Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Apparatus – With heating – cooling or heat exchange means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-05
2001-03-13
Stinson, Frankie L. (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Apparatus
With heating, cooling or heat exchange means
C134S111000, C134S186000, C134S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199565
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for washing items and more particularly relates to a sink-type apparatus for washing items such as automotive parts to remove grease, oil and other contaminants using a washing fluid which is nonflammable, biodegradable and environmentally acceptable. The invention also relates to a parts cleaner servicing system or method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sinks and similar apparatus for removing grease and oils from parts such as automotive parts are widely used and can be found in most automotive and machine shops.
In the past, parts washers of the sink type utilized toxic cleaning fluids such as petroleum-based solvents and non-biodegradable detergents. The use of such toxic cleaning solutions is environmentally objectionable and, as a result, both State and Federal Regulations either restrict or severely limit the use of these types of solutions. For example, California has passed environmental regulations effective Jan. 1, 1999 which prohibit the use of certain classes of solvents in part washing machines. Accordingly, there has developed a need for environmentally acceptable parts washers which utilize safe, biodegradable cleaning solutions and which are nevertheless effective to remove accumulated grime, particularly hydrocarbon-based contaminants such as oil and grease and which is both simple to use, convenient to service and which complies with local, state and federal environmental regulations.
As indicated above, there are a number of parts washers in the prior art. In the industry, a cabinet type washer has an enclosure which houses a spray system and the cabinet is closed during operation. A sink-type device has an open tub and the parts are cleaned manually using a brush in a bath of cleaning solution. U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,708 discloses a parts cleaning machine which has a cabinet with a rotating carousel for supporting articles to be cleaned. A sink is also provided which receives cleaning fluid from the spray bar network in the cabinet. The cabinet includes a reservoir in the bottom which collects fluid sprayed by the spray bar network.
InstaClean, Inc. of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. also offers a line of degreasers which include a cabinet. The InstaClean IC4 parts cleaner has a large load capacity for accommodating large parts such as transmission cases, engine blocks and the like. This machine is designed to use a nonflammable, biodegradable cleaning compound which is dispersed by a manifold within the cabinet.
Other parts cleaning machines are also available in the prior art such as those manufactured by Landa Water Cleaning Systems as shown in Catalog #96-250.
The patent literature discloses a number of parts washers including the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,570,021 - Beach
U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,567 - Turman
U.S. Pat. No. 2,746,467 - Dempsey
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,023 - Clark
U.S. Pat. No. 2,771,086 - Kearney
U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,820 - Yee
U.S. Pat. No. 2,834,359 - Kearney
U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,222 - Durr
U.S. Pat. No. 2,842,143 - Kearney
U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,791 - Sims
U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,286 - Kearney
U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,850 -
Stutzman
U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,948 - Kearney
U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,060 - Hill
U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,853 - Kearney
U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,974 - Mansur
U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,096 - Miller
U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,027 - Harman
U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,467 - Purr
U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,708 - Sheldon
U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,891 - Meyers
U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,806 - Hakeem
U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,762 - Bowden
U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,851 - Yee
U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,169 - Striedieck
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides a sink type parts cleaning device and servicing system method. The cleaning apparatus includes a sink mounted on a base. The sink has a central drain and cleaning solution is dispersed at a valved fitting above the sink through a tee. One outlet of the tee is connected to a flexible hose which terminates at a handle having a brush which is adapted to be manually used to clean parts. The other outlet of the tee is connected to a flexible line which can be configured and re-configured into different shapes and positions. The end of the configurable line terminates at a nozzle to allow the nozzle to direct fluid at a part within the basin in a hands-free operation so the mechanic may use a wire brush or other cleaning tool in conjunction with the cleaning fluid.
A modular housing encloses a reservoir to which is attached a mechanical enclosure which contains a pump, electrical connections and other components. The reservoir is removable from beneath the housing and the reservoir receives the spent or used cleaning fluid from a drain in the sink. The only connection between the modular reservoir and the basin is a drain hose from the sink and the discharge from the pump which is connected via a line with a quick connect coupling. The flexible discharge hose communicates fluid from the sink to a location within the reservoir below the normal fluid level in the reservoir into a filter basket in the top of the reservoir. The pump withdraws fluid returned from the sink to the reservoir for re-use and directs the fluid through a discharge line to a valved tee fitting above the sink. The pump inlet is below the normal fluid level in the reservoir. A thermostat controls the operation of an electric heating element to maintain the temperature of the fluid at an appropriate temperature as for example 115° F. A float provides the user with a visual indication of the fluid level in the reservoir.
The reservoir and attached electrical and mechanical components are part of a modular housing and are removable from beneath the sink housing. The modular construction greatly facilitates servicing as periodically when the recycled cleaning fluid becomes contaminated, the unit can be serviced in several ways. The modular housing containing the reservoir can be removed from the base and can be emptied at the site by pumping the spent fluid into a container for removal and replacing the spent fluid with clean, fresh cleaning solution. Alternatively, the modular housing can be removed along with the spent fluid and the entire module containing fresh cleaning solution can be replaced with a new module and appropriately connected to the parts basin and a source of power. In this way, the modular housing containing the reservoir and contaminated solution can safely and conveniently be removed from the location and taken to a central servicing location where the fluid can be removed and the module cleaned and replenished with new cleaning solution. Servicing at a central location is efficient and makes it easier to comply with safe handling of environmentally acceptable standard practices.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a parts washing sink with a removable and replaceable modular reservoir which greatly facilitates cleaning and servicing of the unit.
Another object of the present invention to provide a parts washing sink which is simple and effective and easy to use.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a part washing sink which meets environmental standards and which uses nonflammable, biodegradable cleaning solution.
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patent: 4226548 (1980-10-01), Reith
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patent: 5303725 (1994-04-01), Hilgren
patent: 5464533 (1995-11-01), Koslow
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patent: 5513667 (1996-05-01), Usher
patent: 5598861 (1997-02-01), Danowski et al.
patent: 5649557 (1997-07-01), Usher
patent: 5944035 (1999-08-01), Chen
patent: 5950647 (1999-09-01), Usher
patent: 6016818 (2000-01-01), Evaro et al.
patent: 454106 (1949-01-01), None
patent: 933412 (1949-01-01), None
Nelson Gregory J.
Stinson Frankie L.
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