# US 8,740,109 B2 · Apparatus producing superheated water and /or steam for weed killing and other applications

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- Number: US 8,740,109 B2
- Document ID: US8740109B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/570,294
- Filed: 2004-06-10
- Published: 2007-08-02
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2004-06-10
- Assignees: Steamwand International Pty Ltd
- Applicants: Philip Muston; David Parkin; Jeremy Winer
- Inventors: Philip Muston; David Parkin; Jeremy Winer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740109B2

## CPC

- F22B 3/04: by drop in pressure of high-pressure hot water within pressure-reducing chambers, e.g. in accumulators
- A01M 21/04: Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity {(apparatus for burning A01M15/00)}
- B08B 3/026: {Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor}
- E01H 11/00: Control of undesirable vegetation on roads {or similar surfaces} or permanent ways of railways, {e.g. devices for scorching weeds or for applying herbicides}(destruction of undesirable vegetation in general A01M7/00 - A01M15/00, A01M21/00; weeding involving working the ballast E01B27/00; mowers for embankments A01D34/86; hedge shearing machines A01G3/04); Applying liquids, e.g. water, weed-killer bitumen, to permanent ways (specially to rails E01H8/10 {E01H8/105, E01H8/125}; for preserving sleepers E01B31/20)
- B08B 2230/01: Cleaning with steam
- F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
- 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
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B)

## Abstract

Apparatus producing superheated water and/or steam for weed (36) killing, etc. has diesel fired boiler (30), which, via pump (32), generates hot water at a pressure of 40-52 bar and temperature of 90-115° C. This passes down tube (12) and encounters the constriction provided by nozzle (14). Passing through nozzle (14) into depressurization chamber (16), which is at atmospheric pressure, the water boils. When the super heated water exits ports (20) of distribution pipe (18) it encounters ambient temperature and is transformed into high temperature water vapor and/or water droplets. The apparatus controls or kill weeds (36) using a smaller volume of water and less energy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of killing or controlling vegetation, the method comprising: receiving from a source a superheated pressurized flow of water at a temperature greater than 90° C. and a pressure of 30-100 bar in a conduit transporting the flow; depressurizing the flow of the superheated pressurized water to substantially ambient atmospheric pressure to create a mixture of hot water and saturated steam by receiving the flow in an enclosed space having two restrictions including: a first restriction constricting the flow of superheated pressurized water entering the enclosed space and maintaining pressurization of the flow at 30-100 bar in the conduit between the first restriction and the source, said restriction having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface on a side of the restriction receiving the heated, pressurized flow of water and arranged substantially orthogonal to a side wall of the conduit; the second surface arranged on a side of the restriction opposite the first surface, and an aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along an axis between the first surface and the second surface; and a second restriction providing an outlet for any moisture generated by depressurizing flow of superheated pressurized water; and killing or controlling vegetation by delivering the mixture of hot water and saturated steam from the outlet to the vegetation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first restriction has a diameter of from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein receiving a superheated pressurized flow of water at a temperature greater than 90° C. and a pressure of 30-100 bar includes receiving the flow at a pressure of 40 to 52 bar.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein receiving a superheated pressurized flow of water at a temperature greater than 90° C. and a pressure of 30-100 bar includes receiving the flow at a temperature of 100° C. to 150° C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein receiving a superheated pressurized flow of water at a temperature greater than 90° C. and a pressure of 30-100 bar includes receiving the flow at a rate of between 2 liters per minute to 13 liters per minute.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein delivering the mixture of hot water and saturated steam to the vegetation includes delivering the mixture at a pressure in the range of 0 to 1 bar above atmospheric pressure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the outlet has a diameter of 2 mm to 10 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the outlet has an area greater than the area of the first restriction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the outlet has an area at least twice the area of the first restriction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the volume of the enclosed space is larger than the volume of the flow of water from the first restriction.

### Claim 11

An apparatus for killing or controlling vegetation, comprising: an inlet tube receiving a superheated pressurized flow of water at a temperature greater than 100° C. and a pressure of 30-100 bar from a source; a restriction defining an aperture that constricts the superheated pressurized flow of water in the inlet tube and maintains pressurization of the flow in the inlet tube between the source and the aperture at the pressure of 30-100 bar, said restriction having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface on a side of the restriction receiving the heated, pressurized flow of water and arranged substantially orthogonal to a side wall of the inlet tube; the second surface arranged on an side of the restriction opposite the first surface, and an aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along an axis between the first surface and the second surface; an expansion chamber in direct fluid communication with said restriction receiving the flow of superheated pressurized water from the inlet tube through the restriction and into the expansion chamber to depressurize the flow of superheated pressurized water to substantially ambient atmospheric pressure and generate a mixture of hot water and saturated steam in the expansion chamber as a result of said depressurization, the expansion chamber having only a single outlet through which moisture can exit the enclosed space; and a distributor, in direct fluid communication with the outlet, receiving the mixture of hot water and saturated steam from the expansion chamber, the distributor including a plurality of delivery holes delivering the mixture of hot water and saturated steam from the delivery holes to vegetation to kill or control the vegetation.

### Claim 12

A method of killing or controlling vegetation, the method comprising: receiving in an inlet tube a flow of water heated by a boiler to a temperature greater than 100° C. and pressurized by a pump to a pressure of 30-100 bar within the inlet tube; constricting by a nozzle the heated, pressurized flow of water received in said inlet tube, said nozzle having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface on a side of the nozzle receiving the heated, pressurized flow of water and arranged substantially orthogonal to a side wall of the inlet tube; the second surface arranged on a side of the nozzle opposite the first surface, and an aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along an axis between the first surface and the second surface, said aperture of a size and a shape allowing said heated, pressurized flow to pass through the aperture while causing the temperature of the flow at the aperture to remain greater than 100° C. and the pressurization of the heated pressurized flow in the inlet tube between the pump and the aperture to be maintained at a pressure of 30-100 bar; depressurizing and cooling the heated, pressurized flow received from said aperture in an expansion chamber to substantially ambient atmospheric pressure, said depressurization and cooling of the heated, pressurized flow in said expansion chamber creating a mixture of hot water and saturated steam, said expansion chamber sized to receive said flow and provide said depressurization and cooling to create the mixture and having only a single outlet through which moisture can exit the expansion chamber; and killing or controlling vegetation by receiving the mixture of hot water and saturated steam from the expansion chamber in a distributor, in direct fluid communication with the outlet, the distributor delivering the mixture of hot water and saturated steam onto the vegetation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein constricting by a nozzle, further includes constriction by a nozzle wherein the first surface and the second surface are substantially planar to each other and arranged orthogonal to the side wall of the inlet tube; and the aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along the axis is arranged substantially orthogonal to the first surface and the second surface and substantially parallel to the side wall of the inlet tube.

### Claim 14

An apparatus for killing or controlling vegetation, the apparatus comprising: an inlet tube receiving a flow of water heated by a boiler to a temperature greater than 100° C. and pressurized by a pump to a pressure of 30-100 bar within the inlet tube; a nozzle constricting the heated, pressurized flow of water received in said inlet tube, said nozzle having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface on a side of the nozzle receiving the heated, pressurized flow of water and arranged substantially orthogonal to a side wall of the inlet tube; the second surface arranged on a side of the nozzle opposite the first surface, and an aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along an axis between the first surface and the second surface, said aperture of a size and a shape allowing said heated, pressurized flow to pass through the aperture while causing the temperature of the flow in the inlet tube at the aperture to remain greater than 100° C. and maintaining pressurization of the heated pressurized flow in the inlet tube between the pump and the aperture at a pressure of 30-100 bar; an expansion chamber in fluid communication with said aperture depressurizing and cooling the heated, pressurized flow received from said aperture to substantially ambient atmospheric pressure to create a mixture of hot water and saturated steam, said expansion chamber having dimensions to receive said flow a provide said depressurization and cooling to create the mixture and having only a single outlet through which moisture can exit the expansion chamber; and a distributer receiving the mixture of hot water and saturated steam from the single outlet and delivering the mixture of hot water and saturated steam onto the vegetation to kill or control the vegetation.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first surface and the second surface are substantially parallel to each other and arranged orthogonal to the side wall of the inlet tube; and the aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along the axis is arranged substantially orthogonal to the first surface and the second surface and substantially parallel to the side wall of the inlet tube.

### Claim 16

An system for killing or controlling vegetation, the system comprising: a boiler heating water to a temperature greater than 100° C.; a pump receiving the heated water and pressurizing the heated water to a pressure of 30-100 bar; an inlet tube transporting a flow of the heated, pressurized water received from the pump; a nozzle constricting the heated, pressurized flow of water received in said inlet tube, said nozzle having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface on a side of the nozzle receiving the heated, pressurized flow of water and arranged substantially orthogonal to a side wall of the inlet tube; the second surface arranged on an opposite side of the nozzle, and an aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along an axis between the first surface and the second surface, said aperture of a size and a shape allowing said heated, pressurized flow to pass through the aperture while causing the temperature of the flow in the inlet tube at the aperture to remain greater than 100° C. and maintaining pressurization of the heated pressurized flow in the inlet tube between the pump and the aperture at a pressure of 30-100 bar; an expansion chamber in fluid communication with said aperture depressurizing and cooling the heated, pressurized flow received from said aperture to substantially ambient atmospheric pressure to create a mixture of hot water and saturated steam as a result of the depressurization, said expansion chamber having dimensions to receive said flow and provide said depressurization and cooling to create the mixture and having only a single outlet through which moisture can exit the expansion chamber; and a distributer receiving the mixture of hot water and saturated steam from the single outlet and delivering the mixture of hot water and saturated steam onto the vegetation to kill or control the vegetation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the first surface and the second surface are substantially parallel to each other and arranged orthogonal to the side wall of the inlet tube; and the aperture travelling between the first surface and the second surface along the axis is arranged substantially orthogonal to the first surface and the second surface and substantially parallel to the side wall of the inlet tube.