USE OF DISPENSING DEVICES IN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Use of a device D in agricultural applications, forestry or home and garden applications, wherein said device D is used for dispensing in the air, as a vapor, an active ingredient that is liquid at ambient temperature, wherein device D contains: —an aeration system that contains a pipe (2, 4, 510) opening into the open air and is configured to allow an airflow to pass through the pipe; —at least one distributor member (8, 208) that is in fluid connection with a storage container and is intended to be supplied with a liquid active ingredient from said storage container, said distributor member containing a porous body (8, 208) that contains micro-channels forming an outlet arranged in said pipe in order to constitute an evaporation zone for the active ingredient therein, wherein the pores present in said porous body are at least a part of the micro-pipes of the distributor member; —a heating member (11, 211, 132) arranged on or in the distributor member so as to control a flow of the active ingredient through the distributor member.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing an active ingredient in agricultural applications, forestry, or home and garden applications, wherein a device D is used for dispensing comprising dispensing the active ingredient in the air, as a vapor, using said device D, wherein the active ingredient that is liquid at ambient temperature, wherein device D comprises: an aeration system that comprising a pipe (2, 4, 510) opening into open air and configured to allow an airflow to pass through the pipe; at least one distributor member (8, 208) that is in fluid connection with a storage container and is supplied with a liquid active ingredient from said storage container, said distributor member containing a porous body (8, 208) that contains micro-channels forming an outlet arranged in said pipe in order to constitute an evaporation zone for the active ingredient therein, wherein the pores present in said porous body are at least a part of the micro-pipes of the distributor member; a heating member (11, 211, 132) arranged on or in the distributor member so as to control a flow of the active ingredient through the distributor member, wherein said active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of (1S)-4,6,6-trimethyl bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-en-2-one; 3,7-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-en-2-ol; 4,6,6-trimethyl-, [1S-(1a,2b,5 a)]-2,6-octadienal; (3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde; mixture of (2Z) (3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde and (2E) (3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde; 2-methyl-6-methylene-2,7-octadien-4-ol; (2E) 2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol; cis-1-methyl-2-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclobutaneethanol; (2Z)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol; 2-methyl-6-methylene-7-Octen-4-ol; 4-methyl-5-Nonanone; (5E)-5-Decen-1-ol; (5Z)-5-Decen-1-ol; 4-methyl-5-Nonanol; (2E,4E,6Z)-2,4,6-Decatrienoic acid methyl ester; (2E,4Z)-2,4-Decadienoic acid methyl ester; 4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-nonan-3-one; mixture of (4R,6S,7S)-(.+−.)-4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-nonan-3-one and (4R,6R,7R)-(.+−.)-4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-nonan-3-one; (5E)-5-Decen-1-ol, acetate; (3Z)-3-Decen-1-ol, acetate; (5Z)-5-Decen-1-ol, acetate; (7Z)-7-Decen-1-ol, acetate; (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol; (9Z)-9-Dodecen-1-ol; (8E,10E)-8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol acetate; 11-tetradecenal; Mixture of (11E)-11-Tetradecenal, and (11Z)-11-Tetradecenal; (11Z)-11-Tetradecenal; (9Z)-9-Tetradecenal; (9Z,12E)-9,12-Tetradecadien-1-ol; (7Z)-7-Tetradecen-2-one; 11-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (7E)-7-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (8E)-8-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (9E)-9-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; 8-Dodecen-1-ol-1-acetate; Mixture of (8E)-8-Dodecen-1-ol-1-acetate and (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol-1-acetate; (5Z)-5-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (7Z)-7-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (9Z)-9-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (11E)-11-Tetradecen-1-ol ; (11Z)-11-Tetradecen-1-ol; (6E)-7,11-dimethyl-3-methylene-1 ,6,10-Dodecatriene; 4-tridecen-1-ol acetate; Mixture of (4E)-4-tridecen-1-ol acetate and (4Z)-4-tridecen-1-ol acetate; (4Z)-4-Tridecen-1-ol acetate; (11Z,13Z)-11,13-Hexadecadienal; (9E,11E)-9,11-Tetradecadien-1-ol acetate; (9Z,12E)-9,12-Tetradecadien-1-ol acetate; (9Z,11E)-9,11-Tetradecadien-1-ol acetate; (11Z)-11-Hexadecenal; (9Z)-9-Hexadecenal; (11Z)-11-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (11E)-11-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (9E)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (7Z)-7-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (8Z)-8-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (9Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (11E)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol; (11Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol; (8Z)-14-methyl-8-Hexadecenal; 6-acetoxy-5-Hexadecanolide; (13Z)-13-Octadecenal; (11Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol acetate; (11E)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol acetate; 2,13-Octadecadien-1-ol acetate; Mixture of (2E,13Z)-2,13-Octadecadien-1-ol acetate and (3E,13Z)-2,13-Octadecadien-1-ol acetate; (7Z)-7-Eicosen-11-one; (13Z)-13-Octadecen-1-ol acetate; (6Z)-6-Heneicosen-11-one; (9Z)-9-Tricosene; 3-methyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-one; 1-Octen-3-ol; (3R)-1-Octen-3-ol; Mixture of 8-Dodecen-1-ol acetate and -(8Z)-Dodecen-1-ol; Mixture of (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol acetate, (8E)-8-Dodecen-1-ol acetate and (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol; 5Decen-1ol acetate; Mixture of (5E)-5-Decen-1-ol acetate and, and (5E)-5-Decen-1-ol; Mixture of (11E)-11-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate, and (9E,11E)-9,11-Tetradecadien-1-olacetate; Mixture of Compounds with the CAS numbers [30820-22-5], [26532-23-0],[26532-24-1] and [26532-25-2]; L-carvone; citral; ethyl formate; (E,Z)-2,4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester); (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal; heptyl butyrate; isopropyl myristate; lavanulyl senecioate; cis-jasmone; 2-methyl 1-butanol; methyl eugenol; methyl jasmonate; (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol; (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate; (E,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol; (R)-1-octen-3-ol; pentatermanone; (E,Z,Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate; (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate; (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one; (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate; (Z)-11-tetradecenal; (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol; (E)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate; (E)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate; (E)-11-Hexadecenyl acetate; (Z,Z)-7,11-Hexadecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)-4,7-Tridecadienyl acetate; (E,Z,Z)-4,7,10-Tridecatrienyl acetate; (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-Hexadecatrienal; (Z,Z)-7,11-Hexadecadienal; (Z)-11-Hexadecenal; (Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol; (Z)-11-Hexadecenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Tetradecenal; (Z,E)-7,11-Hexadecadienyl acetate; (Z,E)-7,11-Hexadecadienal; (Z,E)-9,12-Tetradecadien-1-ol; (Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol; (Z,E)-9,12-Tetradecadienyl acetate; (E)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate; (Z,E)-9,11-Tetradecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)-10,12-Hexadecadienal; (E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal; (E)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-8-Dodecenyl acetate; (Z)-8-Dodecenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E,Z,Z)-3,8,11-Tetradecatrienyl acetate; (E,Z)-3,8-Tetradecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)-3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol; (Z)-3,7,11-Trimethyl-1,6,10-dodecatrien-3-ol; (E)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol; 3,7-Dimethyl-6-octen-1-ol; 2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)- (2E)- Ethanol; Cyclobutaneethanol, 1-methyl-2-(1-methylethenyl)-, cis-; Ethanol, 2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-, (2Z)-; cis-2-lsopropenyl-1-methylcyclobutaneethanol; 10-Methyltridecan-2-one; 8-Methyldecan-2-yl propionate; Butyl butyrate; (E)-2-Butenyl butyrate; (Z,E)-4,4-(1,5-Dimethyl-4-heptenylidene)-1-methylcyclohexene; Ethyl 2-propenoate; 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde; (E)-2-Decenal; 1-Methyl-4-(1,5-dimethyl-(Z)-1,4-hexadienyl)-cyclohexene; (1S,2R,4S)-4-(1,5-Dimethyl-(Z)-1,4-hexadienyI)-1, 2-epoxy-1-methylcyclohexane; (1R,2S,4S)-4-(1,5-Dimethyl-(Z)-1,4-hexadienyI)-1, 2-epoxy-1-methylcyclohexane; Hexyl hexanoate; (E)-2-Hexenyl hexanoate; Octyl butyrate; 3-Methyl-6-isopropenyl-9-decenyl acetate; (Z)-3-Methyl-6-isopropenyl-3,9-decadienyl acetate; (E)-7,11-Dimethyl-3-methylene-1,6,10-dodecatriene; (1S,2R,3S)-2-(1-Formylvinyl)-5-methylcyclopentanecarbaldehyde; (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-Hexahydro-4,7-dimethylcyclopenta[c]pyran-1-ol; (4aS,7S,7aR)-Tetrahydro-4,7-dimethylcyclopenta[c]pyranone; 2-Phenylacetonitrile; (S)-5-Methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-hex-4-enyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate; (S)-5-Methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-hex-4-enyl 3-methylbutanoate; (S)-5-Methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-hex-4-en-1-ol; (Z)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,7-octadienyl propionate; (E)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,7-octadienyl propionate; 3-Methylene-7-methyl-7-octenyl propionate; and mixtures thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D is used for controlling insects.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D is used to disrupt the mating of insects.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D is used to disrupt one or more insect from the order of Lepidoptera, Acarina, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Diptera, and hemiptera.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D is used to protect agricultural crops.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D is used to protect at least one of the following crops: fruits; blackheaded fruit; cereals; olives, coconut, cocoa beans, castor oil plants, oil palms, ground nuts, cucurbits; citrus fruit; vegetables, lettuce, turnips, allium vegetables; chicory, brassicas/cole crops, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, garlic, leeks, tomatoes, tuber crops, fruiting vegetables; lauraceous plants; beans; tobacco; nuts; pistachios; coffee; tea; bananas; vines or woody wines; oilseed crops; beet; sugarbeets; saccharum; fiber crops; flowers; hop; sweet leaf; natural rubber plants or ornamental and forestry plants, shrubs, broad-leaved trees or evergreens, eucalyptus; turf; lawn; trees; and grass.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D is used to protect during the growing of crops or post harvest.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D is used in an amount of 1 to 20 devices per hectare.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D dispenses the active ingredient in an amount of 0.1 to 65 mg/hour.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the porous body has a wooden, textile, ceramic, or polymer wick.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aeration system has at least one fan (1) installed in a part of the pipe (2, 4, 510).

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D further comprises a control device (130, 530) configured to control the heating member (11, 132, 211) depending on a setpoint temperature in the distributor member.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setpoint temperature is defined depending on the substance.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control device is connected to a detector configured to detect a tag on the storage container (5, 300, 400, 550) that indicates the active ingredient contained in the container, and wherein the control device determines, depending on said tag, at least one operating parameter of the device selected from a setpoint temperature, an airflow, and time indications defining an on/off cycle.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D comprises one or more sensor to determine a time, a date, a temperature, a humidity, an atmospheric pressure, or other environmental parameter such that operation of said device D can be automatically controlled in relation to such external parameters.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device D further comprises a communication module for providing wired or wireless communication with a data server to control the operation of device D.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient has a viscosity that varies depending on temperature, said viscosity being such that the active ingredient cannot flow through the micro-pipes in the distributor member at an ambient temperature below a first temperature, and wherein the heating member (11, 132, 211) is configured to heat the distributor member to a second temperature higher than the first temperature such that the active ingredient flows through the micro-pipes in the distributor member under capillary action.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second temperature is selected such that the active ingredient flows at a flow rate sufficiently low to avoid a formation of drops that detach from the distributor member and sufficiently high for an evaporation zone to remain permanently wetted while an airflow is sent through the aeration system.

19. The method of claim 6 wherein said device D is used to protect at least one of the following crops: pomes, stone fruits, or soft fruits; apples, pears, plums, peaches, quince, nectarines, dates, drupes, almonds, cherries, papayas, strawberries, raspberries, jujube, litchi, jackfruit, honeydew, currant, carambola, eggfruit, blackberries or gooseberries; barley, wheat, corn, field corn, rice, oats, sorgum; squashes, pumpkins, cucumber or melons; oranges, citrus, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins; eggplant, spinach; iceberg lettuce; leek, onion; cabbage; potatoes; pepper, eggplant, tomatoes, cucurbits or sweet peppers; avocados, cinnamon, or camphor; walnuts, macadamia; grapes; Canola, rapeseed, oilseed rape, raps, groundnuts, soybeans, sunflower; sugar cane; cotton, flax; ornamental flowers; and Stevia

Description

IN THE DRAWING

[0337] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view, with a cutaway, of a first embodiment of the unit according to the invention; [0338] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of a unit according to an embodiment variant capable of dispersing a plurality of liquids in the same pulsed flow of air; [0339] FIG. 3 shows a perspective exterior view of a unit according to a second embodiment; [0340] FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the unit in FIG. 3 on the section plane II-II positioned in FIG. 5; [0341] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view on a horizontal plane positioned on its line III-Ill in FIG. 4; [0342] FIG. 6 is a simple detail diagram of the assembly of the perforator member secured to the porous body; [0343] FIG. 7 shows the flow of the active ingredient through the unit in FIG. 4; [0344] FIG. 8 shows the flow of the air through the unit in FIG. 4; [0345] FIG. 9 shows a porous body with the heating members according to another embodiment; [0346] FIG. 10 shows a perspective exterior view of a unit according to a third embodiment; [0347] FIG. 11 shows a cutaway view of the unit in FIG. 10; [0348] FIG. 12 shows a storage container, a sealing zone of which is realized by a seal; [0349] FIG. 13 shows a storage container, a sealing zone of which is realized by a sponge; [0350] FIG. 14 shows a storage container, according to one embodiment, that is entirely closed; [0351] FIG. 15 shows a storage container according to one embodiment with two reservoirs; [0352] FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail view, which shows the insertion of the storage container into the unit before the opening of a flap valve of the storage container by the needle of the distributor member; [0353] FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16, which shows the insertion of the storage container after the opening of the flap valve.

[0354] According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the unit is made up of a ventilation system comprising an electric fan 1, the output of which takes place on the axis of a cylindrical pipe 2, the flow of air pulsed by the electric fan 1 passing through a gate 3. The constituent elements of this gate can be profiled to act on the flow of air inside the pipe 2. Fitted in the continuation of the pipe 2 is a nozzle 4 with the same diameter as the pipe 2, to which it is connected. The nozzle 4 leads into the open air on the opposite side from its region connected to the pipe 2.

[0355] Externally, the nozzle 4 carries a storage container 5, which is intended to receive the active ingredient intended to be diffused in the flow of air pulsed by the electric fan 1. The storage container 5 has an outlet made in its wall, which rests on the nozzle 4; this outlet supplies a feed line 6 having an inside diameter of about 800 μm; the feed line has a length of about 3 cm; the inlet of the feed line 6 is equipped with a solenoid valve 7, which makes it possible to stop the system, in particular in the event of an emergency. The feed line 6 connects the storage container 5 to a cylindrical porous body 8 made of ceramic, which has a cylindrical axial blind recess 9, in which the end of the feed line 6 is engaged in a sealed manner. Placed on the end face of the porous body 8 where the feed line 6 has not been introduced is a thermometer chip 10, which is able to measure and transmit the temperature of the porous body 8. This cylinder 8 carries, on its opposite face to the one where the thermometer chip 10 is located, a heating member 11. The porous body 8 is made of alumina and has pores with a diameter of 100 nm and a uniform porosity of 40%.

[0356] Fitted on the surface of the storage container 5 is an electronic tag 12, which makes it possible to identify the semiochemical placed in the container 5. This electronic tag takes the form of a label comprising an RFID (“radiofrequency identification”) chip. Provided in the top part of the container 5 is a liquid-tight opening that makes it possible to keep the interior of the container at atmospheric pressure. The porous body 8 is chosen depending on the active ingredient to be diffused. It is possible for the porous body 8 and the feed line 6 to be able to be formed in a single piece and/or to be integral.

[0357] The information relating to the inherent characteristics of the active ingredient, to the characteristics chosen for the porous body 8 and/or to the temperature of the porous body 8, is information that is sent to an electronic controller (not shown), which ensures, automatically, those adjustments that are useful for modifying to the desired value the ratio of the airflows, that is to say the ratio between the airflow without the electric fan and the airflow generated by the fan, and the temperature of the porous body 8 quantifying the evaporated flow of the pheromone liquid in the gaseous flow produced by the unit according to one of the variants of the control method described.

[0358] The active ingredient is drawn into the feed line 6 by a capillary pumping force generated by the fact that the active ingredient moves in micro-pipes, the walls of which are wetted by the active ingredient on account of its surface tension. Of course, the materials used are sufficiently neutral so as not to deteriorate the mixture in the long term and so that the surface tensions are not changed. The capillary force is brought about by the nature of the surface, which is made up of channels or pores that are sufficiently narrow to generate capillary traction; the liquid wets the materials of the feed line 6 and of the porous body 8. The liquid is thus level with the end of the pores of the porous body, the set of pores making up the evaporation surface thus situated at the periphery of the porous body 8.

[0359] It is necessary for the traction and capillary retention force to allow the liquid to be level with the end of the pores of the evaporation surface; however, this has to be effected without allowing uncontrolled spreading over the evaporation surface via the forces brought about by the gravitational fields (attraction of the Earth and hydrostatic pressure of the column of liquid that may be present) or by the static attractive forces generated by the interactions between the liquid and the rest of the surface of the wick. This capillary traction only exists by renewal of this final volume block (the section/cylinder of liquid at the end of the pore). The renewal of this volume is effected by evaporation and is governed by the equilibrium of the concentrations of the liquid and gas molecules at the liquid and gas interface in accordance with a value that is inherent to each liquid and dependent mainly on the temperature (at atmospheric pressure), namely the saturation vapor pressure. Increasing the temperature of the liquid to be evaporated causes an increase in the saturation vapor pressure, and thus a shift in the equilibrium of the concentrations of liquid and gas molecules at the interface toward gas molecules: there is evaporation until there is a new equilibrium. If the gas phase is moving, the equilibrium is never achieved, and evaporation continues until the liquid phase is exhausted. The more the gas phase moves (and tends to evacuate the gas-phase molecules more quickly), the faster the evaporation.

[0360] It has been found that, in a system of the type described above, the evaporation kinetics are multiplied by a factor of between 1 and 10 when passing from a fan speed of 0 to 24 m/s; moreover, if the liquid is changed from 20° C. to 70° C., the evaporation kinetics are increased by being multiplied by a factor of between 20 and 100.

[0361] The parameters of the described system can be adjusted by acting on the fan 1 (action on the airflow) and/or by acting on the heating member, in this case an electric heater 11, also known as a resistor, placed on the evaporation surface. The measurement that can be taken by means of the thermometer 10 makes it possible to adjust the intensity or the activation time of the electric heater in order to obtain the desired temperature of the desired evaporation surface. It is also possible to provide at the free end of the nozzle 4 disruptors for the flow of air blown or convectors for modifying the area over which the active ingredient is dispersed.

[0362] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment variant of the unit, in which said unit is equipped with three separate storage containers 5a, 5b, 5c, which are respectively associated with distributor members made up of porous bodies 8a, 8b, 8c, quite similar to the porous body 8 described above for the variant in FIG. 1. Associated with each porous body is an electric heater 11a, 11b, 11c, which is placed on the outer surface of the porous body. The porous bodies 8a, 8b, 8c are offset with respect to one another in the air blowing path, which is defined by the nozzle 4, such that the fact that the number of porous bodies has been increased avoids the formation of an obstruction that impedes the passage of the air. In FIG. 2, the porous bodies 8a, 8b, 8c are placed in series, but in an embodiment variant that is not shown, the porous bodies can be disposed in parallel.

[0363] The user of the unit, whether it be a unit of the type in FIG. 1 or of the type in FIG. 2, will thus vary operation by acting on the temperature of the porous body or bodies 8, 8a, 8b, 8c, by acting on the resistors associated with the porous bodies and by acting on the fan speed (electric power supply to the fan 1). All of these functions can be easily combined on a controller (not shown) and so the operation of the unit according to the invention can be rendered entirely automatic, the electronic tag 12 making it possible to distinguish the liquids to be diffused. The controller may have a connection antenna, which makes it possible to transfer information from the controller to the user or vice versa. Alternatively, operation can be remote-controlled by the user via a smartphone, for example.

[0364] According to a second embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, the unit has a cylindrical casing of vertical axis that is denoted 100 as a whole; said casing is supported, around 1.50 m away from the ground, by a stand 112, to the top of which it is mechanically coupled by two clamping jaws 112a, 112b; the jaw 112b is secured to the casing 100. The upper part of the casing 100 has the shape of a cone frustum 100a, the upper edge 100b of which delimits a circular opening 100c on the opposite side from the ground. The frustoconical wall 100a is able to be covered by a cover denoted 105 as a whole; the cover 105 is hinged to the jaw 112b by means of a pin 114; the pin 114 is perpendicular to the axis of the stand 112.

[0365] When it is open, as shown in FIG. 3, the cover 105 completely opens up the orifice 100c and makes it possible to introduce, into the casing 100, a cylindrical storage container denoted 106 as a whole. The container 106 contains the liquid active ingredient intended to be diffused as a vapor in the ambient air. The container 106 has two parts: the upper part 106a is made of strong plastics material, while the lower part 106b has a wall that is easy to perforate. The container 106 is provided, in its upper part, with a gripping tab 106d.

[0366] With reference to FIG. 4, when the cover 105 is in the closed position, the position of the cover with respect to the casing 100 is maintained by means of a closing element 107 secured to the cover 105. The closing element 107 cooperates with an appropriate snap-fastener 107a of the casing 100. An element of the cover 105 butts against the part 106a of the container 106 in order to press the bottom of the part 106b against the bottom of a housing 121, which will be described below. When the cover 105 is in the closed position, its lower edge 105a is located in line with the cone frustum 100a, which forms the top part of the casing 100; but it leaves a free space between the bottom of the cover 105 and the cone frustum 100a. Placed in the bottom of the cover 105 is a filter 108 in the form of a circular flat flange, with the same axis as the cover 105; when the cover 105 is closed, the axis of the flange filter 108 becomes that of the casing 100. Fitted in the central recess made in the flange filter 108 is a fan component 109, which is supplied with electric power by a conductor (not shown) carried by the wall of the cover 105. The air is sucked in by the fan 109 through the space provided between the cover 105 and the cone frustum 100a; it then passes through the flange filter 108 and passes in line with the circular opening 100c. The casing 100 has on its inside a structure 101 that connects the cone frustum 100a of its upper part to a frustoconical flare 100d, which forms the lower base of the casing 100. Provided between the part of smallest cross section of the flare 100d and the part of smallest cross section of the edge 100b of the orifice 100c is a cylindrical wall 115, inside which, approximately half-way up, there is disposed a cross brace 121 provided to support, in its central part, the container 106. The central part of the cross brace 121 has a housing 121a that is open in the direction of the cover 105; positioned in this housing is the part 106b of the storage container 106. The bottom of the housing 121a has a raised perforator member 121b, formed by a needle 133, the end of which is beveled: this needle is able to perforate the bottom of the part 106b of the storage container 106 when the latter is positioned by an operator in its intended position 121a. The needle 121b defines a capillary passage 134 in the direction of a cylindrical porous body 8 formed from sintered alumina. The porous body 8 has pores with a diameter of 100 nm and a uniform porosity of 40%. The needle 121b is pressed into a guide hole 122, in a sealed manner retained by bonding, and feeds a blind pipe 123 made along the longitudinal axis of the porous body 8.

[0367] Located around the central part of the structure, which has just been described and which is denoted generally by the reference 101, is another cylindrical wall 110, coaxial with the cylindrical wall, which delimits the zone of the storage reservoir 106 and extends around the porous body 8. This cylindrical wall 110 is secured to a bottom, which is formed by a flange 135 connecting the two cylindrical walls 110 and 115 together; disposed on this flange 135 are electric batteries 120 distributed regularly about the axis of the casing 100; the assembly (110, 115, 135) forms a barrel, as is clearly visible in FIG. 5. The batteries 120 supply the energy necessary for the operation of the unit according to the invention.

[0368] These batteries are connected to a control board 130, which is accommodated in the part of the jaw 112b positioned tangentially to the battery barrel. The board 130 is electrically connected, on the one hand, to the motor of the fan 109 and, on the other hand, to heating members 132 inserted into the porous body 8, in particular on the face thereof inserted into the radial arms of the cross brace 121.

[0369] In the unit that has just been described, the active ingredient conveyed by the storage container 106 is distributed, as soon as the cover 105 has effected the perforation of the container 106b with the perforator element 121b, through the porous body 8, the evaporation zone of which is the free surface as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7.

[0370] With reference to FIG. 8, air, which ensures the evaporation, penetrates under the cover 105, into which it is sucked by the fan 109; this air flows around the storage container 106, crosses the cross brace 121 and is evacuated to the outside by passing through the frustoconical flare 100d, after it has been charged with the vapor of the active ingredient in the evaporation zone formed by the free surface of the porous body 8. The flow of the air is indicated by arrows.

[0371] The airflow and the temperature of the heating body are regulated by the control board 130.

[0372] Preferably, the active ingredient and the porous body 8 have physical properties that allow regulation of the flow rate by temperature control in the porous body 8.

[0373] In particular, in a preferred embodiment: [0374] there is no substantial flow at ambient temperature, that is to say for example in a temperature range of between 0° C. and 30° C., [0375] the flow and the evaporation take place above a setpoint temperature T that can be achieved by the heating members 132.

[0376] The control board 130 controls the heating members 132 on the basis of a control program stored in its memory. This program defines for example the distribution start and end times, the setpoint temperatures, the airflows (in the event of forced ventilation), etc.

[0377] In an embodiment that is not shown, the solenoid valve of the first and second embodiments can be replaced by a manual valve. It can also be eliminated in each of the embodiments.

[0378] An embodiment variant of the porous body is illustrated in FIG. 9. The porous body 208 has a cylindrical shape surmounted by a protuberance 208b. This protuberance will make it possible to conduct the active ingredient toward the rest of the porous body when the cartridge is mounted in the unit. On the opposite face of the porous body from the one bearing the protuberance, two recesses 210 are provided for each accommodating a heating member 211. The heating members 211 are electrical resistors supplied with power by an electric circuit 230.

[0379] In this embodiment variant, the porous body can have either a uniform porosity or a nonuniform porosity. In the latter case, the open porosity is 25% at the core and 45% at the surface. This will then be a porous body in which the open porosity, i.e. the volume of pores per unit volume of the porous body, increases from the core to the evaporation surface. This therefore favors the greatest possible spread over the entire surface of the porous body at the outlet of the pores, and the mechanical integrity of the porous body is preserved with a denser core.

[0380] A third embodiment of the unit is illustrated in FIG. 10. The unit 500 has a casing of vertical axis 503; said casing is supported, about 1.50 m away from the ground, by a stand 512, to the top of which solar panels 520 are fastened for supplying the unit 500 with energy. The casing 503 is mechanically attached to the stand by two clamping jaws 512a, 512b; the jaw 512b is secured to the casing 503. Preferably, a hinge (not shown) is arranged between the jaw 512b and the casing 503 to make it possible to adjust the orientation of the casing 503.

[0381] With reference to FIG. 11, the casing 503 has the shape of a cylinder of square directrix. The upper edge 503b of the casing delimits a square upper opening with rounded corners on the side away from the ground, and the lower edge 503a of the casing delimits a square lower opening with rounded corners on the side facing the ground. The upper opening is covered in a sealed manner by an upper piece 505b and the lower opening is covered in a sealed manner by a lower piece 505a. The upper and lower pieces each have a central opening 507a, 507b, the two central openings having the same central axis.

[0382] The upper piece 505b is able to be covered by a cover 514; the cover 514 is hinged by means of a pin 516 perpendicular to the axis of the stand 512.

[0383] When it is open, the cover 505 completely opens up the central opening 507b and makes it possible to introduce, into the casing 503, a cylindrical storage container denoted 550 as a whole. The container 507 contains the active ingredient, e.g. the pheromone, intended to be diffused as a vapor in the ambient air.

[0384] When the cover 514 is in the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the position of the cover with respect to the casing 503 is maintained by means of a closing element 526 secured to the cover 514. The closing element 526 cooperates with an appropriate snap-fastener 528 on the upper piece 505b. An element of the cover 514 butts against the part 550a of the container 550 so that the needle 540 pierces the stopper of the container 550 and in order to keep the container in position in the casing. When the cover 514 is in the closed position, its lower edge 514a is located in line with the lateral walls of the upper piece 507b, which forms the top part of the casing 503. The lower edge 514a has an opening 522 so as to allow air to circulate in the casing 503. In order to prevent dust from entering through the opening 522, a filter 524 is positioned behind the opening.

[0385] The casing 503 also comprises a hollow cylinder 510 formed of two identical hollow half-cylinders 510a, 510b. These two half-cylinders, when they are joined together, sandwich the porous body 208, which is surmounted by a needle 540 and rests on the heating member, the electrical circuit 230 of which is shown. The needle is fastened to the porous body by virtue of clips 542 extending longitudinally from a flange 541 at the base of the needle 540. The two half-cylinders, when they are joined together, also sandwich a filter 543 at their base, and two fans (not shown) at the join between the lateral walls of the half-cylinders. The assembly formed by the needle and the porous body is maintained by a groove inside the walls of the cylinder, the groove accommodating the flange 541. The filter is fastened to the cylinder in an identical manner. Finally, the cylinder 510 is held between the upper piece 507b and lower piece 507a in line with the openings of these pieces 507b, 507a, the upper and lower pieces sandwiching the cylinder 510.

[0386] The solar panels are connected to a control board 530, which is housed in a housing between the walls of the casing 503, the hollow cylinder 510 and the upper and lower pieces. The board 530 is electrically connected, on the one hand, to the fans and, on the other hand, to the heating member, the electrical circuit 230 of which is shown.

[0387] With reference to FIG. 12, the storage container 300 has an opening 304 in its lower part 302. The opening is equipped with a stopper so as to prevent the active ingredient from flowing when the storage container is not in use. This stopper is made up of a ring 306 supporting an O-ring 308, and a membrane 310 bonded to the ring. The membrane comprises a sheet of aluminum that is leaktight and perforable or movable in the manner of a flap valve.

[0388] The storage container may be provided to be removable, in particular because this makes it easier to change the storage container at lower cost. According to an embodiment that is not shown, the stopper then also comprises a flap valve configured to close when the storage container is withdrawn from the unit. In this case, it is impossible to remove the storage container unless the entire porous body is soaked with the active ingredient contained in the porous body.

[0389] As an alternative to the use of a needle and a flap valve, the storage container may contain a sponge, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 15. The protuberance 208b of the porous body comes into contact with another porous body forming a retention member, in this case a sponge 408, that is contained in the storage container and forms one of the free ends thereof. The sponge 408 is then compressed by the porous body 208 to ensure good contact. The transfer from a porous body 208b to the retention member by contact and by capillary traction can take place.

[0390] The storage container is then removable and the liquid will not flow from the container when contact with the porous body 208b is broken, in the same way as liquid does not flow from the porous body 208 during operation in the cold state (ambient temperature). This sponge 408 is generally made of wool felt or melamine. In conclusion, the sponge is preferably flexible and slightly compressible by the porous body 208 to ensure contact.

[0391] Generally, the storage container is held on the unit by pressure, for example by virtue of clips, or by screwing the top of the storage container. In any case, contact between the storage container and the porous body is sealed on account of the presence of a seal.

[0392] In order for the adhesion of the active ingredient to the porous body 208 to be sufficient, one of the parameters to be controlled is the pressure inside the storage container. Specifically, if the storage container is open to the open air, the adhesion of the active ingredient will never be sufficient to compensate for the force of gravity acting on the liquid. It is therefore necessary to deal with this force of gravity. Two types of storage containers can be used. The first type of storage container is a reservoir that is completely closed apart from at one of its ends, which is in contact with the porous body. This type of storage container is illustrated in FIG. 14. The storage container 300 comprises a single reservoir 303 surmounted by a sealed closure 301. The lower part 302 of the storage container comprises a stopper as described in FIG. 12. Each time a drop flows toward the porous body, the negative pressure increases in the top part 305 of the storage container, that is to say the part in which there is no or no longer any liquid. In order for the flow to take place in full, it is necessary, right from the fitting of the storage container 300 in the unit, to leave a sufficiently large volume without liquid in the reservoir, i.e. approximately a volume of 40% compared with the total volume of the reservoir. Thus, the negative pressure will gradually increase and prevent free flow, but will never be enough to completely prevent flow toward the surface of the porous body.

[0393] With reference to FIG. 15, the storage container 400 comprises an outer reservoir 402 that is completely closed apart from at its end in contact with the inner reservoir 403. The inner reservoir 403 is surmounted by a vent 401 at its upper end, the vent allowing balancing of the pressures between the air outside and the inside of the inner reservoir. The inner reservoir 403 is in contact with the porous body at its lower end. Thus, each time a drop flows toward the porous body, the inner reservoir 403 is balanced by its vent 401, and brings about a drop in level. By way of a vessel communicating via the junction 404 between the two reservoirs, the outer reservoir 402 fills the inner reservoir 403, but then the negative pressure in the outer reservoir 402 increases in the part of the reservoir where there is no or no longer any liquid. In this way, the inner reservoir 403 is balanced with the negative pressure in the outer reservoir 402. The inner reservoir 403 can still depart from this equilibrium, however, by virtue of its vent 401 and the traction realized by the porous body of the distributor member. In order for the flow to be able to take place normally, during the fitting of the storage container 400 in the unit, the outer reservoir 402 is completely filled with the active ingredient.

[0394] The above-described retention member can also be employed in the storage container 400. In the storage container 400, the retention member, for example made of sponge or cellular foam, can take up all or part of the inner reservoir 403.

[0395] With reference to FIG. 16, the device for dispersing the active ingredient contained in the storage container 300 comprises the above-described porous body 208, the base of which cooperates with the heating member, the electrical circuit 230 of which is shown. The protuberance 208b of the porous body is surmounted by a hollow needle 220, the protuberance 208b interlocking with the base 222 of the needle. The base 222 extends radially until it covers the upper surface of the porous body. In order to ensure a sealed connection between the protuberance and the needle, an O-ring 214, completely surrounding the protuberance, is positioned between the protuberance and the needle. The upper part 216 of the needle takes the form of a bevel in order to more easily pierce the stopper of the storage container as described in FIG. 12 and FIG. 14. The storage container 300 is introduced into the device by way of its lower part 302. The storage container is held in the device by screwing. When the screwing of the lower part 302 of the container starts, the needle penetrates into the ring 306 and then comes into contact laterally with the O-ring 308 supported by the ring such that the connection between the needle and the stopper is sealed. Next, while the screwing continues, the needle moves toward the membrane 310 bonded to the ring.

[0396] At the end of the screwing, the bevel of the needle reversibly moves the membrane 310 in the manner of a flap valve, as illustrated in FIG. 17. The lower part 302 of the container comes into contact with a seal 224 positioned in the radial extension of the base 222 of the needle. The active ingredient can then flow through the interior of the needle. The needle guides the active ingredient as far as the protuberance. The active ingredient could also follow the micro-pipes in the porous body 208 in order to reach the evaporation surface.

[0397] If it is necessary to change the storage container, for example because it is empty or it is necessary to change the active ingredient, the container is unscrewed. When the needle no longer passes through the membrane, the latter closes again, thereby preventing the active ingredient from flowing.

[0398] In a variant of the storage container 300, the above-described cellular retention member is employed instead of the membrane 310. In this case, the distributor member does not have a needle but a porous body, which comes into direct contact with the cellular retention member to exert the capillary traction as described above.

[0399] Some of the elements described herein, in particular the control device, the control boards or the electronic controllers, can be realized in different forms, in a unitary or distributed manner, by means of hardware and/or software components. Hardware components that are usable are application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable logic arrays (FPGA) or microprocessors. A local clock and/or a network clock can be integrated into these elements in order to provide time references.

[0400] Although the invention has been described in connection with a number of particular embodiments, it is clear that it is in no way limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and the combinations thereof where these enter into the scope of the invention.

[0401] The use of the verb “have”, “comprise” or “include” and the conjugated forms thereof does not preclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

[0402] In the claims, any reference sign between parentheses should not be interpreted as limiting the claim.

[0403] The use and the methods of use according to the invention allow for the efficient use of active ingredients such as semiochemicals like pheromones in agricultural applications. They require the use of only a small number of devices D per area and do not require the application or installation before the season and removal after the season of high numbers of small containers containing active ingredient from the field. They allow for efficient use of active ingredients like pheromones. They are environmentally friendly. They can be adjusted to external parameters like daylight, season, weather, temperature, humidity, pest pressure, type of crop, type of pest et cetera. They dispense a vapor, as opposed to droplets, which is more easily dispersed and travels further to reach more insects.

They can be integrated with other devices and sensors.
They allow for a feedback loop to give a positive indication of dispensing, or a fault indication if the active is not being dispensed.

[0404] Examples

[0405] The mating disruption efficacy of different sexual pheromone blends dispersed by the device D according to claim 1 were tested against agricultural lepidopteran pests. Semi-field tests were carried out following the CIRCE methodology (Doye and Koch, 2005, described in: Doye, E. and Koch, U.T. (2005). A reliable field test for the efficiency of mating disruption techniques. IOBC-WPRS Bulletin 28(7): 325-328). In a cage, an unmated moth female attracts a defined number of male moths by emitting the attractant mating pheromone. The females are placed and kept above a sticky plate in a delta-trap so that the males who find the females are trapped. The lower the number of males caught in the female-baited trap, the greater the effectiveness in mating disruption. Results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 1 Total nr. of males captured in delta traps Pheromone Un- Treated Mating Devices release per treated area using disruption Crop Pest per ha dispenser area device D efficacy Grapes Lobesia botrana 10   6 mg/hour 184 10  95% Grapes Lobesia botrana 5  10 mg/hour 81 1  99% Grapes Lobesia botrana 3  10 mg/hour 135 2  99% Grapes Lobesia botrana 3 *14 mg/hour 69 1  99% Eupoecilia ambiguella 51 5  90% Grapes Lobesia botrana 4 *12 mg/hour 82 0 100% Eupoecilia ambiguella 52 4  92% Apples Cydia pomonella 3  10 mg/hour 67 2  95% Apples Cydia pomonella 4   6 mg/hour 21 2  90% Peaches Grapholita molesta 4  14 mg/hour 75 7  91% Peaches Grapholita molesta 4  14 mg/hour 61 3  95% *Release of a mixture of pheromones targeting 2 pests.