Patent US3580167A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3580167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Can crushing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-09-19
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-09-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for crushing waste objects such as cans, containers, bottles and the like, including motor-driven screw and nut means for displacing a crusher member in a given direction to compress waste objects contained in a crushing chamber. The invention is characterized by the provision of quick-release means for disengaging the nut means from the screw means to permit instantaneous return of the crusher member to its initial retracted position by return spring means. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the nut means is of the split-nut type including nut sections that are automatically locked into threaded engagement with the screw by an axially shiftable collar upon closure of a cover member upon the crushing chamber. Means responsive to the crushing pressure near the end of the crusher stroke are provided for disengaging the nut sections from the screw means.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert H Simshauser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:15
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B9/00; B30B9/32; B30B9/321; B30B1/00; B30B1/18; B30B9/30; B30B9/306; B30B9/3064; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S100/00; Y10S100/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for crushing waste objects, comprising: housing means containing a crushing chamber; a crusher member arranged for reciprocatory movement in said chamber; return spring means biasing said crusher member in one direction toward a retracted position in said chamber; drive means for displacing said crusher member in the opposite direction in said chamber to crush objects contained therein, said drive means including threadably connected screw and nut means one of which is connected with said housing means and the other of which is connected with said crusher member, respectively; and quick release means operable when said crusher member is near the end of its crushing stroke for disengaging said nut means from said screw means, thereby causing quick return of said crusher member to its retracted position by said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for crushing waste objects, comprising: housing means containing a crushing chamber; a crusher member arranged for reciprocatory movement in said chamber; return spring means biasing said crusher member in one direction toward a retracted position in said chamber; drive means for displacing said crusher member in the opposite direction in said chamber to crush objects contained therein, said drive means including threadably connected screw and nut means one of which is connected with said housing means and the other of which is connected with said crusher member, respectively; and quick release means operable when said crusher member is near the end of its crushing stroke for disengaging said nut means from said screw means, thereby causing quick return of said crusher member to its retracted position by said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said nut means is of the split-nut type including a plurality of nut sections, and further wherein said drive means includes a collar initially having a locked position for maintaining the sections of said split-nut means in threaded engagement with said screw means, said quick-release means being operable to shift said collar axially toward a released position relative to the nut sections and thereby effect disengagement of said split-nut means from said screw means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing includes also a cover for closing the top of said crushing chamber, and yoke means operable when said cover is displaced toward the closed position for axially shifting said collar from the released position to the locked position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said drive means includes an electric motor for driving one of said screw and nut means; and further including switch means for energizing said electric motor only when the cover is in the closed position relative to the chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further including latch means connected with said housing for latching said cover in the closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, and further including cover spring means biasing said cover toward the open position relative to said crushing chamber, and means operable by said quick-release means for releasing said latch means simultaneously with the disengagement of said nut means, whereby said cover is aUtomatically opened simultaneously with the return of said crusher member to its initial retracted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said screw means includes a screw member connected at one end with said crusher member; and further wherein said split nut means includes a collet having a tubular position arranged concentrically about said screw member and journaled in an opening contained in a wall portion of said housing, said collet including also a body portion arranged between said housing wall and said crusher member, said body portion containing a plurality of radial slots slidably receiving the sections of said split nut means, respectively, said collar being arranged concentrically about and axially shiftable relative to said collet body portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said drive means includes drive pulley means connected with the tubular portion of said collet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said quick-release means includes means responsive to the crushing pressure developed by said crusher member for shifting said collar from the locked position to the released position relative to said split nut means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said drive means further includes key and slot means connecting said collet for limited axial movement relative to said drive pulley means; and further wherein said crushing pressure responsive means comprises compression spring means arranged between said housing wall for biasing said collet away from said housing wall toward one end position relative to said drive pulley means as defined by said key slot means, said collet being shiftable in the opposite direction against the biasing force of said compression spring means by the reaction pressure developed on the crusher member near the end of the crushing stroke to shift said collar from the locked position to the released position relative to said collet body portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, and further including: cover means connected with said housing for closing the crushing chamber; latch means normally latching said cover in the closed position; and means responsive to the displacement of said collet relative to said drive pulley means by said pressure responsive means for unlocking said latch means to permit opening of said cover.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |