Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like

Definitions

• a fluid distribution panel may be constructed utilizing a grid containing spaced individualized conical inemoers having the small end opening into a plenum or utilizing a block of construction material such as air entraineu material as an expanded polyurethane foam wherein the spaced conical surfaces taper outwardly into an enlarged fluid discharge opening resulting in minimized pressure drop with re ⁇ uce ⁇ turbulence and uniform, high volume air flow across a wide area of the panel.
• Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a growth chamber equipped with an air distribution panel constructed in accordance with the present invention
• Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating an air distribution panel constructed of expanded polyethylene and the like
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 2
• Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of panel in a growth chamber environment
• Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 4.
• Tne drawings illustrate a fluid distribution panel A for use in a fluid distribution plenam.
• a plurality of spaced openings in tne panel are formed by a plurality of spaced conical surfaces B tapering outwardly in an ever increasing cross section.
• a portion of each of the conical surfaces open into the plenum and taper outwardly into an enlarged fluid discharge opening.
• the conical surfaces have an included angle of about 7 to about 15 degrees.
• the drawings further illustrate a growth chamber having a foraminous table 10 for circulating heated air upwardly therethrough and past plants 11 carried on the table and thence through a source of heat and light such as provided by the light fixtures 12.
• the air then flows through a receiving plenum 13 and a velosity eliminator 14 into a plenum 15 containing coils 15a for heating and cooling and whicn extends as at 15b beneath and across the table 10.
• a suitable humidifier 15c and other conditioning and control means are provided as desired depending upon the requirements for the growth chamber.
• the panel is illustrated at A containing a plurality of spaced openings therein formed by a piurelity of spaced, smooth, conical surfaces B which taper outwardly in an ever increasing cross section.
• the growth chamber is illustrated as including a base 16 carrying an insulated housing 17.
• the growth chamber has a door 18 therein for access by workers into the interior of the growth chamber, and is partitioned as at 19 providing a compartment for carrying the velocity eliminator as well as a fan for removing air into the plenum 15 and the flow path described above.
• the table 10 is carried on suitable supports 21 on either side cf the lower extension 15b of the plenum.
• a support 22 is provided for carrying the light fixtures 12 for providing a controlled source of heat and light for the growth chamber.
• Figure 4 best illustrates the table in the form of a grating 10.
• a sprinkler system includes a pipe 23 carrying nozzles 24.
• the air districution panel A is illustrated as being positioned across and beneath the table and forms a portion of the plenum 15b.
• the panel A may oe considered as an upper wall of a plenum or in this instance, an intermediate wall dividing upper and lower portions of a single plenum.
• Figure 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the air distribution panel A is formed from a block of expanded polystyrene or other suitable lightweight construction material as may be provided, for example, through air entrainment.
• the tapered surfaces B are provided in the panel and have walls arranged preferably at about a 7 to 15 degree included angle.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a panel made of lightweight construction material. A depth of 8 inches with a cone having an opening diverging from 3/8 inches to 1 1/4 inches has been found to give desiraple results.
• the edges of the inner smooth conical surfaces may be ceveled at the entrance and exit as at 25a and 28a, respectively, to minimize eddy currents or other turbulence, thus increasing the efficiency of the air flow reducing pressure drop.
• FIG. 4 a modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the grid of the panel A for containing the conical surfaces is supplied by a thin member rather than by a structural block member.
• a sheet 27 has a plurality of spaced openings 28 therein for containing conical members 29 each having a conical surface B therein.
• suitable cones may be provided in the form of paper tubes of the type upon which yarn is wound to form packages by the textile industry. The cone preferably extends for about one third of its total length into the sheet 27 as illustrated in Figure 5. it is thus seen that an air distribution panel has been provided containing spaced conical openings which extend generally normal to the plane of the panel.
• the openings diverge from an inner opening in order to provide even flow across the entire panel.
• all areas of a panel may have controlled uniform air flow.
• the air flow may be controlled such as to vary the air flow from area to area across the panel. This may be done by varying the size of the conical elements formed by the conical surfaces. Further control of air flow may be obtained by varying the pattern at which the conical surfaces are spaced across the panel.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Duct Arrangements (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22188687

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (3)

Citations (5)

• 1985
  • 1985-05-17 WO PCT/US1985/000947 patent/WO1986006577A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1985-05-17 DE DE19853590121 patent/DE3590121T1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 1986
  • 1986-12-20 GB GB868630482A patent/GB8630482D0/en active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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