Abstract:
A cleaning station is provided which facilitates the cleaning and inspection of a device by allowing the device to be coupled to a fluid source while the device is positioned within a compartment of the cleaning station. Fluid from the fluid source can then be forced through the device to be cleaned, with the fluid flow through the device being observed to determine whether the device is operating properly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The field of the invention is hazardous waste cleaning stations for inspecting and removing hazardous waste from fluid channeling parts and assemblies.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The use of sinks and other containers in the cleaning of parts is well known. Such “cleaning stations” typically comprise a cavity/sink within which parts may be submerged in or sprayed with water or some other fluid. However, known cleaning stations do not adequately facilitate the inspection of parts/mechanisms used to channel fluids to determine whether fluid flow through the part/mechanism is occurring properly, or whether the cleaning of a clogged part has effectively removed the clog. Thus, there is a need for new and improved hazardous waste cleaning stations.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Methods and apparatus are provided which facilitate the inspection and cleaning of parts. In particular, a cleaning station is provided which facilitates the cleaning and inspection of a device by allowing the device to be coupled to a fluid source while the device is positioned within a compartment of the cleaning station. Fluid from the fluid source can then be forced through the device to be cleaned and inspected, with the fluid flow through the device being observed to determine whether the device is operating properly.  
           [0004]    In a preferred apparatus embodiment, a cleaning station comprises a sink divided into upper and lower portions via a screen, with a fitting extending into the sink from a position above the screen. The portion of the fitting extending into the sink can be coupled to a device to be inspected and cleaned, and another portion of the fitting is coupled to a fluid source such that fluid from the source may flow through the fitting and into the device being inspected.  
           [0005]    In a preferred method embodiment, a manifold comprising a plurality of spray nozzles can be mounted to a fitting extending through a side wall of a cleaning station to allow hands-free inspection of the manifold to determine if any of the nozzles are clogged. Such a determination is made by looking to see whether water forced into the manifold via the fitting sprays out of all of the nozzles. Any clogged nozzle can then be removed, cleaned, re-installed, and then re-inspected by forcing fluid through the device again. 
       
    
    
       [0006]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hazardous waste cleaning station embodying the invention having a part to be cleaned coupled to it;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a front view of the cleaning station of FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a side view of the cleaning station of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a top view of the cleaning station of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a diagram of a first method of using the station of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    Referring first to FIGS.  1 - 4 , a cleaning station  10  comprises a cleaning compartment  100  and fluid input mechanism  200 . Compartment  100  is divided into upper portion  100 A and lower portion  100 B by strainer  110 . Fluid input mechanism  200  preferably comprises a pipe  210  passing through a side  101  of compartment  100  such that it has an interior end  211  extending into upper portion  100 A of compartment  100 , and an exterior end  212  extending outward from the station  10 .  
         [0013]    “Hands free” cleaning and/or inspection of a part  900  can be accomplished by coupling part  900  to a fluid source via fluid input mechanism  200 . For a part  900  such as a manifold which is designed to used as a fluid conduit, proper operation of the part  900  can be determined by causing fluid from the fluid source to flow through the part  900  via fluid input mechanism  200  and examining the flow through the part  900 .  
         [0014]    Using fluid input mechanism  200 , either by itself or in conjunction with other support mechanisms to support the part  900  allows a person cleaning and/or inspecting the part  900  to utilize both hands for a task other than supporting the part  900 . Such “hands free” cleaning and inspection also decreases the risk to personnel as it minimizes the amount of contact, and thus decreases the likelihood of contact with hazardous waste on part  900 , during cleaning and inspection.  
         [0015]    Station  10  is preferably formed from PVC. The walls of compartment  100  are preferred to be ¼″ thick and to comprise four side walls ( 101 - 104 ) and a bottom ( 105 ) to form a rectangular chamber which is open at the top. Station  10  is preferred to have a width of 20 inches, a length of 40 inches, and a height of 45 inches, of which 5 inches is provided by four 2″×2″×5″ legs positioned at the corners of station  10  so as to provide a 5″ gap between the external bottom surface of compartment  100  and any supporting surface upon which station  10  rests. The center of pipe  210  is preferably positioned  10  inches below the top edge of compartment  100  and centered between the side edges of wall  101 . Strainer  110  is preferably positioned approximately 20 inches below the top edge of compartment  100  so as to divide compartment  100  into equal upper and lower portions ( 100 A and  100 B).  
         [0016]    Fluid input mechanism  200  may be any mechanism by which fluid from a fluid source can be channeled through a part to be cleaned or inspected. Fluid input mechanism  200  is preferred to provide adequate support of the part being cleaned such that a part mounted to mechanism  200  need not be supported in any other way during cleaning or inspection. As previously discussed, fluid input mechanism  200  preferably comprises a pipe  210  passing through a side  101  of compartment  100 . Pipe  210  is preferred to be made of PVC and to extend into compartment  100  on one end ( 211 ), and to extend outward from station  10  on the other ( 212 ). End  211  of pipe  210  is preferably sized and dimensioned to mate with the connector of a part to be cleaned. Thus, in some embodiments end  211  may be threaded with threads having a pitch, and the end having a diameter which allows a part  900  to be screwed onto end  211 .  
         [0017]    In preferred embodiments, fluid input mechanism  200  will facilitate the ability to mount parts which have various size and types of connectors. In one embodiment, pipe  210  may be removably coupled to the station  10  such that, if needed, pipe  10  could be quickly removed and replaced with a pipe having a different diameter or a different mechanism for allowing a part to be coupled to it. It is contemplated that having station  10  comprise a rack or container for holding alternate fittings  210  may be beneficial in embodiments in which multiple pipes or other fittings  210  are used to allow fluid input mechanism  200  to be adapted to different parts to be cleaned.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 5, a preferred method of using cleaning station  10  to clean a part/mechanism  900  comprises: removing the part from the assembly; mounting the part  900  within a compartment  100  of a cleaning station  10  such that it is coupled to a fluid source in a manner which permits fluid from the source to flow through the part  900 ; causing fluid to flow from the fluid source, through the pipe/fitting  210 , through the part  900 , and into the compartment  100 ; inspecting the flow of fluid out of the part  900  to identify any portions (such as nozzles  910 ) of part  900  which are not functioning properly.  
         [0019]    If the part/mechanism  900  to be cleaned and inspected comprises a plurality of nozzles  910  through which the fluid from the fluid source will flow if the nozzles are not clogged, the method may further include: removing any nozzle  910  identified as a portion of the part  900  which is not functioning properly; cleaning the nozzle  910  within the compartment  100 ; mounting the nozzle  910  back on the part  900 ; re-inspecting the nozzle  910  while forcing fluid from the fluid source through the part  900 .  
         [0020]    It is contemplated that alternative embodiments may include an electric pump for pumping waste out of the cleaning station. Such a pump may be advantageously used in conjunction with a local holding tank and/or waste treatment facility to transfer waste directly from the station to such a tank or facility. Alternatively, such a pump could facilitate transfer of waste from the station to a waste disposal container to be used to transfer the waste to another location.  
         [0021]    Another contemplated embodiment would utilize a waste disposal container such as a drum as part of or in conjunction with the cleaning station. One such embodiment would be to have the station mounted on top of a drum such that the compartment  100  drains directly into the drum. Such an embodiment may have a compartment  100  which is only one half as high as other embodiments, with the strainer  110  being positioned at the bottom of the compartment and adjacent to the top of the drum.  
         [0022]    Thus, specific embodiments and applications of hazardous waste cleaning stations have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.