A structural unit with provisions for agricultural use of land thereof. Background of the Invention:

The food is an essential component for life, and basic food products of everyday are grown on an agricultural land. The industry is also an essential component for life, and basic products of everyday use are generally produced in an industrial unit, which is constructed on a land, which, otherwise, would have been used or available for the agricultural purpose. Similarly, the housing unit is also an essential component for life, and is constructed on a land, which, otherwise, would have been used or available for the agricultural purpose. The industrial growth is not only required for manufacturing industrial products, but also to create jobs for the increasing population, and to have at least a reasonable standard of living beyond mere survival of the human-race, and is, therefore, an important in all socio- economic environments. The industries too require land for establishing manufacturing and service facilities. The growth of housing sector is required for catering the basic need of the human-race to have house of their own so as to have at least a reasonable standard of living beyond mere survival, and is, therefore, an important in all social environments. Therefore, the land is an essential component not only for producing the agricultural products for the survival of the human race, but also for constructing the industrial units for the industrial growth, and for constructing the housing units for the increasing population. Therefore, availability of land being limited there is always a conflict of demand for land between the agriculture sector, the industrial sector, and the housing sector, and the countries like India, where the population is growing at a faster rate and day to day demands of the growing population are also growing exponentially, face such conflict on a larger scale. The above situation is further aggravated by the fact that it is generally the good agricultural land which is generally suitable for establishing the industrial units and the housing units. The rocky waste land is neither suitable for the agricultural purpose, nor for the industrial units, nor for the housing units. At present, there is no system wherein a good land can be used for dual purpose of agriculture and industry, or for dual purpose of agriculture and housing, or for triple purpose of agriculture, industry, and housing. Need for the Invention: Therefore, there is a need of a system which can render the good piece of land suitable for dual purpose of the agriculture and the industry, or for dual purpose of the agriculture and the housing, or for triple purpose of the agriculture, the industry, and the housing. Accordingly, there is a need of a structural unit, (a) wherein the land therefore (of the structural unit) can still be used for one or more of the purposes selected from the agricultural purpose, and the housing purpose; and (b) wherein the structural unit is an unit selected from the group comprising industrial unit and housing unit. Accordingly, there is a need of a system, which can render the land, suitable:

a) not only for setting up of an industrial unit, preferably with minimal utilization of space, but also enabling the land of the industrial unit suitable for the agricultural purpose;

b) not only for setting up of an housing unit, preferably with minimal utilization of space, but also enabling the land of the housing unit suitable for the agricultural purpose;

c) not only for setting up of an industrial unit-cum-housing unit, preferably with minimal utilization of space, but also enabling the land of the industrial unit-cum- housing unit suitable for the agricultural purpose;

d) wherein the structural unit (the industry and/or the housing unit) is so modified that it can enable the land, occupied by the structural unit, also suitable for the agricultural purposes; e) wherein the structural unit (the industry and/or the housing unit) is so modified that it has such provisions that disturbances caused by the presence of the structural unit to vital inputs required for the agricultural purpose are either eliminated or at least minimized. Aims of the present Invention:

Accordingly, the present invention aims to solve one or more of the above-discussed problems of the existing structural units. Problem to be solved by the present Invention:

Accordingly, the present invention solves problems of establishing a structural unit on an agricultural land, wherein the land used for the structural unit is still being capable of having provision for growing the agricultural products concurrently with the industrial and/or housing activities. It may be noted that, at present, the structural unit results in land used by the structural unit (the industry or housing sector) uncultivable, i.e. unsuitable for the agricultural purpose, because the vital inputs required for the agricultural purposes cannot reach onto the land due to the presence of the structural unit. Objects of the Invention:

Accordingly, main object of the present invention is to provide a system which can render the good piece of land suitable for dual purpose of the agriculture and the industry, or for dual purpose of the agriculture and the housing, or for triple purpose of the agriculture, the industry, and the housing. Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a structural unit, (a) wherein the land therefore can still be used for one or more of the purposes selected from the agricultural purpose, and the housing purpose; and (b) wherein the structural unit is an unit selected from the group comprising industrial unit and housing unit. Accordingly, still another object of the present invention is to provide a system, which can render the land, suitable:

a) not only for setting up of an industrial unit, but also enabling the land of the industrial unit suitable for the agricultural purpose; b) not only for setting up of an housing unit, but also enabling the land of the housing unit suitable for the agricultural purpose;

c) not only for setting up of an industrial unit-cum-housing unit, but also enabling the land of the industrial unit-cum-housing unit suitable for the agricultural purpose; d) wherein the structural unit (the industry and/or the housing unit) is so modified that it can enable the land, occupied by the structural unit, also suitable for the agricultural purposes;

e) wherein the structural unit (the industry and/or the housing unit) is so modified that it has such provisions that disturbances caused by the presence of the structural unit to vital inputs required for the agricultural purpose are either eliminated or at least minimized. Accordingly, this is also an object of the present invention to provide a system, which allows all vital inputs for the agricultural purposes to be delivered to the land and the agricultural plants in spite of the presence of the structural unit. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description which has been described with the help of the accompanying figures which are not intended to limit scope of the present invention. Brief Description of the accompanying figures of the Invention:

Figure la illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) of a system of the present invention in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. Figure lb illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) of distribution of supporting means (support columns) of the system of the present invention as can be seen from bottom of the system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2a illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) of positioning of the optical fibre assembled tubes (18a, 18b) in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, wherein the optical fibre assembled tubes (18a, 18b) are preferably provided within walls of the structural unit in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2b illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) of an assembled tube of optical fibres (21) in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, wherein an optical fibre (21) is preferably affixed to an adjacent optical fibre (21) by an affixing means (22) thereby resulting in a tube having a central hollow space (23). Figure 2c illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) of distribution of apertures of the optical fibre assembled tubes (18) on one end of the structural unit (3) in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2d illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) of distribution of apertures of the optical fibre assembled tubes (18) on another end of the structural unit (3) in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3a illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) of optical fibre band (24) provided in the system of the present invention in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3b illustrates schematic representation (not to the scale) entry of the sunlight from the entry port (25) of the optical fibre band and exit of the sunlight from the exit port (26) of the optical fibre band, which has advantage of illuminating the shadow zones formed by the structural unit (3) in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. Description and Preferred Embodiments of the Invention:

The requirements for growing agricultural plants are:

i) Ground space;

ii) Sunlight;

iii) Rainfall (or water supply);

iv) Wind (or air);

v) Dew. Currently when a structural unit is erected, then the land used for construction of that structural unit renders waste for the agricultural purpose. As described herein, the present invention aims at providing and provides a system comprising a structural unit, wherein the land can still be used for the agricultural purposes. With the above aim, the inventor of the present invention has, surprisingly and unexpectedly, found that if a structural unit erected on supporting means (support columns) is provided with (A.i) one or more of optical fibre tubes and (A.ii) one or more of optical fibre tube assemblies thereof; and (B.i) one or more of optical fibre tubes, and (B.ii) one or more of optical fibre tube bundles thereof, the optical fibre tubes and the optical fibre tube assemblies thereof, and the optical fibre tubes, and the optical fibre tube bundles thereof, surprisingly and unexpectedly, serve the dual purpose of (i) transmission of light, and as well as (ii) imparting additional structural strength to the structural unit. Furthermore, the optical fibre tubes and optical fibre tube assemblies thereof, surprisingly and unexpectedly, serve multiple purpose of (i) transmission of light, and as well as (ii) imparting additional structural strength to the structural unit; and as well as (Hi) transport of rainwater, (iv) transport of dew, and (v) transport of air. Therefore, the land used for the construction of the structural unit of the present invention can still be used for the agricultural purposes because essential ingredients, i) ground space; ii) sunlight; iii) rainfall (or water supply); iv) air (or wind); v) dew required for the agricultural purpose can be made available even after erection of the structural unit of the present invention. A structural unit could be erected on supporting means (support columns) leaving ground space underneath the structural unit for the agricultural activities. Under such a situation only the land will be made available for the agricultural use, however, the other essential requirements ii) sunlight; iii) rainfall (or water supply); iv) air (or wind); v) dew for the agricultural growth will be either significantly reduced or totally absent. Therefore, even if the space is made available by building the structural unit over the pillars, the agriculture production is still not possible. The present invention aims at providing a solution to this existing problem, and does provide a solution to this existing problem by providing a system comprising a structural unit erected on supporting means (support columns), wherein the land used for the construction of the structural unit is still available for the agricultural purposes and the other essential ingredients, ii) sunlight, iii) rainfall (or water supply), iv) air (or wind), v) dew required for the agricultural purpose are also made available even after erection of the structural unit of the present invention. Therefore, in one embodiment, the present invention relates to a system comprising a structural unit erected on supporting means (support columns), wherein the structural unit is provided with:

(A.i) one or more of optical fibre tubes, and (AM) one or more of optical fibre tube assemblies thereof; and

(B.i) one or more of optical fibre tubes, and (B.ii) one or more of optical fibre tube bundles thereof,

wherein the optical fibre tubes and optical fibre tube assemblies thereof are capable of serving plurality of the purposes selected from the group comprising:

(i) transmission of (allowing passage to) light to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit,

(ii) transport of (allowing passage to) rainwater to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit,

(Hi) transport of (allowing passage to) dew to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit,

(iv) transport of (allowing passage to) air to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit; and

(v) imparting additional structural strength to the structural unit; and

wherein the optical fibre tubes, and the optical fibre tube bundles thereof are capable of serving following purposes:

(i) transmission of (allowing passage to) light to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit, and

(ii) imparting additional structural strength to the structural unit;

so that the land used for the construction of the structural unit of the present invention is still available for the agricultural purposes because essential ingredients, i) ground space; ii) sunlight; iii) rainfall (or water supply); iv) air (or wind); v) dew required for the agricultural purpose are made available even after erection of the structural unit of the present invention. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, a number of the optical fibres are affixed (joined) together with an affixing means in a manner that these form a structure having a hollow space, and the structure so formed may be referred to as optical fibre tube having a hollow space, wherein the tube may be of any shape including circular, rectangular or square, preferably of circular shape tubular structure. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a number of the optical fibres (21) are affixed (joined) together with an affixing means (22) to form an optical fibre tube having a hollow space (23) (re Figure 2b), wherein the optical fibre tube is of circular or cylindrical shape. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, a number of the optical fibre tubes having a hollow space are placed together in a manner to form an optical fibre tube assembly, which looks alike a matrix at the entry port (19) and exit port (20) (re Figures 2c and 2d). In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the structural unit is provided with one or more of the optical fibre tube assembly (18a and 18b), which looks like a matrix at the entry port (19) and exit port (20) (re Figures 2a, 2c, and 2d), wherein the optical fibre tube assembly is preferably provided within walls of the structural unit (Figure 2a) in a manner that it has an entry port (19) for the sunlight, rainwater, air and dew, and an exit port (20) for the sunlight, rainwater, air and dew (re Figures 2a, 2c, and 2d), wherein the sunlight gets in and gets out through the optical fibre, and the rainwater and the dew gets in and gets out through the hollow space of the optical fibre tube, because it has been observed that the curved hollow space (23) does not transmit light significantly because the light rays strike the boundary of the hollow space (23). However, the optical fibres (21) of the optical fibre tube transmit light from the entry to the exit port in spite of the tube being curved (i.e. in spite of curves in the optical fibre assembly). Therefore, the advantages of the presently provided structural unit are that the sunlight, rainwater, air and/or dew can still reach the land even if a structural unit has been erected thereon. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the affixing means is an adhesive capable of affixing (or joining) together the optical fibres. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, a number of optical fibres are bunched together to form an optical fibre bundle. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the structural unit is provided with one or more of the optical fibre bundles placed in a manner (one beside the other) so as to form a band (24) having an entry port (25) for the sunlight and an exit port (26) for the sunlight (re Figures 3 a and 3b). It may be noted that the band of the present invention may be rotated with respect to the structural unit. It has also been found that the optical fibre tubes and optical fibre tube assembly thereof, and the optical fibre tubes and the optical fibre tube bundle(s) thereof are structurally strong, and therefore, these also impart additional structural strength to the structural unit, which may result in reduction of requirement of steel or iron in construction of the structural unit. Further embodiments of the present invention are described with the help of the accompanying figures, wherein the figures are not intended to limit scope of the present invention. Figure la illustrates the system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. The structural unit (3) is located above the ground (1) leaving a clear vertical space for agricultural / plant growth under the structural unit. The structural unit (3) may be of any shape, and dimensions. The spherical shape is the preferred embodiment because:

a) wind pathways are minimally obstructed;

b) the spherical shape may give a strong structure with light weight material. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the structural unit is supported by means of column structures (4). The column structure may be selected from the group comprising supporting means, industrial or housing unit supporting means, industrial or housing supporting means. Figure 1 b illustrates the distribution when five columns are being used in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention. It may be noted the number of columns to support the structural unit may be one or more, which are not intended to limit scope of the present invention. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, hollow columns (4) instead of solid pillars are preferred supporting means for supporting the structural unit. The inventor has found that the hollow column structure gives additional support strength for the space occupied. Furthermore, the hollow column structures also provide the hollow space within the columns, which has been found to be usable for agricultural purposes including: transporting water for irrigation by piping means (11), wherein the piping means (11) may be provided with sprinkling means comprising a sprinkler (or spraying means comprising a sprayer) (11a) for sprinkling or spraying the water over the land;

transporting nutrients by piping means (13), wherein the piping means (13) may be provided with sprinkling means comprising a sprinkler (or spraying means comprising a sprayer) (13a) for sprinkling or spraying the nutrients over the land; and/or

transporting pesticides by piping means(15), wherein the piping means (15) may be provided with sprinkling means comprising a sprinkler (or spraying means comprising a sprayer) (15a) for sprinkling or spraying the pesticides over the land. It may be noted that in the accompanying figures only three piping means (11, 13, 15) have been illustrated. However, in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, there may be more than three piping means in one column (or pillar). It may also be noted that in the accompanying figures the piping means (11) has been illustrated in central pillar, and the piping means (13 and 15) have been illustrated in one pillar. However, in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, any number of piping means, and any piping means may be accommodated in any pillar or column, and/or one or more of piping means may be accommodated in one pillar/column. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the water, the nutrients, and the pesticides are preferably stored in separate storing means, which may be underground tanks (10, 12, 14, 17). Accordingly, in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the nutrients are preferably stored in a storing means (12),

the pesticides are stored in the underground tank (14). The ground surface mostly remains clear for agricultural purpose including for growing plants. The hollow space in one of the columns is used for services required for the structural unit which includes supply of water and removal of wastes from the structural unit including from toilets by piping means (16) into a disposable tank or treatment plant (17). The products from the disposable tank or treatment plant (17) may be used as fertilizers for the agricultural purpose, and thereby, the present invention is additionally advantageous. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, heavy machinery of the structural unit may be placed or fixed on to the arch type structural means (6). The arch type structural means (6) may be provided with shock absorbing means (6a) capable of transferring heavy machinery load force onto the column structure so that the industrial or housing structure is additionally stable. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, lighter machines may be placed or fixed at relatively higher level on minimally arched structures. The office area or sitting arrangements in an industrial unit or office unit, or the bedrooms in housing unit being the lowest weight structures of the structural unit may be placed at the top level of the structural unit. It may be noted that the number of levels may differ from one structural unit to another structural unit depending upon the nature of the structural unit. Figure 2a illustrates the placement of one or more, or plurality of optical tubes assembled by joining plurality of optical fibres (18), or alternatively by manufacturing from a single optical fibre. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the optical tubes may be embedded within the wall of the structural unit. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the optical tubes have been found to be suitable for:

i) Giving structural strength to the industrial structure;

ii) Transmitting sunlight from top of the structural unit to bottom of the structural unit, thereby to the ground level, i.e. the land below the structural unit, and therefore, the shadow zone on account of the structural unit is eliminated. Thus, the land below the structural unit may be used for the agricultural purpose, i.e. for growing of the plants, because with the present invention the ground space below the structural unit also gets sunlight, which otherwise is not possible in the presently existing structural unit.

iii) Allowing rainfall to pass down the hollow space (23) (see Figure 2b) from top of the structural unit to bottom of the structural unit, thereby to the ground level, i.e. the land below the structural unit, and therefore, the dry zone on account of the structural unit is also eliminated. Thus, the land below the structural unit may be used for the agricultural purpose, i.e. for growing of the plants, because with the present invention the ground space below the structural unit also gets rainfall, which otherwise is not possible in the presently existing structural unit.

iv) The optical fibres (18) at the upper end are preferably flared (flare not shown in the figure) for adequate collection of dew and to catch wind blowing. The air from the wind travels down the tubes (18) and drags the dew drops and sprays the dew onto the plants beneath the structural unit. In Figure 2a only two optical fibres (18a and 18b) have been shown for diagrammatic convenience, however, there may be one or more number of such tubes. The optical fibre tubes may be arranged in a configuration as illustrated in Figure 2c and Figure 2d, wherein reference numeral 19 has been used to illustrate upper end of the tubes, and reference numeral 20 has been used to illustrate lower end of the tubes, however, the scope of the present invention is not limited by this configuration. As per the present invention, an assembly of the optical fibre tubes is provided, and the assembly may have any configuration. Therefore, the system of the present invention is capable of providing for the plants underneath the structural unit to get wind, sunlight, rainfall and dew. The plant growth is, therefore, normal even if these are below the structural unit. Other than the equatorial region the sun is mostly not overhead. Therefore, the structural unit forms a shadow zone on the sides of the structure. The location of the shadow zone shifts around the structure as the orientation of the sun and the earth changes from morning hours to late afternoon hours. For compensating for this moving shadow zone, the structural unit of the present invention is provided with one or more, or plurality of movable optical fibre band or bands (24). In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the optical fibre band (24) encircles the structural unit. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the optical fibre band (24) may be rotated with respect to the structural unit by means of a rotating means comprising an electrical motor. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the rotation of the optical band(s) (24) may be concentrically with respect to the structural unit. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the band(s) may be provided with photocell light sensors, which are capable of accessing or identifying direction of the sun and the shadow zone. In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the band(s) may be provided with a feedback control system, which is capable of controlling and adjusting the position of the optical fibre band (24) in a manner that the sunlight (25) enters from the entry port of the optical fibre band (24), and exits (26) from the exit port to illuminate the shadow zone caused by the presence of the structural unit in the path of the sun rays (as illustrated in the Figure 3(b)). In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, the feedback control system is an automatic feedback control system, which may be electronic in nature. The transport of personnel and industrial or house-hold materials to and from the industrial or housing structure may be arranged over elevated rail/road, and hence, no agricultural ground other than the space used for the pillars is lost for the agriculture purpose. It may be noted that the optical fibre tubes may be of any dimensions. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not restricted by dimensions of the optical fibre tubes. It may be noted that plurality of the optical fibre tubes may form an assembly of the optical fibre tubes. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not restricted by number of the optical fibre tubes in an assembly of the optical fibre tubes. It may be noted that plurality of the optical fibres may form a bundle of the optical fibres. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not restricted by number of the optical fibres in a bundle of the optical fibres. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the optical fibres are preferably made of glass or plastic material. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the optical fibre is a flexible solid rod. Accordingly, the present invention has provided a system, wherein the optical fibre tubes and optical fibre tube assemblies thereof serve plurality of the purposes selected from the group comprising:

(i) transmission of (allowing passage to) light to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit, (ii) transport of (allowing passage to) rainwater to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit,

(Hi) transport of (allowing passage to) dew to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit,

(iv) transport of (allowing passage to) air to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit; and

(v) imparting additional structural strength to the structural unit; and

wherein the optical fibre tubes, and the optical fibre tube bundles thereof serve following purposes:

(i) transmission of (allowing passage to) light to reach to land used for construction of the structural unit, and

(ii) imparting additional structural strength to the structural unit;

and thereby, the land used for the construction of the structural unit of the present invention is still available for the agricultural purposes because essential ingredients, i) ground space; ii) sunlight; iii) rainfall (or water supply); iv) air (or wind); v) dew required for the agricultural purpose are made available even after erection of the structural unit of the present invention. Additional advantage of the presently provided structural unit is that the sunlight, and if required, the rainwater (for the purpose of storage) and air, may also be made to reach in the basements of the structural unit. In accordance with one of the embodiments, on the outer surface of the industrial building at locations which do not interfere with the movable optical fibre band or bands, electricity generating solar cells may be provided to provide supplementary electricity for the industry. In accordance with one of the embodiments, over the upper end of the tubes electrically controlled water diverting baffles may be provided. In the event of unseasonable rains which could damage crops the baffles, surprisingly and unexpectedly, divert rain water to tubes which transport the rain water to underground storage tanks. Thereby crops are protected and there is also rain water harvesting.