Irrigation system

• US 20070028520A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: City Greening Engineering Company Limited
• Original Assignee: City Greening Engineering Company Limited
• Inventors: Wong, Kam
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/79
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/003 Controls for self-acting watering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/02 having a water reservoir, the main part thereof being located wholly around or directly beside the growth substrate A01G27/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A horticultural irrigation system comprising a plant growth container. The plant growth container comprises a receptacle for a plant growth medium, a reservoir, a container inlet, a float valve and an outlet means. The container inlet supplies water to the reservoir. The float valve is adapted to close the container inlet when the water in the reservoir reaches a pre-determined level. An outlet means allows the passage of water from the reservoir to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A horticultural irrigation system comprising:

a plant growth container comprising a receptacle for a plant growth medium, a reservoir, a container inlet for supply of water to the reservoir, a float valve adapted to close the container inlet when the water in the reservoir reaches a pre-determined level and an outlet means for allowing passage of water from the reservoir to the receptacle;

further comprising;

a supply controller comprising a controllable mains inlet valve adapted for connection in use to a mains water supply,

a pressure regulator adapted to close the mains inlet valve when water pressure in the controller reaches a predetermined value,

one or more outlets each outlet being coupled to a container inlet in a plant growth container, in which the container inlet supplies water from the supply controller to the reservoir,

wherein the pressure regulator comprises an expandable member adapted to expand in response to an increase in water pressure in the controller and an actuator connected to the expandable member, the actuator being adapted to close the inlet valve when the pressure reaches a predetermined value.

2. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 1 in which the plant growth container is located above the level of the supply controller.

3. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 2 in which the expandable member is a diaphragm.

4. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 1 in which the receptacle and float valve are integral with the container.

5. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 2 in which the receptacle and float valve are integral with the container.

6. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 3 in which the receptacle and float valve are integral with the container.

7. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 1 in which the outlet means comprises an aperture communicating with the receptacle.

8. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 2 in which the outlet means comprises an aperture communicating with the receptacle.

9. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 3 in which the outlet means comprises an aperture communicating with the receptacle.

10. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 4 in which the outlet means comprises an aperture communicating with the receptacle.

11. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 5 in which the outlet means comprises an aperture communicating with the receptacle.

12. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 6 in which the outlet means comprises an aperture communicating with the receptacle.

13. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 1 in which the outlet means comprises a porous or permeable body.

14. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 2 in which the outlet means comprises a porous or permeable body.

15. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 3 in which the outlet means comprises a porous or permeable body.

16. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 4 in which the outlet means comprises a porous or permeable body.

17. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 5 in which the outlet means comprises a porous or permeable body.

18. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 6 in which the outlet means comprises a porous or permeable body.

19. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 13 in which the porous or permeable body comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising porous ceramic, fibrous and open celled foam members.

20. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 14 in which the porous or permeable body comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising porous ceramic, fibrous and open celled foam members.

21. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 15 in which the porous or permeable body comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising porous ceramic, fibrous and open celled foam members.

22. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 16 in which the porous or permeable body comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising porous ceramic, fibrous and open celled foam members.

23. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 17 in which the porous or permeable body comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising porous ceramic, fibrous and open celled foam members.

24. A horticultural irrigation system as claimed in claim 18 in which the porous or permeable body comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising porous ceramic, fibrous and open celled foam members.