US 7,351,576 B1Granted

Compost tea machine

AssigneeMichael T. Harmon

InventorsMichael Todd Harmon, Elaine Ruth Ingham, Bradley Steven Glaze, Kenneth Roy Warner

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Abstract

The invention relates to an in home apparatus for simultaneously suspending, aerating, agitating, extracting and entraining a compost water nutrient culture. A beaker contains the compost nutrient water culture. A perforated elastic membrane transversely covers the open beaker bottom and is retained and compression sealed by a holder. The holder mates with a recess provided by upper portions of a base. The base contains a diaphragm air pump supplying air through the perforated elastic membrane releasing air bubbles into the compost, water nutrient culture in the beaker. Pulsating air supply from the diaphragm air pump vibrates the perforated elastic membrane which in combination with the sparging of air bubbles suspends the compost nutrient water culture preparing a high quality compost tea. The beaker, holder, and base easily engage and disengage for the proper cleaning and convenient in home preparation of compost tea.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An apparatus for simultaneously suspending, agitating, and entraining a compost nutrient water culture, comprising:

a beaker having a predetermined cross-sectional shape for containing said compost nutrient water culture, an open top and an open bottom;
a lid and strainer covering said open top;
a vibrating perforated elastic membrane transversely covering the open bottom of said beaker;
a holder for compression sealing of said membrane on the open bottom of said beaker;
a base containing an air pump, wherein the holder mates with the base so as to provide fluid communication between the air pump and the bottom side of said membrane and wherein air provided by said air pump against said bottom of said membrane, overcomes hydrostatic pressure of said compost nutrient water in said beaker thereby sparging enough air through said perforated membrane and into said compost nutrient water culture to maintain 6 mg of oxygen per liter through out a brewing cycle;
and
said base and holder including means for quick connect/disconnect of said fluid communication between said air pump and said bottom side of said membrane.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/813,961Filed 26 Mar 2004
Granted: 1 Apr 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A47J 43/125
Whipping by introducing a stream of gas: receptacles with gas-introducing means at the bottom; Gas pumping means therefor
C05F 3/04
Fertilisers from human or animal excrements, e.g. manure: from human faecal masses
C05F 17/40
Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation: treatment of liquids or…
Y02A 40/20
In agriculture: fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses