GB2232877A

GB2232877A - Parts cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2232877A
Application number: GB8913064A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Charles Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-07
Filing date: 1989-06-07
Publication date: 1991-01-02
Also published as: GB8913064D0

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning engine parts comprises a tank 1, cage 3 for holding parts to be cleaned, the cage being freely rotatably mounted within the tank, and spray tubes 7, 9 for spraying cleaning fluid 15 at the parts and for rotating the cage. The cleaning fluid may be recirculated through filter 13 by pump 11. An electrical heater 17 may be located within the tank. The cleaning fluid may be an aqueous detergent solution. <IMAGE>

Description

INDUSTRIAL ENGINE CLEANER This invention relates to a solvent cleaner, more especially for use in cleaning engine parts.

Parts of engines which are being reconditioned are often heavily soiled and need thorough cleaning. This is a time-consuming and difficult job and there has been a need for a simple, reliable and rugged machine for cleaning such engine parts thoroughly. A further problem that has been encountered is that when using cleaning fluids such as water and detergent, the used water is highly contaminated with oil and grit and is not particularly easy to deal with.

According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning apparatus comprising: a tank; a cage freely rotatably mounted within said tank for holding items to be cleaned; spray means for spraying cleaning fluid at said items and said cage, whereby said cage is, in use, caused to rotate by the force of the sprayed cleaning fluid.

The present invention will be further explained hereinafter with reference to the following preferred exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sectioned side view of a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a top view of the cleaning apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a view from below of the cage of the cleaning apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a cleaning apparatus which comprises a large steel tank (1) in which a cage (3) is freely rotatably, mounted on ballrace bearings (5), and into which the engine parts, or other items, which are to be cleaned are placed. The tank may be of the order of 75 cm square and welded together from 14 gauge mild steel plate. The bottom of the tank is ideally made from 1/4" mild steel plate and the tank is preferably provided with a removable or otherwise openable lid. The drum (3) is made from perforated mild steel plate and has a diameter slightly less than that of the tank, for example 70 cm. Spray bars (7) and (9) are positioned below and above the cage (3).

The spray bars are made from 2.5 cm pipe and contain a series of jets, for example 20 in total, of diameter 3 mm.

The jets are arranged so as to spray water at the drum at an angle, thereby imparting a rotationary force to it.

Cleaning fluid is supplied to the spray pipes by a pump (11) which takes cleaning fluid (15) from the bottom of the tank via a filter (13). The pump is ideally a heavy duty centrifuge type, for example a Vaqua "Kompact" pump driven by a 1500 Watt three-phase motor at 2800 rpm. The pump provides water to the spray bars at approximately 2.8 kg/cm2 and at a rate of approximately 3.8 1/sex. The cleaning fluid leaves the jets at an angle of approximately 450 to the horizontal, thus imparting a rotational motion to the drum. The strength of the drive to the drum may be increased by the provision of paddles on the bottom of the drum. The speed of rotation of the drum will vary during operation according to the load placed within it but is normally within the range of approximately 90 to 250 rpm.

The basket may be optionally provided with a perforated lid to ensure that parts remain within it during the operation of the device.

A 6 KW heater (17) may be mounted in the bottom of the tank below the level of the fluid and it has been found that by heating the cleaning fluid to approximately 90or, the cleaning action, especially where the fluid is, as preferred, a mixture of water and detergent, is considerably enhanced.

A cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has a number of distinct advantages; because the drum is powered by the pressure of the water jet the construction of the device is made much simpler since there is no need to provide a motor to drive the drum; because the cleaning fluid is recycled there is very much reduced contamination of any drains. It has been found that the cleaning action of the fluid does not significantly deteriorate for a considerable period of time until there is a very high concentration of contaminants within it. At this point it may be drained and the concentrated contaminants safely disposed of in a convenient and cheap manner.

Any suitable fluid may be used for the cleaning fluid. However, for cleaning engines and engine parts it has been found that a solution of an industrial detergent in water is eminently suitable.

Standard items may be used for the heater, filter and pump, provided that they are capable of handling the necessary loads.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a tank; a cage freely rotatably mounted within said tank for holding items to be cleaned; spray means for spraying cleaning fluid at said items and said cage, whereby said cage is, in use, caused to rotate by the force of the sprayed cleaning fluid.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spray means is adapted to direct cleaning fluid to impinge upon paddle means provided on said cage for causing said cage to rotate.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said paddle means are fixed underneath said cage.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said spray means direct cleaning fluid at said cage and said items from above and below.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said spray means comprise spray bars above and below said cage and provided with a plurality of jets or nozzles for directing said cleaning fluid at said cage and said items.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a pump for pumping said cleaning fluid through said spray means under pressure.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said pump has an inlet to take cleaning fluid from the bottom of said tank.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising filter means for filtering said cleaning fluid recovered from said tank before it is pumped through said spray means.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said cleaning fluid in said tank is heated.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an electric heater is provided in said tank to heat said cleaning fluid.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said heater is adapted to heat said cleaning fluid to a temperature of substantially 900 C, with said cleaning fluid being a mixture of water and detergent.

12. A cleaning apparatus constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.