FR2498664A1 - Combined roof tile and solar collector - has hollow tile to tile connectors allowing heat exchange fluid circulation - Google Patents

Abstract

The tile has a plane plate with a rear heel turned upwards and a front rebate turned downwards. The lateral edges of the tiles have edge gutters with a cover allowing tile to tile anchoring. Within the mass of the tile are lateral cold water intakes and hot water exit channels connected to heat exchangers and covered by the transparent cover. Elbow joints are turned downwards forming female ferrules and connect to elbow joints which are turned upwards and form male ferrules, the ferrules forming tile end connections.

Description

 The present invention relates to a roofing element having a double function of roofing element, having the general shape of a tile - to within dimensions - and of a circulation panel for a fluid storing solar energy.

 In the field of solar roofs, installations are known in which the covering is provided by a first series of elements separated from a second series of elements having the sole function of ensuring the circulation of a heat transfer fluid and the heat exchange between this fluid and the solar energy collected. Such installations have numerous drawbacks both from the point of view of their installation and maintenance and from the point of view of their cost and their complexity.

 The present invention intends to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a roofing element having the simplicity of laying traditional elements (tiles or the like) while having in an integrated manner circulation channels for the heat-transferable fluid which can be connected almost automatically to the den of the pose.

 To this end, the invention relates to a solar roof element of a building in the general form of a tile constituting pan.

insulation and circulation panel for a fluid storing solar energy and comprising an incorporated connection system. According to one of the main characteristics of the invention, this panel comprises a main element constituted by a substantially flat plate provided at its longitudinal ends respectively with a posterior heel rotates upwards and an anterior flap rotates downwards, and along its lateral edges a gutter with edges and a covering allowing the plates to be hooked together, said main element being equipped in its mass with a lateral channel for supplying cold fluid and with a lateral channel for evacuating the hot fluid, while a flat heat exchanger is connected to said lateral channels, each of the aforementioned supply and evacuation channels being for.

seen, in a single piece with said main element, at its anterior end of a connection elbow forming a female end piece facing downwards and projecting longitudinally beyond said flap, and at its rear end of a connection elbow forming end piece m31e rotates upwards and located longitudinally below the above heel.

 In addition, the upper face of the aforementioned plate comprises a transparent cover attached with a sealed hinge on the aforementioned exchanger to form a chamber with greenhouse effect.

 Preferably, the underside of said plate is provided with an insulating layer.

 Advantageously, the end of each connection end piece has an internal shoulder for the female end piece and an external shoulder for the male end piece forming a bearing for an annular seal and in that each msle end piece is bordered laterally by means for anchoring a jumper for assembling male and female end pieces.

 In an alternative embodiment, the plate comprises under the exchanger a sealed box forming a dark room.

 Finally, according to a preferred method of manufacturing the invention, the main element is produced in a single piece of plastic material reinforced with glass fibers, by means of a press.

 , The invention will be better understood during the description given below By way of purely indicative example and a limitation which will make it possible to identify the advantages and the secondary characteristics thereof.

 Reference will be made to the appended drawings in which - FIG. X illustrates an external view of two consecutive roof elements according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, - FIG. 2 is a partial section view of a connection of two elements according to Figure 1 at the hot fluid discharge channels, - Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of two connected elements, the cutting plane being parallel to that of Figure 2 but between the two lateral supply and discharge channels, - Figure 4 illustrates in a partial cross-sectional view the lateral connection of two adjacent panels, - Figure 5 is a partial top view of the adjacent ends of two laterally adjacent elements.

 Referring first to Figure 1, we see two elements 1 and 2 in the general shape of a tile capable of forming the cover of a building and solar energy collector module. The dimensions of these modules are variable, but a preferred dimension will be 130 cm in length by 80 Cl in width. Each of these panels is constituted by a part or main element pal 3 constitutes by a substantially flat plate having at its longitudinal ends, a posterior heel 4 and a front flap 5. The lateral ends of this plate are respectively provided with at least one ledge gutter 6 and a covering 7 which will be described in more detail in FIG. 4. Parallel to the covering 7, the plate comprises in its mass a first lateral channel 8 for supplying distribution of a cold fluid intended to store the 'solar energy. Likewise parallel to the rim gutter 6, the plate is also fitted in its laasoe @ with a second channel for evacuating the hot fluid. This channel is not visible in FIG. 1 laie will bear the reference 9 in the other figures. Each of these channels is provided at its front end with a connection elbow 8a 9a turned downward and forming a female end piece, and at its rear end, with a connection elbow 8b 9b facing upwards and forming a male end piece. These connection elbows are provided in one piece with the plate 3 and extend for the female end caps beyond the flap 5 and for the male end caps below the heel 4, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the plate, from so that the connection is effective above a portion of the plate 3, any leaks being drained by the plate itself acting as a tile with regard to rainwater and said leaks.

In this figure, we finally see a cover 10 transparent to sunlight which forms a sealed box above the plate 3, thus enclosing the two supply and discharge channels 8 and 9 and forming between them a
volume with a greenhouse effect. Between the two channels, either an added den, or as soon as the element is manufactured, and in one piece with the latter, a heat exchanger ll comprising a front distributor channel 12 connected to the supply channel 8 and a posterior collecting channel 13 connected to the evacuation channel 9 between which a bundle of parallel tubes extends in which the fluid to be heated circulates. In the embodiment shown, and as will appear more clearly with reference to the following figures, the exchanger is in one piece with the element prince pal 3.

 We can already see that the roofing panel according to the invention is posed on a frame like a tile, the male and female ends coming in line with each other and allowing the connections of the channels of the consecutive panels. The preferred embodiment of the means for holding these connections will be explained in detail below.

 Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view along the axis of the channel 9 at the connection 9a 9b. This figure shows some of the elements already described with reference to Figure 1, with the same references.

 It will be noted, with reference to this figure, that the heel 4 has a lower bottom length 4a allowing the panel of the invention to be hooked onto a transverse structure here shown in the form of a tee section 14.

This part 4a has a plurality of orifices 15 (the one shown in the figure is located in front of the cutting plane) allowing the installation of an adjustable fixing hook 16.

 Under the panel, that is to say under the plate 3 which has appropriate stiffening ribs 3a, there is a layer 17 of insulation material of the foam plastic type. This material is bonded under the plate either in an attached manner or at the time of its manufacture and the said ribs cooperate in its fixing. The skin 17a of this material can constitute a surface for facing the sub-roof and for this purpose can have an aesthetic appearance.

 It will also be noted in this figure that the plate 3 has vertical edges such as 3b forming the side walls of a box closed by a cover 28. This box forms a dark chamber allowing an additional accumulation of energy and has a certain thermal inertia which can avoid the risks of sunshine and form a regulator in the rise in temperature of the heat transfer fluid. This box extends under the entire surface of the exchanger and is coated with the insulating layer 17 which fixes the cover 18 to the walls 3b.

 The male end piece 9b of the discharge channel has at its upper part an external shoulder 19 while the female end piece 9a has an internal shoulder 20.

 These shoulders allow the reading in place of an O-ring 21 sealing the connection of two end pieces.

 On the upper right part of the figure, the cutting plane has been removed in front of the general cutting plane to reveal the anterior distribution channel 12 of FIG. 1. Finally, a mask 23 has been shown in this figure. made of the same material as the insulating layer 17 which can be attached to the support 14 by means of elastic members 22a. This cover constitutes an aesthetic finishing element of the sub-roof facing face of a cover produced with the panels of the invention.

 In Figure 3 which is a section parallel to that of the figure has placed more in the center of the panels, we find, with the same references, some elements previously described. This figure shows the connection holding means 9a 9b which are constituted by a jumper 23 provided laterally with two anchor rods 24 which cooperate with flanges 25 which are solid, one piece, of the plate 3. The rods are threaded on the side of the rider and are shaped at their other end so as to tilt forward in the flange 25 when the rider is loose. Thus, the means 23, 24 can be read beforehand in place in the flanges 25 and, by simple tilting, cover the female connector 9a to tighten it on the male connector 9b.

 Figure 4 is a section illustrating the lateral connection of two panels according to the invention. We see that the right side of the left panel is equipped with the aforementioned cover 7 while the left side of the right panel is provided with a rim gutter 6 capped by the cover 7. A simple sealing element 26 is placed at the bottom of the covering 7. A second rim 6a parallel to the first rim 6 constitutes a guide and lateral attachment element for the two panels. It also forms a retaining baffle for possible leaks at elements 6 and 7.

 FIG. 5 which is a top view of FIG. 4 at the level of the heel 4 of the elements according to the invention shows the interlocking of these heels for two neighboring panels and illustrates the presence of a seal 27 between them, which is the repbntée of the joint 26.

 Note on all of Figures 2 to 4 that the circulation channels of the heat transfer fluid are closed by plugs. Thus the channel 9 has a plug 28 (Figure 2), the channel 12 has a plug 29 and the channel 30 in Figure 3, which is one of the channels of the heat exchanger bundle, has a plug 31.

 In this figure, the part 4a of the heel 4 has an opening 32 opposite the channel and the plug 31.

 The presence of these plugs is due to a particular embodiment of the panel according to the invention, that is to say, to a manufacture in a laminated plastic mold. Briefly, this production consists in depositing a plastic material reinforced with glass fibers on a mold base forming the lower part of the panel, in placing cores and pins to form the reservations and channels, in depositing again the plastic material, & close the mold with a cover, the imprint of which corresponds to the upper face of the plate 3 and apply external pressure to the closed parts of the plastic. The plastic satire polymerizes and the release takes place in particular by the lateral withdrawal of the pins, which leaves openings in the channels, openings which should be closed by the aforementioned plugs.

 It will also have been noted in FIG. 3 that the panel has a little below the flap 5 a gutter 33 provided with a deformable element 34 forming a seal for the upper part of the heel which engages therein. The panel according to the invention will be as regards the plate 3 and the exchanger 11 of dark color, either on the surface or in the mass.

 The invention is advantageous in that it makes it possible to produce a waterproof cover for a building with elements having an integrated den all the means necessary for the circulation of a heat-transfer fluid (water or air). The panels are also easily cut to adapt to the geometry of the frame for which they are intended and in this case, easy to isolate from the point of view of the circulation of the fluid at the core of suitable plugs.

Finally, the ridge panels are easily connectable to a single general collector of the hot fluid, just as those at the bottom of the roof can be distributed by a single supply channel at the bottom of the frame.

 The invention finds an application in the field of building construction and the exploitation of solar energy.

 It is not limited. to the description which comes between data, but covers on the contrary, all the variants which could be made to it without departing from its scope or its appearance.

Claims (12)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S  1. Solar roof element of a building in the general form of a tile constituting an insulation panel and a circulation panel for a fluid which stores solar energy and peddles an incorporated connection system, characterized in that that it comprises a main element constituted by a sensiblelent flat plate provided at its longitudinal extreii'te's respectively with a posterior heel facing upwards and an anterior flap facing downwards, and along its lateral edges a gutter with edges and a covering allowing the plates to be hooked together, said main element being equipped in its mass with a lateral channel for supplying cold fluid and with a lateral channel for discharging hot fluid, while a flat heat exchanger is connected to said lateral channels, each of the above supply and discharge channels being provided, in one piece with said main element, at its front end with a bend e connecting drill female tip turned down and projecting longitudinally beyond said flap, and at its rear end of a connecting elbow forcing male tip turned up and located longitudina 1-have heel above.  2. solar roofing element according to claim 1 characterized in or that the upper face of the aforesaid plate comprises a transparent cover attached in a sealed manner on the aforesaid exchanger to form a chamber with greenhouse effect.  3. Solar roofing element according to claim i or claim 2, characterized in that the underside of said plate is provided with an insulating layer.  4. Solar roof element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of each connection end piece has an internal shoulder for the female end piece and an external shoulder for the male end piece forming a bearing annular seal and in that each male end piece is bordered laterally by means of anchoring a jumper for assembling the female and female end pieces.  5. Solar roof element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid main element is of a sasore color.  6. Solar roof element according to any one of the claims  tions above characterized in that the plate has under the exchanger a  waterproof case melting dark room.  7. Solar roof element according to any one of the claims  tions above characterized in that the main element is made in one  single clamp, made of plastic reinforced with glass fibers, by means of a press.  8. solar roof element according to claim 7 characterized  in that each of the aforementioned lateral channels has an opening part on  at least the rear longitudinal end of the main element, this  part being closed by an attached plug.  9. solar roof element according to claim 3 characterized  in that the insulating layer is formed of a cellular plastic material.  10. El Solar roof element according to claim 9 characterized  what said icing layer forms inside facing surface under  roof.  11. Solar roof unit according to any one of the claims  previous embers characterized in that the above heel has a part in  for its attachment to a support structure.  12. Solar roof element according to any one of the claims  tions above characterized in that it comprises a seal element preinstalled in the bottom of the front flap and the lateral gutter.