Patent ID: 6446383
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: A01M,E04B

Abstract:
A subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system in combination with a structure, the structure having a footing formed in a base soil, a stem wall formed on the footing and defining a perimeter of the structure, a fill material disposed on the base soil within the perimeter of the stem wall, and a concrete slab formed on the fill material and having openings extending therethrough, the subsurface pesticide injection and fluid extraction system comprising:a tubular conduit disposed within the fill material of the structure such that portions of the tubular conduit are disposed adjacent the openings of the concrete slab, the tubular conduit having a sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of pores extending through the sidewall of the tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration and constructed of an elastomeric material such that upon applying a positive internal pressure to the tubular conduit by the injection of pressurized pesticide into the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the release of pesticide from the tubular conduit into the fill material while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, upon applying a negative internal pressure to the tubular conduit the pores of the tubular conduit are caused to open to permit the drawing of fluid from the fill material into the tubular conduit while the pores remain substantially clog free and the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration, and upon removal of the positive and negative internal pressures the pores are caused to close so that the pores remain substantially clog free while the tubular conduit maintains its substantially circular cross-sectional configuration; and means for detachably connecting a source of pressurized pesticide to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby pesticide may be selectively injected into the fill material in an injection mode to form a chemical barrier against the infestation of pests into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab and for detachably connecting a vacuum source to at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular conduit whereby fluids may be selectively extracted from the fill material in an extraction mode to reduce the passage of fluids into the structure through the openings of the concrete slab.