Ducting assembly for de-stratification and consolidating excess water and nutrients

Abstract

A tray system for use in horticultural or agricultural operations comprising a ducting assembly for de-stratification and a drainage system for consolidating excess water and nutrients.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for plant cultivation, comprising:
 a ventilation system comprising an air passage and an air box, the air passage comprising a fan having an intake side and an outlet side, and the air box comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the air box comprising one or more air passages and the second end of the air box connected to the outlet side of the fan;   a duct assembly comprising one or more air passages, the duct assembly having a first end in fluid communication with the ventilation system, a second end opposed to the first open end configured to be either closed or in fluid communication with a second duct assembly, and a plurality of orifices in the one or more air passages to distribute air out of the one or more air passages; and   a tray comprising opposed side walls defining a perimeter of the tray, and a raised region disposed within the perimeter of the tray wherein the side walls of the tray extend below the raised region to hold the raised region above the duct assembly,   wherein the one or more air passages of the first end of the air box is in fluid communication with the one or more air passages of the duct assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air passage of the ventilation system has a cross-section that decreases as the air passage passes from the intake filter through the fan and the air box to the one or more air passages of the duct assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation system further comprises a component to amend air before it enters the duct assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the component to amend air comprises a filter, heater, cooler, dehumidifier, humidifier, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) injector, ozone injector ultraviolet light, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the air box comprise openings that are not perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the air box comprise openings that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct assembly further comprises:
 one or more top panels;   one or more bottom panels;   a first elongate side support member and a second elongate side support member, each of the first and second elongate side support members are parallel to the side walls of the tray and engaged to the one or more top panels and the one or more bottom panels of the duct assembly; and   one or more elongate center support members parallel to the side walls of the tray and engaged with the one or more top panels and the one or more bottom panels of the duct assembly,   wherein the first and second elongate side support members, the one or more top panels, the one or more bottom panels, and the one or more center support members define one or more air passages comprising ends proximate to the ends of the tray.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more top panels comprise the bottom surface of the raised region of the tray. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the duct assembly further comprises:
 a plurality of holes in the one or more top panels configured to be in fluid communication with a plurality of holes in the raised region of the tray to direct air from the duct assembly to above the tray; or   a plurality of holes in the one or more bottom panels configured to direct air from the duct assembly to below the duct assembly; or   a plurality of holes in the one or more top panels configured to be in fluid communication with a plurality of holes in raised region of the tray to direct air from the duct assembly to above the tray and a plurality of holes in the one or more bottom panels configured to direct air from the duct assembly to below the duct assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the duct assembly comprises a plurality of holes in the one or more top panels configured to be in fluid communication with the plurality of holes in the raised region of the tray to direct air from the duct assembly to above the tray. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the duct assembly further comprises a plurality of holes in the one or more bottom panels configured to direct air from the duct assembly to below the duct assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the duct assembly comprises a plurality of holes in the one or more top panels configured to be in fluid communication with holes in the raised region of the tray such that air is directed from the duct assembly to above the tray, and a plurality of holes in the one or more bottom panels such that air is directed from the duct assembly to below the duct assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the raised region of the tray comprises:
 a plurality of alternating parallel ridges disposed between the side walls and a plurality of valleys formed between adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges, wherein one or more of the plurality of valleys are in fluid communication with a gutter; and   one or more of a plurality of holes in one or more of the plurality of ridges.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein,
 the plurality of alternating parallel ridges comprise top surfaces defining a level plane for supporting one or more individual growing containers for containing growth medium and plants, and   the plurality of valleys slope downward from a peak to a gutter proximate to the perimeter of the upper tray, the one or more of the plurality of valleys are in fluid communication with the gutter for channeling fluid collected into the gutter.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a set of the plurality of alternating parallel ridges comprises a central boss. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the gutter is configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid drainage system. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a duct member disposed above the tray, the duct member comprising a hollow elongate member defining a lumen and a plurality of openings in the hollow elongate member, wherein the lumen and the plurality of openings are in fluid communication with the plurality of holes in the raised region of the tray and the plurality of holes in the one or more top panels of the duct assembly such that air is directed from the duct assembly to above the tray.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the duct member disposed above the tray is disposed parallel to the ends of the tray. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the duct member disposed above the tray is disposed perpendicular to the ends of the tray. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  comprising:
 a first duct assembly comprising one or more air passages, a first end in fluid communication with the ventilation system and a second end opposed to the first end open and in fluid communication with a first end of a second duct assembly comprising one or more air passages, and a plurality of orifices in the one or more air passages of the first and second duct assembly to distribute air out of the one or more air passages; and 
 a first tray and a second tray overlying the first duct assembly and the second duct assembly to provide an integrated system. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct assembly and the tray are configured to rest on a rack system. 
     
     
         22 . A system for plant cultivation, comprising:
 a ventilation system comprising an air passage and an air box, the air passage comprising a fan having an intake side and an outlet side, and the air box comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the air box comprising one or more air passages and the second end of the air box connected to the outlet side of the fan;   a tray comprising opposed side walls defining a perimeter of the tray, and a raised region disposed within the perimeter of the tray wherein the side walls of the tray extend below the raised region to hold the raised region above the duct assembly,   a duct assembly comprising one or more air passages, the duct assembly having a first end in fluid communication with the ventilation system, a second end opposed to the first open end configured to be either closed or in fluid communication with a second duct assembly, and a plurality of orifices in the one or more air passages to distribute air out of the one or more air passages; wherein the one or more air passages of the first end of the air box is in fluid communication with the one or more air passages of the duct assembly; wherein the duct assembly comprises
 one or more top panels; 
 one or more bottom panels; 
 a first elongate side support member and a second elongate side support member, 
 each configured parallel to the side walls of the tray and engaged to the one or more top panels and the one or more bottom panels wherein the first and second elongate side support members each comprise a top section configured to support a bottom surface of the raised region of the tray proximate to the sides of the tray and a shelf to engage a top panel of the duct assembly, and a bottom section comprising a shelf extending toward the central support member configured to engage a bottom panel of the duct assembly; and 
 a center support member configured parallel to the side walls of the tray and engaged with the one or more top panels and the one or more bottom panels having a cross-section comprising a top section configured to support a bottom surface of the raised region of the tray, a middle section comprising a bar, and a bottom section including a first shelf extending from a first side of the middle bar section, and a second shelf extending from a second side of the middle bar section, wherein the first and second side support members, the one or more top panels, the one or more bottom panels, and the center support member define one or more air passages having ends proximate to the ends of the tray. 
   
     
     
         23 . A system for plant cultivation, comprising:
 a duct assembly comprising one or more air passages, the duct assembly having a first end in fluid communication with a ventilation system, a second end opposed to the first open end configured to be either closed or in fluid communication with a second duct assembly, and a plurality of orifices in the one or more air passages to distribute air out of the one or more air passages; and   a tray comprising opposed side walls defining a perimeter of the tray, and a raised region disposed within the perimeter of the tray wherein the side walls of the tray extend below the raised region to hold the raised region above the duct assembly.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the duct assembly further comprises:
 one or more top panels, wherein the one or more top panels comprise a bottom surface of the raised region of the tray.   one or more bottom panels;   a first elongate side support member and a second elongate side support member, each of the first and second elongate side support members are parallel to the side walls of the tray and engaged to the one or more top panels and the one or more bottom panels of the duct assembly; wherein the first and second elongate side support members, the one or more top panels, the one or more bottom panels, define one or more air passages comprising ends proximate to the ends of the tray.