AU654953B2

AU654953B2 - Hydroponic gully system

Info

Publication number: AU654953B2
Application number: AU77007/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Francis Creevey; Robin Morley-Smith
Original assignee: ACCENT HYDROPONICS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ACCENT HYDROPONICS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-14
Filing date: 1990-06-14
Publication date: 1994-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-13
Also published as: AU7700791A

Description

i 654953

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECiFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

S F Ref: 181183 4I Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Accent Hydroponics Pty Ltd 87 Marigold Street Revesby New South Wales 2212

AUSTRALIA

Peter Francis Creevey and Robin Morley-Smith Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, -ustralia Hydroponic Gully System ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [31] Application No(s) [33] Country [32) Application Date PK0640 AU 14 June 1990 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to he/us:- 5815/3 2 HYDROPONIC GULLY SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The following invention relates to hydroponic gullies, and more particularly though not exclusively to a co-extruded gully section suitable for growing lettuce for example.

PRIOR ART Since the introduction of the "nutrient film technique" system of hydroponic crop production, many designs for efficient, long lasting, and easily installed gully systems have been trialed and subsequently discarded due to technically undesirable aspects. Early gullies were fabricated from wood and later metal to form the channel which was then lined with a plastic film to provide waterproofing and isolation of the nutrient from possible external contamination.

Lids or covers were fabricated from a variety of materials, some of 15 which were as simple as a plastic film stretched over the trough and clipped to the channel walls. Other methods utilised cement fibre planks which had growing holes punched at appropriate spacings along their length.

"Various rigid gullies are known. Such rigid gullies were formed from rolls of stiff bituminous laminates. It was a disadvantage of such known semi-rigid gullies that rapid degradation and phytotoxicity t resulted.

S' l It is a problem with all known gullies that light entering the gully promotes an undesirable growth of algae therein. Accordingly, various forms of ground level co-extruded plastic gullies having light reflective external surfaces and black internal surfaces have been proposed. The inside of the gully is black to inhibit reflected light .o owhich may enter the gully through growing apertures from falling upon a root mat. The black layer is a throw away material designed to be 30 replaced each growing season.

There was found a need for rigid plastic extruded gullies. Such rigid plastic extruded, ullies are known and comprise a generally rectangular cross sectional extrusion having a separately detachable lid. Such known rigid plastic extruded gullies suffer the problem of lacking torsional rigidity resulting in crops flipping over as either the gully twisted or the lId flipped off. Furthermore, the rectangular TMS/24681

I

4* 3 cross section of a gully provided little means for air circulation about lower leaves of a plant (particularly lettuce).

Objection of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Disclosure of the Invention There is disclosed herein a hydroponic gully comprising an essentially flat base, a flat top essentially parallel to the base and having a plurality of holes spaced longitudinally therealong, each adapted to have a plant pass therethrough, and a pair of side walls each comprising an essentially vertical lower portion extending to the base and an inwardly tapered upper portion extending from the lower portion to the top, the gully being formed as a co-extrusion, such that an inner surface of the extrusion is dark and non-reflective and an outer surface of the cc-extrusion is bright and highly reflective, wherein the upper and lower portions of each side wall are delimited by a longitudinal groove formed on an outside surface of each side wall and serving as a means by which the gully may be fixed to a support structure.

Advantageously, the upper and lower portions of each side wall are delimited by a longitudinal groove formed on an outside surface of each side wall and serving as a means by which the gully may be fixed to a support structure.

Typically, the gully is formed as a co-extrusion, such that an inner surface of the extrusion is dark and non-reflective and an outer surface of the extrusion being bright and Shighly reflective.

4 Beneficially, an upper surface of the base is provided with lengthwise serrations therealong.

2.6 Suitably, the base is integral to each side wall by means of curved corners.

There is further disclosed herein, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, an end cap when used to cap either end of the hydroponic gully of any one of the preceding claims, the end cap comprising a face having a peripheral configuration essentially identical with an outer cross-sectional periphery of the gully, and at least one, though preferably two hollow protrusions extending essentially perpendicularly of the face and having sides adapted to be frictionally engaged by an inside surface of the gully.

Desirably, a sealing means is provided in at least a lower region of a lowermost one of said protrusions.

There is further disclosed herein, in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, a support brauket when used to support the hydroponic gully of the first embodiment, the support bracket comprising means for mounting thereof to a supporting N, cross-bar extending 4 4* 4 fU4W'I INALILL100043;LMM i I -4transversely to the longitudinal direction of the gully, and attachment means adapted to engage with each groove of the gully.

Suitably, the mounting means comprises a pair of barbs, one of which is adapted to engage with a vertical face of the cross-bar and a second of which is adapted to engage a lower face of the cross-bar.

Advantageously, the attached means comprises a pair of upstanding resilient members, at extremities of which are provided hook means to clip into the grooves of the gully.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein; Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional end elevational view of a hydroponic gully, ,o Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the gully of Fig. 1, t t 15 Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a gully, C1'" Fig. 4 is a schematic end elevational, partially cross-section view of a gully having lettuce growing therefrom, Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c are schematic end elevational, plan and side t elevational views of a mounting bracket used to support the gully of Figs. 1 to 4, and Figs. 6a and 6b are schematic end elevational and side elevational views respectively of an end cap to cap either end of the gully of Figs.

tat"1 to 4.

1 to DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Stt 25 r. the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a gully generally indicated as 1. Gully 1 comprises a base portion 2 which continues with vertical side wall portions 3. At an upper extremity of side wall portions 3 is a groove 5. Continuing from groove 5 are inwardly tapered wall portions 4 which continue up to roof portion 23.

Holes 8 are provided at suitably spaced locations along the gully 1 through roof portion 23 as best depicted in Fig. 3. Holes 8 may be either drilled through roof portion 23 or punched during an extrusion process of the gully.

Turning now to Fig. 2, the extruded gully Is formed of a dark inner surface 7 and a light outer surface 6. Surfaces 6 and 7 are typically fused in a co-extrusion process.

TMS/24681 Base 2 of gully 1 has formed in an upper surface thereof a number of longitudinal grooves 10 which aid in providing an even delivery of nutrient along the length of the gully.

Turning now to Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c, a mounting bracket 11 is depicted. So as to mount the bracket 2a transverse beam, a pair of barbs and 16 are provided. Barb 15 is connected to a lower face 12 of the bracket 11 whereas barb 16 is mounted at an end of a downwardly extending resilient member 24.

Extending upwardly from lower face 12 of bracket 11 are transversely opposing upwardly extending arms 13 atop of which are provided attachment barbs 14 which are adapted to be received within groove 5 of gully 1. Upwardly extending arms are resilient so as to be outwardly flexible during the insertion of the gully over the bracket.

A secondary mounting flange 17 is provided having hole therethrough 15 for the purpose of mounting the bracket 11 to a support means.

'Turning now to Figs. 6a and 6b, an end cap 25 is depicted. End cap 25 comprises end face 19 which has an outer peripheral shape essentially i identical to the cross-sectional shape of gully 1. Extending essentially perpendicularly from end face 19 are protrusions 20 and 21. At a lower edge of protrusion 21 is a groove 22 adapted to rec.,!ve a sealing strip of rubber formed of rubber for example. Protrusions 20 and 21 are adapted to be frictionally engaged within an end of gully 1.

It should be appreciated that gully 1, being provided with a highly *reflective light coloured exterior and a dark interior surface provide an 25 ideal environment for the production of crops and an environment r" *detrimental to the growth of algae within the gully. Furthermore, tapered side wall portions 4 provide reflective surfaces and means for air circulation about the bottom of a crop of lettuce for example as shown in Fig. 4, the outer leaves of lettuce 9 do not fall upon the 30 tapered side wall portions 4 and thus air can circulate thereabout.

It should be further appreciated changes and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art are not be considered beyond the scope of the present invention. For example groove 5 might well be positioned lower or higher on the side wall.

TMS/24681

Claims

06. S.0 S04 S.4* S .i S. S The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A hydroponic gully comprising an essentially flat base, a flat top essentially parallel to the base and having a plurality of holes spaced longitudiiially therealong, each adapted to have a plant pass therethrough, and a pair of side walls each comprising an essentially vertical lower portion extending to the base and an inwardly tapered upper portion extending from the lower portion to the top, the gully being formed as a co- extrusion, such that an inner surface of the co-extrusion is dark and non-reflective and an outer surface of the extrusion is bright and highly reflective, wherein the upper and lower portions of each side wall are delimited by a longitudinal groove formed on an outside surface of each side wall and serving as a means by which the gully may be fixed to a support structure. 2. The hydroponic gully of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the base is provided with lengthwise serrations therealong. 3. The hydroponic gully of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base is integral to each side wall by means of curved corners. 4. An end cap when used to cap either end of the hydroponic gully of any one of the preceding claims, the end cap comprising a face having a peripheral configuration essentially identical with an outer cross-sectional periphery of the gully, and at least one, though preferably two hollow protrusions extending essentially perpendicularly of the face 20 and having sides adapted to be frictionally engaged by an inside surface of the gully. 5. The end cap of claim 4 wherein a sealing means is provided in at least a lower region of a lower most one of said protrusions. 6. A support bracket when used to support the hydroponic gully of claim 1, the support bracket comprising means for mounting thereof to a supporting cross-bar extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the gully, and attachment means adapted to engage with each longitudinal groove of the gully.
7. The support bracket of claim 6 wherein the mounting means comprises a pair of barbs, one of which is adapted to engage with a vertical face of the cross-bar and a second of which is adapted to engage a lower face of the cross-bar.
8. The support bracket of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the attachment means comprises a pair of upstanding resilient members, at extremities of which are provided hook means to clip into the grooves of the gully.
9. A hydroponic gully substantially as hereinbefore described with reference; to Figs, 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
10. An end cap when used with the hydroponic gully of claim 9, the end cap being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) of the accompanying drawings. Y i 'I IN\LIBLL100043iLMM 7
11. A support bracket when used to support the hydroponic gully of claim 9, the support bracket being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. and 5(c) of the accompanying drawings. Dated 22 September, 1994 Accent Hydroponics Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON c' t *t *I .0t t it# Ot Ot i t I t 1.r 11 i *t 't l t 4 tv c t LC-. i rt INA\LUBLLlOO43:LMM U 1 HYDROPONIC GULLY SYSTEM ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE For use In the field of hydroponics, a hydroponic gully system is disclosed. The gully system, in the preferred embodiment, comprises an extruded gully 1 having an essentially fiat base 2, and a flat roof portion 23 supported above the base portion by integral side wall portions 3 and inwardly tapered wall portions 4. Nall portions 3 and 4 are separated by a longitudinal groove 5 which serves as a means by which the gully 1 may be snap-engaged to and supported by a number of brackets 11. The gully 1 is typically formed as a co-extrusion comprising a light reflective exterior and a non-reflective interior which is adapted to inhibit internally reflected light entering the interior of the gully 1 via growing holes 8 ich light might otherwise promote undesirable growth of algae within the gully. I t Ftg 1 1 i TMS/24681