Roof ridge beam

Abstract

The invention relates to a ridge beam for use in the roof of a building and having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the ridge beam comprises an elongated middle section and two elongated side sections. The elongated intermediate section is provided with an opening along its length to fluidly connect the interior of the building with the exterior of the building. The elongate breathable barrier faces an upper side of the ridge beam and has two elongate sides connected to two elongate side sections.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ridge beam and screen combination for use in the roof of a building and a greenhouse comprising the ridge beam and screen combination. Background Art

[0002] US2009 / 0094910 describes a ridge beam with closable windows on both sides. At the opening of the window, an insect screen is positioned in the plane of the roof. When the window is open, the screen remains stationary. There is an opening through the insect screen for the passage of an actuator that can move the window to the open position and back to the closed position.

[0003] A problem with this known ridge beam and screen combination is that the window with the screen blocks a significant amount of sunlight that would otherwise be available to the growing plants. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a ridge beam and barrier combination which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art ridge beam and barrier combinations.

[0005] This is achieved by the lower ridge beam. A ridge beam for use in a roof of a building and having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the ridge beam comprises an elongated middle section and two elongated side sections, wherein the elongated middle section is provided with openings along its length so as to fluidly connect the interior of the building with the exterior of the building, and The elongated air permeable screen faces the upper side of the ridge beam and has two elongated side portions connected to the two elongated side portions.

[0006] The ridge beam according to the present invention blocks less sunlight because the openings and screens exist in or just above the elongated ridge beam itself, rather than as windows extending from the ridge beam in the roof plane.

[0007] In this application, reference will be made to terms such as upper, lower, above, below, horizontal and vertical. These terms are used to more clearly describe the orientation of a ridge beam, where a ridge beam is typically located in the roof of a building. These terms should not be used to limit a claim to a ridge beam in this orientation only.

[0008] The elongated breathable barrier may be connected to the two elongated side sections by securing the elongated side sections of the elongated breathable barrier in elongated slots present in the side sections.

[0009] The elongated slot may have an entrance opening to the slot that extends along the length of the slot and wherein the entrance opening faces horizontally away from the ridge, or faces more downwardly from this horizontal facing. Preferably, there is a ridge at one or both sides of the entrance opening that secures the elongated sides of the elongated breathable barrier in the elongated slot.

[0010] The elongated breathable screen may extend in any shape from a slot present in one elongated side section to a slot present in another elongated side section. Such shapes may include a corner extending parallel to the ridge beam. Preferably, the screen extends along a curve, more preferably along a section of a circle, from a slot present in one elongated side section to a slot present in another elongated side section.

[0011] Preferably, the side of the elongated breathable barrier is thicker than the rest of the barrier to obtain a thickened side. The thickened side can be fixed in the elongated slot by means of a snap connection. The thickened side can be obtained by folding the elongated side of the barrier like a hem. When a metal barrier is used, the folding itself can hold the thickened side in place so that no further connection is required as in a hem. Within the folded side there can be a string, such as a rubber string, to further thicken the side. Alternatively, the string can be attached to the side by sowing.

[0012] The air permeable barrier is preferably an insect-proof barrier. The barrier can be made of carbon fiber, glass fiber, polyester fiber and metal wire. Suitably, a metal insect-proof barrier is used. The openings in the barrier do not allow insects to pass through. The barrier suitably has a mesh / inch between 20×20 and 150×150. When the barrier is made of metal wire, the wire diameter is suitably between 0.1 mm and 1 mm. The preferred mesh is 60×60.

[0013] The preferred metal insect barrier is suitably provided with two inwardly folded sides of the barrier as thickened sides, optionally provided with strings, such as rubber strings, to further increase the thickness.

[0014] The ridge beam comprises an elongated middle section and two elongated side sections. The middle section may be a flat plate provided with openings along its length, thereby fluidly connecting the interior of the building with the exterior of the building. The side sections are preferably provided with the above-mentioned elongated slots. When the ridge beam is used as part of a greenhouse, elongated sleeves for fitting glass panels are suitably present below these slots. The middle section and the side sections are manufactured as separate components, which are connected to form the ridge beam. Preferably, the middle section and the side sections are manufactured as a single component. The middle section and the side sections may be made of fiber reinforced polymer, and preferably of carbon fiber reinforced polymer. Preferably, the separate sections or the single components are made of metal, preferably of an alloy containing aluminum. Preferably, the metal component or the single component is made by extrusion.

[0015] The opening present in the elongated middle section is preferably a closable opening. More preferably, there is an elongated valve at the upper end of the ridge beam, which is rotatable in the tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam, and wherein the valve is capable of closing the closable opening, and wherein the elongated breathable barrier extends from a slot present in one elongated side section to a slot present in another elongated side section, so as not to intrude into the tubular space. An example of such a valve is described in US2020 / 0315101. The ridge beam according to the invention is preferably used as part of a greenhouse.The invention therefore also relates to a greenhouse provided with a roof comprising rafters and one or more ridge beams according to the invention, wherein transparent panels or sheets are connected to two elongated side sections.

[0016] The greenhouse may have a roof in the shape of a plurality of parallel oriented saddle roofs, each saddle roof being provided with a ridge beam. Alternatively, the greenhouse is of tunnel type and wherein a transparent polymer sheet is connected to two elongated side sections.

[0017] In order to collect any rainwater that enters the greenhouse via the opening in the ridge beam, it is preferred that a gutter is provided below the opening in the ridge beam. The gutter may be fluidly connected to the metal rafters for draining water to the outside of the greenhouse. Such an internal gutter may also be used in embodiments that do not necessarily have a barrier according to the invention. Therefore, the invention also relates to a greenhouse with a saddle roof, the saddle roof comprising more than one ridge beam, wherein rafters extend from each ridge beam to an external gutter located at a lower position, wherein the ridge beam is provided with openings along its length so as to fluidly connect the interior of the greenhouse with the outside of the greenhouse, and wherein an internal gutter for collecting rainwater is positioned below the opening in the ridge beam, the internal gutter being fluidly connected to the hollow interior space of the metal rafters, and wherein the hollow interior space of the metal rafters is fluidly connected to the external gutter for draining rainwater to the outside of the greenhouse. The ridge beam of such a greenhouse suitably has the features of the ridge beam of the invention. Therefore, the ridge beam may comprise an elongated single metal part obtained by extrusion. The metal is an alloy containing aluminum. The opening present in the ridge beam is a suitable closable opening. Preferably, at the upper end of the ridge beam there is an elongated valve which can be rotated in the tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam and wherein the valve can close the closable opening.Preferably, more than one ridge beam is a ridge beam according to the invention.

[0018] Greenhouse can be further provided with the mechanism of sucking air from the outside of greenhouse, the air conditioning mixing zone that is suitable for mixing the air from the outside of greenhouse with the air from the greenhouse, and the ventilation duct that is connected to the air conditioning mixing zone via a plurality of fluids to distribute air from the air conditioning zone to the inside of greenhouse.As shown in for example WO2004032606, WO0076296, WO2015 / 012698 and WO2008002686, the air conditioning mixing zone is suitably provided with the mechanism that air is cooled, heated, humidified or dehumidified before air is distributed to greenhouse.Ventilation duct can be any device that can distribute air substantially evenly in greenhouse.Preferably, air is discharged from these pipes in greenhouse at a position lower than cultivation.The example of such ventilation duct is for example described in EP1464219, WO0076296, NL1038219 and US2010 / 0126062.

[0019] The invention also relates to a process for connecting an elongated breathable barrier having two elongated sides to an elongated component having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the metal component comprises two elongated side sections, each of which is provided with an elongated slot facing away from the elongated metal component by forcing each of the elongated sides of the elongated breathable barrier into one of the elongated slots by means of a first linear cam. In the method, the first linear cam guides the elongated side of the elongated breathable barrier into one of the elongated slots at a relative position of the first cam and the elongated slot. By moving the first linear cam along the elongated slot by a distance x, the elongated breathable barrier of length x is connected to one of the elongated slots. By moving the two first cams simultaneously, each of which moves along one of the elongated slots by a distance x, the elongated breathable barrier of length x is connected to two of the elongated slots.

[0020] Preferably, the thickened side is obtained by a second linear cam, wherein at one side of the cam the elongated breathable barrier is continuously fed into a cam channel. In the cam channel, when passing the second cam, a part of the side is folded inwards to obtain a folded breathable barrier with two thickened sides. With the help of the first linear cam as described above, these thickened sides of the folded breathable barrier thus obtained are continuously pushed into one of the elongated slots.

[0021] Preferably, both the first cam and the second cam are connected to a carriage which is movably supported by an elongated single metal part. In this way, the elongated single metal part acts as a monorail along which the carriage can move. Movement of the carriage thus operates the first cam and the second cam. The carriage can be moved mechanically or manually.

[0022] In case the first cam or the second cam is present, the elongated breathable barrier may be fed to the first cam or the second cam from a roll of the elongated breathable barrier.

[0023] The elongated member may be composed of separate connecting members. In the method, any length of an elongated breathable barrier can be connected to one or more elongated members. In some applications, the total length of the elongated member or connecting member may be up to 400 m, sometimes even longer. When it is necessary to connect long lengths of barriers, it may be necessary to connect smaller lengths of barriers by the method of the present invention. The elongated component may be a fiber reinforced polymer, such as glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforced polymer. Preferably, the component is a metal component, and more preferably an alloy containing aluminum. The metal component is preferably obtained by extrusion. The component may be a single component comprising separately manufactured components connected to one elongated component. The elongated component preferably comprises an elongated middle section and two elongated side sections of a ridge beam according to the invention. Preferably, the elongated breathable barrier is as described above. The invention also relates to a carriage as described above. Such a carriage is adapted to be movably connected to an elongated single metal part and has a driving direction, the carriage comprising: a first linear cam adapted to force a thickened side of the barrier into an elongated slot of the elongated metal component and to force an opposite thickened side of the barrier into another elongated slot of the elongated metal component when the carriage is moved in a drive direction along the elongated single metal component, and A second linear cam comprising an inlet opening for the elongated barrier, a cam channel and an outlet opening for the breathable barrier, the cam channel having a design of folding both sides of the elongated barrier inwardly to obtain a barrier with two thickened sides when the carriage is moved in the driving direction along the elongated single metal part, the breathable barrier having two thickened sides facing the first cam. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention will be described by the following non-limiting Figure 1 Wait for explanation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of a section of a partial upper end of a saddle roof (1) of a greenhouse provided with a ridge beam (2) according to the invention is shown. Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 Axial side view of the section shown, with the rafters (22) not shown for clarity. The ridge beam (2) has an elongated middle section (3) and two elongated side sections (4, 5). The middle section (3) is provided with one or more openings (20) along its length. Below the openings (20), internal drainage gutters (13) are positioned to collect rainwater that may enter the greenhouse via the openings (20). The elongated metal insect screen (8) faces the upper side of the ridge beam (2) and has two elongated side parts (9, 10). The side part (9) is connected to the elongated side section (4) in the elongated slot (11), and the side part (10) is connected to the elongated side section (5) in the elongated slot (12). As shown in the figure, the metal insect screen extends along the curved surface from the slot (11) in the elongated side section (4) to the slot (12) in the elongated side section (5). The elongated middle section is provided with openings (20) along its length, thereby fluidly connecting the interior (6) of the greenhouse building with the exterior (7) of the greenhouse. There is such as from WO19125169 Figure 7 a to Figure 7c, which can be rotated in the tubular space 18 along an axis parallel to the ridge beam 2. The barrier (8) does not intrude into the tubular space (18). In this figure, the valve (17) with the shape of a cylindrical axial section is in its closed position, thereby closing the opening (20) and thus fluidly disconnecting the interior (6) and the exterior (7) of the greenhouse. The elongated valve (17) is supported by a bearing box (21). The bearing box (21) can be present at the connection point of the rafter (22) and the ridge beam (2), such as Figure 1 The rafter (22) is provided with a glass strip (23) and a narrow slot (24) for Figure 1 Not shown but in Figure 2 The glass plate (25) is shown in FIG. Figure 3 Shown in more detail Figure 1 and Figure 2 The side (10) of the elongated metal insect screen (8) is an inwardly folded side of the screen, resulting in the side being thickened. The elongated slot (12) has an entrance opening (14) extending along the length of the slot (12), which faces further downward and is parallel to the glass strip (15). At the upper end of the entrance opening (14) there is a ridge (16) which secures the thickened elongated side (10) of the screen (8) in the elongated slot (12) by means of a snap connection. The connection of the opposite side (9) of the elongated metal insect screen (8) to the Figure 3 Same as shown. Figure 4 It shows more clearly Figure 1 The ridge beam (2) is not shown to clarify how the gutter (13) is located and functions. The gutter (13) is provided with openings (26) through which the collected rainwater can enter the hollow interior space (27) of the rafter (22). Via the hollow rafter (22), the water will flow downward to drain into the gutter present at the lower end of the saddle roof of the greenhouse. Figure 5 A carriage (30) is shown which is adapted to be movably connected to Figure 1 The purpose is to add the barrier (8) to the ridge beam (2). Figure 6A carriage (30) connected to a ridge beam (2) in a method for connecting a barrier (8) to a ridge beam (2) is shown. A first linear cam (31) adapted to force a thickened side portion (9) of the barrier (8) into an elongated slot (11) of the elongated metal part and to force an oppositely thickened side portion (10) of the barrier (8) into the elongated slot (12) when the carriage is moved in a drive direction (32) along the ridge beam (2). A second linear cam (33) having an inlet opening (34) for the elongated barrier (8a) and a cam channel (35) having a design for folding inwardly the two side portions (9, 10) of the elongated barrier (8) to obtain a barrier having a plurality of side portions (9, 10) of the elongated barrier (8) when the carriage is moved in a drive direction (32) along the elongated ridge beam (2). Figures 1 to 3 The barrier (8b) has two thickened sides. The outlet opening (36) of the barrier (8b) has two thickened sides facing the first linear cam (31). At the first linear cam (31), two guide wheels (37) are shown, which, when in use, are pressed towards the ridge beam (2) by springs (38). The second linear cam (33) is provided with two slides (39) resting on the adjacent glass plates (25). Such support is possible because no barrier is attached in this position when the barrier is connected. The first linear cam (31) and the second linear cam (33) are spaced apart by means of two beams (40), the length of which is adjustable, thereby optimizing an easy connection method. The first linear cam (31) is also provided with a tubular section part (41), which forces the barrier (8b) to reach the desired curved surface.

[0026] exist Figure 6 In the method for connecting a barrier (8) to a ridge beam (2), a carriage (30) connected to a ridge beam (2) is shown. A substantially flat barrier (8a) is fed to an inlet opening (34) of a second cam (33), which substantially flat barrier (8a) can be fed from a roll (41) of barrier (8a) having two elongated side portions (9, 10). In the second linear cam (33), when passing the second cam by movement of the carriage (30) in direction (32), a portion of the side portions (9, 10) is folded inwards to obtain a folded breathable barrier (8b) having two thickened side portions (9, 10). When the barrier (8b) passes the first cam (31) by movement of the carriage (30) in direction (32), the thickened side portions (9, 10) are continuously pushed into one of the elongated slots (11, 12) by means of the first linear cam (31). In the method, the barrier and the ridge beam do not move in the longitudinal direction relative to each other. The connection is achieved by longitudinal movement of the carriage (30) in the direction (32).

[0027] Figure 7 yes Figure 6AA' section view of the roof. No barrier is installed on the ridge beam (2). A substantially flat barrier (8a) is fed from a roll (41) and is present at a distance above the ridge beam (2). Figure 8 yes Figure 6 BB' section view. The carriage (30) is not shown. It is shown that the side parts (9, 10) are folded due to the passage of the second linear cam 33.

[0028] Fig. 9 yes Figure 6 Section CC' of FIG. The barrier (8) is connected to the ridge beam (2) with the thickened side portions (9, 10) positioned in the elongated slots (11, 12).

Claims

1. A ridge beam for use in a roof of a building and having an upper side and a lower side, wherein: The ridge beam comprises an elongated middle section and two elongated side sections, wherein the elongated intermediate section is provided with openings along its length so as to fluidly connect the interior of the building with the exterior of the building, and The elongated air-permeable barrier faces the upper side of the ridge beam and has two elongated side portions connected to the two elongated side portions.

2. The ridge beam according to claim 1, wherein: The elongated breathable barrier is connected to the two elongated side sections by securing the elongated side sections of the elongated breathable barrier in elongated slots present in the side sections.

3. The ridge beam according to claim 2, wherein: The side portions of the elongated breathable barrier are thicker than the rest of the barrier to obtain thickened side portions, and wherein the thickened side portions are fixed in the elongated slot by a snap connection.

4. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The air permeable barrier is a metal insect-proof barrier.

5. The ridge beam according to claim 4, wherein: The metal insect barrier has a mesh / inch between 20×20 and 150×150, with a wire diameter between 0.1 mm and 1 mm.

6. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: The air-permeable barrier is a metal insect-proof barrier provided with two inwardly folded side portions of the barrier as the thickened side portions.

7. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein: The elongated slot has an entrance opening to the slot, the entrance opening extending along the length of the slot, and wherein the entrance opening faces horizontally away from the ridge beam, or faces downwardly therefrom.

8. The ridge beam according to claim 7, wherein: There is a ridge at one or both sides of the inlet opening, the ridge securing the elongated side portions of the elongated breathable barrier in the elongated slot.

9. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein: The elongated breathable barrier extends along a curved surface from the slot present in one elongated side section to the slot present in the other elongated side section.

10. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The ridge beam comprises an elongated single metal part obtained by extrusion.

11. The ridge beam according to claim 10, wherein: The metal is an alloy containing aluminum.

12. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein The opening present in the elongated intermediate section is a closable opening.

13. The ridge beam according to claim 12, wherein: There is an elongated valve at the upper end of the ridge beam, the elongated valve being rotatable in the tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam, and wherein the valve is capable of closing the closable opening, and wherein the elongated breathable barrier extends from the narrow slot present in one elongated side section to the narrow slot present in the other elongated side section so as not to intrude into the tubular space.

14. A greenhouse provided with a roof comprising rafters and one or more ridge beams according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein transparent panels or sheets are connected to the two elongate side sections.

15. The greenhouse according to claim 14, wherein: Gutters are positioned beneath the ridge beam for collecting rainwater, and wherein the gutters are fluidly connected to metal rafters for draining water to the exterior of the greenhouse.

16. A greenhouse according to any one of claims 14 to 15, wherein: The roof has the shape of a plurality of parallel oriented saddle roofs, each saddle roof being provided with the ridge beam.

17. The greenhouse of claim 14, wherein: The greenhouse is of tunnel type and wherein transparent polymer sheets are connected to the two elongated side sections.

18. A greenhouse according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein The greenhouse is also provided with a mechanism for drawing in air from the outside of the greenhouse, an air conditioning mixing zone adapted to mix air from the outside of the greenhouse with air from inside the greenhouse, and a mechanism for distributing air from the air conditioning zone to the interior of the greenhouse via a plurality of ventilation ducts fluidly connected to the air conditioning mixing zone.

19. A method of connecting an elongated breathable barrier having two elongated side portions to an elongated single metal component having an upper side and a lower side, wherein: The metal component comprises an elongated middle section and two elongated side sections, each side section being provided with an elongated slot facing away from the elongated single metal component by forcing each of the elongated sides of the elongated breathable barrier into one of the elongated slots by means of a first linear cam.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The sides of the two elongated side portions of the elongated breathable barrier are thicker than the remaining barrier to obtain thickened sides, and wherein the thickened sides are fixed in the elongated slot by snap connections.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein: The air permeable barrier is a metal insect barrier having a mesh / inch between 20×20 and 150×150 and a wire diameter between 0.1 mm and 1 mm.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein: The elongated slot has an entrance opening to the slot, the entrance opening extending along the length of the slot, and wherein the entrance opening faces horizontally away from the elongated single metal component, or faces downwardly therefrom.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein: There is a ridge at one or both sides of the inlet opening, which secures the elongated side portions of the elongated breathable barrier in the elongated slot.

24. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein: The elongated breathable barrier extends along a curved surface from the slot present in one elongated side section to the slot present in the other elongated side section.

25. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein: The thickened side is obtained by a second linear cam, wherein at one side of the cam, an elongated breathable barrier is continuously fed into a cam channel, wherein when passing through the second cam, the cam channel folds a part of the side inwardly to obtain a folded breathable barrier with two thickened sides, and wherein the thickened side of the folded breathable barrier thus obtained is continuously pushed into one of the elongated narrow slots with the aid of the first linear cam.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein: Both the first cam and the second cam are connected to a carriage which is movably supported by the elongated single metal member, wherein the elongated single metal member acts as a monorail.

27. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 26, wherein: The elongated breathable barrier is fed from a roll of the elongated breathable barrier to the first cam or the second cam in case the first cam or the second cam is present.

28. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 27, wherein: The elongated single metal part is obtained by extrusion.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein: The elongate single metal component is a ridge beam and wherein the elongate intermediate section is provided with openings along its length.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein: The opening present in the elongated intermediate section is a closable opening.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein: There is an elongated valve at the upper end of the ridge beam, the elongated valve being rotatable in the tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam, and wherein the valve is capable of closing the closable opening, and wherein the elongated breathable barrier extends from the narrow slot present in one elongated side section to the narrow slot present in the other elongated side section so as not to intrude into the tubular space.

32. A carriage adapted to be movably connected to an elongated single metal member and having a drive direction, the carriage comprising: a first linear cam adapted to force a thickened side of the barrier into an elongated slot of the elongated single metal component and to force an opposite thickened side of the barrier into another elongated slot of the elongated single metal component when the carriage is moved along the elongated single metal component in the drive direction, and a second linear cam comprising an inlet opening for the elongated barrier, a cam channel and an outlet opening for the breathable barrier, the cam channel having a design of folding both sides of the elongated barrier inwardly so as to obtain the barrier with two thickened sides when the carriage is moved in the driving direction along the elongated single metal part, the breathable barrier having two thickened sides facing the first cam.

33. A greenhouse having a saddle roof, the saddle roof comprising more than one ridge beam, wherein: Rafters extend from each ridge beam to the lower exterior gutters. wherein the ridge beam is provided with openings along its length so as to fluidly connect the interior of the greenhouse with the exterior of the greenhouse, and wherein an interior gutter for collecting rainwater is positioned below the opening in the ridge beam, the interior gutter being fluidly connected to the hollow interior space of the metal rafters, and wherein the hollow interior space of the metal rafters is fluidly connected to the exterior gutter for draining the rainwater to the exterior of the greenhouse.

34. The greenhouse of claim 33, wherein: The ridge beam comprises an elongated single metal part obtained by extrusion.

35. The greenhouse of claim 34, wherein: The metal is an alloy containing aluminum.

36. A greenhouse according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein: The opening present in the ridge beam is a closable opening.

37. The greenhouse of claim 36, wherein: At the upper end of the ridge beam there is an elongated valve which is rotatable in the tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam and wherein the valve is capable of closing the closable opening.

38. A greenhouse according to any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein: The more than one ridge beams are ridge beams according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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