Patent ID: 6391198
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B01D,B23Q

Abstract:
A sludge trap apparatus for removing sludge and sludge-forming contaminants from an oil-containing washing fluid bath associated with a given customer machine, said sludge trap apparatus comprising, in combination, a pick up tube for ingesting contaminants and water from a portion of said washing fluid bath, a sludge receiver in the form of a drum, a cover for said drum disposed in fluid-tight relation to said drum and including an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting each positioned in fluid-tight relation to said cover, an inlet pipe attached to said inlet fitting and extending downwardly into said drum, an outlet pipe extending upwardly from said drum interior and connected to said outlet fitting, a positive displacement pump, a conduit connecting said outlet fitting to an inlet of said positive displacement pump, said pump being arranged so as to draw from said pick up tube through said drum and into said pump, and a return line extending from an outlet of said positive displacement pump to said washing fluid bath, and a vacuum relief port disposed in said outlet fitting and being normally closed but operable at a predetermined vacuum level to prevent said conduits and said drum from collapsing, said sludge trap in use being filled with an upper layer of washing fluid and a sludge layer beneath said washing fluid layer whereby said sludge may be separated from said washing fluid and said washing fluid passes through said sludge trap and out said outlet into said pump and returns from said pump to said washing fluid bath.