Insect control system and method
The present invention provides an automated insect control system. The system utilizes a container tank, a canned pump, distribution system, and a programmable digital timer to allow a user to control the times per day and the duration in which to apply insecticide to an area. A remote control is provided which permits a user to commence and terminate spraying of insecticide as the need arises without resorting to reprogramming of the spraying schedule.
1. A mosquito and insect control system comprising:
a container for containing a liquid insecticide, a fill tube connected thereto;
a sight class engaged with the container for determining the insecticide level therein;
a first float and a second float within the container;
the first float operable to detect a first low level of insecticide condition within the container tank and visually indicate said first low level condition;
the second float operable to detect a second low level of insecticide condition within the container tank and to de-energize the pump upon said second low level condition;
a distribution system for delivering liquid insecticide from the container to a plurality of remote locations;
a pump in operable engagement with the distribution system for pumping the liquid insecticide from the container to the plurality of remote locations;
a programmable digital timer for controlling the pump operable to energize and de-energize the pump for a pre-selected duration of time at a pre-selected time;
a handheld wireless remote control unit to manually energize and de-energize the pump from a remote location;
a hardwired remote control unit to manually energize and de-energize the pump from a remote location; and
nozzles at the removed end of the distribution system to direct the spray of insecticide, the nozzles being atomizing nozzles comprised of a stainless steel housing, a non-corrosive, bronze fine-mesh filter, and a check valve to reduce or prevent dripping at the termination of a spray interval;
a pressure gauge to monitor the pressure of the insecticide within the distribution system;
an anemometer to measure wind speed in the spray area of the insect control system and de-energize the pump when wind speed exceeds a determined limit;
a rain gauge to measure rainfall amounts and de-energize the pump when rainfall exceeds a determined limit;
a programmable external control panel in communicative contact with the programmable digital timer; and
an automatic telephone dialer in communicative contact with a telephone circuit.
2. A mosquito and insect control system comprising:
a container for containing a liquid insecticide;
a distribution system for delivering liquid insecticide from the container to a plurality of remote locations;
nozzles at the removed end of the distribution system to direct the spray of insecticide; and
a pump in operable engagement with the distribution system for pumping the liquid insecticide from the container to the plurality of remote locations;
programmable digital timer for controlling the pump operable to energize and de-energize the pump for a pre-selected duration of time, at a pre-selected time;
a remote override unit and wherein the programmable digital timer controller is adapted to energize the pump and to de-energize the pump in response to a signal from the remote override;
a means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions.
3. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is an anemometer, the anemometer measuring wind speed in the spray area of the insect control system. and de-energizing the pump when wind speed exceeds a determined limit.
4. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is a rain gauge, the rain gauge measuring rainfall amounts over a determined period and de-energizing the pump when rainfall exceeds a determined limit.
5. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 further comprising a programmable external control panel in communicative contact with the programmable digital timer, the programmable external control panel comprising a telephone circuit and an automatic telephone dialer.
6. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide is comprised of a container lid and a container tank and wherein the container lid is secured to the container tank with a fastening strap, the fastening strap comprising a latching mechanism at the disposed ends thereof and secured with a tamper proof seal.
7. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 6 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide further comprises a fill tube connected thereto and a fill tube cap at the distal end of the fill tube, the fill tube cap secured to the fill tube with a tamper proof seal.
8. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 wherein the pump remains energized only so long as a continuous signal from the remote override unit is received; the pump being de-energized when the signal terminates.
9. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 wherein the pump is energized in response to a first signal from the remote override unit and is de-energized in response to a second signal from the remote override unit.
10. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 wherein the programmable digital timer controller is adapted to operate from an alternating current power source.
11. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 2 wherein the programmable digital timer controller includes a backup direct current power source.
12. A mosquito and insect control system comprising:
a container for containing a liquid insecticide;
a distribution system for delivering liquid insecticide from the container to a plurality of remote locations;
nozzles at the removed end of the distribution system to direct the spray of insecticide; and
a pump in operable engagement with the distribution system for pumping the liquid insecticide from the container to the plurality of remote locations;
programmable digital timer for controlling the pump operable to energize and de-energize the pump for a pre-selected duration of time at a pre-selected time;
a first float and a second float;
the first float operable to detect a first low level of insecticide condition within the container tank and visually indicate said first low level condition;
the second float operable to detect a second low level of insecticide condition within the container tank and to de-energize the pump upon said second low level condition; and
a means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions.
13. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 12 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is an anemometer, the anemometer measuring wind speed in the spray area of the insect control system and de-energizing the pump when wind speed exceeds a determined limit.
14. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 12 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is a rain gauge, the rain gauge measuring rainfall amounts over a determined period and de-energizing the pump when rainfall exceeds a determined limit.
15. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 12 further comprising a programmable external control panel in communicative contact with the programmable digital timer, the programmable external control panel comprising an automatic telephone dialer in communicative contact with a telephone circuit.
16. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 12 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide is comprised of a container lid and a container tank and wherein the container lid is secured to the container tank with a fastening strap, the fastening strap comprising a latching mechanism at the disposed ends thereof and secured with a tamper proof seal.
17. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 16 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide further comprises a fill tube connected thereto and a fill tube cap at the distal end of the fill tube, the fill tube cap secured to the fill tube with a tamper proof seal.
18. A mosquito and insect control system comprising:
a container for containing a liquid insecticide;
a distribution system for delivering liquid insecticide from the container to a plurality of remote locations;
nozzles at the removed end of the distribution system to direct the spray of insecticide; and
a pump in operable engagement with the distribution system for pumping the liquid insecticide from the container to the plurality of remote locations;
programmable digital timer for controlling the pump operable to energize and de-energize the pump for a pre-selected duration of time at a pre-selected time, said programmable digital timer controller adapted to visually indicate a low level of insecticide condition within the container;
a low level sensor to signal the programmable digital timer controller at pre-selected levels of insecticide within the container;
a means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions; and
a communications means for sending status information to a remote location and receiving acknowledgements from the remote location.
19. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 18 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is an anemometer, the anemometer measuring wind speed in the spray area of the insect control system and de-energizing the pump when wind speed exceeds a determined limit.
20. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 18 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is a rain gauge, the rain gauge measuring rainfall amounts over a determined period and de-energizing the pump when rainfall exceeds a determined limit.
21. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 18 wherein the communications means comprises an automatic telephone dialer in communicative contact with a telephone circuit.
22. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 18 wherein the communications means comprises a radio transmitter and receiver.
23. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 18 further comprising a programmable external control panel in communicative contact with the programmable digital timer.
24. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 18 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide is comprised of a container lid and a container tank and wherein the container lid is secured to the container tank with a fastening strap, the fastening strap comprising a latching mechanism at the disposed ends thereof and secured with a tamper proof seal.
25. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 24 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is an anemometer, the anemometer measuring wind speed in the spray area of the insect control system and de-energizing the pump when wind speed exceeds a determined limit.
26. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 24 wherein the means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions is a rain gauge, the rain gauge measuring rainfall amounts over a determined period and de-energizing the pump when rainfall exceeds a determined limit.
27. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 24 wherein the communications means comprises an automatic telephone dialer in communicative contact with a telephone circuit.
28. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 24 wherein the communications means comprises a radio transmitter and receiver.
29. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 28 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide further comprises a fill tube connected thereto and a fill tube cap at the distal end of the fill tube, the fill tube cap secured to the fill tube with a tamper proof seal.
30. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 24 further comprising a programmable external control panel in communicative contact with the programmable digital timer.
31. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 24 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide is comprised of a container lid and a container tank and wherein the container lid is secured to the container tank with a fastening strap, the fastening strap comprising a latching mechanism at the disposed ends thereof and secured with a tamper proof seal.
32. The mosquito and insect control system of claim 24 wherein the container for containing a liquid insecticide further comprises a fill tube connected thereto and a fill tube cap at the distal end of the fill tube, the fill tube cap secured to the fill tube with a tamper proof seal.
33. A mosquito and insect control system comprising:
a container for containing a liquid insecticide;
a distribution system for delivering liquid insecticide from the container to a plurality of remote locations;
nozzles at the removed end of the distribution system to direct the spray of insecticide, wherein the nozzle ends are flexible to permit directional adjustments of the insecticide spray; and
a pump in operable engagement with the distribution system for pumping the liquid insecticide from the container to the plurality of remote locations;
programmable digital timer for controlling the pump operable to energize and de-energize the pump for a pre-selected duration of time at a pre-selected time; and
a means for de-energizing the pump in response to determined weather conditions;
a communications means for sending status information to a remote location and receiving acknowledgements from the remote location.
34. An automated method of applying insecticide to an area providing a pump, a container adapted to receive a liquid insecticide, a distribution system with a plurality of nozzles to direct the spray of the liquid insecticide, a programmable digital timer, and a
remote override transmitter, comprising the steps of:
directing the spray of insecticide with the plurality of nozzles;
defining discrete intervals for insecticide application;
defining the duration of application for each of the defined intervals;
initiating the application of insecticide by energizing the pump at the beginning of each interval;
terminating the application of insecticide by de-energizing the pump at the expiration of the allotted time for the indicated interval;
allowing the transmitting signals from the remote override transmitter to initiate and terminate application of insecticide; and
terminating the application of insecticide by de-energizing the pump in high wind or rain conditions.