Solar panel cleaning device

Abstract

To provide a solar panel cleaning device that can be easily and inexpensively installed by one person on small solar panels or individual solar panels, and that allows for cleaning of the solar panels for extended periods while the device is installed. [Solution] A solar panel cleaning device for cleaning the surface of a solar panel 2 while it is directly or indirectly attached to the solar panel 2 and fixed in the mounting position, comprising: a rod-shaped member 11; a cleaning member 12 provided on the rod-shaped member 11 that contacts and cleans the surface of the solar panel 2; a wiper mechanism 20 that moves the rod-shaped member 11 back and forth between a first position P1 and a second position P5 such that the tip portion 111 of the rod-shaped member 11 draws an arc; and a control unit 60 that controls the operation of the wiper mechanism 20, wherein the wiper mechanism 20 is coaxial with the rod-shaped member 11 and comprises a roller 21 provided on the rod-shaped member 11 and a motor 22 that directly or indirectly rotates the roller 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar panel cleaning device that can be directly or indirectly attached to a solar panel to clean the surface of the solar panel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a self-propelled solar panel cleaning device is known that is placed on top of a solar panel unit in which a plurality of solar panels are arranged side by side and cleans the entire surface of the solar panel unit by self-propelling (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the solar panel cleaning device described in Patent Document 1 has problems that it is large and heavy, so an operator cannot attach it to a solar panel alone or remove it from the solar panel. Further, the solar panel cleaning device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to be used with a solar panel unit composed of a plurality of solar panels, and there is also a problem that it cannot clean a small or single solar panel such as a household solar panel. In addition, the solar panel cleaning device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is necessary to attach it to and remove it from the solar panel every time cleaning is performed, which increases the workload of the operator.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a solar panel cleaning device that can be easily installed by one person, can be installed inexpensively on small or individual solar panels, and can clean solar panels for extended periods without the operator having to perform any work while the device is installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is essentially a solar panel cleaning device as described in (1) to (9) below. (1) A solar panel cleaning device for cleaning the surface of a solar panel while it is attached directly or indirectly to the solar panel and fixed in the mounting position, comprising: a rod-shaped member; a cleaning member provided on the rod-shaped member for contacting and cleaning the surface of the solar panel; a wiper mechanism for reciprocating the rod-shaped member between a first position and a second position such that the tip of the rod-shaped member draws an arc; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the wiper mechanism, wherein the wiper mechanism is coaxial with the rod-shaped member and comprises a roller provided on the rod-shaped member and a motor for directly or indirectly rotating the roller. (2) The solar panel cleaning device according to (1) above, wherein the rotation axis of the roller is coaxial with the axis of the rod-shaped member. (3) The solar panel cleaning device according to (1) above, further comprising a wind speed sensor for measuring wind speed or a rain sensor for detecting rain, wherein the control unit drives the motor to rotate the roller when the wind speed is above a predetermined value based on the measurement result of the wind speed sensor, or when the rain sensor detects rain. (4) The solar panel cleaning device according to (1) above, wherein the control unit operates the wiper mechanism at regular intervals of one hour or more, causing the cleaning member to clean the solar panel. (5) The solar panel cleaning device according to (1) above, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the wiper mechanism so that the rod-shaped member moves back and forth within a range of 180° for the central angle of the arc. (6) The solar panel cleaning device according to (1) above, wherein the cleaning member consists of a cylindrical rotating brush that covers the periphery of the rod-shaped member. (7) The solar panel cleaning device according to (1) above, wherein the cleaning member is rotatable coaxially with the roller, and the direction of rotation of the roller can be set to be opposite to the direction of rotation of the cleaning member. (8) The solar panel cleaning device according to (1) above, wherein the roller has a plurality of gears and can rotate in either the forward or reverse direction by the operation of the plurality of gears, and the control unit controls the rotation direction of the roller by controlling the operation of the plurality of gears. (9) A solar panel cleaning device as described in (1) above, with a total weight of 50 kg or less. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a solar panel cleaning device that can be easily installed by one person, can be installed inexpensively on small or single solar panels, and can clean the solar panels for a long period of time without the operator having to work while the device is installed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a solar panel cleaning device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a plan view showing the solar panel cleaning device according to the first embodiment installed on a solar panel. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of the cleaning member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the operation of a solar panel cleaning device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] (A) is a perspective view illustrating the fixing part, and (B) is a side view illustrating the fixing part. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates an example of a configuration in which the fixed part is installed on the ground, roof, or other surfaces. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing a cleaning member and a wiper mechanism according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a diagram for explaining an extension unit according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] It is an exploded view for explaining each member of the extension unit according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a diagram for explaining a gear mechanism of a roller according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view showing a cleaning member and a wiper mechanism according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a diagram for explaining an example of a cleaning part according to another embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of a solar panel cleaning device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0010] 《First Embodiment》 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar panel cleaning device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a cleaning unit 10, a wiper mechanism 20, a fixing unit 30, a power supply unit 40, sensors 50, a control unit 60, and a communication unit 70.

[0011] The cleaning unit 10 includes a rod-shaped member 11 and a cleaning member 12. The rod-shaped member 11 is a rod-shaped member extending in one direction so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the solar panel 2 as shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of cleaning members 12 and rollers 21 are connected to the rod-shaped member 11 in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped member 11. One end of the rod-shaped member 11 (the end opposite to the tip portion 111) is connected to a motor 22. Thus, when the motor 22 rotates, the rod-shaped member 11 also rotates, and accordingly, the cleaning member 12 and the roller 21 connected to the rod-shaped member 11 are rotationally driven.

[0012] In this embodiment, the length of the rod-shaped member 11 is not particularly limited, and is set to a length that allows the cleaning member 12 connected to the rod-shaped member 11 to clean the entire surface of the solar panel 2. The length of the rod-shaped member 11 is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be 500 mm or more, 1000 mm or more, or 1500 mm or more. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the solar panel cleaning device 1 is attached to the central end portion in the longitudinal direction of the solar panel 2, if the size of the solar panel 2 is "810 mm × 780 mm", the length of the rod-shaped member 11 can be set to 880 mm that can clean the entire surface of the solar panel 2. Also, if the size of the solar panel 2 is "2384 mm × 1134 mm", the length of the rod-shaped member 11 can be set to 2640 mm that can clean the entire surface of the solar panel 2. Note that FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the first embodiment is installed on the solar panel 2.

[0013] The cleaning member 12 is a member that abuts on the surface of the solar panel 2 and removes deposits such as dust and dirt adhering to the surface of the solar panel 2. Here, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the cleaning member 12 according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a rotary brush that covers the periphery of the rod-shaped member 11 is used as the cleaning member 12, but the cleaning member 12 is not limited to the rotary brush, and for example, a sponge or a wiper can be used. The cleaning member 12 can clean the surface of the abutting solar panel 2 by rotating the rod-shaped member 11 by the motor 22 and rotating the cleaning member 12 along with the rod-shaped member 11.

[0014] The wiper mechanism 20 is a mechanism for reciprocally moving the rod-shaped member 11 (or the cleaning unit 10) between a predetermined first position and a second position, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a roller 21, a motor 22, and a rotating shaft 23.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the roller 21 is mounted on the rod-shaped member 11 so as to be coaxial with the rod-shaped member 11. This allows the roller 21 to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the rod-shaped member 11 and travel on the surface of the solar panel 2, thereby moving the rod-shaped member 11 left and right (forward and reverse directions). Specifically, the roller 21 has a diameter large enough to make contact with the surface of the solar panel 2. The rotation of the motor 22 causes the rod-shaped member 11 to rotate, and the roller 21 rotates along the surface of the solar panel 2, so that, as shown in Figure 4, the rod-shaped member 11 (cleaning unit 10) can be moved in the forward direction D1 from P1 to P2 to P3 to P4, or in the reverse direction D2 from P4 to P3 to P2 to P1. As a result, the cleaning member 12 of the cleaning unit 10 can clean the entire surface of the solar panel 2 while moving its position as P1 to P2 to P3 to P4, or as P4 to P3 to P2 to P1.

[0016] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the roller 21 has the function of supporting the cleaning unit 10. In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 10 has a rod-shaped member 11, and as the weight increases towards the tip 111 of the rod-shaped member 11, the rod-shaped member 11 may bend and deform, potentially causing the tip 111 of the rod-shaped member 11 to come into contact with and scratch the solar panel 2. In this embodiment, by installing the roller 21 between both ends of the rod-shaped member 11, the rod-shaped member 11 can be supported, and the weight applied to the tip 111 side of the rod-shaped member 11 can be distributed, thereby effectively preventing the above-mentioned failure of the cleaning unit 10. It is preferable that the roller 21 be made of an elastic material such as rubber or a resin material such as plastic in order to protect the surface of the solar panel 2.

[0017] Furthermore, the outer surface of the roller 21 has a gear-like shape, as shown in Figure 1. By making the surface of the roller 21 gear-shaped, the surface of the roller 21 rubs against the surface of the solar panel 2 more easily when the roller 21 rotates compared to when the surface of the roller 21 is flat, and the track of the roller 21 can be cleaned by the roller 21. In addition, by making the surface of the roller 21 gear-shaped, the area in contact with the solar panel 2 when the roller 21 moves can be reduced compared to when the surface of the roller 21 is flat, so it is less likely that the movement of the roller 21 will leave marks on the solar panel 2.

[0018] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the diameter of the roller 21 is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the cleaning member 12. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the cleaning member 12 is a cylindrical rotating brush that covers the rod-shaped member 11 in the circumferential direction. By making the diameter of this rotating brush slightly larger than the diameter of the roller 21, the cleaning member 12 is pressed against the surface of the solar panel 2 while partially deforming due to the weight of the cleaning unit 10, and this biasing force allows the surface of the solar panel 2 to be swept more efficiently. The size of the rotating brush can be such that the roller 21 makes contact with the surface of the solar panel 2 and the cleaning unit 10 can be moved, for example, 1.5 to 1.1 times the diameter of the roller 21.

[0019] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the position where the rod-shaped member 11 is attached to the roller 21 is set so that the roller 21 does not fall off the surface of the solar panel 2 when the cleaning unit 10 is moved. In other words, the roller 21 is set so that the movement trajectory L1 of the roller 21 shown in Figure 4 does not deviate from the surface of the solar panel 2. Although the example shown in Figure 1 illustrates a configuration with only one roller 21, it is not limited to this, and a configuration with two or more rollers 21 is also possible. This allows for better distribution of the weight of the rod-shaped member 11, even when the length of the rod-shaped member 11 is long. Also, when there are multiple rollers 21, at least one roller 21 is attached in a position that does not fall off the solar panel 2.

[0020] The motor 22 is a component that rotates based on power supplied from the power supply unit 40, and examples include pulse motors and DC servo motors. The motor 22 is connected to the rod-shaped member 11, and the rotational force generated by the motor 22 is transmitted to the roller 21 connected to the rod-shaped member 11 via the rod-shaped member 11, thereby driving the roller 21 to rotate. The motor 22 can also drive the roller 21 to rotate in the forward direction and can also drive the roller 21 to rotate in the reverse direction. The rotation direction of the roller 21 is controlled by the control unit 60.

[0021] The rotating shaft 23 is installed between the rod-shaped member 11 and the fixed part 30 and is directly or indirectly connected to the rod-shaped member 11. The rotating shaft 23 is provided to be erected from the surface of the solar panel 2, and the rotation of the rotating shaft 23 allows the rod-shaped member 11 (cleaning part 10) to reciprocate between a first position and a second position. In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the rotating shaft 23 is installed at the center of the arc trajectory L1 of the roller 21 when the roller 21 is driven to rotate (or the arc trajectory L2 of the tip 111 of the rod-shaped member 11), and the rotation of the roller 21 allows the rod-shaped member 11 (cleaning part 10) to move in a circular motion around the rotating shaft 23. More specifically, when the roller 21 is driven to rotate, the rotating shaft 23 rotates around its axis, moving the position of the rod-shaped member 11 (cleaning unit 10) in the forward direction D1 (P1→P2→P3→P3) or the reverse direction (P4→P3→P2→P1), as shown in Figure 4, thereby enabling the cleaning unit 10 to clean the surface of the solar panel 2. In this embodiment, the rotation range of the rotating shaft 23 is set to 180° (or within a range of 180°) from position P1 to position P5, as shown in Figure 4.

[0022] The fixing part 30 is a component for fixing the solar panel cleaning device 1 to the solar panel 2 or an accessory of the solar panel 2. The accessories of the solar panel 2 include the mounting frame for the solar panel 2, or structures and supports surrounding the solar panel 2. Figure 5(A) is a perspective view illustrating the fixing part 30, and Figure 5(B) is a side view illustrating the fixing part 30. In Figure 5(A), for ease of explanation, the rotating shaft 23 and the motor 22 are shown separately. As shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), the fixing part 30 according to this embodiment includes a U-shaped fixing device 31, a pressing device 32, and a screw 33. As shown in Figure 5(B), the fixing part 30 can be attached to the solar panel 2 by positioning the solar panel 2 inside the U-shape of the fixing device 31 and sandwiching it between the fixing device 31 and the pressing device 32. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operator can adjust the position of the clamping device 32 vertically by rotating the screw 33, thereby enabling the solar panel 2 to be firmly clamped between the fixing device 31 and the clamping device 32. The fixing part 30 is connected to a bearing 24, which in turn connects to the motor 22 and the wiper mechanism 20. Therefore, by fixing the fixing part 30 to the solar panel 2, the entire solar panel cleaning device 1 can be fixed to the solar panel 2.

[0023] Furthermore, the fixing part 30 can be configured to be fixed to an accessory of the solar panel 2, rather than being configured as shown in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows the fixing part 30 installed on the ground or roof. In the example shown in Figure 6, the fixing part 30 has legs 34 to allow the solar panel cleaning device 1 to stand on its own. The legs 34 can be fixed to the ground, or to an accessory such as a roof, and the solar panel cleaning device 1 can be clamped between the fixing device 31 and the pressing device 32. In this way, the fixing part 30 functions as a jig for the solar panel 2, and the solar panel cleaning device 1 can be indirectly attached to the solar panel 2. Note that the mechanism for fixing the solar panel cleaning device 1 to the solar panel 2 or an accessory of the solar panel 2 in the fixing part 30 is not limited to the example shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6. Examples include fastening members such as nuts and bolts, locking members such as hooks, and clamping members such as clips. Furthermore, by removing the fixing part 30 from the solar panel 2 or its accessories, the solar panel cleaning device 1 can be removed from the solar panel 2.

[0024] The power supply unit 40 is a component that supplies power to the motor 22, sensors 50, and control unit 60. The power supply unit 40 can be configured to be connected to a commercial power supply and receive power from an external source, but in this embodiment, the power supply unit 40 has a solar cell and is configured to supply power generated and charged by the solar cell. By configuring the power supply unit 40 to generate power independently in this way, it becomes possible to attach the solar panel cleaning device 1 to a solar panel 2 installed outdoors where there is no commercial power supply, and to automatically clean the solar panel 2. Furthermore, in this embodiment, because the power supply unit 40 generates power independently, the solar panel cleaning device 1 can clean the surface of the solar panel 2 continuously for 30 days or more, more preferably 50 days or more, and even more preferably 100 days or more, while remaining directly or indirectly attached to the solar panel 2. In particular, in this embodiment, more than 90% of the power supplied by the power supply unit 40 is used by the motor 22, and the other components require almost no power, so the power supply unit 40 can be made smaller, and the storage battery can also be made smaller.

[0025] The sensor assembly 50 has multiple sensors. Specifically, the sensor assembly 50 according to this embodiment has a wind speed sensor and / or a rain sensor. The wind speed sensor is a sensor that measures wind speed, and commercially available wind speed sensors can be used, but small and lightweight ones are preferred. The rain sensor is a sensor that detects whether it is raining by detecting raindrops, and commercially available rain sensors can be used, but like the wind speed sensor, small and lightweight ones are preferred. The wind speed data or rain detection data measured by the wind speed sensor and / or rain sensor is output to the control unit 60.

[0026] The control unit 60 controls the operation of the wiper mechanism 20, more specifically, the motor 22. Specifically, the control unit 60 can control the motor 22 to operate so that the cleaning unit 10 cleans the entire surface of the solar panel 2 at a predetermined time. For example, at 24:00 every day, the control unit 60 rotates the motor 22 in the forward (or reverse) direction, moving the cleaning unit 10 from position P1 (or position P5) shown in Figure 4 to position P5 (or position P1) shown in Figure 4, while the cleaning unit 10 cleans the surface of the solar panel 2, thereby cleaning the entire surface of the solar panel 2. In this embodiment, the control unit 60 is configured to move only from position P1 (or position P5) to position P5 (or position P1) once a day at a fixed time, but it is not limited to this configuration, and it is also possible to configure it to move back and forth between position P1 and position P5 once or multiple times. Furthermore, the control unit 60 may be configured to clean the solar panel 2 only once a day, as described above, or it may be configured to clean the solar panel 2 multiple times a day (for example, once every hour). Alternatively, the control unit 60 may be configured to clean the solar panel 2 only at night.

[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to operating the motor 22 at set intervals, the control unit 60 can be configured to operate the motor 22 based on wind speed data acquired from the wind speed sensor of the sensors 50. Specifically, if the wind speed data acquired from the wind speed sensor is above a certain value (for example, 5 m / s or more), the control unit 60 may determine that dust and dirt have accumulated on the surface of the solar panel 2 and operate the motor 22 to have the cleaning unit 10 clean the surface of the solar panel 2. Also, the control unit 60 can be configured to operate the motor 22 based on rain detection data acquired from the rain sensor of the sensors 50. Specifically, if the control unit 60 acquires data from the rain sensor indicating that rain has been detected, it can operate the motor 22 to have the cleaning unit 10 use the rain to clean the surface of the solar panel 2.

[0028] Furthermore, the control unit 60 can store the operation history of the motor 22 as an operating status. The stored operating status can be transmitted by the control unit 60 to an external information terminal via the communication unit 70. In this embodiment, the operating time of the motor 22 can also be set remotely by giving instructions from an external information terminal via the communication unit 70.

[0029] The communication unit 70 can communicate with an external information communication terminal using communication methods such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or WAN (Wide Area Network), and transmits data acquired from the control unit 60 to the external communication terminal, or transmits data received from the external communication terminal to the control unit 60. This allows the user to monitor the operating status of the solar panel cleaning device 1 installed in a remote location via the external information terminal.

[0030] As described above, the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the first embodiment can be attached directly or indirectly to the solar panel 2 via the fixing part 30. In particular, in this embodiment, the solar panel cleaning device 1 is designed so that the total weight is 50 kg or less, more preferably 30 kg or less, and even more preferably 10 kg or less, so that a worker can lift the solar panel cleaning device 1 by themselves and attach it to the solar panel 2 or an attachment to the solar panel 2, or detach the solar panel cleaning device 1 from the solar panel 2 or an attachment to the solar panel 2.

[0031] Here, an example of a solar panel cleaning device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. For example, by making the cleaning member 12 from a lightweight resin such as nylon, polypropylene, or polyester, and by making the rod-shaped member 11 and the gears of the roller 21 from plastic, and the other structures from aluminum, a lightweight and durable solar panel cleaning device 1 can be manufactured. In this case, for example, the part including the rod-shaped member 11, cleaning member 12, and roller 21 can weigh 5 kg to 10 kg, the motor 22 and its surrounding part can weigh 8 kg to 10 kg, the fixing part 30 can weigh about 5 kg, and the entire solar panel cleaning device 1 can weigh 18 kg to 25 kg. Furthermore, it is possible to further reduce the weight by using lighter materials or designing it to be smaller in size. The cleaning member 12 may be configured by wrapping a channel brush around the rod-shaped member 11 to form a brush, or it may be configured by inserting the rod-shaped member 11 into the hole in the center of a hole brush.

[0032] As described above, the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to this embodiment is a solar panel cleaning device that cleans the surface of the solar panel 2 while being directly or indirectly attached to the solar panel 2 and fixed in the mounting position, and comprises a rod-shaped member 11, a cleaning member 12 provided on the rod-shaped member 11 that contacts and cleans the surface of the solar panel 2, a wiper mechanism 20 that moves the rod-shaped member 11 back and forth between a first position P1 and a second position P5 such that the tip portion 111 of the rod-shaped member 11 draws an arc, and a control unit 60 that controls the operation of the wiper mechanism 20, wherein the wiper mechanism 20 is coaxial with the rod-shaped member 11 and comprises a roller 21 provided on the rod-shaped member 11 and a motor 22 that directly or indirectly rotates the roller 21. In this embodiment, the motor 22 is connected to the rod-shaped member 11 and rotates the roller 21 by rotating the rod-shaped member 11. Furthermore, the cleaning member 12 consists of a cylindrical rotating brush that covers the periphery of the rod-shaped member 11, and as the rod-shaped member 11 rotates, the rotating brush also rotates. As a result, the user can directly or indirectly attach and fix the solar panel cleaning device 1 to the solar panel 2, and by controlling the operation of the motor 22 of the wiper mechanism 20, the rotational force of the motor 22 is transmitted to the roller 21, and as the roller 21 rotates, the cleaning member 12, which is also connected to the rod-shaped member 11, moves over the solar panel 2, thereby cleaning the surface of the solar panel 2 with the cleaning member 12 (rotating brush). In addition, in this embodiment, the rod-shaped member 11 is heavier closer to the tip 111, so the rod-shaped member 11 may bend and deform, and the tip 111 of the rod-shaped member 11 may come into contact with the surface of the solar panel 2 and cause scratches. However, in this embodiment, the roller 21 is coaxial with the rod-shaped member 11 and installed on the rod-shaped member 11, thereby supporting the rod-shaped member 11 and distributing the weight applied to the rod-shaped member 11, and effectively preventing the above-mentioned problems.

[0033] Furthermore, in the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to this embodiment, the control unit 60 operates the wiper mechanism 20 (motor 22) at regular intervals of one hour or more, causing the cleaning member 12 to clean the solar panel 2, thereby enabling long-term operation without maintenance. In addition, the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to this embodiment further includes sensors 50, such as a wind speed sensor for measuring wind speed or a rain sensor for detecting rain, and the control unit 60 drives the motor 22 to rotate the roller 21 based on the measurement results of the wind speed sensor or rain sensor, so that the surface of the solar panel 2 can be cleaned immediately when sand and dust are blown onto the surface of the solar panel 2, or when it is easier to clean using rain.

[0034] Furthermore, in the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to this embodiment, the control unit 60 controls the operation of the motor 22 so that the rod-shaped member 11 moves back and forth within a 180° range around the rotating shaft 23, thereby enabling efficient cleaning of the rectangular solar panel 2, as shown in Figure 4. In addition, since the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to this embodiment is lightweight, with a total weight of 50 kg or less, a single user can attach the solar panel cleaning device 1 to the solar panel 2.

[0035] 《Second Embodiment》 Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The solar panel cleaning device 1a according to the second embodiment operates in the same manner as the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the first embodiment, except that the configuration of the cleaning unit 10a and the wiper mechanism 20a has the configuration described below and operates as described below.

[0036] Here, Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the cleaning section 10a and wiper mechanism 20a according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the second embodiment has an extension unit 80 having a rod-shaped member 11a, a cleaning member 12a, a roller 21a, and a gear fixing device 25. By connecting the extension units 80 together, it is possible to form a wiper mechanism 20a having a cleaning section 10a with a constant overall length. Details will be described below.

[0037] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the extension unit 80 according to the second embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 8, two extension units 80 are shown separated. Also, in the example shown in Figure 8, for the sake of explanation, parts of the rod-shaped member 11a that are not visible from the outside are shown with dashed lines. As shown in Figure 8, in the second embodiment, the extension unit 80 is configured such that the rod-shaped member 11a passes through the center of the cleaning member 12a, the roller 21a, and the gear fixing device 25, and the rod-shaped member 11a is connected to the cleaning member 12a and the roller 21a. As a result, the cleaning member 12a and the roller 21a can rotate as the rod-shaped member 11a rotates. The gear fixing device 25 is not connected to the rod-shaped member 11a, so that the gear fixing device 25 does not rotate even when the rod-shaped member 11a rotates.

[0038] In the second embodiment, the rod-shaped member 11a has a tip portion 111a and a rear portion 112. The tip portion 111a is formed in a tapered shape, making it easier to insert the tip portion 111a into the hole at the rear end of the other stretching unit 80 when connecting the stretching unit 80 to another stretching unit 80. The tip portion 111a also has a notch in the center. The notch in the tip portion 111a is formed to fit with the plate-shaped rear portion 112, thereby making it possible to connect the two stretching units 80 by fitting the tip portion 111a with the rear portion 112.

[0039] Figure 9 is an exploded view illustrating the various components of the extension unit 80. In Figure 9, for the sake of clarity, the holes through which the cleaning member 12a and the rod-shaped member 11a of the roller 21a pass are shown with dashed lines. In the second embodiment, the roller 21a is composed of a first roller 210 and a second roller 220, as shown in Figures 7 to 9. As will be described later, only one of the first roller 210 and the second roller 220 rotates in conjunction with the rod-shaped member 11a. In the second embodiment, the first roller 210 and the second roller 220 are connected, for example, by joining the outer peripheral gear 213 of the first roller 210 and the outer peripheral of the second roller 220, so that when one rotates, the other rotates in the same direction. In Figure 9, for the sake of clarity, the first roller 210 and the second roller 220 are shown separately.

[0040] In the second embodiment, the rod-shaped member 11a has protrusions 113a to 113c, as shown in Figure 9. Although Figure 9 shows the protrusions 113a to 113c, they will be collectively referred to as the protrusion 113 below. When the rod-shaped member 11a is inserted into the cleaning member 12a, rollers 21a (first roller 210, second roller 220), and gear fixing device 25, the protrusion 113 engages with grooves formed on the inside of the cleaning member 12a and rollers 21a, thereby allowing the cleaning member 12a and rollers 21a to rotate when the rod-shaped member 11a rotates. Specifically, the protrusion 113a engages with the cleaning member 12a on the tip end 111a side, allowing the cleaning member 12a to rotate, and the protrusion 113c engages with the cleaning member 12a on the rear end 112 side, allowing the cleaning member 12a to rotate. Furthermore, the protrusion 113b selectively fits onto the first roller 210 and the second roller 220, allowing the first roller 210 and the second roller 220 to rotate in a switchable manner.

[0041] Specifically, in the second embodiment, the control unit 60 controls the operation of actuators and levers (not shown), and the position of the rod-shaped member 11a can be changed in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped member 11a by the operation of the actuators and levers. By moving the rod-shaped member 11a to a first position in which the protrusion 113b engages with the groove of the first roller 210, the sun gear 211 of the first roller 210 can be rotated in accordance with the rotation of the rod-shaped member 11a. On the other hand, the control unit 60 can move the rod-shaped member 11a to a second position in which the protrusion 113b engages with the groove of the second roller 220, thereby rotating the second roller 220 in accordance with the rotation of the rod-shaped member 11a.

[0042] Here, Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the gear mechanism of the first roller 210 according to the second embodiment. Figure 10(A) is an exploded view of the roller 21a and its surrounding elements, and for the first roller 210, only the sun gear 211 and planetary gear 212 are shown, and the outer circumferential gear 213 is not shown. Figure 10(B) is a view from direction A1 of (A). As shown in Figures 9 and 10(A), the first roller 210 has a gear mechanism consisting of a sun gear 211, a planetary gear 212, and an outer circumferential gear 213. The sun gear 211 rotates in the same rotational direction as the rod-shaped member 11a by being connected (fitted) with the rod-shaped member 11a, as shown in Figure 10(B). On the other hand, the planetary gear 212 rotates by meshing with the sun gear 211, and rotates in the opposite direction to the rotational direction of the sun gear 211, as shown in Figure 10(B). Furthermore, the outer gear 213, which is an internal gear, rotates in the direction of rotation of the planetary gear 212 by meshing with the planetary gear 212. As a result, the first roller 210 (outer gear 213) can rotate in the opposite direction to the rod-shaped member 11a and the cleaning member 12a as the rod-shaped member 11a rotates.

[0043] As described above, in the second embodiment, only one of the first roller 210 and the second roller 220 rotates in conjunction with the rod-shaped member 11a. When the first roller 210 rotates in conjunction with the rod-shaped member 11a, both the first roller 210 and the second roller 220, which is joined to the first roller 210, rotate in the opposite direction to the rod-shaped member 11a and the cleaning member 12a. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10(A), the second roller 220 does not have a gear, and as the rod-shaped member 11a rotates, it can rotate in the same direction as the rod-shaped member 11a and the cleaning member 12a. Therefore, when the second roller 220 rotates in conjunction with the rod-shaped member 11a, both the second roller 220 and the first roller 210, which is joined to the second roller 220, rotate in the same direction as the rod-shaped member 11a and the cleaning member 12a. As a result, in the second embodiment, the control unit 60 can freely control the rotation direction of the roller 21a.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10(A), since the planetary gear 212 of the first roller 210 is not connected to the rod-shaped member 11a, it can be fixed using a gear fixing device 25. The gear fixing device 25 has a screw hole coaxial with the center of the planetary gear 212, and by inserting a screw through this screw hole and connecting it to the planetary gear 212, the planetary gear 212 can be fixed. As a result, the planetary gear 212 can rotate around the inserted screw. The gear fixing device 25 also has casters, so it can move along with the cleaning member 12a and the roller 21a when they move.

[0045] As described above, in the solar panel cleaning device 1a according to the second embodiment, the cleaning member 12a is coaxial with the rod-shaped member 11a and is rotatable about this axis, and the rotation direction of the cleaning member 12a and the rotation direction of the roller 21a can be set to opposite directions. In this way, in the second embodiment, when the roller 21a rotates in the opposite direction to the cleaning member 12a, and the roller 21a rotates to move in the direction of D1 in the order of P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 as shown in Figure 4, the cleaning member 12a rotates in the opposite direction to the roller 21a, so that it can sweep up sand and dust in the direction in which it is about to move, that is, in the direction in which it is about to sweep up. Therefore, the solar panel 2 can be cleaned more thoroughly compared to when the cleaning member 12a sweeps up sand and dust in the direction from which it has moved, that is, in the direction in which it has already finished sweeping.

[0046] In the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the rod-shaped member 11a is inserted through the center of the cleaning member 12a and the motor 22a. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, if the cleaning member 12a is a brush, the bristles of the brush can be directly attached to the rod-shaped member 11a, so that the rod-shaped member 11a and the cleaning member 12a are integrally molded. Also, the sun gear 211 of the first roller 210 can be a separate component from the rod-shaped member 11a, or the sun gear 211 and the rod-shaped member 11a can be integrally molded. Similarly, the second roller 220 can be a separate component from the rod-shaped member 11a, or the second roller 220 and the rod-shaped member 11a can be integrally molded.

[0047] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the control unit 60 switches the insertion position of the rod-shaped member 11a and controls either the first roller 210, which rotates in the opposite direction to the rod-shaped member 11a, or the second roller 220, which rotates in the same direction as the rod-shaped member 11a, to rotate, thereby illustrating a configuration in which the roller 21a is controlled to rotate in the forward or reverse direction. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and other known methods can be used to control the rotation of the roller 21a in the forward or reverse direction. Also, in the second embodiment, a configuration in which the roller 21a can rotate in the forward or reverse direction was illustrated, but the roller 21a can also be composed of only the first roller 210, so that the roller 21a always rotates in the opposite direction to the rod-shaped member 11a and the cleaning member 12.

[0048] 《Third Embodiment》 Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the cleaning member 12b and wiper mechanism 20b according to the third embodiment. The solar panel cleaning device 1b according to the third embodiment operates in the same manner as the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the first embodiment, except that the configuration of the cleaning unit 10b and the wiper mechanism 20b has the configuration described below and operates as described below.

[0049] As shown in Figures 11(A) and (B), in the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the rod-shaped member 11b and the roller 21b have the same axis of rotation, and the rod-shaped member 11b and the roller 21b are rotatable in opposite directions. Here, Figure 11(A) is a perspective view of the cleaning unit 10b and roller 21b according to the third embodiment, and Figure 11(B) is an enlarged view of the gear mechanism of the roller 21b, with the illustration of the cleaning member 12b on the tip end 111 side of (A) omitted. As shown in Figure 11(B), in the third embodiment, the roller 21b has three planetary gears 212, and each planetary gear 212 rotates (rotates) in a direction D4 opposite to the rotation direction D3 of the sun gear 211 in accordance with the rotation of the sun gear 211. In the third embodiment, the sun gear 211 is connected to or integrated with the rod-shaped member 11b and is rotatable in the same direction as the rotation direction D3 of the rod-shaped member 11b. Furthermore, the outer periphery gear 213, which is an internal gear, is located on the outside of the planetary gear 212. The outer periphery gear 213 rotates in the same direction D4 as the rotation (rotation) of the planetary gear 212. This allows the roller 21b (outer periphery gear 213) to rotate in the opposite direction D4 to the rotation direction D3 of the cleaning member 12b that connects to the rod-shaped member 11b.

[0050] In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the roller 21b has a locking mechanism (not shown) to lock the rotation of the planetary gear 212, and the control unit 60 can switch the rotation direction of the roller 21b between the forward direction D3 and the reverse direction D4 by controlling the locking mechanism.

[0051] In the third embodiment, each planetary gear 212 is connected to a planetary carrier 214. In the gear mechanism of the roller 21b, each planetary gear 212 rotates in the D4 direction in accordance with the rotation of the sun gear 211 and revolves around the sun gear 211 in the D3 direction. Therefore, the planetary carrier 214 connected to multiple planetary gears 212 rotates in the orbital direction D3 as the planetary gears 212 revolve. In this embodiment, the planetary carrier 214 is integral with or connected to the tip portion 111 of the rod-shaped member 11b, so that the rod-shaped member 11b on the tip portion 111 side of the roller 21b can rotate in the D3 direction, just like the rod-shaped member 11b on the rear end side of the roller 21b. This makes it possible to rotate the rod-shaped member 11b of another extension unit 80 attached to the tip portion 111 in the same direction D3 as the rod-shaped member 11b of this extension unit 80.

[0052] As described above, in the solar panel cleaning device 1b according to the third embodiment, the roller 21b has a planetary gear mechanism having a planetary carrier 214, so that the rotation direction of the roller 21b can be set to be opposite to the rotation direction of the cleaning member 12b without using the gear fixing part 215 of the second embodiment. As a result, similar to the second embodiment, the cleaning member 12b can sweep up sand and dust in the direction it is about to move, that is, in the direction it is about to sweep, so that the solar panel 2 can be cleaned more thoroughly than when the cleaning member 12b sweeps up sand and dust in the direction it has come from, that is, in the direction it has already finished sweeping.

[0053] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments, and such modified or improved forms are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0054] For example, in the embodiment described above, the motor 22 is connected to the rod-shaped member 11 of the cleaning unit 10, and the rotation of the motor 22 rotates the rod-shaped member 11, thereby rotating the roller 21 connected to the rod-shaped member 11. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the motor 22 may be directly connected to the roller 21, and the roller 21 may be rotated by this connection.

[0055] Furthermore, although this embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the rod-shaped member 11 and the motor 22 are provided separately, the system is not limited to this configuration. For example, instead of the rod-shaped member 11 and the motor 22, a rod-shaped motor roller in which the rod-shaped member 11 and the motor 22 are integrated can also be used.

[0056] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the cleaning member 12 was described as a brush that rotates around the rod-shaped member 11 as its axis of rotation. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in Figure 12, the cleaning member 12c has an axis of rotation X perpendicular to the surface of the solar panel 2.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, the wiper mechanism 20 has a rotating shaft 23, and the rod-shaped member 11 is moved between position P1 and position P5 by rotating the rotating shaft 23 with the propulsion force from the roller 21. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and for example, the rod-shaped member 11 can be moved by driving the rotating shaft 23 with a motor 22. In this case, the roller 21 can be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1,1a~1c...Solar panel cleaning device 10,10a~10c…Cleaning department 11, 11a~11c... Rod-shaped member 111,111a...Tip 112...Rear end 113...Protrusion 12, 12a~12c... Cleaning parts 121...Connecting hole 20, 20a~20c... Wiper mechanism 21,21a... Roller 210...First Roller 211... Sun Gear 212... Planetary Gear 213... Outer gear 214... Planetary Carrier 220...2nd roller 22...motor 23… Rotating shaft 24...Bearings 25... Gear fixing device 30…Fixed part 31...Fixing tool 32... Retaining device 33... Screw 34...legs 40...Power supply section 50...Sensors 60... Control Unit 70... Communications Department 80... Extension Unit 2…Solar panels

Claims

1. A solar panel cleaning device that cleans the surface of a solar panel while being directly or indirectly attached to the solar panel and fixed in place, A rod-shaped member and A cleaning member provided on the rod-shaped member, which contacts and cleans the surface of the solar panel, A wiper mechanism that moves the rod-shaped member back and forth between a first position and a second position such that the tip of the rod-shaped member traces an arc, It includes a control unit that controls the operation of the wiper mechanism, The wiper mechanism described above is The roller is coaxial with the aforementioned rod-shaped member and is provided on the rod-shaped member, A solar panel cleaning device comprising a motor that directly or indirectly rotates the roller.

2. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is connected to the rod-shaped member, and the rotation of the rod-shaped member drives the roller to rotate.

3. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member comprises a cylindrical rotating brush that covers the periphery of the rod-shaped member.

4. It further includes a wind speed sensor to measure wind speed, or a rain sensor to detect rain, The solar panel cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit drives the motor to rotate the roller when the wind speed is above a predetermined value based on the measurement result of the wind speed sensor, or when the rain sensor detects rain.

5. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the wiper mechanism at regular intervals of one hour or more, causing the cleaning member to clean the solar panel.

6. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the wiper mechanism so that the rod-shaped member moves back and forth within a range of 180° for the central angle of the arc.

7. The cleaning member is rotatable coaxially with the roller, The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation direction of the roller can be set to be opposite to the rotation direction of the cleaning member.

8. The roller has multiple gears, and the operation of these multiple gears allows it to rotate in either the forward or reverse direction. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the rotation direction of the roller by controlling the operation of the plurality of gears.

9. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the total weight is 50 kg or less.

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