Drainage system for retractable roof

• US 5,581,954 A
• Filed: 02/24/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• 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:
  US08/201,231
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 52/11, 52/13, 52/14, 52/18, 52/63, 52/66, 52/302.1, 160/1, 160/7, 160/84.1 R, 160/84.1 E, 160/84.01, 160/84.08
• US Class Current: 52/13
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1476 Greenhouse gutters gutters in general E04D13/064
• 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 downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including spaced parallel wires extending generally normal to and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said wires by hooks slidable along said wires 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 channel formed on both sides of each of said rafters of said rafter assembly one of which receives said one end of said membrane and the other of which projects outwardly to be beyond the other end of an adjacent membrane when in a deployed position thereby to receive water shed from said adjacent membrane.

2. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said membrane extends from one peak through a valley to an adjacent peak and is suspended from said wires at spaced locations and an aperture is provided in the portion of said membrane extending through said valley and between each of said locations.

3. A roof according to claim 2 wherein a gutter extends along said valley beneath said membrane.

4. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said laterally spaced supports for said assemblies are posts located beneath said rafters.

5. A roof according to claim 4 wherein a gutter extends between said posts beneath said membrane.

6. A roof according to claim 4 wherein a gutter is supported by said posts.

7. A roof according to claim 6 wherein an upper end of said post is bifurcated to receive said gutter and said rafters are supported by said bifurcations.

8. A roof according to claim 7 wherein a support member extends between said bifurcations and said rafters are connected to said support member between the bifurcations and above said gutter.

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

10. A roof according to claim 9 wherein said seal includes a rigid member conforming to the shape of said rafters between said peaks and secured to said membrane.

11. A roof according to claim 1 wherein each of said channels is upwardly directed and is operable to direct water into a gutter extending between said rafter assemblies.

12. A roof according to claim 11 wherein said membrane is secured to said rafter by a fastener adjacent to said one end to inhibit movement of said one end away from said rafter.

13. A roof according to claim 2 wherein said aperture is formed by a slid in said membrane.

14. A roof according to claim 13 wherein said aperture is formed by a pair of intersecting slits.

15. A roof according to claim 13 wherein a tape is secured to said membrane at the portion thereof extending through said valley to provide reinforcement for said slit.

16. A roof according to claim 2 wherein said aperture is formed by a porous tape extending along said valley.

17. A roof according to claim 6 wherein said post includes a saddle at its upper end to receive and support said gutter and an extension member extending upwardly from said saddle to support said rafters, said gutter being located between said saddle and said extension member and extending laterally of said extension member with said extension member being located within said gutter.

18. A roof according to claim 4 wherein purlins extend between said rafter assemblies generally parallel to said guide means and above said membrane.

19. A roof according to claim 18 wherein said purlins are secured to said rafters by spacers to elevate them above said guide means.

20. A roof according to claim 19 wherein a purlin extends between peaks of adjacent rafters.

21. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said one end of said membrane is received in said one channel to secure it to one of said rafter assemblies.

22. A roof according to claim 21 wherein said one end of said membrane is retained in said one channel by a retaining member insertable into said channel.

23. A roof according to claim 22 wherein said retaining member is a wire extending along said channel.

24. A retractable roof according to claim 21 wherein said one channel has a downwardly turned edge to present a smoothly curved surface to said one end of said membrane.

25. A roof according to claim 1 wherein each of said channels is upwardly directed.

26. A roof according to claim 25 wherein said other channel is formed by a flange that extends obliquely upwardly from a lower edge of a rafter of said rafter assembly.

27. A roof according to claim 26 wherein an outer edge of said flange is downwardly turned.

28. A roof according to claim 25 wherein each of said channels is operable to direct water into a gutter extending between adjacent rafter assemblies.

29. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including spaced parallel wires extending generally normal to and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said wires by hooks slidable along said wires 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, wherein a hook projects to said one side of said rafter adjacent to at least one of said guidewires and said fastener extends between said hook and said membrane.

30. A roof according to claim 29 wherein said hook is formed on a clamping member secured to said rafter and operable to clamp an adjacent guide wire to said rafter.

31. A roof according to claim 30 wherein said clamping member includes a pair of plates, one of which is secured to said rafter and has said hook formed thereon and the other of which is movable relative thereto to engage a guide wire passing between said plates.

32. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including spaced parallel wires extending generally normal to and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said wires by hooks slidable along said wires 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 wherein said one end of said membrane passes beneath said one rafter assembly and is secured to the opposite side thereof.

33. A roof according to claim 32 wherein said one end of said membrane is secured to said formation extending along one side of each of said rafters of said rafter assembly to receive said one end of said membrane.

34. A roof according to claim 33 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.

35. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including spaced parallel wires extending generally normal to and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said wires by hooks slidable along said wires 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 laterally spaced supports being posts which include a saddle at its upper end to receive and support a 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 and extending laterally of said extension member with said extension member being located within said gutter and 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.

36. A roof according to claim 35 wherein said feet are outwardly directed to opposite sides of said extension member.

37. A roof according to claim 36 wherein said saddle, gutter and feet are each configured to diverge upwardly from said post.

38. A roof according to claim 35 wherein said aperture is defined between a pair of flanks that extend to said feet, said flanks flaring outwardly relative to said extension member and said feet being inwardly directed.

39. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said guide means 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, and a plurality of purlins extending between said rafter assemblies generally parallel to said guide means and elevated above said membrane, said purlins being secured to said rafters by spacers to elevate them above said guide means.

40. A retractable roof according to claim 39 wherein said guide means includes spaced parallel wires extending generally normal to and supported by said rafters, said membrane being secured to said wires by hooks slidable along said wires.

41. A retractable roof according to claim 40 wherein said rafter assemblies are trusses and said rafters form upper chords thereof, said guide wires being supported on said rafters and said purlins being connected thereto and elevated therefrom.

42. A retractable roof according to claim 40 wherein said membrane extends from one peak through a valley to an adjacent peak.

43. A retractable roof according to claim 42 wherein said membrane includes an aperture located in the portion thereof extending through said valley and a gutter is disposed beneath and adjacent to said aperture, said gutter extending along said valley to collect water shed from said membrane and passing through said aperture.

44. A retractable roof according to claim 43 wherein said rafter assemblies and said gutter are supported on posts.

45. A retractable roof according to claim 44 wherein said rafter assemblies are formed as trusses having upper and lower chords, said rafters forming upper chords thereof and being connected to said posts at a location spaced from said lower chord.

46. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide wires extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and supported thereon, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said guide wires 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, and a plurality of purlins extending between said rafter assemblies generally parallel to said guide wire, said rafter assemblies being formed as trusses with upper and lower chords and with said rafters forming upper chords thereof, said rafter assemblies being supported on posts with said rafters connected to said posts at a location spaced from said lower chord and said purlins being connected to said rafters and elevated therefrom.

47. A retractable roof according to claim 46 wherein said purlins are located above said membrane.

48. 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, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said guide means and moveable 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 located in the portion thereof extending through said valley, a plurality of purlins extending between said rafter assemblies generally parallel to said guide means, and a gutter is disposed beneath and adjacent to said aperture, said gutter extending along said valley to collect water shed from said membrane and passing through said aperture, said rafter assemblies being formed as trusses with upper and lower chords and with said rafters forming upper chords thereof, said rafter assemblies being supported on posts with said rafters connected to said posts at a location spaced from said lower chord, said gutter being supported by said posts and located between said upper and lower chords.

49. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including spaced parallel wires extending generally normal to and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said wires by hooks slidable along said wires 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 channel formed on both sides of each of said rafters of said rafter assembly one of which receives said one end of said membrane and the other of which receives the other end of an adjacent membrane, wherein said guide wires are secured to said rafters by respective clamping members.

50. A roof according to claim 49 wherein said clamping member includes a pair of plates, one of which is secured to said rafter and the other of which is movable relative thereto to engage a guide wire passing between said plates.

51. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced parallel rafter assemblies each having a pair of oppositely directed rafters diverging downwardly from a peak to a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced supports, a plurality of guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including spaced parallel wires extending generally normal to and supported by said rafters, a flexible roof membrane extending between said rafter assemblies, said membrane being suspended from said wires by hooks slidable along said wires 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 membrane being secured to said one rafter assembly by a fastener extending between said rafter assembly and an adjacent one of said hooks suspending said membrane to limit sliding movement thereof along an associated one of said wires.

52. A retractable roof according to claim 51 wherein said guide wires are secured to an upper surface of said rafters.

53. A retractable roof according to claim 52 wherein said guide wires are clamped to said rafters by a clamping member.

54. A retractable roof according to claim 53 wherein said clamping member includes a pair of plats, one of which is secured to said rafter and the other of which is movable relative thereto to engage a guide wire passing between said plates.

55. A retractable roof according to claim 51 wherein said fastener projects from said rafter in the direction of said guide wire.

56. A retractable roof according to claim 55 where said fastener is rigid.