Capillary rise irrigation device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capillary rise irrigation device comprising a container made of waterproof material, which is installed in a hole dug in the ground where the cultivated tree or plant it is intended for is planted and which is a suitable size for holding the portion of soil in which the tree roots grow. The device further comprises a water retention area, as well as means for guiding the retained water by capillary action to the roots of the tree and water inlet means in order for water to enter the retention area.

Description

[0001] CAPILLARY UPFLOW IRRIGATION DEVICE

[0002] DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention, as expressed in the title of this specification, relates to an ascending capillary irrigation device that provides, for its intended function, advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail below.

[0005] The object of the present invention lies in a device that, essentially formed by an impermeable bucket, with soil where the tree or crop plant for which it is intended is planted, mainly fruit trees but without this implying a strict limitation, a water retention zone, which can consist of either a series of layers located at the bottom or in a lateral reservoir, and in which means are provided to deliver water from said zone to the roots of the tree by capillarity and, optionally, air, thanks to which said tree or plant will have the capacity to irrigate itself by capillarity on demand and without the need to be subjected to periodic irrigation, with the advantage of not wasting water and ensuring the irrigation necessary for the development of the plant.

[0006] FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of irrigation accessories, focusing particularly on the field of capillary irrigation systems.

[0008] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, although different controlled irrigation systems designed to optimize water savings and reduce water waste are known and exist on the market, at least by the applicant, the existence of any that has technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal to or similar to those presented by the device claimed here is unknown.

[0009] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The ascending capillary irrigation device proposed by the invention is configured as an improved alternative to what is currently known on the market, with the characterizing details that make it possible and distinguish it conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description.

[0011] Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously indicated, is a device that aims to provide an irrigation system for cultivated plants, particularly fruit trees, which is advantageously distinguished by allowing the capacity to be irrigated by capillarity on demand, thus avoiding the need for periodic irrigation and with the advantage of optimizing water savings by not wasting water with said irrigation.

[0012] To this end, the device is essentially made up of a bucket made of impermeable material, which is installed in a hole dug in the ground where the tree or crop plant for which it is intended is planted, having dimensions suitable for covering the portion of soil in which the roots of the tree grow, a water retention area, with means to deliver the water retained in it by capillarity to the roots of the tree, as well as means of water entry into the retention area.

[0013] To do this, the device comprises a bucket containing a set of water and, optionally, air conduction elements, which will be installed in the hole excavated in the ground to plant the tree or crop plant prior to its incorporation, normally in the form of a seedling or young plant.

[0014] More specifically, in one embodiment, said bucket comprises, as a water retention area, in the lower part, arranged one on top of the other in the form of a "sandwich", several layers that cover, at least the bottom of the bucket and allow the isolation of the soil that covers the roots of the plant from the rest of the ground, specifically having, at least,:

[0015] - an intermediate layer of a structure that prevents the soil from collapsing onto the whole, preferably a grid,

[0016] - and a top layer of permeable fabric, allowing water to pass through to the soil in the bucket.

[0017] However, in one embodiment the said layer sandwich has:

[0018] - a bottom layer of insulating material, which provides insulation from the ground and does not allow water permeation downwards, which is preferably made of the same material that forms the walls of the bucket, although it can also be defined by the bottom of the bucket itself,

[0019] - the intermediate layer of structure that prevents the soil from collapsing on the assembly, preferably made of grating,

[0020] - and, above the previous ones as the top layer of the sandwich, another thin layer, in this case the permeable fabric layer, such that it allows water to pass through to the soil in the bucket.

[0021] And, in an alternative embodiment, the water retention area also comprises a side reservoir that communicates with the bucket with the soil in which the tree is planted by means of a connection tube that delivers water to the bottom of the bucket.

[0022] For its part, the entry of water to the retention area is done either through a pipe or through filtration.

[0023] Preferably, when the retention zone is formed solely by the layers of the bottom of the bucket, a PVC tube, or other similarly resistant plastic material, is provided on one side of the interior of the bucket. This tube is micro-perforated along its surface and arranged vertically with one end inserted into the intermediate layer of sand at the bottom of the bucket and the other end protruding through the top of the soil in the bucket, allowing water to enter said area. Furthermore, a buoy is provided at the bottom of this tube which, at a certain height, closes the passage of the tube, in order to limit and control the water that penetrates the lower area of ​​the bucket, allowing it to enter when the level is low and causing it to close automatically when it is high and, therefore, when the tree does not need it.

[0024] And when the retention area is a side tank, the described tube is arranged vertically with one end inserted inside the tank and the other end protruding from the top to the outside, in such a way that it allows water to enter said area.

[0025] Optionally, the side water retention tank has a lid made of filter material, such as gravel, through which the water also filters to fill the tank, while the soil bucket is covered with a solid, non-filtering lid that prevents water from passing through.

[0026] In any case, according to an additional characteristic of the invention, preferably in the central area of ​​the interior of the bucket, and arranged so that it surrounds the roots of the tree or plant, the incorporation of a thin hose coiled in a spiral is contemplated with the ends arranged so that they are outside the soil of the bucket, such that fertilizers necessary for the proper growth of the tree can be introduced through one of said ends. This special arrangement of the spiral hose around the roots allows for the production of microcurrents of air that oxygenate said roots.

[0027] Thus, the main advantages provided by the device of the invention are:

[0028] - Control the water used to irrigate the tree.

[0029] - Take advantage of irrigation water.

[0030] - To be able to guarantee the irrigation of the trees.

[0031] - It also allows for fertilizer treatments, as the bucket acts as a seat, preventing the water from mixing with the soil and therefore the fertilizer is utilized 100%, without wasting water or fertilizer products, fertilizers, etc.

[0032] Preferably, the described elements comprising the irrigation device will be sold together in kit form to be installed under each tree or crop plant to be planted.

[0033] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description being made and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, a drawing is attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

[0034] Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an example of a first embodiment of the ascending capillary irrigation device object of the invention, specifically a variant with several layers at the bottom of the bucket as a water retention area, which is represented once installed under the tree for which it is intended, showing the main parts and elements it comprises, as well as their configuration and arrangement; Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of an example of a second embodiment of the device of the invention, in this case a variant with a lateral tank as a water retention area.

[0035] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, one can observe in them the non-limiting embodiments of the ascending capillary irrigation device of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0037] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the device (1) of the invention essentially comprises:

[0038] - a bucket (2) made of impermeable material, which is installed in the hole dug in the ground where the tree (a) or crop plant for which it is intended is planted, having dimensions suitable for covering the portion of ground (t) in which the roots of the tree grow,

[0039] - a water retention zone, with means to deliver the retained water by capillarity to the roots of the tree (a), and

[0040] - a means of water entry into the retention area.

[0041] Looking at figure 1, it can be seen how, in a variant embodiment, the water retention zone is defined by a series of superimposed layers (3, 4, 6) that cover the bottom of the bucket (2), where at least one of them is a permeable layer (6) that acts as a means to bring the water to the tree by capillarity.

[0042] Preferably, said layers may comprise:

[0043] - a lower layer of insulating material (3), which provides insulation from the ground by preventing water permeability, and which is preferably made of the same material as the walls of the bucket (2) or is defined by the bottom of the bucket (2),

[0044] - an intermediate layer of structure (4) of grating or other material, such as sand, which prevents the assembly from collapsing, and

[0045] - the upper thin layer of permeable fabric (6).

[0046] However, in an embodiment as shown in Figure 2, said layers comprise only:

[0047] - the thin intermediate structure layer (4) that prevents the assembly from collapsing, and

[0048] - the upper thin layer of permeable fabric (6). And, looking at said figure 2, it can be seen how, in a second embodiment variant of the invention, the water retention area also comprises a tank (10) located laterally to the bucket (2), which communicates with said bucket (2) by means of a connection tube (11) to deliver the water to the bottom of the same.

[0049] On the other hand, for the entry of water into the retention area, the device preferably comprises a vertical tube (8) made of resistant plastic material, which is arranged with the upper end (8b) open to the outside and the lower end (8a) inserted in the retention area, that is, either between the layers (3, 4, 6) of the bottom of the bucket (2) or inside the side tank (10), comprising in all cases a system for closing (9) the passage of water.

[0050] In the preferred embodiment, this vertical tube (8), which is preferably made of PVC, is microperforated along its surface, and as a closing system (9) for the passage of water, in the lower part of the same it has an adjustable buoy to allow the passage of water to the retention area of ​​the bottom of the bucket (2) or the side tank (10) when the level is low and close it when it is high.

[0051] Furthermore, preferably, the side tank (10) is covered above, at the level of the ground surface, with a lid made of filtering material (12), for example gravel, serving as an alternative or complementary means in this case for the entry of water into the retention area, while the bucket (2) is covered with a non-filtering lid (15).

[0052] Preferably, the side tank (10) includes an overflow (14) to allow the water to escape if it is completely full, which can be connected to a hose to conduct the excess water to another area of ​​the land.

[0053] Also, optionally, the bucket (2) can incorporate a level tube (13) to check the water level inside it.

[0054] Finally, in either of the two variants, the device comprises the inclusion of a thin spiral hose (7), capable of being wound around the roots of the tree (a), with an input end (7a) and an output end (7b) arranged so that they are outside the soil (t) of the bucket (2), being suitable for introducing fertilizers and allowing microcurrents of air to be produced that oxygenate said roots.

[0055] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages derived from it.

Claims

1 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE characterized by comprising: - a bucket (2) made of impermeable material, which is installed in the hole dug in the ground where the tree (a) or crop plant for which it is intended is planted, having dimensions suitable for covering the portion of ground (t) in which the roots of the tree grow, - a water retention zone, with means to deliver the retained water by capillarity to the roots of the tree (a), and - a means of water entry into the retention area. 2 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the water retention zone is defined by a series of superimposed layers (3, 4, 6) that cover the bottom of the bucket (2), where at least one of them is a permeable layer (6) that acts as a means to deliver the water to the tree by capillarity. 3 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to claim 2, characterized in that the layers of the water retention zone at the bottom of the tank (2) comprise, at least: - an intermediate layer of structure (4) of grating or other material so that it does not collapse under the weight of the soil, and - a top layer of permeable fabric (6). 4 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to claim 3, characterized in that the layers of the water retention zone at the bottom of the tank (2) further comprise a lower layer of insulating material (3). 5 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower layer of insulating material (3) is made of the same material that forms the walls of the tank (2) and / or is defined by the bottom of the tank (2). 6 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water retention area comprises a lateral tank (10) that communicates with the bucket (2) by means of a connection tube (11) to deliver the water to the bottom of the same. 7 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to any of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, for the entry of water into the retention zone, it comprises a vertical tube (8) made of resistant plastic material, which is arranged with the upper end (8b) open to the outside and the lower end (8a) inserted, or between the layers (3, 4, 6) of the bottom of the bucket (2) or in the side tank (10), comprising a system for closing (9) the passage of water. 8 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to claim 7, characterized in that, as a system for closing (9) the passage of water, the vertical tube (8) has an adjustable buoy in the lower part of the same to allow the passage of water when the level is low and close it when it is high. 9 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to any of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the vertical tube (8) is microperforated along its surface. 10 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the vertical tube (8) is made of PVC. 11.- ASCENDING CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to claim 6, characterized in that, for the entry of water into the retention zone, the tank (10) is covered at surface level with a cover (12) made of filter material. 12 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bucket (2) incorporates a level tube (13) to check the water level inside it. 13 - UPWARD CAPILLARY IRRIGATION DEVICE, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a thin spiral hose (7), capable of being wound around the roots of the tree (a), with an inlet end (7a) and an outlet end (7b) arranged so that they are outside the soil (t) of the bucket (2), to introduce fertilizers and allow microcurrents of air to be produced that oxygenate said roots.

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