WO2000025572A1

WO2000025572A1 - Improved automatic plant watering system and water level control

Info

Publication number: WO2000025572A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000957
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jagjit Singh Kaurah
Original assignee: Jagjit Singh Kaurah
Priority date: 1998-11-04
Filing date: 1999-11-04
Publication date: 2000-05-11
Also published as: WO2000025572A9

Abstract

The two level liquid level control device includes an outer cover (1) to which is attached a central stand (2). The central stand (2) has a pivot point (14) around which the float (4) pivots up and down with the water level in the control device. When the incoming water through inlet (5) raises the water level to a preset level the actuator arm (6) is switched in a clockwise direction causing it to press the toggle (7) into a straight position so that a resilient stopper (8) is pressed against the water entry point spigot (9) to stop the flow. As the water level is lowered and reaches a preset lower point the actuator arm is switched in an anti clockwise direction to pull up the center of the toggle device (7) so that the stopper (8) is removed from the water entry point (9) to allow water to flow in.

Description

Title: IMPROVED AUTOMATIC PLANT WATERING SYSTEM AND WATER LEVEL CONTROL

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a two level liquid level control device.

Background to the invention

Reference is made to patent Nos. 636542, and 630877 and International Patent

Application No. PCT/AU98/00869 made by Fah, Ah N.

These Patents are for devises that perform a function similar to the device which is the subject of this patent application.

The devices which are subject of the prior patents and the application are based on the principal of an air lock system. The air lock system works but in many applications it has some disadvantages.

This is overcome by the use of a spring activated control device which is the subject of this Patent Application.

Comparison of the present invention with the prior art.

The prior art uses several systems all based on an air lock system to supply water in a cyclic fashion to plants. These have drawbacks in that the small breather holes can get blocked and the device will not work. In addition room has to be left on top of the devices based on the air lock systems to allow for movement of the float that opens the breather hole. This is not always possible. A third disadvantage of the airlock system is that the top level that the water reaches up to is substantially below the top of the unit and the safety zone required to be left vacant above it. This means that capillary action has to be very good to supply water to the plant roots above or systems have to be built so that plant roots can come down by the side of the air lock device. There are no critical breather holes to block in the spring operated unit. Plant roots can come down to the top of the cover of the spring operated device described herein and the top water level reaches to about 20mm below the top of the cover of the spring operate device as opposed to about 30mm for the air lock system.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The toggle device incorporated as part of the spring operated device is an effective and reliable means of holding high incoming water pressure independently of minor problems associated with the rest of the device. The incoming water pressure that the toggle device can hold depends on its construction and the strength of the spring activating the actuator arm. In any case the incoming water pressure that a toggle device as described herein can hold substantially exceeds that of any other similar device known. The unit described herein can hold in excess of 50psi incoming water.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides: -

A two level liquid level control devise of the kind described below and having one or more of the following features: - a. float that floats up with increasing water level and down with decreasing water level around a focal point. b. a spring that applies pressure against a pivot point on the float and also against a pivot point on the actuator arm. c. The central stand which has pivot points for the float and the actuator arm.

The central stand also has a water inlet pipe to which an external water supply pipe can be connected. The water inlet point of the central stand can also open directly to a water reservoir. d. The central stand has means of connecting it to the cover of the water control device. e. In one form of the invention the actuator arm operates a toggle device. The arm of the toggle device shuts off the water flow when it is straight by pressing a resilient stopper against the water inlet spigot and lets it flow when it is bent by the actuator arm. f. The toggle device has 4 soft joints that can flex repeatedly without breaking. This device can be made from any suitable material including some plastic materials. g. a cover for the water control device which has a means of attaching it to the central stand as well as at least one means of attaching it to the container or vessel in which the device is to be installed. i. The tube to allow water to flow from outside the water control device to the inside is shown as straight on the drawings but could be bent. It has a means of attaching a water tube on the outside and a shape at the other end, forming a spigot suitable to shut off the water supply by the resilient stopper attached to the toggle arm pressing against the opening. j. The float is closed against the ingress of water all round and has a hollow center, k. The cover of the water control device has holes at the top or sides near the top to allow air to escape or enter. However this is not critical to the functioning of the device as there is a large opening at the front of the device whence air can escape or enter. It is open at the bottom and partly at the front, which is the side the water enters the water control device.

Preferred aspect of the Invention. (Best Mode of carrying out the invention).

In the preferred form, the present invention provides: - a two level liquid control device wherein the float pivots around a pivot point which is part of the central stand. As the water flows in the float moves up and when the water level reaches a preset high level, activates the actuator arm which in turn straightens the toggle device which thus lengthens and presses against the water entry point to the water control device shutting off the flow. A reverse action ensues as the water level goes down. A specific embodiment of a water control device in accordance with this invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example only and should not be considered to be limiting.

Brief description of the views of the drawings.

Diagram 1 is side cut out view of the water control device showing both its closed position with a high water level and its open position with a low water level.

Diagram 2 is a visual view of all the components of the device in the preferred mode of the device incorporating a toggle device.

Diagram 3 shows the components of the water control device including the toggle device. Integer List.

1. Cover.

2. Central stand.

3. Float contact point to spring.

4 Float.

5. Water inlet tube.

6. Actuator arm.

7. Toggle device.

8. Resilient stopper.

9. Water inlet spigot.

10. Spring.

11. Float arms.

12. Actuator arm contact point to spring.

13. Flexible parts of the toggle.

14. Pivot point for the float arm.

15. Rotation member of the toggle device

16. Pivot point for the actuator arm.

Detailed description with respect to the drawings. Float (4) weighs close to 50% of its buoyancy in water. It must be of sufficient volume and weight such that it has enough bouncy in water and weight that it can activate spring (10) successfully in both directions. In the preferred configuration the float is closed at the bottom with a cavity in its center but it could be open at the bottom or made of a material lighter than water with no cavity inside. The spring (10) tries to keep its contact point to the float (3) located on the arm (11) of the float as far as possible from its contact point of the actuator arm (12). The spring also by pushing against the contact point of the float arm pushes the float arm against the pivot point of the central stand (14) thus holding the float in place. When the water level is low and the water inlet is open, water flows in causing the float to rise. At this time the spring (10) pushes the actuator pivot point (12) in a upward direction keeping the water inlet hole open. With water rising the pivot point (3) on the arm of the float moves up passes a point in its arc which is closest to the spring contact point (12) of the actuator arm. Beyond that point the spring pushes the actuator arm in the opposite direction to the previous and to its own travel. This switches the position of the actuator arm (6) clockwise around its pivot point(16). The actuator arm rotates around the pivot point (16) on the central stand (2) thus straightening the flexible portion of the toggle device (13) and shutting off the water flow by closing the opening of the water inlet spigot(9).

A similar but opposite action eventuates as the water level is lowered. As the float (4) is lowered the spring contact point on its arm (3) passes its closest approach point to the spring contact point to the pivot point of the actuator arm (12) and thus reverses its direction of push to a anti clock wise direction. The rotation of the actuator arm around the pivot point (16) pulls up the toggle thus bending the flexible parts (13) and opening the water inlet spigot (9). The toggle device (7) is able to rotate at its rotation member(15). The time it takes to increase the water level from the low water level A as shown in

Diagram 1 to the higher water level B depends on many factors such as water pressure and the size of container the water control device sits in, but in most cases, for the unit that has been tested, it would be between 2 to 5 minutes.

The time it takes for the water level to decrease from the high level B in a hydroponics or agricultural usage to level A depends on many factors like ambient temperature, type and size of plant, size of container and evaporation.

Industrial Applicability.

The liquid level control device can be made of a size and be positioned and operated to suit a wide range of requirements of liquid level or supply rate.

The description herein is primarily of water control for agricultural, horticultural or hydroponics use but the same device could be used for other liquids required to be supplied in a cyclic manner in any industry.

The usage of the water control device for agricultural, horticultural or hydroponics purposes can be in a very wide variety of ways. This can be for small single plant systems, or for a small group of plants right up to full commercial set-ups. The levels of water at the highest and lowest point can be varied. However the preferred levels for most usage are about 5mm to about 30mm.

General

The claims, illustrations and drawings form part of the disclosure of this specification as does the description, claims, illustrations and drawings of any provisional or parent specification or of any priority document, if any, all of which are imported here into as part of the record hereof.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements or parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows :-

1. A two level liquid level control device as described herein and having one or more of the following features: - a. A spring activated actuator arm that operates a toggle device that holds a resilient stopper to close off and open inflow water supply. b A toggle arm that holds the resilient stopper that is a firm and effective means of closing off and opening the water supply to a higher incoming water pressure than other available systems. c. A cover which covers and holds the device and allows plant roots to come down to it without the control device failing. d. A central stand that links all parts of the device together.

2. A toggle arm that opens and shuts the water supply to the two level liquid level control device having one or more of the following features: - a. When the actuator arm is switched down by the float movement and spring action the toggle arm straightens and presses the resilient stopper firmly to the water inlet spigot thus stopping the flow. b. When the actuator arm is switched up the toggle arm bends thus withdrawing the resilient stopper from the water. c. Has parts for attachment to the central stand, flexible parts that can be bent and straightened repeatedly without breaking, rigid parts to ensure pressure is applied when needed, a connection method to the actuator arm and a connector point to the pivot which allows a circular motion.

3. An actuator arm as described herein having one or more of the following features: - a. The actuator arm has a contact point that a spring can act upon to switch it either clockwise or anti clock wise around its rotation point. b A point on the actuator arm that sits against a pivot point on the central stand about which it rotates, c. An attachment point to hold an arm of the toggle device.