Rotating guide rail system for protecting orchards from weather

Abstract

A rotating rail system for protecting orchards from weather conditions, consisting of a row of supports, each of which has a pivoting arm at its top end, the middle of which is connected to the top end of the support. Above the pivoting arm, there is a net or foil-like rectangular cover, the middle of which is connected to a central cable that passes through the support, while the longer edges are connected to end cables. At the ends of the pivoting arm, rotating rails are installed, which consist of studs that have their upper end firmly connected to the cable and their lower end connected to the end of the pivoting arm. The connection between the upper end of the stud and the cable is placed in a cylindrical housing or cap to prevent it from coming into contact with the cover. With this structure, when the pivoting arm is rotated to one side, the cover can be retracted into a parallelogram without obstacles, and when the pivoting arm is rotated to the other side, the cover can be extended into a rectangle without obstacles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates broadly to fruit cultivation, and more specifically to plant protection, namely, protective covers for plants and devices for installing such covers, i.e., devices for protecting plants from weather conditions, animals, birds or other pests. Background Technology

[0002] Background art lists various systems for protecting orchards from weather conditions using pivot arms. That is, systems for protecting orchards using pivot arms are used to extend a protective cover over the orchard and protect it from weather conditions; it can be closed as needed to increase sunlight exposure and reduce or eliminate shade over the orchard.

[0003] For example, Soviet document SU 1754013A1 describes a device for hail protection in vineyards, comprising two end posts; the tops of the end posts are rotatably connected to a pivot arm, and the entire length of the protective cover is connected to the pivot arm via the shorter side. The protective cover is rectangular when extended and is freely supported along its longitudinal axis by an intermediate post placed sequentially between the end posts. Although such a system allows the rectangular protective cover to contract into a parallelogram and vice versa, it does not provide lateral support for the protective cover during contraction or extension. The shortcoming of this solution is that, whether extended or contracted, the protective cover is supported only by the intermediate post, without any lateral support.

[0004] Additionally, International Patent Application No. WO95 / 25424 discloses a solution for an orchard protection device, describing a protective cover for protecting orchards from hail, birds, and sunlight. This cover includes end posts, the tops of which are rotatably connected to a pivot arm; and a stretched rectangular cover, connected to the pivot arm via shorter sides and extending along its entire length. Similar to the solutions described in the prior art, the fabric cover is retracted by changing its rectangular shape to a parallelogram and by rotating the end pivot arm. Furthermore, this solution provides additional cover stiffness due to a central post connected by a central cable extending along the longitudinal axis through the cover, with side cables securely fastened to the long sides of the cover by clamps. The cable can be tightened via a winch (which also rotates the pivot arm at the ends) or via anchors, weights, levers, and an additional cross-sectional and longitudinal cable system, allowing the cover to contract and stretch appropriately and stabilize in the open position. The cable-reinforced cover is pulled onto a central fixed arm, which is laterally positioned on a central column. Unlike the rotating pivot arms used for the end columns, these fixed arms are tightly secured to the central column and therefore cannot rotate around it. The drawback of this solution lies in its complexity, most notably the large number of components required for proper stretching and contraction of the cover, leading to complex operation, requiring specialized training for operators, and consuming considerable time to adjust from one position to another.

[0005] Finally, the background section also lists a solution in domestic patent document No. RS20171264A1, similar to the previous solution. This solution consists of a row of columns with pivot arms, from which rectangular covers are pulled out. One side of the cover is supported by a central cable running through the column, and the long side of the other side is slidably connected to a side cable. Each side cable is connected to the end of the pivot arm and securely fixed by a rotating clamp (detachable); the clamp is equipped with a rotating pin bearing at the end of the pivot arm. The pivot arm is not a single piece but consists of two parts, each rotatably connected to the column. Therefore, the retraction of the cover can be achieved by rotating the pivot arms on both sides of the column clockwise and counterclockwise. This solution assumes the use of a rotary joint, i.e., a rotary guide, which allows for efficient, simple, and rapid stretching and stacking of the cover within a rotating system for orchard protection. It also allows for full stretching and stabilization of the cover in the open position, i.e., proper and complete stacking of the cover without stacking resistance. However, this solution—using clips to secure the guide rail—has drawbacks. The guide rail may become locked and tangled with the cover during stretching, especially if the cover is mesh, which can cause the rotating mechanism to malfunction and damage the cover. A second drawback of this solution is the relatively low load capacity of the solder clips. This deficiency becomes apparent during strong winds, snow, or hail, as the load on the cover and side cables shifts to the guide rail.

[0006] Furthermore, the rotating clamps in this solution are made from non-standard parts, resulting in higher production costs and requiring significant effort and time for installation. Additionally, the solution is highly vulnerable to weather conditions, particularly humidity and rain; this applies to both the cable and clamp fixing connections and the pins rotating with the pivot arm, impacting their reliability, especially in terms of corrosion and freezing. Consequently, they require more frequent and intensive maintenance, leading to higher operating costs.

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] The technical problem solved by this invention relates to ensuring the simple and quick stretching and stacking of a protective cover for a fixed rotating system to protect orchards from weather conditions and insects and birds, and to stretching it completely and safely without any damage; and to stabilizing it in the open position, i.e., proper and complete stacking without any stacking resistance and damage, while being reasonably priced, reliable, easy to manufacture, install and maintain, and providing sufficient load capacity, especially when the protective cover is subjected to additional loads due to hail or strong winds. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This invention overcomes the shortcomings of the aforementioned background technology. The invention relates to a rotating guide system for protecting orchards from weather conditions. The system consists of a row of supports, the tops of which are rotatably connected to a central pivot arm. The pivot arm has a rectangular cover, which can be mesh or foil-like, supported in the middle by a central cable passing through a transverse cylindrical opening located at a pin on each support, slidably connected to side cables via a longer side. Rotating guides are mounted at the ends of the pivot arm, such that one end of the guide is firmly fixed to the cable, while the other end is rotatably connected to the end of the pivot arm. This method allows for translational movement of the side cables during rotation of the pivot arm, bringing them closer together and causing the cover to contract from a rectangle to a parallelogram. When the pivot arm is rotated counterclockwise, the side cables move away from each other through translational movement, stretching the cover from a parallelogram to a rectangle. Each side cable is connected to the end of the pivot arm via the rotating guide. The rotary guide rail consists of screws acting as pins; its lower part is rotatably connected to the arm end via standard screws and washers, and the side cable rope at the wall end is securely fixed with standard screws and washers and is removable. The robust connection between the screw top, cable, and guide rail is housed within a cylindrical housing, preventing contact between this end of the guide rail and the cover. Therefore, the stacking of the cover is not hindered during retraction; that is, the guide rail, consisting of pins with nuts and washers, is prevented from locking into the cover during stretching. Furthermore, the height of the cylindrical housing exceeds the height of the screws, preventing the cover from extending beyond it. This would cause the nut of the pin to become entangled in the mesh, thus disabling the rotary mechanism and damaging the cover, especially if the cover is mesh-like. In other words, the cylindrical housing accommodating the guide rail allows the rotary mechanism to function normally and unimpeded, and enables proper stacking and stretching. Furthermore, since the base of the guide rail consists of rotating screws with nuts and is rotatably connected to the pivot arm, the guide rail design is robust and durable, and has a sufficiently high load capacity to withstand the load from the cable and transfer it to the metal arm, even under special conditions such as hail or strong winds of 90-100 km / h.

[0010] This invention not only provides efficient, safe, and unobstructed cable movement when changing the housing shape from rectangular to parallelogram (and vice versa), but also reduces production costs due to its composition of standard components. Furthermore, this invention provides protection for the connection between the screws and the cable, making adjustments easier and reducing maintenance costs. Thus, on the one hand, standard components reduce production costs, and on the other hand, the housing protects the guide rails from environmental conditions, thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs.

[0011] In one embodiment of lateral cable movement, the cable passes through a screw and is securely fastened with a nut and a washer. The screw and the cable thus connected are housed within a housing, the sides of which are sealed with wide washers and placed on the screw, so that the bottom of the screw is visible below the housing, allowing for a rotary bearing at the end of the lateral rotation pivot arm, and rotation within the plane of rotation of the arm.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, the fixed connection between the cable and one end of the screw is protected by a cap, while the other end of the screw is placed inside the housing and securely fastened to both ends of the pivot arm, thus allowing rotation within the plane of the pivot arm. This design also offers the additional advantage of the screw being protected within the housing, resulting in efficient rotation, better lubrication, and protection of the joint from external conditions, thereby improving the reliability and durability of the connection.

[0013] The invention also includes two other embodiments, which, unlike the other embodiments, involve the cable being tightened by a nut and run by a screw via an additional washer. This further reduces production costs because it does not involve drilling holes for the screw. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To facilitate understanding of the present invention and how to implement it, the applicant has submitted the following figures:

[0015] Figure 1 This is an isometric view taken during system decomposition.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a front view of an arc-shaped pivot arm;

[0017] Figure 3 A bird's-eye view of the curved pivot arm;

[0018] Figure 4 This is an isometric view of the rotary guide rail, consistent with the first embodiment;

[0019] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The image shown is a front view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 for Figure 5 EE cross-sectional view;

[0021] Figure 7 This is an isometric view of the rotary guide rail, consistent with the second embodiment;

[0022] Figure 8 for Figure 2 AA cross-section diagram,

[0023] Figure 9 for Figure 3 BB cross-section diagram. Detailed Implementation

[0024] According to the present invention and Figures 1 to 9 As shown, the present invention relates to a rotating guide system for protecting orchards from weather conditions. Essentially, the system includes load-bearing supports 1, placed at the beginning and end of a row of trees, and auxiliary supports (i.e., intermediate supports 2) placed at defined intervals on designated plots. The load-bearing supports 1 and intermediate supports 2 are made of metal or plastic in various cross-sectional shapes, such as square, rectangular, or circular. A support structure 3 is placed on the supports 1 and 2, and pins 5, along with cylindrical openings in the cross-section, are pressed and welded to the top of the structure. Pivot arms 6 and 7 are placed on top and rotate around pins 5. A rotating guide rail 11 is placed at the ends of the pivot arms 6 and 7. A protective cover 10, in the form of a mesh or foil, is placed on the end pivot arms 6 and intermediate pivot arms 7. The base of the protective cover 10 is rectangular, with the longer sides resting on end cables 8 and slidably connected by plates or straps; intermediate cables 9 pass through their middle portions, parallel to them. The shorter sides of the protective cover 10 lie on the end pivot arms 6 along their entire length and are connected by plates or straps. The intermediate cable 9 passes through the cylindrical opening in the cross-section of the pin 5 on the post and is slidably connected to the protective cover 10 via a plate or strap. The end cable 8 is tightly connected to the rotary guide 11, which rotates at the ends of the pivot arms 6 and 7. The longitudinal profile of the pivot arms 6 and 7 can be a straight line, an arc, or a broken line.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the rotary guide rail 11 ( Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6The device consists of a cylindrical housing 12 with a tubular sleeve and two parallel slits 12.1 at the bottom, forming an inverted "U" shape. A screw 13 is placed in the middle of the housing 12 and extends from the top and bottom. The lower end of the screw 13 is rotatably positioned at the ends of pivot arms 6 and 7. A transverse cylindrical opening 13.1 is formed on the body of the screw 13, with the same height as the slits 12.1. A first washer 14 is placed at the bottom of the housing 12, and a washer 17 is mounted on the top side. Between them and on the screw 13, two nuts 16.1 and 16.2 are screwed on; the lower nut 16.1 has a washer 15.1, and the bottom of the upper nut 16.2 has a fan-shaped disc washer 15.2. The order of the washers 15.1 and 15.2 can also be reversed, but it is important that one of the washers is a fan-shaped disc washer, as it increases the friction between the contact surfaces. Screw 13 is secured by a blind-hole nut (i.e., self-locking nut 18), and the connection between nut 18, housing 12, and washer 17 is very secure. A second washer 19 is placed at the bottom of screw 13, i.e., on the screw head, so that the sleeve abuts against the first washer 14 via its bottom side, and the washer abuts against arms 6 and 7 via its bottom side. An axial end clearance exists downwards between the first washer 14, the second washer 19, the screw head 13, arms 6 and 7, and housing 12; a radial end clearance exists between the openings of arms 6 and 7 and screw 13, so screw 13 can rotate within the openings of arms 6 and 7, acting as their bearing and based on a loose fit in both the radial and axial directions.

[0026] The ends of pivot arms 6 and 7 include vertical openings through which screw 13 passes, allowing it to rotate in the same plane as pivot arms 6 and 7. A first washer 14 is located at the bottom of pivot arms 6 and 7, housing 12 abuts against the upper side of pivot arms 6 and 7, a second washer 19 is located at the bottom side, and screw head 13 abuts against the bottom side of pivot arms 6 and 7. End cable 8 passes through the axis of pivot arms 6 and 7 and through the cylindrical opening 13.1 on screw 13 and the slit 12.1 on housing 12, allowing end cable 8 to slide freely in slit 12.1. During installation, a secure connection is established by tightening the upper nut 16.2 and the sector disc washer 15.2, i.e., the end cable 8 is firmly secured between the sector disc washer 15.2 and the washer 15.1 mounted on the lower nut 16.1. Through this secure connection of cable 8 between washers 15.1 and 15.2, a secure connection is established between cable 8 and rotary guide 11, while rotary guide 11 rotates at the ends of pivot arms 6 and 7. During this period, screw 13 acts as an axle and rotates together with housing 12 to form a rotary joint.

[0027] In a second embodiment of the present invention, the rotary guide rail 11 ( Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 It consists of a cylindrical cap 12.a, with two parallel slits 12.a.1 formed in an inverted letter "U" shape on the bottom side of the cap 12.a. Below the cap 12.a, a sleeve 20 is placed, which is fixed and welded to the side of the pivot arms 6, 7 and cannot be removed. Through the cap 12.a and the sleeve 20, a screw 13 is placed, extending to the middle of the upper height of the cap 12.a, such that there is an axial end clearance between the screw head 13, the lower nut 16.1 and the sleeve 20, and a radial end clearance between the body of the screw 13 and the sleeve 20, i.e., a loose fit, allowing the screw 13 to rotate within the sleeve 20. Cable 8 rests against one side of screw 13 and is fixedly connected to screw 13 in the rotary guide rail via upper nut 16.2 and lower nut 16.1 attached to the screw. Upper nut 16.2 and lower nut 16.1 are coaxially connected with washer 23, thus fixing them to the upper side of cable 8. Then, they are fixedly connected to sector-shaped washer 22, with a wide washer 21 placed between lower nut 16.1 and sector-shaped washer 22. Sector-shaped washer 22 increases friction between the contact surfaces. At the end, through the connection of cable 8 and screw 13, a closed cylindrical plastic cap 12.a is pulled over, causing its internal components to fit tightly against the outer edge of wide washer 21. At the end and inside of cap 12.a, a cylinder is placed and integrated with the bottom, its internal part fitting tightly against the outer edge of upper nut 16.2. At the open end of the cap, two parallel slits 12.a.1 are formed on its cylindrical wall, through which cable 8 can pass.

[0028] In this embodiment, the sleeve 20 is welded to the sides of the pivot arms 6 and 7 and cannot be removed. The end cable 8 passes through the slit 12.a.1 on the cap 12.a and is secured by screw 13 between the sector disc washer 22 and the clamping washer 23. This is achieved by tightening the upper nut 15.2, thereby ensuring a secure connection between the cable 8 and the rotating guide 11, which rotates at the ends of the pivot arms 6 and 7. To prevent the cable 8 from slipping, it needs to be firmly tightened by the nut 16.2.

[0029] In addition to the two embodiments described above, there are two other embodiments, but they are not shown in the figures. One embodiment shows a cable connected to a screw protected by a sleeve, as in the first embodiment, where the cable does not pass through the screw but is positioned next to it; the cable is tightened not only by a nut and a sector washer but also by a clamping washer coaxially positioned with the nut, such that the sector washer is positioned between the cable and the upper nut, and the clamping washer is positioned between the upper nut and the cable, as in the second embodiment. Alternatively, as in the second embodiment, the cable is connected to a screw protected by a cap, such that the cable is tightened by a nut and a washer coaxially positioned with it, with the nut and washer in contact with the cable, as in the first embodiment.

[0030] According to the present invention, the guide rail 11 and the pivot arms 6 and 7 have very simple functions, namely, to stretch and contract the protective cover 10 (whether mesh or foil) within a system that protects the orchard from weather conditions; this is readily apparent from the preceding description and illustrations of the invention. Specifically, the pivot arms 6 and 7 push the outer ends of the cover 10 during rotation, and the ends move toward the side cables 8 with which they have a slidable connection. To stretch or contract the protective cover 10, it is sufficient to rotate only the first and last pivot arms 6 in the same row. The intermediate pivot arms 7, being fixedly connected to the cables 8, also rotate like the end pivot arms 6. Furthermore, because the rotating guide rail 11 firmly holds the side cables 8 and remains parallel to each other throughout operation, the protective cover 10 can contract evenly and appropriately without resistance or damage. The cylindrical housing 12 (i.e., the cylindrical cap 12.a) allows the cover 10 to contract and extend without obstruction. The cylindrical housing 12 prevents the cover 10 from crossing the guide rail 11 during contraction and extension, thus preventing it from affecting the function of the rotating mechanism. In addition, the cylindrical housing 12 and the cylindrical cap 12.a also protect the guide rail from external factors.

[0031] When installing a rotating guide system to protect an orchard from weather conditions, first place the load-bearing support column 1 and auxiliary support column 2, then place the support structure 3 with pivot arms 6 and 7 on top of the supports 1 and 2. A galvanized cable 8 passes through the guide rail 11 and is securely fixed to it, with the pivot arm 6 at the end in the closed position. The cable 8 passes through the cylindrical opening 13.1 on the screw 13 and is tightened between the washer 15.1 and the sector disc washer 15.2 by tightening the top nut 16.2; conversely, in the second embodiment, the cable 8 passes through the screw 13 and is tightened between the sector disc washer 22 and the clamping washer 23 by tightening the top nut 16.2. This securely connects the cable 8 to the guide rail 11.

[0032] Repeat the above steps for the middle pivot arm 7 to the end pivot arm 7 at the other end of this row, then fully tighten the cable 8 and secure it with the guide rail 11. Repeat the process for the pivot arms 6 and 7 on the other side. This method ensures that all arms are oriented in the direction determined by the cable 8.

[0033] The final step is to place the mesh or foil-like protective cover 10 onto the pivot arms 6 and 7 and the cables 8 and 9. The protective cover rests on both sides, with any excess wrapped around the utility pole and tightened. It is then secured with straps at both ends and weighted to maintain the protective cover 10 in a taut state. A sliding connection is established between the taut protective cover 10 and the cables 8 and 9 via a plastic sheet or straps, allowing the protective cover 10 to slide on the cables 8 and 9 and preventing it from wrinkling.

Claims

1. A guide rail system for protecting orchards from weather conditions, characterized in that, The system consists of a row of supports (1, 2), with one side of each support (1, 2) fixed to its bottom and the other side, i.e., the top of each support (1, 2), having a pin (5). Pivot arms (6, 7) are rotatably mounted on the pins (5), while a central cable (9) passes through the cross-sectional opening on the pin (5). The ends of the pivot arms (6, 7) are each connected to a guide rail (11) via a single end cable (8). A rectangular cover (10) is placed above the pivot arms (6, 7), with the middle part of the rectangular cover slidably connected to the central cable (9) and the long side part slidably connected to the end cables (8). The rotating guide rail (11) is composed of stud screws (13). One end of the stud screw (13) is firmly connected to the end cable (8), and the other end tightens the end cable (8) between two lower nuts (16.1) and upper nuts (16.2). The connection between one end of the screw (13) and the end cable (8) is placed in a cylindrical housing (12) or a cap (12.a). The other end of the screw (13) is rotatably connected to the end of each pivot arm (6, 7) by means of the shaped head of the screw (13), so that the rotation axis of the screw (13) is parallel to the rotation axis of the pivot arm (6, 7).

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, At one end of the stud screw (13) in the cross-sectional direction, there is an opening (13.1) through which the end cable (8) passes, and between the lower nut (16.1) and the upper nut (16.2), there are two washers on the screw (13) and the end cable is fastened between the two washers.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Between the lower nut (16.1) and the upper nut (16.2) and on the screw (13), a clamping washer (23), a sector disc washer (22) and a washer (21) are placed in sequence to secure the end cable (8) between the clamping washer (23) and the sector disc washer (22).

4. The system according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that, At the end of the screw (13), the housing (12) is placed on the same axis, and a washer (17) is placed above the housing (12). Then, a blind nut (18) is screwed on, so that the upper part of the housing (12) is closed and securely fastened to the screw (13). At the other end of the housing (12), two parallel slits (12.1) are opened, through which the end cable (8) passes. At the other end of the screw (13), a first washer (14) is placed between the pivot arm (6, 7) and the housing (12), and a second washer (19) is placed between the pivot arm (6, 7) and the head of the screw (13).

5. The system according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that, Above one end of the screw (13), a cylindrical cap (12.a) aligned with the axis is placed, such that the inside of the cap (12.a) is in close contact with the outer edge of the washer (21). At the open end of the cap (12.a), two parallel slits (12.1) are made, through which the end cable (8) passes.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that, Inside the bottom of the cap (12.a), there is a cylinder formed together with the bottom, the inner edge of which fits tightly against the outer edge of the upper nut (16.2).

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cap (12.a) is made of plastic.

8. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The other end of the screw (13) is rotatably connected to the end of the pivot arm (6, 7) through two vertical openings along the same axis at the end of the pivot arm (6, 7).

9. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The other end of the screw (13) is rotatably connected to the end of the pivot arm (6, 7) via a cylindrical sleeve (20) that is firmly connected to the end of the pivot arm (6, 7), and the screw (13) passes through the sleeve (20).

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