Apparatus and method for aerating and/or introducing particulate matter into a ground surface

• US 5,370,069 A
• Filed: 03/02/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Injection Aeration Systems
• Original Assignee: Injection Aeration Systems
• Inventors: Monroe, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARNICK IV, SPENCER K
• Application Number:
  US08/025,259
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 111/118, 111/127, 111/129, 172/21, 239/433, 239/428.5, 239/434.5, 51/439, 51/436, 51/263, 222/92, 134/102, 175/67, 175/424, 37/63
• US Class Current: 111/127
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/025 Continuous injection tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/028 Contactless injection into the soil

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for introducing a particulate matter along with a driving liquid, such as water, into a ground surface. The apparatus is also highly effective for perforating and thereby aerating the ground surface. The particulate matter may preferably adopt the form of a powder like substance often referred to as "polymer" and which is injected into the ground for purposes of acting as a plant food or a plant additive in various agricultural operations. The apparatus utilizes an injector device for mixing the polymer or other particulate matter with the driving liquid, such as water, at a point in close proximity to the ground surface so that there is no pre-mixing of the particulate matter and the driving liquid. The driving liquid is pumped to the injector at a high pressure and introduced into a high pressure chamber of the injector. The liquid is then forced through a very small diameter nipple opening leading to a low-pressure chamber. This will, in turn, cause a venturi effect in the low pressure chamber and which also causes a sucking or introduction of the particulate matter into the low pressure chamber where the particulate matter and the liquid are mixed and then injected directly into a ground surface. The particulate matter is contained within a collapsible bag such that the bag will collapse around the particulate matter as it is periodically withdrawn therefrom.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming holes in a ground surface and thereafter introducing a highly hygroscopic particulate matter into the holes formed in the ground surface from an injector closely spaced to the ground surface but not penetrating the ground surface, said apparatus comprising:

a) means for delivery of a liquid under pressure from a supply thereof;

g) an injector for receiving the liquid from the means for delivery and forming a high pressure stream of liquid;

c) a venturi chamber in said injector and receiving the high pressure stream of liquid at a flow rate sufficient to cause a venture effect in said chamber;

d) a particulate matter inlet port in said injector for enabling a charge of a highly hygroscopic particulate matter to be brought into said chamber by virtue of a negative pressure caused by the venturi effect and enabling the particulate matter to be brought into contact with the high pressure stream of liquid to form a particulate matter entrained stream of liquid;

e) said high pressure stream of liquid first being introduced into said venturi chamber and then starting the venturi effect after the high pressure stream of liquid has first entered the chamber so that the particulate matter is drawn into the venturi chamber after the high pressure stream of liquid first enters the chamber;

f) a discharge port in very close proximity to the ground surface to permit ejection of the high pressure stream of liquid without particulate matter therein immediately followed by the particulate matter entrained stream of liquid into the hole in the ground surface and deposition of the particulate matter into the hole in the ground surface;

g) valve means for regulating delivery of the high pressure stream of liquid to the injector and allowing the high pressure stream of liquid to be delivered into said venturi housing before the charge of particulate matter has been drawn into the chamber and where there is a stream of liquid under high pressure remaining and entering the injector after the charge of particulate matter has been ejected, such that liquid under high pressure without entrained particulate matter first contacts the ground surface to form a hole followed by introduction of the particulate matter entrained stream of liquid into the hole so that the particulate matter effectively enters a pre-formed hole; and

h) the particulate matter inlet port being closely spaced with respect to the high pressure stream of liquid entering the injector and the discharge port being closely spaced to the ground surface so that the amount of time the particulate matter remains in contact with the high pressure stream of liquid in the injector is relatively short so that the particulate matter absorbs very little water before entering the ground.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus is mounted on and movable with a vehicle for selectively introducing particulate matter into the ground at selected intervals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the liquid is water and the particulate matter is a plant additive polymer.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said injector comprises:

a) an inlet port to receive the high pressure stream of liquid,

b) a venturi orifice located downstream from said liquid inlet port through which the liquid passes causing a venturi effect on the downstream side of said orifice in said venturi chamber which is a low pressure chamber, and

c) said particulate matter inlet port is located to introduce particulate matter into said venturi chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that said discharge port is located immediately downstream of said orifice.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized that control means is mounted on said vehicle for operating the injector at selected intervals to cause a discharge of the particulate matter entrained liquid stream.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in hat the control means is a manually operable means which is operated by the operator of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the control means is an automatically operable means for automatically operating the injector at selected intervals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the particulate matter inlet port is located at a substantial acute angle relative to the direction of the high pressure stream of liquid.

10. An apparatus for perforating a ground surface and forming a series of successive holes in the ground surface and depositing a particulate matter in the holes thus formed in the ground surface from an injector closely spaced to the ground surface, said apparatus comprising:

a) a power driven vehicle for movement along a ground surface;

b) a water supply tank carried with said vehicle and providing a source of water;

c) pumping means for delivering a stream of water from the supply tank under pressure;

d) a particulate matter supply tank carried with said vehicle and providing a charge of particulate matter;

e) means for maintaining the particulate matter in the particulate matter supply tank in a relatively water isolated environment;

f) discharge control means for selectively discharging a sequential charge of the particulate matter from the particulate matter supply tank;

g) a particulate matter delivery line for delivery of the charge of particulate matter in a relatively water free environment;

h) an injector carried by said vehicle for receiving the water and the particulate matter and causing the particulate matter to be carried into the water, said injector being comprised of;

1) a housing having a port to receive water,

2) means forming a venture chamber in said housing,

3) means in said housing to cause the water to enter into the venturi chamber forming a high pressure water stream with a high flow rate thereby creating a venturi effect therein,

4) a particulate matter port connected to the particulate matter delivery line and leading into the venture chamber for causing the particulate matter to be sucked therein and brought into contact the high pressure water stream passing therethrough to form a particulate matter entrained stream of water,

5) said high pressure stream of water first being introduced into said venturi chamber and then starting the venture effect so that the particulate matter is drawn into the venturi chamber after the high pressure stream of water first enters the chamber,

6) a discharge means on said housing for causing the high pressure water stream without any particulate matter therein to bore a hole into a ground surface immediately followed by the particulate matter entrained stream of water being introduced into the hole to deposit the entrained particulate matter int he ground;

i) valve means for controlling delivery of the high pressure stream of water to be injector and allowing the high pressure stream of water without entrained particulate matter to be discharged through the discharge means to immediately form a hole in the ground of a desired depth immediately followed by the particulate matter entrained stream of water so that the high pressure stream of water without particulate matter first contacts the ground surface to form a hole followed by introduction of the particulate matter entrained stream of water to enable the particulate matter to effectively enter a pre-formed hole, and where there is a stream of water under high pressure remaining and entering the injector after the charge of particulate matter has been ejected;

j) the particulate matter port being closely spaced to the discharge means in the injector and the discharge means being closely spaced to the ground surface and the amount of time the particulate matter remains in contact with the high pressure stream of water in the injector being relatively short so that the particulate matter absorbs only very little water before entering the hole in the ground; and

k) control means for controlling the actuation of the valve means at selected intervals to cause a discharge of the particulate matter entrained stream of water during movement of the power driven vehicle.

11. the apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the means to cause the water to enter into the venturi chamber is a nozzle having a small diameter orifice.

12. A method for perforating the ground surface and forming holes therein and introducing highly hygroscopic particulate matter in the holes formed therein, said method comprising:

a) delivering liquid from a supply thereof;

b) forming a stream of liquid under high pressure;

c) delivering a charge of particulate matter from a source of the particulate matter;

d) causing a venturi effect by delivery of a high pressure stream of liquid at a velocity sufficient to cause a venturi effect;

e) introducing the charge of particulate matter through the venturi effect into contact with the high pressure stream of liquid and allowing the particulate matter to be carried in the high pressure stream of liquid to thereby form a particulate matter entrained stream of liquid;

f) initially introducing a portion of the high pressure stream of liquid which has no particulate matter therein onto a ground surface to form a hole in the ground;

g) ejecting the particulate matter entrained stream of liquid into the pre-formed hole in the ground in close proximity to the point where the high pressure stream of liquid contacts the particulate matter so that the particulate matter enters the pre-formed hole thereby allowing the particulate matter to remain in the hole;

h) controlling the amount of time the high pressure stream of liquid is delivered to the injector thereby allowing the particulate matter to remain in contact with the high pressure stream of liquid for only a very short time, such that the particulate matter absorbs only a very small amount of water before being deposited in the ground; and

i) further introducing a stream of liquid also under high pressure after the charge of particulate matter has been introduced into the pre-formed hole to ensure that all particulate matter in the charge has been sued and removed form the injector.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said method comprises:

a) dispensing the particulate matter from a flexible container having no air inlet vent therein;

b) permitting the container to collapse around the remaining particulate matter in the container as the particulate matter is withdrawn therefrom;

c) introducing the particulate matter into contact with the high pressure stream of liquid to thereby form the particulate matter entrained stream of liquid immediately prior to ejecting to a ground surface; and

d) ejecting the particulate matter entrained stream of liquid from a nozzle into the ground immediately after contact of the particulate matter with the high pressure stream of liquid.

14. An apparatus for forming holes in a ground surface and thereafter introducing a highly hygroscopic particulate matter into the holes formed in the ground surface from an injector closely spaced to the ground surface but not penetrating the ground surface, said apparatus comprising:

a) means for delivery of a liquid under pressure from a supply thereof;

b) an injector for receiving the liquid from the means for delivery and forming a high pressure stream of liquid;

c) a venturi chamber in said injector and receiving the stream of liquid at a flow rate sufficient to cause a venturi effect in said chamber;

d) a particulate matter inlet port in said injector for enabling a charge of a highly hygroscopic particulate matter to be brought into said chamber by virtue of a negative pressure caused by the venturi effect and enabling the particulate matter to be brought into contact with the high pressure stream of liquid to form a particulate matter entrained stream of liquid;

e) said high pressure stream of liquid first being introduced into said venturi chamber and then starting the venturi effect after the high pressure stream of liquid has first entered the chamber so that the particulate matter is drawn into the venturi chamber after the high pressure stream of liquid first enters the chamber;

f) a discharge port in very close proximity to the ground surface to permit ejection of the high pressure stream of liquid without particulate matter therein immediately followed by the particulate matter entrained stream of liquid into the hole in the ground surface and deposition of the particulate matter into the hole in the ground surface;

g) valve means for controlling the delivery of the high pressure stream of liquid to the injector and allowing the high pressure stream of liquid to be delivered into said venturi housing before the charge of particulate matter has been drawn into the chamber, such that the high pressure stream of liquid without entrained particulate matter first contacts the ground surface to form a hole followed by introduction of the particulate matter entrained stream of liquid into the hole so that the particulate matter effectively enters a pre-formed hole; and

h) the particulate matter inlet port being closely spaced with respect to the high pressure stream of liquid entering the injector and the discharge port being closely spaced to the ground surface so that the amount of time the particulate matter remains in contact with the high pressure stream of liquid in the injector being relatively short so that the particulate matter absorbs only very little liquid before entering the ground.

15. An apparatus for perforating a ground surface and forming a series of successive holes in the ground surface and depositing a particulate matter in the holes thus formed in the ground surface from an injector closely spaced to the ground surface, said apparatus comprising:

a) a power driven vehicle for movement along a ground surface;

b) a water supply tank carried with said vehicle and providing a source of water;

c) pumping means for delivering a stream of water from the supply tank under pressure;

d) a particulate matter supply tank carried with said vehicle and providing a charge of particulate matter;

e) means for maintaining the particulate matter in the particulate matter supply tank in a relatively water isolated environment;

f) discharge control means for selectively discharging a sequential charge of the particulate matter from the particulate matter supply tank;

g) a particulate matter delivery line for delivery of the charge of particulate matter in a relatively water free environment;

h) an injector carried by said vehicle for receiving the water and the particulate matter and causing the particulate matter to be carried into the water, said injector being comprised of;

1) a housing having a port to receive water,

2) means forming a venturi chamber in said housing,

3) means in said housing to cause the water to enter into the venturi chamber forming a high pressure water stream with a high flow rate thereby creating a venturi effect therein,

4) a particulate matter port connected to the particulate matter delivery line and leading into the venturi chamber for causing the particulate matter to be sucked therein and brought into contact with the high pressure water stream passing therethrough to form a particulate matter entrained stream of water,

5) said high pressure stream of water first being introduced into said venturi chamber and then starting the venturi effect so that the particulate matter is drawn into the venturi chamber after the high pressure stream of water first enters the chamber,

6) a discharge means on said housing for causing the high pressure water stream without any particulate matter therein to bore a hole into a ground surface immediately followed by the particulate matter entrained stream of water being introduced into the hole to deposit the entrained particulate matter in the ground;

i) valve means for regulating the delivery of the high pressure stream of liquid to the injector and thereby allowing the high pressure stream of water without entrained particulate matter to be discharged through the discharge means to immediately for a hole in the ground of a desired depth immediately followed by the particulate matter entrained stream of water so that the high pressure stream of water without particulate matter first contacts the ground surface to form a hole followed by introduction of the particulate matter entrained stream of water to enable the particulate matter to effectively enter a pre-formed hole;

j) the particulate matter port being closely spaced to the discharge means in the injector and the discharge means being closely spaced to the ground surface and the amount of time the particulate matter remains in contact with the high pressure stream of water in the injector being relatively short so that the particulate matter absorbs only very little water before entering the hole in the ground; and

k) control s for controlling the actuation of the valve means at selected intervals to cause a discharge of the particulate matter entrained stream of water during movement of the power driven vehicle.