Covering mechanism for a cold frame

摘要

A mechanism for covering and uncovering a cold frame includes a starting base and a spaced-apart terminal base, a frame, and a cover deployable over the frame starting at the starting base and ending at the terminal base. The cover is wrapped from its midline around a cover shaft rotated by a first drive motor, as cables, attached to the leading edge of the cover, pull it over the frame. Those cables are simultaneously winding themselves around a cable shaft rotated by a second drive motor so that cover remains tight between the cable shaft and the cover shaft. The other end of the cables is secured to the starting base while the trailing edge of the cover is secured to the terminal base. Torque arms extend from the first and second drive motors and their distal ends are pivotally connected.

主权项

1. A device for covering a cold frame, said cold frame including a starting base, a terminal base spaced apart from said starting base, at least two bowed members and at least two purlins holding said at least two bowed members in spaced-apart, aligned relation between said starting base and said terminal base and forming an apex defined by a mid-point between said starting base and said terminal base, said device comprising:
(a) a cover dimensioned to run from said starting base to said terminal base and between said first of said at least two bowed members to said second of said at least two bowed members, said cover having a midline, said cover having a leading edge and a terminal edge, said terminal edge of said cover being attached to said terminal base; (b) a cover shaft oriented perpendicular to said at least two bowed members, said cover shaft having a major axis; (c) a cable shaft oriented perpendicular to said at least two bowed members, said cable shaft having a major axis; (d) a first drive motor coupled to said cover shaft and adapted to rotate said cover shaft about said major axis of said cover shaft; (e) a second drive motor coupled to said cable shaft and adapted to rotate said cable shaft about said major axis of said cable shaft; and (f) at least two cables, each cable of said at least two cables having a first end, a second end and a mid-point, said mid-point of said each cable being attached to said cable shaft, said first end of said each cable being attached to said starting base, and said second end of said each cable being attached to said leading edge of said cover.