Claims
- 1. Apparatus for the substantially continuous recycling of water-soluble quenching salts from rinse water comprising:
- a heat treating bath containing a molten salt and an impurity which is sparingly soluble therein;
- a rinse bath located for receiving parts from the treating bath and containing a rinse water in which both salt and impurity are soluble;
- means for concentrating the rinse water/salt solution up to a predetermined concentration level;
- means for treating the concentrated rinse water for the removal of said impurity; and means for returning the purified salt in a molten state to the heat treating bath.
- 2. Apparatus for the substantially continuous recycling of water-soluble quenching salts from rinse water comprising:
- a quench bath containing a molten salt and an impurity which is sparingly soluble therein;
- a rinse bath located for receiving parts from the quench bath and containing a rinse water in which both the salt and the impurity are soluble;
- concentrator means connected by way of first fluid circuit means with the rinse bath for receiving rinse water therefrom and including heating means for evaporating the water;
- means for treating the concentrated rinse water for the removal of the impurity; and
- a second fluid circuit means interconnecting the concentrator means with the quench bath for returning the purified salt thereto in a molten state.
- 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the concentrator means comprises first means for achieving a first substantial level of salt concentration in the rinse water and melter means for achieving substantially complete elimination of the water.
- 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for treating the concentrated rinse water comprises a tank, heater means for maintaining the concentrated rinse water at a temperature between 300.degree. F. and 600.degree. F., and an aqueous solution consisting of about 0.1% to 8% by weight free nitric acid, about 0.01% to about 5% by weight non-ionic surface active agent to deter foaming of the concentrate, and water.
- 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the impurity is a carbonate and wherein the means for treating the rinse water comprises:
- a tank;
- an aqueous solution containing a precipitant; and further comprises a filter to remove a precipitate.
- 6. Apparatus for the substantially continuous recycling of water soluble quenching salts from rinse water comprising:
- a quench bath containing a molten salt and an impurity which is sparingly soluble therein;
- a rinse bath located for receiving parts from the quench bath and containing a rinse water in which both the salt and the impurity are soluble;
- a first concentrator means connected by way of first fluid circuit means to the rinse bath for receiving rinse water therefrom and including heating means for evaporating the water;
- a surge tank connected to the first concentrator means by a third fluid circuit means for receiving concentrated rinse water therefrom;
- means for treating the concentrated rinse water in the surge tank for removal of the impurity;
- a melter unit connected to the surge tank by way of fourth fluid circuit means, for receiving a purified concentrated rinse water from the surge tank and including heating means for evaporating all remaining water therefrom; and,
- a second fluid circuit means interconnecting the second concentrator means with the quench bath for returning the purified salt thereto in a molten state.
- 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the impurity is a chloride and the means for treating the concentrated rinse water in the surge tank further comprises:
- an anode and cathode with an attached source of potential;
- a means to collect and eliminate chlorine gas formed; and
- an aqueous solution of nitric acid.
- 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the rinse bath further comprises:
- a plurality of rinse tanks arranged seriatim through which the parts being rinsed and the rinse water move serially and countercurrently;
- a plurality of interconnecting lines between the rinse tanks; and
- a plurality of control means such that as the level in one rinse tank falls to a lower level, rinse water is transferred from the next serial rinse tank through the interconnecting line between them.
- 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising:
- as the control means;
- a liquid level detector;
- a control circuit; and
- a pump;
- such that as the level in one of the rinse tanks reaches the lower level, said liquid level detector detects that event and activates said pump via the control circuit; and
- as the level in the tank reaches an upper level said liquid level detector detects that event and deactivates said pump.
- 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising:
- a level detector in the first concentrator means;
- a pump in the first fluid circuit means;
- a control circuit connecting said level detector to said pump; such that as the level detector detects a lower level in the concentrator said level detector activates, via said control circuit, said pump which pumps rinse water from the rinse bath to the first concentrator means; and as the level in the concentrator means reaches an upper level said level detector detects that level and, via said control circuit, deactivates said pump.
- 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising:
- a temperature detector in the first concentrator means;
- a pump in the third fluid circuit means;
- a control circuit interconnecting said temperature detector and said pump;
- such that as the concentrated rinse water in the first concentrator reaches a desired temperature said temperature detector detects that temperature and, via said control circuit, activates said pump.
Parent Case Info
This is a division, of application Ser. No. 670,152, filed Mar. 25, 1976 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
670152 |
Mar 1976 |
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