BUILDING HAVING JOISTS AND A GUTTER, AND A GUTTER AND JOIST FOR USE THEREIN

Abstract: The invention relates to a building comprising a skeleton which is formed by a number of uprights and beams connecting the uprights, and a cover layer of relatively thin material arranged on the outside of the skeleton, wherein a substantially horizontally running gutter is arranged along at least one edge of the cover layer, which gutter has means protruding inside the cover layer for collecting condensed moisture flowing along the inner side of the cover layer. These condensation collecting means can be in liquid connection with a part of the gutter protruding outside the cover layer, and can comprise a condensation channel extending parallel to the gutter, wherein the liquid connection is then formed by one or more draining openings arranged in the bottom of the condensation channel. The gutter can herein be of U-shaped cross-section and the condensation channel can extend to the inside of the U-shape. Further according to the invention the beams are formed by beam members having a cross-section with a flat side directed toward the inside of the building and a curved side located opposite thereto. These beam members then have a closed cross-section wherein the flat and curved side are connected by two standing sides and the distance between the standing sides is smaller than the distance between the flat and curved side.

Description: BUILDING HAVING JOISTS AND A GUTTER, AND A GUTTER AND JOIST FOR USE THEREIN The invention relates to a building comprising a skeleton which is formed by a number of uprights and beams connecting the uprights, and a cover layer of relatively thin material arranged on the outside of the skeleton, wherein a substantially horizontally running gutter is arranged along at least one edge of the cover layer. Such a building is known, for instance in the form of a greenhouse or glasshouse. Such a glasshouse for horticulture is formed by a generally steel skeleton consisting of uprights and longitudinal and cross beams arranged therebetween. Arranged on the outside over the skeleton is a cover layer which consists of side walls and one or more roof sections. The walls and roof sections are herein manufactured from glass or a transparent foil . For the culture of products in a glasshouse for horticulture it is important that a desired atmosphere be maintained in the glasshouse. The air humidity is one of the factors which must be regulated for this purpose. In addition, it is of great importance that as much light as possible can penetrate into the glasshouse. With a view to both the regulation of the air humidity and maximizing of the light incidence, condensation formed on the inside of the roof section (s) must be drained as quickly as possible. It is important herein that the condensation drain has the least possible shading effect. The invention therefore has for its object to provide a building wherein a rapid and simple drainage of condensation from the roof sectio (s) is ensured with a minimal shading effect. According to the invention this is achieved in a building of the above described type in that the gutter has means protruding inside the cover layer for collecting condensed moisture flowing along the inner side of the cover layer. In order to prevent the collected condensation evaporating again inside the building and the air humidity thus increasing, the condensation collecting means are preferably in liquid connection with a part of the gutter protruding outside the cover layer. In a structurally simple embodiment of the building the condensation collecting means comprise at least one condensation channel extending substantially parallel to the gutter, and the liquid connection is formed by at least one, but preferably a plurality of draining openings arranged spaced apart in or close to the bottom of the or each condensation channel. In order to minimize the shading effect of the gutter with condensation drain, the gutter is preferably of substantially U-shaped cross-section and the or each condensation channel extends to the inside of the U- shape. When the or each condensation channel with the associated draining openings is then arranged close to the open top side of the U-shape, the full height of the U-shaped gutter can be utilized for draining water. Means can herein be arranged on the inside of the or each condensation channel for fixing of the cover layer, which will then therefore extend inward beyond the condensation channel so that condensation is easily collected. When the cover layer comprises a foil, the fixing means are preferably adapted to clamp the foil, thereby enabling a simple fixing. A gutter which is simple to install is obtained when at least the or each condensation channel is formed integrally with the gutter. The fixing means are preferably also formed integrally with the condensation channel . For a minimal shading effect the gutter can take a cantilevered form. So as to prevent bending of the gutter in the case of heavy loads, for instance during snowfall, the building preferably has means arranged on the underside of the gutter for supporting thereof. These support means can comprise at least one support beam extending parallel to the gutter. The invention also has the object to provide a building with a skeleton which is simple to assemble and has a minimal contact surface with the cover layer. This is achieved according to the invention in that at least a part of the beams is formed by a beam member having a cross-section with a substantially flat side directed toward the inside of the building and a curved side located opposite thereto. In preference the beam member herein has a closed cross-section and the flat and curved side are connected by two standing sides. When the distance between the standing sides is then smaller than the distance between the flat and curved side, a relatively strong and rigid skeleton is formed without the light incidence being obstructed too much thereby. Finally, the invention further relates to a gutter and a beam for use in a building as described above . The invention is now elucidated on the basis of an embodiment wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective top view of a building according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of a first embodiment of a gutter for use in the building of fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a view corresponding with fig. 2 of a gutter with a support beam arranged thereunder; Fig. 4 is a partly cross-sectional view showing schematically the collection of condensation in the gutter of fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective detail view of a beam for use in the building according to the invention. A building 1, in particular a glasshouse for horticultural, consists of a skeleton 2 and a cover layer 3 arranged thereover (fig. 1) . Skeleton 2 is formed by a number of uprights 4 placed in parallel rows and longitudinal beams 5 and cross beams 6 arranged therebetween. Cross beams 6 have an arcuate form with a horizontal lower beam part 7 and two curved roof trusses 8 which are mutually connected in a ridge 9 of building 1. Struts 10 or a framework can also be arranged between lower beam part 7 and roof trusses 8. Cover layer 3 is formed by side walls 11, a rear and front wall 12 and roof sections 13. Walls 11, 12 and roof sections 13 can herein be covered with glass, although in the shown embodiment the walls and roof sections are formed by a transparent foil which is stretched over the skeleton. An access opening 14 with sliding doors 15 is further arranged in front wall 12, while top hung windows 16 are formed in conventional manner in each roof section 13 for ventilating the interior of building 1. Between roof sections 13 and on the outermost end edges of the outer roof sections are arranged gutters 17 for draining rainwater and other precipitation. Each gutter 17 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section with a bottom 18 and two standing walls 19 (fig. 2) . In addition, each gutter 17 is provided with means 20 for collecting condensation moisture 21 flowing along the inner side 22 of cover layer 3, and particularly the inner side of the roof section (s) 13 adjoining gutter 17. In the shown embodiment the condensation collecting means 20 are formed by two condensation channels 23 which each extend along an upper edge of the walls 19 of gutter 17 and protrude inward in the U-shape of the cross-section. Each condensation channel 23, which in the shown embodiment has a V-shaped cross-section, is in liquid connection with gutter 17 via a number of draining openings 24 arranged spaced apart. Further arranged along the inner edge 25 of each condensation channel 23 are means 26 for clamping the foil-like cover layer 3, here in the form of a profiled strip 27 into which a complementary clamping profile 28 can be clamped or snapped. Because cover layer 3 thus extends toward the inside beyond condensation channel 23, it is ensured that all condensation flowing along cover layer 3 runs into condensation channel 23 (fig. 4) . Because condensation channels 23 extend inside the U-shaped cross-section of gutter 17, the total shading effect of gutter 17 with condensation channels 23 is also minimal. In addition, because condensation channels 23 and their draining openings 24 are arranged on the top side of U-shaped gutter 17, the full height of gutter 17 is available for draining rainwater without the danger of this water penetrating into building 1 through openings 24. In the shown embodiment the gutter 17, condensation channels 23 and profiled strip 27 are otherwise formed integrally, whereby installation and fitting operations are limited to a minimum during erection of the building. Gutter 17 with condensation channels 23 and profiled strip 27 can herein be formed by bending or rolling, starting from a length of strip material, although direct extrusion of the assembled profile of gutter 17 and parts connected thereto is also possible . Gutter 17 is in principle dimensioned such that it can be suspended in cantilevered manner between two uprights 4. However, in order to prevent bending or sagging of gutter 17 when it is heavily loaded, for instance in the case of snowfall, a support beam 29 (fig. 3) can be arranged on the underside of gutter 17. With a suitable dimensioning of beam 29 the shading effect of gutter 17 is not affected thereby. In order to simplify erection of building 1 and to simultaneously maximize the light incidence therein, at least a part of beams 5, 6 is embodied with a special profile shape (fig. 5) . This profile 30 has a side 31 directed toward the inside of building 1 which is flat and a side 32 located opposite thereto which has a curved form. These two sides 31, 32 are connected by two standing sides 33. The distance b between the standing sides 33 (the "width") is smaller than the distance h between the flat side 31 and the curved side 32 (the "height"), so that a relatively slender and high profile 30 is formed, the strength and rigidity of which are greater in vertical direction than in horizontal direction, which is likewise the case for the loads acting thereon. In the shown embodiment the profile 30 is applied particularly for the roof trusses 8. Due to the slender form the shading effect of profile 30 is minimal, while in addition the flat underside 31 enables a simple fixing. Finally, the curvature of the top side 31 brings about a minimal contact surface between profile 30 and the cover layer 3 arranged thereover, which results in less wear of cover layer 3 (particularly when it is manufactured from a foil material) , and in a better insulation. Although the invention is elucidated above with reference to one embodiment, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto. The shown condensation collecting means 20 could for instance also be applied in a building with beams having a conventional, for instance round or rectangular cross-sectional form, while on the other hand the special profile form 30 shown here can also be applied in a building with conventional gutters. Many variations in the profile form of gutter 17, condensation channels 23 and profiled strip 27 can also be envisaged, while these components could also be formed separately and assembled later instead of the integral construction as shown here. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the appended claims .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Building comprising a skeleton which is formed by a number of uprights and beams connecting the uprights, and a cover layer of relatively thin material arranged on the outside of the skeleton, wherein a substantially horizontally running gutter is arranged along at least one edge of the cover layer, characterized in that the gutter has means protruding inside the cover layer for collecting condensed moisture flowing along the inner side of the cover layer. 2. Building as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the condensation collecting means are in liquid connection with a part of the gutter protruding outside the cover layer. 3. Building as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the condensation collecting means comprise at least one condensation channel extending substantially parallel to the gutter, and the liquid connection is formed by at least one draining opening arranged in or close to the bottom of the or each condensation channel. 4. Building as claimed in claim 3 , characterized by a plurality of draining openings arranged spaced apart in or close to the bottom of the or each condensation channel . 5. Building as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the gutter is of substantially U- shaped cross-section and the or each condensation channel extends to the inside of the U-shape. 6. Building as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the or each condensation channel is arranged close to the open top side of the U-shape. 7. Building as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized by means arranged on the inside of the or each condensation channel for fixing of the cover layer. 8. Building as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the cover layer comprises a foil and the fixing means are adapted to clamp the foil. 9. Building as claimed in any of the claims 3- 8, characterized in that at least the or each condensation channel is formed integrally with the gutter. 10. Building as claimed in any of the claims 5- 9, characterized in that the fixing means are formed integrally with the condensation channel. 11. Building as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized by means arranged on the underside of the gutter for supporting thereof . 12. Building as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the support means comprise at least one support beam extending parallel to the gutter. 13. Building as claimed in any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of the beams is formed by a beam member having a cross-section with a substantially flat side directed toward the inside of the building and a curved side located opposite thereto. 14. Building as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the beam member has a closed cross- section and the flat and curved side are connected by two standing sides. 15. Building as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the distance between the standing sides is smaller than the distance between the flat and curved side. 16. Gutter evidently intended for use in a building as claimed in any of the foregoing claims . 17. Beam evidently intended for use in a building as claimed in any of the claims 13-15.

Inventors: VERMEULEN ARNOLDUS HENRICUS AN, VERMEULEN, ARNOLDUS, HENRICUS, ANTONIUS
Applicants: ROVERO SYSTEMS B V, VERMEULEN ARNOLDUS HENRICUS AN, ROVERO SYSTEMS B.V., VERMEULEN, ARNOLDUS, HENRICUS, ANTONIUS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01G9
IPC codes: A01G9