Abstract: An animal is stunned before being slaughtered by first being enclosed in a chamber that is then evacuated to an intermediate pressure well below the normal high pressure the animal is used to until the animal loses consciousness but not reflexes. Then the chamber is evacuated again to a low pressure well below the intermediate pressure and this very low pressure is maintained until the animal is without reflexes. The two evacuation steps each take place in less than about 5 sec and together they take about 7 sec. The low pressure is held for about 30 sec. The intermediate pressure can be for a pig about 150 mbar and the low final pressure about 30 mbar.

Abstract: Readily portable apparatus for exterminating animal pests, particularly rodents such as gophers which burrow through the ground. The apparatus includes a small, lightweight internal combustion engine, and means for directing the engine exhaust into exterminating relationship to the pests, such as into a burrow or tunnel of a ground burrowing rodent. The preferred engine is a two-cycle engine which burns a fuel/oil mixture to produce exhaust containing smoke which asphyxiates, carbon monoxide which effectively poisons, and intense pressure pulsations which tend to drive a rodent from an underground tunnel, such that the rodent faces the delema of remaining underground and dying from the effects of the exhaust gas or coming to the surface and exposing himself to death in other ways above ground. In the presently preferred apparatus, the engine is mounted on an inverted bowl-shaped exhaust shroud which seats on the ground to direct the engine exhaust into an underground rodent burrow.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of fumigating agricultural products in storage or transportation facilities for controlling pests by means of hydrogen phosphide which is then bound and/or decomposed to a substantial extent; according to the invention, a fumigating composition releasing hydrogen phosphide is placed in a manner known per se among products stored in conventional storage facilities, whereupon the stored products are covered with a flexible film, foil or sheet to isolate them from the surrounding storage space, and the hydrogen phosphide diffusing from the gas containing space above and among the stored products during or after fumigation is bound by adsorption, physical or chemical absorption and/or decomposed by chemical or physical means. The invention also relates to a specific solid catalyst suitable for the decomposition of hydrogen phosphide.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel built-in centralized system for exterminating insects in a building, and particularly to such a system which may be installed during construction without modification, interruption or departure from traditional building design and/or techniques. This system includes a common reservoir as a source of fumigating agent, valve structure for controlling the flow of fumigant into a distribution network incorporated into the structure of the building and, preferably, structure for programming the system. This system may be used in both residential and industrial buildings.

Abstract: A method and device for killing fire ants in a mound comprising a shroud which will fit over the mound and conform to the contour of the ground. The shroud is provided with a relief valve, a tube or hose for admitting an exhaust gas into the shroud and a handle for lifting the device. Exhaust gases directed into the mound and into cavities made by the fire ants will exterminate the ants.

Abstract: In the fumigation of bulk materials such as grain with hydrogen phosphide (phosphine) the gas containing hydrogen phosphide is caused to circulate in a closed loop passing through the bulk material and past the zone of phosphine generation in pulses having a flow rate, duration and pulse intervals so designed that excessive or dangerous accumulations of gas are avoided and that optimum conditions for pest control are attained throughout the system as soon as possible. The intersticial gas of the commodity is changed by the circulation from 5 to 15 times within the period required for 90% of the available phosphine of the metal phosphide to be released.

Abstract: In a method for knock down of injurious insects or for freeing a particular environment therefrom by heating fumigation comprising dipping a part of a porous absorptive wick in an insecticidal solution to allow it to absorb the solution and indirectly heating said wick around the top to fumigate the absorbed insecticidal solution, a method for knock down of injurious insects or for freeing a particular environment therefrom, which comprises exposing the insects to the vapor, characterized in that a C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon solution containing as an active ingredient 2-methyl-4-oxo-3-(2-propynyl)cyclopent-2-enyl chrysanthemate is used as said insecticidal solution, a porous absorptive wick prepared by caking a powdery inorganic substance with a binding agent is used as said porous absorptive wick, and besides that said absorptive wick is indirectly heated around the top to a temperature in a range of from 105.degree. to 130.degree. C.

Abstract: In the fumigation of bulk materials such as grain with hydrogen phosphide (phosphine) the gas containing hydrogen phosphide is caused to circulate in a closed loop passing through the bulk material and past the zone of phosphine generation in pulses having a flow rate, duration and pulse intervals so designed that excessive or dangerous accumulations of gas are avoided and that optimum conditions for pest control are attained throughout the system as soon as possible. The intersticial gas of the commodity is changed by the circulation from 5 to 15 times within the period required for 90% of the available phosphine of the metal phosphide to be released.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sachet for pest control, composed at least in part of a gas- and water vapor-permeable substantially anhydrous non-woven fabric, said fabric being a plural component non-woven fabric comprising at least one material-forming fibers and having a melting or softening temperature above 165.degree. C. and a second material having thermoplastic properties ad a melting or softening temperature below 145.degree. C. The invention also relates to the use of the sachets for accommodating gas releasing pest control agents, in particular a composition based on alkaline earth and/or earth metal phosphides releasing phosphine gas.

Abstract: Liquid nitrogen is poured in an amount sufficient to suffocate the field mouse to death into one of the openings of a burrow formed in the ground, and the poured liquid nitrogen is then evaporated to thereby fill the burrow with the evaporated nitrogen and cause the evaporated nitrogen to issue from the other openings by expansion thereof, whereby the field mouse in the burrow is suffocated to death. The method gives no adverse effect on living creatures except the field mice to which the method is applied and enables efficiently getting rid of mice.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning, aerating and fumigating grain comprises chutes having screens therein over which the grain is passed. Conduits interconnect the chutes with a blower mechanism so that the grain to be cleaned is subjected to a vacuum which causes the fine debris, trash and the like to be passed through the screen. The fine debris is entrained in a stream of air and directed exteriorly of the grain storage structure. The conduits connected to the blower assembly may be detached from the grain cleaning chutes and connected to tubes inserted into the grain to permit heated gases and moisture to be removed from the stored grain. An air entrained fumigant may also be directed through the tubes into the grain for controlling insects and the like.

Abstract: Pesticidally active novel phosphoric (phosphonic) acid ester amides have the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl,R.sup.2 represents optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted alkoxy,R.sup.3 represents optionally substituted alkyl andHal represents halogen,and are obtained if phosphoric (phosphonic) acid ester amides of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and Hal have the meanings given above, are reacted with trialkyl-chlorosilanes of the formulaClSi(R.sup.3).sub.3 (III)whereinR.sup.3 has the meaning given above, in the presence of an acid acceptor and, if appropriate, in the presence of a solvent. The compounds (I) can be used as pest-combating agents, particularly as insecticides and acaricides.

Abstract: A thermoevaporative insecticidal apparatus comprises a heat generating element 1 closely fitted to a porous carrier 6 the surface of which is impregnated with an effective ingredient and a receptacle 7 composed of a receiving tray 8 on which a plurality of supporting stands are disposed said heat generating element 1 being supported on the receptacle 7 so that said porous carrier 6 faces down opposite the receiving tray 8 and that said tray 8 is spaced from said porous carrier 6 by a distance of at least 1 cm; anda safety container assembly for use in the above type thermoevaporative insecticidal apparatus wherein a heat resistant supporting member 18 is attached to the annular outer surrounding walls 13 of a container member 14 so that said heat generating element is supportable by said heat resistant supporting member 18.

Abstract: In an apparatus for successively igniting a plurality of incense sticks or other elongated combustible articles, a series of timer discs on a common shaft is rotated by an electric motor. The rim of each disc is provided with a bore for holding one end of an incense stick. The opposite end of the stick is supported beneath an igniter element. As the motor shaft rotates, the timer discs are successively rotated to move the incense sticks, one at a time, into contact with the igniter element. Following ignition, each incense stick is further rotated for exposure to the atmosphere until fully consumed. The speed of rotation of the timer discs is controlled to provide complete consumption of an incense stick during each shaft revolution.

Abstract: Storage stable, quickly acting tablets for combatting vertebrates living preponderantly in underground structures are provided consisting of a mixture of commercial magnesium phosphide and at least one molding aid placed in a cavity depending on the size of the tablet in a water vapor impermeable, tear and break resistant film covered with a water vapor impermeable, non-tear resistant, non-break resistant film, the two films being sealed together tightly against water vapor and air at their edges.

Abstract: A mixture of an active ingredient such as insecticide, fungicide, repellent or the like and a blowing agent is heated with a hot air current produced by a suitable heat source and a fan to thermally decompose the blowing agent and cause the hot air current and the gas resulting from the thermal decomposition to vaporize and diffuse the active ingredient. The mixture is accommodated within a passage formed in a container and the passage is provided therein with a fan for forcing the hot air current therethrough. A fumigating method and an apparatus of this invention ensure very efficient, quick and uniform diffusion of the vapor of the active ingredients and are usable for controlling vermin and other purposes with high safety and great convenience.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fumigating stored agricultural commodities such as grain and the like, includes an applicator for porous envelopes or sachets of prepackaged pesticides of the type which react with moisture in the air and produce a toxic gas. The applicator comprises an elongate strip constructed of a flexible, porous, non-hygroscopic material. The strip has two plies which are arranged in an overlying relationship and are interconnected along a side edge thereof, and includes a plurality of seams which extend laterally across the strip and regularly interconnect the plies, and form pockets shaped for receiving the prepackaged pesticide sachets therein. The seams form a flexible hinge between adjacent pockets and interconnect the same to facilitate folding. A sachet is inserted into each pocket, the pocket is closed, and the filled applicator is deployed onto the free surface of an aggregation of stored commodity and arranged in a flat and fully extended position thereover.

Abstract: A thermally diffusible composite comprising a thermally diffusible medicine such as allethrin, a thermogenic composition including an alkali metal sulphide or the like, carbonaceous material or the like and, if desired, a filler such as cellulose. In one embodiment, this invention relates to such a thermally diffusible composite the thermogenic composition or the whole of which is enclosed in an oxygen-impermeable container.

Abstract: A mixture of an active ingredient such as insecticide, fungicide, antiseptic or the like and a blowing agent is heated indirectly with a heat evolved by contacting an exothermic substance with water to decompose the blowing agent and to volatilize the active agent. The mixture is accommodated in at least one compartment of a container while the exothermic substance is accommodated in at least one further compartment provided with water supplying means, said compartments being separated from each other by a partition which provides a heat transferring surface.

Abstract: A mixture of an active ingredient and a blowing agent is heated indirectly with a heating element to thermally decompose the blowing agent and to volatilize the active ingredient. The mixture and the heating element are separated from each other by a partition which provides a heat transfer surface.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a microcide which consists of a first polymeric material housing a second polymeric material which second material depolymerizes when the device is in the environment of use to form an active microcide. The microcide controls the presence of micro-organisms in the environment over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A kit for soil fumigating a seed or seedling bed which includes one or more thin-walled metal cans containing volatile fumigant and a device for puncturing the sidewall of the one or more thin-walled metal cans while under a polymeric film tarpaulin covering the seed bed. The puncturing device is a generally U-shaped bent strip of sheet metal having a substantially flat base portion and an arm portion projecting from each end of the base portion with a sharp pointed prong portion formed from the base portion and projecting therefrom about midway the ends of the base portion and in the same general direction as the substantially parallel arm portions. The base portion is long enough to space the arms apart to receive a can to be punctured, preferably in slidable frictional relation, and the arms are long enough to engage the can. The kit preferably includes a planar support element such as a piece of wooden board.