Adaptor

Abstract

An adaptor for, and a method of, interfacing a substantially planar solar energy collecting panel with curved roof tiles having an arcuate cross-section. An adaptor comprising a substantially rectangular body. An underlapping flange and an overlapping flange extend one from each side edge, and a portion between the underlapping and overlapping flanges is recessed from the front face of the adaptor. The underlapping and overlapping flanges are configured to cooperate with side overlapping and underlapping flanges of a solar energy collecting panel respectively. The recessed portion is configured to receive, into contact with a surface of the recessed portion, a downwardly depending edge of a curved roof tile that is located to extend over the underlapping flange or over the overlapping flange and also over an upwardly depending edge of another curved roof tile.

1 . An adaptor for interfacing a substantially planar solar energy collecting panel with curved roof tiles having an arcuate cross-section,
 said adaptor comprising:   a substantially rectangular body having a front face, a rear face, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge and a lower edge,   an underlapping flange extending from a first of said first side edge and said second side edge,   an overlapping flange extending from the second of said first side edge and said second side edge, and   a recessed portion recessed from said front face between said underlapping flange and said side overlapping flange, said recessed portion having an upper end and a lower end;   said underlapping flange is configured to cooperate with a side overlapping flange extending from a side edge of a solar energy collecting panel,   said overlapping portion is configured to cooperate with a side underlapping flange extending from a side edge of a solar energy collecting panel,   said recessed portion is configured to receive, into contact with a surface of the recessed portion, a downwardly depending edge of a curved roof tile that is located to extend over said underlapping flange and over an upwardly depending edge of a second curved roof tile; and   said recessed portion is configured to receive, into contact with a surface of the recessed portion,_a downwardly depending edge of a curved roof tile that is located to extend over said overlapping flange and over an upwardly depending edge of a second curved roof tile.   
   
   
       2 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 an upper underlapping surface extending from said upper edge, and   a lower overlapping surface extending from said lower edge,   said upper underlapping portion is configured to support a portion of a solar energy collecting panel located upon said upper underlapping portion, and   said lower overlapping portion is configured to be located upon a portion of a solar energy collecting panel.   
   
   
       3 . An adaptor according to  claim 2 , and a second adaptor according to  claim 2 , wherein the underlapping flange of a first of said adaptor and said second adaptor is configured to cooperate with the overlapping flange of the second of said adaptor and said second adaptor, and when cooperating,
 said recessed portion of said adaptor is configured to receive into contact with a surface of the recessed portion a first downwardly depending edge of a curved roof tile, and   said recessed portion of said second adaptor is configured to receive into contact with a surface of the recessed portion the second downwardly depending edge of said curved roof tile.   
   
   
       4 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , wherein said recessed portion includes a concave profile that complements the convex profile of said arcuate cross-section. 
   
   
       5 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , wherein said recessed portion is profiled to slope inwardly from a first depth at the upper end to a second greater depth at the lower end. 
   
   
       6 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , wherein said recessed portion has side walls that are profiled to extend in a non-parallel arrangement from a first distance apart at the upper end to a second lesser distance apart towards the lower end. 
   
   
       7 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth projecting forwardly from said front face and located towards the upper end of said recessed portion. 
   
   
       8 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth projecting forwardly from said rear face and located towards the lower end of said recessed portion. 
   
   
       9 . An adaptor according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of teeth comprises removable teeth. 
   
   
       10 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , wherein said rear face is profiled to present a channel configured to receive a roof batten. 
   
   
       11 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , fabricated from clay. 
   
   
       12 . An adaptor according to  claim 1 , fabricated from plastic. 
   
   
       13 . A method of interfacing a substantially planar solar energy collecting panel with curved roof tiles having an arcuate cross-section, said method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a substantially planar solar energy collecting panel with a side underlapping flange and a side overlapping flange;   arranging a first plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in a cooperating arrangement in an underlap row,   arranging a second plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in an underlap column,   locating said solar energy collecting panel array such that a portion of said solar energy collecting panel array is located upon underlapping portions of said first plurality of adaptors, and said side overlapping flange cooperates with underlapping flanges of said second plurality of adaptors;   arranging a third plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in a cooperating arrangement in an overlap row such that said side underlapping portion cooperates with overlapping flanges of said third plurality of adaptors, and   arranging a fourth plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in an overlap row, such that overlapping portions of said fourth plurality of adaptors are located upon said solar energy collecting panel array.   
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 arranging curved roof tiles such that at least one downwardly depending edge of a curved roof tile is received within a recess portion of said underlap row, said underlap column, said overlap column and said overlap row.   
   
   
       15 . On a roof of a building, apparatus for collecting solar energy, comprising:
 an array of solar energy collection panels;   a first plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in a cooperating arrangement in an underlap row to interface a first side of said solar energy collection panel array to curved roof tiles having an arcuate cross-section;   a second plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in an underlap column to interface a second side of said solar energy collection panel array with curved roof tiles having an arcuate cross-section;   a third plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in a cooperating arrangement in an overlap row to interface a third side of said solar energy collection panel array with curved roof tiles having an arcuate cross-section; and   a fourth plurality of adaptors according to  claim 2  in an overlap row, to interface a fourth side of said solar energy collection panel array with curved roof tiles having an arcuate cross-section.