FR3079998A1 - DEVICE FOR RECYCLING ORGANIC WASTES COMBINING COMPOSTING AND CULTIVATION OF PLANTS - Google Patents

Abstract

An organic waste recycling device (10), oriented along a vertical axis (100), comprises at least: a composting container (12), comprising peripheral walls (26) delimiting an upper filling opening (28) and a lower dispensing opening (30); a first culture container (18) having peripheral walls (40) defining an upper culture opening (34); and a second culture container (20) having peripheral walls (60) defining an upper culture opening (46), the first culture container being positioned between the second culture container and the compost container, and leaving the opening upper culture of the second culture container at least partially uncoated. A first conduit (50) between the compost container (12) and the top culture opening (46) of the second culture container (20) passes through the first culture container (18), allowing a direct material flow of the container composting to the second culture container. At least part of the lower dispensing opening (30) of the composting container is situated, in a vertical projection, outside an upper rim of the first pipe (50), directly facing a portion of the upper culture opening (34) of the first culture container, also allowing a direct flow of material from the composting container (12) to the first culture container (18).

Description

ORGANIC WASTE RECYCLING DEVICE COMBINING COMPOSTING AND CULTIVATION OF PLANTS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a device for recycling organic waste combining composting and simultaneous cultivation of plants.

PRIOR ART [0002] Garden containers for above-ground cultivation of plants combined with composting systems are known. In document FR2979181, the container comprises two contiguous compartments, separated by a vertical permeable wall. One compartment is for growing plants, the other for composting. The advantage of this combination lies in the possibility of the drainage of the juices from the composting process at the level of the culture compartment.

Some devices use other advantages of composting to promote crops, in particular document WO9834467, which presents a pyramidal assembly made of culture trays placed on a composting container whose wall is permeable. In this case, the main benefit for growing plants is the heat given off during the decomposition process. This device is installed on the ground, letting the composting juices and other liquids seep into the ground without benefit for the plants placed in the culture tanks. The permeable walls between the cultivation and composting compartments allow a passage from the roots to the composting compartments, which benefits the crops provided, and when, the composting compartments are sufficiently filled.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art and to propose a device for recycling organic waste, combining composting and crops, for restricted spaces such as balconies or terraces, ensuring that plants in culture the direct benefits of composting (heat, compost and juice).

To do this is proposed, according to a first aspect of the invention, an organic waste recycling device, oriented along a vertical axis, comprising at least one composting container with peripheral walls defining an upper filling opening and a lower dispensing opening, a first culture container having peripheral walls defining an upper culture opening, and a second culture container having peripheral walls delimiting an upper culture opening. The first culture container is positioned between the second culture container and the compost container, leaving the upper culture opening of the second culture container at least partially uncovered. The device further comprises a first conduit between the composting container and the upper culture opening of the second culture container and passing through the first culture container, allowing a direct flow of material from the composting container to the second culture container. . At least part of the lower distribution opening of the composting container is located, in vertical projection, outside an upper rim of the first pipe, directly opposite a part of the upper culture opening from the first culture container, also allowing direct flow of material from the compost container to the first culture container.

In practice, the user feeds the composting container through its upper filling opening, and the material introduced is distributed between the first culture container, via the part of the lower opening for dispensing the container. composting located outside the upper rim of the pipe, and the second culture container, through the first pipe. The transformation of the material introduced into compost is carried out partially in the first line, in contact with or directly near the soil contained in the second culture container, and partially in the compost container, near the soil contained in the first culture container, so that both culture compartments benefit from heat generation. The configuration adopted also allows feed composting juices to flow directly into the first culture container and into the second culture container. Finally, the compost formed accumulates by gravity on the surface of the soil contained in the first culture container and on the surface of the soil contained in the second culture container. When cultivation containers are surfaced at the start of the season by scraping the culture surface at the level of the culture openings of the first culture container and of the second culture container, the compost comes by gravity to replace the soil of scraped culture.

According to one embodiment, the upper edge of the first pipe is located between the distribution and filling openings of the composting container, at a distance from the distribution and filling openings of the composting container. An upper portion of the pipe therefore projects inside the composting container, and the accumulation of material is favored in a peripheral volume located between the part of the first pipe which projects inside the composting container and the peripheral walls of the composting container, to directly feed the first culture container.

According to one embodiment, the first pipe has, near its upper edge, a manifold. In the case of a pipe having a circular upper edge, the manifold may for example have a frustoconical shape. In vertical projection, the collector preferably represents between 30 and 70% of the surface of the lower distribution opening of the composting container. The manifold has in practice an upper face facing the upper filling opening which, according to different embodiments, can converge towards the upper edge of the first pipe or, conversely, towards the part of the lower opening of distribution located, in vertical projection, outside the first pipe. If necessary, the manifold can be formed in one piece with the upper portion of the pipe. Alternatively, it can be an insert on the upper portion of the pipe. If necessary, the collector can be perforated, for example formed by a grid.

According to one embodiment, the first pipe has a symmetry of revolution. The upper edge of the pipe is then circular. It can in particular be a cylindrical pipe with a circular base or a tapered pipe flared towards the second container, or a pipe combining a cylinder section and a truncated cone. If a collector is present, it can also advantageously have a symmetry of revolution, to form a truncated cone.

More generally, the pipe can have a symmetry of revolution of order N, or N is an integer greater than 1. It can for example be a cylindrical pipe with a polygonal base, for example with square or rectangular base. If a collector is present, it can also advantageously have the same order of symmetry.

According to one embodiment, the assembly comprises at least a third culture container comprising peripheral walls defining an upper culture opening, the second culture container being positioned between the first culture container and the third culture container , and leaving the upper culture opening of the third culture container at least partially uncovered. This assembly comprises a second pipe in the extension of the first pipe, between the first pipe and the upper culture opening of the third culture container, passing through the second culture container and allowing a direct flow of material from the composting container to the third culture container. Part of a lower distribution opening of the first pipe, located, in vertical projection, outside an upper rim of the second pipe, directly opposite a part of the upper culture opening of the second culture container, also allows a direct flow of material from the composting container to the second culture container. It is thus possible to feed more than two culture containers from the same composting container.

The principle is generalizable: we can thus consider that the assembly includes an integer N greater than or equal to 3 of stacked culture containers, and that for any number K greater than 1 and less than N, the culture container numbered K is located between the culture container numbered Kl and the culture container numbered K + l and has peripheral walls delimiting an upper culture opening, the culture container numbered Kl leaving the upper culture opening of the culture container numbered K at least partially not covered, and that there is a numbered line K of which at least a portion is located in the extension of a numbered line Kl, extending at least between the numbered line Kl and the upper culture opening culture container numbered K, passing through the culture container numbered Kl and allowing direct flow of material from the container ant composting up to the culture container numbered K, part of a lower distribution opening of the numbered pipe Kl being located, in vertical projection, outside an upper rim of the pipe numbered K, directly in view of part of the upper culture opening culture container numbered Kl, also allowing a direct flow of material from the composting container to the culture container numbered Kl.

According to one embodiment, the containers are of parallelepiped shape, and preferably have, in horizontal section, an outer periphery of square shape. They are stacked on each other along the vertical axis, offset by an angle between 30 ° and 60 °, preferably by an angle of 45 ° relative to each other around the vertical axis.

According to one embodiment, the containers are of dimensions such that each container rests by the corners of the parallelepiped on the upper edges of the container located just below. The arrangement and dimensions of the different containers free up spaces for growing plants.

Of course, one can also consider containers having other shapes, for example of generally polyhedral, cylindrical or frustoconical shape.

According to one embodiment, the culture and composting containers have positioning forms which can be recessed or in relief near their lower base. The forms ensure, by cooperation with complementary forms of the container located directly below, good stability to the final assembly.

According to one embodiment, the first pipe rests by a lower end on an open bottom of the first culture container.

According to one embodiment, the first pipe is a rigid wall.

According to one embodiment, an end portion of the first pipe, located in the first culture container, preferably near the bottom of the first culture container, is provided with lights allowing the drainage of the first container of culture.

What has just been said about the first pipe can be transposed to a second pipe conveying material to a third culture container and generalizable to a numbered pipe Kl for conveying composting material to a container of culture numbered K. Thus, the line numbered Kl advantageously rests by a lower end on an open bottom of the culture container numbered K. The line numbered Kl can advantageously have a rigid wall. An end portion of the pipe numbered K-l, located in the culture container K-l, preferably near the bottom of the culture container numbered K-l, is provided with lights allowing the drainage of the culture container numbered K-l.

According to another embodiment, the open bottom of the culture container carrying the assembly has a hole allowing the flow of liquids, to ensure the drainage of the device. According to another embodiment, the bottom of the container may be such that the drainage is oriented towards one of the walls. Advantageously, the container rests on its positioning wedges which act as feet and facilitate access and possible recovery of liquids.

According to one embodiment, a cover, provided with a gripping means, covers the upper filling opening of the composting container. A seal can be provided at the interface between the cover and the upper filling opening. This cover may or may not be articulated to the peripheral wall of the composting container. It can alternatively be threaded, and cooperate with a complementary thread on the upper opening, for good sealing of the closure.

According to another embodiment, an orifice close to the filling surface of the composting container makes it possible to install a sprinkler device. Watering makes it possible, in a conventional manner, to optimize the humidity of the materials to be composted, when these contain an excess of dry materials. It also allows, if necessary, to control the odors emitted by the decomposition of the materials being composted.

In practice, the culture containers are filled with culture soil up to the upper culture opening of the containers.

According to one embodiment, a deformable seal extends the walls of the composting container in the upper culture opening of the first culture container and is thus able to bear on the surface of the culture earth or immerse in the cultivation soil, and to close the first volume of composting. Similarly, a seal extends the walls of the first culture container in the upper culture opening of the container located below and is able to rest on the surface of the culture soil or to immerse in the culture soil, closing the second volume of composting.

The composting process started, the plants in culture of each culture container benefit from the watering of the materials to be composted, from the richness of the fresh compost which seeps into the soil of culture on which the decomposition is completed and any heat naturally released by the process. The design of the containers and their arrangement also ensure good drainage, an essential quality for above-ground cultivation.

According to one embodiment, the first pipe comprises at least two rigid parts mounted with one another in a removable manner along an opening plane which is vertical when the recycling device is oriented along the plane vertical. It is thus possible to disassemble the pipe for maintenance, for example for cleaning at the end of a composting cycle, or in the event of waterlogging. Where appropriate, provision can be made for the first pipe to further comprise a hinge between the two rigid parts, defining a hinge axis located in the vertical opening plane, preferably parallel to a generator of the first pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

Figures IA, IB, a schematic view and a sectional view of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2, a top view of the collector in the device according to the invention;

Figure 3, a top view of the device according to a variant of the invention;

Figures 4, 5 and 6, sectional views of the device according to variants of the invention;

For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in all of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS In Figures IA and IB is illustrated a composting device 10 according to the invention in use. For the remainder of the description, it will be considered that the device is oriented along a vertical reference axis 100. We will thus use the term "upper" to designate what is turned upwards or what is "above", and the term "lower" to designate what is facing "down" or what is "below".

The device comprises a composting container 12 closed by a cover 14 provided with a gripping means 16. The composting container 12 is placed on a first culture container 18, itself placed on a second culture container 20. The second culture container rests by feet 22 on a horizontal support surface 24, for example the ground, a terrace or a balcony.

The composting container 12 has substantially vertical peripheral walls 26 which define an upper filling opening 28 and a lower dispensing opening 30. A seal 29 is positioned at the interface between the cover 14 and the upper filling opening 28, preferably on the cover 14. The walls 26 are extended by a seal 32, preferably flexible, as far as an upper culture opening 34 of the first culture container 18. Near the upper opening of filling 28 of the composting container 12, an opening 36 allows the installation of a sprinkler system 38 for the materials to be composted. This opening can optionally be provided with a seal, to limit the circulation of air between the inside and the outside of the composting container.

The first culture container 18 has substantially vertical peripheral walls 40 which delimit the upper culture opening 34 and an open bottom 42. A preferably flexible seal, not visible in FIG. 1B, but corresponding to the visible seal 44 in FIG. 4, ensures the extension of the walls 40 of the first culture container 18 as far as an upper opening 46 of the second culture container 20. Positioning wedges 48 ensure stable embedding in the upper opening of the second culture container 20 .

The composting device 10 further comprises a vertical tapered vertical pipe 50, extending from the open bottom 42 of the first culture container 18 to the compost container 12. Between the wall 52 of the pipe and the walls peripheral 40 of the first culture container is delimited a culture volume of the first culture container. The pipe 50 also has, at a lower end portion, openings 56 which allow the flow of liquids through the open bottom 42 to the second culture container 20. The pipe 50 also has, at an end portion upper, a collector 58. The collector 58 is located between the upper filling opening 28 and the lower distribution opening 30 of the composting container 12. It has a frustoconical upper face flaring towards the upper filling opening 28 of the composting container 12, and converging towards the center of the pipe 50. The collector 58 retains part of the materials to be composted and allows them to travel towards the pipe 50. The collector 58, in vertical projection visible in FIG. 2, represents 50% of the surface of the lower distribution opening of the compost container 12. The base of the collector preferably covers between 30 and 70% of the surface ace from the bottom dispensing opening of the compost container.

The second culture container 20 has substantially vertical peripheral walls 60, delimiting the upper culture surface 46 and an open bottom 62 on a reduced portion 54 allowing the drainage of the device, and defining a culture volume of the second container.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a top view of possible arrangements of the elements making up the device. The containers are of rectangular shape and their dimensions are such that they each rest on the upper edges of the container located directly below by the lower corners of the parallelepiped. This arrangement leaves the upper openings 46 and 34 of the culture containers respectively 20 and 18 partially uncovered, thus defining culture spaces 64.

When used as shown in Figures IA and IB, the volumes of the culture containers are filled with soil 66, and the culture spaces 64 are occupied by plants. A first composting space 68 is delimited by the walls 26 of the composting container 12 and the joint 32 which extends them, the upper level of the soil of the first culture container, the outside of the pipe 50 and the collector 58. A second composting volume 70 is defined between the upper level of the earth of the second culture container, the seal corresponding to the seal 44 visible in FIG. 4 extending the walls 40 of the first culture container 18, and the interior of the pipe 50.

The materials to be composted are introduced through the upper filling opening 28 of the composting container 12. The materials fall on the collector 58, around the collector, and at the start of the use of the device, on the earth of the second container 20 passing through the pipe 50. As materials are introduced, a heap is formed on the collector and on the soil of the first culture container, around the collector and the pipe. Once the process has started, the materials that fall on the soil of the first container, on the soil of the second container and on the collector decompose. The collector, by its shape, allows to evacuate the compost towards the second container of culture.

Figure 4 shows a variant of the device with a cylindrical pipe 50. The bottom of the second container 62 is inclined to allow the recovery of liquids near a wall 60 of the container through the reduced opening 54.

Figures 5 and 6 show two variants of a device with three stacked culture containers. In this case, the compost container 12 rests on the first culture container 18, which rests on the second culture container 72, which rests on the third culture container 20 placed on the ground. The first and second culture containers each have a pipe 50 which allows materials to be conveyed from the upper end of the pipe to the culture container located below the container on which the pipe rests. In this case there are three volumes of composting 68, 74 and 70. The number of culture containers thus makes it possible to increase the composting capacity of the device. The pipe of the second culture container can extend to the open bottom 42 of the first culture container or to the compost container 12, all the intermediate positions also being possible.

The opening dimensions of the two pipes must be adapted, so that the second culture container is sufficiently supplied. One can for example provide a distribution of material such that the collector of the first pipe directs 33% of the available material to the first culture container, then the second collector distributes the remaining 67% half between the second and the third container of culture. Other proportions are also possible, to take into account the composting volumes of the first, second and third culture containers.

Naturally, the examples shown in the figures and discussed above are given only by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. It is explicitly provided that the different embodiments illustrated can be combined with one another to propose others.

The shape of the containers is not limited to the parallelepiped, and the principle of stacking modules is adaptable to any shape. The peripheral walls 26, 40, 60 can be inclined so that the containers are flared in their upper part and optimize the culture surface.

Similarly, the shape of the pipe is not limited to the cylinder or the cone.

If necessary, provision may be made for de-clogging or cleaning the pipe, in particular if the pipe is cylindrical, to open the latter along an opening plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, and preferably containing this longitudinal axis. The pipe is then produced in two main parts, which can be fixed to each other according to the opening plane. If necessary, a connection hinge can be provided between the two main parts of the pipe, in the opening plane, to form an assembly which remains coherent when it is opened, and to guide the closure.

The collector can have any shape compatible with its function.

Claims (17)

1. Recycling device (10) for organic waste, oriented along a vertical axis (100), and comprising at least: a composting container (12), comprising peripheral walls (26) delimiting an upper filling opening (28) and a lower distribution opening (30), a first culture container (18) comprising peripheral walls (40) delimiting an upper culture opening (34), a second culture container (20) having peripheral walls (60) defining an upper culture opening (46), the first culture container being positioned between the second culture container and the container of composting, and leaving the upper culture opening of the second culture container at least partially uncovered, characterized in that it comprises a first conduit (50) between the composting container (12) and the upper culture opening (46) of the second culture container (20) passing through the first culture container (18), allowing a direct flow of material from the culture container mposting up to the second culture container, and in that at least part of the lower distribution opening (30) of the composting container is located, in vertical projection, outside an upper rim of the first line (50), directly opposite a portion of the upper culture opening (34) of the first culture container, also allowing direct flow of material from the compost container (12) to the first culture container (18). 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper rim of the first pipe (50) is located between the distribution (30) and filling (28) openings of the composting container, away from the distribution and filling the compost container. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first pipe (50) has in the immediate vicinity of its upper edge, a manifold (58). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the collector (58), in vertical projection, represents between 30 and 70% of the surface of the lower distribution opening (30) of the composting container. 5. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pipe (50) has a symmetry of revolution. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: at least a third culture container having peripheral walls defining an upper culture opening, the second culture container being positioned between the first culture container and the third culture container, and leaving the upper culture opening of the third culture container at least partially uncovered culture, a second line, at least part of which is an extension of the first line, extending at least between the first line and the upper culture opening of the third culture container, crossing the second culture container and allowing a direct flow of material from the composting container to the third culture container, part of a lower distribution opening of the first pipe being located, in vertical projection, outside of a rim upper of the second pipe, directly opposite a he part of the upper culture opening of the second culture container, also allowing direct flow of material from the compost container to the second culture container. 7. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers are of rectangular shape, and preferably have, in horizontal section, an outer periphery of square shape. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the containers are stacked on each other along the vertical axis, offset by an angle between 30 ° and 60 °, preferably by an angle of 45 ° relative to each other around the vertical axis. 9. Device according to claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the containers are of dimensions such that each container rests by the corners of the parallelepiped on the upper edges of the container located just below. 10. Device according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the containers have positioning shapes (48) in relief or recessed near their lower base. 11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pipe (50) rests by a lower end on an open bottom of the second culture container. 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pipe (50) is a rigid and full wall comprising lights (56) at its lower end. 13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a deformable seal (32) extends the walls (26) of the composting container in the upper opening (34) for cultivation of the first culture container. 14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal (44) extends the walls (40) of the first culture container in the upper culture opening (46) of the container located below. 15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the open bottom (62) of the second culture container has a hole (54) allowing the flow of liquids, to ensure the drainage of the device, 5 the container preferably resting on positioning shims (22). 16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pipe (50) comprises at least two rigid parts mounted one with the other in a removable manner along a vertical opening plane. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the first pipe (50) comprises a hinge between the two rigid parts, defining a hinge axis located in the vertical opening plane, preferably parallel to a generator of the first driving (50).