Climate control system for a mushroom growing appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12302801-B2
Application number	US-202318330417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2023
Priority date	Jun 7, 2023
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A mushroom growing appliance includes a cabinet, a grow chamber defined within the cabinet, a water reservoir positioned within the grow chamber for receiving water, and a liquid droplet assembly fluidly coupled to the water reservoir for selectively generating a liquid mist from the water stored in the water reservoir.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mushroom growing appliance comprising:
a cabinet;
a grow chamber defined within the cabinet;
a water reservoir positioned within the grow chamber for receiving water; and
a liquid droplet assembly fluidly coupled to the water reservoir for selectively generating a liquid mist from the water stored in the water reservoir, wherein the liquid droplet assembly comprises:
an ultrasonic humidifier; and
an evaporative wick having a first end positioned in the water reservoir and a second end operably coupled to the ultrasonic humidifier.

2. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic humidifier comprises at least one of a piezoelectric nebulizer, an atomizer, or another device that generates a mist, an aerosol, or liquid droplets from the water.

3. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a humidity sensor; and
controller operably coupled to the humidity sensor, the controller being configured to:
detect a humidity in the grow chamber using the humidity sensor; and
operate the liquid droplet assembly when the humidity drops below a target humidity.

4. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 3 , wherein the target humidity is greater than 85% relative humidity.

5. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 1 , wherein operating the liquid droplet assembly comprises operating the liquid droplet assembly at a duty cycle for a predetermined amount of time.

6. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 5 , wherein the duty cycle is between about 20% and 60%.

7. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 5 , wherein the duty cycle is about 40%.

8. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wicking filter positioned within the water reservoir for wicking the water into the wicking filter; and
a recirculation fan positioned adjacent the wicking filter for selectively urging a flow of recirculation air through the wicking filter and back into the grow chamber.

9. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 8 , wherein the liquid droplet assembly generates the liquid mist in the flow of recirculation air.

10. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 8 , wherein the liquid droplet assembly comprises a discharge duct, the discharge duct being positioned adjacent the wicking filter and within the flow of recirculation air.

11. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a water supply system comprising a water storage tank that is mounted adjacent the cabinet and is fluidly coupled to the water reservoir through a water supply opening defined through the cabinet.

12. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 8 , wherein the liquid droplet assembly generates the liquid mist in the flow of recirculation air.

13. The mushroom growing appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fresh air fan for urging a flow of fresh air into the grow chamber.

14. A climate control system for a mushroom growing appliance, the mushroom growing appliance comprising a grow chamber defined within a cabinet, the climate control system comprising:
a water reservoir positioned within the grow chamber for receiving water;
a wicking filter positioned within the water reservoir for wicking the water into the wicking filter;
a recirculation fan positioned adjacent the wicking filter for selectively urging a flow of recirculation air through the wicking filter and back into the grow chamber;
a fresh air fan positioned adjacent the wicking filter for urging a flow of fresh air through the wicking filter and into the grow chamber; and
a liquid droplet assembly fluidly coupled to the water reservoir for selectively generating a liquid mist from the water stored in the water reservoir, wherein the liquid droplet assembly comprises:
an ultrasonic humidifier; and
an evaporative wick having a first end positioned in the water reservoir and a second end operably coupled to the ultrasonic humidifier.

15. The climate control system of claim 14 , wherein the ultrasonic humidifier comprises at least one of a piezoelectric nebulizer, an atomizer, or another device that generates a mist, an aerosol, or liquid droplets from the water.

16. The climate control system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a humidity sensor; and
controller operably coupled to the humidity sensor, the controller being configured to:
detect a humidity in the grow chamber using the humidity sensor; and
operate the liquid droplet assembly when the humidity drops below a target humidity.

17. The climate control system of claim 16 , the target humidity is greater than 85% relative humidity.

18. The climate control system of claim 14 , wherein operating the liquid droplet assembly comprises operating the liquid droplet assembly at a duty cycle for a predetermined amount of time.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Carballo Daniel

Classifications

• A01G27/001

  with intermittent watering means · CPC title

• A01G18/69 Primary

  Arrangements for managing the environment, e.g. sprinklers · CPC title