GB1605046A - Degreasing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DEGREASING APPARATUS (71)We, SYD WARD (Sth Normanton) Limited, a British Company, of Carter Lane East, South Normanton, Derby DE5 5DY, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for treating articles with a liquid, particularly degreasing or cleaning articles by means of a liquid under pressure.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for treating articles with a liquid, said apparatus comprising a closable casing, within the confines of which are provided a tank for receiving articles to be treated, a reservoir for the liquid, conduit means communicating between the reservoir and spray means located at an upper part of the tank, pump means for delivering the liquid under pressure through the conduit means and means for adjusting the position of the spray means, part of the casing being openable to enable operator access to the tank.

Preferably the reservoir forms a sump which receives the cleaning liquid after use, filter means being provided in the path of the liquid from the reservoir to the conduit means. A drain tap is preferably provided for draining the sump as required. A floor of the tank may include a perforated area below which the sump is located.

The spray means is advantageously in the form of a perforated tube which extends across the upper part of the tank and is movably supported at each end on the tank.

The opening part of the casing may comprise a hinged cover.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a front perspective view of a modified apparatus.

Referring to the drawings a degreasing apparatus comprises a casing of substantially rectangular configuration having an upper cleaning tank 12 communicating through a perforated base plate 14, which defines a part of the floor of the cleaning tank 12, with a sump 18 also defining a reservoir for the cleaning liquid as hereinafter described.

Below the other part of the floor of the tank 12 there is defined a recess in which are located a plurality of components as hereinafter described. The recess is closed at the front end of the tank 10 by a removable grille 20.

The upper end of the cleaning tank 12 is provided with a hinged cover 22 for an access opening thereto. At the top of each side of the tank 12 there is provided an inwardly projecting flange defining a guide track 24. A spray head 26 in the form of a perforated tube extends across the upper end of the tank 12 and is movably supported at each end on a respective one of the tracks 24. The perforations in the spray head 26 face downwardly for spraying cleaning liquid on to articles located in the tank 12. The spray head 26 has an inlet 28 substantially midway along its length over which is fitted one end of a conduit 30, the latter extending through a sealed aperture in the floor of the tank 12 with its other end being connected to an outlet of a pump (not shown) located in the recess.

An inlet of the pump communicates with the sump/reservoir 18 above the base thereof. Drive means in the form of an electric motor (not shown) is operable to pump liquid from the reservoir 18 to the spray head 26.

In use, the cleaning liquid, for example paraffin with additives, is pumped to the spray head 26 and is sprayed thereby on to the articles to be cleaned in the tank 12. The liquid drains through the perforated plate 14 into the sump/reservoir 18 and is recirculated by the pump. Sludge accumulating in the sump/reservoir 18 is removed therefrom, possibly by means of a drain tap.

It is envisaged that the floor of the cleaning tank 12 may be provided with a rotary turntable in order that the article to be cleaned can be orientated as desired. It is also envisaged that the apparatus may be provided with its own crane device possibly attached to the back of the tank to extend upwardly therefrom, the crane device being used to load heavy articles into the tank for cleaning and remove the cleaned articles therefrom.

A heater may also be supplied in the reservoir for heating the cleaning fluid and a time switch may be incorporated such that the apparatus in use can be left to operate for a predetermined time period without an operator having to check the apparatus periodically.

It will be appreciated that the electric motor can be connected to the mains supply by an appropriate cable. By virtue of having the closable cover, splashing etc. of the cleaning fluid out of the tank is prevented during use of the apparatus. Also as the conduit for the cleaning fluid is retained internally of the apparatus the possibility of damage to the conduit is reduced and there is less risk involved to an operator if, for example, the conduit should be damaged.

A fan extractor may be provided, preferably at each end of the apparatus, for removing fumes if necessary. Also a control unit for the operation of the apparatus may be in the form of a four-way rotary switch accessible from externally of the casing providing for 'off', 'heater on', 'heat and pump on', and 'pump on'. It will be appreciated that, depending on the nature of the articles to be treated, more than one pump may be provided where high liquid pressure is required.

In the apparatus of Figure 2, a casing 30 has two side-by-side tanks 32, 34, one preferably for degreasing an article and the other for rinsing or washing the article after it has been degreased. Components as described with reference to the apparatus of Figure 1 may be associated with each of the tanks 32, 34 although a first spray head 36 extends across the casing 30 above both tanks to be movable in guide tanks 38 and has secured therebelow, at the location of the tank 34, a further spray head 40 which is movable with the spray head 36. The latter has an inlet 42 substantially along the length of that part of the spray head 36 extending across the tank 32 and the spray head 40 has an inlet 44 substantially midway along its length.The casing 30 has a hinged cover 46 for the open upper ends of both tanks 33, 34 and an article can be degreased in one of the tanks at the same time as another article is being washed or rinsed in the other tank.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the spray head may be of other form possibly having a central rose from which the cleaning fluid is sprayed. Castors may be provided to facilitate movement of the apparatus.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for treating articles with a liquid, said apparatus comprising a closable casing, within the confines of which are provided a tank for receiving articles to be treated, a reservoir for the liquid, conduit means communicating between the reservoir and spray means located at an upper part of the tank, pump means for delivering the liquid under pressure through the conduit means, and means for adjusting the position of the spray means, part of the casing being openable to enable operator access to the tank.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the reservoir forms a sump, which receives the cleaning liquid after use, filter means being provided in the path of the liquid from the reservoir to the conduit means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein a drain tap is provided in the sump.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein a floor of the tank includes a perforated area below which the sump is located.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the spray means is in the form of a perforated tube which extends across the upper part of the tank and is movably supported at each end on the tank.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the openable part of the casing comprises a hinged cover.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein heating means is provided in the reservoir.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a rotary turntable is provided in the tank on which turntable can be located an article to be treated.

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein lifting means is provided for movement of articles into and out of the tank.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein means is provided for extracting gases from the tank.

11. Apparatus for treating articles with a liquid, said apparatus comprising a closable casing, within the confines of which are provided a plurality of tanks for receiving articles to be treated and associated with

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the articles to be cleaned in the tank 12. The liquid drains through the perforated plate 14 into the sump/reservoir 18 and is recirculated by the pump. Sludge accumulating in the sump/reservoir 18 is removed therefrom, possibly by means of a drain tap. It is envisaged that the floor of the cleaning tank 12 may be provided with a rotary turntable in order that the article to be cleaned can be orientated as desired. It is also envisaged that the apparatus may be provided with its own crane device possibly attached to the back of the tank to extend upwardly therefrom, the crane device being used to load heavy articles into the tank for cleaning and remove the cleaned articles therefrom. A heater may also be supplied in the reservoir for heating the cleaning fluid and a time switch may be incorporated such that the apparatus in use can be left to operate for a predetermined time period without an operator having to check the apparatus periodically. It will be appreciated that the electric motor can be connected to the mains supply by an appropriate cable. By virtue of having the closable cover, splashing etc. of the cleaning fluid out of the tank is prevented during use of the apparatus. Also as the conduit for the cleaning fluid is retained internally of the apparatus the possibility of damage to the conduit is reduced and there is less risk involved to an operator if, for example, the conduit should be damaged. A fan extractor may be provided, preferably at each end of the apparatus, for removing fumes if necessary. Also a control unit for the operation of the apparatus may be in the form of a four-way rotary switch accessible from externally of the casing providing for 'off', 'heater on', 'heat and pump on', and 'pump on'. It will be appreciated that, depending on the nature of the articles to be treated, more than one pump may be provided where high liquid pressure is required. In the apparatus of Figure 2, a casing 30 has two side-by-side tanks 32, 34, one preferably for degreasing an article and the other for rinsing or washing the article after it has been degreased. Components as described with reference to the apparatus of Figure 1 may be associated with each of the tanks 32, 34 although a first spray head 36 extends across the casing 30 above both tanks to be movable in guide tanks 38 and has secured therebelow, at the location of the tank 34, a further spray head 40 which is movable with the spray head 36. The latter has an inlet 42 substantially along the length of that part of the spray head 36 extending across the tank 32 and the spray head 40 has an inlet 44 substantially midway along its length.The casing 30 has a hinged cover 46 for the open upper ends of both tanks 33, 34 and an article can be degreased in one of the tanks at the same time as another article is being washed or rinsed in the other tank. Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the spray head may be of other form possibly having a central rose from which the cleaning fluid is sprayed. Castors may be provided to facilitate movement of the apparatus. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for treating articles with a liquid, said apparatus comprising a closable casing, within the confines of which are provided a tank for receiving articles to be treated, a reservoir for the liquid, conduit means communicating between the reservoir and spray means located at an upper part of the tank, pump means for delivering the liquid under pressure through the conduit means, and means for adjusting the position of the spray means, part of the casing being openable to enable operator access to the tank.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the reservoir forms a sump, which receives the cleaning liquid after use, filter means being provided in the path of the liquid from the reservoir to the conduit means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein a drain tap is provided in the sump.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein a floor of the tank includes a perforated area below which the sump is located.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the spray means is in the form of a perforated tube which extends across the upper part of the tank and is movably supported at each end on the tank.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the openable part of the casing comprises a hinged cover.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein heating means is provided in the reservoir.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a rotary turntable is provided in the tank on which turntable can be located an article to be treated.

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein lifting means is provided for movement of articles into and out of the tank.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein means is provided for extracting gases from the tank.

11. Apparatus for treating articles with a liquid, said apparatus comprising a closable casing, within the confines of which are provided a plurality of tanks for receiving articles to be treated and associated with

each tank in the casing a reservoir of liquid, conduit means communicating between the reservoir and spray means located at an upper part of the tank, pump means for delivering the liquid under pressure through the conduit means, and means for adjusting the position of the spray means, part of the casing being enable to enable operator access to the tank.

12. Apparatus for treating articles with a liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.