Modular roof covering element, modular roof covering, and roof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10027274-B2
Application number	US-201515124063-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2015
Priority date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

Roof (2), at least in part covered by a modular roof covering, said modular roof covering comprising a plurality of modular elements (1) for covering said roof, wherein the plurality of elements is arranged such that at least part of a roof is fully covered by the plurality of elements, and wherein each element is coupled via coupling means to at least one adjacent further element of the plurality of elements, and the roof having sloped rafters (4) extending mutually parallel to a roof ridge, wherein the plurality of elements is directly mounted onto rafters, wherein preferably each element is supported, in a direction transverse to the rafters, onto two neighboring rafters.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A roof, at least in part covered by a modular roof covering, said modular roof covering comprising a plurality of modular elements for covering said roof, wherein each modular element comprises:
a box-shaped container having an interior, an at least substantially flat bottom wall which in use faces the roof, and being open on an upper side, and being at least substantially made of a polymer,
a photovoltaic element which is disposed within the interior of the container,
a cover for covering said open upper side, and being connected to the container, wherein the cover is light transparent to such an extent that in use electrical power can be generated by the photovoltaic cell due to incident sunlight, and
interlocking coupling elements for coupling each of the modular elements to at least one of the roof or to a further modular element, for covering a roof with the plurality of modular elements, wherein the plurality of modular elements is arranged such that at least part of the roof is covered by the plurality of modular elements, and wherein each modular element is coupled via the interlocking coupling element to at least one adjacent further modular element, and the roof having sloped rafters extending mutually parallel to a roof ridge, wherein the plurality of modular elements is directly mounted onto the sloped rafters, and wherein each modular element is supported, in a direction transverse to the rafters, onto two neighboring rafters, wherein in each modular element the container has an opening in two opposite side walls extending from the bottom wall to the cover, such that in use air can flow through the container.

2. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein in the modular element the cover is releasably connected to the container.

3. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein in the modular element the polymer is a polyolefin.

4. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein in the modular element the polymer is a reinforced polymer.

5. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises PMMA (Poly(methyl methacrylate)), a polycarbonate, PET, polypropylene, or polyethylene.

6. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein the interlocking coupling element of a modular element is configured for a form-closed coupling of the element to a further element.

7. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein in the modular element the photovoltaic element comprises at least one of
a plurality of photovoltaic cells which are placed on an upper surface, facing the interior, of the bottom wall of the container; and
a plurality of photovoltaic cells fixed onto a flexible sheet, the sheet being suspended within the interior of the container.

8. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein the interior of the container is fully surrounded by walls of the container and by the cover.

9. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein an air gap is present in between the cover and the container.

10. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein the opening in the two opposite side walls is such that in use air can flow through the interior.

11. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein in the modular element the cover has, on an outer, upper side, the shape of a pattern of roof tiles.

12. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein at least one modular element comprises:
a supporting carrier having a first side and a second side, wherein said corresponding photovoltaic element is disposed on the first side of the supporting carrier and arranged for generating electrical power by a direct current voltage from the incident sunlight;
a micro converter, connected to the photovoltaic element and arranged for converting the direct current voltage to an alternating current voltage;
inductive coupling device, comprising:
a supply coil connected to the micro converter, and
a pickup coil disposed at or near the second side of the supporting carrier and inductively coupled to the supply coil for transferring the electrical power.

13. The roof according to claim 12 , wherein the supporting carrier, the photovoltaic element, the micro converter and the supply coil are disposed within the interior of the box-shaped container, wherein the second side of the supporting carrier faces a bottom side of the box-shaped container.

14. The roof according to claim 13 , wherein the inductive coupling device further comprises a core, wherein the core is penetrating the bottom side of the box shaped container, and wherein the supply coil is wound around the core within the interior of the box-shaped container and the pickup coil is wound around the core outside the interior of the box-shaped container.

15. The roof according to claim 13 , wherein the supporting carrier, the photovoltaic element, and the micro converter are exchangeably disposed in the interior of the box-shaped container.

16. The roof according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one modular element further comprises a converter connected to the pickup coil and arranged for transporting the inductively coupled electrical power.

17. The roof according to claim 16 , wherein the converter is configured to convert an alternating current voltage inductively coupled to the pickup coil to a direct current voltage.

18. The roof according to claim 13 , wherein the pickup coil is mounted on the bottom side of the box-shaped container.

19. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is for at least covering a majority of said open upper side.

20. The roof according to claim 1 , wherein the interlocking coupling elements comprise a rib, a groove, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Assignees

• Saudi Basic Ind Corp
• Sabic Global Technologies Bv

Inventors

• Van Giesen Roland
• Steenbakkers-Menting Henrica

Classifications

• H02S20/23 Primary

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title

• E04D2001/309

  Ventilation tiles · CPC title

• E04D13/17

  Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for (ventilation of rooms or spaces F24F) · CPC title

• E04D1/30

  Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles (E04D3/40 takes precedence) · CPC title