US 4,070,175 AGranted

Method of processing cattle excrement

AssigneeBabson Bros. Co.

InventorsRoger Swanson, Duncan M. Thompson, Robert J. Shulick

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Abstract

A method of separating from ruminant animal feces the undigested fibrous material that is preponderantly short pieces which consist of bundles of capillary tubes. The feces are mixed with urine, water from animal washing and preparation for milking, and with other water if needed, to form a homogeneous slurry which is run through tandem perforate drum and roller squeezers that heavily compress the short pieces to express liquid from them while continuously draining off a filtrate of liquid and fine solids which is ultimately put into a pond for use as liquid fertilizer. This leaves a filter mass which is preponderantly the short pieces. The filter mass is mixed with clean water to form a suspension which is run through tandem perforate cylinder roller pressers that compress the short pieces under several times heavier pressure to produce a cleansed filter mass and a filtrate which is combined with the original slurry. The cleansed filter mass is excellent bedding which is substantially odorless and effectively free of harmful bacteria.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of separating from ruminant animal feces the undigested fibrous material that is preponderantly short pieces which consist of bundles of capillary tubes, said method comprising the steps of:

First, forming a supply of slurry that contains ruminant animal feces and added liquids including urine and water;
Second, agitating said supply of slurry to make it substantially homogeneous;
Third, pumping a portion of said supply of generally homogenous slurry to a processing area;
Fourth, subjecting said portion of said slurry to a first stage of heavy mechanical pressure which compresses the capillary tubes of the fibrous pieces to express the majority of the liquid and finer solids therefrom while constantly separating therefrom a filtrate consisting preponderantly of liquid and finer solids, thereby providing a filter mass consisting preponderantly of said short fibrous pieces;
Fifth, subjecting said filter mass to a second stage of mechanical pressure which is several times heavier than said first stage to further compress the capillary tubes to express additional liquid and finer solids therefrom while continuously separating therefrom a second filtrate consisting preponderantly of said additional liquid and finer solids, thereby providing a cleansed filter mass consisting preponderantly of said fibrous pieces;
and then collecting said cleansed filter mass.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.