Rotatable Irrigation Supports to Block Root Intrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation devices often fail to maintain a stable position on the ground and are prone to clogging due to root penetration, which affects their efficiency and longevity.
Innovation Solution
The irrigation device features a generally arc-shaped housing with pivotally coupled supports, such as stakes or legs, that can be deployed to penetrate the ground or rest on the ground, and includes stopper members to prevent direct contact with the soil, thereby reducing root intrusion and maintaining device stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the irrigation device is placed directly on the ground, then it provides stable support, but the lower surface contacts the soil causing root penetration and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces stopper members as intermediary elements between the irrigation device's lower surface and the soil. These stoppers prevent direct contact while allowing the device to maintain stable placement, thereby blocking root penetration pathways without compromising structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds vertical dimension elements (stops and stopper members) that project upward from the ground level to contact the device's lower surface. This dimensional addition creates a barrier that prevents roots from reaching the device while maintaining horizontal stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If supports are added to prevent ground contact, then root intrusion is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support function into separate modular components: supports (stakes or legs) and stopper members. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall structure and enabling easy assembly and disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the root-blocking function from the main housing structure and implements it through separate stopper members attached to the supports. This extraction reduces the complexity of the housing while maintaining the protective function against root intrusion.
3Reliability
If stakes are used to penetrate the ground, then device stability is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pivotally coupled supports that can rotate between a storage position (parallel to the housing) and a deployed position (perpendicular to the housing). This dynamic mechanism simplifies installation by allowing the supports to be automatically positioned during placement without requiring manual assembly or complex adjustment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation device has a generally arc-shaped housing defining an opening through which a plant can grow when the device is placed on a ground face during use. The device further includes a plurality of stakes that can be fitted to the housing, wherein each stake can be rotated between a deployed state where the stake projects away from the housing in a position suitable for being placed into the ground and a non-deployed state where the stake is oriented sideways projecting into the opening.