Plant husbandry – Greenhouse – apparatus or method
Patent
1991-12-09
1993-06-08
Raduazo, Henry E.
Plant husbandry
Greenhouse, apparatus or method
160 41, 52 63, E04D 112
Patent
active
052168344
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a dynamic membrane to regulate solar radiation and thus aid the environmental control of structures such as greenhouses, swimming pools, patios, atriums and the like. A greenhouse is used as the example in this description.
BACKGROUND ART
Greenhouses are used to provide a sheltered, controlled environment for plant growth. Thus, most preferably, a greenhouse should foster plant life within it by giving shelter, by controlling the reception of solar radiation, by providing controlled ventilation and by reducing nocturnal re-radiation.
It has been found in practice that all these aforementioned characteristics are difficult to achieve in concert in known greenhouse structures which have a fixed canopy or glazing; this is because the reception of required solar radiation by day is not compatible with the need to conserve warmth by night.
Currently, in warm weather, gardeners whitewash or mount shade cloth to the structure to reduce sunlight and cause vents to open or close to exhaust or trap air. In large greenhouse structures, fans are used for ventilation and electro-mechanical rigid sliding roof panels have been proposed. In cold periods warmth is achieved by heating, and insulating materials may be added at night to prevent heat escape. These procedures are imprecise, laborious and may consume excessive energy.
It is an object of the present invention to alleviate, at least in part, these aforementioned disadvantages.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a solar structure comprising a framework defining a space there within, a flexible cover having a varying optical density along its length and forming a roof and at least part of a side wall for the structure, said cover being adapted to be moved within said framework such that a selected portion of the cover overlies the space, and said cover solely forming the roof and said part of the side wall of the structure.
Preferably the cover is wound between a pair of opposed spools mounted on respective sides of the framework, whereby the cover is wound from one spool to the opposed spool.
With the present invention, and in the case where the solar structure forms a greenhouse overlying a cultivating space, the internal environment of the greenhouse may be maintained or varied according to the optical density of the framework cover selected to overlie the cultivating space. Thus, a particular choice of canopy length may be wound between the spools to form the canopy to match the particular ambient weather conditions. For example, clear plastic may be the choice in dull conditions and shade cloth, e.g. 50% shade cloth, in bright sunlight or a combination of both may be selected where the materials are juxtapositioned along the cover, whilst an insulating material may be used to close up the greenhouse to conserve energy and contain heat at night, and to give protection during severe storms. These selections may be manual, motorized or automatic, the automated processes being optionally controlled by a small computer programme and suitable sensors.
The ends of the greenhouse may be open or closed. When closed, a door may be incorporated into one or both of the ends to permit entry to the cultivating space and the closed ends may be transparent, translucent or opaque, or a combination of these.
Preferably, the cover spools are disposed at the bottom of the respective sides of the framework and the cover forms the sole canopy of the greenhouse. Alternatively, the cover may form only a partial greenhouse canopy. For example, the bottom portion of the framework on one or both sides may not be covered by the framework cover, with the opposed spools being remote from the bottom of the framework. Such a portion or portions may be covered by glazing or other structure, for example, which may overcome problems with undulations in the ground at the bottom of the framework or where the structure is connected to another structure such as a house wall.
The framework cover may
REFERENCES:
patent: 3741631 (1973-06-01), Laing
patent: 4672202 (1986-12-01), Esposito
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