Plant husbandry – Water culture – apparatus or method – Nutrient recirculation system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-09-25
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Water culture, apparatus or method
Nutrient recirculation system
C047S06200C, C047S06200C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293048
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for feeding and watering plants and, in particular, to apparatuses and methods for feeding, cooling and providing an aerated solution to the roots of plants grown hydroponically.
The growing of plants hydroponically involves supplying an aqueous solution to the roots of the plants, for example by spraying solution onto the roots or by suspending the roots in a medium saturated with the solution. The solution is principally water with fertilizers and other nutrients added. Optimal growth, or even survival of the plants, requires that the roots be provided with an air enriched solution and kept within a specified temperature range. Typically this is a lower temperature range than required for the portion of the plant above the roots. This parallels the situation in nature where the roots of the plant are in the cooler ground, whereas the upper portions of the plant are in the air which is usually warmer than the ground when the plant is growing.
Thus hydroponic growing operations typically include a cooler to cool the aqueous solution before it is fed to the roots of the plant. This cooler is usually separate from the reservoir used to store the solution. In addition, the solution should be aerated to optimize plant growth. Again a separate aerator is normally required. All of this equipment can be complex to set up and relatively expensive to install.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,595 to Dalle shows a tank used to hold a quantity of liquid and which is equipped with a float to maintain a constant level. The liquid is subsequently heated, or alternatively cooled, while flowing along a hose.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,168 to Glendening discloses an environmentally controlled green house. There are hydroponic plant beds disposed on top of the exchangers.
Australian Patent Number 9187730 discloses a method of growing plants by hydroponics where the root system is kept relatively cool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,294 to Rohosa discloses a method of growing plants where a blower is connected to a network of pipes and continuously injects air under pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,435 to Springer discloses a micro-climate temperature control apparatus for heating and/or cooling of plants. The cooling is accomplished by tubes.
Other patents relating to thermal control of hydroponic systems include European Patent Number 500484 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,989. The latter shows a nutrient tank. Water is heated in the tank. The European patent shows a tank with a float.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,353 shows another distribution system for nutrients including a tank and a float to maintain the level of liquid.
An aerated leachate tank is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,942.
The prior art however does not reveal a simple, economical unit which can function simultaneously to store the aqueous solution, cool it and aerate it.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved economical, reliable unit capable of conditioning aqueous solutions for the roots of plants, whether grown hydroponically or in soil.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved unit which can simultaneously store and cool such aqueous solutions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved unit which inhibits algae growth by using an opaque container.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved unit which can also aerate the solution without requiring a separate piece of equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided, according to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for supplying an aqueous liquid for plants. The apparatus includes a reservoir having inside walls. There is a conduit for discharging the liquid so the liquid flows along the walls of the reservoir. There is a cooler for cooling the walls so the liquid flowing along the walls is thereby cooled.
Preferably there is an opening in the walls of the reservoir and a fan located in the opening to direct air into the reservoir and thereby aerate the liquid.
The apparatus of one preferred embodiment has a top, the conduit being near the top of the reservoir and the reservoir having a pool of liquid below the conduit, whereby the liquid flows over the walls and flows downwardly to the pool of liquid. The walls are cooled, thereby cooling the liquid.
There is provided, according to another aspect of the invention, a method for treating an aqueous liquid for plants. This method includes the steps of providing a reservoir for the liquid and providing a pool of the aqueous liquid in the reservoir. The reservoir is cooled, thereby cooling the aqueous liquid.
Preferably the method includes the step of regulating the depth of the pool of liquid, the reservoir having walls extending above the pool of liquid, the liquid being directed along the walls and flowing downwardly into the pool. The walls are cooled, thereby cooling the liquid.
Air may be forced into the reservoir above the pool of liquid to aerate the liquid.
REFERENCES:
patent: 77624 (1868-05-01), Koch
patent: 2104684 (1938-01-01), Wilson, Jr.
patent: 3696630 (1972-10-01), Bressickello
patent: 3714793 (1973-02-01), Eigenbrod
patent: 3890740 (1975-06-01), Miller
patent: 4107937 (1978-08-01), Chmiel
patent: 4159595 (1979-07-01), Dalle et al.
patent: 4527353 (1985-07-01), Newby
patent: 4577435 (1986-03-01), Springer et al.
patent: 4780989 (1988-11-01), Mears et al.
patent: 4860490 (1989-08-01), Morris et al.
patent: 4992942 (1991-02-01), Bauerle et al.
patent: 5146709 (1992-09-01), Iseki
patent: 5488801 (1996-02-01), Nix
patent: 5634294 (1997-06-01), Rohosa
patent: 5813168 (1998-09-01), Clendening
patent: 9187730 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 500484 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 02053424 A (1990-02-01), None
patent: 404187034 A (1992-07-01), None
patent: 04356144 A (1992-12-01), None
Boulter Clay
Fagerlund John
Cameron Norman M.
Jordan Charles T.
Nguyen Son T.
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