Apparatus for underground insect and animal extermination
OwnerLoren J. Turnerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tubular ground probe is provided for downward penetration into an underground habitat of insects or animals and the upper end of the probe is provided with inlet means for steam under pressure. A downwardly opening shield is provided on the lower portion of the probe and is slidable therealong and the shield includes a side vent for venting steams erupting from the ground within the confines of the shield downwardly and outwardly from peripheral portion of the shield.
Claims14
An apparatus for exterminating underground insects and animals, said apparatus including an upstanding tubular ground probe, means at the upper end of said probe for attaching the outlet end of a pressurized steam supply hose thereto, a downwardly domed shield mounted on the lower of said probe for sliding movement therealong and with said probe extending centrally downwardly through said shield, said shield and probe including coacting means limiting downward movement of said shield along said probe, said shield including a downwardly opening vent outlet opening for venting steam from beneath said said shield, said vent outlet opening being spaced above the lower periphery of said shield.
The method of exterminating underground insects or animals including downwardly displacing the lower end portion of an upstanding tubular ground probe means into the ground and simultaneously supplying steam under pressure to the upper end portion of said probe, whereby the discharge of steam under pressure from the lower end of said probe will facilitate downward penetration thereof into the ground and effect below ground level injection of steam under pressure into the ground about the area thereof penetrated by the ground probe, providing a downwardly opening shield over the surface of the ground area centrally downwardly through which the ground probe penetrates and venting the interior of the shield to the exterior thereof in a downward and outward inclined direction through the shield from at least one side marginal portion thereof.
The method of exterminating underground insects and for animals, said method comprising ejecting steam under pressure into an underground habitat of insects or animals to a level approaching the lower limit of said habitat and in the central area of said underground habitat, injecting steam into the underground habitat at points spaced about and above said central area, and establishing a downwardly opening shield structure over the surface of the ground immediately above said central area and venting the interior of said shield structure to the ambient air in a downward and outward direction through the shield from at least one peripheral portion of said shield structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.