FR2580898A1 - Universal and stable protection device for plantations - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device for plantations of the "greenhouse" type, which covers only the useful cultivated surface. The protection device is characterised in that it consists of identical modules A which can equally either be placed end to end, placed on the ground, to form a continuous horizontal tunnel, or be assembled two by two or more to form a vertical tunnel, it being possible for the ends of these two types of tunnel or enclosures to be closed by type B modules. The device according to the invention can be used both for the protection of plantations of strawberries, green salad, melons, asparagus etc., and for those of fruit or other trees.

Description

 The present invention relates to a crop protection device of the "greenhouse" type covering only the useful cultivated area.

 Known devices of this kind used to protect crops are of the following types: 1- Glass greenhouses which cover the entire surface to be cultivated and the implementation of which requires investments which are unfortunately not available to everyone.

It is a real construction which must allow access to men and machines.

2- Greenhouses formed by arches covered with plastic films and covering the area to be cultivated by zones, but whose implementation requires less investment but more expensive maintenance.

3- Greenhouses made up of elements of small dimensions, with removable chassis or, coming end to end to form a continuous and horizontal tunnel. These modules are generally sensitive to wind and they must be fixed to the ground, as a safety measure, in regions with strong winds such as tramontane or mistral in the south of France.

 The device according to the invention is of the type described in 3 but having the following essential advantages: 1- its shape and its dimensions give it wind resistance such that it requires no fixing to the ground: hence its ease installation, maintenance, operation; 2- it can either be placed horizontally on the ground or vertically by assembling the basic modules that constitute it.

Indeed, made up of identical modules which can either be placed end to end, placed on the ground, to form a continuous horizontal tunnel, or be assembled two by two or more, to form a vertical tunnel, it can be adapted to all crops: - protection of standard crops: strawberries, - salads, melons, asparagus, etc., in the horizontal configuration; - protection of standard crops: fruit trees or others, in the vertical configuration.

In the vertical configuration, the basic modules can
be superimposed to increase the protected volume. About the
horizontal configuration, the juxtaposed modules can
also indifferently either be partially fixed or to
between them, be free. In case they are fixed
partially lifting is possible either for ventilation,
either for maintenance or for picking. In the case where
they are free they can be moved one by one for them
same reasons.

Regardless of wind resistance issues, the
characteristic shape of the preferred embodiment of the invention allows the stacking of modules, their simple assembly
and facilitates on the one hand their storage and on the other hand their use
reading.

Other advantages arise from these particularities and this is what
which we will see using the attached drawings in which
- Figure 1 shows two basic modules placed end to end
end and two others assembled vertically;
- Figure 2 shows three basic modules assembled ver
tically (when viewed from above);
- Figure 3 shows two series of two basic modules
superimposed;
- Figure 4, the mounting detail of the glass.

According to Figure 1, the basic module (A) consists of 3
identical panels (Cl) (C2) and (C3) assembled together
such that (C1) and (C3) are symmetrical with respect to
to the median plane (P) of (C2) and that the angle (X) they form
between them is between 90 and 150 degrees.

For practical reasons:
- define a sufficient volume,
- obtain simple geometric shapes,
- allow self-locking in the case of overlapping
of modules assembled two by two,
the angle (X) used in the preferred embodiment of the in
vention is worth 120 degrees and the dimensions of (C): 1.0 X 0.4 m.

Similarly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention:
- the glazed part of (C2) is made of reinforced glass to resist
hail,
- the glazed parts of (Cl) and (C3) are made of ordinary glass because the inclination is such that the reinforced glass is not justified.

When the modules (AY are assembled together horizontally (fig. 1-h), plugs or pins (1) are used which nest in the housings (2) of each module.

The horizontal tunnel thus obtained is in one piece and offers greater wind resistance. Other assembly systems such as screws, bolts, etc. can be used.

When the modules (A) are assembled together horizontally at a single point in the lower part, they can pivot around this point and can therefore be lifted without moving them.

When the modules (A) are simply juxtaposed, it suffices to lift them and place them on the immediately adjacent module.

It is possible to wedge them in the open position, using a device of the type (3) - (4) consisting of a slide (3) through which passes, with the possibility of locking, a rod (4).

Each panel (C), in the preferred embodiment of the invention, consists of a glass framed by a wooden frame. The longitudinal sides of the panels are bevelled and assembled by gluing (epoxy glue or other). Other types of construction or attachment can be envisaged.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention each panel (C) measures overall 1.0 X 0.4 m and the reinforced glass is 6 mm thick for 3 mm for ordinary glass
At each end of the tunnel, a type panel (B) can be placed to close it and whose attachment can also be done by pin or screw. This panel can be made of wood or any other material. The wood used is iroko to avoid any subsequent deformation due to atmospheric agents.

The figure 1-v, shows two modules (A) assembled vertically.

The locking between the two is ensured by a standard piece (a) of metal or any other material also using dowels or screws for fixing it.

Such a device can be closed by two type modules (B).

The cut in the center allows the passage of the trunk of the tree and is also used for ventilation.

 According to Figure 2, it is possible to vertically assemble three by three modules (A) so as to increase the protected volume. In this case the type parts (b) replace the type-ta) used in the previous configuration.

 According to FIG. 3, when modules (A) assembled two by two are superimposed, they are offset by 60 degrees so as to lock the two lower modules (A); the two standard parts (a) then being placed in the upper part.

In this case the shrouds (5) increase the stability of the device.

The superimposition of the modules (A) assembled three by three is not shown here because it does not have any particularity: the locking pieces type (b) being necessary at each level.

 Figure 4 shows in section the fixing of the glass (6) in the frame (7) by means of a strip (8) nailed or stapled.

 Any ventilation or heating system can be adapted to the tunnel thus produced. Just as the tunnels can be interconnected at the ends to ensure continuity of heating or ventilation.

 It is understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described, any variant, considered to be equivalent, which cannot modify its scope.

 The device according to the invention can be used both for the protection of crops of strawberries, salads, melons, asparagus, etc., as those of fruit trees or the like.

Claims (10)

 1 Crop protection device, characterized in that it consists of identical modules (A) which can either be placed end to end, placed on the ground, to form a continuous horizontal tunnel, or be assembled two by two or more to form a vertical tunnel; the ends of these two types of tunnels, or enclosures, which can be closed by modules (B).  2- Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the basic module (A) consists of three panels (C1) (C2) and (C3) assembled together so that (Cl) and ( C3) are symmetrical with respect to the median plane (P) of (C2) and that the angle (X) which they form between them is between 90 and 150 degrees.  3- Protection device according to claim characterized in that the angle (X) is in particular 120 degrees.  4- Protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that (C2) is of reinforced glass and (Cl) and (C3) of ordinary glass.  5- Protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the modules (A) can be fixed end to end by means of dowels or pins (1) coming to nest in the housings (2 ) of each module.  6- Protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, when the modules (A) are joined vertically in pairs, they are locked by two pierced parts type (a) held by dowels or pins (1) also being housed in (2).  7- Protection device according to claim 6, characterized in that, when two other modules are superimposed (A), they are offset by 60 degrees so as to lock the two lower modules (A); the two standard parts (a) then being placed in the upper part.  8- Protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, when the modules (A) are joined vertically three by three, they are locked by three pierced parts type (b) held by dowels or pins (1) also placed in (2).  9- Protection device according to claim 8, characterized in that, the assemblies formed by three modules (A) are stackable, the type parts (b) being necessary at each level.  10- Protection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the same panel (B) is used to close the two types of tunnels: a panel (B) in the case of modules (A) placed on the same the floor and two panels (B) in the case of two modules (A) assembled vertically.