Profile and device for assembling photovoltaic panels within a building structure, and in particular a roof, and building structure integrating these elements

<u>TECHNICAL AREA</u>

The present invention relates to the field of the buildings which are integrated photovoltaic panels for generating electrical energy from solar radiation.

More specifically, the invention relates to a profile and a mounting device such photovoltaic panels in an element of a building structure, and in particular of a roof. It also relates to a building structure, and in particular a roof with at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels are mounted by means of a copy of the profile.

<u>PRIOR ART</u>

A set of photovoltaic panels even produces more electricity than the area it covers is extended and exposed to solar radiation. The roofs offer such surfaces so that it is now common to install photovoltaic panels at building roofs, such as homes, offices, classrooms and workshops, which can house the electrical equipment electricity transformation produced by the panels into usable electrical energy.

The photovoltaic panels equipping a building may be supported above the roof of the building by an external structure such as that disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US20050166383A"><text>US-2005/0166383</text></patcit>. They can also be integrated in the roof of the building so as to be thus less visible.

When this is the case, a seal is provided between the solar panels and the roof structure. This seal can be made of plates that support photovoltaic panels and overlap while being oriented so that their undulations are substantially parallel to the greater slope of the roof, as proposed in the document<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1310747A"><text>EP-1310747</text></patcit>. Such corrugated sheets are heavy, bulky and difficult to install.

In the document <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE202005015455"><text>DE 20 2005 015 455</text></patcit>There is described another solution whereby the seal between photovoltaic panels and the building framework is provided by a membrane covering the upper face of the underlying flat plates. At these flat plates are fixed several profiles each of which supports one or more pairs of adjacent photovoltaic panels. As corrugated sheets mentioned above, the plates covered with the membrane are bulky, heavy and difficult to install. In addition, the laying of the membrane is a delicate operation that can lead to poor sealing if improperly performed. A sealing Roofing fault can also result from tears or other perforations of the membrane.

In all cases, such a sealing fault can not be detected by a quick visual inspection of the roof, without having to detach photovoltaic panels, since they obscure in origin.

<u>DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION</u>

The invention was first intended to facilitate the assembly of photovoltaic panels integrated into roofing, and generally a structure of a building, regardless of its destination.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a profile, in particular elongate, mounting of photovoltaic panels. This profile defines a base for fixing to an element of the structure of a building, and in particular to a roof structure, and a longitudinal foot support of at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels. It is<b>characterized in that</b>On each side of the support leg, the section defines two longitudinal channels for disposal or drainage, which are oriented in a direction opposite to the base.

Each of these gullies is able to evacuate rainwater who eventually infiltrated between the foot of the section and a photovoltaic panel. Also, it is no longer necessary to provide a seal under the photovoltaic rings, whose assembly is thereby simplified.

Advantageously, the support leg is provided with fixing means, in particular reversibly, with a lower structure.

This bottom structure may consist, for example, a security organ, net-like, able to resist falling debris may result from a ruptured or photovoltaic panels. But it may also consists of an aesthetic purpose element and / or decorative.

Advantageously, the support leg comprises two longitudinal ribs opposite each other, each for at least support one of two adjacent photovoltaic panels.

Advantageously, the profile has a transverse reinforcing wall which connects at least two ribs of the support leg to each other, this transverse wall and at least a portion of the base forming part of a set of walls rigidly connecting two by two to each other. When this is the case, the profile is robust, yet lightweight and inexpensive.

Advantageously, the strip includes first and second longitudinal walls, each of which partially defines one of the two flow channels, one side of the support leg.

Advantageously, opposite the base, each of said first and second longitudinal walls defines a bearing surface for at least one of two adjacent PV modules away from the support foot. In this way, the longitudinal walls to the support part of the photovoltaic panels, in addition to delimit the flow channels.

Advantageously, each of the first and second longitudinal walls comprises a bending zone allowing its elastic deformation in the direction of a crash to the base. Such bending zone provides a tolerance in the positioning of the solar panels with respect to the mounting rail.

The invention also relates to a photovoltaic panel mounting arrangement in a roof. It is characterized in that it comprises a profile which is as defined previously, and whose foot is provided with at least one longitudinal seal for the support of at least one of the two photovoltaic panels adjacent.

Advantageously, the mounting means includes a jaw and a tightening member of a border of at least one adjacent photovoltaic panels between this jaw and the foot of the profile.

The invention further relates to a building structure, including a roof with multiple photovoltaic panels. This building structure<b>characterized in that</b>It comprises at least one profile as defined above, and whose foot partially supports at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels, along an edge of each of these photovoltaic panels, and which is inclined so that the two channels of this profile can drain by gravity rainwater.

Advantageously, the two adjacent photovoltaic panels are supported respectively on the first longitudinal wall and the second longitudinal wall.

Advantageously, the building structure, and in particular the roof comprises at least one sealed joining elongate seal defining two grooves which each is rotated in the direction opposite to the other groove and which extend along the length of the tight junction joint , each receiving groove to seal an edge of one of two adjacent photovoltaic panels between which is arranged the sealed junction joint. Such a seal ensures excellent sealing while providing a tolerance for the assembly of photovoltaic panels.

<u>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES</u>

The invention will be better understood from reading the following description given purely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is a partial schematic top view of a roof according to the invention, partially disassembled;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">2</figref> is a partial schematic view in section along the line II-II of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>Illustrating in particular two adjacent photovoltaic panels that partially supports a mounting rail according to a first embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> is a partial schematic view in section along the line III-III of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> ; and</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> is a schematic end view of a mounting rail according to a second embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

<u>EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION</u>

On the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> are partially represented three substantially horizontal fault <b>1</b> a frame. This structure is part of a roof, whose coverage has several photovoltaic panels<b>2</b> supported by oblique profiles <b>3</b> according to a first embodiment of the invention. On the<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>Several photovoltaic panels <b>2</b> were dismantled in the interests of clarity.

profiles <b>3</b> are arranged substantially in the direction of the steepest slope of the roof, orthogonally fault <b>1</b> several of which each of them is fixed by means of fastening members such as self-drilling screws <b>4.</b>

As can be seen in <figref idrefs="f0002">2</figref>, Each section <b>3</b> is part of a mounting device which further comprises pairs of lower jaw <b>5</b> and higher <b>6</b> pairs of longitudinal seals <b>7</b> and <b>8</b>, And screws <b>9</b> tightening of photovoltaic panels borders <b>2</b> between a bottom seal <b>7</b> and a top seal <b>8.</b>

each profile <b>3</b> is substantially symmetrical about a vertical plane <b>P</b> and comprises a base <b>10</b> for mounting and fixing the breakdowns <b>1.</b> this base <b>10</b> comprises two lateral and longitudinal flanges <b>11</b> each of which is drilled with several through holes <b>12</b> to allow passage of self-drilling screws <b>4.</b> each wing <b>11</b> has a vertical portion <b>13</b> provided with a longitudinal flange <b>14</b> for the attachment of a net <b>15</b> if appropriate implemented as part of the manipulation or the installation of photovoltaic panels, and likely further recover debris may result from the breakage or rupture of one or more panels phovoltaïques <b>2.</b> The base <b>10</b> also includes an intermediate portion <b>16</b> that extend the lateral wings <b>11</b> and from which there extend upwardly two longitudinal walls <b>17</b> connected to each other by a transverse wall <b>18</b> Unlikely to play the role of reinforcement profile.

In contrast to the base <b>10,</b> each wall <b>17</b> ends with a flange <b>19</b> defining a surface <b>20</b> Support of a photovoltaic panel <b>2.</b> Between the flange <b>20</b> and the transverse wall <b>18</b> each longitudinal wall <b>17</b> has a bending line area <b>21</b> which gives it a capacity for elastic deformation in the direction of a crash to the base <b>10.</b>

The transverse wall <b>18</b> a foot support <b>22</b> into two parts, each of which has the form of a rib <b>23</b> provided with a flange <b>24</b> Installation and support of a bottom seal <b>7.</b> each joint <b>7</b> is provided with a cross-section of heel T, retained in a groove of complementary shape <b>25</b> formed in a flange <b>24.</b>

The two ribs <b>23</b> a foot <b>22</b> define between them a flow channel <b>26</b> which the transverse wall <b>18</b> forms the bottom. This transverse wall<b>18</b> also forms the bottom of the other two flow channels <b>27</b> that run along the foot <b>22</b> and each of which is laterally delimited by the rib <b>23</b> supra, and by a longitudinal wall <b>17</b> one side of this foot <b>22.</b>

each profile <b>3</b> and two lower seals <b>7</b> equipping laterally support in part two photovoltaic panels <b>2</b> adjacent, each of which is also based on the astragal <b>7</b> carried by a rib <b>23</b> of another section <b>3.</b> Support for photovoltaic panels <b>2</b> also the result of the longitudinal walls <b>16.</b>

At a section <b>3</b> a border of each photovoltaic panel <b>2</b> supported by this strip <b>3</b> is immobilized by clamping between a lower seal <b>7</b> and a top seal <b>8.</b> A screw <b>9</b> screwed into a threaded hole of the lower jaw <b>5</b> is at the origin of this tightening, exerted on the joints <b>7</b> and <b>8</b> through the upper jaw <b>6</b> and a flange <b>24.</b>

The bottom seal <b>7</b> is specifically a longitudinal seam extending over the entire length of the foot <b>22</b> and which provides a seal between one or more photovoltaic panels <b>2</b> and the profile <b>3</b> that is to say between the inside of the roof and the outside. In case of failure of this seal, water can seep along the foot<b>22</b> in which case it is collected and discharged by gravity through a channel <b>27</b> without being able to reach the roof structure.

In other words, the channels <b>27</b> ensure safety in case of leakage along a lower seals <b>7</b> so that it is no longer necessary to have a sealing membrane between the profiles <b>3</b> and the roof structure.

On the <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> is shown a seal <b>28</b> providing a tight joint between two photovoltaic panels <b>2</b> adjacent which are arranged following one another in the direction of the slope of the roof. this seal<b>28</b> is elongated so as to extend between two opposite edges of these photovoltaic panels <b>2</b>. It has a cross section of H and defines two longitudinal grooves<b>29</b> each of which is oriented away from each other, and in each of which is engaged an edge of a photovoltaic panel <b>2.</b>

The assembly of the roof covering with photovoltaic panels <b>2</b> is particularly easy to realize it does not require the installation of heavy and bulky or fragile plates waterproofing membranes and can be perforated between failures 1 and photovoltaic panels <b>2</b>. It is also facilitated by the tolerances provided in the placement of photovoltaic panels<b>2</b> from each other.

On the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> shows a section <b>103</b> according to a second embodiment of the invention. In what follows, it describes only what distinguishes the profile<b>3.</b> In addition, a reference used hereafter to designate a part of the profile <b>103</b> similar or equivalent to a referenced part of the profile <b>3</b> is constructed by adding <b>100</b> the reference identifying this part in the profile <b>3.</b>

each flange <b>114</b> includes a return <b>40</b> so as to delimit an internal groove <b>41</b> which faces the vertical portion <b>113</b> with this rim <b>114</b> and which is intended to receive the edge of a net <b>15.</b>

The transverse wall <b>118</b> connecting only the ribs <b>123</b> foot <b>122</b> and stops before reaching the longitudinal walls <b>117</b>. Also, the bottom of the troughs<b>127</b> is formed by the base <b>110,</b> on which directly adjoin the ribs <b>123.</b>

Advantageously, the different profiles are made of aluminum, in particular by die.