Patent Publication Number: US-8122824-B1

Title: Pneumatic can crushing apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for crushing cans. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus utilizing an air compressor for compressing cans into flat, easily disposable or recyclable masses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Uncrushed metal cans occupy a considerable amount of space, making it difficult to store or transport large quantities of metal cans. Thus, it is desirable to flatten metal cans before they are stored or transported elsewhere so that more metal cans can be placed in a given space. Furthermore, crushing metal cans presents the material in a form in which is more readily salvageable for reuse and recycling. 
     The present invention features a pneumatic can crushing apparatus for compacting metal cans or plastic bottles. The pneumatic can crushing apparatus comprises a removable air cylinder inside the pipe. The piston assembly is connected to an air compressor and air tank via hoses and valves. The air from the air compressor and air tank can cause the piston assembly to move upwardly in the pipe so as to crush a metal can or plastic bottle inside the pipe. Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the can crusher of the present invention facilitates the compaction of metal cans for recycling purposes. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pneumatic can crushing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the pneumatic can crushing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the pneumatic can crushing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side and internal view of the pneumatic can crushing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side and internal view of the pneumatic can crushing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the pneumatic can crushing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the pneumatic can crushing apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following is a listing of numbers corresponding to a particular element refer to herein: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 100 
                 pneumatic can crusher apparatus 
               
               
                   
                 150 
                 can 
               
               
                   
                 200 
                 pipe 
               
               
                   
                 210 
                 outside surface of pipe 
               
               
                   
                 220 
                 top end of pipe 
               
               
                   
                 230 
                 bottom end of pipe 
               
               
                   
                 250 
                 inside of the pipe 
               
               
                   
                 255 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 280 
                 head of piston assembly 
               
               
                   
                 285 
                 top surface of head 
               
               
                   
                 286 
                 bottom surface of head 
               
               
                   
                 290 
                 connecting rod 
               
               
                   
                 300 
                 safety door 
               
               
                   
                 320 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 350 
                 hinge 
               
               
                   
                 451 
                 first hose 
               
               
                   
                 452 
                 second hose 
               
               
                   
                 453 
                 third hose 
               
               
                   
                 500 
                 trip lever 
               
               
                   
                 550 
                 adjustable pop off valve 
               
               
                   
                 650 
                 pressure gauge 
               
               
                   
                 660 
                 safety valve 
               
               
                   
                 665 
                 spring 
               
               
                   
                 668 
                 safety valve lever 
               
               
                   
                 670 
                 cover latch 
               
               
                   
                 700 
                 stand 
               
               
                   
                 750 
                 rubber pad 
               
               
                   
                 820 
                 bottom air cylinder 
               
               
                   
                 830 
                 rubber seal 
               
               
                   
                 880 
                 inner chamber 
               
               
                   
                 900 
                 air vent 
               
               
                   
                 945 
                 air compressor 
               
               
                   
                 950 
                 air tank 
               
               
                   
                 960 
                 pressure regulator 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention features a pneumatic can crusher apparatus  100  for compressing metal cans  150  or plastic bottles. The pneumatic can crusher  100  comprises a hollow pipe  200  having an outside surface  210 , a top end  220 , a bottom end  230 , and an inside  250 . The top end  220  of the pipe  200  is firmly closed. 
     The bottom end  230  of the pipe  200  is attached to a stand  700 . The stand  700  has a top surface and a bottom surface and helps to keep the pipe  200  in a vertical orientation with respect to the ground surface. A rubber pad  750  may be disposed on the bottom surface of the stand  700 , wherein the rubber pad  750  can help to secure the stand  700  to the ground surface. In some embodiments, the rubber pad  750  helps to prevent the stand  700  from slipping on the ground surface. 
     The pneumatic can crusher apparatus  100  further comprises a piston assembly slidably disposed inside the pipe  200  (e.g., in an inner chamber  880 ). The piston assembly comprises a head  280  having a top surface  285  and a bottom surface  286 , a connecting rod  290  having a first end and a second end, and a bottom air cylinder  820  having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer edge. The bottom surface  286  of the head  280  is attached to the first end of the connecting rod  290 , and the top surface of the bottom air cylinder  820  is attached to the second end of the connecting rod  290 . The bottom air cylinder  820  is housed in the inner chamber  880 . In some embodiments, seals  830  surround a portion of the piston assembly. 
     The piston assembly is oriented such that the top surface  285  of the head  280  faces the top end  220  of the pipe  200  and the bottom surface of the bottom air cylinder  820  faces the bottom end  230  of the pipe  200 . 
     An opening  255  is disposed in the pipe  200  near the top end. The opening  255  is for allowing a metal can  150  or a plastic bottle to be inserted into the inside  250  of the pipe  200  and placed on the top surface  285  of the head  280  of the piston assembly (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     A safety door  300  for covering the opening  255  in the pipe  200  is pivotally attached to the pipe  200  via a hinge mechanism  350 . The safety door  300  is movable between an open and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the inside of the pipe  200  via the opening  255 . In some embodiments, a cover latch  670  is disposed on the outside of the pipe near the safety door  300 . The cover latch  670  is for securing the safety door  300  in the closed position. In some embodiments, a handle  320  is disposed on the safety door  300  for assisting a user in moving the safety door  300  to the open position or the closed position. 
     The can crusher apparatus  100  of the present invention further comprises an air compressor  945  connected to an air tank  950 , for example via a third hose  453 . The apparatus  100  of the present invention is designed such that air from the air compressor  945  and air tank  950  can be directed to push up against the bottom surface of the bottom air cylinder  820  of the piston assembly, which causes the piston assembly to move upwards toward the top end  220  of the pipe  200 . This can crush a metal can  150  or plastic bottle that rests on the top surface  285  of the head  280  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     Air from the air compressor  945  is delivered via a first hose  451 . In some embodiments, a trip lever  500  is disposed on the first hose  451 . The trip lever  500  is movable between an open and a closed position respectively turning on and turning off the air compressor  945 . Such trip levers are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Disposed on the second end of the first hose  451  is a safety valve  660 . In some embodiments, the safety valve  660  is attached to the pipe  200 . In some embodiments, a second hose  452  directs air from the safety valve  660  to below the bottom air cylinder  820  (e.g., into the inner chamber  880 ). The safety valve  660  is movable between an open and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing compressed air to be delivered from the air compressor  945  to the piston assembly via the hoses. When the safety valve  660  is in the closed position, air from the air compressor  945  cannot cause the piston assembly to move. When the safety valve  660  is in the open position, air from the air compressor  945  can be used to move the piston assembly so as to crush a can  150 . 
     In some embodiments, a spring  665  is attached to the safety door  300  and to the safety valve  660  (e.g., via a linker). The spring keeps the door  300  biased in the open position. The safety valve  660  is controlled via a safety valve lever  668 . The safety valve lever  668  requires that the door is shut by the user before the piston can move up 
     The safety valve lever  668  causes the safety valve  660  to be pulled to the closed position when the safety door  300  is moved to the open position. The safety valve lever  668  causes the safety valve  660  to be pushed the open position when the safety door  300  is moved to the closed position. This prevents the piston assembly from moving when the safety door  300  is opened so as to prevent an injury. 
     In some embodiments, moving the safety door  300  to the closed position and turning the trip valve  500  to the open position causes compressed air to move the piston upwards towards the top surface  220  of the pipe  200  to crush the metal can  150  or plastic bottle inside the pipe. In some embodiments, the apparatus  100  of the present invention is designed to crush a can  150  only when the safety door  300  is in the closed position. 
     In some embodiments, the pneumatic can crushing apparatus  100  comprises a vent  900  for helping to allow pressure (e.g., air) to escape from the air cylinder. 
     In some embodiments, the pneumatic can crushing apparatus  100  of the present invention further comprises a pop-off valve  550 . The pop-off valve  550  can help return to the closed position after the piston assembly has moved upward in the pipe  200  to crush a can  150 . For example, the pop-off valve  550  allows air to be exhausted so that the bottom air cylinder can be lowered down to its starting position. 
     In some embodiments, the pneumatic can crushing apparatus  100  of the present invention further comprises a pressure regulator  960  connected to the air tank  950  and air compressor  945 . In some embodiments, the pressure regulator  960  is set to 80 pounds per square inch (psi). In some embodiments, the can crushing apparatus  100  comprises a pressure gauge  650 . 
     In some embodiments, the present invention is used with a standard air compressor. Air compressors are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In some embodiments, the safety valve  660  and/or pop-off valve  550  and/or trip lever  500  is a ½ inch quarter turn valve (e.g., ½ inch pipe fitting, ½ inch inside diameter). 
     In some embodiments, the bottom air cylinder  820  has a diameter of about 3.25 inches. In some embodiments, the bottom air cylinder  820  has a diameter between about 2 to 4 inches. In some embodiments, the bottom air cylinder  820  has a diameter greater than about 4 inches. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the pipe  200  is about 50 inches tall includes a pipe  200  that is between 45 and 55 inches tall. 
     The apparatus  100  of the present invention may be constructed in a variety of sizes. For example, in some embodiments, the pipe  200  is about 48 inches tall as measured from the top edge  220  to the bottom edge  230 . In some embodiments, the pipe is between 24 to 36 inches tall as measured from the top edge  220  to the bottom edge  230 . In some embodiments, the pipe  200  is between about 36 to 48 inches tall as measured from the top edge  220  to the bottom edge  230 . In some embodiments, the pipe  200  is between about 48 to 60 inches tall as measured from the top edge  220  to the bottom edge  230 . 
     In some embodiments, the pipe  200  is about 6 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the pipe  200  is between about 4 to 6 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the pipe  200  is between about 6 to 8 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the pipe  200  is between about 8 to 10 inches in diameter. 
     In some embodiments, the head  280  of the piston assembly is about 5.75 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the head  280  of the piston assembly is between about 3 to 5 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the head  280  of the piston assembly is between about 5 to 10 inches in diameter. 
     In some embodiments, the stand  700  is circular. In some embodiments, the stand  700  is about 20 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the stand  700  is between about 10 to 20 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the stand  700  is between about 20 to 30 inches in diameter. 
     In some embodiments, the first hose  451  and/or second hose  452  are about 0.5 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the first hose  451  and/or the second hose  452  are between about 0.5 and 1.0 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the first hose  451  and/or second hose  452  are between about 2.0 to 3.0 inches in diameter. 
     The following the disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,643; U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,607; U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,576; U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,564; U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,763; U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,018; U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,215. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.