Plant Module With Bottom Recess For Soil Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planting modules with vertically stacked planters face issues such as soil washing out during irrigation, requiring frequent refilling and removal of soil from lower planters, and lack of sufficient soil volume for plant roots.
Innovation Solution
The planting module features a bottom recess in the upper planter with water passage openings, creating a continuous soil body on the rear wall and allowing water distribution through all planters, preventing soil washing out and providing ample soil for root growth, with optional features like a water-collecting trough and removable half-shells for modular assembly and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If upper planters do not have a bottom and extend into the planter below to connect soil bodies, then irrigation water can reach the bottom planter through connected soil bodies, but soil is washed from upper planters into lower planters requiring frequent refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the upper planter is designed with differentiated local qualities: a bottom recess area without openings to retain soil and a surrounding area with water passage openings to allow water flow. This local differentiation enables selective passage of water while blocking soil particles, resolving the contradiction between irrigation efficiency and soil retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom surface of the upper planter is segmented into functional zones: a central bottom recess (soil retention zone) and a surrounding rim area with water passage openings (water flow zone). This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve connected soil bodies for irrigation while preventing soil washing out through the structured division of functions.
2Volume of moving object
If planters are arranged vertically one above the other, then space is utilized efficiently, but each planter requires individual watering and they remain relatively small
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple planters are merged into a single integrated system through the bottom recess design that connects soil bodies vertically. This merging allows water applied to the uppermost planter to distribute automatically to all lower planters through capillary action and gravity, eliminating individual watering operations while creating a large continuous soil volume for extensive root growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The connected soil bodies create a continuous medium for water movement throughout the vertical stack of planters. Water applied once at the top continuously distributes through all levels via the bottom recess structure, maintaining continuous irrigation action without repeated manual intervention and enabling a much larger effective soil volume.
3Loss of energy
If a water-collecting trough is added under the lower planter, then excess water can drain off, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The water-collecting trough is designed to be detachably connected to the planter system, allowing it to be easily removed for emptying and reuse. This self-service design enables the system to manage excess water automatically through gravity-driven drainage while maintaining simplicity through modular, user-friendly components that can be serviced without specialized tools or complex disassembly.
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 ensures efficient watering and minimizes soil loss, providing a larger soil volume for plant roots while allowing for easy assembly and maintenance, improving the overall functionality and efficiency of the planting system.
Implementation Method 1
water is distributed through the bottom recess(es) and the continuous soil body as well as through the water passage openings in all planters up to the lowest planter
Data Source
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AI summary
The module has upper and lower planting vessels provided vertically one above other and provided with a closed rear wall (1) and lower and upper half shells (22, 23) openly arranged one above the other at a front side of the rear wall. The lower and upper half shells form the lower and upper planting vessels together with the rear wall. The upper planting vessel comprises a bottom part with a bottom recess (4), where the bottom part is not provided with water-passage openings (5) in a region occupied by the recess. Retaining brackets for a water collecting trough are provided on the rear wall.