Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Apparatus – With heating – cooling or heat exchange means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-02
2001-05-08
Stinson, Frankie L. (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Apparatus
With heating, cooling or heat exchange means
C134S105000, C134S111000, C134S104100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227214
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to industrial washing equipment, and more specifically, to a system for containing vapors and recovering liquid solvent from the vapors in a general parts washer apparatus, wherein a solvent is used to clean various articles in a wash basin, sink or like wash area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid solvents are used in many industries throughout the world to clean a variety of articles including engine parts, machine parts, paint spraying equipment, and the like. Often, solvents are used in industrial washing equipment and, particularly, in general parts washers of the type having a sink, basin or like washing area which is normally enclosed by a hood or cover when not in use.
Presently, there are nearly two million parts washing machines used daily in the United States. Many of these machines are provided with a sink or wash basin into which a liquid solvent is released from a spigot or hose in order to wash various articles therein. In the normal parts washing process, liquid solvent is sprayed onto the surfaces of the sink or wash area. Thereafter, the solvent quickly evaporates from the sink surfaces and enters the surrounding atmosphere. In fact, it is estimated that the use of solvents in parts cleaning operations throughout the U.S. results in thousands, and possibly millions of gallons of solvent being lost per year due to evaporation.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need in the industrial parts cleaning industry for a system and method which is specifically adapted to contain vapors within industrial washing equipment and to recover solvent from the vapors for subsequent use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a system and method for containment and recovery of vapors in a general parts washer apparatus of the type wherein a solvent is delivered to a wash area for use during parts washing operations. The system includes a unit supported in communication with the wash area, with a fan for creating an air flow therethrough. In operation, the fan draws air containing solvent vapors from the wash area and through a separation chamber in the unit. Activated carbon filters within the unit separate moisture from the air flow to trap solvent within the separation chamber. During a distillation cycle, a vacuum activated valve assembly closes the separation chamber and a heater raises the temperature therein, under negative pressure, causing liquid solvent in the separation chamber to vaporize. From the condenser, the pure liquid solvent is directed to a clean solvent holding tank in the parts washer apparatus so that it can be used during subsequent washing operations.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a system and method for containing vapors within a parts washer apparatus and to recover solvent from the contained vapors so that the recovered solvent can be reused during future parts washing operations.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for containing vapors and recovering solvent from the vapors in a general washer apparatus wherein the recovered solvent is purified and free of contaminants for subsequent use in the apparatus.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method which will substantially reduce the level of VOC emissions which result from the use of solvents in industrial washing equipment.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for containing vapors and recovering solvent from the vapors in a parts washer apparatus, wherein the system is adapted to be installed on existing and newly manufactured parts washing equipment in the industry.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for containing vapors and recovering solvent from the vapors in industrial washing equipment, as set forth above, wherein the system can be economically integrated for use on existing equipment as well as newly manufactured equipment.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent with reference to the detailed description and drawings.
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patent: 4881561 (1989-11-01), Schwarzwalder
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patent: 1351302 (1974-04-01), None
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Downey P.A. Robert M.
Mansur Industries Inc.
Stinson Frankie L.
LandOfFree
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