Solar cell module

Abstract

To improve workability.SOLUTION: A solar cell module 10 has a solar cell panel 14 and a tile body 15. The solar cell panel 14 has a first polar cable 20 and a second polar cable 21. The tile body 15 has a panel support part and a cable support part 22. The panel support part supports the solar cell panel 14. The cable support part 22 is positioned further on a first direction side than the panel support part. The cable support part 22 extends so as to continue along a second direction. The cable support part 22 supports the first polar cable 20 and the second polar cable 21. The first polar cable 20 extends in the second direction. The first polar cable 20 terminates in the cable support part 22 when viewed from the third direction. The second polar cable 21 extends in an opposite direction to the second direction. The second polar cable 21 terminates at a position beyond the cable support part 22 when viewed from the third direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a solar cell module.

Background Art

[0002] From the viewpoints of resource conservation and seismic performance improvement by reducing the weight of the upper part of a building, the spread of a solar cell array using a roof material integrated solar cell module is desired. Therefore, roof materials such as tiles incorporating solar cell units into the tile main body and housing trays fixed to solar cell panels have been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The roof materials described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are assumed to be used by installing a plurality of roof materials in an array. During the construction of the roof material, damage to the cable may occur due to the cable being pinched.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is room for improvement in the workability of conventional roof materials. [[ID=e41]]

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a solar cell module with improved workability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The solar cell module according to the first aspect is A solar panel comprising a flat main body portion parallel to a first and second direction perpendicular to each other, a terminal box provided on the first main surface side of the main body portion, and a first polarity cable and a second polarity cable having opposite polarities leading out from the terminal box, The structure comprises a panel support portion that supports the solar cell panel so as to face the first main surface, and a tile body that is located on the first direction side of the panel support portion, extends continuously along the second direction, and has a cable support portion that supports the first polarity cable and the second polarity cable, The first polarity cable extends in a second direction and terminates within the cable support when viewed from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions and toward the panel support from the solar panel. The second polarity cable extends in the opposite direction to the second direction and terminates beyond the cable support when viewed from the third direction. death, The roof tile further has an underlap portion located on the second direction side of the panel support portion and extending in the opposite direction to the first direction from the cable support portion, The value obtained by subtracting the length of the cable support portion in the second direction from the length of the panel support portion in the second direction is greater than the diameter of the second polar cable. . From a second perspective, the solar cell module is: A solar panel comprising a flat main body portion parallel to a first and second direction perpendicular to each other, a terminal box provided on the first main surface side of the main body portion, and a first polarity cable and a second polarity cable having opposite polarities leading out from the terminal box, The structure comprises a panel support portion that supports the solar cell panel so as to face the first main surface, and a tile body that is located on the first direction side of the panel support portion, extends continuously along the second direction, and has a cable support portion that supports the first polarity cable and the second polarity cable, The first polarity cable extends in the second direction and terminates within the cable support when viewed from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions and toward the panel support from the solar panel. The second polarity cable extends in the opposite direction to the second direction and terminates beyond the cable support when viewed from the third direction. The roof tile further has an underlap portion located on the second direction side of the panel support portion and extending in the opposite direction to the first direction from the cable support portion, The cable support portion extends from the second direction end of the roof tile, The length of the cable support portion in the second direction is less than or equal to the value obtained by subtracting the length of the underlap portion in the second direction from the length of the roof tile in the second direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, workability will be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an external perspective view showing a solar cell array, composed of a solar cell module according to one embodiment, installed on the upper surface of a structure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the solar cell module. [Figure 3] It is an external perspective view of the solar cell panel in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is an external perspective view of the solar cell panel in FIG. 3 seen from the back side. [Figure 5] It is an external perspective view of the tile body in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] It is an external perspective view of the tile body in FIG. 5 seen from the back side. [Figure 7] It is a partial enlarged view of the peripheral part of the end of the tile body in FIG. 5 on the first direction side and the second direction side. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view of the tile body in FIG. 5 cut by a plane perpendicular to the second direction at a position near the center along the second direction. [Figure 9] It is a partial enlarged view of the peripheral part of the end of the modified example of the tile body in FIG. 5 on the first direction side and the opposite side of the second direction. [Figure 10] It is a partial enlarged view of the solar cell module in FIG. 2 seen in the second direction. [Figure 11] It is an external perspective view of the modified example of the solar cell module in FIG. 2. [Figure 12] It is an external perspective view of the cover body in FIG. 2. [Figure 13] It is another partial enlarged view of the solar cell module in FIG. 2 seen in the second direction. [Figure 14] It is a partial enlarged view of the peripheral part of the end of the solar cell module in FIG. 2 on the first direction side and the second direction side. [Figure 15] It is a partial enlarged view of the peripheral part of the end of the solar cell module in FIG. 2 on the first direction side and the opposite side of the second direction seen from the third direction. [Figure 16] It is a partial enlarged view of the peripheral part of the end of the cover body in FIG. 12 on the opposite side of the second direction. [Figure 17] It is yet another partial enlarged view of the solar cell module in FIG. 2 seen in the second direction. [Figure 18] It is a figure for explaining the construction status of the solar cell array in FIG. 1. [Figure 19] It is a partial enlarged view for explaining the installation process of the solar cell module during the construction of the solar cell array in FIG. 18. [Figure 20] This figure shows the solar cell array in Figure 1, viewed in a second direction, along with cross-sectional views of some solar cell modules and their top surfaces, as well as side views of other solar cell modules. [Figure 21] This is a partially enlarged view showing the ends of two solar cell modules adjacent to each other along the second direction in the solar cell array of Figure 1, on the first direction side. [Figure 22] This is a magnified view of a portion of the vicinity of the boundary between two adjacent solar cell modules in the row-to-row direction in the solar cell array shown in Figure 1, on the ridge side. [Figure 23] This is a top view of the solar cell module in Figure 2, looking in the direction of Figure 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the components shown in the following drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0010] A solar cell array 11 including a solar cell module 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of solar cell modules 10. As shown in Figure 1, a solar cell array 11 including a solar cell module 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of solar cell modules 10. The solar cell array 11 may be installed on the upper surface 12 of a structure such as a house. The upper surface 12 is, for example, an inclined surface, a horizontal surface, etc. An inclined surface is a surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal surface. The upper surface 12 may be, for example, the main surface of the roof sheathing. The main surface is the surface that has the largest area in a cube. The roof sheathing may be covered with roofing material for waterproofing. In addition, battens 13 may be fixed to the roof sheathing so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of battens 13 may be arranged from the ridge side toward the eaves side. The longitudinal direction is the direction parallel to the upper surface 12 and the horizontal surface.

[0011] In the solar cell array 11, multiple solar cell modules 10 may be arranged in a two-dimensional manner. In the solar cell array 11, multiple solar cell modules 10 may be arranged so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction. In the solar cell array 11, multiple rows formed by multiple solar cell modules 10 aligned in the longitudinal direction may be arranged so as to be aligned from the ridge side to the eaves side. In the solar cell array 11, any solar cell module 10 may partially overlap another solar cell module 10 located on its eaves side. Multiple solar cell modules 10 may be arranged offset from each other in the direction from the ridge side to the eaves side, or they may be arranged in a aligned manner.

[0012] The solar cell module 10 comprises a solar cell panel 14 and a roof casing 15. The solar cell module 10 may further comprise a cover casing 16. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the solar cell module 10 may comprise a solar cell panel 14, a roof casing 15, and a cover casing 16. The solar cell module 10 has defined first, second, and third directions that are perpendicular to each other. The solar cell module 10 is formed assuming that, when forming a solar cell array 11, the first direction faces the ridge side of the structure, the second direction is parallel to the girder direction, and the third direction faces the upper surface 12. Therefore, in the solar cell array 11, the first directions of each of the multiple solar cell modules 10 may be parallel to each other. Also, in the solar cell array 11, the second directions of each of the multiple solar cell modules 10 may be parallel to each other. Also, in the solar cell array 11, the third directions of each of the multiple solar cell modules 10 may be parallel to each other.

[0013] The solar cell panel 14 has a main body 17. As shown in Figure 3, the solar cell panel 14 may have a main body 17. As shown in Figure 4, the solar cell panel 14 may further have a terminal box 18 and a cable 19.

[0014] The main body 17 generates electricity by receiving light. The main body 17 is a flat plate parallel to the first direction and the second direction. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the main body 17 may have a first main surface s1 and a second main surface s2. The first main surface s1 and the second main surface s2 may be perpendicular to the third direction. The first main surface s1 may face the third direction. The second main surface s2 may primarily receive light.

[0015] The terminal box 18 outputs the power generated by the light received by the main body 17 to the outside. The terminal box 18 may be provided on the first main surface s1 side of the main body 17. The terminal box 18 may be provided near the center of the main body 17 in the second direction. The terminal box 18 may be provided at a position on the main body 17 that is closer to the first direction side.

[0016] Cable 19 outputs the power generated by the solar panel 14 to external equipment. Cable 19 may be led out from the terminal box 18. Cable 19 may include a first polarity cable 20 and a second polarity cable 21. The first polarity cable 20 and the second polarity cable 21 may have different polarities.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, the first polarity cable 20 may extend in the solar cell module 10 in the second direction. The second polarity cable 21 may extend in the solar cell module 10 in the opposite direction to the second direction. The first polarity cable 20 may terminate in the solar cell module 10 within the cable housing section 22, which will be described later, when viewed from the third direction. The second polarity cable 21 may terminate beyond the cable housing section 22 when viewed from the third direction in the solar cell module 10.

[0018] The roof tile 15 has a panel support portion 23. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the roof tile 15 may have a panel support portion 23. The roof tile 15 may further have a terminal box housing portion 24, a cable housing portion 22, a connecting portion 25, an underlap portion 26, a first leg portion 27, a second leg portion 28, and an exposed portion 29. When viewed in a third direction, the roof tile 15 may be square or rectangular overall. In this specification, "square or rectangular overall" means a shape that forms a square or rectangle if there are no partial cutouts or the like.

[0019] The panel support portion 23 may support the solar cell panel 14 so as to face the first main surface s1. The panel support portion 23 may include a flat plate-shaped portion facing the opposite direction of the third direction. The panel support portion 23 may support the solar cell panel 14 with the flat plate-shaped portion in surface contact with the first main surface s1. The panel support portion 23 may be inclined toward the third direction at at least one end on both sides along the second direction, more specifically, at least one of the end on the second direction side and the end on the opposite direction side.

[0020] As shown in Figure 6, on the third-direction side surface of the panel support portion 23, a stepped overlap portion 30 may be formed at the end opposite to the second direction, which is recessed in the opposite direction to the third direction compared to the other portion and extends along the first direction.

[0021] The length of the panel support portion 23 in the second direction may be the working width. That is, when the solar cell module 10 is installed on the upper surface 12 to form the solar cell array 11, it may be the length of the portion that is not covered by the adjacent solar cell module 10 in the second direction.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, the terminal box housing portion 24 may be recessed from the panel support portion 23. The terminal box housing portion 24 may house the terminal box 18 in the solar cell module 10 so as to cover the portion of the terminal box 18 on the third direction side.

[0023] The cable housing section 22 may house the cable 19 so as to cover the portion of the cable 19 on the third direction side. The cable housing section 22 may also function as a cable support section that supports the cable 19, including the first polarity cable 20 and the second polarity cable 21. Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the cable housing section 22 may have a surface that intersects the third direction. More specifically, the cable housing section 22 may have a bottom wall section 31 which is a plane perpendicular to the third direction. The cable housing section 22 may further have an upright section 32 located at the end on the first direction side and erected in the opposite direction to the third direction. Specifically, the upright section 32 may be wall-shaped and extend along the second direction.

[0024] The cable housing section 22 may be located on the first direction side of the panel support section 23. The cable housing section 22 may be continuous with the panel support section 23 directly or indirectly. In a configuration in which a terminal box housing section 24 is formed, the cable housing section 22 may be located on the first direction side of the terminal box housing section 24. The cable housing section 22 may be continuous with the terminal box housing section 24. The cable housing section 22 may extend continuously along a second direction. The cable housing section 22 may extend from the second direction side end of the roof tile 15.

[0025] As shown in Figure 8, the cable housing section 22 may have an intermediate section 33 between the section connecting the cable housing section 22 and the terminal box housing section 24 and the cable housing section 22. In a configuration without a connecting section 25, the section connecting the cable housing section 22 and the terminal box housing section 24 may be the section of the terminal box housing section 24 closer to the first direction. In a configuration with a connecting section 25, the section connecting the cable housing section 22 and the terminal box housing section 24 may be the section of the connecting section 25 closer to the first direction.

[0026] The intermediate section 33 may be located on the side of the cable housing section 22 that is closest to the third direction, for example, on the side opposite to the third direction from the bottom wall section 31. More specifically, the intermediate section 33 includes a wall surface that is erected on the side opposite to the third direction from the bottom wall section 31 and does not reach the side of the panel support section 23 that is opposite to the third direction. Therefore, the cable housing section 22 is located on the side of the third direction from the intermediate section 33.

[0027] The cable housing section 22 may be covered from the opposite side in the third direction by another solar cell module 10, when another solar cell module 10 is positioned in at least one of the two directions along the second direction to form a solar cell array 11. For example, one end of the cable housing section 22 of any solar cell module 10 may overlap with the end of the cable housing section 22 of another solar cell module 10 adjacent to that solar cell module 10. To achieve this configuration, the length of the cable housing section 22 in the second direction may be greater than or equal to the length of the panel support section 23.

[0028] More specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the cable housing section 22 may have a stepped section 34 at at least one end on either side of the second direction. The stepped section 34 may be provided, for example, at the end opposite to the second direction.

[0029] The stepped portion 34 may be offset in a third direction from one end to the other end on which the stepped portion 34 is provided. The stepped portion 34 may be positioned, for example, offset toward the third direction from the bottom wall portion 31, or offset toward the opposite direction of the third direction. The stepped portion 34 may extend from the end of the bottom wall portion 31 in the opposite direction of the second direction.

[0030] An extension upright portion 35 may be provided at the end of the stepped portion 34 on the first direction side, extending along the second direction and erected on the opposite side of the third direction. The extension upright portion 35 may be positioned, for example, offset from the upright portion 32 toward the first direction, or offset toward the opposite side of the first direction. The extension upright portion 35 may extend from the end of the upright portion 32 in the opposite direction of the second direction.

[0031] The stepped portion 34 may overlap with the other end of the cable housing portion 22 of another solar cell module 10 when viewed from a third direction, in a state where another solar cell module 10 is placed at the end on the stepped portion 34 side to form a solar cell array 11. More specifically, in a configuration in which the stepped portion 34 is provided, the length of the cable housing portion 22 excluding the stepped portion 34 in the second direction may be less than or equal to the length of the panel support portion 23. Furthermore, in this configuration, the length of the cable housing portion 22 including the stepped portion 34 in the second direction may be greater than or equal to the length of the panel support portion 23.

[0032] Alternatively, the length of the cable housing portion 22 in the second direction may be shorter than the length of the panel support portion 23 in the second direction minus the diameter of the second polarity cable 21. Therefore, the value obtained by subtracting the length of the cable housing portion 22 in the second direction from the length of the panel support portion 23 in the second direction may be greater than the diameter of the second polarity cable 21. Furthermore, the length of the cable housing portion 22 in the second direction may be less than or equal to the value obtained by subtracting the length of the underwrap portion 26 in the second direction from the length of the roof tile 15 in the second direction.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5, the connecting portion 25 may be formed between the terminal box housing portion 24 and the cable housing portion 22 in the first direction. The connecting portion 25 may connect the terminal box housing portion 24 and the cable housing portion 22. The connecting portion 25 may house the cable 19 so as to cover the portion of the cable 19 on the third direction side.

[0034] The connecting portion 25 is, for example, a groove-like structure extending along the first direction. The length of the connecting portion 25 in the second direction only needs to be sufficient to accommodate the cable 19, and may be shorter than the length of the terminal box housing portion 24 in the second direction.

[0035] The underlap portion 26 may be located on the second direction side of the panel support portion 23. The underlap portion 26 may extend along the first direction. The underlap portion 26 may be groove-shaped along the first direction. The side of the underlap portion 26 opposite to the first direction may be open.

[0036] The underwrap portion 26 may further extend in the opposite direction to the first direction from the cable housing portion 22. More specifically, the underwrap portion 26 may extend along the side of the panel support portion 23 on the second direction side. The length of the underwrap portion 26 in the second direction may be constant, or it may vary so as to widen or narrow in the opposite direction to the first direction.

[0037] The underlap portion 26 does not need to overlap the overlap portion 30 overall when viewed from the second direction. In other words, the underlap portion 26 may be offset from the overlap portion 30 in the third direction. The length of the underlap portion 26 in the second direction may be less than or equal to the length of the overlap portion 30 in the second direction.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, the first leg portion 27 may be located on the side of the panel support portion 23 in the first direction. The first leg portion 27 may be located near the side opposite to the first direction of the cable housing portion 22. The first leg portion 27 may protrude in the third direction. The first leg portion 27 may be ridged and extend along the second direction.

[0039] The second leg portion 28 may be located at the end of the tile body 15 on the side opposite to the first direction. The second leg portion 28 may project toward the third direction. The second leg portion 28 may extend along the second direction.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, the exposed portion 29 may be located at the end of the roof tile 15 on the side opposite to the first direction. As shown in Figure 2, in the solar cell module 10, the exposed portion 29 may be exposed from the solar cell panel 14 when viewed in the third direction. The exposed portion 29 may extend along the second direction. As shown in Figure 8, the exposed portion 29 may protrude from the flat portion of the panel support 23 on the side opposite to the third direction. When viewed through from the third direction, the exposed portion 29 may overlap with the second leg portion 28.

[0041] The position of the exposed surface of the exposed portion 29 in the third direction may be determined such that the second difference is greater than the first difference at any position viewed from the third direction, as described below. The first difference is the difference obtained by subtracting the position of the exposed portion 29 in the third direction from the position of the portion of the solar cell module 10 on the side opposite to the third direction in the third direction. The second difference is the difference obtained by subtracting the position of the bottom surface of the second leg portion 28 in the third direction from the position of the portion of the solar cell module 10 on the third direction side in the third direction. For example, as shown in Figure 10, at a first position p1 arbitrarily selected when viewed from the third direction, the second difference Δ21 is greater than the first difference Δ11. Also, for example, at a second position p2 arbitrarily selected when viewed from the third direction, the second difference Δ22 is greater than the first difference Δ12.

[0042] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the roof tile 15 may have at least one notch (second notch) 36 formed at the corner on the side facing the first direction and the opposite side facing the second direction. The notch 36 may overlap with the position where an opening is formed on the side facing the second direction of the gutter portion 39, as described later, when viewed from the third direction. The length of the notch 36 in the second direction may be greater than or equal to the length of the underlap portion 26 in the second direction. The length of the underlap portion 26 in the second direction, compared to the length of the second notch 36 in the second direction, may be the length of the underlap portion 26 in the second direction at the end facing the first direction.

[0043] The roof tile 15 may be non-combustible. "Non-combustible" of the roof tile 15 refers to the properties defined as non-combustible materials by law (for example, the Building Standards Act or the Building Standards Act Enforcement Order in Japan). A roof tile 15 that is non-combustible is, for example, a granular composite. A granular composite is an object formed by bonding rock grains together through the effect of chemical changes. Examples of granular composites include concrete and fired products. Concrete is a composite material made by solidifying coarse aggregates such as gravel and crushed stone, and fine aggregates such as sand and crushed sand, using binders such as cement, lime, gypsum, asphalt, sulfur, and plastic. Sand consists of rock grains ranging in size from 1 / 16 mm to 2 mm.

[0044] As shown in Figure 2, the cover body 16 may be located on the side of the solar panel 14 in the first direction. As shown in Figure 11, the cover body 16 may be a rectangular flat plate overall. The cover body 16 may extend along the second direction.

[0045] As shown in Figure 2, the cover body 16 may cover at least a part of the connecting portion 25, or even at least the entire connecting portion 25, from the opposite side of the third direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the cover body 16 may cover the cable housing portion 22 from the opposite side of the third direction.

[0046] The cover body 16 may be non-combustible or flame-retardant. A non-combustible cover body 16 may be made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy. A flame-retardant cover body 16 may be made of a flame-retardant resin such as polyvinyl chloride. In configurations where the cover body 16 is made of metal, it may be fixed to the roof tile 15 by any method. In configurations where the cover body 16 is made of resin, it may be fixed to the roof tile 15 by bonding it with an adhesive.

[0047] As shown in Figure 12, the cover body 16 may have a covering portion 37, a protrusion portion 38, a groove portion 39, and a gripping portion 40.

[0048] The covering portion 37 may be a flat plate parallel to the first and second directions. The covering portion 37 may extend continuously in the second direction. As shown in Figure 13, in the solar cell module 10, the covering portion 37 may cover the end of the solar cell panel 14 on the first direction side from the opposite side of the third direction.

[0049] The protrusion 38 may project in the opposite direction to the third direction from the portion of the cover body 16 on which the protrusion 38 is provided. For example, the protrusion 38 may project in the opposite direction to the third direction from the covering portion 37. The protruding tip of the protrusion 38 may be bent or curved in the opposite direction to the first direction.

[0050] As shown in Figure 12, the protrusions 38 may extend along the second direction. The protrusions 38 may have notches (first notches) 41 formed at some points along the second direction. Multiple protrusions 38 may be provided on the cover body 16, with each protrusion 38 included in a straight line parallel to the second direction being considered as a single protrusion 38. The multiple protrusions 38 may be arranged in a line along the first direction. The notches 41 may be formed at least on the protrusions 38 that are located furthest away from the first direction among the multiple protrusions 38.

[0051] The gutter portion 39 may be located on the first direction side of the protrusion portion 38. As shown in Figure 2, the gutter portion 39 may be located in the solar cell module 10, when viewed in the third direction, along the first direction, between the panel support portion 23 and the cable housing portion 22.

[0052] The gutter section 39 may extend continuously along the second direction. An opening may be formed at the end of the gutter section 39 on the second direction side to connect the underlap section 26 and the gutter section 39. Connecting the underlap section 26 and the gutter section 39 means connecting the space defined by the bottom wall section and side wall section constituting the underlap section 26 with the space defined by the bottom wall section, side wall section, and virtual ceiling wall constituting the gutter section 39. The bottom wall section is a wall body having a surface located on the third direction side. The side wall section is a wall body erected on the opposite side of the third direction along the outer edge of the bottom wall section. The virtual ceiling wall is a planar virtual wall body passing through the end of the side wall section on the opposite side of the third direction. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the first opening 42 may be formed at the end of the gutter section 39 on the second direction side without forming a side wall section.

[0053] As shown in Figure 15, the end of the gutter portion 39 on the opposite side of the second direction may reach the notch 36 of the roof tile 15 when viewed from the third direction in the solar cell module 10. Furthermore, the gutter portion 39 may terminate at a position displaced in the second direction by a length less than or equal to the length of the underlap portion 26 in the second direction from the end of the roof tile 15 on the opposite side of the second direction. The end of the roof tile 15 on the opposite side of the second direction may mean the portion of the roof tile 15 that is on the opposite side of the second direction. For example, this end is the portion on the opposite side of the second direction at the point where the length of the roof tile 15 along the second direction is maximum at any position in the first direction. Alternatively, this end is the portion of the panel support portion 23 on the end side in the second direction.

[0054] An opening may be formed at the end of the gutter 39 on the side opposite to the second direction. For example, as shown in Figure 16, a second opening 43 may be formed at the end of the gutter 39 on the side opposite to the second direction without forming a side wall.

[0055] As shown in Figure 13, the gutter section 39 may have a bottom wall section 44 and upright sections 45. The bottom wall section 44 may be located on the side of the cover section 37 in a first direction. The bottom wall section 44 may be located on the side of the cover section 37 in a third direction. The upright sections 45 may be provided at both ends of the bottom wall section 44 in the first direction. The upright sections 45 may be erected in the opposite direction to the second direction.

[0056] The inner bottom surface ib of the gutter portion 39 may be located on the third direction side of the solar cell module 10 relative to the solar cell panel 14. The inner bottom surface ib is the surface of the bottom wall portion 44 on the opposite side of the third direction. As shown in Figure 2, the gutter portion 39 may be located on the opposite side of the third direction relative to the underlap portion 26.

[0057] As shown in Figure 17, the height of the bottom wall portion 44 of the gutter portion 39 may be determined in the solar cell module 10 such that the difference δ1 in the heights of the first leg portion 27 and the second leg portion 28 in the third direction is equal to the difference δ2 in the heights of the exposed portion 29 and the bottom wall portion 44. The difference δ1 in the heights of the first leg portion 27 and the second leg portion 28 in the third direction is the difference in the position in the third direction of the parts of the first leg portion 27 and the second leg portion 28 that are closest to the third direction. The difference δ2 in the heights of the exposed portion 29 and the bottom wall portion 44 in the third direction is the difference in the position in the third direction of the exposed surface of the exposed portion 29 and the inner bottom surface ib of the bottom wall portion 44, respectively.

[0058] The first leg portion 27 may overlap the gutter portion 39 when viewed from a third direction. Specifically, the first leg portion 27 may overlap the gutter portion 39 in the first direction, and the first leg portion 27 may overlap the gutter portion 39 in the second direction.

[0059] As shown in Figure 13, the gripping portion 40 may grip the solar cell panel 14 from the first direction side. The gripping portion 40 may have a shape that protrudes from the cover portion 37 toward the third direction side and bends toward the opposite direction to the first direction.

[0060] A method for forming a solar cell array 11 by installing multiple solar cell modules 10 having the above-described configuration on the upper surface 12 will be described below. As shown in Figure 18, the solar cell modules 10 may be installed on the upper surface 12 starting from the side closest to the eaves. Alternatively, the solar cell modules 10 may be installed sequentially along the girder direction, starting from the side opposite to the second direction, with the first direction facing the ridge.

[0061] The newly installed solar cell module 10a is installed from vertically above so that its overlapping portion 30 covers the entire underlap portion 26 of the solar cell module 10b already installed on the upper surface 12. As shown in Figure 19, the newly installed solar cell module 10a may be installed from vertically above so that its overlapping portion 30 covers the entire underlap portion 26 of the solar cell module 10b already installed on the upper surface 12. The newly installed solar cell module 10a may also be installed so that its panel support portions 23 are in close contact with adjacent solar cell modules 10b along the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 20, the newly installed solar cell module 10a may be installed so that its second leg portion 28 rests on the cover body 16 of the solar cell module 10c on the eaves side. Furthermore, the newly installed solar cell module 10a may be installed so that its first leg portion 27 engages with the batten 13.

[0062] As shown in Figure 21, the second polarity cable 21 of the newly installed solar cell module 10a may be connected to the first polarity cable 20 of the adjacent already installed solar cell module 10b along the longitudinal direction after it has been installed on the top surface 12.

[0063] The solar cell modules 10 installed on the upper surface 12 may be fixed to the upper surface 12 by any means. For example, the solar cell modules 10 may be fixed to the upper surface 12 via the wooden supports 13 using fasteners such as nails.

[0064] The solar cell module 10 having the above configuration comprises a main body 17, a terminal box 18 provided on the first main surface s1 side of the main body 17, and a solar cell panel 14 having a first polarity cable 20 and a second polarity cable 21 having opposite polarities leading out from the terminal box 18, a panel support portion 23 that supports the solar cell panel 14 so as to face the first main surface s1, and a casing 15 located on the first direction side of the panel support portion 23, extending continuously along the second direction, and having a cable housing portion 22 that supports the first polarity cable 20 and the second polarity cable 21, wherein the first polarity cable 20 extends in the second direction and terminates within the cable housing portion 22 when viewed from the third direction, and the second polarity cable 21 extends in the opposite direction to the second direction and terminates beyond the cable housing portion 22 when viewed from the third direction. During the installation of the solar cell array 11, it is assumed that the installation of a newly installed solar cell module 10a will begin on the second direction side of the solar cell module 10b already installed on the upper surface 12. In such an assumed installation operation, if the first polarity cable 20 of the installed solar cell module 10b and the second polarity cable 21 of the newly installed solar cell module 10a are pinched between the solar cell modules 10a and 10b before they are connected to each other, the first polarity cable 20 and the second polarity cable 21 may be damaged. To address this concern, the solar cell module 10 having the above configuration ensures that the unconnected first polarity cable 20 does not protrude from the cable housing 22 when no other solar cell module 10 is installed on the second direction side. Therefore, the solar cell module 10 prevents the first polarity cable 20 from being pinched between itself and the other solar cell module 10 when another solar cell module 10 is placed on the second direction side from vertically above. Furthermore, since the newly installed solar cell module 10a is installed by being placed vertically above the already installed solar cell module 10b, the possibility of the second polarity cable 21 of the newly installed solar cell module 10a being pinched is low.In this way, the solar cell module 10 reduces the possibility of the cable 19 being pinched during the installation of the solar cell array 11, thereby reducing the possibility of fire that may occur due to insulation failure resulting from damage to the cable 19.

[0065] Furthermore, in the solar cell module 10, the roof casing 15 is located on the second direction side of the panel support portion 23 and has an underlap portion 26 that extends in the opposite direction to the first direction compared to the cable housing portion 22. The value obtained by subtracting the length of the cable housing portion in the second direction from the length of the panel support portion 23 in the second direction is greater than the diameter of the second polar cable 21. In the solar cell array 11, solar cell modules 10 adjacent to each other in the second direction are positioned such that, as shown in Figure 22, the underlap portion 26 of the solar cell module 10 on the opposite direction to the second direction is completely covered by the solar cell module 10 on the second direction side in the second direction. In this arrangement, the distance D between the cable housing portions 22 of adjacent solar cell modules 10 is (length of roof casing 15 in the second direction) - (length of cable housing portion 22 in the second direction + length of underlap portion 26 in the second direction). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 23, the length of the roof tile 15 in the second direction is equal to the sum of the length of the panel housing 23 in the second direction and the length of the underlap portion 26 in the second direction. Therefore, the spacing D is (length of the panel housing 23 in the second direction) - (length of the cable housing 22 in the second direction). Thus, in a solar cell module 10 having the above configuration, since the spacing D is longer than the diameter of the second polarity cable 21, even if the second polarity cable 21 is sandwiched between a solar cell module 10 already installed on the opposite side of the second direction, no shear force is applied to the second polarity cable 21, thus reducing the possibility of damage to the second polarity cable 21.

[0066] Furthermore, in the solar cell module 10, the roof casing 15 is located on the second direction side of the panel support portion 23 and has an underlap portion 26 that extends in the opposite direction to the first direction to the cable housing portion 22. The cable housing portion 22 extends from the end of the roof casing 15 on the second direction side, and the length of the cable housing portion 22 in the second direction is less than or equal to the length of the roof casing 15 in the second direction minus the length of the underlap portion in the second direction. With this configuration, the solar cell module 10 can recess the cable housing portion 22 from the end of the roof casing 15 on the opposite direction to the second direction side, or in other words, the cable housing portion 22 can be terminated on the second direction side from that end. Therefore, when the second polarity cable 21 is extended beyond the cable housing portion 22 and terminated in the opposite direction to the second direction side, the solar cell module 10 can reduce the amount of the second polarity cable 21 protruding from the roof casing 15 in the opposite direction to the second direction side. As a result, the amount of swaying of the solar cell module 10 outside the solar cell module 10 during transport, in other words, outside the end of the roof tile 15 on the opposite side of the second direction when viewed in the third direction, can improve workability.

[0067] Furthermore, the solar cell module 10 is further provided with a cover body 16 having a gutter portion 39 located between the panel support portion 23 and the cable housing portion 22 and on the opposite side of the third direction from the underlap portion 26, extending along the second direction, and having a second opening 43 formed near the end on the opposite side of the second direction. The roof tile body 15 has a notch 36 formed at the position where the second opening 43 of the gutter portion 39 is formed when viewed from the third direction, and the gutter portion 39 terminates at a position displaced in the second direction by a length less than or equal to the length of the underlap portion 26 in the second direction from the end on the opposite side of the second direction of the roof tile body 15. With this configuration, the solar cell module 10 can collect rainwater that may seep between the cover body 16, which covers another solar cell module 10 installed in the first direction in the solar cell array 11, and the other solar cell module 10, through the gutter portion 39. Furthermore, with this configuration, as shown in Figure 22, the solar cell module 10 can reach the underlap portion 26 of an adjacent solar cell module 10 on the opposite side of the second direction when viewed in the third direction in the solar cell array 11. Therefore, the solar cell module 10 can drain the rainwater collected in the gutter portion 39 to the underlap portion 26 of another solar cell module 10 adjacent on the opposite side of the second direction in the solar cell array 11. In this way, the solar cell module 10 can construct the drainage path of the gutter portion 39 simply by installing it on the second direction side of another solar cell module 10 that has already been installed during the construction of the solar cell array 11.

[0068] Furthermore, in the solar cell module 10, the inner bottom surface ib of the gutter portion 39 is located on the third direction side from the solar cell panel 14. With this configuration, the solar cell module 10 can improve the reliability of rainwater collection in the solar cell array 11.

[0069] Furthermore, in the solar cell module 10, the cable housing section 22 has a bottom wall section 31 that supports the first polarity cable 20 and the second polarity cable 21 from the third direction side, and an upright section 32 that is erected at the end on the first direction side in the opposite direction to the third direction. When the solar cell array 11 is installed, if the cable 19 separates from the cable housing section 22, the cable 19 may get caught between the roof decking, battens, etc. and the solar cell module 10. Therefore, workers need to be careful to prevent the cable 19 from getting caught. In response to such incidents, the solar cell module 10 having the above configuration reduces the possibility of the cable 19 coming off the cable housing section 22 when the solar cell array 11 is installed. Thus, the solar cell module 10 can prevent damage to the cable 19 due to being caught while improving ease of installation.

[0070] In one embodiment, (1) the solar cell module is A solar panel comprising a flat main body portion parallel to a first and second direction perpendicular to each other, a terminal box provided on the first main surface side of the main body portion, and a first polarity cable and a second polarity cable having opposite polarities leading out from the terminal box, The structure comprises a panel support portion that supports the solar cell panel so as to face the first main surface, and a tile body that is located on the first direction side of the panel support portion, extends continuously along the second direction, and has a cable support portion that supports the first polarity cable and the second polarity cable, The first polarity cable extends in the second direction and terminates within the cable support when viewed from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions and toward the panel support from the solar panel. The second polarity cable extends in the opposite direction to the second direction and terminates beyond the cable support when viewed from the third direction.

[0071] (2) In the solar cell module described in (1) above, The roof tile further has an underlap portion located on the second direction side of the panel support portion and extending in the opposite direction to the first direction from the cable support portion, The value obtained by subtracting the length of the cable support portion in the second direction from the length of the panel support portion in the second direction is greater than the diameter of the second polar cable.

[0072] (3) In the solar cell module described in (1) above, The roof tile further has an underlap portion located on the second direction side of the panel support portion and extending in the opposite direction to the first direction from the cable support portion, The cable support portion extends from the second direction end of the roof tile, The length of the cable support portion in the second direction is less than or equal to the value obtained by subtracting the length of the underlap portion in the second direction from the length of the roof tile in the second direction.

[0073] (4) In the solar cell module described in (2) or (3) above, The cover body further comprises a gutter portion located between the panel support portion and the cable support portion and on the opposite side of the third direction from the underlap portion, extending along the second direction, and having an opening formed near the end on the side opposite to the second direction, The roof tile has a notch formed in the position where the opening of the gutter is formed when viewed from the third direction. The gutter portion terminates at a position displaced in the second direction from the end of the roof tile body on the opposite side of the second direction, by a length less than or equal to the length of the underlap portion in the second direction.

[0074] (5) In the solar cell module described in (4) above, The inner bottom surface of the gutter is located on the third direction side of the solar panel.

[0075] (6) In the solar cell modules described in (1) through (5) above, The cable support portion has a bottom wall portion that supports the first polarity cable and the second polarity cable from the third direction side, and an upright portion that is erected at the end on the first direction side in the opposite direction to the third direction.

[0076] The diagrams illustrating the embodiments described herein are schematic. Dimensions and proportions shown in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions.

[0077] While embodiments relating to this disclosure have been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications or alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications or alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions and other elements included in each component can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components can be combined into one or separated.

[0078] Furthermore, the embodiments relating to this disclosure are not limited to any specific configuration of the embodiments described above. The embodiments relating to this disclosure can be extended to all novel features or combinations thereof described herein, or all novel methods or processing steps or combinations thereof described herein.

[0079] In this disclosure, the designations "First," "Second," etc., are identifiers used to distinguish the configurations. Configurations distinguished by the designations "First," "Second," etc., in this disclosure may have their numbers swapped. For example, the first main surface may swap the identifiers "First" and "Second" with the second main surface. The swapping of identifiers occurs simultaneously. The configurations remain distinguishable even after the swapping of identifiers. Identifiers may be deleted. Configurations from which identifiers have been deleted are distinguished by codes. The designations "First," "Second," etc., in this disclosure should not be used alone to interpret the order of the configurations or to justify the existence of smaller numbered identifiers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 10 solar modules 10a Newly installed solar modules 10b Installed solar modules 10c eaves-side solar modules 11 Solar cell arrays 12 Top side 13 battens 14 Solar panels 15 Tile body 16 Cover body 17 Main body 18 Terminal Box 19 Cables 20. First polarity cable 21 Second polarity cable 22 Cable housing section 23 Panel support section 24 Terminal box housing 25 Connecting part 26 Underwrap section 27 First leg 28 Second leg 29 Exposed part 30 Overlap section 31 Bottom wall section 32 Elevated section 33 Middle section 34 Step part 35 Extension standing section 36 Notch (Second Notch) 37 Cover part 38 Convex part 39 Hibe 40 Gripping part 41 Notch (First notch) 42 First opening 43 Second opening 44 Bottom wall section 45 Elevated section ib inner bottom surface p1 First position p2 Second position s1 First main surface s2 Second main surface

Claims

1. A solar panel comprising a flat main body portion parallel to a first and second direction perpendicular to each other, a terminal box provided on the first main surface side of the main body portion, and a first polarity cable and a second polarity cable having opposite polarities leading out from the terminal box, The structure comprises a panel support portion that supports the solar cell panel so as to face the first main surface, and a tile body that is located on the first direction side of the panel support portion, extends continuously along the second direction, and has a cable support portion that supports the first polarity cable and the second polarity cable, The first polarity cable extends in the second direction and terminates within the cable support when viewed from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions and toward the panel support from the solar panel. The second polarity cable extends in the opposite direction to the second direction and terminates beyond the cable support when viewed from the third direction. The roof tile further has an underlap portion located on the second direction side of the panel support portion and extending in the opposite direction to the first direction from the cable support portion. The value obtained by subtracting the length of the cable support portion in the second direction from the length of the panel support portion in the second direction is greater than the diameter of the second polar cable. Solar cell module.

2. A solar cell panel having a flat main body portion parallel to a first and second direction perpendicular to each other, a terminal box provided on the first main surface side of the main body portion, and a first polarity cable and a second polarity cable having opposite polarities leading out from the terminal box, The structure comprises a panel support portion that supports the solar cell panel so as to face the first main surface, and a tile body that is located on the first direction side of the panel support portion, extends continuously along the second direction, and has a cable support portion that supports the first polarity cable and the second polarity cable, The first polarity cable extends in the second direction and terminates within the cable support when viewed from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions and toward the panel support from the solar panel. The second polarity cable extends in the opposite direction to the second direction and terminates beyond the cable support when viewed from the third direction. The roof tile further has an underlap portion located on the second direction side of the panel support portion and extending in the opposite direction to the first direction from the cable support portion. The cable support portion extends from the second direction end of the roof tile, The length of the cable support portion in the second direction is less than or equal to the value obtained by subtracting the length of the underlap portion in the second direction from the length of the roof tile in the second direction. Solar cell module.

3. In the solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2, The cover body further comprises a gutter portion located between the panel support portion and the cable support portion and on the opposite side of the third direction from the underlap portion, extending along the second direction, and having an opening formed near the end on the side opposite to the second direction, The roof tile has a notch formed in the position where the opening of the gutter is formed when viewed from the third direction. The gutter portion terminates at a position displaced in the second direction from the end of the tile body on the opposite side of the second direction, by a length less than or equal to the length of the underlap portion in the second direction. Solar cell module.

4. In the solar cell module according to claim 3, The inner bottom surface of the gutter is located on the third direction side of the solar panel. Solar cell module.

5. In the solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2, The cable support portion has a bottom wall portion that supports the first polarity cable and the second polarity cable from the third direction side, and an upright portion that is erected at the end on the first direction side in the opposite direction to the third direction. Solar cell module.

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