초록 ▼

Apparatus for recovery and reuse of parts cleaning fluid or similar fluid such as oil upon separation and removal from water, including a tank for receiving and collecting the water and fluid which floats atop the water. A removable shelf may be slidably mounted in the upper part of the tank for dir

Apparatus for recovery and reuse of parts cleaning fluid or similar fluid such as oil upon separation and removal from water, including a tank for receiving and collecting the water and fluid which floats atop the water. A removable shelf may be slidably mounted in the upper part of the tank for directing the fluid flow to the rear of the tank for channeled passage to a sludge collector. A box-like housing having a water discharge chamber partitioned by a plate-like baffle into water entry and outlet compartments which open to the upper part of the chamber that is vented to atmospheric pressure may be mounted in the lower part of the tank by associated fluid drain fittings. The outlet compartment has a drain whereas the water entry compartment has a relatively small inlet closely adjacent the bottom of the tank so that only water will flow into the water discharge chamber for automatic discharge from the tank upon the level thereof exceeding the height of the baffle. Also contained within the tank is a fluid reservoir which opens to the interior of the tank at a level higher than the height of the baffle for receipt and storage of fluid floating atop the water. A pump may be used to recycle the fluid, such fluid flowing through filters placed in the lower part of the reservoir and hoses terminating at a nozzle located above the tank. Also, a sight glass may be mounted in a side wall of the tank to permit visual observation of the respective fluid and water levels in the tank.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fluid recovery and water discharge apparatus comprising an open top tank for receiving and collecting water and an immiscible fluid which has a specific gravity less than that of water whereby such fluid will float as a layer atop the water; water depth control means for maintaining the water c

1. A fluid recovery and water discharge apparatus comprising an open top tank for receiving and collecting water and an immiscible fluid which has a specific gravity less than that of water whereby such fluid will float as a layer atop the water; water depth control means for maintaining the water collected in the bottom part of said tank below a predetermined level, said water depth control means including a chamber located in the lower part of said tank, said chamber having a bottom wall and side walls for separating the interior of said chamber from fluid and water collected in the lower part of said tank, a baffle between opposite side walls of said chamber and extending upwardly in said chamber to divide said chamber into a water inlet compartment and a water outlet compartment which open to an upper part of said chamber at opposite sides of a top spill edge of said baffle located at the predetermined level which is below the height of said chamber side walls, an inlet means to said water inlet compartment positioned below the predetermined level to allow water collected in the bottom part of said tank to pass into said water inlet compartment, and water drain means opening to said water outlet compartment below the predetermined level, whereby when the water in said water inlet compartment exceeds the predetermined level, water will spill over said top spill edge of said baffle for removal from said water outlet compartment via said water drain means; and fluid recovery means located in the lower part of said tank and opening to the interior of said tank at a top skimming edge located at an elevation slightly higher than said top spill edge of said baffle whereby such fluid floating atop the water will spill over said top skimming edge into said fluid recovery means, said chamber side walls extending above the elevation of said top skimming edge, and fluid outlet means opening to said fluid recovery means and leading from said fluid recovery means to the exterior of said tank, said fluid outlet means and water drain means being operable independently of one another to provide for simultaneous fluid skimming and water level control. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elevation of said top skimming edge is less than twice the elevation of said top spill edge. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inlet means comprises an opening in one of said chamber side walls located closely adjacent the bottom of said tank, said opening having a relatively small cross-sectional flow area in relation to the horizontal cross-sectional area of said water inlet compartment. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber is closed at its top by a removable cover which is located above the height of said top skimming edge, said cover being removable to permit cleaning of the interior of said chamber, and vent means for maintaining the upper part of said chamber at atmospheric pressure, said vent means including a vent tube open at one end to the upper part of said chamber and at its other end to the upper part of said tank above the water and fluid level in said tank. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for commonly leveling said tank, top spill edge and top skimming edge. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising sight glass means in a side wall of said tank for permitting visual observation of the respective fluid and water levels in said tank exteriorly of said chamber and reservoir. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising auxiliary drain fitting means removably mounted in said tank at the bottom thereof, said drain fitting means extending upwardly through the bottom of said tank exteriorly of both said chamber snd said reservoir and having an inlet opening spaced above the bottom of said tank for draining of said tank thereabove, said drain fitting means being removable from said tank to provide a larger opening flush with the bottom of said tank for further draining of said tank. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising pressurized air fitting means mounted on the exterior of said tank, said air fitting means having one end connectable to a source of pressurized air and the other end connectable to the air line of a water spray gun. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said baffle is a plate-like baffle extending between opposite side walls of said chamber and upwardly from the bottom wall of said chamber. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising vent means for maintaining the upper part of said chamber at atmospheric pressure, said vent means opening to the atmosphere at a level above the levels of the top spill edge and top skimming edge. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid recovery means includes a reservoir for the fluid, said reservoir having a substantially greater horizontal cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional flow area of said fluid outlet means, and means for recycling such fluid entering said fluid outlet means from said reservoir to a nozzle located above said tank. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said reservoir has an open top for insertion and removal of a filtering means said filtering means, being operative within said reservoir to filter such fluid being withdrawn from said reservoir by said means for recycling, said open top of said reservoir being at an elevation which is lower than the top of said chamber. 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for recycling includes a pump mounted exteriorly of said tank. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a valved fluid drain means connected to said fluid outlet means exteriorly of said tank for withdrawing the fluid from said reservoir independently of said pump. 15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an imperforate shelf removably mounted in the upper part of said tank, said shelf having upturned sides and front and a downturned rear lip, said shelf sloping downwardly from front to rear whereby any fluid and water that is poured onto said shelf will flow into said tank over said downturned lip, said upturned sides and downturned lip being disposed closely adjacent the walls of said tank to define therebeneath a substantially closed space above such fluid and water collected in the bottom part of said tank, said space having a volume incapable of containing a sufficient quantity of air for supporting spontaneous combustion of such fluid and vapors contained therein thereby to render the apparatus substantially explosion and fire proof. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising sludge collector means in the lower part of said tank adjacent the back wall of said tank in one corner thereof, and means for directing fluid and water flowing into said tank over said downturned lip on said shelf to said sludge collector means. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising baffle means, within said tank extending between said sludge collector means, and said fluid recovery means and chamber, for increasing the length of time that it takes for any water and fluid that is introduced into said tank by passing over said downturned lip on said shelf to reach said fluid recovery means and chamber thus providing additional time for such fluid and water to separate before such fluid enters said fluid recovery means and such water enters said chamber. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said baffle means comprises two baffle plates extending from opposite sides of said tank between said sludge collector, and said fluid recovery means and chamber, said baffle plates extending from opposite sides of said tank in spaced relation from each other, said baffle plates terminating short of the sides of said tank opposite the side from which said baffle plates extend. 19. A cleaning fluid recovery and water discharge device for a parts washing apparatus including an open top tank for receiving and collecting water and an immiscible cleaning fluid which has a specific gravity less than that of water whereby the fluid will float as a layer atop the water, said device comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in the lower part of the tank, said housing having a bottom wall and side walls for separating the interior thereof from such cleaning fluid and wash water collected in the lower part of the tank, an inner wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and between said side walls dividing the interior of said housing to form a first chamber and a second chamber which are completely isolated from each other, a baffle extending upwardly from said bottom wall and between said side walls within said first chamber partitioning said first chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment which open to an upper part of said first chamber on opposite sides of said baffle, water inlet means below the height of said baffle for admitting water into said first comparment from outside said housing, water drain means opening to said second compartment below the height of said baffle for discharging water from said second compartment, cleaning fluid inlet means located above the height of said baffle for admitting into said second chamber cleaning fluid floating atop the water in the tank, said inner wall and side walls extending above the height of said cleaning fluid inlet means, and cleaning fluid outlet means opening to the bottom of said second chamber for removal of cleaning fluid therefrom, said cleaning fluid outlet means and water drain means being operable independently of one another to provide for simultaneous discharge of water and removal of cleaning fluid from said first and second chambers, respectively. 20. The device of claim 19 wherein said water drain means and cleaning fluid outlet means include respective fitting means for securing said housing to the bottom wall of the tank. 21. The device of claim 19 wherein said first chamber is closed at the top which is located at an elevation above the elevation of said cleaning fluid inlet means, and means are provided for maintaining the upper part of said first chamber above said baffle at atmospheric pressure. 22. The device of claim 19 wherein said second chamber forms a reservoir having an open top defining said cleaning fluid inlet means, said open top being located at an elevation slightly higher than the height of said baffle and lower than the height of said inner wall and side walls.