Roofing and siding products having receptor zones and photovoltaic roofing and siding elements and systems using them

• US 8,458,967 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certainteed, LLC (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Original Assignee: CertainTeed Corp. (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Inventors: Kalkanoglu, Husnu M., Jacobs, Gregory F., Shaw, Wayne E., Chihlas, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENNY, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/351,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 521/733, 525/18, 136/244, 136/251
• US Class Current: 52/173.3
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0864 composed of superposed elements which overlap each other and of which the flat outer surface includes an acute angle with the surface to cover
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/601 by bonding, e.g. by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/05 Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells electrodes H01L31/0224; electrical interconnection of thin film solar cells formed on a common substrate H01L31/046; particular structures for electrical interconnecting of adjacent thin film solar cells in the module H01L31/0465; electrical interconnection means specially adapted for electrically connecting two or more PV modules H02S40/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/25 Roof tile elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to roofing or siding products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing or siding products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing or siding substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.

Claims

1. A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing or siding system, the kit comprising:

a plurality of photovoltaic elements; and

a plurality of rigid roofing or siding products, each rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones and one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, each receptor zone being defined by an uncoated polymer material having a releasable liner disposed thereon and being adapted to receive one or more of the photovoltaic elements on the uncoated polymer material, and wherein no photovoltaic element is affixed in the one or more receptor zones.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a roofing tile, shake or shingle.

3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a roofing panel.

4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a siding substrate.

5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, each receptor zone is adapted to receive one or more encapsulated photovoltaic elements on the uncoated polymer material.

6. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material of the one or more receptor zones has a Δ

E*<

20 compared to the top surface of the rigid roofing or siding substrate in an area adjacent to the receptor zone.

7. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material of the one or more receptor zones has a Δ

E*<

20 compared to the photovoltaically active surface of the photovoltaic element with which the roofing substrate is to be used.

8. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material of the receptor zone is stabilized to UV radiation.

9. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the top surface of the rigid roofing or siding substrate in the receptor zone is recessed from the top surface of the rigid roofing or siding substrate in the area adjacent to the receptor zone.

10. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the surfacing of the one or more receptor zones or the top surface of rigid roofing or siding substrate in the area adjacent the one or more receptor zones includes one or more alignment marks.

11. The kit according to claim 1, wherein each photovoltaic element includes a fastening zone or one or more fastening tabs.

12. The kit according to claim 1, wherein each receptor zone is adapted to receive more than one photovoltaic element.

13. The kit according to claim 1, wherein each photovoltaic element is adapted to be received by more than one receptor zone.

14. The kit according to claim 1, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material is textured.

15. A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing or siding system, the kit comprising:

a plurality of photovoltaic elements; and

a plurality of roofing or siding products each comprising a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones and one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more of the photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone being defined by having a different surface material than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, having a different surface texture than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, or by being recessed from the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, wherein no photovoltaic element is affixed in the one or more receptor zones.

16. The kit according to claim 15, wherein in each rigid roofing or siding substrate, each receptor zone is defined by having a different surface material than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones.

17. The kit according to claim 15, wherein in each rigid roofing or siding substrate, each receptor zone is defined by having a different surface texture than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones.

18. The kit according to claim 15, wherein in each rigid roofing or siding substrate, each receptor zone is defined by being recessed from the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones.

19. The kit according to claim 15, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a roofing tile, shake or shingle.

20. The kit according to claim 15, wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the surfacing of the one or more receptor zones or the top surface of rigid roofing or siding substrate in the area adjacent the one or more receptor zones includes one or more alignment marks.

21. The kit according to claim 15, wherein each photovoltaic element includes a fastening zone or one or more fastening tabs.

22. The kit according to claim 15, wherein each photovoltaic element is adapted to be received by more than one receptor zone.