WO2014063204A1 - Ensemble déflecteur d'écoulement liquide pour installations agricoles verticales - Google Patents

Ensemble déflecteur d'écoulement liquide pour installations agricoles verticales Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014063204A1
WO2014063204A1 PCT/AU2013/001245 AU2013001245W WO2014063204A1 WO 2014063204 A1 WO2014063204 A1 WO 2014063204A1 AU 2013001245 W AU2013001245 W AU 2013001245W WO 2014063204 A1 WO2014063204 A1 WO 2014063204A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
assembly
tray
baffle
liquid
location
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2013/001245
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael John Leslie
Original Assignee
Smartgreens Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2012904696A external-priority patent/AU2012904696A0/en
Application filed by Smartgreens Pty Ltd filed Critical Smartgreens Pty Ltd
Publication of WO2014063204A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014063204A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
    • B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
    • B05B12/12—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus
    • B05B12/122—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus responsive to presence or shape of target
    • 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
    • A01G9/14—Greenhouses
    • A01G9/1423—Greenhouse bench structures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
    • B05B1/20—Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor
    • B05B1/202—Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor comprising inserted outlet elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
    • B05B12/16—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for controlling the spray area
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/26—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
    • Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
    • Y02A40/25—Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling the application of liquid growth solutions In vertical farming installations.
  • each tray 2 includes a top cover 8 formed with a number of recesses 10 for housing a plant.
  • the bottom of each recess 10 is formed with one or more holes 12 so that growth liquid flowing over base 14 of the tray can rise up into the recesses 10 to sustain the plants and facilitate their growth.
  • roots of the plants may also penetrate through the holes 12 into the growth liquid on the base 14 of the tray.
  • FIG. 3 shows one end of the rack of Figure 1 with pillar 5 not shown to reveal that a vertical riser pipe 16 for the growth liquid extends up the side of the rack 6.
  • Lateral outlet nozzles 18 extend from the riser pipe 16 at each shelf level of the tray and through a housing 36 which is attached between the riser and the side of the rack.
  • a jet 20 of growth liquid passes from the nozzle 18 through the housing 36, through inlet port 22 of the tray and thence into the interior of tray 2 as shown in Figure 3.
  • nozzle 18 to direct the jet 20 of growth liquid through the Inlet port 22 and into the tray 2 is convenient because it does not require a direct mechanical coupling between the riser 16 and the tray 2. Consequently the tray 2 can be simply lifted from its position without any couplings or connectors between the riser and the tray having to be dissembled, or reestablished when the tray is later placed back in its location on the shelf.
  • a deflector assembly for obstructing flow of liquid to an adjacent location for a receptacle, said assembly including:
  • baffle moveable relative to the support member and responsive to the biasing assembly, the biasing assembly being responsive to positioning of the receptacle at the adjacent location and arranged to bring the baffle to a position for obstructing the flow of liquid upon removal of the receptacle from the location;
  • the biasing assembly includes a portion shaped for abutment with the receptacle, upon the receptacle being positioned in the adjacent location, to thereby displace the baffle from the obstructing position.
  • the deflector assembly further includes a guide to ensure correct placement of the tray in said location.
  • the guide comprises an L-shaped member that fastens to the support member.
  • the L-shaped member and the housing may be shaped to snap-lock together.
  • the support member comprises a housing that is fastened to an outside of a tray storage assembly, such as a rack of shelves for holdinjg the tray.
  • a tray storage assembly such as a rack of shelves for holdinjg the tray.
  • the support member could be formed integrally with the rack in some less preferred embodiments of the invention.
  • the baffle is moveable relative to the support member.
  • the baffle may be moveable by virtue of it being pivotally attached to the support member.
  • the biasing assembly comprises an arm having a first end connected to the baffle and an opposed second end supporting a weight.
  • a spring may be provided to provide a biasing force rather than a weight wherein the baffle is responsive to the spring.
  • a vertical farming system including:
  • each deflector assembly including;
  • a baffle moveable relative to the support member and responsive to the biasing assembly, the biasing assembly being responsive to positioning of the corresponding tray at the adjacent location and arranged to bring the baffle to a position for obstructing the flow of liquid upon removal of the tray from the location;
  • Figure 1 depicts a rack containing a plurality of tray assemblies for growing plants.
  • Figure 2 is a cross section of an end of a receptacle in the form of a tray.
  • Figure 3 shows the end of the tray of Figure 2 and a housing, nozzle and riser prior to adoption of the invention that will be described herein.
  • Figure 4 is an exploded view of a liquid delivery arrangement incorporating a deflector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5 is a side view of the liquid delivery arrangement of Figure 4 in an assembled state and showing hidden lines.
  • Figure 6 shows the liquid delivery arrangement wherein the baffle assembly is in a non-obstructing position.
  • Figure 7 shows the liquid delivery arrangement wherein the baffle assembly is in an obstructing position for deflecting a jet from the nozzle.
  • Figure 8 is a stylized top plan view of a further, though less preferred, spring biased embodiment of the invention in a jet deflecting state.
  • FIG. 9 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 8 in a state wherein a tray has been located adjacent the biasing assembly to thereby bring .the baffle from the deflecting configuration to a non-obstructing position.
  • Figure 10 is a side, and partially cutaway view of a vertical farm system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 11 is a side detail view of a portion of Figure 10 showing liquid deflector assemblies according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG 4 there is depicted an exploded view of a deflector assembly 43 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5 is a side view of the deflector assembly 43 of Figure 4 in an assembled state and showing hidden lines.
  • the deflector assembly 43 includes a two part riser bracket 24 comprising a rearward portion 26 and a forward portion 28.
  • a nozzle 18 extends from the forward portion 28 of the riser bracket.
  • An O-ring 32 of elastomeric material is provided to assist in sealing the connection between the rearward end of the nozzle 18 and the riser 16.
  • the rearward portion 26 of the riser bracket 24 also includes downwardly extending tabs 34, each formed with bores therethrough, for attachment to exit gate housing 36.
  • the exit gate housing 36 is formed with rearward mounting surfaces 36 that each communicate with threaded screw receptacles 40 and which are sized to abut the tabs 34 of the rearward portion 26 of the riser bracket. Accordingly, the exit gate housing is fastened to the tabs of rearward portion of the riser bracket by means of screws 42.
  • the forward side of the exit gate housing is formed with an opening 44 across which a baffle assembly 46 Is pivotally mounted.
  • the baffle assembly 46 includes a curved baffle 48 that extends laterally and ends in opposed sidewalls 50. Pivot pins 52 extend outwardly from each of the opposed sidewalls and are received in complementary recesses 54 formed into internal sidewalls of the housing. Accordingly, the baffle assembly is able to pivot within the housing as will be explained further shortly.
  • a biasing assembly 55 comprising an arm 58 that extends outwardly and upwardly from an outer surface of the baffle assembly 46 and a weight 60 located at the end of the arm.
  • a guide in the form of a tray alignment ledge 62 is provided which has an "L" shaped profile and which snap locks into engagement with the opening 44 of the housing 36.
  • the tray alignment ledge 62 defines an adjacent tray placement position for an end of tray 2 relative to the housing 36.
  • the biasing assembly has used a weight to provide a biasing force.
  • a spring bias might be used Instead of the weight in other arrangements.
  • FIGS 8 and 9 are top plan views of a further, though less preferred, deflector assembly 81 according to a further embodiment of the invention.
  • a coil spring 66 is employed as a biasing mechanism and the axis of the pivots 68 is vertical (i.e. out of the page of Figures 8 and 9) instead of horizontal.
  • the coil spring 66 is disposed about the axis of the pivots 68 and has a first arm 70 which is fast with the biasing member 72 and a second arm 74 which is fast with the housing 76.
  • the baffle 78 which extends from the biasing arm 72 obstructs the jet.
  • FIG. 9 upon a tray being brought into its predetermined location a portion 82 of the tray abuts the biasing arm 72 and proceeds to overcome the biasing force of the spring 66. Consequently the baffle 72 is pivoted clockwise as shown in Figure 9 and no longer obstructs the jet 80.
  • the baffle may be arranged to slide from the obstructing position to the non-obstructing position in response to placement of the tray in the predetermined location's]
  • FIG 10 there is depicted a vertical farming system 84 according to a preferred embodiment of a further aspect of the present invention.
  • the system 84 includes a plurality of shelves 4a to 4n for supporting plant cultivation trays 2a to 2n.
  • a riser 16 is provided for conveying liquid nutrient past the ends of the shelves.
  • Corresponding deflector assemblies 43a to 43n are provided, each associated with one of the conduits.
  • the riser 16, nozzles 8a to 18n and deflector assemblies 18a to 18n are shown in more detail in Figure 11.
  • the deflector assemblies are provided for obstructing flow of liquid to an adjacent location for a corresponding tray for each conduit.
  • the adjacent location may be the topside of each of the trays 4a to 4n adjacent to the deflector assemblies 43a to 43n, which location supports the ends of the trays as shown in Figure 10.
  • Each deflector assembly 43a to 43n is of the type described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. in an alternative embodiment the deflector assemblies might instead be of the type described with reference to Figures 6 and 9, for example.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention porte sur un ensemble déflecteur pour obstruction d'un écoulement de liquide vers une position adjacente pour un réceptacle tel qu'un plateau pour croissance de plantes dans un système agricole vertical. L'ensemble déflecteur comprend un élément de support et un ensemble de sollicitation. La présente invention porte également sur une chicane qui est mobile par rapport à l'élément de support. La chicane est réactive vis-à-vis de l'ensemble de sollicitation et l'ensemble de sollicitation est réactif vis-à-vis du positionnement du plateau au niveau de la position adjacente, l'ensemble de sollicitation est agencé pour amener la chicane vers une position pour obstruction de l'écoulement de liquide lors d'un retrait du plateau de la position de telle sorte que le liquide, par exemple un nutriant de croissance de plante, n'est pas gaspillé et ne produit pas un gâchis. Un placement du plateau au niveau de la position adjacente à l'ensemble déflecteur amène l'ensemble de sollicitation à être surmonté, déplaçant ainsi la chicane de la position d'obstruction pour autoriser un passage du liquide vers le plateau.
PCT/AU2013/001245 2012-10-26 2013-10-25 Ensemble déflecteur d'écoulement liquide pour installations agricoles verticales WO2014063204A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2012904696A AU2012904696A0 (en) 2012-10-26 A liquid flow deflector assembly for vertical farming installations
AU2012904696 2012-10-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014063204A1 true WO2014063204A1 (fr) 2014-05-01

Family

ID=50543786

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2013/001245 WO2014063204A1 (fr) 2012-10-26 2013-10-25 Ensemble déflecteur d'écoulement liquide pour installations agricoles verticales

Country Status (1)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023237622A1 (fr) * 2022-06-07 2023-12-14 Jones Food Company Limited Système de culture vertical

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4138092A (en) * 1976-04-14 1979-02-06 Euracom S.A. Tap for dispensing carbonated beverages
US6219972B1 (en) * 1999-09-08 2001-04-24 Matthew S. Zusy Method and apparatus for preventing blockage of a water flow path
EP2314540A1 (fr) * 2009-10-22 2011-04-27 Zumex Maquinas Y Elementos, S.A. Dispositif de distribution de liquides
WO2012040776A1 (fr) * 2010-09-29 2012-04-05 Vertical Farm Systems Pty Ltd Agencement d'arrosage et de drainage pour structure horticole multicouche
US8196779B1 (en) * 2009-02-17 2012-06-12 Vincent Czarnecki Dispenser for a liquid in a container and for mounting to differently configured places

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4138092A (en) * 1976-04-14 1979-02-06 Euracom S.A. Tap for dispensing carbonated beverages
US6219972B1 (en) * 1999-09-08 2001-04-24 Matthew S. Zusy Method and apparatus for preventing blockage of a water flow path
US8196779B1 (en) * 2009-02-17 2012-06-12 Vincent Czarnecki Dispenser for a liquid in a container and for mounting to differently configured places
EP2314540A1 (fr) * 2009-10-22 2011-04-27 Zumex Maquinas Y Elementos, S.A. Dispositif de distribution de liquides
WO2012040776A1 (fr) * 2010-09-29 2012-04-05 Vertical Farm Systems Pty Ltd Agencement d'arrosage et de drainage pour structure horticole multicouche

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023237622A1 (fr) * 2022-06-07 2023-12-14 Jones Food Company Limited Système de culture vertical

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