Modular automated aeroponic growth system

• US 9,516,822 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daegan Gonyer, Shaun Jones
• Original Assignee: Daegan Gonyer, Shaun Jones
• Inventors: Gonyer, Daegan, Jones, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRINH T
• Application Number:
  US14/090,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20140144078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 47/62.A, 47/62.N, 47/63, 47/62.R, 47/59.R, 47/60, 47/10.1 R, 47/655, 47/666, 47/79, 47/485
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

An aeroponic growth system comprising a plurality of modular aeroponic units each including at least one spray nozzle directed into a root zone; a lighting system associated with the plurality of the modular units and configured for emitting light in a vegetative zone; a pressurized reservoir configured for housing a nutrient containing fluid; and a nutrient feeding system configured for fluidly and selectively connecting each of the modular units to the pressurized reservoir in parallel, wherein the nutrient feeding system includes a pressure stop valve associated with each of the modular units. When one of the modular units are disconnected to the associated pressure stop valve, the pressure stop valve is configured for preventing the fluid from flowing from the pressurized reservoir through the pressure stop valve, and the other modular units connected to the nutrient feeding system remain fluidly connected to the pressure reservoir.

Claims

1. An aeroponic growth system for growing vegetation, the system comprising:

a plurality of modular aeroponic units configured for supporting vegetation, wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units define a root zone and a vegetative zone, and wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units include at least one spray nozzle directed into the root zone;

a lighting system associated with the plurality of the modular aeroponic units and configured for emitting light in the vegetative zone;

a pressurized reservoir configured for housing a fluid containing one or more nutrients; and

a nutrient feeding system configured for fluidly connecting each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units to the pressurized reservoir in parallel, wherein the nutrient feeding system includes a pressure stop quick connect valve associated with each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units,

wherein when one or more of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are connected to an associated pressure stop quick connect valve, the nutrient feeding system directs the fluid to the at least one spray nozzle associated with the modular aeroponic unit from the pressurized reservoir, and

wherein when one or more of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are disconnected from the associated pressure stop quick connect valve, the pressure stop quick connect valve is configured for preventing the fluid from flowing from the pressurized reservoir through the pressure stop quick connect valve, and the other modular aeroponic units connected to the nutrient feeding system remain fluidly connected to the pressure reservoir, wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, and the side wall define the root zone, wherein a portion of the side wall is disposed at an angle of about 95 degrees to about 105 degrees relative to the top wall, wherein the portion of the side wall provides support for the at least one spray nozzle, and wherein the at least one spray nozzle includes a cone angle of about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

an unpressurized reservoir for storing the fluid; and

a pump that is in fluid communication between the unpressurized reservoir and the pressurized reservoir, wherein the pump is configured for drawing the fluid from the unpressurized reservoir into the pressurized reservoir and pressurizing the fluid in the pressurized reservoir.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a filter in fluid communication between the unpressurized reservoir and the pump.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lighting system includes a plurality of lighting units, wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are associated with one of the plurality of lighting units.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spray valves in fluid communication between the pressurized reservoir and each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units, wherein each of the plurality of spray valves is configured for selectively allowing the fluid to flow from the pressurized reservoir to the associated modular aeroponic unit.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a system controller in communication with the plurality of spray valves, wherein the system controller is configured for independently adjusting the plurality of spray valves to control the amount of fluid that is provided to the associated modular aeroponic units through the nutrient feeding system.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the lighting system includes a plurality of lighting units, wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are associated with one of the plurality of lighting units, and wherein each of the plurality of lighting units are controlled independently by the system controller.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the system controller is configured to selectively control the duration and intensity of light emitted by each of the plurality of lighting units.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the plurality of lighting units include light emitting diodes (LED).

10. A system in accordance with claim 7, further comprising one or more sensors in communication with the system controller, wherein the system controller is configured for collecting data related to system using the one or more sensors.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the system controller includes a display for displaying the data collected from the one or more sensors.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the one or more sensors include a light sensor, an environmental sensor, or a nutrient solution sensor.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a memory in communication with the system controller, wherein the data collected from the one or more sensors is stored in the memory, wherein the memory is in communication with the system controller through a network.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising at least one remote computing device in communication with the system controller through a network, wherein the at least one remote computing device includes a software application program that is configured for displaying the data collected by the system controller, independently controlling the plurality of lighting units, and selectively allowing the fluid to flow from the pressurized reservoir to the plurality of modular aeroponic units.

15. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side wall is disposed at an angle of about 101 degrees relative to the top wall.

16. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a fluid return system in fluid communication with the unpressurized reservoir, wherein the bottom wall includes an outlet that is in fluid communication with the fluid return system.

17. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one spray nozzle includes a cone angle of about 110 degrees.

18. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one spray nozzle includes a plurality of spray nozzles, and wherein each of the plurality of spray nozzles are spaced apart about 6 inches from one another.

20. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the at least one spray nozzle includes a plurality of spray nozzles, and wherein each of the plurality of spray nozzles are spaced apart about 6 inches from one another.

19. An aeroponic growth system for growing vegetation, the system comprising:

a plurality of modular aeroponic units configured for supporting vegetation, wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units define a root zone and a vegetative zone, and wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units include at least one spray nozzle directed into the root zone;

a lighting system associated with the plurality of the modular aeroponic units and configured for emitting light in the vegetative zone;

a pressurized reservoir configured for housing a fluid containing one or more nutrients; and

a nutrient feeding system configured for fluidly connecting each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units to the pressurized reservoir in parallel, wherein the nutrient feeding system includes a pressure stop valve associated with each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units,

wherein when one or more of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are connected to an associated pressure stop valve, the nutrient feeding system directs the fluid to the at least one spray nozzle associated with the modular aeroponic unit from the pressurized reservoir,

wherein when one or more of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are disconnected from the associated pressure connect valve, the pressure stop valve is configured for preventing the fluid from flowing from the pressurized reservoir through the pressure stop valve, and the other modular aeroponic units connected to the nutrient feeding system remain fluidly connected to the pressure reservoir,

wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, and the side wall define the root zone,

wherein a portion of the side wall is disposed at an angle of between about 95 degrees and about 105 degrees relative to the top wall, wherein the portion of the side wall provides support for the at least one spray nozzle, and

wherein the at least one spray nozzle includes a cone angle of about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees.

21. A system in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

an unpressurized reservoir for storing the fluid; and

a pump that is in fluid communication between the unpressurized reservoir and the pressurized reservoir, wherein the pump is configured for drawing the fluid from the unpressurized reservoir into the pressurized reservoir and pressurizing the fluid in the pressurized reservoir.

22. A system in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a filter in fluid communication between the unpressurized reservoir and the pump.

23. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the lighting system includes a plurality of lighting units, wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are associated with one of the plurality of lighting units.

24. A system in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a plurality of spray valves in fluid communication between the pressurized reservoir and each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units, wherein each of the plurality of spray valves is configured for selectively allowing the fluid to flow from the pressurized reservoir to the associated modular aeroponic unit.

25. A system in accordance with claim 24, further comprising a system controller in communication with the plurality of spray valves, wherein the system controller is configured for independently adjusting the plurality of spray valves to control the amount of fluid that is provided to the associated modular aeroponic units through the nutrient feeding system.

26. A system in accordance with claim 25, wherein the lighting system includes a plurality of lighting units, wherein each of the plurality of modular aeroponic units are associated with one of the plurality of lighting units, and wherein each of the plurality of lighting units are controlled independently by the system controller.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the system controller is configured to selectively control the duration and intensity of light emitted by each of the plurality of lighting units.

28. A system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the plurality of lighting units include light emitting diodes (LED).

29. A system in accordance with claim 26, further comprising one or more sensors in communication with the system controller, wherein the system controller is configured for collecting data related to system using the one or more sensors.

30. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the system controller includes a display for displaying the data collected from the one or more sensors.

31. A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the one or more sensors include a light sensor, an environmental sensor, or a nutrient solution sensor.

32. A system in accordance with claim 29, further comprising a memory in communication with the system controller, wherein the data collected from the one or more sensors is stored in the memory, wherein the memory is in communication with the system controller through a network.

33. A system in accordance with claim 29, further comprising at least one remote computing device in communication with the system controller through a network, wherein the at least one remote computing device includes a software application program that is configured for displaying the data collected by the system controller, independently controlling the plurality of lighting units, and selectively allowing the fluid to flow from the pressurized reservoir to the plurality of modular aeroponic units.

34. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the side wall is disposed at an angle of about 101 degrees relative to the top wall.

35. A system in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a fluid return system in fluid communication with the unpressurized reservoir, wherein the bottom wall includes an outlet that is in fluid communication with the fluid return system.

36. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the at least one spray nozzle includes a cone angle of about 110 degrees.