Solar panel roof system with raised access panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11894798-B2
Application number	US-202016937640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2020
Priority date	Oct 1, 2012
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A solar module for a roof covering system that generates electrical power from sunlight includes a frame having a bottom surface supported on a deck of a roof, a top surface, and a thickness between the bottom surface and the top surface. The solar module also includes a solar element mounted to the top surface of the frame which has an upper surface. a micro-inverter mounted to the top surface of the frame and to the side of the solar element, and a raised access panel that is removably coupled to the frame to surround the micro-inverter. The raised access panel has an access panel top surface that is elevated above the upper surface of the solar element. The top surface of the frame forms a water shedding surface below the micro-inverter for directing water away from the roof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A roof mounted solar power system comprising:
a plurality of solar modules configured to be mounted along a deck of a roof, each solar module comprising:
a bottom surface, a top surface, side edges, a flat recess portion below at least one side edge, and
a flat extension portion along another side edge thereof,

wherein the side edges of each solar module are configured to overlap with at least one adjacent side edge of at least one additional solar module when installed along the deck of the roof;
wherein the flat extension portion is configured to be received on top of a flat recess portion of an adjacent solar module to form a substantially water-tight joint therebetween;
a solar element adapted to generate electrical power from sunlight and positioned along the top surface of the solar module, the solar element having an upper surface;
wherein when the plurality of solar modules are installed along the deck of the roof in at least one row of solar modules, the bottom surfaces of each of the solar modules of the at least one row of solar modules together define a substantially continuous surface extending along a length of the at least one row of solar modules, and the top surfaces of the solar modules of the plurality of solar modules define a water shedding surface below the solar elements thereof for directing water away from the roof, and
a water resistant barrier between the deck of the roof and the bottom surfaces of the solar modules;
wherein the water resistant barrier is in direct contact with the bottom surfaces of the solar modules.

2. The roof mounted solar power system of claim 1 , wherein the solar element is received within an area defined along the top surface of the solar module and between the side edges thereof for aligning with adjacent solar elements.

3. The roof mounted solar power system of claim 1 , further comprising an inverter mounted along the solar module and coupled to the solar element.

4. The roof mounted solar power system of claim 1 , wherein the solar module further comprises a frame formed from a resilient material.

5. The roof mounted solar power system of claim 1 , wherein the solar module further comprises a frame comprising a metal material.

6. A roof mounted solar power system, comprising:
a plurality of solar modules configured to be mounted along a deck of a roof, each solar module having side edges, a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat recess portion below at least one side edge of the solar module, and a flat extension portion along another side edge thereof,
wherein the flat extension portion is configured to be received on top of a flat recess portion of an adjacent solar module to form a substantially water-tight joint;
a solar element having an upper surface adapted to generate electrical energy from sunlight, and a lower surface positioned along the top surface of at least one solar module of the plurality of solar modules; and
a water resistant barrier positioned along the deck of the roof and in direct contact with the bottom surface of the solar module;
wherein, when the plurality of solar modules are installed on the deck of the roof in at least one row of solar modules, the bottom surfaces of each of the solar modules of the at least one row of solar modules together define a substantially continuous surface extending along a length of the at least one row of solar modules, and the top surfaces of the solar modules of the plurality of solar modules are configured to define a water shedding surface below the lower surfaces of the solar elements; and
wherein the side edges of the at least one solar module are configured to connect with corresponding side edges of adjacent solar modules in an overlapping arrangement.

7. The roof mounted solar power system of claim 6 , further comprising a receptacle defined along the top surface of the at least one solar module and surrounded by a perimeter edge surface, and wherein the at least one solar element is received within the receptacle.

8. The roof mounted solar power system of claim 6 , wherein the side edges of at least some of the solar modules define lap joints for coupling with a laterally-adjacent solar module.

9. The roof mounted solar power system of claim 6 , wherein the solar modules further comprise frames formed from a resilient material.

Assignees

• Building Mat Investment Corp
• Bmic Llc

Inventors

• Rodrigues Tommy F
• Railkar Sudhir
• Boss Daniel E
• Gennrich David J
• Boudreau Cory
• Nett Daniel R
• Kallsen Kent J

Classifications

• H02S20/23 Primary

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title

• H02S40/32

  comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title