Process and apparatus for applying pesticides to granular materials
AssigneeChevron Research Company
InventorsDavid D. Walgenbach, Kenneth E. Stocker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for applying a pesticidal composition to granular vegetative products such as grains and seeds, which comprises: 1. loading and compacting a granular material into a first chamber by conveying it upwardly against the force of gravity; 2. conveying and tumbling the compacted granular material from the first chamber into a second chamber of greater capacity than the first chamber to permit mixing and tumbling of the granular material; 3. spraying the tumbling granular material with a pesticidal composition in the second chamber; and 4. discharging the sprayed granular material from the second chamber. Apparatus suitable for carrying out the process of the invention are also described.
Claims7
An apparatus for applying a liquid composition to a granular material which comprises:
- a hollow cylindrical tube, said tube having a portion of reduced internal diameter at the low length thereof and being formed with an enlarged internal diameter adjoining said portion of reduced internal diameter at the lower length thereof and being formed with an enlarged internal diameter adjoining said portion of reduced internal diameter for the remaining length thereof;
- a first opening in the bottom portion of said reduced-diameter portion of said tube for loading a granular material into said tube;
- a second opening in the top portion of said enlarged-diameter of said tube for discharging said granular material;
- a rotatable auger housed in said tube and operably mounted for conveying said granular material through said tube;
- means for supporting said tube at an angle to the horizontal to essentially completely fill said granular material in said reduced-diameter portion of said tube;
- at least one inwardly directed liquid spray nozzle assembly mounted on said enlarged-diameter portion and positioned adjacent said reduced-diameter portion;
- a liquid supply system connected to said spray nozzle assembly;
- and
- means for rotating said auger, said rotating auger and said tube being constructed and arranged to automatically meter the quantity of said granular material being conveyed from the reduced-diameter portion to the enlarged-diameter portion and to limit said quantity to an amount which will be packed loosely in said enlarged-diameter portion to permit said granular material to tumble and expose all surfaces to said composition.
An apparatus for applying a liquid composition to a granular material which comprises:
- a hollow cylindrical tube, said tube having a portion of reduced internal diameter at the lower length thereof and being formed with an enlarged internal diameter adjoining said portion of reduced internal diameter for the remaining length thereof;
- a first opening at the end of said tube for loading a granular material into said tube;
- a second opening in the lower surface of the cylindrical wall adjacent the top portion of said tube for discharging said granular material from said tube;
- a rotatable auger housed in said tube and operably mounted for conveying said granular material through said tube, the lower end of said auger extending through said first opening to facilitate the feeding of said granular material into said tube;
- a hopper mounted on said tube for feeding said granular material into said first opening and as a housing for said lower end of said auger;
- means for supporting said tube at an angle to the horizontal to compact and fill said granular material in said reduced-diameter portion of said tube;
- two or more inwardly directed liquid spray nozzle assemblies mounted adjacent said reduced-diameter portion of said tube and at axially spaced locations along the upper cylindrical wall of said enlarged-diameter portion of said tube;
- a liquid supply system connected to said spray nozzle assemblies;
- and
- means for rotating said auger, said rotating auger and tube being adapted to meter the quantity of said granular material being conveyed from the reduced-diameter portion to the enlarged-diameter portion and to limit said quantity to an amount which will be packed loosely in said enlarged-diameter portion to permit said granular material to tumble and expose all surfaces to said composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.