US 7,520,457 B1 · Automated composting system

Abstract

A composting system with a digestion chamber, an auger shaft with at least one mixing vane, and a power unit. The power unit can be hydraulic and can also power a shredding unit and an input conveyor system. A barrier wall can be interposed between those elements and the digestion chamber. The digestion chamber can be divided into subchambers, and sequentially lower apertures can promote a progression of organic material. A malfunction sensor can sense a malfunction of the auger shaft, the shredding unit, or another component. A malfunction report can be provided, including to a remote receiver. The report can include a determined location of the composting system and can be directed to a selected receiver based on the malfunction. Fluids, including gasses and liquids, can be introduced by a supply source in combination with apertures along the auger shaft and/or a mixing vane.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A composting system for facilitating a decomposition of organic material, the composting system comprising:

a digestion chamber with an input aperture for receiving organic material to be composted, a body portion, and an exhaust aperture for enabling an exhaust of composted organic material from the digestion chamber;
an auger shaft with a body portion rotatably retained within the digestion chamber;
at least one mixing vane retained relative to the auger shaft for mixing organic material within the digestion chamber;
a means for inducing a rotation of the auger shaft;
at least first and second divider walls that divide the digestion chamber into at least primary, secondary, and tertiary subchambers wherein the input aperture is in communication with the primary subchamber, wherein the exhaust aperture is in communication with the tertiary subchamber, wherein a first intermediate aperture is disposed in the first divider wall for enabling a passage of organic material from the primary subchamber into the secondary subchamber, and wherein a second intermediate aperture is disposed in the second divider wall for enabling a passage of organic material from the secondary subchamber into the tertiary subchamber wherein the input aperture, the first intermediate aperture, the second intermediate aperture, and the exhaust aperture sequentially decrease in effective height whereby organic material will tend to pass from the primary subchamber into the secondary subchamber, from the secondary subchamber into the tertiary subchamber, and from the tertiary subchamber through the exhaust aperture in response to a rotation of the auger shaft and a concomitant rotation of the at least one mixing vane.

2 more elements

A composting system facilitating a decomposition of organic material, the composting system comprising:

a shell housing with a first end, a second end, and an open inner volume;
a digestion chamber fixed within the open inner volume of the shell housing wherein the digestion chamber has an input end and an output end and wherein the digestion chamber is subdivided into a plurality of subchambers by at least one divider wall;
an input aperture disposed adjacent to the input end of the digestion chamber for receiving organic material to be composted;
an exhaust aperture adjacent to the output end of the digestion chamber for enabling an exhaust of composted organic material from the digestion chamber;
an intermediate aperture disposed in the at least one divider wall for enabling a passage of organic material from subchamber to subchamber;
an auger shaft with a body portion rotatably retained within the digestion chamber wherein the auger shaft traverses from adjacent to the input end of the digestion chamber to adjacent to the output end of the digestion chamber;
at least one mixing vane retained relative to the auger shaft relative to each subchamber of the digestion chamber for mixing organic material within the digestion chamber;
means for inducing a rotation of the auger shaft;
a shredding unit retained relative to the shell housing for shredding organic material;
means for powering the shredding unit;
and
at least one malfunction sensor for sensing a malfunction of the auger shaft;
wherein the shredding unit the means for inducing a rotation of the auger shaft, and the means for powering the shredding unit are disposed adjacent to the input end of the digestion chamber and further comprising a barrier wall disposed within the shell housing wherein the shredding unit, the means for inducing a rotation of the auger shaft, and the means for powering the shredding unit are disposed to a first side of the barrier wall and wherein the digestion chamber is disposed to a second side of the barrier wall.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated composting system

Life of this patent

Automated composting system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34