Zero-energy-consumption automatic soilless culture irrigation system

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of soilless culture, and particularly relates to a zero-energy-consumption automatic soilless culture irrigation system which structurally comprises a valve bin and a planting area. The horizontal position of the bottom of the planting area is higher than the bottom of the valve bin. A water inlet pipe is arranged on the side wall of the valve bin; a lever is arranged at the bottom in the valve bin, and a sealing rubber pad at the right end of the lever can seal a water outlet of the water inlet pipe; the left end of the lever penetrates through the buoy clamping seat; a buoy is arranged in the buoy clamping seat, and the bottom end of the buoy is movably connected with the left end of the lever; one end of the U-shaped communicating pipe extends into the buoy, and the other end of the U-shaped communicating pipe extends to a position close to the bottom of the planting area and is connected with a floating ball limiting pipe; according to the irrigation system, automatic tidal irrigation can be achieved without power supply, plant roots cannot be soaked in a nutrient solution all the time, and the risk of oxygen deficit is reduced; the whole structure is simplified, miniaturized and modularized, the use is convenient, and the market prospect is wide.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of soilless cultivation technology, specifically relating to a zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system. Background Technology

[0002] Soilless cultivation crops obtain all their nutrients and water from the nutrient solution used for irrigation, making a continuous and stable supply of nutrient solution the core technology of soilless cultivation. Traditional soilless cultivation systems typically provide crops with water, fertilizer, and oxygen through continuous or timed circulation of the nutrient solution, which consumes electricity and is less suitable for areas with unstable power supplies. Constantly immersing vegetable roots in the nutrient solution can lead to root hypoxia, so the nutrient solution level around the roots needs to be adjusted periodically. Traditional soilless cultivation requires manual intervention or an electronic control system to achieve this. For example, Chinese patent CN201610520705.5 discloses a soilless cultivation device for flowers and its working method, which consists of ground soil, a soilless cultivation device, a nutrient solution pump, a nutrient solution storage tank, a nutrient solution return pipe, and a control system. The soilless cultivation device is embedded in a groove in the ground soil, with its upper surface at the same level as the ground. The nutrient solution storage tank is located on the upper surface of the ground soil. The nutrient solution pump is connected to the nutrient solution storage tank. One end of the nutrient solution return pipe is connected to the bottom of the nutrient solution storage tank, and the other end is connected to the bottom of the soilless cultivation device. The control system is located on the upper surface of the nutrient solution storage tank. The flow meter and electric valve on the nutrient solution pump and the nutrient solution return pipe are respectively connected to the control system via wires. Chinese patent CN201921755210.6 discloses a hydroponic cultivation device, including a hydroponic cultivation box, a base plate, a hydroponic cultivation rack, and a liquid level controller. The bottom of the hydroponic cultivation box is connected to the base plate, and the base plate is provided with several fixing grooves. The hydroponic cultivation rack is placed inside the hydroponic cultivation box, and several diagonal support rods are connected to the bottom of the hydroponic cultivation rack. The bottom of the diagonal support rods is placed in the fixing grooves. The hydroponic cultivation box is also equipped with a liquid level controller, which facilitates the stacking of hydroponic cultivation boxes and saves hydroponic cultivation space. Chinese Patent CN202022589763.8 discloses a hydroponics device, comprising a hydroponics box, a nutrient solution storage tank, a partition, a hydroponics rack, planting troughs, a support mesh frame, a conduit, a water pump, a solenoid valve, a power supply, a control panel, an infrared sensor, a timer, a water injection pipe, a sealing ring, a support column, a scraper cloth, an iron ring, and a pin. The nutrient solution stored in the storage tank provides nutrients to the vegetables in the hydroponics box. Power is supplied by the power supply within the partition. The control panel at the front of the partition controls the water pump and solenoid valve within the conduit to achieve a nutrient solution flow. A timer is installed between the control panel and the water pump for convenient timed control of the pump and solenoid valve. The infrared sensor prevents excessive nutrient solution flow and provides timely feedback to the control panel, causing the water pump and solenoid valve to shut down. The electronic control equipment in the aforementioned existing hydroponics devices is delicate and prone to failure in agricultural production, especially in the high-temperature and high-humidity environments of greenhouses.

[0003] Existing hydroponics methods rely on electronic sensors or switch controllers to replenish nutrient solutions, requiring an electricity supply. In harsh agricultural environments with high temperature and humidity, these electronic devices are prone to malfunction, leading to poor system stability. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an automated hydroponics irrigation system that does not require an electricity supply. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide a zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system, the main structure of which includes a valve chamber and a planting area; the valve chamber is connected to the planting area, the bottom of the valve chamber and the bottom of the planting area are not on the same horizontal line, the bottom of the planting area is higher than the bottom of the valve chamber; a water inlet pipe is provided on the side wall of the valve chamber; one end of the water inlet pipe extends into the valve chamber, and the other end is connected to the nutrient solution tank. A lever support is fixedly installed at the bottom right of the valve chamber. The lever is mounted on the lever support via a lever pivot. A sealing gasket groove is fixedly installed at the top right end of the lever, and a sealing gasket is placed inside the sealing gasket groove. The outlet of the water inlet pipe faces the sealing gasket, and the size of the sealing gasket is sufficient to seal the outlet of the water inlet pipe. The left end of the lever passes through a float holder. The float holder is a tubular structure, its bottom is fixedly connected to the bottom of the valve chamber, and its side wall has an opening corresponding to the lever, for the lever to pass through and for the left end of the lever to move up and down. A float is installed inside the float holder. The float is a cylindrical structure with an open top and a conical closed bottom. The outer diameter of the pontoon is smaller than the inner diameter of the pontoon holder, allowing the pontoon to move up and down within the holder. The bottom of the pontoon is movably connected to the left end of the lever. A U-shaped connecting pipe is provided on the side wall of the pontoon. One end of the U-shaped connecting pipe extends into the pontoon (inner port), and the other end extends out of the side wall and past the holder to near the bottom of the planting area (outer port). A float-limiting pipe is fixedly connected to the outer port. This pipe is a tubular structure with a diameter larger than the U-shaped connecting pipe and is interconnected with it. A float is located inside the float-limiting pipe. The bottom of the float is close to the bottom of the planting area and is positioned within the float-limiting pipe. The size of the float is just enough to block the U-shaped connecting pipe. The float can move up and down within the float-limiting pipe.

[0006] The bottom end of the pontoon is movably connected to the left end of the lever via a pin or via a thin wire. The left end of the lever has a lever threading hole; the center of the bottom end of the pontoon has a pontoon threading hole, and the pontoon threading hole and the lever threading hole are connected together by a thin wire.

[0007] The valve compartment is a rectangular barrel with an open top.

[0008] The valve compartment and the planting area are covered by a planting board. The planting board above the planting area has planting holes, and planting cups are placed in the planting holes.

[0009] The cross-section of the U-shaped connecting tube is circular; the diameter of the float is larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the U-shaped connecting tube, but smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the float limiting tube.

[0010] The diameter of the float bracket is smaller than the width and length of the valve chamber, meaning that the float bracket will not obstruct the flow of water from the valve chamber to the planting area.

[0011] The float limiting tube is a tubular structure with an inwardly tapering bottom and a hollowed-out wall. It can be formed by expanding one end of a U-shaped connecting tube and is an integral part of the U-shaped connecting tube. Alternatively, the float limiting tube can be a separate tubular structure, fixed to the U-shaped connecting tube by adhesive or other existing fixing methods. The hollowed-out structure can be a circular or square hole, etc., primarily to allow water from the U-shaped connecting tube to drain through the wall of the float limiting tube when the float blocks the bottom of the limiting tube. The inwardly tapering bottom of the float limiting tube has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the float to ensure that the float does not detach from the limiting tube.

[0012] The pontoon has a hole in its side wall, through which a U-shaped connecting pipe passes.

[0013] The upper edge of the pontoon is always horizontally higher than the upper edge of the buoy bracket.

[0014] The U-shaped connecting pipe moves as the buoy moves up and down.

[0015] The pontoon has a flat bottom, and the inner port of the U-shaped connecting pipe is close to the flat bottom. The flat bottom divides the interior of the pontoon into upper and lower parts; the lower part is a closed hollow structure, and the upper part is used for the inflow and outflow of nutrient solution.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the irrigation system of this invention can achieve automatic tidal irrigation without the need for an electricity supply. Plant roots are not constantly immersed in nutrient solution, reducing the risk of oxygen deficiency. The entire system is a mechanical structure without any electronic components, so it is not affected by harsh planting environments with high temperature and humidity, and the system has strong stability. The overall structure of the irrigation system of this invention is simplified, miniaturized, and modular, so it can be used on balconies and in courtyards as well as on large-scale farms. Moreover, it does not require professional installers, is easy to use, and has broad market prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure and principle of the zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system involved in this invention.

[0018] Figure 2This is a partially enlarged view of the zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system involved in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0020] Example 1

[0021] This embodiment relates to a zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system, the main structure of which includes a valve chamber 1, a planting area 2, an inlet pipe 3, a float seat 4, a planting plate 5, a planting hole 6, and a planting cup 7; the valve chamber 1 is connected to the planting area 2, the bottom of the valve chamber 1 and the bottom of the planting area 2 are not on the same horizontal line, the bottom of the planting area 2 is higher than the bottom of the valve chamber 1; one end of the inlet pipe 3 extends into the valve chamber 1, and the other end is connected to the nutrient solution tank; the valve chamber 1 and the planting area 2 are covered by the planting plate 5, and the planting plate 5 above the planting area 2 has a planting hole 6, in which a planting cup 7 is placed; A lever support seat 121 is fixedly installed at the bottom right of the valve chamber 1. The lever 131 is mounted on the lever support seat 121 via a lever pivot 122. A sealing gasket groove 111 is fixedly installed at the top right end of the lever 131, and a sealing gasket 112 is installed inside the sealing gasket groove 111. The bottom end of the water inlet pipe 3 is directly opposite the sealing gasket 112, and the size of the sealing gasket 112 is sufficient to seal the outlet 31 of the water inlet pipe 3. A lever threading hole 132 is provided at the left end of the lever 131. The left end of the lever 131 passes through a float seat 4. The float seat 4 is a tubular structure, and its bottom is fixedly connected to the bottom of the valve chamber. An opening is opened on its side wall at a position corresponding to the lever 131, which is used to pass through the lever 131 and allow the left end of the lever to move up and down. A float 141 is installed inside the float seat. The float is a cylindrical structure with an open top and a conical closed bottom. The outer diameter of the float is slightly smaller than that of the float. The inner diameter of the float holder allows the float to move up and down within the float holder. The apex of the cone at the lower end of the float is directly opposite the left end of the lever 131. A float threading hole 142 is provided at the center of the cone at the lower end of the float 141. The float threading hole 142 and the lever threading hole 132 are connected together by a thin thread. A U-shaped connecting pipe 143 is provided on the side wall of the float 141. One end of the U-shaped connecting pipe 143 extends into the float, serving as the inner port, while the other end extends out of the side wall of the float and crosses... The outer port extends from the float seat to a position near the bottom of the planting area 2; a float limiting tube 144 is fixedly connected to the outer port. The float limiting tube 144 is a tubular structure with a diameter larger than that of the U-shaped connecting tube 142 and is interconnected with the U-shaped connecting tube. A float 145 is inside the float limiting tube; the bottom end of the float 145 is close to the bottom of the planting area 2 and is located inside the float limiting tube. The size of the float 145 is just enough to block the U-shaped connecting tube 143.

[0022] The cross-section of the U-shaped connecting pipe 143 is circular; the diameter of the float 145 is larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the U-shaped connecting pipe 143, but smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the float limiting pipe 144.

[0023] The diameter of the float bracket is smaller than the width and length of the valve chamber, meaning that the float bracket will not obstruct the flow of water from the valve chamber to the planting area.

[0024] The bottom end of the float limiting tube tapers inward, with the diameter of the taper being smaller than the diameter of the float, to ensure that the float will not fall off the limiting tube. The bottom end of the float limiting tube 144 is close to the bottom of the planting area 2.

[0025] The float limiting tube 144 has a hollowed-out wall structure, which can be a circular or square hole, etc. Its main purpose is to allow water from the U-shaped connecting tube to drain out through the wall of the float limiting tube when the float blocks the bottom of the limiting tube. The float limiting tube 144 can be formed by expanding one end of the U-shaped connecting tube, making it an integral part of the U-shaped connecting tube. Alternatively, it can be a separate tubular structure with an inwardly tapering bottom and a hollowed-out wall, fixed to the U-shaped connecting tube by adhesive or other existing fixing methods.

[0026] The side wall of the float 141 has a hole, and a U-shaped connecting pipe passes through this hole and exits the float.

[0027] The pontoon has a flat bottom, and the inner port of the U-shaped connecting pipe is close to the flat bottom. The flat bottom divides the interior of the pontoon into upper and lower parts; the lower part is a closed hollow structure, and the upper part is used for the inflow and outflow of nutrient solution. The method of using the zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system involved in this embodiment is as follows:

[0028] (1) Before use, the right end of the lever 131 connected to the float 141 is tilted up by the gravity of the float. The sealing gasket 112 in the sealing gasket seat 111 above the right end blocks the outlet 31 of the water inlet pipe 3, so that the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank cannot flow into the valve chamber 1.

[0029] (2) Add nutrient solution into valve chamber 1 until float 141 rises against gravity, then stop adding nutrient solution; as float rises, it drives the left end of lever 131 to move upward and the right end to move downward, causing the sealing gasket 112 at the right end of lever to move downward, thereby opening the outlet 31 and allowing nutrient solution to flow into valve chamber 1.

[0030] (3) As the nutrient solution continues to flow into valve chamber 1, the water level rises, causing the float 141 and the left end of lever 131 to continue moving upward until the lower end of float seat 4 presses against lever 131, causing lever 131 and float 141 to stop moving upward. At this time, the bottom of the right end of lever 131 is still a certain distance from the bottom of valve chamber; the water level in valve chamber 1 continues to rise, flowing into planting area 2 and float limit pipe 144. Float 145 floats up in float limit pipe, sealing the outer port of U-shaped connecting pipe 143, so that water cannot enter U-shaped connecting pipe 143 from here; the water level in planting area 2 continues to rise.

[0031] When the water level rises above the upper edge of the float 141, water begins to overflow the upper edge and enter the interior of the float 141. Once the sum of the weight of the water inside the float and the float's weight exceeds the buoyancy of the float, the float 141 rapidly sinks, instantly filling with water. As the float 141 rapidly sinks, it causes the left end of the connected lever 131 to move downwards, simultaneously lifting the right end of the lever. The sealing gasket 112 on the right end tightly blocks the water outlet 31 of the inlet pipe, stopping the replenishment of the nutrient solution.

[0032] (4) As the vegetable roots absorb the nutrient solution, the liquid level begins to drop, and the buoyancy of the float 145 gradually decreases until the buoyancy of the float 145 is less than the sum of the weight of the float itself and the pressure generated by the difference in water level inside and outside the float 141. At this time, one end of the U-shaped connecting pipe 143 blocked by the float 145 opens (at this time, the float 145 is still limited in the float limiting pipe). The water in the float 141 flows out through the U-shaped connecting pipe 143 and the float limiting pipe until the buoyancy of the float 141 is greater than the sum of the weight of the float and the remaining water inside. The float then floats up again. Due to the siphon effect, the water in the float 141 will continue to flow out until the water level in the float 141 drops to the same level as the port of the U-shaped connecting pipe 143 inside the float. Air enters the U-shaped connecting pipe 143 from the port of the U-shaped connecting pipe 143 inside the float, thereby destroying the siphon effect and stopping the drainage. As the float 141 rises again, it causes the left end of the lever 131 to rise while the right end of the lever falls, thereby opening the sealed water inlet outlet 31 and restarting the water replenishment process.

[0033] (5) Repeat steps (3) and (4) again, and automatically loop indefinitely.

[0034] The irrigation system in this embodiment requires no electricity to achieve automatic tidal irrigation, preventing the roots from being constantly submerged in nutrient solution. The entire system is mechanical, without any electronic components, and is unaffected by harsh growing environments with high temperature and humidity, ensuring strong system stability. Its simplified, miniaturized, and modular design allows for use on balconies and in courtyards, as well as on large-scale farms, and requires no professional installers.

Claims

1. A zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system, characterized in that, The main structure includes a valve chamber and a planting area; the valve chamber is connected to the planting area, and the bottom of the planting area is horizontally higher than the bottom of the valve chamber; a water inlet pipe is installed on the side wall of the valve chamber; one end of the water inlet pipe extends into the valve chamber, and the other end is connected to the nutrient solution tank. A lever is fixedly installed at the bottom of the valve chamber; a sealing gasket is fixedly installed at the top right end of the lever; the outlet of the water inlet pipe faces the sealing gasket, and the size of the sealing gasket is sufficient to seal the outlet of the water inlet pipe; the left end of the lever passes through the float holder; the float holder is a tubular structure, its bottom is fixedly connected to the bottom of the valve chamber, and its side wall has an opening corresponding to the lever, for the lever to pass through and for the left end of the lever to move up and down; a float is installed inside the float holder, the float being a cylindrical structure with an open top and a conical closed bottom, and the bottom end of the float is movably connected to the left end of the lever; a U-shaped connecting pipe is provided on the side wall of the float, one end of the U-shaped connecting pipe extends into the float, and the other end of the U-shaped connecting pipe passes through the side wall of the float and extends past the float holder to a position near the bottom of the planting area and connects to the float ball limiting pipe, and a float ball is inside the float ball limiting pipe; the diameter of the float ball is larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the U-shaped connecting pipe, but smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the float ball limiting pipe.

2. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom end of the float is connected to the left end of the lever by a pin or by a thin wire.

3. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lever has a lever threading hole at its left end; the float has a float threading hole at the center of its bottom end, and the float threading hole and the lever threading hole are connected together by a thin thread.

4. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve compartment is a rectangular barrel with an open top; a planting board covers the valve compartment and the planting area, and planting holes are opened on the planting board above the planting area, with planting cups placed in the planting holes.

5. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-section of the U-shaped connecting pipe is circular.

6. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the float bracket is smaller than the width and length of the valve chamber, meaning that the float bracket will not obstruct the water flow from the valve chamber to the planting area; the outer diameter of the float is smaller than the inner diameter of the float bracket.

7. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The float limiting tube is a tubular structure with an inward-curving bottom and a hollowed-out wall. The cross-sectional diameter of the float limiting tube is larger than that of the U-shaped connecting tube, and the diameter of the inward-curving opening is smaller than that of the float, so as to ensure that the float will not fall off the limiting tube.

8. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pontoon has a hole in its side wall, through which a U-shaped connecting pipe passes.

9. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper edge of the pontoon is always horizontally higher than the upper edge of the buoy bracket.

10. The zero-energy automated soilless cultivation irrigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pontoon has a flat bottom, and the inner port of the U-shaped connecting pipe is close to the flat bottom.

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