GB2540851A

GB2540851A - Tunnel arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2540851A
Application number: GB1609126.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Whatton Rolly
Original assignee: Haygrove Ltd
Current assignee: Haygrove Ltd
Priority date: 2015-05-26
Filing date: 2016-05-24
Publication date: 2017-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-24
Also published as: GB201508976D0; BR112017025299A2; GB201609126D0; WO2016189297A1; MX2017015033A; GB2540851B; CL2017002985A1

Abstract

A tunnel arrangement to be used in the growing of crops comprising a leg 14 having a hoop member support arm 16, a hoop member (18 figure 1) carried, in part, by the leg, part of the hoop member 18 being supported by the hoop member support arm 16, the leg further comprising a mounting point 32 to which a rope or strap anchor 36 is securable, and a rope anchor region 40, such that the anchor region is above a height of the lower end of the hoop member. The mounting point maybe threaded and the anchor may include a threaded post region 38 adapted to cooperate with the threaded mounting point to mount the anchor to the leg. The anchor 36 may further comprises a plurality of features in which two anchor locations may be defined. The anchor region may also define a hook, hoop or loop in which the rope or strap is passed to achieve anchoring. The anchor region may comprise a pair of anchor arms which may be not co-planar.

Description

TUNNEL ARRANGEMENT

This invention relates to a tunnel arrangement, and in particular to a polytunnel or the like used, for example, in the growing of crops to aid the provision of enhanced growing conditions for the crops. By way of example, the use of a polytunnel in the cultivation of crops allows the crops to be grown in temperature and/or humidity controlled conditions, and the exposure of the crops to, for example, high wind conditions can be avoided. As a result of the provision of enhanced growing conditions, the crops may reach harvest more quickly, out of season if desired, and the harvest may be increased.

One form of polytunnel in common use comprises a series of upright legs that are secured, for example by the use of ground anchors or the like, to the underlying ground surface in a desired position. The legs are arranged in parallel rows, each row defining an edge of a polytunnel. Roof supporting hoop members are carried by the legs, each hoop member being supported, at its opposite ends, by respective ones of the legs, the hoop members each interconnecting one leg from one of the rows and a corresponding leg of the other of the rows. A flexible cover material is located over and supported by the hoop members, the cover being secured in position by anchoring ropes or the like which extend over the cover and are anchored to appropriate brackets or features provided on at least some of the leg. The legs may support hoop members associated with a pair of adjacent tunnels, if desired.

In order to aid ventilation of the interior of the tunnel, it is known to incorporate a vent arrangement, for example comprising a panel of material that can be rolled onto or retracted from a rotatable, translatable bar, a motor or other mechanism being provided to drive the bar for rotation, to vary or control the size of an opening formed in the roof of the tunnel, thereby controlling ventilation of the tunnel. Where an arrangement of this type is provided, it is usual to use ropes or straps to anchor the panel, the ropes or straps being secured to the associated legs, the anchoring being necessary to prevent flapping of the vent panel. Typically, the ropes or straps are tied or otherwise secured to parts of the leg member beneath the parts supporting the hoop members. However, securing the ropes or straps in this fashion has the disadvantage that the angle of the ropes or straps may be such that they impede raising or lowering of the bar, and hence impede adjustment of the level of ventilation. Clearly, this is undesirable.

It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement in which at least some of the disadvantages associated with known arrangements are overcome or are of reduced effect.

According to the present invention there is provided a tunnel arrangement comprising a leg having a hoop member support arm, a hoop member carried, in part, by the leg, part of the hoop member being supported by the hoop member support arm, the leg further comprising a mounting point to which a rope or strap anchor is securable such that an anchor region of the rope or strap anchor is above a height of the lower end of the hoop member.

The mounting point is conveniently of threaded form, the anchor including a threaded post region adapted to cooperate with the threaded mounting point to mount the anchor to the leg, the post region supporting the anchor region.

As mentioned above, the post region is conveniently of externally screw threaded form at an end thereof for threaded engagement with an internally screw threaded part of the threaded mounting point. By way of example, the threaded mounting point may comprise a screw threaded nut member welded or otherwise secured to the leg. If required, the leg may include an opening adapted to receive a part of the post region that has passed completely through the nut member.

Alternatively the mounting point may take the form of an opening to which the anchor can be attached using a nut and bolt type fastener. By way of example, the mounting point may be designed to include a substantially horizontally extending passage defining the opening, the anchor including at least one wall formed with a generally horizontally extending passage, a bolt being insertable through the apertures, when aligned, to secure (with a corresponding nut) the anchor to the mounting point.

By locating the anchor region in the above described fashion, the angle adopted by a rope or strap secured to the anchor region and anchoring a vent panel is such that movement of a bar or the like controlling opening and closing of a vent defined by the vent panel is not impeded, or any such impediment to movement is reduced, the rope or strap being spaced from the lower most edge regions of the cover. By providing a screw threaded mounting point or fastening by which the anchor is securable, the anchor can readily be removed if it is not required, or can be retrofitted to arrangements not originally incorporating an anchor in this location.

Preferably the leg is adapted to support the hoop members of two adjacent tunnel arrangements. In such an arrangement, the anchor is preferably adapted to permit ropes or straps associated with each tunnel arrangement to be secured thereto.

The anchor region conveniently comprises a pair of anchor arms, each being of hooked form, secured to the post region. Conveniently, the anchor arms are not coplanar. As a result, the operation of securing a rope or strap to one of the anchor arms is not impeded by the presence of the other of the anchor arms. If desired, as an alternative to using hook shaped arms, the anchor region may comprise elements of another shape. By way of example, the anchor arms could be replaced by a hoop or loop through which the securing rope or strap may be passed to achieve the desired level of anchoring.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a tunnel arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view illustrating a part of the tunnel arrangement of Figure 2;

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an alternative arrangement; and Figure 4 illustrates a modification to the arrangement of Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a tunnel arrangement 10 is illustrated that takes the form of a poly tunnel intended for use in providing enhanced growing conditions for the cultivation of crops. The tunnel arrangement 10 comprises a pair of rows 12 of legs 14, the rows 12 extending generally parallel to one another. Each leg 14 incorporates, at its lower end, a ground anchor to allow the leg 14 to be driven into and rigidly supported by the underlying ground surface. The precise form of the ground anchor is not of relevance to the invention and will not be described herein in greater detail. Indeed, other arrangements may be used to secure the legs 14 in an upright configuration in the desired positions without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, the lower ends thereof could be embedded in, or connected to components embedded in, for example, a concrete base or the like.

At its upper end, each leg 14 is of forked form, defining a pair of hoop member support arms 16, the arms 16 being splayed apart from one another such that the arms 16 together define a support region in which an elongate trough or gutter may be formed or supported, if desired.

The tunnel arrangement 10 further comprises a series of hoop members 18, each hoop member 18 being supported, at one end, by one of the arms 16 of one of the legs 14 in one of the rows 12, and at its other end by one of the arms 16 of one of the legs 14 of the other of the rows 12. A flexible cover 20 extends over and is supported by the hoop members 18 to form a roof for the tunnel.

The cover 20 is typically of a relatively low weight flexible plastics material. In order to ensure that the cover 20 is properly retained in position, anchoring ropes or webbing straps or the like are provided, the ropes or straps extending over the cover 20 and being secured to the legs 1A as described below.

Whilst not shown in Figure 1, it will be appreciated that one or more additional rows 12 of legs may be provided, further hoop members 18 being provided to support a cover 20 forming £ second tunnel adjacent the afore described tunnel arrangement. In such an arrangement, the legs 14 of at least one of the rows 12 may support the ends of two hoop members 18 associatec with respective ones of the tunnels. It will be appreciated that in such a manner, the tunne arrangement may cover a significant area, if desired. Where two or more tunnels are providec adjacent one another, then the arms 16 of the legs 14 may further serve to support a gutter oi trough, as mentioned above, carrying rain water draining from the covers to an end of the tunne arrangement or another appropriate location, reducing the impact of rain water on the crop; close to the edges of the tunnels.

To aid control over the temperature, humidity or other characteristics of the environment within the tunnel, the cover 20 may be formed with an opening 24, a vent flap 26 being positionable over the opening 24 to close the opening 24, when desired. A lower edge of the vent flap 26 is secured to a rotatable, translatable bar 28, a drive arrangement for example ir the form of an appropriately controlled motor being provided to drive the bar 28 for rotation Starting from a condition in which the vent flap 26 closes the opening 24, when it is required tc increase ventilation the bar 28 is driven for rotation. The rotation of the bar winds the flap 26 onto the bar 28, and results in the bar 28 translating upwardly following the shape of the rool of the tunnel as defined by the hoop members 16, the movement continuing until the rotatior of the bar 28 is terminated when the vent has been opened to a desired degree, or has beer fully opened.

In order to ensure that the vent flap 26 is properly anchored to the remainder of the tunnel ropes or straps 30 are used, the ropes or straps 30 extending over the cover 20 and vent flap 26, and over the bar 28, the ropes or straps 30 being anchored as described below. It will be appreciated that it is important for the vent flap 26 and bar 28 to be anchored to the remaindei of the tunnel in order to ensure that the ventilation of the tunnel can be accurately controlled to achieve optimum conditions within the tunnel, avoiding flapping thereof.

Each leg 14 is provided with a threaded mounting point 32 to which an anchor device 36 can be secured. Conveniently, the threaded mounting point 32 takes the form of an internally screw threaded nut 34 welded or otherwise secured to the leg 14. Whilst the use of a nut 34 or the like represents one convenient form for the threaded mounting point 32, it will be appreciated that the threaded mounting point 32 may take a range of other forms without departing from the scope of the invention.

The anchor device 36 takes the form of a post 38, a lower end of which is externally threaded and arranged to cooperate with the threads of the nut 34 to allow the anchor device 36 to be secured to the leg 14. The post 38 conveniently carries a lock nut 38a that, in use, is driven to bear against the nut 34 to firmly secure the anchor device 36 in position. To the upper end of the post 38 are secured a pair of anchor arms 40, each of which is of generally hooked form. The arms 40 are conveniently shaped such that the ends thereof do not lie in the same plane as one another, aiding the threading of the ropes or straps 30 thereto. However, this need not always be the case, and arrangements are possible in which the arms 40 are coplanar.

Whilst as illustrated the anchor device 36 includes a pair of hooked anchor arms 40, it will be appreciated that other shaped formations may be used. By way of example, the anchor device may include one or more hoops or loops to which the rope or strap is secured, in use.

The length of the post 38 is such that the arms 40 are located above the height of the lower ends of the hoop members 18.

As described hereinbefore, the cover 20 and the vent flap 26 and bar 28 are secured in position by the use of ropes or straps 30. The ropes or straps 30 are tied or otherwise fixed, for example by being wrapped around, the arms 40 of the anchor devices 36. As the posts 38 support the arms 40 above the height of the lower ends of the hoop members 18, it will be appreciated that whilst the ropes or straps 30 bear against the cover 20 over most of the width of the cover 20, the ropes or straps 30 are spaced above the cover 20 by a small distance close to the edges of the cover, which is where the vent flap 26 and bar 28 are typically located. Accordingly, movement of the bar 28 to open or close the vent is considerably less impeded than in a conventional tunnel design.

Should it be desired to modify the tunnel arrangement in such a manner that the anchor devices 36 are no longer required, then they can be removed simply by unscrewing the posts 38 thereof from the threaded mounting points 32, after having released the lock nut.

Whilst the anchor device 36 described and illustrated includes two arms 40, arrangements including a single arm 40 may be provided, for example for use where the leg 14 support only a single hoop member.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative to the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the arrangement of Figure 3, the mounting point 32 takes the form of an upstanding plate 50 formed with an opening or passage 52 extending generally horizontally, in use. The anchor device 36 includes a plate region 54 provided with a similar opening or passage 56 that can align with the passage 52. When aligned, a bolt 58 can be introduced through the align passages 52, 56 and a nut 60 fastened thereto to secure the anchor device 36 in position. Other than the manner in which the anchor device 36 is fitted, the arrangement of Figure 3 is substantially the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 and is used in the same manner. It has the advantage that if the leg is hot dip galvanised, there are no threads that could otherwise fill up preventing attachment of the anchor device 36.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of anchor device 36 in which each arm 40 is shaped to define a pair of rope or tape anchor regions 40a, 40b. Where a vent arrangement is provided then the regions 40a are used to maintain an increased clearance between the ropes or tapes and the roof profile of the structure, the regions 40b being used where no vent arrangement is provided, enabling tighter holding or fastening of the cover material in position. The shaping of the arms 40 prevents or reduces the risk of the ropes or straps, under tension, sliding along the arms 40 to reduce the tension therein. Of course, arms 40 of this shape may be used in the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2, if desired.

It will be understood that whilst the description hereinbefore relates to a specific embodiment of the invention, a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tunnel arrangement comprising a leg having a hoop member support arm, a hoop member carried, in part, by the leg, part of the hoop member being supported by the hoop member support arm, the leg further comprising a mounting point attached to a part of the hoop member support arm and to which a rope or strap anchor is securable, the anchor including a rope anchor region and being arranged such that the anchor region is above a height of the lower end of the hoop member.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the mounting point is of threaded form, the anchor including a threaded post region adapted to cooperate with the threaded mounting point to mount the anchor to the leg, the post region supporting the anchor region.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2, wherein the post region is of externally screw threaded form at an end thereof for threaded engagement with an internally screw threaded part of the threaded mounting point.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3, wherein the threaded mounting point comprises a screw threaded nut member welded or otherwise secured to the leg.

5. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the mounting point comprises an opening to which the anchor can be attached using a nut and bolt type fastener.

6. An arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein the mounting point includes a substantially horizontally extending passage defining the opening, the anchor including at least one wall formed with a generally horizontally extending passage, a bolt being insertable through the apertures, when aligned, to secure the anchor to the mounting point

7. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the leg is adapted to support the hoop members of two adjacent tunnel arrangements.

8. An arrangement according to Claim 7, wherein the anchor is adapted to permit ropes or straps associated with each tunnel arrangement to be secured thereto.

9. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anchor region comprises a pair of anchor arms, each being of hooked form, secured to the post region.

10. An arrangement according to Claim 9, wherein the anchor arms are not coplanar.

11. An arrangement according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein each anchor arm defines two anchor locations.

12. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the anchor region comprises a hoop or loop through which the securing rope or strap may be passed to achieve the desired level of anchoring.

13. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hoop member support arm is of generally V- or U-shaped form, carried by an upper end of the leg.

14. An arrangement according to Claim 13, wherein an end part of the hoop member receives a part of the hoop member support arm.

15. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting point is axially aligned with the leg.