Improvements in the Construction of Greenhouses and similar. Horticultural Buildings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Greenhouses and similar.
Horticultural Buildings.
I, 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 which relates to improvements in the construction of greenhouses
and similar horticultural buildings has mainly for its object by ensuring greater
portability of the glazed roofing and other parts of the structure to provide
increased facilities for cropping the ground over which a range of greenhouses is
erected.
Under the invention the greenhouses or other structures are made preferably of
steel which may be galvanised as a preventative against rust and they are erected
in ranges or rows having spaces about equal to the width of the houses between
each row.
The roofs which are portable are supported at the ends by fixed standards which
are composed preferably of steel castings but may be built of brickwork, and
through the central part of which hot water piping for heating the buildings is
carried the piping being also stationary.
The roofing is composed of a series of sashes preferably also cast in steel and
secured by bolts to a longitudinal ridge piece which overlaps the upper ends of the
sashes to prevent ingress of moisture, the series of sashes being bolted together at
intervals and their lower ends also secured by bolts to beams resting on the end
standards.
The astragals of the sashes are grooved to receive and carry off moisture and the
glass is laid on strips of rubber or similar soft material placed on the astragals
whilst similar strips are laid over the upper edges of the glass the whole being
secured by ridge plates or caps bolted to the astragals. The end standards or
walls are formed with recesses to receive the vertical side sashes on either side of
the heating pipes the sashes being preferably cast in steel and secured to the
standards by bolts. By this construction after cropping the ground under the roofs
erected at one period the crops grown in the open air in the spaces between the
rows of houses may be covered in by lifting the portable roof of each house,
erecting it over the space adjoining and removing the side sashes from one side to
the opposite side of the piping so as to enclose the latter within the freshly roofed
space whilst leaving the cropped ground open.
Ventilation of the houses is provided for by hinging or pivoting a portion of the
sashes and under the invention the entire series of ventilators in a row or range of
houses is effected by connecting the quadrant or other levers of the ventilators by
short wires to one main wire which is operated by a screw or lever handle placed at
any convenient point.
The wires for lifting the sashes are led over guide pulleys and a second series of
wires also passed round guide pulleys are provided for holding down the sashes
against the action of the wind.
The side sashes may be connected in like manner to the screw or lever to be
opened and closed simultaneously with the roof ventilators or the wires connecting
hem to the screw or lever may be detachable and connected up only when both side
and top ventilation is required.
Dated this Tenth day of November 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Greenhouses and similar
Horticultural Buildings.
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 which relates to improvements in the construction of greenhouses
and similar horticultural buildings has mainly for its object by ensuring greater
portability of the glazed roofing and other parts of the structure, to provide
increased facilities for cropping the ground over which a range of greenhouses,
frames or similar structures is erected.
Under the invention and as represented in the accompanying drawings in cross
sectional elevation at Figure and in side elevation at Figure 2 the greenhouses or
other structures A, A, are made preferably of steel which may be galvanized or
otherwise coated or protected, as a preventative against rust but they may be made
of wood or other material, and they are erected in ranges or rows having spaces B B
between each row.
The roofs which are portable are supported at the lower ends or eaves by fixed
standards C, C which are also made portable and are composed preferably of steel
castings but may be built of brick, stone, wood or other material and through the
central part or along either side of which hot water piping D, D for heating the
buildings is carried, the piping being also stationary or portable as the necessity of
the case may require.
The roofing is composed of a series of sashes or sections E, E preferably also
cast in steel but which may be made of wood or other material and they are secured
by bolts or other fastenings to a longitudinal ridge piece F which may overlap the
upper ends of the sashes to prevent ingress of moisture. The series of sashes or
sections may rest or he supported at each union of the sashes or sections in anchor
tees or other suitable bars or roof rests and which may serve as gutters to carry off
any moisture, the sashes or sections being bolted or otherwise fastened together at
intervals either separately or to the aforesaid anchor tee or other bar or support
and their lower ends also secured by bolts or otherwise fastened to beams H, at the
side or end walls of the houses resting on the side or end standards. The houses,
frames or other structions are bolted or otherwise fastened to deals, bars, or other
bearings which are laid flat on the surface of the ground and preserved or protected
so as to be weather-resisting. The astragals I of the sashes are grooved to receive
and carry off moisture and the glass is laid on strips of rubber or other suitable
material placed on the astragals, whilst similar strips are laid over the upper edges
of the glass, the whole being secured by ridge plates or caps bolted or otherwise
fastened to the astragals. By means of this arrangement provision is made at the
overlaps of the glass so that the panes are kept in a perfectly solid bed, and the
glass and glazing material are secured firmly in position. The end, side or main
standards or walls C, C, are formed with recesses to receive the vertical side sashes
or sections on either side of the heating pipes, the sashes or sections being prefer-
ably cast in steel or they may be made of wood or other material and secured to
the standards by bolts or other fastenings. By this construction double or con-
tinuous cropping can be obtained and the labour and capital reduced to a minimum
as no flower pots are required for the plants the whole of the crops being arranged
and planted in the prepared borders or beds from the seed, or cuttings boxes,
thereby saving a large sum annually in labour and capital.
After cropping the ground under the roofs erected at one period the crops such
as fruit, flowers and vegetables or any other crops that may be grown under glass
and which have been planted out or sown in the prepared borders or spaces and

page_text: which have been grown in the open air during the summer and autumn months in
the spaces between the rows of houses, may be covered in for late or winter
cropping by lifting the portable roofs of each house or structure, erecting it over
the crop which has been grown in. the open air as above described in the space
adjoining and removing the side sashes C, C or sections from the one side to the
opposite side of the hot water piping so as to enclose the latter within the freshly
roofed space thereby securing the crops which have been growing and maturing in
the open air during the summer and autumn months for late and winter harvesting,
whilst leaving the early cropped ground open to be pulverized renewed and
freshened up by winter weather and frosts, and thus preparing for the same rotation
of cropping at the beginning of next spring.
Ventilation of the houses may be provided for by hinging or pivoting a portion
of the sashes or by fixing roof lights or ventilators on to the sashes or sections.
As indicated in dotted lines on the right hand side of Figure 1, the top sashes
instead of being re-erected to form span-roofed houses may be slid down to form
lean-to houses or frames according to the class of crops to be covered, the lower
ends of the sashes resting on low walls or main standards placed about the centre
of the spaces on either side or through the centre of where hot water piping may be
placed to give additional heating power if wanted.
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. The construction and arrangement of greenhouses and similar horticultural
buildings to provide for uncovering them and enclosing spaces left between the
ranges or rows of buildings so as to permit of double cropping of the ground
substantially as described.
2. The construction of greenhouses and similar horticultural buildings with
removable end, roof and side sashes substantially in the improved manner and for
the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 10th day of August 1892
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.