Subsurface barrier retention system and methods related thereto

• US 9,615,518 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Smucker, Alvin J. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Sunil
• Assistant Examiner(s): OQUENDO, CARIB A
• Application Number:
  US13/879,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20130209172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 405 36, 405 38, 405 43, 405 46, 4051281, 40512945, 4051297, 40512975, 405174, 405176, 405178, 405179
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/02 having a water reservoir, the main part thereof being located wholly around or directly beside the growth substrate A01G27/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 29/00 Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/02 for digging trenches or ditches machines for making foundation slots E02F3/205, E02F3/475 take precedence; agricultural ploughs for working ridges A01B13/02

Abstract

A subsurface retention barrier system installed in situ to retain water in a projected root zone of one or more plants is disclosed. An apparatus and system for installing the subsurface retention barriers and methods related thereto are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for installing a curvilinear subsurface retention barrier comprising:

one or more barrier installation devices connectable to a forward moving device, wherein each of the one or more barrier installation devices has a three dimensional J-shaped film chamber comprising a film folding chamber with a curvilinear film entrance configured to fold an unfolded film to form a folded curvilinear film which is folded in a first direction, a folded film transfer chamber contiguous with the film folding chamber configured to receive and bend the folded curvilinear film in the first direction to form a bent and folded curvilinear film, and a film transfer and placement chamber configured to allow the bent and folded curvilinear film to unfold in a second direction to form a curvilinear film oriented for deposition into a curvilinear trough defining a concave cross section beneath a medium surface within a projected root zone; and

one or more x, y, z positioning systems in communication with the forward moving device- and configured to position each of the subsurface retention barriers in a location which maximizes water retention in the projected root zone, wherein said x, y, z positioning systems include at least one physical positioning system connected to said barrier installation devices to control subsurface retention barrier depth (z) and at least one wireless positioning system to control a directional path (x, y) of the subsurface retention barrier.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the forward moving device is a tractor, the medium is soil, and said wireless positioning system is a global positioning satellite system, further wherein the curvilinear film can be installed at multiple soil depths in a continuous fashion with minimal disturbance to the surface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said physical positioning system comprises a depth control wheel connected to said barrier installation devices.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein a frontal area of the folded film transfer chamber is reduced in size in a direction of travel.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more soil levelers connected to the forward moving device and adapted to close gaps created in the medium surface when the forward moving device is in motion.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said soil levelers comprise one or more press wheels.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the film transfer and placement chamber has an exit region configured to open the bent and folded curvilinear film into a configuration having a cross section that is substantially u-shaped, substantially parabolic-shaped or substantially bowl-shaped.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the folded film transfer chamber forms part of a chisel sweep surface which curves from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation in a first direction and further includes a bend in a second direction that allows the folded and bent curvilinear film to open upon deposition.

9. An apparatus for installing a curvilinear subsurface retention barrier comprising:

an implement connectable to a forward moving device and having a sweep with a surface which curves from one direction to another along its length and configured to pass through a medium to temporarily lift the medium to define a cavity therein, the cavity comprising a curvilinear trough defining a concave cross section, the implement configured to install a curvilinear film in the cavity when the forward moving device is in motion in a direction of travel, wherein the implement has a three dimensional J-shaped film chamber comprising a film folding chamber with a curvilinear film entrance configured to fold an unfolded film to form a folded curvilinear film which is folded in a first direction, a folded film transfer chamber contiguous with the film folding chamber for receiving and bending the folded curvilinear film in the first direction to form a bent and folded curvilinear film and providing the bent and folded curvilinear film to a film transfer and placement chamber, the film transfer and placement chamber having a curvilinear film exit configured to unfold the bent and folded curvilinear film in a second direction to form the curvilinear film oriented for deposition within the cavity, the cavity located within a projected root zone and opening to a surface of the medium, wherein the installed curvilinear film forms the subsurface retention barrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the curvilinear film entrance of the film folding chamber is a cordate-shaped entrance such that an apex of the film is aligned toward the direction of travel of the implement, and the curvilinear film exit has a plurality of curved surfaces.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the implement is configured to define the cavity at a preselected depth of the projected root zone in the soil with minimal disturbance to the soil surface, and the subsurface retention barrier is configured to provide retained water to the projected root zone.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the barrier is at least partially biodegradable.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further comprises a film dispenser and a film channel configured to guide the film through the implement.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the film is configured to resist one or both of soil meofaunal or root penetration.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one or more portions of the subsurface retention harrier is engineered to be semi-permeable in at least one direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a global positioning satellite (GPS) device coupled to the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising the film.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a frontal area of the folded film transfer chamber is reduced in size in the direction of travel.

19. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising controlling a subsurface retention barrier depth (z) with at least one physical positioning system connected to said apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the curvilinear film exit of the film transfer and placement chamber has an exit region configured to unfold the bent and folded curvilinear film into a configuration having a cross section that is substantially u-shaped, substantially parabolic-shaped or substantially bowl-shaped.

21. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the surface curves from about 10 to about 180 degrees.

22. A method for installing a curvilinear subsurface retention barrier comprising:

providing one or more barrier installation devices connectable to a forward moving device, wherein each of the one or more barrier installation devices has a three dimensional J-shaped film chamber comprising a film folding chamber with a curvilinear film entrance configured to fold an unfolded film to form a folded curvilinear film which is folded in a first direction, a folded film transfer chamber contiguous with the film folding chamber configured to receive and bend the folded curvilinear film in the first direction to form a bent and folded curvilinear film, and a film transfer and placement chamber configured to allow the bent and folded curvilinear film to unfold in a second direction to form a curvilinear film oriented for deposition into a curvilinear trough defining a concave cross section beneath a medium surface within a projected root zone; and

guiding the forward moving device with one or more x, y, z positioning systems in communication with the forward moving device and configured to position each of the subsurface retention barriers in a location which maximizes water retention in the projected root zone, wherein said x, y, z positioning systems include at least one physical positioning system connected to said barrier installation devices to control subsurface retention barrier depth (z) and at least one wireless positioning system to control a directional path (x, y) of the subsurface retention barrier.