US3807088A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controlled environment hydroponic system
Assignee: NEW CANDU Inc C/O DEPRIMA AND LUNA 1833 N THIRD STREET PHOENIX AZ 85004
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Filing: 1972-05-01
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1992-05-01
Abstract
Abstract In order to provide optimum environmental conditions for growing plants without soil, a translucent building is utilized to house the plants and apparatus for systematically controlling all aspects of the growing conditions including temperature and humidity of the ambient air, feeding schedules, nutrient makeup including ph, and intensity of the impinging sunlight. The outer shell of the building comprises corrugated fiberglass sheets overlapped and secured in position by means of turnbuckletightened cables passing circumferentially over the building which is generally half-cylindrical in shape. Within the building, the plants are raised in a plurality of longitudinally extending planter beds of washed gravel or the like. Nutrient is periodically pumped from a sump at one end of the building into the planter beds and subsequently, the excess nutrient is allowed to drain back into the nutrient sump. Evaporative pads extend across a second end of the building, and means are provided for selectively dampening the pads and for drawing outside air across them in order to effect humidity and temperature control. A pair of exhaust fans at the opposite end of the building from the evaporator pads draws the outside air across the pads and through the growing chamber. A combination of louvers overlaying the pads, the fans, and temperature and humidity sensors as well as a heaterblower array are coordinated by appropriate electrical interconnections to maintain the temperature and humidity within the building at predetermined levels and provide circulation and replenishment of the air. Spray apparatus is utilized to lay a fine mist over the growing plants on those occasions during which sunlight becomes so intense as to be detrimental to unprotected plants, and can also be used to provide nutrients to the growing plants by foliar feeding.
Inventors
- 👤 J Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:43
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G31/00; A01G31/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/20; Y02P60/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
386 words
A controlled environment hydroponic system including: a. hydroponic plant-growing apparatus, including 1. at least one hydroponic growing bed containing inert plantroot support media, and 2. means for selectively periodically introducing hydroponic plant nutrient solution to said growing bed; b. means translucent to actinic solar radiation forming an enclosure for said plant-growing apparatus; c. environmental conditioning apparatus including 1. an air recirculation system including circulating fan means, for recirculating air in said enclosure, 2. a combination ventilation-cooling-humidifying system for selectively introducing ambient air into said enclosure, circulating said air therethrough, and exhausting said air therefrom in a first mode of operation, and cooling and humidifying ambient air, circulating said cooled and humidified ambient air through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom in a second mode of operation, said combination system including evaporative pad means located in a wall of said enclosure, evaporative cooling water supply means for selectively supplying evaporative cooling water to said evaporative pad means, fan means for passing ambient air from the exterior of said enclosure, through said pad means, through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom, and louver means operatively associated with said evaporative pad means, including an upper louver panel and a lower louver panel; and d. a control system for said environmental conditioning apparatus, including 1. sensor-signaling apparatus including means for sensing the temperature of air in said enclosure and for generating signals when said temperature rises above and falls below preselected levels, means for sensing the humidity of air in said enclosure and for generating signals when said humidity rises above and falls below preselected levels, and 2. means responsive to said sensor-signaling apparatus signals to automatically activate said fan means when said temperature is above a first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically activate said evaporative cooling water supply means only when said temperature is above a second preselected level higher than said first preselected level and said humidity is below a preselected level, to automatically open said upper louver panel when said temperature is above said first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically open said lower louver panel only when said temperature is above said second preselected level, and to automatically activate said air recirculation system at least when said temperature is below said first preselected level and independently of said humidity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
386 words
A controlled environment hydroponic system including: a. hydroponic plant-growing apparatus, including 1. at least one hydroponic growing bed containing inert plantroot support media, and 2. means for selectively periodically introducing hydroponic plant nutrient solution to said growing bed; b. means translucent to actinic solar radiation forming an enclosure for said plant-growing apparatus; c. environmental conditioning apparatus including 1. an air recirculation system including circulating fan means, for recirculating air in said enclosure, 2. a combination ventilation-cooling-humidifying system for selectively introducing ambient air into said enclosure, circulating said air therethrough, and exhausting said air therefrom in a first mode of operation, and cooling and humidifying ambient air, circulating said cooled and humidified ambient air through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom in a second mode of operation, said combination system including evaporative pad means located in a wall of said enclosure, evaporative cooling water supply means for selectively supplying evaporative cooling water to said evaporative pad means, fan means for passing ambient air from the exterior of said enclosure, through said pad means, through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom, and louver means operatively associated with said evaporative pad means, including an upper louver panel and a lower louver panel; and d. a control system for said environmental conditioning apparatus, including 1. sensor-signaling apparatus including means for sensing the temperature of air in said enclosure and for generating signals when said temperature rises above and falls below preselected levels, means for sensing the humidity of air in said enclosure and for generating signals when said humidity rises above and falls below preselected levels, and 2. means responsive to said sensor-signaling apparatus signals to automatically activate said fan means when said temperature is above a first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically activate said evaporative cooling water supply means only when said temperature is above a second preselected level higher than said first preselected level and said humidity is below a preselected level, to automatically open said upper louver panel when said temperature is above said first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically open said lower louver panel only when said temperature is above said second preselected level, and to automatically activate said air recirculation system at least when said temperature is below said first preselected level and independently of said humidity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for selectively periodically introducing hydroponic plant nutrient solution to said growing bed; b. means translucent to actinic solar radiation forming an enclosure for said plant-growing apparatus; c. environmental conditioning apparatus including
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for selectively periodically introducing hydroponic plant nutrient solution to said growing bed; b. means translucent to actinic solar radiation forming an enclosure for said plant-growing apparatus; c. environmental conditioning apparatus including
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
a combination ventilation-cooling-humidifying system for selectively introducing ambient air into said enclosure, circulating said air therethrough, and exhausting said air therefrom in a first mode of operation, and cooling and humidifying ambient air, circulating said cooled and humidified ambient air through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom in a second mode of operation, said combination system including evaporative pad means located in a wall of said enclosure, evaporative cooling water supply means for selectively supplying evaporative cooling water to said evaporative pad means, fan means for passing ambient air from the exterior of said enclosure, through said pad means, through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom, and louver means operatively associated with said evaporative pad means, including an upper louver panel and a lower louver panel; and d. a control system for said environmental conditioning apparatus, including
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
a combination ventilation-cooling-humidifying system for selectively introducing ambient air into said enclosure, circulating said air therethrough, and exhausting said air therefrom in a first mode of operation, and cooling and humidifying ambient air, circulating said cooled and humidified ambient air through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom in a second mode of operation, said combination system including evaporative pad means located in a wall of said enclosure, evaporative cooling water supply means for selectively supplying evaporative cooling water to said evaporative pad means, fan means for passing ambient air from the exterior of said enclosure, through said pad means, through said enclosure and exhausting it therefrom, and louver means operatively associated with said evaporative pad means, including an upper louver panel and a lower louver panel; and d. a control system for said environmental conditioning apparatus, including
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
means responsive to said sensor-signaling apparatus signals to automatically activate said fan means when said temperature is above a first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically activate said evaporative cooling water supply means only when said temperature is above a second preselected level higher than said first preselected level and said humidity is below a preselected level, to automatically open said upper louver panel when said temperature is above said first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically open said lower louver panel only when said temperature is above said second preselected level, and to automatically activate said air recirculation system at least when said temperature is below said first preselected level and independently of said humidity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
means responsive to said sensor-signaling apparatus signals to automatically activate said fan means when said temperature is above a first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically activate said evaporative cooling water supply means only when said temperature is above a second preselected level higher than said first preselected level and said humidity is below a preselected level, to automatically open said upper louver panel when said temperature is above said first preselected level and independently of said humidity, to automatically open said lower louver panel only when said temperature is above said second preselected level, and to automatically activate said air recirculation system at least when said temperature is below said first preselected level and independently of said humidity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |