EP-4739863-A1 - A COMPOSITE INSULATING PANEL

Abstract

A composite insulating panel, comprising: an internal sheet; an external sheet; and an insulating body between the external sheet and the internal sheet; wherein the external sheet comprises a first longitudinally extending raised projection at a first side of the panel, a second longitudinally raised projection at a second opposing side of the panel and a substantially flat portion extending between the first longitudinally extending raised projection and the second longitudinally raised projection; and wherein the substantially flat portion comprises a first raised longitudinal shoulder member at the first side of the panel and a second raised longitudinal shoulder member at the second opposing side of the panel, the first raised longitudinal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal shoulder member for supporting a photovoltaic module between the first longitudinally extending raised projection and the second longitudinally raised projection.

Inventors

• MARTIN, THOMAS
• CONNOLLY, KAREN
• TAUCHMAN, Frantisek

Assignees

• Kingspan Holdings (IRL) Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240702

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1. A composite insulating panel, comprising: an internal sheet; an external sheet; and an insulating body between the external sheet and the internal sheet; wherein the external sheet comprises a first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection at a first side of the panel forming a side overlap projection and a second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection at a second opposing side of the panel forming a side underlap projection and a substantially flat portion extending between the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection; and wherein the substantially flat portion comprises a first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member at the first side of the panel extending from and adjacent to the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and a second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member at the second opposing side of the panel extending from and adjacent to the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection, the first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member for supporting a photovoltaic module, at a height h2 above the substantially flat portion, between the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection, wherein a height, h2, of the first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member from the substantially flat portion is less than a height, h, of the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection from the substantially flat portion such that the first and second shoulder members are recessed relative to the first and second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projections, and an additional longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member between the first raised longitudinal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal shoulder member and further arranged for supporting the photovoltaic module at a height h2 above the substantially flat portion, the at least one additional raised shoulder member having the height h2 from the substantially flat portion. 2. The composite insulating panel according to any previous claim wherein the first raised longitudinal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal have a substantially flat uppermost face at the height h2 above the substantially flat portion of the external sheet. 3. The composite insulating panel according to claim 2 wherein the at least one additional longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member has a substantially flat uppermost face at the height h2 above the substantially flat portion. 4. The composite insulating panel according to claims 3 or 4, wherein the first and second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection each have a substantially flat uppermost face at the height h from the substantially flat portion, wherein the height h is greater than the height h2. 5. The composite insulating panel according to any previous claim wherein the substantially flat portion further comprises one of more longitudinally extending recessed indentations. 6. A solar collection system comprising: a composite insulating panel according to any of claims 1 to 5, a photovoltaic module, and a plurality of clamping members for fixing the photovoltaic module to the first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder, each clamping member comprising a first portion for attaching to the respective raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and a second portion for engaging the photovoltaic module. 7. The system according to claim 6 further comprising chemical means for attaching the photovoltaic module to the composite insulating panel. 8. The system according to any of claims 6 or 7 wherein the system further comprises an elastically deformable layer for positioning on the substantially flat uppermost face of the first and second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder members between the respective shoulder member and a photovoltaic module supported thereon. 9. The system according to any of claims 6 to 8 further comprising an elastically deformable layer for positioning on its substantially flat uppermost face of the additional longitudinal trapezoidal member between the third raised longitudinal shoulder member and the photovoltaic module supported thereon. 10. The system according to any of claims 6 to 9 wherein the photovoltaic module has a height h3 and wherein h is greater than the (h2+h3). 11. The system according to any of claims 6 to 10 further comprising a second composite panel adjacent the composite panel and wherein the first longitudinally extending raised projection engages with a second longitudinally extending raised projection of the second composite panel. 12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the second longitudinally extending raised projection of the second composite panel underlaps the first longitudinally extending raised projection of the composite panel. 13. The system according to any of claims 8 to 12 further comprising electrical circuitry for the photovoltaic module. 14. The system according to claim 13 further comprising housing for the electrical circuitry, wherein said housing is configured to be located between a rear face of the photovoltaic module and the substantially flat portion of the profiled external sheet. 15. A roof system comprising a plurality of solar collection systems according to any of claims 6 to 14. 16. A method for manufacturing a solar collection system comprising: providing an internal sheet; providing an external sheet and providing an insulating body between the internal sheet and the profiled external sheet, wherein the external sheet comprises a first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection at a first side of the panel forming a side overlap projection and a second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection at a second opposing side of the panel forming a side underlap projection and a substantially flat portion extending between the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection; and wherein the substantially flat portion comprises a first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member at the first side of the panel extending from and adjacent to the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and a second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member at the second opposing side of the panel extending from and adjacent to the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection, the first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member for supporting a photovoltaic module, at a height h2 above the substantially flat portion, between the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection, wherein a height, h2, of the first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member from the substantially flat portion is less than a height, h, of the first longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection and the second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projection from the substantially flat portion such that the first and second shoulder members are recessed relative to the first and second longitudinally extending raised trapezoidal projections, and an additional longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member between the first raised longitudinal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal shoulder member and further arranged for supporting the photovoltaic module at a height h2 above the substantially flat portion, the at least one additional raised shoulder member having the height h2 from the substantially flat portion. 77. providing an elastically deformable layer on an uppermost portion of each the first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member; and providing a plurality of clamping members for fixing the photovoltaic module to the first raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder, each clamping member comprising a first portion for attaching to the respective raised longitudinal trapezoidal shoulder member and a second portion for engaging the photovoltaic module attaching the photovoltaic module using the plurality of clamping members. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising chemical means for attaching the photovoltaic module to the raised longitudinal shoulder members. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the chemical means comprises an adhesive. 20. The method of any of claims 17 to 19 wherein the second portion comprises an upper jaw and a lower jaw wherein the upper jaw is for engaging with an uppermost surface of the photovoltaic module and the lower jaw is for engaging with a second surface of the photovoltaic module opposite the uppermost surface for holding the photovoltaic module in a vice or clamp like grip.

Description

Title A composite insulating panel Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to composite insulating panels and in particular composite insulating panels suitable for mounting photovoltaic modules thereupon. Background to the Invention [0002] With increasing energy costs there is a need for a more thermally efficient system for cladding a building, and in particular, for providing a roof for a building. Various attempts have been made to provide composite insulating panels with photovoltaic material applied. EP 2925940 B1 provided a composite insulating panel having a gap provided between lateral peripheral edges of an outer face of the composite insulating panel for receiving a photovoltaic solar collector module. EP 2748859 a one provided for a composite insulating panel with photovoltaic sheets located between raised projections. GB2488902B provides a solar collector sheet laminated to the external sheet of the panel. EP2871299 provides a composite insulating panel having a cut-away opening in the external sheet of the composite insulating panel for receiving a photovoltaic panel. These solutions are not suitable for all environments. GB2521860A provides for a roofing panel where a photovoltaic module is inserted or pushed into a channel on the underlap crown of the composite insulating panel. The previous provided composite panels can often result in breakages of the photovoltaic cells, increased cost of manufacture, decreased efficiency of solar collection due to installation of the cell on the panel, the need for additional reinforcements of the composite panels where the structural integrity of the composite panel is compromised to accommodate the photovoltaic panels and the like. [0003] With increasing volumes of solar collector installations there is a need to provide a consistently high-quality panel system for the construction industry. There is a further need to provide a robust installation suitable for a wide variety of climates. It is further desirable to provide a composite panel that can be integrated with existing composite insulating panels. It is further desirable to provide a composite insulating panel and a solar collection system incorporating this panel that can be manufactured in a factory setting and transported in an installation-ready state to the customer. The present application is directed towards providing an improved composite insulating panel and solar collection system which provides a solution to the needs outlined above. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present application, there is provided a composite insulating panel, comprising: an internal sheet; an external sheet; and an insulating body between the external sheet and the internal sheet; wherein the external sheet comprises a first longitudinally extending raised projection at a first side of the panel, a second longitudinally raised projection at a second opposing side of the panel and a substantially flat portion extending between the first longitudinally extending raised projection and the second longitudinally raised projection; and wherein the substantially flat portion comprises a first raised longitudinal shoulder member at the first side of the panel adjacent the first longitudinally extending raised projection and a second raised longitudinal shoulder member at the second opposing side of the panel adjacent the second longitudinally raised projection, the first raised longitudinal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal shoulder member for supporting a photovoltaic module between the first longitudinally extending raised projection and the second longitudinally raised projection, wherein a height, h2, of the first longitudinal shoulder member and the second longitudinal raised shoulder member from the substantially flat portion is less than a height, h, of the first longitudinally extending raised projection and the second longitudinally raised shoulder member from the substantially flat portion such that the first and second shoulder members are recessed relative to the first and second longitudinally extending raised projections. [0004] The composite insulating panel provides an improved profile for the installation of a photovoltaic module. The raised longitudinal shoulder members provide a support for the photovoltaic module. The first and second longitudinally extending raised projections allow for overlap and underlap with adjacent composite insulating panels providing a robust joint, backward compatibility with existing panels a d a structural integrity for the panel. The positioning of the shoulder members provides a mounting for the photovoltaic module that does not interfere with the integrity of the joint between adjacent panels. [0005] The composite insulating panel may further comprise at least one additional longitudinal shoulder member between the first raised longitudinal shoulder member and the second raised longitudinal shoulder member and furt