Method and apparatus for hydroponic gardening
US4932158A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P60/21
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Plants are hydroponically grown in a cellular water table provided with divergent grow lines along which plants are moved in plant holders. The grow lines are arranged to provide spacing between adjacent rows of plants as plants mature. Within each grow line is a variable pitch screw arrangement which provides for increased spacing between adjacent plants in a grow line as the plants mature. Four-way spacing is provided for both the leaves of the plants and their roots as the plants are suspended over the cellular water table. Maintenance of the system is faciliated by a crawl space beneath the water table which allows access to removable bottom panels of the individual cells within the water table. Plants are cultivated and serviced from the top by a man carrier system. CO.sub.2 enriched air and/or pesticides are supplied directly to the undersides of the plants by a conduit system provided within each grow line. Nutrient enriched water is provided to the roots of the plants by a closed loop fluid circulation system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.