Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
2005069
This invention relates to waste disposal
devices, and more particularly to apparatus which will
effect accelerated biodegradation of waste materials
therein, in contact with natural soil.
The disposal of degradable food wastes from
kitchens, gardens and the like continues to pose
problems, especially in terms of the handling and
transportation of such wastes to appropriate dump sites.
Municipal waste facilities such as dump sites are
continually being over-used. The establishment of new
dump sites to accommodate the increasing volumes of
degradable waste commonly encounters environmental
opposition from residents adjacent to the proposed site.
It is accordingly desirable to provide means whereby
degradable waste, on the domestic or commercial scale,
can be sanitarily and unobjectionably biodegraded, at
least to much smaller volumes of product, ad~acent to
the establishments in which the waste is generated.
Domestic and other institutions tend to
develop different kinds of biodegradable waste. For
example, a household or a country establishment such as
a country hotel will produce, in relatively large
quantities, both kitchen wastes in the form of cooked
and uncooked food scraps, and garden waste such as
leaves, grass, twigs and the like, of a generally
cellulosic nature. The conditions favouring accelerated
biodegradation of these two types of waste are often
different, so that if they are combined together in a
single compost heap or composting apparatus, less than
the maximum efficiency of biodegradation of each type of
waste is achieved.
It is known to provide enzymes for admixture
with biodegradable wastes, for acceleration of the rate
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of biodegradation thereof. The optimum enzyme package
for this purpose, however, is best arranged in
conjunction with the nature of the materials which it is
to attack. The mixing together of a wide variety of
different types of biodegradable material precludes the
use of the most efficient, tailored enzyme
biodegradation package for each type of biodegradable
waste.
It is known to provide receptacles for the
disposal of biodegradable organic waste material in
which a closable, bottomless container is partially
buried in a pit in the ground. Organic waste material
is introduced into such containers and decomposed
therein, preferably with the aid of enzyme additives.
Such devices are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent
3,947,357 (Cherry) and in Canadian Patent 639,516. Such
devices only provide a single compartment for composting
or biodegradation, in which all types of material are
mixed, so that the rate of degradation of the waste
material therein tends to be relatively slow.
Accordingly, receptacles of undesirably large volume
need to be provided, in order to cope with the
biodegradable waste produced from an institution such as
a hotel.
U.S. Patent Application Serial Number
07/285,016 filed December 16, 1988 in the name of Jack
E. Warrington describes and claims a biodegradation
apparatus adapted for use in an outdoor environment, in
which the sidewalls thereof collect solar energy so as
to heat the contents therein by solar means, for
acceleration of the biodegradation process. Again,
however, the container comprises a single continuous
compartment in which all types of biodegradable waste
are mixed.
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20050~9
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a novel apparatus for biodegradation of waste
materials.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a
composting apparatus having an outer compartment adapted
to receive garden wastes, and an inner compar~ment
adapted to receive kitchen wastes. The outer
compartment had sidewalls adapted to be exposed to solar
radiation, and absorb such solar radiation so as to warm
the contents of that compartment. The inner compartment
is adapted to receive kitchen wastes, and is
substantially totally surrounded by the outer
compartment and the biodegrading wastes therein, when in
use, which serves to insulate and warm the contents of
the inner compartment, for accelerated biodegradation
thereof. A lowermost chamber is provided, which
communicates with the inner compartment, and which
communicates with microbe-containing earth. The outer
compartment also communicates with microbe~containing
earth, for effecting degradation of the material
therein.
Thus according to the present invention there
is provided a composting apparatus for accelerating the
degradation of biodegradable waste materials, and
comprising:
an outer compartment adapted to receive garden
wastes, and communicating with microbe-containing earth,
an inner compartment adapted to receive
~itchen wastes;
the inner compartment having its lateral sides
surrounded by the outer compartment;
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200S069
a lowermost chamber communicating with the
inner compartment;
said lowermost chamber being further adapted
to communicate with microbe-containing earth.
Preferably, an apparatus according to the
invention is also provided with aeration means, which
provide a continuous supply of air from outside the
apparatus to the outer compartment thereof, and to the
lowermost chamber thereof. Such a supply of air
promotes the rate of biodegradation, particularly where,
as is normal, aerobic digestion of the contents is
taking place. The aeration means is suitably in the
form of perforated pipes, extending from outside the
apparatus through the outer compartment and the inner
compartment to terminate in the lowPrmost chamber.
These pipes may also serve as a spacing, supporting and
positioning means for the inner compartment within the
outer compartment.
Suitably also, the lowermost chamber comprises
an open-topped basket with side and bottom walls
constructed of screen material, which in use is disposed
in a hole in the surface of the ground, so that the
contents of the lowermost chamber contact soil microbes
therein. The outer compartment suitably also has a
screened, planar lower surface, adapted to rest on the
ground surrounding the lowermost chamber disposed in the
hole in the ground.
In the preferred embodiment, the outer
sidewalls of the outer compartment are constructed of a
laminated construction of an outer skin, an inner layer
and a central corrugated reinforcement. Such an
arrangement provides for suitable strength of the
sidewalls, along with being lightweight. These outer
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sidewalls are suitably constructed of solar radiation
transmitting materials so that, in use, the contents of
the outer compartment are heated by the solar radiation
incident on the outer sidewalls.
The inner compartment is preferably of
cylindrical shape, whereas the outer compartment is
suitably pyramidal in shape, or square or hexagonal in
cross-section, with the inner compartment protruding
upwardly out through the middle of the upper wall of the
outer compartment. Access openings with fitted lids are
preferably provided in the top walls of both the inner
compartment and the outer compartment.
It is also preferred to include access means
in the form of apertures into the lower portion of the
outer compartment, for agitation of material resting on
the lower screened aperture thereof, and for routine
cleanout purposes. In operation, however, normally all
apertures are closed with their appropriate lids, so as
to confine odours within the apparatus itself, and to
prevent access of vermin into the interior of the
apparatus.
Specific preferred embodiments of the
invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts cut
away, of a first preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of
the apparatus of FIGURE 1, along the line 2-2 of
FIGURE 1;
FI~URE 3 is a detail of the portion labelled 3
in FIGURE 2;.
2005069
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a
second preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment
shown in FIGURE 4.
With reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings, the composting apparatus 10 of
this preferred embodiment includes an outer compartment
12 of pyramidal shape and an inner compartment 14 of
10cylindrical shape, disposed upright within the outer
compartment 12. The outer compartment 12 has four
sidewalls 16 inclined upwardly towards each other at a
slight angle, and four top walls 18 inclined inwardly
upwardly at a much larger angle, to contact the top
15portion of the cylindrical inner compartment 14.
Opposed pairs of the top walls 18 are provided with
access openings 20 and hinged closure lids 22 therefor.
The inner compartment 14 has an open top 24 with a
removal lid 26, providing access thereto.
The sidewalls 16, as shown in the detail in
FIGURE 3, are of laminated construction. The outer
layer 28 is spaced from the inner layer 30 by a
corrugated reinforcement 32, to provide sidewalls with
25satisfactory strength. The materials are suitably
chosen so that the outer compartment 12 can become
heated by solar radiation incident on the sidewalls 16,
when the apparatus 10 is used in an outdoor environment.
30The outer compartment 12 has a bottom section
34 with which it communicates and which also surrounds
the inner compartment 14. For thorough cleaning and
maintenance purposes, the upper section of outer
compartment 10 can be disengaged from and lifted off the
35bottom section 34 to provide full access to the interior
thereof. Bottom section 34 has a planar screened bottom
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wall 36, and a closable cleanout opening 38 with
slidable closure door 40 in each sidewall, to permit
minor maintenance and removal of accumulated, non-
degrading material therefrom.
The inner compartment 14 terminates at its
lower end in a lowermost chamber 42 of frustoconical
shape, tapering in a downward direction. The side and
bottom walls of the chamber 42 are screened, whilst the
top is left open. The top of the chamber 42 has a
larger area than that of the circular lower end of the
cylindrical inner compartment 14. Thus the lowermost
chamber 42 is in communication with the inner
compartment 14, and in screened communication with the
Guter compartment 12 and the environment on which the
apparatus 10 is mounted.
Aeration means are provided, to allow
continuous supply of air from the outside of the
apparatus 10 to the inner compartment 14, the outer
compartment 12 and the lowermost chamber 42. One
aeration means consists of a pair of perforated pipes
having horizontal portions 46, 48 extending from outside
the sidewalls 16 through the outer compartment 12,
contacting opposed sides of the outer surface of the
inner compartment 14, each horizontal portion having a
pair of depending portions 50, 52 terminating in the
lowermost chamber 42. This aeration means thus provides
continuous supply of air to both the outer compartment
12 and the lowermost chamber 42. Another aeration means
is constituted by a pair of perforated tubes 54, 56
mounted at right angles to horizontal portions 46, 48
and at substantially the same level thereto, contacting
the outer surface of the inner compartment 14, so as to
provide a holding framework, in combination with
horizontal portions 46, 48, in which to hold and
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position inner compartment 14. The perforated tubes 54,
56 similarly extend through the full width of the outer
compartment 12 and communicate with outside atmosphere,
so as to provide a continuous supply of air to the
interior of outer compartment 12.
A third aeration means is provided, at a
higher level, in the form of two similar pairs of
mutually perpendicular, perforated conduits 58, 60.
Each conduit extends through the inner compartment 14
and communicates with outside atmosphere, so as to
provide continuous supply of air to the upper interior
of outer compartment 12. The pairs of conduits 58, 60
are spaced to contact the outer surface of inner
compartment 14 and thus provide therebetween a holding
and positioning framework for the cylindrical inner
compartment 14.
In use, the apparatus 10 is positioned so that
the screened bottom wall 36 of the outer compartment 12
rests on the ground surface 62, and lowermost chamber 42
protrudes into a prepared, appropriately sized hole 64
in the ground. Cellulosic wastes, ordinarily garden
wastes such as grass cuttings, leaves, twigs and
vegetable remnants, are loaded into the compartment 12,
through access openings 20, which are then closed by
lids 22. Food wastes such as meat and cooked vegetable
wastes are loaded into inner compartment 14 through open
top 24, which is then closed with lid 26. This falls
directly into lowermost chamber 42. A first enzyme
package appropriate for accelerated degradation of
contents of outer compartment 12 may be added thereto,
whilst a second, different enzyme package appropriate
for accelerating the degradation of contents of inner
compartment 14 may be added through top 24 thereto.
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The degradation of the contents of outer
compartment 12 is accelerated by the warming effect of
the solar radiation incldent on the sidewall 16 and top
walls 18 thereof. The degradation process itself
normally generates additional heat. Thus there is
provided, from the outer compartment 14, an insulating
and warming effect on the contents of the inner
compartment 14, to accelerate their degradation.
The contents of the lowermost chamber 42
contact the soil for additional microbial action for
degradation. From th~ outer compartment 12, degraded
material falls through the screen walls into the
lowermost chamber 42 to complete its degradation.
Throughout the degradation process, air is
supplied to the outer compartment 12, the inner
compartment 14 and the lowermost chamber 42, from
outside the apparatus, to promote the degradation.
Periodically if re~uired, the material resting on the
screened bottom wall 36 of the outer compartment 12 can
be agitated by rakes inserted through the cleanout
apertures 38. Non-degrading material can also be
removed in that way if required. The apparatus can be
operated semi-continuously, by addition of further
batches of material to be degraded, at intervals through
the respective top openings 24, 20 to the compartments.
Except for the very brief periods of material addition
and removal, and agit~tion, the apparatus 10 remains
closed and substantially sealed, against outflow of
odours and entry of vermin, excepi for the insignificant
apertures provided through the aeration means.
With reference to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment shown
therein is essentially similar, having an inner
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compartment 100 of frustoconical shape and a surrounding
outer compartment 105 of hexagonal shape as viewed in
plan (FIGURE 5). The inner compartment 100 has double
side walls 110 of an outer layer 115 and an inner layer
120 separated by a space 125 so as to provide insulation
for the contents thereof. Communication between the
space 125 and the interior of inner compartment 100 is
provided by upper holes 130 and lower holes 135 which
thus constitute aeration means for the inner
compartment. Removable lid 140 closes the inner
compartment 100. Outer compartment 105 seals against
the top sidewalls of inner compartment 100, and is
provided with two top access openings closed by
removable lids 175, 180. The inner compartment 100
terminates at its lower end in a lowermost chamber 160,
the bottom wall 170 of which i5 of screened
construction. Elongated apertures 165 are provided in
the sidewalls of lowermost chamber 160. The upper
portion of inner compartment 100 is releasably secured
to lowermost chamber 160 by releasable bolts 150
provided in peripheral flanges thereof.
In use, the apparatus of FIGURES 4 and 5 is
mounted so that lowermost chamber 160 protrudes into a
hole in the earth, and the bottom end of outer
compartment 105 rests on ground level 185. The contents
of outer co~.partment 105 thus contact ground soil for
degradation purposes. The contents of lowermost chamber
160 contact ground soil on the bottom and sides thereof.
The two compartments are separate from one another, so
that different accelerator packages can be used in the
respective compartments, to optimize the degradation
rate. The heat generated by decomposition of the
products in the outer compartment 105 helps to speed the
degradation of the contents of the inner compartment.
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Various modifications can be made to the
illustrated embodiments, without departing from the
scope of the invention. Thus, in the embodiment of
FIGURES 4 and 5, aeration means such as perforated pipes
similar to items 58 in FIGURES 1 and 2 may be provided,
to aerate the outer compartment 105. The sidewalls of
outer compartment 105 may be constructed with double
walls and reinforcement, with retention of their solar
energy transmission properties. Outer compartment 105
may be made removable from engagement with the remainder
of the apparatus, leaving a single compartment, solar
heated composting apparatus similar to that described in
U.S. patent application serial number 07/285,016
(Warrington).
The scope of the invention is limited only by
the scope of the appended claims reasonably construed.
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