# US 11,297,777 B2 · Apparatus and methods for growing organic matter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,777 B2 - Document ID: US11297777B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/399,884 - Filed: 2019-04-30 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-01 - Applicants: John H. Oberthier - Inventors: John H. Oberthier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297777B2 ## CPC - A01G 9/023: {Multi-tiered planters} - A01G 31/042: {with containers travelling on a belt or the like, or conveyed by chains} - A01G 31/047: {with containers inside rotating drums or rotating around a horizontal axis, e.g. carousels} - A01K 63/006: {Accessories for aquaria or terraria} - B65G 17/16: comprising individual load-carriers which are pivotally mounted, e.g. for free-swinging movement (guides inverting or tilting load-carriers for emptying {B65G47/38; B65G17/20 takes precedence}) - B65G 23/24: Gearing between driving motor and belt- or chain-engaging elements (contained in drums, rollers or wheels B65G23/08) - A01G 9/247: {Watering arrangements} - A01G 9/249: {Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045)} - A01K 63/06: Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish - B65G 2201/0202: Agricultural and processed food products - Y02A 40/25: Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor - Y02P 60/21: Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The present invention relates generally to agricultural growing apparatuses and methods. More specifically the present invention relates to a dynamic, modular, rotating apparatus, and methods related to the apparatus' use and/or function. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for growing organic matter comprising: a first plurality of links wherein at least one link of said first plurality of links is configured to connect with at least a second link of said first plurality of links to form a continuous first link belt; a second plurality of links wherein at least one link of said second plurality of links is configured to connect with a second link of said second plurality of links to form a continuous second link belt; at least one tubing shaft connected to said first link belt and said second link belt; at least one payload carrying station that holds a payload comprising organic matter, wherein said station is connected to said tubing shaft; a plurality of support frames comprised of at least one first support frame and at least one second support frame; wherein at least two first sprockets are connected to said first support frame; wherein at least two second sprockets are connected to said second support frame; wherein each of said first and second sprockets have at least six teeth; said first link belt is configured to engage and rotate said first sprockets; said second link belt is configured to engage and rotate said second sprockets; and at least one of said first sprocket or said second sprocket is actuated by a device to rotate said first link belt or said second link belt. ### Claim 2 An apparatus for growing organic matter comprising: a first plurality of links wherein at least one link of said first plurality of links is configured to connect with at least a second link of said first plurality of links to form a continuous first link belt; a second plurality of links wherein at least one link of said second plurality of links is configured to connect with a second link of said second plurality of links to form a continuous second link belt; at least one tubing shaft connected to said first link belt and said second link belt; at least one payload carrying station that holds a payload comprising organic matter, wherein said station is connected to said tubing shaft; a plurality of support frames comprised of at least one first support frame and at least one second support frame; wherein at least two first sprockets are connected to said first support frame; at least two second sprockets are connected to said second support frame; said first link belt is configured to engage and rotate said first sprockets; said second link belt is configured to engage and rotate said second sprockets; at least one of said first sprocket or said second sprocket is actuated by a device to rotate said first link belt or said second link belt; and at least one outrigger. ### Claim 3 An apparatus for growing organic matter comprising: a first plurality of links wherein at least one link of said first plurality of links is configured to connect with at least a second link of said first plurality of links to form a continuous first link belt; a second plurality of links wherein at least one link of said second plurality of links is configured to connect with a second link of said second plurality of links to form a continuous second link belt; at least one tubing shaft connected to said first link belt and said second link belt; at least one payload carrying station that holds a payload comprising organic matter, wherein said station is connected to said tubing shaft; a plurality of support frames comprised of at least one first support frame and at least one second support frame; wherein at least two first sprockets are connected to said first support frame; at least two second sprockets are connected to said second support frame; said first link belt is connected to said first sprockets; said second link belt is connected to said second sprockets; at least one of said first sprocket or saod second sprocket is actuated by a device to rotate said first link belt or said second link belts; a plurality of base frames comprised of at least one first base frame and one second base frame; at least one first split between at least one said first support frame and at least one said first base frame, wherein said first support frame is removably attached to said first base frame; at least one second split between at least one said second support frame and at least one said second base frame, wherein said second support frame is removably attached to said second base frame; and said support frames are capable of being raised or lowered at said splits. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 3, further comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein said hydraulic cylinder is capable of raising or lowering said support frames. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 3, further comprising at least one mechanical motor, wherein said mechanical motor is cable of raising or lowering said support frames. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 3, further comprising at least one ball bearing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 3, further comprising at least one cable carrier, wherein said cable carrier is connected to at least one said support frame and said base frame. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for growing organic matter comprising: a first plurality of links wherein at least one link of said first plurality of links is configured to connect with at least a second link of said first plurality of links to form a continuous first link belt; a second plurality of links wherein at least one link of said second plurality of links is configured to connect with a second link of said second plurality of links to form a continuous second link belt; at least one tubing shaft connected to said first link belt and said second link belt; at least one payload carrying station that holds a payload comprising organic matter, wherein said station is connected to said tubing shaft; at least one first support frames; at least one second support frames; wherein at least one of said first support frames is configured to attach to at least one of said second support frame and wherein at least two first sprockets are connected to said first and second support frames; at least one third support frames; at least one fourth support frames; wherein at least one of said third support frame is configured to attach to at least one of said fourth support frame and wherein at least two second sprockets are connected to said third and fourth support frames; said first link belt is connected to said first sprockets; said second link belt is connected to said second sprockets; and at least one of said first sprocket or said second sprocket is actuated by a device to rotate said first link belt or said second link belts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 8, further comprising at least one cutout, said cutout configured to receive a through shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 9, wherein said cutoutcomprises at least one slit and kidney-bean shaped pocket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 8, further compris n a least one extender-coupler insert. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus for growing organic matter of claim 11, wherein said extender-coupler insert comprises a partition with at least one guide rail. ### Claim 13 An. method for growing organic matter comprising: connecting a first plurality of links wherein at least one link is configured to connect with at least a second link to form a continuous first link belt; connecting a second plurality of links wherein at least one link is configured to connect with a second link to form a continuous second link belt; connecting at least one tubing shaft to said first link belt and said second link belt; configuring at least one payload carrying station to hold a payload comprising organic matter; connecting said station to said tubing shaft; connecting at least two first sprockets to at least one first support frame; connecting at least two second sprockets to at least one second support frame; connecting said first link belt to said first sprockets; connecting said second link belt to said second sprockets; actuating said at least one of said first sprocket or said second sprocket using a device to rotate at least one said first link belt or said second link belt; removably attaching at least one said first support frame to at least one first base frame; removably attaching at least one said second support frame to at least one second base frame; raising or lowering at least one said first support frame at a first split between said first support frame and said first base frame; and raising or lowering at least one said second support frame at a second split between said second support frame and said second base frame.