Subirrigation gravel culture growing bed
First Claim
1. A subirrigation gravel growing bed comprising:
- an elongated, open top, growing bed container having a laterally concave bottom;
an elongated false bottom in said container spaced above the concave bottom of the container, so as to define an elongated space below the false bottom;
an elongated gravel growing bed above the false bottom;
said false bottom including openings permitting solution movement both upwardly and downwardly between the space below the false bottom and the gravel growing bed above the false bottom;
an inlet/outlet port in a bottom portion of the container, communicating with the space below the false bottom;
means for introducing a water/nutrient solution through the inlet/outlet port into the space below the false bottom, in an amount sufficient to cause such water/nutrient solution to move upwardly through the openings in the false bottom into the gravel growing bed above the false bottom;
means for draining the water/nutrient solution from the gravel growing bed, through the openings in the false bottom, into the space below the false bottom, and then out through said inlet/outlet port,said false bottom being formed at least in part by a sheet of foraminous fabric material, said fabric material including means comprising openings of a size which allow water/nutrient solution to pass through but which block the plant roots, so that the false bottom will separate the plant roots from any pools of water/nutrient solution which may form on the concave bottom of the container following drainage of the water/nutrient solution out through the inlet/outlet port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One problem which occurs in hydroponic growing systems is that pools of water form in the bottom of the growing bed container. These pools become depleted of oxygen very rapidly and if the plant roots extend into the pools the plants may die. This problem is solved by a false bottom (34, 54) in the growing bed container (10, 10'"'"'), so that any pooling which may occur occurs below the false bottom (34, 54). Pooling on the false bottom (34, 56) is prevented by the constructed of the false bottom (34, 56). The false bottom (34) either has a convex upper side, so that pooling cannot occur on the false bottom (34). Drainage openings (36) are provided at the two edges of the false bottom (34), so that any solution flowing towards the edges will flow through the openings (36) into the space below the false bottom (34). Or, the false bottom (56) is a sheet of formanous fabric material (56) which lies over a layer of gravel (54). During drainage the solution passes downwardly through the material (56) into the gravel (54) containing space below the material (56). No pooling can occur on the fabric material (56).
34 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A subirrigation gravel growing bed comprising:
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an elongated, open top, growing bed container having a laterally concave bottom; an elongated false bottom in said container spaced above the concave bottom of the container, so as to define an elongated space below the false bottom; an elongated gravel growing bed above the false bottom; said false bottom including openings permitting solution movement both upwardly and downwardly between the space below the false bottom and the gravel growing bed above the false bottom; an inlet/outlet port in a bottom portion of the container, communicating with the space below the false bottom; means for introducing a water/nutrient solution through the inlet/outlet port into the space below the false bottom, in an amount sufficient to cause such water/nutrient solution to move upwardly through the openings in the false bottom into the gravel growing bed above the false bottom; means for draining the water/nutrient solution from the gravel growing bed, through the openings in the false bottom, into the space below the false bottom, and then out through said inlet/outlet port, said false bottom being formed at least in part by a sheet of foraminous fabric material, said fabric material including means comprising openings of a size which allow water/nutrient solution to pass through but which block the plant roots, so that the false bottom will separate the plant roots from any pools of water/nutrient solution which may form on the concave bottom of the container following drainage of the water/nutrient solution out through the inlet/outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of growing plants, comprising:
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providing an elongated, open top, growing bed container having a laterally concave bottom; providing in said container an elongated false bottom spaced above the concave bottom of the container, so as to define an elongated space below the false bottom; providing an elongated gravel growing bed above the false bottom; providing in the false bottom openings for solution flow between the space below the false bottom and the gravel growing bed above the false bottom; providing an inlet/outlet port in a bottom portion of the container, communicating with the space below the false bottom; placing plants in the gravel growing bed; periodically introducing a water-nutrient solution through the inlet/outlet port, into the space below the false bottom, in an amount sufficient that such water/nutrient solution will flow upwardly through the openings in the false bottom and then upwardly through the gravel growing bed; continuing the introduction of water/nutrient solution into the inlet/outlet until such solution rises in the gravel growing bed up to a predetermined level; then discontinuing the introduction of water/nutrient solution; then draining the water/nutrient solution which has been introduced into the gravel growing bed to drain out from the gravel growing bed, through the openings in the false bottom, through the space below the false bottom, and out through the inlet/outlet; and providing additional openings in the false bottom by utilizing as a component of said bottom a sheet of foraminous fabric material which includes openings of a size which allow water/nutrient solution to pass through but which substantially block plant roots, so that the plant roots will be kept away from any pooling of solution which might occur in the region below the false bottom, following draining of the water/nutrient solution out from the gravel growing bed.
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Specification