ES2565127B2 - Water balance quantification system for irrigation system of potted plants. - Google Patents

Abstract

Water balance quantification system for irrigation system of potted plants comprising: # - a structure with a support surface of the pot (5), # - pot weighing means (8) arranged under the surface of support (1) so that the weight of the pot (5) rests on them, # - a first container (11) to allow the collection of water drained by the pot (5), # - first weighing means (12) to measure the weight of the first container (11), # - a second container (16) capable of containing water for irrigation of the plant, supported by a movable support (15), # - second weighing means (17) to measure the weight of the second container (16), # - an electrovalve (18) to control the emptying of the second container (16), # - a control unit (10) configured to obtain the weight of the water consumption of the plant.

Description

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control unit. This first drain solenoid valve will normally be open to collect the water drained by the pot, however, the possibility of closing it to control the water entering the container is contemplated.

5 According to another preferred embodiment, the system comprises a second drain solenoid valve configured to enable emptying of the first container, where said second drain solenoid valve is in communication with the control unit. This second drain solenoid valve will normally be closed to keep the water drained by the pot in the first container, however, the possibility of opening it for

10 empty said container in case it is full, or for the case in which it is desired to reduce its weight a desired value.

According to another preferred embodiment, the system comprises means for superiorly covering the part between the plant and the perimeter edge of the pot. Preferably

Said means for covering the pot comprise a film of plastic material. Thus, the system allows to differentiate between perspiration and evaporation from the evapotranspiration obtained, since by having the means to cover the pot superiorly, the system would prevent the evaporation of water, and the control unit would exclusively obtain the perspiration of the plant.

20 Preferably, the structure comprises height adjustable clamping legs to support the support surface. Thus, the invention guarantees the horizontality of the support surface in any type of soil and with any unevenness.

25 Preferably, the system comprises a porticoed configuration supported on the support surface to maintain a fixed trellis in a selected position. This trellis offers a support for arboreal or climbing plants, while the porticoed configuration allows to regulate the inclination of these plants thus allowing to easily modify the level of radiation intercepted by the plants throughout the day,

30 increasing or decreasing it depending on the degree of inclination of the plant with respect to the direction of the incident radiation.

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second weighing means 17 after the last irrigation with respect to the variation in weight recorded by the first weighing means 12 and the variation in weight of the pot 5 after the last irrigation.

5 In addition to quantifying the water consumption of the plant grown in the pot 5, the system allows optimizing irrigation, becoming an irrigation system and providing the amount of water required by each plant. In the irrigation system the control unit 10 is configured to activate the solenoid valve 18 arranged at the outlet of the second container 16 until the second weighing means 17 registers a weight decrease equal to

10 weight of water consumption obtained. The control unit 10 controls the activation of the solenoid valve 18 and therefore the emptying of the second tank 16. In this way, the control unit 10 can activate the solenoid valve to perform optimal, deficient or abundant irrigation.

15 In order to offer support to tree or climbing plants, the system incorporates a trellis 7, arranged on a porticoed configuration 6, supported on the support surface 1 and intended to keep the trellis 7 in a selected position.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of a part of the system. As you can see, the

20 system may comprise a first 9 and a second 13 drain solenoid valve. The first drain solenoid valve 9 is arranged to enable the entry of the water drained by the pot 5 into the first container 11, and the second drain solenoid valve 13 to enable the emptying of the first container 11. Both drain solenoid valves 9, 13 will be in communication with the control unit 10, which will govern its opening and closing in

25 function of preset conditions. Thus, the control unit 10 will allow the weight of the first container 11 to be varied.

Finally, in view of this description and figures, the person skilled in the art will be able to understand that the invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but

30 that multiple variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments, without departing from the object of the invention as claimed.

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Claims (1)

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