Abstract: A container for use in a closed application includes a valve mounted to a discharge opening of the container and rotatable with the container for controlling the discharge of material from the container. The valve includes an element for engaging corresponding structure in a receptacle for receiving the contents of the container. The element engages and locks the valve in the receptacle when the valve is opened and the contents are being discharged from the container into the receptacle. The valve element and the corresponding structure on the receptacle cooperate so that the container can only be received in and removed from the receptacle when the valve is closed. In this manner, the contents in the container can be discharged only when the container is received within the receptacle and the container is rotated in a direction to open the valve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dispensing chemical material, and in particular, granular, agricultural material, from a moving device driven over terrain to be treated with the material. A metering system for dispersing the material includes on apertured metering disk positioned above a rotatable impeller. The apertured disk meters material from a product container, by gravity feed, onto the impeller below at a rate proportional to the linear speed at which the apparatus is driven to dispense material at a uniform density over the terrain. The metering disk is a component of a product container which is removably mounted to the device. The impeller rotates at a constant speed to disperse the deposited material at a uniform distance from the apparatus, and the position on which the material is deposited on the impeller is adjustable.

Abstract: A container for use in a closed application system includes a valve mounted to a discharge opening of the container and rotatable with the container for controlling the discharge of material from the container. The valve includes an element for engaging corresponding structure in a receptacle for receiving the contents of the container. The element engages and locks the valve in the receptacle when the valve is opened and the contents are being discharged from the container into the receptacle. The valve element and the corresponding structure on the receptacle cooperate so that the containers can only be received in and removed from the receptacle when the valve is closed. In this manner, the contents in the container can be discharged only when the container is received within the receptacle and the container is rotated in a direction to open the valve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dispensing chemical material, and in particular, granular, agricultural material, from a moving device driven over terrain to be treated with the material. A metering system for dispersing the material includes on apertured metering disk positioned above a rotatable impeller. The apertured disk meters material from a product container, by gravity feed, onto the impeller below at a rate proportional to the linear speed at which the apparatus is driven to dispense material at a uniform density over the terrain. The metering disk is a component of a product container which is removably mounted to the device. The impeller rotates at a constant speed to disperse the deposited material at a uniform distance from the apparatus, and the position on which the material is deposited on the impeller is adjustable.

Abstract: A container for use in a closed application system includes a valve mounted to a discharge opening of the container and rotatable with the container for controlling the discharge of material from the container. The valve includes an element for engaging corresponding structure in a receptacle for receiving the contents of the container. The element engages and locks the valve in the receptacle when the valve is opened and the contents are being discharged from the container into the receptacle. The valve element and the corresponding structure on the receptacle cooperate so that the container can only be received in and removed from the receptacle when the valve is closed. In this manner, the contents in the container can be discharged only when the container is received within the receptacle and the container is rotated in a direction to open the valve.

Abstract: A pump has a rotor with two or more flexible vanes forming one or more compartments between adjacent vanes. The rotor is mounted offset relative to a rotor sleeve such that the volume of the compartments varies as the rotor rotates in the sleeve. Incoming fluid is supplied to the compartments along a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the vanes. Fluid is discharged from the compartments through discharge slots in the sleeve leading into a discharge outlet which is tangential relative to the plane of rotation of the vanes. Each flexible vane is formed from at least two thin leaf springs separated by a layer of laminate and joined to a shoe which engages the inner surface of the sleeve as the rotor rotates. The pump in accordance with the present invention is energy efficient and uses significantly less power than comparable known devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dispensing materials, and in particular, granular chemical agricultural material, from a moving device driven over terrain to be treated with the material. The device has a metering system for dispensing the material including a rotatable apertured disk for metering material from a product container and dispensing the material in controlled metered quantities. The metering disk is removable from its operating position within the dispensing device for inspection, repair or replacement purposes, without disassembling the overall apparatus, and a guide is provided for returning the metering disk to its operating position within the dispensing device. The apertures in the metering disk are oriented so that each aperture partially overlaps each adjacent aperture to result in continuous flow of the metered material through the metering disk as it rotates.

Abstract: A pump has a rotor with two or more flexible vanes forming one or more compartments between adjacent vanes. The rotor is mounted offset relative to a rotor sleeve such that the volume of the compartments varies as the rotor rotates in the sleeve. Incoming fluid is supplied to the compartments along a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the vanes. Fluid is discharged from the compartments through discharge slots in the sleeve leading into a discharge outlet which is tangential relative to the plane of rotation of the vanes. Each flexible vane is formed from at least two thin leaf springs separated by a layer of laminate and joined to a shoe which engages the inner surface of the sleeve as the rotor rotates. The pump in accordance with the present invention is energy efficient and uses significantly less power than comparable known devices.

Abstract: A container for use in a closed application system includes a valve mounted to a discharge opening of the container and rotatable with the container for controlling the discharge of material from the container. The valve includes an element for engaging corresponding structure in a receptacle for receiving the contents of the container. The element engages and locks the valve in the receptacle when the valve is opened and the contents are being discharged from the container into the receptacle. The valve element and the corresponding structure on the receptacle cooperate so that the container can only be received in and removed from the receptacle when the valve is closed. In this manner, the contents in the container can be discharged only when the container is received within the receptacle and the container is rotated in a direction to open the valve.

Abstract: A device for metering flowable material is formed from two components which are movable relative to each other. The relative movement of the components varies the width of a gap between the components to control the flow of material through the gap. One of the movable components carries a rotatable element to direct the flow of material towards the gap, and a guide element is provided to direct propelled material into the gap. The rotatable element is preferably a disk, and the gap is a channel located proximate to the periphery of the disk. An element mountable to and rotatable with the disk can be provided to act on and reduce the size of solid or semi-solid material carried by flowing fluid to permit such material to flow through the device.

Abstract: A system for delivery of fluid material, and more particularly, a bait station for delivery of fluid insecticide, is formed from a base having at least one feeding station, and a reservoir for storing fluid insecticides beneath the base. The insecticide is transferred by capillary action from the reservoir to the feeding station through at least one connecting tube. At least one hollow member extends upwardly from the base to support a cover removably mounted over the base, and to provide a conduit for refilling the reservoir with fluid. The cover and the base are designed to provide access to insects to the feed station when the cover is mounted over the base.

Abstract: A container for use in a closed application system includes a valve mounted to a discharge opening of the container and rotatable with the container for controlling the discharge of material from the container. The valve includes an element for engaging corresponding structure in a receptacle for receiving the contents of the container. The element engages and locks the valve in the receptacle when the valve is opened and the contents are being discharged from the container into the receptacle. The valve element and the corresponding structure on the receptacle cooperate so that the container can only be received in and removed from the receptacle when the valve is closed. In this manner, the contents in the container can be discharged only when the container is received within the receptacle and the container is rotated in a direction to open the valve.

Abstract: An in ground termiticide/bait tube for insect detection and control includes a first outer housing tube fixedly implanted into the ground and a second inner tube removably receivable within the housing. The inner tube contains bait for detecting and controlling termite activity, and can be inspected or replaced by removing the inner tube from the outer tube. The inner tube is mounted within the outer tube by rotation along a lead thread such that maximum relative rotation assures alignment of openings in the inner and outer tubes. The device further includes a flexible cap to provide tampering resistance when the inner and outer tubes are installed below ground, a metering cup removably received in the inner tube, and lugs on the metering cup to provide rotational movement of the metering cup and the inner tube relative to fixed outer tube.

Abstract: A container for use in a closed application system includes a valve mounted to a discharge opening of the container and rotatable with the container for controlling the discharge of material from the container. The valve includes an element for engaging corresponding structure in a receptacle for receiving the contents of the container. The element engages and locks the valve in the receptacle when the valve is opened and the contents are being discharged from the container into the receptacle. The valve element and the corresponding structure on the receptacle cooperate so that the container can only be received in and removed from the receptacle when the valve is closed. In this manner, the contents in the container can be discharged only when the container is received within the receptacle and the container is rotated in a direction to open the valve.

Abstract: An in ground termiticide/bait tube for insect detection and control includes a first outer housing tube fixedly implanted into the ground and a second inner tube removably receivable within the housing. The inner tube contains bait for detecting and controlling termite activity, and can be inspected or replaced by removing the inner tube from the outer tube. The inner tube is mounted within the outer tube by rotation along a lead thread such that maximum relative rotation assures alignment of openings in the inner and outer tubes. The device further includes a flexible cap to provide tampering resistance when the inner and outer tubes are installed below ground, a metering cup removably received in the inner tube, and lugs on the metering cup to provide rotational movement of the metering cup and the inner tube relative to fixed outer tube.

Abstract: A dispenser gun for selectively dispensing controlled quantities of viscous or semi-viscous materials, and in particular liquid pesticides or insecticides, employs a vacuum driven operating system for discharging and reloading the viscous or semi-viscous materials to be discharged. The dispenser gun is designed to create pressure differential in adjoining chambers which, in conjunction with a cooperating valve system, enables the discharge of precisely metered quantities of material and prevents continued and undesired discharge or dripping from a discharge nozzle after a preselected quantity of material has been discharged from the dispenser gun. The handle of the device includes structure for pre-selecting one or more predetermined quantities of material to be discharged from the dispenser in repeatable sequences. The dispenser gun also includes structure for removably receiving a replaceable reservoir of viscous or semi-viscous material to be discharged from the gun.

Abstract: A container for use in a closed application system includes a valve mounted to a discharge opening of the container and rotatable with the container for controlling the discharge of material from the container. The valve includes an element for engaging corresponding structure in a receptacle for receiving the contents of the container. The element engages and locks the valve in the receptacle when the valve is opened and the contents are being discharged from the container into the receptacle. The valve element and the corresponding structure on the receptacle cooperate so that the container can only be received in and removed from the receptacle when the valve is closed. In this manner, the contents in the container can be discharged only when the container is received within the receptacle and the container is rotated in a direction to open the valve.

Abstract: An in ground termiticide bait tube device for insect detection and control includes a first outer housing tube fixedly implanted into the ground and a second inner tube removably receivable within the outer housing. The inner tube contains bait for detecting and controlling termite activity, and can be inspected or replaced by removing the inner tube from the outer tube. The inner tube is mounted within the outer tube by rotation along a lead thread such that maximum relative rotation assures alignment of openings in the inner and outer tubes. The device further includes a flexible cap to provide tampering resistance when the inner and outer tubes are installed below ground. The cap is designed to cooperate with the outer tube to oppose rotational movement of the cap and inner tube in a direction resulting in the removal of the inner tube from the outer tube when the device is in an operational state.

Abstract: An implant dart has a head of solid material and a tubular body that contains one or more drug-delivery implant packages. The head has a blade at its front end with a chisel type point with a beveled end and a scooped face extending rearwardly to the body. The body is formed as a helical coil that makes the body tubular and permits the coil turns to be compressed and engage to make the body relatively rigid when the dart is injected into the subject. A passage from the head to the interior of the body provides fluid communication between the subject's body fluids and the implant packages. Wings extend from the head to guide entry of the dart into the subject and to lock it against withdrawal. The complete system comprises at least one dart and an injection mechanism which retains a subject's body part on a platen and feeds darts into the body part and generally parallel to the platen.

Abstract: A device for converting linear movement into rotary movement includes a pair of pulleys mounted to a linearly movable supporting element. Selective linear movement of the supporting element drives a rotary element by a drive cable engaging the pulleys and the rotary element. The device is particularly adapted for use as a rotary valve for controlling the flow of product from an upper storage container to a lower hopper of an agricultural dispensing vehicle. An agricultural vehicle incorporating the rotary valve system of the present invention is provided with vertical supports for the product container enabling the vehicle to carry containers of larger size and increased storage capacity.