Apparatus for adding fertilizer to water in an underground sprinkling system and fertilizer therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for adding fertilizer to water flowing in an underground sprinkler system includes a pressure chamber with a bladder therein which holds liquid fertilizer. Water under line pressure surrounds the bladder in the chamber to pressurize the bladder and fertilizer therein. The pressurized liquid fertilizer flows from the bladder through a valve such as a needle valve which controls flow rate and through a valve such as a butterfly valve which opens to allow fertilizer flow when water flows through the line to which the fertilizer is to be added. With no flow of water, the valve is closed to prevent flow of fertilizer. The lid to the opening to the inside of the bladder used to fill the bladder with fertilizer is arranged to operate two valves. One controls flow of pressurized line water into the chamber to pressurize the bladder in the chamber when the lid is opened and the other opens a drain to depressurize the chamber when the lid is opened to allow fertilizer to be added to the bladder. A preferred fertilizer for use in the apparatus includes a bio-stimulant

We claim:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line, comprising: 
 a body forming a pressure chamber;    a bladder adapted to hold liquid fertilizer therein positioned within the pressure chamber;    a flow line connecting the bladder to a pipe through which water flows to sprinklers in a sprinkler system;    a flow valve in the flow line which closes to prevent flow through the flow line when no water is flowing through the pipe and opens to allow flow through the flow line when water flows through the pipe;    an access opening to the bladder in the pressure chamber to allow the bladder to be filled with a liquid fertilizer;    a cover to close the access opening;    a first valve operatively coupled to the cover to allow flow of water from the pipe to the pressure chamber when the cover is closed to thereby pressurize the pressure chamber, and to block flow when the cover is open; and    a second valve operatively coupled to the cover to open a drain to drain pressurized water from the pressure chamber when the cover is opened and to close the drain when the cover is closed;    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 1 , additionally including a regulator to regulate flow through the flow line when the flow valve is open.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 2 , wherein the regulator is a needle valve in the flow line.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover includes a handle with a closed position when the cover is closed and an open position when the cover is open, wherein the first valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to open the first valve when the handle is in closed position and to close the first valve when the handle is moved to open position.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 4 , wherein the second valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to close the second valve when the handle is in closed position and to open the second valve when the handle is moved to open position.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 5 , wherein the handle includes a caming surface that interacts with the actuators of the first and second valves.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second valves are positioned in respective bores and the actuators extend from the respective bores to contact the caming surface of the handle.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 7 , wherein the flow valve is a butterfly valve positioned in the pipe and operated by flow of water through the pipe at the location of the valve in the pipe.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 8 , wherein the butterfly valve is biased to closed position, and wherein the butterfly valve includes wings slidably mounted to move back and forth in the direction of flow through the pipe between a position wherein the valve is closed and a position wherein the valve is open, the wings being biased to the closed position, the open position being in the direction of flow.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a handle with a closed position when the cover is closed and an open position when the cover is open, wherein the first valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to open the first valve when the handle is in closed position and to close the first valve when the handle is moved to open position.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 10 , wherein the second valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to close the second valve when the handle is in closed position and to open the second valve when the handle is moved to open position.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 11 , wherein the handle includes a caming surface that interacts with the actuators of the first and second valves.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second valves are positioned in respective bores and the actuators extend from the respective bores to contact the caming surface of the handle.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow valve is a butterfly valve positioned in the pipe and operated by flow of water through the pipe at the location of the valve in the pipe.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 14 , wherein the butterfly valve is biased to closed position, and wherein the butterfly valve includes wings slidably mounted to move back and forth in the direction of flow through the pipe between a position wherein the valve is closed and a position wherein the valve is open, the wings being biased to the closed position, the open position being in the direction of flow.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 1 , in combination with a liquid fertilizer in the bladder, wherein the liquid fertilizer comprises: 
 nitrogen containing material;    phosphorus containing material;    potassium containing material; and    a bio-stimulant that increases microbial activity in the soil to which it is applied to convert minerals applied to the soil and in the soil to forms that are usable by vegetation growing in the soil.    
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to  claim 16 , wherein the fertilizer includes between about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about 20% Phosphorus, about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to about 25% bio-stimulant.  
     
     
         18 . A fertilizer for mixing with water in a sprinkler system to fertilize vegetation during watering of such vegetation with the sprinkler system, comprising: 
 nitrogen containing material;    phosphorus containing material;    potassium containing material; and    a bio-stimulant that increases microbial activity in the soil to which it is applied to convert minerals applied to the soil and in the soil to forms that are usable by vegetation growing in the soil.    
     
     
         19 . A fertilizer according to  claim 18 , wherein the bio-stimulant is derived from at least azotobacter, bacillus, and clostridium bacteria.  
     
     
         20 . A fertilizer according to  claim 18 , wherein the fertilizer includes between about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about 20% Phosphorus, about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to about 25% bio-stimulant.