Hydroponic garden apparatus

• US 5,826,374 A
• Filed: 06/17/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian A. Baca
• Original Assignee: Brian A. Baca
• Inventors: Baca, Brian A
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US08/665,324
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 47/59, 47/60, 47/62, 47/79, 47/81
• US Class Current: 47/62.00E
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/02 Special apparatus therefor self-acting watering devices A01G27/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

Automated hydroponic plant growing apparatus, for providing an equal supply of nutrient solution, at a controlled rate, to plants in each of a plurality of individual growth chambers, with provision of flow irrigation of each plant in each chamber. The apparatus provides for fully powered, pressurized flow of nutrient solution through separate lines to each growth chamber, and provides for automatic maintenance of equal levels of nutrient solution in the various chambers of the system, having return flow lines for return of any excess accumulation of nutrient solution from any one growth chamber to the central distribution chamber. Through provision of pressurized flow of nutrient solution to the growth chambers, the system avoids any need to rely even in part on gravity flow of nutrient solution, and so may be used with all components located on a single level, e.g. all resting on a common floor. A Timer controls the pump which pressurizes the nutrient solution flow to the growth chambers, so that nutrient solution will be provided to all of the plants at a desired rate. Return flow lines surround and enclose the lines for flow of nutrient solution to the growth chambers, so as to halve the line clutter associated with these lines.

Claims

1. Plant growth chamber, for use in growth of at least one plant in a hydroponic plant growth apparatus having at least one such plant growth chamber and having a reservoir means, for holding a nutrient solution;

and having a conveyance means, connected to said reservoir means and to each of said plant growth chambers, for conveying said nutrient solution from said reservoir means to each of said plant growth chambers, and for providing flow of said nutrient solution under powered pressure to each of said plant growth chambers;

said plant growth chamber comprising;

(a) a lowermost bucket, connected to said conveyance means, and having an open space at the bottom thereof constituting a portion of a growth chamber reservoir means for holding a portion of said nutrient solution in said growth chamber;

(b) a middle bucket, of a size fitting within said lowermost bucket above said open space at the bottom of said lowermost bucket, and having an open space at the bottom of said middle bucket constituting a root catcher means for holding roots from said plant without allowing said roots to extend appreciably into said lowermost bucket and also constituting the remaining portion of said growth chamber reservoir means;

(c) an upper bucket, of a size fitting within said middle bucket, containing plant media and said plant;

(d) means, connected to said conveyance means and extending to the top of said plant media in said upper bucket, for allowing flow of said nutrient solution from said conveyance means to the top of said plant media; and

(e) drainage means, for allowing drainage of said nutrient solution from said upper bucket to said growth chamber reservoir means in the bottom of said lowermost bucket.

2. Hydroponic plant growth apparatus, comprising:

(a) at least one plant growth chamber;

(b) a reservoir means, for holding a nutrient solution, said reservoir means comprising an upper chamber having a lid, and a separate lower chamber having a float valve means, and wherein said upper chamber communicates by a tube leading from a hole near the bottom of the wall thereof, through a hole in the wall of said lower chamber, to said float valve means for allowing said nutrient solution to flow from said upper chamber through said tube into said lower chamber and for setting a desired level of said nutrient solution in said lower chamber;

(c) a conveyance means, connected to said reservoir means and to each of said growth chambers, for conveying said nutrient solution from said reservoir means to each of said plant growth chambers, and for providing flow of said nutrient solution under powered pressure to each of said plant growth chambers;

(d) a nutrient solution level setting and maintenance means, connected to said reservoir means, said conveyance means, and each of said plant growth chambers, for setting and maintaining a desired level of said nutrient solution in each of said plant growth chambers;

(e) an irrigation means, within each of said plant growth chambers, for irrigating of a plant present in said plant growth chamber; and

(f) a timing means, connected to said conveyance means and to a source of electric power, for causing said conveyance means to convey said nutrient solution to each of said plant growth chambers at desired times.

3. Hydroponic plant growth apparatus, comprising:

(a) at least one plant growth chamber;

(b) a reservoir means, for holding a nutrient solution;

(c) a conveyance means, connected to said reservoir means and to each of said growth chambers, for conveying said nutrient solution from said reservoir means to each of said plant growth chambers, and for providing flow of said nutrient solution under powered pressure to each of said plant growth chambers;

said conveyance means comprising a distribution chamber means, connected by a reservoir output tube to said reservoir means, and connected separately by pumping tubes to each of said plant growth chambers, for distributing said nutrient solution under powered pressure at substantially equal rates to each of said plant growth chambers, and for drawing additional amounts of said nutrient solution as needed from said reservoir means through said reservoir output tube;

said distribution chamber means comprising an outer housing chamber, connected by said reservoir output tube to said reservoir means;

a submersible nutrient solution pump, having an inlet and an outlet, submerged within said outer housing chamber below the level of said nutrient solution in said outer housing, and connected to a source of electric power through said timing means; and

a distributor means, connected to said outlet of said pump and to each of said pumping tubes, for distributing said nutrient solution pumped by said pump to each of said plant growth chambers through said pumping tubes, said distributor means being a straight distributor tube, having an open end attached to said pump at said outlet of said pump, and having a closed opposite end of said tube, and having, one for each of said plant growth chambers, an outlet grommet projecting from a wall of said distributor tube, with said grommet inserted in one end of said pumping tube leading to said plant growth chamber;

(d) a nutrient solution level setting and maintenance means, connected to said reservoir means, said conveyance means, and each of said plant growth chambers, for setting and maintaining a desired level of said nutrient solution in each of said plant growth chambers;

(e) an irrigation means, within each of said plant growth chambers, for irrigating of a plant present in said plant growth chamber; and

(f) a timing means, connected to said conveyance means and to a source of electric power, for causing said conveyance means to convey said nutrient solution to each of said plant growth chambers at desired times.

4. Hydroponic plant growth apparatus, comprising:

(a) at least one plant growth chamber;

(b) a reservoir means, for holding a nutrient solution, said reservoir means comprising an upper chamber having a lid, and a separate lower chamber having a float valve means, and wherein said upper chamber communicates by a tube leading from a hole near the bottom of the wall thereof, through a hole in the wall of said lower chamber, to said float valve means for allowing said nutrient solution to flow from said upper chamber through said tube into said lower chamber and for setting a desired level of said nutrient solution in said lower chamber;

(c) a conveyance means, connected to said reservoir means and to each of said growth chambers, for conveying said nutrient solution from said reservoir means to each of said plant growth chambers, and for providing flow of said nutrient solution under powered pressure to each of said plant growth chambers;

said conveyance means comprising a distribution chamber means, connected by a reservoir output tube to said reservoir means, and connected separately by pumping tubes to each of said plant growth chambers, for distributing said nutrient solution under powered pressure at substantially equal rates to each of said plant growth chambers, and for drawing additional amounts of said nutrient solution as needed from said reservoir means through said reservoir output tube;

a return flow tube, for each of said plant growth chambers, surrounding said pumping tube and having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said pumping tube, and connecting said plant growth chamber to said distribution chamber means;

(d) a nutrient solution level setting and maintenance means, connected to said reservoir means, said conveyance means, and each of said plant growth chambers, for setting and maintaining a desired level of said nutrient solution in each of said plant growth chambers, said nutrient solution level setting and maintenance means comprising, in combination, said float valve means, said reservoir output tube, said pumping tubes, and said return flow tubes;

(e) an irrigation means, within each of said plant growth chambers, for irrigating of a plant present in said plant growth chamber; and

(f) a timing means, connected to said conveyance means and to a source of electric power, for causing said conveyance means to convey said nutrient solution to each of said plant growth chambers at desired times.

5. Hydroponic plant growth apparatus, comprising:

(a) at least one plant growth chamber;

(b) a reservoir means, for holding a nutrient solution;

(c) a conveyance means, connected to said reservoir means and to each of said growth chambers, for conveying said nutrient solution from said reservoir means to each of said plant growth chambers, and for providing flow of said nutrient solution under powered pressure to each of said plant growth chambers;

(d) a nutrient solution level setting and maintenance means, connected to said reservoir means, said conveyance means, and each of said plant growth chambers, for setting and maintaining a desired level of said nutrient solution in each of said plant growth chambers;

(e) an irrigation means, within each of said plant growth chambers, for irrigating of a plant present in said plant growth chamber; and

(f) a timing means, connected to said conveyance means and to a source of electric power, for causing said conveyance means to convey said nutrient solution to each of said plant growth chambers at desired times;

said plant growth chamber comprising;

a lowermost bucket, connected to said conveyance means, and having an open space at the bottom thereof constituting a portion of a growth chamber reservoir means for holding a portion of said nutrient solution in said growth chamber;

a middle bucket, of a size fitting within said lowermost bucket above said open space at the bottom of said lowermost bucket, and having an open space at the bottom of said middle bucket constituting a root catcher means for holding roots from said plant without allowing said roots to extend appreciably into said lowermost bucket and also constituting the remaining portion of said growth chamber reservoir means;

an upper bucket, of a size fitting within said middle bucket, containing plant media and said plant;

means, connected to said conveyance means and extending to the top of said plant media in said upper bucket, for allowing flow of said nutrient solution from said conveyance means to the top of said plant media; and

drainage means for allowing drainage of said nutrient solution from said upper bucket to said growth chamber reservoir means in the bottom of said lowermost bucket.

6. A hydroponic plant growth apparatus, comprising:

a reservoir;

a distribution chamber operably connected to said reservoir; and

at least one plant growth chamber operably connected to said distribution chamber, said plant growth chamber comprising;

a lower bucket;

a middle bucket, at least a portion of said middle bucket being within said lower bucket, said middle bucket having at least one hole in a lower portion thereof; and

an upper bucket, at least a portion of said upper bucket being within said middle bucket, said upper bucket having at least one hole in a lower portion thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said at least one plant growth chamber is operably connected to said distribution chamber by a first tube and by a second tube disposed within said first tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first tube is a return flow tube and said second tube is a feed tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plant growth chamber is operably connected to said distribution chamber by a feed tube, said feed tube passing through an opening in said lower bucket, through an opening in said middle bucket and through an opening in said upper bucket.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a pipe, at least a portion of said pipe being disposed within said upper bucket, and said feed tube passing within said pipe.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said reservoir comprises:

an upper bucket;

a lower bucket;

a float valve disposed in said lower bucket of said reservoir, said float valve admitting nutrient solution from said upper bucket of said reservoir to said lower bucket of said reservoir when a level of said nutrient solution in said lower bucket of said reservoir falls below a desired height.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said distribution chamber comprises:

a container;

a pump disposed within said container; and

a distributor connected to said pump;

said at least one plant growth chamber being operably connected to said distribution chamber by a feed tube extending from said distributor, through an opening in said container, and within a return flow tube to said at least one plant growth chamber.

13. A hydroponic plant growth apparatus, comprising:

a reservoir comprising an upper bucket, a lower bucket, and a float valve disposed in said lower bucket, said float valve admitting nutrient solution from said upper bucket of said reservoir to said lower bucket of said reservoir when a level of said nutrient solution in said lower bucket of said reservoir falls below a desired height;

a distribution chamber operably connected to said reservoir; and

at least one plant growth chamber operably connected to said distribution chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a tube connects said upper bucket of said reservoir and said lower bucket of said reservoir, and wherein said float valve permits said nutrient solution to flow from said upper bucket of said reservoir, through said tube and to said lower bucket of said reservoir when a level of said nutrient solution in said lower bucket of said reservoir falls below a desired height.

15. A hydroponic plant growth apparatus, comprising:

a reservoir;

a distribution chamber operably connected to said reservoir;

at least one plant growth chamber;

a first tube extending between said distribution chamber and said at least one plant growth chamber; and

a second tube extending between said distribution chamber and said at least one plant growth chamber, said second tube being disposed within said first tube.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first tube is a return flow tube and said second tube is a feed tube.