A device for covering a surface includes (a) a covering, each longitudinal edge of which is provided with a projecting element; (b) a rotatably mounted drum suitable for rolling up or unrolling the covering, and movable in translation on rails placed on either side of the surface; (c) a system for continuously locking/unlocking the projecting element in the rails during the translation of the drum. The projecting element includes a multitude of discreet elements distributed along each longitudinal edge separated from one another by an average distance (d).

A greenhouse building has perimeter wall frames constituted by linear materials such as single pipes, and roof frames constituted by tension wires that are extended in a stretched state in the longitudinal and crosswise directions. The tension force of the tension wires is received by the installation surface through anchoring tension wires. Only compression force acts on support posts of the wall frames and substantially no bending force acts thereon. A large building can be easily constructed using linear materials such as single pipes with a small diameter. A large greenhouse with high light receiving efficiency can be easily constructed without using heavy building materials such as steel frame materials.

Thin film housing structures for collecting solar energy, and associated systems and methods. A representative system includes an enclosure having an interior region, the enclosure further having a support structure that includes a plurality of curved portions. The system further includes a flexible, thin film carried by, and fixed relative to, the curved portions, the thin film being positioned to transmit solar radiation into the interior region. A receiver is positioned in the interior region, the receiver carrying a working fluid. A solar concentrator is positioned in the interior region to direct the solar radiation to the receiver to heat the working fluid. A controller is operatively coupled to the solar concentrator and is configured to adjust a position of the solar concentrator based at least in part on a position of the sun.

A greenhouse screen is described with strips of film material that are interconnected by a yarn system of transverse threads and longitudinal threads by means of knitting, warp-knitting or weaving process to form a continuous product is disclosed. At least some of the strips include a film material in the form of a single- or multilayer polyethylene film having a thickness of 10-70 micrometers. Said film has at least 2-4 wt.-% SiO.sub.2 particles having a D.sub.50 of 2-10 micrometers. The film is advantageously used as a screen providing light scattering properties particularly suited for greenhouse applications.

A greenhouse screen is described with strips of film material that are interconnected by a yarn system of transverse threads and longitudinal threads by means of knitting, warp-knitting or weaving process to form a continuous product is disclosed. At least some of the strips include a film material in the form of a single- or multilayer polyethylene film having a thickness of 10-70 micrometers. Said film has at least 2-4 wt.-% SiO.sub.2 particles having a D.sub.50 of 2-10 micrometers. The film is advantageously used as a screen providing light scattering properties particularly suited for greenhouse applications.

The present invention is generally related to a system for growing plants in a controlled environment, and more particularly related to a system for growing plants in a mobile and controlled environment wherein the system may be built from re-purposed or recycled materials such as one or more shipping containers or box trailers. The herein disclosed system for growing plants in a mobile and controlled environment may be utilized in locations which are not normally suitable for growing and harvesting crops, thus benefiting the local populations of historically unproductive areas.

A system for providing an enclosure system with automated light deprivation shade deployment and retraction is described. The system includes a plurality of trusses oriented parallel to each other and including at least a horizontal interior member with two diagonal members extending downwardly from ends thereof and two vertical members extending downwardly from the diagonal members on portions thereof opposite said horizontal member; a shade structure having a fixed edge fixed to one of the trusses and a leading edge; a leader arch coupled to the leading edge and including a horizontal bar extending between two or more diagonal bars at opposite ends thereof, and with vertical bars extending downwardly from the diagonal bars on portions of the diagonal bars opposite the horizontal bar; wires extending longitudinally between the truss members and along lines perpendicular to planes in which the truss members are oriented, and inboard of shade curtains.

A system for providing an enclosure system with automated light deprivation shade deployment and retraction is described. The system includes a plurality of trusses oriented parallel to each other and including at least a horizontal interior member with two diagonal members extending downwardly from ends thereof and two vertical members extending downwardly from the diagonal members on portions thereof opposite said horizontal member; a shade structure having a fixed edge fixed to one of the trusses and a leading edge; a leader arch coupled to the leading edge and including a horizontal bar extending between two or more diagonal bars at opposite ends thereof, and with vertical bars extending downwardly from the diagonal bars on portions of the diagonal bars opposite the horizontal bar; wires extending longitudinally between the truss members and along lines perpendicular to planes in which the truss members are oriented, and inboard of shade curtains.

A radiational cooling film providing a variable wavelength which determines a solar heat shielding rate according to the internal temperature of a facility and changes a wavelength conversion section of the film exposed to sunlight to radiate a necessary wavelength according to the growth stage of plants, and a wavelength conversion device and system using the same are provided. The radiational cooling film providing a variable wavelength includes a base layer including a first region and a second region on one surface, a heat barrier layer disposed on a part of the other surface of the base layer, the first region being provided with the heat barrier layer, and the second region being not provided with the heat barrier layer, and a wavelength conversion layer including a plurality of wavelength conversion sections separated from each other in each of the first region and the second region.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laminated film, a film for protected horticulture, a woven or knitted fabric, and the like which are excellent in durability and can maintain high light transmittance without blocking the growth of plants. A laminated film comprising a heat-ray reflection layer and a surface functional layer on at least one surface of the heat-ray reflection layer, wherein the surface functional layer is formed of a resin composition containing particles and a resin, the particles have an average particle diameter of 4 ?m to 10 ?m, and the particles are contained in an amount of 0.3 parts by mass to 1.5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin.