US3906978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control unit for automatic watering of flowers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-21
•
Granted: 1975-09-23
•
Expires: 1993-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A control unit for automatic watering of flowers includes a water reservoir connected by a tubular line to a water discharge device to be inserted into the soil. The humidity of the soil is maintained at a constant value by a control unit connected in the line between the water reservoir and the water discharge device. The control unit comprises a volume of air in a closed chamber between two vertical columns of water. The mouth of the supply line enters the closed air chamber at a level higher than that of the opening leading to the discharge device.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhard Kurz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:07
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G27/00; A01G27/008; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1842; Y10T137/1866; Y10T137/189
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A device for controllably suppling a liquid to a porous medium to maintain a given degree of humidification therein which comprises a feeder means having an inlet for receiving liquid to be supplied to the porous medium and capillary means disposed for contact with said medium to diffuse into said medium the liquid received, said capillary means being responsive to the absorption characteristic of the medium to establish a pressure differential in accordance with the degree of humidification of the medium whereby the pressure of the liquid at the inlet of the feeder means tends to establish an outflow of liquid therefrom into the medium; and regulator means having an enclosed chamber, a first conduit communicating with a source of liquid and extending into said chamber to deliver liquid therein, and a second conduit communicating with the inlet of said feeder means and extending into said chamber to deliver liquid therefrom to said feeder means, said first conduit having an outlet within the chamber positioned in elevation spaced relation to an inlet of said second conduit within the chamber to establish a pressure differential opposing and counter-balancing that established by said capillary means at said given degree of porous medium humidification to be maintained.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
204 words
A device for controllably suppling a liquid to a porous medium to maintain a given degree of humidification therein which comprises a feeder means having an inlet for receiving liquid to be supplied to the porous medium and capillary means disposed for contact with said medium to diffuse into said medium the liquid received, said capillary means being responsive to the absorption characteristic of the medium to establish a pressure differential in accordance with the degree of humidification of the medium whereby the pressure of the liquid at the inlet of the feeder means tends to establish an outflow of liquid therefrom into the medium; and regulator means having an enclosed chamber, a first conduit communicating with a source of liquid and extending into said chamber to deliver liquid therein, and a second conduit communicating with the inlet of said feeder means and extending into said chamber to deliver liquid therefrom to said feeder means, said first conduit having an outlet within the chamber positioned in elevation spaced relation to an inlet of said second conduit within the chamber to establish a pressure differential opposing and counter-balancing that established by said capillary means at said given degree of porous medium humidification to be maintained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 1 including a length of flexible conduit communicating the inlet of said feeder means with said second conduit of the regulator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the inlet of said second conduit is positioned below the outlet of said first conduit by a distance accommodating the maintenance within said chamber of a gas space above the liquid level, the outlet of the first conduit being in the gas space and the inlet of the second conduit being submerged below said liquid level, whereby the magnitude of the opposing pressure differential established corresponds to the gas space elevation difference between said liquid lEvel and the outlet of the first conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said chamber is defined by an elongated housing having a lower opening communicating with said first conduit for supplying liquid thereto from an external source, said first conduit being disposed within the housing in sealing relation with said opening to define an enclosed chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein at least one of said first and second conduits is adjustable in elevation relative to the other to correspondingly vary the magnitude of the opposing pressure differential established and thereby adjust the degree of porous medium humidification maintained.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said chamber is defined by a housing having a plurality of separated compartments communicated in series by liquid trap flow path means accommodating the maintenance within each compartment of a gas space column about a liquid level, said first conduit extending into the gas space of the first compartment in said series, and said second conduit extending into the last in the series of said compartments whereby the magnitude of the opposing pressure differential established corresponds to the sum of the effective gas column heights of said compartments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said housing has a plurality of compartments arranged side-by-side.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said housing has a plurality of concentric cup-shaped compartments.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1710362A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |