Patent ID: 7128075
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: B08B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for washing parts comprising: a housing defining a unitary cleaning chamber including a spray portion and a reservoir portion; the spray portion including a rotatable support for the parts and a spray bar having at least one orifice for distributing a cleaning solution on the parts as the support is rotated relative to the spray bar; the reservoir portion configured to store and collect the cleaning solution; a thermal energy source disposed wholly within the cleaning solution disposed in the reservoir portion for adjusting and maintaining an operating temperature of the cleaning solution; the thermal energy source generally configured as an enclosure for retaining a transfer fluid and including at least one heater for adjusting a temperature of the transfer fluid and a plurality of walls; a conduit extending through the thermal energy source in contact with the transfer fluid and defining a passageway for the cleaning solution; and a pump disposed in the housing outside the cleaning chamber for drawing the cleaning solution in the reservoir portion first through the passageway and then discharging the cleaning solution through the spray bar, wherein when first drawn through the passageway by the pump, the operating temperature of the cleaning solution is increased, as a result of contact with the conduit that has been heated by the transfer fluid.