Systems and methods for gathering water

Abstract

A conduit system for gathering water from 1 soil includes multiple conduits configured for insertion into soil. Each conduit includes a wall having an outer surface configured to be exposed to soil and an inner surface defining a central passage. The wall includes multiple gathering pores extending through the wall. The cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from the outer surface to the inner surface to promote capillary action for moving water from the soil through each gathering pore to the central passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conduit system for gathering water from soil, comprising:
 a plurality of conduits configured for physical engagement with soil, each conduit including a wall having an outer surface configured to be physically engaged with soil and an inner surface defining a central passage, wherein the wall includes a plurality of gathering pores extending through the wall, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from the outer surface to the inner surface to promote capillary action for moving water from the soil through each gathering pore to the central passage.   
     
     
         2 . The conduit system of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases in size monotonically from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         3 . The conduit system of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from a first size at the outer surface to a minimum at an intermediate position along the pore, and then increases to a second size at the inner surface larger than the minimum. 
     
     
         4 . The conduit system of  claim 1 , further comprising a capillary structure within the conduit extending from a first region of the conduit to a second region of the conduit, wherein the capillary structure is configured to move water toward the second region. 
     
     
         5 . The conduit system of  claim 4 , wherein the capillary structure comprises a wick. 
     
     
         6 . The conduit system of  claim 4 , wherein the capillary structure comprises one or more grooves in the inner surface. 
     
     
         7 . The conduit system of  claim 4 , wherein each conduit further includes a plurality of delivery pores extending through the wall to deliver water from the central passage through the wall. 
     
     
         8 . The conduit system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump fluidly coupled to the central passage of each conduit for moving water through each conduit.   
     
     
         9 . The conduit system of  claim 8 , wherein the pump is operable in a first state to move water through the conduits away from the gathering pores and operable in a second state to move air through the conduits to clean the gathering pores. 
     
     
         10 . The conduit system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a main conduit including a main passage, wherein each conduit extends from the main conduit, each central passage is fluidly coupled to the main passage, and the main passage fluidly couples each central passage to the pump.   
     
     
         11 . The conduit system of  claim 10 , wherein the main conduit further includes a main wall having an outer surface configured to be physically engaged with soil and an inner surface defining the main passage, wherein the main wall includes a plurality of main gathering pores extending through the main wall, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each main gathering pore decreases from the outer surface to the inner surface to promote capillary action for moving water from the soil through each main gathering pore to the main passage. 
     
     
         12 . The conduit system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall of each of the conduits comprises a plurality of layers and the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from layer to layer in a stepwise manner. 
     
     
         13 . The conduit system of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases continuously from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         14 . The conduit system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the conduits is configured to be automatically movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the conduits are configured to be physically engaged with soil. 
     
     
         15 . A method of gathering water from soil, comprising:
 physically engaging a plurality of conduits with soil;   gathering water into the conduits through a plurality of gathering pores that promote capillary action; and   transporting the gathered water through the conduits.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each conduit includes a wall having an outer surface configured to be physically engaged with soil and an inner surface defining a central passage, wherein the wall includes a plurality of gathering pores extending through the wall, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from the outer surface to the inner surface to promote capillary action for moving water from the soil through each gathering pore to the central passage. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cross-sectional area decrease of each gathering pore is monotonic from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from a first size at the outer surface to a minimum at an intermediate position along the pore, and then increases to a second size at the inner surface larger than the minimum. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each conduit further includes a plurality of delivery pores extending through the wall to deliver water from the central passage through the wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a pump-derived pressure difference is used to facilitate delivery of the water through the delivery pores. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the wall of each of the conduits comprises a plurality of layers and the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from layer to layer in a stepwise manner. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases continuously from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 moving air through the conduits and out of the gathering pores to clean the gathering pores.   
     
     
         24 . A conduit system for gathering water from soil, comprising:
 a plurality of conduits configured for physical engagement with soil, each conduit including a means for gathering water from soil through capillary action; and   a means for transporting the gathered water through each conduit.   
     
     
         25 . The conduit system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for gathering water from soil through capillary action comprises a plurality of gathering pores extending through a wall of the conduit, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from the outer surface of the wall to the inner surface of the wall. 
     
     
         26 . The conduit system of  claim 25 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases in size monotonically from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         27 . The conduit system of  claim 25 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each gathering pore decreases from a first size at the outer surface to a minimum at an intermediate position along the pore, and then increases to a second size at the inner surface larger than the minimum. 
     
     
         28 . The conduit system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for transporting the gathered water comprises a central passage in each conduit having a cross-sectional area that decreases from a first end of the conduit to a second end of the conduit to promote capillary action for moving water toward the second end. 
     
     
         29 . The conduit system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for transporting the gathered water comprises a capillary structure in each conduit extending from a first region of the conduit to a second region of the conduit and configured to promote capillary action for moving water toward the second region. 
     
     
         30 . The conduit system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for transporting the gathered water comprises a central passage in each conduit and a pump fluidly coupled to the central passages for moving water through the conduits. 
     
     
         31 . The conduit system of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a main conduit, wherein each conduit extends from the main conduit and the main conduit includes a means for transporting the gathered water through the main conduit.   
     
     
         32 . The conduit system of  claim 31 , wherein at least a portion of the main conduit is located below ground. 
     
     
         33 . The conduit system of  claim 31 , wherein the main conduit further includes a means for gathering water from soil through capillary action. 
     
     
         34 . The conduit system of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a means for automatically moving each of the conduits between a retracted position and an extended position.