US3882634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1973-12-27
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-12-27
Abstract
Abstract Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus for increasing plant yields by effectively removing the growing plants from the constraints of gravity and increasing the plant yield per unit of space, and including a plurality of cylindrical plant beds supported radially removed from a primary axis of rotation, with each plant bed being driven about its own secondary axis of rotation and simultaneously moved in a planetary path about the primary axis of rotation. Each plant bed is formed by an apertured outer cylinder, a perforated inner cylinder positioned coaxially therewith, and rooting media disposed in the space therebetween. A rotatable manifold distributes liquid nutrients and water to the rooting media through the perforations in the inner cylinders as the plant beds are continuously rotated by suitable drive means.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D Dedolph
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:52
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G31/00; A01G31/02; A01G31/04; A01G31/047; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/20; Y02P60/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus, comprising: a mounting stand including a pair of spaced apart support members; an elongated drive shaft supported by said mounting stand and having opposite ends journaled to respective ones of said pair of support members, the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft defining a primary axis about which said shaft may be rotated; at least one pair of arms respectively affixed to opposite ends of said drive shaft and extending radially away from said drive shaft, said arms being rotatable about said primary axis with said drive shaft; plant bed means having opposite ends journaled to the distal ends of the respective ones of said arms, said plant bed means being rotatable about a planetary axis oriented in spaced apart parallel relationship with said primary axis; drive means for causing said drive shaft and said arms to rotate about said primary axis and carry said plant bed means in a planetary path around said primary axis; planetary drive means responsive to rotation of said drive shaft and operative to cause said plant bed means to rotate about said planetary axis as it is moved over said planetary path; and means for supplying liquids to said plant bed means while they are being moved around said primary axis and rotated about said planetary axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus, comprising: a mounting stand including a pair of spaced apart support members; an elongated drive shaft supported by said mounting stand and having opposite ends journaled to respective ones of said pair of support members, the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft defining a primary axis about which said shaft may be rotated; at least one pair of arms respectively affixed to opposite ends of said drive shaft and extending radially away from said drive shaft, said arms being rotatable about said primary axis with said drive shaft; plant bed means having opposite ends journaled to the distal ends of the respective ones of said arms, said plant bed means being rotatable about a planetary axis oriented in spaced apart parallel relationship with said primary axis; drive means for causing said drive shaft and said arms to rotate about said primary axis and carry said plant bed means in a planetary path around said primary axis; planetary drive means responsive to rotation of said drive shaft and operative to cause said plant bed means to rotate about said planetary axis as it is moved over said planetary path; and means for supplying liquids to said plant bed means while they are being moved around said primary axis and rotated about said planetary axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Rotary plant growth acceleRating apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said plant bed means include an elongated outer cylinder and an elongated inner cylinder disposed coaxial with said outer cylinder, the space between said inner and outer cylinders containing a rooting media in which plant life may be propagated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said inner cylinder is perforated and at least one end thereof is connected to said means for supplying liquids whereby liquids caused to flow into said inner cylinder are dispersed into said rooting media through the perforations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said outer cylinder is provided with a plurality of apertures through which plants growing in said rooting media may extend as they grow out of said plant bed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said apertures are arrayed in several rings around said outer cylinder and said rings are spaced along the length thereof, and wherein corresponding apertures in alternating rings are aligned along the length of said outer cylinder, and corresponding apertures in the other rings are aligned with each other but radially offset relative to the corresponding apertures in said alternating rings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said planetary drive means includes a first sprocket driven by said drive shaft, a second sprocket affixed to one end of said plant bed means, and a drive chain coupling said first sprocket to said second sprocket whereby said plant beds are caused to rotate about said planetary axis as they are moved around said primary axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquids to said plant bed means includes, a fixed cylindrical member disposed along said primary axis, said fixed member having an annular groove formed in its outer cylindrical surface and an entrance passageway communicating one end surface of said fixed member with said groove, an annular manifold member rotatably disposed about said fixed member in covering relationship to said groove and having at least one exit passageway communicating the inner annular surface thereof with the outer annular surface, means forming fluid-tight seals between said fixed member and said manifold member on each side of said groove, and conduit means coupling said exit passageway to said plant bed means whereby fluids introduced to said entrance passageway flow through said groove, said exit passageway and said conduit to said plant bed means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said plant bed means includes an elongated outer cylinder, an elongated inner cylinder disposed coaxial with said outer cylinder, and rooting media contained within the space between said inner and outer cylinders, said inner cylinder being perforated and having at least one end connected to said conduit means whereby fluids carried by said conduit means are introduced into said inner cylinder and flow through said perforations into said rooting media.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said outer cylinder has a plurality of apertures provided therein through which plants growing in said rooting media may extend.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said plant bed means include an elongated outer cylinder, an elongated inner cylinder disposed coaxial with said outer cylinder and having perforations in the walls thereof, and rooting media disposed within the space between said inner and outer cylinders for propagating plant life.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said manifold member includes a plurality of exit passageways, one of which is connected to one end of said inner cylinder by a first conduit means and another end of which is connected to the oppoSite end of said inner cylinder by a second conduit means, whereby fluids may be introduced into both ends of said inner cylinder to flow through said perforations into said rooting media.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
212 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus, comprising: an elongated drive shaft having a longitudinal axis defining a primary axis about which said shaft may be rotated; a mounting stand including a pair of spaced apart support members each of which is journaled to respective ends of said drive shaft; four pairs of arms respectively affixed to opposite ends of said drive shaft and extending radially away from said drive shaft, said arms being rotatable about said primary axis with said drive shaft; four plant bed means supported by said four pairs of arms, each of said plant bed means including an elongated outer cylinder, an elongated inner cylinder disposed coaxial with said outer cylinder, and rooting media disposed within the space between said inner and outer cylinders, said plant bed means being rotatable about individual planetary axes oriented in spaced apart parallel relationship with said primary axis; drive means for causing said drive shaft and said arms to rotate about said primary axis and to carry said plant bed means in planetary paths around said primary axis; and planetary drive means responsive to rotation of said drive shaft and operative to cause each of said plant bed means to rotate about its individual planetary axis as it is moved over its planetary path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
212 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus, comprising: an elongated drive shaft having a longitudinal axis defining a primary axis about which said shaft may be rotated; a mounting stand including a pair of spaced apart support members each of which is journaled to respective ends of said drive shaft; four pairs of arms respectively affixed to opposite ends of said drive shaft and extending radially away from said drive shaft, said arms being rotatable about said primary axis with said drive shaft; four plant bed means supported by said four pairs of arms, each of said plant bed means including an elongated outer cylinder, an elongated inner cylinder disposed coaxial with said outer cylinder, and rooting media disposed within the space between said inner and outer cylinders, said plant bed means being rotatable about individual planetary axes oriented in spaced apart parallel relationship with said primary axis; drive means for causing said drive shaft and said arms to rotate about said primary axis and to carry said plant bed means in planetary paths around said primary axis; and planetary drive means responsive to rotation of said drive shaft and operative to cause each of said plant bed means to rotate about its individual planetary axis as it is moved over its planetary path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 12 and further comprising means for supplying liquids to said plant bed means while they are being moved around said primary axis and rotated about their individual planetary axes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said means for supplying liquids includes a rotary manifold means having a plurality of outlet ports, each of which is coupled to one of said plant bed means by suitable conduit means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said manifold means includes a fixed cylindrical member disposed along said primary axis and having an entrance passageway communicating one end surface of said fixed member with the cylindrical surface thereof, an annular manifold member rotatably disposed about said fixed member and having an inner annular surface cooperating with said cylindrical surface to define an annular fluid passageway, said manifold member having at least four exit passageways communicating said annular fluid passageway and said outlet ports.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
Rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said planetary drive means includes a drive sprocket driven by said drive shaft, four driven sprockets each of which are coupled to one of said plant bed means, and a drive chain coupling said drive sprocket to said four driven sprockets, whereby said plant beds are caused to rotate about their individual planetary axes as they are moved around said primary axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |