GB2087860A - Apparatus for producing liquid fertiliser from garden waste - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for producing liquid fertiliser from garden waste comprises an inner (19) and an outer (1) container. The outer container (1) comprises at least 2 rigid panels joined together, and the inner container (19) is formed from an impervious flexible material (e.g. a plastics bag). Means (27) are provided for removing the liquid fertiliser which gradually accumulates when garden waste is placed in the inner container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for producing liquid fertilizer from garden waste This invention relates to apparatus for producing liquid fertilizer, especially from natural garden waste.

It has been found that plant material may be used as a source of liquid fertilizer if retained in a container which is substantially airtight, and which preferably provides fairly good thermal insulation. Liquid fertilizer produced by this means is a potent fertilizer for general garden use. Hitherto, however, apparatus for producing liquid fertilizer has been either inefficient by reason of its being insufficiently airtight or its lacking the necessary degree of thermal insulation, or it has been cumbersome to transport or store. For this reason the great advantages of home produced liquid fertilizer as a garden fertilizer have been exploited only rarely by amateur gardeners.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for the production of liquid fertilizer which is not only highly efficient but also convenient to manufacture and transport.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for producing liquid fertilizer from plant waste, comprising at least two panels fixed together to form an outer container, an inner container formed from a flexible material which is substantially impervious to air and means to remove the liquid fertilizer from said inner container.

Preferably, the outer container is a generally cylindrical bin and the inner container is a plastics bag.

Preferably, the bag is perforated at one end, and the apparatus further comprises funnel means to collect the liquid fertilizer. A separate drip tray may be provided to receive the liquid fertilizer from the funnel means.

Also provided by the present invention is an apparatus for producing liquid fertilizer, comprising a container having substantially airtight walls and funnel means to collect the liquid fertilizer, said container comprising at least two panels fixed together.

An apparatus for producing liquid fertilizer according to the present invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic representation of a section through the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, a generally cylindrical bin 1 is formed from a number of side panels which are affixed to each other by, for example, rivets. The size of the bin is conveniently 10-15 gallons. The panels may number, for example, 2 or 3 and are preferably made of a plastics material. The lower end of the bin is supported by a base 3 in the form of an annular foot. The base 3 has an annular groove 5 to receive the lower ends of the panels which constitute the bin. The base 3 is not continuous across its diameter, but has at its center an aperture 7. Beneath the aperture 7 is placed a drip tray 9 which for convenience has a handle 11.

Also supported by the base 3, but inside the bin 1, is a funnel 1 3. The inner surface 1 5 of the funnel is generally conical in shape.

The funnel is supported on the base 3 by means of an annular flange 1 7 which extends from the outer edge of the conical surface 1 5 roughly perpendicularly to the conical surface.

A bag 1 9 is held inside the bin 1 such that its lower end is partially supported by the conical surface 1 5 of the funnel 1 3. The bag is preferably formed from a plastics material such as polythene and may conveniently be held in position by folding the lip of the bag over the upper edge of the bin 1. The bag ' 9 is provided at its lower end with perforations 27.

In use, plant waste 21, for example, garden and kitchen refuse, is placed inside the bag 19. A capillary blanket 23 is moistened with water and laid on top of the plant waste 21 A close-fitting lid 25 is placed over the upper end of the bin 1 and the folded-over lip of tze bag. The walls of the bag 1 9 and the close fitting lid 25 combine to maintain relatively airtight conditions inside the bag, despite the perforations 27 which allow only very limited exchange of air between the plant waste and the atmosphere.

The capillary blanket 23 assists in mainta:n- ing the correct degree of humidity within th plant waste and in absorbing drops of cond > n- sation which may collect on the inner surface of the lid or outer container and thereafter fall onto the blanket. Localised saturation of the plant waste is therefore prevented.

As a result of the relatively airtight conditions and the controlled level of humidity, the waste very soon begins to decompose and to give out heat. The capillary blanket and to some extent the "double wall" effect of the bag 1 9 and the bin 1, provide effective thermal insulation and the temperature of the waste therefore rises, thus increasing the rate of decomposition.

The construction of the funnel 1 3 and the base 3 also provides a "double wall" which gives thermal insulation for the bottom of the bag.

After a week or so under average conditions, concentrated liquid fertilizer begins to drip from the bag into the drip tray 9. Prefe a- bly, the perforations 27 in the bag 1 9 are present only in the region of the aperture 7.

In this case, the funnel 1 3 acts principally as a support for the bag. It is possible, however, to have perforations over a more extensive area of the bottom of the bag, in which case the funnel serves the additional purpose of collecting the liquid fertilizer and diverting it into the drip tray 9.

After a further week or so, the rate of flow of liquid fertilizer becomes quite considerable.

Apt of liquid may be collected during the second week. This liquid is very rich in fertilizing substances and for use as a liquid fertilizer should be diluted of the order of one hundredfold.

As the plant waste 21 decomposes, it settles down quite substantially within the bag. As it does so, of course, the capillary blanket 23 moves with it.

After the plant waste ceases to produce liquid fertilizer, it may be discarded or used as a conventional solid compost.

it will be appreciated that the apparatus according to the present invention combines the advantages of air-tightness and thermal insulation, with the convenience of a construction which can be provided in kit form for assembly by the user. Such a kit is easily stored and transported and therefore involves the manufacturer in smaller overhead costs which is to his and the eventual user's benefit. The "knock-down" nature of the compost bin of the present invention is particularly advantageous for mail order applications in which relatively low weight and packing volume are of prime importance.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for producing liquid fertilizer from plant waste, said apparatus comprising at least two panels fixed together to form a knock-down container, an inner container formed from a flexible material, which material is substantially impervious to air, and means to remove liquid fertilizer from said inner container.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the outer container is a generally cylindrical bin, and the inner container is a plastics bag.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means to remove the liquid fertilizer comprise perforations in the closed end of the bag.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising funnel means to collect the liquid fertilizer.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a drip tray is provided to receive the liquid fertilizer from the funnel means.

6. Apparatus for producing liquid fertiliser, comprising a container having substantially airtight walls, and funnel means to collect the liquid fertiliser.

7. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the drawing.