Angled Rail Hydroponics with Atomization Sprayers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hydroponics methods face challenges in efficiently growing plants without soil, as they often require extensive resources and may not optimize growing conditions, leading to stress and inefficiencies in water and nutrient usage.

Innovation Solution

A hydroponics apparatus featuring angled rails with removable pod inserts and atomization sprayers, along with a controlled reservoir system for precise air and water management, allowing for optimized growing conditions and reduced resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional hydroponics methods are used, then plants can grow without soil, but water and nutrient usage is inefficient and plants experience stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant growth efficiencyVSAvoidwater and nutrient usage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the hydroponics setup into modular components including individual rails with angled surfaces, separate pod inserts for each plant, and distributed atomization sprayers. This segmentation allows each plant to receive optimized individual attention while enabling efficient resource distribution throughout the system, resolving the contradiction between productivity and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of water delivery from conventional flooding or drip methods to atomization (converting liquid to fine mist particles). This parameter change in water delivery state dramatically improves nutrient absorption efficiency by plants while reducing overall water consumption, directly addressing the resource efficiency issue while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional hydroponics methods are used, then plants can be grown without soil, but extensive resources are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in plant supportVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs removable and adjustable pod inserts that can be dynamically reconfigured to accommodate different plant types, sizes, and growth stages. The angled rails with adjustable positioning allow the system to adapt to various plant support needs while consuming minimal resources, as the same modular components serve multiple functions across different planting scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If conventional hydroponics methods are used, then plants can grow without soil, but growing conditions are not optimized, leading to plant stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol of growing conditionsVSAvoidplant stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors and controls that monitor growing conditions such as nutrient solution composition, humidity, and temperature. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustments to atomization sprayer operation and environmental parameters, ensuring optimal growing conditions are maintained consistently and preventing plant stress through proactive condition management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables fast and efficient plant growth with reduced water consumption and minimized stress, eliminating the need for pesticides and fertilizers, while allowing for flexible plant support and precise control of growing conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of hoses, wherein each of the plurality of hoses is disposed in a rail of the plurality of rails and includes a plurality of atomization sprayers, and the plurality of atomization sprayers are configured to spray a solution within the plurality of chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of air lines, wherein each of the plurality of air lines is disposed in a rail of the plurality of rails, and the plurality of air lines are configured to transport air through the plurality of chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir transport:

Implementation Method 3

an upper surface of each of the plurality of rails is angled upward relative to a horizontal plane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity-driven flow: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9872449B2Hydroponics apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.01.23 ROSS ADAM

AI summary

A hydroponics apparatus includes a plurality of rails, a plurality of chambers formed beneath the plurality of rails, a plurality of pod inserts disposed on the upper surfaces of the plurality of rails, a plurality of air lines, and a plurality of hoses. The upper surface of each of the plurality of rails is angled upward relative to a horizontal plane. Each of the plurality of pod inserts is configured to receive a plant. Each of the plurality of air lines is disposed in a rail of the plurality of rails, and the plurality of air lines are configured to transport air through the plurality of chambers. Each of the plurality of hoses is disposed in a rail of the plurality of rails and includes a plurality of atomization sprayers. The plurality of atomization sprayers are configured to spray a solution within the plurality of chambers.