FR2846515A1 - Pot plant watering system comprises tank of water with manually-primed siphon and flow controller with micro-balls for long-term watering - Google Patents

Abstract

The watering system consists of a tank of water (R) set above the height of the plant pot (P), a siphon (1, 1') which is instantly primed by a supple manually-operated pump (3), and a flow controller in the form of a tube (6) with micro-balls to give a drop-by-drop feed over a prolonged period of time. The outlet end of the tube has a filter to let water through while retaining sand particles and the micro-balls, which are between 0.2 and 0.6 mm in diameter.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

  The invention relates to apparatus for watering potted plants comprising a water flow system interposed between a container of water and at least one pot at

  by means of a pipe which comprises at least one flow limiter.

  The invention relates more precisely to a stand-alone device which automatically performs watering of potted plants over long periods (several weeks).

  STATE OF THE PRIOR ART, AND PROBLEM POSED

  This watering is usually done: * outdoors, by devices connected to the water distribution network and

  controlled by electric programmers and including a flow limiter.

  * indoors, by placing pots containing the plants in a large container

  of water (which can lead to excess irrigation), by using a tank with incorporated reservoir, or else by capillary action by means of fibers (cotton, wool) or porous diffusers connected to a container.

  Most of these devices are to be mounted by the user, or require

priming manipulations.

  The solutions retained outside are rarely used indoors because of the risks

  related to pressurized water, and electricity.

  The need expressed by individuals, especially when they are away from their home, is simple to use equipment, adaptable to the needs of the plants, with no set-up to be carried out, with an autonomy of one to four weeks. ,

  and which does not present any risk of flooding of the dwelling, nor any risk linked to electricity.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

  The device which is the subject of the invention meets the above-mentioned need in that: * it is ready for use * it is completely autonomous (no connection to the water distribution network, no use of electricity) and uses only the potential energy of water as the only energy, which eliminates the risks mentioned above 30 * it is very reliable * it is adjustable in flow rate * a check of correct operation can be carried out at any time According to the invention the flow restrictor comprises a chamber containing a plurality of

  insoluble beads so as to obtain a controlled flow.

  According to another important characteristic, the balls are microbeads.

  The operating principle, based on a siphon priming function followed by a flow limiter function, is as follows: A siphon is hung on the edge of a water container. At the outlet of this siphon is connected a "priming pump", flexible hose which allows a simple pressure to evacuate the air and instantly prime the siphon (the air evacuates upstream in the water container when the body of the flexible hose is compressed, then the water is sucked into the cavity of the flexible body when it returns to its initial shape - this implies that the volume of this cavity is at least double of the volume of the siphon. In the lower part of this cavity is connected a pipe (or more) containing microbeads (glass for example) spherical and of the same size (almost identical or homogeneous diameters in a maximum ratio of 2, and between 0 , 2 and 0.6 mm), the column (or 10 them) of beads thus formed allows only a very slow flow of water

  (drip) to one (or more) plant.

  The flow of water in a column of identical spherical beads obeys the law

  de Darcy that the flow is proportional to the square of the diameter of the balls.

  Note: In order to obtain high reliability, the present apparatus does not use hydrophilic material, nor common granular materials whose performance is not stable over time. It uses micro-balls of the same diameter, or at least of homogeneous diameters (maximum ideal ratio of 2 between the maximum diameters and the minimum diameters)

DESCRIPTION

  FIG. 1 schematically represents a device for watering potted plants, comprising a water flow system interposed between a container of water R and at least a pot P by means of a pipe which comprises at least a flow limiter. According to the invention, the flow limiter comprises a chamber 6 containing a plurality 25 of insoluble balls 7 so as to obtain a controlled drip flow at the outlet. Figure 1 shows the implementation of the device with a siphon 1 and 1 'in flexible pipe, a part 2 in the shape of an inverted U in which the pipe 1 and 1' can slide, a "priming pump" 3 , then the chamber 6 filled with glass beads 7 which allow the low water flow (see also Figure 2). The chamber 6 is formed by a pipe, the ends of which are connected, on the one hand, upstream, to an intermediate piece 5 having an inner funnel-shaped shape, the inlet of which carries a filter plug 8, the volume of this funnel being filled with balls 7, and on the other hand, downstream, at a nozzle 13 formed in a sprinkler peak 9 and having a funnel shape whose outlet also carries a filter plug 8 '. This peak 9 is planted in the soil of the flower pot. By sliding the pipe 1 and 1 'in the part 2, forming a slide, the height (H) can be increased or reduced, which produces the increase or reduction in the flow rate. Figure 2 is a partial sectional view and shows the flexible priming pump 3, connected to the tube 1 'by the part 4, and that it suffices to compress and then release between thumb and 5 index fingers to cause the water to fall instantly, drop by drop, on the filter cap 8. The priming pump 3 is a manual pump with flexible tubular body,

  the inlet is connected to the intermediate piece 4 and the outlet to the intermediate piece 5. The flexible pipe 6 joins, through the intermediate piece 5, the outlet of the pump 3 to the peak 9.

  It is the entire volume thus delimited between the filter plugs 8 and 8 'which is completely filled with microbeads. The role of these filter plugs 8 and 8 'is to let the water pass while retaining the microbeads 7, in addition that 8 located upstream filters any impurities (the material used is a geotextile of use widely used in public works for let the water pass by stopping the sands, etc ...). One piece 10

  closure is perforated and maintains the filter plug 8 'in a housing 11; its shape allows the formation of drops which make the operation visible.

  Figure 3 shows in section the inlet part 4 of the priming pump, it is designed for rapid assembly by fitting flexible hoses, and the shape of its central part ensures the formation of visible drops through the transparent wall

  of the tubular body of the pump 3 for a function check.

  Figure 4 shows in section the intermediate part 5 of the priming pump outlet, it is designed for rapid assembly by fitting flexible hoses, it maintains in position the filter plug 8, and it has an internal shape in " funnel 'filled with microbeads, a form which makes it possible to avoid the effects of the surface tension of the water (in particular this form provides between the water passing through the stopper and the balls a sufficient contact surface to prevent bubbles from does not interfere with re-priming after temporary shutdown of the device, for lack of water

for example)

EXAMPLE OF IMPLEMENTATION

  Height (H) of the siphon: 350 mm Internal diameter of the siphon pipe: 3 mm Internal diameter of the cavity (3) of the flexible body: 25 mm Height of the cavity (3): 70 mm Length of the tube (6) 120 mm Diameter inside of the tube (6) 3 mm Diameter of the glass beads 0.4 mm Diameter of the filter (8) made of geotextile material 25 mm In this embodiment the flow rate is approximately 0.6 liters per day when the height of the "column" "water" between the surface of the tank water and the bottom of (3) is 20 cm. (A small "ballast" can be attached to the end of pipe 1 to hold it at the bottom of the tank.) Lt,

Claims (10)

  1. Apparatus for watering potted plants comprising a water flow system interposed between a container of water (R) and at least one pot (P) by means of a pipe which comprises at least one flow limiter, characterized in that said flow limiter comprises a chamber (6) containing a plurality of insoluble beads (7) so as to obtain a controlled flow.   2. Sprinkler device according to claim 1 characterized in that the balls (7) are micro-balls so as to produce at the outlet of said chamber (6) a controlled flow of the type drip.   3. Watering device according to claims 2   characterized in that the diameters of the balls are included in the range from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm.   4. Watering device according to claim 3   characterized in that the balls (7) are spherical and almost identical.   5. Watering device according to claim 3   characterized in that the balls having homogeneous spherical volumes the maximum ideal ratio between the maximum and minimum diameters of the balls 25 is substantially equal to 2.   6. Sprinkler device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the chamber (6) is formed by a pipe whose ends are connected on the one hand upstream to an intermediate piece (5) having an inner funnel shape, the inlet of which carries a filter plug (8), the volume of this funnel being filled with balls, and on the other hand downstream to a nozzle (13) formed in a sprinkler peak (9) and having a   funnel shape, the outlet of which also has a filter cap (8 ') 7. Sprinkler device according to claim 6, characterized in that the filter plug (8 ') is removably mounted in a housing (11) closed by an openwork piece (10) whose external shape allows the formation of drops.   8. sprinkler apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims   characterized in that the pipe comprises a siphon consisting of a pipe (1) (1 ') held by a part (2) in the shape of an inverted U and connected to a priming pump (3).   io 9. Sprinkler device according to claim 8, characterized in that the priming pump (3) is a manual pump with   flexible tubular body, the inlet of which is connected to the intermediate piece (5).   10. Sprinkler device according to any one of the claims,   is characterized in that it can include one or more flow limiters each connected to a pot (P).