Title of Invention

AN APPARATUS FOR POST HARVEST TREATMENT AND PRESERVATION OF BAMBOO

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboo comprising :i) a reservoir tank (1), ii) an outlet with a drainage valve at the lower end of said reservoir tank for the drainage of the treatment solution, iii) a pressure gauge (5) at the upper cover (2) of said reservoir tank characterized in that iv) said storage tank is cylindrical, v) a first inlet (3) for an air pump, vi) a second inlet (4) for introduction of the treatment solution, vii) a pipe (11) at the lower end extending into coupling unit (16) for holding end of a bamboo.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboo. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The cheap cost of bamboo and its strength has made it efficient substitute for wood. It is widely used as a basic timber for low cost housing. In rural housing it is used as poles, purlins, trusses, rafters, mats for walls and ceilings, doors, windows and fence posts. Besides it is widely used in making of baskets, decorative items, bamboo mats, ladders, instruments, implements etc. It also finds large-scale use in pulp and paper industry and manufacture of bamboo mat-boards; ply boards, and corrugated sheets. Durability of bamboo is very short (1-36 months) due to its inherent characteristics. The presence of large amount of hemicellulose, starch and abundance of moisture makes is highly susceptible to biodegrading agents like white-rot, soft-rot, brown rot group of decay fungi and stain fungi and insects like borers and termites. A substantial amount of bamboo is destroyed due to these biological agents during use and storage in untreated condition. Post harvest preservative treatments have been found significantly effective in minimizing the loss caused by these biotic agents, in enhancing the durability of bamboo and its products and making bamboo available during lean period through safer storage. Durability of bamboo can be enhanced from 3 years to 30 years depending upon chemical preservative, bamboo species and end uses. Amongst the various known methods of bamboo treatment, Boucherie process is most preferred and widely used method for bamboo treatment. In this process the preservative is forced from one end of the sample to be treated under the hydrostatic pressure, generated by the gravitational force. The preservative solution takes over the space occupied by the plant sap after displacing it, which drips out of the butt end. When the preservative solution replaces the sap present in the timber completely the process is said to be complete. The apparatus for this process consisted a reservoir containing the water borne preservative, placed at a considerable height and connected by pipe to a system of outlets, placed at a low level. The sample under treatment is connected by rubber tubing/hosepipe to the outlets for preservative solution. A cavity at top/bottom of the bamboo culm was made as reservoir for preservative solution. The cavity thus made was given a deep incision at the base to expose the longitudinal vessels to conduct the solution. The bamboo was then kept erect with the reservoir on the top. The use of rubber tube was suggested to convey the preservative solution in this modified Boucherie process. The original Boucherie apparatus was modified by adding a pressure generating simple device like hand/foot pump pressure and a pressure gauge to monitor the pressure in reservoir. In the modified Boucherie apparatus, the pressure is generated by using an ordinary hand/foot pump to generate the pressure to push the preservative solution through bamboo. Thus, the use of gravitational force is eliminated and the apparatus became a portable set. The modified Boucherie aparatus was attended with several disadvantages. The shape of tank is rectangular which requires additional energy and time to generate the desired pressure. The coupling unit for connecting the bamboo with the preservative solution is made of hosepipe/rubber tube. Fitting/connecting the bamboo to this unit is a tedious job. It requires 15-20 minutes of time. Due to its elastic nature, many a times it swells and burst due to applied pressure and spillage of preservative solution occurs or some time bamboo is thrown away from the coupling unit resulting in excessive spillage. Moreover, there is recurring expenditure on coupling unit due to damage and change. Due to lack of drainage valve in the apparatus, complete cleaning of reservoir tank is not possible and therefore additive sediments accumulate in the tank in repeated refilling of treatment solution. These sediments move with the solution and plug the vessels of bamboo / hindering/delaying the treatment process. The handle provided with the apparatus did not afford a balanced handling. Further, there was no protection for pressure gauge and air inlet. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to propose an improved apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboos. A further object of the invention is to propose an improved apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboos, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and as described hereinabove. A still further object of the invention is to propose an improved apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboos, which is efficient. Another object of the invention is to propose an improved apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboos, which is low cost and portable. Still another object of the invention is to propose an improved apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboos, which substantially reduces the processing period. STATEMENT OF INVENTION According to this invention there is provided an apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboo comprising : i) a reservoir tank, ii) an outlet with a drainage valve at the lower end of said reservoir tank for the drainage of the treatment solution, iii) a pressure gauge at the upper cover of said reservoir tank characterized in that iv) said storage tank is cylindrical, v) a first inlet for an air pump, vi) a second inlet for introduction of the treatment solution, vii) a pipe at the lower end extending into coupling unit for holding end of a bamboo. DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and wherein: Fig.l shows the apparatus of the present invention for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboo. Referring to fig.l, the apparatus comprises a reservoir tank 1 made of any suitable metal or plastic material which does degrade with the treatment. Specifically, in accordance with this invention reservoir tank 1 is of a cylindrical shape and avoids the disadvantages with a reservoir tank 1 of a rectangular section as known with the prior art. Thus, the energy required to pump air of a cylindrical shape is much less than that of a tank of a rectangular shape. Reservoir tank 1 has a cover 2 with a first inlet 3 for an air pump and a second inlet 4 for the treatment solution. Thus, a difference between the apparatus of the prior art which had only a single; inlet for both the solution and air pump the apparatus of the present invention has two inlets, which avoids the disadvantages of a single inlet. Cover 2 has a pressure gauge 5, and as already known in the art for measuring the pressure within tank 1. A ring handle 6 is provided on cover 2. Tank 1 is supported on a plurality of legs 7. Further, the base 8 of the tank 1 has a tank cleaning valve 9. A level indicator 10 is provided with tank 1 to indicate the level of the solution within tank 1. Specifically, in accordance with one of the aspects of this invention, a flow pipe 11 is provided in the proximity of the base 8 of tank 1. Flow pipe is made of the same material as of tank 1 and extends into a plurality of a single coupling unit integrally formed with pipe 11. Coupling unit comprises a proximal member 12 held to a distal member 13, an oil seal 14 provided therebetween. The solution from tank 1 flows into the coupling unit 16 having one end of a bamboo held thereto. Screens 15 are provided with distal member 13 for holding the bamboo. WE CLAIM; 1. An apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboo comprising : i) a reservoir tank (1), ii) an outlet with a drainage valve at the lower end of said reservoir tank for the drainage of the treatment solution, iii) a pressure gauge (5) at the upper cover (2) of said reservoir tank characterized in that iv) said storage tank is cylindrical, v) a first inlet (3) for an air pump, vi) a second inlet (4) for introduction of the treatment solution, vii) a pipe (11) at the lower end extending into coupling unit (16) for holding end of a bamboo. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of coupling units are provided with said pipe. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said coupling unit comprises a proximal member (12) with a distal member (13) wherein said distal member is removably held to the proximal member and an oil seal (14) is provided between the proximal and distal member. 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said proximal member is integrally provided with said pipe. 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a tank cleaning valve (9) provided at the base (8) of said tank. 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a level indicator (10) within said tank so as to indicate level of the treatment solution within the tank. 7. An apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboo substantially as herein described and illustrated. This invention relates to an apparatus for post harvest treatment and preservation of bamboo comprising :i) a reservoir tank (1), ii) an outlet with a drainage valve at the lower end of said reservoir tank for the drainage of the treatment solution, iii) a pressure gauge (5) at the upper cover (2) of said reservoir tank characterized in that iv) said storage tank is cylindrical, v) a first inlet (3) for an air pump, vi) a second inlet (4) for introduction of the treatment solution, vii) a pipe (11) at the lower end extending into coupling unit (16) for holding end of a bamboo.

Documents:

452-kol-2003-granted-abstract.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-claims.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-correspondence.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-description (complete).pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-drawings.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-examination report.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-form 1.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-form 18.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-form 2.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-form 3.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-pa.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

452-kol-2003-granted-specification.pdf