Multi-nozzle misting system with off-axis support frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional indoor gardening systems face challenges in providing uniform and complete hydration to plants due to nozzle entanglement and misalignment issues, which can disrupt water flow and affect plant growth.
Innovation Solution
A gardening appliance with a hydration system featuring a nozzle support frame with off-axis support arms and two nozzles (upper and lower) mounted to the frame, ensuring stable positioning and efficient fluid distribution within the root chamber, preventing root entanglement and maintaining consistent hydration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single nozzle is positioned proximate the top of the root chamber for charging the entire root chamber with mist, then the structure is simple, but the hydration uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The single nozzle is divided into multiple nozzles (upper nozzle and lower nozzle) positioned at different locations within the root chamber. This segmentation allows water to be distributed from multiple points, significantly improving hydration uniformity across the root chamber while maintaining reasonable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The hydration system transitions from a single-point (top-only) nozzle arrangement to a multi-dimensional arrangement with nozzles positioned at both upper and lower regions of the root chamber. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions ensures comprehensive water coverage and uniform hydration throughout the root chamber
2Manufacturing precision
If a lower nozzle is suspended by a supply conduit proximate the bottom of the root chamber, then complete hydration coverage is improved, but root entanglement blocks flow ports and misaligns the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The upper nozzle and lower nozzle are merged into a single integrated support frame structure. This combination ensures that both nozzles maintain fixed relative positions and stable orientations, preventing root entanglement and misalignment while achieving complete hydration coverage through coordinated operation of both nozzles
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzles are pre-positioned and fixed to the support frame at optimal locations before operation. This preliminary positioning ensures that the nozzles start in the correct configuration and maintain stable orientations throughout operation, preventing root entanglement and flow port blocking that would occur with movable or loosely positioned nozzles
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
The solution ensures complete and uniform hydration of plants, reducing the likelihood of nozzle misalignment and entanglement, thereby enhancing plant growth and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an upper nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a top of the root chamber, a lower nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a bottom of the root chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow tower mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration assembly is positioned within a root chamber and includes a nozzle support frame mounted at a top of the root chamber, the nozzle support frame comprising a plurality of support arms, at least one of the plurality of support arms being off-axis relative to the central axis of the grow tower, an upper nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a top of the root chamber, a lower nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a bottom of the root chamber, and a water supply for supplying a flow of fluid to at least one of the upper nozzle or the lower nozzle.