FR2969190A1 - Element e.g. tiles, for covering inclined roof in building, has median rails formed between channels, and edge rails formed in outer edge of panel side of interlocking elements, where panel side cooperates with overlapping side of elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The element has a photovoltaic panel (1) forming a frame (4) in a framework, and a mounting structure fitted to the photovoltaic panel. The mounting structure is formed of a plate (5) with a fixing body (6) on the frame. Median rails (8-10) are formed between channels (14) of ventilation and of drainage of surface water, where the channels extend beneath the panel. Edge rails (11, 12) are formed in an outer edge of a panel side of interlocking elements (16-18), where the panel side cooperates with an overlapping side of the interlocking elements.

Description

Cover element incorporating a photovoltaic panel and a mounting structure.

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of building coverage, and more particularly relates to developments in relation to the roof of inclined roofs for the installation of energy collectors, including photovoltaic panels. It relates to an inclined roofing element, which comprises a photovoltaic panel equipped with a mounting structure on structural elements.

State of the art

In the field of building, it is known to install photovoltaic panels on an inclined roof to collect solar energy. These photovoltaic panels are formed of one or more photovoltaic cells, which are integrated into a support frame arranged in a frame and equipped with a mounting structure on the frame of the roof. According to advantageous terms of input photovoltaic panels on an existing roof, they can be installed in substitution of current roofing elements in tiles, or similar roofing elements, which are carried by the stairs that includes the frame. In such a configuration, the photovoltaic panel provides the dual function of solar energy collector and cover element able to protect the building from the weather, and more particularly vis-à-vis the infiltration of solar panels. waters. In this case it is necessary to provide specific arrangements for the installation of the photovoltaic panel to replace existing roof elements, which take into account the constraints inherent in the protection of buildings against the weather.

Among these constraints, the photovoltaic panel must itself be watertight over its entire surface, and it must also provide a seal against a neighboring roof element that may consist of a common roofing element. existing or another photovoltaic panel. The maintenance of the photovoltaic panel on the frame must be reliable, robust and durable, to prohibit its movement or its removal under the effect of bad weather, especially in windy conditions. The installation of the photovoltaic panel on the roof must be able to be carried out easily and avoiding a significant transformation of the existing framework, including substitution of existing roofing elements. It is also advantageous for this installation to be carried out by an operator in the field of building roofing who is not necessarily specialized in the installation of photovoltaic panels. In addition, it is necessary to provide adjustments to the ventilation of the photovoltaic panel installed on the roof, to prevent overheating in operation, without damaging the seal. The arrangement of the mounting structure of the photovoltaic panel on the frame must take into account all of these constraints.

It is common to report photovoltaic panels on the frame by means of support rails, which are previously fixed on support rafters of the stiles. The rails are intermediate members for fixing the photovoltaic panels on the frame, leaving between them aeration useful for cooling the photovoltaic panels they support. To provide the desired seal while allowing aeration of the roof, it has been proposed, as mentioned in the document FR 2920453 (GAILLARD N.), to interpose corrugated sheets between the walls and the rails carrying the panels. PV. The corrugated sheets overlap to obtain a tight junction between them, and are raised by boards to provide ventilation between the frame and the corrugated sheets. The corrugations of the sheets are oriented transversely to the direction of the slope by obstructing the passage of runoff water.

The installation operations of the photovoltaic panels are long and tedious because they implement many components that must be assembled on the frame and between them. This is a meticulous job since the installation of photovoltaic panels must provide a rigorous seal between the various components used, to prevent infiltration of runoff water to the roof, which is also made perilous because of a station extended on the slope of the roof.

Object of the invention The aim of the present invention is to propose a solution for the installation of photovoltaic panels on an inclined roof of a building, which provides a satisfactory compromise with regard to all the constraints stated.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the time spent on the roof by the installation. It is also sought a solution that best limits the costs and time of installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof and possible replacement of a damaged panel.

The invention more specifically relates to an inclined roofing element. This cover element comprises a photovoltaic panel which is formed of a chassis arranged in a frame housing at least one photovoltaic cell. Such a photovoltaic panel forms an independent structural module that can be manipulated from the frame. This photovoltaic panel is equipped with a mounting structure for its installation on a frame. Such a mounting structure is particularly engaged on the frame which is a robust component of the photovoltaic panel.

According to the present invention, such a cover element is mainly recognizable in that the mounting structure is formed of a plate, in particular of metal, which is provided with means for attachment to the frame. This plate forms a base on which the photovoltaic panel is attached and secured, particularly by sealing and more particularly by welding, gluing or other similar sealing technique.

The plate extends beyond the periphery of the photovoltaic panel, providing junction areas interlocking with a similar neighboring cover element. The plate integrates by deformation in its general plane a plurality of parallel rails, which are obtained in particular by folding the plate or by discharging material from the plate. The rails obtained by deformation of the plate form protruding reliefs which are oriented towards the photovoltaic panel, and cells which are open on the seating face of the covering element in the installation station on the frame. The rails extend over the entire plate according to one of its general extension dimensions, for example corresponding to its length, and constitute supporting members of the photovoltaic panel and sealing between two similar cover elements. neighbors by overlapping corresponding overflows.

The rails are divided into groups of rails comprising middle rails and curb rails. The middle rails are placed, according to the other dimension of general extension of the plate corresponding to its width, in lateral interposition between the edge rails. The median rails form between them ventilation channels and drainage of runoff water that extend under the photovoltaic panel. The edge rails are at the outer edge of the photovoltaic panel, lateral interlocking members cooperating by overlapping with similar lateral interlocking members that comprises a similar laterally adjacent cover member.

The longitudinal and lateral orientations are not to be understood in the strict sense of the terms. In general, the term "longitudinal" corresponds to the general direction of extension of the rails and the term "lateral" corresponds to a direction orthogonal to this longitudinal direction. In the installation station of the roofing element on the frame, the longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction of the slope of the roof.

The cover element forms a unitary assembly integrally associating the plate and the photovoltaic panel, which is easily manipulated by an operator operating on the roof. Such a one-piece assembly is adapted to be directly installed on the roof structure after removal of existing roofing elements, such as tiles, slates or similar common roofing elements. The one-piece assembly formed by the roofing element can be installed without any particular prior arrangement of the framework, by being directly deposited on the walls and fixed on structural elements of the framework, such as rafters or the like, via fastening means equipping the plate. Such fastening means, for example of the screw type, can be reduced to fasteners arranged in screws or similar fasteners, which are able to pass through the plate to be stuck in a frame member. The plate may have a plurality of through-holes which are selectively operated on site according to the arrangement of the existing framework, and in particular according to the separation gap between the structural elements which it comprises, in particular the so-called rafters, which support the usual support flights of existing existing roofing elements. Through holes of the fasteners can also be easily performed through the plate directly at the installation site by an operator.

Several similar cover elements can be successively assembled to each other by interlocking from the rails. Such an assembly can be made by abutting between two cover elements in the longitudinal direction of the plate, exploiting by overlapping the corresponding ends of the set of rails, which are particularly accessible in the overflow areas of the plates of the cover elements. . The assembly between two similar cover members can also be performed laterally, exploiting by overlapping the corresponding lateral interlocking members which are provided with the edge rails which are arranged in lateral edge area of the plate.

The junction between the successively assembled roofing elements of the invention may be free of seals. The runoff water and the stormwater can seep between the photovoltaic panels of the invention assembled, without damaging either the framework or the photovoltaic panels. The water is drained by the channels and flows along the assembled plate (s) until they are discharged down the roof.

The channels also allow air circulation in the underbody of the cover element, to prevent heating or photovoltaic panels. The cells formed by the rails, which open out at the base face of the roofing element at the installation station on the frame, allow aeration which avoids any condensation between the cover element (s) and, where appropriate, a insulating material whose roof is likely to be provided.

The photovoltaic panel is in particular fixed integrally to the plate via the frame, the edges of the frame being engaged by sealing joints on the support rails of the photovoltaic panel. The assembly between the plate and the photovoltaic panel is simple to perform while providing an assembly that is robust. Such sealing is likely to be achieved by sealing joints which are indifferently continuous or discontinuous by being placed along the corresponding edges of the rails and the photovoltaic panel which are engaged.

According to a preferred embodiment, the middle rails comprise two lateral median rails and at least one intermediate median rail which is interposed between the lateral rails. The photovoltaic panel is fixed along a border rail and along the lateral center rail located towards the side of the plate which is opposed to that of extension of this edge rail. The edges of the frame are fixed on the edges of said edge rail and said lateral median rail which are opposite on corresponding median rails. Such sealing methods between the plate and the photovoltaic panel make it possible to optimize the arrangement of the lateral interlocking members between two similar neighboring covering elements, while providing places for the passage of the plate fixing means on the frame, which can be advantageously exploited for the joint attachment to the frame of two cover elements laterally assembled together.

More particularly, the edge rails are arranged near the lateral median rails with which they cooperate to form lateral interlocking members optimizing the lateral locking between two cover elements laterally nested to each other. The edge rails form with the lateral median rails of the lateral interlocking members which are each composed of a pair of protruding projections between which is formed a recessed relief.

In the abutting connection direction between two cover elements of the invention joined to each other in said longitudinal direction, the ends of the rails in the corresponding areas of the plate edge form interlocking members. cooperating by overlapping with the corresponding ends of the rails which comprises a similar butt jointed cover member. Such an assembly is carried out until placed in proximity, or even placed in contact, between the corresponding edges of the photovoltaic panels that respectively comprise the butt-like cover elements.

To facilitate assembly by an operator operating on the roof, two cover elements assembled, both abutment and laterally, the rail profile is preferably flared towards the face of the plate through which the element of Cover in installation station rests on the frame. Such a flare is likely to correspond to a conformation of the rail section which is hemispherical, trapezoidal, or any other similar flared conformation.

Such a flared conformation of the section of the rails is preferably associated with a proportional deviation of the dimensions of the rail profiles that comprise two covering elements of the invention assembled to one another, in their zone of cooperation by nesting. More particularly, the respective sections of the lateral interlocking members of the same covering element of the invention are proportionally different from one lateral edge to the other of the plate.

To reinforce the blocking of the butt joint between two cover elements of the invention, the rails are advantageously arranged as tapered fitting members in their general direction of extension. By analogy, such an arrangement is a mounting of the type with cooperating interlocking cones. More particularly, the rails are tapered from one to the other of their ends along their general direction of extension.

The interlocking members formed by the rails are particularly to be considered according to two types depending on the assembly direction of the cover elements between them. A first type corresponds to an abutting assembly exploiting the interlocking members formed by the ends of the rails taken in their general direction of extension. A second type corresponds to a lateral assembly using lateral interlocking members formed by the edge rails in association with the corresponding lateral median rails. Such an association provides a chain of interlocking reliefs combining the protruding projections between which the relief is hollowed out, conferring on the corresponding rails not only a function of interlocking connecting members, but also a lateral locking function of this nesting. In addition, the taper of the rails in their general direction of extension gives the interlocking members not only an abutting connection function between two adjacent roofing elements according to the invention, but also a longitudinal locking function of this nesting.

The fixing means of the plate on the frame are preferably of the screw type, and advantageously comprise sets of fasteners. These sets are respectively assigned to one of the edge rails and a medial rail located towards the side of the plate which is opposed to that of extension of this edge rail. The fasteners of the one and the other games are at least partly common to two similar cover elements assembled together.

More particularly, the fasteners of the same set are advantageously common to two similar laterally adjacent cover elements nested between them. The sets of fasteners are common for two abutting elements of the invention abutting, for the fasteners of these games which are used for fixing the plates on the frame in the corresponding overlapping areas which are placed in overlap . This pooling of fasteners from one to the other of the cover elements assembled to one another by interlocking makes it possible to lock the locking of this interlock obtained by means of the particular arrangement of the rails and lateral interlocking members which provide such blockages.

Description of the figures.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is an exploded perspective illustration of a cover member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention . Fig.2 is an illustration in plan view of the cover element shown in Fig.1, butt jointed with a similar cover element.

Fig.3 is a side sectional illustration of two cover elements shown in Fig.1, which are assembled together by lateral interlocking and which are installed on a frame.

In the figures, an inclined roof covering element associates a photovoltaic panel 1 and a mounting structure of this photovoltaic panel 1 on elements carrying a frame, such as rafters 2 or the like illustrated in FIG. The photovoltaic panel 1 is a common member comprising at least one solar energy collecting cell 3 which is housed inside a frame 4 arranged in a robust frame. The mounting structure is formed of a plate 5 which is equipped with screw fastening means on the frame, implementing fasteners 6 which are arranged as screws through the plate 5 to be stuck in a corresponding chevron 2 of framing. The plate 5 is preferably formed from a light, stainless metal material, such as aluminum. The photovoltaic panel 1 is secured by sealing to the plate 5, particularly by welding, through the frame 4. The cover element forms a one-piece assembly which is able to be easily handled by an operator and to be installed directly on rafters 2 of the roof, where appropriate after removal of current roofing elements 7 such as tiles, slates or other similar cover members current. The plate 5 has overhangs D which are formed around the photovoltaic panel 1 and which define assembly areas between two cover elements joined to each other when they are laid on the frame.

The plate 5 comprises rails 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 for supporting the photovoltaic panel 1 and interlocking between two adjacent roofing elements, both by abutment as illustrated in FIG. 2 and laterally as illustrated. in fig.3. The rails are derived from the plate 5, being formed by deformation of the plate 5 in its general plane, by folding in particular. More particularly, the plate 5 comprises a set of median rails 8, 9, 10 which are interposed between a set of edge rails 11, 12. The median rails comprise lateral median rails 8, 10 between which is disposed an intermediate median rail 9. The edge rails 11, 12 are arranged at the outer lateral edge of the photovoltaic panel 1 to provide lateral interlocking members between two elements of cover laterally assembled. The ends of the assembly of the rails 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 provide interlocking members by abutting between two covering elements assembled in the direction of the slope of the roof. The profile of the rails 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 is of trapezoidal conformation flared towards the face 13 of the plate 5 which forms the base of the covering element in the installation station on the frame, to facilitate the interlocking between cover elements assembled during their installation on site.

The abutment between two adjacent roofing elements is made in a longitudinal direction L1 of the cover element, which corresponds to the general direction of extension of the rails 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. The rails 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 are tapered in their general direction of extension L1, to block the interlocking between two abutting cover elements. The joining by abutment between two cover elements is easily performed by the operator by sliding, until blocking this interlocking obtained from the taper of the rails 8,9,10,11,12 of one to the other of their ends.

The overlap of the two elements obtained when the blocking is achieved, is of the order of 20 cm, in accordance with the standards in force. The median rails 8, 9, 10 form between them channels 14 for the drainage of runoff water and inclement weather. These channels 14 are formed on the face 15 of the plate 5 which is opposite to the seat face 13 of the cover element installation station on the frame. The rails 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 are oriented, in their general direction of extension L1 and in the installation station on the frame, in the direction of the slope of the roof for the evacuation by natural flow along the plate 5 water from the roof and weather water infiltrating between the cover elements successively assembled to each other.

The lateral assembly between two cover elements is made in the lateral direction L2 of the cover element, oriented orthogonally to the general extension direction L1 of the rails 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. The edge rails 11, 12, in combination with a corresponding lateral median rail 8, provide interlocking members 16, 17, 18 forming a relief chain, which associates, according to their orientation towards the general plane of the photovoltaic panel. a pair of protruding projections 16,17 between which is formed a recessed relief 18. The recessed relief 18 is formed by the space separating a bordering rail 11,12 and a lateral median rail 8,10 neighbors, d a distance of the order of that corresponding to the thickness of the rails 8,9,10,11,12. The dimensions of the reliefs 16, 17, 18 are proportionally different from one another to the lateral edges of the covering element, a clearance being provided between the lateral engagement members 16, 17, 18 to facilitate the assembly between two cover elements joined laterally to one another.

The sealing of the photovoltaic panel 1 on the plate 5 is made in the workshop by sealing joints 19,20 which are placed at the edge of the photovoltaic panel, as visible in Fig.2 and Fig.3. The number and the extent of these seals 19,20 are adapted according to the dimensions of the photovoltaic panel 1. The support by the plate 5 of the photovoltaic panel 1 is obtained using the middle rails 8,9,10 and of one of the edge rails 11. More particularly, the photovoltaic panel 1 rests on the set of the middle rails 8, 9, 10, and sealing joints 19 are formed between the edges of the frame 4 and, in the direction longitudinal L1, the edges of one of the edge rails 11 and the lateral median rail 10 which is located towards the opposite edge of the plate 5. Seals 20 are also formed between the frame 4 and the other middle rails 8 , 9 in the lateral direction L2. Considered according to the lateral directions L2 and longitudinal L1 of the covering element, the photovoltaic panel 1 is shifted to provide a satisfactory and comfortable interlocking between two cover elements assembled to one another, while limiting the gap of separation between the photovoltaic panels they contain respectively. The overhangs D of the plate 5 considered along the longitudinal directions L1 and lateral L2 are respectively larger surfaces for two longitudinal and lateral overhangs D, than for the other two corresponding overhangs D, longitudinal and lateral.

The cover element is fixed to the frame via the border rail 11 and the lateral median rail 10 which are operated for lateral interlocking between two cover elements. The fasteners 6 are distributed along these rails 10,11 through which they pass, to fix the covering element on the corresponding chevrons 2 of the frame. The fasteners 6 are divided into two sets respectively assigned to the edge rail 11 and the lateral median rail 10, being at least partly common to two corresponding cover elements assembled. This pooling of the sets of fasteners 6 corresponds to all the fasteners 6 of a game in the case of a lateral assembly, and to at least two pairs of fasteners 6 of the two games. respectively assigned to each of the ends of the edge rail 11 and the corresponding lateral median rail 10 in the case of a joint by abutment.

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Claims (1)

1. A roofing element for an inclined roof, this roofing element comprising a photovoltaic panel (1) formed of a frame (4) which is arranged in a frame and which houses at least one photovoltaic cell (3), and a structure of mounting fitted to the photovoltaic panel (1) for its installation on a frame, characterized in that the mounting structure is formed of a plate (5) which is provided with fastening means (6) on the frame and which forms a substructure on which the photovoltaic panel (1) is attached and joined, in that the plate (5) extends over the edge (D) of the periphery of the photovoltaic panel (1) and integrates by deformation in its general plane a plurality of rails parallel (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) for supporting the photovoltaic panel (1) and sealingly interlocking between two similar adjacent roofing elements, by overlapping the corresponding overhangs (D), and in that the rails comprise streak ls medians (8,9,10) which are placed in interposition between border rails (11,12), the middle rails (8,9,10) between them channels (14) aeration and drainage of runoff waters which extend under the photovoltaic panel (1), the edge rails (11,12) constituting at the outer edge of the photovoltaic panel (1) overlapping lateral engagement members (16,17,18) with similar lateral interlocking members (16, 17, 18) provided by a similar laterally adjacent cover member. 2. A cover element according to claim 1, characterized in that the photovoltaic panel (1) is fixed integrally to the plate (5) via the frame (4), the edges of the frame being engaged by sealing joints (19,20) on the rails (8,9,10,11,12) supporting the photovoltaic panel (1). 3.- Covering element according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the middle rails (8, 9, 10) comprise two lateral medial rails (8, 10) and at least one intermediate median rail ( 9) which is interposed between the side rails (8, 10), in that the photovoltaic panel (1) is fixed along an edge rail (11) and along the lateral median rail (10) located towards the side of the plate (5) which is opposed to that of extension of this edge rail (11), and in that the edges of the frame (4) are fixed on the edges of said border rail (11) and the said lateral median rail (10) which are facing on corresponding median rails (8,9). 4.- Covering element according to claim 3, characterized in that the edge rails (11,12) form with lateral lateral rails (8,10) lateral interlocking members (16,17,18) which are each composed of a pair of raised projections (16,17) between which is formed a recessed relief (18). 5.- covering element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ends of the rails (8,9,10,11,12) located in the corresponding areas of overflow (D) of the plate ( 5) form interlocking members cooperating by overlapping with the corresponding ends of the rails (8,9,10,11,12) that comprises a similar abutting neighboring cover member. 6. A cover element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the profile of the rails (8,9,10,11,12) is flared towards the face (13) of the plate (5) through which the roofing element in the installation station rests on the frame. 7. Covering element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the respective sections of the lateral latching members (16,17,18) are proportionally different from one side edge to the other of the plate (5). 8.- Covering element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the rails (8,9,10,11,12) are tapered from one to the other of their ends in their direction general extension (L1). 9. A cover element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fastening means (6) of the plate on the frame are of the type by screwing. 10. Covering element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the means for fixing the plate (5) on the frame comprises sets of fasteners (6) which are respectively assigned to one of the edge rails (11) and to a median rail (10) located towards the side of the plate (5) which is opposed to that of extension of this edge rail (11), the fastening members (11) 6) of the one and the other games being at least partly common to two similar cover elements nested between them.