SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUBSURFACE SOIL INJECTION APPARATUS

• US 20110172834A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arysta LifeScience North America LLC (Element Solutions Inc)
• Original Assignee: Arysta LifeScience North America LLC (Element Solutions Inc)
• Inventors: Salla, Edward G., Sances, Frank V., Allan, Michael A., Schiller, Charles T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/02 combined with other agricultural processing, e.g. fertilising, planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/026 Localised non-continuous injection tools, e.g. pal injectors, spike wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 29/00 Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for introducing a discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil which includes a container for holding the material to be introduced into the soil, and tubing in fluid communication with the container at a first end thereof. At least one electrically controlled injector is provided in fluid communication with a second end of said tubing. Also, at least one shank is provided, which includes a base, and an injector mounting member attached to a surface of the base that is adapted for detachably mounting the electrically controlled injector onto the base. In addition, a controller is provided for activating the electrically controlled injector to introduce the material into the soil. Accordingly, enhanced control of the injection of the material into soil is achieved, and maintenance can be performed easily.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the introduction of a discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil using a controller coupled to apparatus that delivers the material to the soil, the method performed by the controller and comprising:

maintaining a configuration in storage, the configuration comprising a description of the apparatus that delivers the material to the soil, the description including an identification of a quantity of injectors of the apparatus;

calculating a desired rate of application of the material into the soil based on predefined factors, the predefined factors included including one or more of a density of the material to be injected, a depth of injection, a distance between injection points and a target ground speed;

receiving positional information from a position measurement device; and

responsive to the positional information and the desired rate of application, providing an electrical signal to one or more of the injectors, wherein the electrical signal causes the one or more injectors to release a discrete, predetermined amount of material into the soil at a predetermined point in the soil.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing a sequence of the electrical signals to the one or more injectors in response to the positional information and in accordance with the desired rate of application, thereby causing the one or more injectors to release the predetermined amount of material into the soil at a plurality of predetermined injection points along a path in the soil, wherein the material diffuses into the soil from each point as a diffusion pattern in the soil.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the distance between injection points is selected to obtain a configured diffusion pattern of the injected material in the soil.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the distance between injection points is selected based on soil type.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the configured diffusion pattern is selected based on the density of the material to be injected.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the configured diffusion pattern is selected based on the depth of injection.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the configured diffusion pattern is selected based on soil conditions and a target organism to be controlled.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the position measurement device provides global positioning system coordinates.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein position measurement device comprises a radar device that measures ground speed.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a second electrical signal to stop the flow of the material through the one or more injectors in response to a signal from a gas sensor coupled to the controller, the second signal indicating that the discrete, predetermined amount of material has been injected into the soil.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the positional information includes global positioning system coordinates.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the position measurement device comprises a radar device and the positional information includes measurements of ground speed.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the computing device transmits a second electrical signal to the at least one electrically controlled injector responsive to an indication received from a gas sensor indicating that the complete discrete, predetermined amount of material has been injected into the soil, the second signal causing the flow of the material through the at least one electrically controlled injector to stop.

11. A controller coupled to delivery apparatus that is adapted to introduce a discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of selected injection points in the soil, comprising:

a computing device configured with a description of the delivery apparatus, the delivery apparatus having at least one electrically controlled injector; and

a position measurement device communicatively coupled to the computing device and configured to provide positional information, wherein the computing device identifies the location of the plurality of injection points based on the positional information,

wherein the computing device is adapted to calculate a desired rate of application of the material into the soil at the plurality of injection points,

wherein the plurality of injection points are selected to obtain a desired diffusion pattern in the soil, and

wherein the computing device transmits an electrical signal to the at least one electrically controlled injector, causing the at least one electrically controlled injector to release the discrete, predetermined amount of material into the soil at the plurality of injection points.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device identifies the location of the plurality of injection points using the positional information and a calculated distance between adjacent injection points.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the distance between adjacent injection points is calculated to obtain the diffusion pattern.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the distance between the adjacent injection points is calculated based on soil type, soil condition and a target organism to be controlled.

18. A method for controlling the introduction of a material into soil using delivery apparatus having a plurality of injectors and adapted to deliver discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil through the plurality of injectors, the method comprising:

programming a controller with a number representative of a configuration of the plurality of injectors;

programming the controller with information defining the density of the material to be injected, a depth of injection, and a distance between injection points; and

causing the controller to operate the delivery apparatus while a vehicle carrying the material moves across the soil, the controller being carried by the vehicle,

wherein the controller receives positional information from a position measurement device,

wherein the controller signals one of the injectors to release material into the soil when the controller determines that the one injector is at one of the injection points, and

wherein the controller determines that the one injector is at the one injection point based on the positional information, and wherein

the plurality of injection points is selected to obtain a desired diffusion pattern in the soil.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of injection points is selected based on soil type, soil condition and a target organism to be controlled.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the positional information includes global positioning system coordinates.