FR2710494A1 - Plant support device for soilless cultivation - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a section (1) which forms a flow channel for a nutrient liquid and which includes at least one main part (2) capable of receiving and supporting the plants, as well as a flow gutter (3), extending along the said plane part (2), which slopes slightly so as to emerge via its lowest edge (20) into the said gutter (3). Soilless cultivation, horticulture or market gardening.

Description

PLANT SUPPORT DEVICE FOR ABOVE GROUND GROWING

  The present invention relates to a support device for

plants for culture above ground.

  The principle of the culture above ground consists in making take and develop the roots of the plants in a substrate soaked with a nutritive liquid. This kind of culture is mainly used by horticulturalists or professional market gardeners, for the production of flowers,

  fruits or vegetables, for example tomatoes.

  The substrate is a neutral material such as a woolen bread

  rock, pozzolan or a cellulosic material for example.

  The nutrient liquid contains the various elements necessary for plant growth. It is brought to the plants by an appropriate distribution network, the liquid being generally distributed to the

  drip at the base of each plant.

  To the knowledge of the applicant, there is no support device for the substrate (and for the plants which grow on the latter)

  which is specifically adapted to soilless cultivation.

  In general, this culture is done empirically, the substrate being placed on the ground on a perforated plastic sheet, which it is not possible to use from one year to the next. The flatness of the support is imperfect, so that the substrate is not soaked homogeneously by the nutrient liquid. It follows that some plants are insufficiently fed while others receive an excessive amount of liquid. In addition, the liquid can often flow fairly freely from one plant to the next plant, which poses a high risk of

  contamination of crops when a plant is sick.

  Some horticulturalists place the substrate in a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) container. This type of bin is reusable. However, it does not resolve the problems mentioned above, relating to the non-homogeneity of the supply of nutritive liquid, and to the propagation of the

contamination between plants.

  The object of the invention is to solve these problems by proposing a reusable support device, the design of which allows a controlled and homogeneous supply of the nutritive liquid to each plant, as well as a discharge of the excess liquid, without it can reach another plant. Another objective of the invention is to propose a light support device, of a low cost, easily handy and usable, and storable in a small volume, in order to be able to be transported or stored under a small footprint in period of non-use, of a season of

production to another.

  These various results are achieved in accordance with the invention thanks to the fact that this device comprises a profile forming a channel for the flow of the nutritive liquid and which comprises at least one flat main part capable of receiving and supporting the plants, and a gutter of flow along said flat part, the latter being slightly sloping so as to emerge by its lowest edge in

said gutter.

  Furthermore, according to a certain number of additional, non-limiting characteristics of the invention: - the profile is produced by folding a metal sheet - the profile has a section allowing the profiles to fit together; - the angle formed by the flat part with the horizontal is between 1 and 2 degrees; - The device is equipped with shutter elements adaptable transversely on the profile to prevent the flow of the nutritive liquid if necessary; - The device comprises a pipe for circulation of a heat transfer fluid, which extends longitudinally under said flat main part; - The profile has a single flat part opening into a lateral gutter; the profile has a section of symmetrical shape with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane, and comprises two planar parts opening out

  in a single central gutter.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear

  tront from the description and attached drawings, which represent

  preferred embodiments.

  In these drawings: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the section constituting the device; - Figure 2 is an end view of the same profile - Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an above-ground culture practiced using a device according to the invention; - Figure 4 shows in perspective the end area of the profile, in an application where the plants are in pots; - Figures 5 and 6 are end views of two other modes

profile production.

  The profile shown in Figures 1 and 2 is obtained by folding a thin metal sheet. The metal used is chosen to resist corrosion, in particular humidity and attack by rodents. It's about

  for example of a metal based on aluminized steel.

  Of course, any other suitable material could be

  used, for example a molded plastic.

  This profile, referenced 1, comprises a flat main part 2. One of the longitudinal edges 21 of the part 2 is extended laterally by a rising part 50 which is itself connected to a part

  descending forming edge 5, greater height than part 50.

  Parts 50 and 5 form a dihedral, the point of which is

directed upwards.

  The lower edge of part 5 is folded outwards

  to form a rim 51 for supporting the ground.

  The opposite longitudinal edge 20 of the flat part 2 is connected to a gutter of generally semi-cylindrical shape 3. This has an approximately vertical outer edge 4 provided with its

  high end of a flange 40 folded outwards.

  As seen in Figure 2, which shows the profile 1 resting on a flat and horizontal floor 10, the ground support is on one side by

  the folded edge 51 and the other by the bottom of the gutter 3.

  Parts 4 and 5 have substantially the same height h. According to a characteristic of the invention, the main part

  plane 2 forms an acute angle u, of small value, relative to the horizontal.

  It therefore descends gently towards the gutter 3, and opens into it on the side of its lowest longitudinal edge 20. Preferably, the angle u is between 1 and 2 degrees, the slope of part 2 corresponding for example at a drop of

  2.5 mm over a distance of 100 mm (tangent u = 0.025).

  As an indication, the width I of the profile is between 10 and 25 cm, its height h is between 4 and 6.5 cm, and its length L is

between 1.50 m and 4 m.

  The length can even be much greater, especially limited by the constraints of transport on a semi-trailer vehicle

(maximum length of 12 m).

  To use this device for an above ground culture, we

  places end-to-end, in line with each other, several profiles 1.

  The profiles are placed on a slightly sloping floor lengthwise, so that the nutrient liquid can flow gently,

  under the effect of gravity, along the gutters.

  This slope, in longitudinal direction, corresponds by

  example at a drop of the order of 3 for I 000.

  As can be immediately understood from a simple observation of FIG. 2, the section of the profile is devoid of any re-entrant part, which allows the interlocking of several profiles one in

others.

  For use in above-ground cultivation, the profiles are not only placed end-to-end, but also interlocked by their

  end zones adjacent to each other.

  In order to allow the flow without leaks, this interlocking is of course done in such a way that the end zone of the upstream profile covers the adjacent end zone of the downstream profile, in the manner

  of the assembly of the tiles of a roof.

  As can also be seen from the simple observation of FIG. 2, the flat part 2 is spaced from the ground. This free space can advantageously be taken advantage of for the passage of a conduit carrying

  a heat transfer fluid, allowing the temperature of the crops to be controlled.

  This is for example a heating pipe, referenced 8 to the

figure 3.

  We have designated by the reference S a known type of substrate (for example rock wool) which is placed on part 2 and is supported

by the latter.

  Plants A are arranged regularly along the substrate. As an indication, if we are dealing with tomato plants,

  the spacing of the plants is 40 cm.

  The width of the substrate S corresponds approximately to that of the part 2 of the profile, so that the gutter 3 is

completely clear.

  On the edge opposite the gutter is arranged a conduit 7 for feeding the nutritive liquid. The conduit 7 runs along the profile. It carries a certain number of distributor tips 70 provided with a drip supply system which opens near the base of each plant A. As already mentioned above, the ground is slightly sloping, the

  direction of descent being symbolized by arrow f in Figure 3.

  At the downstream end of the channel shown in Figure 3, which consists of a set of profiles placed end to end, is arranged a

transverse gutter 6.

  The arrows i symbolize the circulation of the nutritive liquid in the installation. The liquid arrives at the foot of each plant through the conduit 7, then through a dispensing nozzle 70. This liquid will soak the substrate in the vicinity of the plant. Due to the inclination of part 2, on which the substrate rests, the excess liquid flows laterally into the gutter 3. In this regard, it should be noted that the slope of part 2 in the transverse direction is significantly larger than in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the excess liquid cannot spread to the neighboring plant further downstream, which eliminates the risks of mutual contamination. Once in the gutter, the excess liquid gently descends in the longitudinal direction, to the end gutter 6 which discharges it. Advantageously, the liquid thus collected is treated and then recycled, that is to say reintroduced into the supply duct 7. By bringing hot water into the duct 8, it is possible to increase the temperature of the

  substrate, which can be useful in certain times of the year.

  Conversely, it is of course possible to lower the temperature of the

  substrate by circulating cold water in the pipe 8.

  Pipe 8 also has the advantage of supporting the part

plane 2 and prevent it from sagging.

  Profile I can also be used to support

  P pot plants such as that shown in Figure 4.

  The pots rest by their bottom pierced on the flat part 2. They

  are evenly distributed along the profiles.

  In this application, the supply of nutritive liquid to the plant is done in a particular way, by tidal effect. For this, we bring the nutritive liquid in the gutter 3 then we increase the level of the liquid so that it also covers part 2. The plant can then

  absorb it by capillary action, through the opening in the bottom of the pot.

  This supply of nutritive liquid can be done simultaneously over the entire length of the channel, the latter being previously isolated between two

  shutter elements, or plugs 9, mounted at its ends.

  It is for example a molded plastic part whose cross section corresponds to the cross section of the profile, such

  so that it can be nested there without play and, in a waterproof way.

  In the embodiment of Figure 4, the element

  shutter 9 has, at the level of the gutter 3, an opening 90.

  It is possible to close the opening 90 with an appropriate plug (not shown). This opening serves to receive the end piece of a conduit for distributing the nutritive liquid, so that the

  liquid in the profile gutter, between the two plugs.

  The liquid is therefore distributed in the gutter and will gradually fill the inside of the profile, to bathe the base of the

P pots supported by the track.

  When the operation is finished, the excess liquid is allowed to flow out by gravity out of the gutter. In a possible mode of use according to which the substrate is a loose material which also covers the gutter, the latter receives a

drainage pipe.

  In the embodiment of Figure 5, the profile 1 'has a slightly inclined plane 2' similar to that of the first embodiment. However, the gutter 3 'has a U-shaped section. FIG. 6 represents a profile 1 "whose cross section has a shape symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane V. The profile has a central gutter 3" into which open out two inclined planes 2 "arranged on either side of the gutter. Each flat part 2" is capable of receiving a substrate of

  cultivation above ground, or a row of pots.

  Other profile shapes, for example with three gutters

  can also be considered.

Claims (9)

  1. Device for supporting plants for cultivation above ground, these plants being intended to be supplied with a nutritive liquid, characterized in that it comprises a profile (1) forming a flow channel for the nutritive liquid and which comprises at least a flat main part (2) capable of receiving and supporting the plants, and a drain gutter (3) running along said flat part (2), the latter being slightly sloping so as to open out at its lowest edge (20 ) in said gutter (3).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   that the profile (1) is produced by folding a metal sheet.   3. Device according to claim I or 2, characterized in that the profile (1) has a section allowing the interlocking of the profiles into each other.   4. Device according to one of claims I to 3, characterized   by the fact that the angle (u) formed by the flat part (2) with the horizontal is between I and 2 degrees.   5. Device according to one of claims I to 4, characterized   by the fact that it comprises shutter elements (9) adaptable transversely on the profile to prevent the flow of liquid nutrient.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the shutter elements (9) have, at the level of the gutter, a   opening (90) for passage of a conduit (91).   7. Device according to one of claims I to 6, characterized   by the fact that it comprises a pipe (8) for circulating a heat transfer fluid, which extends longitudinally under said main part plane (2).   8. Device according to one of claims I to 7, characterized   by the fact that the profile (1) has a single flat part (2; 2 ')   opening into a lateral gutter (3; 3 ').   9. Device according to one of claims I to 8, characterized   by the fact that the profile (1) has a section of symmetrical shape with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane, and comprises two flat parts (2 ")   opening into a single central gutter (3 ").