Vegetable Carrying Box Zigzag Flow Nutrient Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soilless cultivation troughs experience non-uniform nutrient distribution due to flow blind angles, leading to suboptimal vegetable growth, and the use of refrigerators for preservation results in short vegetable storage times.

Innovation Solution

A vegetable carrying box with a zigzag flow passage and an atomizer ensures uniform nutrient distribution and controlled growth, while the flexible joint system and illumination component facilitate easy assembly, prevent leaks, and enhance light accessibility for vegetables.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple rectangular trough is used for cultivation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the nutrient solution creates flow blind angles at edges and corners causing non-uniform distribution of nutrient ingredients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrough structureVSAvoidnutrient distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces diversion partitions that segment the nutrient solution flow path within the rectangular trough. These partitions divide the flow into multiple channels, ensuring that nutrient solution reaches all areas including edges and corners uniformly, thereby eliminating flow blind angles while maintaining the simple rectangular trough structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds vertical diversion partitions that create a three-dimensional flow pattern within the two-dimensional trough cross-section. This dimensional approach allows nutrient solution to flow along zigzag paths, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the cultivation surface including previously inaccessible edge and corner areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple-layer cultivation troughs are connected by pipeline with pipe joints, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome disassembly and assembly and leakage problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem configuration flexibilityVSAvoidconnection operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the connection function into the trough structure itself by designing integrated connection portions that are part of the trough body. This eliminates separate pipe joints and their associated assembly/disassembly operations, while maintaining the ability to configure multiple layers through the integrated connection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a quick-connect mechanism as an intermediary element that simplifies the connection between troughs. This mediator component enables rapid assembly and disassembly without complex pipe joint operations, preventing leakage while maintaining system adaptability for different configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If upper layer cultivation troughs are placed directly above lower layer troughs, then the productivity is improved through multi-layer cultivation, but the illumination intensity for lower layer vegetables deteriorates due to shading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecultivation capacityVSAvoidlight availability for vegetables

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs transparent or translucent materials with optimized optical properties for the trough walls, allowing light to penetrate through upper layers to lower layers. The curved or angled design of trough surfaces optimizes light transmission while maintaining cultivation capacity, reducing shading effects in multi-layer configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

The solution ensures balanced vegetable growth and extended preservation time by ensuring uniform nutrient absorption and improved light distribution, while the flexible joint system and illumination component enhance operational efficiency and prevent leaks.

Implementation Method 1

atomizer atomizes the nutrient solution, so that the nutrient solution uniformly volatilizes to an upper space of the vegetable carrying box in a form of mist

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

a zigzag flow passage is formed between an area between a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, so that nutrient solution forms a nutrient solution flow inside the entire vegetable carrying box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS10299449B2Vegetable carrying box

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 HAIER GROUP CORP

AI summary

A vegetable carrying box includes a solution carrying box provided with a high-level liquid inlet and a low-level liquid outlet that are opposite to each other, where an area between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet in the solution carrying box is provided with protruding diversion partitions to form a zigzag flow passage, and an atomizer is disposed in the flow passage.