Photovoltaic systems with wireways

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12424973-B2
Application number	US-202418659493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2024
Priority date	Apr 4, 2023
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on and arranged in an array on a roof deck. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes first and second ends, and a baseplate located at the first end. The baseplate of one of the photovoltaic modules is substantially aligned with the baseplate of an adjacent another one of the photovoltaic modules. The baseplate is configured to receive at least one electrical component. The substantially aligned baseplates include a longitudinal axis. The system includes at least one wire cover removably attached to at least one of the baseplates. The at least one wire cover is moveable in at least a first direction transverse relative to the longitudinal axis.

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 the photovoltaic modules includes a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module,
wherein the first photovoltaic module is vertically adjacent to the second photovoltaic module,
wherein each of the photovoltaic modules includes
a first end and a second end opposite the first end,
a first side lap located at the first end,
a second side lap located at the second end,
a first baseplate on the first side lap,
wherein the first baseplate of the first photovoltaic module is substantially aligned with the first baseplate of the second photovoltaic module, and
wherein the first baseplate is configured to receive at least one electrical component;

a first cover removably attached to at least one of the first baseplates; and
at least one second baseplate installed on the roof deck,
wherein the at least one second baseplate includes a base portion and a wing portion extending from the base portion, and wherein the wing portion is configured to receive at least one fastener for installing the at least one second baseplate to the roof deck, and
wherein the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of a first one of the at least one second baseplate; and

a second cover, wherein the second cover is installed on at least the first ne of the at least one second baseplate.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module overlays the base portion of the first one of the at least one second baseplate, wherein the wing portion of the first one of the at least one second baseplate extends outwardly from the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of roofing shingles, wherein a first one of the plurality of roofing shingles overlays the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module and the first one of the at least one second baseplate.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the first photovoltaic module, and wherein the second side lap of the second photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the first one of the plurality of roofing shingles.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a second one of the plurality of roofing shingles overlays the second side lap of the second photovoltaic module.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein a second one of the at least one second baseplate overlays at least a portion of the second one of the plurality of roofing shingles.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of photovoltaic modules includes a third photovoltaic module, wherein the third photovoltaic module is vertically adjacent to the second photovoltaic module, and wherein the first baseplate of the third photovoltaic module is substantially aligned with the first baseplate of the second photovoltaic module.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the third photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the second photovoltaic module, and wherein the second side lap of the third photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the second one of the at least one second baseplate.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein a third one of the plurality of roofing shingles overlays the second side lap of the third photovoltaic module and the second one of the at least one second baseplate.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second side lap of the third photovoltaic module overlays the base portion of the second one of the at least one second baseplate, wherein the wing portion of the second one of the at least one second baseplate extends outwardly from the second side lap of the third photovoltaic module.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second cover is installed on the at least one second baseplate.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one second baseplate includes an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, and a wall at the lower end, wherein the second side lap of each of the photovoltaic modules includes a lower end, and wherein the lower end of the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module is juxtaposed with the wall of the first one of the at least one second baseplate.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of roofing shingles includes a lower edge, and wherein the lower edge of the first one of the plurality of roofing shingles is juxtaposed with the wall of the first one of the at least one second baseplate.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the lower end of the second side lap of the third photovoltaic module is juxtaposed with the wall of the second one of the at least one second baseplate.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the lower edge of the third one of the plurality of roofing shingles is juxtaposed with the wall of the second one of the at least one second baseplate.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cover is moveable in at least a first direction, and wherein the first direction is transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the substantially aligned first baseplates.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second cover is moveable in the first direction.

18. 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 the photovoltaic modules includes a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module, wherein the first photovoltaic module is adjacent to the second photovoltaic module,
wherein each of the photovoltaic modules includes
a first end and a second end opposite the first end,
a first side lap located at the first end,
a second side lap located at the second end,
a first baseplate on the first side lap,
wherein the first baseplate of the first photovoltaic module is substantially aligned with the first baseplate of the second photovoltaic module, and

at least one second baseplate installed on the roof deck,
wherein the at least one second baseplate includes a base portion and a wing portion extending from the base portion, and wherein the wing portion is configured to receive at least one fastener for installing the at least one second baseplate to the roof deck, and
wherein the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module overlays a first one of the at least one second baseplate, and

wherein the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module overlays the first one of the at least one second baseplate; and
a plurality of roofing shingles,
wherein a first one of the plurality of roofing shingles overlays the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one second baseplate includes an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, and a wall at the lower end, wherein the second side lap of each of the photovoltaic modules includes a lower end, and wherein the lower end of the second side lap of the first photovoltaic module is juxtaposed with the wall of the first one of the at least one second baseplate.

Assignees

• GAF Energy LLC

Inventors

• West Brian
• Wilke Peter
• Clemente Peter
• Rossi Gary
• MARENTETTE Thomas

Classifications

• H02S20/23 Primary

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title

• H02S40/34

  comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes · CPC title

• H10F19/80

  Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title