Interlocking Roofing System
An interlocking roofing system is disclosed which simplifies the installation of roofing shingles, creates a stronger seal between the side edges of adjacent shingles, and further strengthens the attachment of the system to the roof and between the rows of shingles. The interlocking roofing system comprises shingles that are adhesively connected together and adhesively attached to the roof deck, the connection between the shingles forming a channel which draws water away from the adhesive connection area. The interlocking roofing system further comprises solar shingles that are adhesively and electrically interconnected, extending the circuiting via an electrical interconnection system to an electrical system or electrical devices.
1 . (canceled)
2 . The solar roofing system of claim 2 , wherein the truncated channel begins at a location at least 1″ from the top side of the solar roofing shingle.
3 . The roofing system of claim 2 , wherein the channel along the left short side comprises a convex cross-section and the channel along the right short side comprises a concave cross-section.
4 . The solar roofing system of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of solar roofing shingles comprises an adhesive covered by a protective backing material and wherein the protective backing material is removed at a time of installation, exposing the adhesive.
5 . The solar roofing system of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of solar roofing shingles comprises a photovoltaic module embedded within the solar shingle.
6 . (canceled)
7 . (canceled)
8 . The solar roofing system of claim 5 , wherein each solar roofing shingle comprises photovoltaic material.
9 . The solar roofing system of claim 5 , wherein each solar roofing shingle further comprises a plurality of contacts adjacent the respective channels along the right and left short sides wherein the contacts electrically connect the solar shingle to an adjacent solar shingle.
10 . The solar roofing system of claim 9 , wherein each solar roofing shingle further comprises electrical wiring connecting the photovoltaic module to the contacts.
11 . The solar roofing system of claim 5 , wherein the photovoltaic module further comprises control circuitry which controls an electrical current flowing between one or more solar roofing shingles.
12 . The solar roofing system of claim 5 , wherein one or more solar roofing shingles of the plurality of shingles are connected to an electrical interconnection system comprising one or more at least partially insulated electrical conductors;
a waterproof membrane;
wherein the partially insulated electrical conductors are embedded within the membrane;
a conductive surface of the partially insulated electrical conductors being exposed on an exterior surface of the membrane;
electrical wires connected to each of the one or more linear lengths of partially insulated electrical conductors; and
wherein the conductive surface on the exterior surface of the membrane is only exposed in areas that align to the contacts of the one or more solar roofing shingles electrically connected thereto.
13 . The solar roofing system of claim 12 , wherein the conductive surface is adhesively attached and electrically connected to one or more solar roofing shingles.
14 . (canceled)
15 . The solar roofing system of claim 12 , wherein the conductive surface is coated with an electrically conductive material that enables electrical conduction from the electrical contact to the conductive surface.
16 . The solar roofing system of claim 15 , wherein an electrically insulating adhesive coats a surface area between a first side of the membrane and the one or more solar roofing shingles, creating an air tight and moisture tight seal encapsulating an area surrounding the electrically conductive material.
17 . The solar roofing system of claim 12 , wherein the electrical conductors and the conductive surface is comprised of one or more of electrically conductive materials including alloys of copper, aluminum, nickel, stainless steel, silver, graphite, tungsten, and carbide.
18 . The solar roofing system of claim 15 , wherein the electrical connection materials comprise electrically conductive adhesive.
19 . The solar roofing system of claim 18 , wherein the electrically conductive adhesive comprises carbon, graphite, tungsten, graphene, gallium, rubidium, phosphorus, carbon nanotubes, carbide, or a combination thereof
20 . The solar roofing system of claim 16 , wherein the electrically insulating adhesive allows for expansion and contraction.
21 . A solar roofing system comprising:
a plurality of solar roofing shingles, each shingle comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and opposed right and left short sides intersecting the top and bottom sides normal to the short sides,
the left short side comprising a protruding edge comprising a channel adjacent to the protruding edge running the length of the left short side and open to the top surface;
the right short side comprising a receiving edge comprising a channel adjacent to the receiving edge running the length of the right short side and open to the bottom surface,
wherein the plurality of roofing shingles interconnect by overlapping along the respective channels with adjacent solar roofing shingles similarly configured;
the solar roofing shingles further comprising one or more truncated channels open to the top surface disposed intermediate and parallel to the respective short sides, the truncated channels being closed adjacent to the top side and open to the bottom side of each respective solar roofing shingle and the truncated channel comprising a base ramp leading downward to the bottom side.