US 4,848,048 A · Curved glazed roofs

Abstract

A curved glazed roof for use particularly as a greenhouse, and a method for the production thereof. This roof has at least one continuous vault including at least two successive glazed spans, each span having at least two juxtaposed curved glazed panels. The panels include a sheet of thermally-tempered, cold-curved glass having a resiliently-flexed curvature formed therein. This resiliently-flexed curvature is maintained under constraint by a frame which is secured to the sheet of glass. Each of the frames in each span are secured to the fame of another panel, positioned juxtaposed thereto, forming a span. At least one of the frames of one of the panels in one of the spans is secured to at least one of the frames of one of the panels in another, adjacent span, forming successive spans which make up the vault. A framework of trusses, longitudinal beams, struts and peak beams is disclosed for the various roofs. The roofs may either be fixed in place or a span, spans or a portion of any number of spans may be movable, to be opened in order to provide ventilation to the structure. A greenhouse and a framework therefore which may be utilized with the curved glazed roof is also disclosed.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A curved glazed roof, comprising:

at least one continuous vault, said vault having at least two successive arched glazed spans;
each span having at least two juxtaposed curved glazed panels;
each panel including a thermally-tempered, cold-curved sheet of glass, said sheet of glass having a resiliently-flexed curvature formed therein, and each panel further including a frame secured to the sheet of glass and maintaining the resiliently-flexed curvature of the sheet of glass under constraint;
each of the frames of the curved glass panels in each span being secured to the frame of another panel, such that the panels in each span are secured being juxtaposed to one another, whereby a span is formed;
and
at least one of the frames of one of the panels in one of the spans being secured to at least one of the frames of one of the panels in the other span, whereby the continuous vault having successive spans is formed.

3 more elements

A curved glazed roof, comprising:

at least one continuous vault extending along a longitudinal axis, said vault having at least two successive arched glazed spans extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis;
each span having at least two juxtaposed curved glazed panels;
each panel including a thermally-tempered, cold-curved sheet of glass having a resiliently-flexed curvature formed therein, each sheet of glass further having a pair of substantially parallel curved edges and a pair of substantially parallel straight edges, said panel further including a curved frame disposed about the edges of the sheet of the curved sheet of glass and adapted to maintain the resiliently-flexed curvature of the sheet of glass under constraint, said curved frame having a pair of parallel curved frame sections including a pair of opposite ends and a pair of parallel straight frame sections including a pair of opposite ends, each of the straight frame sections disposed along a respective straight edge of the sheet of glass and each of the curved frame sections being disposed along a respective curved edge of the sheet of glass, each respective opposite end of the straight frame sections being secured to a respective opposite end of one of the curved frame sections, and said panel further including means for securing each frame section to the edge of the sheet of glass along which the respective frame sections are disposed;
each of the curved glazed panels of each span being secured by one of the straight frame sections thereof to the straight frame section of at least one other curved glazed panel of the same span, whereby the arched glazed spans are formed having the panels in the same span being secured juxtaposed to each other;
and
at least one of the curved frame sections of the curved glazed panels in each span being joined to one of the curved frame sections of one of the curved glazed panels in another, successive span, whereby the continuous vault is formed.

3 more elements

A greenhouse having a curved glazed roof, comprising:

at least one continuous vault, said vault having at least two successive arched glazed spans;
each span having at least two juxtaposed curved glazed panels;
each panel including a thermally-tempered, cold-curved sheet of glass having a resiliently-flexed curvature formed therein, each of said sheets of glass further having a pair of substantially parallel curved edges and a pair of substantially parallel straight edges, said panel further including a curved frame disposed about the edges of the sheet of the curved sheet of glass and adapted to maintain the resiliently-flexed curvature of the sheet of glass under constraint, said curved frame having a pair of substantially parallel curved frame sections including a pair of opposite ends and a pair of substantially parallel straight frame sections including a pair of opposite ends, each of the straight frame sections disposed along a respective straight edge of the sheet of glass and each of the curved frame sections being disposed along a respective curved edge of the sheet of glass, each respective opposite end of the straight frame sections being secured to a respective opposite end of one of the curved frame sections, and said panel further including means for securing each frame section to the edge of the sheet of glass along which the respective frame sections are disposed;
each of the curved glazed panels of each span being secured by one of the straight frame sections thereof to the straight frame section of at least one other curved glazed panel of the same span, whereby the arched glazed spans are formed having the panels in the same span being secured juxtaposed to each other;
at least one of the curved frame sections of the curved glazed panels in one of the spans being joined to one of the curved frame sections of one of the curved glazed panels in another, successive span, whereby the continuous vault is formed;
and
means for supporting the continuous vault having successive spans, whereby the greenhouse is formed.

4 more elements

A greenhouse having a curved glazed roof, comprising:

lateral greenhouse walls;
a curved glazed roof including a continuous vault extending along a longitudinal axis, said vault including a succession of arched glazed spans extending perpendicularly to the axis, said roof being positioned on and supported by the lateral walls;
each span having at least two juxtaposed curved glazed panels;
each panel including a thermally-tempered, cold-curved sheet of glass having a resiliently-flexed curvature formed therein, each of said sheets of glass further having a pair of substantially parallel curved edges and a pair of substantially parallel straight edges, said panel further including a curved frame disposed about the edges of the sheet of the curved sheet of glass and adapted to maintain the resiliently-flexed curvature of the sheet of glass under constraint, said curved frame having a pair of substantially parallel curved frame sections including a pair of opposite ends and a pair of substantially parallel straight frame sections including a pair of opposite ends, each of the straight frame sections disposed along a respective straight edge of the sheet of glass and each of the curved frame sections being disposed along a respective curved edge of the sheet of glass, each respective opposite end of the straight frame sections being secured to a respective opposite end of one of the curved frame sections, and said panel further including means for securing each frame section to the edge of the sheet of glass along which the respective frame sections are disposed;
each of the curved glazed panels of each span being secured by one of the straight frame sections thereof to the straight frame section of at least one other curved glazed panel of the same span, whereby the arched glazed spans are formed having the panels in the same span being secured juxtaposed to each other;
and
at least one of the curved frame sections of the curved glazed panels in at least one of the spans being joined to one of the curved frame sections of one of the curved glazed panels in another, successive span, whereby the continuous vault is formed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Curved glazed roofs

Life of this patent

Curved glazed roofs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37