JP2022118202A - Waste plug, field water management system, and field water management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive waste plug capable of simplifying installing work or detected water level adjustment work and suppressing the repeat of frequent water supplying and water supply stopping from a water supply plug.

SOLUTION: This waste plug equipped with a waste water level adjustment unit capable of adjusting a height from a field surface for adjusting a stored water level of a field comprises: a first water level sensor that vertically moves interlockingly with the waste water level adjustment unit and measures a relative water level of the field with the waste water level adjustment unit as a reference; a second water level sensor that measures a water level lower than the relative water level; a water level control unit that calculates a stored water level of the field on the basis of the measuring result of the first or second water level sensor; and a communication unit that outputs the calculated water level to an external device. The water level control unit does not output reduction of a water surface to the external device via the communication unit until the second water level sensor detects the reduction of the water surface after the first water level sensor has detected the water surface, but outputs the reduction of the water level to the external device via the communication unit when a second water gauge detects the reduction of the water level.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a drain plug , a field water management system and a field water management method .

Patent Literature 1 discloses a water tap and a drain tap provided with an electric field actuator that operates a displacement mechanism for controlling water supply to or drainage from a field. By using these water taps and drain taps, it becomes possible to remotely control water supply to and drainage from fields via a cloud server or the like.

For this reason, a water level sensor is provided in the field, and the water tap and the drain tap are controlled based on the water level detected by the water level sensor.

Such water level sensors include pressure-type water level sensors that are equipped with a wireless communication function and are capable of detecting any water level within a predetermined range. A float-type water level sensor is used that includes a float switch whose mounting position can be adjusted vertically via an attachment, and a signal line.

JP 2017-193914 A

However, when the pressure-type water level sensor described above is initially installed at a predetermined position in the field, the water level is automatically measured after that, and the measured water level is transmitted to an external device including a hydrant by wireless communication. Although it is free from subsequent maintenance and is highly convenient, there is a problem that the equipment cost increases for installing it in a large number of fields because it is very expensive.

The above-mentioned float-type water level sensor is a sensor that detects the position of the water surface and is very inexpensive. Every time it is necessary to adjust the water level in the field after installation, it is necessary to manually adjust the vertical position of the float switch according to the scale so that the water surface position corresponding to the target water depth can be detected. There was a problem that complicated installation work and adjustment work were required.

Therefore, there has been a demand for a field water management method that can be implemented using a water tap or a drain tap equipped with the above-described field electric actuator and that can reduce the cost burden and the maintenance effort.

Further, when the field is flooded, the water level sensor detects that the water level in the field has decreased after the water supply to the field is stopped at the water level detected by the water level sensor. Water supply will be resumed. However, when the water surface undulates under the influence of the wind, etc., the output of the water level sensor switches each time, causing an unfavorable situation in which the water supply from the hydrant is repeatedly switched on and off.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to simplify the installation work and the adjustment work of the detected water level, to detect the water level at low cost, and to suppress the repetition of frequent water supply and water supply stop from the water tap. It is to provide a plug , a field water management system and a field water management method .

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first characteristic configuration of the drain plug according to the present invention is a drain plug that is provided with a drainage water level adjustment part that can adjust the vertical height from the surface of the field, and adjusts the reservoir water level in the field. ,
a first water level sensor that moves up and down in conjunction with the drainage water level adjustment unit and measures the relative water level of the field with the drainage water level adjustment unit as a reference; a second water level sensor that measures a lower water level; and a water level controller that calculates the relative water level or the reservoir water level of the field calculated from the relative water level based on the measurement result of the first or second water level sensor. , the water level control unit does not output a drop in the water level until the second water level sensor detects that the water level has dropped after the water level is detected by the first water level sensor; It is characterized in that it is configured to output a drop in water level when the second water level gauge detects that the water level has dropped .

Since the first water level sensor is configured to move up and down in conjunction with the drainage water level adjuster, the relative water level of the field with respect to the drainage water level adjuster is measured by the first water level sensor. That is, the water level of the field can be grasped from the relative water level measured by the first water level sensor and the stored water level of the field adjusted by the drainage water level adjusting section. Since the vertical position of the first water level sensor is automatically adjusted according to the adjustment of the vertical height from the paddy field of the drainage water level adjustment part, there is no need to manually adjust the water level detection position of the first water level sensor. Become.

When the field is flooded and the first water level sensor detects that the water level of the field has decreased after the water supply to the field is stopped at the water level detected by the first water level sensor, The water supply from the water tap will be resumed. When the water surface undulates under the influence of wind or the like, the output of the first water level sensor switches each time, causing an unfavorable situation in which the water supply from the hydrant is repeatedly switched on and off. Even in such a case, by providing the second water level sensor, the faucet is closed when the water level is detected by the second water level sensor even if the water level is lower than that of the first water level sensor. By restarting water supply from the water tap when the second water level sensor no longer detects the water surface position, frequent repetition of water supply from the water tap and water supply stop can be suppressed.

The second characteristic configuration is that, in addition to the first characteristic configuration described above, the water level control section automatically adjusts the vertical height of the drain water level adjustment section based on a command from an external device.

Based on a command from an external device, the water level control unit automatically adjusts the vertical height of the drainage water level adjustment unit from the paddy surface, thereby automatically adjusting the reservoir water level of the field by the water tap.

In the third characteristic configuration, in addition to the above-described first or second characteristic configuration, the water level control unit adjusts the vertical height of the drainage water level adjustment unit by taking into account height fluctuations due to waving of the water surface. The point is that it automatically adjusts to the height.

For example, in preparation for waving of the water surface, if the vertical height of the drainage water level adjustment unit is set higher than the target water level and the target water level is detected by the first water level sensor, the first water level sensor can detect the target water level. To appropriately detect that a stored water level reaches a target water level, and to eliminate wasteful drainage from a drainage water level adjusting part even when the water surface is undulated.

The fourth characteristic configuration is that, in addition to any one of the first to third characteristic configurations, the water level sensor is composed of a float switch that moves up and down according to the water level in the field.

The float moves up and down according to the water surface that rises and falls in the field. If the position of the switch that activates when the float approaches is adjusted to the water level detection position, the switch activates when the float, which rises as the water surface rises, approaches the switch, and the water surface reaches the water level detection position. is detected.

The fifth characteristic configuration is, in addition to any one of the above-described first to fourth characteristic configurations, the drainage water level adjustment unit is composed of a dam plate or a drainage pipe, and the water level sensor is the dam plate or the drainage pipe. at the point where it is installed.

A dam plate or a drainage pipe is preferably used as the drainage water level adjustment unit, and when the vertical position of the dam plate or the drainage pipe is adjusted according to the drainage water level, the water level sensor attached to the dam plate or the drainage pipe is adjusted to the dam plate or the drainage pipe. The detection water level is adjusted by moving up and down in conjunction with the cylinder.

The characteristic configuration of the field water management system according to the present invention includes a water faucet having a water supply valve for guiding water to the field, a drain faucet having any one of the first to fifth characteristic configurations described above, and the water faucet. and an external device that communicates with the drain plug to manage the water level of the farm field, wherein the drain plug receives a drainage water level adjustment command from the external device, the drain When the reservoir water level of the farm field is adjusted via the water level adjustment unit, and when it is determined by the detection of the water surface by the first water level sensor that the target reservoir water level has been reached via the water level control unit, the target After that, when it is determined by the second water level gauge that the water level has fallen below the target water level via the water level control unit, the target water level is sent to the external device The water faucet, which has received a water supply command from the external device, opens the water supply valve to supply water to the field until the water supply stop command is received. The external device sends the drain water level adjustment command to the drain plug and the water supply command to the water tap, and then receives from the drain plug that the target reservoir water level has been reached. A water supply stop command is output to the water tap, and a water supply command is output to the water tap when it is received from the drain tap that the water level has fallen below a target water level.

The characteristic configuration of the agricultural field water management method according to the present invention is a water faucet having a water supply valve for guiding water to the agricultural field, a drainage faucet having any one of the first to fifth characteristic configurations described above, and the water faucet. and an external device that communicates with the drain plug to manage the water level of the farm field, wherein the external device controls the water level of the farm field to adjust the water level of the farm field to a target water level. Outputting a drainage water level adjustment command to the plug and outputting a water supply command to the water tap, and receiving a notification from the drain plug to the effect that the target water level has been reached, from the drain plug to the effect that the water surface has fallen below the target water level. is received, a water supply stop command is output to the water tap, and when it is received from the water tap that the water level has fallen below the target water level, the water supply command is output again to the water tap, Upon receiving the drainage water level adjustment command, the drainage plug adjusts the reservoir water level of the field via the drainage water level adjustment unit, and detects that the target reservoir water level has been reached via the water level control unit. When determined by detection of the water surface by the water level sensor, the effect that the target water level has been reached is sent to the external device, and then the second water level is notified via the water level control unit that the water level has fallen below the target water level. If it is determined by detecting a drop in the water level by the meter, it operates so as to repeat the process of transmitting to the external device a notification that the water level has dropped from the target level, and the water tap opens the water supply valve upon receiving the water supply command. It is constructed such that the water supply valve is closed to stop the water supply when the water supply stop command is received.

As described above, according to the present invention, the installation work and the adjustment work of the detected water level are simplified, the water level can be detected at low cost, and the frequent repetition of water supply and water supply stop from the water tap can be suppressed. , can provide a field water management system and a field water management method .

Illustration of field and field water management system (a) is an explanatory diagram of the side view of the drain plug, (b) is an explanatory diagram of the drainage control mechanism (a) is an explanatory diagram of the water level sensor attached to the drainage mechanism 22A, and (b) and (c) are explanatory diagrams of the field water level and the operation of the water level sensor. Explanatory drawing of hydrant

A farm field management device and a farm field management method provided with a drain plug and a hydrant drain plug will be described below.
[Configuration of field water management system]
As shown in FIG. 1, in each field 1 where rice is being cultivated, there are water taps 12 that lead irrigation water flowing through a water supply pipe 10 to the field 1 through a water conduit 11, and A drain plug 22 is provided for draining water from the farm to a drainage channel 20 , and a repeater 32 such as a Wi-Fi router for relaying connection with the Internet 30 is installed near the field 1 . Furthermore, the drain plug 22 is provided with a water level sensor 2 for measuring the water level of the field 1 .

Each water tap 12 and drain tap 22 is configured to be connectable to a cloud server 34 via the Internet 30, and a mobile terminal 36 such as a smartphone owned by an administrator of the field 1 can be connected to the cloud server 34 via the Internet 30. is configured to That is, the water management system 100 of the farm field is composed of the water taps 12, the drain taps 22, the portable terminal 36, the cloud server 34, and the Internet 30 that communicably connects them.

Taking rice cultivation as an example, each process of rice cultivation, such as puddling, rice planting, rooting stage, tillering stage (early stage, late stage), young panicle formation stage, ear emergence flowering stage, ripening stage, etc. It is necessary to adjust the reservoir water level of In particular, during the puddling season, water is conveyed to multiple fields at the same time, so it is necessary to manage the water supply efficiently for flooding.

Therefore, the cloud server 34 is configured to generate a water supply schedule for each farm field 1 based on a water supply request for each farm field 1 requested by each manager via the mobile terminal 36 .

The water supply request transmitted from the mobile terminal 36 includes a field ID that identifies the field to be watered, the date and time of water supply, and the water level. The cloud server 34 is configured to generate a water supply schedule for each field for which a water supply request has been made according to a pre-registered field map, and store the water supply schedule in the storage unit.

The field map is a field map indicating the position of each field, and the cloud server 34 is provided with a field ID for each field specified by the field map together with the field map. It has a farm field database in which a water plug ID and a drain plug ID that specify the drain plug 22 and an administrator ID are associated with the farm field ID.

The cloud server 34 outputs a drainage water level adjustment command to the drain plug 22 of the relevant field 1 at the water supply date and time specified in the water supply schedule stored in the storage unit, Output the water supply command. Drainage water level means the target reservoir water level of the field.

The drain plug 12 that receives the drain water level adjustment command adjusts the drain water level, and the feed plug 12 that receives the water supply command opens the water supply valve to guide water to the field. The drain plug 12 to which the signal line of the water level sensor 2 is connected transmits water level information to the cloud server 34 when the water level sensor 2 detects that the water level in the field has reached a predetermined reservoir water level, and the cloud server 34 When the water level information is received, a water supply stop command is transmitted to the water tap 12 . Upon receiving the water supply stop command, the water tap 12 controls the water supply valve to stop water supply.

[Configuration of drain plug and water level sensor]
The drain plug 22 for adjusting the water level in the field and the water level sensor 2 provided on the drain plug 2 will be described in detail below.
As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the drain plug 22 is detachably attached to a drainage mechanism 22A housed in a drainage basin 201 provided in the field, and to the upper surface of the drainage basin 201. A drainage control mechanism 22B is provided to control the drainage water level (storage water level) by controlling the drainage water level 22A.

The drainage mechanism 22A includes a receiving frame member 211 installed at the bottom of the drainage basin 201, a weir body 212 which is a cylindrical drainage pipe supported by the receiving frame member 211 so as to be vertically movable, and an elevating mechanism for moving the weir body 212 up and down. A mechanism 220 is provided. The upper end opening of the weir body 212 functions as a drain port 212a, and surplus water supplied to the field 1 overflows from the drain port 212a and flows out to the discharge channel 21.

A U-shaped support portion 213 in a side view is fixed to the upper end opening of the dam body 212 , and an elevating mechanism 220 is attached to the support portion 213 . The lifting mechanism 220 has a cylindrical movable portion 221 fixed to the upper surface of the support portion 213 and having a female screw formed on the inner peripheral surface, and a male screw formed on the outer peripheral surface and screwed with the female screw of the movable portion 221 . and a pair of rod-shaped bodies 223 that prevent the movable portion 221 from rotating together with the rotating shaft 222 .

That is, when the rotating shaft 222 rotates in one direction, the gate body 212 attached to the movable portion 221 via the support portion 213 rises together with the movable portion 221, and when the rotating shaft 222 rotates in the opposite direction, The gate body 212 attached to the movable portion 221 via the support portion 213 descends together with the movable portion 221 . The drain water level adjusting section 210 is configured by the gate body 212 and the elevating mechanism 220 described above.

The drainage control mechanism 22B includes a watertight casing 231 detachably attached to the upper surface of the drainage basin 201 via a pedestal 202, and a solar panel 232 attached to the top surface of the casing 231 in an inclined posture so as to face the sun. , a drive mechanism 240 housed in a casing 231, a storage battery 233, an antenna 234, a control panel 235, and the like. The control panel 235 incorporates a water level control section 236, a wireless communication section 237, and the like.

The water level control unit 236 and the wireless communication unit 237 are configured to include peripheral circuits such as a CPU, a memory, an input/output circuit, and a communication circuit. , the control function for the drain water level control unit 210 is implemented.

The water level control unit 236 controls the drainage water level adjustment unit 210 via the drive mechanism 240 so as to achieve the drainage water level instructed by the cloud server 34 via the wireless communication unit 237, and controls the agricultural field via the water level sensor 2 described later. reaches the target water level, it reports to the cloud server 34 via the wireless communication unit 237 that the water level has reached the target water level.

Electric power generated by the solar panel 232 is charged to the storage battery 233 , and the charged electric power of the storage battery 233 is consumed as control electric power for the water level control section 236 and the wireless communication section 237 .

The drive mechanism 240 includes a DC motor 241 with a built-in encoder, a hollow main gear 243 that meshes with a gear 242 provided on the output shaft of the DC motor 241, and a drive shaft 246 inserted through the hollow portion of the main gear 243. etc., and functions as an actuator for driving the drain water level adjusting unit 210 up and down.

The main gear 243 is a double-boss gear having a vertically extending cylindrical boss portion 244 and a disk-shaped gear portion 245 extending from the vertically central portion of the boss portion 244. The top and bottom of 244 are rotatably supported by bearings. A key groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 244 is fitted with a key 246k protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 246, so that the main gear 243 and the drive shaft 246 are configured to rotate integrally. .

The lower end of the drive shaft 246 and the upper end of the rotary shaft 222 are drivingly connected via a coupling 247 (see FIG. 2(a)). When the (storage water level) rises and the DC motor 241 rotates in the opposite direction, the gate body 212 descends and the drain water level (storage water level) descends.

By setting the position where the upper end opening position of the weir body 212 is at the level of the paddy field as a reference position and managing the upper end opening position of the weir body 212 based on the number of encoder pulses detected when the DC motor 241 is driven, The upper end opening position of the weir body 212 can be controlled to a desired height.

As shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c), a supporting portion 213 attached to the upper end opening of the weir body 212 is provided with a length that protrudes toward the farm field 1 from the opening 201a of the drainage basin 201 in a horizontal posture. A set arm member 250 is attached, and a pair of float switch type water gauges 252 and 253 with different vertical heights are attached to a drooping portion 251 on the tip side of the arm member 250 . A pair of float switch type water level gauges 252 serve as a first water level sensor, and a water level gauge 253 serves as a second water level sensor. It should be noted that the arm member 250 may be attached to a portion other than the support portion 213 as long as it is arranged so as to move up and down integrally with the gate body 212 .

A float switch type water level gauge is composed of, for example, a float f containing a magnetic material, a spindle a holding the float f so as to be vertically movable, and a reed switch s provided above the spindle a. When the float f rises along the support shaft a and reaches the reed switch s as the water level in the field 1 rises, the contact of the reed switch s is closed to detect that the water level has reached a predetermined level. It is a switch that

Therefore, unlike the pressure-type water level gauge, the float switch type water level gauge cannot directly detect the water level from the paddy field. It can be detected by rising. In the present embodiment, it moves up and down in conjunction with the drainage water level adjustment unit 210, and the relative water level of the field with the drainage water level adjustment unit 210 as a reference is measured.

Specifically, a first water level sensor is placed at a position corresponding to the height h1 of the upper end opening of the weir body 212 that constitutes the drainage water level adjustment part 210 with reference to the paddy field 1s in the drooping part 251 on the tip side of the arm member 250. A reed switch for the water level gauge 252 is provided, and a reed switch for the water gauge 253 as the second water level sensor is provided at a position corresponding to the height h2 (= h1 - Δh) of the upper end opening of the weir body 212. there is

FIG. 3(b) shows an example in which the water level is set to a predetermined h3, and FIG. 3(c) shows an example in which the water level is set to h4 (<h3). When the water level of the field 1 reaches h3 and h4 respectively, the water level gauge 252 detects that the water surface has reached the target water level. In this case, it goes without saying that the water gauge 253, which is the second water level sensor, is already turned on.

After the start of water supply to the field 1, when the water level is detected by the water level gauge 252 serving as the first water level sensor, the water level control unit 236 provided in the drain plug 22 determines that the target water level has been reached, and performs wireless communication. It reports to the cloud server 34 via the part 237 that the target water level has been reached. The cloud server 34 transmits a water stop command to the water tap 12 of the corresponding field 1 in response to this.

When the water surface is undulating, the float of one of the water level gauges 252, which is the first water level sensor, moves up and down with the undulations of the water surface. If the cloud server 34 is notified of the up-and-down fluctuation of the water level, an inconvenient situation occurs in which a water supply command and a water stop command are alternately sent to the hydrant 12 .

In preparation for such a case, the water level control unit 236 detects the water level by the other water level gauge 253, which is the second water level sensor, after the water level is detected by one of the water level gauges 252, which is the first water level sensor. The water level fluctuation is not reported to the cloud server 34 until the drop is detected, and the water level drop is reported to the cloud server 34 only after the other water level gauge 253 detects that the water level has dropped. It is The detected water level difference of the water level gauges 252 and 253 is set to several tens mm (for example, about 20 mm).

In addition, in preparation for waving of the water surface, the height of the upper end opening of the weir body 212 is set to h3 (=h1 + Δh), and one water level A total of 252 reed switches may be provided. By setting in this manner, one of the water level gauges 252 can appropriately detect that the stored water level has reached the target water level, and even if the water surface is undulating, waste water will be drained from the upper end opening of the weir body 212. disappears.

In the above-described embodiment, the water level sensor is a first water level sensor that moves up and down in conjunction with the drainage water level adjustment unit to measure the relative water level of the field with respect to the drainage water level adjustment unit, and the drainage water level adjustment unit. Although the example provided with the second water level sensor for measuring the relative water level lower than the relative water level of the field based on the drainage water level adjustment unit has been described, even if the configuration includes only the first water level sensor good.

Further, a third water level sensor may be provided to detect an intermediate relative water level between the relative water level of the field detected by the first water level sensor and the relative water level of the field detected by the second water level sensor.

In the above-described embodiment, the drainage water level adjustment unit 210 is composed of a drainage pipe (weir body 212), and the water level sensor 2 moves up and down in conjunction with the drainage pipe. The water level sensor 2 may be configured to move up and down in conjunction with the barrier plate that partitions the discharge channel 21 . The overflow water level from the field is adjusted by adjusting the vertical height of the dam plate that partitions the field and the drainage channel, and the above-mentioned arm member extends to the field on the dam plate so as to detect the adjusted overflow water level. should be placed in

That is, the drain plug 22 includes a drainage water level adjustment section that can adjust the vertical height from the paddy field 1s, a water level control section that automatically adjusts the vertical height of the drainage water level adjustment section via an actuator, a water level control section, and an external It is configured with a wireless communication unit that connects with the cloud server 34, which is a device.

Then, a water level sensor that moves up and down in conjunction with the drainage water level adjustment unit and measures the relative water level of the field with the drainage water level adjustment unit as a reference, and similarly moves up and down in conjunction with the drainage water level adjustment unit to control the drainage water level adjustment unit. It is equipped with a lower limit water level sensor that detects a lower limit water level lower than the relative water level of the field used as a reference.

The drainage water level adjusting unit is composed of a dam plate or a drainage cylinder, and the water level sensor and the lower limit water level sensor are composed of float switches that move up and down according to the water level in the field, and are attached to the drainage cylinder.

As the water level sensor, a sensor other than the float switch, such as an electric contact type sensor, may be used. For example, one contact may be associated with the target water level and attached to the drooping portion of the arm member, the other contact may be installed near the paddy field, and the presence or absence of current flowing between the two electrodes may be detected. .

In the above example, the water tap 12 and the drain tap 22 are connected to the Internet via a repeater 32 such as a Wi-Fi router. It may be composed of a terminal connectable to a mobile phone line and configured to be connectable to the Internet via a gateway.

In addition, a plurality of farm fields are grouped, and the wireless communication units provided in the water tap 12 and the drain tap 22 are configured with a communication device that performs communication based on the specified low-power radio, and one communication device serving as a parent device and a child device. Other communication devices will communicate wirelessly with each other, and the communication device that can connect to the Internet provided in the communication device that will be the parent device will send all the information including the water level information collected from the child device to the cloud server. configuration.

[Configuration of hydrant]
The water tap 12 will be described in detail below.
As shown in FIG. 4, the water tap 12 is detachably attached to a water supply mechanism 12A housed in a water supply pit 101 provided in a field, and to the upper surface of the water supply mechanism 12A, and controls the water supply mechanism 12A to supply or supply water. It has a water supply control mechanism 12B that switches to either stop water.

The water supply mechanism 12A includes a cylindrical valve box 120, a valve seat 121 protruding inwardly from the center of the valve box 120 in the vertical direction, and a rubber seal member on the bottom surface. It has a disk-shaped valve body 124 to which 123 is attached. A lower end of the valve box 120 is connected to the water conduit 11 branched from the water supply pipe 10 .

A bearing 126 having a female thread formed on its inner peripheral surface is attached to the upper end of the valve box 120 , and a valve shaft 125 having a male thread formed on its outer peripheral surface is screwed into the bearing 126 . A lower end of the valve shaft 125 is fixed to the valve body 124 .

A water passage hole 122 is formed in the central portion of the valve seat 121, and a plurality of water outlet windows 127 are formed in the upper portion of the side wall of the valve box 120 so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction. When a rotational force is applied to the valve shaft 125, the valve shaft 125 moves up and down along the bearing 126, and the valve body 124 moves up and down as the valve shaft 125 moves up and down. That is, the valve mechanism is composed of the valve seat 121, the valve body 124, and the seal member 123 provided between the valve seat 121 and the valve body 124, and the like.

The water supply control mechanism 12B includes a watertight casing 131 and a solar panel 132 attached to the top surface of the casing 131 in an inclined posture so as to face the sun, in the same manner as the drainage control mechanism 22B provided in the drain plug 22 described above. , a drive mechanism 140 housed in a casing 131, a storage battery 133, an antenna 134, a control panel 135, and the like. The control panel 135 incorporates a valve opening/closing control unit 136, a wireless communication unit 137, and the like.

The opening/closing control unit 136 and the wireless communication unit 137 are configured to include peripheral circuits such as a CPU, a memory, an input/output circuit, and a communication circuit. , the opening/closing control function for the valve mechanism provided in the water supply mechanism 12A is realized.

When a water supply instruction is received from the cloud server 34 via the wireless communication unit 137, the opening/closing control unit 136 controls the valve mechanism via the drive mechanism 140 to open the valve to a preset valve opening degree. When it is transmitted that the water level in the field has reached the target water level, the valve mechanism is closed.

Electric power generated by the solar panel 132 is charged to the storage battery 133 , and the charged electric power of the storage battery 133 is consumed as control electric power for the opening/closing control section 136 and the wireless communication section 137 .

The drive mechanism 140 includes a DC motor 141 with a built-in encoder, a hollow main gear 143 that meshes with a gear 142 provided on the output shaft of the DC motor 141, and a drive shaft 146 inserted through the hollow portion of the main gear 143. etc., and functions as an actuator for driving the valve body 124 up and down.

The main gear 143 is a double-boss gear having a vertically extending cylindrical boss portion 144 and a disc-shaped gear portion 145 extending from the vertically central portion of the boss portion 144. The top and bottom of 144 are rotatably supported by bearings. A key protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 146 is fitted into a key groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 144, so that the main gear 143 and the drive shaft 146 rotate integrally. .

The lower end of the drive shaft 146 and the upper end of the valve shaft 125 are drivably connected through a coupling 147, and when the DC motor 141 rotates in one direction, the valve body 124 rises and enters the water supply state, and the DC motor 141 rotates in the opposite direction. When rotationally driven, the valve body 124 descends to stop water.

[Field water management method]
By the above-described farm field water management system 100, the water level command step of transmitting the water level of the farm field from an external device (cloud server) via the wireless communication unit, and the water level control unit through the actuator to store the drainage water level adjustment unit When the water level is detected by the water level sensor, the relative water level or the reservoir water level in the field calculated from the relative water level is sent to an external device (cloud) via the wireless communication unit. and a field water level transmission step of transmitting to a server).

When the storage water level of the field is sent from the external device (cloud server) in the storage water level command step, the drainage water level adjustment unit is adjusted to the vertical height corresponding to the storage water level via the actuator in the drainage water level adjustment step, and the drainage water level is adjusted. The vertical height of the water level sensor is automatically adjusted in conjunction with the adjustment unit. The supply of water from the hydrant is started, and the relative water level detected by the water level sensor or the stored water level of the field calculated from the relative water level is transmitted to the external device (cloud server) in the field water level transmission step. For example, if the external device is a water faucet, it is possible to stop the water supply by judging that the reservoir water level in the field has reached a predetermined water level in the field water level transmission step. water storage control can be performed remotely.

Another embodiment of the drain plug and the water level sensor arranged on the drain plug will be described below.
In the above-described embodiment, the water level controller automatically adjusts the vertical height of the drainage water level adjustment unit via the actuator. However, the vertical height of the drainage water level adjustment unit can be manually adjusted. good too.

In other words, it is a drain plug that is provided with a drainage water level adjustment part that can manually adjust the vertical height from the field surface and adjusts the water level in the field. A water level sensor that measures the relative water level of the reference field is sufficient.

For example, instead of the drainage control mechanism 22B described above, a handle for manually rotating the rotary shaft 222 may be provided on the upper surface of the drainage basin 201, or the support portion 213 attached to the upper end opening of the weir body 212 may be manually moved up and down. may be configured to operate.

Since the water level sensor moves up and down interlocking with the manually adjusted drain water level adjusting part, there is no need to manually adjust the vertical position of the water level sensor each time the vertical height of the drain water level adjusting part is adjusted.

In addition, even if the vertical height of the drainage water level adjustment unit is manually adjusted and the water level sensor is adjusted vertically in conjunction with the drainage water level adjustment unit, the relative water level of the water level sensor with respect to the drainage water level adjustment unit or the relative water level of the agricultural field calculated from the relative water level It is preferable to have a wireless communication unit that transmits the stored water level to an external device. When sent to a suitable external device, the water level allows the external device to take appropriate action, such as remote control of a hydrant.

When the water level is detected by the water level sensor, the drain valve equipped with such a manually adjusted drain water level adjuster transmits the relative water level or the reservoir water level of the field calculated from the relative water level to the cloud via the wireless communication unit. A farm field water level transmission step of transmitting data to an external device such as a server; A field water management method is executed by comprising the steps of:

In order to transmit the relative water level of the water level sensor or the reservoir water level of the field calculated from the relative water level to an external device, instead of the wireless communication part, a wired communication part, specifically a signal line that outputs the contact state of the water level sensor is provided. may be By outputting the contact state to the water faucet 12 equipped with a wireless communication function, which is an external device, via the signal line, the water level information can be reported from the water faucet 12 to the cloud server.

In such a drain valve, when the water level is detected by the water level sensor, a field water level transmission step of transmitting the relative water level or the stored water level of the field calculated from the relative water level to the water tap via the communication unit; a water tap opening/closing command step in which an external device such as a cloud server communicating with the water tap transmits a command to open/close the water tap to adjust the water level. .

The embodiment described above is merely an example of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. Needless to say, the design can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the effects of the invention.

100: Field water management system 1: Field 1s: Field surface 2, 252, 253: Water level sensor 10: Water supply pipe 12: Water tap 20: Drainage channel 22: Drain valve 30: Internet 32: Repeater 34: Field management server ( external device)
210: Drainage water level adjustment unit 236: Water level control unit 240: Drive mechanism (actuator)

Claims (7)

A drain plug that includes a drain water level adjustment part that can adjust the vertical height from the field surface and adjusts the reservoir water level in the field,
a first water level sensor that moves up and down in conjunction with the drainage water level adjustment unit and measures the relative water level of the field with respect to the drainage water level adjustment unit;
a second water level sensor that moves up and down in conjunction with the drain water level adjusting unit and measures a water level lower than the relative water level;
a water level control unit that calculates the relative water level or the stored water level of the field calculated from the relative water level based on the measurement result of the first or second water level sensor;
with
After the water level is detected by the first water level sensor, the water level control unit does not output a decrease in the water level until the second water level sensor detects that the water level has decreased. A drain plug configured to output a low water level when a low water level is detected by the second water gauge. 2. The drain plug according to claim 1, wherein said water level controller automatically adjusts the vertical height of said drain water level adjuster based on a command from an external device. 3. The drain plug according to claim 2, wherein the water level control unit automatically adjusts the vertical height of the drain water level adjusting unit to a vertical height in consideration of height fluctuations due to waving of the water surface. The drain plug according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water level sensor comprises a float switch that moves up and down according to the water level in the field. 5. The drain plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the drain water level adjusting portion is composed of a dam plate or a drain pipe, and the water level sensor is attached to the dam plate or the drain pipe. A water tap provided with a water supply valve for guiding water to a field, a drain tap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and an external device communicating with the water tap and the drain tap to manage the water level of the field. A field water management system comprising:
Upon receiving the drainage water level adjustment command from the external device, the drainage plug adjusts the storage water level of the field via the drainage water level adjustment unit, and detects that the target storage water level has been reached via the water level control unit. When determined by the detection of the water surface by the first water level sensor, the effect that the target water level has been reached is transmitted to the external device, and then the water level control unit detects that the water level has fallen below the target water level. When determined by detection of a decrease in the water surface by the second water level gauge, it is configured to transmit to the external device that the water level has decreased from the target water level,
The water tap that receives a water supply command from the external device is configured to open a water supply valve and guide water to the field until a water supply stop command is received,
The external device transmits the drain water level adjustment command to the drain plug, transmits the water supply command to the water plug, and then stops the water supply to the water plug when it receives from the drain plug that the target water level has been reached. A field water management system configured to output a command and to output a water supply command to the water tap when receiving from the drain plug that the water surface has fallen below a target water level. A water tap provided with a water supply valve for guiding water to a field, a drain tap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and an external device communicating with the water tap and the drain tap to manage the water level of the field. A field water management method comprising:
The external device outputs a drainage water level adjustment command to the drain plug and a water supply command to the water plug in order to adjust the water level of the field to the target water level, and the target water level is reached from the drain plug. When receiving the notification, a water supply stop command is output to the water tap until receiving from the drain plug to the effect that the water level has decreased from the target water level, and the water level has decreased from the target water level from the drain plug. When receiving the request, it operates to output a water supply command to the water tap again,
Upon receiving the drainage water level adjustment command, the drainage plug adjusts the reservoir water level of the field via the drainage water level adjustment unit, and detects that the target reservoir water level has been reached via the water level control unit. When determined by detection of the water surface by the water level sensor, the effect that the target water level has been reached is sent to the external device, and then the second water level is notified via the water level control unit that the water level has fallen below the target water level. when determined by detection of a decrease in the water level by the meter, repeat the process of transmitting to the external device that the water level has decreased from the target water level,
When the water supply command is received, the water supply valve opens the water supply valve to introduce water to the field, and when the water supply stop command is received, the water supply valve is closed to stop the water supply.
A field water management method configured as follows.

Images