IP Library Granted Patent US 9,730,397
Granted Patent B2
US 9,730,397 · App. 12/636,549 · Granted Aug 15, 2017

Greenhouse and forced greenhouse climate control system and method

Inventors: Casey Houweling (Delta, CA); Geurt Reinders (Almelo, NL)
Assignee: HOUWELING NURSERIES OXNARD, INC.
A01G9/246A01G9/14A01G9/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,730,397
App. No.
12/636,549
Granted
Aug 15, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A greenhouse is disclosed that generally comprises an enclosed growing section with an enclosed end gable adjacent to the growing section. The end gable is arranged to flow air into the growing section. Air distribution tubes are included within the growing section with the tubes arranged to provide for substantially uniform air flow into the growing section. The air tubes can also be arranged to compensate for heat differential between the air in the tubes and in the growing section.

Claims (24)

1. A greenhouse, comprising:

a growing section; and

an air or gas distribution system within said growing section, said distribution system comprising one or more conduits for distributing air or gas within said greenhouse, said conduits comprising an inner conduit within an outer conduit, said conduits carrying air or gas, with a main airflow entering said growing section from said distribution system passing into said conduits, said inner conduit comprising inner conduit holes to allow said main air flow within said conduits to pass from within said inner conduit and said outer conduit comprising outer conduit holes that allow air or gas passing from said inner conduit to pass into said growing section, wherein said inner and outer conduit holes are offset such that each inner conduit hole is offset from each outer conduit hole such that said inner and outer conduit hole offset is configured to compensate for turbulence or pressure within said conduits, such that a substantially equal distribution of air or gas exits said outer conduit from along the length of said outer conduit to provide substantially equal distribution or air or gas throughout said growing section.

2. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said conduits have interior compartments.

3. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said conduits are arranged to reduce a temperature differential between said main air flow and said growing section.

4. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the amount of air or gas exiting said conduits varies along the length of said conduits to compensate for turbulence or pressure differences within said conduits.

5. The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the distance between said inner and outer conduit holes along said conduits is varied to compensate for turbulence or pressure differences within said conduits.

6. The greenhouse of claim 1 , comprising a compartment between said inner and outer conduits.

7. The greenhouse of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of compartments between said inner and outer conduits.

8. The greenhouse of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of compartments between said inner and outer conduits are arranged to reduce directional forces on air or gas exiting said conduits.

9. The greenhouse of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of compartments reduces the temperature differential between said main air flow and said growing section.

10. A greenhouse air distribution system, comprising:

a plurality of tubes to distribute air or gas within a greenhouse, said tubes comprising an inner tube within an outer tube; and

a system for providing a main air flow to the interior of at least one of said inner tubes, said inner tube comprising inner tube holes to allow air or gas to pass from within said inner tube, and said outer tube comprising outer tube holes that allow for air or gas passing from said inner tube to pass into said greenhouse, wherein said inner and outer tube holes are offset such that each inner tube hole is offset from each outer tube hole such that said inner and outer tube hole offset is configured to compensate for turbulence or pressure within said tubes, such that a substantially equal distribution of air or gas exits said outer tube from along the length of said outer tube to provide substantially equal distribution of air or gas throughout said greenhouse.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the pattern or size of said inner or outer tube holes can vary to compensate for said pressure variations.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said tubes are arranged to reduce the temperature differential between said main air flow and said greenhouse.

13. The system of claim 10 , comprising a plurality of compartments between said inner and outer tubes.

14. A greenhouse, comprising:

an enclosed growing section;

an enclosed end gable adjacent to said growing section, said end gable arranged to flow air or gas into said growing section; and

air distribution tubes within said growing section, said tubes comprising an inner tube within an outer tube, said inner tube comprising inner tube holes to allow air or gas to pass from within said inner tube and said outer tube comprising outer tube holes that allow for air or gas passing from said inner tube to pass into said growing section, wherein said inner and outer tube holes are offset such that each inner tube hole is offset from each outer tube hole such that said inner and outer tube hole offset is configured to compensate for turbulence or pressure within said conduits, such that a substantially equal distribution of air or gas exits said outer tube from along the length of said outer tube to provide substantially equal distribution or air or gas throughout said growing section.

15. The greenhouse of claim 14 , comprising compartments within said tubes arranged to allow air or gas from within said tube to pass into said compartment, and to pass from said compartments into said growing section.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the distance between said holes along said tubes is varied to compensate for turbulence or pressure differences within said tubes.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the pattern of said holes can vary to compensate for said pressure variations.

Assignments (7)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2010
From: HOUWELING, CASEY; REINDERS, GEURT
To: HOUWELING NURSERIES OXNARD, INC.
Reel/Frame 023881/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2010
From: HOUWELING, CASEY; REINDERS, GEURT
To: HOUWELING NURSERIES OXNARD, INC.
Reel/Frame 023881/0298 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 11824159 · Jun 28, 2007
Provisional Application 60817755 · Jun 29, 2006
Related Publication 20100126062A1 · May 27, 2010