Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the_Invention 20~5~i
The present invention relates to a ventilating system
for a garbage container for receiving waste which can be
composted. The garbage container includes a receiving vessel
which can be closed by means O:e a cover, particularly a
folding cover. The receiving vessel has walls which are at
least over portions thereof provided with air passage
openings. The receiving vessel further includes an air~
permeable intermediate wall arranged spaced above the vessel
bottom for carrying the waste.
.
2. Description of the Related Art
A garbage container for receiving waste which can be
composted is already known from German Offenlegungsschrift
36 42 761. This known container has above the vessel bottom
a screen insert formed by a perforated sheet for carrying the
waste. The screen insert is hinged as a folding wall to the
interior of the receiving vessel. Moreover, the side walls
of the receiving vessel of this garbage container are
provided with air passage openings below the screen insert
.. , ~ ~ .
and spaced below the edge o~ the opening of the vessel. ` ~ ~
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5~i
It has been found in practice that in such a garbage
container the decomposition of the wastes which are capable
of composting takes place aerobically only to a small extent.
In other words, the decomposition takes place predominantly
anerobically and, thus, generates undesirable odors.
The reason for this predominantly anaerobic
decomposition of wastes which are capable of composting is
the ~act that the layers of waste which are formed or built
up over di~ferent times are only insu~ficiently ventilated.
Since the water content of the lower waste layers is
continuously increased due to seepa~e water, even those
decomposition processes which initially take place
aerobically are interrupted and are subsequently changed to
anaerobic decomposition processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, there~ore, the primary object o~ the present
invention to provide a ventilating system for garbage
containers for receiving waste which can be composted, in
which aerobic decomposition processes are generated and
maintained with simple means and in which anaerobic
decomposition processes are counteracted more than in the
past.
2al~o~625011~44
According to the broadest aspect of the present
invention, there is provided in a ventilating system for a
garbage container for receiving wastes which can be composted,
the garbage container including a receiving vessel defining an
opening and having a bottom, and a cover for closing the opening
of the receiving vessel, said receiving vessel having a front
wall, a rear wall and side walls some of which being at least ;;
over portions thereof provided with air passage openings, the
receiving vessel further including an air-permeable intermediate
wall arranged spaced above the vessel bottom for carrying the
wastes, the improvement comprising the intermediate wall being
a grate formed by grate members defining meshes which have a
width which is substantially larger than the width of the grate
members, the walls of the receiving vessel defining air inlet
openings in the region of the grate, additional ventilation
openings being provided in the walls underneath the opening of
the receiving vessel, and spacer members for the wastes being
provided on inner surfaces of the walls of the receiving vessel
at least over portions of the walls which extend vertically above
the grate, wherein the cover defines air discharge openings.
In accordance with an important feature, the total
cross-sectional area of the ventilation openings and the air
discharge openings corresponds to a multiple of the total cross- ;~
sectional area of the air inlet openings.
It has been found that the ventilating system -;
constructed in accordance with the present invention makes it ~;~
possible to substantially improve the aerobic decomposition
process in the wastes which are capable of composting. Specific-
ally, while preventing undesirable odors, it was possible to ;
reduce the mass of the waste over a period of time of 14 days by
13% o~ the fresh amount of waste. In contrast, when garbage
containers of the above-described
- 4
known type are used, a reduction in mass of only 6~ of the
fresh amount of waste was possible over the same period of
time, while generating undesirable odors because the process
takes place predominantly anaerobically. Thus, the reduction
in mass can be doubled by means of the ventilating system
according to the present invention. At the same time, the
amount of water collected in the garbage container according
to the present invention during the storage of the waste was
approximately 40.3% of the amount of water remaining over the
same period of time when the known garbage container is used.
It has heen found particularly useful if the rat1o of
the width of the meshes to the width of the grate members of
the grate serving as an intermediate wall is approximately
between 10:1 and 15:1.
In the simplest case, the grate may be a wire grate in
which the individual wires have a diameter of, for example,
2 mm, so that the individual meshes have a side length o~
between 20 and 30 mm. Of course, it would also be possible
to use grates whose grate members are made of strip material
which is placed on edge.
Another feature of the present invention provides that
the air inlet openings are arranged in the vessel wall`s,
particularly in the vessel side walls, underneath the plane
in which the grate is mounted, but above the vessel bottom.
2~ 35~j
on the other hand, in accordance with another recommended
feature, a greater portion, for example, 2/3, of the air
inlet openings are arranged underneath the plane of the grate
and a smaller portion, f'or example, 1/3, are arranged above
the plane of the grate in the vessel walls, particularly the
vessel side walls.
Another advantageous feature of the present invention
provides that the air inlet openings are arranged in the form
of circular groups of holes in opposite side walls of the
receiving vessel. The ventilation openings may also
preferably be arranged in the form of circular groups of
holes in the center of oppositely located side walls.
Preferably, the type of arrangement of the air inlet openings
is the same as that of the ventilation openings.
Of course, a plurality of small holes can also be
replaced by one or several large openings, for example,
slots.
In accordance with a particularly useful feature of the
~entilating system according to the present inventiont the
spacer members are ribs or webs which project from the inner
surfaces of the walls of the receiving vessel and extend
upwarùly.
If the spacer members are ribs or webs, it is ~5
recommended to integrally form these spacer members with the
inner surfaces of the walls of the receiving vessel, in such
a way that they extend at least over the height thereof which
extends above the grate.
It is also possible to provide at least some ribs or
webs underneath the plane of the grate. In this case, the
web or webs have a greater sectional height than the webs
provided above the grate, so that the free end surfaces of
the web or webs can form support surfaces for the grate. The
grate may be mounted loosely placed on the ribs. However, it
is particularly recommended to mount the grate within the
receiving vessel so as to be foldable by means of hinges. It
has been found that the ventilating system operates best if
the normal sectional height of the ribs or webs is between 5
and 25 mm.
In accordance with another development, at least the
individual holes forming the air discharge opening have a
diameter which is at least equal to the thickness of the
walls of the vessel and of the cover. Preferably, the holes
have a diameter of 4 mm. This makes it possible to prevent ~
the formation of films or drops of condensation water which ;
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could span across the cross-sections of the air discharge ~`
openings and, thus, could prevent the escape of water vapor.
7 .`
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25011 44
Air discharge openings in the form of slots may serve the same
purpose.
Another advantageous feature of the present invention
provides that the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of
the ventilation openings in the side walls of the receiving
vessel and the air discharge openings in the cover to the total
cross-sectional area of the air inlet openings is approximately
10:1. As a result, the heat generated by the aerobic decomposi- :~
tion processes essentially builds up a convection flow within -~
the garbage container which not only has the effect to conduct
most of the water contained in the wastes and generated during
the decomposition process toward the top in the form of water
vapor and out of the garbage container, but simultaneously .
causes an intensive flow of oxygen-rich air from the outside . -
into the interior of the waste container and, thus, ensures
that the aerobic decomposition process is maintained.
A further development of the present invention
provides that the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the ~ ;`
air discharge openings in the cover to the total cross-sectional `~ :
area of the air inlet openings is approximately 9:1. .
Consequently, ventilation openings may be provided in the side
walls of the receiving vessel whose total cross-sectional area
is approximately equal to the total cross-sectional area of the
air inlet opening. ;~
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35~
If the garbage container with the ventilating system
according to the present invention is placed in the open air
and, thus, is also subjected to the influence of rain, it is
advantageous to provide the air discharge openings in the
container cover spaced apart and underneath a protective rain
cover which can ba mounted subsequently as an added element
on the container cover.
However, it is also conceivable to surround the air
discharge openings with an upwardly extending collar or to
arrange them between upwardly extending ribs or webs. Any
water reaching the outer side of the cover can then flow off
without reaching the interior of the garbage container. The
entire cover may also be replaced by a ventilating groove to
be placed on the receiving vessel.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
portion of the receiving vessel located underneath the
intermediate wall and also underneath the air inlet openings
may form a water collecting space in which the water
discharged from the wastes can be collected. This is
desirable because the water has a pH-value which more or less
significantly deviates from that of pure water. Usually, the
pH-value is below 7 and, thus, tha water is acidic. In
,
addition, the water contains a significant amount of organic
materialO
2~
Finally, it may be useful to provide the water
collecting space with a water outlet. The opening of the
water outlet may be slightly above the uppermost filling
level of the water collecting space at the end wall of the
receiving vessel where the opening may be connected to a
water reservoir of a garbage removal vehicle, particularly if
the garbage container is emptied into the garbage removal
vehicle by means of a lifting and tilting device. In this
manner, it is ensured that not only the wastes which are
subjected to the aerobic decomposition process are removed in
an environmentally acceptable manner, but also the water
which is simultaneously collected and is acidic and contains
harmful material. In addition, the wastes and the water can
be properly purified before being used again.
~ owever, it is also possible to form a shaft or the like
within the receiving vessel which shaft extends from the
water collecting space to the upper edge of the receiving
vessel and from which the water can flow out when the
container is emptied. The water may also be removed from the
water collecting chamber by means of suction before the
receiving vessel itself is emptied.
The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the cl!aims
annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a
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better understanding of th~ $nvention, its oparating
advantages attained by its use, referencs should be had to
the drawing and descriptive ~atter in which there are
illustrated and described pre~erred embodiments of the
invention.
RRI~F ~ESÇ~IPT~ON OF T~ ~R~WILÇ
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a garbaga
container taken along s~ctional line I-I in Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 i5 a~top view o~ the garbage container of Fig. 1,
with the cover being open;
Fig. 3 is a side view, on a larger-scale, of portions of
the garbage container indicated in Fig. 1 by arrows III,
Fig. 4 is a bottom view, also on a larger scale, o~ the
cover df ~he garbage container shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and
Fig. 5 is a sectional ~iew of the cover taken along
sectional linQ V-V of Fig. 4.
11 .
s~
. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
,
Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing show a garbage container 1
which is constructed essentially in the form of a standard
garbage container. The garbage container 1 includes a
receiving vessel 2 and a folding cover 3 which i5 in
continuous connection wi~h the vessel 2 by means of hinges ~.
The receiving vessel 2 and the folding cover 3 are usually
constructed as molded articles of plastics material.
However, they may also be manufactured from other materials.
The receiving vessel 2 of the garbage container 1
usually has an essentially rectangular or square cross-
section and is closed at the bottom by an integrally formed
bottom wall 5. The upper opening 6 of the receiving vessel
is defined toward the outside by a collar-like profiled
reinforcing edge 7. An edge 8 of the opening extends above
the edge 7. The reinforcing edge 7 is constructed in such a
way that it can be grasped by a lifting and tilting device of
a garbage removal vehicle if the garbage container 1 is to be
emptied into the vehicle. The opening edge 8 is connected to
the reinforcing edge 7 as an extension of the front wall 9a,
the rear wall 9b and the side walls 9c and 9d of the
receiving vessel 2.
12
5~
As shown in Fig. 1, an indentation ~0 is formed adjacent
the bottom wall 2 in the rear wall sb of the receiving vessel
2. The indentation 10 includes bearing eyes 11 in which an
axle 12 is mounted. Running wheels 13 are rotatably mounted
on the two ends of the axle 12. Thus, the garbage container
1 can be moved without problemc: by means of the two wheels
13, wherein the hinges 4 which connect the cover 3 with the
receiving vessel 2 can be used in the conventional manner as
handles for manipulating the garbage container 1.
As Fig. 1 further shows, the side walls 9c and 9d of the
receiving vessel 2 have a plurality of air inlet openings 15
which are spaced above the bottom wall 5 at a distance 14. ~ ;
The air inlet openings 15 are provided, for example, in the
form of a circular arrangement of holes. The circular
arrangement of holes forming the air inlet openings 15 is
preferably provided at a location of the respective side
walls 9c, 9d which is approximately in the middle between the
indentation 10 of the rear wall 9b and the front wall 9a.
Ventilating openings 16 in the form of a similar circular
arrangement of holes are provided in the two side walls ~c,
9d of the receiving vessel 2 at a location which is
immediately underneath the reinforcing edge 7 and
approximately at half the width of the side walls 9c, 9d. It
is also possible to provide several circular arrangements of
holes in the side walls 9c, 9d and/or in the front wall 9a
and the rear wall 9b.
13
A grate 18 is mounted within the receiving vessel 2 so
as to be pivotable about hinges 19 at the rear wall ~b
provided at a distance 17 above the bottom wall 5. The grate
18 is pivotable between a plane extending parallel to the
bottom wall 5 and a position which extends at least
approximately parallel to the rear wall 9b.
,, ~.
In its supported position extending parallel to the
bottom wall 5, the grate 18 forms in the receiving vessel 2
j an intermediate wall or waste carrier which prevents wastes
which are filled into the receiving vessel from falling down
to the bottom wall 5. .
It has b.een found useful if the grate 18 is formed as a
wire grate in which the ratio of the side length of the
individual grate meshes 18c to the cross-section of the
longitudinally extending grate rods 18a and the transversely
extending grate rods 18b is approximately between 10:1 and
15:1, respectively. Thus, when the cross-sectional width of
the grate rods 18a and 18b is, for example, 2 mm, the side P
length of the individual meshes l~c may be between 20 and 30
mm.
Of course, instead of a grate 18 made from wire rods, it
is also possible to usé a grate 18 which is made of flat
strip material which is placed on edge, if this is considered
useful.
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2 0 1 6 0 ~ 6
Special spacer members are provided within the receiv-
ing vessel 2 on the front wall 9a, the rear wall 9b and the two
side walls 9c and 9d at least above the mounting plane of the -~-
grate 18 determined by the distance 17
In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the
spacer members are formed by ribs or webs 20 which project from
the inner surfaces of the front wall 9a, the rear wall 9b and
the side walls 9c and 9d of the receiving vessel 2 and which
extend upwardly. If the receiving vessel 2 is a molded article
of plastics material, the ribs or webs 20 can be formed
integrally with the inner surfaces of front wall 9a, rear wall
9b and side walls 9c and 9d in such a way that the free end
edges of the ribs or webs 20 extend closely to the outer
circumference of the grate 18, as shown in Fig. 2.
Advantageously, the ribs or webs 20 may also extend to the
bottom 5 of the receiving vessel 2. Some o these ribs or webs
may have a greater sectional height 20a over the distance 17
and the upper edges then form a support for the grate 18.
In practice, it has been found useful if the ribs or
webs 20 forming the spacer members have a normal sectional
height in the portions thereof extending above the grate 18
which is between 5 and 25 mm.
As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and particularly in
Figs. 4 and 5, the folding cover 3 is provided with a large
number of air discharge openings 21 which are distributed over
the entire surface area of the cover. Similarly to the air
inlet openings 15 and the ventilating openings 16, the air ;
discharge openings 21 are also formed by round holes. However, -
it is not necessary that the air discharge openings are
relatively small round holes. Rather, they may also be larger
slots or the like.
2016~6 25011-44
The total cross-sectional area of the ventilating
openings 16 and the air discharge openings 21 may be dimensioned
to correspond to a multiple of the total cross-sectional area
of the air inlet openings 15. For example, the ratio may be :~
10:1. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the ventilating ~ :
openings 16 in the side walls 9c and 9d of the receiving vessel
2 to the air inlet openings 15 is preferably 1:1. This means
that the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the air discharge
openings 21 to the cross-sectional area of the air inlet
openings is 9:1.
An important feature of the ventilating openings 16
and particularly the air discharge openings 21 in the cover 3 ~.
may be that each individual round hole of the openings has a
diameter which is at least equal to the wall thickness of the
receiving vessel 2 or the cover 3 and is preferably at least
4 mm. This is because it has been found that this size of
16
`'''', `~ ' ~
the holes makes it possible to counteract any undesirable
closings of the individual holes by films or drops of
condensation water. However, the same effect can also be
achieved if particularly the air discharge openings 21 in the
cover 3 have the form of slots or the like.
While the periphery of the arrangement of holes for the
air inlet openings 15 and the ventila~ing openings 16 is
essentially circular, Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of holes
which has an oblong or approximately oval periphery.
An arrangement of holes with oval or oblong periphery
can be used advantageously for forming the air inlet openings
15 when these openings are not all to be located underneath
the mounting plane of the grata 18, as is shown in Fig. 1,
but if a portion of the openings is to be located above and a
portion below the mounting plane of the grate 18. Thus, it
is possible in a simple manner to provide the oblong or oval
arrangement of holes to a greater extent, for example, 2/3,
below the mounting plane of the grate 18 and to a smaller
extent, for example, 1/3, above the mounting plane of the
grate 18.
The wastes which are capable of composting and which are
filled lnto the receiving vessel 2 of the garbage container 1
are supported by the grate 18, so that the space underneath
the grate 18 remains free of waste. The spacer members in
2 ~ 3
the form of ribs or webs 20 at the inner surfaces of the
front wall 9a, rear wall gb and side walls 9c and 9d prevent
the waste from coming into close contact with the walls.
Oxygen-rich air which is introduced underneath the grate
18 through the air inlet openings 15 can penetrate the wastes
from below and can also flow upwardly along the inner
surfaces of the receiving vessel 2 in the region of the ribs
or webs 20. The oxygen-rich alr starts an aerobic
decomposition in the wastes which leads to the development of
substantial heat. This heat development then results in a
convection flow within the garbage container 1.
A consequence of the heat development within the garbage
container 1 is that most of the water contained in the wastes
changes into the steam phase and is conducted upwardly with
the convection flow where it is conducted to the outside
through the air discharge openings 21 and possibly the
ventilating openings 16.
. The upward flow of the steam is intensified by the fact
that the total cross-sectional area of the air discharge :
openings 21 in the cover 3 is greater than that of the air :
inlet openings 15.
18
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The fact that a portion of the air introduced through
the air inlet openings 15 flows upwardly in the region of the
ribs or webs 20 along the inner surfaces of the receiving
vessel 2 prevents the water vapor which is generated in the
vessel from condensing on the wall surfaces of the receiving
vessel 2. As a result, only relatively small amounts of
water reach the lower portion of the receiving vessel in
liquid form. In the lower portion o~ the receiving vessel,
the water is collected in a reservoir 22 located above the
bottom wall 2 and below the air inlet opening 15.
To ensure that the water collected in the reservoir 22
is not reintroduced into the waste subjected to the aerobic
decomposition process when the garbage container 1 is emptied
by means of the lifting and tilting device of the garbage
removal vehicle, a separate means for emptying the reservoir
22 should be provided. For this purpose, the reservoir 22
could be provided with a water outlet 23 whose opening is
located slightly above the highest possible filling level of
the reservoir and is provided on the front wall 9a, as shown ~ ;~
in dash-dot lines in Fig. 1. The opening of the water outlet
23 could be moved by means of the lifting and tilting device
over a water container mounted on the garbage removal vehicle
in such a way that the water in the reservoir 22 flows into
this water container before the actual emptying procedure of
1 9
20~L60~6 250~ 4
the waste container 1 for the waste contained in the container
is started. The same effect could also be achieved by a shaft
extending from the water reservoir 22 toward the opening 6 of
the receiving vessel 2, wherein the water flows through the ;~
shaft when the container is emptied. Finally, the water could
also be removed by suction prior to the actual emptying
procedure of the container.
It should also be mentioned that, when the garbage
container 1 is placed in the open air, lt is advantageous to
protect the air discharge openings 21 in the cover 3 against
the undesirable penetration of rain water. In the simplest
case, this can be done by mounting a separate rain protection
roof on top of and spaced from the cover 3. This rain
protection roof may have the same peripheral shape as the cover
3 and may be locked, glued or screwed to the rim of the cover ~!
by means of spacer webs.
To prevent water from pentrating, it is also possible
to provide annular, upwardly extending collars around the air ;
discharge openings or to provide the air discharge openings 21
between upwardly extending webs or ribs which are mounted on
the upper side of the cover 3.
Finally, it would also be possible to replace the
cover 3 by a special rain roof or ventilation roof which extends
over the opening 6 of the receiving vessel 2.
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~ 6Q56
While specific embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described in de~ail to illustrate the application
of the inventive principles, i~ will be understood that the
invention may be embodied o~herwise witho~t departing from
such principles.
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