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US 8,770,888 B2Granted
Watering mat for the large-area distribution of water
AssigneeIgg-Internationale Geotextil Gesellschaft Mbh
InventorsReinhard Helbig, Rolf Arnold, Dietmar Konrad Haub, Thomas Roess
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A watering mat is provided for the large-area distribution of water, particularly in horticulture and landscaping as well as agriculture. The watering mat includes a first and a second carrier layer to accommodate other elements of the watering mat, one or more connections for connecting the first and the second carrier layers, one or more water-feeding elements arranged between the first and the second carrier layers for feeding water into the watering mat and distributing water through the watering mat, an absorption layer for water storage arranged between the first and the second carrier layers and a moisture level detector in the watering mat.
Claims28
An irrigation system comprising:
- a watering mat for the large-area distribution of water installed below-ground with a first ground section located above the watering mat and a second ground section located below the watering mat so that plant roots of plants located in the first ground section can penetrate into the watering mat, the watering mat comprising:
- a first carrier layer and a second carrier layer that are positioned between the first ground section and the second ground section;
- one or more connections for connecting the first and the second carrier layers;
- one or more water-feeding elements arranged between the first and the second carrier layers for feeding water into the watering mat and distributing the water in the watering mat;
- an absorption layer for water storage arranged between the first and the second carrier layers;
- a moisture level detector arranged in the watering mat between the first carrier layer and the second carrier layer;
- and
- a capillary barrier to prevent salt accumulation in the watering mat, the capillary barrier being arranged below the second carrier layer and being attached to the watering mat using the one or more connections;
- a delivery device to deliver water into the watering mat;
- a measuring apparatus for determining the salt content of the water supplied to the watering mat;
- a measuring device for determining the water volume supplied to the watering mat;
- a further measuring device comprising a temperature sensor, an air humidity sensor and a brightness sensor for measuring weather-related data;
- an output unit to output information related to the moisture level in the watering mat, the salt content of water supplied to the watering mat and weather-related data;
- and
- a control unit configured to process data received from the moisture level detector, the measuring apparatus, the measuring device, and the further measuring device, and to generate a control signal for driving the output unit and the delivery device, the control unit being further configured to issue a warning if the moisture level in the watering mat for a specified time period is below or above a certain value, indicating that the irrigation system is not functioning properly.
12 more elements
An irrigation system comprising:
- a watering mat for the large-area distribution of water installed below-ground with a first ground section located above the watering mat and a second ground section located below the watering mat so that plant roots of plants located in the first ground section can penetrate into the watering mat, the watering mat comprising:
- a first carrier layer and a second carrier layer that are positioned between the first ground section and the second ground section;
- one or more connections for connecting the first and the second carrier layers;
- one or more water-feeding elements arranged between the first and the second carrier layers for feeding water into the watering mat and distributing the water in the watering mat;
- an absorption layer for water storage arranged between the first and the second carrier layers;
- a moisture level detector arranged in the watering mat between the first carrier layer and the second carrier layer;
- and
- a capillary barrier to prevent salt accumulation in the watering mat, the capillary barrier including at least one of flexure-resistant fibers and textile scraps and being enveloped by a net structure;
- a delivery device to deliver water into the watering mat;
- a measuring apparatus for determining the salt content of the water supplied to the watering mat;
- a measuring device for determining the water volume supplied to the watering mat;
- a further measuring device comprising a temperature sensor, an air humidity sensor and a brightness sensor for measuring weather-related data;
- an output unit to output information related to the moisture level in the watering mat, the salt content of water supplied to the watering mat and weather-related data;
- and
- a control unit configured to process data received from the moisture level detector, the measuring apparatus, the measuring device, and the further measuring device, and to generate a control signal for driving the output unit and the delivery device, the control unit being further configured to issue a warning if the moisture level in the watering mat for a specified time period is below or above a certain value, indicating that the irrigation system is not functioning properly.
12 more elements
An irrigation system for a more efficient use of the water employed for watering ground sections, the irrigation system comprising:
- a watering mat for the large-area distribution of water having a first carrier layer and a second carrier layer, the watering mat installed below-ground with a first ground section located above the watering mat and a second ground section located below the watering mat so that plant roots of plants located in the first ground section can penetrate into the watering mat, the watering mat including means for detecting the moisture level in the watering mat arranged between the first carrier layer and the second carrier layer and further including a capillary barrier to prevent salt accumulation in the watering mat which is arranged below the second carrier layer and attached to the first carrier layer and the second carrier layer using one or more connections;
- an input unit to input information relating to the operation of the watering mat;
- a delivery device to deliver water into the watering mat;
- a measuring apparatus for determining the salt content of the water supplied to the watering mat;
- a measuring device for determining the water volume supplied to the watering mat;
- a further measuring device comprising a temperature sensor, an air humidity sensor and a brightness sensor for measuring weather-related data;
- an output unit to output information related to the moisture level in the watering mat, the salt content of water supplied to the watering mat and weather-related data;
- a control unit for documenting and processing the data received from the detector means, the measuring apparatus, the measuring device, and the further measuring device, and for generating a control signal for driving the output unit and the delivery device;
- and
- a transmission unit to transmit to a receiving station the data received by the control unit for documenting and processing purposes from the detector means, the measuring apparatus, the measuring device, and the further measuring device, and the control signals generated by the control unit for driving the output unit and the delivery device, and
- wherein the control unit includes information from the input unit that includes criteria establishing that a warning is to be issued if the moisture level in the watering mat for a specified time period is below or above a certain value, indicating that the irrigation system is not functioning properly.
8 more elements
An irrigation system, comprising:
- a watering mat installed below-ground with a first ground section located above the watering mat and a second ground section located below the watering mat so that plant roots of plants located in the first ground section can penetrate into the watering mat, the watering mat including a first carrier layer, a second carrier layer connected to the first carrier layer, a water-feeding element between the first and the second carrier layers configured to feed water into the watering mat and distribute the water in the watering mat, an absorption layer between the first and the second carrier layers, a moisture level detector between the first and the second carrier layers, and a capillary barrier to prevent salt accumulation which is arranged below the second carrier layer and attached to the first carrier layer and the second carrier layer using one or more connections;
- a delivery device to deliver water into the watering mat;
- a measuring apparatus for determining the salt content of the water supplied to the watering mat;
- a measuring device for determining the water volume supplied to the watering mat;
- a further measuring device comprising a temperature sensor, an air humidity sensor and a brightness sensor for measuring weather-related data;
- an output unit to output information related to the moisture level in the watering mat, the salt content of water supplied to the watering mat and weather-related data;
- and
- a control unit configured to process data received from the moisture level detector, the measuring apparatus, the measuring device, and the further measuring device, and to generate a control signal for driving the output unit and the delivery device, the control unit being further configured to issue a warning if the moisture level in the watering mat for a specified time period is below or above a certain value, indicating that the irrigation system is not functioning properly.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.