Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
ROTARY PLANT GROWING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a plant
growing apparatus of a type where the apparatus for
growing plants includes a cylindrical drum-like structure
that is supported by a base over a water nutrient supply
system and that rotates about a light source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In systems where plants were previously grown
predominantly in a flat bed under a lamp or series of
lamps, the plants would be at variant distances from the
lamp(s). Canadian Patent 2,343,254 issued on March 26,
2002 discloses a system where the plant apparatus is in
the form of a drum which rotates about a light source,
thus maintaining a constant distance between the plants
and the lamp. The circumferential surface of the drum is
made of assembled segments that define a series of holes
to receive plant pots . The drive means described in the
preferred embodiment comprises a belt which engages
grooves in both the drum supporting wheels and a similar
groove on one of the opposite sides of the drum in
alignment with said supporting wheels and the drum is
thus driven and rotated by such belt activated by an
electric motor. The water-feeding basin is located under
a rigid unitary base that supports the drum and cannot be
removed while the apparatus is in use.
The drum and pot holes structure of Canadian
Patent 2,343,254 presents a number of inconveniences. In
operation, the drum cannot be taken apart or have one or
more of its segments, which are bolted together, removed
to insert and fix the pots in the holes. The length of
the drum is limited to about 40 inches so that a person
can reach the middle of the drum to insert the plant pots
in the corresponding holes or similarly to provide
maintenance in removing weeds or other similar
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
-2-
undesirable objects. Another disadvantage resides in the
actuation of the drum by the use of a belt which under
long use and wear will stretch, thereby causing loss of
frictional engagement and improper operation, and thus
slowing or stopping the drum rotation which interrupts
the regular feeding of water and nutrient over the
circumference of the drum. A further disadvantage results
from the lights being fixed or stationary at a pre-
determined location in the translucent plastic tube,
whereby certain zones adjacent the extremity of the light
beam within the drum will not receive the same amount of
light as other sections. In conjunction with .the light,
the use of a plastic tube is also a source of a problem
because in the absence of a sensor or if deficiency
occurs in the sensor or if the ventilation system fails,
the plastic tube may overheat and lose its original form
and its performance or lifetime would then decrease. As
it is apparent from these disadvantages, they may cause
undesirable interruption, improper, more costly and
inconvenient manpower operations.
Notwithstanding the introduction of this rotary
plant growing apparatus in Canadian Patent 2,343,254, the
structure described therein does not fulfil the concept,
or intent of the improvements of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention
to provide an,improved rotary growing apparatus.
Therefore, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a rotary growing apparatus
comprising: a cylindrical structure; a support base for
said cylindrical structure; drive means to rotate said
cylindrical structure on said support base about a
rotational axis of said cylindrical structure; at least
one light source inside said cylindrical structure about
which said cylindrical structure can rotate; means for
providing nutrient fluid to growing plants as said
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
-3-
cylindrical structure rotates; the improvement consisting
in said cylindrical structure comprising at least one
elongated basket including a bottom wall and a pair of
side walls and being capable of, receiving therein a
series of plants supported by a growing medium, said
elongated basket defining in at least one of said bottom
and side walls thereof a plurality of apertures for
allowing the nutrient fluid to access the plants.
The rotary growing apparatus has a cylindrical
structure that rotates horizontally on a support frame
and lamp post, which structure rotates horizontally about
an axially positioned lamp. The improvement resides in
the shape and use of elongated basket or baskets that are
adapted to receive plants therein and that are, in a
preferred embodiment, removable from the cylindrical
structure for easier insertion of plants inside the
basket and ease of maintenance. Also provided is an
improved lighting system that includes at least two
lights that provide substantially uniform lighting across
substantially the entire interior surface of the
cylindrical structure. An improved water feeding
mechanism and structure is provided, whereby when
necessary, exposure of the plants to the immersion in the
nutrient tank is interrupted. Finally, an improved drum
driving mechanism is provided to cause the rotation of
the drum.
A further advantage or improvement resides in
the double frame of the support stand, whereby through
pivotal connection, one is capable of elevating the
cylindrical structure upwardly thus allowing possible
removal and insertion of the water tank underneath while
the, cylindrical structure is in operation, i.e. rotating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of
the invention, reference will now be made to the
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
-4-
accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a
preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary plant
growing apparatus in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the rotary plant
growing apparatus of Fig. 1, but herein shown with plants
installed therein;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of part
of a drum of the rotary plant growing apparatus; and
Fig. 4 is a side view of the rotary plant
growing apparatus that is similar to Fig. 2, but that
illustrates the rotary plant growing apparatus in an
alternate position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring mainly to Figs. 1 and 2, a plant
growing apparatus 10 in accordance with the present
invention includes an open-ended cylindrical structure
12, hereinafter referred to as the drum 12. The drum 12
is made of two spaced apart annular members or rims 14,
connected by rods 18 fixedly engaged in openings 19 (see
Fig. 3) defined in the inside surfaces of the rims 14,
and of a series of parallel cross members or elongated
baskets l6 that extend between, and are mounted to, the
rims 14. More particularly, the rime 14 are vertically
oriented and parallel to each other, with the baskets 16
extending horizontally therebetween and parallelly to a
longitudinal or rotational axis of the drum 12 and along
the entire circumference of the drum 12. The baskets 16
are removably attached to the annular rims 14 by
appropriate means, such as screws and bolts, although
quick release attachment mechanisms are preferred, as
described in more details hereinbelow.
The drum 12 is mounted on a support stand 20.
The stand 20 comprises a stationary base frame 22
consisting of a pair of elevated horizontal elongated
side members 21 each fixedly mounted at upper ends of a
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
pair of legs 23a and 23b that are spaced from each other
such as to allow the lateral insertion, and removal, of a
watering station 100 along the axis of the apparatus 10,
with the side members 21 extending above the watering
station 100. The base frame 22 may be set with four
casters (not shown) underneath its legs 23a and 23b which
will allow movement of the apparatus 10 on the floor.
A rectangular moveable frame 24 is pivotally
mounted at an upper end of the base frame 22. The
moveable frame 24 includes a front member 24a, a pair of
side members 24b and a rear member 24c. The front member
24a is provided with a handle 25. The moveable frame 24
is pivotally connected at a rear end thereof (i.e.
opposed to the handle 25) to the side members 21 of the
base frame 22 via a pair of pivot pins 27 (or suitable
hinges) extending through the side members 21 of the base
frame 22 and the side members 24c of the moveable frame
24. The front end of the moveable frame 24 is supported
by the upper ends of the legs 23a, whereby the moveable
frame 24 extends horizontally when at rest (see Figs. 1
and 2), whereas the moveable frame 24 can be pivotally
lifted by handle 25 to an elevated position, as seen in
Fig. 4. The moveable frame 24 also includes a connecting
or holding member in the form of a bar 26 that normally
extends horizontally along the front member 24a of the
moveable frame 24, i.e. behind the handle 25, but that
can, when the moveable frame 24 has been raised as in
Fig. 4, be pivoted downwardly so as to extend in a
vertical plane and be engaged at a lower end thereof in a
socket 28 that is fixedly mounted to a front cross member
30 of the base frame 22 that links front legs 23a and
23b. The bar 26 is of a length such that, when engaged in
the socket 28, it maintains the drum 12 in an elevated
position. In such an elevated position, the lowermost
elongated baskets 16 mounted on the drum 12 are now above
the upper part of the watering station 100 thus allowing
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
-6-
the watering station 100 to be slid out of, or in, the
base frame 22.
The moveable frame 24 is slightly narrower than
the base frame 22, along the longitudinal axis of the
drum 12, so as to fit within the side members 21, but is
of a larger size than the base frame 22 in the other
direction so as to receive therein the drum 12 with the
elongated baskets 16 mounted thereon. The moveable frame
24 also includes four vertical wheels 36 that support the
drum 12. The support wheels 36 are rotatably mounted to
the inside of the front and rear ends of each of the side
members 24b of the moveable frame 24 and are connected in
pairs by front and rear axles 37a and 37b, respectively.
The wheels 36 are aligned with the rims 14 of the drum 12
so that the rims 14 sit thereon, under gravity forces, in
such a manner that a segment of the drum 12 extends below
the horizontal plane of the moveable frame 24, as best
seen in Fig. 1, thus allowing the elongated baskets 16 to
become partially immersed in the watering station 100
underneath.
The moveable frame 24 also include a pair of
vertical lamp support posts 32 that extend upwardly from
middle portions of the side members 24b and in a vertical
plane extending through the rotational axis of the drum
12. Each post 32 terminates with a segmented circular
(arcuate) member 33 capable of receiving a lighting
system 120, which will be described in more details
hereinafter.
A driving mechanism 34 provided for rotating
the drum 12 is mounted at a front part of the moveable
frame 24 and is adapted to drive the front axle 37a and
thus the two front wheels mounted to the front axle 37a
such that these front wheels 36 rotatably drive via
frictional engagement the rims 14 and thus the drum 12,
with the rear wheels 36 being idler, i.e. passive,
wheels. As seen in Fig. 1, the drive mechanism 34
includes a motor 38, a motor drive shaft 40, a small
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
_ 7
sprocket wheel 42 f fixed at the f ree end of the shaf t 3 9 ,
a large sprocket wheel 44 fixed to the front axle 37a,
outwardly of the wheel 36, and a chain 46 engaged around
the small and large sprocket wheels 42 and 44. Therefore,
rotation of the motor 38 causes a rotation of the shaft
40 which itself rotates the small sprocket wheel 42, with
the small sprocket wheel 42 driving the chain 46, which
itself causes the large sprocket wheel 44 to rotate,
thereby rotatably driving the front axle 37a and the
front wheels 36 mounted thereto, which finally causes the
rotation of the drum 12. The small and large sprocket
wheels 42 and 46 and the chain 46 could, for instance, be
replaced by a pair of pulleys and a belt. The drive
mechanism 34 may incorporate a pressure transmission
mechanism (not shown).
In order to prevent any longitudinal
displacement of the drum 12, i.e. translationally along
its axis of rotation, four abutments 48 are provided,
that is two for each side member 24a of the moveable
frame 24. Each abutment 48 includes an angled support 50
fixedly a secured to a respective side member 24b, and an
idler guide wheel 52 that is rotatably mounted to the
angled support 50. The guide wheels 52 are positioned so
as to outwardly contact outside surfaces 54 of the rims
14, such that the rotation of the drum 12 causes the
guide wheels 52 to rotate. Alternatively to the abutments
48, an annular vertical flange (not shown) could be
provided outwardly of; and parallel to, each wheel 36 and
of greater diameter than the wheel 36, for keeping the
drum 12 longitudinally in place while it sits of the
support wheels 36.
As best shown in Fig. 3, each elongated basket
16 is preferably C-channel shaped in including a bottom
wall or web 62, two (2) side walls 64, and a pair of
horizontal upper walls 66a and 65b extending towards each
other from ends of the side walls 64 that are opposite to
the ends thereof that connect with the web 62: There is
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
_ 8
gap 68 that is defined between facing free edges of the
upper walls 66 to allow plants P (see Fig. 2) to extend
between the upper walls 66 and through the baskets. A
series of holes 70 are defined in the bottom walls 62 of
the baskets 16, and a series of side holes 74 are defined
in the lower portions of the side walls 64 so that when
the drum 12 and thus the baskets are rotated, nutrient
fluid F in the watering station 100 ran penetrate through
the walls of the baskets 16 and seep therein to water and
feed the plants P while allowing excess nutrient fluid F
to drain therefrom.
There are also provided an attachment system to
attach and retain the respective ends of the elongated
baskets 16 to the rims 14 of the drum 12. A preferred
mode of attachment includes hollow tubular members 76
that are fixed longitudinally on the outside of the
baskets 16 and, more particularly, there are two such
tubular members 76 for each basket 16, which extend the
length of the basket 16 and which herein are provided
adjacent the corners where the upper walls 66 join with
the side walls 64. A resilient attachment pin 78 is
secured to each end of each tubular member 76 and extends
axially outwardly therefrom. The attachment pins 78 are
adapted to fit into respective holes 80 defined on the
inside walls of each of the rims 14 in such a way that
the elongated baskets 16 can be mounted between the rims
14 by inserting the resilient pins 78 in the holes 80,
with the baskets being perpendicular to the rims 14.
While the attachment system can be thus made,
it is not necessary that each of the four pins 78 of each
basket 16 be resilient, as only a pair of pins 78 at one
end of a basket 16 needs to be resilient.
The elongated basket 16 can be inserted and
attached to the drum 12 by first inserting at one end of
the basket 16, the two pins 78 fixed thereat into the
corresponding pair of holes 80 in the side wall'of one of
the rims 14 and then, while retaining the two other
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
-9-
opposite resilient biased pins 78 inside the tubular
section 76 inserting these resilient pins 78 into the
opposite pair of holes 80 in the other rim 14.
Alternate or other ways of attaching the
elongated baskets 16 to the rim 14 can be used. For
instance, in one such mode, the four pins 78 are not
resiliently biased, and are fixedly attached to the ends
of the elongated basket 16, with the inside walls of each
rim defining a pair of L-shaped slots (not shown) that
are open at,the outside periphery of the side walls of
the rim to define an entrance so that a pair of pins of
the elongated basket can be inserted in the slot from
this entrance such as to be first inwardly slid along a
radially extending section of the slot before being slid
in a tangential section thereof, at the end of which
(that is at the closed end of the slot opposite the
entrance thereof) the pin would snugly fit in the slot
and be retained therein. This attachment system is
basically of the bayonet type. In order to prevent the
baskets 16 from vibrating and sliding out of these L-
shaped slots during operation and use of the apparatus,
and more particularly when the baskets rotate and are in
an inverted position or upside down, a retaining annular
band or belt (not shown) is engaged around and outside
the periphery of each of the rim 14 such as to cover the
entrances of the slots, whereby all of the elongated
baskets remain attached to the rims 14. Another
alternative (not shown) would have notches defined on the
periphery of the rims 14, in which would nest outwardly
extending pins of the baskets (similar to pins 78 but
rigid) such as to be substantially flush with the outer
peripheral surfaces of the rims 14, with an annular
retaining band or belt (not shown) being engaged around
and outside these outer peripheral surfaces of the rims
14 thereby covering the notches and the pins lodged
therein and thus preventing the baskets from coming out
of the notches during operation and use of the apparatus.
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
_ 1~ -
Other means such as the use of individual clips at each
location or similar retention means can be used.
Each plant P is inserted in a block of moss 88
(or other medium suitable for growing plants, e.g. glass
beads) which is of substantially square or round area,
with side dimensions or with a diameter corresponding
substantially to the inside width of the basket 16 (i.e.
to the distance between the side walls 64 thereof), so
that the blocks of moss 88 can snugly fit into the
elongated baskets 16. Therefore, all of these insertion
operations can optionally take place on a table or work
bench while the elongated baskets 16 are dismounted from
the rotating apparatus and, more particularly, from the
drum 12 thereof.
In the case where the elongated baskets 16 are
of rigid material, the blocks of moss 88 are inserted at
one end of the basket 16, with the plants P that extend
from the blocks of moss 88 being slid along the gap 68
defined between the upper walls 66 and into the blocks of
moss 88, and the blocks of moss 88 are slidably displaced
along the inside of the basket 16 in such a way as to
fill the whole length of the basket 16. The basket 16 can
be made by extrusion of different materials, such as
plastic or aluminium, in longitudinal lengths that are
cut to the desired length capable of fitting inside and
perpendicular to the rims 14 of the drum 12 of the
apparatus 10. Certain areas of the side walls of such
extruded elongated baskets can be thinner than the
remaining portions of the side walls so that with gentle
pressure, one or both side walls of each basket, may be
pulled outwardly to widen the gap 68 and so allow for a
top insertion of each plant P in its respective block of
moss 88, that is for the plants P to be introduced
between the upper walls 66 and into the baskets 16.
The baskets 16 can be made of sturdy metal mesh
bent to size, and reinforced, if necessary, with metal
plates. The side walls can also be made of a metal frame
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
_ Il
with mesh incorporated therewith. Whether the elongated
basket 16 is made of extruded aluminium or of individual
walls attached one to the other, one side wall can be
(hingedly) connected to the bottom wall with hinges so
that it can open almost 90° to allow for the plants P to
be inserted sideways in their blocks of moss 88 instead
of by way of longitudinal sliding insertion-.
The lighting system 120, which rests in the
arcuate upper members or cradles 33 of the lamp support
posts 32, includes of 'a pair of lights 92, or more
depending on the length of the drum 12), which extend
towards each other from opposed ends of the lighting
system 120 and inside a translucent glass tube 96. More
lights can be used depending on the length and diameter
of the apparatus 10. Each of the lights 92 is capable of
sliding inside the translucent tube 96 to a selected
position where there is a distance such between the
lights 92 that the ends of the light beams emanating from
such lights 92 do meet near the inside surface of all of
the elongated baskets 16 around the drum 12. In this
fashion, one maximises the homogeneous exposure to light
on the whole area inside the drum 12. A ventilation
system (not shown) comprising fans and ducts 98; or the
like, is connected to each of the caps 98 closing the
opposite ends of the translucent tube 96.
The watering or feeding station 100 comprises a
rectangular storage tank 102 of such width, length and
height that it fits under the base frame 22 of the
support stand 20. The watering or feeding station 100
also includes a removable upper feeding tray 104,
preferably concave and of a radius complementary with the
radius of the drum 12 carrying the elongated baskets 16
thereon. A pump (not shown), located inside the tank
102, will through a tube (not shown) fill the concave
tray 104 with nutrient fluid F through fluid entrance
hole (not shown). The level of nutrient fluid F in the
concave tray 104 is controlled by two adjustable overflow
CA 02396317 2002-08-02
-12-
tubes 112 that drain excess nutrient fluid F to drain
into the tank 102 at 106. Therefore, the nutrient fluid
F is always provided when needed by the pump into the
tray 104 and the excess is captured by the overflow tubes
112 and returned to the tank 102 underneath.
Depending on the nature of the plants that are
grown, it may not be desirable that the plants at every
rotation of the drum 12 come in contact with the nutrient
fluid F. Many types of cultures will require a period
without contact of the plants P with the nutrient fluid
F. As it is preferable that the roots of such plants' dry
between watering with the nutrient fluid F, the speed of
rotation of the drum 12 (e. g. 55 minutes per rotation
thereof) is adjusted based on a series of factors, such
as the ambient temperature,, the type of growing medium
(e. g. moss 88, glass beads, etc.), the humidity,
ventilation, etc.
Accordingly, to provide this period of non
contact with the nutrient fluid F for these types of
cultures, the apparatus 10 has a level control valve (not
shown) that will prevent the nutrient fluid F from being
fed into the concave tray 104 by the pump and will
instead recirculate the nutrient fluid F in the tank 102
to always insure movement therein and thereby prevent
stagnation with undesired result such as certain salts,
particles or elements precipitating at the bottom. A
timing device (not shown) can be associated with the
control valve to predetermine the phases of contact or
absence of contact of the plants P with the nutrient
fluid F. Alternatively to preventing nutrient fluid from
being fed to the concave tray 104, the moveable frame 24
may be elevated to its position in Fig. 4 thereby spacing
the baskets 16 from the nutrient fluid F contained in the
tray 104. In such a case, the raising and lowering of the
moveable frame 24 can be motorised device (e.g. via one
or more pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, not shown) that
is actuated by a timing device.
