Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Fluid distribution – Pumping
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-02
2001-06-05
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Fluid distribution
Pumping
C261S104000, C261SDIG006, C422S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241218
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a chemical diffusion device for use in facilities such as greenhouses, hospitals and restaurants.
Greenhouses are often used for production of such staples as strawberries, melons, cucumbers and tomatoes. Oil is often used to heat the greenhouses, resulting in a warm, moist environment. This environment, combined with good lighting, provides an ideal setting for the proliferation of various noxious insects. Generally, insect population growth has been checked by manual application of liquids such as agricultural pesticides. Usually, these pesticides are sprayed on the particular plants by a laborer.
Hospitals, restaurants and food processing plants tend to have problems with insects as well. However, these types of facilities also suffer from problems related to bacteria and noxious odors. These problems also can be eliminated by application of a liquid pesticide, bactericide or deodorant.
Application of the above liquids by manual spraying can be an irritating and annoying inconvenience. In addition, inhalation of fumes from these liquids can pose a health hazard. It is also a difficult task to place the liquids in an appropriate setting to accomplish their designed function.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a chemical diffusion device which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a chemical diffusion device for effectively diffusing chemicals such as insect extermination liquids, bactericides and deodorants.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a chemical diffusion device which can be operated to diffuse chemicals along the ground or in the air.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a permeable saturation body that absorbs a liquid chemical for evaporative dispersion. External air is forced through the saturation body to vaporize and carrying the liquid chemical into a prescribed area. The liquid container and permeable body are mounted on a permeable support structure. Excess liquid dripping from the permeable saturation body is recaptured and redistributed by another permeable saturation body located below the first permeable saturation body. The device can be used in greenhouses to disperse insecticide into the air or along the ground. The device is also adapted to disperse deodorant or a bactericide for use in hospitals or restaurants, for example. One embodiment of the invention provides for reversible air flow so that a user can choose between dispensing the liquid chemical in a low position, or in a high position.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a chemical diffusion device comprising: a case having a first opening in a first end and a second opening in a second end, at least one container in the case for containing a liquid chemical, the container having an open upper end, at least one support body supporting the container, the support body permitting the passage of air therethrough, a material on a surface of the support body, the material having an end disposed to contact the liquid chemical in the container, the material being of a type capable of absorbing the liquid chemical through capillary action, the material being gas-permeable, an inner surface of the material being exposed to the first opening, an outer surface of the material being exposed to the second opening, and means for moving air into one of the first opening and the second opening, and out the other thereof, whereby the air passes through the material, and evaporates the liquid chemical.
Advantageously, the at least one container includes a first container, the at least one container further includes a second container, the second container being disposed below a lower end of the material to collect an excess of the liquid chemical from the material, a second support body below the second container, a second support body supporting a second material, and the second material receiving an overflow of the liquid chemical from the second container, whereby evaporation of the liquid chemical is increased.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a chemical diffusion device comprising: a case having a first opening in a first end and a second opening in a second end, a plurality of containers including a first, second and third container in the case for containing a liquid chemical, the containers having an open upper end, a plurality of gas-permeable support bodies including a first support body above a second support body, the support bodies supporting a gas-permeable material on a surface of the support bodies, the material being of a type capable of absorbing the liquid chemical and having an end disposed to contact the liquid chemical in the first container, the material having a lower end disposed to drip into the second container to collect an excess of the liquid chemical from the material, the material on a surface of the second support body receiving an overflow of the liquid chemical from the second container, an outer surface of the material being exposed to the first opening, an inner surface of the material being exposed to the second opening, and means for moving air into one of the first opening and the second opening, and out the other thereof, whereby the air passes through the material, and evaporates the liquid chemical.
The present invention includes a container that stores a liquid chemical. The liquid chemical feeds into a permeable saturation body from the container via capillary action. The permeable saturation body is mounted on a permeable support body. A fan vaporizes the liquid chemical by passing air over and through the permeable saturation body. The device includes a motor for turning the fan.
In the above configuration, the permeable saturation body is saturated by the liquid chemical fed from the storage container via capillary action. The fan is rotated by the motor so that air passes through permeable saturation body. The motion of the air passing the permeable saturation body causes the liquid saturated therein to evaporate. The liquid chemical, now an evaporated and vaporized gas, diffuses into the surrounding prescribed area.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1254337 (1918-01-01), Marsh
patent: 2031055 (1936-02-01), McKinney
patent: 2104209 (1938-01-01), Pierson
patent: 451546 (1948-10-01), None
patent: 279000 (1927-10-01), None
Hopkins Robert A.
Morrison Law Firm
Simmons David A.
Yuugen Kaisha Kaishin
LandOfFree
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