Systems for the control and use of fluids and particles

• US 20080066663A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kamterter II, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kamterter II, LLC
• Inventors: Vu, David, Eastin, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/200
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/04 Arranging seed on carriers, e.g. on tapes, on cords ; Carrier compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/06 Coating or dressing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/004 using liquid seeding techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 9/00 Special adaptations or arrangements of powder-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 9/0092 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/00 Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0007 Electro-spinning non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/00 Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/905 Seed treating seed planter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/917 Gel

Abstract

The configuration of a feedstock material is controlled by bringing it into contact with at least a first gas moving against it at a location with an area and thickness of the feedstock liquid that forms drops or fibers of a selected size. In one embodiment, drops of agricultural input materials are formed for spraying on agricultural fields. In another embodiment, nanofibers of materials such as chitosan or metals are formed. In another embodiment seeds are planted with gel. In another embodiment particles carrying desired agricultural inputs with modified release characteristics are delivered.

Claims

1. A method of spraying an agricultural input, comprising the steps of:

loading a viscous agricultural input onto a spray vehicle;

providing a source of a kinetic-energy on the spray vehicle;

spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field from a fixture communicating with the viscous agricultural input and the kinetic energy source.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of loading a viscous agricultural input onto a spray vehicle includes the step of bringing a viscous compatibly-selected feedstock material and at least a first moving compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid in contact with each other with the fixture that is mounted to the spray vehicle;

said step of bringing a viscous compatibly-selected feedstock material and at least a first moving compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid in contact with each other comprising the substeps of adjusting at least one of a pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a velocity of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a velocity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a width of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a width of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a temperature of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, and a viscosity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid is a gas.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein at least one of the pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, the velocity of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, the velocity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, the thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, the width of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, the width of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, the temperature of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, and the viscosity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material is adjusted to form drops of the feedstock material within a predetermined size range.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least one of the drop size is adjusted in relation to the height of a spray fixture emitting the drops, whereby the drop size is increased when the fixture is higher and the wind spread greater and decreased when the height is lower and the wind speed slower;

and drop distribution is adjusted in relation to the height of the fixture from which the drops are emitted.

6. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the feedstock material is a pesticide.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field comprises at least one of the step of spraying seeds and beneficial microorganisms onto the agricultural field;

and the step of spraying drops of an agricultural input that is sufficiently viscous and large enough to reduce drift; and

the step of spraying drops containing an agricultural input that have sufficient shear resistance to reduce breaking into smaller droplets; and

the step of spraying drops containing an agricultural input that has sufficiently low surface tension to permit the drops to spread on a surface rather than beading; and

the step of spraying drops of a viscous glyphosate; and

the step of spraying drops of an agricultural input with a controlled pH and viscosity; and

the steps of spraying glyphosate at a rate of between 4 fluid ounces of liquid per acre and 20 gallons per acre; and

the step of spraying drops of viscous glyphosate comprises the step of spraying glyphosate at a rate of 10 fluid ounces and 5 gallons per acre.

8. A method of spraying an agricultural input according to claim 1 wherein the step of loading a viscous agricultural input, comprising the steps of:

loading viscous glyphosate onto a spray vehicle; and

the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input comprises spraying the viscous glyphosate onto an agricultural field from a fixture communicating with the viscous glyphosate.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 in which the step of spraying viscous glyphosate comprises one of the steps of spraying viscous glyphosate at a rate of between 4 fluid ounces of liquid per acre and 20 gallons per acre;

and the steps of spraying viscous glyphosate at a rate of 10 fluid ounces and 5 gallons per acre; and

the steps of providing a source of a kinetic-energy fluid on a spray vehicle and applying the kinetric energy fluid and glyphosate to a fixture; and

spraying the viscous glyphosate onto an agricultural field from the fixture.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of spraying drops of viscous glyphosate comprises the steps of spraying glyphosate at a rate of between 4 fluid ounces and 5 gallons per acre.

10. A method of spraying, comprising the steps of:

selecting the volumetric rate of application of an agricultural input;

flowing the agricultural input onto a surface to form a film having a thickness that results in the size of drops desired; and

flowing air against the agricultural input at a flow rate sufficient to break the agricultural input into drops.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the agricultural input and the air flow are in substantially the same direction.

13. A method of planting, comprising the steps of:

mixing seeds with gel in proportions in which the gel has a ratio of less than three parts to one part of seed in volume;

conveying said seeds to a nozzle;

dropping said seeds from said nozzle in a controlled time sequence; and

moving said nozzle along a field at a rate of time correlated with the time of separation of said seeds.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising at least one of the step of mixing selected microorganisms with said seeds, whereby said seeds are infected by endogenous bacteria;

and the step of adding peroxide to the gel; and

the step of adding an oxygen emitting material to the gel.

15. A method according to claim 13 in which said gel and said seeds are permitted to move into a conveying method which moves pockets of gel and seed along with minimum surface contact with a solid.

16. A method according to claim 13 further including at least one of the steps of preparing a gel having a viscosity of at least 180 centipoises;

and the step of mixing the gel to a viscosity having a density which is within 20 percent of the density of the seed; and

the step of mixing the gel to a viscosity sufficient to hold seeds of the density used for at least ten minutes in suspension without the seeds falling within the gel more than six inches; and

the step of mixing seeds with gel includes the step of mixing the seeds with gel no more than four days prior to planting; and

the step of mixing the seeds with gel includes the step of mixing the seeds within six hours of the time of planting.

17. A method according to claim 13 further including the step of holding the gel and the seeds in a hopper for feeding, which hopper is sufficiently high to create a pressure at the bottom of at least five pounds from the weight of the gel and which surfaces are sufficiently low in area and smooth to reduce the removal of seeds by friction along the surfaces.

18. A method according to claim 13 in which the gel is mixed with the seeds in a ratio of approximately eight volumes of gel to ten volumes of seeds for relatively large seeds and less than three volumes of gel for each volume of small or medium seeds.

19. A composition of matter comprising a gelatinous mass having non-Newtonian flow characteristics and a plurality of seeds;

said gelatinous mass including at least one of solid particles and semisolid particles, whereby said mass may be used for fluid drilling wherein the at least one of solid particles or semisolid particles are sufficient to move the seeds and the mass together.

20. A composition of matter according to claim 19 in which a ratio of the volume of gelatinous mass to volume of seed is approximately eight to ten.

21. A composition of matter in accordance with claim 19 in which a ratio of volume of gel to volume of seeds is approximately three to one.

22. A composition of matter according to claim 19 further including at least one of a mixture of growth hormone in said gel;

and a mixture of an oxygen emitting material in said gel.