Apparatus, system, and method for dispensing fluid into plant protection devices

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for dispensing fluid into plant protection devices. A plant protection device has a plurality of flexible longitudinal tubes configurable to surround and protect a plant. A rigid, substantially cylindrical structure with a bottom end and a top end is provided to support the tubes during filling. A manifold is connected to the top end of the cylindrical structure and includes at least an inlet port that is configured to receive fluid into the manifold. A plurality of outlet ports are connected to the manifold and are configured to dispense fluid simultaneously out of the plurality of the outlet ports into the plurality of longitudinal tubes of the plant protection device.

1 . An apparatus for filling plant protection devices with a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a circular manifold comprising at least one inlet port, the inlet port configured to receive fluid into the manifold; and   a plurality of outlet ports spaced around the circular manifold and connected to the manifold, the outlet ports configured to dispense fluid simultaneously from the manifold out each of the plurality of outlet ports into a plant protection device.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid, substantially cylindrical structure with a bottom end and a top end, the cylindrical structure configured to support the plant protection device during filling. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the circular manifold is connected around the top end of the cylindrical structure. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus  claim 3 , further comprising one or more fasteners that fasten the manifold to the top end of the cylindrical structure. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet ports each comprise a flexible cylindrical tube configured to transport fluid to the plant protection device. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of port connectors, the port connectors securing the outlet ports to the manifold. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet control valve that selectively controls the flow of fluid into the manifold. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more outlet port valves that selectively control the flow of fluid out of one or more of the outlet ports. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of outlet ports is connected to a corresponding independent outlet port valve such that the flow of fluid through each outlet port may be independently controlled by its corresponding outlet port valve. 
   
   
       10 . A system for filling plant protection devices with a fluid, the system comprising:
 a plant protection device comprising a plurality of longitudinal tubes configurable to surround and protect a plant, each longitudinal tube having an opening configured to receive a fluid into the longitudinal tube;   a rigid, substantially cylindrical structure with a bottom end and a top end;   a manifold connected to the top end of the cylindrical structure, the manifold comprising at least an inlet port, the inlet port configured to receive fluid into the manifold; and   a plurality of outlet ports connected to the manifold and configured to dispense fluid simultaneously out of the plurality of the outlet ports into the plurality of tubes of the plant protection device.   
   
   
       11 . The System of  claim 10 , further comprising a fluid source hose connected to the inlet port, the hose configured to provide fluid to the manifold. 
   
   
       12 . The System of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more fasteners that fasten the manifold around the top end of the cylindrical structure. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the outlet ports each comprise a flexible cylindrical tube configured to transport fluid to the plant protection device. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of port connectors, the port connectors securing the outlet ports to the manifold. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an inlet control valve that selectively controls the flow of fluid into the manifold. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more outlet port valves that selectively control the flow of fluid out of one or more of the outlet ports. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom end of the rigid structure comprises an opening sized to receive a growing plant. 
   
   
       18 . A method for filling plant protection devices with a fluid, the method comprising:
 placing a plant protection device filling apparatus in proximity with a plant protection device, the plant protection device comprising a plurality of longitudinal tubes configurable to surround and protect a plant, each longitudinal tube having an opening configured to receive a fluid into the longitudinal tube, the plant protection device filling apparatus comprising
 a circular manifold comprising at least one inlet port, the inlet port configured to receive fluid into the manifold; and 
 a plurality of outlet ports spaced around the circular manifold and connected to the manifold, the outlet ports configured to dispense fluid simultaneously from the manifold out each of the plurality of outlet ports into the longitudinal tubes of the plant protection device; 
   placing each of the plurality of outlet ports into a corresponding opening of a longitudinal tube of the plant protection device; and   dispensing fluid simultaneously through each of the outlet ports into the longitudinal tubes of the plant protection device.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising activating an inlet control valve to control the dispensing of fluid into the longitudinal tubes of the plant protection device. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing the plant protection device around a plant.