EP0142989A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Plant propagation system and apparatus
Assignee: APPLIED AEROPONICS Inc
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Filing: 1984-11-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A modular plant propagation system and apparatus utilizes a first or lower hermetically sealed reservoir containing a liquid plant nutrient in fluid communication with a second or upper partially hermetically seated reservoir in which a plant propagation support module utilizes a sterile, low water retention, linear foam plastic providing fluid communication between the exterior and interior of the second or upper reservoir. The nutrient fluid in the first nutrient reservoir is forced up into the second reservoir by compressed gas for predetermined cycles and periods of time to provide nutrients to the roots of the plants supported by the linear foam plant propagation support module. A computer is used to control air and root temperatures, humidity, nutrient quality, nutrient cycling rate and level in the first and second reservoirs and utilizes an image recognition apparatus to measure plant growth rate and produce maturity or ripeness to achieve optimum or maximum growth rate potential for the plant being propagated. A self-contained nutrient plant propagation module utilizes a sterile, low water retention, linear foam plastic in which generally parallel, elongated interconnecting cellular channels provide fluid communication from the top of the module to the bottom of the module in which is uniformly disbursed a comminuted, water soluble, time release plant nutrient.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Edward Fraze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:45
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G31/00; A01G31/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/20; Y02P60/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for propagating plants comprising a first hermetically sealed plant nutrient reservoir, a second partially hermetically sealed plant nutrient reservoir disposed at an elevation above said first nutrient reservoir, means for fluidly communicating said first first nutrient reservoir with said second nutrient reservoir, at least one plant propagation module in fluid communication with said second nutrient reservoir, said plant propagation module comprising a generally low water retention porous material having a plurality of elongated, interconnecting cellular channels providing fluid communication between the interior of said second nutrient reservoir and the exterior of said second nutrient reservoir, and means for periodically transferring liquid nutrient from said first nutrient reservoir to said second nutrient reservoir and from said second nutrient reservoir to said first nutrient reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for propagating plants comprising a first hermetically sealed plant nutrient reservoir, a second partially hermetically sealed plant nutrient reservoir disposed at an elevation above said first nutrient reservoir, means for fluidly communicating said first first nutrient reservoir with said second nutrient reservoir, at least one plant propagation module in fluid communication with said second nutrient reservoir, said plant propagation module comprising a generally low water retention porous material having a plurality of elongated, interconnecting cellular channels providing fluid communication between the interior of said second nutrient reservoir and the exterior of said second nutrient reservoir, and means for periodically transferring liquid nutrient from said first nutrient reservoir to said second nutrient reservoir and from said second nutrient reservoir to said first nutrient reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus for propagating plants as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said means for periodically transferring liquid nutrient from said first nutrient reservoir to said second nutrient reservoir comprises a compressed gas supply, means for fluidly communicating said compressed gas supply with said first nutrient reservoir, said means comprising a conduit having one end disposed proximate the bottom of said first nutrient reservoir and its other end disposed within said second nutrient reservoir whereby gas pressure applied in said first reservoir causes nutrient fluid to flow from said first nutrient reservoir to said second nutrient reservoir until the level of fluid in said second nutrient reservoir reaches the level of the end of said conduit disposed proximate the bottom of said first nutrient reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus for propagating plants as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said first nutrient reservoir further comprises a bleed valve fluidly communicating the interior of said first nutrient reservoir with the exterior of said first nutrient reservoir, said bleed valve having a gas flow rate less than the rate of flow of compressed gas flowing into said first nutrient reservoir from said compressed gas supply.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus for propagating plants as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising means for measuring the temperature of nutrient fluid in said first reservoir, and means for maintaining the nutrient fluid in said first reservoir at a predetermined temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
The apparatus for propagating plants as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising a computer, said means for periodically transferring liquid nutrient from said first reservoir electrically connected to said computer, means for measuring nutrient level in said first reservoir, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for measuring nutrient level in said second reservoir, said means electrically connected to said computer, means defining a nutrient supply tank in fluid communication with said first reservoir, said nutrient supply tank comprising means for pumping nutrient fluid to and from said ' first nutrient reservoir, said pumping means electrically connected to said computer, whereby said computer controls the periodicity of flow of nutrient fluid into said second nutrient reservoir and the levels of nutrient fluid in said first and second reservoirs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus for propagating plants as claimed in Claim 5 further comprising means in fluid communication with said first nutrient reservoir for measuring nutrient quality, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for changing nutrient quality, said means connected to said computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
The apparatus for propagating plants as claimed in Claim 5 further comprising a greenhouse adapted to house said first and second nutrient reservoirs, means for measuring air temperature in said greenhouse, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for measuring air temperature outside of said greenhouse, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for measuring humidity of air in said greenhouse, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for measuring humidity of air outside said greenhouse, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for measuring nutrient temperature in said first nutrient reservoir, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for heating air in said greenhouse, said means electrically connected to said computer, means for controlling the flow of air into and out of said greenhouse, said means electrically connected to said computer, and means for comparing root temperature, inside and outside air temperature, and inside and outside air humidity to cause the growth rate of plants being cultivated in said plant propagation support module to be enhanced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for propagating plants as claimed in Claim 7 further comprising means for measuring light level in said greenhouse, said means electrically connected to said computer, a light source adapted to illuminate plants being propagated in said greenhouse, said light source being electrically connected to said computer, and means for regulating the on and off times of said light source to enhance the growth rate of said plants.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A plant propagation module comprising means defining a generally rigid, water impervious housing having means defining a pair of openings disposed at opposite ends thereof, a chemically neutral, generally water insoluble, plant support media disposed within said housing, said media comprising a generally low water retention, porous material having a plurality of elongated, interconnecting cellular channels providing fluid communication between said pair of openings at opposite ends of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A plant propagation module comprising means defining a generally rigid, water impervious housing having means defining a pair of openings disposed at opposite ends thereof, a chemically neutral, generally water insoluble, plant support media disposed within said housing, said media comprising a generally low water retention, porous material having a plurality of elongated, interconnecting cellular channels providing fluid communication between said pair of openings at opposite ends of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The plant propagation device a claimed in Claim 9 wherein said plant support media comprises a generally low water retention, porous material having a plurality of generally parallel, elongated, interconnecting cellular channels providing fluid communication between said pair of openings disposed at opposite ends of said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The plant propagation device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said plant support media comprises a generally low water retention, porous material having an interconnecting cellular structure of parallel disposed, elongated cellular channels providing fluid communication between said pair of openings disposed at opposite ends of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The plant propagation device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said plant support media comprises a generally low water retention, interconnecting cellular material having an elongated, parallel cellular wall structure providing fluid communication between said pair of openings disposed at opposite ends of said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
The plant propagation device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said plant support media comprises a crushable, generally low water retention material adapted to permit a plant to increase in diameter as it grows within said media sending its stalk out of one of said openings in said housing and its roots out of the other of said openings in said housing, said cellular material having an elongated, generally parallel cellular wall structure providing fluid communication between said opening disposed at opposite ends of said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The plant propagation device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said plant support media comprises a linear, generally low water retention foam plastic having a plurality of generally parallel, elongated, interconnecting cellular channels disposed to fluidly communicate one of said pair of openings in said housing with the other of said openings in said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A self-contained nutrient plant propagation device comprising a chemically neutral, generally water insoluble plant support media comprising a generally low water retention porous material having a plurality of elongated, generally parallel, interconnecting cellular channels providing fluid communication generally linearly from top to bottom of said media, and a water soluble, comminuted plant nutrient homgeneously distributed throughout said porous material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A self-contained nutrient plant propagation device comprising a chemically neutral, generally water insoluble plant support media comprising a generally low water retention porous material having a plurality of elongated, generally parallel, interconnecting cellular channels providing fluid communication generally linearly from top to bottom of said media, and a water soluble, comminuted plant nutrient homgeneously distributed throughout said porous material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The self-contained nutrient plant propagation device as claimed in Claim 15 wherein said generally low water retention porous material comprises a resilient material having a resiliency sufficient to envelope a seed when imbedded therein and retain said seed while allowing air to circulate to said seed through said cellular channels before water is introduced into said cellular channels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The self-contained nutrient plant propagation device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said generally low water retention porous material comprises a material having a rigidity sufficient to support a plant being propagated therein, said material being sufficiently crushable and resilient to allow for expansion of said plant without fracturing said plant growing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for manufacturing a self-contained nutrient plant propagation device comprising the steps of mixing a water soluble, comminuted plant nutrient with a non-phytotoxic plastic resin, mixing said combined nutrient and non-phytotoxic resin mixture with a foaming agent, pouring said mixture into a mold having a pair of parallel outwardly movable side wall, moving said parallel outwardly movable side wall after said mixture has foamed and prior to full polymerization of said resin mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for manufacturing a self-contained nutrient plant propagation device comprising the steps of mixing a water soluble, comminuted plant nutrient with a non-phytotoxic plastic resin, mixing said combined nutrient and non-phytotoxic resin mixture with a foaming agent, pouring said mixture into a mold having a pair of parallel outwardly movable side wall, moving said parallel outwardly movable side wall after said mixture has foamed and prior to full polymerization of said resin mixture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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