Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR PLANT GROWTH APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
~ The present invention relates to mufti-tier crop beds generally, and
particularly
to rnulti-tier crop beds with soil disinfestation and drainage.
~ 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mufti-tiered crop beds are known structures that provide increased area for
sowing seedlings and plant growth. Mufti-tiered crop beds are generally
constructed of soil
containers or terraces raised one above another so as to increase the amount
of available arable
soil for a given plot of flat land. The crop beds may be arranged vertically
above each other,
1o staggered or in any other geometrical arrangement. For example, United
States Patent
5,428,922 to Johnson describes a planter with a bottom tub with a series of
vertical retaining
tubes extending therefrom which support a plurality of flared tubs stacked one
above another
around a sectional central pipe.
Spanish Patent 8403272 describes a pyramid shaped structure mounted in a
15 container for cultivating plants in a greenhouse. The structure supports
soil for growing plants
at a number of different levels with each level partly overhanging the level
below it.
Soil disinfestation by heating soil with solar energy to control and kill soil
pathogens and weeds is well known in the art. The bibliography entitled "The
First Decade
(1976-1986) of Soil Solarization (Solar Heating): A Chronological
Bibliography" in
2o Phvtoparasitica 15(3):229-255, 1987, by J. Katan et al, provides a good
summary of the
activity in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved mufti-tier crop bed with
soil disinfestation and drainage.
25 There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention plant growth apparatus including a modular growth element
comprising a
plant growth bed, a connector for connecting to another such growth element, a
heating
element disposed in the growth element and thermal insulation that insulates
at least one face
of the growth element, wherein the heating element raises and maintains a
temperature of a
3o substantial portion of the growth element to a level which disinfects the
growth bed. The
growth element may include a drain trough attached to the growth element and
in fluid
communication therewith.
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In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
heating
element is sandwiched between at least one layer of a first insulating
material and at least one
layer of a second insulating material. The insulating materials may include
polystyrene,
polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, and polycarbonate. A sheet of thermal
radiation reflective
material, such as white nylon or polyethylene, may be placed over the growth
element to
internally reflect thermal radiation and increase a temperature of a
substantial portion of the
growth element.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the heating element is substantially flat and dissipates electrical
power as heat.
1o Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
there is also provided at least one temperature sensor operating in a closed
control loop to
control the temperature of the growth bed.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a
tiered support structure including a plurality of support members upon which
are placed a
plurality of the growth elements. The support members preferably are arranged
in a staggered
pyramid formation.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention a method for plant growth including modularly connecting a
plurality of
growth elements together, and raising and maintaining a temperature of a
substantial portion of
2o the growth elements to a level which disinfects the growth element. The
growth elements may
be connected to form a stacked pyramid formation. The method may further
include draining
excess water from the growth elements.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the growth element temperature is raised to a temperature which
causes
pasteurization thereof.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the
growth bed temperature is raised to a temperature which causes sterilization
thereof.
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
growth bed temperature is raised to a temperature of approximately 70°C
for a duration of
3o approximately at least 3 hours.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
growth bed temperature is raised to a temperature of approximately 60°C
for a duration of
approximately at least 4 hours.
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In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the growth bed temperature is raised to a temperature of approximately
100°C for a duration
~ of approximately at least 3 hours.
The soil disinfestation by heating is preferably performed approximately one
day
S to two weeks before planting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in
which:
Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial, partially sectional illustration of a
modular
Io growth element, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a plurality of modular growth
elements on a tiered support structure, constructed and operative in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
I5 Fig. 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration of growing plants on the
structure of
Fig. 2, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a heating element,
constructed and
operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
and which may
be employed with the modular growth element of Fig. 1;
2o Fig. 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of temperature control
apparatus for
controlling temperature of a plurality of modular growth elements, constructed
and operative
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 6 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a domestic modular-growth-
element
tiered support structure, constructed and operative in accordance with a
preferred embodiment
25 of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to Fig. l, which illustrates a modular growth element
10, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present
invention.
3o Modular growth element 10 comprises a growth bed 14, comprising a layer of
any conventional growth medium or soil, typically approximately 10-20 cm deep.
Depending
on the type of growth medium, growth bed 14 may be provided with a housing
(not shown) to
contain the growth medium, or alternatively, no housing may be required.
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Underneath growth bed 14 is a heating element 16 which is preferably
substantially flat. A thin, thermal insulating sheet 18, typically constructed
of polycarbonate or
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), may be placed between growth bed 14 and heating
element 16.
Heating element 16 preferably dissipates electrical power as heat, such as an
electric heating
blanket which is provided with a suitable protective coating, such as a
polymeric coating.
Heating element 16 is preferably provided with electrical leads I7 for
connection with a power
source 19.
Underneath the heating element 16 is preferably a layer of a porous medium 20,
such as tuff, compost, coconut hairs or polystyrene foam. The layer of porous
medium 20 is
to typically approximately 1-5 cm thick.
Underneath porous medium 20 is a layer of thermal insulation 22. Thermal
insulation 22 is typically made of a material such as polystyrene, PVC or
polyurethane, and is
preferably approximately 1-5 cm thick. The layer of porous medium 20 helps to
separate
heating element 16 from the thermal insulation 22, thereby helping to avoid
direct heating
damage thereto.
Alternatively, additional thermal insulation may be provided above growth bed
14. For example, growth bed 14 may be covered with a layer of thermally
insulative material
23, such as a white sheet of nylon or polyethylene. Thermally insuiative
material 23 internally
reflects thermal radiation and increases a temperature of a substantial
portion of growth
2o element 14. This helps to promote and maintain a uniform temperature in
growth bed 14, as
well as provide extra thermal insulation.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least
one temperature sensor 24 is embedded in growth bed 14 and is connected to a
controller 26
which is in electrical communication with one of the leads 17 and with power
source 19.
Temperature sensor 24 and controller 26 operate in a closed control loop to
control the
temperature of growth bed 14.
A drain trough 28 is preferably attached to modular growth element 10 and in
fluid communication therewith. Drain trough 28 may be constructed of a
suitable engineering
plastic and may be attached in any conventional manner to any portion of
modular growth
3o element 10.
Preferably a connector 30 is provided for connecting one modular growth
element 10 to another. Connector 30 may be a clip, VELCRO~ strap, buckle,
adhesive, or
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mechanical fastener, for example. Connector 30 may be attached in any
conventional manner
to any portion of modular growth element 10.
Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which illustrates a plurality of modular
growth
elements 10 on a tiered support structure 40, constructed and operative in
accordance with a
S preferred embodiment of the present invention. Tiered support structure 40
preferably includes
a plurality of support members 42 upon which are placed the modular growth
elements 10.
Support members 42 are preferably constructed of stiff metal posts or wire,
and are preferably
arranged in a staggered pyramid formation. As seen in Fig. 2, modular growth
elements 10
may be connected and placed upon support members 42 to form a stacked pyramid
formation.
to Drain troughs 28 may be used to drain excess water from growth elements 14.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which illustrates growing plants 44 in the
modular growth elements 10 on tiered support structure 40, in accordance with
a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The growth of plants 44 may be enhanced
by
disinfestation of the growth medium of growth beds 14, in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment of the present invention, as will now be described.
In order to disinfect growth bed 14, heating element 16 is energized to heat
growth bed 14 to a temperature which causes the desired level of
disinfestation. For
pasteurization, the temperature of the growth bed 14 is preferably raised to
approximately
70°C for a duration of approximately at least 3 hours. Alternatively,
the temperature of growth
bed 14 may be raised to approximately 60°C for a duration of
approximately at least 4 hours.
For sterilization, the temperature of growth bed 14 is preferably raised to
approximately 100°C
for a duration of approximately at least 3 hours.
It is appreciated that the method described herein may be used in conjunction
with solarization of the soil. For example, growth bed 14 may be solarized
during the day with
conventional methods of soil solarization and further disinfestation
accomplished with the
methods of the present invention during the night or during cloudy days. The
soil disinfestation
by heating is preferably performed approximately one day to two weeks before
planting.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that plants may be sown or
planted not only on the upper face of growth bed 14 but also on a vertical
side of growth bed
14. In such a configuration, for example, leaves 47 of plants 44 growing on
the vertical sides of
growth bed 14 may tend to develop and point themselves upwards, while at the
same time fruit
49, which is generally heavier than the leaves 47, tends to develop downwards.
This separation
of leaf and fruit (or flower) can be beneficial to fruit/flower development in
certain species.
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Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which illustrates a heating element 50,
constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention,
and which may be employed with the modular growth element of Fig. 1. Heating
element 50
preferably includes one or mare discrete, localized heating zones 52. Heating
zones 52 may
comprise any pattern of electrical resistor elements printed or embedded in a
strip 54 of
electrically insulative material, such as a plastic. Heating zones 52 may be
interconnected in
series or parallel and connected to a power source 56 via a bus 58.
Alternatively, heating zones
52 may be individually connected to power source 56. Heating elements 50 may
be used to
heat modular growth elements 10 in tiered support structure 40 of Fig. 3, for
example.
to Alternatively, heating elements 50 may be used to heat individual flower
pots or beds.
Reference is now made to Fig. 5 which illustrates temperature control
apparatus
60 for cooling, heating and/or controlling temperature of a plurality of
modular growth
elements, such as modular growth elements 10 in tiered support structure 40 of
Fig. 3, for
example, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present
invention. Apparatus 60 may comprise any type of air-air heat exchanger, water-
air heat
exchanger or air-conditioning system or simply a fan or blower. Apparatus 60
preferably
includes a fan 62, such as a centrifugal fan, positioned at an end 64 of a
housing 66 which
envelopes tiered support structure 40. Housing 66, which may be constructed of
a transparent
plastic, is preferably at least partially open to the outside air at end 64
and may be closed at an
opposite end 68. Fan 62 blows air over plants 44, the air entering the inside
of housing 66 at
end 64 and exiting through openings 70 formed in housing 6b near each plant
44. It is
appreciated that fan 62 and openings 70 may be positioned at other places in
housing 66
depending on the particular requirements of the plants 44. The flow of air
controls and/or
raises or lowers the temperature of growth beds 14. Depending on the type of
apparatus 60
chosen (i.e., air-air heat exchanger, water-air heat exchanger or air-
conditioning system),
apparatus 60 may either heat or cool growth beds 14 as desired. As is well
known to those
skilled in the art of heat transfer, cooling may be enhanced by
modifying/controlling a variety
of heat transfer parameters. For example, the growth beds 14 may be moistened,
thereby
increasing heat transfer to the air passing thereover.
3o Reference is now made to Fig. 6 which illustrates a domestic modular-growth-
element tiered support structure 80, constructed and operative in accordance
with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Tiered support structure 80 is preferably
constructed in
the same manner as tiered support structure 40 described hereinabove with
reference to Figs. 2
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and 3, with like elements being designated by like numerals. Tiered support
structure 80
preferably includes a power cord 82 and water supply tube 84 for convenient
installment in a
house, patio or the like. Power cord 82 is of course connected to a mains (not
shown) for
supplying electrical power to heating elements 16. Water supply tube 84 is
connected to a
~ 5 water supply (schematically designated by numeral 86) for supplying water
to modular growth
elements 10. Inlet water enters water supply tube 84 and is preferably fed to
growth elements
via channels formed in walls 88 of tiered support structure 80. Water is
drained in drain
troughs 28 and, if necessary, an exit water tube 90 may be provided to expel
excess water.
Tiered support structure 80 is thus a "turn-key" system for domestic use,
comprising the
to heating elements for disinfection of the soil, water for plant growth,
drain troughs and any
necessary sensors and controllers to monitor and control operation of the
growth elements.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present
invention is
not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove.
Rather the scope
of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the
features
described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which
would occur to a
person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which
are not in the prior
art.
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