WO1998025866A1

WO1998025866A1 - Compost container

Info

Publication number: WO1998025866A1
Application number: PCT/NO1997/000326
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sten Y. Sondov
Original assignee: Ecotech As
Priority date: 1996-12-10
Filing date: 1997-12-08
Publication date: 1998-06-18
Also published as: AU7846598A; NO965287L; NO307296B1; NO965287D0

Abstract

Compost container for toilet waste, kitchen waste and other decomposable waste, comprising a preferably round, stationar container (1) and a number of composting drums (8) adapted to be moved within the container (1) and to be taken out of this through a closable opening (10). The drums (8) are round and are supported on one hand on a circular turning path (18) at the interior circumference of the container (1) and on the other hand on a central rotation body (7) which is connected to a drive element (16) adapted to rotate the rotation body so that the drums (8) by rolling movement are displaced around within the container.

Description

COMPOST CONTAINER

This invention relates to composting of human waste or other decomposable waste, such as kitchen waste, and more particularly the type of composting taking place in a container being preferably located directly under or in connection with a toilet or an input opening for kitchen waste.

From Norwegian patent No. 171.343 there is known a compost container for a similar purpose, comprising a round, stationary container and a number of composting drums adapted to be moved within the container and to be taken out of this through a closable opening. Internally in the container there is also one or more sector-shaped drums. Each of these can be brought into a position underneath the toilet, whereas one or more of the others stand for composting. Other patent specifications being of a certain interest in this connection are also EPP 44.334, EPP 501.028 and US 5.413.934.

Besides, reference is made to known products ( "Naturdoen" ) from the company Fridlund Plast & Bat A.S,

3290 Larvik, Norway, and ( "KAMO") from the company Sunrise A/S, 4030 Hinna, Norway.

A good composting toilet has great social economic importance, since sewers and treatment plants are very expensive investments. The same applies to operation and maintenance. The existing solutions and products do not satisfy all the desired criteria for a simple and good composting process: A substantial portion of the paper introduced, does not come into contact with the remaining waste and therefore will not be incorporated in the process.

The faeces will not have the required moisture, so that they dry up instead of being fully composted; too much moisture will also stop the process because of lack of oxygen. None of the existing products satisfy the requirement of evapo- ration, without the supply of significant amounts of electric current. As a rule it is a heavy and difficult job to bring the drums into position. Also the emptying involves unnecessary effort and close contact with non-finished compost. The present invention is in particular directed to the latter problems, having to do with the manipulation and movement pattern of the drums.

Substantial improvements with respect to the above relationships and in particular as regards the manoeuvring or handling of the drums in connection with exchange and emptying thereof, are obtained by means of the present invention. This involves novel and specific features consisting in the first place therein that the drums are round and are supported at one hand on a circular turning path at the interior circumference of the container and at the other hand on a central rotation body which is connected to a drive element adapted to rotate the rotation body so that the drums by rolling movement are displaced around within the container.

These rotatable and thereby displacable drums will, during practical operation, to a high degree facilitate the manual work being required from time to time, in particular when a drum is more or less full and is to be displaced so as to give room for the next (empty) drum to be used for receiving waste in the subsequent period of time. The movement pattern provided for by the invention, is also advantageous for smaller adjustments of the position of the drum being active for the time being, so that an even filling thereof can take place. In this connection it is to be noted that in typical installations, e.g. in housings, displacement or rotation will be effected at rather long time intervals, such as 1/3 revolution per year. Although this rotary movement can be provided for by means of motor drive, it is normally both simplest and cheapest to let the rotation be based on manual force. The solution according to the invention is very favourable, since the manual force does not have to be particularly great.

As an additional advantage resulting from the round composting drums referred to here, it is to be mentioned that there are created more or several open air spaces interiorly in the stationary container, so that a better air circulation and thereby more favourable conditions for liquid evaporation will be obtained. In the following description the invention is to be explained more closely with reference to an exemplary embodiment being illustrated in the drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a simplified vertical section through a compost container according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 shows the container in Fig. 1 from above and with a cover partially cut away. Figs. 1 and 2 show a generally cylindrical, stationary container 1 with a cover 2. At its lower portion container 1 has a step internally around the whole circumference, where there is formed a gutter 3 having a slope towards an outlet 4. More important than the gutter is a circular turning path 18 running around the internal circumference of container 1, and possibly can be more or less integrated with gutter 3. In such case it is preferred that turning path 18 is located radially inwards of the gutter, i.e. the opposite of what is illustrated in the drawing.

Centrally in container 1 there is an upright, rotatable tube 5 which also serves for air supply with an adjustable valve 6. On tube 5 there is mounted a circular rotation body 7 which constitutes a radially inner support at a supporting surface 7A, providing for force transmission to conical or cylindrical drums 8. At the opposite side these have two support points at turning path 18, being here formed by a rounded upper edge of gutter 3.

With such a support the drums 8 within container 1 can be displaced therein by a form of rolling movement under the effect of rotation of body 7. Rotation body 7 preferably has a relatively small diameter so that there is obtained a transmission ratio in the turning or rolling movement, which means that the required torque at rotation body 7 is relatively moderate. A practical advantageous solution for such rotation is seen from Fig. 2, where an arm 16A is extended radially outwards from the tube or axle 5 to an operating element 16 outside the cylindrical outer wall of container 1. On manual operation of element 16 and thereby the arm 16A, the above mentioned rotation and rolling movement with accompanying displacement of drums 8, can take place without the need for exerting much force. In this connection it is an advantage that the rotation body 7 and in particular the supporting surface 7A thereof, has a smaller diameter than the bottom of drums 8.

It will be realized that the geometry in question here, including the diameter ratio mentioned, must be adapted according to, among other things, the number of drums that the compost container 1 is designed for. In actual practice the minimum number of drums will be three, but as will appear from the drawing, four drums is a good alternative. Also a higher number of drums than four can be contemplated. For an optimum space utilization the drums will normally be so adjusted that they contact each other with a certain clearance e.g. at the upper circumference around the opening, when the drums have a preferred conical shape with a larger upper opening than the bottom surface.

As will be seen in particular from Fig. 1 drums 8 are supported at a certain inclined position, namely thereby that supporting surface 7A on rotation body 7 is lower than turning path 18. For the purpose of obtaining a problem-free force transmission between supporting surface 7A and the bottom portion of the drums 8 engaging the same during the rolling movement, the supporting surface 7A advantageously can be provided with notches, projections or profile elements as shown at 7B in fig. 2, whereby the bottom of the drums can also have corresponding or cooperating projections or profiles.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing the turning path 18 is formed by an inner edge of gutter 3 , but it is a more preferred solution to locate the turning path radially outermost at the inside of container wall 1. A possibly more or less integrated gutter can then be provided radially inwards of the turning path.

In addition to the more substantial main features being discussed above, the following will also appear from the drawing :

The journalling of the tubular axle 5 and thereby the rotation body 7 is shown at 9, i.e. above the level of the liquid (urine) that normally will be found at the bottom of container 1. Taking out drums 8 when these have fulfilled the composting process or for some other reason shall be emptied or inspected, can be done through an opening 10 in the container wall. Through opening 10 there can be provided an indication element with a projecting indicator knob 17 that when actuated by a drum 8 inside, indicates that this has a correct position in the container.

An upper support or bearing for tubular axle 5 can be provided in the actual cover 2, which can also be provided with an opening with a socket 11 for supporting a drop tube from the toilet seat or waste input concerned.

In view of condensed liquid that usually will occur in such compost containers, the cover 12 can be so shaped that condensed liquid, possibly urine, follows a transfer surface 12 and is lead to a drip edge 13 that prevents the liquid from dripping down into drums 8. As has been seen above, the gutter 3 has also a useful function for leading away condensed water, namely for draining through outlet 4.

At 15 there is shown a connection to venting means, that of course is required in such a container. Among several possible modifications being within the framework of the invention, it is to be mentioned first here that drums 8 can be supported with a vertical axis, i.e. without any inclination as illustrated in the drawing. Such a vertical position of the drums may have a certain effect on the way of separating urine, and would imply that the bottom of the drums should have holes with some covering filter material. There is described and illustrated a cylindrical compost container 1, that apparently is the shape being most naturally chosen, apart from the fact that certain manufacturing methods will be based on a small conicity in order to obtain a slip in relation to a core member been employed during manufacture. It is obvious however, that containers with more accentuated wall inclination can be used, this being among other things dependent on the desired shape of the drums and their possible inclined position.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. Compost container for toilet waste, kitchen waste and other decomposable waste, comprising a preferably round, stationary container (1) and a number of composting drums (8) adapted to be moved within the container (1) and to be taken out of this through a closable opening (10) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the drums (8) are round and are supported at one hand on a circular turning path (18) at the interior circumference of the container (1) and at the other hand on a central rotation body (7) which is connected to a drive element (16) adapted to rotate the rotation body so that the drums (8) by rolling movement are displaced around within the container (1) .

2. Compost container according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the drums (8) are conical with a larger upper opening than the bottom surface.

3. Compost container according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the drums (8) are supported at an inclination, preferably with a supporting surface (7A) on the rotation body (7) located lower than the turning path (18) .

4. Compost container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rotation body's supporting surface (7A) against the bottom of the drums (8) is provided with preferably radially extending projections or profile elements (7B) in order to enhance the transmission of driving force for said rolling movement.

5. Compost container according to any one of claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rotation body (7) is connected to a preferably tubular axle (5) being adapted to rotate the rotation body by means of an arm (16A) having a manual operating element (16) .

6. Compost container according to any one of claim 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rotation body (7) has a smaller diameter than the bottom of the drums (8) .

7. Compost container according to any one of claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the turning path (18) is formed in association with or integrated with a gutter (3) for collecting condensed liquid along the internal circumference of the container (1) .