GREENHOUSE, APPARATUS OR METHOD

A method and apparatus for growing plants using artificial light wherein pulsed fluorescent lamps are placed among the plants themselves below the plant tops and are pulsed on and off at a rate such that the plant can utilize the light photons in a chemically useful way with regard to that rate which...     

A collapsible terrarium assembly which is inflatable to assume a desired configuration for transparently housing a potted plant or other article to be protectively enclosed. The structure is constituted by a disc-like base and a dome attachable thereto. The dome is formed by an open, flexible plastic...     

A greenhouse is disclosed in which tubular curved members formed of standard unit lengths are used to form arched rafters while the same tubular members in uncurved form are used to form purlins. The tubular members are connected by suitable clamps to form a structural support for the roof of the greenhouse....     

A low cost, readily assembled container suitable for germinating seeds and supporting plant growth under balanced growth conditions includes a plastic base containing an integral series of germinating/root control means and a series of channels including means for regulating water/gas transmission, and...     

A multiple-shelved unit is disclosed, the unit being adapted for use in greenhouses, for supporting growing plants on the shelves thereof, the unit including a horizontal hollow shaft mounted for rotation and means for rotating the same, hub members carried by the shaft adjacent the ends thereof with...     

A greenhouse cloche etc comprising an outer light transmitting wall relatively impermeable to carbon dioxide and an inner light transmitting wall relatively permeable to carbon dioxide and gas admitting means for introducing carbon dioxide gas into the space between the inner and outer walls.

A greenhouse or the like comprising a frame formed from water carrying conduits which support panels capable of transmitting heat and light from the sun whereby radiant energy from the sun will pass through the panels and heat the space inside the house as well as the water in the conduits. The heated...     

A light transmitting building panel comprising a flat central sheet and upper and lower corrugated sheets secured to the opposite faces of the flat central sheet, thereby to provide a set of upper cells and a set of lower cells. The upper corrugated sheet is laterally offset relative to the lower corrugated...     

This invention provides a novel inflatable building that is particularly adapted for use as a greenhouse and the like. Basically, the novel building provided by the present invention comprises: support frame means including a plurality of spaced-apart upright first frame members having their lower ends...     

An installation for rearing plants, comprising a plurality of successive culture chambers, each of said culture chambers comprising an endless circulating system on which plants are moved through zones under controlled environmental conditions, each of said culture chambers being confined at each end...     

A versatile yet highly simplified and exceptionally utilitarian plant growth apparatus assembly is comprised of a combination, in desired practical plurality, disposition and geometry and arrangement, of several individual and self-contained functional units and structures that are modular in nature...     

A greenhouse is disclosed in which tubular curved members formed of standard unit lengths are used to form arched rafters while the same tubular members in uncurved form are used to form purlins. The tubular members are connected by suitable clamps to form a structural support for the roof of the greenhouse....     

A portable, self-contained greenhouse includes a base pan having longitudinally extending troughs adjacent the sides thereof and a curved bottom panel. A transparent enclosure including a plurality of slidable, transparent wall and roof panels is supported on the base pan. An automatic heating arrangement...     

The disclosure concerns a greenhouse which defines an enclosed growing area covered by a structure including an external framework of convex shape in transverse cross-section, and a plurality of flexible light-transmitting panels arranged to form a covering at the inner side of the framework. The frame...     

A modular greenhouse construction in which panels are prefabricated from a universal beam or mullion and the panels are interlocked to form walls and a roof. The universal beam has a spline receiving groove in one surface and a ribbed channel in the surface opposite with C-shaped slots on either side...     

A shade producing system including a powered track having a novel power driven motor for drawing a shade cloth between a gathered and extended position. The system may include suspension tracks for holding th cloth spread. Splicing means for the powered and suspension tracks are provided for achieving...     

This greenhouse watering apparatus has a horizontal support member running centrally for the length of the greenhouse, suspended from above, as from the roof of the greenhouse. A carriage depends from the support member and has trolley wheels rolling along two opposite upper surface portions of the support...     

This invention relates to universal connecting elements for removably joining together frame members such as posts, braces, stays or the like. The same connecting element is used at all corners and/or main points of the frame structure, and consists of two open-ended sleeves oriented at 120.degree. to...     

An installation for cultivating plant cultures comprising a cover device for protecting the ground at which the plants are grown from damaging radiation of the sun, and a support device for supporting the cover device. The cover device comprises a number of pivotable, substantially cylindrical parabolic...     

Polyethylene or EVA copolymer film which includes up to about 15% by weight of an additive preferably a mixture of alunite - aluminum hydroxide is disclosed for particular use as a cover for agricultural purposes. The disclosed film has improved properties which provide growth of plants and/or crops...     

A solar still includes a pair of parallel dikes separated by a ditch, a first sheet overlying the ditch and pair of parallel dikes, the sheet having a pair of edges arranged substantially parallel to, and outside, the dikes, and a second sheet overlying the first sheet, the second sheet having a pair...     

A glass house or plant house having the roof and walls of sawtooth configuration, the roof having generally vertical glass areas facing the equator, and sloping opaque sections inclined to the horizontal equal to the rays of the mid-day winter sun. The walls have generally vertical glass panels sloping...     

In a composite horticultural system, a lower worm culture container contains a worm culture medium for growing worms and converting manure to worm casting type top soil. The top soil is used in a plant growing container mounted above the worm culture container. The environment over the plant growing...     

A heavy, immobile ground based enclosure surrounds growing plants. A cover assembly is removably engaged on the enclosure during periods of inclement or unfavorable weather, and is maintained in place by releasable engagement means. The cover assembly has ventilation means, heat transfer means, and liquid...     

A solar heated greenhouse formed with a rectangular floor having parallel sides and ends, a quonset type roof structure supported above the floor, the roof extending to the floor sides, the roof being formed of an inner and an outer spaced apart light penetrating member, the space between the two members...     

An improved means of lighting and lightscaping a container of the transparent viewing variety principally used for the simultaneous display of aqueous and terraneous culture. The means is adaptable to aquariums and terrariums in separate forms consisting of a light chamber with removable drawers containing...     

A solar greenhouse wherein plants are grown and utilized as collectors to absorb solar radiation and produce heat laden humidified air through the process of evapotranspiration. This humidified air is then further heated by solar energy. Energy is then extracted from the humidified air by cooling the...     

An enclosed hydroponic apparatus comprising a free standing reinforced base housing a nutrient feed supply including a temperature control device to partially control the temperature within the hydroponic apparatus, a plant enclosure including a frame to support a plurality of partitions attached to...     

The present invention in an energy conserving greenhouse involves an insulated and opaque structure whose inner walls are preferably formed, coated or colored to reflect visible light striking thereagainst onto plant surfaces therein, the structure utilizing a shuttered lense arrangement of minimum dimensions,...     

A hothouse has at least two elongate cultivation corridors beside each other for a series of cultivation wagons which are transversely shiftable along the cultivation corridors in order, during the cultivation cycle, to be progressively moved around in the hothouse. A plant treatment area is provided...     

A chamber for exposing animals, plants, or materials to air containing gases or aerosols is so constructed that catch pans for animal excrement, for example, serve to aid the uniform distribution of air throughout the chamber instead of constituting obstacles as has been the case in prior animal exposure...     

A building construction formed as a dome has a transparent outer shell and an inner shell of flat cassettes which are turnable for regulating incident light radiation and light escaping from the dome. Air is circulated through a heat accumulator, arranged beneath the dome, and a collecting space in the...     

A seedling tray assembly and greenhouse which includes a base, a sheet of embossed material in said base and spaced from the bottom thereof, a seedling grid resting on said embossed material and a deeply dished cover overlying said base and seedling grid.

An indoor plant growing apparatus is disclosed which comprises a frame adapted to support a bed with a plant growing chamber being formed within the frame. A light fixture unit is mounted on the frame and includes means for providing light downwardly to the plants in the plant growing chamber. The apparatus...     

A greenhouse includes a hollow cylinder which is revolvably mounted. The cylinder includes an opaque portion and a translucent portion and is revolved to control the amount of sunlight entering the cylinder from any given direction, and insulate the growing area when needed. Alternative embodiments include...     

A solar collector is formed by a stack of vehicular tires for absorbing solar radiant energy. A series of conduits intercepting the upper and lower sidewall of each tire at locations spaced about 180 degrees apart couple together the hollow interiors of the tires in an air path passing angularly through...     

A solar energy heated structure, such as an occupied building or greenhouse, includes a walled structure enclosing space volume. A movable insulated panel with a reflective surface is pivotably supported within the space volume. In a first position the panel cooperates with an insulated portion of the...     

A solar heat storage system is provided for greenhouses by providing the greenhouse with a gravel storage bed at the floor level, through which heated air from an air duct at the upper ridge of the greenhouse is circulated to take advantage of and store heat energy collected from the sun in the winter...     

A greenhouse device or complex in which the roof, sidewall, front and rear sides of a lean-to-roof, saddle-roof or three-quarter type greenhouse is lined with an outside glass sheet and an inner glass sheet providing a double wall on all sides of the greenhouse. Warm air is generated in a warm air generator...     

A greenhouse constructed by stretching over a framework a polyethylene terephthalate film oriented in at least one direction and having a refractive index in the oriented direction of 1.57 to 1.78, a refractive index in the thickness direction of 1.48 to 1.57, a density of 1.340 to 1.390 g/cm.sup.3,...     

A greenhouse structure with flooring means and side and end wall means defining a plant growing area has a roof structure means comprising a ridge above said growing area and rafter means extending from said ridge downwardly and outwardly past said side wall means to terminal end portions at which anchor...     

A plurality of inflatable clear polyethylene tubes extending in spaced adjacent relationship longitudinally across a greenhouse at the eave level. A regulatable blower is arranged to deliver or evacuate air from a manifold which is in communication with each of the tubes. Operationally, the tubes are...     

A portable greenhouse which includes a base, a cover, and trays. The bottom of the base is corrugated, the bottom of the trays are corrugated. The base, cover and trays all have a peripheral flange. The flanges engage with each other to form a seal around the periphery of the greenhouse. The trays have...     

A propagator for the cultivation of plants in a controlled environment comprising upper and lower elongate containers having a common perforated wall, a plurality of plant seeds supported in spaced relation by or adjacent the common wall, means for injecting liquid in the form of vapor or droplets into...     

A retractable cover for protecting agricultural crops against radiation frost. The polyethelene film cover lies atop a static rigging comprised of rows of posts permanently anchored in the earth and wires joining the posts. An elongated sheet rake extending the length of one row is attached to one side...     

A multiple layer insulation cover for preventing heat loss in, for example, a greenhouse, is disclosed. The cover is comprised of spaced layers of thin foil covered fabric separated from each other by air spaces. The spacing is accomplished by the inflation of spaced air bladders which are integrally...     

A heat convection barrier particularly adapted for use with greenhouses and warehouses consists of a series of inflatable tubes which are suspended beneath the roof of a structure and inflated into contact with each other to form a barrier against heat loss through the roof. Each of the tubes includes...     

A collapsible terrarium to be used for maintaining a controlled environment around potted plants and similar objects includes a flexible fluid-impermeable enclosure which has a bottom portion and a top portion, and a support structure which supports the top portion on and upwardly of the bottom portion...     

A solar greenhouse utilizing at least one radiant energy transparent or transmitting panel, with a low density fibrous mat positioned to the interior of and having one side generally contiguous to the radiant energy transparent panel, which fibrous mat serves as means for converting radiant energy into...     

An agricultural system with a controlled atmosphere. A plurality of articulated structural members with an arched configuration are secured in aligned, spaced-apart relationship by horizontal members to define a skeletal structure. Flexible sheet material is secured to the structure to define a controlled...     

A solar heated building comprising a frame, an inner wall supported by the frame, and an outer wall of generally transparent material supported by the frame and spaced outwardly of said inner wall thereby defining a passage therebetween. The passage has an inlet for the flow of air into the passage and...     

A portable solar garden which is large enough to accommodate an individual for gardening operations, yet is portable for movement within a given living area and outdoors. The portable solar garden includes a self-contained water supply and a removable top which may also be used for hanging pots and tools....     

A subterranean structure particularly adapted for greenhouse use and including a roof which can entirely close the enclosure or be moved to a position exposing the interior to natural light. Curtain assemblies are provided at the free end and sides of the roof to eliminate wind, rain or snow from entering...     

A movable greenhouse construction adapted for use on a balcony or a patio having means for moving the greenhouse laterally parallel to the building wall containing a balcony door or patio door to permit direct access from the building to the interior of the greenhouse. After use, the movable greenhouse...     

A greenhouse structure includes a central hub having a revolving floor therein and a plurality of arms radiating outwardly from that hub. The arms are growth chambers, and movable trays located within those growth chambers move plants from the arms onto and from a workbench in the hub.

Proposed is a burl foil that can be installed as insulation in shed-like buildings, in particular greenhouses, where a Jalousie-like movement of the burl foil from an at-rest position into a use position is said to be possible, without that the required space for stacking the burl foil in the at-rest...     

This invention relates to an improvement in the ventilation of a greenhouse and it consists of an elongated tubular inflatable member mounted to underlie an air vent extending along the ridge portion of the greenhouse and a second vent consisting of an elongated opening in the side wall of the greenhouse,...     

Coating compositions suitable for application to optical surfaces to reduce surface misting and light reflection without creating haze comprise: (a) an inorganic particulate component selected from colloidal silica particles, colloidal alumina particles, or a mixture thereof wherein the silica or alumina...     

An enclosure for an apartment house balcony wherein the balcony has a floor, roof and at least one open side, a wall member structured to be secured across said open side to close said open side, a window opening in said wall member, a transparent panel in said window opening so positioned as to permit...     

A system for controlling environmental conditions in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds. The system comprises sensors stationed over crop beds comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating analog electrical signals indicative of wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures. The system...     

A self contained, fully automatic, vertical wall panel, solar energy system characterized by having no moving parts in the panel. The panel is substantially a shallow rectangular box having a closed perimeter, an outer insulating chamber which is substantially a double glazed window, and an inner energy...     

A housing, which is particularly suitable as an indoor greenhouse, is provided. The housing comprises a frame which has a base with a lower surface, and a plurality of elongated parallel support members. The support members are connected to the base so as to extend therefrom perpendicular to the lower...     

A microporous metallized fabric suitable for use as a thermally-insulating material in a hostile environment comprises a microporous fabric substrate for example of a spun-bonded polyethylene having a layer of aluminum deposited thereon by a vacuum deposition technique. A thin layer--typically of 0.9-1.0...     

This invention relates to a latent heat accumulating greenhouse utilizing solar heat. The object of the invention is to provide a greenhouse which is simple in construction, of high efficiency for heat absorbing and capable of much absorbing and accumulating of heat. A heat accumulating chamber (B) partitioned...     

A cell comprising one or more stands in which crop containers are arranged in a plurality of layers one above the other and light sources are arranged between the containers, whereby between a light source (or light sources) and a container located above said light source(s) there is arranged a plate...     

A light-transmissive solar insulating block assembly comprising: light-transmissive insulating block means defining at least one internal cavity for insulating the interior of a structure to be heated; a housing having a light-transmissive cover providing an exterior surface and a plurality of support...     

An infrared radiation absorbing film suitable for agricultural purposes comprising a first layer of olefin resin containing an amorphous hydrated aluminosilicate gel and optionally, additional layers of an olefin resin encompassing said first layer.

A growing chamber defined by sidewalls and a top spanning the chamber inside the walls. The top is mounted to be vertically moveable to change the chamber height. The walls and top are coated to be ninety percent reflective. A horticultural lamp is mounted on the top and a timer turns it on and off....     

An infrared radiation absorbing film suitable for agricultural purposes comprising a first layer of olefin resin containing an amorphous hydrated aluminosilicate gel and optionally, additional layers of an olefin resin encompassing said first layer.

A device for holding flexible sheet material to a structure including a fixed element that is attachable to the structure and has at one end an elongated cavity and at the other end an intrinsic lock mechanism and a locking device having at one end an arm for holding sheet material against the interior...     

A modular cultivation apparatus for the cultivation of plants and the simultaneous production of earthworms and fertilizer/top soil. The apparatus comprises an enclosure (12) including a modular foundation (14) comprising a plurality of plant growth modules (34) for the cultivation of plants and a plurality...     

A space garden for growing plants in space comprises a space station in the form of a sealed housing which is divided into a plurality of levels. At least a portion of the top wall of the housing is transparent to permit sunlight to enter therein so that the top level could function as a light growing...     

An evaporative cooling system for cooling a greenhouse uses lava rocks as the medium. The cooling system includes a grid mounted to an aperture in a wall. Lava rocks are contained in the grid. Water is dispensed on the rocks for causing evaporation. A fan located forwardly draws air through the rocks....     

A greenhouse helmet is provided and consists of a dome containing plants secured within the dome worn completely over the head of a person so that the person can breathe in the oxygen given off by the plants.

A plant cultivating device enables plant cultivation by effective use of the floor's dimension at a place of high cost per unit dimension of the floor on the building erected in the urban district. The plant cultivating device comprises a cylinder and an upper plate for covering the upper portion of...     

A shelter for the growth of plants and the like is provided which shelter is comprised of panels. The panels are formed of films which are adapted to control the transmission of energy into the shelter and further adapted to control the flow of fluids stream into and out of the shelter.

An apparatus for plant cuture is disclosed which allows plants to be effectively grown even in basements and other places where solar radiation is unavailable, utilizing combined illumination by solar rays and artificial rays. Light source assemblies emitting the mixed rays are mounted on a housing in...     

An apparatus for plant cultivation includes a sealed dark chamber and a sealed lighted chamber which accommodate a root portion and a stem and leaf portion of a plant respectively. The lighted chamber is defined by a transparent housing above the dark chamber and the lighting is provided by optical fibers....     

Expandable vent closure apparatus for a greenhouse comprising a clear inflatable mat, the opposed surfaces of which are sealed to one another to form a plurality of horizontal tubular members and a plurality of internal air passages connecting one to the other. Air means connected to the uppermost tubular...     

A ventilation assembly for buildings of the type having a roof frame comprising a plurality of arcuate roof members extending outwardly from a central gutter section and supporting a flexible roof covering, the ventilation assembly including a pair of vent arms which normally rest upon the gutter section...     

A shelter providing a closed, isolated and controlled environment for growing plants is formed of an inflated plastic tube having a bed of particulate material on the bottom of the tube and a number of plant containers on the particulate material bed. A combined air return, thermal insulating duct and...     

Method and apparatus for removing noxious gases, such as, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur or carbon from industrial influent gas streams which utilizes growing plants positioned in long residence contact time apparatus for removing the noxious gases.

A retractable greenhouse canopy apparatus (10) including a support mechanism (22) pivotably mounted to the ground beside a greenhouse (12) for extending above but not fully across the greenhouse. The support mechanism includes a first portion (23) extending upwardly from the ground and a second portion...     

A farm structure for growing plants or crop in a small area or increasing an area for farming, composed of several tiers of cloth, one above another, each cloth supporting a quantity of earth in which plants are growing; water used in watering plants on the uppermost tier, dripping downward successively...     

A shutter arrangement adaptable to a solar energy system for either a residential or commerical building characterized by a skylight presented in a roof portion of the building, and a shutter supported on the roof portion and selectively slidable behind the skylight from and to a solar energy blocking...     

A two-piece fastening arrangement for joining two structural greenhouse panels. The fastener is capable of connecting a wide range of thicknesses of structural panels. A cap member snaps into a base member and biases the structural panels between the cap and base. The snap engagement is between two sets...     

The terrace glasswork, which is particularly simple to adapt to building conditions, contains the following features: (a) It is made up of a vaulted roof, which is supported above on an existing wall and below on the terrace floor; as well as two gable parts. (b) The roof is made up along its length...     

Construction for roof of greenhouse consisting of triangular glazed panels are hinged together and removable to provide a sawtooth construction when assembled and placed over a rectangular base.

Lighting by the sunlight is available in every space in a building, even those spaces which have been hardly utilized such as the basement and ground water pit. The sunlight is collected and guided by optical cables to light radiators which are located in intended spaces of a building. The basement has...     

Greenhouse screen for use as a filter for short-day treatment of plants and made of a film, textile, non-woven material or a combination thereof with high light resitance and good weathering conditions. The greenhouse screen at least partly consists of a material which in one or more layers has high...     

A light ray radiating device for effectively dispersing light ray energy emitted from an optical conductor cable into a direct-light ray component and into an indirect-light ray component in order to cultivate plants more effectively. The device comprises an upper plate having a hole through which the...     

A cooling system for a greenhouse comprising a plurality of water pipes mounted over the exterior surface of the structure to carry water from a source, with water outlets in the pipes to enable water to spray over the exterior surface, and controls associated with the pipes to control and regulate the...     

A plant flat handling system for handling floatable plant flats employs a horizontally extending main channel which can be flooded from either a water tank or a nutrient containing tank with a plurality of branch channels extending outwardly from the main channel. Gate valve means between the branch...     

A portable wheel-about greenhouse is provided formed with a transparent top portion of double wall insulated construction configured to engage in interfitting relationship with a bed portion also formed of double wall construction providing further insulation to said bed thereby. Said transparent cover...     

A greenhouse structure for growing plants using nutrient feed solution. The structure comprises a plurality of elongated greenhouse production areas. Each area has a shell and a base enclosing a predetermined space within which plants are grown. The areas radially extend outwardly from a central supply...     

A process for erecting an inflatable building structure which is especially adapted for housing plants. The process includes the steps of (1) installing a plurality of support posts in the ground or other suitable base; (2) attaching a roof structure formed from one or more inflatable membranes to the...     

A drip stop spacer spaces a roof or wall covering such as sheet plastic from purlins or other frame members of a greenhouse. An elongate elastic cylindrical helix is formed of a length of helical chord of flexible material with chord depth dimension in the radial direction of the helix selected to achieve...     

A cold frame comprising a housing formed of one or more housing sections with opposed ends walls. The sections include channel-defining end edges interlockable with the end edges of adjacent sections and with the end walls. The sections at the joinders therebetween, forming outwardly directed channels...     

The device comprises a hermetically sealed chamber (1) whose interior space accommodates a perforated band (3) held to a drive drum (2). Part of the chamber (1) is made as a flexible tubing (4) one end of which is connected to the free end of the perforated band (3), and the other end is turned inside...     

A vent assembly which can be mounted to plant nursery buildings of the type which include a plurality of arcuate roof frame members covered by a fabric material, such as a plastic film, the vent assembly having at least one pair of sawtooth profiled frames which may be bolted or otherwise connected to...