SYSTEMS FOR THE CONROL AND USE OF FLUIDS AND PARTICLES

• US 20090217849A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kamterter II, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kamterter II, LLC
• Inventors: Vu, David, Eastin, John Alvin
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/118
• 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 controlling the size and distribution of drops in a spray comprising the steps of:

subjecting a compatibly-selected feedstock material to at least a first compatibly-selected energy source;

said step of subjecting a compatibly-selected feedstock material to at least a first compatibly-selected energy source comprising the substeps of adjusting at least one of a rate of application of energy from the compatibly-selected energy source, a value of the amount of energy applied by the compatibly-selected energy source, a velocity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, at least one other dimensions of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a temperature of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, surface tension of the feedstock material, density of the feedstock material, conductivity of the feedstock material and a viscosity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of subjecting a compatibly-selected feedstock material to at least a first compatibly-selected energy source comprises the substeps of adjusting a rate of application of energy from the compatibly-selected energy source and a value of the amount of energy applied by the compatibly-selected energy source;

said substeps of adjusting a rate of application of energy from the compatibly-selected energy source and a value of the amount of energy applied by the compatibly-selected energy source comprising the substeps of subjecting the feedstock material to a kinetic energy fluid at a selected pressure and flow rate.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which the step of adjusting the thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes the steps of controlling the thickness of a layer of feedstock material on a surface.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which the step of adjusting the thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes the steps of controlling the thickness of the walls of at least one bubble of the feedstock material and air.

5. Apparatus for the size and distribution of drops in a spray comprising:

bubble making equipment;

a container;

said container being adapted to receive liquid feedstock material and pressurized gas;

wherein bubbles are formed of the pressurized gas and feedstock material, burst and leave drops of the liquid feedstock material having a size related to the thickness of the liquid feedstock material forming an outer surface of the bubbles; and

an adjustable pressure regulator adapted to communicate with the gas, whereby gas pressure may be adjusted to adjust the size of the bubbles and the thickness of the feedstock material that formed an outer layer of the drops.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further including a heater, wherein the temperature of said bubbles may be controlled.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further including an adjustable valve adapted to communicate with a source of feedstock material and the container whereby the rate of generating drops is controlled.

8. A method of formulating a composition to be sprayed comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one of the desired amount of active ingredient for a drop based on ability to penetrate plant structure;

select viscosity based on ability to form drops of desired size and resist drift under expected wind conditions and ability to spread on surface of leaves; and

select feed rate per unit of distance of travel of a spray apparatus.

9. 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.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 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, a surface tension of the feedstock material, conductivity of the feedstock material, density of the feedstock material and a viscosity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid is a gas.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 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.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein 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.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein drop distribution is adjusted in relation to the height of the fixture from which the drops are emitted.

15. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the feedstock material is a pesticide.

16. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field comprises the step of spraying seeds and beneficial microorganisms onto the agricultural field.

17. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field comprises the step of spraying drops of an agricultural input that is sufficiently viscous and large enough to reduce drift.

18. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field comprises the step of spraying drops containing an agricultural input that have sufficient shear resistance to reduce breaking into smaller droplets.

19. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field comprises 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.

20. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field comprises the step of spraying drops of an viscous glyphosate.

21. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the step of spraying the viscous agricultural input onto an agricultural field comprises the step of spraying drops of an agricultural input with a controlled pH and viscosity.

22. A method in accordance with claim 20 in which the step of spraying drops of viscous glyphosate comprises the steps of spraying glyphosate at a rate of between 8 fluid ounces per acre and 10 gallons per acre.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 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.

24. A method of spraying viscous glyphosate, comprising the steps of:

loading viscous glyphosate onto a spray vehicle; and

spraying the viscous glyphosate onto an agricultural field from a fixture communicating with the viscous glyphosate.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 in which the step of spraying viscous glyphosate comprises the steps of spraying viscous glyphosate at a rate of between 4 fluid ounces of liquid per acre and 20 gallons per acre.

26. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the step of spraying viscous glyphosate comprises the steps of spraying viscous glyphosate at a rate of 10 fluid ounces and 5 gallons per acre.

27. A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the step of spraying viscous glyphosate comprises 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.

28. 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.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein the agricultural input and the air flow are in substantially the same direction.

30. An auger, comprising:

a shank;

said shank having a first end and a second end;

said shank being between two inches and six feet long and having diameters of between 1/16 of an inch to six inches;

at least a portion of said shank extending from a first end including helical grooves defining helical threads there between, whereby turning of said auger moves gel from a portion along said shank toward said one end; and

a depth and width of said grooves being sufficient to avoid separation of seeds from the auger to cause plugging.

31. An auger in accordance with claim 30 having pitch angles on a screw graduated from low angles at an inlet to facilitate feeding a seed gel mixture to higher angles in a delivery tube section to give a friction pumping surface to move the gel seed mixture.

32. An auger in accordance with claim 31 wherein the screw in effect provides a motive force for delivering fluid while at the same time providing a moving delivery tube wall to dislodge any seed pile ups and further, it effectively singulates seeds into the delivery tube.

33. An auger in accordance with claim 30 in which said threads have a pitch of between one-half inch and three inches and a tip at a first end of said auger has an angle no greater than 15 degrees and the threads along said shank have an angle at least as great as 15 degrees.

34. A fluid drilling feeder, comprising:

a hopper;

said hopper having an open top portion and a narrower compartment at its bottom;

an auger;

a delivery tube;

a nozzle;

said auger fitting in said compartment at its bottom and extending outwardly;

said delivery tube connecting said compartment at its bottom with said nozzle and circumscribing said auger;

said auger extending into a tip of said nozzle.

35. A fluid drilling feeder in accordance with claim 34 further comprising separator means for separating material from the tip of said nozzle, said separator means including means for exerting a downward force across the tip of said nozzle.

36. A feeder in accordance with claim 34 further including means for vibrating said nozzle, whereby seeds are maintained sufficiently in fluid with gel to avoid plugging of said nozzle.

37. Apparatus for encapsulating materials comprising:

a fixture having at least first, second and third outlets;

means for forcing feedstock fluid containing at least one of agricultural input, an animal foodstuff and a medication from said first outlet;

means for forcing a first kinetic energy fluid at a first velocity from said second outlet in a direction that impacts against said feedstock fluid; and

means for forcing a second kinetic energy fluid at a second velocity different from said first velocity from said second outlet in a direction that impacts against said feedstock fluid;

whereby said feedstock fluid is formed into at least one of nanofibers and nanoparticles whereby the at least one of an agricultural input, an animal foodstuff and a medication is encapsulated.

38. Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein said feedstock material includes chitosan.

39. A method of spraying comprising the steps of:

moving a vehicle over an agricultural field;

selecting a concentration of fluid that is optimum in effectiveness as an agricultural input;

carrying a supply of fluid at the optimum concentration on said vehicle;

causing said optimum concentration fluid to form an elongated path on an edge of a fixture;

forcing a kinetic energy fluid against said elongated path, whereby drops are sprayed of said optimum concentration.

40. A method of spraying with low drift comprising the steps of:

moving a vehicle over an agricultural field;

selecting a drop size and concentration of fluid that has reduced drift under the environmental conditions exiting at the time of spraying;

carrying a supply of the fluid;

selecting a velocity of a kinetic energy fluid;

causing said fluid to form an elongated path on an edge of a fixture with a thickness that will result in optimum drop size with the selected concentration and with the selected velocity of a low pressure kinetic energy fluid impacting it; and

forcing a kinetic energy fluid against said elongated path at the selected velocity, whereby drops are sprayed of said optimum concentration with the optimum drop size.

41. A method in accordance with claim 40 wherein the size drop is selected based on the height of the boom from which the drops are sprayed.