Abstract:
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.

Description:
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. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an industrial parts washer constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view depicting a washing station of the industrial parts washer of the present invention having a chamber positioned in an open position; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view depicting a washing station of the industrial parts washer of the present invention where the chamber is in a closed position; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a part support structure of the industrial parts washer of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a wash ring of the industrial parts washer of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial exploded perspective view of a drying station of the industrial parts washer of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of a parts washer  20  for use in an industrial manufacturing plant to clean industrial parts or workpieces such as automotive vehicle powertrain components, including a part  22  or the like is shown. Parts washer  20  operates 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 washer  20  includes a washing station  24  and a drying station  26  positioned adjacent to one another. A conveyor  28  transports part  22  from a machining center (not shown) to a transfer system  29 . Transfer system  29  includes a turntable  30  where part  22  is rotated into proper alignment for loading into washing station  24 . Transfer system  29  also includes a lift  32  which is operable to transport a recently machined part from turntable  30  to washing station  24  and simultaneously transfer a washed part from washing station  24  to drying station  26 . To accomplish this task, a driver  31  is operable to vertically move and horizontally translate lift  32  to properly position the parts  22 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , washing station  24  includes a stand  34  for supporting part  22 , a chamber  36 , a slide  38  and a table  40 . Chamber  36  is a generally hollow cylindrical member having a wall  42 , first end  44  and a second end  46 . First end  44  is coupled to an end plate  48  of slide  38 . Chamber  36  is preferably constructed from a lightweight, translucent material to allow an operator to view the washing process. Slide  38  includes a pair of side plates  50  coupled to end plate  48 . Each side plate  50  is mounted on a carriage  52 . Each carriage  52  is slidable relative to table  40  along a track  54 . Chamber  36  is mounted in a cantilevered fashion having its longitudinal axis positioned substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the floor. 
   Based on this mounting arrangement, chamber  36  may be selectively positioned in an open position shown in  FIG. 1  or a closed position as shown in  FIG. 3 . In the open position, second end  46  of chamber  36  is open to atmosphere and access to part  22  is allowed. When chamber  36  is in the closed position, a seal  56  located on second end  46  of chamber  36  engages a mounting plate  58  of stand  34 . An enclosed volume  60  is formed inside chamber  36  once seal  56  engages mounting plate  58 . 
     FIG. 4  depicts a part support structure  62  including a pair of generally “C” shaped frames  64 , a pair of wash plates  66 , two inwardly extending ledges  67 , and a number of stop plates  68 . A plurality of nozzles  69  are mounted to wash plates  66  to provide wash spray to the end portions of part  22 . Ledges  67  provide support for part  22  during washing. A spindle  70  rotatably couples support structure  62  to mounting plate  58  of stand  34 . Stop plates  68  retain part  22  in 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 in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , a wash ring  71  is movably mounted within chamber  36 . Wash ring  71  includes a halo  72  mounted to a pair of guide rods  74 . Guide rods  74  extend through chamber  36  and end plate  48 . Each guide rod  74  is coupled to a support  76  which maintains a proper spacing between each of the guide rods. A water supply line  78  is also coupled to support  76  and halo  72 . Supply line  78  is in fluid communication with a valve assembly  80  which is controllable to selectively supply pressurized fluid to four sets of nozzles  82  mounted to halo  72 . Each set of nozzles is preferably orientated orthogonally relative to an adjacent set of nozzles to provide cleaning fluid to the entire perimeter of part  22 . To conserve water consumption and minimize the size of pump required to provide pressurized fluid, valve  80  is controlled to provide pressurized fluid to only one set of nozzles during a predetermined time period. Valve  80  cycles to sequentially provide pressurized to each set of nozzles independently. Valve  80  may also be controlled to divert pumped fluid directly to a reservoir during the time when chamber  36  is 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 ring  71  also includes a guide bracket  84  and a hanger  86 . Hanger  86  is free to slide axially relative to guide bracket  84  thereby translating halo  72  and nozzles  82  within chamber  36 . An actuator  88  drivingly interconnects slide  38  and halo  72  to allow wash ring  71  to be translated back and forth across part  22  during the washing process. 
   Halo  72  and nozzles  82  may be driven back and forth a predetermined number of times or may be controlled to continue to wash part  22  until 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, chamber  36  is moved from a closed position to the open position by causing slide  38  to translate relative to table  40 . At this time, part  22  may be transferred to drying station  26 , if present. 
   Drying station  26  is constructed substantially similarly to washing station  24 . Accordingly, similar components will be identified with like reference numerals including a “prime” designation. Preferably, operation of drying station  26  is coordinated with operation of washing station  24  such that chamber  36  and chamber  36 ′ are substantially simultaneously located in their open and closed positions. When both chambers are in the open position, a part  22  is transferred from turntable  30  to part support structure  62  of washing station  24  while a recently washed part is transferred from part support structure  62  to part support structure  62 ′ of drying station  26 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the adjacent positioning of washing station  24  and drying station  26  is merely exemplary and that washing station  24  may be utilized in the absence of a companion drying station  26  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
   During operation of drying station  26 , chamber  36 ′ is moved from the open to the closed position such that seal  56 ′ engages mounting plate  58 ′ of stand  34 ′. Compressed air or another drying agent is presented within enclosed volume  60 ′ via nozzles  82 ′. Nozzles  82 ′ may also be defined as air knives. Part support structure  62 ′ is mounted to spindle  70 ′ which is rotatably coupled to stand  34 ′ by an end cap and bearing assembly  89 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , an actuator mechanism  90  includes an arm  92  and a cylinder  94  coupled to spindle  70 ′. Actuator mechanism  90  functions to selectively rotate part support structure  62 ′ and part  22  about a longitudinal axis  96 . 
   In operation, halo  72 ′ and air knives  82 ′ are axially translated across part  22  while the part is located in a first orientation as shown in the Figures. Subsequently, actuator mechanism  90  causes part  22  to rotate 90 degrees to allow trapped debris and cleaning fluid to escape from internal passages of part  22 . Pressurized air or dry air is again supplied to air knives  82 ′ while actuator  88 ′ translates halo  72 ′ over the part. 
   Returning to  FIG. 2 , a pair of water return chutes  98  interconnect enclosed internal volume  60  and enclosed internal volume  60 ′ to a settling tank  100 . A conventional chip drag and chip waste mechanism  102  transports settled machining chips and debris from settling tank  100  to a dumpster  104 . Cleaning fluid is pumped from settling tank  100  through filters  106  and re-circulated back to the supply for washing station  24 . 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 washer  20  also includes an exhaust mist eliminator  108  which connects a vacuum source to chamber  36  and chamber  36 ′. Exhaust mist eliminators  108  and  108 ′ 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.