Systems for the control and use of fluids and particles

• US 8,091,272 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kamterter II, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kamterter II, LLC
• Inventors: Eastin, John Alvin, Vu, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US11/983,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 47/10.1 R, 47/576, 47/581.R, 47/581.SE, 47D/IG.9, 47D/IG.10, 47D/IG.11, 264/640, 264/211.12, 264/211.14, 264/211.17, 425/72.2, 111/200
• US Class Current: 47/1.01R
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/004 using liquid seeding techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 9/00 Special adaptations or arrangements of powder-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 9/0092 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0024 beta-D-Glucans; (beta-1,3)-D-Glucans, e.g. paramylon, coriolan, sclerotan, pachyman, callose, scleroglucan, schizophyllan, laminaran, lentinan or curdlan; (beta-1,6)-D-Glucans, e.g. pustulan; (beta-1,4)-D-Glucans; (beta-1,3)(beta-1,4)-D-Glucans, e.g. lichenan; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/003 Chitin, i.e. 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-(beta-1,4)-D-glucan or N-acetyl-beta-1,4-D-glucosamine; Chitosan, i.e. deacetylated product of chitin or (beta-1,4)-D-glucosamine; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/08 Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 1/02 Preparation of spinning solutions
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0007 Electro-spinning non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/905 Seed treating seed planter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/917 Gel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/09 Physical and chemical treatment of seeds for planting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/11 The application of protective coatings to plants

Abstract

The configuration of a feedstock material is controlled by bringing it into contact with at least a first gas moving against it at a location with an area and thickness of the feedstock liquid that forms drops or fibers of a selected size. In one embodiment, drops of agricultural input materials are formed for spraying on agricultural fields. In another embodiment, nanofibers of materials such as chitosan or metals are formed. In another embodiment seeds are planted with gel.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a first flow path for a compatibly-selected feedstock material wherein the compatibly selected feedstock material includes seeds;

at least one second flow path for a compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid;

a fixture;

said first and second flow paths being positioned with respect to each other, wherein the compatibly-selected feedstock material and the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid are brought into contact with each other within the fixture;

said fixture being constructed to control at least one of a pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a velocity of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a velocity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a width of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a width of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a temperature of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, and a viscosity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material to cause the apparatus to form drops of the feedstock material within a predetermined size range.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid is a gas.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes at least one viscous liquid.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the compatibly-selected feedstock material is an agricultural input.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes beneficial biological materials.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which the beneficial biological materials includes beneficial chemicals.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which the beneficial biological materials includes microorganisms.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including apparatus for applying an electric change to the drops.

9. Apparatus accordance with claim 1 in which the fixture is constructed to provide a pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid that is less than 30 psi.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the fixture is constructed to provide a pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid of between 0 and 15 psi.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first flow path includes a solid surface positioned to receive the compatibly selected feedstock material.

12. A method comprising the steps of:

bringing a compatibly-selected feedstock material and at least a first moving compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid in contact with each other wherein the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes seeds;

said step of bringing a compatibly-selected feedstock material and at least a first moving compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid in contact with each other comprising the substep of selecting at least one of a pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a velocity of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a velocity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a width of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, a width of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, a temperature of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, and a viscosity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material to form drops of the feedstock material within a predetermined size range wherein the size range of drops is adjusted in accordance with circumstances.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid is a gas.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12 in which the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes at least one viscous liquid.

15. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes an agricultural input.

16. A method in accordance with claim 12 further including the step of applying an electric change to the drops.

17. A method in accordance with claim 12 in which the pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid is less than 30 psi.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 in which the pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid is between 0 and 15 psi.

19. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the step of bringing a compatibly-selected feedstock material and at least a first moving compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid in contact with each other includes the substep of incorporating beneficial biological materials in the feedstock material.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 in which the beneficial biological materials includes beneficial chemicals.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19 in which the beneficial biological materials includes microorganisms.

22. A method in accordance with claim 12 in which the step of selecting the thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material includes the step of causing the feedstock material to flow across a solid surface.

23. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the substeps of selecting at least one of the pressure of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, the velocity of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, the velocity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, the thickness of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, the width of the compatibly-selected kinetic energy fluid, the width of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, the temperature of the compatibly-selected feedstock material, and the viscosity of the compatibly-selected feedstock material comprises the step of forcing the kinetic energy fluid at low pressure against a wall of feedstock having the same height and thickness;

said kinetic energy fluid maintaining the same velocity with respect to the velocity of the feedstock along the wall, whereby drops with a relatively constant size distribution are formed.

24. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein a volumetric rate of forming drops is varied by varying one of the length of a wall and a relative rate of kinetic energy fluid and feedstock fluid.

25. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein an angle of movement of the drops is varied by varying a curvature of a wall and direction of movement of the feedstock material.

26. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein drift is reduced by selecting at least one of a size of the drops, a density of the drops, a surface tension of the drops, a distance between a target for the drops and a source of the drops, a shear resistance of the drops and a viscosity of the feedstock material comprising the drops.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein the drops are applied to plants from a moving vehicle.

28. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein the drops are applied to plants from a boom mounted to a moving vehicle.