Patent ID: 6932910
Filing Date: 2005-08-23
Classification: B01D,B08B,C02F,C23C,C23G

Abstract:
1. A recycling apparatus for recycling used wash solution from a power washer used in powder coating comprising: a main tank constructed and arranged to hold a wash solution; a first baffle in said main tank defining a first holding tank constructed and arranged for holding a first filtered wash solution containing phosphate, said first baffle having a first outlet through which the first filtered wash solution can flow; a first filter assembly in gravity feed relation with the first holding tank and being constructed and arranged such that during operation the wash solution filters through the first filter assembly to form a first filtered wash solution and drops into the first holding tank a first distance before contacting first filtered wash solution contained therein, the first distance being sufficient to aerate a first filtered wash solution contained in the first holding tank during operation, said first filter assembly having a size of about 10 microns or less; a second baffle in said main tank, a second holding tank being defined between said first and second baffles and said main tank and being constructed and arranged for holding a second filtered wash solution, said second baffle having a second outlet through which the second filtered wash solution can flow, said second outlet being disposed lower in height from a bottom of the main tank than said first outlet; a second filter assembly in gravity feed relation with the second holding tank and being constructed and arranged such that during operation the first filtered wash solution flows out of the first outlet and enters and flows through the second filter assembly to form a second filtered wash solution and drops into the second holding tank a second distance before contacting a surface of the second filtered wash solution contained therein, the second distance being sufficient to aerate a second filtered wash solution contained in the second holding tank during operation, said second filter assembly having a size of about 10 microns or less; a recycled wash solution tank being defined by said main tank and said second baffle or another baffle if additional holding tanks are present, said recycled wash solution tank being constructed and arranged for holding recycled wash solution; a third filter assembly in gravity feed relation with the recycled wash solution tank and being constructed and arranged such that during operation the second filtered wash solution flows out of the second outlet and enters and flows through the third filter assembly to form a recycled wash solution and drops into the recycled wash solution tank a third distance before contacting a surface of recycled wash solution being contained therein, the third distance being sufficient to aerate recycled wash solution contained in the recycled wash solution tank during operation, said third filter assembly having a size of 10 microns or less; a pump constructed and arranged to provide pressurized recycled wash solution from the recycled wash solution tank of a pressure sufficient to operate a pressurized washer apparatus connected to the recycling apparatus, wherein the filter assemblies are constructed and arranged to provide at least a 5 gallon per minute flow rate using ambient pressure and gravity flow through the filters; and at least one agitator in at least one holding tank to prevent sediment buildup, wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that during operation recycled wash solution from the recycled wash solution tank is supplied to at least one of the agitators so that if any precipitates form in the recycled wash solution they can be removed by one of the filtering assemblies.