Root misting system

• US 9,668,434 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aessense Technology Hong Kong Limited
• Original Assignee: Aessense Technology Hong Kong Limited
• Inventors: Kernahan, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODZIWICZ, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US14/339,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 47 62 A
• 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

A system for providing water to the roots of a plant being grown in an aeroponic growth system includes small reservoirs containing water and a mist generator, wherein the mist generator provides mist under low pressure to a channel which directs the mist to the roots of the plant.

Claims

1. A system for providing a mist to roots of a plant, comprising:

a base unit including a first reservoir and a second reservoir;

a top unit atop the base unit, thereby forming, a first channel and a second channel for directing flows of mist towards roots of a plant;

a first mist generator in the first reservoir and having an output disposed to provide mist to the first channel;

a second mist generator in the second reservoir and disposed to provide mist to the second channel; and

a controller electrically connected to the first and second mist generators, wherein the controller provides an electrical signal to the first and second mist generators causing the first and second mist generators to generate mist; and

a main reservoir positioned to collect liquid falling from the roots of the plant; and

a pump system connected to pump liquid from the main reservoir to the first and second reservoirs.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third mist generator in a third reservoir in the base unit; and

a fourth mist generator in a fourth reservoir in the base unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second mist generators is a transducer driven by an electrical signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the signal is a 1.7 Mhz signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second reservoirs holds a liquid mixture of water and plant nutrients.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a baffle and a chamber extending down into the first reservoir and up above the top unit, wherein the baffle and the chamber allows air into the first reservoir and prevents escape of liquid that the first mist generator splashes.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising

a plurality of canisters;

and

a dispensing system connected to the canisters and dispensing plant nutrients from the canisters to the main reservoir.

8. A system comprising:

a holder configured to hold a root system;

a base unit surrounding the holder and including a first reservoir and a second reservoir;

a top unit atop the base unit, the top unit including an opening through which a plant extends when the holder holds the root system of the plant;

a first mist generator in the first reservoir; and

a second mist generator in the second reservoir, wherein;

the base unit and the top unit are shaped to define a first channel that directs mist from the first mist generator to the holder and define a second channel that directs mist from the first mist generator to the holder.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first channel and the second channel are tangential to a perimeter of the holder.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the top unit comprises a two-piece shell including two halves shaped to be removed from the base unit without disturbing a plant within the opening.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a first ramp that begins at the floor of the exit opening and generally extends in the direction of the swirling mist flow and is over the upper edge of the basket.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a main reservoir positioned to collect liquid falling from the holder; and

a pump system connected to pump liquid from the main reservoir to the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising

a plurality of canisters;

and

a dispensing system connected to the canisters and dispensing plant nutrients from the canisters to the main reservoir.