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Magnetic parking for robotic cleaner on a solar panel

  • US 10,277,163 B1
  • Filed: 07/11/2018
  • Issued: 04/30/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2018
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC) for cleaning solar panels having an anchoring mechanism comprising:

  • at least one rechargeable power source;

    at least one cleaning mechanism, for cleaning dirt off of a non-ferromagnetic surface of said solar panels;

    a controller, for controlling a cleaning process of said ARC;

    a supporting structure for supporting a rear end of said ARC; and

    an anchoring mechanism, for magnetically anchoring said ARC to a ferromagnetic anchoring surface coupled with a solar panel,said anchoring mechanism comprising;

    an arm comprising at least one ferromagnetic end piece; and

    a drive mechanism, coupled with said arm,wherein said drive mechanism moves said arm between a magnetically engaged position with said ferromagnetic anchoring surface for parking said ARC and a magnetically disengaged position with said ferromagnetic anchoring surface for enabling said ARC to clean said solar panels; and

    wherein said arm is longer than a height of said supporting structure when said arm is in said magnetically engaged position, thereby lifting said supporting structure off of said ferromagnetic anchoring surface and preventing movement of said ARC.

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