Fumigant probing apparatus
AssigneePestcon Systems, Inc.
InventorFrank Fleck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fumigation apparatus for placing solid fumigant in grain in ship holds, using a gas-permeable sleeve that is telescoped within an elongated tubular probe to be driven into the grain by a probe manipulator mechanism. The mechanism has three sets of drive rollers in a housing that is clamped around the lower end portion of the probe at the surface of the grain, the mechanism being releasably secured to a foldable base platform and driven by a power operator including a reversible electric motor and a reduction gear box. The sleeve is fabric, having a funnel-shaped open upper end and a closed lower end above a flap or tail for hanging out of the probe during installation. A flexible line is secured to the probe for repeated use in pulling sleeves into the probe for rapid placement of the sleeves after introduction of fumigant.
Claims16
Fumigating apparatus for use in placing solid fumigant in a commodity in a storage compartment, comprising:
- an elongated probe;
- an elongated gas-permeable sleeve having an open end for receiving fumigant and a closed end, said sleeve being telescoped with said probe for placement in the commodity;
- a probe manipulator mechanism comprising drive means disposed around said probe in gripping engagement with the latter and operable when activated to drive the probe endwise, said drive means comprising at least one pair of drive rollers with the probe disposed between the, and means holding said rollers in driving engagement with said probe;
- and a power operator coupled to said drive means and operable to activate the drive means to drive said probe into the commodity with said sleeve in telescoped relation with the probe;
- said power operator being reversible to withdraw said probe from the commodity;
- and means for retaining said sleeve in the commodity as the probe in withdrawn.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.