CN113382627A

CN113382627A - Irrigation device and method for irrigating plants

Info

Publication number: CN113382627A
Application number: CN201980091323.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·沙基罗夫; M·韦勒; M·申策尓
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2018-12-18
Filing date: 2019-11-12
Publication date: 2021-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-12
Also published as: WO2020126228A1; CN113382627B; DE102018222130A1

Abstract

An irrigation device (100) for irrigating plants (155) having a water collecting device (110), in particular a water collecting container, and an irrigation pipe (130), in which irrigation device the irrigation device (100), in particular the water collecting device (110), is provided with a switchable surface (120) which can be switched between a first state in which water is collected and a second state in which the collected water is emitted through the irrigation pipe (130).

Description

Irrigation device and method for irrigating plants

Technical Field

The invention relates to an irrigation device for irrigating plants, comprising a water collecting device, in particular a water collecting container, and an irrigation pipe.

Background

Irrigation devices of this type for irrigating plants are known from the prior art, which have a water collecting container and an irrigation pipe and in the broadest sense also comprise, for example, the customary watering pots. Furthermore, semi-automatic systems are known which remind the associated plant to be watered. Furthermore, fully automatic systems are known which recognize the respective soil state and perform irrigation when required. Here, these systems use an external water source in the form of a water hose and a refillable reservoir.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates to an irrigation device for irrigating plants, comprising a water collecting device, in particular a water collecting container, and an irrigation pipe. Irrigation devices, in particular water collecting devices, are provided with switchable surfaces which can be switched between a first state in which water is collected and a second state in which the collected water is discharged through an irrigation pipe.

The invention thus achieves the object of providing an irrigation device in which simple and uncomplicated irrigation can be achieved by means of switchable surfaces. In this case, a compact irrigation device can be provided, since the number of components required for realizing the irrigation device can be reduced by the switchable surface.

Preferably, the switchable surface has a polymer, wherein the first state corresponds to a polar state of the polymer and the second state corresponds to a non-polar state of the polymer. Thus, suitable materials for constructing the switchable surface can be provided in a simple manner.

The switchable surface is preferably provided with a switching device for switching automatically and/or manually. Thus, an easy and reliable switching of the switchable surfaces can be achieved according to predefined conditions.

The switchable surface is preferably configured for combining water from the air humidity of the ambient air for irrigating the plants. Thus, an autonomous irrigation device can be provided.

Preferably, the switchable surface is constructed integrally with the water collecting device. Thus, a simple and compact irrigation device can be provided.

According to one embodiment, at least one sensor is provided, which is designed to determine the state of the irrigation device and/or to measure parameters of the soil to be irrigated, wherein the soil to be irrigated is irrigated through an irrigation pipe. Thus, a suitable control of the irrigation device can be achieved in a simple manner.

Preferably, said parameter is the moisture content and/or the electrolyte content of the soil to be irrigated. Thus, a simple and on-demand irrigation can be achieved.

Preferably, the switchable surface energy is switched depending on a level signal of the water collecting device, a sensor signal of the sensor, a predetermined condition, a light beam and/or an electrical signal. Thus, a secure and robust switching of the switchable surfaces can be achieved.

According to another embodiment, a fertilizer store for automatically discharging fertilizer is provided, wherein the fertilizer is discharged as a function of a sensor signal determined by at least one sensor. Thus, fertilization can be achieved in a simple manner.

The switching device is preferably designed as a mobile terminal, which is provided for controlling the switchable surface and/or for monitoring sensors associated with the irrigation device. Thus, a simple and reliable control can be achieved.

The invention further provides a method for operating an irrigation device for irrigating plants, wherein the irrigation device has a water collecting device, in particular a water collecting container, and an irrigation pipe, wherein the irrigation device, in particular the water collecting device, is provided with a switchable surface which can be switched between a first state in which water is collected and a second state in which the collected water is discharged through the irrigation pipe. The method has the following steps:

-operating the switchable surface in a first state,

combining water from the air humidity of the ambient air and collecting the water in a water collecting device,

-switching the switchable surface into the second state,

-operating the switchable surface in the second state and discharging the collected water towards the plants to be irrigated, and

-switching the switchable surface into the first state and operating the switchable surface in the first state.

Drawings

In the following description the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of embodiments shown in the drawings. The figures show:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an irrigation device in a basin, and

fig. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of the irrigation device of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an irrigation device 100 for irrigating a plant 155. Irrigation device 100 is preferably equipped with a water collection device 110. Furthermore, the irrigation device 100 preferably has an irrigation tube 130.

Preferably, the water collecting device 110 is configured as a water collecting container. The water collecting device 110 is illustratively configured as a water collecting container having a square or cylindrical base, but can have any other shape. It is to be noted, however, that the water collecting device 110 can also be configured as a funnel and/or a membrane or in other suitable shapes.

Illustratively, in FIG. 1, plants 155 are disposed in soil 152 to be irrigated in pots 150. To irrigate the plants 155, water is discharged from the water collection device 110 through the irrigation pipe 130 to the plants 155. Preferably, for this purpose, the irrigation pipe 130 is arranged in or inserted into the soil 152 to be irrigated. Thus, water is introduced directly into the soil 152 to be irrigated during irrigation.

Alternatively to this, the irrigation pipe 130 can also terminate above the soil 152 to be irrigated. In this case, the irrigation device 100 preferably has a holding device for fixing the irrigation tube 130 in an area of, for example, a plant 155. Such holding means can be rods which can be arranged in the soil 152 to be irrigated and/or fastening means on the basin 150.

Preferably, the irrigation device 100 has a switchable surface 120 that is switchable between a first state in which water is collected and a second state in which the collected water is emitted through the irrigation pipe 130. Preferably, a switchable surface 120 is associated with the water collection device 110. Preferably, the water collecting means 110 is provided with a switchable surface 120. Particularly preferably, the switchable surface 120 is constructed integrally with the water collecting device 110. Here, according to an embodiment, the switchable surface 120 can constitute the water collecting device 110.

Preferably, the switchable surface 120 has an organic material which can be brought into a polar and a non-polar state. In particular, the switchable surface 120 preferably has a polymer, wherein the first state corresponds to a polar state of the polymer and the second state corresponds to a non-polar state of the polymer. Preferably, the switchable surface 120 is composed entirely of a polymer.

According to the invention, the switchable surface 120 is configured for combining water from the air humidity of the ambient air for irrigating the plants 155. This enables, on the one hand, a reduction in the relatively high air humidity and, on the other hand, an irrigation of the plants 155.

Furthermore, the switchable surface 120 is preferably provided with a switching device 140 for switching automatically and/or manually. In fig. 1, the switching device 140 is preferably designed to switch the switchable surface 120 by applying a voltage.

Advantageously, the irrigation device 100 can be used for irrigating plants (e.g. potted plants) inside a room or a lobby and/or hall. Furthermore, the irrigation device 100 can also be used outdoors for irrigating plants in pots and/or seedbeds. It is also possible here to arrange the water collecting devices 110 separately from the plants to be irrigated in each case or at predetermined intervals, wherein the irrigation pipes 130 guide the water from the water collecting devices 110 to the plants.

Fig. 2 shows the irrigation device 100 of fig. 1 to illustrate an exemplary implementation. According to one embodiment, a sensor unit 200 having at least one

sensor

222, 224 is provided. Two

sensors

222, 224 are illustratively shown.

The sensor unit 200, in particular the at least one

sensor

222, 224, is preferably designed to determine the state of the irrigation device 100 and/or to measure parameters of the soil 152 to be irrigated. Here, the parameter is preferably the moisture content and/or the electrolyte content of the soil 152 to be irrigated by the irrigation pipe 130.

Furthermore, the switchable surface 120 is preferably switchable in dependence on a level signal of the water collecting device 110, a sensor signal of the

sensors

222, 224, a predetermined condition, a light beam and/or an electrical signal. The predetermined condition can be, for example, an indication of the user, which specifies a predetermined number of irrigation time points (for example once a day, week or month, over which the switchable surfaces are to be switched or are to be switched).

However, it is also possible to direct a light beam onto the switchable surface 120 and to switch the switchable surface into its state in reaction to the light beam. Here, the light beam can be generated by a solar beam and/or by a light source directed onto the switchable surface 120. In this case, the light source can be activated and/or deactivated manually and/or automatically.

Alternatively or optionally, a fertilizer reservoir 250 is provided for automatically discharging fertilizer through a discharge pipe 255. Here, the fertilizer is emitted on the basis of a sensor signal determined by at least one

sensor

222, 224 of the sensor unit 200.

Illustratively, fertilizer reservoir 250 is disposed independently of water collection device 110. However, the fertilizer reservoir 250 can also be arranged behind the water collecting device 110. Furthermore, there can be additional containers that can be fed with water from the water collection device 110 and with fertilizer from the fertilizer reservoir 250. Here, a control device can be provided for setting a predetermined mixing ratio between water and fertilizer. However, it is to be noted that fertilizers are also understood as agents mineralizing water.

According to one specific embodiment, the switching device 140 is designed as a mobile terminal 240, which is provided for controlling the switchable surface 120 and/or for monitoring at least one

sensor

222, 224 of the irrigation device 100, which sensor is assigned to the sensor unit 200. Alternatively or alternatively, however, the switching device 140 can also be designed as a display screen, in particular as a touch display screen. Here, the switching device 140 can also be formed on the irrigation device 100, in particular on the water collection device 110.

In a method for operating an irrigation device 100 for irrigating plants (e.g., plants 155), the switchable surface 120 is preferably operated in a first state, that is, water is bound from the air humidity of the ambient air. Here, the combined water is collected in the water collecting device 110. In a predefined state and/or in a signal (e.g., an electrical signal), switchable surface 120 is preferably switched into the second state. In the second state, the collected water is preferably discharged towards the plant 155 to be irrigated. This is preferably done through irrigation pipe 130. The switchable surface 120 is then switched into its first state for collecting water.

Claims

1. An irrigation device (100) for irrigating plants (155) having a water collecting device (110), in particular a water collecting container (110), and an irrigation pipe (130), characterized in that the irrigation device (100), in particular the water collecting device (110), is provided with a switchable surface (120) which can be switched between a first state in which water is collected and a second state in which the collected water is emitted through the irrigation pipe (130).

2. The irrigation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the switchable surface (120) has a polymer, wherein the first state corresponds to a polar state of the polymer and the second state corresponds to a non-polar state of the polymer.

3. The irrigation device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the switchable surface (120) is provided with switching means (140, 240) for switching automatically and/or manually.

4. The irrigation device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switchable surface (120) is configured for combining water from the air humidity of ambient air for irrigating plants (155).

5. The irrigation device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switchable surface (120) is constructed integrally with the water collection device (110).

6. The irrigation device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one sensor (222, 224) is provided, configured for determining a status of the irrigation device (100) and/or measuring a parameter of the soil (152) to be irrigated, wherein the soil (152) to be irrigated is irrigated through the irrigation pipe (130).

7. The irrigation device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the parameter is a moisture content and/or an electrolyte content of the soil (152) to be irrigated.

8. The irrigation device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the switchable surface (120) is switchable depending on a level signal of the water collecting device (110), a sensor signal of the sensor (222, 224), a predetermined condition, a light beam and/or an electrical signal.

9. The irrigation device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a fertilizer reservoir (250) is provided for automatically discharging fertilizer, wherein the fertilizer is discharged in dependence of a sensor signal evaluated by the at least one sensor (222, 224).

10. The irrigation device according to claim 3, wherein the switching device (140) is configured as a mobile terminal (240) which is provided for controlling the switchable surface (120) and/or for monitoring sensors (222, 224) assigned to the irrigation device (100).

11. A method for operating an irrigation device (100) for irrigating plants (155), having a water collecting device (110), in particular a water collecting container, and an irrigation pipe (130), wherein the irrigation device (100), in particular the water collecting device (110), is provided with a switchable surface (120) which can be switched between a first state in which water is collected and a second state in which the collected water is discharged through the irrigation pipe (130), characterized by the steps of:

operating the switchable surface (120) in the first state,

combining water from the air humidity of the ambient air and collecting said water in said water collecting device (110),

switching the switchable surface (120) into the second state,

operating the switchable surface (120) in the second state, and

discharging the collected water to a plant (155) to be irrigated, and

switching the switchable surface (120) into the first state and operating the switchable surface (120) in the first state.