Cultivation and dispensing of bacteria

Abstract

An apparatus 100 for cultivating bacteria, comprising a conduit 101 having an upstream and a downstream section and the downstream section of the conduit 101 comprising first Venturi eductor means 111 with at least two inlet ports 117, 118 wherein one of said inlet ports 117 is in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and another one of said inlet ports 118 is in fluid communication with a supply of bacteria such that, in use, nutrient and bacteria are drawn into said Venturi eductor means 111 by a fluid passing along said conduit 101 and said Venturi eductor means 111.

1 . A waste material treatment apparatus for cultivating bacteria, comprising:
 a conduit having an upstream and a downstream section;   the downstream section of the conduit comprising first Venturi eductor means with at least two inlet ports,   wherein one of said inlet ports is in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and another one of said inlet ports is in fluid communication with a supply of bacteria such that, in use, nutrient and bacteria are drawn into said Venturi eductor means by a fluid passing along said conduit and said Venturi eductor means.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first valve associated with the conduit, said first valve controlling a supply of fluid along said conduit, wherein the first valve is a first timer operated valve operated by an electrically operated solenoid valve. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically operated solenoid valve is battery powered. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising second Venturi eductor means in fluid communication with the first Venturi eductor means, said second Venturi eductor means having at least one inlet port, wherein the at least one inlet port of the second Venturi eductor means is in fluid communication with a supply of air such that, in use, air is drawn into said second Venturi eductor means by a fluid passing therethrough and wherein the air supplied to the system is drawn from the atmosphere. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a casing formed by rotomoulding which houses the Venturi eductor means. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber, wherein, in use, the contents of the conduit flows into the mixing chamber to mix therein and wherein the mixing chamber has an outlet port, through which the contents of the mixing chamber is dispensed to a use location. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the mixing chamber further includes an aerator in the form of a bubbler or the like. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the mixing chamber further includes heating means. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the capacity of the mixing chamber is between 3.5 and 6 litres. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second valve, said second valve associated with the outlet port of the mixing chamber so as to, in use, control the opening and closing of said outlet port. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second valve is a second timer operated valve. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second timer operated valve is programmable to operate automatically at pre-set intervals. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the amount of fluid retained in the mixing chamber is determined by the shape of a conduit added upstream of the outlet port and located inside the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the conduit is a siphon. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the siphon is an inverted U shape with an outlet end in fluid communication with the outlet port of the mixing chamber and an inlet end positioned above said outlet end, the vertical distance between the inlet and outlet ends determining the height, and thus volume, of fluid retained in the mixing chamber after dispensing and the vertical distance between the inlet end and the apex of the inverted U shaped siphon determining the height, and thus volume, of fluid dispensed. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein, in use, at least 1 litre of fluid is retained in the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use, the first Venturi eductor means draws dormant bacteria suspended in a liquid. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use, the first Venturi eductor means draws nutrient in liquid form, said nutrient tailored to cultivate the bacteria upon mixing therewith. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a pressure regulator is located upstream of the first Venturi eductor means and, in use, ensures fluid is supplied at a desired pressure. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a double check valve is located upstream of the first Venturi eductor means. 
     
     
         21 . A method of introducing nutrient and bacteria into a conduit for mixing therein, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a conduit with an upstream and a downstream section, the downstream section of the conduit comprising a first Venturi eductor means with at least two inlet ports, wherein the at least two inlet ports of the first Venturi eductor means are in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and bacteria respectively,   b) passing a fluid along the conduit such that a pressure drop in the first Venturi eductor means draws nutrient and bacteria into said eductor to mix therein; and   c) allowing the bacteria in said mixture to cultivate for a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         22 . A method of introducing nutrient and bacteria into a conduit according to  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
 d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a desired amount of bacteria is cultivated; and   e) dispensing the fluid to a use location.   
     
     
         23 . A method of cultivating bacteria, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a conduit with an upstream and a downstream section, the downstream section of the conduit comprising a first Venturi eductor means with at least two inlet ports, wherein the at least two inlet ports of the first Venturi eductor means are in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and bacteria respectively,   b) passing a fluid along the conduit such that a pressure drop in the first Venturi eductor means draws nutrient and bacteria into said eductor to mix therein;   c) allowing the bacteria in said mixture to cultivate for a predetermined period of time;   d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a desired amount of bacteria is cultivated; and   e) dispensing the fluid to a use location.   
     
     
         24 . A method of cultivating bacteria, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an apparatus according to  claim 1 ,   b) passing a fluid along the conduit;   c) allowing the fluid to cultivate for a predetermined period of time;   d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a desired amount of fluid is cultivated; and   e) dispensing the fluid to a use location.   
     
     
         25 . A method of cultivating bacteria, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an apparatus according to  claim 6 ,   b) programming the first timer operated valve to automatically operate so as to pass a fluid along the conduit and into the mixing chamber;   c) allowing the fluid in the mixing chamber to cultivate for a predetermined period of time;   d) programming the first timer operated valve to automatically repeat steps (b) and (c) until a desired amount of fluid is contained in the mixing chamber; and   e) dispensing the contents of said mixing chamber to a use location.