IRRIGATION AID
A irrigation aid for a water harvesting device comprising: a housing; at least one inlet incorporated into one side of the housing; an outlet incorporated into the housing and adapted to attach to at least one irrigation line; and a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer water from the at least one inlet through the housing to the outlet. The transfer mechanism may include a plurality of fins to direct the water received from a rainwater tank through the inlet and transfer mechanism to the outlet and irrigation lines. The irrigation aid may further include a level measuring device and may further include either pressured water line water or solar cells to drive the transfer mechanism.
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The present document relates generally to an irrigation aid. More particularly, the present document relates to an irrigation aid for use with a water harvester rain barrel, or similar devices.
BACKGROUNDIt can be appreciated that water irrigation devices have been around for years. The purpose of these devices is to distribute water from an incoming water source in manner that vegetation can receive water needed to grow. Water harvesting devices, more commonly known as rain barrels, have also been around for years. They are used primarily to store rainwater collected through water harvesting systems such as those found in an eaves system directed into a rainwater storage tank or barrel. These devices are gaining popularity, increasingly being used by homeowners, gardeners or anyone who wishes to conserve water and store rainwater for later use, such as for watering gardens and other vegetation. While irrigation devices and rainwater units are readily available in the market, there lacks adequate devices to combine the use of them together in an economically viable manner. One issue surrounding the combining of rainwater collecting, storage and distribution for irrigation purposes is that in order to implement a proper system, expensive pumps may be required.
Many systems may require expensive pump systems, as there may be inadequate pressure to properly distribute the water to the desired locations several feet away from a water tank of a water harvester or rain barrel. The water stored in the water tank often needs to be fed to gardens a distance away from the water harvesting device. Currently, some water harvesting devices are provided with spigots so the user can fill a watering can and take that water to the desired location. This spigot may be required because rainwater tanks, by themselves, do not have sufficient pressure to direct the water to a desired location.
Irrigation devices, such as sprinklers and hose systems, are available but they often require to be hooked into the pressured water line carrying city or well water. These systems serve the purpose of irrigation but many gardeners may prefer rainwater due to its costs and environmental appeal. Large rainwater tanks are available with pump systems; however, these are often expensive and not a preferred choice for an individual consumer.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a device that works with rainwater collection systems and provides irrigation capability without the requirement of an expensive pump system.
SUMMARYThere is a need for a complete, turnkey system that provides lower purchase costs and suits the need of most irrigation requirements, gardens for example. There needs to be an irrigation system that can integrate rainwater into the irrigation system without having to go to the expense of installing a large, expensive tanks and/or pumping system.
In one aspect, there is provide an irrigation aid for a water harvesting device comprising: a housing; at least one inlet incorporated into one side of the housing; an outlet incorporated into the housing and adapted to attach to at least one irrigation line; and a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer water from the at least one inlet through the housing to the outlet.
In another aspect, the transfer mechanism may include a plurality of fins to direct the water received from a rainwater tank through the inlet and transfer mechanism to the outlet and irrigation lines.
In a further aspect, the irrigation aid may include a level measuring device and may further include either pressured water line water or solar cells to drive the transfer mechanism.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present water harvesting irrigation aid will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein;
In one embodiment, the directional water flow may be controlled through the construction or shape of the housing 18 for continued exertion through the outlet 22. The water exiting the housing 18 may be a mixture of the water from the inlets 14 and 16. The mixture may either be a predetermined fixed ratio or may be adjustable using an adjustor 30, as described below. The system thereby enables rainwater to be used in an irrigating system that can service many irrigation needs. The outlet 22 may be configured in various arrangements to suit the application and may include manifold systems, irrigation hoses, garden hose, sprinkler line, etc.
The plurality of fins 34, incorporated on the rotating carriage 32, may be located on both sides of the divider 36. The pressurized water from the pressured water line 24 pushes against the fins 34 and creates a rotational motion within the rotating carriage 32 to drive the water from the inlets though the housing towards the outlet. Preferably, the fins 34 will be formed in a different configuration on either side of the divider 36. The fins 34a designed to receive water from the rainwater tank inlet 14 may be angled in such a manner as to create an impeller motion and to direct water from the inlet 14 to the outlet 22. The fins 34b designed to receive water from the pressured water lined may have a different curve in that they are formed to drive the rotating carriage 32. In one embodiment, fins 34b may be more densely positioned on the rotating carriage 32 to allow for a greater drive, while the fins 34a designed to receive rainwater may be more sparsely positioned to allow for a greater quantity of water to emerge from the rainwater tank or the opposite could be true. In another embodiment, the same number of fins may be on both sides of the rotating carriage. Other fin configurations are contemplated and fins may be the same throughout the rotating carriage but the power to water ratio may be reduced.
The rotational motion of the rotating carriage 32 preferable creates a turbine like motion or centrifugal force pump, which draws water from inlet 14, through the housing 18 and into outlet 22, resulting in rainwater being pumped out or drawn out of the rainwater tank 10. Some pressure may already be available from the rainwater tank 10 as a result of water height levels, forcing the rainwater into the housing 18 but the side of the rotating carriage 32 attached to the pressure water line may increase or enhance this pressure.
By illustration of arrows exiting the housing 18, it is seen that the water entering the irrigation line 26 through the outlet 22 may be a mixture that includes rainwater conserved in the tank and pressured water from line 24, thereby powering the systems effectively enabling rainwater to be integrated into an irrigation line using a simple cost effective means. The rotational motion of the fins may create a power assist, which increases the pressure or power in the system so that the mixture has sufficient pressure to be positioned or pumped into the desired location requiring water, therefore, enabling transfer of water from a rainwater tank into an irrigation application with adequate pressure.
In a further, more complex form of the irrigation aid, diverters or timers may be employed but for simpler forms, flow control may be implemented via a “Y” type converging channel in the housing 18, to bring two incoming inlets to one outgoing outlet. Flow control may be largely dependant on the specific irrigation application. Some systems for small gardens, hanging baskets may not require complex flow control whereas larger systems for larger gardens may required more sophisticated flow control such as valves, timers, shut-offs etc. Auxiliary connections refer to the connections required for purposes such as power assist or flow control that may be separated from, or designed to work in conjunction with, the water flow and the housing and rotating carriage.
Users may adjust the ratio of rainwater to pressured water line water through the adjustor 30, in effect providing users with the increased capability of replacing amounts of costly city supplied water with free, collected rainwater for their irrigation needs. The adjustor 30 may control the outlet portion by moving the divider 36 in a position that allows more water to exit from one side of the divider 36 than the other. The adjuster 30 may be designed to allow for axial movement of the divider 36 so a user may move the adjuster 30 in this axial movement and the divider 36, or the rotating carriage 32 with the divider 36, may shift according to the movement and allow for either more or less rain water to be released in relation to the pressured water line water.
Shut-off control 28, illustrated in
Flow control may also be controlled with automatic controls (not shown) to predetermined time intervals or in predetermined quantities to better control water conservation and is further described below and illustrated in
The input water compartment 64 of the irrigation aid 60 is further designed to house the input rotating carriage 66 and will have a compartment lid 72 or other closure that will allow the input water compartment 64 to encapsulate the input rotating carriage 66. The input rotating carriage 66 will be able to rotate freely inside the input water compartment 64.
The rotational movement of the input water carriage 66 causes a shaft 74 connecting rod, which is also attached to a rain barrel rotating carriage 76, to rotate. The shaft 74 may be keyed in specific areas such that the keyed areas may grip and form a locking area with a central aperture of the input rotating carriage 66 and a central aperture of the rain barrel rotating carriage 76. This rotational movement of the shaft 74 will cause the rain barrel rotating carriage 76 to rotate as well to draw water from the rain barrel through the inlet 78 into the rain barrel water compartment 80. The rain barrel rotating carriage 76 may be housed within the rain barrel water compartment 80 and may be allowed to rotate freely within this compartment. Bearings 86a, 86b may also be provided between either rotating carriage and the compartment components to support the shaft 74 and ensure that there is no shift in the position of either rotating carriage 66, 76.
The rain barrel rotating carriage 76 may further incorporate a plurality of fins 82 designed to guide water from the inlet 78 to an outlet 84. The size and angle of these fins 82 may depend on where the inlet 78 and outlet 84 are located on the rain barrel water compartment 80. The outlet 84 may be configured to engage a watering hose or other irrigation devices. A shut-off control (not shown) may also be incorporated into the outlet 84 of the rain barrel water compartment 80.
It should be understood that the input water compartment 64 and the rain barrel water compartment 80 need not be two separate pieces as shown in
In this embodiment the water from the pressured water line is allowed to enter and mix with the rain barrel water prior to being used as the irrigation water. This further mixing process may allow the temperature to normalize with the air temperature prior to being used to water a specific area. Further, by having the pressured water line water enter the rain barrel or other water harvesting device, the pressured water line water may have time to gas-off, which may make the water more beneficial to the vegetation. Further, having the pressured water line water enter the rain barrel may ensure that there is always water within the rain barrel even if there has been no rain for a period of time.
In this embodiment the rain barrel rotating carriage 76 may be driven by a set of gears 92a and 92b. The rotational motion of the input rotating carriage 66, attached to a shaft 94a or connecting rod will drive the first gear 92a, which will cause the second gear 92b to rotate and with it rotate a second shaft 94b or connecting rod. The rain barrel rotating carriage 76 is connected to the second shaft and will rotate with the rotational movement of the second shaft 94b. Preferably, the first gear 92a is larger than the second gear 92b to allow for greater rotational movement of the rain barrel rotating carriage 76 with respect to the input rotating carriage 66. It will be understood that various sizes of gears may be used and that the set of gears may be the same size; although, there may be power consequences if the same size gears are used.
The flow control of the embodiments shown in the
As illustrated in
As shown in
Furthermore, it should be understood that the irrigation aid with or without a level measuring device may be installed to a multiple rainwater tank system having been provided the appropriate connections such as tandem kits or through other connecting means known in the art.
Inside the rainwater irrigation aid 40, there may be a timer system from which the water be released in timed intervals and with preset or user set quantities. The user can control the system via user interface 56.
The rainwater irrigation aid 40 may also comprise a rainwater tank fill option (not shown) so that during extreme dry spells, when rainwater is not available, city water can be filled into the rainwater tank 10. The storage of this water in the tank over time provides the opportunity for water temperature to normalize from colder temperatures and for chlorine in the water to gas-off and be ready for the next watering. Warmer water and minimization of chlorine and other inherent chemicals are desired for some sensitive vegetation.
With respect to the above description then, it is realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present document.
Therefore the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the irrigation aid. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the embodiments.
Claims
1. An irrigation aid for a water harvesting device comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one inlet incorporated into one side of the housing;
- an outlet incorporated into the housing and adapted to attach to at least one irrigation line; and
- a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer water from the at least one inlet through the housing to the outlet.
2. The irrigation aid in claim 1, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a plurality of fins.
3. The irrigation aid in claim 1, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises an input rotating carriage and an output rotating carriage.
4. The irrigation aid of claim 3, wherein the input rotating carriage and the output rotating carriage both comprise a plurality of fins.
5. The irrigation aid in claim 1, wherein one of the at least one inlets is connected to a rainwater tank of the water harvesting device.
6. The irrigation aid in claim 1, wherein one of the at least one inlets is connected to a pressured water line.
7. The irrigation aid in claim 1, wherein the irrigation aid further comprises a level measuring device.
8. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid comprising;
- a rain water inlet;
- an outlet for connection with one or more irrigation lines;
- a water transfer means between; and
- a means to provide power assisted irrigation.
9. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid as in claim 8, wherein said power assist means is a pressurized water line.
10. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid as in claim 8, wherein said power assist means is a motor.
11. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid as in claim 10, wherein said power assist means draws power from a solar powered system.
12. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid as in claim 8, further comprising a user flow control means.
13. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid as in claim 8, further comprising the user flow control means including a timer for release of water at times intervals.
14. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid as in claim 8, further comprising the user flow control means including a selected amount of water to be released.
15. A harvested rainwater irrigation aid as in claim 8 further comprising:
- a plurality of solar cells;
- a chargeable battery to store the energy from the solar cells; and
- a motor to drive the water transfer means.
16. A water irrigation aid comprising;
- a water inlet;
- an outlet for connection with one or more irrigation lines; and
- a means to provide power assisted irrigation.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 25, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 30, 2010
Applicant: GREEN RIPPLE INNOVATIONS INC. (Waterloo)
Inventor: Scott W. ALLAN (Kitchener)
Application Number: 12/731,593
International Classification: F04B 17/00 (20060101); B63H 1/04 (20060101);