JP7590769B2 - Solar panel maintenance equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a solar panel maintenance device that maintains solar panels to prevent a decrease in the power generation capacity of the solar panels and to efficiently generate power, etc.

To prevent a decrease in the power generation capacity of each solar panel of a solar panel unit, a cleaning device that cleans the solar panel surface that receives sunlight and a solar panel coating device that coats the solar panel surface are known. The solar panel coating device of Patent Document 1 has a running body such as a wheel that contacts the panel surface of the solar panel and a coating part, and coats the panel surface of the solar panel with the coating part while the running body runs over it.

JP 2017-163828 A

However, because the coating unit moves up, down, left and right to clean the large solar panels, the coating unit is a large and heavy device. This makes it time-consuming to set up and take down the coating device, and it is also necessary to prepare a large truck to transport the coating device. In particular, the coating unit uses a motor and rack and pinion, which adds to its weight.

Therefore, the present invention provides a solar panel maintenance device that can be easily transported and installed, and reduces the labor burden on workers.

One embodiment is a solar panel maintenance device that maintains a solar panel unit in which multiple solar panels are arranged. The maintenance device includes a maintenance unit that performs maintenance work on the solar panel unit, a frame unit that has a first frame extending in a first direction and a second frame extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction and that mounts the maintenance unit on the first frame, a head unit that is attached above the frame unit and to the upper side surface of the solar panel unit and has wheels that rotate along the upper side surface, and a winding section that is mounted on the maintenance unit and winds up a rope in the first direction. One end of the rope is fixed to a part of the head unit.

The maintenance device according to the embodiment further includes a hose reel that is mounted on the maintenance unit and has a hose for delivering liquid, a biasing member that elastically winds up the hose, and a drum that winds up the hose. One end of the hose can extend in a first direction and on an opposite side to the head portion.
In addition, the maintenance unit of the embodiment has an upper end detection sensor and a lower end detection sensor, the head unit has an upper stopper bar, and a bottom unit has a lower stopper bar on the opposite side of the first side surface and is attached to the lower side surface of the solar panel unit. When the upper end detection sensor comes into contact with the upper stopper bar, the rotation of the winding part stops, and when the lower end detection sensor comes into contact with the lower stopper bar, the rotation of the winding part stops.

In one embodiment, the solar panel maintenance device includes a controller that transmits a movement command signal to a winding section. A signal indicating that the upper end detection sensor has come into contact with the upper stopper rod is transmitted to the controller, which sets an upward movement prohibition flag, and a signal indicating that the upper end detection sensor has come into contact with the upper stopper rod is transmitted to the controller, which sets an upward movement prohibition flag.
The maintenance unit also includes a main device on which the winding section and the hose reel are mounted, and a cleaning unit including a nozzle for spraying liquid onto the panel surface of the solar panel unit and a brush for cleaning the panel surface of the solar panel unit. It is preferable that the cleaning unit be foldable relative to the main device.
The maintenance unit also includes a main device on which the winding section and the hose reel are placed, and a coating unit including a nozzle that sprays the coating agent onto the panel surface of the solar panel unit and an application section that applies the coating agent to the panel surface of the solar panel unit. It is preferable that the coating unit be foldable relative to the main device.

In one embodiment, the solar panel maintenance device preferably includes a drive unit attached to the frame unit and configured to drive the frame unit in the second direction.
The maintenance device further includes casters attached to the first frame for moving the solar panel maintenance device in the second direction. The casters are preferably configured so that the wheels and the positions of the wheels can be moved in the first and second directions.

The solar panel maintenance device of the present invention is small and lightweight because the maintenance unit is moved using a winder that winds up a rope, making it easy to transport and install, and reducing the labor burden on workers.

1 is a plan view of the maintenance device 100 mounted on the solar panel unit SPU. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a frame unit 20. FIG. 1A and 1B are a plan view and a front view of the periphery of a connecting portion CN of a frame unit 20. FIG. 13 is a front view showing a state in which the connecting portion CN is broken at the hinge portion 21. FIG. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a drive unit 50. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a maintenance unit 60. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the vertical movement of the maintenance unit 60. 13 is a flowchart regarding the movement of the maintenance unit 60.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid repetitive explanation. In addition, the components are not drawn to their actual dimensions in the drawings to emphasize them.

In this embodiment, a cleaning process for cleaning a solar panel is described as a maintenance device for a solar panel. However, maintenance is a concept that includes not only cleaning of the solar panel, but also a coating process for applying a coating agent to the solar panel to form a coating layer in order to increase the durability and dust resistance of the solar panel.

<Outline of the solar panel unit>
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a maintenance device 100 mounted on a solar panel unit SPU. As shown in FIG. 1, the solar panel maintenance device 100 of this embodiment cleans the surface of the solar panel unit SPU. This solar panel unit SPU is a solar panel in which a plurality of solar panels SP are arranged in a front-rear and left-right arrangement. The solar panel unit SPU is arranged, for example, with 1.0 m x 1.5 m solar panels SP, four in the Y-axis direction and ten in the X-axis direction (only a portion of which is shown). Each solar panel SP has a panel body having a panel surface (+Z-axis side) that captures sunlight to generate solar power and a power generation device (not shown) arranged on the back side (-Z-axis side), and an edge portion PP provided around the panel body. Of these, the panel surface 3 is made of glass, and the edge portion PP is made of a metal such as aluminum. The solar panel unit SPU is generally installed with the panel surface inclined, i.e., with the upper side surface SP1 in Fig. 1 higher (+Z-axis side) than the lower side surface SP2. In Fig. 1, the X-axis direction is a substantially horizontal lateral direction, and the Y-axis direction is a direction that is not substantially parallel to the inclined panel surface.

<Outline of the solar panel maintenance device 100>
A solar panel maintenance device 100 of this embodiment will be described. This solar panel maintenance device 100 includes a head unit 10, a frame unit 20, a bottom unit 40, a drive unit 50, and a maintenance unit 60. The maintenance device 100 shown in FIG. 1 has four frame units 20 (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) connected in accordance with the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) of the solar panel unit SPU. When the solar panel unit SPU is small, the maintenance device 100 only needs to include one head unit 10, one frame unit 20, and one maintenance unit 60. The bottom unit 40 does not necessarily need to be provided because the solar panel unit SPU is inclined.

The head unit 10 is provided with wheels 11 facing the upper side surface SP1, and these wheels 11 support the maintenance device 100 on the upper side surface SP1 of the inclined panel surface, while allowing it to move laterally (in the X-axis direction). The head unit 10 is also provided with an upper stopper rod 14 to prevent the maintenance unit 60 from falling off the solar panel unit SPU in the +Y-axis direction due to malfunction or incorrect operation.

The frame unit 20 carries the maintenance unit 60. The maintenance unit 60 can move in the Y-axis direction of the frame unit 20. The frame unit 20 has two horizontal frames 27, two vertical frames 28, and a guide frame 29. The frame unit 20 also has a hinge portion 21 that folds the head unit 10 relative to the adjacent frame unit 20. The head unit 10 can be folded 180 degrees relative to the frame unit 20 at the hinge portion 21. Also, one of the adjacent frame units 20 (e.g., 20b) can be folded 180 degrees relative to the other frame unit 20 (e.g., 20c) at the hinge portion 21.

The bottom unit 40 is a unit that stops the maintenance unit 60 moving on the frame unit 20 so that it does not move beyond the frame unit 20 in the -Y axis direction. The bottom unit 40 of this embodiment does not have the wheels 11 that the head unit 10 has, but the bottom unit 40 may have wheels 11 and clamp the upper side surface SP1 and the lower side surface SP2 of the solar panel unit SPU from both sides with the wheels 11. The bottom unit 40 is also provided with a lower stopper rod 44 to prevent the maintenance unit 60 from falling off the solar panel unit SPU in the -Y axis direction due to a malfunction or incorrect operation. The bottom unit 40 shown in FIG. 1 is small and is not intended to be folded, so the hinge portion 21 is not provided. However, the bottom unit 40 may have a hinge portion 21 and be able to be folded 180 degrees relative to the frame unit 20.

The drive unit 50 is detachably attached to the frame unit 20 at the rear side of the page (-Z axis direction). In this embodiment, it is attached to the second frame unit 20 from the top, but it may be attached to any frame unit 20, and the position is appropriately selected depending on the length of the solar panel unit SPU in the vertical direction (Y axis direction) and the tilt angle of the solar panel unit SPU. The drive unit 50 moves the solar panel maintenance device 100 in the X axis direction. A left stopper rod 54 is provided to prevent the solar panel maintenance device 100 from falling off the solar panel unit SPU in the ±X axis directions due to malfunction or incorrect operation (a right stopper rod is also provided, although not shown).

The maintenance unit 60 is detachably attached to the front side (+Z-axis direction) of the frame unit 20 on the page. The wheels of the maintenance unit 60 are movable in the Y-axis direction while resting on the two vertical frames 28. The maintenance unit 60 is guided by a guide frame 29 so that the wheels of the maintenance unit 60 do not come off the two vertical frames 28. The maintenance unit 60 can clean the surface of the solar panel unit SPU and perform a coating process on the solar panel unit SPU.

The remote controller 90 controls the drive unit 50 and the maintenance unit 60. The remote controller 90 has a joystick 91 that moves the solar panel maintenance device 100 in the X-axis direction with the drive unit 50 and moves the maintenance unit 60 in the Y-axis direction with the winding part 62 of the maintenance unit 60. The remote controller 90 also has adjustment knobs 93 that adjust the movement speed in the X and Y axes and the number of rotations of the brush, which will be described later, and a display part 95 that shows the speed and number of rotations. Note that instead of the remote controller 90, an app may be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet device to control the drive unit 50 and the maintenance unit 60.

<Outline of Frame Unit 20>
FIG. 2 is a plan view, a front view, and a right side view of the frame unit 20. The frame unit 20 is roughly divided into an extension portion EX and a connection portion CN. The frame unit 20 has two horizontal frames 27 attached to two vertical frames 28 at intermediate positions of the vertical frames 28, and both ends (±Y-axis direction) of the vertical frames 28 protrude from the horizontal frames 27. The horizontal frames 27 and the vertical frames 28 are made of metal, for example, and have a circular or octagonal cross section. In this embodiment, a guide rail is provided in the direction in which the frame extends so that it can be connected to other members with bolts or the like. The horizontal frames 27 and the vertical frames 28 are fixed by four triangular reinforcing plates attached to the guide rail, and have a rectangular frame structure. A caster 80 that rotates in the X-axis direction is disposed at one end (-Y-axis side) of the vertical frame 28. It is preferable that the caster 80 passes through the edge portion PP of the solar panel SP, so that the position of the caster 80 in the Y-axis direction can be adjusted according to the position of the edge portion PP of the solar panel SP. That is, the caster 80 may be disposed on the vertical frame 28 between two horizontal frames 27, rather than on the end of the vertical frame 28. The structure for adjusting the position of the caster 80 in the Y-axis direction will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The height of the caster 80 is set to Z1.

A guide frame 29 is provided so as to span the two horizontal frames 27 and to be parallel to the vertical frame 28. This guide frame 29 guides the maintenance unit 60 when it moves in the Y-axis direction on the vertical frame 28. As described below, the four wheels of the maintenance unit 60 move while in contact with the top of the vertical frame 28, so the maintenance unit 60 is guided accurately in the Y-axis direction by the guide frame 29 so that the wheels do not come off the vertical frame 28. Note that it is not necessary to provide a guide frame 29. For example, if the maintenance unit 60 is equipped with flanged wheels like train wheels, the maintenance unit 60 can move in the Y-axis direction along the vertical frame 28 even without the guide frame 29.

The other end (+Y-axis side) of the vertical frame 28 is provided with a connecting part CN. The connecting part CN has a hinge part 21, two connecting frames 26 on which the hinge part 21 is placed, a support frame 25 that supports the two connecting frames 26, a first positioning member 24 for positioning in the Y-axis direction, a second positioning member 23 for positioning in the X-axis direction, and a fixing part 22 for fixing the hinge part 21. The length Y1 of the connecting part CN in the Y-axis direction is the sum of the length Y2 from the horizontal frame 27 on the +Y-axis side to the end of the vertical frame 28 on the +Y-axis side and the length Y3 from the horizontal frame 27 on the -Y-axis side to the end of the vertical frame 28 on the -Y-axis side. The total length in the Y-axis direction, which is the sum of the length of the fixing part 22 and the length of the second positioning member 23, is approximately equal to the length Y2 from the horizontal frame 27 on the +Y-axis side to the end of the vertical frame 28 on the +Y-axis side.

<<About casters>>
The caster 80 has wheels 81, a shaft 82 penetrating the wheels, and a top plate 83. An X-axis rail 84 extending in the X-axis direction is provided on the top plate 83 to adjust the position in the X-axis direction. An adjustment plate 86 is mounted on this X-axis rail 84, and a female X-axis guide 86a is formed on the adjustment plate 86 so that the position can be adjusted in the X-axis direction. A fixing plate 87 that fixes the position of the adjustment plate 86 in the X-axis direction is disposed so as to correspond to the female X-axis guide 86a. By tightening a bolt (not shown) or the like, the X-axis rail 84 is tightened by the fixing plate 87 and the female X-axis guide 86a, and the position of the adjustment plate 86 in the X-axis direction is fixed.

The adjustment plate 86 is formed with a female Y-axis guide 86b so that the position can be adjusted in the Y-axis direction. A fixed plate 89 that fixes the position of the adjustment plate 86 in the Y-axis direction is arranged to correspond to the female Y-axis guide 86b. The guide rail of the vertical frame 28 shown in FIG. 2 fits into the female Y-axis guide 86b. By tightening a bolt (not shown) or the like, the fixed plate 89 and the female Y-axis guide 86b tighten the guide rail of the vertical frame 28 that extends in the Y-axis direction, thereby fixing the position of the adjustment plate 86 in the Y-axis direction. In this way, the wheels 81 of the caster 80 pass through the edge portion PP of the solar panel SP and are structured to be movable in the X-axis and Y-axis directions so as not to damage the surface of the solar panel SP.

<<About the connecting parts>>
The connecting portion CN will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a plan view and a front view of the periphery of the connecting portion CN of the frame unit 20. In Figure 4, the horizontal frame 27c and the vertical frame 28c of the frame unit 20c are drawn with dashed lines so that the connecting state between the frame unit 20c and the frame unit 20d can be understood. In the lower side of the plan view and the front view of Figure 4, one vertical frame 28c is not drawn so that the second positioning member 23 and the fixing portion 22 that fixes the hinge portion 21 can be understood. Figure 5 is a front view showing the state in which the connecting portion CN is folded 180 degrees at the hinge portion 21. In Figure 5, the vertical frame 28c of the frame unit 20c and the vertical frame 28d of the frame unit 20d are drawn with dashed lines so that the folded state of the connecting frame 26 can be understood. The vertical frame 28c is not drawn so that the second positioning member 23 and the fixing portion 22 that fixes the hinge portion 21 can be understood.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the connecting frame 26 is composed of a first connecting frame 26-1, a second connecting frame 26-2, and a third connecting frame 26-3. The first connecting frame 26-1 and the second connecting frame 26-2 are connected to each other by the first hinge portion 21-1. The second connecting frame 26-2 and the third connecting frame 26-3 are connected to each other by the second hinge portion 21-2. The first hinge portion 21-1 and the second hinge portion 21-2 only need to have the function of bending 90 degrees or more around the rotation axis RG, and in this embodiment, they have the function of bending 180 degrees or more around the rotation axis RG. The length in the Y-axis direction of the second connecting frame 26-2 is equal to the length from the rotation axis RG of the first hinge portion 21-1 to the rotation axis RG of the second hinge portion 21-2.

The first hinge portion 21-1 and the second hinge portion 21-2 are bent 90 degrees around the rotation axis RG, and because of the length of the second connecting frame 26-2 (Y-axis direction), the guide frames 29c and 29d do not collide. As shown in FIG. 4, the spatial distance (Y-axis direction) from one end of the guide frame 29c to one end of the guide frame 29d is approximately equal to the length (Y-axis direction) of the second connecting frame 26-2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fixed portion 22 and the second positioning member 23 have substantially the same shape but different lengths in the Y-axis direction. The fixed portion 22 and the second positioning member 23 are slidable along a guide rail formed on the vertical frame 28d and a guide rail formed on the connecting frame 26. The fixed portion 22 and the second positioning member 23 on the +X-axis side in FIG. 4 are positioned when the first hinge portion 21-1 and the second hinge portion 21-2 are folded. The fixed portion 22 and the second positioning member 23 on the -X-axis side in FIG. 4 are positioned when the first hinge portion 21-1 and the second hinge portion 21-2 are at 0 degrees.

The length of the fixing part 22 in the Y-axis direction is longer than the length of the second connecting frame 26-2 in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, one fixing part 22 can fix the rotation axis RG of the first hinge part 21-1 and the rotation axis RG of the second hinge part 21-2.

<Outline of Drive Unit 50>
6 is a plan view and a front view of the drive unit 50. The drive unit 50 may be composed of, for example, two vertical frames 58 and five horizontal frames 27 attached to the vertical frames 58. The horizontal frames 57 and the vertical frames 58 are made of, for example, metal and have a circular or octagonal cross section. In this embodiment, a guide rail is provided in the direction in which the frames extend so that they can be connected to other members with bolts or the like. In order for the drive unit 50 to be attached to the frame unit 20, four or more connection parts 52 are provided on the vertical frame 58. The connection parts 52 are made of a rivet plate, a bolt, or the like, and are connected to the vertical frame 28 of the frame unit 20 described above. In addition, a power source BAT, an electronic control unit 51, a drive motor 53 as a drive unit, a power transmission system 55 that transmits the power of the drive motor 53, and tires 59 connected to the power transmission system 55 are attached to the vertical frame 58 and the horizontal frame 57. Furthermore, to prevent the drive unit 50 from falling off the solar panel unit SPU when it moves in the ±X-axis directions, left and right end detection sensors SW1 are provided on each of the two vertical frames 58. The left and right end detection sensors SW1 are, for example, switches using hinge levers or proximity sensors using capacitance changes. When the left and right end detection sensors SW1 come into contact with or approach left and right stopper rods 54 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 8) attached to the solar panel unit SPU, a sensor signal is sent to the electronic control unit 51.

The electronic control unit 51 receives instructions from a remote controller 90 (see FIG. 1) operated by the worker and sends a drive signal to the drive motor 53. The drive motor 53 generates a drive force upon receiving the drive signal from the electronic control unit 51. The drive force is transmitted to the tire 59 via a power transmission system 55 having a chain transmission member and a coupling 56. The electronic control unit 51 also transmits a sensor signal detected by the left and right end detection sensor SW1 to the remote controller 90.

The power transmission system 55 is provided along the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) of the solar panel unit SPU, and the tires 59 are fixed at a predetermined position of the power transmission system 55. The height of the casters 80 shown in FIG. 2 is Z1, and the height from the installation surface of the tires 59 to the connection part 52 shown in FIG. 6 is also Z1. As described above, the power transmission system 55 and the coupling 56 are connected to these tires 59, so that the driving force from the drive motor 53 is transmitted. With this configuration, when the casters 80 and tires 59 are in contact with the solar panel SP, the drive unit 50 can move the head unit 10, frame unit 20, bottom unit 40, and maintenance unit 60 shown in FIG. 1 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction).

<Overview of maintenance unit 60>
7A is a plan view of the maintenance unit 60, (b) is a front view thereof, and (c) is a right side view thereof. These are in a state where the cleaning unit 65 is open relative to the main device MAI. FIG. 7D is a right side view in which the cleaning unit 65 is folded relative to the main device MAI. In the maintenance unit 60, for example, the main device MAI is mounted on two vertical frames 68 and two horizontal frames 67 attached to the vertical frames 68, and the cleaning units 65 are attached to both sides of the main device MAI. Four rollers RR are arranged on the vertical frames 68 so that the maintenance unit 60 can move in the Y-axis direction while being placed on the vertical frame 28 of the frame unit 20. As shown in the right side view of FIG. 7, the main device MAI of the maintenance unit 60 has a guide portion 69 consisting of a guide cover and a plurality of guide wheels. The guide wheels of the guide portion 69 come into contact with the guide frame 29 to guide the movement of the maintenance unit 60 placed on the vertical frame 28 of the frame unit 20. Although not a part of the maintenance unit 60, the guide frame 29 is shown by dotted lines in the right side view of FIG.

The vertical frame 68 and horizontal frame 67 are fitted within a frame that includes a power supply BAT, an electronic control unit 61, a winding section 62 as a drive device that moves the maintenance unit 60 in the +Y-axis direction, a hose reel HR that stores a hose HS that supplies liquid, and a solenoid valve SV. In addition, upper and lower end detection sensors SW2 are provided on each of the two horizontal frames 67 of the main device MAI to prevent the drive unit 50 from falling off the solar panel unit SPU when it moves in the ±Y-axis directions. The upper and lower end detection sensors SW2 are, for example, switches that use hinge levers or proximity sensors that use capacitance changes. When the upper and lower end detection sensors SW2 come into contact with or approach the upper stopper rod 14 or the lower stopper rod 44 (see Figure 1 or Figure 8), a sensor signal is sent to the electronic control unit 61.

The electronic control unit 61 receives instructions from a remote controller 90 operated by an operator and gives a command signal to the winding section 62 to wind (rotate), opens the solenoid valve SV to release cleaning fluid or water, and rotates the rotating brush RB. One end of a rope is fixed to a part of the head unit 10 by tying it, and the winding section 62 moves the maintenance unit 60 in the +Y-axis direction by winding (rotating) this rope. The electronic control unit 51 also transmits sensor signals detected by the upper and lower end detection sensor SW2 to the remote controller 90.

The hose reel HR has a drum that stores the hose HS from a water outlet, tank, or detergent container to the maintenance unit 60. The drum of the hose reel HR has a biasing member that generates elastic force, such as a power spring, and may further have a check. One end of the hose HS is designed to extend in the -Y axis direction and is fixed, for example, to a water outlet. For example, with one end of the hose HS fixed to the water outlet, if the winding of the winding part 62 is stopped and the rope is stretched, the winding force of the biasing member, such as a power spring, will move the maintenance unit 60 in the -Y axis direction.

The cleaning units 65 arranged on both sides of the main device MAI can be folded so as to rest on the main device MAI as shown in FIG. 7(d) or opened 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 7(c) by rotating hinges 63 attached to the vertical frame 68. The rotating hinges 63 include mechanical elements for positioning and fixing the plunger, etc., and the cleaning units 65 can be fixed at 90 degrees or 180 degrees from the folded state so as to rest on the main device MAI as shown in FIG. 7(d).

Because the cleaning unit 65 can be folded onto the main device MAI, the X-axis direction can be reduced by approximately half compared to when it is unfolded 180 degrees, and even when folded, the height (Z-axis direction) does not exceed the height of the electronic control unit 61 and hose reel HR, so the space in the height direction remains unchanged. This makes it easier to load into the trunk of a car when transporting and reduces the space required in the trunk. Furthermore, when the solar panel maintenance device 100 is installed in the solar panel unit SPU, the rotating brush PB of the cleaning unit 65, which will be described later, can be prevented from coming into contact with the ground and becoming dirty.

The cleaning unit 65 has multiple nozzles 64 connected to hoses HS, a rotating brush RB that brushes the surface of the solar panel SP, a brush cover BC that prevents liquid from splashing, and a height adjustment part 66. Cleaning liquid etc. is sprayed from the nozzles 64 and the rotating brush RB rotates to clean the surface of the solar panel SP. The height adjustment part 66 has a spring, a height adjustment screw etc., and can adjust the nozzles 64, rotating brush RB and brush cover BC to the surface height of the solar panel SP.

Although not specifically shown, the maintenance unit 60 may replace the cleaning unit 65 with a coating unit. Alternatively, instead of the rotating brush RB of the cleaning unit 65, a coating unit such as a fiber cloth or sponge can be used to apply the coating. For example, a coating agent can be supplied from the hose HS instead of cleaning liquid or water, the coating agent can be applied from the nozzle 64, and the coating agent can be applied to the surface of the solar panel SP by the application unit. In other words, a coating unit may be provided instead of the cleaning unit 65.

<Moving the solar panel maintenance device 100>
Fig. 8 shows a solar panel unit SPU placed on a support frame FR and arranged diagonally toward the south, with the solar panel maintenance device 100 placed on the solar panel unit SPU. The tires 59 and the carrier 80 are adjusted so as to rest on the edge portion PP of the solar panel SP. Fig. 9 shows a flowchart in which an operator moves the maintenance unit 60 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (more precisely, in the diagonal direction in Fig. 8). In the following description, an example of moving the maintenance unit 60 in the ±Y-axis direction will be described using Fig. 8, and an example of moving the maintenance unit 60 in the ±X-axis direction will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tip of the rope RP extending from the winding portion 62 is tied to and fixed to a part of the head unit 10. The hose HS extending from the hose reel HR is connected to, for example, a water faucet or a pump. If there is no water faucet in the -Y axis direction (including a range of ±45 degrees from the -Y axis), it is preferable to erect a stake or the like in the ground in the -Y axis direction and connect the hose HS to the faucet via the stake or the like.

In FIG. 9, the worker places the solar panel maintenance device 100 on the solar panel unit SPU, spreads the cleaning unit 65 180 degrees, fixes the end of the rope RP, connects the hose HS, and then starts the remote controller 90 (S91).

The worker tilts the joystick 91 of the remote controller 90, for example, upward (S92). Then, the remote controller 90 sends a command signal to the electronic control unit 61, and the electronic control unit 61 sends a command signal to the winding unit 62 to move (rotate) in the +Y axis direction. The winding unit 62 winds the rope RP, and the maintenance unit 60 moves in the +Y axis direction (S93). When the joystick 91 is returned to the center, the command signal to move (rotate) from the remote controller 90 stops. Also, when the worker tilts the joystick 91, for example, downward (S92), a command signal to move is sent from the remote controller 90 to the electronic control unit 61, and the electronic control unit 61 gives a signal to the winding unit 62 to rewind (reverse rotate) the rope RP. If the solar panel unit SPU is tilted, the maintenance unit 60 moves in the -Y axis direction due to its own weight (S93). If the solar panel unit SPU is horizontal (or on a gentle slope), the maintenance unit 60 may not move in the -Y-axis direction just by rewinding the rope RP of the winding section 62. For this reason, the maintenance unit 60 moves in the -Y-axis direction (S93) due to the force of a biasing member, such as a spiral spring, of the hose reel HR winding up the hose HS. Because the movement of the maintenance unit 60 in the ±Y-axis directions is achieved with such a simple structure, the maintenance unit 60 can be made lighter and more compact.

If the operator continues to tilt the joystick 91 upwards, for example, due to an erroneous operation, the maintenance unit 60 moves in the +Y axis direction (S93) and approaches or collides with the upper stopper rod 14. Then, the upper end detection sensor SW2 sends a sensor signal to the electronic control unit 61, and the electronic control unit 61 receives the sensor signal (S94). Although we will not explain it here, the same thing happens if the joystick 91 is continued to be tilted downwards.

The electronic control unit 61 then transmits to the remote controller 90 a notification that there was a sensor signal from the upper end detection sensor SW2 (S95), and stops the command signal to the winding section 62 to move (rotate), and the maintenance unit 60 stops moving (S96).

When the remote controller 90 receives a sensor signal from the upper end detection sensor SW2 from the electronic control unit 61, it sets a movement prohibition flag for tilting the joystick 91 upward (movement in the +Y axis direction) (S97). As a result, even if the operator further tilts the joystick 91 upward due to an erroneous operation, a command signal for movement in the +Y axis direction is not transmitted from the joystick 91 (NO in S98).

When the operator tilts the joystick 91, for example, downward (S98), the movement prohibition flag is released (S99) and the maintenance unit 60 moves in the -Y axis direction (S93).

The solar panel maintenance device disclosed herein may have a coating function instead of a cleaning function for cleaning the solar panel. In this embodiment, a power supply BAT is provided in the drive unit 50 and a power supply BAT is also provided in the maintenance unit 60, but they may be integrated into either one. Also, an electronic control unit 51 is provided in the drive unit 50 and an electronic control unit 61 is also provided in the maintenance unit 60, but both electronic control units may be integrated into one.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 100: Maintenance device; 10: Head unit; 11: Wheels; 14: Upper stopper rod; 20: (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d): Frame unit; 21: (21-1, 21-2, 21B): Hinge portion; 22: Fixed portion; 23: Second positioning member; 24: First positioning member; 26: (26-1, 26-2, 26-3): Connecting frame; 25: Support frame; 27: Horizontal frame; 28: Vertical frame; 29: Guide frame; 40: Bottom unit; 44: Lower stopper rod; 50: Drive unit; 51: Electronic control unit;
52 ... Connection portion, 53 ... Drive motor, 54 ... Stopper rod, 55 ... Power transmission system, 56 ... Coupling,
57 ... horizontal frame, 58 ... vertical frame, 59 ... tire, 60 ... maintenance unit, 61 ... electronic control unit,
62 ... Winding section, 63 ... Rotating hinge, 64 ... Nozzle, 65 ... Cleaning unit, 66 ... Height adjustment section, 67 ... Horizontal frame, 68 ... Vertical frame, 69 ... Guide section, 80 ... Caster, 86 ... Adjustment plate, 90 ... Remote controller, 91 ... Joystick, BAT ... Power supply, BC ... Brush cover, CN ... Connection section, EX ... Extension section, HR ... Hose reel, HS ... Hose, MAI ... Main unit, RB ... Rotating brush, SW ... End detection sensor, SPU ... Solar panel, SPU ... Solar panel unit

Claims (8)

A solar panel maintenance device for maintaining a solar panel unit in which a plurality of solar panels are arranged,
A maintenance unit that performs maintenance work on the solar panel unit;
a frame unit including a first frame extending in a first direction and a second frame extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the frame unit being configured to mount the maintenance unit on the first frame;
a head unit attached to the upper side of the frame unit and to an upper side of the solar panel unit, the head unit having wheels that rotate along the upper side;
A winding unit that is placed on the maintenance unit and winds the rope in the first direction;
a hose reel that is mounted on the maintenance unit and has a hose for supplying liquid, a drum for winding the hose, and a biasing member that reeles the hose around the drum by elastic force ;
A solar panel maintenance device, wherein one end of the rope is fixed to a portion of the head unit and extends upward in the first direction, and one end of the hose extends in the first direction and downward of the frame unit . The maintenance unit has an upper end detection sensor and a lower end detection sensor,
The head unit has an upper stopper bar,
A bottom unit having a lower stopper rod on the opposite side of the upper side and attached to a lower side of the solar panel unit,
2. A solar panel maintenance device as described in claim 1, wherein rotation of the winding portion stops when the upper end detection sensor contacts the upper stopper rod, and rotation of the winding portion stops when the lower end detection sensor contacts the lower stopper rod. A controller is provided for transmitting a command signal to the winding section to move the winding section.
A signal indicating that the upper end detection sensor has come into contact with the upper stopper rod is transmitted to the controller, and the controller sets an upward movement prohibition flag.
3. The solar panel maintenance device according to claim 2 , wherein a signal indicating that the upper end detection sensor has come into contact with the upper stopper rod is transmitted to the controller, and the controller sets a flag prohibiting upward movement. the maintenance unit includes a main device on which the winding section and the hose reel are placed, and a cleaning unit including a nozzle that sprays liquid onto a panel surface of the solar panel unit and a brush that cleans the panel surface of the solar panel unit;
The solar panel maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning unit is foldable relative to the main device. the maintenance unit includes a main device on which the winding section and the hose reel are placed, and a coating unit including a nozzle that sprays a coating agent onto the panel surface of the solar panel unit and an application section that applies the coating agent to the panel surface of the solar panel unit;
The solar panel maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the coating unit is foldable relative to the main device. a drive unit attached to the frame unit and configured to drive the frame unit in the second direction;
The solar panel maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a solar panel maintenance device that is attached to the first frame and configured to move the solar panel maintenance device in the second direction;
The solar panel maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the caster is configured so that the wheel and the position of the wheel can be moved in the first direction and the second direction. The solar panel maintenance device according to claim 1 , wherein the winding portion and the hose reel are arranged in a straight line in the first direction.