Portable Shredding Device for Accelerated Carcass Decomposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disposing of deceased animals in livestock or poultry operations, such as burial, burning, or hiring a rendering company, are inefficient, costly, or impractical, particularly in terms of accelerating decomposition or incineration, and there is a need for a more effective and portable solution.
Innovation Solution
A portable shredding device comprising a bucket attached to a skid steer, wheel loader, or tractor with a rotor and shredder blades that reduces deceased animals to smaller pieces, accelerating decomposition, bio digesting, or incineration, featuring a robust design with structural ribs and rotor sleeves to withstand operational forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a whole carcass is used for decomposition, then the natural decomposition process occurs, but it is time consuming and may attract undesirable scavengers
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the carcass into smaller particles by rotating a drum with cutting elements that mechanically break down the tissue. This segmentation increases the surface area exposed to decomposers and accelerates the decomposition process while preventing scavenger attraction by containing the process within the drum.
2Productivity
If burning or incineration is used to dispose of carcasses, then rapid disposal is achieved, but it is fuel intensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the physical parameters of the carcass by reducing it to small particles, which fundamentally alters the decomposition kinetics. This particle size reduction allows biological decomposition to proceed rapidly at ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for fuel-intensive incineration while maintaining rapid disposal speeds.
3Ease of operation
If burial is used for carcass disposal, then it is a simple method, but it requires significant space and is impractical during winter conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs the complete disposal function in one location by mechanically reducing the carcass within the drum. The processed material can be discharged directly onto compost piles or designated areas, eliminating the need for separate burial operations and reducing space requirements while maintaining operational simplicity.
4Reliability
If a rendering company is hired to remove carcasses, then professional disposal is ensured, but it is expensive and services are not available in some areas
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple functions into one unit: it collects, shreds, and processes carcasses of various sizes and types. This universal design allows any farm or facility to dispose of animal remains regardless of location, eliminating dependence on external rendering services while maintaining reliable and quality disposal.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for accelerating decomposition of a deceased animal. A bucket comprising a cavity is mounted to a vehicle. A coupler comprising a first end configured to engage the rotor bar and a second end configured to engage a moving element of the vehicle. A rotor is rotatably mounted within the cavity of the bucket, where the rotor comprises a rotor bar having a length and a plurality of shredder blades mounted along the length of the rotor bar. A coupler connects the device to the vehicle, and comprises a first end configured to engage the rotor bar and a second end configured to engage a moving element of the vehicle. The plurality of shredder blades may be staggered across the length of the rotor bar.