Drainage system for retractable roof

• US 5,513,470 A
• Filed: 06/29/1993
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cravo Equipment, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cravo Equipment, Ltd.
• Inventors: Vollebregt, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/085,312
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 52/11, 52/13, 52/14, 52/18, 52/63, 52/66, 160/1, 160/7, 160/84.1 R, 160/84.1 E, 160/84.01, 160/84.04, 160/84.05, 160/84.06, 160/84.08
• US Class Current: 52/13
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/22 Shades or blinds for greenhouses, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/242 for greenhouses with flexible coverings
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/14 Suspended roofs suspended tents or canopies in general E04H15/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/166 characterised by a translation movement of the movable roof part, with or without additional movements
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/064 Gutters drainage channels on the roof surface E04D13/0445; gutters for greenhouses A01G9/1476
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

A roof structure to protect a crop growing area includes a retractable roof membrane or curtain that defines pitched sections of the roof. The membrane extends across the valley between pitched sections and apertures are provided in the membrane to allow water to pass through the membrane. A gutter is disposed in the valley beneath the apertures to collect water and discharge it away from the crop growing area.

Claims

1. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging upwardly from a valley to a respective peak, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including a plurality of spaced parallel wires extending generally parallel to said valley and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies and from one peak through said valley to an adjacent peak, said membrane being suspended from said wires of said guide means by hooks at spaced locations and movable therealong between a deployed position in which said membrane extends between said rafter assemblies to cover the area therebetween and a retracted position in which the area between said rafter assemblies is substantially uncovered, one end of said membrane being secured to one of said rafter assemblies and an opposite end being movable toward and away from the other of said rafter assemblies, said one rafter assembly including a formation extending along one side of each of said rafters of said rafter assembly to receive said one end of said membrane, said membrane including an aperture positioned centrally between each of said spaced locations in the portion of the membrane extending through said valley, and a gutter disposed beneath and adjacent to said aperture and extending along said valley to collect water shed from said membrane and passing through said aperture.

2. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said rafter assemblies are supported on posts located beneath said valley.

3. A roof according to claim 2 wherein said gutter is supported by said posts.

4. A roof according to claim 3 wherein an upper end of said post is bifurcated to receive said gutter and a support member extends between and is connected to each of said bifurcations, and said rafters are connected to said support member between the bifurcation and above said gutter.

5. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said opposite end includes a seal to engage said other of said rafter assemblies.

6. A roof according to claim 5 wherein said seal includes a rigid member conforming to the shape of said rafters between said peaks and secured to said membrane.

7. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said formation is a channel.

8. A roof according to claim 7 wherein said channel is upwardly directed and is operable to direct water into said gutter.

9. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said one end of said membrane passes beneath said one rafter assembly and is secured to the opposite side thereof.

10. A roof according to claim 9 wherein said formation extends toward an adjacent rafter assembly so as to be overlapped by the other end of a roof membrane associated with said adjacent rafter assembly when in said deployed position.

11. A roof according to claim 3, wherein said post includes a saddle at its upper end to receive and support said gutter and an extension member extends upwardly from said saddle to support said rafters, said gutter being located between said saddle and said extension member to extend laterally of said extension member with said extension member being located within said gutter.

12. A roof according to claim 11 wherein said extension member includes a pair of feet and an aperture between said feet to permit fluid to flow along said gutter from one side of said post to another.

13. A roof according to claim 12 wherein said feet are outwardly directed to opposite sides of said extension member.

14. A roof according to claim 13 wherein said saddle, gutter and feet are each configured to diverge upwardly from said post.

15. A roof according to claim 8 wherein an upwardly directed channel is provided on both sides of each of said rafters, one of which receives said one end of said membrane and the other of which receives an opposite end of a roof membrane associated with an adjacent rafter assembly when in said deployed position.

16. A roof according to claim 15 wherein each of said channels directs water into said gutter.

17. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging upwardly from a valley to a respective peak, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including a plurality of spaced parallel wires extending generally parallel to said valley and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies and from one peak through said valley to an adjacent peak, said membrane being suspended from said wires of said guide means by hooks at spaced locations and movable therealong between a deployed position in which said membrane extends between said rafter assemblies to cover the area therebetween and a retracted position in which the area between said rafter assemblies is substantially uncovered, said membrane including an aperture formed by a pair of intersecting slits and positioned centrally between each of said spaced locations in the portion of the membrane extending through said valley, and a gutter disposed beneath and adjacent to said aperture and extending along said valley to collect water shed from said membrane and passing through said aperture.

18. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging upwardly from a valley to a respective peak, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including a plurality of spaced parallel wires extending generally parallel to said valley and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies and from one peak through said valley to an adjacent peak, said membrane being suspended from said wires of said guide means by hooks at spaced locations and movable therealong between a deployed position in which said membrane extends between said rafter assemblies to cover the area therebetween and a retracted position in which the area between said rafter assemblies is substantially uncovered, said membrane including an aperture formed by a slit in said membrane and positioned centrally between each of said spaced locations in the portion of the membrane extending through said valley, with a tape secured to said membrane at the portion thereof extending through said valley to provide reinforcement for said slit and a gutter disposed beneath and adjacent to said aperture and extending along said valley to collect water shed from said membrane and passing through said aperture.

19. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging upwardly from a valley to a respective peak, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including a plurality of spaced parallel wires extending generally parallel to said valley and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies and from one peak through said valley to an adjacent peak, said membrane being suspended from said wires of said guide means by hooks at spaced locations and movable therealong between a deployed position in which said membrane extends between said rafter assemblies to cover the area therebetween and a retracted position in which the area between said rafter assemblies is substantially uncovered, said membrane including an aperture formed by a porous tape extending along said valley and positioned centrally between each of said spaced locations in the portion of the membrane extending through said valley, and a gutter disposed beneath and adjacent to said aperture and extending along said valley to collect water shed from said membrane and passing through said aperture.