US 11,477,948 B2Granted

Manually controlled and operable self-propelled seed bed sterilization system and method to prevent weeds

OwnerArnold Lipesinventor

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Abstract

A manually controlled and operable self-propelled seed bed sterilization system and method is provided for preventing weeds from growth in seed beds. The system includes a wheel driven shuttle vehicle having a hot water reservoir, a hot water applicator manifold housing, a dual-function pump and a controllable valve. A self-contained mobile hot water supply vehicle accompanies the shuttle vehicle and has a water heater with hose connections to the reservoir of the shuttle vehicle to provide a continuous water flow path. The burner of the water heater is controlled to heat the water in the range of about 205-207 degrees F. but below the boiling point of water not to create steam. The shuttle vehicle is displaced over the seed bed at a constant drive speed by an electric motor driven by a gas generator. An operator person guides the shuttle vehicle over the seed bed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A manually controlled and operable self-propelled seed bed sterilization system for preventing weeds from growth in said seed bed, comprising a manually guidable wheel driven shuttle vehicle having a frame for supporting a hot water reservoir, a hot water applicator manifold housing displaceably supported on said frame for displacement from a storage position to a seed bed contact position where hot water is discharged under pressure from a lower soil contact surface of said hot water applicator manifold housing and into said seed bed at a substantially constant rate as said wheel driven shuttle vehicle is displaced there along by a constant speed drive, directional manual controls for manually guiding the direction of displacement of said wheel driven shuttle vehicle by an operator person, and a self-contained mobile water heating vehicle having a water heater for heating water to be contained in said hot water reservoir, at least two conduits disconnectably securable between said water heater and said hot water reservoir and a controllable valve, a dual-function water pump mounted on said wheel driven shuttle vehicle and connected between an outlet of said hot water reservoir and said controllable valve, said controllable valve having a manually operable valve position control to direct water flow through said controllable valve to a selected one of two outlet ports of said controllable valve, one of said at least two conduits connecting an outlet of said water heater to an inlet of said hot water reservoir, another of said at least two conduits connecting an inlet of said water heater to one of said two outlet ports of said controllable valve, and a hot water supply conduit interconnecting the other of said two outlet ports of said controllable valve to said manifold housing, said dual-function pump controlling water flow through said controllable valve.

A method for sterilizing seeds of weeds present in a seed bed comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a wheel driven shuttle vehicle having a hot water reservoir, a hot water applicator manifold housing, a dual-function pump and a controllable valve,
(ii) providing a self-contained mobile hot water heater vehicle having a water heater with inlet and outlet connections to permit water flow through said water heater, a burner for heating water in said water heater and a burner control valve to control the intensity of a burner flame of said burner to thereby control the temperature of said water flow through said water heater,
(iii) filling said hot water reservoir with water,
(iv) establishing a conduit connection between said outlet connection of said water heater and to an inlet of said hot water reservoir and said inlet of said water heater to a first outlet port of said controllable valve,
(v) operating said dual-function pump to circulate water in a continuous flow path through said water heater and said hot water reservoir,
(vi) monitoring the temperature of said water in said continuous flow path,
(vii) controlling said burner to control the heating temperature of said water in said flow path flowing through said water heater,
(viii) shutting said dual-function pump and said burner once a desired temperature has been detected by step (vi),
(ix) operating said controllable valve to close said first outlet port and open a second outlet port thereof to provide for hot water flow from said hot water reservoir to said hot water applicator manifold,
(x) disconnecting said conduit connections of step (iv),
(xi) positioning said hot water applicator manifold housing onto said seed bed with said shuttle vehicle disposed there over, and
(xii) switching on said dual-function pump and a drive of said wheel driven shuttle vehicle to cause said wheel driven shuttle vehicle to be displaced over and along said seed bed at a predetermined constant speed while a user person guides said wheel driven shuttle vehicle along said seed bed with hot water from said hot water reservoir being injected under pressure from a lower surface of said hot water applicator manifold housing and into said seed bed to sterilize any weed seeds.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/873,065Filed 27 Jan 2020
Published: US 2021/0227757 A129 Jul 2021
Granted: 25 Oct 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A01G 11/00
Sterilising soil by steam
A01M 7/0039
Mounted on a frame and guided by hand; Spray barrow: motor-driven
A01M 21/04
Apparatus for the destruction of unwanted vegetation, e.g. weeds: apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity
B62B 5/0046
Arrangements of motors: one motor drives two wheels