Apparatus and Method for the Injection of Viscous Fertilizer Below the Surface of the Soil

• US 20100313799A1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Water Works Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Water Works Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Grose, Walter Stewart, Grose, Gordon Raymond, Goldhawk, Dan, Sidhwa, Phil
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/127
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/002 provided with auxiliary arrangements, e.g. pumps, agitators, cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/008 Tanks, chassis or related parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/022 Continuous injection tools

Abstract

The invention pertains to apparatus and methods for injecting viscous fertilizer, such as dewatered biosolids, below the surface of the soil. The invention also pertains to apparatus and methods for creating a continuous flow of viscous material and for dividing a flow of viscous material.

Claims

1. A method for injecting viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil comprising:

(a) providing a means for containing viscous fertilizer;

(b) providing a means for conveying said viscous fertilizer from said containing means;

(c) providing a pumping means for receiving said viscous fertilizer from said containing means via said conveying means and for displacing said viscous fertilizer under pressure;

(d) providing a proportioning means for receiving said viscous fertilizer from said pumping means under pressure and distributing said viscous fertilizer into at least one outlet port under pressure;

(e) providing a delivery means for moving said viscous fertilizer from said outlet ports under pressure; and

(f) providing a injection means for receiving said viscous fertilizer from said delivery means and injecting said viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil as said injection means is moved in a forward direction.

(g) placing said viscous fertilizer in said containing means;

(h) activating said conveying means, pumping means, and proportioning means; and

(i) moving said injection means in a forward direction along the surface of the soil;

wherein said viscous fertilizer is injected below the surface of the soil.

2. A method for creating a pressurized stream of viscous fertilizer comprising:

(a) providing an upwardly open container box with at least a first, second, and third side wall, said third side wall having an outlet hole through which said viscous fertilizer may pass outside said container box;

(b) providing a push blade disposed so as to prevent said viscous fertilizer from escaping said apparatus from the side of said container box opposite said third side wall;

(c) providing a means capable of moving said push blade at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall;

(d) providing a pump whose inlet is in communication with said outlet hole;

(d) placing said viscous fertilizer in said container box; and

(h) activating said means and said pump;

wherein said push blade moves at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall to effect exit of contained viscous fertilizer through said outlet hole and into said pump, wherein said viscous fertilizer exits said pump in a pressurized stream.

3. An method for dividing a flow of viscous material comprising:

(a) providing a cylindrical chamber with first and second ends for holding viscous material under pressure;

(b) providing an inlet port through said first end;

(c) providing a shaft extending through said second end coaxially with said cylindrical chamber;

(d) providing a motor capable of rotating said shaft;

(e) providing a plurality of outlet ports opening through said second end axisymmetrically with respect to said shaft;

(f) providing at least one rotatable radial arm disposed inside of said chamber and attached to said shaft;

(g) providing at least one puck connected to said arm wherein one face of said puck is parallel to and in contact with said second end, and wherein at any angle of rotation of said shaft, said puck covers a fraction of the total area of said outlet ports, and wherein at any two angles of rotation of said shaft, said fractions do not differ by more than 20% of the larger;

(h) introducing said viscous material into said inlet port under pressure; and

(i) activating said motor such that it rotates said shaft;

wherein said viscous material is expelled in from said outlet ports.

4. An method for dividing a flow of viscous material comprising:

(a) providing a cylindrical chamber with first and second ends for holding said viscous material under pressure;

(b) providing an inlet port through said first end;

(c) providing a shaft extending through said second end coaxially with said cylindrical chamber;

(d) providing a motor capable of rotating said shaft;

(e) providing a plurality of outlet ports opening through said second end axisymmetrically with respect to said shaft;

(f) providing a rotatable disk disposed inside of said chamber and coaxially attached to said shaft, such that one face of said disk is parallel to and in contact with said second end; and

(g) providing at least one hole, opening, or notch in said disk, wherein at any angle of rotation of said shaft, said disk does not cover a fraction of the total area of said outlet ports, and wherein at any two angles of rotation of said shaft, said fractions do not differ by more than 10% of the larger;

(h) introducing said viscous material into said inlet port under pressure; and

(i) activating said motor such that it rotates said shaft;

wherein said viscous material is expelled in from said outlet ports.

5. A method of for injecting pressurized viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil comprising:

(a) providing a injector frame;

(b) providing at least one shank attached to said injector frame, each such shank disposed so as to be drawn through the soil when said injector frame is moved in a forward direction;

(c) providing a plate disposed behind each of said shanks and oriented parallel to the surface of the soil so as to maintain voids beneath the surface of the soil behind said shanks and beneath at least part of said plate when said injection means is moved in said forward direction;

(d) providing a tubular injector having a top end and a nozzle end disposed behind each of said shanks;

(e) introducing pressurized viscous fertilizer into said top end of said tubular injectors;

(f) moving said injector frame in said forward direction;

wherein when said viscous fertilizer is introduced under pressure into said top ends of said injectors, it is expelled into said voids through said nozzle ends of said injectors.