US4339074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature in greenhouses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-10-10
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Granted: 1982-07-13
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Expires: 1999-10-10
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature in greenhouses, the nominal value of the temperature being adjusted between a higher daytime temperature and a lower night temperature. In order that the plants in the greenhouse shall not be exposed to a shocklike reduction of the total energy supply to the plants if a considerable sunlight energy quantity has been supplied to the plants in the daytime, the nominal value of the night temperature is controlled in dependence of the sunlight energy quantity received by the plants, in such a manner that the night temperature is adjusted to a higher value at a higher sunlight energy quantity.
Inventors
- 👤 Jim A. Nissmo
- 👤 Jan A. Sundin
- 👤 Lars B. Sjostrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/24; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of controlling the temperature in greenhouses wherein the nominal value of the temperature is adjusted between a higher daytime temperature and a lower night temperature, comprising the steps of measuring the sunlight intensity inciding into the greenhouse, activating a sunlight energy measuring means when the inciding sunlight intensity exceeds a predetermined level and deactivating the sunlight energy measuring means when the inciding sunlight intensity falls below said predetermined level, measuring the sunlight energy inciding into the greenhouse when the sunlight energy measuring means is activated, connecting an adjusting means to a temperature regulator for a greenhouse heating unit when said sunlight intensity falls below said predetermined level and disconnecting said temperature regulator adjusting means from said temperature regulator when said sunlight intensity exceeds said predetermined level, and causing said adjusting means to adjust said greenhouse heating unit to a higher night temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a higher sunlight energy quantity and to a lower temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a lower sunlight energy quantity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of controlling the temperature in greenhouses wherein the nominal value of the temperature is adjusted between a higher daytime temperature and a lower night temperature, comprising the steps of measuring the sunlight intensity inciding into the greenhouse, activating a sunlight energy measuring means when the inciding sunlight intensity exceeds a predetermined level and deactivating the sunlight energy measuring means when the inciding sunlight intensity falls below said predetermined level, measuring the sunlight energy inciding into the greenhouse when the sunlight energy measuring means is activated, connecting an adjusting means to a temperature regulator for a greenhouse heating unit when said sunlight intensity falls below said predetermined level and disconnecting said temperature regulator adjusting means from said temperature regulator when said sunlight intensity exceeds said predetermined level, and causing said adjusting means to adjust said greenhouse heating unit to a higher night temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a higher sunlight energy quantity and to a lower temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a lower sunlight energy quantity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the night temperature is increased in steps in dependence on higher measured sunlight energy.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for controlling the temperature in greenhouses, the nominal value of the temperature being adjusted between a higher daytime temperature and a lower night temperature, comprising means for measuring the sunlight intensity inciding into the greenhouse, means for measuring the sunlight energy inciding into the greenhouse, adjusting means for adjusting a temperature regulator of a greenhouse heating unit to a higher night temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a higher quantity of sunlight energy and to a lower temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a lower quantity of sunlight energy, control means responsive to said sunlight intensity measuring means and operable to activate and deactivate said sunlight energy measuring means when the inciding sunlight intensity exceeds a predetermined level and falls below said predetermined level, respectively, said control means being operable to disconnect and to connect said adjusting means to said temperature regulator when said sunlight intensity exceeds said predetermined level and falls below said predetermined level, respectively.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for controlling the temperature in greenhouses, the nominal value of the temperature being adjusted between a higher daytime temperature and a lower night temperature, comprising means for measuring the sunlight intensity inciding into the greenhouse, means for measuring the sunlight energy inciding into the greenhouse, adjusting means for adjusting a temperature regulator of a greenhouse heating unit to a higher night temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a higher quantity of sunlight energy and to a lower temperature when said sunlight energy measuring means measures a lower quantity of sunlight energy, control means responsive to said sunlight intensity measuring means and operable to activate and deactivate said sunlight energy measuring means when the inciding sunlight intensity exceeds a predetermined level and falls below said predetermined level, respectively, said control means being operable to disconnect and to connect said adjusting means to said temperature regulator when said sunlight intensity exceeds said predetermined level and falls below said predetermined level, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said adjusting means including means for presetting a signal corresponding to a predetermined nominal value of daytime temperature, and means for decreasing said signal inversely proportionally to the sunlight energy quantity measured.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB883346A
Cited
US3905153A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-07-12 | 1986-01-11 | 1986-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-07-12 | 1990-01-11 | 1990-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-07-12 | 1994-01-11 | 1994-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |