VERTICAL PLANT GROWING INSTALLATION AND MULTI-STORY FARM COMPRISING VERTICAL PLANT GROWING INSTALLATIONS

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of agriculture, and more specifically, to plant growing installations and to multi-story (vertical) farms (20) for cultivating plants in artificial conditions. According to the invention, there is proposed a vertical plant growing installation (21) comprising: a lengthwise extended rack stack (1) having two bearing surfaces (1a, 1b) positioned at a small angle with respect to the vertical; two artificial soil sheets (3) securable to the bearing surfaces of the rack stack, each sheet being designed with a possibility of feeding thereto, and evacuating therefrom, a nutrient liquid and including at least a lower isolating layer (10), a water-retaining layer (11), a fertile layer (12), and an upper isolating layer (13) having perforations made therein; and two seeding sheets (4) comprising a plurality of seeds (4a) and placed above the artificial soil sheets, so as to provide contact between the seeds and the fertile layer of the artificial soil sheets. An object of the invention is also a multi-story farm (20), whose windowless levels (20a, 20b) have mounted thereon a plurality of said vertical plant growing installations (21).

Claims

1. A vertical plant growing installation comprises: a lengthwise extended rack stack having two bearing surfaces connected to each other at their upper edge, each positioned at a small angle with respect to the vertical and provided with means for securing an artificial soil sheet; two artificial soil sheets designed with a possibility of securing them to the bearing surfaces of said rack stack, each artificial soil sheet being designed with a possibility of feeding thereto, and evacuating therefrom, a nutrient liquid and including at least the following layers: a lower isolating layer, a water-retaining layer, a fertile layer, and an upper isolating layer having perforations made therein; and two seeding sheets, each comprising a plurality of seeds and designed to be placed above the upper perforated isolating layer of the corresponding artificial soil sheet, so as to provide contact between the seeds contained in the seeding sheet and the fertile layer of the artificial soil sheet.

2. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 1, wherein the means for securing the artificial soil sheet to the bearing surfaces of the rack stack have the form of a plurality of supporting studs equally spaced over the bearing surface and mounted perpendicular to this latter, each artificial soil sheet being provided with through holes intended to receive said supporting studs.

3. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 2, wherein said supporting studs provided on the bearing surfaces of the rack stack and, consequently, the through holes made in the artificial soil sheets are designed so as to form rows.

4. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 1, wherein each artificial soil sheet additionally includes at least three reinforcing layers arranged, respectively, between the lower isolating layer and the water-retaining layer (11), between the water-retaining layer and the fertile layer, and between the fertile layer and the upper perforated isolating layer.

5. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 4, wherein each of said reinforcing layers is made in the form of a grid of electrically conductive metal.

6. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 5, wherein there is maintained, between the reinforcing layers positioned above and below the fertile layer of artificial soil sheets, a predetermined electric potential difference.

7. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 1, wherein the upper perforated isolating layer of artificial soil sheets comprises a plurality of sowing holes that ensure contact between the seeds contained in the corresponding seeding sheet and the fertile layer.

8. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of holes in the upper perforated isolating layer correspond to the plurality of seeds in the seeding sheet, so that when placing the seeding sheet above the upper perforated isolating layer, the seeds will be accommodated in the corresponding sowing holes, thus obtaining their contact with the fertile layer of the artificial soil sheet.

9. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 1, wherein the angle is about 5.

10. The vertical plant growing installation according to claim 1, wherein the rack stack height is about 5 m.

11. A multi-story farm having at least two windowless levels, wherein each level has mounted thereon: a plurality of vertical plant growing installations according to claim 1; means for feeding plant nutrition liquid into the artificial soil sheets secured on the vertical plant growing installations and for evacuating the liquid therefrom; means for providing suitable lighting and microclimate conditions; means for arranging the seeding sheets on the plant growing installations; means for harvesting plants from the plant growing installations; and control means) for monitoring and automating the operation of other means used in the multi-story farm.

12. The multi-story farm according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of vertical plant growing installations are arranged on each level of the farm, thus forming rows.

13. The multi-story farm according to claim 11, wherein the means for arranging the seeding sheets on the plant growing installations are designed with a possibility of expanding the seeding sheets above the artificial soil sheets while simultaneously watering the seeding sheets, thus putting the seeds contained therein into contact with the fertile layer of artificial soil sheets.

14. The multi-story farm according to claim 13, wherein the means for arranging the seeding sheets are additionally designed with a possibility of removing the seeding sheets from the artificial soil sheets.

15. The multi-story farm according to claim 11, wherein each level of the farm additionally comprises a system for processing and/or unloading the harvested plants, the harvesting means provided on each level of the farm being designed with a possibility of automatically harvesting the plants from the vertical plant growing installations and transporting the harvested plants into the system for processing and/or unloading the harvested plants.

16. The multi-story farm according to claim 15, wherein it is substantially an independent system configured to yield a harvest of plants for a long period without introducing any means or materials from outside.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Various embodiments of the invention will be described below more in detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a rack stack of the vertical plant growing installation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an artificial soil sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view representation of a level of the multi-storey farm according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a rack stack 1 of the vertical plant growing installation according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. As visible in this figure, the plant growing installation comprises a lengthwise extended rack stack 1 having two bearing surfaces 1a and 1b connected to each other at their upper edge, each positioned at a small angle with respect to the vertical and provided with means 3 for securing an artificial soil sheet.

[0035] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the plant growing installation rack stack 1 possesses the following geometrical parameters: the angle between the bearing surfaces of the rack stack 1 and the vertical is about 5, the rack stack height H is about 5 m, and the length L of this rack stack is chosen depending on parameters of the task to be solved, e.g. according to the dimensions of the multi-storey farm's level. This length may be from units to tens, even to hundreds of meters. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention is not limited to the above-indicated geometrical parameters of the plant growing installation and the rack stack. On the contrary, specialists may vary such parameters and adapt them depending upon the problem situation without departing from the scope and essence of the invention, provided that the claimed technical effect is achieved.

[0036] The bearing surfaces 1a and 1b of the rack stack 1 have mounted and fixed thereon, with the help of the securing means 2, two multilayer sheets 3 of artificial soil that include, as shown in FIG. 2, at least the following layers: a lower isolating layer 10, a water-retaining layer 11, a fertile layer 12, and an upper isolating layer 13 having perforations made therein. Each sheet 3 is designed with a possibility of feeding thereto, and evacuating therefrom, a nutrient liquid. Feeding the liquid into the sheet 3 may be carried out e.g. by means of a system for irrigating the water-retaining layer, which system is composed of a recipient with nutrient liquid, ducts connecting the recipient with the water-retaining layer 11 of the sheet 3 (e.g. via the lower isolating layer 10), and pumping means. The liquid evacuation from the sheet 3 may be carried out by means of an appropriate draining system. The irrigating and draining systems may be implemented using any suitable method known from the prior art, either as a single system or separately, as a part of the plant growing installation, or else can make part of the equipment present on a level of the multi-storey farm, depending on the requirements and conditions of the specific task to be solved. Preferably, feeding the liquid into the artificial soil sheets and its evacuation therefrom will be carried out under the surveillance of appropriate control means (such as, for example, control means provided on a level of the multi-storey farm) that will ensure an optimal scheme of nutrition of the plants cultivated in plant growing installations.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the artificial soil sheets 3 have placed thereon, above the upper perforated isolating layer 13, seeding sheets 4, each comprising a plurality of seeds 4a (filed circles on FIG. 2), preferably equally spaced over the surface of the sheet 4. With such structure, the perforations of the upper isolating layer ensure the contact between the seeds 4a and the fertile layer 12 of the artificial soil sheet.

[0038] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the upper perforated isolating layer 13 of the artificial soil sheets 3 comprises a plurality of sowing holes 13a (square-shaped areas in FIG. 2) that ensure contact between the seeds 5a and the fertile layer 12. In particular, in accordance with a preferred modification, said plurality of holes 13a made in the upper perforated isolating layer 13 correspond to the plurality of seeds 4a in the seeding sheet 4, so that when placing the seeding sheet 4 above the upper perforated isolating layer, the seeds 4a will be accommodated in the corresponding sowing holes 13a, thus obtaining their contact with the fertile layer 12 of the artificial soil sheet. The above-described variant of implementing perforations in the upper isolating layer 13 of the artificial soil sheet is only a preferred solution, which does not limit, by any means, the scope of the claimed invention. Indeed, perforations may be also made using any other suitable technique capable of ensuring contact between the seeds 4a and the fertile layer 12.

[0039] As represented in FIG. 1, the means 2 for securing the artificial soil sheet to the bearing surfaces 1a, 1b are made in the form of a plurality of supporting studs 2 equally spaced over the bearing surface 1a, 1b and mounted perpendicular to this latter, whereas each artificial soil sheet 3 is provided with through holes 3a intended to receive the above-mentioned supporting studs 2 as shown in FIG. 2. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, said supporting studs 2 provided on the bearing surfaces of the rack stack 1 and, consequently, the through holes 3a made in the artificial soil sheets are designed so as to form rows. However, the invention is not limited to the variant contemplating the implementation of the means 2 for securing artificial soil sheets as supporting studs. Any other modifications of implementing the securing means 2 are well possible provided they will not affect the scope of the invention nor depart from its scope.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, each artificial soil sheet 4 additionally includes at least three reinforcing layers 14 arranged, respectively, between the lower isolating layer 10 and the water-retaining layer 11, between the water-retaining layer 11 and the fertile layer 12, and between the fertile layer 12 and the upper perforated isolating layer 13. It is preferable that each of the above-mentioned reinforcing layers 14 is made in the form of a grid of electrically conductive metal. Metals used for fabricating the reinforcing grids 14 are preferably chosen based on the requirement to create between the grids 14, and at least between layers surrounding the fertile layer 12, an electric potential difference. Thus, in particular, the reinforcing grids 14 may be made of metals spaced with respect to hydrogen in the Mendeleev's periodic table. For example, the grid placed between the water-retaining layer 11 and the fertile layer 12 may be made of copper, and that provided between the fertile layer 12 and the upper perforated isolating layer 13, of aluminum.

[0041] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, there is maintained, between the reinforcing layers (grids) 14 positioned above and below the fertile layer 12 of artificial soil sheets 3, a predetermined electric potential difference, which is necessary for intensifying the plant growth.

[0042] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a multi-storey farm 20 according to an embodiment of the invention. This farm 20 has at least two levels 20a, 20b, each of which supports a plurality of vertical plant growing installations 21 according to one of the above-discussed embodiments. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of vertical plant growing installations 21 are arranged on each level of the farm 20 in such a manner that they form rows, which allows the planting density per unit area to be maximized.

[0043] The levels of the farm 20 are made without windows. This permits to reduce heat transfer to the environment, thereby facilitating the creation and maintenance of a microclimate necessary for the plant growth.

[0044] In addition, each level of the farm 20 is equipped with: means 22 for feeding plant nutrition liquid into the artificial soil sheets 3 secured on the vertical plant growing installations 21 and for evacuating the liquid therefrom; means 23 for providing suitable lighting and microclimate conditions; means for arranging the seeding sheets on the plant growing installations (not shown); means for harvesting plants from the plant growing installations (not shown); and control means 24 for monitoring and automating the operation of other means used in the multi-storey farm.

[0045] The means 22 for feeding plant nutrition liquid into the sheets 3 and evacuating this liquid therefrom may be implemented, respectively, in the form of a system (22, 22a) for irrigating the water-retaining layer 12 of artificial soil sheets and a draining system (not shown), as described above.

[0046] The means 23 for providing suitable lighting and microclimate conditions may include luminaires, elements for regulating temperature, humidity and other microclimate parameters, as well as various necessary sensors. The means 23 may be implemented using any suitable methods known from the prior art, the invention being not limited to some specific variant of their implementation.

[0047] In accordance with an embodiment, the means for arranging the seeding sheets on the plant growing installations are designed with a possibility of expanding the seeding sheets 4 above the artificial soil sheets 3 while simultaneously watering the seeding sheets 4, thus putting the seeds 4a contained therein into contact with the fertile layer 12 of artificial soil sheets. Thus, e.g., the means for arranging the seeding sheets may be made in the form of a carriage with a roller, which carriage is provided with watering means and carries out, when moving along the bearing surface 1a, 1b in the direction from up to down, the expansion of the seeding sheet 4 along the artificial soil sheet 3 and at the same time, its watering. Besides, in accordance with an additional embodiment, the means for arranging the seeding sheets are designed with a possibility of removing the seeding sheets 4 from the artificial soil sheets 3, and more preferably, of replacing them, i.e. simultaneously removing the old seeding sheet 4 and applying a new sheet 4. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various variants of implementing the means for arranging the seeding sheets are possible, all of them conforming to the essence of the invention without departing from its scope.

[0048] The means for harvesting plants from the plant growing installations may be also made in the form of a special carriage provided e.g. with hand shears, this carriage ensuring the harvest when moving along the bearing surface of the rack stack 1 (lengthwise or vertically). Various harvesting techniques known to those skilled in the art may be successfully employed for implementing the means when embodying the present invention, provided its essence is not altered.

[0049] The control means 24 for monitoring and automating the operation of other means used in the multi-storey farm may be implemented using known computing and software means or other known automation means that would manage the operation of other means present on a level of the farm 20 based on readings of a plurality of sensors making part, as well, of said means 24. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited as to variants of implementing the control means 24, so that any such variants which do not depart from the teachings and essence of the invention will fall within its scope.

[0050] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, each level of the farm 20 comprises a system for processing and/or unloading the harvested plants from the farm 20 (not shown). This system may comprise e.g. units for harvest storing and processing (for example, cereal threshing) and transmission pipelines for unloading harvest from the farm 20. The system may be also implemented using any suitable method known from the prior art. Additionally, according to this embodiment, the means for harvesting plants present on each level of the farm may be designed with a possibility of automatically harvesting the plants from the vertical plant growing installations 21 on a level of the farm 20 and transporting the harvested plants into the system for processing and/or unloading the harvested plants.

[0051] In addition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the multi-storey farm 20 is substantially an independent system configured to yield a harvest of plants for a long period without introducing any means or materials from outside. It should be evident to those skilled in the art that in such systems, it is necessary to ensure the initial provision of materials needed for initiating the crop husbandry, such as seeds, nutrients, liquid, energy store and so on. On the other hand, it will be also evident that the above-mentioned independent nature of the system implies the possibility of a long-term operation with yielding the harvest in an autonomous mode after having preliminarily provided the farm 20 with necessary materials.

[0052] Therefore, the above-discussed embodiments of the invention allow achieving of the necessary technical effect, namely increasing the planting density per unit area, in particular thanks to the use of a vertical structure of rack stacks in the proposed plant growing installations. At the same time, the invention permits to intensify the plant growth, in particular by creating a completely isolated artificial climate on the level of the multi-storey farm and providing an electric potential difference in the artificial soil layer. Finally, various embodiments of the invention give the possibility to automate the entire crop husbandry cycle on plant growing installations in the multi-storey farm.

[0053] The above-described embodiments are only preferable and/or exemplary solutions without limiting the scope of the claimed invention. After having acquainted themselves with this specification, those skilled in the art will be able to introduce various modifications and changes to the above embodiments of the invention or variants of implementing their individual features, having in mind that all such modifications and changes will fall within the scope of the invention defined by the appended Claims.