Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a device and method for forming scrap metal bales by crushing automobiles and scrap metal. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device and method for forming scrap metal bales by crushing automobiles and scrap metal latitudinally, vertically and longitudinally. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   An increasingly strong demand for disparate scrap metal such as black sheet clips, loose steel, industrial skeleton sheets, trim stock, white goods galvanized sheet and clips, stainless steel sheets, aluminum sheet, and scrap metal from junked automobiles, has created a demand for mobile scrap metal crushers having efficiencies competitive with large centralized scrap metal crushing facilities. 
   A mobile crusher will usually have one of two crushing chamber configurations. The first configuration requires the crushing chamber be loaded through its top, typically necessitating the use of a crane. Whether the crane is mounted on the crusher or separate, a crane loading operation has the disadvantage that a crane must either be relocated once the scrap proximate to the crane has been exhausted or be fed by a more mobile piece of equipment like a front-end loader. Relocating the crane usually necessitates the relocation of the crusher, which takes valuable time. 
   The second configuration requires the crushing chamber be loaded through one of its sides, thereby facilitating the use of highly mobile loading equipment like front-end loaders, skidders, or forklifts. Loading a crusher with mobile loading equipment like front end loaders is advantageous because the crusher does not require relocation and a crane is not required. 
   To effectively compete with the large centralized crushing facilities, mobile crushers need to be capable of accepting one or more complete and entire junk automobiles per loading cycle. This requirement combined with the side loading configuration results in mobile crushers having hydraulic cylinders that protrude significantly above the crusher, preventing the crusher&#39;s transport along roads without lowering the hydraulic cylinders. In the past, the lowering and raising of hydraulic cylinders to allow transport and operation has been difficult and time consuming. Thus, there was a demand for a mobile sideload crusher that could quickly and conveniently convert from transportation mode to operation mode. 
   One crusher that attempted to meet this demand was the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,443, issued to Hall on Aug. 12, 1997. Hall discloses a mobile car crusher designed to reduce junk cars into slabs by simply crushing them vertically. A car crusher, like Hall, will reduce a full-size car to a slab having the following approximate dimensions: nine inches tall; eight feet wide and twenty feet long. 
   While the Hall crusher is adequate for reducing automobiles to slabs, it is less than adequate for the processing of loose scrap metal for two reasons. First, loading the Hall crusher with a sufficient charge of loose scrap metal will result in pieces of scrap spilling from the crushing chamber before the loading door of the Hall crusher can be completely closed. Second, simply crushing a charge of loose scrap metal results in a slab having poor structural integrity, such that the slab will have difficulty in staying together during handling and transport. 
   The scrap metal recycling industry is moving away from slabs in favor of bales. Approximate desired dimensions for a full size car that has been baled are: two feet tall; four feet wide and twelve feet long. Because the Hall crusher can only process metal scrap into slabs, the Hall crusher fails to address the recycling industry&#39;s preference for bales over slabs. 
   Consequently, there is a need in the art for a portable metal crusher capable of: (1) side loading by highly mobile loading equipment like front-end loaders, skidders, and forklifts; (2) convenient conversion between the transportation and operation modes; (3) processing loose scrap metal without excessive spilling of scrap from the crushing chamber before the loading door is fully closed; and (4) reducing both automobiles and charges of loose scrap metal to bales having structural integrity. 
   There is also a need in the art for a method of scrap metal processing that: (1) facilitates side loading by highly mobile loading equipment like front-end loaders, skidders, and forklifts; (2) is conveniently transportable; (3) deters loose pieces of scrap from spilling from the crushing chamber before the loading door is fully closed; and (4) is capable of reducing both automobiles and charges of loose scrap metal to bales having structural integrity. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention, in one embodiment, is a mobile metal crusher capable of forming scrap metal bales by crushing automobiles and scrap metal latitudinally, vertically, and longitudinally. The crusher has a frame with wheels, the wheels facilitating the transport of the crusher. The crusher also has a baling chamber that has a bottom deck, a load door, a crush plate, and a wall. The load door is pivotally connected to the bottom deck and is capable of crushing automobiles latitudinally as the door pivots from an open position to a closed position. The crush plate is located above the bottom deck and is capable of crushing automobiles vertically as the crush plate is displaced vertically within the baling chamber. The wall is rigidly connected to the bottom deck and has a plunger, the plunger being capable of crushing automobiles longitudinally as the plunger is displaced horizontally within the baling chamber. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of forming scrap metal bales by crushing automobiles and scrap metal latitudinally, vertically, and longitudinally. First, the baling chamber is loaded with the metal to be crushed. The load door is then pivoted up to its fully closed position to crush the metal latitudinally. The crush plate is then vertically displaced within the baling chamber to crush the metal vertically. Finally, the plunger is horizontally displaced within the baling chamber to crush the metal longitudinally. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of preparing a mobile metal crusher for transportation. First, a piston is extended from a crush plate cylinder to lower a crush plate to its fully down position within a baling chamber. A securing end on a top deck is then disconnected from a peak on the wall. The piston is then retracted into the crush plate cylinder to lower the top deck and the crush plate cylinder into the baling chamber. 
   While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be apparent, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the portable metal crusher in operation mode, according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the load door in the fully down position, the side shields unfolded to their fully open position, the stabilizers fully extended, the top deck secured to the fore and aft wall peaks, and the plunger and crush plate fully retracted. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the rear frame portion of the semi-trailer and the plunger cylinders contained therein. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the fore wall from a point on the portable metal crusher just aft of the fore wall. 
       FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the aft wall from a point on the portable metal crusher just aft of the aft wall. 
       FIG. 5  is an elevation view of an arm rotator connected to an upper arm, a piston shaft end, and a pivot shaft. 
       FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the portable metal crusher in operation mode, according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the load door in the fully up position, the side shields unfolded to their fully open position, the stabilizers fully extended, and the top deck secured to the fore and aft wall peaks. 
       FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the portable metal crusher in transportation mode with the load door in the fully up position, the side shields folded against the load door, the stabilizers fully retracted, the top deck recessed within the baling chamber, and the portable metal crusher connected to a semi-tractor. 
       FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the portable metal crusher in operational mode with the load door positioned at an angle intermediate between the fully up and down positions, forming with the side shields a hopper in which to receive loose scrap. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the bottom deck, illustrating the low-profile structural members making up the belly section of the semi-trailer. 
       FIG. 10  is an end perspective view of a wall peak illustrating the relationship between the guide slot and the goosenecks of the top deck and crush plate. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of a top deck gooseneck secured by a peak pin and multiple guide pins to the top of a wall peak. 
       FIG. 12  is a simplified elevation side view of the baler portion of the portable metal crusher with the load door removed showing the top deck and crush plate resting on support stands when the portable metal crusher is in transportation mode. 
       FIG. 13  is a simplified elevation side view of the baler portion of  FIG. 12  where the crush plate cylinders have been used to raise the top deck up where it is secured to the fore and aft wall peaks, the crush plate continuing to rest on the support stands. 
       FIG. 14  a simplified elevation side view of the baler portion of  FIG. 13  where the crush plate has been fully retracted up and the support stands have been removed. 
       FIG. 15  is a simplified side elevation view of the baler portion of the portable metal crusher with the load door removed showing the starting positions of the crush plate, the plunger, and the newly loaded automobile when the portable metal crusher is in operation mode. 
       FIG. 16  is a simplified elevation end view of the baler portion of the portable metal crusher showing the load door in its fully down position, the crush plate and the plunger in their fully retracted positions, and the newly loaded automobile when the portable metal crusher is in operation mode. 
       FIG. 17  is the same view indicated in  FIG. 16  except the load door has been fully closed, crushing the automobile in the lateral axis. 
       FIG. 18  is the same view indicated in  FIG. 15  except the crush plate has been actuated, crushing the automobile in the vertical axis. 
       FIG. 19  is the same view indicated in  FIG. 18  except the plunger has actuated in the longitudinal axis, reducing the crushed automobile to a bale. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of a portable metal crusher  1  in operation mode. The portable metal crusher  1  includes a semi-trailer  3  and a baler  6 . The semi-trailer  3  has a gooseneck  9 , a rear frame  12 , and a belly section  15 , which supports the baler  6 . While the semi-trailer  3  portrayed in  FIG. 1  is a low-boy type, it should be noted that other types of semi-trailers may be utilized. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rear frame  12  is supported above the ground by wheels  18  mounted on axles  19 . Located within the rear frame  12 , aft of the baler  6  and above the axles  19 , are one or more plunger cylinders  24  for actuating a plunger  27 . Alternatively, the one or more plunger cylinders  24  may be located aft of the baler  6  and fore of the axles  19 . 
   As indicated in  FIG. 1 , a power plant  30  for powering and controlling the hydraulics of the portable metal crusher  1  is located on the gooseneck  9  of the semi-trailer  3 . The power plant  30  has an engine  33 , an oil reservoir  36 , a hydraulic pump  39 , a control valve manifold  42 , a control panel  43 , a fuel tank  45 , and multiple hydraulic hoses  48  that run from the control valve manifold  42  to the various hydraulic cylinders of the portable metal crusher  1 . Connected to the bottom of the gooseneck  9  is a kingpin  52  for connecting the semi-trailer  3  to a semi-tractor&#39;s fifth wheel (not shown) for transporting the portable metal crusher  1 . 
   Four stabilizers  55  for stabilizing the portable metal crusher  1  during operation mode, as shown in  FIG. 1 , are connected to the semi-trailer  3 . Two stabilizers  55  are located on each side of the semi-trailer  3 , one being connected to the semi-trailer near the junction between the gooseneck  9  and the baler  6  and the other being connected to the semi-trailer  3  near the junction between the rear frame  12  and the baler  6 . The stabilizers  55  are hydraulically extended and retracted. Prior to operation of the portable metal crusher  1 , the operator will extend the stabilizers  55  to stabilize the crusher  1 . Prior to transporting the portable metal crusher  1 , the operator will fully retract the stabilizers  55 . 
   The baler  6  has a top deck  60 , a pair of side shields  65 , and a baling chamber  70 , wherein loose scrap metal or auto bodies are loaded for crushing into bales of scrap metal. The baling chamber  70  includes a crush plate  75 , a fore wall  80 , an aft wall  85 , a back wall  90 , a bottom deck  95 , and a load door  100 . The crush plate  75  is vertically displaceable within the baling chamber  70 . 
   The fore wall  80  and the aft wall  85  are rigidly connected to the back wall  90 , thereby forming three sides of the baling chamber  70 . The fore wall  80 , the aft wall  85 , and the back wall  90  are rigidly connected to the bottom deck  95 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the fore wall  80  has a fore guide plate  110  that has a guide slot  120  and a fore wall peak  122 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the aft wall  85  has a plunger  27  and an aft guide plate  130  that has a guide slot  120  and an aft wall peak  123 . The plunger  27  is horizontally displaceable within the baling chamber  70 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the load door  100  has a top edge  135  and a bottom edge  140 , the bottom edge  140  being pivotally connected by a system of hinges  141  to the bottom deck  95  and its supporting belly section  15  of the semi-trailer  3 . A ramp  145  is removably connected to the top edge  135  of the load door  100 . A shaft  150  is rigidly connected to each corner of the top edge  135  of the load door  100 . Each shaft end  155  is pivotally connected to the first end of a lower arm  160 . The second end of each lower arm  160  is pivotally connected to a first end of an upper arm  165 , forming an elbow  170 . 
   As shown in the combination of  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the second end of each upper arm  165  is pivotally connected to the arm eye  175  of an arm rotator  180 . Each arm rotator  180  is pivotally connected about its fulcrum  185  to a pivot shaft  190  protruding from a wall  80 ,  85  of the baler  6 . Each lever eye  195  of each arm rotator  180  is pivotally connected to a piston shaft end  200  of a door cylinder  205 , the cylinder end  210  of each door cylinder  205  being connected to the semi-trailer  3  near its intersection with the walls  80 ,  85  of the baler  6 . 
   Each door cylinder  205  causes its respective arm rotator  180  to pivot about its fulcrum  185  thereby causing the arms  160 ,  165  to extend or retract. When the arms  160 ,  165  extend, the load door  100  will pivot about the system of hinges  141  connected to the bottom edge  140  to an open position as reflected in FIG.  1 . When the load door  100  is in its fully open position, as reflected in  FIG. 1 , the arms  160 ,  165  will still not be in a fully extended, linear configuration but will form an angle at the elbow  170  that is slightly greater than 90 degrees. Not fully extending the arms  160 ,  165  to a straight linear configuration provides increased mechanical leverage for the arms when closing the load door  100 . 
   When the arms  160 ,  165  retract, the load door  100  will pivot about the system of hinges  141  connected to the bottom edge  140  to a closed position as reflected in FIG.  6 . The arm rotators  180  are mechanically advantageous in that their lever action increases the closing force of the load door  100 , allowing the load door  100  to squeeze scrap metal into the baling chamber  70 . Once the load door  100  reaches its fully closed position, the arms  160 ,  165  will have folded into a position that is self-locking as illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 1  shows that a side shield  65  is pivotally attached to the loading side of each fore wall  80  and aft wall  85 . As reflected in  FIG. 7 , when the portable metal crusher  1  is in transportation mode, the side shields  65  are folded in against the load door  100 , which is in its fully up position. 
   As reflected in  FIG. 1 , when the portable metal crusher  1  is in operation mode, the side shields  65  will be unfolded to their full open positions (i.e., until the side shields  65  are perpendicular to the long axis of the semi-trailer  3 ), thereby allowing sufficient clearance for the load door  100  to be lowered into its loading position. The side shields  65  are locked in their full open positions by attachment rods  215 , which run from connections on the side shields  65  to connections on the semi-trailer  3  or the baler  6 . 
   In operation mode, the side shields  65  shield an operator standing at the control valve manifold  42  from debris that may emanate from the baling chamber  70  during loading, crushing or unloading. Since the load door  100  is positionable at any angle between the fully down and fully up positions, and since the side shields  65  are continuous along the full range of load door  100  positions, the combination of the load door  100  and side shields  65  form an adjustable hopper, as shown for example in FIG.  8 . This hopper aspect of the portable metal crusher  1  is advantageous in that it prevents pieces of loose scrap metal from spilling out of the baling chamber  70  during loading of the baling chamber  70  or closing of the load door  100 . The hopper feature is also advantageous because it allows the portable metal crusher  1  to be loaded by a crane, in addition to side loading equipment like front end loaders, forklifts and skidders. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the load door  100  in its fully down position lays nearly flat on the ground. This feature allows the upper surface of the load door  100  and the bottom deck  95  to be relatively parallel and to form an essentially level continuous surface. This continuous level surface is advantageous because it allows a front end loader to simply approach and remove a bale from the baling chamber  70  with the loader arms low and the tines of the loader head relatively level, as opposed to having to raise and extend the loader&#39;s arms and tilt the loader&#39;s head in order to pick up the bale. The continuous level surface makes bale removal easier and safer for the loader operator, keeping the bale&#39;s mass as low and close to the loader&#39;s center of gravity as possible during the bale&#39;s removal from the baling chamber  70 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the ability of the load door  100  to lay nearly flat on the ground is a result of the bottom deck  95  being in close proximity to the ground. As shown in  FIG. 1 and 9 , the belly section  15  of the semi-trailer  3  provides the structural support for the bottom deck  95 . Because the belly section  15  is the low part of the low-boy type semi-trailer  3  and is constructed of structural members  218  having relatively small vertical cross-sectional dimensions, the bottom deck  95  is located in close proximity to the ground level. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a top deck  60  has two deck cylinder mounts  220  and two crush plate cylinders  225 . A cylinder mount pin  230  secures each crush plate cylinder  225  to its respective deck cylinder mount  220 . Each crush plate cylinder  225  is independently operable and the piston shaft end  228  of each vertical piston  229  (see  FIGS. 13 and 18 ) emanating from each crush plate cylinder  225  is pivotally connected to the top of the crush plate  75 , thereby allowing one end of the crush plate  75  to be extended down below the other end for selective leverage tilting of the crush plate  75 . To facilitate selective leverage tilting of the crush plate  75 , the crush plate ends  235  are sloped towards the center of the crush plate  75 , thereby providing the necessary clearance between walls  80 ,  85  when the crush plate  75  is in a tilted position (see FIGS.  1  and  14 ). 
   As reflected in  FIGS. 10 and 14 , a crush plate gooseneck  236  extends from each crush plate end  235  and is slidably engaged within the guide slot  120  in the fore and aft guide plates  110 ,  130 . The interaction of the crush plate goosenecks  236  with the guide slots  120  prevents the crush plate  75  from being displaced horizontally as the crush plate  75  is displaced vertically by the crush plate cylinders  225 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  14 , a top deck gooseneck  237  extends from the fore and aft ends of the top deck  60  and is slidably engaged within the guide slot  120  in the fore and aft guide plates  110 ,  130 . The interaction of the top deck goosenecks  237  with the guide slots  120  prevents the top deck  60  from being displaced horizontally as the top deck  60  is displaced vertically by the crush plate cylinders  225 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , each wall peak  122 ,  123  has a pair of saddles  238  located on its top, a single saddle  238  being located adjacent to each side of the guide slot  120 . A pin hole  239  penetrates each top deck gooseneck  237 . When the top deck  60  is in its fully up, operational position (as reflected in FIG.  1 ), a peak pin  240  is inserted in the pin hole  239  and rests in the saddles  238 . The peak pin  240  then supports the top deck  60  from the wall peaks  122 ,  123 . A push pin  241  may be used to insert the peak pin  240  into the pin hole  239 . The push pin  241  may be operated by hand or may be mechanized via mechanical or hydraulic means. 
   As indicated in  FIG. 11 , horizontal plates  242  extend horizontally from the guide plates  110 ,  130 . A guide hole  243  penetrates each horizontal plate  242 . Guide pins  244 , which extend up from the top deck  60 , protrude up through the guide holes  243  when the top deck  60  is in its fully up, operational position (as reflected in FIG.  1 ). When the guide pins  244  are engaged in the guide holes  243 , the top of the top deck  60  encounters the bottom of the horizontal plates  242 , thereby preventing the top deck  60  from being displaced upwards by the crush plate cylinders  225  during crushing operations. 
   To illustrate the transformation of the portable metal crusher  1  from transport mode to operation mode,  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  will be addressed. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the portable metal crusher  1  will be towed in transport mode to a metal salvage location by a semi-tractor  245  and positioned as desired. 
   As reflected in  FIGS. 7 and 12 , when the portable metal crusher  1  is in transport mode, the stabilizers  55  will be in their fully retracted positions, the load door  100  will be in its fully up position, the side shields  65  will be folded against the load door  100  and the top deck  60  and the crush plate cylinders  225  will be recessed within the baling chamber  70  so that the crush plate is supported by removable supports  246 . 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the stabilizers  55  will be fully extended to support the portable metal crusher  1  after which the semi-tractor  245  may be detached. The side shields  65  are then unfolded to their full open positions and secured in place by the attachment rods  215 . The load door  100  is then fully lowered. Now the interior of the baling chamber is visible and appears as reflected in FIG.  12 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the crush plate  75  is still supported by removable supports  246 . The vertical pistons  229  of the crush plate cylinders  225  press against the crush plate  75  and raise the top deck  60  to its fully up, operational position at the top of the baling chamber  70 . As the top deck  60  rises, the top deck goosenecks  237  slide within the guide slots  120 , ensuring that the displacement of the top deck  60  is strictly vertical. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , as the top deck  60  nears its fully up operational position, the guide pins  244  will penetrate the guide holes  243 , thereby ensuring proper alignment for insertion of the peak pins  240 . Once the top deck  60  is in its fully up operational position with the guide pins  244  properly located within the guide holes  243 , the upward displacement of the top deck  60  will be arrested because the top of the top deck  60  will encounter the bottom of the horizontal plates  242 . The peak pins  240  are now inserted into the pin holes  239  by hand or by using the push pin  241 . The peak pins  240  rest in the saddles  238  located on top of each wall peak  122 ,  123 . The top deck  60  is now supported by and secured to the walls  80 ,  85  (see FIGS.  1 , 10  and  11 ). 
   The vertical pistons  229  are then retracted, bringing the crush plate  75  up to the bottom of the top deck  60 . As the crush plate  75  rises, the crush plate goosenecks  236  slide within the guide slots  120 , ensuring that the displacement of the crush plate  75  is strictly vertical. The removable supports  246  are then removed. The baling chamber  70  is now configured as illustrated in FIG.  14 . The portable metal crusher  1  has now been fully converted from transportation to operation mode and appears as indicated in FIG.  1 . The portable metal crusher  1  is now ready to bale scrap metal. To convert the portable metal crusher  1  back to transportation mode, the above steps are reversed. 
   To illustrate the operation of the portable metal crusher  1 ,  FIGS. 6 ,  8 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  will be addressed. With the portable metal crusher  1  configured as illustrated in  FIG. 1 and 14 , an automobile  250  (or other scrap) is loaded into the baling chamber  70  by a front-end loader, forklift, skidder or crane. The loaded baling chamber now appears as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Alternatively, if loose scrap is to be loaded into the baling chamber  70 , the load door  100  may be positioned to form a hopper as reflected in FIG.  8 . 
   Once the baling chamber  70  has been loaded with an automobile  250  and/or loose scrap metal, the first crushing stage can occur. The door cylinders  205  will pivot the arm rotators  180 , causing the arms  160 ,  165  to retract. The retracting arms  160 ,  165  will cause the load door  100  to pivot about its system of hinges  141  to the fully closed position, forcing the load door  100  against the automobile  250 , reducing it to a crushed automobile  251  in the lateral axis as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 17 . In one embodiment, the load door  100  is configured to create a crushed automobile  251  having a four foot lateral dimension. 
   The second crushing stage is then employed. As shown in  FIG. 18 , the vertical pistons  229  force the crush plate  75  down against the crushed automobile  251 , crushing it in the vertical axis. In one embodiment, this second crushing stage reduces the crushed automobile  251  to a height of two feet. 
   In one embodiment, a third crushing stage then takes place with the plunger pistons  255  forcing the plunger  27  in the longitudinal axis against the crushed automobile  251  forming a bale  260  (see FIG.  19 ). In one embodiment, the third crushing stage reduces the length of the crushed automobile to twelve feet. In another embodiment, the final length of the crushed automobile  251  (or loose scrap), is dependent upon the pressure within the hydraulic cylinder and within the baling chamber  70 . The plunger  27  and crush plate  75  then return to their starting positions as reflected in  FIG. 14 , the load door  100  opens to its fully down position as shown in  FIG. 1 , and the bale  260  is removed by a front-end loader, forklift, skidder or crane. The portable metal crusher  1  is now ready to process another load of scrap metal. 
   The portable metal crusher  1  is fully controllable from the control valve manifold  42  or from the control panel  43  (see FIG.  1 ). The portable metal crusher is also fully controllable from a hand held remote control  261 , which utilizes any form of wireless communication such as radio frequency, infra-red, or any other technique known in the art, to communicate with the control panel  43  mounted on the gooseneck  9  of the portable metal crusher  1 . 
   The portable metal crusher  1  is fully automated. For example, by pressing a single button on the control panel  43  or the remote control  261 , the crush plate  75  and the plunger  27  will return to their retracted positions as reflected in  FIGS. 1 ,  14  and  15 , and the load door  100  will fully open. By pressing another button, the three stage crushing cycle will begin as narrated above and reflected in  FIGS. 17 ,  18  and  19 . Pressing yet another button will stop the portable metal crusher  1  in any cycle. The portable metal crusher  1  may be programmed to exert different crush pressures, thereby being capable of producing bales of different densities. Also, the portable metal crusher  1  may be programmed to produce bales of varying length. The above-programmed operations are given as examples only and other operations may be programmed. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 4