US 12,069,993 B2
Multi-plane configurable grow system for controlled environment agriculture
Stanley C. Kaplita, Sammamish, WA (US); Peter Thaman-Bigsby, Paso Robles, CA (US); and Jens Frederik Jaegerholm, Aarslev (DK)
Assigned to SHAMROCK GREENS, INC., Templeton, CA (US)
Filed by SHAMROCK GREENS, INC., Templeton, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/729,309.
Application 17/729,309 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/025304, filed on Apr. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/003,770, filed on Apr. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0304252 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. A01G 31/04 (2006.01); A01G 9/02 (2018.01); A01G 9/24 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 31/042 (2013.01) [A01G 9/023 (2013.01); A01G 9/246 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-layer grow system, comprising:
a first carrier path comprising a first conveyor configured to sequentially receive and convey a plurality of crop carriers along a length of the multi-layer grow system from a first end to a second end of the multi-layer grow system;
a second carrier path comprising a second conveyor configured to sequentially receive and convey the plurality of crop carriers along the length of the multi-layer grow system from the second end to the first end of the multi-layer grow system, wherein the second carrier path is vertically displaced along a height at a next highest layer of the multi-layer grow system from the first carrier path;
a first elevator positioned at the second end of the multi-layer grow system and configured to sequentially receive the plurality of crop carriers from the first carrier path, vertically lift, and deliver each of the plurality of crop carriers to the second carrier path;
a third carrier path comprising a third conveyor configured to sequentially receive and convey the plurality of crop carriers along the length of the multi-layer grow system from the first end to the second end of the multi-layer grow system, wherein the third carrier path is vertically displaced along a height at a next highest layer of the multi-layer grow system from the second carrier path;
a second elevator positioned at the first end of the multi-layer grow system and configured to sequentially receive the plurality of crop carriers from the second carrier path, vertically lift, and deliver the carrier to the third carrier path,
wherein sequential ones of the plurality of crop carriers are spaced apart on at least the second and third carrier paths; and
air supply ducts and air return ducts that are arranged to promote vertical air flow from the first carrier path through the second and third carrier paths in spacing between sequential ones of the plurality of crop carriers,
wherein the air supply ducts comprise:
a main air supply duct that extends along the length of the multi-layer grow system;
a plurality of supply plenums in fluid communication with the main air supply duct, the plurality of supply plenums extending along a height of the multi-layer grow system at a first set of predetermined locations along the length of the multi-layer grow system;
each of the plurality of supply plenums in fluid communication with a respective plurality of layer supply ducts, each of the plurality of supply ducts extending along a width of the multi-layer grow system at a different layer of the multi-layer grow system; and
wherein the air return ducts comprise:
a main air return duct; and
a plurality of lateral air return ducts in fluid communication with the main air return duct, the plurality of lateral air return ducts extending along the width at a second set of predetermine locations along the length of the multi-layer grow system;
each of the plurality of lateral air return ducts comprises a plurality of air return registers spaced apart at predetermined distances across the width of the multi-layer grow system.