Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Panel or array
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-25
2001-03-27
Chapman, Mark (Department: 1753)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Panel or array
C052S173300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06207889
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solar battery modules, an installation method thereof, a roof and a solar power generator using such modules.
2. Related Background Art
With the recent rise in consciousness with regard to ecology, solar batteries which supply clean energy are in great demand.
Solar batteries installed on tiles of a house roof or on a building top floor or wall are increasing year after year.
Not only are solar batteries installed on a house roof, but also construction material integrated type solar battery modules such as “tile material integrated type solar battery modules” and “wall material integrated type solar battery modules”, which comprise that construction materials integrally used with the modules, are developed and used widely.
For example, the publication of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-211932 discloses vertical tile bar roof type solar battery modules which are installed on a roof base plate made of wood, mortar, cement or the like by using spacers. Electrical connection between adjacent vertical tile bar roof type solar battery modules is established by electrical wires with connectors accommodated in a space between the solar battery modules and the roof base plate (Conventional Example 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-302924 discloses horizontal tile roof type solar battery modules which are installed on a roof base plate such as a tile plate. Electrical connection between adjacent horizontal tile roof type solar battery modules is established by electrical wires accommodated in a space between the solar battery modules and the roof base plate (Conventional Example 2).
As shown in
FIG. 13
, in installing vertical tile bar roof type solar battery modules disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-211932 on a roof, a solar battery module
201
is temporarily fixed to the steps formed by spacers
202
and core rafters
204
, and suspending parts
203
of the solar battery module
201
are fixed to the spacers
202
with nails
205
.
In installing another solar battery module
206
at the position adjacent to the solar battery module
201
, first an electrical wire
207
with a connector connected to an output terminal
212
of the solar battery module
201
is pulled outside of an end
208
of the solar battery module
201
and connected to an electrical wire
209
with a connector connected to an output terminal
213
of the other solar battery module
206
. While the electrical wires connected together are pushed in a space between a roof base plate
210
and the already installed solar battery module
201
and the other solar battery module
206
, the other solar battery module
206
is temporarily fixed to the steps formed by the spacers
202
and core rafters
203
, and suspending parts
211
of the solar battery module
206
are fixed to the spacers
202
with nails. In this case, in order to make a waterproof roof, the solar battery module
206
adjacent to the module
201
in the roof rafter direction is partially overlapped with the end portion of the module
201
by using a caulking compound comprising a high polymer elastic material. Reference numeral
214
shown in
FIG. 13
represents such an overlapped portion.
By repeating the above operations, a predetermined number of solar battery modules are connected together, and they are further connected to an inverter or a connection box via extension leads to constitute a solar power generator which can supply a desired power.
As shown in
FIG. 14
, a plurality of horizontal tile roof type solar battery modules
301
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-302924 are installed on a roof base plate
302
. Electrical connection between adjacent horizontal tile roof type solar battery modules
301
and
304
is established by electrical wires
305
accommodated in a space between the solar battery modules and the roof base plate
302
. In this manner, a horizontal tile roof type unit is constituted.
In installing another solar battery module
304
at the position adjacent to the solar battery module
301
, first an electrical wire
308
with a connector connected to an output terminal
314
of the solar battery module
301
is pulled outside of an end
309
of the solar battery module
301
and connected to an electrical wire
307
with a connector connected to an output terminal
315
of the other solar battery module
304
. While the electrical wires connected together are pushed in a space between a roof base plate
302
and the already installed solar battery module
301
and the other solar battery module
304
, the other solar battery module
304
is temporarily fixed by engaging an eaves-side coupling
312
of the module
304
to a beam-side coupling
310
of another horizontal tile roof type solar battery module
306
adjacent to the module
304
in a roof rafter direction. Then, the eaves-side coupling
312
of the module
304
is fixed by using a suspending part so that the module
304
is installed completely. In this case, in order to make a water-proof roof, a water repelling joint plate
313
is disposed at a joint extending toward a main roof beam between adjacent solar battery modules.
By repeating the above operations, a predetermined number of solar battery modules are connected together, and they are further connected to an inverter or a connection box via extension leads to constitute a solar power generator which can supply a desired power.
In order to install vertical tile bar roof type solar battery modules, it is necessary as described above to pull the electrical wires outside of the end
309
of each solar battery module
301
by a predetermined length in order to establish an electrical connection. Therefore, electrical wires with connectors may be squeezed inadvertently between the modules and core rafters, partially exposed over the surfaces of the modules or damaged.
Also in installing horizontal tile roof type solar battery modules, electrical wires with connectors may be squeezed inadvertently between the beam-side coupling of one horizontal tile roof type solar battery module and the eaves-side coupling of an adjacent horizontal tile roof type solar battery module, partially exposed over the surfaces of the modules or damaged.
Also in both cases, the radius R of curvature of each electrical wire becomes very small after installation. Therefore, a large stress is applied to the coating of an electrical wire.
If the electrical wire is made short in order to solve the above problems, work efficiency is lowered, as it takes a long time to install solar battery modules.
In the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-302924, if a roof shape is not rectangular such as a four-descending-beam roof, the shape of a rectangular solar battery module does not match the angles of adjacent descending beams. Therefore, steel plates having particular shapes, which cover the areas not occupied by rectangular solar battery modules, are required. Since the areas where the steel plates are used do not contribute to the generation of electricity, power generation per unit area is lowered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, the invention provides a solar battery module wherein a distance between an output terminal and an end face of a solar battery module along a line connecting output terminals of adjacent solar modules is longer upon installation completion of the adjacent solar battery modules than during electrical connection for the adjacent solar battery modules.
Further, the present invention provides a solar battery module comprising a wiring, one end of which is fixed to a start point; a photovoltaic element; and a supporting plate, wherein a wire drawing out side of the supporting plate is inclined with regard to another two sides sandwiching the wire drawing out side and wherein a distance from the start point to the other end of the wiring is shorter than a maximum distance from the start point to the end of the wire
Manabe Naoki
Toyomura Fumitaka
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Chapman Mark
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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