[0001] Present invention relates to a surface cleaning assembly and a cleaning device thereof, and more particularly relates to the surface cleaning assembly and the cleaning device thereof for lengthy surfaces like arrays or farms of solar panels, window panes etc. in terrain like mountains, deserts or the like for cleaning or removing dust, dirt, debris or the like substances from those surfaces at regular intervals.

Background

[0002] In recent years, the use of solar panels has risen exponentially to meet the never ending requirements or demands of power consumption. The demand for renewable energy is set to increase substantially due to fall in stock of non-renewable resources and steady shift towards clean energy. This is where there is an opportunity to tap into the field of Solar energy. In order to tap the solar energy, the solar panels are required to be installed in an open environment to gain maximum exposure to sun light, which leads to dust and debris accumulation on the surface of the panels. This reduces the amount of sunlight incident on the surface of the panels, which in turn affects its efficiency to generate electricity. Solar panels used in domestic fields on a relatively small scale can be cleaned on regular basis to maintain the efficiency of the solar panels. However, this is not the case where there are large farms of solar panels installed. These rows of solar panels are installed in terrains such as mountains, deserts and all other sun rich environments. Therefore, in order to have these panels cleaned on a regular basis, a huge manpower and other overhead costs will be involved. Thereby making the maintenance of solar panels in solar panel farms especially in such terrains very expensive. [0003] US Patent no. US9276523B 1 discloses a system for cleaning solar panel wherein the solar panels are arranged in varying lengths. The system comprises of plurality of washing devices with a single fluid line that provides fluid like water to clean each row by its respective washing device that includes a squeegee, brush, blade, etc. to remove dust, dirt, debris, etc. from an upper surface of a solar panel. The system of this document enable maintenance without human involvement, however, the use of fluids such as water for cleaning solar panels would add on excess cost for arranging water and its storage, especially in the areas like deserts where people suffers from water scarcity. Further, the system uses different washing devices for different rows, making the system very complex, bulky and expensive.

[0004] Therefore, the problem to be solved is to provide a cost effective system for maintaining efficiency of the rows of solar panels by removing dirt, dust or debris from the surface of solar panels at regular interval, and the problem is solved by a surface cleaning assembly as in present invention that includes a cleaning device with at least two first cleaning unit that rotate relative to each other and clean the surface by forming a movable contact with the surface and a second cleaning unit with a cylindrical body circumferentially covered by a cleaning element that rotates in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the first cleaning units, thereby forming a detachably movable contact with the surface, and a guiding assembly that moves the cleaning device on the surface for cleaning the entire surface.

Summary [0005] According to an embodiment of the invention, a surface cleaning assembly comprising a cleaning device with a frame configured to move said cleaning device on a surface in a breadth direction, said surface forms an inclination between a first edge and a second edge in said breadth direction, said cleaning device includes at least two first cleaning unit aligned on said frame and a second cleaning unit having a cylindrical body structured to receive a cleaning element circumferentially on said cylindrical body, said second cleaning unit is positioned parallel to said at least two first cleaning unit on said frame, said frame includes at least a first guiding member and at least a first belt ratably disposed on perimeter of said at least one first guiding member to rotate said at least two first cleaning unit and said second cleaning unit to clean said surface, a guiding assembly including a first member disposed at said first edge and a second member disposed at said second edge of said surface, said first member and said second member of said guiding assembly are connected by a guiding element with at least a second belt ratably disposed on at least a second guiding member configured to move said cleaning device in said breadth direction on said surface; and wherein said at least two first cleaning unit rotate relative to each other on said surface and said second cleaning unit rotate perpendicular to direction of rotation of said at least two first cleaning unit such that when said cleaning device moves in breadth direction on said surface, said at least two first cleaning unit cleans said surface by forming movable contact on said surface, and said second cleaning unit cleans said surface by forming detachably movable contact on said surface opposite to direction of movement of said cleaning device, thereby cleaning said surface.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first member and said second member of said guiding assembly includes a first wheel disposed perpendicular to said surface, a second wheel disposed parallel to said surface and a third belt movably disposed on perimeter of a third guiding member configured to move said first wheel and said second wheel to enable movement of said cleaning device in a length direction on said surface to clean said surface.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical body of said second cleaning unit includes a plurality of projection on opposite ends of said cylindrical body structured to receive a cavity on said cleaning element, thereby circumferentially removably connecting said cylindrical body with said cleaning element forming detachably movable contact with said surface.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning element includes a plurality of first lobe forming detachably movable contact with said surface. [0009] According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least two first cleaning unit rotates in opposite direction on said surface.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the invention, the three first cleaning units are disposed on said frame such that two of said first cleaning unit in front of said cleaning device rotates in same direction, and third said first cleaning unit structured between two said first cleaning unit, and between two said first cleaning unit and said second cleaning unit rotates in opposite direction than two said first cleaning unit. [0011] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first cleaning unit includes at least three sockets on a skirt extending from said first cleaning unit.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the invention, the socket of said first cleaning unit receives an extension of a removable body detachably connected with said first cleaning unit.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the invention, the removable unit including at least two mops with plurality of bristles on each said mops to clean said surface.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, the removable unit including plurality of a plurality of second lobes structured to form movable contact with said surface. [0015] According to an embodiment of the invention, the guiding assembly includes a rechargeable battery to power said first guiding member, said second guiding member and said third guiding member to rotate.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the invention, the guiding element includes two belts with toothed structure to receive each other and receive said second guiding member, thereby moving said cleaning device in said breadth direction.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one of said first edge and said second edge includes a charging unit on at least one of end of said first edge and second edge of the surface of the solar panel.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the invention, a cleaning device comprising a frame structured to move on a surface for cleaning said surface including a first edge and a second edge forming an inclination therebetween in a breadth direction, at least two first cleaning unit aligned on said frame; and a second cleaning unit having a cylindrical body structured to receive a cleaning element circumferentially on said cylindrical body, said second cleaning unit is positioned parallel to said at least two first cleaning on said frame, said frame includes at least a first guiding member and at least a first belt ratably disposed on perimeter of said at least one first guiding member to rotate said at least two first cleaning unit and said second cleaning unit to clean said surface, wherein said at least two first cleaning unit rotate relative to each other on said surface and said second cleaning unit rotate perpendicular to direction of rotation of said at least two first cleaning unit such that when said cleaning device moves in said breadth direction on said surface, said at least two first cleaning unit cleans said surface by forming movable contact on said surface, and said second cleaning unit cleans said surface by forming detachably movable contact on said surface opposite to direction of movement of said cleaning device, thereby cleaning said surface. [0019] According to an embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical body of said second cleaning unit includes a plurality of projection on opposite ends of said cylindrical body structured to receive a cavity on said cleaning element, thereby circumferentially removably connecting said cylindrical body with said cleaning element forming detachably movable contact with said surface.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning element includes a plurality of first lobe forming detachably movable contact with said surface to wipe on said surface. [0021] According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least two first cleaning unit rotates in opposite direction on said surface.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the invention, the three first cleaning units are disposed on said frame such that two of said first cleaning unit in front of said cleaning device rotates in same direction, and third said first cleaning unit structured between two said first cleaning unit, and between two said first cleaning unit and said second cleaning unit rotates in opposite direction than two said first cleaning unit.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first cleaning unit includes at least three sockets on a skirt extending from said first cleaning unit.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first cleaning unit receives an extension of a removable body detachably connected with said first cleaning unit. [0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, the removable unit including at least two mops with plurality of bristles on each said mops to clean said surface

[0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, the removable unit including plurality of a plurality of second lobes structured to form movable contact with said surface.

Brief description of Drawings [0027] Fig. la represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting front view of the surface cleaning assembly and solar panels.

[0028] Fig. lb represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting top view of the surface cleaning assembly and solar panels.

[0029] Fig. 2a represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting top view of the cleaning device with two first cleaning units.

[0030] Fig. 2b represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the cleaning device.

[0031] Fig. 2c represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting top view of the cleaning device with three first cleaning units.

[0032] Fig. 3 a represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting front view of the second cleaning unit.

[0033] Fig. 3b represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting front view of the cleaning element.

[0034] Fig. 3c represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the second cleaning unit.

[0035] Fig. 4a represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting front view of the first cleaning unit with second lobes.

[0036] Fig. 4b represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting bottom view of the first cleaning unit with second lobes.

[0037] Fig. 5a represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting front view of the first cleaning unit with socket.

[0038] Fig. 5b represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting isometric top view of the first cleaning unit with socket. [0039] Fig. 5c represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting isometric top view of the removable body with extensions.

[0040] Fig. 5d represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the removable body with second lobes.

[0041] Fig. 5e represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting bottom view of the removable body with mops.

[0042] Fig. 5f represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting bottom view of the mop with bristles.

[0043] Fig. 6(a) represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the cleaning device with toothed second belts and second guiding member.

[0044] Fig. 6(b) represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the cleaning device moving on toothed second belts of guiding element.

[0045] Fig. 7 represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the guiding assembly.

[0046] Fig. 8 represents an embodiment of the present invention depicting top view of the solar panels and charging unit.

[0047] Fig. 9 represents an embodiment of the present invention showing the flowchart of the working of the cleaning assembly. Description of Elements Reference Numeral

A surface cleaning assembly 100

Surface 110

First edge 112

Second edge 114

Cleaning device 120

Frame 122

First cleaning unit 124

Second lobe 126

Extension 127

Socket 128

Removable Body 129

Second cleaning unit 130

Skirt 131

Cylindrical body 132 Projections 134

Cleaning element 140

Cavity 144

First Lobe 146

First guiding member 150

First belt 152

Guiding assembly 160

First member 162

First wheel 164

Second wheel 166

Rechargeable Battery 168

Second member 170

Third belt 172

Third guiding member 174

Guiding element 180

Second belt 182

Second guiding member 184

Mop 190

Bristle 192

Charging unit 193

Third wheel 194

Detailed description of Invention

[0048] The embodiments of the present invention can be understood by reading following detailed description of some of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] In an embodiment of the present invention, a surface cleaning assembly (100) comprises of a cleaning device (120) and a guiding assembly (160) for cleaning the surface (110) of the solar panels. The cleaning device (120) cleans the solar panels in its width direction and the guiding assembly (160) moves the cleaning device (120) in width direction as well as length direction for thorough cleaning of the solar panels. [0050] As shown in Fig. la and lb, the surface (110) of the solar panel has a first edge (112) at the upper end and a second edge (114), which is at a lower height than the first edge (112). The surface (110) between the first edge (112) and the second edge (114) forms an inclination on which the cleaning device (120) moves in the breadth direction to clean the solar panels. The guiding assembly (160) includes a first member (162) that is disposed at the first edge (112) of the surface (110) of the solar panels, and a second member (170), which is disposed at the second edge (114) of the surface (110) of the solar panels. The first member (162) and the second member (170) are connected by a guiding element (180) that is configured to move the cleaning device (120) horizontally or in the breadth direction for cleaning the surface (110) of the solar panel.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 2a, 2b and 2c, the cleaning device (120) includes a frame (122), configured to move the cleaning device (120) on the surface (110) of the solar panels. The cleaning device (120) also includes a first cleaning unit (124) and a second cleaning unit (130). There can be two first cleaning units (124) that are aligned to each other on the frame (122). The front end of the frame (122) has the two first cleaning units (124) that are towards the direction of the movement of the cleaning device (120) while cleaning the surface (110), such that the first cleaning unit (124) cleans the surface (110) first. The first cleaning units 124) are circular or disc shaped that rotate with respect to each other. The two first cleaning units (124 rotate towards each other i.e. in the opposite direction or can rotate in the same direction (as shown in Fig. 2a). In another aspect of the invention, there can be three first cleaning units (124) as shown in Fig. 2c, the two first cleaning units (124) that is in front of the frame (122) rotate in the same direction, whereas, the third first cleaning unit (124), which is between the two first cleaning units (124) and the second cleaning unit (130), rotates in the opposite direction with respect to the two first cleaning units (124). The third first cleaning unit is placed between the two first cleaning units i.e. the third first cleaning unit is positioned to cover the gap between the two first cleaning units. The frame (122) also includes two first guiding members (150) for rotating the first and the second cleaning unit. The first guiding member (150) has a motor that is powered by the rechargeable battery (168) for rotating the first cleaning unit (124) and the second cleaning unit (130). The motor is connected with the first cleaning unit (124) by a first belt (152) that is ratably disposed on perimeter of the motor of the first guiding member (150). The first belt (152) due to the rotation of the motor rotates either two or three first cleaning units (124). Similarly, there can be four such first cleaning units (124) i.e. two in front and two in back such that the two in front rotate in the same direction with respect to each other, and the two in back rotate in the same direction with respect to each other but opposite to the two in front. The second cleaning unit (130) is cylinder shaped and is positioned parallel to the first cleaning units (124) on the frame (122) i.e. the entire length of the cylindrical body of the second cleaning unit (130) is substantially the length that the linear arrangement of the first cleaning units (124) make. The first cleaning unit (124) cleans the surface (110) first followed by the second cleaning unit (130).

[0052] As shown in Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c, the second cleaning unit (130) has a cylindrical body (132) that is structured to receive a cleaning element (140), which is a rectangular sheet as shown in Fig. 3b, and is circumferentially received on the cylindrical body (132). The cylindrical body has plurality of projections (134) on the longitudinally opposite sides across the circumference. The cleaning element also has plurality of cavities (144) on the opposite sides in a way to receive the projections (134) on the cylindrical body (132). The cleaning element (144) also has plurality of first lobes (146) on its surface, such that when the second cleaning unit (130) rotates, the first lobes (146) makes a detachably movable contact on the surface of the solar panel i.e. the first lobes (146) touches the surface and wipes or removes the dust or dirt from the surface (110) of the solar panels. The one of the two first guiding members (150) also rotates the second cleaning unit (130) by the first belt (152) that is connected to the motor of the first guiding member (150) and the second cleaning unit (130) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the first cleaning unit (124). The second cleaning unit (130) either rotates in the direction from top to bottom or from bottom to top facing the first cleaning units (124).

[0053] As shown in Fig. 4a and 4b, the first cleaning unit (124) can have a plurality of second lobes (126) at the bottom side, which faces the surface of the solar panels. These second lobes (126) of the first cleaning unit (124) form a movable contact with the surface (110) i.e. the second lobes (126) touch or moves on the surface (110) and wipes the dust or dirt from the surface when the first cleaning unit (124) rotates. [0054] As shown in Fig. 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, the first cleaning unit (124) is detachably connected with a removable body (129), which is circular or disc shaped. The lower surface of the first cleaning unit (124) has a surface perpendicular to the surface of the first cleaning unit forming a skirt (131). The skirt (131) of the first cleaning unit (124) enables the first cleaning unit (124) to receive different type of cleaning options based on the nature of the dust or dirt i.e. whether thick or thin on the surface of the solar panel. The skirt (131) extending from the first cleaning unit (124) includes three sockets (128) as shown in Fig. 5a. that is structured to receive three extensions (127) of the removable body (129). The three extensions (127) are at the inner side of the removable body (129) that couple with the three sockets i.e. the removable body (129) is firstly received by the first cleaning unit (124) in the cavity formed by the skirt (131) followed by rotating the removable body (129) within the first cleaning unit (124), thereby locking the removable body (129) with the first cleaning unit (124). The removable body (129) comprises of second lobes (126) as shown in Fig. 5d that forms movable contact with the surface of the first cleaning unit (124), such that when the first cleaning unit (124) rotates on the surface (110) of solar panels, the second lobes (126) cleans the dust or dirt from the surface (110) of the solar panels.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 5e and 5f, the removable body (129) on the other hand can also have three mops (190) or wiper shaped structure for cleaning the surface (110) of the solar panels. These mops (190) further comprise of plurality of bunch of bristles (192) at a pre-defined interval for making a proper contact with the surface (110) for cleaning the surface (110). When the first cleaning unit (124) rotates, these bristles (192) forms a movable contact with the surface (110) i.e. the bristles (190) moves on the surface (110) thereby cleaning the surface (110).

[0056] As shown in Fig. 6a and 6b, the cleaning device (120) has a second guiding member (184) with a motor that receives power from the rechargeable battery (168). The second guiding member (184) rotates relative to the two second belts (182) of the guiding element (180). The two second belts (182) moves circumferentially on the guiding element (180) in such a way that the tooth shaped structure of both the second belts (182) receive each other, and detaches from each other so as to be received by the second guiding member (184) that has an outer periphery structured to receive one of the two second belt (182). The motor of the second guiding member (184) rotates thereby moving on one of the two second belts (182), which thereby moves the other second belt, thereby resulting in movement of the cleaning device (120) by a third wheel (194) on the guiding element (180) in the breadth direction. [0057] As shown in Fig. 7, once the cleaning device (120) moves in breadth direction i.e. from top to bottom for cleaning the surface (110) of the solar panels, it is moved back to the top position on the first edge (112). When the cleaning device (120) moves from second edge (114) to first edge (112), it is at non-cleaning state. The first member (162) as well as second member (170) on first edge (112) and second edge (114) respectively, has sensors that confirms the travel of the cleaning device (120). These sensors are installed at the most top corner and most bottom corner on the guiding assembly (160). Once the cleaning device (120) moves from first member (162) to second member (170), the sensor confirms that the cleaning device (120) has cleaned the surface (110) of the solar panel of that column, thereafter, the cleaning device (120) is moved back to the first member (162). The sensors at the first member (162) confirms the arrival of cleaning device (120) at the first member (162), thereafter, the third guiding member (174) having a motor, which receives power from the rechargeable battery (168), moves the cleaning assembly (100) across the longitudinal or length direction, so that next column of the surface (110) of the solar panel can be cleaned. A third belt (172) is disposed on the perimeter of the third guiding member (174) and connecting the first wheel (164) to the third guiding member (174). The first wheel (164) is structured to move on the surface (110) of the solar panel in a way that the first wheel (164) moves being perpendicular to the surface (110) of the solar panel. With the movement of the first wheel, the second wheel (166) also moves. The second wheel (166) moves on the perpendicular side of the surface (110) of the solar panel i.e. parallel to the surface (110) of the solar panels. Both first member (162) at the first edge (112) and the second member (170) at the second edge (114) includes both first wheel (164) as well as second wheel (166), which are moved by the third guiding member (174). The movement of both first wheel (164) and second wheel (166) together enables smooth movement of the cleaning device (120) in the longitudinal direction to initiate cleaning of another or next column of the solar panels.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 8, the cleaning device (120) after cleaning the surface (110) of the solar panels rests near a charging unit (193) that has a plug to receive the charging point of the rechargeable battery (168) of the cleaning device, such that when the cleaning device rests in the shed, the charging unit (193) charges the rechargeable battery (168) of the surface cleaning assembly (100). The shed can be either at the left end or right end of the surface (110), such that after cleaning the surface (110) of the solar panel, the cleaning device (120) rests in the shed and charges itself through the charging unit (193). The charging unit (193) also has solar panels to continuously store power in the charging unit (193). The sensors also sense that the cleaning device (120) has reached the first and second edge i.e. the cleaning device has reached shed or dock and the device (120) stops functioning.

[0059] As shown in a flow chart as per Fig. 9, the cleaning device (120) firstly checks for the presence of rain before moving outside the dock using sensors. If there is no rain, then the cleaning device comes out of the dock and moves to its initial position that may be at the top left corner of the surface of the solar panels. Once the cleaning device becomes operational, both first cleaning unit (124) and second cleaning unit (130) starts cleaning the surface (110) of the solar panel from top to bottom, once it reaches bottom, both first cleaning unit (124) and second cleaning unit (130) stops. The cleaning device (120) after reaching bottom, moves back to top and while moving from bottom to top both first cleaning unit (124) and second cleaning unit (130) remains off. Thereafter, once the cleaning device reaches top of surface of the solar panels, then the cleaning device (120)moves from left to right to the next column and the same steps continues until the entire surface (110) of the solar panel are cleaned.

[0060] The present invention is however not limited to the above embodiments disclosed above and referred in Figures 1 to 8 and other embodiments within the scope of the invention can be used for achieving the result of the present invention without limiting the scope of the invention.