FR3053568B1 - WATERTIGHT VEGETABLE FACADE AND ROOF INSTALLATION SYSTEM COMPATIBLE WITH INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the installation of a system of tanks for growing plants on the roof or facade of buildings. The invention relates to a type of tray for growing plants, made by folding thin sheets of stainless steel and a method of installation to obtain a watertight surface. In addition, the installation mode of said bins is compatible with the installation of photovoltaic modules. This gives a facility for growing plants that is waterproof and is energy self-sufficient.

Description

The invention relates to a plant surface installation method, on a facade or a roof or as a system of cultivation above ground, waterproof and liquid fertilizers, whose supports and trays are made by folding and welding of thin sheets of stainless steel or galvanized steel.

The tanks used for revegetation arise in the same way as a surface of photovoltaic panels that can provide the electricity needed for pumps used for watering plants. The whole is then autonomously energy.

The creation of plant facades is a major architectural and ecological challenge in urban areas. This type of double skin installed on the facade or the roof of the building has many advantages. The facade or the green roof are for example acoustic attenuators, thermal regulators, and contribute to biodiversity in urban areas.

The techniques for greening facades or roofs are: walls of climbing vines, climbing plants on cables, stacked garden walls or walls strewn with pots.

Another embodiment consists of plant surfaces fixed on non-woven thick felt, itself hung on the facade. Generally a polymer sheet is used to protect the wall from corrosion by liquid effluents.

A disadvantage of these types of installation is that, under the effect of thermal cycles due to temperature differences, the polymer sheets or the trays fixed on the facade or roof eventually tear around the screws used for fixing the system on the wall causing leakage of fertilizer liquids.

Another common embodiment of this type of plant façade, installed in double skin, consists of a plurality of bins, generally made of plastics fixed on the wall, receiving one or more species of plants per tray.

These bins, or pockets created in felts, are filled with substrate for growing plants. The following are generally used: clay balls, pozzolana, draining substrates, for example sphagnum, or rockwool.

A disadvantage of this type of installations is that the plant surfaces produced are generally not waterproof. If we want to install them on the roof, these systems need to put under the roof, or on the facade, under the plant structure, a layer of polymer to protect walls and under roof. Watering and fertilization in liquid fertilizer varies depending on the type of substrate. It is, for example continuous for clay balls, pozzolan, nonwoven felt and drip type for other types of substrates. Some plant walls installed on felts are continuously watered and consume several cubic meters of fertilizer water per day. Substrate irrigation is usually by gravitation. Currently, on vertical walls, or steeply pitched roofs; Fertilizer adduction is done on the upper edge of the vats of plants, or on the upper edge of several rows of vats of plants, which induces a heterogeneous watering.

The other disadvantages of this method of watering are that the excess fertilization fluid of a tank is found in the immediately lower tank, which does not allow to control finely the fertilization of the plants, and that excess fertilization liquids , rich in fertilizers, are found most often rejected in the sewer and pollute the environment.

Finally, the management of plant watering requires the proximity of an electrical source to operate the irrigation pumps. There are no systems of facades or green roofs or above ground culture, energy independent, whose components are installed identically.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a system for placing bins to be planted whose surface of the assembled bins is waterproof. This system can be installed on the roof or facade of buildings, or on properly defined supports. The system must be compatible with the installation system of photovoltaic modules that will provide the energy autonomy necessary for the operation of the irrigation pumps. This system must be compatible in particular with the installation system of photovoltaic modules described in patents FR 2 915 217-A1 and EP 209 668 1-A1. To this end, the object of the invention is to provide a plant surface installation system, on the roof or facade of the buildings or for an above-ground culture, meeting the following principles:

The plant structure must be detached from the wall, to prevent liquid fertilizers or irrigation water from corroding the surface of the building.

The system of assembled tanks must be watertight overall, not only for each module, it must protect the roof or the facade of a possible leakage of irrigation tubes or soluble fertilizer

The plant tank system installed on the roof can replace the tiles.

The system of assembled tanks must allow the flow of rainwater or irrigation overflows on the surface of the plant structure.

The system of the assembled bins must make it possible to recover from treating or recycling the surplus of phytosanitary products and liquid fertilizers so that they are not rejected directly to the sewer.

The system must be reasonably airtight to improve the thermal of the building.

The plant surface installation system must allow either pre-cultivated modules to be installed or plants to be planted in situ.

The system must be able to change or remove individual greenery modules because the living matter is destined to disappear and regenerate.

The plant facade must withstand the shock, as well as the pressure or the depression of a strong wind.

Irrigation tubes should be masked and made inaccessible except for maintenance personnel.

The system must be able to block the slippage of the culture substrates when they are installed on a slope or facade.

The system must make it possible to install, on the same surface, photovoltaic modules and vegetal modules while sealing them. The plant system must therefore ensure continuity in the installation technique of the different types of facade cladding.

The system must allow the passage of properly insulated electrical cables for example: • To pass the cables of the current generated by a photovoltaic structure placed above the plant system or, • To supply a lighting system intended for one effect decorative either to the generation of UV rays necessary for photosynthesis or, • to perform electrical measurements. It must be possible to insert in each pixel measurement systems (hygrometry, temperature, flow control, pH) and be able to continuously record said measurements, without emitting electromagnetic waves.

Electric cables used for measurement or lighting, and liquid fertilizer supply tubes, must be masked and rendered inaccessible except to maintenance personnel. The invention, which meets the objectives stated above, will be described in a more precise but nonlimiting manner with reference to the appended figures. - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the system comprising 3 trays of plants. The plants that would be installed in the holes of the upper plate are not represented. - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a "plant container" for plant installation comprising a tray itself (5) in which are inserted the culture substrate and plants and its frame (1). The "vegetable tank" is presented in the direction of the slope. - Figure 3 is a section of the bottom of the "plant container". - Figure 4 is a detailed view of the underside of the flap (lb) of the "plant container". - Figure 5 is a detailed view of the top of the "plant container". - Figure 6 is a section of the top of the plant container. - Figure 7 is a top view of the "plant tray" which has been removed from the grid to show the irrigation system. - Figure 8 describes the method of insertion of the tray (5) in the frame (1). - Figure 9 shows the main feeding system of each "plant container". - Figure 10 shows the top of the plant container and the gutters for the recovery of excess fertilizing or watering liquids. - Figure 11 shows the upper left part of the "plant container". - Figures 12 and 12-1 show the set of rails and sleepers used for the installation of the system. - Figure 13 shows the upper left corner assembly rails and sleepers. - Figure 14 shows the way of assembly of rails and sleepers. - Figure 15 shows a section of the attachment mode of the "plant container" on the cross. - Figure 16 shows a column of bins assembled on the rails and sleepers. - Figure 17 shows the recovery of the bins in the direction of the slope and the electrical connections. - Figure 18 and Figure 19 show the principle of installation of the fastening beads and sealing of each plant container. Figure 19 also shows the assembly of the gutters that collect the surplus liquid effluents. - Figure 20 recalls the principle of the assembly of a photovoltaic module in a frame (1). FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 describe the installation of a photovoltaic module on the system of rails and sleepers presented in patent EP 209 668 1-A1. - Figure 23 shows a section orthogonal to the bank rails and the fold (22-1) used for the insertion of the sealing bonds of the plant surface and the roof. - Figure 24 shows an assembly of photovoltaic modules (35) and plant containers (1) and the excess effluent collection tank (36)

The choice of the materials of the supports and tanks must be done carefully to avoid the corrosion of the structures and to offer high mechanical performances. The materials used to design the metal structures subject to the patent will be of the type:

Austenitic or ferritic stainless steels in thin strips

Composites consisting of a sheet of steel or stainless steel coated with a thin layer of polymer.

So-called duplex steels, well adapted to the corrosion resistance of fertilizers.

The tubes will be made either of steel resistant to corrosion of fertilizers or polymers. The invention is described more precisely in the text below.

The "plant container" for receiving the plants, shown in Figure 2, consists of two parts:

The frame (1), supporting the tray (5), consists of 4 parts: a flap (lb), the two sides (ld) and (lg), the upper part (lh).

These four pieces are made by folding thin sheets of stainless steel less than 1 mm thick and greater than 0.2 mm. The frame is a closed and continuous hollow body which gives it exceptional mechanical characteristics.

The tray (5) in Figure 3 is made of stainless steel sheets greater than 0.5mm thick and generally greater than 5 cm depth adapted to the types of plants.

The geometry and section of the frame are identical to those of the frame used for the framing of photovoltaic modules, described in patent EP 2096681A1.

A grid (6) on which is fixed a gutter (7) which allows to recover the surplus fertilizer liquid. Its function will be described later in this text.

The pipes (13) and the connecting tee (14) are separated from the frame. Other accessories included in the tray allow the retention of plants and watering drip.

In FIG. 2 and on the cross-section of FIG. 3, the base of the tank (5), the grid (6) for holding the plant growth substrate, and a set of gougeons (8) welded in the bottom of the frame and the bolts (8-1), for fixing the grid (6) of retention of the culture substrate, which will be placed in the tray (5). These gougeons (8) block the sliding of the substrate in the bottom of the tray (5) when the tray is inclined or vertical.

The grid (6) is manufactured by cutting a sheet of stainless steel with a thickness greater than 0.2 mm. The cutouts and shapes of the grid (6), which is not necessarily flat but may be a left surface, depend on the type of plants to be grown. The gutter (7) is integral with this grid (6).

The cross-section of the frame shown in FIG. 3 makes it possible to better see the flap (lb) made by folding a thin sheet of steel, and the tray (5) which is locked in a groove (1-1) around the circumference. of the frame.

The tray is either glued in the groove, around its periphery, or welded by laser welding or TIG welding, on the edge of the inner edge of the frame, to seal the connection of the frame with its tray. In Figure 3 it is the edge of the flap (lb-4).

On the flap (lb) is noted the groove (lb-1), the inner edge of the "plant frame" (lb-2) and the cover flap (lb-3).

An elastomer or polymer foam gasket is glued along the entire length of the cover flap (1b-3).

Electrical connectors and cables can be installed. Figure 4, which shows the bottom of the frame and its flap (lb), shows the female electrical connectors (9a), (9b), (9c) which are placed under the flap (lb-3).

On the upper part of the frame (1h), FIG. 5 and on the sectional view 6, the male electrical connectors (10a), (10b), (10c) which are connected by cables passing inside the frame, respectively, to the connectors (9a), (9b), (9c).

An electric cable (12) connects a hygrometer (17) or other measuring means to the connectors (10a) or (10b) or (10c). The plurality of connectors also makes it possible to respond to the various power supply problems of the system of plant containers or of electrical measurements to be made on the plantations.

The various pipes and connectors for watering are visible on the section of the system shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7.

The water supply pipe (13) for irrigation, possibly filled with liquid fertilizer, is connected by the tee (14) to the pipe (18) which passes through the hole (21a) (Figure 5). The pipe (18) is connected to a drip irrigation pipe (16) placed inside the "vegetable tank".

The pipe (18) is preferably made of corrosion-resistant or polymeric stainless steel.

The pipe (18) passes through the top of the frame through the orifices (21a) and (21-1). An O-ring placed around the pipe on the orifice (21-1) seals the passage.

The drip pipe (16) can meander within the substrate installed in the trough (5), which substrate is not shown in the drawings.

The passage of a hygrometer (17), or other measuring means, is made in the hole (21) b and is sealed thanks to the O-ring hole (21-2).

The gutter (7) is used for the recovery of excess effluents released by the upper tray. The effluents are then discharged through the pipe (15).

This pipe transfers the effluent to a gutter (25) fixed on the baffle (24) which is described in Figures 10 and 11.

The principle of assembly of the frame is described in Figures 8-18-2,8-3 and 8-4. o The four sides of the frame are made by folding a sheet of stainless steel thicker than 0.5mm. o The four sides of the frame are placed in a template, not shown in the drawings, which is shown schematically in Figure 8-1. The four sides consist of open parts as shown in the diagram of the section of the assembly in Figure 8-2, where the lateral sides (ld) and (lg) are visible. The tray (5) is installed in the assembly figure 8.2. o The template, which the skilled person knows how to design, can fold the frame of the frame around the tray as in Figure 8.3. o The assembly is fixed by the laser welding, or TIG, or by any other means of assembly that the person skilled in the art can choose figure 8.4.

According to the same principle, a photovoltaic module is installed in the frame, the cables and electrical connectors are installed before the frame is closed (FIG. 20).

The placement of the culture substrate is made after the tray has been fixed in its frame. Generally, the substrates consist of a mixture of soil and organic materials packed in a retention textile, or inert substrates of the rockwool type, or other polymers, or a water-retaining organic substrate such as sphagnum moss. .

The substrate is placed in the tray and pierced by the pins (8) which allow the limitation of its settlement over time. The grid (6), fixed by the pins (8) and the bolts (8-1), keeps the substrate in the tray.

The drip irrigation pipe (16) is placed either at the top of the pan or all through the substrate depending on the type of plants to be grown.

The plants are installed, generally to be pre-cultivated, in the holes in the grid (6). The holes, or openings, in the grid, which serve to retain the substrate, depend on the type of crop envisaged and the type of substrate.

The grid (6) of retention of the substrate has a gutter (7) which allows to collect the surplus watering of the upper tray. The dimensions of the gutter are defined to prevent clogging by organic waste.

Visible in Figures 10 and 11, a pipe (15) returns the excess watering in a gutter / collector (25) fixed on the baffle (24). During assembly, the gutters (25) connect to collect excess liquid effluents (see Figure 19).

A set of rails and sleepers is used to install the plant structure.

Figure 12 shows the left side of an assembly of vertical rails. The rail (22) is the "left bank" rail of the assembly, the rail (22-1) is one of the rails used in the middle of the assembly which will end with a "right bank" rail, symmetrical with the "left bank" rail, not shown in Figure 12 which only describes a vertical column.

The "low side rail" (28) and one of the horizontal cross members (27) are visible in Figure 12-1.

The upper bank (23) is visible in Figures 10,11, and 12.

The sleepers and rails are fixed together using a stirrup (29) made of stainless steel, visible in Figure 13 where are assembled the upper cross member (23) and the rail "left bank" (22).

In Figure 14 are shown the cross members (27) and the intermediate rail (22-1).

The two cross members are attached to the rail using the screw (29-1) and the bolt (29-2).

The finger (29-3) of the stirrup (29), and its symmetrical under the bead, are fixed in the holes (29-4) of the crossbar (27).

The part (29-5) is an electrical contact making it possible to put all the metal parts as well as the frames at the same electrical potential.

The piece (29-6), made of plastic, makes it possible to correct the differences in levels between the different components of the structure.

Thermal bridge breaks (31) made of 0.5 mm thick plastic are fixed to the crossmember (27).

A large cylinder (32), which can be screwed manually, makes it possible to correct the flatness of the assembly.

These rail and tie assemblies form a frame that can be attached to a facade or roof. On this frame will be hung the bins of plants. The assembly of several rails and sleepers can be done on the ground so that the structure thus produced is then attached to the roof or the facade of the building.

We can also assemble these rails and sleepers directly on the facade or the roof or on beams previously fixed on the roof or facade. The adjustment of the orthogonality of the rails and sleepers is done simply by means of a template, the flatness of the system is adjusted using the cylinders (32) visible figure 23.

The plant containers, FIG. 15, are hooked on the sleepers (27) and rest on the edge of the brace spacers (26). Figure 16 shows two plant bins installed from the lower bank (27-b). The spacers of glazing beads (26) on which the lateral edges of the tanks are placed are identified.

Each vegetable tray covers the edge (lh) at the top of the lower frame, thanks to its flap (lb).

There is continuity for the flow of water from the top to the bottom of the assembly. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 and FIG. 17. To make the reading of the images more convenient, the pipe connection tee (14) has been removed;

A seal placed under the flap (lb), not shown in Figure 17, seals and prevents the rise of liquid effluents in the event of high winds.

Surplus watering or liquid fertilizers are well collected by the gutter (7). Finally, the connectors (9 [a, b, c]) and (10 [a, b, c]) are connected during the installation of the "plant frame", thus making it possible to achieve electrical continuity of the cables inserted in the frames. Irrigation of the plant tanks is provided by pipes (13), hidden in the rails, (Figures 17 and 13) or above the sleepers for hanging bins. Each tank is irrigated by means of a bypass tee (14), which is connected to the pipe (ie, Figure 9) which is connected to the drip irrigation pipe (16) installed in the tank substrate which is not shown in the drawings.

Depending on the type of plant, the drip will snake in the tray, or will be fixed at the top of the tank, the irrigation then being done by gravitation.

The regularity of the flow, and the durability of the pipes (16), (18) and (13) condition the performance of fertilization and irrigation.

Pipes (16) are conventionally used for microporous pipes, which require good accuracy for flow, or for micro-emitter pipes, whose anti-clogging is due to a vortex effect created automatically in the nozzles by the pressure of the water.

The pipes (13), and possibly (18), are made of polymer or steel resistant to corrosion of fertilizers. These pipes must be absolutely reliable and durable. For example, polyethylene or steel pipes with a diameter of 10 to 16 mm are used for the pipes (13).

In the case of our system, the pipes are protected from the sun's rays and therefore the UV protection is not necessary.

Finally, a solenoid valve, not shown in the drawings, can be placed after the tee (14), which allows to control and individually regulate the supply of irrigation in the pipe (18) for watering the tanks.

The pipes (13), the junction of the pipe (18), the tee (14), and possibly the solenoid valve, are placed in the groove of the rail. In case of leakage, the liquid will be recovered at the bottom of the rail, in a recovery tank (36) (Figure 24).

Figures 18 and 19 show the locking system frames by beading.

A bead (24) is applied on each edge of two adjacent frames. Two joints placed under the bead allow to ensure the lateral sealing of the system.

Each bead (24) (Figure 18) is screwed into the metal bracket (29) using the screw (29-1). The screw (29-1) can be coded, which protects against theft of plants.

Steel fingers (24-1), placed under the baffle (24), are locked in the spacers (26), made of PBT polymer filled with glass fibers.

The tear resistance of the spacers (26) which are screwed onto the rail (22) is greater than 1800 N.

The glazing beads (24), under which are glued two seals, provide lateral sealing of the assembly, while the flap (Ib) seals in the direction of the slope.

By replacing in the frame (1) the plant container (5) by a photovoltaic module (35), which is inserted in the same way in the frame, we obtain a product whose installation is compatible with that of the plant containers (Figure 20).

FIG. 20 shows the principle of assembling the photovoltaic module (35) by folding the edges of the frame (1h) and (1b), as well as (1g) and (1d), and then welding the metal assembly and created

Figure 21 shows that the photovoltaic module clings in the same way as the plant container on the crossbar (27), the photovoltaic modules connect automatically and the bibs (lb) cover the lower tray on its edge (lh), as in the case of the installation of plant containers.

The installation of the glazing beads (24) seals the installed photovoltaic surface by covering the gap separating two adjacent modules FIG. 22.

FIG. 23, which is a section orthogonal to the bank rails (22), shows that the shape of the bank rails (22), which have a fold (22-1), and the part (33) (FIG. is a roof ridge abutment support, and which has a fold (33-1), allow to slide a thin sheet of folded steel to make the junction with the tiles of the roof when necessary, and thus ensure a tight connection of the plant surface with the tiles.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 24, the system makes it possible to assemble photovoltaic modules (25) and plant containers (1) on the same surface. A tray (36) placed under the assembly makes it possible to recover the surplus liquid effluents that can be treated or recycled without being discharged to the sewer.

The bins, frames, rails, crossbars and beading of the system are manufactured by folding and welding thin sheets of stainless steel or galvanized steel or sheet of composite polymer / steel, thicknesses less than 1 mm .

Vegetable surfaces and photovoltaic modules, watertight, can be connected to tiles by means of metal sheets slid under folds of the edge rails (22-1) or edge rails (28) and (23) for creating a watertight roof consisting of plant bins, photovoltaic modules and tiles.

Claims (8)

1. Device for the assembly of bins for growing plants on the roof or facade of buildings, for producing a watertight surface, and compatible with a photovoltaic module assembly device, characterized in that it comprises bins (5) supporting plants, each supported by a frame (1) made by folding thin sheets of stainless steel, said frame comprising a bib (1b) covering in the direction of the slope, the lower tray on its top edge (lh), and two glazing beads (24) provide lateral sealing of the device and characterized in that the photovoltaic modules and the bins for growing plants are in the same plane. 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that each plant can be watered drop by drop, independently of the other tanks, and the additional fertilizer liquid is recovered for each tray by a gutter (7) integral with a grid (6) of retention of the culture substrates and plants, and that the liquid effluents can be treated or recycled without being discharged to the sewer. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one photovoltaic module and in that the tanks for growing plants, are installed on the same rails and sleepers as those used for the installation of modules photovoltaic (35) 4. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the bins (5) of plants then have the energy to run independently of the pumps used for drip irrigation and operate sensors measuring the plant system. 5. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the photovoltaic modules and the bins for growing plants constitute a watertight surface. 6. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the water supply pipes and liquid fertilizer are installed in the rails of the system or above the sleepers for fastening the bins, which allows to recover liquids that could come from a possible leakage of these irrigation pipes. 7. Device according to claims 1 and 3 characterized in that the bins, frames, rails, crosspieces and bead of the system are manufactured by folding and welding thin sheets of stainless steel or galvanized steel or sheet of composite polymer / steel, thicknesses less than 1 mm. 8. Device according to claims 1 and 5 characterized in that the surfaces of plants and photovoltaic modules, watertight, can be connected to tiles through metal sheets slid under folds of the edge rails (22-1) or shore sleepers (28) and (23), for creating a watertight roof consisting of plant bins, photovoltaic modules and tiles.