DISTRIBUTION CONDUIT

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application Serial Number 61/697,715 to Geurt Reinders, entitled ADJUSTABLE ENDCAP FOR USE WITH A GREENHOUSE DISTRIBUTION CONDUIT, filed on September 6, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, including the drawings, charts, schematics, diagrams and related written description.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] Described herein is a device relating to greenhouses, and specifically, adjustable endcaps for distribution tubes utilized in greenhouses.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] Greenhouses have been used for hundreds of years to grow different varieties of plants, including ornamental plants and fruit/vegetable-producing plants. Greenhouses typically comprise a structure with a plastic or glass roof and frequently glass or plastic walls. The interior of the greenhouse can be heated by incoming solar radiation that warms the plants and soil therein. The closed environment of a greenhouse has its own unique requirements, which may be different than those associated with outdoor plant growth compared with outdoor production. Pests and diseases need to be controlled and irrigation is necessary to provide water. Of equal importance, greenhouses can also be arranged to compensate for extreme highs and lows of heat and humidity, and to generally control the environmental conditions such as the level of carbon dioxide (C0 ₂ ) .

[0004] Different greenhouses have been developed to control the environmental conditions within the greenhouse. U.S. Patent No. 5,001,859 to Sprung describes a method and structure for environmental control of plant growth in greenhouse conditions. The structure comprises a translucent stressed fabric shell on a base, which is configured to grow plants, the shell and base sealing the environment within the space against external environmental conditions. The temperature and relative humidity within the production areas are generally controlled by a microprocessor based series of spray systems, along with a furnace. The spray systems can lower the temperature in the space while at the same time increasing humidity, and the furnace can be utilized to increase the temperature within the space.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 5,813,168 to Clendening describes a greenhouse and a method for controlling the environment of the interior space within. The greenhouse includes an interior insulating panel and a movable exterior reflective panel capable of both insulating the interior of the greenhouse and reflecting sunlight into the interior. The greenhouse also includes a closed- system heat exchanger having a plurality of spaced water- impermeable water flow passageways through which water flows by gravitational forces, and having a means for blowing air between the water flow passageways such that the air does not contact the water and such that the air is either heated or cooled by the water. In addition, the heat exchanger may include a water and/or gas discharge for the control of humidity and gas levels within the greenhouse. Finally, the greenhouse includes hydroponic plant beds disposed on top of the heat exchangers and hydroponic solution tanks along the outer interior walls of the greenhouse.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 7,228,657 to Brault et al. discloses a greenhouse having an exterior curtain wall structure formed by spaced tubular posts carrying external transparent panels and bottom non-transparent wall panels below a sill, with the panels spanning the posts. A plurality of elongate benches is located within the interior at spaced positions along one side wall, with the width of the benches being equal to the post spacing to form an expandable construction. Each bench has associated with it a respective air handling system for conditioning, including a duct which is located partly under the respective bench and a fan in a fan housing at the side wall. From the fan, a vertical duct section extends to a flexible tube extending over the bench . [0007] Typically, greenhouse distribution conduits, such as tubing, distribute substances such as air or gas along the length of the conduit via perforations or other means, and are otherwise closed at the end of the conduit which is inside the growing section of the greenhouse. An example of such a sealed greenhouse distribution conduit is set forth in US Pat. No. 4,292,762 to Fogg, et al. By sealing this end, the distribution integrity along the length of the conduit can be better maintained, and unequal distribution - which would otherwise occur at the location of the greenhouse growing section near the open end of the distribution conduit - can be prevented. Such means for closing the ends of distribution tubes include the use of a knotted cover, such as a plastic cover, or a permanent means of sealing, such as welding, which forms a closed capsule. However, these arrangements provide only a fixed solution to sealing the ends of the distribution tubes and do not allow for any additional control or regulation of the conduits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Described herein is a device providing an adjustable endcap for use with distribution conduits in a greenhouse. The device provides a solution to seal off the end of a distribution tube while providing further means to regulate the distribution of substances such as air or gas. The device comprises a structure for sealing the end of a greenhouse distribution tube wherein the sealing structure can be freely adjusted to allow variable amounts of distributed substances to escape from the sealed end. [0009] In one embodiment incorporating features of the present invention, an endcap for use with a greenhouse distribution conduit comprises a front plate comprising at least one front plate opening. The front plate openings can be adjusted such that a variable amount of air or gas from within the distribution conduit can exit from the endcap.

[0010] In another embodiment incorporating features of the present invention, an endcap for use with a greenhouse distribution conduit comprises a front plate comprising at least one front plate opening and a back plate connected to the front plate comprising at least one back plate opening. Air or gas from within the distribution conduit can exit from the endcap when the at least one front plate opening and the at least one back plate opening are at least partially aligned.

[0011] In yet another embodiment incorporating features of the present invention, an endcap for use with a greenhouse distribution conduit comprises a front plate comprising a plurality of front plate openings and a front plate rim configured to fit over the end of the distribution conduit, an adjustable back plate in direct physical contact with the front plate, the back plate comprising a plurality of back plate openings, wherein the number of back plate openings is equal to the number of front plate openings. The embodiment also includes an adjustment control groove that provides physical access to the adjustable back plate. The openings are arranged such that air or gas from within the distribution conduit can exit from the endcap when the plurality of front plate openings and the plurality of back plate openings are at least partially aligned.

[0012] In still another embodiment incorporating features of the present invention, a greenhouse comprises at least one growing section and one or more distribution conduits for distributing air or gas to the growing section, wherein each distribution conduit configured such that pressure within the conduit can be individually adjusted. Various ways of configuring such an adjustable conduit include the use of adjustable mechanisms such as valves, switches, levers, etc., to cause a variable amount of fluid, such as air or gas, to escape from the conduit, for example by opening or closing and/or adjusting the size (e.g. diameter) and/or shape of a hole or other perforation in the conduit. Endcaps as discussed herein can also be utilized for this purpose.

[0013] These and other further features and advantages of the invention would be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taking together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a adjustable endcap according to the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is an front side perspective view of one embodiment of a adjustable endcap according to the present invention; and [0016] FIGS. 3A-3E are front views of one embodiment of an adjustable endcap according to the present invention showing how the endcap can be adjusted to regulate distribution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Embodiments incorporating features of the present invention are directed to endcaps for use with greenhouse distribution conduits that provide for a structure to seal the end of the greenhouse conduit while also providing a structure for controlling and regulating the distribution qualities of the conduit. The pressure, temperature and other properties of air or gas within an individual conduit can be adjusted by allowing a variable amount of air to exit the endcap and escape the conduit's end portion.

[0018] Endcaps according to the present disclosure can comprise one of more openings that can be varied, adjusted and/or partially opened, closed or otherwise obscured. In some embodiments this is accomplished with a multiple plate structure in which each plate comprises openings such that the openings release air or gas through the endcap from the distribution tube at variable rates depending on the level of alignment of the various plate openings. The plates can be moveable in relation to one another, for example, being rotatably moveable, or can be configured such that portions of plate endcap, for example the front plate, can be removed and repositioned to affect opening alignment. Various structures, such as adjustment grooves and corresponding intermediate structures, can be utilized to provide easier access to various plate portions.

[0019] The endcaps can also comprise various structures to facilitate connection to a distribution conduit, for example, rimmed structures that can provide a secured connection such that the endcap fits securely around or inside of a distribution conduit. The endcaps can further comprise additional structures that facilitate the use of attachment or tightening structures including hose belts, o-rings, covers/bags and sealant.

[0020] Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples illustrated should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present invention. As used herein, the term "invention," "device," "present invention" or "present device" refers to any one of the embodiments of the invention described herein, and any equivalents. Furthermore, reference to various feature (s) of the "invention," "device," "present invention" or "present device" throughout this document does not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced feature (s).

[0021] It is also understood that when an element or feature is referred to as being "on" or "adjacent" to another element or feature, it can be directly on or adjacent the other element or feature or intervening elements or features may also be present. It is also understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0022] Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements or components, these elements or components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another element or component. Thus, a first element or component discussed below could be termed a second element or component without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

[0023] Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to different views and illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances are expected. Embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of the regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

[0024] The devices described herein can be used in greenhouses utilizing distribution conduits, such as water, air or gas distribution tubes which terminate in the growing section of the greenhouse. An example arrangement of such conduits can be found in US Pre-Grant Publications US 2008/0000151 Al to Houweling, et al., filed on June 28, 2007 and US 2010/0126062 Al to Houweling, et al., filed on December 11, 2009, which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. The drawings, figures and their corresponding written descriptions set forth examples of greenhouses and greenhouse distribution conduits that can utilize devices as described herein.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of an adjustable endcap according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an endcap 100 comprising a front plate 102 and a back plate 104. Front plate 102 and back plate 104 are in close proximity to each other. Front plate 102 can be in direct physical contact with back plate 104 or back plate 104 can be held in position by another means. Either front plate 102 or back plate 104 or both can be movable such that front plate 102 and back plate 104 change their position in space relative to one another. In one embodiment, front plate 102 is stationary and back plate 104 is adjustable. Front plate 102 and back plate 104 can be substantially the same size or different sizes .

[0026] Front plate 102 comprises at least one opening 106 (four shown) . Back plate 104 also comprises at least one opening 108 (four shown) . When front plate openings 106 are completely not in alignment with back plate openings 108, back plate 104 can block or obscure front plate openings 106 such that endcap 100 can function as a conventional sealing structure for the end of a distribution conduit in the growing section of a greenhouse. Substances to be distributed such as air or gas are substantially unable to exit the tube through the end sealed by the endcap. When front plate openings 106 are completely aligned with back plate openings 108, complete openings are formed in the endcap which allow distributed substances such as air or gas to freely exit the end of the tube into the growing section. The size of the openings can be adjusted by changing the alignment of front plate openings 106 and back plate openings 108. The more in alignment openings 106 and 108 are, the larger the opening is, allowing more air or gas to exit the endcap and escape from the end of the distribution tube.

[0027] While openings 106 and 108 are shown as circular and roughly the same size, it is understood that these openings can comprise a variety of different shapes, sizes, and designs and that the shapes or designs can be chosen for various features or advantages. For example, front plate openings 106 and back plate openings 108 can be different sizes or shapes so that their alignment can affect the quality or angle of air or gas distribution at the end of a distribution conduit.

[0028] The relative position of front plate 102 and back plate 104 and the alignment between front plate openings 106 and back plate openings 108 can be controlled by a number of means. As shown in FIG. 1, adjustable endcap 100 can optionally comprise adjustment control groove 110, which is shown above the topmost of the front plate openings 106. Adjustment control groove 110 is formed in front plate 102 and provides physical access to back plate 104. One can use adjustment control groove 110 to adjust the position of back plate 104, and thus the position of back plate openings 108, in relation to front plate 102.

[0029] Back plate 104 can be directly accessed via adjustment control groove 110, or an intermediate structure 112 can be utilized. An example of such an intermediate structure would be a protrusion that is physically attached or connected to back plate 104 which protrudes through adjustment control groove 110. By moving intermediate structure 112, back plate 104 will also move. The protrusion can protrude such that its height extends higher than the surface of front plate 102. Intermediate structure 112 can promote access, such as manual access, to back plate 104 and can assist in controlling the position of back plate 104.

[0030] Intermediate structure 112 can also be utilized to restrict the movement or rotation of back plate 104 to a range of desired positions. One means of restricting movement or rotation is in an embodiment where a protrusion is connected to back plate 104 and protrudes through adjustment control groove 110 by a length that extends at least beyond the portion of adjustment control groove 110 which is level with the surface of front plate 102. In this situation, the protrusion can function as a "stop" when it comes in contact with the edges of adjustment control groove 110. In one embodiment, intermediate structure 112 is a "butterfly" nut and bolt, with the "winged" portion positioned above the surface of adjustment control groove 110 that is level with front plate 102. [0031] While only one adjustment control groove is shown, it is understood that a device as described herein could comprise a number of adjustment control grooves in various positions on the device. Additionally, an adjustment control grove can comprise a wide variety of shapes and designs and can be a shape that does not have clear starting or ending termination points such as an unbroken circle or rectangle. Additionally, the relative positions of front plate 102, front plate opening 106, back plate 104, and back plate opening 108, can be controlled through other means or mechanisms for changing the positions of two objects in relation to each other. Such means can include various mechanical or electronic devices .

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an angled view of one embodiment of an adjustable endcap according to the present invention. The endcap 200 is similar to endcap 100 and the corresponding structures are similar where the reference-numbers are the same. Endcap 200 can comprise front plate rim 113. Front plate rim 113 can be an extension of front plate 102 that protrudes outward or away from front plate 102 and can form a cylindrical structure or lip about or around the edge of front plate 102. Front plate rim 113 need not be cylindrical and can have a variety of different shapes or configurations as needed. Alternatively or in addition to being part of or an extension of front plate 102, front plate rim 113 can be a separate structure attached or connected to front plate 102. One advantage of having front plate rim 113 as part of or an extension of front plate 102 is that it improves ease and cost of manufacturing. Front plate rim 113 can facilitate attachment or connection of endcap 200 with a distribution conduit 202. Front plate rim 113 can be configured, sized or arranged such that it can fit over the end of a distribution conduit 202 (as shown) or inside distribution conduit 202. Front plate rim 113 can be specifically configured, sized or arranged such that a desired fit to a distribution conduit can be obtained; for example a snug or air-tight fit.

[0033] Endplate 200 can further comprise distribution conduit attachment structure 114. Attachment structure

114 facilitates attachment of endcap 200 to a distribution conduit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, attachment structure 114 comprises two lifted ridges on front plate rim 113. These ridges can accommodate a wide variety of attachment or tightening structures to allow for better attachment or connection of endcap 200 to a distribution conduit. Examples of such attachment or tightening structures include hose belts, o-rings, covers/bags and sealant. Attachment structure 114 can be located in or on other portions of the device and need not comprise ridges. For example, attachment structure 114 can comprise a structure configured or arranged to fit or mate with another structure formed on or within the end of a distribution conduit. Attachment structure 114 can comprise various other embodiments for facilitating attachment of endcap 200 to a distribution conduit .

[0034] FIGS. 3A-3D are front views of an embodiment of an adjustable endcap 300, similar to endcap 100 in FIG. 1 above and endcap 200 in FIG. 2 above wherein like reference numbers are utilized to denote like features. FIG. 3A shows the alignment process between front plate openings 106 and back plate openings 108. In FIG. 3A, front plate holes 106 and back plate holes 108 are in complete alignment. In this embodiment, back plate 104 is completely obscured from view by front plate 102, however, the dimensions of obscured back plate 104 are represented by a dashed line 109.

[0035] In FIG. 3B, front plate openings 106 and back plate openings 108 are slightly misaligned. While portions of back plate openings 108 would actually be obscured from view by front plate 102, they are depicted in FIGS. 3B-3D by line-shaded areas. FIG. 3C shows the openings 106 and 108 in a greater state of misalignment. Fig 3D shows front plate openings 106 and back plate openings 108 in a state of near complete misalignment. In this state of near complete misalignment, only a small amount of air or gas can exit the end of the distribution conduit. In situations of complete misalignment of the openings 106 and 108, as shown in FIG. 3E, the endcap functions as a sealed end of the distribution conduit.

[0036] While the embodiments discussed above primarily concern the alignment of a two-plate structure, the present invention is not limited to such a structure and includes endcaps for use with distribution conduits in a greenhouse with variable openings of any type. A single or multiple plate structure wherein openings can be effectively adjusted such that the openings allow a variable amount of distributed substance to exit the end of the distribution conduit falls within the scope of this disclosure. For example, a device as disclosed herein can comprise multiple openings that can be opened or closed by a latch or screw mechanism. Portions of the endcap can be freely removable or attachable, or their structures, orientations and configurations can be changed or altered to create or form openable or closable openings. Various other embodiments that allow the endcap to perform a sealing function or a variable distribution function also fall within the scope of the present disclosure .

[0037] Devices according to the disclosure herein have many advantages. For example, adjustable endcaps allow for regulation of each distribution conduit individually. Thus, multiple distribution conduits can have differing levels of air or gas escaping from the end portions based on the specific needs of a greenhouse. By allowing for a controlled distribution at a conduit's end, adjustable endcaps can extend climate control a greater distance beyond the reach of the distribution conduit. This allows for climate control near the end portion of a distribution conduit that would otherwise be sealed according to the prior art. Likewise, a constantly open distribution conduit end would not be adjustable or controllable .

[0038] Another advantage of devices according to the disclosure is that they can allow for additional pressure and temperature control across the length of a distribution conduit. Adjusting the amount of air or gas that escapes from the end of a distribution conduit affects the internal pressure of the distribution conduit; this in turn affects internal temperature. When operating with a distribution conduit system utilizing variable perforations, perforation shapes and/or perforation distances across the length of the distribution conduit, devices according to the present method provide another means of regulating pressure and temperature across the length of the tube and thus in different areas of the growing section.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the versions described above.