CA2005069A1 - Garbage disposal apparatus - Google Patents
Garbage disposal apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA2005069A1 CA2005069A1 CA 2005069 CA2005069A CA2005069A1 CA 2005069 A1 CA2005069 A1 CA 2005069A1 CA 2005069 CA2005069 CA 2005069 CA 2005069 A CA2005069 A CA 2005069A CA 2005069 A1 CA2005069 A1 CA 2005069A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- compartment
- outer compartment
- lowermost chamber
- inner compartment
- screened
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000010813 municipal solid waste Substances 0.000 title abstract 2
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000009264 composting Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000010921 garden waste Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000010806 kitchen waste Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000005273 aeration Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000010815 organic waste Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 claims 3
- 229920000114 Corrugated plastic Polymers 0.000 claims 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims 1
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 abstract description 16
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000010794 food waste Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000006065 biodegradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 11
- 102000004190 Enzymes Human genes 0.000 description 6
- 108090000790 Enzymes Proteins 0.000 description 6
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 3
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 241000167854 Bourreria succulenta Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000019693 cherries Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002361 compost Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000593 degrading effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000029087 digestion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000813 microbial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
- C05F17/00—Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation
- C05F17/90—Apparatus therefor
- C05F17/907—Small-scale devices without mechanical means for feeding or discharging material, e.g. garden compost bins
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/10—Process efficiency
- Y02P20/133—Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/141—Feedstock
- Y02P20/145—Feedstock the feedstock being materials of biological origin
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/40—Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Biotechnology (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
- Fertilizers (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A garbage disposal-composting apparatus is provided having inner and outer chambers, for reception and degradation of different types of degradable waste material. The outer compartment is intended for degradation of cellulosic material such as garden wastes, and the inner compartment is intended for degradation of food scraps and kitchen waste.
Decomposition of the cellulosic material in the outer compartment provides an insulating and heating effect to speed the degradation of the contents of the inner compartment.
A garbage disposal-composting apparatus is provided having inner and outer chambers, for reception and degradation of different types of degradable waste material. The outer compartment is intended for degradation of cellulosic material such as garden wastes, and the inner compartment is intended for degradation of food scraps and kitchen waste.
Decomposition of the cellulosic material in the outer compartment provides an insulating and heating effect to speed the degradation of the contents of the inner compartment.
Description
This invention relates to waste disposal devices, and more particularly to apparatus which will effect accelerated biodegradation of waste materials therein, in contact with natural soil.
The disposal of degradable food wastes from kitchens, gardens and the like continues to pose problems, especially in terms of the handling and transportation of such wastes to appropriate dump sites.
Municipal waste facilities such as dump sites are continually being over-used. The establishment of new dump sites to accommodate the increasing volumes of degradable waste commonly encounters environmental opposition from residents adjacent to the proposed site.
It is accordingly desirable to provide means whereby degradable waste, on the domestic or commercial scale, can be sanitarily and unobjectionably biodegraded, at least to much smaller volumes of product, ad~acent to the establishments in which the waste is generated.
Domestic and other institutions tend to develop different kinds of biodegradable waste. For example, a household or a country establishment such as a country hotel will produce, in relatively large quantities, both kitchen wastes in the form of cooked and uncooked food scraps, and garden waste such as leaves, grass, twigs and the like, of a generally cellulosic nature. The conditions favouring accelerated biodegradation of these two types of waste are often different, so that if they are combined together in a single compost heap or composting apparatus, less than the maximum efficiency of biodegradation of each type of waste is achieved.
It is known to provide enzymes for admixture with biodegradable wastes, for acceleration of the rate of biodegradation thereof. The optimum enzyme package for this purpose, however, is best arranged in conjunction with the nature of the materials which it is to attack. The mixing together of a wide variety of different types of biodegradable material precludes the use of the most efficient, tailored enzyme biodegradation package for each type of biodegradable waste.
It is known to provide receptacles for the disposal of biodegradable organic waste material in which a closable, bottomless container is partially buried in a pit in the ground. Organic waste material is introduced into such containers and decomposed therein, preferably with the aid of enzyme additives.
Such devices are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent 3,947,357 (Cherry) and in Canadian Patent 639,516. Such devices only provide a single compartment for composting or biodegradation, in which all types of material are mixed, so that the rate of degradation of the waste material therein tends to be relatively slow.
Accordingly, receptacles of undesirably large volume need to be provided, in order to cope with the biodegradable waste produced from an institution such as a hotel.
U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 07/285,016 filed December 16, 1988 in the name of Jack E. Warrington describes and claims a biodegradation apparatus adapted for use in an outdoor environment, in which the sidewalls thereof collect solar energy so as to heat the contents therein by solar means, for acceleration of the biodegradation process. Again, however, the container comprises a single continuous compartment in which all types of biodegradable waste are mixed.
20050~9 It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for biodegradation of waste materials.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a composting apparatus having an outer compartment adapted to receive garden wastes, and an inner compar~ment adapted to receive kitchen wastes. The outer compartment had sidewalls adapted to be exposed to solar radiation, and absorb such solar radiation so as to warm the contents of that compartment. The inner compartment is adapted to receive kitchen wastes, and is substantially totally surrounded by the outer compartment and the biodegrading wastes therein, when in use, which serves to insulate and warm the contents of the inner compartment, for accelerated biodegradation thereof. A lowermost chamber is provided, which communicates with the inner compartment, and which communicates with microbe-containing earth. The outer compartment also communicates with microbe~containing earth, for effecting degradation of the material therein.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a composting apparatus for accelerating the degradation of biodegradable waste materials, and comprising:
an outer compartment adapted to receive garden wastes, and communicating with microbe-containing earth, an inner compartment adapted to receive ~itchen wastes;
the inner compartment having its lateral sides surrounded by the outer compartment;
a lowermost chamber communicating with the inner compartment;
said lowermost chamber being further adapted to communicate with microbe-containing earth.
Preferably, an apparatus according to the invention is also provided with aeration means, which provide a continuous supply of air from outside the apparatus to the outer compartment thereof, and to the lowermost chamber thereof. Such a supply of air promotes the rate of biodegradation, particularly where, as is normal, aerobic digestion of the contents is taking place. The aeration means is suitably in the form of perforated pipes, extending from outside the apparatus through the outer compartment and the inner compartment to terminate in the lowPrmost chamber.
These pipes may also serve as a spacing, supporting and positioning means for the inner compartment within the outer compartment.
Suitably also, the lowermost chamber comprises an open-topped basket with side and bottom walls constructed of screen material, which in use is disposed in a hole in the surface of the ground, so that the contents of the lowermost chamber contact soil microbes therein. The outer compartment suitably also has a screened, planar lower surface, adapted to rest on the ground surrounding the lowermost chamber disposed in the hole in the ground.
In the preferred embodiment, the outer sidewalls of the outer compartment are constructed of a laminated construction of an outer skin, an inner layer and a central corrugated reinforcement. Such an arrangement provides for suitable strength of the sidewalls, along with being lightweight. These outer ;~0()50fi9 sidewalls are suitably constructed of solar radiation transmitting materials so that, in use, the contents of the outer compartment are heated by the solar radiation incident on the outer sidewalls.
The inner compartment is preferably of cylindrical shape, whereas the outer compartment is suitably pyramidal in shape, or square or hexagonal in cross-section, with the inner compartment protruding upwardly out through the middle of the upper wall of the outer compartment. Access openings with fitted lids are preferably provided in the top walls of both the inner compartment and the outer compartment.
It is also preferred to include access means in the form of apertures into the lower portion of the outer compartment, for agitation of material resting on the lower screened aperture thereof, and for routine cleanout purposes. In operation, however, normally all apertures are closed with their appropriate lids, so as to confine odours within the apparatus itself, and to prevent access of vermin into the interior of the apparatus.
Specific preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, of a first preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;
FI~URE 3 is a detail of the portion labelled 3 in FIGURE 2;.
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4.
With reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the composting apparatus 10 of this preferred embodiment includes an outer compartment 12 of pyramidal shape and an inner compartment 14 of 10cylindrical shape, disposed upright within the outer compartment 12. The outer compartment 12 has four sidewalls 16 inclined upwardly towards each other at a slight angle, and four top walls 18 inclined inwardly upwardly at a much larger angle, to contact the top 15portion of the cylindrical inner compartment 14.
Opposed pairs of the top walls 18 are provided with access openings 20 and hinged closure lids 22 therefor.
The inner compartment 14 has an open top 24 with a removal lid 26, providing access thereto.
The sidewalls 16, as shown in the detail in FIGURE 3, are of laminated construction. The outer layer 28 is spaced from the inner layer 30 by a corrugated reinforcement 32, to provide sidewalls with 25satisfactory strength. The materials are suitably chosen so that the outer compartment 12 can become heated by solar radiation incident on the sidewalls 16, when the apparatus 10 is used in an outdoor environment.
30The outer compartment 12 has a bottom section 34 with which it communicates and which also surrounds the inner compartment 14. For thorough cleaning and maintenance purposes, the upper section of outer compartment 10 can be disengaged from and lifted off the 35bottom section 34 to provide full access to the interior thereof. Bottom section 34 has a planar screened bottom wall 36, and a closable cleanout opening 38 with slidable closure door 40 in each sidewall, to permit minor maintenance and removal of accumulated, non-degrading material therefrom.
The inner compartment 14 terminates at its lower end in a lowermost chamber 42 of frustoconical shape, tapering in a downward direction. The side and bottom walls of the chamber 42 are screened, whilst the top is left open. The top of the chamber 42 has a larger area than that of the circular lower end of the cylindrical inner compartment 14. Thus the lowermost chamber 42 is in communication with the inner compartment 14, and in screened communication with the Guter compartment 12 and the environment on which the apparatus 10 is mounted.
Aeration means are provided, to allow continuous supply of air from the outside of the apparatus 10 to the inner compartment 14, the outer compartment 12 and the lowermost chamber 42. One aeration means consists of a pair of perforated pipes having horizontal portions 46, 48 extending from outside the sidewalls 16 through the outer compartment 12, contacting opposed sides of the outer surface of the inner compartment 14, each horizontal portion having a pair of depending portions 50, 52 terminating in the lowermost chamber 42. This aeration means thus provides continuous supply of air to both the outer compartment 12 and the lowermost chamber 42. Another aeration means is constituted by a pair of perforated tubes 54, 56 mounted at right angles to horizontal portions 46, 48 and at substantially the same level thereto, contacting the outer surface of the inner compartment 14, so as to provide a holding framework, in combination with horizontal portions 46, 48, in which to hold and position inner compartment 14. The perforated tubes 54, 56 similarly extend through the full width of the outer compartment 12 and communicate with outside atmosphere, so as to provide a continuous supply of air to the interior of outer compartment 12.
A third aeration means is provided, at a higher level, in the form of two similar pairs of mutually perpendicular, perforated conduits 58, 60.
Each conduit extends through the inner compartment 14 and communicates with outside atmosphere, so as to provide continuous supply of air to the upper interior of outer compartment 12. The pairs of conduits 58, 60 are spaced to contact the outer surface of inner compartment 14 and thus provide therebetween a holding and positioning framework for the cylindrical inner compartment 14.
In use, the apparatus 10 is positioned so that the screened bottom wall 36 of the outer compartment 12 rests on the ground surface 62, and lowermost chamber 42 protrudes into a prepared, appropriately sized hole 64 in the ground. Cellulosic wastes, ordinarily garden wastes such as grass cuttings, leaves, twigs and vegetable remnants, are loaded into the compartment 12, through access openings 20, which are then closed by lids 22. Food wastes such as meat and cooked vegetable wastes are loaded into inner compartment 14 through open top 24, which is then closed with lid 26. This falls directly into lowermost chamber 42. A first enzyme package appropriate for accelerated degradation of contents of outer compartment 12 may be added thereto, whilst a second, different enzyme package appropriate for accelerating the degradation of contents of inner compartment 14 may be added through top 24 thereto.
~oo~o~;9 The degradation of the contents of outer compartment 12 is accelerated by the warming effect of the solar radiation incldent on the sidewall 16 and top walls 18 thereof. The degradation process itself normally generates additional heat. Thus there is provided, from the outer compartment 14, an insulating and warming effect on the contents of the inner compartment 14, to accelerate their degradation.
The contents of the lowermost chamber 42 contact the soil for additional microbial action for degradation. From th~ outer compartment 12, degraded material falls through the screen walls into the lowermost chamber 42 to complete its degradation.
Throughout the degradation process, air is supplied to the outer compartment 12, the inner compartment 14 and the lowermost chamber 42, from outside the apparatus, to promote the degradation.
Periodically if re~uired, the material resting on the screened bottom wall 36 of the outer compartment 12 can be agitated by rakes inserted through the cleanout apertures 38. Non-degrading material can also be removed in that way if required. The apparatus can be operated semi-continuously, by addition of further batches of material to be degraded, at intervals through the respective top openings 24, 20 to the compartments.
Except for the very brief periods of material addition and removal, and agit~tion, the apparatus 10 remains closed and substantially sealed, against outflow of odours and entry of vermin, excepi for the insignificant apertures provided through the aeration means.
With reference to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment shown therein is essentially similar, having an inner _ g compartment 100 of frustoconical shape and a surrounding outer compartment 105 of hexagonal shape as viewed in plan (FIGURE 5). The inner compartment 100 has double side walls 110 of an outer layer 115 and an inner layer 120 separated by a space 125 so as to provide insulation for the contents thereof. Communication between the space 125 and the interior of inner compartment 100 is provided by upper holes 130 and lower holes 135 which thus constitute aeration means for the inner compartment. Removable lid 140 closes the inner compartment 100. Outer compartment 105 seals against the top sidewalls of inner compartment 100, and is provided with two top access openings closed by removable lids 175, 180. The inner compartment 100 terminates at its lower end in a lowermost chamber 160, the bottom wall 170 of which i5 of screened construction. Elongated apertures 165 are provided in the sidewalls of lowermost chamber 160. The upper portion of inner compartment 100 is releasably secured to lowermost chamber 160 by releasable bolts 150 provided in peripheral flanges thereof.
In use, the apparatus of FIGURES 4 and 5 is mounted so that lowermost chamber 160 protrudes into a hole in the earth, and the bottom end of outer compartment 105 rests on ground level 185. The contents of outer co~.partment 105 thus contact ground soil for degradation purposes. The contents of lowermost chamber 160 contact ground soil on the bottom and sides thereof.
The two compartments are separate from one another, so that different accelerator packages can be used in the respective compartments, to optimize the degradation rate. The heat generated by decomposition of the products in the outer compartment 105 helps to speed the degradation of the contents of the inner compartment.
~OOS0~i9 Various modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5, aeration means such as perforated pipes similar to items 58 in FIGURES 1 and 2 may be provided, to aerate the outer compartment 105. The sidewalls of outer compartment 105 may be constructed with double walls and reinforcement, with retention of their solar energy transmission properties. Outer compartment 105 may be made removable from engagement with the remainder of the apparatus, leaving a single compartment, solar heated composting apparatus similar to that described in U.S. patent application serial number 07/285,016 (Warrington).
The scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims reasonably construed.
The disposal of degradable food wastes from kitchens, gardens and the like continues to pose problems, especially in terms of the handling and transportation of such wastes to appropriate dump sites.
Municipal waste facilities such as dump sites are continually being over-used. The establishment of new dump sites to accommodate the increasing volumes of degradable waste commonly encounters environmental opposition from residents adjacent to the proposed site.
It is accordingly desirable to provide means whereby degradable waste, on the domestic or commercial scale, can be sanitarily and unobjectionably biodegraded, at least to much smaller volumes of product, ad~acent to the establishments in which the waste is generated.
Domestic and other institutions tend to develop different kinds of biodegradable waste. For example, a household or a country establishment such as a country hotel will produce, in relatively large quantities, both kitchen wastes in the form of cooked and uncooked food scraps, and garden waste such as leaves, grass, twigs and the like, of a generally cellulosic nature. The conditions favouring accelerated biodegradation of these two types of waste are often different, so that if they are combined together in a single compost heap or composting apparatus, less than the maximum efficiency of biodegradation of each type of waste is achieved.
It is known to provide enzymes for admixture with biodegradable wastes, for acceleration of the rate of biodegradation thereof. The optimum enzyme package for this purpose, however, is best arranged in conjunction with the nature of the materials which it is to attack. The mixing together of a wide variety of different types of biodegradable material precludes the use of the most efficient, tailored enzyme biodegradation package for each type of biodegradable waste.
It is known to provide receptacles for the disposal of biodegradable organic waste material in which a closable, bottomless container is partially buried in a pit in the ground. Organic waste material is introduced into such containers and decomposed therein, preferably with the aid of enzyme additives.
Such devices are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent 3,947,357 (Cherry) and in Canadian Patent 639,516. Such devices only provide a single compartment for composting or biodegradation, in which all types of material are mixed, so that the rate of degradation of the waste material therein tends to be relatively slow.
Accordingly, receptacles of undesirably large volume need to be provided, in order to cope with the biodegradable waste produced from an institution such as a hotel.
U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 07/285,016 filed December 16, 1988 in the name of Jack E. Warrington describes and claims a biodegradation apparatus adapted for use in an outdoor environment, in which the sidewalls thereof collect solar energy so as to heat the contents therein by solar means, for acceleration of the biodegradation process. Again, however, the container comprises a single continuous compartment in which all types of biodegradable waste are mixed.
20050~9 It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for biodegradation of waste materials.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a composting apparatus having an outer compartment adapted to receive garden wastes, and an inner compar~ment adapted to receive kitchen wastes. The outer compartment had sidewalls adapted to be exposed to solar radiation, and absorb such solar radiation so as to warm the contents of that compartment. The inner compartment is adapted to receive kitchen wastes, and is substantially totally surrounded by the outer compartment and the biodegrading wastes therein, when in use, which serves to insulate and warm the contents of the inner compartment, for accelerated biodegradation thereof. A lowermost chamber is provided, which communicates with the inner compartment, and which communicates with microbe-containing earth. The outer compartment also communicates with microbe~containing earth, for effecting degradation of the material therein.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a composting apparatus for accelerating the degradation of biodegradable waste materials, and comprising:
an outer compartment adapted to receive garden wastes, and communicating with microbe-containing earth, an inner compartment adapted to receive ~itchen wastes;
the inner compartment having its lateral sides surrounded by the outer compartment;
a lowermost chamber communicating with the inner compartment;
said lowermost chamber being further adapted to communicate with microbe-containing earth.
Preferably, an apparatus according to the invention is also provided with aeration means, which provide a continuous supply of air from outside the apparatus to the outer compartment thereof, and to the lowermost chamber thereof. Such a supply of air promotes the rate of biodegradation, particularly where, as is normal, aerobic digestion of the contents is taking place. The aeration means is suitably in the form of perforated pipes, extending from outside the apparatus through the outer compartment and the inner compartment to terminate in the lowPrmost chamber.
These pipes may also serve as a spacing, supporting and positioning means for the inner compartment within the outer compartment.
Suitably also, the lowermost chamber comprises an open-topped basket with side and bottom walls constructed of screen material, which in use is disposed in a hole in the surface of the ground, so that the contents of the lowermost chamber contact soil microbes therein. The outer compartment suitably also has a screened, planar lower surface, adapted to rest on the ground surrounding the lowermost chamber disposed in the hole in the ground.
In the preferred embodiment, the outer sidewalls of the outer compartment are constructed of a laminated construction of an outer skin, an inner layer and a central corrugated reinforcement. Such an arrangement provides for suitable strength of the sidewalls, along with being lightweight. These outer ;~0()50fi9 sidewalls are suitably constructed of solar radiation transmitting materials so that, in use, the contents of the outer compartment are heated by the solar radiation incident on the outer sidewalls.
The inner compartment is preferably of cylindrical shape, whereas the outer compartment is suitably pyramidal in shape, or square or hexagonal in cross-section, with the inner compartment protruding upwardly out through the middle of the upper wall of the outer compartment. Access openings with fitted lids are preferably provided in the top walls of both the inner compartment and the outer compartment.
It is also preferred to include access means in the form of apertures into the lower portion of the outer compartment, for agitation of material resting on the lower screened aperture thereof, and for routine cleanout purposes. In operation, however, normally all apertures are closed with their appropriate lids, so as to confine odours within the apparatus itself, and to prevent access of vermin into the interior of the apparatus.
Specific preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, of a first preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;
FI~URE 3 is a detail of the portion labelled 3 in FIGURE 2;.
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4.
With reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the composting apparatus 10 of this preferred embodiment includes an outer compartment 12 of pyramidal shape and an inner compartment 14 of 10cylindrical shape, disposed upright within the outer compartment 12. The outer compartment 12 has four sidewalls 16 inclined upwardly towards each other at a slight angle, and four top walls 18 inclined inwardly upwardly at a much larger angle, to contact the top 15portion of the cylindrical inner compartment 14.
Opposed pairs of the top walls 18 are provided with access openings 20 and hinged closure lids 22 therefor.
The inner compartment 14 has an open top 24 with a removal lid 26, providing access thereto.
The sidewalls 16, as shown in the detail in FIGURE 3, are of laminated construction. The outer layer 28 is spaced from the inner layer 30 by a corrugated reinforcement 32, to provide sidewalls with 25satisfactory strength. The materials are suitably chosen so that the outer compartment 12 can become heated by solar radiation incident on the sidewalls 16, when the apparatus 10 is used in an outdoor environment.
30The outer compartment 12 has a bottom section 34 with which it communicates and which also surrounds the inner compartment 14. For thorough cleaning and maintenance purposes, the upper section of outer compartment 10 can be disengaged from and lifted off the 35bottom section 34 to provide full access to the interior thereof. Bottom section 34 has a planar screened bottom wall 36, and a closable cleanout opening 38 with slidable closure door 40 in each sidewall, to permit minor maintenance and removal of accumulated, non-degrading material therefrom.
The inner compartment 14 terminates at its lower end in a lowermost chamber 42 of frustoconical shape, tapering in a downward direction. The side and bottom walls of the chamber 42 are screened, whilst the top is left open. The top of the chamber 42 has a larger area than that of the circular lower end of the cylindrical inner compartment 14. Thus the lowermost chamber 42 is in communication with the inner compartment 14, and in screened communication with the Guter compartment 12 and the environment on which the apparatus 10 is mounted.
Aeration means are provided, to allow continuous supply of air from the outside of the apparatus 10 to the inner compartment 14, the outer compartment 12 and the lowermost chamber 42. One aeration means consists of a pair of perforated pipes having horizontal portions 46, 48 extending from outside the sidewalls 16 through the outer compartment 12, contacting opposed sides of the outer surface of the inner compartment 14, each horizontal portion having a pair of depending portions 50, 52 terminating in the lowermost chamber 42. This aeration means thus provides continuous supply of air to both the outer compartment 12 and the lowermost chamber 42. Another aeration means is constituted by a pair of perforated tubes 54, 56 mounted at right angles to horizontal portions 46, 48 and at substantially the same level thereto, contacting the outer surface of the inner compartment 14, so as to provide a holding framework, in combination with horizontal portions 46, 48, in which to hold and position inner compartment 14. The perforated tubes 54, 56 similarly extend through the full width of the outer compartment 12 and communicate with outside atmosphere, so as to provide a continuous supply of air to the interior of outer compartment 12.
A third aeration means is provided, at a higher level, in the form of two similar pairs of mutually perpendicular, perforated conduits 58, 60.
Each conduit extends through the inner compartment 14 and communicates with outside atmosphere, so as to provide continuous supply of air to the upper interior of outer compartment 12. The pairs of conduits 58, 60 are spaced to contact the outer surface of inner compartment 14 and thus provide therebetween a holding and positioning framework for the cylindrical inner compartment 14.
In use, the apparatus 10 is positioned so that the screened bottom wall 36 of the outer compartment 12 rests on the ground surface 62, and lowermost chamber 42 protrudes into a prepared, appropriately sized hole 64 in the ground. Cellulosic wastes, ordinarily garden wastes such as grass cuttings, leaves, twigs and vegetable remnants, are loaded into the compartment 12, through access openings 20, which are then closed by lids 22. Food wastes such as meat and cooked vegetable wastes are loaded into inner compartment 14 through open top 24, which is then closed with lid 26. This falls directly into lowermost chamber 42. A first enzyme package appropriate for accelerated degradation of contents of outer compartment 12 may be added thereto, whilst a second, different enzyme package appropriate for accelerating the degradation of contents of inner compartment 14 may be added through top 24 thereto.
~oo~o~;9 The degradation of the contents of outer compartment 12 is accelerated by the warming effect of the solar radiation incldent on the sidewall 16 and top walls 18 thereof. The degradation process itself normally generates additional heat. Thus there is provided, from the outer compartment 14, an insulating and warming effect on the contents of the inner compartment 14, to accelerate their degradation.
The contents of the lowermost chamber 42 contact the soil for additional microbial action for degradation. From th~ outer compartment 12, degraded material falls through the screen walls into the lowermost chamber 42 to complete its degradation.
Throughout the degradation process, air is supplied to the outer compartment 12, the inner compartment 14 and the lowermost chamber 42, from outside the apparatus, to promote the degradation.
Periodically if re~uired, the material resting on the screened bottom wall 36 of the outer compartment 12 can be agitated by rakes inserted through the cleanout apertures 38. Non-degrading material can also be removed in that way if required. The apparatus can be operated semi-continuously, by addition of further batches of material to be degraded, at intervals through the respective top openings 24, 20 to the compartments.
Except for the very brief periods of material addition and removal, and agit~tion, the apparatus 10 remains closed and substantially sealed, against outflow of odours and entry of vermin, excepi for the insignificant apertures provided through the aeration means.
With reference to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment shown therein is essentially similar, having an inner _ g compartment 100 of frustoconical shape and a surrounding outer compartment 105 of hexagonal shape as viewed in plan (FIGURE 5). The inner compartment 100 has double side walls 110 of an outer layer 115 and an inner layer 120 separated by a space 125 so as to provide insulation for the contents thereof. Communication between the space 125 and the interior of inner compartment 100 is provided by upper holes 130 and lower holes 135 which thus constitute aeration means for the inner compartment. Removable lid 140 closes the inner compartment 100. Outer compartment 105 seals against the top sidewalls of inner compartment 100, and is provided with two top access openings closed by removable lids 175, 180. The inner compartment 100 terminates at its lower end in a lowermost chamber 160, the bottom wall 170 of which i5 of screened construction. Elongated apertures 165 are provided in the sidewalls of lowermost chamber 160. The upper portion of inner compartment 100 is releasably secured to lowermost chamber 160 by releasable bolts 150 provided in peripheral flanges thereof.
In use, the apparatus of FIGURES 4 and 5 is mounted so that lowermost chamber 160 protrudes into a hole in the earth, and the bottom end of outer compartment 105 rests on ground level 185. The contents of outer co~.partment 105 thus contact ground soil for degradation purposes. The contents of lowermost chamber 160 contact ground soil on the bottom and sides thereof.
The two compartments are separate from one another, so that different accelerator packages can be used in the respective compartments, to optimize the degradation rate. The heat generated by decomposition of the products in the outer compartment 105 helps to speed the degradation of the contents of the inner compartment.
~OOS0~i9 Various modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5, aeration means such as perforated pipes similar to items 58 in FIGURES 1 and 2 may be provided, to aerate the outer compartment 105. The sidewalls of outer compartment 105 may be constructed with double walls and reinforcement, with retention of their solar energy transmission properties. Outer compartment 105 may be made removable from engagement with the remainder of the apparatus, leaving a single compartment, solar heated composting apparatus similar to that described in U.S. patent application serial number 07/285,016 (Warrington).
The scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims reasonably construed.
Claims (17)
1. A composting apparatus for accelerating the degradation of biodegradable waste materials, and comprising:
an outer compartment adapted to receive garden wastes, and communicating with microbe-containing earth;
an inner compartment adapted to receive kitchen wastes;
the inner compartment having its lateral sides surrounded by the outer compartment;
a lowermost chamber communicating with the inner compartment;
said lowermost chamber being further adapted to communicate with microbe-containing earth.
an outer compartment adapted to receive garden wastes, and communicating with microbe-containing earth;
an inner compartment adapted to receive kitchen wastes;
the inner compartment having its lateral sides surrounded by the outer compartment;
a lowermost chamber communicating with the inner compartment;
said lowermost chamber being further adapted to communicate with microbe-containing earth.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer compartment has outer walls adapted for solar collection, to provide warming to contents of the outer compartment when used in an outdoor environment.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner compartment is circular in cross-section, and is disposed in an upstanding position substantially centrally within the outer compartment and protruding through the top wall thereof.
4. The apparatus of claim 4 further including first aeration means adapted to provide continuous supply of air from outside the apparatus to the outer compartment thereof.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including second aeration means adapted to provide continuous supply of air from outside the apparatus to both the outer compartment and the lowermost chamber.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lowermost chamber comprises a basket with apertured side and bottom walls so as to provide screened communication between the lowermost chamber and the surrounding earth.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the outer compartment presents a planar, screened bottom wall adapted to rest on the surface of a bed of earth, and the lowermost chamber presents screened sidewalls and bottom walls extending below the bottom wall of the outer compartment, and adapted to protrude downwardly into the bed of earth.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first aeration means and said second aeration means are combined into a series of perforated pipes extending from outside the apparatus through the outer compartment and the inner compartment to terminate in the lowermost chamber.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the lowermost chamber also communicates with the outer compartment.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the outer walls of the outer compartment are constructed of an outer layer of plastic, an inner layer, and a corrugated plastic reinforcing spacer layer therebetween.
11. The apparatus of claim 3 further including spacer means extending between opposed outer walls of the outer compartment in contact with the outer surfaces of the inner compartment, to position the inner compartment appropriately within the outer compartment.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said spacer means comprises perforated pipes communicating with atmosphere outside the outer compartment, and constituting third aeration means adapted to provide continuous supply of air from outside the apparatus to the outer compartment.
13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the outer compartment and the inner compartment each have an access opening in the respective upper wall thereof, with a respective closable lid.
14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the outer compartment is provided with closable cleanout openings provided in the lower portion thereof at a level slightly above the screened bottom wall thereof.
15. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inner compartment is frustoconical and the outer compartment is hexagonal or square as viewed in plan.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the bottom of the outer compartment is open, to rest on the ground surface and provide free communication of the contents therein with ground soil.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the outer compartment is releasable from engagement with the inner compartment.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2005069 CA2005069A1 (en) | 1989-12-11 | 1989-12-11 | Garbage disposal apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2005069 CA2005069A1 (en) | 1989-12-11 | 1989-12-11 | Garbage disposal apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2005069A1 true CA2005069A1 (en) | 1991-06-11 |
Family
ID=4143761
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2005069 Abandoned CA2005069A1 (en) | 1989-12-11 | 1989-12-11 | Garbage disposal apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2005069A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2494192A (en) * | 2011-09-02 | 2013-03-06 | Great Green Systems Ltd | Two composters |
-
1989
- 1989-12-11 CA CA 2005069 patent/CA2005069A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2494192A (en) * | 2011-09-02 | 2013-03-06 | Great Green Systems Ltd | Two composters |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |