A patrol unmanned aerial vehicle with photovoltaic panel cleaning function
By designing a liftable and deployable flushing pipe structure, the problems of low cleaning efficiency and cumbersome operation of existing drones have been solved, achieving efficient cleaning of photovoltaic panels and reducing the difficulty of drone operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing inspection drones with photovoltaic panel cleaning functions have a fixed spray length in their cleaning pipes, which means that when cleaning wider photovoltaic panels, multiple back-and-forth movements are required, resulting in low cleaning efficiency and cumbersome operation.
An inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function was designed. It adopts a liftable liquid storage tank and an expandable flushing pipe structure. The expansion and retraction of the flushing pipe is realized through a worm gear transmission system. Combined with the hose design, it ensures smooth liquid flow and avoids pipe collision.
It improves the cleaning efficiency of photovoltaic panels, reduces the complexity of drone operation, reduces the frequency of back-and-forth movement, increases the cleaning area, and reduces space occupation.
Smart Images
Figure CN224477071U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of photovoltaic power plant operation and maintenance technology, specifically to an inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function. Background Technology
[0002] With the increasing global demand for clean energy, photovoltaic power plants, as an important part of renewable energy, are rapidly expanding in scale and number. In order to ensure the stable and efficient photoelectric conversion efficiency of photovoltaic panels, it is necessary to clean the surface of the photovoltaic panels regularly to remove dust and impurities. Currently, some drone technologies have been applied to the inspection of photovoltaic power plants.
[0003] Currently, existing inspection drones with photovoltaic panel cleaning functions have fixed and unadjustable spray lengths in their cleaning pipes. As a result, when cleaning wider photovoltaic panels, the drone usually needs to move back and forth multiple times, leading to low cleaning efficiency and increased complexity in operating the drone. To address these issues, the inventors propose an inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning functions. Utility Model Content
[0004] To address the issues of low cleaning efficiency and cumbersome operation of current inspection drones with photovoltaic panel cleaning functions, the purpose of this invention is to provide an inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning capabilities.
[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function, comprising a drone body, a liquid storage tank installed on the bottom surface of the drone body, a fixed box fixedly connected to the end face of the liquid storage tank, a lifting shell movably mounted on the bottom surface of the fixed box, a motor installed inside the lifting shell, a worm gear fixedly connected to the output shaft end of the motor, a worm wheel meshing with the side wall of the worm gear, a rotating shaft fixedly connected through the middle of the side wall of the worm wheel, a first gear fixedly sleeved on the side wall of the rotating shaft, a first rotating column fixedly connected to the bottom end of the rotating shaft, a first flushing pipe fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the first rotating column, a second gear meshing with the side wall of the first gear, a vertical shaft fixedly connected through the middle of the top surface of the second gear, a second rotating column fixedly connected to the bottom end of the vertical shaft, and a second flushing pipe fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the second rotating column.
[0006] Preferably, a filling tube is fixedly connected to the upper side wall of the storage tank, and a cap is detachably provided at the opening of the filling tube. An electric cylinder is embedded in the bottom surface of the fixed box, and the output shaft end of the electric cylinder is fixedly connected to the top surface of the lifting shell. After removing the cap, the cleaning solution for photovoltaic panels is poured into the storage tank through the filling tube. Then, the cap is closed, and the drone body is controlled to fly to the photovoltaic panel cleaning location. The electric cylinder is activated, and the lifting shell can be lowered under the action of the output shaft of the electric cylinder so that the first rinsing pipe and the second rinsing pipe are lower than the outriggers on the drone body. The height is designed to prevent collisions between the first and second flushing pipes and the outriggers of the drone body during deployment. Guide rods are fixedly connected to the four corners of the top surface of the lifting shell. The guide rods pass through the fixed box and are slidably connected to the fixed box. A base is provided on the side wall of the motor. The side wall of the base is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the lifting shell. When the lifting shell moves up and down, the guide rods make the up and down movement of the lifting shell more stable. The motor is installed through the base.
[0007] Preferably, both the first and second flushing pipes are located outside the lifting housing, and both include flushing heads. When the first and second flushing pipes need to be unfolded, the motor is started, and the worm gear rotates under the action of the motor output shaft. Through the meshing of the worm gear and the worm wheel, the rotating shaft can be rotated, which in turn causes the first gear and the first rotating column to rotate. The first rotating column can drive the first flushing pipe to rotate, and the first gear meshes with the second gear, so the rotating second gear can drive the vertical shaft to rotate, which in turn causes the second rotating column to drive the second flushing pipe to rotate. This allows the closed first and second flushing pipes to be unfolded to expand the flushing surface of the photovoltaic panel. The storage tank is equipped with a pump body. A liquid outlet pipe is fixedly connected to the side wall of the liquid tank. One end of the liquid outlet pipe is fixedly connected to the output end of the pump body, and the other end of the liquid outlet pipe is fixedly connected to a branch pipe. There are two branch pipes. The output end of one branch pipe is fixedly connected to the input end of the first flushing pipe, and the output end of the other branch pipe is fixedly connected to the input end of the second flushing pipe. The liquid outlet pipe and the branch pipe are both flexible hoses, and they are designed with extra space to avoid pulling or bending the pipes when the lifting shell is lowered or when the first and second flushing pipes are extended or retracted, which would affect the flow of liquid. When flushing is required, the pump body in the liquid tank is activated so that the cleaning liquid flows through the liquid outlet pipe and the branch pipe into the first and second flushing pipes, and then cleans the photovoltaic panels through the flushing head.
[0008] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: when cleaning the surface of the photovoltaic panel with the drone body to remove dust and other debris such as bird droppings, the first and second flushing pipes on the drone body can be unfolded to expand the flushing surface of the photovoltaic panel, thereby improving cleaning efficiency and reducing the frequency of repeated reciprocating movements of the drone. After cleaning is completed, the unfolded first and second flushing pipes can be retracted and raised to reduce the space occupied and avoid affecting the landing of the drone body. Attached Figure Description
[0009] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model.
[0011] Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of the present utility model.
[0012] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the lifting shell of this utility model.
[0013] Figure 4 This is an enlarged view of section A of this utility model.
[0014] In the diagram: 1. UAV body; 2. Liquid storage tank; 3. Filling pipe; 4. Fixing box; 5. Electric cylinder; 6. Lifting shell; 7. Guide rod; 8. Motor; 9. Base; 10. Worm gear; 11. Worm wheel; 12. Rotating shaft; 13. First gear; 14. First rotating column; 15. First flushing pipe; 16. Second gear; 17. Vertical shaft; 18. Second rotating column; 19. Second flushing pipe; 20. Flushing head; 21. Liquid outlet pipe; 22. Branch pipe. Detailed Implementation
[0015] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0016] Example: Figure 1-4As shown, this utility model provides an inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function, including a drone body 1, a liquid storage tank 2 installed on the bottom surface of the drone body 1, a fixed box 4 fixedly connected to the end face of the liquid storage tank 2, a lifting shell 6 that can be raised and lowered on the bottom surface of the fixed box 4, a motor 8 installed inside the lifting shell 6, a worm gear 10 fixedly connected to the output shaft end of the motor 8, a worm wheel 11 meshing with the side wall of the worm gear 10, a rotating shaft 12 fixedly connected to the middle of the side wall of the worm wheel 11, a first gear 13 fixedly sleeved on the side wall of the rotating shaft 12, a first rotating column 14 fixedly connected to the bottom end of the rotating shaft 12, a first flushing pipe 15 fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the first rotating column 14, a second gear 16 meshing with the side wall of the first gear 13, a vertical shaft 17 fixedly connected to the middle of the top surface of the second gear 16, a second rotating column 18 fixedly connected to the bottom end of the vertical shaft 17, and a second flushing pipe 19 fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the second rotating column 18.
[0017] A filling tube 3 is inserted and fixedly connected to the upper side wall of the liquid storage tank 2. The opening of the filling tube 3 is detachably covered with a tube cap. An electric cylinder 5 is embedded in the bottom surface of the fixed box 4. The output shaft end of the electric cylinder 5 is fixedly connected to the top surface of the lifting shell 6.
[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the tube cap is removed, and the cleaning liquid for photovoltaic panels, such as the 1015BP photovoltaic panel cleaning agent, is poured into the storage tank 2 through the filling tube 3. Then, the tube cap is closed, and the drone body 1 is controlled to fly to the photovoltaic panel cleaning location. The electric cylinder 5 is activated, and the lifting shell 6 can be lowered under the action of the output shaft of the electric cylinder 5 so that the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19 are lower than the height of the outriggers on the drone body 1, so as to avoid the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19 colliding with the outriggers of the drone body 1 when they are unfolded.
[0019] Guide rods 7 are fixedly connected to the four corners of the top surface of the lifting shell 6. The guide rods 7 pass through the fixed box 4 and are slidably connected to the fixed box 4. A base 9 is provided on the side wall of the motor 8. The side wall of the base 9 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the lifting shell 6.
[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, when the lifting shell 6 moves up and down, the guide rod 7 can make the lifting shell 6 move up and down more smoothly, and the motor 8 is installed through the base 9.
[0021] Both the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19 are located outside the lifting shell 6, and both the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19 include a flushing head 20.
[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, when it is necessary to unfold the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19, the motor 8 is started, and the worm gear 10 rotates under the action of the output shaft of the motor 8. Through the meshing of the worm gear 10 and the worm wheel 11, the rotating shaft 12 can be rotated, which in turn causes the first gear 13 and the first rotating column 14 to rotate. The first rotating column 14 can drive the first flushing pipe 15 to rotate, and the first gear 13 meshes with the second gear 16. Therefore, the rotating second gear 16 can drive the vertical shaft 17 to rotate, which in turn causes the second rotating column 18 to drive the second flushing pipe 19 to rotate. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, this allows the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19, which are joined together, to be unfolded to expand the flushing surface of the photovoltaic panel.
[0023] The storage tank 2 is equipped with a pump body. The side wall of the storage tank 2 is connected to an outlet pipe 21. One end of the outlet pipe 21 is fixedly connected to the output end of the pump body, and the other end of the outlet pipe 21 is fixedly connected to a branch pipe 22. There are two branch pipes 22. The output end of one branch pipe 22 is fixedly connected to the input end of the first flushing pipe 15, and the output end of the other branch pipe 22 is fixedly connected to the input end of the second flushing pipe 19.
[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, the liquid outlet pipe 21 and the branch pipe 22 are both flexible hoses, and they are all left with a margin to avoid the situation where the pipe body is pulled or bent and the liquid flow is affected when the lifting shell 6 is lowered or when the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19 are retracted. When flushing is required, the pump in the liquid storage tank 2 is started so that the cleaning liquid flows through the liquid outlet pipe 21 and the branch pipe 22 into the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19, and then the photovoltaic panel is cleaned through the flushing head 20.
[0025] Working principle: When using this utility model, remove the tube cap and pour the cleaning fluid for photovoltaic panels into the storage tank 2 through the filling tube 3. Then close the tube cap, control the drone body 1 to fly to the photovoltaic panel cleaning location, start the electric cylinder 5, and the lifting shell 6 can be lowered under the action of the output shaft of the electric cylinder 5 so that the first rinsing tube 15 and the second rinsing tube 19 are lower than the height of the outriggers on the drone body 1, so as to avoid the first rinsing tube 15 and the second rinsing tube 19 colliding with the outriggers of the drone body 1 when they are unfolded.
[0026] Next, the motor 8 is started, and the worm gear 10 rotates under the action of the output shaft of the motor 8. Through the meshing of the worm gear 10 and the worm wheel 11, the rotating shaft 12 can be rotated, which in turn causes the first gear 13 and the first rotating column 14 to rotate. The first rotating column 14 can drive the first flushing pipe 15 to rotate. The first gear 13 meshes with the second gear 16, so the rotating second gear 16 can drive the vertical shaft 17 to rotate, which in turn causes the second rotating column 18 to drive the second flushing pipe 19 to rotate. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, this allows the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19, which are joined together, to be unfolded to expand the flushing surface of the photovoltaic panel.
[0027] Then, the pump in the storage tank 2 is started so that the cleaning fluid flows through the outlet pipe 21 and the branch pipe 22 to the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19, and then the photovoltaic panel is cleaned through the flushing head 20.
[0028] After the cleaning operation is completed, the operation is reversed to retract the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19, and to raise the retracted first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19 to avoid the first flushing pipe 15 and the second flushing pipe 19 affecting the landing of the drone body 1 when it is being retrieved.
[0029] All standard parts used in this invention can be purchased from the market, and irregular parts can be customized according to the description and drawings. The specific connection methods of each part adopt conventional methods such as bolts, rivets, and welding that are mature in the prior art. The machinery, parts and equipment adopt conventional models in the prior art, and the circuit connection adopts conventional connection methods in the prior art, which will not be described in detail here.
[0030] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this utility model and their equivalents, this utility model also intends to include these modifications and variations.
Claims
1. An inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function, comprising the drone body (1), characterized in that: A liquid storage tank (2) is installed on the bottom surface of the UAV body (1). A fixed box (4) is fixedly connected to the end face of the liquid storage tank (2). A lifting shell (6) is provided on the bottom surface of the fixed box (4) and can be raised and lowered. A motor (8) is installed inside the lifting shell (6). A worm gear (10) is fixedly connected to the output shaft end of the motor (8). A worm wheel (11) meshes with the side wall of the worm gear (10). A rotating shaft (12) is inserted and fixedly connected to the middle of the side wall of the worm wheel (11). The side wall of the rotating shaft (12) is fixed. A first gear (13) is fitted on the shaft (12). A first rotating column (14) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the rotating shaft (12). A first flushing pipe (15) is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the first rotating column (14). A second gear (16) meshes with the side wall of the first gear (13). A vertical shaft (17) is fixedly connected to the middle of the top surface of the second gear (16). A second rotating column (18) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the vertical shaft (17). A second flushing pipe (19) is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the second rotating column (18).
2. The inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A filling tube (3) is fixedly connected to the upper side wall of the liquid storage tank (2), and the opening of the filling tube (3) is detachably covered with a tube cap.
3. The inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An electric cylinder (5) is embedded in the bottom surface of the fixed box (4), and the output shaft end of the electric cylinder (5) is fixedly connected to the top surface of the lifting shell (6).
4. The inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The top four corners of the lifting shell (6) are fixedly connected with guide rods (7), which pass through the fixed box (4) and are slidably connected to the fixed box (4).
5. The inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The motor (8) has a base (9) on its side wall, and the side wall of the base (9) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the lifting shell (6).
6. The inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first flushing pipe (15) and the second flushing pipe (19) are both located outside the lifting shell (6), and both the first flushing pipe (15) and the second flushing pipe (19) include a flushing head (20).
7. The inspection drone with photovoltaic panel cleaning function as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The storage tank (2) is equipped with a pump body inside. A liquid outlet pipe (21) is fixedly connected to the side wall of the storage tank (2). One end of the liquid outlet pipe (21) is fixedly connected to the output end of the pump body. The other end of the liquid outlet pipe (21) is fixedly connected to a branch pipe (22). There are two branch pipes (22). The output end of one branch pipe (22) is fixedly connected to the input end of the first flushing pipe (15). The output end of the other branch pipe (22) is fixedly connected to the input end of the second flushing pipe (19).