands; a lifting pipe is arranged at a central position below the water tank for adjusting the height; a brush rod is arranged in the lifting pipe and is a hollow structure, and its lower end can spray water for cleaning the photovoltaic panel; bristles are distributed around the brush rod, and through the high-altitude operation capability of the UAV, a large area of ​​photovoltaic panels can be quickly covered for rapid inspection and precise cleaning.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of photovoltaic panel maintenance equipment, in particular to an intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection. Background Art

[0002] As the global demand for renewable energy continues to grow, photovoltaic power generation, as a clean and renewable energy form, is increasingly being used. However, during long-term outdoor operation, photovoltaic panels will inevitably accumulate pollutants such as dust, bird droppings, and leaves. These pollutants not only affect the light transmittance of photovoltaic panels and reduce power generation efficiency, but may also accelerate the aging of photovoltaic panels and shorten their service life. Therefore, regular cleaning and inspection of photovoltaic panels to ensure their surface cleanliness and stable performance is an important part of photovoltaic power station operation and maintenance management.

[0003] Existing photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection equipment includes:

[0004] Automated cleaning robots: high degree of automation, reducing labor costs; customizable design to adapt to different scenarios. However, the initial investment is large and the maintenance cost is high; limited by the layout of photovoltaic panels and terrain conditions, it may not be able to cover all areas; in some complex environments, the robot may not work properly.

[0005] Drone cleaning device: can cover a large area of ​​photovoltaic panels, improve cleaning efficiency; reduce manpower input and reduce safety risks. Although the application of drone cleaning devices in the field of photovoltaic panel cleaning has certain advantages, its limitations are also obvious. First, a single water spray cleaning method cannot effectively remove stubborn dirt on the surface of photovoltaic panels. Secondly, since drones operate in the air, their stability is affected by various factors such as wind and airflow. If a physical scrubbing function is added, it is difficult to ensure precise control during the scrubbing process, and the photovoltaic panels may be damaged if not handled with care.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection to solve the problems raised in the above background technology. Summary of the invention

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection, comprising:

[0008] A fuselage, wherein a plurality of propellers are distributed around the fuselage to provide flight power;

[0009] A lens is arranged in front of the body and is used for inspecting and photographing the photovoltaic panels;

[0010] A water tank, fixed below the machine body, for storing cleaning water, the side wall of the water tank being provided with an openable and closable water inlet;

[0011] Support rods, a plurality of support rods are distributed around the bottom of the water tank and are used to support the drone body when it lands;

[0012] A lifting pipe, arranged at a central position below the water tank, for adjusting the height;

[0013] A brush rod is disposed in the lifting tube and is a hollow structure, and its lower end can spray water for cleaning the photovoltaic panel;

[0014] The bristles are distributed around the brush rod and cooperate with the brush rod to physically scrub the surface of the photovoltaic panel.

[0015] Furthermore, an inner tube is fixed in the center of the water tank, a piston is slidably arranged in the inner tube, a guide rod is fixed on the upper end of the piston and slides through the upper part of the machine body, and the lower part of the piston is fixed to the lifting tube;

[0016] The lifting tube is a hollow structure, and a through hole communicating with the interior of the lifting tube is provided in the piston.

[0017] Furthermore, a nut is fixed to the bottom of the water tank, and a thread is provided on the outer wall of the middle portion of the lifting pipe, and the thread of the lifting pipe can be threadedly connected with the nut.

[0018] Furthermore, a central gear is rotatably arranged in the body and sleeved outside the guide rod, and the central gear is connected to the guide rod through a keyway so as to be slidable and rotationally restricted;

[0019] The machine body is also provided with a driving device capable of driving the central gear to rotate.

[0020] Furthermore, a water inlet hole is provided on the side wall of the lower portion of the inner tube, and a spiral blade that fits the inner wall of the inner tube is fixed to the lower portion of the guide rod.

[0021] Furthermore, the brush rod and the lifting tube are connected to each other through a key slot so as to be slidable and rotationally restricted;

[0022] A spring is arranged between the top of the brush rod and the top of the lifting tube in the interior of the lifting tube, and the spring provides an elastic force to push the brush rod downward.

[0023] Furthermore, a pressure sensor attached to the spring is provided at the top of the lifting tube.

[0024] Furthermore, the support rod is hinged to the side wall of the bottom of the water tank.

[0025] Furthermore, the lower end of the lifting tube is rotatably and limitedly connected to a guide plate, a plurality of connecting rods are hinged around the guide plate, and a sliding groove is provided at the end of the connecting rod.

[0026] Furthermore, a sliding block is fixed to the side wall of the support rod, and each of the sliding blocks is slidably and rotationally limitedly connected to a sliding groove of each connecting rod.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] The present invention can quickly cover a large area of ​​photovoltaic panels through the high-altitude operation capability of drones, and conduct rapid inspections and precise cleaning. Compared with traditional manual inspections and cleaning methods, drone operations greatly shorten the maintenance cycle and improve work efficiency. The high-definition lens and advanced image processing system carried by drones can capture and analyze the image data of photovoltaic panels in real time, accurately identify potential problem areas such as stains and cracks, and automatically mark them, providing reliable data support for subsequent maintenance work.

[0029] The present invention combines the dual cleaning mechanism of water spraying and physical scrubbing, and the drone can intelligently clean stains of different degrees. Water spraying can initially moisten and remove surface dust, while physical scrubbing can effectively remove stubborn stains, ensuring the cleanliness of the photovoltaic panel surface and improving power generation efficiency.

[0030] The support rod of the present invention can automatically adjust its angle as the lifting tube rises and falls, ensuring that when the drone performs cleaning tasks, the support rod will not become an obstacle for the bristles to clean the surface of the photovoltaic panel; and when the drone needs to land, the support rod can quickly adjust to a suitable position to support the drone body for a smooth landing. This not only improves the flexibility of the operation, but also enhances the stability of the drone.

[0031] The invention uses the feedback control of the pressure sensor and propeller set in the lifting tube. When the squeezing force on the spring under the brush rod increases to a certain threshold, the drone can automatically increase the lift of the propeller to prevent the brush rod from applying excessive pressure to the photovoltaic panel and causing damage; conversely, when the squeezing force decreases to a certain threshold, the lift is reduced to ensure that the bristles can maintain appropriate pressure to effectively clean the surface of the photovoltaic panel, thereby improving the safety and effect of the cleaning operation.

[0032] The same driving device in the present invention can realize multiple functions at the same time: controlling the lifting and lowering of the lifting tube by forward and reverse rotation, realizing water jet by using spiral blades to pump water, driving the brush rod to rotate for physical brushing, and adjusting the angle of the support rod. The highly integrated driving system not only simplifies the internal structure of the drone and reduces the manufacturing cost, but also improves the reliability and maintenance convenience of the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the descending state of the lifting tube in the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting tube in the present invention in the ascending state;

[0036] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the water tank of the present invention;

[0037] In the figure: 1. body; 2. propeller; 3. lens; 4. water tank; 41. inner tube; 42. piston; 43. guide rod; 44. water inlet hole; 45. spiral blade; 5. support rod; 51. connecting rod; 52. slide groove; 53. slider; 6. bristles; 7. lifting tube; 71. nut; 72. spring; 8. brush rod; 9. guide plate; 10. center gear; 11. driving device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] See also Figure 1~Figure 4 In an embodiment of the present invention, an intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection includes:

[0039] A body 1, with a plurality of propellers 2 distributed around the body 1 for providing flight power;

[0040] The lens 3 is arranged in front of the body 1 and is used for inspecting and photographing the photovoltaic panels;

[0041] A water tank 4 is fixed below the machine body 1 and is used to store cleaning water. The side wall of the water tank 4 is provided with an openable and closable water inlet;

[0042] Support rods 5, a plurality of support rods 5 are distributed around the bottom of the water tank 4, and are used to support the body 1 when the UAV lands;

[0043] A lifting pipe 7 is provided at a central position below the water tank 4 and is used for adjusting the height;

[0044] The brush rod 8 is arranged in the lifting tube 7 and has a hollow structure. The lower end of the brush rod 8 can spray water for cleaning the photovoltaic panel.

[0045] The bristles 6 are distributed around the brush rod 8 and cooperate with the brush rod 8 to physically scrub the surface of the photovoltaic panel.

[0046] The lens 3 is connected to the image processing system inside the drone, which can transmit and analyze the image data of the photovoltaic panels in real time to identify and mark potential problem areas;

[0047] Water is sprayed on the stained surface of the photovoltaic panel through the lower end of the brush rod 8, and when the stains are difficult to remove, the body 1 is lowered to a suitable height and the brush rod 8 is rotated to allow the bristles 6 to brush the surface of the photovoltaic panel to remove stubborn stains.

[0048] In this embodiment, an inner tube 41 is fixed at the center of the water tank 4, a piston 42 is slidably arranged in the inner tube 41, a guide rod 43 is fixed at the upper end of the piston 42 and slides through the upper part of the body 1, and the lower part of the piston 42 is fixed to the lifting tube 7;

[0049] The lifting tube 7 is a hollow structure, and a through hole communicating with the interior of the lifting tube 7 is formed in the piston 42 .

[0050] In this embodiment, a nut 71 is fixed to the bottom of the water tank 4, and a thread is provided on the outer wall of the middle portion of the lifting tube 7, so that the lifting tube 7 and the nut 71 can be threadedly connected;

[0051] A central gear 10 is rotatably disposed in the body 1 and sleeved outside the guide rod 43. The central gear 10 is slidably connected to the guide rod 43 through a keyway and is rotationally restricted.

[0052] The body 1 is also provided with a driving device 11 capable of driving the central gear 10 to rotate.

[0053] That is, the guide rod 43 can be driven to rotate by the driving device 11, so that the piston 42 and the lifting tube 7 can also rotate accordingly, and when the thread of the lifting tube 7 and the nut 71 can be threadedly connected, the lifting tube 7 can be raised and lowered by controlling the rotation direction, so as to adjust the height of the bristles 6;

[0054] When the lifting tube 7 is lowered to the lowest position, the thread of the lifting tube 7 is disengaged from the nut 71. At this time, continuing to rotate the guide rod 43 will cause the lifting tube 7 to rotate and will not continue to fall, ensuring that the bristles 6 can continue to brush the surface of the photovoltaic panel.

[0055] In this embodiment, a water inlet hole 44 is opened on the side wall of the lower part of the inner tube 41 , and a spiral blade 45 that fits the inner wall of the inner tube 41 is fixed on the lower part of the guide rod 43 .

[0056] That is to say, when the piston 42 descends to a position below the water inlet hole 44, continuing to rotate the guide rod 43 will cause the spiral blade 45 to pump the water in the water tank 4 through the water inlet hole 44 into the lifting pipe 7 and the brush rod 8, so that the brush rod 8 can spray water at a certain pressure to better clean the surface of the photovoltaic panel.

[0057] In this embodiment, the brush rod 8 and the lifting tube 7 are connected to each other slidably and rotationally restricted via a key slot;

[0058] In the interior of the lifting tube 7, a spring 72 is provided between the top of the brush rod 8 and the top of the lifting tube 7, and the spring 72 provides an elastic force to push the brush rod 8 downward.

[0059] That is to say, even after the height of the lifting tube 7 is determined, the brush rod 8 can compress the spring 72 and change its height when subjected to an upward force, so that the brush rod 8 has a buffering effect, thereby preventing the brush rod 8 from hitting the photovoltaic panel and causing damage to the photovoltaic panel or interfering with the flight of the drone.

[0060] In this embodiment, a pressure sensor attached to the spring 72 is provided at the top of the lifting tube 7 .

[0061] When the squeezing force on the spring 72 increases and reaches a certain threshold, a feedback signal will be sent to the drone to increase the lift of the propeller 2 to prevent the brush rod 8 from exerting excessive pressure on the photovoltaic panel. Conversely, when the squeezing force on the spring 72 decreases and reaches a certain threshold, the lift of the propeller 2 is reduced to ensure that the bristles 6 can exert a certain pressure on the photovoltaic panel and ensure the cleaning effect.

[0062] In this embodiment, the support rod 5 is hinged to the side wall at the bottom of the water tank 4 .

[0063] By rotating the support rod 5, the lowest point of the support rod 5 can be changed, so that when the body 1 descends, the lowest point of the support rod 5 is lower than the bristles 6, ensuring that the support rod 5 can support the ground. When the bristles 6 are cleaning the surface of the photovoltaic panel, the lowest point of the support rod 5 needs to be higher than the bristles 6 by a certain distance, ensuring that the support rod 5 does not touch the photovoltaic panel.

[0064] In this embodiment, the lower end of the lifting tube 7 is rotatably and limitedly connected to a guide plate 9, and a plurality of connecting rods 51 are hinged around the guide plate 9. The ends of the connecting rods 51 are provided with sliding grooves 52.

[0065] A sliding block 53 is fixed to the side wall of the support rod 5 , and each of the sliding blocks 53 is connected to the sliding groove 52 of each connecting rod 51 in a slidable and rotationally restricted manner.

[0066] When the lifting tube 7 rises, the connecting rod 51 rotates upward, and the slider 53 changes position in the slide groove 52 and rotates the support rod 5 downward, ensuring that the lower end of the support rod 5 is lower than the bristles 6; similarly, when the lifting tube 7 descends, the support rod 5 rotates upward, ensuring that the lower end of the support rod 5 is higher than the bristles 6 by a certain distance. In other words, the support rod 5 rotates with the lifting and lowering of the lifting tube 7, ensuring that the support rod 5 does not cause obstacles when the bristles 6 clean the surface of the photovoltaic panel and that the support rod 5 can support the ground when it descends.

[0067] When implementing it, it includes

[0068] The UAV adjusts its flight attitude and altitude according to a preset flight path or real-time instructions and flies to the photovoltaic panel area to be inspected. After arriving at the designated area, the lens 3 located in front of the body 1 starts working, taking images of the photovoltaic panels in real time and transmitting the data to the image processing system inside the UAV. The system analyzes the images in real time, identifies and marks potential problem areas, such as stains, cracks, etc.

[0069] The image processing system analyzes the inspection results and determines which photovoltaic panels need to be cleaned. The drone flies over the photovoltaic panels that need to be cleaned, adjusts the speed and angle of the propeller 2, keeps the body 1 stable, and descends to a suitable height.

[0070] Start the driving device 11, the lifting tube 7 begins to descend, and the bristles 6 are adjusted to a position close to the surface of the photovoltaic panel through the cooperation of the thread and the nut 71. When the lifting tube 7 descends to a certain height, the thread and the nut 71 are disengaged. When the piston 42 descends below the water inlet hole 44 of the inner tube 41, the guide rod 43 continues to rotate, and the spiral blade 45 starts to work, pumping the water in the water tank 4 into the lifting tube 7 and the brush rod 8 through the water inlet hole 44, so that the brush rod 8 sprays water at a certain pressure to clean the surface of the photovoltaic panel.

[0071] If the stain is difficult to remove by spraying water, the drone further lowers its altitude. At this time, the brush rod 8 maintains a slight pressure on the photovoltaic panel under the action of the spring 72, while avoiding excessive contact. The brush rod 8 rotates to drive the bristles 6 to physically scrub the surface of the photovoltaic panel.

[0072] When the surface of the photovoltaic panel is cleaned, the drone stops spraying water and brushing, the brush rod 8 and the lifting tube 7 are reset, and when the lifting tube 7 rises, the support rod 5 automatically adjusts its angle through the linkage mechanism of the connecting rod 51 and the slide groove 52 to ensure that the lowest point of the support rod 5 is lower than the bristles 6. The drone slowly descends, and the support rod 5 contacts the ground and plays a supporting role to ensure a smooth landing of the drone.

[0073] What is described above is only a preferred specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can make equivalent replacements or changes according to the technical scheme and inventive concept of the present invention within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection, characterized in that: include: A body (1), wherein a plurality of propellers (2) are distributed around the body (1) for providing flight power; A lens (3) is arranged in front of the body (1) and is used for inspecting and photographing the photovoltaic panels; A water tank (4) is fixed below the machine body (1) and is used to store cleaning water. The side wall of the water tank (4) is provided with an openable and closable water inlet; Support rods (5), a plurality of support rods (5) are distributed around the bottom of the water tank (4) and are used to support the body (1) when the drone lands; A lifting pipe (7) is arranged at a central position below the water tank (4) and is used to adjust the height; A brush rod (8) is disposed in the lifting tube (7) and is of a hollow structure, the lower end of which can spray water for cleaning the photovoltaic panel; The bristles (6) are distributed around the brush rod (8) and cooperate with the brush rod (8) to physically scrub the surface of the photovoltaic panel; an inner tube (41) is fixed at the center of the water tank (4), a piston (42) is slidably arranged in the inner tube (41), a guide rod (43) is fixed at the upper end of the piston (42) and slides through the upper part of the body (1); the lower part of the piston (42) is fixed to the lifting tube (7); The lifting tube (7) is of a hollow structure, and the piston (42) is provided with a through hole that penetrates the interior of the lifting tube (7); A nut (71) is fixed to the bottom of the water tank (4), and a thread is provided on the outer wall of the middle portion of the lifting tube (7), so that the thread of the lifting tube (7) and the nut (71) can be threadedly connected; A central gear (10) is rotatably arranged inside the machine body (1) and sleeved outside the guide rod (43); the central gear (10) and the guide rod (43) are slidably connected to each other through a keyway and are rotationally restricted; The machine body (1) is further provided with a driving device (11) capable of driving the central gear (10) to rotate; A water inlet hole (44) is provided on the side wall of the lower portion of the inner tube (41), and a spiral blade (45) that fits in contact with the inner wall of the inner tube (41) is fixed to the lower portion of the guide rod (43).

2. The intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brush rod (8) is connected to the lifting tube (7) via a key slot so as to be slidable and rotationally restricted; Inside the lifting tube (7), a spring (72) is provided between the top of the brush rod (8) and the top of the lifting tube (7), and the spring (72) provides an elastic force to move the brush rod (8) downward.

3. The intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection according to claim 2 is characterized in that: A pressure sensor is provided at the top of the lifting tube (7) and is attached to the spring (72).

4. The intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support rod (5) is hinged to the side wall at the bottom of the water tank (4).

5. The intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lower end of the lifting tube (7) is rotatably and limitedly connected to a guide plate (9), a plurality of connecting rods (51) are hingedly connected around the guide plate (9), and a sliding groove (52) is provided at the end of the connecting rod (51).

6. The intelligent multi-rotor drone for photovoltaic panel cleaning and inspection according to claim 5, characterized in that: A sliding block (53) is fixed to the side wall of the support rod (5), and each of the sliding blocks (53) is connected to a sliding groove (52) of each connecting rod (51) in a slidable and rotationally restricted manner.

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