Abstrict An improved can crusher has two movable jaws, a first jaw and a
second jaw, both movably mounted in a support housing. The jaws
are initially spaced apart one from the other a distance sufficient
to allow a can to be inserted between them. A member capable of
generating a mechanical force is mounted on the housing and is directly
connected by a connecting member to the second of the movable jaws
by a force transferring member and is indirectly connected by the
same connecting member to the first jaw by a force modifying member.
The force modifying member modifies the mechanical force so generated
to achieve a mechanical advantage. When the member capable of generating
the mechanical force is activated this force is first transferred
to the first jaw, and because of the mechanical advantage achieved,
the first jaw is able to initially overcome the structural resistance
of the can and crimp it. After the can is once crimped its structural
resistance to crushing is lessened and the second jaw can then finish
crushing the can without the need of a mechanical advantage. After
the can is completely crushed between the first and second jaw the
member capable of generating the mechanical force is relaxed and
the jaws move apart from each other allowing the crushed can to
be expelled from the housing.
Claims I claim:
1. A can crusher comprising:
a support housing;
a first movable jaw means and a second movable jaw means both movably
mounted in said support housing to move reciprocally between an
initial position wherein said first and said second movable jaw
means are spaced apart one from the other by a distance at least
the length of a can to be crushed and a second position wherein
said first and said second movable jaw means are spaced apart one
from the other by a distance less than said initial distance so
as to enable said first and said second movable jaw means to crush
a can placed between said first and said second jaw means when said
first and said second jaw means move from said initial position
to said second position;
means for generating a mechanical force mounted in said housing
and capable of being activated to generate said mechanical force;
a mechanical force transfer means operatively connected to said
means for generating a mechanical force so as to transfer said generated
mechanical force;
a mechanical force modifying means operatively connected to both
said first movable jaw means and said mechanical force transfer
means, said mechanical force modifying means modifying said mechanical
force transferred to it by said transfer means to achieve a mechanical
advantage and transferring said mechanical advantage to said first
movable jaw means advantageously moving said first movable jaw means
from said initial position;
said second movable jaw means operatively connected to said mechanical
force transfer means and moving in response to a mechanical force
transferred by said mechanical force transfer means;
said advantageous movement of said first movable jaw means initiating
crushing of said can as said first movable jaw means moves toward
said second position, said movement of said second movable jaw means
crushing said can as said second movable jaw means moves to said
second position;
said supporting housing having track means mounted thereon, said
first movable jaw means and said second movable jaw means movably
mounted in said track means;
said track means including a stopping means positioned in said
track means proximal to said first movable jaw means so as to stop
the travel of said first movable jaw means in said track means after
said can has been initially crushed.
2. The can crusher of claim 1 wherein:
said mechanical force transfer means includes a cable having its
ends attaching to said force generating means and said second movable
jaw means;
said cable operatively connected to said mechanical force modifying
means.
3. The can crusher of claim 2 wherein:
said mechanical force modifying means includes a pulley means operatively
connected to said first movable jaw means;
said cable passing through said pulley means intermediate said
ends of said cable.
4. The can crusher of claim 3 including a first return means and
a second return means, said first return means operatively attaching
to said first movable jaw means and capable of moving said first
movable jaw means from said second position to said initial position;
said second return means operatively connected to said second movable
jaw means and capable of moving said second movable jaw means from
said second position to said initial position.
5. The can crusher of claim 4 wherein:
said means for generating a mechanical force includes a lever means
pivotally mounted on said support housing;
said cable connecting to said lever means such that when said lever
means is pivoted in said support housing the movement of said lever
is transferred to said cable.
6. The can crusher which comprises:
a housing;
a first and second movable jaw slidably mounted within said housing
to reciprocally move toward and away from each other so as to crush
a can between said first and said second jaws as said jaws move
toward each other;
a lever rotatably mounted in said housing and including means for
transmitting movement attaching to said lever;
at least one cable having one of its ends operatively connected
to said means for transferring movement such that movement of said
lever is transferred to said cable;
said cable having its other end operatively connected to said second
jaw;
a pulley means capable of achieving a mechanical advantage rotatably
mounted to said first jaw and including said cable operatively passing
over said pulley means intermediate said ends of said cable;
said pulley means moving said first jaw under a mechanical advantage
in response to the movement of said cable and said second jaw moving
in direct response to movement of said cable.
7. The can crusher of claim 6 wherein:
said pulley means comprises at least one movable pulley rotatably
mounted to said first jaw such that a force applied to said pulley
by said cable is mechanically transferred to said first jaw.
8. The can crusher of claim 7 wherein:
said means for transmitting movement comprises at least one semicircular
member having an arcuate surface operatively attaching to said lever
and including said cable attaching to said semicircular member such
that as said lever is moved said cable is pulled across the arcuate
surface of said semicircular member.
9. The can crusher of claim 8 wherein:
said semicircular member comprises a quarter-round section having
a groove along its arcuate surface to receive said cable and to
maintain said cable on said arcuate surface.
10. The can crusher of claim 6 including:
a track means mounted in said housing having said first and second
jaws slidably mounted in said track means so as to slidably move
within said track means.
11. The can crusher of claim 10 wherein:
said track means including a first jaw stopping means capable of
limiting the amount of travel of said first jaw in said track means.
12. The can crusher of claim 10 wherein:
said pulley means comprises at least one movable pulley rotatably
mounted to said first jaw such that a force applied to said pulley
by said cable is mechanically transferred to said first jaw.
13. The can crusher of claim 12 wherein:
said means for transmitting movement comprises at least one semicircular
member having an arcuate surface operatively attaching to said lever
and including said cable attaching to said semicircular member such
that as said lever is moved said cable is pulled across the arcuate
surface of said semicircular member.
14. The can crusher of claim 6 including:
a spacer means attaching to one of said first or second jaws reducing
the distance between said first and second jaws.
Description CROSS-REFERENCE
None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a can crusher having two movable
jaws reciprocally movably mounted in a housing such that the jaws
can move toward one another to crush a can. In response to an applied
force the first jaw moves with a mechanical advantage compared to
the other which allows the first jaw to initiate crushing the can.
Presently because of the need to conserve resources the recycling
of cans, most notably aluminum cans, has been undertaken with the
cooperation of a large segment of the population. Several decades
ago recycling was not the issue it is today; however, in order to
reduce the space cans occupied in home trash cans and the like several
types of can crushers were developed.
The known can crushers generally fit into two categories. The first
of these categories utilizes an apparatus having a fixed backing
plate and one movable jaw which is moved toward the backing plate
via a lever and a thrust link. In this type of can crusher a can
is inserted between the movable jaw and the backing plate and pressure
is applied to the movable jaw by movement of the lever. Since cans
are cylinders they have a considerable amount of strength in their
cylindrical wall along the axis of the wall which is colinear with
the axis of the cylinder. It takes a considerable amount of pressure
to initially distort the can along this axis. Once the can is distorted,
however, this pressure is not needed. This raises the possibility
of injury using these devices because the person using the crusher
must initially exert a large force on the lever and after the can
is initially crimped this large force may cause the lever and the
person pushing on it to suddenly go forward. Additionally, a child
or a feeble person may not be able to exert enough pressure on the
lever to initially crush the can.
A second type of can crusher utilizes a blade which initially shears
off the top and/or bottom of the can. This blade is sharp and after
shearing, sharp edges are formed on the pieces of the can that remain.
These sharp pieces are capable of cutting the person handling them
and thus extreme caution must be used in using this device. Further,
if a person inadvertently placed a body member into the device and
the device is activated the sharp edge is capable of puncturing
or severing the body member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above it is considered that there exists a need
for a new type of can crusher which is safe to use, which can be
used by a small child or a weak or feeble person, and which can
be used in a rapid manner allowing the crushing of a large number
of cans by an individual to be done in an expedient manner. It is
therefore a broad object of this invention to fulfill the above
needs. It is a further object to provide a device which is simple
in construction and thus can be manufactured relatively inexpensively
allowing it to be readily available to a large number of people
who are interested in ecology and recycling.
These and other objects which will become evident from the remainder
of this specification are achieved by providing a can crusher having
a support housing in which two jaws are movably mounted. Attaching
to the support housing is a member capable of generating a mechanical
force upon being activated. This member is linked to the first of
said jaws via a mechanism which will modify the mechanical force
generated by the member to achieve a mechanical advantage. The member
is also linked to the second of these jaws in a direct manner not
utilizing a modification of the force. A can to be crushed is placed
between the two jaws and the member capable of generating a mechanical
force is actuated. This force is transferred first to the first
jaw which modifies the force in a manner creating a mechanical advantage
to increase the force. This enables movement of the first jaw to
initially crimp or slightly crush the can. The force from the member
capable of generating a force is then transferred to the second
jaw which although it does not move with the mechanical advantage
of the first jaw, it moves with a force sufficient to complete crushing
of the can. Further, the second jaw moves more rapidly than the
first jaw; thus, the can is first easily crushed by the first jaw
and secondly crushing is rapidly completed by the second jaw.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention a lever is used to
generate the mechanical force and a cable is used to transmit it.
A pulley is mounted to the first jaw which incorporates the movement
of the cable and achieves a mechanical advantage by moving only
one-half the distance that the cable is moving in exchange for doubling
the force. The cable is directly hooked to the second jaw and the
second jaw moves in a one-to-one response to the cable. The jaws
are mounted in the housing within a track which guides them in correct
alignment with respect to one another and with the can being crushed.
The track includes a stop for the first jaw. After the first jaw
has moved a pre-set increment of distance it abuts against the stop
and all further motion of the cable is transferred only to the second
jaw. The housing can include a void space underneath the jaws which
allows a crushed can to drop freely from the jaws facilitating removal
of the can from the can crusher.
While the preferred embodiment incorporates the use of a lever
and a cable to move the jaws, other mechanisms including a master
cylinder and two slave cylinders can be used for moving the jaws.
If a master cylinder and two slave cylinders are used the surface
areas of the two slave cylinders can be different allowing one of
them to have a greater mechanical advantage compared to the other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention will be better understood when taken in conjunction
with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is an end elevational view in section about the line 2--2
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in partial section about the
line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in partial section about the
line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a top elevational view about the line 5--5 of FIG. 1
showing a top plan view of certain of the internal components of
the invention;
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the internal working components
of the invention, the housing having been removed to better expose
these working components;
FIGS. 7 8 and 9 are views similar to FIG. 4 with the exception
that they progressively show the sequence of a can as it is crushed
by the invention;
FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an insert to be used with the preferred
embodiment of the invention to adapt the invention to accommodate
different sized cans; and
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view in partial section of an alternate
embodiment of the invention.
The invention shown in the drawings and described in this specification
utilizes certain principles and concepts as are set forth in the
appended claims. Those skilled in the mechanical arts will realize
that these concepts and principles could be used in a number of
differently appearing and differently describable embodiments. For
this reason this invention is to be construed in light of the claims
appended to this specification and is not to be construed as being
limited to the exact embodiment shown in the drawings and described
in the specification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The can crusher 12 shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 14 having
a lever 16 extending from its upper surface 18. Also found in the
upper surface 18 is an insert hole 20 through which a can to be
crushed is inserted into the housing 14. For the purposes of this
specification the numeral 22 will be used to generally identify
a can, interchangeably, no matter what state the can is in, i.e.,
whether it is whole or crushed, or an intermediate state thereof.
Located in the bottom of housing 14 is a discharge hole 24 which
allows the can 22 to fall from the housing into a suitable receptable
such as the basket (not numbered) shown in FIG. 1.
The housing 14 can be mounted in a multiplicity of ways. The preferred
type mounting is that shown in FIG. 1. The end 26 of the housing
14 is suitably supported on a surface (not separately numbered)
by two L brackets both identified by the numeral 28 which are bolted
onto the housing 14 and can either rest on a surface or be bolted
thereon. Proximal to the other end 30 of the housing 14 is an extendable
leg 32 which is appropriately mounted to a bracket 34 on the bottom
of the housing 14. The leg 32 can be a telescopic type leg as shown
which is adjustable to allow the can crusher 12 to be positioned
at a variety of different heights on a variety of different support
surfaces.
The housing 14 is composed of a main U shaped section 36 forming
the bottom and both sides of the housing 14. Mounted to the U shaped
section 36 is a top section 38 and two end sections 40 and 42. End
section 40 is a flat member which seals up the end 26 of housing
14. End section 42 is a composite member formed of two halves (not
separately numbered) such that a space or channel 44 is formed in
the end section 42. This channel 44 extends partly through top section
38 providing a space allowing lever 16 to move through both the
top section 38 and the end section 42.
Mounted within the U shaped section 36 on either side thereof,
respectively, is a left-side track member 46 and a right-side track
member 48. Normally these track members 46 and 48 would be spot-welded
to the interior of the U shaped section 36. However, alternate methods
of attachment such as by screws or bolts could also be used. Integrally
formed on the left-side track member 46 are two elongated flanges
50 and 52 running along the longitudinal axis of the can crusher
12. Together the flanges 50 and 52 form left-side track 55. Similarly
right-side member 48 has identical flanges 54 and 56 forming right-side
track 57.
Slidably mounted between the flanges 50 through 56 in tracks 55
and 57 is a first jaw 58 and a second jaw 60. First jaw 58 is mounted
proximal to end 26 of housing 14 while second jaw 60 is mounted
proximal to lever 16. First jaw 58 is composed of a jaw plate 62
which is suitably attached, e.g., welded, to a T shaped member 64.
The edges of T shaped member 64 fit in tracks 55 and 57 between
the flanges 50 through 56. The jaw plate 62 is narrower than the
T shaped member 64 allowing the jaw plate 62 to freely traverse
back and forth within the interior of the housing 14. Mounted behind
jaw plate 62 to the surface of T shaped member 64 is an axle 66
having two pulleys 68 and 70 respectively, rotatably mounted on
the ends thereof. Mounted on T shaped member 64 and projecting up
over the surface of the pulleys 68 and 70 are two cable retention
members both collectively identified by the numeral 72. A return
spring 74 is attached to the T shaped member 64 and to end section
40 such that it biases T shaped member 64 toward the end 26 of housing
14.
Second jaw 60 is constructed similar to first jaw 58 in that it
has a jaw plate 76 and a T shaped member 78. T shaped member 78
is appropriately slidably mounted in tracks 55 and 57 between flanges
50 through 56 and the jaw plate 76 is of a smaller dimension than
the T shaped member 78 allowing the second jaw 60 to also freely
slide back and forth within the housing 14. The first and second
jaws 58 and 60 are located with respect to one another such that
their jaw plates 62 and 76 face one another. Located within the
elongated flanges 50 through 56 are two second jaw stops collectively
identified by the numeral 80. A spring 82 having one end attached
to T shaped member 78 and the other end attached as hereinafter
described urges second jaw 60 toward end 30 of housing 14 until
the T shaped member 78 abuts against the stops 80.
A can retention plate 84 is appropriately mounted within the interior
of housing 14 below second jaw 60. The can retention plate 84 does
not totally extend across the space between the first and second
jaws 58 and 60 but stops in a position in which its edge 85 approximately
corresponds to discharge hole 24. When a can 22 is completely crushed
as hereinafter explained jaw plate 76 is located proximal to edge
85 of retention plate 84. This in combination with edge 85 having
a partially concave shape allows a crumpled can 22 to descend past
the edge 85 of can retention plate 84 down through discharge hole
24. Located on each side of can retention plate 84 are two can positioning
spacers collectively identified by the numeral 86. These spacers
86 project upwardly for a distance which equals about half the heighth
of jaw plate 76 and as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 jaw plate 76 slides
within the spacers 86. The can positioning spacers 86 thus serve
to position a can directly between the jaw plates 62 and 76.
An axle 88 traverses between the upright portions of U shaped section
36 near end 30. Two quarter-round sections 90 and 92 contain suitable
bearing surfaces collectively identified by the numeral 93 allowing
them to be mounted on and freely pivot about axle 88. An bracket
94 is mounted between the quarter-round sections 90 and 92 and serves
to fixedly retain them in position with respect to one another.
Bracket 94 contains a hole 96 which accepts lever 16. Lever 16 is
appropriately mounted on axle 88 via bearing surfaces collectively
enumerated by the numeral 98. Because lever 16 passes through bracket
94 movement of lever 16 about axle 88 is transferred to quarter-round
sections 90 and 92. Extending along the arcuate surface of quarter-round
sections 90 and 92 are cable guide grooves 100 and 102 respectively.
Two cables 104 and 106 are fixedly attached to quarter-round sections
90 and 92 respectively, via cable retention members collectively
identified by the numeral 108. The cables 104 and 106 pass over
pulleys 68 and 70 and are fixedly held to the second jaw 60 by two
cable holding brackets collectively identified by the numeral 110
suitably attach to T shaped member 78. Spring 82 previously noted
as having one end attached to second jaw 60 has the other end hooked
to an eye bolt 112 attaching to L bracket 94. The spring 82 thus
pulls second jaw 60 toward bracket 94 while at the same time (as
viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4) causes both the quarter-round sections
90 and 92 and the lever 16 to rotate counter-clockwise.
When lever 16 is rotated in a clockwise direction this rotation
is transferred to quarter-round sections 90 and 92 causing them
to rotate in a clockwise direction. As they rotate cables 104 and
106 are stretched and lay into the cable guide grooves 100 and 102
maintaining the cables 104 and 106 onto the surfaces of quarter-round
sections 90 and 92. As cables 104 and 106 are stretched they pull
the first jaw 58 and the second jaw 60 toward one another. Since
cables 104 and 106 pass around pulleys 68 and 70 the force thus
exerted to first jaw 58 is amplified by the interaction of the pulleys
68 and 70 with the cables 104 and 106. Any movement of first jaw
58 is modified by this interaction. Assuming that the ends of cables
104 and 106 attached to second jaw 60 are fixed, linear movement
of the end of cables 104 and 106 attaching to quarter-round sections
90 and 92 will be twice that in respect to distance of the linear
movement imparted to first jaw 58. However, the force of first jaw
58 will be twice that of the force on cables 104 and 106 neglecting
friction, of course.
The movement of second jaw 60 is in direct relationship to the
movement of cables 104 and 106 since it is directly attached to
those cables. Thus, for any increment distance that the ends of
cables 104 and 106 attached to quarter-round sections 90 and 92
move, the second jaw 60 will move the same increment distance.
The movement of first jaw 58 by cables 104 and 106 within tracks
55 and 57 is limited by two first jaw stops 114 placed in between
the flanges 50 through 56. When the first and second jaws 58 and
60 are in an initial or starting position as depicted in FIGS. 3
and 4 a can 22 can be placed through insert hole 20 between the
jaws 58 and 60 and on top of can retention plate 84. A can 22 so
placed is shown in phantom in FIG. 4.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 8 and 9 after a can 22 is placed within
the can crusher 12 as described and jaws 58 and 60 are in their
initial positions lever 16 is pulled in a clockwise direction. Since
both first and second jaws 58 and 60 are free to move they will
do so until they meet with the ends of the can 22 and their travel
is inhibited by the physical presence of can 22. At this time second
jaw 60 stops and for a limited time can be assumed to be fixedly
held. Because of the mechanical advantage achieved via pulleys 68
and 70 attaching to first jaw 58 further movement of the lever 16
will be transmitted to first jaw 58 urging it toward second jaw
60. Theoretically this movement will be at double the force but
at one-half the speed of the movement of the ends of cables 104
and 106 attached to quarter-round sections 90 and 92. After sufficient
force is exerted against the can 22 by the first jaw 58 the can
22 will begin to crumple or crimp as shown in FIG. 7. This initial
crumpling or crimping requires the greatest force in that it must
overcome the inherent stability of the cylindrical walls of the
cans. However, once these cylindrical walls have been distorted,
further distortion of the can 22 is much easier. After the first
jaw 58 has traveled the distance necessary to initiate this crumpling
or distortion of the can 22 it meets with and is fixedly held by
stop 114. Since first jaw 58 can no longer move, further movement
of lever 16 is now directly transmitted by the cables 104 and 106
to the second jaw 60. This is depicted in FIG. 8. At the point where
lever 16 has been fully rotated approximately 100 degrees clockwise,
jaws 58 and 60 will be in what could be described as a second or
"crushed" position and the can 22 will be completely crushed
as shown in FIG. 9. At this time can 22 will be pushed free of can
retention plate 84 and will be fixedly held over discharge hole
24 between jaws 58 and 60.
When the force exerted against lever 16 is released spring 74 will
bias first jaw 58 toward the left and spring 82 will bias second
jaw 60 toward the right while at the same time biasing lever 16
back to its original position. The crumpled can 22 is then freed
from in between jaw plates 62 and 76 and can descend by gravity
out of the housing 14 through the discharge hole 24.
The vast majority of beverage cans presently on the market are
either of a 12 or 16 ounce size. The distance between the first
and second jaws 58 and 60 when they are completely pulled toward
end 26 and end 30 respectively, under the bias of springs 72 and
84 respectively, is such that a 16 ounce can will fit between these
two jaws 58 and 60. If 12 ounce cans are to be crushed a spacer
unit 116 is inserted through insert hole 20 and attached to second
jaw 60. The spacer unit 116 in its simplest and preferred form is
simply an open sided box having a lip 118 extending from its top
surface 120. The lip 118 fits over the top of second jaw 60 fixedly
holding the spacer unit 116 against jaw plate 76. The spacer unit
116 is dimensioned to correctly account for the differences between
the longitudinal size of the 16 ounce can opposed to the 12 ounce
can.
In addition to a 12 ounce spacer unit other spacer units could
be used such that smaller cans such as 9 and 6 ounce cans could
also be crushed. Cable retention members 72 ensure that cables 104
and 106 do not flip off the pulleys 68 and 70 when jaws 58 and 60
return from the "crushed" position to their initial position.
FIG. 11 describes the embodiment noted above wherein a master cylinder
and two slave cylinders are substituted for the cable and the pulley.
Except for this substitution this embodiment is like the previous
embodiment.
In FIG. 11 the lever 16 is attached to a piston rod 122 which
in turn attaches to a piston 124 located within master cylinder
126. Leading from master cylinder 126 is hydraulic line 128 which
branches to slave cylinder 130 and slave cylinder 132. A piston
134 is located in slave cylinder 132 and connects to jaw 58 via
piston rod 136. A piston 138 is located in slave cylinder 130 and
connects to second jaw 60 via piston rod 140. The surface area of
piston 134 is greater than the surface area of piston 138. When
piston 124 moves within master cylinder 126 in direct response to
movement of lever 16 hydraulic fluid is forced through the line
128. Since piston 134 has a greater surface area than piston 138
the force generated by piston 124 on the hydraulic fluid is directly
transferred to piston 134 initially crumpling the can 22. After
jaw 58 travels its limit of travel in a manner analogous to that
described for the preferred embodiment above, piston 134 can no
longer move and thus all the hydraulic force is transferred to piston
138. Since piston 138 is smaller than either piston 124 or 134 it
moves a greater distance, however, with a lesser force. The movement
of piston 138 is transferred to second jaw 60 which finishes crumpling
the can 22 as per the preferred embodiment. |