windmill composter

[toddler]

I like this. What say we drop the drum in a cradle of little rollers, and stick the anenometerimeteremeter thingy on the end of one of the rollers. Naw, even with 1/2" roller and 36" drum you only get 64:1.

But driving a small roller under the drum is good. We get 36:1 or so with a 1"roller, and we can use an enclosed worm gear hooked to a horizontal anenometer for another 100:1 or more. 3600 to 1 and the only gears needing lubrication are in the enclosed worm gear. What do you think?
Todd

 

[RPM]

Thought you guys might be interested in a couple of good pages I found on making compost from the University of Missouri and another good one from the University of Maine.

 

[RPM]

I think I'm narrowing down the search here ... check out these links to the Composter 1 and Composter 2 by Augspurger Engineering.

This is bigger than you would want for a wind powered system, but that's a neat looking mid-mounted pivot that would be handy!

Another interesting link for farmers is here.

Seems that the correct term (and magic phrase for search engines) is 'in-vessel compost'.

 

[gws]

Here is an alternative for turning compost.
http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/compostmixer/

Hey, I am Gary

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Now that's making compost!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

How did you figure out "in-vessel compost"? I don't think I would have though of that one.

That IS a neat trick with the pivot.

SHF

 

[JOR_EL]

Re: windmill composter/blades-props

Hey guys,

I'm leaning away from the anemoneter-type blades, for esthetic reasons. Looks too much like a measuring device/scientific equipment, instead of a rustic Rube Golberg-ian contraption (which I prefer). /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

When/if I ever figure out how to post photos on this site (several failed attempts), I'll show you the inspiration for my plan. It's a picture of a human-powered hovercraft, that I took at the "Human-Powered Speed Championships" in Visalia, Ca. a few years back.

The prop was about 8 feet long, and powered solely by a bicyclist (1/2 to 3/4 hp, for the short timed-run). it looked cool, turning relatively slowly, and propelled the craft to a near-record 14-15 mph, If my memory is correct (I'm not far off, I'm sure!).

This was even though some of the rider's power went to a second "fan" that inflated the skirt to support the craft/rider above the water surface.

Many a jaw was hanging as this thing went by!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

I have some info on the family of airfoil shapes that are applicable to these (wind)speeds, and would like to build such a "windmill", even though a tower would be required, both for ground-clearance, and to get the prop-tips above head-chopping height.

Guaranteed to put out enough power to turn a drum, in any decent breeze.

Larry

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Re: windmill composter/blades-props

Lemme see the picture! Lemme see the picture! I wonder if there's a web site? RPM would know. He knows all the cool websites.

It occurs to me that the old windmills used a pump jack that converted the rotary motion into up/down motion. Maybe something like that with a ratcheting system to turn the drum? Seems if they could lift water from several hundred feet, they ought to be able to turn a composter.

SHF

 

[RPM]

Re: windmill composter/blades-props

I hadn't heard of human-powered hovercraft before - I'd like to see those pictures!!

 

[RPM]

Re: the term 'in-vessel'

I just tried a bunch of terms like 'drum' and 'rotate' and came across the web-site. Who'd a guessed that it was a whole little industry?

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Re: windmill composter/blades-props

Just remembered seeing a fly powered airplane once. Always wanted to build one, just never had the plans. Wife still makes pet flies for kids by tying one of them to a hair.

But a human powered hovercraft has all that beat by a mile.

SHF