Cleaning device for cleaning the surface of photovoltaic and solar arrays or other flat surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device (2) for cleaning the surface of solar arrays, photovoltaic arrays, glass roofs, façades or other flat surfaces, the device comprising: a cleaning assembly (6); a positioning means (7), which is arranged on a support construction (8) and has a support arm (16, 17), adjustable via actuators (27, 28), for positioning and holding the cleaning assembly (6); and a load-compensating means (29, 30, 31) for adjusting and automatically regulating the contact pressure exerted by the cleaning assembly (6) on the surface to be cleaned. According to the invention, the cleaning device (2) is designed as an autonomous unit having an integrated electric power supply means (4), for supplying the electric actuators (27, 28), and an integrated cleaning-liquid container (5).

Description

[0001] Cleaning device for cleaning the surface of photovoltaic and solar systems or other smooth surfaces

[0002] The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of solar systems, photovoltaic systems, glass roofs, facades or other smooth surfaces according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Such a cleaning device is known from DE 20 2011 105 493 U1. This comprises a cleaning unit with a cleaning brush rotatably mounted on a carrier and rotatable about its longitudinal axis by a drive, and a positioning device with a support arm adjustable via actuators for positioning and holding the cleaning unit. The cleaning device also contains a load balancing device by means of which the pressure exerted by the cleaning brush on the surface to be cleaned can not only be set to a desired value, but can also be maintained when a vehicle transporting the cleaning device drives over uneven ground during cleaning. The positioning device can be coupled to a tractor, usually equipped with a three-point trailer hitch, or to another suitable vehicle via a support frame designed as a three-point suspension.The cleaning device can be connected to a tractor's hydraulic unit via appropriate couplings to supply the actuators, which are designed as hydraulic cylinders. However, to operate the cleaning device, the vehicle must meet specific requirements with regard to the hydraulic unit and the corresponding connections, which entails a correspondingly high level of effort.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a simpler and cost-effective cleaning device of the type mentioned above, which can be used flexibly and enables effective cleaning of the surface of solar systems, photovoltaic systems, glass roofs, facades or other smooth surfaces without the need for complex additional equipment on the vehicle.

[0005] This object is achieved by a cleaning device having the features of claim 1. Expedient embodiments and advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. In the cleaning device according to the invention, the actuators for adjusting the support arm are designed as electric actuators. The cleaning device is designed as a completely self-sufficient unit with an integrated electrical power supply device for supplying the electric actuators and an integrated cleaning fluid container. The entire cleaning device, together with the electrical power supply device, the cleaning fluid container, the positioning device and the cleaning unit arranged thereon, is easy to transport and can be placed on the loading area of ​​a pickup truck or another vehicle without additional connections.The vehicle doesn't need to meet any special requirements, making the cleaning device flexible and cost-effective to use.

[0006] In a practical design, the supporting structure includes a frame housing the electrical power supply and the cleaning fluid container. The positioning device with the attached cleaning unit can also be mounted on the frame. The frame, with all parts of the cleaning device, can thus be easily placed on a suitable vehicle and is completely self-contained. No complex power connections, connecting lines, or the like are required.

[0007] The support arm can have a single arm section or several arm sections pivotally connected to one another via a joint arrangement. In an advantageous embodiment, the support arm can have a first arm section adjustable by a first electric actuator and a second arm section adjustable by a second electric actuator. This allows the cleaning unit to be folded for transport.

[0008] The support arm is conveniently pivoted about a horizontal axis on a support column that can rotate about a vertical axis.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning unit can be designed as a brush unit with a cleaning brush rotatably mounted on a support and rotated by an electric drive motor. Spray devices and other cleaning units are also possible. In a simple embodiment, the load balancing device comprises a leveling cylinder arranged between the support column and the support arm and a pressure accumulator associated with the leveling cylinder. The pressure accumulator is designed as a pressure vessel that is partially pressurized with hydraulic fluid and partially with air or another gaseous medium. The contact pressure can be adjusted using a hand pump. By connecting the pressure accumulator to the leveling cylinder, load balancing and level control can be achieved.The load-compensating support arm can also be adjusted by hydraulically controlling a single actuating cylinder. For example, the control pressure can be monitored and regulated during the cleaning process by a pressure sensor. If, for example, the vehicle drives over uneven ground and the control pressure changes as a result, readjustment can be performed so that the contact pressure exerted by the cleaning unit on the surface to be cleaned can be kept constant.

[0010] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0011] Figure 1 shows a vehicle with a cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning the surface of photovoltaic panels in a perspective view;

[0012] Figure 2 shows a positioning device and a cleaning unit of the cleaning device of Figure 1 in a side view;

[0013] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cleaning device of Figure 1;

[0014] Figure 4 is a detailed view of area A of Figure 3 and

[0015] Figure 5 is a detailed view of area B of Figure.

[0016] Figure 1 shows a vehicle 1, here designed as a pickup truck, with a cleaning device 2 arranged thereon for cleaning the surface of photovoltaic panels 3. The cleaning device 2, which is designed as a self-sufficient unit with an integrated power supply device 4 and an integrated cleaning fluid container 5 and is easily assembled and disassembled from the vehicle, has a cleaning unit 6 that can be positioned above the surface to be cleaned, a positioning device 7 for positioning and holding the cleaning unit 6, and a supporting structure 8 for holding the positioning device 7 and for receiving the power supply device 4 and the cleaning fluid container 5.

[0017] As is particularly evident from Figure 2, the cleaning unit 6 in the embodiment shown is designed as a brush unit with a cleaning brush 11 rotatably mounted on a long support 9 and motor-rotatable by means of an electric drive motor 10. The cleaning brush 11, which can rotate about its longitudinal axis, is mounted on the support 3 between two side parts 12 and 13 such that the longitudinal axis of the cleaning brush 11 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support 9. A spray device 14 (not shown in detail) for applying a cleaning fluid is attached to the tubular support 9.

[0018] The positioning device 7 comprises a pivotable support arm which contains a first arm part 16 pivotable about a horizontal first axis 15 and a second arm part 17 pivotally connected to the first arm part via a joint arrangement. In the embodiment shown, the joint arrangement consists of a first joint part 18 arranged at the front end of the first arm part 16 and a second joint part 19 arranged at the rear end of the second arm part 17, by means of which the second arm part 17 is pivotally connected to the front end of the first arm part 16 about a second axis 20 parallel to the first axis 15. The cleaning unit 6 is fastened to the front end of the second arm part 17 via a holder 21.

[0019] From Figure 3 it can be seen that the positioning device 7 also contains a support column 24 which is rotatable about a vertical axis 23 by means of a drive 22 and to the upper end of which the first arm part 16 is pivotally connected about the first axis 15 via an upper connecting part 25. As a result, the support arm formed here from the two arm parts 16 and 17, together with the cleaning unit 6 attached thereto, can be pivoted laterally into a desired position. The first arm part 16 of the support arm is supported relative to the support column 18 by a first electric actuator 27 arranged between a lower connecting part 26 at the lower end of the support column 24 and the first arm part 16. The inclination of the first arm part 16 can be adjusted by suitable control of the first electric actuator 27.A second electric actuator 28 arranged between the first arm part 16 and the second arm part 17 allows the second arm part 17 to be pivoted relative to the first arm part 16 about the second axis 20. The electric actuator 28 can have an integrated actuator gear for flexible and precise angle adjustment.

[0020] Figure 2 shows that a hydraulically operated leveling cylinder 29 is also arranged between the lower connecting part 26 at the lower end of the support column 18 and the first arm part 16 of the support arm. The leveling cylinder 29, together with a pressure accumulator 30, designed here as a bladder accumulator, and a hand pump 31, shown enlarged in Figure 4, forms a load balancing device for setting and automatically regulating the contact pressure exerted by the cleaning unit 6 on the surface to be cleaned. The load balancing device is designed here as a self-contained unit with the leveling cylinder 29 arranged between the first arm part 16 and the lower connecting part 26 and the pressure accumulator 30 interacting with it. The pressure accumulator 30 is designed as a pressure vessel that is partially pressurized with hydraulic fluid and partially with air or another gaseous medium.The contact pressure can be adjusted using the hand pump 31, which is operated via a handle 32. By connecting the pressure accumulator 30 to the leveling cylinder 29, load compensation and level adjustment can be achieved.

[0021] The load balancing device allows the pressure exerted by the cleaning unit 6 on the surface to be cleaned to be not only adjusted to a desired value but also maintained even when a vehicle transporting the cleaning device travels over uneven ground during cleaning. The support arm holding the cleaning unit 6 automatically adjusts itself via the load balancing device, allowing leveling and maintaining the contact pressure of the cleaning unit 6 constant regardless of any uneven ground. This prevents damage to the surfaces to be cleaned.

[0022] The support structure 8, shown in more detail in Figure 3, contains a frame 36 formed from vertical supports 33, cross members 34, and a cover 35, on which the positioning device 7 with the support column 24, the support arm consisting of the two arm sections 16 and 17, and the rotary drive 22 is arranged. The cleaning fluid container 5, arranged on a pallet or other substructure 37, and the energy supply device 4, designed as an accumulator, are housed within the frame 36. The cleaning fluid container 5 is designed as a water tank with a capacity of 600 to 1000 liters. The energy supply device 4, designed as an accumulator, allows the electric actuators 28 and 29, the rotary drive 22, and the electric drive motor 10 for rotating the cleaning brush 11 to be supplied with energy completely independently and without a power connection to the vehicle.Using a corresponding joystick control, the cleaning brush 11 can be positioned and driven for cleaning. The frame 36, together with the power supply unit 4, the cleaning fluid container 5, the positioning device 7, and the cleaning unit 6 arranged thereon, is easily transportable and can be mounted, for example, on the loading area of ​​a pickup truck or another vehicle without the need for additional connections. The vehicle does not need to meet any special requirements.

[0023] List of reference symbols

[0024] vehicle

[0025] Cleaning device Photovoltaic panel Energy supply device

[0026] Cleaning fluid container

[0027] Cleaning unit

[0028] Positioning device

[0029] supporting structure

[0030] carrier

[0031] drive motor

[0032] cleaning brush

[0033] First side panel

[0034] Second side panel

[0035] Spray device

[0036] First axis

[0037] First armrest

[0038] Second arm part

[0039] First joint part

[0040] Second joint part

[0041] Second axis

[0042] bracket

[0043] rotary drive

[0044] vertical axis

[0045] Support column

[0046] Upper connecting part

[0047] Lower connecting part

[0048] First actuator

[0049] Second actuator

[0050] Leveling cylinder

[0051] pressure accumulator

[0052] Hand pump Handle Vertical support Cross member Cover Frame Substructure

Claims

Claims 1. Cleaning device (2) for cleaning the surface of solar systems, photovoltaic systems, glass roofs, facades or other smooth surfaces, which contains a cleaning unit (6), a positioning device (7) arranged on a support structure (8) with a support arm (16, 17) adjustable via actuators (27, 28) for positioning and holding the cleaning unit (6), and a load balancing device (29, 30, 31) for setting and automatically regulating the contact pressure acting on the surface to be cleaned by the cleaning unit (6), characterized in that the cleaning device (2) is designed as a self-sufficient unit with an integrated electrical energy supply device (4) for supplying the electrical actuators (27, 28) and an integrated cleaning fluid container (5).

2. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting structure (8) contains a frame (36) in which the electrical power supply device (4) and the cleaning liquid container (5) are accommodated.

3. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the positioning device (7) with the cleaning unit (6) held thereon is arranged on the frame (36).

4. Cleaning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support arm (16, 17) has a first arm part (16) adjustable by means of a first electric actuator (27) and a second arm part (17) adjustable by means of a second electric actuator (28).

5. Cleaning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support arm (16, 17) is pivotally connected to a support column (24) rotatable about a vertical axis (23) about a first horizontal axis (15).

6. Cleaning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cleaning unit (6) is designed as a brush unit with a cleaning brush (11) rotatably mounted on a carrier (9) and rotatable by means of an electric drive motor (10).

7. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the load balancing device (29, 30, 31) contains a level compensation cylinder (29) arranged between the support column (24) and the support arm (16, 17) and a pressure accumulator (30) associated with the level compensation cylinder (29).

8. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the load balancing device (29, 30, 31) contains a hand pump (31) for adjusting the contact pressure.

9. Cleaning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cleaning liquid container (5) is designed as a water tank for holding 600 to 1000 liters.

10. Cleaning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the electrical energy supply device (4) is designed as an accumulator.

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