Hole Plate Rack Height Adjustment for Hydroponic Root Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydroponic systems face challenges in adjusting the distance between a plant root system and the nutrient solution level effectively, leading to inefficient nutrient delivery and potential root rot, as existing methods are labor-intensive and often damage the plant root system.
Innovation Solution
A hole plate rack with height adjustment structures, featuring grooves and rotatable height cushion blocks, allows for precise adjustment of the distance between the plant root system and the nutrient solution level, reducing labor and minimizing damage to the plant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the nutrient solution level is adjusted manually by increasing or decreasing the solution volume, then the distance between the nutrient solution level and the cultivation plate can be changed, but this process is time-consuming and laborious, and accurate volume adjustment is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The hole plate rack is designed with movable and adjustable height, allowing it to be dynamically repositioned between different height levels. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to different growth stages of plants without manual intervention for solution level adjustment, thereby reducing both time and labor requirements while maintaining accurate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The height-adjustable rack serves as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed cultivation plate and the nutrient solution reservoir. By adjusting the rack's height, the system indirectly controls the effective distance between the plant roots and the nutrient solution, replacing the need for direct manual adjustment of solution volume.
2Ease of operation
If the plant or cultivation plate is moved to other cultivation tanks to adjust the distance, then the distance between the nutrient solution level and the cultivation plate can be changed, but this will damage the plant root system in addition to being laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The height-adjustable rack allows the cultivation plate to remain stationary while the rack itself is repositioned to different heights. This dynamic adjustment of the support structure eliminates the need to physically move or lift the heavy cultivation plate with delicate plant roots, thereby preventing root system damage while still achieving the required distance adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into separate functional components: the fixed cultivation plate containing the plants, the adjustable rack supporting the plate, and the nutrient solution reservoir. By adjusting only the rack component rather than moving the entire cultivation assembly, the system minimizes disturbance to the plant root system while achieving the desired adjustment.
3Reliability
If the nutrient solution level is kept close to the cultivation plate, then young roots can reach the nutrient solution easily, but this causes sponge blocks to absorb water and produce algae, and stems to remain wet causing disease
Solution Approach 1:
The height-adjustable rack enables dynamic adjustment of the distance between the cultivation plate and nutrient solution reservoir based on plant growth stage. During early growth stages, the rack can be positioned to bring roots closer to the solution for reliable nutrient delivery. As plants mature, the rack height can be increased to create appropriate spacing, preventing algae growth and stem wetness while maintaining reliable nutrient delivery through the adjusted configuration.
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
This solution enables efficient and precise adjustment of the nutrient solution depth, promoting healthy plant growth by preventing root rot and algae growth, while reducing labor and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
the height cushion blocks are rotatably connected into the grooves; and the height cushion blocks are rotated in the grooves from a first position to a second position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed a hole plate rack capable of adjusting a distance between a plant root system and a nutrient solution level. Height adjustment structures are added on both sides of the hole plate rack to adjust the distance between a seedling root system and the nutrient solution level. The height adjustment structures are designed on both sides of the hole plate rack, and include grooves dug in both sides of the hole plate rack, and height cushion blocks. Inner walls of the grooves are provided with height cushion block separators. The height cushion blocks are rotatably connected into mounting holes in the inner walls of the grooves through plug pins, and are rotated to different positions to realize height adjustment.