Method and apparatus for dispensing powdered pesticide

Claim 1

A method for dispensing powdered pesticide, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a quantity of powdered pesticide in an upper chamber of a dispenser, said pesticide being supported upon a porous media which forms a bottom for said upper chamber; (b) supplying pressurized air to a lower chamber of said dispenser, said pressurized air being directed toward an outlet orifice which is in fluid communication with said upper chamber; (c) fluidizing said powdered pesticide in said upper chamber by air flow through said porous media and into said upper chamber; (d) blowing pesticide particles through an outlet line via said pressurized air; (e) guiding a nozzle connected to said outlet line proximate a utilization point; (f) activating a valve to open said outlet line so as to allow fluidized pesticide to pass through said nozzle to said utilization point; (g) adjusting air pressure in an air inlet line with a pressure gauge and regulator; (h) discontinuing air flow through said dispenser when fluidized powdered pesticide substantially ceases to travel into said outlet line; (i) removing from said dispenser particles having a particle size larger than a predetermined size which remains inside the dispenser; (j) grinding the remaining particles to a size smaller than said predetermined size; and (k) placing said ground powdered pesticide in said upper chamber of said dispenser for fluidization and dispensing.

Claim 2

A method for dispensing powdered pesticide, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a quantity of powdered pesticide in an upper chamber of a dispenser, said pesticide being supported upon a porous media which forms a bottom for said upper chamber; (b) supplying pressurized air to a lower chamber of said dispenser, said pressurized air being directed toward an outlet orifice which is in fluid communication with said upper chamber; (c) fluidizing said powdered pesticide in said upper chamber by air flow through said porous media and into said upper chamber; (d) blowing pesticide particles through an outlet line via said pressurized air; (e) guiding a nozzle connected to said outlet line proximate a utilization point; (f) activating a valve to open said outlet line so as to allow fluidized pesticide to pass through said nozzle to said utilization point; (g) adjusting air pressure in an air inlet line with a pressure gauge and regulator; (h) discontinuing air flow through said dispenser when fluidized powdered pesticide substantially ceases to travel into said outlet line; (i) removing from said dispenser particles having a particle size larger than a predetermined size which remains inside the dispenser; (j) grinding the remaining particles to a size smaller than said predetermined size; and (k) placing said ground powdered pesticide in said upper chamber of said dispenser for fluidization and dispensing.