Building integrated photovoltaic system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12013153-B2
Application number	US-202318165535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2023
Priority date	Feb 8, 2022
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on a roof deck in an array. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes a wire cover bracket substantially aligned with the wire cover bracket of an adjacent another one of the photovoltaic modules. At least one cover is removably attached to at least one of the wire cover brackets. The cover includes a top portion, a first side portion extending from a first side of the top portion, and a second side portion extending from a second side of the top portion opposite the first side. The top portion of the at least one cover is configured to divert water from entering the wire cover bracket from above the at least one cover. The first and second side portions are configured to divert water from entering the wire cover bracket from a lateral direction relative to the wire cover bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on a roof deck,
wherein the photovoltaic modules are arranged in an array on the roof deck,
wherein each of the photovoltaic modules includes
a first end and a second end opposite the first end,
at least one solar cell,
a side lap at the first end,
wherein the side lap includes an upper surface,

a wire cover bracket located at the first end,
wherein the wire cover bracket is on the upper surface of the side lap,
wherein the wire cover bracket of one of the photovoltaic modules is substantially aligned with and adjacent to the wire cover bracket of an adjacent another one of the photovoltaic modules, and
wherein the wire cover bracket is configured to receive at least one electrical component; and

at least one cover removably attached to at least one of the wire cover brackets,
wherein the at least one cover includes a top portion, a first side portion extending from a first side of the top portion, and a second side portion extending from a second side of the top portion opposite the first side,
wherein the top portion of the at least one cover is configured to divert water from entering the wire cover bracket from above the at least one cover, and
wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are configured to divert water from entering the wire cover bracket from a lateral direction relative to the wire cover bracket.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the cover extends in a first direction, wherein the first direction is substantially planar with the roof deck, wherein the first side portion of the cover extends in a second direction, wherein the second direction is oblique to the roof deck, and wherein the second side portion of the cover extends in a third direction, wherein the third direction is oblique to the roof deck.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the cover includes a substantially trapezoidal-shaped cross section.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the cover includes an inner surface and at least one locking member extending from the inner surface, wherein one of the at least one wire cover bracket includes at least one receptacle, and wherein the at least one receptacle is sized and shaped to removably receive a corresponding one of the at least one locking member.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one locking member includes a locking pin, and wherein the locking pin extends from the inner surface of the top portion.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the top portion includes an inner surface and at least one hinge arm extending from the inner surface, wherein one of the at least one wire cover bracket includes a least one hinge base, wherein the at least one hinge base is configured to receive the at least one hinge arm, and wherein the cover is rotatably moveable from and to a first position, in which one end of the cover is proximate to one end of the one of the at least one wire cover bracket, and a second position, in which the one end of the cover is distal from the one end of the one of the at least one wire cover bracket.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the cover includes at least one projection extending from the inner surface, wherein the at least one projection includes a tabbed portion, wherein the one of the at least one wire cover bracket includes at least one sidewall having a slot, and wherein the tabbed portion of the cover is removably engaged with the slot of the one of the at least one wire cover bracket when the cover is in the first position.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a first section and a second section adjacent the first section, wherein the first section has a first cross-sectional shape, wherein the second section includes a second cross-sectional shape, and wherein the first cross-sectional shape is different from the second cross-sectional shape.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes a first wall and a second wall located above and spaced apart from the first wall, and wherein the first wall and the second wall form a first space therebetween.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first side portion includes a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from the first wall of the first side portion, wherein the second side portion includes a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from the first wall of the second side portion, wherein the first wall of the first side portion and the second wall of the first side portion form a second space therebetween, and wherein the first wall of the second side portion and the second wall of the second side portion form a third space therebetween.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the first space, the second space, and the third space are sized and shaped to receive air flow therethrough.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cover is removably attached to a plurality of the wire cover brackets.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wire cover brackets of the plurality of photovoltaic modules are configured to form a wire channel.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising an end cap, wherein the wire channel includes a first end, wherein the end cap is attached to one of the wire cover brackets located at the first end of the wire channel.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the end cap includes a top portion, wherein the top portion of the end cap extends in the first direction, wherein the top portion of the end cap is substantially aligned with the top portion of the cover, wherein the end cap includes a first side portion, wherein the first side portion of the end cap extends in the second direction, wherein the first side portion of the end cap is substantially aligned with the first side portion of the cover, wherein the end cap includes a second side portion, wherein the second side portion of the end cap extends in the second direction, wherein the second side portion of the end cap is substantially aligned with the second side portion of the cover.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the end cap includes a plurality of vents.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire cover includes a plurality of wire covers, and wherein a first one of the plurality of wire covers is coupled with a second one of the plurality of wire covers.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of wire covers includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the wire cover, and wherein at least the first one of the plurality of wire covers includes at least one tongue located at the first end thereof, and wherein the at least one tongue is coupled with the second end of the second one of the plurality of wire covers.

Assignees

• GAF Energy LLC

Inventors

• Clemente Peter
• Wray Evan
• Kuiper Mike
• West Brian D
• Rossi Gary
• Abra Lewis
• Perkins Richard
• Bunea Gabriela
• Nguyen Thierry

Classifications

• F24S25/61

  for fixing to the ground or to building structures · CPC title

• F24S25/70

  with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances · CPC title

• F24S2020/11

  in the form of multiple rows and multiple columns, all solar modules being coplanar · CPC title

• F24S40/10

  Protective covers or shrouds; Closure members, e.g. lids (transparent coverings F24S80/50) · CPC title

• F24S2025/022

  Sealing means between support elements, e.g. overlapping arrangements; Gap closing arrangements · CPC title