Abstract: An inoculum transfer apparatus for a bee hive having a hive opening includes: (a) a body mountable to the hive; (b) a bee pathway in the body for providing passage for bees between the hive opening and an outside environment external the hive; (c) a reservoir in the body above the bee pathway for storing a powdered inoculum, the reservoir having a reservoir outlet at a lower end thereof; and (d) a vibratory dispenser in the body adjacent the reservoir outlet for controlling dispensing of the powdered inoculum from the reservoir outlet to the bee pathway via a vibratory drive.

Abstract: An inoculation system for a bee hive having a hive opening includes (a) a body mountable to the hive intermediate the hive opening and an outside environment external the hive, (b) a bee pathway in the body for providing passage between the hive opening and the outside environment when the body is mounted to the hive, (c) a removable cartridge installed in the body and having a cartridge chamber storing an inoculum, and (d) an automatic inoculum dispenser in the body. The dispenser is operable to controllably dispense the inoculum from the cartridge chamber into the bee pathway to dust bees passing through the bee pathway with the inoculum.

Abstract: An elongated tank for a slurry injection system has a side wall disposed in a vertical direction and top wall. The tank further comprises an end cap coupled to the side wall comprising a slurry injection channel and defining a bottom side of the tank. The bottom side is angled downward from the side wall toward the slurring injection channel.

Abstract: A fluid machine and method of operating the same includes a pump portion having a pump impeller chamber, a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a turbine portion having a turbine impeller chamber, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet and a shaft extending between the pump impeller chamber and the turbine impeller chamber. The fluid machine also includes a first bearing and a second bearing spaced apart to form a balance disk chamber. A balance disk is coupled to the shaft and is disposed within the balance disk chamber and a turbine impeller coupled to the impeller end of the shaft disposed within the impeller chamber. A first thrust bearing is formed between the balance disk and the first bearing. The thrust bearing receives fluid from at least one of the pump outlet or the turbine inlet.

Abstract: A slurry injection system includes low and high pressure clear fluid manifolds. Low pressure clear fluid is pressurized and communicated to high pressure manifold. A blender unit communicates slurry through a sensor system that generates a flow rate signal and a density signal of the low pressure slurry. The slurry pressurizer is in fluid communication with the high pressure clear fluid manifold through a bypass pump, a mixer, the blender unit and the low pressure clear fluid manifold. The slurry pressurizer forms high pressure slurry that is communicated to the mixer and communicates fluid to the low pressure clear fluid manifold. The mixer mixes the high pressure slurry and high pressure clear fluid from the high pressure clear fluid manifold to form a mixture that is communicated to a slurry injection site. A controller controls the bypass pump using the flow rate and density to control a density of slurry.

Abstract: A slurry injection system includes low and high pressure clear fluid manifolds. Low pressure clear fluid is pressurized and communicated to high pressure manifold. A blender unit communicates slurry through a sensor system that generates a flow rate signal and a density signal of the low pressure slurry. The slurry pressurizer is in fluid communication with the high pressure clear fluid manifold through a bypass pump, a mixer, the blender unit and the low pressure clear fluid manifold. The slurry pressurizer forms high pressure slurry that is communicated to the mixer and communicates fluid to the low pressure clear fluid manifold. The mixer mixes the high pressure slurry and high pressure clear fluid from the high pressure clear fluid manifold to form a mixture that is communicated to a slurry injection site. A controller controls the bypass pump using the flow rate and density to control a density of slurry.

Abstract: A fluid machine and method of operating the same comprises a pump portion, turbine portion and a center bearing therebetween. The method includes communicating lubricant to a thrust bearing cavity disposed between a turbine impeller and a thrust wear ring, communicating lubricant from the thrust bearing cavity to a center axial shaft passage of a shaft through an impeller passage of the turbine impeller, communicating lubricant through the axial shaft passage to a bearing clearance between a shaft and a center bearing through a first radial shaft passage and a second radial shaft passage and communicating lubricant through the bearing clearance to a pump impeller chamber and a turbine impeller chamber.

Abstract: An inoculation system for a bee hive having a hive opening includes (a) a body mountable to the hive intermediate the hive opening and an outside environment external the hive, (b) a bee pathway in the body for providing passage between the hive opening and the outside environment when the body is mounted to the hive, (c) a removable cartridge installed in the body and having a cartridge chamber storing an inoculum, and (d) an automatic inoculum dispenser in the body. The dispenser is operable to controllably dispense the inoculum from the cartridge chamber into the bee pathway to dust bees passing through the bee pathway with the inoculum.

Abstract: Described is an isolated strain of the fungus Colonostachys rosea termed BVT Cr-7 useful as a biological control agent for the treatment of plants. The isolated strain, formulations comprising said strain and/or spores derived from said strain may be applied to plants or plant materials in order to improve plant yield, to improve plant growth, or for the treatment or prevention of diseases or pathogens in the plant.

Abstract: An elongated tank for a slurry injection system has a side wall disposed in a vertical direction and top wall. The tank further comprises an end cap coupled to the side wall comprising a slurry injection channel and defining a bottom side of the tank. The bottom side is angled downward from the side wall toward the slurring injection channel.

Abstract: A system and method for injecting slurry includes a first elongated tank comprising a first end having a first volume and a second end having a second volume, said first volume separated from the second volume, a first pipe having a first end external to the first elongated tank receiving clear fluid and a second end coupled to the first volume and a plurality of slurry valves fluidically coupled to the first elongated tank. The plurality of slurry valves have a first state communicating high pressure slurry from the second volume to the slurry injection site and a second state communicating low pressure slurry into the second volume. A plurality of clear fluid valves are fluidically coupled to the first elongated tank and communicate high pressure clear fluid to the first volume in the first state and communicate low pressure clear fluid from the first volume in the second state.

Abstract: A slurry injection system and method for operating the same has a plurality of clear fluid pumps receiving clear fluid from a low pressure clear fluid manifold, pressurizing the clear fluid into high pressure clear fluid and communicating the high pressure clear fluid into the high pressure clear fluid manifold. A blender unit has low pressure slurry therein. A mixer receives clear fluid. A slurry pressurizer is in fluid communication with the high pressure clear fluid manifold through a bypass pump. The slurry pressurizer forms high pressure slurry by pressurizing the low pressure slurry from the blender unit using high pressure manifold clear fluid that is communicated to the mixer and communicates low pressure fluid to the low pressure clear fluid manifold. The mixer mixes the high pressure slurry and clear fluid to form a mixture that is communicated to a slurry injection site.

Abstract: A slurry injection system has a plurality of slurry valves fluidically coupled to first and second elongated tanks. In the first state, the slurry valves communicate high pressure slurry from the second volume to a site and communicate low pressure slurry to the fourth volume. In the second state, the slurry valves communicate low pressure slurry to the second volume and high pressure slurry from the fourth volume to the slurry injection site and in the intermediate state communicating high pressure slurry simultaneously from the first elongated tank and the second elongated tank to the slurry injection site. In the first state clear fluid valves fluidically communicate high pressure clear fluid to the first volume and low pressure clear fluid from the third volume and, in a second state, communicate low pressure clear fluid from the first volume and high pressure clear fluid to the third volume.

Abstract: A slurry injection system having a plurality of clear fluid pumps receiving clear fluid from a low pressure clear fluid manifold and pressurizing the clear fluid into high pressure clear fluid and communicating the high pressure clear fluid into the high pressure clear fluid manifold. A blender unit having low pressure slurry therein. A mixer receives clear fluid through a first valve. A slurry pressurizer in fluid communication with the high pressure clear fluid manifold through a second valve. The slurry pressurizer forms high pressure slurry by pressurizing the low pressure slurry from the blender unit using high pressure manifold clear fluid that is communicated to the mixer and communicates low pressure fluid to the low pressure clear fluid manifold. The mixer mixes the high pressure slurry and clear fluid from the first valve to form a mixture that is communicated to a slurry injection site.

Abstract: A system and method for injecting slurry includes first and second elongated tanks. Tanks include pipes extending therefrom. Slurry valves and clear fluid valves are fluidically are coupled the first and second elongated tanks. Slurry valves have a first state communicating high pressure slurry from a second volume of the first tank to the injection site and communicating low pressure slurry to a fourth volume of the second tank, and a second state communicating low pressure slurry to the second volume and high pressure slurry from the fourth volume to the injection site. The clear fluid valves communicate pressurized clear fluid to the first volume of the first tank and communicate low pressure clear fluid from the third volume of the second tank in a first state and communicating low pressure clear fluid to the first volume and pressurized clear fluid to the third volume in a second state.

Abstract: A pressure intensifier system includes a housing including a piston separating a first volume and a second volume. A high pressure pump, a low pressure manifold are coupled to a drain line and a slurry tank. A plurality of valves comprise a first state coupling the high pressure pump to the first volume and coupling the second volume to the low pressure manifold so a first portion of fluid in the second volume is communicated to the slurry tank and a second portion of the fluid is communicated to the drain. The valves comprise a second state coupling the high pressure pump to the second volume and coupling the first volume to the low pressure manifold so a first portion of fluid in the first volume is in communication with the slurry tank and a second portion of the fluid in first volume is in communication with the drain.

Abstract: A pressure intensifier system includes a housing including a piston separating a first volume and a second volume. A high pressure pump, a low pressure manifold are coupled to a drain line and a slurry tank. A plurality of valves comprise a first state coupling the high pressure pump to the first volume and coupling the second volume to the low pressure manifold so a first portion of fluid in the second volume is communicated to the slurry tank and a second portion of the fluid is communicated to the drain. The valves comprise a second state coupling the high pressure pump to the second volume and coupling the first volume to the low pressure manifold so a first portion of fluid in the first volume is in communication with the slurry tank and a second portion of the fluid in first volume is in communication with the drain.

Abstract: Described is an isolated strain of the fungus Colonostachys rosea termed BVT Cr-7 useful as a biological control agent for the treatment of plants. The isolated strain, formulations comprising said strain and/or spores derived from said strain may be applied to plants or plant materials in order to improve plant yield, to improve plant growth, or for the treatment or prevention of diseases or pathogens in the plant.

Abstract: A bee vectoring apparatus includes a tray for positioning in the exit path of a beehive. The tray includes a bottom, a bee entrance end, and a bee exit end. The apparatus includes a tray lid positioned above the bottom, with first and second barrier walls extruding downwardly from the lid. A ceiling extends between bottom ends of the first and second barrier walls.

Abstract: A powder plant treatment formulation for application to plants by insect vectoring includes: a plant treatment agent; a stabilizing agent bonded to the plant treatment agent for stabilizing the plant treatment agent; a moisture absorption agent for absorbing moisture from the formulation; an attracting agent for attracting the formulation to plants; and a diluent.