AU2016101739A4 - Steam weed control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a means for producing saturated steam in a mobile steam weeder chamber wherein untreated air enters the chamber and is passed through a channel to a combustion chamber provided with a flame source and a water supply to produce steam which then passes to a homogenizing chamber and thence to a distribution chamber, which steam exits that chamber through outlets in a bottom panel therof. Dated: 30 September 2016 Anton Zajc By his Patent Attorney Barbara Van Meurs o K r------ Figure 1- Lateral Cross-sectional View

Description

2016101739 30 Sep 2016 1

Australia Patents Act 1990

Complete Specification Innovation Patent STEAM WEED CONTROL SYSTEM Applicant: Anton Zajc

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me. 2016101739 30 Sep 2016

STEAM WEED CONTROL SYSTEM

Technical Area

The technical field of this invention lies within the area of agricultural equipment and in particular the area of equipment for eradicating weeds by non-chemical means.

Background to the Invention

In most areas of agriculture weed suppression is essential for preventing competition between weeds and the crop being grown.

In addition some tree grown nuts and fruits are harvested after falling to the ground where the presence of a weed ground cover acts as an impediment to efficient harvesting, hence there is a need for large scale weed eradication prior to harvesting.

In order to minimise these problems it has been common to suppress weed growth using chemical means such as herbicides spread on the soil. Such herbicides can be detrimental to the crop being grown but are also relatively slow to take effect.

In recent times the cultivation of organic products has become common and requires a non herbicidal means of weed suppression. Similarly growers of crops and orchards which are not necessarily organic need to ensure that chemicals are not airborne to adjacent organic growth.

On a small scale weeds can be removed by hand. Although this is effective if all roots are completely removed this method is impractical on the larger scale of agricultural applications. 2

It has been known for many years that steam can be used to kill the roots of weeds. There has however not been any process produced to date which can provide steam of a sufficiently high temperature to guarantee root destruction at a speed which is practicable for agricultural applications. 2016101739 30 Sep 2016

One of the main problems is one of delivering steam to roots at a sufficiently high temperature to kill the weed roots while not causing an overheating hazard at the ground surface.

Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a means of supplying steam to the roots of plants at a sufficiently high temperature to kill the roots while avoiding creating any fire hazard at a ground surface.

It is a further object of the invention to provide equipment to deliver this steam at a ground speed of up to 3 km/hr or above.

Outline of the Invention

The invention provides a means for producing saturated steam in a mobile steam weeder chamber wherein untreated air enters the chamber and is passed through a channel to a combustion chamber provided with a flame source and a water supply to produce steam which then passes to a homogenizing chamber and thence to a distribution chamber, which steam exits that chamber through outlets in a bottom panel therof.

It is preferred that said outlets take the form of elongate slots.

It is further preferred that the bottom panel be provided with a plurality of spaced slots extending generally across the width thereof. 3

It is also preferred that untreated air enters the chamber by means of a fan. It is further preferred that this air is directed through an air channel to mix in the combustion chamber with a hot flame and a water source. 2016101739 30 Sep 2016

It is preferred that the flame be provided by a light oil burner ejecting oil through a nozzle.

It is further preferred that the oil be delivered through the nozzle at a controlled rate.

It is preferred that water be delivered to the combustion chamber through a water spray nozzle. It is further preferred that the water be delivered at a controlled rate, sufficient to produce a fine mist from that nozzle to interact with the hot flame thereby producing saturated steam. This steam has a preferred upper temperature of the order of, but not exceeding, 400 degrees C.

It is preferred that the saturated steam passes through an outlet into the homogenising chamber and thence through an output gate into the distribution chamber. It is preferred that the steam then ejects from the distribution chamber through apertures in the bottom thereof. It is further preferred that these apertures be slots.

The invention further provides a mobile steam weeder utilising the steam weeder chamber. While the precise means whereby the mobilisation occurs is not germane to the invention it is envisaged that a tractor or the like could be utilised.

It is preferred that the mobile steam weeder have an operational maximum speed of up to or above 3 Km/Hr 4

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we will describe, by way of non-limiting example, a particular embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. 2016101739 30 Sep 2016

Embodiment of the invention

As shown in Figures 1 to 3:

The invention is a mobile steam weeder chamber 1 wherein untreated air enters the chamber and is passed through a channel 7 to a combustion chamber 3 provided with a flame source being a light oil burner 4 providing flame 8 from nozzle 11 and a water supply in the form of a mist 9 from a spray nozzle 6 to produce steam in chamber area 2.

This steam has a temperature which is higher than is customary for previous steam weeders but is of the order of, but less than, 400 degrees C.

The steam then passes to a homogenizing chamber 12 and thence to a distribution chamber 14 from which steam exits through outlets 16 in a bottom panel 15 therof.

The process involves water being pumped at a controlled pressure through a water spray nozzle 6 and being ejected as a fine mist 9 from the nozzle to interact with the hot flame thereby producing saturated steam at up to 400 degrees C.

The turbulent steam passes through an outlet 10 into the homogenising chamber 12 and through an output gate 13 and into the distribution chamber 14.

The steam then ejects from the bottom of the steam weeder machine 1 by passing through a slotted bottom panel 15 through outlets 16. 5

The arrangement of the output slots 16 in bottom panel 15 permits steam to be continuously distributed to the ground surface below the weeder 1 such that the steam weeder 1 can be operated at speeds preferably between one and three kilometres per hour over the ground. This allows between 1 to 3 seconds of steam application to the vegetation. The maximum temperature of the steam is limited to prevent combustion of the vegetation. 2016101739 30 Sep 2016

For larger scale weeding operations it is envisaged that the steam weeder 1 could be operated at higher speeds and still be effective.

While we have described herein one specific embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that variations and modifications of the embodiment described may still lie within the scope of the invention. 6

Claims (5)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A mobile steam weeder chamber wherein saturated steam is produced by means of untreated air entering the chamber and being passed through a channel to a combustion chamber which is provided with a flame source and a water supply to produce steam which then passes to a homogenizing chamber and thence to a distribution chamber, which steam exits that chamber through outlets in a bottom panel therof.
2. 2. A mobile steam weeder chamber as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom panel is provided with a plurality of spaced elongate slots extending generally across the width thereof.
3. 3. A mobile steam weeder chamber as claimed in claim 2 wherein untreated air enters the chamber by means of a fan and is directed through an air channel to mix in the combustion chamber with a water source and a hot flame provided by a light oil burner ejecting oil through a nozzle, said water being delivered to the combustion chamber through a water spray nozzle at a controlled rate, sufficient to produce a fine mist from that nozzle to interact with the hot flame thereby producing saturated steam.
4. 4. A mobile steam weeder chamber as claimed in claim 3 in which the saturated steam has an upper temperature of the order of, but not exceeding, 400 degrees C and passes through an outlet into the homogenising chamber and thence through an output gate into the distribution chamber to eject through apertures in the bottom thereof.
5. 5. A mobile steam weeder device utilising the steam weeder chamber as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 having an operational maximum speed