WO2004084621A1

WO2004084621A1 - Hydroponic culture device for domestic and/or educational use

Info

Publication number: WO2004084621A1
Application number: PCT/ES2004/000131
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lorenzo Belmonte Navarro
Original assignee: New Growing Systems, S.L.
Priority date: 2003-03-26
Filing date: 2004-03-24
Publication date: 2004-10-07

Abstract

The invention relates to a hydroponic culture device for domestic and/or educational use. The inventive device comprises a series of bags (12) which are made from a laminar material and which are suspended from pairs of parallel bars (13). Said bars are mounted to a rectangular frame (1) which forms part of lateral posts. Moreover, a conduit (10) is disposed between the aforementioned posts, which branches out into a numerical series of outlets (11), said outlets being positionally aligned with the bags (12) in which the plants are planted. In this way, a nutrient solution is driven from a container (8) through a suitable pumping mechanism to the above-mentioned conduit (10), from which it is distributed through the outlets (11) in order to access the culture bags (12).

Description

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DOMESTIC V / O TEACHER

ID) F S C R T P C. ϊ O N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hydroponic culture equipment, which has been specially designed to be used domestically, such as for the cultivation of ornamental plants, but which is equally usable at the educational level, that is, as a laboratory base for the study of different types of plants and their development, and in general for any practical case in which the cultivation of a small number of plants is concerned.

The object of the invention is to obtain a kit or "kit" that, housed in a small box, integrates all the necessary elements to carry out a small crop of the type mentioned above, in optimal storage, transport and marketing conditions. .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, hydroponic cultivation is based on the absence of soil, so that plants are provided with a physical support of an inert nature and are supplied with a solution based on the appropriate nutrients, also in appropriate proportions, dissolved in water. To date, hydroponic cultivation facilities have an industrial or production character, generally taking place inside large greenhouses.

In this regard, it is worth mentioning, among others, the Spanish invention patent with application number 9601651, consisting of a hydroponic cultivation process and a device for its implementation.

Specifically, in this patent of invention it is envisaged that, on filiform and parallel supports, a succession of suspended pipes, of angular profile, based on several superimposed and conveniently spaced sheets, of which the lower one is fully closed, for reception is established. and channeling of the nutrient solution, while the upper ones have holes with a double function, on the one hand allow the passage of the nutrient solution and on the other allow the rooting of the plants, these pipes being assisted by feeding tubes of the solution nutrient that is supplied to them, in closed circuit, with the incorporation of a pump of impulsion, and with a periodic contribution of those nutrients that are being consumed by the plants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The equipment proposed by the invention, based on the functional philosophy of the aforementioned patent, has been conceived as a removable assembly, packaged inside a cardboard box or similar, easily assembled and with a domestic, teaching or similar application , said equipment being intended for a small number of plants, but with a modular conception that allows to extend the installation both vertically and collaterally.

Thus, the equipment that the invention proposes, after its assembly, is usable as a multiple planter for decorative purposes that can be used primarily at the domestic level, such as a small growing area for teaching or experimental functions, etc.

For this purpose and more specifically, said equipment is structured by means of the functional combination of a rectangular frame, based on a suitable profiles, which is complemented by a pair of lateral supports that conveniently distance it from the ground, said frame being intended to receive to valuable pairs of stringers, in each of which a laminar support will be established, as a bag, that with a certain inclination towards one of its ends, pour over a deposit established in the corresponding lateral support, generating a waterfall that helps to the oxygenation of the water, reservoir in which the classic pump is established that, with the collaboration of a conduit that ascends through an intermediate upright of the corresponding lateral support, is coupled to another conduit that runs through the upper frame and which branches at the end corresponding to the opposite lateral support, so that the nutrient solution accesses each and every one of the bags that They are suspended from said upper frame.

In order to give greater structural rigidity to the assembly in the aforementioned structure, in addition to the upper frame and the mentioned lateral supports, at least one front part, of structure equivalent to that of one of the mentioned vertical supports, but of considerably greater length, is involved. conveniently fixes both the latter and the upper frame. In order to achieve the necessary inclination in the channeling bags of the nutrient solution, it is provided that one of the two lateral or extreme supports, specifically the opposite of the carrier of the collecting tank, then incorporates a pair of wheels, conveniently coupled to its legs, which They have a double function, on the one hand uneven structure so that the nutrient solution circulates by simple gravity towards the aforementioned tank, and on the other that the assembled equipment and as a whole can be moved as if it were a cart, conveniently lifting the I ground the side support without wheels and moving it on said wheels.

The equipment, in another variant embodiment, can have a structure with different levels in height, either within the same plane or with a stepped profile, in order to make the most of the available space and improve the conditions of solar energy collection by country of plants.

Specifically, in this variant embodiment the equipment is constituted by two lateral and parallel panels, elongated vertically, between which a plurality of rod pairs is established, each of said pairs supporting a laminar support, determining the corresponding bag, that extends from one side to the other side and end panels and in which the development of the plants will be carried out, placing in the bosom of such bags, by providing the corresponding nutrient solution.

The aforementioned side panels can be rectangular, considerably elongated vertically, in which case the pairs of rods will be superimposed on each other, or said panels may have a decreasing width in ascending direction, with a stepped front edge, placing the pairs of rods in these steps, in which case the same, and consequently the bags established on them, are outdated in the antero-posterior direction, in addition to being overlapped as in the previous case.

In any case, the support rods themselves for the bags act as stiffening means for the side panels and, consequently, for the whole of the equipment height.

The nutrient solution will be provided to the aforementioned bags from a lower tank, as already mentioned in the first embodiment, which can be fixed laterally to one of the extreme side panels or be suspended from a pair of rods that occupy the lower extreme position, a tank in which the corresponding motor pump is established that elevates the nutrient solution to the upper extreme zone, from which said solution travels all the bags, either in series or in parallel, by means of an adequate inclination of the pairs of corresponding rods, so that there is a circulation of said fluid in the desired direction and an intercommunication of the different bags or levels of equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. In an illustrative and non-limiting manner, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the upper frame with the elements initially associated with it.

Figure 2.- Shows a front elevation view of one of the lateral supports.

Figure 3.- Shows a representation similar to the previous figure corresponding to another lateral support.

Figure 4.- Shows, also according to a representation similar to Figures 2 and 3, the front that collaborates with the two sides mentioned in the stability of the upper frame.

Figure 5.- Shows a detail in plan of the equipment assembled as a whole.

Figure 6.- Shows a profile of the assembly represented in the previous figure.

Figure 7.- Shows a front elevation view of the same set.

Figure 8.- Shows the set of figures 5 to 7 disassembled and housed in the corresponding container box, which appears open and in plan.

Figure 9.- Shows a schematic representation in perspective of the equipment, according to a variant embodiment for the support design thereof.

Figure 10.- Shows, according to a schematic representation in perspective, hydroponic cultivation equipment for domestic and / or teaching use in an alternative embodiment with different levels for culture bags.

Figure 11.- Finally, it shows a representation similar to that of the previous figure, but corresponding to a variant in which said bags are superimposed, that is, included within the same imaginary vertical plane.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, it can be observed that in the equipment proposed by the invention a rectangular frame (1) participates, based on an appropriate profile, with which two lateral supports (2) and (3) and a frontal support collaborate (4), provided with respective upper crossbars, which correspond to the references themselves (2), (3) and (4), intermediate crossbars (5) and a pair of vertical and lateral uprights (6), the latter of appropriate length to conveniently distance the frame (1) and the crossbars (2) from the ground and

(3) of length according to the smaller side of the frame (1) while the crossbar (4) of the front is of length according to one of the major sides of said frame (1).

One of the lateral supports (2) also incorporates a vertical and intermediate upright (7) established between its two crossbars, and on its internal face and immediately above the intermediate crossbar, a reservoir (8) container of the nutrient solution and in whose at the bottom there is a drive pump (9) connected to a conduit (10) that ascends through the intermediate post (7) until reaching the upper frame (1), and that subsequently runs longitudinally and internally said frame (1) to, on the minor and opposite side thereof, branch into a series of exits (11) numerically and positionally coinciding with the bags (12) for plant implantation, which are suspended from the framework (1) with the collaboration of respective pairs of stringers (13).

On the other hand, the other lateral support (3) incorporates, on the lower end of its vertical uprights (6), respective wheels (14), which make this lateral support higher than the other side (2), in a sufficient magnitude to establish at the bottom of the bags (12) an inclination towards the tank (8), which in turn determines that the nutrient solution circulates by gravity towards the latter, said wheels (14) also being used to convert the structure as a whole in a kind of easily movable cart on the ground.

The described assembly, in an exploded situation, is intended to be housed inside a substantially flattened cardboard box (15), such as that shown in Figure 8, which with a minimum volumetric occupancy facilitates the storage, transport and commercialization of the team, as previously said.

The structure described and represented in Figures 1 to 7, can be replaced by the one shown in Figure 9, in which the use of tubular profiles (16), of a synthetic nature, such as PVC, is provided. easily interactable with the collaboration and of elbows and / or elements in "T" (17), which allow an extremely fast and simple assembly, by simple tongue and groove coupling, with or without the contribution of an adhesive.

In this case, the equipment is planned for smaller plants. that in the case of the previous figures, which is why the number of bags (12) has increased, while their dimensions have decreased, without affecting the essence of the invention.

The tank (8 ⁵ ) is in this case in an intermediate position, instead of at one of its ends, hanging from the stringers (18) of the rectangular and upper frame, through a pair of vertical arms (19), so that its own weight forces the stringers (18) to a buckling that makes the middle area of them, where the reservoir (8 ⁵ ) is located, the lowest concentrating the nutrient solution in this middle zone of the bags (12), for their return to the tank (8 ') from which said nutrient solution emerges through a conduit (20), which passes between a pair of bags (12) expands on a transverse branch (21) that relates the upper limb of the arms (19), to which it is associated, which is closed at its ends and which along its path has outlets for small tubes (22) that are directed towards the ends of the bags (12 ) and which flow into these extensions, from where the nutrient solution flows to the zone m I edited them.

It only remains to point out finally that the space defined within the structure below the channeling bags of the nutrient solution, can be used as a cabinet to house fertilizer products or any other type of accessories.

In a variant embodiment, the equipment is structured from two side panels (23), of any appropriate material, whose width decreases progressively upwards at the expense of its anterior zone, for which purpose in its previous edges successive steps are defined (24), in each of which a pair of rods (13 ') is established, conveniently fixed at their ends to said panels (23), each pair of rods (13 ') constructing the physical support for the grooved bag (12'), for implanting an alignment of plants, so that said bags (12 ') are configured as outdated planters both in height and in direction antero-posterior, which optimizes the development of the plants with a minimum space occupation, since there is a gap in height for them, which allows solar radiation to reach them in optimal conditions.

In the lower end zone of the structure represented in figure 10, the corresponding reservoir (8 ') is placed which, depending on the channeling system provided for the nutrient solution, can face the pair of rods (13'), when lower end, or it can be longer, facing all pairs of rods, or what is the same to all culture bags (12 '). In any case, the corresponding moto-pump that drives the nutrient solution into the bag is established inside the tank (8 ')

(12 ') that occupies the upper extreme position, which should also have a slightly inclined path, thanks to an inclination of the rods (13'), so that the nutrient solution circulates from the receiving end thereof towards the end opposite, from where, either the nutrient solution falls directly to the lower reservoir (8 '), in which case the length of the latter must be coincident with the depth of the equipment at the lower level, or by any means the nutrient solution it will go from one bag to another, by gravity, in which case the deposit (8 ') may be smaller, upon receiving all the nutrient solution through the lower end of the bag (12') in turn lower .

If the availability of space makes it advisable, the equipment shown in Figure 10 can see its dimensions reduced in depth, according to the example represented in Figure 11, in which the side panels (23 ') are rectangular, considerably more narrow that in the previous case, for example with a width coinciding with that of the last step of the panels (23), and in which case the pairs of rods (13 ') are superimposed, just like the culture bags (12 ⁵ ) and the plants that subsequently have to be housed in them, in which case also the deposit (8 ') will adopt the minimum dimensions because it will always receive the nutrient solution through exclusively the lower end culture bag, and where, as in the previous case, the circulation of the nutrient solution can be produced in series, by means of a meandering path along all the culture bags (12 '), or it can be produced in parallel, feeding the pump housed in the tank ( 8 ') one of the ends of each and every one of the culture bags (12'), the highest according to the unevenness provided by the rods (13 '), said tank (8') receiving the nutrient solution by the other end of the re Petitely cited culture bags (12 ').

In this variant embodiment of Figure 11, and parallel to the side panels (23 '), in order to give greater stability against their small width, it is provided that they are fixed to lower support legs (25), preferably materialized in semi-frames of "U" configuration, with concavity oriented downwards, of considerably greater width than that of the sides (23 '), which not only conveniently stabilize the structure as a whole, but also when approximating it to any The wall, such as a wall, leaves it sufficiently separated from it so that there is room for the final wingspan of the growing plants.

Claims

R F T V T N D T Γ A C T F S

I ^to .- equipment hydroponics for domestic and / or teaching, characterized by being formed by combining a rectangular frame (1) and a series of lateral supports (2) and (3) that conveniently sobreelevan of the floor, frame incorporating support rods (13) for several culture bags (12), said rods (13) having a certain inclination so that it has a sufficient slope so that it recirculates the nutrient solution for the plants, and that by one of its ends are superimposed on a collecting tank (8) conveniently fixed to one of the lateral supports, whose tank (8) contains the recirculating nutrient solution that, by means of an internal or external pumping device to the tank, drives the nutrient solution through emitters of irrigation to the top where it pours on the mentioned bags (12); having anticipated that the estmctura as a whole, and specifically the lateral supports, present staggered at its front edge to determine different levels.

2 .- equipment hydroponics for domestic and / or teaching, according to claim Ia, wherein one of the side supports (2) which is the carrier of the collecting container (8) of the nutrient solution, incorporates a stanchion intermediate vertical (7), through which the impulsion conduit of said solution ascends towards the upper frame, where said conduction recovers said frame towards its opposite end, to branch into a plurality of exits (11), numerically and positionally coincident with the bags (12) receiving the plants.

3 .- hydroponics equipment for household use and / or teaching, according to previous claims, characterized in that one of the side supports (3), can optionally incorporate in its lower and free end of its lateral uprights (6) or legs, respective medas (14) acting these measures as rolling elements that make the team as a whole a kind of mobile car.

4 .- hydroponics equipment for household use and / or teaching, according ^to claim I, characterized in that both the upper rectangular frame (1) as the rest of the support structure of the growing bags, are embodied in tubes or structures similar (16) of a synthetic nature, preferably of PVC, conveniently inter-coupled with the collaboration of elbows and "T" elements (17) of the same nature.

5 .- equipment hydroponics for domestic and / or teaching, according to claim 4, characterized in that the reservoir (8 ') is positioned suspended above the middle of the side (18) of the upper frame by arms ( 19) subject to said frame and above which an emitter conductor (20) of the nutrient solution driven by an internal or external pumping device is located, towards a central distributor (21) which in turn branches into a plurality of outlets (22) of small size, numerically and positionally coinciding with the bags (12) receiving the plants and where the nutrient solution feeds the plants.

6 .- hydroponics equipment for household use and / or teaching, according to previous claims, characterized in that an expandable module configured both longitudinally and vertically.

7 .- hydroponics equipment for household use and / or teaching, according ^to claim I, wherein the stepping estractura is determined from two side panels and parallel (23), conveniently spaced vertical coring, including the corresponding pairs of rods (13 ') are established which on the one hand act as a link between said side panels (23) and on the other as a means of support of the respective culture bags (12 '), it being provided that in the lower end zone, below the last pair of rods (13'), the corresponding reservoir (8 ') supplying the nutrient solution is established. , with the collaboration of the motor-pump and through the appropriate conduits, drives said solution towards the highest end of the pair of rods (13 ') that occupies the upper plane of the installation, where the plants receive the recirculating ñutiente solution, said solution descending to the bag (12 ') located in the immediate lower plane, by gravitational effect, and so on to the culture bag (12') that occupies the lower plane.

8 .- hydroponics equipment for household use and / or teaching, according ^to claim 7, characterized in that the panels (23) are of decreasing width in the downward direction at the expense of its front region, so that its front edge adopts a stepped configuration (24), the respective pairs of rods (13 ') supporting the culture bags (12') being established precisely on said steps.

9 .- equipment hydroponics for domestic and / or teaching, according to claim 7, characterized in that the side panels (23 ') are elongated veiticalmente and narrow width, leaving the pairs of rods (13') established entie them , in an imaginary vertical plane, like the corresponding culture bags (12 ') supported by the aforementioned pairs of rods (13').

10 .- hydroponics equipment for household use and / or teaching, according ^to claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the pumping means, internal or external, incorporating the lower tank (8 '), to drive the solution ñutiente one of the extremes of the culture bag (12 ') that occupies the upper limit position, whose support rods (13') have a slight inclination towards its opposite end, from where the nutrient solution falls towards the immediately inferior culture bag (12 '), with a contacted inclination, and so on until reaching, through the inferior external culture bag, again the reservoir (8 ').

1 I .- equipment ^to hydroponics for domestic and / or teaching, according ^to claims 7 to 9, characterized in that both pairs of rods sustaining (13 ') as the own bags (12') have a slight inclination so that tavés of the corresponding device or media internally or externally in the lower tank (8 ') pump housed, the solution is suministe ñutiente the highest ^r ext emidad of each and every one of said culture bags (12' ), returning said solution to the same tank by gravitational effect through an individual drain of each culture bag (12 ').

12 .- hydroponics equipment for household use and / or teaching, according to claims 7 ^to 11, characterized in that both pairs of rods sustaining (13 ') of the culture bags (12'), as the bags themselves , they have a pipe that flows into the next bag (12 ') immediately below, without this pipeline in the last step since the excess solution flows directly into the tank.