Composting apparatus
By introducing maintenance channels and sensor systems into the composting equipment, the problem of blockage in the transfer channels was solved, and the maintainability and safety of the equipment were improved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-28
AI Technical Summary
Existing composting equipment is inconvenient to maintain, especially the transfer channels, which are prone to blockage, making maintenance difficult.
Introducing maintenance channels into composting equipment allows users easy access to the transfer channels via maintenance openings. Combined with sealing elements and sensor systems, this enables cleaning and preventative maintenance of the transfer channels.
It improves the maintainability of composting equipment, reduces the risk of blockage in transfer channels, and enhances operational safety and ease of use.
Smart Images
Figure CN122477196A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a composting apparatus comprising: a starting chamber having an outlet opening, a subsequent chamber having an inlet opening, and a transfer channel that enters the starting chamber via the outlet opening and the subsequent chamber via the inlet opening, wherein organic material can be transported from the starting chamber through the transfer channel to the subsequent chamber. Background Technology
[0002] Such composting equipment is described, for example, in DE 10 2020 123 246 A1. This composting equipment is suitable for use, for example, in private homes or offices. Organic waste can be fed into the drying chamber by the user via a feeding shaft; the drying chamber can be a starting chamber. The organic material is dried therein by a heating device and crushed and mixed by means of tools. The material then enters the composting chamber, which can be a subsequent chamber. In the composting chamber, the dried material is transformed into compostable material, which can then be extracted via an extraction container. In the composting equipment described in DE 10 2020 123 246 A1, a shaft-like transfer channel is provided, which connects the drying chamber and the composting chamber. The material is transported into the transfer channel by means of tools through the discharge opening and falls into the composting chamber under gravity through the inlet opening.
[0003] The composting equipment described in DE 10 2020 123 246 A1 has been validated in practice. The aim is to provide a composting equipment with better maintainability. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The objective of this invention is to provide a composting device of the aforementioned type that has higher maintainability.
[0005] According to the invention, this task is solved in composting equipment of the aforementioned type by including a maintenance channel that leads to a transfer channel at an access opening, and the composting equipment also including a maintenance opening through which a user can access the transfer channel via the maintenance channel.
[0006] This invention addresses the potential for organic material buildup and blockage in transfer channels, even in rare to very rare cases. To remedy this and simplify user maintenance of the composting equipment, a maintenance channel is provided. The user can easily access the maintenance channel through the maintenance opening and the transfer channel via the access opening. The user can, for example, operate a suitable tool, such as a push rod, to remove organic material from the transfer channel. Preventative cleaning of the transfer channel can also be performed to avoid blockage.
[0007] The access opening of the maintenance channel may coincide with the access opening of the transfer channel, for example.
[0008] As described in conjunction with DE 10 2020 123 246 A1, the starting chamber may be a drying chamber and the subsequent chamber may be a composting chamber. For example, it is specified that the starting chamber is a drying chamber in which the supplied organic material is dried by means of a heating device arranged in the drying chamber, and the subsequent chamber may be a composting chamber in which the organic material is converted into compost material.
[0009] Tools for mixing and / or pulverizing organic materials can be arranged in the drying chamber.
[0010] Accordingly, tools for crushing and / or mixing organic materials may be arranged in the composting chamber.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the starting chamber may be a composting chamber in which organic materials are converted into compost materials, and the subsequent chamber may be a container for extracting compost materials from the composting equipment.
[0012] The transfer channel can be designed, for example, as a shaft oriented in the vertical direction. For instance, the shaft could be vertically oriented. Organic materials passing through this vertically oriented shaft can enter the subsequent chamber under gravity.
[0013] Advantageously, the composting equipment may include a conveyor unit at or within the initiation chamber, capable of transporting organic material to or through an outlet opening. This allows for the targeted transport of organic material from the initiation chamber to the transport chamber. For example, it is conceivable to monitor the dryness, temperature, and / or degree of pulverization of the organic material, wherein the material is transported to or through the outlet opening in appropriate condition.
[0014] The conveying unit can be formed, for example, in the starting chamber by the aforementioned tools. To achieve this, DE 102020 123 246 A1 recommends that the tools operate in two modes, depending on the mode, either crushing and mixing or conveying materials.
[0015] An outlet opening is formed, for example, in the end wall of the starting chamber, which may be horizontally oriented. The end wall may accordingly be a side wall.
[0016] The insertion opening is advantageously formed in the upper wall of the subsequent chamber or on the upper side of the wall of the subsequent chamber.
[0017] Here, the terms "upper," "upper side," "lower," "horizontal," and "vertical" refer to the prescribed use of the composting equipment. Here, the composting equipment is placed on a mounting surface, which can be considered to be horizontally oriented.
[0018] In practical implementation of composting equipment, it is advantageous to have the walls of the transfer channel and the starting chamber formed separately, wherein the transfer channel is connected to the starting chamber. Sealing elements can be arranged between the walls of the transfer channel and the starting chamber.
[0019] Alternatively or additionally, it is advantageous to form the wall of the transfer channel separately from the wall of the subsequent chamber, wherein the transfer channel is connected to the subsequent chamber. A sealing element may be arranged between the transfer channel and the subsequent chamber.
[0020] The inlet opening is preferably positioned above the outlet opening. This reduces the risk of material spilling through the maintenance channel if organic material accumulates in the transfer channel.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transfer channel and the maintenance channel may be formed from the same component of the composting equipment. This component is particularly one-piece and is made of, for example, plastic material. Different sections may be provided within the component, wherein the sections form the transfer channel and the sections form the maintenance channel. The maintenance channel is, for example, an extension of the transfer channel in the direction away from the subsequent chamber.
[0022] In various preferred embodiments of the invention, the transfer channel and the maintenance channel may be formed by different components of the composting equipment, for example, interconnected. The two components are connected to each other such that the maintenance channel enters the transfer channel through an access opening.
[0023] It can be stipulated that the transfer channel, especially the maintenance channel accessed from below, is a key component.
[0024] Advantageously, at the access opening, a sealing element can be arranged between the transfer channel and the maintenance channel, which are sealed to each other by the sealing element. The sealing element can be, for example, a sealing ring between the walls of the transfer channel and the maintenance channel.
[0025] It can be specified that components of the composting equipment that include or constitute maintenance channels and / or transfer channels are load-bearing structural components that constitute at least one housing for at least one additional component of the composting equipment. Functional integration can be performed through structural components, wherein not only maintenance channels and / or transfer channels are included or formed, but at least one housing is also included or formed. For example, a housing for a funnel element for organic materials is formed, the funnel element forming a feeding channel for the material. The funnel element, for example, can be arranged in the housing in a removable manner. Furthermore, a housing for a condenser of the composting equipment can be formed from structural components, for example.
[0026] It has proven advantageous that the maintenance passage has a tapering section from the maintenance opening to the access opening. This simplifies the user's access to the transfer passage by navigating through the maintenance passage. Tools can be guided, for example, through the walls of the maintenance passage toward the access opening.
[0027] Advantageously, the maintenance passage may have its minimum cross-sectional area at or near the access opening. Advantageously, this can prevent users from reaching into the transfer passage, starting chamber, and / or subsequent chamber by hand through the maintenance passage.
[0028] The cross-sectional area of the maintenance channel at its narrowest point can be, for example, approximately 2 cm². 2 Up to 10 cm 2 3 cm is preferred 2 Up to 6cm 2 .
[0029] Composting equipment may include, for example, a housing, and in particular, a cuboid shape. Maintenance openings may be provided or formed in or on the housing walls. This provides users with easy access to maintenance access. The housing walls themselves may constitute the maintenance openings. Alternatively, for example, housing openings aligned with the maintenance openings may be provided or formed in the housing walls. Preferably, the maintenance openings and housing openings are adjacent to each other. The housing walls and maintenance access are, for example, made of different, adjacent components.
[0030] The housing wall is preferably the upper wall of the housing. This allows the user to comfortably access the maintenance channel for easy removal of organic materials from the transfer channel.
[0031] Advantageously, the composting equipment includes a shut-off element that can close the maintenance opening and / or housing opening in a sealed position, and the shut-off element can be switched to a release position for releasing the maintenance opening and / or housing opening. This improves the operational safety of the composting equipment. The user can only access the maintenance passage when the shut-off element is switched from the sealed position to the release position.
[0032] It can be specified that the composting equipment includes sensor elements to monitor whether the shut-off element is in the blocked or released position. If the shut-off element switches to the released position, then to improve operational safety, the signal ground of the sensor element can be used to shut down tools in the composting equipment, particularly in the initiation chamber and / or subsequent chambers.
[0033] Advantageously, a sealing element is arranged at the maintenance opening and / or the housing opening, which seals between the maintenance opening and the closing element and / or between the housing opening and the closing element. Preferably, the maintenance passage is thus odor-sealed to prevent unpleasant odors from the starting chamber and / or drying chamber. The sealing element is, for example, a sealing ring that seals against the outside of the closing element. To achieve this, the sealing ring is, for example, formed as a lip seal. The closing element may, for example, seal between the components constituting the housing wall and the maintenance passage.
[0034] The closing element is preferably operable manually and / or without tools, thereby providing an easy-to-operate implementation of the composting equipment. The closing element can be connected to the housing, for example, via a plug-in rotatable connection.
[0035] The composting equipment may include, in particular, a filling well for filling organic material and a covering element on the upper side, the covering element covering the filling well in a covering position and releasing the filling well in a filling position.
[0036] The covering element preferably conceals the closing element, especially in the covering and filling positions. This prevents the user from directly accessing the closing element during normal operation of the composting equipment. This improves the operational safety of the composting equipment.
[0037] Furthermore, it can be specified that, supplementally or alternatively, the closing element is covered by another covering element of the composting equipment. To expose the closing element, the other covering element must be removed, and in the filling position, the other covering element itself may, for example, be covered by the aforementioned covering element. The first-mentioned covering element also covers, for example, the upper wall of the housing.
[0038] It can be specified that the covering element can be removed from the composting equipment, and the composting equipment includes at least one sensor element capable of detecting the absence of the covering element. In the event of the missing covering element, the tools used to process the organic material in the starting chamber are set to inactive or deactivated. Preferably, the composting equipment can be completely deactivated. This improves the operational safety of the composting equipment. If the maintenance passage is opened, the tools in the starting chamber and / or subsequent chambers are no longer in operation, thus avoiding the risk of injury to users.
[0039] The aforementioned sensor elements used to monitor closed elements and / or covered elements can, for example, be designed as Hall sensors.
[0040] It is conceivable that composting equipment includes at least one sensor unit capable of detecting objects in maintenance and / or transfer channels. Based on this, tools in the composting equipment, particularly in the starting and / or subsequent chambers, can be shut off, for example. The maintenance channels can be monitored for the presence of objects, such as foreign objects, and safety measures can be taken if present. Alternatively or additionally, the transfer channels can be monitored by means of the sensor unit. This can, for example, determine existing or impending blockages of organic material. In this case, visual and / or audible cues can be provided to the operator, for example. The sensor unit is coupled, for example, to the control mechanism of the composting equipment, so that when organic material is systematically transported from the starting chamber to the subsequent chamber and the sensor unit responds, a blockage is not considered to have occurred.
[0041] The sensor unit is, for example, a grating or includes a grating. Attached Figure Description
[0042] The following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided to further illustrate the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 A perspective view of the composting apparatus of the present invention in a preferred embodiment is shown; Figure 2 Showing the corresponding Figure 1 The view shows the housing sidewalls and covering elements of the composting equipment, which are hidden. Figure 3 Showing according to Figure 1 A schematic diagram of composting equipment; Figure 4 Showing according to Figure 2 An enlarged partial perspective view of a composting device, which has a closing element that switches to the release position; Figure 5 A longitudinal sectional view of the composting equipment is shown; and Figure 6 Shown in Figure 5 A magnified view of detail A in the image. Detailed Implementation
[0043] The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the composting apparatus of the present invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 100. The composting apparatus 100 is... Figures 1 to 3 The composting device 100 is shown on a horizontally oriented mounting surface 102. It is used, for example, in a private home or office, to convert organic waste into compostable material. For this purpose, the functional configuration of the composting device 100 is briefly described below. For further elaboration, refer to DE 10 2020 123 246 A1 from the same applicant, provided there is no difference between this invention and the disclosure of that patent application.
[0044] The composting equipment 100 includes a housing 104 having an upper housing portion 106 and a base-like lower housing portion 108. The housing 104, particularly the housing portion 106, includes an upper housing wall 110, a front housing wall 112, a rear housing wall 114, and side housing walls 116. Figure 2 and Figure 4 In the middle, one of the shell walls 116 is concealed. The lower part 108 of the shell houses the extraction container 118 and the condensate container 120.
[0045] The material to be composted is fed by the user through the feeding shaft 122 at the top 124 of the composting equipment and enters the drying chamber 126. Here, the drying chamber 126 is the starting chamber 128 in the sense of this invention. The organic material is dried in the drying chamber 126 by means of a heating device 130. Tools 132, which can be driven by a drive unit 134, are arranged in the drying chamber 126 to mix and crush the organic material.
[0046] Here, tool 132 also acts as a conveyor unit 136 to transport the dried and pulverized material to and through the discharge opening 138 of the drying chamber 126.
[0047] An outlet opening 138 is formed in the end wall 140 of the drying chamber 126. The drying chamber 126 is arranged axially in the housing 104 with a horizontal orientation.
[0048] In this example, a composting chamber 142 is arranged below the drying chamber 126, which is a subsequent chamber 144 in the sense of the present invention. The composting chamber 142 is also arranged axially in a horizontal orientation within the housing 104.
[0049] An inlet opening 148 is formed in the upper wall 146 of the composting chamber 142.
[0050] The composting equipment 100 includes a transfer channel 150, which is designed as a shaft 152. The transfer channel 150 extends vertically from the drying chamber 126 to the composting chamber 142 in the height direction 154, in particular vertically.
[0051] For example from Figure 2 and Figure 5 As seen in the diagram, the transfer channel 150 is constructed separately from the drying chamber 126 and the composting chamber 142. Components 150, 126, and 142 each include separate walls made of, for example, plastic material. The transfer channel 150 is connected to the discharge opening 138. A sealing element 156, such as a sealing ring, is arranged between the drying chamber 126 and the transfer channel 150.
[0052] Accordingly, the transfer channel 150 is connected to the composting chamber 142 at the inlet opening 148. A sealing element, not shown in the drawings, seals the transfer channel 150 and the composting chamber 142.
[0053] Organic material can fall into composting chamber 142 under gravity through transfer channel 150 after passing through discharge opening 138. In composting chamber 142, the material is heated by means of heating device 158. In addition, the material is mixed and crushed by means of tool 160, which can be driven by drive unit 162.
[0054] After the composting process, the material can be transported to the discharge channel 164 by means of tool 160, through which the compost material enters the extraction container 118.
[0055] During the composting process, the material to be composted can be moistened. Moistened air generated during drying and composting, as well as process gases, can be drawn out by suction device 166, which applies negative pressure to flow device 168. Reference numerals 170, 172, and 174 indicate a condenser, condensate line, and filter element.
[0056] The composting equipment 100 includes a control device 176 for controlling and / or regulating operation. For example, it is specified to monitor the state of the organic material in the drying chamber 126, such as its humidity, its temperature, and / or its degree of pulverization. A tool 132 is driven according to the appropriate properties of the material to function as a conveyor unit 136 and to transport the material to and through the discharge opening 138.
[0057] During the normal operation of the composting equipment 100, materials enter the composting chamber 142 as described above. It is still possible that the transfer channel 150 may become clogged and blocked by organic material.
[0058] For maintenance purposes, the composting equipment 100 includes a maintenance passage 178 through which a user can access the transfer passage 150 to eliminate potential blockages. Additionally, preventative cleaning of the transfer passage 150 can be performed, for example.
[0059] Maintenance channel 178 enters transfer channel 150 via inlet opening 180. Here, maintenance channel 178 is positioned above transfer channel 150. Inlet opening 180 is positioned above outlet opening 138. The inlet opening 180 of maintenance channel 178 coincides with the inlet opening 182 of transfer channel 150, which is formed by the upper section 184 of transfer channel 150, wherein the upper section 184 extends from outlet opening 138 toward the upper wall 110 of the housing. Figure 5 ).
[0060] Here, the transfer channel 150 and the maintenance channel 178 are formed by separate components 186 and 188 of the composting equipment 100. In different types of embodiments, it may be specified that there are common components that include or form not only the transfer channel 150 but also the maintenance channel 178.
[0061] Here, component 186 is a tube having an inlet opening 182 on its upper side, extending laterally into the drying chamber 126 via an outlet opening 138, and extending into the composting chamber 142 on the side opposite to the inlet opening 182 via an inlet opening 148.
[0062] In this embodiment, component 188 is a structural component of the composting equipment, which forms an additional housing for the functional components of the composting equipment 100.
[0063] For example, by Figure 2 as well as Figures 4 to 6 As can be seen, component 188 forms a receiving member 190 for funnel element 192. Funnel element 192 can be positioned in a removable manner at receiving member 190 and forms a feeding channel 122 having an upper feeding opening 194 for feeding organic materials.
[0064] Furthermore, component 188 forms a housing 196, which is capable of accommodating condenser 170 and filter element 174. Figures 2 to 4 ).
[0065] For example, by Figure 5 and Figure 6 It can also be seen that maintenance channel 178 utilizes lower section 198 to cross over transfer channel 150 at upper section 184. Sealing element 200 in the form of sealing ring 210 is arranged between channel 150 and 178.
[0066] The maintenance passage has a maintenance opening 202 on the inlet side. Here, the maintenance opening 202 is located on the upper wall 110 of the housing and is directly adjacent to the housing opening 204 formed in the housing wall 110. Here, the housing wall 110 and the maintenance passage 178 (via component 188) are separate components. It is conceivable that the maintenance passage 178 is formed by a common component having the upper wall 110 of the housing.
[0067] A sealing element 208 is arranged between the annular protrusion 206 extending from the housing wall 110 toward the maintenance channel 178 and the maintenance channel 178. The sealing element 208 is a sealing ring 210, which is inserted into the maintenance channel 178 and forms a surrounding sealing lip 212 inside the maintenance channel 178.
[0068] With the housing opening 204 open, the user can typically use a tool, such as a push rod, to pass through the housing opening 204 and maintenance opening 202, through the maintenance channel 178, into the transfer channel 150, and eliminate any potential accumulation of organic material. Thus, the composting equipment 100 has user-friendly maintenance features. In particular, it eliminates the need to open the housing 104 and disassemble the transfer channel 150 for cleaning.
[0069] The maintenance channel 178 extends from the maintenance opening 202 to the access opening 180 and has a gradually narrowing portion. The cross-sectional area of the maintenance channel 178 is minimized at the access opening 180. Here, the maintenance channel 178 is sized such that, for example, a user's finger cannot be inserted into the transfer channel 150. The cross-sectional area at the narrowest point is, for example, approximately 3 cm². 2 Up to 6 cm 2 .
[0070] Furthermore, maintaining the maintenance access 178 at a minimum length is beneficial for improving operational safety. The minimum length is, for example, approximately 10 to 15 cm.
[0071] To further enhance operational safety, the composting equipment 100 includes a closing element 214 in the form of a flap or cover 216. The cover 216 can be in a sealed position. In the sealed position, the cover 216 closes the housing opening 204 and the maintenance opening 202. Figure 6 Here, the cover 216 engages with the sealing lip 212 of the sealing element 208. This seals the maintenance passage 178 so as to prevent the escape of gases and unpleasant odors.
[0072] Cover 216 can be switched to the release position ( Figure 4 and Figure 5 The removal and installation of cover 216 can be done manually and without tools, conveniently for the user. For example, according to... Figure 4 As can be seen, the cover 216 can be connected to the upper wall 110 of the housing via a plug-in rotatable connection. To remove it, first rotate the cover 216 and then lift it up. The installation of the cover 216 is carried out in the reverse manner.
[0073] Especially according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen, the composting equipment 100 has a covering element 218 on its upper side 124. The covering element 218 can be in the covered position ( Figure 1 In the covered position, the covering element 218 covers the feeding opening 194 and the feeding channel 122 is closed.
[0074] To release the feeding opening 194, the cover element 218 is shifted to the feeding position by pushing. Figure 1 The dashed line 220 in the figure represents the outline of the cover element 218 in the insertion position. The user can put organic materials into the feeding channel 122.
[0075] Cover element 218 covers cover 216 not only in the covered position but also in the inserted position, thus preventing direct access to the cover. To achieve this, it is necessary to first remove cover element 218 from housing 104. Subsequently, another cover element 221, which is positioned on the upper side of housing wall 110 and covers cover 216, is removed. Housing wall 110 is then exposed, and the user can grasp cover 216 to open maintenance access 178. Figure 2 and Figure 4 ).
[0076] The composting equipment 100 may have at least one sensor element 222. Here, two sensor elements 222 are provided, coupled to the control device 176. The sensor elements 222 are arranged at the edge of the feeding channel 122. The sensor elements 222 are used to check for the absence (or presence) of the covering element 218. If the covering element 218 is in the covered position, its presence can be detected by both sensor elements 222. If the covering element 218 is in the filled position, at least one sensor element 222 detects its presence.
[0077] If the cover element 218 is removed from the housing 104, no sensor element 222 detects its presence, which is interpreted as the absence of the cover element 218. In this case, the control device 176 deactivates the composting equipment 100, particularly the drive units 134 and / or 162 for tools 132 or 160.
[0078] In one embodiment, the funnel element 192 may be removed to allow the covering element 221 to be removed. A sensor element may be provided to detect the absence. In this case, the control device 176 may, for example, deactivate the composting equipment 100, particularly the drive units 134 and / or 162 for tools 132 or 160.
[0079] As an alternative or supplement to the foregoing, composting equipment 100 may include at least one sensor element 224. Figure 6 This allows for monitoring whether the shut-off element 214 is in the blocked or released position. If the shut-off element 214 is switched to the released position, to improve operational safety, the signal from sensor element 224 can be used, for example, to shut down composting equipment 100, particularly drive units 134 and / or 162, as described above.
[0080] Sensor element 222 and / or sensor element 224 are, for example, Hall sensors.
[0081] Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the composting device 100 includes at least one sensor unit 226. Figure 6 This sensor unit 226 can detect objects in maintenance channel 178 and / or transfer channel 150. Here, the sensor unit is located in maintenance channel 178. Depending on the signal from sensor unit 226, for example due to the introduction of foreign objects into maintenance channel 178, composting equipment 100, especially drive units 134 and / or 162, can be shut down. Here, sensor unit 226 is a grating or includes a grating.
[0082] Alternatively or additionally, one could conceive of monitoring the transfer channel 150 using a sensor unit, as previously described.
[0083] List of reference numerals
[0084] 100 composting equipment
[0085] 102 Placement surface
[0086] 104 Casing
[0087] 106 Upper part of the shell
[0088] 108 Lower part of the shell
[0089] 110 Upper wall of the shell
[0090] 112 Front wall of the shell
[0091] 114 Rear wall of the shell
[0092] 116 Shell sidewall
[0093] 118 Extraction Container
[0094] 120 Condensate Container
[0095] 122 Feeding shaft
[0096] 124 upper side
[0097] 126 Drying Chamber
[0098] 128 Starting Room
[0099] 130, 158 heating devices
[0100] Tools 132 and 160
[0101] 134, 162 drive units
[0102] 136 transport units
[0103] 138 Send out the opening
[0104] 140 end wall
[0105] 142 Composting Chamber
[0106] 144 Follow-up Room
[0107] 146 upper wall
[0108] 148. Insert into opening.
[0109] 150 forwarding channel
[0110] 152 shaft
[0111] 154 Altitude Direction
[0112] 156, 200, 208 sealing elements
[0113] 164 Discharge Channel
[0114] 166 Suction Device
[0115] 168. Flowing device
[0116] 170 condenser
[0117] 172 Condensate Circuit
[0118] 174 Filter element
[0119] 176 Control device
[0120] 178 Maintenance Channel
[0121] 180° inlet opening
[0122] 182 Enter the opening
[0123] 184 Upper Section
[0124] 186 parts
[0125] 188 parts
[0126] 190 housing components
[0127] 192 Funnel element
[0128] 194 Feeding opening
[0129] 196 housing components
[0130] 198 Lower Section
[0131] 202 Maintenance opening
[0132] 204 Casing opening
[0133] 206 Protrusions
[0134] 210 Sealing Ring
[0135] 212 Sealing Lip
[0136] 214 Shut-off Component
[0137] 216 covers
[0138] 218 Covering element
[0139] 220 dashed line
[0140] 221 Covering element
[0141] 222 Sensor Components
[0142] 224 sensor elements
[0143] 226 sensor units
Claims
1. A composting device (100), the composting device comprising: An initiation chamber (128) having an outlet opening (138). A subsequent chamber (144) having an inlet opening (148), and A transfer channel (150) extends into the starting chamber (128) via the discharge opening (138) and into the subsequent chamber (144) via the inlet opening (148), wherein organic material can be transported from the starting chamber (128) through the transfer channel (150) to the subsequent chamber (144). Its features are, The composting equipment (100) includes a maintenance channel (178) that leads into the transfer channel (150) at an access opening (180), and the composting equipment includes a maintenance opening (202) through which a user can access the transfer channel (150) via the maintenance channel (178).
2. The composting equipment (100) according to claim 1. Its features are, One of the following applies: - The starting chamber (128) is a drying chamber (126) in which the supplied organic material is dried by means of heating devices (130, 158) arranged in the drying chamber (126), and the subsequent chamber (144) is a composting chamber (142) in which the organic material is converted into compost material; - The starting chamber (128) is a composting chamber (142) in which organic materials are converted into compost materials, and the subsequent chamber (144) is an extraction container (118) for the compost materials.
3. The composting equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2. Its features are, At least one of the following applies: - The transfer channel (150) is designed as a shaft (152) oriented particularly vertically in the height direction (154). - The composting equipment (100) includes a conveyor unit (136) at or in the starting chamber (128) for transporting organic materials to or through the discharge opening (138).
4. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The delivery opening (138) is formed in the end wall (140) of the starting chamber (128), and / or the inlet opening (148) is formed in the upper wall (146) of the subsequent chamber (144) or on the upper side of the wall portion of the subsequent chamber.
5. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The wall of the transfer channel (150) is formed separately from the wall of the starting chamber (128), wherein the transfer channel (150) is connected to the starting chamber (128), and / or the wall of the transfer channel (150) is formed separately from the wall of the subsequent chamber (144), wherein the transfer channel (150) is connected to the subsequent chamber (144).
6. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The inlet opening (180) is arranged above the outlet opening (138).
7. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The transfer channel (150) and the maintenance channel (178) are formed by the same components (186, 188) of the composting equipment (100).
8. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Its features are, The transfer channel (150) and the maintenance channel (178) are formed by different interconnected components (186, 188) of the composting equipment (100), and in particular, the transfer channel (150) is inserted into the maintenance channel (178).
9. The composting equipment (100) according to claim 8. Its features are, At the access opening (180), sealing elements (156, 200, 208) are arranged between the transfer channel (150) and the maintenance channel (178), which are sealed to each other by the sealing elements.
10. The composting apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The components (186, 188) of the composting equipment (100) that include or constitute the maintenance channel (178) and / or the transfer channel (150) are load-bearing structural components that constitute at least one housing (190, 196) for at least one additional component of the composting equipment (100).
11. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The maintenance channel (178) has a tapering portion from the maintenance opening (202) to the access opening (180), and / or the maintenance channel (178) has its minimum cross-sectional area at or near the access opening (180).
12. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The composting equipment (100) includes a housing (104), and the maintenance opening (202) is arranged or formed in or at the housing wall (110, 112, 114, 116) of the housing (104).
13. The composting equipment (100) according to claim 12. Its features are, The shell walls (110, 112, 114, 116) are the upper shell wall (110) of the shell (104).
14. The composting equipment (100) according to claim 12 or 13. Its features are, A housing opening (204) aligned with the maintenance opening (202) is arranged or formed in the housing wall (110, 112, 114, 116).
15. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The composting equipment (100) includes a shut-off element (214) which can close the maintenance opening (202) and / or the housing opening (204) in a sealed position, and the shut-off element can be switched to a release position for releasing the maintenance opening (202) and / or the housing opening (204).
16. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The composting equipment (100) includes a sensor element (224) for monitoring whether the shut-off element (214) is in the blocked position or in the released position.
17. The composting equipment (100) according to claim 15 or 16. Its features are, A sealing element (156, 200, 208) is arranged at the maintenance opening (202) and / or at the housing opening (204) to seal between the maintenance opening (202) and the closing element (214) and / or between the housing opening (204) and the closing element (214).
18. The composting apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 15 to 17. Its features are, The shut-off element (214) can be operated manually and / or without tools.
19. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of claims 15 to 18. Its features are, The composting equipment (100), particularly on the upper side (124), includes a filling well for filling organic material and a covering element (218), the covering element covering the filling well in a covered position and releasing the filling well in a filling position, preferably, the covering element (218) covering the closing element (214) particularly in the covered position and in the filling position.
20. The composting equipment (100) according to claim 19. Its features are, The covering element (218) can be removed from the composting equipment (100), and the composting equipment (100) includes at least one sensor element (222) which can detect the absence of the covering element (218), wherein, in the event of the absence of the covering element (218), the tools (132, 160) for processing the organic materials in the starting chamber (128) and / or the subsequent chamber (144) are set to be inactive or deactivated.
21. The composting equipment (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The composting equipment (100) includes at least one sensor unit (226) which can detect the presence of objects in the maintenance channel (178) and / or the transfer channel (150).