WO2010124316A1

WO2010124316A1 - Method & device to improve plant growth

Info

Publication number: WO2010124316A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terry James Allen
Original assignee: Terry James Allen
Priority date: 2009-04-26
Filing date: 2009-04-26
Publication date: 2010-11-04

Abstract

A method and device for improving the growth of plants by the use of exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine. The device includes an elongated, hollow, triangular cross-sectioned body with bores at each end to accept conduits extending from the exhaust pipe (11) of a tractor, mower, harvester or blower (12), the exhaust emissions exiting through an opening positioned close to the plants, such that carbon dioxide and nitrogen within the emissions are absorbed by the plants.

Description

TITLE: METHOD & DEVICE TO IMPROVE PLANT GROWTH

THIS INVENTION relates to greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, it is directed to the beneficial use of the exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines. Although not limiting, the present invention finds use with the type of internal combustion engines found in self-propelled agricultural machines such as tractors, mowers, harvesters and similar and also in hand" propelled machines such as garden mowers, leaf blowers and the like,

Throughout this specification, unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was, at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of the common general knowledge, or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

Climate change is an important current issue. Popular opinion is that, inter g//a, automobile exhaust emissions are contributing to a detrimental greenhouse effect with the expulsion of gaseous carbon dioxide Into the atmosphere from the tailpipes of vehicles. Also, such exhaust emissions include nitrogen oxides which contribute to both smog and acid rain, Although the scientific evidence to support this alleged detrimental affect of the so-called greenhouse gas emissions has not been fully established, and it is clear that the automobile is not the prime source of such emissions, there is public pressure to reduce the emissions of such gases from motor vehicles.

Similarly, there is a move for private households and individuals to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by use of alternative energy sources or, at least, by choosing more efficient fossil-fuelled devices that reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Emission controls developed over approximately the past 40 years have certainly been successful in reducing the emissions produced by motor vehicles in terms of quantity per distance travelled. However, substantial increases in both the distance travelled by each vehicle and in the number of vehicles used have meant that the overall reduction in pollution has been slowed. Some of these emission controls have also found use in household machines such as garden lawn mowers. Nevertheless, despite these advances and the existence of alternative fuels, it seems quite clear that fossil fuels will remain the primary source of energy for the internal combustion engine for the immediate future.

While continued development of emission control technology Is expected to further reduce the expulsion of "undesired" gases from the exhaust systems of Internal combustion engines, the present inventor has noted that the major components of these gases play important roles in supporting life; plants undertake photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates releasing oxygen in the process; nitrogen is essential for many biological processes and is also crucial for any life on Earth - it is in all amino acids, is incorporated into proteins, and Is present in the bases that make up nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA; in plants, much of the nitrogen is used in chlorophyll molecules which are essential for photosynthesis and further growth.

It would thus be advantageous if these emissions from the use of hydrocarbon fuels could put the carbon and nitrogen that they contain to a beneficial use.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method to Improve growth and/or productivity of a plant by the use of the exhaust emissions from the type of internal combustion engine found in an agricultural machine such as a tractor, mower, harvester, blower and the like, said method including directing said exhaust emissions towards said plant as said machine passes over said plant sufficient for said plant to absorb at least some of said emissions.

As a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device to direct the exhaust emissions from the type of Internal combustion engine found In an agricultural machine such as a tractor, mower, harvester, blower and the like as said machine passes over a plant, said device including:

a connector connecting a body to at least one exhaust pipe of said machine and adapted to allow said exhaust emissions to pass through said connector into said body;

said body having an outlet in close proximity to said plant allowing said emissions to exit said body in a direction substantially towards said plant.

Preferably, said outlet is positioned at the base of said body.

Preferably, said outlet is substantially the full width of said body.

Optionally, the distance between said outlet and said plant is adjustable when connected to said machine.

In one embodiment, said distance is manually adjustable.

In another embodiment, said distance is automatically adjustable to maintain a set said distance from said plant as said machine passes over terrain containing one or more of said plant. Where the present invention is to be used over a large ground area, said device may be attached to a self-propelled machine such as a tractor, mower or harvester. For a smaller ground area, typically a household lawn, said device may be attached to a hand- (or self-) propelled garden mower or attached to a hand-held leaf blower and the like.

As said emissions are at an elevated temperature when exiting said outlet, this property can be used to reduce the surface tension of the dew or other moisture that may be present on a multiple of said plants - for example, when said plants are grass that form a bowling green, golfing green, sports pitch, garden lawn or the like - which assists the plants to absorb that moisture.

Although not wishing to be bound by theory, It is well known that plants can directly use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis to convert the gas into carbohydrates releasing oxygen in the process. Exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine are known to include free carbon dioxide. It is further postulated that the moisture present as dew can not only absorb carbon dioxide but also dissolve the emitted nitrogen oxides to form soluble nitrogen- containing substrates, plants being known to be able to absorb such substrates.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1a is a perspective illustration of one component of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1b is a perspective illustration of the component of FIG. 1a in combination with additional components of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an Illustration of the first embodiment of the present invention in use; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of the present invention,

Referring to the FIGS. 1-2, the device (1) includes an elongated hollow triangular cross-sectioned body (2) with bores 3(a,b) extending through each end 4(a,b) of the body (2) (FIG. 1a). One side (5) of the body (2) is of a greater depth than the opposing side (6) and angled to create an opening (7) extending the full width of the body (2), First conduits 8(a,b) (FIG. 1b) are connected to the respective bores 3(a,b) of the body (2), converging to be connected to one end of a single second flexible conduit (9). The other end (10) of the conduit (9) can be connected to the exhaust pipe (11) of a mower (12) (FIG. 2).

In use (FIG. 2), the device (1) is supported on a bar (13) by any suitable means, for example, by a pair of chains 14(a,b) as illustrated. The dimensions and positioning of the bar (13) and chains 14(a,b) are such that the opening (7) of the body (2) is positioned close to the grass when the device is in use. The bar (13) is connected to the rear of a mower (12) powered by an internal combustion engine in a manner to enable the end (10) of the conduit (9) to be connected to the exhaust pipe (11) of the mower (12). When the mower is in use, for example, cutting the grass of a sporting field, spent gas from the exhaust pipe (11 ) passes through the conduits (9, 8a, 7b) into the body (2) and out of the opening (7) passing in close proximity to the grass which can absorb at least part of the gaseous emissions. Any moisture on the grass can be absorbed by the grass and any excess evaporated by the hot exhaust gases passing thereover. In evaluating turf growth characteristics, typically, the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) is invoked whereby aesthetic and functional aspects of turf are rated on a scale from 1 to 9, from 9 being a perfect or ideal quality to 1 being the poorest. One or more aspects such as colour, texture, density, vigour, disease resistance, drought tolerance, frost tolerance, traffic tolerance, thatch accumulation, and mowing quality can be rated. An overall rating is then determined for the turf, a rating of 6 or above being generally considered "acceptable".

A convenient initial visual assessment of the "quality" of a turf can readily be determined from the NTEP ratings for turf colour and turf density. Yellow green turfs are rated (1 ,2), light green (3,4), intermediate green (5,6), dark green (7,8) and dark shiny green (9). Turf density rates from 1 (bare ground visible) to 9 (very dense).

To evaluate the effectiveness of the device of FIGS. 1(a,b), 2, four plots of Cyndon dactylon (couch grass/Bermuda grass) variety Windsor Green were prepared, each of approximately 1 sq. m. in area. One plot was left as control with no fertilizers or water added during the evaluation period. For each of the three remaining plots, the device of FIGS. 1 (a,b), 2, attached to a Toro Fairway

D400 Series mower, was passed over the plot in the early morning, when dew was present thereon, daily for four weeks. No other treatment was undertaken on those remaining plots.

After each pass, a significant reduction in the dew present was noted. At the end of the evaluation period, using the NTEP ratings for turf colour and turf density, the control plot had an overall rating of 4,5 ("unacceptable" rating) while the remaining plots each had an overall rating of 6.5 (more than "acceptable"), representing a significant Improvement in the overall quality of the turf after using the present invention. Turning to the second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, a leaf blower (15) of the type well known commercially is adapted by affixing a conduit (16) between its exhaust outlet (17) and its air outlet (18) such that exhaust gases exiting the outlet (17) pass into the outlet (18) to be expelled from the end (19) of the outlet (18). When in ordinary use, the operator of this hand-held leaf blower not only removes leaves and other debris from the area but also simultaneously improves the subsequent growth and/or productivity of that area.

It is estimated that, by using the present invention, the amount of fertiliser required for a given area can be reduced by approximately 50% and that the use of pesticides could possibly be eliminated as lawn grub and lawn mite were seen to be adversely affected by the use of the present invention. Further, by assisting the uptake of dew or other moisture by a plant, a reduction in additional watering should be possible.

the present invention thus offers a number of advantages which include:

beneficial use of at least a portion of exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines which otherwise would be lost to the atmosphere;

an ability to remove moisture from a sports playing field relatively easily and quickly at any given time thus reducing the likelihood of injury should a player slip on a wet or damp playing surface;

reduces dependence on artificial fertilizers and pesticides to be applied to the plant thus leading to reduced growing costs and to less pollution from such chemicals; and possible reduction in additional watering, thus saving a precious resource.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are only exemplifications of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method to improve growth and/or productivity of a plant by the use of the exhaust emissions from the type of internal combustion engine found in an agricultural machine such as a tractor, mower, harvester, blower and the like, said method including directing said exhaust emissions towards said plant as said machine passes over said plant sufficient for said plant to absorb at least βome of said emissions.

2. A device to direct the exhaust emissions from the type of internal combustion engine found in an agricultural machine such as a tractor, mower, harvester, blower and the like as said machine passes over a plant, said device including:

3. A device as defined in Claim 2 wherein, said outlet is positioned at the base of said body.

4. A device as defined in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein, said outlet is substantially the full width of said body.

5. A device as defined in any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein, the distance between said outlet and said plant is adjustable when connected to said machine.

6. A device as defined in Claim 5 wherein, said distance is manually adjustable.

7. A device as defined in Claim 5 wherein, said distance is automatically adjustable to maintain a set said distance from said plant as said machine passes over terrain containing one or more of said plant.

8. A device as defined in any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein, said device is attached to a self-propelled said machine.

9. A device as defined in any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein, said device is attached to a hand-propelled said machine.