Selectable closed-loop phosphatizing wash & rinse system and method

1 . A phosphatizing system for phosphatizing an object comprising:

a subfloor assembly for supporting an object, and adapted to direct excess run-off fluids which are flowed over the object and collected at a run-off discharge port thereof;

a closed-loop phosphatizing assembly configured to pass a phosphatizing reagent run-off fluid over the object during a phosphatizing procedure, and a having reagent fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the run-off discharge port for receipt of substantially all the reagent run-off fluids from said subfloor assembly;

a rinse system configured to pass a rinsing solution over the object to rinse the reagent run-off fluid therefrom during a finishing rinse procedure performed after the phosphatizing procedure, and having a rinse fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the run-off discharge port for receipt of substantially all the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids from said subfloor assembly; and

a switch assembly fluidly coupled between said run-off discharge port and the reagent fluid reservoir and the rinse fluid reservoir, and switchable between a first condition, directing the reagent run-off fluids to the reagent fluid reservoir during the phosphatizing procedure, and a second condition, directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids to the rinse fluid reservoir during the rinse procedure, wherein said collected reagent run-off fluids in said reagent fluid reservoir are not diluted by the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids.

2 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 1 , wherein

said switch assembly includes a valve mechanism selectively operable between the first condition, directing the reagent run-off fluids to the reagent fluid reservoir, and a second condition, directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids to the rinse fluid reservoir.

3 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 2 , wherein

said valve mechanism is provided by a 3-way ball valve or a pair of 2-way ball valves.

4 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 1 further including:

a timer device coupled to said switching mechanism to delay, for a predetermined period, switching to the first condition from the second condition when switching from the rinse procedure to the phosphatizing procedure.

5 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 5 further including:

said predetermined period is about 20 seconds.

6 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said reagent run-off fluid includes a phosphoric acid component and a de-ionized water component, and

said rinsing solution is composed of de-ionized water.

7 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said phosphatizing procedure is performed through a spray application.

8 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 7 wherein,

said phosphatizing assembly is further adapted for a combined pressure wash/phosphatizing spray application.

9 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said phosphatizing assembly further includes a heating element in fluid contact with the collected reagent run-off fluid in said reagent fluid reservoir for controlled heating thereof.

10 . The phosphatizing system as defined in claim 1 , further including;

a storage tank fluidly coupled to said rinse fluid reservoir for storage of said rinsing/reagent run-off fluids.

11 . A method for phosphatizing an object comprising:

supporting the object through a subfloor assembly including a support floor having a run-off discharge port thereof;

phosphatizing the object, during a phosphatizing procedure, through a closed-loop phosphatizing assembly by passing a phosphatizing reagent run-off fluid over the object;

collecting the reagent run-off fluids in said run-off discharge port;

directing the reagent run-off fluids into a reagent fluid reservoir of the phosphatizing assembly for reuse thereof;

rinsing the object, during a finishing rinse procedure, through a rinsing assembly by passing a rinsing solution over the object;

collecting the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids in said run-off discharge port;

directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids into a rinse fluid reservoir of the rinsing assembly for collection thereof,

wherein the collected reagent run-off fluids in said reagent fluid reservoir are not diluted by the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids during the rinsing procedure.

12 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in claim 11 wherein,

said phosphatizing the object is performed by spraying said object.

13 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in claim 12 wherein,

said reagent run-off fluid includes a phosphoric acid component and a de-ionized water component, and

said rinsing the object is performed by spraying said object with a rinsing solution of uncontaminated de-ionized water or tap water.

14 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in claim 11 wherein,

said directing the reagent run-off fluids and directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids is performed switching a switching assembly, fluidly coupled between said run-off discharge port and the reagent fluid reservoir and the rinse fluid reservoir, between a first condition, allowing passage of the run-off fluids to the reagent fluid reservoir while simultaneously preventing passage thereof to the rinse fluid reservoir, and a second condition, allowing passage of the run-off fluids to the rinse fluid reservoir while simultaneously preventing passage thereof to the reagent fluid reservoir.

15 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in claim 14 further including:

delaying, for a predetermined period, the switching to the first condition from the second condition when switching from the rinse procedure to the phosphatizing procedure.

16 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in claim 15 wherein,

said predetermined period is about 20 seconds.

17 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in claim 15 wherein,