Apparatus and method for automatically watering vegetation
First Claim
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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, anda 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.
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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.
101 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device for providing a supply of liquid water from the ambient atmosphere comprising the combination:
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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.
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2. A device for automatically watering vegetation comprising the combination:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for automatically watering vegetation comprising the combination:
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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, anda 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.
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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.
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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.
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15. A device for providing a supply of liquid water from the ambient atmosphere comprising the combination:
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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.
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16. A device for providing a supply of liquid water comprising the combination:
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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.
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Specification