JP2020137381A - Photovoltaic panel cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a photovoltaic panel cleaning device capable of surely performing cleaning of a front surface of a solar battery panel formed by combining a plurality of photovoltaic modules.SOLUTION: A photovoltaic panel cleaning device includes: a driving unit 10A which is mounted to a photovoltaic module 5A, and which comprises a driving wiper part 30 for cleaning a front surface of the photovoltaic module 5A by moving a wiper blade 33 as a cleaning member and a driving part 20 that can move the driving wiper part 30; and a driven unit 10B having a driven wiper part 130 which is mounted to the other photovoltaic module 5B adjacently arranged to the photovoltaic module 5A and cleans the front surface of the other photovoltaic module 5B by moving the wiper blade 133 as a cleaning member by following the movement of the driving wiper part 30 of the driving unit 10A. The driving unit 10A structures the photovoltaic panel cleaning device by being coupled with the driven unit 10B by a coupling shaft 70 that transmits a driving power to the driven unit 10B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4A

Description

The present invention relates to a solar panel cleaning device, and more particularly to an automatic solar panel cleaning device.

As a conventional technique, a solar cell panel cleaning device that completely removes adhered dirt without damaging the surface of the solar cell panel and does not require frequent replacement of the main body for removing the dirt. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The solar panel cleaning device of Patent Document 1 has a pair of guide rails provided along the longitudinal direction of a plurality of solar modules arranged on a gantry, and a pair of guide rails guided by the pair of guide rails on the solar module. It is a cleaning device for a solar panel including a cleaning body that moves, and the cleaning body is arranged so as to be lined up with a frame body and inside the frame body at a predetermined interval with respect to the traveling direction of the frame body. It is composed of a plurality of wiper members and moving means arranged on both sides of the frame body and traveling on the guide rail.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-59694

However, in the conventional solar panel cleaning device, a plurality of solar modules are arranged on a pedestal, and a cleaning body moves across the plurality of solar modules for cleaning. For this reason, when the installation of the solar module on the gantry is uneven or there is a step, problems such as poor cleaning by the cleaning body and difficulty in moving the cleaning body may occur.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning device capable of reliably cleaning the surface of a solar panel in which a plurality of solar modules are combined.

[1] In order to achieve the above object, a drive wiper unit mounted on the solar module and cleaning the surface of the solar module by a cleaning member moving and a drive unit capable of moving the drive wiper unit. The surface of the other solar module, which is mounted on the drive unit provided with the above and another solar module arranged adjacent to the solar module and follows the movement of the drive wiper portion of the drive unit. The solar has a driven unit provided with a driven wiper portion that cleans the driven unit by moving the cleaning member, and the drive unit is connected to the driven unit by a connecting shaft that transmits a driving force to the driven unit. Provide an optical panel cleaning device.
[2] The driven unit may be the solar panel cleaning device according to the above [1], which is driven by being sequentially connected to another driven unit by a predetermined number of steps by a connecting shaft.
[3] Further, the drive unit has a drive unit mounted on the solar module, a flexible rack driven by the drive unit, and a drive gear that meshes with the gear portion of the flexible rack. The drive unit includes a guide portion that supports the movement of the flexible rack including a curved portion, and the flexible rack has flexibility to move along the guide portion. The above [1] or [2]. The solar panel cleaning device described in 1.
[4] The solar panel cleaning device according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the drive wiper portion of the drive unit moves in conjunction with the movement of the flexible rack. May be good.
[5] Further, the driven unit has a driven guide portion attached to the left and right ends of the solar module, and the driven wiper portion moves along the driven guide portion. [1] The solar panel cleaning device according to any one of [4] to [4] may be used.
[6] Further, the flexible rack and the drive gear are housed in the respective drive units mounted on the left and right ends of the solar module, and the respective drive gears are interlocked via the bevel gear. The solar panel cleaning device according to any one of [1] to [5] may be used.
[7] The solar panel cleaning device according to the above [6], wherein the bevel gear is a matagi gear, and the drive gears are synchronized at a constant speed to drive each of the flexible racks. May be good.
[8] The above-described [6], wherein the gear portion and the drive gear of the flexible rack are arranged so that their respective tooth streak directions are in the normal direction of the surface of the solar module. It may be a solar panel cleaning device.

According to the solar panel cleaning device of the present invention, it is possible to reliably clean the surface of a solar panel in which a plurality of solar modules are combined.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view showing the entire solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the A direction (upward direction), and FIG. 2B is a side view. FIG. 3A is a detailed plan view showing details of the vicinity of the drive portion (part A in FIG. 2) of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a diagram. It is a detailed front view of 3 (a). FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a state in which the drive wiper unit and the driven wiper unit are in the initial cleaning position when the drive unit and the driven unit are connected. FIG. 4B is a plan view showing a state in which the drive wiper unit and the driven wiper unit are in the middle of cleaning when the drive unit and the driven unit are connected. FIG. 4C is a plan view showing a state in which the drive wiper unit and the driven wiper unit are in the cleaning end position in a state where the drive unit and the driven unit are connected. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line AA of the wiper portion shown in FIG. 4B. FIG. 6 is an example of a block configuration diagram of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sequence flow diagram showing an example of sequential control by the controller of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the effect of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a graph showing the amount of power generation with and without cleaning on the horizontal axis by date. ..

(Embodiment of the present invention)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the solar module 5A, and the wiper blade 33 as a cleaning member moves on the surface of the solar module 5A. A drive unit 10A having a drive wiper unit 30 and drive units 20L and 20R that enable movement of the drive wiper unit 30 and another solar module arranged adjacent to the solar module 5A. A driven wiper unit 130 mounted on the 5B and following the movement of the drive wiper unit 30 of the drive unit 10A to clean the surface of the other solar module 5B by moving the wiper blade 133 as a cleaning member is provided. It has a driven unit 10B, and the drive unit 10A is configured to be connected to the driven unit 10B by a connecting shaft 70 that transmits a driving force to the driven unit 10B.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the solar modules 5A, 5B, 5C, ... Are arranged in order by a predetermined number of stages to form the solar panel 100.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive unit 10A is mounted on the solar module 5A. Further, the solar modules 5B, 5C, ... Are equipped with the driven units 10B, 10C, ... With the driven wiper unit 130, respectively. The solar modules 5A, 5B, 5C, ... Are arranged side by side and can be connected at the ends.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the driven units 10B, 10C, ... Are sequentially connected to other adjacent driven units 10C, 10D, ... By a predetermined number of stages by a connecting shaft 70. It is configured to be driven.

That is, the drive unit 10A and the driven unit 10B are in a relationship of a master unit and a slave unit that moves following the master unit. The driven unit 10B and the driven unit 10C are in a relationship of a master unit and a slave unit that moves following the master unit. After that, the driven unit and the driven unit, which are sequentially connected and driven by the connecting shaft for a predetermined number of stages, also have a relationship of a master unit and a slave unit that moves following the master unit. Only the drive unit 10A is provided with the drive unit.

(Solar module 5A, etc.)
The solar modules 5A, 5B, 5C, ... Are modularized by juxtaposing a predetermined number of solar cells that generate electric power when irradiated with sunlight L. As an example, each solar module is a modularized version of a 12 × 6 72-cell solar cell or a 10 × 6 60-cell solar cell. For example, one solar module composed of 72 cells of solar cells can generate electric power of about 310 to 350 W.

(Drive unit 10A)
The drive unit 10A includes a drive wiper unit 30 that cleans the surface of the solar module 5A by moving a wiper blade 33 as a cleaning member, and drive units 20L and 20R that enable the movement of the drive wiper unit 30. , Attached to the solar module 5A. Further, the drive unit 10A is connected to the driven unit 10B by a connecting shaft 70 that transmits a driving force to the driven unit 10B. As a result, the drive unit 10A as the master unit can drive the driven unit 10B as the slave unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, slide rails 60L and 60R are attached to the left and right ends of the solar module 5A. The slide rails 60L and 60R are made of, for example, an extruded material made of aluminum. The slide rails 60L and 60R can be held so that the flexible racks 50L and 50R can move while sliding. Note that FIG. 3A is a detailed view of the vicinity of the drive unit 20L, so the flexible rack 50R and the like are not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the drive unit 10A includes drive units 20L and 20R mounted on the solar module 5A, and flexible racks 50L and 50R driven by the drive units 20L and 20R. The drive portions 20L and 20R have drive gears 22L and 22R that mesh with the gear portions 50La and 50Ra of the racks 50L and 50R, and the drive portions 20L and 20R have guide portions 21L and 21R that support the movement of the flexible racks 50L and 50R including curved portions. The flexible racks 50L and 50R have flexibility to move along the guide portions 21L and 21R. As the flexible racks 50L and 50R, for example, a flexible POM resin (polyacetal resin) can be preferably used.

The drive units 20L and 20R are provided with guide units 21L and 21R that support the flexible flexible racks 50L and 50R to slide and move while bending in a curved or linear shape. As shown in FIG. 3A, the guide portion 21L is a linear guide portion 21La located in the left-right direction on the upper side of the drawing, a curved guide portion 21Lb that changes the moving direction of the flexible rack 50L, and is located in the vertical direction on the left side of the drawing. It is configured to have a linear guide portion 21 Lc. The above configuration is an example, but in the present embodiment, the curve guide portion 21Lb enables a change in the moving direction of approximately 90 degrees. The guide portion 21L may be integrally formed with the drive portion 20L, or may be formed separately and attached to the drive portion 20L.

As shown in FIG. 3A, drive gears 22L and 22R that mesh with the gear portions 50La and 50Ra of the flexible racks 50L and 50R are rotatably housed in the drive unit 20L. The drive gears 22L and 22R are pinion gears, and mesh with the gear portions 50La and 50Ra of the flexible racks 50L and 50R, respectively. As a result, the flexible racks 50L and 50R can be driven by the rotation of the drive gears 22L and 22R, and can be slid and moved along the guide portions 21L and 21R.

The gear portions 50La and 50Ra and the drive gears 22L and 22R of the flexible racks 50L and 50R are arranged so that their respective tooth streak directions are the normal direction N of the surface of the solar module 5A. Here, the tooth streak direction of the drive gears 22L and 22R is the same as the direction of the rotating shaft because the drive gear is a spur gear. Further, since the gear portions 50La and 50Ra of the flexible rack with which the drive gears 22L and 22R mesh with each other are also spur gears, the tooth streak direction of this gear portion is the same as the tooth streak direction of the drive gear. As a result, sand, dust and the like are likely to fall downward due to gravity, and sand, dust and the like are less likely to adhere to the respective tooth surfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, etc., a drive gear 22L is pivotally supported by the drive unit 20L, is attached to the motor shaft 27 of the motor 26 which is a drive source, and is positive due to motor rotation. Rotational drive is possible in the opposite directions (CW, CCW directions). As the motor 26, for example, a geared motor can be used. This makes it possible to drive the drive gear 22L with a compact size and high torque. As shown in FIG. 3B, a bevel gear 23L is attached to the motor shaft 27 and rotates together with the motor 26 and the drive gear 22L.

As shown in FIG. 4A and the like, a drive gear 22R is pivotally supported by the drive unit 20R, similarly to the drive unit 20L. Further, a bevel gear 23R (not shown) that rotates together with the drive gear 22R is attached. The drive unit 20R may be configured so that the motor, which is the drive source, is not arranged. In the present embodiment, the motor is not arranged in the drive unit 20R.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, etc., the rotary connecting shaft 25 is rotatably supported by rotary support portions 28, 28 fixed to the drive unit 10A. Bevel gears 24L and 24R are attached to both ends of the rotary connecting shaft 25. The bevel gear 23L and the bevel gear 24L, and the bevel gear 23R and the bevel gear 24R are meshed with each other. The power rotationally driven by the motor 26 is rotationally driven by the drive gear 22L and is transmitted to the drive gear 22R via the bevel gear 23L, the bevel gear 24L, the rotary connecting shaft 25, the bevel gear 24R, and the bevel gear 23R. .. As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the drive gear 22L and the drive gear 22R are rotationally driven in synchronization with the Rf or Rg direction in the figure. As a result, the flexible rack 50L and the flexible rack 50R are synchronously slid-driven along the guide portions 21L and 21R, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the bevel gears 23L, 23R, 24L, and 24R are matagi gears having one-to-one number of teeth, whereby the drive gears 22L and 22R are synchronized at a constant speed and are flexible. The racks 50L and 50R can be driven in synchronization with the descending direction F or the ascending direction G shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C.

The drive unit 20L is provided with limit switches 41 and 42 as detection units for detecting the position of the flexible rack 50L. The limit switch 41 detects that the drive wiper unit 30 is at the initial position X1 which is the upper end portion of the solar module 5A shown in FIG. 4A. The limit switch 41 detects the presence or absence of contact or proximity of the wiper detection member 35 provided in the drive wiper unit 30. As a result, it is detected that the drive wiper portion 30 is in the initial cleaning position, which is the upper end portion of the solar module 5A shown in FIG. 4A. The initial position X1 is the operation start point in the descending direction F shown in FIG. 4A or the operation end point in the ascending direction G shown in FIG. 4C.

Further, the limit switch 42 detects the end portion 50Lb of the flexible rack 50L. The limit switch 42 detects the presence or absence of contact or proximity of the end portion 50Lb of the flexible rack 50L. As a result, it is detected that the drive wiper unit 30 is at the cleaning end position, which is the lower end portion of the solar module 5A shown in FIG. 4C. The end position X2 is the operation end point in the descending direction F shown in FIG. 4A or the operation start point in the ascending direction G shown in FIG. 4C.

In addition, in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4A, etc., the drive units 20L, 20R, flexible racks 50L, 50R, etc. are shown so as to be visible for explanation, but for dustproof, drip-proof, sand-proof, etc. Can be fitted with a cover. The cover (not shown) is attached so as to cover the solar panel cleaning device 1 except for the range where the solar panel 100 (solar modules 5A, 5B, 5C, ...) Is irradiated with sunlight. be able to.

(Drive wiper unit 30)
As shown in FIG. 5, the drive wiper unit 30 cleans the surface 5Aa of the solar module 5A by moving the cleaning member (wiper blade 33). The drive wiper portion 30 has a wiper mounting stay 31, a wiper blade core metal 32, and a wiper blade 33, and is roughly configured. As shown in the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 5, the wiper blade 33 includes a blade portion 33a that abuts on the surface of the solar module 5A and a deformed portion 33b that is formed into a shape that is easily elastically deformed. The wiper blade 33 is formed in the shape as shown above by, for example, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) using the wiper blade core metal 32 as the core metal. EPDM has excellent weather resistance, cold resistance, ozone resistance, aging resistance, solvent resistance, and the like.

The wiper blade 33 is attached and fixed to the wiper attachment stay 31. The wiper blade 33 may be formed by using the wiper mounting stay 31 as a core metal. Further, the wiper blade 33 is not limited to the above materials, and other elastic rubber materials and the like can also be used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A to 4C, the wiper mounting stay 31 is fixed to the flexible racks 50L and 50R via the mounting members 36L and 36R. As a result, when the flexible racks 50L and 50R slide along the slide rails 60R and 60L, the wiper mounting stay 31 also slides and moves. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, etc., this slide movement is a parallel sliding movement from the drive unit 10A toward the driven unit 10B, or from the driven unit 10B toward the drive unit 10A.

When the wiper mounting stay 31 slides, the deformed portion 33b of the wiper blade 33 deforms toward the side opposite to the slide moving direction (F direction), and the blade portion 33a deforms toward the solar module 5A as shown in FIG. Abuts on the surface 5Aa of. As a result, the surface of the solar module 5A is cleaned by sliding the drive wiper unit 30.

Further, when the drive wiper portion 30 slides in the G direction shown in FIG. 4C, the wiper blade 33 is deformed in the direction opposite to the deformation direction shown in FIG. Therefore, even when the drive wiper unit 30 slides in the G direction shown in FIG. 4C, the surface of the solar module 5A is cleaned.

(Driven units 10B, 10C, ...)
As shown in FIG. 2, the driven units 10B, 10C, ... Have slide rails 160L at the left and right ends of the solar modules 5B, 5C, ..., Similar to the drive unit 10A. 160R is installed. The slide rails 160L and 160R are made of, for example, an extruded material made of aluminum.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, both ends of the driven wiper portion 130 are fixed to the mounting slide members 136L and 136R, and each mounting slide member 136L and 136R slides and moves guided by the slide rails 160L and 160R. can do.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4A, the mounting slide members 136L and 136R and the mounting slide members 136L and 136R of the next stage are connected to each other by a connecting shaft 70.

With the above configuration, the driven unit 10B driven by the driving force of the driving unit 10A drives the next-stage driven unit 10C, and the driven unit 10C further drives the next-stage driven unit 10D. In this way, in the driven units 10B, 10C, ... Connected by a predetermined number of stages, the respective driven wiper portions 130 clean the surfaces of the solar modules 5B, 5C, ....

The configuration of the driven wiper unit 130 is the same as the configuration of the drive wiper unit 30. Further, the cleaning step of the surface of each of the solar modules 5B, 5C, ... When the driven wiper unit 130 is slid is the same as the cleaning by the drive wiper unit 30 described above.

In the drive unit 10A, the driven units 10B, 10C, ..., The materials of the respective members are aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, iron metal, stainless steel, steel, etc., unless otherwise specified. A metal material, a resin material having rigidity as a structural member, or the like can be used.

(Configuration of solar panel cleaning device)
FIG. 6 is an example of a block configuration diagram of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the solar panel cleaning device 1 is configured as a drive unit and a driven unit that drives the drive unit connected by a predetermined number of stages. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the solar panel cleaning device 1 in which the solar modules are connected by a predetermined number of stages is set as one channel (1 channel), and for example, four channels are controlled by one controller 300.

The following operation description will be described as an operation for one channel (1 channel) by the controller 300.

(Controller 300)
As an example, a PLC sequencer (Programmable Logical Controller) can be used as the controller 300. A PLC is a type of small computer that uses a microprocessor at its core, just like any other computer, and runs on software. The PLC controls a state machine based on a relay circuit by an operation model program.

The controller 300 starts with a start signal from the calendar timer, and performs sequence control with the output signals of the limit switches 41 and 42 described above. The controller 300 may be configured to perform sequence control by a hard logic circuit without relying on a PLC sequencer.

(Power supply unit 400)
The power supply unit 400 supplies electric power to the controller 300 and the solar panel cleaning device for a predetermined channel. As an example, the power supply unit 400 includes a small solar module and a battery, and can be an independent power source that does not require external power supply. According to such a configuration, the solar panel cleaning device can be installed and operated even in a place where there is no power supply facility from the outside.

(Operation of solar panel cleaning device)
FIG. 7 is a sequence flow diagram showing an example of sequential control by the controller of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The operation of the solar panel cleaning device 1 is started by the start signal from the calendar timer.

(Sequence 1, S1)
The controller 300 executes the initialization operation. The controller 300 drives the motor 26 and moves the drive wiper unit 30 in a predetermined direction. The limit switch 41 detects the presence or absence of contact or proximity of the wiper detection member 35 provided in the drive wiper unit 30. As a result, it is detected that the drive wiper unit 30 is at the cleaning initial position X1 which is the upper end portion of the solar module 5A shown in FIG. 4A.

Based on the output of the limit switch 41, the controller 300 sets the drive wiper unit 30 to the initial position X1, that is, the cleaning initial position which is the upper end of the solar module 5A. At this time, the driven wiper portions 130 of the driven units 10B, 10C, ... Are also set to the initial cleaning positions. The initial cleaning position X1 by the initialization operation is the position shown in FIG. 4A.

(Sequence 2, S2)
As shown in FIG. 4A, the controller 300 slides the drive wiper unit 30 in the descending direction F shown in FIG. 4A by rotating the motor 26 in CCW (Rf direction). Further, following the slide movement of the drive wiper unit 30, the driven wiper units 130 of the driven units 10B, 10C, ... Also slide and move in the downward direction F.

As shown in FIGS. 4B and 5, the surface of the solar module is cleaned by the wiper blades of the drive wiper unit 30 and the driven wiper unit 130. That is, the drive unit 10A interlocks the driven units 10B, 10C, ..., And cleans the surface of all the solar modules for one channel.

(Sequence 3, S3)
The limit switch 42 detects the presence or absence of contact or proximity of the end portion 50Lb of the flexible rack 50L. As a result, the controller 300 detects that the drive wiper unit 30 is at the cleaning end position, which is the lower end portion of the solar module 5A shown in FIG. 4C.

(Sequence 4, S4)
As shown in FIG. 4C, the controller 300 slides the drive wiper unit 30 in the ascending direction G shown in FIG. 4C by rotating the motor 26 in the CW direction (Rg direction). Further, following the slide movement of the drive wiper unit 30, the driven wiper units 130 of the driven units 10B, 10C, ... Also slide and move in the ascending direction G.

(Sequence 5, S5)
Based on the output of the limit switch 41, the controller 300 detects that the drive wiper unit 30 has reached the initial position X1, that is, the cleaning initial position which is the upper end of the solar module 5A.

(Sequence 6, S6)
The controller 300 stops the rotation of the motor 26. As a result, the cleaning operation of the surfaces of the solar modules 5A, 5B, 5C, ... By the drive wiper unit 30 and the driven wiper unit 130 is completed.

The operation of the solar panel cleaning device 1 is completed by the above series of operations, but the above operations can be executed repeatedly as needed or by a start signal from the calendar timer based on a predetermined interval. is there.

Further, in the above cleaning operation, it is possible to perform cleaning while sprinkling water on each of the solar modules 5A, 5B, 5C, ....

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the effect of the solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a graph showing the amount of power generation with and without cleaning on the horizontal axis by date. ..

In FIG. 8, it was found that the amount of power generated by the solar panel with cleaning shown by the solid line has an average improvement effect of 19% compared with the amount of power generated by the solar panel without cleaning shown by the broken line. It was. This is based on 1.5 months of data, as shown on the horizontal axis. Furthermore, it is presumed that it will exert a further improvement effect when it is operated for a long period of time.

(Effect of embodiment)
(1) The solar panel cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment is mounted on the solar module 5A, and the drive wiper unit 30 cleans the surface of the solar module 5A by moving the wiper blade 33 as a cleaning member. The drive wiper of the drive unit 10A, which is mounted on the drive unit 10A having the drive unit 20 and the drive unit 20 capable of moving the drive wiper unit 30 and another solar module 5B arranged adjacent to the solar module 5A. A drive unit having a driven unit 10B provided with a driven wiper unit 130 that cleans the surface of another solar module 5B by moving a wiper blade 133 as a cleaning member following the movement of the unit 30. The 10A is configured to be connected to the driven unit 10B by a connecting shaft 70 that transmits a driving force to the driven unit 10B. As a result, even if there is a construction unevenness or a step between the solar modules, the surface of the solar panel in which a plurality of solar modules are combined can be reliably cleaned.
(2) In the conventional large-scale automatic cleaning device, the entire solar panel is cleaned for a long time, and it is difficult for the large-scale automatic cleaning device to run at high speed. In the present embodiment, the cleaning operation distance can be extremely shortened by the automatic cleaning mechanism for each solar module. Since the cleaning plaid is operated in units of one solar module, the guide length of each unit can be shortened. As a result, the cleaning time for each solar module can be shortened, and the number of cleanings per day can be increased.
(3) The type in which the cleaning device is replaced for each solar panel requires setup time, which increases the cost. When replacing large equipment, it takes time to set up the work height and heavy equipment on the top side of the panel. In the present embodiment, since the structure is configured to be attached according to the outer peripheral frame of each panel, the device can be easily installed and fixed to each panel, and the time required for setup is extremely shortened. Battery consumption can be reduced or capacity can be reduced by shortening the drive time of the device.
(4) In the type that is not fully automatic, the man-hours required for the operation of the worker are required each time, which increases the cost. The left and right guides that raise and lower the cleaning plaid are attached to each panel with bolts and strong double-sided tape. In the present embodiment, a resin rack gear that can be flexibly moved is searched for a mechanism for raising and lowering the cleaning blade, and propulsive force is applied by the rotation of the motor to operate the cleaning blade attached to the tip to save space. .. This mechanism is incorporated into the top panel, which is the drive unit, and the panel cleaning blades of the driven units in the second and lower stages are linked by the connecting shaft. Guides for performing these operations can be easily attached to the edge of the panel. In addition, there is also an effect that running abnormalities are less likely to occur because there is no operation to get over between the solar modules.
(5) There is a problem that there is a possibility that the solar modules installed are stopped on a non-landing surface or at a construction step, and the work time is extended. In addition, there is a problem that the self-propelled lift and the traveling roller cannot absorb the unevenness of the construction of the solar module and the step when the traveling roller has a small diameter. In the present embodiment, since the cleaning blade moves within the frame of the solar module alone, it does not affect the construction of the solar module even if there is unevenness or a step. Since the cleaning blade moves within the panel edge, there is no problem in operation even if there is unevenness or a step between the solar modules.
(6) In the type in which the traveling rail is installed, a large construction cost is incurred, so the introduction cost is high. In addition, the traveling rail may be attached to the panel mount, and there is a problem that some ingenuity is required depending on various construction specifications. In the present embodiment, the left and right guides of the device are adjusted to the edge width of the outer periphery of the solar module, so that they can be easily attached. Since the width across flats of the outer shape of the solar module is parallel to some extent, the guides can be attached by edging.
(7) Depending on the type of product, the traveling rail of the device may create a shade, which affects power generation. In addition, there is also a problem that a shadow of the guide height is formed because the traveling rail cannot be separated from the array of the close contact construction of the solar module. In the present embodiment, since the structural design in which the guide height is extremely lowered is possible, the influence of shadows is very small. Further, since the guide height is, for example, about 22 mm, there are very few shadows generated on the surface of the solar panel even when the sun altitude in the morning and evening is low. Therefore, it can be judged that the influence on power generation is small.
(8) Even if it is manually cleaned, it may become dirty with bird droppings the next day. Even a well-cleaned solar panel can get dirty quickly in the natural world due to unexpected circumstances. In the present embodiment, since the cleaning blade is automatically operated at a fixed time every day, the cleanliness of the solar panel is always maintained. In addition, the timing of operation by the calendar timer can be set arbitrarily.
(9) Since it has the above configuration, the simple structure with a small number of parts keeps the manufacturing cost low, and the small number of assembly man-hours keeps the product at a low price, so cost effectiveness is expected on the purchaser side. It is also a device that can do it. In addition, since it can be introduced in units of one row of solar modules, the amount of money that the purchaser (company) can easily purchase on a trial basis can be suppressed. In addition, it has the effect that it can be easily performed without the need for special techniques for construction.

Although some embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples and do not limit the invention according to the claims. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, changes, etc. can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Moreover, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are essential as means for solving the problems of the invention. Further, these embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 ... Solar panel cleaning device,
5A, 5B, 5C, ... Solar module 5Aa ... Surface 10A ... Drive unit 10B, 10C, 10D .... Drive unit 20L, 20R ... Drive unit 21L, 21R ... Guide unit 21La, 21Ra ... Straight guides 21Lb, 21Rb ... Curved guides 21Lc, 21Rc ... Straight guides 22L, 22R ... Drive gears 23L, 23R, 24L, 24R ... Bevel gears 25 ... Rotating connecting shafts 26 ... Motors 27 ... Motor shafts 30 ... Drive wipers 31 ... Wiper mounting stay 32 ... Wiper blade core metal 33 ... Wiper blade (cleaning member)
33a ... Blade part 33b ... Deformation part 35 ... Wiper detection members 36L, 36R ... Mounting members 41, 42 ... Limit switches 50L, 50R ... Flexible rack 50La, 50Ra ... Gear part 50Lb ... Ends 60L, 60R ... Slide rail 70 ... Connection Shaft 100 ... Solar panel 130 ... Driven wiper unit 133 ... Wiper blade (cleaning member)
136L, 136R ... Mounting slide members 160L, 160R ... Slide rail 300 ... Controller 400 ... Power supply unit

Claims (8)

A drive unit equipped with a drive wiper unit that is attached to the solar module and cleans the surface of the solar module by moving a cleaning member, and a drive unit that enables the movement of the drive wiper unit.
The cleaning member moves on the surface of the other solar module, which is mounted on another solar module arranged adjacent to the solar module and follows the movement of the drive wiper portion of the drive unit. Has a driven unit with a driven wiper section to be cleaned by
The drive unit is a solar panel cleaning device that is connected to the driven unit by a connecting shaft that transmits a driving force to the driven unit. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the driven unit is sequentially connected to and driven by a connecting shaft for a predetermined number of stages with another driven unit. The drive unit has a drive unit mounted on the solar module, a flexible rack driven by the drive unit, and a drive gear that meshes with a gear portion of the flexible rack.
The drive unit includes a guide unit that supports the movement of the flexible rack including a curved unit.
The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible rack has flexibility to move along the guide portion. The solar panel cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive wiper portion of the drive unit moves in conjunction with the movement of the flexible rack. The driven unit has a driven guide portion attached to the left and right ends of the solar module, and the driven wiper portion moves along the driven guide portion, any one of claims 1 to 4. The solar panel cleaning device described in the section. The flexible rack and the drive gear are housed in the respective drive units mounted on the left and right ends of the solar module, and the respective drive gears are interlocked with each other via a bevel gear, according to claims 1 to 5. The solar panel cleaning device according to any one item. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the bevel gear is a matagi gear, and the drive gear synchronizes at a constant speed to drive each of the flexible racks. The solar panel cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the gear portion and the drive gear of the flexible rack are arranged so that their respective tooth streak directions are in the normal direction of the surface of the solar module.