System and method for providing carbon dioxide and circulating air for a vertical gardening system

• US 10,806,099 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. (PIPP Mobile Storage Systems Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Vertical Air Solutions LLC (PIPP Mobile Storage Systems Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Bogner, Matthew Lawrence, Cunningham, James Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsley, David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clerkley, Danielle A
• Application Number:
  US16/112,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20190059242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 47 17, 47 192, 47 295, 47 39
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/02 Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/18 Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/246 Air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/14 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0038 with means for influencing the odor, e.g. deodorizing substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

Vertical growing uses a plurality of shelves to support plants. The system has an air filtration and ultraviolet (UV) air purification system. The purified and filtered air is mixed with nitrogen, which is directed towards plants. The system can include lights to help grow the plants placed on the shelves. The filters can remove odors from the circulating air.

Claims

1. A flow distribution assembly, comprising:

a housing having an air inlet portion;

a first elongated duct fluidly coupled to a first outlet portion of the housing and having a first plurality of openings defined on a lower surface of the first elongated duct;

a second elongated duct fluidly coupled to a second outlet portion of the housing adjacent to the first outlet portion and having a second plurality of openings defined on a lower surface of the second elongated duct, wherein the first elongated duct and second elongated duct extend adjacent to one another from the housing such that the first and second elongated ducts are configured to be positioned upon and extend through a rack, where the housing is directly secured to the first and second elongated ducts, and wherein air passing through the air inlet portion is received into the housing in a downward direction and the air passing through the first and second outlet portions is received into the first and second elongated ducts in a horizontal direction; and

one or more flow diverters which are removably positioned to slide upon a portion of the first elongated duct to project at least partially into the first elongated duct extending from at least one of the first plurality of openings.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a pre-filter;

a UV light; and

a secondary filter mounted in the housing distal to the air inlet portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a carbon dioxide input coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is configured to evenly distribute carbon dioxide with ambient air prior to distribution to the first and second elongated ducts.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a fan fluidly coupled to the housing, wherein the fan directs ambient air into the housing.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein filtered air is exposed to the UV light and mixed with the carbon dioxide, the air and carbon dioxide flows through the plurality of holes in the elongated duct to plants growing under the elongated duct.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the fan directs the ambient air in a downward direction and the first elongated duct is oriented in a horizontal direction.

7. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the pre-filter and the secondary filter are each planar and substantially parallel and opaque to light emitted by the UV light.

8. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the UV light is positioned between the pre-filter and the secondary filter.

9. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a second UV light mounted in the housing.

10. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the UV light outputs light wavelengths between 250 nm and 270 nm.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least the first plurality of openings comprise rectangular or square shapes.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least the first plurality of openings define an increasing size of the first plurality of openings distal to the filter housing.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least the first elongated duct tapers from a first height to a second height which is lower than the first height along a length of the first elongated duct.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least the first elongated duct defines a decreasing width of the first elongated duct along a length of the first elongated duct.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more flow diverters are configured for securement within or in proximity to at least one of the first plurality of openings.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the one or more flow diverters comprises:

a diverter platform;

a first gusset; and

a second gusset apposed to the first gusset such that a securement channel is defined between first and second gussets.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the diverter platform is angled relative to a surface of the first elongated duct.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second elongated ducts each have a height to width ratio of less than 0.25.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second elongated ducts each have a rectangular cross sectional area.

20. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more flow diverters further extend externally through the at least one of the first plurality of openings.

21. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one filter positioned in the housing proximal to the first and second outlet portions.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the at least one filter is configured to receive spiraling air flow within the housing and to disrupt the air flow into an even distribution into the first and second outlet portions.

23. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first elongated duct and second elongated duct define a space therebetween.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the space between the first elongated duct and the second elongated duct is sized to accommodate at least one light ballast in a low profile configuration.

25. A flow distribution assembly, comprising:

a housing having an air inlet portion; and

an elongated duct fluidly coupled to an outlet portion of the housing and having a plurality of openings defined on a lower surface of the elongated duct, wherein the elongated duct extends from the housing and where the elongated duct is configured to be positioned upon and extend along a rack and where the housing is directly secured to the elongated duct, wherein air passing through the air inlet portion is received into the housing in a downward direction and the air passing through the outlet portion is received into the elongated duct in a horizontal direction.

26. The assembly of claim 25 further comprising a second elongated duct fluidly coupled to a second outlet portion of the housing adjacent to the outlet portion and having a second plurality of openings defined on a lower surface of the second elongated duct, wherein the second elongated duct extends adjacent to the elongate duct from the housing such that the flow distribution assembly with the elongated ducts is positionable upon a rack.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the first elongated duct and second elongated duct define a space therebetween.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the space between the elongated duct and the second elongated duct is sized to accommodate at least one light ballast in a low profile configuration.

29. The assembly of claim 25 further comprising:

a pre-filter;

a UV light; and

a secondary filter mounted in the housing distal to the air inlet portion.

30. The assembly of claim 29 further comprising a carbon dioxide input coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is configured to evenly distribute carbon dioxide with ambient air prior to distribution to the elongated duct.

31. The assembly of claim 30 further comprising a fan fluidly coupled to the housing, wherein the fan directs ambient air into the housing.

32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein air is exposed to the UV light and mixed with the carbon dioxide, the air and carbon dioxide flows through the plurality of holes in the elongated duct to plants growing under the elongated duct.

33. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the fan directs the ambient air in a downward direction and the elongated duct is oriented in a horizontal direction.

34. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the pre-filter and the secondary filter are each planar and substantially parallel and opaque to light emitted by the UV light.

35. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the UV light is positioned between the pre-filter and the secondary filter.

36. The assembly of claim 29 further comprising a second UV light mounted in the housing.

37. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the UV light outputs light wavelengths between 250 nm and 270 nm.

38. The assembly of claim 25 wherein at least the first plurality of openings comprise rectangular or square shapes.

39. The assembly of claim 25 further comprising at least one filter positioned in the housing proximal to the outlet portion.

40. The assembly of claim 39 wherein the at least one filter is configured to receive spiraling air flow within the housing and to disrupt the air flow into an even distribution into the outlet portions.

41. The assembly of claim 25 further comprising one or more flow diverters which are removably positioned to slide upon a portion of the elongated duct to project at least partially into the elongated duct extending from at least one of the plurality of openings.

42. The assembly of claim 41 wherein the one or more flow diverters are configured for securement within or in proximity to at least one of the plurality of openings.

43. The assembly of claim 42 wherein the one or more flow diverters comprises:

a diverter platform;

a first gusset; and

a second gusset apposed to the first gusset such that a securement channel is defined between first and second gussets.

44. The assembly of claim 41 wherein the one or more flow diverters further extend externally through the at least one of the plurality of openings.

45. A flow distribution system, comprising:

a rack having at least a first platform and a second platform positioned below the first platform;

a housing having an air inlet portion;

an elongated duct fluidly coupled to an outlet portion of the housing and having a plurality of openings defined on a lower surface of the elongated duct, wherein the elongated duct extends from the housing and where the elongated duct is configured to be positioned below the first platform and extend through the rack such that the plurality of openings are directed towards the second platform underlying the first platform, wherein air passing through the air inlet portion is received into the housing in a downward direction and the air passing through the outlet portion is received into the elongated duct in a horizontal direction; and

a fan fluidly coupled to the housing and extending away from the rack and where the housing is directly secured to the elongated duct.

46. The system of claim 45 further comprising one or more flow diverters which are removably positioned to slide upon a portion of the elongated duct to project at least partially into the elongated duct extending from at least one of the plurality of openings.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more flow diverters are configured for securement within or in proximity to at least one of the plurality of openings.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more flow diverters comprises:

a diverter platform;

a first gusset; and

a second gusset apposed to the first gusset such that a securement channel is defined between first and second gussets.

49. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more flow diverters further extend externally through the at least one of the plurality of openings.

50. The system of claim 45 further comprising a second elongated duct fluidly coupled to a second outlet portion of the housing adjacent to the outlet portion and having a second plurality of openings defined on a lower surface of the second elongated duct, wherein the second elongated duct extends adjacent to the elongate duct from the housing such that the flow distribution assembly with the elongated ducts is positionable upon the rack.

51. The system of claim 45 further comprising:

a pre-filter;

a UV light; and

a secondary filter mounted in the filter housing distal to the air inlet portion.

52. The system of claim 51 further comprising a carbon dioxide input coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is configured to evenly distribute carbon dioxide with ambient air prior to distribution to the first and second elongated ducts.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein filtered air is exposed to the UV light and mixed with the carbon dioxide, the air and carbon dioxide flows through the plurality of holes in the elongated duct to plants growing under the elongated duct.

54. The system of claim 51 wherein the pre-filter and the secondary filter are each planar and substantially parallel and opaque to light emitted by the UV light.

55. The system of claim 51 wherein the UV light is positioned between the pre-filter and the secondary filter.

56. The system of claim 51 further comprising a second UV light mounted in the housing.

57. The system of claim 51 wherein the UV light outputs light wavelengths between 250 nm and 270 nm.

58. The system of claim 45 wherein the fan directs ambient air into the housing.

59. The system of claim 45 wherein the fan directs the ambient air in a downward direction and the elongated duct is oriented in a horizontal direction.

60. The system of claim 45 wherein the plurality of openings comprise rectangular or square shapes.