EP0465374B1 - Carousel for stripping and decanting container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and/or stripping all kinds of objects, and for the recovery, neutralisation and discharge of waste water and of the residues resulting from this cleaning and/or stripping, characterised in that it combines a settling tank (1) provided at the top with a grid (2) acting as a washing support, and a mast (3) provided with a handling winch (4) with radial arms (5) that are free to rotate in a horizontal plane, said grid (2) being likewise rotatable, said radial arms (5) and this same grid (2) being thus able to move the objects undergoing treatment between different positions for stripping (6), rinsing (7) and/or neutralising (8) which are arranged around the outside of said settling tank (1). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for cleaning and / or pickling parts of all kinds, as well as for recovering, neutralizing and removing waste water and residues resulting from this cleaning and / or pickling.

The invention aims to remedy the difficulties encountered in stripping workshops for wood, metals, etc. and by garage owners for the cleaning of vehicle parts (engines, brake drums, etc.), namely that cleaning is carried out using a liquid sprayed by a lance under the pressure of a pump so as to rinse the parts to be stripped after they have been soaked in pickling or neutralizing baths which are particularly toxic and must be collected in a decantation. However, the rejection of these products to the public wastewater collection network is only rarely properly controlled; thus, due to a lack of monitoring of the pickling installations, most often far from the normal place of work, it happens that acid products are rejected without being completely neutralized and that the greases, the residues of lead, asbestos , and other metals are not recovered and go to the sewer. It is understandable that the cumulative impact of such discharges on the environment is particularly significant, toxic products of all kinds being discharged being recycled in one way or another by groundwater or freshwater points used for water. food and feed.

Furthermore, in the same field, the transport of heavy and bulky products, such as engines, radiators, etc. to the tanks and washing areas is not resolved. In this regard, there is known the parts washing apparatus described in patent application FR-2 548 607 which comprises a container mounted on wheels for its transport, this container being provided with a tank-shaped part for recovery. cleaning liquid dripping from the parts to be cleaned; this device is limited in its applications because it does not soak the parts in baths, and it does not plan to neutralize the cleaning liquid before its discharge to the sewer. On the other hand, the washing areas take up a lot of space, which encourages, for example, certain garage owners to carry out pickling of parts under non-regulatory conditions without taking precautions with regard to the discharge of wastewater. A particularly space-saving installation for treating products or parts in baths is described in patent application FR-2 439 150: this installation comprises a plurality of treatment vessels, arranged at equal intervals along a circular path at the center of which is provided a rotary guide frame provided with vertically displaceable brackets, a basket containing the parts to be cleaned being attached to each of these brackets to allow the introduction and extraction of these pods in and out of said treatment vessels. The installation claimed in this last document is for a very specific use and is not suitable, in particular, for stripping very heavy objects which cannot remain suspended, in a nacelle, at the end of a bracket; conversely, it is hardly useful to place light objects in a movable basket since it is faster to handle them directly by hand. In addition, nothing is provided for the recovery and treatment of wastewater before putting it in the drain, nor for rinsing the treated parts by means of a jet of pressurized liquid; in this regard, it would be impractical to use the previous installation for this purpose since nothing is provided for the retention, at least temporarily, of the washing water.

The present invention aims to remedy all these drawbacks by proposing a device for cleaning and / or pickling parts of all kinds, as well as for recovering, neutralizing and discharging waste water and residues resulting from this cleaning. and / or this pickling, characterized in that it combines a settling tank, closed at its upper part by a grid serving as a washing support, and a mast provided with a handling turnstile with radial arms, free to rotate in a horizontal plane, said grid also being movable in rotation, said radial arms and this same grid thus being capable of moving the parts to be treated between different pickling, rinsing and / or neutralization stations which are distributed around the periphery of said settling tank.

In this way, it is easy to understand that to strip a piece, we first place it on the grid used for washing, then, depending on its weight, we move it either manually or by means of one of the arms turnstile radials in front of the pickling station. This is provided with a first reservoir containing an appropriate quantity of a bath, generally acid, in which the part is soaked. After soaking, it is collected and allowed to drip on the grid, the excess acid products falling directly into the settling tank located under this grid. At the same time, the latter is caused to rotate until the part is brought to a rinsing station which is provided, for example, with a lance projecting a cleaning liquid under the pressure of a pump; the rinsing water thus produced is then directly recovered by the settling tank. Despite this first rinsing, it is most often necessary to neutralize the pickling acid products by means of a bath of neutralizing product contained in a second tank located at a neutralization station around the settling tank; while the part continues to drip on the grid following its rinsing, the rotation of the latter is therefore continued to bring it to this neutralization station where it is discharged to be soaked in the second tank. This transfer can be manual or else be carried out by means of one of the radial arms of the turnstile; it is not compulsory to use the arm which has already been used, if necessary, for the first manipulation of the part in and out of the first tank located at the pickling station. After soaking and neutralization, the reverse operation allows the part to be dripped on the grid. Finally, the latter is turned one last time until the stripped and neutralized part is presented in front of a second rinsing station which may or may not be identical to the one used for the first rinse. Therefore, and in accordance with a very advantageous characteristic of the present invention, the rinsing of the part after neutralization, which is carried out while it is on the grid closing the opening of the settling tank, provides simultaneous neutralization wastewater contained in said tank. This second rinsing, always by means of a lance projecting a cleaning liquid under the pressure of a pump, therefore makes it possible to remedy in a particularly original manner the difficulties encountered in the pickling workshops for controlling the waste water discharged at taste.

In addition, the various pressure rinses make it possible to precipitate greasy, metallic or other residues towards the settling tank. According to a complementary characteristic of the invention, the latter is provided with a valve with several positions allowing a regulated evacuation of the neutralized waste water towards the sewer, without leakage of greases, hydrocarbons and other metallic deposits which are deposited at the bottom of said bac.

According to a first mode of operation of the invention, it is provided that this valve is permanently ajar so as to allow the waste water to escape having just reached a neutral pH or close to a neutral pH. The unfavorable impact of these discharges on the environment is in this way very minimal, even practically non-existent. In a second operating mode, the valve is instead closed during decantation, the wastewater being neutralized, then the valve is opened, and after emptying, closed for a new use cycle with decantation and neutralization (this cycle can be for example daily, semi-daily, ...).

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée de ce dispositif,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'une première forme de réalisation de la vanne équipant ce dispositif,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'une deuxième forme de réalisation de cette même vanne.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of a preferred embodiment of a pickling device in accordance with the present invention, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings. on which ones :

• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of this device,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the valve fitted to this device,
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of this same valve.

According to FIG. 1, a device for cleaning and / or pickling parts of all kinds, as well as for recovering, neutralizing and removing waste water and residues resulting from this cleaning and / or pickling, comprises a settling tank 1, provided at its upper part with a grid 2 serving as a washing support, and a mast 3 provided with a handling turnstile 4 with radial arms 5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, the settling tank 1 has a circular part, located in the middle of a rectangular tank, and the mast 3 is arranged in its center. The latter consists of a hub 3 a free to rotate around a fixed vertical core 3 b held at its base by a counterweight 3 c advantageously arranged at the bottom of the settling tank 1. In this way, the mast can be retracted 3 by removing the hub 3 a from the fixed vertical core 3 b , which facilitates the transport and installation of the device according to the invention. Of course, the shape and the volume of the settling tank 1 are chosen in relation to the maximum space available and the volume of the pickling work to be carried out on the washing area.

Furthermore, the grid 2 and the radial arms 5 of the handling turnstile 4 are free to rotate in a horizontal plane around the mast 3 and are capable of moving the parts to be treated between different pickling, rinsing 7 and neutralization stations. 8 which are distributed around the periphery of the settling tank 1. The rinsing station 7 normally comprises a lance connected to a pump, making it possible to spray a liquid under pressure on the parts to be rinsed; given that such equipment is most often mobile, we have chosen not to represent, on the Figure 1, that the location in front of which the user stands to rinse the parts.

According to the invention, the radial arms 5 consist of traveling cranes, kept in overhang, and equipped with a hoist 5 a movable along each radial arm 5 to bring the part which they support from the plumb from the grid 2 to the periphery of said tank 1, and vice versa. The connection between each arm 5 and the mast 3 is reinforced by a gusset 5 b placed at right angles to these two elements. The rotational movement of a part placed on the grid 2 is not necessarily mechanized, and it will suffice, for example, to cause the rotation of the grid 2 around its central axis using the foot to move it. The handling of parts is therefore very reduced.

According to a complementary arrangement of the present invention, the mast 3 is fitted with a washing and rinsing screen 9 delimiting a set of washing and rinsing zones isolated from each other. For example, in FIG. 1, we have chosen to represent a screen 9 having the shape of an "I" seen from above; this screen 9 therefore delimits two separate washing and rinsing zones, each of which can accommodate a part to be scoured at the same time. In addition, the screen 9 is integral with the grid 2 so that it can be turned on itself at the same time as the latter. When a part to be rinsed is placed in one of the two washing and rinsing zones of the screen 9, the latter protects the parts to be scoured from rinsing which would possibly be placed, on the same grid 2, in the other washing and rinsing zone delimited by this screen 9; moreover, this makes it possible to retain the cleaning liquids, generally sprayed under pressure, at the level of the settling tank 1.

After each phase of its treatment, a part to be stripped rests on the grid 2 so as to drip into the settling tank 1. The latter consists of a tank of a material resistant to chemical attack by the stripping and neutralizing products used, and its volume is planned depending on the pickling installation, i.e. the size and quantity of the parts to be treated. As the pickling operations take place, the settling tank 1 is filled with firstly acidic waste water; these are then gradually neutralized due to the pressure rinsing which is carried out after soaking the pickled part in a neutralizing bath placed at the neutralization station 8. According to the present invention, the settling tank 1 is provided with a valve 10 with several positions allowing a regulated evacuation of the neutralized waste water towards the sewer, without leakage of greases, hydrocarbons and other metallic deposits which are deposited at the bottom of said tank 1. In this way, the harmful impact of these discharges on the environment is minimized.

• pendant la décantation des résidus lourds (métaux, graisses et hydrocarbures principalement) et la neutralisation des eaux usées, la vanne 10 se trouve en position relevée et le débit est quasiment nul. Eventuellement, et afin d'éviter toute ouverture intempestive de la vanne 10 alors que les eaux usées sont encore trop acides ou trop basiques, les organes de manoeuvre de la vanne 10 peuvent venir bloquer la rotation de la grille 2 et/ou du tourniquet de manutention 4 à bras radiaux 5. Une telle disposition permet également d'éviter les débordements d'eaux usées hors du bac de décantation 1.
• après la neutralisation des eaux usées, la vanne 10 peut être basculée selon une position intermédiaire pour la vidange progressive et contrôlée du bac de décantation 1, cette position pouvant être choisie selon la nature et le niveau des eaux usées, qui se constituent en strates superposées après décantation. En service, la vanne 10 est, ainsi, normalement entrouverte en permanence, de manière à laisser s'échapper un volume d'eaux usées ayant juste atteint un pH neutre ou proche d'un pH neutre.

A first embodiment of the valve 10 will now be described. According to FIG. 2, the valve 10 is thus provided with two flanges 10 a between which a door 10 b can pivot relative to a horizontal axis situated in its opening plane ; a crank 10 c is arranged to the right of the door 10 b and allows it to be manipulated by the outside of the settling tank 1. Furthermore, at least one of the two flanges 10 a is provided with notches 10 d opening onto its upper edge; these notches 10 d are regularly arranged to cooperate with a blocking member 11 of the door 10 b , which can thus be pivoted about its horizontal articulation axis according to an adjustable inclination. It is clear that one could replace these notches 10 d with orifices passing through the flange 10 a right through. The operating mode of the valve 10 thus formed is as follows:

• during the settling of heavy residues (mainly metals, greases and hydrocarbons) and neutralization of the waste water, the valve 10 is in the raised position and the flow is almost zero. Optionally, and in order to avoid any untimely opening of the valve 10 while the wastewater is still too acidic or too basic, the actuators of the valve 10 can block the rotation of the grid 2 and / or the handling turnstile 4 with radial arms 5. Such an arrangement also makes it possible to avoid overflowing of waste water out of the settling tank 1.
• after the neutralization of the waste water, the valve 10 can be tilted into an intermediate position for the gradual and controlled emptying of the settling tank 1, this position being able to be chosen according to the nature and the level of the waste water, which are formed in superimposed layers after settling. In service, the valve 10 is thus normally normally ajar at all times, so as to let escape a volume of waste water which has just reached a neutral pH or close to a neutral pH.

In this regard, and according to a second embodiment of the valve 10 described with reference to FIG. 3, the crank 10 c is replaced by a float 12, articulated on the door 10 b on the inside of the settling tank 1, for float at an adjustable level in the middle of the wastewater contained in this same tank 1, while the flanges 10 a (fig.2) can be replaced by a simple "U" bracket. By saturation in height of the light products contained in the waste water from the settling tank 1, the float 12 closes the valve 10 and forces the user to evacuate these light products from the tank 1. If the density and volume of the float 12 are correctly determined, this results in self-regulation of the flow of neutralized wastewater outside the settling tank 1.

Finally, the opening provided on the settling tank 1 for fitting the valve 10 is provided with at least one wedge 13 magnetically charged for the recovery of all ferrous residues which can be entrained with the flow of neutralized wastewater. flowing outside the settling tank 1 towards the sewer; this wedge 13 is placed in front of the valve 10, on the bottom of said tank 1.

Claims (12)

1. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature, as well as for recovering, neutralizing and evacuating the waste water and residues resulting from such cleaning and/or scouring, characterized in that it associates a decantation tank (1), provided in its upper part with a grating (2) serving as washing support and a mast (3) provided with a handling turnstile (4) with radial arms (5), free to rotate in a horizontal plane, said grating (2) also being mobile in rotation, said radial arms (5) and this same grating (2) thus being capable of displacing the pieces to be treated between different scouring (6), rinsing (7) and/or neutralizing (8) stations which are distributed over the periphery of said decantation tank (1).
2. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to Claim 1, characterized in that the decantation tank (1) is provided with a multi-way valve (10) allowing a regulated evacuation of the neutralized waste water towards the drains.
3. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to Claim 2, characterized in that the valve (10) equipping the decantation tank (1) is provided with two side plates (10a) between which may pivot a door (10b) with respect to a horizontal axis lying in the plane of opening of the valve (10), a crank (10c) being arranged at right angles to said door (10b) outside said tank (1), for manipulating this same door (10b).
4. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to Claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the two side plates (10a) of the valve (10) equipping the decantation tank (1) is provided with orifices passing right through, or with notches (10d) opening out on the upper edge of said side plate (10a), these orifices or these notches being disposed regularly over said side plate (10a) to cooperate with a member (11) for blocking the door (10b) located between the two side plates (10a) and which may thus be pivoted about its horizontal axis of articulation at an adjustable inclination.
5. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to Claim 2, characterized in that the valve (10) equipping the decantation tank (1) is provided with a stirrup element between the vertical uprights of which may pivot a door (10b) with respect to a horizontal axis lying in the plane of opening of the valve (10), a float (12) being articulated on said door (10b) inside said tank (1) to float at an adjustable level in the middle of the waste water contained in this same tank (1).
6. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the valve (10) equipping the decantation tank (1) is permanently half-open so as to allow a volume of waste water having suitably attained a pH which is neutral or close to a neutral pH, to escape.
7. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the members for manoeuvring the valve (10) equipping the decantation tank (1) make it possible simultaneously to block rotation of the grating (2) and/or of the handling turnstile (4) with radial arms (5).
8. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the opening provided on the decantation tank (1) for arranging the valve (10) is provided, in front of this same valve (10), with shims (13) charged magnetically for recovery of all the ferrous residues which may be entrained with the flux of neutralized waste water flowing outside said tank (1).
9. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the radial arms (5) of the handling turnstile (4) are constituted by travelling cranes, maintained in overhang and equipped with pulley blocks (5a) for bringing the piece that they support from plumb with the grating (2) closing the upper part of the decantation tank (1) up to the periphery of said tank (1) where the scouring (6), rinsing (7) and/or neutralizing (8) stations are distributed, and vice versa.
10. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that it comprises a washing and rinsing screen (9) defining an assembly of washing and rinsing zones isolated from one another, this screen (9) being fast with the grating (2) closing the upper part of the decantation tank (1) so as to be able to be rotated on itself.
11. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the handling turnstile (4) with radial arms (5) is supported by a mast (3) with hub (3a) free to rotate about a fixed vertical core (3b) maintained at its base by a counterweight (3c) advantageously arranged at the bottom of the decantation tank (1).
12. Device for cleaning and/or scouring pieces of any nature according to Claim 11, characterized in that the mast (3) is retractable, i.e. the core (3a) may be dismantled from the fixed vertical core (3b), and in that the grating (2) and the washing and rinsing screen (9) are also dismountable, which makes it possible to transport these various elements separately.

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