JP2013118843A - Hydroponics tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydroponics tank that allows roots to grow quickly over a wide range without growing to one side or concentrating resulting in growth deficiency.SOLUTION: The hydroponics tank 30 comprises a cultivation tank body 1 and an upper lid placed on the cultivation tank body 1. The hydroponics tank 30 includes a water feeding unit positioned at approximately the center of the cultivation tank body 1 and provided to supply liquid fertilizer from below; at least one culture medium 13 positioned in approximately the center area of the upper lid 8 placed on the cultivation tank body 1; and water-level-adjusting draining pipes 14 for a plurality of draining units 15 provided adjacent to the circumferential wall of the cultivation tank body 1 so as to drain the liquid fertilizer.

Description

  The present invention relates to a circulation type or a partial circulation type hydroponics tank (hereinafter also referred to simply as a cultivation tank). Hydroponics plants mainly include fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, melons, and watermelons, beans, cereals, flowers, trees, etc., and root growth is improved by vertical cultivation and shelf cultivation.

  A cultivation tank main body and a culture medium are attached to the lower side, and consist of an upper lid placed on the cultivation tank main body. General cultivation tank of the conventional example is arranged on the cultivation tank upper lid, water is supplied from the liquid fertilizer tank to the arranged medium, drained so as to maintain a certain water level, and the plant planted in the medium is grown. Water is supplied to the cultivation tank by dropping it into the cultivation tank main body through a water supply pipe piped above the cultivation tank main body adjacent to the surrounding wall of the cultivation tank main body. One water level regulator placed at the drain outlet of the drainage section that is symmetrical (facing or diagonal) to the water supply pipe so that liquid fertilizer passes through the bottom of the medium and drains from one water level regulator placed at the drain outlet Is going through.

In addition, there is one that drains the medium from below the medium (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-109827).

JP 2006-109827 A

  The problem to be solved in the former conventional example will be described together with the structure of the conventional example shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 is a plan view (upper view) and a front view (lower view) of the cultivation tank main body with the upper lid omitted. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper lid is placed on the peripheral wall 100 a of the cultivation tank body 100 so that the culture medium 102 fixed to the lower side of the center part of the upper lid (not shown) is positioned at the center of the cultivation tank body 100. Is placed. The water supply cylinder 104 adjacent to the corner (corner) of the surrounding wall 100a of the cultivation tank body 100 (here, an example of a regular square is shown, but there are various shapes such as a rectangle, a circle, and a polygon) is arranged. The liquid fertilizer is supplied from above from the water supply cylinder 104. As shown by the arrows, the supplied liquid fertilizer passes under and on the side of the culture medium, flows toward the water level regulator 106 arranged at the symmetrical position opposite to the water supply cylinder 104, and the drain 108 of the water level regulator 106. Drained through. The water level adjuster 106 adjusts the water level of the liquid fertilizer in the cultivation tank body 100.

  Since the cultivation tank of the conventional example has the above-described structure, turbulent flow is generated because liquid fertilizer falls near the water supply cylinder. Because of the strong turbulent waves, root growth is difficult. In addition, because it is the uppermost basin, root growth is significantly delayed. For this reason, in the short-term cultivation, the growth efficiency is poor and has been a big problem. In addition, at the initial stage of cultivation (the growth stage toward the seedling stage and the middle stage), the roots do not grow toward the water supply pipe. In the later stage of cultivation (especially in the case of annual grasses, etc.), the roots where no other place has come approach the vicinity of the water supply unit, but the growth is hindered by the stress of waves and shock waves.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an initial state of a plant grown in the cultivation tank. As shown in FIG. 9, the root 200 greatly extends along the flow toward the water level adjuster 106 at the drain outlet, but hardly extends toward the water supply tube 104, which is in the direction against the flow.

  Since the plant grows as described above, the roots that are growing from the seeds of the plant seeded in the medium grow according to the water flow flowing in one direction from the water supply pipe to the drain, and reach the liquid fertilizer drain, Also, the growth is uneven. The roots that have reached the drainage hole enter the inside from the overflow part and clog the drainage port. As a result of the roots closing the drain, liquid fertilizer may overflow from the cultivation tank body. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to draw out the root that has entered the drainage port frequently, which is a laborious operation. The roots often come into contact with the roots, which can lead to growth failure due to stress on the plants.

In addition, since the drainage outlet of the water level adjustment part is in a biased position in the cultivation tank, if the cultivation tank body is installed even if it is slightly inclined, there is a risk that liquid fertilizer will flow outside. Need to be accurate. In particular, there are many cases where a ground or the like is laid with a sheet or the like and a hydroponic cultivation apparatus is installed, but it is often difficult to ensure horizontal accuracy continuously. There has been a demand for a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that can shorten or omit the labor of adjusting the horizontal accuracy. Even if horizontality is ensured, liquid fertilizer often flows out due to vibration caused by earthquakes.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view showing problems in the middle and late cultivation (in the case of annual grass) of plants grown in the cultivation tank. As shown in FIG. 10, the root 200 grows densely near the center of the cultivation tank, and may extend greatly toward the water level adjuster 106 and enter the drain, and is almost toward the water supply tube 104. It cannot be extended.

As mentioned above, as the root grows, the center with the medium grows thicker. Since the flow from the water supply port passes through a flow path with less resistance, it avoids the root resistance and detours toward the drain port. For this reason, the flow does not spread to the central part of the roots, and the supply of nutrients, the poor metabolism, the accumulation of waste products, etc. progress, and the growth is likely to fail. Furthermore, anaerobic bacteria and pathogenic bacteria are easy to propagate in the center where the flow is stagnant, and growth disorders are likely to occur. Since the plant grows greatly after the middle stage of cultivation, it is necessary to increase the amount of liquid fertilizer that circulates, but it is necessary to solve the aforementioned problems and reduce the risk.

  Further, in the latter conventional example, there is a problem that roots enter and close in the drainage outlet in a short period of time because they grow straight toward the drainage outlet, or the root growth is greatly biased.

  The hydroponics tank of the present invention is a hydroponics tank composed of a cultivation tank body and an upper lid placed on the cultivation tank body, and is disposed at substantially the center of the cultivation tank body so as to supply liquid fertilizer from below. A plurality of water supply units provided, at least one medium disposed in a substantially central region of the upper lid placed on the cultivation tank body, and a plurality of adjacent to the peripheral wall of the cultivation tank body so as to drain liquid fertilizer And a water level adjusting drain pipe of the drain part.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while solving the above-mentioned subject, the hydroponic cultivation tank which can make a root grow rapidly in a wide range is obtained. As a result, the growth of roots, which is the basis of cultivation, is promoted, so that the leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits of the above-ground part can be grown quickly and in high quality.

It is a figure which shows the whole cultivation system using the cultivation tank of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole cultivation system of the other Example using the cultivation tank of this invention. It is the top view (upper figure) and front view (lower figure) of the cultivation tank main body and upper cover of the cultivation tank of this invention. It is the top view (upper figure) and front view (lower figure) of the upper cover used with the cultivation tank of this invention. It is the top view (upper figure) and front view (lower figure) of the upper cover of the other Example used with the cultivation tank of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the water inside the cultivation tank of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the water inside the cultivation tank of this invention. It is a figure which shows the basic structure of the cultivation tank of a prior art example. It is a top view which shows the initial state of the plant grown in the cultivation tank of a prior art example. It is a top view which shows the final state of the plant grown in the cultivation tank of a prior art example.

The hydroponics tank of this invention consists of a hydroponics tank which consists of a cultivation tank main body and the upper cover mounted in a cultivation tank main body. A water supply part is arranged at substantially the central part of the cultivation tank main body, is provided so as to supply liquid fertilizer from below, and at least one medium is arranged in a substantially central region of the upper lid placed on the cultivation tank main body, and a plurality of drainage The water level adjusting drain pipe of the part is provided adjacent to the peripheral wall of the cultivation tank main body so as to drain the liquid fertilizer.

  Initially, with reference to FIG. 1, the whole cultivation system of Example 1 using the cultivation tank of this invention is demonstrated. The cultivation system is provided with a liquid fertilizer tank 40 that is prepared by preparing and storing liquid fertilizer suitable for plant growth. Liquid fertilizer is supplied to the liquid fertilizer tank 40 from liquid fertilizer supply devices 42 and 44 that supply different types of liquid fertilizer. The amount supplied to each of the liquid fertilizer supply devices 42 and 44 is determined by monitoring the ph value of the liquid fertilizer by the ph control devices 46 and 48. The liquid fertilizer tank 40 is provided with a cooling chiller 20 for cooling the liquid fertilizer and a heater 22 for heating the liquid fertilizer, and the temperature of the liquid fertilizer is adjusted. Moreover, the water supply apparatus which supplies water with the reduction | decrease of liquid fertilizer is provided.

  The liquid fertilizer is discharged from the liquid fertilizer tank 40 by the liquid fertilizer supply pump 24 and supplied to the cultivation tank 30 through the pipe 26. The drainage of the liquid fertilizer from the cultivation tank is performed through the pipe 28 and returned to the liquid fertilizer tank 40 for reuse.

  The cultivation tank 30 is mounted on a carriage (with a level adjustment function / fixing function) 32 as an example, and the cultivation tank 30 is provided with a water supply port, a water level adjuster, and a drain port, which will be described in detail later. ing.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the entire cultivation system according to the second embodiment. In Example 1, although the liquid fertilizer tank 40, the cultivation tank 30, and the liquid fertilizer supply pump 24 are arrange | positioned independently, in this Example 2, the liquid fertilizer tank 40 is arrange | positioned under the cultivation tank 30, and it is an integral structure. The liquid fertilizer supply pump 24 is disposed in the liquid fertilizer tank 40, and the liquid fertilizer is supplied and drained between the cultivation tank 30 and the liquid fertilizer tank 40, and the lack of liquid fertilizer is compensated by a liquid fertilizer supply device (not shown). Is called.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hydroponics tank of the present invention used in the above-described cultivation system. The cultivation tank 30 includes a cultivation tank main body 1 and an upper lid 8 placed on the cultivation tank main body. The cultivation tank 30 has an external structure (box body) composed of a peripheral wall 30a and a bottom surface portion 30b composed of a heat insulating material 6 and a main body inner wall seal (for example, a metal plate, a resin plate, a vinyl film, etc.). In this embodiment, it is formed in a regular square shape. The shape of the cultivation tank 30 may be an arbitrary shape such as a rectangle, a polygon, or a circle, and is not limited to a regular square.

  The cultivation tank main body 1 is provided with a liquid fertilizer introduction portion 2 fixed at the center position of the bottom surface portion 30a and a rectifying structure 3 fixed by welding, screwing, adhesion, etc. around the liquid fertilizer introduction portion 2. The liquid fertilizer introduced through the liquid fertilizer introduction unit 2 is branched and jetted horizontally from the lower layer in the cultivation tank by the rectifying structure 3. When the cultivation tank body is a regular square, the rectifying structure 3 is preferably branched in four directions so as to go to the center of the four walls of the peripheral wall 30a. Moreover, the cultivation tank main body 1 provides the drainage part 15 in the corner (corner) of the surrounding wall 30a in the position of the same distance from the bottom center, and the drainage part 15 has a water level adjustment drainage pipe (liquid fertilizer level adjustment drainage pipe). 4 is installed. The water level adjusting drainage pipe 4 adjusts the water level of the liquid fertilizer in the cultivation tank body 1, and the liquid fertilizer is kept at the adjusted water level. Further, the lower end of the water level adjusting drain pipe 4 is a liquid fertilizer introduction part pipe connection part.

Next, the upper lid will be described with reference to FIG. 4 showing a plan view of the upper lid. The upper lid 8 has a medium case mounting hole 12 formed at the center, and a medium 13 (with a case) 13 is disposed in the medium case mounting hole 12. Further, water level adjusting inspection ports (liquid fertilizer level adjusting inspection ports) 11 are provided at four corners of the upper lid 8 above the water level adjusting drain pipe 4, and the inspection port 11 is a water level adjusting inspection port upper cover (liquid fertilizer level). It is covered with an adjustment unit inspection port upper lid) 10.

  When the upper lid 8 is placed on the cultivation tank main body 1, as shown in FIG. 7, the culture medium 13 disposed on the upper lid 8 is positioned above the liquid fertilizer introduction part 2 of the cultivation tank main body 1, that is, above the rectifying structure 3. It becomes like this.

  In the above-described Examples 1 to 3, one medium is arranged in the center of the upper lid 8, but the number of mediums arranged on the upper lid 8 is not necessarily limited to one. In the region near the rectifying structure 3, a plurality of culture media (for example, 4 culture media) may be arranged at equal distances from the center of the cultivation tank body 1 and at equal intervals between adjacent culture media. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, an inspection hole 17 for confirming a root state and a lid 18 that covers the inspection hole 17 may be provided on the upper lid.

  Here, the relationship between the cultivation tank main body 1, the water level adjusting drain pipe 4 installed in the cultivation tank main body, and the rectifying structure 3 will be described. When the shape of the main body of the cultivation tank viewed from above is a polygon (for example, a regular square, a rectangle, etc.), the water level adjusting drain pipe is installed on the bottom surface portion of the corner of the cultivation tank main body. For example, when the cultivation tank main body is a regular square or a rectangle, it is installed at each of the four corners. For example, when the cultivation tank main body is a triangle and a pentagon, it is installed at three corners and five corners, respectively. When the cultivation tank main body is circular or elliptical, it is preferable that the water level adjusting drain pipe is installed at the same distance from the rectifying structure at a symmetrical position from the center position of the rectifying structure.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the water flow inside the cultivation tank of this invention in case a cultivation tank is a regular square is demonstrated as an example. FIG. 6 shows the water flow seen from the top surface of the cultivation tank, and FIG. 7 shows the water flow seen from the side surface of the cultivation tank. The present invention grows strong roots at a great growth rate by growing the roots on the flow from the center of the cultivation tank in four directions, and allows the entire plant to grow efficiently and strongly in a short period of time. It is intended.

  As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the liquid fertilizer that has flowed into the rectifying structure from the liquid fertilizer introduction part is branched into four directions of the cultivation tank, and sprayed from the lower layer (position close to the bottom surface) toward the wall center c. The In the jet fluid, the central flow a having a low frictional resistance has the highest speed, and when the peripheral flow b is involved while reaching the center c of the wall surface while reducing the speed, it receives a large resistance of the wall and rises slightly toward the middle layer. Separate in left and right directions. This flow occurs simultaneously in four directions. When the flow approaches the direction of the four corners, the resistance of the flow path and the resistance of the wall surface are increased, and the resistance of the corners of the four corners is received, and the flow d is separated from the wall surface and bent toward the center direction (inner side). At this stage, part of the flow rises towards the drainage but is relatively small).

  On the other hand, the flow starting from flow a is separated from the outer laminar flow that receives the resistance of water at a location where there is no flow, and the flow that bends in the direction of 90 ° near the wall surface c, as compared to the strong inner laminar flow. g is formed. Although the size and force of the vortex differ depending on the strength of the flow, small vortices are generated one after another in the slow region and move irregularly. Further, when the entire flow is constantly stabilized, a large vortex g that slowly rotates is also generated. Also from this vortex effect, it is possible to obtain a force that the flow d bends inward.

  The flow d flows and collides with the flow d coming from the opposite direction. With this resistance, the flow h further drains toward the upper part of the rising water level adjusting drain pipe in the upper layer direction and the flow e toward the inner side of the upper layer with less resistance. The flow e returns to the center of the bottom surface of the cultivation tank main body, becomes an induced flow again, and flows through the upper layer. This upper layer flow becomes a flow h that is easily drained from the upper part of the water level adjusting drain pipe installed near the corners of the four corners. The large and small Kalman flow that occurs irregularly and floats has both a massage effect that generates moderate fluctuations and a role to prevent flow bias. The root grows on the flow, rides on the rotating flow while receiving gentle fluctuations, delays reaching the water level regulating drainage pipe at the four corners, fast, large, and long in the early and middle growing season Can be grown.

30 Hydroponic cultivation tank 1 Cultivation tank main body 2 Liquid fertilizer introduction part 3 Rectification structure 4 Water level adjustment drain pipe 5 Body wall seal 6 Thermal insulation material 7 External structure 8 Upper lid 9 Upper lid thermal insulation structure 10 Water level adjustment part inspection port Upper cover 11 Water level adjustment inspection port 12 Medium Case Mounting Hole 13 Medium 14 Water Level Control Drain Pipe 15 Drain Part 16 Liquid Fertilizer Introducing Pipe Connection

Claims (6)

In the hydroponics tank consisting of the cultivation tank body and the upper lid placed on the cultivation tank body,
A water supply unit that is arranged at substantially the center of the cultivation tank body and is provided to supply liquid fertilizer from below,
At least one medium disposed in a substantially central region of the upper lid placed on the cultivation tank body;
Water level adjusting drain pipes of a plurality of drainage sections provided adjacent to the surrounding wall of the cultivation tank main body so as to drain liquid fertilizer,
Hydroponic cultivation tank characterized by having.   The hydroponic cultivation tank according to claim 1, wherein the culture medium is a single culture medium arranged on an upper lid so as to be above the water supply unit, or substantially the same from above the water supply unit toward the outside. A plurality of mediums arranged at a distance, or a plurality of mediums arranged on the upper lid so as to be above the water supply unit and substantially equidistant from the upper side of the water supply unit toward the outside A hydroponic cultivation tank characterized by being a medium.   The hydroponic cultivation tank according to claim 1, wherein when the cultivation tank main body has a polygonal shape, a plurality of water level adjusting drainage pipes of the drainage part are provided in the vicinity of a corner of the surrounding wall. Cultivation tank. In the hydroponic cultivation tank according to claim 1, when the cultivation tank main body is circular or elliptical,
The hydroponic cultivation tank characterized in that the water level adjusting drainage pipe of the drainage part is provided at the same distance from the center at a symmetrical position from the center position of the cultivation tank. The hydroponic cultivation tank according to claim 1, wherein the water supply unit has a rectifying structure for supplying liquid fertilizer in a plurality of horizontal directions. The hydroponic cultivation tank according to claim 5, wherein when the cultivation tank main body has a polygonal shape, the rectifying structure is a structure for injecting liquid manure toward the center of the length of each wall of the surrounding wall. Hydroponics tank.