Patent Application
20230110330
This invention relates generally to a process for producing topsoil and compost from tree stumps, limbs, brush and similar vegetative matter and the resulting topsoil and compost products. For purposes of this application, animal manure, such as horse manure, is considered vegetable matter since it is principally composed of undigested and partially digested grasses and grains. In many instances, the vegetative matter may be the result of towns and municipalities gathering such materials for disposal. Other sources of this waste material is at construction and grading sites, landscaping projects, lot clearings and the like. It is presently typical to simply dispose of these materials by delivering them to a landfill, where the materials are dumped for eventual decomposition. This practice is wasteful on several levels. First, these materials in their original form are heavy, bulky and take up an inordinate amount of space in landfills that could otherwise be used for disposal of materials more suited for landfill disposal. Second, these vegetative materials have a very high percentage of organic matter, which is particularly appropriate for reuse if processed into a suitable form. Third, even if these materials are incinerated to reduce their volume, lack of recycling simply means that the vast majority of the vegetative material goes “up in smoke” and results in both waste and pollution.
Therefore, there is a need for an efficient and cost-effective process of producing usable topsoil or compost from raw vegetative matter such as tree stumps, limbs, brush and similar vegetative matter.
There is also a need for a process of producing usable topsoil or compost from raw vegetative matter in order to save landfill space, generate revenue, reduce waste and pollution.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a process for producing compost is provided and includes the steps of providing a supply of vegetable matter selected from the group of vegetable matter consisting of trees, stumps, brush, leaves and animal manure, agitating the vegetable matter to loosen and remove dirt associated with the vegetable matter, reducing the size of the vegetable matter, incinerating a variable amount of the vegetable matter to produce a fine ash, and combining the reduced-size vegetable matter and ash.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of screening the combined reduced-size vegetable matter and ash to remove large debris.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of at least partially decomposing the reduced size vegetable matter.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of at least partially decomposing the reduced size vegetable matter before combining with the ash.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of reducing the size of the vegetable matter comprises processing the vegetable matter through a chipper.
According to another aspect of the invention, a process for producing compost includes the steps of providing a supply of vegetable matter selected from the group of vegetable matter consisting of trees, stumps, brush, leaves and animal manure, agitating the vegetable matter to loosen and remove dirt associated with the vegetable matter, reducing the size of the vegetable matter, incinerating a variable amount of the vegetable matter to produce a fine ash, and combining the reduced-size vegetable matter, dirt and ash.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of screening the combined reduced-size vegetable matter and ash to remove large debris.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of at least partially decomposing the reduced size vegetable matter.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of at least partially decomposing the reduced size vegetable matter before combining with the ash.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of processing the vegetable matter through a chipper.
According to another aspect of the invention, the step of combining the reduced-size vegetable matter, dirt and ash comprises the step of combining 6 parts dirt, 2 parts vegetable matter and a trace of ash.
According to another aspect of the invention, the process includes the step of screening the dirt, vegetable matter and ash combination to mix the combination and remove large debris.
According to another aspect of the invention, a compost product includes vegetable matter selected from the group of vegetable matter consisting of reduced size trees, stumps, brush, leaves and animal manure characterized by an absence of dirt, a variable amount of incinerated vegetable matter to produce a fine ash and the reduced-size vegetable matter and ash combined to produce a compost product.
According to another aspect of the invention, the ash represents a trace amount of compost volume.
According to another aspect of the invention, a topsoil product includes vegetable matter selected from the group of vegetable matter consisting of reduced size trees, stumps, brush, leaves and animal manure, ash and dirt.
According to another aspect of the invention, the topsoil product includes 6 parts dirt, 2 parts vegetable matter and a trace of ash.
Referring now to the drawings, in summary, the processes for producing topsoil and compost involves fully incinerating a small amount of the vegetative matter at a very high temperature using an air curtain burner such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,712. The result of the “air curtain” incineration is a relatively small quantity of fine ash. This ash is mixed with dirt, horse manure and partially-decomposed wood chips and other vegetable matter to form topsoil. The ratios may be on the order of 6 parts dirt, one part manure, one part chips and the ash which may be a trace amount in the neighborhood of 1 percent by volume of the topsoil/compost -mixture. The topsoil product can be easily and efficiently made and can be sold for use, thus saving valuable landfill space. When producing the products, 1 part is equal to 1 bucket, or 3 cubic yards of material. A similar compost product omits the dirt.
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For the production of compost, wood chips, leaves, horse manure and a small amount of the fine ash are combined. This combination of vegetable matter is screened to mix and remove any large debris not already moved in prior processing. The resulting compost may be allowed to further decompose or may be ready for use.
In both of the processes described above, the leaves, wood chips and horse manure are allowed to sit for predetermined periods of time with the mixture being turned from time-to-time to further integrate the components with each other and further promote decomposition.
The resulting products take full advantage of the biodegradability and combustibility of the vegetable matter resulting in very efficiently produced and highly usable topsoil and compost products. Large amounts of landfill space is conserved, and the products have a market value that can result in revenue to, for example, a municipality instead of significant landfill and transpiration costs. A process for producing topsoil and compost from tree stumps, limbs, brush and similar vegetative matter and the resulting topsoil and compost products according to the invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.
