Apparatus for growing organisms by moist air

• US 5,924,238 A
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Seibutu KINO Kogaku Kenyusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Seibutu KINO Kogaku Kenyusho
• Inventors: Yanohara, Yoshitami
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Downs, Joanne C.
• Application Number:
  US08/912,695
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 47/1.01 F
• US Class Current: 47/1.01F
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 29/00 Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/00 Culture of aquatic animals receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria, A01K63/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/40 of annelids, e.g. lugworms or Eunice
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/50 of shellfish A01K61/30, A01K61/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/042 Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Abstract

The apparatus for growing organisms by moist air comprises the closed moistening tank having water therein, and the mixing chamber on the surface of said water, the nozzle and air pump for releasing air bubbles into the said water, the moist air outlet provided on the said mixing chamber, and the air feed tube connected with the said moist air outlet for passing the moist air into the culture medium.

Within the said mixing chamber, watery components are caused to adhere to the surfaces of ascending bubbles in the water. Mist is formed from the rupture of these bubbles, Adjustment is made for selecting the mist of small particle size. Then, there is prepared the moist air containing almost uniformly the mist of small particle size by a high pressurization within the said mixing chamber. Such moist air is caused to pass through the air feed tube in the form of a nearly laminar flow into the culture medium.

Claims

1. An apparatus for growing organisms by moist air comprising a ventilative culture medium for growing organisms, an air feed tube having a plurality of nozzles buried in said culture medium, and a moist air generating apparatus connected with one end of said air feed tube, said air generating apparatus including a closed moistening tank having water therein, a closed high pressure mixing chamber defined in said tank on the surface of the water, an air bubble releasing means provided at a lower part of said moistening tank for releasing air bubbles into the water, and a moist air outlet provided on the top of said high pressure mixing chamber and connected with said one end of said air feed tube.

2. The apparatus for growing organisms by moist air according to claim 1 wherein said organisms are plants allowed to grow on said culture medium and extend roots into said culture medium.

3. The apparatus for growing organisms by moist air according to claim 1 further comprising a growing container containing said culture medium and a substantial portion of said air feed tube, and wherein said culture medium is sand placed within the growing container and said organisms are benthoses released into the sand.

4. The apparatus for growing organisms by moist air according to either one of claims 2 or 3 further comprising means for heating or cooling the water within said moistening tank.

5. An apparatus for growing organisms by moist air comprising a ventilative culture medium for growing organisms, an air feed tube having a plurality of nozzles buried in said culture medium, and a moist air generating apparatus connected with one end of said air feed tube, said air generating apparatus including a closed moistening tank having water therein, a closed high pressure mixing chamber defined in said tank on the surface of the water, an air bubble releasing means provided at a lower part of said moistening tank for releasing air bubbles into the water, a moist air outlet provided on the top of said high pressure mixing chamber, a first valve at said moist air outlet connected with said one end of said air feed tube, a water outlet provided on the lower part of said moistening tank, a second valve at said water outlet connected with said one end of said air feed tube, a third valve connected to said moistening tank, and means, connected by way of said third valve with said moistening tank, for supplying water into said moistening tank.