Subsoil Ozone Barrier for Long-Term Termite Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for protecting buildings from termites, such as passive barriers and chemical fumigation, are inefficient and require frequent re-treatment, as termites can pass through small openings or develop resistance, leading to ongoing damage and labor-intensive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the detection of termites and the controlled infusion of ozone into the ground beneath a building at a concentration that discourages termites without harming humans, causing them to vacate and secrete a warning pheromone, which deters other termites, with ozone delivery adjusted based on termite presence and absence to maintain effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a passive barrier is used to protect buildings from termites, then the barrier can prevent termite attack, but even very small failures or openings allow termites to pass through completely, making 100% performance difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical passive barrier system with an active chemical treatment system using fumigating agents. Instead of relying on a physical barrier that can have small failures, the system uses gas-phase chemicals that can penetrate and treat the entire structure, achieving 100% coverage without the vulnerability of physical defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the treatment from a static physical barrier to a dynamic chemical treatment process. By controlling parameters such as fumigant concentration, exposure time, and distribution patterns, the system achieves reliable termite protection without the integrity issues that plague physical barriers.
2Reliability
If chemical fumigation is used to treat termite-infested buildings, then termites can be killed, but the treatment requires evacuating the building and cannot allow human habitation to continue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes to reduce the concentration of fumigating agents to levels that are lethal to termites but safe for human exposure. By precisely controlling the chemical parameters (concentration, exposure duration, distribution), the system achieves termite eradication while allowing continuous human occupancy without evacuation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If long-term continuous ozone infusion is used to protect buildings from termites, then termites can be deterred, but termites may develop resistance or the treatment becomes labor-intensive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or cyclic treatment cycles rather than continuous infusion. The system alternates between treatment phases and monitoring phases, applying fumigants at optimized intervals that prevent termite resistance development while maintaining long-term protection. This periodic approach reduces labor intensity and costs compared to continuous treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates monitoring and detection systems that provide feedback on termite presence and treatment effectiveness. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust treatment parameters dynamically, optimizing the balance between protection duration and treatment efficiency, and preventing termite resistance by adapting to changing conditions.
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
This approach creates a sustainable, long-term deterrent that reduces termite infestation by modifying their behavior and environment without continuous ozone exposure, minimizing resistance and reinfestation, thus protecting the building structure effectively.
Implementation Method 1
infusing a protected region of the ground below the building with ozone by delivering ozone into the said protected region at a determined concentration
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for protecting the lower regions of and structure of a building from damage or degradation by termites. The method comprising for the steps of creating a region in the ground below the building having properties hostile to termites whereby to discourage them from approaching the vicinity of the building. In one embodiment means for creating a hostile region in the ground below the building are provided by a pump which creates a superatmospheric pressure field in this region. In another embodiment, treatment agents such as ozone may be delivered to the ground region in order to provide a hostile effect to the termites by affecting their pheromone chemistry and/or their reproductive or communicative behavior. A secondary function of the present invention relates to the creation of a forced ventilation of the habitable region within which the apparatus of the present invention resides.