Patent ID: 8904927

Claim:
A pneumatic can crusher ( 100 ) for compressing a metal can ( 150 ) or a plastic bottle ( 160 ), said pneumatic can crusher ( 100 ) comprising: (a) a hollow pipe ( 200 ) having a top end ( 220 ), a bottom end ( 230 ), an outside ( 210 ), and an inside ( 250 ); wherein the top end of the pipe ( 220 ) is closed and the bottom end ( 230 ) is attached to a stand ( 700 ); (b) a piston assembly ( 270 ) disposed inside the pipe ( 250 ) near the bottom end ( 230 ), said piston assembly ( 270 ) comprising a head ( 280 ) attached to a first end of a connecting rod ( 295 ) and a bottom air cylinder ( 820 ) connected to a second end of a connecting rod ( 296 ); wherein the piston assembly ( 270 ) is oriented such that the head ( 280 ) faces the top end of the pipe ( 220 ) and the bottom air cylinder ( 820 ) faces the bottom end of the pipe ( 230 ); wherein the bottom air cylinder ( 820 ) is inside an inner cavity ( 880 ); (c) an opening ( 255 ) disposed in the pipe ( 200 ) near the top end ( 220 ), wherein the opening ( 255 ) is for allowing the metal can ( 150 ) to be inserted into the inside ( 250 ) of the pipe ( 200 ) and placed on a top surface of the head ( 285 ) of the piston assembly ( 270 ); (d) a safety door ( 300 ) for covering the opening ( 255 ) in the pipe ( 200 ) pivotally attached to the pipe ( 200 ) via a hinge mechanism ( 350 ), wherein the safety door ( 300 ) is movable between an open and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the inside of the pipe ( 250 ) via the opening ( 255 ); and (e) an air compressor ( 945 ) connected to an air tank ( 950 ), wherein air from the air compressor ( 945 ) is directed to a safety valve ( 660 ) via a first hose ( 451 ), wherein 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 ( 270 ) via a second hose ( 452 ); and (f) a manually activated safety interlock ( 710 ), wherein said safety interlock ( 710 ) is biased to be engaged and can be disengaged by a foot of a user, wherein said safety interlock ( 710 ) comprises a lever ( 712 ) and a lever-activated hard stop ( 714 ) disposed on the pipe ( 200 ), wherein said hard stop ( 714 ) projects into the inside of the pipe ( 250 ) providing a barrier between the head of the piston assembly ( 280 ) and the top end of the pipe ( 220 ), wherein said safety interlock ( 710 ) prevents upward movement of the piston assembly ( 710 ) unless disengaged by the user; wherein air from the air compressor ( 945 ) pushes the air cylinder ( 820 ) upward toward the top end of the pipe ( 220 ) so to crush the metal can ( 150 ) on the top surface of the head ( 285 ) of the piston assembly ( 270 ).