EXHIBIT 10.16
United States Patent
SPRAY GUN WASHER
UNITED STATES PATENT Patent Number: 5,388,601
Mansur Date of Patent: Feb. 14, 1995
SPRAY GUN WASHING APPARATUS
Inventor: Pieffe G. Mansur, 8425 SW. 129
Terrace, Miami, FL 33156
Appl. No.: 212,813
Filed: Mar. 15, 1994
Int. Cl.6 ....................... B08B 3/10
U.S. Cl. ....................... 134/56R; 134/105; 134/107; 134/169R;
134/169C; 134/170; 134/109
Field of Search ................. 134/105, 107, 108, 109, 134/170, 169R, 166c,
169c, 200, 56R; 68/18C
References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,697,767 1/1929 Hirst....................68/18 C
2,070,204 2/1937 Hetzer...................68/18 C
2,243,093 5/1941 Flahive .................68/18 C
2,682,273 6/1954 Roach....................134/170
3,177,126 4/1965 Charreau.................68/18 C
3,771,539 11/1973 De Santis................134/170
4,101,340 7/1978 Rand.....................134/109
4,770,197 9/1988 Prisco, Jr. et al. ......134/109
4,785,836 11/1988 Yamamoto.................134/200
5,193,561 3/1993 Robb et al. .............134/166C
5,318,056 6/1994 Kusz et al ................... 134/95.3
PRIMARY EXAMINER - Frankie L. Stinson
ATTORNEY, AGENT, OR FIRM - Robert M. Downey
ABSTRACT
An apparatus for washing paint spray guns and associated equipment with a liquid
solvent for the purpose of cleaning and removing paint therefrom after use in
painting operations. The apparatus includes a cleaning chamber having solvent
dispersing nozzles therein, the nozzles being structured and disposed for
spraying the liquid solvent onto exterior and interior surfaces of the spray
gun, paint canister and other equipment supported within the cleaning chamber
for cleaning thereof. The used solvent is collected in a holding chamber having
a float switch therein which activates a solenoid controlled valve upon the used
solvent reaching a predetermined level releasing the contaminated solvent into a
distillation chamber for boiling. Purified vapors pass through a condenser where
they are cooled to a liquid state, yielding pure solvent which is directed into
a clean solvent tank. A pump circulates the purified solvent from the clean
solvent holding tank to the dispersing nozzles in the cleaning chamber.
7 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
[DRAWING]
U.S. PATENT FEB. 14, 1995 SHEET 1 OF 4 5,388,601
[PICTURE FIG.1]
U.S. PATENT FEB. 14, 1995 SHEET 2 OF 4 5,388,601
[PICTURE, FIG.2]
U.S. PATENT FEB. 14, 1995 SHEET 3 OF 4 5,388,601
[PICTURE, FIG.2A; FIG.7.A; FIG.7B; FIG. 7.C; FIG.8]
U.S. PATENT FEB. 14, 1995 SHEET 4 OF 4 5,388,601
[PICTURE, FIG.3; FIG.4; FIG.5; FIG.6}
5,388,601
SRAY GUN WASHING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for washing spray guns
with a liquid solvent, and more particularly to an apparatus for washing paint
spray guns and associated component parts with a liquid solvent and including
means for recycling the solvent to provide purified solvent for subsequent
cleaning operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Paint spray gun assemblies have long been used in ,various painting
operations, particularly in the automobile and marine industries. Typically, a
paint spray gun assembly includes a hand-held spray gun and a can or cud which
attaches to the gun for holding paint to be supplied to the gun for spraying
therefrom. Generally, paint spray gun assemblies include two types of systems.
These include siphon spray guns for use with SMA11 scale jobs in which a small
amount of paint is required and pressure spray guns which are usually used for
large scale jobs requiring a significant amount of paint. The use of such
equipment is primarily to enable rapid painting of objects. After use of the
spray gun assembly during a particular job, the entire assembly, including the
gun, cup and associated component puts must be thoroughly cleaned of the paint
which accumulates both on the interior and exterior surfaces of the equipment.
Cleaning of the equipment is required not only to prevent mixing of colors,
which may result in an undesirable color blend, but also to prevent buildup,
blockage and jamming of the equipment. Obviously, in a commercial environment,
such as a paint workshop, the need to clean the equipment on a regular basis
entails a great deal of time and expense. Usually, a paint workshop, such as an
automotive paint shop, will use numerous spray gun assemblies throughout a daily
painting operation. In this instance, it will usually be required to clean a
number of spray gun assemblies on a daily basis, and possibly several times a
day if the assemblies are used with different paint colors.
In an attempt to minimize the time and expense associated with cleaning a
large number of spray gun assemblies on a daily basis, there has been developed
various spray gun washers which are designed to circulate a cleaning fluid
through a flow-line system for ejection of the fluid under pressure within a
closed cabinet. An example of such an apparatus is disclosed in the U.S. Patents
to Yamamoto, U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,836 and Robb et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,369.
The spray washer apparatus disclosed in these patents generally comprise a
cabinet or housing divided into a work chamber and a fluid storage reservoir
containing paint solvent and water. The solvent and water is pumped from the
storage reservoir to spray nozzles located in the work chamber. The paint spray
gun and can are supported in the cleaning chamber such that the paint passage
interior of the gun is in direct fluid flow communication with the fluid
outlets. Thus, during cleaning, the solvent is dumped from the storage
reservoir out through the nozzles to clean the exterior of the spray gun and can
and also through the gun and within the inside of the can to clean the inner
surfaces thereof. The contaminated solution then returns to the storage
reservoir for subsequent use. After a period of time, the contaminated solution
is drained from a bottom of the
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storage reservoir by opening a valve, and fresh cleaning solvent are replaced
within the reservoir. While these spray washers have been found to be effective
for use in washing spray guns and associated parts, they do not provide for
recycling and purifying of the cleaning solvent. Therefore, the contaminated
solvent must be disposed of on a regular basis while complying with E.P.A.
disposal guidelines. The disposal process can prove to be inefficient, costly
and therefore, most paint workshops using this washing equipment tend to reuse
the cleaning solution for an extended period of time, resulting in the use of
contaminated cleaning solvent/solution being used during cleaning operations.
There has been developed a cleaning apparatus for cleaning painted parts
which provides for the recycling of the cleaning solvent. Such an apparatus is
disclosed in the U.S. Patent to Ihringer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,316 directed to a
cleaning installation comprising a treatment chamber in which the painted parts
are cleaned and exposed to jets of a mixture of hot water and cleaning solvent.
The installation, as disclosed in Ihringer includes a plurality of individual
separating chambers for separating light paint solvents, cleaning solvent of
paint, water cleaning solvent and gas cleaning solvent. This type of cleaning
installation is somewhat complex, use a series of separating chambers, requires
a significant amount of space and is generally cost prohibitive for most paint
workshop environments.
Accordingly, there is a definite need in the spray gun art for a washing
apparatus specifically designed for washing both the exterior and interior
surfaces of paint spray guns, paint cans and associated component parts with a
solvent, such as paint thinner, wherein the apparatus provides means for
recycling the solvent to provide pure, continuous "on demand" fresh solvent.
Such an apparatus eliminates the disposal and replacement problems normally
associated with paint spray gun washers while providing a practical means of
complying with E.P.A. disposal guidelines.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for washing spray gun
apparatus with a cleaning solvent such as paint thinner.
More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for
washing paint spray gun equipment, including spray guns, paint cans and other
associated component parts. The spray gun washing apparatus of the present
invention includes a cabinet having an upper portion defining a cleaning chamber
having a plurality of spray nozzles therein and means to support at least one
paint spray gun, a paint can and other component parts, such that the solvent is
sprayed onto both exterior and interior surfaces of the spray gun and equipment
for removing paint therefrom. A lower portion of the cabinet includes a solvent
holding chamber disposed in fluid communication with the cleaning chamber such
that, after use for washing, the contaminated cleaning solvent is collected in
the holding chamber. Upon reaching a predetermined level in the holding chamber,
a float switch activates a solenoid controlled valve which releases the
contaminated solvent to a distillation chamber. The contaminated solvent is
heated to a predetermined temperature in the distillation chamber, producing
purified solvent vapors which pass through a condenser where they are cooled
to a liquid state, yielding
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pure solvent. The pure solvent is directed into a clean solvent holding tank for
subsequent circulation to spray nozzles disposed throughout the cleaning
chamber. Accordingly, the present invention provides for continuous recycling of
contaminated solvent so that pure, non-contaminated solvent is provided
continuously "on demand" throughout washing operations. In this manner, the cost
and inefficiency associated with disposal of contaminated paint thinner or
solvent, as well as the need to comply with E.P.A. disposal guidelines, is
eliminated.
Accordingly, with the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the
present invention to provide a spray gun washing apparatus for use in washing
spray gun equipment such as paint spray guns, paint cans and other component
parts, which includes means for recovering and recycling of the solvent or paint
thinner so as to provide the user with "on demand" pure solvent/paint thinner
continuously throughout washing operations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a spray gun washing
apparatus as described above which eliminates the need for constant replacement
and disposal of contaminated solvent/paint thinner, while providing a practical
and economical means of complying with E.P.A. contaminate disposal guidelines.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spray gun
washing apparatus adapted to recycle solvent/paint thinner so as to provide
fresh, pure solvent/paint thinner on a continuous basis. It is still a further
object of the present invention to provide a spray gun washing apparatus, as
described above, which operates on common 120 volts and which further requires
no special water or air supply requirements.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a spray gun
washing apparatus, as described above, which is relatively compact and
inexpensive, making the apparatus available for use in virtually all commercial
environments where spray gun equipment is used.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a spray gun
washing apparatus as described above, which complies with all government imposed
safety and health regulations.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more
readily apparent in the description which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference
should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG.1 is a front perspective view, in partial cutaway, illustrating the
spray gun washing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG.2 is a front elevation, in partial section, of the spray gun washing
apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG.2(A) is an isolated front elevation, in partial section illustrating
removal of a distillation chamber from a mating lid means, to facilitate outward
movement of the distillation chamber from within a lower cabinet interior for
cleaning thereof.
FIG.3 is an isolated view, in partial section, of a cleaning chamber of the
present invention illustrating a paint spray gun and paint canister being washed
within the cleaning chamber by solvent (paint thinner) being
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sprayed from various nozzles to clean exterior and interior surfaces of the
equipment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the plumbing system defining a circulation
system for circulating clean solvent/paint thinner from a clean holding tank to
the various nozzles throughout the cleaning chamber.
FIG. 5 is an isolated view, in partial section, illustrating a spray gun
mount for supporting a spray gun and directing solvent/paint thinner internally
through a spray gun for cleaning thereof.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an alternative spray gun mount of the present
invention.
FIGS. 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) are top plan views taken along line 7A-7A of FIG.
2A, of a distillation chamber illustrating, in sequence, movement of a
distillation chamber from within a lower cabinet interior of the apparatus for
cleaning thereof.
FIG. 8 is a plan view along line 8-8 of FIG. 2A of an inner bottom of the
distillation chamber showing a power supply connection to heating elements
therein.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of
the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the several views of the drawings, and initially FIGS. 1 and 2,
there is generally illustrated the spray gun washing apparatus 10 of the present
invention. The apparatus 10 includes a cabinet 12 including an upper portion 14
defining a cleaning chamber and a lower portion 16 including a base 17, side was
18, 18', rear wall 19 and a front wall 20. The front wall 20 is provided with at
least a single door 22 which is hingedly attached to the front wall such as at
23, to facilitate opening thereof to gain access to an interior of the cabinet
12.
The upper portion of the cabinet 12 deeming the cleaning chamber 14 includes
opposite side wall portions 24, 24' a rear wall portion 25 and a cover 26
hingedly attached to a top edge of the rear wall 25, as at 27, and movable
between an open position and a closed position in covering relation to an
interior of the cleaning chamber to prevent solvent from splashing and vapors
from escaping from within the cleaning chamber during washing operations. The
cover 26 may be formed so as to include a front 28 including a handle 29 to
better facilitate raising and lowering of the cover 26.
Within the cleaning chamber 14 there are a plurality of solvent disbursing
spray nozzles 30 (described in more detail hereinafter) for directing a sprayed
array of solvent onto exterior throughout interior of the spray gun equipment
placed therein. A rigid screen 32 may also be provided within the cleaning
chamber to prevent articles from falling down into a contaminated solvent
holding chamber. Below the screen 32 a floor 34 of the cleaning chamber slopes
downwardly and inwardly on all sides the centrally disposed contaminated solvent
holding chamber 40 in fluid communication therewith, such that contaminated
solvent/paint thinner which drips down, after being disbursed within the
cleaning chamber, is collected and contained within the contaminated solvent
holding tank 40. A valve 44 controlled by a sole-noid 46 contains the
contaminated solvent CS within the contaminated solvent holding chamber 40 until
the solvent level reaches a predetermined height at which point a float switch
48 activates solenoid 46 to open the valve 44, thus releasing the contaminated
solvent CS
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through a bottom port 49 of the solvent holding chamber 40 into a distillation
chamber 5O. The floor 34, surfaces of the holding chamber 40 and the
distillation chamber 50 are all thoroughly coated with a non-stick coating to
prevent paint and contaminants from drying and adhering thereto.
The distillation chamber 50 comprises a double walled distillation pot 52
including an outer wall 53 and an inner wall 54, having the non-stick coating on
an inner surface thereof, and insulating material 55 disposed between the outer
53 and inner wall 54. A rim 56 of the distillation pot 52 surrounds an open top
thereof and includes means for accommodating a seal 57 which may be fitted to
the rim 56 or, alternatively, to a mating upper rim 58 attached to and extending
downwardly from a stationery plate 59 defining, cooperatively with the upper rim
58, a lid for covering the open top of the distillation pot 52.
The distillation pot 52 is supported on a hinged arm assembly 60 having a first
arm member 62 and a second arm member 64 hingedly attached to one end of the
first arm member 62 at hinge point 65, as best seen in FIGS. 7(A)-7(C). An end
of the second arm member 64, opposite of the hinge point 65, includes means for
threaded receipt of support shaft 66 therethrough. The distillation pot 52 is
supported on a flanged plate 68 which engages a bottom 69 of the distillation
pot 52, such that rotation of wheel arms 70 serves to threadably advance the
shaft 66 in either an upward or downward direction, thereby raising or lowering
the plate 68 and the distillation pot 52. In this manner, the distillation pot
52 is either raised causing the rim 56 to mate in sealed engagement with the
upper rim 58 or, alternatively, by rotating the wheel arms 70 in an opposite
direction the distillation pot 52 is lowered, separating the rim 56 of the
distillation pot from the upper rim 58, as seen in FIG. 2(A). Once separated
from the upper rim 58, the distillation pot 52 can be conveniently removed from
within the cabinet interior as illustrated, sequentially, in FIGS. 7(A) through
7(C).
The first arm member 62 is hinged at a fixed hinged point 63 to the base 17
of the cabinet. With the front door 22 opened, the distillation pot 52 can be
easily pulled outwardly causing the hinge point 65 to move from a rear of the
cabinet interior outwardly towards the door opening resulting in the second arm
member becoming substantially aligned with the first arm member 62, with the
distillation pot 52 supported exteriorly of the cabinet interior. Once removed
from within the cabinet 12, access through the open top of the distillation pot
52 is easily permitted thus facilitating cleaning of accumulated contaminates
such as paint, which remains in the distillation pot during boiling and
vaporization of the solvent/paint thinner.
A plurality of heating elements 74 are provided within the bottom of the
distillation pot 52 below the inner wall 54 in heat transferring relation
therewith, as seen in FIG. 2A. The heating elements 74 are activated during
washing operations in order to boil the solvent/paint thinner to produce
purified solvent vapors.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a condenser tube 80 includes a first end
82 attached through the plate 59 defining the lid of the distillation chamber 50
and an opposite end 84 disposed in fluid communication with a clean solvent tank
90. A mid-section 86 of the condenser tube 80 is coiled and passes through a
cooling zone and defines a condenser. The cooling zone is cooled by air flow
created by blower 88. Air is drawn through the
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blower through the cooling zone and discharged by the blower through the rear
wall 19 of the cabinet 12. Thus, as purified solvent vapors rise up through the
condenser tube 80 and into the coiled mid-section 86 in the cooling zone, the
vapors are condensed to produce purified, non-contaminated solvent/paint thinner
which drips down into the clean solvent tank 90 from the end 84 of the condenser
tube 80. The intake 101 of a pump 100 connects through the bottom 94 of the
clean solvent holding tank 90 for circulating the clean solvent from the holding
tank 90 out through a discharge 102 of the pump 100 and up through conduit 104
to the spray nozzles 30 within the cleaning chamber 14. As seen in FIG. 4, the
conduit 104 leading from the discharge of the pump 100 branches off into a
flow-line system of various lines leading to the dispersing spray nozzles 30
disposed at various locations throughout the cleaning chamber 14. One line 106
leads towards a central area of the cleaning chamber 14 and to a
multidirectional spray head 110 and a spray gun mount 120. The multidirectional
spray head 110 is specifically adapted for receipt within the interior of a
paint can or jar PC, as seen in FIG. 3, such that solvent is sprayed throughout
the interior of the paint can PC to clean the interior surfaces thereof. The
spray gun mount 120 is specifically adapted to facilitate fluid connection of an
internal passage of a spray gun SG with the solvent supply line leading from
conduit 104. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, a first embodiment of the gun mount 120
comprises an upwardly directed rigid conduit 122 extending upwardly through the
screen 32 and terminating at an open end. A plug 126 is fitted therein and
includes a central axial bore for passage of a hose 134 of the spray gun
therethrough so that a distal end 136 of the hose 134 is disposed within the
upwardly directed conduit 122. Accordingly, upon circulation of solvent/paint
thinner from the pump 100 through the conduit 104 and 106 and upwardly through
the conduit 122. The solvent is directed through the end of the hose 134 and
throughout the internal passage of the spray gun, exiting through the spray head
of the gun, as seen in FIG. 3. An alternative embodiment of the gun mount 120'
is seen in FIG. 6, wherein the upwardly directed conduit 122' terminates below
the screen 32. An adapter 140 is threadably engaged within the open top end of
the upwardly directed conduit 122' and includes an enlarged flanged portion 142
having thread adapted for engagement with an inner threaded surface of a collar
144 of the spray gun. The adapter includes an axial bore extending therethrough
for passage of the hose 134 of the spray gun such that the distal end 136 of the
hose is disposed within the upwardly supply pipe. Seals 146, 148 are provided at
opposite ends of the axial bore for sealed engagement about the hose 134. In
this manner, as solvent/paint thinner is circulated to the upwardly directed
conduit 122', the solvent is directed through the distal end of the hose 134 and
throughout the internal passage of the spray gun, exiting in the same manner as
illustrated in FIG. 3. The supply conduit 104 further leads to branch conduits
108 extending about the cleaning chamber and leading to a plurality of the spray
nozzles 30 specifically structured and disposed for spraying solvent on external
surfaces of the spray gun equipment being washed. A refill port 150 is provided
on the cabinet exterior to facilitate refilling or adding clean solvent/paint
thinner to the clean solvent holding tank 90. The front wall or
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side walls of the cabinet 14 may further be proved with a site level gauge 154
to enable visual determinaton of the level of purified solvent/paint thinner PS
contained within the clean solvent holding tank 90.
Now that the invention has been described,
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for cleaning spray gun assemble comprising:
a cabinet including a lower portion having a base, side walls, a back wall
and a front in surrounding relation to a cabinet interior and an upper
portion including a cleaning chamber having side wall portions, a front
wall portion, a rear wall portion and a cover hingedly attached to said
rear wall portion, said cover being movable between an open position
facilitating access to said cleaning chamber and a closed position in
covering relation to an interior of said cleaning chamber,
solvent dispersing means including a plurality of spray nozzles positioned
and arranged within said cleaning chamber and being structured and
disposed for spraying the solvent onto exterior and interior surfaces of
the spray gun assemblies placed within said cleaning chamber for cleaning
thereof,
a solvent holding chamber disposed in fluid communication with said
cleaning chamber and structured and disposed for containing contaminated
solvent after use during cleaning in said cleaning chamber,
a distillation chamber disposed in fluid communication with said holding
chamber and including an insulated surrounding side wall structure, an
insulated base and an open top,
means defining a lid for covering said open top of said distillation
chamber in sealed airtight relation therewith,
valve means between said holding chamber and said distillation chamber and
being operable between a closed position to contain the solvent in said
holding chamber and an open position to release the solvent into said
distillation chamber,
fluid level monitor means for detecting and monitoring a level of the
solvent in said holding chamber,
switch means communicating with said fluid level monitor means and
structured and disposed for operating said valve means to said open
position upon a level of the solvent in the holding chamber reaching a
predetermined level as detected by the fluid level monitor means,
a clean solvent tank for containing purified, non-contaminated solvent
therein for subsequent circulation to said dispersing means,
a plurality of heating elements disposed in heat transferring relation
with distillation chamber for heating the solvent to a predetermined
temperature so as to produce solvent vapors,
a condenser including a condensing tube having a first end connected in
fluid communication with said distillation chamber for recovering the
solvent vapors, a mid-portion disposed in a cooling zone within said
cabinet and a second opposite end disposed in fluid communication with
said clean solvent tank for directing purified, condensed liquid solvent
into said clean solvent tank,
blower disposed within said cooling zone for creating an air current
therethrough to cool said midportion of said condensing tube,
a pump for circulating the purified liquid solvent, at a predetermined
pressure, from said clean solvent
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tank to said solvent dispersing means resulting in the solvent being
dispersed from said spray nozzles into said cleaning chamber.
2. An apparatus for cleaning articles with a solvent comprising:
a cleaning chamber structured and disposed to accommodate the articles to
be cleaned therein,
solvent dispersing means within said cleaning chamber and structured and
disposed to spray the solvent onto exterior and interior surfaces of the
articles for cleaning thereof,
solvent collection means for collecting the solvent after spraying the
articles,
a solvent holding chamber disposed in fluid communication with said
collection means, said holding chamber being structured and disposed for
containing contaminated solvent after use cleaning,
a distillation chamber in fluid communication with said holding chamber
and including an insulated surrounding side wall structure, and an
insulated base and an open top,
means defining a lid for covering said open top of said distillation
chamber in sealed, air tight relation therewith,
valve means- between said holding chamber and said distillation chamber and
operable between a closed position to contain the solvent in said holding
chamber, and an open position to release the solvent into said
distillation cheer,
a clean solvent tank for containing purified, non-contaminated solvent
therein,
heating means for heating the solvent in said distillation chamber to a
predetermined temperature so as to produce solvent vapors,
condenser means for condensing the solvent vapors produced in said
distillation chamber to yield purified, non-contaminated solvent, said
condenser means being interconnected in fluid communication with said
clean solvent tank for directing the purified, non-contaminated solvent
therein,
circulation means for circulating the purified noncontaminated solvent
from said clean solvent tank to said solvent dispersing means, a cabinet
including a lower portion having a base and surrounding walls in
surrounding relation to a cabinet interior, said cabinet further including
an upper portion deemed by said cleaning chamber, and
means to facilitate movement of said distillation chamber from within the
cabinet interior to facilitate access to an interior or said distillation
chamber.
3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said solvent dispersing means
includes a plurality of spray nozzles, said spray nozzles including at least one
multidirectional spray head adapted for receipt within a paint can of a spray
gun assembly for cleaning interior surface thereof
4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said spray nozzles further
include at least one spray gun mount having means thereon for fluid connection
with an interior passage of a paint spray gun such that the solvent circulated
by the circulation means is directed through the passage of the paint spray gun
for cleaning thereof.
5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising fluid level monitor
means for detecting and monitoring a level of contaminated solvent in said
holding chamber.
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6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 further comprising switch means
interconnected to said fluid level monitor means and said valve means for
operating said valve means to said open position upon the contaminated solvent
reaching a predetermined level in said holding chamber as detected by said
fluid level monitor means.
7.An apparatus for cleaning articles with a solvent comprising:
a cleaning chamber structured and disposed to accommodate the articles to
be cleaned therein,
solvent dispersing means within said cleaning chamber and structured and
disposed to spray the solvent onto exterior and interior surfaces of the
articles for cleaning thereof,
solvent collection means for collecting the solvent after spraying the
articles,
a solvent holding chamber disposed in fluid communication with said
collection means, said holding chamber being structured and disposed for
containing contaminated solvent after use for cleaning,
a distillation chamber in fluid communication with said holding chamber
and including an insulated surrounding side wall structure, and insulated
base and an open top,
means defining a lid for covering said open top of said distillation
chamber in sealed, air tight relation therewith,
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valve means between said holding chamber and said distillation chamber and
operable between a closed position to contain the solvent in said holding
chamber, and an open position to release the solvent into said
distillation chamber,
a clean solvent tank for containing purified, non-contaminated solvents
therein,
heating means for heating the solvent in said distillation chamber to a
predetermined temperature so as to produce solvent vapors,
a condenser including a condensing tube having a first end connected in
fluid communication with said distillation chamber for recovering the
solvent vapors, a mid-portion disposed in a cooling zone within a cabinet
and a second opposite end disposed in fluid communication with said clean
solvent tank for directing purified, condensed liquid solvent into said
clean solvent tank,
a blower disposed within said cooling zone for creating an air currant
therethrough to cool said mid-portion of said condensing tube, and
circulation means for circulating the purified, noncontaminated solvent
from said clean solvent tank to said solvent dispersing means resulting in
the solvent being dispersed within said cleaning chamber.