JPS62151123A - Hydroponic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a hydroponic cultivation apparatus.

Conventional techniques and their problems There are various types of conventional hydroponic cultivation devices, but for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-828, there is a plant holding system that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of a growing tube. A plant holding unit is constructed by connecting a nutrient solution receiving gutter to the side of the lower end of the part, and the base end of the nutrient solution receiving gutter is fitted into the peripheral wall of the growing tube from which the nutrient solution flows down from the top into the hollow space. A plurality of holes are provided in several stages above and below, and a stop protrusion (+1) with which the upper surface of the tip of the nutrient solution receiver engages is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the growth cylinder at a position opposite to the receiving hole. Although plant cultivation devices with special characteristics are known, they have the following problems. Firstly,
Since the cultivation opening is provided so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, the cultivation opening cannot be made large and sufficient growth of the plants cannot be expected. Second, the areas exposed to sunlight and the areas in the shade occur on the front and back sides of the cylinder, making it impossible to expect plants to grow evenly. Third
In addition, the nutrient solution falls directly onto the roots of the plants, which can easily damage the roots. Fourth, related to the first problem, it is difficult to increase the cultivation area with limited space.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hydroponic cultivation apparatus that solves the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems A hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to the present invention includes a nutrient solution tank having an outlet and an inlet, and a plurality of cultivation units arranged in multiple stages at intervals above the nutrient solution tank. , consisting of a nutrient solution circulation pipe that is piped between the outlet and the inlet via each cultivation unit, and each cultivation unit has a cultivation tank with a frontage on the top surface, and a cultivation tank with a plurality of through holes that cover the opening of the cultivation tank. The cultivation tank is equipped with a cover fitted into each through-hole and received by the bottom wall of the cultivation tank. A nutrient solution passage is provided at the bottom of the cultivation bed.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 1, the hydroponic cultivation device is arranged inside a greenhouse (11), and is a nutrient solution tank placed on a rectangular floor (12) of the greenhouse (11). (13)
and three cultivation units (16) which are suspended via shelves (15) at three positions in the height direction of the pillars (14) erected at the four corners of the floor (12). It is equipped with

The nutrient solution tank (13) is made of synthetic resin material such as ABS resin or polypropylene and is shaped like an oblong rectangular parallelepiped, and has a square H (17) on its top wall for replenishing and inspecting the nutrient solution.
and three circular small holes (18), (19), and (20) are provided. The window (17) is made of transparent plastic jlUa (21) with knobs, and the small holes (18) (19) (2
0) has an air pipe (22) and a nutrient solution feed pipe (23).
) and a nutrient solution return pipe (24) are each fitted in a continuous manner. Furthermore, an electric air pump (25) is mounted on the top wall of the nutrient solution tank (13). In addition, a substantially U-shaped protrusion (26) is provided on the bottom wall of the nutrient solution tank (13), and this includes a gas-liquid mixer (27).
) are installed in a sandwiched state. Air pipe (
One end outside the nutrient solution tank (13) of the air pump (22)
5) is connected to the nutrient solution tank (1) of the air pipe (22).
3) is connected to the gas-liquid mixer (27).

One end of the nutrient solution feed pipe (23) is located within the nutrient solution tank (13) and connected to the gas-liquid mixer (27). The part of the nutrient solution feed/repive (23) outside the nutrient solution tank (13) extends vertically upward, and its upper end connects to the topmost cultivation unit 1-(
1G). Nutrient solution return pipe (24
) is almost vertical in its entirety, its lower end reaches close to the bottom wall of the nutrient solution tank (13), and its upper end is connected to the lowest cultivation unit 1-(10). Also, between the highest unit (16) and the middle unit (16), and between the middle unit 1-(1G) and the lowest unit (1G)
) are connected by connecting pipes (28) and (29), respectively.

The cultivation unit (16) is shown in detail in Figures 2 and below. Although FIG. 2 shows the topmost cultivation unit (16), the configuration of each cultivation unit (16) is the same except for the nutrient solution piping, which will be described later.
The cultivation unit (16) will be explained mainly based on FIG. The cultivation unit (16) is a top-opening cultivation tank (
30) and the cover (31) that covers the frontage of this
It consists of a plurality of cultivation beds (32), a plurality of cultivation bed covers (33) covering each cultivation bed (32), and a nutrient solution temporary storage tank (34).

Both the cultivation tank (30) and the cover (31) are made of a synthetic resin material such as styrofoam or polypropylene and are formed into a long rectangular shape in plan view with a front and back shape (front and rear refers to the direction diagonally to the right of FIG. 2 as a reference). Front side facing forward,
The opposite side is called the back, and left and right are called the back)
. Cultivation! ? ! J (30) is the peripheral wall (35) and the bottom wall (3
6), a step (37) is provided on the inner periphery of the peripheral wall (35), and the peripheral edge of the cover (31) is placed on the step (31).

The bottom wall (36) is provided with a plurality of recesses (38) into which the bottom of each cultivation bed (32) is fitted, a liquid supply groove (39), and a liquid drainage groove (40). . recess (38
) are lined up in pairs in the left and right directions at four positions in the front and rear directions of the bottom wall (36). A communication passage (41) is provided in the partition wall between the left and right rows of recesses (38). The bottom of each recess (38) has four protrusions (42) extending in the left-right direction, as shown in detail in Figure 3.
) are provided in parallel. The liquid supply groove (39) extends along the right longitudinal edge of the bottom wall (36) on the right side of the four right side recesses (39). The rear end portion of the liquid supply groove (39) is wider than the front portion thereof and is formed to project inward, and this is used as the nutrient liquid introduction portion (43). A slit-shaped nutrient solution inlet (44) whose width is considerably narrower than the width of the liquid supply groove (39) is provided in the partition wall between the four right side recesses (38) and the liquid supply groove (39). Drainage groove (
40), the left side of the four recesses (38) on the left side is connected to the bottom wall (3).
6) extends along the left longitudinal edge of.

The rear end of the drain groove (40) is formed with a wide and inwardly protruding part in the same way as the liquid supply groove (39), and this is used as a nutrient solution reservoir (45).

A through hole (46) is provided at the bottom of the nutrient solution reservoir (45), and the upper end of the communication pipe (28) is connected to this. A slit-shaped nutrient solution outlet (47) having a width approximately equal to the width of the drain groove (40) is provided in the partition wall between the four left recesses (38) and the drain groove (40). Figures 5 and 6
As shown in the figure, the introduction part (4) of the liquid supply groove (39)
The bottom surface of all the passages from 3) to the reservoir (45) of the drain groove (40) via each recess (38) is formed to gradually become lower as the light goes along the entire length. . In other words, in Fig. 4, T IB liquid fM (40) (7) flows from the front part of the liquid supply groove (39) to the left and right at Iυ through the recess (38). A passage leading to the Off end is shown, but the bottom of the passage is angled slightly downward to the left. However, the top surface of the protrusion (42) on the bottom surface of the recess (38) is horizontal. On the other hand, in FIG. 5, the drain groove (40) is shown over almost its entire length, but its bottom surface is shown at the rear.

It is formed at the bottom. Although not shown, there is also a liquid supply groove (
The bottom surface of 39) is formed downward in the front.

When the cover (31) is placed over the cultivation tank (30), a square through hole (48) is formed in the position facing the recess (38) of the cover (31). A circular through hole (49) is located behind the through hole (48) in a position facing the introduction part (43) of the liquid supply groove (39).
There is. A stepped portion (50) is provided on the inner periphery of this r1 through hole (49). Furthermore, an annular protrusion [5
1) is provided.

The cultivation bed (32) is made of a sponge-like material having air permeability and water retention properties, such as urethane foam or OTSKU WORM, and is formed into a cube shape, and is fitted into each rectangular through hole (48). In this state, the bottom of the cultivation bed (32) has a recess (
38), and its bottom surface is received by the top surface of the protrusion (42). The ventilation of the cultivation bed (32) facilitates the supply of oxygen to the plants and promotes the growth of root hairs. The cultivation bed cover (33) plays the role of preventing the formation of moss and evaporation, and is formed into a dish shape using synthetic resin material such as polyethylene or vinyl chloride.

The nutrient solution temporary storage tank (34) consists of a tank body (52) and a lid (53) made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene or styrofoam, and an inverted U-shaped tank body (52) attached to the bottom wall of the tank body (52). It consists of a siphon tube (54).

The bottom of the tank body (52) is fitted into the circular through hole (49) of the cover (31) and received by its step (50). The upper end of a nutrient solution feed pipe (23) extending from the nutrient solution tank (13) is connected to the lid (53). In addition, among the cultivation units (16), the lids (53) other than the top one are equipped with connecting pipes (28) (29).
The bottom ends of are connected to each other. Siphon tube (54)
has one end protruding below the bottom wall of the tank body (52),
The other end is located slightly above the soil surface of the bottom wall.

The nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank (13) is guided into the gas-liquid mixer (27), where it is mixed with the air sent from the air pump (25) to become a gas-liquid, which is compressed by the compressing action of the air pump (25). It is pushed up through the nutrient solution feed pipe (23) to the temporary storage tank (34) of the highest cultivation unit (16). When the liquid level in the tank (34) gradually rises to the level of the upper end of the siphon tube (54), the nutrient solution in the tank (34) flows out of the tank (34) due to the siphon phenomenon. The nutrient solution flowing out from the tank (34) flows into the introduction part (
43) and dispersedly flows into the four recesses (39) on the right side through the liquid supply groove (39). The nutrient solution that has flowed into each recess (38) flows into the recess (38) corresponding to the height of the protrusion (42).
) flows through the gap between the bottom of the cultivation bed (32) and the cultivation bed (32) while being branched by the protrusion (42).
2) absorbs due to its own water absorption properties. The nutrient solution that has passed through the four recesses (38) on the right side in this way flows into the four recesses (38) on the left side, passes through them, flows into the drain groove (40), and then flows into the drain groove (40). It is collected in a storage section (45) and sent to an intermediate cultivation unit (1G) via a communication pipe (28). The nutrient solution then passes through the lowest cultivation unit (16) and finally passes through the return pipe (24) from the lowest cultivation unit (16) to the nutrient solution tank (
13). When the nutrient solution passes through each cultivation unit (16), the nutrient solution is fed intermittently by a siphon phenomenon, and the nutrient solution path of each cultivation unit (16) is formed to have a constant slope over its entire length. Since there is no accumulation of nutrient solution, there is sufficient air supply to the roots of the plants, and there is no need to worry about roots being crushed.

Effects of the Invention According to this invention, the cultivation area can be increased by increasing the number of cultivation units, and this can be done in a limited space by arranging the cultivation units in multiple stages. .

In addition, since the cultivation unit is equipped with a cultivation tank, a cover, and a cultivation bed, it is possible to uniformly expose the cultivation bed to sunlight, and the nutrient solution is supplied to the roots of the plants through the cultivation bed. Because of this, there is no damage to the roots.

In addition, the cultivation bed can be easily replaced.
Cultivation techniques become easier.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall external perspective view, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cultivation unit, FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 2, and FIGS. 4 and 5. The figures are cross-sectional views taken along lines IV--IV and V--■ in FIG. 2, respectively. (13)... Nutrient tank, (16)... To cultivation unit 1, (19) (20)... Entrance/exit (small hole), (2
3) (24) (28) (29)...pipe, (30)
...Cultivation tank, (31)...Cover, (32)...
Cultivation bed, (36)... bottom wall, (38)... recess, (
39) (40)...Passage (liquid supply groove, drain groove), (4
8)...Through hole. Applicant for the above patents: Showa Aluminum Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] a nutrient solution tank (with an outlet (19) and an inlet (20);
13), and a plurality of cultivation units (16) arranged in multiple stages at intervals above the nutrient solution tank (13).
and a nutrient solution circulation pipe (2) installed between the outlet (19) and the inlet (20) via each cultivation unit (16).
3) (24), (28), and (29), each cultivation unit (16) having an open top cultivation tank (30) and a cultivation tank (30) that covers the opening thereof and has a plurality of through holes (48). a plurality of cultivation beds (32) fitted into each through hole (48) and received by the bottom wall (36) of the cultivation tank (30); 36),
The nutrient solution sent to the cultivation unit (16) is transferred to each cultivation bed (
32) A hydroponic cultivation device provided with passages (39) and (40) for supplying nutrient solution to the bottom.