Apparatus And Method For Automated Aeroponic Systems For Growing Plants
AssigneeEconow Systems, LLC
InventorsStephen F. Barker, Yakov Kaplan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention may relate to Aeroponic Systems and their individual elements. More particularly to automated systems capable of monitoring and adjusting some if not all of the light, nutrient, water quality and environmental factors required for the propagation and sustained growth of all types of plants. It may also describe methods to support the plants during propagation from seeds and for growth and harvesting. It may describe various methodologies for reducing space requirements and for increasing plant density without detriment to the growth cycles.
Claims21
A self-contained, compact aeroponic plant growth system comprising:
- a plant movement system external enclosure having an output;
- a circuitous path, continuous growth sequence support movement system within said plant movement system external enclosure;
- a plurality of closely adjacent, movable grow supports having multiple plant placement locations and forming a collective of different selected growth phase maximal spatial density matrices configured in an oval and responsive to said circuitous path, continuous growth sequence support movement system to move in a circuitous path, said plurality of closely adjacent, movable grow supports comprising:
- a first maturity growth phase maximal spatial density matrix of vertically stacked, vertically pivotable, movable vertical plant grow supports;
- a second maturity growth phase maximal spatial density matrix of vertically stacked, vertically pivotable, movable vertical plant grow supports, wherein said second maturity growth phase is adjacent said first maturity growth phase maximal spatial density matrix and is at a different maturity growth phase from said first maturity growth phase;
- and
- a plurality of individual plant growth foundations configured to be placed at each of said multiple plant placement locations and to hold plants,
- wherein said plant movement system external enclosure is configured to allow said plurality of closely adjacent, movable grow supports to be serviced from an end of said oval,
- a centralized plant water supply system configured to supply an aeroponic mist of from 10 to 200 microns for release to an entire vertical stack of said multiple plant placement locations on said plurality of closely adjacent, movable grow supports as said vertical stack passes said centralized plant water supply system, said centralized plant water supply system comprising:
- a U-shaped chamber configured around at least one said vertical stack of said plurality of closely adjacent, movable grow supports, said U-shaped chamber having a top and a bottom;
- at least one injection nozzle body positioned at said bottom of said U-shaped chamber;
- at least one retrieval nozzle body positioned at said top of said U-shaped chamber;
- a high-pressure pump;
- a misting nozzle to provide a 10 to 200 micron mist inside said U-shaped chamber and responsive to a flow of water from said high-pressure pump;
- a fan positioned upstream and above said misting nozzle configured to create a closed loop flow up from said bottom of said U-shaped chamber to said top of said U-shaped chamber;
- and
- condensate tube positioned at said bottom of said U-shaped chamber;
- nutrient supply system configured to supply nutrients for release to said multiple plant placement locations on said plurality of closely adjacent, movable grow supports;
- and
- a distributed light supply system configured to supply select wave lengths of light to each of said multiple plant placement locations on said plurality of closely adjacent, movable grow supports.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.