Closed chemical mixing system

Claim 2

A closed agri-chemical mixing and transferring system comprising: a generally upright chassis adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface; means disposed within said chassis for generating partial vacuum; vacuum manifold means for distributing partial vacuum, said manifold means in fluid flow communication with said vacuum generating means; a plurality of chemical holding tanks for storing and outputting concentrated agri-chemicals; a plurality of vacuum switching valves in fluid flow communication with said vacuum manifold means for selectively imparting partial vacuum to as desired holding tank to be loaded with chemical concentrate independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks; a plurality of probe inlet couplings accessible from said chassis and adapted to be connected to external probes for receiving chemical concentrate; a plurality of probe inlet switching valves in fluid flow communication between said holding tanks for selectively establishing fluid flow communication between said holding tanks and said probes independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks whereby partial vacuum within said holding tanks draws chemical concentrate thereinto; vacuum vent means for venting preselected ones of said holding tanks after loading said tanks with chemical concentrate; transfer manifold means adapted to be connected to a source of water for selectively receiving the contents of said holding tanks; a plurality of dump valves for selectively transferring the contents of a desired holding tank into said transfer manifold means independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks; transfer pump means for transferring liquids reaching said transfer manifold means to an external sprayer apparatus to be loaded; means for selectively rinsing preselected ones of said holding tanks independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks, said rinsing means comprising: fresh water manifold means adapted to be connected to an external, pressurized source of water; a plurality of rinse valves for individually transferring water from said fresh water manifold means to a preselected holding tank to be rinsed; and, rotatable sprayer means disposed internally of each holding tank for forcefully rinsing substantially the entire surface area within said holding tank in response to water pressure; and, powder box means for mixing dry chemical concentrate and dispensing liquid solution, said powder box means comprising: container means into which dry chemical concentrate may be poured for subsequent mixing; powder box dump valve means for connecting said powder in fluid flow communication with said transfer manifold; and powder box agitation valve means connected between the output of said transfer pump and said powder box whereby the contents of said powder box may be continuously recirculated between said powder box and said transfer manifold, thereby mixing said dry chemical concentrate.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 including means for rinsing said external probes comprising: fresh water manifold means adapted to be connected to a source of fresh water; and probe rinse valve means in fluid flow communication with said last mentioned manifold means for transferring water to said external probe(s) for rinsing same.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said powder box comprises: propellor means disposed within said container means for thoroughly mixing chemical concentrate and water; motor means for actuating said propellor means; and switching means accessible from said chassis for selectively manually energizing said motor means.

Claim 5

A closed system for mixing and outputting agri-chemical preparations to an external sprayer device, said system comprising: a plurality of chemical holding tanks; a vacuum subsystem for selectively applying a partial vacuum to independently selected ones of said holding tanks, said vacuum subsystem comprising: vacuum pump means for generating a partial vacuum; vacuum manifold means in fluid flow communication with said vacuum pump for distributing partial vacuum; and a plurality of vacuum valves for selectively interconnecting said vacuum manifold means with preselected ones of said chemical holding tanks independently of the operation of others of said chemical holding tanks; a mixing subsystem for selectively intaking chemical concentrate into preselected ones of said holding tanks independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks, said mixing subsystem comprising: a plurality of probe inlet couplings adapted to be coupled to external probes for receiving chemical concentrate; and a plurality of inlet switching valves in fluid flow communication with said holding tanks for selectively establishing fluid flow communication between said holding tanks and said probes whereby partial vacuum draws chemical concentrate into said holding tank; and a loading subsystem for transferring the contents of a preselected loaded holding tank to said applicator device independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks, said loading subsystem comprising: vacuum vent means for venting holding tanks to be unloaded; transfer manifold means adapted to be connected to a source of water for selectively receiving the contents of said loaded holding tank; a plurality of dump valves for selectively transferring the contents of a loaded holding tank to said transfer manifold; and transfer pump means for transferring liquids reaching said transfer manifold means to said external sprayer applicator device; a subsystem for selectively rinsing preselected ones of said holding tanks independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks, said rinsing subsystem comprising: fresh water manifold means adapted to be connected to an external, pressurized source of water; a plurality of rinse valves for individually transferring water from said fresh water manifold means to a preselected holding tank to be rinsed; and rotatable sprayer means disposed internally of each holding tank for forcefully rinsing substantially the entire surface area within said holding tank in response to water pressure; and a powder box subsystem for mixing dry chemical concentrate and dispensing liquid solution, said powder box subsystem comprising: container means into which dry chemical concentrate may be poured for subsequent mixing; powder box dump valve means for connecting said powder box in fluid flow communication with said transfer manifold; and powder box agitation valve means connected between the output of said transfer pump and said powder box whereby the contents of said powder box may be continuously recirculated between said powder box and said transfer manifold, thereby mixing said chemical concentrate.

Claim 6

A closed system for mixing and outputting agri-chemical preparations to an external sprayer device, said system comprising: a plurality of chemical holding tanks; a vacuum subsystem for selectively applying a partial vacuum to independently selected ones of said holding tanks, said vacuum subsystem comprising: vacuum pump means for generating a partial vacuum; vacuum manifold means in fluid flow communication with said vacuum pump for distributing partial vacuum; and a plurality of vacuum valves for selectively interconnecting said vacuum manifold means with preselected ones of said chemical holding tanks independently of the operation of others of said chemical holding tanks; a mixing subsystem for selectively intaking chemical concentrate into preselected ones of said holding tanks independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks, said mixing subsystem comprising: a plurality of probe inlet couplings adapted to be coupled to external probes for receiving chemical concentrate; and a plurality of inlet switching valves in fluid flow communication with said holding tanks for selectively establishing fluid flow communication between said holding tanks and said probes whereby partial vacuum draws chemical concentrate into said holding tank; and a loading subsystem for transferring the contents of a preselected loaded holding tank to said applicator device independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks, said loading subsystem comprising: vacuum vent means for venting holding tanks to be unloaded; transfer manifold means adapted to be connected to a source of water for selectively receiving the contents of said loaded holding tank; a plurality of dump valves for selectively transferring the contents of a loaded holding tank to said transfer manifold; and transfer pump means for transferring liquids reaching said transfer manifold means to said external sprayer applicator device; a subsystem for selectively rinsing preselected ones of said holding tanks independently of the operation of others of said holding tanks, said rinsing subsystem comprising: fresh water manifold means adapted to be connected to an external, pressurized source of water; a plurality of rinse valves for individually transferring water from said fresh water manifold means to a preselected holding tank to be rinsed; and rotatable sprayer means disposed internally of each holding tank for forcefully rinsing substantially the entire surface area within said holding tank in response to water pressure; and a powder box subsystem for mixing dry chemical concentrate and dispensing liquid solution, said powder box subsystem comprising: container means into which dry chemical concentrate may be poured for subsequent mixing; powder box dump valve means for connecting said powder box in fluid flow communication with said transfer manifold; and powder box agitation valve means connected between the output of said transfer pump and said powder box whereby the contents of said powder box may be continuously recirculated between said powder box and said transfer manifold, thereby mixing said chemical concentrate.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 4 including means for rinsing said external probes comprising: fresh water manifold means adapted to be connected to a source of fresh water; and probe rinse valve means in fluid flow communication with said last mentioned manifold means for transferring water to said external probe(s) for rinsing same.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said powder box comprises: propellor means disposed within said container means for thoroughly mixing chemical concentrate and water; motor means for actuating said propellor means; and switching means accessible from said chassis for selectively manually energizing said motor means.