JPH0532A - Equipment for water culture - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the subject equipment for water culture, capable of uniformly supplying a nutritive solution to many cultured plants, free from overflow of the nutritive solution even when the roots are spread, having a circulation system for supplying the nutritive solution and capable of application to displays for indoor use or outdoor use. CONSTITUTION:On the outer side of a flexible inner pipe 1 for supplying a nutritive solution for water culture, a corrugated intermediate pipe 3 having, in the longitudinal direction, two or more through holes 2 through which the above-mentioned nutritive solution flows in and out is arranged and, on the outer side of the corrugated intermediate pipe 3, a flexible outer pipe 6 through which the nutritive solution flowing out from the corrugated intermediate pipe 3 can flow, having an opening part 5 capable of accommodating an artificial culture medium 4 is arranged. The inner pipe 1, the corrugated intermediated pipe 3 and the outer pipe 6 are inclined at a desired gradient so that the above- mentioned nutritive solution may flow and the nutritive solution is circulated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hydroponic cultivation apparatus capable of cultivating plants in a soilless area, and can be used for displaying spaces in stores, offices, stations and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional hydroponic cultivation apparatus is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), a liquid supply pipe M is provided inside a pipe A having an opening 5 for accommodating the artificial medium 4 and having a slope.
Is arranged, the nutrient solution is pumped up by the pump 10 to the liquid supply pipe M, and the nutrient liquid discharged from the upper end B of the liquid supply pipe M is caused to flow into the pipe A so that the artificial medium 4 absorbs water. In some cases, the nutrient solution flows through the bottom C of the pipe A along the gradient and returns to the liquid storage tank D. As another example, as shown in FIG. 5, a corrugated pipe G having a planting hole F for planting a seedling E is wound into a conical shape,
In some cases, the water supply pipe J supplies the nutrient solution to the top H of the corrugated pipe G.

[0003]

In the hydroponic cultivation apparatus shown in FIG. 4, when the root K of the plant planted in the artificial medium 4 overhangs as shown in FIG. Since the nutrient solution flowing through the bottom portion C inside is blocked, the nutrient solution to be returned to the liquid storage tank D may overflow from the opening 5 of the pipe A. In order to prevent this, the conventional method shown in FIG.
As shown in (b) and (c), the drainage path L is provided under the artificial medium 4.
Is provided to secure a passage for the nutrient solution flowing through the bottom portion C in the pipe A. However, even with this, the overhanging root K has the same drainage path L
There was a problem that the flow of the nutrient solution was blocked by wrapping around to the inside. In the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of FIG. 4, since the nutrient solution can be flowed over the entire length of the pipe A while maintaining the water level at the bottom side of the pipe A, the nutrients are evenly distributed to the plants in the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe A. In the hydroponic cultivation apparatus shown in (1), since the nutrient solution flows in the corrugated pipe G in the vertical direction, the nutrient liquid cannot be kept at an arbitrary water level from the top to the bottom of the corrugated pipe G. Therefore, the nutrient solution inevitably drips from the top down, and the nutrients of the nutrient solution are thicker in the upper part and absorbed in the upper plant in the lower part and become thin. As a result, the lower plant absorbs less nutrients and grows later than the upper plant, resulting in a difference in growth between the upper and lower plants. Further, when the roots of the plant are stretched in the corrugated pipe G, the flow of the nutrient solution is blocked and the nutrient liquid is discharged from the upper portion of the corrugated pipe G, as in the case of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus shown in FIG. There was a problem that it overflowed.

[0004]

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to be able to supply the nutrient solution evenly to many plants under cultivation, so that the nutrient solution does not overflow even if the roots grow.
An object of the present invention is to provide a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that can be used for indoor and outdoor displays by supplying the nutrient solution in a circulating manner.

[0005]

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus of the present invention has a through hole 2 through which the nutrient solution flows in and out of the flexible inner tube 1 for supplying the nutrient solution for hydroponic cultivation. Two or more corrugated inner tubes 3 are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and an opening 5 for accommodating the artificial medium 4 is formed outside the corrugated inner tubes 3 and flows out from the corrugated inner tube 3. The flexible outer tube 6 through which the nutrient solution flows is arranged.

[0006]

In the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the inner tube 1, the corrugated middle tube 3 and the outer tube 6 have a triple tube structure, the opening formed in the outer tube 6 Even if the roots of the plant planted in the artificial medium 4 in the part 5 overhang in the outer tube 6,
As shown in (3), the corrugated inner tube 3 is blocked, so the corrugated inner tube 3 does not enter. Therefore, the nutrient solution is blocked by the weir and the opening 5
The nutrients do not overflow and the nutrients are evenly distributed to the plants planted in the artificial medium 4. Further, since the corrugated tube is used as the middle tube 3, the unevenness 7 on the surface of the corrugated middle tube 3 causes the nutrient solution flowing in the outer tube 6 to be disturbed and to be in the same state as being agitated. The air necessary for the growth of the plant is sufficiently mixed therein, and the growth of the plant is promoted. Further, since the nutrient solution stays in the corrugated concave portion of the corrugated middle tube 3, rooting of the plant is improved.

[0007]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 showing an example of a hydroponic cultivation apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 2, 1 is an inner tube, 3 is a corrugated medium tube formed on the outside thereof, and 6 is an outer tube further formed on the outside thereof. The inner pipe 1 discharges the nutrient solution into the corrugated medium pipe 3 from the upper end portion 8 of the inner pipe 1. In order to give the inner tube 1 flexibility, it is desirable to use a corrugated tube or a bendable tube. The corrugated medium tube 3 is a corrugated flexible tube in order to have flexibility, and two or more through holes 2 through which the nutrient solution flows in and out are formed at appropriate intervals in the corrugated medium tube 3. When the nutrient solution is supplied from the inner pipe 1, the through hole 2 serves as a passage for the nutrient solution to flow from the inner pipe 1 into the outer pipe 6, and the supply of the nutrient solution from the inner pipe 1 is stopped. Occasionally, the extra nutrient solution accumulated in the outer pipe 6 serves as a passage for flowing into the corrugated medium pipe 3.
As the outer tube 6, a corrugated flexible tube is used like the corrugated middle tube 3. A diameter of about 100 mmφ is suitable. On the peripheral wall of the outer tube 6, an opening 5 for inserting the artificial medium 4 such as rock wool is formed.

In FIG. 3, the inner pipe 1, the corrugated middle pipe 3, and the outer pipe 6 are arranged at a gradient of an angle θ, and the corrugated middle pipe 3 and the outer pipe 6 are arranged.
The nutrient solution naturally flows in the inside from the upper part to the downstream side, and the nutrient solution is circulated. The angle of the gradient θ is optimally about 1/100 to 1/80 from the results of experiments. Further, in the hydroponic cultivation apparatus shown in FIG. 3, supply and stop of the nutrient solution and control of the liquid volume lamp are automatically performed. Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 3 denotes a control panel, which can set an arbitrary operation time by a timer and can set various other conditions. When an operation command signal is output from the control panel 11, the pump 10 operates and the solenoid valve 15 opens at the same time.
A manual valve 16 in which the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 13 is previously opened,
It is sent to the inner pipe 1 through the supply passage 17. The manual valve 16
Is to set an appropriate amount of the nutrient solution to be supplied to the hydroponic cultivation apparatus from the total length and shape of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus, the capacity of the pump 10, and the like. When a certain time has elapsed after the operation, the pump 10 is stopped by the command signal from the control panel 11, the electromagnetic valve 15 is closed, and the supply of the nutrient solution is automatically stopped. An electrode rod 18 is inserted into the nutrient solution tank 13. When the electrode rod 18 detects a decrease in the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 13, the detection signal is sent to the control panel 11 to control the same. The make-up water valve 19 is opened by a command signal from the board 11 so that the solution is replenished in the nutrient solution tank 13. The nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 13 is prepared after measuring PH (acidity) and SC (electrical conductivity), but it may be appropriately prepared automatically by using an automatic measuring device and an automatic control device.

[0009]

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus of the present invention has the following effects. ． The triple tube structure of the inner tube, the middle tube, and the outer tube prevents the nutrient solution from being blocked by the roots of the plant and prevents the nutrient solution from overflowing and contaminating the outside of the device. ． The inner tube, middle tube, and outer tube are flexible so that they can be bent freely, and since the liquid supply / drain is circulated, the nutrient solution is water. Does not flow out of the cultivator. Therefore, a plant cultivated in a hydroponic cultivation apparatus can be used as a display by attaching an inner pipe, a middle pipe, and an outer pipe having a triple structure to an indoor wall surface or installing them in indoor and outdoor spaces. ． Since the nutrient solution is evenly distributed over the artificial medium along the entire length in the longitudinal direction, there is no variation in plant growth. ． Since it is a pipe-type circulating hydroponics device, for example, as a measure against winter, it is possible to insert a linear heater wire in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube 6 to warm the roots and nutrient solution of the plant and prevent winter death. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a hydroponic cultivation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a hydroponic cultivation system incorporating the hydroponic cultivation device of the present invention.

4A and 4B are views showing an example of a conventional hydroponic cultivation apparatus, FIG. 4A is a vertical sectional view, FIG. 4B is a partial detailed vertical sectional view, and FIG. 4C is a vertical sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of a conventional hydroponic cultivation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 inner tube 2 through hole 3 corrugated medium tube 4 artificial medium 5 opening 6 outer tube

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. Two or more through holes 2 through which the nutrient solution flows in and out are formed on the outside of a flexible inner tube 1 for supplying the nutrient solution for hydroponic culture. The flexible corrugated medium tube 3 is arranged, an opening 5 for accommodating the artificial medium 4 is formed outside the corrugated medium tube 3, and the nutrient solution flowing out from the corrugated medium tube 3 flows. A hydroponic cultivation device, in which an outer tube 6 having a ridge is arranged.