Abstract:
Support plate adapted for fitting into a photovoltaic panel and allowing the fixing and the integration of this panel onto a building roof, said plate comprising leaktight vertical overlap means, leaktight leteral fitting means adapted for cooperating with a neighboring plate, protruding studs for positioning the plate which are raised, characterized in that the plate comprises a central portion forming a hood which is deliminated by a front face designed to be arranged opposite the photovoltaic panel and a rear face, said hood comprising an aperture adapted for allowing the recovery of air interposed between the photovoltaic panel and the front face of the hood.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FR2015/051233, filed on May 11, 2015, which claims the benefit of FR 14/54405, filed on May 16, 2014. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a support plate for photovoltaic panel. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    The installation and the fastening of photovoltaic panels are traditionally performed using metallic rail systems which are heavy and require adapted means of transport. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, the traditional systems are often exposed to the risk of water infiltration. 
         [0006]    An installation device of photovoltaic panels described and shown in the document EP-A-2541162, which includes a thermoformed plate promoting the installation of the photovoltaic panels, is known. 
         [0007]    This support plate is adapted to fit in a photovoltaic panel and to allow the fastening and the integration of this panel on a building roof. The plate comprises watertight vertical overlap means, watertight lateral interlocking means, fastening points of the plate, and a recess for the passage of the cables and the access to the framework of the roof. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present disclosure relates to a support plate adapted to fit in a photovoltaic panel and to allow the fastening and the integration of this panel on a building roof, said plate comprising:
       watertight vertical overlap means,   watertight lateral interlocking means adapted to cooperate with an adjacent plate,   positioning blocks of the plate which are raised, characterized in that the plate includes a central portion forming a cover which is delimited by a front face designed to be arranged opposite to the photovoltaic panel and by a rear face, said cover including a mouth adapted to allow the recovery of the air interposed between the photovoltaic panel and the front face of the cover.       
 
         [0012]    Such a design allows recovering the heat dissipated by the photovoltaic panel, for example by sucking the hot air contained between the back of the photovoltaic panel and the cover through the mouth provided for this purpose. 
         [0013]    Thus, the assembly constituted by the plate and the photovoltaic panel allows transforming the solar energy into electricity and heat which can be directly exploited by means of a ventilation device for example. 
         [0014]    According to one form, the plate has a recess for the passage of the cables and the access to the framework of the roof, the cover being an insert adapted to obstruct said recess. 
         [0015]    According to this form, the cover can be mounted on a preexisting plate. 
         [0016]    In one form, the cover is adapted to be mounted by form-fitting interlocking on the plate. 
         [0017]    This characteristic allows a simple and fast fastening of the cover on the associated plate. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect, the mouth has a tubular shape which extends from the rear face of the cover and which is designed to be connected to an air extraction device. 
         [0019]    Furthermore, the cover delimits at least one hole which is adapted for the passage of the cables. 
         [0020]    Advantageously, the plate comprises a bead disposed so as to inhibit the flow of water coming from the ridge of the roof in the recess, the cover being arranged inside a perimeter delimited by said bead. 
         [0021]    Also, the plate includes at least one reinforcement which is interposed between the lateral interlocking means and the roof and which is designed to inhibit the crushing of said interlocking means. 
         [0022]    Furthermore, the plate includes a plurality of guide rails which are arranged upstream of the recess along the flow direction of the water coming from the ridge of the roof, and which are arranged in a generally inverted V shape in order to divert the flow of water on the lateral sides of the recess. 
         [0023]    The present disclosure also concerns an assembly formed by a photovoltaic panel and a plate fitted in said photovoltaic panel. 
         [0024]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a top view which illustrates the support plate equipped with a cover for the heat recovery according to the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view which illustrates the support plate of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional detail view according to the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a lateral edge of the cover of  FIG. 1  and the bead of the support plate; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional detail view according to the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 , which illustrates the mouth for recovery of air from the cover; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional detail view according to the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  which illustrates the lower edge of the cover; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective detail view, which illustrates a hole for the passage of cables formed on the cover; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a side view which illustrates the watertight lateral interlocking means of the support plate; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional detail view, which illustrates a reinforcement of the lateral interlocking means. 
       
    
    
       [0034]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0036]    In the description and the claims, we will use, in a non limiting manner, the expressions “upper,” “lower” and their derivatives with reference, respectively, to the upper part and the lower part of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]    Furthermore, in order to clarify the description and the claims, we will adopt, in a non limiting manner, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse terminology with reference to the trihedron L, V, T indicated in the figures, the vertical axis V being considered herein parallel to the slope of the roof, without reference to the earth gravity. 
         [0038]    Of all of these figures, identical or similar references show identical or similar members or sets of members. 
         [0039]    It is noted that, in the present patent application, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” should be understood relative to the slope of the roof on which the plate is intended to be mounted and to the direction of the flow of the runoff water. 
         [0040]    There is shown in  FIG. 1  a support plate  10  adapted to fit in a photovoltaic panel (not shown) and to allow the fastening and the integration of this panel on a building roof. 
         [0041]    The plate  10  includes watertight vertical overlap means  12  and watertight lateral interlocking means  14 . 
         [0042]    The vertical overlap means  12  are formed by an upper transverse band  16  and by a lower transverse band  18  which are adapted to allow the overlap of an upper support plate and a lower support plate which are vertically juxtaposed. 
         [0043]    According to this configuration, the lower band  18  of the upper plate  10  covers the upper band  1   6  of the lower plate  10  so as to provide watertightness. 
         [0044]    For this purpose, the overlap means are provided with a graduation  20  which is designed to adjust the vertical overlap and the covering between two juxtaposed plates. 
         [0045]    To this end, the graduation  20  represents a graduated measuring scale for example, which is engraved, printed or molded onto the upper band  16  of the support plate  10 . 
         [0046]    Thus, the graduation  20  allows measuring the overlap of two support plates  10  and guaranteeing a minimum covering and a good watertightness. 
         [0047]    Furthermore, the graduation  20  allows setting the overlap of two juxtaposed support plates  10  depending on the size of the photovoltaic panel to be installed, so that the support plates can be adapted to different formats of photovoltaic panels. 
         [0048]    As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the lateral interlocking means  14  comprise a first profile  22  and a second profile  24  each extending vertically on the sides of the plate  10  and each having a hollow section in a generally inverted U shape. 
         [0049]    The first profile  22  has a shape adapted to be fitted into the cavity formed by the second profile  24 , when two adjacent support plates  10  are transversely juxtaposed, in order to ensure a good watertightness between the plates. 
         [0050]    According to  FIG. 8 , a staple  26  is fastened to the profiles  22 ,  24  by means of a screw  28 . 
         [0051]    The staple  26  includes a first retaining tab  30  which is adapted to cooperate with a photovoltaic panel carried by a first plate  10 , and a second retaining tab  32  which is adapted to cooperate with a photovoltaic panel carried by a second plate  10 . 
         [0052]    In case of pressure exerted on the photovoltaic panels, pressure due to the wind for example, the panels can transmit a compression force with a vertical component on the interlocking means  14 . 
         [0053]    In order to inhibit the crushing of the interlocking means  14 , the support plate  10  is equipped with a reinforcement  34  which is interposed between the lateral interlocking means  14  and the roof. 
         [0054]    A crushing of the interlocking means  14  is to be avoided because it would risk to open a water infiltration passage, for example by deformation of the hole of passage of the screw  28 , or by a lifting of the second profile  24 . 
         [0055]    The reinforcement  34  is an insert which is arranged in the cavity delimited by the first profile  22  of the interlocking means  14  to oppose the crushing of the interlocking means  14 . 
         [0056]    In a non limiting manner, the reinforcement  34  may also be integrated and formed by the first profile  22 , for example during the molding of the first profile  22 . 
         [0057]    According to another aspect, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support plate  10  includes positioning blocks  36  of the photovoltaic panel which allow the positioning, the guiding, the wedging of the photovoltaic panel and the support of the feet of the panels installers. 
         [0058]    Furthermore, each positioning block  36  is associated with a piercing area  38  which is arranged downstream of the positioning blocks  36  to be protected from the water flow and which is raised so as to avoid the water penetration. 
         [0059]    The piercing area  38  means an area which is designed to allow the piercing and the passage of fastening means. The piercing area  38  may include a print or a mark indicating a piercing location, and/or a mechanically pre-weakened area to promote the piercing for example. 
         [0060]    As it can be seen in  FIG. 2 , each piercing area  38  is less raised than the associated positioning block  36  in order to allow the arrangement of fastening means, such as screws (not shown), without these fastenings means going beyond the associated positioning block  36  not to hamper the installation of the photovoltaic panel. 
         [0061]    Also, the support plate  10  delimits a recess  40  for the passage of the cables and the access to the framework of the roof. 
         [0062]    The recess  40  is topped by a bead  42  which is disposed so as to inhibit the flow of water coming from the ridge of the roof in the recess  40 . 
         [0063]    More particularly, the bead  42  has an inverted U shape formed by a first lateral portion  44 , a second lateral portion  46  and an upper transverse portion  48 . 
         [0064]    A groove  50  is formed in the upper portion  48  of the bead  42 , allowing the passage of cables between the plate  10  and the photovoltaic panel. 
         [0065]    As it can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the plate  10  comprises a plurality of guide rails  52  which are arranged upstream of the recess  40  along the direction of the water flow coming from the ridge of the roof, and which are arranged in a generally inverted V shape in order to divert the water flow on the lateral sides of the recess  40 . 
         [0066]    Each guide rail  52  forms a bead raised to divert the water flow on the lateral sides of the recess  40 . 
         [0067]    Also, the plate  10  comprises raising means  58  of the photovoltaic panel which allow ventilating the photovoltaic panel. 
         [0068]    Finally, the plate  10  is provided with wedges  60  which are arranged upstream of the positioning blocks  36 , and which allow evacuating the water coming from the ridge of the roof. 
         [0069]    Furthermore, the wedges  60  are designed to support the photovoltaic panel. 
         [0070]    According to another aspect, the support plate  10  includes a cover  62  which extends in a transverse and vertical plane and which is delimited by a front face  64  which is arranged opposite to the photovoltaic panel and a rear face  66 . 
         [0071]    The cover  62  is mounted by form-fitting interlocking on the plate  10  so as to obstruct the recess  40 . 
         [0072]    In a non limiting manner, the cover  62  can be fastened by screwing or gluing or any other adapted means. 
         [0073]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the cover  62  is delimited by a first lateral edge  68 , an opposite second lateral edge  70  and an upper edge  72  which cooperate with the first portion  44 , the second lateral portion  46  and the transverse upper portion  48  of the bead  42  respectively, so as to block the cover  62  in an obstruction position of the recess  40 . 
         [0074]    Furthermore, as it can be seen in detail in  FIG. 5 , the cover  62  is delimited by a step-shaped lower edge  74  which cooperates with a lower edge  76  whose shape is complementary to that of the recess  40 . 
         [0075]    According to one form, the cover  62  is an insert designed to be mounted on the support plate  10 , thanks to which the cover  62  may equip an existing support plate  10 . 
         [0076]    However, in a non limiting manner, the cover  62  may be made integrally by molding in one piece with the support plate  10 . 
         [0077]    Similarly, the cover  62  may be secured to the photovoltaic panel, so that the assembly constituted by the cover  62  and the photovoltaic panel is mounted directly in the recess  40  of the plate  10 . 
         [0078]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the cover  62  includes a tubular-shaped mouth  78 , shown in detail in  FIG. 4 , which extends from the rear face  66  of the cover  62  and which is designed to be connected on an extraction or ventilation device (not shown) such as a bypass ventilation device for example. 
         [0079]    The mouth  78  is adapted to allow the recovery of the air which is heated by the photovoltaic panel and which is contained between the photovoltaic panel and the front face  64  of the cover  62 . 
         [0080]    Furthermore, the cover  62  delimits two holes  80  each adapted to allow the passage of cables (not shown), in particular the cables connected to the photovoltaic panel. 
         [0081]    As it can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , each hole  80  is associated with a protrusion which extends from the rear face  66  of the cover  62  and which allows guiding the cables passed through the holes  80 . 
         [0082]    The present description of the disclosure is given by way of non limiting example. 
         [0083]    It will be understood that the plate  10  can also be designed and sized to allow a laying in landscape. 
         [0084]    The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.