Apparatus, method, and system for applying substances to pre-harvested or harvested forage, grain, and crops

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for applying a biologically active or chemical substance to a relatively large volume harvested or pre-harvested crop includes relatively small container of a mixture biologically active or chemical substance and water in fluid communication with fluid conduit. A pump moves mixture from the bottle through the conduit. A source of pressurized air is in fluid communication with the conduit to aerate the mixture. The aerated mixture is expelled through a nozzle at distal end of the conduit. In one aspect, the controller can monitor speed of the pump by monitoring operating voltage of the pump. Speed of the pump can be adjusted to adjust application rate. In one aspect, a process combines a flow of air through an orifice with the metering of a low volume of additive, such as an aid to preservation, to a crop as it is being cut or harvested to provide for even distribution of the additive to the crop.

1 . A method for applying a relatively small volume of biologically active or chemical substance to a relatively large volume of an agricultural crop comprising: 
 (a) creating a stream of pressurized air;    (b) metering a mixture of the biologically active or chemical substance and water into the stream of pressurized air;    (c) applying the aerated mixture to an agricultural crop.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the agricultural crop comprises one of forage, grain, hay, or feed.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crop is harvested crop.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crop is crop cut and lying in field in a swath.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crop is growing crop.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biologically active or chemical substance comprises at least in part living organisms.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the living organisms comprise bacteria.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the bacteria comprises a forage inoculant.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixture is contained in a removable hand carryable container.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is not by atomizing.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising controlling the rate of application with a microprocessor.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising controlling the pumping rate and pressurized air level.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is to a moving agricultural crop.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the application is moving relative to the stationary crop.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the crop and/or application are moving.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pressured air can be used to aerate the mixture in a conduit and clean the mixture from the conduit after application of the mixture.  
   
   
       17 . A system for applying a biologically active or chemical substance to a relatively large volume of crop comprising: 
 a. a nozzle with a spray orifice positionable near the agricultural crop, the nozzle being positioned at one end of a fluid conduit;    b. a receiver connected at an opposite end of the fluid conduit to receive a container of a mixture of water and biologically active or chemical substance;    c. a electrically powered pump operatively connected to deliver the mixture to the conduit at a rate proportional to operation of the pump;    d. a pressurized air source in fluid communication with the conduit to aerate the mixture;    e. a voltage sensor connected to the pump;    f. a control to alter voltage of the pump.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein a relatively high volume of air and a relatively low volume of biologically active or chemical substance is moved through the conduit.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the container is a hand-sized bottle with a sealable opening that can be removably connected to the receiver.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the aeration is adjusted to mix pressurized air with the mixture and eject the aerated mixture in an even uniform manner.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the mixture is ejected as a mist.  
   
   
       22 . A process where air from a pump, compressor or supply of compressed air is delivered to a spray orifice and, between the air supply and the spray orifice, a metering device introduces an additive to the flow of air at a distance from the orifice to allow for mixing of the additive and the air so that the additive is evenly distributed on a crop being processed by a crop treating, crop cutting, forage harvesting or crop baling implement.  
   
   
       23 . A process as in  claim 22  where the metering device used is a positive displacement pump.  
   
   
       24 . A process as in  claim 22  where the additive is an aid in the preservation of the crop in storage.  
   
   
       25 . A process as in  claim 22  where the additive is applied to the crop at a ratio between 0.001% and 0.2% of the crop being treated.  
   
   
       26 . A crop treated by the process comprising: 
 a. creating a stream of pressurized air;    b. metering a mixture of the biologically active or chemical substance and water into the stream of pressurized air;    c. applying the aerated mixture to an agricultural crop.    
   
   
       27 . The crop of  claim 26  wherein the crop is harvested crop.  
   
   
       28 . The crop of  claim 26  wherein the crop is crop cut and lying in field in a swath.  
   
   
       29 . The crop of  claim 26  wherein the crop is growing crop.  
   
   
       30 . The crop of  claim 26  wherein the aerated mixture is applied through a spray orifice.  
   
   
       31 . The crop of  claim 26  wherein the mixture is a relatively small volume and the pressurized air is relatively high pressure.  
   
   
       32 . An animal feed made by the process comprising: 
 a. creating a stream of pressurized air;    b. metering a mixture of the biologically active or chemical substance and water into the stream of pressurized air;    c. applying the aerated mixture to an agricultural crop adapted for use as animal feed.    
   
   
       33 . The crop of  claim 32  wherein the crop is harvested crop.  
   
   
       34 . The crop of  claim 32  wherein the crop is crop cut and lying in field in a swath.  
   
   
       35 . The crop of  claim 32  wherein the crop is growing crop.  
   
   
       36 . The crop of  claim 32  wherein the aerated mixture is applied through a spray orifice.  
   
   
       37 . The crop of  claim 32  wherein the mixture is a relatively small volume and the pressurized air is relatively high pressure.