Hydroponic Spacer Element with Anchoring Frames for Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydroponic cultivation devices with drainage collection channels fail to prevent root contact with drainage water, leading to contamination and humidity issues, and lack effective anchoring and drainage management systems.
Innovation Solution
A spacer element with a grid structure and supporting legs is fixed to the drainage collection channel using anchoring frames, creating a large drainage space for efficient water circulation and aeration, while preventing root contact and providing controlled drainage and anchoring for the irrigation pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spacer is used to physically separate the substrate from the drainage channel, then root contact with drainage water is prevented, but the spacer material occupies large volume resulting in high humidity and poor water circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a geotextile material with porous structure as the spacer element. This porous material allows water to pass through while maintaining the physical separation between substrate and drainage channel, thus preventing root contact while enabling proper water circulation and reducing humidity accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The geotextile spacer element functions as a thin film that provides adequate separation between the substrate container and drainage channel. This thin film approach achieves the separation function without occupying excessive volume, allowing improved water circulation compared to bulky rigid spacers.
2Ease of operation
If clips and cords are used to fasten the channel, then the sides of the channel are kept open, but the drainage spacer and irrigation pipe cannot be maintained attached
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates the anchoring function and irrigation pipe support into a single anchoring frame structure. This combined design allows the frame to simultaneously secure the geotextile spacer and provide attachment points for the irrigation pipe, solving the problem of maintaining both components attached while keeping channel sides open for assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring frame acts as an intermediary element that connects and secures both the geotextile spacer and the irrigation pipe to the channel structure. This mediator component enables reliable attachment of both elements without requiring separate fastening mechanisms, while still allowing easy assembly with open channel sides.
3Ease of manufacture
If channel ends are closed by stapling or folding, then drainage outlets are created, but water-tightness is inadequate causing drainage escape and manual assembly requires many materials
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs flexible lid elements that can be fitted over the channel ends to provide water-tight closure. These flexible covers seal the drainage outlets effectively, preventing drainage escape while maintaining ease of assembly, replacing the inadequate stapling or folding methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid elements appear to be simple, inexpensive components that can be easily manufactured and assembled. These disposable or replaceable lids provide reliable water-tight closure without requiring complex assembly procedures or multiple different materials, addressing both ease of manufacture and reliability concerns.
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 design reduces humidity, prevents root growth and contamination, ensures effective drainage, and maintains the spacer element centered, facilitating quick water circulation and preventing fungal diseases.
Implementation Method 1
physically separating any hydroponic substrate or decorative plant pot from a drainage collection channel
Implementation Method 2
facilitates drainage circulation and collection
Implementation Method 3
provides the area with great aeration
Implementation Method 4
fastened to the sides of the channel by means of anchoring frames
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention comprises at least one spacer element (1) and a drainage collection channel (3), where the spacer element (1) is arranged in the channel (3), and a substrate contained inside a container element such as a plant pot or a bag is arranged on the spacer element (1). The spacer element (1) comprises a grid structure (1a) on the upper face of which is arranged the substrate-containing element; and supporting legs (1b) which extend from the lower face of the grid structure (1 a) and stand on the bottom of the channel (3). The spacer element (1) is fixed to sides (3b) of the channel (3) by means of anchoring frames (2).