Patent Publication Number: US-2022214018-A1

Title: Agricultural Lighting For Vine-Like Plants

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to indoor, greenhouse, agricultural and horticultural plant growing, and more specifically, to such lighting for vine-like plants. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an orthogonal view of a linear lighting fixture according to aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the orientation of the lighting fixture and the light source of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an orthogonal view of a non-metallic lighting fixture having a plurality of lighting channels each having a lighting source inserted into the channel with lights oriented to emit light radially away from the fixture. 
         FIG. 4  is an orthogonal view of an exemplary mounting assembly for use as part of the lighting assembly according to aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a cable management system according to aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic of an exemplary cable and power management system according to aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an exemplary grow facility in which the disclosed apparatus and methods can be used. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an exemplary planting arrangement for the plants according to aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the lighting fixture assembly according to aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosures are described by reference to drawings showing one or more examples of how the disclosures can be made and used. In these drawings, reference characters are used throughout the several views to indicate like or corresponding parts. In the description which follows, like or corresponding parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not to scale and proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. Directional terms, such as “up,” “down,” “upward,” “downward,” and the like, are made with reference to the accompanying figures unless otherwise indicated and are not to be taken as limiting the embodiments in their orientations of use. 
     Indoor, greenhouse agricultural growing of  Humulus lupulus  has become more common, but presents unique challenges.  Humulus lupulus  produces hops, or hops flowers, widely used in manufacture of food items. The indoor grow of hops allows for growing of hops flowers outside a very specific temperate climate where currently all hops are grown.  Humulus lupulus  plants present unique infrastructure requirements for an indoor environment where plants must be close in proximity in order to grow enough yield of hops flowers to achieve an economic yield. Hops plants are full grown at around twenty feet tall and are vine-like spreading plants. The close proximity required for economic yields produces challenges in providing each plant with enough light to allow the plants to reach their mature height. The upper reaches of the larger plants reduce or eliminate sufficient light from reaching the lower parts of the vines and negatively effects plant growth. This is the case whether the greenhouse utilizes natural light from overhead windows or overhead lighting. 
     A customizable lighting system is presented for use in the growth of  Humulus lupulus  plants, and other plants with similar growth patterns or presenting similar problems with sufficient lighting at lower levels, in a controlled greenhouse environment. Supplementary lighting, in the form of vertically installed lighting, provides light coverage along the height of the plant, including particularly at lower levels. The orientation of the lighting fixtures can be easily adjusted, varied or removed to accommodate changing requirements as the plants grow. 
     The present disclosure utilizes a non-metallic extruded channel design to hold multiple, independent, linear lighting sources. The lighting sources, when installed in the device, provide light over a long enough to extent to provide light over the height of the plants. Further, the lighting sources attached to the fixture provide light emission across 360 degrees around the fixtures, allowing for light provision to plants positioned at any point around the fixture. 
       FIG. 1  is an orthogonal view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting system according to aspects of the disclosure. A longitudinal lighting fixture  10  is presented having a plurality of mounting channels  12  for lighting sources  14 . The lighting fixture  10  is designed for generally vertical alignment along and proximate to plants having a vertical growth pattern and for which economic yield is dependent in part on sufficient production by the vertically oriented plant&#39;s lower levels. For example, the hops plant grows up to twenty feet vertically and economic yield is increased where the lower levels of the plant continue to produce, requiring sufficient light at the lower levels. 
     The lighting fixture  10  is an extruded, linear, non-metallic product and does not require heat dissipation. The fixture  10  defines a longitudinally extending body  30 . The body  30  can take various forms. For example, in  FIG. 1  the body  30  comprises a generally tubular structure defined by three side walls  32  extending the length of the fixture and forming a triangular cross-section. In  FIG. 2 , for example, the body  30  comprises six side walls  32  creating a hexagon cross-section. Other arrangements are possible. The structure of the body  30  allows for spacing and orientation of the plurality of lighting channels to provide for radial emission of light across a wide range. 
     The fixture  10  includes a plurality of vertical lighting channels  12  designed to hold a plurality of linear lighting sources  14 . The channels  12  define an interior passageway  16  for housing the lighting sources. The channel  12  can comprise, for example, longitudinal side walls  18 , a back wall  20 , and, optionally, flanges  22 . In some embodiments, part or all of the back wall  20  of a channel  12  also serves as a side wall  32  of the body  30 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The channel  12  is sized to accept and hold a longitudinally extending lighting source. The channels  12  are designed to allow the lighting sources to be slid into, pressed into, or snapped into a fixed position in the channel interior passageway  16 . In some embodiments, the light sources are friction fit into the channels. In other embodiments, the light sources are maintained in position in the channels by flanges  22 , which can take the form of longitudinal flanges running substantially the length of the fixture or can be a plurality of shorter flange tabs spaced apart along the channel. Alternately, other attachment mechanisms can be used to attach and maintain the lighting sources in the channel. For example, strip lighting is available having adhesive backing, allowing the lighting sources to be adhered to the channel back wall. 
     The channels  12  are oriented to position the lighting sources  14  such that the lights  24  along the lighting source  14  emit light radially outwardly from the fixture. A plurality of lighting channels are oriented to position the lighting strips to emit light across a wide radial range about the fixture. For example, in  FIG. 1 , three lighting channels  12  are oriented at 120 degree intervals about the fixture. In  FIG. 2 , the six lighting channels are oriented at 60 degree intervals about the fixture. Other arrangements are possible and will be apparent to those of skill in the art. 
     The lighting fixtures  10  and lighting channels  12  are sufficiently long to provide lighting along substantially the entire length of the plant, thereby providing light to encourage plant growth along the entire height of the plants. In an embodiment, the fixtures are 16 feet long; in other embodiments, the fixtures are 20 feet long. Extrusion manufacturing allows for ease of creating lengthy fixtures and fixtures of any selected length. The elongated fixture  10  can be formed of multiple pieces joined together, such as by snap-fit, friction fit, adhesive, etc., allowing for ease of packaging, transport and assembly. 
       FIG. 3  is an orthogonal view of a non-metallic lighting fixture  10  having a plurality of lighting channels  12  each having a lighting source  14  inserted into the channel with lights  24  oriented to emit light radially away from the fixture. Also seen is a portion of a cable and power management system  40  including a single fixture power cable  42  which splits into multiple, lighting source power cables  44  each of which attach to a lighting source  14  at a connector  46 . Such an arrangement reduces the number of cables from the power source to the multitude of linear lighting sources expected to be used in an indoor grow facility. 
       FIG. 4  is an orthogonal view of an exemplary mounting assembly  50  for use as part of the lighting assembly according to aspects of the disclosure. An end cap  52  is provided for attachment to the lighting fixture  10 . The end cap  52  includes an attachment mechanism  54  which cooperates with a corresponding mechanism on the lighting fixture. In an embodiment, as shown, the attachment mechanism  54  is simply a plurality of walls which cooperate with the corresponding side walls  32  of the fixture. The end cap can be fixedly or removably attached to the lighting fixture. The end cap can affix to the fixture by friction fit, fasteners, adhesive, etc., such as is known in the art. As the end cap will support the weight of the fixture and lighting strips, the attachment must be secure enough to prevent the fixture from sliding out of the end cap. The end cap  54  also includes an attachment mechanism  56  for attaching a hook  58  or other means, such as a clamp, clip, hanger, ring, etc., or other attachment mechanism known in the art, for hanging the fixture from a support positioned above the fixture. For example, a support can be a wire, cable, rope, etc. (referred to collectively as a wire herein), strung horizontally above the plants and to which the fixtures are hung. The lightweight extruded material of the fixture make it relatively easy to hang and remove the fixtures from light supports. 
     The lighting source  14  can include a plurality of individual lights  24 , such as LED lights along a longitudinal LED lighting strip or module. The lighting source  14  can take various forms. LED lighting strips, with or without adhesive backing, can be used. For example, the lighting source can be lighting strips or lighting modules such as are commercially available. Lighting modules have spaced apart, stiff circuit boards, each board typically having one to three light sources, the boards connected by intervening wires. Further, the lighting source can be a single color or color-changing sources which allow for color-changing as well as white. The LED lighting strips preferably have lights specifically designed to provide light for plants and to promote plant growth. For example, LED lights can provide red, blue, white, UV, etc., light at various stages of plant growth, such as at seeding, for vegetative growth, blooming, and overall health of the plant. Since the plants&#39; light needs may change over the plants&#39; life, a color changing LED strip can be used and the emitted light changed over the plant&#39;s life. Various spectrum lighting can be supplied, such as one or a mixture of the following: red 630-660 nm, blue at around 460 nm, white 6000-6500 k, UV 380-400 nm, IR 730-740 nm, etc. Lighting strips can be used having various lengths. For example, for a 20 foot fixture length, a 20 foot LED strip can be used. Alternately, shorter lengths can be used and connected end-to-end at strip connectors. Further, LED strip lighting is available for use with a controller which can operate the LED lights on the strip individually. Hence, it is possible to control the lights such that only lights adjacent the plants are on (e.g., the lower lights while the plant is short) to reduce electricity costs. Further, it would be possible to tune each light to a selected frequency (e.g., UV, white, red, etc.) based on the needs of the plant. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a cable management system according to aspects of the disclosure. A primary power cable or cable bundle  70  having an appropriate connector  72  for attachment to a power source  74  splits into multiple secondary cables  78  for providing power to the lighting strips. The secondary cables  78  can further split into tertiary cables  80  with connectors  82  for individual lighting strips. Other arrangements will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     The power supply can be a wall socket, batteries, generators, etc. In some instances, the heat generated by the power supplies is an issue as the heat may damage or negatively effect growth of the plants. Consequently, it may be desirable to position the power sources spaced from the plants and provide electric cable connections from the remote sources to the fixtures. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic of an exemplary cable and power management system according to aspects of the disclosure. A multitude of linear lighting sources  14 , nine in this representation, are powered from one power cable  70  which has one connection to the power supply  74  which then reaches a variable distance in proximity of the linear lighting sources, splits into three secondary power cables  78 , each of which splits again into three tertiary cables  80 , thus creating nine supply cables, each having a mating connector for the linear light sources  14 . The power is supplied to the lighting sources  14  and fixture  10  from below in the pictured embodiment. Lighting power from below may be preferable as it can be supplied from existing plug sockets in the walls, for example, without the requirement of installing additional electrical supply wiring from above, including wiring encased in conduits to meet building codes. Power supplied from below will also make it easier to move fixtures  10  as needed without having to access overhead wiring. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an exemplary grow facility in which the disclosed apparatus and methods can be used. A plurality of rows  90  of plants are arranged a selected distance apart. Often the plants are positioned raised above the floor on appropriate tables  92 . A plurality of pots  94  are arranged in each row. The pots can be arranged linearly or staggered, as shown. The pots  94  are supplied with water and/or drainage from irrigation conduits  96 , such as shown, for example. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an exemplary planting arrangement for the plants according to aspects of the disclosure. It is common to plant multiple plants in a single pot. Further, for plants such as hops plants, vines and the like, growth supports  98  are positioned on which the plants may grow, climb, cling, etc. The growth supports are often string, wire, and the like and are often supported from above, such as by attachment to a guide wire or other anchoring support. In  FIG. 8  for example, a single pot  94  is set up for two plants, each having a growth support  98 . The growth supports  98  are angled away from one another to supply additional radial space for the plants to grow at higher levels as they grow taller. (The supports are generally vertical, which term includes deviation from the vertical to allow for radial spacing of the plants, such as seen in  FIG. 8 .) A lighting cable  70  provides power through split cables  78  to the lighting sources in the fixture  10  which is suspended from above the plants and positioned between the two plant supports  98  and plants (not shown). The cable  70  can simply run adjacent the pot and up to the fixture or can be run through the soil and pot to the fixture. 
     In some embodiments where multiple plants are grown from the same pot, each lighting source can correspond to a vine-like plant, the lighting sources positioned to orient light emitted from the lighting sources towards each of the corresponding plants. For example, each lighting channel can correspond to a vine-like plant, the lighting channels positioned to orient light emitted from the plurality of corresponding lighting sources towards each of the corresponding plants. 
     Returning to  FIG. 6 , a suspension or guide wire  100 , or cable, pipe, etc., is suspended from a ceiling or on posts  102 , as shown, and extends above the plants or rows of plants. The lighting fixtures  10  are suspended, such as by hooks or the like, from the suspension wire  100 , and spaced apart and positioned as desired between or over pots and plants. The suspension wire is positioned in proximity to the plants in order for the lighting fixtures to hang vertically beside the support structures of the plants in some embodiments. A suspension wire may be preferred since it will not create significant shadows and allow for the maximum amount of natural light, where available, to reach the plants for maximum growth. A suspension wire also allows for the spacing between lighting fixtures to be easily adjusted in order to customize the light provided to the plants. Other arrangements are possible, such as supplying power for the lighting sources from above rather than from below. In such as arrangement the power cables, etc., are suspended or supported above the lighting fixtures and may require substantially more support due to the added weight of the cables. Supply from above also decreases the ease of access to the connections between cables and lighting strips and may make replacement of the lighting sources more difficult as well. The guide wire assembly also allows for the growth supports  98  to be attached to the guide wire. Further, such an arrangement allows for ease of movement of the lighting assemblies along the wire as they can simply be slid along the wire. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the lighting fixture assembly according to aspects of the disclosure. In an alternate embodiment, instead of a single lengthy fixture  10 , a plurality of shorter fixtures  10   a - d  are provided with the lighting source  14  attached at the lighting channels  12  of each short fixture. The lighting sources  14  extend between the fixtures  10   a - d  suspending the fixtures. In such an embodiment, an upper fixture  10   a  can be hung or attached to the guide wire or upper support. The lighting sources  14  are attached in the channels  12  of the fixture  10   a  and extend downward to the next lower fixture  10   b , providing support for that fixture. The lighting sources extend further, attached to each fixture  10   c - d , supporting them as well. This arrangement results in less suspended weight, less expensive fixtures, and less unwieldy fixtures which are easier and cheaper to transport. As explained above, the lighting sources  14  can be attached to the fixtures  10   a - d  with adhesive rather than or in addition to the use of lighting channels  12 . It may be preferable to expose the adhesive backing only along the portions of the lighting sources contacting the fixtures  10   a - d . The uppermost fixture  10   a  may be of greater length than the remaining fixtures  10   b - d  to allow for better gripping contact with the lighting sources. For example, when using adhesive backed lighting sources, the uppermost fixture  10   a  may be longer, allowing for greater contact surface area between the uppermost fixture  10   a  and the lighting sources as the uppermost fixture must act to grippingly suspend the full weight of the lighting sources. Alternately, the uppermost fixture  10   a  may employ an attachment mechanism, such as a clamp, clip, snap-in, or friction fit, to grippingly engage the lighting sources with sufficient strength to support the weight of the lighting sources and lower fixtures  10   b - d.    
     The disclosed grow lighting system is for use with vine-like plants. In an embodiment, the system comprises an elongated fixture body having a longitudinal axis. The body defines a plurality of generally flat, elongated faces, each face facing away from the longitudinal axis of the body, that is facing outwardly. A plurality of linear grow light sources are removably attached to the elongated body and extend along the length of the body. The linear grow light sources are attached to the body along one of the elongated faces of the body. The fixture body can include lighting channels extending along the fixture faces for maintaining the grow lighting sources on the body or oriented as desired. The fixture body and attached grow lighting sources preferably provide a full 360 degree emission of grow light. The fixture body can be generally triangular or hexagonal, for example. An attachment mechanism is provided at one end of the body for suspending the fixture, for example from a strung support wire. 
     The grow lighting system at  FIG. 9  includes a plurality of grow lighting fixtures  10   a - d , arranged in a spaced-apart, generally vertical arrangement. Each grow lighting fixture comprises a plurality of generally flat exterior faces or walls  20  extending vertically along the fixture. A plurality of linear grow light sources  14 , each light source having a plurality of spaced apart grow lights thereon, is attached, preferably removably, to each of the fixtures  10   a - d  at an exterior face  20 . The exterior faces  20  of each fixture orient the linear light sources to emit light radially outward from the fixture. The linear light sources preferably emit light in a full 360 degree pattern. The fixtures  10   a - d  may also have light channels defined for maintain the linear light sources on the fixture and/or orienting the light sources. The linear lighting source can comprise an adhesive backing for maintaining the lighting source attached to the fixture. The system can further comprise a rod extending between and attached to adjacent fixtures, maintaining the fixtures in spaced apart relationship. The uppermost fixture  10   a  can comprise a means for attaching an uppermost fixture to a suspended wire. A power distribution assembly provides an electrical cable attachable to a power source, the cable splitting into a plurality of electrical wires, each wire removably attached to a linear lighting source. Each fixture  10   a - d  can be a tubular member, defining an inner longitudinally extending cavity. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. For example, the fixtures are described as extruded plastic, although other manufacturing methods may be used to make the fixtures. Similarly, although heat dissipation is not required, and therefore the fixtures can be plastic or other non-radiative materials, it is possible to make the fixtures of metal or other material. 
     The words or terms used herein have their plain, ordinary meaning in the field of this disclosure, except to the extent explicitly and clearly defined in this disclosure or unless the specific context otherwise requires a different meaning. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this disclosure and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted. 
     The words “comprising,” “containing,” “including,” “having,” and all grammatical variations thereof are intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning. For example, a composition comprising a component does not exclude it from having additional components, an apparatus comprising a part does not exclude it from having additional parts, and a method having a step does not exclude it having additional steps. When such terms are used, the compositions, apparatuses, and methods that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the specified components, parts, and steps are specifically included and disclosed. The indefinite articles “a” or “an” mean one or more than one of the component, part, or step that the article introduces. The terms “and,” “or,” and “and/or” shall be read in the least restrictive sense possible. Each numerical value should be read once as modified by the term “about” (unless already expressly so modified), and then read again as not so modified, unless otherwise indicated in context.