US3763772A

US3763772A - Multiple-pass crushing device

Info

Publication number: US3763772A
Application number: US00267119A
Authority: US
Inventors: V Baker
Original assignee: ELINA BAKER
Current assignee: ELINA BAKER
Priority date: 1972-06-28
Filing date: 1972-06-28
Publication date: 1973-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-09

Abstract

A multiple-pass crushing device for continuously compacting debris comprises a housing containing a reciprocable crushing member. The crushing member and housing together form a steadily narrowing vertical crushing chamber arranged so that the articles to be compacted gradually advance downward by gravity toward the narrower portion of the chamber as they are progressively compressed. In addition, the device is provided with a gate directly below the crushing member for preventing the crushed material from exiting the chamber until it has been compressed to a predetermined size.

Description

United States Patent [191 Baker MULTIPLE-PASS CRUSHING DEVICE Inventor: Victor E. Baker, Coos Bay, Oreg .o

Assignw i a Ba r 9... 32y129 Filed: June 28, 1972 Appl. No.: 267,119

11.8. C1. 100/218, l00/D1G. 2, 100/233, 24l/265, 241/267 Int. Cl B30b 15/32, B30b 9/32 Field of Search IOO/DIG. 2, 233, 100/218; 241/99, 198 R, 199.8, 265, 267, 79, DIG. 17

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Dixon et al. 241/265 Oct. 9, 1973 2,920,554 l/1960 Bunke loo/DIG. 2 1,967,240 7/1934 Guest..... loo/DIG. 2

2,949,078 8/1960 Reed l00/DIG. 2

Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney-Daniel P. Chernoff et al.

ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures |e I 2 0 Q 22 221 34 l 3e 40 36 4 I I 25 t l h ll 44 IOQ MULTIPLE-PASS CRUSHING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a multiple-pass crushing device which comprises a housing containing a reciprocating crushing member which continuously compresses debris to a predetermined size. Various devices for crushing cans and like articles are known to the prior art. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,949,078 to Reed, 2,920,554 to Bunke, 2,962,958 to Sholin, and 3,1 38,090 to Morehead describe crushing machines which include a movable crushing member. The Reed and Bunke patents each provide a jaw which oscillates in a rectangular crushing and chewing motion while the crushing plates of Sholin and Morehead are pivotally attached at the lower end and reciprocated at their upper end. Since these devices do not provide a sufficient amplitude of movement at their lower end, jamming of the mechanism by the crushed articles is likely to be a problem. In addition, none of these devices provides a means for preventing compressed material of varying and uncontrolled size to exit the housing as the member moves between the retracted and extended positions. In Jennings U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,995 a restricted passageway allows only a can of predetermined size to exit from the housing. However, the apparatus of Jennings is designed for single pass crushing, the use of a tapered crushing chamber for gradually feeding the articles toward the narrow end is not suggested and, in fact, the lower portion of the crushing chamber is .merely a housing for the system and not a true gating member. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved multiplepass crushing apparatus for continuously and uninterruptingly compressing debris which produces a compacted product having a predetermined maximum size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel and improved multiple-pass crushing device which comprises a housing including a stationary wall acting as an anvil and a movable crushing member for continuously compacting debris, such as cans and other like articles, fed to the device. The movable member is pivotally attached at its upper end to the housing and is reciprocated about its upper pivot point by a rod attached to the lower end of the member, the rod in turn being reciprocated by an eccentric journal drive assembly powered by a motor. The stationary and movable portions together define a gradually narrowing crushing chamber having, at the lower end, an opening of predetermined size. A gate located between the crushing member and the housing wall forms an exit passageway through which the compressed material exits the crushing chamber.

The novel constructional features of the multiplepass crushing system provides several important operational advantages. First, the movement of the reciprocating crushing member about the upper pivot point imparts a large displacement amplitude to the movable member at the lower end of the crushing chamber and thereby prevents jamming of the mechanism by debris located within the crushing chamber. Secondly, the use of a gating member prevents the passage of compacted material from the housing until it has been crushed to not more than a predetermined size.

It is therefore a principal objective of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple-pass continuous flow crushing device.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a crushing device having a means for insuring the production of compacted debris of a predetermined maximum size.

The foregoing objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the multiple pass-crushing device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the crushing device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially-sectional end view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, a platform, generally designated as 10, includes a horizontal support frame and a plurality of legs 10b which supports the entire device above floor level. A housing, generally designated as 11, includes a front elongated wall 12 connected to a pair of adjacent elongated side walls, 14 and 16, the respective front and side walls being supported .by platform [10. Connected between the rear, upper portion of the

respective side walls

14 and 16 of the housing is a horizontal bracing member 18. A second bracing member 20, in the form of a pivot bar, interconnects the upper edge of the side walls at a point intermediate to front wall 12 and rear bracing member 18.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, a crushing member, generally designated as 22, depends from pivot bar 20 and includes an inclined upper portion 22a extending downward from the pivot bar towards front wall 12, and a lower portion 22b which, when the crushing member is in the extended position shown, is parallel to front wall 12. Crushing member 22 and front wall 12 together form a multiple-pass crushing chamber 22 for compressing cans and similar debris fed into the open top of the housing. A plate 24 is attached to the rear of the crushing member 22 for structural reinforcement purposes. Positioned immediately below crushing member 22 and connected to

side walls

14 and 16 is a gate 25. Preferably, the gate is adjustable in a forward or backward direction with respect to front wall 12 of the housing so that the exit passageway 23b formed thereby, which is indicated as x, can be made larger or smaller as desired. Adjustability can be accomplished by employing, for example, a rack and pinion gear assembly 44 or any other suitable adjustment means. Formed between front wall 12 and crushing member 22, when the latter is in the extended position, is a clearance opening 23a and it is preferred that this opening be equal to or less than the size x of the exit passageway 23b.

Crushing member 22 is reciprocated by an eccentric drive assembly, generally designated as 26, which is mounted on platform 10 and comprises an electric motor 27 powering a worm drive assembly 28. The

worm drive assembly operates a drive shaft 30, engaging a pair of bearing assemblies 32, which in turn rotate an eccentric 34. A rod 38, journaled at point 36 to eccentric 34, is pivotally attached by a bolt and nut assembly 40 to a pair of connecting plates 42 formed in the lower rear portion of crushing plate 22.

In operation, debris is fed either continuously or intermittently into the open top of the crushing chamber 23. Activation of the eccentric drive assembly 26 reciprocates crushing plate 20 in an arcuate path between respective extended and retracted positions. The crushing member is reciprocated at a typical rate of approximately 1 cycle per second, each stroke tending to crush the debris located within the chamber and, as the debris becomes more compressed, it drops further and further down within the chamber 23 until it becomes compressed to not more than a predetermined size set by the distance x. As the crushing plate moves rearwardly to a retracted position, the clearance between the lower crushing member portion 22b and the front wall 12 of the housing becomes greater than the predetermined distance x. However, because of the presence of gate 25, debris is retained within the chamber until it is compressed to the desired predetermined dimension. After the compacted debris leaves the crushing chamber, it can be collected in any convenient receptacle located thereunder.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing abstract and specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple-pass crushing apparatus for compacting debris which comprises:

a. a housing with an opening at the top thereof for receiving debris to be compacted;

b. a movable crushing member pivotally dependent from the upper end of said housing for continuously compressing said debris within a crushing chamber formed between said respective crushing member and housing;

c. means attached to the lower end of said crushing member for reciprocating said member between respective extended and retracted position; and

d. a gate connected to said housing immediately below said crushing member for permitting only a pre-determined size of debris to exit said housing.

2. The crushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a front wall connected to a pair of respective adjacent side walls; a pivot member connecting the upper edges of said respective side walls for depending said crushing member therefrom; said crushing member and said front wall forming a crushing chamber of decreasing size from top to bottom of said housing; and said reciprocating means includes an eccentric drive assembly coupled to one end of a rod, the other end of said rod being pivotally attached to the lower end of said crushing member for reciprocating same in an arcuate path between said respective extended and retracted positions.

3. The crushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clearance between the lower end of said respective crushing member at the extended position and said front wall of said housing is not more than the opening formed by said gate.

4. The crushing apparatus of claim 1 which is further characterized in that the position of said gate is adjustable with respect to said front wall for providing passageways of varying size for debris.

Claims

1. A multiple-pass crushing apparatus for compacting debris which comprises: a. a housing with an opening at the top thereof for receiving debris to be compacted; b. a movable crushing member pivotally dependent from the upper end of said housing for continuously compressing said debris within a crushing chamber formed between said respective crushing member and housing; c. means attached to the lower end of said crushing member for reciprocating said member between respective extended and retracted positions; and d. a gate connected to said housing immediately below said crushing member for permitting only a pre-determined size of debris to exit said housing.