Composting apparatus

• US 5,597,732 A
• Filed: 04/14/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Bryan-Brown
• Original Assignee: Michael Bryan-Brown
• Inventors: Bryan-Brown, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David A.
• Application Number:
  US08/421,988
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 435/311, 435/313, 435/290.1, 435/290.4, 202/228, 71/11
• US Class Current: 435/290.4
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/914 Portable or transportable devices, e.g. transport containers or trucks
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/979 the other material being gaseous
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for composting organic waste in a container with an uneven aeration floor positioned above the bottom of the container. Preferably, the aeration floor slopes down and in from its outer edges to encourage liquid formed during composting to collect under the perforated center portion of the aeration floor. Preferably, the perforated center portion of the aeration floor is arched or peaked. This particular aeration floor configuration directs more air toward the center of the composting mass while minimizing the amount of air following the path of least resistance up the side wall. A chamber is defined by the aeration floor and the bottom of the container. Air enters (or exits) the chamber through an orifice and exits (or enters) the chamber through the perforations in the aeration floor. The container may also have a top wall or cover and a means for exhausting or introducing air through the top of the container. A reversing damper may be used simplify controlling air flow direction. Preferably, the apparatus can be modified to also dewater liquid organic waste before composting.

Claims

1. An apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste comprising of:

a. a container for holding said organic waste having a bottom wall and enclosing walls about said bottom wall;

b. an uneven aeration floor within said container positioned above said bottom wall for supporting said organic waste and forming a chamber with said enclosing walls and said bottom wall, wherein said uneven aeration floor is a perforated floor having a surface shape which is peaked upwardly toward center of said container; and

c. a first air passage means for allowing air to be introduced into or exhausted from said chamber, wherein said first air passage means is an orifice positioned below said uneven aeration floor through said container.

2. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 1 further comprising of:

d. a top wall positioned atop of said enclosing walls for enclosing said container; and

e. a second air passage means for allowing air to be exhausted from or introduced into said container above said uneven perforated aeration floor.

3. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 2 wherein said top wall is removable.

4. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 2 further comprising of:

f. a reversing damper connected to said container at said first air passage means and said second air passage means for controlling the direction of said pressurized air travelling through said container.

5. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 4 further comprising of:

g. a scoop positioned within said chamber for collecting and decanting liquid formed during composting of said organic waste.

6. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 1 further comprising of:

d. a scoop positioned within said chamber for collecting and decanting liquid formed during composting of said organic waste.

7. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 1 wherein said uneven perforated aeration floor has a raised perforated center portion and solid outer portions, said solid outer portions are secured to said enclosing walls and to said bottom wall, said outer portions slope downward from said enclosing walls toward said bottom wall, said raised perforated center portion is mounted atop of said solid outer portions.

8. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 1 wherein said enclosing walls comprise of side walls, a front wall and an end wall and wherein said uneven perforated aeration floor comprises of a first sloping floor, a second sloping floor, a first end plate, a second end plate and a perforated center floor, said first sloping floor intersects one of said side walls, said bottom wall, said end wall and said front wall, said second sloping floor intersects opposite said side wall, said bottom wall, said end wall and said from wall, said first end plate is secured atop of said first and second sloping floors and intersects said end wall, said second end plate is secured atop of said first and second sloping floors and intersects said front wall, said perforated center floor is secured atop of said first and second sloping floors and to said first and second end plates, said perforated center floor forms a chamber with said bottom wall, said first and second sloping floors, said first and second end plates, said end wall and said front wall.

9. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 8 further comprising of:

d. a top wall positioned atop of said enclosing walls for enclosing said container; and

e. a second air passage means for allowing air to be exhausted from or introduced into said container above said uneven perforated aeration floor.

10. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 1 wherein said enclosing walls comprise of side walls, an end wall and a front wall detachably connected to said side walls and wherein said uneven perforated aeration floor comprises of a first sloping floor, a second sloping floor, a first end plate, a second end plate and a perforated center floor, said first sloping floor intersects one of said side walls, said bottom wall, said end wall and said front wall, said second sloping floor intersects opposite said side wall, said bottom wall, said end wall and said front wall, said first end plate is secured atop of said first and second sloping floors and intersects said end wall, said second end plate is secured atop of said first and second sloping floors and intersects said front wall, said perforated center floor is secured atop of said first and second sloping floors and to said first and second end plates, said perforated center floor forms a chamber with said bottom wall, said first and second sloping floors, said first and second end plates, said end wall and said front wall.

11. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 10 further comprising of:

d. a scoop positioned within said chamber toward said front wall for collecting and decanting liquid. formed during composting of said organic waste.

12. An apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste comprising of:

a. a solid bottom portion;

b. a cross-sectionally raised perforated upper portion mounted atop of said solid bottom portion and forming a chamber with said solid bottom portion, wherein said cross-sectionally raised perforated upper portion has a surface shape which is peaked upwardly; and

c. a first air passage means for allowing air to be introduced into or exhausted from said chamber.

13. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 12 further comprising of:

d. a container for enclosing said cross-sectionally raised perforated upper portion and containing said organic waste, said container having said side walls, a front wall and an end wall which intersects with said solid bottom portion of said cross-sectionally raised perforated upper portion.

14. The apparatus utilizing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 13 further comprising of:

e. a top wall secured atop of said enclosing walls for enclosing said container; and

f. a second air passage means for allowing air to be exhausted from or introduced into said container above said cross-sectionally raised perforated upper portion.

15. The apparatus utilzing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 14 wherein said front wall is detachably connected to said side walls.

16. The apparatus utilzing pressurized air for composting organic waste as recited in claim 15 further comprising of:

g. a scoop positioned within said chamber for collecting and decanting liquid formed during composting of said organic waste.

17. An apparatus for composting liquid organic waste adaptable for use with a dewatering system comprising of:

a. a container for holding said liquid organic waste having a bottom wall and enclosing walls about said bottom wall;

b. an uneven aeration floor within said container positioned above said bottom wall for supporting said liquid organic waste and forming a chamber with said enclosing walls and said bottom wall, wherein said uneven aeration floor is a perforated floor having a surface shape which is peaked upwardly toward center of said container; and

c. a first air passage means for allowing air to be introduced into or exhausted from said chamber, wherein said first air passage means is an orifice positioned below said uneven aeration floor through said container; and

d. attachment means for securing said dewatering system along said enclosing walls of said container.

18. The apparatus for composting liquid organic waste adaptable for use with a dewatering system as recited in claim 17 further comprising of:

e. a dewatering system secured to said enclosing walls by said attachment means, said dewatering system having a filter fabric and a drainage net, said filter fabric capable of allowing liquid to pass through while retaining solids in said liquid organic waste, said drainage net interposed between said enclosing walls and said filter fabric to allow liquid passing through said filter fabric to freely drain along said enclosing walls.

19. The apparatus for composting liquid organic waste adaptable for use with a dewatering system as recited in claim 17 further comprising of:

e. a scoop positioned within said chamber for decanting liquid collected during dewatering and formed during composting of liquid organic waste.