JPH02280879A - Method for replacing filter of washing apparatus using organic solvent - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the amount of an org. solvent by evaporating the org. solvent adhered to the filter in a hollow case to send the same to a solvent recovery means and subsequently sucking air in the hollow case to replace the filter using the hollow case. CONSTITUTION:The pressure in the hollow case 26 constituting a filter unit 25 is lowered and the org. solvent adhered to the filter 27 received in the hollow case 26 is evaporated. The vapor of the org. solvent passing through a vacuum pump 13 is sent in a distiller 12 being a solvent recovery means and condensed by the cooler 11 built in the distiller 12 to be recovered in a storage tank 6. The vapor of the org. solvent incapable of being recovered by the cooler 11 is recovered by a secondary cooler 21. Further, a very small amount of the vapor of the org. solvent incapable of being recovered by the secondary cooler is collected by an activated carbon filter 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The filter replacement method of a cleaning device using an organic solvent according to the present invention is a method for replacing a filter of a cleaning device using an organic solvent such as chlorofluorocarbon to remove dirt such as oil attached to the surface of various articles. This is used when replacing the filter installed in a cleaning device that removes organic solvents.By preventing organic solvents from remaining on the used filters, organic solvents are prevented from being released into the atmosphere. It is something to do.

(Prior art) Molds, porous sintered metal for air bearings, IC boards, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice to clean oil and other stains adhering to the surfaces of various articles by using organic solvents such as fluorocarbons and trichlorethylene as a cleaning liquid.

An example of a cleaning device that performs cleaning work by using such an organic solvent as a cleaning liquid is disclosed in Utility Application No. 1983-
This will be explained using the device shown in No. 54595 as an example.

As shown in Fig. 2, this cleaning device has a cylindrical shape with an open top and a bottom, and includes a cleaning tank 2 containing Ml that can airtightly close the top opening, and a heater 3 for heating and evaporating the organic solvent. a steam supply means 4 which has a built-in organic solvent vapor and sends organic solvent vapor into the inside of the cleaning tank 2 through a pipe 5; a storage tank 6 which stores a cleaning organic solvent to be sent into the inside of the cleaning tank 2; It consists of two pipes 7.8 connecting the and cleaning tank 2 and a liquid feeding pump 9 installed in the middle of one of the pipes 8.
supply and discharge means 20 for supplying and discharging a liquid organic solvent between;
A distiller 12 that combines a heater 10 for heating and evaporating a liquid organic solvent and a cooler 11 for condensing organic solvent vapor, and a distiller 12 that sends the condensed organic solvent to the storage tank 6 and a cleaning tank 2. An exhaust pipe 14 is connected to an intake pipe 16 for feeding air, and an exhaust pipe 14 for sending organic solvent vapor discharged from the cleaning tank 2 to the distiller 12, which is connected to the end of an exhaust pipe 19 having a vacuum pump 13 installed in the middle, and a cleaning pipe. It is composed of an exhaust pipe 15 for discharging air from the tank 2.

When cleaning the object 17 to be cleaned using the cleaning apparatus of the prior invention configured as described above, the lid 1 is opened and the object 17 is stored inside the cleaning tank 2, and then the lid 1 is opened. After closing, the vacuum pump 13 is operated to exhaust the air in the cleaning tank 2 through the exhaust pipe 15.

After the air in the cleaning tank 2 is discharged, the organic solvent in the storage tank 6 is sent into the cleaning tank 2 through the pipe 7 constituting the supply/discharge means 20 to clean the object 17 to be cleaned. At this time, by energizing the ultrasonic vibrator 18.18 fixed to the bottom of the cleaning tank 2, ultrasonic vibration is applied to the organic solvent in the cleaning tank 2, so that the object to be cleaned 17 can be efficiently cleaned. Make it.

After the cleaning work with the liquid organic solvent is completed, by operating the liquid feeding pump 9 constituting the supply/discharge means 20,
While the liquid organic solvent in the cleaning tank 2 is gradually returned to the storage tank 6 through the pipe 8, organic solvent vapor is supplied into the cleaning tank 2 from the steam supply means 4.

As a result, part of the object to be cleaned 17 during cleaning [2] is exposed above the surface of the liquid organic solvent, and the vapor of the organic solvent condenses in this exposed portion, and this condensation is used to cover the object to be cleaned 17. The surface is cleaned, so-called steam cleaning.

While performing steam cleaning, once all the liquid organic solvent in the cleaning tank 2 is returned to the storage tank [6], the vacuum pump 13 installed in the middle of the discharge pipe 19 is operated to remove the remaining liquid in the cleaning tank 2. The organic solvent vapor is discharged into the distiller 12 through the exhaust pipe 14 . In this way, the organic solvent vapor discharged into the distiller 12 through the discharge pipe 19 and the exhaust pipe 14 is condensed and liquefied by the cooler 11 provided in the distiller 12 and recovered. The organic solvent vapor that was not completely recovered by the cooler 11 is recovered by the secondary cooler 21, and the trace amount of organic solvent vapor that could not be recovered by the secondary cooler 21 is collected by the activated carbon filter 22. be captured.

When the inside of the cleaning tank 2 reaches a predetermined degree of vacuum with the operation of the vacuum pump 13, the vacuum pump 13 is stopped,
Air is sent into the cleaning tank 2 through the intake pipe 16.

As a result, when the pressure inside the cleaning tank 2 rises to approximately atmospheric pressure, Ml of the cleaning tank 2 is opened and the object 17 to be cleaned which has been cleaned is taken out.

By the way, after being used for cleaning the object 17 to be cleaned in the cleaning tank 2, it is directed to the storage tank 6 by the liquid feeding pump 9, or as shown in FIG. 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention. , distiller 12
It is inevitable that the dirt adhering to the object 17 to be cleaned will be mixed into the organic solvent sent towards the cleaning object 17.

In order to prevent dirt from being mixed into the organic solvent sent into the cleaning tank 2 when performing the next cleaning operation (when sending the used organic solvent to the storage tank 6), or to prevent dirt from being mixed into the organic solvent sent into the cleaning tank 2, In order to prevent dirt from gradually accumulating in the pipe 8 (when sending used organic solvent to the distiller 12), and to prevent the liquid pump 9 from malfunctioning, a cleaning tank is installed in the middle of the pipe 8. 2
A filter unit is provided in the open position between the and liquid feeding pump 9,
It is effective to remove dirt mixed into used organic solvents.

As such a filter unit, for example, a commercially available unit as shown in FIG. 3 is used. This third
The filter unit 25 shown in the figure has a cylindrical filter 27, 27 that can be freely stored in a bottomed cylindrical hollow case 26, and has an inlet 29 and an outlet 30 in a lid 28 that closes the top opening of the hollow case 26. It has been established that

When filtering dirt mixed in the organic solvent, from the inlet port 29, the inner peripheral surface of the hollow case 26 and the filter 27
．． The organic solvent is fed into the space 31 existing between the filter 27 and the outer peripheral surface of the filter 27, and the organic solvent in the space 32 existing inside the filter 27.27 is taken out from the delivery port 30. As a result, dirt mixed in the organic solvent is removed from each filter 27.
．． Collected on 27th. If the filters 27.27 become dirty due to repeated use, open the lid 28, take out the old filter, and replace it with a new filter.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, with the provision of the filter unit in front of the liquid pump 9 as described above, the following disadvantages occur.

That is, the filter 27.27 housed in the hollow case 26
Since the filters 27 and 27 are made of porous material, the used filters 27, 27 remain impregnated with a relatively large amount of organic solvent.

In this way, the filter 27.2 impregnated with a large amount of organic solvent
If filter 27.7 is removed and discarded as is, filter 27.
The organic solvent adhering to No. 27 evaporates and dissipates into the atmosphere, causing environmental damage such as destruction of the ozone layer.

In addition, in order to prevent water generated by condensation of water vapor in the air from being sent into the cleaning tank 2 in the distiller 12, silica gel or sled-cura sieves are installed between the distiller 12 and the storage tank 6. Although it is conceivable to provide a filter unit with a built-in drying filter, similar problems arise when such a drying filter is replaced.

The method of replacing a filter in a cleaning device using an organic solvent according to the present invention solves the above-mentioned inconveniences.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A method for replacing a filter in a cleaning device using an organic solvent according to the present invention includes a cleaning tank that can be sealed while storing an object to be cleaned;
A filter is installed in a hollow case having a supply means that can freely feed an organic solvent for cleaning into the cleaning tank, a discharge means for discharging the organic solvent from the cleaning tank after the cleaning operation, and an inlet and an outlet. a filter unit installed in the middle of a pipe through which the organic solvent passes;
a vacuum pump for discharging the gas present in the cleaning tank;
It is used when replacing the filter of the cleaning equipment that uses the organic solvent, which consists of a solvent recovery means that sends the gas discharged from this vacuum pump and recovers the organic solvent vapor present in this gas. be.

In the replacement method of the present invention used in such cases, after the liquid organic solvent is discharged from the hollow case of the filter unit, the inside of the hollow case is communicated only to the suction port of the vacuum pump. In this state, the vacuum pump is operated to evaporate the organic solvent adhering to the filter in the hollow case, and then send it to the solvent recovery means, and then, after sucking air into the hollow case, the hollow case is opened. ,
Perform filter replacement work.

(Function) When a filter is replaced by the filter replacement method of a cleaning device using an organic solvent of the present invention configured as described above, the filter inside the hollow case is damaged as the vacuum pump is operated. Since the attached organic solvent evaporates, there is no need to discard a filter with a large amount of organic solvent attached.

The organic solvent vapor generated when the organic solvent adhering to the filter evaporates is sent to the solvent recovery means through a vacuum pump and is recovered, so the organic solvent adhering to the filter is released into the atmosphere. Things will go away.

After evaporating the organic solvent adhering to the filter, if air is sucked into the hollow case, the pressure inside the hollow case becomes atmospheric pressure, so open the hollow case using the same procedure as before. , filter replacement work can be performed.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing one embodiment of a cleaning device for carrying out the replacement method of the present invention.

The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the cleaning device according to the previous invention described above, redundant explanations are omitted, and the parts related to the case where the replacement method of the present invention is implemented will be explained.

Liquid organic solvents such as chlorofluorocarbons used for cleaning work are sent from the storage tank 6 to the cleaning tank 2 through the pipe 7, and used dirty organic solvents are sent to the distillation @ 12 through the pipe 8. After being regenerated in this distiller 12, the storage tank 2
I'm trying to get back to it.

In the middle of the pipe 8 for sending the used organic solvent from the cleaning tank 2 to the distiller 12, there are, in order from the cleaning tank 2 side, a valve 24 that opens and closes electromagnetically, a filter unit 25, and an electromagnetically operated valve 24. A valve 33 that opens and closes and a liquid feeding pump 9 are provided.

Also, a discharge pipe 1 for discharging gas present in the cleaning tank 2.
9 and the exhaust pipe 14, a valve 34 that opens and closes electromagnetically, and a vacuum pump 13, also in order from the cleaning tank 2 side.
A valve 35 that opens and closes electromagnetically is provided.

In the middle of the pipe 8, between the valve 24 and the filter unit 25, and in the middle of the discharge pipe 19, the valve 34 and the vacuum pump 1
3 and 3 are communicated with each other through a pipe 37 provided with a valve 36 that opens and closes electromagnetically.

On the other hand, in the middle of the pipe 5 connecting the steam supply means 4 and the cleaning tank 2, one end is connected to the part between the steam supply means 4 and the valve 23,
The other end of the pipe 39, which is provided with a valve 38 that opens and closes electromagnetically in the middle thereof, is connected to the part between the valve 24 and the filter unit 25 in the middle of the pipe 8.

The action itself when cleaning various objects 17 to be cleaned by the cleaning device configured as described above and using an organic solvent is almost the same as that of the cleaning device of the previous invention described above, and the used organic solvent is The liquid passes through the filter unit 25 and the liquid sending pump 9, is sent to the distiller 12, is regenerated by the distiller 12, and then is returned to the storage tank 6.

Filter 27 becomes dirty due to repeated cleaning operations.
When replacing the filter unit 25, first open the valves 33 and 38 and transfer the high temperature organic solvent vapor from the vapor supply means 4 to the filter unit 25.
By feeding the hollow case 26 into the hollow case 26,
At the same time, the liquid organic solvent remaining in the hollow case 26 is expelled and the filter 27 housed in the hollow case 26 is heated. At this time, the liquid feeding pump 9 is operated as necessary.

After discharging the liquid organic solvent from the hollow case 26 and heating the filter 27, one of the five valves provided in the middle of the pipe leading to the filter unit 25, valve 24.
33, 34, and 38, open the valve 36 in the middle of the pipe 37, and operate the vacuum pump 13.

As a result, the pressure inside the hollow case 26 constituting the filter unit 25 decreases, and the organic solvent adhering to the filter 27 housed in the hollow case 26 evaporates.

The organic solvent vapor generated by the evaporation of the organic solvent adhering to the filter 27 and passed through the vacuum pump 13 is sent to the distiller 12, which is a solvent recovery means, and is cooled by the cooler 11 built into the distiller 12. It is condensed and collected.

The organic solvent vapor that was not completely recovered by the cooler 11 is recovered by the secondary cooler 21, and the trace amount of organic solvent vapor that could not be recovered by the secondary cooler 21 is captured by the activated carbon filter 22. collected.

In this way, once the organic solvent adhering to the used filter 27 is recovered by evaporating and condensing, the valve 24, which had been closed until then, is opened and the suction pipe 16, cleaning tank 2, pipe After sucking air into the hollow case 26 through 8, the hollow case 26 is opened, the used filter 27 is taken out, and a new filter 27 is installed.

As a result of replacing the filter 27 in this manner, it is no longer necessary to discard the filter 27 with a large amount of organic solvent attached to it.

The organic solvent vapor generated by the evaporation of the organic solvent adhering to the filter 27 is sent to the distiller 12, which is a solvent recovery means, through the vacuum pump 13, as described above, and is recovered. The organic solvents that were previously used will no longer be released into the atmosphere.

The filter unit 25 can be installed in the middle of the discharge pipe 8 as described above, in the middle of the feed pipe 7, or in a circulation pipe (not shown) attached to the storage tank 6. )
It can also be placed in the middle. Furthermore, by the replacement method of the present invention, it is also possible to replace the drying filter as described above.

(Effects of the Invention) The filter replacement method for a cleaning device using an organic solvent of the present invention is structured and operates as described above, so that when the filter is replaced, the amount of organic solvent that remains attached to the filter is This reduces the amount of organic solvent released into the atmosphere.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows one of the cleaning devices for carrying out the replacement method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a cleaning device according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a filter unit in a cut state; It is. 1: Lid, 2: Cleaning tank, 3: Heater, 4: Steam supply means,
5: Pipe, 6: Storage tank, 7.8: Pipe, 9: Liquid pump, 1
0: heater, 11: cooler, 12 distiller, 13: vacuum pump, 14: exhaust pipe, 15: exhaust pipe, 16: intake pipe, 1
7: Object to be cleaned, 18: Ultrasonic vibrator, 19: Discharge pipe, 2
0: Supply/discharge means, 21: Secondary cooler, 22: Activated carbon filter, 23.24: Valve, 25: Filter unit, 26:
Hollow case, 27: Filter, 28: Lid, 29: Inlet, 30: Outlet, 31.32: Space, 33.
34.35.36: Valve, 37: Pipe, 38: Valve, 39: Pipe. Patent applicant: Chiyoda Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Managing Director: Kinzo Koyama (one idiot) Figure C::? Power 11) +51nP6T)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A cleaning tank that can be sealed while storing the items to be cleaned,
A filter is installed in a hollow case having a supply means that can freely feed an organic solvent for cleaning into the cleaning tank, a discharge means for discharging the organic solvent from the cleaning tank after the cleaning operation, and an inlet and an outlet. a filter unit installed in the middle of a pipe through which the organic solvent passes;
a vacuum pump for discharging the gas present in the cleaning tank;
A method for replacing a filter in a cleaning device that uses an organic solvent, comprising a solvent recovery means for feeding gas discharged from the vacuum pump and recovering vapor of an organic solvent present in the gas, the method comprising: a filter unit; After discharging the liquid organic solvent from inside the hollow case, the vacuum pump is operated with the inside of the hollow case communicated only with the suction port of the vacuum pump, and the organic solvent adhering to the filter inside the hollow case is removed. A method for replacing a filter in a cleaning device using an organic solvent, in which the organic solvent is evaporated and then sent to the solvent recovery means, and then air is sucked into the hollow case, and then the hollow case is opened to perform filter replacement work. (2) When discharging the liquid organic solvent from inside the hollow case of the filter unit, high-temperature organic solvent vapor is sent into the hollow case to push out the liquid organic solvent present inside the hollow case and remove the filter. A method for replacing a filter in a cleaning device using an organic solvent according to claim 1, which comprises increasing the temperature.