An industrial parts washer includes a stand adapted to support a part, a chamber selectively movable from a first position clear of the part to a second position engaging the stand where the chamber forms a closed volume encapsulating the part. A nozzle is positioned within the chamber to supply pressurized fluid for cleaning the part. The industrial parts washer may include a washing station positioned adjacent a drying station where each of the washing and drying stations include chambers selectively movable to enclose the part.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a washer for industrial parts and, more particularly, to a washer which eliminates the need for a large enclosure.

Manufactured industrial parts, such as machined metallic components, become coated with cutting fluids, lubricating oils, machine coolants, metal fragments and other contaminants during the manufacturing process. For example, metal cutting operations often include the steps of applying a lubricant to the cutting tool and part being machined. Lubricant residue and metal chips often adhere to the surface of the part. Industrial parts washers are used to remove undesired contaminants and clean the part prior to use.

Industrial parts washers typically include one or more processing zones for washing, rinsing, drying and other steps for cleaning the parts. A conveyor typically transports the parts through the processing zones from one end of the washer to the other. Because industrial parts washers typically spray the parts with heated liquid cleaners, most washers include an enclosure to capture the spray and contaminants being washed.

The enclosure of a typical industrial parts washer ordinarily incorporates a large metal housing which extends along nearly the entire length of the machine. Although such enclosures have proven to be quite durable and relatively easy to fabricate, they are large, unwieldy and relatively costly. Access to the machines within the enclosure is oftentimes limited thereby making maintenance and retooling of the machines difficult. Furthermore, because the majority of the machines used to wash, rinse and dry the part are located within the enclosure, the machines are detrimentally exposed to the harsh solvent spray throughout their life.

Several manufacturers of industrial parts washers have attempted to address the problem of access by adding doors or removable side panels to the side of the enclosure. However, the restricted openings hinder access to the interior volume of the enclosure. Other manufacturers have attempted to provide an enclosure which is removable in its entirety. However, due to the size and weight of the requisite enclosure, mechanical lifts or cranes are usually needed to raise the enclosure. Accordingly, there is a need for a housingless industrial parts washer having reduced size and complexity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The industrial parts washer of the present invention includes a stand adapted to support the part to be washed and a moveable chamber. The chamber is moveable from a returned position clear of the part to an advanced position engaging the stand where the chamber and the stand form a sealed unit encapsulating the part. A nozzle assembly is coupled to a pressurized fluid supply and positioned within the chamber.

In one embodiment, a moveable wash ring having a plurality of manifold mounted nozzles mounted thereto is advanced across the part during the washing cycle. The nozzles are positioned substantially about the periphery of the part to provide a plurality of fluid paths for washing strategic areas of the part.

In another embodiment, the industrial parts washer of the present invention includes a washing station and a drying station. The drying station is positioned downstream of the washing station and includes a separate moveable chamber and part support stand. The drying station includes a plurality of nozzles plumbed to spray dry air on the part after it has been enclosed within the moveable chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a parts washer20for use in an industrial manufacturing plant to clean industrial parts or workpieces such as automotive vehicle powertrain components, including a part22or the like is shown. Parts washer20operates as a cleaning station typically positioned after a machining station (not shown) where the part has been machined by a mill, a lathe, a grinding machine or a similar industrial tool. During the machining process, lubrication, grease, dirt and burrs often adhere to the walls of internal passageways and the external surface of the machined part.

Parts washer20includes a washing station24and a drying station26positioned adjacent to one another. A conveyor28transports part22from a machining center (not shown) to a transfer system29. Transfer system29includes a turntable30where part22is rotated into proper alignment for loading into washing station24. Transfer system29also includes a lift32which is operable to transport a recently machined part from turntable30to washing station24and simultaneously transfer a washed part from washing station24to drying station26. To accomplish this task, a driver31is operable to vertically move and horizontally translate lift32to properly position the parts22.

As best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, washing station24includes a stand34for supporting part22, a chamber36, a slide38and a table40. Chamber36is a generally hollow cylindrical member having a wall42, first end44and a second end46. First end44is coupled to an end plate48of slide38. Chamber36is preferably constructed from a lightweight, translucent material to allow an operator to view the washing process. Slide38includes a pair of side plates50coupled to end plate48. Each side plate50is mounted on a carriage52. Each carriage52is slidable relative to table40along a track54. Chamber36is mounted in a cantilevered fashion having its longitudinal axis positioned substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the floor.

Based on this mounting arrangement, chamber36may be selectively positioned in an open position shown inFIG. 1or a closed position as shown inFIG. 3. In the open position, second end46of chamber36is open to atmosphere and access to part22is allowed. When chamber36is in the closed position, a seal56located on second end46of chamber36engages a mounting plate58of stand34. An enclosed volume60is formed inside chamber36once seal56engages mounting plate58.

FIG. 4depicts a part support structure62including a pair of generally “C” shaped frames64, a pair of wash plates66, two inwardly extending ledges67, and a number of stop plates68. A plurality of nozzles69are mounted to wash plates66to provide wash spray to the end portions of part22. Ledges67provide support for part22during washing. A spindle70rotatably couples support structure62to mounting plate58of stand34. Stop plates68retain part22in a desired location should there be a need to rotate the part such as during the drying phase as will be described in detail hereinafter.

As best shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, a wash ring71is movably mounted within chamber36. Wash ring71includes a halo72mounted to a pair of guide rods74. Guide rods74extend through chamber36and end plate48. Each guide rod74is coupled to a support76which maintains a proper spacing between each of the guide rods. A water supply line78is also coupled to support76and halo72. Supply line78is in fluid communication with a valve assembly80which is controllable to selectively supply pressurized fluid to four sets of nozzles82mounted to halo72. Each set of nozzles is preferably orientated orthogonally relative to an adjacent set of nozzles to provide cleaning fluid to the entire perimeter of part22. To conserve water consumption and minimize the size of pump required to provide pressurized fluid, valve80is controlled to provide pressurized fluid to only one set of nozzles during a predetermined time period. Valve80cycles to sequentially provide pressurized to each set of nozzles independently. Valve80may also be controlled to divert pumped fluid directly to a reservoir during the time when chamber36is in the open position. This allows the pump to be continuously run thereby avoiding start and stop pumping operational concerns, thus resulting in prolonged pump/motor life,

Wash ring71also includes a guide bracket84and a hanger86. Hanger86is free to slide axially relative to guide bracket84thereby translating halo72and nozzles82within chamber36. An actuator88drivingly interconnects slide38and halo72to allow wash ring71to be translated back and forth across part22during the washing process.

Halo72and nozzles82may be driven back and forth a predetermined number of times or may be controlled to continue to wash part22until a predetermined parameter is met indicating that the part is clean. The predetermined parameter could be an indication by a visual inspection, a measurement of particulate count in the cleaning fluid or any other number of indicia. Once the washing cycle has been determined to be completed, chamber36is moved from a closed position to the open position by causing slide38to translate relative to table40. At this time, part22may be transferred to drying station26, if present.

Drying station26is constructed substantially similarly to washing station24. Accordingly, similar components will be identified with like reference numerals including a “prime” designation. Preferably, operation of drying station26is coordinated with operation of washing station24such that chamber36and chamber36′ are substantially simultaneously located in their open and closed positions. When both chambers are in the open position, a part22is transferred from turntable30to part support structure62of washing station24while a recently washed part is transferred from part support structure62to part support structure62′ of drying station26. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the adjacent positioning of washing station24and drying station26is merely exemplary and that washing station24may be utilized in the absence of a companion drying station26without departing from the scope of the present invention.

During operation of drying station26, chamber36′ is moved from the open to the closed position such that seal56′ engages mounting plate58′ of stand34′. Compressed air or another drying agent is presented within enclosed volume60′ via nozzles82′. Nozzles82′ may also be defined as air knives. Part support structure62′ is mounted to spindle70′ which is rotatably coupled to stand34′ by an end cap and bearing assembly89. As shown inFIG. 6, an actuator mechanism90includes an arm92and a cylinder94coupled to spindle70′. Actuator mechanism90functions to selectively rotate part support structure62′ and part22about a longitudinal axis96.

In operation, halo72′ and air knives82′ are axially translated across part22while the part is located in a first orientation as shown in the Figures. Subsequently, actuator mechanism90causes part22to rotate 90 degrees to allow trapped debris and cleaning fluid to escape from internal passages of part22. Pressurized air or dry air is again supplied to air knives82′ while actuator88′ translates halo72′ over the part.

Returning toFIG. 2, a pair of water return chutes98interconnect enclosed internal volume60and enclosed internal volume60′ to a settling tank100. A conventional chip drag and chip waste mechanism102transports settled machining chips and debris from settling tank100to a dumpster104. Cleaning fluid is pumped from settling tank100through filters106and re-circulated back to the supply for washing station24. A method and apparatus for determining and maintaining the cleanliness of the fluid is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/342,977 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Parts washer20also includes an exhaust mist eliminator108which connects a vacuum source to chamber36and chamber36′. Exhaust mist eliminators108and108′ substantially reduce the splatter of cleaning fluid during both washing and drying processes.

Furthermore, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, the washing and drying stations of the present invention may be separated and used independently from one another. Additionally, any number of spray head configurations may be used in conjunction with a moveable housing without departing form the scope of the present invention. Additionally, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations may be made therein without department from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.