Patents by Inventor Frank De Groot
Frank De Groot has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11026372Abstract: A system and related method for monitoring plant growth conditions is provided, comprising a plurality of detectors (7) and central detector data processing means (1103); each detector (7) being arranged to measure properties indicative of a temperature, a water content, and a nutrient content, of a plant growth substrate; each detector (7) being further arranged to transmit the measured property or properties over a communications link to the central detector data processing means (1103); the central detector data processing means (1103) being arranged to store predefined irrigation data, defining a relationship between plural values for temperature, water content, pH level and/or nutrient content of the plant growth substrate; and plural desired irrigation output values; process the measured properties from each detector (7) to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, based upon measured properties received froType: GrantFiled: July 4, 2014Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: ROCKWOOL INTERNATIONAL A/SInventors: Jacob Frank De Groot, Dolf van der Veen, Eelke Gjalt Hempenius
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Patent number: 10492388Abstract: A plant growth system is provided, which comprises: one or more plant growth substrates (1); one or more detectors (7) arranged to monitor nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; at least one irrigation device (6) arranged to supply water to the plant growth substrates; and control means (9) connected to said detectors and said at least one irrigation device. The supply of water by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control means in dependence on the monitored nutrient levels. In this manner, the water and nutrient levels of the substrates can be accurately controlled.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: ROCKWOOL INTERNATIONAL A/SInventors: Paul Jacques Louis Hubert Bouwens, Eelke Gjalt Hempenius, Jacob Frank De Groot
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Patent number: 10342182Abstract: A plant growth system is provided, which includes: one or more plant growth substrates comprising an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block; one or more detectors arranged to monitor at least one of the water and nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; at least one irrigation device arranged to supply water and nutrients to the plant growth substrates; and control mechanism connected to said detectors and said at least one irrigation device. The supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control mechanism in dependence on the monitored water and/or nutrient levels. In this manner, the water and nutrient levels of the substrates can be accurately controlled.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: ROCKWOOL INTERNATIONAL A/SInventors: Eelke Gjalt Hempenius, Frank Hendrikus Peter Janssen, Jacob Frank De Groot
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Patent number: 10234438Abstract: A device (10) and method are provided for measuring the plant growth conditions within a substrate. A first and a second linear arrays of probes (16, 18) are used, allowing multiple measurements of properties of the substrate. Using multiple measurements at different levels in the substrate and then combining these multiple measurements, allows plant growth conditions to be accurately derived.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: ROCKWOOL INTERNATIONAL A/SInventor: Jacob Frank De Groot
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Publication number: 20160143228Abstract: A system and related method for monitoring plant growth conditions is provided, comprising a plurality of detectors (7) and central detector data processing means (1103); each detector (7) being arranged to measure properties indicative of a temperature, a water content, and a nutrient content, of a plant growth substrate; each detector (7) being further arranged to transmit the measured property or properties over a communications link to the central detector data processing means (1103); the central detector data processing means (1103) being arranged to store predefined irrigation data, defining a relationship between plural values for temperature, water content, pH level and/or nutrient content of the plant growth substrate; and plural desired irrigation output values; process the measured properties from each detector (7) to determine calculated properties of the substrate; and provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate, based upon measured properties received froType: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Jacob Frank De Groot, Dolf Van der Veen, Eelke Gjalt Hempenius
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Publication number: 20150369786Abstract: A device (10) and method are provided for measuring the plant growth conditions within a substrate. A first and a second linear arrays of probes (16, 18) are used, allowing multiple measurements of properties of the substrate. Using multiple measurements at different levels in the substrate and then combining these multiple measurements, allows plant growth conditions to be accurately derived.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventor: Jacob Frank De Groot
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Publication number: 20150216132Abstract: A plant growth system is provided, which comprises: one or more plant growth substrates comprising an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block; one or more detectors arranged to monitor at least one of the water and nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; at least one irrigation device arranged to supply water and nutrients to the plant growth substrates; and control means connected to said detectors and said at least one irrigation device. The supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control means in dependence on the monitored water and/or nutrient levels. In this manner, the water and nutrient levels of the substrates can be accurately controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: Rockwool International A/SInventors: Eelke Gjalt Hempenius, Frank Hendrikus Peter Janssen, Jacob Frank De Groot
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Publication number: 20140341652Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for draining soil such as dredger sludge using a filtration means, comprising the steps of: forming a support layer for supporting a quantity of soil, placing the filtration means on the support layer such that the periphery of the filtration means essentially connects to the support layer and forms a space between the filtration means and the support layer, filling the space between the filtration means and the support layer with soil, draining the soil under the influence of gravity, removing the filtration means from the at least partly drained soil and removing the at least partly drained soil from the support layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2012Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: Eldert Besseling, Frank De Groot, Hugo Hendrikus Martinus Ekkelenkamp
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Patent number: 6562267Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of mineral wool plant growth substrate having a coherent hydrophilic matrix of mineral wool fibres connected by cured binder, comprising the steps of: providing mineral wool fibres; applying to the mineral wool fibres as a binder a phenol-formaldehyde resin and a furan resin; forming a matrix of the mineral wool fibres; and curing the binder and to the obtainable mineral wool plant growth substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Rockwool International A/SInventors: Erling Lennart Hansen, Jacob Frank De Groot
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Patent number: 6389748Abstract: This invention relates to a plant cube, comprising a block of mineral fibres, having a top surface, a bottom surface and four side surfaces, which block comprises a laminated structure of in parallel orientated mineral wool fibres, wherein preferably the laminated structure comprises substantially vertically orientated fibres, or wherein preferably the laminated structures comprises substantially horizontally orientated fibres.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1997Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Rockwool/Grodan B.V.Inventors: Jacob Frank De Groot, Lars Hansen
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Patent number: 6183531Abstract: Mineral wool plant substrate formed of a coherent matrix of mineral wool having 99.9 to 75 wt % mineral wool and 0.1 to 25 wt % of an organic substance. Clay may be included in the matrix. The matrix may be in the form of a pellet.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1998Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Rockwool/Grodan B.V.Inventors: Jacob Frank De Groot, Albert Willem Knop, Paul Jacques Louis Hubert Bouwens
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Patent number: 6042630Abstract: The invention relates to a coherent growth substrate based on a synthetic matrix containing clay in a quantity of 0.1-2.5% by weight such that at a suction pressure of pf=2 the moisture content is lower than 15% by volume, preferably for use as a grow-block and for a grow-slab.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Rockwool/Grodan B.V.Inventor: Jacob Frank de Groot
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Patent number: 6032413Abstract: The invention relates to a plant growth substrate, comprising a coherent, hydrophilic matrix of mineral wool fibres mutually connected via binder based on furan resin, and to use of a coherent, hydrophilic matrix of mineral wool fibres mutually connected via binder based on furan resin, as a plant growth substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Rockwool International A/SInventors: Jacob Frank De Groot, Thor Brede Husemoen
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Patent number: 5992093Abstract: The invention relates to a growth substrate comprising at least one layer of short transversally extending mineral wool fibers and at least one surface layer of mineral wool fibers, wherein preferably the layer of short transversally extending mineral wool fibers is interposed between two surface layers of mineral wool fibers, or wherein preferably the layer of short transversally extending mineral wool fibers is interposed between two surface layers of horizontally extending mineral wool fibers.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Rockwool/Grodan B.V.Inventors: Jacob Frank De Groot, Lars Hansen
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Patent number: D553516Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Rockwool International A/SInventor: Jacob Frank de Groot
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Patent number: D733592Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Rockwool International A/SInventor: Jacob Frank de Groot
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Patent number: D733593Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Rockwool International A/SInventor: Jacob Frank de Groot
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Patent number: D734183Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Rockwool International A/SInventor: Jacob Frank de Groot