Improvements in Greenhouses and other Horticultural Structures.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st May. 1595-Accepted, 31s' Aug.. 1975
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Greenhouses and other Horticultural Structures.
1, THOMAS MAIN, of Dumbuck, Bowling, in the County of Dumbarton,
Market Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is a development of the improvements in greenhouses and like
horticultural structures described in the Specification of Letters Patent Nos. 19511
of 1891 and 20179 of 1893, and it has for its object to render such or other
structures more portable or reversible so as to make them easily removable either
in whole or in part with or without the beating apparatus, boilers, or pipes, to
provide for the covering and uncovering at certain periods of any kind of crop
which can be grown, protected or forced under glass or other horticultural
structures in order to facilitate successive cropping of the ground over which they
are placed, and to give the best and most profitable results at the minimum of cost.
Under my present invention the vertical sides, roofs, or sections of such
structures are supported upon rollers carried in bearings or in channel or trough-
like sole plates resting on suitable piers or foundations so that the structure may be
transferred bodily or in sections from one piece of ground to an adjoining piece, or
the roof alone is supported on rollers in channel plates fitted on the side walls or
fraining of the structures so that the roofing may be transferred in like manner to
cover in ground adjoining that from which it is removed; or both roof and side
wails or framing may be thus supported so that either or both may be readily
transferred either in a lateral direction or longitudinally or in any other convenient
manner from point to point.
The side walls or side framing of the structures which may be composed of iron
or steel or of wood or other material galvanized, coated or otherwise preserved or
protected are fitted with removable or pivoted sashes or sections adapted to enclose
the hot water piping from either side, and may or may not be fitted at their bases
with longitudinal rods or rails bearing upon the rollers, these rods or rails extending
under or close to the side of the channels or bearings containing the rollers so as
to avoid leaving open spaces for the ingress of cold air. Ball bearings may be
substituted for rollers, or used in conjunction with the rollers as part of my inven-
tion. The upper ends of the side walls or framing carry longitudinal channel plates
in the vertical sides of which or in any other convenient way the rollers have
their bearings and the eaves of the roof are formed with sole plates, strips, or bars
resting on the rollers with their edges in proximity to the sides of the channels to
form comparatively close joints.
By these arrangements the entire structures or the roofing or vertical sides
respectively in sections may be traversed longitudinally, but provision may be made
for traversing them in a lateral or any other convenient manner by fitting the
rollers to swivel upon centres or by employing balls in lieu of rollers, said balls
resting in V-shaped or other suitable grooves in the sole or other bars on channel
plates, so that open crops either at the ends sides or between rows of glass or other
structures may be covered in as required.
For the purpose of covering in spaces between rows of the glass or other
structures as described in the Specification of my Patent No. 19511 of 1891 [
prefer to adapt the roofs for reversal, the parts constituting the roofs over the
covered crops in the alternate spaces being swung over to meet and form the roofs

page_text: over the crops grown in the adjoining uncovered spaces. For this purpose the
roof sashes or sections are pivoted at the eaves to pins, tubes, rods, or hinge pieces
on cross rods or bars in the troughs or channel plates resting on the side walls, and
the ridge pieces are so shaped that a tight joint is formed by them where the
adjoining sashes or sections meet, and are tied by tie rods or bars or other convenient
fastenings on to the sashes or sections. Suitable channels are formed in the joint
and outside it on the ridge pieces to carry off rain and moisture and strips of
rubber or other suitable material may be interposed at the joint to constitute a
watertight cushioning.
In the case of the reversible structures the panes butt edge to edge being
properly fixed and they are secured to the astragals by means of strips of zinc or
other metal both on the upper and under side these strips being bent to form a
gutter or channel so that when the roof and side sashes or sections are turned over
from one house or structure on to the reverse house or structure the drip or
condeused moisture from either side of the glass is carried off in the gutter or
channels thus formed thereby making provision for the safe preservation of
valuable plants which are often very much injured by drip.
The roof ventilators are fitted to swing on swivel centres near the ridge, the
lower ends being secured when the ventilator is closed by means of fillets, strips
of wood or bars of iron fitted in grooves on either side of the ventilators.
Dated this 31st day of July 1894.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
Improvements in Greenhouses and other Horticultural Structures.
I, THOMAS MAIN, of Dumbuck, Bowling, in the County of Dumbarton,
Market Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention is a development of the improvements in greenhouses and like
horticultural structures described in the Specification of Letters Patent Nos. 19511
of 1891 and 20179 of 1893, and it has for its object to render such or other
structures more portable or reversible so as to make them easily removable either
in whole or in part with or without the heating apparatus, boilers or pipes, to
provide for the covering and uncovering at certain periods of any kind of crop
which can be grown, protected or forced under glass or other horticultural
structures in order to facilitate successive cropping of the ground over which
they are placed, and to give the best and most profitable results at the minimum
of cost.
Under my present invention the vertical sides, roofs or sections of such structures
are supported upon rollers carried in bearings or in channel or trough-like sole
plates resting on suitable piers or foundations so that the structure may be
transferred bodily or in sections from one piece of ground to an adjoining piece, or
the roof alone is supported on rollers in channel plates fitted on the side walls or
framing of the structures so that the roofing may be transferred in like manner to
cover in ground adjoining that from which it is removed; or both roof and side
walls or framing may be thus supported so that either or both may be readily
transferred either in a lateral direction or longitudinally or in any other convenient
manner from point to point.
The side walls or side framing of the structures which may be composed of iron
or steel or of wood or other material galvanized, coated or otherwise preserved or
protected are fitted with removable or pivoted sashes or sections adapted to enclose

page_text: the hot water piping from either side, and may or may not be fitted at their bases
with longitudinal rods or rails bearing upon the rollers, these rods or rails extending
under or close to the side of the channels or bearings containing the rollers so as
to avoid leaving open spaces for the ingress of cold air. Ball bearings may be
substituted for rollers, or used in conjunction with the rollers as part of my inven-
tion. The upper ends of the side walls or framing carry longitudinal channel
plates in the vertical sides of which or in any other convenient way the rollers
have their bearings and the eaves of the roof are formed with sole plates, strips or
bars resting on the rollers with their edges in proximity to the sides of the channels
to form comparatively close joints.
By these arrangements the entire structures or the roofing or vertical sides
respectively in sections may be traversed longitudinally, but provision may be
made for traversing them in a lateral or any other convenient manner by fitting the
rollers to swivel upon centres or by employing balls in lieu of rollers, said balls
resting in V-shaped or other suitable grooves in the sole or other bars on channel
plates, so that open crops either at the ends, sides or between rows of glass or other
structures may be covered in as required.
For the purpose of covering in spaces between rows of the glass or other
structures as described in the Specification of my Patent No. 19511 of 1891 I
prefer to adapt the roofs for reversal, the parts constituting the roofs over the
covered crops in the alternate spaces being swung over to meet and form the roofs
over the crops grown in the adjoining uncovered spaces. For this purpose the
roof sashes or sections are pivoted at the eaves to pins, tubes, rods or hinge pieces
on cross rods or bars in the troughs or channel plates resting on the side walls, and
the ridge pieces are so shaped that a tight joint is formed by them where the
adjoining sashes or sections meet, and are tied by tie rods or bars or other con-
venient fastenings on to the sashes or sections. Suitable channels are formed in
the joint and outside it on the ridge pieces to carry off rain and moisture and strips
of rubber or other suitable material inay be interposed at the joint to constitute a
watertight cushioning.
In the case of the reversible structures the panes butt edge to edge being
properly fixed and they are secured to the astragals by means of strips of zinc or
other metal both on the upper and under side these strips being bent to form a
gutter or channel so that when the roof and side sashes or sections are turned over
from one house or structure on to the reverse house or structure the drip or
condensed moisture from either side of the glass is carried off in the gutter or
channels thus formed thereby making provision for the safe preservation of valuable
plants which are often very much injured by drip.
The roof ventilators are fitted to swing on swivel centres near the ridge, the
lower ends being secured when the ventilator is closed by means of fillets, strips of
wood or bars of iron fitted in grooves on either side of the ventilators.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a cross
section of four houses constructed according to my invention. A, A, are the two
covered houses with glass roofs, B, B, are the two adjoining or open houses in
which may be grown any kind of fruits, flowers, salads or vegetables, for example,
tomatoes, strawberries, roses, narcissus, French beans, etc. during the summer aud
autumn months in the open air, the roofs from the houses A, A, being removed or
turned over on to the crops growing in the spaces B, B, before the cold weather
begins.
C is the roof channel or gutter in which the rollers, ball bearings, or wheels are
placed and arranged for shifting the structures either laterally or longitudinally in
one or more sections as found most expedient. D, D, represent the side framework
or main standards of the two houses A, A, the standards being preferably made of
two pieces of steel or angle iron bound together with small castings D' and fitted
with rails or bars, wheels, rollers or ball bearings as shewn by detail at Figs. 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 9 and 10, of the drawings. Into the angles in the standards are placed the
side sashes or sections which form the outside of the houses A, A, as shown by the

page_text: dotted lines at D², Figure 1. When the glass roofs are shifted or turned over from
the houses A, A, on to the adjoining open houses B, B, the side sashes or sections E
are then swung over to the opposite side of the heating pipes F, F1, thus forming
the sides of the houses B, B, and thereby euclosing the hot water pipes F, F, in
the houses B, B. By this method one set of heating apparatus and one set of glass
structures only are required to cover two sets of houses which thereby have, first,
the pecuniary advantage of continuous or double cropping at a minimum of
expenditure as no pots, tubs or boxes are necessary, the crops being ail planted in
the open ground, and second, the incalculable advantage of having the ground
systematically and periodically laid open to the fertilizing, renewing, and vermin
and fungus destroying effects of the atmosphere and winter frosts. F, F, shows
the hot water pipes in their position in the main standards D which are placed at
intervals at the junction of each section as shown at Fig. 2, only one flow and one
return is shown but as many more as are necessary for the heating of particular
kinds of glass structures can be put into the standards but in houses such as are
shown at Fig. 2, four pipes i.e., two flow and two return pipes will be quite sufficient
for ordinary heating purposes.
G is the foundation or railroad of the structures as
shewn in detail at Figs. 3, 7 and 10.
Fig. 2 represents ten sections of one style of glass structure joined together.
a are the right hand roof sashes or sections, the right hand side sashes or sections
arranged to open, c the left hand side sashes or sections, d the left hand roof sashes
or sections, e the roof ventilators, and and g the left and right hand foundations
or rail roads of the structures. As shewn at Fig. 3 rollers are journalled either to
the roof or to the foundation part of the structure to permit of moving the roof or
the whole structure either laterally or longitudinally. F, F, shews the hot water
pipes in position these being made with expansion joints in lengths suitable for the
sections so that they may be easily and expeditiously uncoupled at any joint, and
one or more sections moved either singly or in a body carrying the hot water pipes
along with them. The roofs may be removed or shifted by themselves either in
one or more sections by continuing in a straight line the main standards and gutters
and moving the roof longitudinally, or they may be moved laterally on to the
adjoining open house by temporarily fixing the rails to carry the roof across the
intervening space upon wheels or rollers secured in the channels as shewn at Fig. 3,
which represents a detail of the bottom part of a main standard with a turn-table
roller having a short strong screw in the centre part of the table for lowering or
raising the roller, so as to free it or bring it tight up against the lower part of the
roller frame. By this method the rollers can be turned in any direction so as to
carry the structures into any place or position. D is the standard proper, D³ the
bottom casting, the creosoted wood batten or runner on to which the main standard
is fixed, the rails fixed on under side of the batten j, the grooved roller, m the
upper part of cast iron frame in which the roller / turns, n the lower part of cast
iron roller frame which can be fixed on to wood, brick, stone or concrete, o the
turning table between the upper and lower parts in, n, of the cast iron frame, and
p the bolt which binds the roller frame to the foundation.
Fig. 4 shews the centic part of main standard with the hot water pipes fixed in
position. D is the main standard proper, F the flow hot water pipe, D small
cast iron pipe rests fixed to angles of main standards and F' the hot water return
pipe.
Fig. 5 is a detail at top end of main standard D shewing the roller fixed into the
channel or gutter and shewing one example of how the roofs may be moved along
either in one or more sections. 4 is the roof astragal, r the sole runner of roof
section, the cast iron roller, m the channel or gutter, D₁ the top casting, and D the
main standard.
Fig. 6 shews an example of how ball bearings may be applied to Fig. 5 instead of
rollers as shown,
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but without the turn table as shewn in the
latter figure.

page_text: Fig. 8, Sheet 2 represents the same properties and advantages as the example
illustrated by Fig. 1, but the roof instead of being shifted or moved on rollers,
wheels or ball bearings is reversed or turned over in sections from the houses A, A,
from which the crops have been gathered over the crops in the open spaces B. B,
which have been grown during the summer and autumn months thus protecting and
securing the crops for maturing and harvesting. A are the space covered by the
glass roofs, B are the open spaces, in the gutter or channel, the reversing sashes
each forming one side of the houses A said sashes being reversed when the roofs
are turned over to the houses B, F the hot water pipes, H the foundation or rail
road part of structures provided either with rollers, wheels or ball bearings as
desired.
Fig. 9 is a detail of the eaves or gutter of Fig. 8 showing the roof reversing
shews how the
sashes pivoted to a cross iron bar fixed in the channel or gutter.
reversing roof sashes lie in position, u the position of reversing roof sash when
turned over on to the adjoining space or house, v the iron bars to which the roof
reversing sashes are pivoted, m the channel or gutter made preferably of steel or
any similar material galvanized or otherwise coated as a preventative against rust,
D' the top casting, D the main standard.
Fig. 10 the bottom part of the main standard shewing one example of how the
ball bearings may be applied. F the hot water flow pipe, Fl the hot water return
pipe, D' the cast iron pipe rests, D³ the bottom casting, k the creosoted wood battens
or runners, and r the ball bearings.
Fig. 11 is a detail of the ridge, Figure 8. a' is the ridge proper formed with a
groove in which india rubber strips or other substance is inserted to prevent the
ingress of moisture and which when reversed serves as a small gutter for the same
purpose, the side astragals of reversing sashes, c' the pivoted ventilators, which
in either direction when the houses are reversed, d' the grooves for the glass,
open
the cross bar for ventilator plates or bars to rest on. thin iron bars or plates
for supporting the ventilator and preventing ingress of moisture, and g' bolt holes
for a reversible tying baulk.
Fig. 12 represents the joining or union of any two of the reversible roof sashes,
and h', ', one example of side astragals adapted for the reversing roof sashes.
When these two astragals are brought together as shewn they form a close fitting
junction at and any moisture that may enter through the outside junction runs
off by the centre groove k¹. 1, m³, are metal runners formed in the shape of gutters
which serve the double purpose of holding the glass n¹ in position and of acting as
a gutter or run for carrying off water or underside moisture, the glass being exactly
in the centre of the astragal and provided with a gutter on either side will thus
drain off moisture, no matter how the sashes are reversed.
Fig. 13 shows one example of a centre astragal for the roof reversing sashes the
glass being held in exactly the same position and the gutters formed as in Fig. 12.
o is the astragal proper, pl, q', are the gutters and shows the glass held in position
by the metal runs or gutters.
Fig. 14 is a full sized drawing of a metal clip, which may be used as shown at
the junctions of the glass panes to prevent the ingress of moisture which would
occur in the case of reversing roof sashes, (Figure 8), unless provision of this kind
was made as the glass cannot be overlapped as is done in the case of glass roofs
which are constantly kept with the same side of the glass outwards. ', t', show
the glass in position, and the metal clip above referred to.
Fig. 15, Sheet 3, shows a block or range of forcing frames for placing over
A¹ are the
strawberries, narcissus and other fruit, flower and vegetable beds.
reversing sashes which can be opened either from top or bottom, B' the spaces in
which the crops are grown, C¹ the main standards carrying hot water pipes.
Fig. 16 shows a block or range of forcing frames as at Fig. 15 with this difference
that spaces or passages are left between each forcing frame for the purpose of
working the frames from the outside. El are the spaces in which the crops are
grown G the foot passages between the frames, H' the main standards and J' the

page_text: reversing sashes pivoted either at top or bottom and arranged to open either at
the ridge or at the eaves as found most convenient for the working of the
therein.
crops
Fig. 17 is a combination of the principle of my invention showing a span roofed
house as illustrated and described in my Patent No. 19511 of 11th November, 1891.
K' is the span roofed house, L' the roof sash or section pulled down over the space L
and resting on short main standard M thus forming a side pit or frame into which
the heat from the hot water pipes in the standards may be diverted N shows the
principle applied to a lean-too house. O is the apex at which is arranged rollers,
wheels or balls for moving the roof sections along the brick wall P. Q shews one
arrangement of an apparatus for pulling the sashes up either at the top or bottom
and R is the chain or rope used for this purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A greenhouse or like structure constructed as described and adapted to be
moved in sections or otherwise over a foundation carrying rollers, wheels or balls on
which the greenhouse or like structure or its roof is supported substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
2. A greenhouse or like structure constructed as described the roof of which is
adapted to be reversed or turned over upon an adjoining uncovered space
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A greenhouse or other horticultural structure with reversing sashes or
framework composed of side and centre astragals with metallic strips or gutters for
holding the glass in position and grooves which form a gutter to draw off moisture
at the union or junction of any two sashes the junctions of the respective sashes
being thus neatly jointed and rendered water tight substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 30th day of April 1895.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.