Plant husbandry – Plant surface contact material applicator
Patent
1996-11-12
1998-10-27
Weldon, Kevin
Plant husbandry
Plant surface contact material applicator
239172, E01H 1100, A01M 2104
Patent
active
058263705
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for use in applying liquids, such as for treating plants, and it has particular but not exclusive reference to known types of apparatus such as a ropewick applicator for applying herbicides and the like to annual and perennial weeds by a rotary wiping action.
BACKGROUND ART
One very successful form of apparatus of the ropewick applicator type is that sold under the registered trade mark "WEEDBUG", the subject of Australian Patent No. 589361, International Application No. PCT/AU95/00065, and South African Patent Application No. 95/1171, and it is to be understood that all the descriptions of practical embodiments therein are to be deemed part of the disclosure herein to the extent that the same may be found necessary or desirable. The earlier patent specifications show use of the applicator for purposes such as applying weed-killing chemicals up to and around tree trunks, being operable in even windy conditions and also operable under low hanging trees, using a single applicator rotor, or two or more when desired. It was also pointed out that the machines could be used most effectively along fencelines, road or pond edges, and in open areas requiring weed control.
Typically the machines of our Australian Patent No. 589361 use ropewick application from rotating discs or rotors fitted to adjustable arms extending from a tractor, for example, whereby the disc or rotor speed controls the chemical flow. Each rotor has means whereby it may be rotated about an axis disposed substantially vertically in use and having a bottom disc through which the wick means extend for operation therebeneath, there being in practice a plurality of equally spaced wicks passing sealably through apertures in the disc from an annular or other axially mounted reservoir above the disc and rotatable therewith. In the said patent specification, FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings show basic requirements for the reservoir, while FIG. 4 shows an annular structure using the disc itself as a lower part of the reservoir, it being thus apparent that various forms of "rotating" reservoir may be used, and the wick means can be of desired type, preferably of rope-like form and provided in any desired number in radially spaced arrangement.
Success attained by using the aforementioned applicators has prompted us to consider applying the principles to overcoming other problems which have come to our attention. For example, local authorities and other bodies or individuals currently spend considerable time and monies on spraying weeds located in and at the edges of roadside curbs and channels. This is usually achieved by driving a tractor or the like alongside the curb and channel, such as beside a median strip, or the curb only in instances where it has no associated channel, and directing weedicide at all pertinent areas. It is the claim of environmentalists that less than ten percent of the spray is effectively utilised, with the remainder being undesirably absorbed into the soil or being drained away into the drainage systems where the adverse effects of the chemicals may manifest themselves in many different ways. Thus it will be apparent that the spraying of curb and channel in this way is unnecessarily expensive and somewhat wasteful and indiscriminate
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised with the above problems in mind, and it has for its principal object the provision of novel apparatus whereby curbs, channels and edge areas associated therewith may be treated with chemicals more efficiently and at less cost than currently achieved. Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as aforementioned which will be effective in treating different slopes and levels associated with such curb and channel situations. In particular the present invention aims to provide novel apparatus of the type stated which will enable treatment to be effected by a wick wiper system of the types set out above. A number of other objects and advantages of the inven
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Weedbug Pty. Ltd.
Weldon Kevin
LandOfFree
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