Ridge pole

Abstract

The present invention relates to a purlin having an upper side and a lower side for use on the roof of a building, the purlin being composed of an elongated central section and two elongated side sections, the elongated central section being provided with openings along its length to fluidly connect the interior of the building with the exterior of the building, facing the upper side of the purlin is an elongated breathable screen having two elongated sides connected to the two elongated side sections.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a purlin and screen combination for use on the roof of a building, and to a greenhouse comprising a purlin and screen combination. [Background technology]

[0002] US 2009 / 0094910 describes a purlin in which there is a closable window on either side of the purlin. An insect screen is positioned in the plane of the roof in the window opening. When the window is open, the screen remains in place. An opening exists through the insect screen for the passage of an actuator that can move the window to an open position and back to a closed position.

[0003] A problem with this known purlin and screen combination is that the window with the screen blocks a significant amount of sunlight that could otherwise be used for the growing plants. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0094910 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a purlin and screen combination which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art purlin and screen combinations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This is accomplished by a purlin for use on the roof of a building, the purlin having an upper side and a lower side, the purlin consisting of an elongated central section and two elongated side sections; the elongated central section having openings along its length for fluidly connecting the interior of the building with the exterior of the building; There is an elongated breathable screen having two elongated sides facing the upper side of the purlin and connected to the two elongated side sections. Ridgepole.

[0007] The purlin of the present invention blocks less sunlight because the openings and screens are in or directly above the elongated purlin itself, rather than as windows extending from the purlin in the plane of the roof.

[0008] In this application, reference is made to terms such as upper, lower, upward, downward, horizontal, and vertical. These terms are used to more clearly describe the orientation of purlins that are typically located on the roof of a building. These terms should not be used to limit the claims to purlins in only this orientation.

[0009] The elongated breathable screen may be connected to two elongated side sections by fastening the elongated sides of the elongated breathable screen into elongated slots present in the side sections.

[0010] The elongated slot may have an entrance opening to the slot extending along the length of the slot, the entrance opening facing horizontally away from the purlin or facing downwardly from this horizontal orientation. Preferably there is a ridge on one or both sides of the entrance opening to secure the elongated side of the elongated breathable screen within the elongated slot.

[0011] The elongated breathable screen may extend in any shape from the slots in one elongated side section to the slots in the other elongated side section, including corners that run parallel to the purlins. Preferably, the screen extends from the slots in one elongated side section to the slots in the other elongated side section along a curved surface, more preferably along a portion of a circle.

[0012] Preferably, the side of the elongated breathable screen is thicker than the remaining screen to obtain a thicker side. This thicker side may be fixed in the elongated slot by a snap-fit ​​connection. The thicker side may be obtained by folding the elongated side of the screen like an edge. If a metal screen is used, the fold itself may hold the thicker side in place so that, unlike an edge, no further connection is needed. Within the folded side, there may be a string, for example an elastic string, to make the side even thicker. Alternatively, the string may be attached to the side by seeding.

[0013] The breathable screen is preferably an insect screen. The screen may be made of carbon fibre, glass fibre, polyester fibre and metal wire. Suitably a metal insect screen is used. The openings in the screen do not allow insects to pass through. The screen suitably has a mesh / inch between 20x20 and 150x150. If the screen is made of metal wire, the wire diameter is suitably between 0.1 and 1 mm. A preferred mesh is 60x60.

[0014] A preferred metal insect screen is suitably provided with two sides that are folded inwardly into the screen as thickened sides, and optionally provided with straps, such as elastic straps, to further increase thickness.

[0015] The purlin comprises an elongated central section and two elongated side sections. The elongated central section may be a flat plate with openings along its length to fluidly connect the interior of the building with the exterior of the building. The side sections are preferably provided with the aforementioned elongated slots. Under these slots there are suitably elongated sleeves for mounting glass panels when the purlin is used as part of a greenhouse. The central section and the side sections may be manufactured as separate pieces that are connected to form the purlin. Preferably, the central section and the side sections are manufactured as a single piece. The central section and the side sections may be made from a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a carbon fibre reinforced polymer. Preferably, the separate sections or the single piece are made of metal, preferably an aluminium containing alloy. Preferably, the metal piece or the single piece is formed by extrusion.

[0016] The opening in the elongated central section is preferably a closable opening. More preferably, at the top end of the purlin, there is an elongated valve that can rotate in the tubular space along an axis parallel to the purlin, the valve being capable of closing the closable opening, and the elongated breathable screen extends from the slot in one elongated side section to the slot in the other elongated side section so as not to penetrate into the tubular space. Examples of such valves are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0315101.

[0017] The purlin according to the invention is preferably used as part of a greenhouse, therefore the invention also relates to a greenhouse provided with a roof comprising one or more purlins and rafters according to the invention, the two elongated side sections being connected to transparent panels or sheets.

[0018] The greenhouse may have a roof with several parallel oriented gables, each with a ridgepole, or the greenhouse is tunnel-shaped with a transparent polymer sheet connected to two long side sections.

[0019] It is preferred to have a gutter located below the opening in the purlin to capture rainwater entering the greenhouse through the opening in the purlin. The gutter may be fluidly connected to the metal rafters to drain the water to the outside of the greenhouse. Such an internal gutter may also find use in embodiments that do not necessarily have a screen according to the invention. The invention therefore also relates to a greenhouse having a gable roof with a plurality of purlins, the rafters extending from each purlin to an external gutter located below, the purlins being provided with openings along their length to fluidly connect the interior of the greenhouse to the exterior of the greenhouse, and an internal gutter for collecting rainwater is located below the opening in the purlin, the internal gutter being fluidly connected to the hollow interior space of the metal rafter, which is fluidly connected to the external gutter to drain the rainwater to the outside of the greenhouse. The purlin of such a greenhouse suitably has the characteristics of the purlin of the invention. The purlin may therefore consist of a single elongated metal piece obtained by extrusion. The metal is an aluminium-containing alloy. The opening present in the purlin is suitably a closable opening. Preferably, at the upper end of the purlin, there is an elongated valve which can rotate in the tubular space along an axis parallel to the purlin, the valve being capable of closing the closable opening. Preferably, the purlins are purlins according to the invention.

[0020] The greenhouse may further be provided with means for taking in air from outside the greenhouse, an air conditioning mixing zone suitable for mixing the air from outside the greenhouse with the air from inside the greenhouse, and means for distributing the air from the air conditioning zone to the interior of the greenhouse via a number of ventilation ducts fluidly connected to the air conditioning mixing zone. The air conditioning mixing zone is suitably provided with means for cooling, heating, humidifying or dehumidifying the air before it is distributed into the greenhouse, as shown for example in WO2004032606, WO0076296, WO2015 / 012698 and WO2008002686. The ventilation ducts may be any device that provides a substantially uniform distribution of air into the greenhouse. Preferably, the air is exhausted from these ducts in the greenhouse at a position below the cultivation. Examples of such ventilation conduits are described, for example, in EP 1464219, WO 0076296, Dutch Patent No. 1038219, and US 2010 / 0126062.

[0021] The invention also relates to a process for connecting an elongated breathable screen having two elongated sides to an elongated part having an upper side and a lower side, the metal part having two elongated side sections, each side section being provided with an elongated slot, the elongated slots facing away from the elongated metal part by forcing each of the elongated sides of the elongated breathable screen into one of the elongated slots by a first linear cam, in which the first linear cam guides the elongated side of the elongated breathable screen into one of the elongated slots at a relative position of the first cam with respect to the elongated slot, by moving the first linear cam a distance x along the elongated slot, the length x of the elongated breathable screen is connected to one of the elongated slots, by moving each of the two first cams simultaneously a distance x along one of the elongated slots, the length x of the elongated breathable screen is connected to both elongated slots.

[0022] Preferably, the thickened sides are obtained by a second linear cam, on one side of which the elongated breathable screen is continuously fed into the cam passage, where parts of the sides are folded inwards when passing the second cam, in order to obtain a folded breathable screen having two thickened sides, which are then continuously pushed into one of the elongated slots by the first linear cam as described above.

[0023] Preferably, both the first cam and the second cam are connected to a carriage, and the carriage is movably supported by a single long metal part. In this way, the single long metal part functions as a monorail along which the carriage can move. Thus, the movement of the carriage operates the first cam and the second cam. The carriage may be moved mechanically or manually.

[0024] The elongated breathable screen may be fed to the first cam or, if present, the second cam from a roll of elongated breathable screen.

[0025] The elongated pieces may consist of separate connected pieces. Any length of breathable screen may be connected to one or more elongated pieces in this process. In some applications, the total length of elongated pieces or connected pieces may range up to 400m, sometimes even more. When large lengths need to be connected to the screen, it may be necessary to connect shorter lengths of screen by the process of this invention.

[0026] The elongated part may be a fibre reinforced polymer, such as a fibreglass or carbon fibre reinforced polymer. Preferably, the part is a metal part, more preferably an aluminium containing alloy. The metal part is preferably obtained by extrusion. The part may be a single part, consisting of separately manufactured parts connected to one elongated part. The elongated part preferably comprises an elongated central section and two elongated side sections of the purlin according to the invention. Preferably, the elongated breathable screen is as described above.

[0027] The invention also relates to a carriage as described above, said carriage being suitable for being movably connected to a single elongated metal part and having a drive direction, a first linear cam adapted to urge a thick side of the screen into an elongated slot in the single elongated metal part and an opposite thick side of the screen into another elongated slot in the single elongated metal part when the first linear cam moves the carriage in a drive direction along the single elongated metal part; A second linear cam has an inlet opening for the elongated screen, a cam passage configured to fold two sides of the elongated screen inwardly to obtain a screen with two thickened sides when the carriage is moved in a drive direction along the elongated single metal piece, and an outlet opening for the breathable screen having two thickened sides facing the first cam. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a section of the top end of a gable roof of a greenhouse provided with a purlin according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows an axial side view of the section shown in FIG. 1, with the rafters not shown for improved clarity. [Diagram 3] 1 and 2 in greater detail. [Figure 4] The internal gutter of FIG. 1 is shown more clearly. [Diagram 5] 2 shows a carriage suitable for movably connecting to the purlin of FIG. 1 for the purpose of adding a screen to the purlin; [Figure 6] 1 shows the carriage connected to the purlin in the process of connecting the screen to the purlin. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view AA' of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view BB' of FIG. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view CC' of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting Figures 1-....

[0030] Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a section of the upper end of a gable roof (1) of a greenhouse provided with a purlin (2) according to the invention. Figure 2 shows an axial side view of the section shown in Figure 1, without the rafters (22) shown for improved clarity. The purlin (2) has an elongated central section (3) and two elongated side sections (4, 5). The central section (3) is provided with one or more openings (20) along its length. Below the openings (20) are located internal guttering (13) for collecting rainwater that may enter the greenhouse through the openings (20).

[0031] An elongated metal insect screen (8) faces the upper side of the purlin (2) and has two elongated sides (9, 10). Side (9) is connected to elongated side section (4) in an elongated slot (11), and side (10) is connected to elongated side section (5) in an elongated slot (12). The metal insect screen runs along a curved surface from the slot (11) in elongated side section (4) to the slot (12) in elongated side section (5) as shown.

[0032] The elongated central section is provided with openings (20) along its length to fluidly connect the interior (6) of the greenhouse building with the exterior (7) of the greenhouse.

[0033] There is an elongated valve (17) as known from figures 7a to 7c of WO19125169, which can rotate in the tubular space (18) along an axis parallel to the purlin (2). The screen (8) does not penetrate into the tubular space (18). In the figure, the valve (17), which has the shape of a cylindrical axial cross section, is in its closed position, thereby closing the opening (20) and thus fluidically disconnecting the interior (6) and the exterior (7) of the greenhouse. The elongated valve (17) is supported by a bearing housing (21). The bearing housing (21) may be present at the point where the rafter (22) and the purlin (2) are connected, as shown in figure 1. The rafter (22) is provided with a glazing bar (23) and a slot (24) for a glass panel (25), which is not shown in figure 1 but is shown in figure 2.

[0034] Figure 3 shows the elongated slot (12) of Figures 1 and 2 in more detail. The side (10) of the elongated metal insect screen (8) is the inwardly folded side of the screen in that the side is thickened. The elongated slot (12) has an inlet opening (14) that faces downwards and runs along the length of the slot (12) parallel to the glazing bar (15). At the upper end of the inlet opening (14) is a ridge (16) that secures the thickened elongated side (10) of the screen (8) in the elongated slot (12) by a snap-fit ​​connection. The opposite side (9) of the elongated metal insect screen (8) is connected identically as shown in Figure 3.

[0035] Figure 4 shows more clearly the internal gutter (13) of Figure 1. The purlin (2) is not shown to clarify how the gutter (13) is located and functions. The gutter (13) is provided with openings (26) through which collected rainwater can enter the hollow interior space (27) of the rafters (22). Through the hollow rafters (22) the water flows downwards and is discharged into the gutter at the bottom end of the gable roof of the greenhouse.

[0036] Figure 5 shows a carriage (30) suitable for movably connecting to the purlin (2) of Figure 1 for the purpose of adding a screen (8) to the purlin (2). Figure 6 shows a carriage (30) connected to the purlin (2) in the process of connecting the screen (8) to the purlin (2). A first linear cam (31) suitable for forcing the thickened side (9) of the screen (8) into the elongated slot (11) of the elongated metal part and forcing the opposite thickened side (10) of the screen (8) into the elongated slot (12) as the carriage is moved in a drive direction (32) along the purlin (2). A second linear cam (33) with an inlet opening (34) for the elongated screen (8a) and a cam passage (35) with a configuration for folding inward the two sides (9, 10) of the elongated screen (8) when moving the carriage (30) in the drive direction (32) along the elongated purlin (2) to obtain the screen (8b) with two thick sides of Figs. 1 to 3. An outlet opening (36) for the screen (8b) with two thick sides facing the first linear cam (31). The first linear cam (31) shows two guide wheels (37) which are urged by springs (38) towards the purlin (2) in use. The second linear cam (33) is provided with two sledges (39) which rest on the adjacent glass panels (25). Such support is possible because the screens are not attached in their position when they are connected. The first linear cam (31) and the second linear cam (33) are spaced apart by two beams (40) whose length may be adjustable to optimize the easy connection process. The first linear cam (31) is further provided with a tubular section portion (41) that urges the screen (8b) into the desired curved surface.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a carriage (30) connected to a purlin (2) in the process of connecting a screen (8) to the purlin (2). A substantially flat screen (8a), which may be supplied from a roll (41) of screen (8a) having two elongated sides (9, 10), is supplied to an inlet opening (34) of a second cam (33). In the second linear cam (33), a part of the side (9, 10) is folded inwardly as the carriage (30) passes the second cam by moving in a direction (32) to obtain a folded breathable screen (8b) having two thick sides (9, 10). The thick sides (9, 10) are continuously pushed into one of the elongated slots (11, 12) by the first linear cam (31) as the screen (8b) passes the first cam (31) by moving in a direction (32). In this process, the screen and the purlin do not move longitudinally relative to each other. The connection is achieved by the carriage (30) moving longitudinally in the direction (32).

[0038] Figure 7 is a cross-section AA' of Figure 6. No screen is attached to the purlin (2). A substantially flat screen (8a) is provided from a roll (41) and lies at a distance above the purlin (2).

[0039] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view BB' of Figure 6. The carriage (30) is not shown. The sides (9, 10) are shown folded as a result of passing the second linear cam (33).

[0040] Figure 9 is a cross section CC' of figure 6. The screen (8) is connected to the purlin (2) where the thickened sides (9, 10) are located in the elongated slots (11, 12).

Claims

1. A ridge beam for use on the roof of a building, having an upper and lower section, the ridge beam is composed of a long central section and two long side sections, The long central section has openings along its length to fluidly connect the interior of the building to the exterior. There is a long, breathable screen facing the upper side of the ridge beam, with two long side sections connected to two long side sections. Ridge beam.

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

3. The ridge beam according to claim 2, wherein the sides of the elongated breathable screen are thicker than the rest of the screen to obtain thickened sides, and the thickened sides are fixed in the elongated slot by snap-fit ​​connections.

4. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the breathable screen is a metal insect screen.

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

6. The ridge beam according to claim 3, wherein the breathable screen is a metal insect screen having two inwardly folded sides of the screen as thickened sides.

7. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the elongated slot has an entrance opening to the slot that extends along the length of the slot, and the entrance opening faces away from the ridge beam horizontally, or faces downward from this horizontal orientation.

8. The ridge beam according to claim 7, wherein a raised portion is present on one or both sides of the entrance opening for fixing the long side portion of a long breathable screen into a long slot.

9. The ridge beam according to claim 7, wherein the elongated breathable screen extends along a curved surface from a slot in one elongated side section to a slot in the other elongated side section.

10. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ridge beam is composed of a single, elongated metal part obtained by extrusion molding.

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

12. The ridge beam according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening in the long central section is a closable opening.

13. The ridge beam according to claim 12, wherein a long valve is provided at the upper end of the ridge beam, which can rotate within a tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam, the valve can close a closable opening, and a long breathable screen extends from a slot in one long side section to a slot in the other long side section so as not to enter the tubular space.

14. A greenhouse having a roof comprising one or more ridge beams and rafters as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein transparent panels or sheets are connected to two elongated side sections.

15. A greenhouse according to claim 14, wherein a gutter is located below the ridge beam to collect rainwater, and the gutter is fluidly connected to a metal rafter to drain the water to the outside of the greenhouse.

16. The greenhouse according to claim 14, wherein the roof has the shape of multiple parallel gable roofs, each having a ridge beam.

17. The greenhouse according to claim 14, wherein the greenhouse is tunnel-shaped and transparent polymer sheets are connected to two elongated side sections.

18. The greenhouse according to claim 14, further comprising: means for taking in air from outside the greenhouse; an air conditioning mixing zone suitable for mixing air from outside the greenhouse with air from inside the greenhouse; and means for distributing air from the air conditioning zone into the interior of the greenhouse via a plurality of ventilation ducts fluidly connected to the air conditioning mixing zone.

19. A process for connecting a long, breathable screen having two long sides to a long, single metal component having an upper and a lower side, wherein the metal component comprises a long central section and two long side sections, each side section having a long slot, the long slots facing away from the long, single metal component by a first linear cam pushing each of the long sides of the long, breathable screen into one of the long slots.

20. The process according to claim 16, wherein the sides of two elongated sides of an elongated breathable screen are thicker than the rest of the screen to obtain thickened sides, and the thickened sides are secured in an elongated slot by snap-fit ​​connections.

21. The process according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein the breathable screen is a metal insect screen having a mesh / inch between 20 x 20 and 150 x 150 and a wire diameter between 0.1 and 1 mm.

22. The process according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein the elongated slot has an inlet opening to the slot that extends along the length of the slot, and the inlet opening is oriented horizontally away from the elongated single metal part, or more downward from this horizontal orientation.

23. The process according to claim 22, wherein there are raised portions on one or both sides of the entrance opening for fixing the elongated side portions of the elongated breathable screen into the elongated slot.

24. The process according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein the elongated breathable screen extends along a curved surface from a slot in one elongated side section to a slot in the other elongated side section.

25. The process according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein a thickened side is obtained by a second linear cam, and on one side of the cam, a long permeable screen is continuously supplied to a cam passage, the cam passage bending a portion of the side inward as it passes through the second cam to obtain a folded permeable screen having two thickened sides, and the thickened side of the folded permeable screen thus obtained is continuously pushed by the first linear cam into one of the long slots.

26. The process according to claim 25, wherein both the first cam and the second cam are connected to a single carriage, which is movably supported by a single elongated metal component, and the single elongated metal component functions as a monorail.

27. The process according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein a long, breathable screen is supplied from a roll of long, breathable screens to a first cam or, if present, to a second cam.

28. The process according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein a long, single metal part is obtained by extrusion molding.

29. The process according to claim 28, wherein a long, single metal component is the ridge beam, and an opening is provided along the length of the long central section.

30. The process according to claim 29, wherein the opening in the elongated central section is a closable opening.

31. The process according to claim 30, wherein a long valve is provided at the upper end of the ridge beam, which can rotate within a tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam, the valve can close a closable opening, and a long breathable screen extends from a slot in one long side section to a slot in the other long side section so as not to enter the tubular space.

32. A carriage having a drive direction and suitable for movably connecting to a long, single metal part, comprising a first linear cam, the first linear cam being suitable for pressing the thick side of a screen into a long slot of the long metal part and the opposite thick side of the screen into another long slot of the long metal part when the carriage is moved in the drive direction along the long, single metal part, A second linear cam is provided, the second linear cam having an inlet opening for a long screen, a cam passage having a configuration that bends two sides of the long screen inward to obtain a screen with two thick sides when the carriage is moved in the driving direction along a long single metal part, and an outlet opening for a breathable screen having two thick sides facing the first cam. carriage.

33. A greenhouse having a gable roof with multiple ridge beams, where rafters extend from each ridge beam to an external gutter located below it. The ridge beam has openings along its length to fluidly connect the inside and outside of the greenhouse. An internal gutter for collecting rainwater is located below the opening in the ridge beam, and the internal gutter is fluidly connected to the hollow internal space of the metal rafter, which is fluidly connected to an external gutter to discharge the rainwater to the outside of the greenhouse. greenhouse.

34. The greenhouse according to claim 33, wherein the ridge beam is composed of a single, elongated metal part obtained by extrusion molding.

35. The greenhouse according to claim 34, wherein the metal is an aluminum-containing alloy.

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

37. The greenhouse according to claim 36, wherein a long valve is provided at the upper end of the ridge beam, which can rotate within a tubular space along an axis parallel to the ridge beam, and the valve can close a closable opening.

38. A greenhouse according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein multiple ridge beams are ridge beams according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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