Method and apparatus for airborne release of insect eggs
AssigneeBiogenesis, Inc.
InventorMalcolm A. Maedgen, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one exemplar embodiment, method and apparatus are provided for the airborne dispensing of loose, dry insect eggs from a container by gravity flow through a metering device to control the loose egg flow to a spreader for spreading the loose eggs in a desired broadcast pattern entrained in a flow of air. A slight vacuum is applied to the container dispenser device stimulating and enhancing the steady flow of the loose eggs from the container dispenser to the spreader device.
Claims19
Apparatus for airborne release of loose dry live insect eggs from a moving vehicle, comprising
- a hopper mounted within the vehicle for receiving and holding a limited quantity of the loose eggs in a loose dry condition without crushing the live eggs, the hopper having an inlet opening at the top and downwardly and inwardly slanted sides that terminate in an outlet for discharging the eggs,
- flow control means cooperating with said hopper outlet for selectively controlling the flow rate of the eggs dispensed from said hopper through said outlet,
- an elongated air intake manifold mounted externally of said vehicle and having an open end for receiving air flow therethrough, said manifold sides tapering to a restricted outlet end for increasing the velocity of the air leaving said manifold,
- a cylindrical venturi section axially aligned with said manifold, one end of which is attached to said restricted outlet end of said manifold for receiving said air flow from said manifold, said venturi section having a radial opening disposed therein, the velocity of the air passing through said venturi section from said manifold lowering the air pressure at said radial opening below atmospheric pressure,
- a length of tubing interconnecting said hopper outlet and said radial opening of said venturi section for creating a pressure differential between the interior of said venturi section and said hopper outlet for forcing the loose dry eggs from said hopper outlet through said flow control means and said tubing into said venturi section for mixing the loose dry eggs in said air flow therein, said pressure differential acting substantially solely as the force for moving the loose dry eggs from said hopper to said venturi section,
- a generally triangular flattened duct having an open side forming an elongated exhaust slot and a restricted inlet end co-axially aligned with and attached to the exhaust end of said venturi section for receiving said loose eggs carried in said air stream from said venturi section, and
- a plurality of vertically-oriented spaced deformable deflector tabs fixed to the open outlet end of said exhaust slot for transversely deflecting said loose egg-laden air stream from said outlet slot for broadcasting the loose insect eggs in a desired pattern.
A method of airborne release of loose dry live insect eggs, comprising the steps of
- inducing a flow of the eggs from a container receiving and holding the eggs,
- controlling the flow rate of the eggs discharged from said container,
- inducing an air current flow,
- creating an air pressure differential with the air pressure in said container for forceing the eggs into said air current flow,
- mixing the eggs in said air current flow, and
- broadcasting the eggs entrained in said air current in a desired pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.