U.S. patent number 3,923,605 [Application Number 05/407,676] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-02 for arrangement for biological decomposition of excrements and kitchen refuse and the like.
Invention is credited to Tore Gedde.
United States Patent |
3,923,605 |
Gedde |
December 2, 1975 |
Arrangement for biological decomposition of excrements and kitchen
refuse and the like
Abstract
The invention relates to a system for biological decomposition
of excrements and kitchen refuse and the like comprising a closable
inlet-chute and chamber arranged below the chute for receiving the
refuse, said chamber being provided with air supply channels and a
ventilation outlet stack, and an outlet hatch for the decomposed
material.
Inventors: |
Gedde; Tore (3020 Krokstadelva,
NO) |
Family
ID: |
23613064 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/407,676 |
Filed: |
October 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
435/290.1;
210/256; 210/221.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K
11/02 (20130101); Y02A 50/30 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
C02C 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;195/142,143,144,140
;210/218,220,221,170,259,261,63,256 ;261/124 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
3041148 |
June 1962 |
Ballantyne et al. |
|
Primary Examiner: Monacell; A. Louis
Assistant Examiner: Massung; Esther L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nolte and Nolte
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for the biological decomposition of wastes comprising
a first stationary container, a second container disposed within
said first container to be turnable about a generally vertical
axis, means for admitting air into said second container, at least
one generally upright partition in said second container dividing
said second container into a plurality of angularly spaced
compartments, an inlet for waste material, said inlet being offset
from a vertical axis about which said second container is turnable
whereby a selected one of the compartments of said second container
can be brought into register with said inlet, each compartment of
said second container having a closable outlet and said first
container having a closable outlet with which, by rotation of said
second container the outlet of a selected one of the outlets of
said compartments can be brought into register whereby material in
said compartment of which the outlet registers with the outlet of
said first container can be removed through said outlets.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second container
comprises means for delivering air to each of said
compartments.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for
delivering air comprises an axial central tube and branches from
said tube extending into each compartment.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said central tube
extends substantially to the bottom of said second container and
said branches extend upwardly from a region close to the bottom of
said central tube at an angle to said central tube.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second container is
secured to said central tube and said central tube is mounted for
rotation, rotation of said central tube causing turning of said
second container.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second container
has a perforate base.
Description
The purpose of the invention is to provide such a system which
gives very effective decomposition of the refuse and which can work
continuously. This is obtained in a system of the above mentioned
type characterized in that a chamber is formed by a cylindrical
container divided by vertical partitions into a number of chambers,
in that said container is surrounded by an outer container which is
stationary while the inner container is turnable about a central,
vertical axis inside the outer container, in that the chambers of
the inner container in the lower part are provided with outlet
hatches which by turning of the inner container can be lined up as
desired with the outlet hatch in the outer container, and in that
air supply to said chambers takes place through a pipe arranged
centrally in the inner container and having openings into the
chambers.
For better understanding of the invention, it will be described in
more detail in the following with reference to the embodiment shown
as an example only on the drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross-section of the system, and
FIG. 2 shows the cross-section along the line II--II in picture
1.
The system shown consists of two concentric containers 3, 4 of
cylindrical shape standing vertically on a floor or on the ground.
The material of the containers can be fiberglass reinforced
polyester. As desired, two or more sections can be arranged
together depending on the number of persons using the system of the
unnecessary usage period. Three sections are shown in FIG. 1. The
lower part is standard and has a flat bottom 12 which is insulated
with polyurethane foam. This bottom has a heating element (not
shown). Which is coupled to a thermostat (also not shown) which is
set at the temperature giving best bacterial growth, the heating
element and thermostat being entirely conventional in form.
Also in the lower section of the outer container a door 15 is cut
out of the wall and supplied with rabbet, gasket, hinges and a
closure. This door 15 enables as described hereinafter the removal
of the decomposed material as desired.
Alongside the door can be mounted a vertical liquid level indicator
(not shown), e.g. in the form of a clear plastic hose attached
vertically to the container to indicate the level of liquid in the
outer container which has passed from the inner container through
the perforated bottom thereof. This liquid level indicator signals
that drainage of liquid should liquid level become too high. Too
high a liquid level is not probable due to normal evaporation, but
surplus liquid can be recycled through the inlet opening and gives
extra moistening of the refuse which in turn enhances the
possibilities of good bacterial activity.
The upper part is also standard and is supplied with a inlet tube 1
with a lid or seat 2. In the sidewall of this part is mounted a
pipe elbow for connection to a ventilation outlet stack 9. An
evacuating fan can be installed in the stack if desired.
The middle section or sections serves only to increase the height
of the system, i.e. to increase the volume as desired.
The inner container 4 is somewhat smaller in diameter than the
outer container 3. There should be a clearance 16 of about 3 mm.
The inner container 4 is also divided into sections like the outer
container and can be assembled with the same relationship. In the
lower part of this container 4 are arranged four doors 11. These
are preferably hinged at the bottom and closed with a snap lock. No
rabbet or gasket is needed as sealing is not necessary. The bottom
4' of this part is perforated with many small holes so that liquid
wastes seep through the solids and pass through the perforations to
accumulate in the outer container where the liquid level can be
observed by means of the liquid level, supra.
In the center of this bottom is mounted a support 13 of the inner
container 4 so that it becomes turnable within the outer container
3. Inside the inner container 4 is arranged a central tube 5 which
is connected to four partitions 8 which divide the container into
four chambers 10.
A mushroom formed cap 6 is arranged on the center tube a distance
above the bottom. This cap has an opening for the center tube so
that downwardly flowing fresh air can be distributed in the cap.
From the cap a tube 7 perforated on the bottom side extends
upwardly at an angle to each chamber 10 and supplies fresh air and
thereby oxygen to the material with which the chamber is gradually
filled. The oxygen effects the bacterial growth and increases the
rate of decomposition.
The system functions as follows:
The system is placed in a basement, cottage or outhouse. If it is
to be used daily, electrical power and a evacuation fan should be
connected. A turning handle 14 is found on the upper part of the
center tube 5. The inner container 4 is rotated to a position so
that one of the chambers 10 is located directly below the inlet
tube 1. When this chamber is filled, the inner container 4 is once
more turned until the next chamber is located below the inlet tube
1. One continues like this until the chambers are filled.
At this time, the material filled into the first chamber has
compacted and been decomposed so that the softened, decomposed
material can be removed by opening the outer door 15 of the outer
container 3, the outer door preferably being hinged on the side.
The door 11 of the correct compartment of the inner container 4 is
correctly alined so that this door can be swung down and out
through the opening in the outer container. As this door is hinged
at the bottom, the door forms a curved transport surface whereon
the decomposed material can be pulled out by means of a suitable
tool. When so much material has been taken out that some material
not fully decomposed appears, the doors are closed and the chamber
is again used. One uses the same procedure for the other
compartments.
The compartments can be used for kitchen refuse, paper, excrements
or the like so that the contents of the compartments become layered
with these elements while the material all the time is moistened by
urine.
For cottages etc. where the system is not used continuously
sufficient decomposition takes place at ambient temperature, but
heating is considered necessary for systems installed for
continuous use in residences.
The liquid seeping into the outer container is heated to about
40.degree. C. The largest liquid surface is found in the inner
container, and the warm moisture travels up through the material
and enhances the conditions for decomposition. The fan in the stack
9 produces a vacuum in the container and induces fresh air to enter
through the center tube 5 and of course evaporation of the liquid
content of the unit. The air is collected in the mushroom shaped
cap 6 and ascends due to the temperature increase and the vacuum,
up through the four perforated tubes 7 to the upper part of the
container 4, thereafter being evacuated through the stack 9. In
this way the material is supplied with warm oxygen which increases
the bacterial activity.
The inner container 4 should have some humus and leaves at the
bottom when first used, so that bacteria are present and can
multiply.
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