Drainage system for retractable roof

• US 5,809,701 A
• Filed: 10/09/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cravo Equipment, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cravo Equipment, Ltd.
• Inventors: Vollebregt, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/728,080
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 52/11, 52/13, 52/14, 52/18, 52/63, 52/66, 160/84.01, 160/84.04, 160/84.06, 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, each of said rafters having a pair of spaced vertical webs and a flange projecting laterally from a lower edge of each of said webs, one of said flanges projecting beneath said one end of said membrane and the other of said flanges projecting outwardly to be beneath 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 each of said flanges terminates at a laterally outer edge that is disposed at an angle to said flange.

3. A roof according to claim 2 wherein said edge is upturned to define an upwardly directed channel.

4. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said webs are interconnected at their upper edges by a horizontal wall member.

5. A roof according to claim 1 wherein said rafter assemblies are maintained in spaced parallel relationship by purlins extending between said assemblies, said purlins being spaced from said rafter.

6. 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 being formed as a truss and having a lower horizontal chord and an upper inclined rafter, said chord and said rafter being secured to respective ones of said lateral supports at spaced locations, said rafter supporting said guide wires at spaced locations and adjacent rafters being interconnected by purlins extending between said rafters.

7. A roof according to claim 6 wherein said rafter is configured to receive water shed from said membrane.

8. A roof according to claim 7 wherein said rafter includes a flange projecting outwardly from said rafter to extend beneath the other end of an adjacent membrane when in a deployed position.

9. A roof according to claim 6 wherein said purlins are supported by and spaced from said rafters.

10. A retractable roof comprising a pair of spaced apart rafter assemblies, guide means extending between said rafter assemblies at spaced locations and including spaced parallel wires extending 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 areas therebetween and a retracted position in which the area between said assemblies is substantially uncovered, each of said rafter assemblies including a pair of rafters, each of which extends between a respective pair of said posts with one end elevated relative to the other, one of said posts having said one end of one of said rafters and said other end of another of said rafters connected thereto at spaced vertical locations to provide a serrated rafter assembly.

11. A retractable roof according to claim 10 wherein a gutter is disposed adjacent the other end of each of said rafters to collect water shed by said membrane.

12. A retractable roof according to claim 10 wherein said rafters are parallel to one another.

13. A retractable roof according to claim 10 wherein a horizontal cross member extends between adjacent posts and below a respective one of said rafters.

14. A retractable roof according to claim 10 wherein said wires are secured at an upper edge of said rafters.

15. 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, each of said rafters having a first formation extending along the length thereof to receive said one end of said membrane and provide a substantially continuous seal therealong and a second formation projecting outwardly from said rafter to be beneath the other end of an adjacent membrane when in a deployed position, each of said formations being located below said wires to receive water shed from respective ends of said membranes and direct it along the length of said rafters toward said supports.

16. A retractable roof according to claim 15 wherein said first formation is a channel and said one end is received in said channel.

17. A retractable roof according to claim 16 wherein said other end is supported by a rigid support member to provide a seal against said rafter.

18. A retractable roof according to claim 15 wherein said rafter includes a pair of spaced vertical wall members and said second formation projects laterally from one of said wall members.

19. A retractable roof according to claim 18 wherein said first formation is a channel and is spaced from said one wall member.

20. A retractable roof according to claim 19 wherein said other end is supported by a rigid support member and is engageable with said one wall member to provide a seal therebetween.

21. A retractable roof according to claim 20 wherein said first formation projects from the other of said wall members.

22. A retractable roof according to claim 15 wherein purlins extend between said rafter assemblies and are spaced from said rafters to facilitate deployment of said membrane.

23. A retractable roof according to claim 22 wherein said purlins are connected to said rafters by spacers aligned with said rafters.

24. A retractable roof according to claim 23 wherein said spacers project above said rafters to elevate said purlins above said rafters.

25. A retractable roof according to claim 22 wherein said guide wires are secured to said rafters to inhibit relative movement therebetween.

26. 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 at predetermined locations, 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, each of said rafters having a first formation extending along the length thereof to receive said one end of said membrane and provide a substantially continuous seal therealong and a second formation projecting outwardly from said rafter to be beneath the other end of an adjacent membrane when in a deployed position, said formations extending to opposite sides of said predetermined locations to permit ends of adjacent membranes to cooperate with respective ones of said formations.

27. A retractable roof according to claim 26 wherein said first formation is a channel and said one end is received in said channel.

28. A retractable roof according to claim 27 wherein said other end is supported by a rigid support member to provide a seal against said rafter.

29. A retractable roof according to claim 26 wherein said rafter includes a pair of spaced vertical wall members and said second formation projects laterally from one of said wall members.

30. A retractable roof according to claim 29 wherein said first formation is a channel and is spaced from said one wall member.

31. A retractable roof according to claim 30 wherein said other end is supported by a rigid support member and is engageable with said one wall member to provide a seal therebetween.

32. A retractable roof according to claim 31 wherein said first formation projects from the other of said wall members.

33. A retractable roof according to claim 26 wherein purlins extend between said rafter assemblies and are spaced from said rafters to facilitate deployment of said membrane.

34. A retractable roof according to claim 33 wherein said purlins are connected to said rafters by spacers aligned with said rafters.

35. A retractable roof according to claim 34 wherein said spacers project above said rafters to elevate said purlins above said rafters.

36. A retractable roof according to claim 33 wherein said guide wires are secured to said rafters to inhibit relative movement therebetween.

37. A retractable roof according to claim 26 wherein said formations are located below said wires to receive water shed from respective ones of said membranes.