GB2074295A

GB2074295A - Automative Watering Devices for Greenhouse

Info

Publication number: GB2074295A
Application number: GB8119797A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Rider L P
Current assignee: Rider L P
Priority date: 1980-04-16
Filing date: 1981-04-08
Publication date: 1981-10-28
Also published as: GB2074295B

Abstract

Water is supplied to an auxiliary float valve 3 in contact with a water level in an evaporation vessel 2 holding an absorbent element 1. When the water level in vessel 2 is lost via element 1 through the effects of evaporation the float valve 3 opens to pass water down into the main water vessel 4. This action tops up a maintained water level 16 controlling main float valve 8 until a water level 17 causes the syphon 10 to discharge the collected water to waste through the outlet 14. This in turn lowers the float 15 opening main float valve 8 to discharge water from the inlet 12 through a distribution pipe 9 to an outlet connected to a sprinkler line or other devices 13. As the sprinklers operate, outlets 6 and 7 on the distribution pipe 9 replenish water levels in evaporation vessel 2 and main water vessel 4 at a restricted flow until the respective float valves 3 and 8 are closed and thus the discharge to the spraying appliances. The time taken to refill the main water vessel 4 is the duration of the discharge to the spraying appliances. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automative Watering Devices for Greenhouse The invention is primarily concerned with the control of humidity of an ambient atmosphere and the relative ground moisture content by means of hydraulically operated apparatus controlling a supply of water or other liquid thereto according to the conditions of humidity.

The apparatus is most suitable for automatically controlling sprinkler devices in greenhouses or enclosed areas dependant upon humidity of the atmosphere and soil conditions for plant growth and yield.

The apparatus according to the present invention is for instance, applicable to domestic, horticultural, and agricultural greenhouse watering systems for the watering of plants, seed beds and ground and the like dependant on automatic watering devices supplying water from a supply to devices to regulate the humidity to the surrounding plants according to the effects of evaporation which the apparatus measures and functions thereof.

The apparatus may also supply an irrigation system e.g. a 'trickle line' for instance simultaneously with the spraying devices, giving added watering where needed with approx two gallons of water which is flushed out of the apparatus to operate the mechariism, and fed down to soil level by a suitable 'flush pipe'.

Apparatus according to the present invention comprises a water vessel having a float operated valve therein connected to a supply pipe and a distribution pipe leading to spraying devices or the like in the ambient atmosphere. An auxillary float operated valve connected to said supply pipe and an evaporation water vessel containing said auxiliary float operated vale and an evaporant element, which when the level of water in said evaporation water vessel falls through the effects of evaporation said auxillary float operated valve opens to pass water into said water vessel to such a level as to cause syphonage with said water vessel outlet thus emptying the collected water to waste this action thus lowers float on said float operated valve releasing water to a connected said distribution pipe leading to spraying devicesor the like, and simultaneously replenishing both said vessels with water to shut off both said float operated valves to end distribution to sprinklers.

In one form of the invention two static water levels are maintained as it were one above the other in seperate float vessels by said float valves controlling same said supply pipe, each said float vessel is replenished with water by small outlets from said distributing pipe. This may be of a small pin hole to fill the main vessel and an elongated pipe with a reduced diameter terminated over to fill evaporation water vessel.

In another form of the invention a syphonic action outlet is created in said main water vessel to discharge the collected water above said float co-operating with its said valve so that the said float operated valves 'shut off' water level is lost in consequence of the complete contents of water being emptied to waste from said main water vessel. Thus the said float lowers releasing its valve and discharging water to said distribution pipe leading to sprinklers or devices.

Apparatus of the present invention according to the effects of evaporation to control water devices and humidity of an ambient atmosphere is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front section and Fig. 2 a plan view and Figs.

3 and 4 details.

The apparatus illustrated comprises an absorbant block or element 1 immersed in a water vessel tray 2.. which spans and clips over the two rims of the main water vessel 4 (see Fig.

3) into this tray 2 co-operates an equilibrium float valve 3 connected to a pipe 23 to a tee piece 22 on the main inlet 1 2. A filter 11 is fitted between pipe 23 and equilibrium float valve 3 (see fig. 4).

The main diaphragm float valve 8 is connected to a supply inlet 12 by threaded unions 18. The float 1 5 and its lever operate to a minimum radius, and water level 1 6 being the 'shut off' level, distribution pipe 9 is connected to the outlet side of valve 8 and carried through traversing the length of the main vessel 4 to threaded unions 1 8 and outlet connection 13, and connections 1314 and 12 adapted for hosepipe connection. Refill outlets 6 and 7 from distribution pipe 9 terminate over repective vessels 2 and 4.

An automatic syphon bulb 10 is connected to the base of the main vessel 4 with threaded union 14 for connection to a waste pipe, and water level 17 is the point where syphonage starts to take place.

Ventilation holes 21 allow circulation of air under the lid 24, and the bracket 19 attaching valve 3 by drilled hole and nut/bolt fixing to main vessel member 4.

When diaphragm float valve 8 and the equilibrium float valve 3, water levels 16 and 5 respectively are full the apparatus is in the off position, only when sufficient water evaporation has caused water level 5 in the evaporation float vessel 2 to be lost via absorbant block 1 will the float valve 3 start to open releasing water down into the main vessel 4 on top of the maintained water level 16, as soon as the main vessel has filled from water level 1 6 to 1 7 the syphon empties the water content out to waste through the outlet 14, this action lowers the float 5 releasing its connected valve 8 to pass water from inlet 12 through the valve 8 into the connected distribution pipe 9 through the apparatus to the outlet 1 3 leading to a sprinkler line or devices, simultaneously outlets 6 and 7 on the distribution pipe 9 replenish the water levels in float vessels 2 and 4 to shut off float valves 3 and 8 respectively at a restricted flow from the now high pressure water in the distribution pipe 9.

The excess refill from the outlet 6 into float vessel 2 overflows down into the main vessel 4 to help the outlet 7 refill the main vessel 4 which obviously takes longer to refill, thus the time to refill the main vessel 4 to water level 1 6 is the duration time of distribution to sprinklers or the like to regulate the humidity of the ambient atmosphere according to the degree of evaporation taking place.

According to a further feature of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, a verticle slide adjustment to the water vessel tray 2 and secured by split pins 20 clamping it to the main vessel rim 4a (see Fig. 3) thus allowing some degree of adjustment to small differences in valve manufacture and or ta vary times beteen rates of evaporation i.e. raising or lowering water level 5 in relation to the fixed float valve 3.

Also a further feature according to the apparatus not illustrated, is the waste result of water emitted from the syphon outlet 14, 2 gallons approx may be used for additional watering via a suitable waste pipe to ground level.

The absorbant element or block 1 which dips into the float vessel 2 can be of any material capable of capillary attraction to effect a water sodden surface area to the ambient atmosphere thus exposing thereof to the effects of evaporation, and a float vessel of such a shape to take an absorbant element, a float, and a level of water therein.

The advantage of the apparatus is that it functions automatically and hydraulically without the aid of electricity and most suitable for the domestic small greenhouse where it can be simply connected to a garden hosepipe or the apparatus could be 'up-graded' in size to take larger demands of water distribution.

Claims

1. Apparatus for regulating the humidity of an ambient atmosphere or water content of the ground comprising a water vessel having a main float operated valve therein connected to a supply pipe and a distribution pipe leading to sprinklers or other devices in the ambient atmosphere an evaporation water vessel inside said water vessel holding an evaporant element and a float connected to an auxillary float operated valve and said supply pipe connecting both said float operated valves by a tee junction which when level of water in said evaporation water vessel falls through the effects of evaporation, said auxillary float valve opens passing water into said water vessel to such a level to cause syphonage with said water vessel outlet thus emptying said water vessel which action thus lowers said main float valve releasing water to said distribution pipe leading to sprinklers or other devices and simultaneously replenishing said main water vessel and said evaportion water vessel with water to shut off said main float valve and said auillary float valve.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a syphon outlet to said water vessel to cause loss of a collected water level at a predetermined level to to thus lower said float and open said main float valve in said water vessel apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

3. Wherein said evaporation water vessel contains an evaporant element, a level of water and an auxillary float valve, thus arranged to regulate water from said supply pipe into said water vessel by the effects of evaporation.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein and including two small bore outlets connected to said distribution pipe so positioned to replenish said evaporation water vessel and said water vessel with water at a restricted flow.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the said evaporation water vessel may be of vertical adjustment in relation to said water vessel rim by means of pegs slotted in holes bored in series in said evaporation water vessel to raise or lower said evaporation water vessel water level.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said main float is submerged with water above said floats bouancy level to make contact with said syphon outlet.