Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G25/00—Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like
  • A01G25/16—Control of watering
  • A01G25/167—Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G27/00—Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
  • A01G27/003—Controls for self-acting watering devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for controlling the water supply to greenhouse plants - even from very complex methods particularly for professional use in market gardenings comprising sensitive electronic equipment for detecting the humidity of the growth medium in the form of soil, sphagnum or mineral wool plus complete with dung dosing system and irrigation system with as well electronically controlled valve functions plus other often also electronic regulation equipment, to very simple methods particularly for hobby use consisting of smaller reservoirs to which the water supply by way of example is controlled by simple cistern valves, as the watering out by way of example takes place via siphon system and dripping tubes.
• the invention concerns a controlling method for use in automatic irrigation systems for smaller hobby greenhouses, as such systems most often do. not comprise proper regulation equipment beyond simple temperature and air humidity sensors are necessary combined with thermo cylinders for opening and closing of windows for regulation of air temperature and air humidity.
• the method according to the invention is characterized in that for the registering of the humidity of the growth medium, e.g. the soil, or of a fluid distribution layer, e.g. a felt plate, is used a member of subtorial material, e.g. felt, which is connected with the growth medium or the fluid distribution layer, the heaviness (weight) of which in wet and dry condition, respectively, is used to activate the valve to close and to open for the irrigation water, respectively.
• a member of subtorial material e.g. felt
• the heaviness (weight) of which in wet and dry condition, respectively is used to activate the valve to close and to open for the irrigation water, respectively.
• the suctorial regulation member is connected with the growth medium by means of one or more wicks through which water from the growth medium may be sucked up if the humidity is sufficiently high, and through which the water may again be sucked out from the regulation member as the growth medium is again being dried up.
• the heaviness of the regulation member i.e. the weight thereof in heavy water-containing condition and in light less water filled or dry condition may thus be used to open and close directly the water supply, e.g. to a system of dripping tubes, which may supply a larger number of plants also rather remote from the wicks of the regulation member, since of course these should be positioned in connection with the growth medium at a representative position, i.e. in a position which neither is particularly exposed to drying up nor to be extraordinarily watered.
• the suctorial regulation member can be springyly suspended in such a manner that the spring tension can be adjusted depending on the need of irrigation and depending onpossibly changed absorption capacity due to lime and/or salt depositing in the regulation member whereby the self-weight thereof is also changed.
• Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention
• Fig. 2 a principle sketch for illustration of the method according to the invention
• Fig. 3 a mini-greenhouse with an apparatus according to the invention
• Fig. 4 another embodiment according to the invention.
• the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 consists of a housing 2 having two soil spears 4 for fixing the apparatus in a low position above the soil surface 6.
• a rear side plate member 8 of the housing 2 is provided with a bearing brocket 10 on which a lever 12 is pivotally mounted at 14.
• the lever 12 is at lefthand end provided with a permanent magnet 16 cooperating with a valve 18 which via a tube 20 is supplied with water from the mains.
• the valve 18 which is a so-called membrane activated valve, e.g. of the type which is usually being activated electromagnetically, is at the secondary side provided with a coupling nut 22 from which branches of a larger number of dripping tubes 24 extend.
• the valve 18 is at the secondary side furthermore provided with a small turning tap 26 for a thin tube 28 supplying water to a regulation member 30 suspended at the opposite end of the lever 12.
• the regulation member 30 consists of a strongly suctorial material, e.g. felt, being rolled up in a short reel and having two wicks 32 also of felt or a corresponding strongly suctorial material.
• the wicks 32 are as anticipated spread out right under the soil surface 6, i.e. in good contact with the growth medium since the wicks 32 between the soil surface 6 and the regulation member 30 is sufficiently loose to ensure that the felt member 32 is free to move somewhat up and downwards as anticipated with the arrow 34.
• the lever 12 is at righthand side, i.e. at the longer moment arm of the lever 12, springloaded upwards by means of a tension spring 36 the tension of which may be adjusted by means of a regulating screw 38 at the top of the housing 2.
• a tension spring 36 the tension of which may be adjusted by means of a regulating screw 38 at the top of the housing 2.
• the sensitivity of the apparatus may be adjusted as an increased tension of the lever 12 decreases the sensitivity of the apparatus corresponding to the regulation member 30 being able to close the valve 18 in a lighter condition.
• Another possibility of adjustment consists in "cheating" the regulation member 30 by supplying more or less water directly thereto via the turning tap 26 and the tube 28 which as shown debouches above the regulation member 30.
• valve 18 may be used an usual cistern valve which is shut by downward movement of the short lever portion when the long lever portion is correspondingly moved upwards, which may be caused by letting the regulation member 30 influence the lever 12 via a pulley positioned above the right end thereof as the regulation member 30 in this case is suspended in a string which via the pulley transmits a downward movement of the regulation member 30 to an upwardly directed pull in right end of the lever 12 which may have a suitable length for creating a sufficient momentum to activate the valve 18.
• the lever 12 In the right hand side of Fig. 1 is in dotted lines shown the lever 12 prolonged out through the side of the housing 2.
• the lever 12 may be activated directly from the outside for possible shutting or opening the valve.
• Fig. 2 shows the method principle according to the inven tion.
• a fluid supply 40 water is sucked up via a wick 42 which by means of a valve slot 44 being separated from a fluid distribution layer 46 of a suctorial material, e.g. synthetic felt, which by a heat treatment becomes strongly suctorial.
• a valve member 48 in the form of a reel of felt, of which a free end constitutes a wick 50 being connected to the fluid distribution layer 46.
• the felt reel 48 is suspended in a tension spring 52 which by means of a regulating screw 54 may be given a suitable tension corresponding to the felt reel 48 iu jhy or less wet condition, i.e. in light condition, may be lifted upwardly in order to shut the slot valve 46 in supplying water from the wick 42 to the fluid distribution layer 46 which may consist a under watering felt mat, e.g. for potted plants.
• the felt reel 48 When the felt reel 48 forms connection between the wick 42 and the fluid distribution mat 46, the felt reel 48 per se sucks up water too. Hereby the felt reel or the valve member 48 becomes more heavy and when the spring force of the spring 52 is exceeded the felt reel 48 is weighed down and opens the valve slot 44 or interrupts the fluid flow from the wick 42 to the fluid distribution mat 46 and to the felt reel 48 per se. In the course of time the felt reel 48 supplies the sucked up water to the fluid distribution mat 46 via the wick 50, the sucking capacity of which together with the spring tension determines the cycle of the system.
• FIG. 3 In fig. 3 is shown a so-called mini-greenhouse with an irrigation system according to the invention.
• a tray shaped lower portion 56 is beneath a support plate member 58 provided with a water reservoir 60 from which a wick 62 of synthetic felt sucks up water along an inclin ed wall portion 64.
• the support plate 58 which is provided with a number of transverse, open support wall portions 66, ends in a distance from the inclined wall portion 64 for constituting a valve slot 68.
• suctorial felt 70 which from the valve slot 68 extends to about the middle of the support plate 58 and upwards through an opening to a position under a fluid distribution mat 72 being spread out at the top of the support plate 58 in order to, as shown, underwater smaller potted plants 74 with or without a transparent cap portion 76.
• valve slot 68 is on one end of a lever 78 positioned a felt valve member in the form of a small felt reel 80. At the opposite end of the lever 78 is positioned a regulation member in the form of a larger felt reel 82 of which an outer turn proceeds in a loose wick 84 connected with the fluid distribution mat 72.
• the lever 78 is spring loaded by means of a tension spring 86 with associated regulating screw 88. Besides, the lever 78 cooperates with an external spring activated indicator 90 being able to show the actual valve condition from outside as the lower portion 56 and the housing around the irrigation weight normally consists of non-transparent plastic.
• FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the irrigation method according to the invention.
• a lever 92 has at one. end of the valve member 94 of felt, and at the opposite end thereof is suspended a regulation member 96 with wicks 98 being inserted below an irrigation mat 100 starting from a valve slot 102 opposite to a supply wick 104.
• Figs. 1 and 2 as the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 constitutes a combination proportional to Figs. 1 and 2 corresponding in principle to the automatic irrigation system by the mini-greenhouse of Fig. 3.
• the invention is in general explained with reference to felt as suctorial material and more generally to so-called synthetic felt consisting of polypropylene, polyester and rayon.
• Synthetic felt having fixed dimensions (shrinkproof) in wet as well as in dry condition has achieved its strong suctorial quality by heat treatment.
• Synthetic felt even stands machine washing.
• suctorial materials being usable in connection with the invention instead of synthetic felt may be mentioned cotton, wool, mineral wool, natural sponge or artificial sponge and even so-called super suctorial paper laminate of the type used in paper diapers.
• the main aspect of the invention is obtaining an optimal regulation of water supply by means of a minimum of technical apparatus portions and entirely without external energy supply - other than from water, e.g. from the mains.
• the irrigation interval may be determined by supplying a certain quantity of water directly to the regulation member 30 via the turning tap 26 and the tube 28.
• the tap 26 may in order to ensure a certain constant water supply to the regulation member 30 be thus adapted that the tap 26 cannot be entirely shut so that when the valve 18 otherwise is open, a certain quantity of water is always supplied directly to the regulation member 30.
• this direct water supply to the regulation member 30 may take place via a quite separate connection to a regulation valve which is adjusted dependent on the actual water pressure.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8100597

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1983
  • 1983-03-01 DK DK106583A patent/DK106583A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1984
  • 1984-02-28 DE DE19843490110 patent/DE3490110T1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-02-28 EP EP19840900851 patent/EP0136308A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-02-28 WO PCT/DK1984/000014 patent/WO1984003414A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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