Abstract: The present invention relates generally to roofing products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a flexible roofing substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which photovoltaic elements are affixed to roofing substrates. In one embodiment of the invention, a photovoltaic roofing panel comprising a roofing panel substrate having a top surface; and at least six discrete photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing panel substrate with their photovoltaically-active areas exposed at the top surface of the roofing panel. Another embodiment of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing assembly comprising: a plurality of discrete photovoltaic roofing elements, each comprising one or more photovoltaic elements affixed to a roofing substrate; and a joining member, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements are disposed on and affixed to the joining member and are electrically interconnected.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is affixed to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate having a solar reflectivity of greater than 0.25, and one or more photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing substrate. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate comprising a bituminous substrate, and a plurality of colored roofing granules disposed on the bituminous substrate, the roofing substrate having color within the color space of CIE Lab coordinates L* in the range of about 20 to about 20, a* in the range of about ?5 to about 5, and b* in the range of ?15 to about ?5; and one or more photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic systems. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic elements are disposed upon roofing elements such as shingles, tiles, shakes or slates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photovoltaic device having an active face, an active area on the active face and an operating wavelength range; and a cover element attached to the photovoltaic device and disposed over the active area of the active face of the photovoltaic element, the cover element having an opacity of at least about 25%. The present invention also provides photovoltaic systems, arrays, roofs and methods using such photovoltaic devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the photovoltaic device is a photovoltaic roofing element in which a photovoltaic element is integrated with a roofing substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photovoltaic roofing tiles and methods of manufacturing them. One aspect of the present invention is a photovoltaic roofing tile comprising: a polymeric carrier tile having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a photovoltaic element affixed to the polymeric carrier tile, the photovoltaic element having a bottom surface and a top surface having an active area. Another aspect of the invention is a method of making a photovoltaic roofing tile comprising inserting into a compression mold a polymeric tile preform having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a photovoltaic element, a surface of the photovoltaic element being disposed adjacent to a surface of the polymeric tile preform; compression molding the polymeric tile preform and the photovoltaic element together to form an unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile; and finishing the unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile to provide the photovoltaic roofing tile.

Abstract: The present invention provides photovoltaic wiring arrays and photovoltaic wiring systems suitable for use in rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems.

Abstract: The present invention includes photovoltaic devices and photovoltaic roofing elements comprising a photovoltaic element having an active face and an operating wavelength range; a polymer structure having (a) a bottom surface disposed on the active face of the photovoltaic element and (b) a top surface; and a plurality of granules disposed on the top surface of the polymer structure. Roofs including the photovoltaic devices and photovoltaic roofing elements of the present invention may be configured to have an aesthetically desirable appearance while retaining high photovoltaic efficiency.

Abstract: A duct board or duct liner comprises: an insulating layer formed from fibrous material bound with a resin binder, an outer facing layer adhered to an outer surface of the insulating layer, and a water repellant mat facing adhered to an interior surface of the insulating layer opposite the outer surface to form a duct board material. The mat facing provides sufficient water repellency to repel a mixture of about 40% isopropanol and about 60% water. The duct board or duct liner material may be formed into a tubular shape capable of conducting air, with the mat facing on the interior of the tubular shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides coating materials (14), insulation-containing building material products bearing the materials and methods for applying the coatings to the building material products. The coating materials (14) possess one-way “breathability” characteristics with respect to water and aqueous solutions. That is, the coatings are essentially impermeable to liquid water and permeable to water vapor. Vapor from water insulation coated by the material may thus pass through the coating, whereas liquid water is effectively prevented from passing through the coating and entering the insulation.

Abstract: A duct board or duct liner comprises: an insulating layer formed from fibrous material bound with a resin binder, an outer facing layer adhered to an outer surface of the insulating layer, and a water repellant mat facing adhered to an interior surface of the insulating layer opposite the outer surface to form a duct board material. The mat facing provides sufficient water repellency to repel a mixture of about 40% isopropanol and about 60% water. The duct board or duct liner material may be formed into a tubular shape capable of conducting air, with the mat facing on the interior of the tubular shape.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a “sorbent” material comprising a fibrous material which, in a first variant, comprises an oleophilic coating and, in a second variant, is combined with a hydrophilic particulate material.

Abstract: The present invention provides coating material (14), insulation-containing building material products bearing the material and methods for applying the coatings to the building material products. The coating matarials (14) possess one-way breathability characteristics with respect to water and aqueous solutions. That is, the coatings are essentially impermeable to liquid water and permeable to water vapor. Vapor from water in insulation coated by the material may thus pass through the coating, whereas liquid water is effectively prevented from passing through the coating and entering the insulation.

Abstract: A sorbent glass fiber material is useful for sorbing spills of water and water-soluble liquids. The sorbent material includes glass fibers combined with hydrophilic absorbent particles. The particles may be made from polymers having hydrophilic groups such as crosslinked polyacrylamide, crosslinked sulfonated polystyrene, crosslinked polyacrylate, crosslinked polymethacrylates, crosslinked copolymers of acrylates and methacrylates, and mixtures thereof. The glass fibers may be bindered (e.g., batting insulation) or unbindered (e.g., loose-fill blown wool insulation).

Abstract: A method and applicator for applying a liquid material aftertreatment to a strand. Particularly, the strand is glass fibers or filaments and the aftertreatment is an antistat. The strand lightly touches the applicator at an orifice sufficiently small so that the strand retains essentially all of the liquid antistat. In a preferred embodiment, the orifice angles toward the direction of strand movement.