System and method for more efficient automatic irrigation based on a large number of cheap humidity sensors and automatic faucets
First Claim
1. A system for efficient automatic irrigation based on a large number of cheap humidity sensors and cheap automatic faucets, which can improve the efficiency of the use of water so that less water is wasted and plants or group of plants can get the amount of water that they need, comprising:
- a. At least one main pipe with higher water pressure;
b. Side channels, each with considerably lower water pressure, coming out of said at least one main pipe;
c. A cheap humidity sensor for each at least one side channel; and
d. A cheap low pressure automatic valve for each at least one side channel.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an irrigation system with cheap humidity sensors and cheap automatic faucets preferably by using at the end nodes of the system low water pressure, so that much less force is needed to open and close the local waterway and then either using simple electrical valves that do not require engines, or using for example mechanical sensors based on a bi-material of two or more materials which expand differently when they become wet, thus converting the difference of the expansion into convenient movement. Another possible variation, instead of mechanical sensors and valves, is to use for example a preferably synthetic material that tends to behave like a normal root preferably at the edge of each side channel, so that the “root” counter-balances the water supply and reaches equilibrium with it when the soil becomes wet enough, based preferably on asymmetric capillary materials.
56 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A system for efficient automatic irrigation based on a large number of cheap humidity sensors and cheap automatic faucets, which can improve the efficiency of the use of water so that less water is wasted and plants or group of plants can get the amount of water that they need, comprising:
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a. At least one main pipe with higher water pressure;
b. Side channels, each with considerably lower water pressure, coming out of said at least one main pipe;
c. A cheap humidity sensor for each at least one side channel; and
d. A cheap low pressure automatic valve for each at least one side channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 28, 33, 34, 36, 46, 48, 49)
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7. (canceled)
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8. (canceled)
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9. (canceled)
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14-27. -27. (canceled)
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29-32. -32. (canceled)
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35. (canceled)
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37. (canceled)
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38. (canceled)
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39. An irrigation system wherein asymmetric capillary materials are used for automatically achieving equilibrium between the water supply and the earth when a desired level of humiditv of the earth is reached and wherein at least one of the following features exists:
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a. The asymmetric capillary material is based on an asymmetric shape of the pores of the capillary material;
b. The asymmetric capillary material has asymmetric pores that are narrower at the side of the water supply than at the side of the soil c. The asymmetric capillary material is based on small capillary tubes which are narrower at the side of the water supply;
d. The asymmetric capillary material has at least one of static negative charge and more Oxygen on the side of the water supply;
e. The asymmetric capillary material has V-shaped pores;
f. The asymmetric capillary material is made from a gradient of different materials, so that the materials closer to the side of the water supply have higher capillarity;
g. The asymmetric capillary material is based on materials which are more hydrophilic on the side of the earth and more hydrophobic on the side of the water supply, like in normal roots;
h. The asymmetric capillary material is at least one of;
Asymmetric capillary carbon membrane, asymmetric polysulfone membrane, and asymmetric ceramic membrane;
i. Asymmetric capillary materials are inserted into the bottom of cut parts or plants that need to develop new roots and thus act as artificial roots, helping to nourish them until they develop their own real roots;
j. The user can choose between a number of asymmetric capillary materials with a different degree of asymmetry, so that various choices are used for various desired levels of humidity. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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40-41. -41. (canceled)
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42. A method of manufacturing asymmetric capillary materials for irrigation wherein at least one of the following processes is used:
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a. A glass or plastic rod with multiple holes like in an optic holofiber is stretched with asymmetric pressure so that at one end it is wider than at the other end and thus the holes are also cone-shaped with one side wider than the other. b. A sponge-like material is baked in a tube with at least one gas-releasing substances for creating the airy structure, and then a centrifuge is used for condensing gradually more solid material at the edge of the centrifuge and more airy material at the center;
c. A sponge-like material is formed in stages with different mechanical pressure and/or different air pressures;
d. At least one of asymmetric holes and asymmetric tunnels are drilled into the capillary material;
e. At least one mold is used for casting capillary material into the desired shape with at least one of asymmetric holes and asymmetric tunnels;
f. A flexible capillary material is squeezed in a gradient;
g. A flexible capillary material is pushed into a narrowing solid tunnel so that the pores within the capillary material become gradually smaller as the tunnel becomes narrower;
h. A flexible capillary material is pushed into a narrowing solid tunnel, and the tunnel'"'"'s gradient can be changed mechanically, so that the user can have further manual control of the level of asymmetry;
i. A gradient is created by putting closely together at least two solid plates of material, so that at one end they are closer than at the other end, with or without putting additional capillary material between the plates;
j. A gradient is created by putting closely together at least two solid plates of material, so that at one end they are closer than at the other end, and said solid plates are covered sideways with at least one of side-walls and glue.
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43-45. -45. (canceled)
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50-54. -54. (canceled)
Specification