Photovoltaic roofing elements
View Patent ↗The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing element including a roofing substrate; a photovoltaic element disposed on the roofing substrate; an electrical connector operatively connected to the photovoltaic element, the electrical connector having a top side, a down-roof side and an electrical terminus; and a shield disposed adjacent the electrical terminus of the electrical connector on its down-roof side, its top side, or both.
1. A photovoltaic roofing element comprising
a roofing substrate;
a photovoltaic element disposed on the roofing substrate;
an electrical connector operatively connected to the photovoltaic element, the electrical connector having a top side, a down-roof side and an electrical terminus; and
a shield disposed adjacent the electrical terminus of the electrical connector on its top side or both its down-roof side and its top side, the shield having an top-facing surface disposed adjacent the top side of the electrical connector, the shield including a vertical or down-roof pointing flange extending from the top-facing surface of the shield.
2. A photovoltaic roofing element comprising
a roofing substrate;
a photovoltaic element disposed on the roofing substrate;
an electrical connector operatively connected to the photovoltaic element, the electrical connector having a top side, a down-roof side and an electrical terminus; and
a shield affixed to and extending vertically away from the roofing substrate, the shield being disposed adjacent the electrical terminus of the electrical connector at least on its down-roof side.
3. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the shield is in substantial contact with the roofing substrate.
4. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 3 , wherein the shield is sealed to the roofing substrate with a sealant.
5. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the terminus of the electrical connector is on its up-roof side.
6. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the shield is integrally formed with or physically connected to the electrical connector.
7. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing substrate is flexible.
8. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing substrate has formed therein a recess shaped to at least partially receive the electrical connector and the shield.
9. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 8 , wherein the recess is formed in a top surface of the roofing substrate.
10. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 8 , wherein the recess is formed in a side of the roofing substrate.
11. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 8 , wherein the recess is formed in a bottom surface of the roofing substrate.
12. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing substrate comprises a base of roofing material having a top surface, the top surface having a headlap zone and an exposure zone, and one or more layers of shim material disposed on the top surface of the base in the headlap zone; wherein the electrical connector and the shield are disposed on the top surface of the base; and wherein the one or more layers of shim material have a total thickness at least about as great as the thickness of the combination of the electrical connector and the shield.
13. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing substrate comprises a base of roofing material having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having a headlap zone and an exposure zone; and one or more layers of shim material disposed on the bottom surface of the base; a photovoltaic element disposed on the top surface of the base; wherein the electrical connector and the shield are disposed on the top surface of the base; and wherein the one or more layers of shim material have a total thickness at least about as great as the thickness of the combination of the electrical connector and the shield.
14. A photovoltaic roofing system including an electrically-interconnected plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements according to claim 1 .
15. The photovoltaic roofing system of claim 14 , wherein the photovoltaic roofing system comprises:
a first photovoltaic roofing element, the first photovoltaic roofing element comprising
a flexible roofing substrate having a recess formed in its top surface or in its side surface,
a photovoltaic element disposed on the flexible roofing substrate, and
an electrical connector operatively coupled to the photovoltaic element and at least partially disposed in the recess; and
a second photovoltaic roofing element disposed so as to cover the electrical connector of the first photovoltaic roofing element, the second photovoltaic roofing element comprising:
a flexible roofing substrate,
a photovoltaic element disposed on the flexible roofing substrate, and
an electrical connector operatively coupled to the photovoltaic element.
16. The photovoltaic roofing system of claim 14 , wherein the photovoltaic system comprises:
a first photovoltaic roofing element, the first photovoltaic roofing element comprising
a flexible roofing substrate,
a photovoltaic element disposed on the flexible roofing substrate, and
an electrical connector operatively coupled to the photovoltaic element; and
a second photovoltaic roofing element disposed adjacent the first photovoltaic roofing element, the second photovoltaic roofing element comprising:
a flexible roofing substrate having a recess formed therein, the electrical connector of the first photovoltaic roofing element being at least partially disposed in the recess,
a photovoltaic element disposed on the flexible roofing substrate, and
an electrical connector operatively coupled to the photovoltaic element.
17. A roof comprising a roof deck and a photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 14 disposed on the roof deck.
18. A method for installing a photovoltaic roofing system, the method comprising disposing on a roof deck and electrically interconnecting a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements, each comprising
a roofing substrate;
a photovoltaic element disposed on the roofing substrate;
an electrical connector operatively connected to the photovoltaic element, the electrical connector having a top side, a down-roof side and an electrical terminus; and
a shield disposed adjacent the electrical terminus of the electrical connector on its top side or both its down-roof side and its top side, the shield having an top-facing surface disposed adjacent the top side of the electrical connector, the shield including a vertical or down-roof pointing flange extending from the top-facing surface of the shield.
19. A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing system, the kit comprising a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements according to claim 1 .
20. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the flange points in a vertical direction.
21. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the flange points in the down-roof direction.
22. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the shield has a lateral dimension in the range of about 1 cm to about 5 cm.
23. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the flange extends from the top surface of the shield at or down-roof from the electrical terminus of the electrical connector.
24. The photovoltaic roofing element according to claim 1 , wherein the shield overhangs the electrical terminus of the electrical connector, and flange extends from the top surface of the shield at or up-roof from the electrical terminus of the electrical connector.