EP4188073A1

EP4188073A1 - Self-contained device for heating plants

Info

Publication number: EP4188073A1
Application number: EP21752671.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mathieu DUCAMP; Déborah DUCAMP
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Wineprotect
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2021-07-29
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Also published as: FR3112919A1; US20240245012A1; CN116322308A; WO2022023489A1; FR3112919B1

Abstract

Said device (1) comprises a radiation and/or convection heater element (3), a main housing (5) incorporating an electronic control system and a battery configured to power the electronic control system, an upper housing (8) comprising a photovoltaic panel for charging the battery, the device (1) further comprising a removable stake (7) removably attached to the main housing (5) and suitable for securing the device (1) in the soil.

Description

Title of the invention: SELF-CONTAINED HEATING DEVICE FOR PLANTS

The present invention relates to plant heating devices for maintaining the temperature of cultivated plants.

The present invention aims to constitute an autonomous device, that is to say which stores energy by photovoltaic effect, and which is automatically activated in the event of low temperature, making it possible to avoid the frost of the plants and in particular vines, and this throughout the growth of the plant.

[0003] STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0004] Heating systems are known which make it possible to maintain plants at temperature. Nevertheless, the known systems are not autonomous, in energy and in operation, which prevents them from being left outside or implies that they require remote activation. There are also systems that are self-contained but which store heat and release it, which only allows minimal and short-term heating, these systems furthermore not being controllable by the user.

[0005] The need to overcome the problems encountered on existing devices has led to the present invention.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a device for heating plants on the ground capable of combining the advantages of autonomy, simplicity and reliability for its implementation.

[0008] In view of the foregoing, the subject of the invention is a device comprising a heating element, a main casing integrating an electronic control system and a battery configured to supply said electronic control system, an upper casing comprising a photovoltaic panel adapted to charge said battery, the device further comprising a removable stake removably linked to said main housing and adapted to fix the device in earthy ground.

[0009] Preferably, the device comprises means for stacking said device on another copy of the same device and from which the removable post is removed, the stacking means being arranged on the one hand on the main housing and on the other hand. elsewhere on the upper case.

[0010] For example, the post is adapted to be able to be removably fitted onto the stacking means arranged on the main casing.

[0011] Advantageously, the upper housing comprises a disc plate and the photovoltaic panels cover said disc plate, and the stacking means arranged on the upper housing are cylindrical and centered on the center of the disc plate.

[0012]According to one embodiment, the heating element is suitable for emitting heating by radiation and comprises a light-emitting diode with infrared emission surrounded by an optical diffuser.

[0013] In one embodiment, the optical diffuser comprises acrylic.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the heating element may comprise a light source and a reflector, in particular a dichroic reflector. This type of reflector makes it possible to reflect only the infrared radiation of the light source. Where appropriate, the light source may include a halogen lamp.

[0015] Advantageously, the electronic control system comprises a temperature sensor configured to switch on the heating element as soon as the measured temperature falls below a preconfigured threshold temperature.

[0016] The device may further comprise a light-emitting diode which integrates the main housing and is configured to indicate the current operation of the device.

[0017] Preferably, at least one of the main housing and the upper housing comprises high density polyethylene.

The invention also relates to a device having a cap covering the stacking means arranged on the upper casing.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the heating element can be integrated into the main housing.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the heating element can be removable with regard to the main housing, the heating element being electrically connected to the main housing, and in particular to the battery and/or to the electronic control system, by one or more electrical connection cables. In this embodiment, the heating element can thus be fixed as close as possible to the plant intended to be heated.

[0021] Advantageously, the heating element may comprise a fixing member, for example a hook or a clip. This fixing member makes it possible in particular to fix the heating element on a support device for the plant intended to be heated, such as a stake, a stake or even a trellising wire, of the carrier or lifter type.

Preferably, the device according to the invention may comprise a plurality of heating elements each electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the main housing. For example, the heating elements could be mounted in series with each other and with the main housing.

The invention will be better understood on detailed study of a few embodiments taken by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] [Fig 1] shows a front view of a heating device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0025] [Fig 2] shows an exploded view of the same device;

[0026] [Fig 3] shows a front view of three devices of the invention which are stacked;

[0027] [Fig 4] shows a detailed view of the stacking means;

[0028] [Fig 5] shows a perspective view of a heating device according to a second embodiment of the invention. [0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[00S0] Figure 1 illustrates the device 1 for heating plants on the ground.

[00S1] The device 1 comprises for this purpose a heating element S.

[0032] The heating element 3 can be configured to emit radiant heating, convection heating or a combination of both.

By "heating by radiation" is meant heating radiating from said element 3 and towards the various surfaces encountered by the rays emitted.

This heating element 3, if suitable for heating by radiation, is suitable for emitting heating by direct radiation towards and around the ground surfaces when an electric current passes through it.

[0035] For example, the heating element 3 configured for heating by com radiation carries an infrared emission light-emitting diode 17.

[0036] A device 1 is thus obtained which generates radiant heating which minimizes the ray that is only visible to humans, and therefore unwanted lighting. Infrared radiation is particularly recommended for plants, especially vines.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the infrared diode 17 may be surrounded by an optical diffuser 19, to protect the infrared diode 17 and to direct its radiation on all of the surrounding surfaces.

The optical diffuser 19 may comprise acrylic, a resistant and transparent material particularly suitable for the desired light diffusion.

The optical diffuser 19 is composed of two concentric covers which disperse the light produced by the infrared diode 17.

[0040] The heating element 3 can be configured to emit heating by convection, that is to say heating the surrounding air.

The heating element 3, if it is suitable for heating by convection, can be configured as a convector, that is to say to heat the air located around the device 1 by a heating body for example by Joule effect and to allow at the same time a circulation of air thanks to a blower member.

The blower member is therefore integrated into the heating element 3, so that its blower function is coupled to that of the heating device 1.

In particular, provision may be made for a heating element 3 comprising a heating body on which a blower member (not shown) of the electric fan type known to those skilled in the art blows.

The blower member may or may not be coupled to a radiant heating function of the heating element 3.

Thus, the heating element 3 can for example emit heating by direct radiation towards a specific surface of the heating element 3, in particular of the heating body, on which the blower blows, which makes it possible to combine the heating elements by convection and radiation from the heating element 3. In addition, the device 1 thus recovers the natural movement of air circulation caused by the temperature differences between the ambient air and the heating element.

[0047] In all its possible embodiments, the heating element 3 therefore makes it possible both to help with heating and with the movement of the surrounding air in order to reduce the accumulation of frost.

The device 1 comprises a main housing 5 located under the heating element 3.

The main box 5 incorporates an electronic control system and a rechargeable battery.

[0050] The rechargeable battery can of course consist of a plurality of coupled batteries, in particular rechargeable batteries or a main battery coupled to an auxiliary battery.

The electronic control system contains a PCB, the rechargeable battery and the internal electronic components of the device 1, in particular the heating element 3 and any fan.

The rechargeable battery is configured to power said electronic control system electrically.

The device 1 further comprises an upper casing 8 overhanging the heating element 3.

Preferably, at least one of the main housing 5 and the upper housing 8 comprises high density polyethylene, this material being particularly stable and resistant.

[0055] The upper casing 8 has an outer cylindrical wall 9.

The upper case 8 supports a photovoltaic panel used to convert sunlight into electricity.

The photovoltaic panel is therefore suitable for charging the battery during the day thanks to solar radiation, so that the device 1 can be activated at night by the electrical energy accumulated in the battery, since it is essentially all night that It is important to prevent the formation of frost on the vines.

We can also provide a recharging port 21 for recharging the battery by connecting a power cable connected to the electrical network.

[0059] The upper casing 8 may include a disc plate 11.

As shown, the plate 11 is arranged above the heating element 3 and so that the photovoltaic panels cover the disc plate 11.

Thus, the disc plate 11 allows optimal exposure of the photovoltaic panel, but also a concentration and a return downwards of the heat produced by the heating element 3.

[0062] The electronic control system may include a temperature sensor of the thermostat type configured to turn on the heating element 3 (and therefore a fortiori, if necessary, the ignition of the blower member of the heating element 3 ) as soon as the measured temperature drops below a preconfigured threshold temperature. For example, a threshold temperature of four degrees Celsius will be configured, below which the sensor triggers the activation of the heating function.

It is also possible to provide that crossing a maximum temperature threshold detected by the same sensor triggers the deactivation of the device 1, for example of the order of five degrees, to avoid any overheating.

[0065] Provision may be made for automatic ignition to be authorized only after the ignition of an ignition control switch 20, this same switch 20 therefore serving to switch off the device 1.

The device may further comprise a light-emitting diode 22 integrated into the main box 5 configured to indicate the current operation of the device 1.

[0067] Thus, it is possible to immediately identify the devices 1 which are in the process of heating the plants on the ground, for example if the diode 22 is lit in green, whereas the absence of ignition of this diode 22 indicates that device 1 is off.

The same diode 22 can also light up in other colors to provide other indications, for example in red to indicate a standby state or in orange to indicate a need to recharge the battery.

As illustrated more particularly by Figure 3, the device 1 comprises stacking means 6,10 of said device 1 on another copy of the same device 1.

[0070] It is thus possible to place a device 1 on the wall 9 to form a tower having a plurality of devices 1 so as to adapt the supply of heat to the height of the plants to be heated, which is particularly advantageous in the event of climbing vines.

The wall 9 serves as a reinforcing element structuring the tower thus formed. In particular, provision is made for a maximum stacking of five units of device 1.

The stacking means 10 which are arranged on the upper housing 8 are cylindrical and centered on the center of the disc plate 11, concentrically with respect to the panel also centered on the disc plate.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the stacking means on the upper base 9 comprises tent, in this example, a female element formed of a wide tube 10, adapted to accommodate the stacking means arranged on the base upper 9 formed of a male element 6 consisting of a narrower tube 6.

Thus, the narrower tube 6 constitutes a hollow male element.

The surface of the photovoltaic panel exposed to the sun is thus uniformly distributed towards the periphery of the disc plate 11, which increases the daily exposure time to the sun of said panel compared to configurations in which the panel would not be centered in this way.

The device 1 further comprises a removable stake 7 removably linked to said main housing 5 and adapted to fix the device 1 in earthy ground.

[0077] For example, the stake 7 is adapted to be able to be removably fitted onto the stacking means 6 arranged on the main box 5. [0078] Thus, the hollow of the hollow male element 6 which consists of a hollow tube 6, constitutes a connection adapted to accommodate the stake 7.

In particular, it comprises in known manner a pointed extension connected by four substantially perpendicular thin walls.

The post 7 has an elongation of the order of one hundred and sixty millimeters, when the total height of the device equipped with a post 7 is of the order of four hundred millimeters.

[0081] When the removable stake 7 is removed, the stacking means 6.10 arranged on the one hand on the main housing 5 and on the other hand on the upper housing 8 give the possibility of fitting two devices 1.

The device 1 may also include a cap 13 covering the stacking means 10 arranged on the upper casing 8, which makes it possible to protect the upper casing 8.

There is shown in Figure 5 a heating device 100 according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0084] Similar to device 1 of the preceding figures, this device 100 comprises a main box 101 integrating an electronic control system and a rechargeable battery as well as an upper box 102 supporting a photovoltaic panel for charging the battery of the main box 101. These elements being substantially identical to those of Figure 1, they will not be described again.

The device 100 further comprises a removable stake 103 removably linked to said main housing 101 and adapted to fix the device 100 in earthy ground. In this example, the stake 103 is fixed to the main housing 101 via clamping means 104 seen from a housing making it possible to accommodate and retain the stake 103. It will also be noted that in this example, the stake 103 supports the upper box 102, which is therefore connected to the main box 101 only by an electric cable.

The heating device also comprises a plurality of heating elements 105. Each heating element 105 comprises a halogen lamp and a dichroic reflector 106 on which is fitted a fixing hook. Each heating element 105 can thus be fixed, via its fixing hook, on a trellising wire of a culture, carrier or lifter, in order to be arranged as close as possible to one or more plants intended to be heated.

The heating elements 105 are electrically connected in series to each other by cables 107, as well as to the main box 101, in order to be able to be controlled and powered.

Claims

[Claim 1] Heating device (1, 100) for plants comprising a heating element (3, 105), a main box (5, 101) incorporating an electronic control system and a battery configured to power said electronic control system , an upper casing (8, 102) comprising a photovoltaic panel adapted to charge said battery, the device (1) further comprising a removable stake (7, 103) detachably linked to said main casing (5, 101) and adapted to securing the device (1, 100) in earthy ground.

[Claim 2] Device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising stacking means (6,10) of said device (1) on another copy of the same device (1) and whose removable post (7) is removed, the stacking means (6,10) being arranged on the one hand on the main casing (5) and on the other hand on the upper casing (8).

[Claim 3] Device (1) according to claim 2, in which the post (7) is adapted to be able to be fitted in a removable manner on the stacking means (6) arranged on the main casing (5).

[Claim 4] Device (1) according to either of Claims 2 and 3, in which the upper casing (8) comprises a disc plate (11) and the photovoltaic panels cover the said disc plate (11), and the means for stack (10) arranged on the upper housing (8) are cylindrical and centered on the center of the disc plate (11).

[Claim 5] A device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (3) is configured to emit radiant heating, the heating element (3) comprising an emitting light emitting diode infrared (17) surrounded by an optical diffuser (19).

[Claim 6] A device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the optical diffuser (19) comprises acrylic.

[Claim 7] A device (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (105) comprises a light source and a reflector (106).

[Claim 8] A device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating element (3) is configured to emit convection heating, the heating element (3) comprising a blower .

[Claim 9] Device (1, 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic control system comprises a sensor of temperature configured to turn on the heating element (3, 105) when the measured temperature falls below a preconfigured threshold temperature.

[Claim 10] A device (1, 100) according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the main housing (5, 101) and the top housing (8, 102) comprises high density polyethylene.

[Claim 11] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims combined with claim 2, comprising a cap (13) covering the stacking means (10) arranged on the upper casing (8).

[Claim 12] Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the heating element (105) is removable with respect to the main housing (101), the heating element being electrically connected to the main housing by one or more electrical connection cables (107).

[Claim 13] Device (100) according to the preceding claim, the device comprising a plurality of heating elements (105) electrically connected to the main housing (101).