Facade arrangement, and kit for the production of a facade arrangement

Abstract

Facade arrangement, with • a building (1) which has a facade (8) and a roof (2), • and a climbing aid (9) arranged outside the facade (8), which is designed to provide support for a plant (12) in use, characterized in that the facade arrangement further comprises the following elements: • a planting container (10) designed to hold a planting substrate and the roots of the plant (12) in use, • a water storage tank (7) designed to collect rainwater from the roof (2) of the building (1) during use, • a collecting pipe (6) designed to carry rainwater from the roof (2) to the water storage tank (7) during use, • a supply line (14) running from the water reservoir (7) to the plant container (10) such that stored water is carried from the water reservoir (7) into the plant container (10), • a supplementary line (16) designed to supply water from an external source to the water reservoir (7) or to the supply line (14) during use, • and a valve which is designed to generally close the supplementary line (16) during use and to only allow water from the external source to flow to the water storage tank (7) or into the supply line when the water level in the water storage tank (7) falls below a minimum level.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a facade arrangement with a building having a facade and a roof, and a climbing aid arranged outside in front of the facade, which is designed to provide support for a plant in use.

[0002] Such facade arrangements are known in practice, in the form of greened building facades where the plants do not find direct support in the facade material, e.g., in a layer of plaster, but rather where wires, ropes, or similar climbing aids for vines or the like are arranged externally in front of the facade to provide support for the plants and to prevent damage to the facade, e.g., the aforementioned plaster layer. The plants root in the soil, and their water supply is determined by the soil moisture, so that during dry periods the plants are typically watered to prevent them from withering. Alternatively, it is also known to arrange the plants in flowerpots in front of the facade, in which case the plants must be watered regularly.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of improving a generic facade arrangement in such a way that it enables operation with as little maintenance as possible and ensures a reliable water supply for a plant that greens the facade.

[0004] Features of the invention are specified in claims 1 and 11. Embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] The invention therefore proposes that, in addition to the aforementioned elements, the facade arrangement further comprises the following elements: • A planter designed to hold planting substrate and the plant's roots. This allows a plant to be placed in front of the building for facade greening, regardless of the surrounding ground, without requiring the extensive groundwork that would otherwise be necessary for planting root balls or similar methods. Furthermore, the planter provides a defined space that can be irrigated, ensuring that water is readily available to the plant. In contrast, in the ground, water could run away from the plant roots or, during watering, simply run off the surface to more distant areas, making it unavailable to the plant's roots. • A water storage tank designed to collect rainwater from the building's roof during use. This offers several advantages: Firstly, a freely available quantity of water is utilized. Secondly, the sewer system, into which the rainwater would otherwise be discharged, is relieved, which is particularly advantageous during heavy rainfall events and helps to prevent backups and flooding. Thirdly, by reducing the amount of water discharged into the sewer system, the effort associated with treating the water originating from the sewer system is reduced. Fourthly, it is advantageous in terms of sustainability that the rainwater is used where it occurs and does not have to be transported to a distant location through the sewage system. The water storage system can be designed as a closed or open container, for example as an above-ground rainwater tank or basin, or as an underground cistern or similar structure. To maximize rainwater storage capacity and to optimize the facade design, two or more commercially available water storage tanks can be used instead of a single, custom-sized tank. These tanks can be connected by pipes to provide a large combined storage volume. • A collecting pipe designed to direct rainwater from the roof to the water storage tank. This eliminates the need for manual handling of the rainwater, such as collecting it and transporting it to the tank; instead, it flows automatically and virtually maintenance-free into the tank. The collecting pipe only requires periodic checks for blockages, for example, depending on the potential for contamination or clogging from nearby trees or similar factors. A gutter and downpipe can, for instance, combine to form the collecting pipe. • A supply line runs from the water reservoir to the plant container, such that stored water is transferred from the reservoir to the plant container. This eliminates the need to manually handle the water collected in the reservoir to irrigate the plant; instead, irrigation occurs automatically as the water flows from the reservoir to the plant container via the supply line, making it readily available to the plant. The supply line can be a hose or pipe running above ground, or even along or within the ground. Following the principle of communicating vessels, the desired water level in the plant container is maintained even if it is located some distance from the reservoir and hydraulically connected to it via the supply line. • A supplementary line designed to supply water from an external source to the water reservoir or supply line. This supplementary line makes water available to the plants when there is insufficient rainwater in the reservoir and the water level in the reservoir reaches or falls below a certain minimum. This ensures a water supply even during dry periods by drawing water from the external source. • and a valve designed to generally close the supplementary line during operation and to only allow water from the external source to flow to the water storage tank or the supply line when the water level in the tank falls below a minimum level. Thus, rainwater is primarily used to fill the water storage tank, and only when needed, when the water level in the tank has dropped to a predetermined low level, does the valve open to allow water from the external source to flow into the water storage tank or directly into the supply line. A structurally simple design of the facade arrangement is facilitated by the fact that the supplementary line also directs the water to the water storage tank and not into the supply line.

[0006] The facade arrangement according to the invention can be scaled to virtually any size by using multiple plant containers and can be used to green buildings of virtually any length or width. By selecting plants with their typical growth heights, the facade arrangement can be adapted to the height of the respective building. Greening the building facade can, for example, counteract the formation of urban heat islands, since the facades shaded by the vegetation do not heat up as much and, in particular, do not reflect heat, and since the plants also have a cooling effect through the evaporation of moisture. The facade arrangement according to the invention is particularly advantageous for use on commercially used buildings, for example in industrial areas.Large areas of ground are often sealed for roads, parking lots, maneuvering areas, and storage facilities, meaning that significant amounts of rainwater must be drained away because they cannot seep into the ground locally. Buildings, such as factories and warehouses, often have large, closed facades without doors or windows, allowing for extensive greening. This maximizes the effectiveness of the aforementioned advantages of facade design. In certain cases, the trellis can be installed far enough from the facade to allow a door to still open. Depending on the chosen plant species, a trellis can also be positioned in front of windows to provide shade in the summer while still allowing sufficient light and a view.

[0007] The trellis can therefore be placed freely in front of the facade. Alternatively, it can be attached to the planter. In one design, however, the trellis is attached to the facade. This has the advantage that the trellis can be as large and as high as the facade, whereas mounting it in or on the planter would impose size limitations. Furthermore, no separate foundation, anchoring, or similar is required, as would be the case with a trellis placed freely in front of the facade.

[0008] The planter can be placed freely in front of the facade, simplifying the installation of the facade arrangement. This also allows for easy weight transfer to the ground. Alternatively, the planter can be attached to the facade. It can be positioned at a specific height, for example, so that the facade below remains unobstructed and windows, doors, entrances, or driveways are not affected, as would otherwise be the case with a planter placed on the ground. Similarly, the space beneath the planter remains unobstructed, such as parking areas or walkways.

[0009] The plant container can be watered at intervals, for example, manually by people who care for plants and green spaces. They can do this by switching on a pump that moves water from the reservoir to the plant container, or by opening a valve such as a tap to allow water to flow to the plant container due to the hydrostatic pressure in the reservoir. Alternatively, watering can be automated, for example, on a regular schedule using a timer, or based on the moisture level in the substrate detected by a sensor. In this case, a valve is opened or closed according to the sensor signals, allowing water to flow into the plant container as needed.In one embodiment, a tank is arranged within the planting container, designed to receive water from the supply line during use. A capillary mat extends from the tank to the substrate within the planting container, automatically drawing water from the tank to the substrate via the capillary mat. The capillary mat acts as a suction mat, drawing water from the tank and delivering it to the substrate without the need for a pump, even if the substrate is located above the tank. In this way, a metered water supply for the plant is ensured without the complexity that sensors, electronic controls, and a pump would require.

[0010] The capillary mat automatically dispenses the liquid, drawing moisture from the planter's reservoir through the mat as needed, depending on the substrate's dryness. This requires minimal effort, as only a certain water level in the reservoir needs to be maintained for the capillary mat to create a hydraulically effective connection between the reservoir and the substrate. The reservoir can then be refilled with a large quantity of water at relatively long intervals, since the plant's water supply is not significantly affected by the depth to which the capillary mat is immersed in the water. This automatic watering system for the plant in the reservoir therefore requires very little operation.Particularly when the facade arrangement according to the invention is not used in the area of ​​private residential buildings, where plant care can be carried out in leisure time and possibly as part of the hobby of "gardening," but rather when the facade arrangement is implemented on a commercially used building, the possibility of caring for the plant with minimal effort is expected to increase acceptance for installing the facade arrangement on the building. The economically achievable advantages of the facade arrangement lie in a reduced heat load on the building, thus economically reducing the otherwise necessary cooling effort and creating a favorable indoor climate.Evaporative cooling also creates a beneficial microclimate outside the building, allowing for improved comfort in outdoor areas. Beyond the economically measurable reduction in cooling requirements, the increased comfort and well-being of those working in the building can also offer measurable economic benefits, whether in terms of daily productivity or reduced absenteeism.

[0011] In one embodiment, a float valve is installed in the planter's tank, designed to maintain a specific water level during use. This minimizes the effort required to water the plant, as the tank does not need to be manually refilled at regular intervals. Instead, the float valve ensures a constant water level, allowing the capillary mat to establish the necessary hydraulic connection between the tank and the substrate. In this context, a float valve is generally defined as a valve arrangement that automatically controls the water supply to the planter based on the water level in the tank.This can be achieved with a purely mechanical valve closure, requiring no external energy for operation apart from the buoyancy of the water and the opposing force of gravity acting on a float. Alternatively, an electric float switch can be used, which either opens or closes a motor-driven valve or switches a pump on or off. Instead of a float, the water level can also be detected by a sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor. A control system that automatically evaluates the sensor signals can then open or close a motor-driven valve or switch a pump on or off. In any case, the float valve maintains the water level in the tank between predetermined minimum and maximum levels, thus ensuring an automatic water supply for the plant without any manual intervention.

[0012] The trellis can be provided in the form of individual supports, for example, horizontal or vertical ones, which can be made of rods, wires, tubes, or tensioned ropes or cables. In one design, the trellis is a grid. The grid structure not only offers optimal support for various plant species but also facilitates quick and easy installation, as the grid can be delivered and provided as a flat mesh panel or rolled up.

[0013] In one design, the climbing aid features struts with a diameter of at least 4 mm. This not only makes it easier for the plants to find a secure hold on the climbing aid, but also prevents damage to the plants that could otherwise occur with struts that are too small in diameter, for example, impairing water transport within the plant. The larger diameter of the struts, 4 mm or more, thus promotes healthy plant growth and helps ensure that the facade, at least in the areas where a climbing aid is installed, can be covered as completely as possible, so that the benefits of facade greening can be achieved as fully as possible.

[0014] In one design, the trellis features struts shaped like tubes. This gives the trellis not only high stability, primarily due to the struts' high bending stiffness, but also a low weight despite the struts' potentially large diameter. The low weight is particularly advantageous when the trellis is to be attached to a facade, allowing the building structure to bear the weight of both the trellis and the plant. The tubes also offer ecological benefits by requiring less material compared to solid material of the same cross-section. Furthermore, if the ends of the struts are not intentionally sealed, this design provides shelter for insects, which can be especially beneficial in areas with little other green space.

[0015] In one configuration, the external source is designed as a service water line. This ensures a constant and sufficient water supply for the plant, for example, through connection to a public drinking water network. Since the service water is of drinking water quality and has undergone considerable treatment, its use for plant irrigation is generally not desirable and should be limited to the absolute minimum necessary for sustainability reasons.In the facade arrangement according to the invention, plant irrigation is therefore generally carried out by the water collected in the water reservoir, thus in particular by rainwater, and only in emergencies, namely if the water reservoir cannot be sufficiently filled during dry periods, does the service water serve to reliably prevent the plant from withering, by using the service water line as an external source to supply the plant.

[0016] In one embodiment, the external source is configured as a process wastewater line. In this context, process wastewater refers to water used as process water in a technical process, e.g., within the building, and which would otherwise be discharged into the sewer system after use, e.g., depending on its prior contamination in the process, after undergoing purification or treatment. Using process wastewater as an external source for a facade arrangement according to the invention does not contradict the embodiment mentioned above, in which the external source is configured as a service water line. Rather, both embodiments can be used in combination: for example, process wastewater can be used to fill the water storage tank if it is not sufficiently filled with rainwater.However, if too little process wastewater is generated as an external source, e.g. during company holidays, process water can be used to refill the water storage tank as a second external source, which could therefore also be referred to as an external auxiliary source, so that through this combination of both external sources the use of process water can be limited to a minimum for emergencies.

[0017] The invention further relates to a kit for the production of a facade arrangement according to the invention, with • a climbing aid designed to be placed in front of the facade of a building and to provide support for a plant, • a planting container designed to hold a planting substrate and the roots of the plant in it, • a water storage tank designed to collect rainwater from the roof of the building during use, • a collecting pipe designed to convey rainwater to the water storage tank during use, • a supply line running from the water reservoir to the plant container, such that stored water is carried from the water reservoir into the plant container, • a supplementary line designed to supply water from an external source to the water reservoir or supply line during use, • and a valve which is designed to generally close the supplementary line during use and to only allow water from the external source to flow to the water storage tank or into the supply line when the water level in the water storage tank falls below a minimum level.

[0018] The individual elements of the kit can be designed as described above for the facade arrangement.

[0019] The collection pipe in the kit may be quite short in some cases: if the building where the facade system is to be installed already has a gutter and downpipe, the collection pipe included in the kit can serve to carry the rainwater flowing down the downpipe to the water storage tank. Depending on the location of the water storage tank, the length of the collection pipe in the kit may therefore be limited to just a few decimeters, and this collection pipe may, for example, be designed as a correspondingly short collection hose. Within the constructed facade system, the collection pipe in the kit then represents only a section of the entire collection system, which extends from the roof to the water storage tank and carries the rainwater from the roof to the tank.

[0020] The supplementary pipe included in the kit can also be short, depending on the local conditions: for example, if an outdoor water tap already exists outside the building for garden or lawn irrigation, cleaning, or similar purposes, the supplementary pipe can be short enough to run only from this outdoor tap to the water storage tank or the main supply line. In this way, a water pipe leading to the outdoor tap, which carries water suitable for lawn irrigation (e.g., utility water), can be used as an external water source.

[0021] Due to the hydrostatic conditions, the height at which the individual elements of the facade arrangement and the pipe connections are located, and the use of float valves, in which a float mechanically moves a valve body of the float valve by means of its vertical movement, thus mechanically opening or closing the float valve, a facade arrangement according to the invention can be realized that ensures automatic irrigation of the plant without requiring an electrical connection or electronic components. Such a facade arrangement requires little maintenance, consumes no electricity, and is not prone to failure.

[0022] Alternatively, the facade system can be equipped with electrical and electronic components, enabling it to automatically monitor itself and send out automatic notifications. To ensure minimal maintenance, these notifications allow intervention to occur only as needed, for example, to maintain sufficient water levels and thus plant health, or to rectify reported malfunctions or failures.A facade system equipped accordingly can feature digitally controlled irrigation technology and includes sensors to determine specific parameters at intervals or continuously. It also includes an electronic control unit that processes the sensor signals and, if necessary, automatically sends out an alarm message. Furthermore, the control unit can transmit the sensor signals to a memory for logging the system's operation, or it can present the sensor signals in tabular or graphical form for human evaluation. The facade system can, for example, include one or more of the following sensors: • Moisture sensors continuously monitor the water level in the containers or the moisture content of the planting substrate, for example, using electrical resistance, ultrasound, or similar methods. These sensors directly serve to ensure the plant's water supply. For example, if the reservoir of a planting container is sufficiently full, but the planting substrate is dry, the capillary mats may need to be replaced. • Climate sensors that detect the outside temperature or, as rain sensors, precipitation. During automatic evaluation of the sensor signals, discrepancies may be detected between the signals from these climate sensors and the aforementioned humidity sensors. For example, if the water level in the storage tank does not change despite precipitation, a malfunction can be automatically inferred, triggering an automatic alarm message. Subsequently, an inspection and, if necessary, maintenance of the facade system can be initiated. • Pipe sensors that monitor the condition of valves and pipes to, for example, automatically detect leaks or determine the current flow rate of water through a pipe or valve. The signals from these pipe sensors can also be used to identify malfunctions in the facade system and thus trigger maintenance work.

[0023] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the purely schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a building with a facade arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a planter of a facade arrangement according to the invention, and Fig. 3 a vertical section through a planter of a facade arrangement according to the invention.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a building 1 with a gable roof 2, where a gutter 3 is attached to the underside of each of the two sloping roof surfaces. Rainwater that falls onto a roof surface and flows downwards is collected in the gutter 3 and enters a downpipe 4 that extends vertically downwards. The gutter 3 and the downpipe 4, together with a collecting hose 5, form a collecting pipe, designated 6, which carries rainwater from the roof 2 into a water storage tank 7. For illustrative purposes only, the collecting hose 5 in the drawing runs diagonally downwards to the water storage tank 7. Alternatively, the collecting hose can run essentially horizontally or in a downward arc.Overfilling of the water storage tank 7 can be avoided in a manner known per se by means of an overflow channel in the downpipe 7, as is known from the practice of devices that can be inserted into the downpipe 4, are traded under names such as "rain thief", "rain collector" or the like, and which have a connection for the collecting hose 5.

[0025] The downpipe 4 extends downwards beyond the collecting hose 5. If the water storage tank 7 is filled with a predetermined maximum amount of water, any additional rainwater is discharged downwards through the downpipe 4 in a manner known per se and is, for example, either infiltrated locally or discharged into a surface water body or the sewer system.

[0026] Building 1 has an outer wall, designated as facade 8, in front of which a trellis-like climbing aid 9 is arranged, and a planter 10 is placed on the ground. The planter 10 has a substrate compartment 11 in which the roots of a schematically represented plant 12 are located within a planting substrate. Below the substrate compartment 11, in the planter 10, is a tank 13, which is connected to the water reservoir 7 by a supply line 14. A float valve 15 automatically maintains the water level in the tank 13 between a minimum and a maximum fill level.

[0027] If the water level in the water reservoir 7 reaches or falls below a predetermined minimum level, the plant 12 is supplied with water by drawing water not from the roof 2, but from an external source via a supplementary line 16 into the water reservoir 7. The supplementary line 16 can also be equipped with a float valve, so that when the water level in the water reservoir 7 is sufficient, the supplementary line 16 is automatically closed by the float valve. Such a float valve within the water reservoir 7 is set so that the water reservoir 7 is not completely filled by the supplementary line 16.Rather, only a minimum fill level is ensured, so that a water supply through the supply line 14 into the tank 13 is ensured and, moreover, the water storage tank 7 can be filled with rainwater from the roof 2, which enters the water storage tank 7 through the collection line 6.

[0028] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a planting container 10 and the substrate chamber 11, revealing that the planting container 10 stands on several feet 17. The feet 17 are height-adjustable, allowing the planting container 10 to be precisely leveled even on uneven surfaces. Furthermore, it is evident that the substrate chamber 11 is bounded by several capillary mats 18. These extend into the tank 13 and, through their capillary action, supply the planting substrate and thus the roots of the plant 12 with moisture. Irrigation of the planting substrate is automatic, as once a certain substrate moisture level is reached, the capillary mats 18 cease releasing any further moisture into the planting substrate, while the dry planting substrate automatically absorbs moisture from the capillary mats 18.

[0029] Fig. Figure 3 shows a vertical section through the planting container 10. The substrate chamber 11 is separated from the tank 13 below by a partition 19. This illustration shows how the capillary mats 18 extend into the tank 13. The tank 13 has a tank basin 20, which can be made of sheet metal, plastic, or a film. In the illustrated embodiment, the tank basin 20 is not permanently attached to the partition 19, so the partition 19 can be removed to provide access to the inside of the tank. This allows access, for example, to the float valve 15, which serves to automatically open and close the supply line 14. Fig. 3 a float 21 is recognizable, which serves to control a valve body of the float valve 15.

[0030] In the Fig. 2 and Fig.In the planting container 10, an upward-running pipe 22 is visible, ending open at the top. The pipe 22 is optional and can be omitted if desired; in the illustrated embodiment, it serves to supply air to the lower part of the substrate chamber 11 and even under the partition plate 19. This promotes the supply of air to the plant roots and thus supports downward root growth of the plant 12. Furthermore, the pipe 22 can be used for emergency irrigation to introduce water into the tank 13 in the event of a malfunction within the facade system and the automatic filling of the tank 13 is not guaranteed.

[0031] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in a variety of ways. All features and advantages arising from the claims, the description, and the drawings, including design details, spatial arrangements, and process steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in various combinations. Reference symbol list 1 building 2 roof 3 rain gutter 4 downpipe 5 Collection hose 6 Collective line 7 water reservoirs 8 Facade 9 Climbing aids 10 plant pots 11 Substrate space 12 plants 13 Tank 14 Supply line 15 float valve 16 Supplementary Management 17 feet 18 capillary mat 19 Dividing plate 20 Tank tray 21 swimmers 22 Rohr

Claims

[1] Facade arrangement, with • a building (1) which has a facade (8) and a roof (2), • and a climbing aid (9) arranged outside the facade (8), which is designed to provide support for a plant (12) in use, characterized by , that the facade arrangement continues to include the following elements: • a planting container (10) designed to hold a planting substrate and the roots of the plant (12) in use, • a water storage tank (7) designed to collect rainwater from the roof (2) of the building (1) during use, • a collecting pipe (6) designed to carry rainwater from the roof (2) to the water storage tank (7) during use, • a supply line (14) running from the water reservoir (7) to the plant container (10) such that stored water is carried from the water reservoir (7) into the plant container (10), • a supplementary line (16) designed to supply water from an external source to the water reservoir (7) or to the supply line (14) during use, • and a valve which is designed to generally close the supplementary line (16) during use and to only allow water from the external source to flow to the water storage tank (7) or into the supply line when the water level in the water storage tank (7) falls below a minimum level. [2] Facade arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the climbing aid (9) is attached to the facade (8). [3] Facade arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the plant container (10) is attached to the facade (8). [4] Facade arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a tank (13) is arranged in the planting container (10) which is designed to receive water from the supply line (14) during use, and that a capillary mat (18) extends from the tank to the substrate in the planting container (14) such that water from the tank (13) is automatically directed to the substrate by means of the capillary mat (18). [5] Facade arrangement according to claim 4, characterized by , that a float valve (15) is arranged in the tank (13) of the plant container (10), which is designed to ensure a certain water level in the tank (13) during use. [6] Facade arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the climbing aid (9) is designed as a lattice. [7] Facade arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the climbing aid (9) has struts with a diameter of at least 4 mm. [8] Facade arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the climbing aid (9) has struts which are designed as tubes. [9] Facade arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the external source is designed as a domestic water supply line. [10] Facade arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the external source is designed as a process wastewater line. [11] Kit for manufacturing a facade arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, comprising • a climbing aid (9) designed to be placed in front of the facade (8) of a building (1) and to provide support for a plant (12), • a planting container (10) designed to hold a planting substrate and the roots of the plant (12) in use, • a water storage tank (7) designed to collect rainwater from the roof (2) of the building (1) during use, • a collecting pipe (6) designed to convey rainwater to the water storage tank (7) during use, • a supply line (14) running from the water reservoir (7) to the plant container (10) such that stored water is carried from the water reservoir (7) into the plant container (10), • a supplementary line (16) designed to supply water from an external source to the water reservoir (7) or to the supply line (14) during use, • and a valve which is designed to generally close the supplementary line (16) during use and to only allow water from the external source to flow to the water storage tank (7) or into the supply line (14) when the water level in the water storage tank (7) falls below a minimum level.

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