GB2541862A

GB2541862A - Irrigation kit

Info

Publication number: GB2541862A
Application number: GB1511283.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chappell Natasha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-06-26
Filing date: 2015-06-26
Publication date: 2017-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-26
Also published as: GB2541862B; GB201511283D0

Abstract

A kit for culturing plants comprises a timer valve 2, a conduit 3, and a plurality of cultivation units 4 each having a float valve 5, wherein the conduit conveys fluid from a source into the cultivation units, the timer valve operates according to pre-set times to control the flow of fluid through the conduit, and the float valve stops the flow of fluid when the level of fluid in the cultivation unit reaches a predetermined level. The cultivation units may be provided with a plurality of channels or raised projections in the base. The float valve may be located within the cultivation unit and the vessel may have a first section which is of a smaller width than a second section and the first section receives the float valve. Also disclosed is a method of using the kit for controlling flow of fluid to cultivation units.

Description

IRRIGATION KIT

The present invention relates to an irrigation kit for culturing plants. In addition, the invention provides a method for culturing plants.

Background of Wo Invention

It is well established that plants generally absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions from solution in water. In natural conditions, soil typically acts as a substrate for plants to grow on and it provides a mineral nutrient reservoir. When nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them and provide the plant with sufficient nutrients to grow.

To carefully control the amounts of water and nutrients provided to a plant, hydroponic techniques have been developed. Typically, a hydroponic technique for growing plants includes cultivating one or more plants in one or more containers containing inert growing medium, for example clay granules. At regular intervals, a nutrient solution is pumped into the containers from a reservoir of nutrient solution. After a specified interval, the medium is pumped back into the reservoir. This cycling of solution ensures that the growing medium is regularly flushed with nutrients and air to provide plants with optimised growing conditions.

Advantages of hydroponic techniques for growing plants compared to techniques of growing plants in soil include:

No soil is required for hydroponic techniques.

Water stays in the hydroponic equipment and is not lost, thereby lowering water costs.

The concentration of nutrients provided to plants can be closely controlled, thereby lowering the cost of nutrition.

Stable and high yields of plants can be achieved.

Eradication of plant disease and plant pests is facilitated because a plant and the container in which is grows are highly mobile.

Harvesting of plants is facilitated.

However, despite the advantages of growing plants in hydroponic conditions, there are also a number of drawbacks. For example, if an incorrect amount of water or nutrients are provided to a plant, it can result in disease or rapid death of the plant. In addition, different varieties of plants require different amounts of water and nutrients. This means that users have found it difficult to use hydroponic systems properly and so there remains a need for apparatus for growing plants in soil.

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative which preferably addresses one or more of the problems presented by prior art arrangements.

Summary of the Invention

The kit of the present invention employs a timer valve as well as a float valve to provide sufficient fluid to plants whilst avoiding provision of too much fluid. Remarkably, this allows production of a kit with technical advantages as will be detailed below.

Thus, in a first aspect, the invention provides a kit for culturing plants, wherein the kit comprises a timer valve, a conduit, and a plurality of cultivation units each having a float valve, wherein the conduit is for conveying fluid from a source into the cultivation units, the timer valve opens or closes according to pre-set times to control the flow of fluid through the conduit, and wherein the float valve closes to stop the flow of fluid when the level of fluid in the cultivation unit reaches a predetermined level.

Preferably, the kit further comprises a container for growing plant(s) in. Preferably, the container is a fabric pot, woven bag, a plant support structure, a propagator, or a pot produced of plastics.

Preferably, the container is filled with medium or contains medium for supporting the roots of a plant. Alternatively, the cultivation unit contains no medium. Preferably, the medium is selected from the group which consists of one or more of soil, compost, expanded day aggregate, grow stones, coir, rice hulls, periite, pumice, vermiculife, sand, gravel, wood fibre, sheep wool, rock wool, brick shards, pebbles, polystyrene packing peanuts.

Preferably, the kit further comprises a connector for connecting the conduit or the timer valve to a fluid source. Preferably, the connector is dimensioned to mate with a standard tap or standard quick release connector, for example of the type commonly used on a garden hose. This provides the advantage of facilitating use of the kit.

Preferably, the kit further comprises a reservoir, for example a water but. Preferably, the reservoir is suitable for providing fluid to the conduit. Preferably, the reservoir is capable of holding a sufficient volume of fluid. For example, the reservoir is capable of holding 1001, 2501, 5001 or 7501 of fluid. Preferably, the reservoir is defined by a bottom and a side extending upwardly therefrom. In an embodiment, the reservoir is barrel shaped. Preferably, the reservoir has a tap or connector located in a side of the reservoir proximal to the bottom of the reservoir. Preferably the tap or connector is dimensioned to mate with the connector described above.

Preferably, the reservoir is in fluid communication with at least one cultivation unit. More preferably, the reservoir is in fluid communication with a plurality of cultivation units.

Preferably, the fluid is a liquid, for example water or an aqueous solution. In an embodiment, the liquid is a composition. The composition preferably comprises water. The composition preferably comprises an aqueous solution of nutrients, for example mineral nutrients or plant food.

In an embodiment, the kit comprises a pack of nutrients which can be opened and the nutrients dissolved in water to provide the correct concentration of nutrients for a plant.

Preferably, the timer valve comprises a timer and a valve. The timer is preferably mechanical or electronic. For example, the timer is a digital timer. Preferably, the timer is a twenty-four hour timer. This has the advantage of enabling the same fill and drain times each day. The timer valve is preferably capable of allowing or preventing flow of fluid from the fluid source through the conduit at pre-set times. In an embodiment, the timer is set to be activated for pre-set times. For example the timer is pre-set to be activated for a set number of minutes, e.g. five minutes, in each twenty four hour period. Alternatively, the times and duration for activation by the timer can be adjusted by the user to suit their own particular requirements.

Preferably the conduit comprises a tube or pipe, preferably of flexible PVC hose. Preferably, the tube or pipe has an internal diameter of about 10 mm to about 15 mm, more preferably about 12.5 mm. This internal diameter has been found to function particularly well, because it is sufficiently large not to become blocked by plant debris. The conduit provides fluid communication from a fluid source to a cultivation unit and the timer valve is provided in the conduit or at an end of the conduit. In addition, the conduit provides fluid communication between each cultivation unit. For example, in an embodiment, the timer valve is placed at a first end or proximal to a first end of the conduit, adjacent to a fluid source. In an alternative embodiment, the timer valve is placed at a second end or proximal to a second end of the conduit, distal to a fluid source. In a further alternative embodiment, the timer valve is placed in the conduit, substantially equidistant to a fluid source and a cultivation unit.

Preferably, the cultivation unit comprises a tray having a base and a wall extending upwardly therefrom, thereby defining a vessel. Preferably, a plurality of channels is provided in the base or a plurality of raised projections are provided on the base. The channels or projections provide the base of the tray with a bottom and a raised platform. This provides the advantage that when a container for growing piant(s) is placed in the tray, if is raised up from the bottom of the hay This provides the advantage that any liquid in the tray is distributed over the oottom surface of the container.

Preferably, the float valve is located inside tx> vessel defined by the base and the wall of the tray and the float valve comprises a valve and a float. When the fluid level is sufficiently high in the cultivation unit, the fluid is able to float the float in the float valve, This causes the float valve to signal the valve to close, for example by exerting a force on the valve. This stops further flow of fluid to the cultivation unit,

Preferably, the tray has a first section having a smaller width than a second section. The first section of the tray is dimensioned to receive the float valve and it is smaller than the second section of the tray which is dimensioned to receive at least one container for growing plant(s) in. In this regard, one wall of the first section is indented compared to the wall of the second section. In other words, the section of the tray which receives at least one container for growing plant(s) in has a greater width than the first section and it is defined by a wall that projects further than the wall of the first section. Advantageously, the first section having smaller dimensions provides a wail for joining a cultivation unit to the conduit and space is provided for making the connection between the conduit and the cultivation unit, thereby allowing the conduit to be positioned closely to the walls of the cultivation units.

When the fluid level is sufficiently low in the cultivation unit, the absence of fluid causes the float to descend and this opens the valve of the float valve. However, even though the float valve is open, fluid only flows from the fluid source to a cultivation unit if the timer valve is also open. The flow of fluid can therefore be controlled so that a cultivation unit can be substantially empty of fluid and advantageously, this allows air to reach the roots of any plants in the cultivation unit by means of the medium being allowed to at least partially dry out.

Preferably, the kit further comprises a lid which encloses at least part of the vessel defined by the base and a wall of the tray. Preferably, the lid covers the part of the tray in which the float valve is located. This provides the advantage of limiting the amount of light provided to this part of the tray and thereby limits growth of algae.

In use, when the timer is activated a signal is provided to the valve of the timer valve and the valve of the timer valve is opened. When the timer is deactivated, a signal is provided to the valve of the timer valve and the valve is closed. Thus, by setting the time(s) at which the timer is activated and deactivated, the times of opening and closing of the valve of the timer valve can be carefully controlled.

In addition, in use, the valve of the float valve opens only when the water level in the cultivation unit tray drops to a level below a predetermined level. Conversely, the valve of the float valve closes when the water level in the cultivation unit reaches a level above a predetermined level.

Combined use of the timer valve and the float valve, provides the ability to carefully control the quantity of fluid provided to the cultivation units.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for irrigation of plants which comprises the steps of providing a timer valve, a conduit, and a plurality of cultivation units each having a float valve, wherein the conduit conveys fluid from a source into the cultivation units, the timer valve is set to open or dose according to pre-set times to control the flow of fluid through the conduit, and wherein the float valve closes to stop the flow of fluid when the level of fluid in the cultivation unit reaches a predetermined level.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of employing a kit for controlling flow of fluid from a fluid source to a plurality of cultivation units according to the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a diagram of a cultivation unit according to the invention; and Figure 3 shows a diagram of a float valve according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

It will be appreciated that aspects, embodiments and preferred features of the invention have been described herein in a way that allows the specification to be written in a clear and concise way. However, unless circumstances clearly dictate otherwise, aspects, embodiments and preferred features can be variously combined or separated in accordance with the invention. Thus, preferably, the invention provides a device having features of a combination of two or more, three or more, or four or more of the aspects described herein. In a preferred embodiment, a device in accordance with the invention comprises all aspects of the invention.

Within the context of this specification, the word "about" means plus or minus 20%, more preferably plus or minus 10%, even more preferably plus or minus 5%, most preferably pius or minus 2%.

Within the context of this specification, the word "comprises" means "includes, among other things" and should not be construed to mean "consists of only".

Within the context of this specification, the word "substantially" means preferably at least 90%, more preferably 95%, even more preferably 98%, most preferably 99%. A kit in accordance with the invention is shown in figure 1,

The kit (1) comprises a timer valve (2), a conduit (3), and a plurality of cultivation units (4) each having a float valve (5), wherein the conduit (3) is for conveying fluid from a source (6) into the cultivation units (4), the timer valve (2) opens or closes according to pre-set times to control the flow of fluid through the conduit (3), and wherein the float valve (5) closes to stop the flow of fluid when the level of fluid in the cultivation unit (4) reaches a predetermined level.

The kit (1) further comprises a fabric pot container (7) for growing plant(s) in.

The container (7) contains soil or compost for supporting the roots of a plant

The kit (1) further comprises a connector (8) which is dimensioned to mate with a standard tap or standard quick release connector, for example of the type commonly used on a garden hose.

The kit (1) further comprises a reservoir (6), for example a wafer but. The reservoir (6) is capable of holding 1001, 2501, 5001 or 7501 of fluid. The reservoir (6) is barrel shaped and is defined by a bottom (9) and a side (10) extending upwardly therefrom. The reservoir (6) has a tap (11) or connector located in a side (10) of the reservoir (6) proximal to the bottom (9) of the reservoir (6). The tap (11) or connector is dimensioned to mate with the connector (8).

The reservoir (6) is In fluid communication with a plurality of cultivation units (4).

The fluid is an aqueous solution of nutrients, for example mineral nutrients or plant food.

In one embodiment, the kit (1) comprises a pack of nutrients which can be opened and the nutrients dissolved in water to provide the correct concentration of nutrients for a plant.

The timer valve (2) comprises an electronic twenty-four hour timer and a valve which is capable of allowing or preventing flow of fluid from the fluid source through the conduit at pre-set times.

The conduit (3) comprises a tube or pipe of flexible PVC hose having an internal diameter of about 12.5 mm. The conduit (3) provides fluid communication from a fluid source (6) to a cultivation unit (4) and the timer valve (2) is provided in the conduit (3) at a first end (12) or proximal to a first end (12) of the conduit (3), adjacent to a fluid source (6). In addition, the conduit (3) provides fluid communication between each cultivation unit (4).

The cultivation unit (4) shown in Figure 2 comprises a tray (13) having a base (14) and a wall (15) extending upwardly therefrom, thereby defining a vessel (16). A plurality of raised projections (17) are provided on the base (14). This provides the base of the tray with a bottom (18) and a raised platform (19),

The float valve (5) shown in Figure 3 is located inside the vessel (16) defined by the base (14) and the wall (15) of the tray (13) and the float valve (5) comprises a valve (20) and a float (21). When the fluid level is sufficiently high in the cultivation unit (4), the fluid is able to float the float (21) in the float valve (5). This causes the float valve (5) to signal the valve (20) to close, by exerting a force on the valve (20), This stops further flow of fluid to the cultivation unit (4),

The tray (13) has a first section (22) having a smaller width than a second section (23), The first section (22) of the tray (13) is dimensioned to receive the float valve (5) and it is smaller than the second section (23) of the tray (13) which is dimensioned to receive at least one container (7) for growing plant(s) in,

The kit (1) further comprises a lid (24) which encloses at least part of the vessel (16) defined by the base (14) and a wall (15) of the tray (13), The lid (24) covers the section of the tray (13) in which the float valve (5) Is located.

It will of course be understood that many variations may be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention,

Claims

-CLAIMS

1, A kit for culturing plants which comprises a timer valve, a conduit, and a plurality of cultivation units each having a float valve, wherein the conduit is for conveying fluid from a source into the cultivation units, the timer valve opens or closes according to pre-set times to control the flow of fluid through the conduit, and wherein the float valve closes to stop the flow of fluid when the level of fluid in the cultivation unit reaches a predetermined level.

2, The kit according to claim 1 which further comprises a container for growing plant(s) in.

3, The kit according to claim 2 wherein the container is a fabric pot, woven bag, a plant support structure, a propagator, or a pot produced of plastics.

4, The kit according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the container is filled with medium or contains medium for supporting the roots of a plant,

5, The kit according to any one of the preceding claims which further comprises a connector for connecting the conduit or the timer valve to a fluid source.

6, The kit according to claim 5 wherein the connector is dimensioned to mate with a standard tap or standard quick release connector.

7, The kit according to any one of the preceding claims which further comprises a reservoir.

8, The kit according to claim 7 wherein the reservoir is capable of holding 1001, 2501, 5001 or 7501 of fluid.

9. The kit according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the reservoir is defined by a bottom and a side extending upwardly therefrom and the reservoir has a tap or connector located in a side of the reservoir proximal to the bottom of the reservoir.

10. The kit according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with at least one cultivation unit, or a plurality of cultivation units.

11. The kit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fluid is a liquid selected from water or an aqueous so.ution of nutrients, optionally mineral nutrients or plant food.

12. The kit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the timer valve comprises a timer and a valve and wherein the timer is mechanical or electronic, optionally wherein the timer is a twenty-four hour timer.

13. The kit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the conduit comprises a tube or pipe, optionally of flexible PVC hose.

14. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the tube or pipe has an internal diameter of about 10 mm to about 15 mm.

15. The kit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cultivation unit comprises a tray having a base and a wall extending upwardly therefrom, thereby defining a vessel.

16. The kit according to claim 15 wherein a plurality of channels is provided in the base or a plurality of raised projections are provided on the base.

17. The kit according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the float valve is located inside the vessel defined by the base and the wail of the tray and the float valve comprises a valve and a float.

18. The kit according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the tray has a first section having a smaller width than a second section and the first section of the tray is dimensioned to receive the float valve and it is smaller than the second section of the tray which is dimensioned to receive at least one container for growing plant(s) in.

19. The kit according to any one of claims 15 to 18 which further comprises a lid which encloses at least part of the vessel defined by the base and a wall of the tray.

20. The kit according to claim 19 wherein the lid covers the part of the tray in which the float valve is located.

21. A method for irrigation of plants which comprises the steps of providing a timer valve, a conduit, and a plurality of cultivation units each having a float valve, wherein the conduit conveys fluid from a source into the cultivation units, the timer valve is set to open or close according to pre-set times to control the flow of fluid through the conduit, and wherein the float valve closes to stop the flow of fluid when the level of fluid in the cultivation unit reaches a predetermined level. 22< The method according to claim 21 which comprises the step of employing a kit according to any one of claims 1 to 20 for controlling flow of fluid from a fluid source to a plurality of cultivation units.

23, A device or method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.