Thi3 invention relates to a rooting element comprising at least one electric solar cell.

Such a roofing element is known, for instance, from DE-U1-295 10 147. This document discloses a roofing element in the torm of, ana naving tne mmensions or, a regular roofing tile, which is provided with a solar cell. With these roofing tile elements, known per se, a roof covering can be aseembled which is al so adapted for generating electric energy. A disadvantage of the known roofing element aisthat ofroofingelementsareneededmultipllolly tor assembling a toot covering, which rooting elemen. ts moreover need to he electrically connectedwith each other for delivering the electric energy generated in the solar theseelements.Thisrendersthewholesusceptiblecelleof to trouble. Moreover, in a roof covering composed of such roofing elements, a large number of electrical intorconnoctions ate isarelativelycoatlywhich affair.

The object of the invention is to meet the linedabove.Accordingly,theroofingdiaadvantagesout element according to the invention is characterized in that the roofing element has the shape of a plurality of roofing tiles overlappingly arranged relative to each other i. n rows and/or columns. elementhastheshape(andbenceBecausetheroofing the dimensions) of a plurality on roofing tiles which are overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and/or columns, the avantage is gainea that tar rewer rooting elements are required to be assembled into a roof covering than i. the known system outlined above. Preferably, the at least one electric solar cell has the torm ot a plurality of roofing tiles overlappingly arranged in rows and/or columns.

As a result, the at least one solar cell will have a surface area much greater than in the known roofing elements, while a further achievement is that the appearance of the roofing <BR> <BR> <BR> theenlire@@relain@theformofapluralityofelementin roofing tiles overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and/or colmns.

A roof covering composed of a roofing element according to the invention is therefore not distinguishable roof@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@from@ roofingelementleprovidedwithasinglePreferably,the forconnectingtheatleastonesolarelectricalconnection hall.

Because fewer roofing elements according to the invention are needed to bc composed into @ roof covering, fewer electrical connections are therefore needed than in the known system. Consequently, a roof covering comprising roofing elements according to the invention is less susceptible to failure and moreover relatively inexpensive.

In particular, the roofing element is made up of a rigid plate which has the shape of a plurality of roofing tiles overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows <BR> <BR> <BR> and/or columns, and the atst on solar cell, whil. the at least one solar cell is provided on a side of the rigid plate which, in use, is at the upper side of the roofing element.

According to a preferred embodiment, however, the ismadeopofarigidplatetransparenttoroofingelement sunlight, which has the shape of a plurality of roofing tiles overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and/or columns, while the at least one solar cell is provided on a side or tne rigid plate which, in use, is at the bottom side of the roofing element.

The avantage of this emb-ndiment i8 that the at least one solar cell is protected by the transparent rigid plate frome external weather influences. This renders the roofing element particularly reliable, while moreover the life of the at least one solar cell is prolonge.

For the particular embodiments outlined above, it js <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> theatleast@@@@@lar@@@@@@manufacturadproforrndthat from a flexible sheetlike material. In particular, the at least one solar cell is gluedinto the rigid plate, However, other joints are also possible. aparticularembodimentoftheroofingAccordingto element accordi. ng to the invention, only a portion of the <BR> <BR> <BR> rigld plate which, In use as a roof iri with othcr roofing elements, is not covored by these other isprovidedwiththoatleastonosolarroofingelements, cell.

What is thus accomplished is that only those portions of the roofing element which in use are exposed to light,and hence can field electric energy, are possibly thealleastonesolarcell.providedwith theroofingelementisfurtherInparticular, provided with electric terminal clamps for delivering electric energy generated by the at least one solar celj.

The roofing element can, for instance, have a of1.1mx8.4m.Ingeneral,theroofingstandardsize element will have a surface area greater than 2 m2. It is also possible, however, that the roofing element has such <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimensions that only one roofing element is needed to form a roof covering.

According to a highly advanced embodiment, the roofing element further comprises at least one fluid flow channel for heating fluid through solar energy, which fluid, in use as a roof covering, flows through the channe.

In this electricandthormalenergycanbeboth generated.

The invention will presently be further explained with reference to the drawings, whereln: afirstembodimentofaroofingFig.lashows totheinvention;elementaccording Fig. lb shows a cross section of the roofing element according to Fig, la ; Fig. 2a shows a second embodiment of a roofing element according to the invention ; Fig. 2b shows a cross section of the roofing element according to Fig. 2a ; Fig. 3a shows a third embodiment of a roofing element according to the invention; showsacrosssectionoftheroofingelementFig.3b Fig.3a:andaccordingto showsacrosssectionofafourthembodimentFig.4 according to the invention- Figs,1aand1b,afirstembodimentofReferrlingto a accordingtotheinventionwillbeelement described. In Fig. la, the roofing element is designated by reference numeral 1.

The roofing element 1 has the shape of a plurality of roofing tiles 2. In this example almost the entire roofing element has the shap of a plurality of roofing tiles overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and/or columns. In this example, the roofing element is in the form of five horizontal rows of roofing tiles, each comprising six roofing tiles. The roofing tiles are overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and columns.

The roofing element further comprises a solar cell 4, which likewise has the shape of a plurality of roofing tiles overlappi. ngl. y arranged relative to each other in rows and columns. More particularly, the roofing element 1 is made up of a rigid plate 6, which has the shape of said plurality of roofing tile ? overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and columns, and the at least one <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> solar cell. The solar cell 4 is manufactured from a flexible sheeilike material 8, known per se. In this example, the at least one solar cell, i. e., the sheetlike material f3, is aside10oftherigidplate6which,inusa,isprovidedon at sideoftheroofingelement.Inotherwords,upper cell4isattheuppersideoftheroofingelementthesolar <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> 1. In this example, the sheetlike material 8, known per se, comprises a plurality of solar cells. These solar cells are e electrically connected in parallel and/or in seri. es. Tn thi. s <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> example, the at least one sonar cela isgluedontotherigidplate6.Itisalsomaterial8, thatotherthechniquesareusedtoconceivable,howevor, <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> attach the at least one solar cell 4 to the rigid plate 6.

The plate 6 can consist of a metal roofing tile plate known per se.

In use, a roof covering of a house and/or building can be formed by at least one roofing element. More <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> particularly, a limited number of roofing elements will be<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> used to be composed into a roof covering. The roofing elements are also stacked so as to overlap. As can be seen in Fig. la, only a portion of the rigid plate 6 that, in use roofcovelingincombinationwithotherroofingasa elements, is not covered by these other roofing elements, is provided with the at least one solar cell (i. e., in this example, the sheetlike material 0). Accordingly, the horizontal edge 12 and the vertical edge 14 are not covered by the sheetlike material 8. These are the edges which, when the roofing element 1 in question is assemble together with other roofing elements to form the roof covering, lie under roofingelements.theseother The roofing element further comprises an electrical formofelectricalterminalclampe16forconnectioninthe energygeneratedbytheatleastonedeliveringelectric 4,8.Tothatend,intheroofingelementawiresolarcell passage 18 is provided, through whi. ch electrical connectinq providedwiththeterminalclamps16attheirfreewirse20, ends, have been passed from the side 10 0 of the roofing element to the side of the roofing element located opposite side 10. The passage 18 is provided at a position which, in use as a roof covering in combination with at least one other roofing element, is covered by this other roofing element. Leakage is thus prevented. What is moreover achieved is that the electrical connecting wires 20 are extrernalweatherinfluences.protectedfrom Figs. 2a and 2b show a second embodiment of a roofing element accordi. ry to the invention. Parts (; or. re3ponding with Figs. 1a and 1b are provided with the marne reference numcrals. If the second embodiment, the roofing element comprises a rigid plate 6 transparent to sunlight, which is made, for instance, of glass or a transparent plastic. The tranparent rigid plate 6 again has the shape of a plurality of roofing tiles 2 overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and/or columns. In <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> this example, the at least one solar cell 4 is provided on a side 22 of the rigid plate 6 which, in use, is at the bottom side of the roofing element. In use, sunlight will be theside10oftheroofingelementandincrdenton theatleastonesolarcell4viatheoubsequentlyrooch transparent plats 6. The at least one solar cell 4 in this example is again made of the sheetlike flexible material, known per 3e, which io attached to the rigid plate 6 using, transparentglue.Becauseinthisexampletheforinstance, at least one solar cell 4 is attached to the bottom side of Lhe rigid plate, the passage 10 discussed in relation to Figs. la and Ib can be ornitted. However, the above-mentioned terminal andtheconnectingwires20arepresent.16 Finally, referring to Figs. 3a and 3b, a third<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> embodiment of a roofing clement according to the invention is discussed. Again, parts corresponding to the preceding figures are provided with the same reference numerals. elementagaincomprisesametalrigidTheroofing whichhastheshapeofapluralityofroofingtilesplate6 which are arranged relative to each other in rows and/or <BR> <BR> <BR> inthecentralrow24ofroofing@iles2columns,However, relativetoeachother,threeopeningsarrangedhorlzontally 26 are provided, of a size of a single roofing tile 2. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> each of these openings 2G, a solar cell 4 is fitted.In<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> contrast to the embodiments outlined hereinbefore, the solar<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> cell 4 is not made of a sheetlike flexible material. Nor i. s<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> this necessary, since the solar cell 4 can pressent) y take a thickness greater than, equal to, or less than the thichness of the rigid plate 6. However, each solar cel. 4 has the shape of a roofing tile. Accordingly, the solar cells 4 are likewise overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and/or colurnns, Each solar cell 4 is provided with electrical terminal clamps 16 and electrical connecting wires 20. The solar cells 4, before fitting the roofing tile arool,forinstanceinthefactory,canbeplateon inaseriesorparallelelectricallyinterconnected, connection or a combination thereof.

The roofing element 1 further comprises two fluid flow channels 30 each arranged for heating a fluid (] iquid bymeansofsolarenergy,whichfluid,inuse,flowsorgas) through each channels30.Infact,thechannels30the are each provided in the metal rigid plate 6. Because the plate 6 will. heat up under the influence of the sun, the throughthechannels30willalsobeproperlyfluidflowing roofingelementaccordingtoFig.3aisbeated.The therefore suitable for generati electric and thermal energy. isnotlimitedinanywaytotheTheInvention may also have the shape of only one row of roofing tiles 2 overlappingly arrangedrelative to each other. The roofing element may also have the shape e ot. on. ly one column ot <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> overlappinglyarrangedrelativetoeachother.roofing@iles roofingelementhastheformofPreferably,however,the roofing tiles overlappingly arranged relative to each other in rows and columns. The roofing element will then preferably have a standard dimension (for instance length) of 1.1 m x 8.4 m. The solar cell 4 and/or the rigid plate 6 can be of various colors. In particular, the at least one solar cell 4 can be of a color which corresponds to the color of a real roofing tile. In particular, in the first a LhirdtmbodnnfnLS,LhfoLlLuesolarcell1of color corresponding to the color of the rigid plate 2. The solar cell can consist of translucent and non-translucent Intheroofingelement,aconvertermaybesolarcells. arranged. The roofing element may have such a size that it can be cover a whole roof. The rigid plate may be made of various materi. als, such as plastic, polyester, glass, or rocycled waste material. The rigid plate 6 may also consist commerciallyavailableroofingtileplate,knownperofa thecasewheretherigidplateismadeofmetal,itse.In is preferably rriacje of steel or aluminum. The roofing element may further bc provided with an insulating material at its bottom side 22. A rigid plate can be fitted over an exl : ting roof. The roofing element may also be provided with at least two planar cellssopositionedrelativetosolar each other that these electric solar cells take the shape of at lt part of a roofing tile. Also, this electric solar cell. may be of (rigid) curved design. It is also possible that during manufacture the electric solar cell 4 is applied to the plate 6 in layers. lut last one or all layers may, etleastcontainSi.Itisalsopossibleforatforexample, oralllayersatleastotcontaincopperindiumleastone toCIS).Also,variousotherwaysofdiselenide(abbreviated possible.Further,itispossibletoapplyamanufactureare layer over elementwhichprovidesforanroofing intensive and better distributed light incidence on the whenvariousroofingelementsareusedtosolarcell. roofcovering,thesolarcellsoftheseroofingassemblea elements can be czonnect in parallel and/or in series. ofthepossibilitiesistostoretheelectricNaturally,one inballeriesand/orto@@@@@@ittotheenergyleft Theelectricsolarcell4canbelocatedelectricitygrid. under, on, or in the rigid plate G. As shown in Fig. 4, can cell8,inthewaythatthishasbeenfittedinonthesolar the construction shap according to Fig. la and Fig. lb, can be fitted with transparant covcr. ing material 40. This material may consist of, for example, rigid or soft plastic.

Glass would also be a possibility. Solar cell 8 has in fact intherigidplateinthiscase,therigidbeenincluded plate has been provided hy reference number 6 and 40 in Fiq. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <P>4. Likewise, the f. lud fJow channel 30 can be located under, latherigidplate6.Itisalsopossibletocoupleon,or thoso fluid flow channels of the various roofing elements to each other. Further, it is also possible that the electric solar cell 4 is located under or above the fluid flow channe. Furthermore, in or under the. ryd plat. e 6, an canbemounted,climinatingtheneedforinsulatedcollector aseparate Thiscollectoristhenintegratedvessel. into the rigid othermethodsofgeneratingFurther, thermal energy are also possible. The roofing element can consist of prefabricated modular roof elements which can be asimplemanner.Anexampleofthesejoinedtogetherin modular roof elements, which, for instance, can be joined theroof,involvesseveralregularroofingtilestogetheron