# US 11,824,492 B2 · Modular system for cleaning solar panels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,824,492 B2 - Document ID: US11824492B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/968,057 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2021-11-11 - Granted: 2023-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-01 - Assignees: Inti-Tech SPA - Applicants: Inti-Tech SPA - Inventors: Camilo Emmanuel Flores Garrido; Mauricio Andres Chiong Castillo; Camilo Antonio Contreras Herrera; Diego Luis Munoz Estrada; Romina Nicole Pacheco Alarcon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11824492B2 ## CPC - B08B 1/12: Brushes - A46B 13/001: {Cylindrical or annular brush bodies} - A46B 13/02: power-driven {carriers} - B08B 1/30: by movement of cleaning members over a surface - B08B 1/34: rotating about an axis parallel to the surface - F24S 40/20: Cleaning; Removing snow - H02S 40/10: Cleaning arrangements - A46B 2200/3073: Brush for cleaning specific unusual places not otherwise covered, e.g. gutters, golf clubs, tops of tin cans, corners - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The invention refers to a modular system (1) for cleaning panels or an array of panels (100), comprising: at least two independent modules (10a, 10b) communicating with each other, arranged at the upper and lower ends of the array of panels (100), respectively; and at least one cleaning element (16) arranged transversely to the array of panels (100) between the at least two modules (10a, 10b) by means of couplings (17); wherein each of the modules (10a, 10b) comprises at least one traction element (14) arranged perpendicular to the array of panels (100), wherein said traction element (14) rotates when a force is applied, providing in this way movement to the modules (10a, 10b) through the array of panels (100). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular system (1) for cleaning panels or arrays of panels (100), characterized in that it comprises: at least two independent modules communicating with each other, arranged at the upper and lower ends of the array of panels (100), respectively, thus forming an upper module (10a) and a lower module (10b); and at least one cleaning element (16) disposed transversely to the array of panels (100) between the at least two upper and lower modules (10a, 10b), wherein said at least one cleaning element is attached to said upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) by means of couplings (17); wherein each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) comprises at least one traction element (14) arranged perpendicular to the array of panels (100), wherein said traction element (14) rotates when a force is applied, providing in this way movement to the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) through the array of panels (100); wherein each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) comprises at least one actuating element (18), which provides rotation to the traction elements (14); wherein each upper and lower module (10a, 10b) further comprises at least one controller element (24), which allows the synchronization of movement between said upper and lower modules (10a, 10b), wherein the at least one controller element (24) establishes a communication link between the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b); and wherein the synchronization of movement between the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) is performed through the synchronized control of its actuating elements (18), wherein the at least one controller element (24) from any of the modules (10a, 10b) has the capacity of establishes a communication link between said module with any additional module or that is available for the replacement of one or more of said modules (10a, 10b). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises at least one profile (11) adjustable to the distance between the upper and lower ends of the array of panels (100), which holds the upper and lower modules together (10a, 10b) through at least one opening (12) and one coupling (13) arranged in each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b), by which each profile (11) passes through and attaches to each module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two profiles (11), which hold the upper and lower modules together (10a, 10b) through at least two openings (12) and two couplings (13) arranged in each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning element (16) corresponds to a brush or brush of cylindrical or polygonal cross section, wherein its bristles are hard, flexible or a combination of these characteristics. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) further comprises at least one additional traction element (14), arranged perpendicularly to the arrangement of panels (100) to rotate by applying a force to them, thereby providing an additional aid to the movement of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) through the array of panels (100). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) further comprises at least one pair of guiding elements (15) to maintain the stability of said upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) and serve as a guide at the upper and lower ends of the array of panels (100). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) further comprises at least one additional pair of guiding elements (15), to provide additional stability to the system (1) and to serve as a guide at the upper and lower ends of the array of panels (100). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each pair of guiding elements (15) comprises at least two plates (19), wherein said plates (19) are used to attach at their ends a shafts of each guiding element (15) forming the pair of guiding elements, wherein each pair of guiding elements (15) comprises an anchor shaft (20) that attaches to both plates (19), which as a whole allows to have a clearance in each of said pairs of guiding elements (15), further allowing a pivoting movement about a common axis of the guiding elements (15) that make up each of said pairs of guiding elements (15). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) further comprises at least one additional actuating element (18), which provides rotation to the cleaning element (16) through a transmission system (21). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuating elements (18) correspond to an electric motor or any type of element capable of converting electrical energy or a fuel energy into mechanical energy. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that each of the actuating elements (18) is covered by a sealed and impermeable individual housing for its protection, forming an independent and individually replaceable unit in each upper and lower module (10a, 10b), without intervening the rest of the components. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the transmission system (21) corresponds to a system of pulleys and drive belt or to any type of system capable of transmitting the energy generated by actuating elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the transmission system (21) is covered by a sealed and impermeable individual housing for its protection, forming an independent and individually replaceable unit in each upper and lower module (10a, 10b), without intervening the rest of the components. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each upper and lower module (10a, 10b) further comprises at least one regulating element (22) connected to at least one guiding shaft (23), arranged substantially perpendicular to an axis of the coupling (17), wherein the regulating element (22) attaches to the coupling (17) of each module, in which the ends of the cleaning element (16) are arranged, allowing to raise or to lower said cleaning element (16) in relation to the surface of the array of panels (100). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that each of the controller elements (24) is covered by a single sealed and impermeable housing for its protection, forming an independent and individually replaceable unit in each upper and lower module (10a, 10b), without intervening the rest of the components. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the energy storage element (25) is covered by a sealed and impermeable individual housing for its protection, forming an independent and individually replaceable unit in each upper and lower module (10a, 10b), without intervening the rest of the components. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication between the controller elements (24) of each upper and lower module (10a, 10b) is carried out through a wireless communication protocol that allows the digital transmission of data, wherein said communication between modules can be configured at any time with one or more additional modules. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the energy storage element (25) corresponds to a lead acid battery, lithium or any material or combination of materials capable of storing electrical energy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the terminal port (26) comprises solar panels (27) or any other means for generating electrical energy which deliver the recharge energy to the storage element of energy (25) of each module once they are located on the terminal port (26). ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each upper and lower module (10a, 10b) further comprises at least one energy storage element (25) which allows the actuating elements (18) to operate without being permanently connected to a fixed energy source. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that it also comprises a terminal port (26) arranged at the beginning or at the end of the array of panels (100), in which the upper and lower modules (10a, 10b) are located at time-out lapses.