초록 ▼

A multiple function hydroponics system consisting of three major components; a plant pot container, a reservoir container and a pumping chamber. The plant pot container has a drainage tube down into the reservoir, this drainage tube height is adjusted to determine the upper level that the liquid can

A multiple function hydroponics system consisting of three major components; a plant pot container, a reservoir container and a pumping chamber. The plant pot container has a drainage tube down into the reservoir, this drainage tube height is adjusted to determine the upper level that the liquid can reach within the plant pot container. For a ebb and flow type operation of the assembly there is a siphon tubes from the bottom of the plant pot container back into the pumping chamber to drain the plant pot container each cycle. For top down watering or a drip system a watering tube assembly is installed so that each plant has an fluid outlet opening. The liquid pumping chamber, which contains a cycling container, is connected to the bottom of the reservoir with tubing and a one way valve allowing liquid to enter. When in the top down watering mode, the height of the drainage tube within the plant pot container is lowered so as to allow complete drainage back into the reservoir. The incoming pressurized air coming into the pumping chamber enters at the lowest level so as to aerate the water. In operation with the cycling container resting near the bottom of the liquid pumping chamber the gas within the system is expanded in the pumping chamber, the resultant pressure build-up in turn force's liquid out of the cycling container tube and the siphoning tube. When the chamber's liquid reaches a predetermined level, the pressurized gas is released to the atmosphere through the cycling container tube, liquid from the plant pot container refills the pumping chamber through the siphon tube, and the reservoir as the pumping chamber is now open to the atmosphere. When the pumping chambers refill to a predetermined level, the cycling container sinks and the cycle repeats.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [3.] A combination sub-irrigation and top-down watering hydroponic system assembly adapted to circulate liquid with a gas pressure driven pump between a liquid reservoir and a plant pot container, said hydroponic system assembly having a source of pressurized gas, said hydropo

[ What is claimed is:] [3.] A combination sub-irrigation and top-down watering hydroponic system assembly adapted to circulate liquid with a gas pressure driven pump between a liquid reservoir and a plant pot container, said hydroponic system assembly having a source of pressurized gas, said hydroponic system assembly comprising:(a) a pumping chamber, a liquid reservoir, and a plant pot containing chamber,said pumping chamber, being coupled to said pressurized gas source, having, a gas input pipe permitting communication between said pressurized gas source and said pumping chamber through an input orifice, and a liquid output pipe permitting communication with said plant pot containing chamber and said pumping chamber through an output orifice, and a liquid input pipe permitting communication between said pumping chamber and said liquid reservoir through a liquid input orifice, and a liquid input pipe permitting communication between said pumping chamber and said plant pot containing chamber through an input orifice,said liquid reservoir having a liquid orifices permitting communication between said liquid reservoir and said pumping chamber through an output orifice, and permitting communication with said liquid reservoir and said plant pot containing chamber through an input orifice,said plant pot container chamber having plant pot container openings for holding plant pot containers, and an input pipe for communication between said pumping chamber and said plant pot containing chamber through an input orifice, an output pipe for communication between said liquid reservoir and said plant pot containing chamber through an output orifice, and an output pipe for communication between said plant pot containing chamber and said pumping chamber through an output orifice,a hollow cycling container contained within said pumping chamber, having variable buoyancy, said hollow cycling container being buoyant when nearly empty, said hollow cycling container coupled to said output orifice of said pumping chamber with said gas and liquid output pipe permitting communication between said hollow cycling container and said plant pot containing chamber,(b) said hollow cycling container adapted to sink when liquid in said pumping chamber rises above a predetermined level; and(c) a first swivel joint coupled to said hollow cycling container and said gas and liquid output pipe allowing travel in a vertical circular arc of said hollow cycling container, as liquid rises, or as said hollow cycling container sinks; and(d) a first check valve associated with liquid input pipe in said pumping chamber allowing one way flow of liquid into said pumping chamber from said liquid reservoir; and(e) said output pipe permitting communication between said plant pot container chamber and said pumping chamber allows liquid to be syphoned from said plant pot container chamber into said pumping chamber when the pressure within said pumping chamber is atmospheric pressure; and(f) said gas input pipe permitting communication between said pressurized gas source and said pumping chamber allows pressurized gas to flow into the said pumping chamber through the said input orifice; and(g) said output pipe for communication between said liquid reservoir and said plant pot containing chamber through an output orifice allows adjustable level control of a liquid within said plant pot container chamber by allowing overflow to drain from said plant pot container chamber into said liquid reservoir; and(h) wherein said input pipe permitting communication between said pumping chamber and said plant pot container chamber is adapted to also permit communication of a liquid from said pumping chamber to a plant pot container which is located within said plant pot container openings in said plant pot container chamber to effect top-down watering; and(I) a first control valve means associated with said input pipe to control the flow of liquid into said plant pot container.