U.S. patent application number 10/295103 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for apparatus for adding fertilizer to water in an underground sprinkling system and fertilizer therefor.
Invention is credited to Manzanares, David, Marsden, James, Morton, David, Snow, A. Ray.
Application Number | 20040094208 10/295103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32297107 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040094208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marsden, James ; et
al. |
May 20, 2004 |
Apparatus for adding fertilizer to water in an underground
sprinkling system and fertilizer therefor
Abstract
An apparatus for adding fertilizer to water flowing in an
underground sprinkler system includes a pressure chamber with a
bladder therein which holds liquid fertilizer. Water under line
pressure surrounds the bladder in the chamber to pressurize the
bladder and fertilizer therein. The pressurized liquid fertilizer
flows from the bladder through a valve such as a needle valve which
controls flow rate and through a valve such as a butterfly valve
which opens to allow fertilizer flow when water flows through the
line to which the fertilizer is to be added. With no flow of water,
the valve is closed to prevent flow of fertilizer. The lid to the
opening to the inside of the bladder used to fill the bladder with
fertilizer is arranged to operate two valves. One controls flow of
pressurized line water into the chamber to pressurize the bladder
in the chamber when the lid is opened and the other opens a drain
to depressurize the chamber when the lid is opened to allow
fertilizer to be added to the bladder. A preferred fertilizer for
use in the apparatus includes a bio-stimulant
Inventors: |
Marsden, James; (South
Jordan, UT) ; Snow, A. Ray; (Sandy, UT) ;
Manzanares, David; (Sandy, UT) ; Morton, David;
(Sandy, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MALLINCKRODT & MALLINCKRODT
SUITE 510
10 EXCHANGE PLACE
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
32297107 |
Appl. No.: |
10/295103 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/564.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/8597 20150401;
A01C 23/042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/564.5 |
International
Class: |
E03B 007/07 |
Claims
We claim:
1. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line,
comprising: a body forming a pressure chamber; a bladder adapted to
hold liquid fertilizer therein positioned within the pressure
chamber; a flow line connecting the bladder to a pipe through which
water flows to sprinklers in a sprinkler system; a flow valve in
the flow line which closes to prevent flow through the flow line
when no water is flowing through the pipe and opens to allow flow
through the flow line when water flows through the pipe; an access
opening to the bladder in the pressure chamber to allow the bladder
to be filled with a liquid fertilizer; a cover to close the access
opening; a first valve operatively coupled to the cover to allow
flow of water from the pipe to the pressure chamber when the cover
is closed to thereby pressurize the pressure chamber, and to block
flow when the cover is open; and a second valve operatively coupled
to the cover to open a drain to drain pressurized water from the
pressure chamber when the cover is opened and to close the drain
when the cover is closed;
2. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 1, additionally including a regulator to
regulate flow through the flow line when the flow valve is
open.
3. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 2, wherein the regulator is a needle valve in
the flow line.
4. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 3, wherein the cover includes a handle with a
closed position when the cover is closed and an open position when
the cover is open, wherein the first valve includes an actuator,
and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to open the
first valve when the handle is in closed position and to close the
first valve when the handle is moved to open position.
5. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 4, wherein the second valve includes an
actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to
close the second valve when the handle is in closed position and to
open the second valve when the handle is moved to open
position.
6. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 5, wherein the handle includes a caming surface
that interacts with the actuators of the first and second
valves.
7. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 6, wherein the first and second valves are
positioned in respective bores and the actuators extend from the
respective bores to contact the caming surface of the handle.
8. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 7, wherein the flow valve is a butterfly valve
positioned in the pipe and operated by flow of water through the
pipe at the location of the valve in the pipe.
9. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 8, wherein the butterfly valve is biased to
closed position, and wherein the butterfly valve includes wings
slidably mounted to move back and forth in the direction of flow
through the pipe between a position wherein the valve is closed and
a position wherein the valve is open, the wings being biased to the
closed position, the open position being in the direction of
flow.
10. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a handle with a
closed position when the cover is closed and an open position when
the cover is open, wherein the first valve includes an actuator,
and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to open the
first valve when the handle is in closed position and to close the
first valve when the handle is moved to open position.
11. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 10, wherein the second valve includes an
actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to
close the second valve when the handle is in closed position and to
open the second valve when the handle is moved to open
position.
12. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 11, wherein the handle includes a caming surface
that interacts with the actuators of the first and second
valves.
13. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 12, wherein the first and second valves are
positioned in respective bores and the actuators extend from the
respective bores to contact the caming surface of the handle.
14. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 1, wherein the flow valve is a butterfly valve
positioned in the pipe and operated by flow of water through the
pipe at the location of the valve in the pipe.
15. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 14, wherein the butterfly valve is biased to
closed position, and wherein the butterfly valve includes wings
slidably mounted to move back and forth in the direction of flow
through the pipe between a position wherein the valve is closed and
a position wherein the valve is open, the wings being biased to the
closed position, the open position being in the direction of
flow.
16. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 1, in combination with a liquid fertilizer in
the bladder, wherein the liquid fertilizer comprises: nitrogen
containing material; phosphorus containing material; potassium
containing material; and a bio-stimulant that increases microbial
activity in the soil to which it is applied to convert minerals
applied to the soil and in the soil to forms that are usable by
vegetation growing in the soil.
17. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line
according to claim 16, wherein the fertilizer includes between
about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about 20% Phosphorus,
about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to about 25%
bio-stimulant.
18. A fertilizer for mixing with water in a sprinkler system to
fertilize vegetation during watering of such vegetation with the
sprinkler system, comprising: nitrogen containing material;
phosphorus containing material; potassium containing material; and
a bio-stimulant that increases microbial activity in the soil to
which it is applied to convert minerals applied to the soil and in
the soil to forms that are usable by vegetation growing in the
soil.
19. A fertilizer according to claim 18, wherein the bio-stimulant
is derived from at least azotobacter, bacillus, and clostridium
bacteria.
20. A fertilizer according to claim 18, wherein the fertilizer
includes between about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about
20% Phosphorus, about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to
about 25% bio-stimulant.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] The invention is in the field apparatus for adding
fertilizers to sprinkler system water so as to fertilize a lawn and
garden during watering of such lawn and garden with an underground
sprinkler system. It is also in the field of fertilizers used in
such systems.
[0003] 2. State of the Art
[0004] Various types of fertilization systems for use with
sprinkler systems have been proposed. Some of these include
compartments for holding solid fertilizer and run water over the
solid fertilizer to dissolve it into the water. Others include
pumps to pump liquid fertilizer into the water lines. While the
pumps provide positive injection of fertilizer into the water, they
require power to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the invention, positive flow of a liquid
fertilizer into water flowing in a water line or pipe to sprinklers
in a sprinkler system is achieved by using line water pressure to
pressurize a bladder containing liquid fertilizer. The fertilizer
flows through a flow line from the pressurized bladder to the water
pipe and is injected into the water flowing through the pipe. The
inlet from the water pipe to the pressure chamber is up stream of
the location of injection of the fertilizer into the water flowing
through the pipe so that the pressure around the bladder created by
the water from the pipe is greater than the pressure of the water
as it flows past the fertilizer inlet. This creates a positive
pressure flow of fertilizer into the water flowing through the
pipe. A flow operated valve, such as a special butterfly valve,
only opens to allow flow of fertilizer during flow of water through
the pipe to the sprinklers. Thus, flow of fertilizer is blocked if
the sprinkler system is turned off so that no water is flowing to
the sprinklers. Further, any back flow of water from the pipe into
the bladder is blocked by such valve during periods of no flow A
regulator, generally a control valve, such as a needle valve, is
positioned in the flow line and can be adjusted to control the rate
of flow of fertilizer into the water flowing in the pipe.
[0006] The bladder is contained in a closed pressure chamber
communicating with the water pipe so that water at line pressure
enters the pressure chamber and pressurizes the bladder. A normally
closed access opening, such as in the top of the pressure chamber,
may be opened to the inside of the bladder to fill the bladder with
fertilizer. However, to be able to open the access opening,
pressure has to be relieved in the pressure chamber and bladder. In
order to release the pressure in the pressure chamber and bladder,
the cover of the access opening is operably coupled to a line valve
which closes to disconnect the pressure chamber from the water pipe
and to a drain valve to drain pressurized water from the pressure
chamber when the cover to the access opening is opened. These
valves work together to depressurize the chamber when the cover to
the access opening is opened so that the bladder can be filled with
liquid fertilizer when necessary. When the opening is closed, the
cover to the opening operates the valves to close the drain valve
and open the line valve to again pressurize the chamber.
[0007] The apparatus may advantageously use a fertilizer which
includes a combination of traditional chemical fertilizers along
with a bio stimulant which promotes microbial action in the soil to
increase the utilization of the chemical fertilizer by the
vegetation to which the combination fertilizer is applied.
THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the accompanying drawings, which show the best mode
currently contemplated for carrying out the invention:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of the body and lid of
the apparatus of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2, a side elevation of an apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3, a vertical section of the apparatus taken on the
line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and showing the top assembled to the body;
[0012] FIG. 4, a vertical section similar to that of FIG. 3 showing
a partial collapse of the bladder as the fertilizer is used;
[0013] FIG. 5, a longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG.
2;
[0014] FIG. 6, a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2
and not showing the top;
[0015] FIG. 7, a vertical section through a butterfly valve of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 8, avertical section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;
and
[0017] FIG. 9, a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8-8
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The apparatus of the invention includes a base plate 10, and
a body support 11 which supports body 12 above base plate 10. Body
12 includes a water pipe 13 with end connectors 14 and 15 for
connection in the main water supply line of an underground
sprinkler system. The apparatus should be connected in the
sprinkler system upstream of the valves which control the various
sprinkler zones so that all sprinklers in the sprinkler system are
supplied with fertilizer.
[0019] The body 12 also includes a pressure chamber 16 formed by
cylindrical pressure chamber wall 17 with upper flange 18, and
pressure chamber bottom 19. Pressure chamber lid 20 closes pressure
chamber 16, and may be secured to pressure chamber flange 18, such
as by screws, not shown, extending through screw holes 21 around
the perimeter of the lid 20 into screw holes 22 in flange 18.
Bosses 24 projecting from pressure chamber wall 17 provide
extensions of screw holes 22 and reinforce flange 18. Pressure
chamber 16 is spaced and supported above pipe 13 by spacer 25
extending from pipe 13. Cylindrical wall 26, FIG. 2, houses a dead
end bore 27 extending from the bottom center of pressure chamber
16. Bore 28 extending through spacer 25 connects bore 27 with a
bore 29 which extends into pipe 13, and is formed by cylindrical
wall 30 with upper enlarged portion 31. Platform 32 extends along
the upper edge of spacer 25 and connects enlarged cylindrical wall
31 to pressure chamber wall 17.
[0020] A flexible bladder 33 fits into pressure chamber 16 against
chamber bottom 19 and chamber wall 17 with bladder flange 34
sandwiched between flange 18 and lid 20. Lid 20 forms the top for
bladder 33. The bladder may be made of a variety of materials such
as latex or other plastic or rubber materials. With lid 20 secured
in place, access to the bladder 33 can be gained through access
opening 35 when access opening cover 36 is removed. Opening cover
36 is threaded into opening 35 with handle 37 making it easy to
turn. The thread 38 is preferably configured so the cover 36 and
handle 37 will turn less than one complete revolution to secure or
remove cover 36. Removal of cover 36 allows access to inside
bladder 33 so that bladder 33 can be filled and refilled with
fertilizer as needed. A window 39 may be provided in lid 20, if
desired, so a user can see into pressure chamber 16 to see if
additional fertilizer is needed.
[0021] The bottom of bladder 33 has an opening 40 therethrough
which aligns with bore 27. The upper end of bore 27 is threaded to
receive a bladder stem 41 screwed thereinto. A washer 42 secured to
bladder stem 41 squeezes the bladder around bore 27 against chamber
bottom 19 to seal around the hole. Bladder stem 41 has a plurality
of holes 43 spaced along and around stem 41. Liquid fertilizer from
the bladder flows through stem holes 43 into the stem from where it
flows into dead end bore 27, along bore 28, to bore 29. The purpose
of stem 41 is to ensure that the bladder will not prematurely block
bore 27 and block fertilizer flow before the bladder is
substantially empty.
[0022] Bore 29 includes a metering means in the form of a needle
valve including seat 45 and needle 46. Valve stem 47 is threaded
into the upper end of bore 29 at 48 and has a handle 50 at the top
end thereof. O-rings 51 seal stem 47 in bore 29 to prevent leakage.
Rotation of handle 50 and stem 47 will cause the end of needle 46
to move toward or away from seat 45 thereby controlling the amount
of fertilizer that can flow from bladder 33 into pipe 13. It is
currently preferred to configure the threads and needle so that a
partial revolution of handle 50 will allow the user to select from
off to preset full flow.
[0023] A flow valve 55 is secured to the outlet end of bore 29
where it enters the inside of pipe 13. The purpose of flow valve 55
is to close and prevent flow of fertilizer from bladder 33 into
pipe 13 during a time the sprinklers are turned off so there is no
water flow through the pipe. It also prevents any possible back
flow of water from the pipe into the bladder during such time. The
flow valve may take the form of a special butterfly valve
positioned in pipe 13 as shown in FIG. 3 and shown enlarged in
FIGS. 7 and 8. Butterfly valve 55 provides a needle valve which
opens in response to flow in the pipe, the velocity of flow
determining how much the valve opens. Bore 29 connects with valve
flow passage 56 so that fertilizer flows through passage 57 in seat
45 of the needle valve in bore 29 into flow passage 56 of the
butterfly valve. From passage 56, fertilizer flows through passage
58 in seat 59 around needle 60, into bore 61 and through passage 62
into pipe 13. Needle 60 extends from shaft 63 which is free to
slide in bore 61 and has its opposite end supported and guided by
guide 64. A spring 65 between guide 64 and wings 66 biases shaft 63
toward seat 59 so that needle 60 closes passage 58. When no flow
occurs in pipe 13, spring 65 biases the valve to closed position.
When water flows in pipe 13, the flowing water pushes wings
66against the bias of spring 65 to move shaft 63 and needle 60 away
from seat 59 to thereby open the valve and allow fertilizer to flow
through passage 58 around needle 60. The flow velocity of water
through the pipe 13 will determine how much force the wings 66
apply against the bias of spring 65 and to what degree the needle
valve opens. Thus, at faster flow rates, meaning more water is
passing through the pipe to the sprinklers, more fertilizer is
allow to flow into the water. The valve is preferably calibrated to
provide a set amount of fertilizer per unit of water flowing in the
pipe. Of course, other means of controlling the flow of fertilizer
into the water flowing in pipe 13 could be used, such as special
injectors that would inject a set amount of fertilizer per unit of
flow or unit of time, such as an injector that would inject a drop
of fertilizer ever second during flow of water.
[0024] Because the pressure chamber and bladder are continuously
pressurized whenever water is pressurized in the line, in order to
fill or refill the bladder with fertilizer as the fertilizer is
used, it is necessary to relieve the pressure in the pressure
chamber before filling the balder. Water enters the pressure
chamber 16 through inlet passage 70 of inlet 71. The water flows
through valve seat 72 around valve element 73 located in bore 74
formed by wall 74a of the apparatus and through passage 75 into
pressure chamber 16, outside bladder 33. A valve stem 76 in bore 74
has an end pin 77 extending from the lower end thereof through
valve seat 72 to hold valve element 73 away from seat 72 when the
valve is open. A spring 78 biases stem 76 upwardly into closed
position where valve element 73 seats against seat 72. A stem rod
79 extends from stem 76 upwardly out of bore 74 where the end of
stem rod 79 abuts the bottom of handle 37 of access cover 36. The
underside of handle 37 includes a ramp 80 which cams rod 79
downward as handle 37 rotates to screw cover 36 into lid opening 35
to thereby secure it in the opening in closed position. Upon
rotating handle 37 and cover 36 to open position, ramp 80 allows
rod 79 to move upwardly under the bias of spring 78 toward the
bottom of handle 37 to move valve element 73 against seat 72 to
close the valve and thereby close the connection of the pressure
chamber to the pressurized line water. Thus, upon opening access
cover 36, pressurized water from the water line is blocked from
entering pressure chamber 16. The water pressure acting on valve
element 73 when closed ensures that the valve will remain closed.
O-rings 81 prevent leakage of water around stem 76.
[0025] At the same time, a drain valve in bore 82 formed by wall
82a, FIGS. 1 and 9, is operated to drain water from the pressure
chamber and relieve the pressure therein. Pressure chamber 16 is
connected to bore 82 by passage 83. Valve element 84 is connected
by pin 85 to valve stem 86. A stem rod 87 extends from stem 86
upwardly out of bore 82 where the end of stem rod 87, like stem rod
79, abuts the bottom of handle 37 and ramp 80 thereon of access
cover 39. Ramp 80 cams rod 87 downwardly as handle 37 rotates to
screw cover 36 into lid opening 35. This holds the drain valve in
closed condition when the access opening is closed. Upon rotating
handle 37 and cover 36 to open position, ramp 80 allows rod 87 to
move upwardly under the bias of a spring 88 toward the bottom of
handle 37 to move valve element 84 away from seat 85 thereby
opening the drain valve and the connection of the pressure chamber
to the atmosphere. This allows pressure chamber 16 to drain through
end 89 on bore 82. Thus, upon opening access cover 36, pressurized
water from pressure chamber 16 is allowed to escape to the
atmosphere to relieve pressure in the pressure chamber 16. O-rings
90 prevent leakage of water around stem 87.
[0026] During flow in pipe 13, the pressure of the water entering
inlet 71 through inlet passage 70, and thus the pressure of the
water in pressure chamber 16, is greater than the water pressure
exerted on outlet passage 62 where the fertilizer from the pressure
chamber is injected into the water flowing in pipe 13. This means
that the fertilizer is under positive pressure in the pressure
chamber with respect to the fertilizer outlet 62 so that the
fertilizer is injected into the water flowing in pipe 13. Because
of this accurate and repeatable control of flow of fertilizer into
the water flowing in the pipe 13 can be achieved With pressure on
bladder 33, as fertilizer flows from the bladder, the bladder is
forced to contract, as shown in FIG. 4. Depending upon the
situation and desired fertilization of the vegetation being
watered. the bladder can be refilled as necessary when it is
emptied for substantially continuous fertilization each time the
vegetation is watered, or the bladder can be filled on a set
periodic basis, such as once a month to provide monthly
fertilization of the vegetation.
[0027] The invention also includes a special fertilizer which
includes not only the normal macronutrients of nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium as included in most fertilizers, but also
includes bio-stimulants that cause microbial action in the soil to
break down the components of the fertilizer applied into forms more
usable by the vegetation treated and to breakdown and release other
minerals in the soil. These other minerals are the micronutrients
needed by the vegetation. The bio-stimulant is a mixture of
enzymes, complexed carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, and
micronutrients, i.e., nutrients needed in small amounts by plants,
such as boron, iron and zinc. A bio-stimulant triggers natural
biological processes in the soil that convert tied up nutrients
into a soluable form that plants can immediately utilize. The
bio-stimulant also accelerates the break down and conversion of
organic matter, such as crop residue, lawn clippings, etc., into
humus, an extremely beneficial source of nutrients for plants. It
does this by increasing the populations of indigenous
microorganisms in the soil. A bio-stimulant suitable for use in the
fertilizer of the invention is available under the name
AGRI-GRO.RTM. from Agri-Gro Marketing, Inc. in Doniphan, Mo. The
AGRI-GRO.RTM. product is derived from culturing and fermenting
microbes such as azotobacter, baccillus and clostridium. The use of
the bio-stimulant with the conventional fertilizer makes the
conventional fertilizer go about twice as far and makes other
micronutrients in the soil available for plant use. Further, the
fertilizer of the invention has an acidic nature that helps keep
the fertilizer from coagulating or crystalizing which could cause
clogging of the passageways in the apparatus of the invention.
Thus, use of such fertilizer with the apparatus of the invention
helps to ensure that the apparatus works satisfactorily.
[0028] Preferred formulations of the fertilizer will contain
between about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about 20%
Phosphorus, about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to about
25% bio-stimulant. The fertilizer is generally made by taking a
conventional fertilizer that provides a nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium analysis and mixing that with the bio-stimulant. Thus, a
10-13-13 conventional fertilizer (10% nitrogen, 13% phosphorus, and
13% potassium) may be mixed with bio-stimulant so that 15% of the
final mixed fertilizer is bio-stimulant. In such case, the final
concentrations in the mixed fertilizer will be 15% bio-stimulant,
8% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium. In a preferred form
of fertilizer, the nitrogen is a urea nitrogen, the phosphorus is
provided as phosphate or phosphoric acid, and the potassium is
provided as potash, potassium hydroxide. Different formulation will
be used for different uses, such as gardens or lawns and for
different times of year.
[0029] Whereas the invention is here illustrated and described with
reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best
mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice, it is to be
understood that various changes may be made in adapting the
invention to different embodiments without departing from the
broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the
claims that follow.
* * * * *