Refuse Conditioning Patents (Class 71/901)
  • Patent number: 11819893
    Abstract: Methods and systems including processing dredge spoils to reclaim soil therefrom. The techniques may include a feed system for receiving dredge spoils, a dewatering system for removing water from the dredge spoils, and a grinder/mixer for grinding the dredge spoils from the dewatering system while mixing the dredge spoils with one or more additional materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Dredge Spoils Reclamation, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick D. Wade
  • Patent number: 7762713
    Abstract: The present invention provides a food waste disposal system including a housing with a food waste introduction opening and a door receiving depression, the door for covering the food waste introduction opening, a prefabricated mixing basin disposed inside the housing and composed of a box-shaped upper body, a hemispherical lower body, and a rotational shaft axially installed on a horizontal central line of the prefabricated mixing basin, a plurality of prefabricated mixing wings engaged with the rotational shaft for cutting food waste into small pieces and agitating the food waste in the prefabricated mixing basin, a geared driving motor for driving the rotational shaft, in which a touch screen panel installed on an upper surface of the housing and a personal computer incorporate PLC Ethernet cards respectively therein so as to allow the food waste disposal system to be controlled from a distance using the computer, which is networked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Chun Il Koh
  • Patent number: 7735437
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cooling apparatus comprising a cooling chamber, primary distribution tube, cooling fan, and transfer fan; the cooling chamber is mounted on the side of a tractor; the cooling fan is installed in the rear end of the cooling chamber; the cooling chamber comprises a plurality of longitudinal apertures through which ambient air travels and a plurality of baffle chambers through which exhaust gas travels; the exhaust gas never mixes with the ambient air in the cooling chamber; the exhaust gas travels through the exit port of the cooling chamber into a primary distribution tube that carries the exhaust gas to a transfer fan; the transfer fan blows the exhaust gas into a plurality of secondary distribution tubes that transport the exhaust gas to a plurality of manifolds; and the exhaust gas travels from the manifolds through a plurality of tertiary distribution tubes and into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventors: Gary Pollington, Ed Goodian, Arron Goodian, Keith Richardson
  • Patent number: 6582836
    Abstract: A calcium salt protective coating formed in situ by combining fatty acids with lime, also the associated method of forming the protective coating in situ. The fatty acids are preferably vegetable fatty acids such as from soapstock byproduct skimmings produced during the manufacture of vegetable oil. Experimental testing has shown that the protective coating is substantially impervious to moisture. The protective coating is a suitable covering for hay bales, silage, coal piles, and road salt piles. Further experimental testing has shown that the present invention is also suited to environmental soil bioremediation (“landfarming”) using microbes, in which the fatty acid ingredient, in addition to being used in formation of a protective coating that inhibits introduction of oxygen into the soil being treated, is also used as a carbon source for the microbial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Valley Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Wood, Michael L. Austin
  • Patent number: 6569342
    Abstract: A method is providing for treating waters, such as standing and flowing waters and waste waters, soils, sediments and/or silts. At least one alkaline earth metal peroxide is brought into contact with such waters or the like, especially to effect immobilization of phosphates and heavy metals except manganese and iron therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Willuweit, Stefan Nowicki, Kai-Uwe Ulrich, Gerald Jakobson
  • Patent number: 6413017
    Abstract: A mixture of hydrocarbons with particulate rock and/or soil that is incapable of sustaining growth of erosion retarding plants can be converted to soil that is capable of sustaining such plant growth by blending the mixture with particulate biomass, and/or with particulate carbonates, hydroxides, and/or oxides of calcium and/or magnesium to produce a compostable aggregate and then exposing suitable piles of the compostable aggregate to the natural atmosphere for a sufficient time to cause the conversion of the aggregate to fertile soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Scott, Billy R. Scott, Lloyd E. Deuel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6280495
    Abstract: A homogeneous calcium/magnesium peroxide, its manufacture and use are described. The new calcium/magnesium peroxide is suitable in particular as an additive used as source of oxygen and acid buffer, e.g. in the application, processing, treatment and/or disposal of various biomaterials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Solvay Interox GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Doetsch, Otto Caspar
  • Patent number: 6273927
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing the fertilizer made from organic wastes such as food wastes, human excrements, animal excrements, slaugterhouse waste, henhouse waste, fish and shellfish wastes, vegetable wastes and agricultural wastes. Various wastes are mixed and crushed into certain sizes, processes for adjusting the water content, put into the treating tank and digested by mixing a calcined lime. The present invention utilizes a dolomite or mixture of calcined lime and dolomite to provide the first treatment material. This first treatment material is mixed with the supplement material such as charcoal, saw dust, loess, zoelite, chaff, or shell powder to give compost fertilizer. It is also mixed with agricultural products such a watermelons or melons which ferment to provide a special fertilizer for the agricultural product. The treatment material can be added to water and mixed with mugwort, medicinal herb, zeolite, loess, and then extracted to provide a liquid fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Dae Youn Yang
  • Patent number: 6056800
    Abstract: A method for composting organic waste materials utilizing aerobic and anaerobic decomposition processes simultaneously is disclosed. The method of the present invention is carried out by forming a compost pile of organic waste material which will decompose aerobically by microbes indigenous to the waste material. A cavity of predetermined size is formed within the compost heap and filled with alternating layers of organic waste material which will decompose anaerobically followed by a layer of waste material which will decompose aerobically until the cavity is filled. The parameters of the decomposition processes including temperature, water content, aeration, and moisture percolation are monitored to ensure that adequate conditions are met for both decomposition processes to proceed simultaneously. After a predetermined time interval has passed, the organic waste materials deposited within the central cavity of the compost heap are harvested to obtain a nutrient rich, soil additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: William J. Carter, IV
  • Patent number: 5707417
    Abstract: Garbage resulting from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food and containing water-insoluble organic components is treated first heated in the presence of water at a temperature of 100.degree.-400.degree. C. and a pressure higher than the saturated water vapor pressure to convert at least part of the water-insoluble components into water-soluble organic components and to obtain a mixture containing the water-soluble components dissolved in the water. The mixture is then subjected to methane fermentation to convert the water-soluble organic components into methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Director-General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Shinya Yokoyama, Tomoko Ogi, Shigeki Sawayama, Tomoaki Minowa, Seiichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5700109
    Abstract: There is described a travelling multi-functional disposal simulation instation for simulating the long-term behaviour of materials for disposal containing organic components. These can comprise disposable house refuse and similar wastes, but also contaminated soils. Simulation serves for recultivation, composing and similar soil investigations. The installation constructed for this purpose comprises a double-walled heatable container, a lower, inner base plate with a slight inclination to the horizontal and with at least one outlet opening at its lowermost point, a horizontal base plate disposed immediately above the said first base plate, and forming the support base for the fill material, and which is in the form of a screen base, two different lid formations extending in a gas-tight manner over the clear width of the container and being vertically adjustable along the inner wall, and a travelling undercarriage receiving the entire container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Kerstin Hund, Werner Klein, Werner Kordel, Theo Gortz, Norbert Schwarzer
  • Patent number: 5681738
    Abstract: Provided is a method for the use of 10-oxo-trans-8-decenoic acid (ODA) as a fungal growth hormone to stimulate mycelial growth of cultivated mushrooms. A species of cultivated mushroom is selected and grown in a solid or liquid growth medium which has been supplemented with ODA to a concentration of 10.sup.-7 M to about 10.sup.-4 M. After culturing the mushroom the mycelium of cultivated mushroom is harvested. In addition to a method of using ODA, a method for the hormonal stimulation of fruiting in cultivated mushrooms is also disclosed. The ODA in this method is added to the casing layer of the compost which is mixed with mushroom spawn. Further, the ODA is added to the casing layer in aqueous solution after casing the compost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert B. Beelman, Gregory R. Ziegler, Jeng-Leun Mau
  • Patent number: 5646157
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of disposing obsolete planting seed treated with seed-protectant coatings, especially coatings comprising captan or any of the other widely used compounds such as, for example, pirimiphos-methyl and thiram, alone or in combination with other fungicidally or even insecticidally active compounds, which process comprises subjecting the said plant seed to a compostation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Novartis Corporation
    Inventor: Kaspar J. Hohl
  • Patent number: 5636940
    Abstract: Gas and/or liquid exchange between a first area within a bulk material pile and a second area outside the bulk material pile is enabled by creating a substantially horizontal cavity during the formation of the bulk material pile, and establishing a conduit between the cavity and the area outside the bulk material pile during the formation of the bulk material pile. Where the bulk material pile is a solid waste pile, the cavity may be created using a substantially horizontal, elongated leaching chamber, and the conduit may be created with a system of pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Landfill Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5609668
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for absorbing and decontaminating an organic chemical spill comprising the steps of: partially composting plant material; mixing approximately 80% of the partially composted plant material with approximately 20% of dry plant material; inoculating the mixture with about 50 to 100 parts per million by weight of an organic chemical to form an absorbent; mixing the absorbent with about 20% to 40% by volume of spilled organic chemical; adding water; and allowing the mixture to incubate for a suitable time at ambient temperature until the organic chemical spill is neutralized. The plant material may be cotton gin trash or alfalfa hay; or cotton, legumes, alfalfa, tomatoes or their mixtures. The mixture of absorbent and spilled organic chemical may allowed to incubate in a perforated drum with a lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventor: Paul E. Gill
  • Patent number: 5556445
    Abstract: A method for treating solid municipal waste material including placing solid municipal waste in a rotating chamber having an interior at ambient pressure, heating the waste at ambient pressure, and controlling the moisture content of the waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Mark K. Quinn
    Inventors: Mark K. Quinn, Bruce E. Unangst
  • Patent number: 5525139
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved bioremediation process comprising the steps of: (a) inoculating cotton gin trash or an equivalent plant material with soil from a contaminated site; (b) composting the inoculated cotton gin trash; (c) mixing the contaminated soil at a ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:5 by volume with the composted, inoculated cotton gin trash and certain chemical accelerators; and (d) allowing the mixture to incubate for a suitable time at ambient temperature until the contaminated soil is cleansed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Paul E. Gill
  • Patent number: 5522913
    Abstract: An apparatus for transforming an input garbage mixture into separate fermented and non-fermented output products has a fermentation stage for depositing an input garbage mixture into non-compacted swathes to allow fermentation of the fermentable, organic waste materials therein, an input stage for loading the garbage mixture, and at least one grinder/separator stage having a grinder for grinding the garbage mixture into smaller particles and a separator with a screen of a selected mesh size for separating ground waste particles up to the selected mesh size as a fermented output product, and conveying the remainder of the particles to a reject output as a non-fermented output product. Fermentation of the input garbage mixture allows for organic maturation of the fermentable, organic waste materials in the mixture, as well as softening and rendering the fermented materials more susceptible to being broken up into small particles in the grinder/separator stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignees: Tucker Hughes, Inc., SEURATEC, S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Guy Peguy
  • Patent number: 5482528
    Abstract: Solid waste such as sewage sludge containing fecal matter is processed to reduce pathogens by at least 90% and converted to a useful product such as an amendment to agricultural land by combining the waste with an acid such as concentrated sulfuric and a base such as fly ash which exothermically react and thermally pasteurize the waste and add mineral value to the product. Pozzolanic materials, such as fly ash agglomerate the product and after grinding, the particles can aerate soil. The calcium oxide in fly ash reacts with sulfuric acid to form calcium sulfate dihydrate, a soil amendment. The amount of sulfuric acid can be controlled to provide a product with acid pH which is useful to neutralize alkaline soils such as those found in the Western United States of America.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Hondo Chemical, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Angell, Jess Karr
  • Patent number: 5443613
    Abstract: A high analysis suspension fertilizer containing predetermined amounts of nitrogen and other inorganic plant nutrients is produced from a low plant nutrient-containing organic material, such as animal manure or sewage sludge, by first preparing an aqueous initial suspension of the organic material by admixing with a sufficient amount of water for the organic material to be uniformly dispersed throughout the initial suspension and admixing with the initial suspension a sufficient amount of an acid, such as sulfuric acid, for reacting with the organic material and transforming it into colloidal form, the weight ratio of the acid to the total weight of the organic material in the initial suspension being within the range of about 0.2 to about 2 and the weight ratio of the acid to the total dry weight of the organic material being within the range of about 0.5 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Elmo C. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5441552
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for composting solid waste and sludge into a usable state. The method consists of thoroughly mixing a predetermined amount of compostable solid waste and sludge for placement within a stackable modular container system. Each container having a predetermined controlled mixture depth of approximately 12 inches for composting in a fourteen day period. Upon removal of the composted material from the containers, the material is screened and packaged for distribution, or shredded then screened and packaged, the remainder of which is returned for repeat of the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Inventor: Joseph DeLillo
  • Patent number: 5422015
    Abstract: Solid waste such as sewage sludge containing fecal matter is processed to reduce pathogens by at least 90% and converted to a useful product such as an amendment to agricultural land by combining the waste with an acid such as concentrated sulfuric and a base such as fly ash which exothermically react and thermally pasteurize the waste and add mineral value to the product. Pozzolanic materials, such as fly ash agglomerate the product and after grinding, the particles can aerate soil. The calcium oxide in fly ash reacts with sulfuric acid to form calcium sulfate dihydrate, a soil amendment. The amount of sulfuric acid can be controlled to provide a product with acid pH which is useful to neutralize alkaline soils such as those found in the Western United States of America.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Hondo Chemical, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Angell, Jess Karr
  • Patent number: 5401291
    Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing organic fertilizers by fermentation of a mixture of livestock excreement with cellulose containing organic materials, said mixture containing thermophilic and aerobic microorganisms, which method comprises adjusting moisture content of said mixture to 25-75 wt %, cutting and kneading said mixture until the temperature thereof goes up to 40.degree. C.-90.degree. C. by the elevated pressure and friction caused by said cutting and kneading, thereby causing thermophilic organisms to be activated, followed by pulverizing the thus-treated mixture while contacting it with air, thereby causing the aerobic organisms to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Satoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5395417
    Abstract: A mobile machine and process are provided for milling, mixing, wetting and re-forming an initial windrow of vertically layered ingredients used in the pre-wet cycle for producing mushroom compost. In performing these actions, an assembly of toothed drums, rotating in the same direction and arranged along an upwardly and forwardly projecting inclined plane, progressively mills the windrow across its cross-section longitudinally and propels the milled material upwardly and rearwardly so that it drops and mixes to form a vertically blended, transverse product. The product is preferably cross-mixed by auguring it transversely and depositing it at a transfer point, from whence it is elevated and delivered by a conveyor belt, to form a new windrow parallel or collinear with the initial windrow. Water is sprayed on the ingredients in the course of propelling auguring and elevating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Double T Equipment Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5393317
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making organic based fertilizer, the method including mixing organic material with phosphate, potash, or other inorganics and water if necessary. Acid is mixed with the organic and inorganic material mixture and the resulting mixture is permitted to cure for a sufficient period of time to allow the acid to chemically break down the material of the mixture. A first quantity of ammonia is then added to the mixture, and a second quantity of ammonia is added to the mixture to produce the finished fertilizer product. Quantities of the various ingredients are adjusted to provide a fertilizer that has a desired percentage make-up of the major fertilizer elements for a specific crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Reland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Elmo C. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5356452
    Abstract: The present invention provides for reusable waste recovery. The method of the present invention is to provide one or more cells. A substantially impermeable liner is positioned into the one or more cells. An impermeable domed structure is erected over the cell. Waste material and cover soil is added to the cells. The waste material and cover soil is added to the cells such that when each of the cells are filled, the ratio of waste material to cover soil is from about 1:5 to about 10:1. The cells, including the waste material and cover soil, are covered with a substantially impermeable cover after which the impermeable domed structure is moved to another cell. The decomposition of the waste is controlled and monitored in the cells. After a period of time, the material within the one or more cells is recovered and recycled. The cell can then be reused for further waste disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Robert E. Fahey
  • Patent number: 5322792
    Abstract: An apparatus for transforming an input garbage mixture into separate fermented and non-fermented output products has a fermentation stage for depositing an input garbage mixture into non-compacted swathes to allow fermentation of the fermentable, organic waste materials therein, an input stage for loading the garbage mixture, and at least one grinder/separator stage having a grinder for grinding the garbage mixture into smaller particles and a separator with a screen of a selected mesh size for separating ground waste particles up to the selected mesh size as a fermented output product, and conveying the remainder of the particles to a reject output as a non-fermented output product. Fermentation of the input garbage mixture allows for organic maturation of the fermentable, organic waste materials in the mixture, as well as softening and rendering the fermented materials more susceptible to being broken up into small particles in the grinder/separator stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignees: Tucker Hughes, Inc., Seuratec, S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Guy Peguy
  • Patent number: 5250100
    Abstract: A solid waste recovery system processes solid wastes which would otherwise be sent to a landfill by utilizing several stages of systematically separating and processing various components of the refuse. Refuse is trucked in and dumped on a tipping floor of the recovery facility and separated into non-compostables, recyclables, and compostable materials. The non-compostables are further separated into recyclable inorganics which are recaptured as resalable items and into non-compostable organics which are further separated into hospital and clinical wastes to be incinerated or disposed of as hazardous waste, and into petroleum products to be incinerated, sent to a landfill or disposed of as hazardous waste, or recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: World Life Resource, Inc.
    Inventor: Donnie L. Armbristor
  • Patent number: 5135664
    Abstract: A method for treating wastewater sludge which comprises the steps of further treating the sludges after they have been mixed with alkaline materials and are still in a wet condition with carbon dioxide containing gases wherein the carbon dioxide is a significant constituent for a time sufficient to reduce the pH below 10 and to prevent the emission of the ammonia nitrogen. Preferably heat is added to the mixture to accelerate the reaction and facilitate drying. The product is useful as an agricultural product. In a preferred process, the amount of alkaline materials being sufficient to raise the pH of the mixture to 12 or above and to heat the mixture by an exothermic reaction to a range of about 52.degree. C. to about 62.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: N-Viro Energy Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Burnham
  • Patent number: 5118005
    Abstract: A garbage disposing device having a collapsible cylindrical main body having an upper end face inclined at such an angle as to be capable of flowing water droplets downward. A flat box-shaped member partitions the inside of the main body into a plurality of vertical chambers. The top end of the member protrudes above the main body. The member has a plurality of perforations in a wall surface thereof. An opening/closing lid is hingedly connected to the upper side of the main body and is attached thereto along the downward slope of the upper end face. Water evaporated from garbage is discharged to the outside through the perforations of the flat box-shaped member. Water which condenses on the inner surface of the opening/closing lid can be introduced along the inclined surface of the lid and then collected into a water receiving port or into grooves of a board core formed in the main body. A plurality of partitioned chambers can be used alternately and continuously for effective disposal of garbage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: O. K. Laboratories, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Onodera
  • Patent number: 5100455
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the protection of the environment, particularly the soil and ground water, by biological degradation of unwanted chemical and biological entities often finding their way into soils. The process of the present invention utilizes the well known methods of the art of composting but specifically selects the raw plant materials to be composted from plant groups having carbon:nitrogen ratios of approximately 10:1 to 30:1 of carbon and nitrogen content. Examples of said special plant material being from members of the plant family Leguminosae, and specifically Gossypium hirsutum (cotton). By means of certain modifications of the art of composting said special plant materials, disclosed herein, generate a special humic substrate which supports an indigenous microflora and fauna capable of degrading a number of unwanted substances harmful to man, animals and plants; examples being certain petroleum hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbon pesticides and soil borne plant pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventors: Joseph A. Pinckard, Paul E. Gill
  • Patent number: 4997469
    Abstract: A method of preparing high integrity natural nitrogenous granules for agriculture by heating natural nitrogenous materials under alkaline conditions until the materials develop adhesive properties, forming the materials into granules by mechanical means, and heating the natural nitrogenous granules until they harden; and the compositions formed by this method. The granules for agriculture include natural fertilizers, secondary nutrients, micronutrients, and natural animal feed protein supplements. The method also provides natural based plant food and animal feed supplement granules containing natural or synthetic additive substances which are useful in agriculture. The natural materials used in the method include poultry waste, poultry feather meal, hair meal, seafood meal, blood meal, bone meal, soybean meal, food waste, and grain by-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Harmony Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Moore
  • Patent number: 4971616
    Abstract: A process for converting municipal garbage into organic compost material is described.In the first step of this process, a mixture of shredded cellulosic refuse material and earthworms is provided. A substantial portion of the shredded cellulosic refuse material is derived from paper and/or cardboard refuse.In the second step of the process, the mixture of refuse material and earthworms is maintained at a moisture content of from about 45 to about 92 weight percent and a temperature of from about 0 to about 54 degrees centigrade for from about 4 to about 8 months.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Inventor: Mark E. Glogowski
  • Patent number: 4956002
    Abstract: Modular systems are disclosed for composting organic waste. The systems include a number of modular containers for holding predetermined amounts of the organic waste materials, these amounts being selected such that a relatively uniform temperature profile may be maintained within each of the modular containers. Each of the containers also includes an air inlet and an exhaust so that air may be circulated through the organic waste materials in each of the modular containers, a temperature probe for measuring the temperature in the modular containers, and a fan for circulating air from the exhaust of a first modular container to the air inlet of a second modular container when the temperature in the second modular container is greater than the temperature in the first modular container by a predetermined temperature difference, so as to accelerate the composting of said organic waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventor: David J. Egarian
  • Patent number: 4877531
    Abstract: A process for treating smoke, aqueous sewage and solid waste/refuse materials by digesting all three waste material into an odor-free pumpable slurry. The slurry is screened to separate solids from the aqueous solution. The odor-free solids may be used as fertilizers and the odor free solution may be used for irrigational purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Inventor: Albert L. Burkett
  • Patent number: 4846975
    Abstract: A process for treating waste material is disclosed wherein the initial steps are performed in the dry stage including the removal of dirt, metallic and glass materials, and separation of the dry materials and thereafter passing the materials through a horizontal rotary pulp separating mechanism which delivers to a pulper and to an anaerobic process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventor: John Kelyman
  • Patent number: 4793927
    Abstract: A method of treating sewage is disclosed. Sewage is mixed with an ammonia source, and the mixture is formed into a substantially impermeable mass. The substantially impermeable nature of the mixture increases the ammonia concentration therein and substantially completely destroys all viable parasites. When the impermeable mass is formed by addition of cement and silicate, a strongly alkaline environment is created that kills bacteria and viruses. The resulting end product is a friable mass that is substantially free of pathogens and suitable for unrestricted reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignees: Tulane Medical Center of Tulane Univ., Chemfix Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter P. Meehan, Robert S. Reimers, Thomas G. Akers, Maurice D. Little
  • Patent number: 4792349
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a technique and provides for apparatus eminently useful for the econimic recovery of Fe, Zn, and S from waste galvinizer sulfuric acid and crystals of iron sulfate and zinc sulfate. The technique or method of the instant invention involves the ammoniation of the acid or a solution prepared from such crystals followed by the partial oxidation of the resulting ammoniated suspension to a point where the desired product magnetite is formed in the separated from a marketable solution of ammoniacal zinc sulfate. The effecting of the instant technique requires only a minimal amount of relatively inexpensive equipment and is simply and easily placed into practice by, for example, sparging anhydrous ammonia into a stirred tank of waste acid until the Ph is elevated to about 10. Air can be sparged through the resulting slurry to oxidize the iron in the acid. After a proper incubation period, the desired stable product, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Joe R. Trimm, Louis A. Stumpe
  • Patent number: 4769149
    Abstract: A process for recovery of energy from waste and residues is disclosed. The residues, after sieving, are subjected to bacterial digestion in a methanization reactor and the solid phase of the digestate is then subjected to incineration in a furnace supplying a heat recuperator, the furnace being supplied with complementary combustible by the methane coming from the digester, while the circuit of the fumes downstream of the recuperator is used for heating by at least one secondary circuit, the magma in the course of treatment in the digester and/or the sludge separated from the digestate before recycling thereof towards the digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Propiorga
    Inventors: Bernard Nobilet, Michel Bonhomme, Philippe Desplat
  • Patent number: 4743287
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel fertilizer and method wherein a complex humic acid fertilizer is formed a mix of a select organic material, water, and measured amounts of major inorganic elements of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulfur. The constituents mixed in a sealed reactor system with a first material, usually an acid, are hydrolyzed by a drastic pH change, raising the mix temperature and pressure, and the mix is subsequently blended with a second material of an opposite pH to the first material, usually a base, reacting with the mix to provide a further temperature and pressure increase, to alter the pH to that of the finished fertilizer, which humic acid fertilizer is then dried and granulated or liquefied to a pumpable slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Inventor: Elmo C. Robinson
  • Patent number: 4501604
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of preparing artificial fertile soil from pulverized material such as sawdust or wood chips by the utilization of biological mass production techniques. In the steps for converting the pulverized woody material into fertile soil, four-footed livestock such as cattle are raised thereon, followed by the addition thereto of crushed animal carcass residues, the breeding of earthworms therein and, finally, the raising of domestic fowl such as chickens thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Yojigen Agricultural Corporation
    Inventor: Keikichi Odaira
  • Patent number: 4420320
    Abstract: A method of producing soil conditioners from waste material, and of utilizing the internal energy thereof, while reducing the volume of the waste material at the same time, is disclosed in which initially compacts of a refuse-sludge mixture are subjected to intense rotting whereby the water content thereof is reduced from an initial value of about 50 to 60 percent to about 30 percent, preferably 20 percent, and whereby the compacts become dried and storable. The dried and storable compacts are ground or screened, or both, with the screened out fine fraction being directly usable as a soil conditioner, and then the ground or screened, or both, compacts are thermally treated by one of low temperature carbonization and combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Industrie-Werke Karlsruhe Augsburg Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Randolph Hartmann, Helmut Schriewer
  • Patent number: 4352888
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastic container for holding organic matter during decomposition of the organic matter. The container includes a lower section. The lower section includes a plurality of flat sides positioned in a substantially vertical attitude. The flat sides are joined at opposite edges to form a closed figure having an open bottom. An upper section is mounted on the lower section. The upper section includes a number of flat sides equal in number to the flat sides in the lower section. The flat sides of the upper section are positioned in a substantially vertical attitude and joined at opposite ends to form a closed figure. Each of the flat sides of the upper section is connected to a respective flat side of a lower section. Each of the flat sides of the upper and lower sections has a rectangular outline. Each flat side has a bead along a vertical edge and an elongated socket formed integral with the opposite vertical edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Custom Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cosmo N. Tisbo, Thomas A. Tisbo
  • Patent number: 4337077
    Abstract: An agricultural inoculant composition used as a seed, plant, foilar spray, field spray, and compost inoculant. The agricultural inoculant composition includes both a peat humus base composition having predetermined quantities of peat moss, leather meal, granite meal, Calcium Phosphate, tobacco meal, animal manure, kelp, greensand, liquid seaweed, and bacterial inoculant. Additionally, a liquid seaweed base composition is mixed with the peat humus base composition and the liquid seaweed base composition includes a combination of liquid seaweed, carbohydrates and polysaccharides, vitamins, as well as liquid alfalfa. The agricultural inoculant has been found to increase both the quality and yield of various types of plant products when such is used either as a seed or plant inoculant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Inventor: Joseph P. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 4333757
    Abstract: A cellulosic medium for growing mushrooms is disclosed. A liquid mixture containing sources of soluble carbon and nitrogen is fermented and mixed with cellulosic material. The so-treated cellulosic material is held at a temperature and for a time sufficient to allow substantial reduction of organisms damaging to mushroom culture. The cellulosic material then is cooled to a temperature suitable for spawning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Ralph H. Kurtzman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4326874
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing compost material on a storage surface in which a layer of material is produced from strips which are placed with their longitudinal edges adjacent one another and wherein at least one additional layer of compost material is placed on the adjacent strips. In the course of depositing the layers of compost material, hard substances are removed therefrom. The compost material is deposited by a rake-type conveyor member which is capable of being raised and lowered. An aerating device can be provided to loosen the compost material and a pressing device can be provided to produce compact units from the compost material. An aerating system including aerating lances which are movable into and from the compost material can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Inventor: Werner Burklin
  • Patent number: 4317670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the environment protection and, more specifically, to microbiological processes for recultivation of industrial refuse heaps.The process of the present invention involves treatment of the heaps with fertilizers resulting from purification of production-communal waste waters, followed by treatment with a humic preparation containing a culture of the mold fungus Aspergillus niger. Then plowing of the ground is effected with a subsequent sowing with seeds of perennial plants. The heap surface sown with said seeds is inoculated with a bacterial preparation containing a culture of ammonifying and nitrifying bacteria.During the period of the plant sprouting and tillering inoculation is effected by means of a bacterial preparation containing a culture of azotobacter and phosphate-dissolving bacteria. All these bacteria are recovered from said refuse heaps, wherefore they are already adapted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1982
    Inventors: Anatoly N. Khoroshavin, Irina V. Kataeva, Gennady A. Oborin, Alexandr P. Krasavin