Solar Tiles

Abstract

The invention consists of a solar thermal tile. The tile comprises a transparent portion for permitting the entry of sunlight into a heating space below the tile, and a chassis formed separately from the transparent portion on which the transparent portion is mounted. The chassis has at least one protrusion for forming an overlapping relationship with a neighbouring tile. The chassis may be formed from plastic or sheet metal. The transparent portion may be formed from a polycarbonate laminate.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A set of tiles, incorporating at least one conventional roof tile, at least one solar thermal tile and at least one photovoltaic tile, 
 wherein the at least one solar thermal tile comprises a chassis on which is mounted a transparent portion for permitting the entry of sunlight into a heating space below the at least one solar thermal tile, the chassis being formed separately from said transparent portion,    wherein the chassis comprises at least one protrusion on at least one edge and at least one aperture, said transparent portion being located to cover the at least one aperture, said protrusion being adapted to form an overlapping relationship with a second tile when correctly mounted adjacent thereto,    wherein the at least one solar thermal tile has a tile width which is a multiple of the width of the at least one conventional roof tile, and    wherein the at least one photovoltaic tile comprises a photovoltaic cell, a chassis which is substantially identical in external appearance to that of the at least one solar thermal tile and a photovoltaic laminate, said photovoltaic laminate being mounted in substantially the same position on the photovoltaic tile chassis as the transparent portion on the solar thermal tile chassis.    
     
     
         22 . The set of tiles of  claim 21 , wherein the chasses comprise a non-transparent material.  
     
     
         23 . The set of tiles of  claim 22 , wherein the non-transparent material is a plastic.  
     
     
         24 . The set of tiles of claims  22 , wherein the chasses are moulded components.  
     
     
         25 . The set of tiles of  claim 22 , wherein the non-transparent material is a metal.  
     
     
         26 . The set of tiles of  claim 25 , wherein the chasses comprise folded sheet metal.  
     
     
         27 . The set of tiles of  claim 21 , wherein the transparent portion has peripheral edges, and the solar thermal tile chassis is arranged to support the transparent portion at said peripheral edges.  
     
     
         28 . The set of tiles of  claim 21 , wherein the transparent portion comprises sheet material.  
     
     
         29 . The set of tiles of  claim 21 , wherein the transparent portion is formed from polycarbonate material.  
     
     
         30 . The set of tiles of  claim 21 , each chassis further incorporating a rear overlap surface, the rear overlap surface being formed to support a third tile placed above the at least one solar thermal tile and/or the at least one photovoltaic tile.  
     
     
         31 . The set of tiles of  claim 21 , wherein the chassis of the photovoltaic tile further comprises at least one hole to allow airflow.  
     
     
         32 . The set of tiles of  claim 21 , wherein said multiple is four.  
     
     
         33 . A building comprising a surface, the surface comprising a set of tiles according to  claim 21 , the building further comprising a fluid heating system mounted in a heating space behind one or more solar thermal tiles.