The present invention generally relates to a food waste dehydrator. More specifically, it relates to a mobile and modular device that can accept food scraps and food waste, dehydrate the food, and create a usable output such as livestock feed or compost.
Currently, when establishments such as restaurants, schools, hotels, and food processing plants have food waste, they dispose of it in dumpsters along with other garbage. Garbage trucks then come and pick up the trash and haul it to landfills, where the food waste remains until it is degraded. However, there are many more uses for such food waste. The general order of preference for reuse of food according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency is: first, for human consumption, provided the food is in a suitable condition for human consumption; second, reuse for livestock feed; third, for use as compost; fourth, for anaerobic digestion; and fifth, for garbage landfills. A better method of disposing of food waste is needed that enables the food waste to be re-used in a productive manner.
The present disclosure relates to a food waste dehydrator that can include a self-contained heating and energy source and can be mobile and modular. The device is designed for efficient collection and processing of food scraps and food waste. It is meant to be transportable on a trailer or vehicle and can also be modular, wherein a full dehydration tank can be rolled off the trailer or vehicle and another empty tank can be loaded on to the trailer or vehicle to collect additional food scraps and food waste.
Reference is made throughout the present disclosure to certain aspects of various embodiments of the food waste processor described herein. Such references to aspects of the presently described device do not limit the scope of the claimed invention. Additionally, any examples set forth in this disclosure are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the disclosed food waste dehydrator device. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claimed invention. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the described invention. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover applications or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The presently disclosed device is a food waste dehydrator that can efficiently collect food scraps and food waste and create an output that can be used as livestock feed, livestock feed supplement, or can be further processed into compost or soil amendment. While examples provided herein refer to food scraps and food waste, any material capable of being dehydrated can be processed using the presently disclosed device.
In one embodiment, the main part of the device roughly resembles a cylindrical tank, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the tank can contain at least one auger 302 on the inside of the tank that agitates, mixes, macerates, and cuts the food scraps and food waste. As the food scraps and food waste are agitated, mixed, macerated, and cut into smaller pieces, air and heat can be more evenly applied, thus allowing for a faster drying period.
In one embodiment, the dehydrator tank has an evacuation tube 3206 at the bottom of the tank that can collect moisture and water during the dehydration process. The moisture and water can exit the tank through the evacuation tube 3206 and, in some embodiments, can run directly into the city's sewage system. In other embodiments, the moisture and water can be collected and subjected to further processing.
In one embodiment, the dehydrator tank can have a blower 3202 or vent at the top of the tank to release vapors. Additionally, the dehydrator tank can have a fan near the vent that can blow the vapors out of the main tank and into or near a filter 3204 such as, but not limited to, a carbon filter that will minimize or prevent odor release from the dehydrator.
In one embodiment, the dehydrator tank can have an internal fan that circulates hot air and works in tandem with at least one auger 302 to increase the surface area of the food that is exposed to heated air. This, in turn, can increase the speed at which food scraps and food waste are dehydrated.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In another embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, an evacuation port 104 can be located at the rear of the tank to allow removal of the finished, dehydrated material. Removal can take place after the tank has been filled and the food scraps and food waste have been dehydrated to a desired moisture content level. In one embodiment, the desired moisture content level is 10% or less. The dehydrator tank is not intended to operate as a storage unit or a silo, wherein new material is added to previously dehydrated material. Therefore, once the device has dehydrated the food scraps and food waste, the output is removed from the tank through the evacuation port 104 and put into storage such as barrels, bins, or drums (or other storage unit that is capable of being sealed). The dehydrated material will maintain a desired moisture level to be safe for livestock consumption. In one embodiment, the desired moisture level for livestock consumption is 10%.
The dehydrator tank can be a mobile and modular unit. In one embodiment, the dehydrator tank can be mounted on the back of a vehicle or trailer through the use of a steel frame 304. Attachment or removal of the dehydrator tank can be accomplished by rolling it on or off of a vehicle or trailer. Alternatively, the device can be attached to or removed from the vehicle or trailer through the use of a roll-off hook or cable. In one embodiment, a non-dehydrator collection device can be left at an establishment, picked up once it is full, and hauled back to an energy docking or transfer station, and dumped into a dehydrator tank.
In one embodiment, the dehydrator tank, when full, can be picked up from an establishment and transported to an energy docking or transfer station where the food scraps and food waste can be processed. At the energy docking or transfer station, the dehydrator tank can be removed from the vehicle or trailer and placed on the ground. It can then be attached to an energy source such as, but not limited to, natural gas, propane, or electricity. Alternatively, the dehydrator tank can be left on the vehicle or trailer when it is attached to an energy source. The energy source can come from a gas line or from a unit such as, but not limited to, a propane tank or an electric outlet.
In one embodiment, the energy source can heat the temperature control mechanism, such as the coils 102, directly, if the coils 102 are electrically heated, or indirectly, if the coils 102 contain a heating element such as, but not limited to, oil, water, or air. For indirect coil heating, the energy source heats the heating element through the use of a device such as, but not limited to, a furnace or boiler. When either direct or indirect heating is used to produce heat, the coils 102 become heated and, consequently, can heat the air inside of the tank up to temperatures that are high enough to dehydrate the food scraps and food waste, are high enough to kill pathogens when the heat is applied for a long enough period of time, and are low enough to maintain nutritional value. In one embodiment, this temperature range is from 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. In one embodiment, the energy source can also pump and circulate the heating element through the coils 102 to provide an even distribution of heat to the food scraps and food waste. Once the food scraps and food waste have been dehydrated, the evacuation port 104 can allow removal of the finished, dehydrated material. After the dehydrator tank is emptied, the empty tank can be transported back to the establishment it came from, or it can be transported to a new establishment. Once at the old or new establishment, the tank can be removed from the vehicle or trailer and left to be re-filled by the establishment.
In another embodiment, the dehydrator tank can maintain constant mobility by staying attached to a vehicle or trailer while collecting food scraps and food waste from at least one establishment. In this embodiment, a vehicle can tow the dehydrator tank to an establishment where food scraps and food waste can be loaded into the dehydrator tank from a device such as a waste bin. After the dehydrator tank collects food scraps and food waste from one establishment, it can travel to additional establishments to collect food scraps and food waste from those establishments or it can be towed back to the energy docking or transfer station. At the energy docking or transfer station, the dehydrator tank can go through a similar process as that described above, wherein the food scraps and food waste are dehydrated through the use of an energy source and a heating element and then emptied through the evacuation port 104. After the dehydrator tank is emptied, the empty tank can be towed around to the same establishments, to different establishments, or to both to collect more food scraps and food waste.
In one embodiment, the dehydrator tank can be mobile and modular, yet be completely self-contained as a single processing unit with an integrated energy source and temperature control mechanism. The energy source and heating element can be, but is not limited to, propane. The process of dehydrating the food scraps and food waste and removing them through the evacuation port 104 can be the same as that described previously. After removal, the empty tank can be re-filled with more food scraps and food waste.
In one embodiment, the dehydrator tank is mobile but, instead of being transported from an establishment to the energy docking or transfer station, the energy source can be integrated with the vehicle or trailer so that the vehicle or trailer can provide the energy source required for the temperature control mechanism. In this embodiment, the food scraps and food waste can be processed while on the go. The energy source can be the vehicle's engine or it can be mechanical forces provided by the movement of the vehicle or trailer.
The dehydrator tank will ideally dehydrate food scraps and food waste in an eight to twelve hour period to a desired moisture content of 10%, which prevents pathogens from surviving in the output and improves shelf life. Once the material has been processed, it can be used as a livestock feed or feed supplement, compost, or soil amendment.
In one embodiment, the temperature control mechanism is comprised of a cooling element that circulates through coils and serves to cool the food or other materials that are dumped into the tank. The energy source, such as natural gas, electricity, or propane, can provide the energy needed to circulate the cooling element. In one embodiment, the energy source also serves to cool the cooling element. The insulation is capable of maintaining a consistent cold temperature within the tank by preventing warmer air from getting in and colder air from escaping.
One embodiment of the disclosed device is illustrated in
The interior and exterior shells have holes in them for placement of various components, as illustrated in
The hinge mount assembly is illustrated in
A shaft support 2500 is located on the inside of the interior shell in one embodiment, as illustrated in
The rear assembly 404 of the dehydrator device 400 can include a rear angle ring 2702 and single edge pipe nipples 2704, as illustrated in
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/936,731, filed Feb. 6, 2014, titled FOOD WASTE DEHYDRATOR.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
318543 | Collins | May 1885 | A |
2359199 | Burnett | Sep 1944 | A |
2448144 | Guthier | Aug 1948 | A |
2534648 | Wilbur | Dec 1950 | A |
2850809 | Lamb | Sep 1958 | A |
3257737 | Thomas | Jun 1966 | A |
3264753 | Budzien | Aug 1966 | A |
3943842 | Bills | Mar 1976 | A |
3955488 | Wheeler | May 1976 | A |
4036562 | Barnes | Jul 1977 | A |
4074868 | Link | Feb 1978 | A |
4110916 | Bemrose | Sep 1978 | A |
4135308 | Benson | Jan 1979 | A |
4143592 | Kuest | Mar 1979 | A |
4150617 | Schramm | Apr 1979 | A |
4150795 | Link | Apr 1979 | A |
4155299 | Tuttle | May 1979 | A |
4190965 | Erickson | Mar 1980 | A |
4192081 | Erickson | Mar 1980 | A |
4221059 | Everitt | Sep 1980 | A |
4224743 | Erickson | Sep 1980 | A |
4236063 | Glucksman | Nov 1980 | A |
4249701 | Miller | Feb 1981 | A |
4266472 | Reale | May 1981 | A |
4329789 | Erickson | May 1982 | A |
4352249 | Rose | Oct 1982 | A |
4380127 | Roberts | Apr 1983 | A |
4531306 | Erickson | Jul 1985 | A |
4534118 | Cabus et al. | Aug 1985 | A |
4536643 | Erickson | Aug 1985 | A |
4592150 | Schnupp | Jun 1986 | A |
4606262 | Robinson | Aug 1986 | A |
4630780 | Immel | Dec 1986 | A |
4651636 | Fields | Mar 1987 | A |
4707370 | Kakis | Nov 1987 | A |
4939346 | Bailey | Jul 1990 | A |
5119571 | Beasley | Jun 1992 | A |
5209821 | Shaw | May 1993 | A |
5235906 | Hsu | Aug 1993 | A |
5311673 | Su | May 1994 | A |
5346714 | Peters | Sep 1994 | A |
5423249 | Meyer | Jun 1995 | A |
5437108 | Alseth | Aug 1995 | A |
5451004 | Altonji et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
5454298 | Lu | Oct 1995 | A |
5569605 | Teramachi et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5577674 | Altonji et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
5826498 | Su | Oct 1998 | A |
5878508 | Knoll et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5948674 | Mankiewica | Sep 1999 | A |
5950526 | Hsu | Sep 1999 | A |
5960560 | Stoll | Oct 1999 | A |
5974957 | Ysen | Nov 1999 | A |
6041696 | Su | Mar 2000 | A |
6085442 | Erickson | Jul 2000 | A |
6090423 | Wetzel | Jul 2000 | A |
6195906 | Stoll | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6220150 | Margolis | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6233844 | Juarez et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6581297 | Ginder | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6729753 | Artman | May 2004 | B2 |
6772534 | Gomes | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6796223 | Jiang | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6808732 | Boullin | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6895687 | Resch | May 2005 | B2 |
6931756 | Morgan | Aug 2005 | B2 |
7029716 | Margolis | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7074444 | Margolis | Jul 2006 | B2 |
7343699 | Svonja | Mar 2008 | B2 |
7360321 | Su | Apr 2008 | B2 |
7665601 | Portier | Feb 2010 | B2 |
7883040 | Lee | Feb 2011 | B2 |
8028536 | Morgan | Oct 2011 | B2 |
8152084 | Lee | Apr 2012 | B2 |
8171845 | Hartsfield | May 2012 | B2 |
8342436 | Sim | Jan 2013 | B2 |
8412383 | Moretto | Apr 2013 | B2 |
20020040643 | Ware | Apr 2002 | A1 |
20020166461 | Johnson | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20050144805 | Masset | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20050160620 | Morgan | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20060083828 | Lena | Apr 2006 | A1 |
20060112584 | Jones | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060286234 | Tsai | Dec 2006 | A1 |
20070275142 | Kobussen et al. | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20080274263 | Mazin | Nov 2008 | A1 |
20090025248 | Lannon | Jan 2009 | A1 |
20090110794 | Peters | Apr 2009 | A1 |
20090136637 | Janssen | May 2009 | A1 |
20090211274 | Meng | Aug 2009 | A1 |
20100086659 | Schmidt | Apr 2010 | A1 |
20100206182 | Iwamoto | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20100218395 | Durance | Sep 2010 | A1 |
20110061258 | Kim | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20110078915 | Kim | Apr 2011 | A1 |
20110086145 | Rodriguez Campisto | Apr 2011 | A1 |
20110155567 | Sim | Jun 2011 | A1 |
20110283895 | Veltrop | Nov 2011 | A1 |
20120034354 | Board | Feb 2012 | A1 |
20120039757 | Yoo | Feb 2012 | A1 |
20120067069 | Wells | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120073454 | Kobussen et al. | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120104129 | Park | May 2012 | A1 |
20120137898 | Alipour | Jun 2012 | A1 |
20120177796 | Poulsen | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20120207889 | Margolis | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120227279 | Dewald | Sep 2012 | A1 |
20120228088 | Johnson | Sep 2012 | A1 |
20120237638 | Mazin | Sep 2012 | A1 |
20120285659 | Sim | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20120324756 | Fux | Dec 2012 | A1 |
20130000143 | Fux | Jan 2013 | A1 |
20130026760 | Lee | Jan 2013 | A1 |
20150059594 | Pastusek | Mar 2015 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
Gaiarecycle, LLC; Technology Overview; 2010; http://gaiarecycle.com/tech.php?id=8. |
Somat Company; Somat DeHydrator System; Copyright 2011; http://somatcompany.com/Products/Dehydrator-System/. |
Barthold Recycling, Inc.; .:Barhold Recycling, Inc—A Network of Family Farms that Recycle Food :.; 1988; http://www.bartholdrecycling.com/site/about.htm. |
P.A. Caton, M.A. Carr, S.S. Kim, M.J. Beautyman; Energy recovery from waste food by combustion or gasification with the potential for regenerative dehydration: A case study; Energy Conversion and Management; Jan. 27, 2010; 1157-1169; vol. 51; U.S.A. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150216223 A1 | Aug 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61936731 | Feb 2014 | US |