Unitized Building Integrated Photovoltaic Conversion Module Adapted With Electrical Isolation and Grounding
OwnerMark Tofflemireinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy conversion device is adapted to be housed within a unitized curtain wall unit as part of an exterior shell or façade of a building structure. The device can be a photovoltaic module that includes grounding and isolation elements within the curtain wall unit.
Claims20
A unitized curtain wall unit with glazing material adapted for use in a vertical portion of an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:
- a rigid frame member;
- said rigid frame member being adapted with a mounting structure capable of mounting an energy conversion device within the glazing material;
- a grounding element connected to and adapted to ground the rigid frame member to a building structure or other ground path;
- one or more isolation elements within said mounting structure of the rigid frame member that are adapted to isolate said energy conversion device from said rigid frame members.
A unitized curtain wall unit with glazing material adapted for use in a vertical portion of an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:
- a rigid frame member;
- said rigid frame member being adapted with a mounting structure to mount a photovoltaic energy conversion module within the glazing material;
- said rigid frame member having a pocket portion adapted to receive an electrical connection and wiring for said photovoltaic energy conversion module;
- a grounding element connected to and adapted to ground the rigid frame member to a building structure or other ground path;
- one or more isolation elements within said mounting structure of the rigid frame member that are adapted to isolate said photovoltaic energy conversion module from said rigid frame members.
A unitized curtain wall unit with glazing material adapted for use in a vertical portion of an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:
- a metallic frame member;
- said metallic frame member being adapted to mount a photovoltaic energy conversion module within the glazing material;
- a wireway attached to a back portion of said metallic frame member;
- wherein said wireway is adapted to carry both signal and power cables for said photovoltaic energy conversion module;
- said metallic frame member further including:
- i) a pair of first horizontal framing members defining stack joints adapted as first conduits for carrying electrical wiring;
- and
- ii) a pair of vertical framing members defining mullions adapted as second conduits for said electrical wiring;
- wherein wiring can be routed in at least two different pathways and directions within said metallic frame member;
- iii) a pocket portion adapted to receive an edge connector and wiring for said photovoltaic energy conversion module;
- iv) one or more wire routing holes for routing said wiring between said photovoltaic energy conversion module and said wireway;
- v) one or more semi-flexible gasket isolation elements adapted to isolate said photovoltaic energy conversion module from said rigid frame members;
- wherein said semi-flexible gasket isolation elements further accommodate minor movement disturbances caused by wind, heat and/or seismic forces;
- vi) a grounding element adapted to ground said framing unit to the building structure or another electrical ground path;
- wherein said unitized curtain wall unit is configured to be physically interconnected to one or more adjacent unitized curtain wall units within the exterior shell to form an electrically isolated power generating system integrated within a façade for the building structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.