Abstract

A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder, at least one edge sensor, at least one cleaning cylinder direct current (DC) drive motor including a built-in encoder, a cleaning cylinder drive belt and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the cleaning cylinder DC drive motor for driving the cleaning cylinder, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC, the built-in encoder for determining a revolutions per minute (RPM) of the cleaning cylinder.

IPC Classes  ?

• H02S 40/10 - Cleaning arrangements
• G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
• H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
• H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• A47L 9/04 - Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
• A47L 9/28 - Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
• B08B 1/04 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members using rotary operative members

Abstract

A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the controller including a motion sensor for determining an angle of the solar tracker and a heading of the ARC, the docking station including at least one electrical connector for recharging the rechargeable power source, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the ARC.

IPC Classes  ?

• H02S 40/10 - Cleaning arrangements
• G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
• H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
• H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• B08B 1/04 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members using rotary operative members
• G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
• H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members

Abstract

A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the controller including a motion sensor for determining an angle of the solar tracker and a heading of the ARC, the docking station including at least one electrical connector for recharging the rechargeable power source, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the ARC.

IPC Classes  ?

• H02S 40/10 - Cleaning arrangements
• G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
• H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
• H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
• G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• B08B 1/04 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members using rotary operative members

Abstract

Autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC) for cleaning solar panels having an anchoring mechanism including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning mechanism, a controller and an anchoring mechanism, the cleaning mechanism for cleaning dirt off of a surface of the solar panels, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and the anchoring mechanism for magnetically anchoring the ARC to an anchoring surface coupled with a solar panel, the anchoring mechanism including an arm and a drive mechanism, the arm including at least one ferromagnetic end piece and the drive mechanism being coupled with the arm, wherein the drive mechanism moves the arm between a magnetically engaged position with the anchoring surface and a magnetically disengaged position with the anchoring surface.

IPC Classes  ?

• H02S 40/10 - Cleaning arrangements
• B08B 1/02 - Cleaning travelling work, e.g. a web or articles on a conveyor
• B08B 3/08 - Cleaning involving contact with liquid the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
• B08B 5/02 - Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities
• B08B 5/04 - Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action
• B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members

Abstract

Solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar tracker solar panels, the solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, the system including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder and a controller, the controller including a 6-axis motion sensor, the 6-axis motion sensor including an accelerometer and an electronic gyroscope, the docking station including at least one electrical connector for recharging the power source, the cleaning cylinder for cleaning dirt off of the solar tracker without water, the 6-axis motion sensor for determining an angle of the solar tracker and a heading of the ARC, wherein the ARC anchors in the docking station and cleans the solar tracker positioned at the pre-determined angle and wherein the 6-axis motion sensor is used for navigating the ARC over the solar tracker surface.

IPC Classes  ?

• A46B 13/02 - Brushes with driven brush bodies power-driven
• H02S 40/10 - Cleaning arrangements
• B08B 5/02 - Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities
• B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
• B08B 1/04 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members using rotary operative members
• H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• B25J 5/00 - Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages
• F24S 40/20 - Cleaning; Removing snow
• H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection

Abstract

A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker under varying wind conditions, the solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, the waterless cleaning system including a docking station, an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC) and a master controller, the docking station being coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the master controller for receiving and transmitting data to and from the solar tracker and the ARC, the ARC including a controller, for controlling a cleaning process and for transmitting and receiving signals, the docking station including a plurality of locking bars, coupled with the docking station, for protecting the ARC during the varying wind conditions, the ARC can anchor in the docking station and the master controller determines an average wind speed and provides a clean command to the ARC if the average wind speed is below a predetermined threshold.

IPC Classes  ?

• A46B 13/02 - Brushes with driven brush bodies power-driven
• H02S 40/10 - Cleaning arrangements
• B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
• H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
• H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• B25J 5/00 - Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages
• F24S 40/20 - Cleaning; Removing snow
• G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
• G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically