Hydroponic gardening method and system
US4170844A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1977 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P60/21
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gardening method and unit utilizes a unique liquid circulating system in combination with an adjustable, high intensity lighting system including a novel form of reflector panel assembly in which the feeding cycle and the lighting cycle can be closely regulated to control the environment for plant life within an enclosed area. The method and system of the present invention is particularly advantageous in relatively compact portable units so constructed that the seedlings or plants may be grown in upper and lower spaced trays, each having its own lighting system controlled by a common timer and a common liquid circulating system in which the liquid or nutrient solution may be pumped into the upper tray and drained by gravity into the lower tray to carry out combined top flooding and subirrigation. In the alternative the system is operative to carry out top-irrigation by spraying water in the form of a fine mist over natural or organic soils. The circulation system is such as to minimize power requirements and reservoir capacity for a given rate of feeding for each tray.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.