RU2447648C2 - Flower pot - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: flower pot comprises the first container for soil, the second container, a hygroscopic insert. The first container is installed coaxially with the second container for liquid. The bottom of the second container is installed with a gap relative to the bottom of the first container. The hygroscopic insert is placed in the gap between the bottom of the first and second containers. The hygroscopic insert is fixed in the hole of the bottom of the first container. Drainage holes (5) are used to preserve the possibility of watering from above, and an additional separating layer of hygroscopic material (6) to prevent entry of the soil into the water container. An indirect method is used to transfer water (liquid) into the ground (1) by one hygroscopic material (4) to another (6).

EFFECT: design enables to improve the reliability and continuity of water supply.

12 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to the field of technical means for irrigation of plants without creating a fluid flow by which water (liquid) from the reservoir, through hygroscopic separating capillary material, continuously moves (rises) through the capillaries of the material due to the mutual attraction of the liquid molecules and the material to feed the plants.

The use of hygroscopic capillary material made it possible to exclude direct contact of water (liquid) with soil and allowed to move water (liquid) in the right direction in the absence of fluid flow.

An important advantage of a hygroscopic capillary material is the ability to absorb (absorb) and retain (accumulate) fluid within itself, as well as to transfer fluid back (desorption).

Soil is also a hygroscopic material, therefore water (liquid) moistens the soil, and plant roots “specialize” in extracting water from the soil for their growth.

A variety of plant irrigation devices are known.

In patent No. 2264704 of the Russian Federation, an irrigation device is described, which consists of a water tank (plastic bottle), a plastic plug plug and a hollow cone made of porous ceramic. The hollow cone is inserted into the soil, and water from the inverted bottle by gravity flows through the porous ceramic of the cone into the soil.

This design has the following disadvantages:

- for the outflow of water, the pressure of the liquid column is used, so the water is constantly forced out and additional devices (plug-clutch) must be used to hold it;

- the design of the device is dimensional and occupies a significant area of the flower pot;

- when the bottle is completely filled with water, the center of mass of the flower pot becomes too high, which threatens to tip, if not the pot, then the bottle.

Similar designs and physical principle are incorporated in patents: France No. 2673356, No. 2252806, Switzerland No. 391368, USA No. 4300309, having the same disadvantages.

In patent No. 2206202 of the Russian Federation, hygroscopic material is also used, but the physical principle of the siphon is used.

The device is formed by a U-shaped tube in which the absorbent material is placed. The tube has an ascending branch, a knee, and a descending branch. All or part of the descending branch is larger than the ascending branch to accommodate more hygroscopic material in the descending branch. The descending branch of the tube is continued with a hose with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the tube. When the ascending branch is lowered into the reservoir with the liquid as a result of capillary phenomena, the liquid completely moistens the absorbent material and reaches the end of the descending branch. Then drops of liquid enter the inlet of the hose for subsequent drainage.

This design has the following disadvantages:

- the principle of operation of the siphon nullifies the advantages of the ascending branch of the tube, because the positive work of lifting the liquid with absorbent material ends with a simple discharge under the action of a liquid column (as in the patents described above) with the same disadvantages;

- the siphon works like a pump and creates a fluid flow, which contradicts economical irrigation (additional flow control has to be applied);

- general design complexity.

The closest device, in technical essence to the claimed one, is a flower pot according to patent RU No. 32658 U1 dated 09/27/2003, IPC A01G9 / 02.

The closest analogue consists of the first and second containers. The first tank is designed to accommodate a pound, coaxially with the first installed a second tank for liquid, the bottom of which is installed with a gap relative to the bottom of the first tank. In the gap between the bottom of the first and the bottom of the second containers there is a hygroscopic insert fixed in the opening of the bottom of the first container.

This design has the following disadvantages:

- the absence of watering from above through the soil leads to degradation of plants, because a film is formed on the surface of the soil that impedes the passage of oxygen to the roots of the plant.

- a design with a removable liquid container is difficult to apply for large flower pots.

- the design of the attachment of the liquid tank allows fluid overflow, because the liquid level may be higher than the level of the bottom of the soil tank, and the liquid, through absorbent material, will fill the soil to the liquid level.

As can be seen from the consideration of known technical solutions, for watering plants, they use a reservoir and a device for supplying water, which uses porous, fine gravel or hygroscopic material in its design. Moreover, none of these devices can effectively solve the task, which consists in the fact that, using a simple design and a small amount of absorbent material, provide continuous, economical, and most importantly, useful for plants irrigation for a long period.

The proposed product according to the invention satisfies all of the specified requirements.

Indeed, the use of the principle of movement (rise) of the liquid through the capillaries of a hygroscopic material allows us to provide the following advantages:

- the use of a reservoir for water (liquid) of any volume and shape;

- the use of any material suitable for hygroscopicity, hardness, cross-section and shape;

- the opportunity has arisen for both individual watering of flower pots of different volumes, and whole beds of different areas;

- no external energy sources and control systems are required to organize irrigation;

- the method of plant nutrition has been simplified (you just need to put it in a container of water);

- the organization of irrigation is very cheap, because the main and only element of irrigation is hygroscopic material (for example, viscose).

The above known technical solutions of these advantages inherent in the present invention do not have.

Meanwhile, these advantages are crucial for the successful commercialization of the invention, since it is intended for individual watering of indoor plants for a long period of absence of their owner, as well as watering of garden plants. Mass application will contribute to the low cost of the proposed method of irrigation.

The aim of the invention is to achieve these advantages.

EFFECT: increased reliability and continuity of water supply.

The essence of the technical solution lies in the fact that the flower pot contains a first container for placing soil in it, mounted coaxially with the first second liquid container, the bottom of which is installed with a gap relative to the bottom of the first container, and a hygroscopic insert located in the gap between the bottom of the first and second container fixed in the opening of the bottom of the first container, and drainage holes (5) are used to maintain the possibility of watering from above and an additional separation layer of absorbent material (6) to prevent to prevent soil from entering the water tank, and an indirect method is used to transfer water - liquid to the soil (1) from one hygroscopic material (4) to another (6).

In accordance with the present invention, a single piece of hygroscopic material (6) is used, from which a wide “skirt” (7) is formed to increase the volume of water supplied to the soil. Irrigating large areas and supplying more water - liquid, is carried out using a perforated flexible hose (9), coated on top with a layer of absorbent material (4) and a layer of protective film (8) with the step necessary for a particular application.

In another embodiment, irrigation of the soil (1) with water and liquid from the reservoir (2) is carried out using a layer of absorbent material (4) covering the surface of the perforated cylinder (10) with a partition (13) placed in a flower pot (12), which has a special funnel (11) for irrigation and overflow control.

In another embodiment, irrigation of the soil (1) with water - liquid from the tank is carried out using a layer of hygroscopic material (4) that covers the inside of the surface of the flower pot (12), and the water tank (2) is formed by a dividing insert in the form of a glass (14) with slots (15) for the flow of water - liquid.

In another embodiment, irrigation of the soil (1) is carried out using solid hygroscopic material, made in the form of a dividing insert in the form of a glass (14) with slots (15) for the flow of water - liquid. The flower pot is made in the form of a universal container (18) with a partition (13) in which there are drainage holes (5) through which hygroscopic material (4) passes, coated on top with a hygroscopic fabric (6), and the lower part of the container (18) is used as a stand and an open water tank (2).

To implement the work of the invention of flower pots, it is proposed to use a hygroscopic material (for example, viscose) round (tow) or any other section, one end of which is lowered into a tank with water (liquid), and the other, through a drainage hole, into a flower pot for contact with the ground . Thus, water (liquid) from the reservoir will rise (move) through the hygroscopic material due to the mutual attraction of the liquid molecules and the material to the soil of the flower pot, where it will be accepted by the root system of the plant. Since there is no fluid flow, there will be no overflow, and the plant will not take too much for its vital functions.

The experiments showed that with an average diameter of a flower pot of 15 cm, plants consume 8-10 ml of water per day (depending on the type and size of the plant), and with a close proximity of the included central heating 16-20 ml per day.

The only drawback of the above irrigation method is the limited height of the rise of water (liquid). In thin capillaries, water rises due to the fact that under its concave meniscus the pressure is less than the gas pressure above it, that is, the capillary acts as a suction pump. The height of the water rise in the capillary is independent of atmospheric pressure and is inversely proportional to the radius of the capillary. For a tube with an inner diameter of 0.2 mm, the lifting height should be 7 centimeters. In practice, the height of the water rise depends on the material used (stone, fabric, etc.) and can be more than one meter. This is quite enough for any application. In addition, this drawback is fully compensated by the use of a tank of any shape and size.

For horizontal fluid movement, the only limitation is the rate of evaporation from a hygroscopic material. Screen protectors solve this problem.

The essence of the invention will become clearer when considering the descriptions of examples of devices accompanied by figures.

Figure 2 shows a General view of the device with the use of additional drainage holes (5) for the possibility of watering from above, which are covered with a layer of absorbent tissue (6) to prevent soil from entering the tank with water. This option also uses an indirect method of transferring water (liquid) into the soil (1) from one hygroscopic material (4) to another (6).

Figure 3 shows a General view of the device to ensure the supply of more water from the reservoir (2) to the soil (1) and to maintain the technological simplicity of the product, a large-area absorbent material is used, which is pulled together in the center, to obtain a wide “skirt” (7) of the fence water.

Figure 6 shows a variant of irrigation of large areas and, accordingly, the supply of more water (liquid) (2) using a perforated flexible hose (9), coated on top with a layer of absorbent material (4) and a layer of protective film (8) with the right for a specific application step. Such a device will create entire irrigation systems and cover large areas with irrigation.

Figure 7 shows a variant of the plant irrigation device made in the form of a perforated cylinder (10) with a continuous partition (13), the outer surface of which is covered with hygroscopic material (4). The resulting design is inserted into a flower pot (12), which has a special funnel (11) for watering and overflow control. Soil (1) is located in the upper part of the cylinder (10) and through perforation of the cylinder (10) is in contact with hygroscopic material (4). Water (liquid) from the tank (2), through the hygroscopic material (4) enters the soil (1) for plant nutrition.

On Fig shows a variant of the device for irrigation of plants, made in the form of a flower pot body (12), the inner surface of which is covered with absorbent material (4). The water tank (2) is formed by a dividing insert in the form of a glass (14) with slots (15) for the flow of water (liquid). The flower pot (12) has a special funnel (11) for watering and overflow control. Soil (1) is located in the upper part of the flower pot (12) and is in direct contact with hygroscopic material (4). Water (liquid) from the tank (2), through the hygroscopic material (4) enters the soil (1) for plant nutrition.

Figure 9 shows a variant of the plant irrigation device, made in the form of a flower pot housing (12) with a water tank (2) in the form of a dividing insert made of solid hygroscopic material, in the form of a glass (14) with slots (15) for leakage water (liquid). The flower pot (12) has a special funnel (11) for watering and overflow control. Soil (1) is located in the upper part of the flower pot (12) and is in direct contact with the hygroscopic material of the separation insert (14). Water (liquid) from the tank (2), through the solid hygroscopic material of the separation insert (14) enters the soil (1) for plant nutrition.

On Fig shows a variant of the plant irrigation device, made in the form of a universal container (18) with a partition (13), in which there are drainage holes (5), through which the hygroscopic material (4) passes, and on top is covered with a hygroscopic fabric (6) . Soil (1) is located in the upper part of the container (18) and is in direct contact with hygroscopic material (6). The lower part of the container (18) is used as a stand and an open water tank (2). Water (liquid) from an open reservoir (2), through hygroscopic material (4) and (6) enters the soil (1) for plant nutrition. Such a container can be installed in a tank of any size.

In all the cases considered above, reservoirs for water (liquid) (2) can be made in the form of separate (autonomous) containers, or as a single unit with the irrigation object. In this case, it is desirable to make them transparent or with a transparent indicator to control the residual water (liquid). If the design is carried out as a whole, then it is desirable to make the water tank removable.

The tubular design can be made on the basis of irrigation hoses, but using perforation of the hose surface. The hygroscopic material (4) can be anything (cotton, linen, rayon, wool, etc.), the main condition is that it has a capillary structure for better fluid movement and sufficient mechanical strength. The shape of such a material can be different - a tourniquet, rope, canvas, any profile. To reduce evaporation losses in a hygroscopic material, it is possible to cover part of the unused surface with an airtight film (8), as shown in FIG. 6.

The present invention can be used for irrigation of plants, when a reliable and continuous supply of water (liquid) is required without organizing the flow of liquid for a long time.

Claims (7)

1. A flower pot containing a first container for placing soil in it, mounted coaxially with the first second liquid container, the bottom of which is installed with a gap relative to the bottom of the first container, and a hygroscopic insert mounted in the gap between the bottom of the first and second containers, fixed in the bottom hole the first tank, characterized in that drainage holes (5) are used to maintain the possibility of watering from above and an additional separation layer of hygroscopic material (6) to prevent soil from entering the tank with water, and also uses an indirect method of transferring water - liquid into the soil (1) from one hygroscopic material (4) to another (6). 2. A flower pot according to claim 1, characterized in that a single piece of absorbent material (6) is used, from which a wide "skirt" (7) is formed to increase the volume of water supplied to the soil. 3. A flower pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the irrigation of large areas and the supply of more water - liquid is carried out using a perforated flexible hose (9), coated on top with a layer of absorbent material (4) and a layer of protective film (8) with the desired for a specific application step. 4. A flower pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the irrigation of the soil (1) with water and liquid from the tank (2) is carried out using a layer of absorbent material (4) covering the surface of the perforated cylinder (10) with a partition (13) placed in a flower pot (12), which has a special funnel (11) for watering and overflow control. 5. A flower pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the irrigation of the soil (1) with water - liquid from the reservoir (2) is carried out using a layer of absorbent material (4), which covers the inside of the surface of the flower pot (12), and a water tank ( 2) formed by a separating insert in the form of a glass (14) with slots (15) for the flow of water - liquid. 6. Flower pot of claim 1, characterized in that the irrigation of the soil (1) is carried out using a solid hygroscopic material made in the form of a dividing insert in the form of a glass (14) with slots (15) for the flow of water - liquid. 7. A flower pot according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made in the form of a universal container (18) with a partition (13), in which there are drainage holes (5) through which the absorbent material (4) passes, coated on top with an absorbent fabric (6), and the bottom of the container (18) is used as a stand and an open water tank (2).

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