Abstract:
The present invention provides a mobile crusher and related method for crushing objects and containers such as 55-gallon drums. The apparatus includes a crusher head and crusher base, each of which are quickly and easily attached to a forklift. When actuated, the forks of the forklift drive the crusher base and object resting on it into the crusher head, thereby crushing the object. The apparatus may be configured to accommodate different sizes of forklifts and may include an optional device to puncture an object or container at the onset of the crushing action.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This application claims priority and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 from U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/867,461 for “Mobile Apparatus for Crushing Containers,” filed Jun. 14, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to apparatus for crushing objects and containers and in particular to a mobile apparatus for crushing 55-gallon drums and other containers to facilitate disposition of those containers.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Containers, such as 55-gallon drums, are bulky even when empty and frequently require some form of compacting or crushing to enhance disposal or recycling. A typical 55-gallon drum is approximately 35 inches in length and 24 inches in width. By crushing the drum, it can be reduced to approximately 8 inches in thickness, thereby saving storage space and increasing the number of containers that can be shipped for disposal or recycling within a vehicle or shipping unit.  
         [0006]     Container crushers are well known in the art. But prior-art crushers generally require some form power such as hydraulic power to crush the containers placed in them. One example of this type of crusher is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,973 issued to Page. The &#39;973 patent employs remote controlled hydraulics to drive a ram press into the container sought to be crushed. This apparatus, however, is bulky and therefore cannot be easily moved to various locations at a typical worksite in which empty containers are ordinarily found. In addition, due to its complexity, a crusher manufactured according to the &#39;973 patent would also be expensive.  
         [0007]     The drum crusher described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,731 to Grizzard presents an improvement over the &#39;973 patent. In the &#39;731 patent, the crusher is attached to a two-wheeled trailer. The inclusion of the trailer enhances the mobility of the drum crusher. But, as with the &#39;973 patent, the crusher requires complex machinery and its own power source. This complexity and the requirement of an integral power source necessarily adds to the bulk and cost of such a crusher.  
         [0008]     Therefore, a need exists for a simple, inexpensive, and mobile crusher capable of crushing objects and containers of varying sizes, including 55-gallon drums. A need also exists for a crusher that utilizes the power source of other machinery commonly present at a worksite so that crusher is not required to have an additional integral power source.  
         [0009]     All references cited herein are incorporated by reference to the maximum extent allowable by law. To the extent a reference may not be fully incorporated herein, it is incorporated by reference for background purposes and indicative of the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     The problems presented in prior art are solved by the apparatus of the present invention, which is directed to a mobile object crusher. The present invention includes a crusher head and crusher base, adapted to be easily connected to a forklift. The crusher head has a head plate, for crushing a container pressed against the head plate, and a side plate or mounting member, for mounting the head plate to the frame of a forklift. The crusher base has at least one channel, configured to accept at least one fork of the forklift, and a base plate, connected to the channel for supporting the container while the forks of the forklift are actuated and driven toward the crusher head. The invention is an advancement in the art by providing a mobile crusher achieving the objects listed below.  
         [0011]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile container crusher that may be easily and quickly attached to a forklift.  
         [0012]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile crusher capable of using the power source of machinery commonly present at a worksite, such as forklifts, to crush objects and containers such that it does not require its own hydraulics or other machinery to be operable.  
         [0013]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile crusher capable of accommodating various sizes of forklifts.  
         [0014]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile crusher that employs a device to puncture a container at the onset of crushing to further stabilize the container and facilitate the release of air and other gases from the container during crushing.  
         [0015]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings and detailed description that follow.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the crusher head  100  and crusher base  200  of the mobile crusher  10 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention illustrating the attachment of the crusher head  100  to the frame  32  of the forklift.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view looking upward of the present invention illustrating the crusher head  100  and crusher base  200  (installed on forks  34  of a forklift) of the mobile crusher, showing optional angle member  114  and discharge holes  132 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view looking upward of the present invention illustrating the crusher head  100  and crusher base  200  (installed on forks  34  of a forklift) of the mobile crusher, showing alternative optional angle member  114 A, angle support  134 , and discharge holes  132 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention illustrating the mobile crusher  10  installed on a forklift  30  in an initial stage of operation.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the present invention illustrating the mobile crusher  10  installed on a forklift  30  in an intermediate stage of operation.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention illustrating the mobile crusher  10  installed on a forklift  30  in the final crushing stage of operation.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating how the mounting member  106  is attached to the frame  32  of the forklift via a mounting collar  300  and fastener  302 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 7A  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating how the mounting member  106  may be attached to the frame  32  of the forklift via an alternative mounting collar  300 A and fasteners  302 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the installation of an optional wood splitter member  122 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of an alternative wood splitter member  122 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating slots  116  in the head plate  102  allowing for adjustment of the width between the side plates  104 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the installation of side plate  104 , bracket  118 , and head plate  102  through optional slots  116  in the head plate  102 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating adjustable side plates  104  and optional adjustable support member  126 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of optional adjustable support members  126  and fastener  128 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the mobile crusher  10  includes a crusher head  100  and crusher base  200 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the installation of the mobile crusher  10  on a forklift  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the crusher head  100  is attached to the frame  32  or other structure of the forklift  30 . Turning to  FIG. 3 , the crusher base  200  is attached to the forks  34  of the forklift  30 . The container  20  or other object desired to be crushed is placed on the upper surface of the crusher base  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5 , and  6 , when the forklift  30  is actuated, the forks  34  are driven upward causing the container  20  to come into contact with the crusher head  100 . The compression between the crusher head  100  and crusher base  200  crushes the container  20 .  
         [0033]     In the preferred embodiment, the crusher  10  is configured to be easily removed from the forklift  30 . The crusher head  100  is designed to be mounted on the frame  32  of a forklift  30  using mounting members  106 . Turning to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the crusher head  100  is mounted to the frame  32  by a fastener  36 , such as a bolt, attached to the frame  32 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the attachment of a mounting member  106  to frame  32  of the forklift  30 . The bolt  36  is inserted into the slot  108  of the mounting member  106 . The invention, however, is not limited to the use of bolts. Other fasteners commonly-known in the art, such as studs, may also be used. In addition, slots  108  are not required. The mounting member  106  may include a hole, instead of a slot, for accepting the fastener. Alternatively, the mounting member  106  also may be permanently mounted or affixed to the frame  32  of the forklift, for example by welding.  
         [0034]     In the preferred embodiment, four slots and bolts are used to install the crusher head  100  to the forklift  30 . L-shaped slots  108 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , are preferred to allow the crusher head  100  to slide horizontally over the fasteners  36  to facilitate installation. Other shapes of slots, such as a simple horizontal-oriented slot or a hole, may also be used. The L-shaped slot  108  may be elongated in the vertical direction either upward or downward from the axis of the horizontal portion of the slot. Where the slots  108  are elongated upward, the weight of the crusher head  100  will cause it to move downward as the fastener  36  is moved into the vertical portion of the slot  108 . This movement will contribute to securing the crusher head  100  to the frame  32  of the forklift  30 . The L-shaped slot  108  may also be elongated downward relative to the axis of the horizontal portion of the slot  108 .  
         [0035]     The crusher base  200  is also configured to be easily installed on and removed from the forklift  30 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the crusher base  200  includes at least one channel  202  and a base plate  204 . The fork  32  of forklift  30  is inserted into the channel  202 . This allows the crusher base  200  to be stably supported by the forks  34  during operation of the forklift  30 . One skilled in the art would appreciate that either one or more channels may be used. In the preferred embodiment, the crusher base  200  has two channels  202  to accommodate each of the forks  34  of the forklift  30 . The channels  202  should be of sufficient width to accommodate varying sizes of forklift forks  34 . Also, a single channel  202  may be utilized. The channel  202  should be of sufficient width to accommodate at least one fork  34  of the forklift  30 . The channel  202  may optionally be wide enough to accommodate both forks  34  of the forklift  30 .  
         [0036]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , the crusher head  100  includes a head plate  102  and at least one side plate  104 . The side plate  104  includes a mounting member  106 . In one embodiment, the side plate  104  is attached to the head plate  102  and mounts the crusher head  100  to the frame  32  of the forklift  30 . One skilled in the art would appreciate that the side plate  104  and mounting member  106  may be constructed of a single continuous member or may be constructed from a plurality of members. In the preferred embodiment, the crusher head  100  include two side plates  104 . In this embodiment, the mounting member  106  is an additional plate attached to the side plate  104 . The head plate  102 , mounting member  106 , and side plate  104  should be constructed of rigid materials, such as steel, iron, metallic alloys, and other rigid materials and the like. One skilled in the art would appreciate the numerous alternative materials that may be used to construct these elements.  
         [0037]     In the preferred embodiment, the crusher head  100  includes an angle member  114  attached to the lower surface of the head plate  102 . The angle member  114  should be formed from rigid materials and shaped to include at least one sharp angle so that it can pierce a container  30  during the crushing operation. Although the angle member  114  is not required, it enhances stability by piercing the container  30  and thereby, providing an additional means for holding the container  30  in place during crushing. It also allows for the escape of air as the container  30  is crushed. Additionally, discharge holes  132  as shown in  FIG. 3  may be included to facilitate the discharge of air and other gases and possibly fluids during the crushing of the container  30 .  FIG. 3A  shows alternative angle members  114 A attached to angle support members  134 , which are secured to the head plate  102 . The figure also illustrates optional cross support members  110  and  110 A.  
         [0038]     In another embodiment of the invention, at least one slot  116  is included in the head plate  102 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment with four slots  116  oriented perpendicular to the plane of the side plates  104 . The slots  116  allow the width between the side plates  104  to be adjusted to accommodate varying widths of forklift frames  32 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , two brackets  118  are attached to each side plate  104 . A fastener  120  is inserted through each slot  116  and fastened to the bracket  118 . By loosening the fastener  120  of each bracket  118 , the side plate  104  may be moved laterally in a direction perpendicular to its plane. One skilled in the art would appreciate a single slot  116  in the head plate could be used to adjust each side plate  104 , or that one or more slots  116  could be used for each slide plate  104 . This embodiment may include additional optional adjustable support members  126 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , at least one of the adjustable support members  126  has a slot  130  in it. The adjustable support members  126  are secured via a fastener  128  installed through the slot  130 . This mechanism allows the adjustable support members  126  to vary in width as the side plates  104  are adjusted.  
         [0039]     In another embodiment of the invention, the mounting member  106  of the crusher head  100  is attached to the forklift frame  32  by a mounting collar  300 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the installation using a mounting collar  300 . The mounting member  106  is connected to the mounting collar  300  by the fastener  302 . Preferably, the mounting collar  300  is installed securely over the frame  32  or some other structure of the forklift  30 . One skilled in the art would appreciate the multitude of different manners in which this may be accomplished. One example includes using a collar  300  that employs a fastener (not shown) that attaches to the frame  32  of the forklift  30  to securely hold the collar to the frame. In another example, the collar  300  is welded to the frame  32 .  FIG. 7A  illustrates an alternative mounting collar  300 A that accommodates two fasteners  302  for securing the mounting member  106  to the frame  32 .  
         [0040]     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the crusher  10  includes an optional wood splitter member  122  for facilitating the splitting of wood placed between the crusher head  100  and the crusher base  200 . The wood splitter member  122  should be manufactured from rigid or hard materials and have some form of angle shape such as that of an ordinary axe or may have multiple angle members. One skilled in the art would appreciate the multitude of different shapes that may be used for the wood splitter member  122 .  FIG. 8A  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the wood splitter member  122 .  
         [0041]     The primary advantage of the present invention is that the crusher can effectively crush containers, such as 55-gallon drums, and other objects using a common forklift. Because it does not require its own power source, the crusher is not cumbersome and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. It is also mobile and relatively easy to transport to a worksite. Another advantage of the invention is that it is adapted to be easily and quickly installed on and removed from a forklift. It may also be configured to accommodate different sizes of forklifts.  
         [0042]     Even though many of the examples discussed herein are applications of the present invention in compaction, the present invention also can be applied to other types of waste compaction, including but not limited to 55-gallon drums. One skilled in the art will see that the present invention can be applied in many areas where there is a need to crush containers or objects. Other applications of the invention include: compaction of appliances, compaction of oil and air cleaners and filters, and compaction of salvage automobiles.  
         [0043]     It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.