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US 6,173,526 B1Granted
Beneficiation of soil with dissolved oxygen for growing crops
OwnerAngelo L. Mazzeiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for sub-surface injection of irrigation water infused with treatment gas such as air or oxygen. The infusion of gas into the water is by the use of a cavitating mixer-injector, and the resulting infused water under pressure is conveyed under pressure to the roots of a crop, where it is discharged in the root zone beneath the surface of the soil. The released effluent is water containing dissolved gas at atmospheric pressure, gas released from the water when the pressure was released, and gas in the micro-bubbles.
Claims18
Apparatus for benefication of soil by infusion of a treatment gas into sub-surface soil with the use of a pressurized irrigation stream, said apparatus comprising:
- a cavitating venturi-type mixer-injector having a body with an internal wall forming a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage having a central axis, an inlet, an outlet, and between said inlet and outlet said wall forming a constricting portion of deceasing diameter, a substantially cylindrical injector portion, and an expanding portion having an increasing diameter all as they progress in that order from inlet to outlet, an injection port, said injector port receiving treatment gas from a source of gas for injection into said flow passage to produce a water stream containing micro bubbles of treatment gas:
- an impermeable elongated conduit having a length and a peripheral wall forming a longitudinal passage for receiving water and treatment gas from said mixer-injector;
- a plurality of flow-restricting outlets disposed along the length of said conduit wall intended for placement beneath the soil surface, said outlets passing through said conduit wall to permit limited flow of water and entrained said mirco-bubbles into said soil from said longitudinal passage without substantial loss of pressure in said conduit;
- said mixer-injector adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure, whereby treatment gas will be infused into said water as it flows through the flow passage in the mixer-injector, and said water will remain under super-atmospheric pressure until after it passes through as said flow restricting outlet to emit water containing treatment gas and said micro bubbles.
1 more element
In combination:
- crop growing soil in which a rooted crop is to be grown, said soil having a top surface;
- and
- apparatus for benefication of said soil by infusion of a treatment gas into sub surface soil with the use of a pressurized irrigation stream of water, said apparatus comprising:
- a cavitating venturi-type mixer-injector having a body with an internal wall forming a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage having a central axis, an inlet, an outlet, and between said inlet and outlet said wall forming a constricting portion of decreasing diameter, a substantially cylindrical injector portion, and an expanding portion having an increasing diameter all as they progress in that order from inlet to outlet, an injection port, said injector port receiving treatment gas from a source of gas for injection into said flow passage to produce a water stream containing micro bubbles of said treatment gas;
- an impermeable elongated conduit having a length and a peripheral wall forming a longitudinal passage for receiving water and treatment gas from said mixer-injector;
- a plurality of flow-restricting outlets disposed along the length of said conduit wall beneath said top surface, passing through said conduit wall to permit limited flow or water and entrained said micro-bubbles into said soil from said longitudinal passage without substantial loss of pressure in said conduit;
- said mixer-injector adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure, whereby treatment gas will be infused into said water as it flows through the flow passage in the mixer-injector, and said water will remain under super atmospheric pressure until after it passes through a said flow-restricting outlet to limit water containing treatment gas and said micro bubbles.
4 more elements
A method to improve growing conditions for crops which are grown in soil that has a top surface:
- utilizing apparatus for beneficiating soil by infusion of a treatment gas into an irrigation stream of water, said apparatus comprising:
- a cavitating venturi-type mixer-injector having a body with an internal wall forming a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage having a central axis, an inlet, and outlet, and between said inlet and outlet said wall forming a constricting portion of decreasing diameter, a substantially cylindrical injector portion, and an expanding portion having an increasing diameter all as they progress in that order from inlet to outlet, an injection port, said injector port receiving treatment gas from a source of gas for injection into said flow passage to produce a water stream containing micro bubbles of said treatment gas;
- an impermeable elongated conduit having a length and a peripheral wall forming a longitudinal passage for receiving water and treatment gas from said mixer-injector;
- a plurality of flow-restricting outlets disposed along the length of said conduit wall, passing through said conduit wall to permit limited flow of water and entrained said micro-bubbles into said soil from said longitudinal passage without substantial loss of pressure in said conduit;
- said mixer-injector adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure, whereby treatment gas will be infused into said water as it flows through the flow passage in the mixer injector, and said water will remain under super atmospheric pressure until after it passes through an emitter buried in conduit beneath said top surface;
- forcing a stream of water under pressure into the entry port of said mixer-injector, while admitting treatment gas into said injection portion through said injection port, thereby providing in said longitudinal passage a water stream under atmospheric pressure enriched with treatment gas and micro bubbles of said treatment gas, said emitters permitting limited flow of said stream into said soil.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.