Patent Application
20140060674
Automotive, industrial, and other commercial cleaning of parts often uses cleaning solutions that aid in the removal of oil, grease, dirt, and other debris from mechanical parts. During the cleaning process, the oil, grease, dirt and other debris that is removed from the cleaned part becomes mixed with the cleaning solution resulting in contaminated cleaning solution. Some of these contaminants are of a size or type that they will self-separate from the cleaning solution by gravity and sink to the bottom of the cleaning solution tank. Other contaminants, however, do not self-separate and the contaminants remain mixed with, dissolved or suspended in the cleaning solution. This contamination can reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning solution as well as re-introduce contaminants to the parts intended for cleaning as well as to other components of a parts washer assembly. One way of addressing the contamination of cleaning solutions is to simply replace the contaminated cleaning solution with new cleaning solution. The replacement of cleaning solution, however, is costly and requires interruption of use of a parts washer assembly.
Instead of replacing cleaning solution and in order to reduce the frequency at which the cleaning solution needs to be replaced, the cleaning solution can be cleaned by removing contaminants, dissolved, from a contaminated cleaning solution mixture. One way of accomplishing this is to add a cleaning solution recycling apparatus to a parts washer whereby contaminants, dissolved, are removed from the cleaning solution. One example of a cleaning solution recycling apparatus is a cleaning solution distiller. In general, known cleaning solution distillers are large, complicated, and expensive devices. There exists a need in the marketplace for smaller, inexpensive, and less complicated cleaning solution recycling assemblies. Such devices, such as the examples of the present disclosure, require less space and maintenance than other cleaning solution recycling assemblies and are less expensive.
In one example, a cleaning solution recycling apparatus includes a separation device that is adapted to be fluidly connected to a tank of cleaning solution and an inlet conduit fluidly connected to the tank of cleaning solution. The inlet conduit has a first end that is fluidly connected to the tank of cleaning solution and a second end fluidly connected to the separation device. The first end is positioned at a height lower than the height of the second end such that when the level of cleaning solution in the tank is above a predetermined level, cleaning solution flows into the separation device.
In another example, the cleaning solution recycling apparatus includes an inlet valve and a return valve that are operably connected to a control unit that controls the operation of the separation device and the opening and closing of the inlet valve and the return valve.
The following disclosure as a whole may be best understood by reference to the provided detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, drawing description, abstract, background, and associated headings. Identical reference numerals when found on different figures identify the same elements or a functionally equivalent element.
The present invention is not limited to the particular details of the apparatus depicted, and other modifications and applications may be contemplated. Further changes may be made in the device without departing from the true spirit of the scope of the invention herein involved. It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter in this disclosure should be interpreted as illustrative, not in a limiting sense.
Separation device 12 can be any device that removes a portion of the contaminants that may become mixed with a cleaning solution. In one example, as shown by
Distillation chamber 102, in one example, is a volume that functions to hold the cleaning solution and contaminant mixture. A cleaning solution used to degrease or otherwise clean objects such as automotive parts, typically has a boiling point lower than that of the contaminants that may become mixed with the cleaning solution during the cleaning of parts. One such type of cleaning solution is a cleaning solvent mineral spirits, etc. or the like. A cleaning solvent may be acetone based with a boiling point of only 133 degrees Fahrenheit. The cleaning solution recycling apparatus and present disclosure, however, can be used with other types of cleaning solutions such as aqueous cleaning solutions and others known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Utilizing the disparity between the boiling points of the cleaning solution and the contaminants, heater 108 heats the contaminated cleaning solution mixture in distillate chamber 102 to a temperature at which the cleaning solution turns to vapor and separates from the liquid cleaning solution mixture.
The cleaning solution vapor, in this example, then moves from the distillation chamber 102 to condenser 104 wherein the vapor cools and returns to liquid state. This cooling can be assisted by fan 106 that can move air over the condenser and more rapidly cool cleaning solution vapor. The distilled liquid cleaning solution then moves to holding chamber 114. After this process, substantially purified cleaning solution is left in holding chamber 114 and is ready for return to a cleaning solution tank 14 for re-use. As seen in
Distillation device 100 also includes discharge port 116. Discharge port 116 is the element of distillation device 100 through which contaminants can be removed. After distillation of the cleaning solution mixture, the cleaning solution is separated and removed for further cleaning while contaminants remain. Discharge port 116 can be periodically opened and contaminants can be removed. Examples of discharge port 116 include a threaded hole with mating plug, a one-way valve, a gate or ball valve, and a removable panel. Other configurations known to one of ordinary skill in the art can also be used.
As previously described, separation device 12 is a distillation device. However, other devices can be used that separate at least a portion of the contaminants from a contaminated cleaning solution mixture. Another example device that can be used is a filtration device in which a cleaning solution mixture is pumped through a filter whereby contaminants are separated from the cleaning solution mixture. Additionally, aqueous chemistry processing may be used as well. Other methods or types of separating processes can be used as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring back to
In one embodiment, first end 22 of inlet conduit 20 is configured such that first end 22 is located at a height that is below cleaning solution level 18 of tank 14. Further, second end 24 is positioned at a height that is higher than the height of first end 22. This arrangement provides for the flow of cleaning solution into separation device 12 through inlet conduit 20 when cleaning solution level 18 is above a predetermined height. As can be appreciated, a volume of cleaning solution above first end 22 of inlet conduit 20 creates head pressure such that cleaning solution will flow into inlet conduit 20 and through second end 24 of inlet conduit 20 even though second end 24 of inlet conduit 20 may be above first end 22 of inlet conduit 20. The pressure differential between first end 22 and second end 24 of inlet conduit 20 allows cleaning solution to be transferred from tank 14 to cleaning solution recycling assembly 10 without the aid of a pump or other device, thereby simplifying the complexity and expense.
In this example configuration, cleaning solution may flow into separation device 12 without the need for an additional pump or other mechanism. Contaminants can then be removed from the contaminated cleaning solution mixture via any of the methods or devices previously described. Return conduit 30 fluidly connects separation device 12 to tank 14 for the return of cleaning solution, after the separation process, back to tank 14. As shown in
In one example, as shown in
As seen in
Return valve 38 fluidly connects separation device 12 to tank 14 and is configured to control the flow of separated cleaning solution from the separation device 12 back to tank 14. Return valve 38 can be one of the types of valves discussed above with respect to inlet valve 36 but additionally can be any suitable valve as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Return valve 38 may also be connected to control unit 42 such it can be actuated or managed by control unit 42. Return valve 38, however, can also be provided with manual control or actuation. Valves 36 and 38 may also be interlocked or interconnected with control logic as described herein so as to provide coordinated control of the actuation thereof (i.e., opening, closing, throttling, pulse with modulation, etc. or the like).
Control unit 42 can be any suitable mechanism that can manage the different components of cleaning solution recycling apparatus 10. In one embodiment, control unit 42 is a programmable logic controller (PLC) and is electrically connected to the various components of cleaning solution recycling apparatus 10. Control unit 42 may also include any number of sensors such as, but not limited to, flow sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and the like. Control unit 42 may then actuate various valves, switch different components on and off, and vary the pressure or flow of cleaning solution through cleaning solution recycling apparatus 10. As shown, control unit 42 is mounted to a housing of separation device 10. Control unit 42, however, can be mounted to other portions of cleaning solution recycling apparatus or to other parts of washer assembly 44 for ease of access or use.
As shown in
Cleaning solution recycling apparatus 10 can be provided in conjunction with a parts washer assembly 44 solvent vat, tank, or other device using cleaning solution that can become contaminated. Additionally, cleaning solution recycling apparatus 10 can be provided as a kit or add-on to such assemblies. A kit including any or all of the components of cleaning solution recycling apparatus 10 can be provided for installation onto a tank of cleaning solution. Additionally, parts washer assemblies can be provided in which the tanks on such assemblies are equipped with fittings or other attachment points such that a cleaning solution recycling apparatus can be easily installed onto the parts washer assembly.
A kit, such as the one described above, can be installed onto a parts washer or other cleaning device such that a cleaning solution recycling apparatus is fitted onto a tank of cleaning solution. One method for accomplishing this result is to connect a first end 22 of inlet conduit 20 to tank 14 of cleaning solution. First end 22 can be connected directly to tank 14 via a fitting or other connection device. The fitting can be a threaded fitting, a soldered fitting, a compression fitting, a quick-connect fitting or other fitting as know to one of ordinary skill in the art. First end 22 can also be connected to other interim components or conduits such that tank 14 is fluidly connected to inlet conduit 20. Second end 24 can then be connected to separation device 12. Similarly to the discussion above, second end 24 can be directly or indirectly connected to separation device 12 so long as inlet conduit 20 is fluidly connected to separation device 12. A fitting, as discussed above, can also be used to accomplish this connection.
In one example, the connection of first end 22 and second end 24 are configured with second end 24 above first end 22 and with first end 22 below a predetermined level of cleaning solution in tank 14. This arrangement, as discussed above, allows cleaning solution to flow from first end 22 to second end 24 in response to a pressure differential between first end 22 and second end 24. The installation of cleaning solution recycling apparatus 10 can continue with the connection of separation device 12 to inlet conduit 20. Return conduit 30 can then be installed for the return of cleaning solution to tank 14.
The preceding detailed description is merely some examples and embodiments of the present disclosure and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from its spirit or scope. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure but to provide sufficient disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention without undue burden.
This application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/695,946, filed Aug. 31, 2012, titled Cleaning Solution Recycling Apparatus, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61695946 | Aug 2012 | US |
