GB2031255A

GB2031255A - Watering plants

Info

Publication number: GB2031255A
Application number: GB7840399A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Manufacture Provencale de Matieres Plastiques SA
Current assignee: Manufacture Provencale de Matieres Plastiques SA
Priority date: 1977-06-10
Filing date: 1978-10-13
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: GB2031255B; DE2844502A1; FR2393528B1; FR2393528A1

Abstract

A device for watering plant tubs is optionally controlled automatically and manually so as to stop supplying water to the tub when the soil is sufficiently wet. A probe 20 in the body of earth in the tub 1 can transfer moisture to a membrane 15 which stretches when wetted. This permits lowering of an interrupter 3 which breaks a moisture-flow path from a water supply, in the tub, to the base of the earth layer via a capillary pad 4 which permanently dips in a reservoir and which engages, when membrane 15 is dry, a capillary pad 9 supplying a pad 11 at the base of the earth layer. Interrupter 3 can be lowered manually by a rod 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for watering plant tubs The subject matter of the invention relates to a device for controlling hygrometry in plant tubs.

It makes it possible to obtain automatic or manual cut-off of water fed by capillary action from a water store to any container containing plants.

In devices known to date, continuous watering was often excessive for certain types of plants, which gave rise to the rapid exhaustion of the water store and to rotting of the plants; moreover, these installations were integrated with the whole of the plant tub and could not be modified or changed without first removing all the plants.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks and make it possible to reduce, suspend or resume watering of the growing medium and to operate either automatically or manually, with hydrometric adjustment and control suited to each type of plant, while enabiing the devices to be removed without taking the plants out of the container.

It is another object of the invention to provide a distributing housing combined with an integrated removable element which comprises an interrupter device, an element controlling the triggering of the interrupter or of the wetting contact and a unit providing for automatic operation by means of an extensible membrane.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the following description of a preferred qmbodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an elevation view of the device, in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 shows the wetting contact interrupter in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a plant tub, containing the device.

Fig. 4 shows a detail, of a different scale, of the positioning of fixed sounding and wetting absorbent wicks in the plant tub.

Fig. 5 is a view from above of possible locations for siting the device in a plant tub.

The automatic or manual interrupter device consists of an enveloping housing comprising a fixed system, positioned permanentlv in the tub and equipped with a distributing and sounding unit, and an integrated removable system comprising the capillarity interrupter and the manual and automatic operating control elements.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the removable system comprises on the inside an interrupter 3 covered by an absorbent pad 4 having a dipping part. This interrupter is connected to a stem 5 fitted with a spring 6 whose tension can be adjusted by means of rod 7. Rod 8 is used in manual operation to lock the interrupter in either its absorption or watering cut-off positions.

In its "up" position, Fig. 1 , the interrupter makes contact with bearer 9' carrying an enveloping absorbent pad 9 extending outside the casing to a portion 10 which makes contact with another pad 11 integral with fixed housing 1 and which impregnates absorbent pad 12 of grid 1 3.

This impregnation ceases as soon as the movable interrupter 3 is no longer in contact with fixed bearer 9'.

Bearer 14 serves as a fixed leverage for spring 6 whose tension, adjustable by rod 7, makes it possible to limit the travel of interrupter 3.

Interrupter 3 is connected to cne end of a membrane 1 5 which can stretch when damp and which has its other end fixed at point 1 6. The two sections of membrane 1 5 are surrounded by an absorbent pad 1 7 having a contact portion 18 on the outer casing of housing 2, which contact portion makes contact with another pad 1 9 mounted on fixed housing 1 which is connected to the probe 20, which penetrates into the earth mass.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, tubs 21 each comprise a tank 22 containing water with a ventilation chimney 23, a grid 1 3 with an absorbent pad distributing water under the earth mass 24 into which penetrates, at a different level, the probe 20, which may measure only a few centimetres. A sheet of air 25 is interposed between the grid and the water surface.

When membrane 1 5 dries out, it shrinks and by compressing spring 6, causes interrupter 3 to make contact with bearer 9' (arrow a). The pads 4 and 9 are edge to edge and, by capillary action, water spreads by means of pads 10 and 11 over the absorbent pad 12 covering grid 13 so as to continuously moisten the earth mass.

Moistening is transmitted to membrane 1 5 from probe 20 via surrounding pad 17. This moisture causes it to stretch, thereby permitting interrupter 3 to descend (arrow b) and moistening ceases immediately.

Control rod 8 makes it possible to ascertain the phase of the cycle; connected or interrupted. It also makes possible, by a locking system, manually to keep interrupter 3 in contact with or separate from bearer 9'. According to whether the plant requires more or less moisture, the interrupter may be adjusted by rod 7 which increases or reduces the tension of spring 6.

Referring to Fig. 5, this device may be positioned at any point in a tub, either on the side wall or in a corner. It can be fitted to square, rectangular or circular tubs of all shapes and sizes.

1. Device for regulating hygrometry in plant tubs to obtain automatic and manual cut-off of water fed by capillary action for moistening the earth mass in any container from a store of water, comprising a fixed housing supporting a removable mounting carrying a distribution and control unit.

2. Device, according to claim 1, wherein the removable mounting comprises an interrupttr carrying a dipping pad and integral with a vertically sliding rod fitted with a spring to control travel

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device for watering plant tubs The subject matter of the invention relates to a device for controlling hygrometry in plant tubs. It makes it possible to obtain automatic or manual cut-off of water fed by capillary action from a water store to any container containing plants. In devices known to date, continuous watering was often excessive for certain types of plants, which gave rise to the rapid exhaustion of the water store and to rotting of the plants; moreover, these installations were integrated with the whole of the plant tub and could not be modified or changed without first removing all the plants. It is an object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks and make it possible to reduce, suspend or resume watering of the growing medium and to operate either automatically or manually, with hydrometric adjustment and control suited to each type of plant, while enabiing the devices to be removed without taking the plants out of the container. It is another object of the invention to provide a distributing housing combined with an integrated removable element which comprises an interrupter device, an element controlling the triggering of the interrupter or of the wetting contact and a unit providing for automatic operation by means of an extensible membrane. Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the following description of a preferred qmbodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows an elevation view of the device, in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 shows the wetting contact interrupter in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a plant tub, containing the device. Fig. 4 shows a detail, of a different scale, of the positioning of fixed sounding and wetting absorbent wicks in the plant tub. Fig. 5 is a view from above of possible locations for siting the device in a plant tub. The automatic or manual interrupter device consists of an enveloping housing comprising a fixed system, positioned permanentlv in the tub and equipped with a distributing and sounding unit, and an integrated removable system comprising the capillarity interrupter and the manual and automatic operating control elements. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the removable system comprises on the inside an interrupter 3 covered by an absorbent pad 4 having a dipping part. This interrupter is connected to a stem 5 fitted with a spring 6 whose tension can be adjusted by means of rod 7. Rod 8 is used in manual operation to lock the interrupter in either its absorption or watering cut-off positions. In its "up" position, Fig. 1 , the interrupter makes contact with bearer 9' carrying an enveloping absorbent pad 9 extending outside the casing to a portion 10 which makes contact with another pad 11 integral with fixed housing 1 and which impregnates absorbent pad 12 of grid 1 3. This impregnation ceases as soon as the movable interrupter 3 is no longer in contact with fixed bearer 9'. Bearer 14 serves as a fixed leverage for spring 6 whose tension, adjustable by rod 7, makes it possible to limit the travel of interrupter 3. Interrupter 3 is connected to cne end of a membrane 1 5 which can stretch when damp and which has its other end fixed at point 1 6. The two sections of membrane 1 5 are surrounded by an absorbent pad 1 7 having a contact portion 18 on the outer casing of housing 2, which contact portion makes contact with another pad 1 9 mounted on fixed housing 1 which is connected to the probe 20, which penetrates into the earth mass. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, tubs 21 each comprise a tank 22 containing water with a ventilation chimney 23, a grid 1 3 with an absorbent pad distributing water under the earth mass 24 into which penetrates, at a different level, the probe 20, which may measure only a few centimetres. A sheet of air 25 is interposed between the grid and the water surface. When membrane 1 5 dries out, it shrinks and by compressing spring 6, causes interrupter 3 to make contact with bearer 9' (arrow a). The pads 4 and 9 are edge to edge and, by capillary action, water spreads by means of pads 10 and 11 over the absorbent pad 12 covering grid 13 so as to continuously moisten the earth mass. Moistening is transmitted to membrane 1 5 from probe 20 via surrounding pad 17. This moisture causes it to stretch, thereby permitting interrupter 3 to descend (arrow b) and moistening ceases immediately. Control rod 8 makes it possible to ascertain the phase of the cycle; connected or interrupted. It also makes possible, by a locking system, manually to keep interrupter 3 in contact with or separate from bearer 9'. According to whether the plant requires more or less moisture, the interrupter may be adjusted by rod 7 which increases or reduces the tension of spring 6. Referring to Fig. 5, this device may be positioned at any point in a tub, either on the side wall or in a corner. It can be fitted to square, rectangular or circular tubs of all shapes and sizes. CLAIMS

2. Device, according to claim 1, wherein the removable mounting comprises an interrupttr carrying a dipping pad and integral with a vertically sliding rod fitted with a spring to control travel said interrupter being connected to a membrane which can stretch when wet and to a tension adjusting rod and a second control rod which locks the interrupter selectively in one position where it can pass water to the earth mass, and in another position where it cannot.

3. Device, according to claim 1 , wherein the removable mounting further comprises an absorbent pad which has a first portion extending on the outer casing of the mounting and a second portion surrounding the membrane.

4. Device, according to claim 1, wherein the fixed housing comprises an absorbent pad making contact with the pad of a fixed bearer contactable by the dipping pad of the interrupter, said absorbent pad distributing the water over another absorbent pad on a grid supporting the earth mass.

5. Device, according to claim 3, wherein the fixed housing is provided at the top with an absorbent pad forming a probe penetrating into the earth mass and making contact with the pad surrounding the membrane.