Technical Field

[0001 ] The invention relates to the field of structures for the protection of crops, such as orchard trees. In particular, the invention relates to an improved retractable orchard tree cover.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Many valuable orchard crops are subject to destruction or degradation by weather conditions, such as rain, wind and frost.

[0003] These conditions always pose a commercial risk to the orchardist. Accordingly, there is increased interest in structures that can provide a level of protection to orchard trees and preserving the quality of the fruit on the trees in inclement weather.

[0004] One of the known types of structures that are useful in this context is a retractable cover that provides overhead protection to the tree when deployed, but which can allow direct sunlight to reach the tree in good weather. Usually these consist of a frame that supports the cover, a cover material that can ‘concertina’ when retracted, and a set of cables or the like that support the cover when deployed, and which provide the track on which the sides of the cover to run during retraction and deployment.

[0005] Such covers are usually heavy and made of large suspended sheets of weatherproof material. They can be very difficult to install and to retract without mechanical assistance. They can also become waterlogged during rain, which can also lead to pooling of large amounts of water on the sheets, which can be dumped on orchard personnel below the cover who may be seeking to retract the cover.

[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a device that ameliorates at least some of the problems associated with the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The invention may be embodied by an improved orchard row cover that is relatively simple to install and retract, and in particular may be readily retracted from multiple rows by a relatively small number of personnel.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a retractable cover for one or more rows of orchard trees or the like, said cover including a canopy that consists of one of more panels of weatherproof fabric, wherein said panels are connected by a plurality of elastic members that extend between the edges of adjacent panels; and wherein said canopy is slidably suspended form a cable or similar that runs parallel to said row of orchard trees.

[0009] Preferably, said panels are rectangular in shape and said connection via said elastic members is between the longer sides of the rectangular shape. Preferably, said elastic members are bungee cords, springs,‘occy’ straps or the like.

[0010] The type of structure described above has a number of advantages over the prior art. It is less likely to be subject to accumulation of water due to the gaps between the panels, while the elastic members allow greater movement of the panels in the breeze, making it more likely that accumulated water will be caused to move and drain from the cover. This arrangement also makes it less likely that humid air will be trapped underneath the cover, possible having a deleterious effect on the tee and the fruit.

[001 1 ] Importantly, the use of the elastic members allows a set of connected panels to be moved more efficiently by a smaller number of operators during retraction and extension. The extra flexibility imparted by the elastic members allows a smaller crew of personnel to progressively move each panel along the support cables without the panels becoming jammed by friction. This obviates the need to more complex mechanical or motorised actuation of the extension/retraction operation.

[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a retractable cover system for rows of orchard trees, incorporating the retractable cover described above, further incorporating one of more pairs of support poles, located at the ends of said rows; a support cable suspended between the tops of said poles; a retraction cable suspended between said poles and located beneath said support cable; wherein said cover is suspended from said support cable by a plurality of roller hooks that connect with a plurality of support loops aligned with the centre of each panel. [0013] Preferably, said roller hooks are also attached to said retraction cable by a connection loop or ring extending from the lower part of said hooks such that the retraction cable passes through said connection loops or rings of each of said roller hooks.

[0014] Preferably, said cover support loops are also connected to said roller via said connection loops or rings, either directly or by way of a connecting member such as a karabiner or the like.

[0015] The above described arrangements allow for a more reliable and free- moving extension and retraction operation.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a roller hook for use in the retractable orchard covering system described above, said roller hook having: a chassis that has two downwardly extending arms each having a front edge and a rear edge; a roller axle located between said arms; a roller mounted on said roller axle; and a lower ring located between said arms and attached to both said arms.

[0017] A roller hook as described above combines simplicity and cost-effective manufacture with very reliable performance.

[0018] Preferably, there is at least one flap extending outward laterally from each of the front and rear edges of both said arms. These flaps assist in avoiding interference and possible jamming between the individual roller hooks.

[0019] Preferably, the outer rolling surface of said roller is concave in profile.

[0020] Now will be described, by way of a specific, non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021 ] Figure 1 is a side schematic view of a retractable orchard cover according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 2 is a top schematic view of a retractable orchard cover according to the invention. [0023] Figure 3 is a set of schematic views of a post cap for use in a retractable orchard cover system according to the invention.

[0024] Figure 4 is a photograph of a portion of a retractable orchard cover system according to the invention, shown in a retracted position.

[0025] Figure 5 is a set of schematic views of a roller hook for use in a retractable orchard cover system according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0026] The invention resides firstly in a new and effective design for a cover that can be incorporated in a retractable orchard cover system and secondly in a new construction of said system.

[0027] The cover consists of a plurality of sets of connected weatherproof sheets that are aligned across a plurality of rows of orchard trees. Each sheet 6 covers part of one tree row. The sheets are suspended from a set of cables that extend along the rows and which are in turn supported between pairs of support poles that are located at the respective ends of the rows. Several sets of connected covers are deployed along the cables to cover the entire row.

[0028] Turning to figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the cover design uses a unique parallel connection to link up all weatherproof covers 6 between different tree rows. The waterproof cover (along centre line 5 of the cover 6) is hooked by the designed roller hooks 3 on the main cable (not shown) approximately along the centre of each tree row. Each roller hook is spaced about 1 m apart at full extension.

[0029] Adjacent covers 6 are attached to one another along adjacent edges. They are adjoined by a set of bungees or springs 4. The bungees/springs 4 are spaced about 1 m apart and are aligned parallel with one another. This type of connection can be copied and expanded to cover as many rows as the orchardist likes.

[0030] The tension of the bungees/springs 6 tends to tighten the waterproof cover substantially. This design can achieve good ventilation because plastic cover is allowed to, for example, be moved and/or penetrated by moving air, with the benefit that humid air is less likely to be trapped beneath the cover, improving the condition of the tree and fruit. [0031 ] The cover system according to the invention in this example uses 60-90mm diameter steel posts 1 to support the main structure. Typically, a 30cm diameter metal disc is welded at the bottom of each post and put 1 m underground to provide sufficient stability. The top end of each pair of posts 1 is connected via a 7.5-8mm steel support cable, that is held in place by a post cap 2. The side posts are fixed by tieback cables and underground anchors which provide 1 .5-2.0 tonnes of tension for each cable.

[0032] Turning to figure 3, there is shown several views of a post cap as used in this example. A steel tube A with an inner diameter of 9mm, which is used to fix the support cable. The support cable runs through the steel tube and is fixed with an anchor head. The installation is convenient and quick.

[0033] A fixed pulley C is located on the side of the steel tube A, slightly lower and in parallel with the steel tube. The retraction cable, that is connected to the weatherproof cover via the roller hooks, passes over the pulley C and extends below the pulley in a horizontal direction.

[0034] The U-shaped slot B is designed to fix the cross-row cable, which connects and stabilises the parallel rows, and is fixed by screws. A ring D is used to connect the tie-back cable on the end posts. E is a nut welded on the top metal cap and to be used to adjust direction and fix top metal cap on post.

[0035] The actual design of the cap may be varied according to the role and position of the posts. For example, the cap on the centre post, frame post and corner post may all be different: the cap for centre post may have two fixed pulleys C on each side of the post but without ring D or tube A; the top metal cap for a corner post may have two rings D for tie-back cables and two tubes A, but no U-shaped slot B. Other configurations may be used at the option of the installer depending on the structure required.

[0036] Turning to figure 4, there is shown part of a system according to the invention, with the cover in a retracted position. It can be seen how the support cable passes through the metal tube and passes through the roller hook above the roller in the roller hooks. It can also be seen that several loops extend upward from the cover panel and are connected the lower ring of the roller hook by a karabiner. It can also be seen that the retraction cable passes also through the ring and over the pulley on the pole cap. [0037] Turning to figure 5, there is shown several views of a roller hook according to the invention and as per shown in figure 4. It can be seen that the support cable J passes through the rolling pulley beneath the roller H. The chassis of the roller hook is enclosed, such that it does not open to allow the extraction of the support cable except by being threaded on to the support cable prior to erection.

[0038] The roller hook can slide freely on the support cable. The roller H is a specially designed stainless steel roller that ensures minimum friction and improved durability. The flaps F that extend outward from the roller hook are design the help avoid mutual interference between adjacent pulleys to prevent jam during retraction.

[0039] There is an attachment ring G welded at the bottom of the roller hook that serves the dual purpose of attaching with the cover loops to hold up the cover(s) as well as aligning with the retraction cable.

[0040] There may be alternative modes to extend/retract the cover: manual and automatic. Both manual and automatic retracting move along the tree row direction and all covers in line along cross row direction move together. The roller hooks as described above can greatly reduce friction to make retraction much easier and quicker, and secondly may assist in avoiding pulleys and/or covers getting stuck or stacked together, which may jam the motion of the extension or particularly of the retraction.

[0041 ] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above described embodiment is merely one example of how the inventive concept can be implemented. It will be understood that other embodiments may be conceived that, while differing in their detail, nevertheless fall within the same inventive concept and represent the same invention.