WO1999020103A1

WO1999020103A1 - Fungi, pest and weed controller

Info

Publication number: WO1999020103A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1998/000149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney Mitchell Innes
Original assignee: Energy Savings Concepts Limited
Priority date: 1997-10-16
Filing date: 1998-10-09
Publication date: 1999-04-29
Also published as: AU9369498A

Abstract

A fungi, pest and weed controller (1) has a base (12) which is heated such as by a direct flame (D) and/or a heat exchanger (14) so that the pressure and heat of the bottom (13) of the base (12) can kill weeds (C) or pests or fungi in the ground as the base (12) travels over the ground. The hearing arrangement for the base (12) may be provided for individual sections of the base (12) or by means of a plurality of discrete hot fluid outlets. Heated rollers for use on uneven ground are also described.

Description

FUNGI, PEST AND WEED CONTROLLER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to weeds, fungi and pest controllers, which controllers may, however, have other applications such as melting ice or snow or possibly sterilizing top soil or drying sports fields for example or industrial applications such as seed drying, vacuum packing or cooking or baking.

To the present time, various proposals have been put forward for the control of weeds, fungi and pests. Apart from the typical control using herbicides, fungicides and pesticides, these have included various proposals for more environmentally friendly control procedures such as those using steam.

In the case of fungi and pests, spores and larvae can be present in or on the soil so that the controller of the present invention is intended to control them at that stage.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in order to overcome or at least obviate problems with previous control systems available to the present time or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

It is, therefore, an object of one embodiment of the present invention to provide a weed, fungi and/or pest control apparatus and/or method which will provide in one use for an effective control of weeds.

Further objects to this invention will become apparent from the following description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, fungi and/or pests including providing a control body heated to, or providing heat at, a required temperature and moving the body so as to contact the weeds or the ground.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method as 5 defined immediately above, further includes providing a flame source directed into the body so as to provide a heat source to raise the temperature at least of a base portion of the body.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a method , n of controlling weeds, fungi and/or pests is substantially as herein described and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controller for weeds, fungi and/or pests including a control •i c means adapted to move over and contact weeds or the ground requiring control, said control means being further adapted to be heated to, or provide heat at, a temperature at which the contact of the control means with the weeds or the ground will provide the required control.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a controller

20 for weeds, fungi and/or pests as defined in the paragraph immediately above includes a heating means adapted to raise the control means to said temperature.

„ ₍. According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a controller for weeds, fungi and/or pests as defined in the paragraph immediately above has said heating means including a flame source.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a controller for weeds, fungi and/or pests as defined in either of the two

30 paragraphs immediately above has said heating means including at least a helically formed baffle providing a heat exchanging means.

Preferably, a controller for weeds, fungi and/or pests according to an embodiment of the present invention may utilise heated gas for

35 supplementing the heating of the control means. Alternatively, or additionally, in one embodiment of the present invention, an electric heating means may be provided.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a controller for weeds, fungi and/or pests is substantially as herein described and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a heat producing apparatus having one or more heatable surfaces adjacent to which are one or more conduits with helical baffles, said conduits being adapted in use to be heated up by a heat source and to thereby radiate heat to the heatable surfaces.

Further aspects of this invention should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments thereof and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 : shows very diagrammatically a side part cross sectional view of a controller according to one possible embodiment of the invention;

FIGURES 2a, show very diagrammatically alternative

2b, 2c & 2d: embodiments of a heating system for use with a controller according to possible embodiments of the invention;

FIGURE 3: shows very diagrammatically a side elevational view of a controller according to one possible embodiment of the invention connected with a tractor;

FIGURE 4: shows very diagrammatically a rear perspective view of the base of the controller of Figure 1 ; and FIGURE 5: shows very diagrammatically a side view of a base of a controller according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 4, one possible embodiment of the invention is referenced generally by arrow 1 . The controller 1 is shown being moved in a direction indicated by arrow A so as to pass over and contact the weeds indicated generally by arrows C in its use as a weed controller. In its other uses, the controller 1 may, of course, merely be contacting the ground. The movement of the weed controller 1 can be achieved in any suitable manner such as being dragged or pushed or may be provided with its own motive power and may, therefore, be provided with its own wheels, tracks, rollers or the like for that purpose (not shown). The motive power, such as rollers, may itself be heated and provided in the main part of the controller 1 and/or front and/or rear. At the front and/or rear, the controller 1 is shown with an exhaust vent 2 so that hot gas or air indicated generally by arrow B can be directed onto the weeds C or the pests or fungi so as to kill them. The temperature of the gas or air B will of course be such that an effective control can be achieved. The exhaust vent 2 is shown connected with a fan 3 being driven by a motor 4 which is extracting exhaust gas or air through an intake 5.

Appropriate thermal insulation or the like 6 may be provided as shown about an air intake 7 to obviate against unnecessary thermal losses. The air is shown in this embodiment being heated by a flame D provided by a burner 17. In this embodiment, the burner 7 is supplied through a gas header 8 and gas regulator 9 from a fuel source 10 which may, in this embodiment, suitably be one or more L.P.G. cylinders shown mounted on a frame 1 1 . Instead of L.P.G. , the fuel could of course be any other suitable fuel such as natural gas, diesel or the like, and in alternative embodiments of course, any suitable hot air or gas supply could be utilised rather than, or in combination with, a direct flame/air heating arrangement such as shown in Figure 1 . The base 1 2 of the controller 1 may suitably be an appropriately heavy cast or fabricated construction, suitably of metal, the bottom of which 13, is adapted to apply pressure and heat to the weeds C and/or the ground as it passes over, much in the manner of a domestic iron.

It is envisaged that the bottom surface 13 may be either substantially flat or in some embodiments, it may be patterned, roughened, knurled or the like, in order to enhance the destructive effect of the bottom surface 13 as it passes over the weeds C or the ground. Within the base section 12 is shown a heat exchanger 14 which may suitably include one or more tubes each with appropriate baffle means, such as a plurality of helically formed baffles. In Figure 4, three heat exchanger conduits 14 are shown. The heat exchanger conduits 14 may in one particular embodiment incorporate the technology of New Zealand Patent 255609 for example.

The conduits 14 extract some of the heat energy from the hot air as it passes through them to then be available to heat the bottom surface 13. Suitable thermal transfer means may be provided to transfer the heat energy from the conduits 14 to the bottom surface 13 or radiation may be relied on. The bottom surface 13 will also be receiving some heat directly from the flame D. The conduits 14 heat up as the hot gas passes through and around them suitably to a temperature at which they will be glowing and radiating heat to the bottom surface 13. Preferably, as shown in Figure 4, the conduits 14 are perforated with a multiplicity of perforations 14a at least along the line of the helical coils forming baffles controlling the flow of at least part of the hot gas as it moves along the conduits 14. The conduits 14, acting as heat exchangers (collectors) will create an amount of back pressure resisting the flow of hot gas, but will still allow sufficient hot gas to pass through.

Referring to Figure 2a, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the base 12' with its bottom surface 13' may for example include one or more substantially hollow sections 16, and with a plurality of inlet ports 17 for the introduction of the flame or hot gas or air, and with a plurality of outlet ports 18 for the exhaust gas or air. In such an arrangement, a control means may be provided so as to regulate the heating of one or more of the individual sections 16 by the heat exchangers 14. Alternatively instead of hot gas passing through the individual sections 16 of the base 1 2', hot air, water, steam, compressed _c air or gas, or the like could be used as the heating medium for the sections 16 collectively.

Turning now to an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 2b and 2c, a base 1 2" is shown in the plan view of Figure 2b having a cavity , _n portion 20 featuring a plurality of outlets 21 from which hot steam, air, exhaust gas, or water or other heated fluid or the like, is shown being directed out, as indicated by arrow X. In the underneath view, as shown in Figure 2c, the bottom 13 is shown having grooves, slots or other guide means 22 which may spread the steam, gas, liquid or the like,

. _r much in the manner of such grooves in a steam iron. l b

In a further possible embodiment of the invention, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2d, electric heating elements 19 may be provided in the base 1 2 " in order to supply at least part of the heating in which case of course, the inlets and outlets 17 and 18 may not be

20 required, but appropriate electrical supply means would be applicable.

In the embodiments of Figures 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d, it will be appreciated that by a suitable control means, a selective treatment of one or more rows of weeds can be achieved.

25

In Figure 3, a controller indicated generally by arrow 1 is shown very diagrammatically connected with a tractor or the like 22 as one means of transporting the controller 1 over the required area in which control is needed.

30

Referring now to Figure 5, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown with a base 30, also with one or more heat exchanger conduits 14. The base 30 is shown with a plurality of rollers 31 which are mounted so as to be able to move vertically as shown by arrows "V,

35 relative to the bottom 13 of the base 30 in accommodating the uneven surface 32 of the ground. Also, as shown, the rollers 31 may allow for some of the exhaust gas (B) (see Figure 1 ) to be directed around them as indicated by the arrows "Y". The rollers 31 may themselves be heated, either directly or by thermal energy transfer from the heated base 30 and/ or the conduits 14.

It is envisaged that the controller of the present invention could be of any size for use in large scale or domestic situations.

. _n It will be seen, therefore, that the present invention in one use provides a method and/or apparatus for control of weeds, fungi and/or pests which enables this to be achieved in a relatively simple yet effective manner.

. _c It has been found that the heat exchanger conduits 14 such as l b shown in Figures 1 and 2a can provide a surprisingly effective radiant heating of the adjacent surface 13. In alternative embodiments of the invention, it is envisaged that a heating, baking, drying, cooking or the like apparatus could have one or more conduits 14 which have heating surfaces on one or more sides. For example, in a barbecue, the one or

20 more conduits 14 could be radiating heat to an adjacent hot plate or grill.

Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually

25 set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without

30 departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

35

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A controller for weeds, fungi and/or pests including a control means adapted to move over and contact weeds or the ground requiring control, said control means being further adapted to be heated to, or provide heat at, a temperature at which the contact of the control means with the weeds or the ground will provide the required control.

2. A controller as claimed in Claim 1 , including a heating means adapted to raise the control means to said temperature.

3. A controller as claimed in Claim 2, in which said heating means includes a flame source.

4. A controller as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said heating means includes at least one conduit with helical baffles providing a heat exchanging means.

5. A controller as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said conduit is perforated.

6. A controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a heated gas vent at the front and/or rear of the control means.

7. A controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the control means is of sufficient weight that a bottom surface thereof is adapted to apply both pressure and heat as it contacts the weeds or the ground.

8. A controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is adapted to provide heat at one or more selected positions or sections.

9. A controller as claimed in Claim 8, in which the control means is divided into a plurality of substantially hollow sections, each having a separate heating means.

10. A controller as claimed in Claim 8, in which the control means includes a plurality of outlets from which heated fluid can be directed.

c 1 1 . A controller as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the bottom surface is provided with a plurality of guide means to spread a heated fluid exiting from the base.

1 2. A controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which ΓÇó, Q the control means includes a plurality of ground contacting rollers.

1 3. A controller as claimed in Claim 1 2 in which the rollers are able to move vertically to accommodate an uneven ground surface.

15 14. A controller as claimed in Claim 1 2 or Claim 1 3 in which the rollers are heated directly and/or indirectly by thermal energy transfer from the control means.

1 5. A controller as claimed in any one of Claims 1 2 to 14 in which heated fluid is directed around the rollers.

20

1 6. A heat producing apparatus having one or more heatable surfaces adjacent to which are one or more conduits with helical baffles, said conduits being adapted in use to be heated up by a heat source and to thereby radiate heat to the heatable surfaces.

25

1 7. A controller for weeds, fungi and/or pests substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 4, Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d, Figure 3, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

30

1 8. A method of controlling weeds, fungi and/or pests including providing a control body heated to, or providing heat at, a required temperature and moving the body so as to contact the weeds or the ground.

35