IP Library Granted Patent US 8,794,583
Granted Patent B2
US 8,794,583 · App. 13/129,378 · Granted Aug 5, 2014

Device for supporting photovoltaic cell panels, support system and installed assembly

Inventors: Alain Poivet (Versailles, FR); Eric Chameau (Rocquencourt, FR)
Assignee: KBFX LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,794,583
App. No.
13/129,378
Granted
Aug 5, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Device for supporting photovoltaic cell panels, which is formed from a section with a height between 5 and 25 cm, comprising a central portion ( 1 ), two gutters ( 2 ) symmetrical with respect to the support and running along the section over the entire length thereof, a retaining rail ( 3 ) at the base, fastening means ( 4 ), for fastening two photovoltaic cell panels ( 5 ), a thermal insulation, and a complementary sealing device.

Claims (16)

1. A solar panel supporting system for supporting a plurality of solar panels, the system comprising a plurality of longitudinal supporting components arranged substantially parallel to each other, wherein each longitudinal supporting component having its lengthwise direction positioned substantially along a slope direction of the solar panel supporting system and having a length greater than a length or a width of one solar panel, and at least one longitudinal supporting component ( 201 , 201 a , 201 b , 134 , 135 , 104 , 105 , 113 , 115 , 175 ) having a central portion ( 201 ), and a top portion,

wherein the top portion closes off the central portion ( 201 ) and includes a flat surface ( 175 ) at an apex of the top portion and on top of which a respective lengthwise frame portion of each of two adjacent solar panels is attached, the lengthwise frame portion running along the length of the at least one longitudinal supporting component, the flat surface being substantially perpendicular to the mid-plane of the central portion ( 201 ), the mid-plane being in a substantially vertical direction of the central portion ( 201 ),

wherein the central portion ( 201 ) has a height and width sufficient to provide structural rigidity along the length of the longitudinal supporting component to prevent deformation in the lengthwise direction of the longitudinal supporting component and to provide ventilation space to prevent overheating of the solar panels after the solar panels are attached to the flat surface of the top portion of the longitudinal supporting component.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a beam or structural component as the longitudinal supporting component.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one longitudinal supporting component is made of one or more components.

4. The system claim 1 , wherein the system is attached to any one of the following: a transversal frame girder of a roof ( 124 , 125 ), transversal frame girder of a façade ( 124 , 125 ), a joist, a frame, a grid, a lattice, a shell, a cable, a membrane, a wall or a façade, a wall plate, a wooden deck, a metal deck, a diaphragm, a covering, a slab, a post, or components of a building.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an impervious layer ( 17 , 17 a ) to provide water proofing.

6. The system claim 1 , further comprising a layer of thermal insulation ( 14 , 200 ).

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the space formed between adjacent parallel longitudinal supporting components ( 201 , 201 a , 201 b , 134 , 135 , 104 , 105 , 113 , 115 , 175 ) is an air channel.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is used in lieu of braces, purlins, sub-purlins and other structural components used in a traditional construction of a roof, a façade, an outer skin or a solar system.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more longitudinal supporting components ( 201 , 201 a , 201 b , 134 , 135 , 104 , 105 , 113 , 115 , 175 ) is capable of supporting external loads, wherein the external loads are attached either directly or indirectly via subsystems to one or more longitudinal supporting components, and wherein the external loads can include one or more of the following: a ceiling inside the building, construction components ( 200 , 14 , 17 , 17 a , 101 , 102 ), in-door equipment, out-door equipment ( 101 , 102 ), anti-fall systems, out-door loads and in-door loads.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cable way ( 214 , 224 ).

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one gutter ( 194 , 204 ).

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cover section ( 185 ) located between adjacent solar panels ( 101 , 102 ).

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a connecting piece ( 203 ), wherein the connecting piece ( 203 ) connects two longitudinal supporting components.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a base ( 114 , 115 ) that extends laterally on at least one side of the central portion in a substantially horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to the central portion, and having a thickness capable of withstanding vertical loads when the solar panels are attached to the flat surface of the top portion of the longitudinal supporting component.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2014
From: POIVET, ALAIN
To: KBFX LLC
Reel/Frame 033122/0206 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2013
From: CHAMEAU, ERIC
To: POIVET, ALAIN
Reel/Frame 031030/0330 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 08 06419 · Nov 17, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110215213A1 · Sep 8, 2011