Junk metal compressor

A crushing machine for compressing junk vehicle bodies and the like comprising:

• a frame having a generally flat, generally horizontally disposed bed for supporting a vehicle body at each of a plurality of sequential body crushing positions, a plurality of upright supports upstanding from the bed, and a pair of generally horizontally disposed beams connecting ends of upright supports remote from the bed, the bed, upright supports and beams connected together to form a generally rectangular framework with a longitudinal vehicle accepting opening therethrough through which a vehicle body may be passed with the rectangular framework completely encircling the vehicle, the length of the crushing machine in the direction of the opening being less than the length of the vehicle body to be compressed and the horizontal width of the opening being close to and somewhat greater than the width of the body of the vehicle to be compressed;
• a pair of arms hinged to the frame near the bed and pivotable between generally vertical positions close to respective upright supports toward one another and the bed, and into generally horizontal positions;
• and
• fluid actuated means for pivotally moving each of the arms whereby a body may be placed on the bed, fluid supplied to actuate the arms to pivot toward one another and the bed to compress a portion only of the body with the compressing forces being applied to the body initially primarily in a horizontal direction and becoming more vertical as the compressing continues.