JPH08140508A - Automatic irrigation control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the subject inexpensive control unit designed to automatically control flowerpot irrigation according to the moisture content of soil and thus reduce irrigation maintenance cost and irrigation labor. CONSTITUTION: This control unit is to conduct the automatic control of irrigation by feedback control, being designed to operate as follows: a soil moisture sensor 4 and an excess moisture sensor 10 are set up on the upper part of a pot 1 and on the exit of the bottom of the pot 1, respectively; when both the sensors get dry, a water leak detector 9 is actuated to make an irrigator on and to carry out an irrigation; when one of the sensors detects moisture, the water leak detector 9 is actuated again to make the irrigation off; repeating these operations, the soil in the pot is kept at an appropriate moisture level; the extent of soil moisture content and irrigation level can also be regulated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic irrigation control system capable of appropriately and automatically performing irrigation work of a plant cultivating device such as potted plant for a wide range of households including institutional horticulture.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plant is cultivated by putting soil in a cultivating container such as a flower pot or pot, planting the plant, irrigating the soil, or leaking excess water irrigated from the cultivating container. Cultivation devices are known. The most widely used irrigation control method is time-based control. That is, it is a method of opening a solenoid valve at a fixed time every day for a fixed time to irrigate a fixed amount.

[0003]

The irrigation control based on the above time is disadvantageous in that it becomes over-humid when cloudy weather continues, and over-dry when cloudy weather continues, and the plants are apt to grow poorly. Since the water demand increases as the plant grows, the irrigation amount must be increased, and its regulation is complicated.

On the other hand, there is also an apparatus for detecting soil moisture and adjusting the amount of irrigation, but this apparatus is expensive because a set is 50,000 to 200,000 yen and a sensor is 12,000 to 20,000 yen. is there. In addition, an apparatus in which an electrode is embedded in soil to measure the amount of soil water by changing the electric resistance value to control irrigation has a drawback that chemical substances generated by electrolysis damage roots of plants.

Therefore, the present invention creates an automatic irrigation control device which can automatically adjust the irrigation amount according to the soil water content at a lower cost (less than 20,000 yen per set) than the conventional one.
It is an object of the present invention to develop and provide a device having a structure in which a plant is not damaged by a chemical substance generated by electrolysis from an electrode for detecting water.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides: In a plant cultivating apparatus for planting a plant by putting soil in a cultivation container and cultivating the plant while irrigating the soil, the water content of the soil is set on the soil surface, and the amount of capillary water from the soil is increased. The soil moisture sensor that detects the water level is used to control irrigation. Planting a plant by putting soil in a cultivating container, irrigating the soil, leaking excess water from the cultivating container to cultivate the plant in a plant cultivating apparatus, and detecting excess water leaking from the cultivating container. A water sensor is provided, and irrigation control is performed by detection by the excess water sensor ,. Providing a water leak detector to detect the presence of water detected by the soil moisture sensor or excess water sensor,
The irrigation control was done by this leak detector,
Each is characterized by.

[0007]

The automatic irrigation control system of the present invention having the above-described structure performs the following actions. ． When the soil has sufficient water, the soil water rises to a high position of the soil moisture sensor due to a capillary phenomenon, and when the soil dries, the soil water rises only to a low position of the soil moisture sensor. Then, the level of soil water due to the capillary phenomenon is detected by a soil moisture sensor and sent to a water leakage detector, and the water leakage detector operates the irrigation device to automatically control irrigation according to the soil water content. ． When water is supplied from the irrigation device and the soil and the cultivation container get wet, the soil water again raises the water level of the soil moisture sensor by the capillary phenomenon. Then, the water leakage detector detects it, the irrigation device is stopped, and the irrigation is completed. ． If water leaks from the bottom of the cultivation container before the capillary water from the soil is detected by the soil moisture sensor at the top of the cultivation container, this is detected by the excess water sensor and the irrigation device is stopped to prevent excessive irrigation. To do.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a pot which is a cultivation container, in which the soil 2 is put and a plant 3 is planted, and the soil 2 is irrigated by a irrigation device described later to cultivate the plant 3. It The water content of the soil 2 is installed above the soil 2 and is detected by a soil water sensor 4 that detects the height of the capillary water from the soil 2 to control irrigation. The soil moisture sensor 4 is composed of a support plate 5 standing on the soil 2, a water guiding band 6 attached to the support plate 5, and a capillary water detection electrode 7.
Is connected to a water leak detector 9 via a lead wire 8.

In addition, the pot 1 is provided with an excess water sensor 10 for detecting excess water irrigated in the soil 2 when the excess water leaks from the bottom of the pot 1, and the excess water sensor 10 detects the excess water. The irrigation control is also performed by. That is, the pot 1 is placed on the excess water detection base 11, and the excess water detection base 11 is formed with an excess water flow-down groove 12 that flows down when the excess water irrigated to the soil 2 leaks from the bottom of the pot 1. The excess water detection electrode 13 is provided in the excess water flow-down groove 12. Then, the excess water detecting electrode 13 is connected to the water leak detector 9 through a lead wire 14. As described above, the presence of water detected by the soil moisture sensor 4 or the excess water sensor 10 is detected by the water leakage detector 9 to control irrigation.

A power source 1 is connected to the water leak detector 9 and the solenoid valve 17.
5 is connected and the leak detector 9 leads 16
It is connected to the solenoid valve 17 via. One of the solenoid valves 17 is connected to a water pipe 19 via a valve 18, and the other of the solenoid valves 17 is connected to a watering pipe 20. The irrigation pipe 20 is provided with a large number of irrigation nozzles 21, 21 ... For irrigating the soil 2 of each pot 1. Then, the electromagnetic valve 17 is opened / closed by the water leakage detector 9 which is activated by the detection of the soil moisture sensor 4 or the excess water sensor 10, and the irrigation control from the irrigation nozzle 21 to the soil 2 of the pot 1 is performed. .

Further, the structure of the main part will be described in detail. ． Soil moisture sensor 4 Support plate 5 = A commercially available acrylic plate, vinyl chloride plate, or other insulating material is cut into a size of about 3 x 25 cm before use. Water guide belt 6 = Cellulose filter paper, glass wool filter paper, synthetic fiber cloth, cotton, gypsum, and other materials that raise capillary water are used alone or in combination. If necessary, apply antiseptic treatment. The rising speed and drying speed of the capillary water can be adjusted by changing the material, shape and thickness. In addition, it is possible to delay the rise of capillary water by making appropriate cuts in the lateral direction. Furthermore, if it is made black, it can absorb solar heat and be easily dried. Capillary water detection electrode 7 = It is best to use a carbon rod so as not to cause deterioration due to corrosion (crocodile grub crib or nichrome wire can be substituted. Gold and platinum are also usable but expensive). For the carbon rod, this is cut to an appropriate length (for example, 4 cm), and two lead wires 8 are connected to it and prepared.

[0012] Leakage detector 9 General-purpose devices that are mass-produced and commercially available for detecting leaks in buildings and factories can be used as they are. Level equipment can be used instead. These devices detect the presence or absence of conduction between the electrodes and turn on the switch by an internal relay.
Performs OFF control. The water leak detector 9 can be purchased at a low price (about 11,000 yen).

.. Excess water sensor 10 Excess water detection stand 11 = Place a pot 1 and use a concrete plate or a plastic plate having a slight inclination and an excess water flow-down groove 12 (a corrugated concrete plate, a roof tile, or the like can be used instead). . Excess water detection electrode 13 = lead wire 14
Two metal weights (lead weights for fishing, etc.) connected to are prepared, fixed to the excess water flow-down groove 12 and connected to the water leakage detector 9 via the lead wire 14.

.. Other parts The solenoid valve 17, valve 18, irrigation nozzles 21, 21 ...
A commercially available product is used for each. The irrigation pipe 20 uses a commercially available vinyl chloride pipe.

Next, the operation of the automatic irrigation control system having the above-mentioned structure will be described. The pot 1 in which the plant 3 is planted is placed on the excess water detection table 11. At this time, the excess water flow-down groove 12 is adjusted so as to come directly under the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot 1. The excess water detection electrodes 13 and 13 are arranged so as not to come into contact with each other, and the lead wire 14 is connected to the water leakage detector 9. The support plate 5 attached to the water conveyance zone 6 is inserted into the soil 2 by about 5 cm, and the pot 1
Standing above the water, two capillary water detection electrodes 7 and 7
On the surface of the soil at a position approximately 10 cm above the soil surface with a distance of 5 mm between them and stop them in parallel with clothespins (be careful not to let the electrodes contact each other), and connect the lead wires 8 of the electrodes 7 and 7 to the leak detector 9 Connect to. After a while, the soil water rises in the water guiding zone 6 due to the capillary phenomenon, and the soil water content can be detected.

A valve 18, a solenoid valve 17, a watering pipe 20, and a watering nozzle 21 are connected to a water pipe 19, and a watering nozzle 21 is arranged in the pot 1. The irrigation nozzle 21 is preferably installed within a radius of 3 cm from where the soil moisture sensor 4 is set up. Connect 1 of the lead wires 16 of the solenoid valve 17 to the relay in the water leak detector 9 (when there is no conduction-ON when dry, when conduction-OFF when wet)
To be connected). The power supply 15 is connected to the solenoid valve 17 and the water leak detector 9.

When installed in this manner, the electromagnetic valve 17 is switched on via the water leakage detector 9 when there is no conduction between the capillary water detection electrode 7 and the excess water detection electrode 13 (that is, when it is dry). The solenoid valve 17 is opened and watering is performed.
When conduction occurs in either one of the capillary water detection electrode 7 and the excess water detection electrode 13 (that is, when it is wet), the water leakage detector 9
The power switch to the solenoid valve 17 is turned off via the
7. Close and stop irrigation.

By raising the position of the capillary water detection electrode 7 with respect to the water guide zone 6, even if the soil 2 is wet, the water is detected and the watering is started, so that the moistness can be controlled. If the position of the capillary water detection electrode 7 is lowered, the dryness is detected after the soil 2 is sufficiently dried, so that the dryness can be controlled. Further, when the valve 18 is wide open, the watering amount increases, and when the valve 18 is squeezed, the watering amount decreases. Further, the watering amount can be increased by increasing the distance between the soil moisture sensor 4 and the watering nozzle 21. Further, in the case of a large bowl, if the watering nozzle 21 is put in a plastic cup having a small hole formed in the bottom thereof with a needle, the watering amount can be increased by the capacity of the cup.

When excess water flows out from the bottom of the pot 1 before the soil moisture sensor 4 detects the humidity of the soil 2, the excess water sensor 10 operates the leak detector 9 to activate the solenoid valve 17. Due to the closure, excessive irrigation is prevented.

That is, when the soil 2 has a sufficient amount of water, the soil water rises to a high position in the water conveyance zone 6 due to the capillary phenomenon, and the soil 2
When the soil becomes dry, the soil water only rises to the lower position of the water conveyance zone 6. The capillary water detection electrode 7 is arranged at an appropriate position of the water guide zone 6, and the water leakage detector 9 detects the presence or absence of conduction of the electrode in that portion, and operates the relay to operate the solenoid valve 17 of the irrigation system.
By opening and closing, it becomes possible to irrigate according to the soil water content.

When water is supplied from the irrigation nozzle 21 and the soil 2 gets wet, the soil water again wets the water conveyance zone 6 by a capillary phenomenon.
When the water conduit 6 becomes wet, the capillary water detection electrode 7 becomes conductive, and the water leakage detector 9 detects it. The relay is operated and the electromagnetic valve 17 is closed to terminate the irrigation. When excess water leaks from the bottom of the pot before the capillary water of the soil 2 is detected by the soil moisture sensor 4, the excess water sensor 10 detects it and the solenoid valve 17 is closed to prevent excessive irrigation. You can

The degree of wetting of the soil 2 can be controlled by the height of the capillary water detection electrode 7 installed in the water conveyance zone 6, and the irrigation amount of 1 times can be adjusted by adjusting the valve 18 to the irrigation pipe 20 or the water of the watering nozzle 21. It can be adjusted depending on the size of the distance between the outlet and the water guide zone 6.

[0023]

As described above, according to the automatic irrigation control system of the present invention, it is possible to perform appropriate irrigation control according to the soil water content in the cultivation container. Further, regardless of the weather, the size of the plant, etc., the soil can be kept at an appropriate humidity, and it is highly efficient and labor-saving compared to the conventional time-controlled irrigation system. Furthermore, since all the devices can be constructed by using commercially available general-purpose products, installation can be performed at a cost of about one third of the cheapest devices currently on the market. Furthermore, since all the electrodes are outside the cultivation container, harmful substances generated by electrolysis do not damage the plants.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an automatic irrigation control system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 l Pot (cultivating container) 2 Soil 3 Plant 4 Soil moisture sensor 5 Support plate 6 Water transfer zone 7 Capillary water detection electrode 8, 14, 16 Lead wire 9 Leakage detector 10 Excess water sensor 1 11 Excess water detection stand 12 Excess water flow ditch 13 Excess Water Detection Electrode 15 Power Supply 17 Solenoid Valve 18 Valve 19 Water Pipe 20 Irrigation Pipe 21 Irrigation Nozzle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plant is planted by putting soil in a cultivation container.
In a plant cultivation device adapted to grow plants while irrigating the soil, the water content of the soil is installed on the soil surface, detected by a soil water sensor to detect the height of capillary water from the soil, An automatic irrigation control device characterized by performing irrigation control. 2. A plant is planted by putting soil in a cultivation container,
In a plant cultivating apparatus for irrigating soil and leaking excess water from a cultivation container to grow a plant, an excess water sensor for detecting excess water leaking from the cultivation container is provided, and detection by this excess water sensor An automatic irrigation control device characterized by performing irrigation control. 3. A water leakage detector for detecting the presence of water detected by the soil moisture sensor or the excess water sensor, and the water leakage detector controls irrigation. 2. The automatic irrigation control device described in 2.