FR2935369A1 - Liquid i.e. water, transferring system for use between water pots, has inverted siphon connecting reservoirs filled with liquids, where siphon has scale provided on body of pipe, and end fittings inserted to ends of pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has an inverted siphon comprising a U-shaped turned pipe (3) and a gas zone that is surrounded by two liquid zones. The siphon connects a reservoir (1) to another reservoir (2), where the reservoirs are filled with liquids i.e. water. Permeable end fittings are inserted to ends of the pipe. The siphon has a scale provided on a body of the pipe in relation with the reservoirs. The pipe has a tap or valve mechanism for importing the quantity of gas in the siphon.

Description

-1-

The present invention relates to an inverted siphon and systems using this type of siphon for connecting tanks filled with liquids.

This concerns for example the automatic filling 5 of a small tank from a much larger tank or automatic sprinkling systems of indoor plants from tanks.

In conventional siphon transfer systems between two tanks (in the case of communicating vessels), the high levels of the liquids are identical at the end of transfers. This is not suitable for a plant watering system where, by necessity, the large reservoir of water reserve has dimensions much greater than those of the pot or pots containing the plants to be watered. It is therefore not desirable for the water levels to be at the same altitude.

In comparison with other prior patents dealing with siphoning reservoirs by means of a canister, U-shaped returned, handle in the upper part (see FR 2 646 641 / Int Cl: E 03 D 1/16 , 11/18 or 20 of FR 2 709 452 / Int Cl: B 60 K 15/063 or FR 2 757 741 / Int A 1 G 27/04), these use one or more inverted siphons whose use requires that these siphons are empty of air or emptied of air, otherwise these would defuse which would make vain their use.

On the contrary, the siphon used in the present invention must constantly have a central zone filled with a gas in depression, otherwise the liquid of the tank having the highest level would be transferred without interruption to the other tank until that the levels are equal, so long as the receiving reservoir can absorb everything.

The faults of the usual automatic irrigation systems, mean that their flow is not dependent on the needs of the plants. In general, water is pumped into the earth of the pot. This flow rate is either continuous but slow (in the case of permeable ceramic tips, screwed onto a tank), or defined by a mechanical mechanism or clock or electric programmer. In addition, systems with ceramic tips may require to have the water reserve height relative to the pots, mounting without risk and have troublesome fouling for maintenance. - 2

In the present invention, the plant draws according to its needs in the usual water supply of the pot, the inventive system only regularly fill the water reserve of the pot, as it tends to empty , therefore to restore its level. Thus the plant will be neither too much nor too little watered. She will be at her need.

The present invention improves existing systems in that:

- the tanks in communication can be at different heights (for their high and low parts of the containers), as well as the high and low levels of the contained liquids,

- There is no need for clock, electricity, battery, valve, valve, spring.

The term "inverted siphon" as used herein is understood to mean a siphon containing two zones each filled with liquid at atmospheric pressure (or other), surrounding an area containing air (or other gas) in depression with respect to the pressure. liquids, whereas in a conventional siphon, a zone containing a liquid is surrounded by two zones containing air.

These systems may for example be an assembly for the automatic watering of plants or flowers through the transfer of water between a large volume reservoir to the reserve of lower capacity of the pot of the plant.

The operation of the inverted siphon is as follows according to Figure 1: The tank to be filled is the tank (1). The second tank, large capacity, which we will draw is the tank (2). An inverted U-shaped tube (3) has each of its ends immersed in one of the reservoirs and forms the so-called inverted siphon.

Let Hl be the height of liquid in the tube (3) above the level of the tank (1), or H2 the height of the liquid in the tube (3) above the level of the tank (2). Let r be the volumetric mass of the liquid, g the acceleration of gravity. - 3

The pressure of the air (or other gas) in the siphon is noted Ps. The atmospheric pressure is denoted Pa.

Side tank (1), the pressure in the tube (3) at the free surface of the liquid tank (1) is equal to atmospheric pressure, Pa. Similarly, the tank side (2), the pressure in the tube (3) at the free surface of the liquid of the tank (2) is equal to the atmospheric pressure.

At the high level of the liquid in the tube (3), the pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure of the gas contained in the tube (3), ie Ps. It is also equal to the reservoir side (1) at

Ps = Pa - r * g * Hl

And tank side (2)

Ps = Pa - r * g * H2 15 It can be deduced that

Pa - r * g * Hl = Pa - r * g * H2

And

H1 = H2

This does not take into account the capillarity forces. In this case, irrespective of the levels in the tanks, the heights of the liquids in the tube (3) relative to the respective free surfaces will be equal.

It can be deduced that if the level of the tank (1) decreases, the pressure Ps of the gas in the siphon will tend to decrease, which will cause a rise in the level of liquid in the tube (3) on the reservoir side (2). . And when the level drops even further into the tank (1), it will occur that the level in the tube (3) on the tank side (2) reaches the bent upper part of the tube and the liquid will be transferred to the tank side (1) until the pressure equilibrium is restored and the transfer of liquid stops.

Thus, thanks to the present invention, the flow rate is automatically controlled by the draw requirements in the receiving tank.

According to the present invention, the systems using such an inverted siphon, may further comprise means for facilitating the implementation of:

permeable tips to prevent the inadvertent passage of gas and the passage of impurities;

- An orifice closable in the upper part of the canister, to put more or less depression, the central area having a gas.

The invention can be implemented in various ways, however two embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is the symbolic diagram explaining the operation;

FIG. 2 is a first practical embodiment equipped with tips at each end of the pipe (3) facilitating the implementation;

Fig. 2a shows a first example of a hollow nozzle (1) coming into the pipe (3) and capped by a foam cover (2), and a second example of a nozzle (4) made of permeable material, ceramic type;

Fig. 3 is a second embodiment equipped with an orifice with faucet facilitating the implementation;

In a first embodiment according to FIG. 2, a reservoir (1) is connected to another reservoir (2) by an inverted siphon consisting of a pipe (3) equipped with two permeable tips (4) and (5), made for example of permeable foam or ceramic .

The utility of the permeable tips is to prevent the inadvertent passage of gas during the placement of the pipe (3) into the tanks until the reversed siphon is functional.

Another essential advantage of the tips is to block the migration of plant cells through the hose and to the second tank, a guarantee of long-term operation avoiding having to clean hose and tank.

For example, the gas in the central area of the siphon will be air and the liquid will be water. - 5 The implementation consists successively

1) to fill with water the pipe (3) not yet equipped with tips (4) and (5), for example by plunging into a tray to partially empty it of air and complete the filling by injecting water at one end, holding for example this end under a water tap, open,

2) after partial filling (a total filling must not be achieved or sought since a quantity of air must be present in the pipe), while keeping the pipe in the water of the tank, it is fixed at each end of the pipe , the permeable tips (4) and (5),

3) are then introduced the ends provided with their tips, respectively in the tank access ports. The ends of the pipe (3) being immersed in a liquid, the air can no longer enter the pipe. After the pipe has been put in place correctly and the siphon is inverted, the residual air in the pipe slips into the upper part of the pipe, becoming depressed by falling water levels on each side of the pipe. of the pipe, and thus constitute the inverted siphon operating according to the present invention,

4) Depending on the need and the water level of the two tanks, we can then adjust the amount of air in the central area by removing one end of the two tanks one end of the pipe, slightly removing the tip so that a low amount of air can enter. Then the tip is put back and reintroduced the pipe into the tank.

For example, for a tank 1 whose maximum water level is about 10 cm and a tank 2 whose maximum water level is about 50 cm, a transparent hose of PVC or polyethylene ( 3) of internal diameter 6 mm, it is possible to use an air zone of about 20 cm in length.

So far, capillary forces have been neglected. In the example above, these forces become significant for pipes with a diameter of less than 6 mm and this requires a precise adjustment of the amount of air present in the central zone. This can be achieved practically only with an embodiment according to the following example. - 6

In a second embodiment according to FIG. 3, a tank 1 is connected to another tank 2 by an inverted siphon consisting of a pipe (3) equipped with two permeable tips (4) and (5). In addition, near the handle that is in the upper part of the pipe, it is equipped with a valve or valve (6) which is opened slightly to let in gas.

Said valve (6) has a rotating body (7) pierced with a hole (8) connecting the orifices (9) and (10) of the valve (6), thus allowing the gas to enter the pipe ( 3) through the orifice (11).

For example, the gas in the central area of the siphon will be air and the liquid will be water.

The implementation consists successively

1) to be repeated as in the first construction, steps 1 to 3, the filling of the pipe can for example in this case, be through the orifice (11), be total and the pipe (3) empty of air .

2) according to the need and the water heights of the two tanks, it will then be possible to adjust the amount of air in the central zone by slightly and momentarily opening the tap (6), so that a small amount of air can enter. According to the present invention, the systems using such an inverted siphon, may further comprise a graduation on the body of the pipe (3) connecting the tanks, which makes it possible to accurately measure the quantity of gas injected into the central zone of the siphon. 30

The present invention relates to the cases of transfers of liquid between two tanks whose levels containing and initial or final contents are different, for example automatic watering, siphoning of public network tanks.

Claims (6)

REVENDICATIONS1. Systems using an inverted siphon consisting of a gas zone surrounded by two liquid zones, for connecting tanks filled with liquids. 2. Systems according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a reservoir (1) connected to another reservoir (2) by an inverted siphon consisting of a pipe (3) U-shaped returned. 3. Systems according to claim 2, characterized by the insertion of permeable tips (4), (5) at the ends of the pipe (3) to prevent the passage of gas during the implementation of the siphon and prevent the migration of impurities from one tank to the other through the siphon. 4. Systems according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized by a pipe having a mechanism (6) valve or valve for allowing a quantity of gas into the inverted siphon. 5. Systems according to one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterized by the graduation of the pipe connecting the tanks to accurately measure the amount of gas in the pipe. 6. Systems using an inverted siphon, according to any one of the preceding claims.