Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
. . 2l~676n
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. ~ield of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composting chamber for
biologically degradable house and garden wastes.
7. Descri~tion of the Related Art
When carrying out a composting process, the organic matter
of kitchen wastes, house wastes and garden wastes are to be
converted into humus by means of small animals, microorganisms
and by chemical processes. However, pathogenic germs and seeds
of weeds should be killed simùltaneously by the heat produced by
the microorganisms. Accordingly, it is a requirement for optimum
composting to provide favorable living conditions for the
organisms participating in the conversion process.
Two groups of organisms participate in ~he decomposition and
conversion of the organic matter. Small animals, such as
isopods, worms, collembola and mites comminute the organic
matter. These animals live in the ground at different depths
and, therefore, must migrate from the ground into the material to
be composted. The organic matter is decomposed and converted by
microorganisms, such as, bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. In
order to avoid unpleasant odor and nitrogen losses, and to obtain
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heating of the material, the decomposition and conversion must
take place in an aerobic environment; in other words, the organic
material must be continuously supplied with oxygen, i.e., the
material must be sufficiently aerated. When the moisture content
of the material is high and the material is tightly packed, the
resulting insufficient aeration of the material leads to
anaerobic conditions.
On the other hand, if the moisture content is low for a long
period of time, there is the danger that the organic material
dries out. If the moisture content of the material drops below
30~, the metabolism of the microorganisms stops because these
microorganisms can only absorb nutrients in the dissolved form.
As a consequence, the organic matter cannot be further degraded.
As already mentioned, the material to be composted must be
sufficiently aerated, so that the aerobes which cause the
decomposition of the organic matter always have sufficient oxygen -~
available. In this regard, the intensity of the decomposition of
the organic matter depends on the activity of the microorganisms
and this activity, in turn, depends on the temperature. The
activity of the microorganisms causes heating of the organic
material, wherein the optimum temperature of the material is
approximately 45C. Higher temperatures above 60C are primarily
21~7~
required for hygienic reasons, i.e., for killing of pathogenic
germs and seeds of weeds.
In order to be able to meet all these requirements, the use
of so-called composters has been proposed. Such composters are
available in open, semi-open and closed construction.
In all cases, the so-called rotting process is influenced by
the factors temperature, oxygen and water content, wherein the
type of construction o~ the composter influences the composting
process through these factors.
The present invention is particularly directed to a
composter of the semi-open type. Such a compostor is defined by
a composting chamber for biologically degradable kitchen wastes,
house wastes and garden wastes and includes a lower container
part which can be dug into the activated ground and an upper
container part in the form of a hood which projects upwardly
above the level of the ground. The upper container part has at
the top thereof an intake opening for the material to be
decomposted, wherein the intake opening can be closed by a
removable cover or the like. The lower container part is at
l~ast over portions thereof permeable toward the surrounding
ground for microorganisms, moisture and air.
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Composting chambers ~f the above-described type are already
known from U.S. Patent 3,708,085 and European Application 0 449
927.
Compared to other known composters, the above-described
composting chambers according to the state of the art have the
advantage that they are partially surrounded by the upper layers
of the ground and, consequently, not only permit migration of the
small animals, such as, isopods, worms, collembola and mites,
into the interior of the chamber, but additionally counteract the
quick removal of the heat produced by the activity of the :
microorganisms toward th~ outside, particularly during the colder ~-
seasons.
However, it has been found in practice that, in the
composting chambers of the above-described type, the moisture
household as well as the oxygen household can only be influenced :- :
incompletely.
When the moisture content is too high, the resulting : ~ -
anaerobic conditions lead to unpleasant odor. When the moisture : :
content drops below 30%, the metabolism of the microorganisms
stops, so that the organic matter is no longer degraded.
When the oxygen supply is too low, anaerobic conditions are
created because the aerobes no longer have the oxygen required
for their activity, while a oxygen supply which is too high :
.
- ~ :
: :,
,, ~, , :, :,
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results in drying out of the organic material, so that the
microorganisms no longer have nutrients available in dissolved
form and, consequently, the metabolism stops and the organic
matter is no longer degraded.
` 21167SO
S~MMARY OF T~E INVENTION
Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention
to provide a composting chamber of the above-described type which
does not have the deficiencies of the known composting chambers.
Specifically, the composting chamber should have such a :-
configuration and type of operation which optimizes the moisture
household of the biologically degradable kitchen wastes, house ~.
wastes and garden wastes, on the one hand, and which ; - --
simultaneously ensures a perfect oxygen supply. :~
In accordance with the present invention, the composting ~ .
chamber has the following combination of features:
- The lower container part has a closed bottom and the ;:
permeable portion of the wall of the lower container part begins
at a minimum distance above the bottom; ~:
- An additional container or basket is removably placed in :
the lower container part, wherein the additional container or
basket has a permeable bottom and a permeable wall portion;
- The additional container or basket can be placed at least -
partially with its permeable wall portion against the permeable :
wall portion of the lower container part; and .
- The portion of the lower container part near the bottom
forms a liquid collecting and/or storage trough.
~: . - . .. . . .. - . . .
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When the composting chamber has these features, liquids such
as water, juices or the like from the biological material filled
into the composting chamber can escape toward the bottom and can
be caught and collected at the bottom. On the other hand, the
collected liquid can be used to effect a remoistening of the
organic material if this material begins to dry out as areas out
of external influences.
In accordance with a useful feature of the present -
invention, the additional container or basket has a bottom
located above the liquid collecting and/or storage trough, and/or
the liquid collecting and/or storage trough has an overflow
located underneath the bottom of the additional container or
basket.
These features ensure that any liquid, such as water, juices
or the like, drained from the biological material not only is
collected and made available in a sufficient quantity for a
necessary remoistening, but a direct contact of the organic
material with the collected liquid is simultaneously avoided.
In order to optimize the moisture household of the organic
material introduced in the composting chamber, another important
feature of the present invention provides that the additional
container or basket has at least one air conducting means
extending vertically in the additional container or basket.
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For example, the air conducting means includes a duct in the
center and/or several ducts arranged at the clrcumference,
wherein the ducts extend through the bottom of the additional
container or basket to the liquid contained in the liquid
collecting and/or storage trough. As a result of this ~
configuration, it is possible that air can act from above the - -
level of the ground along the additional container or basket on
the liquid contained ih the liquid collecting and/or storage
trough, so that the air absorbs moisture before it enters from
below in the organic material contained in the additional -
container or basket. ~-
In accordance with another useful feature of the present
inven~ion, the additional container or basket can be supported by
the lower container part through collars and/or spacer members
arranged on the upper rims of the additional container or basket ~--
and the lower container part. This feature prevents in a simple
manner any undesirable sticking of the additional container or
basket in the lower container part. ~
The additional container or basket can be manipulated better ~-
and more easily if handles are provided at the upper rim thereof.
In accordance with another feature, the permeable portions
of the lower container part and of the additional container or
basket may b~ grids of rods or webs.
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In accordance with another feature, the liquid collecting
and/or storage trough in the lower contai.ner part is divided by
means of ribs or webs into several areas located next to each
other, wherein the areas have as a common overflow a central pipe
extending through the bottom.
At least the additional container or basket can be
releasably coupled to the hood-like upper container part by
closing means, for example, in the form of bayonet-type closures
or closures with tilting levers.
In accordance with another structural feature, at least the
hood-like upper container part has the shape of an upwardly
narrowing truncated cone. In addition, the removable cover of
the upper container part has air passage openlngs, wherein the
openings can be opened and closed, and the cross-sectional area
thereof varied, by means of a turnable closure, for example, in
the form of a revolving plate having corresponding openings.
The lower container part, as well as the additional
container or basket, may have the shape of a downwardly narrowing
truncated cone.
Finally, in some cases it is advisable to connect the air
conducting means or ducts of the additional container or basket
to air inlets, for example, of the lower container part, located
above the ground.
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Although it is certainly possible to manufacture the -
individual elements of the composting chamber according to the
present invention of corrosion-resistant metal materials, it has
been found particularly advantageous to use reusable or
recyclable plastics material for manufacturing the individual
elements of the composting chamber. With the use of suitable
injection molding tools, the lower container part, the upper
container part, as well as the additional container or basket can
each be manufactured as a single-piece molded article. -- ---
The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims -
annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, ;~
specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to
the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated ~
and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. ~ ;
- , , . , - ~ ~- , . . .. . .
21~7~0
~RIEF DESCRIPTION~OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded view and side view showing
the essential structural components of the composting chamber
according to the present inventioni
Fig. 2 is a schema~ic top view of the lower container part
of the composting chamber of Fig. 1, seen in the direction of
arrow II;
Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of an additional container or
basket of the composting chamber of Fig. 1, seen in the direction
of arrow III;
Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the upper container part
of the composting chamber of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper
container part of the composting chamber of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 6 is a side view of the upper portion of the upper
container part showing the connection between a cover and the
upper container portion.
21167~
Fr~ FEIEREISEN ~ KUEFFNER PH01`IE ~o. : ~s~18.~as Ft~.. 2~3 Ig~ ~ ~0~11PI~ P~2
Dl~ h~ PlS~ RlPTION Ol~ pl~PlSP~R.lilD l~a
of chQ drawing iB a sid~ w ~f ~ oo~pocting ~hall~cr
1 for biologi~ally degradahle kitohcn wa~tc~, houoehold w~te~
And ~arden wa~te~., Th~ chamb~r 1 lncludee ~ lowc~- cont~iner part
2 which ~n be d~lg 1 nl:~ tho uppe~ lAyerF. ~f th<~ aotivatcd ground.
l'he chAmb~r 1 furtller has an uppe~r oc~nt~ er part 3 in the f orm
~ a hood which proj~ct~ in it~ enti.rety a~c~ve~ t~lC lc~vcl of ~I-c
~ro~nd.
Another ~igni~iaant component Gi the ~ompoGt.ing ch~mbcr 1 io
an additional contaislar or ba0ket ~ which can be r~m4vably placcd
in tlle lower container part 2 rrOm ~he level of tho ground. Thc
hood-~haped upper c~ntaine~ pa~ 3 i~ rel~sa~ pl~ocd on the
Ad~i~ion~1 cont~iner or ba~ket 4.
ln the embodi~ent of the co~,pooting ch~mbcr 1 0ho~n in ~ig.
1, th~ lower container part 2 ao wcll a~ the ~dd..tional container
or ba~k~t ~ each have t~le ~hape of a downwardl~ n~rrowing
truncated co~e. On ~he other hand, th~ hoed~ u~J~I
cor.tainer part ?. i~ a~ ~pwardly r.dr~uwilly ~ ul~c~t~d cone.
Thc lower co~tail~ea par~ 2 h~ ~ closed botLom 5, wl~
beginnlng ~t a minimu~ di~tanc~ 7 ~eve ~ tt~m 5, the cone-
~haped w~ll G of ~h~ lower ~.ontailler ~arL 2 h~ r~ wllic~
i3 permeal~ r~ ~;m~ s~imal~: or m' ~r~rga~ M~, rOr mvi~
~nd ~ir, ~or ex~mple, in ~h~ f~ gr~b ~ c:c~m~c)~ed ~r lo~
13 :; :~::
'~ '............. :
. : : :
2116760
From: F~IEREISEN & ~<UEFFNER PHCI~ N~. : 35-18~6, ~b. ~ ~4 ~ 3
or wehc. In~tead ~f the rod or web grate ~, it i.~ ~lco po~ible
t.n provide a l~r~ number o~ hole~ or ~lot~ in the eonie~l wall
6.
Becau~e the eonieal w~ ic eompletely ~10~3cd o~or ~he
mini~ di~tanc~ 7, ~he po~tlon of ~he lowe~ ~ont~iner part 2
near tho b~ttom ean bo utilized aa a liq~id oollee~in~ and~r
s~ora~ trough 9. Thi~ ~rough ~ i~ dividod lnto a~vcr~l F3ect~rs,
for oxamplo, fe~r ~ectors, by ~eanfi o~ ~di~lly oxtc~din~ rlbc
10, a~ partieul~rly alearl~ ~hown in Pig. ~. In the Center o~
the hottom 5, the ribE or w~b~ 10 end at a ce~tral pi~e 11 whieh
ex~ende through t~e bottom 5 ard which fonm~ a ~on~non o~orflow
for all ~our soator~ of the liquid eollco~ing and/or ~torage :-
tr~u~h 9 ~or~ed 4y t~e ribs or ~he weba 10.
A~ ean bR ~o~n in Fig. 1, th~ height of the web~ or rib~ 10 :
exeeadc the heig~t of the een~r~l pipe 11 ~n~, thue, ~he o~erLlow
pipQ fo~ned by ~ho aentral pipe 11. T~iG mean~ th~t the n,~ximu~
fillil~g h~ ul~ collee~lng a~djor stGrage troug
i~ oxelu~lvely det~rmined ~y Lh~ iyt~t ~ the cen~r~l plpe 11.
1~ ~he ]ower edge of the moisture-perm~a~ d di I -
perme~ble portioll of ~he lower. container ~r~ 2 i~ ~3CdL ~ ower
th~n ~he t~ottom 13 ~r ~ d~iLi~ co~r.air.er or ~a~ket ~, the
centr~l pipc 11 ~r~in~ d~ ov~rflow c~n al~o be on~itt~. Tlli~
, ~
-
2116760
because excess water can then flow laterally out of the container
part 2 into ~he ground.
The additional container or basket 4 can be placed removably
into the lower container part 2 of the composting chamber 1 in
such a way that it makes contact with its bottom on the upper
edges of the ribs or webs 10 and rests thereon. The conical wall
14 of the additional container or basket 4 is adapted in its ~-
shape to the conical wall 6 of the lower container part 2 in such
a way that it rests with its outer surface tightly against the
inner surface of the lower container part 2 as soon as the bottom
13 makes contact with the upper edges of the ribs or webs 10.
Beginning at a minimum distance 15 from the bottom 13, the
conical wall 14 of the additional container or basket 4 also has
a portion which is permeable for small animals or microorganisms,
and permeable for moisture and air, wherein the permeable portion
may be formed of rod or web grates 16 or the like. The important ~ ~
aspect is that both grates 8 and 16 are located so as to coincide -
when the additional container or basket 4 is placed in the lower
container part 2.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the additional container or basket
4 not only has a grate 16 over a vertical partial portion of the
conical wall 14, but the bottom thereof is also constructed in
the form of a grate of webs and, thus, is permeable.
-
' ~
2116760
Fig. 1 of the drawing further shows that the additional
container or basket 4 has stacking ribs 18 provided on the
conical wall 14 underneath a radial collar formed at the upper
end thereof, wherein the stacking ribs 18 can rest on the upper
side of a collar 19 which is provided at the upper end of the
lower container part 2. This prevents in a simple manner the
additional container or basket 4 from becoming stuck in an
undesirable manner in the lower container part 2. The additional
container or basket 4 has handles 20 underneath the collar 17,
wherein the handles 20 makes it significantly simpler to place
the basket 4 in or remove the basket 4 from the lower container -
part 2.
~ additionally illu~trated in Fig. 3, the additional
container or basket 4 has vertically extending air conducting
means which are composed of ducts 21 located in the circumference :
of the wall 14. As shown in Fig. 3, three such ducts 21 are :
provided distributed over the circumference of the wall 14 and ~
are formed essentially in the manner of a tunnel into the wall ~ -
14. An air flow can take place through the ducts 21 even when ~ :
the additional container or basket 4 is placed in the lower
container part 2 of the composting chamber 1. This air can also
travel along the liquid level in the liquid collecting and/or : ~ -
storage trough 9 of the lower contalner part 2 and absorb
16
. . . ~ ~ .
-
7 ~ Q
moisture therefrom, wherein the air with the absorbed moisture
can rise through the permeable bottom 13 of the additional
container or basket ~ and, thus, can reach the organic matter of
the biologically degradable materials. As shown in Fig. 3, the
air ducts 21 are constructed in such a way that no contact
between the additional container or basket 4 with the container
part 2 can take place in the areas of the ducts 21 when the
additional container or basket 4 is placed in the container part
2.
The upper container part 3 constructed in the manner of a
hood has a~ its lower end a collar 22 which particularly fits
together with the collar 17 of the additional container or basket
4 an also with the collar 19 of the lower container part 2.
While the stacking ribs 18 ensure that a certain distance is
maintained between the collars 17 and 19 when the composting
chamber 1 is assembled, the collar 22 of the upper container part
3 rests directly on the collar 17 of the additional container or
basket 4. Mushroom-shaped pins 23 projecting upwardly from the
collar 17 can engage keyhole-shaped slots 24 in the collar 22 to
form bayonet-type locks, so that a positively engaging, but
releasable connection is effected between the upper container
part 3 and the additional container or basket 4 of the composting
chamber 1.
. .
2116760
Instead of the bayonet-type locks 23, 24, it i9 also
possible to use closures with so-called tilting levers in order
to releasably connect to each other the essential structural
components of the composting chamber 1.
It is always possible to lift the upper container part 3 ~-~
together with the additional container or basket 4 out of the
lower container part 2.
Figs. 1 and 4 to 6 of the drawing show that the upper ~ -
container part 3 of the composting chamber 1 is provided with a
cover 25 which is connected to the upper container part 3, for
example, through a hinge system or a bending lug 26. This cover
25 usually closes an opening 27 which forms the intake for the
biologically degradable kitchen wastes, household wastes and
garden wastes. Since the cover 25 is usually always closed, but -
a continuous air circulation through the composting chamber 1 is
desirable, it is important that the cov~r 25 has air passage
openings 28 which may be opened and closed as desired, and whose
cross-sectional area may be varied, by means of a turnable
closure 29, for example, in the form of a plate having
corresponding openings. For this purpose, the turnable closure
29 has openings 30 which can be either placed to coincide more or
less with the holes 28 in the cover 25 or can be completely moved
away from the openings.
18
. .: , ., . ~, ~ .
211~760
The basic construction of the composting chamber 1 of the
above-described type with essentially three basic components not
only has the advantage that the moisture household and oxygen
supply for the biologically degradable kitchen wastes, household
wastes and garden wastes contained in the chamber can be
substantially improved. Rather, the provision of the additional
container or basket 4 also substantially facilitates the
unloading of the digested humus.
Finally, it should be mentioned that it is also possible to
equip the additional container or basket 4 in the middle of its
bottom with an axially upwardly projecting duct 4 air guidance.
This duct may be either provided by itself or in addition to the
three ducts 21. ~- -
When the material becomes very dry, it is possible to refill -~
the trough 9 with water through the ducts 21. However, when the
material to be decomposted dries out it is also possible to pour
water directly onto the material. There is no danger than
anaerobic conditions will be produced because any excess water
can drip drain off.
The upper container part 3 should be conical, so that, when
the material to be composted is bagged, an aerating gap exists
between its wall and the material. However, such a gap would
also exist if the upper container part 3 would be provided with
19
-~` 211~760
.
vertical walls with webs at the inner sides thereof which act as
spacers.
The invention is not limited hy the embodiments described
above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in
various ways within the scope of protection defined by the
appended patent claims.
