Machine for compressing and flattening junked automobiles

Claim 2

A machine for flattening junked automobiles, comprising a flattening bed having a generally horizontal substantially flat upper surface, a flattening head mounted for vertical movement toward and away from said flattening bed and having a generally horizontal substantially flat undersurface confronting said upper surface, fluid actuated cylinder means having extended and retracted terminal positions, said cylinder means being operatively connected to said flattening head and said flattening bed in such manner that movement of said cylinder means toward said extended position lifts said flattening head away from said flattening bed and movement of said cylinder means toward said retracted position urges said flattening head toward said flattening bed so as to crush flat an automobile positioned between said flattening head and said flattening bed, and guide means cooperative with said flattening head and said flattening bed to maintain said flat under surface and said flat upper surface in substantially parallel horizontal position at all locations during said movement of said cylinder means, said guide means comprising a pair of upstanding guide posts supported on said vehicle at the opposite ends of said flattening bed and flattening head, and a pair of guideways attached to the opposite ends of said flattening head and formed for sliding movement up and down Said vertical guideposts.

Claim 3

A machine as described in claim 1, and wherein said upper surface of said flattening bed and said undersurface of said flattening head are generally rectangular and coextensive and are proportioned to receive an automobile therebetween when said cylinder means is in extended position and to flatten such automobile therebetween as said cylinder means moves toward said retracted position.

Claim 4

A machine as described in claim 2, and wherein said fluid actuated cylinder means includes individual cylinders operable in unison and positioned adjacent to the corners of said rectangular upper surface of said flattening bed and said under surface of said flattening head.

Claim 5

A machine as described in claim 3, and wherein said cylinders are operated hydraulically and said cylinder means further comprises a hydraulic pump system, and control means for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic pump system to said cylinders.

Claim 6

A machine as described in claim 3, and wherein said flattening bed is mounted on a highway vehicle with said cylinders upright, and with the uppermost portions of said flattening head and said cylinders within Federal maximum height limitations.

Claim 7

A machine as described in claim 2, and wherein said cylinder means includes a cylinder secured to said flattening head, and a piston rod vertically reciprocable in said cylinder and extending downwardly therefrom to a distal end, and means securing said distal end to said flattening bed.

Claim 8

A machine as described in claim 2, and wherein said cylinder means includes individual cylinders mounted on said flattening head adjacent to the corners of said rectangular undersurface, and wherein said cylinders have piston rods which extend downwardly from said individual cylinders and are secured at their distal ends to said flattening bed adjacent to the corresponding corners of said rectangular upper surface.

Claim 9

A machine as described in claim 7, and wherein the recited elements are mounted on a highway trailer and are formed so that the unit is of minimum height when said piston rods are retracted.

Claim 10

A machine as described in claim 1, and wherein said cylinder means includes a cylinder secured to said flattening head, and a piston rod mounted for vertical reciprocation in said cylinder extending downwardly therefrom, and means securing said distal end of said piston rod to said flattening bed.

Claim 11

A machine as described in claim 1, and wherein said cylinder means includes a cylinder secured to said flattening bed, and a piston rod mounted for vertical reciprocation in said cylinder and extending upwardly therefrom, and means securing said distal end of said piston rod to said flattening head.

Claim 12

A machine as described in claim 10, and wherein said cylinder means includes individual cylinders mounted on said flattening bed adjacent to the corners of said rectangular upper surface, and wherein piston rods extend upwardly from said individual cylinders and are secured at their distal ends to said flattening head adjacent to the corresponding corners of said rectangular lower surface.

Claim 13

A machine as described in claim 10, and wherein the recited elements are mounted on a highway trailer and are formed so that the unit is of minimum height when said piston rods are retracted.

Claim 14

A portable machine for flattening automobile bodies, comprising a wheeled highway vehicle, a flattening bed formed with a generally rectangular and planar upper surface mounted in substantially horizontal position on said vehicle, a flattening head supported in overlying alignment above said flattening bed for vertical movement between raised and lowered positions, said flattening head being formed with a generally rectangular and planar undersurface confronting and generally coextensive with said upper surface of said flattening bed and movable up and down in parallel relation thereto. a pair of vertically upstanding guide posts supported on said Vehicle at the opposite ends of said upper and under surfaces, a pair of guideways attached to the opposite narrower ends of said flattening head and formed for sliding movement up and down said vertical guide posts, pairs of hydraulic cylinders mounted at the narrower ends of said flattening head on opposite sides of said guideways, a hydraulic piston formed for reciprocating vertical movement in each of said cylinders, a piston rod extending vertically from each of said cylinders and having one end attached to said piston in said cylinder for vertical movement therewith and a distal end extending vertically from its cylinder, and hydraulic means connected to said cylinders and formed for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said cylinders on opposite sides of said pistons in unison to effectuate extending and retracting strokes of said piston rods, said cylinders and their said piston rods being operatively connected between said flattening head and said flattening bed to urge same together on said retracting stroke and apart on said extending stroke whereby the overall height of said cylinders and their associated piston rods is at a minimum when said flattening head is in said lowered position.

Claim 15

A portable machine for flattening automobile bodies, comprising a wheeled highway vehicle, a flattening bed formed with a generally rectangular and planar upper surface mounted in substantially horizontal position on said vehicle, a flattening head supported in overlying alignment above said flattening bed for vertical movement between raised and lowered positions, said flattening head being formed with a generally rectangular and planar undersurface confronting and generally coextensive with said upper surface of said flattening bed and movable up and down in parallel relation thereto. a pair of vertically upstanding guide posts supported on said Vehicle at the opposite ends of said upper and under surfaces, a pair of guideways attached to the opposite narrower ends of said flattening head and formed for sliding movement up and down said vertical guide posts, pairs of hydraulic cylinders mounted at the narrower ends of said flattening head on opposite sides of said guideways, a hydraulic piston formed for reciprocating vertical movement in each of said cylinders, a piston rod extending vertically from each of said cylinders and having one end attached to said piston in said cylinder for vertical movement therewith and a distal end extending vertically from its cylinder, and hydraulic means connected to said cylinders and formed for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said cylinders on opposite sides of said pistons in unison to effectuate extending and retracting strokes of said piston rods, said cylinders and their said piston rods being operatively connected between said flattening head and said flattening bed to urge same together on said retracting stroke and apart on said extending stroke whereby the overall height of said cylinders and their associated piston rods is at a minimum when said flattening head is in said lowered position.

Claim 16

A machine as described in claim 13, and wherein said hydraulic cylinders are secured to said flattening head, and the distal ends of said piston rods are secured to said flattening bed, and said hydraulic means is formed for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the upper ends of said cylinders to cause said flattening head to rise, and for selectively supplying said fluid to the lower ends of said cylinders to cause said flattening head to descend toward said flattening bed.

Claim 17

A machine as described in claim 13, and wherein the lower ends of said cylinders are secured to said vehicle, and the distal ends of said piston rods are secured to said flattening head, and wherein said hydraulic means is formed for slectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the lower ends of said cylinders to cause said flattening head to rise and for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the upper ends of said cylinders to cause said flattening head to descend toward said flattening bed.

Claim 18

A machine as described in claim 13, and wherein said hydraulic means comprises a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, a pump having an inlet connected to said reservoir and an outlet, first and second two-way valves connected to said outlet, said first two-way valve being formed and connected to opposite ends of the pair of said cylinders at one end of said flattening head, said second two-way valve being formed and connected to opposite ends of the pair of said cylinders at the other end of said flattening head, and solenoid means connected to said first and second two-way valves for actuating same in unison.

Claim 19

A machine as described in claim 13, and wherein said flattening head and said flattening bed each comprise a rigid hollow box structure having a flattening plate and longitudinal and transverse members backing up and reinforcing said flattening plate against bending.

Claim 20

A machine as described in claim 13, and wherein said flattening bed is formed with an upstanding apron along one of its long sides, a flat member is mounted for vertical sliding movement on said flattening head on the side opposite to said apron, and power means on said flattening head is formed for effecting sliding movement of said door between a downwardly depending operative position and a lifted position.