Abstract:
An aeroponic system that includes a number of grow chambers that support plants in a contaminant free environment above a reservoir that collects excess fluid. A pumping and piping system is provided to deliver nutrient fortified water to the plants in the grow chamber and to recycle or drain the excess liquid from the reservoir. A number of access ports provide a grower with access to the chambers and reservoir.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to plant cultivation systems, and more particularly to aeroponic systems. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0004]    Aeroponics is a process of growing plants without a growing medium, such as soil or a hydroponic environment, whereby the plant roots are suspended in air and periodically provided with a burst of fertilized water in the form of a misting spray. In the typical aeroponic system, the plants are suspended above a reservoir with the roots dangling into the reservoir. Some of the moisture is absorbed immediately when the roots are sprayed; the remainder of the water falls into the reservoir, where it often stagnates for a period of time before it is drained. 
         [0005]    Initially, the roots are small and only dangle a short distance into the reservoir, however, as the roots grow and/or the water in the reservoir rises, the roots come to sit in the stagnant water, which negatively impacts the health of the plant. In aeroponic systems that include water recycling systems, the roots commonly become entangled in the pipes and pumping devices, which can prevent the system from working effectively. 
         [0006]    Accessing the inside compartments of the typical aeroponic system also presents a challenge, because the only access point is generally through the opening that contains the plant and, as a result, the only way to clean the reservoir, fix the recycling system or to trim the roots is to remove the plant(s) from the system. 
         [0007]    What is needed, therefore, is an aeroponic system that suspends the roots in a clean environment and that keeps the roots away from any stagnant water or other contaminants in the reservoir. What is further needed is such a system that provides a grower with access to the inside of the system for cleaning purposes as well as access to the roots and mechanical components of the system. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention is an aeroponic system that includes a number of grow chambers positioned above a reservoir. Plants sit atop the grow chambers with the roots suspended within, and a drain is provided in the bottom of the chambers to allow excess liquid to exit the grow chamber and enter the reservoir. This arrangement allows the roots to grow in a clean environment, away from any stagnant water that may be found in the reservoir. 
         [0009]    A pumping system delivers nutrient fortified water throughout the grow chambers and recycles the water that drains into the reservoir. Access ports provide a grower with access to the inside of the grow chambers and to the reservoir to allow for easy cleaning and maintenance of the system. Multiple sets of grow chambers and reservoirs may be combined to a single pump system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the aeroponic system according to the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the aeroponic system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side plan view of the aeroponic system, showing the roots of a plant in the grow chamber. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a rear plan view of the aeroponic system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the aeroponic system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the recovery basin with an inclined base. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the inside of a grow chamber, showing the feed pipe and spray nozzle. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of multiple sets of grow chambers and the connecting feed pipes and return pipes. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the fluid delivery and recovery system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the second configuration of the grow chambers. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the second configuration of the grow chambers. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12A  is a top view of the grow chamber cover with one access port and two containers. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12B  is a top view of the grown chamber cover with two access ports and two containers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1-5  illustrate an aeroponic system  100  according to the invention comprising a fluid delivery and recovery system  10 , a plurality of grow chambers  30 , and a fluid recovery basin  50 . The grow chambers  30  are mounted on top of the fluid recovery basin  50 . The fluid delivery and recovery system  10  delivers fluid (not shown) to each grow chamber  30 , after which the fluid drains from the grow chamber  30  into the fluid recovery basin  50  where the fluid is collected, filtered, and recycled through the fluid delivery and recycling system  10 . 
         [0026]    The grow chambers  30  have covers  32 , that are attachable to the top of the grow chambers  30 , and openings  34 , shown in  FIG. 7 , in the bottom of the grow chambers  30  that allow the fluid to drain into the recovery basin  50 . Containers  38  are insertable into an opening  35  in the covers  32 . Plants are placed in the containers  38 . The containers  38  support the weight of the plants and are constructed of a mesh material that allows the roots A to grow through the containers  38  into the grow chambers  30 . The covers  32  have access ports  36  that provide convenient access to the inside of the grow chamber  30  when the cover  32  is attached. The access ports  36  may have access port covers (not shown). 
         [0027]    The fluid delivery and recovery system  10  contains fluid (not shown), which is typically fertilizer enriched water, and includes a pumping system  14  and an arrangement of feed pipes  16  and return pipes  18 . The pumping system  14  forces the fluid through the feed pipes  16  that pass through the grow chambers  30 . Spray nozzles  20 , shown in  FIG. 7 , which spray the plant roots A with the fluid, are attached to the feed pipes  16  inside of each grow chamber  30 . The plant roots A absorb some the fluid as it flows down along the roots A. The fluid eventually drains through openings  34  in the bottom of the grow chamber  30  and into the fluid recovery basin  50 . Once the fluid is in the fluid recovery basin  50 , the pumping system  14  forces the fluid through the return pipes  18  and into a filtering system  24 , which in turn recycles the fluid through the feed pipes  16 . Any suitable pumping system, piping system, and spray nozzles may be used to deliver the fluid. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the fluid recovery basins  50 , the return pipes  18 , and the pumping system  14 , with the grow chambers  30 . The recovery basin  50  shown in  FIG. 5  illustrates a flat and comparatively deep recovery basin  50 , whereas the recovery basin  50  shown in  FIG. 6  has a slanted base  52  that guides the fluid to an exit port  56  where it is captured by the return pipes  18 . The slanted base  52  creates a system  100  that requires less water and provides for faster recycling of the fluid.  FIG. 5  also illustrates a system in which the grow chambers  30  are coupled to each other by a grow chamber platform  40 . Use of the grow chamber platform  40  allows a number of grow chambers  30  to be added or removed as a single unit. Platform access ports  42  are provided in the platform  40 , to enable convenient access to the fluid recovery basin  50 , and also to allow the user to check that roots A do not interfere with the fluid delivery and recovery system  10 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of the grow chamber  30  with the feed pipe  16  and the spray nozzle  20  and the drain opening  34  to allow fluid to flow into the recovery basin  50 . 
         [0030]    The arrangement of the grow chambers  30  above the fluid recovery basin  50  allows the plant roots A to grow in an environment in which the plants receive clean, fertilizer-enriched fluid. This is in contrast to existing systems in which the roots are frequently exposed to stagnant water, often submerged in the same container as the previously used and non-recycled stagnant water, and provides for a healthier and faster growing plant. The grow chamber access ports  36  provides convenient access to the inside of the grow chamber  30 , without first having to remove the plant or otherwise disassemble the system, which is desirable for a number of reasons. For one, the sprayer  20  may require maintenance, for example, to repair a clog or another type of malfunction. For another, the roots may grow in a manner that causes them to become intertwined with or otherwise interfere with the fluid delivery and recovery system  50 , thereby requiring access to the roots A. Not having to remove the plant first saves on time and effort and is also better for plant development. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, one fluid delivery and recovery system  10  provides fluid to two sets of three grow chambers  30  that are each positioned on top of one recovery basin  40 . Additional components may be added to this configuration to allow a user to grow more plants in a single fluid delivery and recovery system.  FIG. 8  illustrates the connection of four sets of three grow chambers  30 , whereby one fluid delivery and recovery system  50  would circulate fluid through twelve grow chambers. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of the fluid delivery and recovery system  10  with drain pipe  26  and two additional valves  22  and  24 . When valves  22 ,  24  are both closed, the aeroponic system functions as previously described. When valve  22  is open and valve  24  is closed, liquid is pumped through the feed pipes  16  and into the recovery basin  50 . When valve  24  is open and valve  22  is closed, the pumping system  14  will cause the aeroponic system to drain quickly through drain pipe  26 . When valves  22  and  24  are both open, the aeroponic system will drain at a normal rate through drain pipe  26 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a configuration of the aeroponic system  100  in which a number of grow chambers  30  are contained within a single enclosure  31  that is set atop a single recovery basin  50 . This configuration allows for the growth of a number of plants in a small amount of space. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate alternative embodiments of the cover  32  having multiple access ports  36  and/or containers  38 . 
         [0035]    It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the aeroponic system may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.