Elastic Chamber Tree Injection Overcoming Sapwood Back-Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tree injection devices face challenges in efficiently delivering liquids into trees due to costly equipment requirements and limitations in extended dosage delivery times, as well as issues with tree resistance and back-pressure from sapwood.
Innovation Solution
A tree injection device comprising a conduit with an injection nozzle and a chamber made of resiliently elastic material, which is inflated with pressurized liquid to exert pressure on the liquid, allowing it to be ejected into the tree through a borehole, overcoming back-pressure and tree resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If pumps or injection guns are used to directly inject fluid into a tree, then injection capability is improved, but equipment cost increases and extended dosage delivery is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressurization function from expensive external equipment (pumps or injection guns) and relocates it into a simple, self-contained elastic chamber that can be manually or passively pressurized. The chamber stores pressurized liquid and releases it gradually through a borehole, eliminating the need for costly injection equipment while maintaining effective injection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic chamber is pre-filled and pressurized with the desired dosage of liquid before insertion into the tree. This preliminary pressurization allows the chamber to store energy and deliver the liquid over an extended period (from minutes to hours) without requiring external power sources or complex delivery systems, thereby reducing equipment cost while enabling extended dosage delivery.
2Device complexity
If gravity feeders are used to deliver liquid to a borehole, then equipment cost is reduced, but additional work is required to secure the container and flow can be impeded by tree resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic pressure stored within the elastic chamber to drive liquid through the conduit and into the tree. By pre-pressurizing the chamber, the system eliminates the need for gravity-based elevation and complex securing mechanisms. The pressurized liquid actively pushes against tree resistance and back-pressure from sapwood, ensuring reliable flow without requiring the container to be positioned above the borehole or requiring additional securing work.
3Power
If the chamber is inflated with pressurized liquid, then liquid ejection capability is improved, but chamber material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the chamber material to dynamically change its volume and pressure characteristics. The material is selected to be resiliently elastic, allowing it to expand when pressurized and contract as liquid is discharged. This parameter change enables the chamber to generate sufficient ejection pressure to overcome tree resistance while using materials that do not require extreme strength, as the pressure is distributed and temporary rather than static and maximum.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables efficient and prolonged delivery of liquids into trees without the need for costly equipment, as the pressurized liquid overcomes tree resistance and back-pressure, allowing for a single borehole to be used for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
The chamber is comprised of resiliently elastic material. The chamber is inflated with liquid when the liquid is pressurized externally of the chamber and delivered into the chamber through the conduit. The perimeter wall of the chamber exerts pressure on the liquid such that the liquid is ejected into the first end and outwardly of the second end of the conduit.
Implementation Method 2
The chamber is inflated with pressurized liquid... The perimeter wall of the chamber exerts pressure on the liquid such that the liquid is ejected into the first end and outwardly of the second end of the conduit.
Data Source
AI summary
A tree injection assembly and method includes fluidly coupling a source of pressurized liquid to a chamber. The chamber is comprised of a resiliently elastic perimeter wall and the chamber is inflated with a predetermined amount of the pressurized liquid. After being the chamber is inflated with the pressurized liquid, the perimeter wall exerts pressure on the pressurized liquid. An injection nozzle, fluidly coupled to the chamber with a conduit, is inserted into a borehole formed in a tree. The chamber is allowed to deflate to force the liquid into the tree through the borehole.