US3563461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Agricultural system for irrigating and protecting crops
Assignee: ALAN G BEATTIE
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Filing: 1968-07-25
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Granted: 1971-02-16
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Expires: 1988-07-25
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses a method and apparatus for a total agricultural control system having piping leading to all of the trees of an orchard, or all of the crops growing in a field, with the system equipped for selectively irrigating, spraying, dusting, and protecting the crops from freezing. The system generates foam which is used to protect the crops from freezing, and this foam provides a vehicle for carrying fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides to the crops. The foam distribution system is used also for water when irrigating and the water can be used to wash foam from the crops after a cold spell is over. The disclosure includes a special type foam generator in which water, air and foaming agent are forced through a turbilizer under controlled conditions, and a diffuser nozzle with a rotating deflector which throws the foam in different directions necessary to spread it over the crops. The specification discloses a special method for protecting heavily pruned trees from frost by expanding foam outwardly over the closely growing branches.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard W Cole Jr
- 👤 Alan G Beattie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:29
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G13/00; A01G13/06; A01G13/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 1 characterized by a supply device for introducing solid particles of material into foam flowing under pressure in the piping, said device being downstream from the turbilizer, said solid particles such as a solid insecticide or solid fertilizer, being carried by the foam as a vehicle to the nozzles for discharge with the foam from the nozzles and into contact with the crops.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 2 characterized by a hopper for holding the solid particles, vibrator means at the hopper for insuring flow of the solid particles, and metering means at the hopper for controlling the rate of solid particle flow into the piping, said metering means providing a solid particle flow substantially in excess of the quantity of solid particles that can be dissolved by the foam whereby solid particles are carried in the solid state distributed through the foam as a vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 1 characterized by said means for introducing gas including a compressor that supplies the gas to the piping at superatmospheric pressure for storing energy in the mixed stream that travels through the piping, the nozzles at the outlets being slinging nozzles each of which has a rotatable portion that rotates about an axis and each of which has a reaction surface on which the mixed stream impinges to rotate the rotatable portion of the nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 4 characterized by each of the nozzles including a housing having a slot therein from which the mixed stream expands and discharges, and fins on the outside of the housing in the path of the stream discharging from the slot, said fins Constituting the reaction surface on which the stream impinges to rotate the rotatable portion of the nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
120 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 4 characterized by each of the nozzles including a housing formed in two partially spherical parts that meet along an arc of the sphere, the parts being movable toward and from one another to open and close a slot at said line, spring means urging the parts together to close the slot, the force of the spring means being less than the force of the foam stream within the nozzle so that the parts are moved to open the slot by the energy of the stream including the compressed gas therein, and a bearing on which the rotatable part of the nozzle turns to sling the mixed stream that issues from the slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 1 characterized by an injection station for introducing additives into the piping to be carried by the mixed stream to the nozzles, said injection station including a container for the additive, a passage from the container leading into the piping, and metering means in the passage for proportioning the flow of additive from the container with respect to the flow of mixed stream to the nozzles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 7 characterized by the metering means being a valve in the passage from the container to the piping, and means for adjusting the degree of opening of the valve to control the flow from the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 7 characterized by the means for introducing water, foaming agent, and gas into the piping including a venturi passage having a throat and an expanding nozzle section beyond the throat and upstream from the turbilizer, a center passage at the throat with a generally annular passage surrounding the center passage, one of the passages at the throat being part of the means for introducing water and foaming agent into the piping and the other of the passages at the throat being part of the means for introducing gas into the piping, the water, foaming agent and gas mixing at said throat, the turbilizer including metal wadding downstream from the venturi passage whereby the velocity of the mixed stream is converted partially into a pressure increase in the stream as the stream approaches the wadding of the turbilizer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The agricultural control system described in claim 9 characterized by the means for introducing gas into the piping including an air compressor that delivers air at superatmospheric pressure for increasing the energy of the mixed stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2090602A
Cited
US2180084A
Cited
US2765856A
Cited
US3342271A
Cited
US3363806A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |