System and method for climate control in greenhouses

Claim 2

In a system for controlling the climate in a greenhouse haviNg an opening therein, an elongate tube disposed within the greenhouse and having openings therein spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for supporting the tube within the greenhouse, one end of the tube being in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse, a fan, means for mounting said fan in said greenhouse so that it is in proximity to said opening in said greenhouse but spaced from said opening, said fan being positioned so that its inlet is in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse and so that its inlet is in communication with the interior of the greenhouse, means mounting one end of the elongate tube on the outlet of the fan so that the fan introduces a stream of air into the tube whereby the tube discharges the air substantially uniformly throughout the greenhouse, means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse and an exhaust fan mounted in said greenhouse for exhausting air from the greenhouse.

Claim 3

A system as in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse includes shutter means movable between open and closed positions, and means for operating said shutter means.

Claim 4

In a system for controlling the climate in a greenhouse of the type having walls forming the same with first and second openings in the walls, a shutter assembly mounted in said first opening to control the passage of air through said first opening, an elongate distribution tube mounted in said greenhouse substantially in axial alignment with said first opening, said tube being formed to include a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air in said greenhouse, a first fan having inlet and outlet portions mounted in said greenhouse substantially in axial alignment with said first opening and said tube, said inlet portion facing said first opening and being spaced therefrom by a predetermined space, said outlet portion of the fan being disposed for directing air into said distribution tube, an exhaust fan mounted in said second opening, and control means interconnecting said exhaust fan and said shutter assembly in such manner that said exhaust fan operates when said shutter assembly is open to enhance the flow of outside air through said distribution tube, said control means including temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of said shutter assembly and said exhaust fan according to the temperature in said greenhouse.

Claim 5

In a system for controlling the climate in a greenhouse of the type having walls forming the same with first and second openings in the walls, a shutter assembly mounted in said first opening to control the passage of air through said first opening, an elongate distribution tube mounted in said greenhouse substantially in axial alignment with said first opening, said tube being formed to include a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air in said greenhouse, a first fan having inlet and outlet portions mounted in said greenhouse substantially in axial alignment with said first opening and said tube, said inlet portion facing said first opening and being spaced therefrom by a predetermined space, said outlet portion of the fan being disposed for directing air into said distribution tube, an exhaust fan mounted in said second opening, and control means interconnecting said exhaust fan and said shutter assembly in such manner that said exhaust fan operates when said shutter assembly is open to enhance the flow of outside air through said distribution tube, said control means including temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of said shutter assembly and said exhaust fan according to the temperature in said greenhouse.

Claim 6

A system as in claim 3 together with at least one additional exhaust fan mounted in an oening in a wall of said greenhouse and controlled by said control means.

Claim 7

A system as in claim 4 wherein said at least one additional exhaust fan is connected to said control means in such manner that the number of exhaust fans running is increased when the temperature in the greenhouse reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 8

In a ventilating and circulating air system for a room, a shutter assembly mounted in a wall of said room, a first fan located a predetermined space from said shutter assembly, said fan being exposed to the inside of said room through said space, a tube assembly connected to the discharge of said fan including a plurality of spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air within said room, and a second fan mounted in a wall of said room.

Claim 9

In a ventilating and circulating air system for a room, a shutter assembly mounted in a wall of said room, a first fan located a predetermined space from said shutter assembly, said fan being exposed to the inside of said room through said space, a tube assembly connected to the discharge of said fan including a plurality of spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air within said room, and a second fan mounted in a wall of said room.

Claim 10

A ventilating and circulating air system as in claim 6 wherein said second fan is an exhaust fan.

Claim 11

A ventilating and circulating air system as in claim 6 together with means for selectively opening said shutter assembly and running said second fan during substantially continuous running of said first fan.

Claim 12

In a system for controlling the climate in a greenhouse having an opening therein, an elongate tube disposed within the greenhouse and having openings therein spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for supporting the tube within the greenhouse, one end of the tube being in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse, a fan, means for mounting saiD fan in said greenhouse so that it is in proximity to said opening in said greenhouse but spaced from said opening, said fan being positioned so that its inlet is in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse and so that its inlet is in communication with the interior of the greenhouse, means mounting one end of the elongate tube on the outlet of the fan so that the fan introduces a stream of air into the tube whereby the tube discharges the air substantially uniformly throughout the greenhouse, means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse, an exhaust fan mounted in said greenhouse for exhausting air from the greenhouse, and temperature control means for controlling the operation of said exhaust fan.

Claim 13

In a system for controlling the climate in a greenhouse having an opening therein, an elongate tube disposed within the greenhouse and having openings therein spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for supporting the tube within the greenhouse, one end of the tube being in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse, a fan, means for mounting saiD fan in said greenhouse so that it is in proximity to said opening in said greenhouse but spaced from said opening, said fan being positioned so that its inlet is in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse and so that its inlet is in communication with the interior of the greenhouse, means mounting one end of the elongate tube on the outlet of the fan so that the fan introduces a stream of air into the tube whereby the tube discharges the air substantially uniformly throughout the greenhouse, means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse, an exhaust fan mounted in said greenhouse for exhausting air from the greenhouse, and temperature control means for controlling the operation of said exhaust fan.

Claim 14

In a system for controlling the climate in a greenhouse having an opening therein, an elongate tube disposed within the greenhouse and having openings therein spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for supporting the tube within the greenhouse, one end of the tube being in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse, a fan, means for mounting said fan in said greenhouse so that it is in proximity to said opening in said greenhouse but spaced from said opening, said fan being positioned so that its inlet is in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse and so that its inlet is in communication with the interior of the greenhouse, means mounting one end of the elongate tube on the outlet of the fan so that the fan introduces a stream of air into the tube whereby the tube discharges the air substantially uniformly throughout the greenhouse, means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse, an exhaust fan mounted in said greenhouse for exhausting air from the greenhouse, said means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse including shutter means movable between open and closed positions, means for operating said shutter means, and temperature operated means for operating said shutter means.

Claim 15

In a system for controlling the climate in a greenhouse having an opening therein, an elongate tube disposed within the greenhouse and having openings therein spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for supporting the tube within the greenhouse, one end of the tube being in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse, a fan, means for mounting said fan in said greenhouse so that it is in proximity to said opening in said greenhouse but spaced from said opening, said fan being positioned so that its inlet is in general alignment with the opening in the greenhouse and so that its inlet is in communication with the interior of the greenhouse, means mounting one end of the elongate tube on the outlet of the fan so that the fan introduces a stream of air into the tube whereby the tube discharges the air substantially uniformly throughout the greenhouse, means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse, an exhaust fan mounted in said greenhouse for exhausting air from the greenhouse, said means for controlling the flow of air through the opening in the greenhouse including shutter means movable between open and closed positions, means for operating said shutter means, and temperature operated means for operating said shutter means.

Claim 16

In a ventilating and circulating air system for a room, a shutter assembly mounted within a wall of said room, a first fan located a predetermined space from said shutter assembly, said fan being exposed to the inside of said room through said space, a tube assembly connected to the discharge of said first fan including a plurality of continually spaced openings for distributing jets of air within said room, and a second fan mounted within a wall of said room, said second fan being an exhaust fan,said shutter assembly including motorizing means, said system further including means for actuating said motorizing means and said exhaust fan in response to temperature changes within said room.

Claim 17

In a ventilating and circulating air system for a room, a shutter assembly mounted within a wall of said room, a first fan located a predetermined space from said shutter assembly, said fan being exposed to the inside of said room through said space, a tube assembly connected to the discharge of said first fan including a plurality of continually spaced openings for distributing jets of air within said room, and a second fan mounted within a wall of said room, said second fan being an exhaust fan,said shutter assembly including motorizing means, said system further including means for actuating said motorizing means and said exhaust fan in response to temperature changes within said room.

Claim 18

In a ventilating and circulating air system for a room, a shutter assembly mounted within a wall of said room, a first fan located a predetermined space from said shutter assembly, said fan being exposed to the inside of said room through said space, a tube assembly connected to the discharge of said first fan including a plurality of continually spaced openings for distributing jets of air within said room, a second fan mounted within a wall of said room, and means for controlling the operation of said first fan according to the temperature within said room.

Claim 19

In a ventilating and circulating air system for a room, a shutter assembly mounted within a wall of said room, a first fan located a predetermined space from said shutter assembly, said fan being exposed to the inside of said room through said space, a tube assembly connected to the discharge of said first fan including a plurality of continually spaced openings for distributing jets of air within said room, a second fan mounted within a wall of said room, and means for controlling the operation of said first fan according to the temperature within said room.

Claim 20

In a method for controlling the climate in a greenhouse by the use of a convection tube mounted within the greenhouse, said convection tube extending substantially the entire length of the greenhouse and including a plurality of spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air within the greenhouse, the steps of drawing outside air into the greenhouse through an opening in a wall thereof and forcing said outside air through said convection tube under a positive pressure, drawing air from inside the greenhouse into said convection tube and forcing said air from inside the greenhouse through said tube under a positive pressure, and discharging air from within said greenhouse through an exhaust fan mounted in a second opEning in a wall of said greenhouse while said outside air is being drawn into said greenhouse.

Claim 21

In a method for controlling the climate in a greenhouse by the use of a convection tube mounted within the greenhouse, said convection tube extending substantially the entire length of the greenhouse and including a plurality of spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air within the greenhouse, the steps of drawing outside air into the greenhouse through an opening in a wall thereof and forcing said outside air through said convection tube under a positive pressure, drawing air from inside the greenhouse into said convection tube and forcing said air from inside the greenhouse through said tube under a positive pressure, and discharging air from within said greenhouse through an exhaust fan mounted in a second opEning in a wall of said greenhouse while said outside air is being drawn into said greenhouse.

Claim 22

In a method for controlling the climate in a greenhouse by the use of a convection tube mounted within the greenhouse, said convection tube extending substantially the entire length of the greenhouse and including a plurality of spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air within the greenhouse, the steps of drawing outside air into the greenhouse through an opening in a wall thereof and forcing said outside air through said convection tube under a positive pressure, drawing air from inside the greenhouse into said convection tube and forcing said air from inside the greenhouse through said tube under a positive pressure, discharging air from within said greenhouse through an exhaust fan mounted in a second opening in a wall of said greenhouse while said outside air is being drawn into said greenhouse, monitoring the temperature inside said greenhouse and controlling the operation of the exhaust fan in accordance with said temperature.

Claim 23

In a method for controlling the climate in a greenhouse by the use of a convection tube mounted within the greenhouse, said convection tube extending substantially the entire length of the greenhouse and including a plurality of spaced apart openings for distributing jets of air within the greenhouse, the steps of drawing outside air into the greenhouse through an opening in a wall thereof and forcing said outside air through said convection tube under a positive pressure, drawing air from inside the greenhouse into said convection tube and forcing said air from inside the greenhouse through said tube under a positive pressure, discharging air from within said greenhouse through an exhaust fan mounted in a second opening in a wall of said greenhouse while said outside air is being drawn into said greenhouse, monitoring the temperature inside said greenhouse and controlling the operation of the exhaust fan in accordance with said temperature.