Greenhouse tubular insulation barrier
OwnerWilliam T. Gregory, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of inflatable clear polyethylene tubes extending in spaced adjacent relationship longitudinally across a greenhouse at the eave level. A regulatable blower is arranged to deliver or evacuate air from a manifold which is in communication with each of the tubes. Operationally, the tubes are inflated to bear against each other and form a barrier for heat when sunlight is absent and are deflated to provide passages when sunlight is available.
Claims7
An apparatus for retaining heat within a greenhouse and providing necessary light to the plants in the greenhouse comprising:
- a glass roof;
- a plurality of inflatable essentially transparent tubes below the glass roof arranged in parallel across the width of the greenhouse which tubes extend longitudinally from one end of the greenhouse to the opposite end of the greenhouse;
- a header extending the entire width of the greenhouse at eave level which header is in communication with the tubes;
- tube ties to constrict the ends of the tubes at the end opposite the header;
- a sheet of clear plastic draped over the tubes at the constricted end;
- and
- a blower motor adapted to deliver or evacuate air from the header.
A method for trapping heat in a greenhouse below eave level when sunlight is unavailable and providing sunlight to the greenhouse area below eave level when sunlight is available comprising the steps of:
- arranging a plurality of parallel tubes over the width of the greenhouse, which tubes are clear polyethylene tubes having a transparency of 80-85% and extend from one end of the greenhouse to the other;
- inflating the tubes to abut each other and form a complete barrier at eave level when sunlight is absent;
- and
- deflating the tubes at a controlled deflation rate to provide openings between the tubes when sunlight is available, wherein the controlled deflation of the tubes occurs within thirty to sixty minutes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.