Method and apparatus for removing earthworms from soil using electric pulses
AssigneePaul Podsiadly
InventorsPaul Podsiadly, Ian Soutar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for causing earthworms to come to the surface of soil in which electric pulses are applied to the soil. The pulses are characterized by high power during a brief burst followed by a relatively long rest period. The method requires a small power supply and may therefore be put into practice with portable equipment.
Claims16
Portable apparatus for causing earthworms to come to the surface of soil comprising;
- (a) a power supply;
- (b) circuit means connected to said power supply for producing electric pulses having the following characteristics:
- average power, P, during each pulse between 10 watts and 500 watts;
- duration, t, of each pulse between 0.1 second and 0.001 second;
- and
- frequency, f, of the pulses between 0.5 Hertz and 10.0 Hertz;
- each of P, f and t being chosen so that the product of P, f and t is maintained between 0.1 watts and 10 watts;
- (c) and a pair of electrodes connected to said circuit means for coupling said pulses into said soil.
A method of causing earthworms to come to the surface of soil comprising applying to the soil electric pulses having the following characteristics:
- average power, P, during each pulse between 10 watts and 500 watts;
- duration, t, of each pulse between 0.1 second and 0.001 second;
- and
- frequency, f, of the pulses between 0.5 Hertz and 10.0 Hertz;
- each of P, f and t being chosen so that the product of P, f and t is maintained between 0.1 watts and 10 watts.
A method of causing earthworms to come to the surface of soil comprising applying to the soil electric pulses having the following characteristics:
- average power, P, during each pulse between 10 watts and 500 watts;
- duration, t, of each pulse between 0.1 and 0.001 seconds;
- and
- frequency, f, of the pulses between 0.5 Hertz and 10 Hertz
- each of P, f and t being chosen so that the product of P, f and t is maintained between 0.5 watts and 5 watts.
A method of causing earthworms to come to the surface of soil comprising applying to the soil electric pulses having the following characteristics;
- average power, P, during each pulse between 30 watts and 300 watts;
- duration, t, of each pulse between 0.01 second and 0.004 second;
- and
- frequency, f of the pulses between 1 Hertz and 4 Hertz;
- each of P, f and t being chosen so that the product of P, f and t is maintained between 0.5 watts and 5 watts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.