EP1830626A1

EP1830626A1 - Cellular module for housing living plants particularly for cultivation of vertical walls

Info

Publication number: EP1830626A1
Application number: EP05848367A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arnold Julia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-23
Filing date: 2005-12-22
Publication date: 2007-09-12
Also published as: WO2006070164A1; FR2879892A1; CA2590685A1; FR2879892B1; US20080110086A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a module for the cultivation of a support (S) with natural soil or artificially without soil, said support being oriented horizontally, slightly or greatly inclined up to being vertical, comprising at least one front face (12), at least one rear face (14), a substrate (16) arranged between said at least two faces, at least the front face (12) comprising at least one blind cell (18) running from the at least one front face (12), the at least one cell having a base (22) fixed to the closest rear face (14) by connector means (24).

Description

ALVEOLE MODULE FOR THE RECEPTION OF LIVE PLANTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE VEGETATION OF VERTICAL WALLS

The present invention relates to a honeycomb module for the reception of plants, in particular applicable to the vegetation of vertical walls. The preparation and cultivation of modular plant-bearing surfaces for the purpose of transporting them to receiving places from said ready surfaces is known. Thus seeds, cuttings, plants or plants are introduced into substrates themselves contained in envelopes to allow their subsequent handling and grown until the development stage sufficient to completely or partially cover said envelopes and ready to consume the look. In fact, communities for example can change flowerbeds of spring / summer by flower beds of autumn / winter very quickly. In this type of crop, it is only a question of substituting plantations for others, but these plantations are based on the natural soil in which the plants take root in part and from which they draw water and nutrients. On the other hand, these modular surfaces have no intrinsic mechanical strength and can not be used on natural surfaces with steep slopes or very steep slopes, and even less for wall greening. However, there is a strong demand for this type of vegetation which has numerous advantages. Indeed, when a surface of a building is covered with plants, there is an effect of attenuation of heat when it is very hot or cold when it is cold or extremely cold.

This insulation effect from the outside is very effective when it is very hot because the plants absorb a lot of the solar energy received by the said surface of a building. Evaporation also allows the maintenance of the vegetated surface at a moderate temperature.

Similarly, there is a demand for panels for planting partitions internally because a plant partition makes it possible to improve, surprisingly, the ambient acoustic conditions by greatly absorbing background noise. In addition, the ambient air is also treated by the chlorophyll mass, causing a purification not without interest. The substrate itself, for example containing activated carbon, can also absorb and trap polluting molecules which are subsequently degraded by the plants. In addition, a plant partition allows for decorative effects and gives a natural atmosphere in often austere work environments. In the case of such applications, it is necessary that the proposed modules are mechanically resistant to allow their positioning directly on vertical surfaces, or on fastening means integral with these surfaces to ensure a spacing between the plant facing, made from modules, and the receiving surface.

A very important problem is that of maintaining the substrate in thin layer despite the gravity, this especially when the plants are still little rooted. The substrate tends to accumulate in the lower part of the module as soon as said module is verticalized.

In addition, it must be possible to set up plants in these modules, in the form of seedlings for example, without thereby perforating one of the faces of the plant. module under penalty of causing leakage of substrate especially when it is in powder form.

There is also the problem of the nature of the substrates, of the hydration and the capacity to ensure water reserves within the modules, the eventual stiffening of the modules, the abutment of these modules to form continuous surfaces. important, so many constraints unresolved by the prior art and that proposes to solve the present invention.

A condition sine qua non for the realization of such modules is the possibility of industrial manufacturing to lead to acceptable costs. In this case of an industrial realization, the present invention provides the obtaining of modules with choices of positioning of the cells ranging from the random disposition to the provision allowing representations of given reasons, this thanks to a suitable choice of plants .

The invention is now described in detail from numerous embodiments making it possible to respond to numerous applications, these embodiments being the subject of appended graphical representations on which the various figures show:

FIG. 1: a sectional view of a basic module according to the invention,

- Figure ZA: a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a double module,

FIG. 2B: a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the embodiment of FIG. ZA with a waterproof layer,

- Figure ZC: a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the embodiment of Figure 2B with profile deformations, - Figure 2D: a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the embodiment of Figure 2B in which partition walls and a network of water supply and nutrients are provided, FIG. 3: basic module according to the invention with armature and partial opening cell for vertical module,

FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an embodiment with multifunctional reinforcement; FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of modules with a rigid rear face;

FIG. 6: a view of an embodiment of integrated modules in facing caissons for the construction,

FIG. 7 is a partial cut-away perspective view showing the use of a module according to the invention comprising an improvement for the integration, in particular of bulbs, and

- Figure 8, a schematic view of a three-dimensional module. In Figure 1, there is shown a module 10 schematically.

This module comprises a closed volume delimited by a front face 12 and at least one rear face 14 with a substrate 16 interposed between the two faces, in this volume.

The front face 12 is provided with at least one blind cell 18. This cell as shown in the section of Figure 1, comprises walls 20 of any shape with a profile of revolution, multi-pan or frustoconical in this case and a bottom 22.

In the embodiment according to the invention, this bottom 22 is secured to the rear face 14 closest by connecting means 24. Thus, the cells by their walls provide a bracing function and ensure the maintenance of a regular gap between the two front faces 12 and rear 14, the closest. This regular space is substantially that of the depth of the cell.

The connecting means 24 are a function of the nature of the materials constituting the front and rear faces 14. A particularly suitable embodiment is to use natural fiber such as coconut which is coated with a binder polymer composition, deposited for example by spraying. Fiber mats are thus obtained to the dimensions of the modules to be produced. The substrate 16 itself is advantageously a composition of vegetable and / or mineral materials. For example, this substrate may comprise plant fibers supplemented with seeds or spores and organic particles including nutrients if necessary. This substrate composition is also advantageously but not necessarily strongly compacted to form panels having a certain rigidity.

In these substrate panels, through holes 26 are made, for example by punch with the diameters and the desired locations for the cells. A sandwich module is then produced with the substrate 16 in the form of a panel, inserted between two pieces of mat forming the front face 12 and the rear face 14.

The module is finalized by a cell formation step. According to one embodiment, a hot form in the case of a coating with a hot-melt binder polymer composition or hot-melt fibers, is positioned on the front face 12, at the right of each hole 26 opening and displaced perpendicular to this front face 12 to deform said front face in the form of cell until the bottom 22 of said formed cell comes into contact with the rear face 14 and is secured to the rear face 14. The fibers of the wall of the cell are distended during this translation to reduce the density and further promote rooting.

It is noted that the amount of coating binder polymer is extremely low and allows excellent adhesion of all the fibers between them, from one face to the other and optionally with the compacted substrate panel. This binder polymer does not disturb the biodegradability of the support when it has the properties and that the selected fibers are suitable for such a natural phenomenon.

In the case of coir, biodegradability is very slow. Such a module can thus receive different types of plantations by different routes.

The first is to introduce seeds, seeds, spores in a suitable mixture that can fill the cells. The flat culture allows to reach a development sufficient for a rooting. The module can then be verticalized without difficulty.

Another solution is to dispose directly clumps with young plants in each cell, which saves time for rooting. Finally, it is possible to have in these cells developed plants, which allows a commissioning of the module very quickly. In this case, each module can be made on demand, immediately from plants grown elsewhere.

Plants can be of any kind, perennials, seasonal flowering plants, or a combination of both types within a single module. The module thus presented can be used on areas of natural terrain with low slope or steep slope or verticalization.

The spacers constituted by the cells bonded to the two faces make it possible to maintain the substrate whether it is in compacted form or in the form of fluid particles. These spacers prevent accumulation when there is a steep slope or verticalization of the substrate at the bottom and barrel shaping of each module.

The module that has been described with reference to FIG. 1 is the basic module but it is possible to perfect this arrangement by taking the characteristics essential and by providing additional elements depending on the applications.

A first improvement is illustrated by FIG. ZA, which describes a module with symmetry in order to ensure drainage especially for applications on synthetic substrates S, roofing, concrete floor, resin support with a profile.

3 D for example.

In this case, it may be advantageous to provide drainage as well as splicing of several modules to cover a large surface area greater than the surface of a single module. Indeed, if the planes of joint between two plates let the light pass, there can be deposit of seeds, especially in the open air and development of weeds.

The module of Figure ZA is a symmetrical 10-1 module.

Cells are made in the two faces 12-1 front and 14-1 rear, following the same distribution so that these cells meet at their bottom from the two opposite surfaces, substantially in a plane located mid-thickness of the module .

It is found that when the module is positioned on a plane support by its lower face, the cells are returned with the opening towards said plane support. In fact, the water does not necessarily stagnate in the substrate located in the upper part and the plants are rooted in wet substrate but not necessarily in water. This prevents plant asphyxiation by roots and rot.

The amount of substrate available to the plants is also increased.

Conversely, in case of drought, the water can be brought in large quantities, at once and it accumulates to be then restored by capillarity, as in a tank with water reserve when the layer 14-1 is partially waterproof. We note in this figure the particular geometry of the peripheral edges of the module junction Jl which are chevron in order to achieve a baffle by abutment of two modules unlike the junction J2 which is straight. In Figure 2B, there is shown an arrangement with a dual module 10-2 and 10-3. In this dual module, there are two faces 12-2 and 12-3 front and a rear face 14-2 / 14-3 common.

The cells are formed from the two front faces towards the common rear face. The cells are arranged not necessarily in facing relation. There is an additional element namely a sealed film 28 attached to the second front face 12-3. This waterproof film is therefore supported on the support S on which the double module is arranged.

This film, when it is attached to the second module 10-3 and protrudes peripherally so as to rise substantially over the thickness of this second module, generates a buffer effect on the flows and evacuations of rainwater, particularly in the case planting of roofs.

Note in Figure 2B the particular bevel arrangement of the J3 junction to also avoid the penetration of light in the inter-module space. In this arrangement, water can be accumulated in the lower module, more particularly in the cells of the second module which provide a water reserve.

The substrate of the second module is in fact and by the effect of gravity subjected to greater pressure and is wetter than the substrate of the first module above, but the capillarity phenomenon ensures a regular and adapted diffusion of the water from the second module to the first. FIG. ZC _{1 shows} an embodiment of a particular dual module 10-4 and 10-5 in that it comprises on the one hand a reinforcement 30-5 integrated in the first module and deformations 32- 5 allowing him to comply with support profile S. It is also provided a 28-5 waterproof film in the lower part as in the previous embodiment. The reinforcement 30-5 is made in this case from a lattice 34-5. There is thus the basic arrangement with the cells acting as spacers, the reinforcement to impart to the module a better rigidity in the plane and in particular allowing the stowage on the support S, specifically the roofs.

As for the deformations 32-5, they are made as the cells and obtained by deformation, the second front face 12-5 then coming into contact with the common rear face 14-4 / 14-5.

In the case of an embodiment of modules 10-6 intended to be used for applications for supports S with a steep gradient such as a roof, FIG. 2D represents a section of such a module. In this 2D figure, the modules are identical to those of the embodiment shown in Figure ZC.

On the other hand, in order to keep water regularly distributed under each module, partitions 36-6 are provided. These partitions, regularly distributed, provide a reservoir of water for a given volume corresponding to a level N passing through the maximum horizontal line passing through the top of the partition.

In order to allow hydration and a nutrient supply if necessary, it can be provided a network 38-6 of supply ducts, sheaths that can be flexible or rigid depending on whether the modules are rolled for transport for example or that the modules remain plans and are handled as will be explained further in the description.

Such an application is in particular that of the vegetation of the roof whose modules remain in place for several years. In the case of vertical isat ion modules according to the invention, there are provided improvements to allow better implementation. A first improvement is shown in Figure 3. This module 10-7 comprises reinforcements 30-7 with 40-7 stiffeners, biodegradable as bamboo, plastic rods or metal for durable plant siding. These stiffeners 40-7 can be opening on either side of each module 10-7 so that these emergent ends can cooperate with attachment means 42-7, themselves integral with the surface, in this case a wall M, intended to receive the plant facing. It is noted that the cells are made in the same way as for the base module and connect the two front faces 12-7 and rear 14-7. It is also noted in this embodiment that each cell has an improvement in the form of 44-7 retaining means. In the simple and preferred embodiment, these retaining means 44-7 consist of the same material as the front face 12-7 and are in the form of a partial closure of the cell concerned.

These partial fillings are oriented in the lower part when the module is erected vertically. This imposes a direction of installation of the module. As shown, it is easy to arrange a plant, for example in the form of a root ball, in an alveolus and even if the plant is not rooted, the module can be verticalized without said plant dropping.

Remaining mechanically well in contact with the walls of the cell, rooting is favored by the close conjugation of plant / alveolus profiles. Such a module can be equipped, if necessary, with a 38-7 network of water and nutrient supply ducts.

Alternatively in Figure 4, there is shown a module 10-8 having an arrangement with a 30-8 tubular reinforcement combined with a network 38-8 of water supply ducts and nutrients. Indeed, the sheaths of the water supply network are integrated into the tubular reinforcements, these reinforcements being provided with lights to dispense fluids circulating and delivered by the sheaths.

The tubular reinforcements can be nested between them from one module to another to ensure the continuity and maintenance in the same plane juxtaposed modules.

In FIG. 5, the module 10-9 is provided on its rear face 14-9 with a rigid insulating panel 46-7, for example made of expanded polystyrene or any other insulating material. Such a panel and constituted in this way when the module is intended for the realization of a vertical facing a wall M. This arrangement is adapted to be plated on the wall or leave a free air circulation space between the module 10-9 and said wall.

In Figure 6, the module 10-10 has on its front face 12-10 cells

18-10 having an axis of orientation inclined with respect to the plane of said module. The cells all have the same inclination so that during verticalization, the content of the cells is retained in said cells.

In addition, the module is integrated in a box of the type of those which constitute the modular facings of building facades including metal or synthetic. It is thus possible to replace boxes by vegetable boxes which are the same size and which are put in place and place.

It can be seen that it is possible to provide arrangements with vegetated boxes as soon as they are built but also afterwards.

It is advantageous to provide the installation of insulating material, which is made easy by the fact that the boxes are generally arranged with a laying interval relative to the wall that support them. The modules according to the invention can be used in a particular way on natural soils by resorting to another variant embodiment as shown in FIG.

The module 10-11 comprises a front face 12-11 and a rear face 14-11 as well as blind cells 18-11. In addition to this arrangement, there are provided 19-11 cells of the open type. The 19-11 open cells are holes whose walls are made of the material of the faces.

The improvement consists in arranging in these open cavities baskets 48-11 which fit into the cells and are retained therein. Indeed, the open cells can be frustoconical for example and the baskets also so that there is a mechanical blockage.

In case the baskets are not retained, they can be retrieved later in any way.

These open cells equipped with baskets are intended to receive bulbs. We know that the bulbs are often removed at the end of the season by professionals, especially to modify the drawings during the following bulb season without leaving behind the previous bulbs that would disturb the new layout or to reuse the next season.

Bulbs are used for the rest of the description: bulbs, rhizomes, tubers or onions.

Also, the improvement made to the module 10-11 allows the removal of said module with the plants arranged in the blind cells 18-11 but also to collect the bulbs.

The bulbs are rooted in the natural ground under the module but even if the basket is disengaged from the module, it remains visible protruding from the ground and especially allows the speaker to recover the bulb by simple traction.

Note that the various modules proposed and made according to the invention allow decorations following unlimited possibilities. This is how the The nature of the materials constituting the faces can be very varied in themselves and be embellished with surface decorations between the cells, for example aggregates.

The outer shapes of the modules can be very varied to comply with the geometry of the locations intended to receive them.

According to a complementary variant, the module 10-12 is adapted to produce three-dimensional configurations. The schematic view is shown in Figure 8. The module comprises a front face 12-12 and a rear face 14-12, at least one of the two faces in this case, the rear face being much longer than the front face.

The module has a parallelepipedal section and the cells are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the parallelepiped. As shown in FIG. 8, the module is intended to be implanted at the foot of a fence 3 for example and the cells contain climbing plants such as hedera helix.

The rear face is unwound and reported vertically over the height of the fence to form a vegetation development layer from the module itself, located at the foot. In a practical application, it is possible to commercialize rolled modules with highly advanced climbing plants because during the rolling of the rear face of the module around the parallelepiped containing the substrate, the creepers of the climbing plant are also rolling because they are generally flexible . Advantageously, transverse stiffeners allow to avoid any deformation and any constraint to the plant during transport because there is resumption of compression efforts.

According to another variant, it is possible to produce a central rolled module such as module 10-1 and comprising plants while laterally bonding to module, lateral wings for example made of lattice including stiffeners that can be deployed to increase the covered area ready to receive the progression of the development of plants.

In fact, it is sufficient to position the module and unroll the trellises to obtain a surface that can be covered by the plants as they grow, thus obtaining a large area covered from a reduced number of plants.

Such an application finds an interest in rapidly covering large areas, developed areas of motorway areas, certain park areas and public gardens.

Claims

1. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, said support being oriented horizontally, with a low or steep slope to the vertical isation, comprising at least one front face (12), at at least one rear face (14), a substrate (16) interposed between these at least two faces, the front face (12) at least comprising at least one blind cell (18) issuing from the at least one front face (12), the at least one cell having a bottom (22) secured to the rear face (14) closest by connecting means (24).

2. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to claim 1, characterized in that each cell consists of a hot deformation of the front face to the rear face and in that the link is performed simultaneously during this operation.

3. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front and rear faces (12, 14) consist of fiber mats, dimensions modules to be produced, and the substrate (16) itself is a composition of vegetable matter and / or mineral matter.

4. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to claim 3, characterized in that the substrate composition (16) is highly compacted to form panels having a certain rigidity.

5. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the composition of plant materials and / or mineral materials is supplemented by seeds and / or spores and / or seeds and / or nutrients.

6. Module adapted for planting a support S ground natural or artificial above ground, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises cells (18-1) made in both faces (12 -1) before and (14-1) rear, according to the same distribution so that these cells are joined by their fund substantially in a plane located mid-thickness.

7. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is double and comprises two faces (12-2) and ( 12-3) and a common rear face (14-2 / 14-3), the cells (18-2, 18-3) being formed from the two front faces towards said common rear face.

8. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is double (10-4) and (10-5) , a reinforcement (30-5) such as a lattice (34-5), integrated in the first module and deformations (32-5) allowing it to conform to the profile of the support S, as well as a tight film (28). -5) in the lower part.

9. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises partition walls (36-6), these partitions ensuring a retention of the water and in that it comprises to allow hydration and nutrient supply, a network (38-6) of flexible or rigid supply ducts.

10. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises reinforcements (30-7) with stiffeners (40 -7), these stiffeners (40-7) being open on both sides so that these emergent ends cooperate with attachment means (42-7) and in that it comprises cells (18-7 ) connecting the two front (12-7) and rear (14-7) faces, at least one of these cells comprising means (44-7) of retaining, these retaining means (44-7) in the form of a partial closure of the cell (18-7) concerned.

11. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement with a reinforcement (30-8) tubular combined with a network (38-8) of water supply ducts and nutrients integrated in said tubular reinforcement, this reinforcement being provided with lights to dispense fluids circulating and delivered by the sheaths.

12. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil or artificial soil, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in particular for the verticalization, it comprises on its front face (12-10) cells (18-10) having an axis of orientation inclined with respect to the plane of said module, these cells having all the same inclination so that during verticalization, the content of the cells is retained in said cells, said module being integrated in a box of a modular façade cladding.

13. Module adapted for planting a support S ground natural, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises cells (19-11) of the opening type, receiving baskets (48). -11) that fit into the cells and are retained.

14. Module adapted for planting a support S ground natural, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two front faces (12-12) and rear (14-12), at least one of the two faces being much longer than the other, said module being intended to be implanted at the foot of a fence Ç with the at least one long face being unrolled and vertically attached to the height of the fence to form a development layer of vegetation from the module itself, located at the foot.

15. Module adapted for the plant isat ion of a support S natural soil, according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises transverse stiffeners to avoid any deformation and any constraint to the plant during transport by recovery efforts compression.

16. Module adapted for planting a support S natural soil, according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it comprises a central module with plants and lateral wings connected to said module and able to be deployed to increase the covered area ready to receive the progression of the development of the plants.