IP Library Granted Patent US 11,412,668
Granted Patent B2
US 11,412,668 · App. 14/174,043 · Granted Aug 16, 2022

Greenhouse and forced greenhouse climate control system and method

Inventor: Casey Houweling (Delta, CA)
Assignee: Houweling Intellectual Properties, Inc.
A01G9/14A01G9/24A01G9/246Y02A40/25
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,412,668
App. No.
14/174,043
Granted
Aug 16, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A greenhouse comprising a growing section and a climate control system adjacent to the growing section. The climate control system controls the environment within the growing section by flowing ambient air from outside the greenhouse into the growing section, re-circulating air from the growing section back into the growing section, or a combination thereof. A method for controlling the temperature within a greenhouse growing section comprises flowing air into the growing section from outside the greenhouse to reduce the temperature in the growing section. Warm air is flowed into the growing section to increase the temperature in the growing section, and air within the growing section is re-circulated when the temperature therein is at the desired level.

Claims (22)

1. A greenhouse, comprising:

a greenhouse structure having outside walls and a floor, said greenhouse structure comprising a climate control system and a growing section;

wherein said climate control system is separated by a partition from said growing section, wherein said partition is parallel to and runs the entire length of one of the sides of said greenhouse structure such that said climate control system is bordered only by said walls of said greenhouse structure and said partition, said climate control system arranged to control the environment within said growing section by flowing ambient air from outside said greenhouse into said growing section and/or by re-circulating air from said growing section back into said growing section, wherein said climate control system comprises one or more vents adapted to draw ambient air into said climate control system, wherein said partition comprises a partition vent to allow air to pass between said growing section and said climate control system, whereby a plurality of tubes are in communication with said one or more vents to regulate the environment of said growing section, wherein said tubes are arranged at the bottom of said growing section to uniformly distribute air to a greenhouse crop within said growing section such that said tubes uniformly distribute air from a location near the bottom of said growing section.

2. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said climate control system further comprises fans arranged to flow air into said tubes.

3. The greenhouse of claim 1 , further comprising a first louver arranged to cooperate with said one or more vents, said first louver movable to fully block said one or more vents, or to fully open to allow air passage through said one or more vents, or to partially block said one or more vents.

4. The greenhouse of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling mechanism operable to cool at least some of the ambient air passing through said one or more vents.

5. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said partition vent allows air from said growing section to pass into said climate control system for re-circulating back to said growing section.

6. The greenhouse of claim 5 , further comprising a second louver arranged to co-operate with said partition vent, said second louver operable to fully block said partition vent, or to fully open to allow air passage through said partition vent, or to partially block said partition vent.

7. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said climate control system further comprises a heater for heating the air flowing into said growing section.

8. The greenhouse of claim 1 , further comprising a computer based controller for controlling said climate control system.

9. The greenhouse of claim 1 , further comprising a gas feed system for feeding gases into said growing section.

10. The greenhouse of claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger to heat or cool air flowing into said growing section.

11. The greenhouse of claim 10 , wherein water is flowed through said heat exchanger to cool air flowing in said growing section, said water being warmed while cooling said air.

12. The greenhouse of claim 11 , wherein said warmed water is stored for use in said heat exchanger to heat air flowing into said growing section.

13. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said tubes comprise holes, said holes varying in pattern across the length of said tubes.

14. A greenhouse, comprising:

a greenhouse structure having outside walls and a floor, said greenhouse structure comprising a climate control system and a growing section;

wherein said climate control system is separated by a partition from said growing section, wherein said partition runs from the floor of said greenhouse structure and the entire length of one of said outside walls, wherein said partition is parallel to said one of said outside walls such that at least part of said climate control is within the entire area formed by said walls of said greenhouse structure and said partition, said climate control system arranged to control the environment within said growing section by flowing ambient air from outside said greenhouse into said growing section, re-circulating air from said growing section back into said growing section, and a combination thereof, said ambient air, re-circulated air, or combination thereof, flowing through said climate control system and into said growing section, wherein said climate control system comprises one or more vents adapted to draw ambient air into said climate control system, wherein said partition comprises a partition vent to allow air to pass between said growing section and said climate control system, whereby a plurality of tubes are in communication with said one or more vents to regulate the environment of said growing section.

15. The greenhouse of claim 14 , wherein said tubes are disposed within said growing section, air entering said growing section from said climate control system passing into said tubes with said tubes distributing air throughout said growing section.

16. The greenhouse of claim 14 , wherein said climate control system further comprises fans arranged to flow air into said tubes.

17. The greenhouse of claim 14 , wherein said climate control system further comprises a heater for heating the air flowing into said growing section.

18. The greenhouse of claim 14 , further comprising a cooling mechanism operable to cool at least some of the ambient air passing through said one or more vents.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVERSHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 060424 FRAME: 0709. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 24, 2023
From: GLASS INVESTMENTS PROJECTS, INC.
To: HOUWELING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063440/0293 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2022
From: GLASS INVESTMENTS PROJECTS, INC.
To: HOUWELING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC. C/O FERGUSON CASE ORR PATERSON LLP
Reel/Frame 060424/0799 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: HOUWELING NURSERIES OXNARD, INC.
To: GLASS INVESTMENTS PROJECTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048217/0960 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2019
From: GEMCAP LENDING I, LLC
To: HOUWELING NURSERIES OXNARD, INC.
Reel/Frame 048213/0173 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: HOUWELING NURSERIES OXNARD, INC.
To: GEMCAP LENDING I, LLC
Reel/Frame 040811/0625 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 11824159 · Jun 28, 2007
Related Publication 20140150336A1 · Jun 5, 2014
Cited By (3)
US 12,389,837 US 12,557,740 US 12,677,760