# US 5,349,778 A · Vortex tube for exterminating organisms

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- Number: US 5,349,778 A
- Document ID: US5349778A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/051,577
- Filed: 1993-04-26
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1992-07-08
- Inventors: Cheng Chu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349778A

## CPC

- A01M 1/2094: {killing insects by using temperature, e.g. flames, steam or freezing (A01M1/22 takes precedence)}
- A01M 1/24: Arrangements connected with buildings, doors, windows, or the like
- A01M 19/00: Apparatus for the destruction of noxious animals, other than insects, by hot water, steam, hot air, or electricity {(electric traps A01M23/38)}
- A01M 2200/011: Crawling insects
- A01M 2200/012: Flying insects
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS

## Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for using sub-freezing cold air and hot air generated from a vortex tube to exterminate pests, mildews or tumors. According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, compressed air is fed into vortex tube to generate a stream of cold air with sub-freezing temperature and a stream of hot air of elevated temperature. These jets of cold and hot air are then delivered to infested places to either cool down or heat up to temperatures lethal to undesirable organisms. Since only compressed air is used in operation, there is no adverse impact on the environment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for exterminating organisms comprising:
locating the infestation area;
feeding compressed air to vortex tube to generate a cold stream of air with sub-freezing temperature and a hot stream of air with elevated temperature;
delivering said cold stream of air to infestation area; and
monitoring and maintaining temperature of infestation area to a sub-freezing lethal range for a long enough period to exterminate organisms at infestation area.

### Claim 2

A method for exterminating organisms comprising:
locating the infestation area;
feeding compressed air to vortex tube to generate a cold stream of air with sub-freezing temperature and a hot stream of air with elevated temperature;
delivering said hot stream of air to infestation area; and
monitoring and maintaining temperature of infestation area to a elevated lethal range for a long enough period to exterminate organisms at infestation area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

A method according to claim 1 or 2, using both the cold air and the hot air simultaneously at two different infestation areas.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

A method according to claim 1 or 2, using the cold air and the hot air in sequence at the same infestation area.