Patents by Inventor Richard F. Lychalk

Richard F. Lychalk 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).

  • Patent number: 5937575
    Abstract: This invention provides apparatus and methods for stabilization of ultrasonically generated nutrient fog. To eliminate the sensitivity to the humidity and temperature of the intake air, the fog is recirculated from the growth chamber to the fog-generating reservoir. The chamber and reservoir are connected by a fog supply conduit and a fog return conduit which form a fog circulation circuit. The recirculation eliminates the fog density dependence on intake air humidity and stabilizes the amount of nutrients used. To monitor the fog density, this invention provides an optical fog density detector that operates by measuring the absorbance of the fog. The density detector can be coupled with the fog generator so that the rate of fog generation is responsive to the measured fog density. The detector can be coupled with an alarm to signal fog generator malfunction. This invention also provides fog concentration stabilization by using a large ballast reservoir connected to a fog-generating reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America,as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Richard W. Zobel, Richard F. Lychalk