Apparatus and method for the injection of viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil

• US 7,775,168 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorengo; Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Jennifer A
• Application Number:
  US11/410,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 111/118, 111/120, 111/121, 111/122, 111/123, 111/124, 111/127, 111/128, 111/137, 111/155, 111/156, 111/163, 111/169, 111/187, 111/925, 111/73, 137/625.15, 137/561.A, 137/565.34, 137/627, 210/178, 210/181, 210/182, 210/195.1, 210/202, 210/205, 210/259, 210/266, 210/319, 239/172, 239/650, 239/655, 239/663, 239/676, 239/680, 239/682, 239/689, 222/397, 222/400.5, 222/61, 222/627
• US Class Current: 111/118
• 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. An apparatus for injecting viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil, comprising:

(a) a container box that is upwardly open;

wherein said container box has 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) means for conveying said viscous fertilizer from said container box, comprising

(1) 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; and

(2) a means for moving said push blade at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall to effect exit of contained viscous fertilizer through said outlet hole;

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

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

(f) 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;

wherein said third side wall additionally comprises one or more surfaces obliquely facing said push blade so as in operation to direct said viscous fertilizer toward said outlet hole.

2. An apparatus for injecting viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil, comprising:

(a) a container box that is upwardly open;

wherein said container box has 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) means for conveying said viscous fertilizer from said container box, comprising

(1) 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; and

(2) a means for moving said push blade at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall to effect exit of contained viscous fertilizer through said outlet hole;

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

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

(f) 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;

wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a baffle protruding from said third side wall above said outlet hole, said baffle oriented such that its longitudinal axis is parallel with said floor and with said third side wall.

3. An apparatus for injecting viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil, comprising:

(a) a container box that is upwardly open;

wherein said container box has 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) means for conveying said viscous fertilizer from said container box, comprising

(1) 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; and

(2) a means for moving said push blade at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall to effect exit of contained viscous fertilizer through said outlet hole;

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

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

(f) 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;

wherein the top edge of said first and second side walls slope up toward said third side wall.

4. An apparatus for injecting viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil, comprising:

(a) means for containing viscous fertilizer;

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

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

(d) 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, wherein said proportioning means comprises;

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

(ii) an inlet port through said first end;

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

(iv) a motor capable of rotating said shaft;

(v) said outlet ports opening through said second end axisymmetrically with respect to said shaft;

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

(vii) 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;

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

(f) 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;

wherein when said viscous fertilizer is introduced into said inlet port under pressure and said motor rotates said shaft, said viscous fertilizer is expelled from said outlet ports.

5. An apparatus for injecting viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil, comprising:

(a) means for containing viscous fertilizer;

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

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

(d) 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, wherein said proportioning means comprises;

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

an inlet port through said first end;

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

(iv) a motor capable of rotating said shaft;

(v) said outlet ports opening through said second end axisymmetrically with respect to said shaft;

(vi) 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

(vii) 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 are 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;

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

(f) 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;

wherein when said viscous fertilizer is introduced into said inlet port under pressure and said motor rotates said shaft, said viscous fertilizer is expelled from said outlet ports.

6. An apparatus for injecting viscous fertilizer below the surface of the soil, comprising:

(a) means for containing viscous fertilizer;

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

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

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

(f) 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;

wherein the injection means comprises;

(i) a injector frame;

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

(iii) a plate disposed behind each of said shanks and oriented 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; and

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

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

7. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said shanks have sweep points.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said injection means also comprises a coulter disk in front of each of each said shank.

9. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said injectors additionally comprise nozzle ends shaped so as to distribute said viscous fertilizer within said voids.

10. An apparatus for creating a pressurized stream of viscous fertilizer comprising:

(a) 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 wherein said third side wall additionally comprises one or more surfaces obliquely facing said push blade so as in operation to direct said viscous fertilizer toward said outlet hole;

(b) 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) a means for moving said push blade at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall to effect exit of contained viscous fertilizer through said outlet hole; and

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

11. An apparatus for creating a pressurized stream of viscous fertilizer comprising:

(a) 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) 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) a means for moving said push blade at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall to effect exit of contained viscous fertilizer through said outlet hole;

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

(e) a baffle protruding from said third side wall above said outlet hole, said baffle oriented such that its longitudinal axis is parallel with said floor and with said third side wall.

12. An apparatus for creating a pressurized stream of viscous fertilizer comprising:

(a) 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 wherein the top edge of said first and second side walls slope up toward the third side wall;

(b) 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) a means for moving said push blade at least partially within said container box toward said third side wall to effect exit of contained viscous fertilizer through said outlet hole; and

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