MICROLAYERING PEST CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract

A method of, and apparatus for, controlling pests on an animal, comprising combining generally immiscible ingredients, maintaining the ingredients in a combined state by controlling the fluids pathway so that the immiscible ingredients are contained together in correct proportions under pressure, and discharging selected desired quantities of the combined ingredients through a nozzle that imparts turbulence in one or more applications on the animal.

Claims

1. A method of controlling pests on an animal, the method comprising the steps of: combining generally immiscible ingredients; maintaining the ingredients in a combined state by controlling the fluids pathway so that the immiscible ingredients are contained together in correct proportions under pressure; and discharging selected desired quantities of the combined ingredients through one or more nozzles that impart turbulence in one or more applications on the animal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the immiscible ingredients comprise water and oil.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the maintaining step comprises maintaining the water and oil in a combined state by controlling the fluids pathway so that the immiscible ingredients are contained together in a proportion under pressure of at least two to one by volume.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the maintaining step comprises maintaining the water and oil in a combined state by controlling the fluids pathway so that the immiscible ingredients are contained together in a proportion under pressure of about twenty-five to one by volume.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the maintaining step comprises employing one or more gravity traps in the fluids pathway in conjunction with all but a last nozzle.

6. An apparatus for controlling pests on an animal, comprising means for combining generally immiscible ingredients, means for maintaining the ingredients in a combined state by controlling the fluids pathway so that the immiscible ingredients are contained together in correct proportions under pressure, and means for discharging selected desired quantities of the combined ingredients through one or more nozzles that impart turbulence in one or more applications on the animal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the immiscible ingredients comprise water and oil.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the maintaining means maintains the water and oil in a combined state by controlling the fluids pathway so that the immiscible ingredients are contained together in a proportion under pressure of at least two to one by volume.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the maintaining means maintains the water and oil in a combined state by controlling the fluids pathway so that the immiscible ingredients are contained together in a proportion under pressure of about twenty-five to one by volume.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the maintaining means comprises one or more gravity traps in the fluids pathway in conjunction with all but a last nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates the initial mixing components of a microlayering pest control system;

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the distribution line for a two-nozzle distribution line employing a gravity trap at the first nozzle; and

[0014] FIG. 3 further illustrates the apparatus of the invention, which can have multiple nozzles with gravity traps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention provides the advantages of the microlayering pest control system that avoids the wax fallout and so greatly enhances reliability of the system. The present invention is illustrated and more fully elucidated in drawings.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates the initial mixing components of a microlayering pest control system, comprising water suction 12 to a pump, discharge 14 from the pump, oil/chemical suction 19 to a second pump, oil/chemical discharge 17 from the second pump, check valve 18, and a junction 16 at which the discharged fluids are combined under pressure.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an inventive modification 20 of the distribution line 24 for a two-nozzle distribution line employing a gravity trap 25 at the first nozzle 22′, while the second nozzle 22″ does not have such a gravity trap.

[0018] FIG. 3 further illustrates the apparatus of the invention, which can have multiple lanes 26′ with corresponding nozzles 22′ with gravity traps 25. The final lane 26″ and final nozzle 22″ preferably do not employ a gravity trap. Note that the oil (and entrapped chemical) tend to float to the highest points 28 of the distribution line.

[0019] Maintaining the flow of water at about a volume ratio of about two to one or greater (most preferably about twenty-five to one) compared to oil flow allows boundary layer attraction between particles to carry everything along with turbulence and velocity thereby created. A gravity trap further worked to keep the correct percentage of oil/insecticide in the flow to the additional lanes of the system.

[0020] Note that in the specification and claims, “about” or “approximately” means within ten percent (10%) of the numerical amount cited.

[0021] Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above and/or in the attachments, and of the corresponding application(s), are hereby incorporated by reference.