DISPOSITIF DE COMPOSTAGE

ARRANGEMENT IN A BIOLOGICAL DRY TOILET

Abrégé anglais

Arrangement in a biological dry toilet
Abstract of the Disclosure
Arrangement in a biological dry toilet by means
of which soil improvement agent can be prepared from
organic household waste, such as food left-overs and
excrements. The arrangement comprises a tank, a means
of for supplying waste, and a stairway on which the
waste is arranged to be supplied from the supply means.
The stairway comprises a plurality downwards inclined
steps and intermediate ventilation slots. The stairway
is further divided into two sections arranged to receive
alternately by means of a shiftable distributing means
the waste fed to the stairway.

Revendications

WHAT I CLAIM IS:
1. Arrangement in a biological dry toilet by means
of which soil improvement agent can be prepared from
organic household waste, such as food left-overs and
excrements, comprising
- at least one main tank,
- a means for supplying waste
- a stairway on which the waste is arranged to be
supplied from the supply means and which comprises
a plurality of preferably downwards inclined steps
and intermediate ventilation slots,
c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stairway is divided
into at least two sections arranged to receive alternately
by means of a shiftable distributing means the waste fed
to the stairway.
2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the sections of the stairway comprise two separate part
stairways.
3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
distriburing means is arranged under the supply means
inside the tank.
4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the distributing means comprises a hinged, adjustable
flap structure.
5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
flap structure is in the lower end hinged by means of an
at least approximately horizontal hinge means.
6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the part stairways are arranged at least approximately
symmetrically in relation to each other such that they
are interconnected in their upper ends.
7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 and 6,
wherein the hinge means of the flap structure is arranged
at least approximately in the junction of the upper ends
of the part stairways.

Description

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This invention relates to an arrangement in a bio-
logical dry toilet by means of which soil improvement
agent can be prepared from organic household wa~te, such
as food le~t-overs and excrements, comprising:
- at least one main tank,
- a means for supplying waste, and
- a stairway on which the waste is arranged to be
supplied from the supply means and which comprises a
plurality of preferably downwards inclined steps and
intermediate ventilation slots.
For example, from Finnish Patent No. 55169 issued on
June 11, 1979 to Svenska Toa-Throne Ab is previously known
an arrangement in which at least part of the bottom is
formed as a stairway ha~ing inclined steps. Openings ar.d
slots are arranged between the steps, the steps thereby
being arranged in relation to each other such that no waste
can penetrate into the air intake ducts.
However, the disadvantage in this arrangement is that
the composting of waste is difficult to control because
waste is supplied to the space at-irregular times and in
irregular quantities. Also the moisture varies, among
other things, depending on the supplied urine quantities.
In addition, the entire compost can be easily contaminated
just before emptying, for example, by excrements containing
pathogens.
It is the object of this invention to eliminate the
above mentioned disadvantages and to produce a more
efficient biological dry toilet.
The invention is based on the idea of using
alternatively two stairways.
According to the invention there is provided
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arrangement in a biological dry toilet by means of which
soil improvement agent can be prepared from organic
household waste, such as food left-overs and excrements,
comprising
- at least one main tank,
- a means for supplying waste,
- a stairway on which the waste is arranged to be
supplied from the supply means and which comprises a
plurality of preferably downwards inclined steps and
intermediate ventilation slots,
characterized in that the stairway is divided into at
least two sections arranged to receive alternately by
means of a shiftable distributing means the waste fed
to the stairway.
When applying the construction according to the
invention, one of the stairways can first be filled with
waste. When it contains a sufficient quantity of waste,
the waste is by means of the distributing means directed
to the other stairway. The waste on the first stairway is
now composted under controlled circumstances. If there is
too little moisture, water may be added. If there is too
little organic matter, for example, food left-overs may
- be added. A too big quantity of organic matter does not
disturb the composting process because excessive carbon
escapes as carbon dioxide. Thus, the composting takes
place under favorable conditions. As, for example,
excrements are not added, the pathogens will be destroyed
before emptying this section of the arrangement.
This invention will now be described in more details
by means of the accompanying drawing.
The drawing illustrates in schematic cross-section one
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embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention.
The biological dry toilet according to the drawing
comprises a frame 1 to which are by means of sockets con-
nected a waste supply pipe 2 in the upper end whereof a
toilet seat 3 is located, and an air outlet 4, control and
discharge openings 5, and air intakes 7. Two stairways 8
and a hinged distributing means 9 are arranged inside the
body 1. The stairway is provided with slots 10.
In the embodiment, when distributing means 9 is
located in the position indicated by a solid line, the
stairway 8 on the left side is filled with waste 11
supplied through the seat 3 and the pipe 2. The arrange-
ment obtains oxygen needed for composting from air 6
flowing through the openings 7 which air, when re~uired,
can be preheated in ways known per se, such as by means of
electric resistors. ~ir is discharged from the arrangement
- through the opening 4 by means of a suction fan not shown
in the drawing. The composting of the waste is controlled
(supervised) through the opening 5 provided with a cover.
Through said opening, also organic matter and water may
be added, when required, and the arrangement be emptied.
When the left side of the arrangement is provided with
a sufficient quantity of waste,-the distributing means 9
~ ~ is shifted to the position indicated by broken lines. Now
;~ the waste 11 is collected on the right-hand stairway 8.
The filling and emptying of the stairways thus takes place
alternately.
Within the scope of the invention, a number of con~
structions differing from the embodiment described above
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may be contemplated. Thus, for example, the air intakes
can be adjustable. In addition to the stairways, the
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arrangement can also be provided with a horizonta]
composting space as an extension to said stairways.
Besides being used as a separate composting toilet,
the arrangement may also be used in the combination
of a biological dry toilet and a biological waste water
purifying plant according to Finnish Patent No. 54595
issued on January 10, 1979 to Asko-Upo Oy and Aga Heating
Ab. In this case, air can be preheated, for example,
by means of a pipe arranged in the equalization basin.
Intake air flows through a pipe in said water bath.
Instead of two partial stairways, it is still possible
to use one stairway suitably divided into two or more
sections.
The number of the part stairways can also be bigger
than two, for example, 3 or 4.
The flap structure functioning as distributing means
; may also at the top be suitably fastened or hinged on the
upper part of the stairway arrangement.
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