FROST PROTECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A frost protection system for protecting new growth or new plantings from frost includes one or more light strings for irradiating the new growth or new planting to be protected from frost, a power supply for supplying the light strings with electrical power and a thermal control unit for controlling the power supply on the basis of measured temperature. The one or more light strings have at least four lights per linear meter.

Claims

1-42. (canceled)

43. A frost protection system for protecting new growth or new plantings from frost, the system comprising: one or more light strings for irradiating the new growth or new planting to be protected from frost; a power supply for supplying the light strings with electrical power; a thermal control unit for controlling the power supply on the basis of measured temperature wherein the one or more light strings have at least four lights per linear meter.

44. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the light string has between five and 100 lights per linear meter.

45. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the light string has a power of between 10 and 50 watts per linear meter.

46. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the light string has lights that comprise incandescent bulbs, infrared incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, LED bulbs or infrared LED bulbs

47. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the maximum intensity of the emitted light is in the infrared range.

48. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the light string is a light garland, a light rope, a light strip or a light strip wherein lights are present on both sides of the light strip.

49. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the frost protection system is a system for protecting new growth on grapevines from frost.

50. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the power supply comprises a generator and/or at least one photovoltaic cell and a battery for storing energy collected by the photovoltaic cell, and/or a connection to the electricity distribution grid.

51. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the thermal control unit comprises a thermometer that generates an electrical signal related to the measured temperature.

52. The frost protection system according to claim 43, wherein the thermal control unit comprises a switch that switches on the power supply if the temperature falls below a first predetermined temperature.

53. The frost protection system according to claim 52, wherein the thermal control unit comprises a switch that switches off the power supply if the temperature rises above a second predetermined temperature.

54. A method for protecting new growth or new plantings from frost, comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one light string at the level of new growth or a new planting; b) supplying the at least one light string with electrical power in order to illuminate the new growth or new planting with light from the light string thereby.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the light string is a light garland, a light rope or a light strip.

56. The method according to claim 54, wherein the light string has at least four lights per linear meter.

57. A method for protecting new growth or new plantings from frost, comprising the steps of: a) providing a frost protection system according to claim 43; b) providing at least one light string of the frost protection system at the level of new growth or a new planting; c) supplying the at least one light string with electrical power in order to illuminate the new growth or new planting with light from the light string thereby.

58. The method according to claim 57, wherein the new growth or new planting is new shoots on the fruiting laterals of grapevines.

59. The method according to claim 57, wherein the distance between light string and new growth or new planting is not more than 20 cm.

60. The method according to claim 57, wherein the method comprises the step of measuring the surrounding temperature, and supplying electrical power to the at least one light string of the frost protection system at the level of the fruiting laterals of one or more grapevines if the measured temperature is lower than a first predetermined temperature.

61. Use of a light string for protecting new growth or new plantings from frost.

62. The use according to claim 61, wherein the new growth or new planting is new shoots on the fruiting laterals of grapevines.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0122] With a view to giving a more detailed description of the features of the invention, several preferred embodiments are described below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0123] FIG. 1 schematically shows a frost protection system for protecting grapevines from frost.

[0124] FIG. 2 schematically shows a top view of a frost protection system for protecting grapevines from frost in a vineyard.

[0125] FIG. 3 schematically shows a frost protection system for protecting new plantings.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0126] The present invention is described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0127] It should be noted that the term “comprising”, as used, for example, in the claims, should not be interpreted in a limiting sense, limited to the elements, features and/or steps mentioned thereafter. The term “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements, features or steps.

[0128] Thus the scope of an expression “an object comprising the elements A and B” is not limited to an object that only contains the elements A and B. The scope of an expression “a method comprising the steps A and B” is not limited to a method that only contains the steps A and B.

[0129] In the light of the present invention, these expressions only mean that the relevant elements and steps, respectively, are the elements and steps A and B, respectively, for the invention.

[0130] In the following specification, reference is made to “an embodiment ” or “the embodiment”. Such a reference means that a specific element or feature, described by means of this embodiment, is comprised in at least this one embodiment.

[0131] However, the use of the terms “in an embodiment” or “in the embodiment” at various points in this description does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may nevertheless refer to the same embodiment.

[0132] Furthermore, the properties or the features may be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner, as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

[0133] A frost protection system 100 for protecting grapevines 200 from frost is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a light string 110 for irradiating grapevine fruiting laterals 210 to be protected from frost. The light string is suspended by hooks from the bottommost wire 120 to which the fruiting laterals 210 are also attached.

[0134] In a first embodiment, the light string 110 is a light rope, for example from HQ Power. It comprises 70 incandescent bulbs 130 per linear meter, and is suspended approximately 60 cm above the ground 220 of the vineyard. The distance D between the fruiting laterals 210 and the light rope 110 is preferably smaller than 10 cm. The light rope has a diameter of approximately 2 cm. In total, the light rope is 45 m long and a plurality of, for example 45, grapevines 200 growing next to one another, with a distance of one meter between them, may be protected. It goes without saying that the length of the light rope may vary, for example between 30 and 50 m, depending on the length of the row of grapevines that is protected by the light rope. The outside of the light rope is made from transparent polymer. The power of the light rope is preferably between 10 and 20 watts per linear meter. The light rope operates on 230 V AC.

[0135] The system 100 further comprises a power supply 140 for supplying the light strings with electrical power. This supply 140 may comprise a photovoltaic cell 141 (or PV cell) that is connected to a battery 142 and potentially to a converter. The cell 141 may be mounted on one of the large supporting posts 150. The power supply 140 may also comprise, instead of or in addition to this PV cell and battery, a power generator 143, which may be fuelled by diesel or gasoline. Potentially, the power supply 140 also comprises a connection 144 to the electrical power grid.

[0136] The light string 110 is connected to the output of this power supply 140. For example, this connection may be made using a powerCON TRUE1 from Neutrik. Potentially, one or more extension cables 146 are provided between the light string and the power supply.

[0137] The power supply potentially further comprises a dimmer, for example a frequency controller, for varying the current intensity to the light string.

[0138] The frost protection system further comprises a thermal control unit 160 for controlling the power supply on the basis of measured temperature. This temperature measurement is taken by a thermometer 161. An example of a thermal control unit is a Crodeon Reporter from Crodeon Technologies. The thermometer in FIG. 1 is provided on the supporting post 150 at the level of the supporting wire 120. In alternative embodiments, the thermometer may be at ground height or hung at the level of the top of the supporting post 150. Potentially, a plurality of thermometers are distributed over the vineyard and these are not necessarily hung at the height of the first supporting post. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the thermometer may be hung at the level of the accesses 300 in the rows of grapevines. A vineyard may be divided into rows of grapevines, which rows are divided into sections. Each section may be served by one thermometer and one light rope which is suspended at the level of the supporting wire of that section. The thermal control unit 160 and one or more thermometers 161 may be coupled to one another via telecommunication or via a signal cable. Obviously, the distance between thermometer and light string is great enough for the light string not to affect the measured temperature.

[0139] In an alternative embodiment, the light rope is replaced with a light strip. It comprises 120 LEDs per linear meter. The light strip has a width of approximately 1.5 cm. The outside of the light strip is made from white polymer. The power of the light strip is between 10 and 20 W per linear meter. The average wavelength of the emitted light is approximately 700 nm, for example. In yet another alternative embodiment, the light rope is a light rope that comprises 36 lights per linear meter. The operation of the frost protection systems described above is almost identical. The thermometer preferably measures the surrounding temperature at the level of the first supporting wire where the new growth will grow on the fruiting laterals (at a height of approximately 60 cm), and this will be done at one or more locations in the vineyard. In the case of a plurality of simultaneous temperature measurements, the measured temperature is determined or calculated from the measurements, for example by averaging or by choosing the lowest measured temperature. As long as this temperature stays above a first predetermined temperature of 4° C., for example, nothing happens. As soon as the measured temperature falls below 4° C., the power supply will be switched on, i.e. the energy in the battery 142 will be drawn upon, or the power generator 143 will be activated, or the grid power 144 will be connected to the light string 110.

[0140] Potentially, the power supply will adjust the current intensity depending on the measured temperature. Thus, for example, the delivered electrical power may be gradually increased as the measured temperature decreases, until a predetermined temperature of, for example, 0° C. is reached. From that point the amount of delivered electrical power is at maximum.

[0141] The light string stays on and supplied with electrical power until the surrounding temperature has risen again sufficiently, for example to a predetermined switching-off temperature of 2° C. If the measured temperature reaches this value, the power supply is switched back off. Potentially, the amount of delivered electrical power may be gradually decreased as the measured surrounding temperature increases again.

[0142] FIG. 2 schematically shows how a frost protection system in a vineyard may look. The vineyard is grouped into groups of three rows of grapevines. Three rows of grapevines 200, each with their fruiting laterals 210 suspended approximately 60 cm above the ground, are served by one power supply 140, temperature control unit 160 and light strings (110a, 110b and 110c). Each row of grapevines has one light string (110a, 110b or 110c) at the level of the fruiting laterals 210 or fruiting cordons. This is connected to the power supply 140 via an extension cable 146 and a junction box 147. Via three thermometers 161a, 161b and 161c, temperatures are measured at the level of the fruiting laterals 210, which should represent the surrounding temperature. From these three measured values, the coldest temperature is selected by temperature control unit 160. The light strings 110a, 110b and 110c are activated and supplied with power if the temperature gets too low and falls below a predetermined threshold temperature. In these embodiments, all of the power is supplied by a diesel generator 143. The light strings are connected to a junction box using powerCON TRUE1 connectors. The same applies for the extension cable and junction box and extension cable and power supply.

[0143] It goes without saying that many alternatives to this scheme may be envisaged. The rows of grapevines may be grouped into groups of two rows, three rows, four rows, five rows or more rows. Just one temperature measurement may be taken per group of rows of grapevines, or the mean temperature may be calculated from a plurality of temperature measurements. More than one generator may be provided, or grid power may also be provided, potentially in combination with these one or more generators.

[0144] In yet another alternative, more than one light string may be provided per row of grapevines, which may be connected in parallel or one after the other.

[0145] In FIG. 3, a frost protection system is provided in a growing area where new plantings 400 of crops are grown. All of the elements shown in FIG. 3 are identical to those described for FIG. 1. The light string is laid on the ground 220, and the thermometer 161 measures the temperature on the ground. Obviously, the distance between thermometer and light string is great enough for the light string not to affect the measured temperature.

[0146] It is clear that although the embodiments and/or materials for obtaining embodiments according to the present invention are discussed, various modifications or amendments may be made without deviating from the functional scope and/or spirit of this invention. The present invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be realized according to different variants without departing from the scope of the present invention.