Water supply method using connecting pipes and water supply apparatus using the same

Abstract

Automatic irrigation systems have a problem where the amount of irrigation water becomes uneven between the upstream and downstream areas when the irrigation tubes are long. [Solution] The water supply method using connecting pipes and the water supply device using them solved the problem of uneven irrigation water flow between the upstream and downstream areas when the irrigation tubes become long.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for supplying water to crops and a water supply device using the same. [Background Art]

[0002] Watering is an important research subject in crop cultivation. Water must be supplied daily or every one to several days, which is done manually with watering cans or watering jugs, or for labor saving, timers or moisture meters are sometimes used. Automatic irrigation devices may also be used. In the case of water used in the present application, the same applies even when a dilute nutrient solution is used. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 7262706 [Non-Patent Documents]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Gendai Nogyo (Modern Agriculture), The Rural Culture Association Japan, January 2024 issue, page 143 [Non-Patent Document 2] Gendai Nogyo (Modern Agriculture), The Rural Culture Association Japan, August 1998 issue, page 286 [Non-Patent Document 3] Yoyakueki doko (Nutrient Solution Soil Culture for Vegetables and Flowers), The Rural Culture Association Japan, March 10, 2000, by Kazuo Roppongi, Toshihiro Kato, page 46 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] The automatic irrigation device described in paragraph (0002) has the following two problems. The first problem is that irrigation tubes become clogged with dust and other foreign matter. A solution to this problem is described in Non-Patent Document 2, page 286, in the section on dual-system irrigation. The second issue is that if the irrigation tube is long, the amount of irrigation water becomes uneven between the upstream and downstream sections. This is illustrated in the upper diagram on page 143 of Non-Patent Document 1 and in Figure 2-7 on page 46 of Non-Patent Document 3. In watering method B shown in the upper diagram on page 143 of Non-Patent Document 1, the discharge ratio drops to about 50%. In drip irrigation methods A, B, and C, the decrease in the discharge ratio is small, but the need to clean the filters frequently is pointed out in the first half of the lower section on page 143. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Regarding the aforementioned issues, we previously filed a patent application (Patent Document 1, Patent No. 7262706), but its structure was complex. Furthermore, there was the inconvenience of an angled joint. We also proposed a means to solve the problem of uneven irrigation flow between the upstream and downstream areas.

[0007] Figure 1 shows a connecting pipe, which consists of a horizontal pipe structure a, three riser pipe members b, and an injection pipe member c. The horizontal pipe structure a can be a horizontal one a1, an inclined one a2, a U-shaped one in plan a3, a deformed Y-shaped one in plan a4, etc., as shown in Figure 2. The U-shaped and deformed Y-shaped structures are designed so that water, etc., can flow freely through each member. The riser pipe members b and injection pipe members c are located at arbitrary positions on the horizontal pipe structure a, and in the case of PVC pipes, a tee is used for connection. There can be many more riser pipe members b. These will be shown in detail in the Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention.

[0008] When water is injected from the top of injection pipe member c, the water fills each of the rising pipe members b to the same height. This is shown in Figure 1 with arrows, dotted lines, water marks, etc. In large structures, multiple injection pipe members c may be used.

[0009] Figures 3(a), (b), and (c) show the case where a cheese is used to extract water. If the inner diameter of the extraction pipe is 13 mm, a height error of 1 mm above or below the center results in a 19% error in the outflow volume. This is shown by the dotted line in Figure 3(c). (13*1)÷(3.14*6.5*6.5÷2)*100=19% To reduce this error, the method in Figure 4 is used. The cross-sectional area of ​​the water extraction port is reduced so that when water is injected, the water level quickly exceeds the position of the water mark in Figure 4. Further embodiments for carrying out the invention are shown. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing a connecting pipe. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing a horizontal pipe structure. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the use of cheese to extract water. [Figure 4] This diagram shows how to mark a horizontal position using surveying equipment and then install the extraction pipe at that point. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the installation of an outlet pipe using a transparent tube. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the water flow in the case of Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The connecting pipe shown in Figure 1 is made from a PVC pipe with an inner diameter of 13 mm. A tee is used for the connection. In Figure 1, there are three riser pipe members b, but there can be many more. As shown in Figure 4, mark the horizontal position m on each riser pipe member b using a surveying instrument. When there are only a few, as shown in Figure 5, a method using a transparent pipe t1 and filling it with water is also possible. Drill 4 mm holes at these positions to make outlets t3. Insert a tube with an outer diameter of 4 mm and an inner diameter of 2.5 mm into these to make outlet pipes t2.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 5, an outlet t3 is provided, an extraction pipe t2 is installed here, water is injected from the injection pipe member c to fill the riser pipe member b up to the water mark shown in Fig. 1. Next, 500ml of water is put into a lightweight cup and injected from the injection pipe member c as shown in Fig. 1. When the water is allowed to flow out and measured as shown in Fig. 6, the volumes obtained at the three positions from the left side were 165ml, 175ml and 160ml respectively. The error is 15ml. The time taken was approximately 55 seconds. The water level exceeded the position of the water mark in Fig. 6 for most of the time. Even if there is an error of 5mm in the height of the extraction pipe, the resulting volume error is negligible. It is approximately 3.14*0.65*0.65*0.5 ≈ 0.66ml. The difference between the above 175ml and 160ml is caused by the frictional resistance of the pipe and other factors. When three tee-connected devices as shown in Fig. 3 are installed as shown in Fig. 1 and the drop amount is measured, the results are 200ml, 150ml and 150ml. The water level was around the position of the upper and lower broken lines in Fig. 3(c). The time taken was approximately 10 seconds. The error is 50ml, which is 15ml for the 4mm error case which is 3.3 times that of the 4mm case.

[0013] In actual field use, the spacing between riser pipe members is set to, for example, 20 to 50 cm, and a larger number of members are used for pot planting and bag cultivation. Alternatively, the spacing is set to 2 to 3 m, PVC pipes each with an elbow at both ends are horizontally installed, holes are drilled at 20 cm intervals, water is injected from the elbow on one side through this device to fill the device with water, and non-woven fabric is used to absorb and drip water. Watering can be done manually, or by means of a pump, a water tank and a timer.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0014] a: Horizontal pipe structure b: Riser pipe member c: Injection pipe member m: Mark for hole drilling position t1: Transparent pipe t2: Extraction pipe t3: Outlet

Claims

1. A water supply method using connecting pipes, in which a number of riser pipe members and one or more injection pipe members are connected to a horizontal pipe structure, water (or dilute nutrient solution, hereinafter the same) is injected from the injection pipe members, water is filled to the same height in each of the number of riser pipe members, an outlet pipe is installed at this position and water is further injected, but the water level immediately exceeds the position of the outlet pipe, and the entire cross-section of the outlet pipe is used for water outflow.

2. A water supply device using a connecting pipe according to the method of claim 1.

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