GB2533422A

GB2533422A - A drainage piece for use in a roofing system

Info

Publication number: GB2533422A
Application number: GB1422819.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fifield John
Original assignee: Forticrete Ltd
Current assignee: Forticrete Ltd
Priority date: 2014-12-19
Filing date: 2014-12-19
Publication date: 2016-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-19
Also published as: GB2533422B

Abstract

A drainage piece 24 for a border between a roof tile and a roof panel such as a solar panel, the drainage piece includes a tile-side drainage channel 60 for positioning beneath the tile, and a panel-side drainage channel for positioning beneath the solar panel. The drainage channels are separated by a wall 64 guarding against wind driven rain penetrating beneath the tile from the panel-side of the drainage piece. It may have a step 70 in height of the thickness of a tile. Preferably, a top wall 68a, 68b extending laterally from the wall on the tile-side may overlie and grip a tile. Further disclosed is a connector for connecting upper and lower roof solar panels that overlap in a ridge-to-eave direction, the connector comprising a lower panel-engaging portion (20, Fig. 4b) for receiving a trailing end (16ct, Fig. 4b) of the lower panel (16c, Fig. 4b), an upper panel-engaging portion (22, Fig. 4b) for receiving a leading end (16bl, Fig. 4b) of the upper panel (16b, Fig. 4b), and a spacer formation (30, Fig. 4b) disposed beneath the panel-engaging portions for spacing the lower panel away from an underlying roof batten (12, Fig. 4b).

Description

A DRAINAGE PIECE FOR USE IN A ROOFING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drainage piece for draining precipitation at a border between a roof tile and a roof fitting such as a solar panel, and to a connector arrangement for connecting upper and lower roof panels such as solar panels that are to be laid on an underlying roof structure. In particular, the present invention relates to a drainage piece, to a tiled roof, to a connector arrangement, to a roofing panel, and to a kit of parts.

BACKGROUND

Many buildings include a pitched roof structure for protecting a lower space below a roof of the building from external elements such as wind and precipitation. Such a pitched roof structure generally includes a plurality of parallel load-bearing rafters that slope from a ridge at the top of the roof structure to an eave at a lowermost edge of the roof structure, and a plurality of parallel battens disposed on top of, and extending orthogonally with respect to, the rafters between verges at either side of the roof. An angle between the rafters and a horizontal plane may be taken to define a pitch of the roof.

Roof-covering elements such as roof tiles are generally affixed along the battens in horizontally-extending rows or courses. Each course of roof tiles generally underlaps the course of tiles directly above and overlaps the course of tiles directly below, such that the roof tiles overlap in a ridge-to-eave direction. Precipitation falling on such a roof will generally be directed down the roof over the roof tiles to a gutter at the eave.

Roof tiles are generally formed such that each tile in a course partially overlaps the adjacent tile in the course. In particular, each tile may include an underlapping lip at one of its sides for engagement with an overlapping lip at the side of the adjacent tile. Such engagement between adjacent tiles ensures that gaps do not form between the tiles, or at least that precipitation that does enter any gaps between the tiles is directed downwards towards the gutter and does not leak into the loft space under the roof structure.

It is increasingly common to integrate solar panels into pitched roof structures. The panels can be placed on top of the tiles of an existing roof, or alternatively the one or more rows and/or columns of solar panels may replace the tiles in certain regions of the roof. The solar panels are generally of rectangular shape with substantially straight edges and, unlike roof tiles which may be cambered and hence of slightly curved formation, the solar panels generally have substantially planar upper and lower surfaces.

Because the tiles and solar panel have different shapes, and in particular have different thickness, replacing roof tiles with solar panels in a pitched roof results in gaps between the solar panels and the roof tiles at the boundary between them. If inadequately sealed, precipitation tends to leak through these gaps to a loft space under the roof structure. The gaps can also provide entry holes for rodents and insects.

The problem is compounded by the fact that solar panels are typically several times (longer than roof tiles. For example, the width of a solar panel in a ridge-to-eave direction may be approximately that same as the width of two or more courses of roof tiles. This results in a step change in the height difference between the tiles and the neighbouring solar panel where the tiles overlap, leaving a particularly large gap exposed.

The present invention provides a solution for integrating solar panels into a tiled roof structure that overcomes the problems associated with the prior art, and outlined above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a drainage piece for draining precipitation at a border between a roof tile and a roof panel such as a solar panel. The drainage piece includes a tile-side drainage portion for positioning beneath the roof tile, and a panel-side drainage portion for positioning beneath the roof panel, the tile-side drainage portion and the panel-side drainage portion being divided by a wall that guards against wind-driven rain penetrating from the panel side of the drainage piece to beneath the tile.

The invention advantageously provides a simple and economical solution for draining precipitation in the vicinity of a border between roof tiles and solar panels. When installed in a roof, the tile-side and panel-side drainage portions collect precipitation falling either side of the border and direct it down the roof, onto the tile or panel in the course below to drain down the roof in the usual manner. The wall acts as a barrier that blocks gaps that might otherwise be present beneath the tile, guarding against the ingress of rain beneath the tile via such gaps, and also preventing entry to the roof space for unwanted rodents and insects.

At least a portion of the wall may be shaped to match the profile of at least one cambered tile. In addition, the wall may be shaped to substantially match the profile of at least one cambered tile of two overlapping cambered tiles. This allows the wall to act as an effective barrier whilst presenting a neat appearance, and also reduces the amount of material needed to mould the drainage piece. The wall may include a step in height that corresponds to a thickness of a tile.

In one embodiment, the tile side of the drainage piece is configured to grip a tile. For example, the drainage piece may include a top wall on the tile side of the drainage piece, the top wall being configured to grip the tile when the tile and drainage piece are installed in a roof. This obviates the need for additional clips or fittings to secure the tile to the roof structure in order to comply with present legislation.

The top wall may extend laterally from the wall and/or may be shaped to overlie the surface of a cambered tile. In one embodiment, the top wall includes two wall sections configured to overlie respectively the upper surfaces of first and second overlapping cambered tiles. The first top wall may be located at a position that is higher than the second top wall. This allows overlapping courses of tiles to be secured to the underlying roof structure.

The drainage piece may include at least one batten-engaging formation for fixing the drainage piece to a batten of a roof structure. The batten-engaging formation may include a flange and/or at least one nail-or-screw hole. This allows the drainage piece to be further secured to the underlying roof structure. The batten-engaging formation may be supported by the tile-side drainage portion.

According to one embodiment, the tile-side drainage portion includes a tile-side channel. This advantageously directs precipitation onto a lower tile or panel towards guttering of an eave of the roof structure, thereby increasing the efficiency of the draining process. The tile-side channel may run from substantially a leading edge of the drainage piece to substantially a trailing edge of the drainage piece, thereby increasing the amount of precipitation that may be collected and drained away. The tile-side channel may include a base wall and two side walls, and the wall may form one of the side walls. The base wall may extend substantially laterally away from the bottom of the wall.

The tile-side drainage portion may be shaped to underlie an undersurface of two overlapping tiles, thereby ensuring that the tiles can be supported by the drainage piece. In this embodiment, the tile-side drainage portion may additionally include a stepped portion.

The wall may extend substantially from a leading edge of the drainage piece to a trailing edge of the drainage piece. This advantageously reduces the possibility of precipitation flowing from the panel side to the tile side, or vice versa. The wall may be generally perpendicular to the tile-side and panel-side drainage portions.

The panel-side drainage portion of the drainage piece may include a panel-side channel. Such a channel also advantageously directs precipitation onto a lower tile or panel. The panel-side channel may include a base wall and two side walls, and the wall may form one of the side walls. In addition, or alternatively, the base wall may extend substantially laterally away from the bottom of the wall.

In an embodiment, at a leading edge of the drainage piece, the base wall of the panel-side channel meets the wall at the base of the wall. Also, or instead, at the trailing edge of the drainage piece, the base wall of the panel-side channel may meet the wall at a top region of the wall. This increases the pitch angle of the panel-side drainage portion, and of a solar panel that rests on the drainage piece, thereby increasing draining efficiency. This also allows the leading edge of one drainage piece to be more easily fitted to the trailing edge of another drainage piece when two or more drainage pieces are arranged on a roof.

The base wall may include at least one rib for raising the panel above the base wall of the panel-side channel when the drainage piece and the roof panel are installed in a roof. This allows precipitation to flow in the panel-side drainage portion under the roof panel.

The panel-side channel may extend from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the drainage piece.

In an embodiment, the tile-side drainage portion, the panel-side drainage portion and the wall are integral with one another. This advantageously means that only one part needs to be installed into a roof structure, and also minimises the amount of additional clips and fitting needed.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tiled roof including a roof panel such as a solar panel bordered by at least one roof tile and at least one drainage piece for draining precipitation in the vicinity of the border. The drainage piece includes a tile-side drainage portion arranged beneath the at least one roof tile, a panel-side drainage portion arranged beneath the roof panel, and a wall located at the border between the tile and the roof panel, such that the wall guards against wind-driven rain penetrating from the panel side of the drainage piece to beneath the tile.

The point at which one or more tiles meets one or more roof panels gives rise to gaps in the tiled roof because of the different size, shape and curvature of the tiles compared with the panels. The present invention advantageously directs precipitation that would otherwise be blown through such gaps in the roof downwards towards guttering in the eave of the roof, for example.

The drainage piece may be any of the drainage pieces disclosed above. In addition, or alternatively, the tiles of the roof may be arranged in horizontally-extending courses, and a width of the roof panel in a ridge-to-eave direction of the roof may be approximately equal to a width of two or more courses of tiles. The drainage piece may direct precipitation onto a lower tile and/or a lower panel in a general direction towards the guttering, for example.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector arrangement for connecting upper and lower roof panels such as solar panels that are to be laid on an underlying roof structure such that the panels overlap in a ridge-to-eave direction. The connector arrangement includes a lower panel-engaging portion for receiving a trailing end of the lower panel, an upper panel-engaging portion for receiving a leading end of the upper panel, and a spacer formation disposed beneath the panel-engaging portions for spacing the lower panel away from the underlying roof structure when the panels are installed in a roof.

This aspect of the present invention advantageously raises the position of the roof panels away from the underlying roof structure so that their apparent height more closely matches the height of other roof coverings such as roof tiles that may be arranged on a roof. This allows more effective joining of the panels and other roof coverings. This also improves the aesthetic appearance of a roof including such roof coverings. This aspect also advantageously allows two solar panels to be joined or unjoined in a simple, cost-effective manner.

In an embodiment the spacer formation includes at least one spacer block and/or at least one spacer leg. The spacer formation may be of tapering height in order that the panels are arranged at the desired pitch angle while still ensuring that the connector arrangement may adequately secured to the underlying roof structure. As such, the at least one spacer block and/or the at least one spacer leg may be wedge-shaped In an embodiment the connector arrangement includes a batten-engaging formation for fixing to a batten of the underlying roof structure. The batten-engaging formation may include a flange that may depend substantially downwardly from the spacer formation.

The connector arrangement may include an extension piece for extending the effective width of the lower panel in a ridge-to-eave direction. The extension piece may be a ridge-facing flange that extends in a plane substantially parallel to the lower panel when the lower panel is received in the lower panel-engaging portion. This provides additional support for an upper tile or panel that is joined to a lower panel.

In an embodiment the lower and upper panel-engaging portions are elongate to extend along trailing and leading edges, respectively, of the panels. These portions act as seals to guard against wind-driven rain entering the underside of a roof through the gaps formed between the upper and lower panels. The lower panel-engaging portion may include an eave-facing channel for receiving the trailing edge of the lower panel and/or the upper panel-engaging portion may comprise a ridge-facing channel for receiving the leading edge of the upper panel.

The connector arrangement may include a second spacer formation for spacing the upper panel away from lower panel. This allows the height of a column of panels to match the height of two or more courses of overlapping tiles, for example, to reduce the size and number of gaps in a roof structure. The second spacer formation may be integral with the upper panel-engaging portion.

In an embodiment the lower and upper panel-engaging portions are formed of separate pieces. This allows them to be used according to need and also provides the possibility of using these portions individually at the leading and/or trailing edges of a column of solar panels, for example. The lower and upper panel-engaging portions may include co-operable engagement formations for connecting the portions together, and these co-operable engagement formations together may define the second spacer formation. The lower panel-engaging portion may include a ridge-facing channel for receiving an eave-facing flange of the upper panel-engaging portion. Alternatively, or in addition, the eave-facing and ridge-facing channels of the lower panel-engaging portion together may define an S'-shaped cross section. Similarly, the upper panel-engaging portion may include an eave-facing channel for receiving a ridge-facing flange of the lower panel-engaging portion, and the eave-facing and ridge-facing channels of the upper panel-engaging portion may define an 'S'-shaped cross section.

In an embodiment there is provided a roof panel fitted with any of the connector arrangements disclosed herein.

A first connector piece of the connector arrangement may be connected to a trailing edge of the panel, and a second connector piece of the connector arrangement may be connected to a leading edge of the panel. The roof panel may be a solar panel.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a roof including a plurality of roof panels such as solar panels laid on an underlying roof structure such that the panels overlap in a ridge-to-eave direction. The plurality of panels includes a lower panel that is overlapped by an upper panel, wherein the roof includes a connector arrangement that receives a trailing edge of the lower panel and a leading edge of the upper panel, and wherein the connector arrangement includes a spacer formation that spaces the lower panel away from the underlying roof structure.

This aspect provides a simple solution for connecting roof panels such as solar panels to each other while raising the apparent height of the panels to substantially the same level as other roof coverings such as roof tiles on the roof. The arrangement does not need any fixings such as screws or nails to be inserted through the panels. The arrangement also allows for simple installation and removal of the panels from the roof.

The roof may be a pitched, tiled roof. The spacer formation may space the lower panel away from a batten of the underlying roof structure, and the connector arrangement may be fixed to the batten.

In an embodiment the connector arrangement includes a second spacer arrangement for spacing the leading edge of the upper panel away from the trailing edge of the lower panel. This advantageously means that the change in height between panels in a column of panels in a ridge-to-eave direction, for example, more closely matches the change in height between an adjacent arrangement of, for example, overlapping tiles, thereby reducing the amount and size of gaps that may be formed at a border between the different types of roof coverings. This also serves to improve the aesthetic appearance of the roof.

The upper and lower panels may be received in channels of the connector arrangement. This advantageously may be a sliding fit arrangement in which the frictional forces between the panels and the sides of the channels are sufficient to hold the arrangement in place.

In an embodiment at least one tile overlaps, and is spaced away from, the trailing edge of an uppermost panel. In addition, or alternatively, the leading edge of a lowermost panel may overlap, and be spaced away from, at least one tile. Therefore the present invention also provides a solution at the top and bottom of a column of panels. The connector arrangement may be any of the connector arrangements disclosed herein. The leading edge of the lower panel may be received in a panel-engaging portion of another connector arrangement.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts including any of the roof panels disclosed herein and at least one of the drainage pieces disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the following figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pitched roof structure including a plurality of roof tiles and a column of solar panels, wherein the solar panels are joined to each other by connector arrangements, and wherein a drainage piece is provided at the boundary between the the solar panels and the roof tiles; Figures 2a and 2b are perspective and side views respectively a first panel-engaging portion forming part of the connector arrangement of Figure 1; Figures 3a and 3b are perspective and side views respectively a second panel-engaging portion forming part of the connector arrangement of Figure 1; Figures 4a and 4b are detailed perspective and side views respectively of the leading edge of a lower solar panel joined to the trailing edge of an upper solar panel with the connector arrangement of Figure 1; Figures 5a and 5b are detailed perspective and side views respectively of a lower border between the solar panels and the roof tiles at the leading edge of the lower solar panel of Figure 1; Figures 6a and 6b are detailed perspective and side views respectively of an upper border between the solar panels and the roof tiles at the trailing edge of the upper solar panel of Figure 1; Figures 7a and 7b are perspective and side views respectively of a drainage piece of Figure 1; Figures 8a and 8b show detailed perspective and front views respectively of the drainage piece of Figures 7a and 7b at a border between two roof tiles and a solar panel; and Figures 9a to 9e show the steps in a method of installing the drainage piece of Figures 7a and 7b in a roof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the L axis defines a direction generally from a verge on one side of a roof structure to a verge on the other side of the roof, the W axis defines a direction generally from an eave to a ridge of the roof structure, and the H axis defines a direction out of the plane of the roof that is perpendicular to both L and W. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pitched roof structure 10 that includes a plurality of rafters 14 extending in the W direction and a plurality of battens 12 extending horizontally in the L direction, fixed to the underlying rafters 14.

A plurality of roof tiles 18 are fixed to the battens 12 of the roof structure 10 in horizontal courses. Solar panels 16a, 16b, 16c (generally referred to by reference numeral 16) are also fixed to the battens 12 of the roof structure 10 and take the place of the roof tiles 18 in a region of the roof 10. A leading edge of each solar panel 16a, 16b, 16c is exposed, while a trailing edge 16a, 16b, 16c of each solar panel is covered by the overlapping solar panel or roof tile 18 above. Each solar panel 16a, 16b, 16c is the first panel in a horizontally-extending course of solar panels.

The solar panels 16a, 16b, 16c, are connected to one another at the top and bottom by a connecting arrangement 21. At the border between the roof tiles 18 and the solar panels 16, drainage pieces 24 drain precipitation away from the border and guard against precipitation penetrating into the roof space below the tiles 18.

The connecting arrangement 21 will first be described, with reference in particular to Figures 2 to 6 The connecting arrangement 21 is formed of two pieces: a first panel-engaging portion or bracket 20, for receiving the leading end of a solar panel 16, and a second panel-engaging portion or clip 22, for receiving the trailing end of a solar panel 16.

The first panel-engaging portion 20 is shown in Figures 2a and 2b. The first panel-engaging portion 20 includes a channel 23 for receiving a trailing end of a solar panel, and an engagement formation 27 for engaging with a co-operable engagement formation on the second panel-engaging portion (not shown in Figures 2a and 2b). Beneath the channel 23 is a spacer formation 30 that spaces the channel 23, and hence the solar panel received in the channel 23, away from the battens 12 of the roof structure 10, when the connecting arrangement 21 and the solar panels are integrated into the roof.

The spacer formation includes a plurality of spacer blocks 30 arranged generally equidistantly along its length, that is, in the L direction according to its orientation in Figure 1. The spacer blocks 30 are generally slightly wedge-shaped, such that their height in the H direction gradually decreases (i.e. tapers) from the leading edge 301 to the trailing edge 30t. The width of each spacer block 30 in the W direction is greater than its length, which in turn is greater than its height. The spacing between each spacer block 30 in the L direction is generally equal to the length of one of the spacer blocks 30.

The spacer blocks 30 are connected via intermediate portions 32 between the upper portions of each transverse block section 30. Together, the upper surfaces 30up of the spacer blocks 30 and the upper surfaces 32up of the intermediate portions 32 form a generally planar upper block surface 34 in the L-W plane.

The first panel-engaging portion 20 further comprises a sheet portion 36 that is generally planar and substantially parallel to the upper block surface 34. The sheet portion 36 comprises a lower sheet surface 361ow that faces towards the upper block surface 34, and an upper sheet surface 36up facing away from the lower sheet surface 361ow.

The upper block surface 34 is connected to the sheet portion 36 via a riser 38, which defines a gap between the upper block surface 34 and the lower sheet surface 361ow. This gap is greater than the height of the sheet portion 36 and, in particular, this gap is substantially equal to the height of the solar panels 16a, 16b, 16c. In this way, the gap between the spacer blocks 30 and the sheet portion 36 forms a the eave-facing channel 23 for receiving the trailing edge of a solar panel.

A horizontal eaves-facing flange 40 runs along the length of the first panel-engaging portion 20 at its leading end to define a lip. The lip 40 is generally planar and substantially parallel to the sheet portion 36, and is connected to the sheet portion 36 by a riser 42. When in use, the lip 40 is received in a ridge-facing channel provided on the second panel-engaging portion 22 (not shown in Figures 2a and 2b).

A lower lip surface 401ow faces towards the upper sheet surface 36up, and an upper lip surface 40up faces away from the upper sheet surface 36up. The riser 42 spaces the lower lip surface 401ow apart from the upper sheet surface 36up to define a gap 25 in the H direction. The gap defines a ridge-facing channel 25 that, in use, receives an eaves-facing flange of the second panel-engaging portion 22 (not shown in Figures 2a and 2b).

In this way, the lip 40 and ridge-facing channel 25 define a co-operable engagement formation that can engage with the second panel-engaging portion 22 to connect the first and second panel-engaging portions 20, 22 together.

At a ridge-facing end of the first panel-engaging portion 20, the sheet portion 36 includes an extension piece 37 that extends the effective width of the bracket 20 in the W direction beyond the width of the spacer block 30.

The first panel-engaging portion 20 also includes a batten-engaging formation in the form of a flange 44 that depends substantially downwards in the H direction from the trailing edge of the spacer blocks 30. The height of the flange is substantially equal to the height of the upper block surface 34. A plurality of holes 46 for receiving nails or screws (or any other suitable fixing) are spaced substantially equidistantly along the length of the flange 44, to allow the batten-engaging formation to be fixed to a batten.

Figures 3a and 3b show perspective and side views of the second panel-engaging portion 22. The second panel-engaging portion 22 includes a channel 51 for receiving a leading end of a solar panel, and an engagement formation 55 for engaging with the co-operable engagement formation 27 on the first panel-engaging portion (not shown in Figures 3a and 3b).

The second panel-engaging portion 22 is a single piece that has a generally B-shaped' cross-section in the W-H plane. Specifically, the second panel-engaging portion 22 comprises lower, middle and upper sheet portions 50, 52, 54 that are generally planar and mutually parallel. The sheet portions 50, 52, 54 are of a thickness that is substantially equal to the thickness of the lip 40 of the first panel-engaging portion 20.

The lower sheet portion 50 defines an eaves-facing flange that, in use, is received by the ridge-facing channel of the first panel-engaging portion 20. To this end, the height of the lower sheet portion 50 is substantially equal to the height of the ridge-facing channel of the first panel-engaging portion 20.

The lower and middle sheet portions 50, 52 are joined at their trailing end by a first riser 56 that is substantially orthogonal to each sheet portion 50, 52. A gap between the lower and middle sheet portions 50, 52 defines an eaves-facing channel 53 that, in use, receives the flange defined by the lip 40 of the first panel-engaging portion 20.

In this way, the eaves-facing flange 50 and the eaves facing channel 53 define the co-operable engagement formation 55 that cooperates with the corresponding co-operable engagement formation 27 of the first panel-engaging portion 20.

The middle and upper sheet portions 52, 54 are joined at their leading edge via a second riser 58 that is substantially orthogonal each sheet portion 52, 54. A gap between the middle and upper sheet portions 52, 54 defines the ridge-facing channel 51 that is sized to receive the leading end of a solar panel 16. To this end, the height of the ridge-facing channel 51 is substantially equal to the height of a solar panel 16.

Referring now to Figures 4a and 4b, when the connecting arrangement 21 is in use in a roof, a first panel-engaging portion 20 is fitted to the trailing end 16ct of a lower solar panel 16c, and a second panel-engaging portion 22 is fitted to the leading end 16b1 of an upper solar panel 16b. The co-operable engagement formations 27, 55 of the first and second panel-engaging portions 20, 22, respectively, are engaged with each other to connect the upper solar panel 16b to the lower solar panel 16c.

As is visible in Figure 4b, the batten-engaging flange 44 lies against and is fixed to a trailing end 12t of the batten 12 via nails or screws (not shown), thereby fixing the lower panel 16c to the roof structure. Lower surfaces 30low of the spacer blocks 30 sit flush against an upper surface 12up of the batten 12. The spacer blocks 30 serve to space the solar panel 16c apart from the batten 12, raising it up and away from the underlying roof structure. The wedge-shape of the spacer block also serves to alter the pitch of the solar panel 16c slightly, such that the solar panel is at a slightly lower pitch than the rafter.

Figure 4b shows the engagement of the co-operable engagement formations 27, 55 in detail, and illustrates that the lower sheet portion 50 of the second panel-engaging portion 22 is received in the ridge-facing channel 25 of the first panel-engaging portion 20 in a sliding fit, and the ridge-facing lip 40 of the first panel-engaging portion 20 is received in the eaves-facing channel 53 of the second panel-engaging portion 22 also in a sliding fit, so as to connect the upper and lower panels 16b, 16c.

The interlocking fittings between the bracket 20, the clip 22, and the solar panels 16a, 16b, 16c are achieved via push fitting, thus simplifying the assembly process by obviating the need for additional fixings such as screws, nails, bolts etc. The push fitting mechanism is such that the surfaces of interlocking elements engage sufficiently tightly with each other to ensure a secure fit (i.e. the friction between the surfaces is sufficient to prevent relative movement between the surfaces in the absence of a sufficient external force).

As is also apparent from Figure 4b, together, the interlocking co-operable engagement formations 27, 55 form a second spacer formation, generally referred to by the numeral 57. This second spacer formation 57 spaces the upper solar panel 16b away from the lower solar panel 16c when the panels are installed in the roof, thereby raising the height of the upper solar panel 16b at its leading end.

The raising of the upper and lower solar panels in this way, by virtue of the spacer formation 30 and the second spacer formation 57, means that the solar panels lie at a similar height as the upper surfaces of the tiles of the roof. In this way, gaps at the boundary between the solar panels 16 and the tiles 18 that would otherwise result from the difference in height between the solar panels 16 and the tiles 18 can be substantially avoided, leaving the roof less vulnerable to leakage at the border between the solar panels 16 and the tiles 18.

Furthermore, connecting upper-and-lower neighbouring solar panels at their leading and trailing ends by the co-operable engagement formations 27, 55 results in a connection that fixes the leading end of each panel down securely. As is best seen in Figure 4b, the co-operable engagement formations create a tortuous path for wind-blown rain attempting to penetrate between the tiles as it is blown up the roof, which guards against the ingress of rain between upper-and-lower neighbouring solar panels, thereby reducing the chance of precipitation infiltrating between the solar panels and into the roof space beneath.

Figures 5a and 5b show the arrangement at the leading edge 16c1 of the lowermost solar panel 16c of the group of solar panels 16, where the leading edge 16c1 of the solar panel 16c overlaps the trailing edge 18t of the roof tiles 18. The roof tiles 18 are secured to the roof structure 10 by nibs 59 that hang on the batten 12. The leading edge 16c1 of the solar panel 16 is fitted with a second panel-engaging portion 22. This second panel-engaging portion 22 sits on top of an upper surface of the tile 18.

The second panel-engaging portion 22, and in particular the lower sheet portion 50 serves to space the leading end of the solar panel 16c away from the tiles 18. This is necessary to raise the solar panel to the same height as the tiles 18 at its leading edge, thereby allowing sides of the solar panel 16c to align roughly with sides of the tile 18. The second panel-engaging portion 22 also guards against wind-driven rain being blown up the roof into the gap between the tiles 18 and the leading edge of the solar panel 16c.

Figures 6a and 6b show the arrangement at the trailing edge 16at of the uppermost solar panel 16a of the group, where roof tiles 18 overlap the solar panel 16a. The trailing edge 16at of the solar panel 16a is fitted with a first panel-engaging portion 20, which is fixed to the batten 12 as has already been described. The leading ends of the roof tiles 18 rest on top of the first panel-engaging portion 20, and in particular rest on top of the lip 40 and the extension piece 37. Specifically, the lip 40 is sized such that weather checks 18p that protrude from the underside of the tiles 18 rest on, and engage with, the lip portion 40, and the underside of main body of the tiles 18 rests on the extension piece 37. This ensures a stable and secure fixing between the tiles 18 and the first panel-engaging portion 20. The extension piece 37 also increases the length of the headlap between the tiles 18 and the solar panel, reducing the chance of water penetrating beneath the tile 18.

The first and second connecting portions 20, 22 may be provided pre-fitted to a solar panel, with a leading end of the panel received in a first panel-engaging portion 20, and a trailing end of the panel received in a second panel-engaging portion 22. Alternatively, both the first and second connecting portions 20, 22 may be fitted to one end of the panel.

It will be appreciated that the spacer formation need not be a spacer block, but may be of any suitable configuration that can space the channel away from the underlying roof structure. For example, the spacer formation may instead include spacer legs extending from the sheet portion 36 in the H direction.

Each individual panel-engaging portion 20, 22, is preferably formed as a single piece from a plastic material. However, this need not be the case, and one or more of the portions may be formed from another suitable material, such as aluminium.

In the embodiment described, the connector arrangement is formed of two pieces, such that the first and second panel-engaging portions are formed separately. However, it is also envisaged that the two portions 20, 22 could be formed integrally with one another, such that the connector arrangement is formed as a single piece. In this case, the co-operable engagement formations may be omitted.

The drainage piece 24, for draining precipitation in the vicinity of the vertical borders between the solar panels 16 and the tiles 18, will now be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. The drainage piece 24 may be used in conjunction with the connecting arrangement described above, or the drainage piece and the connecting arrangement may be employed separately if required.

Referring to Figures 7a and 7b, the drainage piece 24 includes tile-side drainage portion 60 on a tile side of the drainage piece 24 and a panel-side drainage portion 76 on a panel side of the drainage piece 24 that are separated by a wall in the form of a separating wall 64. In use, the tile-side drainage portion is positioned beneath one or more roof tiles and the panel-side drainage portion is positioned beneath the panel. The separating wall 64 sits against the edge of the tiles so as to guard against wind-driven rain penetrating from the panel side of the drainage piece to beneath the tile.

The tile-side drainage portion 60 includes a channel that extends from the leading edge of the drainage piece 24 to the trailing edge of the drainage piece 24. The channel 60 is formed of a base wall 62 and two side walls. An inner side wall is defined by the separating wall 64, and an outer side wall lies opposite the separating wall and projects orthogonally from the base wall 62. The base wall 62 extends from the base of the separating wall 64. The channel 60 includes a stepped portion 70, such that the channel is shaped to lie against the lower surface of two overlapping tiles 18 of a roof structure.

A tile-engaging formation in the form of a pair of flanges 72a, 72b extend laterally from the channel 60 of the drainage piece 24, generally parallel to the base wall 62 of the channel 60. Each of the flanges 72a, 72b includes a hole 74a, 74b for receiving a screw or nail to secure the drainage piece 24 to one of the battens 12 of the roof structure 10.

The panel-side drainage portion 76 extends laterally from the separating wall 64 and includes a channel having a generally planar base wall 78 and two side walls that are generally perpendicular to the base wall 78. An inner side wall is defined by the separating wall 64, and an outer side wall 80 lies opposite the inner side wall. The channel 76 includes a rib 81 between the inner and outer sidewalls that protrude from the base wall 62. In use, the rib 81 raises a panel above the base wall 78 of the channel 62 when the drainage piece 24 and the panel are installed in a roof.

At the trailing end of the drainage piece, the base wall 78 of the channel 76 meets the wall 64 at a top region of the wall 64. At the leading end of the drainage piece, the base wall 78 of the channel 76 meets the wall 64 at the base of the wall 64. In this way, the pitch of the channel 76 differs slightly from the pitch of the roof in which it is installed. This is particularly advantageous when the drainage piece 24 is used in conjunction with the connector arrangement 21 described above, as it allows the pitch of the channel 76 to match the altered pitch of the solar panel that results from use of the tapered spacer formation of the connector arrangement 21 (see Figure 4b).

The separating wall 64 is shaped to match the profile of two overlapping cambered tiles 18. To this end, the upper edge of the wall 64 is curved, and there is a step change in the height of the separating wall 63 that corresponds to the thickness of one of the tiles 18 at the overlap. Said another way, the wall 64 has a stepped profile that reflects the profile of two overlapping tiles.

The separating wall 64 supports first and second top walls 68a, 68b that extend laterally from the top of the separating wall 64 to the tile side of the drainage piece 24. The top walls 68a, 68b are configured to lie against the upper surfaces of two overlapping cambered tiles.

To accommodate the tile camber, the top walls 68, 68b are curved slightly out of the W-L plane so as to overlie the upper surfaces of the tiles. To accommodate the tile overlap, the first and second top walls 68a, 68b are disposed one-on-each-side of the step change, and the first top wall 68a is higher than the second top wall 68b.

Figures 8a and 8b illustrate schematically the drainage piece 24 when arranged for use at a border between two tiles 18 and a solar panel 16. In this example, the solar panel has a width that is approximately equal to the width of two courses of tiles.

At the tile-side of the drainage piece 24, the drainage piece 24 is fixed to battens of the underlying roof structure via the flanges (not visible in Figures 8a and 8b). The channel (also not visible in Figures 8a and 8b) sits underneath the undersurface of the overlapping cambered tiles 18, and follows the undersurface down the roof. At the leading end, the channel opens onto the upper surface of the tile in the next course below. The top walls 68a, 68b overlie the tiles18, and fit snugly against the tiles. The top walls 68a, 68b therefore act as clips that hold the tiles 18 down against the battens of the roof structure. In this way, the drainage piece constitutes a fixing that fixes the tiles 18 to the batten, removing the need for additional fixings such as tile clips.

At the panel-side of the drainage piece 24, the channel 76 lies underneath the panel. In particular, the undersurface of the solar panel 16 rests on the side wall 80 and the rib 81 of the panel-side channel 76. In this way, the side wall 80 and rib 81 hold the panel above the base surface 78 of the channel 76, leaving a gap between the undersurface of the solar panel and the base wall 78. The channel 76 emerges at the leading end of the panel such that it overlies the upper surface of the panel in the course below (or, if the panel is the lowermost panel in the group, the channel 76 emerges such that it overlies the course of tiles below the panels.

The wall 64 is arranged between the tiles 18 and the solar panel 16, and in particular is arranged to lie up against the tiles 18. The shape of the wall follows the profile of the overlapping tiles, so as to block completely any gaps that would otherwise exist beneath the tile, without standing proud of the tile edge, thereby providing effective drainage while providing a neat appearance.

When the drainage piece 24, panel 16 and tiles 18 are installed in a roof, any precipitation in the vicinity of the boundary that falls between the solar panel 16 and the separating wall 64 is captured by the channel of the panel-side drainage portion 76, where it is directed onto the upper surface of the solar panel below. Similarly, any precipitation in the vicinity of the boundary that falls between the tiles 18 and the separating wall 64 is captured by the channel of the tile-side drainage portion 60, where it is directed onto the upper surface of the tile below, to be drained down the roof tiles in the normal manner.

The separating wall 64 sits between the tiles 18 and the panel 16, and in particular sits against the tiles 18, thereby blocking any gaps beneath the tiles. In this way, the separating wall 64 guards against precipitation penetrating beneath the tiles from the panel side of the drainage piece 24. Said another way, the separating wall acts as a barrier that prevents wind-driven rain that has been blown laterally across the roof penetrating into gaps beneath the tiles. Particularly advantageously, the separating wall is high enough to provide this barrier irrespective of whether and where the tile has been cut to accommodate the panels in the roof. Thus, the drainage piece 24 directs precipitation away from a boundary between roof tiles and solar panels by collecting precipitation and directing it over the tops of the roof tiles or solar panels, to be drained from the roof in the usual manner. The shaping of the separating wall to mirror the profile of two overlapping cambered tiles means that the wall 64 can provide this effective barrier, which accommodates the sudden step in tile height at the overlapping region, whilst still giving a neat appearance.

With reference to Figures 9a to 9e, a method of installing the drainage pieces 24, and the tiles 18 to the side of the column of solar panels 16a, 16b, 16c shown is Figure 1 will now be described.

First, as shown in Figure 9a, the solar panels 16a, 16b, 16c, and the tiles 18 above and below the solar panels are installed in the roof. Next, as shown in Figure 9b, a drainage piece 24 is fixed in place against the lower solar panel 16c, and fixed to the battens 12.

As shown in Figure 9c, a lower tile 18a is then inserted into a lower portion of the tile side of the drainage piece 24, such that it is gripped by the lower of the two top walls 68b. An upper tile 18b is then inserted into an upper portion of the tile side of the drainage piece 24 such that it is gripped by the upper of the two top walls 68a, as shown in Figure 9d.

The process repeats for the next solar panel 16b, with another drainage piece 24 being installed in the same manner, as shown in Figure 9e, and the next two tiles 18 being installed in the same manner as described above. The process continues with a third drainage piece fitted to the next solar panel 16, and so one, until all the tiles at the border have been installed. The remainder of those courses of tiles can then be installed as necessary.

Thus, the drainage piece can be quickly and easily installed in the roof with the solar panels by a tiler when the roof is tiled, without requiring any additional skills from the tiler.

It will be appreciated that references to the relative positions of features of the connector arrangement 21, and the drainage piece 24 such as upper, lower, leading and trailing are not to be seen as limiting. These terms are used simply to help the reader to understand the described embodiment of the invention.

It will also be appreciated that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential attributes as defined in the appended claims and in other statements of invention herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drainage piece for draining precipitation at a border between a roof tile and a roof panel such as a solar panel, the drainage piece including a tile-side drainage portion for positioning beneath the roof tile, and a panel-side drainage portion for positioning beneath the roof panel, the tile-side drainage portion and the panel-side drainage portion being separated by a wall that guards against wind-driven rain penetrating from the panel side of the drainage piece to beneath the tile.
2. The drainage piece of Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wall is shaped to match the profile of at least one cambered tile.
3. The drainage piece of Claim 2, wherein the wall is shaped to substantially match the profile of at least one cambered tile of two overlapping cambered tiles.
4. The drainage piece of Claim 3, wherein the wall includes a step in height that corresponds to a thickness of a tile.
5. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, wherein the tile side of the drainage piece is configured to grip a tile.
6. The drainage piece of Claim 5, including a top wall on the tile side of the drainage piece, the top wall being configured to grip the tile when the tile and drainage piece are installed in a roof.
7. The drainage piece of Claim 6, wherein the top wall extends laterally from the wall.
8. The drainage piece of Claim 7, wherein the top wall is shaped to overlie the surface of a cambered tile.
9. The drainage piece of Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the top wall includes two wall sections configured to overlie respectively the upper surfaces of first and second overlapping cambered tiles.
10. The drainage piece of Claim 9, wherein the first top wall is located at a position that is higher than the second top wall.
11. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, including at least one one batten-engaging formation for fixing the drainage piece to a batten of a roof structure.
12. The drainage piece of Claim 11, wherein the batten-engaging formation includes a flange.
13. The drainage piece of Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the batten-engaging formation includes at least one nail-or-screw hole.
14. The drainage piece of any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the batten-engaging formation is supported by the tile-side drainage portion.
15. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, wherein the tile-side drainage portion includes a tile-side channel.
16. The drainage piece of Claim 15, wherein the tile-side channel runs from substantially a leading edge of the drainage piece to substantially a trailing edge of the drainage piece.
17. The drainage piece of Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the tile-side channel includes a base wall and two side walls.
18. The drainage piece of Claim 17, wherein the wall forms one of the side walls of the tile-side channel.
19. The drainage piece of Claim 18, wherein the base wall extends substantially laterally away from the bottom of the wall.
20. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, wherein the tile-side drainage portion is shaped to underlie an undersurface of two overlapping tiles.
21. The drainage piece of Claim 20, wherein the tile-side drainage portion includes a stepped portion.
22. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, wherein the wall extends substantially from a leading edge of the drainage piece to a trailing edge of the drainage piece.
23. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, wherein the wall is generally perpendicular to the tile-side and panel-side drainage portions.
24. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, wherein the panel-side drainage portion includes a panel-side channel.
25. The drainage piece of Claim 24, wherein the panel-side channel includes a base wall and two side walls.
26. The drainage piece of Claim 25, wherein the wall forms one of the side walls of the panel-side channel.
27. The drainage piece of Claim 25 or Claim 26, wherein the base wall extends substantially laterally away from the bottom of the wall.
28. The drainage piece of Claim 27, wherein, at a leading edge of the drainage piece, the base wall of the panel-side channel meets the wall at the base of the wall.
29. The drainage piece of Claim 27 or Claim 28, wherein, at the trailing edge of the drainage piece, the base wall of the panel-side channel meets the wall at a top region of the wall.
30. The drainage piece of any of Claims 24 to 29, wherein the base wall includes at least one rib for raising the panel above the base wall of the panel-side channel when the drainage piece and the roof panel are installed in a roof.
31. The drainage piece of any of Claims 24 to 30, wherein the panel-side channel extends from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the drainage piece.
32. The drainage piece of any preceding claim, wherein the tile-side drainage portion, the panel-side drainage portion and the wall are integral with one another.
33. A tiled roof including a roof panel such as a solar panel bordered by at least one roof tile and at least one drainage piece for draining precipitation in the vicinity of the border, the drainage piece including a tile-side drainage portion arranged beneath the at least one roof tile, a panel-side drainage portion arranged beneath the roof panel, and a wall located at the border between the tile and the roof panel, such that the wall guards against wind-driven rain penetrating from the panel side of the drainage piece to beneath the tile.
34. The tiled roof of Claim 33, wherein the drainage piece is the drainage piece of any of Claims 1 to 32.
35. The tiled roof of Claim 33 or 34, wherein tiles of the roof are arranged in horizontally-extending courses, and a width of the roof panel in a ridge-to-eave direction of the roof is approximately equal to a width of two or more courses of tiles.
36. The tiled roof of any of Claims 33 to 35, wherein the drainage piece is configured to direct precipitation onto an upper surface of a tile and/or a panel in a course below.
37. A connector arrangement for connecting upper and lower roof panels such as solar panels that are to be laid on an underlying roof structure such that the panels overlap in a ridge-to-eave direction, the connector arrangement including a lower panel-engaging portion for receiving a trailing end of the lower panel, an upper panel-engaging portion for receiving a leading end of the upper panel, and a spacer formation disposed beneath the panel-engaging portions for spacing the lower panel away from the underlying roof structure when the panels are installed in a roof.
38. The connector arrangement of Claim 37, wherein the spacer formation includes at least one spacer block.
39. The connector arrangement of Claim 37 or Claim 38, wherein the spacer formation includes at least one spacer leg.
40. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 39, wherein the spacer formation is of tapering height.
41. The connector arrangement of Claim 40 when dependent on Claim 38 or Claim 39, wherein the at least one spacer block and/or the at least one spacer leg is wedge-shaped.
42. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 41, including a batten-engaging formation for fixing to a batten of the underlying roof structure.
43. The connector arrangement of Claim 42, wherein the batten-engaging formation includes a flange.
44. The connector arrangement of Claim 43, wherein the flange depends substantially downwardly from the spacer formation.
45. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 45, including an extension piece for extending the effective width of the lower panel in a ridge-to-eave direction.
46. The connector arrangement of Claim 45, wherein the extension piece is a ridge-facing flange that extends in a plane substantially parallel to the lower panel when the lower panel is received in the lower panel-engaging portion.
47. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 46, wherein the lower and upper panel-engaging portions are elongate to extend along trailing and leading edges, respectively, of the panels.
48. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 47, wherein the lower panel-engaging portion comprises an eave-facing channel for receiving the trailing edge of the lower panel.
49. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 48, wherein the upper panel-engaging portion comprises a ridge-facing channel for receiving the leading edge of the upper panel.
50. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 49, including a second spacer formation for spacing the upper panel away from lower panel.
51. The connector arrangement of Claim 50, wherein the second spacer formation is integral with the upper panel-engaging portion.
52. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 51, wherein the lower and upper panel-engaging portions are formed of separate pieces.
53. The connector arrangement of Claim 52, wherein the lower and upper panel-engaging portions comprise co-operable engagement formations for connecting the portions together.
54. The connector arrangement of Claim 53, when dependent on Claim 51, wherein the co-operable engagement formations together define the second spacer formation.
55. The connector arrangement of Claim 53 or Claim 54, wherein the lower panel-engaging portion comprises a ridge-facing channel for receiving an eave-facing flange of the upper panel-engaging portion.
56. The connector arrangement of Claim 55, when dependent upon Claim 48, wherein the eave-facing and ridge-facing channels of the lower panel-engaging portion together define an S'-shaped cross section.
57. The connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 56, wherein the upper panel-engaging portion comprises an eave-facing channel for receiving a ridge-facing flange of the lower panel-engaging portion.
58. The connector arrangement of Claim 57, when dependent upon Claim 49, wherein the eave-facing and ridge-facing channels of the upper panel-engaging portion define an 'S'-shaped cross section.
59. A roof panel fitted with the connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 58.
60. The roof panel of Claim 59, wherein a first connector piece of the connector arrangement is connected to a trailing edge of the panel, and a second connector piece of the connector arrangement is connected to a leading edge of the panel.
61. The roof panel of Claim 59 or Claim 60, wherein the roof panel is a solar panel.
62. A roof including a plurality of roof panels such as solar panels laid on an underlying roof structure such that the panels overlap in a ridge-to-eave direction, the plurality of panels including a lower panel that is overlapped by an upper panel, wherein the roof includes a connector arrangement that receives a trailing edge of the lower panel and a leading edge of the upper panel, and wherein the connector arrangement includes a spacer formation that spaces the lower panel away from the underlying roof structure.
63. The roof of Claim 62, wherein the roof is a pitched, tiled roof.
64. The roof of Claim 62 or Claim 63, wherein the spacer formation spaces the lower panel away from a batten of the underlying roof structure.
65. The roof of Claim 64, wherein the connector arrangement is fixed to the batten.
66. The roof of any of Claims 62 to 65, wherein the connector arrangement includes a second spacer arrangement for spacing the leading edge of the upper panel away from the trailing edge of the lower panel.
67. The roof of any of Claims 62 to 66, wherein the upper and lower panels are received in channels of the connector arrangement.
68. The roof of any of Claims 62 to 67, including the connector arrangement of any of Claims 44 to 57, wherein at least one tile overlaps, and is spaced away from, the trailing edge of an uppermost panel.
69. The roof of any of Claims 62 to 68, wherein the leading edge of a lowermost panel overlaps, and is spaced away from, at least one tile.
70. The roof of any of Claims 62 to 69, wherein the connector arrangement is the connector arrangement of any of Claims 37 to 58.
71. The roof of any of Claim 70, wherein the leading edge of the lower panel is received in a panel-engaging portion of another connector arrangement.
72. A kit of parts including a roof panel according to any of Claims 59 to 61 and at least one drainage piece according to any of Claims 1 to 36.