Modular Growing System with Moveable Masts for Uniform Nutrient and Light Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aeroponic systems face challenges in efficiently delivering nutrients and providing uniform light distribution to plants, leading to suboptimal growth conditions and space inefficiencies in agricultural settings.
Innovation Solution
The development of a modular growing system with a nutrient delivery system that uses vertically and horizontally moveable components, including a light system with telescoping mechanisms, to ensure precise nutrient distribution and even light coverage, while also optimizing space usage with adjustable plant support structures and rail configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fixed aeroponic systems are used, then structure is simple, but nutrient distribution is inconsistent and light coverage is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements moveable masts that can travel along tracks and adjust their positions vertically and horizontally. This dynamic positioning capability allows the nutrient delivery system to adapt to different plant locations and growth stages, ensuring uniform nutrient distribution across the growing area while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable mast system serves multiple functions: it supports nutrient delivery nozzles, carries lighting fixtures, and provides structural framework. By consolidating these functions into a single moveable structure, the system achieves uniform nutrient and light distribution without requiring separate complex systems for each function.
2Productivity
If fixed growing systems are used, then installation is simple, but space utilization is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs moveable masts that can be repositioned along tracks and adjusted to different heights, allowing the growing system to adapt to various plant sizes and growth stages. This dynamic adjustability maximizes vertical and horizontal space utilization while maintaining ease of operation through track-guided movement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The growing system is divided into modular components including separate mast sections, adjustable shelves, and independent nutrient delivery units. This segmentation allows flexible configuration and reconfiguration of the system to optimize space utilization for different crop types and growth stages without requiring complete system replacement.
3Area of stationary object
If uniform light distribution is achieved through fixed systems, then light positioning is simple, but coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is integrated with moveable masts that can travel along tracks and adjust their positions. This allows a single lighting structure to cover a larger area by moving to different locations, effectively expanding the light coverage area without requiring multiple fixed lighting systems that would increase overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A growing system and/or plant support structure may include one or more feet supporting at least one or more uprights, on which a plurality of plants and/or grow boards for growing plants may be positioned. A nutrient delivery system may be positioned between opposing uprights to provide nutrient supply to a root zone of plants, which nutrient delivery system may be positioned adjacent each opposing upright in an interior chamber of the plant support structure. A light system may be positioned between two adjacent plant support structures such that it simultaneously provides light to the exterior surface of the two plant support structures. A collapsible light may be positioned adjacent plants and plant support structures for improved access to the plants or plant support structures while allowing variable and controllable light distribution beneficial to control of adjacent plants and plant structures.