GB2213032A

GB2213032A - Injecting liquids into trees

Info

Publication number: GB2213032A
Application number: GB8827917A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Navero Diego Barranco; Escobar Ricardo Fernandez; Marin Manuel Benlloch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-04
Filing date: 1988-11-30
Publication date: 1989-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-30
Also published as: FR2623969A1; GB2213032B; IT1227652B; IT8822801A0; ES2005724A6; FR2623969B1; GB8827917D0

Abstract

According to the invention, the liquid is introduced into the transpiration current of the xylem, in order to provide a distribution of the product applied in a natural and uniform way. The method consists in making a blind hole in the trunk and next imbedding the apparatus in this hole so that the product contained in the apparatus is distributed through the trunk. The apparatus is made up of two basic elements, one formed by an injector 1 which is inserted into the hole made in the trunk and another formed by an elastic tube 2 which is coupled onto one of the ends of the injector and in which the liquid is placed, this tube providing for injection of the liquid at a pressure less than 2 kg/cm<2>. <IMAGE>

Description

- METHOD AND RESPECTIVE APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL PRODUCTS TO TREES BY MEANS OF INJECTING LIQUIDS INTO THE TRUNK AT LOW PRESSURE The invention refers to a method and the respective apparatus for the application of chemical products to trees by means of injecting liquids into the trunk at low pressure, in such a way that with this method and apparatus the application of solutions in the trunks of trees at physiological pressures is achieved, providing a distribution of the product applied in a natural and uniform way, eliminating the problems shown by other methods.

The maintenance of high rates of productivity in modern agriculture, requires the use of chemical products of very varied nature and for different purposes, such as fertilizers with trophic aims; the pesticides or chemical compounds to cure diseases or plagues; or non-trophic organic products, such as growth regulators, which act in the control of some aspects of the physiology of the plant. - Traditionally, such products have been applied directly into the soil, or dissolved in the water used for watering in order to be absorbed through the roots and more recently by means of pulverization of leaves.

The main advantage of these types of application is their easy application, although they have inconveniences which must be taken into account and justify the development of new techniques. Among the main inconveniences we can mention the fact that high doses are necessary which increase the costs of some products and the production of severe ecological disturbances derived from the contamination of the flora and fauna of the ecosystem itself. With some types of substance, these treatments show low efficacy, due to the low capacity of absorption of the aerial part, aggravated when the environmental conditions are adverse.In the case of applications in the soil, the low efficacy of some treatments is due to the nature of the soil itself, which can have structural, chemical composition or pH conditions etc.,which are difficult to modify and which can have a negative influence on the absorption of the product applied by the plant. In some cases, the chemical components of the soil must be partially metabolized in order that they can be transported through the vascular systems of the plant. This process occurs in the root and is affected by the soil factors mentioned previously.

However, in recent years new techniques have been conceived which aim at introducing the chemical product directly into the transpiration current of the xylem vessels.

In this sense, basically two procedures have been used: lust.) The use of solid substances placed in wounds made in the trunk and which are gradually dissolved and transported in the xylem.

This procedure or treatment has two fundamental types of problem: on the one side, it produces an unsatisfactory distribution of the product in the plant, and, on the other, it is difficult to determine the dose to be applied. 2nd.) Applications in injections at high pressure, higher than 7 Kg/cm This second procedure or form of treatment usually produces irreparable lesions in the tree, and also requires nonautonomous equipment which is usually expensive, and so it has not been developed commercially.

The object of the invention, has as its aim the avoidance of all the inconveniences mentioned, being based, because of this, on a method and the respective apparatus through which the application of the product into the tree trunk is achieved in a simple and efficacious-way with hardly any economic cost.

To be more exact, the invention apparatus is made up basically of two elements, one made up by an injector of synthetic material, for the purpose of being inserted into the tree trunk, after mechanical drilling; and the other consisting in an extensible, elastic, tube, in which the product or solution to be applied is placed at pressure, so that the expansion which can occur in the tube permits it to be filled and provides an application pressure of 2 the product of less than two Kg/cm . The shape and sizes of the two elements referred to will be variable, depending on the volume to be injected and on the characteristics of the injector itself and of the tube.

On the basis of said apparatus, the procedure or method for the application of the product, is made up of the following operational phases: a.- Drilling of the tree trunk to a depth of between 2 and 3'cms. This hole will be made by means of a drill with a drill bit size in accordance with the measurements of the injector b.- Insertion of the injector in this hole, until it adjusts perfectly.

c.- Connection of the tube to the injector, after removing one of the ties which closes this tube The fact must be emphasized that this tube is closed at both ends by means of respective ties or adequate means of closure in order to stop the 'product contained from escaping.

By means of this method and apparatus, it is possible to apply solutions in the trunk at physiological pressures, being able to connect the solution applied to the transpiration current of the xylem vessels, achieving a distribution of the product applied in a natural and uniform way, and eliminating the problems shown by other methods.

On the other hand, and in accordance with what has been described, it can be clearly deduced that we are faced with a procedure which is easy to carry out, and before an extremely simple and efficacious apparatus, which results in very reduced economic costs and, as a result, in easy application and marketing.

In order to make it easier to understand the characteristics of the invention, a detailed description will be made of a set of plans which are attached to the present descriptive memorandum, forming an integral part of this, and where with merely orientative and not imitative character the following has been shown: Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section view of the injector in a preferential way of making it.

Figure 2 shows a genes view of the elastic tube containing the product and closed at both ends.

In the 3rd Figure there is a sectional view of the tube shown in the previous figure, a section which corresponds to the plane which passes through the line III-III of said Figure 2.

Figure 4 finally shows the joint apparatus applied to the trunk of a tree and in which it is easy to deduce the way it is used.

According to the Figures referred to, the apparatus which forms part of the invention objective, is made up basically of an injector (1) and an elastic and extensible tube (2).

This injector (1) is tubular and rigid, and has a jutting out section at one end (3) with increased diametre, from which and until the end itself there is a short stretch (4) in decreasing external diametre in order to make the coupling of the tube (2) easier and the consequent retention of this.

The elastic tube (2), as can be seen in Figure 2, is extensible and the solution or product to be applied is placed in it, so that the expansion which can occur in this tube(2), makes it possible for it to be filled and provides 2 a pressure lower than two Kg/cm on being emptied, pressure which is sufficient for the product. to be injected by itself on the tree trunk (5) shown in Figure 4.

The elastic tube (5) referred to has means of closure (6) at both ends which are applied once it is full of the product and one of them is removed at the time of coupling this tube(2) to the injector(1).

Before performing the coupling mentioned of these two elements (1) and (2), the injector (1) must be inserted into the hole previously made in the tree trunk (5).

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Method and respective apparatus for the application of chemical products to trees by means of the injection into the trunk of liquids at low pressure, characterised essentially because the method strictly speaking comprises the operational phases of: a) making a mechanical drill hole in the tree trunk, by means of a suitable tool; b) the inserting in this hole of an element belonging to the apparatus; c) the coupling to this element inserted in the hole of a second element of the apparatus, container of the product to be applied; all of this in order that such a product may be injected at low pressure into the inside of the trunk, making it possible to connect this product to the transpiration current of the xylem vessels and providing a distribution of the product applied in a natural and uniform way.

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2. Method and respective apparatus for the application of chemical products to the trees by means of the injection into the trunk of liquids at low pressure, in accordance with claim 1, characterised because the apparatus comprises two basic elements, one constituted by a tubular injector of synthetic material, which is to be inserted into the hole made on the trunk, and another constituted by an extensible and elastic tube in which the product to be applied is placed at pressure, whose tube, after it has been filled, is closed at both ends and at the moment of its use coupled to the injector, after the closure of one of the ends of that tube has been removed.

3. A method for application of chemical products to trees substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. Apparatus for application of chemical products to trees substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.