A solar panel cleaning device
By separating the spray head and cleaning brush, and combining them with a support rail and roller design, the problem of high complexity of moving parts in existing devices is solved, achieving low-energy and high-efficiency solar panel cleaning, and improving the ease of operation and stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NINGBO LAIHUAN AUTOMATION IND CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
In existing solar panel cleaning devices, the cleaning brush and the water spray head move synchronously, resulting in high complexity of moving parts, high maintenance costs and high energy consumption, and they are prone to wear and entanglement problems.
The water spray head and the moving cleaning brush are separated, and the spray head does not move synchronously with the cleaning brush. By using a support guide rail and transmission gear design, the number of moving parts is reduced. The roller and split slider structure are set up to achieve independent operation of water spray and cleaning brush, and remote control is achieved through a controller.
It reduces the complexity and maintenance costs of moving parts, reduces energy consumption, improves cleaning efficiency and ease of operation, and enhances the movement stability and transmission accuracy of the cleaning brush.
Smart Images
Figure CN122394489A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of solar panel cleaning technology, and more specifically, relates to a solar panel cleaning device. Background Technology
[0002] Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation is a promising technological field within the new and renewable energy sectors. The most basic component of solar PV power generation is the individual solar cell, most commonly made of monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and thin-film cells. A module composed of one or more solar cells is called a solar cell module or solar panel. Solar panels are devices that convert solar energy into electrical energy. They offer advantages such as diverse installation options, safety, zero pollution, and an inexhaustible supply, leading to their rapid development. However, outdoor dust and dirt inevitably accumulate on the surface of solar panels, affecting their efficiency.
[0003] However, existing devices for cleaning multiple solar panels have cleaning brushes and water spray heads that move synchronously. To ensure stable water supply, cable chains or hoses must be used to follow the movement, which not only increases the load on the motor driving the cleaning brushes, resulting in high energy consumption, but also easily leads to problems such as hose wear, tangling, and leakage. The complexity of the moving parts and the maintenance costs are also high. Summary of the Invention
[0004] For cleaning multiple solar panels, the existing solar panel cleaning devices involve complex moving parts and high maintenance costs due to the synchronous movement of the cleaning brush and water spray heads. Furthermore, the solar panels are mounted on a support frame. The purpose of this invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning device. This solar panel cleaning device is used to clean multiple solar panels and includes: a cleaning brush with sliding parts at both ends; a support rail arranged along the arrangement direction of the solar panel array, providing a track for the sliding parts to slide on; a solar panel fixing part, disposed on the support rail, for mounting multiple solar panels; and a spraying part, disposed on one side of the support rail, including multiple spray heads arranged along the extension direction of the support rail, with each solar panel equipped with at least one spray head.
[0005] The technical benefits of this solution are as follows: By separating the water spray head from the moving cleaning brush, the number of moving parts is reduced, thereby lowering the complexity of the moving parts and maintenance costs. Since the water spray head does not move synchronously with the cleaning brush, stubborn stains on the solar panel can be pre-wetted with water before the cleaning brush moves, or water can be sprayed directly for rinsing when there is little dust, eliminating the need to move the cleaning brush and reducing energy consumption.
[0006] Furthermore, the spray unit also includes: a water supply pipeline connected to multiple spray heads for supplying water to the multiple spray heads; and at least one control valve installed on the water supply pipeline for opening or closing the water supply pipeline.
[0007] Furthermore, the solar panel cleaning device also includes: a drive motor, a transmission gear, and a synchronous belt; the drive motor can drive the transmission gear to rotate, the transmission gear meshes with the synchronous belt, and the synchronous belt can drive the sliding part to move on the track when it rotates; wherein, the transmission gear is set at both ends of the support guide rail, and the support guide rail has a first track cavity and a second track cavity for the synchronous belt to be installed.
[0008] The technical effects achieved by adopting this technical solution are as follows: By setting the transmission gears at both ends of the support guide rail, and opening the first track cavity and the second track cavity inside the support guide rail for the installation of the synchronous belt, the synchronous belt can be built into the first track cavity and the second track cavity inside the support guide rail without the need to set up an additional transmission mechanism housing. The support guide rail simultaneously undertakes three functions: supporting the solar panel, guiding the slider, and accommodating the synchronous belt. The structure design is compact.
[0009] Furthermore, the top of the first track cavity is provided with a first opening for mounting the sliding part.
[0010] The technical effect achieved by adopting this technical solution is as follows: by opening a first opening at the top of the first track cavity for the installation of the sliding part, the sliding part can be installed into the first track cavity, thereby enabling the synchronous belt set in the first track cavity to drive the sliding part to slide along the inner wall of the first track cavity, thereby realizing that the cleaning brush slides along the length direction of the support guide rail.
[0011] Furthermore, a second opening is provided at the bottom of the second track cavity, and reinforcing ribs are provided on both sides of the second opening.
[0012] The technical effects achieved by adopting this technical solution are as follows: Considering that opening a second opening at the bottom of the second track cavity would reduce the strength, reinforcing ribs are set on both sides of the second opening to ensure the overall strength of the support rail. At the same time, the top of the reinforcing ribs can support the synchronous belt in the second track cavity, preventing transmission failure caused by problems such as loosening or slippage of the synchronous belt, thereby improving transmission accuracy and the service life of the synchronous belt.
[0013] Furthermore, the solar panel fixing part includes a solar panel fixing plate and a fixing mounting plate. The fixing mounting plate is connected to the solar panel fixing plate. The solar panel fixing plate has a U-shaped structure and a first through hole at the bottom.
[0014] The technical effect achieved by adopting this technical solution is as follows: by setting the solar fixing part in the form of a solar fixing plate and a fixed mounting plate, the solar panel can be fixedly installed on the support guide rail through the U-shaped solar fixing plate, and the solar panel can be locked by inserting a locking bolt through the first through hole at the bottom of the U-shaped structure.
[0015] Furthermore, the mounting plate has a U-shaped structure and a second through hole on the side.
[0016] Furthermore, the sliding part includes a timing belt clamp and a slider; wherein the timing belt clamp and the slider are separate designs.
[0017] The technical advantages achieved by adopting this solution are as follows: By designing the timing belt clamp and slider as separate components, compared to an integrated design, the timing belt clamp and slider can be machined separately before assembly, reducing machining difficulty and mold costs. After long-term use, if the teeth of the timing belt clamp or the slider wears, the corresponding components can be replaced individually, reducing maintenance costs.
[0018] Furthermore, the slider has first rollers on both sides and a second roller at the bottom; wherein the first rollers can roll along the top wall of the first track cavity and the second rollers can roll along the two side walls of the first track cavity.
[0019] The technical effects achieved by this solution are as follows: By setting rollers on the slider, the sliding friction between the slider and the first track cavity can be converted into rolling friction, solving the problems of high sliding friction resistance, high noise, and easy wear. Compared with setting the first rollers only on both sides of the slider, which has the problem of the first rollers running off-center and having lateral displacement within the first track cavity, the second roller set at the bottom of the slider can roll in contact with the side walls of the first track cavity, structurally constraining the lateral displacement of the slider, fundamentally solving the problem of slider running off-center, improving the motion stability of the cleaning brush, and adapting to complex working conditions of long stroke, high speed, and lateral force.
[0020] Furthermore, the solar panel cleaning device also includes a controller that is electrically connected to the drive motor and the control valve; wherein, the controller is communicatively connected to a mobile terminal, allowing users to remotely control the solar panel cleaning operation of the solar panel cleaning device via the mobile terminal.
[0021] The technical effects achieved by adopting this technical solution are as follows: By setting up a controller communication connection with a mobile terminal, and the controller being electrically connected to the drive motor and control valve, users can remotely control the walking speed, walking distance, and whether the spray section sprays water of the solar panel cleaning device through mobile terminals such as mobile phones, which greatly improves the convenience of operation and response speed.
[0022] The technical effects and advantages of this invention are as follows: 1. By arranging multiple spray heads along the width of the solar panel, the spray heads and the moving cleaning brush can be separated, reducing moving parts, complexity, and maintenance costs. Since the spray heads do not move synchronously with the cleaning brush, stubborn stains on the solar panel can be pre-wetted before the brush moves, or water can be sprayed directly for rinsing when there is little dust, eliminating the need to move the cleaning brush and reducing energy consumption. In the solar panel cleaning device provided in this application, multiple solar panels are directly mounted on a support rail via a solar panel fixing part. The support rail serves both as a support frame for the solar panels and as a guide for the cleaning brush, eliminating the need for additional slide rails and their mounting accessories, reducing the number of parts and material costs.
[0023] 2. By installing rollers on the slider, the sliding friction between the slider and the first track cavity can be converted into rolling friction, solving the problems of high sliding friction resistance, high noise, and easy wear. Compared with the first rollers only on both sides of the slider, which have the problem of the first rollers running off-center and having lateral displacement within the first track cavity, the second rollers located at the bottom of the slider can roll in contact with the side walls of the first track cavity, structurally constraining the lateral displacement of the slider. This fundamentally solves the problem of slider running off-center, improves the motion stability of the cleaning brush, and adapts to complex working conditions with long strokes, high speeds, and lateral forces.
[0024] 3. By setting up a controller communication connection to a mobile terminal, and electrically connecting the controller to the drive motor and control valve, users can remotely control the walking speed, walking distance, and whether the spray section sprays water for solar panel cleaning operations via mobile terminals such as mobile phones, greatly improving the convenience of operation and response speed. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a solar panel cleaning device provided in this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning brush; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the cross-section supporting the guide rail; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the sliding part. Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing the separation of the slider and the timing belt clamp in the sliding part; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the solar panel mounting part.
[0026] 10. Solar panel; 21. Support rail; 211. First track cavity; 212. Second track cavity; 213. First opening; 214. Second opening; 215. Reinforcing rib; 22. Connecting rod; 23. Cleaning brush; 31. Water supply pipe; 32. Spray head; 40. Solar panel fixing part; 41. Solar fixing plate; 411. First through hole; 42. Fixing plate; 421. Second through hole; 51. Drive motor; 52. Transmission gear; 61. Slider; 62. Synchronous belt clamp; 63. First roller; 64. Second roller. Detailed Implementation
[0027] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention are given for illustrative and descriptive purposes only, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described to better illustrate the principles and practical application of the invention, and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the invention and design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for a particular purpose.
[0028] See Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a solar panel cleaning device provided by the present invention. Combined with... Figures 1 to 8 The solar panel cleaning device is used to clean multiple solar panels 10 arranged in an array. The solar panel cleaning device includes: a cleaning brush 23 with sliding parts at both ends; a support rail 21, arranged along the extension direction of the solar panel array 10, with a track for the sliding parts to slide on; a solar panel fixing part 40, set on the support rail 21, for mounting multiple solar panels 10; and a spraying part, set on one side of the support rail 21, including multiple spray heads 32 arranged along the width direction of the solar panels 10, with each solar panel 10 equipped with at least one spray head 32.
[0029] In one specific embodiment, the solar panel cleaning device is provided with two support rails 21. The specific length of the support rails 21 can be increased or decreased according to the number of solar panels 10. A connecting rod 22 connects the two support rails 21, forming a frame structure that supports multiple solar panels 10. The cleaning brush 23 can slide back and forth on the top of the support rails 21 to clean the solar panels 10. The cleaning brush 23 can move back and forth along the length direction of the solar panel 10 or along the width direction of the solar panel 10. The specific direction of movement can be set according to the specific usage scenario of the solar panel 10.
[0030] Multiple spray heads 32 are arranged on one side of the support rail 21, spraying umbrella-shaped jets of cleaning water to rinse and wet the solar panels 10. Each solar panel 10 is equipped with at least one spray head 32. For example, one solar panel 10 may be equipped with one spray head 32, or multiple spray heads 32 may be installed on one solar panel 10. The number of spray heads 32 depends on the size of the solar panel 10. The water spraying operation of each spray head 32 can be independently controlled according to the degree of dirt on the solar panel 10.
[0031] Understandably, separating the water spray head 32 from the movable cleaning brush 23 reduces moving parts, lowers the complexity of moving parts, and reduces maintenance costs. Since the water spray head 32 does not move synchronously with the cleaning brush 23, it can pre-spray water to moisten stubborn stains on the solar panel 10 before the cleaning brush 23 moves, or directly spray water to rinse when there is little dust, without needing to move the cleaning brush 23, thus reducing energy consumption.
[0032] The solar panel cleaning device provided in this application has multiple solar panels directly mounted on the support rail 21 via the solar panel fixing part 40. The support rail 21 can provide a track for guiding the sliding of the cleaning brush 23 and also serve to support the solar panel 10.
[0033] Furthermore, the sprinkler unit also includes: a water supply pipe 31, which connects to multiple sprinkler heads 32 for supplying water to the multiple sprinkler heads 32; and at least one control valve, which is installed on the water supply pipe 31 for opening or closing the water supply pipe 31. For example, a single control valve can be installed for a whole sprinkler system, or a control valve can be installed on each sprinkler branch.
[0034] In one specific embodiment, the spray unit has only one control valve, and multiple spray heads can simultaneously open and close the water supply pipeline.
[0035] In one specific embodiment, each spray head 32 is equipped with an independent spray head 32, which can individually turn the spray on or off according to the actual degree of dirtiness of each solar panel 10. For solar panels 10 with a higher degree of dirtiness, the water volume of the spray head 32 can be increased to pre-rinse and wet the panels before the cleaning brush 23 moves, thereby improving the cleaning effect. When a spray head 32 or control valve malfunctions, the valve can be closed individually for repair or replacement without shutting down the entire water supply line 31, and without affecting the normal cleaning operation of other solar panels 10.
[0036] Furthermore, the solar panel cleaning device also includes: a drive motor 51, a transmission gear 52, and a synchronous belt (not shown in the figure); the drive motor 51 can drive the transmission gear 52 to rotate, the transmission gear 52 meshes with the synchronous belt, and the synchronous belt can drive the sliding part to move on the track when it rotates; wherein, the transmission gear 52 is set at both ends of the support guide rail 21, and the support guide rail 21 has a first track cavity 211 and a second track cavity 212 for the synchronous belt to be installed.
[0037] In one specific embodiment, the drive motor 51 drives the transmission gear 52 to rotate, and the transmission gear drives the synchronous belt meshing with it to move within the first track cavity 211 and the second track cavity 212 within the support guide rail 21. For example, the sliding part is provided with synchronous belt clamping members 62 at both ends that are adapted to the tooth profile of the synchronous belt. When the synchronous belt moves, the sliding part slides synchronously within the first track cavity 211. The reciprocating stroke of the cleaning brush 23 is realized by the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 51.
[0038] It is understandable that by setting the transmission gear 52 at both ends of the support guide rail 21 and opening the first track cavity 211 and the second track cavity 212 for the installation of the synchronous belt in the support guide rail 21, the synchronous belt can be built into the first track cavity 211 and the second track cavity 212 inside the support guide rail 21 without the need to set an additional transmission mechanism housing. The support guide rail 21 simultaneously undertakes three functions: supporting the solar panel 10, guiding the slider 61, and accommodating the synchronous belt. The structure design is compact.
[0039] Furthermore, the top of the first track cavity 211 is provided with a first opening 213 for mounting the sliding part.
[0040] It is understandable that by opening a first opening 213 at the top of the first track cavity 211 for the installation of the sliding part, the sliding part can be installed into the first track cavity 211, thereby enabling the synchronous belt set in the first track cavity 211 to drive the sliding part to slide along the inner wall of the first track cavity 211, thereby realizing that the cleaning brush 23 slides along the length direction of the support guide rail 21.
[0041] Furthermore, the bottom of the second track cavity 212 is provided with a second opening 214, and reinforcing ribs 215 are provided on both sides of the second opening 214. The second opening 214 can prevent water from accumulating inside the second track cavity 212 and plays a role in drainage.
[0042] Considering that opening a second opening 214 at the bottom of the second track cavity 212 would reduce its strength, reinforcing ribs 215 are provided on both sides of the second opening 214 to ensure the overall strength of the support rail 21. At the same time, the top of the reinforcing ribs 215 can support the synchronous belt inside the second track cavity 212, preventing transmission failure caused by problems such as loosening or slippage of the synchronous belt, and improving transmission accuracy and the service life of the synchronous belt.
[0043] Furthermore, the solar panel fixing part 40 includes a solar panel fixing plate 41 and a fixing mounting plate 42. Both the solar panel fixing plate 41 and the fixing mounting plate 42 are U-shaped structures. The fixing mounting plate 42 is welded to the solar panel fixing plate 41 to form the solar panel fixing part 40.
[0044] The solar panel 41 has a through hole 411 at its bottom. Bolts pass through the first through hole 411 to lock and fix the solar panel 10. The side plate of the mounting plate 42 has a second through hole 421. Bolts pass through the second through hole 421 to fix the plate to the side wall of the support rail 21. After passing through the second through hole 421, the bolts abut against the side wall of the support rail 21.
[0045] Furthermore, the sliding part includes a timing belt clamp 62 and a slider 61; wherein the timing belt clamp 62 and the slider 61 are separate designs. For example, both the timing belt clamp 62 and the slider 61 have threaded connection holes, and the two are connected and fixed by screws.
[0046] Understandably, by designing the timing belt clamp 62 and the slider 61 as separate components, compared to a one-piece design, the timing belt clamp 62 and the slider 61 can be machined separately before being assembled together, reducing machining difficulty and mold costs. After long-term use, if the teeth of the timing belt clamp 62 or the slider 61 wear, the corresponding components can be replaced individually, reducing maintenance costs.
[0047] Furthermore, the slider 61 has first rollers 63 on both sides and second rollers 64 on its bottom; the first rollers 63 can roll along the top wall of the first track cavity 211, and the second rollers 64 can roll along the side walls of the first track cavity 211. For example, the slider 61 has four first rollers 63 on both sides, and the four first rollers 63 are staggered. The two second rollers 64 are respectively located on the side of the two synchronous belt clamps 62 near the first rollers 63.
[0048] Understandably, by setting rollers on the slider 61, the sliding friction between the slider 61 and the first track cavity 211 can be converted into rolling friction, solving the problems of high sliding friction resistance, high noise, and easy wear. Compared with setting the first rollers 63 only on both sides of the slider 61, which has the problem of the first rollers 63 running off-center and having lateral displacement within the first track cavity 211, the second roller 64 set at the bottom of the slider 61 can roll into contact with the side walls of the first track cavity 211, structurally constraining the lateral displacement of the slider 61, fundamentally solving the problem of the slider 61 running off-center, improving the motion stability of the cleaning brush 23, and adapting to complex working conditions of long stroke, high speed, and lateral force.
[0049] Furthermore, the solar panel cleaning device also includes a controller that is electrically connected to the drive motor and the control valve; wherein, the controller is communicatively connected to a mobile terminal, and the user can remotely control the solar panel 10 cleaning operation of the solar panel cleaning device through the mobile terminal.
[0050] Understandably, by setting up a controller communication connection to a mobile terminal, and by electrically connecting the controller to the drive motor and control valve, users can remotely control the walking speed, walking distance, and whether the spray head 32 of the spray unit sprays water, etc., of the solar panel 10 cleaning operation through mobile terminals such as mobile phones, which greatly improves the ease of operation and response speed.
[0051] In one specific embodiment, when there is little dust on the solar panel 10, the user can directly control the spray head 32 to spray water for rinsing via a mobile phone, and control the cleaning brush 23 to remain stationary, thereby reducing cleaning energy consumption. When there are stubborn stains on the solar panel 10, the spray head 32 is pre-sprayed with water to moisten the stubborn stains on the solar panel 10 before the cleaning brush 23 is moved via the mobile phone, in order to improve the cleaning effect.
[0052] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the indicated orientation or positional relationship is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.
[0053] Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art and related fields based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Structures, devices, and operating methods not specifically described and explained in the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, shall be implemented according to conventional means in the art.
Claims
1. A solar panel cleaning device, characterized in that, The solar panel cleaning device is used to clean multiple solar panels. The solar panel cleaning device includes: The cleaning brush has sliding parts at both ends; The support rails are arranged along the direction of the solar panel array and are equipped with tracks for the sliding parts to slide on. The solar panel mounting section is mounted on the support rail and is used to install multiple solar panels. The spray section is located on one side of the support rail and includes multiple spray heads arranged along the extension direction of the support rail. Each solar panel is equipped with at least one spray head.
2. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spray unit also includes: Water supply pipeline, which connects to multiple sprinkler heads and is used to supply water to multiple sprinkler heads; At least one control valve is installed on the water supply pipeline for opening or closing the water supply pipeline.
3. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The solar panel cleaning device also includes: a drive motor, a transmission gear, and a synchronous belt; the drive motor can drive the transmission gear to rotate, the transmission gear meshes with the synchronous belt, and the synchronous belt can drive the sliding part to move on the track when it rotates; wherein, the transmission gear is set at both ends of the support guide rail, and the support guide rail has a first track cavity and a second track cavity for the synchronous belt to be installed.
4. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The top of the first track cavity has a first opening for the installation of the sliding part.
5. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom of the second track cavity is provided with a second opening, and reinforcing ribs are provided on both sides of the second opening.
6. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The solar panel fixing part includes a solar panel fixing plate and a fixing mounting plate. The fixing mounting plate connects to the solar panel fixing plate. The solar panel fixing plate has a U-shaped structure and a first through hole at the bottom.
7. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The mounting plate has a U-shaped structure and a second through hole on the side.
8. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sliding part includes a timing belt clamp and a slider; wherein the timing belt clamp and the slider are separate designs.
9. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The slider has first rollers on both sides and second rollers at the bottom; the first rollers can roll along the top wall of the first track cavity, and the second rollers can roll along the two side walls of the first track cavity.
10. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The solar panel cleaning device also includes a controller that is electrically connected to the drive motor and the control valve; the controller is also connected to a mobile terminal, allowing users to remotely control the solar panel cleaning operation of the device.