Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA Application
Agent Ref; 14911/00001
1 AEROPONICS SYSTEM WITH RACK AND TRAY
2 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
3 [001] This application claims priority to United States Patent
Application No.
4 15/349,308 filed on November 11,2016.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
6 [002] The following invention relates to hydroponics and
aeroponics systems.
7 More particularly, this invention relates to aeroponics and hydroponics
systems which
8 are configured to allow large numbers of plant cuttings to be propagated
simultaneously
9 with a minimum of floor space and utilizing a common source of water,
nutrients and
pressurized water flow, for efficient mass propagation of plant cuttings.
11 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
12 [003] Aeroponics is a plant growth technology somewhat akin to
hydroponics in
13 that soil is not involved. With aeroponics, roots grow within an air
filled chamber. Water
14 and other liquid nutrients are delivered to the plant through roots
thereof in the air
chamber, typically by spray of water (typically also including nutrients) upon
the roots
16 within the chamber. Other portions of the plant grow above a top wall of
the chamber
17 where either natural or artificial light is provided.
18 [004] When cloning or otherwise propagating a plant cutting,
aeroponics systems
19 can be highly effective. One problem which is encountered is that it is
often desirable to
propagate a large number of plant cuttings at initial stages. The cuttings are
small so
21 that a large number of cuttings can be confined to a relatively small
space. However,
22 the logistics of delivering water and nutrients to a large number of
cuttings being cloned
23 in an aeroponics system have, with prior art systems, been daunting.
Typical
24 aeroponics systems are small hollow enclosures with a top wall that may
have a few
dozen locations where plant cuttings can be cloned and initially propagated.
Water is
26 separately brought into the interior chamber for delivery of water
and/or nutrients.
27 When scaling up such a system, complex bundles of water delivery tubing
are required,
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I space for aeroponics enclosures beneath available light is limited, and
the overall
2 operation is both difficult to manage and limited in its volume of plant
cuttings being
3 propagated per unit of floor space. =
4 [005] Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method to allow
aeroponics
enclosures to be more efficiently arrayed in a small space and to efficiently
and reliably
6 deliver water and/or nutrients, as well as light to such an array of
plant cuttings in a high
7 density configuration. Such a system would still beneficially give an
operator access to
8 each of the individual cuttings in a convenient manner to tend to the
cuttings, and
9 maximize effectiveness of the overall system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
11 [006] With this invention a rack is provided which supports
multiple individual trays,
12 each tray including an enclosure surrounding a hollow chamber and with a
top wall
13 supporting multiple cuttings thereon. The tray includes a hood with the
top wall therein,
14 the top wall being preferably substantially planar, rigid and thin with
multiple openings
passing therethrough. These openings can have a variety of different patterns,
but
16 generally are equally spaced from adjacent openings. Preferably, the
openings are
17 each surrounded by a recessed shelf. A plant cutting support collar can
conveniently fit
18 into this recess and rest upon the shelf so that roots can form and grow
below the plant
19 cutting collar, through the opening and within the hollow chamber of the
tray, while other
portions of the plant cutting can grow above the top wall.
21 [007] The enclosure of the tray extends down from the hood
surrounding the hollow
22 chamber and down to a bottom wall. The bottom wall preferably has a sump
at a lower
23 end thereof which can collect water within the hollow chamber and allow
it to drain out
24 of the enclosure. The bottom wall includes water feed lines passing
therethrough which
supply water to at least one misting spray head (and typically an array of
eight or more
26 misting spray heads) within a lower portion of the hollow chamber. These
misting spray
27 heads are fed by pressurized water (typically also including liquid
nutrients) which spray
28 from the misting spray heads and create a fine mist of moisture along
with the air inside
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CA Application
Agent Ref; 14911/00001
1 of the hollow chamber. The water and nutrients thus provide a continuous
bath of fresh
2 water and necessary nutrients directly to the roots of the plant cutting.
3 [008] The rack of this invention supports multiple trays carried
by shelves thereof
4 which are preferably configured as drawers. Each rack includes multiple
shelves at
different elevation levels within the rack. In the embodiment depicted, three
such
6 shelves are provided. Above each shelf within the rack a light module is
provided so
7 that the plant cuttings can receive light on the foliage thereof. For the
shelves other
8 than the top shelf, these lights can be conveniently supported in a shelf
area that is
9 above each tray. An additional light source is provided at an uppermost
portion of the
rack to shine light onto a tray carried by the uppermost shelf. While the
shelves are
11 shown as merely sliding drawer hardware at lateral sides of each shelf
area, the shelves
12 could include at least portions of a planar horizontal surface at each
shelf area.
13 [009] The rack also conveniently includes a centralized reservoir
and a pump. The
14 centralized reservoir receives water (optionally also including
nutrients in a liquid form),
preferably at a lowermost portion of the rack. This reservoir is typically at
atmospheric
16 pressure to allow for convenient adding of additional water, and for
adding of nutrients
17 and for sampling of the water, such as to measure attributes of the
water and/or
18 nutrients to ensure that the characteristics of the water (e.g. pH and
other attributes)
19 can be conveniently monitored. The pump draws from the reservoir and
pressurizes the
water (optionally with liquid nutrients contained therein) to a pressure
required to allow
21 the misting spray heads to optimally perform. The pump delivers this
liquid flow to a
22 water supply line. This water supply line leads to each of the shelves.
A similar water
23 return line is also provided within the rack which leads back from each
shelf to the
24 reservoir.
[0010] Each tray includes its own pressurized liquid delivery manifold
adjacent a
26 lower portion thereof which preferably begins with one supply port and
feeds the
27 multiple misting spray heads (or optionally in some embodiments a single
spray head)
28 within the hollow chamber of the tray. A shutoff valve is provided at
terminal ends of the
29 water supply lines adjacent to each shelf. These valves are
strategically located so that
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1 when a tray is placed on a shelf of the rack, the ports come together
with the valves and
2 abut each other also sealing and opening the valves. To most effectively and
3 conveniently achieve this alignment, the shelves are preferably configured
as drawers
4 with each drawer including a pair of drawer tracks and a pair of drawer
arms. The
drawer arms slide linearly upon the drawer tracks. The drawer arms support
lateral
6 edges of a tray thereon. The tray, when mounted on the drawer arm, can
thus have two
7 positions including an open "drawer out" position and a closed "drawer
in" position.
8 When the drawer is in the closed position, the drawer arms and drawer tracks
are
9 precisely located along with the water supply lines and the drain port on
each drain tray
so that the drain ports adjacent to the drain and the tray port on the water
supply lines
11 are precisely aligned automatically when the drawer is moved to the
closed position.
12 [0011] In one embodiment, the drain port and tray ports includes a
similar
13 configuration with drain ports and tray ports on each tray and supply
ports and return
14 ports on the rack which come into alignment together when the drawer
having a tray
thereon is transitioned from the open position to the closed position. In the
closed
16 position, the tray is positioned under the light within the rack and is
optimally configured
17 for plant propagation. When in the open position, the tray is optimally
positioned for
18 tending of the plant cuttings by an operator and other procedures such
as installing of
19 new plant cuttings, removal of plant cuttings, and other procedures to
be performed by
an operator most conveniently when the tray can be conveniently accessed.
21 [0012] The tray ports and the supply ports on the water supply
lines of the trays are
22 preferably configured to seal effectively together and to also control a
shut off valve
23 adjacent each tray port, so that water does not leak out during the
various different
24 orientations of the tray including the open position and the closed
position. In one
embodiment the valves can be quick disconnect fittings which open the valve
when
26 mating ports come together and shut the valve when mating ports are
separated.
27 [0013] To further encourage such a tight seal, a latch is
preferably provided which
28 can be manually (or automatically) engaged when the drawer slides into the
closed
29 position. When the mating ports of the shutoff valve come together, the
latch can also
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CA Application
Agent Ref; 14911/00001
1 be closed and the mating ports of the valve cause the valve to open. The
actuation of
2 the valve occurs so that when the latch is tightly holding the tray in
the closed position,
3 the valve is caused to be opened. When the latch is opened the tray can
move away
4 from the closed position and not keep the two mating ports of the valve
together,
causing the valve to close.
6 [0014] Such coordination of the latches and the shutoff valves for
each shelf and
7 tray can be automated, such as by utilizing servo motor type electrically
actuatable
8 valves and placing appropriate sensors on the trays and shelves and/or
rack. As an
9 alternative, such automatic valve opening and closing can be caused to
function
through a mechanical linkage so that the same manual actuation associated with
11 closing the tray into the closed position also actuates an electric
circuit switch which
12 closes a circuit to deliver electric power to a valve to cause the valve
to close (or open).
13 [0015] As another option, the latch itself both opens the valve
and tightens the
14 mating portions of the valve together, and similarly closes the valve
when the latch is
moved to cause the mating portions of the valve to release each other. These
latches
16 can be manually operated by a user after the drawer is moved into the
closed position.
17 As another alternative, the force associated with sliding the drawer from
the open
18 position to the closed position can automatically cause the valves to be
opened, such as
19 by having the latches positioned so that the trays themselves or
portions of the drawer
arms impact the latches as the tray or drawer arm is arriving at the closed
position.
21 [0016] In one embodiment, the drain/water out manifold can have an
identical or
22 similar set of ports which include valves associated therewith. However,
in simpler
23 systems the drain ports could merely be configured so that water draining
from the
24 sump and drain of each tray merely pour into port inlets into the
drain/"water out"
manifold, which would typically only be under atmospheric pressure.
26 [0017] Each rack is preferably located upon wheels to allow for
portable movement
27 of the rack upon an underlying substantially horizontal surface. Power
can be delivered
28 to the rack from a single power cord which supplies power to the pump
and to the lights
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1 of the rack, and also to power valves if they are electrically powered,
and any other
2 electric systems within the rack. The size of the rack can be selected based
on a
3 variety of criteria. The rack depicted herein is configured with shelves
sized similarly to
4 each tray so that one tray fits on each shelf. As an alternative, racks
could be provided
which support multiple trays on each shelf, typically with separate drawers
for each tray.
6 The racks can be modular to allow extra shelves to be added, such as to
turn a three
7 shelf rack to a four shelf rack. Plumbing can be incorporated into rack
sections to
8 facilitate such modularity.
9 EXAMPLE FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Accordingly, a primary feature of the present invention is to
provide a tray
11 which can facilitate aeroponics plant propagation for a large number of
cuttings
12 simultaneously.
13 [0019] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
tray which reliably
14 contains water therein and avoids leaking.
[0020] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an aeroponics
tray
16 which has a water supply that is pressurized and automatically shuts off
when the tray is
17 moved away from a tray support area.
18 [0021] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
aeroponics tray
19 which can rest upon one of multiple vertically spaced shelves of a rack
with a light
above each tray so that vertical stacking of aeroponics trays is facilitated.
21 [0022] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
single reservoir and a
22 single pump which can feed multiple aeroponics trays on a common rack.
23 [0023] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
convenient method for
24 propagating plant cuttings en masse.
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CA Application
Agent Ref; 14911/00001
1 [0024] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
system for aeroponics
2 plant propagation which is easy to use, provides plant cuttings with the
nutrients and
3 water they require in a convenient fashion, and which avoids leaking.
4 [0025] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
rack for support of
multiple hydroponics trays and lights, as well as a reservoir for water and
nutrients and
6 a pump for efficient use of floor space in aeroponics plant propagation.
7 [0026] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
aeroponics tray
8 which feeds spray nozzles from channels embedded within a bottom wall of
a hollow
9 enclosure of the tray so that a minimum of plumbing is necessitated.
[0027] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a redundant
latching
11 system to keep shelves from inadvertently moving and inadvertently
shutting off water
12 flow to any trays upon the rack.
13 [0028] Other further features of the present invention will become
apparent from a
14 careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed
description of
the invention.
16 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
17 [0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a hood portion
of a tray of this
18 invention according to a preferred embodiment and with a plant cutting
held within a
19 collar adjacent one of the openings in the top wall of the tray.
[0030] Figure 2 is a full sectional view of that which is shown in Figure 1
along with a
21 base portion of the tray and revealing interior details of a hollow
chamber, top wall and
22 bottom wall associated with the hood and base of the tray according to a
preferred
23 embodiment of this invention.
24 [0031] Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the base
portion of the tray of
Figure 2.
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1 [0032] Figure 4 is a perspective view from below of the base
portion of the tray of
2 Figure 2.
3 [0033] Figure 5 is a perspective full sectional view of that which
is shown in Figure 3.
4 [0034] Figure 6 is a perspective full sectional view of that which
is shown in Figure 4.
[0035] Figure 7 is a front elevation full sectional view of the system of
this invention
6 including one tray along with a reservoir and pump to feed the tray.
7 [0036] Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the rack of this
invention with one shelf
8 and tray in an open position while two other trays are in closed
positions.
9 [0037] Figure 9 is a front elevation view of that which is shown
in Figure 8.
[0038] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the rack without the trays and
with one
11 shelf fully open, one shelf partially open, and one shelf fully closed.
12 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
13 [0039] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
represent like
14 parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 is
directed to a
system for aeroponics plant cutting propagation (Figures 3-5). The system
includes a
16 tray 20 which is preferably provided as one of many trays 20 all carried
by separate
17 shelves 70 of a rack 60. The rack 60 has a reservoir 80, pump 82 and
various return
18 and supply pathways to support water and nutrient delivery and return to
and from the
19 trays 20 carried by the shelves 70. The shelves 70 slide in and out with
automatic
shutoff valves 91 associated with supply ports 90 to shut off water flow when
the
21 shelves 70 and/or trays are moved from a closed to an opened position.
22 [0040] In essence, and with particular reference to Figures 7-9,
basic details of the
23 system 10 of this invention are described, according to a preferred
embodiment. The
24 rack 60 of the system 10 includes at least one shelf and preferably a
plurality of shelves
70 vertically spaced from each other. A light module 72 is located above each
shelf 70.
26 The shelves 70 are configured so that they can slide into and out of the
rack 60 beneath
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CA Application
Agent Ref; 14911/00001
1 the light module 72 and away from the light module 72. The rack 60
includes a
2 common reservoir 80 providing a source of water and preferably also a
pump 82 for
3 feeding of pressurized water to spray heads 48 within trays 20.
4 [0041] At least one tray 20 is carried by at least one of the
shelves 70, and for
maximum efficacy, each of the shelves 70 includes a tray 20 thereon. Each tray
20 has
6 a hood 30 above a base 40 with a hollow chamber 35 between the hood 30
and the
7 base 40. A plurality of openings 34 are formed in a top wall 32 of the
hood 30 through
8 which plant cuttings C can be located. The cutting C is held by a collar
12 adjacent one
9 of the openings 34 in the hood 30 of the tray 20. The base 40 includes a
water delivery
manifold 50 which feeds pressurized water from the reservoir 80 (preferably
through the
11 pump 82) to the water delivery manifold 50 associated with each tray 20
on the rack 60.
12 This pathway for pressurized water includes passing through supply ports 90
which
13 include shutoff valves 91 thereon so that pressurized water flow is
stopped when the
14 shelves 70 are opened. Return ports 92 preferably align with a drain
port 47 associated
with the drain 45 within the base 40 of each tray 20 for return of water (and
unused
16 nutrients) back to the reservoir 80.
17 [0042] More particularly, and with particular reference to Figures
1-6, specific details
18 of the tray 20 of the system 10 are described, according to a most
preferred
19 embodiment. The tray 20 preferably includes a hood 30 opposite a base 40
which has
the hollow chamber 35 therebetween. The hood 30 is configured to support a top
wall
21 32 with a plurality of openings 34 passing through the top wall 32.
Preferably recessed
22 shelves 36 are located adjacent to each opening 34. Collars 12 with or
without a plant
23 cutting C therein reside within these recessed shelves and block the
openings 34. Most
24 preferably, each collar 12 has a plant cutting C located therein (by
passage through a
slit 14 in the collar 12) so that the collars 12 both block the openings 34 to
avoid water
26 escape and also increase the plant cutting C propagation output of the
system 10.
27 [0043] The recessed shelves 36 are preferably configured so that
the collars 12 rest
28 upon the recessed shelves 36. As an alternative, the collars 12 could
have a perimeter
29 which friction fits within the openings 34, with the collars 12 held by
friction, to work with
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1 or without the shelves 36. Because the collars 12 are typically formed of
a resilient
2 material, such a friction fit is a potential option. If desired, unused
openings 34 could be
3 covered with something other than a collar 12 merely to prevent water
from escaping.
4
[0044] The hood 30 extends down through side walls 38 from the top wall 3=2
to a
perimeter lip 39. This perimeter lip is supported by the base 40. Such support
can be
6 merely with the hood 30 resting on the base 40 or can include some snapping
or
7 fastening of the hood 30 to the base 40 which requires some overt action
to remove the
8 hood 30 from an adjacent base 40. It is also conceivable that the hood 30
and base 40
9 could be formed together and not be configured to be openable.
[0045] The base 40 of the tray 20 lies beneath the hood 30 and is primarily
formed
11 by a bottom wall 42. A sump 44 is located, preferably centrally, within
the bottom wall
12 42 which is slightly lower than other portions of the bottom wall 42. A
drain 45 exits
13 from the sump 44 and leads to a drain port 47 which can interface with a
return port 92
14 associated with the rack 60 and leading back to the reservoir 80. A
shutoff valve 91 is
preferably located upon this drain port 47 which keeps water (and any unused
nutrients)
16 within the hollow chamber 35 whenever the tray 20 is moved out of its
closed position
17 beneath the light module 72, such as by sliding of the shelf 70 upon
which the tray 20 is
18 carried, from a closed to an open position. A shutoff valve 93 prevents
drain water (and
19 any unused nutrients) from leaking out of the system when one of the
shelves 70 is
transitioned to an open position (along arrow D of Figure 10).
21
[0046] The bottom wall 42 preferably also includes at least one spray head
48
22
passing therethrough, and most preferably a plurality of spray heads. In
the
23 embodiment disclosed, eight such spray heads 48 (also called spray nozzles)
are
24 provided. Each spray head 48 is preferably located upon a small dome 49.
The bottom
wall 42 is preferably formed with a threaded opening for each of the spray
heads 48 to
26 be connected, and corresponding misting type spray nozzles are threaded
into these
27 holes in the bottom wall 42 so that high pressure water is caused to be
emitted into the
28 hollow chamber 35 above the base 40 as a fine mist. While the spray
heads 48 or
29 nozzles are preferably located within the bottom wall 42, they could
conceivably be
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1 formed in side walls 43 which lead up to a top rim which engages with the
perimeter lip
2 39 of the hood 30 for closing off of the hollow chamber 35 within the
chamber 20.
3 [0047] While external plumbing 150 (Figures 8 and 9) could be
provided to each of
4 the holes in the bottom wall 42 which is to receive high pressure water
at the spray
heads 48, most preferably the bottom wall 42 contains a water delivery
manifold 50
6 therein. This water delivery manifold 50 includes multiple channels 56
leading to each
7 of the spray heads 48 and located between an upper surface 52 and a lower
surface 54.
8 The upper surface 52 and lower surface 54 are preferably substantially
parallel with
9 each other and form portions of the bottom wall 42. Where the upper
surface 52 and
lower surface 54 are spaced from each other, the channels 56 are provided. In
one
11 embodiment the upper surface 52 and lower surface 54 are initially
manufactured
12 separately and then are welded together, such as through application of
heat, an
13 adhesive, pressure, ultrasonic energy, radiant heat, or some combination
thereof to
14 cause the upper surface 52 and lower surface 54 to become sufficiently
bonded
together where they are spaced from the channels 56 that they avoid leaking
when
16 pressurized water is delivered into the channels 56 of the water
delivery manifold 50.
17 [0048] A tray port 51 extends from the water delivery manifold 50
to a supply port 90
18 associated with each shelf 70 on the rack 60. In this way, water (and
nutrients) are
19 supplied through each supply port 90 and to the water delivery manifold
50 for spraying
from the spray heads 48. A shutoff valve 91 is associated with each supply
port 90
21 which causes the supply port 90 to stop receiving water when a shelf 70
with which the
22 tray 20 is associated is moved away from a closed position beneath an
adjacent light
23 module 72 (or for a top shelf 70, a top light module 74). This shutoff
valve 91,
24 preferably automatically reopens when the shelf 70 with a tray 20
thereon is re-closed
and the tray port 51 engages with the supply port 90 adjacent to the shutoff
valve 91.
26 [0049] Also, preferably latches 79 are either mounted on the
shelves 70 or on the
27 supply ports 90 or on the shutoff valves 91, or some combination
thereof. Such latches
28 79 can ensure that the shelves 70 do not become unintentionally moved from
their
29 closed position toward an open position and have a shutoff valve 91
shutoff pressurized
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1 water unintentionally. While such an occurrence would not make a mess on
the floor of
2 leaking water, one of the trays 20 would not receive as much water as the
others which
3 might affect cutting C propagation. One form of latch 79 is a resilient
strap with holes at
4 ends thereof which can fit over strategically located pegs, one on the
rack 60 and one
on the shelf 70. When the shelf 70 is closed the strap can fit on both pegs to
hold the
6 shelf 70 closed. Other latches could alternatively be used.
7 [0050] The rack 60 preferably is a rectangular structure when
viewed both from a
8 front and from a side, preferably with risers 66 extending vertically at
corners of the rack
9 60 and with horizontal elements which comprise drawer tracks for the shelves
70
therebetween. A lowermost shelf 70 preferably is a fixed planar horizontal
surface
11 which supports a reservoir 80 and pump 82, while other shelves 70 could
similarly be
12 horizontal surfaces which support trays 20. A top light module 74 is
provided above a
13 top shelf 70 which merely supports a top light above the top shelf 70.
Preferably the
14 shelves 70 are comprised of drawer arms 76 which join the risers 66
together and
drawer tracks 78 which slide along the drawer arms 76 (or vice versa) to
facilitate
16 movement of the shelves 70 in and out relative to the light modules 72
and associated
17 trays 20 to be moved from opened to closed. Such movement (along arrow D
of Figure
18 10) also simultaneously actuates the shutoff valve 91, either to shut
off flow when the
19 shelf 70 is moved from a closed position to an open position, or to open
the shutoff
valve 91 when a shelf 70 is moved from an open position to a closed position.
Other
21 forms of movable tray 20 supports could alternatively be utilized
instead of the shelves
22 70 or basic horizontal surfaces. The drawer latch 79 is then preferably
utilized (by
23 movement along arrow F) to lock the shelf 70 in a closed position.
24 [0051] The rack 60 also preferably includes a single power cord 62
which feeds
power to the pump 82 as well as to the various light modules 72, 74. If
desired, the
26 power cord 62 can be configured so that a light module 72 is shut off
when a shelf 70
27 below the light module 72 is moved from a closed position to an open
position. To
28 achieve such a shutoff, a sensor would be provided adjacent each shelf
70 which would
29 be wired into a power supply to a light above each shelf 70, to shut off
an associated
light module 72 when desired. Ambient light, such as from the sun or other
sources off
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1 of the rack 60 could be used alternatively or in addition to the light
modules 72 and top
2 light module 74. The rack 60 also preferably includes wheels 64 beneath a
lowermost
3 portion of the rack 60 to facilitate movement of the entire system 10
easily upon an
4 underlying hard floor or other surface.
[0052] Water supply lines 84 and water return lines 86 are associated with
the risers
6 66 and other portions of the rack 60 which feed each of the supply ports
90 and come
7 adjacent each of the return ports 92 adjacent each of the shelves 70.
Separate shutoff
8 valves 91 and 93 are also associated with each shelf 70. These water
supply lines 84
9 supply pressurized water from the pump 82 and before that from the
reservoir 80, and
up to each of the supply ports 90 associated with each of the tray ports 51
feeding into
11 the water delivery manifolds 50 that lead to each of the spray heads 48
within each of
12 the hollow chambers 35 of each tray 20 (which is in a closed position).
The water return
13 lines 86 lead from each of the return ports 92 associated with each
drain port 47 on
14 each tray 20, for return of water (and any unused nutrients) back to the
reservoir 80
when a tray 20 on an associated shelf 70 is in a closed position.
16 [0053] This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred
embodiment of the invention
17 and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the
invention in this
18 way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made
to the
19 preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this
invention
disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function,
the
21 identification is intended to include all structures which can perform
the function
22 specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being
coupled together,
23 such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being
coupled
24 directly together or coupled together through intervening structures.
Such coupling
could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion
which
26 allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing
some form of
27 attachment, unless specifically restricted.
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