Patent Grant
7128075
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for washing parts to remove greases, oils and dirt, and, in particular, to an apparatus for washing parts having an improved heating assembly for adjusting and maintaining the cleaning solution at an effective temperature during operation of the parts washing apparatus.
A parts washer is an apparatus that cleans various parts including, but not limited to machinery and machine parts. Current parts washers generally use an aqueous cleaning solution to remove such things as grease, carbon, resins, tar, inks and other grime from dirty parts like engine parts, tools, etc. Parts washers have also been known to use hydrocarbon solvent cleaning solutions to clean parts.
A conventional automatic aqueous parts washer includes a housing with a door to access a cleaning chamber having tray disposed therein for supporting parts. A pump pulls a cleaning solution from a reservoir and delivers the cleaning solution under pressure to a series of nozzles directed toward the parts disposed on the tray. A heater disposed in the reservoir is also commonly used for increasing the temperature of the aqueous cleaning solution, when desirable.
A major disadvantage of conventional part washers is the inability of the heater to maintain the temperature of the aqueous cleaning solution in an effective range, i.e. 120° F. to 160° F. Aqueous cleaning solutions must be stabilized in the effective range during a cleaning cycle in order to properly clean parts. Conventional parts washers attempt to maintain the cleaning solution in the effective range by using a heater configured for the cleaning solution capacity and workload of the machine. Such conventional heating elements are usually immersion heaters in direct contact with the aqueous cleaning solution and when new, easily raise the temperature of the cleaning solution into the effective range. However, once parts washing has commenced, the cleaning solution temperature drops rapidly, usually in less than 5 minutes. The heating element at maximum rated output cannot maintain the temperature of the cleaning solution above 120° F., for any extended period of time which is required to clean parts effectively. The cleaning solution cools as a result of ambient losses to the surrounding environment, atomization of the cleaning solution as it exits the nozzles and heat energy dissipated into the parts to be cleaned to bring them up to solution temperature.
Another disadvantage, and basis for the above disadvantage, is that a significant majority of the conventional aqueous parts washers are sold and used in a commercial setting, such as a car dealership repair shop, or a residential setting. Standard 120 volt/single phase electrical circuits in commercial and residential settings are often limited to 15 amps. In rare instances a 20 amp circuit may be available. Usually, custom installation or retrofit of an 120 volt electrical circuit with power handling capability of more than 15 amps is necessary. This results in increased costs to the facility owner. Alternatively, 240 or 480 volts of single or multi-phase circuits may be installed, all at significant cost to the owner/operator. Moreover, parts washers designed to operate on increased capacity electrical circuits also cost more to manufacture. Accordingly, conventional parts washers cannot be modified to use additional heaters because the power capacity of the electrical circuits is limited.
Another disadvantage of prior art parts washers is that the immersion heater is in direct contact with the aqueous cleaning solution. During the parts washing process, sludge, scale and other particulates, which are common in aqueous cleaning solutions, accumulate and are baked on the heater elements resulting in buildup of scale deposits on the heater. The scale deposits then act as an insulator. As a result, over time, heat transfer to the cleaning solution becomes less efficient, energy/operating costs are increased, life expectancy of the heater elements is shorter and periodic maintenance is increased.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved parts washing apparatus having a novel structure and function for adjusting, increasing and maintaining the temperature of an aqueous cleaning solution that is operational on a standard 120 volt/15 amp electrical circuit, requires substantially reduced maintenance and less operating energy, cleans longer and more batches of parts compared to conventional parts washers, and overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art parts washers.
The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements.
Briefly, in one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for washing parts includes a housing defining a cleaning chamber including a spray portion in a reservoir portion. The spray portion includes a support for the parts and a spray bar having at least one orifice for distributing a cleaning fluid on the parts. The reservoir portion is configured to store and collect the cleaning fluid. A thermal energy source is disposed in the reservoir portion for adjusting and maintaining an operating temperature of the cleaning fluid. The thermal energy source preferably increases the temperature of the cleaning solution. The thermal energy source is generally configured as an enclosure having a plurality of walls for retaining a transfer fluid and includes at least one heater disposed therein for adjusting a temperature of the transfer fluid. A conduit extends through the thermal energy source in contact with the transfer fluid and defines a passageway for the cleaning fluid. A pump draws the cleaning fluid in the reservoir portion through the passageway and discharges the cleaning fluid through the spray bar. The operating temperature of the cleaning fluid is adjusted and maintained by contact with the thermal energy source and the conduit. Use of the term adjust may mean to increase or maintain the temperature of any fluid.
Referring to
A control panel 58 is provided on the front panel 28. The control panel 58 includes a plurality of controls, including a heater on/off switch 60, a circuit breaker for a turntable 62, a circuit breaker for the electrical control circuit and a wash cycle timer 66. A temperature controller 68 includes a display 70 and a plurality of input buttons 72. Operation of the temperature controller 68 will be described in detail below.
The spray portion 26 includes at least a support 74 and a spray bar 76. The support 74 is generally configured as a turntable upon which parts to be washed are placed. The turntable is moved relative to the spray bar 76 in order to wash the parts. The spray bar 76 includes at least one orifice 78 for distributing a cleaning solution on the parts (not shown). It will be understood by those of skill in the art that the spray bar 76 may include a plurality of arms. Each arm has a plurality of orifices 78, which may each be generally configured as a nozzle. For example, the spray bar 76 may include a first portion disposed below the support (as shown in
Referring now to
A thermal energy source 82 is disposed in a reservoir portion 80 for adjusting and maintaining an operating temperature of the cleaning solution. (see
A drive mechanism 88 rotates the turntable. In one embodiment, the drive mechanism includes a gear 90, which extends through an opening 92 in the inner side wall 94, which further defines the cleaning chamber 24. The teeth on the gear 90 engage apertures 96, formed in an outer ring 98 of the support 74. It is within the teachings of the present invention that any other suitable drive mechanism and other corresponding structure may be used. The top surface of the support 74 includes an expanded metal grate 100, or other suitable material, which passes over the spray bar 76, and a plurality of orifice nozzles 78 provided thereon. A central beam 102 supports the center 104 of the support 74 for movement thereabout.
A pump 110 draws the cleaning solution 108 in the reservoir portion 80 through the inlet strainer 86, pick-up tube 84 and thermal energy source 82. The cleaning solution is then discharged through the spray bar 76 and the nozzles 78 thereon. As will be described in more detail below, the thermal energy source 82 adjusts and maintains the temperature of the cleaning solution 108 as the cleaning solution 108 is collected and stored in the reservoir portion 80 through contact with an exterior of a wall of the thermal energy source, and flash heats or rapidly transfers heat energy to the cleaning solution 108 which passes through the conduit of the thermal energy source. A flexible line 112 may be used to connect the pump 110 to the spray bar 76 in order to ease manufacturing of the apparatus 20.
The drive mechanism 88 includes a motor 114, which drives a gear 90 that engages the apertures 96 of the support 74, as described above. A shield 116 houses the gear 90 and prevents the cleaning solution 108 from entering the equipment portion 118 of the housing 22 when the cleaning solution 108 is discharged from the nozzles 78.
The thermal energy source 82 further includes at least one heater 128. Preferably, the at least one heater 128 includes a primary heater 130 and a secondary heater 132. The primary and secondary heaters 130, 132 are preferably activated simultaneously, as will be discussed in more detail below, to initially raise the temperature of the transfer fluid to a set point whereby the cleaning solution temperature is raised to a desired set point, preferably within the effective range of the desired cleaning solution. The heat transfer fluid (not shown), as a result of its molecular structure, typically can be heated at a much faster rate than water or the cleaning solution when applying the equivalent amount of energy. As a result, initial start-up and operational recovery temperature adjustments are made more rapidly.
At least one heater element 128 is operational during a wash cycle. After the primary and secondary heaters 130, 132 have initially increased the temperature of the cleaning solution to the desired set points, one of the heaters 128 continues to input energy into the transfer fluid so that the temperature of the transfer fluid is near its desired set point and the thermal energy source continues to transfer heat to the cleaning solution as it cools off during a cleaning cycle.
The conduit 124 has a length L and includes a wall 134, which has a heat transfer surface area adequate to raise the operating temperature of the cleaning solution drawn thereto generally near the cleaning solution set point. Preferably, the temperature differential between the transfer fluid (not shown) and cleaning solution is sufficiently large such that the cleaning solution may also be subject to flash-heating while passing through the conduit. As shown, and in one embodiment of the present invention, the conduit 124 extends between adjacent walls 120 and intersects each of the walls normally. Preferably, the conduit 124 has a length L approximate equivalent to a distance of one-half the perimeter of the enclosure.
The apparatus may remain in this ready state until the operator is prepared to wash parts. While in this ready state, the controller continues to maintain the transfer fluid and the cleaning solution temperatures at the desired set points. When parts are ready to be washed, the operator opens the lid in step 220. The operator may then load parts in step 222. In step 229, the operator selects a cycle time. Upon closing the lid in step 226, the controller deactivates the secondary heater in step 228 and activates the pump and drive mechanism in step 230. The apparatus cycle run time continues until expired in step 232. When the event cycle run time has expired, the operator may then open the lid in step 238 and unload the parts in step 240. In the event there are more parts to wash in step 242, the operator closes the lid in step 206 and resumes the subsequent process. If there are no more parts to wash, the operator may actuate the heater switch off in step 244.
Various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the depending claims. For example, the apparatus may be configured to operate with the advantages described herein with respect to 240 volt/single-or three-phase or 480 volt/three-phase electrical circuits.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050115593 A1 | Jun 2005 | US |
