Abstract:
An article cleaner for removing surface contaminants from the article comprising a basin adapted to receive a cleaning liquid therein, a brush instrumentality perched above a lip of said basin, a cleaning liquid conduit and pump instrumentality recirculating the cleaning liquid from said basin to a nozzle supported adjacent said brush instrumentality for enhanced cleaning, an instrumentality for scavenging said recirculating cleaning liquid just below the surface of the cleaning liquid to preclude contaminant recirculation, an instrumentality for reorienting said brush instrumentality to different angles of attack so that widely disparate articles can be accommodated by the cleaner, and an instrumentality for filtering contaminants from the cleaning liquid just above the surface of the cleaning liquid to preclude contaminant recirculation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following invention relates generally to a machine which recirculates a cleaning liquid combined with a plurality of brushes oriented above a reservoir-type basin to facilitate the removal of contaminants such as grease, grime or the like from articles to be cleaned. 
     The facile, expeditious removal of surface grit and grime from parts in the mechanical, electrical and other fields has long been recognized. Enhanced cleaning has been experienced by the combination of brushing and liquid application, the liquid sometimes containing a detergent and adapted to be recirculated for economy. 
     The following citations reflect the state of the art of which applicant is aware insofar as these citations appear relevant to the process at hand. 
     
         ______________________________________U.S. Pat. No.        Inventor       Issue Date______________________________________2,392,237    Falese         Jan. 1, 19463,585,668    Jaccodine, et al.                       June 22, 19713,648,315    Hash           March 14, 19723,748,677    Frank, et al.  July 31, 19733,970,471    Bankes, et al. July 20, 1976______________________________________ 
    
     Thus, it is known in the prior art to provide a brushing mechanism having a liquid nozzle adjacent thereto and including recirculation of liquid as taught in Falese. 
     Hash makes it known to provide a cleaning mechanism in which a plurality of brushes are jointly supported on a common axle. 
     The remaining citations show the state of the art further and are directed generally to the admixture of a liquid and detergent at or above the working brush. 
     More particularly, it is manifest that the instant application is distinguished over the known prior art when considered either singly or any conceivable combination in that an instrumentality has been provided for cleaning parts that involves the recirculation of detergent and a liquid, the position of the scavenging device being strategically located to preclude the contamination of the recirculation system by the dirt particles, grime, grease, et cetera, which are indigenous to the articles being cleaned. In addition, an instrumentality is provided for the articulation of a plurality of brushes so that the angle of attack of these brushes can be modified in accordance with, and with respect to, the articles being cleaned. 
     Moreover, by strategic placement of the cleanser containing liquid on the brush itself, the use of biodegradeable detergents for parts cleaning is possible. Heretofore analogous cleaning systems require the use of alkaline substances such as sodium silicate to achieve a similar result which provides waste disposal problems. Also, intricate, high tolerance parts have been cleaned with freon agents to assure no film buildup, and cleaning with freon is substantially more expensive. Thus, a long-felt, yet heretofore unsatisfied need exists. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, this invention has as its primary objective the provision of a new and novel cleaner to remove contaminants from articles. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a device as characterized above which recirculates the cleaning solution such that the contaminants removed from the article do not get recirculated. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a device as characterized above in which the angle of attack of the brushes can be expeditiously altered so that the brushes can address the parts to be cleaned in an optimum manner. 
     A further object of this invention contemplates providing a device as characterized above which includes a means for attaching a plurality of additional brush members, one of which is hand held and another of which, in a preferred form, is mounted on a top lip of a basin within which the liquid is disposed, to provide flexibility in cleaning parts of different dimensions. 
     A further object of this invention contemplates providing a device as characterized above in which a splash plate is provided and adapted to articulate with the brushes so as to deflect resulting spray back into the catch basin for its intended benefits. 
     A further object of this invention contemplates providing a device as characterized above in which a safety stop nozzle is provided adjacent the brushes to preclude the passage of the article to be cleaned to the interior of a brush compartment for safety purposes and to keep liquid cleaner on the brush continuously. 
     In its narrower aspects, the invention includes a basin supported above a substrate by a plurality of legs, the basin having a liquid contained therein. A float is carried on the liquid so that, in depending relationship relative to the surface of the liquid, a scavenging line including a mesh screen is provided which removes liquid from the basin beyond one of the walls of the basin and thereafter adjacent a brush or brushes. The brushes are in turn carried on a support plate and driven by a suitable motor through a belt drive. The support plate is adapted to be angulated about an axis and thereby alters the angle of attack of the brushes carried thereon. The conduits providing recirculation of the liquid include nozzles disposed towards the brushes also carried on the support plate. A protective, overlying housing keeps liquid and dirt from contaminating the drive mechanism associated with the brushes and motor. In a more particular aspect of the invention, a removable filter tray is suspended from a top edge of the basin, the filter tray including upper and lower wire meshes between which is disposed foam and paper filter above the level of the liquid so that a first filtering action of the particulate matter removed from the article is provided. A heating element is adapted to pass beyond the tray and into the liquid for enhanced cleaning properties as will be described. In one form, the shaft which supports the brushes driven by the motor has a threaded end adapted to receive a rotatable cable contained within a housing which has, in turn, at a distal end thereof, a further brush and liquid nozzle for hand manipulation. The top lip of the basin also serves to support a rod extending upwardly therefrom carrying a drill at a topmost extremity, the drill having a working shaft and brush with a liquid nozzle extending downwardly therefrom towards and overlying the liquid in the basin. 
     Other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specifications when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof partially fragmented for clarity. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view from the left of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is the opposite side view. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view, partially fragmented for clarity. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective of a tray forming part of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a liquid flow diagram. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings now, where like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawing figures, reference numeral 10 is directed to the parts cleaner according to the present invention. 
     As shown in the drawing figures, the parts cleaner 10 includes a basin 1 having a bottom wall 2, four side walls 3 and an open top wall 4 defining a receptacle within which liquid can be disposed. 
     Liquid L is adapted to be carried within the basin at a predetermined depth. The liquid, in a preferred form, is predominantly water with a relatively small percentage (approximately 2%) being a known biodegradeable detergent which is nonflammable. Of course, different cleaning operations may require the replacement of the liquid contained therewithin and is not to be construed as a limitation. In any event, the basin 1 is supported in an elevated horizontal manner by means of a plurality of downwardly depending legs 5. When the basin is of rectangular configuration, four legs at the corners are provided. 
     An external bottom face of the bottom wall 2 supports in depending relationship a pump motor 6 which includes an impeller 7. The impeller 7 is adapted to communicate with the interior of the basin just below the liquid level so as to circulate liquid from the basin to a brushing area to be disclosed. More particularly, the interior of the basin includes, on the bottom wall 2, an elbow 16 having a conduit 13 at one end of which a screened filter inlet 14 is provided. The filter inlet 14 is carried just below the surface level by means of a float 15 strapped on a supporting collar of the fluid inlet 14. In this manner, liquid is scavenged from an area just below the surface of the water and heavy particulate contaminants can precipitate to the bottom wall 2 of the basin. Upon leaving the basin through the elbow 16, the liquid is directed through the impeller 7 and, via a conduit 17, terminates in a manifold including a plurality of outlet nozzles 41 in a manner to be defined. 
     FIGS. 1 and 5 also reflect a view of the brush mechanism generally designated as 20. The brush mechanism includes a support plate 21 of substantially rectangular configuration having a recess 22 disposed at a leading edge as it faces the basin. The recess provides an area to support a first sheave 25 which is carried on an axle 28 having threaded extremities in a manner to be defined. More particularly, the axle is suitably supported by bearings, so that rotation of the axle 28 through the sheave 25 causes concomitant rotation of brushes 29 and 30 being carried on either side of the sheave 25 and supported by the axle 28. Appropriate washers, bearings and stop nuts are provided to render the device stable in use. 
     An extremity of the support plate remote from the recess 22 includes a motor 24 carried on first and second motor support brackets 23 positioned on one side of the support plate 21. An associated sheave 26, in cooperation with a belt 27, allows power communication between the motor 24 and the axle sheave 25. A bottom surface of the support plate 21 carries, at a leading edge thereof, an L-shaped bracket 31 for structural support. First and second combined valved nozzle safety stops 41 of substantially L-shaped configuration are carried on the support plate 21 for purposes to be assigned later. A wall 3 of the basin 1 has on an inner face thereof an upwardly extending slotted bracket 33 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Said bracket 33 is adapted to communicate with a retainer bolt 34 and with an upwardly extending ear 32 being carried on the support plate 21 so that vertical adjustment of the support plate 21 (and therefore the brushes) can be effected adjacent the leading edge of the support plate. An end of the plate 21 remote therefrom includes first and second downwardly extending ears through which a support pivot 35 is carried. The pivot 35 is supported on a top edge of the basin wall 31 by means of pivot rod 36. Thus, a stable support for the support plate 21 is provided along with the ability to articulate the brushes about the pivot 35. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the brushes in two extreme positions. 
     Each of the brushes 29 and 30 can be provided with the requisite stiffness and resiliency to perform the functions for which they were intended. The brushes may have different characteristics, so that one is more readily accommodated for rough work, the second being tailored for more detailed work. 
     A control panel 8 is provided which allows current to be directed, as desired, to different components of the mechanism. For example, the panel 8 may include a pump switch 9 providing energization of the pump thereat, and a three position switch 11 for the motor 24 that in turn drives the brushes. The brush switch 11 and pump switch 9 are adjacent AC outlets 12 which can serve to drive other accessories as will be defined shortly. Current is provided to the control panel 8 by means of an AC line 18. The pump power line is shown at 19. 
     As shown in the rear left hand corner of the basin, a heater 43 can be provided having a control box and a downwardly extending heating element which terminates in a horizontal arcuate resistive portion. The heater can find power from the AC outlets 12. 
     A filter tray 42 (see FIG. 6) is provided with an opening in the upper left hand corner to accommodate the downward passage of the heater 43. The filter tray 42 is suspended from an upper peripheral lip of the basin 1 by means of U-shaped clasps U overlying the lip. Each of the clasps has a handle H and downwardly extending legs L on an inner portion of the basin communicating with a rectangular framework F of the tray 42 supporting a wire mesh M on a tray shelf S. Overlying the wire mesh is first a foam filter, then a paper filter D, followed by another mesh layer M so that liquid coming from the nozzles 41 will first land on the mesh, paper and foam, respectively, and then will pass, through the lower wire mesh, and into the liquid so that major particulate matter is initially removed. In a preferred form of the invention, the filter tray 42 is positioned above the liquid level (FIG. 2) or in the liquid (FIG. 3). 
     The brush mechanisms are encased partially in a housing having an arcuate contour on a top and rearward portion thereof fastened to support plate 21. The valved nozzle safety stops 41 extend towards the basin from plate 21 and then laterally outwardly across the brushes. These safety stops 41:C1) impedes the progress of the articles to be cleaned from between the housing and the brush while; (2) delivering liquid to the brush via outlets facing the brush including valves 46 to control liquid flow. In addition, a further housing 37 of substantially rectangular configuration having a forward U-shaped cutout is provided, the cutout serving to provide clearance for the sheave 25. In turn, the sheave 25 is protected by a contoured pulley plate 39 having a central portion of arcuate configuration corresponding to the radius of curvature of the sheave. The rectangular housing has a side wall with a portion cut away and bent transverse to the longitudinal extent of the housing, the bent portion 38 serving as a motor baffle to preclude the migration of liquid against the motor. Depending from a bottom surface of the support plate 21, and just rearward of the L-shaped bracket 31, a downwardly extending resilient splash plate 40 is provided to direct the splattered liquid and debris onto the filter tray 42. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the axle 28 has threaded ends, one end of which is clearly visible and is adapted to have a threaded extremity accomodate a power takeoff implement 45 formed from a drive cable drivingly engaged by the axle 28 and covered by an overlying shroud. The implement 45 has a remote end with a chuck adapted to receive any of a plurality of brushes for hand held convenience. In this event, a further nozzle 17a is provided adjacent the hand held brush. Along with a fluid outlet line 17, said further nozzle 17a provides for benefits similar to that which had been delineated hereinabove. 
     In FIG. 4, an upwardly extending support rod 44 is clamped on a top lip of the basin by means of a C-clamp or its equivalent to support a drill carried at a top end of the rod 44. The drill has a downwardly extending shaft and a further brush at a distal end thereof overlying the basin. Liquid cleaning conduits 17 and nozzle 17a can be provided thereat and the liquid for the power takeoff implement 45 can be derived from drill nozzle 17a. The drill support rod 44 further supports the drill shaft by two spaced braces extending therebetween and is operated by a foot pedal drive to the controls. 
     In use and operation, liquid is recirculated through the fluid inlet 14 and directed through the nozzles 41, 17a. The brushes 29 and 30 are adapted to be oriented in an arcuate path in the direction of the arrows A and the liquid is adapted to be heated through the heating element 43. The filter tray 42 precludes the migration of large particles into the liquid, so that an extremely economical means has been provided for the utilization of a small amount of detergent in combination with a rather large supply of cleaning liquid such, as water. 
     Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications are contemplated as being a part of this invention as set forth hereinabove and as defined hereinbelow by the claims.