United States Patent m
`Schnittjer
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent
`
`4,932,196
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`[54] COMPOST WINDROW TURNER
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[75] Inventor: Bradley J. Schnittjer, Delhi, Iowa
`
`[73] Assignee: American Trencher, Inc., Delhi, Iowa
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 265,879
`[22] Filed:
`Nov_ 1 1988
`’
`
`[51] Int. c1.5
`[52] US. Cl.
`[53]
`Field of Search
`
`AOID 43/04
`56/372; 56/192
`56/372, 370, DIG. 21,
`56/376’ 366’ 192’ 350_353
`
`[56]
`
`3,1.3,9,3,3,2,3,7,7,
`
`3129153838 0613872418
`7535509967
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`111222234
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`58729 2997
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`41700322920
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`1 1
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`M1lww45mm8
`9999999999
`
`48 53 8
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
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`56/370
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`835359 6/1981 U.S.S.R. Primary Examiner—Hoang C. Dang
`
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James C. Nemmers
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`An apparatus for turning, mixing and aerating wind
`rows of compost to convert the waste material compris
`ing the compost into a usefible material,‘ Such as Soil
`amendment. The apparatus includes multiple elevating
`conveyors that ?rst elevate that material to mix and
`aerate it and then deposit the material onto secondary
`conveyors that move the material transversely to the
`windrow before it is re-deposited. In a preferred ver
`sion, there are three elevating conveyors, two outside
`and one center conveyor with the outside conveyors
`depositing the material onto transverse conveyors that
`move the material inwardly where it is re-deposited on
`the ground while the center elevating conveyor depos
`its the material‘picked up from the center of the wind
`row on top of the material picked up by the elevating
`conveyors on the sides. In this manner, the material is
`not only mixed and aerated but completely inverted.
`
`9 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
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`Page 1 of 6
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`

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`US. Patent Jun. 12, 1990
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`Sheet 1 of2
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`4,932,196
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`FIG 4
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`Page 2 of 6
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`US. Patent Jun.12, 1990
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`Sheet 2 of2
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`4,932,196
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`F
`m.
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`FIG.
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`4
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`Page 3 of 6
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`1
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`COMPOST WINDROW TURNER
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`4,932,196
`2
`tive inversion of the composted material to assure the
`most rapid and thorough bacterial action.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the right front of an
`apparatus constructed according to the principles of the
`invention and adapted for towing by prime mover such
`as a tractor;
`FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a side elevational view with components
`shown schematically to illustrate the operating mecha
`' nism for tilting the elevating conveyors; and
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of
`one of the elevating conveyors and illustrating the ele
`vating slats and teeth that form part of the conveyors.
`
`rd 0
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`25
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Compostingv is being used more and more frequently
`to convert tons of waste of all types, including solid
`wastes, leaves and sewage sludge, into valuable soil
`conditioners and soil amendments. Equipment is avail
`able for treating such wastes and windrowing the mast
`material. These rows of composted material utilize the
`naturally occurring bacterial action of biologically di
`gesting the organic materials. Since this natural process
`is aerobic, the composed material must be regularly
`mixed and aerated in order to avoid anaerobic cores
`that would otherwise form in the composted rows of
`material. If the composted materials are properly and
`periodically mixed and aerated, the waste materials will
`break down naturally and be converted into a ?nished
`material that is stable and relatively odorless and which
`can be used as soil conditioners and soil amendments.
`There are available a variety of different machines for
`aerating and mixing compost piles, especially those
`stored in windrows. These machines commonly use a
`rotating drum with flails that will turn, mix and aerate
`the compost. There is also known a machine that has a
`single elevating conveyor that utilizes a double auger
`than feeds the material onto an elevating conveyor
`which elevates all of the material and re-deposits it.
`However, in none of these prior art machines can posi
`tive inversion of all of the material occur. In order to
`produce a ?nished usable material that can fully utilize
`the natural bacterial action, the material in the compost
`must be not only mixed and aerated but it must be com
`pletely inverted so that the material inside the compost
`can be positively exposed to elevated temperatures
`thereby effecting pathogen kill. Unless all of the mate
`rial is properly mixed, aerated and inverted on a regular
`basis, the bacterial action, which requires the oxygen in
`the air, will not be as rapid or as complete as need be to
`produce a usable, ?nal product free of pathogen kill.
`Also, prior art machines are relatively expensive, and
`require a considerable amount of maintenance, and
`some of them are dif?cult to clean. There is, therefore,
`a need for a simple machine that is easy to clean and
`45
`which will have a long, useful life with a minimum
`amount of maintenance problems.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
`In FIG. 1, I have illustrated the principles of my
`invention in connection with an embodiment thereof
`adapted for being towed behind a primer move, such as
`a tractor (not shown) which has a draw bar and a power
`take off unit. As illustrated in FIG. 1, tongue 10 is
`adapted to be attached to the draw bar of the tractor,
`while shaft 12 is adapted to be connected to the power
`take off unit of the tractor. Tongue 12 has support
`braces 14, and tongue 10 and support brace 14 are pivot
`ally connected to the main frame member 16 of the
`invention. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main frame
`member 16 is a box or tubular member that extends the
`entire width of the windrow turner. Af?xed to the main
`frame member 16 at its outer ends are a pair of ground
`wheels 18.
`' Supported by the main frame member 16in the man
`ner described hereinafter are three elevating conveyors,
`a center elevating conveyor 20 and side elevating con
`veyors 22, one on each side of the conveyor 20. The
`central conveyor 20 has a vertically extending table 24,
`and similarly, each of the side conveyors 22 has a verti
`cally extending table 26. As is evidence from the draw
`ings, especially FIG. 1, the table 24 for the center con
`veyor 20 is higher than the tables 26 for the side convey
`ors 22. Each of the conveyors 20 and 22 is driven by a
`pair of endless chains 28 that are laterally spaced apart
`and which engage upper sprocket 30 and lower sprock
`ets 32. Each pair of sprockets for each conveyor is
`mounted on a rotating shaft each of which is indepen
`dently driven by a hydraulic motor. As best seen in
`FIG. 1, the center conveyor is driven by hydraulic
`motor 34 while the side conveyors are driven by sepa
`rate hydraulic motors 36. Each of the motors 34 and 36
`are connected into the hydraulic system which includes
`a pump 38 and reservoir (not shown) that supplies hy
`draulic ?uid under pressure to each of the motor 34 and
`36.
`Each of the conveyors 20 and 22 is formed with a
`plurality of horizontal slats 40 welded or otherwise
`affixed to the chains 28. Slats 40 carry the particles of
`the waste material upwardly to the top of each of the
`respective conveyors where it is discharged in the man
`ner described hereinafter. Each slat 40 is also provided
`with a plurality of teeth 42 welded or otherwise af?xed
`to the slats as shown in FIG. 4. Teeth 42 assure that the
`waste material will be shredded and the particle size of
`the waste material reduced with each pass of the appa
`ratus through a compost pile or windrow.
`Although the tables 24 and 26 assist the moving slats
`' 40 in lifting the material, it is preferrable that the tables
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The apparatus of the invention consists of three inde
`pendent vertical elevators positioned side by side to
`provide a vertical moving face that is divided into three
`sections, a center section and two side sections. This
`vertical moving face is moved into a windrow from one
`end, and as it advances at a controlled rate of speed, the
`two side or end sections elevate the material onto two
`transversely moving conveyors that move the material
`toward the center of the machine. These conveyors
`deposit the material from the windrow edges into the
`center of the new windrow and at the bottom of the
`new windrow. The center elevator picks up and ele
`vates the core of the windrow and deposits it on top of
`the material from the windrow edges which now forms
`the center core of the new windrow. Each of the elevat
`ing conveyors also include sharp teeth that serve to
`break up the composted material, which is also aerated
`and mixed as it is elevated and re-deposited in the new
`windrow. The apparatus thus provides total and posi
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`4,932,196
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`summarized. The tongue 10 is suitably affixed to the
`24 and 26, and thus the conveyors 20 and 22, be tilted at
`an angle to the vertical. Depending upon the type of
`draw bar of the tractor or other prime mover, and the
`shaft 12 connected to the power take off unit. Using the
`material being handled, this angle varies from 15 to 30
`degrees. Also during transportation of the apparatus
`lift cylinder 46, the unit is lifted so that conveyors 20
`and 22 are suf?ciently above the ground for transporta
`over the road, it is preferrable that the conveyors 20 and
`tion to the site where the unit will be used. At the site
`22 be tilted further to facilitate ease of transportation
`where the windrows of compost waste are being stored,
`and also to raise the lower ends of the conveyors 20 and
`the unit is moved into position so that the conveyor 20
`22 off the ground. To facilitate this, tables 24 and 24 are
`is in alignment approximately with the center of the
`pivotally mounted on the main frame member 16 by
`support bracket 44 that is pivotally connected to the
`windrow at one end. The lift cylinder 46 and the tile
`cylinder 48 are then operated until the lower ends of the
`main frame member 16 as shown in FIG. 3., A pair of
`hydraulic cylinders, a lift cylinder 46 and a tilt cylinder
`conveyors 20 and 22 are on the ground and at the
`48 provide additional support and movement of the
`proper angle for the material to be treated. With the
`table upon actuation of the respective cylinders. Lift
`conveyors 20 and 22 operating and with the transverse
`conveyors 52 also operating, the unit is then moved
`cylinder 46 is pivotally connected at one end to the
`main frame member 16, and its operating rod is pivot
`forwardly into the end of the compost windrow. The
`material in the windrow will be picked up by the con
`ally connected to a pair of brackets 50 that are mounted
`veyors 20 and 22 and carried upwardly. The material at
`on the tongue 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Thus, when the oper
`ating rod of lift cylinder 46 is retracted the tables 24 and
`the outside edges of the windrow will be carried up
`wardly by the side conveyors 22 and deposited on the
`26 and thus the conveyors 20 and 22, can be lowered
`into operating position. However, with the operating
`transverse conveyors 52 which will carry the materially
`inwardly toward the center and deposit it on the ground
`rod of lift cylinder 46 is extended, the tables 25 and 26
`forming the lower part of the core for the new window.
`will be elevated to a transport position as illustrated in
`The material carried upwardly by the center conveyor
`the dotted lines of FIG. 3.
`In order to adjust the vertical angle of the tables 24
`20 will then be deposited directly on top of the material
`already deposited by the side conveyors. Since the side
`and 26, depending upon the type of material to be
`treated, tilt cylinder 48 has one end pivotally connected
`conveyors 22 and the center conveyor 20 are each inde
`pendently operated, their speeds can be controlled to
`to the main frame 26 while the other end is connected to
`the support brackets 44 for the tables 24 and 26. Thus, as
`achieve the desired result. The apparatus continues to
`the operating rod of tilt cylinder 48 is extended, the
`be pulled forwardly along the windrow, and as it pro
`ceeds through the existing windrow, it leaves an entire
`vertical angle of the tables 24 and 26 will be decreased,
`new windrow just behind. By lifting the material in
`and conversely, as the operating rod is retracted, the
`small bits using the slats 40 and with the teeth 42 carried
`vertical angle of the tables 24 and 26 will be increased.
`As previously indicated, the range of movement is pref
`by each of the slats, the material is shredded and broken
`errably between approximately 15 and 30 degrees.
`up into smaller particle size, being entrained with the
`As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, behind each of the side
`maximum of air and oxygen as the materially is carried
`through the path provided by the elevating conveyors
`elevating conveyors 22 is a transverse conveyor 52.
`20 and 22. The material is thus thoroughly mixed and
`Each of the conveyors 52 is also a slat/type conveyors
`aerated as it is picked up and moved by the elevating
`having a plurality of slats 54 moveable on endless chains
`56 and independently driven by hydraulic motors (not
`conveyors 20 and 22. The transverse conveyors 52 pro
`shown). Each of the conveyors 52 is positioned directly
`vide further mixing and aerating, and because of the
`behind and slightly below the side conveyors 22, and as
`added height of the center conveyor 20, the material
`will receive additional air entrapment as it falls from the
`illustrated in FIG. 1, conveyors 52 are driven so as to
`carry material inwardly where it is discharged in the
`top center conveyor 20. The apparatus thus provides
`maximum mixing, reduction of particle size and aeration
`area directly behind the center conveyor 20. To contain
`while providing positive control of the material by
`the material discharged onto conveyors 52 by the side
`moving outside edges of the existing windrow inwardly
`conveyors there is preferrably provided a vertically
`extending shield 58. As is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3,
`and on the bottom of the new windrow while the core
`supporting frame work 60 supports conveyors 52, and
`of the existing windrow is then deposited on top. The
`the supporting frame work 60 is pivotally connected as
`material is thus positively inverted.
`shown to allow for the tilting of the tables 24 and 26
`In some applications, it may be suf?cient to have two
`while still maintaining the conveyors 52 in a general
`elevating conveyors or a single elevating conveyor.
`horizontal plane.
`Also, instead of two transverse conveyors 52, a single
`There is also preferrably provided a crummer 62
`conveyor may suffice discharging on one side or the
`directly behind and extending the gull width of the
`other. The particular arrangement of the elevating con
`elevating conveyors 20 and 22. As illustrated in FIG. 3,
`veyor and transverse conveyors depend upon the type
`of material being handled. However, all of the varia
`crummer 62 has a scraper blade 64 at its forward end,
`and the crummer 62 is pivotally mounted by L-shaped
`tions of the invention will utilize a conveyor which ?rst
`link 66 to the support brackets 44 for the tables 24 and
`elevates the material while at the same time reducing
`26. Thus, crummer 62 is free to swing upwardly and
`the particle size while exposing the material to air with
`downwardly depending upon the angles of the tables
`the material subsequently being, at least in part, moved
`254 and 26 so that the crummer 62 will always be in
`transversely to form a new windrow. Obviously, the
`engagement with the ground to guide material into the
`transverse conveyors can also be of an auger type, again
`depending upon the type of material being handled.
`lower end of the conveyors 20 and 22 as the apparatus
`moves along through a compost windrow.
`Also, if desire,d the unit can be made so as to be self
`The operation of the apparatus of the invention
`propelled rather than being towed. With a preferred
`should be evident from the foregoing description. How
`embodiment of the invention, it is also evident that there
`ever, the operation and use of the apparatus will all be
`is no necessity for space between windrows since the
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`means.
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`?rst conveyor means for picking up the material in the
`unit of the invention passes through the windrow and
`windrow and elevating the material, the ?rst conveyor
`deposits the material directly behind to form a new
`means including three separate and independently oper
`windrow.
`Having thus described the invention in connection
`able elevating conveyors, one a center elevating con
`veyor with a side elevating conveyor on each side of the
`with the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be evi
`center elevating conveyor, a second conveyor means
`dent to those skilled in the art that various revisions and
`for moving at least some of the material picked up by
`modi?cations can be made to the preferred embodiment
`the ?rst conveyor means generally transversely of the
`described herein without departing from the spirit and
`windrow and depositing the material on the ground to
`scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that
`form a new windrow, the two side elevating conveyors
`such revisions and modi?cations that are obvious to
`of the ?rst conveyor means discharging the material
`those skilled in the arts will be included within the
`onto the second conveyor means, the ?rst conveyor
`scope of the following claims.
`means including means to mix and aerate the material as
`What is claimed is as follows:
`it is elevated, and means providing for movement of the
`1. A mobile apparatus for treating loose waste mate
`apparatus along the windrow.
`rial stored in a windrow, said apparatus comprising a
`4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the second con
`?rst conveyor means for picking up the material in the
`veyor means includes two conveyors moving material
`windrow and elevating the material, the ?rst conveyor
`generally transversely of the windrow, each such con
`means including three separate elevating conveyors,
`veyor moving the material toward the center.
`one a center elevating conveyor with a side elevating
`5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the center ele
`conveyor on each side of the center elevating conveyor,
`vating conveyor of the ?rst conveyor means is higher
`the center elevating conveyor being higher than the
`than the side elevating conveyors and discharges mate
`side elevating conveyors, a second conveyor means for
`rial onto material discharged by the two conveyors of
`moving at least some of the material picked up by the
`?rst conveyor means generally transversely of the win
`the second conveyor means.
`6. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the ?rst con
`dow and depositing the material on the ground to form
`veyor means includes a table extending generally verti
`a new windrow, the second conveyor means including
`cally, and the center elevating conveyor and each side
`two conveyors moving material generally transversely
`elevating conveyor of the ?rst conveyor means includes
`of the windrow, each such conveyor moving the mate
`a plurality of spaced-apart generally horizontal slats and
`rial toward the center, the side elevating conveyors of
`endless moving means for supporting the slats and mov
`the ?rst conveyors means discharging the material onto
`ing them across, over, behind and under the table.
`the two conveyors of the second conveyor means and
`7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which each of the slats
`the center elevating conveyor of the ?rst conveyor
`of each of the center and side elevating conveyors in
`means discharging the material onto the material being
`cludes a plurality of teeth for reducing the particle size
`discharged by the two conveyors of the second con
`of the loose material.
`veyor means, the ?rst conveyor means including means
`8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which there is provided
`to mix and aerate the material as it is elevated, and
`means for adjusting the vertical tilt of the table and thus
`means providing for movement of the apparatus along
`the three elevating conveyors of the ?rst conveyor
`the windrow.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which there is posi
`tioned a scraper blade extending along the entire width
`of the ?rst conveyor means at its lowest edge to assure
`the loose material in the windrow is picked up by the
`?rst conveyor means.
`3. A mobile apparatus for treating loose waste mate
`rial stored in a windrow, said apparatus comprising a
`
`9. The apparatus of claims 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 in which
`there is positioned a scraper blade extending along the
`entire width of the ?rst conveyor means at its lowest
`edge to assure the loose material in the windrow is
`picked up by the ?rst conveyor means.
`*
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