Hydroponic irrigation system
OwnerVijay SINGHinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low cost valve and system for automated ebb and flow irrigation utilizes a collapsible sleeve to control fluid flow direction. No external power, moving parts, or floats are needed to operate the valve, resulting in improved reliability, low operating cost, and minimal need for maintenance. The valve operates using feed pressure to close the drain when hydroponic nutrient solution is pumped into the cultivation chamber. The valve drains automatically once the pump is stopped, usually by means of a timer, and the spent hydroponic solution is recovered. The fill/drain cycle is repeated as needed to keep the plants moist, yet not waterlogged.
Claims22
A hydroponic irrigation system, comprising:
- a cultivation vessel adapted to contain one or more plants to be cultivated;
- a reservoir adapted to contain a hydroponic solution for irrigating said one or more plants;
- a pump coupled to said reservoir and adapted to pump said hydroponic solution to said cultivation vessel;
- a delivery tube coupled to said pump at a proximal end thereof, disposed within said cultivation vessel, and closed at a distal end thereof;
- means for distributing said hydroponic solution coupled to said delivery tube in proximity to said one or more plants;
- a flooding control valve coupled between said pump and said delivery tube;
- and
- an overflow tube coupled between said cultivation vessel and said reservoir;
- wherein said hydroponic solution ebbing from said reservoir does not drain through said pump.
A hydroponic irrigation system, comprising:
- a plurality of cultivation vessels, each of which is adapted to contain one or more plants to be cultivated;
- a reservoir adapted to contain a hydroponic solution for irrigating said one or more plants within each of said plurality of cultivation vessels;
- a pump coupled to said reservoir and adapted to pump said hydroponic solution to each of said plurality of cultivation vessels;
- a plurality of delivery tubes, each of which is coupled to said pump at a proximal end thereof, disposed within each of said plurality of cultivation vessels, and closed at a distal end thereof;
- a plurality of spray heads for distributing said hydroponic solution coupled respective one of said plurality of delivery tubes in proximity to said one or more plants;
- valve means coupled between said pump and said plurality of delivery tubes for controlling flooding of said plurality of said plurality of cultivation vessels;
- and
- a plurality of overflow tubes, each of which is coupled between a respective one of said plurality of cultivation vessels and said reservoir;
- wherein said hydroponic solution ebbing from said reservoir does not drain through said pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.