CA2116760A1

CA2116760A1 - Composting chamber for biologically degradable house and garden wastes

Info

Publication number: CA2116760A1
Application number: CA002116760A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gerhard Schafer; Rainer Kowald
Original assignee: Gerhard Schafer; Rainer Kowald; Fritz Schafer Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung
Current assignee: Fritz Schaefer GmbH
Priority date: 1993-03-02
Filing date: 1994-03-01
Publication date: 1994-09-03
Also published as: FI940935A0; NO940404D0; FI940935A; EP0613871A1; NO940404L; DE4306434A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A composting chamber for biologically degradable kitchen wastes, household wastes and garden wastes includes a lower container part which can be dug into the activated ground and an upper container part in the form of a hood which projects upwardly above the level of the ground. The upper container part has at the top thereof an intake opening for the wastes, wherein the intake opening can be closed by a removable cover. The lower container part is at least over portions thereof permeable toward the surrounding ground for microorganisms, moisture and air. The lower container part has a closed bottom and a permeable portion of the wall of the lower container part begins at a minimum distance above the bottom. An additional container or basket is removably placed in the lower container part, wherein the additional container or basket has a permeable bottom and a permeable wall portion. The additional container or basket can be placed at least partially with its permeable wall portion against the permeable wall portion of the lower container part.
The portion of the lower container part near the bottom forms a liquid collecting and/or storage trough.

Description

. . 2l~676n BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. ~ield of the Invention The present invention relates to a composting chamber for biologically degradable house and garden wastes.

7. Descri~tion of the Related Art When carrying out a composting process, the organic matter of kitchen wastes, house wastes and garden wastes are to be converted into humus by means of small animals, microorganisms and by chemical processes. However, pathogenic germs and seeds of weeds should be killed simùltaneously by the heat produced by the microorganisms. Accordingly, it is a requirement for optimum composting to provide favorable living conditions for the organisms participating in the conversion process.
Two groups of organisms participate in ~he decomposition and conversion of the organic matter. Small animals, such as isopods, worms, collembola and mites comminute the organic matter. These animals live in the ground at different depths and, therefore, must migrate from the ground into the material to be composted. The organic matter is decomposed and converted by microorganisms, such as, bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. In order to avoid unpleasant odor and nitrogen losses, and to obtain heating of the material, the decomposition and conversion must take place in an aerobic environment; in other words, the organic material must be continuously supplied with oxygen, i.e., the material must be sufficiently aerated. When the moisture content of the material is high and the material is tightly packed, the resulting insufficient aeration of the material leads to anaerobic conditions.
On the other hand, if the moisture content is low for a long period of time, there is the danger that the organic material dries out. If the moisture content of the material drops below 30~, the metabolism of the microorganisms stops because these microorganisms can only absorb nutrients in the dissolved form.
As a consequence, the organic matter cannot be further degraded.
As already mentioned, the material to be composted must be sufficiently aerated, so that the aerobes which cause the decomposition of the organic matter always have sufficient oxygen -~
available. In this regard, the intensity of the decomposition of the organic matter depends on the activity of the microorganisms and this activity, in turn, depends on the temperature. The activity of the microorganisms causes heating of the organic material, wherein the optimum temperature of the material is approximately 45C. Higher temperatures above 60C are primarily 21~7~

required for hygienic reasons, i.e., for killing of pathogenic germs and seeds of weeds.
In order to be able to meet all these requirements, the use of so-called composters has been proposed. Such composters are available in open, semi-open and closed construction.
In all cases, the so-called rotting process is influenced by the factors temperature, oxygen and water content, wherein the type of construction o~ the composter influences the composting process through these factors.
The present invention is particularly directed to a composter of the semi-open type. Such a compostor is defined by a composting chamber for biologically degradable kitchen wastes, house wastes and garden wastes and includes a lower container part which can be dug into the activated ground and an upper container part in the form of a hood which projects upwardly above the level of the ground. The upper container part has at the top thereof an intake opening for the material to be decomposted, wherein the intake opening can be closed by a removable cover or the like. The lower container part is at l~ast over portions thereof permeable toward the surrounding ground for microorganisms, moisture and air.

21~6760 Composting chambers ~f the above-described type are already known from U.S. Patent 3,708,085 and European Application 0 449 927.
Compared to other known composters, the above-described composting chambers according to the state of the art have the advantage that they are partially surrounded by the upper layers of the ground and, consequently, not only permit migration of the small animals, such as, isopods, worms, collembola and mites, into the interior of the chamber, but additionally counteract the quick removal of the heat produced by the activity of the :
microorganisms toward th~ outside, particularly during the colder ~-seasons.
However, it has been found in practice that, in the composting chambers of the above-described type, the moisture household as well as the oxygen household can only be influenced :- :
incompletely.
When the moisture content is too high, the resulting : ~ -anaerobic conditions lead to unpleasant odor. When the moisture : :
content drops below 30%, the metabolism of the microorganisms stops, so that the organic matter is no longer degraded.
When the oxygen supply is too low, anaerobic conditions are created because the aerobes no longer have the oxygen required for their activity, while a oxygen supply which is too high :

.
- ~ :

: :, ,, ~, , :, :, results in drying out of the organic material, so that the microorganisms no longer have nutrients available in dissolved form and, consequently, the metabolism stops and the organic matter is no longer degraded.

` 21167SO

S~MMARY OF T~E INVENTION
Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a composting chamber of the above-described type which does not have the deficiencies of the known composting chambers.
Specifically, the composting chamber should have such a :-configuration and type of operation which optimizes the moisture household of the biologically degradable kitchen wastes, house ~.
wastes and garden wastes, on the one hand, and which ; - --simultaneously ensures a perfect oxygen supply. :~
In accordance with the present invention, the composting ~ .
chamber has the following combination of features:
- The lower container part has a closed bottom and the ;:
permeable portion of the wall of the lower container part begins at a minimum distance above the bottom; ~:
- An additional container or basket is removably placed in :
the lower container part, wherein the additional container or basket has a permeable bottom and a permeable wall portion;
- The additional container or basket can be placed at least -partially with its permeable wall portion against the permeable :
wall portion of the lower container part; and .
- The portion of the lower container part near the bottom forms a liquid collecting and/or storage trough.

~: . - . .. . . .. - . . .

When the composting chamber has these features, liquids such as water, juices or the like from the biological material filled into the composting chamber can escape toward the bottom and can be caught and collected at the bottom. On the other hand, the collected liquid can be used to effect a remoistening of the organic material if this material begins to dry out as areas out of external influences.
In accordance with a useful feature of the present -invention, the additional container or basket has a bottom located above the liquid collecting and/or storage trough, and/or the liquid collecting and/or storage trough has an overflow located underneath the bottom of the additional container or basket.
These features ensure that any liquid, such as water, juices or the like, drained from the biological material not only is collected and made available in a sufficient quantity for a necessary remoistening, but a direct contact of the organic material with the collected liquid is simultaneously avoided.
In order to optimize the moisture household of the organic material introduced in the composting chamber, another important feature of the present invention provides that the additional container or basket has at least one air conducting means extending vertically in the additional container or basket.

211~7~0 For example, the air conducting means includes a duct in the center and/or several ducts arranged at the clrcumference, wherein the ducts extend through the bottom of the additional container or basket to the liquid contained in the liquid collecting and/or storage trough. As a result of this ~
configuration, it is possible that air can act from above the - -level of the ground along the additional container or basket on the liquid contained ih the liquid collecting and/or storage trough, so that the air absorbs moisture before it enters from below in the organic material contained in the additional -container or basket. ~-In accordance with another useful feature of the present inven~ion, the additional container or basket can be supported by the lower container part through collars and/or spacer members arranged on the upper rims of the additional container or basket ~--and the lower container part. This feature prevents in a simple manner any undesirable sticking of the additional container or basket in the lower container part. ~
The additional container or basket can be manipulated better ~-and more easily if handles are provided at the upper rim thereof.
In accordance with another feature, the permeable portions of the lower container part and of the additional container or basket may b~ grids of rods or webs.

1167~0 In accordance with another feature, the liquid collecting and/or storage trough in the lower contai.ner part is divided by means of ribs or webs into several areas located next to each other, wherein the areas have as a common overflow a central pipe extending through the bottom.
At least the additional container or basket can be releasably coupled to the hood-like upper container part by closing means, for example, in the form of bayonet-type closures or closures with tilting levers.
In accordance with another structural feature, at least the hood-like upper container part has the shape of an upwardly narrowing truncated cone. In addition, the removable cover of the upper container part has air passage openlngs, wherein the openings can be opened and closed, and the cross-sectional area thereof varied, by means of a turnable closure, for example, in the form of a revolving plate having corresponding openings.
The lower container part, as well as the additional container or basket, may have the shape of a downwardly narrowing truncated cone.
Finally, in some cases it is advisable to connect the air conducting means or ducts of the additional container or basket to air inlets, for example, of the lower container part, located above the ground.

Although it is certainly possible to manufacture the -individual elements of the composting chamber according to the present invention of corrosion-resistant metal materials, it has been found particularly advantageous to use reusable or recyclable plastics material for manufacturing the individual elements of the composting chamber. With the use of suitable injection molding tools, the lower container part, the upper container part, as well as the additional container or basket can each be manufactured as a single-piece molded article. -- ---The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims -annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, ;~
specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated ~
and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. ~ ;

- , , . , - ~ ~- , . . .. . .

21~7~0 ~RIEF DESCRIPTION~OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded view and side view showing the essential structural components of the composting chamber according to the present inventioni Fig. 2 is a schema~ic top view of the lower container part of the composting chamber of Fig. 1, seen in the direction of arrow II;
Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of an additional container or basket of the composting chamber of Fig. 1, seen in the direction of arrow III;
Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the upper container part of the composting chamber of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper container part of the composting chamber of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the upper portion of the upper container part showing the connection between a cover and the upper container portion.

21167~
Fr~ FEIEREISEN ~ KUEFFNER PH01`IE ~o. : ~s~18.~as Ft~.. 2~3 Ig~ ~ ~0~11PI~ P~2 Dl~ h~ PlS~ RlPTION Ol~ pl~PlSP~R.lilD l~a of chQ drawing iB a sid~ w ~f ~ oo~pocting ~hall~cr 1 for biologi~ally degradahle kitohcn wa~tc~, houoehold w~te~
And ~arden wa~te~., Th~ chamb~r 1 lncludee ~ lowc~- cont~iner part

2 which ~n be d~lg 1 nl:~ tho uppe~ lAyerF. ~f th<~ aotivatcd ground.
l'he chAmb~r 1 furtller has an uppe~r oc~nt~ er part 3 in the f orm ~ a hood which proj~ct~ in it~ enti.rety a~c~ve~ t~lC lc~vcl of ~I-c ~ro~nd.
Another ~igni~iaant component Gi the ~ompoGt.ing ch~mbcr 1 io an additional contaislar or ba0ket ~ which can be r~m4vably placcd in tlle lower container part 2 rrOm ~he level of tho ground. Thc hood-~haped upper c~ntaine~ pa~ 3 i~ rel~sa~ pl~ocd on the Ad~i~ion~1 cont~iner or ba~ket 4.
ln the embodi~ent of the co~,pooting ch~mbcr 1 0ho~n in ~ig.
1, th~ lower container part 2 ao wcll a~ the ~dd..tional container or ba~k~t ~ each have t~le ~hape of a downwardl~ n~rrowing truncated co~e. On ~he other hand, th~ hoed~ u~J~I
cor.tainer part ?. i~ a~ ~pwardly r.dr~uwilly ~ ul~c~t~d cone.
Thc lower co~tail~ea par~ 2 h~ ~ closed botLom 5, wl~
beginnlng ~t a minimu~ di~tanc~ 7 ~eve ~ tt~m 5, the cone-~haped w~ll G of ~h~ lower ~.ontailler ~arL 2 h~ r~ wllic~

i3 permeal~ r~ ~;m~ s~imal~: or m' ~r~rga~ M~, rOr mvi~
~nd ~ir, ~or ex~mple, in ~h~ f~ gr~b ~ c:c~m~c)~ed ~r lo~

13 :; :~::

'~ '............. :
. : : :

From: F~IEREISEN & ~<UEFFNER PHCI~ N~. : 35-18~6, ~b. ~ ~4 ~ 3 or wehc. In~tead ~f the rod or web grate ~, it i.~ ~lco po~ible t.n provide a l~r~ number o~ hole~ or ~lot~ in the eonie~l wall 6.
Becau~e the eonieal w~ ic eompletely ~10~3cd o~or ~he mini~ di~tanc~ 7, ~he po~tlon of ~he lowe~ ~ont~iner part 2 near tho b~ttom ean bo utilized aa a liq~id oollee~in~ and~r s~ora~ trough 9. Thi~ ~rough ~ i~ dividod lnto a~vcr~l F3ect~rs, for oxamplo, fe~r ~ectors, by ~eanfi o~ ~di~lly oxtc~din~ rlbc 10, a~ partieul~rly alearl~ ~hown in Pig. ~. In the Center o~
the hottom 5, the ribE or w~b~ 10 end at a ce~tral pi~e 11 whieh ex~ende through t~e bottom 5 ard which fonm~ a ~on~non o~orflow for all ~our soator~ of the liquid eollco~ing and/or ~torage :-tr~u~h 9 ~or~ed 4y t~e ribs or ~he weba 10.
A~ ean bR ~o~n in Fig. 1, th~ height of the web~ or rib~ 10 :
exeeadc the heig~t of the een~r~l pipe 11 ~n~, thue, ~he o~erLlow pipQ fo~ned by ~ho aentral pipe 11. T~iG mean~ th~t the n,~ximu~
fillil~g h~ ul~ collee~lng a~djor stGrage troug i~ oxelu~lvely det~rmined ~y Lh~ iyt~t ~ the cen~r~l plpe 11.
1~ ~he ]ower edge of the moisture-perm~a~ d di I -perme~ble portioll of ~he lower. container ~r~ 2 i~ ~3CdL ~ ower th~n ~he t~ottom 13 ~r ~ d~iLi~ co~r.air.er or ~a~ket ~, the centr~l pipc 11 ~r~in~ d~ ov~rflow c~n al~o be on~itt~. Tlli~

, ~

-because excess water can then flow laterally out of the container part 2 into ~he ground.
The additional container or basket 4 can be placed removably into the lower container part 2 of the composting chamber 1 in such a way that it makes contact with its bottom on the upper edges of the ribs or webs 10 and rests thereon. The conical wall 14 of the additional container or basket 4 is adapted in its ~-shape to the conical wall 6 of the lower container part 2 in such a way that it rests with its outer surface tightly against the inner surface of the lower container part 2 as soon as the bottom 13 makes contact with the upper edges of the ribs or webs 10.
Beginning at a minimum distance 15 from the bottom 13, the conical wall 14 of the additional container or basket 4 also has a portion which is permeable for small animals or microorganisms, and permeable for moisture and air, wherein the permeable portion may be formed of rod or web grates 16 or the like. The important ~ ~
aspect is that both grates 8 and 16 are located so as to coincide -when the additional container or basket 4 is placed in the lower container part 2.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the additional container or basket 4 not only has a grate 16 over a vertical partial portion of the conical wall 14, but the bottom thereof is also constructed in the form of a grate of webs and, thus, is permeable.

-' ~

Fig. 1 of the drawing further shows that the additional container or basket 4 has stacking ribs 18 provided on the conical wall 14 underneath a radial collar formed at the upper end thereof, wherein the stacking ribs 18 can rest on the upper side of a collar 19 which is provided at the upper end of the lower container part 2. This prevents in a simple manner the additional container or basket 4 from becoming stuck in an undesirable manner in the lower container part 2. The additional container or basket 4 has handles 20 underneath the collar 17, wherein the handles 20 makes it significantly simpler to place the basket 4 in or remove the basket 4 from the lower container -part 2.
~ additionally illu~trated in Fig. 3, the additional container or basket 4 has vertically extending air conducting means which are composed of ducts 21 located in the circumference :
of the wall 14. As shown in Fig. 3, three such ducts 21 are :
provided distributed over the circumference of the wall 14 and ~
are formed essentially in the manner of a tunnel into the wall ~ -14. An air flow can take place through the ducts 21 even when ~ :
the additional container or basket 4 is placed in the lower container part 2 of the composting chamber 1. This air can also travel along the liquid level in the liquid collecting and/or : ~ -storage trough 9 of the lower contalner part 2 and absorb . . . ~ ~ .

-7 ~ Q

moisture therefrom, wherein the air with the absorbed moisture can rise through the permeable bottom 13 of the additional container or basket ~ and, thus, can reach the organic matter of the biologically degradable materials. As shown in Fig. 3, the air ducts 21 are constructed in such a way that no contact between the additional container or basket 4 with the container part 2 can take place in the areas of the ducts 21 when the additional container or basket 4 is placed in the container part 2.
The upper container part 3 constructed in the manner of a hood has a~ its lower end a collar 22 which particularly fits together with the collar 17 of the additional container or basket 4 an also with the collar 19 of the lower container part 2.
While the stacking ribs 18 ensure that a certain distance is maintained between the collars 17 and 19 when the composting chamber 1 is assembled, the collar 22 of the upper container part

3 rests directly on the collar 17 of the additional container or basket 4. Mushroom-shaped pins 23 projecting upwardly from the collar 17 can engage keyhole-shaped slots 24 in the collar 22 to form bayonet-type locks, so that a positively engaging, but releasable connection is effected between the upper container part 3 and the additional container or basket 4 of the composting chamber 1.

. .

Instead of the bayonet-type locks 23, 24, it i9 also possible to use closures with so-called tilting levers in order to releasably connect to each other the essential structural components of the composting chamber 1.
It is always possible to lift the upper container part 3 ~-~
together with the additional container or basket 4 out of the lower container part 2.
Figs. 1 and 4 to 6 of the drawing show that the upper ~ -container part 3 of the composting chamber 1 is provided with a cover 25 which is connected to the upper container part 3, for example, through a hinge system or a bending lug 26. This cover 25 usually closes an opening 27 which forms the intake for the biologically degradable kitchen wastes, household wastes and garden wastes. Since the cover 25 is usually always closed, but -a continuous air circulation through the composting chamber 1 is desirable, it is important that the cov~r 25 has air passage openings 28 which may be opened and closed as desired, and whose cross-sectional area may be varied, by means of a turnable closure 29, for example, in the form of a plate having corresponding openings. For this purpose, the turnable closure 29 has openings 30 which can be either placed to coincide more or less with the holes 28 in the cover 25 or can be completely moved away from the openings.

. .: , ., . ~, ~ .

211~760 The basic construction of the composting chamber 1 of the above-described type with essentially three basic components not only has the advantage that the moisture household and oxygen supply for the biologically degradable kitchen wastes, household wastes and garden wastes contained in the chamber can be substantially improved. Rather, the provision of the additional container or basket 4 also substantially facilitates the unloading of the digested humus.
Finally, it should be mentioned that it is also possible to equip the additional container or basket 4 in the middle of its bottom with an axially upwardly projecting duct 4 air guidance.
This duct may be either provided by itself or in addition to the three ducts 21. ~- -When the material becomes very dry, it is possible to refill -~
the trough 9 with water through the ducts 21. However, when the material to be decomposted dries out it is also possible to pour water directly onto the material. There is no danger than anaerobic conditions will be produced because any excess water can drip drain off.
The upper container part 3 should be conical, so that, when the material to be composted is bagged, an aerating gap exists between its wall and the material. However, such a gap would also exist if the upper container part 3 would be provided with -~` 211~760 .

vertical walls with webs at the inner sides thereof which act as spacers.
The invention is not limited hy the embodiments described above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A composting chamber for biologically degradable kitchen wastes, household wastes and garden wastes, the composting chamber comprising a lower container part which can be dug into activated ground, an upper hood-shaped container part projecting upwardly above ground level, the upper container part having at the top thereof an intake opening for the wastes to be degraded, a removable cover for closing the intake opening, the lower container part being at least over portions thereof permeable toward the surrounding ground for microorganisms, moisture and air, wherein the lower container part has a closed bottom and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom, the wall of the lower container part having a permeable wall portion extending upwardly beginning at a minimum distance from the bottom, further comprising an additional container removably placeable in the lower container part, the additional container having a permeable bottom and a wall extending upwardly from the permeable bottom, the wall of the additional container having permeable wall portions, wherein, when the additional container is placed in the lower container part, the permeable wall portion of the additional container rests at least partially against the permeable wall portion of the lower container part, and wherein a portion of the lower container part adjacent the bottom forms a liquid collecting trough.

2. The composting chamber according to claim 1, wherein, when the additional container is placed in the lower container part, the bottom of the additional container is located above the liquid collecting trough.

3. The composting chamber according to claim 1, wherein the liquid collecting trough has an overflow, the overflow being located below the bottom of the additional container when the additional container is placed in the lower container part.

4. A composting chamber for biologically degradable kitchen wastes, household wastes and garden wastes, the composting chamber comprising a lower container part which can be dug into activated ground, an upper hood-shaped container part projecting upwardly above ground level, the upper container part having at the top thereof an intake opening for the wastes to be degraded, a removable cover for closing the intake opening, the lower container part being at least over portions thereof permeable toward the surrounding ground for microorganisms, moisture and air, the lower container part having a bottom and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom, further comprising an additional container removably placed in the lower container part, the additional container having a permeable bottom and a wall extending upwardly from the permeable bottom, the wall of the additional container having permeable wall portions, the additional container having at least one vertically extending air guide means, the bottom of the lower container part and a portion of the wall of the lower container part adjacent the bottom of the lower container part defining a liquid collecting trough, the air guide means extending through the bottom of the additional container to the liquid collecting trough.

5. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the air guide means is a duct extending in the middle of the additional container.

6. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the air guide means are a plurality of ducts distributed over the circumference of the additional container.

7. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the additional container and the lower container part each have an upper rim, each upper rim defining a collar, wherein the collar of the additional container rests on the collar of the lower container part.

8. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the additional container and the lower container part each have an upper rim, each upper rim defining spacer members, wherein the spacer members of the additional container rests on the spacer members of the lower container part.

9. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the additional container has an upper end, handles being provided on the upper end of the additional container.

10. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the permeable portions of the lower container part and of the additional container are rod or web grates.

11. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the liquid collecting trough of the lower container part comprises an overflow, the liquid collecting trough including a plurality of ribs or webs for dividing the liquid collecting trough into a plurality of adjacently located trough portions, a central pipe extending through the bottom of the lower container part forming the overflow for the trough portions.

12. The composting chamber according to claim 4, comprising locking means for releasably connecting the additional container to the hood-shaped upper container part.

13. The composting chamber according to claim 12, wherein the locking means are bayonet-type locking members.

14. The composting chamber according to claim 12, wherein the locking means are tilting lever locking members.

15. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein at least the hood-shaped upper container part has the shape of an upwardly narrowing truncated cone.

16. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the removable cover of the upper container part has air passage openings and rotary means for closing and opening and partially opening the air passage openings.

17. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the lower container part and the additional container have the shape of a downwardly narrowing truncated cone.

18. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the lower container part has air inlets located above the ground, the air guide means being in communication with the air inlets.

19. The composting chamber according to claim 4, wherein the lower container part, the upper container part and the additional container are of plastics material.