AEROPONICS SYSTEM WITH RACK AND TRAY

Abstract

An aeroponics system is provided which includes a rack with multiple shelves thereon and with a tray accommodated on each shelf. Light modules are located above each shelf. Each tray has a hood with openings therein leading into a hollow chamber and above a base which includes spray heads therein. Water from a reservoir upon the rack is pumped to each of the spray heads to provide a spray within the hollow chambers. Plant cuttings are placed passing through the openings in the hood so that lower portions of the cuttings can receive the spray (and nutrients added into the reservoir) for propagation of the plant cuttings.

Claims

1: An aeroponics plant propagation system, comprising in combination: a rack having multiple shelves spaced vertically from each other; at least one light located above at least one shelf on said rack; an aeroponics tray sized to reside carried by one of said shelves of said rack; said aeroponics tray including a top wall with a plurality of openings therein, a plurality of said openings configured to receive a plant cutting passing therethrough; a hollow chamber beneath said top wall of said tray; at least one water inlet with a spray head located within said hollow chamber; said rack including a manifold feeding water under pressure to each said water inlet within a plurality of said trays carried by said shelves of said rack, and a drain manifold receiving water draining from each of said trays; and a water reservoir receiving water from said drain manifold and a pump interposed between said reservoir and said pressurized manifold to supply pressurized water to said at least one water inlet of said plurality of said trays carried by said shelves of said rack.

2: The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of collars are provided adjacent to said openings in said top wall, at least one of said collars supporting a plant cutting therein with leaves of the cutting above the collar and a stalk from which roots can extend located below said collar and within said hollow chamber beneath said top wall.

3: The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one spray head is fed by a water supply line which is embedded within said bottom wall of said tray between an upper surface and a lower surface of said bottom wall and defined as at least one channel between said upper surface and said lower surface of said bottom wall.

4: The system of claim 1 wherein each of said shelves includes at least one of said aeroponics trays carried thereby, said shelves movable between a closed position and an open position and a latch holding said shelves in said closed position when said latch is closed.

5: The system of claim 4 wherein said latch is located upon said shelf and upon said rack and latches said shelf to said rack in said closed position when said latch is closed.

6: The system of claim 4 wherein said latch is located on a valve interposed between said pump and said at least one water inlet of said tray.

7: The system of claim 6 wherein said valve is a quick disconnect valve which shuts off water flow when said valve is opened by movement of said tray away from said closed position.

8: A tray for aeroponics plant propagation, the tray comprising in combination: a hollow chamber between a top wall and a bottom wall; a plurality of openings in said top wall; at least one spray nozzle within said hollow chamber; a pressurized water line extending to said at least one spray nozzle; a source of water; a pump between said source of water and said pressurized water line; at least one light source located over said top wall of said hollow chamber; a movable tray support movable from beneath said light source and sized to allow said hollow chamber, said top wall and said bottom wall to rest upon said movable tray support and move with said movable tray support; and a shut off valve for shutting off pressurized water from said pump when said movable tray support with said tray thereon moves from beneath said light source.

9: The tray of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of openings includes a plant cutting passing therethrough with an upper end of the plant cutting locatable above one of said openings and adjacent to said light source and a lower portion of said at least one cutting locatable within said hollow chamber.

10: The tray of claim 9 wherein a plurality of collars are provided adjacent to said openings in said top wall, at least one of said collars supporting a plant cutting therein with leaves of the cutting above the collar and a stalk from which roots can extend located below said collar and within said hollow chamber beneath said top wall.

11: The tray of claim 8 wherein said at least one spray nozzle is located upon said bottom wall and is oriented to spray upwardly into said hollow chamber.

12: The tray of claim 11 wherein a plurality of said spray nozzles are located upon said bottom wall and oriented to spray water within said hollow chamber.

13: The tray of claim 8 wherein multiple shelves are provided along with multiple trays with each of said multiple trays fed by said source of water and each of said multiple trays fed by said pump, and with each of said trays including a separate shutoff valve for shutting off pressurized water from said pump when one of said multiple shelves associated with one of said multiple trays is moved away from one of multiple light sources, one of said light sources located above each of said multiple shelves, with said shutoff valve associated with each said tray transitioning to a closed position when said tray and said shelf associated with said shutoff valve are moved away from an adjacent said light source.

14: The tray of claim 13 wherein each of said shelves includes at least one of said aeroponics trays thereon, and a latch holding an adjacent said shelf in a closed position when said latch is closed.

15: The tray of claim 14 wherein said latch is located upon said shelf and upon said rack and latches said shelf to said rack when said latch is closed.

16: The tray of claim 14 wherein said latch is located on a valve interposed between said pump and said at least one spray head of said tray.

17: The tray of claim 16 wherein said valve is a quick disconnect valve which shuts off water flow when said valve is opened by movement of said tray away from said at least one light and relative to said rack.

18: The tray of claim 8 wherein said at least one spray head is fed by a water supply line which is embedded within said bottom wall between an upper surface and a lower surface of said bottom wall and defined as at least one channel between said upper surface and said lower surface of said bottom wall.

19: The tray of claim 8 wherein said bottom wall of said tray includes a drain therein, said drain adjacent to a return port for direction of water from said hollow chamber through said drain and back to said source of water through said return port when said tray is adjacent to an adjacent one of said light sources.

20: The tray of claim 19 wherein said drain includes a shutoff valve therein which is actuated to a closed position when said tray moves from beneath an adjacent one of said light sources.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a hood portion of a tray of this invention according to a preferred embodiment and with a plant cutting held within a collar adjacent one of the openings in the top wall of the tray.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 1 along with a base portion of the tray and revealing interior details of a hollow chamber, top wall and bottom wall associated with the hood and base of the tray according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the base portion of the tray of FIG. 2.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below of the base portion of the tray of FIG. 2.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 3.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 4.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a front elevation full sectional view of the system of this invention including one tray along with a reservoir and pump to feed the tray.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the rack of this invention with one shelf and tray in an open position while two other trays are in closed positions.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG. 8.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rack without the trays and with one shelf fully open, one shelf partially open, and one shelf fully closed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0039] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 is directed to a system for aeroponics plant cutting propagation (FIGS. 3-5). The system includes a tray 20 which is preferably provided as one of many trays 20 all carried by separate shelves 70 of a rack 60. The rack 60 has a reservoir 80, pump 82 and various return and supply pathways to support water and nutrient delivery and return to and from the trays 20 carried by the shelves 70. The shelves 70 slide in and out with automatic shutoff valves 91 associated with supply ports 90 to shut off water flow when the shelves 70 and/or trays are moved from a closed to an opened position.

[0040] In essence, and with particular reference to FIGS. 7-9, basic details of the system 10 of this invention are described, according to a preferred embodiment. The rack 60 of the system 10 includes at least one shelf and preferably a plurality of shelves 70 vertically spaced from each other. A light module 72 is located above each shelf 70. The shelves 70 are configured so that they can slide into and out of the rack 60 beneath the light module 72 and away from the light module 72. The rack 60 includes a common reservoir 80 providing a source of water and preferably also a pump 82 for feeding of pressurized water to spray heads 48 within trays 20.

[0041] At least one tray 20 is carried by at least one of the shelves 70, and for maximum efficacy, each of the shelves 70 includes a tray 20 thereon. Each tray 20 has a hood 30 above a base 40 with a hollow chamber 35 between the hood 30 and the base 40. A plurality of openings 34 are formed in a top wall 32 of the hood 30 through which plant cuttings C can be located. The cutting C is held by a collar 12 adjacent one of the openings 34 in the hood 30 of the tray 20. The base 40 includes a water delivery manifold 50 which feeds pressurized water from the reservoir 80 (preferably through the pump 82) to the water delivery manifold 50 associated with each tray 20 on the rack 60. This pathway for pressurized water includes passing through supply ports 90 which include shutoff valves 91 thereon so that pressurized water flow is stopped when the shelves 70 are opened. Return ports 92 preferably align with a drain port 47 associated with the drain 45 within the base 40 of each tray 20 for return of water (and unused nutrients) back to the reservoir 80.

[0042] More particularly, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1-6, specific details of the tray 20 of the system 10 are described, according to a most preferred embodiment. The tray 20 preferably includes a hood 30 opposite a base 40 which has the hollow chamber 35 therebetween. The hood 30 is configured to support a top wall 32 with a plurality of openings 34 passing through the top wall 32. Preferably recessed shelves 36 are located adjacent to each opening 34. Collars 12 with or without a plant cutting C therein reside within these recessed shelves and block the openings 34. Most preferably, each collar 12 has a plant cutting C located therein (by passage through a slit 14 in the collar 12) so that the collars 12 both block the openings 34 to avoid water escape and also increase the plant cutting C propagation output of the system 10.

[0043] The recessed shelves 36 are preferably configured so that the collars 12 rest upon the recessed shelves 36. As an alternative, the collars 12 could have a perimeter which friction fits within the openings 34, with the collars 12 held by friction, to work with or without the shelves 36. Because the collars 12 are typically formed of a resilient material, such a friction fit is a potential option. If desired, unused openings 34 could be covered with something other than a collar 12 merely to prevent water from escaping.

[0044] The hood 30 extends down through side walls 38 from the top wall 32 to a perimeter lip 39. This perimeter lip is supported by the base 40. Such support can be merely with the hood 30 resting on the base 40 or can include some snapping or fastening of the hood 30 to the base 40 which requires some overt action to remove the hood 30 from an adjacent base 40. It is also conceivable that the hood 30 and base 40 could be formed together and not be configured to be openable.

[0045] The base 40 of the tray 20 lies beneath the hood 30 and is primarily formed by a bottom wall 42. A sump 44 is located, preferably centrally, within the bottom wall 42 which is slightly lower than other portions of the bottom wall 42. A drain 45 exits from the sump 44 and leads to a drain port 47 which can interface with a return port 92 associated with the rack 60 and leading back to the reservoir 80. A shutoff valve 91 is preferably located upon this drain port 47 which keeps water (and any unused nutrients) within the hollow chamber 35 whenever the tray 20 is moved out of its closed position beneath the light module 72, such as by sliding of the shelf 70 upon which the tray 20 is carried, from a closed to an open position. A shutoff valve 93 prevents drain water (and any unused nutrients) from leaking out of the system when one of the shelves 70 is transitioned to an open position (along arrow D of FIG. 10).

[0046] The bottom wall 42 preferably also includes at least one spray head 48 passing therethrough, and most preferably a plurality of spray heads. In the embodiment disclosed, eight such spray heads 48 (also called spray nozzles) are provided. Each spray head 48 is preferably located upon a small dome 49. The bottom wall 42 is preferably formed with a threaded opening for each of the spray heads 48 to be connected, and corresponding misting type spray nozzles are threaded into these holes in the bottom wall 42 so that high pressure water is caused to be emitted into the hollow chamber 35 above the base 40 as a fine mist. While the spray heads 48 or nozzles are preferably located within the bottom wall 42, they could conceivably be formed in side walls 43 which lead up to a top rim which engages with the perimeter lip 39 of the hood 30 for closing off of the hollow chamber 35 within the chamber 20.

[0047] While external plumbing 150 (FIGS. 8 and 9) could be provided to each of the holes in the bottom wall 42 which is to receive high pressure water at the spray heads 48, most preferably the bottom wall 42 contains a water delivery manifold 50 therein. This water delivery manifold 50 includes multiple channels 56 leading to each of the spray heads 48 and located between an upper surface 52 and a lower surface 54. The upper surface 52 and lower surface 54 are preferably substantially parallel with each other and form portions of the bottom wall 42. Where the upper surface 52 and lower surface 54 are spaced from each other, the channels 56 are provided. In one embodiment the upper surface 52 and lower surface 54 are initially manufactured separately and then are welded together, such as through application of heat, an adhesive, pressure, ultrasonic energy, radiant heat, or some combination thereof to cause the upper surface 52 and lower surface 54 to become sufficiently bonded together where they are spaced from the channels 56 that they avoid leaking when pressurized water is delivered into the channels 56 of the water delivery manifold 50.

[0048] A tray port 51 extends from the water delivery manifold 50 to a supply port 90 associated with each shelf 70 on the rack 60. In this way, water (and nutrients) are supplied through each supply port 90 and to the water delivery manifold 50 for spraying from the spray heads 48. A shutoff valve 91 is associated with each supply port 90 which causes the supply port 90 to stop receiving water when a shelf 70 with which the tray 20 is associated is moved away from a closed position beneath an adjacent light module 72 (or for a top shelf 70, a top light module 74). This shutoff valve 91, preferably automatically reopens when the shelf 70 with a tray 20 thereon is re-closed and the tray port 51 engages with the supply port 90 adjacent to the shutoff valve 91.

[0049] Also, preferably latches 79 are either mounted on the shelves 70 or on the supply ports 90 or on the shutoff valves 91, or some combination thereof. Such latches 79 can ensure that the shelves 70 do not become unintentionally moved from their closed position toward an open position and have a shutoff valve 91 shutoff pressurized water unintentionally. While such an occurrence would not make a mess on the floor of leaking water, one of the trays 20 would not receive as much water as the others which might affect cutting C propagation. One form of latch 79 is a resilient strap with holes at ends thereof which can fit over strategically located pegs, one on the rack 60 and one on the shelf 70. When the shelf 70 is closed the strap can fit on both pegs to hold the shelf 70 closed. Other latches could alternatively be used.

[0050] The rack 60 preferably is a rectangular structure when viewed both from a front and from a side, preferably with risers 66 extending vertically at corners of the rack 60 and with horizontal elements which comprise drawer tracks for the shelves 70 therebetween. A lowermost shelf 70 preferably is a fixed planar horizontal surface which supports a reservoir 80 and pump 82, while other shelves 70 could similarly be horizontal surfaces which support trays 20. A top light module 74 is provided above a top shelf 70 which merely supports a top light above the top shelf 70. Preferably the shelves 70 are comprised of drawer arms 76 which join the risers 66 together and drawer tracks 78 which slide along the drawer arms 76 (or vice versa) to facilitate movement of the shelves 70 in and out relative to the light modules 72 and associated trays 20 to be moved from opened to closed. Such movement (along arrow D of FIG. 10) also simultaneously actuates the shutoff valve 91, either to shut off flow when the shelf 70 is moved from a closed position to an open position, or to open the shutoff valve 91 when a shelf 70 is moved from an open position to a closed position. Other forms of movable tray 20 supports could alternatively be utilized instead of the shelves 70 or basic horizontal surfaces. The drawer latch 79 is then preferably utilized (by movement along arrow F) to lock the shelf 70 in a closed position.

[0051] The rack 60 also preferably includes a single power cord 62 which feeds power to the pump 82 as well as to the various light modules 72, 74. If desired, the power cord 62 can be configured so that a light module 72 is shut off when a shelf 70 below the light module 72 is moved from a closed position to an open position. To achieve such a shutoff, a sensor would be provided adjacent each shelf 70 which would be wired into a power supply to a light above each shelf 70, to shut off an associated light module 72 when desired. Ambient light, such as from the sun or other sources off of the rack 60 could be used alternatively or in addition to the light modules 72 and top light module 74. The rack 60 also preferably includes wheels 64 beneath a lowermost portion of the rack 60 to facilitate movement of the entire system 10 easily upon an underlying hard floor or other surface.

[0052] Water supply lines 84 and water return lines 86 are associated with the risers 66 and other portions of the rack 60 which feed each of the supply ports 90 and come adjacent each of the return ports 92 adjacent each of the shelves 70. Separate shutoff valves 91 and 93 are also associated with each shelf 70. These water supply lines 84 supply pressurized water from the pump 82 and before that from the reservoir 80, and up to each of the supply ports 90 associated with each of the tray ports 51 feeding into the water delivery manifolds 50 that lead to each of the spray heads 48 within each of the hollow chambers 35 of each tray 20 (which is in a closed position). The water return lines 86 lead from each of the return ports 92 associated with each drain port 47 on each tray 20, for return of water (and any unused nutrients) back to the reservoir 80 when a tray 20 on an associated shelf 70 is in a closed position.

[0053] This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.