GB824490A - Cleaning and degreasing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

824,490. Confining fumes generated in industrial processes. DREYER, J. A. Sept. 5, 1956 [Sept. 8, 1955], No. 27195/56. Class 8(2). [Also in Group II] Apparatus for cleaning and degreasing articles such as watch parts, or metal parts for electroplating, comprises a number of heat-insulated chambers A, B and C into which the articles are successively introduced, a double-walled ventilating hood 14 above the chambers with an exhaust fan 11 and slots 16 in its inner walls, and a lid (not shown), arranged below the slots to close off the chambers and having in it a pilot opening with a closing flap so that when the pilot opening is uncovered the vapour from the cleaning liquid (such as trichlorethylene) escapes only in quantities which the fan is capable of withdrawing ; the lid can then be opened with safety. Electric heaters 7 and dirt-extractors 8 are mounted in the bases of the chambers A, B and C and sonic or supersonic vibrators one of which is attached to plate 23 in chamber A and the other mounted at 24<SP>1</SP> on chamber B, aid in the cleaning. Sprays 25 and 26 rinse the articles as they are removed. Chamber C may be supplied with vaporized cleaning medium which condenses onto the articles ; escape of vapour is minimised by a cooling coil 38. A further cooling coil 51 is disposed beneath the hood 14 ; this further prevents escape of vapours, and may be used for the cleaning by distillation of the medium, the heaters 7 evaporating it and the condensed liquid being collected at 54 and led off by a conduit 56 to a water separator 57 where the heavier trichlorethylene may be collected via pipe 60. Thermostats may control the temperatures in the chambers A to C, and in the hood 14.