GB466207A - Improvements in or relating to degreasing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In degreasing-apparatus for metal articles consisting of chambers 5, 6 and 7, containing a volatile solvent, there is provided a drying compartment 13 in which solvent draining from the articles is conducted to a cold zone before substantial vaporization occurs and which contains a heating zone, a condenser and means for collecting condensate. The heating zone consists of electrically heated <PICT:0466207/III/1> wires or steam pipes 18, above which is mounted a corrugated sheet 19, the depressions in which are perforated and fall between the pipes and supports the articles to be dried, or a basket containing the articles may rest on this sheet. Solvent draining from the articles passes through the perforations 20 to the water-cooled sloping bottom 21 and then via a gutter 22 to a sump 23. Solvent vapours are condensed by coils 14, and condensate collects in a trough 15 from which the solvent passes to the sump. A cooling channel 17 is mounted at the lower end of the cooling coil 14, whereby convection currents are avoided. A flexible shutter 25 is drawn across the top of the compartment during the drying operation. The corrugated sheet 19 may be replaced by inverted angle-pieces placed over the steam pipes. The degreasing compartments 5, 6, 7 contain trichlorethylene which flows through the compartments by channels formed between partitions 8 and baffles 9. Heaters 10 are provided. Solvent vapours are condensed by water-cooled pipes 2, and the clean condensed solvent passes to the compartment 7. In operation, the articles are immersed in compartments 5, 6 and 7, with or without vapour or liquid spray treatment, and are then placed in the compartment 13 where they are dried by draining and by hot air rising from the heating element 18. Specification 456,821 is referred to.