Apparatus for grow tower weight measurement
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for weight measurement of grow towers and/or grow lines with grow towers disposed thereon. In various embodiments, compression type, tension type, and/or beam type load cells may be positioned at various locations within the apparatus to facilitate weight measurement. In one embodiment, a hook, which couples a grow tower to a grow line, includes a tension type load cell disposed between two portions of the hook. The load cell measures force applied thereto which can provide or be translated into a weight measurement.
1. A grow line apparatus, comprising:
a body having a first arm extending along a centerline of the body;
a second arm of the body extending opposite the first arm;
a base member extending laterally from the second arm and across the centerline of the body;
a lip extending from the base member toward the first arm,
wherein the lip, the base member, and the second arm define a groove; and
a load cell disposed in the groove; and
a hook, wherein the hook comprises a flange, and a grow tower is coupled to the flange.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cap extending laterally from the first arm.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a slot disposed in the body opposite the groove.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the load cell is a compression-type load cell.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hook comprises a groove engaging member, and wherein the groove engaging member is sized to fit within the groove.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the groove engaging member is adapted to contact the load cell.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the grow tower comprises a plurality of grow sites.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the load cell is a hydraulic, pneumatic, piezoelectric, or strain gauge type load cell.