Self-Feeding Watering Device with Capillary Guide String
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic watering devices for indoor plants often fail to effectively irrigate deeper soil layers, leading to high surface moisture and inadequate moisture in deeper soil areas.
Innovation Solution
A self-feeding watering device with a compact structure, featuring a water storage unit, regulating component, and a long nozzle cover with a water guide string that allows water to penetrate and permeate into the soil automatically, adjusting the irrigation flow rate by controlling the nozzle length and water level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If drip irrigation means or micro sprinklers are used, then the device structure is simple, but the soil moisture control is poor and deeper soil cannot be effectively irrigated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from surface-level irrigation (drip irrigation/micro sprinklers) to deep vertical irrigation by inserting the nozzle assembly into the soil. The long nozzle tube extends deep into the flower pot soil, delivering water directly to the root zone rather than the surface, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and effective soil moisture control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water guide string as an intermediary element that connects the water source to the soil. The water guide string absorbs and transports water from the storage bottle through the nozzle tube into the soil, enabling effective deep irrigation while maintaining a simple overall device structure.
2Productivity
If the nozzle tube extends deeper into the water storage unit, then the water flow rate increases, but the water level control precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the nozzle tube length adjustable rather than fixed. The regulating component allows the nozzle tube to be inserted to different depths in the water storage unit, enabling dynamic adjustment of water flow rate. This resolves the contradiction by allowing users to optimize both flow rate and control precision according to specific irrigation needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables change of the nozzle tube insertion depth as a variable parameter. By adjusting the insertion depth of the nozzle tube into the water storage unit, the water flow rate can be controlled while maintaining precision through the regulating component's design, thus resolving the contradiction between flow rate and control precision.
3Measurement precision
If a complex regulation mechanism is added to control water flow, then the flow rate adjustment precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-regulating mechanism where the nozzle tube insertion depth automatically controls the water flow rate. The regulating component allows simple manual adjustment without complex electronics or additional control systems, achieving precise flow rate control while maintaining device simplicity through self-service operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flow control mechanisms (valves, pumps, electronic controllers) with a simpler mechanical system based on nozzle tube insertion depth. The regulating component uses basic mechanical principles to control water flow, achieving precision without increasing overall device complexity.
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
Ensures complete moisture of underlying soil, simplifies flow rate adjustment, and provides a cost-effective, easy-to-produce solution for efficient irrigation without the need for additional power sources, effectively addressing the limitations of existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a water guide string extending from a side wall of the water storage unit... The water guide string is configured for allowing water at the bottom of the water storage unit to penetrate into the outside of the water storage unit, and further guiding the water into the soil along the water guide string
Implementation Method 2
By rotating the regulating component, the long nozzle cover in the regulating component is brought to move up and down at the same time, so as to adjust a length of the long nozzle tube extending into the water storage unit, to control the water level height in the water storage unit, and further control the amount of water absorbed by the water guide string
Data Source
AI summary
A self-feeding watering device comprises a water storage unit, a regulating component and a long nozzle cover, and a water guide string extending out of the water storage unit. The regulating component is engaged to the water storage unit. The cover comprises a top cover for connecting with an external container and a long nozzle tube penetrating through the top cover and communicating with the top cover. The long nozzle tube further penetrates through the regulating component and extends towards a bottom of the water storage unit. The string is partially placed at the bottom of the water storage unit, and partially extends out of the water storage unit. The string allow water to penetrate into outside of the unit, and further guiding the water into the soil for automatic irrigation. The device has a compact structural body, can adjust a watering flow rate by a simplified means.