Abstract: A method of decontaminating a freight container comprising the steps of: a) placing a freight container on a support; b) using an enclosure to substantially enclose the container on the support; and c) applying heat so that hot air moves within the enclosure around at least upright ends, sides and a roof of the container to kill or substantially weaken undesired life forms on or immediately adjacent to the exterior of the container.

Abstract: A method of decontaminating a freight container comprising the steps of: a) placing a freight container on a support; b) using an enclosure to substantially enclose the container on the support; and c) applying heat so that hot air moves within the enclosure around at least upright ends, sides and a roof of the container to kill or substantially weaken undesired life forms on or immediately adjacent to the exterior of the container.

Abstract: A weed killing apparatus comprises an application head at one end of the apparatus and a handle at another end of the apparatus by which a user standing on the ground may move the application head over a weed or weeds in the ground. The application head is heated and has at least one steam outlet in or adjacent the application head. Steam producing means is arranged to produce steam and is controllable by the user to direct steam from the steam outlets when the application head is placed over a weed or weeds, so that the weed(s) is/are killed by a combination of heat from the application head and steam. A method of killing or controlling weeds comprises applying the heated application head over the weed(s) to heat the weed(s) through direct physical contact or radiant heating from the application head while simultaneously directing stem from the application head on to the weed(s).

Abstract: An applicator for applying liquid media has an applicator head (10) attached to a stem (1). The applicator head (10) includes a spherical applicator freely rotatable on an axle (6) which extends at right angles to the stem (1) that is of a length that an operator can hold the stem (1), and rest the surface of the applicator (10) on the ground. The applicator (10) has a porous resilient envelope (11) which surrounds a sleeve (7) located on the axle (6), a reservoir in the stem (1) charges the porous envelope (11) with liquid media.

Abstract: A method of killing or controlling vegetation particularly along roadside berms involves the application of pressurized hot water from a moving applicator head in close proximity to the ground. The pressurized hot water is applied as jets of hot water from an applicator head at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. and the flow rate of about 10 liters/minute supplied from one or more pumps operating at a pump pressure of between 200 to 100 psi. The apparatus is mounted on or in a vehicle such as a van, containing a water tank (1), a boiler (2) arranged to heat pressurized water supplied by a pump (4) under pressure to the boiler (2). The pump (4) is a piston pump which supplies the pressurized water through the boiler to a hand held applicator (5) or optionally a towed boom applicator (6). The hand held applicator (5) has an applicator head inside a shroud so that the pressurized hot water is applied to the surface of vegetation as jets of water within the confines of the shroud.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering constant quantities of fluid, comprises a chamber, a piston (6) reciprocally movably within the chamber, a fluid inlet (3) to the chamber on one side of the piston, and a fluid outlet (5) from the chamber on the other side of the piston (6). A valve (12) through the outlet side of the chamber to the fluid outlet (5). Spring means (10) urges the piston (6) and subsidiary spring means (16) urges the valve (12) through the piston (6) towards the inlet side of the chamber, such that fluid pressure on the inlet side of the chamber will cause the piston (6) to move to eject a predetermined quantity of fluid from the outlet side, and on the return stroke fluid will flow through the valve (12) in the piston (6) to refill the outlet side for the subsequent piston delivery stroke.

Abstract: A method of killing or controlling vegetation particularly along roadside berms involves the application of pressurized hot water from a moving applicator head in close proximity to the ground. The pressurized hot water is applied as jets of hot water from an applicator head at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. and a flow rate of about 10 liters/minute supplied from one or pumps operating at a pump pressure of between 200 and 1000 psi. The apparatus is mounted on or in a vehicle such as a van, containing a water tank (1), a boiler (2) arranged to heat pressurized water supplied by a pump (4) under pressure to the boiler (2). The pump (4) is a piston pump which supplies the pressurized water through the boiler to a hand held applicator (5) or optionally a towed boom applicator (6). The hand held applicator (5) has an applicator head inside a shroud so that the pressurized hot water is applied to the surface of vegetation as jets of water within the confines of the shroud.