WO2018095570A1

WO2018095570A1 - Watering system, in particular for terraces and balconies

Info

Publication number: WO2018095570A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/001366
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Zielke; Christian Hübner; Carolin SCHNEIDER; Peter Michels; Regina LEHRER; Christian BÜHLMEYER
Original assignee: Rehau Ag + Co
Priority date: 2016-11-28
Filing date: 2017-11-23
Publication date: 2018-05-31
Also published as: DE202016106612U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a watering system, in particular for terraces and balconies, comprising a hose pipe (1) which can be connected to a stationary water line system (W), said hose pipe having an inner diameter of preferably at most 30 mm, and a pressure reducer (2) for reducing the water pressure (pa) in the hose pipe (1) and which can be connected preferably to the water tap (4) of the water line system (W) and which is arranged between said system (W) and the hose pipe (1). The hose pipe (1) is flexible such that it can be bent when seen in the longitudinal view at a bending inner radius (R) of 5 cm, preferably 3 cm, bending freely about 90°.

Description

Irrigation system, especially for terraces and balconies

The invention relates to an irrigation system, in particular for terraces and balconies, with a connectable to a stationary water supply system hose line.

In the irrigation of plants on terraces and Baikon, especially in large cities, there is usually the problem that the hose used for this purpose has a large amount of space in the storage condition. Such hoses are known, for example, from DE 203 12 108 U1 or EP 2 032 359 B1 and have, as standard, a multi-layered construction with e.g. wound or braided reinforcing layer in order to withstand high system pressures in the water pipe system of 10 bar Ü (pressure) and more. As a result, the slaughter is relatively stiff and is often wound up for storage on the reel of a hose cart. However, such a sweeping equipment is undesirable and also expensive especially for small balconies and terraces, some of which have a footprint of only a few square meters. Incidentally, the standard tubes can often only be rolled up again with relatively great effort and often become entangled here.

Various attempts have therefore already been made in the prior art, in particular for such applications to reduce the space requirement of the hose in the unused state. In this context, hoses have recently been developed, for example, in the manner of an accordion, which extend in length through the internal water pressure and can be used for irrigation over several meters, while in the unused state they are considerably shorter Sampling dimensions together. Although this type of tubing offers the desired space advantage, it also has some problems. For example, the comparatively high wear of such hoses is disadvantageous and their tightness is in many cases unsatisfactory. Against this background, the present invention seeks to provide an irrigation system, especially for terraces and balconies, which requires only a small footprint on the one hand in the storage condition and on the other hand ensures a long life and long-term reliability.

According to the invention this object is achieved by an irrigation system, in particular for terraces and balconies, with

- A connectable to a stationary water supply system hose line with an inner diameter of preferably not more than 30 mm and

- A arranged between the water pipe system and hose, preferably connectable to a tap of the water pipe system, pressure reducer to reduce the water pressure in the hose, the hose is designed so flexible that it is bendable in a longitudinal view at a bending inner radius of 5 cm kink-free by 90 ° ,

The invention is based on the recognition that the reinforced hoses, which are usually used for irrigation in gardens, terraces, balconies and the like, are adapted to the local water supply network with regard to their pressure capacity. In such a water supply network, however, pressures of 10 bar and more prevail without further ado, since it is necessary, above all because of the geodetic differences in altitude, to supply even high-altitude households on hills or in the upper floors of buildings with sufficient water pressure. This means that usual hose lines for irrigation in gardens, etc. must withstand at least pressures of 10 bar and more. Accordingly, these hoses are regularly - as already explained - provided with a reinforcement which makes the tubes relatively stiff and therefore causes a large space requirement during storage.

According to the invention, however, it is now ensured by the use of a pressure reducer in the flow direction before the tubing that the tubing is not subjected to the usual in the water supply network pressures of 10 bar Ü and more, but instead with a much low maximum pressure, eg only 2 bar Ü. In fact, according to the invention, it has been recognized that irrigation itself is already less Overpressure in the hose is sufficient to remove a sufficient amount of water from the water supply network.

Due to the pressure reducer, it is now possible according to the invention to design the hose so that it only has to withstand a much lower pressure load. This ultimately means that the hose can be designed so that it can be wound on a roll to save space with a very small radius. According to the invention, it is provided that the hose line is designed to be so flexible that, in a longitudinal view, it can bend at 90 ° without kinking in the case of a bending inner radius of 5 cm, preferably 3 cm, in particular 2 cm, particularly preferably 1 cm. Such flexibility can be achieved, for example, in that the hose line is free of a wound and / or braided reinforcing layer and / or single-layered. Expediently, when viewed in cross-section, the hose assembly is elliptical in the unpressurized state or-especially in the manner of a fire hose-folded together by its own weight in order to allow space-saving rolling up in the hose line. Expediently, the hose line can be completely compressed in the unpressurized state in cross-section without any problems, so that there is no longer any coherent free flow cross-section. This has - as well as in the known fire hoses - the advantage that a very space-saving winding is possible. The hose is expediently made of a polymer, for example a plasticized PVC, PE, PA or PP or a TPE.

The pressure reducer according to the invention comprises in its simplest embodiment only a valve which ensures the desired pressure drop between the water pipe system and the hose line. Appropriately, the pressure reducer in addition to the valve additionally includes a pressure sensor which is signal-technically coupled to the valve. By means of the pressure sensor, the output pressure of the pressure reducer is measured, that is, the water pressure with which the hose is acted upon. If this exceeds a setpoint value of, for example, 2 bar, an appropriate signal from the pressure sensor to the valve closes it to the extent that the desired outlet pressure is reached. On the other hand, if the pressure measured by the pressure sensor is too low, the valve will be opened slightly further to ensure a sufficiently high pressure for effective irrigation. In the context of the invention, it is altogether in particular that the output pressure of the pressure reducer is controlled by a control loop with the pressure sensor as a measuring device and the valve as part of the controller to a desired value. In general, pressure reducers are also often installed in the central main water pipeline of a low floor residential building to protect the in-house water supply network from very high pressures in the municipal water supply network. Expediently, a line end piece, preferably designed as a spray nozzle, is connected to the hose line end facing away from the pressure reducer, from which the pressure reducer, preferably electrically, can be actuated. In this way, it can be ensured, for example, that a water pressure in the hose line is only built up, provided a water removal is actually provided, ie the line end piece is open. In the closed state of the line end piece, however, it is expedient to completely close via the control and the pressure reducer via a corresponding valve position, so that no pressure build-up within the tubing takes place in this state. Appropriately, the pressure reducer is wirelessly, for example by radio, the line end piece controlled. Alternatively, at least two lines can be arranged on the hose line, which serve for electrical contacting of the line end piece with the pressure reducer. Preferably, these lines are embedded in the hose wall. In a foldable design of the hose line cross-section - as described above - it may be appropriate to integrate the lines directly into the fold regions of the hose.

Expediently, the irrigation system comprises a cassette with a roll arranged therein, preferably mechanically or electrically drivable, for rolling up the hose line. The example connected to a battery electric drive of the role can in particular serve to automatically wind the hose after use again on the roll. Alternatively, a crank for manual mechanical actuation may be mounted on the roller. In the context of the invention it is likewise the case that the roller can automatically roll up the hose line by means of a mechanical device. The mechanical device, which may be, for example, a coil spring is expediently biased when removing the hose from the roller. The mechanical device may preferably be locked in the prestressed state in order to prevent it from automatically rolling onto the roller during use of the hose line. The pressure reducer may also be arranged inside the cassette. Preferably, the cassette is fastened to a wall, for example the outer wall of a building adjacent to a terrace or a balcony. The Attachment can be done with conventional fasteners, such as screws or the like.

The mean wall thickness of the hose is expediently a maximum of 2 mm, preferably a maximum of 1, 5 mm. The hose line preferably has a maximum length of 10 m, in particular a maximum of 5 m. The inner diameter of the hose is suitably 10 to 30 mm, e.g. 12-26 mm.

As already explained, the irrigation system according to the invention can be used in particular as a space-saving arrangement for the irrigation of plants on terraces and balconies with a small square footage. However, the application of the teaching according to the invention is not limited to this purpose. In principle, for example, it is also possible to use the irrigation system for cleaning vehicles, e.g. Boats, campers or caravans. In this context, it may be particularly expedient to mount the irrigation system on the vehicle, which has its own water supply system.

In the following the invention will be explained in detail with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment. They show schematically:

Fig. 1: an inventive irrigation system in a side view;

FIG. 2 shows the irrigation system illustrated in FIG. 1 in a simplified, three-dimensional view; FIG.

Fig. 3a, 3c: the section A-A in Fig. 1 for two different embodiments of the invention and

Fig. 3b: The hose shown in Fig. 3a in the folded state

Fig. 4: the behavior of the hose according to the invention in a bend with a low bending radius R and

FIG. 5 shows the behavior of a hose line according to the prior art in a bend corresponding to FIG. 4. FIG Fig. 1 shows an irrigation system for terraces and balconies, which is connected to a stationary water supply system W of a high-rise building. In this water pipe system W, a sufficiently high water pressure must be present even on the top floor in order to ensure an adequate water supply there. For this reason, in the lower floors of the skyscraper in the water pipe W a pressure of 10 bar Ü and more readily. To this water pipe system W a hose 1 of the irrigation system is connected. It can be seen that between water supply system W and hose 1, a pressure reducer 2 for reducing the water pressure in the hose 1 is arranged, which is connected by means of a coupling 3 with a tap 4 of the water pipe system W. At the open faucet 4 there is the local water pressure pw of the water supply system W. The pressure reducer 2 has in the embodiment via a valve and a pressure sensor (not shown in detail), via the measurement signal, the position of the valve can be changed. By a control circuit with the pressure sensor as a measuring device and the valve as a regulator component, the output pressure PA of the pressure reducer 2 is controlled to a desired value, eg 2 bar Ü. Furthermore, it can be seen that the pressure reducer 2 has an electrical device 5, by means of which the valve of the pressure reducer 2 can also be controlled. For this purpose, a line end piece designed in the exemplary embodiment as a spray nozzle 6, which has a remote control 7, is connected to the end of the hose line 1 facing away from the pressure reducer 2. About this remote control 7, the valve can be opened and closed. This makes it possible for the hose line 1 to be acted upon via an appropriate opening of the valve by means of the remote control 7 only with an inner water pressure which is regulated downwards relative to the water line system W, if water removal at the line end piece 7 is desired. In the rest state, so the closed state of the line end piece 7, however, the valve can be closed by the remote control 7, so that the hose is in the depressurized state. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3c, the control by means of the remote control 7 takes place wirelessly by radio, eg bluetooth. Accordingly, here the hose 1 must not have electrical line connector. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3a, b, however, two lines 8 are embedded in the wall of the hose 1, which serve for electrical contacting of the remote control 7 with the pressure reducer 2. A comparative consideration of Figs. 1 and 2 can be taken that the hose 1 is wound on a driven by an electric drive 9 roller 10 and this roller 10 is arranged together with the pressure reducer 2 within a cassette 11. By a corresponding actuation of the drive 9, so that it acts clockwise in Fig. 1, or alternatively by a manual pulling on the hose 1, this can be deducted from the roller 10 (indicated by the arrow z in Fig. 1). Furthermore, it can be seen that the cassette 10 is fastened by means of screws 12 to a wall M of the building. The cassette 11 is further designed so that it also forms a housing for the faucet 4.

The hose line 1 is shown in two variants on the one hand in Figs. 3a, b and on the other hand in Fig. 3c in cross section. It can be seen in both exemplary embodiments that the hose line 1 is in each case designed to be free of a wound and / or braided reinforcing layer and, moreover, as a single layer. The hose line 1 consists in the embodiment of a plasticized PVC.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 a, b, FIG. 3 a shows the hose line 1 in cross section during a manual removal operation from the roller 10 shown in FIG. 1. Because of the manual withdrawal force, the hose line 1 has a coherent lumen L, which, however, is very flat and differs significantly from a circular cross-section. Fig. 3b shows the same hose 1 in cross section, which is formed folded together in the unpressurized state by its own weight to allow space-saving rolling on the roller 10. The hose line 1 consists here seen in cross-section of two flat portions 13, 13 ', which are connected to each other at the end forming a fold 14, wherein the electrical leads 8 are integrated into the folds 14. Thus, in this embodiment, in the unpressurized state, the respective central regions 15, 15 'of the two sections 13, 13' due to the weight of the hose 1 to each other to lie. This state is shown in FIG. 3b and shows that, in the unpressurized state, no coherent lumen is present in the interior of the hose line 1 due to the dead weight of the hose line 1 and the associated direct contact of the two middle regions 15, 15 '. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3c, the hose line 1 is elliptical in cross-section as viewed in the unpressurized state. This cross-sectional shape allows a space-saving winding on the roller 10. When a desired irrigation arises in the in Figs. 3a-c shown Hose lines 1 an internal overpressure by the water to be supplied. In this case, the hose lines 1 inflate and then assume an at least substantially circular cross-section. The winding of the hose 1 after its use is carried out in the embodiment by a corresponding actuation of the drive 9, so that it acts in Fig. 1 counterclockwise.

The average wall thickness of the hose 1 is in the exemplary embodiment a maximum of 2 mm, while the length of the hose 1 is a maximum of 10 m. The length of the hose 1 can be sized by the user by appropriate cutting so that it is sufficient just for watering the faucet 4 farthest irrigation point on the balcony or the terrace. It is further within the scope of the invention to couple the pressure reducer 2 with other sensors (e.g., for detecting moisture) or apps. The control of the pressure reducer 2 can alternatively and / or additionally to the remote control 7 also take place via a central control system of the building (home automation). To reduce water damage can also be done via a corresponding Meßwertüberwachung means of the pressure sensor, an automatic shutdown by the valve of the pressure reducer 2, e.g. if due to a failure of the hose 1, the pressure in the hose 1 has dropped too much. The inventive design of the hose 1 is shown in Fig. 4. It can be seen that the hose line 1 is designed to be so flexible that it can be bent kink-free by α = 90 ° in the longitudinal view according to FIG. 4 at a bending inner radius of R = 2 cm predetermined by a cylinder Z. Kink-free means that the cross-section of the hose line 1 practically does not change along the line 1 in the bending range defined by the angle α. On the other hand, in the presence of a kink - as shown in FIG. 5 - the hose line cross-section is significantly more deformed by the bend in the immediate kink area K than in the adjacent areas.

claims

Claims

claims

Irrigation system, especially for terraces and balconies, with

- One to a stationary water supply system (W) connectable hose line (1) having an inner diameter of preferably at most 30 mm and

- a between water supply system (W) and hose line (1) arranged, preferably to a faucet (4) of the water supply system (W) connectable, pressure reducer (2) for reducing the water pressure (p _a ) in the hose line (1), wherein the hose (1) is designed so flexible that in a longitudinal view at a Biegeinnenradius (R) of 5 cm, preferably 3 cm, kink-free by 90 ° is bendable.

Irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the hose line (1) is free of a wound and / or braided reinforcing layer and / or monolayer.

Irrigation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hose line (1) seen in cross-section in the non-pressurized state elliptical or folded by its own weight is formed to allow space-saving rolling of the hose (1).

Irrigation system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure reducer (2) facing away from the hose end, preferably as a spray nozzle (7) formed, line end is connected, from which the pressure reducer (2), preferably electrically, is controllable ,

Irrigation system according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure reducer (2) can be controlled wirelessly, for example by radio, from the line end piece (7).

6. Irrigation system according to claim 4, characterized in that in the wall of the hose (1) at least two lines (8) are embedded, which serve for electrical contacting of the line end piece (7) with the pressure reducer (2).

7. Irrigation system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a cassette (11) arranged therein, preferably mechanically or electrically driven, roller (10) for rolling up the hose line (1) is provided.

8. irrigation system according to claim 7, characterized in that the cassette (11) on a wall (M) can be fastened.

9. Irrigation system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the average wall thickness of the hose (1) is at most 2 mm, preferably at most 1, 5 mm.

10. Irrigation system according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the length of the hose line (1) is a maximum of 10 m, preferably a maximum of 5 m.