Discontinuous helical auger contained within a heated vessel filled with sawdust for the purpose of high efficiency breakdown of toilet and other organic wastes

Abstract

The invention consists of a discontinuous helical auger contained within a heated vessel filled with sawdust. The auger enables thorough turning of sawdust enclosed within a heated vessel enabling function of the assembly as a waterless biotoilet. Control of auger rotation works to maximize the biodegradation of human toilet waste through physical breakdown of organic matter, through stimulation of evaporation of the aqueous fraction, and through supporting a benign microflora to effect biodegradation. This discontinuous helical auger enables maintenance of a flat horizontal upper planar surface of the sawdust mass while maximizing aeration of the sawdust mass. The angle of the helical blade and discontinuities therein work to draw the organic matter very gradually toward the opposite end of the biotoilet from the toilet hole, maximizing dewatering and aerobic breakdown.

Description

REFERENCES CITED[0001]U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS7,103,926Rasberry6,260,216Lejgren5,345,620SundbergBACKGROUND[0002]Waterless toilets effecting the safe and complete treatment of human toilet wastes amongst other forms of organic waste have been around ever since the digging of the first outhouse. Various steps can be seen in the evolution of waterless toilets, including compartmentalization of wastes (digging a hole), elaborating that hole to a tank (septic tanks), bringing that tank above ground (above ground in-vessel toilets), ending in several evolutionary branches—those toilets that burn the waste (incinerating toilets), those toilets that send the waste elsewhere (flush-to-sewer or flush-to-collection toilets), and those toilets that break down the waste amongst a high-lignin organic matter matrix (composting toilets).[0003]In U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,926 by Rasberry, Rasberry's simple patented design of the portable latrine brought the vessel out of the ground. Though seemingly simple, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Broadly speaking, all composting toilets encourage the breakdown of organic wastes, principally human faeces. Some drain off the liquid portion, some attempt to evaporate it with a dryer mechanism. Using the remarkable properties of sawdust, including high water holding capacity, immense surface area, resistance to complete saturation, and physical abrasive properties, the discontinuous helical auger can be used to effect complete physical breakdown, evaporation of water, and kill of animal pathogens if maintained in the correct heat environment. The discontinuous helical auger acts to turn the mass of sawdust over such that the upper horizontal planar surface of the sawdust mass is not disturbed, obviating the mounding of sawdust to either end or the middle. The sawdust and auger are contained within a heated vessel that allows for ingress of toilet and other organic wastes (e.g. food waste, diseased dead birds) such that that matter is drawn extremely slowly first toward the middle and finally to the other end, where all that remain are inorganic elements and other traces. An air fan removes vapor-laden air and vents it to the outside. Odor is minimized owing to the shape of the auger not allowing for anaerobic pockets of sawdust leading to anaerobic reactions leading to smell. Physical breakdown is achieved through the abrasion of the sawdust powered by the auger blade, and simply the auger blade itself powered under very high gear reduction.

Problems solved by technology

Odor is minimized owing to the shape of the auger not allowing for anaerobic pockets of sawdust leading to anaerobic reactions leading to smell.

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