FR2569522A1 - Openwork microclimatic shelter for the protection of plants against the sun and cold - Google Patents

Abstract

The microclimatic greenhouse-shelter is made up of openwork walls which partially stop solar radiation, for example of a section whose frustoconical pyramid form which has spaces E between the laths 1 whose width and surface area depend on the intensity of the solar radiation on the site. The said wall can be either rigid or flexible and pliable along preformed folding lines 7, 8 and can interact with a sheet of plastic material in order to ensure the greenhouse function. It can be delivered in rolls or in flat panels or in stacks. It is secured to the ground by means of peg hooks 28, 29 driven into the ground and caught either on assembling wires 2, 3 or in holes of the openwork.

Description

Shed micro-climatic shelter for the protection of plants against the sun and the cold.

The invention relates to a new type of micro-climatic shed shelter for the protection of plants against solar radiation and against the cold.

Greenhouses are already known covered by a plastic film pierced or not with holes, used especially to protect plants from the cold and to activate the germination of seeds. When the sun is too hot, it is necessary to discover the greenhouses of the tunnel type to water the plants outside the hours of strong sunshine. The thin plastic sheet is removed in the morning and put back in the evening, which requires significant labor. Thin plastic films are also used placed directly on the ground to protect the seedlings.

The transplanting into the open ground of "plans" under traditional greenhouses causes an adaptation time of several days before restarting. Sowing in the open ground also takes a long time to grow. Certain plants cannot be sown in the ground during periods of very strong sunshine. When you water with a jet or any other similar means, the very moist earth on the surface settles and forms a hard crust under the action of the sun.

The object of the shelter according to the invention is to overcome these drawbacks.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the shelter is constituted by means of a skeleton wall assembled by pre-fabricated elements for the constitution of which one can use various types of materials
The shelter is permanently installed above the planes to be protected which can be periodically sprayed, for example with a jet through spaces allowing the passage of part of the solar radiation, additional means ensure the mooring of the shelter to ground to prevent it from being moved by the wind. The ends of the shelter can each be closed by a panel, also openwork to allow air circulation.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the skeleton panels are placed directly flat on bars of low height for the protection of seedlings.

The advantages of the shelter according to the invention are as follows: protection of the plans against the cold, at night and the sun during the day, by creating a permanent micro-climate in the protected space; - possibility of watering directly on the shelter, without removing it, even in full sun without risk for plants, the soil does not "crust" on the surface and remains very long moist, which avoids weeding and hoeing and saves 60 to 80% of water; - spraying seedlings without care through the shelter wall, - allows direct sowing in the ground with a loss limited to only bad seeds; - possibility of modulating the protection against the sun by increasing or reducing the surface of the openings of the wall of the shelter according to the intensity of the sun according to the regions and the countries; - the plans transplanted under the shelter resume their growth immediately without any delay and without waste, which makes it possible to save plans; - the vegetables remain very much more tender because they are never permanently exposed to the sun but only according to the rotation of the sun through spaces provided for this purpose, hence a gain in quality; - great speed of growth of plans to reach maturity, gain of 70 to 50%; - possibility of sowing plants such as beans for example and having them quickly reach maturity even during the hottest months in very sunny regions; - protects plants from hail and heavy rain - as well as from the wind that dries them; - also protects plants against the depredation of animals such as rabbits, hares, birds etc ...; - the leaves of plants in contact with the wooden wall do not deteriorate; - advantageously replaces the chassis for a number of crops; - quick and easy repair; - elimination of the labor force for maneuvering thin plastic sheets covering traditional greenhouses and elimination of their arches; - usable by small gardeners as well as by professionals and semi-professionals for the cultivation of all types of terrestrial plants.

The invention is described in detail in the text which follows with reference to the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples and in which: FIGS. 1,2,3,4,4a, 4b show examples of embodiment of the wall of the shelter according to the invention; - Figs 5 and 6 show examples of means for producing the fold lines of the wall of the shelter according to the invention; - Fig.7,8,9 and 10 show other embodiments of the wall according to the invention; - fig.ll shows an example of shelter for sowing in the ground; - Fig.l2,1 3,14,15,16,17 show examples of embodiments of shelters from the wall according to the invention; - Fig.l8, 19 and 20 show an alternative embodiment of a hoop shelter with the wall according to the invention; - Fig.21 and 22 show a variant shelter of Fig.15,17 and18; - Fig.23 shows an application of the shelter wall according to the invention applied to the protection of the foot of trees; - Fig.24 shows an embodiment of a shelter arbor with the wall. according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a skeleton shelter wall according to the invention made by means of slats 1 of unwound and sliced wood, assembled flat by stapling said slats 1 onto galvanized metal wires 2.3 to means of staples 4. A space E: is provided between the slats to let the air pass as well as the sun to allow photosynthesis. This space E is defined according to the amount of sunshine on the site, different according to the regions, south of France and countries of Africa or the Near East for example.

These spaces also allow water for irrigation or rain or treatment of protected plants to pass through. When the constituent material is wood, it can be treated with products preventing rotting and preferably without making it waterproof because it absorbs a reserve which participates in the creation of the micro-climate which prevents plants to dry out and help slow evaporation.

Fig.2a shows, seen in section, an example of assembly of slats 1 on metal wires 2,3 by means of staples 4. The wires are provided with a diameter sufficient to give a suitable mechanical resistance to the together. The width of the panels (length of the slats 1) depends on their use, sowing or tunnel shelter as will be described later.

Fig.2b shows the panel of Fig.1 and 2a rolled up at the exit of the automatic or semi-automatic manufacturing machine. These rolls can contain several tens of meters of wall.

In fig. 3 and 4, examples of fold lines 6,7,8 have been shown formed on panels wider than that of FIG. 1 whose slats 5 are assembled on wires 2,3,9,10,11, 12.

Fig.4a and 4b show alternative embodiments of the wall of Figures 3 and 4 in which the fold lines are formed on thin sheets F1, F2, F3 made of plastic when the thickness of the slats 5 does not allow their folding without risking breaking them, especially when they are thick, especially for making large panels. These can also be stored in rolls. The slats 5 are stapled at the end to the sheets
F1, F2, F3 leaving a space L between them to allow folding either on the inside or on the outside.

Fig.5 shows a first preferred embodiment of fold lines on the slats of the panels of Fig.1 to 4. I1 has a cylindrical wheel 13 provided with a bevelled blade 14 terminated by a radius 15 cooperating with against -galet 16 intended to locally compress the slats of said panels when passing through the manufacturing machine to preform the fold lines which will make up the shelters of FIGS. 14 and 15.

In fig.5 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the fold lines, the wheel 13 of fig.5 is replaced by a thin wheel 17 having a sharp cutting 18. This wheel can be replaced for example by a knife.

Fig.7 shows another embodiment of flat panels 19 of shelter according to the invention. These panels can for example be made of relatively flexible plastic, or of reinforced cardboard treated with anti-humidity treatment with openings of compatible surface, also available in rolls for the shelters shown in FIG. 11 or else for tunnel shelters as on fig.12 and 13. These panels can also be made of rigid flat elements, for example plastic, treated plywood or agglomerated wood or any other similar material allowing them to perform the same functions.

The panel elements of fig.7 can be provided with fold lines fig.8 as in fig.3 and 4 to form tunnel shelters or be directly rigidly made with a U shape 21 in relief shown in fig .9 so that they can be stacked as in fig.lO to allow their storage and transport in a reduced volume.

Fig. 11 shows an example of a seedling shelter in the ground. It comprises a panel 25 as described above, placed in abutment on two cleats 26,27 resting on the ground and subject to the ground either by hooks 28, 29 hung on the wires 2,3, or by stones arranged from place to place to withstand the wind. The battens 26, 27 are provided with a height sufficient to prevent the seedling leaves 31 from touching the panel before a possible transplant.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a triangular section shelter made by assembling oye panels, 33 described above by means of fasteners 34 arranged from place to place and secured to the ground by means of hooks 28, 29 arranged at a regular pitch. depending on the strength of the wind on the site. The spacing at the base 35, as well as the width of the panels, depends on the type of culture envisaged. It is possible to provide a low height and a wide base as shown in dotted lines at 36, or a narrow base and a large height as shown in dotted lines 37.

On the fiv. 13 a variant of the shelter of FIG. 12 has been shown produced by assembling panels which may be identical 38, 39.40 in the form of a truncated pyramid held by fasteners 41 arranged from place to place and secured to the ground by means of -hook 28,29 hung on the wires 2. You can also use stones 42.

Fig.l4 shows an example of a triangular section shelter made by folding a panel shown in fig. 3. As shown in fig.l2, you can change the width of the base as needed.

Fig.l5 shows an example of a sectional shelter in the shape of a truncated pyramid produced by folding a panel shown in Fig.4.

Fig.l6 shows the folding obtained with the preforming of the folding line by crushing of fig.5.

Fig.l7 shows a tunnel shelter of fig.l5 seen in perspective.

Figs. 18, 19, 20 show a variant of a shelter produced in a hoop by means of elements cut from a roll 45, 46, 47 of fig. 1 for example, of identical length and juxtaposed or in slight overlap 48, held together by an extruded plastic profile49 of an H-shaped section (fig.20) in which the panels 45,46 are embedded before their shaping.

To give rigidity to the arched panels, one can staple, on each of the side edges of the panel, an extruded plastic profile of rectangular or U-shaped section, said panels overlapping as in fig..19.

To maintain the shape of the arch, it is possible to use spacers 50 made of metal wire or the like hung from place to place to the wires 51.

The panels are secured to the ground by hooks 28,29. To close the ends of the shelter, panels are also provided in perforated material 52,53 (fig.l9) with holes 54 to allow air circulation represented by arrows 55.

The walls of the various versions of shelters according to the invention can be produced from panels of extruded plastic material having two thin parallel sheets spaced a few millimeters apart and joined together by thin ribs. Such panels are marketed in France under the brand "AKYLUX". One can also use any similar product when it is capable of ensuring the functions defined above.

Figs. 21 and 22 show a variant of shelter of Figs. 15, 17 and 18 made with panels of large width 70, for example up to 1.8 to 2 meters, juxtaposed as in Fig. 19, of which the fold lines 71, 72 are obtained by using wooden bars 73, 74 constituting a first panel 79, bars 75, 76 constituting a second panel 80, bars 77, 78 constituting a third panel 81, the end the external tee of said bars 73.74 and 77.78 is extended at 82.83 to be able to prick them into the ground with a depth sufficient to withstand the wind. The wires 84.85 are stapled both on the slats l and on said wooden bars whose opposite ends 86,87 can be optionally cut at an angle and touch at 87; to allow the bending of the wires 84.85, they can be moved slightly apart at 86 for their shaping into a truncated pyramid.

In Fig.23 we have shown, in top view, an example of a panel according to the invention applied to the protection of the foot of trees such as fruit trees for example.

Depending on the diameter of the tree to be protected, the corresponding slats l are cut, with play, in a panel of suitable dimensions, and the metal wires 93.94 are then cut on one side along line 95 of so as to be able to put the panel in place around the tree which is then protected against drought by raising the parts 96 according to the arrows 97.98 by engaging it around the tree in the direction of the arrows 99.

In fig. 24 we have shown an example of an arbor gazebo consisting of a beam frame 100, lq1.102 arranged from place to place, on which roof panels 103, 104 and side panels have been fixed. 105.106, according to the invention.

The different figures from 1 to 23 show solar shelters. These shelters are insufficient to allow the plants to withstand the low winter temperatures adequately because they are in openwork.

To overcome this drawback, provision has been made to make three-function mixed greenhouse-shelters: increase protection from the cold, raise the internal temperature during the day by the greenhouse effect, partially protect from the too intense sun.

The greenhouse effect is obtained by producing walls by means of wooden slats or the like as described above, but cooperating with a plastic panel, for example of the AKYLUX type or the like.

These walls can be airtight for the winter, have holes for watering for the summer, or even have closable windows, the two ends of the shelter greenhouse thus formed being hermetically closed.

The wooden slats or the like are, for example, stapled directly to the panel or the plastic sheet and the metal wires connecting the slats are eliminated. The production can be continuous and the delivery of these greenhouse shelters can be carried out either in rolls or in foldable flat panels for their shaping.

The sun protection function can be obtained on transparent materials such as AKYLUX for example by painting or sticking white or other bands impervious to solar radiation.

During the cool periods and in particular the winters a thin film of transparent plastic can be used to cover the various shelters according to the invention to transform them into greenhouses.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS: 1 - Microclimatic shelter intended for the protection of plants against the effects of the sun and cold, in the form of a tunnel, comprising a protective wall, characterized in that said wall is made of openwork material of sufficient opacity to stop solar radiation and capable of being sprayed, and in that said wall is made of modular elements which are presented in a roll to be used flat or folded or else curved in a hoop in juxtaposed elements, or a frigid directly in the form of a stackable tunnel, and in that an additional means arranged from place to place of pat and other of said wall (28,29) ensures its attachment to the ground, and in that said wall cooperates with a film or a panel of transparent plastic material to ensure greenhouse and cold protection functions. 2 - Shelter according to 1 characterized in that said skeleton wall is constituted by slats of unrolled and / or sliced wood (1) assembled flat continuously on at least two metal wires (2,3) treated anticorrosion by staples (4) on an automatic or semi-automatic machine and rolled up at the exit of said machine. 3 - Shelter according to 1 and 2 characterized in that said wall has one or two longitudinal fold lines (6,7,8) to directly form a tunnel by folding along said lines, and in that said fold lines are obtained directly in production either by a cutting tool (17) or by a cylindrical wheel (13) cooperating with a counter-roller (16) 4 - Shelter according to 1 characterized in that the wall 19 is made of modular elements made of rigid molded perforated material directly in the form of a tunnel (21) with side parts in relief provided for the stacking and storage functions. 5 - Shelter according to 1.3 and 4 characterized in that said wall is made of flat modular elements provided with folding means (22) and fixing to the ground (28,29). 6 - Shelter according to 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that said clearing wall (25) is used directly flat at the appropriate width pressing on two small bars (26,27) of low height to constitute a shelter for sowing open ground with means for fixing to the ground. 7 - Shelter according to 1,2 and 3 characterized in that it is constituted by unwinding flat said hinged wall and folding it according to fold lines (7,8) to form a section tunnel in the form of truncated pyramid according to the desired spacing, and in that said spacing is maintained by means of a spacer. 8 - Shelter according to 1,2 and 3 characterized in that it is constituted by unrolling said skeleton wall and by folding it along its fold line (6) to form a tunnel of triangular section according to the desired spacing at the base and in that said spacing can be maintained by a spacer. 9 - Shelter according to l and 2 characterized in that it is constituted by the assembly of three walls (38,39,40) unrolled flat, two side panels (38,39) and a panel (40) on top assembled from place to place by fasteners (41). 10 - Shelter according to l and 2 characterized in that it is produced by juxtaposing wall pieces (45,46,47) formed in an arch, the slats (l) arranged in the longitudinal direction, and in that the ends of the wall pieces are secured by a fastening means.