Gas Diffusion System for Agriculture

Abstract

In agriculture, one of the most important issues is the extent to which the yield of high-quality crops can be increased while saving labor and reducing costs. However, there are many problems in that so-called injuries of crops due to continuous cropping and other causes seriously reduce productivity. The present invention provides an apparatus and a method that provides a method of feeding plants CO.sub.2 on foliage or O.sub.2 on roots by way of injecting a gas into a liquid such that the bubbles formed are of a size that allows them to remain suspended in the liquid for up to two days without dissolving into the liquid thus allowing the system to use the liquid with the suspended bubbles as a foliar or root spray or as a liquid for use in a hydroponic growing system.

Claims

1: A universal eco-friendly and an ergonomic design of Gas Diffusion System for Agriculture comprising: a source for a compressed gas which can be a compressor, a tank or any other method of compressing a gas to a minimum of 2 psig to a maximum of 350 psig; a diffuser element to act as a barrier between the gas and liquid; a diffuser element allowing the gas to pass through fissures in the diffuser material and form bubbles in the liquid; a casing which embodies a passage for the liquid and a holder for the diffuser which places the diffuser in the path of the flow of the liquid; a method to carry the liquid from a source to the casing where the method may be via a pump, gravity fed system or any other method of carrying a liquid with sufficient pressure and volume to flow over the diffuser in the casing; and a method for spraying the liquid onto the leaves of the plant in a standard method of agriculture with the plants growing in soil or onto the leaves of the plant in a hydroponic method of growing or onto the roots of the plant in an Aeroponic method of growing or in any combination of these methods of growing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the gas diffusion system in its non-operative form as per its preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the gas diffusion system in its operative form as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the assembly operational parts as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0026] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0027] The present invention provides a novel method of feeding plants CO.sub.2 on foliage or O.sub.2 on roots by way of injecting a gas into a liquid such that the bubbles formed are of a size that allows them to remain suspended in the liquid for up to two days without dissolving into the liquid thus allowing the system to use the liquid with the suspended bubbles as a foliar or root spray or as a liquid for use in a hydroponic growing system.

[0028] The invention as per its preferred embodiments works in following way where a source for a compressed gas (could be a compressor, a tank or any other method of compressing a gas to a minimum of 2 psig to a maximum of 350 psig. A diffuser element which works as both a barrier between the gas and liquid and also allows the gas to pass through fissures in the diffuser material and form bubbles in the liquid.

[0029] A casing that embodies a passage for the liquid and a holder for the diffuser which places the diffuser in the path of the flow of the liquid. A method to carry the liquid from a source to the casing mentioned above. This method may be via a pump, gravity fed system or any other method of carrying a liquid with sufficient pressure and volume to flow over the diffuser in the casing.

[0030] A method for spraying the liquid onto the leaves of the plant in a standard method of agriculture with the plants growing in soil or onto the leaves of the plant in a hydroponic method of growing or onto the roots of the plant in an Aeroponic method of growing or in any combination of these methods of growing.

[0031] The inventions principally work in following manner where Water is fed via a pipe to a fitting on the Casing body. The Gas is fed to the diffuser via a fitting on the rear of the Casing body. The gas is routed through a pressure regulating device then through a device to control volume, or a combination of the two devices, to ensure the correct pressure is maintained to form the required size of bubbles.

[0032] The Gas as per its further embodiments passes through the diffuser body to the outer surface of the diffuser element where bubbles form. Due to the volume of the liquid flow, the pressure of the liquid flow relative to the pressure of the gas being fed to the diffuser, the bubbles that form are of a specific size to achieve the goal of keeping the bubbles suspended in the liquid without dissolving into the liquid and without rising to the surface of the liquid and dissipating into the surrounding atmosphere.

[0033] If the bubbles are comprised of CO.sub.2, they are then fed via smaller pipes or tubes terminating with spray nozzles, to be sprayed, from any direction, onto the leaves of the plant. Furthermore, if the bubbles are comprised of O.sub.2, they are then fed via smaller pipes or tubes terminating with spray nozzles, to be sprayed, from any direction, onto the roots of the plant.

[0034] While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.

[0035] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0036] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.