Apparatus and method for delivering beneficial agents to subterranean locations
First Claim
1. An apparatus to provide controlled delivery of a beneficial agent to a subterranean location, the apparatus comprising:
- a water collection chamber having a substantially open end to collect water;
a water-transporting membrane in communication with the water collection chamber;
an extraction chamber to receive water through the water-transporting membrane and into the extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber;
a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent and contracting in response to expanding the extraction chamber; and
a subterranean delivery channel in communication with the dispensing chamber to deliver the beneficial agent to a subterranean location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering a beneficial agent to a subterranean location is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a water collection chamber having a substantially open end. A water-transporting membrane is provided to communicate with the water collection chamber. An extraction chamber receives water through the water-transporting membrane, expanding the extraction chamber. A dispensing chamber, containing a beneficial agent such as fertilizer, is configured to contract upon expanding the extraction chamber. This causes the dispensing chamber to expel the beneficial agent through a subterranean delivery channel, such as a rigid hollow spike. In certain embodiments, a rate adjustment mechanism may control the rate that water is received through the water-transporting membrane, thereby controlling the rate the beneficial agent is expelled from the subterranean delivery channel.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus to provide controlled delivery of a beneficial agent to a subterranean location, the apparatus comprising:
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a water collection chamber having a substantially open end to collect water; a water-transporting membrane in communication with the water collection chamber; an extraction chamber to receive water through the water-transporting membrane and into the extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber; a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent and contracting in response to expanding the extraction chamber; and a subterranean delivery channel in communication with the dispensing chamber to deliver the beneficial agent to a subterranean location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus to provide controlled delivery of a beneficial agent to a subterranean location, the apparatus comprising:
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a water collection chamber having a substantially open end to collect water; a water-transporting membrane in communication with the water collection chamber; an extraction chamber to receive water through the water-transporting membrane and into the extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber; a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent and contracting in response to expanding the extraction chamber; a flexible diaphragm disposed between the extraction chamber and the dispensing chamber, the flexible diaphragm comprising a plurality layers having a separator material between the plurality of layers, and wherein the separator material comprises a hydrophobic material; a subterranean delivery channel in communication with the dispensing chamber to deliver the beneficial agent to a subterranean location; and a rate adjustment mechanism to control the rate at which water is received through the water-transporting membrane.
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Specification