Shared Pipeline Irrigation System with Time-Sequential Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current irrigation systems require multiple transport pipelines for different irrigation liquids, leading to increased complexity and cost, as well as aesthetic issues in managing various irrigation areas with distinct water and fertilizer needs.

Innovation Solution

An irrigation system with a single transport pipeline that carries different feeding liquids to multiple irrigation areas, utilizing a control module to manage the distribution of liquids and sprayers at different times, reducing the need for multiple pipelines and lowering user management costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple transport pipelines are used for different irrigation liquids, then each irrigation area can receive its required liquid independently, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent liquid deliveryVSAvoidpipeline arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic action by controlling different supply apparatuses to operate at different time intervals. The control module activates supply apparatuses sequentially based on growth conditions, crop types, and soil moisture levels, allowing different irrigation liquids to be delivered through a shared pipeline at different times rather than simultaneously through separate pipelines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges multiple separate transport pipelines into a single shared pipeline system. Multiple supply apparatuses connect to this common pipeline, and the control module manages the flow of different irrigation liquids through time-based scheduling, reducing the overall complexity of pipeline arrangement while maintaining independent delivery capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If a single transport pipeline is used for multiple irrigation areas, then pipeline arrangement becomes simpler, but conflicting irrigation liquids may interfere with each other

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepipeline arrangementVSAvoidliquid compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control module implements periodic action by sequentially activating different supply apparatuses based on real-time monitoring of crop needs and soil conditions. This time-based control ensures that incompatible irrigation liquids are delivered at different times through the shared pipeline, preventing chemical interference while simplifying pipeline arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control module acts as an intermediary that manages the flow of different irrigation liquids through the shared pipeline. It monitors growth conditions and coordinates the activation of supply apparatuses, ensuring that liquids are delivered in a sequence that prevents conflict while maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If separate pipelines are installed for each irrigation liquid, then precise control over liquid delivery is achieved, but installation cost and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid delivery controlVSAvoidinstallation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves precise liquid delivery control through periodic action managed by the control module. It monitors growth conditions, crop types, and soil moisture levels to determine when each supply apparatus should operate, delivering the correct liquid at the right time through a shared pipeline, thereby maintaining precision while reducing installation costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates self-service capabilities through automated monitoring and control. Sensors detect soil moisture and crop conditions, and the control module automatically activates the appropriate supply apparatuses without manual intervention, maintaining precise delivery control while reducing the need for complex manual pipeline systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If multiple pipelines are distributed across irrigation areas, then each area receives appropriate irrigation liquid, but the aesthetic appearance of the area is seriously affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveirrigation liquid distributionVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple separate pipelines into a single shared pipeline that is laid once across the irrigation area. This single pipeline connects to multiple supply apparatuses that are controlled sequentially, reducing the visual clutter of multiple distributed pipelines while ensuring each area receives the appropriate irrigation liquid through time-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control module implements periodic action by activating different supply apparatuses at different times based on crop needs and soil conditions. This allows a single pipeline to serve multiple irrigation areas with different liquid requirements, maintaining proper liquid distribution while preserving the aesthetic appearance by eliminating the need for multiple visible pipelines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3354128B1Irrigation system
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 POSITEC POWER TOOLS (SUZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP3354128B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3354128B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3354128B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides an irrigation system. The irrigation system includes a supply module, a transport pipeline, a spraying module, and a control module. The supply module includes a plurality of supply apparatuses for storing a plurality of feeding liquids. The control module controls the supply module to provide different feeding liquids at different time, and the different feeding liquids pass through a same segment of the transport pipeline at different time and flow to an irrigation area. The present invention further provides a method for controlling an irrigation system, and a control module controls different feeding liquids to pass through a same segment of a transport pipeline at different time and flow to an irrigation area. In the irrigation system, by using a same segment of the transport pipeline at different time, a quantity of pipelines of the irrigation system is reduced, so as to lower difficulty of arrangement of pipelines by a user, avoid affecting appearance, and reduce costs of the user.