GB2138795A

GB2138795A - Device and method for making compost

Info

Publication number: GB2138795A
Application number: GB08410152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Arthur Wilson
Original assignee: J & C Tools & Engineering Limi
Current assignee: J & C Tools & Engineering Limi
Priority date: 1983-04-19
Filing date: 1984-04-18
Publication date: 1984-10-31
Also published as: GB8410152D0

Abstract

A device for making compost from vegetable matter such as grass clippings comprises a container having a top aperture for tipping the vegetable matter into the container, and an auger blade (28) within the container for turning and thereby aerating the vegetable matter whilst preventing undue heat loss, to promote decomposition of the vegetable matter. In one embodiment the container is rotatably mounted with respect to the auger blade (28), whilst in an alternative embodiment the auger blade (28) is rotated with respect to the container by means of a cranked handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device and method for making compost Field of the Invention This invention relates to devices for making compost from vegetable matter such as grass cuttings or other garden waste.

Background to the Invention Vegetable matter such as garden waste rots down to form useful compost, but the process of decomposition requires the presence of air.

It has been found that vegetable matter will decompose more quickly if, during decomposition, the vegetable matter is turned or disturbed and thereby aerated. The invention aims to provide a device and method for making compost in which this aeration can be readily and effectively achieved without unduly dissipating the heat generated during the decomposition process.

Summary of the invention According to one aspect of the invention a device for making compost from vegetable matter, such as grass cuttings or other garden waste, comprises a container having means to introduce the vegetable matter into the container and to extract the compost from the container, and turning means within the container for turning and thereby aerating the decomposing vegetable matter by rotation about a substantially upright axis. Preferably, the device includes means for effecting relative rotational movement between the container and the turning means about the substantially upright axis. The turning means are effective to turn and aerate the container contents so as to speed the process of decomposition whilst the decomposing vegetable matter is retained within the container so that undue heat loss is prevented.

The turning means may take the form of a blade, e.g. a helical auger blade, for turning over the container contents when relative rotational movement is effected between the container and the turning means. The turning means may remain stationary and the container rotate relatively to the turning means, or vice versa. In the former case, the container may be pivotally mounted on a central bearing which supports the container above the ground to enable it to rotate. The container, with the auger blade mounted therein, may be permanently or detachably mounted on a central bearing in the form of a cone which holds the container above the ground as described and which may also be provided with a footstep if required.

The container may be provided with a handle which can be grasped to rotate the container on the central bearing but this may not be necessary if the container is shaped so that it can easily be pushed to impart the desired rotation to it.

In the case of a stationary container, the turning means may be manually rotated within the container, e.g. by a manually operated handle which preferably projects through the top of the container and which may be cranked to enable the necessary turning moment to be applied to the turning means within the container.

The container may have a top lid forming the means to introduce the vegetable matter into the container, and the container is conveniently made in two separable parts which are separated to extract the compost from the container. The two separable parts may be identical or similar in shape and are conveniently vacuum formed from a synthetic plastics material. The two container parts may be joined along edge flanges provided with a gasket seal and fixings such as nuts and bolts.

This enables the container to serve as a water butt, if desired.

Alternatively, the two container parts may be permanently joined together, an aperture being provided for entry of vegetable matter and extraction of compost.

According to another aspect of the invention a method of producing compost from vegetable matter such as grass cuttings or other garden waste comprises putting the matter within the container about a substantially upright axis to aerate the decomposing vegetable matter and obtaining compost from the container when decomposition of the vegetable matter is complete.

A preferred embodiment to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing internal detail of the device of Fig. 1, Figure 3 shows how an auger blade of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 may be made, and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a second device according to the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings Referring to Fig. 1, the device comprises a container including a top half 10 and bottom half 1 2 which are vacuum formed from a synthetic plastics material and which abut along edge flanges 14. The flanges 14 have registering holes 1 6 for fixing means such as studs or nuts and bolts. The top half 10 of the container has an inlet opening 1 8 provided with a lift-out lid 20. The container is rotated (by a simple pushing action) about a substantially vertical axis, as will now be described with reference to Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows that the bottom half 1 2 of the container is provided with turning means comprising a shaft 26 carrying a helical auger blade 28. The base of the bottom half 1 2 is dished and at its centre the lower end of the shaft 26 locates on a central bearing in the form of a cone 30. The cone 30 is supported on a base 32 which may carry a projecting foot stop 32 to be held against the ground by the foot of the operator.

The base 32 holds the container above the groun (e.g. by about 0.5 to 1 centimetre), enabling the complete container to be rotated on the base 32 which holds the auger blade 28 against rotation. The foot stop 32 may be held down by the foot of the operator to retain the base 32 in position.

The auger blade 28 may be made from flat steel stock cut to the shape shown at 34 in Fig. 3 and subsequently formed into a helical shape and welded at 36 to the shaft 26.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment in which the container remains stationary and the auger blade 28 can be rotated by means of a cranked handle 38 the shaft of which projects through a bearing in the top half 10 and the lower end of the shaft engages the top end of the auger shaft 26.

In use vegetable matter is tipped into the top inlet opening 1 8 and the lid 20 replaced.

During decomposition, i.e. during the first week or so from putting in the vegetable matter, the container (or the auger blade) is given 2 or 3 revolutions per day. This aerates the decomposing vegetable matter and after about 10 to 14 days the compost is extracted from the container by releasing the fixing means around the flanges 14 and separating the top half 10 from the bottom half 1 2 of the container. The device of Fig. 4 does not have a top inlet opening 1 8 but has instead apertures in the container sides. These apertures may be used both to put the vegetable matter into the container and also to extract the compost, so that in this case the two container halves would be permanently attached together and the auger blade 28 would then be an integral part of the container.

Either embodiment may also serve as a water butt. To achieve a good seal around the flanges 14 in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, an intermediate gasket may be provided between the flanges 14 of the top half 10 and bottom half 1 2 of the container.

Claims

1. A device for making compost from vegetable matter, such as grass cuttings or other garden waste, the device comprising a container having means to introduce the vegetable matter into the container and to extract the compost from the container, and turning means within the container for turning and thereby aerating the decomposing vegetable matter by rotation about a substantially upright axis.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes means for effecting relative rotational movement between the container and the turning means about the substantially upright axis.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the turning means take the form of a blade, eg a helical auger blade, for turning over the container contents when relative rotational movement is effected between the container and the turning means.

4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the turning means remain stationary and the container rotates relatively to the turning means.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the container is pivotally mounted on a central bearing which supports the container above the ground to enable it to rotate.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the container, with the turning means mounted therein, is permanently or detachably mounted on a central bearing in the form of a cone which holds the container above the ground.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the container is provided with a handle which can be grasped to rotate the container on the central bearing.

8. A device according to any of claims 1 ro 3, wherein the container remains stationary and the turning means rotate relatively to the container.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the turning means are manually rotated within the container by a manually operated handle.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the handle projects through the top of the container and is cranked to enable the necessary turning moment to be applied to the turning means within the container.

11. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container has a top lid forming the means to introduce the vegetable matter into the container.

1 2. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is made in two separable parts which are separated to extract the compost from the container.

1 3. A device according to claim 12, wherein the two container parts are joined along edge flanges provided with a gasket seal and fixings such as nuts and bolts.

1 4. A method of producing compost from vegetable matter such as grass cuttings or other garden waste comprising putting the.

vegetable matter into a container, turning the vegetable matter within the container about a substantially upright axis to aerate the decom posing vegetable matter and obtaining com post from the container when decomposition of the vegetable matter is complete.

1 5. A device for making compost from vegetable matter, substantially as herein parti cularly described with reference to the accom panying drawings.

1 6. A method of producing compost from vegetable matter substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.