Hydro-thermo irrigation mat
AssigneeUniversite Laval
InventorsRichard Théorêt, Sylvain Hélie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydro-thermo irrigation mat (10) is comprised of a base sheet (11), a water-permeable root-shielding top sheet (12), and a capillary mat (15) of absorbent material therebetween. One or more flat pliable drip tapes (18) are loosely disposed in spaced-apart relationship between the top sheet (12) and the capillary mat (15). Hot water convection tubes (25) are disposed co-axially with the drip tapes (18) but between the base sheet (11) and the capillary mat (15). The drip tapes (18) are connected to a water supply line (22) and the hot water convection tubes (25) are secured to a hot water supply line (28). Water within the mat is heated and distributes heat from the hot water convection tubes (25) substantially throughout the mat.
Claims15
A hydro-thermo irrigation mat comprising a base sheet, a water-permeable root-shielding top sheet, a capillary mat of absorbent material having capillary properties to permit water dispersion therein and held captive between said base sheet and top sheet, one or more flat pliable drip tapes loosely disposed in spaced-apart relationship between said top sheet and said capillary mat, said drip tapes being hollow flat tubes of perforated plastics material and extending between opposed ends of said irrigation mat, and hot water convection tubes disposed between said base sheet and said capillary mat for heating said mat, the hot water convection tubes being disposed underneath the capillary mat that is on a side thereof opposite to said one or more flat pliable drip tapes and dissipating heat from below said capillary mat into the water contained in the capillary mat, said hot water convection tubes being disposed co-axially with said drip tapes;
- said base sheet and top sheet being secured together along overlapped edge portions thereof by securement means.
A root zone heating and irrigation system comprising a hydro-thermo irrigation mat having a water permeable top sheet, a base sheet and a capillary mat disposed between the top sheet and the base sheet, at least one watering tube integrated into the hydro-thermo irrigation mat for supplying water to said capillary mat, and hot water convection tubes integrated into said hydro-thermo irrigation mat for dissipating heat directly into the water of the capillary mat, the hot water convection tubes being disposed underneath the capillary mat to dissipate heat from below the capillary mat towards the top sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.