Puncturing device for aerosol containers

A device for puncturing a pressurized container for relieving the pressure therein and for releasing the residual contents thereof into a drum of a type having an end wall with a surrounding protruding peripheral rim, said device comprising:

• a generally elongated housing member defining an elongated cavity with inner and outer surfaces and with openings at first and second ends thereof for receiving a pressurized container at said first end and further including a mounting structure for securing said second end of said elongated housing member to said end wall of said drum for collection by said drum of contents expelled from said pressurized container through said second end;
• a puncturing member mounted within said elongated housing member generally parallel to said inner and outer surfaces of said elongated housing member, between said first and second ends and disposed a distance from said inner surface of said elongated housing member for piercing said pressurized container in said elongated cavity whereby gases and residual contents thereof are emptied into said drum through said opening at said second end;
• a force-applying member operatively connected to said elongated housing member for engaging said pressurized container positioned in said elongated cavity and forcing said pressurized container towards said second end of said elongated housing member and onto said puncturing member, said force-applying member including a cap, a rack gear operatively connected to said cap, a paw gear operatively connected to said rack gear such that rotation of said paw gear causes vertical movement of said rack gear, and a manually manipulatable member operatively connected to said paw gear such that rotation of said manually manipulatable member causes rotation of said paw gear and wherein rotation of said activation wheel results in vertical movement of said cap, and downward movement of said cap causes said cap to engage said pressurized container positioned in said elongated cavity and to force said pressurized container towards said second end of said elongated housing member and onto said puncturing member, said cap being rotatable between a load position at which said cap is not over said elongated housing member and an engagement position at which said cap is over said elongated housing member;
• a locking member to fix said cap over said elongated housing member;
• and
• said device further including an auxiliary support extending from said elongated housing member to operatively engage said protruding peripheral rim of said drum to stabilize said elongated housing member relative to said drum during operation of said device.