Closed concentrated dry chemical dispersion system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027246-B2
Application number	US-201715700353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2017
Priority date	Sep 9, 2016
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A closed concentrated dry chemical dispersion system including a closed ingredient container having a volume of dry ingredient therein. The system provides a fluid container and a mixing chamber in which the dry ingredient and fluid can be mixed to form a formulation for delivery to a device such as agrochemical dispensing equipment. The system minimizes worker exposure to the chemicals and enables lower packaging and transportation costs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A concentrated chemical dispersion system comprising:
an ingredient container defining an internal chamber and having a predetermined volume of a dry ingredient therein, said container being sealingly closed to seal said predetermined volume of dry ingredient therein, said ingredient container being separable from the system to be storable and transportable separately therefrom, and coupleable sealingly to the system to be in sealed fluid communication therewith when transferring said ingredient to said system;
a fluid container for storing a fluid medium within to be used for mixing with said predetermined volume of a dry ingredient, said fluid container configured to hold a desired amount of the fluid medium sufficient for mixing with said predetermined volume of the dry ingredient for forming a liquid formulation;
a mixing chamber for mixing said predetermined volume of dry ingredient and said fluid medium therein, said mixing chamber configured to be in fluid communication with said fluid container for receiving said fluid medium therefrom at least when said ingredient container is coupled to said system, said mixing chamber configured to contain therein all of said predetermined volume of dry ingredient and said desired amount of the fluid medium at least when said ingredient container is coupled to said system;
an agitator disposed for mixing said predetermined volume of dry ingredient and said fluid medium in said mixing chamber into said liquid formulation; and
a downstream fluid conduit in fluid communication with dispensing equipment for dispensing said liquid formulation after all of said predetermined volume of dry ingredient and said desired amount of said fluid medium are mixed to form said liquid formulation, said mixing chamber being in fluid communication with said downstream fluid conduit at least when said ingredient container is coupled to said system for transferring said liquid formulation to said dispensing equipment, wherein said dispensing equipment is configured to be transportable around an agricultural field for dispensing said liquid formulation at the intended location for the dispersion.

2. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said ingredient container includes said mixing chamber.

3. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said internal chamber includes said mixing chamber, and said ingredient container has a container volume greater than said predetermined ingredient volume so as to be capable of receiving and mixing therein a desired amount of fluid medium for forming said formulation.

4. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 3 , wherein said ingredient container includes an outlet having a fitting sealingly coupleable to said downstream fluid conduit and though which said mixed formulation flows to said dispersion equipment when said ingredient container is coupled to said system.

5. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said agitator is positioned externally of said fluid container and is configured to contact said fluid container for mixing the ingredient and fluid medium therein.

6. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said mixing chamber is separate from said internal chamber.

7. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 6 wherein said mixing chamber comprises a separate container independent from said ingredient container.

8. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 7 , wherein said ingredient container includes an outlet having a fitting sealingly coupleable to said system and though which said ingredient flow to said mixing chamber.

9. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said ingredient container comprises a flexible container.

10. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said agitator comprises a vibratory device.

11. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said mixer comprises a mechanical mixer.

12. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said mixer is configured to mix said ingredient and fluid by deforming said ingredient container.

13. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a second ingredient container containing a second dry ingredient;
a second mixing chamber for mixing said second ingredient with said fluid medium for forming a second liquid formulation, said second mixing chamber configured to be in fluid communication with said fluid container for receiving said fluid medium therefrom at least when said second ingredient container is coupled to said system; and
said second mixing chamber configured to be in fluid communication with said dispensing equipment at least when said second ingredient container is coupled to said system for delivering said second liquid formulation to said dispensing equipment.

14. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 13 further comprising a second downstream conduit in fluid communication with said dispensing equipment for dispensing said liquid formulation, said second mixing chamber being in fluid communication with said second downstream fluid conduit at least when said second ingredient container is coupled to said system for transferring said liquid formulation to said dispensing equipment.

15. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said ingredient container includes at least one fitting capable of creating a sealed fluid connection for fluid communication with said system.

16. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 , wherein said ingredient container includes an outlet having a fitting through which said container is sealingly coupleable to said system and though which said ingredient flows to said system.

17. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 , wherein said ingredient container includes an inlet having a fitting sealingly coupleable to said system and though which said fluid medium flows into said container.

18. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said dry ingredient comprises an agricultural agent.

19. The concentrated chemical dispersion system according to claim 1 wherein said dispersion system is configured to be transportable around the agricultural field for dispensing said liquid formulation at the intended location for the dispersion thereof.

20. A concentrated chemical dispersion system comprising:
an ingredient container having an internal chamber comprising a predetermined volume of a dry ingredient therein, said container being sealed closed to seal said predetermined volume of ingredient therein, said ingredient container being separate from the system to be storable and transportable separately therefrom, and having a closed outlet coupleable sealingly to the system to be in sealed fluid communication therewith and which outlet is openable to permit transfer of said ingredient to said system;
a fluid container for storing a fluid medium within to be used for mixing with said predetermined volume of a dry ingredient, said fluid container configured to hold a desired amount of the fluid medium sufficient for mixing with said predetermined volume of the dry ingredient for forming a liquid formulation;
a mixing chamber for mixing said predetermined vo

Assignees

• Fmc Corp

Inventors

• Martin Timothy M
• Ekins Richard G

Classifications

• A01M7/0092 Primary

  Adding active material (used as well for the introduction of fertilisers in water A01C23/042) · CPC title

• B01F33/502

  Vehicle-mounted mixing devices · CPC title

• B01F25/31 Primary

  in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows · CPC title

• B01F23/30

  Mixing gases with solids · CPC title

• A01C23/042

  Adding fertiliser to watering systems · CPC title