Modular cleaning device and method for mounting and adapting same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar module cleaning devices are inflexible, costly, and inefficient due to the need for multiple devices tailored to different solar system types and sizes, leading to incomplete cleaning and increased operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A modular cleaning device comprising a longitudinal member, cross member, and cleaning agent with a detachable design, allowing for adjustable lengths and drive mechanisms, enabling flexible adaptation to various solar module sizes and types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple specialized cleaning devices are manufactured for different solar system types and sizes, then cleaning effectiveness for specific systems is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is designed with a modular construction where the cleaning module can be universally applied to different solar system types (elevated solar fields, roof systems, segment systems) and sizes. The module comprises a longitudinal member with cross members that can be detached and repositioned, allowing a single device design to serve multiple cleaning applications without requiring specialized devices for each system type.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device is divided into separable modules, with the cleaning module being detachably connectable to different longitudinal members. This segmentation allows the cleaning module to be reused across different device configurations and solar system types, reducing the need to manufacture multiple specialized devices while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
2Manufacturing precision
If different cleaning devices are used for different solar module sizes, then cleaning precision is improved, but loss of time and operational efficiency worsen due to needing multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning module is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable on the longitudinal member. Cross members can be detached and repositioned to different locations along the longitudinal member to adapt the cleaning width to match different solar module sizes. This dynamic adjustment capability allows a single device to maintain cleaning precision across various module sizes without requiring multiple specialized devices, thereby reducing operational time and device changes.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed design cleaning device is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to different solar system types and sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device employs a segmented modular design where the cleaning module is a standardized component that can be detachably connected to different longitudinal members. This segmentation enables the cleaning module to be manufactured once and reused across various device configurations for different solar system types and sizes, maintaining ease of manufacture while significantly improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through detachable cross members that can be repositioned along the longitudinal member. This allows a single standardized cleaning module design to adapt to different solar system configurations and module sizes without requiring custom manufacturing, thus maintaining low manufacturing costs while achieving high versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a modular cleaning device (1) for cleaning the surface of a solar module (100), comprising a cleaning module (2) with at least one longitudinal support (10), at least one cross support (20), and at least one cleaning agent (40), wherein the cross support (20) is detachably attached to the longitudinal support (10) by a first section (21) and detachably attached to the cleaning agent (40) by a second section (22), and further comprising: a drive element mounting area (23) arranged in the first section (21), on which at least one drive element (24) can be mounted, and at least one cleaning agent drive (25) arranged in the second section (22), which can be frictionally coupled to the cleaning agent (40), and at least one coupling drive (26), for example a chain drive, designed to frictionally couple the drive element (24) to the cleaning agent drive (25).to drive the cleaning agent (40). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assembling and adapting such a cleaning module.