Apparatus for cultivating plants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11778957-B2
Application number	US-201916445467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Feb 18, 2019
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus for cultivating plants may include a cabinet having an interior space, a door to open or close the interior space, at least one bed provided in the interior space and used to cultivate the plants, at least one light assembly to irradiate the at least one bed with light for photosynthesis, a water tank to store water to be supplied to the at least one bed, and a machine compartment provided at a lower portion of the cabinet, and separated from the interior space to communicate with an ambient surrounding, a compressor and a condenser being provided in the machine room to adjust a temperature of the interior space. The water tank may be provided inside the interior space spaced apart from the machine compartment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cultivating plants, the apparatus comprising:
a cabinet having an interior space;
a door to open or close the interior space;
at least one bed provided in the interior space and used to cultivate the plants;
at least one light assembly to irradiate the at least one bed with light;
a machine compartment provided in the cabinet to form a space independent from the interior space and to receive a compressor and a condenser to adjust a temperature of the interior space;
a water tank disposed in the interior space to store water to be supplied to the at least one bed;
a tank rail coupled to the water tank by which the water tank is withdrawn from or inserted into the interior space;
a suction pipe provided inside of the water tank to supply stored water; and
a connection pipe disposed at a rear of the water tank and provided at a position corresponding to the suction pipe, wherein the suction pipe comprises:
a first portion disposed at an upper portion of the water tank and protruding rearward through a rear surface of the water tank; and
a second portion that extends from an end of the first portion toward a bottom of the water tank, wherein the first portion and the connection pipe are connected to each other by movement of the water tank when the water tank is inserted and are separated from each other by the movement of the water tank when the water tank is withdrawn; and

a pump and a valve configured to supply water to the at least one bed, wherein the pump and the valve are connected with the water tank through the connection pipe and the suction pipe, wherein the pump and the valve are provided between the machine compartment and the water tank, and wherein a water supply case is disposed between the machine compartment and the water tank and covers the pump and the valve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection pipe is fixedly mounted on the water supply case, and an end of the connection pipe is exposed on the water supply case.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a tank switch is mounted on the water supply case and disposed toward the water tank to detect whether the water tank is inserted, and wherein when the tank switch senses that the water tank is not inserted, the pump is not operated.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jung Yongki
• Lee Soobeom

Classifications

• A01G9/246 Primary

  Air-conditioning systems · CPC title

• A01G9/247

  Watering arrangements · CPC title

• A01G9/249

  Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045) · CPC title

• A01G31/02 Primary

  Special apparatus therefor (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00) · CPC title

• A01G31/06 Primary

  Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers · CPC title