WO2011007333A1

WO2011007333A1 - Compost sieve

Info

Publication number: WO2011007333A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/053236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonius Sannen
Original assignee: Antonius Sannen
Priority date: 2009-07-16
Filing date: 2010-07-15
Publication date: 2011-01-20
Also published as: BE1019615A3

Abstract

Compost sieve (1) provided with a container for a compost material to be sieved or the like, which container comprises a circumferential wall which consists at least partly of a sieve element (19), characterised in that the above-mentioned container is erected in a rotating manner around a rotary shaft.

Description

Compost sieve.

The present invention concerns a compost sieve.

In particular, the invention concerns a compost sieve of the type which is provided with a container for a compost material to be sieved, which container at least partly consists of a sieve element.

A compost sieve of the type which is built of a rectangular or square frame forming the side wall of a container for material to be sieved is already known, whereby the bottom of the above-mentioned container is formed of a sieve element.

During the use of such a known compost sieve for sieving compost or the like, an amount of compost material is introduced in the container by a user, after which the user lifts the container and shakes it to and fro so as to separate the fine, composted material from material which has not been composted yet, such as non-decomposed branches and the like.

Indeed, the finer, composted material falls through the openings of the sieve element, for example on a base which needs to be fertilized, such as a stretch of grass or the like, or in a separate receptacle, such that this separated, composted material can be processed for example in soil which is to be put in flower boxes or the like.

The larger pieces of non-composted material cannot fall through the openings of the sieve element and thus remain on the bottom of the container, such that the user can introduce this non-composted material once more in a compost bin or on top of a compost heap, or may use it for other purposes, such as for example to scatter it between the perennial plants in a garden.

A disadvantage of such a compost sieve consists in that it is not very practical in use, since the user, after having filled this compost sieve, must lift it and shake it to and fro so as to obtain a separation, which is highly strenuous to the back, arm and neck muscles, thus making the compost sieve hardly or not manageable for example for people having back troubles or for elder people.

An alternative technique for sieving compost material consist for example in putting a sieve element on top of a wheelbarrow and in putting the material to be sieved on this sieve element, such that the finer material falls through the openings of the sieve element in the wheelbarrow, whereas the non-composted, rougher material remains lying on the sieve element.

This technique is disadvantageous in that usually no good separation is obtained, since the wheelbarrow cannot be shifted to and fro in order to turn over the material to be sieved, such that only a limited sieve yield is obtained.

The present invention aims to offer a compost sieve which is easily manageable, easy to use and which moreover offers a good sieve yield.

To this end, the invention concerns a compost sieve which is provided with a container for a compost material to be sieved or the like, which container at least partly consists of a sieve element, whereby, according to the specific characteristic of the invention, the above-mentioned container is arranged in a rotating manner. According to a preferred embodiment, the container is made in the shape of a drum whose circumferential wall is at least partly made in the shape of a sieve element.

A drum usually has a base and a top face and a circumferential wall connecting these faces.

Such a drum may be cylindrical, almost cylindrical, prismatic and even tapered in case the base and top face are not equally large.

By a prismatic wall is meant the shape assumed by the wall if the base and top face of the drum form an n-sided polygon.

Moreover, the base and top face must not necessarily have the same shape.

The circumferential wall may comprise flat sub walls and/or sub walls that are bent in one or several directions. The drum' s axis of rotation may be the drum' s possible axis of symmetry, which improves the dynamic qualities of the compost sieve.

According to an alternative embodiment, the container is tub- shaped, analogous to a known mortar mixer with an opening in the extension of the axis of rotation, but such an embodiment complicates the simplicity of the compost sieve's mechanical construction . The sieve element may be a perforated plate element or a gauze screen or the like. The circumferential wall and/or the sieve element may be composed of segments. This is advantageous in that the compost sieve can be offered to the user in a compact way, whereas the assembly and/or any possible replacements of the sieve type are at the same time simplified.

When using a compost sieve according to the invention, the user must introduce an amount of material to be sieved in the drum, after which this drum is made to rotate, such that the material to be sieved is turned up and the finer material particles can move out through the openings of the sieve element, whereas the larger material particles are being held in the container.

As the material to be sieved is subjected to a rotational movement, the material to be sieved will be constantly turned up, resulting in a good sieve yield, which is particularly the case if, according to a preferred aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned axis extends horizontally or practically horizontally at least during the sieving.

Moreover, the use of the compost sieve according to the invention is very simple, since a user must not shake the container in order to obtain a sieving action. In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiments of a compost sieve according to the invention are described by way of example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 schematically represents a compost sieve according to the invention as disassembled, seen in perspective;

figure 2 is a disassembled view of the part indicated in figure 1 by arrow F2 ;

figure 3 represents the part indicated in figure 2 by arrow F3 to a larger scale;

figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a drum according to figure 2;

figure 5 is a side elevation of a drum according to figure 2, in another position of use;

figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a drum;

figure 7 shows a preferred embodiment of a compost sieve according to the invention.

The figures represent a preferred compost sieve 1 according to the invention which is in this case provided with a support 2 comprising two L-shaped struts 3 over which is provided a U-shaped bracket 4 with its two hollow far ends as each hollow far end of the legs of the bracket 4 is pushed over one leg of a respective L—shaped strut 3.

The compost sieve 1 in this case also comprises a bearing plate 5 on which has been provided a shaft 6, for example by means of welding, screwing or the like. On two of its opposite longitudinal edges, the above- mentioned bearing plate 5 is provided with a tubular guide 7. In the given example, the respective guides 7 are each pushed over a respective leg of the above-mentioned U-shaped bracket 4 and fixed on the latter, for example by means of a bolt and nut connection 8.

Since the above-mentioned U-shaped bracket 4 extends almost vertically, the above-mentioned shaft 6 will extend horizontally or almost horizontally when the compost sieve 1 is erect.

In this case, but not necessarily, the support 2 is made mobile as it is provided with at least one and in this case two wheels 9. Further, the compost sieve 1 comprises a container for a material to be sieved, which container, according to one aspect of the invention, is made in the shape of drum 10 which can rotate around its axis. In this example, the container is provided with two almost disc-shaped end plates 11 sealing the above-mentioned drum 10 at both its respective longitudinal far ends.

In this case, the above-mentioned end plates 11 are each provided with a central passage 12 having a diameter which is at least as large as the diameter of the above-mentioned shaft 6.

The respective end plates 11 are connected to one another, in this case by means of connecting means provided to that end.

The above-mentioned connecting means in this case comprise for example a tube 13 which, as is clear from figure 4, is provided with its respective far ends round a collar 14 provided on the sides of the respective end plates 11 which are directed towards one another, round the above-mentioned passage 12. The presence of such a tube 13 is not strictly necessary according to the invention, since the above- mentioned end plates 11 can also be connected to one another in other ways, as will become clear hereafter.

Between said end plates 11 preferably extend one or several inwardly directed partitions 15 which in this case consist of a rectangular plate as shown in figure 3, whereby this plate is provided with screw plugs 16 on two lateral walls which, when the compost sieve 1 is mounted, extend through openings provided to that end in the end plates 11 and which are secured in this condition by means of nuts which are screwed over the threaded parts 17 of said screw plugs 16.

Thus, these partitions 15 are also part of the above- mentioned connecting means in this case.

Some of the above-mentioned partitions 15 may possibly be provided with hooks 18 on one longitudinal edge which are bent at their free ends in this case, such that the bent far ends, in the given example, extend practically according to the tangential direction of the drum 10 in such a way that said hooks 18 are accessible as of the outside of the drum 10.

In the position of the drum 10 as shown in figure 5, the bent far ends of said hooks 18 of the two partitions 1 situated horizontally in relation to one another are all directed to the bottom side of the compost sieve 1. The use of the presence of such hooks 18 will be explained further in the description .

The drum 10 is further provided with a circumferential wall which, according to the invention, is at least partly made, and in this case practically entirely made as a sieve element 19.

A sieve element 19 may be a perforated plate or the like, but in this case and preferably, the sieve element 19 is a gauze screen .

The openings in the sieve element 19 preferably have a diameter, measured in at least one direction, of at least six millimetres, but also other openings can be used for certain applications, such as for example a gauze screen with a mesh of 10x10 or 12x12 millimetres.

The above-mentioned drum 10 may be adjustable in height in relation to the support 2, in this case for example as the bolt and nut connection 8 is adjustable in height.

Analogously, the support 2 itself may also be adjustable in height, for example by means of locking pins which can be put in adjusting holes 20 so as to secure the mutual position of the bracket 20 and the L-shaped struts 3. Naturally, a combination of the drum 10 and the support 2 being both adjustable in height is possible as well. As shown in figure 5, the above-mentioned sieve element 19 can be made at least partially detachable, which is obtained in this example by building the sieve element 19 in two parts, namely in the shape of a first, fixed part 19A and a second, detachable part 19B.

Alternatively, the part 19B of the sieve element 19 may also be hinge-mounted and made unfoldable.

The detachable part 19B extends over an inscribed angle of at least 90°, and in the given example over an angle of 180° or practically 180°.

In this case, on one far end, the part 19B is provided with openings in which the hooks 18 of a first partition 15 can be provided, such that this part 19B is hooked behind said hooks 18.

The part 19B can be clamped with its other far end while the drum 10 is being closed, for example by means of known clamping devices 21 or the like provided to that end, which clamping devices 21 are provided on part 19B in this example, in such a way that said clamping devices 21 can co-operate with the hooks 18 which are provided on a second partition 15, opposite the above-mentioned first partition 15.

In order to mount such a compost sieve 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention as explained above and as illustrated in the figures, the drum 10 is pushed with the above-mentioned passages 12 round the shaft 6 of the bearing plate 5, such that the drum 10 can rotate round said shaft 6. According to an additional preferred characteristic of the invention, the drum 10 is further provided with driving means so as to make it rotate, which driving means in this case contain a handle 22 to make the drum 10 rotate manually, which handle is in this case mounted directly on an end plate 11.

The above-mentioned handle 22 is preferably mounted such on the end plate 11 that it is situated opposite or practically opposite the centre of the opening which is created when the detachable part 19B of the sieve element 19 is removed, such that, by shifting the centre of gravity of the drum 10 in the direction of the handle 22, the drum 10 always ends up with the opening directed upward when in rest, which makes filling it considerably easier.

If the part 19B of the sieve element 19 is hinge-mounted and unfoldable, the drum 10 will preferably be provided with an anti-rotation lock, such that when the part 19B is unfolded, the drum 10 can always be locked with the opening directed upward.

Naturally, the above-mentioned driving means can also be made in the shape of an electric drive or the like such as a motor, either or not combined with a handle 21 for manual operation .

According to a preferred characteristic of a compost sieve 1 according to the invention which is not represented in the drawings, the compost sieve 1 may possibly be also provided with a receptacle which occupies a place under the above- mentioned drum 10 while the compost sieve 1 is being used. Figure 6 represents an alternative embodiment of a drum 10.

About three quarters of the length is made as a sieve element 19 here, in this case in the form of a gauze screen, and one quarter is made as an open part 23 which serves as a discharge opening for the rough and/or not yet composted material. It should be noted that such an embodiment allows for a continuous discharge, such that the processing must not be interrupted in any way.

Under the sieve element 19 may be provided a first collector, and a second collector may be provided under the open part 23.

The far end of the drum 10 near the open part 23 is sealed here, for example by providing a disc-shaped end plate 11, whereas the opposite far end is made open in view of the supply of compost material via this open far end.

The centre of the drum 10 near this closed far end is situated somewhat lower, in this case one centimetre lower, than the centre of the drum 10 at the opposite open far end, one and other in view of an optimal transport of compost material which is being supplied through the compost sieve 1.

On the outside of the closed far end is mounted a shaft in this case which can be coupled to a lever or a motor. Possibly, a spiral-shaped knife 24 can be provided in the drum 10 to additionally guide the compost material.

Indeed, during the rotational movement of the drum 10, such a knife 24 can make sure that the material is transported backwards, i.e. in the direction of the end plate 11. During this transport, the fine, composted material will be carried to the first collector by the sieve. The remaining, non- composted and/or larger parts are carried to the second collector through the openings in the back of the drum 10.

Figure 7 shows a preferred embodiment of a compost sieve 1 according to the invention.

This embodiment, at least the drum 10 applied therein, is similar to the drum 10 as shown in figure 6 at the visible crosscut end which is made open, one and other in view of the supply of the compost material to be sieved.

However, this embodiment is characterised among others by the specific suspension and drive of the drum 10. The drum 10 is provided in a rotating manner here between four shafts, not represented in figure 7, which rest against the casing of the drum 10 and thus carry the drum 10 and maintain its position, but simultaneously allow it to revolve .

Moreover, in this embodiment, two out of the four shafts are being driven in a synchronised manner, and thanks to their frictional co-operation with the drum 10, the drum 10 is revolved.

As a result, i.e. as the drive and the suspension of the drum 10 are not provided in the extension of the axis of the drum 10 but in its periphery, the far end which is concealed in figure 7 can be kept open, and the casing as a whole can thus be conceived as a sieve element 19, for example as a gauze or the like. For example, a motor can be provided in the zone which is predominantly situated above said concealed far end in figure 7. Naturally, such a motor can be replaced by a lever which may possibly be provided in front as well, i.e. on the visible side of the drum 10 in figure 7, for example on the edge of the drum 10, such that it can be driven manually without obstructing the supply opening.

In view of the discharge of the fine, sieved compost material, a first appropriate opening is provided at the bottom of the housing with possibly a first collecting device underneath it, whereas for the discharge of the rougher compost material which is being discharged via the concealed open far end of the drum 10 in figure 7, a second opening and/or collector may be provided.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the drum 10 as represented in figure 6 and of the compost sieve 1 as represented in figure 7 are advantageous in that the compost material can be supplied and sieved in a continuous manner, as opposed to the batch processing or semi-continuous processing of the embodiments whereby the rougher parts must be removed from the drum 10 when the processing has been going on for a while.

The use of a compost sieve 1 according to the invention is very simple and as follows.

First, the container is opened, in this case by opening the above-mentioned clamps 21 or other fixing means with which the part 19B can be fixed. Next, the part 19B of the sieve element 19 can be removed, for example as indicated in figure 5. In this way is created a mouth through which the user can introduce a compost material to be sieved or the like in the drum 10.

After the container has been sealed again, the drum 10 is made to rotate by means of the above-mentioned driving means, which is actually done in this example by making the drum 10 rotate manually by means of the above-mentioned handle 22.

The smaller material, such as finer, composted material falls through the openings of the sieve element 19, possibly in a receptacle or the like.

The larger pieces such as non-decomposed branches or the like which are present in the material to be sieved cannot fall through the openings of the sieve element 19 and thus remain in the drum 10.

Thanks to the presence of the above-mentioned optional partitions 15, the material to be sieved is well turned up in the drum 10, which has a positive influence on the operational yield of the compost sieve 1.

The collected finer material can be discharged for further applications such as fertilising lawns or flower boxes.

In order to empty the container, the user can simply open the above-mentioned detachable part of the sieve element 19B again and then turn this drum 10 in such a way that the above-mentioned mouth is situated at the bottom of the drum 10 and the material which is still present in the drum 10 falls out of the drum 10 to be introduced back in a compost bin or onto a compost heap, for example.

A compost sieve 1 according to the invention is advantageous in that such a compost sieve 1 is very easy to manipulate, also for elder people, people with back troubles or the like. Besides for sieving dry or damp compost material, said compost sieve 1 can also be used for example to clean pebble stones, to sieve polluted garden mould or to mix cleared garden mould with compost. As the material to be sieved is turned up thoroughly, a considerable gain of time is possible compared to when using traditional sieves, since sieving can be done three to four times faster. Moreover, a compost sieve 1 according to the invention is very easy to maintain, since this compost sieve 1 can be easily rinsed, for example with a garden hose or the like.

A major aspect of a compost sieve according to the invention consists in that this compost sieve 1 can be manipulated manually and is wheeled. To this end, the drum 10 has for example a diameter of some fifty centimetres and a depth of some 30 to 40 centimetres, but it is clear that these measures are not restrictive. The shaft 6 is situated for example at a height of practically eighty centimetres from the bottom side of the lower, horizontally directed legs of the L-shaped struts 3, but, as already mentioned above, it is preferably adjustable, for example in steps of five centimetres .

According to a variant of a compost sieve 1 according to the invention which is not represented in the figures, the sieve element 19 can also be made entirely detachable, such that the sieve element 19 is exchangeable. Thus, depending on the aimed application, a sieve element 19 with another opening width can then be selected by the user.

In the example of the figures, the mouth of the drum 10 is formed of the detachable and/or unfoldable part 19B of the sieve element 19, but the invention is not limited as such, since such a mouth can also be provided for example in an above-mentioned end plate 11, or by adjusting the structure in such a way that no end plate must be provided.

According to a special characteristic of the invention, the end plates 11 are made larger than the circumferential wall of the drum 10, or alternatively provided with brackets or other extensions, such that the compost sieve 1 can also be used as a reel for winding up a garden hose or the like, for example . The compost sieve 1 can be offered as a do-it-yourself package and, as explained above, such a package can be provided with various sieve elements 19 having different opening sizes. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the rotary shaft is arranged horizontally or practically horizontally, at least during the sieving, but it is clear that a slanting arrangement of the rotary shaft may offer specific advantages .

Thus, a slantingly rotating container having its opening in the extension of the rotary shaft can procure a permanent discharge of the rougher fraction along this crosscut opening. The compost sieve 1 can be made such that the inclination of the rotary shaft is adjustable, in such a way that it becomes possible to tilt the container.

In the example described above, the sieve element 19 is made in two parts, but a multipart construction is possible as well . Although, in the given example, the shaft 6 is mainly directed crosswise to the plane formed by the legs of the bracket 4, it is clear that the rotary shaft may have various other orientations.

According to a variant of a compost sieve 1 according to the invention which is not represented in the figures, the rotary shaft of the drum 10 can be provided for example between the legs of the support 2, in particular situated in the plane formed by these legs, whereby the axis is preferably provided horizontally.

Alternatively, the rotary shaft can be provided in a slightly protruding manner in a plane which is mainly parallel to the plane formed by the legs of the bracket 4. This can be realised for example by changing the bearing plate 5 of the embodiment as described and illustrated in the figures, for example by keeping the tubular guides 7 but by replacing the actual bearing plate 5 by two supports directed crosswise to the plane formed by the guides 7, formed for example of two L-shaped laths or struts whose free ends are connected to the guides 7. In this way, the suspension of the rotary shaft can also be adjusted in height. It is clear, however, that the rotary shaft and the drum must not necessarily be adjustable in height, and that the fastening must not be realised by means of said sliding guides 7 or the like then.

The thus protruding supports, i.e. protruding in relation to the plane formed by the legs of the bracket 4, can be provided with openings through which can be provided a shaft, which may possibly be provided with a crank to drive the drum 1.

Indeed, depending on the embodiment, the above-mentioned handle 11 must not necessarily be provided directly on an end plate 11 close to its outer perimeter, but it can also be made in the shape of a crank which is connected to a centre part of the drum 1, such as for example to a central or practically central part of an end plate 11 or to a tube 13 or a collar 14. In this case as well, the freely rotating far end of the crank is preferably positioned such in relation to the mouth that this mouth, when the part 19B is removed from the drum 1, ends up on top. The parts of the compost sieve as described above and illustrated in the figures are mainly made of steel. However, the parts of a compost sieve according to the invention can be made of different materials, such as for example of either or not recycled plastic.

As a function of the used materials, also the connecting techniques for the parts are adapted. Thus, plastic parts may be provided with snap-in connections co-operating in an elastic manner, which form a rigid whole once the parts have been assembled. The present invention is by no means restricted to the embodiments described by way of example and represented in the figures. On the contrary, a compost sieve according to the invention can be made in all sorts of shapes and dimensions while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims .

1. Compost sieve provided with a container for a compost material to be sieved or the like, which container comprises a circumferential wall which consists at least partly of a sieve element (19), characterised in that the above-mentioned container is erected in a rotating manner around a rotary shaft.

2. Compost sieve according to claim 1, characterised in that the above-mentioned container is made in the shape of a drum (10), arranged in a rotating manner, preferably round its axis of symmetry.

3. Compost sieve according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the circumferential wall of the container and/or the sieve element (19) out of which the circumferential wall is at least partly built consist (s) of at least two segments.

4. Compost sieve according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the above-mentioned axis extends horizontally or practically horizontally, at least during the sieving.

5. Compost sieve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the above-mentioned container is suspended in a rotating manner on a support (2) .

6. Compost sieve according to claim 5, characterised in that the above-mentioned container is made such that it is adjustable in height in relation to the support (2) and/or the support (2) is made such that it is adjustable in height .

7. Compost sieve according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the above-mentioned support (2) is mobile, as it is provided with one or several wheels (9) .

8. Compost sieve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the above-mentioned sieve element (19) is at least partly detachable and/or unfoldable .

9. Compost sieve according to claim 8, characterised in that the detachable part (19B) of the sieve element (19) extends over at least an inscribed angle of 90°.

10. Compost sieve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the above-mentioned container are provided one or several inwardly directed partitions (15) .

11. Compost sieve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the above-mentioned drum (10) is sealed on at least one of both its longitudinal far ends by means of an end plate (11) .

12. Compost sieve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the above-mentioned container is provided with driving means to make it rotate.

13. Compost sieve according to claim 12, characterised in that the above-mentioned driving means comprise at least a handle (22) to make the drum (10) rotate manually.

14. Compost sieve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the above-mentioned sieve element (19) is provided with openings which, measured in at least one direction, have a diameter of at least six millimetres .

15. Compost sieve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is provided with a receptacle which is provided mainly vertically under the above-mentioned drum (10) when in use.