Gravity independent photosynthetic growing system
First Claim
1. A photosynthetic growing system for use in growing plant matter under controlled conditions, comprising:
- a growing chamber subsystem including a plurality of radially separate growth chambers surrounding an excluded central core, each chamber being adapted to enclose growth substrate means and to permit expansive growth of the plant matter therewithin, each said chamber being adapted to retain plant growth substrate in the portion nearest said central core;
a motive subsystem for selectively rotating said growing chamber subsystem;
an illumination subsystem for providing and delivering photosynthetic usable electromagnetic energy to the plant matter, said illumination subsystem including lighting means situated within the central core, light transmissive means intermediate said growth chambers and reflective means situated outside and separated from said growing chamber subsystem, such that phototropic radially outward growth is encouraged in the plant matter;
a material provision subsystem for selectively providing nutrients and delivering growth fluids to the plant matter contained within the growth chambers.
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Abstract
A gravity independent photosynthetic growing system (10) is provided for use in providing an environment conducive to growing plant materials under unusual conditions, such as are encountered in space or in locales isolated from sunlight. The growing system (10) includes a stationary core assembly (26), a rotating drum assembly (28) which is rotated by a motive assembly (30), an enclosing assembly (32), a growth requirements assembly (34) and a control assembly (35). Illumination lamps (42) situated in the central core (20) provide photosynthetic radiation which is transmitted through light transmissive sector walls (52) to be reflected inward from a surrounding cylindrical reflector (64) into growth sectors (50) within which the plants are grown. The growth sectors are adapted to receive seed mats (178), hard shell growth cases (204) and growth bags (188) which provide purchase for the plants. a deluxe growth requirements assembly (340) provides controlled dispensation of flowable materials by way of pneumatically controlled flow paths. The system (10) is adapted to further provide temperature and moisture to non photosynthetic plants in dark zones (174) within the stationary enclosure (24).
62 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A photosynthetic growing system for use in growing plant matter under controlled conditions, comprising:
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a growing chamber subsystem including a plurality of radially separate growth chambers surrounding an excluded central core, each chamber being adapted to enclose growth substrate means and to permit expansive growth of the plant matter therewithin, each said chamber being adapted to retain plant growth substrate in the portion nearest said central core; a motive subsystem for selectively rotating said growing chamber subsystem; an illumination subsystem for providing and delivering photosynthetic usable electromagnetic energy to the plant matter, said illumination subsystem including lighting means situated within the central core, light transmissive means intermediate said growth chambers and reflective means situated outside and separated from said growing chamber subsystem, such that phototropic radially outward growth is encouraged in the plant matter; a material provision subsystem for selectively providing nutrients and delivering growth fluids to the plant matter contained within the growth chambers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A gravity independent photosynthetic growth system, for growth of plant material under artificial conditions, comprising:
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at least one elongated lamp member, disposed parallel to and in the vicinity of a defined axis; a plurality of growth sectors disposed radially about said defined axis, each said growth sector including light transmissive side panels for transmitting light from said at least one elongated lamp member therethough, and plant anchoring means for supporting growing plant material therewithin, said plant anchoring means being situated at a portion of an associated growth sector nearest said defined axis; surrounding reflective means disposed radially about and exterior to said plurality of growth sectors for reflecting light generated by said at least one elongated lamp member and transmitted through said light transmissive side panels inward into said growth sectors; a growth requirements assembly for maintaining desirable plant growing conditions within said growth sectors. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification