Parts washer heater pump module
View Patent ↗A parts washer including magnets located near a pump inlet to collect metallic particles suspended in the cleaning fluid; a casing to protect the pump mechanism from impact during handling; the pump oriented horizontally to take advantage of the separation of the cleaning fluid in successive vertical layers; two liquid level sensors to measure the level of the cleaning fluid in the reservoir; an evaporation control plate located at the interface between the reservoir and the receptacle of the reservoir to confine the vapor portion of the cleaning solution; protective handlebars placed next to the controls of a control module to protect the device from impact; and a pump motor control to provide a low flow rate of cleaning fluid using a pump without a variable regulator.
1. A parts washer, comprising:
a reservoir for holding a cleaning fluid at a level;
a receptacle connected on the reservoir;
a drain defined in the receptacle for fluid communication between the receptacle and the reservoir;
a frame connected to the reservoir;
a guard connected to the frame including a front wall, a back wall, and a lower plate;
a pump connected to the lower plate to thereby define a plenum volume between and among the pump, the front wall, the back wall, and the lower plate and to a control module;
a pump inlet in direct communication with the plenum volume so that the pump when activated by the control module moves the cleaning liquid from the plenum volume to the receptacle at a flow rate;
a heating element disposed within the reservoir and connected to the frame for adjusting a temperature of the cleaning fluid;
a liquid level detector assembly disposed within the reservoir and having an upper end connected to the control module, a lower end disposed adjacent the pump, an intermediate junction disposed between the upper end and the lower end, a first sensor connected to the intermediate junction that generates a first signal representative of a first temperature of the cleaning fluid when the level of the cleaning fluid is at or above the first sensor and a second sensor connected to the lower end that generates a second signal representative of a second temperature of the cleaning fluid when the level of the cleaning fluid is at or above the second sensor; and
the control module connected to the frame, the first sensor for receiving and monitoring the first signal generated by the first sensor and the second sensor for receiving and monitoring the second signal generated by the second sensor;
wherein the control module includes a processing unit and a memory that stores programming instructions, that when read by the processing unit causes the control module to function to determine a position of the level by comparing the first signal to a first set point and the second signal to a second set point.
2. The parts washer of claim 1 ,
wherein the control module further functions according to programming instructions to indicate an initial low level position defined by the level disposed between the lower end and intermediate junction by successively alternately activating and deactivating the pump in order to adjust the flow rate when the first signal is greater than the first set point and the second signal is equal to or less than the second set point.
3. The parts washer of claim 2 , wherein the pump comprises a motor, a fluid inlet, a casing, and a protective guard.
4. The parts washer of claim 2 , wherein the activation and deactivation of the pump is made in a pulsating mode.
5. The parts washer of claim 3 , wherein the pump and the fluid inlet are vertically oriented.
6. The parts washer of claim 3 , further comprising a particle filter with a plurality of openings for contact of the cleaning fluid with the reservoir with the fluid inlet.
7. The parts washer of claim 3 , wherein magnetized elements are used for filtering of any metallic particles suspended in the cleaning fluid.
8. The parts washer of claim 7 , wherein the magnetized elements are located on the protective guard.
9. The parts washer of claim 2 , wherein the protective guard is made of stainless steel.
10. The parts washer of claim 2 , wherein the a plenum volume is a retention and filtration zone.
11. The parts washer of claim 1 , wherein the position of the level is disposed at an initial low level position defined by the level disposed between the lower end the intermediate junction when the first signal is greater than the first set point and the second signal is equal to or less than the second set point.
12. The parts washer of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sensors are thermistors.
13. The parts washer of claim 1 , wherein the lower end and the intermediate end are located at adjacent ends of a T-shaped connector.
14. The parts washer of claim 1 , wherein
an interface plate is connected to the control module and disposed at an interface between the reservoir and the receptacle for preventing evaporation of the cleaning fluid located inside the reservoir.
15. The parts washer of claim 14 , wherein the interface plate is snapped locked to the control module.
16. The parts washer of claim 14 , wherein the interface plate is in the shape of a segment of a circle.
17. The parts washer of claim 14 , wherein a marking is used to distinguish between the upper surface of the interface plate and the lower surface of the interface plate.
18. The parts washer of claim 1 , wherein:
the control module further comprises at least one protection disposed adjacent a series of controls for controlling the flow rate, to protect the series of controls from impacts.
19. The parts washer of claim 18 , wherein the at least one protection is two handlebars.
20. The parts washer of claim 18 , wherein the at least one protection is an outer edge in a casing of the control module.
21. The parts washer of claim 19 , wherein the two handlebars act as roll-bars to protect the series of controls.
22. The parts washer of claim 18 , wherein the at least one protection is used to handle the parts washer.