Soil injection system and method
OwnerThomas De Lany, Matthew James Andros +2inventors
InventorsThomas De Lany, Matthew James Andros, Garett John Stapp, Thomas Klippenstein
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Abstract
Methods and systems for applying a uniform layer of a substance such as a hydrogel or other fluid substance beneath a soil surface with minimal or little surface disturbance to the plants, the plant roots and the soil located on or slightly below the applied surface area. Embodiments include injecting a fluid substance into soil using at least one injector probe, a driver to drive the at least one injector probe into and out of the soil to and from a target depth, and a rotator mechanism configured to rotate the at least one injector probe about a central axis from one angular position to another angular position at the target depth.
Claims20
An apparatus for injecting a fluid substance into soil, comprising:
- at least one injector probe having:
- a central axis;
- an inlet for receiving the fluid substance;
- at least one outlet for dispersing in a layer and at a pressure a quantity of the fluid substance at a target depth beneath a surface of the soil;
- a driver to drive the at least one injector probe into and out of the soil to and from the target depth;
- and
- a rotator mechanism configured to rotate the at least one injector probe about the central axis from one angular position to another angular position at the target depth.
A method for injecting a fluid substance into soil, comprising:
- (i) driving at least one injector probe into the soil such that at least one outlet of the at least one injector probe is at a target depth beneath the surface of the soil;
- (ii) dispersing the fluid substance at a first angular position, at a pressure and at the target depth beneath the surface of the soil;
- (iii) rotating the at least one injector probe about a central axis to a second angular position at the target depth;
- and
- (iv) dispersing the fluid substance at the second angular position, at the pressure and at the target depth beneath the surface of the soil.
A system for injecting a fluid substance into soil, the system comprising:
- a slurry tank;
- a slurry pump;
- an injector frame assembly having a plurality of injector probes;
- a plurality of probe drivers, wherein each of the plurality of probe drivers moves a respective injector probe into and out of soil to and from a target depth;
- and
- a rotator assembly, wherein the rotator assembly rotates each of the plurality of injector probes about a respective central axis from one angular position to another angular position at the target depth;
- and
- wherein the fluid substance is pumped from the slurry tank by the slurry pump to the plurality of injector probes and the plurality of injector probes each disperse a quantity of the fluid substance into the soil at a pressure and at the target depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.