GB2259313A

GB2259313A - Glasshouse and gutters therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2259313A
Application number: GB9218662A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Holsteijn Gerardus Jacobus Van; Der Kooy Abraham Paulus Van
Original assignee: BOAL BEHEER BV
Current assignee: BOAL BEHEER BV
Priority date: 1991-09-02
Filing date: 1992-09-02
Publication date: 1993-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-02
Also published as: BE1005363A3; NL9201524A; GB2259313B; GB9218662D0

Abstract

A glasshouse uses one-piece aluminium gutters (4) for collecting rainwater and also condensate. The gutter (4) is provided with chambers (14) for receiving structural bars (10) and close to the top of each bar receiving chamber (14) there are flanges (23) for supporting transparent roof panels (8). The top piece of the gutter connecting the flanges (23) is made narrower than the width of a foot (24) to provide enhanced light transmission. <IMAGE>

Description

GLASSHOUSE AND GUTTERS THEREFOR The invention relates in the first place to a glass- house for cultivating flowers, plants, vegetables and/or fruit.

It is iraportant herein that as little light as possible is excluded by construction elements.

The invention relates in particular to a glasshouse comprising tubular gutters, each with two bar receiving chambers which also form condensation collecting gutters, whore in close to the upper part of each bar receiving chasilxrr at least one supporting flange for transparent panels is present on either side, wherein at least one gutter is nu- factured as an aluminium profile consisting of one piece Such a glasshouse is known from NL-B-182361. The gutters thereof are compactly designed such that, in COXlpa- rison to previously known gutters, they provide a solution with respect to light gain.

The present invention has for its object to achieve a further gain in light. This is achieved according to the invention in that the top pieces of the gutters connecting both support flanges are narrower than a foot width.

It has been found that due to their compact tubular construction the known gutters are overdinensioned and that, takinq their strength into account, still narrower gutters could suffice, even if the gutters are entirely manufactured fro aluminium, which means a considerable light gain. A further narrowing seemed inconceivable because insufficient foot tread surface would then remain in the riddle of the gutter. It has been found however that when the gutter is narrowed it is still possible to realize adequate tread surface for zaintenanee operations. This is possible for instance by providing a running surface for a carriage.A carriage bridging a gutter distance can then travel over two gutters and by guided thereby, wherein a person or persons taking up position on the carriage can then perform the saintenanee operations.

Another possibility is that the foot tread surface is formed by a central top piece of the gutter and by transparent panels such as glass plates located on either Bide thereof. It has been found partly possible to rest on the transparent panels with gy shoes without the danger of damage.

An exceptionally narrow gutter can be realized if both bar receiving chambers are bounded by a conunon body.

The invention likewise relates to and provides gutters evidently intended for a glasshouse according to the invention.

It is noted that it has been proposed in the Nether- lands filed patent application to inanufacture a narrow gutter from an assembly of a steel tube profile and an aluminium profile. The gutter herein derives its strength from the steel tube and its functional forms from extruded aluininium.

This assembly is expensive. The invention provides by way of contrast a considerably less costly solution and still provides sufficient robustness with a lesser shadow effect of the gutter.

Mentioned and other features of the invention will become apparent from the description following hereinbelow with reference to a drawing. In the drawing in schematic form: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fraction of a glasshouse according to the invention; Figure 2 shows on a larger scale a section along line Il-Il in figure 1; Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 each show a variant of figure 2.

The glasshouse 1 of figure 1 comprises a frame of pillars 2, trusses 3 and gutters 4 oriented transversely thereof. Girders 5 of the frame are also present in the walls of the glasshouse. The frame further also has cross bracing 6. Glasshouse I further comprises a glass covering in the side surfaces and roof surfaces. This roof covering 7 ÇQ- prises plates 8 and ridge profiles 9, bars 10, window wedge profiles 11 and cross beans 12.

Each gutter 4 is embodied as a tube profile of extruded aluniniun which is provided with two bar receiving cham- bers 14 for receiving bars 10, which bar receiving chambers 14 also form condensation collecting gutters which drain according to arrows 16 via openings 15 into the tube space 17 serving as condensation drainage gutter. A body 19 standing on the upper part 18 of the tube bounds both bar receiving chambers 14. On top of the body 19 is a chamber 20 for anchoringly receiving a sealing strip 21, the side edges 22 of which fixedly clamp the glass plates 8 in sealing manner. The plates 8 lie on flanges 23 which also anchoringly support the bars 10.A person wearing gym shoes 24 or shoes with croft soles can easily support on the upper part 18 of the tube via the sealing strip 21, # the chamber 20 and the body 19, while a part of the weight also rests on the plates 8. It is very well possible to carry out vaintenance operations in this manner. The light gain is considerable due to a small width k of for instance 71.3 mm at a height h of 135 v. The weight of aluminium is only 1.785 kg/m of the gutter profile or figure 2.The resistance moment Wxx = X9.2 em3 and the resis- tance moment Wy - 10.59 cs'.

The gutter 4 of figure 3 is distinguished from the slightly narrower gutter 4 of figure 2 in that a small bridge piece 25 is present between the inner walls 26 of the bar receiving chambers 14, which piece can serve as running surface for carriage wheels. Further present are two charters 20 for anchoringly receiving sealing strips 21. shoes 24 can support on the upper part of the tube via both sealing strips 21 and both chambers 20, wherein once again a part of the weight comes to rest on the plates 8. The light gain of this gutter 4 is somewhat less but its strength on the other hand is somewhat greater.

The gutter 4 of figure 4 corresponds with gutter 4 of figure a, with the understanding that two chambers 20 are present each with a sealing strip 21 between which is di.

posed a rail 27 for carriage wheels 28. Such a carriage can bridge a roof portion and support simultaneously on two gutters 4.

The gutter 4 of figure 5 has a tube space 17 having bar receiving chambers located on either side thereof. The gutter 4 has a width k for capturing water that is greater than in the case of figure 2. The light gain relative to known gutters is nevertheless marked. In this case shoes 24 can support almost entirely on the upper part of the tube space 17 via the sealing strips 21 and the chasers 20, wherein the glass plates 8 have to absorb only a small part of the weight. The tube space is divided into a space 17D and two tube spaces 17C.

The gutter 4 of figure 6 has two tube spaces 17A and 17B sutuslly separated by a partition plate 29. This gutter 4 is further the same as that in figure 3 with the exception of a slightly different design.

The gutter according to the invention has a width of less than 12 cm, preferably less than 10 cs and more pre ferably even less.

Claims

1. Glasshouse including tubular gutters which also collect condensate, each gutter having bar receiving chambers and at least one flange close to the upper part of each chamber on either side of the gutter for supporting a transparent panel of the glasshouse roof, wherein at least one of the gutters is a one-piece aluminium profile and a top portion of the gutter connecting the flanges is narrower than the width of a foot.

2. Glasshouse as claimed in Claim 1, wherein both receiving chambers are bounded by a common body.

3. Glasshouse as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the gutter has at least one running surface for a carriage.

4. Glasshouse as claimed in ay of the preceding claims wherein a foot tread surface is formed by a central top piece of the gutter and by transparent panels located on either side thereof.

5. Glasshouse or tubular gutters therefor substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.