WO2022123333A1

WO2022123333A1 - Hydroponic growing system

Info

Publication number: WO2022123333A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/057436
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Kolbeck; Mathieu Rubi
Original assignee: H.Glass Sa
Priority date: 2020-12-09
Filing date: 2021-08-12
Publication date: 2022-06-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydroponic tower (80) comprising a plurality of bucket watering units (200) arranged at different heights and configured to hold a corresponding plurality of removable plant buckets (300). The plurality of bucket watering unit (200) forms together at least parts of a water duct running from the top to the bottom of the tower (80). Each bucket watering unit (200) comprises a fluid delivery system (210) configured to be actuated when a removable plant bucket (300) is plugged into a corresponding bucket watering unit (200) to bring a corresponding portion (208) of the water duct from a sealed configuration to an unsealed configuration in which the water duct is in fluid communication with said plant bucket (300). The invention also relates to a hydroponic growing system comprising a water delivery tower (20), a plurality of hydroponic towers (80) mounted concentrically with respect to the water delivery tower (20) and a water delivery system arranged to bring the water delivery tower (20) in fluid communication with each of the plurality of hydroponic towers (80).

Description

Hydroponic growing system

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a sustainable hydroponic growing system comprising a water delivery tower, hydroponic towers and a water delivery system connecting the water delivery tower to the hydroponic towers. The invention also relates to a hydroponic tower and to a removable plant bucket removably connectable to the hydroponic tower.

Description of related art

[0002] Many hydroponic growing systems for growing plants suspended in a closed or semi-closed environment already exist.

[0003] WO201 7/010952 discloses for example a modular apparatus formed by a plurality of irrigation columns around a central structure. The central structure forms a tower which supports the crop above floor level for growing plants using a vertical hydroponic culture technique of the drip irrigation type.

[0004] US2014/000162 discloses a hydroponic growing system which includes at least one vertical column of interconnected growing pots and an overhead support to suspend the vertical column of interconnected growing pots. The system also includes a supply conduit that is in fluid communication with a top of the vertical column of interconnected growing pots and a return conduit in fluid communication with a bottom of the vertical column of interconnected growing pots.

[0005] US8250809 discloses a plant support for a hydroponic tower. The plant support comprises a body with an upper panel, a lower panel, and at least one opening adapted to retain a seed container which is formed in the upper panel. The plant support further comprises a conical wall extending from the upper panel away from the body and being in fluid communication with an interior of the body, and a liquid nutrient solution guide in fluid communication with the body and extending from the lower panel of the body.

[0006] US20180206414 discloses a green wall system that includes a plurality of potted plants positioned within respective pots to form a wall of vegetation. The pots can be mounted to a support element and plumbing of the green wall system can be positioned within a utility column adjacent to the wall of vegetation. A fluid reservoir and a pump to pump fluid from the reservoir to the potted plants can be positioned within the utility column.

[0007] Other types of hydroponic growing systems are disclosed, for example, in US2016100535, US2016135394, US2016295820, US9380751, W02020051271 and US9591814.

[0008] The hydroponic growing systems known to date usually comprise a fluid delivery system comprising a pump which requires electricity. These hydroponic growing systems therefore become inoperable in case of power failure. In addition, these systems comprise plant bucket which are not specifically designed to be easily removed once the plants have grown.

[0009] An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a sustainable hydroponic growing system that may still be operable without electricity.

[0010] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a hydroponic tower comprising a plurality of bucket watering units configured to receive a corresponding plurality of plant buckets and which is operable to water feed any number of plant buckets when plugged to a corresponding number of bucket watering units.

[0011] Yet another aim of the present invention is to provide a removably pluggable plant bucket that is easy to plug and unplug to a bucket watering unit of the hydroponic tower.

[0012] A further aim of the present invention is to provide a plant bucket designed for long-term plant healthiness when the plant bucket is removed from the hydroponic tower.

Brief summary of the invention

[0013] An aspect of the present invention relates to a hydroponic tower comprising a plurality of bucket watering units arranged at different heights. The plurality of bucket watering units is configured to hold a corresponding plurality of removable plant buckets. The plurality of bucket watering units forms together at least parts of a water duct running from the top to the bottom of the tower. Each bucket watering unit comprises a fluid delivery system configured to be actuated when a removable plant bucket is plugged into a corresponding bucket watering unit to bring a corresponding portion of the water duct from a sealed configuration to an unsealed configuration in which the water duct is in fluid communication with said plant bucket.

[0014] In an embodiment, the plurality of bucket watering units is removably coupled on top of each other to form the hydroponic tower.

[0015] In an embodiment, each bucket water unit comprises a water delivery casing. The fluid delivery system is a build-in retractable delivery system arranged inside the water delivery casing and comprising a push/push latch mechanism to manually bring the fluid delivery system from a retracted position to an extended position above a plant bucket when plugged onto the bucket watering unit so that water may run from the water duct into the plant bucket.

[0016] In an embodiment, the retractable delivery system comprises a housing having a front side arranged inside a cut-out portion on a side of the water delivery casing to be manually pressed to bring the fluid delivery system from a retracted position to an extended position and vice versa.

[0017] In an embodiment, the housing comprises a water channel and a slope extending downwardly from a rear side towards the front side of the housing to form a spout. The water channel is aligned with the water duct when the retractable delivery system is in the retracted position. The water channel is clear from the water duct when the retractable delivery system is in the extended position so that water may reach the slope and runs therealong through the spout and into the water bucket.

[0018] In an embodiment, each bucket watering unit further comprises a bucket holder arranged below the fluid delivery system. The bucket holder comprises a bucket bearing surface to support a plant bucket and a holder connecting part adapted to connect the bucket bearing surface to the water delivery casing. The bucket bearing surface comprises a bucket connecting portion configured to bring a valve system of the valve bucket from a close configuration to an open configuration when the plant bucket is plugged into the bucket connecting portion to allow water to flow through the valve system of the plant bucket into a hollow part of the holder connecting part and back into the water delivery casing.

[0019] In an embodiment, the water delivery casing has a square-based prism shape and comprises at least two through-holes extending from two diametrically opposed corners of the casing top side to the corresponding corners of the casing bottom side. Two screws are arranged inside these two through-holes while the upper portion of the two other corners is threaded so that the distal end of the screws protruding from the casing bottom side can be screwed inside the threaded portions provided on the top side of another water delivery casing.

[0020] In an embodiment, each water delivery casing comprises a hollowed part to form with the other delivery casing of the tower a straight water duct extending from an uppermost water delivery casing to a lowermost water delivery casing.

[0021] In an embodiment, the bucket watering units are in the form of bucket receiving compartments. A first and a second set of bucket receiving compartments are arranged on the tower in a diametrically opposed fashion. Two bucket receiving compartments of the first set are interposed between three bucket receiving compartments of the second set. The customized water pipe is shaped so as to run pass below each bucket receiving compartment of the first and second sets.

[0022] In an embodiment, each bucket receiving compartment is connected to a corresponding water pipe arrangement. Each water pipe arrangement is connected to a customized water pipe running from a water receiving compartment, mounted on top of the hydroponic tower, to a lower portion of the tower. Each water pipe arrangement comprises a valve system configured to be actuated when a removable plant bucket is plugged into a corresponding bucket receiving compartment to bring the bucket receiving compartment from a sealed configuration, in which the customized water pipe is not in fluid communication with the bucket receiving compartment, to an unsealed configuration, in which the customized water pipe is in fluid communication with the plant bucket plugged into the bucket receiving compartment. [0023] In an embodiment, the valve system comprises a valve housing and a valve body configured to be movably actuated inside the valve housing when a plant bucket is plugged into a corresponding bucket receiving compartment. The valve housing comprises a pipe connecting portion connected to the customized water pipe. Each bucket receiving compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet opening arranged to receive a distal end of respectively the valve housing and an outlet pipe of a corresponding water pipe arrangement to deviate the water flow path from the customized water pipe into the plant bucket, when the latter is plugged into the corresponding bucket receiving compartment, and back into the customized water pipe.

[0024] In an embodiment, the valve body is mounted on an elastic member inside the valve housing. The valve body is actuable inside the valve housing from a first axial position, in which the water flow path runs along the customized water pipe through the valve system, to a second axial position, when a plant bucket is plugged into the bucket receiving compartment, in which the water flow path is deviated from the customized water pipe into the plant bucket.

[0025] In an embodiment, the valve body comprises a tube comprising an opening configured to be in fluid communication with the customized water pipe when the valve body is in the second axial position.

[0026] Another aspect of the invention relates to a water delivery tower adapted to water feed the water receiving compartment of a plurality of hydroponic towers as described above. The water delivery tower comprises a water tank arrangement mounted on top of a tower housing and a water feeding system mounted inside the tower housing to bring water up to the water tank arrangement. [0027] In an embodiment, the water feeding system comprises an upper wheel mounted in the water tank arrangement, a lower wheel mounted at the base of the tower housing, and a supporting arrangement mounted around the upper and lower wheels. A plurality of water buckets is connected to the supporting arrangement, which is preferably a chain or a belt, to immerse successively each water bucket into a water tank located at the base of the tower housing to fill the water buckets and to bring successively each water bucket to the water tank arrangement to spill their water content into the water tank arrangement.

[0028] In an embodiment, the water feeding system further comprises a motor-wheel. The upper or lower wheel is mounted on a shaft of the motorwheel to rotate the upper or lower wheel to move the chain or belt and the water buckets connected thereto.

[0029] In an embodiment, the water feeding system further comprises a manually operable system comprising a handle rotatably mounted on the tower housing. The handle comprises a shaft extending inside the tower housing and connected to an upper pulley. The manually operable system further comprises a lower pulley, and belt mounted around the upper and lower pulleys. The lower pulley is connected to the lower wheel through a common shaft to move the chain or the belt when the handle is rotated.

[0030] In an embodiment, the water tank arrangement comprises an upper tank and a lower tank. The upper tank comprises a central structure having a mounting portion on which the upper wheel is rotatably mounted around a shaft, preferably a motor shaft. The central structure delimits a central passage. The water buckets are shaped as to pass upwardly and downwardly through this central passage to poor their water content in the upper tank. [0031] In an embodiment, the upper tank comprises a bell-syphon comprising an inner tube in fluid communication with the lower tank and an outer tube mounted around the inner tube. The water in the upper tank is drawn into the lower tank when the water level in the upper tank reaches a predefined level.

[0032] In an embodiment, the lower tank is rotatably mounted on circular slide rail connected to the upper portion of the tower housing.

[0033] In an embodiment, a rotatable water distribution plate is mounted in the lower tank. The water distribution plate comprises a water distribution opening adapted to be selectively aligned with one opening of pipe connecting portions located at the bottom of the lower tank, electromagnets configured to be energized to maintain the water distribution plate against upper openings of the pipe connecting portions such that the water distribution opening overlaps the upper opening of the selected pipe connecting portion, and elastic members configured to push the water distribution plate away from the lower tank bottom surface when the electromagnets are no longer energized.

[0034] In an embodiment, the water distribution plate comprises an outer toothing. An electric motor is mounted on the lower tank and is configured to drive in rotation a pinion. The pinion meshes with the outer toothing of the water distribution when the latter is positioned away from the lower tank bottom surface. The water distribution plate is thus rotated through a predefined angle, when the pinion is driven in rotation by the electric motor, to align the water distribution opening with an upper opening of a selected pipe connecting portion. Electromagnets are energized to urge the water distribution plate downwardly such that the water distribution opening overlaps the upper opening of the selected pipe connecting portion, while the water distribution plate covers the upper opening of the other pipe connecting portions such that the water in the lower tank may flow only through the selected pipe connecting portion.

[0035] Another aspect of the invention relates to a hydroponic growing system comprising the above water delivery tower, a plurality of hydroponic towers as described above and mounted concentrically with respect to the water delivery tower and a water delivery system arranged to bring the water delivery tower in fluid communication with each of said plurality of hydroponic towers.

[0036] Another aspect of the invention relates to a plant bucket pluggable into a corresponding bucket water unit of the hydroponic tower described earlier. The plant bucket comprises a bucket, a and a separation mounted in the bucket to create a water reservoir between the bottom of the bucket and the separation.

[0037] In an embodiment, the plant bucket comprises a valve system arranged at bottom of the bucket to regulate the water level inside the bucket when the plant bucket is plugged onto the corresponding bucket water unit.

[0038] In an embodiment, the valve system comprises a valve housing, a sealing member, preferably a sealing ball, mounted inside the valve housing, a valve lid connected to an upper edge of the valve housing and an elastic member arranged between the valve lid and the sealing member to urge the sealing member against a lower portion of the valve housing having a drainage hole to bring the valve system in a close configuration. [0039] In an embodiment, the upper edge of the valve housing defines the highest level of water that may contain the plant bucket when plugged onto the corresponding bucket water unit.

[0040] In an embodiment, soil may be disposed above the separation. The bucket further comprising a wicking material disposed mainly on top of the separation with parts of the wicking material extending through the separation into the water reservoir so that the entire weaking material is soaked with water to slowly diffuse water into the soil.

[0041] In an embodiment, the plant bucket comprises one or more removable wicking material cartridges. Each cartridge comprising a water suction tip extending into the water reservoir, and a wicking material adapted to adsorb water through the suction tip to be soaked with water.

[0042] In an embodiment, at least two removable wicking material cartridges are positioned into the plant bucket such that the wicking material of respective cartridge, soaked with water, are in contact with hydroponic grow medium of a plant, when the medium is placed in the plant bucket with its bottom part sitting on the separation.

[0043] In an embodiment, the removable wicking material cartridges comprise each a flexible locking portion configured to be locked into a bucket upper edge.

[0044] In an embodiment, the bucket comprises an inlet tube and an inner tube. The plant bucket comprises a removable cover having an outer tube. The cover is removably mounted on a portion of the bucket such that the inner tube is positioned inside the outer tube to form a bell-syphon. [0045] In an embodiment, the separation comprises a cut-out portion shaped such that the suction tip of one or each removable wicking material cartridge always extends through the cut-out portion into the water reservoir independently of their locking position along the bucket upper edge.

[0046] In an embodiment, the inlet tube of the plant bucket comprises a lower portion protruding from the plant bucket underside. This protruding portion is configured to be fitted inside the valve housing of the valve system of the water pipe arrangement of a corresponding bucket receiving compartment of the hydroponic growing tower as previously described when the plant bucket is plugged into the bucket receiving compartment.

[0047] In an embodiment, the inner tube of the plant bucket comprises a lower portion protruding from the plant bucket underside. This protruding portion is adapted to be fitted on an upper edge of the outlet pipe of the water pipe arrangement of a corresponding bucket receiving compartment of the hydroponic tower as previously described when the plant bucket is plugged into the bucket receiving compartment.

Brief description of the drawings

[0048] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description of several embodiments given by way of examples and illustrated by the figures, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the hydroponic growing system according to an embodiment;

- Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the hydroponic growing system of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the hydroponic growing system according to another embodiment; - Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the hydroponic growing system of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 illustrates an elevation view of the water delivery tower of Figure 2 or Figure 4;

- Figure 6 illustrates a partial elevation view of the water feeding system according to an embodiment;

- Figure 7 illustrates a partial exploded view of Figure 5;

- Figure 8 illustrates the water feeding system of Figure 6 inside the water delivery tower of Figure 5;

- Figure 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the water delivery tower of Figure 5;

- Figure 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the water delivery tower of Figure 5 which is orthogonal to the cross-sectional view of Figure 9, wherein a water distribution plate is in a first position;

- Figure 11 illustrates a similar view of Figure 10 with the water distribution plate in a second configuration;

- Figure 12 illustrates a perspective view of the water distribution plate of Figures 10 and 11;

- Figure 13 illustrates a simplified cross-sectional view of the upper part of the water delivery tower showing the connection of the upper tank to the tower housing of Figure 5;

- Figure 14 illustrates a transversal cross-sectional view of Figure 13;

- Figure 15 illustrates a perspective view of a pinion mounted on the shaft of an electric motor and meshing with the outer toothing of the water distribution plate ;

- Figures 16-19 illustrate several perspective views of the upper tank pertaining to successive sequences of motions of a water bucket for spilling its water content into the upper tank; - Figure 20 illustrates a perspective elevation view of a column of a hydroponic tower of the hydroponic growing system of Figures 1 and 2 without the plant buckets;

- Figure 21 illustrates a perspective elevation view of the column of Figure 20 with the plant buckets plugged onto corresponding bucket holders;

- Figure 22 illustrates a similar view of Figure 21 with the plant buckets disposed relative to each other according to another configuration;

- Figure 23 illustrates a similar view of Figure 22 with the plant buckets disposed relative to each other according to another configuration;

- Figure 24 illustrates the assembly between two bucket watering units of the column of Figure 20 without the bucket holders;

- Figure 25 illustrates an elevation view of a bucket holder;

- Figure 26 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of Figure 25 along A-A and a U-shaped spring for connecting the bucket holder to the watering unit;

- Figure 27 illustrates a perspective view of a bucket watering unit;

- Figure 28 illustrates a perspective view of a plant bucket plugged onto a bucket holder of the bucket watering unit of Figure 27 with a build-in retractable fluid delivery system in a deployed configuration;

- Figure 29 illustrates a perspective view of the pant bucket;

- Figure 30 illustrates an exploded view of Figure 29;

- Figure 31 illustrates a front view of Figure 27 with a plant bucket about to be plugged onto the bucket holder;

Figure 32 illustrates a similar view of Figure 31 with the plant bucket plugged onto the bucket holder;

- Figure 33 is a cross-sectional perspective view of Figure 31 along B-B;

- Figure 34 is a cross-sectional perspective view of Figure 32 along C-C with the build-in retractable fluid delivery system in a deployed configuration; - Figure 35 is an enlarged view of the valve system of Figure 33;

- Figure 36 is an enlarged view of the valve system of Figure 34;

- Figure 37 is a cross-sectional view of the plant bucket;

- Figure 38 illustrates a perspective elevation view of a column of a hydroponic tower of the hydroponic growing system of Figures 3 and 4 without the plant buckets and showing bucket receiving compartments located at different heights;

- Figure 39 illustrates a perspective elevation view of the hydroponic tower with the plant buckets plugged into corresponding bucket receiving comportments of the column of Figure 38;

- Figure 40 illustrates a perspective view of a bucket receiving compartment of Figure 38 connected to a water pipe arrangement;

- Figure 41 illustrates a perspective view of the water pipe arrangement of Figure 40;

- Figure 42 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the water pipe arrangement of Figure 41 comprising a valve system and showing the water flow path when the valve system is in a first operating configuration ;

- Figure 43 illustrates a similar view of Figure 42 showing the water flow path when the valve system is in a second operating configuration;

- Figure 44 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a plant bucket connected to the water pipe arrangement with the valve system in a configuration allowing the plant bucket to be fed with water;

- Figure 45 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the column comprising the bucket receiving compartment of Figure 38 when a plant bucket is plugged into the compartment;

- Figure 46 illustrates an exploded view of the valve system of Figures 22 to 25;

- Figure 47 illustrates a perspective view of a plant bucket;

- Figure 48 illustrates a similar view of Figure 47 with removable wicking material cartridges detached from the plant bucket; - Figure 49 illustrates a perspective view of one removable wicking material cartridge;

- Figure 50 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plant bucket of Figure 47;

- Figure 51 illustrates another cross-sectional view of the plant bucket of Figure 47;

- Figure 52 illustrates a top perspective view of the plant bucket without the wicking material cartridges;

- Figure 53 illustrates an exploded view of the plant bucket of Figure 52;

- Figure 54 illustrates a top perspective view of a bucket, and

- Figure 55 illustrates a perspective view of a removable cover configured to be removably mounted on the bucket of Figure 34 to from a water exchange compartment.

Detailed Description of several embodiments of the Invention

[0049] According to an embodiment of the invention and with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the sustainable hydroponic growing system 10 comprises a water delivery tower 20 and several hydroponic towers 80 mounted concentrically with respect to the water delivery tower 20. The hydroponic growing system 10 comprises water tubes 12 connecting a water receiving compartment 92 of each hydroponic tower 80 to the water delivery tower 20 and connecting rods 14 mechanically connecting adjacent hydroponic towers 80 to rigidity the hydroponic growing system 10.

[0050] This hydroponic growing system 10 may for example be installed inside a sustainable modular building structure comprising transparent panels, photovoltaic panels and batteries to store power produced by the photovoltaic panels as described in European patent application n°20206606.4 which is a 54(3) EPC prior art document. In an advantageous embodiment, these hydroponic towers 80 may be mounted on a circular rail

RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA/EP 16 to be manually set in motion around the water delivery tower 20 in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise direction in order to be able to position each hydroponic tower 80 in front of a door of the modular building structure to have directly access to the plant buckets or any hydroponic tower 80.

[0051] Figures 3 and 4 show a hydroponic growing system 10 according to another embodiment. The same reference signs are used to designate similar parts of the hydroponic system of Figures 1 and 2 as described above. The hydroponic towers 80 of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 have a different design from the design of the hydroponic towers of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4. The working principal of the hydroponic towers of both embodiments will be described subsequently.

[0052] Referring to Figures 5 to 9, the water delivery tower 20 of the hydroponic growing system 10 according to either embodiment described above comprises a tower housing 49, a water tank arrangement 22 mounted on the upper portion of the tower housing 49 and a top cover 21 mounted on the water tank arrangement 22. A water feeding system 50 is mounted inside the water delivery tower 20 as shown in Figure 8. The water feeding system 50 comprises an upper wheel 58 mounted inside the water tank arrangement 22 and a lower wheel 62 mounted on a wheel support 64 via a wheel shaft 65 as shown in Figure 6.

[0053] In an embodiment, the water feeding system 50 is motorized. In that effect, the upper wheel 58 is mounted on a shaft 61 of an electric motorwheel 60 (Figure 16) which is mounted on a mounting portion 27a of a central structure 27 of an upper water tank 24, as shown for example in Figures 7 and 9. The upper wheel 58 may freely rotate around a shaft while the lower wheel 62 is mounted on a shaft according to another embodiment. [0054] As seen in particular in Figure 8, a supporting arrangement, preferably a chain 52 or a belt, is mounted around the upper and lower wheels 58, 62. A plurality of water buckets 54 are connected to the chain 52 for example at regular intervals. The motor-wheel 60 is configured to rotate the upper wheel 58 in order to drive the chain 52 around the upper and lower wheels 58, 62 so as to immerse successively each water bucket 54 into a water tank (not shown) located at the base of the tower housing 49 in order to fill the water buckets 54 and to bring them successively into the water tank arrangement 22 to poor their water content thereinto.

[0055] With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the water feeding system 50 may also be manually operated when the batteries of the sustainable modular building structure are empty or do not store enough energy to power the electric motor-wheel 60. In that effect, a manually operable system comprises a handle 66 having a cylindrical part 67 mounted inside a corresponding hole in the tower housing 49 and a shaft 68 extending inside the tower housing 49. The shaft 68 of the handle 66 is connected to an upper pulley 70. The manually operable system further comprises a lower pulley 72 and a belt 69 mounted around the upper and lower pulleys 70, 72. The lower pulley 72 is connected to the lower wheel 62 through a common shaft corresponding to the wheel shaft 65. Rotation of the handle 66 therefore rotates the lower pulley 72 via the belt 69, thereby rotating the lower wheel 62 via the shaft 65 which brings the chain 52 or belt and the water buckets 54 connected thereto in motion to poor their water content into the water tank arrangement 22.

[0056] More particularly, referring to Figures 7 and 16 to 19, the water tank arrangement 22 comprises the upper water tank 24 mounted into a lower tank 30. The central structure 27 of the upper tank 24 delimits a central passage 28. The central structure 27 and the water buckets 54 have been shaped such that each water bucket can pass upwardly and downwardly through the central passage 28 to poor their water content in the upper water tank 24.

[0057] As shown in Figure 18, each water bucket 54 comprises an opening 56 located in a region to ensure that the water content or part of the water content does not spill through the central passage 28 of the upper water tank 24. The water content of each water bucket 54 may therefore be poured into the upper water tank 24 when the water buckets reach their maximal height and roll over to initiate their downward movement as shown in Figure 19. The size and position of the opening 56 may vary according to the speed of the water buckets 54 to optimize their filling when there are immersed in the water tank at the base of the tower housing 49.

[0058] When the water feeding system 50 is motorized, the speed of the buckets 54 may vary so that the water content of two successive buckets 54 is poured into the upper tank 24 within a time interval varying for example between one and ten seconds as a function of the size of their opening 56. When the water feeding system 50 is manually operated, the operator will adapt the speed of rotation of the handle 66 to optimize the filling of the water buckets 54.

[0059] As best seen in Figure 9, the upper water tank 24 comprises a bellsyphon 26. The bell-syphon 26 comprises an inner tube 26a positioned inside an outer tube 26b and opening onto the lower tank 30. The inner tube 26a may form an integral part with the upper water tank 24. The outer tube 26b comprises a fixation part 26c fixed to the upper edge of the central structure 27 (Figure 7) so that the outer tube 26b hangs around the inner tube 26a. The bell-syphon 26 enables to fill the upper water tank 24 until the water level reaches the upper opening of the inner tube 26a, whereupon the content of the upper water tank 24 is drawn, through the inner tube 26a, into the lower tank 30 thanks to the lower pressure prevailing inside the bellsyphon 26 until the water level in the upper tank 24 reaches the lower extremity of the outer tube 26b.

[0060] With reference to Figures 13 and 14, the upper tank 24 comprises two clipping structures 29 extending downwardly from the underside of the upper tank. The distal end of these clipping structures 29 are shaped to be clipped around a section of the circular slide rail 32 which is connected to the upper portion of the tower housing 49.

[0061] The lower tank 30 is rotatably mounted on the tower housing 49. To that effect, the circular upper edge of the tower housing 49 is press-fitted in to a circular groove of a slide rail 32. Rollers 34 are mounted inside the slide rail 32 and are connected to the underside of the lower tank 30. The lower tank underside comprises a cylindrical wall 30a defining a central opening and extending upwardly inside the tank 30. The cylindrical wall 30a has a diameter less than half the diameter of the tank 30. The water buckets 54 of the water feeding system 50 are configured to pass through the central opening defined by the cylindrical wall when the water feeding system is operating.

[0062] A cylindrical supporting plate 31 is mounted around the cylindrical wall 30a against the bottom of the lower tank 30. As it can be seen from Figure 7, the supporting plate 31 comprises several partially cylindrical cutout portions at its periphery, for example five cut-out portions regularly spaced apart from each other. These cut-out portions have two distinct diameters through the thickness of the supporting plate 31, i.e. a first diameter on a lower portion of the supporting plate and a second diameter on an upper portion of the supporting plate which is larger than the first diameter.

[0063] As partially shown in Figures 10 and 11, connecting pipe portions are preferably in the form of angle pipes 48. The angle pipes 48 are fitted into corresponding through-holes realized on the lower tank bottom part to extend outside the lower tank 30. These angle pipes 48 comprise a portion fitted inside the first diameter of respective cut-out portions of the supporting plate 31, and a flange 48a positioned inside the second diameter of the cut-out portion and resting on the lower portion of the supporting plate 31. These angle pipes 48 are connected to respective water tubes 12 which are connected to the water receiving compartment 92 of each hydroponic tower 80 of either hydroponic growing system 10 according to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figures 3 and 4 respectively.

[0064] A water distribution plate 36 is arranged around the cylindrical wall 30a of the lower tank 30 and is configured either to be distant from the supporting plate 31 as shown in Figure 10 according to one water feeding scheme which does not require electricity or to be urged, by magnetic forces, against the supporting plate 31 as shown in Figure 11 according to another water feeding scheme which needs to be powered with electricity from the batteries of the sustainable modular building structure as discussed subsequently.

[0065] With reference to Figure 12, the water distribution plate 36 comprises a water distribution opening 44 near its periphery, several electromagnets 40 (Figures 10 and 11), for example three electromagnets 40 spaced apart from each other by 120°, and mounted into respective electromagnet housings 41, and elastic members, for example two compression springs 42 (Figures 10 and 11), mounted into respective spring housings 43. Permanent magnets (not shown) are fixed to the bottom part of the lower tank 30 and positioned in correspondence with the electromagnets 40 of the water distribution plate 36.

[0066] The water distribution plate 36 is provided with an outer toothing 38. Referring to Figures 14 and 15, an electric motor 46, for example a stepper motor, is mounted on the bottom of the lower tank 30 near its periphery and is configured to drive in rotation a pinion 47 meshing with the outer toothing 38 of the water distribution plate 36.

[0067] When the sustainable modular building structure, inside which the hydroponic growing system 10 is installed, has stored enough energy in its batteries, the hydroponic towers 80 are water fed one after the other according to one of the two water feeding scheme described above. To that effect, the electromagnets 40 are first deenergized to lift the water distribution plate 36 by the action of the compression springs 42 as shown in Figure 10. The electromagnets are deenergized before the water in the upper tank 24 is drawn into the lower tank 30. The water distribution plate 36 is still in mesh with the pinion 47 when lifted.

[0068] The electric motor 46 is then driven as to rotate the water distribution plate 36 to align its opening 44 with the upper portion of one of the angled pipes 48. At this point, the electromagnets 40 are energized to produce downward attracting force that overcomes the compression spring opposite force in order urge the water distribution plate 36 against the supporting plate 31 as shown in Figure 11. In this configuration, the water distribution opening 44 overlaps the upper portion of the angled pipe 48 corresponding to the selected hydroponic tower 80 while the water distribution plate 36 covers the upper portion of other angled pipes 48. The water in the upper tank 24 is then drawn into the lower tank 30 and flows only through the uncovered angle pipe 48, the corresponding water tube 12 and into the water receiving compartment 92 of the selected hydroponic tower 80 until the lower tank 30 is empty.

[0069] In case there is no more energy stored in the batteries of the sustainable modular building structure, the electromagnets 40 are no longer energized and the water distribution plate 36 is pushed away from the supporting part 31 by the compression springs 42 to pass from one water feeding scheme to another feeding scheme, whereby water in the lower tank 30 runs below the water distribution plate 36 through all the angled pipes 48 and the corresponding water tubes 12 to water feed all the hydroponic towers 80 at the same time. The manually operable system, as described above, may be used to operate the water feeding system 50 to refill the upper tank 24 of the water delivery tower 20.

[0070] The hydroponic water system 10 has therefore the advantage to be working without electricity by using the manually operable system and the above water feeding scheme.

[0071] With reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 20 and 21, each hydroponic tower 80 of the hydroponic growing system 10 of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a plurality of bucket watering units 200 adapted such that a corresponding plurality of plant bucket 300 can be removably plugged onto the bucket watering units. The bucket watering units 200 are removably connected on top of each other to form a modular hydroponic tower whose height may be easily adapted according to the chosen design. These bucket watering units 200 may also be oriented differently relative to each other to position plant buckets 300 according to different configurations as shown in Figures 21 to 23. [0072] Referring to Figures 24 to 26, each bucket watering unit comprises a water delivery casing 202 of a square-based prism shape and a removably connected bucket holder 226 configured to be snapped to the water delivery casing 202. A bottom side of one water delivery casing 202 is connected to the top side 203 of another water delivery casing 202 by screws. More particularly, as can be inferred from Figure 24, each water delivery casing 202 comprises four through-holes extending from each corner of the casing top side 203 to the corresponding corner of the casing bottom side 204. Two screws 209a are arranged inside two through-holes which are diametrically opposed while the upper portion of the two other through-holes 209b is threaded so that the distal end of the screws 209a protruding from the casing bottom side 204 of one water delivery casing 202 can be screwed inside the threaded portions provided on the top side 203 of another water delivery casing 202.

[0073] This type of connection ensures that two identical water delivery casings 202 on top of each other are always offset from each other by an angle of 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tower 80. In this way, none of the plant buckets 300 are overshadowed by an upper plant bucket as shown in Figures 21 to 23. A lower portion 220 of a longitudinal side 205 of the water delivery casing 202 comprises a connection interface for holding the bucket holder 226 as shown for example in Figure 27. The connection interface comprises a circular hole 224 and a slot 225 situated above the hole 224.

[0074] Referring to Figure 26, the bucket holder 226 comprises a bucket bearing surface 240. The central part of the bucket bearing surface 240 includes a bucket connecting portion 242 for holding a plant bucket and for actuating a valve system of the plant bucket, which will be described subsequently. The bucket holder 226 further comprises a holder connecting part 228 for connecting the bucket holder 226 to the water delivery casing 202. The holder connecting part 228 comprises, at a distal end, a lip 232 extending upwardly and perpendicularly from a flat surface 229 that extends from the lip 232 to the bucket bearing surface 240. The holder connecting part 228 further comprises at the distal end a tube 231 arranged below the lip 232 and in fluid communication with a hollowed part 234 of the bucket holder 226. The tube 231 comprise two through-holes diametrically opposed, and inside which are arranged respective pins 233 of a U-shaped spring 230 partly located inside the hollowed part 234. The pins 233 protrude outwardly from the external surface of the tube 231 as shown in Figure 25.

[0075] To assemble the bucket holder 226 to the water delivery casing 202, the flat surface 229 is brought parallel to the longitudinal side 205 of the casing 202 to adjust the lip 232 inside the slot 225. The bucket holder 226 is then pivoted to bring the tube 231 inside the circular hole 224 to snap the distal end of the pins 233 protruding from the tube inside two corresponding holes (not visible) provided on the inner wall of the circular hole 224.

[0076] With reference to Figures 27 and 28, the water delivery casing 202 comprises a build-in retractable fluid delivery system 210 adapted to be brought from a retracted position as shown in Figure 27 to an extended position as shown in Figure 28 and vice versa. The retractable fluid delivery system 210 comprises a housing 211 with a cut-out portion 218 (Figure 34) of a push/push latch mechanism (not shown). It will be apparent to the skilled person that different existing push/push latch mechanisms may be easily incorporated in the water delivery casing 202.

[0077] In the retracted position, a front side 212 of the housing 211 forms a front panel which is flush with the surface of the longitudinal side 205 of the casing 202. The plant bucket 300 must be first plugged onto the bucket connecting portion 242 and the front panel 212 must then be pressed to bring the delivery system 210 from its retracted position to its extended position so that the front side 212 is above the plant bucket 300 as shown in Figure 28.

[0078] The fluid delivery system 210 of Figure 33 comprises a tube 216 in fluid communication with a hollowed part 206 of the water delivery casing 202. The hollowed bottom part of the water delivery casing 202 comprises a funnel 222. When the fluid delivery system 210 of one water delivery casing 202 is in its retracted position, the tube 216 is aligned with the outlet of the funnel of the water delivery casing just above. The hollow part 206, the tube 216 and the funnel 222 of one bucket watering unit 200 form, with the hollow part, the tube and the funnel of every other bucket watering unit of the hydroponic tower, a straight water duct extending from the uppermost to the lowermost water delivery casings 202 of the hydroponic tower 80 of Figure 20 when the fluid delivery system 210 of each bucket water unit forming the tower 80 is in its retracted position.

[0079] The fluid delivery system 210 further comprises a slope 214 extending downwardly from a rear side towards the front side of the housing 211 to form a spout 217 with the front side. When the fluid delivery system 210 of one water delivery casing 202 is in its extended position, the tube 216 is cleared from the funnel outlet of the other water delivery casing just above so that water may reach the slope 214 and runs along the slope through the spout 217 and into the water bucket 300 as shown in Figure 34.

[0080] With reference to Figure 33, the plant bucket 300 comprises a valve system 320 actuable by the bucket connecting portion 242 of the bucket holder 226 when the plant bucket 300 is plugged onto the connecting portion 242. In view of Figures 30, 34-36 in particular, the valve system 320 of the plant bucket 300 comprises a valve housing 322, a valve lid 324, an elastic member 326, a sealing ball 328, a ball seat 330 and a drainage hole 332. The sealing ball and the corresponding ball seat may be replaced by a sealing member having a different shape and by a seat adapted for the specific shape of the sealing member according to a variant.

[0081] Referring to Figure 35, the sealing ball 328 rests on the ball seat 330 which may be for example a sealing member such as a rubber seal. The ball seat 330 is mounted on a shoulder forming an integral part with the valve housing 322 and surrounding the drainage hole 332. The valve lid 324 is fixed to the upper part of the valve housing 322 and the elastic member 326, which may be for example a compression spring, is arranged between the valve lid 324 and the sealing ball 328. When the plant bucket 300 is disconnected from the connecting portion 242 of the bucket holder as illustrated in Figure 35, the compression spring 326 holds the sealing ball 328 against the ball seat 330 to obstruct the drainage hole 332 thereby sealing the plant bucket.

[0082] As illustrated in Figures 34 and 36, when the plant bucket 300 is plugged onto the bucket connecting portion 242 of the bucket holder, the central pin 246 lift the sealing ball 328 off the ball seat 330 to create a fluid communication between the water reservoir 360 (Figure 37) of the plant bucket 300 and the hollow part 234 of the bucket holder 226. The valve system 320 of the plant bucket 300 ensures that the level of the water inside the water reservoir 360 as shown in Figure 37 never raises above the separation 340 upon which the soil for the plant is disposed when the plant bucket 300 is plugged into the bucket holder of one bucket watering unit 200 of the hydroponic tower 80 as shown for example in Figure 21

[0083] As particularly shown in Figure 36, as soon as the water level in the plant bucket 300 reaches an upper edge 322a of the valve housing 322, water starts to flow through the valve system 320, the cavity 248 located inside the bucket connecting portion 242, the hollow part 234 of the bucket holder 226 and back into the funnel 222 located in the bottom part of the water delivery casing 202 to be dispensed to the underneath water delivery casing.

[0084] When the water delivery tower 200 of the hydroponic growing system 10 of Figure 2 delivers water to the hydroponic tower 80, the water either flows either through the hollow part 206 of the the water delivery casing 202 of a bucket watering unit 200 to the upper part of the underneath bucket watering unit 200 when there is no plant bucket 300 plugged into the bucker holder 226 of the bucket watering unit 200, or is diverted as described above to water the plant bucket when plugged onto the bucket holder.

[0085] As shown in Figure 37, the plant bucket 300 also comprises a wicking material 350 disposed mainly on top of the separation 340 with parts of the wicking material extending through the separation 340 into the water reservoir 360. The wicking material 350 may be any kind of material such as wool, cotton, jute, polyester or PET-felt, having a high adsorption capacity to adsorb water by capillarity so that the entire weaking material is soaked with water. This guarantees that the plant receives sufficient water for several days as soon as the plant bucket 300 is removed from the hydroponic tower 80, in comparison with conventional plant buckets of existing hydroponic systems, as water contained in the wicking material slowly diffuses into the soil.

[0086] In another embodiment illustrated notably in Figures 38 and 39, the hydroponic tower 80 comprises a column 82, a water receiving compartment 92 mounted on an upper portion of the column 82 and a plurality of bucket receiving compartments 84 arranged on the column 82 at different heights. A first and a second set of bucket receiving compartments 84 may for example be arranged on the column 82 in a diametrically opposed fashion. Two bucket receiving compartments of the first set are interposed between three bucket receiving compartments of the second set.

[0087] The hydroponic tower 80 comprises a corresponding plurality of removable plant bucket 400 configured to be plugged into respective bucket receiving compartment 84.

[0088] Each hydroponic tower 80 comprises a main customized water pipe 83 shaped as to run from the water receiving compartment 92 of the column 82 and to pass nearby each bucket receiving compartment 84, preferably below each bucket receiving compartment 84, in order to provide water to the plant buckets 400 as described below, and down to a lower portion of the column 82. The water may then run along a gutter to fill a water tank. According to an embodiment, the water tank may be the water tank located at the base of the tower housing 49 which is used to fill the water buckets 54.

[0089] With reference to Figure 40, each bucket receiving compartment 84 comprises a bucket plug 88 comprising a slot 90 adapted to receive a connecting part of a plant bucket as described subsequently. The lower part of each bucket receiving compartment 84 comprises an inlet opening 86a and an outlet opening 86b. These inlet and outlet openings 86a, 86b are connected to a water pipe arrangement 98 arranged below the receiving compartment 84.

[0090] The water pipe arrangement 98 of each bucket receiving compartment 84 of the column 82 are in fluid communication with the customized water pipe 83. Referring to Figures 40 to 42, this water pipe arrangement 98 comprises a portion of the customized water pipe 83, a valve system 100 operably connected to the inlet opening 86a, and an outlet pipe 99 comprising a distal end connected to the outlet opening 86b. The valve system 100 comprises a valve housing 102 having a distal end connected to the inlet opening 86a and a pipe connecting portion 104 (Figure 46) connected to a portion of the customized water pipe 83.

[0091] With reference to Figures 42 to 46, each water pipe arrangement 98 comprises the valve system 100 configured to be actuated when a plant bucket 200 is plugged into a corresponding bucket receiving compartment 84 to bring the customized water pipe 83 in fluid communication with the plant bucket 200.

[0092] To that effect, the valve system 100 comprises a valve body 108 mounted on an elastic member, for example a compression spring 120, inside the valve housing 102. The valve body 108 comprises a rod 118 at one of its ends around which a portion of the compression spring 120 is arranged. Two guiding pins 114 are connected to the valve body 108 in a diametrically opposed fashion to slide along two diametrically opposed slits 106 realized in the upper portion of the valve housing 102 (Figure 41). These guiding pins 114 are configured to abut against an upper edge of the slits 106 to limit the upward stroke of the valve body 108 when the plant bucket 200 is removed.

[0093] As particularly illustrated in Figures 42 and 43, the valve body 108 comprises a tube 110, an opening 112 in fluid communication with the tube 110, and a narrowing portion 116. The valve body 108 is actuable inside the valve housing 102 between a first axial position as shown in Figure 43, in which the water flow path runs along the customized water pipe 83 through the valve system 100, to a second axial position as shown in Figure 42, in which the customized water pipe 83 is in fluid communication with the inlet opening 86 of the bucket receiving compartment 84.

[0094] When a plant bucket 400 is plugged into a corresponding bucket receiving compartments 84 as shown in Figure 45, a portion of the plant bucket 400, as described in more detail subsequently, presses against an upper portion of the valve body 108 to bring it from the first axial position to the second axial position such that its opening 112 is aligned with a portion of the customized water pipe 83 to bring the latter in fluid communication with the tube 110 of the valve body 108 in order to deviate the water flow path from the customized water pipe 83 in direction to the bucket receiving compartment 84 in order to fill the plant bucket 400. The latter comprises a bell-syphon 408 to draw the water from the plant bucket 400 though the outlet opening 86b of the bucket receiving compartment 84 and into the outlet pipe 99 to return to the customized water pipe 83 as shown in Figure 42.

[0095] When the plant bucket 400 is removed from the bucket receiving compartment 84, the compression spring 120 pushes the valve body 108 upwardly from the second to the first axial position in which the valve body opening 112 is disengaged from the customized water pipe 83 while the valve body narrowing portion 116 is aligned with the water pipe 83 such that the water may flow through the valve body 108 by circumventing the narrowing portion 116 as shown in Figure 43.

[0096] With reference to Figures 47 to 55, the plant bucket 400 comprises a bucket 401, a separation 420 mounted in the bucket 401 to create a water reservoir 426 between the bottom of the bucket 401 and the separation 420, and one or more removable wicking material cartridges 410 comprising a water suction tip 416 extending into the water reservoir 426, as particularly shown in Figure 50, and wicking material 414 surrounded by a frame 412.

[0097] As previously mentioned with respect to the plant bucket according to the embodiment of Figures 28 to 37, the wicking material 414 may be any kind of material such as wool, cotton, jute, polyester or PET-felt, having a high adsorption capacity to adsorb water by capillarity through the suction tip 416 in order to soak the wicking material with water. As shown in Figure 54, the bottom surface 404 of the bucket 401 comprises protruding parts 405a against which rests the separation 420 which is made for example in plastic.

[0098] The plant bucket 400 further comprises a fluid exchange compartment 406 (Figure 54) configured to cooperate with the water pipe arrangement 98 as previously described. This fluid exchange compartment comprises an inlet tube 407 and an inner tube 409. As it can be seen in Figure 51, the inlet tube 407 comprises a lower portion 407a protruding from the plant bucket underside. This protruding portion 407a comprises an inner diameter d1 which is slightly largerthan the inner diameter d2 of the portion of the inlet tube 407 extending into the plant bucket 400 to form an annular shoulder 407b at the interface between the first and second diameters d1 , d2.

[0099] The external diameter of the protruding portion 407a is smaller than the inner diameter of the upper portion of the valve housing 102 of the valve system 100 of the water pipe arrangement 98 (Figure 41). As for the inlet tube 407, the inner tube 409 of the fluid exchange compartment 406 comprises a lower portion 409a protruding from the plant bucket underside as shown in Figure 50. This protruding portion 409a comprises an annular groove 409b. The plant bucket 400 also comprises a bucket connecting part 402 as shown for example in Figure 50.

[00100]With reference to Figures 44 and 45, when the plant bucket 400 is plugged into a bucket receiving compartment 84, the following mechanical interactions occur :

- the bucket connecting part 402 is mechanically connected to the bucket plug 88 when fitted inside the slot 90 (Figure 40),

- the upper circular edge of the outlet pipe 99 of the water pipe arrangement 98 is fitted inside the annular groove 409b of the inner tube protruding portion 409a, and

- the annular shoulder 407b of the inlet tube protruding portion 407a pushes against the upper part of the valve body 108 of the valve system to bring the valve body 108 from the first to the second axial position, whereby the water flow path is deviated in direction to the bucket receiving compartment 84 to fill the plant bucket with water as shown in Figures 42 and 44.

[00101]The plant bucket 400 comprises a removable cover 428 having an outer tube 430 as shown in Figure 55. The cover 428 is removably mounted on a portion of the bucket 401 such that the inner tube 409 is positioned inside the outer tube 430 to form a bell-syphon 408. The that end, the cover 428 comprises fixation parts 432 to be fitted inside corresponding cover fixation parts 405b located on the bottom part and on an upper edge of the bucket 401 as shown in Figure 54.

[00102]The water fills the plant bucket 400 until the water level reaches the top opening of the inner tube 409, whereupon the water is drawn into the inner tube thanks to the lower pressure prevailing inside the bell-syphon 408 until the water level reaches the lower extremity 430a of the outer tube 430. This ensures that the water reservoir 426 of the plant bucket 400 is always fill with water. The separation 420 comprises multiple holes 424 for water circulation during the filling phase.

[00103]The removable wicking material cartridges 410 comprise each a flexible locking portion 418 configured to be locked into a bucket upper edge 403. With reference to Figure 53, the separation 420 comprises a cutout portion 422 shaped such that the suction tip 416 of one or each removable wicking material cartridge 410 always extends through the cutout portion 422 into the water reservoir 426 independently of their locking position along the bucket upper edge 403.

[00104]0ne or more wicking material cartridges 410 are positioned into the plant bucket 400, for example two wicking material cartridges 410 as shown in Figure 47, such that the wicking material 414 of respective cartridge 410 are in contact with a media bed of a plant, when the media bed is placed in the plant bucket with its bottom part sitting on the separation 420.

[00105] The media bed may be, for example, coco coir, expanded clay pellets, rockwool, perlite or a mix thereof. The media bed is placed into a permeable bag. The water adsorbed in the wicking material 414 of the cartridges 410 of the plant bucket may therefore slowly diffuse into the media bed of the plant, thereby ensuring the plant healthiness over a significant longer period of time, in comparison with conventional plant buckets of existing hydroponic systems, when the plant bucket is removed from the hydroponic tower.

[00106]The plant bucket 400 may comprise several media beds for several plants. Each media bed must preferably be in contact with two wicking material 414 of respective cartridge 410 to ensure optimal watering of the plants. The plant bucket 400 may for example comprise three media beds, each media bed being sandwiched between two wicking material cartridges 410 of a total of four cartridges 410. [00107]Various modifications and variations to the described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the number of hydroponic towers of the hydroponic growing system may vary according to the chosen design.

Claims

35 CLAIMS

1. Hydroponic tower (80) comprising a plurality of bucket watering units (84; 200) arranged at different heights and configured to hold a corresponding plurality of removable plant buckets (300; 400), the plurality of bucket watering units (84; 200) forming together at least parts of a water duct running from the top to the bottom of the tower (80), wherein each bucket watering unit (84; 200) comprises a fluid delivery system (100; 210) configured to be actuated when a removable plant bucket (300; 400) is plugged onto a corresponding bucket watering unit (84; 200) to bring a corresponding portion (98; 208) of said water duct from a sealed configuration to an unsealed configuration in which the water duct is in fluid communication with said plant bucket (300; 400).

2. Hydroponic tower (80) of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bucket watering units (200) are removably coupled on top of each other to form said tower (80).

3. Hydroponic tower (80) of any preceding claim, each bucket water unit (200) comprising a water delivery casing (202), wherein the fluid delivery system (210) is a build-in retractable delivery system arranged inside the water delivery casing (202) and comprising a push/push latch mechanism to manually bring said fluid delivery system (210) from a retracted position to an extended position above a plant bucket (300) when plugged onto the bucket watering unit (200) so that water may run from the water duct into the plant bucket (300)

4. Hydroponic tower (80) of the preceding claim, wherein said retractable delivery system (210) comprises a housing (211) having a front side (212) arranged inside a cut-out portion on a side (205) of the water delivery casing (200) to be manually pressed to bring said fluid delivery 36 system (210) from a retracted position to an extended position and vice versa.

5. Hydroponic tower (80) of the preceding claim, wherein the housing (211) comprises a water channel (216) and a slope (214) extending downwardly from a rear side towards the front side (212) of the housing (211) to form a spout (217), the water channel (216) being aligned with the water duct when said retractable delivery system (210) is in said retracted position, the water channel (216) being clear from the water duct when said retractable delivery system (210) is in said extended position so that water may reach the slope (214) and runs along the slope through the spout (217) and into the water bucket (300).

6. Hydroponic tower (80) of any of claim 3 to 5, wherein each bucket watering unit (200) further comprises a bucket holder (226) arranged below the fluid delivery system (210), the bucket holder (226) comprising a bucket bearing surface (240) to support a plant bucket (300) and a holder connecting part (228) connecting the bucket bearing surface (240) to the water delivery casing (202), and wherein said bucket bearing surface (240) comprises a bucket connecting portion (242) configured to bring a valve system (320) of the valve bucket (300) from a close configuration to an open configuration when said plant bucket (300) is plugged into said bucket connecting portion (242) to allow water to flow through the valve system (320) of the plant bucket (300) into a hollow part (234) of the holder connecting part (228) and back into the water delivery casing (202).

7. Hydroponic tower (80) of any of claim 3 to 6, wherein each water delivery casing (202) has a square-based prism shape and comprises at least two through-holes extending from two diametrically opposed corners of the casing top side (203) to the corresponding corners of the casing bottom side (204), two screws (209a) being arranged inside said through-holes while the upper portion of the two other corners (209b) is threaded so that the distal end of the screws (209a) protruding from the casing bottom side (204) can be screwed inside the threaded portions provided on the top side (203) of another water delivery casing (202).

8. Hydroponic tower (80) of any of claim 3 to 7, wherein each water delivery casing (202) comprises a hollowed part (206) to form with the other delivery casing (202) of the tower (30) a straight water duct extending from an uppermost water delivery casing to a lowermost water delivery casing.

9. Water delivery tower (20) adapted to water feed a plurality of hydroponic towers (80) according to any preceding claim, the water delivery tower (20) comprising a water tank arrangement (22) mounted on top of a tower housing (49), wherein a water feeding system (50) is mounted inside the tower housing to bring water up to the water tank arrangement (22).

10. Water delivery tower (20) of the preceding claim, wherein the water feeding system (50) comprises an upper wheel (58) mounted in the water tank arrangement (22), a lower wheel (62) mounted at the base of the tower housing (49), and a supporting arrangement (52) mounted around the upper and lower wheels (58, 62), wherein a plurality of water buckets (54) are connected to the supporting arrangement, preferably a chain (52) or a belt, to immerse successively each water bucket (54) into a water tank located at the base of the tower housing (49) to fill the water bucket (54) and to bring successively each water bucket (54) to the water tank arrangement (22) to spill their water content into the water tank arrangement (22).

11. Water delivery tower (20) of the preceding claim, wherein the water feeding system (50) further comprises a manually operable system comprising a handle (66) rotatably mounted on the tower housing (49), the handle (66) comprising a shaft (65) extending inside the tower housing (49) and connected to an upper pulley (70), the manually operable system further comprising a lower pulley (72), and a belt (69) mounted around the upper and lower pulleys (70, 72), wherein the lower pulley (72) is connected to the lower wheel (62) through a common shaft (65) in order to move the chain (52) or the belt when the handle (66) is rotated.

12. Water delivery tower (20) of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the water tank arrangement (22) comprises an upper tank (24) and a lower tank (30), the upper tank (24) comprising a central structure (27) having a mounting portion (27a) on which the upper wheel (58) is rotatably mounted around a shaft (61), preferably a motor shaft, the central structure (27) delimiting a central passage (28), wherein the water buckets (54) are shaped as to pass upwardly and downwardly through this central passage (28) to poor their water content the in the upper tank (24).

13. Water delivery tower (20) of the preceding claim, wherein the upper tank (24) comprising a bell-syphon (26) comprising an inner tube (26a) in fluid communication with the lower tank (30) and an outer tube (26b) mounted around the inner tube (26a), wherein the water in the upper tank (24) is drawn into the lower tank (30) when the water level in the upper tank (24) reaches a predefined level.

14. Water delivery tower (20) of claim 12 or 13, wherein a rotatable water distribution plate (36) is mounted in the lower tank (30), the water distribution plate (36) comprising a water distribution opening (44) adapted to be selectively aligned with one opening of pipe connecting portions (48) located at the bottom 39 of the lower tank (30), electromagnets (40) configured to be energized to maintain the water distribution plate (36) against upper openings of the pipe connecting portions (48) such that the water distribution opening (44) overlaps the upper opening of the selected pipe connecting portion (48), and elastic members (42) configured to push the water distribution plate (36) away from the lower tank bottom surface when the electromagnets (40) are no longer energized.

15. Water delivery tower (20) of the preceding claim, the water distribution plate (36) comprising an outer toothing (38), wherein an electric motor (46) is mounted on the lower tank (30) and is configured to drive in rotation a pinion (47) meshing with said outer toothing (38) when the water distribution plate (36) is positioned away from the lower tank bottom surface, to rotate said water distribution plate (36) through a predefined angle, to align the water distribution opening (44) with a upper opening of a selected pipe connecting portion (48), whereupon the electromagnets (40) are energized to urge the water distribution plate (36) downwardly such that the water distribution opening (44) overlaps the upper opening of the selected pipe connecting portion (48), while the water distribution plate (36) covers the upper opening of the other pipe connecting portions (48) such that the water in the lower tank (30) flows only through the selected pipe connecting portion (48).

16. Hydroponic growing system (10) comprising the water delivery tower (20) of any one of claims 9 to 15, a plurality of hydroponic towers (80) of any one of claims 1 to 8 mounted concentrically with respect to the water delivery tower (20) and a water delivery system arranged to bring the water delivery tower (20) in fluid communication with each of said plurality of hydroponic towers (80). 40

17. Plant bucket (300) pluggable onto a corresponding bucket water unit (200) of the hydroponic tower (80) of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plank bucket comprises a bucket (310), and a valve system (320) arranged at bottom of the bucket (310) to regulate the water level inside the bucket (310) when the plant bucket (300) is plugged onto said corresponding bucket water unit (200).

18. Plant bucket (300) according to the preceding claim, wherein the valve system (320) comprises a valve housing (322), a sealing member (328), preferably a sealing ball, mounted inside the valve housing (322), a valve lid (324) connected to an upper edge (322a) of the valve housing (322) and an elastic member (326) arranged between the valve lid (324) and the sealing member (328) to urge the sealing member (328) against a lower portion of the valve housing (322) having a drainage hole (322) to bring the valve system in a close configuration.

19. Plant bucket (300) according to the preceding claim, wherein the upper edge (322a) of the valve housing (322) defines the highest level of water that may contain the plant bucket (300) when plugged onto the corresponding bucket water unit (200).

20. Plant bucket (300) according to any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the bucket (310) comprises a separation (340) to create a water reservoir (360) below the separation (340), and wherein soil may be disposed above the separation (340), the bucket further comprising a wicking material (350) disposed mainly on top of the separation (340) with parts of the wicking material extending through the separation (340) into the water reservoir (360) so that the entire weaking material is soaked with water to slowly diffuse water into the soil.