Solar greenhouse
First Claim
1. A greenhouse construction comprising a greenhouse frame, said frame defining wall means enclosing an interior chamber and having an upper portion, a wall member supported on said frame comprising a pair of light transmissive sheets of material spaced apart and generally coextensive, and a filling of fibers forming a fiber matrix between said sheets of material, said fiber matrix being of a density to permit light to be transmitted therethrough, and of a thickness to provide a significant increase in insulation properties to the sheets of material to reduce heat losses from said greenhouse, said fibers carrying a selected fluorescent pigment over a substantial portion of each of the fibers in the matrix, said pigments being selected to provide for reemission of radiation energy absorbed by the fluorescent pigments in longer wavelengths than that which are absorbed, and fan means adjacent the upper portions of said framework to force air through the fibrous matrix between said light transmissive sheets, and an air outlet near the bottom of the greenhouse to permit air to be discharged from the matrix into the greenhouse to provide for solar heating and for enhanced radiation in the wavelengths that stimulate plant growth.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar greenhouse utilizing at least one radiant energy transparent or transmitting panel, with a low density fibrous mat positioned to the interior of and having one side generally contiguous to the radiant energy transparent panel, which fibrous mat serves as means for converting radiant energy into heat, and which has fibers carrying (impregnated with or coated with) a fluorescent pigment material. Fluorescent pigments have been proven to enhance plant growth and the mat and panel serve not only as a means for transmitting radiation useful to the plants in the greenhouse, but also serving as an insulation layer. The fibrous mat is preferably sandwiched between two radiant energy transparent panels and the space between the panels serves as a heat collector through which air is passed for removing heat, which can then be used for other purposes.
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Citations
6 Claims
- 1. A greenhouse construction comprising a greenhouse frame, said frame defining wall means enclosing an interior chamber and having an upper portion, a wall member supported on said frame comprising a pair of light transmissive sheets of material spaced apart and generally coextensive, and a filling of fibers forming a fiber matrix between said sheets of material, said fiber matrix being of a density to permit light to be transmitted therethrough, and of a thickness to provide a significant increase in insulation properties to the sheets of material to reduce heat losses from said greenhouse, said fibers carrying a selected fluorescent pigment over a substantial portion of each of the fibers in the matrix, said pigments being selected to provide for reemission of radiation energy absorbed by the fluorescent pigments in longer wavelengths than that which are absorbed, and fan means adjacent the upper portions of said framework to force air through the fibrous matrix between said light transmissive sheets, and an air outlet near the bottom of the greenhouse to permit air to be discharged from the matrix into the greenhouse to provide for solar heating and for enhanced radiation in the wavelengths that stimulate plant growth.
Specification