Implement for flame treating soil

• US 4,420,901 A
• Filed: 02/08/1982
• Issued: 12/20/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howard Y. Clarke
• Original Assignee: Howard Y. Clarke
• Inventors: Clarke, Howard Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Bradley M.
• Application Number:
  US06/347,006
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 47/1.42, 47/1.44, 37/71, 37/82
• US Class Current: 47/1.44
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 21/04 Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity apparatus for burning A01M15/00

Abstract

A mobile implement for flame treating soil. The implement includes an elongated tube member for being pulled over the ground to be treated, a scoop for digging soil from the ground as the tube member is pulled thereover, an auger or screw for conveying the soil through the tube, and a burner for subjecting the soil being conveyed through the tube member to flame substantially along the entire length of the tube member.

Claims

1. An implement for movement over the ground and for flame treating soil from the ground, said implement comprising:

(a) an elongated tube member having an opened first end and an opened second end, said tube member having an elongated combustion chamber and an elongated conveyor chamber, said combustion chamber being located above and in communication with said conveyor chamber;

(b) scoop means located adjacent said first end of said tube member for digging soil from the ground as said implement is moved thereover and for directing the soil into said first end of said tube member;

(c) a single elongated screw means for being mounted in said conveyor chamber of said tube member and for moving the soil from said first end of said tube member completely through said tube member and out said second end thereof; and

(d) an elongated burner means for being mounted in said combustion chamber of said tube member and for subjecting the soil moving through said tube member to flame substantially along the entire length of said tube member, said burner means including an elongated burner element supported within said combustion chamber of said tube member and having a plurality of downwardly directed orifices therein.

2. The implement of claim 1 in which is included a frame means for securing said tube member, scoop means, screw means and burner means with respect to one another;

and in which is included a plurality of wheel members for rollably supporting said frame means above the ground.

3. The implement of claim 2 in which is included feed means for coacting with said scoop means in directing the soil into said first end of said tube member.

4. The implement of claim 3 in which said feed means includes a power-driven paddle-wheel member mounted above said scoop means.

5. The implement of claim 4 in which is included skirt means located adjacent said second end of said tube member for directing soil from said second end of said tube member to the ground.

6. The implement of claim 5 in which the center axis of said wheel members is higher than the longitudinal axis of said conveyor chamber of said tube member.

7. The implement of claim 6 in which is include a plurality of tube members, screw means and burner means.

8. An agricultural implement for being attached to and pulled by a tractor and for flame treating soil to help sterilize the soil, said implement comprising:

(a) a plurality of elongated tube members, each of said tube members being hollow and having an opened first end and an opened second end, each of said tube members having an elongated combustion chamber and an elongated conveyor chamber extending the entire length thereof, each of said conveyor chambers having a longitudinal axis;

(b) scoop means located adjacent said first ends of said tube members for digging soil from the ground as said implement is moved thereover and for directing the soil into said first ends of said tube members;

(c) skirt means located adjacent said second ends of said tube members for directing soil from said second ends of said tube members to the ground;

(d) a single elongated screw means for being mounted in said conveyor chamber of each of said tube members and for causing the soil directed into said first ends of said tube members to pass completely through said tube members and out said second ends thereof;

(e) elongated burner means for being mounted in said combustion chamber of each of said tube members and for subjecting the soil to flame along the entire length of said tube members, each of said burner means including an elongated burner element supported within said combustion chamber of each of said tube members and having a plurality of downwardly directed orifices therein;

(f) frame means for securing said tube members, scoop means, skirt means, screw means and burner means with respect to one another; and

(g) a plurality of wheel members for rollably supporting said frame means above the ground, each of said wheel members having a center axis, said longitudinal axis of each of said conveyor chambers being located below said center axis of said wheel members.

9. The implement of claim 8 in which said scoop means includes a downwardly angled blade member having a sharpened cutting edge.

10. The implement of claim 9 in which is included a slide means for aid in controlling the depth to which said scoop means will dig.