Hanging Garden Module with Bottom Reservoir and Cascade Overflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planting modules for hanging gardens face issues with uneven irrigation and fertilization when stacked, leading to over-fertilization of upper containers and under-fertilization of lower ones, and lack the ability to be easily combined into a vertical arrangement.
Innovation Solution
A modular planting system with a container and supply box design that allows for fluid connection via capillary action or a pump system, enabling efficient irrigation distribution through a cascade overflow mechanism, ensuring balanced water and nutrient supply across stacked modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If through-irrigation system is used with water introduced from above, then irrigation water can be supplied to plant containers, but plant containers located further down receive less water than those higher up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional top-down irrigation approach by placing the water reservoir at the bottom and using capillary wicks to transport water upward to the plant containers. This reversal of the irrigation direction ensures that all plants receive water from the same source level, eliminating the gradient effect where upper plants received more water than lower ones.
Solution Approach 2:
Capillary wicks serve as intermediaries between the bottom water reservoir and the plant containers. These wicks actively transport water upward through capillary action, ensuring uniform water distribution to all plants regardless of their vertical position, and preventing both over-fertilization of upper containers and under-fertilization of lower ones.
2Ease of operation
If water reservoir is located lower than plant container and fluidly connected via wicks, then individual supply of water to individual plant containers is possible, but stacking multiple plant modules is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The module design integrates both the water reservoir and plant container into a single standardized unit with universal connection features. The outlet at the bottom of each module can connect to the inlet of another module above it, allowing the same module design to serve both as a standalone unit and as part of a stacked vertical garden system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from horizontal placement to vertical stacking by adding vertical connection interfaces (outlet at bottom, inlet at top). This dimensional change allows multiple identical modules to be stacked vertically, creating space-efficient vertical gardens while maintaining the bottom-reservoir design benefits.
3Ease of operation
If supply box is filled from above through inlet, then irrigation water can be introduced into supply box, but the lid must be removed or supply box detached from container
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet is designed to remain continuously accessible through the lid without requiring removal or disassembly. This allows water filling to be performed at any time while the module remains assembled and in place, maintaining the continuous availability of the water supply system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be self-servicing through the accessible inlet, allowing users to refill water without needing to disassemble the module or seek external assistance. The inlet's permanent accessibility enables independent maintenance and operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures balanced irrigation and fertilization of individual containers, allowing for easy stacking and maintenance, while preventing waterlogging and enabling the growth of diverse plants with varying moisture needs.
Implementation Method 1
Fluid-connected means that the irrigation water contained in the supply box can reach the plant container above it via some type of connection, e.g., a wick or other structure that utilizes capillary action.
Data Source
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AI summary
A planting module for a hanging garden is described. The planting module comprises a container (4) with at least one planting container designed to hold planting soil and which can be inserted into the container (4), and a supply box (34) for supplying the planting container (14, 19, 20) with irrigation water. The supply box (34) is located lower than the planting container (14, 19, 20) and is fluidically connected to it. The supply box (34) has a base (37) and an overflow (46), which has an inlet (47) located above the base (37), which defines a maximum fill level in the supply box (34), and an outlet (45). The planting module (2, 54, 56, 58) has a lid (40) which is located at the upper end of the container (4) and has an inlet (42) for the irrigation water. A supply line (44) connected to the inlet (42) leads through the container (4) and empties into the supply box (34).The inlet (42) on the lid (40) and the outlet (45) on the overflow (46) are arranged such that, when plant modules (2, 54, 56, 58) are stacked on top of each other, irrigation water flowing from the outlet (45) of the upper plant module (2, 54, 56, 58) flows directly into the inlet (42) of the plant module (2, 54, 56, 58) below.