Chemistry: fertilizers – Processes and products – Bacterial
Patent
1996-07-09
1998-05-05
Lander, Ferris
Chemistry: fertilizers
Processes and products
Bacterial
71 10, 4352901, 4352904, C05F 1108
Patent
active
057468028
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This case is a 371 of PCT/SE95/00066 filed on Jan. 26, 1995.
The present invention relates to a method for composting organic material, especially domestic waste, in which method the material to be composted is placed in disintegrated form in a container to be biologically degraded under the influence of degradative organisms. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method.
A growing interest in ecology and a resulting increased environmental concern have entailed that biological, cyclic processes are being used to an ever greater extent as an alternative to dumping and burning waste. Composting of domestic waste and garden waste, i.e. composting on a relatively small scale, has become increasingly common.
In a known method for composting domestic waste and garden waste, the waste is placed in disintegrated form in a container. The waste is inserted through the top of the container as it is produced, which in the case of domestic waste often means that a fairly small charge of waste is placed in the container almost every day. Therefore, the waste placed in the container has attained a varying degree of decay. The farther down in the container the waste is located, the farther it has proceeded in the composting process. Finally composted material is therefore withdrawn from the lower part of the container, which is a quite troublesome operation. Moreover, since water present in the waste and introduced into the container along with it, and water otherwise introduced into the container collect in the lower part thereof, the finally composted material often is in the form of a difficultly-handled, wet sludge.
One object of the present invention therefore is to provide a method for composting organic matter, especially domestic waste, which makes it considerably easier to withdraw finally composted material and which also provides a quick composting process.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method which is of the type stated by way of introduction and is characterised in that the disintegrated material is placed in the container by being introduced into the inner, lower part of an accumulation, located in the container, of disintegrated material previously introduced therein, to be degraded in zones which, as disintegrated material is being introduced into the container, are moved upwards therein, whereupon finally composted material can be withdrawn from the upper part of the accumulation of material.
If required, air is introduced into the container in the lower part thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simple device for carrying out this method.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device which is characterised by a container and a material feed unit having a feed tube, one end of which opens substantially centrally in the container in the lower part thereof, a material inlet communicating with the feed tube and adapted to receive the material to be composted, and a press means for pressing the material introduced into the feed tube via the inlet, towards said one end of the tube.
A disintegrating means is preferably arranged in the feed tube in order, by cooperating with the press means, to tear or cut into pieces large pieces of material which have been introduced into the feed tube via the inlet. The disintegrating means suitably consists of a knife projecting into the feed tube and extending transversally thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the knife projects into the feed tube by a substantially sawtooth-shaped cutting edge, and the press means has a plunger movable back and forth in the feed tube and having a surface designed for cooperation with the knife cutting edge and formed with longitudinal grooves giving this surface a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the substantially sawtooth-shaped knife cutting edge.
In its front portion, the plunger preferably has a V-shaped recess for cutting interaction with the knife.
A distributing means for distributing and loosening the material which is pressed
REFERENCES:
patent: 4184269 (1980-01-01), Kneer
patent: 4236910 (1980-12-01), Norin et al.
patent: 5139554 (1992-08-01), Johnson
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