Patent ID: 8220471

Claim:
An apparatus for washing parts comprising: an automatic cleaning portion defined by a first cleaning chamber and a second cleaning chamber, the first cleaning chamber including a spray portion disposed above a reservoir portion, wherein the reservoir portion is disposed at a bottom of the first cleaning chamber and includes a first quantity of a single cleaning solution a reservoir level defined by a top surface of the cleaning solution disposed in the bottom of the first cleaning chamber and the spray portion is disposed at a top of the first cleaning chamber and includes a parts support and a spray bar with at least one orifice for distributing the cleaning solution onto the parts, the second cleaning chamber including a soaking tank having a top opening at a top surface of the automatic cleaning portion and a second quantity of the cleaning solution disposed therein having a soaking level defined by a top surface of the cleaning solution disposed in the soaking tank, wherein the soaking tank is disposed in its entirety above the parts support and the soaking level is disposed above the reservoir level, a manual cleaning portion configured as a lid that is movably connected to the automatic cleaning portion by a hinge disposed on a perimeter surface so that the lid pivots between a closed position, that simultaneously prevents access to the first and second cleaning chambers, and an open position, that simultaneously permits access to the first and second cleaning chambers, said manual cleaning portion further defined by a basin including a drain and a fluid distribution device, wherein the fluid distribution device discharges the cleaning solution into the basin for washing parts and for collection through the drain into the first cleaning chamber; a first thermal energy source disposed in the reservoir portion contiguous with the cleaning solution for controlling a first temperature of the cleaning solution used in connection with the second cleaning chamber and the manual cleaning portion and a second thermal energy source connected to the spray bar for heating the cleaning solution used in connection with the spray portion to a spray temperature that is greater than the first temperature of the cleaning solution; and a pump disposed in the reservoir portion in fluid communication with the spray bar, the soaking tank, and the fluid distribution device for circulating a flow of the cleaning solution from the reservoir portion to at least one of the soaking tank, the fluid distribution device, and the spray bar.