Apparatus and method for automatically watering vegetation

• US 4,315,599 A
• Filed: 03/03/1980
• Issued: 02/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Biancardi
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Biancardi
• Inventors: Biancardi, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Application Number:
  US06/126,408
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 62/3, 62/283, 62/288, 55/80, 55/267, 47/1.7, 47/48.5, 137/78.3, 239/1, 239/10, 239/13, 239/37-43, 239/63, 239/128, 239/132, 239/132.3, 239/289, 239/315, 239/450, 239/556, 239/565, 239/542
• US Class Current: 239/10
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/006 Reservoirs, separate from plant-pots, dispensing directly into rooting medium
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically watering vegetation whereby the water requirement of vegetation is constantly monitored and selectively condensing water vapor out of the atmosphere onto cooled condensation member and collecting the condensed moisture for application onto soil containing vegetation. Various accessories are provided to automatically feed the vegetation and distribute water to the soil containing the vegetation.

Claims

1. A device for providing a supply of liquid water from the ambient atmosphere comprising the combination:

a thermocouple having means forming a thermally hot side and a thermally cold side when energized with electrical current,

electrical circuitry for operably energizing said thermocouple with electric current, and

a non-corrodible, hollow condensation member containing a thermally conductive fluid and having an outer condensation surface exposed to the ambient atmosphere and being thermally connected to said cold side of said thermocouple, whereby said electrical current flows through said electrical circuitry to said thermocouple producing a cold side on said thermocouple, said coldness removing heat from said condensation member resulting in said condensation member achieving a temperature below that of the ambient dew point temperature causing water vapor in the air to condense on said condensation surface of said condensation member in sufficient amounts so as to collect into drops and gravitationally drip from said condensation member.

2. A device for automatically watering vegetation comprising the combination:

a thermocouple having means forming a thermally hot side and a thermally cold side when energized with electrical current,

electrical circuitry for operably energizing said thermocouple with electric current,

a hollow condensation member containing a thermally conductive fluid thermally connected to said cold side of said thermocouple, said condensation member having a condensation surface exposed to ambient atmosphere which achieves a temperature below that of the ambient dew point temperature upon operation of said thermocouple causing moisture to condense on said condensation surface,

and means to harvest the moisture on said surface for application to a point of utilization.

3. The device of claim 2, and circuit means for said thermocouple including a means for detecting the water requirements of said vegetation operably connected to said circuit means and forming a switch whereby when said vegetation does not require water, said switch disrupts electrical current flow to said thermocouple and when said vegetation does require water, said switch causes said current flow to resume to said thermocouple.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said means for detecting vegetation water requirement consists of a pair of electrical conducting probes which are operably connected to an electrical circuit through one end of each of said probes,

the other end of each of said probes to be placed in said soil,

said probes and said circuity forming a switch whereby low electrical resistance of damp soil causes said switch to disrupt said current flow to said thermocouple and high electrical resistance of dry soil causes said current flow to resume to said thermocouple.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein means are provided to manually selectively set the level of moistness of the soil required to disrupt said current flow to said thermocouple.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein a manually selectively adjustable means is provided in said electrical circuitry for controlling said current flow through said thermocouple.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said condensation member has a condensation surface disposed and formed in a shape such that the condensed water forming thereon will collect gravitationally and drip from a common collector area.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein an attachment is provided to removably attach below said collector area said attachment containing water soluble plant food in a water permeable container whereby drops of water falling into said container will admix with said plant food forming treated drops which will then fall into said soil.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein means are provided to distribute said water drops in more than one place on said soil.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein said condensation member has a condensation surface disposed and shaped such that said condensed water forming thereon will collect and drip from a plurality of areas.

11. A device for automatically watering vegetation comprising the combination:

a source of electric current,

at least one thermocouple having means forming a thermally hot side and a thermally cold side when energized with electrical current,

a fluid reservoir,

a hollow condensation member operably connected in a continuous circuit to said fluid reservoir,

said condensation member being thermally conductive,

a thermally conductive liquid capable of retaining a liquid phase in the range of temperatures from 0°

centigrade to 70°

centigrade to be carried within said condensation member and retained in said reservoir, and

a pump operably connected in said circuit to circulate said liquid throughout said condensation member, whereby said electrical current flows from said current source through said electrical circuitry to said thermocouple producing a cold side on said thermocouple,

said coldness removing heat from said fluid and said condensation member, resulting in said condensation member achieving a temperature below that of the ambient dew point temperature causing humidity in the air to condense on said condensation member in sufficient amounts so as to collect and gravitationally drip from said condensation member onto soil containing vegetation.

12. A method of watering vegetation which includes the steps of,

charging the interior of a hollow condensation member with a thermally conductive fluid,

selectively reducing the temperature of said thermally conductive fluid within said condensation member to below that of the ambient dew point temperature to condense water vapor out of the atmosphere onto the surface of the condensation member,

aggregating the water vapor condensation into the form of droplets,

and applying the droplets to a point of utilization.

13. The method of claim 12, and further characterized by admixing a plant food material with the droplets prior to the final applying step.

14. A method of automatically watering vegetation which includes the steps of,

charging the interior of a hollow condensation member with a thermally conductive fluid,

continuously monitoring the water requirements of vegetation contained in soil,

selectively reducing the temperature of said thermally conductive fluid within said condensation member to below that of the ambient dew point temperature in response to a water requirement for condensing water vapor out of the atmosphere onto said condensation member,

collecting the water vapor condensation in the form of droplets,

and directing said collected droplets onto said soil surrounding said vegetation.

15. A device for providing a supply of liquid water from the ambient atmosphere comprising the combination:

a thermocouple having means forming a thermally hot side and a thermally cold side when energized with electrical current,

electrical circuitry for operably energizing said thermocouple with electric current, and

a hollow, sealable condensation member containing a thermally conductive fluid, having an outer condensation surface exposed to the ambient atmosphere and being thermally connected to said cold side of said thermocouple, whereby said electrical current flows through said electrical circuitry to said thermocouple producing a cold side on said thermocouple, said coldness removing heat from said condensation member resulting in said condensation member achieving a temperature below that of the ambient dew point temperature causing water vapor in the air to condense on said condensation surface of said condensation member in sufficient amounts so as to collect into drops and gravitationally drip from said condensation member.

16. A device for providing a supply of liquid water comprising the combination:

a source of electrical current,

at least one thermocouple having means forming a thermally hot side and a thermally cold side when energized with electrical current,

at least one fluid reservoir,

a hollow condensation member communicating with said fluid reservoir,

a thermally conductive fluid to be carried within said condensation member and retained in said reservoir, and

a means for circulating said fluid throughout said condensation member, whereby said electrical current flows from said current source through said electrical circuitry to said thermocouple producing a cold side on said thermocouple,

said coldness removing heat from said fluid and said condensation member, resulting in said condensation member achieving a temperature below that of the ambient dew point temperature causing humidity in the air to condense on said condensation member in sufficient amounts so as to collect and gravitationally drip from said condensation member.