Method and apparatus for the improvement of storage of biochemical energy in plants

• US 4,255,897 A
• Filed: 10/29/1979
• Issued: 03/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Othmar Ruthner
• Original Assignee: Othmar Ruthner
• Inventors: Ruthner, Othmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagwill, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US06/089,085
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 47/59-65, 47/17, 47/58, 47/DIG. 6, 47/82-83
• US Class Current: 47/65
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/042 with containers travelling on a belt or the like, or conveyed by chains
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/24 Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature , illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/06 Plant growth regulation by control of light thereon

Abstract

A plurality of space lattices arranged within an enclosed cultivation space, wherein one space lattice consists of plants which are arranged to move in a continuous vertical serpentine path within the space lattice. A space lattice formed of illumination means is arranged in an interstitial manner relative to the circulating plant lattice and serves to artifically illuminate the plants while they are circulating. A measurement space lattice is arranged coextensive with the illumination space lattice and serves to make measurements of selected parameters of environmental parameters within the cultivation space. An environmental factor space lattice is also arranged coextensive with the illumination space lattice and is connected to suitable sources so that moisture, nutrients and selected gases may be supplied to the plants as they circulate through the cultivation space.

Claims

1. An installation for the cultivation of plants comprising:

a framework defining a cultivation space;

a covering over said framework enclosing said cultivation space;

a space lattice formed of a plurality of plants located within said cultivation space, said plants being movably arranged to circulate in a continuous manner along a vertical serpentine path within said cultivation space;

drive means connected to said space lattice of plants for causing said plants to circulate in said vertical serpentine manner;

an illumination space lattice formed of a plurality of light sources structurally interconnected, electrically connected to a power source, and arranged in a interstitial manner adjacent said space lattice formed of a plurality of plants for illuminating said plants;

a measuring space lattice arranged substantially coextensive which said illumination space lattice so as to be also arranged in an interstitial manner adjacent said space lattice formed of a plurality of plants and having a plurality of measuring devices structurally interconnected and each producing an output indicative of the state of a preselected parameter of said cultivation space;

a display means connected to receive the outputs from said measuring devices for producing a display indicating the quantitative results of the preselected parameters being measured; and

an environmental factor space lattice formed of interconnected tubes connected to sources of water and nutrients including means for selectively causing said sources to feed said environmental factor space lattice, said environmental factor space lattice being arranged substantially coextensive with said illumination space lattice and said measuring space lattice and arranged in an interstitial manner adjacent said space lattice formed of a plurality of plants, said tubes having opening therein at preselected locations for discharging water and nutrients into the cultivation space, whereby the formation of photosynthesis products for energy storage by the plants is at a maximum value, while the energy reducing respiration processes of the plants are reduced to a minimum.

2. The installation of claim 1, wherein said covering over said framework is light permeable.

3. The installation of claim 1, wherein said measuring devices of said measuring space lattice include at least a means for measuring light brightness, a means for measuring carbon dioxide content, and a means for measuring water content in said cultivation space.

4. The installation of claim 1 wherein said illumination space lattice includes socket means and light bulbs cooperating with said socket means, said socket means being adapted for rapid replacement of said light bulbs.

5. The installation of claim 1, wherein said electrical power source connected to said illumination space lattice includes means for varying the power delivered to said illumination space lattice for controlling the level of illumination thereof.

6. The installation of claim 1, wherein said plant space lattice is formed of two endless chains each arranged in a vertical serpentine manner over a plurality of sprockets and having a plurality of trays pivotably attached to corresponding points on said two chains, whereby said trays are maintained in a horizontal orientation.

7. The installation of claim 6, wherein said plurality of sprockets are arranged such that a sprocket is located only at the upper points of the continuous vertical serpentine chain arrangement, and the chains are permitted to fall free at the lower points of the vertical serpentine chain arrangement and having two sprockets located at the lowermost corners of said continuous vertical serpentine chain.

8. The installation of claim 7, wherein said drive means is connected to one of said two sprockets located at the lowermost corners of one of said continuous vertical serpentine chains.

9. The installation of claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a multichannel analog strip-chart recorder having inputs connected to said plurality of measuring devices for producing a visual record of said outputs from said measuring devices. PG,28

10. The installation of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of interface means, each connected to a respective one of said measuring devices and to said strip chart recorder, for adjusting the levels of the outputs from said measuring devices and feeding the adjusted signal levels to said strip chart recorder.

11. A method for improving the storage of biochemical energy in plants, comprising the steps of:

confining a cultivation space within a covered framework;

providing a space lattice of plants within said cultivation space wherein the plants are movable within said space lattice and arranged to follow a continuous serpentine path;

driving said plants within said space lattice of plants so that said plants circulate in a continuous manner along said serpentine path within said cultivation space;

illuminating said circulating plants by means of a fixed illumination space lattice formed of a plurality of light sources structurally interconnected, electrically connected to a power source, and arranged in an interstitial manner adjacent said space lattice formed of plants;

measuring preselected parameters in said cultivation space by means of a fixed measuring space lattice arranged substantially coextensive with said light illumination space lattice in an interstitial manner in relation to said space lattice of plants and having a plurality of measuring devices structurally interconnected and each producing an output indicating the state of said preselected parameter in said cultivation space;

displaying the outputs of said fixed measuring space lattice by means of a visual display means; and

controlling the environmental factors within said cultivation space by means of a fixed environmental factor space lattice formed of interconnected tubes connected to sources of water and nutrients including means for selectively connecting said sources to said environmental factor space lattice and being arranged substantially coextensive with said illumination space lattice and said measuring space lattice and arranged in an interstitial manner relative to said space lattice of plants, whereby the formation of photosynthesis products for energy storage by the plants is at a maximum value, while the energy reducing respiration processes of the plants are reduced to a minimum.

12. The method of claim 11, including the further step of varying the spacing of the light sources to vary the amount of light incident upon said plants dependent upon a desired photosynthesis result.

13. The method of claim 11, including the further step of adjusting the level of illumination so that the light strength lays beyond the compensation point of photosynthesis and the respiration process.

14. The method of claim 11, including the further step of measuring the carbonic acid, oxygen and moisture content of the atmosphere inside said cultivation space by means of the measuring devices in the measurement grid.

15. The method of claim 11, including the further steps of increasing the carbonic acid content and reducing the oxygen content in the cultivation space by means of the environmental factor space lattice.

16. The method of claim 11, including the further steps of creating dark periods within the cultivation space, and reducing the oxygen content within the cultivation space during the dark periods.