Scoop means and arrangements thereof for vehicular composting machine

• US 3,881,707 A
• Filed: 12/03/1973
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Louis R. Toto
• Original Assignee: Louis R. Toto
• Inventors: Toto, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jenkins, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US05/420,865
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 259/182,183,184,9,10,2,25,26,45,46 23/259.1,259.3
• US Class Current: 241/101.742
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 18/22 Apparatus for the preparation of culture media, e.g. bottling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/502 Vehicle-mounted mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71 Feed mechanisms with proportioning B01F35/80
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7177 using rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7178 using shovels or scoops
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7179 using sprayers, nozzles or jets

Abstract

For use in a vehicular composting machine, an improved scoop means, having a pressure means and a dewatering means, is provided for selectively densifying and dewatering the clumps which are liftingly detached from an upstanding endwise wall of a compacted rick, whereby compaction of the detached clumps during impact and curvilinear acceleration thereafter can be controlled. The pressure means comprises paddle-type scoops having a selected angle between the blades thereof to obtain sidewise compressive force of a selected magnitude, and the dewatering means comprises perforations in the scoops. A differential chopping means, comprising relatively narrowed scoops disposed at the extremities of a beater drum, is also provided for creating more intensive chopping of material in the side portions of a rick as compared to the middle portions thereof. A capacity means, comprising a staggered arrangement of closely spaced rows of scoops, is additionally provided for increasing the capacity of the vehicular composting machine without compacting the detached clumps into balls.

Claims

1. In a vehicular composting machine, a scoop means, for liftingly detaching clumps from an upstanding endwise wall of a compacted rick, having a compaction control means which comprises a pressure means and a dewatering means for selectively densifying and dewatering said detached clumps during impact and curvilinear acceleration thereof.

2. The improved scoop means of claim 1 wherein said pressure means comprises a selected angle between the blades of a paddle-type scoop.

3. The improved scoop means of claim 2 wherein said selected angle is about 60*.

4. The improved scoop means of claim 2 wherein said selected angle is substantially greater than 90* and substantially less than 180*, whereby a sidewise compressive force of a selected magnitude is created by said impact and said acceleration.

5. The improved scoop of claim 4 wherein said selected angle is 118*-126*.

6. The improved scoop means of claim 2 wherein said selected angle is approximately 180*.

7. The improved scoop means of claim 1 wherein said pressure means comprises a selected curved configuration of varied radius.

8. The improved scoop means of claim 7 wherein said configuration is elliptical.

9. The improved scoop means of claim 1 wherein said dewatering means comprises perforations in said scoop means.

10. The improved scoop means of claim 9 wherein said perforations are circular.

11. The improved scoop means of claim 9 wherein said perforations are elliptical.

12. The improved scoop means of claim 9 wherein said perforations are randomly distributed.

13. The improved scoop means of claim 9 wherein said perforations are patternly distributed.