Systems, vehicles, and methods for maintaining rail-based arrays of photovoltaic modules
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H02S-040/10
B08B-001/04
F24S-040/20
B08B-001/00
A46B-013/02
F24J-002/46
출원번호
US-0476458
(2014-09-03)
등록번호
US-10122319
(2018-11-06)
발명자
/ 주소
French, Adam
Hennessy, Kevin
출원인 / 주소
Alion Energy, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Jones Day
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
102
초록▼
A system includes an elongated rail including support surfaces and a mounting surface disposed between the support surfaces. Photovoltaic modules can be coupled to the mounting surface and raised relative to the support surfaces. A first maintenance vehicle can include a cleaning head, actuator, mot
A system includes an elongated rail including support surfaces and a mounting surface disposed between the support surfaces. Photovoltaic modules can be coupled to the mounting surface and raised relative to the support surfaces. A first maintenance vehicle can include a cleaning head, actuator, motor, and support legs. The support legs can suspend the cleaning head over the photovoltaic modules and can be respectively movably coupled to the support surfaces so as to laterally and sequentially move the cleaning head parallel to the elongated rail and across each of the photovoltaic modules responsive to actuation of the motor. At least a portion of the cleaning head can be vertically movable between a disengaged position spaced apart from the photovoltaic modules and an engaged position in contact with at least one of the photovoltaic modules responsive to actuation of the actuator.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for maintaining photovoltaic modules, the system including: a first elongated rail including first and second support surfaces and a first mounting surface disposed between the first and second support surfaces, a first array of the photovoltaic modules being coupled to the first mountin
1. A system for maintaining photovoltaic modules, the system including: a first elongated rail including first and second support surfaces and a first mounting surface disposed between the first and second support surfaces, a first array of the photovoltaic modules being coupled to the first mounting surface and raised relative to the first and second support surfaces; anda first maintenance vehicle disposed on the first and second support surfaces, the first maintenance vehicle including a first cleaning head, a first actuator, a first motor, and first and second support legs,the first and second support legs suspending the first cleaning head over the photovoltaic modules of the first array and being movably coupled to the first and second support surfaces so as to laterally and sequentially move the first cleaning head in a direction parallel to the first elongated rail and across each of the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the first motor,at least a portion of the first cleaning head being vertically movable between a disengaged position spaced apart from the photovoltaic modules of the first array and a first engaged position in contact with at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the first actuator,the first cleaning head including: a second motor;a brush;a fluid reservoir;a wiper; anda second actuator,the at least a portion of the first cleaning head including the brush movable to contact at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the first array in the first engaged position responsive to actuation of the first actuator,the brush further being rotatable along an axis parallel to the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the second motor,the first cleaning head being operable to dispense fluid from the fluid reservoir onto at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the second actuator,the wiper being in contact with at least one photovoltaic module of the first array when the at least a portion of the first cleaning head is in the first engaged position and operable to at least partially dry the at least one photovoltaic module of the first array, andthe at least a portion of the first cleaning head further being vertically movable, responsive to actuation of the first actuator, to a second engaged position in which the brush contacts at least one photovoltaic module of the array and the wiper does not contact the array. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second support surfaces and the first mounting surface each comprises concrete disposed on the ground, wherein the first and second support legs respectively are movably coupled to the concrete of the first and second support surfaces by first and second wheels that respectively contact and rotate along the concrete of the first and second support surfaces. 3. The system of claim 2, the first maintenance vehicle further including a third support leg movably coupled to the concrete of one of the first and second support surfaces by a third wheel that respectively contacts and rotates along the concrete of the one of the first and second support surfaces. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the concrete of the first and second support surfaces and the concrete of the first mounting surface are integrally formed with one another. 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the concrete of the first support surface is separate from and spaced apart from the concrete of the second support surface. 6. The system of claim 1, the first maintenance vehicle further including a limit switch configured to detect an end of the first elongated rail. 7. The system of claim 1, further including a second elongated rail including third and fourth support surfaces and a second mounting surface, a second array of the photovoltaic modules being coupled to the second mounting surface and raised relative to the third and fourth support surfaces, wherein the third and fourth support surfaces and the second mounting surface each comprises concrete disposed on the ground. 8. The system of claim 7, further including: a second maintenance vehicle disposed on the concrete of the third and fourth support surfaces, the second maintenance vehicle including a second cleaning head, a second actuator, a second motor, and third and fourth support legs,the third and fourth support legs suspending the second cleaning head over the photovoltaic modules of the second array and being movably coupled to the concrete of the third and fourth support surfaces so as to laterally and sequentially move the second cleaning head in a direction parallel to the second elongated rail and across each of the photovoltaic modules of the second array responsive to actuation of the second motor,at least a portion of the second cleaning head being vertically movable between a disengaged position spaced apart from the photovoltaic modules of the second array and a second engaged position in contact with at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the second array responsive to actuation of the second actuator. 9. The system of claim 7, further including a row-to-row mechanism configured to move the first maintenance vehicle from the first elongated rail to the second elongated rail. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the row-to-row mechanism includes at least one track, the at least one track coupling the first support surface to one of the third and fourth support surfaces and coupling the second support surface to the other of the third and fourth support surfaces. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one track includes a first track coupling the first support surface to the third support surface, and a second track coupling the second support surface to the fourth support surface. 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one track includes first and second tracks coupling the first support surface to the third support surface, and third and fourth tracks coupling the second support surface to the fourth support surface. 13. The system of claim 10, the row-to-row mechanism further including a platform coupled to the at least one track and configured to carry the first maintenance vehicle from the first elongated rail to the second elongated rail. 14. The system of claim 13, the row-to-row mechanism including a power source and a motor coupled to the platform and configured to move the platform based on power from the power source. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second support legs is adjustable so as to accommodate photovoltaic modules at different angles than one another. 16. The system of claim 1, the first maintenance vehicle further including a solar panel configured to provide power for actuating the first actuator and the first motor. 17. The system of claim 1, the first maintenance vehicle further including a trimmer mechanism to remove vegetation. 18. The system of claim 1, the first maintenance vehicle being wirelessly controllable. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless control is manageable via a web interface. 20. A method for maintaining photovoltaic modules, the method including: providing a first elongated rail including first and second support surfaces and a first mounting surface disposed between the first and second support surfaces, a first array of the photovoltaic modules being coupled to the first mounting surface and raised relative to the first and second support surfaces;disposing a first maintenance vehicle on the first and second support surfaces, the first maintenance vehicle including a first cleaning head, a first actuator, a first motor, and first and second support legs;suspending the first cleaning head over the photovoltaic modules of the first array using the first and second support legs, the first and second support legs being movably coupled to the first and second support surfaces so as to laterally and sequentially move the first cleaning head in a direction parallel to the first elongated rail and across each of the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the first motor; andvertically moving at least a portion of the first cleaning head between a disengaged position spaced apart from the photovoltaic modules of the first array and a first engaged position in contact with at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the first actuator,the first cleaning head further including: a second motor;a brush;a fluid reservoir;a wiper; anda second actuator,the at least a portion of the first cleaning head including the brush contacting at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the first array when the first cleaning head is in the first engaged position responsive to actuation of the first actuator,the method further including rotating the brush along an axis parallel to the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the second motor,the method further including dispensing fluid from the fluid reservoir onto at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the first array responsive to actuation of the second actuator,the wiper contacting at least one photovoltaic module of the first array when the at least a portion of the first cleaning head is in the first engaged position, the method further including at least partially drying the at least one photovoltaic module of the first array via the contact with the wiper,the method further including vertically moving the at least a portion of the first cleaning head, responsive to actuation of the first actuator, to a second engaged position in which the brush contacts at least one photovoltaic module of the array and the wiper does not contact the array. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first and second support surfaces and the first mounting surface each comprises concrete disposed on the ground, wherein the first and second support legs respectively are movably coupled to the concrete first and second support surfaces by first and second wheels that respectively contact and rotate along the concrete of the first and second support surfaces. 22. The method of claim 21, the first maintenance vehicle further including a third support leg movably coupled to the concrete of one of the first and second support surfaces by a third wheel that respectively contacts and rotates along the concrete of the one of the first and second support surfaces. 23. The method of claim 21, including forming the concrete of the first and second support surfaces and the concrete of the first mounting surface integrally with one another. 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the concrete of the first support surface is separate from and spaced apart from the concrete of the second support surface. 25. The method of claim 20, the first maintenance vehicle further detecting an end of the first elongated rail using a limit switch. 26. The method of claim 20, further including providing a second elongated rail including third and fourth support surfaces and a second mounting surface, a second array of the photovoltaic modules being coupled to the second mounting surface and raised relative to the third and fourth support surfaces, wherein the third and fourth support surfaces and the second mounting surface each comprises concrete disposed on the ground. 27. The method of claim 26, further including: disposing a second maintenance vehicle on the concrete of the third and fourth support surfaces, the second maintenance vehicle including a second cleaning head, a second actuator, a second motor, and third and fourth support legs;suspending the second cleaning head over the photovoltaic modules of the second array using the third and fourth support legs, the third and fourth support legs being movably coupled to the concrete of the third and fourth support surfaces so as to laterally and sequentially move the second cleaning head in a direction parallel to the second elongated rail and across each of the photovoltaic modules of the second array responsive to actuation of the second motor; andvertically moving at least a portion of the second cleaning head between a disengaged position spaced apart from the photovoltaic modules of the second array and a second engaged position in contact with at least one of the photovoltaic modules of the second array responsive to actuation of the second actuator. 28. The method of claim 26, further including moving the first maintenance vehicle from the first elongated rail to the second elongated rail using a row-to-row mechanism. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the row-to-row mechanism includes at least one track, the at least one track coupling the first support surface to one of the third and fourth support surfaces and coupling the second support surface to the other of the third and fourth support surfaces. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one track includes a first track coupling the first support surface to the third support surface, and a second track coupling the second support surface to the fourth support surface. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one track includes first and second tracks coupling the first support surface to the third support surface, and third and fourth tracks coupling the second support surface to the fourth support surface. 32. The method of claim 29, the row-to-row mechanism further including a platform coupled to the at least one track, the method further including carrying the first maintenance vehicle from the first elongated rail to the second elongated rail using the platform. 33. The method of claim 32, the row-to-row mechanism including a power source and a motor coupled to the platform and moving the platform based on power from the power source. 34. The method of claim 20, further including adjusting at least one of the first and second support legs so as to accommodate photovoltaic modules at different angles than one another. 35. The method of claim 20, the first maintenance vehicle further including a solar panel providing power for actuating the first actuator and the first motor. 36. The method of claim 20, the first maintenance vehicle further including a trimmer mechanism, the method further including removing the vegetation with the trimmer. 37. The method of claim 20, further including wirelessly controlling the first maintenance vehicle. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the wireless control is via a web interface.
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