DE8814990U1 - Device for ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation of plants - Google Patents

Description

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Description of the invention Ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation of plants Definition of term

Ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation is a device for watering plants of all kinds in plant containers, such as: Pots, flower boxes, tubs, buckets, etc. using wicks and/or mats. Water or nutrient solution is supplied to the wicks or mats via a low-volume wicking/sucking system and via a float valve container, the arrangement height of which is variable and with the help of which the suction height of the wicks or mats is changed between almost zero and maximum, which enables adaptation to the optimal desired amount of water to the needs of the planters and to the environmental conditions.

Note ? According to the conventional definition, a wick can also be an absorbent fabric, so the term "mat" could be equated with the term "wick".

State of the art and its disadvantages

According to the applicant's utility models G 86 13 696.8 and G 86 14 288.7, the state of the art is the use of glass fiber wicks in conjunction with tubes that release moisture into the upper layer of soil and allow the amount of water released to be regulated by reducing or increasing the amount of wick in contact with the soil, as well as the use of mats that are wetted from a water container underneath.

Another well-known method is the regulation of water quantities by changing

the wick or mat suction height, i.e. the distance between the water surface and the first contact point of the wick or mat with the ground.

Due to the effects of gravity and evaporation, the moisture in the pot decreases from bottom to top. This negative effect is amplified when the first contact point is in the lower part of the pot.

In gardening practice, alternating between stronger and weaker watering of the soil has proven to be beneficial for most plants, although complete drying of the soil should be avoided, as it is difficult to re-wet it when dry.

These findings led to the development of ebb and flow irrigation, where the pot is left in water for a longer period of time up to a height of about 2 cm. This process also results in a decrease in pot moisture from bottom to top.

Even for plants that are outdoors and exposed to rain, drying out the soil has proven to be useful, but this is not taken into account in conventional long-term watering methods, with the exception of those that use a moisture sensor. The latter are sometimes prone to failure and, for cost reasons, are only suitable for hobby use to a limited extent.

The aim of the ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation system is to eliminate the disadvantages described. With conventional wick and mat irrigation systems, the water container is always lower than the plant surface, so flooding is never possible with these systems, which is a prerequisite for very quick wetting of the pots. The main idea behind the invention is therefore to arrange the small-volume, narrow-height water containers in 6 lateral positions to Plant storage area and in combination with height-adjustable float valves or float valve containers and, if required, the additional use of 2/2 or 3/2-way valves for quick emptying and reaching the low/ medium level.

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Description» Basic principle of ebb-flow wick irrigation

According to Fig. 1, the height-adjustable float valve container with vent or overflow hole for lowering the float valve container is followed by a pipe (4) or pipe bundle (hose or hose bundle) in which there are vertically positioned tubes (or hoses) which contain wicks protected against accidental removal. The diameter of the tubes is so large that at high tide the water level in the tube is almost up to the upper edge and at low tide there is little or almost no water in the pipe.

The wick ends are in the E/«d covering layer. The amount of wick can be changed later. It depends on the size of the plant, the growth rate and the environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, air movement, etc.). Large plants, especially in pots, should have several initial contact points between the wick and the soil.

In the arrangement according to Fig. 2a, the pipe and tubes are located inside the plant container and in 2b outside the plant container. In the latter case, the part of the wick protruding from the soil must be protected against the formation of algae (hose or perforated foil).

Fig. 2c shows the possibility of watering potted plants that are in a larger container, e.g. a flower box.

For large containers, especially potted plants, the water supply system (pipe/tube) is arranged on the side of the large container so that only a low suction height is required and the number or quantity of wicks can be kept small. Instead of tubes, small water containers can also be attached to the large container and connected to the water supply system.

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Basic principle of ebb and flow mat irrigation

A narrow gutter is attached to the side of the plant support surface (e.g. greenhouse table) and connected to the float valve container. The mat is immersed in this gutter.

If the water level in the gutter is above the base, the mat is flooded; in the extreme, i.e. without time limit, a water level that corresponds to that of the gutter is created above the mat. By lowering the float valve container, by shutting off the water supply to the gutter or by emptying the gutter via the 3/2-way valve, the mat dries out, the "low tide" state is initiated.

Achievable benefits

1 . Through the first contact point wick-soil in the soil covering layer

This prevents the lower part of the plant pot from becoming too wet and the upper part of the plant pot from drying out too much.

2. The soil moisture is regulated by the moisture meter in contact with the soil and by the height adjustment of the float valve container.

3. The wick quantity control allows plant containers with different water consumption but the same height arrangement to be supplied by only one float valve container.

4. The height adjustment of the float valve container allows the soil to dry completely (low tide) as well as to moisten it completely (high tide). In between, all forms of medium moisture are possible. This means that the amount of water released can be optimally adjusted to the needs of the plant and the environmental conditions.

5. Due to the small volume of the water control system, the system has a high response speed.

6. The height adjustment of the float valve container can be carried out either manually, e.g. in the case of balcony boxes by moving it on an inclined plane, semi-automatically or fully automatically, e.g. by connecting an actuator to a humidity sensor or a timer.

7. The system is cost-effective and suitable for both the greenhouse and horticultural sectors.

8. Compared to wick irrigation with below the

If the water container is arranged in the plant pot, the amount of wick is very small, especially even in large pots.

9. Ebb and flow mat irrigation is an inexpensive

Solution, especially for commercial horticulture, which has previously irrigated the mats via drip hoses.

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Application examples

Balcony flower box irrigation : In the flower boxes there is a 16 to 20 mm
Plastic tube with 10 mm holes into which 8 mm pipes or hoses are pressed watertight using soft plastic sealing cones. Each tube (hose) contains a wick
large capillarity, which prevents accidental pulling out

duruh SinS KSr'äiTiikperlS QSSCHUtzt is. DS5 GbSPS DcchtSndS «tSCf" flat in the upper £od area or is laid flat on the ground after planting and lightly covered with soil.

The pipes of the individual flower boxes are connected to each other and to the float valve container by a plug connection.

As a float valve container, for example, a square plastic bottle 85 x 85 mm is used, in whose container lid
the float valve is screwed in. The container contains
e.g. two 10 mm holes in the lower area for connection
the flower box pipes, in the upper area as ventilation and
|» Water overflow when adjusted for low tide operation. The height—

20 position can be achieved by moving on an inclined plane

t or by a special bracket. ·

Watering of potted plants; All potted plants are

arranged so that the upper layer of soil is at the same height.

Several wick water outlets are provided for each bucket,

S 25 where the wicks are placed in the variable water level below the

bel surface. Small water containers that can be hung and connected to the float valve container or the
« Pipe/tube system provided.

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Irrigation of epiphytes: The epiphytes are tied to bark or branches and arranged at different heights on the pipe. The wicks hang in the holes in the pipe on one side and on the bark or branches on the other. The ebb and flow system enables alternating flooding and drying, for example, controlled by a timer.

Irrigation of large beds in greenhouses; for this , parallel pipes with tubes and wicks are laid. After the pots have been set up, the wick ends are placed on top and sprinkled with soil. The ebb and flow system, if equipped with a timer or moisture sensor, allows adjustment to the type of plant, size and environmental conditions.

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Captions and list of reference symbols

Fig. 1 Components of an ebb-flow wick irrigation system

1 elevated tank

2 float valve containers, height adjustable

3 Planter

A pipe or hose

6 tubes or hose with wick (protected against accidental pulling out), water guidance system

6 Quick connection

7 2/2 or 3/2 way valve (as required)

Fig. 2 Basic form of the water control system of the ebb-flow wick irrigation

a) Pipe with tubes inside the planter (e.g. flower box)

b) Pipe with tube next to planter

c) Pipe with tubes in flower box with individual pots

Fig. 3 Components of an ebb-flow mat irrigation system

a) Location of the water tank from which the mat draws water,

in the form of a narrow-height gutter, which is installed next to the plant support surface (e.g. greenhouse table) and is connected to the height-adjustable float valve .

b) As a) but with a narrow-height gutter as part of a

Peel

1 elevated tank or water pipe connection

2 float valve containers, height adjustable

3 narrow-height gutter on the floor

A and 6 Mat of high capillarity with pinhole foil 5 Tray with narrow high channel

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Claims (10)

Protection claims 1 . ^ Device for ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation of plants, characterized in that the water container from which the wicks or mats draw water is not arranged below but to the side of the plant container or in the plant container and extends above the soil covering layer or plant support surface (mat surface). 2. Device for ebb-flow wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that these water containers have small-volume tubes, hoses or narrow high grooves are arranged in which the wicks or mats are protected against accidental pulling out. 3. Device for ebb-flow wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that these tubes, hoses or gutters are connected via pipes or hoses to a height-adjustable float valve are connected. 4. Device for ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that preferably a manually or electromagnetically operated 2/2 or 3/2 way valve is provided between the float valve container and the water supply system is provided for. 5. Device for ebb and flow wick irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical tubes or hoses are preferably connected with the aid of wick plastic cones are watertightly connected to the horizontal j pipes or hoses. 6. Device for ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that a small plastic container is preferably used as the float valve container, in whose screw cap the float valve is attached and which contains additional holes for connecting the level-controlled water level and ventilation or overflow. 7. Device for ebb-flow wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that the float valve container can be connected to a water/fertilizer elevated tank or to the water pipe. 8. Device for ebb, flow, wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that in the case of mechanical adjustment via actuator either a timer or a moisture sensor is used. 9. Device for ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that in the case of manual adjustment, an inclined plane, a lever adjustment or a hanging device is used. 10. Device for ebb and flow wick or mat irrigation of plants according to claim 1, characterized in that pots, boxes, tubs, buckets or similar containers are used as plant containers.