Systems for the control and use of fluids and particles

• US 8,308,075 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kamterter Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kamterter Products, LLC
• Inventors: Eastin, John Alvin, Vu, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US12/420,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20090241817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 111/118, 111/173, 111/174, 111/200, 111/905, 111/917, 198/657, 239/1, 239/77, 239/675
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/06 Coating or dressing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/00 Distributing devices specially adapted for liquid manure or other fertilising liquid, including ammonia, e.g. transport tanks or sprinkling wagons
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/004 using liquid seeding techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/084 Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/085 Broadcast seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/16 Seeders with other distributing devices, e.g. brushes, discs, screws or slides
• 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 7/0092 Adding active material used as well for the introduction of fertilisers in water A01C23/042
• 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: D01F 9/00 Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments

Abstract

To mix immiscible materials at low pressure, the materials are applied from separate inputs of a fixture to separate channels where they are permitted to flow to and spread over surfaces or edges at selected thicknesses. On the surfaces or edges the materials are each subject to flowing air that forms small particles or drops even though the materials may be viscous. The particles or drops are mixed together and may be applied to a combustion device or spray device or any other device utilizing the mixture.

Claims

1. A method of applying an agricultural input, comprising:

providing an agricultural input to a spray vehicle;

providing a source of a kinetic energy fluid and a source of glycerol to the spray vehicle;

applying the agricultural input, the kinetic energy fluid, and the glycerol to a spray fixture on the spray vehicle, the glycerol acting as a carrier for the agricultural input to provide a mixture of the glycerol and the agricultural input;

flowing the kinetic energy fluid against the mixture at a flow rate sufficient to break the mixture into drops, the drops having an effective drop size, pattern and distribution to provide at least one of;

a reduction in drift of the drops or an improvement in the deposition of the drops on a plant;

spraying the drops onto an agricultural field from a nozzle of the fixture at a predetermined volumetric spray rate;

adjusting the flow rate of the kinetic energy fluid against the mixture to maintain the effective drop size, pattern and distribution when there is a change to at least one of;

the volumetric spray rate or a flow rate of the mixture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy fluid is a gas having a pressure less than ten pounds per square inch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the agricultural input includes at least one of a pesticide, a growth regulator, a microorganism, or a fertilizer.