NL2015156B1

NL2015156B1 - Greenhouse with netting system.

Info

Publication number: NL2015156B1
Application number: NL2015156A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Johannes Gerardus Schulte Marcel
Original assignee: Holland Gaas B V
Priority date: 2015-07-10
Filing date: 2015-07-10
Publication date: 2017-02-01
Also published as: NL2015156B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a greenhouse with a netting system to prevent passage of insects, wherein the netting system comprises a netting having a front panel merging into two side panels, wherein the netting is pleated in a bellow configuration to collapse in a stacked manner, wherein the side panels comprise an outermost bellow section and multiple intermediate bellow sections that are connected to each other along longitudinal inner edges of their gauze webs, wherein the bellow sections all have their front side merging into the front panel, wherein of each intermediate bellow section the gauze webs are connected to each other at the opposite back end, wherein the opposite back end of the outermost bellow section is located at or close to the hinging axis, and wherein the back ends of the consecutive intermediate bellow sections are adjacent to and spread along the outermost bellow section.

Description

NLP197554

Greenhouse with netting system BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a greenhouse with hingeably connected glass panels in the roof construction. In the open position the glass panels leave a ventilation passage open. In order to prevent passage of insects through the ventilation opening, a netting system may be provided.

The netting system known from NL1007720 has a bellow shaped insect netting comprising a front panel that merges into two side panels, wherein the side panels have the shape of a circle section. The insect netting collapses in a stacked manner when the glass panel is swung into its closed position. The bellow sections of the side panels extend in radial direction. In the side panels, the bellow sections extend symmetrically from the front panel towards the middle to merge into each other at the ends about half the height of the side panels. The mergers are most vulnerable for the accumulation of dirt, such as small pieces of leaf or dead insects. Accumulated dirt may reduce the light transparency of the insect netting at half the height of the side panels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a greenhouse with a netting system in which accumulation of dirt in the translucent areas is prevented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a greenhouse comprising a roof construction, wherein the roof construction comprises a slanting upper surface with an opening and a rectangular glass panel that covers the opening, wherein at its upper edge the glass panel is hingeably connected with a part of the roof construction to hinge around a hinging axis between a closed position in which the glass panel extends substantially parallel to the upper surface and an open position in which the glass panel is oriented oblique with respect to the upper surface to form a ventilation passage, wherein the greenhouse comprises a netting system to prevent passage of insects through the ventilation passage, wherein the netting system comprises a framework along the lower edge and the adjacent parallel side edges of the glass panel, and an insect netting that is connected with the framework and that covers the ventilation passage, wherein the insect netting comprises a front panel merging into two side panels, wherein the side panels extend transverse to the hinging axis of the glass panel, wherein the insect netting is pleated in a bellow configuration to collapse in a stacked manner, wherein the bellow configuration is formed with bellow sections comprising elongate gauze webs that are connected to each other along a longitudinal outer edge thereof, wherein the side panels comprise an outermost bellow section and multiple intermediate bellow sections that are connected to each other along longitudinal inner edges of their gauze webs, wherein the bellow sections all have their front side merging into the front panel, wherein of each intermediate bellow section the gauze webs are connected to each other at the opposite back end, wherein the opposite back end of the outermost bellow section is located at or close to the hinging axis, and wherein the back ends of the consecutive intermediate bellow sections are adjacent to and spread along the outermost bellow section.

The back ends of the intermediate bellow sections that are connected to each other are most vulnerable for the accumulation of dirt, such as small pieces of leaf or dead insects. The back ends are adjacent to and spread along the outermost bellow section, which is located close to the edges of glass panel or the roof opening. As these parts may locally block the light anyway, the accumulated dirt that is positioned close thereto hardly has a light reducing effect. It is remarked that the outermost bellow section can be the lowermost bellow section that is connected to the borders of the opening or the uppermost bellow section that is connected to the framework. The outermost bellow section may comprise only one gauze web facing the back ends.

In an embodiment the back ends of the consecutive intermediate bellow sections are spread along the outermost bellow section with substantially equal intermediate distances, whereby the dirt spots are equally spread as well.

In an embodiment the substantially equal intermediate distances are 50-150% of the width of a gauze web.

In an embodiment the gauze webs of the bellow sections are connected to each other with a first stitching that extends parallel and close to the longitudinal outer edges of the gauze webs.

In an embodiment the bellow sections are connected to each other with a second stitching that extends parallel and close to the longitudinal inner edges of the gauze webs.

Stitching has the advantage that the bellow sections can be assembled from gauze webs having finished or smooth elongate edges. The stitching urges the gauze webs to maintain the bellow shape.

In an embodiment the gauze webs of the intermediate bellow sections are connected to each other at the back end with a third stitching that extends transverse to the elongate direction of the intermediate bellow section.

In an embodiment the third stitching crosses the first stitching and the second stitching, whereby a continuous stitching is formed to close off the side panels over its entire surface.

In an embodiment the back ends of the consecutive intermediate bellow sections are connected to the outermost bellow section with a fourth stitching that extends parallel and close to the longitudinal inner edge of the adjacent gauze web of the outermost bellow section, wherein in the direction from the back end to the front end of the outermost bellow section the fourth stitching repeatingly comprises a first trajectory and a second trajectory, wherein in the first trajectory the fourth stitching connects both gauze webs of that intermediate bellow section to the longitudinal inner edge of the adjacent gauze web of the outermost bellow section, and wherein in the second trajectory the fourth stitching connects only the gauze web of that intermediate bellow section that faces the outermost bellow section to the longitudinal inner edge of the adjacent gauze web of the outermost bellow section.

At the second trajectories the fourth stitching only connects one of the webs of the intermediate bellow sections, whereby it is ensured that the intermediate bellow sections spread out to their V-shape directly at the outermost bellow section.

In an embodiment the second trajectory has a length that is 80-130% of the width of a gauze web.

In an embodiment the fourth stitching connects in the second trajectory also the back end of the next following intermediate bellow section to the lowermost bellow section.

In an embodiment the gauze webs comprise a woven textile with warp threads and crossing weft threads that alternatingly go over and under the consecutive warp threads, wherein the warp threads and the weft threads each comprise at least one strand formed with a plastic resin.

In an embodiment thereof the plastic resin is a polyolefin, preferably polyethylene.

In an embodiment the glass panel is a hardened glass panel.

The invention further provides a netting system suitable for the greenhouse according to the invention.

The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a greenhouse with a roof having glass panels with a netting system; figure 2 is an isometric views of one of the glass panels with the netting system of figure 1; figure 3 is a more detailed view of the gauze of the netting system of figure 2; and figure 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of one of the side panels of the netting system of figures 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1 and 2 show a greenhouse 1 of the Venlo type. The greenhouse 1 comprises a roof construction 10 that is supported by multiple parallel rows of vertical columns 11. The roof construction 10 comprises a framework with multiple parallel roof ridge profiles 15 and lower rain gutter profiles 18 that are interconnected with slanting window profiles 16. The profiles 15, 16, 18 are made of metal, in particular aluminum, and form rectangular rabbets for fixed glass panels 20.

The roof construction 10 furthermore comprises regularly distributed hardened glass panels 30 that at the upper side are hingeably connected with the ridge profiles 15. The hardened glass panels 30 are transparent to allow light to enter the greenhouse 1. As shown in figure 2 the glass panels 30 are in this example shorter than the fixed glass panels 20. Therefore a horizontal window profile 17 is mounted between the two adjacent slanting window profiles 16 to form a rabbet for an additional fixed glass panel 21 below the hardened glass panel 20.

Each hardened glass panel 30 can swing around its hinging axis B in direction A between the open position as shown in figure 2, and a closed position to regulate the ventilation of the greenhouse 1. In the closed position the hardened glass panel 30 rests on the window profiles 16, 17. The hardened glass panels 30 are swung in direction A by two push rods 40 having distributed connections 41 in the hardened glass panels 30 and a common connection with a slide 42 that can move in direction B along a horizontal rail 43 of the roof construction 10 by means of an electromotor.

The hardened glass panels 30 are provided with a netting system 50 to prevent passage of insects when the hardened glass panels 30 are in the open position. These can be harmful insects that have to be kept outside the greenhouse 1 or specific insects that are held inside the greenhouse 1. The netting system 50 comprises a framework 51 that is mounted along the free side edges of the hardened glass panel 30, and an insect netting 57 of fine mesh plastic gauze 60 that is pleated in a bellow configuration in order to stack when it collapses. At the upper side the insect netting 57 is connected with the framework 51, for example by stitching, and at the lower side the insect netting 57 is connected to the corresponding window profiles 16, 17 along the ventilation opening.

The insect netting 57 is shown in more detail in figures 3 and 4. For illustrative purposes the insect netting 57 is shown in these figures in the state before it is connected to the framework 51 and the window profiles 16, 17. The insect netting 57 comprises a front panel 70 and two parallel side panels 71 that merge into the front panel 70 over a straight corner. The side panels 71 extend transverse to the hinging axis B around which the glass panel 30 swings in direction A. The front panel 70 and the side panels 71 each comprise a series of bellow sections 80-90 that are connected to each other as described in detail hereafter.

As best shown in figure 4, the bellow sections 80-90 each comprise an elongate upper gauze web 100 and an elongate lower gauze web 101 both having the same constant width E along their lengths. The upper gauze web 100 is connected to the lower gauze web 101 with a straight first stitching 103 that extends parallel and close to the meeting straight outer edges 102 of the gauze webs 100, 101. In the same manner the lower gauze web 101 of the bellow sections 80-89 is connected to the upper gauze web 100 of the adjacent bellow section 81-90 with a straight second stitching 104 that extends parallel and close to the meeting straight inner edges 105 of the gauze webs 100, 101. For illustrative purposes the outer edges 102 are drawn with thicker continuous lines than the inner edges 105, and the stitchings are drawn with interrupted lines.

The uppermost bellow section 80 determines the upper side of the insect netting 57 that is connected with the framework 51, and the lowermost bellow section 90 determines the lower side of the insect netting 57 that is connected with the window profiles 16, 17. The uppermost bellow section 80 and the lowermost bellow section 90 have the same length and are connected to each other over a small length only at the hinge side 97 of the side panels 71. Between the uppermost bellow section 80 and the lowermost bellow section 90 extend the multiple intermediate bellow sections 81-89.

The front sides 96 of the bellow sections 80-90 all extend at the same distance with respect to the hinge side 97 of the side panels 71 to be stacked straight above each other when the glass panel 30 is in its closed position. As from the uppermost bellow section 80 towards the lowermost bellow section 90, each intermediate bellow section 81-89 is shorter than the bellow section 81-89 that is directly adjacent above it, whereby the back ends 94 of the consecutive bellow sections 80-89 are positioned spaced apart from each other with constant equal intermediate distances. The intermediate distances are 6-13 centimeter. The width of the webs 100, 101 is about 7 centimeter.

The back ends 94 of the consecutive bellow sections 80-90 each have a straight lower edge 95 extending transverse to the inner edges 105 and outer edges 102 of the gauze webs 100, 101. The gauze webs 100, 101 are connected to each other at the back ends 94 with a straight third stitching 107 that extends parallel and close to the lower edge 95. The back ends 94 of the intermediate bellow sections 81-89 are at the side of the inner edges 105 each connected to the upper gauze web 100 of the lowermost bellow section 89 with a fourth stitching 106 that extends parallel and close to the inner edge 105 of the upper gauze web 100.

Starting from the hinge side 97, the fourth stitching 106 repeatingly comprises a first trajectory C and a second trajectory D. In the first trajectory C the fourth stitching 106 connects both the upper web 100 and the lower web 101 of an intermediate bellow section 81-89 to the inner edge 104 of the upper gauze web 100 of the lowermost bellow section 90. In the second trajectory D the fourth stitching 106 connects only the lower gauze web 101 of that intermediate bellow section 81-89 to the inner edge 104 of the upper gauze web 100 of the outermost bellow section 90. In the transition from the first trajectory C to the second trajectory D, the fourth stitching 106 comprises a jump or loop 108 over the upper gauze web 100 to release it. The second trajectory D has a length that is about the same as the width E of the gauze webs 100, 101.

The insect netting 57 according to the invention has bellow sections 80-89 that extend substantially parallel to each other in the open position of the glass panel 30, except for the lowermost bellow section 90 to which they connect. The bellow sections 80-90 then have a substantially constant V-shape along the length except for the merger of the upper gauze web 100 and the lower gauze web 100 thereof by means of the fourth stitching 106 right above the lowermost bellow section 90. The mergers are most vulnerable for the accumulation of dirt, such as small pieces of leaf or dead insects. Accumulated dirt may reduce the light transparency of the insect netting. As the mergers are all located right above the lowermost bellow section 90, which is connected to the light blocking window profiles 16, 17, the accumulated dirt hardly has a light reducing effect.

It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

A greenhouse comprising a roof structure, wherein the roof structure comprises a sloping top surface with an opening and a rectangular glass panel covering the opening, the glass panel being hingedly connected at the top thereof to a part of the roof structure to pivot about a pivot axis between a pivot axis closed position in which the glass panel extends substantially parallel to the upper surface and an open position in which the glass panel is oriented obliquely with respect to the upper surface to form a ventilation passage, wherein the greenhouse comprises a net system to prevent insect passage through the ventilation passage , wherein the net system comprises a frame along the bottom edge and the adjacent parallel side edges of the glass panel, and an insect net connected to the frame and covering the ventilation passage, the net system having a front panel merging into two side panels, the side panels being across the hinge extending the axis of the glass panel, the insect net being folded into a bellows shape to collapse in a stacked manner, the bellows shape being formed with bellows sections comprising elongated mesh webs connected together along an outer longitudinal edge thereof, the side panels being provided with an outer bellows section and a plurality of intermediate bellows sections connected to each other along inner longitudinal edges of the mesh webs, the bellows sections at their fronts all merging into the front panel, the mesh webs of each intermediate bellows section being connected to each other at the opposite rear end, with the outer bellows section the opposite rear end is at or near the pivot axis, and wherein the rear ends of the successive intermediate bellows sections are adjacent to and are distributed along the outer bellows section.

Greenhouse according to claim 1, wherein the rear ends of the successive intermediate bellows sections are distributed along the outer bellows section with substantially equal intervals.

Greenhouse according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the substantially equal spacing distances are 50-150% of the width of a mesh web.

A greenhouse according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mesh webs of the bellows sections are connected to each other with a first stitching that extends parallel and close to the outer longitudinal edges of the mesh webs.

5. Greenhouse as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bellows sections are connected to each other with a second stitching which extends parallel and close to the inner longitudinal edges of the mesh webs.

Greenhouse according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mesh webs of the intermediate bellows sections are connected to each other at the rear ends with a third stitch that extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate bellows section.

The greenhouse according to claims 4, 5 and 6, wherein the third stitching crosses the first stitching and the second stitching.

A greenhouse according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear ends of the successive intermediate bellows sections are connected to the outer bellows section with a fourth stitching extending parallel and close to the inner longitudinal edge of the adjacent mesh web of the outer bellows section, wherein in the direction of the rear end to the front of the outer bellows section, the fourth stitching repeatingly comprises a first stretch and a second stretch, wherein the fourth stitch in the first stretch connects both mesh webs of that intermediate bellows section to the inner longitudinal edge of the adjacent mesh web of the outer bellows section, and wherein the fourth stitching in the second path of that intermediate bellows section only connects the mesh web facing the outer bellows section to the inner longitudinal edge of the adjacent mesh web of the outer bellows section.

The greenhouse of claim 8, wherein the second stretch has a length that is 80-130% of the width of a mesh web.

Greenhouse according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the fourth stitching in the second section also connects the rear end of the next following bellows section to the outer bellows section.

A greenhouse according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mesh webs comprise a woven textile with warp threads and crossing weft threads that alternately pass over and under the successive warp threads, wherein the warp threads and the weft threads each comprise at least one strand formed with a plastic resin.

The greenhouse of claim 11, wherein the plastic resin is a polyolefin.

The greenhouse of claim 12, wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene.

A greenhouse according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the glass panel is a tempered glass panel.

15. A net system or insect net suitable for the greenhouse according to any one of the preceding claims. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-