Earth appliance aerated composter unit

Abstract

In accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure, the invention provides a combination waste collection container and aerated composter for general composting and waste collection and more specifically to aerated composting and organic waste collodion. The utility of the invention can be extended to the complementary food scrap processing method known as anaerobic digestion, through specific modifications.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost comprising: a container for holding compost; and at least one hollow gill; and a conduit that extends from the inside of the at least one hollow gill to the outside of the container; and a lid; and the at least one hollow gill residing inside the container; and the container having vertical walls, a bottom and an open top; and the lid removably engaged with the open top of the container; and the at least one hollow gill having a top and bottom, a front edge, a rear surface, a left surface and a right surface; and the at least one hollow gill bottom residing proximal to the container bottom; and the at least one hollow gill being larger at the bottom than at the top, tapering from bottom to top; and the left surface and right surface of the at least one hollow gill being perforated; and the interior of the at least one hollow gill being vented to the ambient environment outside of the container; wherein ambient air from outside of the container may flow through the at least one gill and into the compost preventing the buildup of excessive moisture in the compost.

2. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim one, wherein the at least one hollow gill tapers in a stepped configuration.

3. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim one, wherein the at least one hollow gill has a rear-surface that is substantially vertical.

4. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim one, wherein the at least one hollow gill is open at the top.

5. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim one, wherein the container is double walled.

6. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim one, wherein the lid is double walled.

7. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim one, wherein the container is double walled, the inner of the double walled surface being perforated.

8. An apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost comprising: a container for holding compost; and at least one hollow gill; and a conduit that extends from the inside of the at least one hollow gill proximal to the front edge and proximal to the bottom of the at least one hollow gill, to the outside of the container at a location that is above the bottom of the container, a distance that is between 40% and 60% of the height of the container; and a second conduit extending from the inside of the at least one hollow gill proximal to the gill, rear-surface and extending out of the container at a location that is above the bottom of the container, a distance that is between 30% and 50% of the height of the container; and a lid; and the at least one hollow gill residing inside the container; and the container having vertical walls, a bottom and an open top; and the lid removably engaged with the open top of the container; and the at least one hollow gill having a top and bottom, a front edge, a rear surface, a left surface and a right surface; and the hollow gill bottom residing proximal to the container bottom; and the at least one hollow gill being larger at the bottom than at the top, tapering from bottom to top; and the left surface and right surface of the at least one gill being perforated; and the interior of at least one hollow gill being vented to the ambient environment outside of the container; wherein ambient air from outside of the container may flow through the at least one gill and into the compost preventing the buildup of excessive moisture in the compost.

9. An apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost comprising: a container for containing compost; and at least one hollow gill; and a lid; and the at least one hollow gill residing inside the container; and the container having vertical walls, a bottom and an open top; and the lid removably engaged with the open top of the container; and the at least one hollow gill having a gill top and a gill bottom, a gill front edge, a gill rear surface, a gill left surface and a gill right surface; and the gill left surface and gill right surface of the at least one hollow gill meeting at the gill front edge of the at least one hollow gill; and the at least one hollow gill being larger at the gill bottom than at the gill top, tapering from gill bottom to gill top; and the lid having a lid front surface, a lid rear surface, a lid left side surface and a lid right side surface, a lid flat bottom and a lid sloped top; and the lid sloped top having an upper surface and an under surface; and the lid sloped top having long central plane about which the lid left surface and lid right surface are symmetrical; and the top edge of the lid right surface and the top edge of the lid left surface each defining the edge of a plane that meets at a lid sloped edge that resides along said central plane forming a crease; wherein the top of the lid slopes from the top of the left surface toward the central plane and from the top of the right surface toward the central plane forming a crease, wherein moisture rising out of the compost in the container condensing about the bottom surface of the lid will drip down off the crease and into the compost along the region proximal to the gill front edge of the at least one hollow gill.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the lid comprises a damper for opening or closing a vent to control the amount of moisture condensing on the underside of the lid.

11. An apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost comprising: a container for containing compost; and at least one hollow gill; and at least one hollow base; and a lid; and the at least one hollow gill residing inside the container; and the container having vertical walls, a bottom and an open top; and the lid removably engaged with the open top of the container; and the at least one hollow gill having a gill top and a gill bottom, a gill front edge, a gill rear surface, a gill left surface and a gill right surface; and the gill left surface and gill right surface of the at least one hollow gill meeting at the gill front edge of the at least one hollow gill; and the at least one hollow gill being larger at the gill bottom than at the gill top, tapering from gill bottom to gill top; and the lid having a lid front surface, a lid rear surface, a lid left side surface and a lid right side surface, a lid flat bottom and a lid top; and the lid top having an upper surface and an under surface; and the lid top having long central plane about which the lid left surface and lid right surface are symmetrical; and the top edge of the lid right surface and the top edge of the lid left surface each defining the edge of the lid top that meets at a sloped edge that resides along said central plane; and the gill engaged with a base, the base having a base front surface, a base rear surface, a base left side surface and a base right side surface, a flat base bottom and a sloped base top; and the sloped base top having long central plane about which the left base surface and right base surface are symmetrical; and the top edge of the right base surface and the top edge of the left base surface each defining the edge of a plane that defines the sloped base top and meets at a sloped edge that resides along said central plane; and the sloped edge along the central plane is substantially parallel to the slope of the sloped base top; wherein the top of the lid slopes both from the rear surface toward the front surface and also slopes from the top of the left surface toward the central plane and from the top of the right surface toward the central plane wherein moisture rising out of the compost in the container condensing about the bottom surface of the lid will drip down into the compost along the region proximal to the front edge of the gill, while similarly moisture condensing about the inside of the hollow base will drip down in the center of the bottom of the hollow base.

12. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim 11 wherein at least two gills are arrayed in an alternating linear pattern with gill front edges facing toward a long axis that bisects the container.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sloped base top is perforated.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising at least three gills arrayed in a radial pattern with gill front edges facing toward the center of the container.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising at least three gills and at least three lids having sloped top surfaces, the at least three gills and the at least three lids arrayed in a radial pattern with the at least three gills' front edges and lid front surfaces facing toward the center of the container.

16. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim 11 wherein the depth of the at least three gills are each between 10% and 60% of the inner depth of the municipal recycling tote and the depth of the at least three gills at the bottom are each between 40% and 100% of the inner depth of the a municipal recycling tote.

17. The apparatus for controlling the aeration and moisture content of compost of claim 11 wherein the container is filled with water to induce anaerobic digestion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed combination waste collection container and aerated composter, reference is made to the accompanying figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a section, perspective view of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the perforated, hollow, vertical gill and hollow, slanted base.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective, section view of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(6) FIG. 6 is an orthographic, section back view of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a perforated, vertical gill and slanted base.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a perforated, vertical gill and slanted base.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a perforated, vertical gill and slanted base.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a perforated, vertical gill and slanted base.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a perforated, vertical gill and slanted base.

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a perforated, vertical gill and slanted base.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a perforated, vertical gill and slanted base.

(14) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(15) FIG. 15 is another perspective view of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(16) FIG. 16 is a perspective, section view of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(17) FIGS. 17a, b, and c are perspective views of the angled-surface lid.

(18) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(19) FIG. 19 is a perspective, section view of another embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(20) FIG. 20 is a perspective, section view of another embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(21) FIG. 21 is a perspective, section view of another embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(22) FIG. 22 is a perspective, section view of another embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(23) FIG. 23 is an orthographic, section view of another embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit.

(24) FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit with multiple gills arrayed in a linear pattern.

(25) FIG. 25 is an orthographic, top view of the embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit of FIG. 24.

(26) FIG. 26 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit with multiple gills arrayed in a radial pattern.

(27) FIG. 27 is an orthographic, top view of the embodiment of the earth appliance aerated composter unit of FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(28) FIG. 1 is a perspective, section view of the embodiment 100 comprised of a municipal recycling tote 110, a lid 112, an upward vent 114, a conduit 116, a forward vent 118, an aeration device, otherwise known as a gill 120, a base 122, a slanted false bottom 124, base perforations 126, a protrusion 128, and gill perforations 130. Perforations covering the entire gill having fewer perforations near the top holes between diameter to 5/16 diameter spaced between 5/16 apart and apart. The gill having a length at the top between 10% and 60% of the inner depth of the municipal recycling tote and having a length at the bottom between 40% and 100% of the inner depth of the a municipal recycling tote.

(29) FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an example embodiment of a gill 120, comprised of a base 122, hardware connection points 123, a sloped false bottom 124, base perforations 126, a protrusion 128, gill perforations 130, and an open underside 132.

(30) FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of the embodiment 100 comprised of a municipal recycling tote 110, lid side vents 115, and a liner 140.

(31) FIG. 5 is a perspective, section view of the embodiment 100 comprised of a municipal recycling tote 110, a lid 112, an interior liner 140, an upward vent 114, a conduit 116, a forward vent 118, an aeration device, otherwise known as a gill 120, a base 122, a slanted false bottom 124, base perforations 126, a protrusion 128, and gill perforations 130. The liner 140 forms a plenum 141 between the outer surface of the liner 140 and the inner surface of the municipal recycling tote 110. The liner has ventilation holes 143. The plenum 141 provides an insulation layer between the compost material inside the liner and the outside environment. The ventilation holes 143 allow air and moisture to flow from the compost material into the plenum 141 and back through other ventilation holes 143.

(32) FIG. 6 is an orthographic, detail, section view of the embodiment 100, showing the municipal recycling tote 110 with lid 112 and gill 120. FIG. 6 illustrates a method of engaging the liner 140 with the municipal recycling tote 110. The detail view shows a lip 147 on the liner 140, engaged with the upper edge of the municipal recycling tote 110.

(33) FIG. 7, in an example embodiment 220, a perforated, vertical gill and horizontal, slanted base comprised of a base 222, an indent 223 for engaging with various interior contours of example municipal recycling totes 110 (FIG. 1), a sloped false bottom 224, base perforations 226, a front base indent 227, a protrusion or gill 228, and gill perforations 230 are shown. In this embodiment, the gill 228 has an upper edge that is between 80% and 90% of the length of the lower edge and the gill 220 has perforations covering between 60% and 80% of the gill surface.

(34) FIG. 8, in an example embodiment 320, a perforated, vertical gill and horizontal, slanted base comprised of a base 322, a rear base indent 323, a sloped false bottom 324, base perforations 326, a front base indent 327, a protrusion or gill 328, and gill perforations 330 are shown. The embodiment 300 illustrates a gill with an upper edge that is between 10% and 20% the length of the lower edge with perforations covering between 80% and 100% of the gill surface.

(35) FIG. 9, in an example embodiment 420, a perforated, vertical gill and horizontal, slanted base comprised of a base 422, a sloped false bottom 424, a solid bottom surface 426, a front base indent 427, a rear contour 429, a protrusion or gill 428, and gill perforations 430 are shown. The gill has a forward edge that is S-shaped.

(36) FIG. 10, in an example embodiment 520, a perforated, vertical gill and horizontal, slanted base comprised of a base 522, a sloped false bottom 524, a grooved bottom surface 526, a front base indent 527, a protrusion or gill 528, and gill perforations 530 are shown.

(37) FIG. 11, in an example embodiment 600, a perforated, vertical gill and horizontal, slanted base comprised of a base 622, a sloped false bottom 624, a grooved bottom surface 626, a front base indent 627, a protrusion or gill 628, and gill perforations 630 are shown. Gill perforations 630 cover the upper portion of the gill and are not present in the lower portion of the gill.

(38) FIG. 12, in an example embodiment 720, a perforated, vertical gill and horizontal, slanted base comprised of a base 722, a sloped false bottom 724, a grooved bottom surface 726, a front base indent 727, a protrusion or gill 728, a solid gill area 729, and gill perforations 730 are shown. Gill perforations are present only in the forward portion of the lower S-curve.

(39) FIG. 13, in an example embodiment 820, a perforated, vertical gill and horizontal, slanted base comprised of a base 822, a sloped false bottom 824, a grooved bottom surface 826, a front base indent 827, a protrusion or gill 828, a solid gill area 829, and gill perforations 830 are shown. Perforations 830 are located proximal to the forward S-curved edge.

(40) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment 900 comprised of a municipal recycling tote 110 and lid 912 comprised of a slanted lid top surface 954 and center crease 952, having side vents 955 and top vents 951.

(41) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the embodiment 900 and FIG. 16 is a perspective section view of the embodiment 900 comprising a municipal recycling tote 110 and lid 912 comprised of a slanted lid bottom surface and center crease 953. When the lid 912 is closed, the center crease 952 is proximal to the gill 120. The purpose of the center crease and slanted lid is to direct condensate toward the center crease. As water vapor rises through the compost material, it condenses on the undersurface of the lid 912 and moves along the slanted top, toward the center crease 953. As condensate 956 rises out of the compost material and gathers on the underside of the slanted lid surface 954, it falls toward the center crease 952, and falls from the center crease 952 in the region closest to the gill 120. The compost material closest to the gill is likely the driest material as the gill has caused aeration in that area.

(42) FIGS. 17a, b and c, illustrate example embodiments of an angled surface lid 912a, b and c, comprised of upward vents 951a, a center crease 952a, b and c, a drain 953c, an angled surface 954a, and c; an angled-curved surface 952b and side vents 955a. One skilled in the art understands that although one crease is shown for directing condensate along one line, multiple creases may also be used to cause condensate to drip in other regions.

(43) FIG. 18 is perspective, rear view of the embodiment 1000 comprised of a municipal recycling tote 1010 and access gate 1058. The access gate 1058 allows the user to collect compost from the bottom of the container.

(44) FIG. 19 is a perspective, section view of the embodiment 1000, comprising a rear outlet vent pipe 1015, an outlet vent 1017, a protrusion or gill 1020, a sloped false bottom 1022, an access gate 1058, and a harvesting drawer 1059. Grooves 1026 in the sloped false bottom 1022 allow the user to employ a tool such as a rake 1061, to move the compost material into the harvesting drawer 1059. One skilled in the art understands that a rake may be used as well as a guided, sliding set of tines or a rotating set of tines or any number of means for moving granular material through a grate or other barrier.

(45) FIG. 20 is a perspective section view of the embodiment 1100 comprised of a municipal recycling tote 1110, an outlet vent pipe 1115, an inlet vent pipe 1116, an inlet vent 1118, a gill 1120, a sloped and grooved false bottom 1126, gill perforations 1130, and a gill cover 1160. The gill cover 1160 prevents flow from the vent 1118 from flowing into the gill and instead, air from the vent 1118 flows into the interior of the sloped false bottom, through the grooves in the sloped false bottom, through the compost material, through the perforations 1130 in the gill 1120 and out the rear conduit 1115 and out the rear vent (as illustrated by 1017 in FIG. 19, embodiment 1000).

(46) FIG. 21 is a perspective, section, bottom view of the embodiment 1100 comprised of a municipal recycling tote 1110, a gill bottom opening cover insertion slot 1160, and a gill cover 1160. The illustration depicts a sliding manner in which the gill cover 1160 may be removed.

(47) FIG. 22 is a perspective section view of embodiment 1200; FIG. 23 is an orthographic, section view of the embodiment 1200, illustrating the flow of air through one embodiment. Vents allow air flowing through an inlet vent 1218 through the conduit 1216 and subsequently through grooves 1226 in the sloped false bottom 1260, and through the compost in the container as shown by arrow 1274. The air then flows through the compost in the container and some flows in or out through vents 1221, as illustrated by arrow 1281; while some of the air flowing through the compost will flow in or out of vent holes 1223 and into the plenum 1241 that resides between the liner 1240 and the container 1210. Additionally, air flowing through the compost may flow through gill vents 1230 as shown by arrow 1276, and out through a rear conduit 1215 and out rear vent 1217 as shown by arrows 1278.

(48) FIG. 24 is a perspective section view of the embodiment 1300; FIG. 25 is an orthographic, top view of the embodiment 1300. Containers 1310 may be used individually or ganged together as shown. One skilled in the art understands that the array of containers may be divided into a number of individual containers. Each container contains a gill 1320. Airflow, illustrated by arrows 1380, flows around and through the array of gills 1320. One or more of the containers 1310 may contain vents 1382.

(49) FIG. 26 is a perspective section view of the embodiment 1400; FIG. 27 is an orthographic, top view of the embodiment 1400. A container 1410 contains a series of gills 1420 arranged in a radial pattern within the container 1410.

(50) One skilled in the art understands that variations of the aforementioned embodiments may be combined in novel ways not specifically illustrated here. For example, some of the aforementioned embodiments have vent inlets and outlets adapted to provide anaerobic digestion when the container is sufficiently filled with water, gas may be extracted out of the aforementioned lid vent.