Plant Tray With Segmented Floor For Capillary Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plant trays face challenges with mat irrigation due to insufficient spacing between plant pots and the lower floor area, which hinders capillary water transport and reliable ebb/flood irrigation, and also complicates ventilation.
Innovation Solution
The design features a lower floor area that forms the primary support, reducing the wall thickness and allowing the plant pot's weight to be directly absorbed, with channels for irrigation and drainage that are sufficiently large for effective capillary and overhead irrigation, and ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If plant pots are placed on the upper side of channels, then the channels can provide structural support, but the spacing between plant pots and the lower floor area increases, preventing successful mat irrigation
Solution Approach 1:
The floor area is segmented into two functional zones: upper soil areas that provide structural support and lower floor areas that contact the substrate for irrigation. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interference from the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a vertical stacking arrangement to a horizontal spatial arrangement where support functions and irrigation functions are separated across different dimensions of the floor area, enabling both structural integrity and effective mat irrigation.
2Productivity
If channels are designed for ebb/flood irrigation, then rapid drainage is enabled, but soft and high-build mats cannot reliably function due to insufficient space for surge-like penetration
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the floor area have different properties: the lower floor areas are designed with properties suitable for mat contact and capillary irrigation, while the channels provide rapid drainage pathways. This local differentiation allows both functions to operate effectively simultaneously.
3Quantity of substance
If wall thickness is reduced in the lower part, then material costs are reduced and space utilization is optimized, but the load-bearing capacity must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The floor area is segmented into support-bearing regions and non-support regions. The support regions maintain sufficient thickness to bear plant pot weights, while non-support regions can be thinner, optimizing overall material usage without compromising structural integrity where needed.
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 stable pot placement, efficient irrigation, and improved ventilation, allowing for secure pot support and reduced material costs while optimizing space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
at least the greater part of the weight of the plant pot directly into the lower soil area, which at least is the contact area for the plant tray on the underside with trains, is initiated
Implementation Method 2
mat irrigation based on capillary water transport cannot be carried out successfully
Implementation Method 3
channels required for surge-like penetration or for rapid drainage of water
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Plant tray made of plastic, comprising a plurality of compartments (3) designed to accommodate at least one planting pot (2). At least one of the compartments (3) has a bottom with at least one bottom hole (4, 11), said bottom transitioning at the edges into walls (6) of the plant tray (1), forming, on the lower face, a support surface (14) for the plant tray (1), and, on the upper face, at least one support for the planting pot (2). The bottom defines bottom regions of different height with respect to a plane of support as a result of a channel (8) that is formed on the lower face as a watering and/or draining channel. A compartment region which is located immediately above the lower bottom region (7) forming the support surface (14) can be watered and/or drained through the bottom hole (4, 11), the lower bottom region (7) forming at least part of the support. The invention also relates to a system comprising a plant tray.