Photovoltaic roof and method of making same

Patent · Tue Mar 03 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5247669

Nath, P; Laarman, T

This patent describes a method of installing a photovoltaic panel structure. It comprises providing a laminate including a photovoltaic device disposed on a front surface of a structural substrate material, the substrate material and photovoltaic device each having a preselected length and width such that the width of the device is less than the width of the substrate material; cutting strips of laminate off the coil; reinforcing the strips by bending the side edges thereof to form flanges disposed at an angle to the front surface so as to form a plurality of substantially rigid photovoltaic panels, each panel including a photovoltaic device for providing electrical output in response to incident radiation; electrically interconnecting the photovoltaic devices on the plurality of panels proximate the rear surface of the substrate material of the panels; and fastening the panels onto a support substructure such that a sealed panel structure is formed on the support substructure.

• Assignee: United Solar Systems Corp., Troy, MI (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5092939
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-620047
• OSTI ID: 5247669
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS
PANELS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER SYSTEMS
RADIATIONS
ROOFS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION