KR102649267B1 - Plant irrigation piping system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water supply piping system that is capable of automatically supplying water or nutrient solution for plant cultivation and eliminating the possibility of malfunctions such as pipe blockage, which receives water from a supply pipe and discharges it to the vegetation area where plants are grown. A water supply piping system for plant cultivation is provided that includes a water supply device and a control device that improves flow by introducing outside air through the pipe of the water supply device during normal water supply and detects backflow when the pipe is blocked.

Description

Water supply piping system for plant cultivation {PLANT IRRIGATION PIPING SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to water supply technology for plant cultivation, and more specifically, to a water supply piping system for plant cultivation that enables automatic water supply of nutrient solution for plant cultivation and eliminates the possibility of malfunction due to pipe blockage, etc.

In recent years, the spread of hydroponic cultivation techniques has made it possible to achieve high integration and low cost of plants grown in farms, and for this purpose, there has been active development of technologies such as liquid fertilizer technology, water supply facility technology, and cultivation container technology. Hydroponic cultivation refers to growing crops by dissolving the nutrients needed for crops in water and directly contacting the roots of the crops, or by soaking an inert medium that acts as a root support, such as rockwool, in the culture medium and allowing it to reach the roots of the crops. This refers to a method of growing crops by supplying culture medium to the crops. Since this type of hydroponic cultivation does not require soil, the cost is very low compared to general soil cultivation, and since it is cultivated indoors, it is relatively less affected by the weather, and because the environment is artificially created, it has the advantage of being free from various pests and diseases.

The hydroponic cultivation technique began with laboratory and small-scale indoor cultivation in the past, and has recently been applied to smart farm technology, and is expanding to small-scale facilities for landscaping and ornamentation. Recently, in order to spread green space in the city, many methods for growing plants have been developed and distributed for rooftop greening and wall greening.

Requests for automated cultivation technology continue to be made in order to minimize manpower and enable smooth growth in various plant cultivation techniques and cultivation environments, and water supply control can be seen as the key to this automated cultivation technology.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0136861 discloses a prior art automatic flowerpot watering device, and Figure 1 is a perspective view showing this.

Looking at the above technology in detail, a control box 110 in which an automatic watering device is installed on one side of the flower pot 10 or a glass window, and an input means for inputting the height of the flower pot and the watering cycle on the outer surface of the control box 110 An input unit 100 consisting of (112), a voltage value DB 230 in which a voltage value corresponding to the height of each flower pot is set to control the submersible pump 310 with different voltage values depending on the height of the flower pot, and the voltage value DB 230 A control unit 200 consisting of a controller 210 that detects the voltage value corresponding to the height of the flower pot input from the input means 112 in the value DB 230 and generates a control signal, and the voltage value generated from the controller 210 A water supply unit 300 consisting of a submersible pump 310 that supplies water to a flower pot through a water supply hose 330 according to a control signal, and a water tank 320 in which the submersible pump 310 is installed. It is installed on the front or rear part of the control box 110 and consists of a power supply unit 400 provided with a power supply means 410 for supplying power to the input unit 100, the control unit 200, and the water supply unit 300. there is.

In this prior art, the controller 210 simply pumps the water stored in the water tank 320 into the soil through the water supply hose 330 according to the pressure of the submersible pump 310 through a signal detected by a predetermined moisture sensor 20. It is structured to supply.

However, in the prior art, water was only supplied continuously based on simple sensor detection values, so it was difficult to deal with hose blockage when it occurred. If an abnormality occurs in the water supply system like this, not only are ingredients for growth not supplied smoothly, but water flows backwards, contaminating the surrounding environment or adversely affecting the growth environment. In serious cases, it may lead to damage to pipes or pumps.

The present invention was developed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a water supply piping system for plant cultivation that can immediately detect and respond to blockages in the water supply piping.

Additionally, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a water supply piping system for plant cultivation that can minimize resistance due to air pressure and ensure smooth flow in the process of supplying liquid through piping.

The present invention to solve the above problems is a piping system for delivering a water body from a supply pipe to a vegetation area where plants are grown, comprising a receiving part 1210 that receives the water body at the end of the supply pipe and temporarily stores the water body; A water supply device (1200) including a water supply pipe (1220) that discharges water from the receiving part to the vegetation area by gravity, a control pipe (1320) in communication with the water supply pipe, and the end of the control pipe is disposed on the inside for adjustment. A plant comprising a control device 1300 including a detection container 1310 for accommodating water flowing back into the pipe, and a submergence sensor 1330 disposed in the detection container and generating a detection signal according to the water level of the water flowing back into the pipe. Provides a water supply piping system for cultivation.

The control device has a first function of receiving outside air from the detection container under normal water supply by the water supply device and supplying air to the water supply pipe through the control pipe, and when the water supply pipe is blocked, it causes water to flow back into the control pipe to the detection container. It accepts this and performs a second function of generating a backflow detection signal through a submersion sensor.

In one embodiment, the control pipe is disposed above the bottom of the detection vessel, and when the water body is normally supplied by the flow rate and flow rate controlled by the supply pipe, the overflow water level (h0) is at a height higher than the injection water level (hw) of the receiving part. can be formed.

In addition, the control device may further include an overflow water level control unit capable of adjusting the height of the end of the control pipe with respect to the bottom surface of the detection vessel.

The control device may further include a detection vessel control unit capable of adjusting the height of the detection vessel relative to the receiving unit.

On the other hand, a backflow detection unit 1111 that receives the detection signal from the submersion sensor to determine backflow, a water supply management unit 1120 that controls the flow rate and speed of the water body through the supply pipe, and a backflow detection unit It further includes a controller unit 1100 including an alarm unit 1130 that generates an alarm signal when reflux is determined.

The water supply management unit may control the supply of the water body at a flow rate lower than the initially set flow rate when the rise rate of the overflow water level is less than the set rise rate.

By the above-described configuration of the present invention, it is possible to overcome the uneconomical problem of simply supplying water through pipes and visually checking the state of flower pots overflowing when an abnormality occurs, and to automatically control the condition of the pipes by detecting them. This has the effect of improving growth efficiency.

In addition, it provides immediate alerts to the user for maintenance in the event of pipe deterioration or blockage, while providing a buffer against backflow and solving the problem of plants being exposed to excessively humid or dry environments, thereby ensuring stable plant growth. There is a possible effect.

In addition, since various sensing conditions can be set depending on selection, flexible adaptation to the installation environment is possible and management convenience is improved.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an automatic flower pot watering device of the prior art.
Figure 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining the water supply piping system for plant cultivation of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the configuration of a water supply device and a control device in the water supply piping system for plant cultivation of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a diagram to explain the operation of the control device during normal water supply.
Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the control device when the pipe is blocked.
Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the control system in the water supply piping system for plant cultivation of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the water supply piping system for cultivating water plants according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

The following embodiments combine the components and features of the present invention in a predetermined form. Each component or feature may be considered optional unless explicitly stated otherwise. Each component or feature may be implemented in a form that is not combined with other components or features. Additionally, some components and/or features may be combined to form an embodiment of the present invention. The order of operations described in embodiments of the present invention may be changed. Some features or features of one embodiment may be included in other embodiments or may be replaced with corresponding features or features of other embodiments.

In the description of the drawings, parts, devices, and/or configurations that may obscure the gist of the present invention are not described, and parts, devices, and/or configurations that can be understood at a level by those skilled in the art are not described. Additionally, parts referred to using the same reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same components or steps in the device configuration or method.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to “comprise or include” a certain element, this means that it does not exclude other elements but may further include other elements, unless specifically stated to the contrary. do. Additionally, terms such as “···unit” or “···unit” used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation. In addition, the terms "a or an", "one", "the", and similar related terms are used in the context of describing the invention (particularly in the context of the claims below) as used herein. It may be used in both singular and plural terms, unless indicated otherwise or clearly contradicted by context.

The present invention basically includes a water supply device that receives water from a supply pipe and discharges it to the vegetation area where plants are grown, improves flow by introducing outside air into the pipe of the water supply device during normal water supply, and detects backflow when the pipe is blocked. Provided is a water supply piping system for plant cultivation that includes a regulating device.

In the description of the present invention, the type of object grown on vegetation is not limited as long as it can be grown using a nutrient solution such as trees, flowers, vegetables, as well as mycelia.

In addition, in the present invention, the water body includes pure water or a mixed solution of various physical properties as well as a nutrient solution containing a predetermined liquid fertilizer component.

Figure 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining the water supply piping system for plant cultivation of the present invention.

The supply pipes 2100 and 2200 refer to pipes that deliver and/or distribute water from a predetermined water tank or water supply source. In the description of the present invention, a pipe can be understood to mean a pipe that can move a water body to a desired location, and its material or physical properties do not limit the concept of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the supply pipes 2100 and 2200 perform the function of receiving the pressure of the water body generated from a predetermined water pump 2300 and transmitting it to the vegetation portion 2010 where plants grow at the end. In the embodiment, it consists of a main pipe 2100 that receives pressure from a water source and one or more branch pipes 2200 branching from it. The branch pipe 2200 may correspond to each vegetation section 2010.

Here, the Vegetation Department (2010) may refer to various planting means through which plants can be cultivated, for example, pots filled with soil, shelves, hydroponic containers, green walls, green roofs, rice fields, fields, etc. This is not limited. In the illustrated example, one branch pipe 2200 corresponds to one flower pot, but in some cases, one branch pipe 2200 or a water supply device 1200 may be related to water supply to a plurality of vegetation units 2010. You can.

A water supply device 1200 is configured to receive water discharged from the end of the supply pipe and is linked to the vegetation unit 2010. The water supply device 1200 receives water from the outlet of the branch pipe 2200, stores it temporarily, and discharges it from the lower pipe to a selected area of the vegetation section 2010.

In the case of the conventional water supply system, the branch pipe 2200 was directly connected to the vegetation section 2010 and only functioned to simply transmit the flow rate controlled from the main pipe 2100. However, since most branch pipes 2200 have a thin diameter and are made of highly flexible materials, blockages due to inflow of foreign substances or bending frequently occur.

In the present invention, in order to solve this problem, the water supply device 1200 and the control device 1300 were combined and interposed between the branch pipe 2200 and the vegetation section 2010.

Accordingly, a control device 1300 is coupled to the water supply pipe of the water supply device 1200 in a branched form, and as will be described later, the control device 1300 has a first function, which is to provide an air inflow function in a normal water supply state. As a second function, it provides capacity for backflow when the pipe is blocked and at the same time performs the function of detecting backflow. Specific examples for this will be described later.

The control device 1300 includes a submersion sensor (1330 in FIG. 3), and a detection signal from this is transmitted to the controller 1100, and the controller 1100 generates an alarm signal and/or operates a water pump ( 2300) control function is performed. An embodiment of the controller unit 1100 will be described later.

Figure 3 is a side view to explain in more detail the water supply device and control device in the water supply piping system for plant cultivation of the present invention.

The water supply device 1200 includes a receiving portion 1210 that temporarily stores the water discharged from the end of the branch pipe 2200, a bottom of the receiving portion 1210 that communicates with the internal space, and a side of the vegetation portion 2010. It consists of a connecting water supply pipe (1220). Since the receiving part 1210 and the water supply pipe 1220 are in communication with each other and are in an open form, the water body from the branch pipe 2200 will directly become a supply flow by its own weight and be discharged to the vegetation part 2010. The supply flow rate and flow rate of the pipe 2200 and the diameter of the water supply pipe 1220 are factors that determine the injection water level (hw) during the supply process. Here, the receiving portion 1210 may be formed in a funnel shape with a narrow lower cross section to smoothly supply water.

A control pipe 1320 is connected to a part of the water supply pipe 1220 in a branched form. The lower end of the control pipe 1320 is connected to the water supply pipe 1220, and the upper end may extend inside the detection container 1310.

The detection vessel 1310 is made in the form of a container capable of storing water, and the upper end of the control pipe 1320 may be partially raised and coupled to the bottom. A submersion sensor 1330 capable of detecting water flowing back from the water supply pipe 1220 may be installed in a selected portion of the detection container 1310. The submersion sensor 1330 may be made of various sensors capable of detecting when the water level in the detection container 1310 rises to a predetermined selected height. For example, the submersion sensor 1330 can be considered an electrode sensor in which electrodes are placed inside and generates a signal about the conduction state by contact with a water body, or an infrared sensor or ultrasonic sensor that can measure the interface of a water body. You will be able to.

When the water level of the water body rises, the height at which the submersion sensor 1330 detects is defined as the sensing position (hs).

The position of the end of the control pipe 1320 is defined as the overflow water level (h0).

In the present invention, the control device 1300 operates by distinguishing between a normal water supply state and a blocked state, and the height relationship can be adjusted according to the installation environment. Here, the normal water supply state is a state in which the water body temporarily stored in the receiving part 1210 can naturally flow downward into the water supply pipe 1220 and be discharged. At this time, the water body only has flow resistance due to the diameter and material of the water supply pipe 1220. will be provided.

The height of the end of the control pipe 1320, that is, the overflow water level (h0), corresponds to the height of the receiving part 1210 generated during supply by the controlled flow rate and flow rate to the branch pipe 2200 in the normal water supply state. desirable. In this case, if the water level inside the receiving part 1210 rises above the overflow water level (h0), backflow will occur at the end of the control pipe 1320. This means that when the supply piping side is supplied at a flow rate or flow rate greater than the initially set flow rate or flow rate from the supply piping side, and when water flows from the outside into the receiving part 1210, the water supply piping 1220 is lower than the initial set condition. This may be due to cases where the flow resistance is large. In this situation, a countercurrent flow occurs from the water supply pipe 1220 to the control pipe 1320, and the submersion sensor 1330 can detect this to detect and warn of abnormalities. The occurrence of the reverse flow can be divided into chronic cases such as aging of pipes and temporary cases such as blockage. The response to this will be discussed in detail in the embodiment of the controller unit.

According to an additional concept of the present invention, the control device 1300 may be provided with an overflow water level control unit (not shown) to enable adjustment of the height of the end of the control pipe 1320, that is, the overflow water level (h0). The overflow water level control unit controls the detection container 1310 at the end of the control pipe 1320, more precisely, the raised height relative to the bottom surface of the detection container 1310.

For example, a sealing packing may be provided in the opening formed on the bottom of the detection container 1310, and the adjustment pipe 1320 may be press-fitted into the packing to adjust the length of the insertion into the detection container 1310. In another embodiment, it may be considered to adjust the height of the end according to the user's selection by combining an overflow height adjustment member, for example, a cylindrical draw-out member surrounding the outer periphery of the end of the control pipe 1320, with the end of the control pipe 1320. there is.

According to the above embodiment, it will be possible to adjust the overflow water level (h0) to the injection water level (hw) in a normal water supply state by adapting to changes in the installation environment.

By the above, it is possible to overcome the limitation that it is difficult to measure the water level inside the receiving part 1210, and to judge the water level with the naked eye when water overflows from the end of the control pipe 1320. At this time, if the detection container 1310 is made of a transparent material, it will be easier to visually check the water level in the receiving part 1210.

Additionally, a detection vessel control unit (not shown) may be provided to adjust the height of the detection vessel 1310. The height adjustment of the detection vessel control unit is to adjust the storage limit of the overflowing water body by raising and lowering the detection vessel 1310 itself to adjust the height of the receiving part 1210.

In addition, a sensor control unit (not shown) is further provided, and the height of the sensing position (hs) of the water body relative to the detection container 1310 can be adjusted. Adjusting the height of the detection container 1310 at the sensing position (hs) means adjusting the sensitivity in case of blockage due to occlusion.

Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining flow in a normal water supply state according to the configuration of the present invention.

The first function of the control device 1300 of the present invention described above will be described.

In a normal water supply state, since the receiving part 1210 and the water supply pipe 1220 are connected, a constant supply flow (w) occurs within the water supply pipe 1220, and continuous supply of water to the lower and vegetation part 2010 is achieved. You can.

At this time, the detection container 1310 functions as an air receiving unit and generates an air flow (a) through the control pipe 1320, and the air flow (a) supplied to the control pipe 1320 further increases the supply flow (w). It functions smoothly. During the supply process through the water supply pipe 1220 of the water body, bubbles generated inside or gas flowing back from below can increase resistance, and the control pipe 1320 is designed to ensure the designed flow rate by overcoming the pressure difference. It will function.

Additionally, it may be considered to adjust the opening degree by adding a cover member (not shown) on the upper side of the detection container 1310. This means that the pressure at which air is sucked in can be controlled by adjusting the opening degree of air inflow.

Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining flow in an occluded state according to the configuration of the present invention.

The illustrated embodiment relates to the second function of the control device 1300 when the water supply pipe is blocked.

As shown, when a blockage occurs in a part of the water supply pipe 1220, part or all of the supply flow (w) flows back, which generates a backflow (o) into the control pipe 1320. When the countercurrent flow (o) exceeds the overflow water level (h0), it flows into the detection container 1310 to raise the water level of the water body, and the submersion sensor 1330 detects the set water level and operates a predetermined controller unit 1100. Generates a submersion detection signal.

In the description of the present invention, blockage includes not only cases where the water supply pipe 1220 is completely blocked due to the inflow of foreign substances or bending, but also cases where resistance increases due to narrowing of the diameter or bending.

The capacity of the detection vessel 1310 or the height of the detection vessel control unit of the detection vessel 1310 functions as a kind of buffer that can accommodate backflow after overflow, and the height at which the submersion sensor 1330 is placed is used to detect submersion. Setting the sensitivity to

If all or part of the detection container 1310 is transparent as described above, the occlusion state can be confirmed with the naked eye.

Figure 6 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the controller unit in the water supply piping system for plant cultivation of the present invention.

The controller unit 1100 mainly controls the flow rate and flow rate from the water source to the supply pipe, such as the water pump 2300, and performs additional control on the water body by a detection signal from the submersion sensor 1330. do.

The backflow detection unit 1111 receives the detection signal from the submersion sensor 1330, determines the blocked state when there is a backflow detection signal or when the water level inside the detection container 1310 is higher than the set water level, and supplies water through this. It functions to control or alarm.

An alarm unit 1130 is configured for the above alarm, and this alarm unit 1130 can inform the user of the blockage state of the water supply pipe 1220 through various visual and/or auditory warning means. The warning means may be, for example, a variety of visual or auditory devices that the user can sense, such as a speaker, buzzer, LED lamp, or display.

Additionally, the alarm unit 1130 may be able to notify a remote user through the communication unit 1140. The communication unit 1140 may apply various wired or wireless communication methods. In the case of wired communication, for example, communication methods using RS-485 or LAN cable can be applied, and in the case of wireless communication, for example, CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, GSM, Wibro, 3G, 4G, LTE, Communication methods provided by mobile communication networks including LTE CatM1, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), wireless LANN (IEEE 802.11), and SWAP (Shared Wireless Access) Protocol), WPAN (Wireless Personal Area network), Zigbee, and LoRa (Long Range) network, a low-power short-range communication, can be applied.

According to one embodiment, when the controller unit 1100 is connected to a plurality of submersion sensors 1330, accurate maintenance is possible by notifying a user terminal such as a mobile phone which part of the water supply pipe 1220 is blocked. It will be able to function like this.

Additionally, a water supply management unit 1120 is configured to control water supply. This water supply management unit 1120 functions to control the flow rate and flow rate through the supply pipe, and in the illustrated embodiment, it transmits a control command to the water pump 2300. However, control of various piping control means such as actuator devices or valves is also included.

Depending on the predetermined water supply environment, the water supply management unit 1120 provides a command to supply water according to the set pressure, flow rate, and/or flow rate, but when the backflow detection unit 1111 determines the backflow, the branch on the side where the blockage was determined A control command for limiting water supply to the pipe 2200 may be transmitted.

Additionally, the water supply management unit 1120 has set values for the injection water level (hw), overflow water level (h0), and sensing position (hs), and determines if overflow continues to occur for the initially set water supply flow rate and flow rate. It is also possible to control the flow rate and/or flow rate of water supply.

For this purpose, it may be necessary to determine the speed of the overflow water level rise, and therefore it may be considered that a plurality of submersion sensors 1330 are configured at different heights. However, if the distance to the interface can be measured using an infrared or ultrasonic sensor, the water level may be tracked, so it will be possible to determine the rise of the water level with a single submersion sensor 1330.

Therefore, the rising speed of the overflow water can be set in advance, and the case where the rising speed is higher than the set value can be judged as occlusion, and the case where the rising speed is lower than the set value can be judged as a case in which response to aging or environmental changes is necessary. will be. Therefore, when determining occlusion, an alarm or water supply can be restricted, and when determining deterioration, the water supply speed can be reduced. Please note that this has the advantage of enabling adaptation to the aging of pipes and enabling reliable growth.

By using the water supply piping system for plant cultivation of the present invention described above, the uneconomical inconvenience of simply supplying water through piping and having to visually check the condition such as overflowing of flower pots in the event of an abnormality is overcome, and the condition of the piping is detected and automatically Because it can be controlled, the efficiency of plant growth is improved.

In addition, it provides immediate alerts to the user for maintenance in the event of pipe deterioration or blockage, while providing a buffer against backflow and solving the problem of plants being exposed to excessively humid or dry environments, thereby ensuring stable plant growth. possible.

In addition, since various sensing conditions can be set depending on selection, flexible adaptation to the installation environment is possible and management convenience is improved.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail based on examples and accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the content described in the claims described later.

1100...controller unit 1111...backflow detection unit
1120...Water supply management department 1130...Alert department
1140...Communication Department 1200...Water supply system
1210...receiving part 1220...water supply pipe
1300...controller 1310...detection vessel
1320...control pipe 1330...water level sensor
2010... Vegetation Department 2100... Main Pipe
2200...branch pipe 2300...water pump

Claims (6)

A piping system for delivering water from a supply pipe to a vegetation area where plants are grown,
A water supply device (1200) including a receiving part (1210) that receives the water body from the end of the supply pipe and temporarily stores it, and a water supply pipe (1220) that discharges the water body from the receiving part to the vegetation area by gravity; and
A control pipe 1320 in communication with the water supply pipe, a detection vessel 1310 with the end of the control pipe disposed inside to accommodate water flowing back into the control pipe, and a water level of the water body flowing back and placed in the detection vessel. A water supply piping system for plant cultivation comprising a control device 1300 having a submersion sensor 1330 that generates a detection signal according to the.
According to paragraph 1,
The control device is,
The first function is to receive outside air from the detection container under normal water supply conditions by the water supply device and supply air to the water supply pipe through the control pipe, and when the water supply pipe is blocked, the water body flows back to the control pipe to receive it from the detection container and submerge the water. A water supply piping system for plant cultivation that performs a secondary function of generating a backflow detection signal through a sensor.
According to paragraph 1,
The control pipe is,
A water supply piping system for plant cultivation that is disposed above the bottom of the detection container, and in which the overflow water level (h0) is formed at a height higher than the injection water level (hw) of the receiving part during normal water supply of the water body by the flow rate and flow rate controlled by the supply pipe.
According to paragraph 3,
The control device is,
A water supply piping system for plant cultivation further comprising an overflow water level control unit capable of adjusting the height of the end of the control pipe relative to the bottom surface of the detection container.
According to clause 4,
The control device is,
A water supply piping system for plant cultivation further comprising a detection vessel control unit capable of adjusting the height of the detection vessel relative to the receiving unit.
According to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A backflow detection unit 1111 that receives the detection signal from the submersion sensor and determines backflow, a water supply management unit 1120 that controls the flow rate and flow rate of the water body through the supply pipe, and backflow determination by the backflow detection unit. It further includes a controller unit 1100 including an alarm unit 1130 that generates an alarm signal,
The water supply management department,
A water supply piping system for plant cultivation that controls the supply of water at a reduced flow rate than the initially set flow rate when the rise rate of the overflow water level is less than the set rate.

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