Subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system

• US 6,446,383 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthy Builders, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tom Hoshall
• Inventors: Hoshall, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W.
• Application Number:
  US09/594,952
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 431/24, 431/321, 521/01, 521/691, 521/695, 239/547, 138/28, 138/118, 138/118.1, 138/119, 138/178
• US Class Current: 43/124
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/245 for pesticide application or distribution, e.g. using a network of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/011 Crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/72 Pest control by keeping dry E04B1/70; impregnation of wood or like materials B27K

Abstract

A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system for use in combination with a structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material is provided. The concrete slab has openings extending therethrough. The subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising includes a tubular conduit disposed within the fill material of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab. The tubular conduit has a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit. A connector member is attached to one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit and detachably connectable to a source of pressurized pesticide such that pesticide may be selectively injected into the fill material in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab. The connector member is also detachably connectable to a vacuum source such that fluids may be selectively extracted from the fill material in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

Claims

1. A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:

a tubular conduit disposed within the fill material of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the fill material while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the fill material into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration; and

means for detachably connecting a source of pressurized pesticide to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby pesticide may be selectively injected into the fill material in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and for detachably connecting a vacuum source to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby fluids may be selectively extracted from the fill material in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tubular conduit is flexible along a longitudinal axis.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a plurality of hooks disposed in the fill material and about the tubular conduit to prevent the tubular conduit from rising into the concrete slab as the concrete slab is being poured onto the fill material.

4. A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:

a tubular conduit disposed within the concrete slab of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the slab while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the slab into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration; and

means for detachably connecting a source of pressurized pesticide to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby pesticide may be selectively injected into the openings of the concrete slab in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and for detachably connecting a vacuum source to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby fluids may be selectively extracted from the openings of the concrete slab in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the tubular conduit is flexible along a longitudinal axis.

6. A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:

a tubular conduit disposed within the fill material of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the fill material while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the fill material into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration; and

a connector member attached to one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit and detachably connectable to a source of pressurized pesticide such that pesticide may be selectively injected into the fill material in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and the connector member detachably connectable to a vacuum source such that fluids may be selectively extracted from the fill material in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the tubular conduit is flexible along a longitudinal axis.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system further comprises a plurality of hooks disposed in the fill material and about the tubular conduit to prevent the tubular conduit from rising into the concrete slab as the concrete slab is being poured onto the fill material.

9. A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:

a tubular conduit disposed within the concrete slab of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the slab while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the slab into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration; and

a connector member attached to one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit and detachably connectable to a source of pressurized pesticide such that pesticide may be selectively injected into the openings of the concrete slab in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and the connector member detachably connectable to a vacuum source such that fluids may be selectively extracted from the openings of the concrete slab in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the tubular conduit is flexible along a longitudinal axis.

11. A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:

a tubular conduit disposed within the fill material of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the fill material while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the fill material into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration; and

means for detachably connecting a source of pressurized pesticide to the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby pesticide may be simultaneously injected into the first and second ends of the tubular conduit and in turn into the fill material in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and for detachably connecting a vacuum source to the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby fluids may be selectively extracted from the fill material in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the tubular conduit is flexible along a longitudinal axis.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system further comprises a plurality of hooks disposed in the fill material and about the tubular conduit to prevent the tubular conduit from rising into the concrete slab as the concrete slab is being poured onto the fill material.

14. A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:

a tubular conduit disposed within the fill material of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the fill material while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the fill material into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration; and

a connector member attached to the first and second ends of the tubular conduit and detachably connectable to a source of pressurized pesticide such that pesticide may be simultaneously injected into the first and second ends of the tubular conduit and in turn the fill material in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and the connector member detachably connectable to a vacuum source such that fluids may be selectively extracted from the fill material in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the tubular conduit is flexible along a longitudinal axis.

16. The combination of claim 14 wherein the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system further comprises a plurality of hooks disposed in the fill material and about the tubular conduit to prevent the tubular conduit from rising into the concrete slab as the concrete slab is being poured onto the fill material.

17. A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:

a tubular conduit disposed within the fill material of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the fill material while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the fill material into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration;

a source of pressurized pesticide;

a vacuum source; and

a connector member attached to one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit, the connector member detachably connectable to the source of pressurized pesticide such that pesticide may be selectively injected into the fill material in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and the connector member detachably connectable to the vacuum source such that fluids may be selectively extracted from the fill material in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein the tubular conduit is flexible along a longitudinal axis.

19. The combination of claim 17 wherein the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system further comprises a plurality of hooks disposed in the fill material and about the tubular conduit to prevent the tubular conduit from rising into the concrete slab as the concrete slab is being poured onto the fill material.

20. A method for delivering a pesticide beneath a structure and for removing excess fluid from beneath the structure, the method comprising:

placing a tubular conduit proximate to an interior side of a stem wall defining a Perimeter of the structure and a plurality of plumbing pipes disposed within the perimeter of the structure, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit in an injection mode while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid into the tubular conduit in an extraction mode while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration;

covering the tubular conduit with a fill material;

forming a concrete slab on the fill material with the plumbing pipes protruding up through the concrete slab;

connecting a source of pesticide to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit;

injecting the pesticide through the tubular conduit at a sufficient pressure to cause the pesticide to be injected into the fill material to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through openings formed between the concrete slab and the plumbing pipes and between the concrete slab and the stem wall;

disconnecting the source of pressurized pesticide from the tubular conduit;

connecting a vacuum source to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit; and

forming a vacuum in the tubular conduit with the vacuum source to cause fluids to be drawn into the fill material and into the tubular conduit to prevent the passage of fluid into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.