CN111296127B

CN111296127B - Plastic greenhouse structure

Info

Publication number: CN111296127B
Application number: CN202010151676.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 罗里·沃顿
Original assignee: Heigeluo Shanghai Trading Co ltd
Current assignee: Heigeluo (Kunming) Agricultural Technology Co.,Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-03-06
Filing date: 2020-03-06
Publication date: 2022-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-06
Also published as: CN111296127A

Abstract

The invention discloses a plastic greenhouse structure, which comprises a greenhouse surface supporting piece, a greenhouse surface supported by the greenhouse surface supporting piece in use and a clamp. The deck is convertible between an expanded state in which the deck forms a top of the multi-channel structure and a rolled-up state. The retainer is movably mounted to the deck support and does not interfere with the transfer of the deck between a stowed position, in which it does not interfere with the deployment of the deck, and a use position, in which it holds the deck in a rolled up position deployed relative to the deck support.

Description

Plastic greenhouse structure

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of agriculture, in particular to a plastic greenhouse structure.

Background

Vinyl house structures are typically multi-channel structures that can be planted with soft fruits and other crops, providing a controlled environment for the crops to grow, allowing for control of temperature, humidity and/or other conditions to better suit the characteristics of the growing crops. In this way, the growth efficiency thereof can be improved. Furthermore, by making it possible to control the environment in this way, the crop growing season is extended.

A popular, widely used design of vinyl house structure takes the form of a series of arched or arched deck supports arranged side by side to define a roof profile which is generally a substantially cylindrical segment or barrel. The flexible deck, which is typically made of a suitable transparent plastic material, is laid out atop deck supports, supported by the deck supports, essentially following the top contour defined by the deck supports. Anchoring straps or cords extend over the deck and are secured to the ground or a portion of the vinyl structure to secure the deck in place. Typically, anchoring straps or cords are arranged in a zig-zag configuration along the length of the vinyl house structure to secure the deck.

Sometimes the shed surface needs to be removed, for example when the shelter structure is out of service, when shelter from crops growing within the structure is not required, or if high winds are expected and it is desirable to reduce the wind resistance created by the shelter structure, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the structure from high winds. To remove the deck, the deck is typically rolled up from its edges. For example, a tube of steel or similar material may be secured to each edge of the deck, the deck rolled up by rotating the tube, and then the rolled up deck may be removed from the rest of the greenhouse structure, or may be left at the highest point or uppermost portion of the greenhouse structure and held in place using a rope or the like.

The use of ropes or the like to hold the rolled up canopy surface in the uppermost or uppermost position of the structure is relatively time consuming as it requires the operator to use a ladder or the like to reach the upper part of the vinyl house structure, which may be several metres above the ground. This operation is not only time consuming, but also requires the operator to work at a high height from the ground, which requires additional health and safety requirements or regulations to be observed.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vinyl house structure that overcomes or reduces at least some of the disadvantages associated with known vinyl house structure designs.

The invention provides a plastic greenhouse structure, which comprises: a shed surface support; a deck supported in use by said deck supports, said deck being convertible between an expanded state in which it forms the top of a multi-channel structure and a rolled-up state; and a gripper movably mounted on the shed support and movable between a stowed position in which the gripper does not interfere with the shed surface and allows the shed surface to be in a rolled state and a use position in which the gripper holds the shed surface in the rolled state against being rolled relative to the shed support.

Preferably, the gripper comprises a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms being spaced apart from each other and forming a channel therebetween within which the shed face can be received when the shed face is in the rolled up condition.

Preferably, the shed surface is continuously maintained within the channel formed by the first and second arms.

Preferably, the first and second arms are resilient and can be flexed away from each other such that the channel is sufficient to allow the shed face to enter or exit.

Preferably, the gripper is located below the deck support when in its stowed state.

Preferably, the gripper is rotatable relative to the deck support about an axis parallel to the axis of the adjacent portion of the deck support.

Preferably, the holder is fixed to the deck support by a bracket.

Preferably, the gripper is rotatable relative to the deck support about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the adjacent portion of the deck support.

The invention also provides a clamp holder which is suitable for the plastic greenhouse structure.

In use, once the shed surface has been rolled up to adopt its rolled up condition, the holder may be moved from its stowed position to its in-use position. The shed surface in its rolled-up state may be received within the channel of the gripper as part of the operation of moving the gripper to its use position, or as a subsequent operation. Depending on the design of the gripper, this may require a temporary deformation of the gripper, followed by a reliable retention of the shed surface in the channel of the gripper.

In an alternative arrangement, the gripper may be in the form of a generally hook which is switchable between its stowed and use positions about an axis perpendicular to the adjacent portions of the deck support. Of course, the holder may take a range of other shapes and be switched between its stowed and use positions in various other ways.

The invention has the advantage that the cover can be safely and reliably received on the cover support. For example, a lever may be used to push or move the holder to effect movement of the holder from its stowed position to its use position. Thus, there is no need for the operator to work high to secure the deck against movement. Therefore, the operation of fixing the rolled-up surface to the upper portion of the vinyl house structure can be relatively quickly and safely performed.

Drawings

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view of a vinyl house structure according to an embodiment of the invention with the grippers in the in-use position;

FIG. 2 shows another view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gripper in the use position;

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the holder in a stowed position;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a portion of another modified embodiment; and

fig. 5 schematically shows another embodiment.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It is to be understood that the embodiments described are only a few embodiments of the present application and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

As shown in fig. 1-3, the present embodiment provides a conventional, widely used vinyl house structure comprising a series of a plurality of deck supports 10, each deck support 10 being arcuate or arched, the plurality of deck supports 10 being arranged in parallel with one another in a spaced, side-by-side configuration. Each of the deck supports 10 is supported at its ends by support legs (not shown) and all of the deck supports 10 together define a top profile of the greenhouse structure, for example a part-cylindrical or barrel-shaped profile, defined by the curvature of the deck supports 10.

As shown in fig. 1-3, a deck 12 of flexible plastic material extends over deck supports 10 to form the top of the shelter structure. At the edges of each side of deck 12, elongated tubular members 14 corresponding to the edges are secured to deck 12. It will be appreciated that, in use, rotation of tubular member 14 causes shed surface 12 to be rolled up onto tubular member 14 or unrolled from tubular member 14. Thus, deck 12 is movable between an unrolled state wherein deck 12 extends fully or partially over deck support 10 and forms the roof of the building, and a rolled state wherein deck 12 is substantially fully rolled onto tubular member 14, and when in the rolled state deck 12 is wound onto tubular member 14 may be conveniently located at or near the apex or uppermost portion of deck support 10. It will be appreciated, however, that this is not a requirement and that the tubular member 14 and rolled canopy surface 12 may be located elsewhere on the vinyl house structure when in the rolled condition, if desired.

In use, anchor lines, straps or the like extend over the deck 12 and are secured to a portion of the greenhouse structure or the ground when the deck 12 is in its deployed condition to secure the deck 12 in place.

As shown in fig. 1-3, according to this embodiment of the present invention, the structure further includes a clamp 16, which may also be referred to as a locator, retainer, or retainer, secured to deck support 10. Gripper 16 is secured to shed support 10 by a bracket 18 clamped around shed support 10, a portion of bracket 18 being shaped to define a channel 20, the channel 20 extending substantially in a direction parallel to the axis of an adjacent portion of shed support 10.

Holder 16 includes a central portion 16a extending through and protruding from the ends defining a channel 20, and first and

second arms

16b, 16c angled with respect to central portion 16a, with central portion 16a and

arms

16b, 16c joined together to form a generally U-shaped channel 22. It will be appreciated that the grippers 16 are able to rotate about an axis defining the channel 20 and thus move relative to the support 18 and the deck support 10 between a use position (see fig. 1 and 2) in which the grippers 16 extend above the deck support 10, and a stowed position (see fig. 3) in which the grippers 16 are located below the deck support 10. It will be appreciated that when in the stowed position, the grippers 16 are suspended above the top profile of the vinyl structure and therefore do not interfere with the deployment and positioning of the deck 12 on the deck support 10.

As shown in fig. 3, during the growing season, when deck 12 is in the deployed state, grippers 16 remain in their stowed position. In this position it is elevated from the vinyl structure, i.e., the grippers 16 are suspended from the top of the vinyl structure and therefore do not interfere with normal use within the vinyl structure or through machinery. If desired, the side edges of deck 12 may be rolled up several meters over tubular members 14 to increase ventilation, in which case deck 12 remains in place on top of deck support 10 and is secured and held in place by anchor lines, straps, or the like.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, if canopy surface 12 needs to be fully rolled, such as at the end of the growing season, in anticipation of high winds, or if canopy surface 12 is not otherwise needed, anchor lines, straps, etc. may be released and by rotating tubular members 14 to fully or substantially fully roll canopy surface 12 onto tubular members 14. With canopy surface 12 in its rolled-up state and tubular member 14 positioned adjacent to gripper 16, gripper 16 may be rotated from its stowed position toward its use position. For example, movement of the gripper 16 may be accomplished using a tow bar that is held and moved by an operator at ground level to manipulate the gripper 16.

The action of moving gripper 16 to its use position may cause its

arms

16b, 16c to lift on opposite sides of tubular member 14 and shed surface 12, thereby positioning shed surface 12 within channel 22. In this position, tubular member 14 is restrained from unrolling, and thus canopy surface 12 remains in its rolled-up state until subsequently needed.

Alternatively, depending on the position of tubular member 14 relative to gripper 16, once gripper 16 has been moved to its use position, tubular member 14 with its rolled shed surface 12 may be lifted into channel 22.

Whichever of these methods is used, it will be appreciated that the movement of the deck 12 and the tubular members 14 is restricted and therefore the deck 12 can be safely stowed in a rolled up condition on the remainder of the vinyl house structure.

For example, when subsequently needed, a lever may be used to manipulate gripper 16 to return gripper 16 to its stowed position, after which canopy surface 12 may be unfolded and secured in place.

If desired, the profile of holder 16 can be modified, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, to include an inwardly extending angled protrusion 24. In use, when securing decking surface 12 in place, it will be appreciated that

arms

16b, 16c must be bent away from each other to allow decking surface 12 and tubular member 14 in their rolled up condition to pass between projections 24. After shed surface 12 enters channel 22 through protrusion 24,

arms

16b, 16c will be flexed and return to their normal position, thereby securely holding shed surface 12 in place. Similarly, when canopy surface 12 needs to be subsequently deployed,

arms

16b, 16c need to be bent. It will be appreciated that this arrangement is advantageous because deck 12 is more securely held in place by clamps 16.

In each of the above arrangements, it is envisaged that the grippers 16 may be used at intervals along the length of the vinyl house structure, for example alternately on a plurality of deck supports 10. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 5, in a modified embodiment, in use, relative to shed support 10, grippers 16 are rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the adjacent portion of shed support 10. In this arrangement, the gripper 16 may be in the form of a generally hook.

Although in the foregoing described versions the gripper is rotatably attached to the deck support, it will be appreciated that other forms of connection may be used. For example, the retaining member may be movably connected to the deck support using a flexible connection, for example in the form of a length of rope. Furthermore, other modes of movement of the holder may be employed, such as sliding movement rather than rotational movement, as the holder is moved between its stowed and use positions.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vinyl house structure, comprising:

a shed surface support;

a deck supported in use by said deck supports, said deck being convertible between an expanded state in which it forms the top of the multi-channel structure and a rolled-up state; and

a gripper movably mounted on the deck support and movable between a stowed position in which the gripper does not interfere with the deck allowing the deck to be in a rolled state and a use position in which the gripper holds the deck in a rolled state against being rolled out relative to the deck support; the gripper is located below the deck support when in its stowed state.

2. The vinyl house structure of claim 1, wherein the gripper includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being spaced apart from one another and forming a channel therebetween, the deck being receivable within the channel when the deck is in the rolled up condition.

3. The vinyl house structure of claim 2, wherein the canopy surface is continuously maintained within the channel formed by the first and second arms.

4. The vinyl house structure of claim 3, wherein the first and second arms are resilient and can be flexed away from each other such that the channel is sufficient to allow the entry or exit of the deck.

5. The vinyl house structure of claim 1, wherein the gripper is rotatable relative to the deck support about an axis parallel to an axis of an adjacent portion of the deck support.

6. The vinyl house structure of claim 1, wherein the grippers are secured to the deck support members by joists.

7. The vinyl house structure of claim 1, wherein the gripper is rotatable relative to the deck support about an axis perpendicular to an axis of an adjacent portion of the deck support.

8. A holder suitable for use in a vinyl house structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.