Plate for installing photovoltaic panels

A support plate is provided that is fitted in a photovoltaic panel and allowing said panel to be secured and incorporated onto the roof of a building. The support plate includes a sealed vertical overlapping arrangement, a sealed lateral fitting arrangement, support pads for the plate, and an empty space for cables to pass through and to allow access to framework of the roof. The support plate further includes at least one of guide rails that are arranged in an inverted general V-shape in order to divert the flow of water to lateral sides of the empty space, at least one reinforcement that is interposed between the lateral fitting arrangement and the roof and that is designed to inhibit said fitting arrangement from being crushed, and at least one drilling area and a graduation that is designed to adjust the vertical overlap between two juxtaposed support plates.

FIELD

The present disclosure concerns a plate for installing photovoltaic panels that allows for a tight, simple, and rapid installation

BACKGROUND

Installing and fastening photovoltaic panels are traditionally performed using metallic rails systems, which are heavy and require adapted transportation means.

In addition, the traditional systems are often exposed to the risk of water infiltration.

There is known a device for installing photovoltaic panels described and represented in document EP-A-2541162, which includes a thermoformed plate facilitating the installation of the photovoltaic panels.

This support plate is adapted to fit in a photovoltaic panel and enable fastening and integration of this panel on a building roof/roofing. The plate has tight vertical overlapping arrangement, tight lateral fitting arrangement, points for fastening the plate, and an empty space intended for the passage of cables and for access to the framework of the roof.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a support plate adapted to fit in a photovoltaic panel and enable fastening and integration of this panel on a building roof, comprising:

tight vertical overlapping arrangement,

tight lateral fitting arrangement,

pads for supporting the plate which are raised,

an empty space intended for the passage of cables and for access to the framework of the roof,

and further comprising at least any of the features chosen in the group comprising:

a plurality of guide rails that are arranged upstream of the empty space along the flow direction of the water coming from the ridge of the roof, and which are generally arranged in an inverted V shape so as to divert the flow of the water on the lateral sides of the empty space,

at least one reinforcement which is interposed between the lateral fitting arrangement and the roof and which is designed so as to prevent crushing of said fitting arrangement,

at least one drilling area which is arranged in the vicinity of each support pad and which is raised so as to avoid the penetration of water, and

a graduation that is designed so as to adjust the vertical overlap between two juxtaposed plates.

Each of these different features participates in improving the tightness of the support plate.

In one form, each guide rail forms a bead for diverting the flow of the water on the lateral sides of the empty space.

Besides, the fitting presents a hollow section generally formed in an inverted U shape, and the reinforcement is an affixed part which is arranged in the recess delimited by the fitting.

The reinforcement allows resisting the crushing efforts exerted on the fitting so as to preserve the tightness of the plate.

In addition, the plate comprises a bead disposed so as to avoid the flow of the water coming from the ridge of the roof in the empty space.

A groove is formed in said bead, enabling the passage of cables between the plate and the photovoltaic panel.

According to one form of the present disclosure, each drilling area is raised lesser than the associated support pad so as to enable the arrangement of fastening device.

Besides, the support plate comprises means for lifting and ventilating said photovoltaic panel, and wedges allowing flushing the water coming from the ridge of said roof.

The present disclosure also concerns a set formed by a photovoltaic panel and a plate in accordance with the foregoing fitted in this photovoltaic panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description and in the claims, the expressions “upper,” “lower” and their derivatives will be used without limitation respectively with reference to the upper portion and lower portion ofFIG. 1.

In addition, in order to clarify the description and the claims, the terms longitudinal, vertical and transverse will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron L, V, T indicated in the figures, the vertical axis V herein being considered to be parallel to the slope of the roof, without any reference to the terrestrial gravity.

In all these figures, identical or similar reference numerals represent identical or similar members or sets of members.

It is to be noted that in the present patent application, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” should be understood with reference to the slope of the roof on which the plate is intended to be mounted and to the flow direction of the runoff water.

InFIG. 1, there is represented a support plate10adapted to fit in a photovoltaic panel (not represented) and enable fastening and integration of this panel on a building roof.

The plate10includes a tight vertical overlapping arrangement12and tight lateral fitting arrangement14.

In one form, the vertical overlapping arrangement12are formed by a transverse upper strip16and by a transverse lower strip18which are adapted to enable overlapping of an upper support plate and of a lower support plate vertically juxtaposed.

According to this configuration, the lower strip18of the upper plate10covers the upper strip16of the lower plate10so as to ensure a perfect tightness.

For this purpose, the overlapping arrangement are provided with a graduation20which is designed so as to adjust the vertical overlap and the coverage between two juxtaposed plates.

To this end, the graduation represents for example a graduated measuring scale, which is engraved, printed or molded on the upper strip16of the support plate10.

Thus, the graduation20allows measuring the overlap of two support plates10and providing a low coverage and a good tightness.

In addition, the graduation20allows setting the overlap of two juxtaposed support plates10based on the dimension of the photovoltaic panel to be installed, so that the support plates can adapt to different formats of photovoltaic panels.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the lateral fitting arrangement14comprise a first profile22and a second profile24, each extending vertically on the sides of the plate10and each presenting a hollow section generally formed in an inverted U shape.

The first profile22presents a shape adapted to fit in the recess formed by the second profile24, when two adjacent support plates10are juxtaposed transversely, so as to ensure a good tightness between the plates.

According toFIG. 4, a clip26is fastened on the profiles22,24by means of a screw28.

The clip26includes a first retaining leg30which is adapted to cooperate with a photovoltaic panel carried by a first plate10, and a second retaining leg32which is adapted to cooperate with a photovoltaic panel carried by a second plate10.

In the case of a pressure exerted on the photovoltaic panels, for example a pressure due to the wind, the panels can transmit a compressive effort with a vertical component on the fitting arrangement14.

In order to inhibit crushing of the fitting arrangement14, the support plate10is equipped with a reinforcement34which is interposed between the lateral fitting arrangement14and the roof.

A crushing of the fitting arrangement14is to be avoided because it would risk opening a passage for water infiltration, for example by deformation of the hole intended for the passage of the screw28, or by a rise of the second profile24.

The reinforcement34is an affixed part which is arranged in the recess delimited by the first profile22of the fitting arrangement14so as to resist crushing of the fitting arrangement14.

In a non-limiting manner, the reinforcement34may also be integrated and formed by the first profile22, for example during the molding of the first profile22.

According to another aspect, with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the support plate10includes pads36for supporting the photovoltaic panel which are lifted so as to raise the photovoltaic panel.

The support pads36allow the positioning, the guidance, the wedging of the photovoltaic panel and the support of the feet of the mounters of the panels.

In addition, each support pad36is associated to a drilling area38which is arranged downstream of the support pads36in order to be protected from the water flow and which is raised so as to avoid the penetration of water.

By drilling area38, is meant an area which is designed so as to enable the drilling and the passage of fastening device. The drilling area38may include an imprint or a mark indicating a drilling location, and/or an area mechanically pre-weakened in order to facilitate drilling, for example.

As can be seen inFIG. 2, each drilling area38is raised lesser than the associated support pad36so as to enable the arrangement of fastening device, such as screws (not represented), without these fastening device surpassing the associated support pad36in order not to hinder the set-up of the photovoltaic panel.

Besides, the support plate10delimits an empty space40intended for the passage of cables and for access to the framework of the roof.

The empty space40is surmounted by a bead42which is disposed so as to avoid the flow of the water coming from the ridge of the roof in the empty space40.

A groove44is formed in the bead42, allowing the passage of cables between the plate10and the photovoltaic panel.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, the plate10comprises a plurality of guide rails46which are arranged upstream of the empty space40along the flow direction of the water coming from the ridge of the roof, and which are generally arranged in an inverted V shape so as to divert the flow of the water on the lateral sides of the empty space40.

Each guide rail46forms a lifted bead for diverting the flow of the water on the lateral sides of the empty space40.

Besides, the plate10comprises means50for lifting the photovoltaic panel which allow ventilating the photovoltaic panel.

Finally, the plate10is equipped with wedges52which are arranged upstream of the support pads36, and which allow flushing the water coming from the ridge of the roof.

In addition, the wedges52are designed so as to support the photovoltaic panel.

The plate10is formed in one single piece, with the possible exception of the reinforcement34, in one form by injection molding, or by stamping or by any other manufacturing method.

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. For example, It will be understood that the plate10may also be designed and sized so as to enable mounting in a landscape fashion. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.