ES2767854A1 - Installation and irrigation procedure (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Irrigation installation, starting from a water tank (1) and through water transport pipes (5, 7), which includes buried irrigation stations (8) formed by an inverted container (9) with side walls (91) and upper cover (92), so that the cover (92) has an inlet from the pipes (5, 7) and a bleed valve (94) configured to allow the passage of gas but not of water. The purge valve (94) can be connected to an evacuation hose (95) whose end emerges from the ground. The connection of the pipes (5, 7) to the tank (1) can comprise a valve (6) configured to allow the pipes (5, 7) to communicate with the environment. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Installation and irrigation procedure

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention refers to a localized irrigation installation, which improves the use of water and fertilizers. It also refers to the irrigation procedure. It is applicable in the agricultural industry.

STATE OF THE ART

Water has historically been a determining factor in agricultural production. A large part of all arable areas both in Spain and in the rest of the world suffer from insufficient rainfall, which with some regularity occurs at the least favorable time for crops.

Trying to correct these situations, irrigation systems have been developed that aim to be increasingly efficient in the management and conservation of water. One of the most successful systems, widely accepted and used, is that of localized irrigation, which consists of providing water in the place where it is most needed, where the roots develop. In addition to this more efficient application of water, it is possible to drive the necessary fertilizers through it at the most appropriate time.

The main types of localized irrigation are drip irrigation (surface or underground), pipe by emitting pipes (dripping or exuding) and micro-spray irrigation.

In drip irrigation it is the most favorable. Water is applied only in the vicinity of the plant, through drippers. It is the one that best uses water, especially in tree plantations, in addition to allowing fertigation (watering with fertilizers dissolved in the water). However, maintenance and installation are expensive, complicated to operate, and damage from theft or from animals that break the pipes. Underground drip irrigation is the most efficient, but it is even more expensive and complex, and the pipes and drippers can be blocked by the roots.

The applicant is not aware of any installation similar to the invention.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of an irrigation installation according to the claims. It also refers to the irrigation procedure that is performed with it.

The irrigation installation of the invention improves the listed advantages and solves all the disadvantages previously exposed. It is a system in which the supply of water to the environment of the plant is not carried out drop by drop, so that the clogging of the pipes does not take place. Instead, the water comes through pipes of relatively large diameter.

The water arrives with a large flow, for a short time, and is centered in an inverted container from which it is distributed throughout the land, so the roots do not have a single point from which they receive the water. These containers can be placed around the plant, to further expand the surface of the roots in all directions around the tree. The system allows to apply the water that the plant needs in time and quantity, as well as the necessary fertilizer diluted in the water.

The irrigation installation is of the type that starts from a water tank and redistributes it through pipes. In addition, it includes underground irrigation stations to provide water to the plant. Each irrigation station is made up of an inverted container with side walls and a top cover. That is, it lacks soil. The cover has an inlet from the pipes and a purge valve configured to allow the passage of gas, in both directions, but not water. The container is empty in idle conditions, without soil or other material.

The purge valve can be connected to the environment, to facilitate gas evacuation. In that case it includes an evacuation hose whose end emerges from the ground.

The pipes can be divided into one or more main pipes connected to the tank, from which blind secondary supply pipes of the irrigation stations arise. That is, the secondary pipes are closed at the free end. In this case, the cover can be connected to the corresponding secondary pipe by means of an individual hose.

ep so you can buy a super cr a for on e enra e agua. na e its functions is to support plant protection products or fertilizers for their dissolution with the incoming water to the tank. An eventual agitator may also assist in dissolution.

To ensure that the water effectively reaches the containers (9), it is preferable that the connection of the pipes to the tank comprises a valve configured to allow the pipes to communicate with the environment. Thus the pipes can be filled with air and completely emptied towards the irrigation stations.

The irrigation procedure starts from filling the inverted containers that form the irrigation stations in parallel. It is preferable to use a high flow rate (comparable to that applied in immersion irrigation, for example) to improve irrigation precision.

Other variants are described in the rest of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The description is accompanied by a series of figures in which particular examples of embodiment are represented, with essential and optional elements.

Figure 1: perspective view of the part of the tank in an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 2: Cut by the position of an irrigation station, according to an example of embodiment.

Figure 3: Top view of the irrigation stations arranged around a tree according to an application example.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is briefly described below, as an illustrative and non-limiting example thereof.

The exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises planting trees in a 7x6 meter frame. It is necessary to specify the type of tree since the lattice constitution is relevant to define the conditions of the installation. Some roots can reach 6 meters deep, while other trees such as the orange tree barely exceed one meter.

The flow will also be a function of the type of tree, the weather, the slope of the terrain, etc.

The embodiment comprises a tank (1), which will normally have a screen (2). The tank (1) is fed from a well, from a raft, etc. without it being relevant. The screen (2) ensures that no foreign matter enters besides the water. For example it can have a step of a quarter of a millimeter.

An opening (3) in the tank (1) or in the screen (2) allows to add the fertilizer, which does not need to be liquid, but must be loose, in balls, grains, powder, ... In the case that use liquid fertilizer (more expensive), it can be added through the sieve (2).

A stirrer (4) can be arranged in the tank (1), to facilitate the mixing or dissolution of the fertilizer. It is also possible to place it on the screen (2) and pass the water through it, gradually dissolving the fertilizer.

The tank (1) has one or more outlets to one or more main pipes (5), for example, 60 mm in diameter with their stopcocks and, as needed, pumps. A valve (6) allows the main pipes (5) to communicate with the environment to facilitate their emptying at the end of the irrigation, even with the tank (1) full. Preferably the tank (1) is raised so that a pump is not necessary once the tank (1) has been filled, the fluid circulating by gravity and by the principles of the communicating vessels, including a possible siphon.

From the main pipes (5) emerge a series of blind secondary pipes (7) that run through the entire plot, through the base of the trees (40-100 cm from the trunk (T), for example). In the represented case, the secondary pipes (7) are every 6-7 meters. The secondary pipes (7) have a smaller diameter than the main pipes (5), for example 40 mm. The secondary pipes (7) can also have their respective stopcocks. The secondary pipes (7) are buried, generally 10-15 cm deep. The depth depends on the type of tillage to be carried out.

The secondary pipes (7) will have irrigation stations (8) at the height of each tree or plant. The number of irrigation stations (8) for each plant will depend on the reticular diameter, the capacity of the irrigation station (8) and the preferences of the grower, but it will generally be two to five with deeper roots and five to They see a root with less deep roots. In the case of a dam or, in each case, four irrigation stations (8) will be located, at a distance of approximately one meter from the trunk (T).

An example of these irrigation stations (8) can be seen in figure 2. These irrigation stations (8) comprise an inverted container (9), with side walls (91) and an upper cover (92) but lacking, at the less partially, of ground. The container (9) can be cylindrical, frustoconical, etc. For example, it can be cylindrical, 40 cm high and 10 cm radius. The measurements will depend on the irrigation objectives, the number of irrigation stations (8), and the flow that will be achieved from the tank (1). If the flow is small, it can be watered more times a day with less container capacity (9). It is also interesting to have smaller containers (9) when the irrigation is shallow. This way the water is distributed more and the price is not too high due to the shallow depth.

The cover (92) has the inlet from the corresponding secondary pipe (7). This inlet can be through a single hose (93). It also has a purge valve (94) to allow the passage of any air or gas in the soil, facilitating the diffusion of water through the soil or the filling of the container (9). The bleed valve 94, however, does not allow water to pass through, for which it may, for example, have a floating element as is known in the art.

The purge valve (94) can be connected to the environment through an evacuation hose (95), which preferably emerges near the trunk (T) to separate it from the tillage areas. If the volume of the container (9) is small, the evacuation hose (95) can have its free end buried, protected from the entrance of dirt or roots (with a grid, for example, or upside down). Preferably it will be embedded in a gravel area.

In use, the water in the tank (1) will quickly reach the inverted containers (9) and will fill them in parallel. As with the drip system, the water will be more easily channeled through the pipeline where it receives more pressure or loses less load, filling in some areas before others. In practice, this is irrelevant, since the containers (9) will fill up and prevent the passage of more water. The filling speed is relevant so that the soil does not have time to absorb too much water. Depending on the size of the installation, it can be up to 10-20 minutes.

n a ses n e rego is enar e orma sm ar o as acecones e rego installed. From that moment on, the water will be absorbed by the soil with a speed that will depend on the permeability of the soil and the moment of irrigation, among others, but with the closed flow.

The floor of the container (9) will be free, without obstacles, when the floor is not very permeable. But if it is permeable, the opening can be limited with a crown-shaped insert (not shown) or the like that reduces its useful surface. The insert is coupled to the side walls (91) of the container (9) hermetically. This gives more time to fill the container (9) without too much water permeating. The crown may be finished in a tube that is inserted into the ground.

Claims (1)

1- Irrigation installation, starting from a water tank (1) and through pipes (5,7) characterized by comprising underground irrigation stations (8) formed by an inverted container (9) with side walls (91) and upper cover (92), so that the cover (92) has an inlet from the pipes (5,7) and a bleed valve (94) configured to allow the passage of gas but not of water. 2- Irrigation installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that the purge valve (94) comprises an evacuation hose (95) whose end emerges from the ground. 3- Irrigation installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more main pipes (5) connected to the tank, from which secondary blind pipes (7) for feeding the irrigation stations (8) arise. 4- Irrigation installation, according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover (92) is connected to the corresponding secondary pipe (7) by means of an individual hose (93). 5- Irrigation installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (1) comprises an upper screen (2). 6- Irrigation installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (1) comprises an agitator (4). 7- Irrigation installation, according to claim 3, characterized in that the secondary pipes (7) are buried. 8- Irrigation installation, according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection of the pipes (5,7) to the tank (1) comprises a valve (6) configured to allow the pipes (5,7) to communicate with the environment. 9- Irrigation procedure, with the installation of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the installation of several buried irrigation stations (8) formed by two inverted recipients (9) communicated with a tank (1) through pipes (5 , 7) near the plants to be watered and filling the containers (9) in parallel from the tank (1).