WO2007007103A1 - Roof tile - Google Patents

Roof tile Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007007103A1
WO2007007103A1 PCT/GB2006/002584 GB2006002584W WO2007007103A1 WO 2007007103 A1 WO2007007103 A1 WO 2007007103A1 GB 2006002584 W GB2006002584 W GB 2006002584W WO 2007007103 A1 WO2007007103 A1 WO 2007007103A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tile
roof
tiles
rotors
ridge
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2006/002584
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Malcolm Harcourt Little
Original Assignee
Malcolm Harcourt Little
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Malcolm Harcourt Little filed Critical Malcolm Harcourt Little
Priority to EP06764936A priority Critical patent/EP1904743A1/en
Publication of WO2007007103A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007007103A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/20—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
    • F03D9/25—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus being an electrical generator
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D1/00—Roof covering by making use of tiles, slates, shingles, or other small roofing elements
    • E04D1/30—Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage; Sky-lights
    • E04D13/17—Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for
    • E04D13/174—Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for on the ridge of the roof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/30—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/34—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S10/00—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power
    • H02S10/10—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power including a supplementary source of electric power, e.g. hybrid diesel-PV energy systems
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D1/00—Roof covering by making use of tiles, slates, shingles, or other small roofing elements
    • E04D1/30—Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles
    • E04D2001/304—Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles at roof intersections, e.g. valley tiles, ridge tiles
    • E04D2001/305—Ridge or hip tiles
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
    • E04D1/00—Roof covering by making use of tiles, slates, shingles, or other small roofing elements
    • E04D1/30—Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles
    • E04D2001/308—Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles for special purposes not otherwise provided for, e.g. turfing tiles, step tiles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/91—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure
    • F05B2240/911—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure already existing for a prior purpose
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/10—Photovoltaic [PV]
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/30—Wind power
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/70—Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a roof tile, for buildings.
  • a roof tile adapted to be located on a roof and to interface with other tiles on the roof, the tile having an internal void, apertures allowing wind access to and from the internal void, at least one rotor in the void adapted to be rotated by the wind, and a generator for converting rotation of the rotor into electricity.
  • the tile is a ridge tile.
  • ridge tiles do interface with the other tiles on the roof, the design of the main body of the tile which extends upwardly from the ridge is not constrained by having to mate with the other tiles on the sloping part of the roof, and thus the main body can be designed with an internal void to accommodate a rotor or rotors of sufficient size to generate significant amounts of electricity.
  • the tile may also be provided with a solar energy collector on its external face.
  • the amount of solar energy collected relies on the area of the exposed surface of the collector, and this can take advantage of a large exposed area of a ridge tile.
  • the location of the tiles at the top of a roof will also assist in directing wind currents which impinge elsewhere on the roof and will be directed upwards towards the ridge by the sloping nature of the rest of the roof.
  • the sloping nature of the roof will also result in the air flow speeding up as it travels upwards towards the ridge, so that the flow is maximised at the ridge.
  • the rotor or rotors are preferably mounted with their rotation axis vertical, and preferably each drive a generator coupled directly to the respective rotor, and the outputs of multiple generators along the ridge of a roof are combined to produce a single output.
  • Each tile may incorporate one, two, three or more vertical axis rotors.
  • the tile preferably has means for making electrical connections to an adjacent tile, and means for mechanically interlocking with adjacent tiles.
  • the internal void can be bounded by side walls and a top wall, and openings in the side walls allow wind to enter the void.
  • the openings can be provided with a mesh to prevent birds and wind-blown objects from entering the void.
  • the mechanical interlock between adjacent tiles will also leave no opening through which objects can enter the void.
  • the top wall can be arched to provide a surface which sheds water and provides a good aesthetic appearance.
  • the base of the tile can include an acoustic baffle to reduce sound transmission from the rotors into a roof on which the tile is mounted.
  • the acoustic baffle can be a foamed plastics body, shaped to conform to the shape of adjacent roof tiles, and with ducts running longitudinally through the body.
  • the rotors are preferably cowls with helically shaped vanes.
  • Electrical energy outputs from the solar collector and from the or each generator can be connected in series within the tile or conducted in separate circuits within the tile.
  • the invention extends to a pitched roof on a building with a plurality of roof ridge tiles as set forth above, wherein the tiles are electrically connected to one another so that the outputs of multiple generators along the ridge of the roof are combined to produce a single electrical output.
  • the tiles can be electrically connected in series.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of ridge tile in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a number of ridge tiles in accordance with Figure 1 mounted on a roof ridge
  • Figure 3 shows a detail of a possible interlocking arrangement between adjacent ridge tiles
  • Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of ridge tile, slightly modified from the first embodiment
  • Figure 5 shows the tile of Figure 4 with an end cap.
  • the tile has a main body 10 which may be made from conventional ceramic tile materials, or moulded from a suitable, weather-resistant plastics material.
  • the body 10 of the embodiment shown is an inverted U-shape, and a void 12 is formed within the body.
  • a base 14 provides the surfaces by which the tile will sit on a roof ridge, and a mounting plate 16 sits on the base.
  • the body 10 has side apertures 18 on both sides, to allow wind to enter the void.
  • the apertures are fitted with a mesh screen 20, to prevent birds or windborne debris such as leaves from entering the void.
  • the apertures may also be provided with lips (not shown) around their top edges, so that rain falling onto the tile is diverted around the apertures rather than entering the apertures.
  • rotors 22 are mounted on the mounting plate 16.
  • the rotors are positioned relative to the apertures 18 so that they are rotated by wind currents entering the void through the apertures, as indicated by arrow 17, leading to rotation of the rotors as indicated by arrow 19.
  • the design of the rotors has not yet b ⁇ en fixed, but they will be designed to produce maximum efficiency, within the space available in the void 12. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, there will be three rotors 22, one adjacent each of the apertures 18.
  • the rotors may take the form of wind-powered cowls as sold for mounting above chimneys, for example the cowls sold under the name Aspiromatic (Registered Trade Mark) by Sebico of Vitry-Sur-Seine, France.
  • Aspiromatic Registered Trade Mark
  • the rotors have their axes vertical. It may also be possible to arrange rotors with horizontal axes in the tile voids 12. Vertical axis rotors will of course rotate whatever the angle of incident wind. However the arrangement of the tile body and the apertures 18 may result in wind currents from any direction being directed by the tile shape to flow generally across the void from one side to the other, in which case a horizontal axis rotor my be effective.
  • the rotors 22 have to be connected up to suitable generators of electricity. It is envisaged that a small generator would be mounted on the axis of each rotor 22, with the outputs from all these generators being combined to feed electricity off the roof. Suitable generators may be those used for generating electricity to power bicycle lights, where a rotor is driven by contact with the bicycle tyre to drive a generator.
  • the base 14 may be made from a conformable material which will bed well on the roof ridge. It is advantageous if the base has acoustic and vibration insulating/isolating properties to reduce any transmission of noise and vibration (which may arise when the rotors are rotating) into the building on which they are mounted.
  • cable channels 27 can be included, for electrical cables to carry electricity down off the roof. Drain channels 24 allow any rain water entering the void 12 to run out.
  • a solar panel 26 is fitted on the outer face of the tile.
  • the panel 26 extends over the top of the tile, and partly down the sides to maximise its area. It will be clear that a compromise has to be found to balance the requirements for the apertures 18 to be as big as possible to allow as much wind energy as possible to impinge on the rotors 22 with the requirement for the solar panel to be as big as possible to maximise solar energy collection.
  • the output from the solar panel will preferably be combined with that of the rotor generators, when the energy collected is carried off the roof.
  • Figure 2 shows a roof with ridge tiles fitted along the length of the ridge.
  • An. end tile 28 is provided at one end, to close the void, this end tile also having an aperture 18 screened by a mesh 20.
  • the ridge tiles are fitted end to end, and can interlock in the manner shown in Figure 3 where the tile 10a has a lip 30 which will fit over a ridge 32 on the adjacent tile 10b.
  • Figures 4 and 5 show a tile which for the most part is the same as the tile shown in Figures 1 to 3.
  • the same reference numerals have been used to reference the same features.
  • the side apertures 118 are larger than the apertures 18, to allow more wind to enter the void, and also rain deflectors 119 are provided above the apertures 118.
  • the end tile 128 has a curved upper portion to provide an aesthetically pleasing end to the ridge.
  • the tile shown in Figure 5 is also without a solar collector 26.
  • the tile described will be made, and all its internal and external parts assembled by a tile manufacturer.
  • the tiles can be laid on a roof in exactly the same way as conventional roof tiles, except that an electrical connection will have to be made. It will therefore be simple for roof tilers to lay a roof using this ridge tile, with no special or unique techniques being required. It is envisaged that a single, plug-together electrical connection can be made between the tiles when they are laid, and the connection to the household supply or to the electricity grid can be made later by an electrician, after all the roof tiles have been laid.
  • the tile described here is principally intended for use on buildings which are domestic dwelling houses, but its use on other types of buildings, for example schools and offices, is also envisaged.
  • the tile described here may be provided just with the means for collecting wind energy, or just with the means for collecting solar energy, and in these cases, the respective collecting means can be optimised in the absence of the other collecting means.
  • the invention therefore extends to a ridge tile having means for collecting energy from the wind, with or without solar energy collectors.
  • the invention also extends to a ridge tile having solar energy collectors incorporated in it, with or without means for collecting energy from the wind.
  • the tile of the invention thus allows energy from renewable resources to be easily and cheaply collected on buildings without any major construction works, and, importantly, without the need for unsightly masts, large area solar panels or other constructions.
  • These ridge tiles will look virtually the same as conventional ridge tiles, so there will be no adverse visual impact.
  • Decorative features can be incorporated in these ridge tiles, in the same way as known for conventional ridge tiles. Indeed this may be advantageous if it results in a greater exposed area which can receive a solar panel or panels.

Abstract

A roof tile incorporates wind turbines (22) to harness energy from the wind. The tile is preferably a ridge tile and will be combined with other identical ridge tiles on the ridge of a pitched roof. The wind turbines are housed within the outer walls of the tile, in an internal void (12) into which the wind can blow. The tiles interface with other tiles on the roof. Each turbine drives a generator for converting rotation of the rotor into electricity. A solar energy collector (26) may be fitted on the outer walls of the tile.

Description

Roof Tile
This invention relates to a roof tile, for buildings.
There is an ongoing demand for making use of renewable energy resources, in particular wind power and solar power.
According to the invention, there is provided a roof tile, adapted to be located on a roof and to interface with other tiles on the roof, the tile having an internal void, apertures allowing wind access to and from the internal void, at least one rotor in the void adapted to be rotated by the wind, and a generator for converting rotation of the rotor into electricity.
In a preferred embodiment, the tile is a ridge tile. Although ridge tiles do interface with the other tiles on the roof, the design of the main body of the tile which extends upwardly from the ridge is not constrained by having to mate with the other tiles on the sloping part of the roof, and thus the main body can be designed with an internal void to accommodate a rotor or rotors of sufficient size to generate significant amounts of electricity.
The tile may also be provided with a solar energy collector on its external face. The amount of solar energy collected relies on the area of the exposed surface of the collector, and this can take advantage of a large exposed area of a ridge tile. The location of the tiles at the top of a roof will also assist in directing wind currents which impinge elsewhere on the roof and will be directed upwards towards the ridge by the sloping nature of the rest of the roof. The sloping nature of the roof will also result in the air flow speeding up as it travels upwards towards the ridge, so that the flow is maximised at the ridge.
The rotor or rotors are preferably mounted with their rotation axis vertical, and preferably each drive a generator coupled directly to the respective rotor, and the outputs of multiple generators along the ridge of a roof are combined to produce a single output.
Each tile may incorporate one, two, three or more vertical axis rotors.
The tile preferably has means for making electrical connections to an adjacent tile, and means for mechanically interlocking with adjacent tiles.
The internal void can be bounded by side walls and a top wall, and openings in the side walls allow wind to enter the void. The openings can be provided with a mesh to prevent birds and wind-blown objects from entering the void. The mechanical interlock between adjacent tiles will also leave no opening through which objects can enter the void. The top wall can be arched to provide a surface which sheds water and provides a good aesthetic appearance.
The base of the tile can include an acoustic baffle to reduce sound transmission from the rotors into a roof on which the tile is mounted. The acoustic baffle can be a foamed plastics body, shaped to conform to the shape of adjacent roof tiles, and with ducts running longitudinally through the body.
The rotors are preferably cowls with helically shaped vanes.
Electrical energy outputs from the solar collector and from the or each generator can be connected in series within the tile or conducted in separate circuits within the tile.
The invention extends to a pitched roof on a building with a plurality of roof ridge tiles as set forth above, wherein the tiles are electrically connected to one another so that the outputs of multiple generators along the ridge of the roof are combined to produce a single electrical output. The tiles can be electrically connected in series.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of ridge tile in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a number of ridge tiles in accordance with Figure 1 mounted on a roof ridge; and
Figure 3 shows a detail of a possible interlocking arrangement between adjacent ridge tiles;
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of ridge tile, slightly modified from the first embodiment; and
Figure 5 shows the tile of Figure 4 with an end cap.
The tile has a main body 10 which may be made from conventional ceramic tile materials, or moulded from a suitable, weather-resistant plastics material. The body 10 of the embodiment shown is an inverted U-shape, and a void 12 is formed within the body. A base 14 provides the surfaces by which the tile will sit on a roof ridge, and a mounting plate 16 sits on the base.
The body 10 has side apertures 18 on both sides, to allow wind to enter the void. The apertures are fitted with a mesh screen 20, to prevent birds or windborne debris such as leaves from entering the void. The apertures may also be provided with lips (not shown) around their top edges, so that rain falling onto the tile is diverted around the apertures rather than entering the apertures.
Within the void, rotors 22 are mounted on the mounting plate 16. The rotors are positioned relative to the apertures 18 so that they are rotated by wind currents entering the void through the apertures, as indicated by arrow 17, leading to rotation of the rotors as indicated by arrow 19. The design of the rotors has not yet bθen fixed, but they will be designed to produce maximum efficiency, within the space available in the void 12. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, there will be three rotors 22, one adjacent each of the apertures 18.
It is envisaged that the rotors may take the form of wind-powered cowls as sold for mounting above chimneys, for example the cowls sold under the name Aspiromatic (Registered Trade Mark) by Sebico of Vitry-Sur-Seine, France.
In the embodiment, the rotors have their axes vertical. It may also be possible to arrange rotors with horizontal axes in the tile voids 12. Vertical axis rotors will of course rotate whatever the angle of incident wind. However the arrangement of the tile body and the apertures 18 may result in wind currents from any direction being directed by the tile shape to flow generally across the void from one side to the other, in which case a horizontal axis rotor my be effective.
The rotors 22 have to be connected up to suitable generators of electricity. It is envisaged that a small generator would be mounted on the axis of each rotor 22, with the outputs from all these generators being combined to feed electricity off the roof. Suitable generators may be those used for generating electricity to power bicycle lights, where a rotor is driven by contact with the bicycle tyre to drive a generator.
The base 14 may be made from a conformable material which will bed well on the roof ridge. It is advantageous if the base has acoustic and vibration insulating/isolating properties to reduce any transmission of noise and vibration (which may arise when the rotors are rotating) into the building on which they are mounted.
If the base is moulded or extruded, cable channels 27 can be included, for electrical cables to carry electricity down off the roof. Drain channels 24 allow any rain water entering the void 12 to run out.
On the outer face of the tile, a solar panel 26 is fitted. The panel 26 extends over the top of the tile, and partly down the sides to maximise its area. It will be clear that a compromise has to be found to balance the requirements for the apertures 18 to be as big as possible to allow as much wind energy as possible to impinge on the rotors 22 with the requirement for the solar panel to be as big as possible to maximise solar energy collection.
The output from the solar panel will preferably be combined with that of the rotor generators, when the energy collected is carried off the roof.
Figure 2 shows a roof with ridge tiles fitted along the length of the ridge. An. end tile 28 is provided at one end, to close the void, this end tile also having an aperture 18 screened by a mesh 20. The ridge tiles are fitted end to end, and can interlock in the manner shown in Figure 3 where the tile 10a has a lip 30 which will fit over a ridge 32 on the adjacent tile 10b.
Figures 4 and 5 show a tile which for the most part is the same as the tile shown in Figures 1 to 3. The same reference numerals have been used to reference the same features. It will be noted however that the side apertures 118 are larger than the apertures 18, to allow more wind to enter the void, and also rain deflectors 119 are provided above the apertures 118. The end tile 128 has a curved upper portion to provide an aesthetically pleasing end to the ridge. The tile shown in Figure 5 is also without a solar collector 26.
Although the invention has been described specifically as a ridge tile, the features described here can be incorporated in a tile to be fitted at any location on a roof.
It will be noted that the tile described will be made, and all its internal and external parts assembled by a tile manufacturer. The tiles can be laid on a roof in exactly the same way as conventional roof tiles, except that an electrical connection will have to be made. It will therefore be simple for roof tilers to lay a roof using this ridge tile, with no special or unique techniques being required. It is envisaged that a single, plug-together electrical connection can be made between the tiles when they are laid, and the connection to the household supply or to the electricity grid can be made later by an electrician, after all the roof tiles have been laid.
It may be possible to disconnect the main body 10 from the base 14, so that the body 10 can be lifted off to allow servicing or replacement of the rotors, or to allow cleaning out of the void 12.
The tile described here is principally intended for use on buildings which are domestic dwelling houses, but its use on other types of buildings, for example schools and offices, is also envisaged.
In some circumstances, the tile described here may be provided just with the means for collecting wind energy, or just with the means for collecting solar energy, and in these cases, the respective collecting means can be optimised in the absence of the other collecting means.
The invention therefore extends to a ridge tile having means for collecting energy from the wind, with or without solar energy collectors.
The invention also extends to a ridge tile having solar energy collectors incorporated in it, with or without means for collecting energy from the wind.
The tile of the invention thus allows energy from renewable resources to be easily and cheaply collected on buildings without any major construction works, and, importantly, without the need for unsightly masts, large area solar panels or other constructions. These ridge tiles will look virtually the same as conventional ridge tiles, so there will be no adverse visual impact. Decorative features can be incorporated in these ridge tiles, in the same way as known for conventional ridge tiles. Indeed this may be advantageous if it results in a greater exposed area which can receive a solar panel or panels.

Claims

Claims
1. A roof tile, adapted to be located on a roof and to interface with other tiles on the roof, the tile having an internal void, apertures allowing wind access to and from the internal void, at least one rotor in the void adapted to be rotated by the wind, and a generator for converting rotation of the rotor into electricity.
2. A roof tile as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the rotor or rotors are mounted with their rotation axis vertical.
3. A roof tile as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the tile is a ridge tile.
4. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rotor or rotors each drive a generator coupled directly to the respective rotor.
5. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each tile incorporates three vertical axis rotors.
6. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, and having means for making electrical connections to an adjacent tile.
7. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the internal void is bounded by side walls and a top wall, and the side walls have openings to allow wind to enter the void.
8. A roof tile as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the openings are provided with a mesh to prevent birds and wind-blown objects from entering the void.
9. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base of the tile includes an acoustic baffle to reduce sound transmission from the rotors into a roof on which the tile is mounted.
10. A roof tile as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the acoustic baffle is a foamed plastics body, shaped to conform to the shape of adjacent roof tiles, and with ducts running longitudinally through the body.
11. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ends of the tile have interlocking features to allow each tile to interlock mechanically with an adjacent tile.
12. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rotors are cowls with helically shaped vanes.
13. A roof tile as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a solar energy collector is provided on the external face of the tile.
14. A roof tile as claimed in Claim 13, wherein electrical energy outputs from the solar collector and from the or each generator are connected in series within the tile.
15. A roof tile as claimed in Claim 13, wherein electrical energy outputs from the solar collector and from the or each generator are conducted in separate circuits within the tile.
16. A pitched roof on a building with a plurality of roof tiles as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tiles are electrically connected to one another so that the outputs of multiple generators along the ridge of the roof are combined to produce a single electrical output.
17. A roof as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the tiles are electrically connected in series.
PCT/GB2006/002584 2005-07-13 2006-07-12 Roof tile WO2007007103A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06764936A EP1904743A1 (en) 2005-07-13 2006-07-12 Roof tile

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GB0514366.4 2005-07-13
GBGB0514366.4A GB0514366D0 (en) 2005-07-13 2005-07-13 Roof tile

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EP2048452A1 (en) * 2007-10-09 2009-04-15 Dragon Energy Pte. Ltd. Roof based energy conversion system
WO2009083704A1 (en) * 2008-01-02 2009-07-09 Stephen Foster Wind turbine mounted on a pitched roof with a truncated region
EP2128439A1 (en) 2008-05-27 2009-12-02 Syneola SA An intelligent decentralized electrical power generation system
WO2010083043A3 (en) * 2009-01-19 2011-07-28 Greenguy International, "Llc" Environmental power generation device and associated methods
ES2372098A1 (en) * 2009-02-02 2012-01-16 Yeinez Alberto Ospina Vera System of captation of natural resources in buildings. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
FR2966988A1 (en) * 2010-11-02 2012-05-04 Eryma Security Systems Power plant for generating electric energy from e.g. wind energy to supply electric energy to portable telephone, has photovoltaic and/or thermoelectric units mounted above wind turbine such that flow of air mixed by turbine cools units
GB2491372A (en) * 2011-05-31 2012-12-05 Rosemary Jones Solar-wind assembly
ITSS20130003A1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-11-04 Onda Energetica Srl "THE PHOTOEOLIC PANEL"
US20150275865A1 (en) * 2014-03-28 2015-10-01 Rainer Marquardt Wind Power Station for Rooftops
DE102016009311A1 (en) 2016-07-30 2018-02-01 Alexander Prokofiev Solar module unit
WO2018146704A1 (en) 2017-02-09 2018-08-16 Andrea Roggero System for producing electric energy
EP3538821B1 (en) * 2016-11-11 2021-05-19 Logic Swiss AG A modular tile
WO2022056615A1 (en) * 2020-09-15 2022-03-24 Cordeiro De Oliveira Emerson Support for roof-mounted photovoltaic panel
WO2023009543A1 (en) * 2021-07-26 2023-02-02 Kumarasena Thusitha Wind energy apparatus
WO2023078486A1 (en) * 2021-11-05 2023-05-11 Falkenstein Juergen Tile-replacing roof panel device

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EP2048452A1 (en) * 2007-10-09 2009-04-15 Dragon Energy Pte. Ltd. Roof based energy conversion system
WO2009083704A1 (en) * 2008-01-02 2009-07-09 Stephen Foster Wind turbine mounted on a pitched roof with a truncated region
EP2128439A1 (en) 2008-05-27 2009-12-02 Syneola SA An intelligent decentralized electrical power generation system
WO2009150039A2 (en) * 2008-05-27 2009-12-17 Syneola Sa Substantially spherical multi-blade wind turbine
WO2009150039A3 (en) * 2008-05-27 2010-05-14 Syneola Sa Substantially spherical multi-blade wind turbine
WO2010083043A3 (en) * 2009-01-19 2011-07-28 Greenguy International, "Llc" Environmental power generation device and associated methods
ES2372098A1 (en) * 2009-02-02 2012-01-16 Yeinez Alberto Ospina Vera System of captation of natural resources in buildings. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
FR2966988A1 (en) * 2010-11-02 2012-05-04 Eryma Security Systems Power plant for generating electric energy from e.g. wind energy to supply electric energy to portable telephone, has photovoltaic and/or thermoelectric units mounted above wind turbine such that flow of air mixed by turbine cools units
GB2491372B (en) * 2011-05-31 2015-05-13 Rosemary Jones A solar-wind Technological assembly
GB2491372A (en) * 2011-05-31 2012-12-05 Rosemary Jones Solar-wind assembly
ITSS20130003A1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-11-04 Onda Energetica Srl "THE PHOTOEOLIC PANEL"
US20150275865A1 (en) * 2014-03-28 2015-10-01 Rainer Marquardt Wind Power Station for Rooftops
GB2526195A (en) * 2014-03-28 2015-11-18 Rainer Marquardt Wind power station for rooftops
US9777712B2 (en) 2014-03-28 2017-10-03 Rainer Marquardt Wind power station for rooftops
DE102016009311A1 (en) 2016-07-30 2018-02-01 Alexander Prokofiev Solar module unit
EP3538821B1 (en) * 2016-11-11 2021-05-19 Logic Swiss AG A modular tile
WO2018146704A1 (en) 2017-02-09 2018-08-16 Andrea Roggero System for producing electric energy
WO2022056615A1 (en) * 2020-09-15 2022-03-24 Cordeiro De Oliveira Emerson Support for roof-mounted photovoltaic panel
WO2023009543A1 (en) * 2021-07-26 2023-02-02 Kumarasena Thusitha Wind energy apparatus
WO2023078486A1 (en) * 2021-11-05 2023-05-11 Falkenstein Juergen Tile-replacing roof panel device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2428258B (en) 2007-11-07
EP1904743A1 (en) 2008-04-02
GB0613829D0 (en) 2006-08-23
GB2428258A (en) 2007-01-24
GB0514366D0 (en) 2005-08-17

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