Lawn chemical application system

Abstract

A lawn chemical application system is disclosed. The system comprises a dispenser having a lower chamber, an upper chamber, an upstream opening, and a downstream opening. The dispenser may be formed by a tee connector and a cylinder secured to an upper opening of the tee connector. Powered valves are operably connected to the upstream and downstream openings of the dispenser. The powered valves may be wired to open and close simultaneously. A lower portion of the upper chamber may be disposed below an upper portion of the lower chamber and above a lower portion of the lower chamber, leaving the lower portion of the lower chamber unobstructed over substantially its entire length. The lower portion of the upper chamber may have a plurality of openings to provide for adequate mixing of water with the chemicals stored in the upper chamber. In operation, soluble matter or other chemicals are placed in the upper chamber of the dispenser, and the two valves are opened simultaneously. Water flows through the first powered valve and into the dispenser, where the water is mixed with soluble matter or other chemicals stored in the upper chamber of the tee. The solution or mixture then passes from the dispenser, through the second powered valve, to one or more sprinkler heads of the irrigation system. When the application is finished, the valves are closed simultaneously.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a dispenser having a lower chamber, an upper chamber, an upstream opening, and a downstream opening;    a first powered valve operably connected to said upstream opening; and    a second powered valve operably connected to said downstream opening.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first water line secured to an upstream side of said first powered valve; and    a second water line secured to a downstream side of said second powered valve.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said first powered valve has a first conductor for supplying electricity to said first powered valve; and  
 said second powered valve has a second conductor for supplying electricity to said second powered valve, said first conductor being in electrical contact with said second conductor.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first and second powered valves comprise electrical solenoid valves.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a lower portion of said upper chamber is disposed below an upper portion of said lower chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said lower portion of said upper chamber is disposed above a lower portion of said lower chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said lower portion of said lower chamber is unobstructed over substantially its entire length.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said dispenser comprises a tee connector and a cylinder secured to an upper opening of said tee connector.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said upper chamber comprises a cylinder, said cylinder having an upper portion with a first diameter, and a lower portion with a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said upper chamber comprises a cylinder, said cylinder having a bottom having a plurality of openings passing therethrough and said cylinder having a side having a plurality of openings passing therethrough.  
     
     
         11 . An irrigation system, comprising: 
 a first water line;    an RPZ valve, said first water line being operably connected to an upstream side of said RPZ valve;    a second water line operably connected to a downstream side of said RPZ valve;    a first powered valve, said second water line being operably connected to an upstream side of said first powered valve;    a dispenser operably connected to a downstream side of said first powered valve;    a second powered valve operably connected to a downstream side of said dispenser;    a third water line operably connected to a downstream side of said second powered valve; and    a sprinkler head operably connected to said third water line.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said dispenser comprises an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a lower portion of said upper chamber being disposed below an upper portion of said lower chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said lower portion of said upper chamber is disposed above a lower portion of said lower chamber, and said lower portion of said lower chamber is unobstructed over substantially its entire length.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said upper chamber comprises a cylinder, said cylinder having an upper portion with a first diameter, and a lower portion with a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a lid removably secured to an upper portion of said cylinder; and    pressure release means operably connected to said lid for releasing pressure from within said cylinder before said lid is removed.    
     
     
         16 . A dispenser, comprising: 
 a tee connector having an upper opening, said tee connector forming a lower channel; and    a cylinder secured to said upper opening of said tee connector, said cylinder forming an upper chamber, said upper chamber having a lower portion disposed below an upper portion of said lower chamber and above a lower portion of said lower chamber;    said lower portion of said upper chamber having a bottom with a plurality of openings passing therethrough and having a side with a plurality of openings passing therethrough; and    said lower portion of said lower chamber being unobstructed over substantially its entire length.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a first reducer bushing operably connected to an upstream opening of said tee connector; and    a second reducer bushing operably connected to a downstream opening of said tee connector.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a first powered valve operably connected to said first reducer bushing; and    a second powered valve operably connected to said second reducer bushing.    
     
     
         19 . A method of irrigating an area, comprising: 
 (1) providing a dispenser, a first powered valve operably connected to an upstream side of said dispenser, and a second powered valve operably connected to a downstream side of said dispenser;    (2) opening said first and second powered valves;    (3) passing water through an RPZ valve;    (4) after step (3), passing said water through said first powered valve and into said dispenser;    (5) after step (4), adding soluble matter to said water;    (6) after step (5), passing said water from said dispenser and through said second powered valve;    (7) after step (6), passing said water to a sprinkler head; and    (8) after step (7), closing said first and second powered valves.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein step (5) comprises: 
 (a) passing a portion of said water from a lower chamber of said dispenser into an upper chamber of said dispenser to dissolve soluble matter stored within said upper chamber; and  
 (b) after step (a), passing a solution of water and soluble matter from said upper chamber to said lower chamber.