Patent ID: 7989200

Claim:
A composting apparatus, comprising: a container for receiving material to be composted; an aerator in the container, the aerator having at least one opening for allowing air to pass from the aerator into the container for facilitating aerobic decomposition of the material to form compost; an air flow path for providing air from outside the apparatus to the aerator; an anti-compaction member for preventing the compost when formed from compacting down on the aerator to allow air flow from the aerator through the at least one opening to the inside of the container; and wherein the aerator comprises a substantially conical member supported by a first pipe in communication with the air flow path, the conical member having a lower periphery and an upper portion, a peripheral wall tapering inwardly from the lower periphery to the upper portion, the upper portion of the aerator being closed to air flow and including a fluted stud onto which a second pipe can be located; and a plurality of vanes on the outer surface of the peripheral wall, which prevent compositing material from compacting down onto the peripheral wall, and which provide a flow passage up the peripheral wall; so that air is able to flow through the first pipe to the conical member to the interior of the conical member and escape from the bottom periphery of the conical member, up the peripheral wall and between the vanes to migrate into the composting material and to flow from the peripheral wall through the fluted stud and up into the second pipe.