Introduction

With increasing energy costs there is a need for a more efficient system for cladding a building.

This invention is directed towards providing an improved insulating panel which will address this issue.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided a composite panel comprising an upper sheet, a lower sheet, and an insulating body between the upper sheet and the lower sheet wherein a photovoltaic solar collector module is mounted to the upper sheet.

In one embodiment the upper sheet comprises a plurality of spaced-apart projections and the solar collector module is mounted to the projections.

In one case the solar collector module is bonded to the projections.

In another case the panel comprises a mounting means to which the solar collector is mounted and the mounting means is mounted to the projections.

The mounting means may comprise a mounting clip. The mounting clip may extend substantially along the length of the solar collector.

In one case the mounting means comprises a pair of edge clips. The edge clips may be longitudinally spaced-apart. In one embodiment the mounting clip comprises mounting holes for receiving fixings for fixing the clip to a panel projection.

In a further embodiment the solar collector comprises mounting means for mounting the solar collector to the panel projections. The mounting means may comprise mounting holes in the solar collector for receiving fixing means for fixing the solar collector to the panel projections.

In one case the outer sheet comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending raised projections. The raised projections may comprise raised crowns. In one embodiment the raised projections are of generally trapezoidal form and extend longitudinally along the length of the panel.

In one embodiment the raised projections comprise a side underlap projection and a side overlap projection for jointing adjacent like panels.

In one case the insulating body comprises a foam such as a polyisocyanurate foam material or a phenolic foam material.

The composite panel may be a roof panel.

The invention also provides a roof assembly comprising a plurality of composite panels of the invention and a solar collector mounted thereto.

The panel may be a roof panel, a wall panel, and/or a floor panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only, in which: - Fig. l is a perspective, partially cross sectional view of an insulating panel of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of a detail of the panel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the panel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a detail of a mounting of a solar collector to an insulating panel;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing another mounting detail;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing a further mounting detail;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of a solar collector used with the panels; and

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of a typical roof of the invention comprising a plurality of panels and solar collectors.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated an insulating panel 1 according to the invention comprising a first or outer sheet 2, a second or inner sheet 4 with an insulating body, in this case an insulating foam 5 therebetween. The foam may, for example be a polyisocyanurate foam or a phenolic foam. In this case the panel 1 is a roof panel 1 comprising a profiled external sheet 2 which is typically of metal, such as galvanised steel. The profile in this case comprises a plurality of projections, in this case raised crowns 3. The crowns 3 in this case are of generally trapezoidal form and extend longitudinally along the length of the panel. In this case there is a side underlap projection or crown 30 on one side of the upper sheet 2 and a side overlap projection or crown 31 on the opposite side of the panel. In use, adjacent like panels are overlapped by overlapping the overlap crown 31 of one panel with the underlap crown 30 of an adjacent panel. Similarly, the panels typically have end underlap and overlap features for end lapping of adjacent like panels. The inner metal liner sheet 4 may be of painted galvanised steel.

A photovoltaic solar collector module 10 is mounted to the upper sheet 2. The photovoltaic solar collector modules 10 comprise thin photovoltaic (PV) solar panels which are pre-mounted in a mounting frame. A PV module can thereby be readily directly mounted to the underlying panels 1.

Preferably, the solar collector module 10 bridges and is mounted to the upper faces of the crowns 3. In this way a single module 10 can bridge across a panel 1 without interfering with the underlying panel structure. A gap is thereby provided between the underside of the module 10 and the upper panel sheet 2 between the crowns 3. This facilitates water run-off and cleaning.

In one embodiment which is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 to 4 mounting means is provided by a mounting clip 20 which in this case is of generally "h" shape in cross section, the legs 21 of the "h" defining a recess for reception of an edge of the solar collector. The upper arm 22 of the h provides an integral mounting strip which may have pre-drilled holes or may be drilled on site to receive fixings 23 for fixing the mounting clips 20 and hence the solar collector 10 to the panel projections 3. There are two transversely extending mounting clips 20, which are mounted to opposite ends of the solar collector 10.

Referring to Fig. 5 there is illustrated another mounting 25 for mounting a solar collector 10 to an underlying composite panel. In this case the mounting comprises a flat mounting strip 26 having holes 27 for fixing to the panel projections 3. A bead 28 of adhesive is used to adhesively bond the solar collector 10 to the mounting strip 26. A spacer tape 29 is used to set the depth of the adhesive 28 to be applied. Referring to Fig. 6 there is illustrated a further mounting means 40 for mounting the solar collector 10 to an underlying composite panel. The mounting in this case is provided by pre-drilled holes 41 along side edges of the solar collector 10 for receiving fixing pins to fix the solar collector 10 to the panel projections 3.

Fig. 8 illustrates a typical roof of the invention comprising a plurality of composite insulating roof panels 1 and a plurality of solar collector modules 10 mounted to the roof panels 1. The photovoltaic solar collector modules may be interconnected electrically to form a solar collector array.

In the invention a photovoltaic unit is pre-mounted in a mounting frame to form a PV module that can be directly mounted to the panel for ease and speed of installation. The mounting arrangements described are light weight, relatively simple, and cost effective systems which allow a photovoltaic module to be readily directly attached to the raised crown of a composite insulating panel.

The photovoltaic roofing panels of the invention may be connected to an electrical system using known technologies.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to a wide range of panels including roof panels, wall panels, and/or floor panels. Maximum solar efficiency is however generally achieved by covering at least a south facing section of a building with roof panels of the invention.

The panels may be used to construct part of or all of the building envelope including part or all of one or more of the roof, walls and floor.

Many variations on the embodiments described will be readily apparent. Accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.