US 10,201,122 B2Granted

Large-scale helical farming apparatus

OwnerKevin W. Higginsinventor

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Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods of providing a large-scale farming apparatus that utilizes a helical design for continuous crop production and cultivation. The invention generally embodies a planting material suspended between two material transport assemblies, configured to move down a helical path. In some embodiments, a depositor may deposit soil, seeds, fertilizer, etc. onto the planting material at the top of the helical path. In some embodiments, a harvester may harvest the crops at the bottom of the helical path and discard the soil into a compost housing. The material transport assemblies may travel back to the top of the helical path, creating a continuous path upon which the planting material may travel. A compost transport system may receive the compost from the compost housing, transport the compost upwards to the depositor, and deliver the compost, as fertile soil, back to the depositor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for a vertical farming structure through which crops are allowed to grow as the crops move, the apparatus comprising:

one or more support members;
an inner material transport assembly operatively coupled to the one or more support members;
an outer material transport assembly operatively coupled to the one or more support members;
one or more supplementary transport assemblies operatively coupled to the one or more support members, wherein the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies, and the outer material transport assembly define two or more paths;
and
a planting material comprising two or more planting material portions, wherein each of the two or more planting material portions are operatively coupled to the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies, or the outer material transport assembly to form the two or more paths, wherein the two or more paths for the planting material are separate paths that move independently of each other through use of the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies, and the outer material transport assembly, and wherein the planting material is flexible, such that the planting material may be deformed, and is configured to support the crops as the crops grow;
and
a depositor or a harvester positioned over at least a portion of the planting material, wherein the depositor is configured to deposit soil, seeds, or the crops on at least the portion of the planting material, wherein the harvester is configured to harvest the crops from at least the portion of the planting material;
wherein the crops are planted in a first location within the apparatus, move as the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies;
and the outer transport assembly allow the planting material to move, and are ready for harvesting in a second location within the apparatus.

7 more elements

A method for growing crops in a vertical farming structure as the crops move, the method comprising:

planting seeds for the crops or the crops on a planting material at a first location within an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:
one or more support members;
an inner material transport assembly operatively coupled to the one or more support members;
an outer material transport assembly operatively coupled to the one or more support members;
one or more supplementary transport assemblies operatively coupled to the one or more support members, wherein the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies, and the outer material transport assembly define two or more paths;
and
wherein the planting material comprises two or more planting material portions, wherein each of the two or more planting material portions are operatively coupled to the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies, or the outer material transport assembly to form the two or more paths, wherein the two or more paths for the planting material are separate paths that move independently of each other through use of the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies, and the outer material transport assembly, and wherein the planting material is flexible, such that the planting material may be deformed, and is configured to support the crops as the crops grow;-moving the planting material with the crops along the inner material transport assembly, the one or more supplementary transport assemblies, and the outer material transport assembly;
and
harvesting the crops at a second location within the apparatus after the crops have grown.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/171,791Filed 2 Jun 2016 · continuation in part
Priority: 23 Jan 2015
Published: US 2016/0212946 A122 Sep 2016
Granted: 12 Feb 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A01C 7/20
Sowing: parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
A01D 93/00
Harvesting apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
A01G 9/14
Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses ; Edging for beds, lawn or the like: greenhouses
A01G 9/1423
Greenhouses: greenhouse bench structures