Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Processes – Including mixing or combining with air – gas or steam
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-30
2004-11-16
Ganey, Steven J. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Processes
Including mixing or combining with air, gas or steam
C239S159000, C239S172000, C047S00101T, C210S760000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06817541
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to ozone systems and methods and more specifically relates to such systems and methods for agricultural applications, for example for treating living grapevines in vineyards.
Ozone exists as an unstable blue gas. It has been found to be an effective oxidizing agent, and has been used for the purification of drinking water, in industrial waste treatment, for deodorizing air and sewage gases, as a bleach for waxes, oils and textiles, and as an oxidizing agent in chemical processes. Furthermore, in sufficient concentrations, ozone is known to destroy bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. Various devices and processes have been developed for disinfecting air and surfaces using ozone gas or ozonated water.
Ozonated water can be used for sanitizing surfaces without heat treatment and without the use of potentially harmful chemicals. This is of particular interest in the development of processes using ozone for treating the surfaces of food products. Unlike other rinse agents, an ozone/aqueous rinse does not leave behind a residue that later needs to be removed from the food product surface.
Not surprisingly, therefor, various methods and systems for treating food products using the known antimicrobial properties of ozone have been developed. More recently, processes using ozone for the treatment of living, agricultural crops have been proposed.
Typically, treatment of crops using ozonated water is accomplished as follows. A stationary water station is provided, for example a stationary tank having a 500 gallon capacity. Ozone gas is introduced into the water tank to form an ozone water mixture in the tank. A tractor or other vehicle is filled with a portion of this ozone water mixture, which is then transported and sprayed onto agricultural crops to treat diseases and pests, such as unwanted or harmful microorganisms.
Smith, Jr. et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,498, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this specific reference, discloses an ozone spray system and method for treating bacteria or fungi on agricultural crops, namely a crop of growing Vidalia onions. The Smith Jr. et al system is an agricultural field and crop sprayer that produces and applies ozonated water to such an agricultural crop. According to Smith Jr. et al, ozonated water is produced by recirculating water to a tank initially containing water free of ozone. The water from the tank is passed through a venturi injector connected to an ozone generator, and then back into the tank until a desired ozone concentration is reached in the tank. A vehicle, for example a tractor driven vehicle, is used to transport a portion of the ozone water mixture through a field of agricultural crops. Ozonated water is sprayed from the tank and onto the crops.
One drawback of the Smith Jr. et al system, as well as other similar systems, is that ozone concentration in the water tank is increased incrementally and gradually as the water is recirculated continuously through an ozone injector, until the desired concentration is reached. Thus, the Smith Jr. et al system therefor requires careful monitoring of the ozone level in the tank, as well as a relatively long waiting period before an effective concentration is reached.
Entire vineyards of grapevines have been seriously damaged or destroyed by the rapid spread of microbial infestations on the growing plants. Generally, these organisms take up residency in the woody stock of a vine and spread to the foliage throughout the growing season, ultimately damaging the berries and contaminating the juice. Such damage/destruction has substantial adverse economical impact, for example, on the wine industry.
It would be advantageous to provide new systems and methods which address one or more of these concerns, for example, while treating agricultural crops, such as living and/or growing grapevines in vineyards.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
New ozone systems and methods for agricultural applications have been discovered. The present invention provides safe and effective systems and methods of ozone treatment for agricultural applications which address one or more of the above-noted and other problems. The present ozone systems and methods are highly effective in the treatment of agricultural crops, particularly in the treatment of grapevines in vineyards for control of mildew, other fungi and other microorganism-based infestations. The present systems are straightforward in construction and use. The present methods are easy to practice and provide effective treatments with no significant detrimental effect on the crop or crops being treated.
The agricultural crop treated using the systems and methods of the invention may comprise an agricultural crop selected from the group of crops consisting of leafy vegetable crops, cole crops, legume crops, annual fruit crops and perennial fruit crops. Some embodiments of the invention have been found to be particularly useful for treating and maintaining the health of row crops, for example leafy, relatively low growing row crops, such as crops that are generally less than about two feet in height above a ground level, or less than about one foot in height above a ground level.
An ozone system for agricultural applications, in accordance with the present invention, generally comprises a portable unit that functions to combine a stream or flow of water, preferably substantially free of ozone, with ozone, preferably produced from oxygen-enriched air, to create an ozonated water stream which, substantially directly after being formed, is used to treat agricultural crops, such as plants, fruit on plants, foliage on plants, grapevines and the like. Unlike earlier systems using ozonated water to treat plant diseases, the present invention uses an ozonated water stream formed by a single pass stream of water through an ozone injector, dispensed or applied substantially directly after formation to the crops, preferably employing a spray assist assembly which advantageously provides a high volume, low pressure gaseous component to assist the dispensing of the ozonated water stream.
Moreover, unlike other ozonated water spray systems, the present systems preferably are designed as self-contained, preferably portable, units. The systems include a fluid passageway having an inlet for receiving a flow of water, for example, from a water source. An ozone generator is included. Preferably, ozone is generated using a corona discharge ozone generator for producing a gaseous stream comprising a high concentration of ozone from oxygen, an oxygen-enriched gaseous stream or air. Preferably, the corona discharge generator is adapted to generate ozone in quantities of between about 5 and about 30 grams per hour, and at a concentration of between about 1% and about 5% by weight of the ozone-containing gaseous stream. The ozone preferably is generated directly from an oxygen-enriched gaseous stream, e.g., produced by an oxygen concentrator assembly, for example, of conventional design, or air. The ozone from the gaseous stream is introduced into the water stream or flow by any suitable means, for example, using a venturi injector or like injection assembly. The venturi injector provides a source of suction which urges the ozone-containing gaseous stream from the ozone generator into the water stream or flow. The water is passed through the venturi injector only once prior to dispensing the ozonated water onto the crops through an outlet assembly connected to the fluid passageway. A spray assist assembly preferably is included, as described elsewhere herein, to assist in dispensing the ozonated water for agricultural application.
Optionally, the present ozone systems may include one or more of several subsystems, such as a degassing assembly, hereinafter sometimes also referred to as a degas/separator assembly, for removing undissolved ozone gas from the ozonated water stream, and an ozone destruct assembly in communication with the degassing assembly, for destructing the und
Clawson Allen D.
Lavelle Dennis
Sands David Alan
Schmitz Henry
Del Industries Inc.
Fox Linda A.
Ganey Steven J.
Stout, Uxa Buyan & Mullins, LLP
Uxa Frank J.
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