ROTATIONAL SYSTEM FOR HYDROPONIC EQUIPMENT

Abstract

It relates to a straightforward system, which can be used in any greenhouse, as it is not linked to the greenhouse, and which can maximise the area of crop plants per hectare. For this purpose, the invention proposes a system that is supported by struts (1) with a horizontal shaft (3) on which a support mechanism (4) for pairs of supports (5) of the hydroponic crop in question swings, so that they can adopt a position in which they are aligned horizontally, and another position in which they are aligned vertically, so that this position allows access to the plants for harvesting their fruit and therefore not having to leave unused spaces when the plants are aligned horizontally.

Claims

1. Rotational system for hydroponic equipment, wherein it is comprised of rows or lines of struts for supporting the structure on the ground, with said struts comprising a “V” section angled at 90° near the upper end thereof, or a configuration matching the profile of the supports of the hydroponic crop in question, which are finished on the upper end thereof with a horizontal shaft, on which a support mechanism for pairs of supports of the hydroponic crop in question swings, with said supports hanging from said mechanism by means of respective arms (6-7), with the particularity that one of said arms comprises a “V” section, with the system comprising means to adjust the positioning angle of the support mechanism between two opposite working positions, a position in which the supports of the hydroponic crop are aligned horizontally, and another position in which the supports are aligned vertically.

2. Rotational system for hydroponic equipment, according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the positioning angle of the support mechanism is embodied with a powered gear.

3. Rotational system for hydroponic equipment, according to claim 1, wherein the powered gear includes means for actuating said gear in relation to the angle of solar radiation.

4. Rotational system for hydroponic equipment, according to claim 1, wherein the means for regulating the positioning angle of the support mechanism are embodied by means of an “L” shaped lever that is connected to the rotating support mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] To complete the invention described below and in order to give a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings in which the figures described below have been represented for purely illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting:

[0023] FIG. 1.—Shows a schematic elevation view of the mechanism comprised in a rotational system for hydroponic equipment according to the object of the present invention, which is arranged in a horizontal working position and corresponds to a variation embodiment with a manual actuator by means of a lever.

[0024] FIG. 2.—Shows a similar view as FIG. 1 but with the system arranged in the vertical position, which makes it possible to free up the space in the corridors to harvest the fruits of the plants.

[0025] FIG. 3.—Shows a similar profile view as FIG. 1, but representing several mechanisms at the heart of a greenhouse.

[0026] FIG. 4.—Shows a similar view as FIG. 3, but with the system arranged in the vertical position, which makes it possible to free up the space in the corridors to harvest the fruits of the plants.

[0027] FIG. 5.—Shows a perspective view of a detail of the system, according to the position shown on FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0028] FIG. 6.—Finally, a perspective view of a detail of the system, according to the position shown on FIGS. 2 and 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In light of the drawings described above, the system of the invention comprises a series of rows or lines of struts (1) for supporting a structure on the ground, preferably by driving said struts on the ground, with said struts (1) comprising a “V” section angled at 90° (2) near the upper end thereof, which are finished on the upper end thereof with a horizontal shaft (3) on which a support mechanism (4) for pairs of supports (5) of the hydroponic crop in question swings, with said supports hanging from said mechanism by means of respective arms (6-7), so that the arm (7) aimed at arranging the relevant support (5) in the vertical position to allow access to the plants, as shown on FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, comprises a “V” section (7′), just like the “V” section angled at 90° (2) of the struts (1), which according to the aforementioned figures makes it possible to house therein the supports (5) with their corresponding plants when the support mechanism is rotated so that the plants are aligned vertically, freeing up space between the struts (1) and allowing access to harvest the fruit, so that the lateral distance between the lines of struts (1) can be minimised in relation to the distribution shown on FIGS. 3 and 4 of a greenhouse (8).

[0030] Although in the figures the support mechanism (4) is actuated manually by means of an “L” shaped lever (9) connected to said rotating support mechanism (4), said mechanism could be actuated by a powered gear that not only makes it possible to change the arrangement of the supports of the plants in order to gain access to them, but it can also be programmed to change the relative position of said supports in relation to the angle of solar radiation in order to optimise the process of photosynthesis of the plants.