US657987A - Greenhouse construction. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. I8, I900.

J. A KRAMER.

GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION.

(Application filed July 18, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

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No. 657,987. Patented Sept. l8, I900.

J. A. KRAMER. GREENHUUSE CONSTRUCTIUN. (Application filed July 18, 1899.) (No Model.) '3 Sheets8heef Z,

No. 657,987. Patented Sept. l8, I900- J. A. KRAMER. GREENHOUSE GDNSTBUCTION.

' (Application filed July 15, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets8heet 3L UNITED STATES JUDSON A. KRAMER,

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OF MARION, IOWA.

GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 657,987, dated September 18, 1900.

Application filed July 18,1899.

Serial NO- 724,218. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J UDSON A. KRAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Greenhouse Construction; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use-the same.

The main object of this invention is to im prove the construction of greenhouses so as to facilitate their erection, secure a greater relative amount of light, and provide for adjustmentin the height of thebenches. This and other objects are attained by means herein-a after fully set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a general view in perspective of a greenhouse embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the skeleton or framework of one end of such a greenhouse and of one of its benches. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a transverse sectional View illustrating my improvements as applied to a greenhouse composed of a series of equal span sections or divisions. Fig. et is a side view from the right of what would be the left end of the extreme right-hand section of such a composite structure. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a detail view illustrating the construction and arrangement of parts near the eaves. Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the center of a pair of clamps by which nailing-posts are attached to the main tubular wall-posts. Fig. 7 is a central section of the upper end of one of the tubular wall-posts and its rafter-supporting cap. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the clamps used for a bench-support at the wallposts. Fig. 9 is a plan View of a pair of the same in position. Fig. 10 is a side View of one of the forked caps for small posts used as center or intermediate supports for the roof with one of the rafter connections in position. Fig. 11 is a plan View of a cross used for connecting rafters and purlins. Fig. 12 is a side View of a socket-iron used at the lower ends of rafters and at the outer ends of benchbeams. Fig. 13 is a side perspective view of a strut-step adapted for attachment to a roofsupporting post. 7

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. A leading feature in the construction of my improved greenhouse is the employment of tubing or pipe throughout the Whole structure for the framework. This tubing, cut in the proper length, is joined at any desired angle to other parts by means of socketed connections, as will be hereinafter fully described. By the use of these connections and tubing of suitable lengthsit becoln es possible to build agreenhouse of equal or unequal roof span or pitch without any other or adaptation of parts.

Referring now to the drawings, A A designate the outer Wall-posts, which in the case of .the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are of course of diflerent length on opposite sides of the house. In the structure shown in Fig. 3 they would be uniform in length. These are set in cement B in the usual way, being anchored by a transverse pin A or by. other suitable means. The posts for the outer Walls should be uniform in diameter for convenience in applying the siding, two-inch gas- I pipe being ordinarily suitable. In the case of sectional houses like that. shown in Fig. 3 the inner postsA may be smaller, though shown of the same size as the outer ones. It is designed to set the outer wall-posts about four feet apart to give stability to the framework and siding; butthe rafters may connect only with alternate posts,.as shown in Fig. 2. 'Wherever they may be necessary for the proper support of the roof, smaller intermediate posts A are used, suitably embedded in cement. In the absence of tie-beams, which are seldom used in greenhouse construction, these posts will always be used to support the ridge, and in the case of long roof-spans may be employed midway of the rafters, as in Fig. 2. These posts are lettered A to distinguish them from the ridge-supporting posts, the only difference being in length. A preferred form of construction is that shown in Fig. 3, where instead of the posts A diagonal struts C are used, connecting with the ridge or king-post A by a step D.

preliminary fitting At the upper ends of all the posts above described are attached forked socket arms or caps E and E, the only essential difference between them being that the shanks of the caps E are smaller than the oihers, so as to fit smaller pipeone inch, for example. The shank or socket portion E of each cap is provided with a boss E receiving a set-screw E by which the part is securely fast-cued to the post. The lugs E forming the fork, have each a hole E of a suitable size to take a purlin F of one-inch pipe, for example.

The rafters in the case of short spans, as shown at the left in Fig. 2, each consist of a single piece of pipe of the same diameter as the purlins and sockets at each end to connect them with the purlin at the caves and ridge, respectively. The socket G for the lower end of the rafter H is best shown in Fig. 12. This has a socketed shank G to receive the rafter and a transverse hole G to take the pnrlin. Bosses G adjacent to these respective parts of the fitting, are provided with set-screws G and by this means are attached securely to the rafters and purlins. The same fitting serves as a support for the outer end of each bench-beam, as will be referred to later. The socket-iron is of a suitable diameter to pass between the lugs of the post-caps through which pass the purlins, as shown in Fig. 2. It is not absolutely necessary that the part be provided with a set-screw for fastening to the purlin; but by making it as shown in Fig. 12 the same part maybe used for the rafters and the benclnbeams. The upper end of each rafter is provided with a socketiron G which is similar to that just above described except that the upper boss and setscrew are dispensed with and a half of the head is cut away at G, as shown in Fig. 10, so that two rafters may connect with the ridge-purlin between the lugs of the forked cap E. In the case of long spans the rafters are each made of two or more pieces of tubing connected at their adjacent .ends by a cross socket-iron I. (Best shown in Fig. 11.) The cylindrical end portions of this cross are provided with bosses I and set-screws 1 so as to fasten it securely to the oppositely-extending pieces of pipe forming the rafter. Through the enlarged or rather the oppositely-cylindrical-formed middle I is a hole corresponding to the outer diameter of the purlin F. This cross when in position rests between the lugs of one of the intermediate post-caps, as shown in Fig. 2.

Provision is made for the nailing on of the siding J by clamping to the outer posts suitable auxiliary or nailing posts K. These clamps are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 and consist each of a pair of castings L, curved at L to embrace a portion of the cylindrical pipe and at the other end provided with a suitable tang or inwardlycurved end L adapted to embed itself in the side of the timber K. The two parts of the clamp are forced tightly against the sides of the post and the adjacent timber bya bolt M, passing through a hole in each member of the clamp.

The sash-bars N for the roof are attached to the purlins by metallic stirrups O, as shown in Fig. 5. A ridge-board is dispensed with, the abutting ends of the sash-bars being mitered directly to each other, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. At the lower ends the roof sash-bars join the vertical sash-bars of the side wall in the same plane, the projecting lower portion of the roof-glass P forming the cave, as shown in Fig. 5. By this construction all superfluous parts are eliminated, and the greatest possible amount of direct stinlight, in proportion to the size and strength of the structure, is secured.

The construction of the benches is shown in Figs. :2, 8, 9, and 12. Posts Q, which may be of one-inch gas-pipe, are set at suitable points in the same manner as the structural posts. They are of such a length that when the bench is at its highest point the upper ends of the posts will extend some distance above the horizontal supports or cross-bars R, and thus serve as an outer brace for the front board S of the bench. The cross-bars are connected at the outer ends to wall-posts by clamps T. (Best shown in Figs. 8 and 9.) One end of the casting forming each clampiron is similar to that hitherto described and is adapted to partially embrace the tubular post. The other end is concaved at right angles thereto, so as to embrace half of the cross-bar or a little less than half of it. A bolt U, passing through suitable holes in the clamp-irons, holds the parts securely to the post and cross-bar. The socket-iron G, already described, is attached to the inner end of the cross-bar and is fastened at any desired elevation to the post Q. On these cross-bars are laid the flooring-boards of the bench S. The front board S and the back board S may be attached to the adjacent posts by staples or stirrups V. The construction, as will be apparent, is very cheap, simple, and easy of erection. It is also desirable as permitting any desired adjustment in the height of the benches, a frequent requirement in the management of greenhouses. All the operator has to do in making such adjustment is to place jacks at proper points under the benches, loosen the set-screws and nuts, and raise or lower at will;

In Fig. 13 is shown an enlarged view of the step D for the struts shown in Fig. 3. This has a central hub D, provided with a setscrew boss D and wings D provided with suitable bolt-holes D to take the fork at the lower end of each strut. The construction of this fork is substantially the same as that at the upper end of the strut already described, the only difierence being that the forked part need not be so large.

Where the greenhouse is a composite structure, as shown in Fig. 3, the gutter W is con veniently mounted on a series of graduallydescending cross-bars X, secured to the adjacent posts by socket-irons G difiering only from those already described in having a larger hole in case the posts are larger. Where small posts are used, the socket-iron is the same as that used on the bench crossbars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A greenhouse frame or skeleton comprising a series of outer tubular posts, a series of king-posts in transverse alinement therewith, a series of rafters in the same planes as the posts, tubular purlins at the ridge and eaves, and interlocking socket-irons adapted to connect the ends of the rafters with the posts by the\passage through said socket-irons of the purlins, substantially as described.

2. Agreenhouse frame or skeleton comprising a series of outer, tubular posts, a series of kin g-posts in transverse alinem enttherewith, tubular rafters in the same transverse planes as said posls, each of said rafters being composed of two or more pieces, socket-irons connecting the adjacent ends of said pieces of each rafter, and adapted to receive a tubular purlin at right angles thereto, purlins at the ridge, eaves and between the adjacent ends of the sections of each rafter, and socketirons forming interlocking terminals for the posts and rafters, and through which the purlins pass to connect the parts of the frame, substantially as described.

3. A greenhouse frame orskeleton comprising tubular wall-posts, tubular king-posts,tu-- bular rafters, pu rlins and struts, interlocking socket irons forming the terminals of .the posts, rafters and struts, socket-irons connecting the adjacent ends of each part of a rafter, all said socket-irons being adapted to receive said purlins therethrough to bind the parts together, and a step for the lower ends of the struts, adjustable on the king-post, substantially as described.

4. In a greenhouse-frame, the combination of a tubular post, rafter and purlin, of a forked cap for the post, and a socket-terminal for the rafter adapted to lie between the lugs of a forked cap, said post-cap and raftersocket being provided with transverse holes to receive said purlin, substantially as described.

5. In a greenhouse-frame, the combination of a tubular post, purlin and pair of rafters, of a forked cap for the post and a pair of terminal socket-ironsfor the rafters, the lugs of the cap and heads of the socket-irons being provided with holes to receive the purlins, and the heads of the socket-irons being halved together, whereby they may lie between the lugs of the cap and with the rafters in the same plane, substantially as described.

6. In a greenhouse-frame, the combination with a tubular post, purlin, and rafter composed of two or more tubular parts, of a forked cap surmounting the post or strut, and a socket-iron to receive the adjacent ends of the parts of the rafter,said socket-iron having a transverse middle hole to receive the purlin, and the lugs of the cap having similar holes for the same purpose, substantially as described.

7. In a greenhouse, the combination of a tubular outer post, an adjacent wood post to which to nail the siding, and clamps adapted to partially embrace both posts and hold the nailing-post in position, substantially as described.

8. In a greenhouse, the combination with a tubular frame or skeleton, substantially as described, of sash-bars clipped to the purlins, and vertical, side sash-bars extending down therefrom in the same planes as the roof sashbars, the eaves being formed by the projection of the roof-glass, substantially as described. v 9. In a green house,tl1e combination of tubular bench-posts and cross-bars to support the bench-bed, of a pair of clamp-irons adapted to engage one end of each cross-bar and the adjacent post, a retaining-bolt therefor, and a socket-iron fitting the opposite end of each cross-bar and adapted to engage the adjacent post, and provided with set-screws for securing it to the respective parts, substantially as described.

10. In a greenhouse, the combination of a series of opposite, cave-supporting posts, a gutter under the eaves, a series of descending cross-bars to support said gutter, and socketirons attached to the ends of said cross-bars and adapted to slide on said posts and to be secured thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JUDSON A. KRAMER.

Witnesses:

O. H. SANFORD, J. M. ST. JOHN.

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