Panel Maintenance System

Abstract

Generally, a panel maintenance system including a panel maintenance assembly configured to move over a plurality of panel modules. Specifically, a panel module including a first frame including a first plurality of frame members joined to enclose a first panel. The first plurality of frame members including a first frame inner side configured to capture the first panel within the first frame and a first frame outer side configured to provide a first track axially extending between first and second ends of at least one of the first plurality of frame members. The first track configured to engage a drive element of a panel maintenance assembly which operates to move the panel maintenance assembly over the first panel. The panel maintenance assembly bears one or more components which function to maintain the first panel.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A panel module, comprising:
 a first frame including a first plurality of frame members joined to capture a first panel, said first plurality of frame members including:
 a first frame inner side configured to capture said first panel within said first frame; and 
 a first frame outer side configured to provide a first track axially extending between frame member first and second ends of at least one of said first plurality of frame members, said first track configured to engage a drive element of a panel maintenance assembly adapted for movement over said first panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The panel module of  claim 1 , wherein said first track comprises a channel disposed in said first frame outer side, said channel having a pair of channel side walls joined in spaced apart relation by a channel base, said drive element comprising a rotatable member configured to engage said channel to drive said panel maintenance assembly over said first panel. 
     
     
         3 . The panel module of  claim 1 , wherein said first track comprises a rail coupled to said first frame outer side, said rail having a pair of rail side walls joined in spaced apart relation by a rail top, said drive element comprising a rotatable member configured to engage said rail to drive said panel maintenance assembly over said first panel. 
     
     
         4 . The panel module of any one of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein said first track continuously axially extends between said frame member first and second ends of said at least one of said first plurality of frame members. 
     
     
         5 . The panel module of any one of  claim 2  or  3 , further comprising:
 a first plurality of teeth projecting in spaced apart relation from said first track; and 
 a second plurality of teeth projecting in circumferentially spaced apart relation from said drive element, said first plurality of teeth matably engage said second plurality of teeth. 
 
     
     
         6 . The panel module of  claim 5 , wherein said first plurality of teeth project in spaced apart relation from said rail, said second plurality of teeth project in circumferentially spaced apart relation from said rotatable member. 
     
     
         7 . The panel module of  claim 5 , wherein said first plurality of teeth project in spaced apart relation from said channel base, said second plurality of teeth project in circumferentially spaced apart relation from said rotatable member. 
     
     
         8 . The panel module of  claim 1 , wherein said drive element of said panel maintenance assembly engages said first track, said drive element operable to move said panel maintenance assembly over said first panel. 
     
     
         9 . The panel module of  claim 8 , further comprising a driver coupled to said drive element, said driver operable to rotate said drive element engaged to said track to move said panel maintenance assembly over said first panel. 
     
     
         10 . The panel module of  claim 9 , further comprising a first blade coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said blade extending said panel maintenance assembly to contact said first panel. 
     
     
         11 . The panel module of  claim 9 , further comprising a first sweeper coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said sweeper extending from said panel maintenance assembly to contact said first panel. 
     
     
         12 . The panel module of  claim 9 , further comprising a fluid reservoir coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said fluid reservoir coupled to a fluid outlet having a location on said panel maintenance assembly to deliver an amount of fluid onto said first panel. 
     
     
         13 . The panel module of  claim 12 , further comprising a first fluid pump coupled to said fluid reservoir, said fluid pump operable to deliver said amount of fluid to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The panel module of  claim 13 , further comprising a fluid collection element coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said fluid collection element configured to collect said amount of fluid delivered onto said first panel. 
     
     
         15 . The panel module of  claim 14 , further comprising a second fluid pump, said second fluid pump operable to return said amount of fluid collected by said fluid collection element to said fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The panel module of  claim 15 , further comprising a filter element fluidicly coupled to said second fluid pump, said filter element filtering said amount of fluid collected by said fluid collection element. 
     
     
         17 . The panel module of  claim 16 , further comprising a second blade coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said second blade extending from said panel maintenance assembly to contact said first panel at a distance from said first blade, said fluid outlet located to deliver said amount of fluid onto said first panel in a blade bounded passage between said first and second blades. 
     
     
         18 . The panel module of  claim 17 , further comprising a second sweeper coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said second sweeper extending from said panel maintenance assembly to contact said first panel at a distance from said first sweeper. 
     
     
         19 . The panel module of  claim 18 , wherein said first and second sweepers disposed on said panel maintenance assembly adjacent sides of said first and second blade outside of said blade bounded passage. 
     
     
         20 . The panel module of  claim 15 , further comprising a rechargeable power source coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said rechargeable power source electrically coupled to one or more of said driver, said first fluid pump, and said second fluid pump. 
     
     
         21 . The panel module of  claim 20 , further comprising a fluid level sensor fluidicly coupled to said fluid reservoir, said fluid level sensor sensing a fluid level of said amount of fluid in said fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         22 . The panel module of  claim 21 , further comprising a panel sensor coupled to said panel maintenance assembly, said panel sensor configured to sense an amount of light transmissivity of said first panel or an amount of light reflectivity of said first panel, said panel sensor generating a panel sensor signal that varies based on said amount of light transmissivity or light reflectivity of said first panel. 
     
     
         23 . The panel module of  claim 22 , further comprising a controller including a processor coupled to a memory element, said memory element containing a panel maintenance program executable to control said driver to generate movement of said panel maintenance assembly over said panel between sensed first and second end limits. 
     
     
         24 . The panel module of  claim 23 , wherein said panel maintenance program is further executable to control said driver to generate movement of said panel maintenance assembly over said panel based on comparison of an amount of elapsed time to an elapsed time threshold value. 
     
     
         25 . The panel module of  claim 24 , wherein said panel maintenance program is further executable to control said driver to generate movement of said panel maintenance assembly over said panel based on comparison of said light transmissivity value or said light reflectivity value to pre-selected light transmissivity threshold value or light reflectivity threshold value, wherein exceeding said light transmissivity threshold value or said light reflectivity threshold value causes movement of said panel maintenance assembly over said first panel. 
     
     
         26 . The panel module of  claim 25 , wherein said panel maintenance program is further executable to operate said first fluid pump to deliver said amount of fluid through said fluid outlet onto said first panel upon occurrence of said light transmissivity value or said light reflectivity value exceeding said light transmissivity threshold value or said light reflectivity threshold value. 
     
     
         27 . The panel module of  claim 26 , wherein said panel maintenance program is further executable to operate said second fluid pump to return said amount of fluid collected by said fluid collection element to said fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         28 . The panel module of  claim 27 , wherein said panel maintenance program is further executable to periodically determine said amount of fluid remaining in said fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         29 . The panel module of  claim 28 , wherein said panel maintenance program is further executable to periodically determine an amount of energy remaining in said power source. 
     
     
         30 . The panel module of  claim 29 , further comprising a docking station to which said panel maintenance assembly docks, said docking station and said panel maintenance assembly correspondingly including matable portions of a fluid supply connector, said fluid supply connector having a fluid reservoir inlet port and a fluid reservoir outlet port which achieve an open condition upon mated engagement with a corresponding docking station inlet port and a docking station outlet port. 
     
     
         31 . The panel module of  claim 30 , wherein said docking station and said panel maintenance assembly correspondingly include matable portions of a power supply connector. 
     
     
         32 . The panel module of  claim 31 , wherein said panel maintenance program is further executable to dock said panel maintenance assembly with said docking station based on occurrence of an energy level remaining in said power source exceeding an energy level threshold or based on occurrence of a fluid level remaining in said fluid reservoir exceeding a fluid level threshold value. 
     
     
         33 . The panel module of  claim 1 , further comprising a second frame including a second plurality of frame members joined to enclose a second panel, said second plurality of frame members including:
 a second frame inner side configured to capture said second panel within said second frame; and   a second frame outer side configured to provide a second track axially extending between first and second ends of at least one of said second plurality of frame members, said second track configured to engage said drive element of said movement module of said panel maintenance assembly driven over said second panel captured by said second frame inner side of said second frame, said first and second frames disposed a distance apart with said first and second tracks axially aligned and discontinuous between said first and second frames.   
     
     
         34 . The panel module of  claim 33 , wherein said drive element comprises a pair of drive elements coupled to said panel maintenance assembly to engage said first track a distance apart, said distance sufficient to allow a first one of said a pair of drive elements to drive said panel maintenance assembly to a location over said first panel at which a second one of said pair of drive elements engages said second track, said second one of said pair of drive elements operably engaged with said second track to move said panel maintenance assembly over said distance between said first and second frames. 
     
     
         35 . The panel module of  claim 34 , further comprising a track bridge disposed to span said distance between said first and second tracks, said track bridge configured to engage said drive element of said drive element between said first track and said second track. 
     
     
         36 . The panel module of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel includes at least one layer having an outer face extending to said first frame inner side. 
     
     
         37 . The panel module of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel comprises a solar photovoltaics panel. 
     
     
         38 . The panel module of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel comprises a solar thermal collector panel.