Apparatus and method for delivering beneficial agents to subterranean locations

• US 7,658,156 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashok V., Bhavaraju, Sai, Wold, Truman
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US12/100,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20090255451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 111/118, 111/200, 111/900, 111 71- 74, 111/127
• US Class Current: 111/7.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/006 Reservoirs, separate from plant-pots, dispensing directly into rooting medium
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 29/00 Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a beneficial agent to a subterranean location is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a water collection chamber having a substantially open end. A water-transporting membrane is provided to communicate with the water collection chamber. An extraction chamber receives water through the water-transporting membrane, expanding the extraction chamber. A dispensing chamber, containing a beneficial agent such as fertilizer, is configured to contract upon expanding the extraction chamber. This causes the dispensing chamber to expel the beneficial agent through a subterranean delivery channel, such as a rigid hollow spike. In certain embodiments, a rate adjustment mechanism may control the rate that water is received through the water-transporting membrane, thereby controlling the rate the beneficial agent is expelled from the subterranean delivery channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus to provide controlled delivery of a beneficial agent to a subterranean location, the apparatus comprising:

a water collection chamber having a substantially open end to collect water;

a water-transporting membrane in communication with the water collection chamber;

an extraction chamber to receive water through the water-transporting membrane and into the extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber;

a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent and contracting in response to expanding the extraction chamber; and

a subterranean delivery channel in communication with the dispensing chamber to deliver the beneficial agent to a subterranean location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extraction chamber and the dispensing chamber are separated by one of a flexible diaphragm and a piston.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flexible diaphragm comprises a plurality layers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a separator material between the plurality of layers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the separator material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of air, a gas, and a mixture of gases.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the separator material comprises a hydrophobic material

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flexible diaphragm is coated with a water-impermeable material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the water-impermeable material is a metal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the extraction chamber and the dispensing chamber is at least partially contained within a pouch.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pouch is coated with a water-impermeable material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the water-impermeable material is a metal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beneficial agent comprises a fertilizer.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the subterranean delivery channel is a hollow spike for penetrating the ground.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extraction chamber contains an osmotic medium to draw water through the water-transporting membrane into the extraction chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the osmotic medium comprises at least one of a salt and a saline solution.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a circuit to regulate electrical current flowing through the water-transporting membrane, thereby regulating water flowing through the water-transporting membrane into the extraction chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rate adjustment mechanism to control the rate at which water is received through the water-transporting membrane.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional delivery channel, in communication with the dispensing chamber, to deliver the beneficial agent to at least one of a surface and a subterranean location.

19. An apparatus to provide controlled delivery of a beneficial agent to a subterranean location, the apparatus comprising:

a water collection chamber having a substantially open end to collect water;

a water-transporting membrane in communication with the water collection chamber;

an extraction chamber to receive water through the water-transporting membrane and into the extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber;

a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent and contracting in response to expanding the extraction chamber;

a flexible diaphragm disposed between the extraction chamber and the dispensing chamber, the flexible diaphragm comprising a plurality layers having a separator material between the plurality of layers, and wherein the separator material comprises a hydrophobic material;

a subterranean delivery channel in communication with the dispensing chamber to deliver the beneficial agent to a subterranean location; and

a rate adjustment mechanism to control the rate at which water is received through the water-transporting membrane.