Photovoltaic roofing elements and photovoltaic roofing systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck having a top end and a bottom end, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements each comprisinga frame structure having an upward-facing surface and a downward-facing surface having a top end and a bottom end, the frame structure having an attachment zone and an exposure zone, with the exposure zone disposed toward the bottom end of the frame structure, and the attachment zone disposed toward the top end of the frame structure, the frame structure further comprising a wiring containment structure; and
one or more photovoltaic elements held in the exposure zone of the frame structure,the photovoltaic roofing elements being contiguously disposed on the roof deck, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements together having a top edge facing the top end of the roof deck, a bottom edge facing the bottom end of the roof deck, and two side edges, the photovoltaic roofing elements including sidelap portions that interlock to provide water drainage channels;
a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, along their side edges; and
side flashing elements disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, the side flashing elements having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending away from a lateral side at the downward end of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing away from the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements and being at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck, the vertically-extending feature including a matched interlocking geometry that interlocks with a sidelap portion of an adjacent photovoltaic roofing element.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. Aspects of the present invention provide a variety of photovoltaic roofing elements and systems that include, for example, interlocking geometries to provide for water handling and integration with conventional roofing materials; and wire management features that can protect wiring and associated electrical components from physical and/or environmental damage.
58 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck having a top end and a bottom end, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements each comprising a frame structure having an upward-facing surface and a downward-facing surface having a top end and a bottom end, the frame structure having an attachment zone and an exposure zone, with the exposure zone disposed toward the bottom end of the frame structure, and the attachment zone disposed toward the top end of the frame structure, the frame structure further comprising a wiring containment structure; and one or more photovoltaic elements held in the exposure zone of the frame structure, the photovoltaic roofing elements being contiguously disposed on the roof deck, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements together having a top edge facing the top end of the roof deck, a bottom edge facing the bottom end of the roof deck, and two side edges, the photovoltaic roofing elements including sidelap portions that interlock to provide water drainage channels; a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, along their side edges; and side flashing elements disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, the side flashing elements having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending away from a lateral side at the downward end of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing away from the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements and being at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck, the vertically-extending feature including a matched interlocking geometry that interlocks with a sidelap portion of an adjacent photovoltaic roofing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck having a top end and a bottom end, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements each comprising a frame structure having an upward-facing surface and a downward-facing surface having a top end and a bottom end, the frame structure having an attachment zone and an exposure zone, with the exposure zone disposed toward the bottom end of the frame structure, and the attachment zone disposed toward the top end of the frame structure, the frame structure further comprising a wiring containment structure; and one or more photovoltaic elements held in the exposure zone of the frame structure, the photovoltaic roofing elements being contiguously disposed on the roof deck, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements together having a top edge facing the top end of the roof deck, a bottom edge facing the bottom end of the roof deck, a first side edge and an opposing second side edge, each photovoltaic roofing element along the first side edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements having an upward-facing channel disposed therealong, each each photovoltaic roofing element along the second side edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements having a downward-facing flange disposed therealong, each downward-facing flange comprising a portion extending laterally away from the body of the tile, and a downward-pointing flange extending from the laterally-extending portion;
each photovoltaic roofing element including one or more sidelap portions that interlock with one or more sidelap portions of adjacent photovoltaic roofing elements to provide water drainage channels;a plurality of nonphotovoltaic roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, along the first side edge and the second side edge thereof; one or more first side flashing elements disposed along the first side edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, the one or more first side flashing elements having a cross-sectional shape in a plane normal to a line extending up the roof comprising a vertically-extending feature and a first flange extending away from a lateral side at the downward end of the vertically-extending feature, with the first flange facing away from the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements and being at least partially disposed between a nonphotovoltaic roofing element and the roof deck, the vertically-extending feature comprising a portion extending laterally away from the vertically-extending feature in a direction opposite the first flange, and a downward-pointing second flange extending from the laterally-extending portion, the downward-pointing second flange interlocking with the upward-facing channel of one or more of the photovoltaic roofing elements disposed along the first side edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements such that the downward-pointing second flange is disposed in the upward-facing channel; and one or more second side flashing elements disposed along the second side edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, the one or more second side flashing elements having a cross-sectional shape in a plane normal to a line extending up the roof comprising a vertically-extending feature and a first flange extending away from a lateral side at the downward end of the vertically-extending feature, with the first flange facing away from the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements and being at least partially disposed between a nonphotovoltaic roofing element and the roof deck, the vertically-extending feature comprising an upward-facing channel, the upward-facing channel interlocking with the downward-pointing flange of one or more of the photovoltaic roofing elements such that the downward-pointing flange is disposed in the upward-facing channel. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification