Systems and methods to deliver and maintain volatile compounds

• US 9,173,389 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auburn University
• Original Assignee: Auburn University
• Inventors: Neuman, Ronald D., Shelton, Andrew B., Cauthen, Wiley M., Zee, Ralph H., Boyd, Maurice M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSANG, LISA L
• Application Number:
  US13/803,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20130255135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 431/321, 431/24, 431/25, 431/26, 431/29, 439/00, 239/208, 239/209, 239/267, 239/268, 239/269, 239/542, 239/547, 239/565
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/06 Treatment of growing trees or plants, e.g. for preventing decay of wood, for tingeing flowers or wood, for prolonging the life of plants
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/02 with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2044 Holders or dispensers for liquid insecticide, e.g. using wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 13/00 Fumigators; Apparatus for distributing gases poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide A01M1/2022
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/12 using odoriferous substances, e.g. aromas, pheromones or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/34 Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069

Abstract

Systems to create and maintain pre-designed geometrically shaped volumes of an effective dynamic mixture of volatile compounds encompassing an object of protection for very long times, up to one or more years, for control of pests and pest-borne diseases in open outdoor environments of importance to humans, animals and plants. The systems include a plurality of passive flow control nozzles containing mass-regulating barriers with retaining fixtures, strategically positioned and uniquely oriented, connected to volatile compound-storage structures with replenishing connectors, for delivering controlled release of volatile compounds using individual passive flow control nozzles that dispense volatile compounds at continuous, predetermined, substantially constant and sustainable release rates over extended periods of time; appurtenances to protect the mass-regulating barriers while in operation; and sensors to monitor the biologically active threshold and the concentrations of volatile compound within the pre-designed geometrically shaped volumes of volatile compounds.

Claims

1. A system for controlled delivery of a volatile compound in a vapor state at a biologically effective concentration within a geometrically shaped vapor volume, said system comprising:

a compound-storing structure containing a supply of the volatile compound, the volatile compound contained therein being in a liquid state;

at least one passive flow control nozzle for delivery of the volatile compound to the geometrically shaped vapor volume, the at least one nozzle comprising a mass-regulating barrier and a retaining member, the mass-regulating barrier maintaining the volatile compound in the liquid state within a contained volume within the compound-storing structure and permitting emission of the volatile compound only in the vapor state from the contained volume of the compound storing structure through the mass-regulating barrier;

a delivery connector for maintained transport of the volatile liquid compound from the compound-storing structure to the at least one passive flow control nozzle; and

at least one monitor for measuring a concentration level of the volatile compound in the vapor state within the geometrically shaped vapor volume and outside of the contained volume of the compound-storing structure to establish an effective dynamic boundary of the geometrically shaped vapor volume within which the biologically effective concentration of the volatile vapor compound is maintained.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the replenishing connector is removably mounted to an opening of the compound-storing structure for allowing the volatile liquid compound to be filled therethrough.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the retaining member removably connects the compound-storing structure to the at least one passive flow control nozzle for allowing the volatile vapor compound to be released therethrough.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery connector comprises a fluid conduit extending between the compound-storing structure and the at least one passive flow control nozzle for transport of the volatile liquid compound thereto.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor comprises a chemical sensor configured to monitor that concentrations of the volatile vapor compounds are adequate within the geometrically shaped vapor volume encompassing an object of protection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor comprises a sensor configured to monitor for a biologically effective threshold concentration of the volatile vapor compound within the geometrically shaped vapor volume encompassing an object of protection.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an appurtenance to protect the mass-regulating barrier of the at least one passive flow control nozzle from external contamination while in operation.

8. A system for controlled delivery of a volatile compound in a vapor state at a biologically effective concentration within a geometrically shaped vapor volume, said system comprising:

at least one compound-storing structure containing a supply of the volatile compound, the volatile compound contained therein being in a liquid state;

at least one passive flow control nozzle for delivery of the volatile vapor compound to the geometrically shaped vapor volume, the at least one nozzle comprising a mass-regulating barrier and a retaining member;

at least one delivery connector for maintained transport of the volatile liquid compound from the at least one compound-storing structure to the at least one passive flow control nozzle; and

at least one monitor for measuring a concentration level of the volatile vapor compound within the geometrically shaped vapor volume to establish an effective dynamic boundary of the geometrically shaped vapor volume within which the biologically effective concentration of the volatile vapor compound is maintained.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one replenishing connector is removably mounted to an opening of the at least one compound-storing structure for allowing the volatile liquid compound to be filled therethrough.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one retaining member removably connects the at least one compound-storing structure to the at least one passive flow control nozzle for allowing the volatile vapor compound to be released therethrough.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the delivery connector comprises piping extending between the at least one compound-storing structure and the at least one passive flow control nozzle for allowing the volatile liquid compound to be transported thereto, the piping forming at least one distribution header, wherein the at least one distribution header distributes the volatile liquid compound to the at least one passive flow control nozzle.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one pump for transport of the volatile liquid compound from the compound-storing structure to the distribution header.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein transport of the volatile liquid compound between the compound-storing structure and the distribution header is provided by a gravitational force.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one distribution header is in communication with the at least one compound-storing structure, and wherein the at least one distribution header is further in communication with the at least one passive flow control nozzle.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one monitor comprises a chemical sensor configured to monitor that concentrations of the volatile compounds are adequate within the geometrically shaped vapor volume encompassing an object of protection.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one monitor comprises a sensor configured to monitor for a biologically effective threshold concentration of the volatile vapor compound within the geometrically shaped vapor volume encompassing an object of protection.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising an appurtenance to protect the mass-regulating barrier of the at least one passive flow control nozzle from external contamination while in operation.

18. A system for controlled delivery of a volatile compound in a vapor state at a biologically effective concentration within a geometrically shaped vapor volume, said system comprising:

a compound-storing structure containing a supply of a volatile compound in a liquid state;

a plurality of passive flow control nozzles connected to the compound-storing structure, the passive flow control nozzles preventing the volatile compound from passing therethrough in the liquid state but permitting emission of the volatile compound in a vapor state out of the compound-storing structure and into the geometrically shaped vapor volume;

a delivery system comprising delivery connectors for controlled transport of the volatile liquid compound from the compound-storing structure to each of the plurality of passive flow control nozzles; and

at least one monitor for measuring a concentration level of the volatile vapor compound within the geometrically shaped vapor volume to establish an effective dynamic boundary of the geometrically shaped vapor volume within which the biologically effective concentration of the volatile vapor compound is maintained.