Compost system with error detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10030279-B2
Application number	US-201414310045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2014
Priority date	Jun 20, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A controller for a compost system configured to identify an error condition is disclosed. The controller comprises at least one control output. The control output is configured to measure a load current of the at least one control output and generate a load value. The at least one control output is in communication with a compost device and is configured to control an environmental condition of a compost chamber of the compost system. The controller is operable to compare the load value to a predetermined value to determine an error condition of the compost system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compost system configured to identify an error condition, the system comprising:
a compost chamber formed by a processing bin;
at least one transducer configured to detect at least one environmental condition of the compost chamber;
a plurality of compost devices configured to adjust the environmental condition of the compost chamber in response to a plurality of control outputs, wherein the compost devices comprise:
a first compost device configured to control a first environmental condition of the compost chamber by a first process; and
a second compost device configured to control a second environmental condition of the compost chamber by a second process different from the first process; and

a controller comprising one or more circuits comprising the plurality of control outputs, wherein the controller is configured to:
control the compost devices via the control outputs,
measure a load current of a first control output of the plurality of control outputs, the first control output in communication with the first compost device of the plurality of compost devices,
generate a load value for the load current and compare the load value to a predetermined threshold range,
identify an error condition of the first control output in response to the load value being outside the predetermined threshold range and deactivate the first control output in response to the error condition, and
control the second compost device via a second control output in response to the identification of the error condition,

wherein the second compost device is controlled thereby preserving a compost cycle in response to the first control output being deactivated, the second compost device compensating for the error condition of the first compost device.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one transducer comprises a plurality of transducers in communication with a plurality of signal inputs of the controller, the transducers configured to monitor data indicating the environmental condition.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of transducers are configured to measure an oxygen level, a temperature, and a humidity level of the compost chamber.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first compost device comprises a tiller motor configured to actuate a tiller disposed in the first chamber.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the second compost device comprises a fan motor in connection with a fan, wherein the fan is configured to circulate air in the compost chamber.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the second output increasing an operation time of the fan preserving a compost cycle while the first control output is deactivated.

7. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the second compost device comprises a water supply configured to deliver water to the compost chamber.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the second output decreasing a volume of water supplied to the compost chamber by the water supply preserving a compost cycle while the first control output is deactivated.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first process is a compost mixing process and the second process is an air circulation process.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Nelson Keith

Classifications

• C05F17/70

  Controlling the treatment in response to process parameters · CPC title

• C05F17/993

  Arrangements for measuring process parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure or humidity · CPC title

• Y02P20/145

  the feedstock being materials of biological origin · CPC title

• C12M41/48

  Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00) · CPC title

• C12Q3/00 Primary

  Condition responsive control processes (apparatus therefor C12M1/36; controlling or regulating in general G05) · CPC title