AU2018200661A1 - A device and method for administering herbicides, horticultural chemicals, nutrients and similar materials to trees and similar flora. - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and method for administering herbicides, horticultural chemicals, nutrients and similar materials to trees and similar flora, comprises a hollow cylindrical barrel (1) with an ergonomic handle (2) on the upper end and provision for mounting a bark penetration tool on the opposite (lower) end (3), incorporating an electric switch (4) that operates an electric pump (5) mounted within the central body of the device. Immediately below the handle in the upper body of the device is a sealed reservoir (6) designed to hold a quantity of horticultural chemical. Access to the reservoir is via a sealing cap (7) immediately below the handle, connected to a metering pump mounted in the central body of the device. A rechargeable battery (8) is mounted within the central body of the device below the pump and provides power for the operation of the pump via the operator controls (4). Access to the pump and battery is via a lockable hinged panel (9) in the central body of the device. An inoculation nozzle (10) is mounted in close proximity to the cutting edge of the penetration tool on the lower end of the device. The nozzle is connected through the lower body of the device to the output of the metering pump. The type and form of the nozzle as well as the method of attachment to the device can be varied to meet the particular needs of the application. An adjustable, ambidextrous foot stirrup (11) is mounted on the lower portion of the device to aid the operator in driving the penetration tool into the bark, should that be required. The penetration tool, inoculation nozzle type and shape, pump output metering controls and reservoir capacity can all be readily and easily modified to suit specific applications. X m 0 :3 0 2)CD a) ;0 CD = CD 2) Appicnt DrawingI)oft Ltd1 - 0

Description

Standard Application for a Patent

Title:

A device and method for administering herbicides, horticultural chemicals, nutrients and similar materials to trees and similar flora.

Brief description of the invention

The invention comprises a lightweight, portable, integrated system for administering herbicides, horticultural and similar chemicals, nutrients and like materials to trees and similar flora (the invention).

The cultivation and control of trees and simular flora (trees) frequently requires the administration of horticultural, herbicidal and similar chemicals, nutrients and like materials (horticultural chemicals) to individual trees for a variety of purposes, including disease control, growth stimulation, thinning and eradication of surplus and unwanted trees, etc. These activities are common in horticultural establishments, field nurseries, forestry operations, farming activities, home gardens and many other related areas.

Horticultural chemicals can be delivered by a variety of means such as sprays, broadcasting of solids, wiping contact with delivery devices, etc. However, there are many situations where none of the above delivery systems can be used for reasons including the availability and/or toxicity of the chemicals, limits imposed by Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) considerations, the dosage and type of chemicals being used, proximity to other sensitive flora, etc. In such cases the horticultural chemicals must be delivered manually to individual trees, which with the current technology is a dangerous, time-consuming and expensive process.

One such example is the control of woody regrowth on cleared land. This is a major component of much of the primary production and forestry activity within and throughout Australia and in many other parts of the world and the following explanation will use this activity as a context to describe and illustrate the invention and its application. However, the invention is not limited to this activity and finds many other applications in other fields, including those described above.

The State of the Art.

Horticultural chemicals are frequently used to control forestry regrowth and pest species such as woody weeds. In most cases these chemicals must be delivered manually to each tree beneath the bark and into the alburnum or sapwood, which lies between the outer bark and the inner heartwood of the tree. This requires that the tough outer bark be pierced and the selected chemical, which is almost invariably in a liquid form, be delivered into the sapwood in the required dosage for the species and size of tree being treated.

Applicant: Adrian Lewis

Page:

2018200661 29 Jan 2018

Depending on the horticultural chemical being used it may be possible to satisfactorily treat smaller trees with a single penetration site but larger trees frequently require multiple treatment sites.

Clearly, where there is a wide range of tree sizes to be treated, a skilled operator is required to ensure that the horticultural chemicals are delivered accurately, efficiently and economically. This is especially the case where the horticultural chemical is costly or subject to stringent OH&S application conditions and/or environmental controls.

Currently, the available technology for manual delivery of horticultural chemicals to individual trees suffers from numerous serious operational, OH&S and environmental protection deficiencies.

In most cases the operator first uses a tool to penetrate the tree bark and then applies the required chemical from a separate container with its own delivery system. The bark is first penetrated by a suitable tool such as a portable electric drill or a sharp edge such as an axe or hatchet and the chemical is then applied to the sapwood with a dosage gun supplied from a backpack or similar container carried separately by the operator. In some circumstances the bark penetration must then be sealed.

One device currently used by some operators is called a “Wet Axe”, which comprises an axe modified to deliver the horticultural chemical direct to the cutting edge of the axe, which is then used to cut through the bark into the sapwood, smearing the horticultural chemical on the cut surfaces of the tree. This tool suffers from several obvious disadvantages, including environmental contamination and poor dosage control.

Whilst all the currently available technology and techniques will deliver the horticultural chemical to the tree with varying degrees of success, there are significant practical issues that further limit their acceptability and efficient operation, these include:

• the operator must carry multiple tools and applicators and carry out at leat two separate actions for each bark penetration;

• the operator is intimately exposed to the horticultural chemical;

• accurate metering of the horticultural chemical delivered to the tree is difficult in most cases and impossible in others;

• it is necessary for the operator to make cuts through the bark as close to the ground as possible on each tree. This requires the operator to bend for each cut and delivery action which greatly increases the probability of facial, back and upper limb injury;

• where a sharp edge is used to penetrate the bark (such as an axe or hatchet) personal injury is almost inevitable;

• most tree treatment in the field is in areas of dense regrowth and involves a wide range of tree sizes. This has a number of undesirable impacts on the operator:

1. it forces the operator to fight through the regrowth to gain access to the base area of each tree, which is fatiguing and dangerous;

Applicant: Adrian Lewis

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2018200661 29 Jan 2018

2. there is a limited area around each tree base where sharp tools can be used safely;

3. secondary items such as backpacks of horticultural chemicals, delivery lines, tool belts, etc further hinder access, increase the risk of chemical contamination and add to fatigue;

4. if the horticultural chemical is being carried in a backpack there will often be a flexible tube between the backpack and the dosage gun. This easily and frequently becomes entangled with undergrowth and often disengages from the backpack, spilling chemicals and contaminating both the operator and the environment;

5. it is difficult to correctly meter the chemical to different tree sizes, and

6. the operator is forced to work very close to the application site of the horticultural chemicals and therefore the frequency and level of contamination both increase;

Detailed Description of the Invention.

The invention comprises a device and method which integrates the manual delivery of horticultural chemicals to individual trees in a single compact, lightweight, ergonomic manner that is efficient, safe, flexible, portable and easily manipulable.

The device integrates all of the currently separate tools and horticultural chemical delivery systems into a single, lightweight tool which can be operated without the need to bend or come into close proximity with the base of the tree, sharp cutting edges of the penetration tool or the horticultural chemicals being administered.

Accurate metering of the horticultural chemical can be readily achieved either by manual manipulation or by automated controls.

The device is lightweight and designed and shaped to be easily manipulable and to facilitate quick, easy operation. It provides ready access to the base of trees by the operator without the need for the operator to bend or bring the operator’s face and upper torso into close proximity to the lower portion of the tree.

The horticultural chemicals are carried within the device in a sealed container and dispensed at the opposite end of the device from the operators handle. The operator is therefore as removed from the horticultural chemicals as is possible and the likelihood of contamination by the chemicals is substantially reduced.

The device in its current prototype stage of development is illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

The body of the device comprises a hollow cylindrical barrel ( 1 ) with an ergonomic handle ( 2 ) on the upper end and provision for mounting a bark penetration tool on the opposite (lower) end ( 3 ). The penetration tool and its mounting system can be any one

Applicant: Adrian Lewis

Page:

2018200661 29 Jan 2018 of a wide variety of shapes and types, depending on the type and size of tree or weed to be treated.

The handle incorporates an electric switch ( 4 ) that operates an electric pump ( 5 ) mounted within the central body of the device. Immediately below the handle in the upper body of the device is a sealed reservoir ( 6 ) designed to hold a quantity of horticultural chemical. The capacity of this reservoir can be varied to meet the specific demands of the tool configuration and application.

Access to the reservoir is via a sealing cap ( 7 ) immediately below the handle. This cap can be removed by the operator when refilling the reservoir and then resealed.

The current prototype has a reservoir capacity of 500mls. Research has shown that this capacity represents between one and two hours field operation, which is regarded as the optimum time between reservoir refills.

The reservoir is connected to a metering pump mounted in the central body of the device. An adjustable metering control system for the pump is contemplated in future prototypes.

A rechargeable battery ( 8 ) is mounted within the central body of the device below the pump and provides power for the operation of the pump via the operator controls ( 4 ). Access to the pump and battery is via a lockable hinged panel ( 9 ) in the central body of the device.

An inoculation nozzle ( 10 ) is mounted in close proximity to the cutting edge of the penetration tool on the lower end of the device. The nozzle is connected through the lower body of the device to the output of the metering pump. The type and form of the nozzle as well as the method of attachment to the device can be varied to meet the particular needs of the application.

An adjustable, ambidextrous foot stirrup ( 11 ) is mounted on the lower portion of the device to aid the operator in driving the penetration tool into the bark, should that be required.

The penetration tool, inoculation nozzle type and shape, pump output metering controls and reservoir capacity can all be readily and easily modified to suit specific applications.

Access to all components is straightforward and field repair, maintenance and cleanup is quick and simple.

Operation of the Device

The device is lightweight and readily portable. The current development and prototypes suggest that the retail device will weigh in the vicinity of 4 kilograms with a full (500ml) reservoir of horticultural chemicals.

Applicant: Adrian Lewis

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2018200661 29 Jan 2018

The body has been designed to allow the operator to stand upright whilst using the device. Later prototypes will investigate the possibility of length adjustment of the body of the device to cater for a range of operator heights.

After filling the reservoir, resealing the reservoir cap and ensuring a charged battery is in place the operator places the edge of the penetrating tool on the bark at the base of the selected tree and forces the cutting edge through the bark and into the sapwood. This force can be augmented by the foot stirrup as required. The stirrup can be quickly adjusted to either side of the body to cater for different operators or difficult access conditions.

The slim shape of the device facilitates access to the base of the tree even in dense regrowth and avoids the need for the operator to bend or struggle through foliage to gain access to the base of the tree.

Once the penetrating tool is in position, the operator activates the pump which delivers a quantity of horticultural chemical to the inoculating nozzle and thence to the sapwood. Research has shown that most operators can readily and accurately measure the quantity of chemical delivered by varying the duration of pump operation but future development will include automated metering systems to assist untrained or inexpert operators.

Pump priming is facilitated by the relative locations of the pump and reservoir and the operator can readily determine if the pump is operating correctly by pump speed and noise. It is readily apparent when the reservoir is exhausted.

Once the chemical has been delivered the device is withdrawn from the tree and either reapplied (in the case of large trees requiring multiple treatments) or applied to the next tree.

This completes a single cycle of operation of the device.

Advantages of the Invention

As can be seen from the above description, the operator has a single tool which is lightweight and which can be used without the need for the operator to bend at the waist.

The device is slim in shape and easily penetrates foliage around the base of trees, even when that area is densely overgrown.

The operator is removed from the immediate area of application of the chemical and the chemical reservoir and is therefore unlikely to become contaminated. The chemical delivery system is entirely within the body of the device and likelihood of environmental contamination is therefore also substantially reduced.

All sharp edges are as removed from the operator as possible, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury.

Applicant: Adrian Lewis

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2018200661 29 Jan 2018

The operator can easily and accurately meter the delivery of the chemical, either manually or with the aid of common metering components, thereby improving both the economics and the efficiency of the operation.

As operator fatigue is reduced by avoiding the need for continual bending and most of the personal injury and contamination dangers are either removed or substantially reduced, we expect that adoption of the device will result in substantial improvements in both efficacy and productivity compared with the best of the current technology.

The Method

The invention has been described above in the context of a particular application, based on research and trials conducted to date and prototype development.

However, the above description and illustrations do not represent the full range of applications of the invention nor is the invention limited to the particular embodiment of the current prototype.

We regard the invention as being a method which brings together and integrates the several different tools and actions needed to efficiently, economically and safely deliver horticultural chemicals to sapwood in one lightweight, portable and easily manipulated manner.

We confidently expect that further development will result in many additional applications and different devices embodying the current invention.

Applicant: Adrian Lewis

Claims (10)

1. Claims

   1. The tool will provide an efficient delivery system of liquid chemicals to a target area of vegetation such as young saplings or bushes.
2. 2. The tool is ergonomic and allows the operator to approach a target and operate the tool in an upright manner.
3. 3. The tool is lightweight.
4. 4. The tool is self contained with battery pump, and liquid storage contained within the tool.
5. 5. The operator does not carry chemicals in a knapsack or on a belt and provides a better safety method of delivery of chemicals.
6. 6. The tool reduces the quantity of chemical used compared to traditional delivery methods.
7. 7. The tool removes the problem of chemical spray drift and allows the chemical to be delivered direct into the target area.
8. 8. The tool is suitable to be used in established and sensitive growth areas where direct delivery of chemical and reduced volumes are required.
9. 9. The methodology of the operation of the tool does not limit it to a single application and can be expanded to other uses.
10. 10. The tool is safer than the current method of using a pressure spray, poison axe, or scarfing with an axe and applying chemical from a backpack.

    Applicant: DriPro(IP) Pty Ltd