The embodied invention is a framework and expanding cover for a crop row that is designed to provide an enhanced crop growing environment. The framework design utilizes a top and bottom cover with affordable materials that are suitable for large scale production. The design also includes an irrigation, fertilizer, and CO.sub.2 injection system that provide an enhanced environment for plants to grow. The entire system is reducible to a small package to better facilitate use in a broad variety of environmental and personal situations.

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 set of methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported greenhouse or other structure requiring pressurization and ventilation. A method for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure comprises directing any external wind flow and external wind pressure into mechanical flow means, such as a fan, or fans in parallel, operating in the intake direction, and into the internal space of the air-supported structure and out of the internal space of the air-supported structure through internal pressure regulating exhaust means, whereby the internal space of the structure will be ventilated and pressurized with the assistance of any external wind and the reliability of mechanical flow means (fans). This method allows for the efficient, effective, and economical cooling, through ventilation, of a protected space created by a light permeable membrane (cover), which is supported only by internal air pressure against the weight of the membrane and dynamic pressures of the external wind, itself. Apparatus for directing any external wind flow and external wind pressure into mechanical flow means are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for internal pressure regulation are also disclosed. Some benefits are less power consumption, minimal internal static pressure (just enough to overcome the external wind), less potential film breakage (than conventional frame-supported poly greenhouses), more light transmission, less cost, and more portability.

A reconfigurable butterfly conservatory includes a raised garden base that defines an inner garden area. The raised garden base includes holes for receiving complementary upright poles. The conservatory further includes a canopy structure that includes connectors for receiving the complementary upright poles, wherein the canopy structure includes an air vent and one or more first windows that can be opened and closed. The air vent includes a mesh layer that promotes chrysalis formation. The conservatory further includes a plurality of side walls that are configured for coupling to at least the canopy roof structure for suspending the plurality of side walls such that bottom edges of the side walls are positioned adjacent to the raised garden base to define a hollow interior space that includes the inner garden area. At least one side wall is formed at least substantially of a mesh material.

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.

The present invention relates to a system and method for preventing collapse of a green house by snow load, more particularly, relates to preventing collapsing of the green house due to unexpectedly occurrable heavy snowfall, by calculating the snow load per unit area based on the amount of snow deposited on the green house roofs measured by radar (radio detection and ranging) sensors, by analyzing whether the green house can withstand snow loads by comparing the calculated snow load with structural information of the green house, and by driving a snow removing device according to the result of the analysis, in which the snow removing device comprises a heater, a blower, a vibrator, or the combinations thereof installed in the green house or providing an emergency message to the user terminal held by an administrator.

The present invention relates to a multilayered air permeable laminated heat insulation material and, more specifically, to a multilayered air permeable laminated heat insulation material having reinforced strength while maintaining air permeability, having excellent durability, waterproofness, heat insulation and moisture permeability for a building, and capable of preventing dew condensation.

The embodied invention is a framework and expanding cover for a crop row that is designed to provide an enhanced crop growing environment. The framework design utilizes a top and bottom cover with affordable materials that are suitable for large scale production. The design also includes an irrigation, fertilizer, and CO.sub.2 injection system that provide an enhanced environment for plants to grow. The entire system is reducible to a small package to better facilitate use in a broad variety of environmental and personal situations.

A panel for an agricultural structure, the panel comprising a frame with at least one film sheet joined together alone one edge to form a tube or loop around the frame and shrunk around that frame whereby to a desired extent at ambient temperatures for tension after exposure to a pre-determined combination of temperature and exposure time duration.

Top furling automated retractable greenhouse cover is a retractable cover for a greenhouse that is mounted on top of the greenhouse. Top furling automated retractable greenhouse cover comprises: a spine clamp, a left furling cover assembly, a right furling cover assembly, a hinge pin assembly, and an electrical control box. Left and right furling assemblies each comprise a curtain or cover, a furling rod, a furling motor, and a support arm. Electrical control box sends electronic signals to cause left and right covers or curtains to furl above the greenhouse when retracted and to unfurl down to the ground when extended to cover the greenhouse. The top-mounted design allows efficient use of gravity to apply tension to the furled rolls.