ZA200605205B

ZA200605205B - Filter crusher

Info

Publication number: ZA200605205B
Application number: ZA200605205A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Carolin Richard Philip
Original assignee: Carolin Richard Philip
Priority date: 2005-06-01
Filing date: 2006-06-23
Publication date: 2007-10-31

Description

’ . CL IY ENE Diy es ea 12

Co IARC . FILTER CRUSHER : FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a filter crusher and more particularly, to an oil filter crusher.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Used oil filters of combustion engines for trucks, buses, cars, earth moving machines and the like, cause and environmental hazard. Old excess oil should be crushed from the filters for recycling of the oil and, at the same time, reducing the size of the filter casing.

The steel of the casing of the filter is also recycled.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a filter crusher for the crushing of used oil filters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a filter crusher comprising a crushing device; a pump for pumping oil to the crushing device to move a piston of the crushing device in a first direction; and a power source for powering the pump and for moving the piston in a second direction.

The pump is a pneumatic pump and the power source is a source of compressed air.

A further feature of the invention provides for a safety switch to selectively enable or disable operation of the pump. The safety switch enables activation of the pump only when a door of the crusher is closed. The safety switch disables operation of the pump when the door of the crusher is open or opened.

A still further feature of the invention provides for an operating switch to activate the pump provided the safety switch enables operation of the pump in that the door is closed.

Further features of the invention provide for a limit switch to disable operation of the pump at a predetermined oil pressure; for compressed air to be directed to the crusher to force oo 2S A he the piston towards the second direction; and for an oil tank to be in fluid flow connection with an inside of a chamber of the crusher.

These and other features of the invention are described further below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to figure 1 which shows a schematic diagram of a filter crusher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A filter crusher is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

The filter crusher 1 includes a crushing device in the form of a hydraulic press 6 having a piston 2 housed in a crushing compartment 3. The crushing compartment 3 is divided into two sealed compartments 3a and 3b. A piston 2 is sealably moveable in compartment 3b and a piston 22 is likewise moveable on compartment 3a. The pistons are both connected to an axially extending piston rod 21. The crushing compartment 3b has a door (not shown).

An oil pump 4 is connected through hydraulic pipes with a reservoir 5 and to the hydraulic press 6 to force the piston 22 downwards when the pump is activated.

The filter crusher further includes a safety switch 8 for controlling air flow from an air source 13. The safety switch 8 is operated by the door of the press. When the door is open the switch is automatically switched off and is switched on when the door is closed.

A pressure controlled device 12 is connected between the oil pump 4 and the press 6.

The pressure controlled device 12 selectively allows flow of oil from the reservoir, through the oil pump 4, through itself to the press 6 or back from the press, through itself and via a return flow-path back to the reservoir 5 whilst blocking oil flow from the pump 4 to the press.

The pump 4 is driven by compressed air. A switch 7 switches the pump 4. The switch 7 is configured to allow operation of the pump 4 only when the door of the crushing compartment 3 is closed and switch 8 is switched on.

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An air compressor 17 is connected through an air hose and via switch 8 to the pump 4 . and to the hydraulic press 6 such that compressed air pumped into a second compartment 3b of the press 6 will force the piston 2 in an upward direction.

The compartment 3 includes a floor 10 having drainage channels 11 formed by a grid for draining liquid from the floor into a collection tank 16.

In use, a used oil filter 9 is placed in the compartment 3b below piston 2 with its opening facing downwards towards the floor of the compartment 3.

The door of the compartment is closed so that the safety switch 8 will allow operation of switch 7 and thus, the pump 4, when switch 7 is switched on.

The operating handle is now engaged and valve 14 is set so as to cause compressed air to be directed to the pump 4 and to allow air in the compartment 19 to escape through the air vent 20 to activate the pump. This in turns pumps oil into compartment 3a of the press 6 forcing the piston 2 downwards onto the used filter 9 to crush the filter.

When the oil in the hydraulic system reaches a predetermined pressure as determined by a limit switch or limit valve in the pressure controlled device 12, the operating handle is automatically released by the pressure controlied device 12 to close valve 15 and to set valve 14 so as to cause the compressed air fed to the pump 4 to be redirected to compartment 19 formed below piston 22 and the division of compartments 3a and 3b to force the piston 2 upwards. Oil in the hydraulic system is forced back into the reservoir 5 through the pressure controlled device 12, the pressure controlled device 12 having a valve which has also been set to allow the flow of oil back to the reservoir 5.

The door may now be opened and the crushed filter removed. The excess oil in the filter has now been crushed from the filter and has drained through the floor of the compartment into the tank.

The oil can now be recycled. The crushed steel casing of the used filter can also be recycled. Crushing of the casing reduces its size so that more crushed casings per volume may be transported for recycling.

Co The crusher described above will be convenient to use in that it only requires normal workshop compressed air for operation. The combination of oil and compressed air - circuitry and the safety switch makes the crusher extremely safe to use. The system may be refigured so that the cylinder will always be held in the up position when not in use.

Should the air supply be interrupted, the piston will slowly lower to the down position.

When the door is opened during operation, the air supply to the pump will immediately be shut off due to the operation of the safety switch 8.

The invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein and it will be appreciated that many compressed air and oil or hydraulic circuits are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A filter crusher comprising a crushing device; a pump for pumping oil to the crushing device to move a piston of the crushing device in a first direction; and a power source for powering the pump and for moving the piston in a second direction.

2. A filter crusher according to claim 1 wherein the pump is a pneumatic pump and the power source is a source of compressed air.

3. A filter crusher according to any one of the preceding claims in which a safety switch selectively enables or disables operation of the pump.

4. A filter crusher according to claim 3 in which the safety switch enables activation of the pump only when a door of the crusher is closed and disables operation of the pump when the door of the crusher is opened.

5. A filter crusher according to claim 4 in which an operating switch activates the pump provided the safety switch enables operation of the pump in that the door is closed.

6. A filter crusher according to claim 5 in which a limit switch disables operation of the pump at a predetermined oil pressure.

7. A filter crusher according to any one of the preceding claims in which a pressure controlled device controls the pressure.

8. A filter crusher according to any one of the preceding claims in which compressed air is directed to the crusher to force the piston towards the second direction.

9. A filter crusher according to any one of the preceding claims in which an oil tank is in fluid flow connection with an inside of a chamber of the crusher.

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10. A filter crusher substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Dated this 3° gay gf JUNE ARE.

Patent -. Agent for the Applicant