WO2018104590A1

WO2018104590A1 - Device for automatically watering a plant in a plurality of pots

Info

Publication number: WO2018104590A1
Application number: PCT/FR2016/000202
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thann Phong TRAN
Original assignee: Sarl T.M.C.I.
Priority date: 2016-12-06
Filing date: 2016-12-06
Publication date: 2018-06-14

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for automatically watering a plant in a plurality of pots, in the form of a tower comprising a base and a vertical support which is hollow and has an upper part for containing soil and a lower part inserted into the base, said base comprising a vessel containing water and means allowing water to be conveyed to the upper part of said vertical support, said device being characterised in that the lower part and the upper part of the vertical support are separated by a filtration barrier, a tube passes through the upper part from top to bottom, said tube passing through the barrier and being connected to the vessel, the lower part is placed in the vessel, and said vertical support comprises, on the surface thereof, a plurality of openings to which branching-off elements are attached, on the upper part thereof, for containing plants.

Description

AUTOMATIC POTS PLANT WATERING DEVICE

MULTIPLE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the pot plant field. More particularly, the invention relates to a set of plant pots provided with an automatic watering device.

It is necessary to water plants that are grown in containers of one form or another. Manual watering of plants in containers can be a laborious process and it is therefore desirable to have systems and apparatus that can reduce the work required. In addition, it is preferred that the watering methods used be effective so that a minimal amount of water is used.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Existing automatic irrigation systems generally consist of a computer-controlled pump or a feed valve through irrigation water at selected or selected times. Such devices are relatively expensive and complex to install and maintain.

[0004] WO 201300788 describes an automatic watering device, the watering part comprising a wicking material for transporting the water, by capillary action, from a reservoir to a container which contains soil and is placed above said tank. Said devices can be used for a single plant pot, so in the case of several plants in several pots, multiply this device for each pot. [0005] International application WO 2014068273 relates to an automatic watering planter in which the automatic watering functioning by buoyancy, which comprises a first container placed inside another larger container separated by a valve. The space between the two containers constitutes a reservoir into which a fluid is introduced. If the weight of the first container and its contents is below a certain value, said first container will float, which will open the valve to allow fluid to enter from the reservoir through an opening in the first vessel using hydrostatic pressure.

[0006] Such systems are relatively expensive and complex to install and maintain. In addition, in some cases, these systems can be a source of water wastage.

The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative watering system which attempts to overcome at least some of these disadvantages.

[0008] Furthermore, the sprinkler systems of the prior art are designed for a single container containing soil and containing a plant. An object of the present invention is to provide a container comprising a plurality of pots and constituted in one piece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art and in particular to provide an automatic plant watering device in multiple pots in the form of a tower comprising a base and a vertical support, said vertical support being hollow and comprising an upper part for containing earth and a lower part inserted in the base, said base comprises a reservoir, containing water and means for bringing water to the upper part of the vertical support, the device is characterized in that the lower part and the upper part of the vertical support are separated by a filtration barrier, the upper part is traversed from top to bottom, by a tube, passing through the filtration barrier and being connected to the reservoir, that the lower part is placed in the tank, and in that said vertical support comprises, on its surface, a multitude of orifices to which are attached splices on its upper part, intended to contain plants.

More specifically, the reservoir comprises a cover, said cover is placed on a projecting portion of the inner circumference of the reservoir.

Preferably, the lower part of the vertical support is placed in the reservoir, said lower part is configured so that the water circulates between the reservoir and said lower portion through the orifices located on the surface of the vertical support.

More specifically, the cover comprises, in its center, an opening in the form of the vertical support so that the lower part of the support is entered into the reservoir via said opening.

Preferably, the tank comprises a water pump, the tube is connected to said pump via a hose, the tube is connected to said hose outside the tank by means of a tip, detachable , said hose is used to bring water into the tube by pressure. Advantageously, the tube is open at its upper end and is placed in the earth, contained in the upper part of the vertical support, so that the water in the tube can be evacuated only by said opening.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the tube is closed at its upper end and comprises a plurality of micro holes along its length so that the water contained in said tube can be evacuated only by said micro holes. .

Preferably, the cover comprises a hole through which flexible out of the tank to be attached to the tube outside said tank.

Advantageously, the automatic watering device according to the invention further comprises a solar panel for supplying the pump when said device is placed outside.

In addition, the device further comprises a current adapter for connecting the pump to a standard electrical installation when said device is placed inside. In addition, the hole on the lid serves to fill the tank and the passage of a connection cable from the pump to said solar panel or said adapter. Preferably, the watering device further comprises a programmer to program a frequency and a duration of watering.

Interestingly, the device comprises a hygrometry sensor positioned in the ground and connected to a control box, activating the pump if a minimum humidity threshold is reached and deactivating when a maximum threshold is reached.

[0023] Preferably, the vertical support and the associated taps may be obtained by molding.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connections can be welded or glued to the vertical support.

Preferably, the vertical support and the connections are of the same material, plastic or any other material that can be assembled by gluing or welding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional diagram of the base;

- Figure 2 shows the tank with the pump located inside with the lid;

Figure 3 is a sectional diagram of the automatic watering device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional diagram of the watering device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 shows a base 2, said base consists of a reservoir 4 and its cover 5. The cover 5 has an opening 15 in the middle to power input and output a vertical support in the tank 4. The shape of said opening 15 depends on the shape of the vertical support. Indeed, if the support is cylindrical, the opening may also be cylindrical. In the embodiment of the invention, a cylindrical opening 15 is provided in the cover 5 to receive the cylindrical vertical support. The reservoir 4 comprises a protruding portion 16 on its inner circumference so that the cover 5 is positioned on said projection, the latter being positioned, with respect to the edge of the reservoir, at a distance equal to the thickness of the cover, so that the lid 5 and the edge of the tank creates a flat surface. A hole 17 is provided on the lid 5 to fill the tank 4 with water. This hole 17 on the cover 5 is also used for the passage of a cable. The tank can hold 20 to 30 liters of water.

According to the representation of Figure 2 the tank 4 comprises a projecting portion 16 on its inner circumference to be able to place the lid 5. A water pump 9 is provided and is placed at the bottom of the tank 2. This pump is connected to a control and power supply unit 19 by a cable 20 passing through the hole 17 provided on the cover 5. The control and power supply unit 19 is connected to a solar panel 13. The reservoir can be filled by the hole 17. In FIG. 2, a flexible hose 8 is shown at the outlet of the water pump 9. [0030] FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram of the device according to a first embodiment of the invention. The vertical support 3 is in the form of a hollow tower and consists of two parts, an upper part 3 'and a lower part 3'', the upper part 3' contains soil, and the entire surface of said support 3 there are a multitude of orifices 6. On the orifices 6, situated in the upper part 3 ', the taps 11 are fixed to said orifices 6. The taps 11 are designed to contain the plants A filtration barrier 10 separates the upper part 3 'and the lower part 3 ". As seen in this FIG. 3, a tube 7 traverses from top to bottom the upper part 3 'of the vertical support 3 passing through the filtration barrier 10. The vertical support 3 is inserted into the tank 4 by the opening 15 provided on the lid 5. The tube 7 through the filtration barrier 10 and out of the vertical support 3 by an orifice provided on the surface of the support 3. Said orifice is located below the filtration barrier 10. Thus the tube 7 is attached to the hose 8 at the outlet of the pump 9 outside the tank 4 by means of a detachable tip 12. Tube 7 is open at its upper end.

According to the representation of Figure 4, there are several micros spaced holes in the form of empty circles positioned over the entire length of the tube 7. The top of the tube 7 is closed at its end

By plant is meant any vegetation that can be grown in a container. It can represent flowers, plants, vegetables

The vertical cylindrical support has a height of between 1 m and 1 m 50. Said vertical support consists of two parts, an upper part 3 'and a lower part 3. "On the surface of this cylinder, there is The openings 6 located in the upper part are fixed to the connections 11. The support is hollow and contains soil, and the hollow connections 11 serve to contain a plant. a pot and can hold a separate plant.

A filtering barrier 10 separates the upper part 3 'and the lower part 3 "from the support The lower part 3" is placed in the tank 4. The orifices 6 situated on said lower part 3 "allow the circulation of the water between this part and the tank 4. The filtration barrier 10 is placed in the inner perimeter of the support so as to filter the water not consumed without the earth falling into the tank 4. In fact, said filtering barrier 10 is located at a distance from the tank 4, said distance creating a void space between the tank 4 and said filtering barrier The upper part 3 'of the vertical support 3 is traversed from top to bottom by a tube 7 The filtration barrier comprises a hole for the passage of the tube 7. Said tube 7 leaves the support 3 by a hole, located on the surface of the support and below the filtration barrier 10, in the lower part 3 ". The tank 4 comprises a water pump 9 placed at the bottom of said tank. A hose 8 is fixed at the outlet of the pump 9, said hose 8 being connected to the tube 7 by a tip 12, detachable located outside the tank 4, so that when the pump 9 is triggered, the water is propelled into the tube 7 via the hose 8. The tube 7 passing through the upper part 3 'of the support from top to bottom will be filled with water and, as this tube is open at its upper end, the pressure in this tube causes the water to come out at its upper end, in this way the earth contained in the upper part will be watered. According to another embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, the tube 7 is closed at its upper end and several micros holes are made throughout said tube 7, so that when the pump 9 is triggered, the water is propelled into the tube 7 via the hose 8. The tube 7 passing through the upper part 3 'of the support from top to bottom will be filled with water and, as this tube 7 is closed at its end higher, the pressure in this tube 7 is the water out through the microsholes on the surface of said tube 7, in this way, the earth contained in the support will be watered.

An advantage of the watering device is in the economy of water consumption. Indeed, when watering a plant, the land consumes only 5% of the water. In order to prevent the wasting of water, the inventor has set up the automatic watering either by the upper end opening of the tube 7, or by lateral micros holes located all along the tube passing through the earth contained in the upper part 3 'of the support. In addition, the filtration barrier allows the water not consumed to return to the tank, allowing a recycling of water.

The automatic watering device according to the present invention is economical in energy. Indeed, the use of a 12 v pump and the possibility of powering it by a system powered by solar energy makes it possible to save energy. When the assembly is placed outside a building, a solar panel 13 can be installed close to the assembly and connected to a power supply and control unit 19, the latter being connected to the system. automatic watering. Indeed, on the cover 5 a hole 17 is provided for the passage of a cable 20 for feeding the water pump 9. It is also provided in the present invention, that the control box and power supply can be connected to a standard electrical installation when the assembly is located inside a building. In addition, a programmer is provided to define the frequency and duration of watering to perform the watering operation autonomously.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to replace the programmer by a hygrometric sensor system positioned in the earth. This is connected to an electronic system located in the control box and to activate the water pump when a minimum humidity threshold is reached and then disable the pump when a maximum humidity threshold is reached.

The cleaning of the sprinkler device according to the invention is very easy. It is sufficient to detach the nozzle 12 so that the pump is detached and as the lower part 3 "of the support is placed in the tank, it is easy to lift and the outlet via the opening of the lid and thus clean the tank 4 Alternatively, according to the invention, the vertical support 3 and the associated taps 11 may be obtained by molding The different parts of the present watering device are made of an identical material The materials used for the manufacture of the parts may be PVC or any other material that can be welded, glued or molded.

The device, object of the present invention, can be used to contain several kinds of flowers and placed in a room as a decorative object.

The device, object of the present invention, can be used as a separator object of a space. Indeed, by putting side by side several watering devices according to the invention can separate a space.

The device, object of the present invention, can be used to cultivate several kinds of vegetables and plants. Since watering is automated, the presence of a person is not necessary. The water consumption is optimized by the fact that the vertical support includes a filtration barrier that allows to recycle water not consumed by plants to generate significant water savings.

Many combinations can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention; the skilled person will choose one or the other depending on the economic, ergonomic, dimensional or other constraints that must be respected.

Claims

Automatic plant watering device (1) in multiple pots in the form of a tower comprising a base (2) and a vertical support (3), said vertical support being hollow and comprising an upper part (3 ') for containing of the earth, and a lower part (3 ") inserted in the base (2), said base

(2) comprises a reservoir (4), containing water and means for bringing water to the upper part (3 ') of said vertical support (3), characterized in that the lower part (3 ") ) and the upper part (3 ') of the vertical support (3) are separated by a filtering barrier (10), in that the upper part (3') is traversed from above downwards by a tube (7), passing through the filtration barrier (10) and being connected to the reservoir (4), that the lower part (3 ") is placed in the reservoir (4), and in that said vertical support (3) comprises, on its surface, a multitude of orifices (6) to which are attached stitchings (11) on its upper part (3 ') for containing plants.

A multi-pot plant automatic watering device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the reservoir (4) comprises a lid (5), said lid (5) is placed on a projecting portion (16) of the inner circumference of the tank (4).

An automatic plant watering device (1) in multiple pots according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the lower part (3 ") of the vertical support

(3) is placed in the reservoir (4), said lower portion (3 ") is configured so that water circulates between the reservoir

(4) and said lower part (3 ") through the orifices (6) of the surface of the vertical support (3).

An automatic plant watering device (1) in multiple pots according to claim 1 wherein the lid

(5) comprises, in its center, an opening (15) in the form of the vertical support (3) so that the lower part (3 ") has entered the tank (4) via said opening (15).

Automatic watering device according to claim 1 characterized in that the reservoir (4) comprises a water pump (9), the tube (7) is connected to said pump (9) via a hose (8). ), the tube (7) is connected to said flexible (8) outside the tank (4) by means of a tip (12), detachable, said hose (8) allows to bring water into the tube (7) by pressure.

6. automatic watering device according to claim 6 wherein the tube (7) is open at its upper end and is placed in the ground, contained in the upper part (3 ") of the vertical support (3), so that the water in the tube can be evacuated only by said opening.

7. automatic watering device according to claim 6 wherein the tube (7) comprises several micros holes along its length so that the water contained in the tube (7) can be discharged only by said micro holes.

8. Automatic watering device (1) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the cover (5) comprises a hole (17) through which flexible (8) out of the tank (4) to be attached to the tube ( 7).

9. automatic watering device according to one of the preceding claims further comprising a solar panel (13) for supplying the pump (9) when the device is placed outside.

10. Automatic watering device (1) according to one of the preceding claims further comprising a current adapter for connecting the pump (9) to a standard electrical installation when the device is placed inside.

11. automatic watering device (1) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the hole (17) serves to fill the tank (4) and the passage of a pump connection cable (9) to said solar panel (13) or said adapter.

12. Automatic watering device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it further comprises a programmer to program a frequency and a duration of watering.

13. automatic watering device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a hygrometry sensor positioned in the ground and connected to a control box, activating the pump (9) if a minimum threshold of moisture is reached and disabling it when a maximum threshold is reached.

14. automatic sprinkler device according to claim 1 wherein the vertical support (3) and the connections (11) associated can be obtained by molding.

15. Automatic watering device according to claim 1 characterized in that the connections (11) can be welded or glued to the vertical support (3) and in that the vertical support (3) and said stitching (11) are of one same material, plastic or any other material that can be assembled by gluing or welding.