Patent ID: 8266846

Claim:
A solar panel roof surface comprising a roof support substructure having a series of parallel hollow support beams extending downwardly from a roof peak to a roof edge; a series of solar panels secured to and cooperating with said series of parallel hollow support beams to collectively define a closed sloped roof surface; said series of solar panels being positioned and supported to define elongate segments of abutting panels where each elongate segment includes a plurality of abutting panels with said elongate segment being one panel wide and supported by adjacent hollow support beams; and wherein said abutting panels include a water resistant sealing arrangement between panels whereby water on said panels flows along the length of said elongate segments and across abutting panels to said roof edge; and wherein said series of hollow support beams include a top surface including a central upwardly opening securing slot positioned between said elongate segments and panel segment support surfaces on said top surface either side of said securing slot supporting edges of said solar panels and at least one drainage channel in said top surface and extending the length of the support beam for draining of water received in said channel to said roof edge; and a series of fasteners received in said upwardly opening securing slot that engage said slot and cooperate with an upper flanged member to draw said upper flanged member downward pressing said panels against said top surface of said elongate support beams with sufficient pressure to secure said panels to said support beams.